davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-12
WHAT BRITONS READ

WHAT BRlTONS READ
 WPA's library service made an interesting discovery in survey to ascertain what the people of war-strafed Britain are reading these days.
 One fact uncovered was that the long, dreary hours of blackout, with no outside recreation, have greatly revived interest in house. hold arts and handicraftS. Books on these subjects are at pre- minurn. Also, the classics are in heavy demand, with Shake speare, Chaucer, Dickens and Kip ling as the favorites.
 But the one subject in which Britons are most interested in the author of their affliction. The most widely-read book in England, according to the WPA survey, is Hitler's "Mein Kampf'.
 EXILED IN ISLANDS
 When two red hot New Dealers find themselves on a small island with two equally red hot Republi- cans, right after a stormy election, you have all the ingredients for thrilling murder mystery.
 It reall yhappened recently and, amazing as it sounds, there were no casualties, nor was it neces- sary even to call out the Coast Guard. The strangely assorted quartet included Jim Rowe, young
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-12
THE CARDINALS WORDS
(Boston Post)

We have read no more eloquent nor able utterance in the cause of peace than that of William, Car dinal O'Connell, upon his 81st birth day.
 In few calm and reasoned sen- tences, he put the whole question back where it should be. He asked in effect: Do we want war"
 The answer comes from every man and woman who has the inter- ests of America at heart. We do not want war here.
 From the mountain-t top, figura- lively, of his years, this brilliant and able churchman can well sur- vey the plains and wales of human: ity. Long experience has taught him the ways of men.
 Where could America find better counsel? Whose advice is superior to his And whose words, by and far, have been more patriotic?
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-12
Selected Poem
SANCTUARY IN RIvERTON

(Muriel Barrett Tanner in the Poets Column,
 Hartford Courant) glacial rock that rears full twenty feet. Above dimpled stream, is tied in place By twisted pine roots, coiling strong and fleet From a towering tree which tops the rocks gray
 face. Beneath the cliff, a irepit formed of stones. Where saffron toadstools spring through tangled
 ferns; Externally in bud, blue gentian loans Dark promise. The clear October sky discerns A rlisset forest where the pheasant runs Tn furtive arrogance. heron stands Upon shelving spar and, breeding. suns Tn somber silence The heron's fight commands An end to lonely license, dipped too deep Tn autumn beauty: harvest place to reap Warm memories and dreams for winter sleep
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-12

ment tankers should affect Hart ford county's increase so unevenly. The increase in New Britain 1as half cent; and in Bristol and Hartford, where the prices were half a cent lower than here, the increase has been full cent; thus bringing all the prices throughout the county approximately equal.
 As everyone knows, it makes no difference to individual gasoline sta tions what the retail price is so long as there is Q reasonable profit margin. This margin has been reduced from what it was in former years; and out of it and oil and sundry profits must come the money to pay for all the free services that the public has come to expect air, battery testing, and the like. Expenses have gone up in the gas business and income down. Yet there always seems a desire to open new gas stations!
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-12


 these: And they were the most de- nghtful.y inspiring, I dare say, and the best worth while." Then re- calling delightful days of travel in interesting parts of the world, Kate Douglas Wiggin concludes: But which of them can compare with one of the weariest days in my poor little Kindergarten in Silver street, if 1t ended in some moral triumph? Which of them ever gave the thrill which came from some mothers grateful handclasp?"
 We often think we should be hap py if we had less to do and plenty of money to spend in our leisure, but 1t is doubtful whether such conditions ever made single hu- man being happy. The real sat- isfactions of life come from meet ing the challenge of daily life and responding with energy and good cheer. Absence of responsibility re- laxes all inner powers and gives us a disquieting sense of restless ness and unsatisfaction.
 Whether we like our job or not. we have to admit. fl we are frank with ourselves. that our busiest days are generally our happiest. All Rights Reserved - Babson Newspaper Syndicate
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-12
Whats Your I. O.?

