davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-07-22
THE APOLOGY
Gan Independence Day Story.)
pxx No esx o,a;ca ltoxx,ior


Copyright, 1922, by Wheeler Syn
dictate, Inc.)
There was no sunlight in the dis
NAL basement room where Pietro
had gone at the urgent invitation Of
the corpulent man who answered to
the name of Boss" Heavy cur
tains shfouded the low windows
and an unpleasant dampness per-
vaded the place. On tine table be-
tween Pietro and Boss was sput-
tering candle, wedged, into the neck
of fat beer bottle. The foreigner
watched the shadow of the fame as
it danced grotesquely on the white
washed wall, and a nameless fear
chilled his blood. He scraped his
chair uneasily in the darkness.
What's the matter, Pietro" de-
manded Boss. His heavy lips
smiled, but under the shaggy gray
eyebrows his cold, flinty eyes were
sneering gimlets. Don't like being
in the dark, do ye?"
Pietro shook his head with en-
phasis. mo, Signor Boss" he re-
piled, cropping for the English
equivalents to express his contempt.
AT my home ees always sunlight,
ees always warm. Here the wind
freeze the blood. You live IN cellar
where ees no sun, no air. Ugg! Ees
like grave-no good" Boss
Boss chuckled and tapped the table
| with a thick finger.
! Amt it the truth" he agreed
heartily. tits rotten country, and
no mistake And tomorrow they're
going to celebrate the independence
Of America, land of the free. Amt
that a scream, Pietro! The only
guys that's free in this country is
the ones with the dough. The others
do as they're told. See what
mean?"
Isl, Signor," said Pietro. uncer-
tainly. His troubled stare sought
the crazy, jumping shadow on the
wall and he thought it must be like
the chaos in his mind.
when come to thisI countree,
he volunteered after a pause, Il
buy pushcart and sell banana.
make fine money. Then everything
Is cost high. The money goes Onl,
last night, signor-"
The fat man flung himself oppor'
ltuneiy into the breach.
Don't l known he pursed. 1O1t
Hewson raised your rent again.
IPietro confirmed the information
tgloomily. "SureI thought SO
Leave it to guys like Hewson tt
bleed you to the last drop. Hin
land that skunk Mobray-"
| @Hobray!e Pietro. startled, re
peated the name In shrill astonish
ment. "Sigror Mowbray is YER fin
imam. He buy my banana"
j Boss laughed rancorously.
Sure he Does" he admitted witt
Z cynical twist Of his heavy lips
And he sends flowers to the hous
when the woman's sick, don't he
Sure-I thought 90. Well, d'y
know who owns your shack? No
! Bray.
| "Ees signor Hewson. I think,
. corrected Pietrp, politaly.
tn fhfnk n11i a 49, -
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-07-22
The Daily Short Story

shortly. "Eewson's only the agent.
Mobray is the main cheese He or
dered your rent to be raised. And
tomorrow, in the town hall, he's
going to tell us how grateful we
ought to be for living in free coun-
try. He ought to be stopped, and
stopped for good!"
Isl, Signor Boss!" agreed Pietro
with sudden fire in his words. The
flinty eyes of Signor Boss mar
rowed until they became mere Sits
Of glittering light. He leaned across
! the table and whispered into Pietro's
ear. Pietro blanched under his
swarthy skin and stumbled wildly
to his feet.
But the fat man did not abandon
his wheedling argument. He talked
rapidly, convincingly, and, at last,
to his great satisfaction, he saw the
fruit peddler drop into his seat
again. An hour later, when Pietro
stepped out into the afternoon sun
light, there was a stiletto under his
shirt and five crisp 500 bills in his
pocket
He did not steep that night. His
mind was too crowded with plans
and the terrors of the law that
AWAITED him if any of those plans
should go wrong. Towards morn
ing, however, he managed to doze
OF into light slumber. When he
awoke his eyes rested on an I'M
familiar object which was hanging
on the wall beside his bed.
1t was the portrait of a man with
homely, rugged features, in which
there was note Of breeding sad
ness. Over the picture had been
draped an American flag. Before
it stood Gino, straight and tall for
his 10 years, in the uniform OF a
Boy Scout. At the foot Of the bed sat
Luisa, watching him with black eyes
that sparkled with PRIDE,
ALREADY he is a fine American
soldier" she exclaimed delightedly
in their own tongue to Pietro. "Sa-
lutte the flag for your papa, Gino.
The boys heels clicked obedientiy
his hand shot into position, and be
+ repeated the words OF the salute
Pietro listened, dazed, but tdmiring
). What does It mean-that?"
"Cino Is fine American" Luiss
repeated, proudly. To-day he zoe.
to march in a parade to the towr
hall. What Go you think Of that
!. Maybe, too, some day he'll be pres
ident-"
PRESIDENT" Pietro. routed tn,
}. idea bitterly. Not Gino. He il to.
,, poor"
He was poor, too," protested tn,
boy, pointing to the sad man. mo
body thought he would become i,
president. But he did. Miss Ros,
Q says he became the greatest of then
Iall."
Pietro smiled tolerantly.
Il think me-" he said irrelevantly
that son we 60 back home"
9 The old country" Luisa's voic'
/! brfstled with scorn. What wer,
. you at home, Pietro Tagalinf?
: slave. Here you make more none,
iin a week than you made in the oil
country in a month. Some da,
maybe youu own : dno big frui
1toeol i II
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-07-22
Argus Information
Bureau

