davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-28

Holiday "reminiscences. That last minute rush to get the present you forgot all about Trying to find the present you got for the little woman and which you put in safe Gall too safe) hiding place. Working for an hour to get the trunk of the Christmas tree into the patented supporter Stepping on three tree lights while trying to untange string of them Getting absorbed in the book that goes Ma and forgetting all about time and place. The arrival of Christmas Eve visitors and the customary banter ending in nip of Rock and Rye or egg-nog . The noises from downstairs in the wee sma hours of the morning when young uns are gazing rapturousy at the heaped-up gifts Christmas morn ing services solemn but joyful Greeting fellow par ishoner exchanging peasantries on the day and the season.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-28

Bigger and better. When the Westminster Ken mel Club calls all arstocrats of the canine world to Madison Square Garden New York, on February Is, 14 and 15 and additional features will be added to this greatest of all American dog shows of the winter or indoor season. To supplement the customary bench competition there will be sleddOg contests and obedience tests . As in 1888 the 1889 show will be
 limited to benching 5000 dogs, the rule of first come first served being followed again, too The same pro- cedure will be followed in the judging, the first two and Saturday left for the battle of champions and best in show.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-28
LIFE IS LIKE THAT
BY THE MAN IN THE TOWER

Today I'm having very thin time Searching about for suitable rhyme. Christmas all over-there goes good theme And a very nice subject for letting of steam. It's the dead end of the year, not much inspiration Or for that matter cause for jubiation. Nothing exciting to do how strange! Just few Christmas doodads to exchange. Things somehow don't look at all inviting Windows this week not nearly so exciting One has gone the rounds to all the pretty lghs Christmas decorations and all such lovely sights. It has become bore to suck hard candy, The nuts somehow don't so dandy. One feels life bit heavy full of troubles And wishes ones gifts didn't run so to doubles. What with this and what with that, Things seem-well, just bit flat. I must confess I'm having thin time Searching about for suitable rhyme.
 EM EM
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-28

Helen Burns of Watervile is still wondering how Santa Claus came down the chimney with the lovely canine he brought her for Christmas. Natalie Atieri was year older Christmas day. Dr. Francis Barnes and Marguerite Stoddard married year yesterday
 Betty Shortt managed to get away from her nursing duties in New York City to spend the holidays with her mother Wally Pranskitis is home from St. Thomas Seminary until the New Year commences. Helen Tel Ierdae believes there is Santa Claus and justly so. Among her many gifts Streamlned Frigidare. Johnny Rozum home from Cedarcrest Sanatorium in Hartford for few months
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-28
Canadian Legion

Edward Peters is chairman of the arrangements committee for the New Years Eve dinner dance of the Canadian Legion post and auxiliary, which will be held in the clubs rooms on Bank street. Final plans for the celebration were made last night at a meeting in Canadian Legion hall. Sarah Gibson is CO., chairman of arrangements. A meet ing of the post will be held Thurs day night to approve the plans.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-28

seen as two flyers who typify the birdmen- who have made aviation what 1t is today. MacMurray is the devil-may-care adventurer who blazes trails across the sky but cail- not stay in any one place long enough to make lasting contribu- tibns to aviation. Midland. on the other hand. is the patient experi- menter, the far-viSioned man who builds the planes for tomorrow's fly CTS. Miss Campbell, in her first big dramatic role. plays the pioneer airwoman whom both love.
 All in all here is first-rate enter tainment for the entire family. Be sure to attend before the closing performance Friday evening.
 On the same show is Always in Trouble starring Jane Withers.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-28

Beat this one. .. Making the rounds of most news paper offices right now, where they enjoy good immensely, is this honest-to-goodness letter. received by the editor of the Kingston N Y Freeman Please send few copies of the paper containing the obituary of my aunt Also publish the inclosed clipping on the marriage of my niece, who lives in Saugerties. And wish you would mention in your local column if it doesn't cost anything that have two nice puppies for sale As my subscription is out please stop the paper times too hard to waste m1cney on newspapers"
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-28

