davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-10-15
DOROTHY DIX TALKS
THE FAMILY MARTYR.

BY DOROTHY DIX.
The Worlds Highest Paid Woman Writer
Copyright 1920, by The Wheeler Syndicate, Inc)

Think of the old maid aunts who
nave given their youth to rearing
other peoples children, and who in
thelr OLD age are regarded as bur
dens by the very nephews and nieces
Tor whom they have sacrificed their
lives! Think Of the old maid daugh-
tiers who have been slaves to tyran-
nical mothers who have foregone
matrimony or the careers they might
have had, to stay at home and cod
die cranky old woman's whims.
and whom mother always speaks of
as poor Mary or poor Jane" and
says that she never was brilliant
like her other children!
The truth rs that we wrap so much
Of the pink chiffon Of sentimentality
around sacrifice, that we have lost
sight Of justice and common sense
in the matter. Yet when all is said.
why should one person be sacrificed
to another2 Why isn't one indi-
vidual as entitled to happiness as
another? Why isn't one life worth
as much as another?
In the main, sacrifices are not
only useless, but wrong. Struggle
and hardship develop character and
sharpen wits, just as exercise
strengthens the body and develops
| suppleness. Therefore when we
stand between -. an individual and
what We call the hardships of life,
we are doing him or her an injury,
| instead Of a kindness. And we com
! NIT a crime against another when we
| foster greed, and egotism and self
| will in him or her.
so the mother who works herself
i to death that her children may be
| n
their just share of earning their
daily bread, does them a wrong. The
mem who achieve things in the
world have not been the ones who
had mothers who kept them in cot
| ton wool.
Nobody can accept a sacrifice
without being brutalized by it. You
will never find a man whose wife
supports him who does not abuse
her. Nor son who permits his
| mother to make a door mat of her
self for him who does not trample
| all over her heart. Nor will you
ever behold family grateful to the
woman who is the sacrificial goat.
| Also a sacrifice is generally a
boomerang that annihilates the
source from which it sprang. A fam
| lily will tie a brilliant and talented
girl 10 lne COOK Stove, ana make ner
| sacrifice her career because they
think she should help mother. when.
| If they would let her go, she could
make enough money to hire regi-
ment of cooks. Or they will per-
suade soft headed girl, with an
in-growing conscience, to give up
her happiness in order to play nurse
| maid to children, or cater to a sell
| fish and self-centered old mother or
| father, and then bemoan the fact
that they have to have her tag on
to their families, because she has
never married and had a home Of
! her own.
So / say TO women that sacrifice
is folly Don't let anybody make
goat of you.
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-10-15
UNCLE WIGGILYEsX
BED11NlE STORY
UNCLE wIGGILT AND THE GRAPES.