@. How much money did Andrew
Carnegie devote to library endo"'
ment? J. {. w.,
A. Carnegie endowed ISL u
braries with a total of $6O,364,ooe'
q. What is meant by a Saving
wage? S. Il r.
A. Secretary of Labor Davis 10
recent wage discussions has distln.
guished saving wage from
living wage" by stating that !! =
wage which assures the WORKER
Ia margin over and above inu
amount required for his and nis
! family's subsistence in health anu
! reasonable comfort. .s
@. Does the superintendent OF
poor farm have a right to open Inc
| mail of inmates? D. a.
A. The postoffice department says
! that the sealed mail of persons Nv
/. ing in a county home is as iul!
protected from unlawful openins
as the mail of any other citizens.
The mere fact that the inmates aie
SO unfortunate as to have been COIL
! PEELED to seek shelter in an lns.l.
tuition maintained for the indigen1
gives the superintendent no license
/, to interfere with their letters.
@. Do all governors have Tue
! power fof .vetoing acts Of state les
! islatures! X. R. J.
A. The governor of North Cafo.
lima is the only governor who aaS
not the veto power.
@. How wide is the Engiisn
channelr E. II.
A There is great difference - :,
the width Of the English channe'
J In different locations. From usn'
ant to the Scilly Isles the az
!, tance is 100 miles. The width 3
the Straight Of Dover, tie narre
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-07-22
SOFT Pressure d Hard Arteries.

People had blood pressure as
we'll as neuritis and adenoids and
appendicitis and even autointoxica-
ton, long before grandma was born.
only they dicn't talk and read so
much about it as We do nowadays.
They just grinned and bore It or
turned up their toes or.said maybe
they'd outgrow it Blood pressure
has always been, at least since
Adam was given something to
worry about But after all, it is a
good thing We have blood pressure.
but 1t is absolutely essential for
the proper circulation of the blood.
So when you hear Of any one hav-
ing blood pressure you may know
that at any rate he is still alive.
Arteries began hardening in liv-
ing men long before Harvey won
his position as q copy book char
Acter, only in the old days the doc
tors weren't so arbitrary as they
are now and didn't conclude that
the hardening in the arteries ac-
counted FOL, the mans age. For all
they knew the mans entire system
might be undergoing a similar de-
generation, though they could only
speculate about it, because it was
illegal or immoral or sacrilegious
to attempt an inside investigation
Of such matters.
The fancy that a hardening pro-
cess in the arteries is the deter
ininant factor Of senility or old age
is founded upon the most primitive
study of the arteries. With a fin
ger on the radial (pulse) or tenn
porN artery one feels the artery
and rolls it under the finger as a
tense cord, il it is hardening OF
hardened. The healthy, young or
normal artery cannot be distin-
guished from soft tissues by the
finger. The arteries of the aged
are most frequently palpable; ergo
'sThe man is as old as his arteries
But it requires more educated
touch to note the dryness of the
skin, its lack of oil, though the man
is just as surely as old as his skin
the woman too. Still more skill is
required to determine the condition
of the muscles, or the bones, or the
various organs, yet the man is as OLE
as the Oldest of these. Much more
nearly correct and scientific to say
a man or woman is as young as he
or she can jump high than to draw
any arbitrary conclusions from the
feel OF the arteries.
/ An individual whose blood pres
sure is markedly greater than The
normal land l decline to tell any
body what the normal is for AM
age) commonly has arteries which
can be distinguished under the fin
ger, and this fact readily suggest.
to the inexpert hardening OF tn.
arteries. But when and if the ex
cessive blood pressure is brough
within normal bounds again, tn,
error becomes evident, for now tn,
arteries cannot be palpated. In
creased blood pressure is not nee
essarily Indicative Of hardening O.
hardened arteries. On the contrary
the examination Of a series of per
sons with UNREASONABLE arteries
clerosis hardening of the arter
ies) demonstrates that a consider
able share, perhaps the majority
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-07-22
II think We 60 back" Pietro re-

