davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-07-26
BY DEGREES
BY BERTON BRALEY.

The liquor flows and flows everybody knows
And if your throat is dry you can wet it;
The mighty Demon Rum is still a-going some
And there places where You can get
it,;
slug of gin or rye you frequently can buy
Though the price of the stuff's going higher
Yes. there still is lots of booze which a thirsty
can
But-the country's getting dry, dry, drier.
Oh topper still can tope, but you listen to my
dope:
He is getting less and less for his money,
He is paying out his jack for some varnish and
shellac
And the physical effect isn't funny
Here's truth you may not blink-there is less
and less TO drink
Though there still is lots Of hootch to
acquire
And a man can ladIe in quite load of rum
and CINE
But the country's getting dry. dry, drier
Though the liquor still is flowing. old John
Barleycorn is going;
He is wobbly from the bump that we gave
him,
He may give a kick or two, but he's pretty
nearly through
And these anti-dry parades will not save
him;
He is old and full of crime and it takes little
Ere so tough bird as John can expire;
There Is liquor on his breath-but he's mighty
close to death
And the country's getting dry, dry drieri
Copyright, 1921. by Newspaper Enterprise.)
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-07-26
The Little Red School House.

The small calibre politician can
still wiring a sentimental thrill or
two out of an oratoricaI eulogy of
the little red school house." but
the plain truth Is that any one trav-
cling through the country cannot
fail to be impressed by the utter di-
lapidation, sanitary horror and dis
reputable unkemptness of the build
ings or rather shanties and grounds
around them-the little red school
house Is generally the most repul-
sive spot in the village or commun-
| ity. AS, people so fond of boast
| ing OF ourselves and our affairs we
ought to be heartily ashamed of our
pesky little rusty, weather-beaten
and badly rundown schoolhouses.
No wonder young women hate to
identify themselves with such mis-
cradle places as country teachers.
The great majority of country
schoolhouses are unfit to receive
teacher with a reasonable amount
of personal pride, and as for unfor-
tunate school children who must
languish in these rude shacks, faith
er's cattle or hay barn at home
would be more suitable building.
This is no backhanded effort to
praise the fine school buildings in
towns or cities. Heaven knows
most of our cities have nothing to
be pround of in their public school
buildings, what with civic penury
or parsimony, political pickering
and plain graft. ANY one not hamp-
cred by dependent political job,
who has had the opportunity to visit
public school buildings in various
parts of the country must agree that
when compared with business build
ings or even with other municipal
buildings, the schools are generally
badly skimped and poorly adapted
for use. How is it We can squander
so many millions on lavish marble
superfluities, nay, downright sins,
in our postoffices and our other
public buildings, yet when it comes
to erecting a school building we are
too poor to even think of installing
such unheard-of features af swim
ming pools or gymnasiums Or,
if we do compromise on<a two-by-
four pool or a half-size gymnasium,
how is it that the watchdogs of the
public funds make such fuss about
about the criminal extravagances
seen in so many other public build
ingS?
The little red schooIhouse, with
its CHASTITY definace of the most ele-
mentary sanitary principles, its dis
reputable exterior appearance, the
uEkempt environment and the
squallid furnishings, is probably to
blame for a great deal of the petty
mind edness of present day authori-
ties who resist every movement
launched in behalf of adequate
school housing. You can't develop
thoroughbreds in a mere weed
patch.
Let's give the little rusty school
house few coats of paint, so it will
compare at least fayorably with the
barn over yonder. Let's clean Up
the yard around it so that passing
wayfarers may not lack respect for
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-07-26
TO THE PROFITEERS.
with Apologies to the Vampire.)

