davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-04-14
FACTORY SKETCHES
"BERTIE'S" COSTUME
(BERTIE)

HER full name is Bertolina Miglian-
a leo. She works in the cutting
room. When one of the cutters needs
a pattern or a cutting ticket he
shouts "Bertiel" at the top Of his
voice, and presto! there is BERTHE,
like Aladdin's genie, risen out of the
floor with the desired article.
BERTHE is scarcely five feet tall
in her high-heeled department store
shoes. On first glance she seems to
be child scarcely more than seven
teen years old. It is only when one
has come closer that one sees the
tiredness OF her flabby body, the
dropping mouth (that with intense eff
fort she manages to bolster up into
smile); it is olly after one speaks
to her that the listlessness of her
voice and the burnt redness of her
eyes become plainly visible. And
then, from the bitterness of her
words, one Immediately knows that
BERTHE is not a child, that she is a
woman, an old woman. Old with the
despair that shattered illusions Gre
ate, old with the horror of the deadly
monotony of the factory, broken with
years of pain and self-denial and in
timidation.
In reality she is twenty-five years
of age, She has worked in the fac
tory for twelve years. AS a reward,
she now receives twenty-five dollars
week, and even the manager, even
Mr.. Bright condescends to call her
"Bertie" in a familiar tone. In an
swer, BERTHE usually twists her little
apeface into a synthetic smile and
answers "Comin', Mister Bright" or
an a minnit!" And after she has
done what she has been told to do,
the corners of her mouth droop
again, her breasts hang limpid like
pouches attached to her skin, and she
relapses into gloomy lethargy.
But this week BERTHE is happy. She
fits through the factory whistling
like Gagged bird, singing continually.
"The song is ended but the melody
fingers on" There is a sparkle
in her brown elf-like eyes as she
PUSHES from one job to another. Gust
Charlie and me, and baby makes
three-we're happy in my blue heav-
EN-" All notice unusual gaiety
and are happy and sympathize with
her. "Tell why your song is sad,
never glad, blue river, blue river
do you hold the memory of van
ished dream?" BERTHE is working
here for the last week. Next week
and she will be married to Charlie,
and goodbye! forever, to the factory!
And so BERTHE is happy. Mr.. Bright
is giving her her bridal costume in
reward for the twelve years of youth
she gave him, and the workers have
collected fifty dollars amongst them
selves and are buying her set of
silverware, and Ted Lurie, the col
lege student who is working there in
order to save enough money to con-
tinue his education, has promised her
copy of "Sapho" with which to start
her library. poor child, she will not
understand it, and place it in a cor
ner of her room unread.) What more
can girl want?
"Only one thing, john" says Ber-
tie to Muller, the cutter, 'I'l die be-
fore let my children work in fac
tory!"
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-04-14
Claude M'KQy,s
First Novel,: A
Story of Harlem
HOME TO HARLEM. Claude Nc
Kay. Harper & Bro. $3.50.
Reviewed by WALT CARMON.

CLAUDE MCKAY, after a long abb
sence, comes back to Harlem, the
Harlem he evidently has missed a lot,
loves. so well, knows SO thoroughly
and presents in such vivid, gay colors
in his first novel "Home To Harlem"
Claude Mckay, poet that he is,
gives US Jake, a poet of life. He pre-
sents Jake in a Harlem setting, and
around him revolves the life of Har-
lem in a good deal of it's sordidness
and beauty, it's poverty of living and
it's richness of life; it's simple mind
ed and very human mass of Negro
workers who love life above every
thing, who can find so much song and
dance and music in. it. It's picture
a poet would give us, not a realist,
yet realistic for all that.
In France, during the war, Jake
escapes from the army when he finds
Negro soldiers are given the heavy
work to do instead of fighting Ger
mans. He is in England when the
Iarmistice is called, and finally the
lcall of Harlem brings him home. On
his first night home, he meets little
girl who charms him. The code of
both is immoral. Likeable children,
they respond joyfully to each other,
and when he plans to call again he
finds he did not get her address.
Only after a long time does he find
her again, this time to keep.
1t is simply-told story of the la
Dor, loves and adventures of Jake.
Immoral, plain-spoken, a warm, pas
sionate note runs thru it all, intense
but human and unspoiled.
Told in a simple pleasing style, it
makes delightful reading, Yet with
all its virtues, Home To Harlem"
can by no means be a complete, OF
near complete, picture of Harlem life,
Mckay, brilliant poet in the days of
the "Liberator," is still more poet
than serious novelist. Authentic as
is his picture, it is only part of the
whole canvas. His Jake, simple-mind-
ed, lovable proletarian, who instinc-
lively knows that scabbing is not the
thing to do, is pictured in life that
leans too heavily to cabarets, bar
rooms, immoral and immoral women
"a life generally that is not life of
the bulk of Negro workers, if eight
to ten hours of heavy labor a day
mean thing. 1t simply can't be
done.
AS whole, "Home To Harlem" is
only simply told story. But in that
simplicity there is an unacceptable
quality that makes it a pleasure.
Claude Mckay of "Liberator" days, is
poet again in his first novel.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-04-14

