davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The New York herald., 1922-12-24

awake listening to them, getting a thrill
now and then when the voice came close
They thought it would make great story
To tell the folks at home. At last they
fell asleep.
''Well. the yelIs that woke me up this
time made me grab my flashlight and
jump for the back room. The fellows wife
lay there screaming like a wildcat. eyes
popping out of her head. His knees were
across her body. and his head and shoul-
ders clean through the window: I could
hear him kind Of gurgling outside. I took
hold of his feet and pulled him in onto the
bed. It was minute or two before he
could say anything.
He had been sound asleep when pair
of big hands took him by the throat He
couldn't make much noise because his
wind was cut off; he tried to pry the
fingers loose. but they were too strong for
him. Little by little while he struggled
and fought. the thing that had hold of him
dragged him across his wife and out the
window. When his head was outside, in
the bright moonlight. he got the worst
scare of all His eyes were open; he could
feel the hands on his neck. and a pair of
hard forearms and wrists but whatever
had him was invisible as so much air
he reckoned if the hands hadn't let go
when 1 grabbed his feet he'd have died of
fright.
''They came into my room, both pretty
shaky. and l made some coffee while we
waited for daylight. After breakfast
drove them To town; he said he wouldn't
The New York herald., 1922-12-24
In the South Sea Islands sleeping huts elevated keep
living things but ghosts cannot be kept

about My hair felt kind of brisuy-I
didn't sleep much that first night could
hear them talking plainly. You know
speak native pretty well; it's queer how I
was always Just on the point of under
standing what they said When I held my
breath and listened I could get a word
here and there. but 1 could never quite
make sense of their talk. Finally
dropped off to Sleep
The New York herald., 1922-12-24
Hard to Explain.

AS for the truth of this story ann sure
of one thing at least: the man who told
it believed what he said. Nearly every
white man you run across in the islands
has had some experience OF this sort.
Among the natives, Of course, the existence
of spirits is an admitted fact, and though
they live in terror Of the souls of the newly
dead many Of their ghost stories are de
void of anything ghastly, terrible or grim.
Not long ago. on Tahiti, I heard of a
curious and rather we'll authenticated
ghost.
An hour before sunset a native boy was
wading along the edge of the lagoon, spear
in hand, on the lookout for fish. It was a
lonely stretch of beach, place where
thick hibiscus trees overhung the waters
edge. All at once-seeming to come from
the other side of a little point that jutted
out into the lagoon ahead of him-he heard
a sound of singing: a sound which i'm
pressed itself so strangely on his mind
that he went ashore and made his way
quietly through the bush toward the in
visible singer. Finally he saw her--a
woman, sitting on gnarled limb, far out
above the water. Her back was toward
him: her dress was drapery of strange
cloth, beautifully white; she was combing
her long black hair with a curious three
toothed comb, and as she combed she sang
over and over again the same haunting
and monotonous little song. The watcher
crouching in the underbrush. knew at
once that his eyes were gazing on an
extraordinary thing; everything about the
woman was uncanny-her clothing, her
comb, even the song she sang. Some of
the words he understood; there were others
he had heard old people use and many that
he had never heard before. In the end
twig cracked under the boys foot; the
woman turned her head with an air of
sudden panic, and the next moment she
vanished before his eyes.
All evening in the hut where he lived
with his grandmother the boy was singing
the little song which would not leave his
mind. The old woman seemed puzzled, and
finally she spoke. Where have you heard
that song?" she asked; "you-who know
nothing of the old tongue of Tahiti? When
1 was child my mother used to sing those
words-the combing-song of the women
a hundred years ago"
Such incidents, which happen every day
in the South Seas. form an accumulation
of evidence not easy to explain away. Per-
haps-if spooks do walk the earth-they
may reveal themselves in the islands with
less hesitation than elsewhere-here in an
atmosphere of sympathy. and in places
where every square foot of ground is
underlaid with human bones. Sometimes
feel my own convictions weakening.
especially since the day when 1 saw some
thing, at in the afternoon, in bright sun
light, on an open stretch of beach. But I
have said enough-no doubt your credulity
is already overstrained
The New York herald., 1922-12-24
A Troubled World

HHESTERTON. who wrote What's
Wrong With the World" has added
the following dictum: The matter
with the modern world is the modern
world, and the cure will come from an
other"
Nicholas Murray Butler says that the
matter with the world is ''fanatical nation
alisn-"
William McFee. who wrote "Casuals OF
the Sea-" &c. says the sticky Inolasses OF
propaganda" is what is tbs matter with
the world
The New York herald., 1922-12-24

