davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08
Milford, Friday, May s, 1881
MOTHERS DAY

Most of the time the mothers OF
the land pour out their unstinted
service with little appreciation.
They heap benefits upon their chill
dren, who take it as matter of
course. If the mother does not spend
every moment of her time relieving
the youngsters of all possible care,
many of them feel that they have
been defrauded of their rights.
1t is we'll then that at least one
day year, May 10 this time, is cal
led Mothers Day, and used as an
occasion for expressions of affec-
tion. Suitable gifts and words of ap-
probation will cheer the hearts of
many women who have given their
whole lives to loving service to their
children. These words of love too
frequently go unspoken until it is
too late.
The spirit of Mothers Day should
do something more than express it.
self in words and gifts. The moth
ers entertain ideals for their chill
dren. They are full of ambition for
them, but not worldly ambition
alone, They wish to see them sue
cessful in a worldly way, but most
of all they desire to see them attain
worthy characters of which the
mother can be proud.
The majority of people keep do
ing things that do not accord with
the aims which their mothers
cherished for them. There is ten
dency to look at the mothers point
of view as old fashioned. 1t may be
sometimes, but nine times out of
ten it is based on longer experience
of life and ripper wisdom. The moth
ers can see that certain courses in
which the young folks persist will
not make for their happiness and
welfare in the long run.
If we then wish to conform to the
best aim of Mothers Day, we shall
ask ourselves if we would not better
give up these practices of which
our mothers have disapproved? If :.
we would all live up to the princi-
Piles our mothers fought us, the
world would be a much better place,
and our lives would be more fruit
full and happy.
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08
STRENGTH FROM THE SOIL

Some people have always claimed
that men and beasts gain strength
from direct contact with the soil
They feel that in some mysterious
way, something of the power con-
tanned in the good brown earth rises
into peoples bodies when they live
much in direct contact with the soil,
when they work in their gardens or
on farms, or are active in any out
door work that keeps them on their
feet.
The scientists will have to tell
us whether this is imagination or
not. 1t would seem as if there were
something in it. The earth is a tre-
mendous reservoir of power, and it
would seem likely enough that those
who come most closely in contact
with it might obtain some share of
that power.
1t may be that this added power
comes to outdoor workers, because
the open air is more invigorating,
and because they get more active
exercise. But anyway the people
who are working actively out doors
around their home places this spring
will gain an access of health and
strength.
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08
JUDGED BY THEIR HOMES

People who serve as statesmen in
stores or on the road realize that
they have to be well dressed. II
they go out looking shabby, people
say they are not making good, and
they hate to buy anything of them.
Strange to say, people do not al
ways realize that they need also to
maintain neat appearing homes in
order to establish a reputation. A
man who maintains a disorderly
looking place, gives the impression
that he will be careless in anything
he does. People would dislike to en-
ploy him or do business with him.
But if his home is neat and prettily
kept. people get the impression that
everything he undertakes is well
done.
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08
LOVE FOR A DOG

Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd
while on lecture tour in Illinois,
decided to cancel several speaking
engagements and travel 1000 miles
back home, when he heard that his
favorite dog pet, .Igloo, noted COM
panion of the admirals polar trips,
was sick. When news came that
Igloo had passed on, the famous ex-
plorer resumed his lectures, but he
had already shown what that little
dog nature meant to him.
The cheerful greeting and the
merry bark of the dog pet comforts
men and women in hours of diff
Guilty. Life seems more hopeful with
that dumb comradeship at hand.
Admiral Byrd's sentiment is shared
by millions of other people, who are
touched by the unwavering affection
of their dog friend.
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08

