davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Jewish monitor. (Fort Worth-Dallas, Tex.) 191?-1921, 1920-08-06

The Chazan Of Kalmonik was fold
ing his praying shawl one morning
after the service, humming a tune,
when he attempted an intricate mu-
sical stunt. The sound stuck in his
throat. He glanced about him anx-
iously to see whether anyone had no.
ticed it, but there was no one in the
synagogues except old Enoch who was
deaf and dumb.
The echo Of the unsuccessful feat
rang in the Chazan's ears as he was
walking home with his praying shawl
and phylacteries under his arm. He
ws astonished, for nothing as serious
as that had ever happened to him be-
fore. But then he recalled that few
weeks prior, on a Sabbath morning,
while he stood at the altar, surround
ed by his choir, he had failed in the
very same way. AS luck would have
tt then, too, no one noticed 1t. At
least his basso did not, and he was a
good singer. Certainly, IL so expert
a musician did not notice it, the con-
gregation would pass 1t by. Never
theless, the recollection Of both fail
ures weighed heavily upon the Chazan,
and he felt inclined to try the unlucky
note then and there, but the street
was crowded with people. He decid-
ed that he would attempt It at home,
so he walked briskly, as II someone
were at his heels.
He entered his home very quietly,
disposed Of his bundles in their Gus
tomary place, did not greet his wife,
but began at once running up and
down the musical scale. His wife ex-
claimed: "Did you everl The day
isn't long enough for him! It is not
enough that his voice CRATES on ones
ears all day long!"
In a terror-stricken voice the Cha
zan spoke, his eyes blinking. at
CRATES on your ears? What do you
mean?" But his imploring look said,
"Have mercy one me; even II II does,
say nothing"
But she was too busted with her
cooking to heed his looks. She re-
peated; Certainly, it does hurt ones
ears-what then? Do you think have
no ears? II you sing with your
young men, Of course | must bear
with the uproar, but now alone
The Chazan turned as white as
chalk as he stammered: "Kronah
what Is the matter! Are you out Of
your mind? What is 1t you are say.
ipg?"
whats the matter with you TO-
day?" Kronah exclaimed impatiently
Enough Of this Stiffness, Go wasl
yourself for breakfastl"
Though he had no appetite, he pro
ceeded to wash his hands, for h,
thought that abstaining from foo,
might make II worse for his voice
When he said the blessing for tn
meal he chanted the words an,
glanced shyly at his wife. 'T imag
ined II; Il was only my imagination.
he muttered. "voices don't 20 s
easily" But he thought Of Reb Me
The Jewish monitor. (Fort Worth-Dallas, Tex.) 191?-1921, 1920-08-06

ier, another Chazan, who had lost his
voice at an early age, and he was full
Of forebodings. He lowered his head
to the table and fell into deep medita-
tion. Then he arose and cried out in
a loud voice, "Kronah."
"Well, what's the matter? Why
do you shrek in such a voice ?" she
replied, entering the room.
"Oh, why do you harp on my
voice." the Cazan cried, almost be-
side himself. with whose voice,
think you, am | calling? Why do
you plague me so?" and his eyes were
full Of tears.
"What do you want?"
"A few raw eggs" he murmured.
Kronah was not agreeable that
morning. Heres holiday for you,"
she said. an the middle Of the week
eggs. Do you sing tomorrow!
Eggs are dear now"
"Kronah," the Chazan begged, "let
eggs cost what they may-one, two
or three hundred roubles-get me two
raw eggs and say nothing further"
She finally shrugged her shoulders
and said: my bother. He wants
raw eggs-all right"
When she had left the room the
Chazan again tried his voice and lis
tened very carefully to catch the tim
bre Of each note. When he found him
self unable to take the note which
was the cause Of all his fear, he un-
hesitatingly called to Kronah, Bring
here the eggs at once!"
Kronah handed the eggs to him
with frown and said angrily, anu,
what he has a taste for eggs-one
scrapes and saves and he"
He would have poured out his heart
to her. He would have told her then
and there that II wasn't the eggs he
wanted; that he did not intend to be
extravagant. He would have told her:
"Kronah, look here, liam
thing Of the past, wonout instru-
ment-have had my day" But he
controlled himself and thought, "Per'
haps I am mistaken, after ALL"
He swallowed the eggs as II they
were medicine, and when ne had dis
posed Of them he attempted severa
musical runs which required som'
skill, and was successful. At onc'
his spirits rose. "Not at all bad No
at ALI God still livesl" he thought
"voices don't go SO easily. Rel
Meier, a drinking man. while ! do no
drink, and even at Bar Mitxvahs taxi
no more than thimbleful Of whis
KY"
"But, alasl His cheerfulness wa
soon at an end. While trying anoth
er run the same fatal note rang i
his ears, and he was again In stat
Of great perturbation.
The dread Of losing his voice wor
The Jewish monitor. (Fort Worth-Dallas, Tex.) 191?-1921, 1920-08-06
THECHAZAN andHISVOICE|
A YIDDISH STORY BY ABRAM RAISIN

