davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-12
The Appendicitis Operation.

Inc Appo0VC2QS VpCI2AlVus
! No getting around the truth.
There are many, too many appen-
dicitis operations being done today.
l say done, although a regular re-
porter always says performed when
he refers to an operation. An ac-
tor or circus acrobat performs; a
surgeon operates or does an OPP
Grafton. Perhaps way back in SO
they considered an appendicitis OPP
Grafton a performance.
But as l say, there are far too
many appendicitis operations done
today. l don't know just why SO
many are done, but l am sure there
are at least 10 times too many such
operations. Something ought to be
done about it. l have a mere sus-
picion that the Great American Pill
is one factor. The popular notion
is that, when you don't know what
else to do or take it is quite all
right to take a Liver" or "stom-
ach" pill, a laxative, a cathartic.
1t seems that Old Doctor Bunkem
has thoroughly pounded into the
heads of the great Brotherhood and
Sisterhood of Almanac Students
the fancy that physic in some
mysterious manner 'purifies the
blood" or. at any rate, drives some
mysterious poison out of the "sys-
tem." But my suspicion is that
these drugs, purely vegetable" as
the charlatans love to say (although
opium, morphine, strychnine,> prus-
sic acid ct cetera are purely vege-
table,, serve to irritate and con-
gest the intestine and, according to
my improved theory, to invite such
troubles as appendicitis.
That is what / mean when l as
sert that there are probably 10
times too many appendicitis opera
tons. l do not mean that the sur
geons operate 10 times too readily,
though candor compels me to ad-
NIT that too many of our young
surgical braves yearn to operate.
What l am trying to get into type
is the thought that we have much
too much appendicitis here in this
good old land.
When appendicitis threatens
and threaten is the word in this
treacherous disease-the safest
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-12

not have proposed the bargain. and It Is clear
from the story that he took special interest
In the breeding Of the stronger members Of
the herd. What did he do about it besides peel
ing his wands? That did not seem worth tell
ing. But may it not be that he attributed to
the wands what was really due to chance or
to his own shrewd mating Of the animals?
Such false reasoning occurs continually. and
the patent medicine of the dark OF the moon
or the unlucky number gets credit for results
that were entirely due to something else that
did not seem worth noting.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-12

Equipped with wireless a fisheries cruiser
will scout the eastern coast OF Canada this
summer looking for schools OF food fish. When
it finds them it will send out calls summoning
science is taking the element Of chance, and
therefore the romance. out of what those who
never followed it regard as one Of the most
romantic of occupations. 1t is to be feared
that the time is coming when the fish in the
sea will be as hard put to it to save its scales
as the wild animal on the land is now to save
its hide.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-12
HQart,, @oHOm0
44,!1DHOHIQ1n1C
v Il MRC. ELIZABETH THOMPSON

Dear Mrs Thompson: My hus-
bands parents have sold their home
in a nearby town and have moved
in with us for the winter. They
intend to build soon and will be
with US until June, think.
My mother-in-law and l have
never got along. but l made up my
mind when she came into my home
I would do alT>in my power to agree
and get along. l gave her the best
room in my home and do all the
washings and ironings for her She
has what | call pouting spells:
sometimes / would talk to her and
she would not answer me, and after
| would leave the room | could hear
her mumbling to herself; some
times l have asked her what she
was saying and she would curl up
her nose and not answer.
One day she was real cross with
my little girl and snapped her off.
The child began to cry and looked
at her and laughed and tried 10
keep her from crying, and mother
stepped back to me and said, You
take the cake" and rolled up her lip
and walked away.
| was ironing her clothes one
day and she came down saying,
What did you iron my clothes
for?" l had always done it before
and told her so. She began jerk
ing the ironed things off the line
and throwing them across her
arm; l stood and watched her and
cried. She jawed because l have
my big meals in the evening, and
about washing so many dishes. She
follows me in the basement and
upstairs, nagging at he and trying
to pick a fuss. She says. 81 am going
to leave; we can't get along" ]
tell her to do her part and l will
do mine and there will be nc
trouble.
When I wash she puts in a few
clothes and does the rest in the
bathtub and hangs them around the
tub to dry, and once she soaked
some things and stuck them under
the mattress on her bed, and hap
pened to see them and took them
out, and that made her mad. If ]
don't eat at the table when we have
company then she begins on me
saying II wouldn't eat because she
was there" She tells my father-in-
Law things about me to make him
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-12
THE DAILY SHORT STORY

