davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1934-12-28
CHAPTER l
Christmas Eve!

Christmas Eve.
Sixth avenue was a mad scramble
of last minute shoppers, garment work
ers pouring out of the loft buildings
that were their daytime prisons, COM
muters hurrying for their trains
beggars, crooks and honest men and
women.
Into the broiiing mob turned Beth
ma Ruggles-weary almost to faint
ness, weak from insufficient food, wor
ried to distraction. One bare hand,
blue-white already from the cold
clutching thin envelope. Her weeks
pay. A pitifully small sum that had
to feed her father-who was unable
to find any sort of job-her mother
and her baby sister until next pay day.
In spite of her mothers economies,
Bethna's wages never did feed them,
Friday always saw them subsisting
on crusts and looking forward to Sat
urday nights dinner.
But tonight, the landlord had to be
given something out of that slim en-
velope. He had given them until to-
night to pay up-or be evicted. And
they had no place to go, no one to
turn to, nothing to depend upon except
Bethna's weekly pay envelope.
And today's pay was smaller than
usual. Bethna was frantic with wor-
ry. Mrs. Ruggles stretched every dol
lar to its uttermost limit and even then
"O-oh!" It was a Mortified, des-
pairing wall.
Without quite knowing how it hap
pened, Bethna found herself on the
sidewalk with only a confused memory
of having been jostled and tripped
by someone who had managed at the
same time to snatch that pitifully thin
pay envelope from her desperately
clutching fingers.
ooh, stop him! Thief! Help!" she
walled, scrambling to her feet, horri-
fled eyes searching this way and that
-helplessly confused.
ooh, if you knew what that money
means to me-" she cried pleadingly,
whoever you are that took it, you'd
give it back,"
Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1934-12-28

"Furs, mister? Nice fur coat
cheap? Lot cheaper'n you'd get il
at that gyp joint, mister. Only a
hundred dollars. If it amt the right
size, ] KIN git the right one. Look
mister. It's worth thousan'. Feel,
he wheedled, holding the coat to-
wards them.
siberian squirrel-or Pm an egg,'
commented the man who had discov-
cred Bethna. "Where'd you get it ?
Steal it?
NAV, mister!" protested the other
"Times is so hard the manufacturers
has got to peddle 'em. It's bargain
you'd never get again, mister. It's
so little, that's why it's so cheap.
Only a hundred, mister"
what size is it," demanded Wes-
ley Payne.
"It's only fourteen, mister. You
see"
"Would it fit that girl over there
by the window" And a cane pointed
at Bethna.
"Sure, mister! It's just her size.
Sure, it'll fit her. Hey, kid" he cried,
darting to the girls side. "Slip it
on, will yuh?" And then in hur-
ried whisper, "I'll slip you a buck if
you help me sell it,"
IT is doubtful if Bethna heard any
thing except that last sentence. But
she did hear that, and she lifted her
dcsolate tear-stained face to see what
il was all about.
Here, slip it on" commanded the
fur peddler, and somehow or other,
the girl found herself warmly clad in
luxurious fur for the first time in her
Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1934-12-28
%Q.hri5tma5h Pay ;
"a by NANETTE Ian { ~

life.
"Does it fit?" Wesley smiled down
at her expressionless face. But she
only shook her head at him mutely,
not comprehending what it was all
about.
whats the matter with it? Too
small? Too large? What?" asked
Wesley.
She only continued to stare from
one face to another, too deep in her
own woes to know what they were
talking about.
All unconsciously, one bare hand
stroked the soft fur that clothed her.
Stroked and stroked as if the cold
fingers were curious, exploring.
at fit, mister" said the peddler
eagerly, turning the limp girl around
so that they could see the back of the
coat, and running his hanads up under
her arms to show that the armholes
were just right. "See? 1t fits per-
feet"
Still the girl had nothing to say.
She didn't know what was happening
to her. Her dazed mind could only
encompass one thought. The pay en-
velope was gone.
"All right, fellow. It's sale,"
said Wesley with a sigh. Somehow
there wasn't the kick in doing this
that he had expected. Here's your
hundred. Now beat it."
The peddler snatched the proffered
bills and disappeared into the crowd
with Bethna's big worried gray eyes
staring after him anxiously. He had
promised her a dollar.
She needed thatdollar so desperately
too. She had helped him sell his coat.
Why did he run away without giving
her the dollar? Oh, what an awful,
awful Christmas this was going to
be for her poor family?
Tears of hopeless Encouragement
filled her eyes. Her white face twist
ed pitifully and the slender shoulders
began to tremble with the sobs that
We're forcing their way past her throat
She had to do something. First she
had to get home.
She wiggled out of the luxurious
Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1934-12-28

