davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-10-02
Shaking Hands With the Sheriff.

- Shaking hands with the sheriff" Was. in
the oid days, the whimsical way in which the
victim tried to bear up and. express it when
the sheriff came from the county seat and fore
closed the mortgage, which, usually, was held
by the towns skin-flint banker. Most folks
have the fear of death Of mortgage
And it has been popular institution with
out end. nevertheless. In fact. the real estate
mortgage is the Oldest investment on earth
1t dates back as far at least, as the days of
Babylon say 200 years before Christ Perhaps
one doesn't remember the Egibi family? They
were the Rothchilds and Morgans and Rookie
fellers all rolled into one, Of the period some
600 B. C. They made their money by loaning
on city and farm property, taking moHgages
as security. And foreclosing in the good old
way that wipes folks out when they can't pay
The system is old. Only the method differed
from now in a way.
Then, there was no paper upon which to
write the details-and banks with safe deposit
vaults; no county recorder for legal fling. But
the mortgage Of the bankers of Babylon were
recorded on a brick, and for safe-keeping de-
posted in vaults made of huge jars buried in
the earth.
The fellows who invented interest and the
mortgage were far from being financial fools.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-10-02
Modern Marvels.

Guests ON Marconi's yacht, cruising in Medi-
terranean, danced to the wireless music Of IN
orchestra playing in London.
This opens up possibilities. doesn't 1t!
II you see man and maid cheek-dancing
along the main street Of the city, it may be
that they suddenly caught the wireless output
Of some Broadway cabaret.
II Mrs. Jones or Kennebunkport drops the
breakfast dishes and spends the day with Mrs.
Brown at the continuous movies, 1t may be
that her husbands dinner is preparing by fire.
less, conveyed from Mrs. Robinson's cooker at
Yuma.
II the Rev. Mr.. Psaltery rebukes your alb
sence from the morning service, you can claim
that you caught 1t by choirless.
Maybe blowouts and punctures will all be
promptly prepared by tireless. conveyed from
Akron.
And maybe, at some time in the future,
political campaigns will be conducted by the
HAIRLESS.
Would 1t not be fine!
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-10-02
Must Do Your Part.

Every Rock Islander wants 70 see his city
step ahead and take it, plaes among othsr pro-
sressive communities. No man singie-handsd
can do much tor city development But .
band Of men. working together. can accomplish
almost any object they set their minds upon.
The Rock Island Chamber of Commerce has
but one aim-the advancement Of Rock Island.
stronger than IT. personnel. Therefore, il you
want your city to drive forward, identity your
self with the Chamber Of Commerce. Don't
stand on the side lines and criticise Join the
procession and help make the music.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-10-02
Heart 9pHOn1o
|!l.!CDrObTcn1uC-,
oy MRC. ELIZABETH THOMPSON

Dear Mrs. Thompson: l am a
young married man q years of age.
l have been married six years and
have had a very unhappy married
life. We have one child 3 years
old.
l have tried in every way to get
along with my wife and l cannot.
We have lived with her mother ever
since we were married, and her
mother puts her up to aggravate
me in every way possible. She will
not leave her mothers and live
with me. have always been good
to her. Would you advise me to
get divorce or to try to live with
her? ANXIOUS.
1t may be a question of choos-
ing between an unhappy life with
your wife or giving up your child.
Talk the matter over with law
yer and see what chance he thinks
you have in obtaining custody OF
the child il you divorce your wife.
Besides this. could you give the
child as many advantages rs it is
having in the home Of its mother
and grandparents?
Or save money for a home SO thai
you can provide something which
may tempt your wife away from
the home of her parents. When
you have enough to make a pur-
chase tell your wife to look around
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-10-02

and see what she would like She
is an extraordinary woman if she
will not be won over by the posi-
bility of having her own little
home and furnishing it.
Your wife is decidedly in the
wrong. She had no right to marry
you il she did not expect to 60 to
home you would provide for her
There is nothing more deadly to
marital happiness than living in
the home Of parents, unless condi-
tons are exceptionally harmonious
1t seems to me, however. that
your loye for the child will have to
settle the question for you. The
matter can probably be arranged SC
that you can have the child part OF
the time if you decide upon divorce
Dear Mrs. Thompson: was
married IA years ago to a man who
had been divorced Is months. We
were married IN another state, but
he was divorced in Illinois. Now
have been told by a minister that
we are not legally married because
he was not divorced two years
Please let me know IL this is true
WORRIED MOTHER.
T should say with certainty that
you are married. Some time, how.
ever, ask the question of q lawyer
or at q marriage license desk.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-10-02
THE DAILY SHORT STORY

