davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Milford chronicle., 1940-01-26
BRER GROUNDHOG

The ancient tradition tells us to
watch for the grounding on Febru-
airy 2. On that date he is supposed
to come out of his hole to observe
the weather. If he sees his shadow.
lie takes a dive into his hole for six
weeks more of sleep. If he sees no
shadow. he thinks spring has come.
and he can begin his seasonal Ia
bOrs.
How did such funny notion ever
become a tradition which millions
Of people have taken seriously? The
answer is probably that the average
run of people are not very accurate
or scientific. The world is full of
quaint superstitions. few Of which
have any basis of fact.
If people saw a grounding come
out of his hole on a thick and
misty day, and saw him for several
days after, and if after that the wea-
ther happened to be mild and pleas
ant, the notion might gain headway
that the little critter had correctly
foretold the weather. The fact that
he might do just the same thing in
subsequent years. but that the wea-
ther might be wintry and cold. would
not impress itself on their atten-
ton. They note the few times when
a sign is verified. but overlook many
more times when it proves wrong.
Most Of these notions originated in
the days before newspapers became
common, and many came from the
times before printing. In those ages
people had few means OF education.
and fantastic nptl0n could get 4
Milford chronicle., 1940-01-26
0RGANfzATI0x snppnRr

The machinery of civilization con-
sists not merely in factories and
stores and railroads and automo-
hiles. etc, bnt also in the organized
life Of cities and towns. People al
ways have plenty of good ideas that
would produce home town improve
ment, but if those good ideas are not
taken up and pushed by some organ
izatiOn they rarely amount to any
thing.
So cities and towns need churches.
fraternal societies. social. athletic,
and educational clubs. etc. Every
one of these activities is a cOmmun-
ity asset. 1t makes life in a town
piore attractive, and promotes friend
ship and activity. Anyone who holds
any kind of office in such a society
o. who attends its meetings and
pays it dues. helps on the home
town.
Milford chronicle., 1940-01-26
HIBERNATING GROrNDHOGs

The funny old yarn about the
grounding. telling how he comes out
of his hole February 2 to observe the
weather, reminds us of the strange
phenomenon by which many wild
creatures spend a good part of the
winter in sleep. When the little
WOOdchuck comes out for this obser-
Vation, he is supposed to have been
alternating for a couple of months.
The alternating animals are sup
posed to sleep for weeks at a time.
with heart and respiration and tenn
perature and digestion going very
slow. A human being would prob
ably not survive such an experience.
This seems one of those wonder
ful adaptations by which Nature
provides for the needs of her crea-
lures. In time when il would be
difficult for these animals to obtain
food, she kindly steps in and pro-
duces a condition where they do not
require food. Thus Nature around
us is a perpetual miracle. Her kind
~ hand shelters her children from
the fates which they are not able to
control for themselves.
Milford chronicle., 1940-01-26
EbttAfINa THE REAnEns

The Oklahoma Press association
recently discussed The question d
what it called eReaaer education.
Among the phases Of the subject dis
cdssed we're the Importance 81 con-
snmer education in advertising. also
such newspaper promotion as will
inform the public about the services
Of the newspapers.
These are very important sub
iects. The public needs to realize
that il it wants to buy intelligehtly,
it needs to make close study Of
newspaper advertising. Also that
the newspaper performs a certain es-
sential function in community deYel-
cpment. and it is vitality necessary to
community progress that the news
papers be well supported in their ef-
forts to promote these good causes.
The newspapers constitute one OF
the country's greatest educational
forces, and they perform that func-
tion whether they realize it or not.
The newspaper man. going on his
rounds in his simple and unpreten-
tious way. does not always realize
that he is an educational force.
When he goes to the meeting of some
organization to report its
activities and progress. he does not
think of himself as a teacher or an
educator of any type.
Yet when he reports the things
;aid and done at such a meeting. he
las added to the knowledge of the 4
The people of his terri /;
cry are given information which
ley needed to know. They learn
omething as to how they can make
aims in welfare and prosperity. The !
InctiOn of the newspaper man in
that information is edu-
ltional in the highest sense.
Newspaper people are proud of this +
lucational feature. Newspaper work :.
not a function which makes many \
eople get rich, but it does produce
ch rewards in the form of a useful !,
SIX well performed. and of bene- h
S conferred on the community. .
Milford chronicle., 1940-01-26
TOURING AMERICA