But the crowd only circled around
her, giving her plenty of room, and
went on about it's business. Nobody
spoke to her. Nobody stopped. The
pay envelope was gone!
And her mother was waiting there
in the dingy tenement that was their
home for that money, so that she could
go out and buy food for their baby's
needed meal
Helpless tears streaming down her
white face, the girl stood there, APP
pealing to the crowd. Pay envelope
snatchers weren't new to her. She
knew they haunted the garment fac
tory doors on pay day, and she u.s.
ually carried her pay envelope wadded
up in a tight lump with nervously
clutching fingers guarding it. Oh,
why had she been SO careless? Why
didn't somebody do something?
Somehow her faltering knees car
ried her to the policeman on the cor
ner, but there wasn't anything he
could do. She hadn't really expected
him to do anything. She had never
heard of anyone getting a pay enve-
lope back yet.
But the bluecoat, his Irish heart
big with pity for the forlorn little
thing, dug down into his pocket and
fished out dollar bill. He folded
her trembling fingers about it-and
then scolded her bruskly for being
80 careless.
"He's mile away by now, the
lousy bum that got your pay" the
big voice rumbled at her gruffly.
"You shouldn't be so careless. If We
didn't see who did it, how can I help
Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1934-12-28

squirrel coat these two rich men had
bought for some lucky girl and held
it out to them without word.
Here, mister" she qavered. Ct
I've got to CO."
Then the men understood.
But the coat is for you, little girl.
It's your Christmas present. Put it on
and run along"
"For-me ?" she repeated blankly,
still holding it out to them.
"Of course" said Wesley Payne with
an indulgent smile. Weren't you cry
ing for fur coat?"
Crying for a fur coat?" she re-
peated. ooh, no! I was crying be-
cause it's such terrible, cruel, aw-
full world"
"Well, it won't seem like nearly
such a terrible world if you're all
warm and comfortable, will it,"
smiled Payne, feeling a Ito better
about his generous gesture now.
She stared up at him, wordless,
while hope began to dawn. Maybe she
could sell the coat like the peddler
did. Then she would have money for
her starving family.
as it-really - for me?" she asked
suddenly breathless with the realiza-
ton of what such a possession could
mean.
ut really is, my girl" Payne smiled
down at her. "And ] hope you have
a very merry Christmas in IL. Good
day."
merry Christmas" the other ma
chimed inannd the two-a 1luzu1iG|
to little M -
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-03-10
MANY PLANTS RATED
AS POORLY LIGHTED
Magazine Asserts Condition Forms
Forms Menace to Employees.

NEW YORK, March 10.-More
than half of the industrial plants
in the United States use lighting
systems that are obsolete, in
adequate and hazardous to the
health and safety of their employees,
it is indicated in the March issue
of Factory Management and Main
enance, to be published Monday.
A survey that is included in the
issue lists the paint and varnish in
duStry as the worst offender in fail
ing to provide adequate lighting and
rejecting equipment in 87.3 per cent
Of its plants; next in order is the
canning industry, 1874 per cent OBJ
solete; the building materials in
duStries, 81 per cent, and chemical
manufacturing BIT per cent.
Best lighted of the 1907 industrial
plants in the eighteen industries in
Guided in the survey is the textiles
and clothing group with an OBJ
solescence rating of only 21.3 per
cent. Next up on the scale is the
pulp and paper manufacturing in
dustry with a lighting rating 25 per
cent obsolete, closely followed by the
machinery and tool manufacturing
industry with rating of 273 per
cent.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-03-10
GOOD SURPLUS
POSITION SHOWN
Hancock Insurance Made
Safe by S59,000,0OO
in Reserve.

