davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1936-07-16
Despite Drought and Fires in West
Old Time Prairie Blazes Are Gone

In all the long catalog of woes that
heat and drought have brought to
the west, at least one former Attic
ton has been spared the prairie
fire
Chronicles of pioneers of the
prairies and plains tell again and
again of this deadly sweeping terror,
that would spring over the horizon
without any warning, range through
the cotton-dry grass and down upon
the unwary caravan faster than any
Cossack charge. Never so intense as
a fire in the heavier fuel of forest
the prairie fire made up in furious
speed what it lacked in staying-pow-
Grand that it sufficed in deadliness
and charred wagons and bleaching
bones of more than one emigrant
train long testified.
Its causes were various: Occasion
ally bolt of lightning, with insult
ficient rain afterwards to extinguish;
sometimes a careless campfire set by
some other traveller; more often the
Indians, who would purposely start
the fire either to clear the way for
fresh young grass for the buffalo, or
a deliberate weapon against the in
vading whites.
There was one effective weapon
If you saw the prairie fires approach
soon enough, and the wind was not
too high. You could back-fire"-
desperate haste pluck out circle Of
grasses few yards in diameter, start
a fire at the edge of it, and stand
with blanket wrapped round your
head while the brief flames fiareo
round you. Then retreat into the
blackened area of safety you ha6
created, or even stay right where
you were, if perchance the momen.
tary wind had carried your allyfire
toward the approaching bigger enc
my. Lonely settlers often saved their
houses and barns by first blowing g
few burrows around them, and then
starting the backfre.
But now there are no prairie fires
because there is no fuel for them
''The pillow that broke the plains
broke also this one enemy of the
plainsmen. Cultivation abolished
much of the old-time deep grasses
that stood dry and inviting fire ir
times of drought, and what the pillow
did not do the too-many hungry cat
tie did.
White mans appetite for gain
whetted by year upon year of fail
ure to get it, loaded the remaining
rangelands with far more hungry
animal mouths than they could sup
port on continuous-yield basis ir
times of full rain. And during the
present dry half of the irregularly
recurring climatic cycle, those
mouths, desperate with starvation
have skinned the grass down to the
very roots. There is nothing left to
eat, nothing left to burn.
Perhaps there are plainsmen who
still remember old times with some
thing of pang-who would not be
wholly sorry to see an oldfashioned
prairie fire again, because if it did
symbolic destruction, it also SYM
bolized a high abundance even as
did the whole burnt offerings" of
ancient Israel.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1936-07-16
B. F. KILBY CHAIRMAN
OF BOARD OF EDUCATION

Through error, The Skyland Post
reported last week that Zeb v. Gam
bill, member of the Ashe County
Board of Education was chairman of
the board. Mr.. Gambill was appoint
ed to fill the vacancy left by the
resignation of Elder Edd Davis who
was chairman, but it has been learn
ed that Mr.. Kilby was elected to the
craftsmanship before Mr.. Gambill's
appointment.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1936-07-16
Entered as second-class matter on Oct 1, 1925 at
the post Office at West Jefferson, North Carolina

The President has approved the setting aside
of $25O,OOO to fight grasshoppers To city folks
that sum seems like lot of money to expend
on grasshopper, but there are many things
that city folks do not know. The insects are
darkening the skies of parts of Iowa and Ne
braska with corresponding damage to crops.
Either the President knows something of mid
west farming or has been reading his Bible,
wherein writer of the dim past left on record
for the benefit of posterity the testimony that
'the grasshopper is burden"
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1936-07-16
96-Year-Old Papa
Not to Get Air Ride

George Isaac Hughes, SO. confed-
crate veteran, of New Bern, N. G.,
is perfectly willing to take an air
plane trip from Raleigh to New
York City, as invited by Bernarr
MacFadden, but Mrs. Hughes has
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1936-07-16
Teaching Respect of the Law

Patrolman Thomas is to be congratulated on
a recent lesson he delivered those who would
scott at the law in this city.
The story runs that Mr.. Thomas had arrest
ed two highway employees for reckless driving,
and the friends of the arrested men, feeling that
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1936-07-16
CARD OF THANKS