"I know ;t's foo1;sh p;uv do.r ,,
she said, but it is 20 hard to lose
you the minute I've got you. But
you'll come back again, Billy boy,
won't you?
And Billy promised, though q bit
soberly.
Followed months of loneliness
Tor Nan, relieved by Billy's fire.
quent letters. Then, when Billy
had moved up to the front line,
came weeks Of anxiousness and
suspense or Nan, for with the
ianks at grips with the Hun, Billy's
steady now OF letters stopped.
Nan sought relief from her worry
oy piunging into her own work
with renewed vlgor, and Billys
orlei notes became events rather
IMAM mere incidents IN Mans rou-
tine. AS time went on Nan began
10 iaugn at ner iears. VI course
Billy was all right. Certainly he
would come back. and soon. Weren't
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-10-02

got to do with it,"
"Prunes for our specially. Prune
whip, prune souffle, jellied prunes,
prune glace,-oh, hundreds Of
ways! Well glorify the humble
prune and make 1t famous"
And prisms" suggested Billy.
"Prismatic glass in the windows.
You said the room was dark. 1t
won't be with prismatic glass.
Come on, dear, let's get started"
Inside of a week Gregore's
changed hands. Billy's naturally
artistic taste came into play in
newly decorating the rooms in a
scheme Of quiet gray, with white
chintz at the windows "of pris-
matte glass; according to Mans
specifications. The sign over the
door, of course. read "Prunes and
PriEms." with an explanatory line,
Its where you eat"
The oddity of the name was suf-
dcient to attract attention. And
Nan saw to it that food and serv-
ice were such that transient pa
irons became regulars. The new
venture was successful from the
start, and with something to think
about besides his nerves, Billy be-
gan to look and act more like his
old self. Fortunate for the busi.
ness that he. did, too, for Nan took
q vacation . few months ago, and
Billy had to run the place alone.
"Prunes and Prisms-it's where
you eat" has become Q proverb In
the big town now. Nan, however,
has handed the reins over to Billy
for good. She has something else
on her hands nowadays.
Billy, DEAR" she said the other
day, I'm afraid the baby's got nv
big mouth. When he gsts oid
enough to talk. wen have to teach
him to say:
rruaes and pftsnss" theg alor-
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-10-02

UNA.
Though not in general usage.
Una IL one Of the most interesting
Of feminine names. 1t means fam
ine," according to etymologists.
though the great and only Spenser
who brought the name into fash
ion rejected this Interpretation. 1t
IL typically an Irish name. and
since 1t resembles "one," Spenser
gave the title OF Una to his lovely
p3snuAtiou Of thu one truth, the
ons true, Undivided church. the
guide Of the Red Cross knight.
Una il queen Of the fairies n
the county Of Ormond, in which
she appears in ono version Of the
soldier billeted ON Q miser. The
man was amazed ct has hospitAble
reception and entertainment. q he
thought, by the ayaricious squire.
unttl morning disclosed the fact
that Una had raised the mansion
and prov1GGd the s1D9se.
Una - M1ch n 1eot1o1oEsa3Dag
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-10-02

were to constitute his regimen for
a year at least. Nan, overjoyed at
the prospect Of Billy's return,
eheerfully buckled down to the job
Of providing for two for the next
year. With the cessation OF hostili-
ties, Nan had received her discharge
from service and promptly went to
work again in . downtown once.
In the spring Billy came home
again-a bit wan, and with neyyes
still on edge, but cheerful and op-
timistic withal.
Everything would be fine and
dandy, DEAR" he told Nan. IF
were only earning our bread and
butter instead of you"
"The first hundred years are the
hardest" smiled Nan cheefully.
Where do We eat today. Billy
boy!"
Anywhere. SO long a. it is
quiet" returned Billy. Il confess
these down town eating. places do
get on my nerves . bit"
Nell pondered. Il know the very
place" she replied. Come on"
Mans destination was a little
basement restaurant on q side
street, far enough below the street
level and sufficiently remote from
the main thoroughfare for the noise
Of traflc to be scarcely noticeable,
Fine" commented Billy. Food
very fair and rooms quiet. Every
thing beau coup except that It's SO
darn dark"
Nan thought . bit. Finally,
"Prunes and prisms, Billy!" she
.breathed exctiedly.
Huh? Whats the idea with the
whole room full!"
! mo, not that this time. Billy.
I've got big idea Gregoire wants
to sell out. Let's buy. I've got
every cent Of our sllotments still,
and some OF imy salary. We can
swing it just - easy"
But what'a prunes and prisms
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-10-02

