davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-08

nine and no indications from partner.
Neither Of them is likely to have any
further opportunities. The others at
the table criticize the lead What is
wrong with it?-R NJ. P. Jr.
Answer-The correct lead from king,
queen and others is the king. which
indicates the presence Of ace or queen,
or both. The lead of a queen denies
the king and ace, so that if the partner
should get in later he will hesitate
about returning that suit and NAV lose
trick or two. Nothing is gained by
leading queen from king, queen and
others, except to deceive the partner
and undermine his confidence in YOUR
leads.
Questlon-A has led and Is about to
lead again when the declarer stops
him and says his partner took that
trick. This A disputes and wants to
turn the trick up to look at it, but
the declarer insists that trick once
turned down cannot be looked at again
even to settle dispute Of this kind
How, then, are We to decide which is
right? The partner says he did not
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-08

This communication, though it was
written in poor French, didn't offend
M. Lecorbel. His examination of his
toric documents had accustomed
him to style still more barbarous.
And though it was going to cost him
visit to the Marine Department
library, he cheerfully made the re-
quested appointment.
He wasn't surprised by the aus
terity with which he was received.
Mr.. Professor" said the magis-
trate, you saw the other day, in the
Rue de Rivoli, a policeman stop a
runaway horse?"
"a policeman" said M. Lecorbel.
"Why, no, Mr.. Commissioner. 1t was
young man, and, if l am not mis-
taken, modest employee, deliv-
cry boy"
at may be-" the police commits
sioner continued, that the young
man also stopped the animal. But it
is with regard to the policeman that
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-08

what is expected Of him; average as
sistance in the heart suit and three
tricks outside, two of which are in
diamonds and one in clubs. All this
is included in his partners original
bid, or discounted. B bids two
clubs, holding four values in that
suit, two in spades and one in dia-
monds. This is total Of seven.
q passes, having bid all his hand
was worth IN the first place. A
passes, holding normal trump assist
ance, but only two trick values (in
spadcs) outside. He Is, therefore
one below average, Now, if Z goes
to two hearts he is bidding sometime
that he has not got, because all
that he holds is already bid by his
partner. z has refused to go fur
Their and seems to have Just bid.
IN which case the hands are not good
for moro than the odd, unless one
wants to gamble on sometime nm
usual turning up.
1here IS nothing in the gambling
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-08

away horse? 1t wouldn't mean any
thing so far as he was concerned.
Nobody would be grateful to him for
1t. But this policeman is charged
with looking out for accidents which
may happen in the streets. We
know him. He is an excellent police
man. His record leaves nothing to
be desired. And in this case he was
not IN default. There is no doubt
mat he would himself have stopped
ehe morse If the boy hadn't antici-
pated him. In the end he did stop
the animal, and it was he who turned
II back to the owner of the coupe.
NOW, by preparing this report in the
sense IN which | permit myself to
suggest to you, we give him a chance
10 obtain medal, which he other
wise deserves, but for which he
might have to wait much longer ex-
cept for this lucky occurrence"
on are right" said NJ. Lecorbel,
completely convinced. And | am
happy to share in this good work.
Let me testify as you wish"
l knew well,' answered the coma
missioner, smiling at him, that we
would be able to understand each
other"
NJ Lecorbel went home. Looking
at MS flles, he sighed deeply. He had
just discovered another cause of his
torlcal errors, which he had never
dreamed Of up to that moment.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-08

children for the doctor, at once put
their belief to the test. Picking I'D
the lifeless bodies they carried them
into the yard. The rain died away
as they worked with frantic haste to
prepare the ground, but the aerial
rumbllngs and flashes continued and
the rain-laden branches whipped
Enthusiastically in the wind.
! The holes dug, the children were
placed in them, and for a half hour
the parents watched for signs of re-
turning life. 1t must have been an
agonizing, if not an unearthly, ex
perience, but the Stahurskis, who
are rather stolid folk, did not stop
to analyze their emotions. Even
three days afterward when the
anguish and superstitious emotion
alism of the moment had died awav.
they could give only a vague picture
Of what had taken place. When
they were asked to tell the story the
sun was shining, the house in which
the tragedy occurred stood tenant
less-the Stahurskis waited only
until their offspring had been in
TERED in the cemetery before NOV
ing out-and the fields stretched
away pleasantly in the warm after
noon light, but they had no words to
command the situation.
we watched as hard as we could
but they did not move" the father
said.
Apparently they were not the
only ones who watched, for word
Of what had happened soon got
around, and two or three Of the
nearest neighbors Joined the group,
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-08

