davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-03-02
3YLOUISE HOLMES
FlorabelIe Offers Advice
eoPYRI0pfR. 1eAo. NEA 0ENNIcE, INC.

iurr gltttered.
 There was a low davenport fianked correctly by two over- stuffed chairs and 8 coffee table with Q glass top. Lamps and asfl trays and pictures of men stood upon other tables. A radio, en- cased in aquamarine colored glass, hummed softly. The room was ornate, cheaply and fantastically modern.
 "It's = it's very lovely" Ann said.
 "It1l do." Florabelle pushed the bedroom door open and Ann received another shock. The bed was low and wide it was soft and thick, a velvet cover fell to the floor. The dressing table, two small chests separated by a shelf, stood below an immense, circular mirror. There was a gold brocad- slipper chair and wardrobe. The door of the wardrobe stood open and Ann saw rows of gowns, shoes on rack, hats in transparent boxes. Beside the bed, on a chromium table, stood an ivory telephone.
 Fiorabelle opened another door and displayed a small bathroom. Mrs. Follet made this out of a closet" she yawned. T had to have a private bath" -l Somehow, the place shocked Ann. She said, because Florabelle expected her to be impressed, Tt takes my breath, away to find such a beautiful apartment on Mrs. Fol- let's third floor"
 well -1 just happen to be here."
 Ann said, q want lovely things some day"
 "why don't you have them2"
 Ann's eyes widened. T can't af- ford them. I only make fifteen Q week."
 Tt isn't what you make. It's how you manage" 1 Ann looked dazed. If you know I the answer I wish you'd pass 1t on to me-"
 Get men to give you what you want"
 T don't know any men. Any way, wouldn't"
 T said I'd fix you up." Flora belle looked Ann up and down, her eyes drowsy and speculative. T went with rich guy once" " she said. He bought this stuff for me because he said I deserved beautiful surroundings. He had the place redecorated and paid Mrs. Follet to have the bathroom put in."
 Ann looked at her new friend with faint suspicion. wasn't that a great deal to accept from a man?"
 Florabelle started to laugh, then thought better of 1t. We were to be married" she said. "He was getting the place ready for us."
 And did something happen to him?"
 "Yes, something happened"
 "Oh, I'm sorry"
 "You needn't be-" The telephone rang and Florabelle hurried her guest out. Come every few mln- utes," she said.
 Ann went back to the worn carpet and artificial flowers. She sat down and thought for a long time.
 (To Be Continued)
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-03-02
KILLED
STRAND

Performances this evening at War ner's Strand theater conclude the engagement of the full-length ani- mated cartoon in technicolor "Gul- Hveg's Travels; also Louise Camp bell and William Henry in Elmer gency Squad"
 Topping the swell twin bill open ing at the Strand tomorrow is Brother Rat and a Baby," the com- edy successor to last years comedy success Brother Rat"
 Heading the cast of the new com- edy are Priscilla Lane, Wayne Mor- ris, Jane Bryan, Eddie Albert, Jane Wyman, Ronald Reagan and IA months old Peter B. Good who plays the "baby" part of the title. Also featured in the notable cast are Arthur Preacher, Moreno Olsen, Jes- sic Busley, Larry Williams and many others.
 TheateFgoers will be delighted with the announcement that the film takes up the adventures of the Brother Rat" characters just one year after graduation from V. M. I. One Of the thyee erstwhlle cadets is already family man, the other two ere Just having girl trouble.
 "Commeneemeat." the name Of the haby because it vas born on the day lts father graduated from v. M. L., ls the real little troublesmaksF Rpd hls exploits land his mother and gathe. and the ether two couples Into nf hilarious series Of adventures that gjll have audiences rolling 10 tbe asslss,
 Al in co here ls the best screen sntsrtalnment in the elty, hemsnl' baF it starts tomorrow fos An ehS sagemant Of three eays,
 one of the most unusual and eEs aliiae pictures ef the season eeS faatalfas tsae hlll and ls entitled ~Fbs kaFl eg Chlease." 7ibe lilm beasts q bls east headed bg Robert Ments eea1EN h4NsFa Arnold sise Begl' hala 0wsa.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-03-02
Q STAMP NEWS

