davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The mirror., 1920-08-12
WHAT THE TRANS-SIBERIAN
MEANS TO RUSSIA

The magnitude of the collapse of the
trans Siberian can be measured only by
the magnitude of what the road signifies
to Siberia, the one Siberian railway, de-
creed by ukase of the father of the late
Tar, Alexander III, in 1891, to plumb
the wilderness of this remote but virgin
rich Russia in Asia. Asiatic Russia has
never had to solve the problem of lack
of resources, but rather how to gather in
and transport its amazing treasures and
spread them over the world. Bounded on
the north by the Arctic and on the south
by China, Siberia has been singularly
lost in its own exiteless immensity and
far-lying distances And the most val
liable undeveloped land in the world is
still Russia in Asia. To comprehend the
potentiality of it, one must cease to Wis
ualize Siberia as map or as the frozen
tundra of the exile and travel-follow the
railway from Vadivostok through the
wheat belt of the Ussuri, across the soya
bean fields stretching west to Bukedu and
the grazing lands of the Buriats around
Chita, pass days in the shadows of the
virgin forests reaching from Lake Baikal
west and still west toward Novonikolaievsk
perhaps the greatest body of timber
known, extending two hundred miles south
The mirror., 1920-08-12

of the railway and so far north as timber
district of Barnaul and smell the soil in
that rich alluvial plain, the black-earth
wheat belt next the Urals One must hear
tales of the northern gold. All this and
vastly, unimaginably more, the resources
of Siberia, still undeveloped; undeveloped
but no longer unknown, for the TRANSIT
berian has begun to plumb them and to
draw Siberia within the circle of the
world. In one year after the construction
of the road, passenger traffic increased fifty
per cent and freight still more; it has
from that time been one of the most heavi-
ly taxed lines in the railway world, with
steadily increasing demands. A master
builder-the trans Siberian for the north
of Asia. 1t is commonplace that rail-
way line trails immigration in its wake,
but the trans-Siberian has been peculiarly
the forerunner of Russia in the Far East,
formerly colonized by forced settlements
of prisoners who covered the great dis
tances on foot. And it has not only COL
onized the East but it has buttressed and
held it against the aspirations of Japan.
Without the trans Siberian and the as
sumed possibility of transporting speedily
an army, Russia would long ago have met
her irresistible force in Japan; the trans
Siberian has kept up the illusion of Great
Russia.-OliVe Gilbreath, in asia mag
uzine.
The mirror., 1920-08-12
VICTORY AT LAST

In the worlds annals there is no more
fascinating and inspiring story than that
of mans battle with disease, especially
the dread scourge, yellow fever, which for
800 years has reaped harvest of death.
The cause of the dreadful disease was
complete mystery until 1881, when DR..
Finlay of Havana announced the theory
that it was transmitted by the mosquito
and by one species only, the stegomyia
fasciata. But not till 1898 was its correct
ness proved and then by the late Major
General Gorgas, sent by the United States
to Cuba as chief sanitary officer. Mem
bers of the American commission on yell
low fever offered themselves for con-
elusive test. They were bitten by mos
quitoes and had the fever, one, DR.. Wal
ter Read, giving his life thus for human
iy. DR.. Finlay's theory was proved.
Major Gorgas saw that only one thing
was to be done, viz. exterminate the ste
gomyia fasciata, and this he has done,
the last stronghold to be conquered was
Guayaquil Ecuador.-Ex.
The mirror., 1920-08-12
OUR NEW NATIONAL PARKS

Unexplored America sounds like an
anachronism, but there are new national
parks and proposed national parks rarely
visited and where natures wonders are
not yet fully revealed. The Government
is preparing national parks, far and near,
carved out of the public domain or ac-
quired by gift, "for the benefit and the
pleasure of the people"
The average person in contemplating
national parks will usually not get much
farther than two names: Yellowstone
Park and the Yosemite Valley. The ma
tural wonders and scenic grandeur of
these two peers are generally familiar, but
Yellowstone and Yosemite are now only
pioneers on list of twenty national parks
The mirror., 1920-08-12
IMMORTALS NEGLECTED