President Roosevelt, noting that
the war in Europe would deter peo-
pie from travelling in belIigerent
areas, has proclaimed 1910 as "Trav-
ei in America" year. The desire to
see the world is almost universal.
and it is far easier to travel than
L used to be. Times are better. and
the summer of 1910 will see multi
tude Of people out to see our part of
the world.
The average American feels
mighty happy when he has filed a
suitcase or two to sufFocation. and
sets out to see what the open spaces
and the thronging cities have to tell
hfm.
The philosophers may say he
should stay at home and think and
read. Perhaps he should. But there
seems to be concealed spring in
the American foot that tells him to
get up and go somewhere. Perhaps
he inherited it from ancestors who
would be living cramped and crush
Cd lives in cruel Europe if they too
had not had the travel urge.
Milford chronicle., 1940-01-26
MIIiord, Friday, Januarg %, 1910
LIrTLE COUNTRIEs IN PERIL

Nearly 100000 men in Belgium
and Holland have been mobilized be-
cause of fears that the Germans were
about to invade their territory. The
Germans will no doubt ridicule this
move as an exhibition of needless
panic, but after the things the
Germans did in 1914 when they
marched their great armies over the
border into neutral Belgium. which
asked only the privilege of living a
quiet and peaceful life. these little
countries do not take some promises
very seriously.
Times are hard for the little cOun-
tries. Little Finland asked only for
the privilege of living its own quiet
life. Now mighty Russia is cruelty
bombing the Finnish cities, and
bringing death and destruction to in
noccnt and harmless people. The
world rises in shocked protest.
Little countries used to feel GER
tain degree of security in the prom
ises that we're made to them by the
more powerful nations. 1t was not
thought that any great country
would want the word to go out that
it was not willing to adhere to its
treaties of peace. Nowadays when
some of these countries see any
thing they want. they reach out and
take it, if they think they can get it
costing them too heavily.
So the world waits almost breath
less to see if mighty Germany is 60
ing to disregard laws and treaties, d.
and march its men over into Holland
ind Belgium. Probably its govern
ment would like to do so. 1t would
rut their airplanes nearer the Eng
lish coasts. and make possible bomb
ing raids that are now carried out
with difficulty.
The world will some day react
from the sickening horror of these
days. If the people of Germany and
Russia could but once have a clear
iiew of the dOings their governments
IRE doing, their soldiers would lay !
iown their guns and run for home.
The truth will not forever be con-
called u
Milford chronicle., 1940-01-26
- M aIIand ~ -.


lhoys wif attend the camp.
The troop ia busy making ana
naintinR street signs Tor the town.
I Fhe pfoi4ct has been approved ~
lbosh the Maryland and Delaware
ToRn Councils One sisn VIII De
ptateo Il each intersection aesis-
mating the intefzecting streets
Lewis w Nelson ol tllis town was
elected preilldent 81 the Wiegnileo
Cpunly Past Masters Association q
the annual meeting and banquet fe-
Gently marking the silver ahniVer-
eafy og the Masonic ofsaniEatl0n.
Other officers are: Maurice Eiii-
Oft, Rardeia, vice president, Noah
IL oWens, ShafDtoWn, second vice
president, and Charles H. Marvel
Salisbury, secretary and treasurer
The next annual meeting viii be held
in Delmar
Mrs. victor j. Carmiue Of this
town was Bainfally injured Saturday
night ia d tall on the porch Of her
home. she IS under the care Of Dr.
S Howard Lynch Of Delmar.
The first meeting Of the year for
the "Sassex Farmers 4-H Club" 0f
OEllMlI WIS atrAI et Af4HNA - 1aAt~1lt-
ker's last Thursday evening at eight
O'clock. The boys who we're present
we're Arthur Stndley, Jf., president,
Edward Shedaker, vice-president,
Marshall Carey, Curtis Taylor, Paul
Dickerson and Wilson Records. Miss
Anne B. Moore, county club agent,
and c. E. McCauley. boys club agent,
we're also present The object Of this
meeting was to decide what projects
the boys are going to work on this
year. Il is a statewide campaign
to make each project a deinonstra-
ton. These demonstrations II ear
r;ed out, win be like miniature ex-
peffmenfal stations. Those present
seemed to be very much interested
in the years program as outlined By
Mr.. .McCauley After the meeting
social hour was held together with
the new girls 4-H club. "The Busy
Bees" Refreshments were served
by Mrs. Shedaker. The next meeting
Of the two clubs will be held at Jane
and Mary Culvers Thursday, Febru-
airy Is.
Milford chronicle., 1940-01-26
BAREFOOT CHILDREN

