davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-03-09
Will Coin "Iron Men"

Soon Uncle Sam will resume his task Of
turning silver bullion into Iron men," The
1921 silver dollar will be the first placed in
circulation since 1906.
These coins are authorized under what is
known as the Pit.mal act Of 1913. Under that
the secretary Of til, treasury was authorized
TO break up and sell s5o0ooo0o silver dollars.
That was during the W.: when Great Britain
needed lot Of silver for use in India
The same act provi1cd that enough silver
should be purchased % replace the dollars
broken up and sold.
The law pro7'ied that the government
should pay a dollar an ounce for this silver,
though the market price right now is but about
60 cents.
These new silver dollars will be coined
iu the Philadelphia mint and they will be cir
culated through the banks. While they are
bright and shiny, it is possible that people will
carry them around. but it seems there is an
aversion to them, the public much preferring
paper money, so it is very likely that as time
goes on the 1921 dollars will complete the
circle and land back in the United States treas
ury again.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-03-09
Girls as Scouts.

Members Of the civic department OF the
Rock Island Woman's club are sponsoring or
ganization Of the Girl Scout movement in this
city. Already they are busy with plans to
mise money that will be needed to provide
some Of the essentials of preliminary organ
isation. Most Rock Islanders know the bene-
fits that have come through the activities and
teachings Of the Boy Scouts. HundSeds Of To-
cal boys are enrolled in the work, and every
parent who has youngster who is Boy Scout
= in position to testify to the good he has re-
ceived from the training that has been given
him IS member Of his patrol. The Girl
Scouts is fashioned along similar lines to the
BOY Scouts. It seeks to do for the girls what
the other organization does for the boys.
Mothers with daughters eligible to mem
bership are urged to see that they become iden-
t1ASd with the new scout movement Tho
ecout aim is for making Of better citizens. It
hss no other purpose in view. There are a
lev incidental expenses for members. but these
afe 80 small a. not to be burdensome to the
poorest family. 1ns growing girl who b.
ll,xh j.,
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-03-09
The Girl and Her Job.

The Arkansas legislature has gone nObly to
the defense Of It's womanhood. Judge John
Wade Of Little Book had publicly charged that
most q the female employees At the state house
bad obtained their positions as q result of
Illicit friendships with members Of the as
sembly. The legislature took immediate cog
nisance Of the insult. properly nayed the Judge
and voted . resolution of impeachment against
him. The only mistake the legislature made
was in not going far enough with the Judge.
He should have been escorted to q whipping
post and given nogging in the presence Of
the young women whose regulations he had
sought to blacken.
The young woman who goes out into the
world today to take her place among men in
some instances meets with insults and ad-
vances, but as a rule she is able to take care
of herself. There are individuals posing as
MEN who take advantage Of girl employee. but
they are comparatively few. Most girls will
tell you that they are treated with respect by
the men for whom they work.
The man who would charge that the aver
sge girl who obtains \ position either before
or afterwards compromises herself with her
employer has something wrong with his mental
equipment. The truth is that the American
girl Of today Is cleaner and more courageous
than she ever was. There are Of course ex-
ceptions. There always were and ways will
be. But simply because you hear of some
fussy happer running around with her boss
don't allow yourself to get the nation that
every girl who works In an Office is carrying
on a clandestine friendship with the man from
whom she receives her salary
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-03-09
Prison Humanity.

Joliet penitentiary prisoners are to be per-
mitted greater liberties under the Small ad-
ministration, it has been announced. 1t is as
serted by the new chief of the state depart
ment Of public welfare that enforcement of
he silence rule is injurious to the inmate; that
whore he is allowed to mingle and converse
md play with his associates he takes a more
hopeful view Of life. This change is rejected
N his conduct He not only makes a better
Behaved prisoner. but his workmanship i'm
groves. While 1t is true that the man who has
been sentenced to confinement for life has
little to look forward &c, and cares little wheth-
q his demeanor pleases his keepers or not, the
majority Of those imprisoned at Joliet expect
some day to be restored to citizenship. They
are there for punishment. but It should not be
the purpose Of the state to handicap them ply
aically and mentally and to turn them out into
society less equipped to care for themselves
that they were when they we're placed in prison
xarb. Penal servituds is meant to be nothing
more than discipline, and the man who leaves
Aprison is supposed to have been improved as
xresult Of his confinement The plan of more
humane treatment at Joliet will be approved
by the public and doubtless it will be reflected
III the future records of those released from
behind the walls Of that institution when their
terms are completed Il is to be expected that
there will be those prisoners who will not ap-
preciate the additional liberties that are to be
given them, and will abuse them but those
who display their gratitude for the kindness
shown them should not be made to suffer for
the misconduct of their fellows.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-03-09

