davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Middletown transcript., 1921-08-20
The Difference IN CLOTHES
overdecoratjon Covers Up Defects
That Are Not to Be Found IN
Plain Garments.

Present-day clothes may be criticized
on the score of overdecOratfon. Not
all of them, of course, but ready-made
clothes are inclined to stagger under
a weight of beading or embroidery or
be oyeremphasized by too much zeal
on the part of the designer.
Plain clothes are always the most
extensive. The best dressmakers and
tailors are those that devote their
talents to achieving excellence of line
and to using excellent materials. 1t
"a more difficult to make well-cut
line. which has no trimming to de-
tract from it's cut, than to make a
really fancy gown. Every woman
who has made things herself knows
how much simpler it is to make eve
ming frocks and fluffy afternoon
things than it is to make plain good
looking street clothes.
Simplicity is the greatest possible
luxury-it always comes high, but
Middletown transcript., 1921-08-20
Converted IN STRANGE WAY
Woman Led to See Beauties Of Chris
tianity Through Advice Given
by Brahmin Theosophist.

How a woman was converted to
Christianity by Brahmin is told In
the Boston Herald by Miss Lillian Free
man Clarke.
Celia Thaxter, the poetess, was an
earnest student Of strange and mys-
tical teachings. At one time she was
much dominated by the teachings OF
John Weiss, and she did not apprecl-
ate the beauty and power Of the Bible
She saw good deal of a Hindu
theosophist named Mohini, and under
his guidance came to regard herseiI
as a theosophist.
One day she said to her friend, Mary
Parkman, did I speak contemptu-
ously Of such a person? l ought not
to, for one of the principles OF the
osophy is to feel no contempt for any
human being"
Miss Parkman replied: But dio
not Jesus teach that? Is it not all IN
the Sermon on the Mount?"
By and by Mohini himself happened
10 get hold of q copy Of the New les
lament, and was much surprised anu
impressed by the beauty OF Its con-
tents. He spoke Of it to Mrs. Thaxter'
and found TO his amazement that sue
knew nothing about the New Testa-
ment.
"What!' he said. "You do not read
your own religious books? 1 never
heard anything more beautiful than
this"
Mrs. Thaxter forthwith began to
read the New Testament and became
so much interested in it that she Weh'
about with copy in her pocket
whenever she had chance she "ouio
read it. From that time she began u
attend Phillips Brooks church. sne
was converted to Christianity by d
Brahmin theosophist!
Middletown transcript., 1921-08-20

"And me-" said Peter, brighten
ing up.
"Not you, old son. If Mr.. Green will
come, I'll be delighted; but 1 want
you here at headquarters"
He turned round as his servant put
his head in at the door.
"Car here, sir. Do you want bag
packed?"
"No-only my revolver. Are you
ready, Mr. GreenY'
"Sure thing" said the American. Il
always am"
"Then We'll move" And Peter,
watching the car resignedly from the
window, saw the American grip his
seat with both hands, and then raise
them suddenly in silent prayer, while
an elderly lady fed with a scream
to the safety of the area below.
They did the trip in well under the
hour, and the detective got out OF the
car with faint sigh Of relief.
Drummond lodged rapidly through
the bushes on his way to The Larches
and when the American finally over
took him, he was standing by side
door knocking hard on the panels.
"Seems kind of empty" said the de-
tective thoughtfully, as the minutes
went by and no one came. "Why not
try the front door?"
Because it's in sight of the other
house," said Hugh briefly. I'm going
to break in."
He retreated a yard from the door,
then, bracing his shoulder, he charged
it once. And the door, as a door, was
not. Rapidly the two men went
from room to rOOm-bedrOOms, serv-
ants quarters, even the bathroom
Everyone was empty: not a sound
could be heard in the house. Finally
only the dining room remained, and
as they stood by the door looking
round, the American shifted his chew
ing gum to new point Of vantage.
Somebody has been rough-housine
by the look Of things" he remarked
judicially. "Looks like boozing der
| dllCl a lulSA hlSAl.
1T does," remarked Hugh grimly
taking in the disorder Of the room
The tablecloth was pulled off, the
telephone lay on the floor. China ant
glass, smashed to pieces, Uttered the
carpet; but what caught his eye, ant
caused him suddenly to step forward
and pick it up, was a plain circle o.
glass with a black cord attached tt
it through a small hole.
"Algy Longworth's eyeglass," hi
muttered. $50 he's been caught too.'
And it was at that moment that
clear and distinct through the still
evening air, they heard woman'
agonized scream. It came from th'
house next door, and then Drummont
darted forward.
"Stop, you young fool" the Ameri
can shouted, but he was too late.
He watched Drummond, runnin.
like a stag, cross the lawn and dis
appear in the trees. For second h
lesitated; then, with shrug Of squar'
shoulders, he rapidly left the house b.
the way they had entered. And few
minutes later, Drummond's car wa
skimming back toward London, witt
a grim-faced man at the wheel.
And the owner of the car was lynn
in blissful unconsciousness in the hal
of The Elms, surrounded by half
dozen men.
Middletown transcript., 1921-08-20
Solar Energy In Plants.