THE GOOD NEIGHBOR

If people contemplate buying a
home, they make inquiries about the
neighborhood They want to know
whether that portion of the street
or town is going down or going up.
Their idea of what constitutes a
good neighbor is not what it used to
be. Formerly the good neighbor was
the one who nursed you when you
were sick,- and who came in to call
when you were lonely evenings.
People are not looking so much
for that kind of neighbor now. They
get their nursing and companion
ship in other ways. The good neigh
Dor today is the one who maintains
a good looking home place, and who
would not tolerate any shabbiness
that would make the neighborhood
look run down. That kind of neigh
Dor is welcome everywhere in Mil
ford, even if he never makes any
calls, and even if people disagree
with him on politics and religion.
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08
$50
NEIGHBORLY FEELING

A lady who lives in an apartment
house in large city remarked a
few days ago, that in that big town,
the people who were living in the
same house made it a point not to
know each other. They seemed to
be afraid that they would get tied
up with disagreeable people, so that
they would not make the slightest
effort to get acquainted with the
folks across the corridor, or those
on the floor above and below them.
They would make little response if
these neighbors made advances to-
ward them.
Some folks seem to act that way
when they come into city like Mil
ford. They seem to fear that if they
get too thick with their neighbors,
they won't like them. So they will
go on day after day meeting these
same neighbors and refusing to
speak to them.
That however, is not the rule in
a community like ours, and people
should not adopt these stiff manners
toward each other. 1t is a pleasant
and helpful thing for people to
know their neighbors and be good
friends with them.
The social calling custom has
gone out to a large extent, and peO-
pie have other things to do with
their time. But if people are sick or
in trouble, the neighbors should be
quick to offer sympathy and help.
If strangers move into neighbor-
hood, the newcomers should be
made to feel that they are welcome.
It is a lonely sort of feeling that
one has, if he moves into place
and no one takes the least interest
in him. Many people become dis
gruntled with their home towns as
a result of such cold shoulder re-
ception, and they are perfectly
ready to move away for slight rea-
sons.
A good friendly town holds it's
residents and attracts newcomers.
Where the people know each other
well, they are more apt to work
we'll together in organizations, and
they get things done, and the COM
munity goes ahead.
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08

combined gross expenditures of fed
eral, state and local governments,
and the total is mounting steadily
every year. 1t is to be remembered.
too, that these local governments
are closest to the mass of the pcO-
pie and must get their revenues for
the most part by direct taxation of
the public. They have no indirect
taxation to fall back on as has the
federal government. And as the re-
port mentioned points out this local
expenditure amounted in 1928 to
6.813 millions of dollars and the
total is mounting from year to year.
Although federal expenditures
have been rising for the past two
or three years they do not increase
as fast as local and state eXpendi-
lures. Of course a considerable part
of the money expended locally goes
for public education and another
part for highway construction. Edu-
cational facilities we must have and
they ought to be improved constant
ly. A good part of the highway con-
struction payment is now provided
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08
THE TALKATIVE GENERATION

Who constitute the talkative gene
ration? Is it made up of the young
people who are so much criticized
by their prudent and frequently
shocked elders?
A lady who sees much of young
people, remarks that these young
sters think the older people talk
too much. They notice how the older
folks love to sit around in CONVEX
sation and spend hours together in
exchanging thoughts ranging from
mere gossip to serious discussion.
There is no doubt that the folks
who are getting elderly and aged,
have always spent a great deal of
time in talk. In the days before
automobiles and movies, a vast
amount of time was spent in social
calling. in which talk was the only
diversion. Good conversation is
stimulating to the mind, and this
talk was not all wasted. Many peo-
pie used to settle the affairs of the
world" as they called it, in these
conversations. They would find de-
light in exchanging their opinions
on every subject before the public
eye. Conversation of that kind was
often very stimulating, and it pro-
NOTED general intelligence. But
talk can be overdone.
A great many of the younger peo-
pie are too active to spend time in
talk They are always doing some-
thing, driving cars, playing at
sports, attending movies, dancing,
etc. AS a result many of them do
not have much facility for CONVEX
sation. they have not learned to talk
well, and it is difficult to get them
to express themselves. They do not
gain the mental stimulus that
comes from intelligent conversa-
ton, but on the other hand they do
not waste time in idle gossip.
The older people talked too much,
and wasted much time in talk which
should have been devoted to useful
activity. Probably we have gone
from a generation that talked too
much, to one that talks too little, and
is unable to sit down quietly in the
home circle and exchange intelli-
gent ideas.
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08
Milford Appreciates Your Kind Thoughts

