davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-09-19
Virginia Slow to Lose
Relief in Witcheraft.

Virginia offers an interesting chap
ter in the history of witchcraft in
America, writes Frederick G. Fassett
in the Boston Transcript. Ordeal by
water is so generally regarded as be-
longing to medieval times that it is
surprising to read of resort to it in
an American colony as late as 1706.
But there was such resort in the case
Of Grace Sherwood, a middle-aged
woman, the wife of a planter. She
was tried on suspicion Of being
witch.
The court adjourned while she was
taken to nearby stream and plunged
into it's waters. AS she did not sink,
the result was against her. So were
certain other evidences of kind much
mentioned in witchcraft literature.
She was consigned to Jail, but the pro-
ceedings against her evidently were
dropped. Her name subsequently ap-
pears in the record of civil suit, and
her will was probated in 1740, pre-
sumably shortly after her death.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-09-19
Human Contacts Needed
to Develop Personality

Let us swallow this important and
prickly fact. Apart from our connec-
lions with other persons, we are bare
ly individuals; we amount, all Of us,
to next to nothing. 1t is in the liv-
ing touch between us and other per.
sons, other lives, other phenomena
that we move and have our being.
Strip us of our human contacts and
of our contact with the living earth
and the sun, and we are almost blad-
ders of emptiness. Our individuality
means nothing. A skylark that was
alone on an island would be songless
and meaningless, his individuality
gone, running about like a mouse in
the grass. But If there were one fe-
male with him, it would lift him sing
ing into the air, and restore him his
real individuality.
AS a fixed object, even as an in
dividuality or a personality, no hui
man being, man or woman, amounts
to much. The great l AM does not
apply to human beings, so they may
as well leave it alone. AS soon as
anybody, man or woman, becomes a
great AM, he becomes nothing. Man
or woman, each is a flow, flowing
life. And without one another, we
can't flow, just as river cannot flow
without banks.
A woman is one bank of the river
of my life and the world is the other.
Without the two shores my life would
be a marsh. 1t is the relationship to
woman and to my fellow men which
makes me myself river Of life.-D.
H. Lawrence in Scribner's Magazine.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-09-19
Unkind Nature

Nature has no kindness, no hospi-
tality, during rain. In the fiercest
heat Of sunny days she retains Sc
cret mercy and welcomes the wayfarer
to shady hooks Of the woods whittier
the sun cannot penetrate. But she
provides no shelter against her storms.
1t makes us SILVER to thiSk of those
deep outrageous recesses, those over
shadowing banks where we found such
enjoyment during the sultry after
moons. Not twig of foliage there
but would dash little shower into
our faces. In such spells of
weather-and it is to be supposed such
weather came-Eve's bower in Para
disc must have been but a cheerless
and aguish kind of shelter. 4.
The idea of sleeping on a couch Of
wet roses Nathaniel Hawthorne.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-09-19

The English alphabet came directly
from the Latin. The Romans bor-
rowed it from the Greeks; the Greeks
from the Phoenicians. 1t is not known
whence the Phoenicians obtained their
alphabet. 1t has been suggested that
the % characters were adopted from
the heiroglyphics Of Egypt, the cunei-
form characters Of Babylon. or the
symbols used by the Utilities or Gre
tans. A theory widely accepted today
is that the Phoenicians. being great
traders and therefore familiar with
the various systems Of writing, used
by the nations dwelling around the
Mediterranean, chose from them such
symbols as they needed and thus
compiled their own alphabet.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-09-19
"Fuss and Feathers" in
Presentation at Court

In order TO be presented to the
Court of st. James it is necessary to
be sponsored by the American ambas-
sador or by an important English lady.
The summons to appear is issued
about three weeks before the day.
Regulation court dress, including the
prince of Wales feathers, is required.
The ceremony takes place in the
throne room at . 80 o'clock. There
is a red-carpeted aisle, extending
across the room, in front of the throne
from door to door. At the appointed
time the royal family, preceded by
the lord chamberlain and his officers,
enter and take their places. The line
of members to be presented forms
outside the door and slowly files past
the throne and out of the other door.
AS the lady Is about to enter, her
card is passed down the line to the
lord chamberlain, who calls out her
name as she stands before the king
to make her curtsy. She then curtsies
to the queen, and with her head turned
toward the royal family makes her
way slowly from the room. After the
presentations are made, the king and
queen rise and bow and the entire
assemblage responds. Music is then
played while the royal members leave
the room.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-09-19
Temperature Variations

