davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-06-08
Un nCOEfagaaON
Ann eYicanS

: BY Elmo Scott Watson

CHE wanted to be President of
-. the United States but if ever
there was a forlorn hope it was
that ambition of Victoria Clafin
Woodruff.
She started under the handicap of
being born in Ohio to a family that
was not only poor but disreputable.
And neither she nor her sister,
Tennessee Claim Cor 'Tennie c."
as she wrote IT'D ever tried to re-
trieve the family reputation. In
stead, both of them added several
shocking items to Puritanical Amer
ica's low estimate of the Claims.
For one thing they went in for spir-
itualism and, what was worse, they
became free love advocates.
Victoria first married DR.. Can
ming Woodruff but soon discarded
him for Col. James H. Blood, a
handsome and distinguished Civil
war veteran and kindred spirit,
whom she later married. Tennes-
see went to New York and won the
admiration of Commodore Wander
bilt who set her and her sister up
as brokers. Having thus entered
the business world, the sisters set
out to prove that women were just
as capable as men in other lines
of activity.
They began publishing Woodruff
and Claims Weekly and with it
Victoria started her own "boom"
for President. She ran for that
high Office on a platform of wom-
ems rights-and kept right on run
ming for many years. She went to
Washington and appeared before
the judiciary committee of the
house of representatives to demand
the right to vote. Of course, she
failed to win that right just as she
failed to get anyone TO take her
Presidential candidacy seriously.
So she finally gave UP the at
tempt, discarded Colonel Blood and
went to England where she acquired
another husband, as did her sister.
Then both of them Gisowned free
love, won their way into English
society and for many years pub
lished a magazine devoted to adj
vanced views on many subjects.
Eventually Victoria settled down
into a placid existence as the Lady
Bountiful of small town in Wor-
cestershire and became known as
"a social reformer who suffered for
views now generally accepted. :"
When she died in 1927 at the age of
ninety, the vicar who preached her
funeral sermon told his hearers,
"We have been privileged to have
had one of the worlds greatest per-
| sonalities among us"l
O Western Newspaper Union
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-06-08
HARMON FIELD NOTES

Organization of a boys soft ball
league has been effected with four
teams to compete in play at Harmon
field each Thursday evening. First
round games will be played at 6:15
this Thursday with the Wolverines
tangling with the Tigers and the
Golden Bears meeting the Pirates.
Additional announcements relative to
schedules will be carried in this col
umn each week. Members of the
teams are:
Wolverines-Byr Fritchie (capt) /,
Jim Gratz, Fred Fritchie, Bob Nc
Cune, Gareth Todd, Herb Klassen,
Fred Hermann, John Schmidt, Jim
Hermann, Bud Newlin, jim Landes,
Dick Balmer, jim Geiger, Herb Con-
rad, Jim Deppler.
Golden Bears-Jas. Clark (capt)
Jack Clark, Bob Cooney, Roger Howe,
Dave Tosh, All ingalls,, jim Steiner,
Steve DeVier, Red Amstutz, Robt
Young, Dick Klay, Jim Fett, Paul
Greding, Ed Schultz, w. Deppler, r.
Short.
Pirates-Bob Watkins (capt), Nor
man Beidler, John Hermann, Harold
Santschi, Ken Hartman, Paul klas-
sen, Harold Grouse, Geo. Myers, Var
don Loganbill, Maurice Fett, Rich
Oberle, Floyd Herr, Bob Phillips, H.
Hartman, Evan Herr.
Tigers-Pete Schmidt (capt), Ger
aid Bowers, Don Clark, John Stettler,
Jr. Geiger, Neil Schmidt, Tom Con-
oway, Jim Stonehill, Bob Oberle,' Cal
Dudgeon, Dick Rockey, Denard Log
an bill, Otto Klassen, Ken Oberle,
Harry Mink.
An All-Star boys team also will be
organized to play in Putnam county
boys softball league. Players for in
ter-county competition will be chosen
1IpiI LflS l1nl AeiliAt0tA AtdiAiN aha W
be eligible must have played in two
of three regularly scheduled league
games.
Harmon field will be open daily dur
ing the summer vacation period from
9 a. m. until nightfall, with the ex-
ception of an hour at noon, Gene
Zuber, recreationai director an
nounced this week.
Five Bluffton men were on a
Northwest Ohio Checker team that
lost to Columbus, % to II, last Sun
day at Columbus. In the match there
were "a drawn games. Local players
on the Northwest district team in
cluded Lester Niswander, John Diller,
DR.. Weldon Diller, Carl Burkhart and
Gene Zuber.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-06-08

