davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1920-02-04

Attention. school ehldrenl Here is important
message for you;
Here is how you may compete for $500 N cash,
the first prize, and the rs silver medals The Times
oders;
The awards will be made to the writers OF the best
essays on the relations of the leading European ma
tons toward the United States during Lincolns time
and
The lesson of his words and his attitude on these
situations applying to our time-to America and
Americans today!
CONDITIONS OF THE CONTEST.
Each essay must not contain more than 1000
words
All essays must be in The Times office by
February 10.
Address the envelope to LINCOLN EDITOR, The
Times Washington, d. c.
The contest is open to school children of all ages
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1920-01-29
Thinking of Spring

I do not mind the winter weather,
when 1 am seated by the fire, with some
chaste volume bound in leather, or with
my dulcimer or Tyre. But when the
auto must be started, and 1 must crank
her half day, the winter finds me broken
hearted and yearning for the bloom of
May. In spring I merely press the starter,
and pistons whiz to beat the band, but
now,, a pale and frozen martyr, turn a
rusty crank by hand. Last night, alas, l
failed to drain her, and now the waters
frozen hard, and it has cracked the steel
container; hand out language by the
yard. I call aloud for springtime zephyrs,
for azure skies and babbling rills, for
pastures with their grazing heifers, and
sunshine gliding verdant hills. cry,
"Send back the scent of roses. Oh Mother
Nature, send it back; pray, can these
winds that freeze our noses, and put our
motors out of whack." I like to hear the
north wind bowling through long dark
nights, to wake the dead; l like to hear
the frost king growing when am safely
tucked in bed. But when I try to crank
the auto, upon bleak and bitter morn,
yearn for sylvan nook and grotto, and
warm winds blowing through the corn
Walt Mason. (Cotyright BY George Mat
thesv Adams.)
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1920-01-29
The Grasshopper an Idiot

Now take the grasshopper for example.
No insect on earth more sorely needs to
ask daily to be excused for living. The
bee has business. The wasp has bust
ness end. The ant has an investment and
the grub worm has a grudge. But the
grasshopper has only an existence-an
aimless existence.
When we say aimless, we speak ad-
visedly, for the scientists tell us that when
grasshopper cataapults his corporate self
into space by the propulsive power of his
hinged hopping poles, he has no idea
where he is going to light. 1t may be in
the lake or the brush fire or the kerosene
can or the pansy bed; it is all the same to
him.
Examine his countenance. He looks the
perfect fool. At the top of the head two
bullying eyes as expressive as the eye of a
dead carp; and below this nose like a
wooden plowshare. This is all. There
is no fore head, no brain and no room fol
one. The grasshopper, we find, is an in.
sect idiot. The best he ever did was t.
keep out from under foot of his betters.-
Exchange.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1920-01-29
Why Work for 1t

The recruiting Office was having slow
day. Prospect after prospect had been in
terviewed, but all seemed to have some
fundamental objection to joining up.
Finally there appeared long, lean youth
who studied the posters with more than
the usual degree of interest. The recruit
ing officer perked up.
elk to join the service, buddy?" he
inquired. Iike to see the world?"
"Sure would"
Like to get three square meals day?''
"Sure would"
"Iike to get your clothes and your rent
and everything free?"
"Sure would"
"And have chance to save your
wages?"
"Sure would. Say, how much do she
pay7"
Thirty dollars a month"
The lean one shufled away. cav, he
grumbled. 81 knowed there was a trick
in it somewhere. I kin borrow that
much."-Exehange.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1920-01-29
A Community Without Taxes
1uentinsed from paae u

