davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-11
Perplexed Starlings

If starlings have sense of humor- sand sometimes they act as If they had Ythey must get good cackle out of the be- 1favior of human beings. What, for exam- nple.s do you suppose the starlings in Wash s<ington make of the scores of mer who have Abeen spending the night serenading them 1. by rattling tin cans with pebbles inside They could hardly be expected to know that athe men, on government relief, are dolng It Ito drive the birds away from the trees ana sbuildings around the Capitol, for reasons ' humanly sufficient.
 {. The surprised birds, after talking It over s and expressing opinions that would make the serenaders' hair curl if they under stood, finally get tired of the racket and look elsewhere for lodgings. But they al- ways come back Life, though, becomes increasingly hard for them because the war against them is spreading. In some cities they are scared away with red flags, in others with shotguns-but that's hard on windows and human neighbors. Every where in settled communities, as the birds grow in numbers, they find themselves precuted. That is, in their slepeing quar- ters. They spend the day scouting for food, mostly in the country and suburbs, and then come back to roost, preterrlng public buildings for that purpose.
 Yet the starling is not wholly bad, as many can testify. It is beautiful bird when seen close at hand, with its glossy coat speckled with stars, and it's play ot colors. It is neat, cleanly bird, too, out in the open and apart from the f1ocks. Also friendly and entertaining bird, with It's gift of mimicry and it's whimsical songs and whistles, and it's odd little wheezes and chortles. Human suburbanites who nave small starling families living in their trees sneak we'll of them and become attached to them. They have charms far beyond any that could be imagined of the English spar row. It's the city life that spells them. What they need is rural subsistence home steads.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-11
A Colony's Right to Freedom

Senator Antonio R. sBarcelo of Puerto Rico returns to San Juan from meeting with President Roosevelt and announces that Washington intends to treat the Puer- to Ricans just as it has treated the Fill pinos-make them ready for self-support and self-governmen and then, if the islam ders wish it, give them independence. NO announcement to this effect has yet come from Washington, and it is of course pos sible that the senator misinterpreted the presidents remarks. But the mere tact that he could make such statement with out creating a perfect furore at washing ton shows how greatly the worlds view point toward the possession of overseas colonies has changed in the last few gen. erations.
 Originally colony was looked upon as the unqualified possession of the home gov. ernment. It existed only for the sake or the homeland; it was to be exploited as the homeland wished, and 1t could not conceiv- ablp have any voice in the matter. It was becatise this notion was accepted as 2 mat Ter of course that the action of the Ameri- can celonists in 1775, in taking up arms Tor 4 dacont portion of self-government, snn.aed such wicked and unnatural thing iS KIna George TIT and his council.
 I'Von 4ftar the Americans had made
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-11
Press Comment
NO DEALS


 (New Haven Journal-Courier)
 Chairman Smiht of the Connec- ticut democracy shows commend able vigor in denying rumors of a "deal'. The party leaders will meet with the new senators Tues- day for the regular procession barley to map policy and plan as- signm ents. Already the air Is blue with talk of judgeships and county commission posts will be bargained after the noisome precedent of pre- vious years. But Mr Smith insists that is all libfl and illusion and promises Connecticut will have q legislature this time free of the traditional abuses.
 The people of the state are likely value and wait upon the event. It to accept that statement at faae be urgent when the houses con- is clear the temptation to deal will vene. The balance of power in the senate rests in socialist hands; It is unlikely the gentlemen from Bridgeport will lend themselves to the conventional assembly trading. What more natural, many very practical gentlemen are likely to think, than to detour around the governors insistence on regularity by quiet agreements across the aisle? We have noted before the view that the socialists will be on trial at Hartford; we repeat, so will the democrats.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-11
Space and Time

