davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1928-11-25

It's natural. I notice that girls with
freckles or this flaw or that flaw gets
married first mostly. I says to Ed one
time. Ed, how on earth did you come
to fall in love with me. of all folks?'
and he says, That funny cowliCk m
your hair in 'front.' and the times I'd
cried over that cowlick and tried %
plaster 1t down! I never got sight Of
1t. from the first time on he said.
that it didn't set me crazy wanting to
kiss it.
Dear mel" asserted Miss Thinner.
"Yes'n," asserted Mrs. Woolett. "And
that's why say about your Thursa that
you'd better be careful she don't turn
out to be an old NJ that she gets
husband right soon, if she wants one
You're liable to have hard time get
ting rid of her. Men like good-loo&ing
girls, but it's the flaws they fall in love
with"
But that's ridiculous" said Miss
Thinner.
Maybe. but it's cer'nly So" Mrs
Woolett insisted. II was talking with
Prof. Carter about it, no longer ago
than yesterday. and he says so, too. He
don't know exactly why, but most OF
those we have loved have had flaws.
well, I declared" exclaimed Miss
Thinner.
"Yes'm. And the professor says that's
the trouble with the perfectly beautiful
girls sometimes They make folks
men folks-think of Greek goddeSSes.
and most of the Greek goddesses are
carved out of marble these days. It
amt warming thought, marble lady
Perfection amt what it's cracked up
to be, Emma. It's good to try for, but
it amt so good to be-"
THURSA, then. and not Peggy would
have the college career, Miss Tim
mer thought. and, oddly enough, she
felt as regretful as she had felt short
while before because Thursa was not to
go to college.
They're coming in now," she said to
Mrs. woolett, as she heard laughter at
the front door The swinging door that
led to the dining room was pushed
open and Thursa stood there in the
light, supremely. perfectly beautiful.
Then, like Greek goddess. she swept
across the kitchen and kissed Mis-:
Emma.
"I'm so happy. Aunt Emna!" sh'
whispered Charles has asked me to
marry himl"
Darling, darling girli" cried Mis-
Thinner. and she cast glance at Mrs
Woolett. May I tell her?"
"Of coursel" Thursa exclaimed
Were going to tell every one beforf
the party is over. Charles and 1 a"
engaged, Mrs. Woolett."
SWell now. are you!'' Mrs. Woolet
exclaimed That's just fine! Germ!
do congratulate everybody"
"And. Aunt Emma" beamed Thurs
"it's the silliest thing-whatever do yc'
think made him fall in love with me-
Your nose?" asked Miss Thinner, an
Thursa laughed.
"The perfectly silly way I held
tennis-racket." said Thursa.
(Copyrisht, 1921
Evening star., 1928-11-25

to be here the rest of the Summer.
I'd like you to meet him, Ben; he's
coming over after breakfast"
Yes? Well-maybe I'll drift over"
you might help them fix UP ten
mis- court on the back lawn" Aunt
Emma said. He says there's not room
on the professors place, and 1t seems
he has brought the things that are
needed"
"As quick as that, huh? Fast worker,
that boy. Well, I'll give him credit-he
knows nice girls when he sees them
He hardly took his eyes off Thursa,' >
Miss Thinner said, with guile.
Il see I've got to learn tennis" Ben
said, with grin.
TENNIS in the next few days became
the business of the back lawn.
When Ben came the four played, but,
lacking Ben, the game was left to
Thursa and Charles, Peggy watching
and reading a book.
1t was largely because of Charles
that Miss Thinner planned rather more
of a party than she had at first in
tended, and she increased the number
of those invited to 30 and sent for Mrs.
Woolett. who was the cake maker in
the village.
Mrs. Woolett spent Wednesday after
noon in Miss Timmer's kitchen and ran
home for supper, having husband and
family of her own to provide that meal
for. but she was back before the first
guest arrived. that guest being Charles
Carter. He brought. as all did. pres
ent for Thursa. it being her birthday,
and his gift was book of poems. Ben
Judd gave her a gold pin
The day had been perfect July day
and the evening was even lovelier, and
the party was loath to go indoors. Miss
Thinner and Mrs. Woolett, at the kitch-
en- table watched the young people on
the back lawn.
"My I do just love to see young
folks having good tin1e! Mrs. Woolett
declared 1T just keeps making me
think Of what good time had, and
cernlv did have it. Amt Thursa the
loveliest thing She looks for all the
world the way you did when you was
her age, Emma. My! I remember one
night I almost cried my eyes out over
you--you don't remember 1t, guess
Sue Dallinger's party. 1t was the way
Ed hung about you that night. Emma.
I cer'nly wes in love with Ed Woolett,
the poor coot."
Let me see-S3, "a; there ought to
be two more CUPS"
And am yet, for that matter" said
Mrs. Woolett. my! I was jealous that
night, Emma thought my heart wac
broke. He'll never look at me again,
said to myself; 'Emna's got HIM"
"Thirty-six-I counted wrong" said
Miss Thinner II was afraid Mrs.
Deering hadn't sent over the full dozen
she said she'd lend me-"
Well you can never tell" said Mrs.
Woolett, and she might have meant the
glass cups or what men would do. 1T
turned out that he proposed the next
night, Ed did. Men are funny"
X X
.DUSK came and darkness. and the
- laughter still arose from the back
lawn. The party would not come in.
and Miss Thinner and Mrs. Woolett
went to the dining room and found
Evening star., 1928-11-25

