davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-03-04
Brave Little Nations

Nazi Germany is not going to have such an easy conquest of her small neigh bors as seemed likely after Hitler's sales talk to Schuschnigg. The Austrian premier has Stiffened his spine and the Austrian people are bristling with de- termination to resist absorption by Ger many, although they voted for it after the World War. Rumania obviously wants no HitleriSm, and Czechoslovakia, most in danger after Austria, has been heartened by Frances pledge to help her if Hitler challenges her independence. There is little love for Hitler in Hungary and YugoSlavia.
 Then there is the brave little group of nations to the northeast of Germany, on the Baltic Sea, that have been expected to make about three bites for Hitler if he started expanding in that direction - Lithuania, Latvia and Esthonia. They all pride themselves on their independence. Esthonia placed precariously between Germany and Russia, and touched for a time with "fuehrer fever," has just adopted democratic constitution of unusual interest to Americans.
 By this charter all citizens of ESthonia are free before the law. There are no titles or classes. Homes are inviolable, freedom of conscience and religion is guaranteed, and anyone may express him. self freely by word of mouth, print, script, imagine and sculpture" Educa- tion is compulsory, Individualism is in- sisted on, but the state itself assumes enlightened social responsibilities in cases where private effort is helpless.
 Then there is the always inspiring eX- ample of the free Scandinavian countries and the fringe to the west of Germany made by France, Belgium and Holland. It is too soon to despair of continental Europe. There's life in the old dame vet"
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-03-04
No Church School Aid

The question of government aid for the parochial or church schools of the nation is one that can always provoke an argument It has been discussed at considerable length here in Connecticut and rarely does legislative session pass by without some attempt being made to have the state change it's present method. of school grants. Those who argue that parochial schools are entitled to share of the annual grants base their claim on the fact that pupils attending these institutions are figured in the school enrolment figures from which every towns proportionate grant is esti- mated.
 The state awards each community $2.25 per pupil between the ages of 4 and 16. These pupils comprise not only those at tending public schools, but those at par vchial and private institutions. But nat urally the money goes into the town or city treasury and is allocated for public school purposes only. For years parochial school heads have argued before legisla- tive committees and state officials that they were entitled to an amount equiva lent to the number of parochial pupils enumerated.
 For some few years we supported this viewpoint, but we are gradually looking at it in a far different light. And only the other day a speaker, arguing against federal aid for church schools put forth the best argument why heads and super visors of Church Schools should cease their campaigns to have share in public funds, devoted to school purposes. The speaker was Dr. George D. Strayer of Teachers College, Columbia University. He said among other things, Let's not have any church - Catholic, Protestant or Jewish - using public money to make propaganda for any belief or policy pecu- liar to itself. Let all these churches stand on their own feet. Let them not use the arm of Government through controlled education to enforce their religious and political philosophies History shows the tragedy of church-state controlled edu- cation. :"
 He gave parochial school authorities an inkling of what they might expect through government aid and funds when he used the phrase controlled ed ucation''. That's just what it would be. Today the educational curriculum of the parochial school is not dictated by a gov- ernmental agency although general con- fornity to public school department rules are observed where they do not conflict with the religious and philosophical training of the particular sect in charge. But it would, when subsidized by govern nnent funds, be urged and ultimately forced to conform to the educational trends which are found today in all pub lie institutions. Even when conflict oc- cured there would be the necessity of choosing between the state grant and the institutional principal.
 Thus an educator who protests the use of federal funds for the support of the private church and religious schools of our nation puts forward the very best argument why they themselves should temper their own demands for such as- sistance, no matter how justified they may seem in making them.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-03-04
A Ticklish Technical Topic

