davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-04-20

{ the ducks remain on Lake Merritt I'M
til we'll in February, seeming 10 know
by some physical barometer of their
own, Just when the ice Is going out
In the Yukon, so that they are safe
in starting northward.
Study of the birds on Lake Merritt
has developed some very interesting
facts. For instance, when the ducks
first arrived they were least afraid
of the attendant who fed them, and
| finally lost fear Of him altogether.
playing about his feet and eating from
his hands like poultry In a barnyard.
This attendant has evolved a shrill
| whistle, at sound of which the ducks
from all parts of the lake will come
flying at top speed, tumbling like
| divers on the grass in front Of him
| to receive their food.
1t was also found that the ducks,
even On the first day Of their arrival,
| were absolutely unafraid Of an auto
| mobile. If a human being on foot
disturbs them when they are on the
land. or when on the water close to
shore, they are still not frightened
enough to take flight. The appearance
Of a dog, however, even at q distance,
Is sufficient to send all the ducks rush.
| ing to mass together In RATS In the
center of the lake. The result Of this
last discovery Is a new ordinance
forbidding the taking Of any dog to
the park during the time of the fes-
tival.
By the time the festival is held,
midway Of the season of the ducks
in Oakland, the birds, of course, have
! lost all fear of human beings, either
on foot, or In automobiles, since they
are accustomed to the visits Of thou
sands of men, women, and children
every Sunday. Even during the pag-
cant, however, the log boom across
the upper end of the lake remains
closed, and the boats are not allowed
in the part of the lake reserved for
the birds, so that young ducks, or those
| which are new to the lake and all the
people, may retreat to the center of
this preserve and there remain uH-
disturbed.
What first attracted these wild
ducks to Oakland for the winter has
never been satisfactorily explained
AS a general rule, wild ducks shun
civilization; they seem to sense
danger. That is why the hunter uses
decoys and blinds in his effort to
bag them. At first only few ducks
dropped into Lake Merritt on their
way from the north, and as they were
not annoyed by the hunters gunshot,
dogs or other enemies, they remained
| for the winter. The number of feath-
cred visitors has increased each year
until the present tremendous f1ocks.
Under the present federal migratory
bird law the birds now have a chance
to hold their own and even to increase.
They cooperate with man by taking
every advantage of protection with
almost human intelligence.
Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-04-20
APPROVE HIGHWAY PROJECTS
According to Announcement OF Bu-
reau Every Type Of Construction
Is Represented.

Ninety-three road construction prob
ects In % states were approved for
federal aid during October by the Du-
reau Of public roads, United States
Department of Agriculture, according
to a compilation just made public.
Virtually every type Of construction Is
represented in the approved projects.
The states in which these projects
were approved and the number OF
projects approved in each state fol-
low: Alabama, 8; Arkansas, 3; CaD.
fornia, 2; Colorado, l; Florida, 1;
Idaho, /; Kansas, 8; Maryland, B;
Massachusetts, 2; Minnesota, Is; Mis-
sissippi, 6; Missouri, 4; Montana, 1;
Nebraska, 2; Nevada, /; New Mexico,
2; North Dakota, 2; Ohio, 2; Okla
homa, /; Pennsylvania, s; South
Carolina, 5; South Dakota, /; Texas,
8; Utah, 1; Virginia, II; Washington,
/; Wisconsin, 2, and Wyoming, L
The longest single stretch Of roadway
approved in one project during the
month was an earth road In Calhoun
county, Mississippi, 353 miles long;
the shortest, 90 mile, was a brick
road in Stark county, Ohio.
Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-04-20