We wish to express our thanks tc
our many friends who so kindly as
sisted us during the illness and fol.
lowing the death of our wife and
mother, Mrs. A. v. Buttery. We also
appreciated the flowers.
"A. v. Buttery and family.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1936-07-16

A child specialist says that baby in arms
can be trained to a certain amount of indepen-
dence. Fathers who have walked the floor O.
nights incline to the belief that the offspring
needs no training to be independent.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1936-07-16

Beads made of shells by the In
dams and used as belt or money are
called wampum.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1936-07-16

Only male crickets make the noise
so well known in the summer.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1936-07-16

Doctor w. j. Mayo, world-renown physician
who put Rochester, Mimi, on the map, has just
turned his 18th birthday and Sen. William E.
Borah is hale and spry at seventy-one, while
John D. Rockefeller celebrates the 9th ami
versary of his birth. All of these men give tenn
perate living and plenty of exercise as recipes
for their long and healthy lives. All have spent
lives of hard work and seem to have proved the
saying that hard work never killed anybody.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1936-07-16

Nebraska has bestirred herself in the advo-
cation of federal laws to preserve wild life. Dis
regarding larger animals such as bear or elk
which are forced to retire before civilization it
is unfortunate that many smaller creatures
should have become practically extinct is
the instance of the passenger pigeon. In the old
days, that bird was SO plentiful that when the
wind impeded progress too much, they flew low
and in focks so large that as many pigeons as
and in focks SO large that as many pigeons as
were wanted could be scooped out of the air in
net on the end of pole, or felled by process
akin to fly swatting. Game conservation need not
be carried to point where hunting is so good as
that but the soft pedal should be applied before
the squirrel can be found only in the zoo or
stuffed specimen in museum.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1936-07-16

SO
The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-05-07
KUKAITS TAKEN
 BY DEATH TODAY
Lithuanian Br we f and Restaurateur to Be
 Buried Saturday

Charles K. Kukaitis, . pioneer resident, died this morning at his home, 600 Washington avenue, after Q life dedicated to activities, club affairs and consideration of the well fare of his legion of friends. MT. Kukaitis was Q native of Groziseki, Lithuania, but came to this country as Q youth and made his home in the mining section of Pennsylvania where he remained for two years before coming to Waterbury 47 years ago.
 Mir. Kukaitis was an employe of the Eagle Brewery for more than 12 years, later entering the restaurant business! During his recent years he operated the Charles Grill ct 488 North Main street. He was a member of the Lithuanian Citizens Political club and the Sviesos society He is survived by his wife Mary; two sons, Albert and Adolph, two daughters, Lillian and Mrs. Thomas Corby, Q grandchild, all of Water bury; and three brothers, John of this city, one Q resident of Scotland and the other in Lithuania.
 The body was removed to the fun erel home of Deliniks and son, 17 Congress avenue, from where the funeral will take place Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock with burial in the family plot in the Lithuanian Association cemetery.
 Friends may call ct the funeral home this evening.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-05-07
O'LEARY ESTATE
 WORTH $9,365.76

Thomas W. OLeary, veteran em- ploye of the American Mills Co.,, left an estate of $o,366.76, according to inventory of assets filed with Judge Dennis J. Slavin in probate court today. MT. OLeary died March { ct his home, 42 Webb street.
 He had been Q foreman at the American Mills Go. for more than 40 years when he retired several years ago. He was @ native of New Britain but had made his home in Water bury for more than half 6 century.
 There are two savings accounts in the estate, one at the~> Waterbury Trust co. for $2025.32, and another at the Waterbury Savings Bank for $630.44.
 Equity in property on Webb street is placed at $3400. A lot on Oak street is valued at $500, and lot in the town of Vernon Is valued at 9276.
 Another asset of the estate is a note for $l,O0O, and Q mortgage val- ued at 5000. Five Home Owners Loan Corporation bonds are valued at S5i0. Household effects and person. al belongings are valued at $l25.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-05-07
ScoviII Co. Executive Believes City Should
 Enlarge Present Plan
Intersections Believes Project Should Include Straight.Away For Vehicles on Mill Street

