davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1923-05-30
Deaths Reported.

The following deaths have hccn reported 10
the health department in the last twenty four
hours:
Sarah H. Sheldon. Il. GeorGeown University
HOSPITAL.
Elizabeth Cooper. -. Tuberculosis Hospital
Maggie NJ Hill. 80. Providence Hospital
Joseph Novak. 43. George Washington Uni
versity Hospital.
Winnie Rird. 30. 425 Hcmlcys ct sw
Edna Scott. -. Georgetown University Hos
pital.
Andrew Smith. 73 16S Morton ST.
Caroline Colbert. -. 3.aa 60th ST. ne
Carrie Mann. months. Frcedmen's Hospif l.
Evening star., 1923-05-30

Carl and Thsima L. Hess. ira boy.
Howard L. and Margaret ". schiosser, gira
Ernest A. and Louise NJ. Roehin, boy.
Edwin N. and Anna T. Swing, girl.
Earl H and Mildred ]. Owens, girl.
Henry =. and Irma II. Anthony. boy.
James A. and Alice n. Moran, boy.
William A. and Enie b. Weaver, hoy.
BENJAMIN and Lena Levin boy.
Louis n. and Mary A. Klein, girl.
Willlsm @. and Mary shreve. boy.
Jerry and Bertha Bolden, girl.
Charles E. and Bessie l.. West, girl.
Clarence and Minnie NJ. Mickey. boy.
Evening star., 1923-05-30
Births Reported.

The following births have been reported to
the health department in the last twenty-four
hours:
Thomas w. and Alma walsh. boy.
Myers and Emma Yalam, boy
Joseph and Hazel C. Perron, girl.
Charles II. 5r., and IAns Barton, boy.
William A. and Fannie v. Meiklejohn, boy.
Francis r. and Catherine G. Kemp, boy.
Eugene e., jr., and Anna NJ. Stevens. boy.
Edward A. and Mary X. Green. girl.
Richard Fl. and Marie y. Smith. boy.
Alfred ]. and Clara y. Bell, boy.
Evening star., 1923-05-30

II you would be hero to your valet
you must be your own valet.
Evening star., 1923-05-30

$4,000 AII-over Embroidered Sash Tie
Suits, in navy plquetine. $3.50.
S$795o Navy Blue and Black Twill Suits,
with long sash tie Jackets, aii-over enbrofd-
cred, $3.50.
s-s75 90 Side tile Suits, short and medium
length Jackets, with braided and embroId.
cred borders-in beautiful auality--navy,
black and tan twill cord, $500.
Evening star., 1923-05-30

5-$s5oo Navy Blue and Tan Twill Cos.
tune Suits, with ALL over embroidery and
braided Iacquettes, $3675.
1s-S5soo Strictly Tailored suits, long
panel and hip length one-button Jacketsi
finely tailored, In navy blue and black twill,
$3e75.
f2-S55oo SemI-taIlored Suits. In navy and
black twiIs, with tucked panels and bordersi
ribbon bound and If-strapped, $36.75.
$3.50 Tan and Gray Twill Cord suits
In blouse and slde.tled models; very smart,
$36.76.
s-ses.5o Three piece Costume Suits, navy
and tan twill Of fine grader braided loose box
Jackets, $3675.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-06-02

John Lynn, a student of the
Princeton University will deliver the
sermon at the Presbyterian church
tomorrow.
The borough council will meet on
Monday night.
The next meeting of the Board of
Heath is scheduled for June Ia.
There will be a dance at Cough
Inns auditorium tonight.
Mrs. Frederick F. Simons entec-
tanned a group of friends at her
home recently.
The Girl Scouts are selling tickets
for the play. THE House of Mys-
terry" which will they will p resent
at the school auditorium on June Is.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-06-02
WANT ROAD REPAIRS

sPoTsWooD, June 2:-Residents
living along the Millbridge road
leading from the Englishtown road
into Millbridge are planning to ap-
peas in a body before the officials of
Monroe township at their next meet
ing ana urge immediate repair of the
Millbridge road.
The twenty-sixth anniversary of
the Spiro Shadyside Resort was cele-
brated recently.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-06-02
CARTERET

