davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1925-01-09

Sentiment is split on the question
Of buying the local gas plant, sug-
gcsiion made by Alderman Ander-
son. who is now on Il committee
with Aldermen Foreman and Il. J.
tOho0n to look into the advisability.
of ownership of this utility. Several
Of the Aldermen say the city now
continued on page three)
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-12-27

festation it refers as in need of cor
rection, we may only conjecture, but
as the French have been regarded al
ways as sticklers for form" or cor
rect bodily department, probably the
art" which would be taught in con-
nection with the reception of gifts,
would have somewhat to do with
courtesying and appropriate genuflec-
tons.
BE GRATEFUL.
Upon this psase We need not dwell
although the Sinking nod whith
American girls frequently bestow in
return for box of chocolates, may in
truth leave something 10 be said Of
their manners, and any art that
would enable a man to accept, with
the same manifest enthusiasm, a box
Of cigars from Smith, who smokes
only the worst, as from Brown, who
smokes only the best, is of course de
sirable.
But do we really need to 60 10 the
French for instruction? think not.
So let us prove it by hailing with
shouts Of joy every article we draw
from our Christmas stocking, whether
it be q small treatise on the work be-
ing done by missionaries in Asia
Minor, or a small bottle Dwell, say,
cologne.
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-12-27

wanted it counted in. Barry and Cav
anaugh retained me to represent them
as officials, explaining to me that Of.
fically they wanted me to defend their
action but they personally would like
to have their action ovcrrulod.
1t made my position a delicate one.
There was no doubt in my mind
about the fraudulent character of the
disputed returns. 1 question whether
any records present case where the
fraud was more transparent. The law
required that the name of the voter be
entered and those who committed the
fraud evidently had to act in a hurry /;
not having time to manufacture list
of names that would Mt least look
honest they put down prominent
names such as the names of presi-
dents, well-known senator's, and dis
tinguished men of other states.
WINS SUIT, LOSES CASE.
In the trial of the case I, of course,
was on the side of Scotia and there
fore acted with the Scotia attorneys.
Before taking the case up on its mer-
its Scotia's attorneys moved for a de-
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-12-27

lay and at the request of my clients l
Joined with the Greeley Center people
to oppose delay. This confused the
court and one of the judges asked,
"Mr. Bryan, for which side do you
appear" 1 replied, IL had hoped
that my argument would indicate
that" The judge said, "Your argu-
mcnt is clear enough but 1 thought you
were on the side of Scotia"
Il am" / said, ION the merits of
the case but / am with the attorneys
of Greeley Center in opposing the mo-
tion.' My clients had the pleasure of
winning their case and the sorrow of
seeing their city fail in its effort to
secure the county seat.
If measured by its outcome my re-
moval to Nebraska was the gift OF
good fortune. was most lucky in
the selection Of a law partner. Adolf
plus +. Talbot is a rare man--one of
Gods noblcmen. In law school we
had come to address each other as
Dolph and viii and so when we unit
ed our energies in the practice Of law
it was a very friendly union. We
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-12-27

MOSCOW, Dec. 26.-The "white
AVA mule" homebrew of the peasants
was responsible for the downfall Of
prohibition in Red Russia.
When the government allowed the
return of pre-war vodka of 40 pei
cent alcoholic strength. the last battle
for prohibition was lost.
During the war complete prohibi'
ton of spirits was declared. Later a
weaker and more sorrowful vodka was
put on sale by .he government which
held the monopoly, to pacify the
grumbling peasants. Just recently the
good, old strong variety, one drink
guaranteed to make the most expert
enccd tippler stagger, came in again.
This happened because the peasant,
telling he couldn't live longer without
vodka with a real kick, set to work
to make his own homebrew.
LIKE DYNAMITE.
1t was strong enough to use for
dynamite and had the added disad-
vantage of being the product of mil
lions of roubles' worth of the grain
which the government coveted for ex-
port.
"Samogon" the peasants called their
bootleg product, and no happy home
was complete without at least one
still to make it.
The Soviets fought to stamp out
"Samogon," but the following figures
show that time was not helping the
problem in the Moscow district:
In 1922 the police confiscated "a,
600 cases of "Samogon" and $4,000
stills.
In 1928 they confiscated 191, 900
cases of "Samogon" and $4,000 stills.
In 1924 the record was broken with
275,OOO cases of the fiery liquor con.
fiscated and $1,000 stills.
But the peasants are shrewd, and
where one still was discovered, hun
dreds flourished secretly.
This shows why the government
gave up and decided to bring in the
pre-war vodka, a sort of counter-irri-
tant, to turn the peasants attention
from the production of "white mule"
Though the new vodka has been on
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-12-27
Real Art Defended