eonn assoeinsaa rith ~ sessts - - -
ssxlss and hteeoits - dlfeeted 0at - a.
vsIops nornally. ~ inds desirable conpaa-
icaahips A1eithfsl diveesion. ard = gsi4ed -
ward : sod ii HE Inst viii Hnd proper
expesssion IN her latsr years. The Girl Scouts
are Supervised By women who volunteer their
services. TAsy ars mature peFsons who under
stand giflhood and are II position to safely
eide ths youngster at time In her hfe when
che most needs direction. This ID not said IN
Disagreement Of homo influences The Girl
Scout work IL meant to embrace activities that
are apart from the homo life Of the member.
but the training she will recetvs - Scout
can't help but make her more dutiful and
useful member Of her own household.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-03-09

laughing eyes passed rapidly over
the mass OF faces, then rested ten
derby on bowl of daffodils.
Il believe that my topic is to be
What Produces Talent" Really,
don't know. I feel that if all lit
erary clubs would go more thor
oughly into the lives of the au-
thors they are supposed to ad-
mire and study - much, the Ques-
ton would be answered far better
than l, a mere novice, can do it,
or even propose to do it. l am only
going to give you few words in
fact, because l have brought with
me this afternoon a dancer whom
you have all heard of. She will ap-
peal to you and to me in a more
satisfactory and artistic way, upon
what talent and patience produce.
l can tell you only that adversely
and burning desire to write made
me get where l am today, but even
that would not have been possible
without a Mrs. Nelson Burdick of
this city to believe and listen to me,
and a clergyman who really did
think that such thing as a church
mouse existed outside the church.
over a grocery store for instance
where l must explain that my play,
The Star Wagon was written.
THE luckiest thing that ever
happened to me to produce talent
was when you 'blackballed' me
from this club. Being human, first
Of all l was mad, then, being
woman. got catfish and said, 'Pll
show those women l can do some
thing! Lastly, l grew humble
when l thought Of a certain dear
woman, Mrs, Burdick, who said she
; wanted to be what l wanted to be
when she was a girl but had no
time.
"She gave me the time-the
chance. So I 'blackballed' all my
horrid. catty feelings, just to be
that girl-and for the memory of a
mother that lies within the sight
of daffodils today in a far country,
and to a father who might have
SAID, but I am afraid he did not. it
is sweet and seemly to die for ones
country but who did die game
it is to these relatives and friends
I have mentioned-I have vowed to
'blackbalr everything that is mean
and petty"
Muriel Thorpe with . wistful
smile turned her face like spring
sunshine towards Mrs. Nelson Bur-
dick. where the SHOWS of yesterday
melted under the radiant gratitude
Of her protege's face.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-03-09
BLACKBALLED.
By Katherine Glasse Newell.

