davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The mirror., 1923-08-30
OFF ON THE WRONG FOOT

The principal of a certain school prided
himself on the speed with which his pupils
went through the fire drill. When he
asked them, "What would you children
do if l told you there was fire in the
klilding?" the answer he had taught
them rolled with astonishing glibness from
their tongues.
One day Dr.. Henry van Dyke was to
lecture to the pupils. In introducing him
the principal asked, "Now, children, what
would you do if told you that DR.. Henry
van Dyke was to lecture here today?"
And three hundred voices responded in
singsong, "We would rise promptly, put
away our books, and then quietly and
without disorder, but as quickly as pos
sible, file out to the street.
The mirror., 1923-08-30
WHEN WE ARE OLD

While the heart is young and joyful
And the sound of laughter cheers,
While the love of friends and kindred
In our nature perSeveres;
While the soul responds to music,
To the scng that's sweetly sung
We to age have not surrendered,
On our youth the curtain rung.
But when nothing longer pleases
And our views are all askew;
When all things in life we picture
In dark and sombre hue;
When the rose has lost its beauty
And our hopes have run to seed
Then, though years be small in number,
we are old, quite old indeed.
Theodore J. Penn.
The mirror., 1923-08-30
COWBOY PHILOSOPHY

When it gifts to comm easy; when it's
framed up all your way,
When you've got 'em all a-comin' with
tn dollars out to pay;
1t just seems as though you couldn't git
in badwise if you tried,
An tn amt no game a'goin' but you're
right on tn inside;
When it gifts t comm easy, everybody
sort O seems
T. be anxious for t help you keep on
dreamin' pretty dreams,
It's when things git t comm easy
that y travel right along,
But, say! Amt it h t stop 'em when
things git t to goin' wrong!
l been punchin' long horn cattle nigh
on more'n twenty years,
I know all about their notions, an I've
Parned their likes an fears;
An they're just like things that happen
in tn lives Of you an me,
When they git t drivin' gentle, they're
as gentle as kin be-
They jist. go as smooth as kin be, not
a swishin' of a tail,
Not a battin' of an eyebrow as they
follow on tn trail,
An you hardly need t watch 'em, cause
they travel right along,
But, say! Amt it h t stop 'em when
they git t goin' wrong!
/ know it is OF feller-I have been all
through tn mill,
I've enjoyed my share of trouble, Pm
enjoyin' trouble still;
I've seen sunny days an cloudy, I've had
sumchus fare an plain,
I've had beans and bread for dinner an
l may be there again;
An I've had things comm easy, when it
seemed t be a sin
Jist t open up my tent-Aap an t let more
sunshine in,
When things git t comm easy, days an
nights 60 by like song,
But, say! Amt it h t stop 'em when
things git t goin' wrong!
81
The mirror., 1923-08-30
OBSERVATIONAL COMMENT
Continued from page I

our whole nation rubs its nose to the news
sheet to find out all about his personal
appearances and false teeth.
It's the modern pastme of Americans,
this seeking to discover the man behind
works of any kind and to most of us it
seems incredible that such men as Shake
speare should leave their works behind
without diary to disclose to the gaze
of a curiosity-crazy nation the facts con-
corning their intimate lives. We make
more critical studies of the men themselves
than we do of their work. Just saunter
over to where a couple of the intellectual
fappers" are holding down the soft pill
lows and ask one of them if she has read
$50 and Sos" works and you'll get reply
something like this; ooh, no, but he is
charming felow-T met him at the Pen
cilitis Club last winter, dark eyes and oh,
the lovliest wavy hair" and so on until
you get the "lowdown proper" on said
party. Hero worship from distance is
all very well if it keeps its proper place
but most of us go beyond real values; it
isn't this intimate personal acquaintance
with the artist that counts, his eyes, chill
dren and so on. When we edge into the
Personal Realm our interest is diverted
from the persons work, the thing he toiled
to give us. We're neglecting important
things for the unimportant when we do it.
The proper thing to do with public
speaker is to listen to him; to the artist,
look at his work and not to worm into the
confidence of his cook to get his likes and
dislikes as to shell-fsh or pickles. Europe
has vices a-plenty but this doesn't happen
to be one of them; over there they don't
confuse pajamas, hair, eyes or teeth with
sonnets and lyrics.
Criticism and gossip are two distinct
things and if America keeps on as she is
we will lose any critical sense we may
have altogether and become nation of
scandal-mongers which the press (The
Mirror exCepted) is encouraging us to be-
come as far as it is within the scope of
bold-faced type to encourage us.
When we delve into the personal effects
and relations of person there is great
deal of disloyalty involved. King Georges
dentist and barber are listened to rather
than George himself to increase our know
ledge of world politics.
Milton said a great deal in his day and
among other things, gave the opinion that
a man ought to be a true poem himself to
write laudable things we'll. He did not
mean it was necessary to probe a mans
intimate life in order to assimiate his
works. But of course, Milton didn't know
we'd develop such mad desire for the
intimate personal touch.
The mirror., 1923-08-30
CUT 1T OUT!