(Oentinusd from page ~
Who shall say whether the forest fund
is blessing or peril9 There seems to
be grave danger that all initiative will
come to dead standstill in this parish.
The peoples salvation so far has been
their pride and vanity in outshining their
neighbors in building roads, school houses,
etc.
The growing generation, to whom is
given most splendid educational adyan-
tages, will before very long prove a liv-
ing answer to whether the forest fund is
laudable thing.
1t is now world-known fact that Swe-
den, and particularly Dalecarlia, is a
most attractive place in summer. But
most people imagine that such far-off
place among the mountains must neces-
sarily be dreadfully dreary in winter.
1t all depends on what person
means by "a good time" For one
who considers skiing the greatest sport on
earth, no winter can be too severe or half
long enough. You can't live here long
without getting the desire to learn the art
of skiing. When you know it, you can't
feel lonesome. Roads or no roads, through
forests or across fields or lakes-no matter
In winter with pair of good skis at
your disposal, you are perfectly free and
independent.
Oh, the glory of the short, purplish
winter day and the cold that instead of
making ones blood run slow causes it to
dance in health and joy! The cold is a
dry cold, and cozy sheepskins are cheap.
At evening the whole family sit around
the cracking log fire. The women spin
fax and wool; the men white all sorts
of useful things. The art of whiting,
which few generations ago was very
highly developed, later deteriorated but is
now being taken up again with new en-
thusiasm.-All the while they take turns
at telling stories or repeating some old
saga, or they sing together. The topics Of
the day are also eagerly discussed, for
even to the most distant village arrives
mail at least once a week. Thus the
newspaper plays very important part in
the life of a modern peasant There is
also another strong factor in the educa-
ton of both grown-ups and children
In Sweden there exists an association for
delivering free lectures all around the
country on all possible subjects, often IL
Illustrated by moving pictures. Prominent
men and women unselfshly give their
time, strength and money to this cause.
They go to the remotest parts and en-
tighten the people. The village school
house is the lecture hall.
The weddings, the christenings; nay,
even the funerals are very picturesque;
and the dances, the old, old folk dances
and the weird old fddle-tunes are some
thing quite impossible to describe. But
longest in the memory remains the whir
of the spinning wheels, the sound of
knives cutting through soft wood, huge
blazing, friendly fire, the peculiar dressed,
cheerful people, the quaint, solid furni-
ture and the delicious feeling that elves
and brownies were peeping at you from
every corner. Orsa evenings one never
forgets!
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1920-01-29
Picture Show

Douglas Fairbanks made another visit
Sunday (via the screen route) by which
the movie fans were enabled to see the
great screen genius in an elaborate work
out of the play that had for its title, "Say
Young Fellow" The play throughout
being so deliberately staged, as are all of
Fairbanks productions,-created intense
interest as each of reels unravelled, por-
trayed wondrous art of well built story
executed in every line of detail that set an
impress of high educational standard. This
particular play in which the star poses as
a newspaper reporter, seemingly affords
him fine opportunity to exhibit his mar
velous talents for picturing the natural
in intellectual and physical life study
Some excellent musical numbers were
given by the orchestra accompanying parts
of the play and in all it made a very
agreeable entertainment.
The program follows:
March-King of Observation-Disclosures
Selection-Ths Singing Girl Victor Her
berts Late OPERA
Waltz-Hand in Hand Again Whiting
Fox Trot-You Amt Heard Nothing Yet
------------ Jolson
Novellette-Blue Bells----Z amecnik
One Step-When the Old Boat Heads for
Home ruler
Waltz-My Isle of Golden Dreams
One Step-Just for Me and Mary
-----<--- Edwards
Valse Lento-Love Me---------Zamecn
One Step-His Majesty, the American
Song Fox Trot-Say Yes------------Frey
March-Wild Fox---------------ko
r. ]. RE1cHKrTzER,
Musical Director.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1920-01-29
Poor but Honest

The other day a well-known congress-
man was exhibiting to his friends letter
that he considers a prize piece says Nc
Calls Magazine. 1t was from consti-
tuent who had just received package of
free seeds. The congressman had sent
them out in franked envelope on which
was stamped the usual words: Penalty for
Private Use-$300. The note read:
Dear Sir:
I don't know what to do about those
garden seeds you sent me. I notice it is
three hundred dollars fine for private use.
I don't want to use them for the public; 1
want to plant them in my own private
garden.
I will be greatly obliged if you will
kindly fix matters so can use them pri-
vately.
Yours respectfully,
JAMES ROBINSON.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1920-01-29
The Man and the PloW

We no, for the song of the lark;
For the spirling lark with his song;
With his full-throated praise so strong
Like joy-beams from the sun
His happy thrillings run!
We no, for the songs of the lark!
We no, for the smell of the loan;
For the smile of the newborn day;
For the little house over the way;
For the strength to plow
And the knowledge how!
Ye no, for the smell of the loan!
-Ruthele Novak.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1920-01-29
Labor Shortage in Pittsburg

