davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-24
Keeping Our Merry Christmas

For many reasons the prospects were sll for a gloomy ChriHmss. There were more families than ever before who could not expect Santa Claus to visit them. whose members were dependent on charity for food and clothing and meager shelter. There were many others who had nothing to spare even to buy a tree on which to hang last years trimmings or who, if they had tree. could not have gifts for each other. Lowered incomes were needed for bread and meat and coal.
 Yet it turns out that Christmas, the spir- itual festival. is not downed by hard times. after all. It is quite possible that in those hectic and rieh-feeling years of 1928 and 1929 there was less true Christmas spirit than there has hsen this year. Probably not since Old Serooge had change of heart and gave the Christmas Carol that hilariously happy ending has there been such an out pouring of human sympathy and generosity. such sharing with others. such determina- ton to make things little happier for those in trouble.
 From, the Pacific to the Atlantic. from Canada to Mexico. an observer might have seen. as Christmas approached. public and private agencies schools, churches clubs, firemen. newspapers, social workers, indi- viduals. all directing their energies toward the single purpose of taking some degree of Christmas cheer to every needy and heart sick person in the community. Many sad heart is Warmed in this Christmas season by the knowledge that others care. Many forlorn little child has faith and hope kindled in his soul because he is not utterly forgot ten on this greatest of chldren's days. There is happiness, too. for those who work and give and share. who prove again to them selves that it is "more blessed to give than to receive"
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-24
Greek-American Dollars

An interesting and touching develop ment of the war debt situation is the pro- posa1 made by a Greek American in Cali fornia. that 600, 900 Greeks in this country contribute one dollar apiece to apply on Greek debt, which has been defaulted The campaign would be conducted through Greek societies. There may be some tech nieai reason why such a fund could not be applied to the purpose. But the mere offer of such payment is significant. and tends to promote better feeling at home and abroad.
 This sort of thing. undertaken, even on a small scale. by various groups of Americans would do much to bring the creditor and debtor nations into better understanding of each other. An American citizen of foreign origin making such generous gesture. repre- sents at the same time his old country and his adopted country. He is in position to explain each to the other more effectively than professional diploma can do. Every dollar offered in such cause is eloquent. with a value for international good will far beyond it's intrinsic value.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-24
Damages for tilted Men

The gallantry of Judge Joseph B. David of Chicago was outraged when a Canadian citizen appeared Tn his court with breach of promise suit against comedy widow. The plaintiff wanted S25,000 because. the defendant, after agreeing to marry him. threw him down and married friend of his. The judge was inclined to sympathize with the woman on general principles
 No American with real blood in his veins would have the effrontery to put q woman in distress with this sort of suit, " declared His Honor Nobody but rack eteer would go in for this. Social custom demands that the woman has sole right to sue for breach of promise, and cannot see for myself where man suffers any hupil- iation when he is tilted"
 On the other hand "Gallantry," says a male citizen, IS all right, but the whole business is puzzling. Have men and women equal matrimonial rights before the law. or haven't they1 Is there any sex equality if a woman can sue man but man can't sue 3 womana"
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-24
A Book a Day
by BRUCE CATION
Crime Still Is Rampant
BY BRUCE CAPTION

The detective story, apparently.
 is going to go on forever. It is occasioally good, generally medio- ere and frequently right terrible,
 but 1t continues to get published; Z,
 and today we might as well glance
 at few of It's recent incarnations. First there's "Those Seven Ali bis," by Charles c. Booth (Mor-
 row: $2). This tells about tho san Francisco antique dealer who fs
 shot shortly after he has dug up i c hitherto bit of unknown work by Phidias. A couple of profess
 sional rivals, phlegmatic Chinese,
 a dapper salesman and gltbe- trotter are involved, and if you can stand some archaic ten-twent- thirt diction and atmosphere you
 might find the yarn suitably puszl-
 ing.
 | by Cortland Fitzsimmons (Stokes: $2). A Long Island house burns
 and in the remainse are found the remains of Q racketeering theat- rical agent and q charming young
 suburban housewife. and there's . likable Irish cop. who solves 1t. This yarn iS good up to the last
 able reason 1t becomes foggy and amateurish.
 Lastly, there's Society Editor" by Henry Carlton Beck (Dutton: $2). A newspaper gal who runs 2 gossip column gets taken for c
 ride, e reporter Is the chief sts-
 pect and q society editor saves him; and this might have been q good hook If the author hadn't got more interested in picturing news- rels than in putting together q readable mystery story. AS 1t
 stands, 1t doesn't quite click.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-24
Not a Dissenting Voice

