davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-07-08
No One Immune From
Pangs of "Mal-de-Mer"


Doctors Curry and Bohec have an
interesting article on seasickness in
Esculape "a medical journal). Oddly
enough, very few of the ancient writ
ers seems to have concerned them
selves with the affection; neither Pla-
to nor Aristotle makes any allusion to
It, On the other hand, the ocean was
considered a sovereign panacea for all
sorts of ills.
Plutarch, however, mentions sea-
sickness, which he attributes to fear,
and it Is sufficiently evident that our
remote forefathers were not immune.
In this connection 1t may be recalled
that, according to Seneca, Cicero,
prince Of orators, fleeing the wrath Of
Antony and his wife, Flava, whom he
had attacked In his "Philippics," took
refuge on board ship and decided,
when the vessel had put to sea, that
he would rather surrender to the exc
cutioner than endure the torments Of
seasickness. He was put ashore and
assassinated near Formiae.-From LIE
Matin, Paris. (Translated for the
Kansas City starr.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-07-08
East Credited With
Idea of Gu1potUder

Gunpowder was made in the Middle
ages much as 1t is now, except that
the processes were not so refined, and
the product cruder and weaker. Cum
powder is a mixture consisting of
potassium nitrate, sulphur and char
coal. The origin Of 1t is involved in
considerable uncertainty, but 1t Is be-
lieved to have been discovered in the
ancient East.
AS far as Europe is concerned,
Roger Bacon, the Thirteenth-century
alchemist and philosopher, Is some
times spoken Of as its inventor. At
any rate he set down the formula in
this fashion in 1910:
'Mix together saltpetre with lura
mop cum ubre and sulphur, and you
will make thunder and lightning, If you
know the mode of mixing" The four
seemingly meaningless words In the
middle are simply a transposition of
the letters Of carbonum pulvere or
charcoal.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-07-08
NO PERIOD WITHOUT
CRADLE AND BABY
Earliest Component Parts of
Civilization

The cradle is thought to be as old
as civilization. At any rate 1t is a
very ancient piece of furniture that
had its place In the very earliest
homes. 1t has come down through the
ages together with the many cradle
songs. During its existence many
styles have been used, and baby has
slept In the tree-tops and in all de-
grees of magnificence. The date when
the cradle first assumed its character
istic swinging or rocking is not known,
but the small four-posted beds on
rockers were common before the Four
teenth century. AS early as 1923 the
cradle was used to impart to the peo-
pie of Assist the real meaning Of the
Incarnation, says writer In the
Pathfinder Magazine.
The oldest form Of cradle known is
an oblong oak box without lid.
Originally rockers on cradles were de-
tachable, but like other household ap-
planes this one has been subject to
the changes Of fashion In shape, adorn-
ment, etc. The original and simple
shape persisted for several centuries,
then the hood made its appearance.
During its time the cradle has been
paneled, carved, inlaid, and mounted
in gilded bronze. In the Eighteenth
century cradles became very elabo'
rate, especially those used for state oc'
casions. In modern times they have
become lighter and simpler, the old
hood usually being left off entirely or
replaced by draped curtains. 1t was
about the middle of the Nineteenth
century that iron cradles were intro
duced along with iron bedsteads. Now
this ancient article is more often
called the "bassinet." Bassinets are
usually made of delicate wood frames,
iron frames or wicker.
In this country the Indian mother
still hangs "baby, cradle and all' to
the branch Of tree, where the wind
rocks the little red bundle Off to sleep.
These cradles are usually made of a
framework Of bark, very warmly lined
and packed into a sort Of shoe, then
uOtH UdUy anu Crdul0 are Slfdppcu
with reindeer thongs and dashed to the
tree. The value of one superior In
dian cradle is said to be equivalent to
the value of a good horse. Some
American babies take over the old
family clothes basket (sometimes a
new one) for their cradle, while others
have elaborate bassinets lined with
fancy silks and satins. In all lands
cradles are inevitably connected with
songs. Generations Of mothers have
sung: "Hushaby baby In the tree-top''
and others.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-07-08
Courtship of Spiders

