davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-01-30
Common Sense in Defense.

Admiral Simms says that the rapid develop
ment of the submarine and the airplane during
the war, and the continuous development of
BOTH and especially the latter, since the war,
have shown that these weapons are still in
their infancy, that great possibilities of de-
velopment are still in sight, and that it will
quire the most careful, devoted and logical
consideration upon Americas part even to
keep abreast of the development of foreign
navies, much less to anticipate these develop
ments 1t would be lamentable if the sacrifice
of the fine larger crafts should be followed by
a revival of the old, frenzied naval competi
ton applied to these new sea and air weapons
1t is not good for the nations, either economi-
cally or psychologically, to vie with each other
in the accommodations of any kind of fighting
instruments
Nevertheless, as long as there is 10 ade-
quate international machinery in existence for
preventing world disorder, and nations there
fore still feel the need of self defense, this is
a legitimate and proper field for development.
the best submarines, the best airplanes. the
most effective bombs, poison gas and other.
modern weapons, and have a moderate stock
of them on hand with the possibility OF rapid
expansion in time of need. 1t means a pre-
paredness of mechanical efficiency, skill and
intelligence rather than of burdensome and
dangerous ornaments like those now existing
And in time even these safeguards may be given
up or turned wholly to the uses of peace.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-01-30
Death Amidst Laughter.

Fate dealt distressing blow amidst scene
OF pleasure in Washington Saturday night
when more than one hundred lives were
destroyed through the collapse of moving pic
ture theatre roof The weight of snow on the
building caused the roof to give way and the
several hundred spectators who were laughing
at a comedy film were trapped by crashing steel
and concrete
Aside from the tragic features OF the dis
aster, its unusual nature accentuates the uncer-
tainty of lfe confirming the thought that we
are often most in peril when we imagine our
sslves secure. The Knickerbocker theatre was
considered one of the safest theatres in the cap
ital. Every possible safeguard was introduced
in its construction. 1t was patronized by the
leading people of the city. 1t was SO fortified
that there would not have been danger to an
audience in the event that fire broke out in the
building. People who patronized the Knicker-
booker couldn't imagine themselves in peril
unless bomb were dropped on the root.
Yet while the Saturday night audience was
laughing at the antics OF the film comedians
snow was pilng weight the roof that
within the hour was to precipitate catastrophe
that would shock the nation. Hundreds of
other buildings in Washington supposedly less
able to withstand the weight that crushed the
Knickerbocker were unframed. Other build
ings could have been crushed without loss of
life But the fates chose the Knickerbocker
with its audience of folks seeking an hour Of
harmless amusement You might be inclined
to blame the management of the theatre for
failing to have observed that the roof was
carrying more snow that it was able to stand
up under. But the management never gave a
thought to such possibility. The only ex-
PLANTATION of the tragedy is that it was to be-
We can build and prepare and tortify as we
win- but we can't anticipate or evade the hand
OF Providenca
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-01-30
Cotton Automobile?

Perhaps Henry Ford is even better public
ity man than he is inventor, manufacturer,
scientist, statesman, editor, financier and phil
anthropist- Try as the editor may, it is impos-
sible not to write about Mr. Ford. 1t is now
necessary to chronicle the fact that the auto
king is working, in his Detroit research labora-
tories, on a plan to make automobiles out of
cotton There are other ingredients in the
formula, prominent among them being glue
and formaldehyde. All of these commend
themselves to anyone who has ever operated
one Of Ford's celebrated vehicles. F'ormalde-
hyde suggests the odor of the species, glue the
way they are put together and cotton some OF
their other characteristics. II this be free
advertising, let him make the most of it. But
the product of this novel combination may
challenge serious attention one of these DAYS.
Ligntness is the word in modern automo-
biles and Ford is going in for lightness If
he can get the necessary strength, too, out of
the material with which he is experimenting
there may result car that an ablebodied citi-
zen not only ride around with incredible
economy, but can pick up and carry around
with him when he gets down town. thereby
dexterously fooling car thieves. The idea is to
stamp automobile parts out of this composition
as housewife stamps doughnuts. That idea
in itself is richly suggestive. Our only fear is
that the cars, unlike the cooks doughnuts, will
be too light. They may have to be ballasted
unless they are to be fitted with wings, for
flight
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-01-30
Objects That Carr Disease.