Yestreday we stated that the only way for Commissioners John A. Macdonald and Robert Hurley to settle their feud over the Merritt Parkway would be to allow editors of Connecticut or their rep reSentativeS to visit the scenes that were held up in the latter's report as proof of failure on the part of the former. In his rebuttal Commissioner Macdonald made the charge of trick photographs" and displayed his own pictures alongside of those taken by Commissioner Hurleys aides.
 We'll, without waiting for a general invitation representatives of some of our state newspapers went down to the Mer ritt Parkway and inspected the disputed curves, bridges, and other engineering features that were disputed And they sent down not men versed in highway construction but just ordinary news papermen and also staff photographers. The latter were instructed to take the same pictures that the two commissioners were offering as proof of failure and ac- complishment.
 The results were just as astonishing as were the charges and countercharges. For example the Hartford Courant took pictures down in New Canaan where an oak tree, 75 years old, was saved by slight bend in the roadway Commis- sioner Hurley maintained the contour of the road was made dangerous and his picture showed wide curve at the spot. The Highway Department picture, on the other hand showed an almost straight stretch of roadway at the point, And strange as it may seem, so did the Cour- ant photograph.
 But the Bridgeport Times-Star also took
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-03-04
The MagbieS Nest
| Tailors Don't Like Men Who Fill Their Suit | Pockets With Business Details-Lack of Pockets Would Be Un-American.
NEW YORK HERALD-TRIBUNE

The New York Custom Cutters club held its nineteenth annual mems style show yesterday, and the members indulged in their usual output of propaganda and predic- tions as to what the dude of to- morrow will wear. With the ef- forts to enhance the appearance of the American male we are in con- plete accord, for the job needs to be done, though it does appear to be slow, evolutionary process. But we are doubtful of the movement toward excessive streamlining. The ideal, it seems, is that cloth should lie flat and smooth all over a mans body" and should give him "the finest possible appearance of slen- derness, height, manliness and dig nity." To achieve this dream, the tailors frown upon the man who likes to make filing cabinet or 8 walking office desk out of his coat
 Indeed. if they had their way, there would be no inside pockets in coats
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-03-04

There is quite a battle in Washington, D. C., to which very little newspaper pub licity has been given. It's fight to abol- ish the office of Comptroller of the United States. Whether or not it succeeds, the fight will at least settle for all time whether or not the word in this nation, as applied to public office, will be comp troller" or controller. Here in Water bury for years we have spelled it "con- troller'', although legally the word seems to be "comptroller"'. Waterbury Demo- seems, too, that official Washington likes this form better than "comptroller'.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-03-04
With all the squabbling over the Merritt

With all the squabbling over the Merritt Parkway costs and methods of construc- tion some of us are apt to overlook a recent report of the State Tax Commis- sioner. He announced in the course of his regular duties that in 1887 the State of Connecticut collected from motorists $9,593, ,466.50 in gasoline taxes. It was the largest single source of tax revenue the state had in 1937 it undoubtedly will remain such in 1888. The tax is now three cents gallon and we wouldn't be bit surprised in the years to come to find support for higher gasoline tax. Connecticut's is one of the low ones, in fact when it was two cents per gallon it was the lowest, although there were other states also with 2-cent tax We wouldn't oppose higher gasoline tax if we thought the state would lower some other form of taxation, but our custom of recent years has been to find new forms of taxation and to retain the old ones, too. In short we have added to taxation instead of lowering it.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-03-04
[PressCOnment
THE LONE STAR SHINES
Christian Science Monitor)

A report from the Christian Sci ence Monitors correspondent in Austin tells of the notable pros- perity of Texas in the face of busi- ness recession in most of the rest of the United States.
 Farm income in that predomi- nantly agricultural state rose from just under $400,000,000 in 1886 to more than $460,000000 during the calendar year of 1887, and this fla vorable comparison continued right into December notwithstanding de- clining prices and after many pro- duction indices in the nation had been falling markedly. So, too, do Texas oil wells continue to bring i'll approximately $1 barrel for their 100000 barrels of average daily output.
 That the prosperity of Texas is indeed a luminous spot on the bus mess map of the nation is con- firmed by the monthly map in shad- ings from white to gray in the mag azine Nations Business, published by the Chamber of Commerce of the United States. This map in the February issue, based on Decem- Der figures, shows half or more of Texas in white, indicating good" business, while no other state is nearly so favored.
 Yet from the sunny geniality of Texans it is safe to say they would rather see prosperity spread than be confined to them alone. That is one of the good things about a rise of agricultural income; it soon spreads back to enliven industrial markets. Texas has gloried in the name of the Lone Star State but her citizens would be sure to well come heartily whole constellation of other bright spots on the na- tion's business map.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-03-04