with Apologies to the Vampire.)
IFrom Stars and Stripes.1
A fool there was and he went to hgnt
Gwen as You and u
For flag and home and the rule or rlgnt'
Which boche wished to smash Win tnelr
shrecklchkeit;
But the fool he knocked them as high as Kite.
Even You and l!
But the years we lost and the tears II cost
The loved ones who stayed behind
Can never be paid for by words or praise,
Can never be paid for by towers they raise
For the lady that weighs is blind.
A fool there was and ne pldyeu Ine SalAe
Gwen as You and ID
Carried a number instead of a name,
Accented the sun and the mud as 1t came
While the ones back home raised fouo acclaim
Gwen as You and u
Oh the news they craved and the flags they
waved,
And the wonderful vows they made
Belong to the time when one didn't know now
We'd ever come out of the nasty row
But now, how those promises fade!
The fool was paid at a dollar day
AS often as not with a long delay
Gwen as You and -
While others at home drew their bonus pay
And lived their lives in their usual way
(HARDLY You and ID.
Oh, 1t isn't with palms which reach Tor aims
That he calls on his Uncle Sam:
Il fought for you
And now I'm through;
Just compare what 1 WAS and am
CHARLES IRVING CORWlN.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-07-26
Corporal Edward Farrell.

Corporal Edward Farrell OF New York was
killed in action in France and buried there.
Ills body was disinterred and brought back to
the United States for refinement recently
Farrell was a great patriot. although history
probably will not mention his name
Before Farrell went into action the last
time he had premonition of death and in the
Gin; light CT filthy dugout he wrote this re-
markable will ITO the old United States
give my life willingly because she is the great
est. grandest and finest country in the world.
only wish the day will come when she will
be America for Americans and with undivided
allegiance"
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-07-26

O. How can diamond in the
rough be recognized? G. W. B.
A A diamond in the rough may
be any color, but diamonds in this
state generally have a greasy lus-
ter Different colors may be seen
in the stone before it is polished, if
the stone is fractured, but these
colors are not the colors that are
seen in cut and polished stones. The
United States geological survey
says that a diamond can only be
tested by an expert.
@. In what English words does
the letter "f'' have the sound of
''v"? J. ].
A The word ''of' is the only
English word we find in which '.f''
has the sound of W
@. What was the time of the
Ming dynasty referred to in rela-
ton to age of porcelains? C. J. C.
A. 1t is believed that true por-
celain, as We know it today, ap-
peared first during the Ming dyn-
asty. This was established in the
14th century, but porcelains with
authentic history probably do not
antedate the 18th century.
Q. Need a Pope be a Cardinal
prior to election? NJ. E. P.
A The new Pope need not be a
Cardinal, he need not be even a
Priest, but may be a layman. If
not already a Bishop he. is conse-
Grated and then comes the great
ceremony of the coronation from
which he dates his pontificate.
@. Was Alexandria, Virginia.
ever part Of the District of Column
bia? c. D. d.
A. Alexandria, originally called
Bellehayen, was a part of the ter
ritory ceded to the United States in
1888. 1t was retroceded in 1916 and
again became a part Of Virginia in
1S47.
@. How much peat was mined
in the United States last year.
A. Peat production for 1920 was
73,204 short tons.
@. What Is citronella anil from
what is it made? L. T. II.
A. Citronella is the name OF q
fragrant oil imported from Ceylon,
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-07-26

High railroad fares have SO cut into the
revenues OF the theatrical companies that the
number of shows on the road this year Will Dc
greatly curtailed. In Cleveland theatre man
ager is carrying out successfully the innovation
OF conducting repertoire company and bring
ing on new stars for each weeks production.
This suggests the plan of inaugurating chain
of civic theatres with repertoire companies OF
which stars could make the circuit. thus en-
abling the people everywhere TO see the best
in the way of talent and the drama Davenport
is to be offered the opportunity to support one
of these repertoire companies the coming
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-07-26
WANTED-A MOTHER
By Edith NJ. Couch.
Copyright, 1921, by the Wheeler