With the new telescope to be placed on Mount Wilson in California, for which lens 200 inches in diameter weighing 20 tons has been successfully molded in Cor ming, N. r., the distance that man can see into outer space will be heightened to near ly 1,000,0 100000 light-years. Millions more suns, thousands more spiral nebulae, will appear on the astronomers celestial photo- graphs. Our knowledge of the universe will be vastly increased.
 And will this powerful eye pierce through space far enough to reveal the last frontiers of the universe? Probably not, From Galileo's time until now, every gain in the reach of mans eye and mind reveals still vaster areas crowded with star-clouds. And it would be pity if we could ever find an end of space and matter. It is better to leave room for wonder, and incentive for further effort.
 The farther we pry into space, too, the farther we reach into "the dark backward and abysm of time," as Shakespeare called the past, and yet we never reach an end. The pictures we shall see with that new lens will be brought to us by light waves that started toward us billion years ago, and will show the distant heavens as they were at that time. We shall know how far depths of space looked when there was no eye, not one living creature, on this earth out of which we have sprung. Here, too, is plenty of room for imagination.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-11

food and camaraderie, labor's views and desires would be pre- scented.
 Green approved of the plan, promised to get busy at once.
 Several weeks passed and nothing was heard from him. One of the union leaders went to him and inquired about the proposed meeting,
 "I've caucused the boys," Green replied, "and some of them think we ought to hold the council session in Miami sometime in January"
 HITS THE ROOF
 When this word reached leon- ine-named President John l.. Lewis, of tho United Mine Work CTS, he hit the ceiling.
 "That is a fine attitude for union leaders to take" he storm ed. Millions are unemployed, in need and in want. Industry is organized as it has never been before, and ready for action the moment congress convenes. And these men want to desert con- gress for Florida where they can loll in the sun and enjoy them selves"
 Other Lewis supporters among them Major George Berry of the powerful Pressmen's Union-are threatening to make a public expose unless the meeting is called in Washing ton.
 SUGAR STRATEGY
 Beet sugar growers have their lobbyists secretly at work on a neat plan ta junk the Costigan sugar quota act, and If certain senators are not careful they may fall in the trap.
 Some of the biggest beet sugar companies have been chafing against the Costigan act ever since it was passed. Actually they received a larger quota than they were able to fill. Also they admit that the quota system caused price rise in sugar.
 But they claim the act Is cumbersome to administrate, and particularly they object to pro- visions curtailing child labor.
 These objections, however, arc not made openly. Even an open attack during the coming cOn-
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-11
So They Say

Peace is coming out of the Balkans and war will not originate in the Balkans. Alvin M Owsey, U. s. minister to Rumania. It is the British people and the freedom they have always enjoyed-not as a favor, but as g, right-whch makes law-abding nation.
 -Margot Asquith, Countess of Oxford.
  We shall soon have enough to see that the American lot today is heroic and honorable enough if unprosperous.
 Prof. Allan Nevins of Columbia.
  have no mediate desire for children of my own.
 Princes Barbara Hutton Mdivani. The democratic way of life is on the defensive everywhere
 Prof Carl Wittke of Ohio State university.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-11

Washington, Dec. 11-Behind the crime conference opening here today is some basic, home spun philosophy by its chief il- spirator, Homer Cummings.
 Not long after he became att torney general, Cummings de- cided that all the sleuths at his command could not cure crime unless he had the cooperation of the American public, as long as the movies were indirectly extolling the criminal and the fiapper glorifying him.
 So he set out to m k e the public crime conscious.
 This weeks conference is not intended as a ballyhoo move- ment, as a sporadic, sudden drive against crime. What Cummings is planning is a long-sustained campaign that will grow in volume.
 To this end delegates conven- ing today are not merely crime experts, lawyers, representatives of prison associations, etc., but also representatives of women's clubs, the press, radio, the mo- tion picture industry and from a broad sociological field.
 The plan Is to put the problem of crime before the public and keep it there, rather than the usual reverse of the people put ting the problem up to the gov ernment.
 CRIME RENEnTES
 Ever since the justice depart ment announced it's plans for a crime conference, it has been deluged with almost as many suggestions on how to eradicate crime as Franklin. Roosevelt gets on how to end depression.
 One of them urged the regis tration of all laundry tags. An- other urged the segregation of all unfit children into concentra- tion camps where they would not be allowed to reproduce.
 But the prize nut" letter at- tributed crime to the United States navy and the bad example set by sailors while on shore leave.
 So far, Attorney General Cum mings has refrained from show ing this letter to his colleague the secretary of the navy but the temptation is rather great. FANCY IDEAS
 Some executive council mem- bers of the A. F. of l.. are say ing harsh things privately about certain of their colleagues.
 After years of internal feud- ing, the size of the council was enlarged at the federatiOn's con- yention in San Francisco last October.
 Some weeks ago several of the new council members suggested to President Bill Green that he assemble the body in Washing ton shortly before congress con- venses to formulate labor leg islative program.
 They also proposed a private dinner for democratic congress sional leaders, at which, under the mellowing influence of good
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-11