Hlppy. that It wasn't good Mr.. Stub
tall my gentleman bear friend, or Mr
Whitewash, the polar bear. whom you
SAW"
No, 1t was q black, bushy bear
said the hoptoad boy, and he kept
growing; I'll get him this time! I'll
get him this time!' / guess he was
talking about you, Uncle wiggily."
| Maybe he was" said the bunny
rabbit gentleman. but, since you
have told me about him. I'll go home
around the other way and he will
not get me-"
"oh, he won't, eh?" suddenly called
a grillery growlery voice. We'll,
that's the time you're fooled, Uncle
| Wiggily! Here / am now. and I'm go
ing to get you!" And with that,
bursting through the bushes came
the black, bushy bear. He was
walking or his hind legs, and though
he would be afraid to run after a
man or boy, or even little girl
or her mother, the bear wasn't afraid
to run after Uncle Wiggily.
| Now I've got you!" cried the bushy
bear to the bunny. Il guess I'll carry
you off to my den. But what have
you In the basket under those leaves?'
no asked, for Mr.. Longears had
spread leaves over the grapes.
What's in the basket?" asked the
bad bear.
Jelly" answered Uncle Wiggily,
while Hippy Hoppy, the little toad
boy, hid under n stone. AT least, it
isn't exactly jelly yet, but it soon
will be- went on the rabbit uncle.
Nurse Jane is going to make jelly
| and"
| bear, most impolitely. well. if there's
one thing like more than another it
is Jelly. Yum! Yum! / guess III eat
off to my den!" and with that he
made a grab for the basket
"Oh, it isn't jelly YETI cried
| Uncle Wiggily.
"Ho! Ho You are saying that to
fool mel" growled the bear. IL guess
know grape jelly when l smell it'll"
| With that he rudely reached his
paw into the basket and clawed out
"a bunch of grapes. Into his mouth he
| popped them. and then he made q
| crooked jumn around the corner,
across the street and jump back
again, with q twisted face His lips
were all puckered up. and his teeth
grated on each other and his eyes
dripped water.
Grape Jelly! What do you mean!
You had lemons in that basket, that's
what you had" growled the bushy
bear, and away he ran to find a
spring of water to take the sour,
puckery taste out of his mouth.
What was the matter with the
bear, Uncle Wiggily?" asked Hippy,
laughing as he remembered the bushy
chaps funny face.
"Oh, he chewed a bunch o sour
green grapes by mistake!" cried the
bunny. But I'm glad he did, for he
forgot all about me, Now I'll hurry
home, so Nurse Jane can make the
grape jelly"
And when the grape Jelly properly
sweetened, was made, Uncle Wiggily
gave Hippy Hoppy some on slice
OF bread. And IL the parlor rug does
not go sliding down the front hall
1 and jump through the key hole to
| fan the milkman, I'll tell you next
about Uncle Wiggily up a treer>
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-10-15
The Assessment Law,

II there Is one thing more than an
other that should commend Gov.
Roberts to the voters of Tennessee II
IS that he possessed the courage to
advocate and secured the passage OF
n uniform assessment law applicable
10 all classes Of property throughout
the state.
Ninety five per cent of the tax
payers will not be affected by the
assessment law The increase in
revenue will come from the five per
cent who have heretofore escaped
payment Of their just proportion of
the taxes, and from the public serr-
ice corporations that likewise have
never borne their proper share OF the
tax burden of the state.
Under the old system there were
fifteen or more pauper counties in the
state. A pauper county is one that
does not produce enough revenue
from its assessments TO defray its
expenses. The burden had to be
carried by the larger counties. Under
the present system the assessments
are made on an equitable basis,
When the present assessment law
was enacted the assessed valuation
Of property ranged from Is to 50
per cent Of its actual value. Under
the present law the assessment will
average about S5 per cent through
out the state.
The only objection that can be
raised against the assessment of
property according to its cash value
Is that the law plays no favorites.
The public service corporations and
the big property owners have been
favored so long that they resent be-
ing placed on tax basis with the
man whose. only possession is small
home, The chief recommendation Of
the law is the enemies 1t has made.
We are glad to see that Gov. Rob
erts is defending this law and his
position on it. The Democratic Vo-
tiers sustained him in the August pri-
mary. The people of Tennessee will
vindicate him in the November cleo
ton.
When Col. Alt Taylor. Republican
nominee for governor. announces
that IL elected he will advocate the
repeal OF the assessment law. he
takes position in favor Of a back
ward step that viii not meet and
does not merit the approval of in
telligent people. There is no justi-
fication for his contention and he can
expect support only from those who
do not favor a square deal.
The present assessment law makes
no distinction between the property
OF the poor and the property of the
rich. Each is assessed on the same
basis. Any person who is dissatis-
fled with this basis of assessment is
seeking an unfair advantage; one
they have no right TO expect and
should not be given
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-10-15
HOROSCOPE
SATURDAY, OCTOBER IS, 1920.