Christmas spirit. It happened shortly after noon Tuesday up at the of Bank and Center Streets
 number of passersby amused and ticked to note a little fellow about 10 II years Old busy with brand-new snow shovel that doubtless Christmas and the new shovel was doing fine job for its proud owner
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-28

a billion dollars authorized last June, which was to lift the coun- try out of the re- cession then go- ing along mer- rily. Although over a billion dollars was auth orized, only 66 million of that money has ac- tually been spent.
 For several
 months after
 J une almost
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-28
odays Answers to
 cRANlUM CRACKERS
QUESTIONS ON COMIC PAGE

l. False. The first day of spring is April 21. 2. False. Florence Nightengale was famous war nurse.
 B.. True. Harry Woodring is secretary of war.
 4. False. Crepe Suzette is a French pancake.
 5, False. King Kong was the name of a movie.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-28
AnslOers To
 Test Questions

Below are the answers to test questions printed on page 6.
 1. Florida. 2. Dr. Ross T. McIntire. 3. An apparatus for testing the quality of musical strings. 4. nAtiquaries. 4. Antiuariqes. 5. Chicago, III. 6. A metallic element. [. Master.
 8. 5000.
 9. Soviet Russia. 10. 1t is a seaport of Ecua- dor.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-28

weekly announcements were
 made giving huge totals of
 projects that were authorized. The impression got around that vast pouring of public funds into pub lie works, instead of WPA, was to be the administrators final bid for recovery.
 Then an announcement was made that all of the vast sum had been authorized and there was no more left. The WPA ap- propriation was purposely kept down because PWA was to take up the load as the days went on. PWA STILL HAS
 PLENTY OF FUNDS
 But now WPA funds are prac- tically exhausted and PWA is still far from being under way. For 66 million dollars in six months is only about Il million a month, hard ly as much as the government spends in the most prosperous pe- riods.
 RumOrS have got around that PWA funds are being purpOsely
 held back in order to have them
 available for military cOnStruc-
 ton when Congress meets. The
 argument will be strong that the
 armament plan will thus cost very little more lhan the funds already
 provided.
 But in the meantime, what be- comes of government expendi- lures for relief and work relief? If there is any validity in the claim that public works expendi- lures will produce recovery, then is it not plain that any plan which tends to divert them into war ex- penditureS will postpone their ex- penditure and postpone recovery? i! The question whether we are to have a great armament program is one thing. One may hold what view he wishes on that. But it will be idle to suppose that an armament program can begin to have much effect on business for some time to come.
 MISTAKE GOES BACK
 SIX YEARS
 Six years ago the president, when the first PWA money was appro- priated, was urged to go in for low cost housing. This he refused to do. Here and there a few housing proj- ectS have been built at costs and at rental rates which put them com pletely beyond the reach of the low income groups.
 Had the president six years ago put -hehind a real low cost housing
 program one-haf the energy
 that was expended on the ill.,
 starred NRA and other almost forgotten adventures, the govern
 ment would have something tam gible in assets for the money it
 has spent; the people would be
 we'll on the way to the solution of
 one of our most serious problems. We would now know something perhaps about low-cost housing construction. But now, six years after the New Deal began, it is a little late to talk about housing. It ought to be inaugurated, even at this late day, but it will take years to. develop it to the point at which it would be developed had the golden opportunity been seized in 1883. Now, apparently. we are to have battleships instead of houses.
 Copyright, 1888. NEA Service, Incl
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-28

the safety engineer. Detailed re- ports of the patrol squads showed that the majority of accidents took place at certain corners, on specific streets and mostly between 4 p. m.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-28
The Five C's,

The Five C's. . .. Over in jolly old London the Pedestrian Association has decided to do something about it. don't you know. Whether it the fogs or just English the organization has issued a primer for all pedestrians in which the three rs are replaced by five c's. It seems in England the pedestrian on a crossing where there is light or patroman is always right Nevertheless the follow inc tho five
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-28

Mrs Mary Rmkus and Mrs. Charles Srikulis of Alder Street are in Detroit Michigan, where they attended the funeral of their brother-nlaw Stanley Pushes former Waterburian. They left Waterbury Sunday, December 18 and are due back early next week
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-28

Merchants of France are protes ing that the workers vacation witt pay periods almost kill their bus ness.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-28
Asks What. Became Of
 Billion That
 Would Beat Recession
By JOHN T. FLYNN Democrat Washington

As the year draws to a close one wonders what has become of the great public works program of over
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-28

lovely Florence Price in the feminine lead.
 On the same program is this years most hilarious comedy Next Time I Marry" and featured in this fun fest is Lucille Ball, becoming i1- creasingly popular through her ap- pearance in the "Annabel" series.
 Tickets for this gala midnite per- formance are now on sale at the box office. Get yours now and avoid the last minute rush for seats. Tele- phone reservations will be accepted.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-28

