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

Human life is very complex Few. problems
in it can be settled by mere good intentions
or mere reasoning, without large amount Of
experiment. It is sometimes embarrassing to
find a. different kinds of state law within the
portuinty it gives for working at a problem
from many different angles!
Ohio makes adultery penitentiary offense:
North Dakota gives equal rights to illegitimate
children, and in each case good people say,
good; let the other states do likewise! 1t
might be better to say, let US see how sucl:
laws work
Laws of this sort are not made for the good
people who keep out Of scrapes; but for the
mad, the weak. the thoughtless and impulsive
that get into them. And the problem is: How
Will such laws work amongst such people?
will penitentiary sentence for adultery keep
weak people from committing it, or will it
drive them to desperate deeds to cover up their
sins? Will it preserve home in safety, or
will it only complete wreck and ruin the
children by driving sinful husbands or wives
&c divorce and remarriage? Or will the law,
perhaps, remain a dead letter. enforced only
against the poor, or for blackmail? Ohio's ex-
perience ought to show.
So with the other Law. Will legal recogni-
ton of a mans illegtimate child work only
good or will it carry with it a+recognition Of
the other as kind OF wife, and so encourage
concubiaage? North Dakota can find OUT
And if each law works out well on the
| whole some third state may experiment with
the two together, and find out whether it is
possible to make man support child if both
parents have to 60 to the peritentiary for ad-
hitting that it is his.
One can only tell by trying; and 4S expert
ment stations are better than one.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-05
HfP& )! !; b 81 4f'!!'::s;
0y Mpc EI1ZARETH THOMQG0NI
" 4 NRC. ELIZABETH THOMPSON

Dear Mrs. Thompson: had been
keeping steady company with boy
several months ago. Later he
went with another girl several
times and now he wants to 60 with
me again.
Please advise me what to do. l
ann overly struck on this boy.
C. H. W.
Let him come back. since you
care for him. He has learned that
you mean more to him that he once
thought.
Dear Mrs. Thompson: l am
young girl % years old and have
been keeping company with a
young man 81. We have gone to-
gether over half year now and
he has always said he cared Tor
me. Now he has been out OF town
for some time At first he wrote
often, and they we're real love let
tiers, but lately he has been wait
ing almost a week before answer.
luz, dLlu WHICH uC ulu uAo ACSSSAS
would be as from a mere friend.
! waited a week last time before
answering his letter and when |
did it was just a friendly one. l
thought perhaps it would help. but
it didn't seem to. have waited a
week now and had no answer.
l love him dearly and couldn't
stand to lose him. He is the only
real sweetheart l ever had and the
only one l ever will have. l think
he knows how much l care and is
too sure of me.
l want to write him a cross letter
and tell him how neglectful and
horrid he is. but l don't want him
to think I am easy either. l have
a lot of other chances, and he
knows it, too, but l don't care for
them. l only want him. He will
soon be back Should l just let
it pass or should l try to make up?
I think he loves me but l don't
think he is sure of it himself
Please help me to do the right
thing. - THANK YOU.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-05

New Deth the MYTHICAL Storki

Hsw Doth tho MYTHICAL Storki
Here is the toughest proposition
the oracle who conducts this coll
umn has been handed in many q
moon:
Dear DR.. Brady:
l am . little girl 5 years old. I
read your piece in today's paper
and I am writing to ask you why
the stork does not bring me . baby
sister or brother. And does the
stork really bring babies? Would
you please tell me the truth about
1t, as I sometimes doubt it. II you
do not tell me l will ask mama.
Please write soon as I am anxious
to hear from you.
MARY
My Dear Mary:
There are great many little
girls and little boys who wonder
whether the stork has gone on a
strike, but most of them Just won
der and do not ask mama or, papa
about it at all. So mama and papa
never tell them anything about it,
and that is too bad.
Now I am sorry, my dear little
friend, but l Just can't lie to such
a bright little girl as your letter
shows you to be. You have prob
ably learned by this time that an
other mythical parsonage, by the
name Of Santa Claus, is nothing but
the love Of mama and papa and
grandma and uncle and auntie and
everybody. Well. the stork is like
this man Santa Claus. He stands
for mothers and fathers. or rather
for their love OF children. You re-
member Jack Frost who stands for
icicles and wintry cold; and bf
course you've met the Man in the
Moon who smiles at little girls
sleeping on warm summer nights.
Then, too, there's Old Sol who beats
you up every morning, nearly. Al!
these are mythical personages. The
stork brings babies; bnt he doesn't
really fly over the chimney top,
with them in his bill. Yet he brings
EN-, Just the same.
Uu. Of the great love mama ana
papa have for each other and fol
the baby Of their dreams that bah.
takes to itself life God blesses the
tie that joins father-to-be and
mother be and says Let there
be a new life," and this new human
life, the baby-to-be, is kept close to
the heart of mother-to-be until ii
has become strong enough to enter
the world. Some fine morning
everybody is happy over the birth
of the baby Mother is happiest OF
all. Father probably worries some
because the baby hasn't any nose
u speak of and looks like the
dickens. But to mother baby is
beautiful even if nobody else can
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-05
BIZ JAMES HOGAN

