davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1920-11-14

Of Halstead Street nighthawk has
ever received the Swedish literary
crown.
Of course, Hamsun did not begin
life as streetcar conductor, and it
vas, in fact, before he achieved lit
erary fame that he got his job on
the Halstead Street line in Chicago.
There was, however, a direct connec~
ion between conducting the tram
snd the Nobel Prize, for it was be-
cause he could not persuade the pub
fishers to take him seriously as an
author that he went to work on the
back platform.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-14
Sent Him Back to Norway

The connection is, indeed, still
more direct. 1t was after his Chi
cago experience that he went back to
Norway and three years later, still
as the direct result of working on
the Halstead Street tram line, pro-
duced Hunger, the first book that
brought him recognition as writer.
Hamsun was born August 4, 1850,
on small farm near LON, in Gud-
bradstol, one Of the narrow valleys
Of central Norway. His parents
we're very poor and the family was
large. When Knut Che was then
Knud Pedersen) Hamsun was four
he was sent to an uncle on the island
OF Lofoden, in the far North, where
the year is evenly divided between
light and darkness-six months of
day and six of night. One Of his
critics has said Of him:
"The Northland, with it's elaring
lights and black shadows, its un-
earthly joys and abysmal despairs.
present and dominant in every
line that Hamsun ever wrote. In
that country his best tales and
dramas are laid. By that country
his heroes are stamped wherever
they roam. Out Of that country
they draw their principal claims to
probability. Only in that country
do they seem quite at home"
Passing his boyhood and so great
part Of his life in poverty and
the "unearthy joys and abysmal de-
spalrs" of the North, it seems
strange to find him described as san
individual romanticist and a highly
subjective aristocrat." On the other
And, it is not strange to learn that
MS foremost passion in life is vio-
tent, defiant deviation from every
lang average and ordinary. He
1ears and fouts the dominance of
'ne many, and his heroes, who are
nothing but slightly varied images
@ himself, are invariably marked
0y an originality Of speech and ac-
uon that brings them close to, if
aot across, the border line of the &C.
centric"
New-York tribune., 1920-11-14
On a Dakota Farm

came on MS hrst trip to America.
On Dakota Farm
On that occasion he went to Da-
kota, where he worked first on a
dairy farm and afterward in the
logging camps. Just what were his
peregrinations it is not possible to
say, but they took him far and wide
and always he was trying to write
something that would sell and al
ways his wanderings carried him
back to Christiania for one more trv
at the Norwegian publishers. He
has been a road mender, a coal
HEAVIER, n school teacher, a sur
yeyor's chairman, q lecturer. q
sailor and the Lord knows what. He
got back to Christiania in 1884 and
managed to stick out the struggle
for nearly year, but in 1886 he
was back in America, and it was
this time that he punched fares in
Chicago. In one of his stories he
has told something of this.
Il was a conductor on a street.
car in Chicago" he says. "At first
| was appointed on the Halstead
line, which ran from the center of
the city to the cattle market. For
those of us who worked at night
that line was not at all safe, as a
number Of suspicious characters
Travelled there at night. Conductors
had no right to shoot and kill people
for the street railway company
would have to pay heavy fine in
such cases.
AS for me, did not even have a
revolver, and l simply relied upon
good luck. But, then, it is very sell
dom that a man is entirely un-
armed. For instance, / had the iron
wheel bar, which I could remove at
a moments notice and which could
be of great service to me. | made
use Of it only once.
New-York tribune., 1920-11-14

