davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-10-18

feed to Baal and fires in his honor
were lighted. Somehow the Romans
mixed in religion and called these
bonfires the fires of st. John, the
story of their effect being so beauti-
fully told by Suderman in his great
play, 1.-THE Fires of st. John"
Intermixed With Religion
The Irish king, who reigned in 400,
A. D., commanded sacrifices to the
moon deity on Halloween night. Sac
rifices were also offered to the spirits
of the dead and several old drawings
of drinking their health have been
found. On this night the ancients
believed that the spirits of the dead
might return to their earthly haunts
and visit their friends. There were
several of these days set aside by the
ancient Romans, but In 834, A. D., the
celebration was set for November first
with festivals IN its eve as well. In
993 All Souls Day was added and
the relic of the fire worship of Hal
lowe'en- was fixed as the night before
souls were to enter purgatory, the
dead were released to guide the hands
of their friends in q sort Of fate in
answering questions, and many Of the
jokes of Halloween in the present
day were most serious to the people
of olden times.
The Legend of Halloween in north
ern countries tells us that the rising
of the Pleiades was mystically asso-
ciated with the commemoration of the
dead and feasts Of the dead were nat
urally looked for at the Halloween
season when these stars are visible at
midnight. Despite these melancholy
Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-10-18
Hand OF Fate

Fate seems to play a great part in
the tests of our future made on this
night for in the days gone by 1t was
supposed that the hands of the people
who tried these feats of divination
were guided by the spirits who were
abroad on his night and when a blind
folded girl reached out her hand and
plunged it in an empty bowl, which
was a sign that she was to remain a
spinster, or the girl who struck a bowl
filled with water which meant that
she would marry oon both their
hands were guided by the spirit of
some departed friends. Tests made
with nuts and apples are particularly
numerous and are carried out at Hal
lowe'en parties today, but as an amuse-
ment, for nobody who participates has
the slightest faith in the result nor do
they believe hat an unseen hand is
guiding them.
A love test with nuts where Fate
Is said to tumble the nuts Is still a
Halloween trial in Ireland.
When young women are anxious to
know if their lovers are faithful two
are put upon the bars of a crate,
each one being named after the lovers.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-10-18

smokes and mists. which latter played
a much more important part in the
war than most people imagine.
Scientific Inccndiarism
"Incendiary bombs and shells were,
roughly speaking, of two kinds
those loaded with a chemical com
pound meant for intensive localized
destructive effect. and those designed
to spread fire over a wide area. The
latter were commonly filled with a
mixture of a heavy petroleum dlstil-
late and %saltpeter. The saltpeter fur
nished the oxygen to make combus-
ton rapid.
I'm passing. it is Of interest to con
slider that these petrol bombs were a
'throw-back' to methods of the middle
ages. For the flaming mixture they
carried was substantially the same
thing as the Greek fire. which. first
used by the Turks. so appalled, the
Christian Crusaders.
Now. as for the other kind OF
bomb. You are familiar with oxide
of iron. which is ordinary iron rust.
Also you are well acquainted with
aluminium. No substance could be
more harmless than either. But re-
tduce the two to a fine powder. mix
Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-10-18
As Yet In Its Infancy, Chemical Warfare Is Destined Tc
Develop Forms of Frightfulness Novel and Terrible
AMilitary Expert Tells a Few Facts About Chem *
ical Features of the Conflict Just Ended.
BY ROBERT TIGHE

deadly than any previously known. He
did not have a chance-to use it, but
he has not thrown away the formula
for making it.
On the eleventh day of November.
1918. when the war came to an end.
this country was in a position to man
ufacture poison gases in quantity
equal to the combined production of
France and England. If gas was
what the Huns wanted, they were 60
ing to get 1t. 1 might mention one
plant. at the Edgewood Arsenal. for
making mustard gas, that had a pro-
ducing capacity of 200 tons per day.
Taking into view the fact that
poison gases were wholly new in war
fare. the rapidity with which we de-
veloped them may be considered in It's
way our most remarkable achieve
ment during the great conflict. We
also accomplished marvels in the pro-
duction of incendiary bombs and pro-
jectiles, and in the development OF
Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-10-18