on him. His thoughts were contin-
uously Of the effects Of the loss on his
future. Once before he had lost his
voice, but that was when he was sew
enteen and his voice, therefore, had
been soprano. When he had lost it
then he was disturbed, but pleased,
for h NV that II was natural for
his ssssI,9e, and that in a
few NOM. Y 10 fave a manly
baritone, so he 20, 'ss.s4.,.v and
was rewarded. f''2on
Why did he guard his voice 81 care
fully? Not because he feared for his
position with his people. His congre-
cation would not remove him though
he lost it completely, for 1t did not pay
his salary, and was compelled to dun
his congregation often; but they
would have refused no one who
stretched out a begging hand. He
was assured on that score.
It was for pure love Of singing that
he feared the loss Of his voice. He
had a very poor opinion Of his con-
gregation's musical taste. When he
stood at the altar indulging in mu-
sical acrobatics, he did it merely to
please himself. OF course, there
were his eight assistants, old and
young, who really constituted his en-
tire musical world. They were very
dear to him, and when one Of them
would declare to stranger, not in
his presence, "Ah. there is a Chazan
for you; ale, but he sings!" he was in
the seventh heaven Of delight. His
assistants often travelled to neighbor-
ing towns and carried his fame with
them, and they returned with opinions
on music from various Chazonim, and
they recounted the stories that were
told, and some Of the legends were
eventually woven about the person
atty Of the Chazan Of Klamonik.
When he heard Of these stories, the
opinions Of his musical colleagues, he
would say nothing, but assums crit
ical mien.
He would think Of what his col
leagues would say should they lerr
that his voice was gone. He suffered
torments in thinking Of their com
miseration. He knew that his repu
tation was excellent, and that his col
leagues had a very high opinion o.
the quality Of his voice. And he i'm
agined he saw groups Of Chazol
shaking their heads mournfully ant
speaking in whispers. They wer
sorry for him, Of course. "Poor fel
low Haven't you heardf The Cha
zan Of Klamonik-"
"But I may be mistaken" h
thought in hopeful moments, and h
would sing a trife and attempt :
take the high note, but whether on
Of pure fear or the loss Of his voie'
he could not utter one musical soun'
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-09
THE MOTOR JAM

shCRlNG the past twelve months ap
~ proXimately $1,000 new motor vehicles
were added to the swarms that previously
rolled in the streets of this city. There is
an easing up of traffic congestion each sum
mer. Thousands Of machines go with their
owners vacations. But the return of
the multitudes who have been away during
the warm weather. the opening of the thea
tire season and increased activity in the
shopping and business ccntcrS will bring
the general problem of traffic regulation for.
ward in new and acute form.
Whatever is to be done to eliminate snarlS
and tangles and dangers in the streets
should b" done without delay. Even in the
equipment for routine traffic regulation we
are still far behind great many other
cities. 1t is a question whether the police
department can escape growing difi"u'tcS
by the promulgation of new and casual
rules.
A systematic and sweeping survey of tho
whole traffic problem is needed. The Job
( Is one for engineers. Additional traffic mon
are needed. Some very dangerous crossings
are without proper protection after night
fall. And sooner or later the heavy horse
drawn vehicles which Obstrlrt the movement
of traffic on the narrow central streets will
have to be diverted permanently to other
thOroughfareS.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-09
TWO CABLES FROM JAPAN