and every variety Of firearms are
barred from the park In which the
lake is located, from the time the
ducks begin coming in until they have
left in the spring.
Due to this protection, an annually
increasing number of ducks are now
actually remaining every summer to
nest and rear their young IN reed
grown corners of the lake, where they
are rigidly protected and fed all the
year round. The result is that May
and June see many families Of ducks
on this lake, in the midst Of the best
residential section Of Oakland.
The young of these city-bred birds,
urged By nature to return to their
birthplace for their own nesting the
year following their birth, naturally
Increase the number of resident ducks
on Lake Merritt, until in time there
will be a large flock Of permanent
birds in the city.
The first wild ducks to arrive In
the autumn are pintails, which begin
to settle down on the lake by the
last week of August, and by the first
OF September are on hand by thou
sands. The majority Of these come
from the klamath lake reservation,
near the border line of California and
Oregon. The pintails are the most
clannish Of ducks. flocking together
In large "rafts" on the lake, feeding
together in fiocks, and parading up
and down the lawns in regiments.
They are almost as fearless as the
mallard-said to be the ancestor Of
the domestic duck-and soon lose all
fear Of man.
The second autumn flight Of ducks
includes pintails, widgeons, teals, shov-
elers, and mallards. This migratory
horde comes about the middle Of Oc-
tober, and from much farther north
than the Klamath reservation, the
movement having its origin In that
part Of Alaska known as "the fats"
consisting Of about 300 square miles
of marshlands in the vicinity of Circle
City and Rampant. AS the feeding
and nesting grounds become frozen.
the ducks start southwark, and the
time Of their arrival, Of course, de-
pends to some extent on the weather
conditions on "the flats" This flight
Is much larger than the first, and
brings the bulk Of the birds to Lake
Merritt.
There is a third and last flight.
which comes from even farther north,
starting in the Yukon delta. In this
flight come myriads Of shore birds, a
few Of which visit Lake Merritt, but
the most of which hunt the mud flats
farther south, along the coast Of Cal
ifornia. Lower California. Mexico, and
Central and South America. Travel
ers in this flight begin to arrive
shortly after October 18th, and thou
sands Of them go to their favorite
feeding grounds in the vast marshes
between San Francisco and Sacramen-
to. This flight ends the arrivals, and
Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-04-20
Would 7 ,stpone This Expense.

The dom Of the proposed Victory
Memorial building in Washington
would be virtually a huge service flag.
1t would be studded with five million
stars-gold for those who died, blue
for those who served. The plan is
to have each star engraved with the
initials of the soldier 1t stands for,
so that future visitors will be able to
distinguish them, with the aid Of a
telescope. from the floor below. The
American Legion has taken the stand
that the erection Of the expensive me-
mortal should be withheld until there
are fewer suffering veterans on the
streets.
Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-04-20
AERIAL. POLO Is NEW SPORT
Alrplane-Toy Balloon Game One Of
Features at Recent Legion Enter
tainment In Florida.

Aerial polo is the latest sport. One
Of the chief features Of an entertain.
ment given by the American Legion at
Miami. Fla. was game Of polo
staged high in the air. sans mallets,
sans ponies sans ball, sans everything
except a dozen nimble aviators and
saveral dozen toy balloons.
Every sort Of twist from the Immel-
mann turn to the maple-leaf drop Is
called into play during the contest.
Here Is what happens: A motorboat
loaded with the many-colored balloons
Of the proverbial country fair plows
out into the harbor and drops anchor.
From nearby hangers come galloping
a dozen Pegasuses. They take the
air, and when they are eQuldistant
from the launch, at a safe altitude,
the little balloons are released and go
soaring upward in great confusion on
the wind.
The air rider who captures the
greatest number Is declared the win
ner. The Legion pilots who tried 1t
said that II used to be easier catching
Taubes.
Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-04-20
Prospect Of Death In Old Aoe.

fully understand that age and in
firmity make you look at death from
much more serious point of view
than when you only contemplated it as
an afar-off thing. The vague. distant
prospect which comes from time to
time during q busy life, amid many
distractions, is but dream; but death
becomes very different and far more
real matter when you contemplate 1t
in solitude and old age. 1t costs one
little to accept it from afar and gen.
erahy, b. to give ones self up delib.
erately, with a calm gaze on approach.
ing death, Is much greater struggle.
Nature must shrink from the bitter
cup, but let the inner being say with
our dea' Lord: Nevertheless not what
I will but what Thou wilt."-Fenelon
Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-04-20

