davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-08-30
First Job We'll Started

According to report submitted by General Sanford H. Wadhams, chairman of the State Water Commission, a survey of more than 2,000 dams throughout the state has just been completed This work is being done following creation of spe- cial agency for such purpose by the last Legislature. The action was has, tened by our knowledge of what can happen in the state when a hurricane, such as visited us last September, strikes. Numerous small dams were washed out by the ensuing floods.
 It was thereupon decided that the state should exercise more authority over dams and have them inspected periodical ly so that necessary repairs might be made when deemed necessary. To date the initial survey has resulted in an in- spection of dams in 96 of the 169 towns. The remaining ones will likely have been looked over by the end of the year. On file then will be an impressive list of facts and figures, such as will be extremely helpful in the future.
 Of course the Board of Supervisors of Dams is somewhat limited in it's powers, still 1t has the power to compel owners of dams to make ilecessary repairs If there Is danger of the dam giving way before ludden rush of waters and there would
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-08-30

The patience of the U S. Navy in bring ing the sunken submarine Squalus to the surface and getting her to the Ports mouth, N. H., Navy Yard is certainly being tried. Ever since the ill-fated submersible went to the bottom of the sea the Navy has fought with all it's resources to get the vessel afloat and to shore where it's cargo of dead seamen may be removed for burial and the boat itself restored to service. This week the most discouraging setback came when the sub dropped back to the s!,e4 sea- of e1 oniv W 90 90 feet However each failure has resulted in more determined efforts to salvage the boat. It will be in dry-dock very shortly.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-08-30

The text of the proposed city manager charter, as printed in tonight's Democrat should be read by every man and woman of voting age in this city. In effect it is this charter which you are asked to vote for or against on Tuesday, October 3, the day on which ordinarily Waterbury might be going to the polls to return present officials to office or select new ones. 1n- stead of voting for officials this time, we are asked to choose between the present so-called strong-mayor charter and the one whose contents are given in full in The Democrat. It is lengthy document, to be sure, but one which is very irn- portant, particularly so, if it is to be the charter that governs our civic existence in the years to come. For this very req son, we urge that everyone make plans to devote the necessary time to thor ough reading of the city manager council.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-08-30
Begun Here, End It Here

The muddled political and civic situa- tion in Waterbury compels every good citizen of this town to pause and consider well what is going on here, what has been suggested to offset conditions, and what the results of any nasty and drastic acc tion might be. There is no gainsaying the fact that the longer Hayes administration critics continue to launch their bitter attacks, the worse off we are But that does not necessarily excuse the convicted city officials from doing something them selves to straighten out matters.
 We doubt very much if the appeal to Gov. Raymond E. Baldwin to call a spe- cial session of the Legislature will solve the problem. In the first place he may be disinclined to summon the legislators into an expensive session that may not be productive of the result desired and which may only produce further litiga- ton involving all of us more or less. What is needed right now is the proper sort of appeal from the proper sort of persons to those city officials whom most of us are convinced should retire from public life
 We do not believe that such surrender of their offices would constitute an ad- mission of the guilt which they still hotly deny. We do not believe that the general public would seize the opportunity of showing it's feelings by anything more rash or hostile than has already been shown. We do believe that considerable resentment would be dissipated in the general feeling of relief over a situation that now is producing violent reaction all through the state and in many other states, too.
 Certainly no one here in Waterbury really wants to have outside forces step in and force showdown in our present situation. Yet that is what we are work ing towards all the time. The problem is Waterbury's own; it can and should be solved and ended right here with little "knuckling- down" on one side and fewer "holier-than-thou" faces on the other.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-08-30

