davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-09-05
One Ancient Implement Of Lea
ing Had the Suggestive
Shape Of a Paddle

''Many Of the hornbooks that were
used in the early days in this coun-
try undoubtedly were imported. I
am able to show what is likely the
oldest hornbook made on this con-
tinent. 1t is Mexican, probably Of
the seventeenth century. 1t is made
entirely Of wood and painted H.
lustration represents the Child Jesus
holding up globe surmounted by
q cross.
Except for the Mexican horn
book I know of but five hornbooks
originally found in America. One
of these was unearthed in Guilford,
Conn, and is now the property of
Morgan G. Bulkeley, formerly Gov
ernor. II formerly belonged to
Mary Hart, who was a grand
daughter of John Hart, the first
graduate of Yale College. In Rhode
Island Mrs. Alice Morse Earle some
years ago discovered hornbook of
English make. This is duplicate
Of the one with a picture of Charles
II stamped on the back.
"Then there are two ivory horn
books in this country. One Of them
purchased in an auction room in
Boston several years ago. ] have
been anxious to trace it's history to
find out whether it is Of American
make. 1t is reported to have come
from the old Gilman family in Exc
ter, but ] have been unable to veri-
fly this. The other ivory one is the
property of New York family and
is thought to have been made in
Scotland.
OF American Make
"The last OF the five hornbooks
found in America was discovered at
Princeton, N. j. 1t is really of
American make. 1t must have been
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-09-05

primitive device for counting and
making change, which is still usec
throughout the East. This particu.
Lar hornbook is especially interest.
ing because it was used i'm the
famous Blue Coat School of Lowdon
"A picture Of Charles II on horse.
back on the back Of q hornbooA
made Of wood, but bound in leather
shows that it came from that period
The deliberately carved English oak
which was used as frame sug.
gests the richness Of the Elizabeth.
an period, from which it dates. All
hornbooks were not made of wood
covered with horn, but no matter
what was the material used they
were known as hornbooks. have
one Of brass, dated 1864, and an.
other Of copper of q later period
Another specimen is called the
golden hornbook' because it's letters
were printed in gold. 1t is of the
seventeenth century and is the only
one ! have which was made in Ger.
many. 1t came from Nuremberg.
"Hornbooks sometimes appeared ir
gingerbread form. About this type
Matthew Prior, who died in 1871
had this to say:
I" TO Master John the English Maid
A ho7'mbook gave of gingerbread,
And that tho child may learn the
better
AU he can name he eats the letter.
"In the medieval curriculum the
hornbook occupied an important
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-09-05
hands, as the hornbook was passed
about from child to child.

hands, as the hornboek was passed
about from child to child.
New York, with the largest popu-
lation Of school children, Ia the
world, now possesses the greatest
collection Of hornbooks, although
hornbooks originated In Europe. The
collection is owned by George A.
Plimpton. Mr.. Plimpton has in his
Park Avenue home more than 90
900 rare textbooks, including arith-
metics, gfammars, biographies and
histories, but the prizes Of his coll
lection are his hornbooks. A horn
book is one Of the rarities Of the
history of education and the find
ing Of one is considered important.
Although there are no hornbooks
extant that I know Of which are earli-
er than the sixteenth century, there
is evidence that the hornbook was
used before them" said Mr.. Plimp-
ton, as he looked upon his collection
with affection. IL happen to, have
an arithrnetical manuscript of Sacro-
bosco, dated about 1400, in which
we come unexpectedly upon the
picture of hornbook. The monk
who was copying this manuscript
evidently became tired Of Sacro-
boseo and made a little picture at
the bottom Of the page. It is a
rather crude drawing Of school
room. The schoolmaster, in his
gown, is holding up before the pu-
pills hornbook on which are writ
ten not the usual alphabet but the
Arabic numerals.
TT is rather remarkable that 90
few hornbooks are extant. The
British Museum has only three, and
the Bodleian Library at Oxford
only one. There are several single
specimens in private libraries in
America. Their owners are j. P.
Morgan, w. O. Field and Alvin
Krech, of New York, and Frank E.
Gay, Of Hartford. These are all
English specimens. I myself have
been so fortunate as to pick up
twenty-four specimens.
Shakespeare KNEW Hornbooks
"The best examples have been
found in England. Shakespeare
doubtless learned his lessons from a
hornbook. In Loves Labour's Lost
he says: T.
"'Yes, yes,. he teaches boys the
Hor'nebook; Which &s ab spelled back-
soord with the horn on its headg'
"The conventional. type Of horn
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-09-05