Prepared by National Geographic Society.
Washington. D. C.--WNU Service.
AZTEC warriors generally
~ wore armor made from
4 \ quilted cotton, three
fourths to an inch and a half
thick, soaked in brine. Some
times the legs also were en-
cased in quilted armor and
the outside of the entire suit
was frequently covered with
feathers, plates of gold, or OF
silver. The feathers played
an important part in that they
formed an elastic layer on the
outside of the quilted cotton and
made it even more effective protec-
ton.
The protection offered by such ap-
parel was SO effective against ar
rows and javelins that the Span
iards adopted and wore it. The use
of feathers also made possible a
differentiation of costume that IN
dicated various subdivisions and
companies in the military forces.
Some uniforms had white and red
feathers, others blue and yellow;
some were green, and others simu-
lated actual birds.
Some groups wore animal SKINS
over their armor or painted 1t to
resemble animals. Warriors OF
merit wore headdresses, half mask,
half helmet, many of which imi-
tated the heads Of jaguars, noun
tain lions, wolves, snakes, birds, and
other creatures. The principal lead
ers and war chiefs were distin-
guished by the cut Of their hair, by
lip and nose plugs, by their wide
and flowing NANTES, and by tower
ing plumes Of green feathers.
The ordinary dress of the priests
was black; even their bodies were
stained black. But the color of the
sacrificial priest was red. On the
occasion of certain ceremonies va
rious priests represented different
gods and dressed accordingly. The
habitations of the farmers and poor
er classes were waffle and dauh
with thatched roofs.
Many of the houses were erected
on piles because of the swampy
condition of the city and the fre.
uuent floods. The walls of the struc-
lures in Tenochtitlan and other
towns around the lake were covered
with white plaster or were colorec
a dull, rich red.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-06-08
Crime and Punishment

There were two major divisions
of crime among the Aztecs. One
was the crime against persons
own group, the other an offense
against another group. The group
to which an offender belonged was
obligated to see that he was brought
to justice. Murder was punishable
by death. Intemperance, except for
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-06-08
Democratic Government

Whether the entire organization
was a monarchy or democracy is
largely a matter of definition. Even
after the Inheritance of office be-
came established, men were nom-
inally elected TO their positions and
when not satisfactory were ousted.
There were slaves. but they were
not slaves in the present accepted
sense of the word The 'abor of
people in tins gfoaa he..aa G. TO an
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-06-08

Sealed bids will be received until
y o'clock, noon, Friday, June %
for the following pieces of real
estate situated in Bluffton, Ohio:
room house on Lawn avenue,
lot So by 100 feet.
1 lot So by l6o #. on Spring
street.
lot so by $50 ft. on Spring
street.
Business room on South Main
street.
The right is reserved to reject any
or all bids.
Mrs. Edith L. Mann,
Admx. Estate of Emma
R. Lugibihl. s
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-06-08
Solemn Oaths Investigated

A Judge must know his business in
India, for when witness swears on
the head of his son. about the most
binding oath there. the judge sees
to it that the son produced is
real son and not somebody else's
son hired for the occasion.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-06-08
BluftOn PeOny
Beds Beautiful

Peonies, center of interest among
gardeners and florists are attracting
much attention in Bluffton. Many
gardens have unusually beautiful
beds of this flower now in bloom.
One garden which has brought forth
much comment is that of Elmer
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-06-08
IN MEMORIAM
John Bettschen, Died June Z, 1888.

John Bettschen, Died June Z, 1888.
Some think we are not lonely
When at times they see us smile.
Little they know the heartaches
That we suffer all the while.
God knows how much we miss you,
Never shall your memory fade.
Loving thoughts shall always linger
To the spot where you are laid.
Mrs. Phoebe Gratz and Family
Mrs. Ida Early and Family
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-06-08
NAMED CLASS PRESIDENT

Charles Hankish, Jr., has returned
home from St. Joseph's college at
Collegeville, Ind, for the summer.
The Bluffton youth, who will be
sophomore next year, has been elect
ed president of his class, consisting
of los boys.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-06-08
RETURNS FROM WEDDING TRIP

Mr.. and Mrs. Gerald Ware, re-
Gently married, returned the first of
the week from a wedding trip in
Michigan. Mrs. Ware was formerly
Miss Cecilia Gaiffe of this place.
The couple will reside at the home
of the brides parents, Mr.. and Mrs.
L. E. Gaiffe north of Bluffton.
Mrs. Ware is a graduate of Bluff
ton high school. She and her hus-
band are employed in the Westing-
house plant at Lima.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-06-08
Canyons Are Baby Valleys

