davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The New York herald., 1922-06-04
1t Requires Brains to Be
A Great" Woman Crook

To become a forger, hotel swim
dler or a manipulator of gilt edged
fraud in any line woman must have
a fair amount of education plus her
native wit and nerve. And these are
going in for crime.
Getting an answer to the foregoing
queries is a tall order. OF five emf
nent citizens of New York, men whose
professions place them In a position
to discuss the problem with authority,
only one was outspoken when the
questions were propounded to them.
For tie most part the others ex-
pla,ned woman's invasion of the crime
field as resulting from a genera. break
ing down of morale, but they would
not undertake to say what had caused
the morale to sag to the point of COL
lapse. One or two risked the opinion
that the present economic conditions"
were to be blamed Asked to specify
just which, economic conditions. Jack
OF employment. for instance, or posi-
bly, otherwise disturbed domestic re-
lations, and they declined to say.
There are the figures to speak for
themselves" was the attitude OF each.
~Crime among women is becoming
more widespread; 1t Is brutal truth
which we cannot cloak, but we cannot
attempt to catalogue the causes"
The deductions of DR.. Menas s.
Gregory, director Of the psychopathic
department of Bellevue Hospital as
sociate the bold criminal activities OF
the present day woman with her un-
restricted movements In every other
avenue. But with the nicely of the
skillful surgeon he hastens to sep
arate the tissues of his exposition OF
the crime impulse from the muscles
04 any criticism OF the Nineteenth
arnoncment. Z. shoir. according to
DIR. Gregory's notion, this Is the era
of woman. outlets for the feminine
energies are being provided addition
ally every day. Woman long has
been recognized as a factor in busi-
ness--big business, too. She is now
making her influence n power in poll
tics. For years her rank In the arts
ana sciences has been Arm and is en-
during.
The New York herald., 1922-06-04

This is because ever so many people
whom 1 know have worn green and
they kave always had a relative who
died soon afterward. L have never yet
seen one case which has not come
true"
The attitude of so-called "fatalism"
adopted by many soldiers during the
war. commonly expressed In the en-
couragement given to recruits that ''if
a shell carries your number it will get
you, and IL It doesn't then there's moth
ing TO worry about" perhaps had some
effect on the people at home. The SOL
der in way personified the bearer Of
his bad luck, as there was usually no
apparent author; 1t was something
inanimate over which he had no con-
troll. and yet 1t seemed to hold control
of his destiny.
While many of the collegiate stu
dents insisted that they were not gov
erned by fallacies. and that their be-
lief in superstitions amounted to
nothing important, 1t is apparent from
the tenor of the written answers that
these bugaboos do have a greater or
lesser effect on the actions and daily
lives of many who are timid about
acknowledging them.
Many do admit that to visit new
born baby without something in the
hand is very unlucky. They forget
that all children in swaddling clothes
just love to be ratified" to sleep, and.
while the rocking of an empty cradle
is considefed unlucky for the baby,
the operation is said to be excellent
for tender feet.
No good housewife Is likely to make
bed without turning the mattress;
in fact, in many homes II the bed was
not made properly It would be unlucky
for the maid who attended to such an
The New York herald., 1922-06-04

r INTERESTING reports on the sub
ject of superstitions among col
= lege students have been made re-
Gently by DR.. +. B. Dressler Of the
University of California and DR.. James
Dreever of the Edinburgh University,
both OF whom demonstrate conclu-
sively that young men and women,
and man generally, are governed by
two great impulses: the impulse to
take unchallenged and for granted all
the phenomena of the outer world as
they are and the impulse to confront
these phenomena with eyes of inquiry
and wonder.
Superstition thrives everywhere,
and to annihilate many of these be-
liefs, even in collegiate students. would
be a task that would call for a new
department in psychologist refuting
department--where the professor could
convince his students that If they only
trace back far enough they will find
that so-called superstitions are badly
twisted epigrams, anagrams and sati-
rical utterances of the ancients.
Bugaboo Fever Attacks College
Students and-Others
Business men, collegiate students
and many others presumed to be nor
NAL in every respect have touches or
psychological ailment, or "bugaboo"
fever, that is inherent and more devel-
oped in some than it is in others. The
environment of the superstitiously in
clined is responsible to a great degree
for the strength Of their belief. The
Scotch. the Irish and the Welsh are
stepped in superstition. while all Latin
races are influenced to a great extent
by supernatural beliefs.
The subject of superstition has oc-
cupied the attention of philosophers,
students and ordinary men from the
time of Aristotle onward. and few sub
jects are of more Importance to the
human race than a correct theory of
fallacies.
Several methods have been tried in
treating of superstitions. The simplest
and commonest of all has been merely
to give lists or catalogues ot common
superstitions and errors with vary
ing amount of comment by the inves-
tigator. This plan was followed by
Russell l.. Gould, who after his SER
vice had expired in the war went to
the University of Edinburgh for the
spring term of 1919. Mr.. Could was
one of 1000 men who had served in the
army and were sent 10 British univer-
stiles. the purpose being to enable
men to get back into the atmosphere
of the college again after their army
service and before their return home.
-While arranging a course of study a
copy of DIR. F. B. Dressler's report OF
7.176 superstitions, recorded by SIS
men and women i'm the California Uni
verslty training for the teaching pro-
fession. was received. 1t suggested a
similar investigation and study among
Scotch pedagogical students. DR..
James Dreever. director of the psy-
chology department at Edinburgh. CO.
operated with Mr.. Gould and S77 girls
and seven men students of the first
and second years in the psychological
department took part in the expert
mcnts.
The New York herald., 1922-06-04