remember what card he played, as they
were all small, and small card won
the trick-G Met.
Answer-The laws restrict excuses
TOR looking at any trick once turned
down to cases in which there have
been too many cards played to trick.
II the players cannot agree as to who
won the last trick, any of them NAV
pay twenty-five points penalty for the
privilege Of looking at the trick and
then each may indicate the card he
played to it.
Question-The contract IS four
spades, and the opponents have won
three tricks. It is BIS lead uo to
dummy, who holds king and two small
clubs, B holding ace, queen and small.
b leads the ace of clubs. His partner
bets that he should have led some
thing else, so as to get a chance to
make two clubs late H. T. C.
Answer-B's object was. Of course
to make sure or saving the game and
setting the contract right there. if
his ace held. In the absence of anv
indications that clubs must be led
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-08
Ben Franklin's Don'ts

AS for the safeguards to be N.
served when thunderstorms are in
progress, here are few set down by
Franklin and other experts: I.
Stay away from open window.
and chimneyA
Don't sit under a brass chande-
lier or hanging lamp suspended
from the ceiling by brass chain.
Don't take refuge under tree IL
you happen to be caught by a storm
in the open, and don't stand in the
doorway Of barn or close to cattle
Beware of wire clothes lines. and
it is better to close all windows and
doors while the storm is OF.
The safest place to be is in tbs
middle of a room, but going to bed
and trying to insulate oneself in
feathers is not absolutely necessary
Incidentally, it may be well to re-
member that Heaven has mora
thunders to alarm than thunderbolts
to punish" and that lightning, whils
more terrifying to many than high
winds and foods, is by no means az
destructive to human life as either
Of these and that comparatively few
persons, all things considered, ara
ever struck.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-08

staring dumbly at the faxen polls
and peaceful, childish faces which
seemed, in some strange fashion, to
be sprouting from the ground.
AT last, no signs Of life develop
ing, the children were dug up and
were pronounced dead by the ply
stefan who arrived later. Only three
tiny scratches were found on the
body of the girl, and there we're no
marks at all on that Of the boy.
Both had been killed instantly by
the flash that came through the
window. They were buried .wo
days aftcrward in the cemetery at
Baysidc, L. l., two miles from Little
Neck.
"A strange occurrence, surely, but
It's appeal is not entirely in the
circumstances under which these
simple folk sought to recover their
children. AS matter of fact, there
IS considerable scientific support for
the theory that persons who have
been struck by lightning can be
revived after considerable period
of apparent lifelessness. Then,
too, old newspapers readers may
remember the case of the cccen-
trio scientist who contcnded that
persons who had been electro
cuted could be brought back to
life by being buried in the ground.
This was about 1889, when the cleo
trio chair was first introduced in
New York, and doubtless there are
those who recall the discussion that
attended his offer to resuscitate any
executed criminal by burying him in
the ground before, of course, the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-08

q deals and bids heart, having
four values In that suit, but moth
ing else. There are many players
who will not make bid on such
holdings, but imagine they should
have trick or two in some other
suit to back up the hearts. There
is no help for such players unless
they play against bidders who are
as timid as themselves and miss as
many opportunities. z has four
tricks if he plays the hand. If his
partner has three and normal trump
assistance he should make his con-
tract seven tricks.
When A passes, Y has exactly
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-08
Auction Bridge

hand. For the remaining three he
looks to his partner.
What he expects to find, on the
average, is normal trump assistance
and three trick values in addition.
Unless the partner holds more than
this he should never increase the
contract, because If he does he is
bidding his cards twice over. If the
original bidder has more than four
trick values in his hand he can in
crease the contract himself If he
likes, but his partner has no right
to assume that he has more than
four until the doclarer shows it and
seems to want to go further.
1t is remarkable that while there
are thousands Of players who do not
think four trick values strong
enough for an original call, they
will assist their partners when they
have only three, or even less. This
is only another evidence of the
truth of the frequently repeated
statement that not one person in a
thousand has any idea of how to
count hand or its value as a bid.
Let US take an example; very ordi
nary deal:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-08
By r. F. oster
Author Of "Foster on AUCTION" "Auc.
ton Mode Easy" "Fostey's Com
pJefs Ho11S stn