is going-going even in the outly-'
ing districts, where the pioneers are
already breaking ground for new
permanent settlements. Business of
modern type has arrived and much
of the quiet humor displayed in
these, the latest and maturest of
Hamsun's works, springs from the
spectacle of its influence on the ma
tives, whose hands used always to
be in their pockets, and whose credu-
lity, in face of the improbable, was
only surpassed by their unwilling
ness to believe anything reasonable.
Still the life he pictures is largely
primitive, with nature as mans chief
antagonist, and to US Of the crowded
cities it brings a charm Of novelty
rarely found in books to-day. With
it goes an understanding Of human
nature which is no less deep-reaching
because it is apt to find expression
in whimsical or fagrantly paradox
cal forms"
An English translation of The
Growth Of the Soil has been pub
lished in London, and we learn some
thing Of the plot of the story from
a reviewer in Land and Water, who
says:
"This is the story Ct Isak and his
wife, Inger-not beautiful or ro-
mantle people, but rough and primi-
tive-who till the virgin soil a days
march from the nearest village, and
who, step by laborious step, fight
their way, never finally dismayed
by misfortune, improving, going on.
He is the type of splendid, plodding,
indefatigable husbandnan, is Isak.
Troubles come-dreadful troubles
that would break man less simple;
but one must work. Good fortune.
clement weather; still one must
work. "A barge of a man, surging
up through the forest SO he re-
mains, with only the strength Of his
body, the love of his wife and his
faith in God. The cumulative effect
Of this wonderful book is one Of a
quiet happiness that comes Of work
and faith and love. Regarding the
story in the common light of other
novels, l should add that it is full
of incident as, indeed, is all life
rightly interpreted. And there is a
magic about the book that can only
be compared to the magic of great
music, depth Of understanding of
humanity and Of nature, full of gen
uine poetry, which to all readers will
prove to be an abiding joy"
Christiania's BObemians
Shallow Soil, published in 1898,
was the result of Hamsun's life
among the Bohemians of Christiania
after his streetcar experience in Chi
cago. 1t does not seem to have been
a pleasant period in his life. Evi-
IDENTIFY he was no better understood
or liked by the Bohemians than he
had been by the students at the uni
versity a dozen years before Ham
New-York tribune., 1920-11-14
Crowd Refused TO Paw

ain 1886 l was working on the
car at night all Christmas week and
nothing happened to me. One night
a crowd rushed in near the cattle
market and filled the car. They
were all intoxicated and had bottles
along with them. They sang loud
ly and refused to pay their fare.
They said they had paid their fare
to the company all the year round
and now, when Christmas time came.
they did not want to pay. There
was nothing queer in their argu-
ment, but l did not dare to carry
them free of charge for fear that
there might be some spies in the en-
ploy Of the company who were
obliged to watch after the honesty
of the conductors.
"a constable boarded the car.
After staying there few minutes
and saying few words about
Christmas and the weather, he
jumped off, for there was little room
on the car. | knew we'll that if the
constable had said one word the
passengers would pay their fares,
but did not tell him anything.
Why didn't you report us to
the policeman?' asked one of the
passengers.
"'I didn't think it necessary to do
New-York tribune., 1920-11-14
Winner Of the 1919 Nobel Prize for
Literature Once Chicago
Streetcar Conductor

stood. So he left the university and
came on his first trip to America.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-12-31

"a
Will there be a woman in ~
new cabinet! And, If there Is.
will be the horored woman? TT
are two questions which are b
asked again and again by the wod
en- voters and politicians Of Il
country. There are also more thai
a few men interested in the sand
question, but. Of course. no deinite
answer has been made. Rumor,
that very elusive thing, has starred
stories both for and against a won
an in the cabinet. It Is q question
that will not be decided by the au-
thorities, or rather the decision
will not be made public for some
time to come. Meanwhile we may
ruminate and conjecture as we will
upon possible women for appoint
ment
Just now Mrs. Harriet Taylor
Upton Of Warren, Ohio, is spoken
Of by many as a possible member
of President-elect Harding's new
cabinet, especially il the education
bill, which is pending, is passed.
Mrs. Upton is vice president of the
Republican national committee,
making her second in position only
to viii Hays. She has been a
worker for suffrage for more than
a score of years and for many
years was president OF the OH
Suffrage association. W
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-12-31
PORTLAND DADS"
PUT SOFT PEDAL
ON NEW YEAR FUN


Portland, Ore, Dec. 31.-The year
1871 will be ushered in at Portland
with unaccustomed decorum, ac-
cording to orders issued by the
city council and posted at the police
station.
Unusual noises will be barred.
There must be no ringing of bells
or blowing of horns; no firearms
may be discharged or explosives
set on; no confetti may be thrown
The younger element will be al
lowed a certain amount of latitude
IN their merry-making," the police
orders say. "but any unnecessary
boisterousness or rcwdyism must
be sharply suppressed"
Dealers in so-called carnival
wares have been warned against
selling noisemaking devices.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-12-31
UPS AND DOWNS
FILL UP JIM'S
LIFE AS PORTEE