Nine whaling expeditions are operating in the Antarctic this sea- son.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-28

and midnight.
 So patrols at these points and hours were increased. physical ob- structions to safety, if any, remov- ed, curbs rounded, raised safety
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-28

Cross cOnstitutiOnally Cross consistently Cross conspicuOusly Cross confidently Cross considerably
The Washington times., 1938-09-27

BOTTOM O. THINGS: 1t was
in midsummer, we believe, that a
popularette in Commerce Depart
ment slipped on a buttery floor
and fractured her hip E. Luckily
she recovered, but we know OF
many persons, particularly those
of advanced years, who have not
survived fractured hips -. And as
long as Uncle Sans Congress re-
fuses 30-year optional retirement
there will be elderly workers shut
fling around waiting for their an
nuity birthday E. A union Squawk
cleared up a slippery approach to
the Labor cafe not long ago, but
slithery walking spots still exist
lever try walking along a corridor
in Justice or Post OfficeO and
should be corrected Powdered
rosin would help much, and is not
expensive.
The Washington times., 1938-09-27
Let's Keep 1t Here

SPARE A DIME? Recently La
Dor allowed its liberals" to lime
light it with use of official
names) by circulating personnel
on behalf of one faction in Spain
although State Secretary Hull
has pointed out that civilian need
and despair exists on BOTH sides
Even more recently the able
George D. Riley suggested that
since some in Labor are so charity
minded a collection be made for
AMERICANS in New England
who suffered from the hurricane
and oddly no such collection has
been heard from This corner
ventures to suggest that until
American unemployment h a S
been wiped out and every unem-
playable American permanently
provided for, foreign desk So
licitation within Government
agencies be definitely forbidden
In fact, many clerks feel even
the nuisance of unit collections
for sick and dead relatives whom
nobody ever met might well be dis
penSed with.
The Washington times., 1938-09-27
The Aw0rd Lineup

BOXING: Tickets to the
boxing show tonight at Griff
Stadium, featuring MexicO's
champ against the Golden
Greek" are awarded to a lad
whose name must be hidden
because bosses would seek his
blOOd-almOSt literally. Next
awards for an astonishing
Federal Fact will comprise
the wrestling show at Tur-
ner's Arena late this week.
LITTLE THEATER: Ruth
LippincOtt, Procurement Divi-
sion, is invited to tOddle by
here for two passes to this
leading funSpOt, now showing
the excruciatingly funny and
sophisticated "AmphityrOn."
MARLENE BEAUTY KIT:
One of these "naturals" for
keeping in the desk for face
refreshment is awarded to
Ruth Henver, Vets Admins
tratiOn, if she'll take the time
to drop by Goldenberg's cos
metics counter and receive
same.
HIGH ICE CREAM: Anna
Williams, Treasury, has slip
awaiting at this desk for a
quart of this tasty commodity
at any High Store, one of
which operates at 21S2 Penn
SyIvania Ave. N. w.
The Washington times., 1938-09-27
SPEAKING OF GOVERNMENT WORKERS

:. If employed in Treasury ne
is late only when he fails to get
inside the building at the appoint
ed hour, but if employed in Aggie' S
South Building he might possibly
be awaiting an elevator on the
first floor at 1855 but still be sew
eral minutes late by the time he
reaches his desk. Bureau
chiefs would do we'll to get TO-
gether and adopt uniform regu-
lations on the matter. Ger
tainly employees should not be pen
allied for hardness that is often
the result of interrupted elevator
service.
The Washington times., 1938-09-27
An Urgent Need

TEETH! Five years ago Bill
Green and a delegation were told
by F. D. that he had ordered all
agency heads to hire twhen re-
hiring former emergency workers
canned via work-lack Or cash
lack In SO, no results being
perceptible, Arthur Stein and
Jessica Buck nagged Hopkins and
Roosevelt until the WPA Replace
ment Division was set up-and the
fight seemed won Poole =.
Since then thousands Of hopefulS
have registered and have found
they might as well has written
their names on steam; agencies
have merrily disregarded the list
in the rush to add more relatives
and friends This can be easily
corrected if the Federal unions
will press for an Executive Order
requiring that in case of vacan-
cies all qualified ex-workers listed
The Washington times., 1938-09-27

discover that secret for themselves
men whose achievements are lit
tie short of miraculous. These
methods, though strange, are said
to be remarkably instrumental in
freeing the giant powers of mind
within us.
A nine-thouSand word treatise
revealing the startling results of
this system is now being offered
by the Institute of metaphysics,
2l3 South Hobart Blvd, Dept. "a,
Los Angeles, Cal. They offer to
send it free to any readers of this
paper who quickly send their
names and addresses. Readers are
urged to write them promptly, as
only a limited number of the free
treatISes have been printed.
The Washington times., 1938-09-27
IN EDITORIAL VEIN:

