davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-03-02
PHONE CHANGE { HIGH ABOVE SEA
Swiss Government COni- plete Exchange in
 Lofty Alps

Geneva (UP)-An automatic telephone exchange two and one- fifth miles above sea level fin the Alps has just been completed by the Swiss government.
 It Is the highest. exchange in Europe. It. beats by 520 fet the telephone post in the Hotel Bel vedere on Matterhorn Peak.
 The new exchange Is built in a rock blasted chamber at Jung fraujoch, 11,34O fet above sea level. A telephone cable 9h miles long connects the exchange with Lauterbrunnen, at the bottom of the peak.
 The new exchange is built in a rock-blasted chamber at Jung fraujoch, 11,340 feet above sea level. A telephone cable 9 1-2 miles long connects the exchange with Lauterbrunnen, at the bottom of the peak.
 The cables and wires are all underground and cannot be touch ed by bliZzards, or avalanches. Connections with all tke principal cities of Europe can bo made from the exchange.
 It is planned to extend the line even higher to Concordia Hrt On the Aletsch Glacier. Only the more daring Alpinists ever visit this windblown but picturesque hut. Jungfraujoch also has the high est railway station in Europe. At great expense a cog railway was built from Lauterbrunnen to the peak. Much of the railroad is underground and at time in as- cending it resembles an elevator.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-03-02

out of sight and turn to go. Don't l get some sort of a re- l ceipt?" Kelsey asked.
 "Of course. Pardon the over- sight. Had one all made out and then forgot to bring it along" Kelsey handed his visitor a blank l letterhead and the desk pen went into action. l.
 A GRAND IS A
 LOT OF MONEY
 "I don't wonder you want q re- ceipt. A grand is 8 lot of money to hand over to a stranger. l hope when I leave here the same thing don't happen to me that happened | to Boss Morelli early this evening"" Kelsey's throat went suddenly dry. What happened to him?" he managed to ask.
 Guess you haven't seen the late | papers," John Smith continued to write and talk at the same time. "Morelli got bumped off. Jerry Hawkins, the contractor, shot him cold and then committed suicide. Guess Morelli put the screws on a little too tight. Lucky you never | got mixed up with that racketeer.
 Here's your receipt, MT Kelsey" The dazed man. looked down at the moist ink. It credited Jerome
 Kelsey with having paid the $1,000
 premium of his life insurance to
 John Smith, collector for the agent!
 Sorry we had to force this col I lection through in one payment
 like this, MT Kelsey, but the com pany was pushing us. was in the
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-03-02

the hot water pipe. And darling, l don't forget to put my jewelry in the bank vault; it isn't safe to leave it,"
 When he hung up the bell called
 him back to the instrument.
 HE CALLED BACK
 ON THE TELEPHONE It was the switchboard operator
 in the outer office. "A call came in while you were phoning Mrs Kei-
 sey, so I took it. A gentleman who didn't give his name said to tell you this was your last day of grace, that the payment had to he
 made to-day and thatshe'd call back
 later. He said you'd understand" |" In unhurried tones Kelsey gave his instructions to the girl. "Tell the party when he calls back that
 Mir Kelsey will have the payment
 ready for him, here, in his private | office, tonight, at II o'clock. Tell him it will be in cash.' At II o'clock that night Mrs Kelsey's jewels were locked in q l pawnbroker's safe and twenty I fifty-dollar bills, with the banks
 paper band still intact aroun l them, reposed in the top drawer
 of her husbands desk. Facing each other across the
 desk were Kelsey and young man
 with keep dark eyes. The visitor 1 was not Morelli.
 1 The boss couldn't make it to-
 night so he sent me-" How do know that?" the con- | tractor asked.
 T was told to come here at Il
 o'clock and collect thousand dol
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-03-02

