davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Coolidge examiner., 1931-12-25
Ancient Wooden Locks
Burden for Strong Man

The most common lock now in use
on exterior doors of buildings is the
cylinder lock developed by Linus Yale,
Jr., and this leads us back into his
tory. Primitive prototypes of Yale's
invention were in use in Mesopotamia
and Egypt as early as 1000 B. c.
These were huge wooden affairs re-
quiring cumbersome keys, as we may
gather from the Biblican passage
Qsaiah % :22) "And the key to the
house of David will 1 lay upon his
shoulder" This key, or muftah as it
was and still is called in the East, is
a stick of wood from 10 to 80 inches
long, 2 to inches broad and l to 2
inches thick. Into the face of one end
are set a number of wooden or iron
pegs about an inch long. These pegs
The Coolidge examiner., 1931-12-25
Writes Own Epitaph

''In memory of William George
Roberts, the forty-second vicar of
HOrsley, England CA. D. 1S2S-19-).
A scholar of but average ability and
a preacher of but medium prOwess,
he nevertheless obtained a hearing
by speaking the truth. Though just
as selfish as most men, like them he
was often capable of doing a kind
ness when the opportunity came his
way. Fairly good tempered on the
whole, though a bit irritable at
times, he enjoyed a happy family
life. and was fond of convivial soci-
ety." This is the tombstone epitaph
desired by the vicar of HOrsley, Der
byshire, Rev. w. G. Roberts, M. A,
eff it is any comfort for anyone to
put one up after he is dead.
The Coolidge examiner., 1931-12-25
URGE OF MANKIND
TO "DO SOMETHING"
Mental Growth Achieved
by the Effort.

Bodily hunger has driven man to
find ways of getting food. He has
pushed back the shadows of forests
and planted fields and gardens. He
has drained marshes and irrigated
arid regions. He has invented hoes
and plows and harvesters to take
the place Of naked hands in gather
Ing sustenance for himself and his
family. There is no more impelling
motive to effort in all the range of
human existence than hunger-ex-
cept the sight of a starving child for
whose nourishment one has a respon-
sibility.
Professor Jacks has called atten-
tion to another kind of hunger which
is general in mankind-an urge to
something even beyond what one has
achieved, a craving for skill. II is
the repeated satisfaction of this hun
ger, ever renewed, that results in
mental growth and the highest sort
of happiness. 1t is often questioned
whether education has increased hap
piness in the individual. It may be
that the mere addition of information
does not contribute to the making of
a happier human being But the
continuing struggle for higher skill in
some worthy field of human effort
creative activity" is the phrase most
often used to describe it-nOt only
brings nouriShment of spirit and hap
piness but adds to the wealth of the
world in terms Of human intellectual
values. The greatest skills of the
greatest number may determine the
greatest good of the greatest num-
ber. Certainly it would if the choice
of skiIls were wise-and that does
not mean if the skills merely pro-
duced materially valuable things.
Plutarch remarks, in his essay on
PericleS, that he who busies himself
in mean occupations produces, in the
very pains he takes about things of
little or no use, an evidence against
himself of his negligence and indis-
position to do what is really good.
But the something which one does
with infinite pains may be of good
in the development of the individual
who does it, even if the product is
not of valuable substance. Ismenias
could not have been a "wretched be-
ing" for he was an excellent" piper.
Alexander the Great need not have
been ashamed, as his practical fa-
ther, Philip of Macedon, thought he
should have been, for playing a piece
of music so charmingly and skillfully.
Leisure "hObbies" are for increasing
numbers who cannot find in the mar
row range of their vocations their
salvation.
The minds desire for excellence in
something is a mystery, but it does
after all suggest the course which
our education must take in the de-
velopment not only of the child but
also of the man and woman to the
end of their lives. And with this
sort of training should be given, as
Doctor Jacks suggests in his three
reforms" a. larger place to physical
education and the appreciation of
beauty.-New York Times.
The Coolidge examiner., 1931-12-25