Charles E. Ruthenberg: Selections
from Speeches and Writings.
Voices of Revolt Series. Inter
national Publishers.
The Story of the American Indian.
DR.. Paul Radin. Boni & Liver
light.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-04-14
Vets for Suppression

PHILADELPHIA, April 10
Aroused by criticism of the Ku Klux
Khan and the American Legion, made
by DR., Thomas Woody, professor of
the University of Pennsylvania, the
Philadelphia county, council of the
Veterans of Foreign Wars ha S
adopted resolution demanding that
the doctor be "silenced."
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-04-14

The 1928 "Red Cartoons" edited by
Walt Cannon will be published in
time for May Day distribution, it has
just been announced. The volume,
which is the third to be published,
will contain the work of Ellis, Crop
per, Gellert, Burck, Siegel, Don
Brown, Suvanto and others published
during the past year.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-04-14
Tom Mooney
BY WILLIAM ELLERY LEONARD.

Tom Mooney sits behind grating,
Beside corridor. Hes waitng)
The last white callous from his palms, they say
The crick is gone from out his back;
And all the grease and CRIME
Gone from each finger-nai and every knuekle-crack
(And that took time.)
Tom Mooney breathes behind grating, m
Beside corridor. (Hes watng.)
The Gold-men from ten cities hear in sleep
Tom Mooney breathing-for he breathes so deep.
The Gold-men from ten cities rise from bed
To make brass for Tom MONEYS head
They gather round great oaken desks-each twists
Two copper bracelets for Tom MONEYS wrists.
And down sky-scraper Easements Gall their own)
They forge the spikes for his galvanc throne
The Gold-men love the jests Of old Misrule--
At at last, they'll laugh their fill
They'll deck Tom Mooney king, they will
King knave and fool.
And from enamelled doors and rearward ofce-vauts,
Lettered in gold with names that never crock
They will draw back the triple iron bolts,
Then scatter from the ridges of their roofs
The affidavits of their paper-proofs
Of palid Tom FOOLS low and ubber stock.
Tom Mooney thinks behind a grating,
Beside corridor. Hes waiting)
(Tpm Mooney free was but aboring man;
Tom Mooney jailed's the Thinker of Rodn.)
The Workers in ten nations have caught
The roll and rhythm of Tom Moneys thought
By that earth-girdng S. o. S.,
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-04-14

The subtle and immortal wireless
Of Mans strong justice in distress
The workers in ten nations think and plan
The pick-axe little Naples man,
The rce-swamp coolies in Japan
(No longer embroidery on a screen)
The crowds that from factory gates;
At yellow dusks with all their hates,
In Ireland, Austria Argentine, 11
In England, France, and Russia far
THAT slew Carl
Or where the Teutons lately rent
The Iron Cross Con finding what it meant);
At yellow dusks with all their hates
From fiery shops gas-choked mines,
From round house, mill, or lumber-pines,
In the broad belt of these United States.
The Workers like the Gold-men, plan and wake,--
What BODIES their waking?
The Workers, like the Gold-men, something make
What they makng?-
The God-men answer often
"They make Tom Moneys coffin"
Tom Mooney talks behind a grating
Beside corridor. (Ies watng)
You cannot get quite
Against the bars to lay your ear;
You find the light too dim
To spell the lips of him.
But like beasts within zoo
(That of old god to savage clans),
His body shakes at you
beasts, GODS mans!
And from its ponderous, ancient rhythmic shaking
Yell guess what tits the workers now are making
They make for times to
From times of old-how old!-
From sweat, from blood, from hunger and from tears
From scraps of hope conserved through bitter years
Despite the might and mockery of gold),
They make, these haggard men, a bomb ,4s boz.
These haggard men with shawl-wives dumb
And pinched-faced children cold,
Descendants of the oldest, earth-born stock
Gnarled brothers of the surf the ce the fire the rock
Gray wolf and gaunt storm-bird
They make bomb more fierce than dynamite,
They weld Word.
And the awful night
The Ged-men set Tom Mooney grinnng
(If such hour shall be in Truths despte)
They'll loose the places of much underpnnine
In than ten big cities, left and right
lay Days. Edited by Genevieve Taggard Bon and Lvergh
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-04-14

