davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-01
UPS AND DOWNS OF PRICES.

A general reduction in the prices of
commodities other than foodstuffs,
spreading rapidly from one section of
the country to another, has encour-
aged retail purchasers to believe that
the long-expected, decided and perma-
nent reaction from the high price
levels Of the last few years has set in.
That view of the phenomenon, says a
bulletin issued by the Guaranty Trust
company of New York. is not accept,
ed in its entirety by those who ara Ia
miliar with the many and complicated
factors which have entered into Tho
gradual rise of prices but present re-
SESSIONS are nevertheless a fact, and
consumers are making tine most of it.
Wheit er or not reductions are to
proceed with regularity. continues The
kbulletin, the prev lhing tendency gives
rise 70 a number of potent sugges-
tions with respect to fundamental eco
nomic conditions. Such reductions as
have been made are in response to the
necessities of the moment. At some
point in the circle of changes the force
of economic circumstances has been
applied with the usual inevitable re-
suits.
Prices are not being put down. they
are being forced down. and therefore
some interruption of the downward
course may reasonably be expected as
pressure of circumstances may here
and there be removed. When the
lowest level is reached, probably it will
lie found that many upward turns
have taken place and have continued
for periods OF various lengths.
A second conclusion to be drawn is
that the public will, If Sufficiently
aroused. assert its control over prices
The present situation shows that a
great body OF the people have beer
bringing 10 bear their ability to econ
omize. They have simply refused 10
buy anything they could possibly do
without. and the fact that one OF the
chief reasons. but by no means the
only one, that prices have tumbled is
the inability of merchants to clear
their shelves. proves the wisdom of the
advice that salvation lies in more saw
ing and greater production.
Another significant feature of the
situation is the fact that the public's
buying power is very considerable
Even the slightest recession in prices
swells rapidly the amount of purchas-
ing and when the discounts offered go
up to 80 per cent, as they have in
many cases, the buyers increase rapid
/ ~ enough to insure the merchant
against the possibility of being forced
to offer his wares at excessively low
prices. All this makes for steadiness
and safety in business circles.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-01
OUTLOOK is FAIR"

A slight feeling of uncertainty, if
not uneasiness, appears to have crept
into the public mind recently regard
ing the financial and economic situa,
ton. Many seem to think that some
thing is about to happen and they are
anxious to know what it is. Whatever
may prove to be ultimate results
from actual or developing conditions.
says the Bache Review, there - a
widespread improvement in sentiment
based on favorable factors. Some of
these it recites as follows:
The fear of panic has subsidized I'M
der the influence of sound reasoning
and the assurance that the well-spring
of note-issuing power in the federal
reserve system positively prohibits any
such currency panics as used to pre-
vail. Evidence of this is, in fact that
we have been passing thru a limited
commercial crisis without the occur
renee of disaster. A large gold con-
signment of s2O,0OO,OOo has come in
from Hongkong, and the favorable ex-
change with Argentina has caused re-
lease of a substantial block of gold,
$4,500,000 held here for the Argen-
tine government. Conditions in the
railroad congestion have been i'm
proving and tied-up freight is reach
ing destination more freely there be-
ing turned into cash. The reductions
in prices turnout the country. while
spotty, have, thru large sales, brought
more ready money into the banking
situation. These reductions are good
signs altho it is not probable that
price reductions are permanent or
that they will continue either all along
the line or down steadily to lowed lev
els. There is a better wheat and crop
outlook than has prevailed for some
months.
There appears therefore to be no
cause for pessimistic sentiment, and
there seems to be abundant reason
why everybody should go ahead with
the prosecution OF his regular busi-
ness. without bothering about the fu-
ture. and undisturbed by any small
clouds that may be discovered floating
in the financial sky. There will be no
storm.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-01