be taking on real life, and all uA-
consciously their voices grew low
and hushed as they worked upon ii.
And slowly from the red-and-green
paper letters were formed, huge let
ters along simple lines that told the
message that the angels sang in the
long ago.
Mother, it's going to be great !"
Paul would say every now and then
in his enthusiasm. "There couldn't
be anything better than this; why
why this star seems as if it were
really alive!"
But Mrs. Rainer knew of the
many lavish and expensive decora.
tions that were going up all over
town. The simple things that they
were fashioning would probably
show up very small beside such dis
play. But she tried to keep faith
with the faith of her son. And
even though they should not get a
prize, this work that they were
doing was bringing them a great
amount of happiness; a deeper and
finer spirituality than they ever
had known before. They seemed to
have caught the very spirit of
Christmas; each day seemed to be
bringing them nearer to Bethlehem.
In a week the decorations were
finished, and Paul took a ladder
and set to work Across the high
side wall Of the house that faced
the street he placed the letters that
had been woven from scraps of pa
per. When completed, they read !:
GLORY to God In the highest, and
on earth peace, good will toward
men," Above this he placed the sill
yer star which had grown to be so
real. With long extension cords and
three rejecting lights that they had
been able TO hire from a nearby
electrician for a small sum. the
lighting system was complete.
Paul could scarcely wait until
darkness fell to turn on the cur
rent. His hands trembled with ex-
citement when finally the moment
The Coolidge examiner., 1931-12-25

face. Her thoughts had drifted
back through the years; back to
childhood days. She remembered
out on the farm how her mother
had taught her to fashion many
beautiful Christmas decorations out
of scraps of tinfoil and colored pa
per. Always there had been q box
in the attic where everything of
this sort had been stored away.
And, as is often the case, the
things we do in childhood stay with
US; so she herself had continued
to save bits of paper and other
things as her mother had, and now
there was a huge box of it stacked
away in the closet. Perhaps out of
it she could fashion something that
would enable Paul to enter the con-
test?
For whole week two busy per-
sons worked across the table from
each other every evening. Carefully
small rolls of tinfOil and rolls of
green-and-red paper were smoothed
out and fashioned into Christmas
decorations. Out of the discarded
pieces Of silver paper and tinfoil
a great cleaning star began to take
shape, star that seemed to fill
the whole room with its radiance.
For, from the moment that mother
and son began working upon it, it
seemed to them as if the Star that
led the Wise Men was shining again
From the love and care they had
put into its making it seemed to
The Coolidge examiner., 1931-12-25

correspond with as many holes in the
wooden bar OF bolt which locks the
door and can only be lifted when these
pegs enter the holes and lift a CORE
spending series of pins which drop
home by force of gravity and keep
the bar locked until pressed up by
the key with its pegs. Such huge keys
opened the way into the mighty pal
aces of Ninevah and Persepolis and
admitted to "hundred-gated Thebes." "
Today in miniature and more refined
fashion, the small key that enters the
cylinder lock pushes up the little
brass pins inside and permits the
opening of the doOr.-Detroit Free
Press.
The Coolidge examiner., 1931-12-25

who are thinking of you with
gratitude for a service rendered or
a helpful word spoken in time OF
Encouragement. The gifts they
place on your invisible Christmas
tree may be heartfelt wishes or
fervent prayers for your happiness
and prosperity.
Some of these invisible gifts may
take the form of a desire to be
with you and your family, to
share in and contribute to your en-
joyment.
Others may be wondering if you
are in health and how your busf-
ness or crops turned out during
the past year.
Still others may be thinking that
you are entitled to advantages and
privileges that You have not en-
joyed, and specuIating how they
may aid you in reaching your aspir-
ationS.
Or. having achieved under diff
culties and handicaps. you may
have inspired others to give you a
thought of appreciation and admir-
alton.
Every kind thought of you, every
conscious remembrance of you, at
Christmas time, whether in your
own household. among the ice foes
of the Arctic or the jungles of the
tropics, is a gift to you to grace
your invisible Christmas tree.
The conventional Christmas tree
is wonderful thing, but the in
visible one is far more wonderful
(0. 1891. Western Newspaper Irnion.l
The Coolidge examiner., 1931-12-25

it was alright, but Prince did not
approve of so dangerous looking a
sport for his little mistress and her
mother.
"Well, daddy" said Marion, II
coaXed you to let Prince come, so l
suppose l deserve to get rolled in
the wet snow; but poor mother had
to pay for my coaXing, too, and 1
am sorry"
Lets not be sorry about any
thing today. It's Christmas" her
father replied, there's a huge log
fire in the lodge and you'll soon be
warm and dry"
((c) 1881. Western Newspaper Unionl
sEP6%, nSn AST1
The Coolidge examiner., 1931-12-25

