davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-12-28

Superstitious Germans viii hang a
doth over their mirrors rather than
sleep IN n room where the glass hangs
opposite the bed
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-12-28

Look In u mirror and see a threat
ening, angry or scowling face beside
your own and 1t is an omen of dis
aster.
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-12-28
WAYsIDE MUSINGS

Dead hopes never leave will for
the heirs to scrap over.
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-12-28

The control of artillery was assigned
by George Washington to Gen. Henry
Knox, less than twenty years of age.
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-12-28
Roots as Laras as Trees.

AZ q general rule roots extend on
each side of tree TO distance equal
to the height Of the tree Itself.
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-12-28

Near Texas town there Is an
abandoned well which produces pc
culiar music under certain wind con
ditions.
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-12-28

The original recipe for the famous
perfume, eau-de-cologne, was discoy-
cred by an italian living in Cologne in
1909
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-12-28

There's nothing the angelic man
wishes more heartily TO be called than
"A devil of a fellow"
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-12-28
MOURNING CoL0RS

Violet is the mourning badge of
Turkey
Perslans Indicate mourning with
pale brown the color OF withered
leaves.
In Syria and Armenia sky blue, to
express the assured hope that the de.
ceased has attained heaven, Is the ma
tlonal mourning color.
Although various colors have been
prescribed as badges OF mourning.
black has been the dominant color
since ancient Greece and Rome
His Busy Days.
Many n man can't settle down TO
enjoy life because he's kent too busy
raising the cash 70 settle up.
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-12-28

Candy instead of snuff is now issued
to the old women inmates in many of
the charitable institutions in England.
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-12-28

When you hold up hand mirror to
look At the back OF your head, never
hold 1t 50 that your face IS reflected
from the large mirror back again to
the hand mirror, or your first child
win be crosseyed
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-12-28

A man may have money enough to
keep him out of heaven and still not
have enough 70 get him into society.
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-12-28

With most women It is case OF
rule or ruin" when it comes TO hus-
bands.
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-12-28
AROUND THE WORLD

Canada is now producing 10000 tons
of asbestos year.
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-12-28

There are times when welLclothed
lie is more welcome Than the naked
truth.
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-12-28
GOOD AND BAD LUCK

Ii is III luck to see ones face by
candelight in the looking glass.
II YOU see yourself in the mirror
while the moon shines over your shout.
der you win be married before the
year Is out
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-12-28

Most frenzed financiers realize the
fact that there is more money to be
made from n big failure than from
n small success.
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-12-28

Always the world admits mans
success, though sometimes 1t may not
Do it until many years after his death.
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-12-28

As rule, the right err Is better
than the left.
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-12-28
AGREED FOR ONCE
II Such Luck.

Z Doctor TO messenger) why didn't
you give me that message before? Now
it's TOO late,
Messenger Boy-Why? Did the pa.
tient die? C~
poctor-No, he got well again. al
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-12-28

Evil of giving advice is that those
who take it may bring It back and
fuss with you about II.
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-12-28

The posto1fice, pensions and labor
ministry departments In Great Brit.
ain employ 5000 women.
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-12-28

Windsor castle is the oldest royal
residence in the world.
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-12-28

Most Of these birds who establish
love nests" eventually discover they
have stirred up hornets nest.
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-12-28

The wages Of chorus girls in Aus
Iralia have been fixed at $40 week.
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-12-28

When you get one cheer the cheerers
mean it. II there are exactly three,
they're perfunctory
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-12-28
A loud clap Of thunder win oftl

Short-halred women are banned In
Norway
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-12-28

Unless you are willing TO be out OF
pocket you will be wise TO refuse oil
invitations 10 get in on the ground
floor
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-12-28

There are 264 permanent women
civil servants with salaries of $500
or more in Great Britain.
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-12-28
CONVERSATIONS

Egyptians wear sandals made of fish
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-12-28