Il think We 90 back" Pietro re-
peated firmly. Half an hour later
his reluctant feet were propelling
him in the direction of the town
hall. Once he paused on a street
corner, delaying his ordeal for a
moment. Raising himself on his
toes, he looked over the heads Of
the spectators, who we're watching
the parade. A detachment of Boy
Scouts was marching past And at
their head, cleaner and straighter
than all the rest, marched his Gino,
bearing the c0lors!
Pietro's cheeks flushed with pleas
ure. He wanted to jump and shout
"Bravo!" SO that all the world
might know whose boy that was.
His son! Then q new thought
to rob him Of his enthusiasm. Gino,
a mere boy. loved this America, be-
lieved in the future it held for him
and was proud to bear Its flag! But
he, Pietro, a grown man, had re-
nounced 1t and was going to COM
NIT murder because he could NOT
stand the hard times. Hard times!
Back ct home there had been plenty
OF hard times. But that had not
made Of him a traitor. q murderer
He slipped brown hand Into the
| pocket Of his trousers. The bills
there seemed to reach out and
scorch his fingers. He wheeled i'm
pulsively and stumbled into a little
park that skirted the street.
There was a deep pool in the
very center Of the park. Pietro drew
| the stiletto from his shirt and nuns
1t into the water. Then, rs be
turned to leave the place, some in.
stinct caused him to look up and hi
saw the face Of the sad man, rugged
and homely in bronze, - II had
been in the portrait. But nov, q,
no stared at it. Pietro was sure b,
saw . Smile ct the corners Of thoet
]; stern. grim lips. The greatest d
them all had . smtls Of ApprovAl--
for him!
49, - q =
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-07-22

THE DAY AFTER.

Just yesterday you were child
And gay young man;
The thought Of sere and yellow age
Was absent from my plan:
But now I'm feeling old and gray
For you were fourteen yesterday.
Yestreen you were q little Lass
And / q carefree lad;
Today, alasI I realize
That I'm a fullhedged dad.
No longer does my youth hold sway
For you were fourteen yesterday.
Fourteen! Time speeds US swiftly on
Toward mystic goal.
But one may travel cams regret
If one is clean of soul
I think, my dear, that should pray
For you were fourteen yesterday
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-07-22
Showing Up the Importers.

