davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-13
Wingless Airplane

The first airplanes were all wings. As designing skill and motive power increase. the wings shrink. Present airplanes are in- comparably better than those of the war time. Yet they have this great defect, that they are safe only when in full flight. Tax ing off and landing and 'maneuvering in close quarters are full of danger. In flight the plane is superior to the bird. Otherwise it is still inferior. The autogiro invented by q Spaniard several years ago. and improved since, has been welcomed as partial solu- ton of the problem. With its big, hori- zontal, whirling windmill device. it can rise or sink at much greater angle, and far more slowly, than an ordinary plane. Yet if is slow and clumsy
 A new aircraft announced in Madrid seems to come nearer the goal. It is said to have neither wings nor propeller, being driven by small wheels something like old-fashioned millwheels. one on each side. controlling speed and direction A newspaper man describes small model as rising and de- scending vertically flying forward and back ward without losing altitude. stopping within its own length, and lifting four pounds with motor of one-twelfth horse power. This sounds like something. With such machine flyer could aight on his own roof or in small back yard. It would be curious thing if Spain provided our air flivvers.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-13
The Lady In The Cabinet

Even before the New York Herald Tribune announced it rather authoritatively yesterday morning there was well-authen- ticated report in official circles that President Elect Franklin D. Roosevelt would name Miss Frances Perkins, New York State Indus trial Commissioner. to his Cabinet as Secre- tary of Labor This would seem to indicate that at least three places in the new Cabinet are now assured, although Governor Roose- welt has publicly announced that the actual task of selecting the various members of the Cabinet will not be undertaken until about a month before he is inaugurated.
 The office of Postmaster General is to be entrusted to James A. Farley. the astute campaign manager of the president-eleet and Democratic National chairman. Close observers of political events also believe that the Secretary of the Interior can be no other person than Governor George Fl. Dern of Utah As for the other members of the Cabinet there are dozen men who could be mentioned for each and every one of them with equal fairness to all concerned. The democratic party is rich in Cabinet timber. On this account it will be no easy task to explain why one man was selected another ignored.
 Perhaps the one fact that might deter the new president from naming woman to his cabinet would be the fact that both Mir Farley. assured of the Postmaster General ship. and Miss Perkins are both from New York state. Of course, the Hoover Cabinet now boasts two members from New York in Secretary of State Stimson and Secretary of the Treasury Ogden L. Mills, but our repre- sentative at the Court of St James, Andrew w. Mellon. originally held the latter post thus ending any duplication of states. It would seem, too. that if the above two dem- ocrats are assured of honors from Governor Roosevelt the door is closed definitely to Alfred E. Smith, Owen D. Young. Bernard M Baruch. Frank L. Polk. John W. Davis. and several others. all of the good old Elm pire State.
 As to Miss Perkins qualifications they are many and diverse. It might be a moot question whether the Labor Department IS the one where her particular talents will be best employed. but her career of sociology amply fits her for the exaeting duties of the Secretary of Labor. Incidentally Miss Perkins is married and has one daughter. She did not assume her husbands name upon marriage for purely political reasons. She feared that perhaps her own political activities might retard her husbands career. at the time of marriage he being secretary
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-13
Cars And Poles

Chicago finds that the street electric light poles are destroyed by motorists at the rate of more than l.200 a year. Last year 783 curb poles and 453 larger poles set farther back from the, curb were smashed. The cost to the city was over $30,000. The cost to the motorists must have been a good deal more. This contest between automobiles and lamp posts is good deal like the rival- ry between naval guns and ship armor. The bigger the guns, the stronger the arfnor has to be- and vice versa. Both grow continu- ally stronger and more costly as the stuggle goes on. It is struggle in which neither side can win.
 A motor car is virtually batterng ram. Obviously, the stouter the poles are made, the heavier the ram must be. It is too much to hope that motorists can be deterred from ramming lamp posts. Survivors are usually proud of their achievements in this respect. and boast of it when they have smashed a particularly big post One of these days some enterprisng city is going to foil them by devisng new method of illumination dispensing with poles. Both sides might, save money and trouble by it.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-13

