davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-11

"Buildings in my city" said the New York man. "are so tall that we have to take them down at night to let the moon go by"
 That's nothing" replied the oth- CT man, "the buildings in Chicago are so high that if a baby fell out of the top story he would be an old man by the time he reached the ground!"
 We have not. indeed. made buildings so high as all that; but the "skyscrapers" may be classed among the. worlds modern. wond- CTS.
 Except for churches. few build ings in Europe are of great height. The tallest church in Europe Is Cologne cathedral, whcih rises to a height of 515 feet. office buildings in London, Paris and Berlin are not very high, due to laws which limit the height to which they may be built.
 Until recently, Eiffel tower In Paris was the tallest structure ever built by man. Rising to the height of 989 feet. 1t was a wonder to tourists.
 To-day New York has office buildings higher than Eiffel Tower. One of these,- the Chrysler build ing. Is 1.046 feet high. Far higher than the Empire state building which rises 1.24S feet! It is 456 feet taller than the Woolworth building which was the worlds tallest office building un- til two years ago.
 The Woolworth building cost $15, 5,OO0,O00. The cost of the Elm pire state building was about $60,. 000, ,0O0.
 The Empire state building con- tains space for 25,000 office work CTS. enough to compose a fair-sized city.
 Sixty-seven elevators take people up and down the mighty structure. These elevators, which cost close to $3,000,000, are high speed moving at the rate of 1900 feet per minute. There are seven miles of elevator shaft. | Five thousand men 1abored in the construction of the Empire state building. It is the worlds tall | est skysoraper, but 1t falls far short of "scraping the sky" (Thls article may be placed iIl ''Travei' section of your scrap bOOk.)
 TO-morrow-A Little Saturday Talk.
 UNCLE RAY. (Copyright, 1891. Publishers Syn | dicate.) | A recent census showed that 75 per cent of the judges in Scotland are golfers.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-11
SEEK GIFTS FOR
 STATE HOSPITAL
Christmas Donations of All Kinds Will Be Wel-
 cOmed By Patients
CANDY APPRECIATED

The Connecticut State Hospital at Middletown is preparing to ob- serve the Christmas holidays with appropriate festivities. Every ef- fort will be made to make the sea- son one of rejoicing; and as an aid to such end, gifts for friend less patients and for those whose friends are financially unable to provide gifts, will not only be very acceptable to them, but much ap- preciated by the hospital manage mert.
 Gifts of any description will be welcome, but men patients always appreciate ties, handkerchiefs, gloves, hose, tobacco, pipes, etc; while women patients appreciate aprons, hankerchiefs, gloves. hose, wearing apparel of any description, etc. Candy is particularly appre- ciated by both men and women.
 Packages should be addressed to the Connecticut State hospital. Middletown, Conn, and marked "Christmas Donation" They should be sent so as to reach the hospital not later than December 20. When package contains gifts separately wrapped, it will be helpful if some indication is given as to the con- tents. If the donor will write name and address upon the pack age, prompt acknowledgement will be made.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-11
I write because, This year you've been My Santy Claus.

Editor Tall Topics; Can you tell how long it takes to the average moving picture? Oblge - k G. L. (Ie-ah perhaps you tell me how old is Ann-Ihe Ed)
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-11
IN NEW YORK
wth Gilbert Swan,

elaborate stairway and to the room where the library had once been.
 Yes, there upon the wall was thsI huge moose-head relic of hunt ing trip in Canada many years be- fore!
 That alone was left! All thsl rest had so strangly changed Stretched across one side of the room was q regulation bar, Chairs and tables were scattered about. A , noisy, gay crowd cluttered the place. Two bartenders rushed tol fill orders.
 The gent from the "Mauve Dec ade" stood shaking his head in be-l wilderment and finally, with a stun ned expression, moved slowly tq the bar and asked for whisky and soda.
 They tell a sequel which l ant disinclined to believe. Hours later so goes the story, a dignified, cid erly man-very spiffy--was seenI leaving the place carrying moosel head under his arm. He was help ed into q taxi and taken to his hotel. But one yarn for which l can. vouch is that of another survivor of the good old days"
 For generations his family had occupied a fine home in the Mur- ray Hill section. This, like many another elegant residence, had become a hightoned "whisper-low."
 His sister had been married in this place. And when, recently. the anniversary of her wedding was near, bright idea dawned. We have surprise for them, ' he whispered to friends. Well arrange big party at the old home and on the day of the anniversary we'll drive them there."
 Arran gements were secretly made. And, sure enough, on the day of celebration the party drove up to the place that had once been home and staged very gay pri- vate party in what had once been , the nutial room.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-11
DAILY NEWS LETTER
By EUGENE LYONS