Copyright, 1921, by the wheeler
Syndicate, Inc.D
II wish to nominate Miss Muriel
Thorpe to the vacancy left by the
death of Miss Loveless," Mrs. Nell
son Burdick's voice was nervous
and her eyes watered under the
united gaze of members Of the
Women's Literary club.
Mrs. LeMar Madison rose with
presidential dignity, demanding in
zero accents and a deliberate level
ing Of her lorgnette upon Mrs. Bur-
dick: "Will you please state your
reasons for wishing this young
woman" decided emphasis on
this young woman" Ito our club?
She is unknown socially and lives
over a grocery store in a back
street,"
Mrs. Burdick's ears took on the
hue of a pink sea shell, but she
blinked the moisture from her kind
old eyes.
Miss Thorpe is little friend of
mine. The rector of my church in
formed me of her loneliness here
her ambition to write. He thought
that we women could do so much
to nourish that ambition and get
her into the right atmosphere"
What is she doing for a living?"
! interrupted Mrs. Madison in. still
freezing tones.
Miss Thorpe is Office girl to DR..
McHenry, the dentist" replied Mrs.
Burdick, very shortly.
"An Office grill" faint echo of
disapproval rustled throughout the
perfumed crowd.
What Is she doing so far from
home?" persisted Mrs. Madison.
! Miss Thorpe came to our noun
tains for her health, as so many
city people do, you know. She has
recovered so we'll that she was ad-
vised to stay indefinitely" smiled
Mrs. Burdick.
I'm awfully sorry, Mrs. Burdick
do not think it possible for US to
admit this girl to the membership
of our club. We have, as you know,
always been conservative. To let
in a mere nobody mean some
body whom we know nothing about
an Office fiirl-would be weaken
ing our rules. She could belo.s to
The Daily Topics Club or The
Good Reading Society and be far
more at home"
A murmur Of satisfaction and re-
lief purred thorugh the crowd gath
cred in the expensive clubroom
with its old English finish and
heavy, royal purple velvet dra-
peries, but the bowl of daifodils on
the presidents table dropped in the
overheated atmosphere. Mrs. LIE.
Mar Mallison's eagle eye noted the
approval of her words. II oppose
the nomination OF Miss Muriel
Thorpe" she ended firmly.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-03-09
The Daily Short S tory

THAT means, Mrs. Madison, that
my little friend is, in plain English,
'blackballed- from entering this
club?" Mrs. Burdick's eyes no
longer watered. With a clear Wis
ion she saw the club members like
q flock Of ostriches, boiling down
masses of rare f1owers-the very
loveliest flowers of literature-un-
digested. Again as peacocks,
preening their gaudy plumage in
the sunlight of wealth, raising their
voices in shrill cries of borrowed
criticism-at things they knew not
of. She saw in sharp contrast, like
a quaint etching against a crude
impression in oils, a tiny room
with a girl bending happily over a
typewriter, the sun Frightening
each thread of ruffled bronze Lair,
lingering lovingly over the prema-
ture white ones. as the sun loves to
do over the first snowdrops of win
ter.
She could see the thin face turn
ed to hers in gratitude; the eyes
and mouth of humorist and a
voice that re-echoed back, to her
the ambitions of her own girlhood,
buried in drudgery, until marriage
and unexpected wealth made them,
too late, except through girls like
Muriel Thorpe. I
With a dignified motion that the
discussion was closed Mrs. Bur-
dick left the club.
About a year later the Women's
Literary club joyfully announced
that they had secured Sara Green,
the woman novelist of the age
what age was not stated, to lee
ture upon What Produces Tai
ent" 1t was indeed a triumph for
them. This wonderful writer and
playwright was the darling of the
reading and playgoing public OF
America. Her fame as a humorist
had even tickled the fancy of the
supposedly phlegmatic British. 1t
was indeed delightful surprise
that the Women's Literary club
should be so honored. Their own
clubhouse was too small to accom-
modate an open house so they
had taken the opera house for the
afternoon. Every club member was
anxious to entertain the young
writer, but Mrs. Nelson Burdick, to
! their establishment, received a let
ter stating that Sara Green would
make her home her nesting place
while in town.
1t did seem as il the whole town
turned out to greet Sara Green
and towns round about. by the
crowds that gathered to hear, and
see this wonder girl. A mumur
Of surprise rippled through the the.
atre as a slight, daintily clad girl
came on the stage. reminding one
Of q bright-eyed sparrow, looking
into the face of spring. after a long
hard winter. In voice full of mu-
sic and impish mirth, the girl,
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-03-09
With Other Editors
Over.Nationalized.
(New York Tribune).