Throughout the past year nearly every job he'd contracted for had been "mysteriously" wrecked while under construction. There was no mystery about it to Kelsey. But he couldn't prove that Morelli bombs were doing the damage. The police investigated. So did the building inspectors. Their reports were always phrased: Cause of accident unknown"
 After the third "accident" the bonding companies placed Kelsey's name on the blacklist. That meant one of two things. Either Kelsey
 had to go out of business or dig deep into his own pocket every time there was an accident" to pay for the material and labor re- quired to rebuild. He was still in business - but the pocket was | empty.
 There was his life insurance policy. But it was only a year old and insurance companies never loan money on year old policies. | Why, only the other day, when the premium was due, he couldn't scrape up enough money to pay | it.
 kelsey had tried to borrow the necessary thousand dollars but the sources where, ten months ago, ne could have raised fifty times that amount on his open note, now con sidered him a bad risk. His name on a piece of paper wasn't worth dime.
 "YOU'D BETTER AGREE
 TO MAKE YOUR PAYMENT"
 You'd better agree to make your first payment of one grand for protection on that day or" The racketeer's unfinished sentence had carried the threat of death. Kelsey wasn't afraid to die. But he had his wife, Alice, and his two children to consider.
 His business, with its healthy honest reputation as a foundation, had been built up through no sell fish motives. Behind it's every forward move as the contracts be- came larger and larger was Kel- sey's one thought-"For Alice and the kids" They meant so much to him, those three. Everything.
 As prosperity had come his way, Kelsey's love for Alice had in- creased. A stenographer when he had married her, she had devel- oped none of those social climbing ambitions which bring ruin to so many prospecting business mans home. True, she had progressed up the ladder of wealth, but in a natural, normal way. Never did she place her "social position" ahead of her duty as housewife, helpmate and homemaker. He was proud of her.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-03-02

Jerry Hawkins, who built four or five bungalows a year, had told Kelsey he was a fool to buck Mo- relli. Kelsey had laughed in Haw- kins' face. Where did that piker get off to tell the city's most pros porous contractor how he should run his business? But tbat was ten months ago. Today Hawkins was sitting pretty. Grabbing off all the worthwhile contracts. No Mo- relli bomb ever wrecked Hawkins job. Every one knew that Hawkins was paying Morelli big sums for protection, but no one seemed to think any the worse of the man for it.
 The telephone bell rang.
 Kelsey's mind was made up. He'd ask Boss Morelli to take his note for ninety days.
 With the words of the request already forming in his mind, he picked up the receiver and recog- nized his wife's voice on the wire. He remembered that she and the children were leaving town to visit friends for few days. Alice Kel- sey, who had been kept in igno- rance of her Husbands financial worries, was excitedly enumerating last minute instructions: "Be sure to order more furnace coal to-day. Have the plumber fix the leak in
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-03-02

sar, to be followed, of course. by a good marriage. Oh, they'd be careful to sec that she chose the right man.
 For Jimmy? Yale. An engineer ing course to be followed by few years of practical outside work then-he'd be made a member of his fathers firm. Kelsey & Son Contractors and Builders" To see that sign in big gilt letters on the office door would fill Jerome Kel- sey's cup of joy full to overfiowing would be the happinest moment Of the mans well rounded life.
 No, Jerome Kelsey wasn't afraid for himself. If only he could have paid that life insurance premium Boss Morelli's hired gunmen could bang away at him and be damned But the right of an honest citizer to safeguard the future of hi. loved ones was denied him. All be couse politically protected rack eteer was dictator.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-03-02
HYMN TO PROSPERITY
Good Evening.

o what joy and delicious surprise Did meet my lonely, early morning stroll, For high up against reckoning sky Hugh Howitzers of industry thundered forth In volumes of smoke And boldly wrote Its epitaphs to depression And promises of |; A life henceforth of prosperity, Of industry and love. . And symphonies of industry I heard That creations mightier, more majestic were Than Beethoven's symphonic orations Or any other composers productions here The sight of hundreds marching on To the bugle-calls of industry, Inspired to serve in peace as in war may ever such sights as these Ever greet my early morning stroll That men may sit in the lap of industry And enjoy from persistent forms of sweat the
 luxury Of knowing that their lives are lives of service, Love and labor to themselves and fellow-man!
 Rev. J. J. Kripas
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-03-02

Cleaning up the cuffs of coumnist's shirt Roger Reirne who playing in the Frank Lyons stock company at the Waterbury Women's Club Monday and Tuesday nights, cassmate of Joe Robinsons at Notre Dame Incidentally Mir Beirne football squad He play ed end during Rockne's regime Attorney Gregory Scanlon former local school teacher and also former mayor of Holyoke Mass where he lives is of the defense counsel the two Connecticut youths charged with the murder of guard at the Hamden county jail Roger Walsh the shoeman is telling of wild drive that he had Monday down to Beacon Falls. There rubber and artc shortage in Waterbury Roger hired taxicab to 90 the factory at Beacon Falls He'll remember that dash for many day prominent resident of Cheshire is telling this recent cold night he carefully covered his automobile hood and radiator with blanket The next morning the bare Investigation proved the family dog with sleeping quarters in the garage had pulled the blanket off the and rolled up in it in corner
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-03-02
By DOTY HOBART