V In view of the fact that universal news z paper support has constantly been accorded z Chief Justice William M. Maltbie's fre- < quent proposals that our system of county jai1s be amalgamated into one central jail }. farm we wonder what attitude the Legis- -Iature will adopt toward the matter should s.it be asked to do so in l933. There are ( % many reforms to come before his body se in 1o33 that it may go down in history as X one of the most famous. It may be asked ]. to decide Connectieuts status as a wet or dry state in various ways One would be by repeating the state dry laws. Another { would be by ratifying an amendment to se repeal the 18th Amendment if such was presented
 '. One amendment will be presented to the Z Legislature for ratification. It is the so- z called lame duck amendment changing the < dates of congressional sessions and presiden- {. tial inaugurations. We sincerely hope that .sthis will be approved, as to date no state has ! turned it down. The report of Connecti-
 cuts unemployment commission must be considered and perhaps recommendations {. made into laws. The old age pension conn
 mission is also ready to file it's report with the
 law-making body. No doubt it will con-
 tain material for laws governing this par
 ticular phase of social service that will
 require action of more definite nature than \ has been accorded it in the past.
 s In the midst of such important matters the subject on which Chief Justice Maltbie ; talks with such ability cannot be ignored It 7 certainly cannot in view ofthe fact that three s. new county jails are bel considered. The
 Springfield Republican U week said that What Judge Maltbie proposes is of im- 2 portsnce. not only because based on an enlightened conception of penology but be- @-esuse it represents New England ten- @ dency to increase the functions of the state
 under expert and centralized direction. while 2. minimizing those of the county. ..." It is { Chief Justice Maltbie's contention that if { 1si1 farm were created and managed by }'ffsined officials not political appointees. the state would advance from its present i. dark age % far as treatment of prisoners in
 county jai1s is concerned.
 v Continuing the Republican declares that
 Consideration is also to be given the
 thought, while the country as'a whole is { aroused over Geofgis's chain gangs and the { Attempted recovery by extrsdition from New sJsfsey of Robert B. Burns. author of book ssnd sensational moving picture. that work ,in the cpen on Georgia roads, if it can be
 Conceived of ss performed under proper con
 &ficns. might even Dc preferable to ineareef-
 slion. without work. recreation or fresh air
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-24

As usual farmers outnumber members of other professions in the new House of Repre- sentatives of the 1893 Legislature. Recent compilations reveal that these will be 55 farmers in the House with the lawyers run- ming them a close second with 32 members. Strange as it may seem the third profession in numerical ranking is that of "retirement' . Twenty-four members gave this as their profession, There is one artist, Mrs Jcsepha Whitney. well known New Haven democrat. In the Senate the lawyers lead with l3, the farmers boosting only membership of l in this body. Well. between the farmers and lawyers next year, let's hope something con. structive will be done.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-24
Repnsentative-Eleet Herman p. Kopple.

Representative-Ele Herman P. Kopple- man of Hartford has some definite ideas on
 international debt revision. Recently in- terviewed he stated that The inability of the nations of Europe to meet the indebted ness contracted years ago when conditions were entirely different seems clear and am confident that our President Elect, Franklin D. Roosevelt. when he is called upon of- fieially to deal with the question, will be sympathetic with the plight of our former allies in the war My vote in Congress will be cast for some remedy for the present in- tolerable condition. The debts of the Euro pean nations are hanging like cloud over our business horizon and the sooner we get them out of the way by some sympathetic eompromise the better. ~ Very noble sem timents these, but are they practical' When France deliberately defaulted her December IS payment she suffered more than we did in public estimation. France may call us Shyloek. but not many other nations who owe us money. They realize their debt and would pay 4 they could. Unfortunately they aren't in the position financially that France is. Her action is contrary to all sound international economy. Look at what our farmers now claim. They say their mortgages must be liquidated Perhaps they'll default them. Who knows7 France has started something that may engu1f the world.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-24
A BOIL IS GREAT FUN COMPARED WITH
 A CAHBUNCLE

