davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The New York herald., 1921-06-26
Green Reporters Fatal Error Starts Lively
Bit of Comment on the Great American
Game and Hints of Promise
By DAN CAREY.

~ nee we killed a man. He was a per-
[ fecuy upright honest. reputable
- citizen by the name of John Hill.
friends by the hundreds. but we snuffed out
his life and he was no more.
1t all happened when we held the honor
able position of cub reporter in another city
and had arisen to the Importance of being
editor of the Department of Deaths and
Funerals. We forget exactly how 1t hap
pened that we came into possession of the
fact that John Hill was dead. 1t may have
been a sorry joke that some one played on us
or it may have been merely our own mex
perence. We forget that detail, but anyway
he was prominent man in our community
so we spread considerably and gave him
nice notice, with a picture of the deceased
and the story of his life at the end.
The next morning our business manager.
Uncle Bob, as he affectionately known
burst into tears on his front porch when he
read the announcement of the death of his
lifelong friend. He hastily cut few flowers
from his garden, roses and peonies and gar
denias, and went to lay this loving tribute
upon the bier of his friend.
John Hill lived just around the corner and
there was high stone retaining wall at the
corner. With his eyes still wet with tears
Uncle Bob attempted to round the corner,
but in doing so he bumped into an irate citi-
zen coming rapidly from the opposite direc-
ton 1t was John Hill on his way to Uncle
Bobs home to protest against being an
nounced as dead. He wanted to make per-
sonal matter out of it.
That morning we received notice that we
would have TO square matters with John Hill
or retire permanently from the newspaper
game. We might have seen victim and
talked it over with him, but evidently there
was nothing to be gained by an interview.
We thought of announcing him in the birth
column. but he had already been there some
fifty years or more before. Late that after
noon we turned in story headed THE
Resurrection of John HILL" which squared
the thing with everybody concerned. If 1t
hadn't, we would probably be a sewing ma
chine agent earning our living in some
other honest manner.
q PEAKING of killing reminds us of the
description of capital punishment in
New York State once given us by a
chance acquaintance in the smoking room
of a Pullman train Possibly we had just
had riot or two or some lynchngs which
caused this man from the North TO inquire
of us as to the method of capital punishment
in the State we then called home. He asked
this question. we remember very distinctly.
In a tone which clearly implied that legal
executions in our State were of such rare
occurrence as to make his ignorance ex-
cusable.
We did not argue that point with him but
contented ourself with replying that hanging
was the method of death prescribed by law
in our State.
That method" he replied. lis now consid-
cred barbarous. great many of the States
are getting away from it and yours should
adopt the more humane method"
Our personal opinion is that no method of
The New York herald., 1921-06-26
GENTLE ART OF MURDER AND POLITICS AMUSES d.

statement for publication The supposed
friend did il and ruined him. Here is what
appeared across seven columns of the lead
ing afternoon daily in large tySo:
MALICIOUS PERSONS HAVE CIRCr-
LATED THE REPORT THAT 1 SAID THE
RACE IN THE FIRST WARD WAS BE
TWEEN A JEW, A BARTENDER AND A
GENTLEMAN, AND THAT L WAS THn
GENTLEMAN. THIS l DENY"
Great game, politics.
~ Ut the greatest art in politics is that
X of spellbinding before the people
- during the campaign and the most
remarkable thing about political speeches
that is, where we come from is that the
people love a ready wit more than they do
accuracy and prefer a quick answer to a
statement of facts.
We have in mind a speaker who on one
occasion made friends with a hostile audi
ence by remarling quietly. some goose
has Missed" when one of his auditors began
TO express disapproval of what he was say
ing.
But what we started to tell about was
big old liar of our town who was a wonder
on the stump despite the fact that he had
a habit of saying just any old thing that
popped into his head while he was address,
ing an audience.
Facts did not enter into his calculations
at all. History. geography, natural his
tory, astronomy he marshalled TO his aid in
presenting his arguments and little mac
curacy like having Alexander lighting a
personal duel with Napoleon. making Pekin
the apital of Siam or placing the dog star
in a cage at the zoo, amounted to nothing
if it illustrated the point he had in mind.
On one occasion we heard him speaking TO
a crowd of the wool hat boys and in order
to make himself impressive he turned few
of the pages of history.
Gentlemen" he shouted. shall we not
learn our lesson in this instance from the
treatment that was accorded the British fleet
steamed up the bay and dropped anchor in
front of Moscow we are told that"
wait a minute" interrupted his opponent,
Moscow is an inland city"
The speaker turned deliberately and
frowningly at his interrupter and after glar-
ing at him for "A half minute asked in tones
full of insulting contempt, Have you ever
been in Moscow
mo. have not"
well then" he said as if brushing him
aside, and again turning to his audience "as
/ was saying, when the British anchored in
front of Moscow"
And he went right ahead and told his
story making a most telling point to the
utter delight of the audience and the plain
discomforture of the other speaker, who
received very poor reception and lost the
district.
The New York herald., 1921-06-26