The estimate is made that the
amount of solar energy stored In
plants each year is % times the
amount of energy represented by the
coal consumed in the same period.
About 81 per cent Of this plant energy
is taken up by the forests; "a per
cent By cultivated plants; Z per cent
by grass of the steppes and prairies.
and per cent by the plants OF desert
lands. The energy received by forests
alone is Ia times the energy of the
coal used. But unfortunately the for
ests that receive this energy are MAIN
~ In the tropics. In temperate re-
gions we are depicting the forests
just as we are exhausting the coat
supply; further justifying the proph.
ecy that centers Of manufacture, and
therefore presumably Of civilization
itself, will ultimately shift back to.
ward the equator.-Dr. Henry Smith
Williams, in Hearst's Magazine.
Middletown transcript., 1921-08-20

one beautifully cut and made gown
of good material Is worth half dOz-
en- cheap ones, and it is the woman
who selects her clothes Oh this pre-
mise who is considered a well-dressed
woman. f
No matter how attractive ones
frocks and hats may be, If they are
worn for inappropriate occasions.
their charm is lost. One must always
consider the occasion and it Is an ILL.,
advised woman who converts her. best
frock into a business one, unless
it happens to be appropriate for busi-
ness wear.
Middletown transcript., 1921-08-20

time after tor others beside this young
swine. The ex-pugilist muttered un-
easily under his breath, but said no
more, and it was Peterson who broke
the silence.
"What are you going to do with
him?'
Lash him up. like the other two,"
returned Lakington, "and leave him
to cool until I get back tomorrow.
But I'll bring him round before I 60,
and just talk to him for little. l
wouldn't like him not to know what
was going to happen to him. Antic-
ipation is always delightful" He
turned to two of the men standing
near. Garry him into my room," he
ordered, "and another of you get the
rope"
And so it was that Algy Longworth
and Toby Sinclair. with black rage
and fury in their hearts, watched the
limp form of their leader being car
ried into the central room. Swathed
in rope, they sat motionless and i'm
|
while they watched the same process
being performed on DrummOnd. He
| was no amateur at the game, was the
rope-winder, and by the time he had
finished, Hugh resembled nothing so
much as lifeless brown mummy.
Only his head was free, and that lolled
forward helplessly.
Lakington watched the performance
for time; then, wearying Of it, ne
strolled over to Algy's chair.
swell, you puppy" he remarked,
"are you going to try shouting again?"
He picked up the rhinoceros-hide rid
ing-whip lying on the floor, and
bent it between his hands. ''That
vale on your face greatly improves
your beauty, and next time you'll get
two, and a gag as WELL"
"How's the jaw, you horrible bit OF
dreg?" remarked Algy insultingly, and
Toby laughed.
"Don't shake his nerve, Algy," he
implored. "For the first time in his
filthy life he feels safe in the same
room as Hugh"
The taunt seemed to madden LAX
ington, who sprang across the room
and lashed Sinclair over the face. But
even after the sixth cut no sound came
from the helpless man, though the
blood was streaming down inside his
collar. His eyes, calm and sneering,
met those of the raving man in front
of him without a.auiver, and, at last,
Peterson himself intervened.
| (TO BE CONTINUED)
Middletown transcript., 1921-08-20
CHAPTER x
In Which the Hun Nation Decreases
by One.
ONE