JEROME KELSEY licked and he knew it. It's tough
 to be big and lanter-jawed and twosted to welcome fair fight and have to admit being whipped by putty muscled silk-shirted gangster
 The only building contractor in the city who yet, had paid tribute for protection paced the floor of his private office He waiting for telephone call. Seven days ago Boss More king the building racket had sad I give you ring just week from today Kelsey You'd better agree make your first payment of grand for protection that day or" The week up kelsey didn't have ten dollars, let alone ten hundred.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-03-02
A Daily Story Real Life

office when my boss 'phoned that ultimatum to your switchboard girl. Great fellow, my boss. Said he didn't want to see man in your position carry on without protec- tion. Goodnight, MT Kelsey"
 THE END.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-03-02

Tommy SulHvan, popular aenager Of the HoWland Hughes meat market for some time past, has been trdsnferred to Ne0 Jersey branch. His many friends are sorry to him 90. Victor Davis of Neao York kas come to Waterbury to succeed him. The a0e kao0n Bob Fahey renaains dssistdnt manager
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-03-02

Man da the Tower Dear Sir; Ana vaudevile tour qvh "Golagher and Sheam Foles" playmg on the RKO circuit It's great hfe and grent shoaO. Hope ave play mear Waterbury to give few of the ho,netoUmers chonce to the performance Sincere b. Jomaes Saginario lSo do /, Jim Lots of l~ch The Ed.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-03-02

News dispatches from Washington yesterday related how President Roosevelt compimented Jim Hornaday, Indianapolis News reporter celebrating his 50th anniver sary as reporter, thusy: q want to shake hands, think the finest thing and the trues thing say IS that you are gentleman of the press.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-03-02

Editor, TaU ToWer -AcknoWledging an- other Kindness bestoWed upon our gang of snoW heavers Wednesday, morning, again take this oppor tunity to thamk another kind ady for her thoughtf ness Yesterday morning the gamg dreW Kemilaoorth street as of their assignments and caed no the home of Mrs. M Gold oho had hot coffee prepared for them. mag be conaing little botersome to yoa, but recognition of Kindness of this sort should be knowledged. Thamks again for your space member of Dave Hayes' Gang.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-03-02

Tidbits MT. and Mrs. John Crary and daughter FL eanor leave Wednesday for thirty days cruise the Mediterranean Sea Bon voyage friends Many thanks to Tony Fernandez of the North End to attend the ban 1uet planned for the Colonial basketball team the latter part of the month Mrs Leith Morton patient at St Nary's hospital Mary Mates and Georgianna Stevens save given up tripping the light fantastic during Lent Ditto for John Driscol.
 Good Night
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-03-02

Masks originally were de-4 signed for ceremonial and 1e... ligious use. The watermelon iB native to TROPICAL and SOUTHERN AFRICA. WHALE OIL is the chief product of modern whaling.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-03-02

Editor Tall Tower Topics: Kindly let me have small space your valuable column for very humane story be- fore the effects of the blizzard of 1884 past events As do A hours duty protection the people and not going to have the comforts of home no crtcsm) But all thongs turn out we'll for those who try to do right On Washngtons birthday Armond Brown of Sprague street. Watervie of staunch Metropolitan Life Insurance representatives into the Waterve Fire House, and seeing asleep in chairs collected and went his In half hour he appeared with three cots and mattresses much to the delight of the remen and in the early morning he back with three for which he had to travel all the way to Quassapaug So know that heroes born made and tonight the brave firefighters of Station Mo- give three rousng cheers for Armond May he live to many more blfzzards. J. L. c.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-03-02
The Cast of Characters in
 Protection"

JEROME KELSEY, contractor
 menaced by a boss racketeer. BOSS MORELLI, the racletcer
 who threatens Kelsey. JOHN SMITH, a collector.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-03-02