which the 5000, 5000 previously ap-
propriated by congress has been put.
Up to December 81, S212,077, 7,246 had
been put to work in projects either en-
tirely complete or under construction.
To match that amount the states .p-
propriated S2S5. .379,312, making total
Of S497, ,456.55S.
If placed end to end the roads to be
paid for by this money would encircie
the earth at the equator and extend as
far as from New York to San Fran
cisco on the second lap. The total
mileage of roadS under construction
and completed, the departments rec
ofds show, was approximately N,OOO
miles. OF this milage 9,555 miles was
In projects entirely completed. The
balance Of 17,445 miles was In projects
which were still under construction
but reported SO per cent complete oc-
.toSer 81. In those projects there was
the equivalent of 1900 miles of com
pleted roads, so that the completed
road to date was more than 2l,OOO
miles, or nearly enough to encircie
the globe.
Prior to FIVE years ago the federal
government took no active part In the
road construction Of the country. To
day about one-half Of all roads under
construction are being aided financial
ly by the federal government, and the
construction is subject to inspection
and approval of federal engineers
Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-04-20

decoration only as. tribute to all
Legionnaires-and when the medal ar.
rives it will be deposited in the ar
chIves Of the Legion.
When he received the notification
of the award, he cabled Marshal Foch:
"In the name of 100000 service
men and women represented by the
American Legion, we extend through
you to the President of the French re-
public our gratitude over the tribute
profrered. Realizing that this Is not
awarded to me personally we accept
it for every man and woman Of our
organization and in extending our deep
thanks pledge to France our continued
love and devotion"
Mr.. MacNider was made chevalier
Of the Legion Of Honor on the battle
field in 1918.
Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-04-20

had been killed in action in France.
Mrs. Donohue intends this year to
erect a new newspaper building In
Cokato as memorial to my BILL
and then she intends as distant
dream, to write a book Of his life.
Last year she visited her husbands
grave at Romange, where $4,000 were
buried in the heart Of the Argonne
wood.
Probably no paper in the country
gives more sympathetic treatment to
the problem Of the returned soldier
than does the weekly at Cokato. "The
tragedy of war has brosdened my
viewpoint" says Mrs. Donohue.
"There Is much to be done, and I'm
frank to say that I expect great
things Of the American Legion as an
organization representing men who
know what the word service mems"
Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-04-20

lOASs AAS dhSNSA 10 NohiohNt NoAs
For several years now Oakland has
been the scene Of one of the most re-
markable spectacles afforded by any
city in the world. Almost in the heart
Of the city is body Of salt water,
Lake Merritt, about a mile and a
half long and half mile wide. There,
beginning early in the fall, vast flocks
of wild fowl arrive to find food and
protection. Three years ago the Oak
land municipal government set aside
for these birds a section of Lake Mer-
ritt, some twenty-five or thirty acres,
fencing 1t off from the remainder of
the lake by booms, so that no boat
could reach them. To further encour-
age them to make the lake their win
ter home, corn and wheat and crum-
bled loaves of bread were scattered on
the sloping lawn adjacent to this part
of the lake. Thus each morning the
birds would find a fresh supply of
food, making 1t unnecessary for them
to venture outside the protected area
in search of 1t. The result has been
an annual increase in the number Of
wild fowl coming to Lake Merritt,
until now at times they literally dark
en- the air with their numbers.
Two years ago Oakland inaugurated
its "Wild Duck Festival" but this
wear the event far exceeded in beauty
and scope any that had preceded 1t.
A pageant of decorated boats on the
lake, and a parade Of decorated auto
mobiles on the drives surrounding the
bird sanctuary opened the festival.
In the afternoon, hundreds Of chill
dren from the Oakland public schools,
all In costume, danced folk and out
door dances on the lawn bordering the
lake.
So tame are the ducks that they
are not frightened by the children as
they dance When the ducks do have
to move, they walk and fly among
the youngsters and over their heads
like great clouds of huge butterflies,
as II they knowingly were taking part
In the festival. Yet 100 yards outside
the park not duck can be seen, nor
could they be approached even If they
were seen. They come flying In at great
heights, and drop suddenly to the lake,
as If aware that there is safety and
food, even in the midst Of human
beings.
An ordinance has been passed by the
city Of Oakland which provides in
perpetuity for the protection and
feeding Of the ducks. Dogs and cats,
Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-04-20

