davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-12-22
IN
Appendicitis Fatalities
Show Increased Rate

The depression is responsible for
an increasing death rate among vic
Tins Of acute appendicitis, accord
ing to two Cleveland doctors.
Drs. F. r. Kelly and r. M. Wat
kins, observing the mounting death
rate in study of 1000 consecutive
cases at Women's hospital here, re-
port that appendicitis victims with
out funds hesitate to summon med
ical aid when an attack occurs and
try to treat themselves.
Half of the victims studied were
hospitalized in the more prosperous
years of 1890 to 1885; the rest be-
tween 1881 and 1885. The death
rate among the first 1000 was 9 per
cent; among the second 1000, %
per cent. The doctors reported their
study in the Journal of the Amer
lean Medical Association.
During the depression years, ="
they wrote, patients delayed opera
ton 20 per cent longer than in better
times. This surely increased the
mortality rate.
''If economic conditions improve,
this delay on the patients part will
be lessened, but in the meantime
persons should be told to pocket
their pride and seek medical aid re-
CARELESS of their circumstances, if
they have pain in their abdomen"
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-12-22
SOME OF THE ADVANTAGES OF
BEING A SOLDIER

1. The soldier knows that he is
following an honorable career, rich
in tradition and glory.
2. He enjoys the feeling of secur-
ity which results from an assured
and regular income. If he chooses to
remain in the service and retire af-
ter thirty years, he can face the
prospect of old-age with confidence,
knowing that his needs will be well
provided for.
3. He doesn't lose any time be-
cause of bad weather or sickness
the pay goes on just the same.
A. He doesn't worry about the
cost of clothing, food or rents. He
gets his clothing, his three square
meals day, and comfortable,
health home
5, If he wants to see the distant
lands where our oversee garrisons
are located, he will sooner or later
have the opportunity, on full pay
and with travel expenses paid by
Uncle Sam.
6. His service will take the humps
out of his back, broaden his should
ers, deepen his chest, develop and
train his muscles and mind; in breif,
it will make him a more capable
and useful man. For further details
see Sgt. Pierce, Pc. Elkton, Md.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-12-22
FIRST CHRISTMAS CAROL

Christmas is the time when men
are drawn together in a great unity.
Much of this may be attributed to
our response to familiar songs, sung
year after year to commemorate the
advent of a little Child on earth. The
first Christmas carol ever heard, we
like to believe, came over the fields
of Bethlehem, when Christ was born
GLORY be to God on high, and on
earth, peace, good will toward men"
But it was 1900 years later that
st. Francis of Assist and his broth
ers took up the singing in public of
carols at Christmas to combat the
unbelief of their time. With lighted
tapers they went about the streets of
the small Italian village pouring out
their hearts in songs Of praise. In
the 500 years since then the singing
of Christmas carols has gone around
the world. Wherever Christianity is
known carol singing follows.
The simple vision of mother
lulling her babe to sleep gives
Christmas music its strength. Some
sing as a tribute to their religious
faith, others as a custom they en-
joy. But whatever the reason, the
important thing is that more and
more people do it. From such wide
ly different sources as churches,
theaters, schools, clubs, radio sta
lions, come the words of Away in
a Manger," silent Night, Joy to
the World" Little Town of Bethle-
hem," "Hark the Herald Angels
Sing" and Come All Ye Faithful"
sung by soloists, choirs, choruses or
the voices of school children. So
each year new joy is expressed
through old channels. - Frances
Grinstead.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-12-22
A HAPPY CHRISTMAS

Unloving indeed must be the
heart that cannot offer and respond
to that universal greeting, for
Christmas is the time beyond and
above all others when we shuold for
get differences and disagreements
and auarrels. Serious though we may
have hitherto thought them, shall
we not put an end to them, as the
Yuletide greeting rings in our ears.
"a Happy Christmas"
And this should be the happiest
Christmas of them all, because we
live in America; happy because we
have no "blackouts; happy that
no black curtains have to be drawn
in our windows, but that instead we
will hang wreaths with the golden
star of Bethlehem; happy because
our Christmas trees will glitter and
sparkle, and be loaded with pres
ents; happy because of our home
comings; happy because we will
hear the carolers singing, Silent
Night, Holy Night" happy because
we can look up in the face of our
great Creator and say, 1--WE thank
you for all these privileges that are
ours, and that we live in America,
the beautiful"
1t is our hope that you and yours
may enjoy a Merry Christmas!
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-12-22
GOVERNOR O'CONOR ACTS TO
SAVE EMPLOYERS OF STATE
sf,OOO,Ooo
Special Session Of Legislature I'm
necessary, Contemplated Plans
Reveal

