davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1929-01-18
MR. ARcEou1J MON4X


tian era. Candlemas day common.
GRATED the presentation of the Christ.
child in the temple and the purifica.
ton of the mother. The blessing Of
candles, to be carried in honor Of the
Virgin, became a rite of the early
church. In ancient England the com
bination of the Christian and heather
belief was most strikingly shown by
the fact that it meant the disappear
ance of every Christmas green. For
every leaf of holly left by careless
maid. so it was believed. she would
be sure to see some terrible goblin.
Just when weather prophecy became
a part of the Candlemas day tradition
is unknown, but all over Christendom
there persisted belief in February
2 as a time for weather forecast. Es-
pecially was ii true that a fair day
on that date portended much winter
vet TO come. One Scotch couplet
says:
If Candlemas Day be dry and fair.
mere II be Twa w1ny5rs m rte year.
Another assures us:
If Candlemas Day be dry and fair.
The half o. Winters to come and mair
If Candiemas Day be wet and foul.
The half o Winters game at Yule.
A more optimistic version had it
thus:
when Candlemas Day is Come and
gone,
The snow lies on hot stone.
German legend also chronicles that:
Far as the sun shines Oh Candlemas
Day,
SO far will the snow swirl until the
May
AS for the association of the ground
hog with the weather superstition, the
origin of that, too, is wrapped in con.
siderable mystery. So far as is known.
the Germans originated that idea,
only they made use of the badger as
their weather prophet. In France and
Switzerland it was the marmot and
in England the hedgehog. Among the
Scandinavians there is a legend of the
bear waking up in his den after the
winter Information, seeing the sun
shine into it and turning over to sleep
for six weeks more, knowing that
winter is only half over.
Just why the early English settlers
in America should have picked upon
an animal similar to the French and
Swiss marmot flor the grounding is
a species of the marmot family, one
of his scientific names being Mar
mOta Monax) for their February 2
weather prophet is not clear. They
found badgers on this continent, so
why didn't they follow the German
tradition and select the badger? Or,
since they were English. why didn't
they use the American counterpart of
the European hedgehog, the porcupine,
and have "Porky'' do their weather
predicting for them? But the fact re-
mains that they didn't. and to the ami
NAL they did choose they gave two
most inappropriate names-woodchuck
and grounding Part of the former
title is correct. He does live mainly
in the woods, but where does the
"chuck" part come in? OF course
there's the old riddle about "How
much wood could woodchuck chuck,
If a woodchuck would chuck wood?"
to Indicate a belief that this animal
can manipulate hypothetical quanti-
ties of timber" but that doesn't solve
the question of this name for him.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1929-01-18
Will Cold Worry
You This Winter?

Some men throw-off a cold within a
few hours of contracting it. Anyone
can do it with the aid of a simple COM
pound which comes in tablet form, and
is no trouble to take or to always
have about you. Don't dope" your
self when you catch cold; use Pape's
Cold Compound. Men and women
everywhere rely on this amazing little
tablet.-Adv.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1929-01-18
Wasted

It was near the end of long story.
he hardfaced man was giving them
ems of wisdom picked from the
lnple experiences of his own hectic
Ne.
.'Free yourselves" he said. from
Re vile clutches Of the tobacco hab
1t is easily done. Well remem-
sr the day ] gave up smoking. ]
Ms standing at street corner. just
out to light . Perfecto. when ]
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1929-01-18
Professional Prerequisites

The fifth-grade children were re,
hearsing Christmas play, and one
Of the boys objected to the part that
had been assigned to him, although
it had only few lines and gorgeous
costume. Being pressed for his rea-
sons for objecting, he finally NUT
tered: "Heck, all the other kids get
to eat candy and nuts in the feast,
and I am not in that scenen'
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1929-01-18

the adoption of the dollar as our unit
of exchange that it was vital ele-
ment in the circulation. Congress rec
ognized this great need by enacting a
number of laws regulating foreign
coins and making them legal tender.
Finally congress on February 81. 1859.
enacted a law repeating former acts
which had made foreign money a cur
rency or legal tender.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1929-01-18
Sign Language Weddings