executing a man may be considered entirely
humane, but still we did not argue, from
Which you will doubtless gather that we are
not of an argumentative disposition anyway.
How do they execute criminals in New
York;" we asked
That was what he had been waiting for.
He smiled the smile of the mentally superior
and replied:
1--WE bathe and dress the criminal in
good suit of clothes. give him a a>splendid
meal, place him in chair from which he
cannot get up and then elocute' him to
death"
We had been given the samc treatment at
The New York herald., 1921-06-26

w THO will be King OF the Congo? Who
w will gain the beaded crown and
dusky harem of the ilustrious
Mwata Yamvo King of the Congo peoples
the fourteenth of his dynasty? Little else
has been talked of in the cannibal villages
of the Congo bush since that eventfu day
when the news of the great kings death
came booming mournfully through the jun
gle. beaten out in code signals on the native
drum telegraph from hill top to hill top and
from tribe to tribe just as the news of Liv-
ingstone's approach was heralded nearly
half century ago by these same folk and
as other jungle happenings have been an
nounced since time immemorial.
kabongo, paramount chieftain of the Luba
cannibals to the eastward is said to be gath
ering his black hordes about him for a
sweep over the domain of the dead mon
arch to make himself king over the whole
Congo. The black warriors of the bush
where the white man is still but little known
are worried now that the fourteenth
Prince of Death, which is the meaning of
Mwata Yamvo has been gathered to the
abode OF happy kings presided over by the
great god Ngassi, whose voice is the thunder
Of the rainy season.
Many Subchief Cherishes
Secret Ambition to Rule
The present state of uncertainty as to the
royal succession in the Congo was not un-
foreseen by the willy black mobiles of the
bush. Many a cunning subchief has secret
ly cherished the ambition TO be lord over
all of the black men from Lake Tanganyika
to the boundaries of Loanda. and has pic
tured himself attired i'm the copious robes
and beaded crown of the paramount chief
The capital which is the seat of native
Congo Government is called Musumba on
the map. but in Central Africa IL goes
under the impressive name of Musumba-
wa ta-Yamvo City-of- the Prince of
Death. There Mwata Yamvo XIV. lived and
regned for more than eighteen years 1t is
a large native town with quite a metro
rolitan atmosphere, all things considered
described by David Livingstone in his fa-
nous memoirs as being the most progressive
in all Africa.
Mwata Yamvo came of long line Of
mighty chiefs. In former days the Alunda
peoples were the conquering race Of Central
Africa, They swept over the Congo in the
twelfth century. historians say. and their
kings became suzerains over all the tribes
of the great inland basin Of the Lualaba or
Upper Congo River. where also live the
Liiba peoples. now governed by Ksbongo.
The Mwata Yamvo dynasty was founded
by one Of the warrior chiefs of tho Alunda
peoples during this era of conquest. He led
his. warriors far and wide. extending his
territory and levying tribute from all the
Peoples ~ FAR as the sea coast in what is
The New York herald., 1921-06-26

banquets we attended. but did not know
before what it was called.
w TE used to attend banquets and din
\N/ ners during the term we served in
politics. That was before the days
of our reformation and while we still clung
The New York herald., 1921-06-26
An Outsider Looms at Last
In Person of the Crafty Ksbongo

