davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-02-25
Check Of the Dates

This is the week that you watch your calendar carefully. MT and Mrs. are faced with several tasks which they con slider rather distasteful. Next Monday is the last day for securing new registration tahs for 1888. On and after Tuesday only nlates bearing "38" can be operated along Connecticut highways. It's easy to plo- cure them; there are no detalls lnvolyeu, and those who have waited unCll Clle iasO minute might speed up the process ny reading what it says on the oacK oI tnelL license before going up to the Mo'ol Vehicle branch office.
 Wednesday is the deadllne TOT olo age assistance taxes. You can snow your lace on the street after March without oen9 arrested if you haven't paid tnls taH' put voull be faced with the loo or olggillg down for a penalty dollar that IS aooeo to your $3 obligation. Those who nave neglected to pay the current tax can save themselves this extra charge Dy gettlng over to the City Hall before Wednesoay night. Waterbury is charged TOT so many persons eligible to pay thlS tax ana every delinquent simply puts heavier puruell on those who pay cheertully ana carry
 Also in the immediate future is the deadline for income tax. Uncle Sam must have his due and it is due not later than March IS unless the taxpayer wants to tangle with the federal government. There aren't many cases on record where a private individual has come out on top in any such entanglement as this. To spare your own pride and feelings, get Ill line with the rest of us; fill out the ne cessary blanks; and then see the agents over in the Post Office. If you've over looked or neglected something, they'll point it out.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-02-25
Broader Conservation

. At the recent sessions of the North American Wild Life Conference, plans were made for pushing conservation work more effectively throughout the country The week of March 20 has been set TOT a period of intensive education on the importance of all wild life resources fish. birds, animals, flowers, trees ana natural habitats. Our school children" complained a speaker, fare taught noth- ing. except spasmodically, about the vital value of conservation. They are taught why Hannibal crossed the Alps, but noth- ing of the importance of soil and the meaning of growing things in sustaining life"
 It isn't quite so bad as that. School geographies have more to say about such things than they used to- But the con servation movement is greatly needed. Much of our soil has already been de- stroyed beyond repair. Many forests have been leveled, whose replacement will require many years. Some wild life, such as the passenger pigeon and heather hen, have been wiped out forever.
 Sponsors of the new conservation move ment are interested in more than con- servation of game. They seek the cooper ation of government and private citizens to maintain the human food supply, pre- vent further soil loss, restore water levels, check floods, preserve timber supplies. They want to protect what is left and restore whatever is possible.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-02-25

for these 1O,OOO,OOO or 12,OOO,OoO people out Nof work, letting the benefits flow where they may, through the whole system?
 Maybe when the patient is on his feet again, functioning as producer and consumer economic man" = we can spin some permanent plans to keep him working right along. But if we don't get him going soon, will anything else matter much? The nation as whole needs those idle peoples work as much as they need it. Their work itself would probably do more than anything else to cure what ails the whole "body polite" :" There would be lot of production to divide, and the planners could plan about getting it passed around.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-02-25

At least one Connecticut legislator doesn't think that all the democratic State Senators who have benefited by appointments are open to criticism. This is Rep Joe Garner Estill of Lakeville, popular Republican. In letter to The Merit Man, monthly publica- ton of the Connecticut Merit System Association Inc, he compliments the ed itors on their monthly, but he also takes the occasion to state Some of the appointments of Senators were not only more or less deserved but eminently good ones. Of course others are not so hot. Then, too, districts are supposed to pick good men for the Senate :" All of which proves that when you condemn a system you condemn all within it. But some people don't regard it in this light. If the Democratic senators who hold state appointments now are not worthy of them, we think it will soon be apparent and the situation rectifed.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-02-25
Correcting the Inch

