davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-04-18
Italy Verging On Collapse Mrs. Cecil Brown, Just Back From Rome, Says
 Country Is Now Occupied"
aggression pact.

$l.25. The butter ration IS one- fifth of Q pound 0 month. The wheat supply will be exhausted during April and the new crop will not come in until June. The blockade also has crippled many Italian war industries.
 2. Confidence in both Musso- lini and the King has disap- peared. Il Duce recently col- lapsed while making Q speech. He is reported to sleep in Q dif- ferent place every night, some
 times in the armored railroad car Hitler gave him. King Vic- tor Emmanuel spends most of his time with his stamp and coin collections.
 3. Anti-Fasclsts are increas- ing rapidly in numbers. Many welcome an opportunity to get into the army, feeling that this gives them the best chance to fight the Germans and to get their hands on arms and am munition.
 1. Increasing thousands would welcome a British rather than Q German victory, al- though they fear a successful British invasion might make Italy the next battlefield. British invasion might we'll be the sig nal for 0 general uprising.
 s. Popular hatred of Ger many has been increased by the fact that the Na2is now literal- ly control all of Italy through men in key positions and "Italy Is really just another occupied country"
 Mrs. Brown writes that there already have been incipient re- volts against Mussolini both from inside the Fascist party and among antl-Fascists, and reports Q ell-authenticated story of Q conspiracy last January among his Council of Ministers to do away with him bfeore the Ger mans arrived.
 Members of the council dis cussed the possibilities of tossing out MuSsollni," she states. "rhey feared the increaing German con- trol over Italy and Q plan was evolved to take over the govern ment. To do that Mussolini had to be put out of the way. Hav- ing decided on this step they drew lots and the Minister of Justice, Dino Grandi, was chosen to be the trigger man.
 "The council had stipulated that Marshal Graziani as head of the Italian army must be in Rome when Mussolini was killed and & new government set up. A definite time was set by the council for the assassination and Graziani notified but he didn't show up. The assassination was put off for Q week but during the delay Mussolini learned of the plot. In- stantly oil the ministers, including Grandi, were ordered up to the fighting fronts.
 Now there Is good reason to believe that when the Germans consolidate all of Italy under their control, Mussolini will be kept on as Q figurehead. He would then become the Italian QuiSling - Q puppet dictator"
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-04-18
MANCINI HOPES
 TO SET RECORD
Tax Collector Mails Part of 35,OO0 Bills; Early Pay-
 ments Mean Rebates

The office staff of Tax Collector Humbert F. Mangini was ready to receive early tax payments today, following the mailing of the first more than 35,000 tax bills yesterday. The first installment of taxes on real and personal property Is due May l, but if payment is not made during the month both first and sec- ond installments become due June 1.
 Last year the city had the largest tax collection percentage in its his- tory md the collection record was one of the best inthe country. Heavy taxpayers are expected to follow their own example of last year and make payments early, paying both installments in full. This entities them to substantial rebates.
 This years tax rate is 3l mills, reduction of a mill and Q half from the rate in effect @ year ago. The current budget estimates tax col- lection of $4.B56.956 during lo4l. $l70.300. 900,
 Tax Collector Mangini hopes to surpass last years record this year. If old age taxes are any criterion he will succeed for such payments this year have been greater than ever before.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-04-18
SODALITY STAGES
 MUSICAL COMEDY

A musical comedy. Red" White and Blue," was staged by the Chil- dren of Mary sodality of st. Thomas Church at the Waterbury Women's Club last night with . general pa- triotic theme running through the entire performance. The audience packed the hall and performers were applauded heartily.
 Cliff McHale has rehearsed the numbers for almost . month prior to last nights performance and the show was the seventh annual per- formance to be given by the sodai- ity.
 Anne McEvoy Keeley acted as master Of ceremonies which capacity sho has filled in previous years. The ssnd-men" were Dorothy Carney Dunn end Elaine Roberts.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-04-18
Williamsburg Ideal ' Destination For Trip
kirginas Historic City Beine Restored to Early Colo.
 nal SplendOr; Deligk AuI Route Outlined