The abolition by the railroad executives
OF their general labor committee is another
step toward that decentralization in operation
which they regard as necessary to efficient
,rhilroading. The naturalization OF all wage
standards, forced on them through one of the
dying acts. of the federal railroad admins
tration, is the greatest obstacle in the way Of
economic MISUNDERSTANDING management
meaning not necessarily reduction of basic
wages but the elimination of wage allowances
which bring no equivalent in service.
The public has to pay the excess costs Of
an extravagant nation wide Standardization
Its interest lies with that of the operating
companies in a return to territorial working
conditions, especially with regard to unskilled
labor. rigid, uniform rule ignores the wide
divergences in economic relations between va
rious parts Of the United States The gen.
eral wage scale varies greatly. When the uni
form higher railroad scale is applied in sparse
~ settled regions, where ordinary labor is
cheap and living costs are relatively low, a
dislocation is caused which not only penalties
the carrier but also artifcially affects other
employers Of labor.
The federal railroad administration laid
down new law. 1t didn't prescribe current
wages for the unskilled railroad workers but
Jumped them all together as entitled to a max
imum nationwide wage. 1t would be absurd
for the postofice department to pay all post
masters the same compensation, whether they
worked In cities, towns, villages or hamlets
Eut BY the nationwide classification scheme
station agents receive the same pay. whether
they are on q line with one or two trains.
The Association Of Railway Executives
stands on this declaration: Under normal con-
citions the adjustment Of rules and working
conditions and Of basic wages cannot success
fully be made the subject Of national confer
ence and negotiation, as that implies BY its
very nature violation of the differing needs
OF the railroads and OF the territories which
they respectively serve" 1t is hard to argue
away so obvious statement offact. The pub
Tic Is being asked to bear the burden of an
unnatural and uneconomical system Of labor
costs in transportation. 1t is willing to pay
for real service but not for the padded service
which goes with the extreme theory Of nation
wide. non-economic operation under govern
ment control
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-03-09
Argus Information
Bureau

@. Was disqualification OF our
army more rapid after this war
than after the Civil war? d. u, \.
A. During the first u weeks OF
the recent rehabilitation 65,Ooo
more officers and men were dis
charged from the service than the
entire number of men discharged
during the year and one-half OF
Civil war disqualification.
@. When did Homer live? NJ. V.
A. Homer was a poet of ancient
times, about whom little is known
other than that credit is given him
for at least shaping the Had and
possibly the Odyssey. His date Is
placed by Herodotus about $50 b.
c., by the modernS, anywhere from
800 to 100 B. C.
@. How much radium has been
used on watch faces? F. J, W.
A. The U. S. geological survey
states that at the present time
there are OF. avoirdupois, OF rad
ium element or metal in exist
ence. From 5 to 10 per cent OF this
amount has been lost by its use on
watch faces and for similar pur-
poses.
@. Where is the coolest place OK
which the temperature has been re-
corded? A. H. T.
A. The weather bureau says
that the Antarctic temperatures are
very low; but the place or the
lowest observed temperature is IN
northeastern Siberia, with record
of 80 degrees below zero, and an
average temperature for January
of 60 degrees below.
@. Please publish an answer 10
the question Where did the In
dams come FROM" E. N. l.
A. The Office Of Indian anairs
states that no one knows e1acti!
where Indians originated and now
they got to America. Some say
they originated in China; some say
Egypt; and some say India. They
are supposed to have come mere
across the Behring Strait, or via
Atlantic, the lost continent.
@. What city in the Unltea
is known as the Electric City
L N. C.
A. The name has been applied
to Schenectady. New York. Thou,
sands of people are here employer
in the manufacture Of electrical APP
paratus.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-03-09
Fer Ladies Oaly.