In the behaviors of counting spiders
recognition and stimulation come into
play in various degrees. The males,
as in most animals great and small,
despite Bernard Shaw, begin the cycle
Of events by an active search for the
females. They recognize her finally
by sight or smell OF by combination
of these senses. The female recognizes
them apparently by sight or by
some tactic message, and when recog-
milton has taken place, restraints her
customary swift fer0city. According
to the more recent authors, the antics
and ornamentation are not an appeal
TO the esthetic sense of the females
and do not, therefore. come into the
theory Of sexual selection.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-07-08

The following Incident is quoted
from the report Of the Union Kanarese
seminary In Tumkur, South India: "In
a village five miles away there stands
before the temple tall, slender pillar,
down the side of which for some little
distance rain has left course of red
rust. The people declare that peri
odically the pillar bleeds, and there,
sure enough, is the thin red line. In
some quarters. a few months ago, the
fear grew lest the appearance Of the
blood on the pillar should be portent
Of disaster to the state. The six senior
students went out to investigate this
phenomenon. With great tact they
won the confidence Of the leading folk
of the village SO far as to induce them
to have ladder brought and set up
against the pillar from the roof of the
temple. One Of the students mounted
the ladder, a somewhat risky proceed
ing, and climbing to the top of the
pillar proved to the people beyond con-
troversy that the bleeding was due to
an iron spike in cup at the top of
the shaft. When a safe descent had
been effected, the men improved the
occasion in apostolic fashion and
preached Christ to the crowd that had
gathered"
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-07-08
Infants Fond of Music

Some infants may show preference
for different kinds Of music even be-
fore they are year old, In the opin-
ion of a mother who has found that
the time to teach children appreciation
of good music is when they are very
young, says Popular Mechanics Maya.
zine. Instead Of singing her babies
to sleep. she plays to them and has
discovered that pieces Of different
rhythm and tempo seem to have diff
ferent effects. One child apparently
preferred music Of rapid movement,
while another evidenced a liking for
slower melodies. Five or ten minutes
Of soft playing usually suficed to hull
the children to sleep and often their
crying could be stopped by playing
for them.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-07-08
Proper Glasses Only
Cure for Astignaatisna

We might roughly compare our eyes
to the lens Of a camera, insomuch as
their business is to take the rays Of
light and focus them properly on our
screen Of sight.
Now, If the lens is not perfectly true
If, say, it is shaped more like the
back Of a spoon than like perfect
globe-we shall not get an equal Vi
sion. And If one draws two lines cross
ing at right angles, the person with a
spoon-shaped eye will not be able to
see the up-and-down line and the side
ways line equally clearly.
That is what we call an astigmatic
eye, the word really meaning that
there is no one particular point Of
clear and equal focus. In most cases
glasses will be needed to correct the
fault.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-07-08

Modern Society SlotO
to Forgive Criminal

Can u criminal come back to so
ciety?
No. In all my experience I have
never known q case of thoroughly
successful comeback, when q former
criminal was allowed to take his place
in society and be received into 1t. It ID
not SO much the failure Of Christianity
as the fact that human nature and So
ciety have not reached the stage Of
enlightenment or willingness to accept
the ex-criminal. Human nature and
society, constituted as they are, are
such as to prevent an absolute come
back, and this is more in evidence be-
cause Of the fact that the modern
teachers Of Christianity have failed
in their mission Of forgiveness, and
also because 1t Is invariably found
that those who profess deep faith and
Christ-like spirit are the first to
shun and scorn the really conscien-
tious unfortunates, or innocent victims
of circumstances, who are genuinely
DESTROYS Of completely plotting out
their hideous past by sincere service
In the cause Of humanity at large.
But everything is not lost. Many
prison workers and deep students Of
criminology feel that spirit of under
standing will sooner or later overcome
these obstacles in the way of the ex-
criminal.-Theodore Dresser in the
Smokers Companion.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-07-08
Blissful Beginning