\ Efficiency WCIld be ra /
and the agony of diSmiSsals
greatly lowered if the AdminiStra-
ton and Congress could be con-
vinced of the benefits of placing
the civilian service on exactly the
same footing as the armed forces,
i.e.. under ONE personnel agency
and responsible to it alone. Thus
a stenographer, a machine opera
tor or ny type of employe would
be hired by the Civil Service Com
mission and kept under its con-
troll. and would never belong" to
Navy, or State, or GAO as the case
might be They would be shifted
from agency to agency, as needed,
and when not needed could be
placed by the Commission in a
"reserve pool" at, perhaps, half-pay
until needed again This reserve
pool at first glance would appear
sheer waste, but it would actually
be a powerful economy weapon
inasmuch as some official would
have the responsibility of seeing
that this pool rem ned at a
minimum
Some Advantages: The costly
setting up of personnel diViS-
ions" in each agency as now
planned would be eliminated.
The ghastly business of one
agency canning 200 tried workers
while another hires 200 mexperl-
enced freshmen would end
Judicious shifting of everyone
(once in aWhile) would prevent
falling into a rut and developing
the state of mind that character
ICES so many in civil service.
Final Comment: Opponents OF
this idea will say "technlcal'
workers couldn't be shifted, but
this is BUNK; accountants or at
torreys in Interstate could handle
Vets Administration problems
and vice verSa-very nicely II
they were good accountants and
attorneys, aftel a short familiar
izing period.
The Washington times., 1938-09-27
Advised? No! Urgent!

UNITED FRONT: Nobody IA
miliar with the scene would argue
that there should be less employe
unions than there are, for each
now comprises a particular class
which is most healthy operating
to itself. But the badly Aeeded
cooperation between ALL unions
is thing that started to squeal
last winter when retirement legis-
lation fizzled through disharmony,
and this winter may see it scream
Not too long ago E. Claude
Babcock with no particular ak
to grinO attempted meeting at
which the unions were to get to-
gether. Harry B. Mitchell was
glad to come and speak, but the
only thing seen of the "big three"
The Washington times., 1938-09-27
ADVERTISEME EMIT
THE SECRET THAT
CANNOT BE TOLD

A strange method of mind and
body control, that leads to i'm
mense powers never before expert
enced, is announced by Edwin ].
Dingle, well-known explorer and
geographer. 1t is said to bring
about almost unbelievable i'm
provement in power of mind.
Many report improvement in
health. Others acquire superb bod
lily strength, secure better posi-
tions, turn failure into success.
Often, with surprising speed, tai
entS. ability and a more magnetic
personality are developed.
The method was found in re-
mote and mysterious Tibet, for
merly a forbidden country, rarely
visited by outsiders, and often
called the land of miracles in the
astounding books written about it.
Here. behind the highest noun.
tainS in the world, Mr.. Dingle
learned the extraordinary system
he is now disclosing to the West
ern world.
He maintains that all of us are
giants in strength and mind
power, capable of surprising feats
from the delay of old age to the
prolonging of youth, and the
achievement of dazzling business
and professional success. No one
ever has told the secret of such
power-it cannot be told in words
But Mr.. Dingle tells of remarkable
methods that for three thousand
years have been used by Sages and
seers, wise men of the East, to
The Washington times., 1938-09-27
Speaking of Bottles