~ been to a seance, or experimental
with a ouija board, or read what
Conan Doyle and Sir Oliver Lodge have to
say about the spirit world The spirits,
in fact, seem to have attained recognized
position in society: they are consulted on
a variety of questions, ranging from the
welfare of relatives who have passed on"
tit is no longer fashionable to say
passed out" or even passed away"D-
TO the whereabouts of a schoolgirls mislaid
purse. But if you are one of the few still
unconvinced take my advice and buy a
ticket for the South Sea Islands-prefer-
ably to one of the groups in the eastern
Pacific.
In those remote lands, where the names
of Lodge and Eusebia Palladino are un-
known, you will find a race which has
communicated with it's dead since long
before the dawn of history-men and
women to whom the world of the dead
Is as much an actuality as the living world
about them. Native superstitions? Per-
haps. I can only reply that after a few
years in the islands the most slleptical
white men seem to change their views.
In the Cook Group, six or seven hundred
miles west of Tahiti ! was talking one
evening with an American, the manager
of a coeoanut plantation. I suspect that
he is from Missouri-at any rate he is
as hardheaded and difficult to convince
as the traditional citizen of that State
Ghosts" he said; there are plenty of
EN- in these islands At home, I used
to laugh at that sort of stuff but l know
better now. Yes, I've seen them once or
twice; lived three years in house where
you could hear them moving about and
whispering all night long. You know
the place-that little plantation back of
Titikaveka 1 used to run it for the German
company 1 cleared the land and built the
house myself.
when we chopped down the bush on
the knoll 1 chose for a house site l found
the finest marae / ever saw outside of
the Marquesas: a heather temple nobody
lad laid eyes on for a hundred years. 1t
was kind of big terrace. built with
slabs of black volcanic rock. One corner
Of my house came right over the marae.
and | had to get another white man to
help me move the rocks away. Couldn't
hire native to touch a stone. Some of
the Kanakas are good friends of mine:
several old boys dropped in to warn me
against trying to live in such a place
they reckoned it was bad medicine.
The New York herald., 1922-12-24
First Experience With Ghosts.

'In the old days. ii seemed, hundreds
of human sacrifices had been hung up
there, and high chief named Manotini-
n first class cannibal fighting man-was
supposed to be buried in the place. He
still wandered around on moonlight nights
in the form of a big red rooster-the ole
men had heard all about it from their
grandfathers 1 laughed at their yarns,
of course, but when my house was finished
and had moved in l began to think may
be the natives were right, after all.
"It started one night when 1 was walk
ing home from Titikaveka. 1t must have
been eleven or twelve o'clock; the moon
was fun, and it was light enough to read
a paper without straining your eyes. When
I got close to the house 1 saw something
moving on the path ahead of me- there
wasn't a cat or dog on the place, and
wondered what else would be wandering
around at that time of the night. Then
1 saw it was a big dark colored rooster
standing there looking at me in funny
kind of q way. He moved to one side as
1 passed. and kept on looking at me.
This is a queer country sure enough
said to myself. First time l ever heard of
n place where chickens come down off
their roosts and prowl around at night.
I didn't think of the yarn about old
Manotini until I was in the house and had
the lamp lit in my ROOM
II was baching it then-living all alone.
My room was in front. opening on the
veranda, and there was another bedroom
behind mine, on the corner where the
house was built over the old temple. When
I blew out the lamp and rolled in I was
The New York herald., 1922-12-24
For Business Women

~ EEKMAN HILL, in East Fiftieth
* street, is comparatively owned
home for business women opened
less than a year ago. It houses forty
three women who are buying their apart
ments out of their salaries
Another house of the same kind is being
put up opposite Beellman Hill to be called
Knickerbocker House. There have been
already 200 more applications for apart
ments than can be accommodated.
The New York herald., 1922-12-24

sleep another night in my house if 1 made
him present of the whole layout!
The New York herald., 1922-12-24
By CHARLES B. NORDHOFF.
Author of "The Fledgling."