But now It seems that Kabongo will be
the dreaded outsider stepping In. The last
Mwata Yamvo was not warli<e. He was
lazy. He liked the white mans whlskey and
he preferred to sell the services OF his thou
sands of subjects to the white men as car
riers of rubber. The spirit Of Mwata Yamvo
T., who required the sacrifice Of many human
lives merely for his own grandeur. was no
longer present with the people as in the
brave days OF old. Then the great chief
himself, his six foot body clad entirely In
feathers. marched at the head Of his war.
riors into strange lands to conquer them.
When Mwsta Yamvo I. wished to rise from
his royal feast when on the march war
rior Frustrated himself on either side Of
him and the King would thrust spear
through the body OF each and pull himself
up nimbly by the shafts as the warriors
writhed i'm their death agonies.
Mwata Yamvo XIV. became sick month
too soon or there might be no dynastic dis
turbances in his domain to-day. The Metho-
dists were sending white doctor and equip
The New York herald., 1921-06-26
axe first rate Alderman Then the conspiracy starts

think like Coccus politicus. The manner in
which he works his way into the brain Of
an American is something like this. Some
one near the political throne will decide that
he will make a first rate Alderman or some
thing like that. Then the conspiracy starts
and about five men will be told what to do.
Our American will rise some morning,
thinking only of his own business and of his
The New York herald., 1921-06-26

to the belief that the people needed us to
assist in correctly governing the community
in which we resided. Later were cured
of this mental disease and the delusion left
us in the only possible manner that poll
tician is ever permanently cured.
You know there is germ flying around in
the atmosphere of America all the time.
This little microbe is probably called some
The New York herald., 1921-06-26

w TE had friend. a druggist who ran
\A/ for Alderman His opponents.
both very well liked. were named
Wolf and Campbell, the former a suit manu-
facturer and the latter a saloonkeeper. The
druggist adopted a unique method Of cam
paignng, which was 10 make speeches on
street cars. During one OF these speeches
he was said TO have been so unwise as 10
say that in the race there was Jew. a bar
tender and a gentleman, and that the voters
could take their choice In those DAYS the
community OF which we speak would not
stand for slur of that kind In politics,
although II has since, we regret to say.
seemed 10 rather like such things
Both the other candidates. therefore, at
once proceeded to capitalize the rein,rk.
One of them said in 2 speech that the race
really between wolf. campbell and o
iackass. That was more than the druggist
could stand so he sought man he thought
was his friend and asked him to prepare a
The New York herald., 1921-06-26

ment for an entire hospital to the mission
station near Musumba. IT is not known
whether or not il was the ID. T.s" which
carried off the Prince Of Death or not, but
the white mans medicine would probably
have saved the old King for another few
years of periodic jags, at least thinks DR..
Piper, who is building his hospital there
now.
Kabongo as paramount chieftain of the
Luba cannibals, rules over a region once
subject to the Mwata Yamvos. crafty
sub-chief, he managed to organize a hys-
terra for freedom from the tyrannies of the
Alunda Kings and engineered secession
movement with himself as dictator BY
playing one powerful chief against another
he has kept the balance of power and ruled,
like feudal monarch of medieval Europe,
on the crust of a figurative volcano. which
however has never erupted Now, with the
possibilities Of conquest recalling the days
of the first migrations of Bantu peoples
thousand years ago the Luba chiefs may
well support Kabongo in the effort to extend
their own sway westward.
Royal Bath the Only One
In All the Luba Territory
Kabongo has a harem as large as that OF
Mwata Yamvo and palace OF beautifully
woven basket work. a bath and garden OF
gods, all enclosed in a compound with an
elaborately woven reed wall about 1t. The
royal bath Is a hole in the ground but IL is
the only one used for the purpose in all the
Luba territory. (And the rivers are infested
with crocodiles!) His Majesty gets down in
the hole and servants throw buckets OF
water at him from every direction at once.
Then he climbs out with mud sticking TO
him and pronounces the ceremony a COM
plete success. which II is not. according to
the white mans standards
A clay crocodile anc some white pigeons
are Kabongo's principal deities. and these he
worships ftfully, mostly for political rea-
sons.
kabongos cunning has made him the
logical usurper OF the throne OF Mwsta
Yamvo in the minds OF many sub-chiefs
Of the Congo. He always manages 10 turn
up on top when seemingly about to lose
out
once a Belgian offcial. travelling through
lis realm, lost eighteen carriers from his
caravan in a single night. and cannibalistic
feasts were held In the ncighboring villages
next night. The Belgian held kabongo re-
sponsible. and II seemed as though tho Luba
chieftain who had very dramatically re-
formed himself and tribe from active can
nibslisnn few years before, was about to
suffer the consequences Of the crime.
The New York herald., 1921-06-26
Chief Kabongos Coup May End Crisis in Congo