One OF the important ingredients in
medicine is hope, and 1t may he the
most important.
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-12-28

Yeast has risen greatly in the es-
teen Of the world since 1t has be.
come such an essential to the home.
brew and such an essential to beauty.
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-12-28

st. Thomas's hospital, London, was
founded IN 1928.
Putnam patriot., 1921-07-15

pered, with the sXceptiou of two wears when drought and famine caus- ed the suffering and death of many of the inhabitants. By li22 Ashford was able to pay her colony rates and in the first census taken in the year l756 the population is given as l245 people
 The settlement of the town reached its high water mark in the year lS20 when the census records 25S8 people
 Ashford had received its name in ITO presumably named for the town of Ashford. England. Another ;hee- " is that the town was s0 named for the number of ash trees n the viein- ity
 During the Revolution and 5he war of ISl2 Ashford was most important since much traffic passed over the Con nectieut trail.
 A first laid out Ashfor3 comprised some eight square miles. but on the loss of Eastford in 1S47 | contained 2l.6I0 acres.
Putnam patriot., 1921-07-15
In the Day. of the Coach

Occasionally. however. one may see an old timer who with Wistful eye will speak of the good old days when he used Co see the coach and four thun- der down the street. horses stralning at their collars. whips cracking. bring ing the mail from Bolton to Ashford. Standing in the deserted street. he will point out the site of the old buildings and tell yog their history.
 In the little grave yard adjoining the town. quiet and peaceful. there are a few stones bearing the mark of time. One of these is a record of a little boy who died in the year l796, at the age of two. and has this quaint inscription:
 Sleep. sweet babe, and take thy rest, God called thee home. He thought it
 best
 Gazing on this panorama of this old country. it's days of work over it's millennium past, deserted but peaceful, it cannot help but remind us that this is the century of change and decay.
 (. V. B. CUSHMAN.
Putnam patriot., 1921-07-15
Railroad Csuses Decay

Up to the time of the Civil War Ashford remained a prominent Com necticut town peopIed by old Ameri- can stock. descendants of the Puri- tans. Strict economy and an unfaiiing sense of duty gave them the necessi- ties of life. but not the luxuries There were no great differences in rank or wealth and in spite of their hard life the people were happy according to their own narrow standards. Soon after the conclusion of the Civil War it was apparent that the population was decreasing as rapidly as it had at one time increased. Younger people attracted by greater opportunities and wealth sought the large cities and manufacturing towns. leaving the old people 10 look after the farms.
 But the greatest blow was the building ef The railroads This took aH the traffic from the Connecticut Trail and left what l, ls today, little country road Tine old farmers spend
 ag their lives among their gardens and fHliH. were fastN AtHAANA " come and end their days near their children in che cities Truly it was a sad sight. One by one the old mills and tannerias fell O ruins or burned To the ground. The countryside was full of abandoned farm houses, rusty machinery and overgrown fields.
 Then came new century. ] man by name of Mr. Horkey of European birth set up real estate agency in Ashford, and sold lots to foreigners. Farm after farm was bought by Bo- hemians. then Russians. Poles and Hungarians at 2 small price. When the term Czecho-Slovak began to be used il was found to contain the ma jority of the people in Ashford. The census of 1910 shows that Of 9 popu- lation of g6s people 40 percent were of foreign birth. Thrifty and pro- duetive. the year 1920 shows that though the population remains about the same; the foreigners now number 60 per cent. The occupation of these people is mostly farming.
Putnam patriot., 1921-07-15
TO INCREASE PREMIUM
Cash Prires Totaling $s0,076 Will Be Awarded At Eastern State. Show