In order to save that machin- cry he went further than any other American statesman in CO., operating with the League of Na- tions and in urging peace upon Japan. From Sir John Simon, then foreign minister of Great Bri- tain, he asked joint action. But when identic peace notes were sent to Japan, Stimson finally woke up to the fact that the British am- bassador after delivering his note, would go back to the Japanese Foreign Office and say in effect:
 "I just wanted you to know that we promised the United States we would send this note, so we had to go through with it. But of course, we appreciate your problem in Manchuria. BRITISH BOW TO JAPAN
 Finally, with the capture oi ChinchoW, Stimson cabled the American ambassador, Cameron Forbes, to lodge protest with the Japanese Foreign Office, in com pany with the British ambassador. This time Stimson wanted his own ambassador present as witness to what the British said. So Forbes called Sir Francis LindIey. on the phone and asked when he would make the call.
 "I haven't received my in- structions as yet" replied Sir Francis, "but don't wait on me, my dear fellow, don't wait on me-"
 Sir Francis never did receive his instructions and Ambassador Forbes never did call on the Foreign Office. MT. Stimson was beginning to understand British diplomacy.
 That was in 1892. A scant seven years have passed. Today, the Bri- tish are on their knees to Japan in Tientsin, are threatened by Jap anese troops in Shanghai, are evacuating their women and chil- dren from Hongkong. And British statesmen wbo once double-crossed MT. Stimson are now angling to get the support of the U. s. fleet.
 Copyright. 1899, by United
 Tea 9tllre Syndicate JprO
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-08-30
. HlGHLIGHTs FRoM
 LATEST BOOKS
Chinese Morale Grim But Good

Journey to . War" (Random House:
 $3) is . book of poems, ph0tO-
 graphs and day-by day accounts
 of . four month trip to the Chi
 nese war front. The authors are
 two young Englishmen-W. H.
 Auden, who took the pictures and
 contributed . long poem and
 series of sonnets. and Christopher
 Isherwood, who handled the run
 ming story of their trip. The book
 is shot. through with adventure
 and high humor. No excerpt could
 be called typical" but this is one
 of many interesting commentaries:
 "We both agree (Auden and Isher- wooO that 1t is nearly impossible for casual foreigners like ourselves to assess Chinese military morale. Judged by western standards the im- pressions brought back from 8 visit like this are bound to be super ficially depressing. In Europe one is so accustomed ot cocksuredness and boasting that the reticence of Chi nese oftcer seems positively defeat- ist. While we were at the front this morning our guide said: Over there are the lines to which we shall re- treat 'But you mustn't retreat Auden interjected in spite of him. self, rather severely. The Chinese merely smiled. And later, when we had seen everything we were asked for our opinion of the trench sys- tenn. The ofiicers seemed genuinely disappointed when wep raised 1t, and I don't think this was only polite ness. They would really have well cotned even an ignorant English civilians suggestions and advice.
 "The average Chinese soldier speaks of China's chances with an air of gentle depreciation, yet he is ultimately confident, or, at least hopeful. The Japanese said one of them, fight with their tanks and planes. We Chinese fight with our spirit The spirit is certainly im- portant when one considers the Chi nese irferiority in armaments (to- days new guns were remarkable ex- ceptions) and their hopeless de- ficiency in medical services. Euro pean troops may appear more self more cumulative, more effi- cient and energetic, but if they had to wage this war under similar con- ditions they would probably all mu- tiny within fortnight"
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-08-30

were encouraging American volun- teers to enlist in the Chinese air corps.
 The State Department even aped the British to the extent of per- suading Roosevelt to issue state- ment praising the Mussolini- Chamberlain agreement, which had not the slightest chance of succeeding. And they missed a golden opportunity to revise the neutrality act by squelching a Senate move to raise the embargo against Spain, largely because lift ing the ambergo would have upset Chamberlain and his policy of supporting Franco.
 CHINESE DOUBLED GROSS
 State Department policy un- der Roosevelt definitely and in- explicably has followed in the wake of the British. Under MT. Hoover it did not. In fact, it was Hoover's Secretary of State, Henry L. Stimson, who got the worst British double-crossing given an American statesman in many decade - double-crossing which contributed materially to the death of peace and the worlds present dilemma.
 Stimson was an ardent, altru- istic believer in strengthening the peace machinery of the Kel- logg Pact. He moved with force and rapidity to pour water on every international conflagra- ton.
 When Bolivia and Paraguay were almost at each others throats he pulled them apart. He did likewise when Soviet Russia claWed the Chinese in Manchuria. Greatest test of his peace machin- cry came in 1881 when Japan in- vaded Manchuria, obviously bent upon its conquest.
 Stimson knew, and every other realistic diplomat knew that this was but the beginning, that once Japan bit off Manchuria, she would move south, farther and farther, until she had taken all of China. Stimson also knew that this was the first real test of the peace machinery the world had nurtured so carefully since 1918.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-08-30
Daily Almanac