We constantly hear it said that there
are at present no very great men. Especial
ly in literature is their dearth lamented.
Where, then, are the immortals?
Alas! they live in very few hearts. The
few still devoted to their memory long for
a revival of literature, not for revival
among writers, but among readers. When
philanthropists foresaw the coming of uni
versal education they dreamt that the
national heroes of the pen would be wor-
shipped by every freside. What was to
prevent it? The key of knowledge was to
be given to all. Who has hindered them
from entering? No one knows. The door
is still open. There is still some hope.
What different world it would be if
Englishmen-not an intellectual circle or
group of circles-cared for English litera-
ture. There is no sign that they are going
to do so. The tombs of the prophets are
not neglected, and that is all.
Never, we suppose, was there time
when literary criticism was so completely
distanced. There is no lack of time given
to print. No one sits alone with idle
eyes. Everybody reads, but the most wide
ly read authors are ignored by the critics,
and most of what is read has, so to speak,
no author at all. 1t is anonymous inten-
tionally ephemeral, constantly insincere,
almost always written with an immediate
but momentary purpose, and with no liter
ary pretention whatever.
Suppose all this were to change tomor-
dow and public which is beginning to
The mirror., 1920-08-12

administered by the Department of the
Interior; seven parks administered by the
War Department; besides thirty-fve So
called national monuments. National mon
uments differ from parks only in that they
are designated by the President and Secre-
tary of the Interior under authority given
them by the Monument Act of 1906. Such
a decree is often followed by an act of
Congress which makes a technical ma
tional park out of the potential one.
One of the most valuable pieces of park
legislation ever enacted by Congress was
that which created last year the Zion Ma
tional Park. Zion was scarcely known
ten years ago. Brigham Young was one
of the earliest visitors. The gigantic Wis
tas the diversity of the canons, the won
drous coloring so impressed the leader
of the Mormon faith that in reverence he
named it "Zion." Now Governemnt road
construction and the Utah state roads have
opened the new park to visitors An auto
mobile route is also open from Zion Park
southwark to the Grand Canon, which
was dedicated on April 80, 1920, as
national park. East of this region in the
southwest corner of Colorado is Mesa
Verde, created national park in 1913,
and containing. the homes of the Cliff
Dwellers. The route which the Service
is preparing for the visitor to these parks
will include glimpse into Bryce Valley,
a proposed park, where myriads of stone
pinnacles seem translucent in the play of
sunlight.
But the new parks are not all in the
West Much of their value lies in their
accessibility for occasional visits by the
public. The same Act of Congress which
created Zion National Park also made
the national monument of Mount Desert
Island, Maine, into national park. This
magnificent preserve was gift from citi-
zens to the Government and includes the
finest mountain landscape on the coast
of Maine.
Encouraged by what has been accom-
plished, the National Park Service has is
sued an invitation to the American people:
Uncle Sam asks you to be his guest.
He has prepared for you the choice places
of this continent-places of grandeur,
beauty, and of wonder. These are for
you. To see them is to make more hearty
your affection and admiration for Amer
ica.-W0rlds Work.
The mirror., 1920-08-12

take an interest in the national treasures
of art should turn its attention to the far
greater treasurer of literature. The effect
upon the national character would be in
calculable. Suppose, for instance, that the
marvels of Old Testament prose once more
fascinated the English world so that men
read it because they must read, not as
specimen of Elizabethan English, not to
find the matter for controversy, not to in
crease their historical knowledge of the
ancient world not above all to enable them
to sneer at past ignorance, but because
they longed to find for their own religion,
their own patriotism their own aspira-
ton, the highest expression of the ages.
1t would be difficult to imagine a more
ennobling influence.
Suppose, again, that the thoughtful man
in the street, of whatever class he may
come, the man who desires to read some
criticism upon life which shall enlarge
and clarity his own power of observation,
were to become familiar with BoswelPs
Johnson. How immeasurably his mind
would be strengthened! There is an inn
mense deal of Johnsonian trenchancy al
ready in the English working man.
At present he reads, when he wants
help in his thinking, papers which give
him matter for consideration, but no as
sistance in justly considering it. The old
thing is that his judgment is as little
vitiated as it is.
What would happen if Englishmen
crowded to see Shakespeare as they
crowded once, as they now crowd to the
cinemas? If they studied in his pages
the heart of man, seeking under his guild
ance the soul of England, the soul of this
great people, should we not gain in men,
tai robustness and moral stature till we
stood head and shoulders above Europe?
If when men wanted rhetoric as they
want wine-they read Milton, looking for
liberty in the Areobagitica and for its
symbol in London, should we not behold
as true the wondrous vision of the blind
man?
"The ship of war hath not there Tin
London) more anvils and hammers wax
ing to fashion out of the plates and in
struments of armed justice in defense of
beleaguered truth than there be pens and
heads there sitting by their studious
lamps musing, searching, revolving new
notions and ideas, wherewith to present as
with their homage and their fealty the
approaching Reformation; others as fast
reading, trying all things, asserting to
the force of reason and confinement"
London Spectator.
The mirror., 1920-08-12
NOTICE TO INMATES:

Each inmate is accorded the privilege Of
sending one paper home, or to friends free of
charge. To do this you should write your
own namo and register number and the name
and address of the person you wish to send
the paper to, and hand same to your officer.
If you desire to send more than one paper.
each additional copy will be charged for at
the rate of so cents year.
The paper delivered to your cell each week
must be kept clean, and should be folded in
at the foot of your bed on the morning fol-
lowing the day on which it is delivered to
your CELL
The mirror., 1920-08-12
UzfnS.
QUERIES
NOTICE TO INMATES

NOTICE TO INMATES
For the benefit Of any inmates who appre.
hours give toward a means of self education
through correspondent school courses, study Of
Eh sa IN
ton in connection with their work in our var.
ious departments, will herewith be privileged
Go use to IN syv soerea Of You
est to yourself, THE MIRROR with the kind
collaboration Of Miss Miriam E. Carey, su.
pervisor Of Institutional Libraries. will gladly
endeavor to supply the requested information.
NOT1CE-1n order to regulate the conduct
OF this column inmates must sign their name,
register number and lock number to all querie:
course, will not be published, only the initials
OF each querist being used.-Editor.
Q:-(I What city in the u S. is con-
sidered to be the most French and Span
ish settled up to the present time? (2)
What city in the U. S. has the largest
negro population at present?-E. D. S.
A=U) Outside of Greater New York,
New Orleans and San Francisco have the
largest number of foreign-born French in
habitants. The statistics are as follows:
French foreign-born inhabitants (New
Orleans) 3,640; French native born in
habitants (New Orleans) 9,S42; French
foreign-born (San Francisco 6,244;
French native-born (San Francisco)
4113; Spanish foreign-born (New Or
leans) 44S; Spanish native-born (New
Orleans) 1851. (2) There are no sta
tictics later than 1910. At that time
Washington, D. C. (outside of Greater
New York; had the largest negro popula-
tion, 94,941.
Q:-How fast will bullet discharged
from 80 revolver travel?-P. o.
A-As there are several different car
tridges in the caliber 80 each charged
with different amount of powder the
speed naturally varies. The muzzle
velocity of these bullets ranges from 500
to 900 feet per second.
Q-Has a flag been adopted for the
league of nations Pc. w.
"A flag has been proposed but not
adopted. The proposed flag consists of
three vertical stripes and one horizontal
stripe on white ground.
Mr.. G. B., after having question in this
column in reference to the Ozark Noun
tains answered on the 22nd of July, takes
exception to same. The answer was care
fully compiled by the State Supervising
Librarian, Miss Carey, and it is a we'll
known fact many reference books are not
always accurate, so Mr.. @. B. may use
his own prerogative.
The mirror., 1920-08-12

NOTICE-Contribution submitted to THE
MIRROR for publication must be absolutely
original; if not original, proper credit must
be given, if known; if writer's name is not
known, it should be so specified by said con.
tributor. Should contributor fail to comply
with this request he will henceforth be dropped
from THE MIRRORS contributing staff.
Approved by WARDEN. Editor
The mirror., 1920-08-12

NOTICE-All inmates using the Query Col
umn and desiring more detailed information to
their queries are invited to use the splendid
reference books in our library to be had on
request. The International Text Books are
especially complete in their information on
technical subjects. Consult the Reference,
Useful Arts, Literature, Chemistry, Biogra-
ply and Science divisions of our library cata.
logue for diversified subjects.
The mirror., 1920-08-12
CHURCH NOTICE

CHURCH NOTICE
Services in the Prison Chapel at nine o'clock
every Sunday morning, Protestant and Catho-
lie service overy alternate Sunday. Rev. G. E.
Benson and Rev. FIR. Corcoran, Chaplains.
The mirror., 1920-08-12

"When honesty is the best policy, il
ceases to be honesty"
The mirror., 1920-08-12