evening; already men and women
were loaded down with packages
that had all the earmarks of Yule-
tide gifts.
There was something about
Christmas that always thrilled Paul ;
he even liked to repeat the name
over and over to himself. He often
wished that he might be selling
toys and things at Christmas in
stead of being office boy at the big
lumber concern where he worked.
Gee, mother !" he yelled as he
went in the door; "the Daily Mir
ror is giving prizes for the best
decorated homes at Christmas.
Wouldn't it be great If we could
win one of them"
But, Paul" Mrs. Rainer spoke
as if she hated to throw cold water
on his enthusiasm, you know we
can't afford to do anything Of that
kind. II only wish we could for
your sake" she added. Maybe next
year"
Paul looked around the sparsely
furnished room before replying:
"Never mind, mother" he said, for
the time, | forgot about things Darn
money, anyway; why does it al
ways have to block the way when
we want to do something we like !"
Tit doesn't always block the
way, Paul; in fact, most of the time
the absence of it is an incentive to
do big things. If everybody had
money many Of the great deeds that
have thrilled the world never would
have been accomplished. And-and,
Paul, don't you think we have been
fairly happy without a lot of it?'
She looked anxiously into his face
as she put the question.
Paul was his old happy self when
he replied: Bet your life we have.
Why, all the fellows say they'd rath-
er come to our house than any
where else. And-and. mother, If
dad had lived we could have been
as well off as the rest of them !"
In the hours that followed Paul
seemingly forgot about the news
paper prize, but his mother did not.
That night, after he had retired,
she sat down in the little living
room and pondered the matter over.
Was there any way that she could
help him to carry out his desire?
What happiness it would be to
give him the joy of competing in the
contest
Suddenly she started from her
chair and a smile came over her
The Coolidge examiner., 1931-12-25

New Yorker. planned to take the
family to the mountains for a white
Christmas. christmas without
snow, isn't Christmas at ALL" he
said.
Marion, her mother and father
and Tom and Harry, her two cous-
ins, made up the party of five AS
they were ready to start, Prince,
MariOn's collie, mounted the running
board of the car and insisted on
The Coolidge examiner., 1931-12-25

came, and his heart almost stood
still as he looked up and saw the
message that has thrilled the world
for nearly 1000 years stand out in
bold relief. Above it the silver star
cleaned brightly; to Paul it seemed
more alive than ever.
Through the days that followed
mother and son thrilled as they no
ticed the many people who
stopped outside. Cars from all over
the city drove by each night, and
the comments and praise that they
heard was as music to their ears.
Paul, do you think we could
have got as much happiness out of
this if we had lots of money and
could have bought anything we
wished?" Mrs. Rainer inquired of
her son one evening.
"NO, mother, | don't" Paul an
swered very quietly. There
wouldn't have been half the fun in
it that there has been. | just don't
care now whether we win a prize or
not To see how much beauty we
have been able to make out of so
little has been reward enough. And
it has taught me a lesson | will
never forget. Oh, mother!' his voice
grew excited, you are just wonder
ful-you are! Who but you would
have thought of such a thing?'
But Paul did win a prize-tO the
surprise of his mother and himself
he won the biggest prize the paper
had offered-S200. The simplicity of
the design, the artistic skill that
love and care had woven into it,
the contrast between it and other
elaborate decorations entered, and
the evident spirituality Of the mes
sage all lent their influence toward
the final decision. Three times the
judges drove by to see it, and each
time they grew more impressed.
There seemed to be a strange radi-
ance about this particular exhibit
that they could not account for.
They could not know that it came
from all that had been put there
by loving hands. But all were unan-
imous in deciding that it merited
the first and best prize.
1t is doubtful if any two ever
spent a more wonderful and Joy.
Gus Christmas than Paul and his
mother. They could scarcely credit
the fact that their work had been
counted the best in the whole city.
And the prize meant much to two
who had to scrimp and save for SO
many years. To them 5000 was q
very large amount-it would buy
many needed things.
But over and above this was the
thought that the thing they had
fashioned from almost nothing but
faith and love had been considered
worthy of a prize.
And as they stood in front of the
modest little home after the judges
had left and looked up toward the
great, glistening star that seemed
to smile down at them, they were
both filed with the deepest and
most wonderful happiness that even
Christmas can bring. Love and faith
had once again found a way It's
star was shining brightly for the
grateful pair!
The Coolidge examiner., 1931-12-25

ones. pals of
other days, busi-
ness associates,
tradesmen, col
lege C h u m s,
church, 10 d ge
and club men,
bers, fraternity
brothers an d
sorority sisters
e V e T Y b o d V
who Knows you
and your family
S contributing
to your invisible
Christmas tree.
There may be
some who could
not even eXpend
a dime for a
material Gift
The Coolidge examiner., 1931-12-25
Cure for Homesickness