Moscow-Muscovite to whom shopping has become an ordeal un- matched by anything outside or war trenches, read with astonlsh- ment a description of how the largest department store will be reorganized for their service.
 If half the promises made by the municipal authorities through the "Evening Moscow" come true, that department store--until the revolution English-owned and now under the trust Mostorg-will be by fare the most comfortable spot in the Soviet capital. The inn provements, moreover, are prom ised, not for the end of the first or second Five-Year plan, but im- mediately. The innovations really amount merely to the system, order ana conveniences for customers avail able in every good department store in Europe. or America, but for Russia they truly are startling
 Change in Salcsnanship. :,
 The most starting promise Of all is courtesy on the part Of sales men. In years during which there have been more customers than goods, statesmen in Russia have acquired very superior manners They behave as though they con fer a tremendous favor upon the public in selling anything. Comes the "Evening Moscow" with this foretaste of fairyland: .,
 "Yes, yes. The salespeople VIII be polite. They will not shout at you. They will not give you mock ing answers. And the customers in turn will be polite towards the salespeople. This will be quite na- tural. They will not have to he nervous and stand In lines. If they feel hungry, they can go to the restaurant or to the care. II they feel tired they can go to the rest room, play chess. or read newspapers"
 Poiiteness has acquired In these crowded hard-pressed years a quite alien appearances; almost q touch of disloyalty. This Is Illus traed in n story being told about n cafe recently opened In Moscow.
 It was to be a clean, attractive plnce. providing n little of the charm and comfort of European cafe. Just before its official open- Ing 10 the public. one of the man. ngera is reported to have called in the tresses--they were q comedy assortment Intended to en. nance the charm Of tho place. He began his instructions thus:
 "COmrades. tonight we open tho cafe. Tho first thing you must do ls Co forget thnt you are in the Soviet Union. You must bo p0lits and attsntlve."
 With the noat black ma white uniforms distributed Co the Birii they each received a llpstick.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-11
Uncle Rays
 Corner
SEVEN MODERN WONDERS
v. s;kyscrapers

Have you heard the story of the argument between the Chicago man and the New York man about the height of buildings in their cities? It is not new story, but 1t fits in with what want to tell you to-day.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-11
DON'T QUOTE
 ME
By United Press)

