davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-01-26

Pioneer Model Railroad
Discontinues Operations

A pioneer American railroad, op-
Grating out Of Washington, D. c.,
has been discontinued, but it was
done quietly, without the interven-
ton of the Interstate Commerce
commission.
Arthur P. Cambria, chief electric
clan at the government printing Of
fee, moved and took with him the
miniature railroad he built Is years
ago as pioneering step in a hobby
that has swept the country.
Christened the Maryland Central
railroad, Gambrill's toy operated on
a 200-foot circular track in the side
yard Of his home at Hyattsville, Md.
The first locomotive used on the
Maryland Central, a mechanical
one powered by vacuum cleaner
motor, has been replaced by a A.
inch Iron Mogul that pulls cars 91s
inches high and 80 inches long. The
remainder of the rolling stock con-
sists Of baggage car, caboose, box
car, two steel fiat cars and trailer
coach.
As Gambrill, a former railroad
man, dismantled the road, he re-
counted the difficulties that attended
the growth of the hobby.
Model train-building has become
quite pastime now, but when I
started, it was a new thing. It was
almost impossible to get the access
series. My locomotive was a me-
chanical engine. / installed a
: vacuum cleaner motor in it. The
tracks are made of Parker rail,
which was used extensively once for
cornice work in plastering. ! had
to have the wheels cast, and ! had
to 60 to Frederick to have it done.
Most places wouldn't bother with
such small work"
Now, all the cars have automatic
couplings, springs and hand-brakes,
and the motor car is powered by
two so volt motors.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-01-26
Famous Italian Dolls

A lonely war mother of Turin.
Italy has created one of the worlds
foremost doll factories. 1t is man.
aged by Madame Lenci in a fashion
that would gladden. Santa Claus
heart. Madame Lenci's real name
is Signora Elena KONG di Scavini.
Born an artist, and developing a
passion for dolls as a child, she
started making them when her hus-
band was killed in the World war.
Now her Lenci dolls are made by
$50 workers and she maintains
sales exposition in the heart of Tur-
in. Madame Lenci's ideas come
from big collection of historical and
geographic costume designs. Her..
most famous order was from II DuceA
for four figures to be used as gifts
to Japan. They cost him 500 each.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-01-26

With the rise and spread of total
itarian governments in Europe. the
United States has become the refuge
of many foreign scholars seeking
here the academic freedom denied
them in their homelands. Last week
there was fresh evidence of the fact
that this country's hospitality has
been rewarded 1t was contained in
a report on the work accomplished
during the past three years by a
unique institution-the University of
Exile.
Officially known as the Graduate
Faculty of Political and Social
Science in the New School for Social
Research, the University was organ
ICED in New York City in 1888 with
IA members teaching 1853 students.
Today, according to the report DR..
Gerhard Colin, noted economist and
dean of the faculty, there are 23
exiled scholars ON the staff-three
Austrian, two Italian, one Spanish
and the rest German. Students, many
of them candidates for masters and
doctors degrees in the social scien-
ces granted through New York Uni
yersity, now number more than 425s
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-01-26
Male Housekeeping Students

Two men students, intrigued by
pots, pans and cook books, have
made successful invasion of the
woman's world on the University of
Minnesota campus in Minneapolis.
The two men, Maynard Anderson,
an agriculture college freshman,
and John Case, junior in business
administration, have cooked their
way through a home economics
course ordinarily taken only by
co-eds. Instructors reported the two
did a good job at Shaving" over
a hot stove. The boys studied and
fretted over the selection and prep
aration of food, food and food nutri-
ton, meal planning and prepara-
ton, along with tips on bedmaking
and chow to care for the baby"
thrown in for good measure.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-01-26
Benjamin Franklin, The Great
American Patriot