Building up of a substantial sur
plus is the first essential duty of the
head of a life insurance company,
says Walton L. Croker, president
Of the John Hancock Mutual Life
Insurance Company of Boston, in
the first story of his long insurance
career ever to be released to the
public.
That he has accomplished this
task we'll is indicated in his COM
pany's report for the last year,
which shows that the company has
a general surplus Of $44, 153, 900,
which with a special contingency re-
serve Of $15,000,000, gives it a safety
fund Of $50 ,153,OOO
Having about it glamour as we'll
as distinction, the position of presi-
dent of a great life insurance COM
pany carries with it heavy load OF
responsibility and an appreciation
Of trusteeShip which must be Of the
spirit, not perfunctory" says Clar-
ence Amman, nationally known
writer and editor of an insurance
trade journal.
The responsibility is not only to
policyholders of whom there are
iegions." he states, but to the in
stitution itself. 1t is a RESPONSE
bility based upon the use of vision
and good judgment, as we'll as upon
the inner urge to do the right thing,
and by the very nature of the
problems arising in the days work
that judgment may have to be exer-
cised along many avenues, including
finance, industry and law, as well as
the pure insurance details"
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-03-10
STORES REPORT
BUSINESS CAIN
Dry Goods Dealers See
More Improvement
Ahead in 1894.

Tracing the line of national re-
covery in the trend of retail sales
from the confusion and chaos sur
rounding the bank holiday a year
ago to the present improved level
of business, the National Retail Dry
Goods Association, representing $500
department and speciality stores,
takes a cheerful view of the out
look for business in the months
ahead.
In reviewing the progress of thou
sands of stores during the year. the
trade body described the elements
of retail recovery; an upward swing
of sales after a continuous four
year decline. a gradual increase in
prices with beneficial effect on
the purchasing power of thousands
OF industrial workers; the shorten
ing OF store hours; the increase in
store pay rolls; the addition of thou
sands of new employees on store
STATS, and the first decrease in store
operating losses in four years.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-03-10
BUSINESS NEWS FOR THE WEEK
MO-DENE WILL
OPEN BRANCH
SOON IN CITY
Officials Impressed by Ad-
vantageS Offered for >
Distribution.

Charles A. Peak and w. A. Young,
officials of the Mo-Dene Company,
are in Indianapolis seeking a To-
cation for branch laboratory. They
have several sites in view and expect
to be in production within two
weeks.
Mr.. Peak states that indianapolis
has been selected as a principal
branch site because Of its distribu-
ton advantages and for the reason
that Mo-Dene already is tavorably
known in this territory. Mr.. Young
expects to stay in Indianapolis I'M
til production gets under way. The
home office of Mo-Dene is located
in Cincinnati, o.
Mo-Dene has been on the mar
ket nationally for two years and
has met with remarkable success,
states Mr.. Peak.
Mr.. Young and Mr.. Peak both are
optimistic in regard to general bust
ness conditions over the country.
They are particularly encouraged by
business recovery in the Indianapo-
lis territory.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-03-10
SATURDAY