Dr. Lyman J. Briggs, director of the Bureau of Standards, takes his job very seriously. He is worried about the Ameri- can inch In the United States an inch is 25,4OOO5 millimeters long In Great Britain it is only 25 ,39996 millimeters. To an ordinary person this difference seems trivial. But Dr. Briggs says it is "intoler- able," and he hopes to have it partially corrected by congressional act.
 The House Committee on Coinage, Weights and Measures has responded to his troubled appeal by reporting a bill which would fix the length of the Ameri- can inch exactly at 25.4 nilimeterS. The change won't inconvenience industry q particle, says Director Briggs, because nobody can tell the difference none of it's measurements even approach such fineness. This leaves the mathematically innocent layman wondering what's so intolerable about fraction that nobody uses.
 It is kindly gesture, anyhow. The least Great Britain can do now, in a fine spirit of cooperation and without secret treaty or entangling alliance, will be to lengthen it's inch by .00004 millimeter. Providing, of course, Hitler and Mussolini have no objection.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-02-25
National Plans

We seem to be entering planning era again. like the one we went through four or five years ago. Suggestions come from all sorts of people for selected groups to figure things out and tell us what ailS us and what we should do about it. One of the latest efforts is the national coun- cil proposed by U. s. Senator Robert J. Bulkley He wants a federal advisory body including "the best brains of the country chosen from business, labor, agriculture, the professions, etc, to advise the government continuously in all fields of public policy. The Presidents cabinet, he explains, is too much occupied with it's routine departmental work to plan broadly and constructively and solve the new problems arising. He has much support
 Isn't there such thing as too much council, too many specialists, too many plans, instead of just starting like good, old-fashioned family doctor, tackling the patient where he's sickest and concen- trating on the job of getting him onto his feet? Where is this nation Sickest? In it's labor plexuS Whats the treatment indi- cated to practical economic or political doctor? Work!
 We've been mostly starting at the other end, making thousand inquiries and arguments, in the hope of getting around finally to re-employing the idle Why not reverse the process and concentrate first on just finding or making jobs, any kind of practical and useful jobs, public jobs or private jobs but especially the latter,
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-02-25
In Today's Mail
 Anonymous letters will not be accepted unless accom- panied with writer's name.
RETALIATION OF ALL PROP ERTY MIGHT SOLVE SOME
 PROBLEMS
February g, 1888.

February g, 1888. Editor, Waterbury Democrat:
 Some people say that Waterbury has 100000 people living here. l am one of the many who would like to know just who are the six citizens whose names appear in writs served on our previous controller. How much property do they own in Waterbury? And where do they by law get their power to start any such action?
 The Supreme Court of the United States a few months back gave a convincing demonstration of how wrong these citizens are. This body they are supposed to represent may soon find itself subject to the cor rupt practices laws as govern poli- tical parties. Are any of these citi- zens owners or representatives Of local papers?
 Why would it not be a good idea to have the legal elected heads of the city start proceedings against this body for slandering the City of Waterbury?
 Another problem is - for a few generations a few families have held large tracts of land in the Town of Waterbury. They have been able to hold these huge tracts of land because of the low assessed real estate value put on these tracts of land. Why can't some legal group of taxpayers force the revalution of all this land along South Main street on both sides below Smith and Griggs. These are high price lands assessed for at least Ten Dollars front foot. Over around the western section is tract of 100 acres bordering the Connecticut state highway. Poor workers on the opposite side are assessed plenty per front foot.
 To the north of the Connecticut state highway are vast tracts of land that could not be held unless there must be some trickery of some kind. Why not sue the property owners around Exchange Place for pavement improvement? There are laws on the statute books to make such things possible. Tax all this land controlled by big shots and relieve the poor sucker.
 A FOLLOWER OF
 HENRY GEORGE.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-02-25
PressConnent
AN AMERICAN CHAMPION
(New York Sum