No, I'm not sorry to leave this
place. Even tho the boys here are
not such bad bunch. 1t will con-
Germ me no longer how much the cock
reaches scurry about the cell, nor
any longer of the killing air and
aunlessness of this grave for living
beings.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-04-14

It's very late now. There is no use
waiting for word from home. The
keeper just passed on his hourly
round. l don't suppose they even had
the decency to telephone my parents
/ wish the nickel is returned to me
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-04-14

session of the Moscow Soviet on No
vember 10, 1922, entitled From NEF
Russia to Socialist Russia" This
volume of Lenin's speeches is an
addition to the growing Lenin litera-
ture in English, and contains a great
many important pronouncements on
policy and tactics.
A very important introduction by
A. Kurella, Analysing the main feat
ures of the speeches included in the
volume, and the explanatory notes
given in the back of the book, greatly
enrich its contents. The book retails
at fifty cents.
Other volumes in this series in
clude: Lasalle, Robespierre, Marat,
Karl Lieblznecht, Wilhelm Liebknecht
Bebel, Danton, Debs and Ruthenberg
All this chorus of calumny, which
the party of order never fail, in their
orgies of blood, to raise against their
victims, only proves that the bour-
geois of our days considers himself
the legitimate successor to the baron
of old, who thought every weapon in
his own hand fair agas.st the
plebeian, while in the hands Of the
plebeian weapon of any XIII con-
stituted a crime.
KARL MARX,
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-04-14

"Listen to this" the first fellow
said "They once wanted to make
a fellow admit something. After
they beat him while the poor suck
er ran up the stairs. Well, he met
another keeper at the head Of it with
a pipe. He got slugged and ran down
the airs like a rat and got slugged
by both until he dropped from
exhaustion"
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-04-14

Each time look at the fellow
with the Jaw broken by the "bulls''
he is shaking his head bitterly at
he irreparable loss. When he dis
covered that I'm a Jew he said, "Well
I'm no fanatic myself"
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-04-14

Conversation about "bulls," Said
one future "reformatory boy" inter
rupting; "You got nothing on me.
See this" he said opening his mouth.
1t was filled with a rubber Jaw. "The
bulls did that. was about half
dead before they threw away the
pipe" EN-.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-04-14

(From "May Days.. Edited by Gene
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1928-01-20
GREEK WORD "TELE"
HAS "A NEW MEANING

The word "tele" comes from the
Greek. Originally it meant "far" or
distant" but in the modern meaning
of the word it has come to mean
near.
The telebolos or shouting orator Of
the Greeks. whose range was limited
only by the power of his voice, has
been succeeded by the telephone
which brings near the voice of the
party far away. The Telescopes for
the far-seeing observer of the Greeks
has been replaced by the telescope.
which brings far off objects near at
hand Then there was also the tele-
machos or far-casting bow, the tele-
pompes, or the man who had visited
far lands, the telekleitos or far-famed
hero and the telegonos or far-born
foreigner.
The telephone, the telegraph and
the telescope, however, have entirely
altered the meaning of the original
Greek word "tele." Last of all comes
television which, allied with the tele-
phone, completely annihilates dis.
tances so that both the object and the
voice are brought near at hand, even
though they are hundreds or thou.
sands Of miles away.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1928-01-20
RECEIVER OFF HOOK
SHUTS TELEPHONE DOOR
Failure to Hang Up" at Close
Of Conversation Prevents
ALI Inward Service

