davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-08
REGENERATION

Before went to war 1 lived with my
life
In luxury and softness, seeing
naught
OF the despair and sad, unceasing
strife
OF thousands with whose lives my
ease was bought.
Before / went to war took no
thought,
But needless. careless, dailied on
with sin;
Saw not the price at which q soul
Is bought;
Nor knew the souls men buy as
mine own kin.
I went to war--tore out my dying
roots
From the stagnant soil the flesh
was beeded in.
I'd thought to find my comrades
uneouth brutes-
Instead. found men, and learned
that sin Is sin!
And Liberty learned to know thy
call
Is Gods own call to help the
world in pain.
So, God, pray thee not to pardon
all,
But do not let me close my eyes
again!
Lieut. John H. Binns in the New
York Times.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-08
MAKES NO DIFFERENCE

- HE fact that the Democrats
have put a candidate for the
State Senate into the field will
cause the friends of Frank A. Smith,
the Republican nominee, no anxiety
Mr.. Smiths election is as certain as
anything political can be. Not only
is he much better known through
out the city and county than his OPP
ponent. but he has at his back the
normally big Republican majority
of Dauphin county. and this is q
normal year. The Republicans were
never more harmonious nor better
organized than now, and Mr.. Smith
has the full and unstinted backing
of both the organization and the
rank and file of the party.
The Democrats, on the other hand
are sadly disorganized. There is nc
leadership in this city or county
worth the name, The former boss
has deserted his old machine and II
has gone to pot. At least twenty
districts throughout the county are
not even represented on the county
committee and there is serious divi-
sion in the remnant of a committee
as 1t does exist. The candidate
nominated yesterday was led to the
slaughter. He will get his name on
the ticket and in the papers, and
that is about all.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-08
A PROPER PROTEST

" HE more we see of Governor
Sproul, the more we admire
him. He Is man of action.
lie has the courage of his convic-
tions.
His letter to Secretary of Labor
Wilson yesterday protesting against
a general advance in freight rates
on materials that go into road con-
struction at a time when the federal
government is urging the resump-
tion of public work in order to pro-
vide. Jobs for returning soldiers and
employment for men released by
munition factories, raises a very per-
tinent point
Governor Sproul has decided that
Pennsylvania shall get her road
program under way at the earliest
possible moment and, If possible.
s25,000.oo0 will be put into perma-
nent highways in this State the
eoming year. This will materially
aid in stabilizing business and in
caring for the needs of labor.
But the Governor does not mean
that an undue amount of the States
road funds shall be poured into the
Golfers OF the Federal Railroad Ad-
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-08
Spending the Drink Money!

(From the New York Evening Post)
Amateur economists are amusing
themselves in guessing how will be
spent the millions heretofore paid
out for drink. On candy, some be-
lieve. Others predict an outbreak of
unaccustomed dandyism; still others
a mania for graphophones. The pes
simists suggest that increased taxes
will take care of the surplus. The
South has experienced prohibition
and begins to contribute data that
serve As a basis for less imaginative
forecasts. At the conclusion of
Georgia's first dry year her Governor
pointed to the immense reduction in
the cost of maintaining courts, pris-
ons and police. Moreover, he cited
reports from department stores and
banks showing an astonishing in
crease In the volume of business and
the number of depositors. These
cheerful facts he embodied in an
epistle to. the Virginians, who had
Just put prohibition into effect. Other
states that have tried prohibition are
similarly calling out, Come on in,
the waters flne!"
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-08
Task of Americdnization
(From the New York Globe

(From the New York Globe)
In this state are nearly 100000
persons who are unable to speak
English, more than half a million
of whom are above the age of twen-
ty-one: OF these, $4,000 are--un-
able to read or write any language.
No wonder Governor Smith should
receive with favor the suggestion for
q comprehensive campaign against
this iiliteracy!
There Is no more important ques-
ton than the one of Americaniza-
ton, and 1t is time this state took 1t
up seriously. Iiliteracy is, as Gov
ernor Smith says, a standing menace
to the proper development of the
economic and social interests of the
state. Our compulsory education
law is gradually meeting the problem
so far as the rising generation is
concerned, but there is immediate
need OF doing something to correct
the situation as 1t concerns the adult
population. The national govern
the states chiefly is educational re-
sponsibility.
One stumbling block In the past
has been the foreign-language news
paper. Many foreigners who other
wise would have learned our Ian
guage have not felt the necessity of
doing so on account of the ease with
which they have been able to obtain
a newspaper printed in their native
tongue, They are willing to adopt
this country as their own but not to
accept its customs or its language.
The foreign-language newspapers
could be made an important factor
in the scheme of Americanization by
compelling them. for instance. to
print lessons in English and to pub
lish part of their contents in the ver-
nacular. Americanization of foreign
ers In this country never will be
completed as long as we foster the
existence of national groups.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-08