The labor shortage in the Pittsburg dis
trict was made more serious recently when
5000 negroes left the district for the south.
The steel mills were hit the hardest, as
most of the negro workmen had been en-
ployed there since the beginning of the
steel strike, September %. The cold wea-
Their is the cause of their leaving. Organ
izers of the steel and iron workers pre-
dicted that the negro laborers would not
stick throughout the winter months.
There has been dearth of laborers in
the district since the strike, the actual
shortage being about $4,000 men. Shortly
after the strike thousands of foreigners
returned to their native lands and now
the negro has gone back to the south.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1920-01-29
On Short Rations

The little people. out of doors are on re-
duced rations these days. Their food sup
ply is very Short everywhere, and the
birds and animals are all having a hard
time getting along, but they will pull
through.
The rabbit is hardy fellow, and he
manages to live under the most adverse
conditions. When the SHOWS have COW
cred up everything, he gnaws the banks
of shrubs above the snow. He can di-
gest almost anything in the way of bark
or woodland if he can find wild rose
bushes, which he generally can, he thrives
upon them. When you find that he has
resorted to larger shrubbery, and gnawed
great barren places upon the trunk, you
will, if you look close enough, discover
that the rabbit has eaten the inside layer
of the bark, and not the outside. There
is thin layer of stringy, tender fiber be-
meath the outside bark of trees, and that
is what the rabbit is after when he gnaws
the trunk. Then the rabbit eats hay
or dried grassland there is generally
some of that sticking up above the snow.
Of course if there is a cornfeld handy,
the rabbit prospers, for he is fond of
corn on the cob.
The squirrels live at this season largely
upon buds. Where they can find nuts or
acorns, they have feast and they dig in
to the leaves and snow in search of such
food. But their main dependence when
the SHOWS are deep, or when the sheets
have sealed over the earth, is upon the
buds of many varieties of trees.
The birds live principally upon grains
and seeds and dried berries during the
winter. There are no bugs and worms to
be had, of course, and such birds as must
depend upon bugs and worms do not re-
main with us. The woodpeckers, how
ever, manage to find the eggs or larvae of
bugs and worms, and that constitutes their
diet when nothing else is to be found.-Ex.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1920-01-29
Old Remembrance

With song the wood was ringing
When first of love we talk'd;
One wild bird midst his singing
Seem'd list'ning while we walk'd;
All may-like was the weather,
Though gold was on the grain,
As our hearts first drew together
In the old green lane.
That spring-light still is round US,
That bird attends our way;
The chain in which love bound us,
1t clanks not as we stray
In gay haunts now abiding
We falter not, nor feign,
For still we seem but gliding
Through the old green lane.
We dwell in places crowded,
But yet we live alone,
The more our thoughts are shrouded,
The more are they our own.
The worldly path is sleeper
That tempts the bold and vain;
But our hearts for pleasures deeper,
Seek the old green lane.
From youth to age unchilling
Thus onward will we stroll,
Our earthly course fulfilling,
As soul were link'd to soul.
And still at last, late sinking,
Shall we, midst wind and rain,
Find shelter most when thinking
OF the old green lane.
Lamar Blanchard.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1920-01-29
N R R 0 R E 7 ES

Mass was held in the chapel Sunday
morning.
Commencing last Monday all state in
stitutions are to be closed to visitors for a
period of two weeks as precaution
against an epidemic of the influenza such
as was experienced in October, 1918.
Miss Edith N. Kassing was a visitor
at this institution last Saturday as guest
of Mr.. F. A. Whittier. For about ten
years Miss Kassing was in charge of the
girls department of the State Training
school at Red Wing Later she had
charge of the girls department at the
Girls School at Morganza, Penn, for
about seven years, and during the war
was in charge of the women employed in
the munition works at Bethlehem, Penn.
Miss Kassing goes from here to Helena,
Montana, to assume the presidency of the
Montana Girls school.
Before another issue of THE MIRROR
arrives, Ground Hog day will have come
and gone again and left in its wake a
foretell as to whether winter shall de-
cline or continue in robust form definite
to insure at least six weeks longer of
frigid, thawless, chillful, atmospheric ele-
ment. Not bad winter at that. Started
early. Have seen worse ones. It's all in
the nature of things and healthful so let's
not kick. Ere long we will be dilating
upon "scores" as "batters" triumph, and
work and bask meath spring and summer
sunshine that makes the heart lighter and
gladder for its coming. There is bound
less good in sight.
The members of the Minnesota State
Board of visitors for public institutions
visited the prison Friday last, Jan. %, on
an inspection tour. AT noon hour, the Wis
itors were escorted to the dining hall
where Warden Reed introduced the secre-
tary of the board, Rev. L. r. S. Ferguson;
who addressed the inmates for some ten
minutes or so lauding them for great and
magnificent help they rendered during the
war by contributions to the Red Cross and
investments in War Saving Certificates
and Liberty bonds.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1920-01-29
To a Pie