THE MIRROR is a weekly paper published in
in 1887 by the prisoners and is edited and
managed by them. 1t aims to be home news
paper; to encourage moral and intellectual i'm
provement among the prisoners; to acquaint
the public with the true status of the prisoner; ;
to disseminate penological information and to
aid in dispelling that prejudice which has ever
been the bar sinister to a fallen mans self-re-
demptiOn,
The mirror., 1920-08-12

"Life cannot bestow happiness on u.s.
we must bestow it on life"
The mirror., 1920-08-12

"The first ship the world ever knew
was courtship."
The Press., 1920-01-22
'% Ao Gpert'

Are you burning coal to warm your house or outdoors? The high cost of heating the modern home, the coal shortage and increased prices means that every shovel full of coal in your furnace must give forth it's house-heat- ing equivalent.
 The War Savings Division of the United States Treasury in accordance with it's national thrift campaign has made the following timely suggestions on how to save fuel in heating.
 Keep the temperature of the house at 68 degr ees. Save heat by using weath- CT strips, storm windows, storm doors and drawing shades. Do not heat un- used rooms. Cover heaters and heat carrying pipe: with asbestos. In talk care of the heater keep it clear from soot and ashes. Repair all leaks
 Learn to use dampers effectively. The smokepipe should have two Hampers, the check draft damper and the turn damper. The check draft dam per controls the rate at which a fire burns; open it to check a fire; close 1t to increase the draft. Learn to use it so that it will do its work. If it is ,roperly constructed and managed you can check the fire with it without opening the coaling door.
 The turn damper fits loosely so that
The Press., 1920-01-22

gases may pass off even when it is closed. In most heaters the damper should be kept closed except when starting the fire, otherwise most of the heat goes up the chimney.
 The damper in the coalin; door should be used only to let in air to con- sume gases that are formed, especially when soft coal is used.
 The ash-pit damper admits air neces- sary for the ignition of the coal or wood. Regulate the air supply by the damper-not by opening the ash-pit door.
 In building fire close dampers, re- move ashes, put in crumpled news paper, cover with kindlings laid cross wise, add a thin layer of coal, open the ash pit and smoke pipe Hampers and light the fire.
 For good heating, regular care of a fire is neded, attend it from two to four times day In adding large amount of coal, leave part of the glowing fire exposed. Clean the ash pits daily. Keep the fire pot full. Better heat is obtained if the fuel is kept even with the fire door in front and little high er in the back.
 Fuel saved is money saved and money grows when put into War Sav- ings Stamps and Treasury Savings Certificates.
The Press., 1920-01-22
LARGE RETURNS FROM MINT
United States Supplies Bulk of Pep. permint Oil for the
 World.

The bulk of the peppermint oil Of the world is prodlced on the muck lands of southwestern Michigan and n few counties of northern Indiana. The total yearly product is estimated at 5OO.O00 pounds. There are two vari- cites of peppermint. the American and the English or Kitchen. The latter has almost superseded the American. being better adapted to our soil and climate. and favored by the trade. It Is also hardier and yields larger crops.
 The ideal mlnl farm is one having both high land and muck soil. which is a distinct advantage Cn account of the rotation and humus in the soil, de- cayed vegetation being essential to the peppermint crop By the use of prop er amounts and kinds of commercial fertilizer. l. .ge crops of mint can be grown for many years in succe&SiCn on the same ground. The mint plant after the oil is removed. makes n very desirable feed for live stock. returning about the same amount of food value as an acrr of Grd nary meadow land besides he oil. Thus two profits are | harvested from one acre of peppermint,
 An acre of peppermint will yield from 20 to 60 pounds of oil, while q second cutting will yield from six to , 20 pounds extra. The farmer needs no extra 'quipment to grow this crop than found on the ordinary farm ey- rpp, a small still to refine the oil. In Michigan and Indiana from 20 to 100 Z farmers cooperate in the operation of stills. handling from 30 to 100 acres of peppermint in the one mill. Ii is now a large industry.
The Press., 1920-01-22
Treasure-Trove.

Toberlnory Bay is becoming seri- OuSly interesting. The salving opera tions in connection with the Spanish galleon. supposedly the Florencia. which for three and a half centuries has lain wreck off the coast of the Isle of Null. are being brought to the surface-amOng them beautifully chased silver plate and the Orna- mented handle of silver f1agon. h. terest in the operations has brought crowds to this part of the Scottish coast and neither bed nor board is to be obtained by late corners. The div CTS have not performed their work without some sign of protest from sea dwellers. One of them disturbed re- gently a huge cOnger measuring some 15 feet. The annoyance of the animal was unmistakable. Treasure-trOve is undoubtedly now within grasp, but difficulty is experienced in bringing the finds whole and uninjured to the surface.
The Press., 1920-01-22
Giant Warrior of Middle Aces.

