davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-23
A Thought for Today
Planes Over Connecticut

There was plenty of excitement throughout the state Tuesday for Con ,necticut was expecting an attack py "hostile" airplanes. The purpose was to fest out observation posts that have been set up all over New England and which in the event of war and invasion or our country would be manned by grlm- visaoed men and women intent on Warn- ing army centers of the first sign ot an enemy plane Tuesdays performance was, of course, child's play compared to what actually would take place Ill the event of tragic war.
 But the men and women would be the same flesh-and-blood creatures. They would peer through the same far-seelng eyes: would shrill the same reports over the telephone. But should enemy planes descend on New England we shudder to think what could easily happen. It might not and perhaps never will. But these are very trying times through which we. now proceed so blithely and unconcern- edly. No one of us really knows what the next day will bring. Are we prepared for the very worst?
 At times like these we cannot help but pray that God will guide our rulers wisely through the difficulties of sane govern ment. We cannot nelp put pray IlldI we may not be forced into an unjust war ot aggression, but may only be forced to de- fend our lives and our liberties against the aggression of foreignisms, How few of us know the fury and devastation ot the bomb What horror and fear would be ours should these missiles of death and destruction fall suddenly in our midst!
 For all this there is further prepara- ton than the physical one of national defense. Men and women must fortlty themselves with those spiritual values which come only with the knowledge that they are leading good, Christian lives. If they are, they will not want for the physical courage that accompanies the hardy soul at all times.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-23
Much To Be Done

Should Waterbury's officials approve the plan to have a bill introduced in the Legislature allowing the city to issue $2 100000 in capital improvement bonds, impetus will be given to many projects which have renamed in nebulous stage for long time now. Of course you really can't say that second pipe line from our municipal reservoirs ur in the Morris hills is something nebulous. As a matter of fact substantial beginning on a second pipe line has been made. But there remains still sizeable project and an expensive one.
 Laying a second pipe line from the reservoirs to this city to supplement the ancient one that has been giving such fine service for many years now is more than national defense move. It is some thing that has been contemplated for years and which now is virtually neces- Sity. We hate to think of the discomfort and actual want that might occur here in Waterbury if anything were to happen to interrupt water service through the existing pipe line from the WigWam. And while this might never happen in life time, if it should what could be done to make up for anything dire that occurred.
 Waterbury, too, must keep pace with the rest of the state and country in ad- vancing it's sewage disposal system. We have long realized that pollution of the Naugatuck River must cease. We have also realized that to do this the city must , be prepared to amplify it's existing sewer lines by trunk lines and by disposal plant to neutralize wastes Completion of the project that has been very well taken care of through the years of de- pression is now imperative.
 Both these and more civic improve ments will be taken care of through such a program of bond outlay as city fathers now are discussing. Legislative approval of such program will hardly be withheld unless circumstances are such in the next few months as to cause a general cessa- tion of all such municipal work.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-23

There will be no "obstructionist" tao tics by Republican members of the House
 during the current legislative session, according to Representative Hugh M.
 Alcorn, Jr., who is Speaker of the House. That's what he told Norwalk Republican women the other night in the course of remarks to them. Another thing he men toned was the fact that the Democratic platform did not contemplate any national defense legislation for this state. Re- publicans won't be any different from Democrats in fighting for and supporting laws that will put this state on war time basis if it is believed necessary to take such steps. And certainly Governor Robert A. Hurley after his visit to Wash ington for the presidential inauguration is prepared to see his own state as fully prepared for any emergency as is physi- cally possible. Connecticut will not be caught unawares through any political failings this spring.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-23
Calling the Role