SATURDAY
4:O0-Pancho's orchestra (CBs) wABc.
Piano duo (NBCl VIZ.
4:15-Neu Sisters (NBC) WIZ.
4:so-7 Economics in the New Deal
JsGEIe + Heller, Kogen's orchestra
4 4:4s PEI campo: songs s- eGfBs1 WABc.
a. alg Pf2Tc 9r6 and gang fNn HRQ WE WSz
5:15-Baritone and Ted Blacks orches
ira CCBS) WABC.
5:30-Frederick William Vile (CBS)
JACK Armstrong CCBs, wBBM.
20. climbers orchestra (NBGl WEAF
';45-f FeRtare A NB Will MEAF NB0' WIZ
Mitchell shuster's orchestra (cBs)
WADC.
0:OO-E 5GSg, Micb bc and congregation
John HerricE, baritone CNBC) WIZ.
Religion in the News CNBCl WEAF.
''' chestra 5cBs) WABc. a. -''''- u
Vocal (NBC) WEAF.
G 5NRd, N SPS2ker' kyte's orchestra
S:45-Isham Jones orchestra (cBs)
7:Oo-FeEty Five Minutes in Hollywood
Art in America (NBC) WIZ.
The Night Dream hour (NBC)
WEAF.
7:2O-Boston Symphony CNRC) WEAF.
The Cavaliers CNBCl WIZ.
7:30-Under the Bridges of Paris (NBC)
7:45-Trade and Mark (CBsp wABc.
8:0O-Stokowski and Philadelphia orches-
ira (CBS) WABC.
Brad Browne. Donald NoviS, Frances
Langord. Voorhees, orch S tr
(NBCl WEAF.
Jamboree NBCl WJR.
s:15-Alexander Woollcott-"Town Crier''
(CBS) WABC.
8:30-Beatrice Fairfax (NBC) WEAF.
Paige's orchestra: male trio, Negro
choral group (CBS) WABC.
Duchin's orchestra (NBC) WIZ.
9:00-Rolfe Saturday Night Dancing party
(NBC) WEAF.
Byrd Expedition broadcast CCBs)
'l934GA National Park Year"
CNBC) WIZ
s:3o-H. V. Kaltenborn (CBsl WABC.
9:30-H. " Kaltenborn (CBSl WABC.
Barn Dance (NBC) WIZ.
9:45-Lombardo and orchestra (CBS)
1o:oo-B BARTON Madriguera orchestra
News service (CBS) WABC
Whitemans orchestra (NBCl WIZ.
One Mans Family (NBCl WEAF.
II :50-HollyWood on the Air (NBCl WEAF.
Dennys orchestra CNBCl WIZ.
Jack Little orchestra (CBS) WABC.
Charles Davis orchestra tCBSJ
Carefree Carnival CNBC) WEAF
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-03-10
Aluminium Cans Appear
as Containers of Food
Tuna Fish Packers Said to
Consider New Cans
Better Than Tin.
BIZ Tim Is SnecinL

By Times Special
NEW YORK, March 10.-Food
packed in aluminium cans, a new
experience for the shopping house
wife and a new departure for the
food packing industry, is now avail
able in the New York markets, ac-
cording to the publication, Food In
dustries.
After four years of experimental
tion," the magazine reports, lin
California and Pennsylvania labora-
tories, and a short excursion into a
few representative markets, alumni
mum cans arrived in New York re-
Gently packed with tuna fish from
Point Iona, Cal.
Point Iona packers, co-operat-
ing with Aluminium Company of
America, made up their first patches
of aluminium packed tuna in 1929.
Corresponding patches were put in
tin, and in the succeeding years
similar patches in tin and aluminium
were packed every three months,
and at varying intervals each batch
was subjected to scientific COM
parsons of taste, color odor, texture
and purity.
The tests bore out consistent
superiority on the part of the
aluminium pack, it is reported. Con-
sumner tests indicated that the
housewife would pay a slight pre-
MUM for the aluminium packed
tuna and a commercial pack of
some 100000 cans now enters the
market.
"As packers ware, aluminium has
the advantage of being neutral"
food industries declare, eliminating
the necessity of lacquer coating.
Also, aluminium cans are easily
opened, owing to the softness of the
metal Furthermore, aluminium, be-
ing light, saves four pounds for
each case on the freight bill. A dis
advantage, however, is a is per cent
higher cost of the metal.
These aluminium cans" food in
dustries concludes, ARE die-formed,
and only the top is soldered on.
When opened they have reuse value.
Another feature is a grid bottom
that is said to prevent all the oil
from being forced up the sides of
the can and leaving the bottom
dry"
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-03-10
Statesmen of Agency for
Two Companies Meet
at City Club.