o. when were John Marshall and Roger B. Fancy the chief jus- tices of the United States?. A, John Marshall, appointed Jan s1, 1901, died in office July s. 1885: Roger B. Fancy, appointed March IS, 1886, died in office Oc- itOber 12, 1864.
 a. When does a woman become of age in the United States?
 A. For certain legal purposes woman is of age at 21 years. The meaning of the term, however, varies aceording to the connection in which 1t is hused, such as, mar. riage, descent and distribution or property, adoption, election, nR- turaiization, etc.
 Q. What is the value of small bronze one-cent piece dateG 1863. and a small copper-nickel dated the same year?
 A. The former Is cataloged at 25 to 50 cents; the latter at to cents.
 O, Should the term English De apr,lied to persons from parts or the British Isles other than Eng land? Rritish descent. It does not in- olude persons from Wales, scotland or trelands
 O. How can the odOr of skunk be removed from clothing? A. One part of Labaraque's so. lution. the active principal of which is chlorinated soda, to three darts of water, sprinkled over the clothing will quickly remove the odor.
 o. Is there 9 regular mail | lschedule to Greenland? A. Mail for Greenland is sent through as far as Iceland where It is held for delivery as opportunity offers, depending on ice conditions.
 0. Can an unpublished manu- script be copyrighted? A. Yes,
 O., When was Harry F. Powers, the mountain "Bluebeard" hanged, and for what specifific crime was he sentenced?
 A. He was hanged March IS, 1882, at g D. m., at Moundsville, w. Va, for the murder of Mrs Dor othy Pressler Lemke, of Northboro, Mass, and Mrs Asta Buick Eicher and her three children of Park Ridge, Illinois.
 o. Where was Edwin c. Hill. who broadcasts news comments, born, and where was he educated? A. Born in Aurora, Ind, he re- ceived his higher education at tho University of Indiana.
 Q. Which states have the larg- est number of ranches and which ones raise the most cattle?
 A. Texas, California. Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Montana have the largest number of ranches, and Texas. Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, and Ne braska raise the greatest number of cattle.
 o. Name the oldest University in South America.
 A. The University of San Mar cos in Lima, Peru, founded in 1851.
 Q. When was Franklin K. Lane secretary of the interior, and who
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-11
A Book a Day
Civil War Needless Tradegy, He Asserts
By BRUCE CATION

The Civil War, says George Fort Milton, was not an 'irfepres- sbile conflict" at all. Instead, it was a tragedy that could and should have been prevented, and if the country had listened to stephen A. Douglas it would have been.
 Mir Milton presents this thesis in sThe Eve of Conflict" a fat and absorbing biography of the great Illinois statesman.
 Americas tragedy, Milton says, was that the extremists no each de-abolitionists in the north, and fire eaters in the south-took control of things. Douglas had the thankless task of the man who tries to speak for intelligence and moderation at a time when only the voice of passion can be heard. dent James Buchanan. It was he, says Milton, who, by using every means to block Douglas nomiTa- ton for the presidency in 1880. made possible that Split in the Democratis party which resulted in Lincoln's election.
 Had the party been united. he says Douglas inevitably would have been elected: had he been elected, there would have been no
 The amount of careful re- search that has gone into this book Is almost Incredible. MT Milton has had access to a great body of Douglas letters not pre-. viously made public; these have not only enabled him to shed fresh light on Dougias character, but have also persuaded him that ma. jorlty opinion. north and south, in 1860 favored DougIas' program Of peaceful settlement of difficulties.
 Published by the. Hougbton' Mifflln Co. the book sells for %.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-11