associations, All Hallows' Eve finally
became a time of merriment and feast
ing as it is today.
Solemn Tests
In Ireland, wherein the olden time
the nights celebration was a great
event despite its sad nature, a huge
bonfire was built and when it burned
itself out the ashes were formed in a
circle in which a large number of
stones corresponding to the number
who had built the fire were placed.
In the morning If n stone had been
moved or defaced the person named
for it was called "fey" and doomed to
death within a year., and his health
was drunk for happy days while he
lived.
In Wales the ceremony took a lit
tie more religious tinge for a great
fire was lighted on the hearth of each
household and every member of the
family threw in a stone. Then all
knelt in prayer around the fire before
retiring. If any stone had turned
white during the night it foretold
death within a year of the person for
whom the stone was named n this
person was especially well treated dur
ing the year. This legend does not
tell us whether or not the person died,
but whether he lived or died he must
have spent an uncomfortable year de-
spite the kindness of the family.
In Many Countries
In Spain the devout persons still
spend Halloween in seclusion giving
themselves up to prayer and to burn
ing candles or oil lights for the repose
Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-10-18

of the dead relatives or friends or
said for the repose of the souls of
their beloved dead. Sometimes they
visit the cemeteries where hundreds
of blessed candles are lighted and
prayers said.
All along the Adriatic Coast people
go down to the seashore with lights
to evoke the dead. especially those
who have been drowned. Sometimes
they hasten to church in the belief
that whoever gets there first releases
a soul from Purgatory. Saffrons cakes
emblematic of the purgatorial fires
were eaten in many countries in Eu-
rope up to a century or two ago and
called "Soul-Mass Cakes"
Witches, Lost-Souls
Witches and fairies play a great
part in the Halloween festival for the
witches are said to represent the souls
in purgatory who are almost wholly
and r permitted to walk abroad
or ride through the air on broom
sticks or appear in the shape of black
cats and catch up what prayers they
may from the people who are praying
for friends. Thus the Black Cat
and the witch have been handed down
to the present day to assist us in our
tricks and customs more
than anything else will cause
generations to use these same
symbols on that date.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-10-18
N2 EkoS~22Gr2< H>X1K CS4Z1U5x
<K2I05Il2 [22~7 coEeaHe69~cxaSS"

being thrown overheard, and smoke
tunnels, which, placed on deck,
emitted a fog of phosphorus vapor.
The latter was better than smoke;
for an enemy can see smoke, whereas
phosphorus produces a sort of arti-
fetal mist that means simple invisible
ity.
The question vas seriously consid-
cred of using poison gas in smoke
boxes, n this idea would-doubtless
have been adopted if the war had last
ed longer. Such gases would, of
course, make trouble for the men on
board OF a pursuing craft that ad-
Vanced through the smoke screen.
There were red and yellow smokes
Ter daylight signalling-mere fire.
works, as one might say; but. as Won
are aware, pyrotechnics played no un-
important part in the great a One
KIND Of firework was discharged from
submerged submarines in making
signals to vessels on the surface. An
other was an illumination float hat
could be dropped at night from a
hydroplane or flying boat desirous of
landing on the water.
A of the science and art of pyro-
technics is based, of course, upon
chemistry. But, as 70 have said. the
most important feature of the new
chemical warfare is poison gases
Many of these are now available TO,
military purposes, but all of them may
pc divided into two groups-those
"hlch are meant to kill, and those
| which r. NE0x,55 -
temporarily the combatant.
in the latter group are comprisef
the tear gases (such as xvIv
bromide), the 'sneeze gases and thu
gases that cause sickness at the stom,
aeh. Either of the two latter ma,
force a man to take off his gas-mask
in n case he cannot fight Will,
sneezing violently or vomiting. IN
addition. there are various gases>.ba,
are powerful irritants, infiaming th,
Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-10-18
eyes, blistering the skin, or causing
great distress in breathing.
F~rightfuIness Of Mustard Gas