Approval of the plans of the city of Waterbury involving the con- struction of the new Baldwin street bridge, whereby three corner pieces of property occupied by permanent structures will be purchased, the buildings to be razed and sweeping curves to be laid out to eliminate dangerous trafIic points, was voiced today by John H. Goss, vice-presi- dent and general superintendent of the scovill Manufacturing com- pany.
 While the Republican and Arn- erican have been criticising the plan of the city to spend $57,5OO to carry out this major part of the project, MT. Goss declared today that in his estimation the city should go even further. Establish ment of Q grade reaching clear from Union square to the new Bald win street bridge, which would be much higher than the six.foot rise called for in the city engineers plans, was advocated by Vice.Presi- dent Goss.
 Cltys Plans
 The city plans to purchase the Phelan property at the corner or Baldwin and Bridge street, the Di- Vito property at the corner of Bald win and River streets and the Shannallan property at the corner of Baldwin and Mill street, rage the buildings, and raise the grade SIX feet and make sweeping curves that will present a beautiful approach to the Baldwin street section. The cost of the buildings and land on the three corners is $57,600. The cost of the grading, at the rate Of @ six-foot rise, will be included in the cost of the new bridge, struc. ture long needed.
 T would go further and raise the grade much more," declared MT. Goss when interviewed by The Democrat. The scovill company ex- ecutive's opinion was sought as the manufacturing concern, one of the three largest in Waterbury, occu- pies the southeast corner at Bald win and Mill street. According to City Engineer Cairns 1t is reason- abio to believe that the scovill cora- pany will cooperate with the city in remodeling its factory building at the point in question so as to corn- plete the sweeping approach to Baldwin street, proper, Washington hill and Hopeville.
 Mir. GOss' Idea
 Afr. Qoss declared today that he would approve even more extensive plans by the city. He would have the city raise the grade from Union square to the bridge several more feet 50 as to allow . straight-of- way into Baldwin street. Further
The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-05-07
POLICE. CHIEFS
 CIRCLE GUESTS
Columbian Squires Invite Roach and Carroll to
 Show Tomorrow

Police Chiefs Michael B. Carroll of Meriden and William J. Roach of this city will be the guests of honor ct the Second Annaul Minstrel Show of Michael McGivney Circle, No. 124, Columbian Squires, which will be presented tomorrow night ct 0:l6 o'clock in Temple hall. Chief Car- roll was instrumental several years ago in forming Q circle of squires in Meriden and for many years had been interested in boys work.
 Police Chief Carroll will be the guest of Chief Roach during his visit to this city tomorrow evening. Pat Wallace, who is directing the min- strel show, extended the invitation to the two police chiefs to be pres- ent for the annual event, which is one of the outstanding juvenile per- formances in this city.
 There will be c fine group of bel. ladists in tomorrow nights per. formance, including: Richard Burns, William Joyce, Richard Leonard, Edward Meehan, and John Phalen. Novel scenic effects have been designed to add to the presen. tation of the n1instrels.
 Of considerable interest also Is the reappearance this year in the show of Q group of boys from East Hartford, representing the St. Roses Young Mems Society. A large dele- gation from the club is accompany ing the performers to this city and will be guests of the local Squire Circle.
 There will be Q Hillbilly Trio and star dancer in the guest star list. The latter is rated as one of Hart lords best, while the Hillbilly Trio was accorded special mention in last years show.
 All Squires are urged to make returns for their tickets and for raffle tickets prior to the per- formance tomorrow night. During the show the annual raffle will be conducted with a handsome Electric Buffet Server being awarded the winner.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-05-07
FISHING NET IS
 TRAP FOR SHIP

Boston, May 7-(UP)-Her pro- peller entangled in her fishing net, the 6l-foot Gloucester schooner Funchal wash drifting helplessly 130 miles east of Cape Cod, according to radio advices received by coast guards here today.
 The Funchal is not equipped with radio-sending apparatus and the message of the schooner's plight same from the Boston Trawler Wil- liam J. O'Brien. The Funchal carried a crew of six men.
 The coast guard cutter Mojave, on patrol duty in the area, was dispatched to the Funchal's assist ance.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-05-07