and no hip pockets in trousers. We predict that they cannot get away with any such nonsense. It is un- American and contrary to all the instincts of the male
 One of the difficulties of mems clothing is not that it has too many pockets, but that it has too few, and that those are not large enough It is getting so it is impossible even to buy an overcoat which has a pocket large enough to carry a book. The ordinary man, faring out into the streets, is lost if he does not carry, among other things, the fol- lowing: Six paper clips; two rubber bands; fountain pen and two pen- cilS; a scratch pad; book of ad- dresses and telephone numbers; cards for memorandum purposes: small derringer or other weapon for protection; the menu of the last public dinner he attended; six boxes of paper matches; plenty of tobacco, whether cigarettes, pipe or cigars; a, small flask of brandy for emergencies; two extra handk er- chiefs; a little black book to write down reminders in; a watch; a knife, preferably one with at least three blades; a pocketbook full of bills; a sheaf of personal letters that ought to be answered some time; batch of clippings; good supply of snapshots of tte members of the family. This is only the be- ginning, the absolute minimum with which man can feel safe. The prudent man will add toothpicks, a small volume of comforting poems, recipes for making rum drinks. and a rabbits foot. It is up to the tail ors to conform to these demands, not for the men of America to conform to the whims of tailors.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-03-04

Jack Garner, who speaks with slow Texas drawl himself, mar veled at the young tyro's speed.
 Calling a newsman into the lobby, Garner said, Here's a tip for yOu-be a good story. I've been in these halls for a long time but that man Lee cans talk faster than anybody I ever heard. Ask the official reporters about it."
 The neWsman asked Percy E. Budlong. official reporter of the Senate, who had been taking Lees rapid-fire delivery in short hand. Budlong confirmed Garner. He figured Lees delivery was at the rate of 250 words minute.
 "He kept me hustling," said Budiong. "The only thing that saved me was the simplicity of his language"
 NOTE - Most StenographerS have a shorthand speed of only 120 words a minute.
 Merry-Go-ROund
 When Jim Farley boarded his train for Florida recently, he was given a farewell serenade by Evie Mrs. "Chip'D Robert, who hired an accordion player for the oc- casion Officials who at tended the big agriculture meet : ing in Des Moines say that all though Secretary Hull got a big hand, the public speaking laurels went to British neWsman Sir Wilmot Lewis, Washington cor respondent for The London Times War Department says they could have sent a dozen instead of half dozen flying fortresses" to Buenos Aires-eX- cept that South American air. ports don't have enough gasoline. Copyright, 1888, by United Fea-
 ture Syndicate, Incl
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-03-04
In New York
BY GEORGE ROSS

New York, March 4-That in- trepid fraternity of the Millionaire Straphangers is still earring on These are the moneyed lords who live in suburban Westchester-Pel- ham and New Rochelle-on the far end of the subway line. They ride to work, along with countless "sar- dines." on the crowded subways cars. Sometimes, they get seat. Some times. they don't. Thus the dub, Millionaire Straphangers."
 Occasionally, they send their liveried limousines to Wall street for the return trip home. For even millionaires find a long jour- ney on the hang strap tedious after a single daily trip. On the other hand, many of them use the subway both ways.
 Probably the most famous mill lionaire straphanger in New York was the late John E. Andrus, who daily, for twoscore years. rode vertically from home to work and works to home. He was jostled about like any other subway passenger in his garage.
 The legend goes that one of these wealthy subway riders instructs his chauffeur to follow him down to the office every day and park the Hispano-Suiza against at nearby curb. At noon, the master emerges from his office chambers into the elegantly upholstered compartment of his car and order his man to drive to the Curb Exchange Restau- rant-two blocks off. He makes the same brief trip back to his office after his midday meal and orders the chauffeur back to Pelham.
 At the end of his business day, this business titan descends into the subway, deposits his nickel in the coin box, crowds into a mole cular space and travels homeward. A Horse on the Doc
 They were talking of the Spanish hostilities during Lambs Club soiree and David Warfield, the un- forgettable Music Master" was re- minded to tell a favorite anecdote amout his old friend, Frederic Remington, who once drew pictures for a syndicate based on incidents in the Spanish American War. Re- mington gained his reputation mainly for his sketches of horses.
 Indeed, many of the common af- fairs of men were viewed by Re- mington in terms of the equestrian Some time before his death, he was taking treatment from an osteopatll The osteopath was small and frail while Remington weighed over 25( pounds and was of heroic girth.
 On the doctors table, as he lay face downward. his back was SC highly arched that the small prac- titioner couldn't get the proper pressure on the spine which he was trying to stimulate. After mount ing a chair unsuccessfully, the os- Lteopath clambered up to the table and set to work. In this position hs maneuvered along his patient'i backbone, giving it an occasiona bounce. T hy>e I'm not hurting you. MT. Remington" he said.
 Its sll right, doc" said tht equine minded artist, " as long a! lyou don't use your spurs
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-03-04