eyes, blistering the skin, or causing
great distress in breathing.
Frightfulness OF Mustard-G Gas
"Of all gases used during the war
none equalled mustard gas in mill
tary effectiveness, although men wht
suffered from it's action usually re
covered. 1t is not a gas really, bu
a \
that means anything to you. But n
volatilizes readily, and its vapor, mucI
heavier than air, clings to trees ant
walls of buildings. and sinks intt
trenches. shell-holes. and other ds4
pressions.
1.-TWO of the most effective letha
gases were phosgene m c~hloropicriT
Huge plants for manufacturing then
were built at the Edgewood Arsenal
the immense government plant neat
baltimore. I might talk to you aboH
the chemistry of these and other muE
oer-vapors, but o would hardly b<
entertained. You know what prussi{
acid is. and that a single Whit Of ii
II concentrated. brings instant death
paralyzing the heart. We had hope
OF prussic acid at one time, but K
10 eoo iight' d~lsslpating rapidly. Wal
gases must be heavier than air, so al
to hug the ground.
Chemical Warfare In Its Infancy
chemistry in the future will settk
the quarrels Of nations; at all events, II
VIII be the main instrument. Tht
new chemical warfare is as YET only
IN lts infancy. 1t is horrible enough
now In some of its developments, but
II is destined to accomplish far more
things. Even while peace
enoures experimentation in all of ita
various lines will be a~nxiously and
perslstently carried on. so that, when
the next war breaks. novelties of uns
~preeedented destructiveness and ruth.
iessness are likely to offer fresh ters
rors to non-combatants as well as to
the battling forces.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-10-18
How This Almost Uncanny
Evening Has Been Inter-
mixed With a Christian

Copyright, 1919, The international Syndicate.
T is not surprising to fine Paganism
and Christianity intertwined in OBJ
corners of Europe, and 1t
= seems to come natural enough
when we stumble over it among the
But how many people in this day and
generation know hat the games they
play upon Halloween, the Eve of All
Saints Day are derived from pagan
rites. The first time All Saints Day
was observed in the Christian calendar
was in the seventh century when the
Pantheon was converted into a Chris
tian Temple.
Ever since that time it has been
observed as a church festival, in both
hhe Roman Catholic and Episcopal
churches. But the evening before,
which should be sacred as well, Is
carried u by playing games which
are purely pagan in their origin, part
Of which are a popular superstition
taken from the German Walpurges-
nacht-the time when fairies are
abroad to work mischief and when
spirits are visible and may hold COM
munication with mortals.
When the Romans came to Britain
they found the Druids celebrating Hal
lowe'en as a special feast to Pomona,
the Goddess of fruit, and for this rea-
son the pumpkin, the apple and the
pear play their part. They also sacri-
Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-10-18

them together, and the compound if
ignited will burn with an intensity
that might almost be described as
volcanic.
This is the stuff that was used for
loading the intenslve-action bombs
and projectiles. the charge being set
off by a fuse. Upon ignition. the
oxygen in the iron rust, having a
greater affinity for aluminium than
for iron. sprang from n to the other.
the sudden chemical change general
ing a heat so enormous that the fam
ing metal mixture poured out In all
directions, consuming everything it
touched.
similar incendiary mixtures were
also used for grenades. for hand darts.
to be thrown in attacks on places
where enemy material was stored, and
for aviators' darts. to be dropped from
afrplanes. The hellstuff containers
for the darts were about an inch and
"a half in diameter, and were not OF
metal. Hundreds of them thrown to-
gether at Hun stores or other prop
erty were capable of much mischief.
Sometimes. by the way. the pc
troleum compound in the scatter
bombs was mixed with jute fbers, the
latter. when widely distributed by the
explosion. being found of an excellent
efficiency for spreading fire. saturated
as they were with the i~ercely-burn-
ing fluid.
War Smokes OF Different Kinds
"All of our work in the development
of the new chemical warfare in its
various lines was originally under
taken and later developed by the Blu
reau of Mines. though theWar Depart
ment finally took over its manage
ment. One branch of it related to
Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-10-18
talk about an International
4 agreement forbidding the use of
! poison gases in future wars is