A WRITER in Scribner's maya
"A zine declares that poetry was
made to be read and enjoyed, and
thrilled to, not studied.
/ welcome this announcement in
30 authoritative publication as the
magazine named, and feel certain
many other persons may do the
same, because in recent years there
has been a prodigious amount of
printed matter, labelled as poetry,
which calls for the hardest sort of
study IL the reader is to make any
sense Of it whatever, and which
often, even then, does not reveal
its highly mysterious purpose.
Is it too much to hope that some
un-modern iconoclast will make
similar protest against the effort to
BATTLE understanding that, in these
topsy-turvy days, has SO often been
made q feature of painting-which is
Poetry's kindred art.
OBSCURITIES DEFENDED.
OF course these are defenders Of
these obscurities. In q publication
devoted exclusively to poetry, i read,
in praise of a certain modern poet,
that he "has an unusual preoccupa-
ton with the universal and the
philosophical even when writing
about such humble particulars as
grass" And of another poet it
says: "The public receives from him
the shock Of dynamic contracts and
is unconsciously carried along by
rhythm Of which it is unaware"
Now, if you cannot make very much
sense of this, L certainly do not
blame you.
To the defense Of incomprehensi-
BILE pictures, there also came, not
long ago, an erudite critic who said:
when an artist finds outside forms
and customs too cramping, he is JUS
titled in turning for inspiration and
guidance to his own self and his own
experiences, and thus depicting upon
canvas his own personal reactions.
CATALOGUE NEEDED.
I remember attending an exhl-
bition which included a number OF
paintings made according to the
above recipe. and having discovered
that only by the aid of most com
prehensive and explanatory cata-
logue could spectator form any
idea Of what the artists intended
him to be looking at. OF course
this was merely a case Of ones own
personal reactions" failing to
synchronize with those of the artist,
but the fact remains that to be fully
enjoyed a picture ought TO speak
for ITSELF" or at least give an ink
ling of its purpose.
I could not make it seem to me
that Civilization in America "
(which was the catalogued title of
one Of these canvases) was in any
way represented by geometrical
shapes of different hues lowering
about in the vicinity of several I'M
completed, massive structures. Nor
was its acceptance as an adequate
example of the artists personal
reaction" to the title named, alto
gether easy, for It might quite as
easily have been supposed to re
fleet his reaction toward the man
date Of prohibition with its accom-
panying suppression Of the working
mans beer.
1t may be that / am e1ngserat-
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-12-27
HIS LAST APPEARANCE.

ing the Importance of this subject,
but 1t does seem to me that pre-
tense and sffectation, in the field of
art, as everywhere else, are legiti-
mate objects for attack.
In defense of the personal reac-
ton" artists, the critic to whom
reference was made above, said !:
These men paint objects only in Or
der to express their own feelings
and make groups of things in their
compositions in order to symboliks
their IDEAS He then added, appar-
emily with regret, "and they are
met by blank and discouraged lack
Of understanding. But he went
on more cheerfully, "the modern
painter paints for generations yet
unborn"
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-12-27
Prohibition Loses Bout