Smith, Lewis, Salvaggio, Feldman, Gottlieb Murphy, Botticelli, Singer, Gins berg, Marks, Melendez, Carlson, Mac InniS, Coyle, Cooke, Kazarian, Walsh, Cangialosi, Markham. You could almost sinb thase names, and they are a song, too, in way They are names from a list of New York men recently inducted into the military services, men whose names reveal their origins in many lands and far places, yet marching to the de- fense of the United tSates that has be- come their land.
 The very variety in those names is something to glory in, something that has always been a mountain of strength, a never-exhauSted spring of power. A list of the dead who lie in Argonne Forest would read just like that. The United States is proud of it's polyglot people, proud that here men of many bloods, lands, religions and races are united in a mightier bond than any of these r they are all Americans.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-23
Putting the Bad in Badminton

Already those sacrifices we have been told must be made on account of the war in Europe are beginning to sit up and make faces at us. It seems that it's get ting difficult to procure the shuttlecocks (corks with feathers stuck in 'em) that are batted about in the game of badmin- ton.
 American goose quills aren't tough enough, it seems, and the really tough ones which used to come, appropriately enough, from Greece, can't get through war zones Now is the time for all good geese to get tough for the sake of bad hinton But if they can't make the grade, the quills of the American eagle are still plenty tough enough for even faster games.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-23
A Good Trick If They Do It

Vienna will henceforth be the worlds fashion center instead of Paris German authorities have so announced, the Com merce Department hears. Just like that.
 We presume to doubt that it will be that easy. The factors which made Paris a fashion center were many and various, but one of the most important certainly was that over scores of years Paris gradu- ally became one of the most civilized cities in the world. Prestige of the kind achieved, not decreed It is built on com plicated foundations, not all of them sound, few of them rotten, but it is built, not decreed.
 The Western Hemisphere turned to Parish for fashion, but it will never turn ac Vienna. For one reason, while the Ger man authorities decree, New York is al- ready achieving.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-23

forgetting his lines (which he did do after alb. Chaplin nervously rehearsing his concluding speech from 'The Great Dictator" .. Ethel Barrymore, whose beautiful, resonant voice was the only one of the many appearing before the elite of Washington which did not need the amplifier Raymond Massey of "Abe Lincoln in Illi- nOis' chatting with the John Roosevelts .. Jimmy Roosevelt, very thin, wearing glasses that made him look like Mahatma Gandhi Argentine Ambassa- dor Felipe Espil, the only man who ever broke the heart of the Duchess of Windsor, looking more debonair than ever .. . <. Gen. evieve Tabouis, great French pa- triot and former confidante of Premeir Herriot, rejoicing that the United States is one place which can hold an election and inaugurate a president .... Corn fed Vice President Wallace look ing a bit glum over the prospect of being the lion of Washington society. Harlan Miller, one- time Washington columnist, tell ing friends how much better Des Moines is than Washington-and with genuine conviction .. The daughter of Congressman Ham Fish, most beautiful of the Wash
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-23
In Today's Mail

spent year abroad in first hand study of old World strife says in one of his talks. since his return from Europe Our Entrance into conflict will bring Tragedy and Chaos" and fears National Suicide for the U. s. A. He calls the w. A. White Committee the Mass Murder Com mittee because its concern is pri- marily to involve us in war for Great Britain.
 Addressing a huge rally of the Holy Name Societies of the Lafay- cite deanery, in Memorial Hall at Purdue University Dr. OBrien call- ed for a Million telegrams urging President Roosevelt and Congress not to abandon hope by bringing about negotiated peace in Europe and not to repeat this Country'S tragic mistake of 1917"
 He saiG "Let us Egcb:,;Ge the ,s.,. lions Of our members in A Mighty Crusade to Keep America cat of War, and out of all the steps which lead to War"
 Let members of our organization from coast to coast send a deluge of a million telegrams to the Pres ident and Congress begging them in the gentle name of the Prince of Peace not to repeat the tragic mis- take of 1917 and send millions of boys to slaughter on the battle fields of Europe.
 "Let us entreat our governmental officials not to make the mistake of saying that the day of reconciliation, of negotiated peace between Eur opean nation, is Past"
 'Unless we implement our pray
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-23

