davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1921-08-05
A Surprise Birthday Dinner

On July 80 saturday.. at the
beautiful country home of Mr.. V. H.
Laster in District Number Seven,
there occurred one of the most en-
joyable affairs of the season, 1t be-
ing the 43rd birthday of his brother,
Mr.. ]. f. Laster, who was present.
The arrangement was planned
some weeks back but kept secret
from Mr.. Laster until between nine
and ten o'clock Saturday morning,
when the kinspeople, with some OF
the nearest neighbors, began to pour
in with well-filled boxes and baskets,
and at the hour of twelve, on the
lawn in front of the home, under
those beautiful maple trees, the
cloths were spread and loaded down
with good things to eat. Elegant
enough to satisfy the most fastidious,
also in quantity, for the real hungry.
To say that justice was done is put
ting it lightly. There were some
sixty-odd in attendance. All seemed
to enjoy themselves hugely talking
over old times and swapping yarns
until four or five o'clock, when the
guests began to scatter, wishing the
brothers many more happy birthdays.
Those in attendance were the kins-
people, j. T. (Tony) Laster and sis
ter, Mrs. Cullum, Mrs. Fannie Lyt-
ton, James Lytton and family, Ernest
Cullum and family, Martin Forester
and family, Can Forester and fam
lily, ALT Forester and family, Aunt
Lucy Shore and son, Ira, and family,
Lett Hauser and family, G. M. Tanner
and family, Ode Leigh and family,
Albert Duncan and family, Charley
Payne and wife, Mrs. jeanette Bow
ers, also Uncle Gentry Forester and
son, Lee Forester, Mr.. T. J. Walden
and wife, Mr.. Frank Walden and fam
lily and the writer.
The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1921-08-05
To the Public Of 0bion County.

1t has been reported to us that q
candidate or candidates in the COM
ing primary election, or their friends
have circulated the report that the
Milton Talley Post No. 90 of the
American Legion is backing or is sup
porting, as an organization, one or
more of the various candidates.
Now, therefore, we, the officers of
the above, named Post take this op-
portunity of correcting this erroneous
report. The American Legion is not
in politics and is not backing or sup
porting any one or any set of can
didates for any office. 1t is strictly
against the National and State con-
stitutions of the American Legion for
it to engage in politics, and we re-
spectfully ask that all such rumors
be disregarded.
FRED A. MAILING,
Post Commander
= H. H. LANNOM,
Post Adjutant.
The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1921-08-05
KILLED DEFENDING HONOR.
Knoxville Girl Fights Prowler for
Self and Sister.

Knoxville, Tenn, Aug. dead
for her honor's sake and for the sake
of the honor of her 15-year-old sister,
Ida Tilson lies in white casket in
the front room of her home, 420 West
Baxter avenue. She was shot to
death at :45 o'clock this morning by
prvwler whom she declared to be a
negro. The only clue which her MUIR
derer left was q .3S caliber bullet.
This is without value to the police.
There are no clues to work on, .
Chief of Police Ed M. Haynes and
Chief of Detectives w. E. OCcnnor
jointly declared tonight after work.
ing all day on the case. 'If we ever
convict any one of this murder we
shall have to get a confession from
him. Some one broke into the Tilson
home and brutally murdered Ida Til
son. That is all we know. He left
nothing, no article of clothing, no
trace, not thing that offers clue
to be followed up. We had blood
hounds out there, but SO many peo-
pie had been about there that the
dogs picked up no scent"
my daughter was killed defending
herself and her young sister, Geor-
gia," said James Tilson, father of tn
gia," said James Tilson, father of the
girls, yesterday. "The intruder made
a brutal offer tc her and she rebuffed
him. He made the same offer in re-
lation to Georgia, and Ida again re-
buffed him.. She tried to knock his
revolver from his hand and he killed
her. He pulled the trigger of bis re-
volver three times. The first two
times the cartridge failed to explode.
The third time it exploded and en-
tered above the right breast and tore
down through the body through the
right lung and the intestines. When
l lifted Ida UP in my arms the bullet
fell from the lower wound to the bed.
II was awakened at quarter to 2
o'clock by Georgia's screaming. l had
not heard the shot. | jumped up. l
was in room off the room in which
the girls had been sleeping. For
I was confused. I couldn't
get through the door somehow. At
last I got through. Georgia was sit
ting on the side of the bed holding
Ida in her arms. There was blood on
Ida's clothing and on her arms. l.
kissed Ida and asked her if she knew
me-" Georgia continued to scream,
Ida's shot, A negro killed her
Extra forces of policemen have
been thrown about the city tonight. |
The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1921-08-05
Real Estate Transfers.