1t Is fact that the sun is nearer
the earth in winter than in summer In
the northern hemisphere, but the diff
ference between the summer and win
ter temperatures at given place does
not depend upon this fact, as may be
seen from the fact that while it is
winter in the northern hemisphere it
is summer in the southern. The diff
ference of temperatures is due to the
different angles at which the suns
rays strike the earth's surface at the
place in summer and in winter.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-09-19
FLOWER FESTIVAL

At a meeting of the Flower Com
mittee in the Home Demonstration
Agents office Monday, September 8,
it was decided to hold the Flower
Show this year October 8 and A, in
the Elkton Armory., The Japanese
tea garden, commercial exhibits and
water garden will be among the fea-
lures of the festival. Each club has
been asked to have garden in a
space six feet by eight feet. These
gardens will be judged on the follow
ing points: 1 general effect arrange
ment and use of materially and 2
condition of material. Prizes will be
given for all gardens. Flower bulbs
or roots donated by those who care
to give them will be used as prizes.
Mr.. w. R. Ballard, Landscape Gar
den Specialist at the University of
Maryland has donated one dozen iris
roots.
The committee plans to have the
Japanese tea garden as usual, and sell
tea and cookies at the small sum of
ten cents. 1t was the concensus of
opinion that twenty dozen oatmeal
cookies should be donated by each
club. This will only mean ten
members giving two dozen. The re-
cipe for these cookies can be gotten
from the Home Demonstration Agent.
The quality of homemade baked
products made by the Homemakers
has proved so fine and so we'll know
by patrons of the Flower Festival
that it seems advisable to hold a bake
in connection with the show this
year, to help defray expenses in
CURED. If each homemaker con-
tributed one article for this sale it
would be quite a success.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-09-19
Nova Scotia in Scotland

There is, it is said, small area
on Edinburgh castle near the entrance
of the castle that is legally Nova SEQ
tia under law that has never been
repealed, as told by H. V. Morton in
his SIN Search Of Scotland" The ex-
PLANTATION Is that during the reign Of
Charles this small area was declared
Nova Scotian territory in order that
newly made Nova Scotian baronets
might take seizen" of their lands
without crossing the Atlantic to do so.
1t is an interesting fact. therefore,
that this piece Of wall and pavement
in the heart Of Edinburgh is legally
in Canada.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-09-19
At Least That

The traveller looked at the long list
of calls and the numerous trains he
had to catch during the weeks trip.
II don't mind getting up early" he
said, "but you've not even left time
for meals"
"You can eat on the trains" replied
the manager. you can't waste time
with all those calls to make"
The traveller departed and was
again on the mat when the week was
over.
SWELL" said the manager, show
many orders?"
The traveller hesitated for a mo-
ment and then said cheerfully:
"Oh, I haven't got any orders, sir,
but I caught all those bloomin'
trains !"-Stratford Beacon Herald.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-09-19
TO DETERMINE COST OF
CONOWINGO PROJECT

The Maryland Public Service Com
mission will be permitted to partic-
ipate in the determination of the
pre-license cost of the Conowingo
power project, which has for its
purpose that of determining the value
of farms and other land purchased
by the Philadelphia Electric Power
Company in order to make up the
Conowingo reservoir.
The company was not able to buy
exactly the amount of land which it
needed, since some of the farms
were large and the owners would not
sell small pieces. Therefore, it is nee
essary for engineers to determine
which part of this farm land may be
charged legally to pre-license cost
and which part may not.
The Federal Power Commission
rules that land within 200 yards of
the reservoir may be included within
the project boundary. Land outside
of this limit may not be charged to
construction cost. However, there
frequently is some difference of
opinion regarding the valuation of
farms which are divided as within
and without the project boundary,
since the bottom land, flooded with
water, usuallyis more valuable than
the higher land. This valuation
recently was determined by the Fed
eral Power Commission engineers.
The inclusion of the railroad with
in the project boundary naturally
increases the pre-license cost some
what, thereby adding to the price
which the public, fifty years hence,
must pay to recapture the power
project.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-09-19
Presidential Expenses

In the days when Lincoln was Pres
ident no travelling expenses were pro-
vided for by congress. About $1,000
a year was appropriated and known
as a contingent fund. From this bills
for stationery, printing, etc., were
paid So it is easily seen that little
was left for travelling Usually there
were no travelling expenses for the
President, as he Travelled compliment
tarily. The act Of March 4, 1907, pro-
vided for an annual appropriation Of
$4,000 for travelling expenses for the
President. This was the first actual
appropriation for the purpose. This
was in the administration of Theo-
dore Roosevelt.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-09-19
CHASTITY Trophies