Cash prizes totaling Ss0.076 will be awarded at the Eastern States Ex- position to be held in Springfield, Mass. Sept. K to 24 according to the official premium list distributed from the Worthington street office Co more than l5.000 persons this week. Anticipating increases in business and manufacturing this fall the manage ment has enlarged the premiums by several thousand dollars over last year.
 Departments and classihcations in the ensffs greatest "al weather all purpose" show have been arranged with great care by the exposition au- thorities. About S2s. 900 will be dis tributcd among prize winners in the cattle departments, while the care fully trained and groomed show hors- es which are to exhibit nightly in the coliseum will earn si3,s3j for their owners.
 For the hrst time in the history of the exposition cash prizes Will be awarded in boy= and girls baby beef feeding and marketing contest and in a boys and girls sheep raising contest. A special effort is being made to increase the quantity anf quality Of sheep and swine exhibits. s8442 being offered iu the former department and S3ss4 in the latter. Breeding horses will compete for s94 co. The matinee speed events on the fastest half-mile track iH New Eng land will attract the best known step pers in the east competing for purses of Sl6.800. and S6000 has been hung up on the automobile races which take place Friday and Saturday afternoons.
Putnam patriot., 1921-07-15
FAMOUS POEM TELLS
 ITSELF IN RAY FEATURE

James Whtcomb Riley's best known poem. "The Old Swimmin' Hole, !" tells itself in motion pictures achievement due to both the uuiver. sal note of understanding which the verses strike. and to the manner in which Charles Ray has pictured them
 When the filming was completed and the result was projected in the Ray studios. it was found that not one sim gle subtitle was necessary to explain the action or the motive of the story
 Everything which one associates with the old swimmin hole of Riley's
Putnam patriot., 1921-07-15
ASHFORD'S CENTURY OF CHANGE
Once the Chief Town of the County Nov Deserted Village the
 Melting Pot, of a New Foreign Population

Although Putnam is the foremost community of windham County to- day-and We defy anyone to say oth- erwise. population and a few other ad- vantages of a certain community to the southwest notwithstanding Is doubtful if many Putnam people real- ize that there was a time when 1t was n't Putnam bus Ashford that led the county in size, industry and pepula- tiou. chat was the Colonial metropolis of the county. an odd contrast to the Ashford of today that we only know as quiet little village hidden of in the far corner of Windham.
 Today, the village of Ashford k a pretty place with its old fashioned board houses draped with rambler roses and vines. and its main street shaded with royal trees The horses graze in the front yards. and the wide meadows are dotted with placid cows chewing their ead in perfect content meut under a dark blue sky The air Is full of pastoral sounds, the eiuck Of the excited hen guarding her brood. the ehirping of the songbirds as they Ay to their nests in the large trees. and of those insect noises which heard only in summer seem ngly make the air itself astir with i life and motion But plentiful Us Is this nature world, man. the highest of all the animals. Is couspicuously ab- sent. On the wide main street only one person is to be seen Nowhere else in any of the old houses Is the stir of life Co be discerned Could any chance traveller passing through this deserted village believe that Ashford was once the second largest town in the state, with mills. tanneries, glass works and shoe factories, and that the Iittle country road. rough and rutty, was once tke main thoroughfare be- tween Boston and Hartford. the old Connecticut trail2 Could he believe shat seventy-fve years ago Ashford was a far larger town chan Nilliman- tic and that in the year lz90 f had population Of over two thousand neople2
Putnam patriot., 1921-07-15

fancy Is there-even to the sycamore tree under which the boys matched their schemes or sought refuge from the heat of a broiling day Charles Ray will be found more than ever de- lightful in the role of Ezra. the bare footed boy, doing all the things and having all the fun that any country boy over had
 Will be shown at Victory next We'd nesday and Thursday. Adv
Putnam patriot., 1921-07-15
Chapman. the Town Giant