her head back and stepped away, al
most unconsciously, as if her body,
rather than her spirit, was filled will,
disgust. Instinctively she pressed
her lips together so as not to inhale
the air contaminated by the brea Il,
Of those two monsters. This state
If physical reru;zion lasted several
minutes.
$40 come to see this! Oh, the
atrocious creatures! And what g
profession!"
She opened her mouth to cry car
rest them'' But she thought again:
els it certain that I am not mis-.
taken?"
At this moment the, man in the
cassock pivoted on his heels and
walked away, followed by the WON
an. Nine. Robertin put her hand.
kerchief to her face so that the7
couldn't recognize her. She didn'i
want to have any doubts.
ut would have been foolish Of me
to denounce them. Their papers are
certainly in order. But if / car
have them arrested where they live
the police may find proofs and per
haps some accomplices."
The couple walked away tranquil
ly. The widow followed them brave
ly-at certain distance. She want
ed to do what she could. The trai
was long and winding. Whethe,
they had numerous points Of the cit,
to cover or merely wished to throw
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-09-05

made in the early part Of sas Is
century, for the lessen il ST.
from the Philadelphia Primer. 49,
was published in 1921. By ress|
ing the little wooden slide yaysss,
reading lessons could be- inss,,s
under the horn.
"The next Of kin to the $50
book were reading lessons sa.e.s
on a. board. which were ussS s.
Erasmus Hall School at Flaahs'
L. !. Such reading @ssoas "a
largely in use in the Lansssi,l.s
schools which fiourished here n "a
first quarter Of the nineteenth $,
fury and which were based On tIa
principle that the pupils shoasa q
q share of the teaching.
Down through the centuries d.
hornbook modified It's form, arsssa
losing its handle. When paper 81
print became more available esysl
board A, 8, C's grew in popuisYss'
The first A, 3, C book in manuseriss
which / have been able to dises,.l
was written about 1870. Il has;,a1
with a cross, followed by the aipAa.
bet. The alphabet indicates lis ea,,s
period, for the first letters ara Ens.
lish and the last are Saxon. Tka,'
follow the Exorcism and tho IArss
Prayer, the Hail Mary and iii
Greed. This general order was ma
the same as the lesson on the kosa,
book. The top row of the hosnhoak,
by the way, which commenced va
the cross, was called the 'crisssos
row. and the pupil was expecssa q
cross himself when he began ID
lesson. The Exorcisn1 was used VIII
the idea that the average boy VA
so full of the devil that he nesdsa
the proper formula constantly d
hand to free him from Sasaat
fwiles."
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-09-05
TWO PROF1LES IN THE CROWLEY Edmond Harancourt