A thirteen week drive for health
and accident and life insurance
production in Indiana was opened
with the sales meeting today at the
Columbia Club. Redfeld-M cGurk,
state agents for the Mutual Benefit
Health and Accident Association
and the United Benefit Life Insur-
ance Company predict it will be one
of the most successful campaigns
of the year. A unique plan of
awards for production over the en-
tire period plus special prizes
coupled with the enthusiasm of the
fifty attending producers combined
to make the opening day suspicious.
The Indiana sales force is to be
increased gradually to rival the
Redfield- MCGurk Chicago organiza-
ton, long known as the largest
health and accident sales group in
the world. At present, very few
agency connections are available
outside Marion county.
Those attending included the fol-
lowing:
r. NJ. Baker, william J. Cecil, O..
E. Dickerson. Edgar Jerome. Bert
G. LaurimOre, Fred Ruff, A. G..
Thompson, Ivan A. Earring, G. w.
Hepler, r. w. Wilson, Milo Amos,
c. V. Carlson, Ben Lynch, Ray Ben
nett, R. J. Fouhs, Mary j. Altar and
c. T. Redfield
R. H. Barbour. Kenneth Cecil
Henry Handy, E. E. Knoy, E. A.
Mcdowell, Rynearson Company, H.
R. Watkins, R. A Corbridge, C. A
NusSle, James A. Lake, S. E. Long,
Arthur Dennis, FrieSner & GRIPPE, B.
A. Green. Milt Mclean, L. M. Ty-
ner and John McGurk
Mrs. NJ Barnard, M. A Claycomb,
George w. Heston, w. G. Kramer,
H. R. Reinchield, j. j. Shawhan,
w. r. Wise, George Dodd, c. w
Ssenger, F. E. Brown, Thomas
Becker, S. D. Karam, j. H. Enrich,
H. NJ Wright, E. o. Stallman, G. G.
Wilson and B. E. Bennett.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-03-10
COURT-MARTIAL
ACQUITS OCKER,
FLYING EXPERT
Jury Takes Is Minutes to
Decide Veteran Didn't
Insult Chief.

BIZ United Press
FIT. SAM HOUSTON, Tex March
10.-Major William G. Ocker,
famous blind flying" expert of the
United States army air service, was
free today on charges of speaking
derogatorily of superior officer.
A court martial jury of nine Off
GERS deliberated only fifteen minutes
last night before unanimously find
ing Major Ocker not guilty of the
charges preferred by Lieutenant
Colonel Henry B. Clagett, COM
mandant of Kelly field.
Il feel as if my work for aviation
has not been wasted Major Ocker
said when the trial was over. Now
I can go ahead with my efforts to
mako f-'--~ safer with further de-
velopment of navigation instru-
ments," Lieutenant Colonel Clagett
STROBE from the courtroom, deClin-
ing to comment.
Major Ocker, oldest flier in the
army in point of service, was
charged with accusing the COM
mandment and Major c. G. john
Ston, flight surgeon, with collision
relative to an examination preceding
Major Ocker's grounding for poor
vision.
The trial climaXed as bitter
feud as the army has seen in recent
years. Major Ocker told the court
he had been the victim of Lieu
tenant Colonel Clagetti's malice
since their paths first crossed at
Boiling field ten years ago.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-03-10
CITY OF TREES
PROJECT BEGINS
HERE TUESDAY
CWA Crew to Do Planting:
Permanent Policy
Decided On.

