davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-28
Letters to the Editor
A Girls Ace of Freedom

~, ,be Editor Of the EUCilin0 Public LcdDcr:
eir-t nm southern woman. I came
. uve in Philadelphia about six months ago.
have two daughters one being seventeen
ars Of age At my horne in the South II
80 always my custom when my daughter
,,,oivod gentlemen callers for me to 20 into
t roon and remain, at least most OF the
i,,o acting as n sort Of chaperon. Until
a came TO Philadelphia my daughter never
lncw any different, az 1t was the custom
,ith all southern mothers
Now my daushtcr Is beginning to resent
,,i. she tells me that her girl friends
..athers never come into the room and that
,hov ridlcule her for my doing so. As my
1arvbter Is attractive. We were not here
100, before she made number OF nice ac.
,,,iptanccs at school At first shc had a
at many friends who came to the house.
So, ,hev have gradually drifted away, and
.. ovcn very few OF the girls como, anu
,, dangbtor biames II OH mo and my por.
Is,oncc in watching over ner, AMI cspe'
,iai,, until I know fully the character OF
the girls and boys who call
The question has caused m" considerapie
,houRht ns to just when young slri mas
asnd tho azo when she no longer neeus
Tho chareronnE supervision OF her Hotner'
,,ai that should exercise this wntchful-
-. =, icnst until my daughter has finished
| .nhooItrr and has become more ma
o and has secured circle or friends
,,h tho character Of whom I am very Ia
,tor n seems not to be the idea OF the
r,uo daIrhIa mother as a rule, but II Is the
,,arin hIc custom of all the southern
,,thcrs Can any o.e give me llttlc au'
lice on this subject? . .e,,,,.,.,
Philadelphia, December 81, 1e2o.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-28
Origin Of "'m From Missouri"

To tie Editor Of the EUcnino Public LedDcr:
Sir-ReceHly in THE Forum" reader
asked for the origin Of the expression "rm
from missouri you must show me-
think 1 can add further to the discussion
Ihe expression originated by a mistaken
ldea OF some persons who really were not
acquainted with Missouri but had come In
contact with q lone "hayseed" MiBsourian,
whose education was OF the white Oak
Ridge or Hickory Bottom sort, and he
had wandered off probably further from
home than ever before. He had even got
out OF the State In which he had commented
and finished his growth.
He was doing quite scientific act OF
rubbering' and seeing sights, while ad-
miring thrf5s that we're only ordinary. His
new associates soon discovered that he was
"A walking side show" and commenced
showing him around the village. and
while he Learned" rapidly. every time they
showed him something he gave the impress
sion that he was completely broke out with
ignorance; that he knew nothing except what
had been shown him, and. to AIissouri's mis-
fortune, he kept saying. I'm from Mis-
souri," II was evidently the conclusion Of
these guides" that the peculiar type OF hu-
manlty they had met was true specimen
OF all Missourians. so the joke. ''Im from
Missouri, you must show me-" started and
Travelled r'!cely
I understand the joke has undergone some
change to its meaning. II does not now
rler 10 Missourrs IGNORANCE any more
than II does to its skepticism. The Mis-
sourian who Is fright on TO his job does
rot believe you Just because you said so
you must show him. c. w. l..
Media, Pa. December IS. 1920.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-28
Rep,ies to Mr.. vauclain

,o Tho Editor Of the EUenin0 Pubic LedOeF'
s,r--In YOUR issue Of the EVENING PCsIIo
rnGrR, dated Friday, December lo. W.;
ou published an article dictated o' n,'.ss
.not 40. should avoid questions that "ouio
a, tho public into foolish arguments. espe-
Iarv such a one as the discussion tnat
nan with wife and children neen not wv, ~
.or 20 40 a week Is sufficient for them 10 h'e
, ,eceEtly. =. ,o anu IN
.,, 49,, rried man couldn't live on so 4o
ccr at the present time. He Inish. nav nav
cen able TO do so years ago a Hlils'e -
s,,u referring to an unmarried mann "or'
ave to 10 without his food ana oepr'Ne W h''.
a,r Of almost all pleasures. as any person.
a. iodgi,,, in n decent place. has to pay
nat much. . ra M
+ have been studying about wants. ana SO.
2 course I know what is meant py ."as ~
cord Perhaps also | understand wn"' 70
meant when II is said that so'ne ~hIs
, great need OF bread and putter' M Mwhl.e
,.bors seem to have more thar their WANTS
sW,' ao,iaaed unfortunately most com
,'nnl,Ies have many members who have too
,tle with which to supply the necessary
hrgs OF life. aoo,,. ,c
. tho, +, moor man who creates his wehl'n
a, not the right to enjoy himself in lux
lr,,s Put to work twelve or niteef huui
, day and 10 home ard forthwth 10 oou
,ho, no has not the right to go to the MOVES. s
,.rher to own his own house. autonooi'e
.or tho hest things of life though he
.reetes them. ,. to ,oa,
Thsrcfore. Mr.. Vaucain, don't be leal
Us lust because poor, honest No'"'ns "''a,
nan is earning more morSH. rave Sou 49,, 49,
,'0pped to think Of the troub'es anu c ,espo
slbilities that a poor man has 10 uhuets'
,,s, tor the saIe OF helping out the wealthy
c,,sso NJ q. FERNANDEZ
Philadelphia, Dec. is, lo2o'
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-28
A Husbands Liability