Editor, TaU Toa0er Topics: I attend the CWA cass in public speaking at Crosby High school and find i interestng Each student is asked to address the class on some subject recite poem. At the beginning of the semester most of the pupils suffered from nervousness and appeared to be timorous As the meetings progressed these traits became Jess troublesome and today the Brass City is about to a0el come some oratory in aU cts glory Under the able audance Of Miss Anne Devereaur remark Of sarcasn or rdicule has been auoUed to be cast by ay member We earm also the correct pronunciation of any abused vords such as schism superfuos and that the plural say Bon Voyage to the future Bryams." J. V Walker.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-03-02

And the children, Jimmy, ten, and Hazel, eight. He was proud of them, too. What grand plans had been made for the years to come. He and Alice had talked them over often. For Hazel-Vas-
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-12-21

"How did you get here, Fred Aldrich?
] thought left you In town."
"You did. But what's a city without
your gay self in it? decided to &C
cept uncle's proffered Invitation to
fish; so l followed you home. You
know my aunt and uncle?"
"Of course. We're old friends"
Katharine beamed her brightest smile
upon the uncle. But l didn't know
you were relatives. This is my broth.
er, Jack"
Lets go home and get the tree up.
It's almost quit showing" Jack offered
unceremoniously.
Let's" the uncle added, but he
smiled as though well pleased "Your
mother has already asked us for
Christmas dinner. Katharine. 1t was
to have been surprise"
"A pretty fine one I'd say" Fred's
voice sounded very gay and happy.
'That tree deserves special attention
in my opinion. So on we 60, over the
ice and through the snow"
And someway 1t proved much easier
going now than 1t did before-espe-
cially to Katharine.
O Western Newspaper Union
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-12-21

right tree from the abundance to be
found there. Jack would chop it down
and together they would tie it secure
" on the big sled. It was easy enough
to bring 1t back, especially when the
ice was as smooth as it was this year |;
for they would skate over and back.
It was two miles across to the pine
woods which they reached in much
less time than 1t usually took them.
They did not often have such smooth
skating surface. 1t was time well
3gained; for 1t took much longer than
WAS customary to find just the right
eized tree to at into the space allotted
it in their living room. The short De-
cember day was already drawing to q
close when the two found themselves
once more on the ice heading for home.
wen have to hurry II we get home
before dark, Jack"
"Don,t know It'll" Jack answered
nT.ook It's showing"
Sure enough the air was filed with
fine, glistening particles.
"We've got to hustle now, Kath. You
know you're plain stuck II you get
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-12-21
A CASE OF
COMPETITION

0TF SOME one would only
Il take US out and exercise
us!" growled Bitten.
Here we stand in the stables
month after month and Santa
hardly comes near us. I've al
most forgotten how to race with
cloud or land on a roof"
Il know it," agreed Donder
from his stall. For three years
now our master has taken his
presents around the world in
flying machine.
'I'm fed up with this dull
life!"
Were no good to anyone"
declared Comet. Il wonder il
the children miss us?"
There was a long silence in
the stables. Then suddenly the
doors were flung wide. A little
round man in red coat bounced
In.
come on, come ONT" he
called. Jump fast into the
harness. We're going on our
rounds in five minutes I've
had ten million letters from chill
dren saying they can't possibly
go to sleep Christmas eve I'M
less they hear my reindeer
pounding on the roof. Off with
you!"
The sleigh tipped out of the
stable in a twinkling. after
ALL" said Santa, II think my
reindeer are better than air
planes. They never have engine
trouble. Get up, Donder! Go
on, Blitzen!"
The bells tangled, the reins
slapped, the sleigh swept forth
on it's age-old journey.-Martha
Banning Thomas.
@. Western Newspaper Union.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-12-21

caught on the ice in snow storm"
On they glided holding firmly to the
sled rope. The sharp snow granules
became more numerous. The air was
filled with them, pelting and biting
their faces and making the skating less
and less easy. The cracks and holes in
the ice were soon covered. More than
once Jack and Katharine found them
selves clutching the air in wild con-
tortions to keep their balance.
Suddenly Katharine's skate caught
in a hole In falling she hit Jacks
skate and they both went sliding and
sprawling on the snow-covered surface.
The sleigh, with the tree on it, sped
past them, carried on by the impetus
of its weight and the flying start it
had.
The two skaters gathered themselves
together, regaining their feet in time
to see the runaway sleigh hit fish
erman's hut. The hut collapsed. They
watched two much befurred, and irate
men disentangle themselves from the
wreck and glare around to see what
it was all about.
Katharine and Jack sped towards
them as fast as the skating would per-
NIT.
Were so sorry" Katharine began.
"But the snow covered the cracks In
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-12-21
Difference in Ostriches