H. A. Scates ct ux. to Mrs. Jessie
Scates, lot in No. Is, $3.50.
Jack Hubbs ct ux. to Dick Pearson,
lot in No. 13, $14O.
Mrs. Laura Clark to w. c. Shackle-
ton, lot in No. 1S, $11O0.
G. F. Remley to w. S. Green, so
acres in No. 8, $500.
c. c. Albright to c. NJ. Ferguson,
lot IN No. 15, $1450.
T. j. Bramham ct ux to T. c. Cole
man. lot in No. 2, 1926.
Coy A. Phillips to d. A. Peeler, so
acres in No. z, $40O.
d. A. Peeler to C. H. Cobb, one
half interest in so acres in No. z,
$4,000.
Tom Ladd ct ux. to G. w. Forester,
6 lots in No. Is, $463.
]. T. Hughes ct ux. to Dan Car
mack, so acres in No. 6, $500.
j. H. Arman ct ux. to w. E. Huey,.
lot in No. 6, 5000.
G. D. Thurman ct ux. to T. F. Dob
ins, % acres in No. 8, $4,000.
t. Glosson ct ux. to 0. Spradlin,
160 acres in No. 6, $4,000.
A. D. Cutler ct al. to Sanders G
Benton, "a acres in No. 8, $500.
w. M. Warterfield to S. T. Wade 81
acres in No. /, $15,933.72.
The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1921-08-05
Lost His Clover.

Judge S. R. Bratton came in Mon
day morning with a surprise result
ing from the storm Sunday evening
He and his son, Jack, had on Satur-
day divided q twenty-four acre field
of clover and cut over exactly half
which was left in the field. On Mon.
day morning he went out to the
field and, 10 and behold, there wasn't
thing left en- the piece of ground
whore the clover had been cut. II
was swept as clean as broom. The
storm had lifted the straw AMI all
and carried It cut thither and yon
and all the clover Mr.. Bratton will
have from his crop is that left on
the other twelve acres uncut.
The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1921-08-05
HIGHER CALL COMES
TO REV. A. C. BELL
Death Ends Service of Popular Mem.
phis Pastor.

Rev. A. c. Bell, pastor of Union
Avenue Methodist Church, Memphis
Tenn, died at the Baptist Memorial
Hospital on the 21st inst.
Last Monday his physician was
summoned and found Mr.. Belk was
seriously ill. On Tuesday he was re-
moved to the hospital, where, despite
heroic attempts to aid him, he sue
cumbed.
Mr.. Bell is survived by his wife,
Mrs. Marie Hunter Bell, and one son,
Jesse Whitfield Bell. These are his
only immediate relatives in Memphis.
He is also survived by his mother,
Mrs. Harriet Bell, and sister, of
Portsmouth, Va.
BORN IN VIRGINIA.
Mr.. Bell was bern in Portsmouth,
Va, Nov. 2S, 1875, bis parents being
Jesse G. and Harriet A. Bell. He
was the second child in. family of
five, haying two brothers and two
sisters. He was married in Cincin-
natl, O., March 20, 1899.
He received his early education in
the public schools of Portsmouth,
and later attended Asbury College
and Peniel College. He served five
years as a machinist's apprentice in
the Newport Navy Yard before he de-
cided to enter the ministry.
His first church affiliation was as
member of the Friends Church in
Portsmouth, where he was afterwards
ordained deacon and licensed to
preach. Later he joined the Meth
odist Church, and in November,
1902, was admitted to full connection
in the Memphis Conference at Paris,
Tenn. He was ordained elder at Rip
ley, Tenn. in November, 1905, by
Bishop w. w. Duncan. That same
year he was transferred to the West
Texas Conference, but came back to
IuO 1uClApnlo SOnLClC CuSC III i0Vo,
where he served until his death.
Mr.. Bells ~early charges were in
the Union City and Lexington dis
tricts. During his service in the
West Texas Conference he served an
important charge in San Antonio.
When he came 5ock to the Mem
phis Conference in 1907 he was made
pastor of Washington Heights Church
in Memphis, where he served four
years. He next served the Lenox
Church for one year. This church
later became known as the Union Av-
enue Church. Mr.. Bell then served
the Brownsville Station for three
years and the Union City Station for
one year. Thence he went to First
Church, Jackson, Tenn, where he
The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1921-08-05
Marriage Licenses.