Can you answer seven of these test questions? Turn to page for the answers.
 l. How many persons constitute a pair of twins?
 2. What was the nickname of President William Henry Harrison? 3. By whom was he Aall. .ary Order of the Purple Heart founded? 4. Which State of the U. s. has the smallest population?
 5. Whose portrait is on the $10O United States paper money?
 6. Name the largest dam in the world?
 2. The word, f-e is used to wish joy or happiness to a person, as bride or a prospective mother? 8. What is the meaning of the telephone term P. B. X.?
 g. Name the notorious political group in New York in the 1860;s.
 10. Which New England States did Wendell Willkie carry in the recent Presidential election?
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-12
GAS WAR" ENDS?
(New Britain Herald)

The gasoline trade of New Britain, Hartford and Bristol has ended - or partially ended = the gasoline strife which began last spring and lasted throughout the summer.
 In the fall of 1889 the small in- creases were blamed on the war. It turned out later that the warning nations did not require American oil and the large quantities on hand had to be sold right in the U. &. after all, resulting in what we ex- perienced all summer - rock bottom prices, considering, the gas wars.
 The 1940 explanation doesn't seem to explain why the loss of govern
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-12
Questions
 and Answers

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED The Waterbury Democrat Service Bureau will answer for you free. any question of fact or infOrma- ti0n, not involving extensive re- search. Write your question clear ly, sign name and address, enc close three cent postage stamp. Medical or legal advice cannot be given. Address The Waterbury Democrats Washington Service Bureau, 1913 18th Street, Wash ington, D c.
 @. Are all aliens who are enlist ed in the U. s. Army required to become naturalized citizens?
 A. Yes; under an Act of Con- gress enacted in 1887.
 @. What. are the three major causes of fire in the United States?
 A. Carlessness on the part ot smokers; overloaded furnaces, stoves, furnace pipes, etc., and de- fective and overheated chimneys.
 @. Why did the United States abrogate its commercial treaty with Russia during the closing days of Taft'S administration?
 A. The dispute in regard to non- admission of American Jews into Russia, whose government had nev- CT officially abandoned the theory of perpetual allegiance, finally led to American abrogation of the Rus so-American commercial treaty of 1882 on January 1, 1913.
 @. Should "a person born in the United States be referred to as an American citizen if his parents were born in Ireland?
 A. Yes.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-12

uIlolng some way of enabling the human body to stand up unuder the terrihc c strains W hich modern high speed planes and aerial war; fare indict on airplane pilots.
 A health and medical commit tee has been set up under the de- fenSA connnniS.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-12
Daily Almanac

Moon sets 4:46 a. m.
 Sun rises 7:07 e. m: sets 4:24 D. m. All vehicles must be lighted thirty minutes after sunset.
 These are your short days Of the year. Daybreak Isn't apparent until e. m. or late pm the cloudy mornings. Dusk settles early and very quickly. We have barely nine hours of daylight each twenty-four hour span.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-12

AOU W1QC1 oIduu
 how any on e
 even in the days of y o u t h f u l strength, could
 have stood the strain of these years. TT h e y were the three years of my
 whole life," she writes, "the most wearying, the most h e a r t searching, t h c most discourag- ing" But her
 ~axrk xTyAnla Aao
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-12

@. What relation was President John Quincy Adams to President John Adams, and President Benja- min Harrison to President William Henry Harrison?
 A. John Adams was the father of John Quincy Adams; Benjamin Harrison 8 grandson of William Henry Harrison.
 o. Please state the weight of the shell and range of the new 155mm field gun used by the U. s. Army. A. The gun fires a 95-lb. shell approximately 26,000 yards.
 Q. When did Wallace Reid die and did he have a son?
 A. He died January IS, 1923, leaving his wife, Dorothy Daven- port; a son, William Wallace, and an adopted daughter, Betty
 Q. How high are the clouds from which rain falls?
 A. The height varies from time to time, especially from one season tO oAAONAACA1 1A9A HI AAACAC CAAv p1L to O4 the world. The usual height ranges from about kilometer to somewhat less than 2 kilometers, except in thunderstorm clouds, the tops of which may tower to several kilo- meters. A kilometer is about 0.6 of a mile.
 @. Where can 8 person get cen- sls reports for the county in which he lives?
 A. Bureau of the Census, De- partment of Commerce, Washing ton, D. c. tt
 If you want a copy of the book let CANDY MAKING" send to The Waterbury Democrats Wash ingtOn Bureau, 1913 Thirteenth Street, Washington, D. c. Enclose AAwn l.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-12