CONSERVATION has been thrown into the
ranks Of the importers combination which has
been fighting the pending tariff bill by the
announcement that members Of congress would
take exhibits of foreign made goods to the
people in their home districts during the re-
cess and let their constituents see what Ameri-
can industries are up against This is said to
be the first time that the importers have had
the fight carried into their corner Several
months ago Chairman Fordney Of the ways and
means committee thought it would be good
idea, since the importers combination was lam
basting the protective tariff SO mercilessly, to
make quiet investigation Of the enemys own
camp and ascertain whether they were really
in earnest in their predictions Of high prices
to follow the Republican tariff bill, or if they
were merely throwing a smoke screen around
their own operations. The results of his inves-
tigation were startling even to Chairman Ford
ney. He showed that on a large number of
imports investigated the importers were max
ing uncomfortable profits.
The exposure quickly put the importers
combination on the defensive, and they con-
centrated their vast influence in a publicity
cent Of profit. The figures showed profits rang
while they did not gain any ground, they man
aged to hold their position. Then Chairman
McCumbek Of the senate finance committee
published a long list Of imports showing the
landed cost Of the articles mentioned, the
prices at which the importers disposed Of them
to American purchasers, and the spread, per
cent Of profit The figures showed profits rang
ing from 225 to 1900 per cent. The McCumber
| heX
alton, and before they could recover from the
blow Senator Watson published another list of
imported articles which likewise showed con-
clusively that the importers combination was
literally looting the American purchasers, and
added to this species of refined banditry they
were inducing each purchaser to sign petit
ton to congress to defeat the rates provided in
the pending tariff bill. These petitions de-
seconded ON congress like leaves from an au-
tumn wind.
In addition to this the importers are said
| to have organized q paper institution known
as the National Housewives league. with Off
ces In New York city, which was supposed t.
speak for the housewives Of the nation, and
this league has been engaged in broadcastins
propaganda all over the country. Many other
costly methods Of publicity were put into oper-
alton for the same purpose, and the expense Of
maintaining it no man can estimate. OF course
the importers can afford to kssHat mp because
of the hinge profits which they reap from tn.
goods bought abroad. But this latest move
finds the importers unprepared, while congress
has tho goods and can present unimpeachabl,
testimony ~ to the movement Of every article
involved It u Promised that the voters an
going to learn some things about the Importer
which win nAkssths lsttr sor1y no STARTED
r. NaAH
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-07-22

p Rock Island county and the legal profess
sion sustained distinct loss through the death
OF Judge Frank J. Landee, who was drowned in
Rock River while on an outing with party Of
friends. Judge Landee was completing four
year term as presiding officer Of the Rock Is
i nd county probate court, had been nominated
would have been chosen for the latter post at
the November election.
j. In his official work Judge Landee had won
the confidence and respect of attorneys and
litigants. and particularly had demonstrated
his fitness for the duties Of his office in con-
hection with dependency and delinquency cases
involving young people with all Of whose Diff
cuIties he showed sympathetic understanding
that brought resulting happiness into the lives
u many people. Judge >Landee always hesi-
tated in sending a boy or girl to disciplinary
institution, and never did SO where he saw an
opportunity to place them where parental care
and direction offered the slightest promise Of
effectiveness. There are scores Of boys and
girls who owe their present improved status to
the kindly counsel and helpfulness Of Judge
Landee whore they might be serving sentences
In some reformatory institution had they been
taken before judge OF less concern in their
personal welfare.
A Judge may be harsh yet Just in applying
tie law. Judge Landee. especially in the cases
of'1rst offenders, believed that the human ele-
nent should be permitted to prevail II there
vas q chance for the offender to 60 straight
without punishment. and he deserved that
chance. Judge Landee gave It to him. And his
Judgment rarely went amiss.
Judge LAndee was blessed with magnetic
personality and a joviN disposition. qualities
that made him favorite in all circles in which
no moved. He had started on what was des-
tined to be brilliant legal career and place
OF prestige and prominence in the community.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-07-22

An optimist is a man wbe buys a straw hat
IN August and lays 1t away in the belief that II
VIII be in style year hence.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-07-22
HEALTH TALKS
do not have high blood preasure
By William. Brady, M. |