Waterbury should feel rather good about it's 1941 tax rate after seeing what Hartford is going to have, The Board of Aldermen up there have adopted bud get for the 1941-42 fiscal year calling for tax rate of 2975 mills which is one-half mill more than it was for the current year. While this isn't as high as Waterburys, there is solace in the fact that HartfOrdS is going up, while ours is going down. And what's more to the point Waterbury is end ing it's year with an actual balance. All of which is encouraging to us here. We nancial problems will be frightened much more than they are today
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-23
It's a Two-Way Route

There is every reason to take satisfac- ton in the fact that American-built bombers are now flying regularly on de- livery from Newfoundland to Britain in time that breaks the worlds record for transatlantic crossing. Every reason for satisfaction but one - What flies east can fly west.
 The fact that American bombers now fly from North America to Europe be- tween breakfast and tea-time means that European bombers can also fly to North America between breakfast and tea-time. Which means that there must be more than tea waiting for them if any should decide to try it.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-23

Church and gave him those qualities of heart which prepared him for Sainthood.
 Edison's tribute to his mother is one of the most beautiful. T did not have my mother long, but she cast an influence over me which has lasted all my life. The good effects of her early training I can never lose. If it had not been for her appreciation and her faith in me at critical time in my experience, I should likely never have become an inventor. I was always a care less boy, and with a mother of a different caliber should probably
 have turned out badly. But her firmness, her sweetness, her good ness were potent powers to keep me in the right path. My mother was | the making of me-"
 It has often been said that every truly great man had great mother behind him. She may not have been
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-23
ington youthfuls.
 GLADHAND JOE

The inner offices of the State Department are getting chuckle out of a little article about for mer Ambassador Joe Kennedy in the December issue of The Lon don Spectator, which has just arrived here. The story, which sheds an interesting light on the ambassador from Boston, said:
 MT. Kennedy was in some re- spects an unusual diplomat. On the day he left England finally, telegram addressed to the edi- tor of this journal by name reached the Spectator office. It ran as follows: "Tried to get you unsuccessfulIy on phone cannot leave England without personally thanking you for your many kindnesses to me dur ing my stay and it is with real regret that I leave England. Joe Kennedy
 "It was a warm-hearted mes- sage. The odd thing is that the recipient, it so happened, had never had the fortune to meet meet MT. Kennedy, or even so much as see him during his stay in London"
 Copyright, 1941, by United
 Feature Syndicate, Incl
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-23
Selected Poem
THE EDGE

THE EDGE (Glenn Ward DreSbach in the New York T1mes) He always said scythe was meant
 To cut-and not to pull and tear; And he had never been content
 With any rust on blade or share. His hoe was polished bright as new,
 His blow and spade were keen of edge; The whetstone on his scythe he drew
 AS if in keeping of pledge. When he was eighty years or more,
 The shadow-reaper found his bed; As if expecting him before,
 The old man slowly turned his head. He groped out with calloused thumb,
 As if along the edge, to test A scythe unseen where dusk had come And 1t was time for him to rest.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-23

Giant crabs crawling around the floor of the ocean up near Alaska may be the basis of new American industry. Crab meat is no longer what might be termed a table delicacy. It's on more and more menus in view of the fact that it can be obtained in canned form from one end of the year to the other. But the Japa- nese have had the corner on it up to now. With the discovery of these huge King Crabs Americans may be able to set up serious competitions for their own market.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-23
HOLY NAME SOCIETY MEMBERS URGED TO JOIN IN MOVE
 FOR PEACE
Al Irion St. Waterbury, Conn.
 Jan. 23 1q41