bodings. AS if determined to take
no more chances with his wayward
moods, he and Miss Todd married
in such haste that the bride had
to wear a borrowed wedding gown.
II either repented at leisure. neither
ever gave voice to the repentance,
At least, Lincolns knightly
honor, sfHgle-minded. patient deyo-
tion were well matched by bis
wife's inspiring admiration Of his
abilities and her prophetic faith in
his greatness. Careful as the hus.
band was of the feelings Of others,
he innocently offended Mrs. Lin.
coins sense of propriety
forgetting the special knife for the
butter, or impulsively getting up
from his fayorite position on the
floor when the bell rang and, in
stead of waiting for the busy hired
girl, going to the door. perhaps in
shirt sleeves and slippers, to vel
come ladies who came to make
fashionable call.
Lincoln's law partner also found
his informality trial. Their Office
was to him only a shelter and bis
desk a footrest He wrote on his
knee; he kept no books and he filed
his papers in his tall stovepipe hat
until it was full, when he dumped
it's contents in a pile and wrote on
top Of the pile: IF you can't find
it anywhere else, look in this
Better than home or office he en-
joyed the gypsy life of lawyer
on the circuit, over which he rode
in rattletrap buggy to attend the
courts of a dozen counties. A hearty
welcome awaited him at any farm
house where he stopped for dinner
or as he alighted before the village
tavern, with a queer old carpet
sack in one hand and faded green
umbrella in the other; with %
cent, low crowned palm hat or a
high, shaggy beaver on his head and
a suit of dusty, rusty, shiny bonn
bazine hanging on his enormous
frame. the suspenders. perhaps,
fastened to the trousers by STICKS
which he had whitfield to take Inc
place of missing buttons.
Yet this CHEEKY, compartments
man really had no companions
Those who knew him best saw only
whimsical, simple, helpful friend
and neighbor, who MIXED MS
COWS, bedded his horse, carried DIS
boys pick-back in the streets, WelI
to market with his basket on Ms
arm or sat on a box at the loot o.
his Office steps, telling stories 70
group of street loiterers. Inc!
caught only battling giimpses irom
time to time of another man WIN
walked the street wrapped in sou.
tude, or who brooded in his olllce
far into the night. This was ue
mystic, the inner Lincoln, poe..
dreamer. idealist, prophet, WIZ
pondered within the outer Llnccih
and guided him on TO his hign ou'!'
published by special arrangement
paper Syndicate.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-05

There is only one thing that will
bring the young man back and that
is silence on your part. Do not
write to him again unless you hear
from him. A cross letter would
show that you care. When he re-
turns speak to him as you would
to any friend. but do not appear
eager to have him your sweetheart
again. He has probably grown
away from you for the time being
but when he comes back his old in
t,.rest will revive if you do not
force it.
Dear Mrs Thompson: l know a
fellow with whom l would like to
go. l was with him once and since
he has never asked me to go out
l would like him as a friend. !
don't know if he cares for me. He
won't show it. How can l gain his
friendship and see if he cares for
me? LONELY BROWN EYES.
The young man does not care TO,
you or he would want to be with
you again. Forget about him. Nc
effort on your part will gain hi:
friendship since you failed to inter,
est him the time you were together
Dear Mrs. Thompson: l am a boy
10 years old and am in love with Z
girl is years old. but she doesn'l
seem to care for me. She goes with
several boys besides me. and wher
We are together she tells ME VIA
a good time she had with them
Please tell me how to win her love
YOURS TRULY.
Do not place any importanc,
upon what the girl says about 9th
er boys. She does not realize tina
it is rude to talk about them to you
To try in any special way to wiz
her would be useless. Be yoursel
and try to entertain her in way.
she will enjoy. If she likes pic
ture shows take her. If she prefer
musicales take her. Perhaps sh
would enjoy walking and picnics.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-05
Facts About the Mississippi.