THE japanese arc the most polite pco-
L pie in the world. Exquisite personal
manners are theirs by training ard inherit
ance. And vet the representatives Of the
local government at Toxic probably said no
more than they felt when they assured the
American congressional delegation Of their
profound affection for tie United States and
deslr" to share any pcrils that might con.
front us in the future
Ordinary folk ir my country probably
feel that way about other peoples whom
\ they know to be friendly, Intelligent and de-
sirous Of ncacc. But there n"c . yooI .,o,v
governments nowadays that do not think 40
the majortics think or fee! as the natoriti'.,
feel.
One may find AZ interesting lesson in
foreign affairs by reading Of the addresses
delivered to the American representatives j.,
Toxic and the later cable which announced
the refusal of the japanese imperial authori
ties to join in any movement for tbo sort
Of general disarmament proposed by the con
ference of Versailles. Unfortunately pnoug,
-or fortunately the two dispatc hes Arrival
within an hour over the same wire
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-09
SABOTAGE

IF THE outlaw strikers in the an-
1 thraritc coal fields continue to urge and
force pumpmcn and engineers to abandon
their posts at idle collierics. the people of
Pennsylvania will have to admit that they
arc confronted by something new in the
way Of labor tactics.
Even in the bittercst wage conflicts Of the
spast the miners unions and their leaders
admitted the right of pumpmcn to stay ut
their posts, because when they quit the
mines and their interior machinery may be
quickly damaged by rising water. For their
own sake and because of what might b."
called the ethical restraints of the older
labor code, pumpmcn and some of the
engineers were formerly exempt even in
general strike orders.
strike policy directed not only to stop
production but to ruin property represents
a new departure in the Pennsylvania fields.
1T represents sabotage and direct action in
form that is extraordinarily dangerous
and vile.
Who is responsible for this newer
strategy? There is flavor of the later
Euroncan radicaliSln in this new method of
sthe outlaw miners, and it happens that for
'eignerS are extremely numerous in the an
thracite mines.
The present drift and complexion of the
hard coal strike should be of peculiar inter
est to the buying public. The shortage
created by strike will not help to bring
prices down. II the coal operators plead
scarcity as an excuse for high rates what
can the government or the people do?
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-09
THE ASSESSMENT FARCE

| | Ni"T "Thh>1lilSfIMFNI OF some 2OO'OVo
~ women of Philadelphia follows upon
the heels Of the constitutional amendment
! IN theory granting all American citizens the
| right to vote.
with the exception of six divisions,
reports OF the recent assessment in this CITY
! ar" complete. 1t is announced that 4l2 .G42
men nav" Dcrn enrolled and ouy 2jl .4G7
women. bE n" juggling of figures can thi-
disparity OF totals be made to disguise the
fact that injustice has been done and upon a
wholesale basis.
While 1t is true that in some instances the
summer vacation exodus was responsible for
the failure of women to have their names
placed upon the assessors lists this line of
reasoning wavcrs before the revelation that
wards containing the greatest numbers Of
comparatively well to do residents show the
largest totals for the women.
The best record is made in the Forty sixth
with 2l.0S4 males and 1901 females
assessed. In political character. moreover,
this ward is noted for it's Independence. On
the other hand, in regions where the Ware
machine control is not seriously challenged,
the feminine representation is almost ncgli-
gbc.
According to the Gems is Of 1910, the last
one published in detail, there were in this
city 2S.OOO more women than men. The
mug" industrial changes wrought by the war
unrurstionnbly brought an influx of males,
but women too. were attracted by new op-
portunitcs in great urban district L. any
event it is incoucrirrbc that the proportion
of residents. male and female, has been accu
rately reflected by the new assessment lists.
Ih" officials are not authorized to accept
the refusal of any woman to be assessed. 1t
is the duty of these officers to secure the
names Of all the citizens. Time was when
political ardor drove some assessorS to
gravcyards where tombst mes furnished maly
a batch of names for enrolment.
But present indications are that the old
gang machinery has ben seriously cmbar-
russcd Politically the women are an
unknown quantity Has II seemed simpler
to disfranChisc them temporarily than to
experience th" nervous tremors of novel
situation?
Judge Ferguson tomorrow will hear prt-
tionS from men and women whose names aro
not on tn" GSsCsSorS' lists. Some changes
will Of course be made. but they will not
materially affect the prcScot ratio of the
sexes. Experience has shown that the rum.
Der of these eleventh hour, reviSions is never
large.
The ugly truth is that whether willfully or
as II result of Incompetence the assessment
has been wrctchcdly botchcd. Women not
upon the finals lists will be dcbarrcd from
registering and hence from voting in Novem-
Der. They ar" victims of IL law long abused
and now farcically administered
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-09
THE GAMBLING LEGEND