A pimple or pustue is a trial size stippura- ton produced when hair follicles or sebaceous glands are infected with the common pus-pr0- ducing germs.
 A boil or furunce is Q household size suppl ration produced when the same types of germs penetrate through the hair follicles, sebacous or sweat glands and invade the subcutaneous tissues.
 A carbunc1e is q hospital size suppuration produced when the same pesky microbes de- stroy enough tissue to cut off the local blood supply or nutrition, so that sangrene or death of the tissue occurs with sloughing.
 Pimple, boil or carbunce, 1t is an abscess.
 The old timers held that there was lot of humor in q boil and still more in a carbuncle. Even today the peasants commonly regard any abscess, from trial size to hospital size, as Q throwing off, breaking out or getting rid of bad humor of some kind. Charlatans who ap- pdal to the peasant intellect have more snap py term for it. they tell their dumb customers that the body Is trying to throw off "toxing' or "posons."
 It is not the size or extent of the swelling or inflammation that determines whether the abs scess Is q pustule or q boil If 1t has q core it's a boil; no core, no boil, no matter how large and juicy and ripe the pimple or papule gets before 1t ruptures and drains spontaneously or is opened and drained surgically. Some bona fidc boils seem to get ambitious as they come to head, or neck, hnd branch out so to speak, giving good imitation of a carbuncle. For that matter the only difference between q boil and carbuncle Is that the gangrene of death of tissue is confined to one
 
 core of the boil, whereas in the carbuncle the gangrene is not limited---and that Is precisely why carbuncle is more dangerous than boil.
 The common pus-producing germs respons- be for all these forms of abscess, well as whitlow. runaround, felon, and inflammation of any cut scratch or wound, may be present on any soilcd unwashed skin, but 1t is probable that the source of such infection is contact with the pus from some similar infection, or contact with a medium that has been c0ntam- mated within few moments. Such infection, at least to my mind,. explains why minor scratches, cuts or abrasions always fester'' or heal poorly in certain individuals In their work or play or social activities they come into contact With the puS-producing tgerms from slight infections of other persona We know this is the explanation for pimples, pus- jules and inevitable scratch infections of ma- chinists for example, whose hands, arms and body necessarily exposed to infection from the circulating oil or cutting mixture, which inevitably becomes contaminated if any man Is permitted to work while having such pus- jules or even slight scratch infection.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-24

current income is preferable Co bonding ls, in times of depression income and ftvlaul naturally arc low and il is particularly bod time for the imposition of any form of sd- ditional taxation. ] am heartily in accord with the pay-as-y you eo-poliey that was main- tained in Connecticut from 1916 to 1929, but do not regard is as sound principle now for the reason that borrowed money is higher. While the ability to raise money by bonding is low. :" Admirably ex- pressed it would thus seem as if failing toll road, a bond issue is more desirable for fi- nsncing the Merit Highway than gas tax increase.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-24
Only One Way

w can't quite understand why President
 elect Franklin D. Roosevelt should be criti-
 eised for not offering to lift the load of re-
 sponsibility from the shoulders of the present
 incumbent of the White House. Herbert
 Hoover. When the voters in November. 1928. signified that they preferred Mr Hoover to Alfred E. Smith or any of the other presidential candidates they certainly z z expected him to complete j,is full term with. out sesking the advice or cooperation of pos sible successors. To our way of thinking Mir Roosevelt can be nothing but silent < spectator at what takes place between now .4apd March 4.
 ns If, as many people believe. the president had the best of intentions in trying to enlist ,sti,e aid of Governor Roosevelt in coming ito decision on the momentous question of
 ffeign war debts he chose the poorest way
 of showing it. There is only one way in
 which the new democratic president could
 possibly take hold of the present situation.
 namely. by assuming office now and not on
 March 4, when his inauguration is sehed-
 nled to be held. If. as these same Hoover 2 defenders declare, the president is most sim
 csre in his efforts to find some way out of { this foreign debt situation he should see to it
 that the democrats were in immediate <, control.
 " AS it stands now 1t looks to a majority
 of people including even some republicans. e9that Mir Hoover is still desirous of having
 his hand in the pig so that if there is any
 praise being distributed after settlement of
 the debt question his name will be linked swith 1t for all time. Perhaps we do the { president an injustice, but if he is seeking < place in the annals of this nation. he cer- \ tsinly could achieve it by removing himself x from office and allowing Mir Roosevelt to x take fuli control of affairs national and in- .x ternational. It might be a radical and un < preeedented move, but it certainly would ' De as effective as his present efforts to shift \. some of his responsibility.
 v Governor Roosevelt in his present espae- s~ity can certainly keep his finger on the pulse <. of public opinion. He may not be as well v informed upon what is transpiring in foreign ss circles as is the White House with its many z. ways of aseertaining such information. He hasn't had to ponder on foreign debt prob- \ lems for long months as has the president. < But he can approach the subject with .1 freshness of mind that is evidently needed. seH He can give the democratic viewpoint of the z. entire matter and attempt to carry through 7 the principles that he and his party believe N are the best for all concerned. That isn't (. possible so long as he is merely president tN elect and there is president ahead of him
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-24
AN AWFUL ERROR