no notice of the two backs except
to compare their bulk. Neverthe-
less, she had remarked that the
priest wore over his broad shoulders
q cassock miserably shabby and
faded, and that on the woman's hat
there was the relic Of what must
once have been a costly plume.
These two persons watched intently
the process Of bringing out the
wounded. Now and then the &C.
clesiastic bent down to his compan-
ion and said something.
But Nine. Robertin no longer paid
any attention to them. Her eyes
fixed on the church. portico; she fol-
lowed the sad procession of victims.
She couldn't restrain her tears. Sud
denly she gave a start. Now she
looked no longer at the church, but
at the profile-there, only a few
inches away from her-zpf the woman
with the plume, who lifted her
mouth toward the priests ear. The
profile Of the priest also showed
clearly as he turned toward his as
sociate, and this time Mme. Robertin
drew away in amazement.
"ls it possible? Either I am
dreaming or I'm crazy"
She took out her handkerchief
wiped her eyes with ie, and let it
drop down over her mouth to conceal
her face. There was only q step
between her and the couple. Once
more the profile Of the stout woman
came within the range of her vision.
That full cheek and pale eye; that
reddish eyebrow; those stragelina
eyeiashes;. that stray lock above the
ear; that weak mouth, which drivels
out words and becomes hard as soor
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-09-05
AUCTION PITCH

Question-A bids three and gets it,
when he wants three to 60, B and C
wanting one each. B leads out the
ace of trumps and calls out, as that
must be high. A bets that if he can
get the three other points he still wins.
Is this right? We have always played
that the points 60 out in order: high,
low, jack and the game.-J. c. P.
Answer-The points go out in order
when there is no preference in the
bidding; but it is the rule in all bid
ding games that the successful bidder
shall have the first count, as a COM
pensation for the risk he takes Of being
set back when he bids. But FOR this
rule players could sit tight and "sweat
out" point at time, without taking
any risks.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-09-05
A Land of Strange Birds.

and favorable climatic conditum,
but also to the fact that in tsopiea
South America birds are practiesay
non-migrstory. They are, therefarA
continuously subjected to the ints,
ences Of their surroundings aud ID
not mix with birds from other local.
ties, two factors of the utmost iM
portance in the evolution Of spede
But the richness Of South Arpeds
can bird life is due TO the presslsA
Of the Andes more than to any othes
one thing; and it is the shsence Il
great mountain chains in Afrix
which accounts for the comparsssssf
small numbers Of species Of bisdi
in that continent. From bass n
summit, four distinct genes Of Ms.d
tropical, sub-tropical, temperate cd
alpine-are found in the hisha
Andes, and each zone has spse
which are confined to it. So shasa,
are these zones defined that, whs,e
the slope is steep, one may pass ffbsal
one zone to another on foot In lsa
than ten minutes and, at the sstas
time, find an almost entirely diGGs
ent set Of birds.
Such changes are impossible at s4
level. One may go from the TROPICAL
upper Amazon 1900 miles 10 IN
mouth and find less differences b
the general bird population than ess
will encounter in an altituds q
g, 900 feet in the Andes.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-09-05

and seventeenth centuries were pain
fully well acquainted with them.
They were the predecessors Of the
modern textbooks and were used
because at that time school books
could not be produced in sufficient
quantity and cheapness to supply the
needs Of the general public.
A hornbook, in point Of fact,
was not a book at all. Originally
it was a piece Of board with 8
handle shaped like the battledore
in the old game Of battledore and
shuttlecock. On the face of the
hornbook was either vellum or paper
on which the lesson was inscribed.
This was protected by sheet Of
translucent horn, which was neces-
sary to keep the lesson from a pos
sible stain by pair Of dirty little
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-09-05

twenty years. The owner lives %
the second floor. On the third % q
government bureau chief, who haa
been decorated. The fourth door q
unoccupied. On the fifth are o esss
and his sister," ii
"a cure?"
"a poor cure from the 4inyada
regions. A worthy man whom sM
Boches carried away, with his sis
to a concentration camp in siIssae
All, madame, what they suffers
there! What brutalities they aaa
him endure, and how his sister g.
tests them! You ought to hear saea
talk. They are terribly afraid tsa
they will see the Germans eEsf
Paris, and they also have o sfsa
horror of the Gothas and che b
cannon. They say that we are y
for ten years Of war, and when aAT
body talks about victory they shsA
their heads in doubt, because sas
have seen for themselves and sas
at hand the real power Of q
Kaiser. 1t 10 pitiful to listsn y
them. But the house is q very qal
and orderly one"
81 will think it over. To-mncrfas
I shall come and let you know.
In the street Mime. Robertin hsias
a taxi. "To Police Headquarssfsss
she said to the driver.
A week later she received an sass
graphed letter frora the Prefeet g
Police congratuiating her on s
zeal and ingenuity which, she ~
shown i'm the service of her counl4N
"The two spies, armed with v.
uine papers taken from French @
zens, were arrested, thanks %. IS
revelations Of Mma. Robertin,"
She proudly preserves shin b|
s"gt is my citations !" she saga 81.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-09-05
Translated by William L. Mcpherson
Here Is little German story told By disn
guished Haruncouyt

