davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1931-01-27
SCHOOL To HAVE.
AREA LIMITS

The area limiting the attend.
ance of western High School will
probably be restricted before the
September term to alleviate the
overcrowded condit ons there,
Stephen E. Kramer, assistant
superintendent of schools in
charge of secondary education, de-
clared today.
Western High School, which
already has gone beyond its
capacity of school attendance ny
approximately 500 students, will
be further overcrowded with the
new semester beginning February
2, Mr.. Kramer said. = Although
only so pupils will be graduated
this week, more than 200 new
students will be admitted from
the junior high schools, he added.
Provisions have been made by
! the Board of Education to pro-
hibit nonresident children from
attendance at western beginning
with the new term. Mr.. Kramer
declared that this limitation will
cause an influx of children living
outside of Washington at the
Central High School.
To relieve the congestion at
Western, the board recently pro
vided that the children should
attend school in part-time ses-
sions. Juniors and seniors will
attend classes in the morning
and the lower classmen in the
| afternoon
The Washington times., 1931-01-27
Hero Couldn't Resist Her In New Garb

Even to this day I do not fully
grasp, I suppose, the sacrifices,
that dreary, scrupulous saving
from out of the meagre family
budget which my unflagging
mother underwent to provide the
gorgeous confirmation dress her
never too weary fingers cut, fitted
and seWed under the harsh glare
of the gas jets in moments
snatched from heavy household
cares and precious sleep.
A new dress, hat, shoes, pair
of silk hose, or any other new
piece of wearing apparel was to
me, in those days, in the nature
of an ev 1T. They were mile
stones marking periods in my de-
velopment. They symbolized some
thing pregnant with epochal
meaning. This 7as especially
true of this confirmation dress
and also my first wedding gown
W ich my poor mother also hand
sewed under the most heart
breaking circumstances.
To every girl, I presume, as in
my own case, her confirmation
dress is not only a yision, but a
creation of supreme delight. 1t is
her sacred robe of vestal purity
and a symbol to the world that
she has emerged forever from the
era of childhood into the long
cherished plane of a full-grown
woman.
The cracked mirror in my room
told me that I was beautiful. I
was the picture of a bride, the
The Washington times., 1931-01-27
Tells Full Story of |Dope" Slavery

} who shielded him from the con-
sequences of what he did?
The medical profession is full
of noble, self-sacrificing, heroic
men, men whom the world de-
lights to honor-but how about
those "derelict doctors" who use
the cloak of a noble profession
to hide their cowardice and their
greed?
Isn't it about time that we
here in the United States looked
at this business of dope addiction
and see it for what it is-one of
the most fearful menaces of our
modern civilization?
Read Alma Rubens pitiful story
read it, word for word and
syllable by syllable, even if it
breaks your heart to do it.
1t may save you or one you
love from a slavery worse than
death.
The Washington times., 1931-01-27

gown, the veil, and the flowers.
I was a bride. His bride. My
triumph was at hand!
My hero could not resist me
when he saw me arrayed like this.
On a pretense I sailed out of
the house ahead of my sister and
parents. All a-quiver, my heart
humping like pump. fairly
darted up to where my loved one
stood in front of the firehouse.
Maybe he would accompany me
to the church and see me trans
formed, by few simple words,
from little girl into woman.
Maybe he would make it a double
ceremony and marry me, then
and there.
Over and over in my mind I
had req, ed the words that would
l. a him to declare himself; de-
clare his love for me, his vestal
bride.
Take me, my CO ling groom Of
grooms. Oh, take me while I am
so beautiful. my handsome, my
brave lover knight"
The Hero ResiSts
But, when I approached him, I
became tongue-tied and blushed
with confusion. The words would
not come. He stared at me in
quizzical fashion.
Just then a fat woman, with a
baby in her arms, came up and
stood by his side. He whispered
something to her and then they
both ogled me from head to foot,
The Washington times., 1931-01-27
BY WINIFRED BLACK