The Save the Children founda-
ton" a generous national organiza-
tiOn with offices in New York, is
sending out appeals for shoes for
needy school children in the South
crn mountains. These are not prob
ably the only regions where chill
drens bare feet are a reason why
they cannot attend school.
There was a time when many chill
dTen, went barefoot. and their feet
lecame so tough that they did not
mind it. Today every child needs a
good pair of shoes. Many barefoot
boys and girls have grown up to be
famous men and women. but the
barefoot youth is badly handicapped
in the modern world which is run
ring a race with life's problems
over a sharp and rocky path.
Milford chronicle., 1940-01-26

COMMITTEE HEARINGS-W While
members of Congress, as well as citi-
zens generally, have long been du-
bious Of the functions Of various fed
eral agencies, hearings now being
conducted in the Capitol are making
disclosures Of an astounding ma
ture.
The House Committee probing adj
ministration of the National Labor
Relations Board has examined a
number Of board employees. These
include several women acting as Re-
view Attorneys, who testified that
they had little or no experience
with the law. and one man employed
az a trial examiner. The latter's
duties consisted Of passing on the
legal aspects Of evidence submitted
at labor hearings. but he testified
that he had never studied law. II
seems unusual that, with thousands
of experienced attorneys available,
the NLRB should engage persons
with little background. handicapped
by lack Of qualifications, to discharge
these duties and administer the act
which Is designed to promote ami
cable relations between employers
and labor.
Another important hearing is
that being conducted by the House
Ways and Means Committee on the
Reciprocal Trade Agreements. One
If the witnesses this past week was |
Henry F. Grady, Assistant Seere-
ary Of State, who is credited with /
Deing the No. / man handling the /
Pact Negotiations. I heard Grady
estify that the agreements had bene-
tied the American farmer and that
he latter has had the American mar
let. To prove his assertion, he pre-
ented charts showing how small our
imports are when COM
ared with our total domestic con-
However official statis-
les covering the first ten months Of
9S9 show that these insignificant"
IMPORTS of agricultural items
mounted to $Ss705l 900.
Milford chronicle., 1940-01-26
HELPING FINLAND'S HEROES

President Roosevelt has suggest
cd that congress consider means by
which Finland can be aided in its
struggle with Russia. The Ameri-
gan people feel the most unhounded
admiration for the people Of this lit
tie assailed country. aud they would
like to help them if they can do so
without involving danger of getting
into any war.
Little Finland against mighty
Russia is like some little child stand
ing up to fight terrible giant. The
heart of the world goes out to such
Milford chronicle., 1940-01-26
EEAAR


Walter stephens Of this town. whs
Is spending tie winter iu 81 Fetafe.
bufk Florida. is reported to be yefy
iH.
M. and Mrs. Buras Marvel o. Syfa-
cuse, N y. were recent gnesth Of mr.
and Mrs Arile HUds0n
Mrs Richard Morris and daughter,
Dorothy Ann, spent the week-cAd
Isith Mr.. Morris, who g employed ID
Baltimore.
Mrs. Elton F'iggs and Mrs. Charles
Beauchamp are patients In the PEN
inBlla General Hospital, Salisbury.
Salby Lowe Dutton OF Wilmington
kas been visiting hts father. GeonIIe
"a llutl0n,
Mr.. and Mrs. Edward Taylor are
occupying Mrs s. NJ Ellis apart
ment on Jewel street.
Mrs. Ella Sample left on Friday
for an indefinite stay at Marion, s.
C., where she win nurse her mother,
who is very ih
Mrs. John Winsate, ST., has Joined
her husband at tfarftsb0g. Pa, for
the remainder of the winter Mr..
Wingate is railroad employee
working out of Harrisburg.
Mrs. Nellie Parker has returned
from a two weeks visit with her
daughter, Mrs. Jas. Mitchell in Will
mington and other relatives in Wit
low Grove and Hatbor6, Pa.
Perry Locates Of Elmhurst spent
Sunday here with his mother, mrs.
Martha Locates.
Mrs, George Burrows has returned
from a visit with her daughter and
son iii-iaw, Mr.. ana Mrs. Clayton
at SeFbyville.
Miss Sara Leet was q dinner guest
Of Mrs. Carrie Kitchens on Monday. |
Mrs. Benjamin Rothe has returned |
from a two weeks visit with friends I
in Chester, Pa, and Bridgeton, MI. |
Fifty members OF the Tall Cedars /
attended the Eastern Sho Forest No. I
81, district meeting held in F'feeny
Hall here. last Friday night at
o'clock.
This district comprises represen-
atives from Cape Charles. Va, to
)eInfar.
A large class OF new candidates
we're initiated at the meeting, It has
,een announced BY S. b. Powell, OF
the district scribe.
Grand Tall Cedar X. J. Miller pre-
ided at the meeting, assisted by A.
, Croll, district representative in
he initiation. A pig roast followed.
The members Of Troop No. ia,
10y Scouts of America, from DeImar
re making plans to spend the week
nd Of FEBRUARY "a at Browns
OdRc at Camp Rodney, near North
asst. Ma. it was announced at the
'oop meeting held Monday night in ,
le basement of the First Methodist !
hnrch by Matthew AydeIOtte, scout 3
aster. ]
Mr.. Aydelotte told the Boy Scouts I
lat their application for that week !
i'd at the lodge had been approved ]
2 the DelmaFva Council. About 20 I
- I n
Milford chronicle., 1940-01-26
A MILfdON BAD ALIENS