do not have high blood pressure.
When this point is accurately DC.
termined by measurement, . ma
jority Of cases of acknowledgements
will be found with blood pressure
rather too low. Perhaps the most
significant thing about a blood
pressure which is high enough to
prevent or postpone the issuance
Of life insurance policy to the IN
dividual, is the frequency with
which chronic neuphritis (Bright's
disease) manifests itself in the sub
sequent history. A blood pressure
which is above the normal bounds
should be a warning to investigate
carefully the state Of the kidneys.
High blood pressure In itself Is
only one feature of disease.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
Room for Rolling.
How much space does one re-
uuire to take somersaults?
DR. M. s. B.
Answer-Some folks require 10
acre lot. have q mat two feet
wide and FIVE feet long, especially
made for somersaulting, and l can
roll somersaults on this till the
cows come home. I've said a thou
sand times that one should do these
rolls when he or she has nothing
on. Two mats, or one 10 feet long
might be better for the very digni
fed, but have just one mat.
roll a forward somersault and ther
use the same mat again to roll q
backward somersault. The back
ward roll is more of an accomplish
ment.
Prickly Heat.
Can you tell me what causes mi
laria rubra and how to relieve 1t
o. w. P.
Answer-It is caused by the re
| tention Of sweat in the sweat duct
from inflammatory swelling of tn,
ducts. 1t is known commonly a,
prickly heat, but sometimes a doc
tor calls it miliaria rubra ant
charges $40 for the diagnosis, o.
lichen tropicus or strophulus a
corresponding rates.. Relief is Civ
| en- by sponging or bathing witt
dilute alcohol or witch hazel or an,
alcoholic lotion, followed by a dust
ing with zinc stearate powder O.
plain talcum. Occurring as it doe
chiefly in infants, prickly heat is
! burning evidence that the infant /
dressed too warmly.
| Nervous Breakdown.
Does any one ever recover fron
nervous breakdown? is.
| Answer-There is no such condi
ton. Nervous breakdown" is
vague term applied to many differ
ent states.
! How to Get Rid of Ants.
4 Please tell me how to get rid @
ants. They are running all owe
the kitchen, pantry and porch.
! MRS. W. C. D.
/ Answer-Squirt kerosene or gas
oline in their nesting places if 20
can trace them. A syrup made b
boiling a cupful Of sugar in half
pint Of water and mixing with one
eighth ounce of arsenate of sod;
; again boiling, and straining, ma
be set about on sponges where tn
/, ants run.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-07-22

DeWolf Hopper. resisting his wife's divorce
suit, says the case will be tried in the courts
and not in the newspapers. DeWolf probably
has passed the age where publicity would do
him any good
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-07-22

Inn Charles Garland, a millionaire, is reported
to again have decided to give his fortune away.
But you'll observe that he hasn't gone any fur
ther than arriving at the decision. Il
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-07-22

Mrs. Coogan has asked the court to appoint
her legal guardian Of her famous little son
Jackie. Is it possible that Jackie has begun
stepping out?
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-07-22

j ALLAN A. Ryan, New York plunger. has
failed for $32,o00,oo0. But the little fishes who
got trimmed wont even get their names in the
neHsnapers.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-07-22

A prominent movie actress says that she is
broke. What has she done with all those hun
dreds Of thousands that the press agents have
been connecting her with?
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-07-22

TOTHER day while We were getting the
haircut that we threatened to get week ear
lief the barber asked if We had any children
other than the Young Rufiian. Yes, said we,
I'VE have q daughter" Younger than the
boy?" he asked. mo, she's fourteen" We told
he exclaimed. 80. Probably he was deceived
because We still retain our youthful figure and
have no beard worth mentioning.
NOW, PEGGY, YOU'VE STARTED
SOMETHING.
Listen, Peggy: How many gang into that
bathroom, anyway? II not more than three at
any one time what's all the boiler? What's
your phone number?
Chi-July 20. TUCUMCARI.
GEORGE YUIE, district superintendent of
the Illinois Anti-Saloon League, lists Rock Is
land as one OF the medium wet" cities. De-
catur he says is absolutely dry. For further
statistics ON our little ship Of state We suggest
you consult the Yule log.
PEAN OF WRATH.
What oh what, to do when agents come a-rap-
ping at your door!
| When you're safely rid of one, you have to face
dozen more.
| Oh, l say, is there no justice, and in Gilead
| no balm?
They arrive in droves and punches and pro.
coed without Qualm:
Don't you want to buy set Of books, all
| beautifully bound
And printed on thin paper-this one here is
| called The Hound
or the Baskervilles' and this one Sudden Death
| Of Cross-Eyed SINE,
A dollar down then two week until the enc
| of time"
Gould you use a box OF soap-hakes, or .
| thing -a-ma-jig for pressing,
Or a can Of three-in-one oil-also used in salad
dressing
1t is fine for frying doughnuts or to polish VI
your car
Is wonderful hair tonic-takes oil wart.
without scar"
oh just to be rid Of agents, would go to an!
land
To Indias icy mountains or to Greenland.
| coral strand
Or the cane-brakes Of Alaska or most an
place that be-
I'd even go to Poland as a member Of the See
Or back to Dixie-whefe came from-rm i,
an awful stew
may gather me an army, alice samee Roder
lex Dhu
Or who it was-I do not know-they've got m
on the run
laugh. hollow. mirthless laush-her
comes another one!
| lie MoouEuR