Owing to the absence through Ill
ness of the woman who taught the
senior girls Bible class, the young as
sistant minister was asked to under
take the duties for the day.
He consented, but before beginning
he said, smilingly:
SNOW, girls, want to conduct your
class just as your teacher does, so you
might tell me what she does first"
A short pause, then the answer
from pert miss of sixteen: swell,
she always kisses us all round!'
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-07-08
Rockets Trauel Far

Many different types of rockets are
made. The distance to which they
will range and the height to which
they will ascend depend upon the
type. An ordinary sky-rocket, such
as used on the Fourth of July, will
probably not ascend more than 500
feet If fired from a vertical position,
and will probably not range farther
than 1000 yards If held elevated at an
angle Of 80 degrees. The highest de-
veloped rocket is probably the tracer
shell used In artillery. In this the
projectile carries supply of illumi-
mating tracer composition in its base.
and the tracer shell has nearly the
range of the ordinary projectile. in
some types upward of 10000 yards.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-07-08

Auto traffic does net bother John
Fitzpatrick, who recently celebrated
his one hundred and first birthday at
! his home in London. "He enjoys ev-
ery minute Of life," said his daughter
in-law. "He likes nothing better than
his pipe, and sometimes INDUCES in q
cigarette. When he goes out for a
stroll the traffic seems to hold. no
terrors for him. In fact, he almost
dictates to the drivers when he wishes
{ to cross the road. He simply stands
still and dares the traffic until the
drivers pull up and allow him to cross
the road. When / have difficulty
with needle and thread he takes them
from me and passes the thread
through the eye without the least
trouble"
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-07-08
Gold Rush in Graveyard

A small locality in the Burgenland
district Of Austria, near the Hunga-
rian frontier, had gold rush all its
own a short time ago. Through an
accident an ancient graveyard dating
from the time of the migration Of the
races was discovered. The Oldenburg
museum began to excavate. Ancient
gold vessels were found. When the
farmers of the community heard Of
this they rushed to the scene and be-
gan to dig for gold, instead Of for last
years cabbage. In the scramble for
the likely places fights developed be-
tween the farmers, until large force
Of gendarmes was called to keep the
gold fever down. Anyway, outside OF
a few more urns nothing much was
found.-Chicago News.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-07-08
First Electric kights

Soon after the first electric light
system was built in New York city in
1882, the idea Of lighting by cleo
tricity became so popular that the
shares Of the Thomas A. Edison
company, whose par value was 500,
were quoted at $500. However, the
new enterprise required a great deal
of money. The cost Of sinking cables
underground along the streets was
one Of the heavy expenses. In those
days many people insisted upon pole
lines even though they did destroy
the beauty Of a street. Mr.. Edisons
pet remark to them was: "Why don't
you lift water and gas pipes up on
stills t0o?"
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-07-08
Wanted All the Goodies

Teddy was about to enter his tenth
year. His mother told him he might
invite his little friends to q birthday
party, and she made the necessary
preparations. On the important eve.
ming they were waiting for the guests.
Suddenly the youngster said. Mother,
don't you think it's time to eat the ice
cream and cake now?"
certainly not, DEAR" she replied.
1--WE must wait until your little friends
are here"
swell. I'll tell you the truth, moth
err" Teddy began, II just thought that
for once in my life I'd like to have all
the ice cream and cake I wanted, so !
guess we'd better begin now, cause
didn't invite anybody."-Boston Tran.
script.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-07-08
Where Mar, Is Vain

Among the Kavirondo negroes of
Central Africa q man wears as many
coils Of iron as, his arms and legs will
hold, and keeps them brightly burn
ished with oil or fat.
Metal is so fascinating to the men of
this tribe that telegraph wires are
sometimes torn down to be made into
armlets or anklets, or to be twisted In
imitation of European travellers.
On festive occasions the numerous
coils Of iron are specially polished for
the occasion. Then the Kavirondo
man adds string of empty cartridges,
a piece of chain mail, anklets Of bells,
and any odd scraps of metal he can
find.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-07-08
Boo!