The first section of the Merritt Highway in Fairfield county will be ready for traffic use in June. according to present plans. This project involves 200-foot bridge across the tracks of the New Haven railroad in Stratford and is similar in design and construction to the Southport cutoff on the Boston Post Road. The work is quite de- tailed inasmuch as it was found necessary to erect two of the tallest abutments ever seen in this state. This is due to the fact that the railroad at the point of crossing is on ten foot fill. The abutments will be 46.65 feet high. The length of the bridge IS 24Z feet with maximum width of 45 feet in the roadway. There are also five-foot sidewalks on each side. It is expected that opening of the bridge will make available that section of the Merritt Highway which will carry traffic from Stratford and points east around Bridgeport Waterbury traffic may be shunted on to it from the Nichols road which will intersect it on the outskirts of Bridgeport. It isn't the eastern end of the proposed express boulevard that is giv- ing highway department and other state off, ficials SO much worry, though, it is the sections which pass through which might be termed virgin territory. so far as state high ways are concerned. And it is in acquiring rights of way at these points that the state will undoubtedly run into its greatest expense
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-13
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1a, 1882
No Diyer.ion Of Funds

If the state of Connecticut attempts to divert funds, raised for one purpose, 1t will run into snag. according to recent indica- ticns. Some time ago there was report prevalent that an increase of one cent in the gasoline tax would be asked of the Leglsla- ture next year. The additional revenue in- stead of being used for highway construc- ton or maintenance would be utilized for some other department. To combat any such effort to divert these funds a meeting was held in New Haven this week at which were present highway contractors. truck and auto associations. They organized and if necessary will lobby against the proposal in the General Assembly.
 As representatives at the gathering said tax was levied on gasoline for one reason, namely. to afford the state highway depart ment an additional means of revenue and to exact from all motorists a proporionate share in the upkeep of the highways they were using. Connecticut has been fair in regard to a gasoline tax from the very be- ginning It has resisted any legislative ef- forts to increase it for the purpose of in- creasing revenue. And we know that the state has earned reputation thereby. It IS one of two or three states whose tax on gas oline is only two cents
 But even if Connecticut should jump its tax one or two cents more, 1t IS doubtful Ii there would be an increase in the receipts Too many states have found that increased gas taxes only resulted in added expense for them. It may sound like contradiction. but it's true, nevertheless. High gas taxes have led to an evil that bids fair to rival rum running. Bootleg gasoline is now the bane of every state where there IS a tax of three cents or higher. Even in neghboring Massachusetts state officials are doing their best to prevent gasoline being run into that state from Connecticut and being sold with oat the former state benefitting by any tax on it.
 The same thing would happen right in our state if we started to tamper with the gasoline tax in the hopes of increasing state revenue and permitting state highway receipts to be allocated to other departments. There is no good reason why the state highway de- partment should any more than pay it's own way let alone having other, departments sponge on it. As it is now this depart msnt faces the most tremendous undertake ing of its existence in the Merritt Highway. It certainly can't complete that on its esti- mated income Therefore, why consider aIlocating one cent of money contributed to the state by motorists solely for highway construction and maIntenance'
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-13
A Book a Day
To the Sound of Trumpets
BY BRUCE CAPTION
by BRUCE CATION

The drama in the prosaic life of the ordinary man is 2 thing that has fascinated Christopher Morley for many years. It has. at last, found expression in novel. "Hu- man Being" m which MT Morley expresses his belief that the aver age undistinguished citizen is a brave and wistful figure, stumbling along as best he can to the faint sound of very distant trumpets.
 This book tells about Richard Roe, who is not in any way dis tinguished. He is moderately prosperous business man--he makes and sells desk sets, after having begun his career as book salesman---he has a petulant wife and snooty daughter, he dabbles somewhat footlessly in a love affair on the side, ana finally he dies of heart disease while riding on a Hudson river ferryboat.
 All of this would hardly be worth reading, of course, were 1t not for MT Morley's deep belief that wonders and marvels can be- set every mans path. His Rich ard Roe is difnly conscious of his kinshfp to something very much finer and greater than his daily life. He has missed the high peaks of life, but he Is redeemed by the fact that he knows he has missed them. They do exist, and now and then he sees their glint against the sky.
 The story is placid and slow; 1t is almost chain of essays rather than a novel. But 1t manages to be very tender and deeply appeal ing.
 It is published by Doubleday, Daran & Co.,, and sells for $2.50.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-13
Our Daily Washington Letter
GARNER A TRUTHFUL FELLOW
BY RODNEY BUTCHER