Springfield, Hl.-Life for Jim
Frazier, q porter in the Office Of the
secretary Of state here. is one con-
tinuous series of ups and downs.
for it's Jim's duty to hang out "Old
Glory" on top Of the state house
each morning and to take it down
every evening.
Several days ago employees of
Mr. Emmerson's Office found Jim
busily at work at . desk struggling
with long columns of figures, in
stead Of swinging his mop and
broom. Asked what he was doing
the darkey replied he was working
on his annual report" to the gov
ernor.
Jim had it figured out how far
he had to walk each year to hand
the flag out. Counting he walked
1865 steps up to the dome each
morning and the same hack, and
did it over again in the evening, he
had 1t worked out that he Travelled
102 $40 miles every 365 days.
Jim's report" says the wint
whips about eight flags to piece,
every year. The best time he ha.
made to the top Of the building wa,
seven minutes. he declared.
According to ]. A. Tucker, super
intendent Of Buildings, approx
mately 5000 persons make the Dill
grimage to the dome Of the stat,
house, which is 3e5 feet above tn,
street every year. AS q matter O
precaution.- only eight persons ar
allowed at the top at the same time
MIR. Tucker says he understand
the local state house dome is z,
feet higher than the one on tn,
capitol at Washington. r.
Most of the persons who climbe,
the spiral stairway to the top dur
the past year were school boy,
from Springfield, who told the at
tendant their school teachers sen
them to make the climb ito get ma
terial for essays" Various othe
explanations also are given, but tn,
ESSAY" excuse has been given 9,
/ many times, the custodian saw,
sometimes he suspects it is a made
up one.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-12-31
LICENSE CLERK
MAKES OWN MATE.
SOLEAlNLY SWEAR

Bartlesville. Okla, Dec. 31.-To
Miss Victoria Fourier, deputy
clerk OF Washington county. goes
the distinction of being the frst
woman IN the country to issue her
own marriage LICENSE,
The license was issued late yes
terday to Warren Milligan, report
er on a local paper. After Miss
sournier had written the applica-
tlon she calmly commanded her
prospective husband to raise his
Ilsnt hand and solemnly swear to
the statement he had made.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-12-31
Prominent Author Honored,

Mrs. Edith wharton, prominent
American author, was awarded a
gold medal by ex-President Poin-
caire of France. Mrs. Wharton
was vice-president of the Ameri-
can hospital for refugees. Mrs.
Royal Tyler also received a medal
for founding and maintaining
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-12-31

American homes in France for CO..
valescing allied soldiers befoa
America entered the war. MN
Alice Getty and Mrs. Maria :. ca
dof of Pittsburgh received silva
medals for good service.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-12-31
Have No Medical Aid.

1t is estimated that at least =
per cent of the women and girls b
India have never seen doctor. b.
cause their caste an customs for.
bid them to permit a male physt
clan to attend them.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-12-31

What does the word grandma"
convey to you?
Probably a nice gray-haired old
lady with spectacles pushed up on
her forehead, knitting in a COM
Portable rocker by the fireplace and
taking things easy in her declining
years. Yes?
Well. here's a grandma" WHO
leads about as strenuous a life as
is led in this country-Mrs. Mary
Roberts Rinehart. She is holding
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-12-31
AMERICANS ARE
FAVORITES WITH
MONTENEGRuNS

Podgoritza, Montenegro. = No
people are received in Montenegro
with such general confidence and
such frank welcome as Americans.
A United States passport furnishes
an all-sufficient entry to any part
Of the country. The people have a
touching belief in the disinterested-
ness of Americans, in striking con-
trast to the aloofness and suspicion
with which they greet other for
eigners. This is due largely to the
generous attitude of United States
toward = Dnkgro during the war
and +. hpread relief work
Greek or
ban fugi-
no de; but instead Of
deemiL 3 "a 1selves ON a par with
other Serbians. they believe they
are a sort of Serbian aristocracy.
The Montenegrins as a rule are
extremely poor and live in thatch-
ed huts. The men generally carry
quite an arsenal of weapons in
their girdles, which they regard as
their most precious possession
Even the priests carry rifles. The
women, though often beautiful. per
form most of the mental tasks and
soon lose their good looks. Large
families are the rule.
The people are melancholy and
fatalistic and believe in vampires
fairies. witches and ghosts. They
believe that disease is brought by
evil spirits. To keep out these spir'
its or "jinni," they always close
their windows tightly at night.
With the exception Of a few fer
tile valleys, Montenegro is a mass
of jagged. gray rocks, with little
patches of earth that have beer
patiently gathered by the peasants
from the roadways and valleys and
carried to sheltered hooks. These
little plots are jealousy guarded
and carefully cultivated. They pro
duce only a few handfuls of grain
yet entire families depend upol
them for sustenance.
The men are brave, proud, cour
teous and honest. Patriotism is I
passion with them. They regart
personal valor as the highest vir
tue. They show their solidarit,
with the new kingdom of Croats
Slovenes and Serbs by the mourn
ing which they still wear in com
memoration Of Knssovo. the fata
battle in which Serbian independ
ence was stamped out by the Turk
for five centuries.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-12-31