The chief industries Of Ashford in the early days were numbering, farm ing and grazing. The town contained q large tannery and the division of Westford a glass factory which was employed in the manufacture Of coarse bottles. At least seven saw mills were in operation at one time. not to speak of the numerous grist mills. Concerning the Chapman fam ily. who owned one of these mills. in teresting stories are told. They are repated to have been a Face of euof- nous men. SO much so that Stephen Chapman with the help of his wife carried the oak timber for his house in his arms from the woods not far of This same man used To say that when he felt strong he would 20 down un- der che corner ef his bafH and try te lift the corner. He almost aeeomp= lished the feat. makins aii the joints ereuk
 Ashford was never aa i3eai farm iap section due to tbe formation of the land. although there were many small fertile tracts Nearly every farm produced corn, potatoes and huekwheat Raising cutie and sheep was the main occupation of many farmers. and if was 8 common sight to see the roads blocked with droges af fat cattle an their was Co market Most of the wool from the sheep was sold to the mills in tae neishhorins towns. while some Was reserxed for hnmr nse
Putnam patriot., 1921-07-15
Washington Found Tavern Poor


 Visitors coming to Ashford were not always favorably impressed. as k witnessed in Che visits of George Washington and Mark Twain. In the formers dairy is statement that the tavern was poor. but that he stayed over Sunday and went Co church. This was great advertisement for Ash ford and f Is said that on one of the windows of tas old Clark Hotel the name "G Washiugton' was scratched on the glass.
 Whea Mark Twain WIS taking q walking trip from Hartford to Boston he stopped at the Inn at Nestford for one night. where the hostler, he as- sures us. was the most profane man he had ever met. Which. considering Mark Twains sojourn on Mississippi river boats and as B miner in Califor- nia, must have been the nth degree of profanity. An earlier chronicle says that q family moved from the Connec- ticut valley to Ashford, where the barren wastes resemble those of the moon"
 No history of this town would be complete without some mention of the old Clark Hotel. which stood al the south end Of Main street and which for more than a century WAS under the management of the Clark family. What panorama that old tav. ern must have seen pass it's doors un- til finally in the last part of the nine teenth century 1t was destroyed by Et.n
Putnam patriot., 1921-07-15

There is nothing else that so hu- initiates Floss as for her mamma 70 tell clerk she wants 70 see some thing cheaper Floss Is go ashamed that she moves away from her mamma SO people will not know they are to- pether.- Kansas City Star.
Putnam patriot., 1921-07-15
Arm Against the Indian.

Sharp rivalry immediately followed between the government of Connec- ticut and the various private purehas- CTS, in which both sides appealed to the General Assembly. to settle tine question of the rights Finally. af- ter much hard feeling on both side the right of settlement was establish cd. and the town organization was carried out as quickly as possible. The established settlements. Ashford and Westford, were some distance apart. quite dependent on their owu resources, and contained few inhabi- tants. The first town meeting was held iu l7l5. and land and highways were laid out in that year From then on settlement progressed by leaps and bounds A meeting house was built and d minister secured. A committee was appointed Co decide the application of land claimants and settle disputes. h i723 We read that school teachers were procured and in the following year military company was formed as defense against the In- dians. as alarms were very frequent
 In reality there was little danger. The records of the town of Ashford give nc account of Indian warfare. But there Is a story that tells Us that as Capt. Jedediah Amidon was build- ing q chimney on his house an Indian shot at him. The arrow missed its mark, however. and embedded itself in the chimney In the year 1914 this chimney was torn down and the ar- rowhead recovered. Ashford was part of the Indian hunting ground but no permanent village was nearer than Woodstock
 As the settlements expanded church es were built. and the ealonists pros-
Putnam patriot., 1921-07-15

A good many editors keep talking about "the next great war" because they are tired of this one. and peace seems out of the question Kansas City Star
Putnam patriot., 1921-07-15

For a family to invite you to din ner always has been considered an honor. but now t is almost tae equiv. alent of making you loan Kansas City Star
Putnam patriot., 1921-07-15
The Straight" Road To Boston