Cant put water on an oil stove"
he said tersely.
Catching up the coal hod. he
dashed out to Helen's newly made
flower bed, and scooped up the
fresh earth. Dashing back, he
threw the damp loan onto the stove
| and down the chimneys. The blaze
was quickly smothered
Then Jim tore of his coat and
beat at the rapidly spreading fame
on the wall. This was more diff
cult. The smoke stifled him, and
| several times Helen thought he
would fail as the persistent fame
jumped back at him.
But when Jim Marston under
took to do thing. he did it. He
was that kind Of a man. He put
out the fire and saved the house, al
though his coat was a charred
mass of tatters, and his hands bad
ly blistered.
OF course, Helen bound up the
| pSOA AsAAuo, tASA, W AluC uEI COLI
fusion, she started to clean I'D the
sorry sight.
Il Wouldn't do that" Jim said. 81
wouldn't touch a thing. Leave it
just as it is until the insurance
agent sees it. l am going to town,
and l will bring him out"
| Helen hadn't thought Of the in
surance. but now was thankful to
remember she had kept it paid up.
Jim was as good as his word.
He brought out the agent, who I'm
ally, at Jim's suggestion, agreed to
settle for 500.
After the agent had gone, Jim
insisted on helping clean up the
mess. and, without waiting for per-
mission, went to work, talking and
joking az he swept and scrubbed.
His good nature Vas irresistible:
besides, how could one treat as an
enemy the man who had saved
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-12
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
Ellen versus Dad.

Is it bad for ones complexion to-
use powder to take the shine on
the nose and face? My father OBJ
jects and cites your articles tell
ing of the value of the natural oil
of the skin. But do not agree with
him and l think shiny or greasy
looking nose is one Of the worst
things possible. ELLEN.
Answer hope you will always
continue to think so. Ellen. II a
girl prefers to look as though she
had just tripped over the cat head
first into the -four barrel. her dad
should worry. Perhaps l lack the
true appreciation of feminine grace
and beauty, but honestly, I like to
see girls nose shine some-it
looks sweet and unsophisticated.
Let the bold birds powder as much
as they like-it becomes their gen.
eral type. Sorry l must agree more
or less with dad. Constant powder
ing rather tends to increase to an
abnormal degree the very condition
you imagine the powder corrects.
1t seems to be the rule that the bet
ter the hygiene the less need the
girl has for face dope.
Threatened.
NY doctor tells me | am threat
ened with appendicitis. l have a
sore place near my right hip. 9.
M. L. o.
Answer-When we doctors are
not quite certain about the diagnos-
is we often make use of that phrase
threatened" We say threatened
with typhoid" or Threatened with
tuberculosis" or whatever we sus-
pect may be the disease. 1t leaves
loophole for escape from our po-
sition in the event that our fears
prove unfounded. Now your doctor
is not sure whether you have o.
have not appendicitis, so he leaves
you dangling until he can be con-
WINGED. He is a good doctor, no
doubt. Go back and see if he can
come to a definite conclusion now.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-12

angry at me and sometimes he has
pouted also, but not like her.
She never says one thing to me
when my husband is here, and
when l tell him of some things she
has done and said to me he won't
answer at times; sometimes ne
says. Il don't believe mother does
it, or you and ma are alike. "
Once he said, well, try TO get
along; l don't want any trouble"
My husband has told me | have
lied before his parents. and that
hurts me. for l haven't told him
one untruth about what she has
done. l feel desperate at times
when l have no one to talk to only
my husband, and he won't talk TO
me on the subject.
| can't stand this many more
times. If my husband would even
say few words when his mother
treats me like this l could bear it
all.
Will you please give me some
good advice? TROUBLE.
Fortunately June is not far off,
If you use great will-power you
can manage to get along until then
Seal your lips tight when your
mother-in-law is unreasonable. Ii
you refuse to talk she will get
tired of her scolding. Do not LEI
her see you cry; instead drop
your work and leave the house.
1t is difficult for most women tc
realize that Homework can be put
aside. Your nerves need more at
! tention than the washing, ironing
and dusty rooms. 1t is quite unrea-
sonable for you to expect to do al
the work alone. Therefore get thf
meals and do what you can com.
fortably and let the rest slide.
Days when the situation seem:
too much for you, stay in bed. L
would not be lie to say you are
i'll. because conditions have Ger
tainly made you sick mentally
Since no one considers you, yo,
will have to look out for yourself
From now on remember to kee,
silent and do not even talk ovel
your troubles with your husband
Silence will be far more effective.
1t would be we'll to have a tall
with your husband after his par
ents leave and make it clear to hin
that you will not go through a SINH
laar ordeal again, and that out o
respect for you and your health
he should not ask it.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-12
Whats I'm a Name?
BY MILDRED MARSHALL
Copyright 1919. by the Wheeler Syndicate Incl