She's dead and in her grave
at last. 90.
Dead and at rest in her low
grave in the little country church
yard Of the pleasant valley town
where she was born-poor Alma
Rubens.
How we used to look at her
and admire hsT, and sometimes
we even envied her. she was such
a beauty and such success with
the crowds flocking to see her
on the screen, and the fans, -
sending her roses and orchids,
and violets, and writing her let
.ters and begging her for just the
thrill of one special personal
smile. ...
Gould I but touch her lightest
finger tips"-Who was the poor
fool who sang that to the beauti-
full actress and afterward saw
her in the charity ward of a
public hospital, old and broken
before her time.
Poor Alma Rubens-she would
have been alive and happy and
triumphant this very day if it
hadn't been for dope"
Oh, don't smile and raise your
eyebrows-you're no better than
she was when the doctor gave
her that dope, after a terrible
operation.
Alma Rubens took the narcotic
as any one of us would take it.,
If the doctor prescribed it
It soothed the agony of her
pain and carried her on soft
fluttering wings out of the cruel
misery of her days and the pro
longed torture of the nights into
q cool, gray world, where there
were no crude lights and no
The Washington times., 1931-01-27
By ALMA RUBENS

My loved one was a fireman
attached to the station near our
house on McAllister st. I was
about IL at the time. I think I
was drawn to him principally be-
cause of a hideous red scar that
traversed his right cheek from
temple to point of his jaw,
acquired, perhaps, while helping
conquer the terrible conflagration
which followed the earthquake.
Even now, when I recall his
image in my mind, that mysteri
Gus, livid scar aweS me into
alteration and makes me feel
quite goose-fleshy with thrills.
Anyhow, his appearance en-
amored me into eXcesseS of con-
lecture not always strictly prud-
tsh.
I decided to marry him. He
was my man! And I set out to
capture him.
When in his presence the over
powering eloquence of my blazing
inner flame rendered me mute,
languishing and frightened. Au-
dacious, long.legged romp that I
was, the instant I would sight
him I would concentrate my
energies and strut past, breath
lessly and self-conSciouS.
Then into the darkened con-
cealment of a neighborhood tele-
phone booth, providing I had a
nickel, I would poster him with
artfully disguised voice. punctuat-
ing my ardorouS advances with
exaggerated deep-throated SighS,
which I imagined represented the
very quintessence of virginia. pas
sion.
What dye say your name
WASP" he would growl over the
wire.
Very Much In Love
"Rose La France, the actress"
I would invariably reply, affect
ing a high hauteur, often broken
by an irresistible desire to burst
The Washington times., 1931-01-27
MA RUBENS FOUGHT IN VAIN TO BREAK CHAIN OF DOPE HABIT
PENS STORY OF EARLY
LIFE AND LOVES

harsh sounds and no bitter strug.
giles for self control-juSt peace,
beautiful, quiet, dreamless peace
But when Alma Rubens began
to get well, she was a little
frightened.
She Fears Dope
I'm afraid of this stuff you
are giving me-" she said to the
doctor. Il think it is beginning
to get me-"
The doctor laughed.
Now, now" said the. doctor,
I'm a physician-and I know
I'll stop the dope in plenty of
time, right now you need it to
pull you through"
And poor Alma Rubens obeyed
the doctors orders and those
orders put her in chains just as
much as if she wore handouts
and were prisoner in the deep
est, darkest dungeon in the most
terrible prison in the world.
When she left the hospital
she carried her medicine" home
with her.
She was hooked" as they call
it in that dim, fearful world of
the alley and by-ways where the
dope slaves whisper together in
their eternal twilight.
Over and over again Alma Ru-
bens tried to break the chains
that bound her.
She had herself committed to
institutions three different times,
big, prosperous, expensive institu-
tions where they give the dope
cure" but somehow she was never
cured-to stay.
The last time she went to a
hospital it was a State institution
that took her in, not the rich
beautiful, admired and envied
Alma Rubens, but just a poor
little wiSp-more like a ghost
than like a human being.
The Washington times., 1931-01-27
BUTLER SPEECH.
PROTESTED
BY ITALY
Charges of Fiery Marine
Against MussoIini Bring
Protest From Rome Envoy

Official denial that Benito Mus
solini, the Italian premier, has
ever run over man, woman or
child" in his automobile was
made here today by the Italian
ambassador, Mobile di Martino, in
the course of a formal statement
in which he protested against re,
marks attributed to Maj Gen,
Smedley D. Butler, U. s. Marine
Corps, in recent speech in Phila-
delphia.
Navy Investigating
The ambassador already has
protested against Buffers alleged
statements to the STATE Depart.
ment, which has urned the case
over to the Navy Department for
investigation.
An official statement from the
embassy said:
In an address delivered be
fore the contemporary club of
Philadelphia on January 10,
Major Gen. Smedley d. Butler
stated, as it appears from the
Philadelphia papers, that Sig
nor MussOlini had invited a
friend of the generals Whose
name, however, he did not men.
tom to accompany him on a
tour around Italy in an armOred
automobile; that during this
tour SignOr MussOlini ran over
a child without stopping when
the child was hit and that when
the generals friend screamed as
the accident occurred, MuSSolini
uttered these absurd words:
What is one life in the affairs
of a State?'
Denies Whole Story
"We have learned at the
royal Italian Embassy that
Signor MussOIini has never i'm
vited any American to accom-
pany him on any trip around
Italy, that the Premier has
never run over any child, man,
or woman, that if any accident
of this sort had happened
Signor MussOlini would have
done what is the duty of every
one to do, he would have
stopped and brought help.
The Washington times., 1931-01-27

