davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-15
The Play Industry

Play is rapidly becoming a major in- dustry. About 1,280 cities and towns in the United States now operate 17,745 play areas, and employ 40,413 full and part time recreation leaders. Expenditures for such purposes in those towns totaled $47,933,7 ,781 last year.
 Anyone who has even once watched a group of young fellows intend on a lot game of soft-ball instead of loafing around the corner hangout will agree that this is all to the good Anyone who has ever seen younger childen safely en- toying the swings and sandpiles of a properly-run playground, safe from autos and other dangers, will agree that no money is better spent.
 If 1t be true that the bare-essential in- dustries of the country may never again provide jobs for all, perhaps the 40,O00 now working at play indicate one of the new fields in which the needed jobs that didn't exist at all few decades ago.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-15
Deceased Law Firms

At the recent convention of the na- tional bar association, one of the large state delegations got into a serious dis cussion of what some observers call "the dead hand of the law" This has to do not with the law itself, but with the lawyers. A recommendation was offered and debated, that the use of names of deceased members in law firms be pro- hibited two years after their death.
 There are in many states, perhaps all of them, law firms still including in their firm titles the names of founders or part ners long gone. In some cases all the names used are of men no longer living. Such names naturally have much value in their suggestion of age, dignity and responsibility, but younger members of the firm, now doing the active work, sometimes resent it. Rivals, too, often think it isn't fair.
 Be that as it may, the proposal was turned down by an overwhelming vote. It would doubtless be the same where the same device is used by venerable business firms.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-15
States Work Together

The relations between states are, like everything else, becoming more complex. But as new techniques develop, some of these new relationships may furnish key to the perennial puzzle of the fields reserved for the federal and state gov- ernments. For instance, this fall meeting is to be held in Cincinnati of representatives of nine states Those nine states believe they face a problem which concerns themselves, but not necessarily any of the other states, or the federal government. Therefore they propose to tackle 1t themselves.
 The problem is pollution of the Ohio river Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and West Virginia believe it chiefly concerns themselves. Therefore, through mutual action, they will try to arrive at plan where each state will control pollution within it's own territory New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Delaware recently came to such an agreement on pollution of the Delaware river.
 Thus, without continual appeal to the federal government, technique is grad ually being developed for mutual solu- ton among groups of state of problems which distinctly effect those states. The best way to prevent "encroachment" of federal power into the state field, is by demonstrations like these that states are really able to get to grips with their prob- 1ems and solve them.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-15

This parkway business won't down, mo- how Now comes news from Highway Commissioner William J. Cox that the new highway bridge on the east end of the Merritt Parkway will positively cross the Housatonic river at Fowler Island, Stratford. This may have some bearing on future plans for cross-parkway ex- tending up the Naugatuck Valley, for it would appear that bridge so far down. stream would not constitute ready ink between the Merritt Parkway and the Naugatuck Valley road. However, it would be possible to link them very closely by making parkway of the Shelton-Strat- ford route, as well as the Waterbury-Der- by one. That last plan must be some where in State Highway Department archives for several years ago we recall reading that there was going to be such a plan advanced eventually. Right now, though, there's concerns about ap- breaches to the Merritt Parkway. While we don't mean to be selfish, we don't think there should be too many of them. If there are the route will be definitely not parkway, but criss-cross way.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-15

One of the complaints voiced some days ago by Rep. Hermann P. Kopplemann of Hartford was that insincere New Dealers should not get any consideration from Connecticut voters. He particularly leveled his guns at those candidates who he declared were trying to get aboard the Roosevelt bandwagon. We presume his nomination opponent, Senator Angus tine Lonergan, was included in this category But Senator Lonergan has never tried to cover up the fact that he voted against the administration on sev- eral occasions and probably would again under similar circumstances. Isn't this type of official better than the one who never leaves the band-wagon, which is Kopplemann boast?
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-15
Centering Attention

