davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-24

Tho ancient tradition OF i'll luck
that has always hung heavy over the
reputation of Friday among the days
of the week seems to be accepted even
by the elements themselves, ns last
Friday was the twelfth successive day
Of that name upon which it has raincd.
Thus Friday has established new bad
record. not only for herself. but for any
other day of the week. However. il it
must rain regularly on one day of the
week. Friday. with its already sinister
reputation. is probably aS good day
rs any upon which to have it occur.
There would be wild thoughts and prob =
ably ill-chosen words among the golfers
if Jupiter PluviuS had selected Sunday
for this dubious honor, and perhaps a
strike among the school children had
Saturday been tho day.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-24
GOVERNMENT BY MURDER

TT ANY ONE was surprised at the
L report that Carranza, the deposed
president Of Mexico. had been killed 1t
can only be a person unfamiliar with
Mexican methods.
Government, as we know II. Is un-
known across the Rio Grandc. Porfrio
Diaz ruled Mexico for a generation
under the title of president, but he was
a military despot, elected periodi-
cally to succeed himself 1t was unsafe
for any candidate to contest the election
with him. AS the end Of each of his
numerous terms approached prominent
McXiCaus announced their candidacy
for the presidency and proceeded to
organize their friends to secure the
nomination and election. As soon as
any candidate developed strength rep
resentations were made to him which
induced him to announce that he was
going to Europe or somewhere else out
side Of Mexico for his health. and he
went. Then Diaz was re elected unan-
imously. When he grew old and his
power waned the opposition became too
strong for him, and his friends thought
he was fortunate to be able to-escape
out of the country with his life.
Then Madcro was elected He
was a wCakling. unable to cope with the
strong and unscrupulous men eager for
power and tho pcrquisitcs that go with
It in such country. He was slain and
Huerta succeeded him. Hucrta was
forced out by the Carranza revolution,
and he was able to get ont of the Coun-
try with his life merely because he was
little shrcwdNr than his enemies.
And now Carranza. as his term was
nearing an end. tried to select his sue
cessOr so that his influence might be
preserved The opposition had no con
fdence in his good faith. 1t drove him
from the capital and he is now dead.
So long as this sort of thing can
happen in Mexico, government there be-
comes merely brute force exercised
without scruplc. There can be- no or
derly progress under such conditions,
for the attention of the men in power
will be continually occupied with plans
to defeat the military conspiracies Of
the men out of power.
Yet conditions are not so bad as they
were. Diaz succeeded in doing many
times what Carranza has failed to do
, once. The difference between the sue
cess Of the one and the failure of the
other does not lie wholly ir the differ
cnce between the two men. There is
evidently a growing disposition among
the educated Mexicans to do their own
governing for themselves. They are
doing it crudely and brutally. but they
are headed in the right direction
Even though the approaching presi-
Dental election will be farce, it will
be less Of farce than if it had been
conducted by Carranza. The success
full candidate will doubtless wink at
banditry as Carranza winked at it, and
his subordinatcs will doubtless farm
out the Countr. among the banditti and
share in the loot as Carranza'S subOr-
dinates have been sharing in the loot
for several years. This is the price they
will have to pay for their lease Of
/ power. II the new man can SO conduct
| himself that he can escape with his neck
when his term approaches an end Mex.
/ leo will have advanced a little further
| toward civilization.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-24
What Do You Knou?
QUIZ

l. Which is the oldest national flag in
existence?
?. Why is the Aral Sea so called?
3. Which country celebrates the oldest
national holiday. and what is It?
a. What is Won Ludendorff's first name?
5. Who Is Philippe Bunau-VarIlla?
6. Who wrote. ITO business that we
love we rise betmes"?
!. What is the population of Russia?
\. What is the area OF Russia?
.. When and where was the first meet
ing Of the executive council of the
League of Nations held?
10. Who was it's chairman?
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-24
A REAL FOOD SHORTAGE
MAY COME NEXT AUTUMN
That Is Why War Garden Is a
Very Good Thing to Have
Around the House