Before she gave up the struggle
and lay down and died, poor
Alma Rubens wrote the story of
her desperate fight against
"dope."
She began at the beginning
and went on to the bitter end.
She did not spare herself one
jot-she set down every detail
Of her slavery in black and white
for the whole incredulous, scott
ing world to read.
It is, they say, great docu-
ment, and one that should be
read by every woman and every
man who might sometime hear
the clanking of those terrible
chains and not realize what they
mean.
How about the doctor who got
Alma Rubens into the clutches of
dope?
How about the fellow physicians
The Washington times., 1931-01-27

lusionment, my dreams Of love
had gone awry.
The confirmation ceremony it.
self is somewhat blurred in my
memory. I went through 1t all
in a daze.
All that I could think Of was
that Rose La Frances hero was
married and a father.
And, he had called me mink!
Wasn't that a piece of fur2
And, an actress! Well, that
part was true. At least, I in
tended being one-and a famous
one at that. He'd be sorry some
of these days.
Boldly, when the priest asked
my name, replied:
Rose La France!"
So, Rose La France, the actress
to be, had become at last.
My parents were Mortified.
by golly, Alma" my father
chided me on the way home.
What made you say that?
W14cIS uAu yOu uSdI L11dG AcLAC!
Has Stage Ambitions
That's my stage name" I re-
piled stubbornly. That's the
name you'll see in the electric
lights over Grauman's Theater
one of these days. Just you wait
and See!"
My father sadly shook his
head and said no more, but
mother, upon our arrival home,
threatened me with dire punish
ment unless I relegated the idea
to the scrap heap of forgotten
things.
So, in the face of this bitter pa
rental criticism and opposition,
two years drifted by without any
serious efforts on my part to fur
ther my stage ambitions.
From time to time, when !
was about to raise the money, my
chum, Nellie Kyne and I played
hockey from school and attended
Grauman's, a legitimate house,
and the movies.
My earliest hero in the movies
and my next great secret love
was Arthur Johnson, that tall
slim leading man of a decade
and a half ago, who was the
first of the silvered screens truly
great lovers.
The next man to kindle a
love fire in the Scrawny, ambi-
tiOus child was Arthur Johnson,
one of the first of the movies
matinee idols. Did it leave
lasting imprint on her life?
Read tOmOrrow'S instalIment of
this gripping tale of laughter,
tears and dope.
The Washington times., 1931-01-27
Second Chapter of Her Own Story

>into giggles. Rose La France.
And I'm head over heels in love
with you"
And, as invariably, when had
reached this point, my hero would
mutter something that sounded
like 'lunatic" or nuts" and
hang up, much to my despair.
But I did not give up hope.
Rose La France would overcome
all obstacles. True love never did
run smooth. Rose La France, in
the end, would accomplish her
purpose. Rose La France. That
was the name I would make fam
The Washington times., 1931-01-27

Gus. And that was the name my
hero would acclaim when reach
ed the top, thus heaping Goals Of
fire on his head for not recipro-
eating my love advances earlier.
So, the days and weeks and
months slipped by until they ap-
preached the day of my confirma-
ton.
AS the event drew near, a ha-
rum-scarum idea, akin to genius
struck me. Its very originality,
as well as it's boldness, made me
gasp and alternate between chills
and fever of suspense and guilt
The Washington times., 1931-01-27
HGrtfOrd's Council
Asks 'Dry' Decision

HARTFORD, Conn.,, Jan. 81
GN.SO SO.-Hartford is on record
today as desiring the State legis-
lature to memorable Congress "to
cause the question of prohibition
to be submitted to the people"
The board of aldermen passed
a resolution in its session last
evening, asking that the three
State senators and two represen-
tatives from Hartford in the gen.
eral assembly start the action.
The Washington times., 1931-01-27

