davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-29
THE STORY OF CIVILIZATION
Schools DiSbeL Darkness of Age
= Written for The Times BIZ VIII DMrant :

norance was looked upon as the
mother of devotion; astronomy
became astrology, chemistry became
alchemy, and biology became mere
fables of talking animals.
Gregory, bishop Of Tours I'd. 594,
lamented in bad Latin, the illiteracy
Of his age: Woe to our time, for
the study of books has persisted
from among u.s."
TITO establish a center for diffu-
l. sion and emulation from which
the taste for letters might trickle
down to the people, Charlemagne
called to his aid the great English
scholar, Alcuin, and babe him eS-
tablish a school in the royal palace
where young princes and mobiles
might study Latin and so bridged
the gap that had grown between
them and the ancient mind.
Charles himself, as modest as
greatness always is, sat now and
then among the students, and strove
to lift himself from the level of a
king to that of an educated man.
There in that school the European
mind was born again.
When Charles the Great died,
in the year 814, the fatal flaw of
monarchieS appeared. His son and
heir was a mediocrity in whose
hands the great realm fell to pieces.
Charlemagne himself had weakened
it by grants Of land to his generals
in payment for their services.
These soldiers (comites) became
comics, vicomteS and counts, these
leaders (duces) became dukes, and
these guardians of the marches"
(marks, frontiers) became mar
graves and marquises; the feudal
power sprouted in a hundred places
at once in an empire too unwieldy
to be ruled except by a continuity
of geniuses, or with such inStru-
mentalities of order as had passed
with the fall of Rome
Copyright, 1923. by VIII purantl
Ito Be Continued
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-29

the birth rate. But these we're mod
est vices for so great a king, and in
Dictated merely one side CT q varied
appetite which ranged from eggs
and maidens to philosophy.
Though he himself could hardly
read, and strOve in vain, between
Venison and venery, to learn the
now rare accomplishment of writing,
he ordered the clerics and scholars
Of his time Gin 1890 to open the
schools Of every parish to such Of
the people as we're lucky enough 10
be males and to give them again
the instrumentalities of civilization.
He felt the darkness Of his age,
and envied the cultural attainments
Of the ancient kings Of whom some
tradition had filtered down through
the decay of letters and Of social
memory.
One hundred years before his
birth. the supply of papyrus had
run short, or trade in it had ceased; ;
now only costly parchment could
be had, and it seemed sacrilegiouS
to use this for anything but hymns
and prayers.
The towns, those crossroads of
commerce where ideas had been eX-
changed as we'll as goods, had melt
ed away into the agricultural hinter-
land. and rural isolation had nour-
ished stupidity and superstition.
The great cities that had housed
and cherished literature at Athens,
Alexandria, Carthage and Rome
had been sacked by invaders, or
their libraries had been destroyed;
and many precious manuscripts of
classic genius had been lost through
indifference, or overtraced with
pious lore.
st. Jerome had condemned the
pursuit of learning; those who en-
ioyed profane literature we're in his
judgment doomed to he'll; and they
might consider themselves fortu-
nate if God did not, as they read the
classics, strike them dead
1t was better TO reclte the Rosary
than to read Plato or Cicero. Ig-
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-29

IT became a religious duty to obey
i an anointed king; and the theory
of the divine rights of kings-"kings
by the grace of God"-Was set upon
a road that would not end until our
generation.
But also it left in the hands of
the popes a power of "interdict' "a
power to absolve subjects from feal-
ty TO their king-which made the
papacy, after the death of Charlie
magne. predominant over the En-
pire; it laid upon the State the OBJ
legation of maintaining the preroga-
tiveS and inviolability of the Church
in its property and personnel; and
is initiated those earthly territorial
rights which were to form the prob
lem of the temporal power"
This power had its origin in the
supposed Donation of Constantine. y
We find no mention Of this among
contemporary historians before the
eighth century; then Adrian the
First writes to Charlemagne eXhort-
ing him to initiate the generosity Of
Constantine, and tells him how the
first Christian emperor, healed of
the leprosy and baptized by st. Sill
vester, gratefully withdrew to Con-
stantinople, and resigned to the
PopeS the perpetual sovereignty Of
Italy and the provinces Of the West.
Charlemagne responded with SIM
pie generosity, and donated to the
PopeS that central section of Italy
which became the foundation of the
Papal States. An event in history
even when 1t has never taken place
is like a movement among the
stars: 1t has endless results in
space and time.
n
DROWNED and secure, Charlie
~ magne returned to France,
waged further wars, and then re-
tired to the prosaic life Of his court
and his concubines.
His virtues did not include chasti-
ty; and he contributed literally to
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-29
Debt and Extravaganza

