davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-09-17
Death Bed Confessions

Ihere IS something mysteriously terrifying about
death to a man who has wronged another and not righted
tnat wrong. George r. Pond, a 62-year-old farmer who
hved at Decker, Ind, found that out recently when he
was dying. For &c years he had carried the knowledge
with him that he had killed a man. And after 26 years he
had let the world think that another man was guilty Of
the murder. He had silently let the other man, Jesse
Lucas of Mt. Carmel, ILL.,, enter the Illinois state peniten-
rary 22 years ago to serve a life term.
But the other day Pond realized that the game was
up. The ghost that had followed him over his fields for
more than a score of years had cornered him at last.
Perhaps the fact that he himself could no longer suffer
through another mans freedom had something to do with
cruelty could hardly result in a final show of ~considera-
ton. Men die as they have lived.
And George Pond was a coward. He was afraid to
die with his secret, so he told it, hoping that some omnip-
otent power would count it a pleasure to give him a ring
side seat in a celestial kingdom.
Ponds death-bed confession, which reveals a pitiful
miscarriage Of justice, brings condemnation on one man
while it lets loose a generous flood of sympathy for an
other. There is no need to dwell on the fact that the state
w%rongfully took away the best years of his life from Jesse
Lucas. There is nothing to be gained in upbraiding the
machinery of justice. 1t fhnctioned according to its best
judgment, and would not purposely have rendered such a
decision.
Undoubtedly the man who went to prison has been
happier during the years than the one who let him stay
there. George Pond had to face the fear of discovery ev-
cry minute. He had to live with his conscience. There is
no need to wish that he had gone to prison. He filled a
life sentence.
Jesse Lucas, the wronged man, robbed of freedom
and happiness and branded with prison stigma, has been
n victim of an injustice that can never be properly atoned.
The story of his wrong has given him a hold on the ma
tons sympathy. Action to free him was started imme-
diately after the confession.
This tragic error should make those who operate
the machinery of the law exceedingly careful that such a
grave mistake is not made again.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-09-17

On sept. ~. 1917. Sir Philip
Gibbs wrote m account OF the
fighting and bomhardment of
Lens In which Canadian and Kna~
lish troops faced the enemy.
Lens IN n town or battered
houses without roofs and with
broken walls leaning against rub
bish heaps OF hrickwork and tim
Der. The enemy sent out q wire
less message that the English gun
ners were destroying French prep
erty by b~ombarding the city, I'D
then made q deep belt OF destric-
ton by blowing up long blocks az
streets.
AFTER that the British guns com
pleted the ruin. for there was q
German garrison I'm every house,
and I'm this kind OF warfare there
must be no tenderness OF f-ntiment
about bricks and mortar X the enc
nv IS between the walls. 70 nov I'm
Lens the only cover for the Ger
mans and their only chance of safe
Nv is below the ground I'm tunnels
and cellars
aThe Canadians have filled the
city with gas that kills and soaks
down heavily into the dugouts and
stiles the men I'm their sleep be-
fore they have time to stretch out
their hands for masks"
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-09-17
A Reason For High Prices

The person who complains about the high prices he
has to pay for necessities and luxuries might profitably
ponder over a little article that appeared recently in the
Magazine of Wall Street.
This article points out that in many cases the con-
sumner himself helps to boost the prices of the things he
buys. He does it-or, in many cases, she does .it-by
making a needless use of the free delivery system main
tanned by department stores.
1.-TWO women on a shopping orgy" remarks the
magazine writer, twill vie with one another to spend the
greatest total and then, when the goods are delivered.
will calmly send them back unopened. -. The fact that
between Is and 20 per cent of all department store sales
throughout the country are u-nconsummated is ample
evidence Of abuse. Legitimate deliveries are an expensive
service as it is, but deliveries on the rampage represent a
waste which neither the honest customer nor Che owner
of the store can ignore"
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-09-17
New York
Letter