A PORTRAIT of the late U. S. A Senator William E. Borah has been suggested as the design for the new U. s. stamp, commence rating the S0th anniversary of Tdaho's admission to the Union. The stamp is scheduled for release July 3.
 Russia has honored a famous poet and a noted political writer with recent stamp issues. Three values commemorate the l25th an- niversary of the birth of the poet Mikhail Yurevich LermontoG. An- other series of three honors the 50th anniversary of the death of Nikolai Gavrilovich Chernyshev- sky, one of Russia's most infiuen- tial authors.
 Estonia's l940 charity semi postals reproduce the coat of arms of four districts-Voru, Jarva, Saare and Laane-in series of four values.
 Southern Rhodesia win not issue the promised series commemorate ing the colony's half century as . British possession, postal authori- ties have announced. because of the war in Europe.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-03-02
CHAPTER x

Clara said, "This is our place, Ann. Come in and start living with me. Ann followed her into a small living room. Worn carpet, sagging chairs, limp curtains, grimy walls covered with pictures. Evidences of Clara,s artistic attempts crowded the room. Artificial flowers, blat- antly artificial, sprangled from cheap vases and dowls. The pictures were garish and impossible. Little china dogs and cats and elephants filtered the tables and window sills. A cot, covered with a pseudo-o -orien- tai rug, did duty as a davenport.
 Of the living room, was the kitchen, small cupboard arrange ment with doors swung wide. Through a door in another wall, Ann glimpsed a bedroom. In spite of the atrocious color combinations, the place had a honey, pleasant air.
 Isn't it nice2" Clara asked proudly. "The furniture belongs to me. "When Ma divorced Pa and married Dave she gave me the stuff. Pa didn't want 1t be- cause he was marrying Rose and she had swell things"
 "It's very nice," Ann agreed, wondering what her little violet plant would think of the riotous Atmosphere.
 Clara led the way to the bed- room. Ann's quick eye noticed that the bed was good inch thicker than the one she had left. Clara pulled back a curtain which hung from shelf. This is the closet. See - You can have half and two drawers in the dresser. Pretty nice riggin's, don't you think?"
 They were interrupted by a quick knock on the door, "It's Sam," Clara exclaimed, my boy friend - the one I told you about" ;" She opened the door to admit a big, loose- -jointed youth who looked most uncomfortable in a necktie and ill-11tting suit.
 %Hi, Sport" Clara greeted him. Come here, Ann, and meet Sam Little. Little" she laughed. "1sn't that a name for him?"
 The young man awkwardly held out his hand and Ann put hers into it. His hand was huge, hard as 6 table top.
 "5ow do you do," she said.
 "Io."
 Clara hustled into her coat. "We're going to the movies. Make yourself at home, Ann."
 q will"
 mhe watched them as they went down the stairs. She saw Sam kiss Clara at the turn. She stood there e moment, thinking of Clara and
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-03-02

sam? Were they in love? Was that why they had kissed?
 Strangely enough, Ann had never been kissed. The reason was quite simple. There had been no opportunity while she travelled from one end of the country to the other with Pete, always under the watchful eye of her mother. And there had been no opporturl- ity since.
 She thought of Paul Hayden with a quickening of the pulse. Perhaps he would kiss her some day. But, no, he was afraid of girls, afraid that one of them mgiht marry him.
 Ann sniffed. He needn't worry about her. She heard an impa- tient honk and Neddy and Teddy, one a definite repeat of the other. tripped down stairs.
 Ann went back to the bedroom. She put clean newspapers in the dresser drawers and carefully placed her few belongings in neat piles. Clara's jumbled toilet articles had been moved to one side and she set out her jars and boxes, comb and powder puff. She got the wire hangers from her bag and hung up her dresses and coats.
 A warm feeling of home en- veloped her. The girls in the hall had been friendly. It was nice to know that Clara would came in later. She had @ date for the next evening - a date with Paul Hyden. Perhaps life had found her at last.
 She placed the silver spoons un- der her nightdresses and carried the plates and iron to the kitchen. Here disorder reigned. Her fingers itched to get at 1t and she did a little preparatory strengthening She'd buy shelf paper - only a dime "a tough little scrub brush - a nickel at Clara's store
 Mind if I come in?" It was Florabelle, still in the orchid drap- cries, still insolently smoking.
 Mind? I should say not. Sit down." Ann came from the kitch- en and dropped to a chair, curl ing one foot under her.
 God, I'm sleepy" Florabelle groaned, throwing herself among the rainbow hued cushions on the cot, stretching her long, lovely body. Didn't get in until 4 this morning."
 Gracious -- I'm afraid couldn't work if I stayed out so late"
 "It's all in getting used to 1t. I figure I won't always be young and I may as well make hay while the beauty lasts"
 Ann could think of nothing to say. She thought, You're beauti- full but not so terribly young"
 Florabelle said, Guess you haven't been around much, Ann"
 "No - well, in a way, yes. I've lived in almost every city in the United States. I've stayed in the best hotels and"
 Well, we'll" Florabelle sat up. Looks are certainly deceiv- ing. I thought you'd come from Yahoo or somewhere. Not that you look like a nick. What are you doing in a dump like thisf Lost your cunning?"
 Ann flushed. T travelled with. my father. He died a year ago I've been on my own since"
 "Oh, I see." Florabelle got tc her feet, yawning. Come over and see where I hang out" She trailed across the hall and Ann followed. Stepping inside Flora belle's door, here eyes opened wide
 