The Jivaran tribes, group Of In
dams, living at the eastern base of the
Andes in Ecuador and the adjacent
parts of Peru, practice the art Of
shrinking human heads. These shrunk-
en- human heads, called tsantas in the
native Jivaran tongue, are often seen
in museums. The head, after being
taken from an enemy, is carefully
skinned, sewed up in the back and
then shrunk and dried by an elab-
crate process accompanied by much
ceremony. The finished product, no
larger than the head of small mon
key, preserves the human expression.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-09-19
Defiant in Suicide

A Chinese merchant closed his life
here with a proverb-an indirect hint
that he did not want his friends to dig
into his motives for committing sui,
eide. He had rooms on the third floor
Of the Bank of Communications, and
at dawn made his way up to the fiat
room, climbed to the top of an orna-
mental stone effigy and leaped to the
ground. He was dead when picked
up. His last message, found in his
room, quoted a famous Chinese prov
erb to the effect that each man should
sweep the snow from his own door,
step, leaving his neighbours affairs
severely alone.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-09-19
MARYLAND 1881 LICENSE
TAGS TO BE WHITE
AND RED

Thirty-five States will change the
color combination for automobile Ii
cense plates in 1891 and 26 different
motifs will be used throughout the
country, indicating that almost every
hue will be represented in next years
parade, according to a survey made by
the American Automobile Association.
The Maryland tags next year will be
white on red, Delaware blue on old gold.
Pennsylvania gold on blue. New York
black on yellow, New Jersey white on
maroon, Virginia black on orange.
The national motoring body points
out that II States and the District of
Columbia will retain the 1890 colors,
reversing them as to background and
letters, indicating trend away from
Standardization of colors noted in 1880.
Thirteen States and the District of
Columbia retained the 1929 color COM
binations' this year. Missouri and
Oregon are the only two States which so
far have not decided upon their color for
next year.
The A. A. A. survey shows that
first rank will be divided between two
color combinations, with white on black
and white on green, each being adopted
by five States. These color schemes
will therefore predominant in 1891 with
white on black retaining its 1880 posi-
ton. Black on orange and yellow on
black were also leaders this year.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-09-19
Two ADVANTAGES

The house agent decided that he
had better be quite frank with his
latest clients.
"Of course" he began, "this house
has one or two drawbacks which I
feel I must mention. 1t is bounded
on the north by the gas works, on
the south by an india-rubber works,
on the east by vinegar factory, and
in the west there Is glue-boiling es-
adjustment"
Great Scottl" gasped the husband.
"Fancy showing us such place. What
a neighborhood
"Quite So" replied the agent. "But
there are advantages. The rent Is
cheap, and you can always tell which
way the wind is blowing!"
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-09-19
Probably Oldest Game

We make no attempt to tell the age
of Sambo's familiar appeal to the
bones, "Come seben-oh, 'leben, the
baby needs a new pair Shoes" But
in reply to number of questions as to
the worlds oldest game the answer is
dice. Most authorities agree that
dice-throwing is the oldest amusement
in the world. The game of dice, In
some form or other, has existed in
every period of history. While the in
vention Of the game is attributed to
Palamedes, one Of the heroes who
sailed against Troy, about 1914 B. c.,
the use of spotted cubes for gam
bling purposes was resorted to even
before that.-Pathfnde Magazine.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-09-19
Principle Long ACCENTED

Gresham's law is principle In
finance and political economy, formu-
lated about the middle of the Six
teenth century by Sir Thomas Ores
ham. founder Of the London Royal Ex-
change. The principle is: bad money
drives out good money from circula-
tion. The good coin (full weight and
standard in purity will be boarded
and the worn and thin, or light, coins
will be used. Good money will also
be used for export to other countries,
where it will obtain more in exchange,
while the light coins will be used at
home. thus depreciating the national
currency"
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-09-19
Professional Accounting

Very little is known of the origin
of accounting as a profession. The
first association of which there Is rec
ord is the Collegio del Raxonal.,
founded at Venice in 1881. Profession
al accountants probably existed in
Milan at an early date, as the gov
eminent established scale of charges
for them in 1742. The first Scotch
professional accountant was George
Watson, born in Edinburgh in 1915.
In 1870 the British directory listed
five. The first formal recognition CIV
en- to accountants In the United States
was in the laws Of New York in April,
1890.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-09-19
English Bible

Consider the great historical fact
that, for three centuries, this book
has been woven into the life of all
that is best and noblest in English
history; !. that it is written in
the noblest and purest English and
abounds in exquisite beauties of mere
literary form; and, finally, that it for
bids the veriest hind, who never left
his village, to be ignorant of the ex-
istence of other countries and other
civilizations and of a great past,
stretching back to the furthest limits
of the oldest nations of the world.
By the study of what other book could
children be so much humanized?-
Thomas Huxley.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-09-19
Napoleon's Josephine