taken a long step forward and
should be congratulated by the other
communities of the State with well
come into the group of cities. As
outlined it appears as if Milford
would have a model form of city
government. It reads right.
However, the pertinent point is
the selection of public office. This
result can be achieved, we think,
much easier in a town like-pardOn
that slip into "tOwn"-in a city like
Milford, than in larger place. Res
idents are likely to be more alert.
The government is closer to them.
No matter what the municipal sys-
tenn may be, it will fail to func-
tion finely unless wisely admins
tered. Therefore, the selection of the
city manager is of prime Importance
for he is the "key" man in the sit
uatiOn. It requires a person of abil-
ity, attractiveness and other good
points. It is, however, not so hard
in these days to secure such per-
son, for there is considerable train
ing of city managers.
Some of the larger places, Phila-
delphia, for example, are also agi-
tating for a city manager govern
ment.
One peculiar, in fact, funny thing
of this day, is that many persons
speak of the big cities as centers
of wisdom and efficiency in govern
ment. and all that sort of thing.
And in some cities they grumble and
growl and crouch, theoretically at
least, they are right, because they
contend that they are managed and
dominated by the country districts
in Legislatures. We are referring to
the big cities where gangsters grip
hard and crooks often control.
For instance, there has been con-
siderable believing in Baltimore be-
cause of the rule of the remainder
of the state. And yet if Baltimore,
for instance, bossed the state and
dominated the Legislature, does any
one, not filled with gin. or Baltimore
crab meat, believe that Maryland
would be better off than it is? Would
be better off if the
Philadelphia gang controlled?
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08
COMMUNITY ACHIEVEMENT

The advance of community de-
pends very largely upon the level OF
average personal achievement, on
the part of the citizens in their daily
occupations.
A community supplies certain SER
vices, first to its own people, second
to the people of nearby communi-
ties, and third to the country as a
whole. Its retail stores assemble the
products of the world and distribute
them with greater or less achieve
'ment in efficiency. Its workshops
and factories and farms turn out
desirable products and sell them,
with greater or less efficiency. We
are all engaged in some useful form
of service.
Do we perform that service in
some efficient and achieving way,
or do we perform it in a routine, un-
imaginative way, in manner lack
ing enthusiasm, or suggesting that
our hearts and brains are not wholly
engaged in that effort?
On the answer to that question,
the success, of a community like
Milford largely depends. If in such
a community, the employers and
proprietors are slow and unprogres-
sive, accustomed to do things in a
traditional way, they are not con-
tributing to community progress.
If the employees also lack enter
prise and ambition and energy, if
they work simply for their immedi
ate pay envelope, and take little in
terest in the development of the
business they are working for, they
are not contributing to community
progress.
But if both elements of people
take hold of their daily work heart
lily, earnestly, enthusiastically, as if
they were determined it should sue
ceed, that community is bound to
get a reputation for advanced re-
suits. Its stores will be better than
the average to trade in. It's factory
and farm products will be above the
average for the money The goods
and services of such community
will sell readily, its prosperity will |
grow, and there will be better OPP |
portunitfes for everyone.
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08
NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Probably never before i'm the his
tory of the country have so many
programs been offered for the
spending of the public money. The
list has doubtless been increased by
the depression and the desire of
legislators, national, state and local,
to do something to relieve the situa-
tiOn or at least to appeal to the
voters back home. Although a great
many of these more or less socialis-
tic ideas were advanced in the ma
tional Congress the tendency of
state legislatures and local govern
ment bodies to spend the public
money unscientifically has been
even greater.
1t might be well therefore to
pause for a moment and study the
situation. According to a statement
issued recently by the National In
dustrial Conference Board, local
government in the United States
now accounts for 81 per cent of the
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08
FOR MOTHER,S DAY

