davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-13
How InfantIe Paralysis Spreads.

i Previous to 1877 there were nc
! epidemics of acute anterior po1iom.
yelitis (infantile paralysis) in this
| country, but since that time the
| disease has reached epidemic pro-
| portions on several occasions in
| both the United States and Canada.
and in the past year or two, at any
rate, it has become more or less
endemic-sporadic cases are &C.
curing in all parts of the country
, and in all seasons of the year and
among alb classes and conditions
Of people.
1t is a horrible, cruel disease.
When it strikes at little child and
| leaves the victim with some mem
Der withered and deformed, be the
child rich or poor, homely or pref
| ty, what a test of a parents forti-
tude and faith!
There is no evidence that infan-
tile paralysis is ever spread in wa
ter, milk, fruit or other foods Ger
tainly we know neither this dis
ease or any other is ever spread
through the air. There is scarcely
any satisfactory evidence that the
disease can be conveyed by mani
mate objects or that the walls,
woodwork, floors or furniture of
rooms that have been occupied by
the patient in the feverish stage
are contaminated or that any fum1-
CATION or disinfection other than
ordinary cleaning is required to
make such rooms safe for new oc-
cupants. Although the virus has
been conveyed from monkey to
monkey by the bite of the stable
fry, the idea that flies may be car
riers is rather cancelled by the fact
that many cases of the disease oc-
cur in winter months. -
The actual mode of spread is
spray infection, that is, the virus
is carried in the invisible droplets
of moisture given off from the nose
and throat when the patient talks,
sneezes or coughs. This spray car
ries as far as four feet from the
patients face in talking, and as
far as 10 feet when the patient
sneezes or coughs with nose and
mouth uncovered. Therefore a
deadline is to be drawn with "a
dius of five feet around the patient,
if the patient is intelligent enough
to cover nose and mouth with every
sneeze or cough; if the' patient is
an infant too young or an adult too
ignorant, then the deadline must
be drawn with a radius of 10 feet, |
for the safety of all other persons. |
All this applies not only to some |
twenty other respiratory infections |
more or less well known to the
laity as such.
Infantile paralysis is ordinarily !
or communicable, not |
only during the fever
ish stage which lasts usually less
than 10 days. The long drawn out
paralysis stage does not ordinarily
call for isolation or other precau-
tons. Only occasionally the little
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-13

You may recall that some years ago one
Charles ". Morse was sentenced to federal
penitenttary for criminal ffnanciering in New
York After spending time in Atlanta prison
mis- physicians discovered that he was IN very
poor health and that to longer contine him
might cause his early death. On the strength
of this appeal Morse was released
His freedom seemed to have a magic effect
upon his health, for he was out only a few
months until he was again factor in business
circles in New York Yesterday Morse returned
from Europe and was met at the New York
piers by two agents OF the department of JUS
uce. Morse, it appears, built some ships for
the United States government during the war
II is reported gross irregularities have been
discovered IN these contracts Morse has been
called upon to make explanations and amends.
Ii he is unable 10 clear UP the dark spots he
may get return trip to prison.
When Morse learned that there were charges
against him IN connection with his shipbuiIding
contracts he suddenly found that he had bus
mess In Europe. Realizing that he would not
be protected by foreign governments, he con-
sented 10 return to America at the request of
attorney General Daugherty. i
Morse is wizard Of business and finance.
lie is man who is able to win>high stakes by
Paying the game fairly, but he seems to find it
more fascinating to touch the borderland of |
wrong When he was sent to federal prison |
l.oln new York some years ago he was recog- |
's@A''A as 'oaie7n me ablest Business men Of the
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-13
APPLIED BASEBALL.
By Miss III. Frances WEIGH.
Copyright, 1891, by Wheeler
Syndicate Inc