The front cover of the January
issue of The Grade Teachers maya
zine presents a reproduction of a
famous painting of Benjamin
Franklin, reminding that January
marked the 234th anniversary of his
birth. He was born in Boston Janu-
airy II, 1905, the youngest son of
Josiah Franklin and Abiah Folger
franklin. He spent great part of
his life in Philadelphia, where he
died April II, 1890.
Franklin was one Of the first per-
sons to contend for public education
of all children, boys and girls alike.
In Philadelphia he founded an acad-
envy which later became the Uni
versity of Pennsylvania. In his youth,
he was an avid reader and voraci-
Gus for knowledge. A free thinker,
with an adeptness for absorbing the
wisdom Of his elders, he dedicated
his plan of life to promoting the
greatest good for the greatest num-
Der. His philosophy has served as a
guide down through the years, with
the result that he is recognized as
Americas first great citizen.
OF the 55 men who took part in
framing the Constitution, Franklin
was considered one of the five mas
ter-minds One of Franklin's import
ant contributions to- the independ-
ence of the colonies and in the
formation of the United States, was
his help to the colonies in securing
aid from France during the Revo-
lutionary War. He went to France
in the year 1875 and soon became
popular. His learning attracted the
attention of educated people, while
his dress and manner made him the
idol of the common people. Eventu-
ally, France sent both the money
and troops to aid the colonies as a
result of Franklin's efforts, even
though the king seemed reluctant.
1t was Franklin who said: "There
never was a good war or bad
peace.
Among Franklin's inventions and
discoveries were: first iron stove,
1742; discovered electricity, 1852;
lightning rod, first paper money,
harmonica, first subscription library,
improved fire place, copper plate
press, and he made many expert
ments to determine the laws of light,
heat and sound. In connection with
his plans of city improvement in
Philadelphia, he is accredited with
the establishment of a new system
of lighting, cleaning and improving
OF alleys, widening and paving of
streets, first public library, improv-
ed police system and improved fire
system.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-01-26
Prairie Dogs Destroy
Valuable Grazing Land

The vegetarianism of the prairie
dog has become a major source Of
anxiety to experts Of the u. S. bio
logical survey engaged in a con-
servation program for the grazing
states of the Great Plains.
Recent surveys by the bureau
have disclosed that more than 81
per cent of the prairie dogs food
consists Of vegetation and that IS
per cent of the total comprises
plants of forage and crop value.
The small quantity of animal mat
ter consumed (2.53 per cent? consists
largely Of cutworms and grasshop-
pers.
The chubby little rodents that
range from the Canadian border to
Mexico, are clannish animals and
usually live in large colonies popu-
larly called towns Such a
town" can seriously deplete sup
plies Of forage intended for sheep
and cattle.
Grasses and salt bushes predomi-
nate in the prairie dogs diet, FORM
ing As per cent and rs per cent,
respectively, of the total quantity of
foods eaten. Of the grasses, wheat
grass and fescue are the most popu-
lar, while saltbush and Russian this
tie head the list of the goosefoot
(saltbush) plants.
The remainder of the food con-
sumed by the rodent, the bureau
adds, is of little or no forage value
and includes such plants as the loco
weed and the nightshade, which are
poisonous to cattle. However, this
service is not considered sufficient
to compensate for the damage done
to other vegetation.
During the past year the surveys
division of predatory and rodent
control treated 2,139, 1000 acres of cul-
tivated and range land infested with
prairie dogs.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-01-26
GOVERNOR O'CONOR RADIOS RE.
PORT OF FIRST YEARS
ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Following Governor O'Conor's
radio address on Thursday evening
in which he gave a report of the
first years accomplishments of his
administration, scores of congrat-
ulatory messages have poured in on
him.
Setting a precedent that future
Governors may find it difficult to
avoid, Governor O'Conor gave an
impressive record of achievement
during the twelve months, in the
fields of State Finance, Education,
Health, Road Buildings, Improve
ment in Court Procedure and in
many other directions, that gave
ample evidence that Maryland's af-
fairs were in capable hands and be-
ing conducted according to the most
approved, modern business methods.
Among other things, the Governor
reported a balanced budget for the
first time in six years; reduction OF
more than $2,0O0,000 in the States
funded debt, with further reduction
Of $1,9S7,OOO in prospect for the
present fiscal year. He reported total
expenditures of $19,47S,244.6 by
the State Road Commission during
the year, a total that included al
most $4,OOO,000 that had been saved
for road building and maintenance
by the stoppage of gasoline tax di-
versions.
Governor O'Conor devoted a good
part of his talk to the progress made
by the State in Education during the
year. One of the most important &C
complishments noted was the new
teachers salary schedule, one OF
the most modern in the Country,
which took effect September 1. He
also referred to the survey of the
States School System, for the pur-
pose of determining the necessary
steps in the States Educational
Progress; cited the high increase in
high school enrolment during the
year to total Of 41,204 and made
mention of the fact that for the
first time in the history Of the State
there was provision in the State
budget for Adult Education and
night school classes.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-01-26
PROFITABLE PENITENTIARY