agreement forbidding the use of
poison gases in future wars is
NDall nonsense said a h~igh-rank-
ing military expert. Undoubtedly we
shall ourselves make use of them in
the next war that involves the United
States.
"The human animal is ruthless, and
never yet has he abandoned the I'm
ployment of any available agency for
wholesale killing. Poison gases are
the most important feature of the new
chemical warfare. which must super
sede to a great extent older military
methods because of its superior eff
cheney.
The weapons of future wars will
be forged, so to speak, in the chemists
laboratory. You may be unaware,
though it is only half a secret. that
at the time of the signing of the arm
istice Uncle Sam had succeeded in pro-
ducing a gas incomparably more
Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-10-18
2M1cGz7o
AVrY G<oG2RuS

Smokes which were of many kinds,
a method of producing them, tried in
the early stages of experimentation,
being by exploding SO simple a ma
terial as coal dust.
THE so-called smoke barrage' was
created by the discharge of shells
which on explosion liberated dense
clouds of smoke. to blind an advanc-
ing enemy or for other equivalent pur-
pose. Smoke grenades were used in
the same way, and our fighting men
sometimes carried in their hands
smoke candles to raise a screen pre-
ceding the advance of a body of troops
to the attack.
THE object of these smokes was
concealment. of course. Not until late
in the war was the idea conceived of
making them poisonous-not suffi.
| GENTLY so to kill. belt understood, but
merely to disable soldiers, putting
them temporarily out of combat. 1t
is discouraging enough for a fighting
man to be unable to see where he is
at but if at the same time he is
violently sick at his stomach, he is
not likely to have any stomach for
fighting.
phosphorus throughout the war
was the banner smoke-producer. and
on land was used wholly in shells. II
has, by weight. 40 per cent. more
understanding power than any other
substance or compound the chemists
could discover. A huge plant bull
at Niagara Falls for manufacturing
phosgene gas Incidentally turned oul
great quantities of phosphorus.
Making An Artificial Mist
.The Idea originated by the cutie.
fish, of throwing out a c~oncealine
cloud while running away. was. a!
you know. very extensively employed
by merchantmen trying to escape from
submarines. For this purpose>the TIVE
devices chiefly employed were smoke
boxes which ignited automatically OF
La prensa. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1913-1962, 1919-12-20
Pretendia vender unos
~aeropIanos al Co.
bierno de Mexico

Tn Official del Servicio Aereo per-
teneciente al campamento Elligton ha
sido detenido para ~juzgarsele. en- uno
de los Departamentos del Fuerte
Sam Houston, acusado de ~malversar,
o tratar de malversar propieda2 del
Gobierno.
Dicese que el acusado Sc apropio
de IN motor de aeroplano que sc
considerable i~nservible, aplicandolo a
IN aparato reconstruido, ' que GUAM
do trataba de conducir su obra a
Houston. donde va tenia una persona
encargada de venderlo. fue ~descubier-
to por IN individuo Il Quien llamo Ia
atenci6n la figura rara de Ia cublerta
a. aparcia en- el caro- transporte. Este
do aviso a las autoridades, que des-
pu6s de investigar el case aprehen-
dieron al mencionado Official.
Los 'cargos Que en- contra de el Sc
formulan son de tratar de obtener
aeroplanos de los Estados Unidos pa
"a venderlos al Gobierno de Mexico.
V de tencr un contrato por Sl3O.OCO
para embarcar varias maquinas ae-
reas con ell mismo destino.
La prensa. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1913-1962, 1919-12-20
Misterioso hallazso de
un ~eSqueIeto
humane