With school-days not so far away, much as we regret to call attention to this child depressing occurrence, attention IS being centered on the fact that school busses in Connecticut are under little or no regula- tion Few people are aware of that fact. We wonder if the parents of the children who use the school bus every day of the school year know, too, that the system to which they entrust their children IS lar from an adequate or safe one The Hart ford Courant is doing very fine job right now in pointing out the salient features of our slackness in not enforcing laws with regard to school busses that would make for the utmost safety.
 There are many facts unknown, but surely most of us can't be ignorant Of the fact that at the past two sessions or the Legislature Commissioner of Motor Vehicles Michael A. Connor has made strenuous effort to have law passed gov- erning the operation of school busses on our highways This will be law, too, that will meet with much opposition, for sn,all-town legislators in 1887 and 1885 met with and rebuffed the efforts to legis- late school busses They did so with the knowledge that state regulation would increase towns schooling costs, which is small matter compared to children's safety.
 School busses are not public service vehicles; they are not subject to the law which forces public liability insurance to be taken out; operators don't have to take public service drivers exams; no records ol drivers of school busses is on file at the Motor Vehicle Department; further, it is only presumed or taken for granted that safety equipment is of the best and well maintained.
 Now this is not an indictment of all school busses, their operators nor owners Many are probably in first-class condi- tion at all times and the drivers are skilled and careful. But when system permits leeways, nothing can be done about separating the wheat from the chaff. The good suffers with the bad. We hope our General Assembly of 1889 will eye this school bus situation as one to be corrected.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-15
Daily Almanac

Moon rises 9:47 p. m. daylight time)
 Sun rises 500 a. m; sets 7:52 D. m. (day- light time).
 All vehicles must be lighted thirty minutes after sunset.
 High tide at Milford Tuesday, Aug IS, 2:53 D. m; low tide, 9:09 p. m. (daylght time).
 Nothing is quite 50 startling on still Aug ust afternoon as the whistle or call of pheasant deep in the woodlot. It's more like warbe than anything else, but above all it's arresting and the novice always lyts an eager head wondering what strange bird produces s3ch musical sound.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-15
FrumktMyter For Court Senator Norris Endorsement Is Roundly Sec onded - Lawyer Represents Outstanding
 Member of American Bar Today.
NEW LONDON DAY

inclinations of anyone outside the new deal family, or of some of those within 1t, for that matter.
 Yet senate opposition to the con- firmation of Frankfurter, if the president should name him, is re- garded as a foregone conclusion. Senator Arthur H. vandenberg, for one, is believed certain to object. Some of the conservative Democrats led perhaps by Senator Harry P. Byrd of Virginia, may also protest confirmation. But it is pointed out that only year ago a poll of the membership of the American Bar Association showed Frankfurter the outstanding choice of the members of this body for future appointment to the court.
 Several of those holding out for the Frankfurter appointment say that he would have received the first appointment, falling to the lot of the president to make to the court, had 1t not been for the fact that there were then two Jews on the high court bench. Now that Cardozo, who was a Jew, is gone, there is q place for the Harvard savant. The question of the number of Jews on the bench, of course, is simply a political one, the administration feeling that it must distribute the vacancies.
 Certainly, friend and foe of the new deal, alike, seem to agree, Frankfurter would have been far more impressive choice for the bench than Senator Hugo L. Black, whose legal experience compared with that of Frankfurter is about that of small town lawyer, none too busy at his profession, and one of the best known attorneys in the country.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-15
TODAY'S COMMON ERROR GondOla is pronounced gon'- d0-la; not -d0'-la.