With a determination worthy of a
better cause. projectors of the bonus
bill have succeeded in jamming it thru
the house, knowing well, TO doubt,
that it cannot get by the senate. 1t is a
repetition of that body's favorite pro-
ceeding of passing a measure which
it is hoped by its members will win
votes in certain quarters and depend
ing upon the senate to kill it. Wheth-
er or not the passage of the bill by the
house serve its evident purpose, prob
ably little more will be heard of 1t un-
til after the election. The new con-
gress will assemble with something
like a definite idea OF public senti-
ment regarding the matter and prob
ably will act accordingly. Meanwhile
the soldiers themselves will have a
feeling of assurance that ultimately
they will be accorded full justice re-
gardless OF which party wins.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-01
HEART AND BEAUTY
PROBLEMS
BIZ MRS. ELIZABETH THOMPSON.

Dear Mrs. Thompson: We are two
girl chums and we are in love with
two boys. One night we went to a
party with them and We did some
thing we regret very much Now
when we meet them they just speak
coolly to us. Why do you think they
do this? They do not ask US for dates.
SNOW WHITE AND RED ROSE.
Probably the thing you did which
you regret disguised the boys. Let
them go, without making any effort
to regain their friendship. Profit by
this mistake and try to rise above it
so that you will keep the aspect of
others You must be more reserved
and careful of your actions with
boys.
Dear Mrs. Thompson: CORE
spond with a boy away from our
home town, but do not care for him
except as a friend and 1 think he feels
the same towards me. / write him
because I get lonesome sometimes.
Do you think 1t all right to keep cor
responding with him? A GIRL.
Yes, the correspondence is all right.
II is not necessary to love in order to
correspond.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-01

fill the numerous orders that come in.
Diamonds are particularly wanted.
Every nation in the world seems to
want some diam onds. but the demand
here is especially large. While the
scramble goes on, the prices go up"
Nov all of this frenzied buying on
the part OF our new millionafres would
be very harmless were it not for the
fact that everybody else is inspired, ap-
parently, to go do likewise. The
luxuries turned out by American in
dustry to relieve the strain of these
newly expanded pocketbooks are also
tempting those whose pocketbooks
have remained as they were, or have
shrunk. AS one authority says, 1T is
commodities that the world lacks now
and not money. Therefore, the value
of all material things is enhanced in
the eyes of the prospective purchaser
There is an avarice for the possession
of commodities rather than money"
This blind avarice is endangering
the future of the nation, according to
many of cur financial and economic
experts One of these has even char
acterized the presen. wave of luxury
buying in this country as THE Dance
of Industrial Death"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-01
LITTLE BENNY's NOTE BOOK
BY LEE PAPE.

Me and pop and ma was in the set
ting room and I started to look for
my cap to go out. thinking, Gosh,
ware the heck is it, its in heer sum
wares.
And I looked on top of everything
and underneath everything. mcleod
ing some places twice, finding a sent
under the sofer and big rubber band
under the book case, but not my cap,
and I sed, Say, pop. did you see my
cap enywares did you see my cap,
ma?
No day is compleet il that boy don't
lose his cap, sed ma.
Meaning me, and 1 sed, / dident
lose it, ma, its in heer sumwares be-
cause 1 remember I brawt it in with
me, so il cant be lost.
1t must be a relief to know its not
lost like the art of conversation or
the science of pottery, sed pop.
Sir? L sed, and pop sed. wy don't
you have one definite place to put
your cap, and then you would avoid
ali this mix up.
have. pop. ony-I always forget to
put il there, 1 sed.
lose, sed pop. And I kepp on
looking without finding the cap OF
enything elts, and I sed, G, ma, you
must be setting on it.
No I'm not, either, sed ma and /
sed, Well will you get UP and see, and
she sed, o, you're more trouble than
you're werth. And she got up and she
wasent setting on it.. and 1 sed, Do you
feel enything funny under you. pop?
do not, sed pop, and 1 sed, Well
would You mind please getting up to
see, please, pop, please?
How could l resist sutch politeniss
sed pop. And he got up and the cap
wasent on his chair, and I sed, Well
its heer sumwares. all rite. Ill BET
enybody.
Watts that bump inside your blouse
sed ma
WITCH it was my cap, and j put II
on and went out Proving l was rite
all the time about it being in there
SumWareS.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-01
IMPORTATION FOR ALL READERS OF
THE TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL.