Willard B. Pillsbury banker announces that four
fifths of all wage earners in debt. Only about
quarter OF the counrys population he says free
from financial worries.
This sounds rather appalling. But there are debts
and debts The man who owes for home, auto
mobile piano or furniture may be in the soundest
kind of financial condition, Extravaganza is one
thing and going into debts that can be met promptly
and without strain is another.
There are times when the wisest thing man
can do is go into debt 1t is only when debts are
incurred unwisey, when misfortune brings 1ocks
of bills greater than income can meet that there is
trouble.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-29
Meeting the Japanese

The Japanese government, believing that its pres
ent arbitration treaties with other nations have too
many loopholes and exceptions" in them, may seek
to revise them and make them more all-incusve ac-
cording to dispatches from Geneva.
Among the treaties is with the United States
to expire. Japan is said to be ready to redraft
this to make it more effective anti-war intrument
Somehow don't hear much of the Japanese
peril" as used to. 1t is slowly becoming evident
that the japanese want to be friendly and that the
dreaded specter of in the Pacific can be forever
averted if we will go to the trouble of meeting them
half way.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-29
Caesar CorrectS Calendar

When julius Caesar adopted
Rome as a plaything he found the
calendar in great confusion.
Previous to that time, the Roman
year contained 1855 days, which was
a week and a half too short and
which was certainly running the
seasons, the equinoXes and every
thing else off schedule.
When Caesar came on the scene
he found summer where spring
ought to be. The year was begin
ming some ninety days ahead Of
time.
With his usual quicknesS OF de-
cision and disregard of precedent,
Caesar took one look, saw what was
the matter and corrected it by tuck
ing in three extra months into the
year Al B. G. Then he sat down
with Sosigenes to figure out how
the fault could be permanently
remedied.
You hear lot about the d1ctators
Of today, Mussolinis, Pilsudskis and
Stains, but there is not one OF
them who would dare undertake
such a thing or who has the power
TO carry it out if he did.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-29
BRIDGE ME
ANOTHER
Copyright, 1928. by The Ready Ref
erence Publishing Company
BY w. w. WENTWORTH

Authorizations: A--ace; liking; O.
queen; Jack; X-any card lower thar
1O.)
1. When you hold: spades-J 10
xxx; hearts-XX; diamonds-AK
x; clubs-XXX; what should you
bid initially?
@ How does bridge resemble ra-
dio?
3. What does pass by initial bidder
indicate?
The Answers
/. Pass.
2. The partners should continu-
ally sending each other radios.
3. That he is too weak to make
any bid in suit or no-trump.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-29

According to the everyday
book" by Joel Munsell, that is the
day on which the great gun
"peacemaker" exploded on the
board of the United States man-of-
war, princeton" killing the secre-
tary of state, the secretary of the
navy, a colonel, a captain and the
colored servant of President Tyler.
Other authorities give different
day for this event. Maclay's History
of the Navy" says that it occurred
on Feb. % in one place and on
Feb. % in another. But let thss
pass.
The princeton" was the first
screw-driven ship ever commissioned
in the American navy. The Peace
maker" modelled after gun cast by
John Ericsson some years previously,
was the largest wrought iron can
non made up to that time. 1t was
of 12-inch bore and threw a pro-
iectile weighing 212 pounds.
The propeller and this gun made
the Princeton" the nations pride,
and when she appeared in the Poto-
mac for maneuvers and target prac-
tice, Washington turned out in all
its glory.
The President, his cabinet and
several other distinguished guests
went on board to see the great gun
do it's stuff. At the third dis
charge it exploded, with the fatal
results above recorded and with the
effect of putting a damper on the
installation of anything bigger than
q nine-inch gun for the next twen-
ty years.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-29
What Other" Editors Think