A noted writer once said: "The
future of society is in the hands of
the mothers. If the world was lost
through woman, she alone can save
it."
No one claims now tina the world
was ever lost through woman nay
more than through man. But it is
largely true, that the mothers shape
the future of the nation. They mould
the thought, more than any other
force, of the new generation.
We can well think then on Moth
er's Day, May 10, of this tremen-
dous power in the hands of the wo-
men. 1t is often complained that the
younger generation have escaped
from control, that they are behav-
ing in a way that bodies no good.
But it is not often that the mother
is the one at fault. Many mothers,
however, are so driven and haras-
sed by family cares, that they have
little time to give to their children.
Something is wrong when mothers
have to leave their children to
wander in the streets and form evil
associations, while the mothers are
having to earn money.
Society should shape it's plans
ho
shall be able to exert the maximum
influence over their children. The
fathers should not make so many
demands on them that they can not
perform this function. Where it is
necessary for the mothers to assist
in family support, their working
hours should be such that they will
still have time to give to their lit
tie ones.
The good mother needs not mere
ly love and devotion, but it takes
great deal of wisdom to handle chill
dren, and exercise influence over
them in this independent age. The
mothers do we'll to unite in clubs
and societies in which they shall
study the subject of child training,
and learn how they can sway the
thought of their children. They are |
shaping the lives of the people who
will rule the country, and they
should have every assistance in that
task. r
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08
WASTE TINE In BUSINESS

One of the problems of retail bus
mess, is how to prevent waste of the
time of the proprietor and his help
ers. These people may be extreme
ly busy waiting on customers during
rush hours, while the rest of the
day they are loafing around with
nothing to do. The sales expense of
such concern is excessive.
If concern depends upon. the
people who just happen in without
forethought, such customers are apt
to come in rushes at certain conven-
lent hours. But if it depends largely
on the people who are attracted by
advertising, and who want to see
certain advertised goods. these peo-
pie will probably come in at the
hours that would be quiet other
wise. Thus the same number of
salespeople should be able to do a
much larger business, and thereby
reduce the charge on each article
sold.
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08
FREEDOM FROM CRIME

Cities which are largely free from
crime, or claim to be so, are begin
ming to use this fact as a means of
proving their superiority, according
to the Wickersham commission on
law enforcement. This statement is
contained in a report in Which the
commission urges more accurate
statistics on crime. Mainfestly, if
the cities are going to use their
freedom from crime as a talking
point in their favor, it is desirable
to know on what figures they base
this claim.
Any city which can prove that it
has reduced crime to a low point,
has powerful argument with
which to attract business and resi-
dents. The people look with horror
on the lawlessness of this period.
They do not know what it will lead
to.
Business men would hate to cs-
tablish themselves in a place where
crime was common. They would
fear that there was loose kind of
government there, which would cost
them high in taxes, and they might
be exposed to racketeering that
would cost them heavily.
It will be a great help to any COM
munity in the future to show that
it is a law abiding place, that life
and property are safe there. The
smaller cities and towns are never
eenters of crime as the big cities
are. The crooks flock into the big
places, because they can hide out of
sight there. But there are lawless
people with crooked tendency al
most everywhere, and the forces of
the law must be forever vigilant to
repress them.
A community, big or little, that
can show a clean record as respects
crime, which can reduce thefts and
frauds and other offenses to the
lowest possible terms, has an ad-
vantage that will appeal to every
one. Not merely do people feel safer
in such a community, but it is an
indicator of the character and high
standards of the place, and people
will feel that community life will
be desirable in such a town.
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08
HONOR TO THE RED CROSS