But more than a quick finger on the
trigger a steady hand and the ability
to stay in the saddle twenty-fo
hours at a stretch is required of a
ranger. He must have proven his
stamina, sobriety and courage be-
fore he is admitted to the organiza-
tion.
Il can look in q mans eyes and
tell whether. he has the right stuff
In him to make n good ranger" de-
clared Captain w. J. Macdonald q
lew years ago. but Captain MacDon-
aid, with all other leaders, demanded
some more tangible proof of the fit
ness of candidates who came before
MIN. The man who aspired to wear
the rangers badge must have proven
oy past exploits that he could keep
cool head under fire.
While the rangers have been valu-
able on the border in recent years,
tnere are those in Texas who declare
their days of usefulness are over.
And there have been rumors of ac-
uvities that would not bear the light
OF publicity. With no trouble ready
made for them. the rangers have
been tempted to create a. little ex-
citement of their own, these oppo-
nents say.
The rangers have committed
more outrages in the border counties
than the Germans perpetrated in
Belgium" declared Representative
J. P. Canales OF Brownsville in the
Texas Legislature the other day.
And so 1t is that the ranger may
follow the 2-gun man, the Indian n
and the buffalo into the happy hunt
ing ground of the yesteryear.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-08
'Pst;;c4 e.
Ps~ms4Esa~ia
BY the Ex.Committocmaa

Many interesting little stories are
going the rounds of Capitol Hill and
among men who follow politics
about the events leading up to the
passage by the House of Represen-
tatives OF the resolution to ratify
the prohibition amendment. Among
them are reports that the liquor
people, resentful of their defeat
where they had been able to DOM
mate, propose to take the sdalps of
Republican State leaders and to do
all sorts of dreadful things the rest
OF the session and at the primary
and general elections. Time is q
great test of threats.
Senator William e. Crow, of Fay
cite, the Republican State chair
man, who was one of the men who
| bluntly told the liquor leaders that
ne meant to support the amend
| ment and to urge its ratification,
was one Of the men visited by some
men high in wet" councils and
when he refused to change his po-
| sition because he felt that the time
mad come to act favorably he was
| given some impressions of feeling
toward him. In reply the Fayette
senator was vigorous.
AS a result of the Fayette sena-
tors position and because Senator
E. H. Ware and Lieutenant Cover
nor Beidleman and others were
telling men the amendment resolu-
ton should be voted for 1t is said
that an attempt was made to get
Senator Boies Penrose to interfere.
GOSSIP says that 1t was Hans Ridall,
Pittsburgh brewer, who sought
the Intervention OF the senior sena-
tor. 1t Is pity that n stenographic
record of the reported conversation
can never be read. Ridall, IL re-
ports are correct, picked the wrong
time. He called the senator on the
long distance about l A. NJ. when
the senator was sleeping.
The conversation is said to have
been in the nature of a call for
succor by Ridall. The world was
unbling down and he wanted the
senator to intervene, interfere or
anything to avert the cataclysm.
The senator is reported to have eX-
postulated with his early morning
telephone caller and to have rep
resented that he should not be
dragged out OF bed at that time.
Further urgent pleas from the
Pittsburgher for aid to head off the
wreck are said to have been ans
wered by the statement that the
| senator had been working hard all
day on such matters of national
importance as the revenue bill and
that he should not in the interest of
his health be hauled from bed on
such situations as had developed in
the banks Of the Susquehanna. Mr..
Ridall is said to have made one
more effort to secure some assur-
ance of help or even a word to the
men who were backing the amend
ment resolution to slow up, but the
senator is reported to have said
that the work he was doing In the
national capital was something of
concern to the whole American peo-
pie and that in order to handle Il
properly he needed sleep and should
not be subjected to interruptions
of essential repose.
The story has been much related,
but the main features seem to ad-
here to each recital.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-08
WHAT KIND OF A HOME?