Most State penitentiaries are oper-
ated at a heavy cost. The Mississippi
State penitentiary at Parchman,
Miss, however, earns money. In fact
according to report issued by
prison authorities last week, the
penitentiary in the last four years
has funneled 100000 into the
state treasury, Having received ST.
10000 for operating costs during
that period, it returned more than
$1,70O,000 to the states general
fund.
The reason Mississippi makes
crime pay Is the fact that its peni.
Tertiary is the second largest planta.
ton in the state. 1t bought up rich
delta land--2S,000 acres of it--ir
three counties around Parchman and
made it the site of the penitentiary
Today, the plantation-worked by
the prisoners-produces an average
of 5,770 bales of high-grade cotton
year, and the cotton is sold at 9
profit. The prisoners raise most Of
their own food, their own feed fol
cattle, and make their own blank.
cts, mattresses, work clothes, har.
ness and wagons.
At Parchman, there. are no high
stone walls. And there are only st
paid guards and officials for the g.
600 inmates-one for every 80.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-01-26
Motion Picture News
Originated in France

It was in 1909 that Charles Pathe,
a Frenchman, and his friend, Leon
Franconi, hit upon the idea of the
motion picture newsreel. Franconi
suggested that the time was ripe for
news events to be photographed and
shown in the theaters. The idea
seemed radical, but Pathe was man
Of vision, and the more he toyed
with the suggestion the better he
liked it. Upon his return to Paris,
he tried it out. It scored an instant
hit, and soon all the capitals of Eu-
rope were showing Pathe Weekly.
Returning to America the follow
ing year, Pathe and Franconi start
ed the newsreel in the United States.
The first reel to appear in this courn-
try showed, among other features, a
parachute jump from the Statue Of
Liberty by a daredevil named Rod
man Law. He was supposed to be
an expert jumper, but something
went amiss and Law barely escaped
death as he crashed at the waters
edge. The police then went into ac-
ton, and arrested the photographers
for endangering mans life; the
parachute manufacturers threatened
suit for showing their product to dis
advantage, and the troubles of the
newsreel companies in filming
stunts dated from that day.
But the newsreels soon stepped
out of their swaddling clothes, and
showed evidence of the vital part
they were destined to play in the
-AA.s;a ;ssS,sat~v
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-01-26
Melungeons of Tennessee

There is little authentic knowledge
of the Melungeons, a people found in
certain parts of Tennessee and Vir-
ginia. They are about the same
color as mulattoes, with no other
discernible Negro traits. Accord
ing to their own tradition they are
of Moorish descent, probably de-
scendants of the ancient Phoeni-
clans. They settled in Portugal and
later crossed the Atlantic before the
Revolutionary war, settling in South
Carolina. Due to discriminatory
taxes and ostracism they emigrated
in body and settled : Hancock
county, Tenn.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-01-26
AN 81 BILLION DOLLAR
COUNTRY
BY j. E. Jones