Jan. g. 1941
 Editor, Waterbury Democrat:
 With war raging in Europe, and threatening to involve us, we here in the U. s. stand by, waiting help lessly, for it to destroy us, our free dom, and everything that we hold dear.
 There are groups in this country, who for their own selfish reason, are working night and day to en- volve us in War. Groups such as the William A. White Committee" It is these groups who we must ex- pose, yes expose by Conducting Ec- ucational programs by showing &ne people of this Country, who are these "Interventionists." Show how they put out their propaganda"
 Great Church leaders are calling for Action" Calling on Holy Nam CTS to Start a Crusade for Peace" Remember we of the Holy Name Society are pledged to uphold His Holy Name, the Prince of Peace.
 Tn his Annual Address to more than 2,500 members of the Holy Name Society at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Cardinal O'Connell asked mot only for Prayers for Peace and Divine Guidance, but al- so for Action to let Congress know that the majority of Americans do Not Want War"
 The Most Rev. John T. McNich- olas, Archbishop of the Diocese Of Cincinnati (over 500O00 Catholicsl ask people to speak up at Once He says That the, Minority of 10 per cent of the people who favor War is forcing America subtly and cleverly into the world conflict, and the majority of the 90 per cent favoring Peace is standing by, silent and helpless"
 Bishop Muench of Fargo N. D., says in part: "Only misguided groups stir up war strife, the American people are strongly urged to talk down War and to talk up peace" and protest promptly and strongly against any governmental measures which will destroy our neutrality"
 The Most Rev. William A. Grif- fin Bishop of Trenton, N. J., in an address before more than 800 dele gates to the first Convention of the Diocesan Union of the Holy Name Society Urged every Holy Name Man to join Peace Campaign. Rev. Dr. John A. O'Brien University of Notre Dame professor who recently
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-23

since not enough men have yet been
 called to service. Only about 10000 drafted men have been "processed' by the various induction boards.
 The only comparison available comes from study of the army's figures on voluntary enliStments.
 Latest tabulations cover enlist
 ments for the first six months of
 194O These show that 32 per cent of all the men who sought to enlist in that period were rejected. Some were turned down for other than | physical reasons = married men aren't accepted, for instance, or
 men with criminal records-but ill the main the rejections were of men not physically fit for service. Army authorities are extremely
 loath to admit that comparison
 between 1918 draftees and 1940 en- listments may properly be mda.e They prefer 70 wait until the med | ical records of at least 100000 drafteeS are at hand before trying to make any comparisons, and do
 not expect to draw any conclusions
 before some time next spring. OTHER OFFICES
 WORRIED, TOO
 Nevertheless, it is true that the physical standards applied to draft ed men in 1917-18 are practically on a level with those applied to- day, both for voluntary enlistments and for men called under the Se- lecsive service act.
 It is also true that other branches of the government whic hhave had look at the current enlistment re- jection figures are badly worried l about the situation. Among these
 is the Farm Security Administra- tion, which independently is making extensive studies of health condi- tions in rural areas-from which the percentage of enlistmentS in ! proportion to total population is about twice as heavy as from urban localities.
 FSA officials suspect great many
 of the physical defects which are showing up both in the army fig
 ureS and in FSA'S own studies are
 due to poverty-to malnutrition, and to the, fact that many Americans
 are growing up without getting any
 medical care whatever.
 Health surveys made in two
 sample" southern counties in CO.,
 operation with state health boards, FSA officials say, showed 575 low
 income persons studied had a net
 total of 1873 serious physical ail-
 mentS, including things like in- fected tonsilS, seriously defective vision and had teeth which could have been corrected if medical care
 had been available.
 McNUTT TO
 STUDY PROBLEM
 This whole problem is coming in for serious study by the office of
 Federal Security Administrator Paul V. McNutt, recently named co-ordi- nator of health and recreation un-
 der the defense program.
 One reason why non-defense
 items in the current budget were
 not slashed more heavily is the fact
 that the administration has become
 concerned. over the health picture among low-income groups. Original plans called for. much heavier cuts than those finally made in appro-
 priations for such activities as WPA, administration of the stamp plan,
 and so on. The seriousness of the situation was made graphic by the
 32 per cent rejections in the SrrhyS
 enlistment drive. This, together with other studies such as those made by FSA, convinced New Deal-
 CTS that continuance of these vari-
 ous social services" is vital to na-
 tional defense.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-23

cants' physical defects can be relied upon.
 In the last war, between 20 and 25 per cent of the first B. 100000 m e Il called up in the draft were re- jected for phys ,ical defects.
 Comp a riSoll with today's drafteeS is not vet, nnSSih1e.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-23