and sounding the keynote of his
campaign, Mr.. Frederick has
struck a popular chord, which no
doubt accounts for a large meas
ure Of the favor with which he
is being received.
Instead of "harping" upon cor
ruption and fraud and threatening
to lead crusaders, Investigations,
probes and prosecutions, Mr.. Fred
rick, while making it plain that
he intends to clean house" much
as a business man would do who
went into an establishment and
found itse organization honey
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-29

combed with defrauders, emberzz-
lers and spendthrifts, has centered
attention upon a constructive pro-
gram of redemption of Indiana
and is urging such measures as
will increase the prosperity activ-
ity, progressiveness and well-being
of the State.
The public undoubtedly wants a
"house cleaning" but there is no
indication that they desire to have
the fact necessarily dinned into
their ears. They prefer to look at
a brighter picture Of the future,
and that is what John Friedrich is
offering them.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-29
Know What You're Voting For

The national "get out the vote" campaign has
already begun Efforts will be made to get an I'M
precedented number of people to the polls in this
years presidential election.
It's worthy aim, to be But, after all, there
isn't much sense in voting if you don't know just
exactly what you're voting for vote uninteligently
cast can be worse for the community than vote
at all.
Get out the VOTE by all But see to it
that the stay -at-homes you bring to the polls know
what it's all about .., H.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-29
Birthday of Many

1t is said that no less than $4,000
Americans celebrate Feb. 20 as their
birthday.
To my mind, this is very low
estimate. There are approximately
100000 people living in this
country. If the same number Of them
had been born each day of the year,
it would average about 100000. That
is not true, of course, because the
birth rate, like everything else, has
its ups and downs.
With an average Of 100000, how
ever, it is difficult to believe that
Feb. 20 is not represented by more
than $4,000.
Among others who claim the dis
tinction of having a birthday only
once in four years is Rear Admiral
Colby M. Chester. retired. He was
born Feb. 90, 1914.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-29
To the Editor:

To the Editor:
The latest addition to the false
prophets of today seems to be our
present Secretary of State of Indi-
ana and candidate for the governor
ship, Frederick E. Schortemeier who
will cry: Prosperity! Peace Pros
perity! Peace when there is no
prosperity peace" This seems to be
the studied program Of our Republi-
can friends, office-holders and can
didateS, to create, a kind of 'psy-
Geological" prosperity and keep up
the prosperity cry.
According to the Labor Review Of
August, 1927, published by the
United States Department of Labor,
we have among us from ten to fif-
teen millions of people who do not
share as they should in the prosper
ity enjoyed by the rest of us. Sew
eral months ago at the Los Angeles
convention of the American Fedora
ton of Labor it was stated that
more than a million workers are out
Of employment, while three and
half million are working on part
time. r. G.. Dun & Co. reports:
Commercial failures in the Unit
ed States in January we're the larg-
est for all months since January,
1922"
During the greater part OF 1927
we were told that unemployment
conditions we're improving" and noN
We are being filled With optimism
for 1928"
The real situation is this: I'VE are
making SO much of everything that
some people haven't got anything"
If conditions do not improve in the
near future we will be told "it is
always so during presidential cam
paign years"
We have now the highest protec-
tive tariff in the history Of our coun-
try, we have sound money" we
have an elastic currency" through
the Federal Reserve System, We have
a Republican administration which
will permit no "tinkering with the
tariff" a broad eXpanse Of country
with twenty people to the square
mile, whereas England, France and
Germany have some 200 inhabitants
to the same area.
We are rich in natural resources,
blessed with a diversity of climate;
no obstruction of trade between our
States as in Europe and yet the lat
est reports are that some 100000
people are out of work in this coun-
try" Competition as reported by
some New York business man will
he still keener in 1923 than in
1927" Truly, as a New York re-
view stated: 1.-The relief and remedy
of unemployment should be one Of
The leading issues of the day"
oh. yes, Mr.. Schortemeier business
is good, all you have to do is go after
it."-and get it if you can. And
working men and women, there are
plenty of jobs, just go after them
and try and get them"
Is he aware that during November
and December seven jobless persons
committed suicide in Indianapolis?
And the pity of it is that so many
good people are of the opinion that
all the nation needs is good men in
Office" and the question of prosper
ity for all people will be thus solved
automatically.
CHARLES H. KRAUSE, SR.,
674 E. Drive, Woodruff Pl.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-29
The Rules