Leaving the telephone "off hook" IL
sure way of shutting of telephone
calls. When ones telephone is left
off the hook, not only are all inward
calls to that telephone interrupted,
but If it is a party line, it is impos-
sible for the operators to ring any
other telephone on the line as long
as the receiver is off the hook.
In Maryland, Virginia, West vir-
ginia, and the District of Columbia,
the territory served by the Chesa-
peake and Potomac Telephone Com
panies, $1,000 "off hook" cases were
found by repairmen during 1927, &C.
. cording to telephone officials.
"Off hook" cases are due to a num-
Der of reasons, but one of the leading
causes is extension telephones. The
telephone in a certain part of the
house may be answered and the party
wanted may be in another location.
The party first answering leaves the
receiver off until the person wanted
answers on the extension station and
in many instances fails to replace the
receiver on the hook. When the con-
versation is concluded, the party who
talked, of course, hangs up the tele-
phone, thinking that the other tele-
phone has also been replaced Such,
however, is not always the case, as
telephone repairmen have frequently
found.
Other causes of "off hook" cases
may occur when someone is called
away from the telephone in great
hurry and forgets to hang up There
are also many cases in which the sub
scriber thinks the telephone has been
replaced properly, but where, as
matter of fact, the receiver is virtual
ly removed. j In other words, to COM
p1ete the operation Of hanging up the
receiver, it is necessary that the hook
come all the way down and thus close
the contact If this is not done, the
result is the same as though the re-
eeiver were left off entirely.
Many times 1t has been found that
this condition exists because of books,
magazines or other Instructions being
left near the telephone in such man.
ner that the receiver only partially
rests on the hook. This results irA the
telephone being reported in trouble.
Where such cases exist the telephone
is shut off from further service until
the receiver is : properly replaced.
This may be done by "howling" in
the wire chiefs Office or sending a
man to the premises to replace 1t.
The "howling' effect is brought about
by special equipment of the wire
chief which produces a buzzing or
bowling noise in the receiver. This
will attract the attention of someone
nearby and will let them know that
the receiver has been left of the
hook.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1928-01-20
NOTICE TO CREDITORS

This is to give notice that the
subscriber, of Cecil County, has OBJ
tanned from the Orphans Court OF
said county, letters of administra-
ton on the personal estate Of
f. HARVEY RINK
late of said county, deceased. All
persons having claims against the
said deceased are hereby warned to
exhibit the same, with the vouchers
thereof, duly authenticated,
- on or before June %, 1928
they may otherwise by law, be ex-
cluded from all benefit of said
estate. All indebted to said estate
are requested to make immediate
payment to the subscriber.
Given under our hands and seal
this 9th day of December, 1927.
BANK OF RISING SUN
Administrators C. t. a. of the estate
of Harvey F. Rink, decd.
Test: Robert ]. McCauley. Register.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1928-01-20

The longest snake of which there is
authentic record was a python cap
tured In Malaysia and shipped to the
Tierpark at Hamburg. Germany. This
snake died immediately after reaching
port and was stretched ON the deck
Of the steamer and measured by DR..
Arthur Irwin. then director of the
Philadelphia Geological society. II
measured few inches over thirty
feet In length and weighed close to
mo pounds. This species. the regal
for reticulated python (Python reiicu.
latus) is-the largest species of serpent.
/ II is alleged to attain length Of s.
feet. Pathfinder Magazine.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1928-01-20
Kiss No Light Matter
With Early Christians

Among the early Christians the kiss
of peace was a sacred ceremony, OBJ
served upon their most solemn occa-
sions. 1t was called the seal of prayer,
and was symbol Of that mutual for
giveness and reconciliation which the
church required, as an essential con-
dltion before anyone was admitted to
the sacraments.
The Roman civilians at length took
the kiss under their protection. Their
code defined the nature, limits, incl
dents and such like of the fright OF
Kissing"
The kiss had all the virtue Of a
bond, granted as seal to the cere-
mony of betrothing; and If the hus-
band-elect broke the engagement, re-
penting of what he had done, he sur
rendered a moiety Of the presents re-
ceived in the ceremony of betrothing,
in consequence of the violence done to
the modesty Of the lady by a kiss.
In much later times the kiss was
esteemed to be a ceremony of par
ticular obligation. Julia, In 1.-TWO Gen.
tlemen of Verona" after exchanging
a ring with her lover, completes the
contract by kiss:
"And seal the bargain with a holy
kiss"
The last instance in which the kiss
formed the subject of serious regula-
ton was when the Empress Catherine
of Russia instituted assemblies of men
and women to promote the cultivation
of polite manners. Among the rules
she directed that mo gentleman should
force a kiss from or strike woman
in the assembly, under pain ef exclu-
Sion"
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1928-01-20
TELEPHONES TO LINK
BYRD WITH HIS BASE