jen to obliterate the last yestlge of the city of our fathers. But thanks to pr, Goodwin and John D. Rocke- feller, Jr, Williamsburg Is rapidly being transformed into its earlier grandeur, in order that the future might learn from the past.
 Waterbury motorists desirious Of visiting williamsburg during the and conveniently do SO by following present vacation season, may easily the scenic, nop-congestad motor route outlined, which enables them to travel to the South without cogn- ing in contact with the traffic Of, and avoid passing through, such large traffic centers es New York City, Jersey City, Newark, Trenton and Philadelphia. They should mos tor on Route U s. GA to the junc- ton with Route .. g. 202 near Woodbury, and then follow this late ter route to the Bear Mountain Bridge, Q mighty structure that was built for the sole purpose of furnish- ing travellers with an efficient and modern means of crossin gti1e Hud- son river, in comfort and withcNt delay. Situated as 1t is, in the very midst of the picturesque Highlands of the Hudson, many beautiful views may be had from it's deck.
 On September %, is40, the New York State Bridge Authority took over the operation of the Bear Mountain Bridge, and immediately effected drastic reductions in the toll rates, in order that more people might be able to enjoy the conveni- ences this scenic crossing makes pos- sible.
 From the Bridge travel to the traffic circle located in the north- eastern part of Bear Mountain (Harriman) State Park, which Is considered one of the finest public parks In the State of New York, of- fering almost every facility for the enjoyment of health building out door sport and recreation.
 Bear right around the traffic cir- cle and travel southward on Route U. s. POP, through beautiful scenes to West Haverstraw, site of the Je- shua Hett Smith Treason, house, wherein Major Andre the British Spy, and Benedict Arnold the trait- or conferred, and through Suffern and MorristoWn, @ renowned Revo- lutionary war center at which Wash- ington spent considerable time, into Sommerville, from which point Route U. 8. 202 follows Q splendid new concrete highway to Lambert vile and across the Delaware river into Pennsylvania. Continue on Route U. 8. 202 to West Chester, and southward from this place on Route 52 to Longwood.
 Journey from hongwood on Route U. 8. southward through Balti- more, the Monumental City", Q most interesting and historic city, through Washington, D. O., our Ma tional Capital, and through Fred ricksburg, visited by Captain John Smith. into Richmond. capital of the Confederacy during the war be. tween tho States.
 Drive from Richmond on Route U. S. SO southeastwardly into Williams burg, the objective and destination of this trip.
 Information concerning the Bear Mountain Bridge, also the Mid -Hud- son and Rip Van Wrinkle Bridges, may be obtained by writing to the State Editor of the Waterbury Dem- ocrat,
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-04-18
NORWECIANS FORM
 LOCAL COMMITTEE
Nora Fauchald to Sing at Benefit Lecture in Hart.
 ford April 2S

The Waterbury Branch of the, Norwegian Relief, Inc, national or ganization sponsoring Q relief 'lec- ture and entertainment at Bush- nell Memorial hall in Hartford Fri- day evening, April 26, has organized local committee to aid in the pro- gram. Featured for the evening will be 6 lecture by Carl J. Hambro, president of the Norwegian parlia. ment, who will speak on What This War Means"
 As part of the entertainment pro- gram which will follow the lecture, the local committee, headed by Con- rad Carlsrud, today announced that Miss Nora Fauchald of Watertown, Norwegian American soprano, will sing Q selection of folk songs, The Yale University 0lee club Is also scheduled to appear on the pro. gram.
 MT. Hambro, whose position in Norway placed him second in rank to the king, is author of one of the seasons best sellers, T Saw It Hap- pen, Tn Norway" His lecture will include much of the material which forms the background of his book, . vivid description of the German encroachment Into that country.
 Assisting MT. Carlsrud on the local committee are Rev. Y. Einar Kron of Zion Lutheran Church. secretary; Everett 0rahn, treasurer; Mrs. Con- rad Carlsrud, general chairman; Joseph Sundin. viee-president of the group; Mrs. John Henricksen. conn mittee; and Mrs. Brick Johnson and Mrs. George Morgan also on the committee.
 Tickets to the affair In Hartford may be obtained from MT. Carlsrud at l20 Clawes Terrace, or Rev. Kron at Zion Lutheran church. Inquiry may be made through committee members.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-04-18
Gen. PersElingO Defense Booklet
Urges Every American to Read "YOu Can Defend
 America"; Now Out