pictures at the same point and it's picture reveals road curvature not as pro- nounced as that produced by the Public Works Department, but more pronounced than that seen in the Highway Depart ment and Courant photos And the Bridgeport paper observes that condi- tion midway between those maintained by the opposing departments actually exists.
 There's the situation. We still believe that the jury selected to try this case will Lave to be very competent and entirely unbiased
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-03-04
T st Y UT Knowledge

Can you answer seven of these test questions? Turn to last page for the answers.
 l. Which amendment to the Con- stitution abolished slavery in the U. S.?
 2. What is neurology?
 3. Who was Ernst Rietschel? 4. Name the chief body of our planetary system.
 5. What is the basic alloy of pewter?
 6. Name the birthstone for Octo- Der.
 '. What is the name of the native Australian dog?
 8. What is the political utilization of J. Mark Wilcox, Representative from Florida?
 9. Name the fast runner who car- ried the message to Sparta for aid in the Battle of Marathon.
 10. Name the capital of the Prov ince of Ontario. Canada.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-03-04
Selected Poem
DUSK IN THE SUGAR WOODS

(Chares Maam in the New York Times) But now, though man might tire and sunlight fail, The sap was liquid light from spout to pail, His cask stood loaded for the days last run, The naples had awakened. Where the sun Sent cold red lances through the thinning wood He saw the morrows buckets in his mind And took the seasons measure. Earth, the blind Dark earth was singing, and the song was good He tallied his tomorrow and his thought Recalled ferns thin feather where the noon Had warmed naples roots. The light bit colder. Good night, he told the wood Be strong, but not For naples: for the fern one day too soon Looking for Spring upon a mountain shoulder.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-03-04
A Book a Day
"Hell on Ice" Is
 An Arctic Thriller

Hell On Ice" by Commander Ed is an epic tale, and one of the rar- est ever to come out of the heroisms of the Arctic.
 The book is the saga of the Jeannette, which nearly 60 years ago slipped out of the Golden Gate one sunny day, sped by cheers, sirens and Woman'S tears; the first expedition to seek the North Pole by way of Boring Sea. And the qualities of great novel are in its gripping chapters.
 For the Jeannette. altogether unfitted for the perilous voyage, faced troubles from the first day out and later summer found her walloWing in the waters of the Boring Strait when she should already have been far north. Fol- lowed more delay while a coal tender caught up, and finally the Jeannette was on her way again. But by now the tumbling, crush ing ice foes were closing in about the little vessel and hardly be- fore she had begun to fight she found herself inextricably locked in polar ice.
 The Jeanette remained locked in that Arctic pack two years. Then it sank, and her half starved, half-crazed little crew began desperate trek across the foes to bleak Siberian shores. A few reached the tundra; others perished enroute; one went made. Only handful survived to tell the story.
 And that story, one of incredible drama, Commander Ellsberg dug out after 60 years from the musty diaries, old letters and the dusty official reports of the navy de- partment. To make it even more graphic, he has told 1t through the person of George Wallace Mel vile, chief engineer of the Jean- nette on that fateful expedition It is vivid enough to chill you to the bone.
 Hell on Ice" should go to the shelves as one of the great Arctic classics of all time.-P. c. F.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-03-04