The first double wedding of its kind
was celebrated at Allentown, Pa.
when four deaf mutes were married,
The officiating clergyman was assist
ed by Edward w. Karcher, a senior
at the Lutheran seminary at Mount
Airy, who one his graduation and or
dination will become the first deaf
and dumb Lutheran pastor in the
United States. All questions and re-
sponses at the wedding were in the
sign language.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1929-01-18

said to myself, Johnston, you're a
fool to smoke; throw away that CT
gar!' And l did. and I've never
smoked SINCE"
"Say, mister" interrupted man
who had just come in, you haven't
a mind to tell a fellow where You
threw that cigar, have you?"-London
Tit-Bits.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1929-01-18

rs almost time now Tor D
: :; !: !: !:
al N little ANIMAL 60 decide for
MA Ia US If we are to have six
EA A weeks more of winter or
~ e-l if spring is near at hand
I'M 1 S& For February is Ground
NJ hog day and, according to
a belief held by many per-
sons, what Mr.. Arctomys Monax
(that's what the scientists call the
gfoundhog) does on that day will DE
prophetic of weather conditions for
the next six weeks. If Mr.. Monax
comos out of his hole on that day and
sees his shadow, then he will return
to his hole and six weeks more OF
winter must be endured If. however,
the sun doesn't shine that day. we
can expect an early spring
Now, the joker in all this business
is this: regardless of what the ground
hog does on February and whether
the sun is shining or not when he
comes ont Of his hole. We shall have
more weeks Of winter, anyway
Or officially winter does not end I'M
IN the spring equinox on March q
and from February to March 81. it's
OF six weeks-and then some More
. that, scientists tell us that
~ no dependence to be placed
the grounding as a weather
bhet. Government weather rec
Eds for the last 80 years show that
Ne has missed 1t much more frequent
iy than ne has hit it.
But regardless of what the scien-
lists say, there are many people who
more than half believe the truth of
the Grounding day superstition. The
reason is that this superstition is
rooted in traditions almost as old
as the human race. Certainly it goes
back before the beginning of the
Christian era and the modern tradi-
ton is another of those queer com.
binations of heather and Christian
beliefs One inspiration for it. prob
ably, was the spring festival in honor
of Ceres. the Roman earth goddess of
abundant crops, who was known as
Demeter by the Greeks.
One day, so runs the myth, her
daughter. Persephone, was plucking
flowers when she saw a narcissus of
great beauty. AS she reached out her
/ hand to touch it it sprang into life
as Hades. King of the Dead, in a
golden chariot.
The hated monarch bore her away,
dreaming, to his dark palace under
ground. The abduction was noted by
Helios, the Sun. and by Hekate, who
told the grief-stricken mother when
she abandoned her duties and the So
ciefy of the gods to look for Per-
sephone. She refused to let the earth
produce until her daughter returned
unframed. Barrenness and miidew
wasted the fields.
At last Zeus, who had arranged for
the wedding of Persephone to the
powerful but unpopular Lord of the
Dead. sent his messenger to return
her to her mother. Because she had
eaten q pomegranate seed given her
by Hades she was doomed to spend
the dark months of winter with him,
but in planting and harvest time she
belonged to the sunny fields and fruit.
laden groves Of her mother.
Somewhat the essential idea of this
myth is found In the beliefs associat-
ed with Candlemas day, the name CIV
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1929-01-18
HeIst Garden Plan

lining the general shape of a
Sir William Temple long ago
1The best figure of a gar
|ther square or an oblong, and
bon a fiat or a descent; they
| their beauties. but the hest
\ an oblong upon descent"
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1929-01-18
Ned .fnr. Widened Roads

a fut end of road building will
be tow' ne construction OF wider
highway addition to more high
ways. q good many years now the
roads h been extended rapidly. but
they ar lot wide enough. An excur.
sion ini HE more heavily Travelled
portions the state amply empha-
sikz TIL ct. Many accidents might
M nd If the highways were
leY. -Tillamook (Ore.)
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1929-01-18
y to Transform House

buses for old. 1t only takes.
a little time and money and
skill and Imagination to
a shapeless, graceless old
little home into a modern
|of real charm.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1929-01-18

Fewer hairpins and combs were
manufactured in the United States in
1927 than in 1925.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1929-01-18
Early Currency Laws

The circulation of foreign money
was so general throughout the United
States for Is years approximately after
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1929-01-18
Fails to Make Good

"Trina, could die for your sake"
"You are. always saying that but
you never do it."
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1929-01-18
lBy ELMO SCOTT WATSON

IT'S almost time now for o
little ANIMAL 20 decide for
US If we are to have six
weeks more of winter or
if spring is near at hand.
For February 2 is Ground
hog day and, according to
n holsof hol1 ~ ~c-r 0or
The Washington times., 1929-12-14
.CHRYSLER BLDG.
TALEEST