"Stone walls do not prison maAe'l
Nor iron bars cage" :
To Alethea is given the additionai
interest Of naming the younses.
bride known to English history; ~
1863, at the age OF 9, Ale'hea
Branding was married TO a HAh
named Henry Hitch. The mann
proved very popular in Enslaaa
and Ireland, where it is sometimes
contracted to Lefty.
Althea, meaning wholesome nas
no connection with Alethea, ihs
former seems to have beiohseas
solely to the unfortunate motnei Va
Meleager.
Coral is Alethea's talismahio
stone. 1t has the power to oli.e
away evil spirits, and to protec. w
wearer from danger and diseas.
Thursday is >Alethea's lucky 0a'
and her lucky numbek
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-12

confidential. the replies being sent direct
paid to anonymous letters).
@. Can the beneficiary of war
risk insurance who has been re-
ceiying monthly payments, obtain
the remaining total in a lump sum?
R A. N.
A. Only converted insurance is
payable in lump sum. The bene-
fits Of term war risk insurance poll
icies are payable only in 240
monthly installments. Therefore,
it would be impossible for the
beneficiary Of such q policy, who
is receiving the payments at this
time, to receive the remainder in
a lump sum.
@. Where is phosphorus mined?
L. D. N.
A. Phosphorus is not mined. It
is one of the non-metallic elements,
does not occur free in nature. but
is found IN the form OF phosphates.
The principal source of phosphorus
is the substances of bones. 1t is
also found in yolks OF eggs, in
blood and other animal fluids and
in the substance of brains and
nerves.
Q. What Is the origin Of the
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-12

this, however. till one morning
something happened.
Helen had lighted her blue
flame Oil stove. Hearing a sudden
commotion in the street, she ran to
the door and found that two auto
mobiles had collided almost in
front of the house. In her excite
ment, she forgot that she had left
the oil stove burning, as she wait
ed to see if anyone were injured.
When she returned to the house,
a strong odor Of smoke greeted her.
Rushing to the kitchen, she found
a great blaze higher than her head
rising from the blue flame, famed
by strong draft from an open
window.
Helen ran for water, then stood
aghast. as she remembered the wa
ter had been turned of on account
OF the repairing of the pipes.
The paper back Of the stove had
now caught and the fame reached
nearly to the ceiling.
Helen was frantic. She loved her
home. She had been born in the
house and lived there all her life.
She herself had paid of the mort
gage on it with the money she had
earned teaching school. How proud
she had been when she paid the
last dollar. She had planted the
vine over the back porch and train
ed the red rambler over the front
door. She loved her home with the
of a born homemaker. She
couldn't let it burn. She ran to
the door and screamed Fire.
Fire."
Jim Marston. placidly mending
his fishing tackle, Jumped from
the porch, and with bound was
across the lawn and into the kitch-
en-.
There's no water!" gasped
Helen.
Jim had taken in the situation.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-12
ENEMIES.
BY Sena Wyman.
copyright, 1920, by the Wheeler
Syndicate. Inc.)

Copyright, 1920, by the Wheeler
Syndicate. lnc.)
There had been hard feeling be-
tween the Goodwins and the Mars
IONS for years. 1t began when old
Bradbury Marston won his suit
over the boundary line between the
two farms.
John Goodwin never forgave the
injustice. as he considered it. and
now that he was gone, Helen Good
win still respected her fathers
wishes regarding the family of his
enemy, although that family was
reduced to the only son, James
Marston.
= The neighbors often remarked
that 1t was pity the two young
people could not patch up the old
quarrel and join their lives as we'll
as the two fertile farms; it was
too bad for each of them to live
alone, and they would make such
q handsome couple. Blu. if such a
suggestion was made to Helen, she
was as indignant as if she were
asked to commit a sacrilege.
Jim Marston,t on the other hand,
good-natured and kind-hearted,
didn't care to be an enemy to any
one. and would have preferred to
be friends with Helen. He had
ventured to stroke his fair enemy's
cat one day, when it had strayed
tnnocently to his back porch. But
Helen immeditely called Tabby
home, without so much as a glance
81 Jim's direction. She had also
gfyen poor kitty vicious little slap
- 1he shut her into the house.
Miss Spitfire." thought Jim. 81
puld make you like me If could
Is = chance to talk with you."
nAvs seemed little likelihood of
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-12