Whether or not Highway Commissioner Macdonald wants to open the Merritt Parkway right away, we're afraid he'll be forced to do so. With all officials in the state wanting everyone to go down there and see what's what with the me- morial roadway the only solution of the problem is to throw the route open to the general public. Then if there are con- plaints they'll be brought forward, to- gether with the nice things to be said.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-03-04
Daily Almanac

Moon sets 8:44 D. m.
 Sun rises 6:23 a. m. sets 5:45 D. m. This is good time to make an outdoor inventory. It's surprising the amount of de- bris that will collect during the winter Dis posing of it only demands a short amount of concentrated effort Broken tree branches should carefully be removed: sagging fences should be braced; broken windows replaced.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-03-04
Current Comment

I don't believe there will be a world war within the next few years. No one in Europe wants war eX- cept Russia.
 Maj. James Strachey Barnes,
 British international affairs ex-
 pert.
 It's a sad thing to see 90 per cent of American theaters in the hands of the sheriff when other na- tions are subsidizing their theaters. William A. Brady, theatrical pro-
 ducer, attacking the 10 per cent
 excise tax on admissions.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-03-04
FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 1888
A Thought for Today

Every according he purposeth in his heart so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God lovcth cheerful giver.- H Corinthians 9:7.
 The manner of giving shows the character of the giver, more than the gift itself.-Lavater.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-03-04

Of course we get lot more foreign trade by lending millions to foreign na- tions to buy our goods, but it's simpler to lend the money here at home to revive industry
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-03-04

Kipling may have been half right East and West will never meet - except per- haps on the battlefield.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-03-04
I& Daily DREW PEARSON and ROBERT A ALLEN
New U S. Foreign Policy IsoIotes Europe; Pon-Anericon Broodcosts Quiet Move Toward This; So America
 Considers Inviting U S. Immigrants
By DREW PEARSON
and ROBERT c ALLYN

WASHINGTON, March 4-One of the most impor- tan policies the Roosevelt Administration is going to fol- low the future is cooperation all along the line the Latin American front with greater isolation the Euro f;o Oy,+c
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-03-04
TODAY'S COMMON ERROR Never pronounce auxiliary
 Ox'-il-la-ri; say, Ogz-ir-ya-ri.

nesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota Oklahoma, Oregon, Vermont, Washington and Wyoming.
 o. Was any of the money that Mrs. Edward B. Mclean paid to Gastcn B. Means for the recovery of the Lindbergh baby ever recovered?
 A. No.
 O. What is the origin and mean ing of the surname Mcclellan?
 A. Irish, disciple of St. Faolan, meaning wolf.
 Q. What is the nationality of the actor, George Sanders?
 A. He was born in South Africa, and his parents were Russians.
 e. What is the scope of the re- cent treaty s between China and Soviet Russia, signed August 29, 1937?
 A. It binds each signatory not to aid in any way a third party com mitting aggression against the other signatory, but it makes no pledge of assistance against the aggressor. Q. How much yeast is necessary to cause ten gallons of sweet cider to ferment?
 A. One cake of ordinary bakers compressed yeast. @. What is the Gottheil Medal?
 A. An annual award by the Zeta Beta Tau college fraternity TOT dis tinguished service to Jewry.
 o. Do all the planets of the solar system revolve about the sun in the same direction as the run rotates on its axis? A. Yes.
 If you want copy of our book let "HiStOry nf the Postal Service0
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-03-04

Gas masks are to be stored at Westminster, England, ready for use of members of parliament in case of an air raid.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-03-04

If you want a copy of our book let History of the Postal Service" write to Waterbury Democrats Washington Bureau, 1913 Thir- teenth street, Washington, D. c. Enclose 10 cents in postage.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-03-04

Q. Is there town named "Greenville" or "Greeneville" in every state in the Union?
 A. There is at least one in every state except Arizona, Idaho, Kan sas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Min