Copyright, 1921, by the Wheeler
Syndicate, Inc-)
| Wanted - A Mother Young,
wounded soldier, lonely, would like
to be adopted by motherly lady. All
replies confidential"
Harriet Ogers let the Evening Ga
zette fall to the floor UNDECIDED,
while she gazed out through the
open window, lost in memories
which this strange advertisement
had brought to mind.
None of the neighbors in the
small country town would have sus-
pected such an appeal could stir the
| lonely heart of one who was to
them just "cut and dried old
maid" And yet, who of you who
have known the joy and blessing of
motherhood. can realize that the
longing for the toucL of baby fin
gers and the sound of baby prattle,
which, though never known, still is
felt perhaps by these same cut and
dried old maids One of these was
Harriet Ogers.
Away back in the past, buried so
deeply in her heart that none knew
or even suspected, Harriet still
carried the memory of her one ro-
nance, romance as sweet and as
beautiful as the wisteria whose
fragrance fioated through the open
window to her, but ending in a pet
ty quarrel and the departure of her
John to the city. A few rumors
had drifted back to the home town
of his success in the business
world and then of a brilliant mar
riage, and after that-silence.
The world forgot, but to Harriet
there was and always would be but
the one in her heart.
Wanted-A mother
OF course, it was ridiculous, and
how the neighbors would talk, and
yet, why not? Here she was with a
comfortable income, a home, good
health; but an ever-increasing
loneliness which caused he- at
times to shrink from the years to
come. She pictured herself with a
stalwart, manly arm to lean on, and
jumping up she FASTENED to pen her
answer before she should change
her mind
In the interval between the day
Harriet had made her momentous
decision and the arrival of the let
ter, stating the day and train her
boy would arrive on, Harriet lived
in state of nervous excitement
But, at last, the great day came.
That morning she felt perhaps her
first real bit of regret as she stood
before the mirror and marked with
pitiless scrutiny each line and each
gray hair, and she wondered If, after
all, she would or could look the
part of a loving mother to the
lonely boy, even though her heart
craved the part
Harriet was at the station sew
eral minutes before the train drew
into the little station and allowed
the handful OF passengers to alight.
There was Brown the grocer, and
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-07-26

Secretary Mellon Of the treasury has told
the senate that the present administration con-
siders itself bound by the agreement made by
the Wilson administration with foreign gov
ernments in respect to deferring payment OF
the interest on the ten billion dollar debt The
interest due amounts to nearly a billion
dollars 1t is accommodating at the rate of about
half a billion dollars year. Uncle Sam has a
good many uses for that half billion year and
there is room for a great difference Of opinion
whether the agreement referred to should have
been made Bnt it was made and the decl-
sion to stand by it without quibbling is both
q wise and an honorable decision.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-07-26
The Daily Short Story

Emma Beeman's little nephew, who
had come to spend the summer, and
two dapper young statesmen from
the neighboring city and a distin-
guished looking gentleman whom
she did not know, but no one who
answered the description of 4
young, wounded soldier"
The thought of such a calamity
had never entered her trusting
heart, and as she came to realize
that she may, after all, have been
made the butt of someone's joke the
tears of modification filled her
eyes, and she made her cropping
way to the buggy, failing to notice
that the stranger was making di-
rectly toward her.
A courteous voice asked, G"Are
you Miss Harriet Ogers?" recalled
her to earth, and she turned to find
a hand extended toward her and a
pair of twiRkling yes gazing into
her astonished ones.
Something dearly familiar caused
Harriett's heart to stop beating as
she gave a trembling hand to her
own John.
Later, when things had resumed
somewhat their natural course, John
explained that his only boy, firing
of the reign of a tyranical house
keeper, had inserted the advertise
ment for mother His own moth
er he had lost when he was too
young to remember, but perhaps
back in his memory fingered an
emptiness that only mother could
I'LL. When a reply came signed
Harriet Ogers, John could hardly
believe his eyes, and had made a
bargain with his son to answer in
his place
And, Harriet" said John, draw
ing his chair closer in the gather
ing twilight of the veranda that
evening, don't you think you could
be mother to two boys, instead of
one? l will see Parson Somers in
the morning, and then we will wire
the boy to come and meet his new
mother"
1t is well that none of the inquis-
tive neighbors was looking as the
cut and dried old maid" buried her
nushed face en- Johns shoulder.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-07-26
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
Don't Bank on III.
(From a bank cashier.)