Judge McEvoy had been presiding at the civil term in New Haven su- peiror court, and four correlative actions which were being heard be- fore him have been postponed until after his recovery.
 Judge John Richards Booth of Danbury, another member of the superior court bench, is also III and under treatment at his home. It is expected that Chief Justice William Maltbie of the state supreme court of errors will make special assign ments to i'll the vacancies caused by the illness of the two judges. Judge Ernest Inglis is already sub- stituting for Judge Booth in supe- rior court at Windham county.
 Judge Arthur ?. Els is handling all civil business in New Haven for
The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-05-07

more, to eliminate traflc hazard, he would have the east and west trafflc on Mill street taken care of by an underpass which would run be- low the highway from Union square to the new Baldwin street bridge.
 Tn view of the fact that the Re- publican American has been criticis- ing the plans City Engineer Cairns, the views of MT. Goss are consid- cred important at this time. In other words, the city IS following a very economical program, MT. Goss pointing out that his plans would call for Q much larger expenditure on the part of the municipality.
 Australia may campaign to save the wild orchid from extinction.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-05-07
Missing Tot Found
 Asleep Under Bed

An aroused nelghborhood spent more than two hours of feverish search for three year old Josephine BartoIOmeO, of 194 Fairfield ave- nue, this morning, police aid was called, and the vicinity secured over an area of approximately . square mile before the tot was found peacefully sleeping beneath Q bed in her home.
 Missing the child shortly after 9 o'clock this morning, her mother fruItIessly searched the house for her and ran to the home of nelghbOrs to enlist their ald. In Q short time residents of the entire section were engaged in . search for the yOungster, and swampy woods in the vicinity were thor Oughly secured in the fear that she may have wandered away and fallen into one of the holes, part ly filled with water.
 Mrs. Joseph Forcuccl, of 2lS Fairfield avenue, Q nelghb0r, tele- phOned to detective headquarters and Captain Joseph Stevens dls- patched Detective Lieutenant Matthew Balanda and Detective William Foley to the nelghbOr hood.
 It was suggested that the house be once more thoroughly inspect ed. Underneath . bed, wrapped in some discarded clothing and obllvious to the proceedings was the missing youngster.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-05-07
WORKED WITH
 STAB IN HEART

Worcester, Mass, Mass, May 7- (UP)-A self-inflicted hatpin wound in the heart caused the death of Sydney Mckee, 37-year-old WPA worker, at a hospital here late last night.
 It was 10 days ago that Mckee, Respondent, stabbed himself with the hatpin. The butt of the pin snapped of and he threw 1t away, working all the rest of the day with the mortal wound in his heart.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-05-07
Prominent Jurists
 Victims Of Illness
Judge Frank P. McEvOy Under Care of Physician
 Judge John R. Booth of Danbury COnvaIescing

Stricken i'll Tuesday night, Judge Frank P. McEvoy of the superior court under at his home 224 Rob bins street The judge is suffering from attack of grippe, and is being attended by pr. M J. Lawor It feared at first that Judge McEvoy might fall victim to pneumonia but he has responded well to treatment and the threat of pneumonia is believed to have been passed He was reported as showing improvement today,
The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-05-07

A fashion show and card party
 will be given by the senior class of
 the high school in the school adui- torium May 1S, at 8 p. m. The show, sponsored by a Torrington firm. will feature the following members of the senior class as models: Bernice Dickenson, Murlal Thompson, Mary sepples, Mary Valerie and Kath- erine Flnan.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-05-07

MT. and Mrs. Allan Bissell of West road are both patients at Hunger ford hospital.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-05-07
WhlttIeaeYs Return

WhIGtIe8eyB 1bGJuFM
 Mir. and Mrs. Willis S. Whittlesey who have bee impending the winter in New York city, have returned to their farm east of town
The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-05-07

and dinner rendered Postmaster General James A. Farley in Hart ford Tuesday.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-05-07

the time being, which Judge Carl Foster is hearing cases on the criEn. final docket.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-05-07
Pop Concert Tomorrow