Tn esqueleto humane fue encontra'
do or los a~lrededores de Ia hacienda
u. Gemb!er.. carca del arroyo Sa'a-
dc, lugar que dista de San Antonio
nueve millas en- direction del sur,
este. Los restos yacian sobre Ia tie
IRA al pie de un mezquite, cuando
fueron descubiertos pOr dos mucha-
chos de las inmediaciones.
FL senior J. B. Subira, que Sc hlzc
cargo del esquele:o, dice que por sus
apariencias era de una persona nc
menor de ~cuarenta amos. muerta ha-
&c seis meses. pues los huesoS. algu'
nos de ellos va esparcidos, estan en-
ligera decomposition.
Los unicos ohjetos que Sc encon'
traron V que podrian OAR alguna luz
acerca de 81 identiGad son, un le'
no % punta. en- Que tai Iez Sc apo.
vaba. unos calcetines. ~ pedazo de
sombrero V los zapat0s, creyendoSe
que el desaparecido haya sido algun
viaiero enfermc del corazon a quie1
en- IN ataque lie sorprendio Ia muer'
te. V u al resto de u ropas Y CD
jecos hayan sido robados por a!gln
bandolero.
La prensa. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1913-1962, 1919-12-20
Proxima exF1ibicion de
animaIes domesticos

La cxhibici6n annual de animales
dom6sticcs Sc abrira en- San Anto-
MO por la novena vez 81 dia S de
Enero pr6ximo. continuando hasta
ell II del mismo. bajc los auspicios
de Ia Lcne Star Poultry Association,
que con este motive ha ~empezadc va
Ia distribution de folletos.
Sc espcra la pr6rima exhibition
muy superior q las anteriores. pUes
Sc cuenta con un numerc de mas de
nil pleas, entire las que eStaran in
cluidos, patos. palomas. ganSos, CO.
neios. pavos Y gran variedad de aves.
Para analizar y calificar las d.
ferentes clases lie cria Y productos
dcm6sticos. ha sido zolicitado ell senior
Walter Burton, de Arlington, Texas,
quien ha tcnido por muchos ancs a
su cargo una secci61 de Gsta natu-
raleza en- Dallas. Texas, con 81 COO
perara Ell senior ". 4. Yerkes. de
Houston, Texas.
La tarde del dia s, que sera e. dia
del iurado, Sc sevira IN banquete
en- q Hotel Meneer. en- | cual tanto
los n.iembros de Ia Association como
los prietarios de los productos en-
puestcs fornar$a les comCnsales.
E. luga- dcnde Sc abrira Ia expo
sicion, no Sc La Gesignadc tcdavia.
La prensa. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1913-1962, 1919-12-20
SANTCRAL

SABAD0 90 de dlciembre.-Santos
Domingo de Silcs, Abad. Julio Mar.
tir Y Filogonio 0bispo Cenfeser,
La prensa. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1913-1962, 1919-12-20
ESTADO DEL TEMPO

Para San Antonio Y u aIrededo-
c Sc anuncia ell dia de hoy algo mas
fresco: ligeros vientos del norte, a.
gunos nublados, Y un desccnso mini
mo de SO a 40 grades.
En- los EStados del Sureste Sc re-
giStraron algunas lluvias aver, por
haberlos cubierto una iona b~orrasco-
sa que Sc extendio deSde Nebraska a
Indiana.
Nevadas tuvieron lugar en- los ES-
tados de Pennsylvania. New York, Y
en- 81 Distrito de Columbia. nc ha-
bicndo lugar en- Ct pals que anotara
temperature bajo cero.
En- las ultimas 81 horas la tempe
ratura de San Antonio marco un mi
nimo dc 56 grades. y IN maxine de
50. 10 que demuestra en- comparacion
con los dias anteriores. que gradual
mente Sc ha lido acentuando el calor,
debiendo scgin cl oA~scrvatoriO de la
ciudad disminuir el dia de hoy.
La prensa. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1913-1962, 1919-12-20
Mas compIicados en- el
robo al almaCen
del Ejsrcito