Copyright 1920, by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate)
Neptune and Mercury rule strongly
for good today, according to astrology.
Saturn Is adverse. r a
During this sway there will be a
tendency toward confusion of ideas and
disturbed mental conditions.
There is sign that seems to presage
n gradual clearing of foggy thoughts.
Men and women who are engaged in
the learned professions should benefit.
This should be fortunate rule for
advertising, Newspapers will prosper
greatly and writer's will benefit during
the next few weeks.
The seers foretold a Tightening OF
the money market that will not be re-
lieved until tho new year has pro-
crossed toward Spring.
Old ideas will clash with new ones.
but there will be period of apparent
apathy concerning public matters that
is the calm before the storm.
Again mining interests come under a
menacing government of the stars,
making for accidents as well as for
labor troubles.
Saturn is in place read as foreshad-
owing a drop In wages that will cause
widespread discomfort.
Railways will benefit so far as phys
ical conditions are concerned, II astrol-
ogers interpret the aspects Alright. Con-
struction and development are indi-
Gated.
Again earthquake tremors are fore
told. the fifth degree. east longitude.
being most likely TO suffer,
Mars continues in a place that is
threatening to the interests OF estab-
lished theatrical managers.
Persons whose birthdate il is should
not take any financial risks as the
year may bring many problems.
Children born on this day are likely
to be large hearted and generous. They
are not usually successful in business.
but they may acquire a fine art OF
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-10-15

or until some other boy comes along
pretending 10 care for her, tries TO kiss
her, finds out she will not allow 1t,
then quits. Are there no really good
clates good girl who holds herself
above the average silly girl Of today.
Don't mlsunderstand me and think | am
Of the opinion that ! am better than
everyone else. But ! loved boy dear
ly and had promised to marry him,
when I found he had been decelVing
me all the time and was going with
other girls. would have trusted my
life with this boy, and you can imagine
that he was untrue to me. "Discour.
aoedp asked a way Of getting a girl. |
now ask the way to tell q good man
when ! see him. PESStMlST.
There are good men sim in existence.
thank heaven, or there would be no in
situations for the upbuilding Of human
character. Otherwise the foundation OF
the world would crumble. You should
consider yourself fortunate that YOU dis
covered the boys true nature and that
there is that something in you which
is above desiring a boys love at the
expense of self-respect, The only way
to tell a good man is to observe the
kind of associates that he attracts to
him, the consideration he has for wom-
en- and whether or not his habits are
in keeping with the high standards of
morality. Don't be discouraged. Hold
fast to your ideals and eventually the
right man for you will come. II you
lost one boys love, it was because he
whom you could be happiest. Send Inc
your name and address at once as
wish to give you some private informa-
ton.
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-10-15
Against Taxation,

purporting to quote The News
Scimitar. the Commercial Appeal at
tributes TO us thoughts we did not
utter and words we did not write
The Commercial Appeal quotes Ihe
News Scimitar as saying AS we
understand it, the Commercial Appeal
Is not making objection to the fig
ures of the state board of equali-
zation.7 What The News Scimltar
said was: AS we understand IT, the
Commercial Appeal is not making OBJ
lection to the county assessors fig
ures. It objects to the figures Of the
state board OF equalization
After successfully dlsposing OF Its
man Of straw, our neighhor goes on
TO say: 1.-THE Commercial Appeal IL
making objections to the county as
SCISSORS figures, to the county equal
izatlon boards figures and to the
state equalization boards figures"
GOV. Roberts is in favor Of uni
form assessments throughout the
state. Col. Taylor, the Republican
candidate for governor, in his vain
quest for votes, has not gone so far
as TO advocate immunity to big
property owners and public service
corporations from taxation and as
the Bolsheviki have no candidate for
governor this year. we are wondering
whom the Commercial Appeal is sup
porting.
There Is no authority under heaven
to make assessments for the state
except the county assessor, the
county equalization board and the
state equalization board, and as the
Commercial Appeal objects to all
these, We are forced to the conclu-
sion that 1t is opposed 10 all taxes
whatsoever,
This is not a new theory, but it Is
opposed to our form of government.
There are many large property own
ers and public service corporations
that share the views of the CONNER
cial Appeal, and until the present as
sessment law was enacted their the
cries were pretty generally practiced
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-10-15