was the commissioner of the Gem eral Land office during the Wilson administration?
 A. Franklin K. Lane was secre- tary of the interior from March ,, 1913 to February 2S, 1920. Clay Tallman was commissioner of the General Land Office during the en- tire Wilson administrations.
 O. What will restore the origin al lustre to old copper coins
 A. To restore the original lus- ire clean the coins with powdered whiting on damp cloth and place the coin in a raw white potato, and allow 1t to remain over night.
 If you want a copy of our bul- Ietin Towe (the new cariation of Contract Bridge), write to the Wa terbury Democrats Washington Bureau, enclosing five cents in postage stamps. &
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-11
ChuckleCorner
COMBINATIONS OF MATRIMONY
 By Otto Quit

ny OttS VNANe Last year wed by family preacher; This year he Baptized their scrsecher. Matrimonv is great Comedy of Errors, but there is a growing teu- delcy to cut the comedy.
 Marriage takes the money out of matri-money. It is money-gimmo from rice to Reno, where it ends in aiimony----- all 'e money present and future.
 A ioyer's mot" is far wiser than a nuptial knot.
 Matrimony Is Q game of chance. You draw q full house--your wife and all her relations.
 Metrlmony Is a pitched battle of chinas crockery, or anything handy.
 Even t your wife is not ah sx- pert cook her dishes hit the spot.
 "MatPlmepy is a browning vic- toryN eaid the young husband with q bandage afeund his head.
 It marks the end of "biii N and coo"
 When elliss deuz become pills
 Matrlmony ig poor business be- cause the paFnonneI changes too often.
 Into weaIOek with our eensuFe Thinklnn it q great AdgenluFe, Went MaFio, poor little aaughlaR-s After shat we thought we'd snpNbt r ser.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-11
EXHIBITION

Leipzig. (UP)--A special ayhibi- ton Of new and fioyei Inventions, open 10 all nations. has been mnde . permanent feature of the Lelpy zIg fair: To encourage inyentiyp genius, the exhibits will Dc limited to Inventions and novelties which have not been exploited inawetFlal. Iy. The 1lspl9ys ese 70 erransel that tho emalIegt model VIII pe ehoWn Co the best poaeihfa AAvails fase tQ the businepa nen From 70 countries whe attend the fsif,
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-11

gress is not considered good strategy.
 Instead the attack is being made on the ground that the sugar quota system favors Cuba.
 And to make the drive both subtle and effective, the beet sugar lobbyists have matched a scheme to persuade Borah or some other leading liberal sen ator to launch a tirade against the state departments policy in Cuba.
 Borah, they know, would al- most rather jump on state de- pertinent political policy in Latin America, than eat his favorite dish-lobster newburg. And on the charge that the state department is virtually annex ing Cuba, the sugar people be- lieve they may be able to get certain portions of the Cpstigan act nullified.
 UNFORGETTABLE
 Whether 29-year old Rush Holt will be allowed to take his senate seat next month is still a moot question. But the youth full West Virginian already is having his troubles with job hunters.
 He tells this story on himself:
 Election night he did not re- tire until nearly dawn. But at last, his friends departed and he turned in. Hardly had he fall- en asleep when he was awakened by a vigorous ringing of his door bell. At the door was a stranger.
 Senator" he said, "you may not remember me. But l voted for you and l got my friends to vote for you. I'm looking for a government job, and thought I'd get my application in early"
 "I'll do my best for you" Holt said. "YOu come and sec me when get to Washington"
 You won't forget" the caller asked. You'll remember me?"
 "AIways," Holt replied.
 And there was a ring of cons viction in his voice which the visitor may not have appreciate ed.
 MAIL BAG
 D. K, Evanston, IlI.-Donald R. Richberg is the author of several novels. His last one, pubr lished several years ago, was called "Tents of the Mighty" and dealt with politics. [. w. L,, Wichita, Kans--Senator Daniel o. Tasting of Delaware, is chairman of the senate repub- lican campaign committee. It is highly unlikely that he will be reelected to this post for an- other term. He was chosen in the belief that he could raise q large campaign fund, which he failed to do. E. A.. Hot Springs, Ark.-The report is eur- rent in capital circles that for- mer REC Director Harvey Couch is secretly ambitious to succeed Senator Joe Robinson, in the event the latter is not a candi- date for reelection. Couch has StpOA aO RAP4AO 1hoAC~sAOb " garding the matter. Senate cir- cles understand Robinson is privately unified over Couch's res puted senatorial ambitions. :. Miss K. L., Mobile, Ala.-Wos men are never invited to Grid+ iron Club dinners. They are strictly stag affairs, but the club has a saying: 'Women are al- ways present, reporters never" :. c. IT,, New Orleans - Hawaiian sugar interests have eased up their Washington drive on the Costigan sugar act and are now diffusing their attack throughout the entire country. have been cooperating recently with beet sugar interests Qf the west. w. F. O., PhiIadeI, phia--secretary of state Hull res sides at the Carlton hotel ih Washington.
 (COpyright, 1884, by United
 Hl@A....n G....44lrat tn Wsss.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-11
Selected Poem
EBB TIDE

