davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Milford chronicle., 1941-05-02
Burning Up The woods

1t used to be said OF a young
man If he was not very bright,
that he would never set the river
afire. There are plenty of people
who manage to set the woods
afire. and without effort on their
part either.
From many localities comes the
news of forest fires. In some
sections they seem to occur on
rather large scale every year. Per-
haps some of these fires start
from sparks coming from locomo-
tive engines, but probably most
of them come from the careless
ness of people who throw away
burning cigarettes or from people
who start fires in the woods and
fail to drown out every spark.
1t takes so to 100 years to grow
a forest, yet some careless person
who fails to exercise his brains
can burn them up in a day. If
persons can't handle fire better,
they should remain on city walks
where at least they won't set the
concrete ablaze.
Milford chronicle., 1941-05-02

Newspaper Influence

Some people get the idea from
the way elections go that the
newspapers are no longer the in
fluence they once were. The
Eastern Psychological Association
meeting at New York was recently
informed by an expert after
thorough investigation, that news
paper reading forms the most
powerful of all the influences af-
fecting peoples opinions.
One reason is that people read
newspapers in hours when they
are at leisure, so their ideas and
facts have a chance to sink in.
Also newspapers present facts and
opinions SO intelligently and care
fully that any reasonable person
can't help attaching weight to
their statements and views. The,
newspapers are the leading guide-
posts along the road to knowledge
and wise action.
Milford chronicle., 1941-05-02
The Mechanized Army

The German blitzgrieg seems to
succeed wherever it goes, because
of the tremendous power of its
armored cars or tanks, and the
enormous force of diving airplanes
overhead. Those heavily armored
cars have gone through allied
lines like a battery of cannon
against natives armed with spears
and shotguns. Whenever a new
weapon is devised, it is not long
before some counter weapon is
produced that will offset the new
menace. 1t will be so with these
German tanks.
Some day the people who do not
wish to let the Nazis rule the
world will be provided with guns
powerful enough to shoot those
tanks full of holes, or explode
them into little pieces. The Ger
mans got ahead a long way by
spending six years in preparing
for war, before the rest of the
world woke up. 1t is hard to catch
up with a six years start. How
ever, America is pretty well woke
up, and it will be more 50 before
this war ends.
Milford chronicle., 1941-05-02
Greek-British Heroism

While the Nazis are gloating in
unholy glee over the victory they
have achieved in Greece. it should
not be assumed that Britain is
beaten or anything like it. The
British have had an army of per-
haps $4,000 in Greece, contending
with forces which may have been
six to 10 times that number.
The Greeks had before the war
an army, plus reserves, of 600,-
900 men, but a good part of them
we're out Of action owing to the
prolonged war with Italy. The
allies were fighting against vastly
superior forces,- and the Nazis
were far better armed with tanks,
airplanes, etc.
That these allies have been able,
to stand up, and many of them
die like heroes, in the face of this
force superior in numbers and far
better equipped, indicates that
when these armies come to grips
on even terms, the Nazis will not
be the winners.
Milford chronicle., 1941-05-02
Figure This One Out

Anironical paradox was created
by the selective service law, and
our other defense measures. They
provide for protection against ag-
gression by the ism" nations. Yet,
strangely, we condone an expand
ing ism" within our own borders.
The Federal government, long
before the palpable excuse Of de-
Tense came into being. adopted a
definite policy of promoting social
ization Of the privately-owned,
publjcly-regulated electric utility
industry. 1t backed this policy with
propaganda and cash. Huge hydro
electric projects sprang up over
the country from the Eastern Sea-
board to the Pacific Coast, from
Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. APP
preparations for construction of
lams and hydro-electric plants
were granted under the euphoni-
GUS labels of navigation, flood con-
troll, irrigation, etc. The subsidiz-
ed "by-products" of these projects,
electricity, has resulted in the
forced sale of many private cleo
trio companies. Citizens who had
invested their savings in one of the
country's soundest industries, have
lost millions, thanks to the "sell
or die" tactics used by their own
government in eliminating the pri-
vate companies. And the end is
not yet.
The promoters of this program
never use the word socialism. They
condemn the propaganda" of pri-
vate utilities that still have the
temerity to fight for their lives and
let the public in on what is hap
pening, before it is too late. The
utility industry quantity believes
that If it is to be socialized, with
all that implies to the future of
our country, 1t should be done with
Milford chronicle., 1941-05-02
Spring Fever