Fears of Maryland. employers that
they would be called upon to pay
IN extra $1,00O,0O0 in Social Secur-
ity taxes during the coming year, be-
dasue of discrepancy between the
State and Federal Social Security
Acts, apparently are baseless, ac-
cording to plans announced by Gov
ernor Herbert r. O'Conor. To OBJ
waite the expected extra tax, Mary
land corporation heads had contem-
plated asking Governor O'Conor to
call extra session of the Legislature
in order to bring the State Law into
line with the Federal statute. which
had been amended since the adj
journment of the Maryland Legisla-
ture this past April.
There will be no reason for a spec
ial session now, according to Cover
nor O'Conor. Arrangements have
BEEN tentatively completed, he an
nounced, with officials in Washing
ton, in line with similar arrange
ments effected by several other
states, by which the date of the tax
on salaries over $4,000 will be post
poned until April, 1941, with the
understanding that the Act would
be amended at the next regular ses-
sion of the Legislature in 1871. Il
took steps to see that every effort
was exerted to prevent the payment
of unnecessary taxes by Maryland
employers. The Maryland Unemploy-
ment Compensation Board has had
numerous conferences with Social
Security officials, and l personally
have taken part in discussions with
the various officials.
While approval of the State Law
Department was set UP by the Soc
ial Security Board in Washington as
necessary condition, this approval
has been given by Opt. Attorney-Gen-
eral Henderson in his ruling thai
the Maryland Board has the right
to issue regulations as to when and
how the tax is to be collected. "It
will, of course, be most gratifying"
the Governor declared, "if this sug-
gested plan, after being approved
by the Social Security Board, can be
put into practice, whereby obviat.
ing the necessity of the special SEES
sion of the General Assembly which
would be quite expensive. l am de-
termined that every precaution be
taken to see that the fund is main
tanned as secure as possible, and all
the same time that the Maryland tai
payers are saved the burden of un
necessary levies."
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-12-22
Insects Kill Each Other
But No 'Enmity' Exists

No insect is really an enemy of
another insect. But persons famil-
lar with the several successful eff
forts to-control insect pests by in
PRODUCING other insects that kill
them may not realize this, and SO
expect too much from this sort
of biological control" Entomolo-
gists are aware of the great quanti-
ties of insects that are the victims
of other insects. But the victims
are not killed because Of enmity.
Zone insect" T. E. Holloway, of
the bureau of entomology and plant
quarantine, said recently in explain
ing this difference, may. be the
food of another insect, that is all.
Man eats meat, but is not the enemy
of cattle. The insect does not rea-
son--does not need to. But If 1t
could, it would not want to extermi-
nate the species it feeds on"
Casual observers of some common
insects see them leading seemingly
varied lives-flies feeding on vari-
Gus foods, bees fitting to different
flowers. They do not realize the
intense specialization in the exist
ence and reproduction of many in
sects. Some of the most effective
parasites are strictly one-insect par
asites. Unless the egg-laying para
sites can find certain stage of the
insect on which it preys, it does
not even place its eggs. The prog
eny will develop only in a particu-
lar host and in certain stage of
the host. Other parasites prey on
a goodly number of species and
sometimes the presence of more
than one kind of host in a locality
has an important bearing on the sue
cess of the parasite in the control
of the species which is destructive
to cultivated crops.
Entomologists working to control
the Japanese beetle are seeking ear
nestly to determine if some para
sites of the beetle can also repro
duce by preying on native white
grubs that are very similar to grubs
of the Japanese beetle. If they
could find one among those intro
duced from abroad that could live
under conditions here-it would be
most valuable.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-12-22
FALL FIRES BURNED OVER 4,562
ACRES

