davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-11-22

Joe Cabrera is in receipt of a
gift from Duffy Lewis, the ia
nous baseball player, in the form
of several dozen baseballs which
Joe has been giving to amateurs
in Key West. When Duffy's team
was in Key West last year he as
sured his friend that he would do
something which would encour-
age the boys to play ball and the
baseballs fulfill his promise.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-11-22

The dispute between the Unit
ed States and Mexico, which in
volved the appropriation of
American-owned land and oil
companies. without compensation
by the Mexican Government, has
not been settled, but the recent
agreement in the land controver-
sy MAY point the way to a broad
er settlement of more important
oil claims.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-11-22

The Air Forces of the nation,
consisting of the Army and Navy
air fleets, will undoubtedly be
greatly enlarged. While present
plans call for around 5000 planes
in the two services, the nation
has not that many planes and
many will have to be built to at
tain the limits now set by law.
Even so, it is practically certain
that thsee goals will be greatly
enlarged, probably doubled, in
view of recent European develop
ments when Great Britain and
France had to capitulate before
the superior air fleet of Germany.
The program will cost money.
The question is whether Congress
will vote the funds. Polls of pub
lie opinion definitely indicate that
the people favor the enlarged
navy, the moderniZed army and
the greater air force. The Presi-
dent is outspoken for re-arming
of this country. What attitude will
be taken by the new Congress is
somewhat complicated by the
heavily increased Republican
strength, as well as the presence
Of new members.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-11-22

A special meeting of the coun-
ty commissioners was held in the
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-11-22

The United States reciprocal
trade treaties are under the most
favored nation" clause, which
means that advantages given to
any country Immediately inure to
the benefit of all other nations
that give this nation equal trad
ing rights with all other nations.
The barter system, says Mr.. Hull,
means more restrictions upon the
commerce of the world, while his
program tends TO remove the OBJ
stacls and give trade a free
course.
The Washington times., 1938-01-01

lice and an officer ordered
me to move out of there.
But the law was not so
observant of me that evening
when I was resting after my
days work and my land
lady told me a lady and
gentleman were downstairs
and wished to see me. I
found awaiting me in the
lady's parlor an elegantly
dressed woman and a man.
I had never before laid eyes
on either one Of them.
"We have read about you
in the newspapers, Mr..
French" the woman said.
eve have a business propo-
sition to make to you that
may interest you"
I agreed to talk matters
over with them and then I
became acquainted with a
racket-not as subtle as the
society racket, I suppose. but
The Washington times., 1938-01-01

names of three bank presi-
dents as references! And
was accepted on trial.
Keep an eye on the fare"
I was told, $50 he can't hit
you on the head with a gat
The women are worse
than the men Don't be
fooled by the girls who cross
their legs high so as to get
something off the reading
Join the Brotherhood"
THIS advice was poured
L into my ears by the
driver who was delegated to
take me out around Central
Park for a lesson in the art
of chauffeuring a taxi. He
added that if l were lucky I
might make $25 a week by
driving during the daylight
hours. If I worked at night
I might earn as high as $42.
Two questions came to my
mind:
Can one be a gentleman on
$25 a week9
Can one be a gentleman
and still accept a tip9
I decided on my first day
at work to put it to the test.
l drove my car along the
Avenue and parked in front
of my cousin, Bill Wander
bilt's, house. I figured that,
before long, Bill would be
coming out, feeling expan-
sive after a well-rounded
breakfast, and might be in
clined to take a drive down
town. But somebody in the
house complained to the po-
The Washington times., 1938-01-01
Jack Astor's Father-in-Law
Scandalizes Newport Elite
When He Goes to Work
AS a Taxicab Driver

copyright
a MY GRANDSON, thought looked all right-about 95
V per Astor and per cent French The other per
A'A wrinkles and burrows. Anyway, assured
Tucky had complaints make and her promptness had
made me first member of my class at Harvard to become
grandfather My father had presented his class of 85 with
the baby my sister, Pauline the Trenches record
holding out!
did not see my sonn-law until the next morning when
Mary and paying second visit to Tucky before
back Newport They he dashed into the very
excited and and irritable He paced up and down
the floor and scarcely spoke to me.
The Washington times., 1938-01-01