Washington, Dec 11.-(UP)- Meet the member at large" Of the house of representatives-Mr John 0. Tilson of Connecticut.
 Politics has played him one of it's cruel tricks. He rose nearly to the top of the ladder. For SIX years he was his party's leader in the house of representatives. A few days ago he was hurled, liter ally. to the bottom again when nc was defeated for the republican place of honor by Rep Bertrand H. Shell, chunky, phlegmatic, but very astute New Yorker.
 Shell is now minority floor lead CT. having been defeated for speak CT by the Texas democrat, Rep John N. Garner. And the tall, courtly gentleman from Connecticut, who was born and raised in the rugged repupn- can hill country of Tennessee. IS figureatively nothing.
 To the sentimental, he Is lone- ly sort of figure these days.
 He gave up all his committee assignments when he was elected leader six wears ago. If he went on any committees now 1t would be at the bottom, unless he accept ed republican offers to take a high- CT place. This he refuses to do as 1t would displace some other veteran. And he says he can not begin at the bottom again at thls stage of the game. It IS TOT new members, not him, to do the meniai work assigned to the beginner. He still has his pride. IT. And he holds his head up. He gave himself the title of mem ber-at large" He explains that ne holds a rowing commission Re- publican leaders have assigned him to the steering committee, group supposed to have some say apout Legislation, but which in reality does not naive much power. lt IS more an advisory committee. The lead, CTS and the rules committee hold the real power in the house. .,
 It was as "member-at-large from the state of Connecticut that Tilson first came to congress. nc has served in the house 70 years Gradually he worked his way to the top. He did yeoman work dur- ing the World war on the military affairs committee. He himseit had seen service, both in the span ish- h-American war and the Mexicar border disturbance of 1916. It was m the latter service that he earned the title of colonel"
 Prior to becoming leader. Illsor was a member of the ways and means committee, the tax and tariff body.
 As leader, he went to and from the capitol and the White House When his tall figure was seen en' tering the executive offices, tho newspapermen there knew some. thing was up. Back to the capito he went to carry out the admins tration's orders.
 He stood by the administrator When other party leaders deserted President Hoover on drought reliei and the bonus, there stood Tilson He was defeated on the drought re- lief issue and overwhelmed on thu bonus
 He was a leader without follow CTS.
 Some keen observers attribute his recent defeat to his too blind loyalty to the White House. But shorn of his power. Tilson agair stood squarely behind the presi- dent when the chief executive wal subjected to bitter attack in the opening house debate on the an nual message. And Tilson heard [ democrat, Rep Bankhead. Ala, de scribe his loyalty to the White House, with the addendum:
 And what reward has he beer given for following your presi' dent ?"
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-11

New York-One of the oldest tales to come my way recently con- cerns an elderly and dignified gent who had made his home in the brownstoned Fifties during another generation.
 Several years ago he sold the handsome mansion and moved abroad with his family. He re- turned to New York for a visit. Nostalgia drew him back to the house associated with so many happy memories. Late in the afternoon he revisited the block upon which the old home was located. He paced back and forth on the opposite side of the street, hestitatlng as to whether or not be should ring the bell and ask for an opportunity of wander ing through the tradition haunted rooms once more. Suddenly he noticed a stream of taxis and private cars driving up. One party after another entered th the place. The former owner call- ed a taxi driver. "Who lives there now?" he asked.
 The driver hestitated and then whispered What's the idea - that's one of the swellest speak easies in New York. The white-h haired man squared his shoulders, buttoned his coat and walked to the door. He rang the bell. The attendant refused to let him in.
 "Got q card No. . Sorry :" ...
 But this was my home l. lived here. I'd just like to see it." pro- tested the visitor. | The attendant called the boss. There was brief cross-e:iamina- tion. The old fellow seemed 10 have good credentials.
 'Id just like to see my library again, was very fond of it. You don't mind.'. The proprietor of the speak weakened. He let the stranger in. The man made his way up the
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-11
To |

Here and there Billy Allen, former night manager of the old Connecticut hotel telling of the boys how the towns eadabouts cseed their into few hours of sleep amid the leather chairs that made the Connecticut window. famous in good old days Billy would slip upstairs official business about and then the payboys would slip in draw the cur tan on side and drop off sleep the com foable chairs And than fahery talking get of them Especially if considerable elbow tipping had been in progress Thanks E. C. K. for f. contribution It's coming in mighty fast Wednesdays storm boond business in snow hove ubbers aper. zppers spa good ehi ..
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-11

Movie gossip "Over the Hil'' which played the Pal first half of the week than mediocre poor picture. Apparently be eeluod booap for effort further crystalZe sentiment his behalf Over the H produced nothing but inertia and brave attempt ob few thousand feet of flop didn't
 like the picture. It enough bore to death To begin with the production poorly directed the cutting featured by marked neency and half dozen antemaxes thrown in that produced anything but eelulod aggunaton But there was plenty of pathological padding my dftand this produced times that welcomed the of Morpheus (Seep the balm of e The juvenile episode was so over that feared oneoming might produce voting beard before the director praneed the next And while Mae Marsh always kind her audience eommendabe portray a the mother angle stretched until 1t almost snapped An ever abundance of domey also depressing and of course had the inevitable running sesame to stretch of three year Over the Hill" down in the valley lot of And didn't help Dunn any than cold in the head
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-11
Good evening.
ALL IN FAVOR