on her lap her granddaughter,
Bah" Rinehart She writes a
best-seller a year, turns out many
magazine stories. plays politics,
does welfare work, writes three
movie scenarios a season, super
vises their production, and in COL
liberation with Avery Hopwood
now has three plays running on
Broadway and two more in the
making. She also finds lots Of time
for her home life. Not bad for a
grandma" is It?
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-12-31
Celebrate at Hotel.

4 Judging from the many reserva-
tons made for the annual New
Years eve party at the Manufactur-
~ hotel in Moline, already. this
years celebration will be the big
rest OF Ill. Dinner will be served
from IL On during the night and
dancing will hold sway from the
early evening hours TO the wee
small hours Of the morning. A
real jazz band will play and aside
from these attractions Manager
Fred Leayens has planned a num-
her Of big surprises for his guests.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-12-31
She Photographs Lightning.

Mrs. Marguerite Pannell Cove is
thought to be the only woman ex-
pert on atmospheric electricity in
the country. Mrs. Cove was born
on a plantation in Virginia. and was
raised on q prairie west of the
Mississippi. She has been success
full in her experiments with light
ming and has even been able to
photograph it for reproduction on
the moving picture screen.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-12-31
To Wed IN Chicago,

A marriage license has been is
sued to Marcus Jackson. SIS West
Sixteenth street, Davenport, and
Mia Nellie Arkwright Of Scontos,
Iowa.
Mr.. Jackson is we'll known in
Davenport. For the past year he
has been residing in Kansas City
and Chicago.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-12-31
Musical Prodigy.

Mildred Wellerson Is only 10
years old and is said to be the
youngest cellist before the public
She expects to play as a soloist
with the Cincinnati Symphony or
chestra this season. At a recent
concert in New York she rendered
some of her own compositions.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-12-31
AnRounce Engasement.

Mrs. Carl Matthey OF 1921 West
Sixth street. davenport. announces
the engagement OF her daughter
IfmS to Ben J. Gerwe Of Chicago,
son OF Mr.. and Mrs. l.. NJ. Gerwe
Of 112s Grand avenue. Davenport
No date Il set for the wedding
which probably will be in the
aspring. Miss Matthey is the daugh.
ter OF the late DR.. Carl Matthey
She attended high school for three
years, finishing at Oberlin acad-
envy, where she graduated, taking
also . course on the Oberlin Con
servatory Of Music.
Mr.. Gerwe is a we'll known and
popular young business man who
holds responsible position as rep
ro8entative of the Vacuum Oh
company Of Chicago. The new
home will be in Chicago.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-12-31
To Hold Public INSTALLATION.

81 Monday evening Rock Island
lodge. No. Is. Ucal lodge No. COS
and Eudora Rebekah lodge. No. 70,
are holding public installation of
officers at Odd Fellows hall. All
Oud Fellows and their friends are
dnvited to attend. The affair will
start 1t s o'clock. After the in
AtAllation E. r. Bailif, a visiting
Odd Fellow, will give a Sunshine
Lecture"
"a Eeok Island Encampment Party.
II Rock Island encampment, No. 1s,
d q. o. r., 10 giving watch party
this evening 1t the hall to which all
Odd Fellows and their families are
Invited. There will be program
and dancing viii be enjoyed. Music
viii BE- furnished by the lodge or
rhestra. Refreshments will be
served.
Gives Dance for Sen and Guest,
q Mrs.. Max Sklovsky of 62< Tenth
street. Moline. ins entertaining this
evening ct = dancing party for her
san Ira and her house guests, Miss
lnska of Chicago, Tho AFFAIR
Ne givGa ~ the Moline COM
club rooms and the guests
49, several hundred tn
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-12-31
Candy Party at Hadaway Home.