Washington, D. c., Jan. 1910
The interest on the public debt for
the coming year will be $1,100,O00,-
900. That's what Uncle Sam will
have to pay on past borrowings. Adj
| ditional amounts proposed in the
Budget will be distributed in chunks
of around a billion dollars for re-
lief, another billion for public works
and investments, $500, 100000 for
peace-time neutrality; $900,00O,O00
for the agriculture program, and
huge sums of other purposes. Thus,
our Congress ponders over recon-
mendations from the Administration
that $S,4OO, 100000 be raised by
taxation to pay for the annual Fed
eral program.
The interest charge exceeds all
expenses of the Federal Government
for red-letter year in the COS
when Speaker Reed of the House of
Representative in replying to the
charge that the Government was ex-
travagent, attempted to prove that
the annual appropriation was bill
lion dollars for the first time be-
cause this is billion dollar coun-
try"
But is it now actually an 8 " bill
lion dollar country? Or is Uncle
Sam growing fat and luxury-loving
through his extravagant tastes for
the abundant life?
Whe Congress was first told that
this is billion dollar country" the
population of the nation was about
half as much as it is today.
However, on the basis of popula-
ton at that time our Federal Gov
eminent is now spending at the
rate of four times as much per cap
tia as in the roaring nineties."
Isn't it clear that it is the FEEDER
al Government that has been going
in the hole all these late years! Isn't
it equally clear that private enter
prise has been taxed and sur-taxed
and called upon to sustain policies
of terrific spending and lending car
ried on by the Government through
which the Federal establishment has
obtained so much revenue from pri-
vate sources that millions of per-
sons honestly wonder just how much
democracy we have left to cling to.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-01-26
Story Printed in Paris
Was Original sCanard'

It is interesting to note the man.
ner in which we have come to apply
the term ''canard" to any SANDER
or outrageous story. "Canard" is
the French word for "duck." About
go years ago French journalist set
all Paris talking by an article in one
of the daily newspapers purporting
to tell Of wager he had made with
some other newspaper men to the
effect that, "given one day to pre-
pare, he could eat 20 ducks at q
sitting"
According to his tale, his wager
was eagerly taken by all who heard
it. Then, according to his story, he
went to the market, bought 20 ducks
and, by the process of hourly killing
one duck and feeding it to the
others, he arrived, in 20 hours, at q
final duck with all the others inside
it. This, the journalist wrote, he
promptly killed, roasted and ate "at
one sitting"
The story, caused endless COM
ment, was copied all over France
and in other countries until some
curious person raised public de-
mand to know whether this proce-
dure was accepted by the other bet
tors as a bona fide performance of
the wager. Eventually the journal
list had to explain that the whole
story was fake, written merely to
''excite comment" As a result we
have the word "canard" to define
just that kind of q yarn.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-01-26
THE 1910 CENSUS

Next April, the 18th decennlal
census of the United States, it's ter
ritories and possessions will be
taken. A CIVILIAN army Of 10000
census takers will call on every fam
lily in the nation and ask them ques-
lions about themselves and their be-
LONELINESS job that will cost $45,-
100000.
Last week, the U. S. Census Blu
reau, a division Of the Commerce
Department, published the list OF
questions that will be put to 1872
100000 Americans. They revealed
that this census will be the most
sweeping ever undertaken since the
first u. S. census was taken in 1870.
Altogether, 299 different ques-
lions will. be asked. OF these, 26
questions, relating to population and
employment, will be asked Of every
j one or in behalf of everyone. In
connection with. this population list,
there will be 10 supplementary
questions that will be put to one
of every 20 persons. In addition,
Z there will be 81 questions concern
ing u. S. housing Ito be asked for
the first time), and 2S2 concerning
the nations farms.
Commenting ON the tremendous
scope of this years census, Secre-
tary OF Commerce Harry Hopkins
said:
It is OF unusual significance be-
cause it will measure the social and
economic effects Of the board de-
yelepments of the last decade.
In. addition to the usual questions
about age, sex, race, size OF family,
nativity and citizenship OF the fore
! eign-born, vital new statistical
!. knowledge will be developed by
questions on education, mass migra-
ton, employment, unemployment,
occupation and distribution OF wages
and salaries. The housing census
should provide the facts from which
. to Judge immediate needs for dwell
ling construction, repair or modern
ization, and is of vital imporIalice
In discussing the future OF our
economy.
To those who think they can
safely refuse to answer census ques-
lions, the Bureau issued a warming
For such refusal, Federal law pro-
vides a maximum fine Of 500 and
Imprisonment up to six months For
giving wrong information, the maxi
mum penalty is fine of $500 or
imprisonment for one year.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-01-26

tives of a large corporation can
pause to pay tribute to the men who
have made the success Of its business
possible There was very little laud-
ing of it's products on this occasion.
Rather, General Motors chose to
laud the men who have so long been
in its employ. General Motors knows
as do other successful and progress
sive Industries, that its products
have been, and will continue to be,
only as good as the men who make
them. Appropriately. the occasion
was designated as The March of
Men and Motors"
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-01-26