We who live on the upper Mississippi river
generally pride ourselves upon knowing few
sthings about the stream. We swim and fish
lin it ard take an occasional ride on it in sum
smer, skate and cut ice on 1t in winter and view
Hts admirable scenery the year round. Wher
1T is low we ponder how to improve the chan
mel and when it is high we wonder where all
the water comes from. Always we marvel at
Its power and cultivate visions of a great
shydro-electric plant which will furnish I'M
limited power. and picture the great fleets o.
cargo carriers that we believe some day will
he borne upon its BOSOM
In school we learned that the Mississippi
rises in Lake 1taska and empties into the Gulf
OF Mexico. that it drains the richest valley in
s;he world, and that the Mississippi and Mis-
lsouri together form the longest stream on
earth What more pray, is there to find out
about this river Of ours?
We'll. the United States engineers. though
mostly born and reared elsewhere, lacking the
AdSantage Of Lifelong familiarity with the
3s:reah. still have accumulated certain data
that the average layman has missed. Colonel
Harry Burgess. chief Of the upper Mississippi
NASaACt' yeSAeiuay loi0 neuDeTS OF tue hOtary
club some things that most OF them did not
know.
The upper Mississippi. it appears, is really
. tributary and only minor one The real
mississippi begins at the junction with the
Ohio ard the Ohio is the main stream The
upper Mississippi supplies only one-tenth Of
the water that the lower river carries and i,
could be cut off and never missed. That is an
Important fact to bear in mind in connection
With the much discussed reservoir scheme for
Hood control II all the water above Rock Is.
land at the highest stage were held back the
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-05

the boy in khaki, in the still,
breathless way he always recalled
a certain nervy little English nurse.
He was just within another win
dow across the area-way doing
stunts in show card printfng-in-
stead Of flying! But the sight Of
that sweet girl brought back the
memory OF the other, whom a
thousand poor devils worshipped in
the field hospitals overseas.
She could marry but one Of them
but she had her pick! That was
one satisfaction to the others.
Maybe here was another girl like
her-a little. He must get next to
the force in her Office and some
time perhaps in the distant future
he might be comforted. He looked
at his watch, struck by a sudden
thought. They quit at 5, too.
Meanwhile he Strengthened his
shoulders, smoother his hair, and
very casually indeed turned to-
ward the window the sleeve tina,
bore the one red and the two gold
stripes. and when she glanced his
way he frankly smiled.
At 5 there was action in four Of
fices across the area-Way, for the
little blonde typist covered her ma
chine, assumed a simple hat and
modest fur. and drew on . pair Of
spotless gray gloves. She looked
distinguished!
Casually, oh. 30 very casually, q
stalwart youth. = red-haifed giant
q chap OF rather generous proper.
lions. sidewiss. and . soldier boy Of
gallant bearing happened to meet
At the elevators tgst As she reached
them.
An odious, ovefgrown ONCE boy
from tho 1eoI belsw alightsd from
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-05
ACROSS The AREA.WAY,
BY Eva Ottarson Brewer Gilbert.

Oy EVA Ott6TSOu bTOWef GllDefE
lCopyright, 1920. by Wheeler Syn
dicata, Inc.)
She was blonde, petite. smart. She
eat just within an Office window
briskly tapping the keys OF a type
Nriter-tapping them all day long,
With her ear to the dictaphone;
Without even the respite Of short
hand. Rotten how the progress OF
Invention had to drive . pretty
kirl!
For she was pretty. in q sweetly
mature way, as If she had known
something Of the depth and breadth
Of life. At least 50 thought stall
Eart young fellow who bent over
4 draughting board just within .
window across the area-way.
He had felt that all women we're
faithless because one had been so;
ana it was like . breath Of spring
time to glimpse such a face. II re-
neSed his faith in womankind. He
smiled wanly as he caught her eye
II . neeting glance-smiled with
lips for days unused to smiling. He
would watch for her leaving hour,
md casually. Well, he would
ind . way to meet her.
She was really sweet. Fact! So
conceded the dark eyed youth OF
rather generous proportions, side
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-05