Seats will be reserved at the Car.
tere Methodist Episcopal church
tom rrow night for the members of
the Masonic and Odd Fellows
lodges. Rev. J. A. Campbell, Of
Elizabeth. will preach the sermon.
The musical program will include
Eggert's orchestra and a male quar-.
tet from Woodbridge.
Evening star., 1923-12-30
"ABOLISHING THE FICTION HERON
Stephen Leacock Talks on Value of Crime.

i, But, it is understood that man, or
at least a Harvard graduate. must
not use force against slip of a girl
| So. in default of a decent ending. the
story has to run off into slush.
! Ending it up is quite simple; it
| would probably be done somewhat as
| follows:
"I'm not thief" she repeated
| She looked at him for a minute
| proudly, defiantly; for she came of an
| old family just as proud as his. Her
people had had the same summer
cottage in the Adirondacks for six
years running.
John Curbstone looked at the girl
| calmly. Miss Chetwynde," he said
eff you are not a thief, will you kind
| ly tell me why you tried to rob my
| safer" When he calls her Miss Chet-
wynde" this is meant as an indication
| to the reader that Curbstene knows
her.
"Oh, how can L explain?" exclaimed
the girl wringing her hands. "you
wouldn't understand! You couldn't
1
| much! There is so much to do with
money, so much suffering to alleviate!
/ And you with your great wealth, you
do nothing. Ask yourself she con-
| tinued, her voice thrilled with ear
| nestness. what do you do for social
! service, for sanitation, for refores
1 tation, for the girl guides, for the Boy
/ Scouts"
] John Curbstone hung his head with
a groan. Nothing" he said.
This afternoon" the girl went on,
| 'I came to your office. ] asked you
for a hundr ed thousand dollars for the
/ metropolitan police picnic. and you
| refused"
Miss Chetwynde," said Curbstone
in the same clear. even tones that he
had used earlier, II did not refuse. I
| asked you to marry me. It was you
| who did me the honor of refusal"
1T maddened me-" the girl went on,
"and ] determined to take your,
| money, yes, take IL, and give it to
the police. If that is stealing, j
don't care. Then came here to rob.
you. The police themselves lent me
the jimmy! Oh. it was madness. mad
ness---"
She paused. They were both silent
for moment. Then Curbstone reach
/, ed out and took her by the hand.
Miss Chetwynde--Alice." he said,
don't you think we have both been.
/ q little wrong-
| She looked UP timidly. "A little.
John, dear" she murmured.
| Copyright 1e23,
Evening star., 1923-12-30

= WANT to lead a bold national
movement for the abolition OF
the heroine out Of our literature.
In my opinion the time has come
when this young woman has grown
to be a nuisance. She just cutters
all our stories up.
What I mean is this. Open any
story of adventure or excitement or
crime, and you find that 1t runs
along admirably for a certain dis
tance, but just when 1t is getting
exciting and worth while. in steps
the heroine and spoiis it.
Let me give an example of what
I mean. Every reader of up-to-date
fiction will recognize the thing in
minute. Call the story:
AFTER MIDNIGHT,
How the Heroine Spoils a Crime
Story.
Now we begin.
John Curbstone is young bach
elor clubman of great wealth. he is
a man Of culture. being a graduate
of Harvard University. (In all these
stories Harvard is the best place to
graduate them from. 1t sounds far
better than the Minnesota AgricuI-
tural College.) He is keen sports
man, because this enables him to
wear the right kind Of breeches for
the illustrator to use-shaped like a
ham at the hips and tight at the
knee. All Harvard graduates wear
them. He plays polo. golf and bridge
would drink only brandy and soda
il he could get hold of it and has
one Of those clean-shaven, aristo-
cratic faces seen only in democratic
country.
He lives-with q butler who doesn't
count and some servants who don'i
come into the story-in large sand
stone. house on Riverside drive. This
family residence had belonged tc
lCurbstone's father before him, which
shows that his family is an old one
Indeed, the Curbstones have lived
on that street for thirty years. which
gives young TCurbstone a sense Of
oblesse oblige' toward the whole
district up to 125th street.
The scene is now laid.
Returning home late one nigh,
from his club Che never leaves hi
club till 1t shuts), John realizes thai
his house has been burglarixed. II
the dining room the sideboard ha,
been rudely broken open, apparentl,
with Jimmy. A glass still reekins
with ginger ale rests on top OF it; al
open bottle, evidently opened with {
Jimmy, is near it.
In the corner of the room the iror
safe has been forced, most likel.
with a jimmy. There is a Hitter ol
bonds and family jewelry on thl
floor. IT Is clear that the burglar
has been interrupted At his work. i
10 likely that hs issstill On the prem
1BVUa
Evening star., 1923-12-30