sion, with army, navy and Public Health Service experts co-operat- Ing. This committe studies routine problems connected with learning what sort of person is best fitted to De a pilot, and also is tackling sev- eral brand new riddles made acute by current war experiences,
 One of the most pressing of these IS the fact that fighting pilots now adayS are subject to the "bends"- that painful and crippling malady familiar to deep-sea divers, sand- hogs and others who work under high atmospheric pressures.
 WORK ON
 PRESSURE SUIT
 A modern fighting plane can climb several thousand feet in a minute The pilot who ascends rapidly from sea level to two or three miles alti- tude undergoes sudden change in pressures such as diver would en- colntc- :S he came up from great depths too rapidly.
 The army put Capt. Harry Arm strong to work on the problem at Wright Field. The navy called in its expert on deep-sea pressure problems, Lieut.. Commander Albert R. Behnke, and Dr. Ben Jones of the Public Health Service. It's tough nut to crack. The diver avoids the bends by coming up slowly, giving his system time to adjust itself to the decreasing pressure. An aviator climbing fast to get above an enemy bomb- CT can't wait Behnke had found that diver avoids lot of trouble ii oxygen is mixed with his air: but the diver still has to stop, halfway up, and taper off" = which, again, the aviator just can't do.
 Right now the experts are try ing to figure out some sort of pressure suit for the flyer. Trouble with that, so far, is that as the flyer climbs his suit blows up with the internal air pressure. If the fabric doesn't give, the thing gets so rigid the can can't bend his arms or legs. Present problem is to find some way of making a pressure suit with articulated jointS-which will probably leave the flyer looking like a man from Mars.
 FATIGUE ALSO
 BIG PROBLEM
 Centrifugal force is another queer problem. The ultra a-maneuverable modern plane gives the pilot bad beating in that respect. Practical effect of application of centrifugal force is to increase a mans weight. A good plane can withstand 14-G, as the experts put it-centrifugal force equivalent to increasing its weight IA times. The pilot can only stand 6-G. When pressure goes above that-as it can in sudden turn, abrupt climb, or what-not- the pilot blacks out.
 Even when the pressure isn't great enough to make him lose consciousness he's likely to feel tired, so that the effort of moving hand or a foot is almost too much for him.
 Plain, ordinary fatigue is still another puzzler. The combination of nerve strain, physical weari- ness and the fear and excitement of an aerial fight can do queer things to flyer. The British have noticed this especially. A pilot returns from raid over Germany. Fine clear night, smooth, we'll lighted airport waiting for him but he cracks up in landing.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-12
Washington Merry-G Go-Round
DREW PIE A R s O N
 ROBERT S. ALLEN

 of in Marsha large eFrnchar in
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-12

TODAY'S COMMON ERROR Do not say, T was so lonely all the time I was away; say,
 'fvery lonely"
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-12
STRENGTH FOR THE DAY By EARL L. DOUGLASS, D. D.
BUSY PEOPLE ARE HAPPIEsT

When Kate Douglas Wiggin was a young girl, she established a kindergarten in the slums of San Francisco. and in later years, recall ing these days, she said she could
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-12
National
 Spotlight
BY BRUCE CAPTION Waterbury Democrat Washington
 Correspondent

Washington, Dec. 12.-A. little noticed part of the defense pro- gram is being carried on by doctors who have been given the job of
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-12
A Thought for Today

And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though He bear long with them?-Luke 1S:7.
 Revenge at first, though sweet, bitter, ere long, back on itself recoils.-Milton.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-12

All Rights Reserved - Babson .Newspaper Syndicate
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-12

Copyright, 1940, by United Feature, Syndicate, Inc.)
The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1940-11-29
LABOR:
Hopes for Peace