To ihe Editor Of the Evening Pubic Lod0ef'
Sr-Please answer the following; mar
ed man, with baby girl, lives with whe
mother. Tho mothrr-in-law, with heip OF
wife, assumes the right to oVerruie an
say In regard to the care OF the baby. Please
advise what rights "a husband has ana now
Far a mother in-law dare decide what IL
hast for granddaughter when is con
rrary to the wishes of the father OF the
child The son-in-law refuses to AVe with
mother in-law any longer What can she
or the wife do? W H. -
Philadelphia December 81, lO"o'
A married man Is not Obliged to live IN
me house with his wife's mother 1t 10 MS
duty to provide n home for his wife' ana u
s her duty to live in the home provided DS
ha husband TO the best of his abillty' 30
far as her mother liz concerned he Is uh"er
M legal obligation for her support unless
ne shall have obtained possession OF per
sonal property or be entitled to the rents
and profits Of real estate belonging 10 MS
wife, Thon he will be liable for the sup
port ~ her mother to the extent ~ IN"
aIuo Of such property as he has acquired
Nv his marriage. Whil" the daughter would
b" liable to contribute 70 the support or her
mother, that liability would only arise IN
"ase the daughter should be OF sufficient
ADILALS Goss0,, ,oontaihutss phls doa1- not neAn
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-28
That Ace Problem

10 the Editor Of the EveniHo Public Ledger;
sir-In answer to problem OF ~, w. H.
| submit the following:
Let equal age. Thon minus SQUARED
equals Ok: X squared minus lax plus 40 and
plus II equals 3 X; squared minus lax
minus Ok equals minus 40 minus IL; X
square minus Tx equals minus 90.
Adding a number to both terms OF the
eaua ton, this number will make the nrst
term OF equation a perfect square. and we
have: squared minus Tx plus 1928 equals
minus 90 plus 72.2b; extracting the square
root OF x squared minus Tx plus ~ ~. we
have 1925: then x minus SO equals 30;
x minus 8.6 equals plus 50; equals IL
Proof: ~ minus I equals 81 squared equals
2S. which plus II. equals 80; 8 multiplied
by l2 equals &c.
Personally don't think ~. w. L." is
twelve years OF age and wrote tho problem
at this age
The square root OF this number, 72.2o'
which was added to the equations. should De
equal to one-half the numerical value of the
middle number of the square or 81
4 squared minus Tx, etc,
A. MILDREW, JR.
Philadelphia December 49, 1920
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-28
Wants Readers Opinion

,.,,,,o,. NJ tbc EpcpiuD Public Ledger:
Ell may bc looked upon as an old
tosov" " and probably am, Tor nH son teIlo
49,, ca hut for the life Of me ! cannot un-
,jorstard the present system OF 'hstruct"s
l ,ounc ucoplp in our public schools in so
,,-y things that we did not have to study
Tnn was young and pay no attention TO
,coding. writing or spelling.
&c. son is about finishing high school, and
. ia very bad Spcller. When he reads
.,,ythIng from paper many are the woruS
W. Ia not able to pronounce, and when ne
v rites a letter OF He"o' " - "
,gible. . 49,. t
There Is nothing. 1t seems to me- that is
49,, onnoving than to receive "a letter with
,,pv Of the words misspelled. at once
,,, tho person down as ignorant or care
see In my school days we were compe'ted
no through several grades OF spelling.
=, en- TO the best Of my knowledge, has
',ralIv no training in spelling and mas
,or been asked to study II TO any eH-
, ut. 49,, ,, - -. n
I o,.o write very legible hani. Il not a
.s.,,,v one learned this through the OLD
',. ,hot ,vo used in school. in which we
a cony, hooks Of tho Spenccrian system. ana
,bInk there is nothing more attractive
,n,n a well-written letter that Is yer! easy
r.,d When I was n schoolboy we had
tain reading lessons and we had TO reao
octions out Of books in class ana ths
nn ,oolf care to see that we read and
nhaaiyed properly. My son tells me that
, ali out Of date and that they never DO
,, r,v more only in the primary classes.
,hink Il is ali n mistake. The books my
an, studies and the subjects with "hich the the
.,hooIq are familiarizng him appear to me
~ be Of no material use to him In pusi-
7es, life. and hardly in professional hIe,
,d while they may help to build up ms
nina and his thinking power, OF what use
viii that be II he Is unable 10 wr'te.n sp.,, ~
IA road correctly? No one VIII want 10
NV ,u'r,ov him II he cannot pass muster In
,Eese most essential studies
would like very much to get the op'','
"a of some Of your readers on this suo,ect,
Cor II has been great source OF ~orry ~
ne TO find how little my son KNOWS as "o ID
,s, obout 10 come OUT OF high school.
.ns' aoou' ~ ' d. l.. GREENE.
Philadelphia. December %, 1920
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-28
To Curb immigration