IL
Ding Ding! Ding!"
Lucia stirred under the covers
| and drowsily peeked over their tops
at the face OF the little pest that
reused her every morning to real
iZation of the monotonous life she
lived, and of its mOnotonous duties
Hastily DOMINIC her bathrobe and
winding her hair int a tight little
wad at the nape of her neck, she
slipped her feet into faded slippers
then FASTENED to the bathroom
bowl, where she completed her
waking with a cold face-shoWer,
Thus clad, she hurriedly prepared
her husbands breakfast 1t did
not occur to Lucia to apologize to
Tom for her appearance. A year
had passed since the little alarm
clock had been set with due time
allowance for attractive dressings
And here you have a sufficiently
clear portrayal of the matrimonial
crisis of Lucia and Tom Holt.
A jolly-looking old gentleman
chuckied aloud as he read his
nephew's letter.
Listen to this, wife, Dear Uncle
Thomas-Come to my rescue. also
Lucia's. 1t was your match. you
know, and you have always under
stood my wife even better than
have. This thing which is the
cause of the S. o. s. has gone be-
yond my comprehension. Life has
seemed to go stale with US lately,
and especially with Lucia. Some
thing has got to be done, come and
do it. With love, Tom"
: MY match, indeed! And all I
did was introduce the lucky young
dog to a sweet girl who wasn't too
stuck up to talk to an old man at
a ball game. Wonder what Toms
done. Lucia's sure too good a
sport not to play the game"
1t was a few days later that Tom
telephoned home to say that Uncle
Thomas was in town, and as usual,
would stay with them. Lucia was
glad because she liked the kindly
old man. He always made a mid
dle-aged sort of love to her, max
Ing her think that she was a matri-
Inonial prize. Some things Tom
had said lately were to the very
opposite in effect
Uncle Thomas, sitting at the
breakfast table, was forced to draw
comparisons. Tom Holt, |
eating his cereal, was the typical |
rising young business man. He
was clean shaven, well brushedt
But Lucial She had willingly &C
cepted Uncle Thomas suggestion |
hat he be not made company"
If, and had appeared in her usual !
TASTY toilet. 1t was easily seen that |
t was an effort on Toms part to !
ook at his wife without putting |
INTO words the lack of compliment I
Ter attire implied.
tom is not guilty" though Uncle
Thomas.
Guess you and 1, Lucia, will
AVE to see this new fellow do his
ancy pitching. Must say he doesn't
late to talk about himself. Want
o go?"
ST certainly would I haven't
cen a game for ages. A fat takes
o much of ones time when one
as to do all the work" Lucia had
lot scorned the trivial opportunity
O declare herself abused.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-13

or worse, as the saying goes, and
there's been a lot more better, than
worse. Toms done and is doing
his share, under handicap, too, for
his wife has quit, cold" Ignoring
the tears in the reproachful eyes,
Uncle Thomas continued Last
night when your husband tried to
tell you about a business deal, you
yaWned in his face and the hand
with which you stif1ed that yawn
had gray-edged nails. This morn
ing, too, you did not look like the
kind of wife to inspire a man to
a hard days work"
= Lucia's face worked painfully,
'woman-like she was glad that they
were on a by street She could
see, mentally, the pitcher leaving
the box, head down, another called
to his work. There was a likeness
between him and herself, cold
fear gripped her heart, she could
not bear to think of further sim
ilarity.
Am l a yellow skunk, too, am
Il" she sobbed, now keenly sensi- |
tive to her failure.
We'll, not exactly, Lucia. yell
low skunks do not change their |
color, but l stake my guess that
yours is going to turn to true blue |
Lucia, am 1 right?"
Yes, you are. 1 can see how |
blind I've been. You go in to Toms I
office and take him to dinner. I've !
got to go home and do some things
to the house, to myself, and to I
Toms clothes. And Uncle Thomas,
please send him home after dinner
alone" Losing no time Lucia
FASTENED towards her neglected
duties
There's nothing like a little
baseball to straighten out our men
tai perspective, declared Uncle
to himself as he boarded
the town car, enroute to tell Tom
hat the "matchmaker" had accom-
p9shed his mission
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-13
Frederick Haskin's Letter
-tapesai csrresDOndancs ArruaJ -
The Lure of Some Place Else