Moon rises 7:ss D. m. daylight tims).
 Sun rises SIS .. n.; sets 7:2o p. m. (day- light time).
 All vehicles must be lighted thirty minutes after sunset.
 High water at Milford Thursday, Aug. 3l, i2:Sl; low water, 7:22 (daylight time).
 A good many weather prophets of the amateur variety are anticipating another hurricane of the Connecticut coast during September. Such prediction isn't spt to 60 wrong becavse septsmber b . hurricane month and this state Is esuite apt to be in it's path Q second successive ti1fe.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-08-30

If there is one thing for which Gov. Raymond E. Baldwin will be famous at the end of his first term, it will be the number of miles he has covered around the coun- tryside. Former Governor Wilbur L. Cross was no slouch in setting up travelling rec ords, for he was in great demand at all sorts of gatherings as speaker. But Gov. Baldwin bids fair to beat any records Dr. Cross set up, what with his transcontinen- tai trip in the first year of his adninistra- tion
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-08-30
A BOUQUET FOR THE RAILROAD
New Britain Herald)

The New Haven railroad manage ment-the trustees and the presi- dent thereof-seem to be more en- frightened about the need for smooth crossings than the manage ment used to be. For many years the crossings in New Britain were bumpy. Systematically the manage ment would plug up the holes and trust to luck. The bumps were not long in growing deeper and wider: then another patch job.
 Of late the management has been at work in this city at one crossing after another. Such crossings as have been finished are smooth and satisfactory. No patchwork this time, but genuine paving jobs. The Elm street crossing, the worst in the city, is more than half finished ard the finished part is smooth as q table.
 That makes for good will. It in- dicates that the railroad is willing to meet the public half way.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-08-30
U. s. Course Clear, Straight

Whatever happens in Europe, and it would be hardy man who would make any guesses at this moment, there are certain courses for the United States about whose wisdom there can be no doubt War or no war, Europe is driving the Americas in upon themselves. Those in both North and South America who favored a sort of world alliance of democ- racies included primarily Russia, have walked up to find Russia suddenly on cor dial terms with its announced enemy, Germany, and quite as ready to appease her with Poland as Chamberlain ever was to appease her with Czechoslovakia. Those who disliked Franco in Spain be- cause of his close links with Germany and Italy have seen him abandon over- night his "Anti-C Communist Axis" friends.
 All have seen treaties torn up, alliances repudiated, IS years of propagandistic assertions thrown overheard in moment for the sake of immediate adventage. Surely the faith of all Americans in the large-scale politics of Europe must be shaken to the core. In such case what IS an American to think? The only answer seems to be: Nothing, until the situation jells into something that can be under stood.
 In the meantime, we have tasks before us which are obviously ours no matter what happens in Europe. We must unite, regardless of faction, politics, race, creed, or class, behind every sincere and prom ising effort to solve our overhanging unemployment and business problem. The fate of disunited and factional peo- ples in todays world has been too ter. ribly outlined to be an instant out of mind.
 We must, unfortunately, prepare our' selves in a military way for any likely attack upon us, and prepare quickly and effectively. That includes making the Panama Canal as nearly invulnerable as human ingenuity can make it. We must spare no pains in building a unity between the American countries based on mutual interest as we'll as cultural and political ties. The reciprocal trade treaty with Argentina, for example, should be pushed through to signature in such way that both countries will be the better for it. Inter-American relations must be solidly based on mutual consideration and intertwined welfare. Such relation ships are the only ones which stand firm amid the political cyclones which are sweeping away the landmarks of yester- day.
 We should adjust all difficulties with far-reaching development of Alaska. We should cement even closer our bonds with Canada, great country overdue for great developments as the supply base for, and possibly even the sometime successor to, Britain. These are tasks that call for all we can muster of resources, of good- will, of wisdom in the developing of poli- cies that can create vast benefits while injuring no people but helping many. To these tasks the United States may, and must, devote itself, whether or not Europe takes the last plunge to self-destruction.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-08-30
Selected Poen,
RAIN CAME DOWN