Hildegarde is very popular in
this country though her origin is
almost lost to sight in Morse my
tholegy. The name means battle
maid protector" and links its bear
ers with the warrior maidens of
the wild north.
Hildegarde's direct predecessor
was Hildur, chief among the Val
kyrier. In England there was a
Deiran princess Hildur who became
the holy abbess Of Whitby. succeed
ing st. Begga-
The mother Of Rolf Gangr. pro-
gepitress Of English royalty, who
vainly besought Harald Harfagre
not to Danish her sons from Nor
way, was named Hildr. Hildelidis
is q popular Anglo-Saxon name.
Hildegards was first bestowed
upon an abbess in the Palatinate,
who was noted for her sanctity and
who died as late as 1904. In honor
of the holy woman, Hildegard is
still very popular and In common
usage among German ladies. In
Denmark, the same name has been
most identical, Hilduara, meaning
battle prudence.
Anhag i 2ildaeaeaA;n talisuaaie
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-05

WE are not much impressed by Miss Hurst's
matrimonial venture. One cannot successfully
navigate the ". T. sea Of matrimony unless one
lifts all anchors. any more than Columbus
could have discovered America by sailing
around within sight of the Spanish Main. Miss
Hurst terms most marriages "sordid endur-
ance tests" Life is an endurance test; mar
riage is vital part of it. And both, perhaps,
are only as sordid as one makes them.
HAVING relieved our blood pressure we
can now inform those interested OF the flyer
in matrimony taken yesterday by Miss Alice
Aernaut OF Wilton junction. Iowa, accompan-
led by Victor Verschor Of East Moline.
Mebbe This Will Get Your Goat.
(From the Canton Register).
The Epworth league OF the Methodist
church will give kid party Monday
evening at the church Everyone is to
wear kid clothes and bring their own
lunch in dinner pail No admission
will be charged those that follow the in
structions given above.
COLLAR COUPLE WE'D so YEARS.
Davenport Times
No; there's nothing wrong with the head
line. We merely are mildly curious to know
what the story beneath has to do with it. The
story tells US Ysabel Ferrones and Juana
Yoarra. both of Silvis came to Rock Island
fer marriage license.
"FIvE SECONDS A DAT WITH OUR
PRESIDENTS.-
XIX.-RUTHERFORD B. HAYES.
Made Tilden sob
And got his goat
Grabbed off the job
By just one vote,
1T would save not little white paper if
copyreaGers would cross out the "a" following
NJ ind nfs 80
man so economical as Mr.. Hoover. for in
stance. should not be allowed to say, "some
form OF league Of nations. B L. r.
Yes, teacher but 'sposin' he wanted to say,
frinstance: "a hellhva league of nations" You
must admit that there the IA is absolutely
essential.
LUCKILY THE LAUNCH WAS NOT
! DAMAGED
| C7rom the Seaton independently.
Charles H. Ditto arrived home Wednesday.
from several months trip in the south Mr..
Ditto made the trip in his launch and on the
return trip lost hand by an accidental dis
charge of gun, while at Cairo, ILL.,
WILL THE GIRL who picked IN nocke,
book at Friendly house return to Friendly
house. acknowledgement Democrat,
or course: doubtless she merely picked il
up in friendly spirit.
Who is This Ubiquitous "Assistant-!
(FTom the Chicago Tribune).
Bloomington. Ill-Threateniur st;es d..
scended shortly before game time TODAY for
the Three=Eyes league opener, but 3321
fans witnessed to victory for the 1918
champion Boomers over Rock Island.
: =: All business houses closed at O'Clock
10 allow assistant to attend the game.
Mats. Thurs. & Sat GRACE GEORGE IN
THE RUINED LADY" Sunday sight TOO
MANY HUSBANDS."-Chi. 'Trib. ad.
| THATLL ruin the best of them.
| r. E. MIG.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-05

address ami encloee two-cent stsmp Tor Ns
condden.ial. the replies being sent diEoc3
paid 70 ANONYMOUS letta0s.
@. What is meant by pairing in
reference to members Of congress?
L. E. n.
A. When one member wishes to
be Dissent, he or the party whip
arranges with a member Of the cp-
posite party to refrain from voting
during this time. When Represen-
tative kitchin was taken ill while
speaking against peace vote,
Representative Longworth Of Ohio
Immediately offered TO pair his vote
with that Of Mr.. Kitch.n.
@. Is there q bird known as the
Solitaire? J. F. H.
A. The Solitaire was a dQdo-like
bird, now extinct, that was pecul-
! lar to the island of Rodriguez in
the Indian ocean. In America the
name is given to certain fly-catch-
ing thrushes found in Jamaica and
other West Indian islands. One
species is found in the western
United States. 1t is about eight
inches long. of ashen color and is
a superb singer. The name "Soli-
taire" is derived from its habit OF
hiding in solitary depths Of the for
i est
G Is there . hot metal in which
a person can insert his hand with
out burning it? D. F. S.
A. II q person puts q finger or
hand into metal heated to an ex-
/ tremely high temperature and
withdraws It quickly enough, the
moisture Of the skin forms . coat
ing and preyanh burning This Is
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-05
THE DAILY SHORT STORY