Washington, d. c., Dec. 12.-The
South Sea Islands and the Orien.
are just now enjoying a tremend-
Gus popularity among persons who
have never been there.
The South Sea Island craze was
started by a book which described
In the most luscious language that
paradise of eternal summer, OF
easy living, of few clothes, and no
restraints, and of be4utifuI native
maidens who fell in love with
white men on sight, and knew lit
tie or nothing about marriage.
The material for this book, it is
said was supplied by a man who
had spent some years in the is
lands, but the luscious writing was
done by clever woman who had
never been to the islands at all. The
book was quickly followed by other
books by the same author and by
others. Boats bound for the South
Seas began to be packed with tour
lists.
Then came the inevitable reac-
ton. The wanderers found that the
South Sea Islands were just about
like Florida, California, or any
other winter resort country. They
found that instead of lying around
and picking, up breadfruit when
ever they got hungry, they had to
pay S12 a day at the hotels. In
stead of capering naked on coral
strands, they had to dress for din
ner. There wasn't nearly enough
hn0 fu1 ~
around. AS for the climate, 1t was
nice for while, but no tropical
climate agrees with a white man
for very long at a stretch.
In a word the tourist found that
the hard realities of human life
logged him even to the South Sea
Islands, and that the books had
been mostly fairy tales. 50 many
were the disappointed tourists that
a literature poking fun at thet
South Sea Islands has sprung into
being. Many magazine articles |
have been written to that tune, and |
now a book is out which is a !,
parody of all other books that told |
about the irresponsible delights o. /
the South Seas
AlAS Ado DSSn u
over again. The South Seas have |
leaped into sudden popularity time /
after time, and then have been for /
gotten again. Robert Louis Stew i
enson gave them a run some years |
ago, and before that, Herman Mel
Vile set men to laundering after
and tropical warmth
and beautiful copper-oolored dam
sells.
Places That Aren't.
OF course, what the writer's de-
scribe, and what the readers
lanker after and often go in
search of, is not the South Sea Is
ands as they really are, but a
purely imaginary realm which will
i've play to all of the longings
which they cannot satisfy at home |
7hese periodic crazes about strange
aravay Arcadies are simply evil I
ence of the fact that most men +;
re only half satisfied by the real {
~ and so live largely in their i
reams. This craving for some S
lace else is chiefly interesting as )
evealing the unsatisf1ed longings y
f men. The South Sea Islands are 1
y no means the only popular
ever-never land. The Orient is I
mother one which has a spell of I
every few years. 1t, too, E
5 having one just now. A series !
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-13

OF Spectacular plays. purnor,;.
describe life in the Orien, 9
mad a great success. So
books of the same charae+es,e 49,, \
been best sellers, and H. = IA ~
as usual have followed s1i, -lO's
1t is interesting to M.
this imaginary Orient has -
exactly the same essential 49,
as the imaginary South Sea f,i.s
In this Orient of the scrss -
the stage it is once mora -.
summer, once more peonlo &c
shown leading easy uDrpst,,,.
lives, and once more the 49,,
damsel of emancipated mo,.,' -
the leading feature Of the scs-. Z
These colorful portrayaIs -.
easy idle life, full OF exc4sz1
and desire, devoid of hard -
and clothes, draw enormous .,o 80
of typical Americans, wbo-.y,.4s
hard every day in the wessE VT
often go to church on SUNDAY ~
lead lives of routine and reSt,.,se.
in the most law-ridden lsn5
earth, and who are easily scs1as i
lied by any suggestion Of inmo,ai
tty in the lives of their neigbbo,'
Things HeR CraEA
Is there anything stranea =,
their liking for these picturss a.
books and plays, which deqcs5s-
life as a thing of freedom 49,
ture and lust? Nothing at an /.
each of those worthy citizens 4
buried a subliminaI self thai Ioos.
for just those things, and the NJ
posterous books and pictures 4.
him a sort of vicarious satisfs.
ton.
These books and plays and pis
lures, then, are above all a dias
nOsis Of civilized life IN Ame-ics
They show what it lacks By SHOW,
ing what the man who is lfving h
instinctively Graves. And h.
things which he Graves invarisBy
are less work, less restraint mo,.
adventure, more freedom. and egps
cially more freedom in the matt,
Of love.
The instinct Of the averags MAJ
IS to what is the matter with ma
life is probably right. Most ps9.
pie doubtless do work too han
and above all they work too MONT,
They do the same thina,
over and over again until thos
things become meaningless. Thsrs
s not enough of change and excite.
nent in their lives. There is pa
enough to feed their imagnatioD,
md develop their emotions. Nos.
people, too, are not satisfied U
Owe.
SO far the average man Is righ
lie knows what he wants. even 4
re won't admit it, or at lease he feels
What he wants even if he doesn't
NOW it The books he reads, Tie
pictures and plays he goes to see
re his confession of longing and
aspiration.
Where he is wrong is in suppos-
ng that if he could just go to some
ar-away place all would be differ
Mt as a matter of fact, LIE Is
mazingly similar wherever you
o. You can satisfy your longings
/ a measure anywhere if you are
trong and clever enough, and i
on are not, the odds are against
on on South Sea Island no less
han on the Island on Manhattan
Salvation for any man is not
light to some far-away place where
be game is easier, but in careful
tudy of the environment about
i'm.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-13
The Ancient Alibf.