san pc3eSe: % beia1. All ihquixtse n
% eeco ndivtdua.. No attsntton VII b.
branch Of the packing industry was
taken BY George H. Hammond. Who
IN the summer Of 1869 began at
Hammond. Ind, the business IT
shipping fresh beef in refrigerator
cars to Boston.
Q. Are honorably DISCHARGED
members Of the Students Army
Training corps entitled to Vfctorv
button and Victory medal! A. H. N
A. The war department Gays thar
nonofably discharged members of
tho Student Army Training corns
are entitled to the Victory medal
and button. x they actually enlisted
In the army. Otherwise they are
not entitled to It.
9, Can you give the recipe for
matrfmony jam? r. n M
A. Matrimony jam: 2 lbs. apnles:
2 lbs. plums: z lbs. pears: EH lbs.
III cups) sugar. Pare and core tbs
apples. and Stone the plums. Put
the stones of tho plums and the mar
ings OF the apples into q preserving
pan with two cupfuls oe water.
Simmer for 30 minutes snd strain.
While This y cooeing peel md
coee the pears Cut the apples and
pears. have them ready. Put the
strained juice in the preserving pan
with the suIA. and Vhen II hnala
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-10-02
A Dlrss h n Miasr
(Sane Oh Harp

49, A>~A>a aAA t6H0nf
a 1o aeueu 80 -
specialize VINO had Jnse 1a0veo =
whale Of an. adenoid from 2 little
patient dear to me obeefved that
few Of u realize how large = share
Of the general illnesses that physi-
clans treat may Dc traceo 70 com-
mon colds. Whefeupon pricked
up my pfen&turally long ears and
brAyed: "You mean respiratory in
fecttons when you speak q colds.
! supposed? The specialist agreed
that they are al bactdial 1nlec-
tons. yet he dragged in the weatn-
or. Damp, cold, Dark Gays MAKE
people feel gloomy and depressed,
he said. That weakens their re-
sistance in itself. Furthezmore
people DO not 90 OUTDOORS 70 81 the
sun and air 80 much on colo or
damp days, AMI that TENDS % rendef
them more susceptaOae 70 co"on
Co T.
Respiratory lniections,
amended.
Ihese colds are respiratory m
fectf0ns, certainty, the epeciahst
agreed, Tor had summoned nun N
consultation on the case. haont i.
but l. think We must CONSIDER
unfavorable weather conoitions as
predisposing causes, ne sadeeWipeo
Is we passed.
The moral OF this story - tnat Cd.
sessions die naro. Inc speciaiist
insisted on oraes1ns IN the weatner
ana cold ana oampness a!tnousn ne
freely admitted ana oedieved tnat
resistance against the respiratory
diseases Is lowered only Dy avoid
ing the weather!
Ours 49, q noble profession, with
. great deal more, scientific accu-
racy than the funny papers and the
innumerable shortcut or fad heal
ers like to grant US. But on the
catching cold question we cut a
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-10-02
PRUNES AND PRISMS.
BY Maude 8. Griffin.
'opyright, 1920. by The Wheeler