She had been turning over every
article the weary salesman had placed
before her on the counter, but moth
ing seemed to be exactly the thing
she wanted.
II am afraid there's nothing here
to suit" she decided at last, and then,
in a burst of confidence, whispered:
"You see, tomorrow is my husbands
birthday and I wanted to surprise
him."
The weary man behind the counter
gave her a scathing look.
"Well," he suggested in icy tones.
why not hide behind the armchair
and yell Boo at him."
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-07-08
Only a Dream

Hubby listened intently. His wife
and her mother were talking. The
latter was saying:
"You have indeed secured a splen-
did husband, and think you ought
to treat him with a little more tact
and consideration. Don't always want
to know where he is going, and If he
comes home a little late be agreeable
and wait until he explains before you
begin asking lot Of awkward ques-
lions. He's just the sort to apprecf-
ate any generosity on your part. Be
kind to him."
Hubby stirred uneasily, trying to
hear more, when-he awoke.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-07-08
The Two Critics

Sherwood Anderson, the novelist,
said on his return from Paris:
'In Paris, one day, went to an ex-
hibition Of spring fashions at a ia
nous dressmaker's in the Rue de la
Paix.
1.-TWO elderly women sat behind me,
and when tall mannequin came out
In very audacious evening gown
heard one of them give a snort and
say:
"'That creature is a caricature.'
"a caricature? said the other WON.
an. oh, no, Jane. Not caricature. A
takeoff.' Minneapolis Tribune.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-07-08
Albino Types

An albino is defined as person
having a congenital deficiency of pig
ments of the skin, hair and eyes. Al
binos occur among all races Of men;
in extreme cases they have skin Of a
milky color. extremely light hair and
eyes with a deep red pupil and pink
or blue iris. The lack of dark pig
ment In the eyes admits light in Excess
sive amount, and through other parts
beside the pupil. and their vision is
consequently poor. especially in strong
light. There might be an albino type
In any kind Of an animal. ./r.vse.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-07-08
Too Much to Expect

Angrily the policeman on point duty
stopped the little car that had tried
to sneak past his outstretched arm.
"Can't you see me?" he demanded
of the driver.
T-er-must confess did," re-
turned the motorist meekly.
"Then why didn't you stop?" asked
the policeman, becoming more angry
than ever.
swell. l lost my head" explained
the wrongdoer sadly. II had just spent
half an hour in getting this thing to
start, and thought It was a pity to
stop her so soon."
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-07-08
There Are Frogs and Frogs

A biological concern in New Orleans
owns number of valuable frogs. Re-
Gently the frogs were missing and
the police were informed. Later two
men were caught with frogs in their
possession. They claimed to have
caught them in the marshes around
the city. The head Of the biological
concern, however, "knew his onions' ;
he demonstrated to the courts salts.
faction that the deep notes of the
frogs varied considerably from those
of ordinary frogs caught in the
marshes. The men were convicted
and the frogs were allowed to hop
back home.-Pathfinde Magazine.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-07-08
Relic Of Cliff D.Uelleys

The lost burial grounds of the Casa
Grande (Ariz) cliff jewellers, prob
ably a thousand years old. have been
found by an expedition from the
Southwest museum, Los Angeles. A
funeral urn of beautifully shaded red
on buff coloring and containing bone
fragments and ashes of the dead was
the first finding of the expedition. II
revealed that two forms of burial
cremation and earth interment--w
used by the cliff dwellers.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-07-08
Initiates Human Voice

BY the use of an organ-pipe reed
his fingers and bellows operated by
foot. an English inventor has succeed
ed in initiating the human voice to an
extent that is uncanny. The reed
serves as the vocal organ and the
fingers as the tongue and lips. he
recently produced the sentence, "Hel-
10, London; are you there?' as clearly
as If he were telephoning from New
York. 1t is claimed that the expert
ment proves that the human voice Ia
largely a mechanical result of mus
cular and nervous action.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-07-08
Mahonet's Career Short