as it settles down again to silence;
that despotic jaw
Frau Gutekunst!"
AS one Of the dead was carried out
the throng uncovered. Like the
others, the priest raised his hat. His
whole head was revealed.
"Major Won Cleef!"
At Cologne Nine. Robertin had
lodged for month with Frau Cute
kunst, living with her and eating at
her table. She therefore knew her
we'll. She knew all her gestures, all
the intonations of her harsh voice,
her. laugh and her smile. Many
times also she had seen the major,
a daily guest in the house, so as
slduous and intimate in his atten-
lions that his visits had started scan
dalous rumors. Red-faced and AFRO
giant outside, he affected an air of
good hu'nor at the dinner table and
INDUCED in heavy-footed pleasantries
which, he thought entertaining for
the other guests, He spoke French
correctly, and Frau Gutekunst, a for
mer governess, spoke it even better
than he did.
HE has shaved off his mustache.
But it is he. It is certainly he!"
Mime. Robertin was petrifed.
These two Germans, informed be-
Sorehand Of the massacre and there
to count their victims, filed her with
physical horror, in which repulsion
! was mingled with fright. She threw
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-09-05
II N A recent interview, DR.. Frank
n M. Chapman, curator Of the
-@- Department Of Birds of the

possible shadowers off the track, the
two spies took zigzag course, turn
ing many sharp cofners and plung-
ing into various alleyways and pas
sages. They had been walking near
ly three hours when they suddenly
disappeared. An obscure corridor
swallowed them up.
The improvised policewoman
breathed sigh of relief. She was
thoroughly tired out.
IF only the house doesn't have a
rear door!" che exclaimed to herself.
She carefully noted the number,
the general appearance of the
facadeJ five stories high, with a
jewelry shop on the ground floor.
There was sign on the outside,
apartment to let" She sought out
the janitress:
You have vacant apartment,
madame, haven't you? How many
rooms are there in it? On what floor?
What does ityrent for? Might / look
at it now, even though it is little
late in the day? I beg a thousand
pardons for disturbing you SO near
the dinner hour. But have so little
time to myself"
Her politeness won the ianitress.
They went upstairs to look at the
vacant rooms.
"This suits me very WELL" said
the caller. "Your house has only a
single entrance, hasn't it? I am 8
widow and somewhat timid. / live
alone with companion. wouldn't
like to have double exits and en-.
frances and suspicious people com.
ing in. Excuse me for asking YOU
one question. Are all your dodgers
respectable?"
"Oh, madame! They are. excep.
tionally SO. The jeweler on the
ground floor has been there for
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-09-05
School for Card Players

for little else than with that suit for
trumps, and chat the caller is long
enough to disregard any possible short
age in this dummy's trumps. The cor
rect bid IL therefore three hearts. To
60 no-trumps without d heart to lead Is
very risky. IL che spades are persisted
In, then will be the time to double;
TO show the sure trick In spades after
having assisted &he hearts.
| Questionable bid ss Ave clubs. dou-
bled. Tke aaelayes wans three-odd only.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-09-05

builds this to Ave. On its coming round
to him again he puts his five on the
build and calls IL ten. The. right to do
this is disputed by the opponents
G. w. B.
Answer-As long az the builder has
in his hand the card to take in the
build he makes ne is within his rights.
A had the five to take in five build.
He also had the ten to take in the ten
build when there is no longer any
FIVE build on the table.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-09-05
HORNBOOK auhSch used By American school chill
III dren IN Colonial days

book had many variations. One, for
instance, is a kind Of double horn
book The alphabet and the rest Of
the lessons were on one side, but
unfortunately that has been lost.
Upon the reverse side is the abacus,
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-09-05
EFORE the war Nine. Ro-
bertin was a great traveller.
She was a widow and