The widely-pubIished story Of a
plot to blow up Boulder Dam was as
exciting reading as it was incorrect.
The G-nien have been active in
guarding and protecting 4S0- key
plants working on national defense
orders. and a 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
vestigatfon has received nearly as
many complaints Of espionage, sRbot-
age and other infractions affecting
national defense in a day as in all OF
the fiscal year Of 1888. J. Edgar
Hoover, at the head Of the Federal
Bureau Of Investigation and his G.
men are kept busy
Milford chronicle., 1940-01-26

noble actiou. Congress has 20 osa-
ssder precedents. whether ii it helps
Finland It will also have 10 help
many Of the fighting countries. As
far as the money goes, the American
people would gladly lend. or perhaps
even give Il as a tribute 70 heroes ID
a world where cruelty and lawless-
ness seem 10 rule.
Milford chronicle., 1940-01-26
FROM CONGRESSMAN
GEORGE S. WILLIAMS

CONGRESSIONAL RECEPTION
The annual reception at the White
House given by the Chief Executive
for the members Of Congress, their
wives and children over the age lin
il Of eighteen years was held on jan
Uary II. The elite of Washington
ofiicialdom was there in expensive,
luxurious toga, and even Cactus
Jack" Garner was clothed in white
tie and tails. The First Lady was
striking picture in her gown OF ex-
quisite cream lace with a long
train, and lovely Mrs. Cordell Hull.
wife of the Secretary of State, was
most attractively gowned in white
brocade cut on classic lines. Cover
nor r. G. McMullen of Delaware and
Mrs. McMullen were among the State
executives present as were Governor
James H. Price of Virginia and Mrs.
Price. An air of infOrmality that
rarely accents State receptions was
very much in evidence as party lines
were discarded while Democrats vis-
tied and chatted with Republicans
and Cabinet members busted them
selves greeting friends from the
"hill". In the midst Of gaity, brill |
liant lights, charmingly gowned la /
dies, gold-braided attendants, and |
the latest dance tunes from the I
Marine Band, eyes
still turned to Secretary Of State,
cordell Hull, who. political dopsters
now claim is the Grown Prince" and
who definitely has the "right-Of-
way" as far as F. D. r. is concerned.
Milford chronicle., 1940-01-26
deep hold.

Anxious farmers worry about the
difficulties in the way Of a garden
crop and may not see any fun in the
groundhbg's s depredations. The farm
boys, who so often lack diversion in
their life. get plenty Of sport over
him. Countless happy hours have
been spent by them trying to dig
him out or smoke him out while
Tige barked joyously. and life on the
hillside seemed full Of drama.
Milford chronicle., 1940-01-26