Objects That Carry Disease.
There is no reason to suppose
that books, magazines, newspapers
letters, paper money or coins
stamps, flowers, pictures, ferns or
growing plants ever convey disease
germs from patient or sick room to
one outside. There is no risk in
Eolved in handling or using such
objects after they have been han
died or used by an individual i'll OF
any communicable or infectious
disease, unless the object is visibly
and freshly soiled with saliva or
other secretion. Nobody's health is
endangered by the exchange Of the
most tattered and filthy paper mon
ey, but when a woman holds a coin
in her mouth while closing her
pocketbook, and then hands the
coin, freshly soiled with saliva, to
the street car conductor, the movie
ticket seller or the newsboy, she is
entitled in exchange to one trans
fer literally treated with saliva. or
one saliVa-moistened ticket or one
newspaper with the newsboy's
trademark on 1.-THE risk is $3.50
on all sides.
Several years ago DR.. Charles V.
Chaplin, the health superintendent
or providence, r. l., cynically OBJ
served that f'if saliva we're indigo
everything would look blue" The
color scheme would include pencils
exchanged by school children. the
common towel, the common hand
kerch1ef in some families, the cigar
cutter IN cigar stores and the cigars
cut Herewith, the pages of books
turned with saliva-moistened fin
gers, paper money, letters, door
knobs. hanging straps in cars used
for human transportation, trans
fers, playing cards, programs, the
alter seat arms, the hands every
body shakes, and exc the sidewalks
all over town. But no use getting
blue about it. Just wash the stain
away some half dozen times a day.
Soap and water hand washing is
the best kind of disinfection we
have and is all the protection even
a doctor or nurse in personal at
tendance on patients i'll of infec-
dous disease requires.
Linen, clothing, furs, hats or
SAOSS NAA0S OCSA HOEH uSoQ
by an individual i'll of diphtheria.
scarlet fever, tuberculosis or any
other known infectious disease. are
safely used by other persons pro-
vided the articles are not visibly
soiled. Ordinary laundering and
ironing renders linen perfectly safe
in any case. A good airing and
sunping will make clothing or furs
safe to wear. Since cancer is not
an infectious or communicable dis
ease, there need be no anxiety
about using such articles after they
have been used by an individual af-
fiicted with cancer, provided ordin-
airy cleanliness is regarded
Such objects as soda fountain
glasses and utensils, milk bottles,
the common towel, the common
bath tub. the cigar cutter, the COM
mon drinking cup, toys, personal
toilet articles, utensils for giving
food or medicine. the BARRIERS or
hairdressers' brushes and combs
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-01-30

achievements of the past year. Per
haps he'd never be noticeably rich
but he was genuine, and she was
tired of countergeits.
Rodney interrupted her thoughts
You said you'd prefer to go with
me for short journey. Say you'd
prefer it alife-long one"
TIT say it." she obeyed shyly.
A little later, in Hazel's back
yard, two happy young things were
exclaiming blissfully over the
counterfeit they were to burn on a
pileh of dead leaves.
Burning a $40 bill" exclaimed
Mr.. Blanchard, village purchaser
of Hazels preserves, from the side
walk. How is it, Hazel Meade, you
have money to burn? Looks as if
you hadn't cashed that check I
brought you year ago"
Check? l thought it was a $40
bill. l didn't open
Great guns, you didn't burn it,
thinking it was a. despised green
back?" he laughed.
Il did" Then she explained as
much as was necessary.
He Immediately took out his
book and made out another check.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-01-30
Cleaning Politics Out of the
Postal Service.