 The apartment architecturally speaking, was like her own, but the furnishings were vastly different. The walls were pale yellow, the woodwork had been painted silver,
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-03-02
C.n ANIalM CRACKERS
IDENTIFYING FRUITS

IDENTIFYING FRUITS
 Fruit isn't just plain, old fruit. Most fruits come in numerous differ ent varieties. Housewives will know about that, and this test will be easy for them. All you need to do is to tell to what kind of fruit-bananas, peaches, etc-each of the names be- low belongs:
 1. Winesap is kind of -.
 2. Certain - are known as Bartletts.
 3. Concord are preferred by many persons.
 4. Macintosh is @ kind of -. 5. Most fruit stores sell green gage -.
 Answers on Back Page)
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-03-02
a SERIAL STORY
CAST OF CHARACTERS

ANN BROWN - orphan dsugh- ter of . gambler, alone in an unfriendly city. PAUL HAYDEN - stock room boy with ambition. STEVE CLAYBOURNE - veal thy playbOy. CLARA BROOKS - dime store counter girl. IRENE TEMPLE - society debu- tante.
 
 YESTERDAY: Ann makes 1t clear to Paul that she has no in- tention of marrying him, and they agree on . movie date. Later she meets the other roomers in her new home. One of the girls, Flora belle, promises to arrange a date for Ann soon.
Evening star., 1940-10-27

then cutting the letters apart and
placing them in vessel OF water.
The letter that came to the top first
was the initial of the future hus-
band or wife.
The apple pairing test is an ex-
tremely old one The pairing of the
apple is removed in one piece and
then thrown about the head three
times and dropped behind the one
doing the whirling, when it will form
the initial Of the future husband or
wife.
Another stunt that was usually
tried on the men only was to take
cup of flour, packed tight, and
turn it out on a plate; then to place
a gold ring on the top Of the mound
thus formed. The guests then
passed by the table and each one
cut a slice of the flour away, and
this continued until the ring fell,
when the person causing it to fall
had to pick it out of the flour with
his mouth. Naturally he got flour
all over his face. and then some one
with a concealed wet towel slapped
it over his face and added to his
discontinue by converting his
Toured face into one of dough.
Ring in a Cake.
The use of a ring In another
way was, also popular at these
Halloween gatherings. Here the
ring was put in the cake before it
was baked and at the proper time
the cake was sliced in the presence
Of the entire party, and the one who
got the ring was the one to be mar
ried first. He also kept the ring as
a souvenir of the party.
The ring played an important part
in determining ones fate when
Evening star., 1940-10-27
Supernatural Beliefs Possessed Many
Who Also Feared Haunted Homes Here
Old Customs of This Season Preserved
Through Ages With Practices Designed
To Forecast Selected Persons Future