reenter the parlor and sit on chair
for second or two. Were she to go
back and get whatever she had for
without observing this form of seat
ing herself she would have bad luck"
Then there is the story Of the sail
or's superstition about whistling on
board ship. II a passenger persists In
puckering his lips and emitting shrill
sounds and an old salt Is near. the
latter will, as sure as the ratlines are
tarred, come close to him and say:
1--WE have enough wind whistling
through the skysails now, but If you
persist you will fetch gale"
Everybody knows of the dread some
people have of opals. This dread was
all brought about by the plague In
Venice two centuries ago. Opals had
become so popular with all classes of
venetians that everybody who could
afford them wore them. During the
height of the plague people were
stricken so suddenly. even in the
streets and in the gondolas. that 1t
was noticed that the opals worn
by many were very brilliant when the
victim was taken Ill, but at the mo-
ment Of death the opals became dull
In appearance. None stopped to think
that the high fever of the stricken
wearer affected the opal, which is sub
ject to heat more than any other
precious stone, and caused its bril-
liancy. while the chill Of death caused
II to become dull again. But the curse
of the opal spread all over the world,
though the Old World. with its evil
eyes. its specters and its vampires, IS
impossible in our day and on our side
of the sea, and in spite of the fact
that Old World superstitions have
been brought here by immigrants only
The New York herald., 1922-06-04
Woman of Brains
Turning. to Field
of Forgery, Bond
Thefts, Shop Lift,
: ing, Burglary ane
Pocket Picking.

prisoners to orphanages and religion
refugees.
More confidence Is now placed In Be
ford, or rather IN the management
There has not been any sort Of an out
Lreak within more than a year. The dis
cipline of the place. though remaining
rigid. has been made TO appear softened
by carefully planned relief in the monot-
ony of routine. Complaints from rebel
lious prisoners have almost entirely
ceased. Consequently. the committing
magistrates in the city are turning once
again to Bedford, and the institution Is
now getting cases which 1t would not
have been asked to take year or so
ago.
To-day there are in Bedford Hills 255
girls, thirty of whom were admitted last
month. setting a record for the reform
matory. or course. these inmates are
scarcely to be called criminals. Rather
they are delinquents, averaging in age
about 10 tonly girls from 16 to 80 are
sent to Bedford) and in intelligence
averaging trifie more than IL years.
Nevertheless. they must be considered
in a discussion OF crime among women.
for these first offenders are largely rep
resentative of the type from which the
toughened woman lawbreakers are de-
veloped.
The New York herald., 1922-06-04
Natural Reasons Why Walking
Under Ladder Is UnIucky

The superstition of walking under
ladder came about from the number
of accidents in olden times when the
sidewalks were narrow, sloping and
slippery, and unless the ladder was
held firmly against the wall or side
of the building II would fall That is
why an extra man is often seen lean
ing against the lower part of a ladder
while another man climbs 1t to do the
work that is necessary. The fallacy
about passing under the ladder and
making wish was necessitated by
expediency-the gutter being wide and
overflowing- the pedestrian hoped
that no whitewash, paint or hot melted
lead would drop on his topper. AS TO
the crossing of the fingers while going
under a ladder that originated from
the olden time custom OF blessing
ones self in token of the ladder used
to take the body of the Lord from the
cross.
The horseshoe myth is, or should be,
understood by every college professor
TO be derived from much the same
symbolic meaning as the rice, orange
blossoms or oat cake. 1t was the
phallic symbol of fullness. and the
seven holes, four to one side and three
to the other, represented the septe-
nary symbol. or mystic seven, which
surcharges all Biblical history.
White horses have from ancient
times been associated with mourning,
and even the Arab looked for a bit OF
coloring either in name or fetlock TO
overcome the ingrained antipathy OF
ages toward the use of a white horse
for any mental purpose. The crossing
in front of a funeral is either an indi-
cation of gross disrespect or aberra-
ton. and that the beetle ticks the death
watch or cricket chirps out a warn
ing Of death Is an old Celtic fetish that
has long since disappeared with the
passing OF the hedge schoolmaster in
Ireland. sr
The emotion OF fear exercises n
profound influence on belief. The
thing feared draws the mental atien-
ton so strongly as TO induce belief in
it's existence where calmer mind
would see nothing 10 Justify such be-
lief. Common superstitions owe much
of their force to the operation Of this
emotion.
The pleasant fallacies written by
authors Of fairy tale lore. beloved by
all youth, have contributed their quota
Of superstitious beliefs to the ltera-
ture of all lands. but in these days OF
progressive thought and material adj
vancement the bugaboos of our fore
bears yesterdays must go giimmer-
inc like tho dreams Of things that
were. Nevertheless. as the collegiates
questionnaire would indicate. all Of us
are more orsess fanciful.
The New York herald., 1922-06-04