Charles E. Tracewell, writing in the Wash
tngton Star says: POSTMASTER General Hays
in 'humanizing' the postal service has done
two great things. He has taught the American
people not to be ashamed of being good And
he has set in motion forces which he believes
will result some day in the selection of the
postal head directly from the ranks of the
100000 postal workers.
'"There is something about the average
American mind which shrinks from a public
display of morals. To talk about righteous
ness with familiarity simply lays open to the
charge of hypocrisy. Maybe we have been fed
up on too much 'goody goody' business in our
youth.
But when a strong man, although small of
body, comes preaching the Golden Rule like a
prophet of old and with daily efforts of IS
hours at time succeeds in exemplifying it in
hard cash, the country stands at attention
Nov back in the head OF the postmaster gen.
eral, and, understand, in the back of the head
OF President Harding, turks big idea. 1t is
that somesday the 100000 workers in the postal
service will be able to produce their own post
master general
mir. Hays believes that the postal service
is too big business to be used as a political
plaything forever Much as Napoleon melted
his soldiers to triumph after triumph by telling
them that in every private's knapsack was a
marshal's baton, or the possibilities of SUCH
SO Mr.. Hays would tell every mail carrier that
in his mail sack lies the possibilities of com
mission as postmaster general OF the United
States
''This is the big hope and dream of the retir-
ing postmaster general. politician born and
bred in the school of Indiana politics. he real
ICES better than anybody else, perhaps that the
day is coming when the gigantic business of
Uncle Sans postal service must be divorced
from politics. He sees the handwriting on the
wall
HE has kick against politics But he
feels the great postal service. which he has
come to love in the ten months he has been its
head. is no place for the politician to ply his
proper trade in. To put it another way he thinks
that the sooner the postal service gets out of
politics. the better for the postal service and
for politics, too"
1t would be the happies realization that
ter General Hays his successor could bring
about the complete elimination of politics from
the postal system. 1t has been all but accom-
plished already in great many ways by con-
gressional act or executive procedure Most
OF the grades in the service have been placed
under the mantel OF absolute civil service
which recognizes merit and experience over the
claims and ambitions OF politicians. The sery-
ice has grown so in the past decade particular
~ since the advent Of parcel post that its sue
cess depends upon the MAN at ha-heln. The
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-01-30
MONEY TO BURN.
By Hattie Oxford.
Copyright, 1922, by Wheeler
Syndicate, Inc.)

syndicate, IQC.)
Into the kitchen where Hazel was
putting up peaches. Rodney
marched, smiling and buoyant
bringing, it seemed, the whole OF
genial, bracing late September with
him. The question he had come tc
ask was mysteriously communicat-
ed to the girl before he spoke. For
a few glad minutes she was ready
! to answer it as hhe wished. In the
next few miserable minutes she had
decided she wasn't.
| While the young man was get
| ting up his courage to ask the
| question, he took a counterfeit $40
bill from his pocket, laughing ner-
vously. That's where 1 get stung
| today. Ten dollars out of luck"
Immediately something hard and
practical in the girl rebuked Rod
ney's inability to look out for him
self But he, unaware of the sud
den freezing of her feelings, asked
the question and waited for-this ::
mo, Rodney, 1 can't marry you.
] see no wyoull never be finan-
cial success: you'll go through life
getting counterfeits passed on you.
I've got to marry rich; I'm tired to
death of scrimping."
Hazel, with much clever dollar
stretching, supported herself and
her widowed mother, an invalid al
most helpless, chiefly by selling the
canned products of their little
farm
mo one could pass a counterfeit
on Rusher," she continued.
Harland WINGED, remembering
Stephens sneering question:
What chance have you with Hazel
against me?"
80 Rusher is your ideal of a
man." he flung at her, ironically.
'Rushehr has made money. I
know they say-but 1 guess the
methods OF most of these money
getters wouldn't stand too close
scrutiny. If you meet Stephen,
send him to me, I'm Just about
ready to take up with him.
Rodney's mouth became a grim,
straight line as he went out.
There comes Mr.. Blanchard
with the $40 bill he promised to
bring me for my preserves" Hazel
Ell ulted momentarily as she went
to the door and thanked the village
storekeeper, whoh handed her
sealed envelope and hurried away.
While she was laying it on a cor
ner kitchen table, she discovered
that Rodney had dropped his couun-
terfeit there. The latter she put
in a drawer. Suddenly she became
uDwarrantably disturbed over an
eaSily remedied cIuttered table Che
hastily picked up odds and ends OF
trash" and put them into the
stove. Presently, to her horror, she
saw Mr.. Blanchard's unopened en-
velope burning.
She sat down and gave way to |
tears of futile rage.
1mpulsiyely she jumped up again |
and dried her eyes, rejecting: I've
put an honest $40 worth of goods |
out into the world and I've merely |
burned the green paper represent
ng them. Now I'm going to let
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-01-30
The Daily Short Story