C0pyright, 1920, by The Wheeler
Syndicate, Incl
Shortly after Billy Hendricks en-
Agement to Nan Disston he made
discovGsY. 1t had to do solely
18th Mans lips. Billy learned that
then she pronounced the childhood
EAibboleth, "prunes and prisms,"
cans mouth shaped itself into a
Hlicious moue, and her lips into a
Sery inviting pout.
~ BILLY made the most Of his discov-
~, but with the instinct OF the. true
elentist forebore making use Of his
Aowledge save on exceptional &C.
: Sslons. When the inevitable,
: edgh fortunately infrequent, low
rs Quarrels occurred, Billy always
Dlayed his ace" with q SAY 'prunes
I'D prisms,' Nan. dear" And with
An's lips saying very plainly,
lease kiss me-" old man Gloom
Nnys took to ignominious fight.
with the entrance Of America
Ito the world war came the first
20 In Mans happiness, for. she
Armed that Billy had signed on
4or the first Plattsburg camp. 1t
nDk more than one repetition Of the
trunes and prisins" formula be-
24re Nan became entirely recon-
4aed to Billy's taking the plunge,
"a then with characteristic spirit
~ resigned her own job az
pnographer with q local realty
IN and entered the government
&tsice as Q yeoman (F).
3llly won his shoulder bars with
lRoubie whatever and went over
n the fall Of 1917. Four days
~ he entered for Halifax Nan
ene Mrs. Billy Hendrick. Their
neymoon lasted. a brief ysix
9ys. and Billy had to resort to
e9nes and prisms" again before
! could coax the slightest SEM
noe Of . smile TO Mans tAca.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-10-02

The late ex-Empress Eugene
said to have been haunted "
dread OF Sundays. Sept. =, lS'V' :
day the mob invaded the Tuller s.'
vas q Sunday; it was on . ou =
that she learned the news On
death Of the prince imperial
The hefself died On . Suno11 "
Charles Dickens WIS . ceieDs
dandy. Once, when skiing iU y
portrait to the artist Firth. nc
rived at the artists studio a1I
In. . sky-blis ovsrcoat Win
|oulIs.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-10-02

There is measure Of comfort to be gotten
ont 81 the announcement that in many parts Of
(the country windfall fruit Is rotting on the
kDround while the prices in the city still soar,
|)(NA that Is the comfort the fox got >out of the
ect that the grapes that hung too high for
'2fn were sour. The windfalls may be wormy
rotten.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-10-02

Frff Rock Island county farmers complain that
|xl}stf houses are robbed while they are working
{M the fields. That's the price Of prosperity
s4tne was when the burglar wouldn't waste
Ftims. breaking into farm house, for in those
tsys he didn't expect to find anything more
|t1luable than shotgun or rake
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-10-02
In A Name?

the Irish peasantry. 1t Is - nss
pronounced Oonagh and mas
Anglicized as Winny. 4.
The pearl is Una's ta!isms .,t,
gem. It is the emblem OF pu, ns.
popularity and affability. Sae ;..ds
wears It will have many iI ~,
and admirers. Tuesday y
lucky day, and S her lucky w.
Der.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-10-02

fEb psychics should stop boasting about
|predicting the Wall street explosion and start
telling where and when the next one will be-
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-10-02

Mr.. Harding promises. in the event Of his
|6lsction to the presidency, that woman will
Fit In his cabinet. She may be invited to sit
E4ut wen wager she'll be on her feet most Of
tthe time.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-10-02
And We Used to Think Prxemysl Hard
to Pronounce!

(Fron the Terre Haute Starr.
Henry ]. Price Of johnson avenue re-
turned today after several weeks visit
in Wales. Mr.. Price visited hosts Of rela-
tives in Cardiss, Ymysybwl and Talgarth.
LEFT-HANDED pitchers in the past have
been supposed to be--well, bit different
That p our impression, at least; probably gath
cred from reading Mr.. Lardner. But Cicotte il
right-handed, although Williams is southpaw
and both are tarred with the same stick.
WE'D call 'em both underhanded pitchers.
r. E. MIG.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-10-02

zone cannot 30 to the moon without money"
. Professor Goddard, inventor Of the lunar
~. II the man, in tho moon prohteering,
u - ffr.at. rs7.H ..-..79 .l.tl.- 81
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-10-02

One Of the new love books Just marketed
hasn't . nappsr in it. We can see the finish
|ee that book. It's dead one.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-10-02

3 Cnica8o woman, while Tabafeting with a
bale friend, shot and killed herself Her hus-
nd. who says he has for years known the
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-10-02

as Gomebody calls reckless automobile speed
|ngo wild asses Of the asphalt" Why not
EAOuble 1t and call them "assassins?'
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-10-02

ktsjesw York detectives believe they are very
f3tos to q solution of the Wall street bomb
W. The Rockford Star says they have the
n6gs Of the horse that drew the wagon that
EBSied the bomb
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-10-02