If you have a crouch that pains you,
Cut it out;
Or habit that enchains you,
Cut it out
Don't waste time in useless thinking;
You can't cure yourself by winking.
So just can the foolish shrinking
Cut it out,
If you're fond of sorrows telling,
Cut it out;
Ere you hear ths chorus swelling:
"Cut it out!"
Folks are bored by all this coating
And this grief charged anectdoting;
If you want to keep a-foating,
Cut it out. Selected
The mirror., 1923-08-30
MIRRORETTES

Germans crossed the Marne Septem-
Der 1, 1914
The Charleston earthquake occurred
August 81, 1886.
Next Monday, Labor Day, will be
observed as holiday in this institution.
r. L. "Protanus Vulgus" is Latin
quotation meaning: The unholy or un-
initiated rabble:
The printing department turned out
one hundred fifty pennants that are to be
used in decorating the State Building at
the Fair.
The weather was such that it re-
quired considerable activity upon the part
of the night crew to keep warm during
yard privileges Monday morning.
-Loney's All Stars are scheduled to
play here on Labor Day. They declare
that they are going to make the "imposs-
ible," possible" by winning on that day.
"A Northwest Dairy Exposition will
be held for the first time in connection
with the State Fair at Midway-between
the twin cities-September to 8 inclusive.
-"Happy" Ryan has returned from his
honeymoon and is back on the job. Mr..
and Mrs. "Happy" will be at home to
their many friends and well wishers after
September IS.
The tailor shop is getting out winter
clothing. If the weather we have been
having for the past week continues we
shall certainly be glad to shed our khaki
uniforms and get into something heavier.
1T is with pleasure we note the high
class of pictures we have been having of
late. Judging from the announcements
thrown on the screen, the high standard of
productions being shown will be continued.
Chaplain Benson returned from a va
cation extending over period of some
three or four weeks, greatly invigorated
from his outings as was evidenced by the
very forceful and splendid discourse he
delivered at chapel service last Sunday.
We wish to call the attention of our
readers who will attend the State Fair
to the splendid exhibit of this institutions
products in the State Building. The man
ufacture of twine will be shown as well
as full line of farm machinery that is
manufactured here.
Weather permitting, the St. Paul Fire
and Marine Insurance % baseball team
will play another game here next Satur-
day, and they assure us that they will be
prepared to take revenge for the drastic
treatment the M. S. P. club administered
to them on last Saturday. Our baseball
reporter has covered the game in his usual
graphic manner. See what he says abouA
it on page four
The mirror., 1923-08-30

Captain o. B. johnson, the oldest en-
ployee in point of service connected with
this institution is confined to his home
with illness. We trust that the Captain
will have a speedy recovery and serve
this institution for many years to come.
The mirror., 1923-08-30

NOTICE TO INMATES
You ARE hereby directed to place
your copy of THE MIRROR at the foot
of your bed on the morning follow
ing the day on which it is delivered
to your cell. Noncompliance with
this order will cause forfeiture of
privileges.
F. T. PIcULELL,
Deputy Warden.
The mirror., 1923-08-30
CHAPEL PROGRAM

The following service was held in the
chapel Sunday morning. August 26, Rev.
c. E. Benson, officiating:
March-The Home Town Band, Orchestra
Holy, Holy, Holy Congregation
1nVOCdUoH --------------------N
Gloria a-------------------Congregation
Scripture Reading Chaplain
Hymn-Let the Lower Lights be Burn
ing -------------------C Congregation
Prayer Chaplain
Selection-Twilight Reverie Orchestra
Sermon ------------- Chaplain
Hymn-There Shall be Showers of
Blessings Congregation
Benediction ----------------C Chaplain
Exit March-The Dauntless Battalion
X. J. REIcHKITZER,
Musical Director.
The mirror., 1923-08-30
INMATES ATTENTION.