My pumpkin, tits of thee,
Fruit of my husbandry,
Of thee I sing.
l love thy hue intense,
Thy robust corpulence,
What joy it represents
Thou strapping thing!
Here FAIRIES we'll might poach;
'Sooth no more sumptuous coach
r Elf ever drove.
But this rich golden rind
Far filter fate will find,
Furnishing just the kind
Of pie I love.
Let fragrance freight the breeze,
Fresh pumpkin pie and cheese
Food for a king!
In many a toothsome wedge
Bound by crisp pastry-edge
The fair cooks health I'll pledge
Till rafters ring.
Julia Boynt0n Green.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1920-01-29
PoE T-TR &c =.
Leaves From Our Posts.
The Mystery of Nature


The works of God are fair for naught
Unless our eyes, in seeing,
See hidden in the thing the thought
That animates its being.
The outward form is not the whole,
But every part is moulded
To image forth an inward soul
That dimly is unfolded.
The shadow, pictured in the lake
By every tree that trembles,
Is cast for more than just the sake
Of that which it resembles.
The dew falls nightly, not alone
Because the meadows need it,
But on an errand of its own
To human souls that heed it.
The stars are lighted in the skies
Not merely for their shining,
But, like the looks of loving eyes,
Have meanings worth divining.
The waves that moan along the shore,
The winds that sigh in blowing,
Are sent to teach mystic lore
Which men are wise in knowing.
The clouds around the mountain-peak,
The rivers in their winding,
Have secrets which, to all who seek,
Are precious in the finding.
Thus Nature dwells within our reach,
But though we stand so near her,
We still interpret half her speech =
With ears too dull to hear her.
Whoever, at the coarsest sound,
Still listens for the finest,
Shall hear the noisy world 60 round
To music the divinest.
Whoever yearns to see Alright
Because his heart is tender,
Shall catch glimpse of heavenly light
In every earthly splendor.
So, since the universe began,
And till it shall be ended,
The soul of Nature, soul of Man,
And soul of God are blended!
-The0. Tilton.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1920-01-29
Horn Was o. X.

Possibly the apex of sarcasm or some
thing was reached the other day when Jones
took his Aivver to repair shop and asked
the man there what was the best thing to
do with it.
The repair-man looked the car over in
silence for several minutes, after which
he grasped the horn and footed it. "You've
good horn there" he remarked, quietly.
Suppose you jack it up and run new
car under it7"-Boston Transcript.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1920-01-29
Triumph

1 am not Shakespeare his plays are
mine.
I am not Lincoln-but saw that face.
The saddest and the wisest of our race;
Nor Washington-but Freedoms heir in
line
So something still of triumph there must
be
In lowly places; and before the mast
A man may hope that he shall come at
last,
With his great Captain, to the tranquil
-Rossiter JOHNSON.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1920-01-29
? o ET r = ;.
Ground Hogs

Since 'Omer smote his bloomin' Tyre
And sang what hogs the Greeks could
be,
The MUSES. Nine have loved to inspire
The nature faker-same as me.
Since Jonah gave his travelogues,
Entitled Inside Facts on Whales"
From Aristophane's Frogs
To Clark McAdams ducks and quails;
From Ewes description of the snake,
To evening gowns diaphanous,
All friends of Art for Arts own sake,
Are nature fakers-same as us.
Let purists pule and realists rail
And woodsmen WONDERLAND, forsooth
Has learned what wags the dog-the tail
The fiction truer than the truth.
And so tonight we celebrate
The day when nature, all agog,
Submits old, hoary winters fate
To one old, sage, well-grounded hog.
Some years ago We lived in caves
And slew our dinners as they ran,
With sharpened Aints attached to slaves
And then the grounding cult began.
For, when the sun was bright, we saw
A Portent sliding at our heels
And felt the dim, religious awe
Of shadows that the grounding feels
Which feeling grew and earned name
And won respect, until the beast
That typifes it best became
Conservatism's primal priest.
His love of cool, sequestered grots,
His fear of sun are still profound.
The leopard cannot change his spots;
The grounding cannot change hi:
ground.
Tile, helmet, mortar-board and crown
Have changed his head but not his soul
He cannot live the Cave Man down;
He doubts the spring and trusts the hole
He bids nation bide its time,
Forcing its Chief to watch and wait,
With helpless hand, till cosmic crime
Is hammering at the very gate.
Since "Woodchuck" is his other name,
When armies move at his behest,
He vindicates his ancient claim
To chuck his wood as suits him best.
He sways a senate like Reed
And, in the darkness of his hole,
He consummates a careful deal
To raise the home-bound workman's toll
n
Tomorrow's sunlight, should it shine,
Will see him bid the Spring be lame;
But at his best, he yields to Time,
And Spring will happen, just the same
Lines read at the St. Louis Artists
Guild, February, I, 1919.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1920-01-29
The Road to Yesterday