The pride and magniticence that played their part in the days of chir' airy can hardly have better Illus tration than the suit of equestrian armor which has recently been placed on exhibition in the Metropolitan Mu- scum of Art, in New York city. SieGr Jacques Gourdon de Genouilhac wore the suit in the sixteenth century, and Sieur Jacques was an uncommonly large and powerful warrior, who Serv- ed under Louis XII. and Francis l. of France. As may be deduced from their armor, the knights of the period were not notceably large men, and Seur Jacques must have seemed verltlble giant, for siX-foot attendant at the museum has tried on his armor and is said to have "merely rattled around in If "
The Press., 1920-01-22
WINGS FOR MRS. VANDERBILT
Soldier Admired Spirit of His Enter tainer, but Couldn't Gu te
 Credit the Rest.

Mrs. w. K. Vanderbilt tells this story on hC C"Srlf:
 Sl.p was doing canteen work in Francr during the recent misunder- sanding in that vicinity. and devoted ;.: nSderable time to entertaining American soldiers in one of the hostess houses Being an excellent dancer ana! attractive. she was in much de "'and among the boys. One evening le danced several times with tall tGw-haired dOughbOy who showed ,mptoms of great loneliness and talked v0lubly about things in Michi- gan.
 When the evening was ended, the tow-haired one came over to Mrs. Vanderbilt.
 Eve had a bully time," he said. and I want to keep track of you. We're moving out of here tomorrow, for the front But if we get back, I'd like to look you up over in the States. My name is Albert Bridgeman, from Grand Rapids. What's yours?"
 I'm Mrs. w. K. Vanderbilt" she re- piled.
 The doughboy scanned her from head to foot.
 "Thats right, chicken" he said, ''fiy high!"
The Press., 1920-01-22
STILL USE ST. BERlARDS
Tunnels, However, Have Greatly De. creased His Importance in
 the Alps.

Although the tunnels which now con. meet Switzerland with Italy have greatly decreased the importance Of the St. Bernard and other passes, cSpe cially during the eight months of snow, it is still deemed advisable to employ St Bernard dogs. II is no longer GUS. tOmary, however, to send out the dogs alone with laSkctS of food and drink a man always accompanies them. These dogs are not really of the fa nous old St. Bernard breed. That originated in the fourteenth century through q cross between d shepherd dog from Wales and Scandinavian dog whose parents were Great Dane and Pyrencan maStiff. The last pure descendant of this tribe was buried under an avalanche in 1916. Fortu. nately. there were found subsequently at Martignv and on the Simplon pass few dogs which. by crossing with mates from Wales. yielded the modern St. Bernard dog, which Is physically even stronger than his medieval nameSake. and shares most of his traits.
The Press., 1920-01-22
NEWSPAPERS DON'T TELL ALL
As a Matter of Fact, World Must Not Be Judged by What One May
 See in Print.

Through all civilized countries folks spend lot of their time just read ing the papers. And it is all right. too. Everybody reads the papers.
 But one must be careful to keep ones equilibrium at the same time. We must not make the mistake Of sup posing that there is nothing else going on In the world except that which the papers print.
 The papers publish only the news that is startling or sensational. Nat urally. that's all they publish. What ever is unusual, out of the ordinary something that aStOnisheS one-theSe things are what the papers print.
 If you were to go into newspa- per office with an item, say, about man who had reared his family care fully. sent them to school and had paid the mortgage off his home, the editor wouldn't put that piece in the paper because there is nothing unusual about it.
 But if the item were about man who refused to work to support his family, and who beat his wife over the head with a club and who chased them all out in the middle of the night in the rain. then the editor would say it was news"
 So. you see. it is mostly the trou- hIeS of the world. it's seamy side, its crime and suffering and squalOr that get into the papers.
 Yet. there is the worlds other side, thank Gnd-its bright side. its love ;nd gladnesS and charity and the help hat one man gives another.
 Read the papers. of course. But, when you read them do not gel the idea into your head that the world is plunging headlong to perdition. be- cause such is not the caSe.-Utica Globe