Author Of "Foster on auction" "Auc-
ton Made Easy" "Foster's Com
plete Hovlc," etc.
n N order to get the contract,
& carry 1t out successful, and If
possible win the game, the
declarer should hove the SUI
periority Of forces. In no-trumpers.
this will be the majority of the
aces and kings; In suit declarations.
numerical superiority in the trump
suit Is an added necessity.
If player has mono Of suit the
smallest trump Is az good as an ace.
and the adversaries' trumps arc lust
as good as the declarer's when 1t
comes to ruffing. 1t Is, therefore. i'm
portant for the declarer to have
sufficient length to outlast his opDo-
nents, or strength enough to take
all their trumps away from them.
Experience and calculation have
shown that the average number of
trumps between the declarer and
dummy should be eight out of the
thirteen, and that the averaee dis
tribution would be five in the de-
clarer's hand and three In his part
hers. 1t has been found, however.
that II the partner holds only two.
one as good as the queen, they are
as good as three small, because the
declarer does not have to catch the
queen If dummy has it. If the de-
clarcr holds ace and king he Is sure
OF three winning rounds Of trumps
the moment he gets in.
Any player who bids on q suit of
Ave cards, hoping it will be the
trump, may therefore reasonably
expect to find his partner with three
small, or as good as queen and one
small. This Is called normal assist
ance In trumps, and the original
bid is based on it's probability.
This brings us to a very impor
tant part of the bidding, which is
the partners interest in the declara-
ton, and his recognition of the fact
that part of his holding, if not all
Of it, has been discounted by the
original call. The declarer must
undertake to win seven tricks, even
Z he holds only four in his own
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-08

quered beast stopped and began to
tremble all over.
The boy also trembled a little.
he, too-because one may be affected,
even when he has just shown great
courage. But his eyes shone with
pride. A policeman came up and
asked questions. The youth, still out
OF breath, spoke to M. Lecorbel:
Monsieur, you were a witness.
VIII you give your name?"
NJ. Lecorbel gave his name. He
did SO gladly, being full of admira-
ton for the boys strength and skill.
Moreover, he had a consciousness Of
fulfilling his duty as citizen. That
thought appealed to him. He is a
good man.
Some days later he received let
ter from police commissioner, who
invited him to appear at the police
bureau and discuss the evidence with
regard to a certain accident which
had happened on public highway.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-08

derbolt seems to be a sovereign
remedy" remarked Fownville, "but
the difficulty resides in knowing how
to receive proper dose and not an
exorbitant allowance"
Enough of these cases have been
mentioned to show the capricious
character Of lightning, as we'll as to
prove that in cases of shock the wise
thing to do is to give immediate
treatment to the victim, regardless
Of how hopeless that treatment
seems at first glance to be. Deaths
from lightning are by no means as
numerous as many persons believe,
and an investigation over period
of ten years made by Mr.. Moore be-
fore his retirement as head of. the
Weather Bureau at Washington dis
closed that the total Of fatalities in
the United States from this cause is
only about seven hundred. Of these
deaths in the time covered by Mr..
Moore surprisingly few occurred in
the cities where numerous telegraph
and telephone wires and metal
frames of the buildings provide
harmless conduits for aerial cleo
tricity. Of the twelve months in
the year May, June, July and Au-
gust, the spring and summer months,
show the greatest number of cleo
trical storms. Of the states the one
most frequently visited by disturb
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-08