NEW YORK-"Down by the
docks" where sailormen gather Vol
nights with gals that seem borrowed
from ancient copies OF the Police
Gazette, there Is o cider renaissance
The cider is hard and so are the
appearances OF the folk who gather
around the cider mugs. the atmos-
phere OF the mean-looking resorts
reflects the waterfront and the sea-
Just across the cobhlestones OF
Eleventh avenue lights dance gaily
ON liners prisoned to piers. Steve
dores make their way through can
and truck traffic TO darkened lanes
where home-brew beer Is served "A
window displays q huge ship model.
German names appear on restaur-
ants. Stems appear on tables as
doors open and shut.
IN the side streets, downcast look
ing buildings reveal signs Cider"
Across town to Eighth avenue. the
trail of cider signs follows. Lads
who left the farm to go TO sea grow
homesick at the sight Of q familiar
old word. They haven't heard 1t,
mayhap, In years. Neither have New
Workers. "Applejack" from New Jer-
sey has been the closest approach
It's all happened, somehow, over
the summer months.
And somehow those Summers
from uptown" who find out v y
thing, have discovered the cider
spots. They're the same summers
who pioneered IN Harlem and prowi-
| ed in the hideaways Of Greenwich
Village. They are blase explorers
looking eternally for something new
under the noon. They have tired
Of the city's night spots and the
routine Of cabarets, and ferret out
the quaint places
They're content to sit at rough
wooden tables in q "cider joint" and
listen to sob-singers Of the old ba--
| room school 90 through their ven
cradle routine.
In fact, by the time the first snow
falls excursions to the dock" re-
sorts will have become quite the
thing to do. The price Of cider and
| home-brew will probably jump from
the present l0-cent limit: some wife
gent from the world Of professional
entertainment will buy in" and
slap together some hokum atmos-
phere; uptowners who have not been
doing SO well will begin to 'chisel
in" a German rathSkeller owner
from the Yorkville district will prob
ably open a place near the piers
where German liners dock and scat
ter about a few Teutonic sailors as
scenery" and another transient
vogue OF the New York variety will
be under way.
Meanwhile, the rougns and toughs,
the stevedores and the sailorfolk
will gradually desert their old hang
outs and retreat to others unknown
to the Summers. Soon the summers
viii find themselves looking at each
other and will wonder what all the
shouting was about.
At this point in any vogue, the
| decline sets in. A certain number
OF tourists and locals who are always
late participants in metropolitan
fadderies will come by out of a tim.d
curiosity. And all viii be forgotten,
or there will be a return to old ways.
This, to some extent, has been the
story of the Harlem craze, the Ho-
boken rage, the Yorkville yodel dush,
the Second avenue-Russian- Hun
garian cafe vogue and many an
other entertainment disturbance IN
various Manhattan areas.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-09-17
Daily Health
Talk

Whether you are a bricklayer or
"the big boss" you find that Ii is
economical to be healthy. For loss
Of time on account r. disease or
loss OF efficiency due TO fatigue can
be measured In terms of dollars
and cents. Therefore men should
have an actual knowledge Of their
state OF health, and this can be
had by a proper physical exami-
nation. Granted that such an ex-
animation reveals no serious con-
ditions demanding immediate cor
rection, everyone ought to know
enough about personal hygiene TO
conduct his life TO the best advan-
tage.
The human body Is a combina-
ton OF cells bound together in vari-
ous systems, including for example
the muscles. the bones, the ~circula-
ton of the blood. the nervous sys-
tenn and the digestive tract. These
interlocking cogs Of the human
machine will usually get along
satisfactorily II left largely alone.
particularly since there Is within
LAAG 1cLS htI pt"NA Va A1PNA-aA
ability that does not exist. for
instance, in such machinery as can
be found in an automobile or an
officiating furnace. Then, too.
man has the intelligence which
makes 1t possible for him to realize
when things 60 wrong and to take
steps toward correction
Regular physical examinations
r important primarily for the
detection OF remediable defects or
of diseases in their early stages,
but secondarily such examinations
may afford a feeling of confidence
In ones state OF health which
means freedom from worry.
without being able scientifically
to measure the amount Of damage
than can be done TO the human
body BY worry. high tension or irri-
tation, the experiences OF ages has
shown that these factors play a
definite part in the onset Of dis
ease.
There was a time when worry
was listed rs q contributing cause
to high blood pressure. hardening
Of the arteries, diabetes and even
many infectious diseases. Unuues-
tionably worry does play part in
the c~ausation OF disease because OF
the secondary effects exerted on
the functioning or the body.
When a man Is tired he ought to
rest. During the resting process
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-09-17