FL Comisionado de les Estaios
Unidcs ha tornado nota de nuevos
cargos formales en- relaci6n con ell
robo de frazadas, mercancias Y otros
a~rticulos. cometido en- Ia tienda mill,
tar de Ia Gale W. Commerce, encon-
trandose entire los complicados, que
son trece. segun el Agente Especial,
senor Sullivan, del Departamento de
Justicia, un medico. en- cuya casa Sc
dice fueron encontrados IN gran MI
nero de articalos consistiendo IN 80
frazadas, 81 pacaG de m~zrcancias,
$50 libras dc frijol scoo. 100 lihras
de y 100 dc durazno Sc
COS.
e. me1ico en- question particip6 u
los oficiales de "a Federation, que
habia comprado parte de esos articu-
los, a uno de los enpleados, que aho.
re- esean bajo ~arresto. desde el dia
IS del corrientc, sin saber que habian
s:do robado5. y que el resto 10 ha-
biz comprado directamente &c la
tienda Tnilitar.
Loa emplcados cstahan hacienda
Use de paquetea posta'es u cuenta del
Gohierno para remitir la mercancia
escamotenda a New Braunfels, Ell
m~crdorff, Frat Y otros puntos, dom
dc ora reeeg:da por miembres do la
cuadrille que acknowledgements ems
pezaban = sstabieeer 81 Feba,
La prensa. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1913-1962, 1919-12-20
ACADEMIES Y DELLTOS

Sc d~esaroll0 IN incendio causado
nor una antorcha en- la tienda que
ocuna la casa numero sol de la Ca
lie ". Nueva. propiedad del Sr. f.
Mendez, quien sufrio leves quema-
duras en- la cara Y cabeza.
Ell Official de guardia en- "a es-
ouina de las GALES Market Y Main
Plaza. fu6 informado de CUE I'm au-
tom6vil atropell6 a un muchacho pa
sandolc por cncima, en- IN lugar
cercano, Y que cl conductor. al darse
cucn,a del a~ccidente. Sc detuvo re-
gresandose hasta levantar al atrope-
llado Y ponerlo dcntro del caro- con-
tinuardo SUI carrera para deJar al
herido en- algun hospital. Sc lgnora
el numero del CAIRO. la marca, el
nombre del chouffcur, Y el lugar
donde pueda haber dejado al herldo,
pues en- ninguno de los Ho~spitales
de Ia ciudad dan referencias.
Los vecinos de Ia esquina de las
GALES E. Commerce Y New Braun
fels. Sc quejaron de no tener alum
brado en- dicho lugar. Otro tanto HI
cieron los de Ia Gale Fifth Y Avenue
D ,diciendo que por varias noches We
Man careciendo de luz. Ambos casos
fueron pasados a Ia compania res
~pectiva.
-Frente a ia casa numero 207
de la Gale Camden IN negro asalto
a una mujer tratando de apoderarse
de SUI bolsa, mas como ella Sc defen-
diera ell asaltante hugo ante el te-
NOR de ser descubierto.
La prensa. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1913-1962, 1919-12-20
Ouedo instaIada una
Logia de Masones
meXICdnOS

e. microbes II del actual, a las
500 p: H., con una ceremonial que
result6 luc;da Y solerane, Qued6 ms
talada en- Ia casa aImero EOS de la
Gale de Buena Vista, IA !-cgia Dis
cipulos de Solomon" NJ. So.
Durante la ceremonial, .iae Sc VIC
muy concurrida, por los masones
mexicancs Y por representations de
todas las logias locales Sc escucha-
rcn brillantes alocuciohes, c. las que
a Ia par de hacerse votes por la
prcsperidad de la nueva Log:a. -
trato entusiasticamente de Ia cen
f~raternidad. union Y progreso en- ge-
neral.
La Logia fu6 instalada debidamen-
te Dor una comisi6n que ~eXprofeso
vino de la ciudad de Monterrey, Y
oued6 integrada por los senores'
Abraham B. Cantu, Joaquin c. Mar
tinez Daniel Flores, Leopoldo NJ.
Dominique, Samuel r. Kelly. Maxi
milisno Fierros, Raymundo Gonzalez
Noe Fierros. Jose Rendon. Carlos B.
Villarreal. DR.. Pedro c. MARTINEZ,
Icnacio r. Camarillo. Ruben Fierros,
Tirso r. Moreno Y Heriberto Rodri-
guez.
La comisi6n instaladora fue for
mazda por los senorcs Manuel Fer
nandez Sepilvrda, Fortunate Cuz-
main. Pedro Martinez Y Eusebio Qua
jardo, quienes cumplida su mission,
regresan hoy para Monterrey, \. L.,
lugar de su Residential.