France, illegitimate daughter Of
Henry II, then the Dauphin. mar
ried FRANCOIS de Montmorency. On
the night Of their wedding an o.
cillating flame came into their bed
room through the window, went
from corner to corner and finally
to the nuptial bed, where 1t burned
off DANES hair and night attire.
1t did them no other harm, but their
terror can be imagined"
Camille Flammarion, with his eye
for the unusual, recorded numerous
similar incidents in his book.
An honest workman, at Grange
Forestiere, near Petit Creusoe, was
struck by lightning and knocked
down. He was uninjured, but when
he arose found his trousers had been
unsewn from top to bottom and his
shoes taken off.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-08
POKER

Question-A has opened a jack with
two pairs, kings up. and has been
raised by two different men behind
him. A is the frs. man to draw cards.
Should he split his hand and discard
the small pair, or draw one card on
the chance of filing? WHAT are the
odds on lettering If he splits B.
c. P.
Answer-The chances Of improvs-
ment by drawing TO the pair are ons
IN three and half; drawing to tho
TWO pairs, one In thirteen only As
the Improvements possible in drawing
to the pair include getting back to
two pairs in a large number Of cases
and as larger improvements are im-
probable. nothing is gained by DIS
carding the small pair. II two pairs
would not win, probably triplets
would not, either. It is eight to one
against getting them by drawing to a
PAIR, and sixty-one to one against GET
ting full hand. It is only twelve
10 one against filing the hand ~
drawing TO the original two pairs.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-08

IA ia LECORBEL passes-and
" 81 rightly-as one of our
best historians. His

.lVA . rishtly-as one of our
~ best historians. His
method is severe. Sus-
plclous not only of secondhand ac-
counts, but also Of memoirs. which
contain only too often stories falsi-
ned by the hatred or vanity of the
author, he has even reached the
point of distressing official CORE
spondence and diplomatic reports
For governments have at least as
strong motives to lie as individuals
nave. But, according to him, a few
hnes IN the entry book of a iail or a
ponce report, IN spite Of their appar-
ent dryness, are much more to be
depended upon. History, reduced to
study of such documents alone.
might have but little interest for the
vulgar. But he tlatters himself that
TINS reslduum would approximate
the truth
One day, on leaving the library of
the Marine Department, where he
had gone to consult certain papers
relating to the first negotiations of
General Washington with our French
Canadians, he was walking along the
Rue de Rivoli. Suddenly great up
roar startled him. He looked up. A
runaway horse, attached to az
empty coupe, had barely missed run
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-08

autopsy demanded by the law was
performed.
The scientist was never able to
demonstrate the truth Of his claim.
but there are still many who cling
to the conviction that he was right.
Lightning's Effects
In cases of shock from lightning
and there is added interest now
in the subject because this is the
season of derstorms-there is
paralysis Of the organs, depending
in extent upon the severity of the
blow. Very often a condition of
suspended animation results which
has every resemblance to somatic
death, but which differs materially
from it.
The old medical books and writ
ings on the subject of the effects
of lightning on the human body are
filled with cases fully as strange as
that which was witnessed on the
Stahurski farm. DR.. F. Settler, a
French authority, wrote book in
which he referred to a man who was
reported to have remained rigid and
apparently lifeless for three days
before consciousness returned.
Recovery Not Uncommon
In DR.. Sestier's book is another
instance of boy, fourteen years
old, who, after being hit during a
severe storm, lay rigid and lifeless
for an hour before beginning to
breathe again.
One of the comforting facts to be
remembered in this season of cleo
trlcal storms and summer showers
is that in nearly all cases where
instant death does not result from
lightning stroke the victim ulti-
mately RECEIVERS. But absolutely
hothlhg can be taken for granted,
and certainly no dependence can be
placed on the appearance of the
victims. Some persons will fall
llfeless and remain so when, ap-
parently, merely touched by the cur
rent, whereas others will survive,
although seemingly enveloped in
flame
Countless examples of "freal1
cases. are on record, and one of
the commonest pranks of the stroke
when it fails to kill is completely
to disrobe the person upon whom it
chances to fall. In the memoirs of
Du Bellay is this account Of an
embarrassing trick stroke Of
lightning played on two famous per
sonages on their honeymoon:
"On March 3, 1857, Diane Of
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-08
Killed the Goldfish