sale several weeks, the newness hasn't
worn off yet, and lines, sometimes
reaching around the block, still stand
outside the vodka stores in the snow
waiting their turn to buy.
A vodka spree is within the reach of
all, for prices are low, and little of
the powerful drink goes a long way.
With the advent of the 40 per cent
the jails are filled up with roisterers,
and many cases of alcoholic poisoning
were registered. Otherwise weak
heads of families went wild and broke
up the furniture and beat up their
wives and children.
NEW CRIME WAVE.
To fight the new vodka crime. wave
various organizations already are pro-
testing about the unlimited sale Of the
beverage. One group Of famous doc
tors has announced the intention of
making Russia dry again. This time
the law is to be carried out strictly
"just as it is in America Whether
the statement was made ironically
or not is not known.
Many important voices were raised
against bringing strong vodka back.
Trotzky led the opposition by an
nouncing vehemently that he thought
the government was making a great
mistake.
A. Y. Semascho, comissar Of health,
too, put his veto on the powerful
liquor.
Various authorities and officials
recommend limiting the sale in work
ing class districts. Now that prohi-
bition is off, they want to make the
best Of bad situation. Many work
crs' organizations warn their members
they will be fired from their jobs if
they stagger in with a vodka breath
when the whistle blows.
In Ekatcrinoslav the municipal So
Wet has decreed that only one vodka
shop will be allowed for every $4,000
inhabitants.
The lid is off in other districts over
Russia, however, and the vodka-thirsty
populace is drinking the firewater by
the quart to fortify itself against the
wintry weather.
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-12-27
LARGE PIMPLES
Three YEARS
On Face, Arms and Neck.
ltched and Burned.
CutiCura Healed.

For about three years my face,
arms and neck were broken out
with large pimples. The pimples
itched and burned causing me to
scratch and the scratching caused
leruptions. The eruptions caused
Disagreement, and could not sleep
at night on account Of the irritation.
read an advertisement for
cutieua Soap and Ointment and
sent for a free sample. It helped
ME so ! purchased more and now |
am completely healed" (Signed)
Miss B. Lamb, Currie, N. C.
Nothing so insures a healthy.
clear complexion, soft, smooth
hands and glossy, luxuriant hair
A. Cutieura Soap, assisted by Cuti-
eura Ointment when necessary. Gu
heura Taieum Is an ideal powder.
Sosp 25e. Ointment q and SOC. Tslerm sc. sold
eyesyvhers. Sample each free. Address
-onteurA Isossstories Dept n kaldon, Ms,zs
~ Cutieura Shaving Stick use.
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-12-27
Receiving Presents Hailed AS Art

place of coveted silk stockings, finds
small embroidered handkerchief near
her plate, escape a certain, and not
altogether pleasant, psychological sem
sation.
Therefore I say that a spirit of
gratitude, which certainly will minim-
ize Christmas morning disappoint-
ments, is the most precious of all gifts
to receive on these recurring holidays.
We are not venturing here to touch
upon the religious element of this
theme-thst we may leave to priest
and parson-we are dealing only with
emotions as they affect our relation
ship to one another, and in the mat
ter of gratitude toward the bestower
OF a gift either at Christmas or other
times, an imitation article Of that
sentiment is better than none at all.
RECEIVING is art"
Sometime ago l read in a foreign
newspaper that announcement that the
art of receiving presents had been
added to the curriculum of a girl 4
class by a psychological Parisienne
school teacher who is convinced that
the great majority of gift-receivers ac
cept them in poor form.
In the expression poor form
doubtless is included failure to conceal
disappointment. To what other mani.
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-12-27
COmmOner Recounts Decision
To Give Up Practice AS
Politics BeckOns.

giles Of early days, and always think
Of Dolph as one of those with whom
companionship will be most satisfy
ing.
When j was elected to Congress l
felt that I should give my entire time
to my work and therefore / turned
over to Mr.. Talbot the unfinished bus
mess and appeared only where it was
necessary to please some particular
friends among our clients. The only
conflict Of opinion we ever had over
fees was when went to Congress. He
insisted on my taking a large percen-
tage of the fees that came in from
the leftover business than thought /
deserved, and it was not till after a
good deal of argument that we reached
a compromise Of our differences, he
not being satisfied with the amount
/ received, and feeling that he con-
ccded too much.
GIVES UP PRACTICE.
The firm name was continued while
/ was in Congress and l expected to
resume the practice which returned
to Lincoln in 1895, but by that time
the fight over bimetallism was Just
bursting into activity, and 1 received
about the same time three invitations
from widely different points, one to
answer John Sherman in Salem, Ore.
another to answer him at Cincinnati.
Ohio, and third to answer John G.
Carlyle in Memphis, Tenn.
1t soon became apparent that
must either refuse political invitations
or suspend practice again. was too
much interested in the fight for which
had helped to lay the plans to dis
appoint those whom 1 had helped to
enlist, and so decided to postpone a
return to practice for another year.
Then came the presidential campaign
Of 1896 which so completely identified
me with national politics that 1 felt
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-12-27