Five of the six final competitors at the Westminster Kennel club show for the highest award were Ameri- can bred. A collie was chosen as best working dog, Pekingese as best toy, poodle as best non-sport- ing dog, a dachShund as best hound, a wire-hair as best terrier, an Eng fish setter as best sporting dog. The wire-hair, last years best in the show, was the only one of these whelped abroad.
 Each of the six had points that appealed to the crowd, but as time went on it became apparent to those who know their bench shows that the judge. John B. Gates, had nar- rowed his selections to the terrier and the setter. He gave these a final going lover, seemed to hesitate, then waved to the setter's handler. A great cheer went up. A beautiful dog, this winner, showy. looking un- der the lights canine symphony in gold and white. albeit the gold is more correctly described as orange Still only a puppy of ten months Daro of Maridor had come from his birthplace in Massachusetts to the most coveted honor in American dogdom.
 The real triumph of this show, however, was that of the American breeder. Nobody can deny that he deserves it. He has worked hard and long and faithfully to get the best breeding stock the world could sup- ply, wherever it could be found Fruits of his labor were richly on display in Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-02-25
Volunteer Motor Patrol" Despite Criticism This Early Proposal of State Motor Vehicle Commissioner Connor
 Seems to Have Succeeded
Seems to Have Succeeded
NEW LONDON DAY

in the ''patrol' and report cases of careless and reckless driving coming to their attention to him. More re- gently he has added a few more requirements. The applicant accept ed must have been operating car in the state for five years or more, and must not have been convicted of violation of a major motor vehicle law. Safe driver" stickerS are sup piled for the wind shield and back window of the drivers car, when he is accepted, and card given him to show that he is 8 member of the "patroP'.
 {. Commissioner Connor frankly ad- mits there has been some abuse of this patrol idea. A few members have gotten the idea that they have been given some authority to act as peace officers and make arrests. Others have assumed that their cards, signed by the motor vehicle commissioner and indicating that they are members of the group, may aid them in getting out of the clutch of the law if they happen to slip and face probable arrest. But on the whole the commissioner thinks the plan has proved valuable and justified itself. The psychologi- cal effect of the stickerS is alone worthwhile, he says. Other drivers, seeing the stickers, pass the safe driver" cautiously, lest they get re- ported. The patrol" member, at the same time, takes care to drive cau- tiously himself, lest he be put in the embarrassing position of getting arrested despite his sticker.
 The only sensible objection that we can see to the motor patrol idea is that it Is such fertile field for busybodies, cranks and spiteful folk to work of grudges. Suppose, for instance, member of the patrol and the commissioner says he is not sure patrol" Is good name for the organization, since 1t is not that in the strictest sense of the word barely escapes collision with another car. The usual tendency on the part of both drivers is to deny responsibility. The patrol" member. certain he is in the right, may re- port the other driver, thereby put ting him to considerable inconven- fence, yet the "safe driver" may be the one who is at fault. Who is to be believed in these circumstances, if there are no unbiased witnesses? The system tends to maxe the safe driver" the accuser and the other driver the defendant. And the spite possibilities are obvious, of course.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-02-25

Over in New York city quite row was kicked up when bill was introduced in the legislature to raise the price of dog licenses from $1 to $10. It costs only $l now to renew a dog lincense, but an ori- ginal one costs $2. Still that's all we pay here in Connecticut for male dog, the female dog being taxed $10.25. AS there are 100000 registered dogs in New York city alone this might catch the fancy of the legislators Still it's ticklish piece of legislation, one calculated to arouse public feeling. AS one woman stated, It'll be the doghouse for Moran (bill sponsor) next election if his bill goes through ."
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-02-25

Connecticut Motor Vehicle Com- missioner Michal A. Connor recently issued a general statement on the subject of the citizens volunteer motor patrol, an idea inaugrated by him soon after he took office
 under Governor Cross: The original idea seems to have succeeded, de- spite considerable sharp criticism, for he reveals that the list of VOL unteers had now grown until there are about 10000 members of the patrol. At first the commissioner suggested that drivers with clean records, willing to assist the state in stopping reckless driving, enlist
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-02-25

We often thought the Connecticut law which differentiates between the sex of the dog being registered was bit unfair, but obviously there aren't enough people similarly-minded, for nothing is ever done about lowering the price of the li- cense for the female dog, which many dog fancier prefers to the male We know that many more females would be pur- chased and raised in Connecticut if the license fee was not so high. You pay more to own a female dog than you do to reg ister an automobile now
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-02-25
Selected Poem
HAD ASKED HER OF SPAIN
GA. Jacqueline Shaw in the Christian Science Monitor)