the naked eye if the moon were only 25 miles away. For technical rea- sons, however, astronomers will pre- fer to study the moon with less magnification, getting 6 view equal to 300 miles.
 Q. How many farm homes are equipped with electrical power?
 A. Of the e,so0,0o0 farm homes, about 20 per cent are electrified. The number has been nearly dou- bled since 1895, when the rural electrification administration was established.
 Q. What percentage of the pop ulation of the U. s. Virgin Islands is negro?
 A. The 1880 census enumerated a total population of 22,0l2, nearly 95 per cent of whom were wholly or partly negro.
 Q. When were the Reyes quad- ruplets born?
 A. Mona, Mary, Leota and Roberta Reyes were born June 4, 1915.
 O. When and where did "Dia- mond Jim" Brady die, and what was the cause?
 A. James Buchanan Brady died in Atlantic City. N. J., on April 13, 1917, from a complication of angina pictoris, diabetes, and severe kidney complications.
 c. What material was used to make the dummy, Charlie Mo- Carthy?
 A. White pine.
 If you want 2 copy of our book let, CHILD TRAINING" write to the Waterbury Democrats Wash- ington Bureau, 1913 Thirteenth Street, Washington, D. c. Enclose 10 cents in postage.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-15
In Today's Mail Anonymous letters will not
 be accepted unless accom- panied with writer's name.
WRITER THINKS KOPPLEMANN THE BEST CHOICE FOR U. s.
 SENATOR THIS FALL
Hartford, Conn.,, August IA, 1888.

Hartford, Conn,
 August IA, 1888. Editor of The Democrat:
 There have been many complaints made against New Deal candidates using Federal Relief Funds for cam paign purposes. But this weakness really belongs to the anti-New Deal- CTS who are taking full advantage of this to supplant new dealers. Last week the Hartford Courant, through their Washington Correspondent, 1t was announced the President had approved several WPA projects in Hartford and Bristol, Connecticut, and other sections of the state. Sen- ator Lonergan's office announced all this.
 Then comes the announcement by Mayor Spellacy of Hartford, Fri day morning, that every effort would be made to get projects for the city. Mayor Spellacy and Senator Loner- gan are both anti-New Dealers, this seems last minute gesture to get out the vote. Mayor Spellacy had two years to offer WPA projects 50 did Lonergan, they both failed, look at the way Mayor Spellacy held up the housing and slum clearance pro- gram 50 he would not appoint an administrator to start any move- ment, now they try to offer work for votes in Hartford, the people could not get much out of professional re- liefers, how much do they expect to get from the anti-New Dealers, Lon- ergan and Spellacy, both of whom have opposed New Deal appropria- tons for relief. The American people cannot be bought over like this, two weeks before a caucus vote for delegates to the convention President Roosevelt needs less of the rubber stamp kind In Washington who take orders from those who are undermining progress in the United States. We need men of the calibre of Congressman Herman P. Kop- pleman who believes in doing things all the time. not like Lonergan and Spellacy, around election time. Vote for Koppleman, the working mans friend and . friend of President Roosevlt.
 W. J. GUEST.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-15
ANOTHER BIG BRIDGE? IAAoriAata Na.airnan

This will go down in history as the bridge age. Not so fast; we mean bridges, not what Mother talks about. Connecticut's large con- tribution is, of course, the Middle town Portland span. But we've built others and they show us in profusion on the new Merritt park way. We're talking now of struc- ture that will begin to compare with Middletown's pride. It would go over the Housatonic river, over two roads adjoining the river and over a railroad.
 The scenery would not be 50 hot, perhaps. but the usefulness would be great, well worth the planned expenditure of 41,500,000. The new span is planned for Derby as con- meeting link between the Merritt parkway, which vii. extend some day through central Connecticut to the Massachusetts line near Union. This would be the second most elaborate bridge in the state, and, of course. free of tolls. That isn't the way New York pays for It's huge bridges, which makes Connecticut nicer place to live in and travel in.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-15
|PresSCOnlnent
SOUVENIR SPOONS REsURGENT
 Christian Science Monitor)