IoHN CURBSTONE stands motion
- less in the center of the room
listening. There is absolute silence.
There is no sound in the still house
but the ticking of a clock.
Then. as Curbstone listens intently,
his ear Just catches a faint sound from
behind the closed door of cupboard.
The burglar must be there hidden be-
hind the doori Curbstone draws his
revolver from his hip (it was the re-
volver that he had used that night for
playing poker) and levels it full at
the cupboard.
81 shall count three he announced
in clear, even tones, 'and if you are
not out of that cupboard then, 1 shall
fire through the door, Curbstone
counted, still in clear. even tones.
"One, two"-but just as he was going
to say three. an agitated voice. ex-
claimed. "Oh. please don't shoot" the
cupboard door opened and there step
ped out into the room
A girl! Just think of it-a girl!
And what makes it worse. only mere
slip OF girl. If it had been a big
one-you know, one of those great.
big. fne-looking ones. 1t would not
have been so bad, But this one is
only a slip!
She came forward toward John
Curbstone. her large blue eyes dis
tracted with apprehension. She was
in evening dress. with a light peig-
noir or baignoire or boudoir thrown
about her shoulders. please don't
shoot" she repeated Cat this point in
the story the illustrator gets in his
work and doesn't have to read any
further).
Curbstone lowered his revolver.
49," he said. sternly, you are a
thief" The girl shuddered into her.
self. The word seemed to sting her.
Evening star., 1923-12-30

told me that New York had a future
for me.
Again I found myself in the Ameri-
can metropolis after thirteen years
experience at sea--in my twenty-sixth
year. Once more I was debating the
question as to how I would be able to
leave the sea and obtain suitable
position on shore. The old saying
"once a sailor always sailor" seemed
to be my fate; and yet there was q
determination in my mind to seek
other occupation.
+ + +
ONE evening I was passing down
- Broadway below 14th street, in
those days the fashionable part Of
town, when / CHANGED into theater
to witness a performance given by =
famous Shakespearean actress. The
house was crowded with a. weIl-dressed
audience and the performance was q
most satisfactory and enjoyable one.
Toward the end of the third act,
one of those extraordinary happen
ings took place which often bring
death in their train. At one Of the
most dramatic parts Of the piece some
one in the audience raised the awful
cry OF "firew
Instantly all was confusion.
Tho audience arose as one body and
made q wild dash for the front exit.
Intent on watching the men at
work putting out the fire, I was OBJ
livious to my surroundings, but was
suddenly brought to a realization of
my position by being knocked down
and almost trampled.
Although there were several side
exits, from which the people could
have made their way in safety. every
body seemed determined to get out
by the front door. Seeing an oppor-
Evening star., 1923-12-30