With steel construction com
pleted, the Chrysler Building, at
Forty-second Street and Lexing-
ton Avenue, New York City, is
the first man-made structure In
the worlds history to rise to a
height of more than 1000 feet.
Towering n stories totaling 1880
feet, the Chrysler BEilding dwarfs
the famed Woolworth by II
stories and is over 100 feet taller
than the 925-foot Manhattan
Company Building.
Even the Eifel Tower, 9S4 feet
high, must bow before this latest
addition to the New York skyline
This great observation tower.
completed in 1889, made the city
of Paris supreme in high con-
struction for precisely 40 years
but. now, with the erection Of the
Chrysler Building, the worlds
championship" for tall structures
is transferred to New York.
Five of the United States do
not have a natural elevation at
any point at high as the Chrys-
Ter Building and if the building
were located in Delaware, Florida,
Louisiana, Mississippi or Rhode
Island it would be theoretically
possible to extend the lines of
vision from the top Of the Chrys'
Ter Building to all parts Of the
State without interference.
Tourists who formerly would 60
to the Woolworth Tower for OBJ
servation will now find the entire
seventy.first floor of this new
sky-scraper set aside for this pur-
pose. From this vantage point
the visitor will overlook the
Greater New York area, the i'm.
mediate surrounding country, and
to peer out over the Atlantic
Ocean for a distance of 100 miles.
The Washington times., 1929-12-14
$4,000 Home
PLAN FILED

Application for a permit to
erect a $3.50 900 Episcopal Home
for Children at Nebraska Avenue
and Rock Greek Road was filed
yesterday at the District Build
ing Inspectors office by the board
of managers Of the National
Cathedral.
A central administrative build
ing containing offices. reception
hall, dining room and kitchen,
dental clinic, living quarters, rec
reation hall and gymnasium is
provided for in the architects
drawings as well as separate
buildings for boys, girls, infants,
infirmary and general service. ALI
buildings viii be two stories in
height with attic and basement
and follow the lines of Georgian
architecture.
The buildings provide accom-
modations for about 20 children
and their attendants. and are
grouped about an open campus
and Fairgrounds for each group
of children. 1t is the aim of the
founders to avoid institutional
atmosphere as much as possible,
and to that end children are ad.
mitted without regard to their
religious affiliations.
Mrs. David Meade Lea is preSi-
dent of the board Of lady man
ayers of the home.
The Washington times., 1929-12-14
Duce HaLts Removal
OF Coliseum Bricks

To the average mind, bricks
are just bricks, but to Premier
Mussolini. bricks, especially those
forming the context Of Rome's
ancient coliseum, are sacred
objects indeed!
Mussolini's interest In the
Roman relics Of past glory
first was made manifest when he
forbade further removal of bricks
from the coliseum ruins. This
mandate, laid down some two
years ago, halted a common Gus
tom of hauling wagon loads Of
brick away from the coliseum at
will. These bricks, although
handmade and ancient. neverthe-
less were extremely durable and,
at the same time, profitable to
the contractor who sold them.
However, this .baQ upon rob
hing the coliseum of its ancient
brick is more than made up for
to the Italian contractors by a
Identification program ordered
by the Italian dictator. This
new program will necesSitate the
tearing down Of numerous,
tawdry. commercial houses which
now are all but smothering the
charm of a few Of the most
notable beauty spots Of the old
world. During the past century
business buildings have gradually
been creeping in toward many Of
old Rone's ancient edificeS and
Mussolini is directing his mar
velous energy to completely re-
move these structures that now
mar the glory Of old Rome's his.
toric beauty and in their place,
to restore the approach and view
Of these splendid brick and
granite memorials.
Under this treatment, inaug-
urated together with the eighth
anniversary Of Fascism's famed
"bloodless, revolution the le-
placement will become gracefully
The Washington times., 1929-12-14
HOOVER TRADE
CLINIC WINS
HIGH PRAISE