You should the rose gardens of Seville" she
 said For had asked her of Spain, remember; Of that fierce strange country. And she had answered: You should see the rose
 gardens" l smelt the sweet aySsum, the thyme, the lavender The young grass of the English lawn on which lay She said nothing of the chocolate-colored Guadal-
 quivir, The proud pathway of the Conquistadores; The pathway that Magellan travelled, When he left on his last journey. Nothing of the Gralda with its turning balls, Turning from Moslem to Christian; With its blue sky above Moorish minaret. You should see the rose gardens" And that is all have ever seen-I have seen them
 as think, Pink and white, always thus: And so I see them today. There are no bombs there there is no destruction; And if they smell perhaps faintly of sweet alyssum Of thyme, of lavender, They will still be waiting for me some day when
 come.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-02-25

Bang "Will the gentlemen kindly cease conversation on the fI0Or!" Bang, bang, bang
 After two full minutes of school mastering, the Speaker restored quiet, laid down the gavel, and mopped his brow.
 Mexican Ambassador
 Castillo Najero, Mexican ambas- sador to Washington, is one of the ablest members of the diplomatic corps and hard-boiled realist. Sometimes he is accused of being dominating, and once while pre- siding over an international labor conference, newspapers described him as ruling the barley with an iron hand.
 The story was published in Paris where Najera's daughter Erino, then 12 years old, was attending school. A few days later Najera received a letter from his daugh- ter, enclosing the clipping and a penciled note which read: Dear Daddy, how you must have changed!"
 Merry-Go Round
 State Department is putting on the pressure to negotiate a trade agreement with Argentina before the coming campaign makes it uncomfortable to talk about agri- cultural imports .. As the Army bombers flew over South Ameri- can countries, South Americans read news of the flight whcih went by radio from the planes to Wash ington, then by news cable from Washington to South America. -. Census Director William L. Austin, quizzed by a House com mittee for his opinion of the con- troversial unemployment census conducted by John Biggers. Gen tlemen. I do not know" Austin said; Frankly, we tried to dodge any connection with that census" =. After three months of study ing the figures. the extra staff taken on for the unemployment cenus is being liquidated.
 (CopyrighG, 1888. by United.
 Feature Syndicate, Incl
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-02-25
Current Comment

Approximately 100000 of the g. 100000 babies born in the United States each year are born to families on relief or earning less than $l,- 250 year.
 Josephine Roche, former assistant secretary of the treasury.
 
 The great body of the people in the world today is not much less self-seeking than those in the world 5000 years ago.
 There's too much bright and witty conversation and not enough ac- tion. The movies have forgotten enc of the basic principles of com- edy.
 Edward Sutherland, movie di- rector.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-02-25
A Book a.Day
A Lawrence Novel of Three Sisters

For her newest novel, Bow Down to Wood and Stone" (Little, Brown: S250), Josephine Lawrence has chos- en that persistent theme of both life and fiction, self conscious sac 1ifice.
 The story is that of three sisters: Seneth, who lived for her chil- drne; Brosia, who existed only to see her husband prosperous and successful; Gillian, to whom her job was family, fireside and fu- ture. All three were admirable women on the surface, but that surface which Is so skilfully lift ed by Miss Lawrence, revealed only selfish motives and miserable petti- ness beneath.
 Seneth and Brosia between them managed to ruin, or nearly so, the lives of their families. Gil- lian succeeded only in carving a niche for herself in a pile of ashes. All of them invested their peculiar devotion in that most uncertain of securities, the gratitude of other people. The returns ofl these ir- vestments in personality make up the burden of the novel.
 Few popular contemporary nov eiists possess the brisk competence of Josephine Lawrence. Wasting neither words nor emotion, she at tacks her problem with kind of; journalistic objectiyity, says what she has to say and then stops, These are rare and praiseworti1y characteristics. But it occurs to the reader that little less conn petence and a bit more compassion would give her work the synpa- thetic quality that it now lacks.
 Bow Down to Wood and Stone" !" is a good novel, but it wuold be bet ter if the reader could see and touch its characters instead of watching through a telescope the activities of a mechanized Rogers Group.-E. M. T. 4
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-02-25
Daily Almanac
rises 3::31 a. m.