The man who begins TO worry as
soon as he goes to bed ought to
have competent advice, since the
tendency is toward a vicious circle.
Almost everyone knows that a walk
or drive In the fresh air, a warm
bath or a warm drink tends TO in
duce sleepineS. People who are
sensitive to caffein should avoid
the 8 of tea or coffee before 60
ing to sleep.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-09-17

physical conditions, but II may also
be due to the establishment OF bad
habits. Falling asleep is q habit.
II one establishes the routine OF
going to sleep easily at q regular
hour and OF relaxing the body at
the time of going to sleep, he will
probably have much less trouble
than II ne INDUCES in constant
variations OF the sleeping perform
ance.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-09-17
.Rurbs

Indiana will devote q $3.50. 600 sur
plus TO road-bilding. What N swell
flock OF detoursl
Looking 9 the newspapers. IL
occurs TO Us that BlueEea7d must ~
a pretty well known fellow 10 ~
headline writers.
Potawatami Indians, claiming
they we're cheated, plan 70 sue for
a billion dollars for lands I'm the
heart OF Chicago. ~ the suit against
Chicago were for 40 cents the In
dams still would have to be- ciASsed
Is ineurable optimists.
Many hands make light arms cut
proposals
Three major scandals are brew
ing in Hollywood, says u writer. say
iust what is q major scandal" Arm
Hollywoodf
The weather observer or 4 Cali
fornia city recently reported tenn
peratures OF ln8 TO lis degrees
Fahrenheit. Knockeri
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-09-17

cheeks. The wind whipped her
skirts There was a park nearby
and she always made the trip 10
the store walking along the edge
or the park until she had 10 turn.
Dead leaves rustled on the side
walk. The trees were nearly bare
now. Somehow the fall had flown
past without her realizing IL. So
much had happened In the past
weeks.
nUTIFULLY she turned away
from the park and went on %
the apartment. IL had Just occurred
TO Norma how she had spent
Thanksgiving a year before. A din
ner engagement with Bob Farrell.
Almost the first time she had gone
out with him. She remembered Bob
had taken her TO a restaurant down
town for n heavy and indigestible
dinner and that afterward they
had driven along country roads I'm a
car Bob had borrowed.
What would Bob be doing tcmor-
row7 she wondered. How little she
had thought OF him lately and how
much he had occupied her Thoughts
. few months ago!
Norma reached the apartment
and Immediately stray fancies van
ished. There was work 10 be done
and the girl settled down 20 II I'm
m~ediatcly. The whole apartment
must be made Immaculate. she was
In the midst OF the sweeping when
there was n ring at the door. II
was the boy from the store who
waited outside. Norma set the
groceries on the kitchen table and
returned the basket. Then she put
the duck In the ice box and went
on with her sweeping.
Dinner that evening was late.
Mark did not arrive home until
after six He threw down HIS hat
and coat and told Norma II had
been a tiresome day. More people
In the store because or the coming
holiday. Customers. keyed 20 X
element. a little more impatient
than usual. Yes. Mark was weary.
He had been at Blossomdale's for
three weeks now. There had been
two s35 pay checks and on Satur-
day there would be another. The
young Traverses, though they had
little on the credit side or the
ledger, were az least meeting their
debts. paying their living expenses
and, remarkable as II might seem,
quito happy. There had been no
quarrels since the night Mark
brought home the roses. Both Mark
and Norma we're too tired at the
end OF a day TO regret the fact they
had no money for recreation.
"I'm SO glad you'll be HON. all
day tomorrow" Norma said as she
set the last dish on the table. You
really need the rest. Mark. You've
been OVERRIDING"
"Oh. II isn't that, Just that I'm
new Mt this stun. Not used 70 being
on my feet all day and don't know
enough about the store. Boy. when
the Christmas rush starts I suppose
I'LL think this was q picnic. After
the second week I'm December the
store Ia open from nine I'm the
morning until nine at night"
But they'll pay you extra. won't
they7"
Hope 20. I haven't found out
yet Well. what's the program for
tomorrow"
Dinner nj two. I thought you'd
want to sleep late Is that all
right?"
%. X. with me. Say, you know
there's "a thing I'm mighty glad
about-won't have TO Sit across
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-09-17

the body cells o from fatigue.
Scientific Investigations have
shown that definite chemical
changes take place during fatigue
ana others during rest. The amount
Of sleep necessary at different
periods In life changes. 1t varies
also for different persons. The
average man ought to sleep eight
hours every night.
Sometimes insomnia Is due 70
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-09-17