An early improvement In credit
and money available for construc-
ton and real estate investments
is seen by Herbert u. Nelson, ex.
ecutive secretary Of the National
Association Of Real Estate Boards,
as one Of the immediate favor
able results issuing from President
Hoover's recent national business
survey conference.
Nelson, with Harry s. Kissell.
Of Springfield, Ohio, represented
the association and the country's
real estate interests at the Wash
ington meeting where Kissell was
appointed to the committee of so
key men" Of American indus
tries who are to supervise indus
try's cooperation in national
program of increased activity in
construction and maintenance in
dustry.
Cheaper Money Seen
CONSTRUCTION and maintenance
industries, employing, as they do,
one.fourth of the labor in the
United States, hold the key to
the whole present business situa-
tion," Nelson declared. THE
speculative period is over: this
is synonymous with saying that
we are going out of the period Of
high interest. We are now enter.
ing period of lower interest
rates, and low interest rates viii
make building and construction go
forward. 4
"A conviction on the part Of
insurance companies that the
country generally is overbuilt has
been one reason for the restriction
of credit for real estate" In many
communities careful survey has
proved that this impression is en-
tirely erroneous. that the COM
munity is not overbuilt. Fact find
ing and research on the part Of
real estate men will bring out
the true situation and, with low
interest rates in view, we should
look for q healthy real estate
market during 1890.
Lu1l to be Bridged
"The result of the conference in
general will undoubtedly be to
bridge over the usual business lull
which follows crash terminating
a speculative era. Almost invari-
ably the leaders of the 200 basic
industries represented at the con-
ference reported an increase con.
struction budget for the coming
year. The railroads have appTOy
priated $1,050 ,O00, 900 for additions
and betterments Of property dur
ing 1880. The public utilities win
invest 81 400, 600, 900 in new con-
struction during 1890. Industrial
lists and financial interests all
along the line have shown concrete
indication of their willingness to
cooperate in avoiding a period Of
waiting until business RECEIVERS
from its pessimisnl induced by the
stock market debacIe."
The Washington times., 1929-12-14
Building Permits

Building permits for the week
amounting to $3.50 $50 allowed for
the erection Of two large struc.
lures, namely, an eight-story brick
apartment-hotel at 25 E st. N. W.,
valued at $3.50, 900, and a three
story brick dwelling at 3055 w
st. N. W., valued at 100000,
and numerous other smaller struc-
lures.
A detailed report Of the weeks
permits follows:
Harry r. 900. TO build
one eight-story brick hotel at rs z
st. N. W.. lot sO5-11. square AS.
william Paul Basledo--$102.000. TO
build ons- three-story brick dwelling At
,so55 w st. N. W.. lot SOFIA. square
2147.
N. L. sansbury, Company--s6O,0 900. to
build seven two-story brick and frame
dwellings at 291S-30 Cortland Pl. N. W.,
lot 54-1s, square 2103. Ef
Charles Mason Remy-s44.0o0. TO
build one two-story brick dwelling at
243s Massachusetts Ave. N. w. lot
W. &. and A. N. MiIler--s2s, 600. to
The Washington times., 1929-12-14
PERMIT ISSUED
FOR HOTEL

A permit for the erection CT an
eight-story $3.50, 900 apartment ho-
tel in the First block E st. NJ W.,
was granted yesterday to Harry
r. Loveless, local real estate, man.
Planned as a residential hotel
for Government employees pri-
marily, it will be operated on a
cooperative ownership plan. The
building with its 200 one-roon1-
and bath apartment units VIII be
located directly to- the west OF
the new Bellevue Hotel, now
under construction.
The land around the Union
Station and Capitol Plaza Is being
rapidly developed in accor lance
with the plans Of the Park and
Planning Commission, and the
next five years will probably find
the land adjacent to the Capitol
and station built up with hotels.
apartments, public buildings and
commercial houses of a nature
that will be in keeping with the
stately buildings which surround
them.
WlsAI the completion OF the
Supreme Court Building, Folger
Memorial Library, new addition
to the Library Of Congress and
the other Government buildings
being planned for this neighbor-
hood this will be one of the best
sections Of the city.
The Washington times., 1929-12-14

4 A~AAbA ss1 w No0
A total amount of $50, 800, 100
was contracted for in new build
! ing engineering work during No
yember, in the Central West
(IllinoiS, Indiana. Iowa. Wiscon-
. sin, Southern Michigan. Missouri,
tAKansas, Oklahoma and Nebraskal
IA comparison made shows that
the above total was off 81 per cent
from the preceding month and a
81 per cent drop was recorded
from the corresponding months
record for 1928. Among the types
Of building which were most active
in the months, total were the fol.
! lowing: $50, ,299, 800. or 35 per cent
of ali construction, for residential
buildings; $2O,631. 100. or "a per
cent for public works and utilities:
/, 8i3, ,282, 800, or Is per cent, for
Commercial construction: and ST.,
l94,8O0, or 8 per cent, for indus:
trial plants.
New building and engineering
work started last month in the
Northwest 6Minesota. the Dakotas,
Northern Michigan reached q
total Of so,967.000. This figure
The Washington times., 1929-12-14