Instructions were written for the stu
dents and were as follows: Besides
our religious beliefs many of us hold
to certain beliefs or sayings which we
cannot always prove. These sayings
or beliefs are often called supersti-
tions; they may have greater or a
less effect on the common actions of
our daily lives. We do things or say
things in order that we may be lucky
certain signs or happenings indicate
good luck; others indicate bad luck.
College Students QUESTIONABLE
OF Superstitious Beliefs
ION the accompanying slip Of paper
write as many superstiions as you
can remember, irrespective Of your be-
lief in them or their effect on you"
Every superstition recorded de-
pended on the memory of each indi-
vidual, and it Is reported there was
little copying. The total number of
superstitions written was 6,03S, of
which 967 were classified as different.
OF this number 4s per cent. of the
superstitions mentioned had some
them. though "a per cent. of all the
individuals were more or less affected
and those who were the most affected
recalled the greatest number.
1t Is entirely a mistake to imagine
that originally beliefs were formed as
a result of experience; beliefs are
formed prior to experience and inde-
pendently of 1t, as this collegiate SYM
postum proved. Mehaffey, the brainy
prep" of Trinity College, Dublin, was
won't to remark that blind confidence
Is the primitive attitude Of our mind
and he took for an illustration the
woman who. when about to leave the
house and forgetting something. will
The New York herald., 1922-06-04

through the simple process Of taking
a package of bonds from a safe. 1t
is getting to be quite the fashion to
lift a block of 500 900 securities these
DAYS: why not help herself when her
employers back Is turned? Has she
put aside temptation to drink because
nice girls didn't do that sort OF thing?
All right, but everybody who can get
it is drinking nowadays, so she goes
the limit.
THE stigma of illegitimate mother
hood during the war was lifted In
many places. Where 1t was not en-
tirely lifted the lapse was condoned.
And in some countries where 1T was
lifted 1t was only to be replaced with
a premium. 1t was a patriotic and
noble act to give a child to de-
populated country. especially a son.
The effect of condoning in war time
that which is considered disgraceful
in times Of tranquility is far reach
ing.
Nor must we overlook another ele-
ment in the new criminal indnlsences
on the part of women. 1t is an old
element. 1t is an element responsible
for the misdeeds of many a woman
who has never been troubled by a
crime complex-the man into whose
power she has fallen rightly or
wrongly. Much of the crime committed
by women at present without doubt
could be traced to the influence of
some man or band Of men. With
few exceptions among certain noted
supercrooks who feared to cooperate
with women, regarding them as un-
certain quantities and not to be relied
on In case of emergency, the cleverest
men criminals have always found the
services of a smart. attractive woman
helpful. Apparently the organized
bands of outlaws nowadays are hav-
ing no difficulty in engaging the as
sistance Of competent feminine part
ners.
Does Not Think Women
Sin Because Instigated
The daily papers are full of cases
where women have hired as maids and
cooks wholly to set the stage for a
remunerative robbery of their wealthy
employers by a gang OF men burglars.
Women sit as blinds and decoys at
the wheels of automobiles as their
companions go inside a store or home
to rob and perhaps murder 1t Is
the woman member of the gang who
enters a store, studies the interior ar
rangements and reports on the loca
ton Of the office and the position Of
the safe in itsNdistance from door or
window. 1t is the woman who stands
duty as lookout on the corner while
her partner commits a holdup or
burglary.
at would be interesting to know
how many of the women crooks now
making trouble for the police joined
the criminal ranks at the instigation
OF husband or sweetheart as against
those who have taken up crime as in
dependent operators. That, however.
is something that never will be
known; no sir, not even If you could
arrest all the women crooks in the
United States and could stand them
up against wall and take the CEN
sus why not? Because you could
not believe them. never saw a wom-
an crook in my life, and have seen
hundreds of them, whose word you
| could take" .
The New York herald., 1922-06-04
ECORDS SHOW LARGE INCREASEI IN CRIME AMONG WOMEN