GOVERNOR COOLIDGE, of Massa :
~ chusetts. was far sighted when, in
n proclamation issued few days ago,
hc earnestly asked the people to go in
again for war gardening and produce
as much food as they can crowd out of
their own or borrowed plots of land.
Thus far the distribution of food has
been hindered by speculation and high
prices. An actual scarcity of many es-
scntials - something hitherto unknown
in the United States - may be felt
throughout the country next fall be-
cause of the present shortage of farm
labor and the difficulties that impede the
general work of agriculture. 1t is a
fact that millions of men are indisposcd
to work with their usual energy The
country is feeling something of the in
ertia that follows after every great
effort. There are evidences everywhere
to indicate that while the wheat crop
may not be inadequate. the supply of
vegetables and fruits may be far below
normal.
The labor shortage is being felt
acutcly in the dairy industry. Farmers
in some sections of the country are said
to be killing cattle which they cannot
afford to care for or feed.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-24

The Hoover Herald is to be pub
ishcd in Chicago during the convention
in aid Of Hoovcr'S candidacy. Who
knows? The Old Guard may be like
unto the walls of Jericho.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-24

That jury duty may be- something
more than an unpleasant task was ovi
dencrd when jurors in the local Court
of Common Pleas took occasion n
praise Judg" Barratt and the officers of
his court, declaring that the three
weeks service they had just completed
had been both pleasure and an cduca
ton to them.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-24

"Gcrmany will demand end Of chaos
before deciding war indemnity '-Hcad-
line. There was probably never a
Reaper who was satisfied with the par
tiruIar kind Of whirlwind vourhsafcd
IN him
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-24
A EouR.YEAR PROGRAM FOR
PHILADELPHIA

Things on which the people expect
tho new administration to concen-
trste its attention:
The Dslauure river bridge.
A drpdock big enough to dccommo-
date the largest ships.
TEN.
A convention hall
A buiidino for the Free Library.
An Art Museum.
Enlargement Of the todter Supplv.
Homes to accommodate the popuId-
tom
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-24

-- The news comes both ways: Mar
shall is an avowed candidate for the
presidency. One of his little jokes,
probably. Marshall tells the Indiana
convention he is not a candidate. And
the chances are he was speaking in a
PiCkwiCkian sense.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-24

0nOC" POWELL. of Iuzcrne wos
~ a.,,onnn ,n5.a''. y, i,, i,"~,' 'ne, was
session of 1907 IN 'M IIonrinh -. .he les'sla'lve
session oi io"' IN Harrisburg, whose
"nI,ils TOOK an unusual slant.
ne was accustomed TO take long
Walks INTO the country nnd' whether he
coliected thcm himsclf or engaged farm
ers DoyS 10 DO 1t Tor him. he was
scarceiS ever without halt cozen di-
mlnutlVe turtles or young snakes five
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-24

ComparisonsTever dominate our
viewpoints. Only the horrors of the
big war make us mOmentarily conceive
that there is now peace in Europe.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-24

Commercial aviation will even
tually put an end to freight congestion
General Evans told the Pan American
aerOnautical congress at Atlantic City
Or, to put it sucrinctly, plane fare will
cure freight Indigestion.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-24

Though the fact has not been
brought home to the public, there is as
great need for war gardens" this year
as at any time during the war;
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-24

1t may be that the farm labor
shortage problem will not be solved
until we have passed through period
of short atoms.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-24

Penrose headquarters will be in a
ten room apartment during the Chicago
convention. There are evidently ways
of getting over the house shortage.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-24

Not even the loss of his whiskers
could save Carranza.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-24

Sooner or later Craftsmanship will
play a return engagement in Congress,
Just at present Politics has the boards.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-24

Tho present price cutting iq the
result of healthy reaction from the
fever of spending. If the patient takes
plenty Of exercise in productive labor
the country will be the better for il.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-24