The fall fire season in Maryland
is practically over, F. w. Besley,
State Forester, reports.
1.-THE last rain practically brought
to close our season." the forester
asserted. 1--WE have received reports
of 283 fires, which burned 1852
acres of woodland"
In the fall of 1888, Mr.. Besley
said, 298 fires burned over 2,367
acres. He attributed the increased
damage to woodlands this fall to a
reduced budget"
Casually we have about twenty
fire guards on duty" Mr.. Besley
said. This fall we had only four
guards on duty because our fire-pro-
lection organization suffered the
most from our reduced budget"
About forty per cent. of the blazes
this fall occurred in Anne Arundel,
Prince Georges, Montgomery and
Howard counties. They damaged
1,911 acres.
Approximately ninety fires in
Western Maryland accounted for
damage to 1,185 acres there.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-12-22
Luke's Christmas
NToro,, -by
AvAOliO Martha B. Thomas
TITLE LUKE, watching his
father splice rope, was sud-

II L
father splice rope, was sud-
- denly struck with an IDEA.
"Its Just one strand after another,
isn't it dad?" Eyes, just one strand
after another that makes the rope
that holds the ship. It's the way
most things are accomplished, boy,
when you come to think OF it."
A cold wind blew around the fish
shed back of the wharves. Other
men were busy, too, tying snood-
knots on travis, hoping good day
would come for fishing tomorrow.
Luke walked away and up the
hill. Christmas coming in q week!
He knew his father and mother had
been busy planning something for
his happiness then. But what had
he done? Nothing at all. He stood
stock still, his thoughts all mixed
up in a queer way, with the strands
of rope that made the line, the hum
dreds of snood-knots the fishermen
were tying. "Just one thing done,
and then another to make the
WHOLE" he reflected.
Then, walking slowly again he
seemed to see two one-dollar bills
folded away in his pocket-book. And
trailing back from the money row
of different pictures of himself,
working hard to earn those two dol
lars. Planting seed potatoes in the
spring, hoeing them, wedding in the
hot sun, even watering his own plot
when the weather was dry. Then,
in the fall digging them up. Sell
ing them for two dollars. One
bit of work after another. What
next? He took more steps. Money
was earned by the work Of one per-
son to buy something which was
the work of another. Luke smiled.
He knew "what next" very well
indeed.
So, on Christmas morning,
though Luke was delighted with his
own gifts, he had an almost dizzy
pleasure in watching his father and
mother unwrap pair Of bedroom
slippers and an apron he had given
them. my potato money!" ne
shrieked. 81 got it by doing one
thing after another -. just the
way the rope grows, strand after
strand"
Luke's father looked puzzled, but
his mother kissed him and said
"Merry Christmas, dearl"
g Western Newspaper Union.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-12-22
DANGEROUS TRAFFIC
1ANnUnEANC

Dangerous traffic conditions in
shopping districts during the Chrit-
mas season demand increased vigil
ance on the part of both motorists
and pedestrians, the Keystone Auto
mobile Club declares, in a holiday
safety bulletin.
Motor vehicle traffic as well as
pedestrian traffic." said George E.
Keneipp, Manager of the Club, sis
unusually heavy because of the Christ
mas shopping rush. Drivers should
be extremely careful in passing
through shopping districts.
'Care should be exercised at in
tersections, for pedestrians are liza
BILE to dart from the sidewalk at UNI
expected times. 'Jaywalkers' also,
are prevalent at this time" Pedes-
trian are also urged to use caution
when crossing streets.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-12-22
Champagne for Ships

Champagne is probably chosen
TO be used when launching a new
ship because it is rare wine, light
in color and effervescent. The Gus
tom of breaking a bottle of wine
on the prov of ship when it is
launched is relic of the ancient
libation which was practiced when
ships were launched. The ancients
consecrated the ship to the god
whose image she bore. The action
of blessing ships is alluded to by
monks of st. Denys. In July, 1418,
the bishop of Bangor was sent to
Southampton to bless the kings ship
to insure successful voyages. In
this country, water, or some other
liquid usually took the place of wine
during prohibition.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-12-22
Rockefeller Carlton

The Rockefeller Memorial CARL
lon at the University of Chicago is
one of the two largest in the world.
1t has u bells and was cast by
Gillett and Johnston, Croydon, Eng
land. These bells, given by John
D. Rockefeller in memory of his
mother, Laura Spelman Rockefeller,
were installed in the belfry of the
chapel tower in the autumn Of 1882.
The bells range in size from 10h
pounds to the great bourbon, which
weighs 1925 pounds and has a di-
ameter of lit inches, or almost 10
feet. The total weight of the bells
is 22O tons. Their total cost was
approximately 100000.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-12-22