With the winning of the war, Lin
coin turned at once TO bind up the
wounds of the union. The south
having surrendered to force, he
wished to conquer it forever by
magnanimity. He would not hold
the state together with bayonets
and erect rebellious Ireland
within the borders of the republic.
No bitterness ranked in his big.
patient heart. His fairness forbade
him to hold any individuals person.
ally responsible for a great Civil
war.
Unfortunately, many Republican
leaders, who had not been SO much
in the thick of the fight, were I'M
able to calm the passions aroused
in them by the long struggle. A
clamor arose for wholesale hang
ings and confscations and for rul-
ing the southern states as con-
quered provinces.
1t was the same conflict that fol-
lows every war, the conflict be-
tween a peace of reconciliation and
a peace of vengeance. The radicals
of congress had no faith in Lin
coins idea of reunion of hearts,
They demanded the rebellious
states of the south be held in sub
lection Indefinitely and that the
ballot be given to the newly freed
slaves, whom Lincoln preferred to
admit to the suffrage gradually.
On the second day after the sur
render at AppomattoX, in an ad-
dress from a White house window
the president spoke of new an
nouncement to the people of the
south. But that was to be his last
speech.
At the cabinet meeting on the
| closing of his life he rejoiced that
congress was not in session to in.
| terfere with peace-making and
reconstruction and was confidently
hoping to reestablish the union be
fore it met again. AS to Jefferson
Davis and the confederate leaders
he declared with much feeling tina
no one need expect him to hang
them. brighten them out of tht
country" he cried in excited, high
pitched tones. open the gates
Let down the bars. Scare them off
Enough lives have been sacrificed
We must extinguish our resent
ments if We expect harmony ant
union"
With those accents Of generou
craftsmanship ringing in theil
ears, the secretaries went ava,
from the last cabinet meeting. Sec
rotary Stanton sent, later in tn
day, to ask permission to arres
Jacob Thompson, confederat
emissary in Canada, who ha'
slipped into the United States 70
the purpose of escaping to Europ
from Portland. well, | rattle
guess not" the president replied
When you have an elephant by tn
hind leg and he wants to run away
better let him run
An unwonted ease and happines
seemed to rest upon Lincoln tina
tragic day. Although he ha
dreamed the night before that h
was in a strange ship. moving to
ward a dark and indefinite shore
he took it as a good omen Ha
not the same dream come to hin
Copyright, 1920, by James Morgan
with the Mcclure
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-12
AULD CLUTIE TO WILLIE.
(neRG LES r4Ais ANCIENT eNEnY,
rFrom the original schrecklichkeitl.

From the original SCuroCkHCnkeIl1.
("Cannot the kaiser make room in his cast
Dr. his old friend CarranZa? '-The Line).
Moo. Willie, hearken weel tae me:
Lang syne haze l been friend tae thee,
But gin we heed this B. l.. T.
An play the coof,
Then, tho We plead on Bonded knee,
I'll stand aloof.
Ye ken, I'm sure, for aud times sake
Some sacrifice for ye I'd make;
wadna gle We ane heartache
Or damp yer cen.
But some things I'll ma undertake
Sin dire eighteen.
Ye maun admit, ye downcast Hun,
/ tried tae place We in the sun;
An after a. is said an done
TIL faults ma mine
Because the war ye Almost won
Stopp'd at tn Rhine!
But aiblins twas ay for tn best
That We should cease tae be pest
An that tn warl' by peace is blest!
(Noo, dinna SMILEY
Wad we disturb my peaceful rest
WI plan sac vile?
/ warn We, Willie, free an plain,
Frae this wild scheme yed best refrain
For a tn fouk o my domain
Wad quick rebel
An chaos rule should bath We twain
Appear in hell!
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-12
ALETHEA,