The Washington Times yeSter.
day presented the first install
ment of "The Tragic Life of
Alma Rubens."
In the first chapter of AlmG'S
real life story, Dritten for the
Hearst newspapers just before her
nntimely death, the movie star
tells of her birth in San Fran,
cisco. Alma tells OF her an
ceStry, her GermGn-LutherGn
father and her Irish, Roman
Catholic mother.
TodGy's inStalment is indicative
OF Aln1a'S admiration for mGScu-
line courage and combGtiUeneSS.
She meets her first "hero."
The Washington times., 1931-01-27

lest my mother should discover my
purpose.
For days I had nurtured a sui
len and exasperating hurt over
my inability to break down the
barriers of my scar-faced hero's re.
serve.
I had attributed this to my ap.
pearance. My street clothes, while
not slattern, were not just exact,
ly modish, or smart. My family
while not in actual poverty, were
to be classed among the respect
able, and consequently inconspic.
uous poor; too poor to buy for
me the silks and satins for which
my girlish heart yearned.
The Washington times., 1931-01-27

she's an actress, as sure as you're
born"
stood as though petrified until
my mother and father came along
a moment later and dragged me
away. My romance was q disil-
The Washington times., 1931-01-27
She's an Actress as Sure as You re Born"

And, as I stood there, too EN-
barrassed and sickened to flee,
he burst into a lusty roar of
laughter.
Damn me, Maggie, If the
little mink amt an actress!" he
chortled with glee. "Yes, sir;
The Washington times., 1931-01-27
XerY Much Tn Love

Rose La France, the actress"
I would invariably reply, affect
ing a high hauteur, often broken
by an irresistible desire to burst
The Washington times., 1931-06-01
BEER NAMED OFFICIAL

BALTIMORE, June 1.-Eugene
H. Beer has been unanimously
elected City Register by the new
City Council.
The Washington times., 1931-06-01
4 DROWN OVER
WEEKEND

The body of Miss Almea Ad-
kins. %, of 1913 F. st. S. E., was
the first of four Washingtonians
drowned in nearby waters over
the weekend, to be recovered.
Miss Adkins met death when
she slipped from a rowboat in
which she had been cruising in
the Patuxent River with Robert
Moore, Of Berwyn. Md. Moore,
it was said, had Swum away from
the boat, and could not reach
Miss Adkins in time to effect q
rescue.
Others who lost their lives
while seeking relief from the
weekend heat were: Ethelburt
Millburn, Of the Shawmut Apart
mentS: George Foster, colored, of
Second Street, near B, Northwest.
and Robert Browning, Of New
Baltimore, Va.
A heroic attempt to save
Browning, who was drowned in
Cccoquan Run, was made by Miss
Alice Wilson and his younger
brother who had towed the drown.
ing youth almost to safety when
the current oVercame them.
The Washington times., 1931-06-01
CENTER TRACT.
DEAL VO|DED

Acquisition by the District Gov
ernment of the Pennsylvania Ave
nue. property Of Michael ]. Keane
for a part of the Municipal Cen
ter was set aside today by the
District Court of Appeals because
the original proceedings did not
include as party the owner of a
Seven-year lease on the property.
The Commissioners contracted
to purchase the property for $62.-
500 in cash. on September l6
1929, on condition it could be de-
livered free of encumbrances. It
was found the lease had run only
a year of its Seven-year term.
however, but the Commissioners
pointed out the lease held a
clause providing for its termina-
tion if the land was bought. by
the Government.
The Commissioners claimed the
District was not included in the
term Government" and asked
permission in the lower court To
make the lessee party to the
suit. which was denied.
The higher court today held
that the District should have been
allowed to make the lessee a
party so as to avoid the hazard
of a separate suit which would
have to be filed if the lessee re-
fused to give possession of the
property.
The Washington times., 1931-06-01
SUPREME COURT.
To DECIDE ON
FALL 'SPLEA
Chief Justice Hughes Follows
Taft Policy of Clearing All
Cases Before Adjournment

The Supreme Court today pre-
pared to wipe it's slate clean be-
fore adjourning until October 5.
Comparatively little business re-
mained for disposal before ad-
journment for the summer, and
it was virtually certain the court
would carry over few. if any,
cases.
Decision in the Minnesota
press gag" case and action on the
petition Of former Secretary AL.
bert b. Fall for review Of his con.
victiOn on bribery in the leasing
Of naval oil reserves were awaited.
The Minnesota law, which per-
mits issuance Of court injunc-
tions against newspapers and
magazines carrying scandalous or
obscene matter, has been at
tackled as a violation of the free
speech provisions of the Constitu-
ton.
In an effort to prevent Grim.
inal cases going over the summer,
the court decided to consider all
petitions for review in this class
Of appeals received by Friday
night. The Government, having
waived its right to answer Falls
plea, action was expected.
Having continued the policy of
the late Chief Justice Taft in
speeding the court, Chief Justice
Hughes has already announced
that arguments will begin on Oc-
tOber 5. the first day the court
is in session next fall.
The Washington times., 1931-06-01
NJ DONALD WILL
IS UPHELD