Mahomet became prophet and an
international figure after he was
forty years old, and finished his epoch
making career in % years. At the
age of forty he began to get the "vi-
sions" which gave him the precepts for
the Koran and commanded him to
preach them to the world. "There is
only one God, and Mahomet is his
prophet" is the keynote he gave to
the religion he founded-a religion
whose adherents today number more
than 220.000,000.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-07-08
Wished They Hadn't

As she tripped hlithely across the
roadway the celebrated actress noticed
an old friend. a playwright, who was
heavily handaged, coming toward her.
"Good gracious!" she exclaimed.
"My dear, have you been in an acct
dent?"
Her friend regarded her a moment
"No," he answered; shut you re-
member that play Of mine which came
on the other night?"
The other nodded.
swell. they called for the author at
the end and, unfortunately. didn't
realize how much they wanted him."
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-07-08
Hunting Tia Fatker

Gloves, swallow-tail coats and
chaperons have practically disan-
peared from the list of necessities at
modern social functions, remarks the
Woman's Home Companion. hut the
host 10 still extant--"while his wife
receives. he mingles with guests. max.
ing introductions." If he isn't visible.
the best place TO look for him is In
the attic, or down cellar, or In the
garage underneath the car. Or you
may catch him going around the cor
ner, headed for the club.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-07-08
Girls

Commodore Gerry" New York
yachtsman said of the noted philan-
thropist-"Commodore Elbridge I. Ger
ry had old-fashioned views, and the
modern girl interested and alarmed
him.
"He was talking one day at lunch
con in his Newport house about the
modern girls dress-its audacity, you
know.
Modern fashions he said, are
charming, but
He hesitated, then he went on:
"'Girls used to want to be looked
up to. Now they want to be looked
round at"
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-07-08
Airrran's Camera

The camera used by the aviator in
plotting the view below is Il marvel
Of ingenuity. It's operation is almost
automatic and when an exposure is
made there is permanent and COM
plete record made Of time. altitude.
number of the film, angle Of the ma
chine at the time, date and data about
the lens. A special film has beer made
for the newest camera, which is the
largest film ever spoiled. 1t is sixty
five feet long, sufficient for 100 ex-
pQsnras.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-07-08
Thaf Settled Il

Mrs MacMasters was in a quandary
A pair of Russian boots and pair Of
elegant shoes looked equally attrac
tive, and as there was no difference In
either the fit or the price the poor
woman did not know which to choose
For long time she hesitated, wa,
vering between the two kinds of foot
wear. Then she turned to her hus
band and asked his opinion.
"Well. mither," he answered eau
tiopsly, "if We choose yon Russians
yell aye be buyin' blackin'. "-LondoI
Answers.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-07-08
Parting of the Ways

Reggie had been very rude to his
father and had been sent to his bed.
room as a punishment.
little later his mother went to see
what the boy was doing, and found
him writing.
SIS that letter to daddy asking
forgivenessT she said.
"If You must know replied Reggie,
"I'm writing to the archbishop Of Can
terbury to get q divorce from both
Of you."-LondOn Tit-Bits.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-07-08
Some Long Trims

A motor car on a trip round the
earth's equator would take about IT
days 8 hours, at a speed of 60 miles
an hour. A little less than FIVE years
would cover the distance at the same
speed round the sun. But to circle
Antares, the largest known star. would
take approximately 1870 years, for the
diameter Of Antares is estimated at
more than 273, 100000 miles, which 10
more than 800 times that Of the sun.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-07-08

The mending of shoes has been
greatly facilitated by foreign system
af eementing the new sole over the old
one In place of sewing. 1t requires the
use of a cement which has been made
for the purpose and which is entirely
waterproof. The parts are held to-
gether in heated clamps while the
union is being made. The new process
Isl said to be much more rapid than
the old and more economical.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-07-08
Caught

mo such a thing!" retorted Mrs.
johnson. you wasn't there a-tall.
You're just telling me another whop.
per, so you are!'
"Huh !" Sourly returned Gap John
son of Rumpus Ridge. whats the
use Of wasting a good excuse ON Eel.
ler's wife. anyhowT'-Kansas City