1T was said that in the olden
times all the spirits, both of the
visible and invisible world, on this
eve walked the earth. All devils
and witches are believed to be
abroad and the fairies are said to
hold high carnival. 1t Is for this
reason that youths and maidens
endeavor to peer into the future
and obtain some forecast of their
matrimonial prospects. Nuts, ap-
piles and cakes are used in these
mystic ceremonies and great deal
of fun and amusement is derived
from the signs and omens obtained.
The boys, as soon as darkness sets
in, begin their celebration, and by
mysterious noises on the window
panes, the ringing of doorbells and
then running away before they can
be answered. they have a good deal
of fun, whatever enjoyment their
victims may be able to extract from
this form of obse. wing the vigil"
Back in HistC.y.
Indeed, spirits and devils and
witches and sorcery existed in the
minds of the people as far back as
history and tradition go. In the
Second Book of Moses we find it
said: Thou shall not suffer a witch
to live" Shakespeare, we will recall,
has Hamlet talking to his fathers
ghost, and it is the exception to find
an early writer who did not place
confidence in the supernatural
Upon one occasion. in our own
country, as historically recent as
1892, up in Salem, Mass, 10 of the
best people of the town were ex-
ecuted upon one occasion for being
witches. So if our Washington boys
of a former day were downright
bad, at least they were a colossal
improvement over our Salem an
cestors, and besides, when it is
known that one of those who par
ticipated in the executions men,
toned bore the distinctive reputa-
tlon OF being the greatest scholar
and author that America had then
produced-it only goes to show that
some biographers occasionally find
it convenient to conceal the truth.
AS All oldster, looking into the
past, the writer knows that there is
a great deal of innocent and enjoy
able pleasure to be had on Hal
loWeen night, and recalls the Hal
loween parties of his early days. for
then, it seems, everybody knew
everybody and such parties were
usually of neighborhood character.
Naturally, the girls and boys who
attended these events we're known
to be respectable and to fit in with
the rest of those invited. The games
they played then, or the tricks they
played on others, were always of the
harmless kind and quite unlike, in
this respect, the pranks played by
Evening star., 1940-10-27
Bv Emily Ericsson

When the S. S. Manhattan, flag
ship of the United States Lines,
steamed into New York Harbor on
her memorable last transatlantic
trip she carried ships company
of nearly $500 souls" The voyage
had been calm and uneventful,
viewed from the present day OF sub
marines and air bombings, but not
when $500 lives are confined to the
space of a ship-a small ship built
for half that many.
I think that we rather lost sight
of the fact that there was a death,
birth, christening, as she MADE
her Tooth voyage. That we were able
to live in partial oblivion, in type
of release from the horrors that
most of us had seen was in a large
measure due to the clever handling
of our daily routine life. Every ar
rangement was new to passengers
and crew alike, for never had such
a number been carried.
I can imagine that some Of the
things said to me this time were the
same as those said to my grand
parents three-quarters of a century
ago, for danger always brings us
back to a less pampered existence.
AS long as there was cooperation
between passengers and crew there
would be safety. There was water
for all, enough to last us for a trip
of twice the duration if need be, but
there was none to waste. There were
life boats for most and RATS for
others, according to international
requirements, and our drills were a
serious matter not attended by the
levity that generally prevails.
Shakespeare Ignored.
There were, of course, amusing and
touching incidents. When we were
all at our lifeboat stations, one
woman who suddenly remembered
her two dogs up in the kennels made
her husband leave to see what was
being done for them. When he re-
ported that nothing was provided
for their safety, she went into a
screaming rage. II knew it, I knew
it. II anything happens they'll just
let them drown" very much
wanted to tell her that ''let" or not,
the chances were that In an accident
about half OF us would drown, but
Evening star., 1940-10-27

three SaucerS were used. Into one
was placed gold ring. indicating
marriage: in another ashes, signi-
flying early death. and in the third
water, denoting single blesSedness.
The one whose fate was to be de-
termined in this way was blind
folded and turned around three
times before being permitted to
make choice. While this was 60
ing on. the positions of the saucers
were changed and then the person
thus hoodwinked was told to put
his or her hand into one Of the
saucers and the fate of the party
was revealed
Petticoat Spell.
One of the methods Of getting
advance information upon the fu-
ture-which, according to present
customs, and for obvious reasons
would not exactly fit in today-was
known as the petticoat spell, tried
as a means Of finding out who some
particular ladys husband was going
to be.
Upon going upstairs for the night
the inquisitive person recited this
verse:
Halloween night I 60 to bed;
I put my petticoat under my head
To dream of the living and not Of
the dead,
And dream of the one who I am to
we'd"
The maiden was then supposed to
advance toward the bureau and look
into the mirror. Then, after pre-
pairing to retire, she must walk to
the bed backward and snugly tuck
the garment under her pillow and
she was not to speak to any one
Evening star., 1940-10-27