MOST everybody, nowadays, has
been to a seance, or experimental
with a ouija board, or read what
Evening journal., 1922-07-28
BROOKLYN BRIDGE
Says UNDER WEIGHT

NEW YORK. July 2s-(Uuited
Press. )-Brooklyn Bridge a struc-
tural wonder to the world when it
was built, is slowly sagging under
the weight Of its traffic burden after
forty years service New York engi-
neers reported today. One Of the
huge steel cables that supports the
bridge and tons OF traffic that goes
over it each day has slid from It's
saddle according to the report which
was to Commissioner Grover A.
Whalen.
Whalen on receipt of the informa-
ton issued orders to lessen the bur-
den of passengers. vehicle. elevated
and surface car traffic.
The use Of the bridge for auto traf-
fic was placed under the ban re-
Gently. Orders were issued to ele-
waited and surface lines, making it
compulsory to keep a certain dis
lance between cars.
Commissioner Whalen, while ad-
hitting the seriousness of the
BRIDGES condition, said there was
no danger that it would collapse
Consideration of remedial meas
ures will be taken up soon by the
board of estimate, he said.
Evening journal., 1922-07-28
OFFERS TROPHY FOR
CONSISTORY OUTING

Extemporaneous talks by three
members, Charles B. Palmer. the
Rev. Zach W. Wells and DR.. John
Palmer, Jr., marked the weekly
luncheon of the Delaware consis-
tory Luncheon Club today. The
speakers entertained the members
by discussing popular topics Of the
day, pausing on interesting subjects
connected with lodge life.
The booster prize, an Eversharp
pencil donated by Louis Rosenblatt,'
was awarded TO II. J. Donahy.
Charles NJ. Banks displayed tho
handsome silver trophy which he
has presented for competition be-
tween the Masonic Band baseballl
team and the Delaware Consistoryl
baseball team at the first annual OUT
ing of the Consistory at Lenape Park
on August 8. Mr.. Banks, who is di-l
rector OF the Masonic Band, Joking
ly remarked that he brought the cup
up so the Consistory members could
have at least one look at it. The tro-
ply. which is a large silver base IaI
Supported on three bats, stands about
10 inches high and has space for an
The Consistory has
practically completed plans for tho
outing which promises to be the big
best social affair of the summer sea-
SON in Masonic circles.
Evening journal., 1922-07-28
WARRINER DOESN'T
KNOW OF MEETING

SCRANTON. Pa, July 2S.-(Unit-
ed Press)-Represen Of the
anthracite coal operators will meet
with the mayors of the six principal
cities of the hard coal region in
Philadelphia at 2 o'clock Tuesday af-
ternoon of next week to discuss with
the city executives the plan of latter
for a settlement of the strike which
has tied up the industry April l.
Coincident with the announce
ment of this decision came the as
sertion by Warmer, who is Presi-
dent Of the Lehigh Coal and Navi-
cation Company and chairman of
the producers general policies COM
mittee, that the operators were not
giving any consideration TO any new
proposal that they had no intention
of renewing negotiations with the
leaders and that they were
standing pat in their support of the
plan of President Harding to arbi-
trate the wage dispute.
Evening journal., 1922-07-28
MICH. GOVERNOR
WANTS ACTION
Doubts Harding's View That
Government Cannot Set
tie Coal Strike
LEGISLATION TO
BE SOUGHT LATER

LANSING. Mich. July rs CUnitedi
Press)-Governo Alexander j..
Groesbeck today took exception to-
the policy of President Harding in
the present coal strike crisis.
The President in a letter under
date Of July "a. stated;
81 do not know any way OF set-l
Ting It (the strike) under the legal
authorities which are now possessed
by either State or Federal governs
ment"
The Michigan executive came back
with a sharp letter DECLARING that
the national government has tho
power and authority to protect our
citizens from the embarrassing stu
alton that faces us"
>''You will pardon me for taking
this position" wrote the Governor
Il do not see how we can concede
that such power does not exist"
To warn that the people were ber
coming impatient of further delay
in the adoption OF measures that VIII
spell an early end of the matter"
the Governor wrote, was his motive
in writing the nations chief execu-
tive today.
The Governor finished by declar-
ing there being no dispute over
wages or working conditions. Il
seems a pity that the public must
be made to suffer without any Justi-
fcation whatever.
President Harding, IN his letter to
the Governor, went into the general
situation and said. mainly leglsla-
ton must be provided and mean 20
submit the whole problem to Con-
gress at the earliest consistent time
after the House reassembles."
WASHINGTON, July rs. Omitted
Press) President Harding today
forwarded an answer to the chal-
lenge of Governor Groesbeck for
government action in the coal strike
The contents of the answer were aot
given out here.
Evening journal., 1922-07-28
VoULEY BALL PLAY.