w. F. Oldham and Annie Myrtle
Etheridge.
j. E. James and Mildred Hampton.
Rev. Lilburn Brann and Dola Jack
son.
Jas. T. Ash and Sallie May Keith.
VIM. Morgan and Gladys Cheat
ham.
Alvin Jean and Ivy May Beasley.
Dewey Bean and Cordelia Bean.
Tony Crooks and VGlda Sloan.
Sam Colley AMI Jessie Williams.
Bryan Younghlood and Gladys Cox.
Henry w. Schaefer and Mary
Lohise Bost.
COLORED.
Eugene Shelton and Vernal Crit
te1don.
The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1921-08-05
SEC. MELLON WOULD
TAX BANK CHECKS
Federal Levy on Tobacco, Automo.
biles and Three Cent Stamp.

Washington, August IA tax Of
two cents on bank checks, fat Ii
eense tax of $40 on all automobiles
irrespective of cost or horsepower
an increase of first-elass postage rates
to three cents and an added levy on
cigars, tobacco and cigarettes are un-
derstood to have been among tax re-
vision suggestions presented by Sec
retary Mellon to the House Ways and
Means Committee meeting in execu-
tive session.
Other suggestions were said to
have included:
A reduction of so per cent in
transportation taxes, both passenger
and freight, next year, and their
elimination the year following.
Repeal of the taxes of soda foun-
tain drinks and ice cream.
Repeal of the excess profits tax
and elimination of the $4,000 exemp-
tion ON corporations incomes.
Increase of the normal income tax
on corporations from the present ten
per cent to fifteen per cent.
Elimination of the income sIrtax
brackets above forty per cent with
the surrates on incomes ranging from
$4,000 to $4,000 increaseu.
TO RAISE FOUR BILLIONS.
The revenue bill, as revised in ac-
cord with these suggestions, would
be designed to raise approximately
four billions of dollars next year, it
was said. Mr.. Melons memoran-
dunn embodying his views was with
held, but Chairman Fordney prom
ised to make 1t out.
Representative Garner, of Texas,
ranking Democratic member of the
committee, attacked the Treasury
Secretary's proposals, declaring that
every one of them constituted shift
ing of the tax burden from the
classes to the Masses"
Mr.. Mellon was said to have esti-
mate government expenditures for
the next year at $4,675,000,0 900, but
Chairman Fordney said this was de-
pendent upon how much of $780,
900 900 due the railroads would have
to be advanced out of the federal
treasury, the cost of operating the
government merchant feet and the
size of expenditures for the army and
the navy.
The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1921-08-05
+. 0. WATTS TALKS OF
EUROPEAN CREDITS

Reassuring views on the subject
of Europe as credit risk at the pres
ent time were expressed by F. O.
Watts, president of the First Nation
al Bank of St. Louis, in an interview
with press representatives, as he
stepped ashore from the Adriatic on
his return from the London Confer
ence of the international Chamber of
Commerce in which he held the
Craftsmanship of the financial group.
His message is the most encour-
aging and stimulating word that
has come out of Europe since the
war. He found upon carae4 and
wide investigation adequate guaran-
tees in the situation for confident
dealings with the countries of Eu-
rope. In illustration of the new
soundness of viewpoint developing,
he said:
AS one comes into contact with the
financial and business men of Eu-
rope he is impressed with their de-
sire to cooperate in the enormous
task of restoring the world to con-
dition of normal peace and industry.
They are courageously attacking and
solving their problems and facing
with determination and confidence
the future. This attitude, in view
of what these people have suffered
and lost, ought to be reassuring to
American business men, since it af-
ords not only a basis of confidence
for the extension of credit, but also
for that increased trade and produc-
tion in Europe which will revive the
market for American products.
The people are expecting large as
sistance from the United States in
this work of restoring industry, but
there 10 disposition to place this as
sistance and cooperation ON any 9TH
er than a business basis and one of
mutual obligation to civilization and
human progress.
The situation in most European
countries is growing better and in
some countries marked progress is
being made. England, with her
world trade organization, is again
rapidly resuming the normal proc
csses of production and exchange.
The coal strike is settled and progress
is being made in finding a solution
for her other economic and political
problems. Francc, after her heroic
struggle and staggering losses, is re-
turning to her former industry and
that marvellous thrift which has, in
tho past amazed the world. In the
devastated regions wonderful prog
ress is being made. The people have
returned to their destroyed villages,
their trench-covered and shelled
fieldJ. They have gathered or are
gathering UP the scattered stones of
their homes and out0uildings or are
making new ones to rebuild. They
have cleared or are clearing their
fields of shells and filing in
trenches, and the golden wheet is
now waving over tie battlefields.
Thus the war has not destroyed the
weslth-cresting power of England,
France and other European nations,
for it lies in their peoples, their
felas forests and factories.
The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1921-08-05
Big Front.