Legislators are still little unde-
rided as to the vote getting qualifica p
tions of the soldiers bonus.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-24

The principal offense Of those who
permitted Bergdoll to escape is that they
have not allowed the public to forget
him
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-24

The only things anywhere near as
nuuerous as the claims Of politicians
are the clues of police officials.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-24

The trouble with ever so many
prophets crying in the wilderness is
that they are really common scOlds.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-24

pcnroso has only few more days
to decide on which candidate he will
allow the people to nominate.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-24

There Is great danger that tho coun.
try may be thrown of its guard by fall.
ing prices and led to believe that the
difficulties of the economic situation are
being solved by sort of magic.
But low prices never encouraged pro
duction. II was by assuring the farm
crs of a good price for their wheat that
the government obtained the largest
crops in our history at time when
grain was as important as gunpowdor
Downward prices in general markets
will naturally bc viewed with uncor. .
tainty wherever food is grown or sold
II the farmer fccIs that he. too. must
ask less than he has been getting for his
products in order to go along aminbly
with the crowd he isn't likely TO take
any long chances in the effort to pro
duce large crops, He will watchfulIv
wait, for the present season al least.
The confusion on the railroads i'm e
pedes the movement of farm supplies
as it impedes the movement of all other
freight Farmers are aware of this new
factor. and they have some reasons for
fearing that the rail lines may not he
able to move all their crops after tbo
harvest.
Viewed from any angle. the cominp
autumn seems like an uncertain season
The man who starts a war garden now
cannot lose.
WHAT has become of all the war gar
dens that bloomed and flourisbcd in and
about Philadelphia in recent years
Their graz tdisappearanss -sursly ~
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-24

Trappings from the ex kaiser's s
throne room are on sale in New York.
Fine chance here to equip Chamber
Of Horrors.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-24

TT WAS a sensible relief to turn from
l. him to the comic resignation of that
sphinx like stuffed walrus that sits not
far to one side. With his mouthful Of
useless teeth he rears his brown, bearded
face in one long, pathetic appeal to
that unjust heaven which fails to re-
licvc him from his pcnance of intolera-
bic boredom. lie is the embodiment of
the social martyr, and won my warm
est sympathy.
After gazing too long on that go
rilla | could find no thrills al all in the
commonplace picture book ferocity of
lions, lcopards or tigers, aud even the
doglikc balloons, with their curious
front faced eyes, failed to hold me more
than n moment. ! walked up the next
flight of stairs for glimpse or two into
the bird rooms. The serpents along the
wall were tame and kindly, the curvi-
linear famingOes were nothing more
than so many feathered pothooks, so
that at length ! concluded that my eyes
were full of strange beasts and walked
down the stairs again, out past the
mummies and the bones of Bolivar, to
see once more the pleasant faces of the
children that glided along the walks of
Logan Square. ROY HELTON.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-24

Election returns show that Vare's 4
knife didn't cut much ice.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-24

Grover Bergdoll is no limeight
dodger.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-24

Farming is still the greatest business
mental industry upon which all other
industries somehow depend. The farms
are more important than the steel mills
or the railroads. the shops or the fac
tories. Yet one of the lampntable Of
fcrtS Of the war was the heavy drift Of
farm labor away from the land to cities
and mills.
1t may BE- years before the normal
balances of labor are restored. Mean
while policy of conservation more far
sighted. intelligent and systematic than
anything suggested in price reductions
and anti profitcering laws is impcrativcly
necessary. Revised price schedules
especially if the revisions are downward
as they must be-will not hurry the
production of essential commodities
The tendency to lower prices may slow
up production. Reduced costs should
follow normally after increased outputs
Thus far they have been the result Of
individual enterprise in trade or fnan.
Cial pressure.
The work of production is not quick
ening. 1t is pcrilously slow. What
Governor Coolidge implies is that the
full effect of the war upon American
markets may not be felt until the end
Of summer. when W have to contend
in the kitchen with the practical results
of prolonged idlencss and industrial con e
fusion.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-24