ONE
Drummond had yielded to impulse
the blind, all-powerful impulse of any
man who is man to get to the wom-
an he loves if she wants him. AS he
had dashed across the lawn to The
Elms, with the Americans warning
cry echoing in his ears, he had been
incapable of serious thought. Subcon-
sciously he had known that, from ev-
cry point of view, it was the act of a
mailman, that he was deliberately put
ting his head into what, in all prob
ability, was a carefully prepared
moose that, from every point of view,
he could help Phyllis better by re-
naming a free agent outside. But
when a girl shrieks, and the man who
loves her hears it, arguments begin
to look tired. And what little caution
might have remained to Hugh COM
pletely vanished as he saw the girl
watching him with agonized terror in
her face, from an upstair window, as
he dashed up to the house. It was
only for a brief second that he saw
her; then she disappeared suddenly,
as if snatched away by some invisible
person.
'Tm coming, darling" He Lad given
one wild shout, and hurled himself
through the door which led into the
house from the garden. A dazzling
light Of intense brilliance had shone
in his face, momentarily binding him;
then had come q crushing blow on the
back of his head. One cropping, wild
step forward, and Hugh Drummond,
dimly conscious of men all round him,
had pitched forward on his face into
utter oblivion.
"It's too easy" Lakington's sneer-
ing voice broke the silence, as he
looked vindictively at the unconscious
man. ....
$50 you have thought before,
Henry" chuckled Peterson. "And he
always bobs up somehow. If you take
nv advice you'll finish him off here
and now, and run no further risks"
"Kill him while he's unconscious"
Lakington laughed evilly. mo, Carl,
not under any circumstances what
ever. He has quite a lengthy score
to pay, and by God! he's going to pay
it this time" He stepped forward
and kicked Drummond twice in the
ribs with a cold, animal fury.
swell, don't kick him when he's
down, guv'nor. You'll ave plenty o
time after" A hoarse voice from the
circle of men made Lakington look up.
"You cut it out, Jem Smith," he
saarled, "or l might find plenty of
Middletown transcript., 1921-08-20

on the door. He strolled over and
switched on the electric light; then he
opened the door.
An excited night-porter rushed in,
followed by two or three other people
in varying stages Of undress, and
stopped in amazement at the scene.
The heavy cupboard, with a great
crack across the back, lay face down.
ward on the floor; the native still lay
curled up and motionless.
"One of the hotel pets?" queried
Hugh pleasantly, lighting a cigarette.
"If it's all the same to you, l wish
vou'd remove him. He was-ah-find-
ing il uncomfortable on the top of the
cupboard"
II appeared that the night-porter
could speak English; it also appeared
thot the lady occupying the room be-
low had rushed forth demanding to
he led to the basement, under the mis-
onnrehension that war had again been
declared and the Germans were bomb
ing Paris. And then, to crown every
thing while the uproar was at its
height the native on the floor, open
ino one beady and somewhat dazed
ove realized that things looked un-
healthy. Unnoticed, he lay "dOggO''
for a while; then. like a rabbit which
has almost been trodden on, he lodged
ho+ween the legs Of the men in the
room. and vanished through the open
door. Taken by surprise, for mo-
mont no one moved: then, simultane
ously, they dashed into the passage
r was empty, and Hugh, glancing up
COW the American detective advancing
toward them along the corridor.
"What's the trouble, captain?" he
asked as he Joined the group.
"a friend of the management elected
+o spend the night on the top of my
cunubard, Mr. Green" answered Drum
mond, "and got cramp half-wa!
through"
The American gazed at the wreck
oca in silence. Then he looked a
Hugh. and what he saw on tina
worthy's face apparently decided hin
to maintain that policy. In fact, /
was not till the night-pOrter and hi
attendant minions had at last, ant
very dubiously. withdrawn, that h
again opened his mouth.
"Looks like hectic night" he mur
! mured. "What happened?" Brief
: uugh told him what had occurred an
tho detective whistled softly.
"Blowpipe and poisoned darts" h
> said shortly, returning the tube t
Drummond. Marrow escape d.
!. narrow! Look at your pillow"
Hugh looked: embedded in the line
. were four pointed splinters similar t
rho one he held in his hand; by tn
door were three more, lying on tn
. floor.
"An engaging little bird"
, laughed; "but nasty to look at"
. He extracted the little pieces Q
Middletown transcript., 1921-08-20
Practically Unbeatable.