tion of his industry. marched straight from the presidents office into group of White House re- porters who asked him all about his conference,
 1T have found in my travels around the country that there is nationwide confusion as to when Indian summer begins and when 1t ends," said Willard. T believe such confusion should be ended and [ came to solicit the presidents help in getting through congress a bill defining Indian summer and establishing by law tho date on which 1t begins and when 1t ends."
 He then bowed and departed.
 A good new story pops up at to how F. Trubee Davison, the beefy little assistant secretary of war for aeronautics, first realized his strength. He was playing fotball at Yale at the time and had to have tooth pulled. He took gas. When he emerged from the gas he was appalled, to md both dentist and nurse lying flat on the floor knocked cold.
 And the only credible explana- ton yet offered as to why Penn sylvania went strong for Roose- welt in the Literary Digest straw vote and yet for Hoover In the election is that whereas straw didn't have to pay . poll tax, ac- tual voters were required to have paid one. It is suggested that so many otherwise eligible voters hadn't felt able to afford the tax that Pennsylvania thereupon be- came the most conspicuous error in the poll.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-13

The annual report of Horace M. Albright. director of the National Park Service. con- tained some interesting recommendations. Chief among them was the suggestion that the national park system be rounded out with the acquisition of land in the Florida Everglades. Calfornia's Death Valley, and Kings River Canyon in the High Sierras for national parks. We don't doubt but what a complete survey of the nation, such as only Mir Albright could furnish. would reveal many more sites that should be included in our national park system. But they must await congressional action and also the necessary funds for their purchase. That's where philanthropically inclined people can come to the aid of this civilization.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-13
THE LAST TOWN GREER

(New York Herald -Tribune)
 A few days ago the last of the long succession of town criers who were an integral part of the Mas sachusetts colony and later com monwealth died at Provincetown. Of fate years, to be sure, his func- tion had been less exclusively civic than it was when the brave gold lion and unicorn over the old State House in Boston had been symbols of different order and authority, and Walter Smith was concerned principally with an- nouncing church suppers and sher- frs auctions. He had even at one time announced shore dinners from the railroad wharf, but he was official town crier, none the less, and with him the office passed Into history and his big hand bell went to the rooms of the Prov incet0wn historical society.
 There would, in all truth, be lit' tie enough for town criers to dc to-day even if there were. any oi them extant and practicing theil ancient calling. The newspaper and the radio have usurped their office. even as they have supplant- ed wandering minstrels and news letters, and ancient gaffers calling Hear ye! Hear ye!a could scarce- ly be heard in modern metropolis tan traffic. The wonder is that they survived as long as they did, even to tradition-loving New Eng land. Still, the town crier was q picturesque member of the com munity, and our mechanical order needs all 1t can lay claim to to re- lieve its sameness The high sher- if of Middlesex, in Massachusetts, still wears . court coat and carries a dress sword of offices, and the president of Yale, on ceremonial occasions, wears heavy gold dog collar and is preceded by q mace bearer. Until recently New York had scroll engrosser in tho per- son of the Urbane Hector Fuller. Surely, even utilitarian age can afford now and then to make com sessions to the colorful in retaintng a few glnmorous institutions. no matter how outmodeds
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-13
sTUMPING FOR A TREE
(Christian Science Monitor )

Christian Science Monitor.)
 If somebody should ask you which tree you prefer. do not be alarmed. In all probability 1t would be the question through which 1t is hoped to name a rla- tional tree for the United States. The presidential election Is over and there Is nothing to stand in the way of working up a red-hot campaign for the various candi- dates.
 Thus far notparticular tree seems to have obtained sufficient backing to give 1t any standing in the race, although the whiff1etree is said to be ready to hitch on to the band- wagon and help pull the movement along. The hat tree and the axle- tree are also quite willing to en- ter the contest and are expected to develop considerable strength in some quarters. although the genea- logical trees have united to oppose the naming of any tree that has not been officially recognized by It's society.
 Meanwhile, the politicians are preparing to launch a campaign for the plum tree. They are anxious to get a tree into the running that can be shaken once in a while. They say that the plum tree offers greater promise of winning vote than any other piece of shrubbery on the American Continent. The nut tree is offered as having some qualifications, but in the last analy- sis could not expect to compete successfully with the lemon tree. A coalition of the nuts and the lemons may be formed to meet the situation. Tn some quarters the clothes tree has been mentioned, but in view of it's checkered career. especially on washday, it is not likely to be seriously considered. A little furry on the part of these minor candidates, however. will help to stir real public inter- est in the big candidates, the oaks, the pines, the naples, the elms. the birches and few others when they come down the homestretch far in the lead.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-13