corrective institution. Then, unless
the unfortunate, first offender is girl
OF sterling character. of undaunted
spirit, possessed OF vision and of hope.
she soon becomes a second offender,
embittered and hardened and eager TO
make crime a business, not pastime,
as she began it.
Many woman have the crime COM
plex," said DR.. Gregory. Don't mis-
understand me- / am not saying that
it is only women who have 1t. In
deed, there is crime complex in all
of us. What l am pointing out is
that many women whom we least sus-
pect have the crime complex. 1t Is
just matter of how long they can
keep their desires suppressed.
Suppose man has feeling that
he wants to set something on fire
for the thrill of seeing the fire ap-
paratus dash by or for the mere pleas
ure of looking at the leaping flames
and the illumination of the skies. But
that man also knows that arson is a
crime, for the commission of which
he may be sent to prison for years.
He realizes that by setting a fire he
endangers lives, to take which he has
no craving. So he controls his inn
pulse to burn things: he combats the
thought and succeeds In putting il
altogether out of his mind.
Now suppose that some evening he
is innocently walking down the street
and he sees building suddenly burst
into flames. not Of his own making
Here, then, is qualification of his most
cherished desires. Here is opportunity
to add to his sensation of delight. For
years he has wanted to set fire to a
building, but dared not This is his
chance. The entire block is going to
burn anyhow; why not touch his
matches to the building adjoining the
one already ablaze, watch it flame for
few minutes and then walk away
and leave 1t to some other casual
passerby to send in the alarm n He
gives way to the emotions Of the
pyromaniac that he has always been.
Yet all the while he deludes himself
that there have been extenuating cir
cumstances: that it was really moth
ing for him to ignite the second build
been embraced by the original flames.
Thus it Is with the woman afflicted
with the crime complex in its various
phases. She may have the desire to
steal. She may always have craved
wealth. to be obtained at any sacri-
flee. She may have for years tri-
umphed over an appetite for strong
drink She may have battled hero
ically' against various natural urges
and have sincerely felt herself con-
queror. Suddenly she perceives a
strange change everywhere. The fever
of excitement burning all around her
enters her own veins. She does not
quite understand it, but she is sensi-
tive to the sensation. The entire world
looks different to her. AS 1t appears
different. so she accommodates her
views and opinions. All the time her
thoughts. transformed as they may be,
are honest thoughts-to her.
g Eve hodx, Ic Gee y;10 Wnn,0
The New York herald., 1922-06-04
SUPERSTITIONS THRIVE IN COLLEGES WORLD OVER

important duty, so the fetish that 1t
is unlucky to turn the mattress while
making the bed is badly bolstered.
The old Scotch saying that when
a bride enters her new home a ban
mock. or oat cake, should be broken
over head is true in the highlands and
lowlands of the land of heather. 1t Is
an old Pict custom, typifying fertility
just as the scattering of rice and the
orange blossoms wreathing the brides
hair mean the same thing.
The New York herald., 1922-06-04

a comparatively small percentage of
the beliefs in the supernatural is found
among collegians.
my belief in the fact that to dream
of wedding means DEATH" stated one
California student. founded on the
fact that ten years ago / dreamed that
my father was being married, and he
died in the very same night. He had
been Ill only three weeks.
The New York herald., 1922-06-04
As Everybody Is Stealing Woman
Thinks She May Steal To,

Everybody, 1t seems, to the right
and the left of her, Is stealing. So she
begins to steal. What's the harm2
The thing would be stolen anyhow.
Or she hears of millions gained
The New York herald., 1922-06-04

: .s1,yI T1,,i ISS7s : = y,
The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1922-03-06
"A
WE'RE COLD TO REFORMS

We have not had in our time PreSI-
dent who was Il business man or who
tad close acquaintance with business
methods. The Chief Executives have,
for the most part, not been executives
as that term is now understood. Any
thing but. TheX regarded the govern
lLental machine as one regards IL hired
motor cara piece of mechanism in
which to get somewhere, and with NJ
thought of its pOWer-transnissiOr
system or economy of operation.
Mr.. Taft did sense the fact that b"
was at the head of an organization
whose activities are almost as varied
as those Of the entire business world.
Mr.. Harding, I believe, shares this
feeling.
AS Mr.. Taft pointed out, this great
organization has never been studied
III detail as one piece of >administra
tive mechanism. No comprehensive
effort has been made, until very re-
Gently, to list its many activities or to
group them in such way as to pre-
sent a clear picture of what the gov
eminent is doing No satisfactory
statement has ever been published of
the financial transactions &C - ->nv-
The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1922-03-06

You can rent a book for cents
per day in the Book Exchange of
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