Candy Party at Hadaway Home
Thirty girls and boys Of inter-
mediate age enjoyed the party Civ
en- last evening at the home of Rev.
and Mrs. Launcelot Hadaway, $40
Nineteenth street, by the intermedi-
ate Christian Endeav0r society of
the Memorial Christian church.
Games and music we're enjoyed
during the hours. The girls made
candy to which the boys did entire
justice and refreshments were
served at the close of the evening,
Mrs. Beeler Guild Hostess.
Mrs. W. H. Beeler of 1925 Ninth
avenue, was yesterday afternoon
hostess to the members of the
Woman's Guild of the South Park
Presbyterian church at the month
ly coffee. There we're 65 present
and following the business session
a program was given which in
cluded a piano solo by Mrs. Eunice
Scott, a reading by Mrs. Olive
Quayle, and a vocal solo by Miss
Ruby johnson. Refreshments were
served. The January meeting will
be held at the home of Miss Mary
Long.
Elect Officers for New Year.
Mrs. John Forgy was reelected
president of the w0man's missionary
society of the Gloria del United
Presbyterian church at the meeting
Of yesterday afternoon held at the
home Of Mrs. Freeman Bingham,
1888 Forty-second avenue. Other
officers chosen were:
Vice president = Mrs. Charles
Mann.
| Secretry-Mrs. Manley Norton.
Treasurer-Miss Elizabeth Beck
Thank offering treasurer
Paul Sipple.
Mrs. Forgy had charge of the
program for yesterday which was
on India. Questions were asked BY
the leader which were answered by
the members. Response to roll cal
was made by naming a missionary
working in India and the number Of
years he or she had been in thai
country. Refreshments were
served by the hostess, who was as
sisted by her daughter, Miss Mil
dred Bingham. The next meetinf
will be an aid session on Jan. Is.
Home Guards Christmas Party.
Home Guard girls of the Spen
| Ger Memorial Methodist church
held Christmas party yesterda,
afternoon at the home of Mrs. Ale1
Quist. 1925 Fourteenth street. Tel
members were present and ON,
visitor. Each girl gave q part o.
the program, and there were game.
played. A delicious luncheon wa.
served. The holiday color scheme
was carried out in the decoration.
| throughout the house.
F. and L. Club Meets.
The F. and L. club was enter.
tanned yesterday afternoon at ths
home Of Mrs. Jacob GIoo-. 23e1
Ninth street. The members spent
the hours chatting over their Gro.
i cheting, and later the hostess
served luncheon. The next meet.
ing will be in two weeks at the home
Of Mrs. Glen Barrett, 250s Ninth
street.
Watch Party At Christian Church.
A watch party 10 to be held this
evening ath the Memorial Chris.
tian church by the three Christian
Endeavor societies. Members Of the
congregation are invited to attend
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-12-31
Opera Study Club.

"A Mrs. A. B. Mcintyre ut her home.
J1ls Eleventh avenue. Moline. en-
tsrtainsd the members OF the Opera
Study club at the December ses-
sion. Mrs. j. NJ. Cleaver led the
study lesson and assisting her were
Mrs.. l.. A. MURRAY and Mrs. A. l..
Tridei- A social hour was enjoyed
and refreshments served. The next
meeting Of the club will be Jan. n,
the place to be announced later.
Mr., Z. T. White will be leader.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-12-31

There will be a short business ses-
sion after which officers will be in
stalled. A social, time will follow
when games will be played and ths
following program will be giy1a
Piano sol0-Miss Florenf
Reading-Gladys Steele.
Duet-EIlen WEIGH and Gwen
dolyn Smith.
Reading-Ruth Smith.
Song-Ffve intermediate girls.
Refreshments.
11:30-Devotional service and
forming circle of friendship.
Lady Eagles Cary Party.
Six tables of 500 we're played at
the card party sponsored by the
Lady Eagles at the Eagles hall last
night. Prizes in the games went
to Mrs. ROLAND Berry. head; Mrs
r. Moore of Moline, second; and
Mrs. c. A. Palmer of Moline, third
Mr.. Moore took the mems head
prize, H. E. Wendell the second and
A. E. Swanson the third.
WIFI Hold Watch Party.
The annual watch night party
will be held this evening at thu
Second Christian church. There
will be program and a social tint
for everyone.
! Monday evening the annual meet
ing will be held. Supper will b,
served at s O'Clock, followed b,
reports and election of officers
There will be a reception later IL
the evening for the new member,
Of the church.
!, Gives Dance for Son and Guest.
Mrs. Max Sklovsky of 624 Tent
] street. Moline. is entertaining thi,
evening at dancing party for he
! son Ira and her house guest, Mis-,
Gertrude Huluska Of Chicago. TIL,
affair will be given at the Molin
Community club rooms and tn
guests will number several hundre,
ltri-city young people.