just as deliberate, cold and
calculating.
UTHEN the Social Regis
w ter for 1924 was issued,
the name of Francis o.
French was noticeably ab-
sent from the list of those
who may be considered to be
Gin" society. The grounds
on which my wife, Eleanor
Burrill, divorced me were
considered sufficient reasons,
in the minds of those who
edited Americas Stud Book,
to class me as unworthy to
be included among the elect.
It amused me more than
it annoyed me. It still does.
But in the 13 years that have
elapsed since 1924 and the
era of the Coolidge pros
perity, a new generation of
society has grown up whose
ideas on this subject are con-
siderably at variance with
those of the snobs who drew
a blue pencil through my
name. That is, if the views
expressed by my son-in-law,
Jack Astor, are to be taken
as representative.
Shortly before the publica-
tion of these memoirs, he was
discussing with me the ad-
visibility of giving them to
the public. 'Were you not
in society,"" he said, nobody
in society would read your
book"
'I am not in society,"" I
replied. II have not been
'in' since 1923 because of
the grounds on which your
mother-in-law chose to di-
vorce me-"
"But that's nonsense"
Jack objected. ''Why, every
body commits adultery. Of
course, you're in society ..."
That is the judgment of
1887. Would the judgment
of 1924 have been different
if I had not undertaken to
support myself and pay the
debts that trying to live in
society had piled up against
me, by working the only job
that came my way-that of
taxi-driver9
&&&
THERE had been quite a
Il lot of publicity in the
papers about the son of Amos
Tuck French and the cousin
of William II. Vanderbilt,
driving a cab for hire. It was
amazing how many people
began to write me letters:
some of them commencing my
action and views on the Sob
bishness of society, others
frankly asking for help. But
to return to my experience
with the mysterious man and
woman who came to my West
Seventy-second Street room
ing house.
1 agreed to go with them.
The car proved to be a mag
nificent Rolls-Royce, with a
Iiveried C h auffeur. The
woman and man, speaking
The Washington times., 1938-01-01

discreetly, disclosed their
business proposition which
was this: they maintained
what they called a ''nice
little fraternity home" on
Street.
Perh s, the woman
amended, it should be called
a sorority, as they enter
tanned permanently in the
house two dozen very pretty
girls-12 blondes and II bru-
nettes, all under 19.
My new acquaintance sug-
gested that as my experience
as a taxi-driver increased I
probably would find that my
male fares who were
strangers in the city would
ENJOY female companionship.
They also supplied young
men for lonely women.
GSTHE best plan," I was
Il told, sis to drive the
fare right up to the door.
You can tell him, in advance,
that the young lady will ex-
pect $40 for entertainment
and he is to give you the
money You keep $3.50 for
yourself and bring the bal
ance to us. The girl will re-
ceive $3.75. The rest we
keep as overhead.
Thus was I shown how the
vice racket was worked.
Life, seen from the vantage
point of the drivers seat of
a New York taxicab, is vastly
different from the panorama
from the windows of the
Knickerbocker Club. Once,
when the Brotherhood of
Taxi Chauffeurs was on
strike and we held a parade,
/ carried a banner.
What I most enjoyed was
passing the windows of the
Knickerbocker Club, where
some of the snootiest men,
bers were looking out. When
they recognized me they
nearly had apoplexy.
One day at Thfrty-second
Street, where the Knicker-
booker then stood, a man
hailed me: Taxi" 1t was
Robert Goelet.
He got in, muttered "Bilt-
more Hotel" and we started.
30. K, Bobby" I replied. He
moved forward to one of the
little seats in the cab and
took a look at my license with
my photograph and name,
then at me.
"Why, Frank French!
What are you doing this
for9". he demanded.
I told him financial rea-
sons. He hemmed and hawed,
then lapsed into silence. We
drew up at the Biltmore.
The meter stood at As cents.
Bobby fumbled around in his
pocket for some loose change,
dropped two quarters and a
dime into my hand, and hur-
ried off.
TT WASN'T just society,
L represented by Newport
The Washington times., 1938-01-01