The coming of the spring time
should fill people with a new
energy, so that they long to per-
form great stunts of work. Many
of them do, and the sweat rolls
off their faces as they spade up
the garden, or tramp many miles
in pursuit of the little golf pill.
Some folks say they feel tired
and languid, and can't seem to
work on these bright and lovely
days. They say they have spring
fever.
The human mind and body
seem to get tired of doing the
same things over and over again.
After they have traversed the
same old distance to their job,
after they have hung up their
coats on the same old pegs, and
gone through the same old motions
of selling goods or tending
machine, the human spirit cries
out for some kind of a change. 1t
gets tired of the same old rut, it
says it feels like old Dobbin and
wants to get out in the open
pasture and kick up its heels.
Probably spring fever is in part
the result of living and working
in closed houses. You never hear
of any farmer getting spring
fever. The moment it is warm
enough to plough his fields, he is
out there with his usual energetic
steps, and astonishing the neigh
bors by the amount of ground he
can cover in a day. The life Civ
ing airs of heaven fill him full
of pep.
Probably we can avoid spring
fever by special care to take out
door exercise every day. The
housewife may say that after she
has taken 5000 or 10000 steps
around the house each day, she
has no energy left to go out and
walk around the town. Perhaps
the answer to that is that it is
the men who complain of spring
fever more than the women. Any
way if the men feel tired and
Ianguid on a warm spring day,
perhaps the trouble was that all
winter they rode a short distance
to their jobs, instead of walking
at least one way.
Milford chronicle., 1941-05-02
What Depression Did To
Teeth

Many men are being rejected
for army service because of bad
teeth: The depression is said to
have been a leading cause for such
reflections. When they or their
parents wanted to save money.
they just said they could go with
out teeth care. So the little decay
became the big cavity, and by and
by the youth had lost some vital
teeth which affects his power to
assimilate his food.
If the boys teeth can't grind up
his eats so they will be converted
into solid bone and muscle, his
physical outlook is not so good.
Poor teeth will not merely unfit
him as a possible soldier, but will
be handicap to him every day as
he fights the battles Of life.
Milford chronicle., 1941-05-02
Worry Over The War

Many people are emotionally
stirred BY. the war. and some of
them say they can't sleep nights.
They feel mortified 70 think that
the Nazfs are able 10 Opertnit most
of Europe and fhseateh nations
outside that continent Many sof
them are concerned for fear their
boys win have to sail over the
ocean. and find a last resting place
under the grassy Gods of Europe.
Our people shouid try to get
their minds away from the dark
sides of that picture. Not mahy
people feel that anything would be
gained by sending an army to
Europe. That was tried once, and
the results were. not encouraging.
Generous help, viii be given Eng
land, but extended in quite diff
ferent ways. h@s
The. American penple., have :, a
perfectly marvellous industrial
power. 1t is going to fight for
freedom and liberty without send
ing any army to die on the blood
soaked fields of Europe. About
year from now that industrial
power should be a deciding factor
in those never ending wars.
Milford chronicle., 1941-05-02
No Chance To Talk

The newspaper humorist has a
crack about the man who was
asked about the words he had
had with his wife. He replied
that he still had his words, but
he never got chance to use them.
Married couples frequently in
clude one who has a very voluble
gift of talk, and who is never at
a loss for words. The mate may
have plenty of thoughts, but be
unable to think quickly enough
so they can be stated in words.
The slow talker thus always
seems to be put in the wrong, but
he or she does plenty of thinking,
If that power of talk is bottled
up too closely, there may be a
grand explosion some day. 1t does
not pay for husbands and wives
to argue. No one is usually con-
vinced, and the tragic end of many
of these arguments is the verdict
of divorce.
Milford chronicle., 1941-05-02
Talk and Action