Zach reader of The State Journal Is
offered the unlimited use of the largest IN
formation bureau In the world
This Service Bureau is located In the ma
tional capital, where IL is in immediate
touch with all the great resources OF the
United States government.
1t can answer practically any question
you want 10 ask, built can't give ad-
vice nor make exhaustive research.
The war forced SO many changes In the
daily life of the American people that the
services of this Information bureau Will De
invaluable to all VITO use IL.
Keep In touch with your government az
all times. 1t eau hel1 you INA thousand
ways IL your wants are only mede known.
The State Journal pays for this splendid
service In order that every one Of its read
ers may take free advantage Of 1t. You are
welcome to use il as often as you like.
Write your request briefly, sign your
name and address plainly, enclose 2-eent
stamp for return postage and address, the
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL INFoRMA-
TION BUREAU.
Frederic j. Haskin. Director, washing
ton ID. g.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-01


The Knox peace resolution failed to
obtain sufficient votes to pass it over
the presidential veto and has gone
into the discard. 1t is pointed out by
The Review that: $50 far as our do
mestic conditions are concerned, 1t
would be quite competent for congress
TO repeal all its war acts, and further
TO declare that as regards home af-
fairs the war emergency is at an end
this. without introducing any question
of International relations. In this
way, in the first place. all the complex
questions, both of diplomacy and OF
constitutional law, would have been
eliminated from the case; and second
ly, il the president had placed himself
in opposition to that proposal he
would have had to shoulder the re-
sponsibility of this opposition without
being able 10 plead, as OF course he
now can, that congress had gone be-
yond its legitimate province" But
such action would have tended to re-
move the subject of peace from poll
ties and this is something that neither
OF the big parties appears to desire.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-01

taken is to make short visits, and to
administer our society to our friends
and acquaintance in broken and
homeopathic doses. Perhaps in this
one thing is comprised the whole of
the law and the prophets as regards
not being a bore.
For human nature is so constituted
that it can stand almost any afflic-
| ton for short time. 1t is only when
the suffering is long drawn out that
| 1t breaks down nerves and becomes
uncomfortable.
pop-in-and-pop-out method of calling.
we need never fear but what we will
be welcome guests The individual
everyone breads to see is he who stays
and stays and proses along until you
feel like screaming with boredom.
Brevity is said to be the soul of wit.
1t is certainly the secret of popularity.
and first aid in the prevention bf
boredom
1t is literally true that anybody can
be entertaining for half an hour, and
nobody is brilliant enough to be en-
ter,aining for three hours on a stretch.
Ones own experience abundantly
proves this. Think of how merrily the
first part of a dinRer party goes, and
how drearily the last parti Remem-
Der how you chartered away at high
lspeed with Jones for the first hour of
his visit, and what hard going the Sec
ond hour was to find something to
4 talk about! Recall how interesting
you thought Mrs Smith was when you
first knew her, and how dull you con-
slider her nowi
Apply this hardly won information
about others to yourself. Don't feed
people upon your society. but always
keep them asking for more. Con-
dense whatever you know that is anus
ing. interesting, and unusual into one
lsman compact bomb. and having
hurled it into the conversation midst
beat 1t away from the spot. So shall
you gain the reputation of being en-
Itertaining, and be sought for for din
ner parties. And, at any rate, people
will forgive you, even IL you do moi
scintillate if you are not slayer and
long winded.
Copyright, 1920, by the Wheeler Syndicate
Incl
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-01

for granted that if the government will
take it's hands off the transportation
business the RAILROADS will ask no IA
vors. The cattle growers apparently
want federal protection ewhile the
roads are left to shift for themselves.
The error in the cattlemen's attitude is
that they are looking upon the carriers
as engaged in private business enter
prise which must stand or fall upon its
own merits. AS a matter OF fact, If
the roads cannot support themselves
it is not their own misfortune" but
the misfortune of the whole country.
The correct view, which, also, is that
taken by the law, is that the railroads
are great public highways which must
be kept open.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-01
Dorothy Dix TALKS
How TO Avoid Being a Borc.-i.
BY DOROTHY DIX
Worlds Highest PaId Woman WrieeF.