l. The idea of letter golf is to
change one word to another and
do it in par, or a given number of
strokes. Thus, to change COW to
HEN in three strokes, COW, HOW,
HEW, HEN.
2. You can change only one let
ter at time.
8. You must have complete word
of common usage for each jump.
Slang words and authorizations don't
count.
4. The order of letters can not be
changed.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-29
Steal From Smallest

When Caesar was assassinated,
the Romans paid him the compli-
ment of naming July in his honor,
and when his no less distinguished
nephew, Augustus, died, they Of
fered up August in a similar way,
But August had only thirty days
while July had thirty-one, and that
was an intolerable disparity to per-
petuate between the two Caesars.
The obvious thing was to steal q
day from some other month in order
to make August equal with July, and
what month could better spare it
than the littlest of them all.
BY such roundabout and delight
fully human processes was February
reduced to twenty eight days.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-29
SCorn for Fractions

Sosigenes calculated that it took
the world 365% days to make its
revolution, but a military man like
Caesar would have no fractions in
his calendar, so he compromised hui
man affairs with heavenly time
tables by ordering that three out of
every four years should contain 265
days and that the fourth should
contain 366.
Sosigenes had made mistake of
IL minutes and IA seconds in his
conclusion which had to be COR
rected some nineteen centuries later,
but that is another story.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-29
Months Are Installed

Having decided that the regular
year should contain 1855 days, Caesar
divided it into twelve lnonths-siX of
thirty-one days, five of thirty and
one, February, Of tWenty-nine.
Why he picked on February Is a
mystery, since he might have
avoided it by ordering five months
of thirty-one days and seven of
thirty. He probably had his rea-
sons, but that, too, is another story.
AT all events, he sent poor old Feb
ruary rolling down the ages with a
handiCgap from which it has never
recovered.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-29
Thinking Campaigns

Politics is quieter than it used to be.
A few years ago a presidential campaign meant
lots of excitement with torchlight professions, inn
FASHIONED stump speakers and blaring brass bands.
conducted quietly.
Probably this is change for the better. Presl-
Dental campaigns call for clear thinking on the
part of the voter. And certainly brass bands and
torchlight parades didn't induce thinking. Their
appeal was solely to the emotions
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-29

People born on Feb. 90 are out
Of luck. They miss three out a.
four candle-lit cakes when they
are young and the same proportion
Of family gatherings and neighbor-
hood celebrations if they are lucky
enough to grow old.
If they were not in the minority
something would be done about 1t
AS it is they can only call attention
to their misfortune and blame
julius Caesar.
The chances are that he does not
mind, besides which he did very
well under the circumstances.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-29
To the Editor:

To the Editor:
saw in Mondays Times the talk
about women working. Let the
women read 18th Psalm, 9th verse.
HE maketh the barren woman to
keep house and to be a joyful
mother of children"
What is woman for if she can't
stay at home, keep up the house
and raise children right? q She sure
will have to give account of all at
the day of judgment. M. E. B.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-29
HOW are shrimps caught?