build one two and q half story stone
dwelling at B01e lockwood Parkway
N. W., lot 1896, square 1880.
Marie c. and George A. Dedden-
t2O, 900. to build one two-story brick
and concrete public garage at 42s
New Jersey Ave. N. W.. lot Sl'
w. D. stsrrett--s2O.O 900. to bulid two
two4story brick and tile dwellings at
s2o0-10 Rodman st. N. W.. lot so-S4.
W. C. and A. N. Milier-S1s.oOo. to
build one two-story stone dwelling at
1920 Garfield st. N. W., lot 22-2s'
American Ice company--11O.OOo. to
erect walks, floor, etc, in plant at
Twelfth and v SITS. N. W.. lot sos
H. R. Howenstein 4 company-3s,-
500, to build one two-storY brick store
and dwelling at 2017 Bunker Hill Rd
N. E., lot Ear of 1927, square 1890.
H. W. decentralization to build
one two-story brick Etucco dwelling
ut 243s Massachusetts Ave. N W..
lot sos, square $500
George. l. Weller--s6,0 900. to build one
two-story brick dwelling at $500 Jeni-
fer St N W.. lot 50, square 1880.
II. L. Ryan-s3.0O0 to build one
one story brick office at 1920 BeQning
Rd. N. E., lot 5000, square 45OI
The Washington times., 1929-12-14

was more than twice the amount
contracted for during the preced-
ing month Gan increase of 1872
per cent? and showed an increase
of IS per cent over the November
figure of 1928. The following were
the most active classes in the No
vember construction total. $4,i2s,-
400, or A per cent of all construc-
ton, for industrial buildings;
$3,245, 500, or 80 per cent, for pub
lie works and utilities: $1,056, 200,
or IL per cent, for residential
buildings; and $562. TOO, or 6 per
cent, for commercial construction
Southeastern States
November construction contracts
in the southeastern states (tfle
Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, Ten
neSSee, Alabama, Mississippi, Ark
anSas, and louisiana amounted
to $22, 1914, 100. A comparison made
shows that this amount was off
80 per cent from the preceding
months total and a drop of 25
per cent was noted from the No
vember total of 1928. Analysis of
November building record includ-
ed the following active classes:
$7,177, 400, or 80 per cent of all
construction, for residential build
ing: $5.4O3, 300. or "a per cent, for
public works and utilities; 1922
400, or is per cent, for industrial
plants; and $2.528, 800, or II per
cent, for commercial construction.
The State Of Texas had $l2,-
938, 200 in awarded contracts for
new building and engineering
work during November. The above
figure was 81 per cent less than
the total for the preceding month
and there was "a per cent less
than the total for November Of
last year. Included in last months
building record were: $3,549, 800,
or q per cent Of all construction
for public works and utilities; $2,-
697, 900, or 81 per cent, for COM
mercial buildings; $2.674. 400, or
20 per cent for residential CON
struction; and $l,5SS.900. or II
per cent, for industrial plants.
The Washington times., 1929-12-14
Baltimore Buildings
DrOp in Eleven Months

According to figures In the Of
flee of the Bureau Of Buildings
at Baltimore, building valuations
for the first eleven months Of the
current year are behind the cor.
responding period Of 1928.
The total for this year is $685.
528, 500, as compared to last years
figure Of $39, ST. $50, a difference
Of $3,O42, $50.
However, June of this year was
record month, with q total Of
4 $5, ,064, 100, and home building
this year is ahead of 1928, 2,728
dwellings against 2,573.
The Washington times., 1929-12-14
Only Woolworth Topped
Old EgYpt's Builders

Until the Woolworth Buildings
erection the American builder
hadn't as yet reached a level as
high as his Egyptian conteln-
porary of $500 years ago, accord
ing to figures given out by Emil
LOrch, professor Of architecture
at the University of Michigan.
Lorch was quoted as stating
that the original Egyptian Pyra-
mid was nearly 500 feet in height,
equal to the height of an average
45-Story modern building, and at
its base covered 13 acres Of
ground.
To buy, sell, rent or emplOy--Use
Times and Herald Classified Ads. Phone
District see. You may "CHARGE IT."
The Washington times., 1929-12-14
Williamsburg State
House in Process
OF Restoration

During recent excavations at
Williamsburg, Va, now being
rebuilt along its original lines
through John D.. Rockefeller,
jr.'s, financial assistance, the
foundations of the old Colonial
State House were uncovered
and found in a remarkable
state of preservation, SO well
preserved, in fact, that, al
though the State House was
burned more than 200 years
ago, a large portion Of the old
walls can be used in the restor-
alton.