feet poise. she would have seemed
shy; (she had glanced out Of the
window while her busy fingers
were Keeling of the lines, and
catching his gaze, had turned de-
liberateiy away. Well, she had
soma spirit! He'd like to work
with her, Just to jolly her along.
Come to think Of it, that's the kind
Of q girl~ that makes q good wife
and boarding house fare does pail.
He'd watch her quitting time and
get . closer view Of her, some
where on the way to the street.
She vas positively wonderful!
So thought the red-haired giant
who was writing figures in great
ledgers. Just within another win
dow across the areaway. So nifty
and neat, and still so business like;
so dainty and feminine, and still
With such q worthwhile air; as II
she could make an awkward fright
Of . fellow comfortable, and really
treat him human-li like. She was
slancing his way-just casually, he
observed-and there was absolutely
no hint Of the flippancy which most
young girls Of the day consider
quite de rigeuer. She almost smiled,
yet there was not the slightest sus-
picion OF amusement about it: Just
wonderful friendliness.
What . wife . girl like that
would make! Suddenly he felt the
quick, dstestable color covering his
face and mounting to his temples:
and b. equirmed In his high desk
chair and ran his fingers through
the hSayy hair that he hated. and
grinding his teeth he muttared:
am filming some movie for her
entertainment"
II HlaGhk - -. l31fne fn1G2D
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-05

y Questiop BY writing Inc AIku IA
Washington. D. c. Give full na,ns a.
urn postage e. brie.. All INQUIRE n
70 each individual. No attention. w
the same principle as when oH'
vets a finger 10 test a hot IRON. s
@. Is it true that school teacne,'
in New England were ever ~
quired to dig graves? NJ. a. N
A. According to an old record INC
duties of a New England scno w.
master of 1861 were as fellows. ~
act as court messenger, to SER; GER,
summonses, to conduct CERTAIN
ceremonial services OF the cnul.n.
to lead the Sunday choir, 10 i. arc
the bell for public worship, 10 ~,
graves, to perform other oocasioH'
duties"
@. What is the Phsros OF Es!Ps
one of the seven wonders o. u
world? W. ., ~ rs
T, A, The word "pharos neAns
| lighthouse, and this applies 70 ~.
gigantic beacon which was esA 70
lished at Alexandria, Egyp1
light mariners to safety. II VA
built by Ptolemy in 2S9 b. T., s ss
il was stated that it was ivv i sor
high and the light was visible
so miles at sea. .a,,se
I, @. Why do poultry men su ,,iIs
,..:nst the production OF fefii'
eggs? T. r. A. Tor.
A. 1t has been found tha' n.
tile eggs spoil more readily tnsh
fertile eggs. :, Ten
O.. What is the valley Oh y
Thousand Smokes" J. d. A. .na
A. The Valley of Ten lhoa., 4.
Smokes is a region OF volcanI.
tyity near Mt katma. AA
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-05
POOR BILL.

POOR BILL.
Bill Revans had a pretty wife
And loved her to distraction;
To keep from her all care and strife
Brought him great satisfaction.
She was gay and winsome thing
Loved party frocks 2nd dances;
And other men were wont to fling
To'rd her admiring glances.
Bill liked to see his wife we'll dressed.
But neighbors used to tell us
When other males seemed thus impressed
Bill showed that he was Jealous.
One night she heaved fearful sigh
And slipped some news to Bevans
"He tried to f1irt? III kill that guy"
Barked Bill Il will, by heavens!"
When Bevans met the guilty chap
The lady killing geezer-
He BACKED his eyes and marred his msp;
He bifed him on the beezer
A wondrous moment that, for Bill;
His foe was just submitting
When wife yelled: ouch! Hey, you pill!
Wake up! It's ME you're hitting" -