When he goes into the ring with
his fire-breathing animal, he carries a
small red cloth to make the animal
wroth. He carries no sword and
trusts entirely to his adroit footwork
to save him from embarrassment at
the horns of the bull. He wears q
genuine costume Of red velvet trimmed
with gold. valued at $4,000.
The Legion has picked up the idea
Of "bloodless bull-fighting," and re-
Gently staged an encounter in the Jer.
sey City stock yards with the matadoi
armed with fence picket. Although
the matador had to jump the fence on
several occasions in order to keep the
true "bloodless" nature Of the affair,
he succeeded in putting on a good
battle.
Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-04-20

very hard now ever stays away from
his show. He Is at present busy
sketching prominent members Of the
American Legion, outside of "hours,"
for publication in newspapers.
When Hap" enlisted IN the marine
corps at Paris island, red-necked
sergeant asked him what his Occupa-
tlon was.
Artist" said Hap.
So the sergeant put him to work
white-washing garbage cans. The
crowning disappointment Of Hap's
life Is that he never ran across that
sergeant again.
Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-04-20
Carrying On With tho
American Legion

With mingled feelings, Legion men
read that the old yellow, groanlug
Paris taxl-cabs-the vehicles that took
Gallieni's army off to fight on the
Marne, are to be replaced.
A United States maripe sold the
United States superdreadnaught New
Mexico to a retired farmer at Long
Beach, Cal, for 800 cash. Navy Of
ficials, however, refused to deliver the
ship.
An Oklahoma sheriff allowed three
killings" to take place without much
Ewing c. London, COM
mander Of the Ardmore post Of the
American Legion, was appointed his
successor.
Varying conditions existing In the
different parts Of the country will
largely determine what proportion Of
service men will desire cash payment,
the Legion has learned from its refer
endum votes.
Blind beggars sometimes have good
eyesight, the American Legion has
found. One "ex-soldier" with medals
bought from q hook shop was caught
taking $50 an hour from New York's
theater crowds.
EX-servlce men have been taksn
on to replace non-citizen employees
by a Portland, Ore, power company.
Many ex-service men Who went
back to "do Europe" are MOI stranded
in the large cities. The Legion is help
ing them book passage shack home
again"
Widows, mothers and orphans of
men who died In the service during
the war would receive vocational train
ing by the terms of bill being pressed
by the American Legion.
Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-04-20

herring lived and thrived In purely
fresh water. The owrer was 50 much
pleased with the success of the expert
ment that he then began daily to re-
move small quantity Of water from
the bowl until it was empty. The her
ring seemed to do very we'll without II,
and, since 1t was so lively in the empty
bowl, the owner had to put it into
cage. There it lived happily, hopping
from perch to perch, just like a bird.
until one day some sudden noise upset
and startled 1t, and it fell into the
water trough and was drowned.
Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-04-20
GOOD USE FOR SUBSTITUTES
Gravel and Macadam Can Be En-
ployed Until More Durable Type
of Road Is Built.

II will require several years for the
United States to carry out the plans
for comprehensive system Of hard
surfaced highways. Until such time
as the main highways can be built Of
the durable type, gravel and macadam
may be used as substitutes, but what
the whole country wants and demands
are real honest-to-goodness good roads.
Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-04-20

trap-door spiders, employ similar de-
vice. But nothing is too old or too
good to escape the efforts Of improve
ment. A Belgian, Joseph Henri Die
rick, invented a door Of a new type,
consisting Of two triangular parts
which close together on a diagonal
line, running from one lower corner
of the door, opening 10 the opposite
upper corner. The two parts, or
leaves, are pivoted in such a manner
that when opening they swing into
partitions in the ceiling, leaving an en-
tirely unobstructed passage.
Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-04-20

cllned the award
Of commander Of
the Legion Of
Honor" proffered
by the French
government. Mr..
AfacNider, as ma
tional commander
Of the American
Legion, adroitly
shifted the honor
to the heads Of a
million soldiers.
He said that he
could receive the
Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-04-20
CUSTOM LONG KEPT UP

Up to few years ago horse, sad
died and bridled, stood in the stables
Of the vivyans (Vivian, as 1t was
spelled in the old days) of Trelowarren
Cornwall, Eng.) ready for use night
and day. For 900 years horses had
succeeded each other In commemora-
ticn of the escape on horseback of a
Vivian who lived In the days Of the
memorable foed which submerged the
land, some say in 1014 and others In
1899.
Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-04-20
Drowned in Fish Story

A jocose contributor to outdoor Life
is the author of the most delightful
fish story" we have read In a long
while, says the Youths Companion. An
interesting experiment, he says, was
tried some time ago with an ordinary
saltwater herring. The fish was put
into a large bowl Of salt water, and
every day a small quantity of it was
removed and an equal quantity Of fresh
water substituted until eventually the
Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-04-20
HIS CONDITION