The South American ostrich is a
different bird from the South African.
Its scientific name is Rhea Americana.
The rhea is a smaller creature than
the South African bird, standing only
from 80 to 40 inches tall. The South
Africans stand six feet sometimes.
However. the rhea has fine feathers
and was described by great natural
list as ''the noblest avian type on the
great bird continent" Most of the
birds are naturally grayish, or with
mixed gray and white feathers, but.
In recent years. an albino type was
discovered. It's plumes are especially
valuable
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-12-21

the neat fiat sleeves, whether you
have them long or short, are exactly
right for you. The sc!,aops, with
their smart pretense of buttoning
down, make them very chic. Nice in
a gay cotton print.
Pattern 1888 is available in sizes
"a, SO, 50, 40, ~, A, 46, and 4S. Size
SO takes 31a yards 36-inch fabric.
Illustrated step-by-step sewing in
structions included.
SEND FIFTEEN CENTS (15c) in
coins or stamps (coins preferred)
for this pattern. Write plainly name.
address and style number. BE SURE
TO STATE SIZE.
Address orders to Sewing Circle
Pattern Department, 243 West Sew
enteenth Street, New York City.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-12-21

Use Sleigh Bells for
jolly Christmas Game

IERE is a new and exciting game
= ! to play at a Christmas party. First
borrow set of sleigh BELLS They are
not as easy to find as In the old days.
Find string with tuneful, varying notes
If you wish the game to jingle to the
full measure Of holiday fun.
The idea is simply this: 1t is posi-
BILE to suggest, then control the action
Of person who does not know what
Is in your mind, but must find out
through the sound of the bells. Here
is the way to do it:
Send one Of the guests from the
room. The remainder decide what he
must do. For instance-go to certain
table. pick up book, take it to an
other table and place 1t near the lamp.
Here are four separate acts in sue
cession.
The person outside Is called back.
Somebody has been chosen to be the
manipulation OF the bells. He must use
nice judgment in using them. ringing
softly when the act approaches what
Is In the minds Of all; ringing loudly
as the perplexed player moves away.
Try it. Use subtle gradations of sound
to guide your experiment. Without q
word being spoken he will at last be
guided to do what has been secretly
agreed upon. Loud ringing when he is
far from his goal or going from IT.,
soft, soft. barely audible when he is
near the doing OF what is required
Martha Banning Thomas.
@. Western Newspaper Union.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-12-21

the ice and my
skate caught :"
she got no further.
A pair Of black
eyes under the huge
fur cap were mis-
chievously twink
ling:
$50, you're our
undoing, Katharine
Mann. ! came up
here on your trail
but l didn't expect
you to upset my
plans in this fash
ion."
Katharine b a d
somewhat recovered
hnr noiso.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-12-21
kAAAA.lAlAAAA.AAAAAAAAlAAA.AAAA A
Christmas Trails
and Gales
by
Florence Harris Wells

nOW that she was really at
"a IL home for Christmas Kath-
arine Mann found herself
&Za wishing that she had invited
X some of her young city
.AASl friends to accompany her.
EUW21 Katharine was working on
the last few rows of the
scarf she was knitting for her mothers
Christmas gift and her thoughts were
as busy as her fingers.
She had thought IL was going to be
too stupid in the little bay shore vii
lage for her friends. But father and
mother and brother Jack had all been
30 sincerely delighted to see her that
she had decided a home was after all
the only place in which to spend
Christmas and boarding and rooming
houses could not compare, no matter
how congenial the young folks there
might be. Still she did wish Fred
Aldrich might be here, too.
Fred had grown to be quite a part
of her life she was learning, now that
she had been away for two days. They
had been boarding at the same place
for six months. 1t was jolly group
ut that boarding house. Katharine
hoped they were missing her, especial
" Fred, she admitted to herself. An
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-12-21
Real Hero

"Yes, / was in the. World war. I
took part in II engagements" said
the handsome newly arrived film
hero at Hollywood.
'1n IL engagements, and you are
still a bachelor!" exclaimed a chorus
Of movie blends, in CONSERVATION
Pathfinder Magazine.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-12-21
Something Wrong

Guest-Do you operate bus be-
tween the hotel and the railroad sta
ton?
Manager of Ritzy Hotel-No, sir +!
Guest-That's strange. All my
friends said you would get me COM
ing and going.