ID EsPoNDING to the question:
N What shall we substitute for
the saloon? the Rev. B. II. Niebel,
of the United Evangelical Church,
replies unhesitatingly: =.
'srhe home"
Very good. Housekeeping hearts
are happiest," We are told; but
what kind Of a home shall we SUBJ
stitute for the dramshop?
There Is all too much truth in the
saying that "the saloon is the poor
mans club" and thousands of men
have been attracted thither as much
by the bright lights. the warmth and
the opportunity for sociabiiity as by
the desire to drink Drinking for
them has been = secondary consid-
Grafton at first. although all too fire.
quently the first consideration at
last.
Frequenters of saloons have come.
many of them. from dirty. insani-
tary, overcrowded homes-places so
drab and drear that they offer no
inducement to the cultivation of
family life. We must improve our
housing conditions if we want folks
to stay at homo evenings. But.
unfortunately, while we are talking
housing improvements, such changes
for the better are slow in developing,
while prohibition is just around the
corner. So we must look elsewhere
than to the small and ofttimes
tumble-down home to replace the
saloon, at least until every family
shall have been provided with
decent place in which to live. Many
agencies will be utilized-the
churches, church clubs. the Y. NJ.
c. A, the Y. W. c. A., social CEN
ters, community clubs-what not?-
and all of these. working together.
will tend toward betterment of
housing conditions by lifting the
people to new desires and prompting
them to demand the kind of homes
to which they are entitled.
DR.. Niebel is right. The home is
the ultimate substitute for the
saloon, but there are intermediate
steps that must be taken for the
benefit of those people whose homes
now are mere mockeries of the
word.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-08
Typical Roosevelt Letter

The following typical letter was
received from Colonel Roosevelt by
Major General Haan of the 32d
Division (Michigan and wisconsin) !,
in France, in reply to a letter Gem
eral Haan sent Colonel Roosevelt.
with map showing the location of
the grave of Quentin Roosevelt after
the enemy had been defeated on the
ground by the Thirty-sesond Divi-
sion.
MY Dear General Ham: am
very much touched, indeed, by the
trouble you have taken in the mid
die of your absorbing work. I ap-
preciate your letter. 1 appreciate
the sketch of Quentin's grave. 1t
was dreadful to have Quentin kill
ed. but I would not for anything in
the world have had him not face
death and take his chance.
II most heartily congratulate YOU.
my dear sir, on the work of your
division. By George, you men have
hit hard. Will you thank the divi-
sion for me? Will look forward to
seeing you at Sycamore Hill when
you return, my dear General, 1 ad-
mire and, I fear, 1 envy your rec
ord. Faithfully yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-08
Our Anthem in Italian

(From the Red Cross Bulletin.)
The strains of "The Star Spangled
Banner" sung In an excellent italian
translation, can now be heard
throughout Italy. A year ago, the
song was a little known foreign
anthem. To-day, it is part of the
traditional music of the people. The
visitor hears it sung by peasants in
remote parts of Calabria. 1t is
part of the exercises in the schools.
1t is proverbial that Italians.
young and old, are born singers.
The nation of beautiful songs has
now made The Star Spapgled
Banner" its own. The translation,
made by Prof. Frank c.. Perret,
finds ready sale in all the princi-
pie cities. Sometimes 1t can be
found in the smallest country stores.
Here are the first few lines of the
anthem in Italian, along with the
literal English translation:
o dite Sc ognor
oh. say 1t ever
Mel ~rossigno albor
In the rosy dawn
ii Simbolo fiero di nostra speranza
The first symbol of our hope
Con stellato splendor
With the splendor OF the stars
Ormai vincitor
Now and for ever victorious.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-08
The. Houses DRY" Vote
(From Pittsburgh Gazette-Times.