On July Of this year lightning
struck a house near Lenox, Mass.
The bolt passed through the dining
room, rent the coat of Spencer P.
Shooter, one Of the occupants, and
then passed on into the tank of gold
fish, killing eight of them. Mr..
Shotter was not injured.
But whereas the tendency of
lightning bolts seems to be either
maliciously sportive or destructive,
numerous instances are recorded in
which the results were entirely bene-
fetal. All the accounts agree that
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-08
weird episode which
took place recently on the
K remote farm Of James Stab

took place recently on the
x remote farm Of James Stab
ursd at Little Neck, L. l.,
was not such an adventure In super
stition as many people suppose. The
Stahurskis are Poles and speak little
English. But what took place was
something like this:
On the day Of the tragedy Mrs.
Stahurski, with her youngest baby
in her arms, was sitting near table
in the kitchen of her home. At the
window, about ten feet away, sat her
nine-year-old daughter, Jennie, hold
ing in her lap her two-year-old
brother, Edward.
Both We're Killed
Outside was raging the worst
thunder storm Of the year. Terri
flying detonations were accompanied
by frightful flashes of lightning
which cast an unearthly glow over
the landscape. Suddenly there was
fash more vivid than the rest, and
when it faded, the girl, Jennie, and
her small brother lay lifeless on the
floor.
Then, IN tho midst Of the storm,
was enacted that pathetic little
drama which gripped the sympa-
thies of the surrounding countryside
almost more than the deaths of The
children themselves. The frantic
mother, when the glare had died
away and she could see again,
screamed for her husband, who ran
into the room, as did a neighbor, a
man employed on an adjacent farm,
who was visiting the Stahurskis. 1t
was still raining, and the reverbera-
tons overhead were as frequent as
before, but the thought of danger to
themselves did not stay the devoted
parents.
The Stahurskis, as already ex-
planned, are Poles, who have not
been long in this country, and still
hold to some of the superstitions and
beliefs of certain classes Of their
countrymen, one Of these being that
person struck by lightning and ap-
parently killed can be brought back
to life by being buried in the ground
up to the neck. The earth is sup
posed to contain certain benefcent
forces which counteract the deadly
effects of the stroke.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-08
Haste Necessary

But one of the essentials Of the
treatment, of course, is haste, and
the Stahurskis, waiting only long
enough to send one of their other
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-08

ances Of this kind seems to be Penn.
sylvania, which, it may be remarked
is also the state in which Benjamin
Franklin passed most Of his year.
and where he discovered the con.
ductivity Of lightning.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-08

" HEN the lightning began to play about the stohursi
~ home, Jennie took her terrified little brother IN her
and both qUere killed
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-08
School for Card PLAYERS
q A
% q 8
o A j s
a 10

AUCTION
Question the midd earna limo o,oon ,
' mas ~ open he" the tlreeto Il,
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-08
Cured His Paralysis

An American suffering from pa
ralysis of one side of his body since
boyhood was struck by lightning. 1t
shook him SO severely that he was
unconscious for twenty minutes, but
when he came to found his paralysis
had disappeared.
Gas cure for paralysis thun-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-08

eventually BIS play IS undoubtedly
sound. Any contract to make ten
tricks IS dangerous.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-08
I lightning as a curative agent is apt

lBHCIllHE lib A curative agent ID apt
to be heroic In it's action, but in
sist nevertheless that the record for
beneficence is not thereby impaired.
Several of these cases are mentioned
by Wilfred de Fownville in his book,
Thunder and Lightning"
A. M. Gorley, an actor in the Sur
rey Theater, was struck by light
ming. Instead Of injuring him, it
restored the use Of his right eye,
which had up to that time been en-
tirely blind.
Lightning fell at Biberach, Prus-
STA, and struck two young people.
One was gravely injured, but the
other was cured Of deafness which
had afflicted him for many years.
An Englishman who for twenty
years had taken ferruginous baths
during the summer, but without
benefit, was entirely cured in less
than second by flash of light
ming.