from Aunt Matilda and hear her
talk about what happened the sum
mer OF ~ In Progress City and
how Great-UncIe Hiram hornswog.
gled the Indians out OF their land
what did happen In Progress
City7"
"I don't knowi God forbid, IA
never iistenedl Aunt Matthias
nearly 30 but she can out-taIk any.
one I ever met. What do you say.
kid? Shall we step out 90 .
mower"
Norma dimpled. There's Jack
Oakie in that new one ut the Cen
tury."
Let's zee ~"
DERHAPS the roast duck Norma
drew from the oven next day
was not seasoned exactly 10 the
taste Of n French chef. Perhaps Ito
dressing could have been improved
Nevertheless the bird was beauti-
fully roasted. IL was well cooked
and, according 70 Mark Travers. II
was the finest fare he bad ever
eaten The duck was after all only
part OF the carefully prepared
meal. That II was a success was
enough 10 put Norma into the true
spirit OF Thanksgiving Day. She
knew the candied sweet potatoes.
the salad and rolls and the mince
pie were as they should be. Hear
Ing Mark praise her cooking-as
he did praise twas more than
reward for the hours she had spent
In the tiny kitchen.
They dined BY c~andIeiIght and
the fruit centerpiece was a. color
full and attractive az though u had
been arranged on n silver ,plattsf>
instead OF one or the plates frouf
the five and ten
At the other side or the city ir a
palatfnl dining room nm elaborate
dinner was being served. Marks
father and mother sat nj either end
Of that dining table. Half m dozen
servants had spent their efforts
preparing and serving the rspast.
IL was the sort or THANKSGIVING
dinner 20 which Mark Travers had
been accustomed all his life.
There could have been no greater
contrast than the simple meal
Norma had cooked and the one AZ
which Marks parents sat. Perhaps
Mark was thinking something 90
this sort.
He leaned forward across the
table and found the girls hand.
As he pressed II Mark said I'm q
lowered voice. "You-you make me
awfulIy happy. You're so sweet.
Normal"
All OF which was ample reason
FOR Norma Travers to rise next
morning feeling the world was q
grand place in which 20 live. She
finished her tasks IN the apartment
Then she dressed. putting on the
old polo coat and snug hat she had
worn 80 often on daily trips 60 the
law ONCE She had errands Co a.
tend TO downtown and was anxious
to finish them and b home BY
noon.
The street car was not crowded
and Norma found q seat immo-
diately. That was because the
morning rush had ended. She rode
to Broad street and Eighth avenue
and then left the d
Norma walked rapidly. Mentally
she was reviewing her list OF pur-
chases-frst the saucer tc replace
the one she had broken. then the
oil cloth and the yard OF ribbon
Her thoughts we're interrupted
BY q shrill. familiar voice.
(To be Continuedl @rTp
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-09-17
.0Ip3I BY SSEPVCE INC