(F'rom Pittsburgh Gazette-Times.)
AS it is conceded that the Pennsyl-
vania Senate will ratify the prohib-
ition amendment. passage of the res
olution by the House yesterday may
be accepted as definitely establishing
this states attitude on the liquor
question. No charge that some of
tho Ito affirmative votes are to be
attributed to an admitted human de-
sire to be on the popular side can
have any merit. Ratification at Har-
risburg reflects the demonstrated
will of the people of this common
wealth that the liquor traffic shall be
abolished. The fact that action now
really count for nothing in accom-
plishing nationwide prohibition, rat
iflcation having been completed on
January 16 when the thirty-sixth
state gave it's approval to the amend
ment, has no sinister significance.
Had 1t been possible to call up the
resolution and dispose of 1t early last
month there is every reason for con-
fidence that the result would not
have been different from that record
ed yesterday. So, while we are dis
appointed that Pennsylvania was not
among the first states to ratify, we
are proud that the representatives of
the people have SO positively signi-
fled this states adherence to the
great reform.
The practical value OF ratification
even as the forty-fifth state to so act,
is that the Legislature positively
commits itself to the duty of enact
ing laws to make constitutional pro-
bibition effective. Having approved
the amendment, 1t cannot do any
thing that would tend toward nullifi,
cation that would not be stultifica-
ton. The law makers unquestion-
ably will proceed with further legis-
lation on this subject in good faith.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-08
QUEER LETTERS

Here are. some extracts from au-
thentic letters received at the War
Risk Insurance Bureau, Washing
ton, from the wives of soldiers
claiming support. 4 reader of the
register vouches for them.
please let me know IL John has
put in his application for a wife
and child"
"I am writing to ask why I
haven't received my elopement."
You have taken away my man
to fight and he was the best fighter
/ ever had"
my boy has been in charge of a
spittoon; do I get more money!"
Date of birth? Answer. Not yet,
but SOON"
Dear Mr.. McAdoo, have a wife
and nine children. I should have
more or less"
by boy Is in France, where he
IL liable to be sent into maternity
any minptA."-From the Christian
Register.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-08
Publishing NelD Guide Books

[From the New York Evening Postl
Convinced that mo one will here
after want q German guide book"
English publishers are feverishly
preparing to supplant Baedeker.
With their hearts in their months
they read the daily gossip from
Paris. wondering what town be-
longs on which may. what country
will deyour which others and what
galley of text should go where in
each particular volume. The job
requires haste. It must be COM
pleted in time to catch the impend-
ing rush of tourists. Dry. wordy and
too encyclopedia. Baedeker not only
ruined your eyes with it's fine print,
but tormented you with its needless
bulk and weight. English publish
ers should improve on the German
guide book or American publishers
will: and if they perish In the at
tempt they will have deserved we'll
of their country,
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-08

The Peoples Forum, made UP OF
leading colored people of Harrisburg,
will pay tribute tomorrow to the
memory of Colonel Roosevelt. The
Forum keeps itself abreast of the
times. 1t is 100 per cent. American,
and is doing good work In this COM
munity. The presence of the talented
Mrs. Nelson, who was the wife of the
late Paul Lawrence Dunbar, the dis
tinguished poet. should draw a large
audience to the services tomorrow.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-08
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1919
CUT THROATS

uE Peace Conference mas
stooped to commerce with cut
/ throats. The unthinkable mas
bannened. AS we'll traffic with the
Kaiser himself as with Trotzky ana
T,enine. What can be back OF the
disgraceful agreement to meet WIN
this pair of outlaws?
Americans who have stood ashas'
at the crimes of the Bolsheviki can
NOT but wonder at this latest move
of the Paris delegates. what can
President Wilson mean to agree 10
confer with q party of renegaoes
beside whose tyrannies the crimes
Of the Kaiesr pale to snowy white
ness. Anything can happen IN
Paris after this and we shall not be
surprised.
What pledges of good faith can
thsse terrorists carry to the Princess
Islands? AS we'll trust Jesse James
at a convention of unarmed bank
ers.
No. there can be no such thing as
civilization covenanting with par
barity. Crime and virtue cannot SIT
at the same table and virtue remain
unstained. Democracy and autoc-
racy are utterly foreign. We can
not fight to make democracy safe
for the world one day and the next
agree to recognize the validity OF
the most outrageously autocratic
form of misgovernment ever foisted
upon a helpless people.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-08
A Diary of Eight Words