I'VE would like to come ON board
at dawn"
Both vessels jogged. along, we un.
der our usual sail, the ship reduced
to maintopsail~ and jib. At daylight
she reuhded-to; we came up on her
lee quarters and lowered our main
sail and jib; tenders were thrown out
from the ship. our boat was made
fast. and all hands jumped on board
of the Lough E. In few minutes
the Comet was dropped astern and
made fast by good strong line.
AS we stepped on deck the crew
of the Lough E gathered around us.
We had not been shaved. or shorn
for more than eight months; there
fore, each one had luxuriant
growth of beard and hair flowing
over his shoulders that would be
the envy of many a maiden.
Withal, we looked so strange that
many of the crew could not restrain
themselves. They laughed and Won
dered and laughed until the captain.
a very stern old British skipper,
stamped his foot and checked them
sharply.
The captain requested me to fol-
low him to the cabin.
He asked my intentions. l told him
that personally should like to con-
tinue on to Freemantle, but having
in mind the dangers that would be-
set small boat at that season Of the
year, and in those particular lati-
tudes. l was somewhat undecided.
Besides, 1 had, after many weary
months. found solid deck under my
feet, comparative comfort and lux
ury around me in the cabin. and a
splendid. well rugged. seaworthy ship.
AS / looked aloft, 1 confess my
heart started beating faster because
| of the fact that 1 was once more on
! the deck of a fine ship. The captain
| advised against proceeding lin the
boat. However, did not decide until
after consultation with other mem
bers of my crew.
Fleming looked at me as / asked
which he preferred. to go to Mel
bourne in the Lough E. or to con-
| tune on the Freemantle in 1.-The Com
ct. / could detect a change in his
! eye. That blue, flashing Celtic eye
| was moist, and barely could he re-
| strain the tear that was ready to
gush forward.
Captain" said he, Il am perfectly
willing to accompany you alone to
Freemantle in the Comet, if you
desire. ] hate to leave her. To me
| she is the best little ship that ever
j fioated."
We'll. Fleming said /, that
statement is more sentimental than
logical. 1, too, feel like going on,
but still there are grave dangers in
covering the 600 miles that lie be-
tween us and our port of destination.
There are dear ones pouring out their
prayers to heaven that we may re-
ceive succor and rescue. The rescue
is now at hand. and it seems we
would do wrong to throw away the
means that God has put in our path,
a means of rescue that we all know
to be practical certainty. for one,
however sentimental. that has its
risks and probabilities.
However. in this case, I shall not
force my judgment on my comrades
They. have been wise, true and loyal;
therefore. each one shall express for
himself just what he considers best
to do"
BREAKFAST over, 1 called my crew
- to the mast and, beginning with
Jackson, asked each one his opinion
Evening star., 1923-12-30

| The confusion in Broadway was ter
| rific, for, although the theater-goers
were out OF actual danger, their minds
were still filled with the dread OF dis
aster and they were fighting TO get
away from the building as though 1t
had been full of explosives.
The horror of the spectacle, in
which people appeared converted into
madmen performing acts that in nor
NAL circumstances would not have
been credible, stopped us. grasped
his arm and pointed,
look! They could all. have got out
in two minutes. All they had to do
side doors"
They've gone clean crazy" he an
iswered.
| We made our way along the street
One of those rapid acquaintance
common in such crises sprang up be-
tween US. He suddenly remembered
that he ought to hasten home. His
mother and sister knew of his pres
ence at the theater. II they should
hear OF the panic before he came, they
would be seriously alarmed.
But" he urged, ,corne home with
mel
lUTHEN we reached the house where
he lived a great surprise awaited
me.
was able at once to recognize his
mother as one of that family which
had embarked at Queenstown on the
occasion of the voyage in the immi-
grant ship. Her recognition of my
self came just as quickly.
Were you not a passenger on the
Lady Downshire?" was my first ques-
ton. She answered affirmatively, add
/ ing that she remembered me-
| And how is little Kathleen" !
asked. "The wild Irish rose every
body loved so aboard the Lady Down
shire?''
| My friends sister. after the word
Of introduction, had sat silent, her
eyes intently on my face. Now her
imother, instead of answering me,
smiled in the daughters direction.
There was a ripple of laughter and ]
saw that the mother was pointing
at her daughter.
This was the little Kathleen
For a moment I was too astonished
to speak Her brother, who was still
full of the excitement of the theater
panic, began telling about the scenes
! in the theater and outside. We were
a while talking it all over. When u
| said good night II was with an invita-
ton to visit them again soon.
| fully intended to!
So in about the space of an hour OF
a single night my whole future life
was suddenly shaped in two impor-
tant directions-in the two most i'm
1 portant to any man. the work he does
and the home he returns to when his
work is done
| I Quilted the sea for good and be-
came a New York fireman. To my
| fourteen years as sailor succeeded
thirty-six years as a fire fighter, in
the course of which / have been so
fortunate as to become chief OF the
fire department Of the city OF New
York and active head of the most
capable fire-fighting force of any city
! of any country. I believe. But that
story must come later-and shall.
| ~ In the same hour of the same night.
lowing to the casual meeting with
man had never seen before, ]
jreached another journeys end; In this
instance the one that the proverb de-
scribes as the lovers meeting. II was
mot really long (although it seemed
long them before Kathleen and j
were engaged, then married.
| This has been the longest and hap
piest of my voyages. You see, we
are sweethearts still.
copyright, 1927
Evening star., 1923-12-30