marking the first time the continent
had been spanned by radio.
Construction of the Arlington tow
ers was let out by the Bureau of En-
gineering to a bridge construction
company. Plans were drawn up by
Navy engineers, but inasmuch as such
station was beyond human eXpe-
rience, it was necessary for me to make
changes that had never been dreamed
Of The theory and practice of radio
tower construction were different. Prac-
tice often upsets theory.
Most OF NAA's machinery. SWITCH
boards and antennae were built by my
men. That started the tradition at
Arlington of building our own equip
ment. Much of it is unparalleled any
place. In fact, our Navy was the only
unit capable of designing and con-
structing it. 1 was assigned to Airing
ton from 1911 TO 1917, with a gap Of
only six months. when 1 was taken
away for installation work.
About December, 1912. we picked up
signals from Eiffel Tower. When we
reported this through our State De-
partment, the French were so happy
they opened negotiations with our
Government, which led to the appoint
mcnt of a commission of naval ard
army officers, which started expert
ments between Eiffel and Arlington.
These tests continued more than a
year, and were used to determine the
accurate longitudes of the two places,
"At midnight Eiffel sent out the usual
time signals. Once listened patiently
to these and picked up, besides mes
sageS of numerals, some French words.
The messages we're forwarded to our
embassy in Paris and then handed over
to the French authorities. The COM
mandant of Eiffel nearly lost his job
then. 1t turned out that he had been
sending personal greetings to friends,
and that was strictly against the
French military code. But the authori-
ties were so elated over the fact that
Eiffel's signals we're heard by NAA that
they forgot the commandant's indiscre-
ton.
GIN 1915 the large volume of traffic
made it necessary to employ our
present remote control system. BY it
the actual sending is done in the Navy
Building, Weather Bureau and other
departments, At Arlington the power
is furnished to throw these signals out
About that time the Western Elec-
trio Co, looking forward to voice trans
mission. asked permission to make ex-
periments at Arlington. No place in
the country could boast our superior
equipment. The Navy gave the COM
pany permission to build . small shack
Evening star., 1928-11-25
PERFECTION PLUS
By Ellis PARKER Butler
Marriage for One College for the Other Seemed Logical

About his stock mostly" Thursa
said. "He has bought another COW. Aunt
Emma Can you imagine paying eight
hundred dollars for single cow"
1T seems great deal" admitted Miss
Thinner. thinking that eight hundred
dollars would have given Thursa year
in college
Ben thinks he got bargain" !"
Thursa continued. HE thinks this COW
is better than they knew, like the Penn
berton Rosa TX he bought. He says per-
lection Is worth any price any man can
afford to pay for. it. This COW is En-
NETS Perfection III: he thinks she'll
be hetter than Pemberton Rosa. He was
explaining his ideal to me. Aunt Emma,
he wants to have every bit of stock on
his farm absolutely perfect-not
flaw"
ben Judd is q smart young man."
said Miss Thinner while these men
around here are feeding cows that don't
give enough milk to pay for their feed
Ben will be feeding his cows no more
and getting good money for his milk
And. when these common farmers won't
hardly be able to give their yearlings
away. Ben will be getting small for
tune for each Of his"
Eyes. he. said that" Thursa admitted
That's what he has In mind. He's
stocking his farm that way nothing but
the best he can buy, even to machinery.
He went to The city last week, just to
look at a new separator. He wants
perfect one, If he can get It, Where's
Peg?"
I'm her room, I think" said Miss
Thinner
Dosing her freckles?" smiled Thursa
"Aurtie, maybe we'll all be rich yeti"
what do YOU mean, child?" asked her
aunt, turning quickly, but she saw that
Thursa was only teasing her.
Maybe Ben Judd will buy my nose"
the girl said. Now don't look so mean
ing, Aunt Emmy! He just said had
the most perfect nose he had ever seen.
He said 1t reminded him of the Venus
de Milo that stood In the rotunda ct
Aggy. said perhaps he would like to
buy it, If 1t was so perfect. So you see.
If I put 1t up at auction"
'Thursa! I'm surprised"
"It's just joke, Aunt Emmy"
Thursa explained. Il had to tease him.
I don't mind having the boys talk
about my lovely eyes or my adorable
hair. but can you Imagine talking about
anybody's nose. Seriously, I mean?
Don't you think it Is ridiculous?"
mo, I do not" said Miss Thinner
IT have often thought myself that you
have a perfect nose. There are not so
many perfect noses in the world, l.
don't see anything ridiculous in nose
that IS
Evening star., 1928-11-25