DR.. w. E. Harris will make an
address at the Newport Fairgrounds
on next Monday evening. when the
volley ball season opens there. Prior
to the address. there will be a, pa
rade of children and a community
sing.
1t is planned to play a series of
volley ball games on the grounds
every Monday, Thursday and Fri
day evenings.
The teams will be in charge of
the Rev. V. W. Moore. Everson Bull
len, Hyland Lyman. Wilmer Boyce.
Charles Brinton and Henry r. Seeds
as captains.
Evening journal., 1922-07-28
CONFIRM SALE

Chancellor Wolcott confirmed re-
turn of the sale of real and personal
property, of the Kiamensi Beverage
Company today. The return was
made by John J. Satterthwait. receiv-
er. According TO the return. the real
estate was sold in three parcels for
s24.O5O
The springs and bottling plant
were sold to Louis Jossloff for s21,-
900. Three acres of unimproved
land was brought by Joseph NJ.
Woodward, for $3.50. and the ware
house was bought by William Fred
erick for 800. The personal prop
erty was sold to various bidders.
The total amount from this sale was
s7,042.75.
Evening journal., 1922-07-28
FASHIONS AND FADS.

Plaids in light tones will be worn
for morning.
Embroidered panels reach from
shoulder to hem.
Large flower-trimmed hats have
transparent brims.
Evening gowns are quite long and
brilliantly gorgeous.
The most elaborate bridal gowns
show the double train.
Dnaperies are still good, especial
ly for afternoon frocks.
The long sleeve, rather tight, is
in high favor, even for sports gar
ments.
There is a tendency toward tunic
skirts and double skirts.
Tucks are fond of running cross
wise to the mode this season.
Taffeta dresses are trimmed elab-
orately with lattice work.
Evening journal., 1922-07-28
To LAY CHURCH
CORNERSTONE
(contInued From First page.)

CONTINUED From First Page.)
year at the Marshallton Church and
ever since he came has advocated a
new church. He, with the trus-
tees. is experimenting the coDstruc-
ton work.
The old church was built in 1886
and was used for several years as a
union Sabbath school and later used
as the Union NJ. r. Church, OF Mar
shallton. II contained 1900 square
feet of floor space while the main
floor of the new church will have
$500 square feet, and with the base
ment which is the same size, the
new building will have more than
5000 square feet Of floor space. The
building is so arranged that provis-
ion is made for a main church audi
forum with separate rooms for the
Sunday school classes all Of which
will be on the main floor while the
large basement will be fitted up for
recreational, social and general COM
munity work. being provided with
a large platform, water supply and
other conveniences necessary to
AdhH cdit VI Nlt WOIks
MarsEallton has long needed such
a building and more interest Is be-
ing shown every day as the work
progresses.
The people of the community have
worked every night for some time
preparing for the occasion tomor-
row.
The supper which is to be served
under the auspices of the Ladies'
Aid Society. win be served in the
new basement which will practically
be completed for the occasion and
the combined cornerstone laying
and supper show promise of the
largest gathering ever held in Mar
shallton.
United States Senator L. Heisler
Ball will attend and be toastmaster
at the supper.
The Methodist Church choir and
the Marshallton orchestra will fur
nish music.
Evening journal., 1922-07-28

Frank Dennis. Negro. charged with
attempted larceny of chickens from
the yard of James Tibbett, 1913 S.
DUPONT street. It was brought out
that he served nine months impris-
onment for chicken stealing last
year.
Deputy Acknowledgement Souther-
land said that after he had been
caught in the Tibet yard. with
bag under his arm, Dennis said
that he was just looking around"
The court sentenced Dennis to
six months imprisonment.
Pleading guilty to a charge OF lar
ceny of a watch from the homo of
Irene Rounds. Negroes, 1897 Wilson
street. Paul Gross. Negro. II years
old, was sentenced to fifteen months
Imprisonment and to pay s25 restt-
tuition and costs.
Gross was arrested after he had
attempted to pawn the watch. He
had previously been an inmate of
the Ferris Industrial School.
Watty Wanamaker Negro. plead
ed guilty to a charge of escaping
from the workhouse and was SEN
fenced to six months imprisonment,
10 commence July 81, 1928, when his
present sentence will expire.
He was serving a sentence OF four
teen months for larceny when he
walked Off and was later found at
his home in Middletown.
Judge Rodney admonished him
that those prisoners who do not will
ingly Join the other workhouse pris-
oners in the administration of the
honor system will be forced to obey
the rules of the institution.
A plea of guilty was entered by
Robert ]. Morris. Negro. TO a charge
of larceny of pair OF shoes from
Miller Chrisden, Negro. Both Ne
groes lived in a house in Taylor's
row. Morris has been convicted sew
eraI times before OF charges of lar
ceny.
The court sentenced him to fifteen
months Imprisonment, to be whip.
ped with 8 lashes and to pay SO res
titution and costs.
Arthur Gaines, Negro. pleaded
guilty to a charge of larceny Of a.
basket of cabbage from a Pennsylva-
MIA Railroad freight car in the East
Third street yard. Gaines. it was
shown, has a long criminal record.
The Negro was sentenced to 6
imprisonment, TO be whipped
with 10 lashes and to pay IS resti-
tuition and costs.
Evening journal., 1922-07-28
TOT browns
IN RIVER At
NEW CASTLE
CONTINUED from First Page.)