My g0Odnessi" sez | and "IMnd
 snkeg af1d DO tclIp' When the young maiden whispered
 her secret to me. "This Is IMPORTANT. I must have
 time tO dwelb1<- Odds b0dlfinsi Cad z0OIssi and
 GfInminy Gcei I'm sure f1abbcrgasted, bewildercd
 and such, You're sure you're not joking fo get me In Dutch?" "Oh, no," snid the maiden, "Oh,
 no, ft is true, And l dare not tell anybody but yOu."
 "Of course, you can trust ME, but
 c secret like that WouiG ias hssdly s,sMyy. be safe If told to 'wrhen what can I d0?" walled this
 sweet little maid, "WAit. Let me tfiinIfs but I'm sure. 1y affnid-- Oh, my aumfi what 1mcssi Oh, U gosh and by goIli Wrote c LETTER to Santy ana FORGOT bout your DOLLs Well, thcre is just ONE thing about lt, n1y pretty young miss, If I flx this up for you do I set . KISS? O.O-OO-U. q dozen. Yum, yum they are sweet And there you are. darling. back on And ! won't walt to write, but as
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-24
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Tl,e Old Sink Argument


 friend and have m argument I say you printed q su2gestiOn tiat dumping the coffee grounds dowTs-thc sink tends to keep the sink drain cleared out My friend says sine doesn't believe 1t. (N. I. G.)
 Answer--Many correspondents have told me they have found the practice does prevent clog ginR, Some plumbers say so, too while others say they sometimes find coffee grounds slog- ging q sink drain. Perhaps 1t depends on the amount of flushing with hot water and on keeping grease out of the sink drain.
 We Can't Agree
 I have been q Brady fan for years and never before have 1 questioned anything you said, but now 1 must disagree with your assertion that Inassaac can't reduce locally. I have re- duced five inches around my hips by taking treatments in this machine described In tlic folder (hfrs q. D. NJ
 Answer---scores of others have failed to re- duce, or have actually increased in size under such treatment. Actual exercise and intelii- ton obtained while such mechanical massage, rolling pounding or passive manipulation is being used.
 Hooks to Read
 Please suggest names of some good books, not too technical for the lay reader, On phys. iology, biology, health and disease. ~. c. H.)
 Answer---Mottram's "Physioiogy," published Jy Norton, New York. Haggard's What You should Know About Health and Disease,s pub- lisbed by Harper's New. York. Fisher q Fisks ..fIow to Live" published by Funk z Fear, Pain and Hunger on Animals and Man published by Appietcn'e, New York Darwin'a 'Expression of the Emotions in Man and Anf- male," safne publisher (f tbinkJ. All these books are obtainab1e from any library.
 (Copyrieht, John ?. Dills Col
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-24
Our Daily Washington Letter
BEER.FARM BILL
BY RODNEY BUTCHER