Robert Jones Burdetter was IA
nous humorist who became minis
ter. He was on the staff of the
Peoria Transcript and later became
associate editor of the Burlington
(Iowa) Hawkeye and of the Brook
lyn Eagle, in which his humorous
sketches won him considerable
fame. He began to lecture in 1876.
In 1887 he was licensed as minister
of the Baptist church and held a
pastorate at Los Angeles until 1909.
He was the author Of number Of
humorous books
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-12-22
The
Mistlefoe Hunt
By FRANCES GRINSTEAD
"Bye-O Baby Bunting.
Daddy's gone a-huntingi"

VIZ HEN the mothers Of young
wv children in the east Okla
w homa countryside sing this
nursery song to their little ones
they may out Of loyalty to Mother
Goose add the next two lines:
For to find a rabbit skin.
To wrap the Baby Bunting In
But that isn't exactly what daddy
does down there. When it comes
the time of year that the baby
needs warmer covering, daddy
takes his gun and goes out to shoot
down mistletoel This he sells for
the Christmas trade and buys Baby
Bunting a different kind of raj
ment. For mistletoe, with its we'll
known holiday meaning, grows IN
abundance there and is always
found high among the bare winter
branches of the native elm. Little
boys climb for it, OF course, but
the quickest way to gather it for
commercial use is to shoot 1t down.
"Open season" Tor mlStletoe
hunting begins about the last of
November and the demand in
creases steadily until Christmas.
Truck loads of the green sprigs
with their wax-white berries are
driven to the cities of the north for
the holiday trade. As the mistle-
toe is not always uniformly ripe at
the time it is wanted, much
Hunting" is required to find sprigs
whose berries are at q stage to
suit the demands of the buyers. At
such times the roadsides may be
strewn with discarded mistletoe,
for the condition of the berries cam
not be seen until the sprig has
been shot down. But such waste is
not lamented, for mistletoe is a
parasite that reappears in album
dance each year, however ruthless
ly it may be treated.
g Western Newspaper Union.
1%f<KIsGae 6Ns.k
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-12-22

The tuberculosis death rate in
Maryland is now 6S.3, a reduction
of So percent since the Maryland
tuberculosis Association started its
work.
Last year 1914 Marylanders died
of tuberculosis. Many times this
number were sick with it.
tuberculosis is one of the most
costly of diseases. The average hos
pitalized case costs approximately
five-thousand dollars. Christmas
Seals help.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-12-22
OUR SANTA CLAUS

The American Santa Claus is a
corruption Of the Dutch Santa
Nicolas, G. H. McHughes says:
Santa Claus, the name derived from
st. Nicholas through the familiar
use of children in Teutonic coun-
tries, crossed to America. The di-
rect route followed by him is some
what open to question. On the way
he traded his gray horse for rein
deer and made changes in his APP
pearance."
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-12-22
Tree TRANSFORMATION

A large tree may absorb and dis.
charge through it's leaves as much
as 80 gallons of water on a single
hot day. Transportation, one of the
vital processes taking place in all
green things, literally pours water
in vapor form through the leaf pores
all summer long. Unless the root
system is able to provide for this
process, the leaves dry up, and are
unable to manufacture food neces-
sary for the growth and vitality Of
the organism.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-12-22
CHARM OF CHRISTMAS

The chief charm of Christmas is
its simplicity. 1t is festival that APP
peals to everyone, because everyone
can understand it.
A genuine fellowship prevades our
common life-a fellowship whose
source is our common share in the
gift of the worlds greatest life
which was given to the whole world.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-12-22
i, Disney Cartoons

Walt Disney started cartooning in
Kansas City in 1921 when he made
the Laugh-O-Gram series. In Octo-
Der, 1923, he and his brother Roy
went to Hollywood and produced the
Alice Cartoons. The first Mickey
Mouse was Steamboat Willie"
1928. The first Silly Symphony was
"The Skeleton Dance" 1929. The
first Silly Symphony in color was
Flowers and Trees" 1882.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-12-22
will Rogers Memorial