CONTINUED from First Page.)
the river and given her a plunge,
and returned her to the sandy
beach, while he gave the other
daughter dip. He called back to
Jane, Ger, ready, Jane, it is your
turn. next" and to his surprise on
turning, little Jane had disappeared.
Rushing to the shore he began his
vain search. Several other bathers
and persons on the beach at the time
failed to notice what had become of
the little tot, and bent their efforts
to find her.
For hours. during the afternoon
and men with boats and drag nets
combed the beach front in a search
for the little girl.
Mr.. Moyle, taking a lantern, Joined
in the search along Battery Park
water front. about $50 O'Clock last
night. AT 9.45 o'clock. Mr.. Moyle re-
covered James body.
He called to William II. Beck, OF
1875 Harmony street who was near
by and Mr.. Beck carried the body
to the automobile of Mayor Cramer.
who took It to the morgue of Chand-
Ter H. Gebhart.
Coroner Bullock was called and
gave certificate of accidental
drowning.
Just prior to the time the child
was missed. a torpedo boat passed
down the river and created large
incoming swells, which is thought to
have enveloped the baby and car
ried her out into deep water.
These boats make unusually large
swells and several years ago local
hshermen complained to the Gov
eminent about them running so fast
up and down the river causing
swells that tor ether boats loose
from their moorings.
Mr.. Meredith at first thought the
child had hidden in the tall grass
and bushes surrounding the beach,
or had attempted to find her way
back to her aunt's, Mrs. Harry King,
on Harmony street and the Strand.
where he and the family had ar
rived but about one-half hour before
little Jane was drowned.
Mr.. and Mrs. Meredith had been
spending the past week with his sis
ter, Mrs. Carl Snellenburg at Belle
fonte and arrived at the home of
Mrs. King shortly before the acct
dent.
About o'clock Walter Wipf.
local mechanic, set off a large
charge of dynamite in the river in
the vicinity of where the accident
happened. 1t is thought this ex-
ploSlon caused the body of the child
to rise to the surface.
Owing to the drowning. residents
of the city are demanding the pass
age of an ordinance TO regulate the
hours of bathing at the beach and
the appointment OF a competent life
guard to remain on duty during the
time bathing is permitted. While
little Jane was the first drowning
here for years. there have been nu-
merous near drownings IN the past
few weeks and only the timely as
sistance of young men. who hap
pened to be near. prevented at least
three drownings within the past two
weeks
Evening journal., 1922-07-28
SUSPEND BATHING
SUIT" PREACHER

LAYTON. Okla. July 2S.-The
Rev Thomas J. Irwin. bathing
suit parson," was indefinitely sus-
pended today from the Presbyter-
ian Church which he founded here
twenty years ago.
Irwin, who gained notoriety by
marrying a couple in bathing suits
sevenal months ago, was found gull
ty on ecclesiastical charges by the
FL Reno Presbytery. which had been
trying his case in secret since Mon
day.
Irwin now faces arson charges in
district court here. He is charged
with attempting to burn his church.
Evening journal., 1922-07-28

Frederick I. Hanrahan, OF 900
Adams street, died at his home this
morning. He had been in failing
health for a long time.- being a suf-
ferer with rheumatism. For many
years he kept a hotel at Seventh and
Lombard streets. He was a mem
Der of Wilmington Aerie of Eagles.
His funeral will be held on Monday
morning. with services in Sacred
Heart Church, at $50 o'clock, and
interment in Lawncroft cemetery.
Evening journal., 1922-07-28
IRVING WARMER IMPROVED.

Irving Warner, 1109 Broome street
has returned from Bellefonte, Pa,
where he went earlier in the week to
recuperate in a santarium from an
attack of tonsilitis. He expects to
remain in Wilmington a few days
and return to the Pennsylvania town.
His brother, Charles Warner. Re-
publican State Chairman, is enjoy
ing a brief cruise in his yacht on
Chesapeake Bay.