Shakespeare may never have repeated, but New Bedford, Mass. does. And it has been repeating for good many years now. so far as it's chief executive is concerned. This fall it elected Charles S. Ashley, "A. for the 26th time. It is no mean tribute this and it becomes more of one when it is stated that in 1926 Mayor Ashley tried to retire from office but citizens prevailed upon him to continue. We doubt if this record has ever been equalled.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-13
NEA Service Writer

Washington Jack Garner, speaker of the house, vice-presi- dent-elect, congressman-elect from Texas and darned good fellow in spite of all that. is always truthful when pressed.
 The photographers were taking some pictures of Jack with Gov ernor Roosevelt and he had just asked the president-elect if he knew what day 1t was and Roose- welt had said "Na, I'll bite" and Jack had said. "It's my sixty fourth" meaning birthday, where upon the governor shook hands with him all over again.
 Hey, Jack" yelled a photog- rapher, who had just seen a news paper photograph of the speaker in hunting hat and hunting breech- es. holding q gun and standing over a deer's corcass, What about that deer?"
 Hell" said tho president elect, that was real deer. I shot it myself. I was out hunting and I killed 1t from five hundred yards ''Aw," said another photographer. you can't see five hundred yards"
 Well" amended tho speaker, maybe 1t was one hundred and fifty yards"
 Once your correspondent wrote that Jack would rather have been speaker than vice. president and that he was talked into second place on the democratic ticket by friends in Chicago who told him he owed it to his party. Stenographic copies of the long distance tele- phone conversations are still un- available, but one hears that Gar ner is daily unhappier about it Everyone wonders whether those friends were true friends or not and Jack, possibly, also wonders.
 President Dan Willard of the Baltimore Ohio railroad, who doubtless had been moaning with MT Hoover about the sad condi-
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-13

lI,h. but smatl.bl, h,ih" oi eoura this aate has a large foreign population and always will have since t Is eloss to large ports of disembarkation. But even SO. it Is not apparent to the majority of us that our English language suffers so terribly thereby. Maybe we aren't purists in the use of our own language. but if we speak SO that we are understood that's something. And if SO. many pupils use hash English" it's time the schools were improved.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-13
MODIFICATION BLOCS.

When congress takes up the question Of modification of the Volstead act preliminary to the longer process of prohibition repeal the wine bloc will not want to be ignored or put off. It is just as anxious for the legalization of light wines as the beer bloc is for the legal sale of beer and will argue quite as vigorously that the mandate of the last election in- cludes wine.
 But the fact remains that it will be easier to bring up to per cent beer under the constitutional class ification of notwithstanding bever- ages than to get wine with con- tent as low as 12 per cent under the wire. That would be asking 8 little too much liberality of the
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-13
Here, There And EOerywhere

supreme court even though 1t has ruled that congress has the right to define what is intoxicating and what is not.
 Log-rolling is inevitable. The wine bloc will go along with the beer bloc if assured of reciprocity. The price other congressman will ask for their votes will be in ac- cord with their pet scheme of con- troll Even the beer bloc is divided on the question of percentage of alcohol content, opinions and con- victions ranging all the way from 2M per cent to the sky's the limit.
 If the country can get together on these sub-issues of the principal issue without the usual congress sional bombast and delay 1t will be as greatly surprised as the liquor interests were when prohibition was nut over. F
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-13

Speaking at the meeting of the New Eng land Association of I eachers in New Haven last week. Claude C. Russell. superintendent of New, Haven's schools dsflared that l5.- 900 of that city's 30.00o school children could hardly speak English, let alone write it. :" That seems like harsh indiet- ment not only of his school system. but also those chosen 10 administer and instruct. He further stated that Connecticut English, as it is spoken, is not bread and butter Eng
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-13

lo lht l,n Mayor John punoy Mi,th,l of New York. lt is believed that olgan- izations for the recognition of women in politics may Shortly endorse unanimously Miss Perkins as the most likely candidate. She has already been SO honored by groups not entirely composed of women.