(From a bank cashier.)
Customers often come to US and
ask what we think of their going to
certain institutions which purport to
cure piles or rupture without an OPP
Grafton. The rupture outfit seems
to inject paraffin, and the pile out
fit claims to rot them off," Now,
what are the dangers involved in
these treatments, and why is it that
some people profess to be satisfied
with the results obtained? 1t ap-
pears to US that if you would pub
fish the facts regarding these out
fits you would do many people a
real service. These quacks of course
prey upon the popular fear of opera
lions. L G. o.
Answer-The injection of paraffin
under the skin is always danger
GUS procedure In great many
cases it leads to a cancer-l1ke~le-
sion. 1t is true that many ignorant
people will take almost any risk
and suffer a great deal of needless
pain rather than submit to an oper-
alton by a skilled surgeon. Some
of the most tragic cases that event
ually fall into the hands of the re-
putabIe surgeon are those in which
some such Quack has attempted
these perilous makshiftS and pro-
duced horrible results. The modern
surgical method of treating piles is
an operation" to be sure, but in
finitely safer, less painful and more
effective than any plausible scheme
employed by the self-commending
IL 20
quacks have been published, and
are still available to those who seek
such information. l am always
glad to advise an inquirer where he
may obtain dependable information
about such outfits.
RnnRing Ear.
Is running ear caused by any
form of throat catarrh? Would
pharyngitis affect the ears in that
way? Will boric acid solution en-
tirely cure running ear?
Mrs. A, NH.
Answer-Running ear usually in
dictates some infection of the middle
ear Chat portion of the ear inside
of the ear drum. This infection is
almost always secondary to infec-
ton in the ear, nose or throat,
which enters the ear through the
Eustachian tubes (air ways con-
Meeting the back of the nose and
throat with the middle ear cavities)
Catarrh doesn't mean anything
just a catch word. Pharyngitis
means throat inflammation, and
when due to infection. may be the
origin of the middle ear infection.
Boric acid is sometimes beneficial,
though it only occasionally cures
middle ear trouble with running ear.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-07-26

the Malay Peninsula, and Java, A
group of closely allied grasses pro
duce this oil. The name Of the grass
is Andropogen Nardus. The most
important ingredients in this oil are
geraniol and citroneIlal. which to-
gether make up as much as So per
cent of the Gil.
@. When is a board a plank? F.
B. S.
A The department Of agricul-
ture defines a plank as a board SIX
inches wide or upwards, having a
thickness between II inches ana
six inches.
@. What does the expression
ring the bells backward" mean
D. L. S.
A This referes to an old Gus
tom of striking chimes in reverse
order as signal of alarm.
Q. What was the name Of tn9
armed sailing vessels used by lAe
Malay pirates? J. G. K
A. These large row5oats, carry
Ing two masts with high triangubs
sails, and armed with a few snaL
swivel guns. are called galiivats.
@. How can marischinO cherries
be made? NJ. 6.
A Cherries similar to marischlho
cherries may be prepared as lol-
lows: Stone carefully the amount
of cherries desired; soak in vinegar
"a hours, to make them firm, the1
drain. Take equal parts of grang,
lated sugar and cherries; thorough
~ mix, then lay the mixture on
platters and keep in a cool place 10!
seven days; stir well each day. put
in jars and seal. Keep in cellar
while curing The lit. Morenci, o.
other firm cherry, Is best adapted lO'
this purpose
Q. Where was Goliath, the giant
born? II, ".
A Goliath was born in Cath
one Of the five confederate cIlie'
of the Philistines.
@. Can porcupines throw theA
quilts and how far? II. J. D.
A. The quilts are loosely inseIt
ed in the skin OF a porcup!ne a..
may upon being violently shaAeA
'ecome detached but not thrown
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-07-26

We wonder how many readers will mail this
paper to Henry Ford with this item marked!
A New York real estate daler named Conn
owns a score of small houses in Bayonne, N }.
During and after the war when almost every
body else raising rents to the limit Conn
refused to advance his. Recently he learned
that many Of his tenants were out OF work
and he voluntarily reduced rentals IS per
month He is being acclaimed by New York
naners as a candidate for the Hall Of Fame.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-07-26
BANKS IN RUSSIA AGAIN.

Reval--Private banks again will
De allowed to operate in soviet Rus
sla, according to the Krasnai Ga
zetta' bolshevist organ. The red
also will allow private
citizens to hold money and bonds.
Funds seized by the government
will be restored
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-07-26
FIND BOY NOT GUILTY.