A. The absorption Of solar and oe
terrestrial radiation by the air is
greater IN its lower levels where
dust, water vapor and clouds are
densest, while the transmission Of
both incoming and outgoing fadia-
ton is more rapid through the pure
air at the greater elevation.
@. Had Carpenter ever been in
this country before his trip this
year? P. L. B.
A Georges Carpenter had never
been in the United States before
his trip last spring.
@. Will you advise me how to
make crushed pineapple to serve a
q sauce with ice cream? G.W.S.
A. Pare the pineapple, cut out
eyes, and chop fine. Weigh the
fruit after 1t is thus prepared. and
add three-quarters Of q pound of
sugar to each pound of pineapple.
Let 1t stand until . syrup IL formed,
then cook slowly until the fruit IL
transparent
@. Would you please tell me II
casinghead gasoline rs good tu;
automobiles! E.WB.
A. The bureau Of mines Gays that
cesinghead gasoline 10, too volatile
Ito Be used alone and Is ordinarily
used IN mixtures With naptha 70
make q motor fuel.
Q. When did the sending Of fresh
meat for long distances begin?
E. c. B.
-. The, aTst important staps In
tie devs1opghsnt q tho-trssh asat
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-10-02
a essfybody thought the war was over two
|S6afs ago. Will this campaign b. over two
fnEt henbss

IVFf " - In
~ Australia 10 IN earnest about paying cash
|itsvsrythins. vs. know where there II going
~ ~ On unpopular continent.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-10-02

Ei<, What this country needs as much As any
kkh1ng else 10 system by which farmers can
.>9tfow on their crops az easily a. Wall street
nhJers can borrow on paper securities.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-10-02

Ada tsEribi. i piio q ydrl and Gin,
Nsati psnaant. hopes I,a-ssn. 10 ,saoisse1suo
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-10-02

may Be. These socalled sample
colds" are Q proli6c source Of work
for specialists and surgeons q
well % family doctors. A good
many Of NJ would have to close mp
shop and ind other work \ people
did mot adhere to the superstition
that respiratory troubles are caused
By cold, wet or exposure.
It will require some twenty years
vet to teach any Considerable share
Of the people that Ill alleged colds"
ara Infectious diseases communi-
Gated precisely in the same manner
that. diphtheria il communicated.
When that truth becomes widely
known, there is going to be = vast
decline in the sickness and death
rates which are It present main
tanned :, largely by preventable
respiratory infections. =
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS..
For Dry Skin.
Some time ago you gave . for
mulA Cnitnus ~. VI s.,.,s -
dry skin and nsoskln: VIII Wy
be good enough TO pfinx tns1 ioE-
mula again! (mrs. U. \. w. ,
Answer-F1ve grams OF po"oefou
bezoin is to be rubbed up in a NOR
tar with one ounce OF sesame ON
(also known as teei OIL anu penne
oil) and kept At ABOUT Diooo nese ioI
three hours over Q wsAef oatn. lAe,'
It Is to be cooled. ana tnree 1.ops s
Oh, absolute alconol aooeo. A nnie
may De RUBBED upon the oIy eHln
every DAY sesame OH - non
drying ana does not oecolie n'iu
as quickly as 40 most OILS.
Cruel StepmOtnef. :.
I am Betty's stepmotner. Sne ls
IL. Her fafhec thinks am 700 Sc
we're because refuse 10 give ner co.
fee three times q day ana ne aver
her weaV stomach came IRON = COZ.
she had when she was porn. betts
is extremely restless in her steep
Her 1atnef lnslsts tnat sne pe pei
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-10-02
RATIRICAL SONNETS. '

How sweet to know that others think Of one!
And how consoling to . troubled mind
TO realize. although ones best y done.
That there be sages, o 20 wise-yet kind
Who gently point to where the error lies
And then admonish how it doth behoove
The ef1ing one to grid himself and rise
To lit himself from out the deadly groovA
All, ~, It's good to know hardy host
OF busy, brainy persons watch our step
To tell rs WHEN we stumble Who
almost
Not quite!-won fame with Ill their brains
and pep.
To such q these let's pledge this one-line toast:
Here's to our mote; your eye contains post!