"How are you coming on, Uncle
Bragg?" asked an acquaintance.
"Well, I'll just tell ye, Gabe," an
swered Old Bragg SOckery of Mount
Piggy, Ark. "I hain't doing no pertick-
Ter good. Pears Ike a doctor and
the neighbors don't understand my
case. Some says one thing about 1t
and some says something else, till I'll
be dogged II don't get to sorter
wondering whether none Of 'em have
Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-04-20

got any sense. I don't like to dis
app'int my friends, though, and I hate
to waste what I pay the doctor for.
So I've took enough Of one thing and
luther to float boat, and have kinda
got the notion that what's the matter
with me is simply what's the matter
with me. and there hain't no help for
kansas City Star.
Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-04-20

the editorial staff
Of the San Fran
cisco Examiner.
She Is now editor
and publisher of
a progressive lit.
tie weekly paper
at. C!okato, Minn.,
trying, tE keep
ing herself al
ways occupied, to
forget the day
w h en- S h e re-
ceived the news
that her husband
Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-04-20

Greenwich V J.
lage troupe. He
probably recruit
ed more marines
by h 1 s cl e V e r
sketches, during
the war, than any
other individual.
No one that ever
looked very hard
at one Of his pic.
lures ever stayed
out Of the ma
rines, and no one
that ever looks
Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-04-20
SUFFERING Is Acute,

Suffering is acute among former
service men at Providence, r. 1. The
American Legion found one man who
was discharged from job because De
was absent from work the day u child
was born to his wife.
Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-04-20
One of Largest Industries.

Road building in the United States
is one Of the nations largest indus
tries, a million men being employed
last year throughout the construction
season at building or repairing the
cOuntry's highways
Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-04-20

refreshing as a
quiet game Of
golf, Senor Char
lot Molino, IA
m o d s Castillian
.matador, has been
staging arena bat
ties all over the
country for the
benefit Of the
American Legion.
MOlino Is an ex.
German fighter,
besides being a
bull-tlghter.
Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-04-20
Asphalt Streets In Majority.

Asphalt Streets In Majority.
Virtually e1 per cent of all the mu-
nicipal streets In the United States
have an asphalt top. AS consequence
Of heavy truck traffic many Of these
streats--nre beginning to show serious
evidences of disintegration.
Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-04-20
Ultra Proof.

"Does Rambler's new wife love
him?"
Does she? Why she even takes in
washing to help him meet his all
mony."-The American Legion Weekly.
Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-04-20
yl@&igl4npajtl
&4Q6lag|!kRnllq1l !|!!
PUBLIC ROAD CONSTRUCTION
About one-Half Of All Highways Being
Built Are Being Aided by the
e. Government.

prepared by the United States Department
OF Agriculture.)
: What the new federal highway ap-
preparation to be expended under the
direction Of the bureau of public roads,
United States Department Of Agricul
ture, will mean to the country Is &C
curately gagged in a synopsis prepared
- the bureau. showing the use to
Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-04-20

ENICE is famous for her
pigeons, but where in the
world is there a city Of a
quarter Of a million Of In
habitants where hundreds
of thousands Of wild
ducks make q sanctuary
of a beautiful lake within
the corporate limits, and
where each year a festival
Is held in honor Of these
myriads Of winged visl-
Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-04-20
SKETCHES WON:THE RECRUITS
AIvan HadIey, crayon Artist, Now
"Drawing" Some Of the Promi-
nent Legion Men.

Alvan c. c'Hap'O Hadley, crayon
expert and eX-marine, travels with q
Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-04-20
O. IhE o.
AflERICAN
LEGI0N
Copy fvI rms department supplied oy
the American Legion News Serviceo
IN HER HUSBANDS MEMORY
Mrs. Maude Donohue, Minnesota
Newspaper Woman, to Erect
Building as Memorial.

The day Mrs. Maude A. Donohues
husband enlisted she went to work on
Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-04-20
ARENA BATTLES FOR LEGION
Famous castllian Matador, Ex-Gsr.
man Fighter, Stages Bloodless
Conflicts With Angry Bulls.

To show that bull-fighting Is really
g simple. and as bloodless, and as