AIoerlliery, Wales. - Harold
ones, the 15-year-old lad charged
with killing his girl playmate, 8, has
Deen found not guilty. A huge
courtroom crowd greeted the YER
dict with cat-calls and shouting
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-07-26
Defining News.

News is what the average person wants to
know said Joseph Pulitzer. Anything per-
taining to transportation or home interests IA
peNs, declares Arthur Brisbane. And other
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-07-26

WANTED: A brand of sweet philosophy
guaranteed not to bend, break, wear or tear
under the toughest usage; philosophy OF
daily life that makes one believe that all
things happen for the best; that every cloud
has a silver lining, etc; philosophy that
turns every knock into boost, every blow into
a caress, every broken bone into the W. k. dis
guised blessing
We had thought such philosophy was ours
until today Taking one consideration with an
other we got certain enjoyment from break
ing our right arm. But after we decide that
getting out left-handed colyum is bit of a
lark and cheerfully go about our awkward tap
tapping on decrepit typewriter-after that,
isn't it too much to expect that our equanimity
will endure in the face of a violent and per
sistent headache-one which has lasted already
"a hours? E. A broken arm is nothing-it
doesn't hurt; a headache does. We fear the
cream of our disposition is fast turning sour.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-07-26
Argus Information Bureau

o quesIon by UinnT Argus
4 No WILLIS
paid to teERl
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-07-26
HEALTH : TAl MlS
BY WILLIAM BRADY rfp.

our little community. Let's loosen
up and spend $40 II necessary for
some sort of sanitary toilet faciH-
ties which the health authorities
can approve. Let's see to it that
the school grounds and the shack
itself are kept as presentable as any
private home and grounds in the
community. Certainly We can afford
that much for our own children.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-07-26

Speaking OF disarmament. Canada Is setting
a good example for the rest of the world On
Aug. her standing army is to be reduced from
QUO to $500 officers and men.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-07-26
HAS n DESCENDANTS

Lincolnshire, Engl.ad.-Mrs. Ann
Sharp. 103, is the oldest inhabitant
here. Size has II living descend
ants.
The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1921-01-05
LEADER-ENTERPRISE
TO OFFER SPECIAL
FARM NEWS FEATURE

Commencing with the Friday is
sue this week, the Leder-E Enterprise
will publish weekly, or oftener if oc-
casion demands, a Farm News Sec.
ton which will be under the person.
al supervision of Mr.. c. T. Owens
county agent and secretary of the
Ben Hill county Farm Bureau FEEDER
alton.
The new feature will include ;
schedule of farm bureau meetings. ag
ricultural news features and article,
contributed by agricultural expert.
and local markets section. Thi
section will be something entirely new
in the way of newspaper service t.
farmers. 1t will carry a list ano
price quotations of farm products of
fered for sale by the farmers and /;
list of products for which offers ar
being made.
Farmers should list their produc,
with the secretaries OF their commun
ity farm bureau councils. The secre
taries will turn this list over to Mr.
Owens who will put it in shape fol
the Farm News Section. All matter
in this section must go through the
hands of Mr.. Owens.
The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1921-01-05

W. J. Morris Chairman
Of County Commissions
Named at First Meeting of Year; Plan
Public Improvements

w. J. Morris was elected chairman
of the board OF county commissioners
and Miss Jamima Hogan, clerk at the
meeting of the Board Monday, when
Hon. ]. T. Young, of the Williams
district, took up his official duties for
the first time succeeding M. w. Gar
butt, retiring member of the Board
Messrs. ]. W. Morris and II. L..
Stone, who served on the board the
past two years, were reelected at the
last election and with Mr.. ]. T. Young
constitute the board of commission
ers for the county. Attys. Nicholson
and Cults were elected county Attor-
neys for the year and DR.. w. d. Dor
miney was reelected county physic-
ian.
Better care OF the public buildings
and grounds seems to be one of the
features with which the hoard hopes
to make a record. Chairman Morris
was named Purchasing Agent for the
County and Judge Horton custodian
Of the Courthouse, without salary.