A garden Of any sort is always worth
while But the man who owns a truck
patcn and tends it intclligently during
the next few months will be able to
face the winter with equanimity while
his neighbor has to contemplate cen
Sorcd' meals and a hysteriCal food
market.
The land is willing. There is nothing
better than n garden to have around
the house. It doesn't need half the care
that is lavishcd on motorcar. 1t
provides better diversion than golf or
tennis and it can be the happicst sort
of refuge for children who ordinarily go
to the streets to burn up their super
fuouS cncggics. Yet anybody who goes
about Philadelphia will be amazed at
the extent of the tillable areas that re-
main idle and unprOductive because of
the lack of human effort.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-24

Perhaps Bcrsdoll has gone to join
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-24

NTR Academy Of Natural Sciences
" has n long and honorable history.
II was the first great foundation of its
Kind in America, and today it houses
n mognificcnt scientific library and IN
ot least one important branch OF natural
history Possesses the largest collection
of specimens in the world
Rut il was not as specialist IN
.heIIfsh or in human skulls that l
ononed its doors with the spring sun
shining on the trees outside. but rather
In n shirt of humble inquiry as to what
treasures housed there had lurcd three
Uttlo street urchins to turn their backs
on the pavcments and step inside. l
folIowed the boys around through the
halls and I was amply rewarded.
On the right. beyond glittering case
IN which Law collection of paste re-
rIicas of world famous diamonds, opens
. room whose central exhibit is the
SkcIoton of a sperm whale. The great
,rav sniuaI column and prison bar ribs
COT the small boys into long train of
snocmjation on the subject of Jonah 5
hard luck and ample lodgings, during
the progress of which | stepped aside
to stare into the cases of minerals on
either side. There | found feast of
gIowinc color and brilliant light
topazcs that glitterod lik" Market
street jewelers. store on Saturday night,
sIabs Of Iapis lazuli, with the deep rich
hIucs Of fine rufflcd velvet, buttons Of
slack almandite, like the jet ornaments
Of the early ninctics, and over in far
corner. by n walI-cas display of the
oUt trunks OF PENNSYLVANIA trees. Il
show Of rich brocadcd blues and greens
of maIachite and azurto from the cop
ncr mines Of western America.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-24

In Massachusetts. therefore. the
Legislature is preparing to make spc-
cal appropriations to encourage the
organization of farming camps and to
help all citizens who arc prepared 10
take turn at small scale farming on
their own account.
Governor Coolidge has had n prcsi
dental boom. but. unlike many other
politicians Of influence. he has not per-
mittcd pre- convention gossip to distract
him from hard realities of what will
remain to be dealt with when tho fever
abatcS at Chicago. His view of the
conditions in agriculture is supported
by innumerablc women. whose expert
cnce in the executive work Of the food
administration enables them to visual o
i've future food markets pretty clearly.
II is significant to find that these women
arc now hurricdIy organizing n new
movement for the conservation Of food
and other basic necessities. Their work
is already under way in this CITY.
Oddly enough, It does not contpmplatc
any concerted movement to encourage
greater production.
Production can ho The only pcrmanont
remedy for tn" high price and proftopr
ing fcvor. But it is not possible with
out work And work. for some reason,
seems to bore an amazingly large mum
bcr of able bodied people
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-24