Commoner Shares Partnership With Lawyer
Who Differs From Him in Euery Possible Way

removable bA was 81 d @ in he fall
an hd hr @Ma "h or "
k
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-12-27

tnaI must Keep up inc IlsnI Tor at
least four years more. So I retired
from the firm.
HIS LAST APPEARANCE.
My last appearance was in the Unit
cd States Supreme Court in a maxi
num- rate case that arose over a law
passed In Nebraska and contested by
the railroads. The attorney general
of Nebraska, Hon. G. ]. smythe, one
OF my closest political friends, repre-
sented the state. 1 was so deeply in
terested in the result Of the trial that
L volunteered to appear without pay
in order to present the one point in
which I was concerned. The court did
me the honor to record my brief In
full.
The proposition upon which / based
my argument was taken from a book
written by Governor Larabee Of Iowa.
who became q leader Of the agricul-
turists OF that state in their effort to
secure reasonable railroad rates. I
read the book soon after I entered
Congress, and attempted to secure the
incorporation Of the principle In a
pooling bill that passed the House
while 1 was member.
Ny amendment was defeated but Il
attracted enough attention to call
forth one Of the earliest epithets an
piled to me. A Richmond, Va, paper
quite conspicuous for its sympathetic
support of the corporation side of pub
lie questions had an editorial denun-
citation Of my amendment which an
peared under the title Of "Nihilist
Bryan
Next week Mr.. Bryan tells Of two
widely discussed incident during his
career as secretary OF state--the Grape
Juice dinner, when for the first time
q diplomatic dinner without wine was
served, and the affair with Austrian
Ambassador Dumba.
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-12-27

IN recent issue of q thriving maya
zine occurs the following state
mcnt:
IAN excessive amount Of mental
acrobatics is necessary to make the
Christmas present fit the person.
There is, however, one solution of the
Christmas quandary. Why not the
same kind of a present for all your
friends? Why not a book?'
This is interesting, but really | can
think Of only one book whose con-
tents, whether brief or extended. can
be guaranteed to have attraction for
all ages of males and females-name-
ly, the pocketbook. If there is any
greater chance of causing disappoint-
ment to somebody than would result
through sending to a number of friends
some book simply because you admired
it, l cannot for the moment recall it.
But, as the interest in a pocketbook
would chiefly depend upon whether its
contents were contributed by a mil
lionaire or a miser, there could be no
guarantee of general satisfaction in a
wholesale distribution on Christmas
morning even of that specimen of the
binders art.
XMAS DISBURSEMENTS.
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-12-27