TO the Editor Of the Evening Public Ledger:
Sir-In view Of the fact that immigra-
tion IT, at the present time. greater than 1t
has been for many years. and that the OFF,
cials at Ellis Island are sorely put to IT,
to handle the swarms OF embyro Citizens
is it not time TO call a halt? This is u most
inopportunc time for immigration into the
United States II is also q dangerous time.
a menace to the peace. safety and prosperity,
OF the country. and It had better be cured
before II is too late.
There was a period in our history and de-
volopment when certain kind of immigrant
was desirable. That time has passed while
the country Is by no means overcrowded as
a whole. yet certain parts Of 1t are. The
class of immigrants up to twenty. or even
ten years ago ewere far superior TO those
now pouring into New York, great many
criminals are among the latter.
Furthermore. why should America be
made the dumping ground for the surplus
population OF other nations? There Is
sort of American always willing and anx-
ious to glut the labor market. Unemploy-
ment should not exist in America. a nation
OF boundless resources. yet we now face an
unemployed problem I have Travelled in
Europe and have seen many OF our future
"citizens' in their native suualor Ignorance
and superstitions. All Of which they bring
with them.
Our large cities arc already q disgrace.
and II Is to the big centers of population
that the immigrants crowd where they are
not wanted. The immigrant from southeast
ern Europe Is not OF the right breed and
never could become an American. There is
a vast difference between tho pioneer from
abroad and the Immigrant who insists upon
crowding into the cities. What Is to become
OF the regular American? halt must be
called at once. The gates should be moro
closely guarded or closed altogether for a
term of years Unless quick action Is taken
we will have a lot more boring from
within"
1t Is not my purpose to condemn our for
eign-born citizens az many Of them are good
Americans, while others are not. The latter
care nothing for our traditions or institu'
tions n fact they know nothing except TO
fasten upon this country and get all they
can in order to return to their own countries
as soon possible. They do not live ac'
cordinR to the American standard. There
! Is one thing certain. native Americans are
not going to face any such competition. II
Is 20 be hoped that Congress will act at
the earliest moment In the matter.
GEORGE T. PTERSON.
Philadelphia December Is 1920.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-28
An Old War Soma

To the Editor Of the Evening Public LedOCr:
Sir-In last Fridays Peoples Forum" n
reader asks for the old war song. "Babylor
Is Fallen" inclose It herewith. !,
Phila delphia, Dec. 10. 1920.
BABYLON is FALLEN"
dHenry c. worO
Don't you see de black clouds
Risin' ober yonder.
Whar de ma ssas ole plantation am"
Nebber you be frightened
Dem is only darkies,
Come to jne an fight for Uncle Sam.
Chorus:
Look out dar now, IVES a-gwine TO shoot
Look out dar-dont you understand?
o don't you know dat Babylon is fallen!
Babylon IL fallen! An we's gwinc 20 e.
cupy de land.
Don't you see de lghtnn'
f1Rshin' in dc Canebrake,
Like as II we gwne to hab storm
No! you is mistaken
'ris de darkies bay'nets.
An de buttors on dar uniform
Way up in de cornhed
Whar you hear de tunder.
Dat Is our ole forty-pounder gun.
When de shells are missln'.
Den we load wild punkins.
All de same to make de towards run
Massa was de kernel
In de rebel army
Ebber SERGE he went an run away
But his lubly darkes,
Dey has been a-watchin'
An d2y take him prls'ner ludder DAY
We will be de massa
He will be de sarvant-
Try him how he like It for a spell
30 we crack de butt nuts,
So we take de kernel
So de cannon carry back de shell
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-28
Domestlc Work Tabooed