Unity in the ranks of labor which
was outlined by President Roosevelt
as one of the hoped-for detectives
OF his third administration, seemed
little less nearer as the Congress of
Industrial Organizations met in con-
vention in Atlantic City and the
American Federation of Labor met
in New Orleans.
The A. F. of L., said President
William Green, was willing to dis
cuss peace terms anywhere, any
time and any place" But a c. l. o.
committee presented to the conven-
ton a statement of terms. These
terms approached closely what John
l.. Lewis, retiring president, previ-
ously outlined, and which had been
found beyond the basis of agreement
by the A. F. of L.
The {. l. o. asked first that all of
its unions, including many set up in
mass industries since the split, be
admitted to new Joint organiza-
ton intact. This presented two
problems. First was the claim of
certain craft unions Oike the mould
ers, for example) for jurisdiction in
some Of the mass industries Oike
the automobile plants, for example. }
Second, the A. F. of L. was believed
unwilling to accept certain small
"leftwing" G. l. o. unions.
The c. l. o. asked also that any
unity movement include an attempt
to bring into the national scope GER
tain Of the railroad brotherhoods.
several Of which now are independ-
ent of either national body.
President Roosevelt sent an an
peal to both conventions.
The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1940-11-29
BY Edward C. Wayne
WEEKLY NEWS ANALYSIS
Germany's Most Powerful Air Army
Is Now Being Used to Crush England;
Labor Peace in u. S. Is Not So Near;
First Draft Evaders Sent to Prison

EDITORS NoTE-wheL epinion.
-iReleased by Western Newspaper Union
The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1940-11-29
w dsnIngt0n DI8est
Rearmament Program to Cause
Farm Labor Shortage Problem
Lack of Migratory Workers Is Noted in Some States; Pro-
fessor Denounces 'Dsdan' for Politicians as
Real Threat to Democracy.
nan among settled families.

than among settled families.
Naturally. since these nomads be-
long to no community, no commu-
nifty can give them the help that
the needy ordinarily get. In some
localities, of course, private funds
have created facilities which inn
prove living conditions. It's a meas
ure of self-preservation as well as
charity and the Farm Security ad-
ministration has been trying for sew
eral years TO carry on similar work.
BY July Of last year government
facilities had been provided for
$4,000 families which brought their
temporary living conditions up to
normal standards Of health and de-
cency. 1t is planned to carry on
these projects to provide for about
1000 more families each year.
But it is still tough problem,
for the worker himself. the farmer
who needs his services, and the ma
ton which has to endure him.
Now industry steps into the picture
and offers more work for migrant
hands to do-which isn't so handy
for the farmer.
The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1940-11-29
DRAFT EVADERS:
Year and Day

Eight young men, students at I'm
ion Theological Seminary, stood be-
fore a federal judge in New York.
They were charged with refusing to
register under the selective service
act. They had refused to register
on October l6, along with 1900, 900
other young men. They said that
after thought and prayer they had
reached the conclusion "conscrip-
ton is part of the war system and
we cannot cooperate in any way"
Government officials, churchmen
and friends pleaded with them,
pointing out that under the act they
were twice exempt, as divinity stu
dents and as conscientious objec-
tors. They refused final chance.
Il have no other alternative but
to enforce the law" said Judge
Samuel Mandelbaum, and he SEN
fenced them to year and a day in
federal prisons. Deputy sheriffs led
the eight away to be fingerprinted
and photographed.
The action was a signal for other
arrests in all parts of the nation on
the same charge.
The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1940-11-29
Migrant Workers
More 'Choosy