NSlH loLlhl 0tlCllCC ANOAlltOL/
 An old friend is coming back-the souvenir spoon of a generation ago. The New York Worlds fair next year will witness the return of this fad of the nineties, according to an announcement by a jewelry firm which has an eye to the future as well as the past. When the fair opens Grover Whalen will probably throw out the first spoon. Maybe 1t will have Corrigan and his "crate" on it--or maybe not.
 Remember the souvenir spoon from another Worlds Fair-the one in Chicago in 1893 Others appeared then and later. There was one of a Chautauqua, when Chautauquas were in flower. The Flatiron Build ing in New York was the inspira- ton of another. And, of course, Washington, D. O., inspired spoons with George Washington, the Wash ington Monument, Mount Vernon, and the White House. In Richmond Robert E. Lee was spoon-arized.
 In time, many such spoons found their way to many whatnot in many a parlor. They were sup posed to be merely ornaments (ex- cept sometimes when there was 'company"), but children were al- lowed to play with them on rainy Sunday afternoons. They looked their best deployed fin parallel for- nation on the mauve plush sofa.
 Whence came souvenir spoons? From Europe, nameless historian records. A Washington, D. C., jewe- Ter brought back some of historical nature, and soon was making and selling spoons suggested by current and earlier American celebrities and events-The battleship Maine, Ad- miral Dewey, Mckinley, T. R., the Gibson Girl, Niagara Falls, the Woolworth Building (when that was a skyscraper), Pike's ePak, Bunker Hill.
 Hail to your return, o, souvenir spoon" Let him scoff who will Why not record history on spoon? Do we not remember something imperishable on a Greek urn?
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-15

The idea of giving women representa- tion on the state ticket is spreading. Re- publicans have seized hold of it now, thanks to some prompting, from State Central Committee Vice-Chairman and National Committeewoman Katherine Byrne. The post of secretary of state seems to be the popular one, evidently because prominent Fairfield County Democratic worker, Mrs. Carleton Palmer wants that nomination and is willing to fight it out with Dr. c. John Satti, the incumbent.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-15
Selected Poem
TO AUGUST

(Clare MacDermott in the Poets Corner,
 Hartford Times) Arrogant Gypsy! every petalled bell
 Caught in your tresses must despair deride: Cease now to mock mel have paid you well With the small silver of anpancicnt pride Grief makes no traffic with sun-bright stare And no soft shadow on which love may lean, Lurks in such brazen splendor-so forbear The constant tinke of your tambourine Flashing through meadows in some hoyden game Despite earth's turmoil and It's cringing fears With wide scarlet krtle blowing flame And hoops of yellow cosmos in your ears May cool winds from the valley blowing hence Soon rid me of your proud insolence.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-15
In New York
By GEORGE ROSS

New York.-Our ears are being assailed by a swing version of ar old nursery rhyme that we used to know as "A Tisket A Tasket," and which still travels, among the jit- terbugs, under the same name. "A Tisket A Tasket" happens to be the nations No. 1 song hit. When we inquired about its curious success at Tin Pan AL ley's own Mecca--Lindy's Res- taurant-this is what we learned:
 An anonymous soda jerker is responsible indirectly for the na- tion's ace tune, and here's the way it came about. Al Wilde, who Is press agent for Chick Webb, the swing bandleader, telephoned local newspaper suggesting that Ella Fitzgerald, the Webb vocal ist, would make a good interview. What's so strange about vocal ist?" inquired the blase city edi- tor. "Er-this one is going to swing nursery rhymes" blurted the press agent. What rhyme, for instance?" shot back the man who sits on the Desk.
 At this point, inspiration fail- ed Wilde. He pressed sweating hand over the mouthpiece and whispered hoarsely to the drug store counterman: For goossakes, name 8 nursery rhyme" The counterman wasted contempla- tive second. Then he offered "A Tisket A Tasket."
 "Ella will swing A Tisket A Tasket," announced the press agent.
 Then, in the manner of racy publicists, he took to worrying lest his little white lie be found out and harried Webb until that sepian musician dashed off an ar- rangement of "A Tisket A Tas- ket." Ella Fitzgerald like 1t so well she called in Al Feldman, a lyric writer, and 50 hit was born.
 Now that little white lie has earned sizeable fortune.
 Hot Comedy
 On the whole, New York's nightly whirligig seems to be proceeding calmly through the heat wave.
 The three giant Broadway cab- arets are passing comfortable summer, though 1t is no secret that Billy Roses place is in the lead.
 The most energetic entertainer in the Fifties is Jack White at the "l8" Club, where only the recent installation of an air. conditioning plant saves him from summertime prostration, every time he goes into his violent buffoonery. And no one works harder, while clowning, than the zany White.
 Town Is Quiet
 It is good to be here, even though the summer doldrums have settled down upon Manhattan, with more ennui than most hot seasons. The fahrenheit has driven most croniea into the shady hills and to the sea- shore resorts.
 We find that eight Broadway shows have survived the soaring mercury and that among them is the perennial Tobacco Road" At this coincidental moment, by the way, we have just met a man who has not yet seen the saga ot Jeeter Lester and his brood oj Georgia crackers and we are surs that he must be the only man with that distinction in New York
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-15