INMATES ATTENTION!
Inmates will observe the follow
ing rules to insure prompt service.
Place register number in upper right
hand corner of envelope sin space
printed for same, and to be covered
by stamp (see card in your cell).
Sign your full name to all letters.
F. T. PIcULELL,
Deputy Warden.
The mirror., 1923-08-30
MOTION PICTURE SHOW

"The Woman He Married." seven
reel drama, with Anita Stewart in the
stellar role was the picture offering, Sun
day, August Goth.
The following musical setting was pro-
vided by the orchestral:
March-Harmony Heaven -----Barhouse
Overture-Norma ----- Bellini
Fox. Trot-Hi Lee, Hi Lo------Schuster
Waltz Intermezzo-Spring Zephyrs
Popular Hit-Hey! You Want Any
Goldfish? 1--WE Only Got Mackeral
Oday) ---------------- F1SH-HefTIHg
Grand Selection-Bombo ------Romberg
Fox Trot-Cut Yourself Piece of
Concert Waltz-Jolly Vollstedf
Melody-Rosetime -- Trinkans
Finale March-The Gallant Sevenths
r. ]. REIcHKITZER,
Musical Director.
The mirror., 1923-08-30
CELL CHANGES

Corrected August 81, 1928
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1923-01-10
READ THE JOURNALS.

Already. during the few days Of tho
present legislative session an old
evil OF slovcniiness and lack Of good
business has made its appearance. II
is in the matter of dispensing with the
reading of the previous days journal
at the beginning OF "a days session.
In the House. Monday. a motion 60
dispense with tho reading of the jour
nal was very properly defeated.
This good example should he fol-
lowed throughout tho session. Tho
previous days journal should be read
each morning. In the days of old, a
clerk would have been deeply offended
nj even tho suggestion OF such m
omission. And I'm these days of liberia
printed forms. the writing Of tho daily
Journal Ia such an easy task that q
clerk should be ashamed not 10 hav,
his Journal ready for full reading eacl
morning.
Tho House has. thus carly in the
session. set down a good precedent
Let It I've faithfully observed 20 th,
end.
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1923-01-10
IN THE WAY OF SETTLEMENT.

Tho members Of tho Debt Funding
Commissions OF the United States and
Great Britain are now I'm joint Sos
sion at Washington. entering upon the
important work Of arranging for a
settlement Of financial accounts be-
tween the two nations. growing out Of
their respective military and naval
operations during tho World War.
This conference IL n very interesting
and important affair. and much good
is expected 20 result from g..
The British Commissioners az the
outset. announced n was che intention
OF their country 60 pay rs obligations
10 the United states To the last dol
lar. All they would ask. they said,
was square deal.
And THE they should have. no
doub, will have. The financial trans
actions necessarily wero on a large
scala and we loaned Nibernily TO Eng
land " her days Of severe financial
stress II f. expected The British rep
resenta.ives Will be IN position 20 sub
mi, definite propositions today.
II would be a good thing il tho other
European nations. now 50 desperately
ombroiled IN the puzzlins and dis
tracing problems % the war could
hold confercNcs under such pron'is-
ing auspices as those attending the
conference now under way AZ Wash
inston.
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1923-01-10
DwELLING.HOUsE SHORTAGE.