While listening to the tedious con-
versation of some dull and stupid in
dividual did you ever experience a
chilling of your extremities, accom-
panied by a gone feeling at the pit
of your stomach, as you suddenly Won
dered if you were as great bore to
other people as he, or she, is to you?
1t is a fearsome thought and one
calculated TO blanch the cheeks of
the boldest. for there is not one of US
who. in our secret souls, would not
rather be arraigned at the bar of
PUBLIC opinion for any crime, from
murder to chicken stealing, rather than
to be charged with being a bore.
Moreover, the mischief of the mat
ter is that we can never, really be
certain whether we are bores or not
We may Believe, and trust, and pray
that we are not bores, but we can
not positively know. We cannot make
a personal test for we are all SPELL
binders and fascinating to ourselves.
Nor can we accurately gauge our
reaction on others because conven-
ton has taught us to do the Spartan
boy stunt and smile, and smile, and
appear diverted while our very vitals
are being gnawed by the tedious, and
we are suffering incredible agonies of
ennui.
We have even been taught TO
camouflage our sentiments so well that
when at last, in answer TO our fervent.
silent petitions to Heaven for deliver
ance, the bore finally rises to depart
we urge him. or her to stay longer.
and to come again and repeat the tor
ture.
Therefore. unless people actually
yawn in our faces. we have no means
of knowing whether they are weary
unto death of us, or are hanging en-
raptured on our words.
This being the case the only safe
thing to dolis to regard ourselves with
suspicion as one who might, could.
or would become a bore, and to take
every possible precaution against
being innocently betrayed into becom-
ing one of these dread scourges of
our fellow creatures.
The first, and one Of the most inn
portant prevention measures to be
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-01

Another slight decline in prices of
food products has been reported for
the past week by Bradstreets. The
index number. based on the prices per
pound of thirty-one articles used for
food. is $4.9l.N which compares with
S4.97 the previous week and $5.06 for
the week ending May 29, 1919. This
shows a loss of IL per cent from the
week before and of 8 per cent from
the like week of last year. While the
consumer may not notice it. yet it is a
straw indicating the direction Of the
wind
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-01
JUST FOLKS
MA AND THE oUIJA BOARD.
BY EDGAR A. GUEST.

MA AND THE OUIJA BOARD.
I don't know wh9t it's all about, but Ma
says that she wants to know
If spirits in tie world can really talk to
An Pa says. Gosh, there's folks enough
on earth to talk TO, l should think,
souls have gone across the brink
But Ma. she wants to find out things an
study on her own accord,
An so a month or two ago she went an
bought a ouija board.
It's just shiny piece o. wood with letters
An has little table which you put your
fingers on with care,
An then you sit an whisper low some
question that you want TO know.
Then by an bv the spirit comes an makes
the little table go,
An Ma. she starts to giggle then an Pa
just Erumbles out, 'Oh Lord
I wish you hadn't bought. this, thing We
didn't need a ouija board-'
you're movin' itr' says Ma to Pa. I'm
not.' says Pa, II know it's you:
You're maxim It spell things to US that you
THAT kn sg very wsl M aren't n bi% but
certain from the way
The ouija moves that you're the one who's
Its just Iectrieity.. says Pa, like bat
teries all men are stored
But anyhow / don't believe we ought TO
have a ouiJa board"
One night Ma got it out. an said, "Sov
Pa, want you to be fair,
Just keep right still an let your bands
rest lightly on the table there:
Oh. Ouija, tell me. tell me true, are we to
buy another car,
An will we get it very soonf" she asked
"Oh. tell us from afar,n
Don't buy carr the letters spelled. sthe
price this year you can't afford -
Then Ma got mad, an since that time she's
never used the ouija board.
Copyright, 1900 By Edgar A. 0uest.l
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-01
George Matthew Adams
Daily Talk
LET BYGoNEs BE BYGoNEs