MAKING 1T PUBLIC: This cor
ner feels that feelings of officials
and politicians have been saved too
greatly in the past; that they've
been given a kindhearted treat
ment they do not deserve {.
Legitimate information about the
Government and its inside working
is frequently withheld from the
press, and therefore is not given
to the taxpayers who support the
Government Civil Service
Commission collected data on over
time, the Hill issued it, and the
Administration and all of its agen'
cies were embarrassed by head
lines telling of 100000 hours in
six months Then the commits
sion gathered data on a proposed
five-day week, but this time it was
given to the Budget Bureau and
The Washington times., 1938-09-27
By ]. EARLE MOSER

year now ended, I am moved to
wonder why it did not adopt a
real stand on the matter of 80
year optional retirement by agree
ing to the plan of making the 'op.
tional apply equally to both the
Government and the workers
Will they continue to hold out for
passage of a bill making the 'op-
tionaP apply to the worker alone? .?
The former type of bill with
Civil Service backing, has a fine
chance Of passing; nothing else,
in my opinion, has any. When
The Washington times., 1938-09-27
Let's Stop Cheating

ONLY FAIR: Some enterprising
Congressman can make hit with
116,0O0 Capitolians (plus Federal
ties in his district) by submitting
an amendment to present regula-
tions requiring that when clerks
are assigned temporarily to duties
of a higher grade they must be
paid the rate of pay of the higher
grade for the period of the assign
ment This would prevent a
great deal of undercover appropri-
ation-saving Ito provide raises for
stooges in many caSeS) that is un-
fair to personnel and causes a rip
ping hot letter to agency heads
from Civil Service Commission
every once in a while.
The Washington times., 1938-09-27
Today in Films

WARNER b Their
schedule today, for which you
may have tickets: EARLE
and AMBASSADOR -Four
Daughters" with Priscilla,
Rosemary and Lola Lane,
plus Wayne Morris and John.
ME Davis on the Earle stage;
METROPOLITAN -" Secrets
of an Actress" with Kay
Francis and George Brent;
UPTOWN - Robert Taylor
and Maureen O'SulIivan in
"The Crowd ROars;" TIVOLI
Randolph Scott and Joan
Bennett in "The Texans"
CALVERT and PENN-ErrOl
Flynn and Olivia DeHavil-.
land in "Four's a Crowd"
The Washington times., 1938-09-27

retirement comes UP at the next
Congress I hope the AFGE will
crawl in off the limb and agree
to the commissions recommends.
tions. old Timer.
Dear Old Timer: The AFGE
is, of course, bound by it's conven-
ton mandate and what stand it
will take during 1899 is profile
matte. However, we agree that
option to Government as we'll as
employe probably must be agreed
before much progress can be ex-
pected.
The Washington times., 1938-09-27
The Goor, Roars

Dear Mr.. MoSer:
Il have been reading your col
umn for several years now, and
think it is swell. I have, how
ever, one criticism. In my hum
BILE opinion, you devote entirely
too much space to the IDRA, that
little group of playboys up in
the Interior Buildings. So few
of us are interested in their stunts
that I think you should protect
our feelings by scrutinizing their
so-called news items very care
fully before using. The Coon.
Dear Coon: think Sam Bar
rett knows you, and I'll leave
you to him!
The Washington times., 1938-09-27

apparently by White House order
was thrown into the fireplace {.
WHY. and by WHAT RIGHT. =.
Now the commission has received
billet doux from all the little bu-
reau chiefies telling of all the
little jobs they want excluded
from the classified service-and
it's wondered if this information
also will be bottled up after secret
conclaves at 1900 Pennsylvania
Avenue.
The Washington times., 1938-09-27

"Reorodntze!" UdS last falls
cry
And gains are noiD in motion.
But much remains for US to
do
II you ask this corner its no.
ton.
The Washington times., 1938-09-27

THE DOG pictured above is relaxing -
l. resting his nerves. He has a nervous sys-
TEN amazingly similar to yours, with this dJ-
ference: 1t is the nature of the dog to rest when
he needs rest. 1t is the nature of mankind
to drive on until nerves jerk and twitch...
until you are cross and irritable. tired out
without knowing it. No matter which form of
The Washington times., 1938-09-27
In Fewer Words

Dear Mr.. MoSer. Why efficiency
ratings in the Government? They
only stir up ill feeling and really
do not accomplish anything in the
long run. Furthermore, those re-
sponsible for the ratings know
little of the people they rate, let
alone the work assigned to them.
This is actually true in most of.
ficeS. Il. L. L.
Dear L. L. L.: You've said in a
few words what articles of many
hundred words have tried to put
over in the past.
The Washington times., 1938-09-27

with WPA or Civil Service Com
misunderstanding on whether
they have civil service status or
not-be employed FIRST Only
an "E. O." will do it.