CTS by a deluge of telegrams which will rise like thunder above the shouting of the War interventionists the 10 per cent minority we shall witness once again the tragedy of having the masses of our people led like sheep to the slaughter"
 "The greatest mistake that could befall America and the civilized World would be the adoption by our government of the attitude that the Europen war iss irreconcilable
 Continued on Next Page)
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-23
Daily Almanac
n rises 3:28 a. m.

Moon rises 3:28 a. m.
 Sun rises 7:1O a. m.; sets 4:58 p. m.
 All vehicles must be lighted thirty minutes after sunset.
 There's good-sized storm (snow) form ing in the background for this region. It may, break sny one of these days or hold over until February, but it's coming and is over due.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-23

cOlnDS testimony lin this regard is well known. Had lit not been for |Suzanna w e sley. the spirit u 8 l |achieven e Il t s of h CT son John n might never have been possible. It
 w as the gentle
 Monica w ho led
 her absolute son
 Augustine into the
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-23

l. Does the light from the moon ever produce rainbows at night?
 2. In which National Park is the Nations Christmas tree located?
 3. Was the Declaration of Inde- pendence written by John Adams, Benjamin Franklin or Thomas Jeff ferson?
 4. Which queen of England was called the Virgin Queen?"
 5.Who was called the Great Ex- pounder of the Constitution?
 els glass, paraffin or rubber, the best insulator for electricity?
 T. What were the dying words of Napoleon Bonaparte?
 8. How many United States Sen ators does each state have?
 < &siLS4 tWu presidents beaiGes Madison, Jackson, Polk and Bucha- nan, were childless?
 10. Who wrote 'The Fall Of the House of Usher"?
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-23

O. How many men were mobiliZed by the United States for the Revo- lutionary War, the War between the States (Union Forces), and the World War?
 A. About 350,000 were mobilized for he Revolutionary War, 2,l29,O00 for the Union forces in the War be- tween the States, and 4,791,172 for the World War.
 o. What is the aggregate capital of the railroads in the United States?
 A. On June 30, 1940, measured by the par value of outstanding secur-' ities, it was 3,124,679.
 o. Who was the principal advo- cate of the notification theory that | each state has the right to reject any Act of Congress that it consid- CTS unconstitutional?
 A. John c. Calhoun.
 O. Will light from lamp placed between two mirrors be reflected back and forth indefinitely?
 A. No. The mirrors will reflect the light back and forth until all the light is lost by stray reflections caused by imperfections in the sur faces of the mirrors, and by absorp- tion of the light by the mirrors. It must be remembered that no mirror is perfect ref1ecting surface.
 @. Was the child Peter Levine who was Kidnapped, ever found?
 A. His body was recovered May 29, 1888, more than two months af- ter ne was kidnapped. The crime has never been solved.
 e. What word is used to describe the difference in quality of sound between two musical instruments, as the piano and trumpet, playing the same note?
 A. Timbre.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-23
National Spotlight
First Army Figures
 Show American .Manpower Poor In Physical Shape
BY BRUCE CATION Waterbury Democrat Washington
 Correspondent

Washington, Jan. Americas Inanpwoer is in poorer physical shape today than in 1917-18, if pre- liminary figures on army applica- tionS rejected because of the appli-
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-23

a woman of distinction, but almost invariably she was one who possess ed those stable qualities of heart
 upon which true greatness is built.