M Oc4 I'LL WEES d BIcdt LGdVclSE.
She was widow and
sought diversion from her
melancholy. She made the rounds Of
Europe. She had her favorite cities
in Italy, Germany and Holland, and
in each of them she established GER
tain permanent relations, But since
the war she hadn't left Paris. The
panic Of September, 1914, reused her
combative spirit, and so she re-
manned. Nor did the bombardment
Of 1913 dislodge her. She prided
herself on her constancy and soli-
darity of character. Every morning
she went to her hospital and after
ward to her dispensary.
Everybody owes duty to the
country" she said. ave must do
Wn@C we can.
On Good Friday, 1918, she was
passing near her church when shell
from a Big Bertha struck it and
killed seventy-fve worshipers. A
crowd gathered. Rows Of curious
spectators, held back by the police,
formed opposite the church door.
Mime. Robertin hesitated a moment.
But she had the soul Of tourist,
and desire to see what was going
on overcame her horror. Finally she
approached. Just in front Of her q
tall priest shut off her view. But a
short, stout woman alongside Of him
offered her an opening which she
could uss to advantage.
AT the very FIRST she had taken
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-09-05
Auction Bridge

, will be set one or two tricks. At
hearts all that A and B can make
is their three aces.
AT no-trump, this is what hap
pens: A having the lead did not bid
against it, but sat tight and led a
small diamond. B won the first trick
ewith the king and came right back,
putting the queen in chancery, so
that A was able to run down the
whole suit.
B discarded hearts and spades
after he was out of diamonds, mark
ing him with strength in clubs if
anywhere. In order to be sure Of
setting the contract, A laid down
the ace Of clubs and then led a
small one.
The finesse Of the jack held over
dummy's ten. AS z had already dis
carded both ten and jack Of spades,
and then two hearts, B inferred that
he was keeping spades that were
not headed by the ace and led
spade, on the chance that A could
get in and come through dummy's
clubs again. The result was that z
lost a little slam and 80 aces, the
only trick he made being the king
of spades at the end.
This hand is not only q game in
hearts, but would also go game in
spades il we'll played, letting dummy
ruff diamonds before exhausting his
trufnps. The spade would also have
the advantage of scoring 72 in
honors. This would seem to indicate
that either of the major suits would
have been better than no-trumps,
although the hand has undoubted
nostrump strength.
The solution Of last weeks prob
lem, No. II, in which Y and z
wanted only four tricks at no.
trumps, is as, follows: z leads the
spade. If A ducks and B discards
{. heart, Y will lead the club queen,
which B covers and z wins. Then
z puts A in the lead with the losing
club.
If B does not cover the club queen,
Y holds the trick and leads a dia-
mond, which B wins. Now z makes
his two aces. If B discards small
club on the first trick instead of a
heart, the play proceeds as in the
trunk. If B discards the king of
clubs instead of the small one, Y
and q make five tricks.
IL A plays the ace Of spades on
the first trick and B sheds a heart,
A must lead clubs. Then If b does
not put on the king Y will hold the
trick with the queen, make his best
spade and lead the diamond.
II B discards diamond on the
first trick and A wins it and leads
a club, B must put on the king or
Y will make two diamonds. II A
leads a heart after winning the first
trick z wins it, and if B has dis
carded heart, makes three heart
tricks. If B has kept three hearts
z makes two and leads the ace of
clubs, putting A i'm with the losing
club, and Y makes the spade queen.
RRTnGE ppOpr EM MN 10