A streamlined total defense" plan for every American endorsed by General John J. Pershing Is on ilewsstands across the country. It is contained in the covers of 32- page, colorful, cartoon illustrated book called "You Can Defend Amer lea" Leaders of Labor and Nam agement have acclaimed 1t as Q practical program towerds national unity and the solution of industrial strife holding up the national de- fense effort. The first printing is one million copies.
 The veteran general of tho United States Armies who led the A. F. F, overseas during the last war has turned c spotlight on the need for civilian action to strengthen the nations inner lines of defense. He has broken precedent to write a forceful foreword to this book, urg- Ing every American to read It and And his part lin the home. in in- dustry, in every walk of life.'
 With characteristic vigor and di- rectness General Pershing writes: "Thts little book Is aptly titled, You Can Defend America No patriotic citizen can read 1t without feeling It's inspiration. None can fall fully to indorse It's ultimate objective the preservation of our precious heritage. It invokes the principles ot good citizenship and the spirit of '76 and of I7 in this new emerg- ency confronting our great democ- racy. How each of us can do his uart In the home, in industry, in every walk of lifo is indicated clear ly and forcefully. I commend It's message to every American"
 You Can Defend America" was prepared by citizen volunteers as a national service. in collaboration with Army and Navy officials and business and labor leaders. Indus trial organizations, unions and oth- or groups are sending copies. to their memberships. Readable in l2 minutes, the book is being sold for 10 cents on the newsstands by the American News company.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-04-18

New York, April l8-Italy today is just another Nasi-occupied country, facing starvation and on the verge of complete collapse, ac- cording to Mrs. Cecil Brown, wife of the Columbia Broadcastlng Sys- tem's Italian commentator, who has just returned from Rome to report her first-hand uncensored observation for Golfers.
 Mrs. Brown, who released her story the moment her husband was safely out of Italy, expelled for his attempts to give a true picture of the situation there, enumerates Ave reasons why the Italian peo- pie are ripe for revolt. They are:
 1. The British blockade is
 really working. Thousands are
 undernourished or starving.
 Fish costs $l75 a pound, veal
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-04-18

THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF "IN- sIDEsT Im the "OrdlnaPy" mattress springs are tied together, When 0ne gees dOwM others g0 down too, mak- ing "saE" support. BeautyreHt coils gre individually poeketed. Each one aefs INDEPENDENTLY. That's why evenly It gives DUOYANT support.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-02-08
When the Normal Is Notable

Some of our contemporaries seem to have gotten into quite state because a 28-year-old oil company employe joined the army the other day in New York, volunteering before his draft. time came His name happened to be Winthrop Rockefeller and he happened to be one of the heirs-apparent to one of the greatest fortunes in the country He did the same admirable thing that thousands of other young Americans are doing; step no less admirable because it was done on his part with less chance of sacrifice than in many other cases.
 The interesting thing about this was that anyone should think it remarkable. Is not young Rockefeller an American? Have we not decided that all eligible Americans should render military service to their country? There should be noth- ing remarkable about the fact that a singularly fortunate young American de- cided to accept, casually and good- humoredly, his plain duty. It would be bad day for the country if this perfectly normal thing should became regarded as a phenomenon
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-02-08
Highway Talk