-. and as 1 am employed as a
bookkeeper l have little or no time
for exercise =.
AnsWer-This recurs again and
again in my correspondence.
Please do not tell me such things.
You mean you hate exercise be-
cause it is SO much like real work.
Lazy muscles must first be driven,
then they go along without coax
ing.
Lemonade and Canker Sores.
Ny mother, aged ~, has been A
sufferer most of her life from re-
curing canker sores in the mouth.
This last summer she happened to
drink a great deal of lemonade,
and soon discovered that her mouth
was free of the canker sores. She
kept on drinking lemonade and the
sores did not come back. Now in
cold weather she still takes a bowl
of lemonade three times week.
but takes it hot. She doesn't have
any more canker sores, and Incl
dentally less trouble with her
stop2ach than for years past?
Answer-There may be some
thing in it Anyhow it can do no
harm. The best relief I know for
canker sores is daily touching with
a mixture of equal parts of tincture
of iodine and g1ycerin, and rinsing
the mouth before and after food
with a warm solution of as much
boric acid as boiled water will
dissolve.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-13
The Daily Short Story

1t was the fourth inning, tbs
teams evenly matched. No bette;
chance could a man OF ability have
had to prove his worth in the pitch
| er's box. The loudly acclaimed
| and self-styled marvel of the
glove was put on the diamond
With easy confidence he threw his
first ball. But something was go
ing wrong, the ball was being hit
Two home runs in the fourth, could
it be that the man was not so good
as he claimed?
"If he's a pitcher. I'm a million
aires wife" remarked Lucia scorn-
fully. She was a pretty picture,
peFched beside Uncle Thomas, her
cheeks flushed. He's got to show
US whether he's game, hasn't he,
uncle?"
I'll bet he's gutter, watch him
in the sixth. He's not the kind to
play the game through" Uncle
Thomas was at that minute gifted
with an inspiration that he hoped
would mean Tom Hollis happiness
restored.
20, 1 do hope he sticks, l hate
a GUTTER" said Lucia vehemently.
But Uncle Thomas proved right.
The marvel" tried all his tricks
in the sixth. saw two more homers
from his futile balls, and then
something. apparently, was wrong
with his wrist. He felt it gingerIy
and made wry face. He called
the umpire's attention to it; Uncle
Thomas and Lucia could see him
trying to convince that skeptic gen
tleman that something was wrong.
Another man was put in his place,
and the marvel" walked off the
diamond, nursing his wrist.
Let US go, Uncle. 1 don't want
to see the finish now; I've read
about that fellow every day and
its too much to see him drop ont
IKE this" said Lucia, then hope
fully. Perhaps Ne really sprained
1t, Wen try and find out"
Listen to these two, they're from
MS own cub" whispered Uncle
Thomas, drawing Lucia to one side.
behind two players who were talk
ing in low tones.
Sure, Bill, he quit on US. col5i
and big coin he gets, too, he's
nothing but quitter." said the
first chap.
The yellow skunk, The yellow
SKUNK! muttered the other.
walking home brought back to
Uncle Thomas one other day when
a very gay and happy young man
had been with them.
Seems like Tom ought to he
With US today, doesn't it. Lucia p,
he asked slyly. As a leading re-
mark, he could not have chosen |
better. Lucia. was not above hid
ling for sympathy.
"Oh, Uncle Thomas. we must ha
IN awful disappointment to Won
Tom and I have failed somehow. I
lave tried to do my part, but don't
seem to get anywhere very fast
md Tom doesn't appreciate me"
The oral recitation of the situation
brought big tears to Lucia's eyes.
| plaintive tone to her voice. AL
most. IL he had not certain scenes
n his mind, Uncle Thomas could
lave pitied her. Lucia looked up
nto his face for the sympathy that
allied to register there
Little girl, life isn't much DIFF
erent than baseball, you can't quit
nd be happy, or well thought of 1
fther. You chose Tom for better
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-13