Shrimp fishing occurs chiefly in
shallow water. 1t is carried on
usually by wading, the shrimper
pushing a wide mouthed net in
front of him. Shrimps are eX-
tensively caught for market in San
Francisco Bay.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-29
Hartford City News


Attorney General Gilliom is
turning on the light on the Ku-
KluX Khan and the exposure tells
the same story as that wherever
the organization has grown strong
enough to become impudent and
inSolent.
From Old Doc Evans to the
minor officers in the different
States, the khan has been rotten.
Thousands Of good citizens were
beguiled into joining, only to soon
find that they had made q serious
mistake and taken up with the
wrong crowd.
From a membership of almost
100000 in Indiana at one time,
the numbers have dwindled, until
today there are only 1000 members
paying dues. Thousands have been
trying for a long time to live down
the memory of the day they made
the error into applying for men,
bership.
They were misled and it did
not take them but a short time to
learn that the whole organiza-
ton was built upon the wrong
theory and was in the hands of
men who never had either the
good of the individual or the gov
eminent at heart.
KokomO Dispatch
Since the announcement was
made by our fellow townsman,
John E. Frederick Of his candi-
dacy for the Democratic NOM
nation for Governor, his campaign
has received generous space from
the newspapers of the State.
Many of the newspapers, both
large and small, have devoted con-
siderable space to telling of the
record, platform and character
isticS of Mr.. Frederick. From the
start his candidacy has received
favorable mention from the press,
many papers editorially endorsing
his candidacy and urging his nom
nation in strong and no uncertain
terms.
A part of this editorial comment
has been reprinted by The Dis
patch in order that the Kokomo
friends Of Mr.. Frederick might
know in what high esteem he is
held over the State generally. Ger
tainly such general endorsement
should encourage Kokomo people
In announcing his candidacy
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-29
Times Readers
Voice ViezOS

The name and address OF the author
must accompany every contribution. but
on request will not be published. Let
preference.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-29
Questions and AnSzUe7.S

able question of fact or information by
writing to Frederick M. Kerby, Question
Editor, The indianapolis Times. WASH
Washington, D. c.. enclosing two cents
in stamps for reply. Medical and le-
gal advice cannot be given, nor can ex-
questions will receive a personal reply.
Unsigned requests cannot be answered.
All letters are confidential. You are
cordially invited to make use of this
free service as often as you please.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-29
Where Is "The Painted DeSert?"

The name is sometimes applied to
the plateau region of Arizona,
bordering upon the Colorado and
Marble canons. The term is derived
from the brilliant coloring of its
Sock surfaces.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-29
What Is the population o
Kingston, Jamaica?
62,562.

What is the unit Of money in
Soviet Russia and what is its value?
The legal unit is the ruble of 100
kopecks, and the par value in
United States currency is 51.46
cents. Currencies in circulation are:
Chervontsi notes issued by the
States bank against gold reserves,
but inconvertable at ppresent; treas
ury notes; silver coins and copper
coins.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-29

Is there a magazine devoted to
tennis?
American Lawn Tennis is pub
liShed monthly at 461 Eighth Ave,
New York; yearly subscription, 81.
Are all employees Of the Federal
Government exempt from income
tax?
No.
What tools were used by the In
dams in arrow making?
American Indians used takers for
shaping the stone heads; straighten-
ers, wrench-like objects of bone,
and polishers of grooved sandstone
for working out the shafts. A good
account of the process is given in
Hodges Handbook of the American
Indian.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-29

What do the names Margaret and
Veronica mean?
Margaret is from the Greek and
means pearl" Veronica is also
from the Greek and means "a true
image"
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-29
How fast does light travel?

How fast does light travel?
AS the elimination of years of
painstaking effort, Professor Michel
son announced to the National
Academy Of Sciences of which he
is president, final figure for the
speed of light. 1t is 299, 796
kilometers of 186,284 miles per
second.