There is tremendous lot Of
talk about pushing towns ahead,
but not enough action to accom-
plish progressive movements. Peo-
pie keep saying that this or that
thing should be done in their home
town. but they too rarely go to
work to accomplish these desirable
things.
There is a general tendency to
Let George do it," to let someone
else do all the work. What is
everybody's business is nobody's
business. People should be SO full
of interest in propositions that
would improve their home towns
that they will be willing to work
in organizations and on commit
tees that really try to get these
things done.
Milford chronicle., 1941-05-02
Superior Work

People win out in business by
creating superior products. Towns
also win out when the products
they turn out are superior. Any
one who can do something better
than his competitors attracts at
tention, and people will make a
special effort and pay more money
to get that product.
Ralph Waldo Emerson said that
if man will make better mouse
trap, the world will make path to
his door, even IL he lives in the
woods. 1t is so in everything. In
stead Of finding fault at your bad
luck and failure to get anywhere,
try to do things better than they
have been done, and the world will
buy your product.
Milford chronicle., 1941-05-02
Destitute Families Move

Not long ago a multitude of
destitute families were flooking
into California and elsewhere.
hoping to find better times. The
majority were probably no better
off after having made the move.
Now many such families are rush
ing to the cities where defense
working is going on.
Some of these families are a
pitiful sight, as they crowd into
ancient automobiles, and travel
hopefully on to the next place.
How some of them get food enough
to live on and gasoline enough
to move on, or how their children
can thrive under such conditions,
is a kind Of mystery. In view of
the reported need for greater farm
production to feed the countries
that are struggling against ag-.
gressors, probably many will find
work this summer as farm hands.
Milford chronicle., 1941-05-02
Milford, Friday, May s;iis4l
4iTupl .8n0it "a
Uncle Sans CallsAnswered

The statement was recently
printed that of all the millions
of men required to register for
military service last October, only
one Of each 100000 has so far been
convicted of draft evasion. Per-
haps quite a number more will
be similarly convicted after their
cases have been finished, but it
is remarkable that there has been
so little disposition to avoid this
requirement.
Probably most of those who re-
fused to register did SO because
of conscientious objections to
making war. ThAssi1hahS were of
a high type of charactersaT some
men the thought ofhotakihg life
under any circumstances seems
absolutely abhorrent. Their friends
regret their attitude, buto.they are
capable of becoming highly use
full citizens if not forced to engage
in actual fighting.
Meanwhile the vast majority of
American men waiksdrrap to the
registration offices and, are ready
for anything. Adolf Hitley says
democracy is inefficient, but if he
should come up against a body of
these men who have willingly
accepted the obligation fight
for their country, her plight form
different views. A free man will
fight better than a iaave. -4'he man
who has had a cHAHcef to learn
what is going on t. in the world
is likely to fight with more in
telligence than one whose mind
is filled with the bunk of a
styrannical government.
So the work of organizing a
great and mighty army is pro-
ceeding. Silently and reasonably
the young men have taken on this
duty, and are acting in way of
which the country is proud. They
are putting into it the brains they
develeps ins american schools, and
the force and enthusiasm which
they acquire on tn efootball and
baseball fields. Mr.. Hitler will
not probably want to take them
on as antagonists.
Milford chronicle., 1941-05-02
Running Down The Home
Town

The progress of many towns has
been halted and delayed because
so many of their people seemed to
take pleasure in running down the
home town. They would speak
slightingly of its advantages and
the character of its people, as If
it seemed to stamp them as per-
sons of superior intelligence and
insight to show that they found
their home towns SO far below
standard.
People who take that attitude do
not prove themselves superior. A
better way to prove that they are
superior is to show a superior
willingness to work for the public
benefit. The carping spirit stiles
the fire of enthusiasm and chills en-
ergy and hope for progress. Let us
hope there are no such folks in
Milford.
Milford chronicle., 1941-05-02
Republicans Aren't Sure

The Republican National Com
mittee staged a harmony session
in Washington at which Joseph w.
Martin, Massachusetts editor and
Congressman, yielded to the pres
sure that he remain Chairman of
the Committee. On the same day
Wendell Willkie was being cheered
as world hero in Toronto, be-
cause. Of his belief that the United
States should give every ship,
and more than every ship that is
Milford chronicle., 1941-05-02
The Bad Tax News