.obert Wistrand in the Christian Science Monitor Out of the air, the summer air, The quick bright rain came down. The low clouds spread a roof across The rooftops of the town. Rain came down on boy at play Down on his tousled hair. He turned his face up, raised his hands. His laughter shook the air. Rain came down on the city street. Down on a man that day. He ran to a doorway, drowning, And wished the rain away. Out of the sky, the summer sky The rain cane quick and bright For one it was summers loveliness, For one it was summers blight
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-08-30
Questions
 and Answers
By FRRDERICK a. l6ERBK

By FkEDER1C8 6 AkHBS
 Enclose . three-cent stamp for reply when addressing any gues. ton of fact 0r information Co the Waterbury DemOcrst's Service Bu. reau at Washington. Legal and medical advice cannot b given. nor can extended research be un. dertaksn Bo sure an mail ts sd- dressed 0 the WATERBURY DEMOCRATS SERVICE BU- REAU, lO12 Thirteenth Street, Washington, D. c. .
 THE EDrToR e. How many wreaths and sprays were placed at the Tomb of the Ur- known Soldier in 1888?
 A. Wreaths 282 and sprays 3l. o. Why does Altering through chamois remove water from gaso- line?
 A. Water is not dissolved in the gasoline, but is suspended in 1t in the form of drops. The gasoline vets the chamois and keeps the drops of water from passing through.
 @. Describe the early trading posts which played such an im- portant part in early American history.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-08-30
ENGINE WHISTLES
(New York Herald-Tribunel

(NeW York Herald-Tribune)
 A correspondent writes in to re- flute the contention of the few be- nighted and pitiful souls who occa- sionally raise their voices to com- plain that railroad engineers are prone to loud and excessive cross- ing whistling, and in so doing he stands to defend one of the most moving and universal of. all Amer ican traditions. Incidentally, any one who has ever ridden head-end on a locomotive knows that whist ling Is more of a bothersome chore than a pleasure to the engine driver, that 1t Is often almos, drowned out in the cab itself by the other noises incidental to speedy steam travel, and that the devising of some whistle ten times as loud as those in use today, one which
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-08-30
Views of The Press

would literally blast the idiot mo- torist from grade crossings before the pilot beam reaches him, would be boon to all concerned.
 Probably there is no more char acteristic American sound than that of the locomotive whistle. only the crack of bat on baseball is as uni- versal. For 8 hundred years now engine whistles have accompanied a national progress. They have figured in poetry, in symphonies, in pallets. The whistles of Taunton-built eight-wheelerS accompanied the
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-08-30
Current Comment

Death bent to touch his chosen son with mercy, love and pity, and put the seal of honor on him when he died. Thomas Wolfe. novelist this own
 words. chosen by his family to be
 carved on his tomb at Asheville,
 N o..
 If Congress deserts the building trade uifions. suggest we strike every government job in Che country end not let e wheel move on sny job in which the government has an Interest.
 Hugh Van Arsdale, Electrical Workers Brotherhood.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-08-30