| that counterfeit represent them
it's the value behind the paper that
counts
That very afternoon she paid
near-sighted Mr.. Gray the counter
| felt SO for load of wood and saw
him put it into a pocket of his
striped trousers.
A few days later Rodney inter
| rupted her preserving again !:
Hazel, let me examine that coun-
terfeit, please, so l won't get stuck
again. Oh, never mind, if you have
destroyed it
81 passed it" She stood I'D
straight and explained wherein she
had been perfectly justified in SO
doing.
You passed it," His eyes
blazed. And doubtless you wrote
your name on it as Uncle Sans at
tcrney, so no poor widow with a
big family would be cheated out of
$40 worth of necessities"
His enlightening sarcasm drove
Hazel that very afternoon on a.
search 70 rthe counterfeit, but in
vain Mr.. Gray had left town to be
gone year, leaving no address.
A year passed. Very early in the
morning of a mellow September
day, Hazel went to the city. plan
ming to spend the $40 waiting for
her in city store for preserves
sold there. She collected the
money and was paying for a nat
tractlVe piece Of stamped linen in
a dry goods store, when she heard:
Counterfeit bill, madam"
Chagrined and excited, she rush
ed back to tn buyer of preserves
and showed him the bill. He i'm
mediately called across from the on
posite side of the street a man with
a Misunderstanding pair of striped
trousers ON.
Guess neither of us noticed it
was counterf it" Mr. Gray respond
ed to the storekeeper's explana-
ton Il had it in these pants:
first time I've worn them for a year.
Don't remember where l got the
bill. But here's two f1ves."
He handed them to Hazel, who
looked flushed and queer. 81 don't
want them. Il won't take them
prefer the counterfeit. T-take
them away" Gripping the coun-
terfeit, she almost ran out of the
store
Hazel walked toward the station,
hoping to meet some friend who
Woul blend her the price of her
fare. She was 80 miles from home. |
with just two cents of good money
Yet, she was lighthearted; her SELF
respect was restored and visions of
poor widows no longer disturbed.
With cool politeness, she refused
TO ride home with Rusher, who |
passed her in his aristocratic car.
She felt that she was rebuking him
and what he stood for. She de-
spised his oft-repeated philosophy:
The biggest buffer gets there
irst."
How's this" called out Rodney.
lust behind her, refusing sucn
comfort and elegance?"
Because I prefer to go with you
n stuffy railroad coach"
While they were walking up from
he station at the other end, Hazel
was thinking Of Rodney's honest
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-01-30
CIR UntithHtnttr
/ HERE LIES MANs ANCIENT KNKMY.
DULL CARE
WHO DIslNfERs THE UELovED cUsA
uEWA3Et
THEY SAY.

THEY SAYr.
Hear about that fakir Christ
Claiming he can heal the sick?
He should be stoned
From our city,
There goes that dago, Columbus.
Who says the earth
Is round.
Poor IDIOT"
what!
George Washington,
That young surveyor?
Oh he's too light weight"
"IIl tell you a good one:
That long-geared Lincoln.
Who's splittin' rails
For John Stewart,
Ssys he's goin' to study law!
Ha, Hai Hal Hal"
"They say, that
This dreaming Marconi fellow
Is about nuts!
Talks about a telegraph
Without wires
Too badi
Them Wright kids
Will never amount to a damn.
They spend all their time
Just tinkering!"
There's one short sentence,
Often heard,
That rasps the ear-drums;
It's, They say
JAY G. SIGMUND.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-01-30

transparent, sometimes almost
Opaque. 1t occurs in round II
regular Jumps, grains. or drops;
has perfectly conChOidaI fracture
1t is slightly brittle, emits an agree
able Odor when rubbed, melts al
$50 degrees F., and burns with j
bright flame and pleasant smell
@. What is the name of the naTt-
CATION instrument resembling Two
rulers hinged together? l. ". G.
A. These instruments used 10
find chart courses are called par
allel rulers.
Q. We're vestal virgins allowed
to marry? H. J. H.
A. In Rome, girls between the
ages of 6 and 10 were chosen IS
vestal virgins. After 30 years Of
service, they could return TO pr
Vate life and marry, il they chose.
@. How many homicides are
there in the United States in
year? R. c. H.
A. The number of homicides IN
the United States for 1920 was
1886.
Q. How can l keep grapes tEesn'
D. H. G.
A. Dip the end Of each stem into
hot sealing wax, and pack on
layer in a shallow box between pa
per or grape leaves, first removing
all decayed or broken grapes.
Keep in a dry, cool place.
Q. How can 1 be sure that let
tiers l send are not tempered with
or steamed open? A n E.
A. Moisten the flap with the
white Of an egg and dry thorough
ly. So secured it cannot be pulirH
open. and steaming has no eHecl
on it.
@. Is trade between Alaska and
the United States considered iof-
eign or domestic? r. L.
A. Trade between the Unlteti
States and Alaska is cOnsidereu
domestic commerce. as Alaska pc
longs to the United States.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-01-30