In New York a continuance Of the
law providing FOR the exemption Of
new buildings from taxation Is icing
urged as the surest means II over
coming the shortage OF dwellings. But
the arguments for REMISSION 81 taxes
az a means of stimulating the build
ing Industry ara not conclusive: in
fact IN States which have granted no
special favurs 20 home builders there
- apparently rs much activity rs there
IS IN New York.
L has never been proved that dec.-
sions 70 build or not 20 build were
governed IN many cases 10y the stem
% local taxation. Nor = u denied thaJ
eNemptng new buildings from taxea
for period 81 uvc or ten years Is a
discrimination against the owners Of
older dwelling houses
The great obstacle ia the way of
building Is the excessive cos: OF labor
and materials. Tho shortage OF labor
accounts for the high wage schedules;
some contractors are offered premiums
Tor carpenters and others in the rG., 10
ms trades; labor costs also te.d "a
keep the prices o. materials mp. In
NeStocS hesitate ~ Starting b.g pro-
srammes % building for the reason
that extremely high rents must he
charged IN order 90 secure the iucd-
crate return Of siN per celt: this cX-
plains The unusual Interest I'm apart
ment houses or blocks in which many
families ind shelter under one roof
\ one or two-f1mily house - no; Tee
gardcd as tho most attractive invest.
men,. Us me rental necessary 20 Yield
SIX per cent clear Is too much for III,
ordinary tenant. Nec a good deal o.
I housing j. being provided notwlth
standing ;he uncayorable factors, foi
some investors are not avcvse 20 Try.
.ng new experiments and are willMs
/ 80 take chances. ana people w.tl
/ money are building single dwelling.
for themselves regardless Of the price
. levels.
Thus the situation Is being improv.
8 cd. although az the present rate o.
/ progress q will be three or four year.
before tho supply of housing Is equa
10 the demand. II may be added tina
the working OF the law Of supply an,
demand Is preferable 20 such artificial
stmulants as exemption from taxes -
Providence Journal.
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1923-01-10
TOO MANY REGISTRATION DAYS.

The bill introduced in the Leglsla-
ture by Senator Viven Of Sussex
county, TO amend the State Constitu-
ton go az 20 provide for a perma-
nent system OF registration for State
elections. is all right as far as n per-
manent registration is concerned, but
all wrong in another important re-
spect. For il would leave FIVE days
OF Biennial supplemental registration.
The main purpose Of a permanent
registration is TO avoid the cost Of a
general registration. every two years.
Under IL. citizens who registered
would not be required 10 attend any
subsequent registrations. as their
names would remain permanently on
the lists. They would have 10 register
again only when they moved from
one district 20 another.
The supplemental registration, pre-.
vious TO each biennial election, would
bo for the purpose Of attending TO al
changes OF residence. and 10 qualify
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1923-01-10
JUST FOLKS
Nv Edgar 4. Guest.
Copyright ls.: by Edgar a. Guest
WHAT A ROOk CAN DO.

This j. what a book can do:
Take YOU whore the skies are blue,
Take YOU where thc daughters ringing
And the eyes with love agiow,
Take YOU gu: OF care and trouble
And the griefs which mto double,
Take YOU far from win,ry weather
And the ne.ds o. drf;ed snow.
This IS what a book can do;
Dreams YOU thought were !ost, renew;
Il can set you travely sailing
Al the salty seven seas.
Il can bear you on ats pages
Back 90 long forgotten ages.
Back 20 minutes % beauty
And 70 silver buckled knee
This IS what a book can d..
Make u boy again ot YOU.
To the praires O: adVentUr,
Il can take you IN an hour;
III can chill your blood with danger
To which long you've been stranger,
And cure all the ache Of failure
BY the magic OF is power.
THIS Is VIA; book can do.
Build and strengthen you anew.
GIVE Jou fortitude and courage
When above a storm appears;
r can fashion and remaie YOU
SO that fate can never break you.
/ Il can comfort and console you
/ When your eyes are wet with tears.
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1923-01-10
PUBLIC MANAGEMENT.

I, Ia not difficult 20 see why public
ownership involves wasteful opera
ton. Tho public doesn't have 20 make
anything pay its way. II there Is n
loss, Tho people have 20 make . up IN
taxation. There ~ no sort OF penalty
for waste. such - would attend the
iuckless manager responsible 20 an
eager set Of stockholders. The latter
officer would be tncontinentiy dis
missed as no good. II he is admin
istering a public utility. with re-
course 20 the public treasury FOR
whatever deficits he produces. no one
seems at all concerned 20 get az aim.
lie and the politicians between them
invariably contrive 20 run the ma
chine in the most costly way possible,
and there Is no penalty whatever for
doing u.
one may AZ the very east refresh
the recollection as 10 what g always
the matter with a federauzed enter
prise--or even a munlcipalized one. I;
Ii that the men IN control Of Il are
under no .nducement 20 make = pay
The Inducements. on the contrary. are
20 be extravagant. Il viii always Be
So. Deficits can always be made W
from the public pocket and very often
tney viii be concealed from public
knowledge. \ business that has &c
Justify Itself by its balance sheet. even
though u has 20 yield a profit on is
operation, invariably costs the public
less than one which has 20 make nc
profit az all bur wa.ch can DC KEPT
going az prodigious loss.
The whole theory Of Government
ownership IS that the absence Of duty
( .o make a proEt VIII rebound 20 the
advantage OF the public. Il ought 70
| )ut L. doesn't. However, YOU never
IAN make any OF these jolly theorists
see anything 50 practical as that
| They always say that because rail-
/ way. or a gas works. or any such
] hing doesn't need 70 maze a profit
/ he public naturally gets rs service
/ ,heaper. But that presupposes the
| management will be rust as careful a.
used 20 be-and * never is. A
the money that used 10 80 for proit:
/ and then sone) goes 20 someone e.se
/ The pubic usually pays about a:
much FOR the original service; and r
addition pays 4 great deal more fol
taxes 70 make good the leaks.-isowel
/ Courier-C Citizen.
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1923-01-10
PEACE COMMANDER WANTED.