hearts and purses) of gold. She doesn't know why, but it's so.
 Renee divuleed a few odds and ends about the pates of her best known customers:
 Billy Rose, who likes to produce the worlds biggest shows, she says, wears the smallest hat she has ever checked. Maurice Evans, the great English actor, never wears a hat, but checks his canine pet, 8 bulldog who will only re- Spond if you address him with 8 British accent!
 The stingiest tipper among the luminaries in the glamor world was Maurice Chevalier who tip- ped five cents. Renee doesn't care who knows it. John Golden, the producer, is the most lavish.
 Renee who has checked 100000 hats in her decade and half as a hat check girl, also waxed con- fldential. She is in love with a man, she whispers, who hasn't worn a hat in his life.
 WAR SCARE HAS
 CAFE SOCIETY AGOG
 The European crisis is not so far away that 1t leaves New York CTS indifferent and unruffled.
 People talk about 1t, exclusive of all else, in the cafes, and the other night 8 couple of patrons insisted upon foregoing to floor show to remain close to the radio and the short wave broadcasts from Europe.
 There are a few harried follow CTS of the events over there who have their own unique way of keeping up with the latest de- velopments. Twice 8 day they journey over to the New York piers and count the foreign ships in port. When there are 8 few, they are optimistic; when there are none in port, they assume that these boats have been hasti- ly recalled and that the worst is on the way.
 TRANSATLANTIC TRAVEL IS ALL ONE WAY
 Incidentally, the most forlorn shops in town in these crucial days are the travel agencies. They are not empty. But the crowds who thronged them during the tense days of war or peace were friends and relatives of Amer jeans in Europe, eager for news of facilities for their immediate homecoming.
 Harassed clerks knew only as much as their employers told them; and their employers knew only as much as the governments announced.
 But slight was the business done with Europe bound steamship tickets during the past fortnight.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-08-30

banging of sharpe's rifles across the Western plains, and the crossing signal of 999 ahead of the Empire State Express streaking across up- state New York for the worlds speed record was the most thrilling sound of the American sos. Today the townsfolk along the Ohio set their watches of an evening as the George Washington, eastbound, whistles for a green board, and the siren of the Denver Zephyr Is as the cry of the watchman of the night as it slows for the yards at Lincoln and Omaha and Burlington. A na- ton which lives by the right of way and exists through the agency of the railroad knows that the engine whistle is the salutation of a friend and loves 1t accordingly.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-08-30

be consequent enlargement of life or property. As there are many such dams of this type throughout the state, not necessarily in dangerous condition now, of course, the board has its work cut out for it. If it can force the owners of dams that are in poor condition to keep them repaired a great deal will have been accomplished
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-08-30
In New York
BY GEORGE ROSS

New York, Aug. 30-My favorite student of human nature is no psychologist weighed down with college degrees, but fed-haired Renee Carroll, the towns most famous hat check girl.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-08-30

A. They were usually large squares, enclosed by a stockade. At two diagonal corners were turrets with small cannon and rifles to de- fend two adjacent sides of the wall. Inside were the storehouSe, quarters for the soldiers and traders, and room for general trade.
 G Ho wmany eligible voters are between the ages of 21 and 30.
 A. Approximately 20,s00,00o
 Q. How many eligible voters are there?
 A. Eighty-eigh A dictionary of stars and constellations, with star map and star finder, can be obtain ed for ten cents from our Service Bureau, 1913 18th St., Washington. D. 0.
 c. What has become of the Dia- mond Rubber Company, Inc?
 A. It was taken over by the B. r. Goodrich company, which dissolved its manufacturing activities in 1912 and its sales activities in 1885.
 e. Define professional education" as distinguished from elementary, secondary, industrial or liberal edu- cation.
 A. It is that form of higher edu- cation specially designed as a preparation for learned" technical, commercial, or social professions or callings in which men and women deal with their fellows, with insti- tutions, or with material things according to abstract principles, with an understanding of natural or social forces and the ways in which they have been or may be applied.
 Q. How much peat was produced in the United States in 1888?
 A. Production was 45,933 short tons, valued at $286.127.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-08-30

1. Where are the 1944 Olympic games scheduled to be held?
 2. Was Georgia one of the ori- sginal thirteen states?
 3. What is the name of the cup or bowl from which Christ drank at the Last Supper?
 4. Is the name of Gene Mako, as- sociated with golf, tennis or swim ming?
 5. In what country is the rnauso- leum, Tai Mahal, located?
 6. What is heliotherapy.
 2. What is the correct pronunci- ation of the word rotary?
 8. Who commanded the U. s. troops that captured John Browns raiders at Harper's Ferry?
 g. Name the soft stone generally used to scrub decks of ships.
 10. Name the principal river of Indiana.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-08-30

Heeue NlS me that the small est tippers are the gentlemen who wear high hats. The men who wear old, b a ttered felts are the most generous.
 s he insists that men who keep the lining in their hats are not philan- tropists; the men who tear them nllt have.