TIME next morning, three hours
after sunrise, we set sail. We
had a good stiff breeze from
west nor'west. The boat be-
haved splendidly. In seven hours, or
about two hours before sunset, we
landed safety in. Ship cove, Pos
session Island.
The change from Hog Island to
Ship cove. on Possession Island, was
a welcome one. The cove was much
better sheltered, the beach far more
inviting, and the stores, which we
found on our arrival, a godsend.
To our delight, we found biscuit
marmalade, jam, tea, coffee, soup
bouillon Ga luxury we had not known
for months), underclothing, socks,
outer garments, shoes and caps.
What pleased me most were sextant,
a pocket compass, small epitome Of
navigation tables and watch. In
addition, there were some necessary
articles of running gear, water casks;
in fact, most everything one could
think of as needful to refit a crew of
shipwrecked sailors.
In addition to the above there were
books, magazines and newspapers.
The newspapers were of a date about
three months prior to our arrival.
Every bit of news was read and re-
read. Imagine our astonishment to
read in the ship news that our ship
had been posted as missing for
months and eventually given up as
lost The announcement was almost
in the nature of a man reading his
own epitaph in a graveyard. Here
we were, alive and hopeful, yet our
friends throughout the world gave us
up for dead.
note which we found in the pro-
vision cache revealed the fact that the
place had been visited about six
weeks before by a British naval cor
vette: consequently we might not ex-
pect another visit for nine months or
year, perhaps, except perchance
some whaling vessel or other wan
derer put in at Ship cove for water.
In view of these circumstances and
our great desire to be reunited to CIV
ilization, the decision was promptly
made to sail for Australia within
week. We calculated that with even
ordinary good luck we should make
F'reemantie in three weeks.
This settled, We proceeded to make.
q fire and cook our evening meal. No
feast, in ancient or modern times
from BelshazZar to the monkey
feasts of Newport, could equal in
zest our first meal on Possession
Island.
Four or five days was spent at the
cove. There was no reason why we
should delay any longer, SO. on the
fifth day, at sunrise. we put to sea,
bidding a glad farewell to the bleak,
barren Crozet Islands.
Evening star., 1923-12-30

She didn't mind breaking open Curb
stones safe, but when she was called
3, thief she was stung.
I'm not a thief" she painted
There, Let us leave her a little.
painting, while 1 talk about her. 1
have seen that girl come out of that
cupboard and similar places so often.
I know that just as soon as the man
in the story opens q cupboard door or
draws aside a curtain out comes "a
slip of girl" He hears a noise in
the attic. What is there? A girl. He
hears some one in the cellar. Who is
IT.? A girl. Who did it? A girl--a
mere child,
NOV what 1 say is that this kind
: of thing is running our best sto-
ries. In the one have just outlined
when the cupboard door opened Curb
stone ought to have been confronted
with something worth while-a bur-
CLARA real one, with short-cropped
hair under a low cap. with a dark
lantern in one hand and a Jimmy in
the other. Then, when Curtstone said
sternly, 80, you are thief" the bur-
glar could answer, 'I sure am.
Or better still, the door might open
and three burglars come out, or even
four, in short, cupboardful of bur-
glars. Even if it has to be a girl,
why make her slip? Why not let
it read There stepped out of the cup
board great big girl about six feet
high and at least seventeen inches
around the neck"
In any such case the adventure and
excitement of the story could con-
tinue. There could be tremendous
fght--in which, let us hope. they
might have killed Curbstone and sent
him back to his club dead and SO
put him out of literature forever.