The average citizen who is sub
ject to a federal income tax prob
ably called it bad new when he
read about the proposition in
congress to raise new revenue
amounting to $S,5OOO,OO0,OpO. II
was pointed out as one instance
that a person who now pays a
federal income ta9'sg $31, will
have to pay si52 * tbs. .hsw law
goes through.
Such a plan I thighb /be con-
sidered good news. inIthae it.shows
at least a disposition on the part
of the American peqpIe sito pay
their bills. For the. IaAt 10 years
the favorite idea has been that
the government { eheuld1 borrow
vast sums of rnoney, Af1stno use
to blame this policy eff} on the
government. Vc~
The policy of heavys- borrowing
was adopted because it was popu-
lar. The people Hhavf an easy
going feeling thai iESwtll<be more
convenient to pay government
bills at some future time than
at the present. They have been
warned that day of reckoning
would come, but they did not seem
to believe it.
A man may say it will be easier
for him to pay his personal bills
five years from now than it is to
pay them now. He rarely figures
on the many new calls for money
that may come upon him. He does
not consider that he may be under
heavy expense for sickness or
accident, or many more misfor-
tunes. He just assumes that
everything will be lovely, and
some good fortunesaWill it
easy for him to pay at at II the distant
s ua'e' tiHHS
= So the American people have
felt for the past 10 years as they
have encouraged the government
to keep borrowing and borrowing.
They did not Seem TO figure that
war peril might come up that
would require perfeeti eHormous
expenditure. Back ID f,Ss1sSO the
federal debt was reduced almost
to $16,OOO,OOO,OOO, while now it
may be nearly up to $47,OOO,OOO,e 900.
If the people had been willing to
pay their bills as thexSegtsaiong
they would not have to pay such
heavy taxes now. -.s-.--.-s... .....
Milford chronicle., 1941-05-02
Training For Marriage

Social workers complain that
people are carefully trained to
earn their living. but there is very
little training for marriage, out
side of courses in a few colleges,
and perhaps a few in lower
schools. Yet it is as necessary
for people to be successful as hus-
bands and wives as to know how
to work on some job. FT<Fi
When young people become old
enough to be fascinated by sex,
they should be given a clear idea
of what marriage means. Anyone
who enters that state determined
to have his or her own way is
usually headed for a smash. If
the intending brides and grooms
can't get over that idea, they
would better call the wedding off
and send the guests home.
Milford chronicle., 1941-05-02

free and unnecessary, give ships
until it hurts, keep them going and
victory then is sure"
The fact is, Wfllkie is so many
jumps ahead of the old established
leadership of his party, that began
with Abraham Lincoln as Presi-
dent, that the National Committee
skipped enumerating its policies.
Silence seems to be golden in these
days when no one knows for GER
tain whether Willkie will continue
to boom as a leader, or blow up.
That's a genuine puzzle in Wash
ington political circles today. But
the politicians all know that, right
or wrong, Willkie is popular hero
at the present time.
Milford chronicle., 1941-05-02

the full knowledge and consent Of
the publicl
The paradox Of spending mil
lions to establish socialism at
home, while at the same time spen-
ding billions to defend ourselves
Milford chronicle., 1941-05-02

again an alien brand Of the same
article, does not make sense. A
people who are giving the best
that is in them to defend what they
feel is their way of life. deserve a
better break.
Milford chronicle., 1941-05-02

IF YOU DON'T do well in your
home town, perhaps you have not
given it enough service and CO.
operation so people realize what
you can do.
Milford chronicle., 1941-05-02

YOU HAVE TO SHOW goods in
order to sell them, but 1t is difficult
to persuade people to come and
look at them unless you advertise.
Milford chronicle., 1941-05-02
--oLLT

DON'T BITE the hand ItPat feeds
you. The home town feeds you all
kinds of good service, and there
fore it should not be bitten by un-
friendly knocking.
Milford chronicle., 1941-05-02

q you CAN TELL whether a town
is prosperous or not, by looking
at it's newspaper, and seeing if its
merchants advertise in an enter
prising way.
Evening star., 1941-12-28
Amateur Busketers