Thank you. "Wednesday night the Tower carried appeal hand tricycle. gladden. the heart of little three year Christmas Seven of readers called such toy. And very lovely indeed presented the Tower by wife of Waterbury prominent bank CTS. very grateful for her kindness. The of the others generously responded the call The tricycle. will bring world of joy this little boy Christmas morning
 I'm sure the kind donor will reap additional yuetde happiness realizing she has brought sunshine little sou sunshine in- stead of shadows on Christmas day
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-11

Here and there. Eleanor Maoney has been ndiSpo@d Thanks to Gertrude McCrath contribution of tin foil She called at the Tower daddy order make personal presentation 1 am indebted column reader for balloon dealing wn Charley Cranes book endlt which unoIds the amenities o' eoumn eonduing Guess Pi have to get it. The issue of the Ek magazine interesting article by Webb Wadon entitled " Hrams Fortress dealing with ie life Of this ex'
 srne who relieved Machine Gun Parker head of the 02nd in France here few years at the Elton when the I'D threw banquet Waterbury YDen will enjoy reading this asie
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-11

Believe it. Fred Rowe, YD-er, hunting the wld Massachusetts this week and returned with deer (Gracous me you the load of the running board of Fd ca) always drive with deer stretched out the running board It's the best thing to being photographed with pigeons front of fountain sumpn They removed the the Bay State and for three days permitted hunters to left the bank and drove the of And back with his deer So hang this the Christ m and see if l care.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-11
THE GOOD OLD WAY

Kalamazoo, Mich-Howard J.. Cooper equipped himself as his ancestors did and went out to bag himself deer with bow and arr row. He brought in a fine buck, killing him with one arrow.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-11

BULLETIN. When the manager of big light and power company down alongside blond snog ascoashis and tells you his eompanys reduction has saved the past year. that's brother and can't by going out biting dog either That's just what Charley Allen did the residence address and made me realize how happy should be and what owe the Connecticut Light and Power. q thanks. bills, I'm right to snuff the C. L. 6 P. the latter) Charley by juggling figuring way and this instead of the conventional this way and that assures saving has been worth while and wouldn't be idea J. Henry Rorabaek little Christi card bearing this greeting:
 Henry dear,
 I write because,
 This year you've been
 My Santy Claus
 There just couldn't help You know those poetic just insist coming and doesn't matter whether take Mrs WinsIows soothing syrup I've to write such non- sen really kind friends and readers m greatly indebted to Charley the blond stenog for proving complete sas that corporations have soul matter how well heed they happen be- Charley ends the scented message by saying You are position advise Pro Bono Pubieo that he can his 25watt cellar light hours for cent or thirty hours which last. would like to men, tion price copy of that sterling organ of the Po ps rights the Waterbury Evening Demoerat Why eharee you old fatterer you
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-11

cheer for taxi drivers Taxi drivers the green using one of flower beds ommiy for birds that territory They secure pieces cake and bread from central hashery and the flower bed where the birds and enjoy daay banquet. A most commendabe idea their part.
The Alaskan., 1931-06-12
ILLINOIS JUDGE JOLTS
 RENO DIVORCE INDUSTRY

Superior Judge Rudolph F. Desort of Chicago recently pres ented the Reno lightning di- vorce mill with an Illinois legal jolt. In issuing an injunction to restrain a Chicago husband and father of six from securing a Reno divorce the judge serv- cd notice that a Nevada decree, granted citizen of Illinois, can be held invalid here.
 If the grounds in Nevada were the same as those of Illi- nois," the judge said, "thc de- fendant, according to the com plaint, could not secure a de- c"ee of divorce He has left the jurisdiction of his state for the sole object of evading it's laws end depriving his wife and chil- dren of the opportunity of pro- tecting their interests, which they could do were action brought here"
 The injunction was granted Mrs. Edith Sylvan against Joseph L. Sylvan, head of a -adio company. They have oaen married twenty-one years,
The Alaskan., 1931-06-12
Stewart Edward Whites Compiler