Moon rises 3:31 a. m.
 Sun rises 6:34 a. m; sets 5:38 D. m.
 All vehicles must be lighted thirty minutes after sunset
 This is a good time to survey the premises on the lookout for winter damage There shouldn't have been much the last few months, as the weather really wasn't severe enough for too much. And what did occur can be cared for promptly as the season permits if you but lay your plans accordingly right now.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-02-25
NEW ROAD no sTARDOM

A new road to stardoui has been opened by Cheryl Walker, who was catapulted into Hollywood's firma- ment as a "talisman b1orden by way of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses, which she presided over as queen. Miss Walkers first role was with Olympe Bradna and Gene Raymond in Paramount's Stolen Heaven"
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-02-25

1. In which war was the Battle of Spottsylvania Court House?
 ?. Which state is represented by Senator Edward R. Burke?
 3. In what year was the battle ship Maine blown up in Havana harbor2
 4. Name the capital of Liberia.
 5. Who wrote Ben-Hur?
 6. Are the men who were dis charged from the draft, eligible for the federal bonus?
 2. Name the birthstone for March.
 8. Does the Constitution pre- scribe any qualifications for Justic- es of the U. s. Supreme Court2
 9. Name the greatest orator of the ancient world.
 10. Where is the lowest point of land in continental United States, computed from sea level2
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-02-25
TODAY'S COMMON ERROR Never pronounce archangel- arch'-an-jel; say, ark'-an- jel.

tained in the Sacred Bundle. This bundle has been lost for several years and recently was retrieved by the office of Indian affairs and the Heye Foundation in New York. It has been restored to the Water Busters.
 o. Will the United States gov ernment defray cost of passage of an alien who is unable to work and who has relatives in his native coun- try who offer him a home?
 A. Yes. Application should be made to the Commissioner of Im- migration, U. s. Department of Labor, Washington, D. c.
 o. Is "Pepita" fiction or biogra- phy?
 A. It is a non-fictional biogra- phy of V. Sackville- Vests grand mother, Spanish danceg.
 o. How old is Anna May Wong?
 A. Thlrty-one.
 O. Do deserters from the armed forces of the United States in time of war, lose all rights of citizenship?
 A. Yes. ,,
 Q. How many forest fires were reported in the U. s. in 1886?
 A. There were Al, 1,432 fires on unprotected forest lands and 84,853 on protected forest lands, although the protected forest acreage is more than double the unprotected.
 If you want copy of our book let Foreign Dishes" write to Wa terbury Democrats Washington Bu- reau, 1913 Thirteenth street, Wash ington> D. c. Enclose 10 cents in postage.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-02-25
FDR's Cabinet Charts Show Goods Prices Going Up, Farm Prices Down;
 Divergence of Price Movements One X
 Cause of Our Previous Depressions
md ROBERT .. Ar.1Eagt.
N DREW PEARSON

WASHINGTON, February 25 - When Morgenthau Wallace Perkins and Eccles made up their price state ent for the President last week. they had before them mass of figures and charts from various government nonnan cfc -
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-02-25

T have deep-seated distrust for con- ferenceS,'' says Hitler. So has many an- other egotist
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-02-25
Questions and
 Answers
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
cyvtsht issa. RGd
By Frederick M. Kerby

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
 Enclose a three-cent stamp for reply when addressing any ques- ton of fact or 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 ali mail is ad- dressed to the WATERBURY DEMOCRATS SERVICE BU- REAU, 1913 Thirteenth Street, Washington, D. c.
 THE EDITOR
 o. Can you furnish a formula for sweeping compound2
 A. Melt ounces of paraffin wax in 3 quarts of paraffin oil over a water bath; then add ounces of coarse salt; 5 pounds of sea sand i; 10 pounds of sawdust; and finally add ounce of oil of eucalyptus.
 o. What are the Water Bust ers?"
 A. A clan of the Gros Ventre tribe of North Dakota Indians who believe that they can produce rain and plenteous crops by the magic power of certain medicines con-