Josephine was too Indifferent for a
mistress, too volatile for wife; but
as the companion of Napoleon she
played her part well. AS Mr.. Wilson
suggests, there was something tin
selly in each. There was also some
thing enigmatical in each, so that if
he often seemed indeed a Caesar,
she often appeared a careless,
Latin divinity. She was courageous,
gentle, soothing and tender, like
great lady; she was also a sobbing,
frightened creature, charged with the
scents and tales Of a tropic night
London Saturday Review.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-09-19
Making His Last Stand

The ivory-billed woodpecker, king Of
its tribe, inhabiting the great cypress
swamps, probably is making its last
stand in Florida, says Nature Maya
zine. The last breeding record of this
giant woodpecker was made by DR.. A.
A. Allen, who found pair nesting in
central Florida in 1924. 1t is now
against the law to kill this fine bird.
The last stand of the Carolina paro-
quet was made in Florida. This beau
tiful little parrot was once abundant
but was shot and trapped in such
quantities and so persistently that not
one has been seen for many years.
The bird is now undoubtedly extinct.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-09-19
Unfortunate Sea Lions

The sea lion could hold his own
against his natural enemies, but his
real troubles began when man dis
covered that he was insulated with
several inches Of oil-bearing blubber
and that his hide made good leather.
Nearly 200 years ago the slaughter be-
gan on the west coast, says Nature
Magazine.
Thousands of sea lions died for the
enrichment of the oil hunters, until
by the beginning of this century only
a remnant of the vast herds which
once roared and fought on their off
shore rookeries is left to carry on the
species.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-09-19
Roads of Spain

Spain is tempting country for
the motorist. There are hundreds Of
miles of beautiful roads rivaling any
in Europe, and always new highways
under construction. Over wide hot
plains and difficult mountain passes
and following precipitous rivers they
are smooth and broad and made to
last forever. What If it is necessary
to pass hay cartf 1t is not necessary
to waken the driver from his nap, for
though he occupies the middle Of the
road there plenty Of room to pass
on either side. ~
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-09-19
Big Water Crystals Found

Water crystals estimated to date
back to prehistoric times were dis
covered recently in the "Cave Of the
Sister of the Falls" in France, by
psychologists who were exploring for
traces of primitive man. Some of the
crystals are four inches across and
an inch thick, and are believed to be
the largest ever found. The speci-
mems are perfect and equal to the
finest that could be produced in a
chemical laboratory under perfect con-
ditions. Remarkable constant climatic
conditions in the cave made it possible
for nature to produce them.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-09-19
Beethoven Died Poor

How many people know that Beetho-
ven actually died f1OO in debt to the
Philharmonic society, who had sent
him the money on his death-bed, in
the hope that they would be able to
play his Tenth symphony? He
acknowledged the advance by telling
them that his new symphony was ~
ing in his desk completely sketched."
But the work was never destined to
be finished. It was only eight days
later that Beethoven died.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-09-19
The Easiesf WAY

Too many people are absolutely in
different to work. They take no In
terest in doing it exactly right, in do
ing it quickly. or getting it out on
time. Life to them is just one long
drawn-out dream Of getting by" in
the easiest way, and with as little
exertion as possible, Of either mind or
body. Their idea seems to be "To Let
George Do It." Again. there are 9TH
ers, splendid examples Of those who
know what to do, and have the capac-
ity and willingness to do their part.
All such are great factors and forces
in making business go and grow
New Albany Tribune.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-09-19
Too Small

Little Virginia had habit of saying
that she "smelled" any particular
thing she happened to desire.
One day she went to visit her grand
mother and learned there was candy
in the house. So she said: Grand
ma, smell candy"
Grandmother produced a piece, but
Its size did not please Virginia.
''Well, Grandma" she said sorrow
fully. Il wouldn't have thought
could smell such little piece as this"
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-09-19
Historic Indian City

Peshawar is the capital of the north
west frontier province, has figured i'm
portantly in the history of India be-
cause of its proximity to the famous
Khyber pass, the principal northern
entrance from Afghanistan. Peshawar
is situated in the midst of a horse
shoe ring of hills II miles east of the
fort of Jamrud, which guards the
British extremity of the pass. The
town has seen the armies of such con-
querors as Alexander the Great and
Ghengis Khan march on after enter
ing through the pass.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-09-19
Goethals Told Them

Perhaps you have not heard of the
answer that General Cocktails gave
to the women Of the American colony
of the Canal Zone who objected to
the men lolling on their screened
porches in pajamas, after the days
work was done. ladies'" said the
general, 1--WE are here to do some
hard work and these men deserve
every comfort they can have. If you
object to seeing them resting on their
porches In pajamas-there is steam
ship leaving for New York every
Thursday r.