Many Of my fellow passengers had
not been so favored. The ringing
of the doorbel might mean the
Gestapo-in the early morning it
surely did. There was not enough
bread of any color and the hum of
an airplane spelled destruction
rather than protection to them.
Yet they did not complain and they
did not tell about their experiences.
have been somewhat shocked by
the attitude Of my fellow country
men since my return. First, they
either persist in being awed by all
Of us who stayed in Europe after
the outbreak Of the war or else they
seem to have no understanding of
what q war means. Among the lat
ter are those who have so far con-
sidered this "phony" war. If
there ever were any "phony" as
poets to the international situation,
a thing I very much doubt. they
disappeared years ago with the re-
occupation of the Rhineland. That
certain groups of Americans have
not realized this proves that the axis
powers have some basis for their
estimate of us. I have had more
than one fight with Germans about
American inefnciency and stupidity.
Offer Horror Tales.
The seconf hooking attitude Is
that every one wants us to tell hor-
ror stories. r 1t is somewhat dis
concerting. 1t may connote one of
two things sadistic national dis
position or q childlike seeking for
vicarious thrills. They know there
aren't such things as ghosts any
way! Unfortunately, there are not
only ghosts but ghouls, and it be-
hooves us to talk little Of the hor-
rors. We have no energy to spare
on adolescent shivers.
To the ships crew goes much Of
the credit for our extremely quiet
voyage. Very little could be done
to entertain either children or
grownups because of lack of space.
Public rooms were curtained of and
made into dormitories. My sister
slept on Q sofa with her feet in an
armchair in one corner Of our cabin.
There were five Of US in the space
for three. However, what we lacked
in dances, pictures, horse races and
deck tennis We had MANIFOLD In the
dining room service.
Evening star., 1940-10-27

the boys on the outside, for their
games were always too rough for the
girls.
Apple Bobbing.
A very popular pastime at parties
was bobbing for apples. A wooden
tub was generally used for the pur.
pose. (Of course, this was in the
days before metallic, stationary
wash tubs were generally used and
when nearly every family used the
wash tub for bathing purposes, for
the Saturday night bath was then
looked upon as necessity, as was
the rain barrel, from which water
for bathing purposes was obtained)
However, the stems were taken from
the apple and pieces of wooden
toothpicks placed on either side.
Then the girls and the boys dived
for the apples-the advantage
always being in favor of the one
with the longest tongue. Some
times the girls would not take part
in this sport, because they were
afraid they would get their hair wet,
and some other diversion was Sc
lected.
An amusing trick was sometimes
played by the use of two plates. one
of which was smutted or marked on
the bottom and placed on a table
in a dark room. The other, clean
one. was placed on a table in a
room where there was a dim light.
This trick was usually played on
some boy or young man who wanted
his fortune told, and, to accomplish
what was intended, he was first
given a view of the maneuvers Of
the fortune-teller with the clean
plate and was then led into the
dark room to initiate the move
ments with the smutted one. When
he emerged into the light again he
was told to look into a mirror and
his fortune would be told, and it
was then that he realized that his
face was smutted all over.
Marriage Questions.
OF course, many of the amuse-
ments indulged in had to do with
the question as to who would be
married first, or if a person would
or would not be married at all. One
or both of the questions was fire.
quently answered by placing as
many names as desired in meal
balls, which were placed in a re-
ceptacle of water, and the name
that came to the surface first was
declared to be the fortunate one.
Sometimes added excitement was
produced when several names
started to come to the surface at
once, and the anxiety became more
intense until the race was ended.
A similar way Of finding out ones
life partner was by writing the
alphabet on a sheet Of paper and
Evening star., 1940-10-27

from the time she entered the room
until morning. Ard the next morn
ing, If the dream pleased her, she
probably told everybody, and if it
did not she undoubtedly kept it to
herself.
In an old book entitled "Ye True
Arte to Read Ye Future" is the
following: IF a maid would know
We name of We man she is to marry
let her on Allhallow even steal out
to a lime kiln and throw there
in clue of blue yarn, still holding
to We other end. Presently We end
on We kiln will be sharply pulled.
Then ye maid must say, Who
holds?' Whereupon We voice of her
future husband will pronounce his
name. both ye Christian and ye sur
name
The only trouble with this method
OF seeking information is to find a
lime kiln around Washington. Years
gone by. Edward Cooley had a lime
plant at Twenty-seventh and L
streets, and no doubt there were
others not far distant, but now 1t
might be like hunting for needle
in a haystack. Perhaps it would
be best to try some other way Of
getting the desired information.
View Of Future Mate.
Here is one from "Old Father
Times Bundle of Faggots Neatly
Bound Up" in which We are told
that an infallible means of getting
a view of your future husband or
wife is to 60 to bed on Halloween
with a glass of water, in which a
small silver Of wood has been placed,
standing on a table by your bed
side. In the night you will dream
Of falling from a bridge into a river