1920 elections would be that con-
 Rress wants to put up to him It's first big blow at prohibition and q much more farLreaching and dras-
 tic farm relief plan than has yet
 been enacted.
 Hoover's message to congress
 indicated that he was having no
 important changes of heart.
 Whether or not he hopes to De .
 candidate n 193G, neither precedent
 nor inclination would lead him
 into any extensive backtracking at
 this time.
 He tad long-standing reputa-
 ton as . dry and during the cam- paign at no time indicated any sympathy for beer. He has chosen
 the safes tax as q better revenue
 raising method. He has sworn Q
 holy war. against the saloon,
 the democratic beer bill. And he
 which would not .be avoided by is believed to question the coisti- nationality of beer of the alcoholic content proposed.
 So you don't have to accuse Hoover of obstruction and of seek
 ing to force an extra session on Roosevelt in order to explain his
 anticipated beer veto. No one now thinks . special session can De avoided anyway,
 Similar reasoning applies to the domestic allotment plan for surplus crop control which the democrats presumably viii embody in the bill as their farm relief program. Hoover was vehement against It's forerunners, the equalization fee and export debentiire plans. Domestic allotment is believed to eliminate some of their worst features, but 1t is being attacked SO vigorously for It's price-fixing, fi-theconeumers expenso, dif- f1euIty of administration and other features that Hoover will be 100 per cent in line with his past per. formances # he vetoeE it on the | grounds that it 10 unconstitutional, | iinworIable and "dangsrous." It ss. quite possible, however, that this measure will not get tc Ithe White House this session. Tafge important flame duck'' vetoes Wero the webb Kenyon bill goVornine interstate traneDorla- ] tion cf liquor and . bill to rogu-
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-24
ny RODNEY BUTCHER NTEA Service Writer
Washington n.--President HOove

ngtOns--HreblQeHt kzOVVok
 is likely to do more important
 job of vetoing before he quits than
 has been achieved by the combined
 effort of all previous "lame duck presidents in those last few. miser-
 able months between election de-
 feat and the otfier fellows inaugu-
 ration.
 Measures for legalization and
 taxation of beer, farm relief Dill promised and now being formu-
 lated by the democrats and per-
 naps Philippine independence bill will die under the executive
 ax if passed by congress, accord ing to most current predictions.
 No president has ever had such splendid opportunity to slash at
 such an ambitious set of proposals advanced by e victorious opposi- ton party us now may come to
 Mir Hoover in the beer bill and the farm bill. But the tendency of some poiiti-
 cal reporters to ascribe the prob- ability of those vetoes to devil ous political strategy on the presi- dent's rart which is connected with a supposed desire to return to the presidency for years from now seems rather far-fetched.
 Esf The records fail to show any president who didn't keep on being t republican or q democratic presi- don't, as the case might be, right ID to the time he had to turn over the government to the other party, or one who changed his convictions on major legislation simply because he had been licked.
 The only difference between | TIoover's position and that of Taft and Wilson after the 1912 and
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-24
The Night Before Christmas
tBy Dn CLEMENT CLARK MOORE, lss2)

vas the night before Christmas when through Mot was ar y e ne chimney @ care In hopes thnt St Nicholas soon would be there While visions of sugar plums their heads; Had Had iust settled our brains long winters When the lawn m arose such ss. s. ssss ss matter Away to the window I flew like flash,
 Sss s s ssss. aoa % s Srsw 9 Gave iuster of mid-day to objects below; Wa'n mnss my s aa s win little old driver, 50 ,, lively h s1 ana n;n aIick More rapid hs . they gam came Nov Dasheri now Dancerl Prancsr! ; now. Wxen o sn ns caD S to s .p @ Now dash away aas away M dash a away SuErans s nv 1i Masn s' sss s.. .sss a sss to the homse-top the coursers n sney new ln twln,lng | heard hear, ,. Sa the ssor roof As drew in my head and turning around pown DO the snnsy a s s' @ fpo his head to his foot And his clothes tarnishcd with ashes and soot bundle of toys he had flung on his back looked like psaasT just @ Spenns n his nsrr parx HIS HIS sne snsshn s wsfs mouth s Was drawn
 Ana the 6sasd or on npe ns he sha ea tight Ss his And the 1t encircied his head like wreath. He had Q broad and little round belly,
 That shook sSay Mnsn anS he pap nnsnea ns & 9S o And laughed when saw him in spite or myself aoon wnn nays "i ms m,s to si noW aoS hsa nothing He spake word but went straight to his work And laying nnger aside of his nose And giving . nod. the chimney he rose He sprang his sleigh to his team gave M ,n.. waste they all flew like the down own or @ s sssas 'ht aa Happy Christmas ali. and to all oood-nsht.