(Frances Frost in The New York sum- shall leave sleep behind and the creaking house crouched in the dunes and walk at the edge of day where the sand is
 pushed into tawny and still-damp runes shall walk in the flush of light by the plains of
 the sea whose silver grows to green and white till the rowdy and off-shore
 wind nattens the water and blows the sting of salt at my eyes. On the empty beach. shall walk alone clean of darkness. while seagulls flash the west waere the morning moon has gone.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-11

America is far behind Germany, Russia and other countries in the modern art of government. When a crazy crank shot at Franklin Roosevelt and killed Tony Cermak, it never occurred to our government to pick out few dozen critical citizens and shoot them on general principles.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-11

George Washington is known to have been waterways enthusiast; but people who go back to the Founding Fathers for counsel are worried because he never ex- pressed himself about hydro-electric power projects.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-11
Daily Washington Merry Go Round
, ls,l NEA
-BY DREW PEARSON and ROBERT 8. ALLEN


 Authors MrryG Rund'a ior err Sustained Cooperation o Public ln W On C fe Without Assistance of People, A. r. O Man See Fight Growe toC mba Quota Act on S Cuba
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-11

The Jap imperialists may not enjoy bigger navy so much as they think, with Britain and America outbuilding them anyway, and the Japanese people beginning to groan about taxes.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-11
Questions And Answers
 by The Democrats Washington Information Bureau
Yoge cINaTIoNs ANswnNlID

qnesg. sHs 1sItes kEEse. ass a ms.1 ilss Ns xosE WeeAlIs ss aps M sssa All
 tkegt Safr: c"nsos ss ss eorNAHy uss Ss m's sFss Asrv''s ss e'ss - "" p EDlrpR
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-11

Since Chicago did so we'll with her fair, other cities all want to follow her example, and soon we can use our new leisure in go- ing from fair to fair.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-11

The way eastern colleges have slumped in football, it looks as if they might as well go back to education, where they've got real chance.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-11
A Thought for Today

For thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Let nor your prophets and your diviners. that be in the midst or you, dcccNe t you, neither hcarken to your dreams WHICH ye cause to be dreamcd.-Jcremiah 29:S.
  x As dreams are the fancies of those that sleep so fancies but the dreams of those awake.-Blount.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-11

Tn this approaching revision of MIRA codes, couldn't the government cooperate with the newspapers in abolishing etaoin shrdlu?
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-11
DECEMBER ie

DECEMBER 12
 The morning Is q bad time to sign papers or take trips. It is not good for study, for sending mes sages or telephoning. The after- afternoon is good for consulting the clergy or lawyers, but is un- favorable for travel or dealing with electrical work. The evening ls bad.
 Birthdate
 You should be interested In construction, of things, such as q carpenter. You should be fortunate through an unexpected source from Jan. 1929, 1885.
 Be careful of ire, sharp in. strumente, accidents or rash con. duet from Oct. i3-iG, 1885.
 Socially favorable June 25, 20 and 27. 1885.
 Write letters or go on short trips Dec. IS and 10, 1884.
 Headers deslriBg additional Go. formation regarding iiielP lsOF0. scopes arc invited Co cOinnlullicple wlfh Ocfavine im Cnfe of iiiIF iiaWspapaP. Enclose C ss cont ssanped seif-addfessed snyeiope.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-11

They've established Town HalP' at Washington as forum for discussion of public affairs. Congress, you see, can't do enough talking.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-11
Horoscope
BY oCTAvINE

For persons who believe that human destiny is guided by the nlanets the daily horoscope is out lined by a noted astrOloger. In addition to Information of general interests, 1t outlines information Of special interest to persons born on the designated dates.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-11

We we need next is 200-inch business telescope