Geologically speaking, canyons
are baby valleys. They are cut
out by streams, differ from older
valleys because their sides have not
yet been worn to gradual slopes by
wind, rain, frost, etc. The largest,
most imposing canyon in the world
is the Grand canyon of the Colo
rado river in northern Arizona. For
centuries the river has eaten its
300-mile groove through the desert
It's gorge is mile deep at places, 10
miles wide. Also called the most
spectacular example of erosion in
the world, it was not completely
explored by white men until 1869.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-06-08
MEXICO-M0rueI of History

Q Lorg before Columbus, A=tec Indians
IiUed under q mixed n,ondrchy-deIaOcrGcy
in ,rhich might iUas not always right.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-06-08

Ewing on South Main street where
more than 200 colors and varieties
are in bloom.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-06-08

Harmon field will be open daily dur
ing the summer vacation period from
9 a. m. until nightfall, with the ex
ception of an hour at noon, Gene
zuber, recreational director an
nounced this week.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-04-22
PLANS UPSET BY
 LENGTHY TRIAL
Defense Counsel Finding It Difficult to Serve Clients
 in Two Cities

Judge James c. Wallace of the New York General Sessions court has placed the responsibility of "tak- ing a choice" on Attorney James D c. Murray of New York, represent ing Mayor Frank Hayes in the Wa terbury conspiracy trial.
 Programs of many of the other defense counsel engaged in the tria. have been disrupted by its long dur ation. Many of the defense lawyers have been forced to change plans for participation in other cases be- cause of the length of the trial.
 Incidentally State Prosecutor Hugh M. Alcorn spends his Satur- days and Mondays handling Hart ford County cases, several of unusual interest developing lately.
 One of Attorney Murray's New York clients, Edward s. Moran, Jr. former Democratic assemblyman charged with taking bribes from taxicab companies, has been grant, ed several postponements because all of Attorney Murray's time has been spent here since last Novem- Der.
 This week the case was called again, and Attorney Murray's asso- ciate, Daniel Kirschman, requested another continuance. Assistant District Attorney Murray I. Cur fein objected. Judge Wallace sci the trial date May IS and directed that Attorney Murray either appear himself or see that Moran has ar attorney.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-04-22
SUNSHINE GROUP
 WILL SHOW FILM
CHESHIRE NEWS
 Hubert Rigney Cheshire Phone 334

Cheshire, April 9. - Members o1 the Sunshine Society and the Sex ton Foundation of Cheshire Acad- emy will present "The Great Waltz in the Reformatory Auditorium next Friday evening.
 This picture will be accompanied b y other reels including an "Oul Gang" comedy and "How to Start the Day Right. H. vigor Crons- ton of the Cheshire Academy and Principal Bertram F. Dodd, of the Humiston School will be in charge of the distribution of tickets.
 Yesterday Deadline
 Yesterday was the final day for filing applications for the town scholarship at Cheshire Academy. Miss Helen Bruger, public health nurse, is attending the New Eng land Institute of School Health, at Harvard University, in Cambridge Mass, yesterday and today.
 Felske Wins Prize
 First place on the honor roll of the New Haven County home egg laying contest for March was awarded to William Felske, Jr., of Willow street.
 He was entered in Class B for owners having between 26 and 75 birls. Others from Cheshire en- tered are Marjorie Jones of Meri- den Road and Carol and Alfred Dicks.
 Supper May 3
 A hash and pancake supper will be conducted by .he Juvenile Grange at 6:30 p. m. May 3, in the grange hall. Proceeds will be used to con- duct the juvenile activities.
 Wild Geese Heard
 A flock of wild geese were heard "honking" their way over town, go- ing north, about 10:30 o'clock last night.
 Much building activity still con- tinues in Cheshire, especially in the pack T,ana section
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-04-22
WPA MUSICIANS
 ARE KEPT BUSY
Local Group Leads State Units in Activity for
 Past Month

Waterbury's WPA musical groups were the busiest in the state, the monthly report of the Federal Music Project in Connecticut reveals. The park department is the sponsor of the local WPA musical organization.
 During the month, the WPA Musicians gave B concerts, attend ed by total of 13,9O5 persons. In addition the group offered two radio broadcasts.
 Of the B WPA engagements in the state, the Waterbury WPA or- chestra and band offered IA. Includ- ed were eight concerts and six pro- grams of dance music.
 Six of the eight local concerts were in conjunction with educa- tional programs in music in Water bury schools. These were attended by a total of 2,500 grammar school children.
 The school concerts were present. ed at St. Joseph's, Barnard, Duggan Tinker, Webster and Slocum schools
 Five of the dance engagements were for park department gather ings at the Chase Park Community house.
 The Bridgeport WPA musicians had six engamements, while the Hartford group had eight.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-04-22