Christmas is a cure for homesick.
ness. Awakening in US spiritual
joy, it seems to make all spiritual
hope possible, all faith simple and
natural and utterly certain.-Amer.
ican Magazine.
The Coolidge examiner., 1931-12-25

ored globes are festoOned over the
tree and plugged into the socket.
MISUNDERSTANDING packages are
hung in the tree and piled under it.
The light is turned on. and little
feet dance and little hands clap for
-jOyi
A Christmas tree is a wonderful
thingl
But at about this same time, out
over the country and perhaps even
across the seas, another Christmas
tree, invisible but no less real. is
being set up in your House of
Friendship.
On a framework fabricated of
good will, friends, relatives, loved
The Coolidge examiner., 1931-12-25

AIMS and poinsettias, or
ange trees and roses in
the sun bright valley with
snow and frozen lakes a
few hours ride away in
the High Sierras, that's
California in winter so
Mnrinn,c fnthnr u.hn u.nr
The Coolidge examiner., 1931-12-25
Exchange of Compliments

Shelf looks could kill, I'd as
sassinate you with a glancel
He-If looks could kill, it would be
suicide for you to look in that mir
Table Talk.
The Coolidge examiner., 1931-12-25
Certainly

what a delightful new sideboard
Mrs. Hoof Period, of cOurseY
"Oh, yes--thirty-six monthly pay
mentS."
The Coolidge examiner., 1931-12-25
NA4r invisible
Christmas .
Tree . = 7
|Gharle$Fr Frederick WadSwprth

ARK settles down on
Christmas eve, and the
tree has been appointed
to its place before the big
window. Decorations are
unwrapped and suspend
ed among the green
The Coolidge examiner., 1931-12-25

A man should endeavOr to be as
plant as a reed, yet as hard as ce-
r-wOod.-Talmud.
The Coolidge examiner., 1931-12-25

One of the reliefs of a country
woman in moving to the city is that
she doesn't have to find a snake in
her pathway any more.
The Coolidge examiner., 1931-12-25
The Peacemaker

"Where are you hurrying to-"
Il am running to try and stop
quarrel between a married couple"
"That is good Of you. Who are
this coupler"
Il am one of them"
The Coolidge examiner., 1931-12-25

Artlessness is at the head of the
high-art class.
The Coolidge examiner., 1931-12-25

I WAS three weeks be-
fore Christmas. But al
ready the atmosphere of
the holiday season seemed
to cover the city. Paul
Rainer felt 1t as he
boarded the street car
that took him home each
The Coolidge examiner., 1931-12-25

knowledge talks lowly.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-23

Lots of the girls wearing shorts on the
tennis this season, but Sally Gloria Gun.
the fascinating wife of Director Darlington
(Bruiser) Gun, is very conservative and wears
the regulation pajama ensemble. I'm an old
fashioned girl" said Sally to Frederick Fancy
who came to interview Sally for Film Playiand
and since have had to give up my tap dancing
because it spelling my legs have had just
coolies of fun baking and washing and mending
sox"
Imperial Valley press., 1931-11-13
R1e~~
@ 1850 neNsusht eyndiests. isa.
FIVE DAY WEEK
CROWNED UPON
BY PUBLISHERS

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 13. U.P) -
The American Newspaper Publish
ers association today took a firm
stand against the five-day week
urged by the International Typo
graphical union, with expression of
its views in an address by Harvey
j. Kelley, chairman of a special
standing committee on labor.
Publishers are in sympathy with
unemployment relief for newspaper
workers, Kelly declared in the clos
ing address of the associations con-
vention, but asserted that the I. T
u. was attempting to assist non
newspaper printers of the allied
trades at the expense of newspaper
workers.
Quoting from an I. T. U. bulletin,
he said that out of 22,563 printers
employed by newspapers, only 1884
were working less than two days a
week, or we're unemployed. This,
he declared, showed a healthy en-
ployment condition, which did not
warrant such a drastic measure as
adoption of a five day week.
He was particularly emphatic in
declaring against a six day pay
scale for five day working week.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-11-13
TROUBLE BREWS
OVER PROPOSED
PROBE OF Fits
Grand Jury Reported To
Be Dissatisfied With
Investigator.