To INC Editor Of the Evening Pubic ledger
slr-I note what a writer to the reopi1 ~,
Forum says about a young girl from VIZ VIZ
country. clerking in local store. w
.omnr, mea, in two years and Is almost
starving. Why, thon. does this girl not S 90
= different line OF work where she cou.o
earn nus only room and board, but very
d,,.s ,yeu and have money for reasonable
amount Of pleasure? refer TO the work OF
p domestic But domestic work is taoSoes S
by such girls who are incapable o, m,sn
eHrning power in other lines. Yet , house-
loepers are crying for help ana nre pay s "a
MRS +. l.. d.
Philadelphia, December 10, 1920
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-28
REFRAIN

REFRAIN
For the elephant now goes round
And the band begins to play:
The boys around that monkeys cage
Had better keep out OF the way.
First comes the anaconda boa constructor.
OFT called the anaconda for brevity.
He can swallow an elephant well as Il
toad
And Is noted for his great longevity.
He can swallow himself. crawl through him
self
And come out with the greatest facility,
And wink his eye and snap his tail
And jump with the greatest agility.
Next comes the haboon Emeline.
Catching flies and scratching her head
Weeping and waling all the day
Because her husbands dead.
Poor weeping, wailinE water lily,
OF all her friends bereft:
That monkey Is thumbIng his nose q, hrl
With his right hand over his left
That hyena in tho next cage,
Most horrible to relate.
Got awful hungry the other nigh
And ate UP his female mate.
Oh. don't 20 near his cage.
Keep away from him, little boys
For II you don't he'l growl and bIls
And make a most hideous noise.
Next comes the Arctic polar bear
Oft called the icebcrE's daughter.
She's been known TO drink three tubs Of &C..
And call for sody water.
She wades In the water up to her knees
Without fearing any harm
You may grUwl and grumble as much as Won
please,
But she don't care darn.
Next comes the condor an awful bird
From the highest mountain tops
He's been known TO eat UP little bovs
And Growl and smack his chops.
The performance can't go on,
There's too much noise and conf Isiou
Those ladies giving the monkeys nuts
VIII injure their constitution.
The last verse consists OF but four lines
and is sung very slowly and with great
solemnity. II runs thus:
Van Amberg's dead and gone
We ne'er shnll see him more
He stuck his head in the lions mouth
And the lion began to chawr.
Philadelphia, December 20 1920
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-28
Questions Answered
Meaning Of Phrase

To the Editor Of the Evening Public Ledger:
Sir-Scveral days ago in local paper !
saw the phrase. THE mikmen get con-
siderable supply from the COW with the iron
tall" What Is meant by Cow with an
iron tail''? a. l.. DAVIDSON.
Philadelphia, December 10. 1920.
Tho Cow with the iron tail'' is a hu-
morous colloquialism for a pump. in allusion
to the current lest thus alluded to by DR..
Holmes in The Professor at the breakfast
Table: 1T In a common saying ora Jockey
that he Is all horse. and have often fanced
that milkmen got stiff upper carriage ana
an angular movement that reminds me OF
a pump and the working of a handle" Milk
mon are invariably accused OF watering
their milk
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-28
Rhymed Letter and ReoIv

70 Inc Ea,tor cJ me Evening Public lean, p
WIS., ~ SentS nEo magazine callod
a coz coo,, ard 20 h nupmsned s a rhymed letter tc
COOK ana her reply to It. Do you sup
pose you could hnd u?
CATHERINE t. SNEED
TnI'"ne,phla, November 2s 1920.
me following from an old scrapbook Is
prooap'S the rhyme wanted;
HIS LETTER TO THE COOK AND MN
REPLY
Door Ii,,,. ,,.,
~. N"stor, m
sur-EIab Law 80 vi,
That vou ire inst Tho noo1a, YOU H"'.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-28
Poems and Songs Desired
Wants Emerson Lines

TO the Editor Of the EUettn0 Public Lcd0cr:
Sir am anxious to secure a few lines
by Emerson or. hospitality or entertain.
ing. sHw them on u wall motto in n
home ] visited several years ago. but have
tailed to reach the people there by mail
with request for tho lines. l hope some
one knows them and can supply them.
8. NJ. HOOD.
Chester. Pa, December 10, 1920.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-28
Civil War Soma Wanted