 IN CLEANUP WEEK

Cleanup Week" has been ex- tended until next Wednesday, it was announced today by Dr. E. J Godfrey, city health officer. The week has been extended because of the poor weather which prevailed during most of this week and which prevented many property owners from cooperating in the spring.
 "The week so far has been very successful" said Dr. Godfrey today, land the health department is more than pleased with the results achieved. We have had far fewer complaints than in past years about unsightly or insanitary backyards and we feel that the people of Wa terbury are cooperating with us in gratifying fashion"
 The purpose of cleanup" week is to have property owners and ten ants clean up their cellars and yards, thus ridding their property of refuse which might become a danger to public health.
 Rubbish should be deposited in the city dump, which is located on Fairfield avenue, off Highland ave- nue.
 The cleanup program was orig inally scheduled to end tomorrow.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-04-22
ACCIDENT BASIS
 OF F$26,OOO SUITS
Theresa, Mary, and Pas= quale Rosa Hurt on Wa=
 tertOWn Ave. in Feb.

Three suits for $26,O0O were filed in the court of common pleas to- day by Theresa, Mary and Pasquale Rosa of Oakville against the city of Waterbury, as result of an accident on Watertown avenue, Feb g, 1889 allegedly resultant from a defective roadway.
 The Rosa car plummeted off an embankment on Watertown avenue, and landed in the Naugatuck river, 25 feet below, causing severe in- juries to Pasquale, the driver of the car, and his wife, Mary, a pas senger. The car was owned by Theresa, who claims $1,O0O dam ages.
 Pasquale seeks $15,0OO and Mary claims $10,000, in the actions brought by Attorney Walter w. Smyth. Mo- tice of the intention to sue was filed with the city several weeks ago.
 The complaint sets forth that Rosa struck a series of holes in the pavement before captapulting of the bank. The first hole he struck was IS feet long, he contends. The city is charged with negligence ir not performing its statutory duty of maintaining the road in good repair, and further for not con- structing a suitable fence at the en- bankment.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-04-22
CLUB CONVENTION
 AT TAFT TUESDAY
Waterbury Women's Club Sending Delegation to
 Three Days Session

Waterbury will be we'll represent ed at the state convention of the Connecticut Federation of Women's clubs next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at the Hotel Taft ir New Haven.
 Delegates from the Waterbury Women's club will be Mrs. Freder- ick c. Marggraff, state treasurer Mrs. John D. GeiSt, chairman of the American Home Department; Mrs. Edwin J. Rockwell, state chair man of insurance and finance; Mrs. Lewis G. Merrill, state chairman of the junior department; Mrs. Irving s. Platt of the speakers bureau; Mrs. Robert w. Lowell, president of the local club, Mrs. Rooster, Mrs. Erskine, Mrs. Toomey, Mrs. Harry Williams, Mrs. Henry Mason, Mrs. Parton, Mrs. Surface, Mrs. Ray mond Palmer, Mrs. Lindsay, Mrs. Neuswanger, Mrs. Frank N. Hess Mrs. William J. Wolff, Mrs. Her bert s. Smith, Mrs. Franklin New berry.
 Members Of the Waterbury sen- for club chorus who will sing in the combine choral offering Tuesday night will be Mrs. Crater, Mrs. George Bissett, Mrs. Putnam, Mrs. John c. Walker, Mrs. Henry s. Platt, Mrs. Ker, Mrs. Joseph Neill, Mrs. Clifford Rowland, Mrs. Grant, Mrs. Van Valkenborg, Mrs. Kurz and Mrs. William G. Russell.
 Monday, April "A, the annual meeting of the local club will be held at 3 o'clock at the club fol- lowed by a tea. All officers and chairladies will make reports and committees for the ensuing year will be elected. A rehearsal of the chorus will be held at 2 o'clock, preceding the annual meeting. Members of the chorus wishing transportation to the state conven- tion on Tuesday are asked to con- tact Mrs. Henry s. Platt immedi- atelV
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-04-22
Foresters Initiate
 60 Candidates Here
Ritual to Be Exempliied Tomorrow at Elks' Hall; Mis- sion for Women Ends Tomorrow
 W. Henion Correspondent-2s Drggs St-Tel