suaded 20 believe is n public service.
The question OF whether a farmer
shall sell his cotton or hold it Is a
matter for independent determina-
ton. The farmer like everyone else,
is expected 10 relieve outstanding and
pressing obligations. II a farmer
owes a retail merchant. who In turn
owes the wholesale merchanG who In
turn owes the wholesaler, and has
no cash with which to satisfy his in
debtedness. he has moral obligation
resting upon him to dispose Of some
OF his possessions. cotton or some
thing else. in order to pay his debts.
When n farmer owes Il portion OF
the proceeds Of what his cotton Will
bring and continues TO hold his crop
on the theory that prices viii adj
vance. he Is specializing on other peo-
pies money.
The question Of holding a crop or
marketing 1t is one that does not af-
feet all farmers alike. 1t Is impos-
sible for them to agree on plan that
will enable them to operate in con-
cert.
Under prevailing conditions with
the price of cotton less than the cost
OF production, the farmer does not
need 20 be told what TO do in the cir
,,,r,,,o,cas He must Judge IL he
shall sell at the prevailing price, or
IL he shall hold his cotton for an IN
creased price, or in holding for IN
creased price incur the risk OF sur
ferlng a still further loss, we DO
not know Of anyone who can tell
practical farmer anything along this
line that he does not already Know
and especially it is gratuitous to Of
fer him advice when his peculiar ana
individual problems are known only
TO himself.
The state and county officials
should take cognlzanec OF the
situation that has developed from
threats Of the night riders and the
destruction of cotton gins in differ
ent localities. II the officials Will
take a firm stand against this new
form OF lawlessness 1t can be eradi-
Gated as effectively and as finally AZ
the Reelfoot night riders were put
down by Gov. Patterson.
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-10-15
Twice Told Tales
News Of Memphk
10 Years Ago.
OCTOBER Is, 1910.

Mempht ans today were specuiating
on the outcome of the attempt of Wal
ter Wellman TO cross the Aatlanttc IN
the airship America. He left Atlantic
City, y. j.. this morning in the ship.
Two influential Chicago bankers. f.
O. Wetmore, vice pre- sident of the First
National bank, and II. II. Boisot. Vice
president of the First Trust and Saw
ings bank. arrived in Memphis this
morning, ostensibly TO get better ac-
quainted with local bankers and to look
into the bond situation.
The last rites over the body of Will
liam Il. Gerber well known Memphis
business man who died Tuesday in New
York city. were held this morning at
10 o'clock at Sacred Heart Catholic
church. Burial followed in Calvary
cemetery.
Patrick J. Moran, 60. one OF the most
public spirited citizens OF Memphis,
prominent and for many years pow
erful factor in local politics and civic
avenue last night, after having been in
ill-health for several years.
The highest temperature reached in
Memphis today was "a degrees. The
lowest was Ga degrees.
Marriage licenses were issued today
to ]. II, Decker and Mrs. Clara Lock
ridge, j. w. Wallace and Miss Emma
Forster, Joe Smith and Miss Tente no
seminal
Mrs. Annah Robinson Watson returned
TO her home today after delightful
visit with friends and relatives IA Knox
Vile, Tenn
c. MCClesky. OF Tuscumbia, Ala.
Mr.. and Mrs, c. A. Garrett returned
TO the city today, after a delightful
visit in Western states.
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-10-15
News Of Memphis
rs Years Ago.
OCTOBER is. 1895.

Charles A. Weiner and Miss Anna
Haussler, both well-known young peo-
pie of this city, were married last
night at ~ Exchange avenue. by Squire
Garvin After the ceremony their many
friends rendered them a supper. The
remainder of the evening was spent
in dancing. They will make their home
In this city
The members Of the Beethoven club
of Memphis wers entertained this aft
ernoon at the home of Mrs. Napoleon
Hill. Refreshments were served. after
which several musical selections were
rendered bv various members present.
Mrs. c. W. Cox. of Saulsberry, is the
guest for several days of her brother,
Deputy Marshall u. p. Elliott Mrs.
Cox is a we'll known musician OF this
locality
w, r. Long is in st, Joseph's hos
pital suffering from serious cuts and
bruises, incurred when he fell from
moving passenger train Of the Kansas
City. Memphis G. Birmingham line at
Red Banks, Miss, this morning. He
was picked up a short distance from
Red Banks and rushed Immediately to
this city for medical treatment.
DR. W. r. Hughes, son Of Ex-Gov.
Hughes, and . prominent physician Of
Little Rock, Ark, is the guest of friends
and relatives in Memphis for several
days.
W. A May u merchant Of Hickory
Valley, Tenn is spending several days
vlsiting friends and attending to per-
sonal business in this city.
Miss Jennie wall, Of Sarats, Miss,
and MISC Lizzie Roberts, Of Parkers
burg. w. Va, are the guests Of friends
and relatives In this city for several
days
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-10-15