Just then "A Methodist missionary came
with permit TO establish a station at ka-
bongo's capital. Kabongo saw a way out
of his dilemma He sent his warriors down
to the villages where the cannibal feasts
had been held and the festivities came to
an abrupt end. HIS men stormed the stock
AIDES and brought the men in chains TO
Kabongo. With great show Of authority
Kabongo gave these men orders to build
great temple for the white mans God and
the cannibal branch of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church came into being with the Rev.
Roger S. Guptill, l.. S. A., as pastor and
great crowd of curious. kinky headed can
nibals as the potential congregation.
Jungle Convention Promises
Full Measure of Excitement
At Musumba- wa -Mwata Yamvo there will
be a great palaver OF chiefs and sub chiefs
Every black potentate of the Congo will
come with the secret hope of being chosen
TO succeed his great ancestor Mwata Yam
vo l. Much eloquence will be wasted on
the air. and politics not much removed in
method or motive from those OF 1920 at Chi
cago and San Francisco will be in evidence
The heir apparent favorite son OF Mwata
Yamvo XIV, will be present. bedecked in
royal robes from his fathers variegated
wardrobe and a short, native sword at his
side.
A smelling out" ceremony will be held in
which the witch doctors will try 10 deter
mine who caused the death OF the King by
witchcraft. II they finally accuse any one
the accused who is usually the enemy OF
some one in power. must prove his nno-
cence by drinking a cup Of the poisonous
sasswood.
A genealogical court of inquiry will be
held. and the various twigs and branches
OF the royal family tree will be discussed
TO the confusion of everybody. But some
body will he chosen as the fifteenth Prince
OF Death. Then the new King will have 10
spend a years income TO provide native
liquor for the convention and the whole
aggregation Of townspeople for memorable
drinking bout TO last nearly a month.
But II old Kabongo Of the Lubas appears
at the strategic time with band Of picked
warriors the election will have a few more
thrills than otherwise. willy sub-chlefs have
told him he Is the man. and excessive mod
esty is not one Of kabongo's shortcomings
At any rate. The new Mwata Yamvo will
wear the crown upon the traditionally un-
easy head
According to returning missionaries no
Hapsburg ever faced more delicately bal
anced political situation than will the new
Mutombo Makuu Of kapanga. kim Of
Lualaba. Kabongo Of the Lubas or any Of
hundred other lesser aspirants Whoever
he Us. he will he the most powerful savage
potentate OF his day.
The New York herald., 1921-06-26

family, and after breakfast he will kiss his
wife and start for his Office.
John" says one of the neighbors, who
meets him on the street. you would make
a good Alderman from this district"
"Oh, pshaw!" he replies, and has a hearty
laugh over 1t
John" says the next man. 81 would like
to have the privilege Of voting for you for
Alderman this year.
"Well, | don't know" replies John. That
involves a great many difficulties
He proceeds on his way to his office.
John" says the third man, "the boys have
been discussing you. We want you to run
for Alderman"
YES" he replies. 81 have been thinking
over that matter little. ! thank you very
much. Bill"
Then the fourth man has his say. and by
the time the fifth man has suggested that he
run for Alderman what has been said by just
exactly FIVE men of the ten thousand or more
who vote in that district is magnhed into
what ne believes to be uprising Of the
people 10 demand that he give a portion of
his time to the community. A little Coccus
politicus has worked its way into brain cell
He is changed man from then on and be-
gins writing his platform Then hc neglects
his family his home, his business and his
friends until he takes the cure
There are several ways of quitting politics.
but only one method is permanent
Some men get so thoroughly disguised
with politics that they tender their resigna-
tions and return to their private affairs.
Their cure is only temporary. They will re-
turn TO politics later after they have set
their house I'm order.
Some men get defeated for reelection.
Their cure is only temporary. Until they
pass on to the next world they will seek
every opportunity for nomination or an ap-
pointment
Some men get thoroughly disgusted with
politics and in addition get defeated for re-
election. They are cured permanently. II
is necessary TO reinoculate them with the
microbe.
That is what happened to us. However
don't send the Ave men. We just
human being after all
The New York herald., 1921-06-26