The Court of Appeals today sus.
tanned the Fulton Trust Company
Of New York and Joseph s. Gray.
don, trustees under the will of
James Mcdonald, wealthy Wash
ington man, in their refusal to pay
the income from the share of two
grandchildren to them before they
reach the age of 80 years.
The will of Mr.. Mcdonald,
dated June rs, 1913 provided an
income for his son, James McDOn.
aid, jr., until he reached the age
Of 30 when he would receive $2O,.
600 annually.
It also was provided the father
should receive an additional allow.
ance for each Of his two children
and when the eldest reached the
age of 80 the estate was to be d.
vided, one-half to the father and
the other one-half divided among
the children.
James Mcdonald, Sd, and Rob
ert A. Mcdonald, the grandchil-
dren, sought to have the income
from their share although the eld-
est is now but 18 years of age.
The Washington times., 1931-06-01
LEGS AFF|RNS
HIS INNOCENCE

CATsKILL, N. Y, June l
GNSD.-'Not guilty" was the
plea of Jack CLegs'D Diamond,
notorious gangster, when ar
raigned today before Supreme
Court Justice F. Walter Bliss on
indictments charging him with
carrying concealed weapons and
coercion in connection with the
torture of Grover Parks, cider
of Cairo, N. Y.
The Washington times., 1931-06-01
IS FREED
IN PLOT CASE
MISS VIRGINIA PENN
(continued From First PGse)

(Continued From First PdRe)
Of the sculptor, was indicted with
the others, but was freed on a di-
rected verdict last week.
The five defendants were ar
rested in August, 1929, in the Of
flee of Attorney Bird, who at that
time was representing Mr.. Noble
in obtaining settlement of a claim
which the latter held against the
Calhouns in connection with a de-
sign for memorial to American
motherhood which he claimed
was to be erected by the Wom-
ans Universal Alliance, an organ
ization sponsored by the Calhouns.
Complained to U. S.
Testimony developed that Cap
tain Calhoun had complained to
the Department Of Justice that
the defendants had threatened to
blackmail him unless he paid the
money.
He asserted the accused had de-
cIared they would publish a scan.
dal that would shock the country.
On tie day of the arrest. a
$4,000 check signed by Captain
Calhoun, was exhibited to the de-
PENDANTS by a Department of JUS
tice agent, posing as attorney
for the Calhouns, IL exchange
for which the defendants were to
sign an agreement releasing the
CalhounS from further payments
and agreeing to withhold from
the publishing of any derogatory
matter.
Didn't Have Money
Testimony of Captain Calhoun
was to the effect that the release
had been written in the Depart.
ment of Justice, and that he did
not have sufficient funds in the
bank to cover the $4,000 check
which he had signed.
The defendants were repre-
sented by Attorneys Richard L.
Merrick, Charles w. Arth, K. K
SpriggS, L. r. Maddox, and M. A.
Flynn. Counsel declined to make
statement at the close Of the
trial. but Bird on his own behalf
asserted:
Glad Trial Is Ended
Naturally, 1 am glad that
the long trial Is ended. and
particularly gratified that the
court at the hearing, after
considering all the evidence,
found no case to submit to the
jury.
"The most astounding de-
velOpment is the fact that .
private citizen was able to go
to q powerful Government de-
partment and there, through
FRIEND enlist the services OF
tOadying and immature sub
OrdinateS in the preparation Of
rank and irreparabIe injustice"
Bird referred to the contact OF
Capt. Calhoun with the Bureau
Of Investigation. resulting in the
assignment of Sam. w. Hardy
Department Of Justice operative
To the case
The Washington times., 1931-06-01
CARS OVERTURN
DR|vERSFLEE

Two minutes after receiving
. radio call of an automobile
accident at Tenth and o Streets
Northwest, police in a scout car
found two automobiles overturned
and badly damaged but a search
for the driver of each was un.
availing.
1t was first thought the drivers
were pinned beneath the cars.
The police stayed at the scene
for more than an hour, waiting
in vain for the motorists. A
check-up revealed the tags of
each car were dead" and the
two machines we're towed to the
Second precinct station.