@. How much does it cost to &c
from Havana to Key West by air
plane? H r. B.
A. This flight is made in 1S5
minues and the fare is $50.
@. How much sugar does the
average person consume in year
J. H. B.
A. During the period 1906-1910,
the average yearly consumption OF
sugar per capita in the United
States, was 1927 pounds; 1911
1915, S4.4s pounds; 1916-1920. 1910
pounds.
@. What is amber? A. A.
A. Amber is a fossil resin OF
vegetable origin. 1t is usually of
a pale yellow color, sometimes red
dish or brownish; it is sometimes
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-01-30

Vice President Coolidge says the Republi-
can party is drying the nations tears. We
don't understand where Mr.. Coolidge gets the
notion that we are a nation of weepers. We are
pretty active kickers when things don't go
right, but he mistakes the people when he tries
TO create the impression that any considerable
number of them have been weeping over con-
ditions. That's not the American spirit
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-01-30

Eighty-one different makes OF cars are on
exhibition at the Chicago automobile show. If
a prospect took time to listen to all of the
selling talk in behalf of the whole list he would
be ready to lie down and die of old age before
he heard the last argument
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-01-30

If it is true that the retirement of several
stars is due to refusal of Mary Garden, the d.
rector, to permit foreigners to rule the Chicago
Opera company, the patrons of the organization
ought TO sustain Mary in her announced pur-
pose to as far possible have ali of the roles
filled by Americans.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-01-30

Most persons who keep firearms in their
homes defend the practice by the claim that
such protection gives them an even chance
with the burglar. If it did there would be JUS
tification for keeping gun in the home, but
it doesn't The burglar invariably has the drop
on Won.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-01-30

Edith Bennett has been hailed by eastern
critics as one OF the wonders of the present
age because she is an American trained singer
who can be understood perfectly when she
yocalizes in English. This sounds almost too
good to be true.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-01-30
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
Near Sight

Near Sight.
have known of several persons
past middle age who, having worr
glasses for near sight for seyeral
years, find they can read newspa-
per print without their glasses. Is
there any medicine or treatment
one can use to hasten or bring
about this result, so that the glass
es may be discarded? w. NJ.
Answer-About middle age the
gradual stretching process which
nearsighted persons undergo ceases
and the nearsightedness no longer
tends to increase as it has done for
years before. Nearsighted persons
with concave lenses at all times
can see near objects clearly, such
as newspaper print, if the eyes are
not astigmatic, so they can gener-
ally read well late in Iifes after the
progress of the nearsightedness is
over. This accounts for the popu-
lar notion that nearsighted eyes
grow stronger and vision improves
with age. It is injurious to the
nearsighted eye to use it without
proper concave lenses; it is a, mis-
take to think that going without
the glasses helps to strengthen
the sight"
Like Too Many Others.
Doctor, like many others, I come
TO you for advice. 1 presume !
have kidney trouble. I have much
pain in the back. g.. ST..
Answer - Kidney trouble, con-
trary to popular misapprehension,
rarely accounts for backache or
pain in the back. This is my ad-
vice-don't make guesses about
your condition; consult physician.
It's cheaper, you'll find.
Cooking Utensils.
I noticed you told correspond
ent that galvanized ware is all
right for cooking utensils, and 1
wonder whether you had enamel
ware in mind. You are of course
aware that so-called galvanized
ware is plating of zinc on steel.
We have always been led to believe
that zinc is not a good thing in
cooking utensils. E N. S.
Answer u e s i s
might be a source of contamination
of such foods as tomatoes. apples
or berries cooked therein, but even
if some zinc were dissolved in the
food or juice, is is probably harm
less. Water heavily contaminated
with zinc from galvanized tanks
and pipes has been drunk freely
without apparent i'll effects.