One of the reasons the have-not
nations are interested in Latvia is
that the small country ships out al
most a hundred pounds of butter
every minute.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-01-26

Norway ships 20 pounds of kip
pered herrings and 35 pounds of
their world famous sardines-each
minute to the United States.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-01-26

1t costs IS minute to maintain
Medical and Surgical Departments
of the American Navy.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-01-26

Love may make the world so
round, but 1t takes money to lubri-
cate the machinery,
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-01-26

Tomorrow is worth more to the
hustler than yesterday
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-01-26

fortunes cuffs may be reversible,
but her kicks azs not.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-01-26
A Million Bad Aliens

Recent reports indicate that a
million aliens are illegally domiciled
in the United States. The United
States Senate has discussed that
condition during the past few days.
The widely-published story of a
plot to blow up Boulder Dam was
as exciting reading as it was incor-
rect. The Omen have been active
in guarding the protecting 43O key
plants working on national defense
orders, and reporter discovered
that one of those properties was
Boulder Dam. He pounded out a
red-hot and sensational yarn.
Senator Reynolds of North Caro-
lima says the Federal Bureau of In
vestigation has received nearly as
many complaints of espionage, sob
otage and other infractions affecting
national denfense in day as in all
of the fiscal year of 1888. ]. Edgar
Hoover, at the head of the Federal
Bureau Of Investigation and his G.
men are kept busy.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-01-26
Pioneers At The Wheel

AAt the beginning of this New
Year an important and significant
event has taken place in Michigan.
When one thinks of Michigan one
thinks of automobiles and when
one thinks of automobiles one thinks
of the millions of jobs which have
resulted from automobiles in the
memory of u.s. Automobiles and the
men who make them have gone
hand in hand since the beginning of
the industry.
Realizing this fact, General Mo-
tors, on the occasion of the produc-
ton of its $4,000, O00th car on jan
uary IL, gathered together in De-
troit more than 500 veteran en-
ployes of the Corporation who have
been in service since General Motors
was born in 1908. william s. Knud-
sen, President, and other officials of
the Corporation and their wives, to-
gether with the veteran employees
and their wives, sat down at q din
ner to enjoy, reflect and review the
eolorful history of an industry which
they saw created and around which
their interests and lives have GEN.
tered for 80 years or more.
1t is good to know In these days
Of international distress and un-
sasiness that In America the execu-
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-01-26
PARENTS CAN AID IN SAFETY
WORK
should Stress the Value OF School
Training
EDUCATIvE NEWS

distributed by the Educational
Publishing Corp. Darien, Conn.
Publisher of the Grade Teacher)
Imperial Valley press., 1940-08-22
Justice Dept Asks US,
Supreme Court to Outlaw
Exhorbitont War Profits

WASHINGTON. Aug. % (UP)--
The justice department today ask
ed the supreme court for clear
statement of the rights of the gov
ernment to require industries to
fill defense contracts on reasonable
terms.
The test cases selected by the
government seek recovery of $13,-
365,231 in profits awarded by lower
courts to the Bethlehem Shipbuild
ing Corp. on contracts made in
1917 and 1918.
"It is of immediate national coll
Germ" Solicitor General Francis. G.
Biddle said in a petition to the
supreme court, that there should
be an authoritative determination
of the extent to which the coun-
try's need should place it at the
mercy of its contractors.
I'm times of national emergency
the men charged with preparing
the nations defenseS have no time
for haggling with contractor who
refuses to perform his indispensable
function unless he be assured of
az exorbinate profit"
Biddle asked the supreme court
to review decisions in two cases by
the district and circuit court Of
appeals that the government could