COMMON sense is good enough in its way.
~ But there are times when uncommon
sense is preferable and far more useful.
It is needed now for n proper assessment
of the report that the latest bank pmbcZzlcr
to 20 on the rocks in this city lost over
5000 900 to shrcwd gamblers within a few
months.
The implication of wide open town" is
not quite fair to the police, and Director
CortelyOu is justified in rcscnting it.
The police are far from perfect Petty
gamblers operating furtivcly in side rooms
can be found by any one who goes looking
for them. But the big games of an older
day have almost departed from the view of
all but the elect
This does not mean that heavy gambling
is thing of the past. Any one who knows
ANYTHING of the routine dongS in big and
little clubs, or of the night life in few of
the pretentous hotels knows that any one
who believes that he can beat the experts
still can find plenty of troub" at the end
of a short search and with the assistance
of the wrong sort of friends.
The police department seems to have been
making a consistent effort to wipe out the
worst of the dives. But it has no authority
TO 90 prying into clubs or into hotel suites
engaged by men who have all the appear
anccs of respectability. And it is asking n
great deal of the department to demand
that it protect people who stubbornly refuse
TO protect themselves.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-09
NOW MY IDEA IS THIS!
Daily Talks With Thinking Phadepians Subjects They
KnotU Best

been responsible for many serious accidents.
Children are responsible for many injuries.
The number of eye injuries due to children
is very high. Their propensity for suddenly
plungng chubby finger into the eye of a
parent or grown up who might cut up with
them is very great. The sudden blows which
they strike have cost untold trouble. 1t has
also proved hazard to carry children.
Chores About the House
dripping over rugs and carpets is pro
life source of trouble. Household duties
such as cooking, sewing, and even the daily
pleasure of eating, have furnished large
quotas of victims. Men undertaking to do
womens work during their absence have
contributed heavily to casualty lists. The
number Of people who have choked on hsh
bones and portions of meat is too great to
mention.
"Chores about the house. both for men and
women, furnish all kinds of hazards. statiS-
tics show. Falls from ladders and chairs
resulting in serious injury both inside and
outside the house have been very numerous,
not to mention accidents in dark rooms. aCci
dents due to defective electrical apparatus.
cuts from lawn mowers, exposed old bottles.
cans and jars. burns while cooking. falls
over furniture and injuries due to defective
appliances about the house.
"But we must hasten out OF the house. it
isn't safe. In the street our dangers are
something appalling to contemplate. In
fact if we stood still long enough to do this
we would probably meet with all sorts of
accidents. On the street. he who hpSitatcs
is lost. The number and seriousness of
injuries due to automobile pleasure ears is
something that staggcrs one. This one
factor alone in everyday life affects vially
our whole business. Many are killed cross
ing the streets at undcSgnatcd points. but
there are thousands killed and injured every
year at street intersections"
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-09
SCHOOL LOAN DAY

THE citizens committee, of which
4 George Wharton Pepper il chairman,
has notified Simon Gratz that it will secure
subscribers to the Board Of Education loan
providing official assurance is given that
500. 600 out of the million to be raised and
gthe 5000 900 which il is expected will be
derived from the sale Of real estate will be
promptly distributed among the teachers.
This ought to mean that this time the
bonds will not go begging. since the plan
outlined by Mr.. Pepper is precisely the one
which had the Endorsement of Mr.. Gratz.
president of the board, some weeks ago. An
Increase or bonus Of 5000 to every cmploye
in the Philadelphia educational system is.
therefore in immediate prospect
The Allied Teachers Association is de-
mandng double this amount. The aim is
not exorbitant, but it Is difficult to see how
II can instantly be realized.
What il is necessary for the public to
understand is that today is the date set for
selling the bonds '.over the counter" Bids
will beNsecsk ked for the next week at the
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-09
Answers to Yesterdays Quiz