There seems to be little doubt that Senator George w. Norris of Me- braska voices the sentiment of man, if not most, of the younger new dealers when he comes out flat footedly for the nomination of Felix Frankfurter for the vacancy on the supreme court bench, left by the death last month of Associate Jus tice Benjamin N. Cordozo. No one knows who the presidents favorite candidate for the post, may be, but the young group referred to almost unanimously favors Frankfurter
 Many of these persons do not want to see Senators Wagner or Schwel- lenbach leave the senate, although both have been prominently men, toned for the vacancy. Many insist that Frankfurter possesses the keen est intellect and the truest liberal
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-15

l. What are the pigment primary colors?
 ?. What is the state flower of Ohio?
 3. Name the European explorer who discovered the mouth of the Mississippi River.
 1. What is a monoplane?
 s. Who won the 1888 British Open golf championship?
 6. Which is the leading cattle rasing state in the U. g.?
 2. What Strait is at the southern tip of South America?
 8. Is naturalized American cit- izen eligible for the Q. 8. Senate? 9. For what government agency do the initials ETC stand?
 10. What is the name for . mass of competed ice originating in . snow-field?
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-15

Public Health Service to make study of the working conditions of the drivers .. Thurman Arnold, lately of the Yale law school faculty, has already booked three young Yale law graduates to join his staff of Justice De- partment trust-busters.
 Copyright, 1888, by United
 Feature Syndicate, Incl
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-15
Questions and
 Answers
Copyright isss. HEA
By Frederick M. Kerby

Enclose a three-cent stamp for reply when addressing any ques. ton of fact OF information to the Waterbury Democrats Service Bu- reau at Washington. Legal and medical advice cannot be given, nor can extended research be un- dertaken. Be sure all mail Is ad- dressed to the WATERBURY DEMOCRATS SERVICE BU- REAU, 1013 Thirteenth Street, Washington. D. c.
 THE EDITOR Q. What is the exact location of the bullion depository for the stor- age of silver at West Point, New York?
 A. It is on a four acre tract on the West Point army reservation, within 500 feet of the Storm King highway, near the old North Gate.
 Q. What will be the magnifying power of the 200-inch telescope now under construction in California? A. It will be variable. When con- ditions of visibility are best, 1t will be possible to see the moon with this telescope as 1t would look to
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-15

A lot of these political high-fyers will vanish leaving only an oil slick on the water.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-15
Current Comment

One of our distinguishing char. acteristics is the absenceof preju- dices of any kind. Tomas Alberto Le Breton, Arr genuine ambassador to Paris, on Argentinians.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-15
Wrong Way" Corrigon Still in Wrong With Officials Who Licensed Old Crote; Idaho Utility Cash Plus Secret Boroh
 Hostility What Licked Senator Pope;
 Corcoron-Cohen Teom Becomes Quartet
nA ncBxRr A AzxDa
M DREw REARs0ss

WASHINGTON, August IS. = Maybe government officials just naturally lack sense of humor, but of them in the Bureau of Air Commerce are still sore ,ovON
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-15

Everyone is in favor of govern ment reorganization. The differ ences arise over methods.
 Senator Byrd of Virginia.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-15
T st Y o UT Knowledge

Can you answer seven of these test questions? Turn to back page for the answers.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-15
A Thought for Today

Six days may work be done; but in the sev- enth Is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day. he shall surely be put to death.-Exodus 3l:l5
 Next to faith in God, is faith in labor-Boyee