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 10. U.P) =
The Los Angeles Record said today
that Charles Huston, foreman of
the county grand jury, had declined
to affirm or deny reports that "a
grand jury member had telephoned
Attorney General u. S. Webb and
requested that Joseph L. Lewinson
not be appointed to handle the in
vestigation of District Attorney Bu-
ron Fits dismissal of the Mills
case"
Huston was interviewed, the Rec
ord said, shortly after receipt of the
report that j. Karl Lobdell, Losi An
geles attorney, had been appointed
special deputy attorney general to
handle the investigation.
The Record asked Huston, whom
it characterized as "a close personal
friend of Fits" if it was true that
Fits had suggested that Lewinson
be denied the appointment because
he is a personal enemy of mine
Huston declined to answer, the
Record said.
He was then asked, according to
the Record, if "a grand jury mem
ber," assertedly himself, telephoned
General Webb and requested that
Lobdell, not Lewinson, be given the
appointment. This, also, the Rec
ord said, Huston refused to con-
firm or deny.
The investigation of the dismissal
of the case against John P Mills,
San Diego banker, was begun at
Fits request. He declared at the
time he wished the inquiry because
political enemies have spread the
story that there were improper mo-
tives behind the dismissal"
Mills was originally named as
co-defendant in the girl syndicate"
cases involving Alexander Pantages,
Olive Clark Day, William Jobel-
mann and others.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-11-13
Counties Lax On
State Budget Law

SACRAMENTO Cal, Nov. 10
(U.P)-Only 10 out of the SO coun-
ties in California were given sat-
isfactory rating for their observance
of the state budget act by ROLAND
A. Vandegrift, state director OF
finance, today.
Although Vandegrift said that
county supervisors and auditors
were doing their best to prepare
comprehensive budgets, many fall
short of the mark. Under the law,
the state prepared budget forms for
the counties, and checks to see if
the law is complied with.
The trouble with counties in the
unsatisfactory list, Vandegrift ex-
planned, was mostly in connection
with minor technical details, or
their failure to include school bud
gets.
Counties listed in the "satisfac-
tory" column included Lassen, Mon
terey, Plumas, Riverside, San Ber-
nardino, San Joaquin, Santa Clara,
Solano, Sonoma and Yuba.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-11-13
Film Divorce
To Wed Again

HOLLYWOOD, Cal, Nov. -. (U,P)
Constance Bennett. highest paid
film actress, and the Marquis Henri
de la Falaise probably will be mar
ried at a fashionable church cere-
mony about Nov %, it was learned
today.
The couple appeared at the mar
rage license bureau late yesterday
to make application for the permit
to we'd
Miss Bennett, who is reputed to
earn $4,000 weekly when she works
for Warner Bros. studios, tried in
effectively to dodge photographers.
She admitted two previous mar
riages, to Philip Morton Plant,
millionaire, and Chester H
Moorhead, University of Virginia
student. She said she was &c years
Of age.
The Marquis, divorced husband of
Gloria Swanson, also of the films.
said he was 33.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-11-13
SURVIVORS OF
WRECKED ship
DUE AT COLON

COLON, Panama, Nov. Is. UP
Eleven survivors of a sunken
schooner, wearied by three days
adrift in an open beat with no food
or water, were due here today
aboard the U. S. mine sweeper
Swan which rescued them.
The survivors. including Captain
Hewitt Walter of Alabama, who was
injured, were cast adrift when the
Baden Baden sank off the Colon
bia coast. They were rescued only
because the same fates came to
their aid
A Pan American Always pilot
flew over their lifeboat shortly
after the schooner went down. His
report to Canal Zone officials
brought the Swan and other ships.
Five men aboard the schooner
once famous as the first motorship,
went down when the vessel found
cred in heavy seas Monday. The
pumps failed. The cargo shifted,
The vessel slipped under the water
within 20 minutes.
Adolfo Shoneck and Hans Lau,
Germans and owners of the ship,
refused to leave the vessel and were
drowned. T;moeto Ramos, Peruvian
mate; Emerito RoSules, Costa
Rican seaman, and Miximilian So
lano, Costa Rican cook, also were
lost.