(From the Cincinnati Times-Star)
Tucked away in Theodore Roose-
velt's diary, written a number of
years ago, but just come to light,
were four entries, covering four
days. These entries comprised In
all but eight words. But these
eight epitomized the tremendous
will power and grit of the man as
fully as might have done pages
from the pens of great writer's.
While in the wilds of Africa, Col
onel Roosevelt was stricken with a
tropical disease. 1t came upon him
at time and at place of peril. But
this Is all we find recorded:
July 16-Fever. Wrote.
July 17-Fever. Wrote.
July 1S-Feeling better.
July 1s--Five hippos.
A story In eight words, complete
in itself. and needing nothing to
drive homo its point.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-08
WELL KNOWN PEOPLE

Mayor e. v. Babcock, of Pitts
burg, is planning bond issue of
over $IO,000,000 for improvements.
Mayor A. T. Connell, of Scran-
ton, says he intends to run down
and see the legislators one of these
days. He used to be a member of
the House.
Mayor G. S. Lysle, of McKees-
port, took active steps in regard to
a trolley situation. He just stopped
the cars.
Mayor John d. Carr, of Union
town, is having some trouble to get
the city sealer ousted. The sealer
will not recognize the authority of
council under the present mayor.
Mayor w. s. Mcdowell, of Ches-
ter, has been asked to have his city
pay 100000 toward new houses.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-08
SHORT STORIES
(From the New York SUM-

(From the New York SUM-
Danny Lyon went away from far
East Sixteenth street twenty years
ago.. because successful business
man in the West, recently returned
to visit his Doyhood haunts, met an
old friend, Mrs. Murphy, reintro-
duced himself, and after a long
gossip about old acquaintances
asked:
"And Paddy Sweeney? What be-
came of my old pal Paddy?'
He was a contractor. Made a
mtllyon dollars and was drowned"
Paddy made million! Why, he
couldn't read nor write!"
Nor SWIM"
Anyway, the makings of this
kind of story will disappear jan
uary 16, 1920. Two FOUNDERS were
seated at n table in their club cafe,
and after a long, silent and very
wet session one asked:
Shay, you knCsv BROWNE"
"Wha' Brown"
Cecil Van Rensselaer, Dykemaf
Brown"
"Huh, Cecil Van Rensselaer, Dyke
did fell, oil Cecil Van Rensselaer,
name?"
A British Cabinet officer who
toured the Western States during
the war on propaganda work is said
to be telling his colleagues in Lon
don that this incident actually hap
pened:
"On one of our trains we had no
dining car and stopped at Green
River in Wyoming, / think it was
for lunch in the station restaurant.
My waiter seemed to be quite a
typical cowboy, recruited for the
emergency, and when he asked me
what kind of pie I'd have for des-
sert l asked what kind of pie he
had.
Mince and apple he replied.
after some hesitancy, which
seemed to arouse his i'll will, ]
asked for apple pie.
Say, stranger he responded
with unmistakable menace, what's
the matter with the mince pie p"
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-08
DELIVERED YOUNG

u1HE American Livestock Associa-
tion has gone on record in op-
position to government owner
ship or operation of railroads. The
livestock growers want to know that
when they put their stock on cars
the cars will go to their destination
with the least possible delay.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-08

when they went away. Still others
are looking for opportunity to better
themselves. Working conditions, too.
have changed and hundreds Of jobs
have been abolished since the men
went away, while hundreds more
have been created.
The question is a big one. with
angles, but in the last analysis the
employer who sent men to war must
consider himself the biggest and
most important element in their re-
employment.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-08
Militdnts En- Tour

The women militants who iave
done time" for breaking the law in
connection with suffrage agitation at
Washington have named the special
train in which they are to tour the
country Democratic limitedf,-
From the Springfield Republican
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-08

ministration In order that 1t may
thereby tax the Commonwealth to
make up for some of the deficits 1t
has created through extravagant
management.
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-08
A New Product

The distillers might turn some OF
their plants into orphans homes.
They are responsible for : lots o.
them.-From the Philadelphia In
quirer.