Mrs. Flubdab puts on considerable
style lately. Flubdub must be max
ing money"
Dunno. Anyhow, he s got the
neighbors bluffed."
Some men are more intelligent
than they look"
II realize that" said the eminent
lawyer. Now aud then one of them
gets by me and lands on jury"
The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1921-08-05
Searching the Future.

Grandpa, you hang over the latest
grandchild with extreme interest"
yeah, was just contemplating
that child's future. / presume that
kid will ever be allowed to smoke,
or chew gum, or drink tea."
The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1921-08-05
He Wants, to Know.

''They say the scenery in Califor-
mia is great"
t'It is. Snow-capped peaks, giant
redwooGs-"
How about those bathing girls?
Are they as depicted in the filrcs, or
is that just movie bluff"
The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1921-08-05
In 1850.

Grandpa, do you remember the
stately old mil.et?"
Nope. All can remember is as
far back as the tango
The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1921-08-05

served three years, terminating his
service in Jackson last November,
when he was returned to his former
charge, the Union Avenue Church.
The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1921-08-05

Some Crazes, when they die, seem
to die forever"
"Shoot the idea"
What has become of ping-pong?"
The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1921-08-05
Gone.

yYou spend C great deal CT time in
tho fields. Looking for a four-leaf
cloyer?"
"No, I'm trying to verify that busq
bee theory. I want to see how many
bees ere loGfing"
The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1921-08-05
Maybe So.

We've ha2 q mild winter"
Mother Nature evidently knew we
wouldn't need so much ice for mixed
drinks"
The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1921-08-05
He Explains.

"You seem to be studying motor
mechanism.
Eyes"
= "Going to buy a carr"
"Oh, no. But you gotta under
stand auto parts if you're gonna
write modern literachoor.
The New York herald., 1921-12-07

to say whether it shall remain united
or be divided. The Ulster problem,
which seemed as battling as that OF
the South, finds solution which can
not offend listers dignity. She is
not to be coerced. II she chooses she
may go her own way and content
herself with such powers as she has
now; powers with which she has pro-
fessed to be satisfied. 1t is up to the
South of Ireland, in its desire for a
united Ireland. to persuade the North
not to sever the bond.
Here, then, is a victory in which
none is vanquished. Here Is the first
real peace in war which has ragged
for centuries and spread far beyond
the islands Of the principals. 1t
ought to be encouraging to the whole
world, which seeks peace every
where, to see the seemingly impos-
sible come true.
The New York herald., 1921-12-07
London Fog.

New Workers accustomed to .
brilliant atmosphere cannot easily
understand why there are many Lon
doners who have real affection for
their city's fogs and oppose the pur-
poses of a society which for years
has sought an abatement of smoky
and fog producing chimneys. Yet.
after even a few months residence
there, one may come to understand
the feeling of the natives about this
not entirely subconscious. persua.
sion that comforts are intensified by
the darkening pail of smoke which
London calls fog.
Men in London clubs are more
cheerful, more companionable when
their bow window outlook only half
reveals shadowy forms of cropping
pedestrians and vaguely outlined
vehicles. Rotten weather. eh?" an
outgazer may remark. rubbing his
hands cheerfully.l and he is likely to
add. "but rather comfy, the good old
fog. What?"
Women in London are apt to find
more friends at their 5 o'clock in
foggy weather; not. one thinks, to
escape the fog, but that the fog has
lured them abroad, made them more
sociably disposed. more than com
monty companionable.
Elsewhere there have been OBJ
served analogous phenomena. Dwell
ers on forlorn. rocky, wind swept
coasts are not always there because
they are victims of unhappy fate
but from choice. The 1T few are
attracted by what repels the undis
cerning many. Caviare. they tel
you. smiling. Is not for the general
"I wonderr smugly mused Cali
fornian, locking about at his orange
grove. his cottnge tvfned with mid
The New York herald., 1921-12-07