When Commander Richard e. Byrd
makes his fight to the South Pole,
he will take along with him several
telephones which will be installed at
the major base in Discovery Bay in
the portable houses which are to be
brought from Norway and are to serve
as homes and workshops for the thirty
scientists, mechanics and flyers who
are to take part in the expedition. A
radio station, operating on a short
wave length, is also to be established
at that point.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1928-01-20
A Parable

Does the possession of wealth make
one selfish? We read the other day
quaint parable from the Jewish folk
play. "rhe Dybbuk': rabbi led his
visitor, a rich old man of misery dis
position, to the window and asked him
what he saw. II see men. women and
little Children" was the reply. The
rabbi then led him to miro. and
again asked him what he saw. Snow
! see myself" Then said the rabbi,
"Belold-in the window there is glass
and in the mirror there is glass But
the glass Of the mirror is covered with
a little silver. and no sooner is the
silver added than you cease to see 9th.
ers and see only Yourself"
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1928-01-20
LecIeguG.eIy armed

In cot'r;rnom in iowa a tramp
ste d eharge'i with stealing d watch
He stoutly denied the impeachment
and brought counter charge against
accrser for assault committed
with frying pan.
The Judge WAS Inclined to take o
comnion-seEse view of the tmse. and
relars9ne the prisoner. saidS "Why
AID you allcw the prosecutor. who is a
smaller man than yourself. til assault
You without resistance? HAd you
nothing in your hard to defend your
self with?"
Your honor" answered the hramp
warily. Il had his watch. hut What
WAS that against frying pan?'
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1928-01-20
Fly's Many Eyes

\The greater part of the held of a
fyNs occupied by the eyes. some sew
eral Thousand in number. described
as compound. Between the compound
eyes anA near the top of the head Is a
triangular arrangement of three SIM
pie eyes. The upper two are much
farther APART in the female than in
the male. \In spite of the arrangement
of the eyes\ and the great mobility OF
the head, ID is not believed that the
vision of Ai&s Is especially acute, al
though the r'Nge q vision is wide.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1928-01-20
Kept the Minutes

The village football clab was being
recognized. The vicar was appoint
ed president, and person of particu.
larry vacuous countenance w3s pro
posed as secretary.
You know how to take the minutes.
of course. James?" asked the parson
The secretary grinned.
'Yes, I know he replied.
At the next meeting the president
announced that the secretary would
read the minutes of the previous
meeting. The secretary produced his
notebook and stood up.
"The meeting lasted twenty five
minutes" he said. brightly.-London
Tit-Bits.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1928-01-20
Cause of Poor Writing

DR.. William Root Of the University
of Pittsburgh says that as a general
rule persons of low mentality are
good hand writer's. Intelligent peo-
ple," according to Doctor Root, "think
20 shines faster than they can write
and, therefore. the arm is so far be-
hind the activity of the brain that
the result is poor writing. A person
low in mentality has nothing else to
think about but the shaping of his
letters. But it does not necessarily
follow that If you are poor penmeR
you are intelligent or vice versa
Pathfinder Magazine
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1928-01-20

Salt water is three hours from
Paris by train, and longer still by
boat. hut there is q school there that
promises to teach all about deck or
engine room duties. Correspondence
courses are open II lads in the prov
inces. far, up in tie mountains away
from the smell of the sea. The ma
rlne school in Paris has begun to
placnrd the country with the French
equivalent of the american slogan.
".Ioin the navy and see the world
The professors. in grading papers.
may look from the sschooI's windows
upon the peaceful Seine. whose Pari.
sian bosom supports nothing more i'm.
Rortant than tugs, barges and excur-
sion boats.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1928-01-20
Rubber Replacing Metal

Rubber is proving a durable substi-
tute for iron. steel and other metals In
various Industrial processes. One of
Its increasing uses is In Innings for
grinding mills. In a cement plant
where one-inch rubber ssheets we're
used In a mill charged with i5.OO
p"mds of steel balls. mol even the
cloth on the rubber's surface had been
worn off after 90 days use and the
rubber was not worn more Than one
sixty fourth of an inch nftei fourteen
months of service, says Popular
Mechanics Magazine. One explanation
Of this is that rubber ab.;n,bs the i'm
pact.