LEI b1GONES BE B1GOSEzo.
1t is hard for all of us not to take
dust of yesterday with us.
Most of us are slaves to tradition,
hide in our innermost hearts much
that should have been discarded and
forgotten.
Our bygones should be bygones.
We should rise from our every
sleep-bigger, stronger, ruddier in
bury, in a grave of oblivion, every
irritating thing-every destructive
thought-every elements that might
grow to disturb and rob us.
1t is not easy to teach the mind.
But there is in US all an inherent mas
in power so welding as to make the
brain a servant and not slave.
We are what we will to be .
So that bygones of temper, unkind-
ness, ill-will, as well as all acts of an
ungenerous nature, may in truth and
sincerity be bygones.
1t isn't what we were, but what we
are-now.
Life begins today. 1t is always be-
ginning today. To spend time and
worry upon things that have hap
pened, and that can never be un-hap-
pened, is to waste the allotted time
given you in which to work and to
serve.
Let-bygones be bygopes.
Turn about-right fdce! Walk as
far as you are able from your failures
and misfortunes- Success is but the
other end of failure. Happiness is but
the other side of unhappiness.
It's the same earth that is wrapped
T in darkness. and then bathed in light
by the sun.
Breathe triumphant air. Ret by.
cones be bygonesl
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-01

The Texas Cattle Growers associa-
ton. represented by S. H. Cowan, has
expressed opposition to an advance in
freight rates. The cattlemen are
against any raise in rates for profits.''
said Mr.. CowAn. "If the roads can
not support themselves it is their own
misfortune" But it may be remem-
bered that the railroads were support
ing themselves in what was to them a
satisfactory manner a few years ago
and until the government stepped in
ari stopped them. 1t may be taken
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-01

An apt description of the excess
profits tax is that given by Herbert
Hoover, who said in substance that 1t
is an appointment by the government
to the manufacturer and distributor to
collect taxes for the government. by
adding them to the margin between
the producer and the consumer. In
other words Uncle Sam has Joined
the ranks of the middlemen.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-01

The editor of The Nation, Oswald
Garrison Willard. has just published a
violent attack on the life and charac-
ter of Gen. Leonard Wood. This
should be OF some benefit TO the gem
erals chances for a nomination at Chi
caRo
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-01

Since the new Mexican government
appears to be harboring feeling of
friendship and respect for the United
States it may be suggested that it is
an opportune time to remind Mexico
of that little matter of saluting our
flag. which still is being neglected. 1t
is several years overdue. I
z
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-01

Sufferers from the high cost of liv-
ing may learn a lesson from William
Hohenzollern. former emperor of Ger
many, who is reported to be making
his own clothes.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-01
Mouhon Musings
BY ROY X. SfOULToN.
BY ROY

A Little Slice o. life.
Old Karl X. Kitchen,
Who is always taking
The joy out of life.
Has written in to tell us
That the strawberry shortcake
Season is at hand
There are certain things
We try TO forget,
One thing is the sort OF
Strawberry shortcake
They keep en sale now
Three sour berries
Perched on top Of a piece
OF dry cake.
Back in the old days,
When mother used TO make en-
With the juice oozing out
And the luscious berries
Piled in so thick
You couldn't see the cake.
And she used to make IL
In a big pan and bring IL in
In mammoth platter,
And we used to sit down
And wallow in it and
All get sick and everything.
Wen bet there isn't
A modern cook that ever
Saw real strawberry shortcske.
SO let us forget the
Modern shortcakes.
The>>ayes" have lit.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-01

- Mexican congress has chosen n
temporary president. Most CT them
are that kind in that country.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-01

You Win, Jimmie.
Dear Roy: What will you bet that
the next publicity stunt pulled by
some enterprising motion picture star
will be to don overalls and walk down
Firth avenue? JIMMIE c.