ANTI LYNCHING BILL - The
CaVagan or Anti Lynching Bill was
passed in the House on January 10
by the following vote: Yeas 252, nays
131. not voting 40. This measure,
which seeks to curb lynching by inn
posing penalties upon peace officers
who fail to protect prisoners from
lynch mObs and by making munich
palities or counties liable to damage
suits by dependents of lynching vic
Tins, was passed by the House pre-
yiously only to encounter a Southern
filibuster i'm the Senate. While the
House debated on January and 10,
during the 10th Congress. arguments
for and against it which had been
heard in the past discussions were
trotted out again Southerners and
a few NOrtherners coptended it was
Unenforeeable, Proponents denied
these statements. Representative
Gavagan, New York. author of the
bill. eliminated a section specifically
exempting killings in the course Of |
labor disputes. And while the
House debated. National Guardsmen
we're on duty in Prentiss. Miss. to
prevent what local officials feared
Milford chronicle., 1940-01-26

PEOPLE HoLLER plenty loud if
they have anything to complain of.
but only seem to whisper when it
comes to saying things that will help
the home town.
Milford chronicle., 1940-01-26


APPROPRIATIONS S-H 4. 1905
commonly kn0wn as lae Deficiency
Bill and making supplemented appro-
pfiations for tie Military ana Naval
Embellishments. Coast Guard, and
Federal Bureau Of Investigation for
the fiscal year ending June so, 1910,
was passed by the House on Friday,
january 12.
II. K. 1893. the Independent orr
ces' Appropriation Bill for the next
fiscal year encountered the ecOnuny
movement last Thursday when the
House upheld the Appropriation
Commuters action in cutting about
S90.000.000 from the budget estimates
submitted for these Independent
agencies. A tarrfIie fight was made
Ia the House to make further re-
trenchment, particularly in funds for
the iva, but administration forces
were victorious in retaining the COM
mittee figure Of $4,000, 600 for this
agency including authorization Of the
construction Of Coulter Shoals Dam,
to cost about $2S, 500. The
Commission budget for
was cut $4,000. 900, and
contract authorization for another
s150,O00.O00 was thrown ont on a
point Of order Federal aid highway
hunds were cut S25 10000 under the
1880 appropriation.
Milford chronicle., 1940-01-26

MONEY IS SAID to talk, and it
talks loud and persnasively when a
dealer feels such confidence in his
goods that be spends money adver
Using thon.
Milford chronicle., 1940-01-26

might dHyeiop i1fo a lyncAlns.
Crowds demanded the lives 81 two
Negroes charged with killing 4 peace
officer
Evening star., 1940-03-10
Argentina Builds Up Her Navy;
Continental Defenses Weak
South American Nations Far Too Weak
To Repel Aggression From Europe

, sweepers, four coast defense ships
converted from old cruisers and
several powerfully armed gunboats.
To Expand Air Force.
This year the navy ministry has
an appropriation of roughly $20.-
900 900, much of which will go to-
ward expansion of the naval air
force commanded by United States
trained Capt. M. A. Ear.
Most of the navy planes are North
American-Voughts, Martins, Grum-
mans and Consolidated, and many of
the pilots were trained in United
States naval schools.
One foreign observer who watched
while a trio of Argentine pilots
flying United States planes-laid
down a smoke screen hiding the
assembled fleet from the reviewing
line at the recent review said he
had never seen q better screen laid
by any navy.
Other observers had similar praise
Of Argentine sea fighters. The train
ing given the sailors, officers and
flyers, one informant said, corre-
spends favorably to that of Great
Britain or the United States.
Brazirs Navy Is Next.
Outside of Argentina, only Bra
zil has much to offer in the way
of South American naval defense.
Brazil has two 33-year -old battle
ships. two 31-year old cruisers, four
modern submarines, a first-class
training ship, and three new de-
stroyers of United States design un-
der construction in Rio de Janeiro.
Building of six destroyers in Eng
land was delayed by the European
war. Brazil also has a modern navy
air force which, like Argentina. uses
mostly North American planes.
Chile has one 25-year-old battle
ship, two obsolete light cruisers,
eight destroyers acquired in 1928,
and two 27-year-old destroyers.
Plans for building two new light
cruisers were delayed by the war.
Peru has two 34-year-old light
cruisers, two 1917 Russian-built de-
stroyers purchased in 1894 from
Estonia, and 1911 torpedo boat
Ecuador has little besides a re-
built yacht which was converted
into training ship, and Colombia
has two Portuguese-built destroyers.
Venezuela's best ships are two
gunboats purchased in 1888 from
the Italian Navy, which built them
| in 1925.
Uruguay has three modern patrol
ships and small 30-year-old cruiser
! fitted as a training ship.