On every side there is talk of great highway expansion in the interests ot national defense. This is old stuff. It has been going on now for years. We're bit skeptical that anything will come of it. It won't even hurry up the compile tion of the Wilbur L. Cross Parkway across Connecticut, which certainly would be an integral part of any such program. And the reason is that great highways, of the parkway type, just can't be hurried under our form of government. They require both planning and execution.
 The planning can't be done overnight. It must proceed in orderly fashion or else we'd find roads running every which way except the right one. Land has to be bought and this is no slight matter as our experience in laying out the Merritt Parkway has shown. True the actual construction work on a modern roadway has been immeasurably Speeded up through modern methods, but just so definite period of time.
 Connecticut would be very glad to CO., operate in highway expansion program as part of the national defense program, but contemplation of the same certainly should not detract our interest one bit from continuing to press work on the Cross Parkway, the new Connecticut River bridge at Hartford, the new Thames River bridge at New London, the moderniza- ton of the Naugatuck Valley route, and many other notable projects that are important to us both for national defense and for plain, everyday reasons of normal business occupation.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-02-08
War TeIevised

Much has been said about the fact that modern war depends on mechanics, on technology, on science, rather than on bare shock of fighting men clashing to- gether with arms in their hands. The ultimate in these revelations (thus far) ton that televiSion has now advanced to was reached the other day in the sugges- the point where general behind his front Tines can send plane across the fighting front and receive by radio at his head quarters a telephoto screen picture of exactly what is happening at that mo- ment on that front
 The possibility is breath-taking, in the light of history. All the campaigns lost for lack of proper intelligence, for lack of knowledge of what was really hap pening at the front, flash into view, and war begins to resolve itself from an art into science, from groping among un- knowns into problem from mutually known data, chess game with all the pieces in full view. And that may, in itself, be the end of the war.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-02-08

Sentiment seems to be crystallizing in Waterbury in favor of completion of a second pipeline from the city's municipal water supplies in Morris. This is quite a project and one whose ultimate benefits a great many citizens are not aware of. This is due to the fact that in discussing the proposed new pipe line every one starts to talk about how old the present pipeline is and what might happen if break should occur along it between the city and the Wigwam. If such an accident did happen there would not be an imme- diate cause for alarm, as the city could simply close off the pipe above the break and utilize the East Mountain and Pros pect reservoirs. But this could not con- tinue indefinitely and that's where the advantage of the second pipeline comes in. But there is another advantage, too, namely that of supplying better service to many sections of the city which now complain of low pressure.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-02-08
They Can't Do This to Us

To the millions of Americans, old and young, who have been brought up on at least one visit to New York City's Aquar- ium this is a sorroWful day. Park Com missioner Robert Moses of New York City has just announced that the famous old museum will be demolished to make way for a Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel. A new aquarium will be built in the New York Geological Park up in the Bronx. It's year or two away, but it's practically in- evitable that the Battery Place Aquarium is doomed.
 That's really too bad for the fortress like old structure is really landmark, a distinctive part of little old New York. It should be preserved if not to house countless collections of fish and other creatures of the deep seas then at least as a relic of the city's glorious past. For it has been linked with the city's develop ment down through century and half. Built as fort in 1907 it served many varied purposes. It was the predecessor of Ellis Island as receiving station for immigrants; then it was Castle Garden, where Jenny Lind thrilled thousands with her beautiful voice.
 The Aquarium was thrown open in it's present guise back in 1896 It proved popular WlCn ndClVeS ana VlSlIOrS rlSHG from the start. It is estimated that at least 2,500,000 persons have passed through it's doors every year since it's opening and certainly many of those were repeat visitors. In fact, children who vis- ited it at the beginning of the century have returned with their children and grand children. But city fathers claim it has outlived its usefulness And they may be right in that, for certainly the Aquarium never was intended to act as such.
 In Bronx Park we've no doubt mar velous aquarium can be built with better facilities for denizens, with better facili- ties for visitors. But it does seem shame to tear down the odd-shaped, grey struc- tlre down by the waterfront. It houses too many memories of a great city's growth and progress to be consigned to dust.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-02-08

Despite the fact that Waterbury has an over-abundance of water and could care for population two and three times our present one, it isn't physically pos sible to provide uniform service to every section of the city where water mains are laid This is due to the fact that water won't run up hill, but has to be forced up. A normal flow may be expected from pressure produced merely by the flow of water itself from source to point of consumption, but Waterbury's hills demand additional pressure which the city gives through pumping stations. But lying sections high on the hills. The second pipeline would take care of much of this problem, probably completely eliminate it.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-02-08
Cede Florida to Cuba?