cluded in the original forests Of
southern pinee
A. The forest service says that
the original southern pine foresN
occupied from 125, 100000 to 10000
600 acres. The present area OF VIZ
gin timber is only 23,500,O0O acres
@. What were the different msa.
ais awarded the unknown soldier
I'M. c.
A. The decorations awarded tne
unknown soldier on Armistiee Gay
were: CroiX de gueTre, Belgium,
Victoria cross, England; medai
militaire, France; legion de non
ouer, France; gold medal for bTa'-
cry, Italy: viTtuta5 miiItara, NJ
mania; war cross, CzechosioVoE'
virtuti militan, Poland congTes
sional medal Of honor; dlsuh-
guishe service cross. America
Legion. Society Of Foreign Wars
American ambulance corps, FeAl
sylvania National guard.
@. Can 1 get proof coin OF 8
silver dollar Tor 1921?
A The office Of the director q
the mint says that no proof coil'
are now being made.
@. When were postal cares I-i''
issued? Z. f.
A. Postal cards we're first Is
sued Oh May /, 1873. off,,
@. Please name the posllo-
that Teddy Roosevelt held. a 7,
A. The late Theodore Roose1s1
held the following positions: men.
Der of the New York legislature
delegate to the Republican nation,
al convention; U. S. civil sei'l-.
president o.
New York police board; asslS.@C n
secretary of The navy; governor ~ -
New York; vice president OF ~
United States, president oil ~
United States. He was Appoint
special ambassador from the JIM ~
States at the funeral Of klng
ward VIII Of England in ly!v.
@. Are there as many Indians
Canada as in the United states
A There are 244.4S7 Indians - :
he United States and l05.sg' -
lians in Canada bsss
O. How long do postoffices KEY
.eceipts for registered mail!
.-,sHf
A. The postoff1ce depai5 - IS
avs that ordinarily the posto3lI.,a
Leep the receipts for registered l--'
N file for about two years. "A
O. What are the five polntSI, 80. =
he shield in the center OF the
uguese flag? ". J. IA
A. A Portuguese delegate 70 ~
difference says that these
,oiEts signify the five Wouna'
shriSt<
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-13

The ST. Louis business man who daily is
serving bread and coffee free to the unem-
ployed has the right idea If others in position
to do so would follow his example there would
be immediate relief of the suffering that it is
known is being endured in most Of the cities of
the country these days. The man with warm
breakfast under his vest has different view
of the world and feels more like trying to help
himself than the fellow who is compelled to go
through the day hungry.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-13

Q. Which river is longer, the
Mississippi or the Missouri?
NJ c. w.
A. The Missouri is longer than
the Mississippi. The Missouri from
its extreme source to the point
where it joins the Mississippi,
traveres 2,945 miles. The Missis-
sippi from the extreme source to
mouth is 2,4S6 miles long.
@. Is a daughter of Mark Twain
married to a famous musician?
H. F. 3.
A. Clara Clemens, daughter Of
Mark Twain is married to Ossipj
Gabrilovitch, the celebrated Rus
sian pianist.
Q. How many acres were in
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-13

II you could see the long list of names OF
poor Riddles to be remembered this year by
The Argus Santa Claus committee you would
not hesitate in sending Alienation to help swell
the cash fund. The Santa Claus committee is
already busy with its work. 1t has big job
before it, but the committee has only one con-
Germ and that is to that all of the poor chill
dren of the city have happy Christmas. Your
part is to supply the needed funds
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-13
Orr TnnthHtnt1p
HERE LIES MANS ANCIENT ENEMY.
4 DULL CARE
WHO DIsIsyERs TILE UNLovED CUss
| REWAREi
TO A NURSE.

TO NURSE.
You like white angel
A benediction.
Your light touch
SoOthes my pain:
Your cool presence
Gains my fevered brow: -
You tie together delicately
The frayed ends
Or life's ragged fabric
For countless others,
You greet little new lives
Into the world:
You stroke clammy hands,
And breathe encouragement
To those whose feet,
Are Just starting
ON the last bewildering journey.
Never will your name,
AS name,
Be blazoned forth
On Fame's escutcheon:
1t is on brighter tablet
Than that:
tablet of constant and never-varying glory
Which shines amazingly,
And with so binding a splendor,
That all the fair names thereon
Are miraculously blended
Into one golden name:
L OV e JAv q STCNsTTNrn
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-13
HEALTH TALKS
By William Brady, M. D.
Noted Physician and Author.

patient remafAs a menace by rea-
son of diseased tonsils and the
carrier" condition.
Quarantine is worthless as a
safety measure in this disease. So
is fumigation. Yet here and there
ancient methods are still in vogue
and the simple taxpayer willingly
pays for the mysterious smell and
the fireworks.
Distinction of linen, other than
ordinary laundering, is of no value
whatever in the prevention of
spread of poliomyelitfs.>
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-13
Argus Information Bureau


lion
to