"My wife," pridefully said a citizen
Of the Ozarks, in the crossroads store,
"splits the kindling every morning of
the world, packs in the stovewooc,
builds the fire, milks three cows, gets
six kids ready for school, sews, mends
and bakes, and then has the house
all redded up before it comes time
to put the dinner to cooking. And I'd
lust sorter like to know who can beat
her."
"Well,' returned a bystander, "as
she's prob'ly tollable muscular and I
haint been right well myself since
way long last spring, and she hain't
my wife, no way, while mebby I could
beat her, I'm yur to say that l hain't
got the slightest idy of trying IT,
Country Gentleman.
Middletown transcript., 1921-08-20

time enough later on to find out how
he got there, and what those strange
pinging noises had been caused by.
Just at that moment only one thing
was on the program; and without a
sound he crept round the bed toward
the cupboard, to put that one thing in
to effect in his usual direct manner.
Twice did he hear the little whis-
Ting hiss from above, but nothing sang
past his head. Evidently the man had
lost him, and was probably still aim
ing at the door. And then, with hands
that barely touched it, he felt the out
lines of the cupboard.
It was standing an. inch or two from
the wall, and he slipped his fingers be-
| hind the back on one side. He lis
tened for moment, but no movement
came from above then, half facing the
wall, he put one leg against it. There
| was one quick, tremendous heave: a
crash which sounded deafening: then
silence. And once again he switched
| on his torch. -.
Lying on the floor by the window
was one of the smallest men he had
ever seen. He was a native of sorts,
and Hugh turned him over with his
foot. He was quite unconscious, and
the bump on his head, where it had
hit the floor, was rapidly swelling to
the size of a large orange. In his
hand he still clutched the little tube,
and Hugh gingerly removed it. Placed
in position at one end was long
splinter of wood, with sharpened
point: and by the light of his torch
Hugh saw that 1t was family dis
coiored with some brown stain.
He was still examining it with in
terest, when thunderous knock came
Middletown transcript., 1921-08-20
Blown Glass.

Blown glass will be featured for fall
and winter in fancy headdress. Jet
and rhinestone incrustations. will he
good. The new way Of making them
Is to paste the stones on wire frames
so shaped that they may be adjusted
to the head.
Middletown transcript., 1921-08-20
Renew Veils.

If your crepe veil is too wrinkly you
can freshen it by holding it In both
hands and passing it through the steam
of the tea kettle spout several times.
Middletown transcript., 1921-08-20
rhe Larnest Salt .Minea.

The largest salt mines in the world
are those of Wieliczka, nine miles
from Cracow. Galicia, in Austria.
Middletown transcript., 1921-08-20
Contents lntoxicatino.

Some people can't stand prosperity.
The horn of plenty has started many
a man on toot.-Boston Transcript
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1921-05-27

for his own children, who cares for
and loves in rational manner his one
wife, who never gets his name mixed
in with spicy stories, who hammers
away at his business and scarcely ev-
err takes vacation, who goes home at
night, every night, and ''hits the hay"
early--to get up the same way; who
rarely asks help from others and
thinks nothing of extending assistance
when 1t is asked Of him, who starts
no fads, stirs up no revolts, leads no
reforms and gets into no trouble.
Born the ordinary way, living the
common routine, getting the medium,
standard, MISUNDERSTANDING flavor
out of life, working in and Of and for
the common mass Of his fellows---and
quitting in the usual unspectacular
manner. He's the hope Of the coun-
try.
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1921-05-27
A GEM FROM THE
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD

Congressman Tom Williams rep,
Ill.) was discussing civil service in
connection with the postoffice depart
ment, when he was interrupted thus:
Mr.. Garrett (Dem.. Tenn.)--Has the
Postmaster General (Mr. Hays) ever
stood civil service examination
(Laughter.)
Mr.. Williams-No. And while !
have the highest respect for the dis
tinguished gentlemen who constitute
the Cabinet of the President, yet, in
my opinion, if they had been required
to pass civil service examination
such as these rural letter carriers and
fourth-class postmasters are required
to pass. outside of Hughes and Hoover
none Of them would have been able to
get on the eligible list. daughter
and applause.)
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1921-05-27
WE'LL KEEP THE FARM