on the grounds, and hundreds of audion
bulbs were installed. During those eX-
perimentS Secretary Daniels carried on
the first conversation from his desk IN
the Navy Department to the U. 5. ).
Nebraska, off the Virginia Capes. That
Was the first long-distance radio con-
versation. Soon voices from Arlington
were heard in Honolulu.
LAS early as 1904 coastal stations
sent out time signals by hooking a relay
key to Western Union wires. But first
interest in time signals was SHOWN
when NAA started sending them at
noon and at 10 pm, beginning in 1912.
These signals we're intended primarily
for ship captains, and provided check
on their chronometers.
You see navigation between Europe
and America is done mostly by the
chronometer The exact rate or loss
per day must be known accurately.
Before the time of radio it was nee
essary to have the chronometer adjust
ed by skilled matchmaker every time
the ship reach port. Before sailing. the
instrument was returned with the rate
of gain or loss printed on paper pasted
to the glass.
This rate was reliable and accurate
so long as the chronometer was not
jolted. II the instrument went wrong.
navigation would be done according to
the old method, with a chance of the
vessel overrunning her course and pill
ing up on a beach. Today the master
checks his chronometer with signals
from Arlington and Eiffel Tower.
Although intended for mariners,
these signals soon became of great use
to amateurs. 1t is. surprising to know
the number of jewellers who are inter-
ested. When several times we failed
to be prompt with our signals we we're
deluged with protests from amateurs.
Another important work by NAA Is
the broadcast of weather bulletins TO
ships at sea- Many farmers make use
of this service, too. Some broadcast
listeners object when these bulletins in
terfere with a musical concert, but II
they would imagine themselves at sea,
approaching a twister. they would ul-
derstand the importance Of weather
report The weather report is printed
daily in the paper. the listeners say.
But a ships master is not warming
himself at a fireplace reading the paper.
still another service by NAA is hy-
drogra~hic warnings. Formerly wreck
or derelict might be sighted by some
ship. For days. and even months. it
would remain a menace to navigation.
The captain had no means 1t tc"irg
others about danger until IL I'D
reached some port TODAY news OF such
q danger is relayed to Arlington and a
warning sent OUT.
Evening star., 1928-11-25