No proposal has yet been introduced into the Cuban legislative chamber that President Batista be authorized to treat with Florida with view to it's annexation to Cuba But 1t would be in quite as good order as the proposal of Senator Smathers that President Roosevelt be authorized to negotiate with Cuba with view to 1t becoming a state of the United States.
 All the senator has said about Cuba dependence on the United States, eco- noimically and mllitarily, is true. But could we have been wrong all this time in believing that United States policy is the direct reverse Of those policies in Europe which proclaim that small weak countries must "co.ordinate' themselves with larger, more powerful nelghbors? The United States wants friends not depend. ente; It believes in independence not alone for itself, but for all who desire lt. And oil the history Of Cuba, ali the history
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-02-08
 'andAnswers

YOUR QUESTIONS ANsWEkED The Waterbury Democrat service Bureau win answer For yol tree' any question of fact CT tnSofnnA" tion, not involving extensive re search. Write your question caeak. Iy, slgn name and address. eM' close . three cent postage stamp. Medical or legal advice camnee pe given, Address The WatcrbuRy Democratis Washington eeEVIco Bureau, l013 18th Streek Wash" ingtOn, D. Q.
 e. What is the meaning of tho surname Hardness?
 A. It is a British surname de. rived from the Scandinavian, and means temple e-headland," or "head. land containing a heathen temple"
 @. How many miles of highways are in Alaska, and where can l purchase a map showing them?
 A. Road mileage is about 2,50O. The Alaska Road Commission, Jun eau, Alaska, publishes 8 large CWo- sheet road map, which they sell for $1.25.
 e. Is the consumption of dis tiled spirits in the United States increasing or decreasing?
 A. The total consumption for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1940, was 121, ,699, ,978 gallons compared with 106, SIT ,O24 gallons for the previous fiscal year.
 Q. What are the principal types of aircraft used by the U. s. Navy?
 A. Long-range patrol bombers, torpedo bombers, shipboard fighters, scout (dive) bombers, scout obser- vation planes, utility transports and trainers.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-02-08

the trip as chance to get little publicity and prestige for him. self.
 He got none of these. The Bri- tish spoiled his prestige and pub licity. And MT. Hoover spoiled his chances of getting support for France. Hoover even issued an official communique stating that "the sole purpose of these con- versations is the earnest, frank ex- change of views;" which made Laval out a complete liar. For only few hours before, Laval had said:
 ''If my sole purpose Or conn., ing to the United States was to improve relations between the United States and France, the trip would have been sv- perfiuous."
 That was exactly what the trip turned out to be completely superfluous, in fact, tragic.
 M. Laval departed not only mpty-handed, but reSentful over his treatment and bitter against the British. The only enjoyable part of his entire pilgrimage was a look at Manhattan from the Empire State building and the knowledge that his daughter, Jo- sette had the time or her life. (Later she married the nephew of Nick and Alice Longworth, the Count de Chambrun.)
 LAVAL BECOMES APPRAISER
 That trip marked a turning point in the life of Pierre Laval. From then on he preached the doctrine that France could not depend upon her one-time allies America and Britain; must patch up an understanding with her nearest neighbors, Italy and Germany. To this end he went to Italy in 1885 and negotiated a compromise by which Italy took over Ethiopia and parts of French Somaliland.
 For this he was bitterly de- nounced not only by the League of Nations and Anthony Eden but by his own people. For a time he was relegated to the back ground. But since then, when ever the French have found them