Regal ClOIllerS DaSkeG Ddu team
won Just about everything in sight
in top amateur competition. 1t
captured the Heurich League title
by defeating Adam Hats, 53-45, in a
playoff. and repeated over the same
team, 1896, to capture the A. A. U.
title.
Only title the Clothiers didn't win
was in the Middle Atlantic tourna-
ment here, but they covered them
selves with glory even though topped
in the finals by the Ohrbach team
from New York, 1924, in a duel re-
garded as the best basket ball game
professional. collegiate, scholastic
or amateur-played in Washington
during the year.
Treasury repeated as women's
champion in the A. A. U. tourney,
with the 145-pound title going to
Central Branch Boys Club.
Winners in the Boys Club of
Washington annual Christmas week
tournament were: 135-pound class,
Merrick Boys Club: 100 pounds,
Alexandria Boys Club: los pounds,
Georgetown Boys Club, and 90
pounds, Central Boys Club. In reg
ular Boys Club of Washington
League play, winners were: 135
pounds, Merrick Boys Club; los
pounds, Central Branch, and 80
pounds, Central Branch.
In other important amateur loops,
United Typewriters won the Recrea-
ton League championship over 1o4
teams in a long season that didn't
end until mid-April. and Mount
Vernon M. E. Church took the Y
M. c. A. Sunday School League
title.
Evening star., 1941-12-28
Budminton

The local reign of the Joel Bakers,
who owned outright or shared every
District badminton title in 1910, was
sliced in half in Al, but only be-
cause Mrs. Baker retired from active
competition. Her husband, though,
carried retaining his singles
crown, winning the mems doubles
with Louis Mackall and the mixed
doubles title with Polly Thompson.
Charlotte Decker, one of Wash
ington's better tennis players, sue
ceeded Kay Baker as the women's
singles champion and, with Miss
Thompson, captured the doubles
title.
Once again, the District Badmin-
ton Association held an open tour
nament in which ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ing players came to Washington and
carried all five titles at stake away
with them. The tournament was held
in the Kensington National Guard
Armory, center for most of the Dis
trict's activity in the sport.
Evening star., 1941-12-28
Capital Keeps p With SPORTS Parade This Year. Despite War Work Pressure
Georgetown Leads CoIIegions,
But Teams Lag Collectively

grid stan as backfield coach and
gave Kermit Gu Zu) Stewart
charge of freshmen.
George Washington's record was
best in basket ball, showing 18 vic
tories against four defeats, but
Georgetown took the edge Of it by
whipping the Colonials twice. The
Hoyas finished with q mark Of 16
victories in 20 games and their
second decision over G. w. blasted
the latter's hopes Of an invitation to
the sports writer's tournament at
New York.
American University enjoyed q
good season. Galaudet's was fair.
Catholic U. experienced the worst
season IN history. losing every
game, and Maryland was little bet
ter. The Terps were saved from
similar humiliation by winning over
Washington College in their final
game
Catholic University led the field in
boxing, winning five matches, losing
one and tying one. Maryland,
which produced the Southern Con-
ference hght-heavyweight cham
pion in Herb Gunther, won three,
lost three and tied one. Columbus
won, lost and broke even in three
matches.
Georgetown's nine dominated the
field In baseball. winning IL of IT
games. George Washington's record
was next brightest, 10 victories and
losses. Maryland dropped 16
games in 26 and American U. won
four out of II.
Al BloMs Of Georgetown continued
his record-blasting hot-putting In
the indoor track season. Blogis
hung up new I. G. "A records in
both indoor and outdoor champion
ship meets. Catholic University
staged its most attractive indoor
games In recent years.
Tommy Fields of Maryland won
the Southern Conference mile and
Emile indoor championships and
Gene Ochsenreiter added the 880-
yard outdoor crown. Catholic Uni
versity's trackmen accounted fol
their third consecutive Mason-Dixon
Conference championship, while
Gallaudet and American u, handi.
capped by small squads, were last
and next to last, respectively.
Maryland, coming up with sur
prisingly strong team, climaxed ar
exciting lacrosse season by bowine
to Johns Hopkins, 1913, at Balti'
more in the championship battle
Their victory gave the Blue Jay
undisputed right to the nationa
collegiate title.