The road winds out its weary way,
Where fields are torn with sorrow;
1t is road of yesterday
That dreams no fair tomorrow.
1t is silent, saddened road,
A lonely road to follow;
For in its dust red rivers flowed,
And now from every hollow,
The crows rise up in sullen fight
The crows that, blackly flying
Against the skyline speak of night,
And bitterness, and dying.
1t is road that creeps around
Farmhouses that lie broken,
That pauses at each shallow mound,
At every blood-stained token,
A helmet by the way one sees;
A pistol, bent and rusty;
And hung between two shattered trees
A coat widowed and musty.
1t is sad, forgotten road;
But, oh, it tells the story
Of youth that bore another's load
Without thought of glory!
For every battered homested cries
OF vengence that decended;
And memory that never dies,
From hearts that stay unmended!
The road winds out its weary way,
A lonely way to follow;
And crows rise black against the day
From every tree and hollow.
Margaret Sangster, in the Christia
Herald.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1920-01-29
k0 MI c kL Fps

Mamma, I want a dark breakfast"
Ozark breakfast What do you mean
child?"
"Why, last night you told Mary to give
me light supper and didn't like it.
Friend: 81 suppose the baby is fond of
your"
Papa: "Fond of me-? Why, he sleeps
all day when Pm not at home, and stays
up all night just to enjoy my society,""
Teacher-"Johnnie, this is the worst
composition in the class, and IN going to
write to your father and tell him,
Johnnie-"Don't ker if we do; he wrote
it for me-"
~ haven't seen you mentioned in con-
nection with presidential BOOM"
"No," said Senator Sorghum. "Pd
rather be inconspicious in connection with
position hold than to be prominent
with one I'll probably never get"
81 suppose you are campaigning among
the plain people?"
"No, I want the beauty vote and l
want yours, madam"
She promised it.
A Chicago man was driving through
the country south of St Louis, trying to
buy mule. He was directed to colored
man who had one for sale. "Do you want
to sell muller" said the Chicagoan.
"Yaah, sah," replied the owner. "May
l ask whar yo' live, sah?"
"What has that got to do with it3"
queried the Chicagoan.
SWELL" explained the negro, 81 amt
gwine to transfer dat mule to nobody dat
lives less than 200 miles away from here.
When I sells dat mule l wants to git rid
not only of de mule, but of all converse
ton appertainin' to him."
As the brisk philanthropist thrust her
fare into the cab-driver's hand she saw
that he was wet and apparently cold after
the half-hour of pouring rain. "Do you
ever take anything when you get soaked
through?" she asked.
eyes, ma'am," said the cabman, with
humility. 81 generally do"
"Wait here in the vestibule," COM
manded the philanthropist. She inserted
her house key in the lock, opened the door
and vanished, to reappear moment later.
"Here," she said, putting small en-
velope in the mans outstretched hand.
"These are two-grain quinine pills; you
take two of them now and two more in
half an hour"
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1920-01-29

It is estimated that the world shortage
of coal is sixty two million tons, and
the United States can furnish large
part of it.-Exchange.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1920-01-29

eyes," said Mrs. Dulbean, "my son
granulated from high school with high
honors. Everybody just analysed him"
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1920-01-29
CHAPEL PROGRAM
Sunday, January IS, 1920

The following is the program rendered
in the auditorium last Sunday morning,
Rev. Father Barry officiating.
March-Manoeuvers of the Corps
Hymn-Hear the Congregation
Scripture Reading----------Father Barry
Selection-Bleeding Hearts-----Orchestra
Prayer ------------------- Father Barry
Gospel Father Barry
Sermon ------------------ Barry
Hymn-Onward Christian Soldiers
Congregation
March-Diamond Orchestra
r. ]. REIcHKrTzER,
Musical Director.