chairs by the window. Mrs. Woolett
had paused to take a breath when they
heard voices under the window.
well. what is it they heard
Charles Carter ask, and big Ben Judd
answered him.
Il want to get this straight" he
said II don't want a fuss with you
or with anybody else, but we might as
we'll understand this. 1 want to know
what you mean. You've got to leave
my girl alone"
And just why, Judd? Are you en-
gaged?"
mo, not yet, but I'm mighty soon
going to be. You keep away from her.
You needn't think you can come in
here like this and cut oLt folks sies
known all her life. l tell you she's my
And lust what's the idea?" Carter
asked. "Are you going to try to beat
me up? You're a big bundle, but you
might not find 1t SO easy, even so,
Judd. I'll tell you now that you can't
tell me what to do and what not to
do. I'll do as I please IN this mans
land. I'm going to ask her to marry
me, and you have nothing to say about
it. She'll do the saying. Is that plain
enough?"
Their voices were rising anc becoming
angry, but Judd must have seen what
Carter did not see for he left the pro-
fessor's nephew standing there and ran
to a figure that came toward them.
Peggy" he called.
"Peggy?" exclaimed Miss Thinner.
"Yes'm," said Mrs. Woolett. He
cer'nly said Peggy My! Amt it love-
ly to be young and have two boys after
you'll"
But Ben Judd had linked his arm in
PeggyS and was leading her to where
he could have her to himself.
Look here" he said, when he had
faced her about. You know what I'm
going to say. don't you, Peggy? You
know I've been in love with you years
and years"
you don't mean Thursa, do you,
Benz" she asked. "You aren't mis-
taking me for Thursa, because it is so
dark here that you can't see my
freckles, are you?"
"Oh, don't talk that way" he cried.
"I know what I mean. mean you,
Peggy Will you marry me- Will your
Tt thought you liked everything
perfect, Ben. Are you sure you don't
mean Thursa?"
"Oh, perfect!" he exclaimed. "Youre
perfect enough for me-"
"Freckles and all?"
"Freckles? Do you know what made
me fall in love with you fist? Freckles.
There's one on your nose, right there"
and he touched it with his finger
that I've wanted to kiss fer years and
years. And now I'm going to kiss it,"
mo! Ben! Stop Wait! You'll be Sor-
ry Thursas the perfect one. You want
everything perfect-your COWS and"
But by gosh wife isn't cow is
she? I'm not asking you because you're
perfect; I'm asking you because you've
got the dearest little bunch of freckles
man ever-Thursa's all light: maybe
she is perfect; but want you. Peg"
"Oh, Ben I do love you!" Peggy
cried.
And it don't surprise me a bit" Mrs.
Woolett was saying to Miss Thinner.
Evening star., 1928-11-25

Hey, hey" exclaimed a voice, and
they turned to see Peggy in the door
way. Here now, who is talking about
my nose? I won't have my poor nose
called ridiculous. 1t has enough TO
bear, carrying its load of freckles, poor
thing"
My dear Peggy" said her aunt, i
wish you would not make a jest of
every thing. We were not talking of
your nose. / think you have a very nice
rose--very nice. Don't be silly about
your nose, Peggy. Or about your freck-
les. Kind hearts are more than coro-
nets, dear child"
II suppose you mean that Thursa g
nose is a'coronet and mine Is q Kind
heart. but 1t seems rather mixed" Peg
gy said, But I know your intentions
are honorable, Miss Thinner"
A FTER lunch Miss Thinner, like a
"A good general went out to study the
field of battle Although Ben's acres
spread broadly into the distance, she
found him close by the dividing fence,
chopping at weeds with his hoe. He
looked up eagerly.
Hello, there!" he cried. and then ne
saw 1t was Miss Thinner. Thought
YOU we're one of the girls" he said.
Il don't want to keep you from your
work" said Miss Thinner. Il just came
out to tell you I'm going to have party
for ThurSa next Wednesday, a. few
young folks after supper, because IT'S
her birthday You'll come early and
have supper with us, Ben, and help cut
her birthday cake"
you know me, Aunt Emr Ben
laughed. I'll be there with bells on, "
and Miss Thinner went back to the
house. She found Prof. Carter of the
high school there, and with him
young man she had never seen before.
The professor had brought the young
fellow to make an Introductory CALL
he was to be in the village all Summer.
MY nephew, Charles" he explained
to Miss Thinner. MY cum laud nephew.
I have persuaded him to rusticate witn
me this Summer before tearing the
world asunder this Autumn. have
told him of you and your very lovely
nieces: you see"
so / came at once" smiled Charles.
There being no Brooklyn Bridge or
Aquarium, said Peggy. and Charles
turned to her and smiled, but his eyes
Immediately left her face and sought
that of Thursa. 1t seemed impossible
for him to look at the others in 5he
room long, and his eyes kept going back
to Thursa He was thinking that she
was the most beautiful person he had
ever seen. He stayed for tea, and it
was dinner time before he left.
At tea, however he transferred his
attentions TO Peggy. But Miss Tim
mer decided he was only trying to
arouse Thursas interest. Peggy seemed
fiattered and her cheeks glowed so that
her freckles stood out more plainly than
ever.
The morning brought big Ben Judd
to Miss Timmer's kitchen, and he found
Aunt Emma alone in the kitchen, as ne
had hoped.
Hello, Aunt EN-" he greeted her.
Brought you over a basket of vegeSa-
bles. Say, who was the grand guy I
saw yesterday?"
Prof. Carter's nephew: his name is
Charles" Miss Thinner told him. Hes
Evening star., 1928-11-25
Continued From First Page)