10 thc Editor Of the Erenino Public Ledger:
Slr-1 would like very much to see print
ed In your Peoples Forum the Civil War
song entitled THE Heights OF RichuOnu.
One verse starts:
We laid all night on the cold. cold ground,
NO tent or shelter could be found."
Also the song containing tho lines:
II had a dream the other night,
Which nearly drove me wild
dreamed was in Ireland
And Just little child"
Mrs. l.. E. SEARCH
Philadelphia. December 81 1920.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-28
THE PEOPLES FORUM

Letters to the Editor should be as
prief and to the point as possible,
denominational or sectarian discus
sion.
No attention will be paid TO anony-
NOUS letters. Names and addresses
must be signed as an evidence OF
sood faith, although names Will not
De printed II request Is made that
they be omitted.
The publication Of O. letter Is not
10 be taken as an Endorsement OF It's
views by this paper.
A.. communications will not be re-
turned unless accompanied by post
age nor Will manuscript be saved.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-28
Answer 10 Number Problem

10 ne Editor Of No. Evening Public LI"o.I :,
S,r--I take leave to answer j. n, =,
AZ to the number OF different conlpinat,o"s
that can be made of the figures l. - o. - o.
,. mo and not using the same hgure In any
combination. The result is 862s 300
ran b. found by multiplying each Term o,
he progression by the one following " anu
'he product by the next term as: ~ % s%ivee
2X3 gives 0. 8X4 gives "a Zfho SIZE s,ses
will corroborate me in this. e, w L.
Philadelphia, December 81, 1920,
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-28
National Cemeteries

TO the Editor Of the Evening Public Ledger;
sir-How many national cemeteries are
there and how much money does It cost the
oourtrv 10 keep them up7 J. Il. E.
phils sdelphia, December 22. 1920.
The War Department says there are
,vantv-three such cemeteries. The ap-
nropriatlon for their care and maintenance
Tor the fiscal year 1921 Is $780,
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-28
A SONG Without Title

To the Editor Of the Eveni,l0 Public LedDrr:
Sir-Here are some of the verses and
the refrain. which Mrs. f.. T.. r." Of
Chester, Pa. requests. They are quoted
from memory. which fails, however, to pro-
vide the name Of the song
Van Amberg Is the man
We see at all the shows;
He goes into the lions den
And shows you all he knows
He sticks his head in the lions mouth
And keeps II there awhile
And when he takes II out again
He greets you with a smile
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-28
Transmitting Of LIsht and Heat

TO the Editor Of The Evening Public Ledger!
Slr--Can light and heat be transmitted
through Vacuum? {, J." OliNFh'
Philadelphia, December y, le2o
The naval observatory at Washington
SAYS that light can be transmitted through
a vacuum and that It II IN this way that
heat energy reaches the earth from the
hup. - -.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-28

that the wfe's liability would be trans
ferred to tho husband, except in the cir
cumstances already stated where he had OBJ
tained property by marriage
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-28

The Peoples Forum will appear daily
IN the Evening Public Ledger, and also
in the Sunday Public Ledger. Letters
discussing timely topics viii be printed,
as we'll as REQUESTED poems. and questions
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-28
TOYS. Dolls and Games

I......,.,,i. ifl,r-t .lrs)lt- Clearance Sale Of |
T,,.. u,, and (;~r,n, a, ,,,an.<,h1o reductions
--- 7---57------;
$3.50 aNd 5000 kIddi" hoop for }abi"s S'115 and
Sl995; "'m"Ifr "Nh springs mattress ara mosquito
49, nett n@ C'y"' we NHeSs $40.
$50 to $675 Baby NaIHers so" to Sl9'; various sy
S599S eour Fort'rr' al H''Sn nalr: SarGs ons, fu
width In wanted roorS; douho-faced Shght rnper-
Fections.
Sl39 Japanese Lamp shade SILK Soc yard: hne quality
iSc Cretonne -" ard delightful coorng and patterns
good for draNcros and slip covers.
49c ne Grade MarquS"tte zoe yard in white ivory and
SO inches wide.
$39S Imported Japanese Table Runners. S265 each; rich
and beautiful co'OrrCS.
S2.2j Java Print Table Covers, Sis each exclusive.
SIPS English Poplir DraDery TWILL 65c yard not in all
Colors. 45 inches wldn
Sl.9S Dutch Scrm Curtains $l5O with dainty lace
r'siua, in white ol 'y -, yards long.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-28
1T ON THE FIRST FLOOR %,

Mems 39c to SOC Socks, 25c pair; fine cotton and
mercerized socks; black and colors.
Mems 75c to 81 Socks, 39c; thread silk and fancy
mercerzed Isle socks.
Mems 81 to $1.5O Wool Socks soc: fine worsted and
wool socks in heather mixtures and plain black
and natural,