A young woman was engaged to be
married to o splendid young fellow
who went to the war and did mans
part in it. He Is back now and fs
pressing her to marry him. which
she wants to do because they love
each other dearly and long to make
real the home of their dreams. But
the woman's sister has recently died
leaving four children, and the girls
family tell her that it is her duty
to give up her own happiness and de-
vote her life to rearing these moth
erless little ones.
A woman, well in the thirties, has
toiled like slave ever since she
was Is years old, to support mother
and sisters and brothers, and to give
the younger children the education
and advantages she never had. AL
though she earns q fine salary, she
has never been able to save cent
for her old age, or even to indulge
herself in any luXuries as she went
along, because it took all she could
make to give the others the things
they thought they were bound to
have. The sisters and brothers are
now all grown and at work, or mar
RED but they refuse to aid in sup
porting their mother, and still come
home for the Cinderella sister to sup
port them when they are out of a
lob, or want to take a vacation with
out paying board.
A woman who is heaven born
genius as a dressmaker, and who
could make her thousands every
year in any city, lives in a small viii
lage where she works for pittance,
hoa Nryh Oh, har, 4S
support, will not leave her old home
and her old friends and go to a
strange place where she will have
nobody with whom to gossip over the
back fence.
The three women, who are the
heroines of these domestic tragedies,
ask me what they shall do, and
whether they shall sacrifice them
selves for their families or not.
say no. | believe that nine times
out of ten a sacrifice is not only
made in vain, but that it harms in
stead of helps those whom it was
destined to aid.
Especially does the domestic sac
rifice breed selfishness and parasit
ism, and turn it's recipients into hui
man gouls who have neither com
passion nor mercy upon the poor
martyr upon whose very life blood
they live.
Think of the families you know in
which there is some one poor crea-
ture who has sacrificed herself for
the balance, and who is unthanked
and unregarded, even despised, be-
cause she has not spirit enough to
demand her rights!
Think of the poor shabby older sis
tiers that you know who wear patch
ed shoes, and year before-lasts hats,
so that their pretty young sisters
may have silver slippers to dance in
and the latest thing in millinery!
Think of the worn old women
boarding house keepers you know
who work their fingers to the bones
to keep husky lads playing on foot
ball teams in colleges! .t
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-10-15
Let George Do II.

An editorial in n Detroit paper de-
plored the fact that the American
Legion at their national convention
In Cleveland adopted resolutions ia
voring exclusion Of japanese from
the United States. II dogmatcally
declared that while negotiations were
on between that country and ours
was no time for Americans to discuss
this momentous subject
This unfortunate state Of mind is
shared not by this journal alone but
by many individuals as we'll Whom
Americans cease to take an interest
IN their national and International
affairs and delegate to Il chosen few
pund!ts the privilege Of thinking for
them. then. indeed. liberty is dead
and the putativc ascendancy of Jere-
miuh Higginbotham as perpetual
president. once predicted hy Mdcau-
lay, is not far off
Americans should express their
minds fully and freely at all times
for only by such means can the re-
public endure. The sclf-elcclcd
Brahmins Of our political life who
would do our thinking should be sent
back to the obscurlty from which
they emerged and which they are SO
peculiarly fitted by nature to adoru.
Unfortunately there are large num-
bers of khe physically inert, mentally
sluggish and intellectually dormant
who are perfectly willing 70 let
George do II. II only their hiberna-
lions are not disturbed These two
classes are the most dangerous to
our liberties that we have. far trans
cending the blatant -mouthcd, red
Bolshevik, and the tepidly pink So
cIalist
1t Is only by full, free and frank
discussion that we can know the
truth. Instead Of being condemned
the American Legion is to be con-
graduated, and deserves the thanks
Of every thinking American for it's
discussion Of this and kindred topics.
II is 10 be hoped that other bodies
OF representative citizens will not
hesitate to speak their minds freely
on matters Of national concern. We
have had enough Of star chamber
methods IN the nation.