To reach the town of Ashford one must strike of the main road at Phoez Hixvile and take the old Connecticut path=an east and west road-cou. eerniug which one authority has fl Us follows. eThe road following the track af this old path which looks Sc straight on the map is characterized by the people who travel it as straight yes. straight up and down most of the WAY" The scenery is picturesque and were | not for the necessity of hanging tightly to the steering wheel of the car. one might enjoy it more. The road winds up and down over lit tie bridges where in the old days mills employed the power of the falls, down steep hills and finally after a long climb finds itself on levei ground again approaching the town of Ash ford
 The original title Q the tract of land of which Ashford was a part. known as the "Wabbaquasset Goun- try" was obtained by Major Fitch from Owaneco, son of uncas, chief of the Mohegans, in the year 1884 AL though Ashford was on the direct line from Boston to Hartford and crossed by the Connecticut path, the town was not settled until ITO for various req sons In the first place. almost the whole tract vas forest covered and re- quired much labor to render 1t fit for farming purposes. and many people preferred Co seek the valley of the Connecticut river which was compar- atiyely clear Secondly at the time of acquisition rights given by Indians were not recognized by the English governor The first settlement was made in l7i0 by John Mixer of Can terbury. on the site of the present vil- lage of Warrenville The following April another settler took up his claim near what is now the town of Eastford. The General Court, hear ing of this, and realizing that nothing had been done by them. appointed a committee to settle the tract, form townships and appoint officers. This was accomplished with great difficulty since the land was rough and rocky, covered with dense forests ia which lived many wolves and bears.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-09-03

w. Va. accompanied ~ his family, at
tended camp meeting - MoundSFl!le
and visited his naT"riS h"re.
Oliver I'".,n AMI NJ. and Mrs CALI"
Pollen and family, ri WashinE'on. a.
are visiting NJ. and Ms. WIZ L"nN'nS
O: V!oi1. Mr.. E,.-Hh"'n i'arNe. Is VISIT
irr rrr son Wake" -nl family In II1-
tsrgur, Mi a:i NJ !. l.. Rr1t, ny
Elizabeth Far, y. :rHd E"ns a'tcnd:H
no EiNg reunion which vas hold in
,i~ocn. County. Ia. last Sunday. a5u
;r.r" w." o,Nr tv. hrnd~He '-:"Hdt
~ '..'. - 'hc'" "" ilarclr: 70 90
- 49,. 'r!'.~. W|'rrl I'D Sa'H'!' .
'>.rc We" re Su"sts NJ honor Troy
are "arr rear 50 year. OH.
NJ - MIS-. Gl~nH paeu" ~ F7Ff.rn
NN!0 ~ -" rar~r'r of VOW bay tH:h
N II" %r''h Wheeling ho"p'tal Mrs
rnruo W. col known ne Miss 1h"reS4
49, ~"rmine9t ',arh"r ~ bAio
~. ''rniS.
NJ. Thomas W"'ch has returned I"
his home i.nr" after two y"a'S srcnt IN
Whceiinc ~ VII again hortly take
rr his f"rr"r v"r'i rs teacher ~ Mar
.hai' county s-h""'s
QUIZ" = rumh"r of poor" attended,
IN" funeral in T'allaa on Tuesday 81
th.i- friend and former ne'ghbor MT.
t'ar!cl I'arn"
II" Sand IN stNr" building. owned
by the I. e. q r. lodge. - ofi"r"d COY
c3ra during thu newt IN Jays by the
.,- ~.,a - NO. cod the. building Will
ho r7r.h NJ r'merni 10 ia las
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-09-03

the introduction Of careless, slip
shod methods.
II such rigid care is necessary
TO the success OF a business or
ganization, there is even more
need of efficiency and system IN
the administration OF one s per-
sonal affairs, for with the midi
vidual. thrift means not only the
saving Of money. but it means
the development Of character,
clean morals, wholesome living,
education, progress and the full
hliment Of human destiny, The
foundation OF thrift is system.
Hence it should not be practiced
intermittently.
II you are endeavor,ng to save
a little money and you have not