Well; Jane, guess we'll keep the place
We've lived here, you and l,
Upon this farm so long
Let's stay here till we die,
You know thought I'd sell it once;
To Jones, or Deacon Brown
And take the money we had saved,
And buy house in town.
But when the buds begin to swell
And grass begins to grow,
Somehow it doesn't seem to me,
ought to. let it go.
| love the crimson clover,
And the fields of waving corn;
The quiet, balmy evening,
And the fragrant, dewy morn;
The pink and snowy blossoms,
Hanging on the apple trees,
The chirping of the crickets
And the humming of the bees.
love the summers honey breath,
The blushing buds of May;
The teeming autumn, rich with fruit
The scent of new-mown hay;
The noisy babble of the brook,
And the laughter of the rill;
The lowing herds upon the heath,
And fiocks upon the hill.
And when I think of leaving all,
1t fills me with alarm;
So. after all, guess it's best
To keep the little farm.
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1921-05-27
FROM THEIR OWN WORDS

"The Truth About True Value As
sessment and the Tax Situation" is
the title of pamphlet that is being
sent broadcast over the state by tina
State Board of Equalization. The
pamphlet is signed by Gov. Hyde, Sec.
of State Thompson, Auditor Hackman,
Treasurer Thompson and Attorney
General Barrett.
The first thing that appears in this
pamphlet is two tables which purport
to give an actual comparison of how
the old and the new rate will effect
the taxpayer. Following these ta-
bles is this statement: OBSERVE
First, that if the county courts, city
councils and school districts do not in
crease taxation, the gross increase Of
taxes on $4,000 worth of property will
be $l.44."
Taking the words Of the Board for
the purpose of comparison we find
that $1.44 increase on $4,000 worth of
property would equal 36c on each ST.
900 or property. Bear in mind that
this increase of 35c per thousand is for
state purposes alone. What will this
increase amount to, to Taxpayers of
this county?
In round numbers the assessed val
uation of property in Cape Girardeau
county is $27,000,000. An increase of
36c per thousand amounts to $9,720.
Taking this county as an average
county of the state and leaving out of
consideration the city of st. Louis, we
find that there would be paid into the
state treasury this year over 81 ,108,-
600 for purposes that do not include
schools, roads or anything else be-
sides the cost of state government.
We had about five million dollar
left over from last year and Gov
Hyde said the consolidation program
he advocated would lessen the cost Of
state government and stop extrava-
gance. What do they want with this
extra million if we are going to have
an economical administration? Out
of the words of their own mouths
they stand condemned on the promises
made to the people.-Cape Girardeau
Sun. !,H,
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1921-05-27
THE ORDINARY" MAN

Folks are much like other growths.
II one surveys a forest, the average
forest, one is likely to notice first the
trees of extra height or extraordinary
size, or, upon close inspection, the UNI
usually diminutive, scrubby exceptions
to the average rule. The same thing
is true of corn field or a cotton field
or a drove of mules. The common
individuals are not recipients of much
attention, while the prodigies get the
notice. Folks are the same in gene
ral-the genius and the insane man,
the unusually bright and the exceed
ingly dull get the notice.
But when the burden, the social and
political responsibility is being set
tied down on the people, the common
masses do the bearing; the average
man makes up the momentum, the
force, the weight, the strength. The
common people, the ordinary, the ev-
eryday folks of medium mentality, of
standary physical powers, Of usual
sympathies--they carry the loads,
they make up the spirit Of the whole;
they compose the might of the nation
or the community. The dwarfs are
always in danger of being captured
for side show; the towering giants
are always in danger of being hit by
q missile; the common ground is the
safer.
It's the common, ordinary fellow
upon which the country depends. He's
the man who lives the ordinary huns
drum sort Of fife. not given to excuses
and excitements. not the nnconven-
tionai and ever radical; the man who
lives with and plasgs with and works