the floor and scarcely spoke t.
Mary and I left after a few
moments and went back to
Newport. But promptly on
our arrival there one of the
servants from Chetwode
brought a note of apology
from my son-in-law, which he
had sent by hand from New
York. The note revealed his
true character as nothing
else could have done. In it
he asked me to understand,
if I could, how a man would
feel who was very much in
love with his wife, and who
had been a father for only
two days. Wasn't it to be ex-
pected of him, he asked, that
he should have a flash of re-
sentiment at finding anyone
with his wife-even her own
fatherY Of course it was! l
understood perfectly.
THAT summer the EMO
i Fiermontes arrived in
Newport and 1 hoped to re-
new an acquaintance that L
had formed years ago at Bar
Harbor, where L met Made
line Force and her sister,
Katherine, now Mrs. Loril-
lard Spencer. EMO Fler-
monte, Italian prize-fighter
Of humble origin, divorced
his Italian wife to marry the
former Madeleine Talmage
Force, whose first husband,
John Jacob Astor, sank with
the Titanic in 1912. His most
recent appearance in head
lines was when he served a
Jail sentence in New York on
a four year old speeding
charge.-Editor.
Mary and I frequently
noticed the good-looking
italian as he passed us in his
smart motor. TheL, one day,
I read in a column Of a news
paper:
EMO SPOTLIGHT DIMs
TUCKY's TAXICAB DAD
The story went on to say:
GAS Bailey's Beach be-
comes an increasin gly
friendly strand to EMO Fier-
monte, stepfather of Jack
Astor, it becomes a less and
less familiar one to Francis
Ormond French, father of
Mrs. Jack Astor. Mr.. French
is in, but decidedly not of,
Newport"
A ND that brings up the
IA much-discussed adven-
ture I had as a New York
taxicab driver. 1t happened
after Eleanor brought suit
against me for divorce in the
courts of New York-where
the law allows but one cause
for divorce. More about
that later.) The interlocu-
tory judgment on default
was given on February %,
1882. My wife received the
custody of our daughters,
Ellen and Virginia.
The divorce and the pub
licity attendant on it alien
ated me still further from my
family. Though with Aunt
Elsie's and my fathers ex-
amples before us, no one
could say that I started the
French family toward the
divorce court. Also, alas, it
cost me my job-selling Sc
curities.
My finances now touched
rock bottom. / had need of
a job, any job that paid a
living wage. l began to cast
fearful glances at the men I
saw sitting on benches i'll
the parks and to wonder if
and when I would join them
there. One day l read the
advertisement Of a cab COM
many for drivers. / filed an
The Washington times., 1938-01-01
By Francis OrmOnd French

KnSan of the ASors and VGnderbs continues his
tionaI memoirs of American Society.
The Washington times., 1938-01-01
Society Is a Racket

French Shocks tSnOOty Czubmen When
He Carries d Banner in Parade of
Striking ~ Y Tamicab Chau1JeurS
The Washington times., 1938-01-01

K n ickerbocker |
Clu b, by the
Vanderbilts and
G. o | e is and
other social
registerites, who
seemed to con.
slider that in be-
coming a taxi
driver I had
made a pariah of
myself. There was
also my nice friend,
Mrs. A who haC
formerly welcome
me at her house. S
h a d b e en- a h
dresser in New
But she was mar
not so cordial to m
I b e C a m e a ta2
I tried to get
her point of
view. I was still
Francis French
of St. Georges
a n d Harvard,
and I was earn
ing my living
by an honest
method.
But it was wrong
my background
Georges and Ha
Newport.
(Next SAT-
urday Mr..
French will
reveal more
reasons Uhy
he believes
"SOciety Is a
: Racket.")
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1938-06-09
HonOred By Eastern Star

Mr.. C. F. Hammond was honored by
the local order of Eastern Star on
Tuesday evening, being presented
with a pin in recognition of his at
tainment of having been fifty years a
member of the Masonic lodge.
Mr.. Hammond is a charter member
of the Order of Eastern Star chapter
here, which was formed in 1925 and
recently celebrated its 18th birthday
anniversary. He has served as worthy
patron of the Eastern Star upon sew
eral occasions.
Mr. Hammond recently received a
medal from the Grand Masonic lodge
in recognition of his achievement.
Members of the local organization
who attended meeting at Western
port last Friday evening included Mrs
Melvin Right, Mrs. Samuel B. Aron-
halt, Mrs. 1. R. Rudy, Mrs. W. W
Dawson, Mrs. Harold Harmed, Mrs
Cecil Smith, Mrs. VERNE Smouse
Mrs. Grover Stemple, and Mr.. JOSEPH
E. Harmed. The occasion was the an
nual visitation of grand lodge Officers
of Maryland. Mrs. Anna Suter, Bal
timore, worthy grand matron, anc
Edward ]. Hilleary, worthy granC
patron, were present.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1938-06-09
MOtOrist Taxpayers Pay More
Than Income Taxpayers

Statistics recently made public by
the Income Tax Division of the
Comptroller's office reveal that only
$4,000 persons, firms and corporations
of Maryland actually have paid in
come taxes to the State of Maryland.
In contrast over 100000 motor We
hicles were registered in Maryland
last year, thus over 100000 automo-
bile owners paid special motor vehicle
taxes to the state.
The $1,000 income taxpayers con-
tributed approximately $9S0,000 or an
average of little over SIS. The 400,-
600 motorist taxpayers turned over to
Maryland $10,500,000 in gasoline tax
es and $4,500000 in registration fees
for a total of $15,000,000 in motor
vehicle taxes or an average of $3.50
These figures tend to show that
motor vehicle taxes are actually
"soak the poor" taxes. The average
Maryland motorist is said to earn less
than $50 per week, but he pays a tax
of two and one-half times the amount
assessed the income taxpayer.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1938-06-09
TWENTY YEARS AGO