Man works from sun to sun, but
woman's work--hey, what about
that? Woman,s work! She hires
it done.
Here is . letter which ought to
give a great many women mean
five minutes:
Dear DR.. Brady: am 4 Glow
tremoloE young girl Is years Of
age. am IS inches tall in stock
ing feet and weigh ts5 pounds. !
am rather ashamed to confess that
/ am perfectly we'll Ny mother is
dead and I am trying to- fill the
place she left vacant. We are reg
ularly family Of six, but there
are almost always q few extra
guests. Ours is an eight-r0om
house, large rooms. especially the
kitchen, which takes me an hour to
scrub. / do all the work. Luckily
/ have washing machine and a
carpet sweeper mot vacuum, so
there are two tasks made easier. l
also have q bread mixer which is
a, great convenience. I am very
particular-things have to be just
so, and naturally I work hard to
keep things Just 80. though I am
speedy at work and always in
something Of a hurry, never taking
time to rest until the work in hand
is all finished. The only square
meal l have through the day is the
evening meal, which We all call
supper l do all my own house
cleaning, from picking up pins to
beating carpets and moving furni-
ture. l even move the piano when
necessary, although the folks tell
me / must not. / take care Of the
lawn, which takes about two hours
to clip and massage. In winter !
shovel snow and skate good deal
When my home work and baking
are done / take care of the church.
a 15-minute ride from the house
sweep, dust, scrub and clean it all
myself
Yes, ladies, this reads like fairy
tale we must admit, but in bona
fide document. The girl will, be
chopping all the wood for the
church stove and milking the cows
for the church supper before We
reach the end of this terrible con-
fession!
just because l can't bear the
sight of dirt, and then l hurry
home to get supper. l take part in
everything done at church, head as
well as hands to help the plans
along. Therefore l am out five
nights a week and seldom get into
bed before II o'clock. l must gel
up not later than 6:15 a. m. in win
ter and 5 o'clock in summer. OF
course l hate to hear the alarm
clock-seems as though l have just
gone to bed-but l always do gel
up. l sleep like a log; indeed,
am asleep often when l roll into
bed
Now neighbors tell me I will
break down and ruin my health
and be wrinkled and gray and done
before l am 80 if l keep on-~ork
ing SO sard. They called in one
long stream to tell me that while
was doing up nearly three hundred
jars of preserves last fall. They
thought l ought to buy store pre-
serves, but l can't bear They
} warn me l am sure to pay for my
fun in later years. Do you thinl
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-03-09

When President Harding needs q doctor
during his White house term it will seem like
home to him He has appointed his Marion
family physician general in the army and
had him assigned as his personal medical
counsellor.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-03-09

The internal revenue bureau has ruled that
il case OF sickness you may have real beer II
It is prescribed by your physician. With the
approach Of warm weather. it would not be sur
prising to hear Of a lot Of our best people
coming down with attacks OF mysterious
maladies.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-03-09
Bill Hart

Bill Hart is reported engaged to marry
y Jane Novak. Wonder If he used those Two
ugly guns in forcing her to say yes!
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-03-09

that in 10 years. time I'll Be old
and cramped UP! It seems to me
that am happiest when using
every ounce Of strength and en-
ergy the Lord gave me 70 some
good purpose.
Pm relying on your answer.
Tell me the honest to goodness
truth about It all.
MISS
Everything fne except INSULT
cient sleep. The girl who means to
retain her youthful complexion and
her youthful good looks and vigor
will not tail to get in TEN hours Of
sleep every night, even though she
has to let the lawn run into timo-
thy or permit .sanctimonious dust
to gather in the dark corners of the
church. y
But SO far as the work is con-
cerned, no medicine can be better
for q woman's health, good lucks.
and morals. The curse of this
present day is the voorhees, woman,
the woman who does nothing but
wastes her time and her husbands
or somebody else's money. Yes,
/ and the woman who can bear to
depend on store preserves and ev-
cry other little thing she can find
! ready to eat. These voorhees, wom-
en- are as often found in homes that
! can't as in. homes that can afford
the luxury.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-03-09

Maybe Bergdoll will come back when Bill
ai0hensollern voluntarily appears in London
to- trial.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-03-09
aWIMWTN.

SW104lNs
When the brook begins its hummin',
When the birds. are on the wing.
Then feel that springs a-comin'
An my heart begins to sing.
An my toes seem sort o gropin
Like they allus used to do
When l early started hopin'
could shed each heavy shoe.
For didn't ever worry
Bout tn Group, or bout . cough;
I wux allus in hurry
FIR to get them hot shoes on!
Boy! how I would go a-skippin
On the grass so green an cool,
An soon would go a-yippin'
Tord tn good OIL swimmin' pool.
An it allus seemed to please me.
When I'd stick my foot right in.
Though 'twuz' cold enough to freeze me
An I'd grin-an' grin-an' grin. -
Right now it starts me blinkin'-
Mem'ry of them days OF old
When had no trouble thinkin'
That tn water wuIn't cold!