Planting of trees in the eva
City Of Trees" project will begin
Tuesday. Andrew Miller, park board
horticulturist. and Ebert Moore.
foreman of CWA planting crews, an
nounced today. The first shipment
of trees is expected to arrive from
the nurseries Monday and will be
planted Immediately.
Preliminary to initiation of the
planting program CWA crews have
been busy for the past two months
removing more than 1000 dead trees
and unsightly stumpS from the
street lamps Of the city.
The City of Trees" project is
part of a comprehensive plan for
the Identification of indianapolis
and the park board intends to make
it a permanent activity which will
be carried on after the CWA has
ceased to operate. The program
is sponsored by the indianapolis
Council of Garden Clubs and the
park board with headquarters on
the ground floor of the Architects
and Builders building, Pennsylvania
and Vermont streets.
Hundreds of Indianapolis citizens
and houSeholders have taken adj
vantage of the opportunity to beau
tify lawns in front of their homes
at a cost far below normal market
prices, due to the cooperation of
the Nurserymen's Association and to
the fact that the purchaser is re-
lieved of all expense after the trees
are purchased, as delivery and
planting will be done by CWA crews
under expert supervision.
The committee in charge Of the
project is urging purchasers to place
their orders at the earliest possible
moment in order that the planting
may be completed before the trees
begin to bud. Trees available at
this time and best adapted to
growth in the city include Norway
naples, sycamoreS, lindens, Amer
lean elms and all varieties of oaks.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-03-10
FRICIDAIRE TO
MAKE STRONG
SALES APPEAL
Advertising Campaign Plans
Disclosed at Meeting
of Area Dealers.

Advertising and merchandising
plans for Frigidaire Sales Corpora
ton, subsidiary Of General Motors,
were presented to 200 members Of
the organizations selling force in
this area yesterday at a convention
meeting IN the ClaypOOl.
Heading the party Of national ex-
eCutives Of the company attending
the meeting was w. D. McElhinny,
manager commercial division He
Will be accompanied by E. D. DOty,
advertising manager.
The meeting here was attended by
dealers, representatives Of depart
ment stores and utilities and sales
men from Indiana and adjoining
states.
According to information sent
c. S. Wheeler, president Refrigerat-
ing Equipment Corporation, distri-
butors for this region, Frigidaire is
decidedly optimistic over the out
look for general business, and at the
session here disclosed speciality sell
ing, merchandising and advertising
plans that compare with the activi-
ties in the pre-retrenChment peri
DDS.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-03-10
NOTED JOURNALIST DIES
Rutgers University Professor Sue
cumbS to Pneumonia.

By United Press
NEW YORK, March 10.-Dr. AL
len Sinclair Will, s. head of the
department of journalism of Rut-
gers university, New Brunswick, N
j., died today of pneumonia. He
entered a hospital ten days ago
suffering from a nervous break
down.
Dr. Will Formerly was assistant
editor of the New York Times and
had been city editor of the Balti-
more Sun. He was author of a
number of books.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-03-10
Conductor Killed by Train
By United Press

HAMMOND, Ind, March 100.
A. Hopper, SO, conductor on an Ell
gin, Joliet & Eastern freight train,
was killed today when he stepped
into the path of another train at
Griffith. four miles east of here.
Coroner Andrew Hoffman said that
Mr.. Hopper was switching when
the accident occurred.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-03-10
TOnight's Radio Tour
NETWORK OFFERINGS

900-Salon orchestra.
9:30-Piano Twins
9:45-Message from Governor McNutt.
10:0O-Atop the Indiana roof.
10:15-Little Jack Little orchestra. CHS.
1045-Ace Bridgode orchestra. CHS.
II 00-Louis Panico orchestra CHS.
IL :30-Louie Lowe orchestra
IL 90 (Midnightl Atop the Indiana roof
A. M
12:l5-Sign off.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-03-10
METHODIST Guild to Meet

The White Cross Guild Of Grace
Methodist Episcopal church will
meet Tuesday at the nurses home
of Methodist hospital.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-03-10
FORUM TO HEAR DOCTOR
DIR. John c. Benson Will Address
Church Group.

DR.. John G. Benson, Methodist
hospital superintendent, will speak
on Christian disqualification" to-
morrow night at the open forum of
the Friends and Methodist
churches of Plainfeld. The two
churches have united their Sunday
night services as open forums.