Total Red Cross contributions in
the county totaled $3,257.18.
Oakland High graduates numbered
81, including Mary Drake Naylor,
Elizabeth Townshend, Robert Porter,
Victor Harvey, Margaret Sincell,
Robert Sliger, Lorena and Eva Fal-
kenstein, Emma Rathbun, Virginia
DeBerry, Mildred Ford, Louise
Chance, Isabel Hamill, Margaret
Glotfelty, Reva Davis, Frances Miller,
Frank Lyon, Gertrude Carney, Alma
and Anna Calhoun and Clyde Dawson.
Homegrown strawberries appeared
on the Oakland market.
Among the soldiers arriving in
France were Irwin Lee Neville, James
Fazzalari and Juniper Teats.
A Clarksburg coal company was
fined $4,000 in federal court for coal
profiteering, receiving a higher price
than that fixed by President Wilson.
Believing his neighbors thought he
was a German spy, Peter Buseck, a
native of Russia, miner, employed
at Barnum, committed suicide by
hanging.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1938-06-09
DETERIORATION For Youth

For a half -century the Moody Bible
Institute of Chicago, founded by D.
L. Moody in 1886, has provided in
struction and training without cost
for tuition to earnest minded young
men and women who desire either to
be better informed workers in home
churches, or to devote their lives to
full-time Christian service in some
specialized field. Ministers, evangel-
lists, missionaries on home and for
eign fields, Christian education direc-
tors, gospel song directors for church
es and Sunday schools, and many 9TH
err types of workers, have received
their training at this school. More
than 1000 students were enrolled in
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1938-06-09
ConservatiOnists Considering
YOugh River Pollution

A conference to discuss means OF
abating pollution in the Youghiogheny
river, once a fine trout stream, was
held Sunday at Rainbow Inn, on Deep
Creek Lake, with representatives Of
Maryland, West Virginia and Penn
sylvania participating.
The meeting was held by the State
Conservation Commission. and was
presided over by DR.. Henry w. Nc.
Comas, Oakland member of the com.
mission.
A committee was appointed tt
make survey of the region, to re-
port at future meeting. The discus.
sion conferred mainly on the acidity
in the stream caused by coal mines
emptying into it.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1938-06-09
IN DAYS OF OLD
FORTY YEARS AGO

Spanish-American war news filled
the front page. Santiago's fortifica-
lions were in ruins. Hobson had sunk
the Merrimac in the harbor and had
bottled up the Spanish fleet. Manila,
in the Philippine Islands, was sur
rounded.
An item from "Johnson's," 1--WE
have no idle men only those who are
too lazy to work, and we are begin
ming to see plenty of McKinley's
prosperity" The Blue Jay Lumber
Company of that place was building
it's railroad from Sand Patch to a
large tract of timber, 1926 acres, in
district No. 9.
An item from Sang Run: Charles
E. Hoye, one of our estimable and
promising young men, has enlisted
and has gone with cavalry troop to
Tampa, Fla"
George A. Mills, Washington, pre-
pared to open the Oakland hotel on
June Is. The Park was filling up
rapidly. Huckster wagons were COM
ing in. Three ice wagons were MAX
ing deliveries in the Park.
P. A. Chisholm, Gormania, was ex-
hibiting specimen of wool that he
had clipped from Cotswold sheep
one year old. The wool was white as
snow and measured fifteen inches in
! length.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1938-06-09
OAKLAND HIGH SCHOOL
NEWS NOTES OF INTEREST