General Tasker Bliss tesahss in
foreign affairs that the American
army pleaded and demanded a unified
command FOR a year before they got
it. and thai IL was only when disaster
was imminent that General Hsig
yielded and Foch was put In COM
mand.
Europe Is in the worst condition Il
has been since the war ended. Poin-
care says that the gravest crisis since
1914 is dead ahead. The Germans say
that there Is no hope for them. Bonar
Law is as gloomy as a graveyard. The
Minister who has been in power long
lest and now holds his power securest
is Lenin; and the only natton whose
people rejoice IN the prospect Of hap
pier days are the Turks.
The Allies who fought together can
not come under a single command in
time of peace. but they must come
Into agreement about the policies they
will pursue. II they are not 20 go over
The precipice.-Sy Syracuse Post-stand-
ard.
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1923-01-10
TWU GOOD OLD DAYS.

\ lot of mighty good people think
tho world s. getting worse and worse
all tho while. - isn't. llistory tells a
vastly different story. Henry Ford
said history f. bunk. This proves that
as a student Of past events. Henry n
a great manufacturer OF popular
priced motor csrr. History Is a heart
leoakinE story. I. T. tho story OF
/ humanity's blind upward striving to-
ward light and liberty and happiness.
/ Thcy found q widowed old dOcu-
n.nt in Poland. II was written IN
1869. IL narmtes In detail the execu-
/ ton OF Caslm!r Lyszynski. Ills last
name sounds Ike a eneezc OF a fiu
victim. Cas.mir denied tho existence
~ Col. Tor this ho was condemned
10 death. After execution. his body
was burned. HIS ashes were put 81
cannon and shot into tho air. towards
Tariary. the realm and region Of
hcathendom.
To-day. Cssimir could TAX as much
as ne pleased about The uon-eXistence
OF God Intelligent people would pity
him for his vanity and ignorance.
None would think OF having him hang
~. burned and his ashes shot toward
hcethcndom. Free speech Is the rec
ognized foundation 81 liberty, and tho
expression OF freed thought
Compare conditions. then and now
The comparison teaches US the long
way humanity has Travelled toward
freedom In four centuries
Aguin. Ordered 20 do 50 Icy her
| - =
counterfeitors' dies IN her corsage.
She was arrested and the Illicit tools
OF the nefarious trade were found IN
her possession. Counter1e!ting was
treason IN the laws OF England Trca-
son was punishable 10y death. The
House Of Commons stormily debated
tho fate OF this ii-ycar-old girl. Ia
the end, she was condemned 10 be
burned At the stake. She was dashed
TO the post. the fagots Of her funeral
pyrc piled about her feet. Just as the
oxccuJioner was about TO apply the
torch. her pardon arrived. signed by
Sir William Meredith. This was In
,l7S3. The American Declaration al
Independence was signed in 1910. six
years earlier.
Yet. again. CVomwels long Paria-
ment put away" 1900 witches. Put
away" was the expression OF the time.
meaning condemned 90 death. In i7lt
a mother and her 9-year-old dIughtcI
were hanged at Huntington. England
foe selling their souls 10 the devil and
raising a storm by pulling off thch
stockings and making a lathcr OF
soap" So reads the indictment His
torlans estimate that no less than 80 -.
600 men and women were executed il
England. alone. for the hcniou,
crime OF witchogaft.
Such Is the past out Of which hu
q manity has emerged. True, there's .
long way Yet 10 so before We react
happiness and evan-handed justic,
and equal rights and square deal roi
I everybody. But these facts OF his
0 tory prove beyond question that thos,
. who yearn FOR the good old days
: cannot and do not understand wha
they wish.-Cappers Weekly.