The American Red Cross, which
has been meeting in annual conven-
tion at Washington, is entitled to
the thanks of the nation for the work
done in caring for the drought suf-
ferers through the winter. Over
100000 people look to this organi-
zation with profound gratitude, as
the power that fed them when
hungry and clothed them when
naked.
1t was particularly hard prob
lem, since so many of these sufferers
were dwellers in remote districts,
reached only by very poor roads,
and their condition was a matter of
conjecture to the outside world.
Many of them were too proud to ask
for help. The Red Cross put new
heart into a million people, and
made them feel that they have still
a chance in life.
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08
ENFORCE THE LITTLE LAWS

The United States is called the
most lawless country in the world
The idea of defying the law seems
to be ingrained in our habits.
In older countries which have had
a firmer authority, the breaking OF
laws seems to excite greater in
dignation, and it is regarded as a
kind of attack on the government.
This lawbreaking extends down
from the more serious crimes, to all
the little regulations of cities and
towns. For instance, take the mat
ter of riding bicycles on he side
walks, which is illegal in many COM
munities. But the fact that a city
has passed a regulation forbidding
such riding, does not always prove
that any attention will be paid to
it. The sidewalks in such COM
munity may be full of children on
their wheels, and they may drive the
older people off into the streets, or
hit them when they fail to dodge
the erratic course of these young
sters.
So with many other police and
community regulations. Automobile
drivers refuse to obey the speed
limits, they park directly in front
of no parking signs, and so on
through the day. Few people obey
all laws strictly. There are so many
of them, that people are only fa-
miliar with a small part of them.
We shall not have peaceful and
law abiding communities unless we
get people out of this lawbreaking
habit, and make them feel that the
wilful violation of laws is a kind of
insult to the community which can
not be tolerated. If a law can't be
well enforced, it is better not to
make it. If it is once made, then
we let ourselves in for lot of
trouble here in Delaware, if we do
not insist that when the community
issues an order, it means business.
When people keep breaking the lit
tie laws without any objection be-
ing offered, it sometimes gets into
their heads that the big ones can be
we'll violated.
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08
THE PROGRESSIVE COMMUNITY

All communities and all people
claim to be progressive, but many
of them do not know what progress
means. Progress involves the idea
of motion. 1t suggests that people
are not satisfied with what they
have, and demand something better.
A community is not progressive, un-
less it is constantly looking for i'm
provement.
1t must constantly be comparing
its institutions, its facilities, its
homes, its business, with those of
other advancing communities. 1t
must expect to keep changing these
conditions, whenever the COM
munity seems to be falling behind
other cities and towns of its own
type. If it acquires the idea that be-
cause anything has been good
enough for the past quarter century,
it will last many years more, it is
a sign that progress has stopped.
Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08

Very much like a modest maid
Milford bows in appreciation of the
many editorial expressions, as well
as spoken word commenting her ad-
vance position assumed in munich
pal government. Accompanying the
laudatiOn for going forward into the
class of small city government the
Morning News of Wilmington ha"
incidentally presented some of th"
things which stand in the path of all
city government, that may cause
disappointment, or defeat the aims
to be attained. However, let the
Morning News editor tell you all
about it in his editorial of last Sat
urday, which is printed with our
thanks in behalf of the City of Mil
ford:
Congratulations To Milford
Progressive residents of Milford
are delighted because the recent ses-
sion of the Legislature passed the
new charter measure for that place.
And Governor Buck has approved.
Among other things, the new
charter means that Milford will be
known in the future as the city of
Milford" 1t deserves such a name,
though we hope Milford will avoid
some evils that cluster in certain
large cities regarding their govern
ment.
Under the new charter, the
Chronicle says, the present system
of town government is abolished and
a new one substituted City council
will control all municipal properties.
A City Manager will be employed.
who will supervise the operation of
the Light and Water plant, collect
all city taxes, have charge of all
street and sewer work, as we'll as
manage the town in general.
The next council to be chosen will
have eight members. two from each
of the four wards, into which Mil
ford will be divided. The mayor will
be elected at large. Milford resi-
dents are reported as generally
pleased with the change. Voting of
bond issues will be on a property
basis.
1t looks to us as if Milford has