Last year M White blew off considerable steam about the brown and grizzly bears in AL aska and the need of creating hear reserves. Forthwith went LID from the territory a protest by no means mild. The Juneau Chamber of Commerce had written a reply to MT. Whites brainstorm but it never got be- tond the editors waste basket Now he shows his hurts in The National Sportsman.
 / The idea of reserves is to set aside areas to protect Indians, fish, birds, bears, timber, coal, oil or anything the selfish may wish to control when they can not own it themselves or when other means of domination would be expensive. Alaska is a mass reservations. The Bu- reau of Fisheries, Forestry, and what not, control the destinies of Alaska, and with the growth of the power of these organiz- a tons we note the decline in WI ite population in this last frontier where game and fish and natural resources abound.
The Alaskan., 1931-06-12

ident in a hole than to help the country. The.r personal glory or that of their party is deem- ed more important than the welfare of the nation and it's people. There are those who loudly blame the president for their empty pockets with little or no conception if just what the president may have to do with either bad times or the good. We should not transfer our fealty unthinkingly or without reason : able assurance that a change would be constructive, any more
 han a sick man should try a dose of this ard dose of that without any knowledge of the properties of the remedies with which he experiments.
 We think the rue should be made to work both ways. Great parties have been charged with a tendency to shield and pro- tect weakness and inefficiency, even gross corruption and crim- nal malfeasance on the part ot public officials for the party's sake We would hold this to be un-American, unworthy Of right-thinking citizens and not 10 be countenanced. Such charges may do much to break down and dissipate the respect which all citi7ens would en- certain for the party of their choice They may even under mine national pride. No leader ever won the whole-souled res ], ect of the great American peo- nle under slogan of My party F ight or wrong" Let us rather be brave enough to condemn, fearlessly and unflinchingly, that which is faulty, even though the offender may have laraded under a banner of which he was not worthy, up- holding at the same time those who strive conscientiously plac- ing the states interests aheao of those of any party, thus com handing respect for our politi- cal affiliations whatever they may be.
The Alaskan., 1931-06-12
rOURT UPHOLDS COMMON
 LAW UNION

Although a comnfon law mar "iage is not legal if consufnmat- ed in Washington, Nels Michael son and Donna D. Starr are husband and wife, even though their marriage ir Seattle in 1917 was not valid at the time, according to Superior Judge MacFarlane.
 The judge denied efforts of Michaelson's attorneys to break Mrs. Michaelscn's resistance to suit for annullment on the pleading that Mrs. Michael
 then Mrs. Starr did not have a final decree of divorce at the time of their common law mar riage. The court decided that when an unmarried couple have lived as man and wife for six months or more in a state which recognizes common law marri- ages they would thereafter con- idered man anu wife even in states which do not otherwise recognize such marriages. The Michaelsons lived in Idaho two years where common law mar iiages are valid. Under this ruling Michaelson cannot claim immunity. He must sue for divorce and grant a property settlement.
The Alaskan., 1931-06-12
My Party---Rght or Wrong"

We were asked the other day inst what, specifically, as a peo- Dle, We have a right to expect of our government and of those whom we, as political parties, may designate to administer the functions of government for us. Our answer is. whatsoever we desire for ourselves as a nation CT as a state we must accom- plish through the agency of that visible government which rep ~esentS the people as a whole, not merely those of any parti-r crlar political faith. Since the days of the inauguration of the spells system there has been Iamentable tendency to carry cur fidelity, or active opposition as the case may be, on past election day and to mistake pol ;.lcal partisanship for patrio- tism. Party loyalty is a com ,nendable thing up to a certain point but the welfare of the nation as a wrole must be plac- ed ahead of any portion of it. I political party must be re- garded as means to an end, never an end in itself. Those who have been chosen to sit in high places have a measure of responsibility for and to all citizens of whatever stripe, and we as citizens owe the fullest measure of support to those who have been formally dele cated to represent us, regardless of which banner they may have ridden under hefOre the elec- tion, unless by their own action they prove themselves unworthy of our confidence.
 There are partisans who seek to blame all of the ills and woes uf the business world onto the president. In several South American and European coun- tries a similar unrest has led to political revolutions and new factions have made political capital out of conditions which were by no means confined to their own countries. In our country some congressman seem more anxious to put the pres