farmers and ranchers have found
the migrants a lot more choosy.
When they don't get the money and
the housing conditions they want
they move on.
The migrant worker in the United
States is what might be called q
necessary evil, at least in one sense.
He's necessary all right, for har-
vests couldn't be brought in and
large-scale roadbuilding simply
couldn't be attempted IL il weren't
for him. And he's an evil, too, when
1t comes to size him and his rela-
tives up as members of the Amer
lean family-he's a pretty bedrag-
gled feather in the eagles cap.
The rattle-trap car, the packing
box and tin-can shanty-town, the
ditch camp and all that goes with
the migrant laborer is a sad COM
mentary on democracy
Strawberry shortcake, peaches and
cream, the lettuce and tomato salad
that is as much part of the city
meal as the knife and fork are taken
for granted as necessary luxuries
but II the rest of us didn't eat them.
half million families wouldn't eat
a. all. That's the estimate of the
Farm Security administration. Their
statisticians say 500, 900 families,
averaging three to a family mean
at least million and o half people,
pick up their beds and trek from
crop to crop, carrying a choice as
sortment OF disease and discomfort
with them-and leaving a little be-
hind each time they move.
Here is the record shown in q
study Of migratory labor made by
the Works Progress administration
for two years:
Two and half jobs a year: each
job lasting eight weeks; median net
earnings 500 in 1898, and sI24
in 1884"
Other studies show median annual
gross earnings for 1886 and 1897
ranging from 1854 TO S574-that only
accounts for the ones who got Jobs.
the rest Of course earn little more
than nothing. And somebody has
TO pay the bill.
The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1940-11-29
Politicians Frequently
Regarded 'Disdoinfuily

II the people and the politicians
can get together with any kind of a
disinterested motive il means that
democracy Is just SO much better off
The great difficulty in the path, T.
v. Smith, as former congressman
at-large from Illinois, says, Is the
fact that democracy Is government
by politicians for citizens who too
often regard them with disdain."
T. v. Smith had an interesting
adventure In politics. He was a pro-
lessor at the University of Chicago
who had served successfully In his
state legislature and might have had
more prominent career In con-
gress II more Of his colleagues had
known him better. He was well
liked and appreciated by few, but
simply not known to the many.
AS some of his admirers said, Mr..
Smith was not enough of a politi-
clan himself to stay in politics But
he was enough of one to have
learned about this "disdain" he
mentions. He calls it dangerous
disease.
Politicians" he believes, ARE
the secular priests Of our common
faith In one another. Either they
attend to our joint business or that
joint business gets neglected. II it
gets neglected, then democracy fails
from inefficiency."
Mr.. Smith has written a little 100
page book called 1.-THE Legislative
Way of Life" the fruit of his long
studies OF government enriched by
personal experiences in Springfield
and Washington. II Is particularly
timely because although written by
a Democrat its purpose is much
the same as the one suggested by
Mr.. Wilkes loyal opposition" in
that 1t attempts to bring the people
closer understanding of the "legis-
lative way" our way OF running a
government.
The author says he wants Ito leave
a heavy deposit Of fear OF any COM
peting way of life" and also ito
leave a deposit Of Joy from and faith
in the legislative enterprise" "Un-
less public matters are adjusted
legislatiVely," he says, "private
freedom disappears.
Understanding of our methods Ia
the answer, he believes. His book
will help that and it will entertain
and amuse as well as instruct.
An active, disinterested, sincere
opposition will, II II is to succeed,
do that, too. At least 1t will in.
struct, 1t will provide better under
standing on the part Of the people Of
the problems their representatives
In the government must solve.
The one question which think is
most often asked me is this: What
are the chances Of rebellion of the
German people against the Nazi re-
gime?
This is my answer:
We must remember the Nazis
have perfected the most efficient
counter-revolutionary machine in
history. Regardless Of how the peo-
pie may feel, they are virtually help
less.
But there is a report being read
by officials in Washington which con-
tains these observations:
There are two conditions under
which revolt might take place in
Germany: First, a series Of defeats
OF the German armies. Second, q
winter as bad as last year.
Revolt In Germany would be fol-
lowed, II not preceded, by revolt In
the occupied countries.
Conditions In Italy are very bad
The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1940-11-29

down in the mountains of Macedo-
MIA. There were hurried conferences
with Serro Suner, Spanish foreign
minister; King Boris of Bulgaria;
Premier Molotoff of Soviet Russia;
and various and assorted Balkan
politicos.
The formula being sought was
diplomatic thanking movement on the
Balkans which would give the OAR
danelles to the Axis. This would
require approval of Bulgaria for
German troop movement through
that country, and agreement by Tur-
key. Pressure by Russia on Turkey
was one of the keys. An attack on
Gibraltar at the same time would
complete the movement.