sion therefore in favor OF duck
She was concentrating this morn
ing on the printed instructions FOL
roasting n duck.
Truss the bird. Put IN
roasting pan and place I'm hot oven
Basic at frequent intervals . -
IL might be simple to someone
who knew exactly what 1t all
meant. What was blasting" and
how frequent were frequent inter
vals"?
CUDDENLY an inspiration popped
- into the girls head. She went
to the telephone.
I'D like to speak TO Miss Saun.
ders." she informed the girl who
answered. Another moment and
she heard Chris voice.
Hello. Chris. How are your oh
fine. OF course! Listen, Is II all
right to interrupt your business
hours TO ask advice about cooking.
II Is? Well-that's lucky because
there's something I just have to
know. I want to have roast duck
for dinner Thursday and n you
tell me what I'm supposed to do
with II after ! get II homo from the
meat MARKET"
Most OF the answer that came
over the wire was lost in laughter.
But. Chris. I mean It! I've been
reading a lot OF recipes In the pa
per ard ! can't make head or tail
OF them. II says 70 haste the duck
but ] don't Q why 1t needs to be
sewed---
Explanations were In order.
Chris. never-failing source OF as
sistance. explained the term "bast-
Ing" in its culinary use. She told
Norma to get paper and pencil and
when she had them and was back
at the telephone gave careful in
structions for preparation Of the
fowl.
1T really isn't difficult. Norma"
the older girl said. "Just do IL the
way I've told you and I'm sure
there won't be any trouble. or
course you want TO buy your duck
at q market where you know they'll
give you a good one"
"Oh, Mr.. Sykes always gives me
good meat. I'm not worried about
that part. Thanks q thousand
Chris. You certainly are q
lifesaver. BY the way, what are
you doing Thursday? Why don't
you come out7 To dinner / meant
We'd love to have you"
Chris declined the invitation with
apologies. She had an engagement.
she said. She didn't specify where
or with whom her dinner engage
ment was.
But you viii come out to see
US soon. won't your" Norma in
"Of course I will. Sunday maybe.
II there's anything else you want
to ask about your duck don't hest
to call"
Il won't. And I'll do II exactly
the way you told me. Goodby,
Chris. You certainly are an ANGEL"
Wednesday morning, bright and
early, Norma set out on her shop
ping tour. She bought a four-pound
duck which Mr.. Sykes. the dependa-
Bile butcher. assured her would
come out Of the roasting oven
1avorsome and tender. She stopped
the grocery store and ordered
vegetables. . Jar or mincemeat.
and nuts and several kinds
d. fruit to make q c~enterpiece.
The things were to be delivered.
md as Norma walked home the
;risp air brought color into her
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-09-17
The
Once Ocer

lie QUEEN Wa IN vac kltSlleu
washing pans and pots;
The king was in the pantry
Dining on all-hots-
The maj was In the hallway
"a very comely lass)
Explaining to the drivers
They'd better save on gas.
The groom was in the cellar
Explaining to . mate
They'd have to shave expenses
Or get the palace gate.
The keeper OF the hounds had
A lackey in his clutch,
Declaring he was feeding
The royal dogs too much
The stableman was writing
The hostlers angry notes
Asserting they had better
Economize> on oats.
The valet in the parlor,
With other servants limp.
Was saying 1t was awful
The way they had to skimp.
The cook was In a closet
Exploring for q scoop
Just SO that she could add more
Hot water TO the soup.
The chauffeurs all we're gathered
Well up the road a piece,
Admitting they had better
Use cheaper oil and grease.
The seamstresses fsome forty),
With looks Of abject dread,
Were whispering they'd have to
Go easy on the thread.
The keeper OF the jools was
Explaining to an aide
They'd better live on pretzeis,
Sardines and lemonade.
The gardner was weeping
Twas scarcely after dawn
For he had heard a rumor
The queen would NOV the lawn.
The keeper OF the rugs was
Admonishing a sweep
They'd have to do their cleaning
With brooms quite small anc
cheap.
The Prince was on q pony
Explaining at q trot,
That while a horse might eat he't
Much rather 1t did not.
A scream then shook the palace,
And underneath a shelf
They found the barber Cying-
THE KING HAD sHA- ED HIM
SELF
STOCK MARKET LOGIC
General Electric Is among thu
weak stocks on the big board, Their,
being a general fear on the par
of investors that America is goinl
to abandon electricity and go bacl
to oil lamps.
ADD TRAFFIC TRAGEDIES
I tried to teach my wife 10 driv'
And I would have you know
I failed the moment that I up
And told her where TO go.
w. w. Schaefer.
Things are 50 bad In England
that Parliament may have TO Dor
row money to feed Mahatm'
Gandhi's goat.
Elmer Twitchell severely criticize
Mayor Walker for remaining s
long away from New York. What.
he asks, IF a couple of Channe
swimmers turned up in his alb
sence?"
PRESUMPTUOUS DEFINITION
Love is beautiful.
Love Is trite:
Love Is dutiful,
Loves a kite.
Love is binding,
Love is not;
Love Is finding.
Out q lot.
-Harcourt Strange.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-09-17
Quotations

The small town which wants
more industries must dress up.
j. S. Blue. of American Gas and
Electric company. in Nations Bus
mess.
II the president would talk at his
press conferences rs I do at mine
he would not have any trouble.
Secretary OF War Hurley.
A country is like an individual.
II can not keep in a solvent posi-
ton forever IL expenditures exceed
income.
Philip Snowden.
One once had the right, as an
American, to live his own life as
he chose. so long as he did not in
terfere with the rights OF others
their rights, not their prejudices.
Brand Whitlock.