ak lHEAs
Alethea, though not in common
usage, is most important name.
1t comes from the Greek Alethia,
which in turn was evolved from the
Greek "a and the word meaning
Ito hide" and thus may be trans
lated as truth" or sincerity"
The first appearance of the name
is recorded in 1411 when Aletha, of
Padua, lived. 1t was bona Maria
Aletea, Spanish princess, for
whom Charles l of England jour-
neyed to Spain while he was Prince
of Wales.
Alethea was the form which ap-
peared in the famous Seville fam
lily and was given vogue through its
prominence. But perhaps the most
famous and memorial BILE Alethea was
the lady to whom the captive caval-
ier penned the much-quoted Lines:
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-12

Cubans, getting three times as much for
their sugar as they originally asked are
prompt to protest against remedies proposed
to return the price to a reasonable basis. How
people do hate to have their sources of easy
money cut of.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-12

Thank goodness Socialists Of the country at
large are not of such glazing red hue as
the Illinois contingent to the national conven-
ton. And Morris Hillquit seems to have
learned few things as result of his recent
experience with the New York legislature.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-12

A motor fuel that will make $50 miles to
the gallon is claimed as the discovery of an
Italian scientist All the substitutes for gaso-
line are capable Of making great many miles
to the gallon-on paper
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-12

One is not surprised when millionaire
who got his money dealing in cold storage
eggs develops a .fondness for collecting
antiques,
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-12
uEAITN TAl ks
BY WILLIAM /. BRADY ND.

procedure is immediate operation.
And take it from one who has been
there as the victim. this is the most
comfortable way out, too.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-12

BILLY SUNDAY, you will be surprised to
learn, dsapproves Fannie Hurst's "asininely
diotic" marriage idea Well always have
nuts with u.s." declares the Rev. Billy. Speak
ing merely as an innocent bystander, We con-
lecture it is barely possible Miss Hurst agrees
with him.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-12

1sG5-Arril II. Lincoln's last
speech.
April II. shot by John
Wilkes Booth.
April Is, died, aged ID.
April 81, the funeral cor
tege left Washington.
May 4, the burial at Oak
Bridge, Springfield, Hill
nOis.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-12
ONE YEAR AGO

Koreans petitioned the peace con-
ference for liberation from Japan.
Pope Benedict took up arbitra-
ton Of the quarrel of Peru. Chile
and Bolivia.
An alcohol and&eiycerine solu-
ton rubbed on the glass will main
tain a clear vision through a wind
shield in rainy weather.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-12
A ChGckle for the COgn0scenti.

A Chuckle for the Cognoscenti.
[Received by G. R. Stephenson, Mgr. Watch
Tower Park.
Rock Island Watch Park. Dear Sir:
Will you please send me the cataog and
price list Of your watch as l am in jew
elers business and Like to deal from you
So l hope to hear from you soon am
yours very truly, CARL S. CARUSO.
CAN anyone tell us why, when famous
author dies the press associations, after list
ing among his best known works" the titles Of
several, always add and others?
MAY THEIR LITTLE WANTZ BE FEW
From the Rockford Morning Starr.
The marriage of Miss Bertha Pearl
Hale, daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. w. B.
Hale of Sussex. Va. and Mr. Raymond
f. WANT. Jr., of this city was solemnized
at Washington, d. c., Saturday afternoon,
April "a.
They will make their home in Rock
ford after June Is when Mrs. Wantz will
join her husband here
REV. BILLY please note that unlike Fan
ME- Mrs. Wantz will join her husband
DISCOVERED!
In writing this poor piifling s.anza
About the Mex. town, Esperanza,
we've got THIS excuse:
We're pleased as :he deuce
To find new rime for CarranZa!
OLD Ed Keen comes across the pond with
the information that eight out of ten English
men predict that England will go dry
within from eight to fifteen years" Pessimis-
tic blighters, those English chaps
One Suspects Business Is Nathan's Forte.
F'rom the Galesburg Republican Register)
Nathan Buckley went to Goodhope on
Wednesday on business. Mr. Buckley is
always on the outlook for business in his
line and usually is successful in busi-
ness.
THE Turkish peace treaty disclosed pro.
vision for permanent occupation of CONSTANT
nople by the allies.
UPON which the sultan, at least breathed q
sign OF rehei R. Z. MIG
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-12
Argus Information*Bureau


confidential the replies being be