Tn the town where we learned politics
every one is a Democrat and the pri-
maries are operated by what is known
as a city executive committee. Consequently
places this committee are in demand.
Selections for city executive committeeman
were formerly made al ward mass meetings.
In the Fifth ward two friends. John and
for the ward meeting.
John" said George. linking his arm into
that OF his friend, you ought to be on the
committee from our ward. I shall nominate
you tonight and secure your election.
While am working quietly for you want
you to be working for Bill Brown because
he will do what you and ! say. With his
support and you on the committee we can
control this ward"
II sounded all right 10 John so he agreed
aRd Immediately after reaching the hall he
started working enthusiastically for Bill
Brown. True TO his promise. George NOM
mated John IN we'll chosen speech
when the votes were counted at was a
secret ballot Bill Brown led the ticket and
John received just ono vote.
on the way home George said
John. I am much obliged TO YOU for
in great shape but somehow or other the
boys evidently thought this was not your
year I voted for you but / was the only
one"
George" replied John, you are CO.
losshl liar. because I voted for myself"
Great game. politics
The New York herald., 1921-06-26

~ UT the greatest art in politics is tina
X of spellbinding before the peopl
- during the campaign, and the mos
Norwich bulletin., 1921-02-25
NORTH WOODSTOCK

Mrs. William Gordon. who is critically i'll in Day Kimball hospital, Putnam. re- mains about the same.
 Howard Perrin of New Haven was at Elmer Corttis' over Washington's birth day
 No services were held in the church Sunday owing to the snowstorm-
 Mir. and Mrs. Merrill Keith of Daniel son were local visitors oyer the week end.
 The social Friday evening was well att tended. The program consisted of old time songs. Cake, sandwiehes and cone' were served.
 Miss Virginia corttis attended the re cePtion given at the closing in South bridge Satprday evening of the dancfnI class of which she was a member. A Afarmers Institute was held in Societ. hall "Wednesday; Feb. 2sd. Speakers iron Coa4ecticut Agricultural college gay talks on fruit poultry and dsiryfng sandwIches, 5doughputs. lcheese and coffe were served.
 c. M. Perrin was appointed, .cofimis sioner to, hear testimony in the case Q Minpie Karl Cole vs. Thomas, Cole i divorce iproceedings. The hearing too place last week Thursday. The plainti was represented by J. Bennett Southar Tof New York and the defendant by Law yer Torrey of Putnam.
Norwich bulletin., 1921-02-25
SOUTH KILLMcLY

Byron Place and family Of Foster ealk ed on friends here Wednesday.
 Mabel Spink has finished work in Dan- ielson and has returned home .e Ruth coffey enjoyed an automobile tfip to Worcester Saturday.
 Pupils having perfect attendance m the local school for the year are Ruth Cehey, Francis Cofey, Alice Spink Pupils re- ceiving high honors for the week ending Feb. 18th are Ruth coffey. Lille YouAG Francis Coffey. Lucius Whitaker Alber, Whitaker. Emma Terwilliger. Margarei Terwilliger. Juanita Mills. Pupils re- ceiving honors are Nicholas DeshefI Alice Spink. Antoinette Aazarella. Higt honors require an average of s5 per cent and honors an average of 90 per cent.
 A E. Hall has been reappotnsed fir, warden for this district rf | Through the kindness of EeT. wal! q Williams the children of the Aecd sures, school enjoyed a candy party at the Cen