Waterville, April 22-The affiliat- ed courts of Waterbury, Foresters of America, will observe "Foresters' Day" Sunday, with a program at Elk,s hall at 2:30 o'clock. A mem bership drive has been in progress for several weeks and approxim- ately sixty candidates will be ini- tiated at ceremonies which will be witnessed by supreme and grand court officers as well as represen- tatives of the various subordinate courts of Connecticut. The degree team of Court Welch has been chos- en to exemplify the ritual. Candi- dates will be initiated as members of the "Bill Dunlavey Class"
 MT. Dunlavey is past chief ranger of Court Welch and past Grand Chief Ranger of Connecticut. He has been honored by several su- preme court appointments and as national delegate. A tribute of ap- preciation will be paid him Sunday afternoon for his many years of
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-04-22
Compensation Agreements

The following agreements in which compensation will be paid weekly during the period of total disability were filed today and ap- proved at the office of the com- pensation commissioner:
 Domenic Castelano, Waterbury, and Ernest Marin, Briarcliff ave- nue, scratched right leg, $8.46 be- ginning April 2.
 Mayelm Mfg. Co. and Angelo Dileo, 70 Ward street, finger in- juries, S7 for 35 weeks, 20 per cent loss of finger.
 Seymour Mfg. Co. and Stanley Duszak, Seymour, right hand in- jury, S18.02 beginning March 29.
 Hendey Machine Co.,, Torring- ton, and John D. Carey, Torring- ton, S7.52 beginning January 25.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-04-22
SIX OFFERS MADE
 FOR LOCAL AUDIT
Budget Committee of Fi= nance Board Receives
 Bids for Contract

The budget committee of the board of finance last night received offers from five of six firms asked to submit bids for the proposed audit of the tax collectors accounts. Only three of the five firms sub- mitted any definite figures, and the committee voted to defer action on award of the contract until next Wednesday night.
 The actual bids were submitted by Griffenhagen & Associates, Baker Goodyear & Co.,, of New Haven and the Frank J. Murphy Co.,, of New Haven. Offers, without figures, were received from Barrow Wade Guthrie & Co.,, of Waterbury and Hurdman & Cranstoun, of New York.
 Commissioner Major w. Judge presided at the meeting. It was es- timated that the audit of the books would take from 10 weeks to several months.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-04-22
New Rating Plan On
 Auto Insurance Set
Twenty Per Cent Reduction Afforded on Private Pas-
 senger Cars Not Used for Business Purposes

A new rating plan which sub- stantially reduces insurance rates on private passenger automobiles, based on use, mileage and the num- Der and age of those who operate them, was announced from New York today by the National Bureau of Casualty and Surety Underwrit- CTS, comprising 35 leading capital stock insurance companies.
 The new plan affords 20 per cent reduction in existing rates on every private passenger automobile which is not used for business pur- poses, except in going to and from the insured's principal place of oc- cupation, profession or business, and is owned by an individual as distinguished from corporations or business partnerships. Private pas senger cars owned by farmers and clergymen are included in the re- duced rate class.
 An additional per cent reduc- tion-or an aggregate of 25 per cent from existing rates-is provid- ed by the new plan on such private passenger automobiles whose oWn- CTS do not drive more than 7,500 miles in a year, and provided the automobile is operated by not more than two members of the named insured's household, neither of whom shall be under 25 years of age.
 These reductions are in addition to the benefits of the Safe Driver Reward plan which, in the states where it is effective, returns IS per cent of the policy premium to the insured driver at the end of each policy year he or she drives without being involved in an accident re- Sulting in loss. The Safe Driver Reward Plan is sponsored by the member companies of the National Bureau of Casualty and Surety Underwriters. "The new rating plan," said William Leslie, general manager of the National Bureau, 'is designed upon the principle that road exposure and the age and number of operators, as well as driving record. should be taken into account in the rating of private passenger automobiles.
 "The driving record is already recognized by the Safe Driver Re- ward Plan. The new plan gives an initial rate reduction of 20 per cent to individuals whose cars are not used for business purposes, except, of course, to transport them to and from their work. A further reduc- tion of per cent is allowed to such individuals if in addition their an- nual mileage'is is not in excess of T. 800 miles and there are not more than two operators in the insured's household, neither of whom is un- der 25 years of age.
 "This is another step in the di- rection of redistributing the cost of insurance to the end that the ini- tial rates shall reflect the potential