At the preliminary elections for the
Acorn staff for next year, Evelyn
Teagarden won over Helen Shreve
and Mary Isabelle Love for the edi-
torship Of the paper. She was on the
reportorial staff last year, and man
aged the college column.
However, in the recent elections
Helen Shrive won the responsible po-
sition of managing editor, and Mary
Isabelle Love will retain the position
she so capably filled this year as fea-
ture editor
Stanley Stahl will replace Kathryn
Glotfelty as news editor. He was not
on the staff at all last year, but his
ability to write fits him for this i'm
portant office.
William Sharps was elected as boys
athletic editor. He was formerly the
lila French Club reporter. Kathleen
Fields was elected as the girls ath-
letic editor and is a newcomer to the
staff. VI
The business staff retains some OF
its old members, James Helbig taking
Harry VOLTS place as business man
ager. Arthur Naylor rises from the
assistant business manager to the
advertising manager. Velma Brown
ing, the assistant circulation mana
ger the previous year, is the circula-
ton manager this year.
Reporters will be elected next yeal
and others on the editorial staff will
be appointed by the staff and advis-
ers.
Twelve school letters will be award
ed this year to deserving athletes
librarians and staff members. Those
from the library eligible to receive
the maroon and white 90" are Edwin
Darby, Thomas Stevenson, Ruth Rid
der, Gerald Hamill and Stella Leigh
| ton.
The soccer players who meet the
necessary requirements and who d.
not already have letters are Harold
Teagarden and George Sukow. The
only eligible baseball player who doe:
not already have a letter is Harr!
Wolf. One girl, Genevieve Murphy, re
ceives letter for her efforts in bas
ketball.
The Acorn staff members to receive
awards are Lucille Harvey, Catherine
Meisenbach and Laura Susan Butt.
Other students who have been out
standing in these fields have already
received letters and so are not eligi
BILE for another, but may receive bar:
by inquiring at the office.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1938-06-09
FORTY-TWO LICENSES TO
WED ARE ISSUED IN WEEK
Number Indicates That June
Tota Will Run Near Two
Hundred

Forty-two marriage licenses were
issued during the first week in June
ending Monday afternoon, indicating
that the total for the month might
run near the 200 mark.
Saturday was the busiest day for
those issuing permits at the office of
the clerk of the Circuit court, four
teen being granted on that day. Three
licenses issued were marked don't
publish" while one applicant was re-
fused. One couple were former man
and wife, divorced less than year
previous.
Andrew Harold Mace, %, clerk, and
Goldie Elizabeth Corathers, 81, both
of Weston, w. Va.
Lawrence Cecil Hines, %, student,
and Erna Marcedus Pettis, 81, stu
dent, both of Weston, W. Va.
Ray P. Turner, Jr., %, student, and
Mildred Louise Stalnaker, 81, student,
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1938-06-09

Masontown, w. Va.
Fred Frank Kermes, %, dairyman,
Uniontown, Pa, and Nevada Eliza
beth Bishop, 26, secretary, Councils
vile, Pa.
William Edward McGimpsey, 30
salesman, and Dorothy Marian
Knowles, 25, stenographer, both OF
Cleveland, o.
John Harley Queen, Al, newspaper
man, Lost Greek, W. Va, and Eva
Carrie Fetty, SO, Clarksburg, w. Va
Harry Lee Cannon, 81, farmer, An
tioch, w. Va, and Opal Cling Halter
man, %, Scherr, W. Va.
William Ralph Harker, 20, (pa,
rents consent), meat cutter, Fairview
W. Va, and Ethel Mae Hall, 10
Rivesville, w. Va.
Russell Samuel Smallridge, 25, as
sistant undertaken, and Margare
Ruth Colerider, "a, bank clerk, both o.
French Creek, w. Va.
Harold Without, 81, laborer, ant
Lana Pauline Miller, Is, both of For
Hill, Pa.
Orval Isner, Jr, q, mould runner
and Lucille Marie HaddiX, rs, boil
of Webster, w. Va.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1938-06-09
THE REPUBLICAN

Entered at the Postofice at Oakland,
Md, as second-classi mail matter.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1938-06-09

the Day and Evening Schools dpriru
the past year. Moody-trained mission,
aries numbering above 400 are NON,
laboring under different church
boards in some seventy countries
The Bible ranks first in all Inst;
tute courses, and around it are gath
cred such subjects as Sunday School
Administration, Gospel Music, Public
Speaking, Home Economics, ManuoI
Training, and also tHomiletics, ApoIo
getics, Greek, Hebrew, and medical
subjects for missionary work.
There are three terms year-FaIl
Winter, and Summer. An illustrated
catalogue will be mailed on request,
Address, 1873 Institute Place, CHICAGO
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1938-06-09
MEMORIAM

In loving remembrance of our dar-
ling one, Eliza D. Biser, who passed
away two years ago today, June 9,
1886:
No one knows our sorrows,
Only those who have lost can tell
Of the grief we bear in silence
For the one we loved so well.
Friends may think we have forgotten
him
When they see US smile;
But little do they know the sorrow
Which that smile hides all the while.
Sadly missed by wife and daughter,
father and mother, brothers and
sisters.
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