AS living memorial to the hu-
morist, the Will Rogers Memorial
Scholarship fund has been estab
lished at the University Of Califor-
MIA, the University of Oklahoma,
and the University of Texas. More
than $500, 900 has been made availa-
BILE by the Win Rogers Memorial
commission to aid handicapped stu
dents during 1939-40 to complete
their college education.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-12-22
MEANING OF CHRISTMAS
II HE first meaning of Christ

THE first meaning of Christ
L mas is that of generosity,
inspired by the great gift of God
to mankind. The selfish sway of
the world is broken at least for
a time, and the Christ spirit is
born in our hearts. Sometimes
the exchange of presents is car
ried too far and becomes a
burden instead of a pleasure; but
anything that makes the world
unselfish is beautiful and good.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-12-22

What we do day by day de-
termines what we become. Hour by
hour we build our lives for better
or for worse. A daily inventory will
help to keep us on the right track,
headed toward the highest ideals:
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-12-22

The activities of the Maryland
Tuberculosis Association are sup
ported through the sale of Christmas
Seals during DecembeE.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-12-22

Before marriage a woman FREE
quently thinks of a man. After
marriage she frequently thinks for
him.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-12-22

Epigram: An idea expressed in a
few Illuminating words. Platitude:
The same thing after you get used
to it.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-12-22

What a life! When you have no
job, you go on relief; when you get
job, you go out on strike.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-12-22

Nothing pieases a man with a
well-developed sense of humor SO
much as getting two chronic bores
to boring each other.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-12-22
s,>sstKrsHs1eE %A
Blow in Christmas

In Denmark on Christmas morn
ing they elbow in the Jul" at dawn
from church towers, playing Christ
mas hymns to the four points Of
the compass
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-12-22

Appearances would indicate that
the average man doesn't get much
beauty sleep.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-12-22

Funny land! We provide occupa-
tion for prisoners to keep them
normal; then we let junior grow up
without duty or responsibility.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-12-22

creases over the preceding month In
obligations incurred for public as
sistance. The remaining units re-
ported increases ranging from A per
cent. in Baltimore city to 1877 In
Somerset county"
In the Cecil county the expendi-
lures amounted to $10,437.
According to the report, the coun-
ties spent $21,112 for direct relief
while Baltimore city spent $13O,51S
for this purpose.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-12-22

Another reason for the popularity
of ham and eggs is that no other
dish is SO Lard to cook wrong.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-12-22
STATE WELFARE COSTS MOVE
UP
UP
November Expenditures $1O,189
More Than In Preceding
Month

Welfare expenditures In Mary
land which started on the up grade in
August, jumped $10,139 from Octo-
Der to November, the monthly re-
port of the State Department Of
Public Welfare revealed.
Direct relief costs, which increas-
ed $6,732 in November, were re-
sponsible largely for the boost in the
total expenditures. Expenditures for
each Of the other types of assistance
increased last month.
Expenditures Tabulated
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-12-22

ks4seeK.reHse EN!A
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-07-13
Who Wins?

After weeks of negotiation with the Sailors Union OF
the Pacific the United States Maritime commission has
withdrawn the offer to provide government ships to be
operated Puget Sound and the Orient by the Pacific
Northwest Oriental Lines Inc. The government and union
officials disagreed the method of obtaining crews for
government owned ships
The commission insisted that the crews be hired from
lists of qualified sailors in the offices Of the United States
shippnr The union insisted that the crews
Be hired exclusively through the organizations own halls
As far as the public has been permitted to know the
facts there was no disagreement working conditions
or wages There would have been discrimination against
union sailors 1t entirely question Of the method
by which qualified would be hired for the
owned ships. 5, 60
To offers of compromise the union representatives
replied that it be complete surrender or the ships
would not be operated.
Well the government doesn't have to operate the ships
The government does not have to negotiate nor arorae
nor accept utmatums from any particular group OF It's own
people, The government can do what was done IN 'he
present instance-just quit. ans, m.
The sailors union has. the hiring hall battle Inc
effort TO reestablsh the American flag in the Oriental
trade has been lost great volume Of shipping that would
have been routed through the ports Of Tacoma and Seattle
will be diverted elsewhere Any business that does go
through those ports will be carried in foreign owned ships
So, who wins, anyway!