winter roses, his head barred to the
soft, warm breeze from the Pacific,
why all Americans do not come here
to live" And his companion, Wis
itor from North Dakota's blizzard
swept barrens, answered; "They
might. if 1t we're not for your
DANCED climate"
And, besides, Londoner cannot re-
member his city when 1t was not at
intervals veiled from the suns in
quisitive searchlight by fog; it is an
institution, a long fixed feature of
living, a custom established, ac-
cepted; and if for no other reason
1t is hard for the reformers-both-
ersome chaps, those-to convince
him that abatement of smoke would
better his state All, that would
abolish something established! How
can you improve anything by abol-
ishing something established?
The New York herald., 1921-12-07
Education Week.

This Is American Education Week.
The National Education Association
and the American Legion, under
whose joint auspices the week was
planned, urge the people, whether
as parents or as taxpayers, to In.
form themselves regarding the ac-
complishments and needs of the pub
lie schools.
have formulated general pro-
gramme for the improvement OF
American schools. They advise the
employment of none but American
teachers, the use of English as the
only basic languages in schools, ade-
quate instruction in American his
tory and civics, the daily display of
the flag by every school, regular pa
triotic exercises, compulsory school
attendance to- the end Of the high
school period and raising OF the
teaching standard.
The last item, as developed in the
plan, is the most ambitious of the
recommendations. mo one should
be permitted to teach in any school
in America who has less than a
standard high school education of
four years, with not less than. two
additional years OF professional train
ing" Such a reform of course as
sumes the passing OF the little red
school house. 1t would mean the cen
tralization Of education in the rural
districts. This has been done in
many places. The trolley car, the
jitney bus and the flivver have done
away with the distances that made
the many little schools necessary.
Communities see the advantage of
the large central school with its bet
ter light, heat and sanitary features.
Big schools with large classes mean
the employment Of skilled teachers.
Primitive teaching methods. with
the three RS dispensed by an un'
trained young woman at SIS month
were endured in communities where
population and transportation rem
dered better things impossible. The
farmers are just as eager as the
bankers to send their sohs and daugh
ters to college. Teachers who know
how to train the mind as well as to
whip the memorytare needed every
where. The public is learning that
good teachers, as well as good school
houses, are a paying investment.
The New York herald., 1921-12-07
"Aren't II" and can't IL"
Light of the Dictionary Shed on an
Imported Phrase.

To The NEW York HERALD: Has the
art of consulting the dictionary become
a lost art that we are asked why seek
for authority for the use of the express
sion Aren't I?' other than the force Of
a. more or less general use?" While
entirely agree with your correspondent
Johnson s. Field when he says There
can be no authority derived from gram
matical construction" ] do not agree
with him when lie concludes with ''or
from the correct derivation of words In
this instance"
The usage Of the most careful speak
ers and writers of an age Is standard
authority. There Is no such authority
for the use of the expression Are I?'' or
IT are" "Am To- is the only correct
form. Aren't is used for "Are not
when the subject follows, as Aren't
YOU :" Aren't they?" The best conver-
sational usage contracts the verb when
the subject precedes Were not ;
You're not" The recent importation
from England of the phrase Aren't ~
is an erroneous Anglicisn for Am I
not?r which Is due to thoughtlessncss
and arises out of a confusion of the
lenses. No educated person says "Are
~" or "1 are"
BY consulting the dictionary one
Learns that "An't IT, is the correct con-
traction for "Am not II" and that
Aren't" Is correct only when used with
p pronoun of the plural number. Sh
James A. II. Murray cites southey''
wat Tyler" (canto iii) You ar'nt tc
die so easily" and Thompson's Kotze-
bue's Stranger" in Mrs. Inchbald's
"Theater' d:1O: SHARP lad, ant ~
Both uses are more than century old
We very frequently hear ANT I?' but
IT is just as frequently misspelleo
Aren't II"
The rule that the grammarians have
laid down is that the verb must always
agree with it's subject, and they clair
that Just as one should never say u
nrc." one never should say Are IT.
Say "An't To- Aren't you?' and spell
them so.
And you can't 20 far wrong. you know.
On. STNTAx.
Nrw YoSK, December g.