l. Moscow les few miles furthcr nor,,,
than CopenhHgen. The latter citV ~, ~
located at $40 north latitude ana ,hs
former at 5545. "' '"e
= DanaScene ware is ornamental ,,a,o,
with inlad gold and silver The 'hlesa, hesi5
being steel '"' pasls
D. hahS Holbein the elder and Hans IJo,
Drln the Younger We're celebrated Ger
man painters. The former died IN
l52l and the latter in 1913 ~
T. Th@ accent In the word gondola falls nm
flax '''e seed or
D. A thousand millions make mIIIiard
T. Donkey engines are so called heca,so
their horsepower Is small '"use
D. The mythical animal, the griffon IorsoI,,
represented in heraldry, was rrgarJoSg
as the offspring Of the lion and tha
y, The expression TO walk "A cbaIk Ii,o,,
originated In the chalk walks IIsoh ,'e e,
shlpboard as tests of intoxicotiovn,'
Parallel lines were chalked on ''vi,, ~
deck ana the supposed Offender ny NY
ordefed TO walk between them witho',t
stepping on either. '"ou'
TO- bnrsar is treasurer. especially OF s
~SfeNeN' l44rATA
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-09

-
And then when the loan bill is passed the
executive officers will be without excuse for
failing to do the work for which the money
has been provided. There are great public
projects that are tagging because no one has
the courage to push them to completion.
Among them are the Free Library Building.
the Convention Hall, the enlargement of the
water supply system, the drydock and the
Delaware river bridge.
Money must be borrowed for these
projects. Some of It will run against the
debt limit and some of It will be invested in
revenue producing improvements, the cost of
which will not prevent the city from spend
ing all that il necessary for improvements
from which no return in cash is received
by the city treasury.
The amount of money to be spent on these
things for the next year must be fixed by
the men responsible for the conduct of the
city government and agreed upon in the or
dcrly manner prescribed by the rules of the
city Council, and not on the initiative of
member or n faction of Council engaged in
slyly trigging the plans of the Mayor and
his associates
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-09

The Department of Agriculture is coz,
templating an embargo on virtually all .Si
products Of the soil in Pennsylvania NV
New Jersey because of the rayageS OF ~.
Japanese beetle, and farmers and iorlSw
preparing to protest declaring that hSt mt
quarantine should not be established, W.
that the government should fight the bee."i
II may be, of course, that the farmers aod a~i
florists Of the two states have some sss ,ss
arguments az yet unstated, but. on the !, w n
of 1t. II would appear that the department ,bs v
preparing to fight the pest with one ., NJ
wit. the quarantine Of which complain
made. II lH
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-09

Philadelphia National Bank, 419 Chestnut
street.
Doubtless, the citizens committee will
put forth its best efforts, but these should
not deter the rest of the public from aiding
the teachers. They have been long denied
their deserts The present remedy vs. only
partial but when the loan is hoated 1t
will at least mark the practical beginning
of reform.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-09

Two Hackensack, n. j., boys were az. az.
having used Hackensack rivcg fshcrmeIn, a. a.
targets in their shooting practice lhu
seems a lot of detectives for two poor Shots
for 1t isn't on record that they hit au;
body. Perhaps they were merely trying !"
stir up the fish.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-09

Two Ilavcrford township men have been
discovered making liquor with a kick 4 tCts \.
seen that there are many ways Of pain'ns
the town red, and that 'circuIatins lnt
rosy" as Dick Swivcler would say, mlgu'
be merely synonym for passing the EetcnI,
I'm
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-09
4 FOJR-YEAR PROGRAM FOR
nIfII ADIi IIIIN

Things on which the people expect the new
administration tC concentrate Its attention:
'ThC Dri1Wurc rir"r b idgc.
4 dtDdoCk big enough to dCCoUiW OddtC the
l0rD, st ships.
DcrciOpmCut Of The rapid transit system.
4 coHCrntion hdii.
4 Juidir0 for The Free Library.
An Art Museum.
.Fnidr0cn,uf Of the irdtcr Suppip.
HomCS TO dcCpmnl oddtc tho population.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-09

\ Cleveland Spanish American War
veteran recently committed suicide to save
his wife further trouble in the divorce SIe
sought and ayarded her his pension as an
mony. She has now an opportunity to rcgrH
ingncSs to die for her
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-09

Timber in the United States is being
used and destroyed four times as fast as new
timber is growing, says II report OF l.s
forest service. A true bencfacor OF que
human RAGE, therefore, is one who makes
four trees grow where one grew before.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-09

Samuel Untermeyer says If the. Np
York state and Federal Departments OF Jus
tice will give him proper authority ne Mm
prosecute without fee men guilty OF 'criI cn
inal conspiracy to boost the prices Of pu.J
ing materials; and he expects to De ays
to land some of them in Jail within nlnSry nlnSo,
days. This Is another way OF apprOacn"'
the house shortage problem.