charge oil the factories secured state
statute granting a bounty and also
sought bounties from precincts.
OPPOSES BOUNTY.
One day a lawyer called with a let
ter of introduction from ]. Sterling
Morton to consult me about the legal
ity of bond voted in a precinct in
which he lived. My recollection is
that his vote was the only vote against
the bounty in the precinct. But he
wanted to oppose it on the ground
that it was unconstitutional.
He found me sympathetic. He paid
me $50 down and was to pay $25 lat
er. But the account remains open.
The fee, however, was immaterial, the
case gave me an opportunity to con-
test the constitutionality of bounty
and I WINS glad of the opportunity.
We decided to contest the issue of the
bonds voted, when an attempt was
made to issue them. Before they
reached this particular precinct q suit
was brought to test tho validity of
similar bonds issued by an adjoining
precinct.
1t was a friendly suit brought by
the interested parties against the state
auditor to compel the registering Of
the bonds, both parties being for an
affirmative order. I appeared at the
trial and asked for permission to file
brief stating to the court that / rep
resented client who was contesting
bonds Of the same kind in an adjoin-
ing precinct.
Both sides objected to my request
but the court overruled the objections
and allowed the brief to be filed.
PAID IN SATISFACTION.
When the court decided against the
bonds and in so doing disappointed
both plaintiff and defendant, / had
satisfaction enough to more than make
up for the unpaid portion of my prom
ised fee and was rewarded still fur
Their when as a member Of Congress
this experience enabled me to answer
a question which was put to me by
an Iowa Republican vino knew of the
bonds voted but did not know of the
court decision multiplying them.
My first case in the Supreme Court
came from Greeley county and invoIv-
ed a county seat election. Those who
have ever lived in a county where
such elections take place need not he
told that the presidential election is
quite negligible in the interest arous-
ed. The question to be decided was
whether the county seat should be re-
moved from Scotia, a Union Pacific
town on the edge of the county, TO
Greeley Center, Burlington town
near the center Of the county.
The railroads. as well as the locaJi-
ties, were interested, and every voter
the county was at the polls-plus
others. General Barry and John Cav
anaugh, two members of the election
board, favored Greeley Center, where
they lived. but as honest and conscien-
tious officers, they were compelled TO
throw out the vote OF one precinct as
fraudulent. After the vote was count
ed it gave the majority to Greeley
Center, but Barry and Cavanaugh,
true to their oath of office. acted
against their personal interests and
rejected this precinct.
POSITION is DELICATE.
When the case came up in the Su-
preme Court, Scotia had her attorneys
and Greeley Center had hers. The
Scotia attorneys wanted the vote in
question thrown out. Greeley Center
San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-12-27

were about the same height and age
about the same size and not far from
the same weight. We were as mucl
alike as two men could be and ye
VIC were quite dissimilar in severa
respects.
SLIGHT EMERGENCIES.
He was Of English stock. having
been born in England: l was very
much mixed, with Irish predominant
ing in my name. He was a Method
list and j a Presbyterian he was a
Republican and l am Democrat
When badness attacked us, his hair
retracted from the front and mine
from the rear. In the practice he
looked at our side OF the case and
L inquired as to the arguments that
the opposition could advance and we
were as unlike as two persons could
be in the manner of speaking. But
no two lawyers ever worked together
with less friction. On the first OF
the month one would take his day
book into the room of the other
whichever one happened to think of
it first-and we would go over the
credits and debts together, each
would strike his balance and which
ever had the largest net receipts
would give the other check for
half and then we wrote settled v
across the two books and never had
any other reckoning.
POLITICS OPPOSED.
I mentioned the fact that he was
a Republican and l Democrat. At
one time he was chairman of the Re-
publican city committee and ! chair
man of the Democratic city commit
tee. Our offices consisted Of three
rooms, the reception room and two
private offices. When a man came in
and inquired for the chairman Of the
committee the clerk would ask him
of which committee? He was still
chairman when 1 ran for Congresy
and reported an incident that occur
red during the campaign. One OF
the members of the city committee
called on him to say that he felt that
he ought to resign as a member of the
committee because he was going to
support Bryan for Congress.
Talbot assured him that that was
not necessary, that the Republican
candidate for Congress was only one
Of many candidates on that ticket
and this was only one campaign.
The man was finally persuaded not
to give up his committeeship and
/ learned later that the chairman
and more than half the committee
were supporting me.
During my campaign in 1896, Mr..
Talbot was a candidate for the state
senate, and was embarrassed By hav-
ing published in the Lincoln papers
glowing eulogies of me which he had
written to papers in other states in
answer to inquiries.
FRIENDS THIRTY YEARS.
Talbot's personal friendship was al
ways greater than his Republicanism,
despite his prominence in the party.
For more than 80 years he has been
one of my nearest and dearest friends,
Whenever / am relieved for a moment
from the pressure under which have
lived, a pressure so great as to pre-
vent any leisurcly review Of the past
or unhurried contemplation of the flu.
ture-and 1 allow myself to think OF
the latter days, / dream of brief pc,
riod before the close Of life, when, my
work done, 1 can commune with life.
long friends and recall the joint strug'