The sixth annual pop concert of the Music clubs of the Litchfield high school will be given Friday eve ming at the Center school. The light opera, "Pinafore," under the direc. ton of Miss Leila Smith, supervisor of music in the Litchfield public schools, will be presented with the following cast: Joseph sabol, Sir Joseph Porter; Brian Grimm, Capt. Corcoran; John Adams, Ralph Rockstraw; Elsie Harrison, Jo- sephine; Ruth Talbert, Hebe; Olive Coe, Little Buttercup; Herman Hermenau, Dick Deadeye; Enio Evangelist. Bill Bobstay. "The Magic Seashell," a play, will be given by pupils of the first five grades. The high school orchestra and the junior -senior will be heard in sev- eral selections.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-05-07

Postmaster Martin J. Donahue and Assistant Postmaster Albert Hausmann attended the reception
The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-05-07
MANY ANIMALS ARRIVE

MANY ANIMALS ARRIVE
 Boston, May 7.-(UP)-Twenty- three pythons, some of them 26 feet long, 234 monkeys and . stork ar- rived here from Calcutta today aboard the British freighter Laga- bank. All were consigned to the Benson wild animal farm, near Nashua, N. H.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-05-07

Eondon's population is showing a marked decrease.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-05-07
POSTAL CLERKS
 RANKED HIGHLY
U. s. Railway Mail Service Inspector Conducts
 Local Examination
LITCHPIELD Correspondent. Nellie 6. Fair. grieve. Phone 6lS.

Lltchneld, May 7.-ClerkS ct tht local post offlce were given Q 10t per cent rating following an ex' animation conducted Tuesday by Inf pector George Gushing of the Uni.sd States railway mail service.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-05-07
Gambler in Court

UumDIeF III OUUEG
 Joseph w. Ficca of Torrington, arrested by State Policemen George Remer and Albert Rivers on the Torrington- -Thomaston road Tues- day afternoon and charged with possessing gambling devices, is scheduled to be arraigned in Litch- field justice court Monday. He b ct liberty under bonds of Si00.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-05-07

Miss Carolyn KoSer, daughter of Mir. and Mrs. Otto Koser of Litch- field and Raymond Perregaux, son of Mir. and Mrs. Henry Perregaux of Torrlngton, were married at st.. Michaels Episcopal church Wednes. day. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Henry E. Kelley. Follow ing Q reception the couplt left on an unannounced wedding trip. They will reside in Torrington.
The Washington times., 1936-04-30
Parental 'DiCtators'
Raped by Educator

NEW BRUNSWICK, N, j., April
80 G.N.S0. More than $50
parents, teachers and parent edu-
cation leaders, assembled here,
were told that I'VE deplore
dictatorship in other countries,
but in our personal relationship
we use the same methods the die.
tators USE" ... ......... ..
Speaking before the parents
conference held by the home eco
nomics extension service, Rutgers
University, DR.. May e. Peabody,
assistant director Of parent edu-
cation of the New York State De-
partment of Education. pointed
out that I'VE talk about living in
the land Of the Free" then we
exercise the most arbitrary meas
ures over our children"
The Washington times., 1936-04-30

NEW YORK.-Three years ago
Owen w. Matthews Sd, Eagle
Scout, Of Portland, Ore, went
to the World Jamboree at Godollo,
Hungary. There he mingled with
10000 fellow,Scouts from As diff
ferent lands, and there he began
an experience which has won for
him a $1,000 college scholarship
contributed by Eddie Cantor for
the best essay on How Can
America Stay Out Of WARP"
Scout Matthews contends that
world peace would be assured If
the youth Of all nations could
meet and mingle fraternally, even
as the Scouts did at their inter.
national Jamboree. In his essay
Owen wrote:
GAN boys at the JambOree
wanted to be friends and we
made new ones every day. BY
actually living for two weeks
with $4,000 foreign. Scouts we
learned that they thought and
acted just as we did, even though
their color and creed might be
different. We loved these brother
Scouts rs much as those in
America.
"The real benefits from this
JambOree are being manifested
as time goes on. I am CORE
spending with eight Scouts I
met at the JambOree who live In
the following countries: ESthO-
mia, Luxembourg, England, Aus