TNIiE cutting of the Parkway and the
l. dominance of the motorcar has
strangely altered the contours of Logan
square. but in the northeast corner the
fine old trees and the smooth grass plots
are unchanged. Nursegirls and young
mothers perambulate pleasantly up and
down in the spring sunshine; the rush
and clattcr of roller skates cbb and
flow before the park benches where
contcmplative old men sit lost IN spccu-
lation. gazing up now and again TO
follow the wild career of some daring
grapdchild who dashes by on four small
spinning wheels. And there is some-
times. despite the noise of the young
ones. sense Of religious calm about
this sheltered corner under the shadow
of the cathedral walls where st. Peter
holds his two bronze keys and ST. raul
reveals the law.
| crossed over to the south side OF the
square, very grateful for the raised
islands of the Parkway. each with Its
quaint. small -paned lantern. and ar
rived safely. though not without some
minor peril of life and limb, before the
new brick incascmcnt that closes IN
the old serprntine walls of the Museum
of Natural Sciences.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-24

DJ-T the boys were of again. ! fol-
Is lowed them TO share their amaze
80 Of the tall skeleton Of the elephant
poiiyor where they fingered so long
nn the question of tusks and teeth
.Sot 7 had at last reluctantly to pass
them by.
+,rors az | stepped through the group,
.sain't there no bones in elephant s
trnnk 90 | believed not. This seemed
20 settle a bet, though the were all
visibly disappointed, and troopcd on
| artor me into the next room, where they
"othered again beside an Egyptian
1,mmmy case and remained for a long
time gazing down into the dead face OF
como Coptic priest Of long ago.
WENT on then to tho foot of the
| otairs. where there stands n cabinet
chose drawers are full of mounted but
torHies and moths with wings as bril- E
| iiapt "a Jewels, but all gricvOusly bur
doned in their business of being beau
| t;ful by strings of pOnde@Ous scientific
nomos. One miraculous specimen, al
sbimmering azure like a patch of can
tmreJ sky, bears the tag of MorphC
Wenelaus. and a great black and yellow
Tiger Swallowtail is figured there as
panilio Turnus, which is no doubt its
nroner name, but hardly a word to b,
roniured with when the creature is be
fore YOU on the wing.
TIME walls, in halls and stairways
i are hung with finely mounted head,
of.moose and elk and deer, like a hun
ter's dining room, but | hastened pas
ali these at the sight, through door
way. Of monstrOus half human face
and 50 came upon the collection of an
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-24
TRAVELS IN PHILADELPHIA
The Academy of Natural Sciences

thropoids, which afforded for me the
big thrill of the whole museum.
First came group of red Orang-
utans--hairy old men with burlesque
Irish bearClS-one old veteran standing
mp quizziCal and as bow legged as a
hOstlcr. and another revealing the men
ace of his terrible teeth.
In the next incloSure. lives family
of chimpanzecs. more kindly folk. by
the look of them. and wearing a meeker
covering of auburn hair. ! did not feel
offended by their claim to relationship,
for they seemed to typify the poor,
meek, down .trodden part of humanity,
stolid and serviceable.
But one turns sharply from all these
to Shudder toward the great gorilla.
which is by all odds the most fearful
object to be seen anywhere in Philadel-
phia. At least ] hope he is. He comes
from Hamburg, which. despite our re-
cent feelings toward the inhabitants of
that town, is. however. not his home,
for he was shot somewhere in the South
CamcroOns by George Zenker and came
here by the grace of DIR. Thomas Biddle.
No one can gaze at this beast without
n healthy respect for the steadiness Of
the shooting arm of Herr Icnker. 1t
is not so much the visible power of
that massive torso, like nothing seen
since the days of Hercules. nor the
breadth of those spreading, hairy shoul-
drrs, nor even the reach of the. arms
with their horny but human fingers, that
haunts ones memory, but rather the
lcer of his huge face. with fearful star
ing eyes, the perpetual threat of those
hungry jowls and the low cunning of
the brutal forehead, black as boiled tar.
He looms over one, safely dead though
he be, like threat of all the beastl
ness and power that might ever master
the soul of man. For this tremendous
carcass is your true Caliban, thing
akin to humanity. but with all the good
and kindlincss left out. He is the in
rarnatioh of the stage villain. the wicked
banker in the Alger books, and the spirit
of that Mr.. Hyde who mastered Doctor
Jckyll.