Continued From First Page)
who gave up his commission to become
an enlisted man, known throughout the
Navy as the father of Arlington, VS.
beginning to "thaw."
Still a mighty link in naval c.rnmuni-
cations, Scanlin enlisted when radio
was not even to be found in diction-
aries But let Scanlin tell his own
story:
I'm 1899 the question of communi-
eating by means of radio telegraphy
came up in the Navy Department.
Marsoni gave a demonstration of Sandy
Hook, using the U. s. S. Massachusetts,,
U. S. S. New York and U. S. S.. Porter
in connection with a small portable
station set up on shore in the vicinity
of Navesink Lighthouse, back of Sandy
Hook.
ION the strength of this demonstra-
ton the Navy Department in 1901 de-
tailed Lieut.. HudginS and two chief
electricians to visit Europe. where they
inspected ANTS at London. Paris and
Berlin. They returned in the Spring
of 1902, bringing some complete test
sets
Annapolis and Washington we're Sc
lected as the places to conduct tests
room in the physics building OF the
Naval Academy, using the flagpole to
suspend an" antenna; also half Of the
small weighing house in the Washing
ton Navy Yard, using the f1agpole back
of the commandants house. The air
line distance between these two places
is about 80 miles.
1T is amusing to look back on the
difficulties in bridging this insignificant
gap 1t was three months before we
recorded the first signal.
I'm the Fall of 1902 the Navy as
signed the U. s. S. Prairie and u. S. S.
Topeka to carry on tests in Chesapeake
Bay. Until the middle of 1908 the
longest distance obtained between these
vessels and shore was 1877 miles, the
u. s. 8. Prairie being at the entrance
to the Chesapeake Bay and the signals
being received at Annapolis.
About July. 1908, with completion
of preliminary tests, the department
decided to purchase Slaby-Arco appa-
ratus. Several sets were ordered.
IN September, 1902. 1 was sent to
Bar Harbor, Me. and began installing
these sets aboard the Kearsarge, Texas
and Olympia. Shortly after these in
stallations the feet engaged in a war
game which emphasized the huge i'm
portance of radio communication. The
home feet lay in Bar Harbor, while
light scouts were sent out to look for
the attacking feet, which was sighted
At 1 am. A code message flashed 70
Evening star., 1928-11-25

w YELL, all know is just what I
a read in the papers. ThlS sea
NN tragedy has just been about
all we could see for the last
10 days, and 1t was awtul
hard to get your mind of it. Talk about
stage plays and Dramas, don't they 1aoe
into nothing when a thing ike TINS
comes along! and the great part anout
it is nobody knows where, or who VIII
hob up in the way of a Hero. The old
ordinary that looks like mere matter
of fact, even weakling, might be the big
thing in an emergency.
I will never forget when Canada en-
tered the war and their first (and for
that matter all their troops) had made
such a brave fight. think their f1rst
big Hero was not some rugged North
west Mounted Police, or some nervy
westerner, it was A little enemlc Gig
arctic smoking Piano player in a cheap
Movie house. He was the first to 40
something away beyond the demand IN
bravery.
Just think of that Radio operator on
that boat Has to be sacrificed be-
cause he had to wait for orders from
somebody that was thinking about his
Company instead Of the lives Of his
people. You know those old fellows
have Just gone through so many things
that it never strikes them that there
will be any come up that they cant get
through tell you l will take mine in
an aeroplane and stay of those boats.
In those things when you leave, If they
are listing" and not going so good you
turn around and 60 back, or come down
and land and Ak it. They don't try to
Bull their way through
And say the old Aerpplane thing is
going along good This commercial
thing is developing fine, especially for
mail and express. Passenger thing is
not making headway as 1t should. for
we are in too big hurry in this coun-
try to even save time. We would rather
talk about how big hurry we are In
than to do the hurrying.
Well I guess you all outside OF the
old Burg" wonder how she took the
election. Well, il started out with what
looked like was going to be an awful
noisy night. But when those first re-
turns commenced percolatins in why il
was Just like rain on a country picnic
Horns that were meant to be blown
lust as well have been meant for
decoration. They never uttered blast
1t was lust a show that was billed bu'
never come off. In the Theaters tbs
folks was pretty late coming in. They
had stayed out purposely to see wha'
would happen and WHEN they saw thel
come in. ] took my last straw VoN