davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1943-02-07

IT'S fun. She's an absolute pet, and what she
has done for me down there simply can't
tell you. And if you think of it - we were
pretty beastly to her"
1t HAD been terrible at first. The noise, and
the smell and the loud speakers incessant
blare. But Miss Churchill had got her into a
quieter corner, and had helped her along till
she knew the ropes.
'Your complexion" :" moaned Mrs. Shenton.
Beauty had had to 60 by the board. Sue hated
still to look at her hands, so she didn't look
Her hair no longer swept her shoulders. 1t
wasn't safe that way. She had had it cut
short. 1t curled softly and prettily about her
Evening star., 1943-02-07

Sue never knew why she did it. She had,
until then. always been one for noble gestures
that cost her no effort, but not too keen on
putting herself out. She'd planned whole
day in bed, on Easter Monday; real rest
with novel and the months chocolate "a
ton. Shed been looking forward to it with
positive passion.
Go home, Churchy," she said. 60 home,
and I'll come in on Monday and jazz them
all up"
Miss Churchill's face lit. ''You will?'
Il will On condition you stay in bed"
well, really. l wouldn't have thought it Of
you" said Miss Churchill. Sue laughed, real
izing it was meant for the height of praise. .
Evening star., 1943-02-07

The machines rat
tied, the electric mo-
tors roared. Sue was 50
tired she felt she could
mt get any tireder.
More than half Of the
workers, spurred by
her example, turnedup.
Sue was almost the
last to leave, for she
had various papers to
fill in, and time sheets
to file. The streets were
already BACKED out.
The wind blew cold
down Wibsey Slack
side. She switched on
her torch, and the first
thing it lit was a pair
OF very good brown
boots.
The rest of Lauren
was leaning against a
dead lamp post. Wait
ing for her. He looked
cold and blue, and
slipped his arm through
hers. 1--WE got three
days leave before 60
ing off on a little bit of
fancy work." said Lau-
Evening star., 1943-02-07

opened - shutting again snappiy because of
the blackout - and there stood Miss Church
i'll. Miss Churchill "a weird figure indeed in
a red coat and blue denim overalls. The sud-
den light dazzled her, and she stood clasping
a rather untidily done up brown paper
parcel, blinking.
The music died away. The dancers stopped.
well, really -" said Miss Churchill.
II do beg pardon. Must have got the date
wrong l thought the party was tomorrow or
l would never have dreamed of intruding
like this IL brought the dress -" She
fumbled with the parcel and it burst, smoth-
ering her in the blue shining folds of the seven
yard taffeta skirt.
Mrs. Shenton broke the astonished silence
Snatching the frock from her she said angrily,
"Well, Miss Churchill, this is a nice way to
have let US down. It's too late now"
Miss Churchill seemed to shrink to become
a red-blue imp in small size. ''They called
me to the factory week earlier than ex-
pected. did my best took it along with me
and worked at it in my lunch time. Really,
did, But that skirt being so wide, and all -
and last night tried working at it, but | was
that tired fell asleep in my chair. True as
I'm standing here. The long hours, you know,
- and the noise"
"Oh, well, it can't be helped now" said
Mrs Shenton, ungraciously. Her nod was
dismissal, but Miss Churchill still fingered.
There's a raid on" she said, APOLOGIZE
cally.
She smiled nervously at nobody in par
ticular, longing to be asked to stay. Her eye
lively see her mouth begin to water Then.
"Oh we'll -" she said. resigned and her hand
was on the door, But Lauren got up. He went
over to her. tall and slim and beautiful and
dignifed. His majors badges caught the light,
and looked like gold.
MAY have the pleasure of dancer" he
said.
DUE had once dropped goldfish out of its
bowl onto the carpet. 1t had looked very like
Miss Churchill. ''Oh. couldn't, really" she
said. MY clothes -"
Never mind about your clothes; you have
a very chic name," said Lauren.
mo relation to Winston. None whatever"
said Miss Churchill with the air of one nobly
refusing to sail under false colors. I'm ever
so dirty"
"You look very smart" said Lauren. blue
is my favorite color"
After that the evening went with swing.
But not for Sue. Lauren didn't dance with
her again He devoted the whole program to
Miss Churchill who leapt and pirouetted and
became quite too gay. And in the end, when
she said she must go now, really, he picked up
his hat. Il can't have you going home alone
in raid" he said. 1--WE need all our workers"
You couldn't be jealous. The thing was just
too silly and fantastic. 1t wasn't as if there
was the least chance of Lauren having been
bowled over by Miss Churchill's fatal beauty,
or shared in the ungloving of her hand! But
it did tell you, without any doubt at all. that
I-A A~aa~A
Evening star., 1943-02-07

''Im afraid you didn't enjoy it much any
how" Sue said listlessly She was kneeling
in front of the study fire, warming her long
slim hands.
There was little silence. He said, Il can't
help it. All that sort of thing seems to me
vaguely bogus these days. Sue. suppose I've
turned into spoilsport."
lis it really going to help any, if we all sit
at home and mope?"
Need you mope?" For moment his old
lovely smile lit his face; then it died. and he
stood thinking, trying to find some words to
explain the thing to her. Its difficult, when
you come back. and things are going on just
the same used to think it was what want
ed, but now know it isn't. Last night, when
we sat on the stairs wasn't there at all, Sue"
NO know you weren't"
Il was landing from a, small boat, on an
alien beach, With some of the finest chaps in
the world knowing we'd have to leave lot
of them behind. And the air was full of smoke.
Smoke from guns, dear. Getting in your eyes.
And just wanted to get away from play to
something real And when that funny little
party came in, 50 worried about your blue
frock - as if it mattered, frock - Oh, l
can't explain just want to get back North -
Then she knew it was the end. He had
found someone else. Some weatherbeaten
lassie up North, probably.
! oU didn't cry about it. 1t was no good
crying You squared your shoulders and car
ried on, and made out you didn't care. She
hung the white frock up beside the blue frock,
behind a white sheet, in lavender. She would
never wear them again.
When your world comes tumbling about
your ears you don't sit desolate amongst the
ruins. You build new one Sue said nothing
to her mother until it was all settled. No use
wasting time in useless argument.
At the Labor Exchange they picked out
her job for her. The young man at the factory
desk groaned when he saw her. He said to the
forewoman. GLORY, look at her nails! Here's
another of them"
The forewoman looked round, and her
plain face lit "Oh that's all right. You'll see
- it's Miss Shenton. A friend of mine" said
Miss Churchill why. how nice. Well be
able to travel back and forward together,
dear. It's nice to have bit of company IN
the blackout. I'll take charge OF her, sir.
She'll soon be doing fine"
Sue determined she soon would be doing
fine She would show the young man at the
desk that she wasn't as helpless and useless
as she knew he thought her.
''You see, dear. we do get all sorts,' ex-
planned Miss Churchill, land some of them
are waste of time - just trying it, and then
not liking it. But you'll be all right, know;
only if l were you I'd cut my nails to start
with. I'm sure hope you don't mind my men
tioning it. Would you believe it, I'm fore
woman. declare it must be my lucky name!"
The shop steward was surprised when ne
saw the result of Susan's first weeks work.
Evening star., 1943-02-07

thern, or something of the sort. Often she
wished he would get it over and done with.
50 that she could have bit of peace.
Lauren" his mother told her, thinks
the world of his girl driver. He says her
pluck -"
It was all quite obvious.
The funny thing was that she thought of
him less now than she used to do. He was no
longer the only interest she had. As the year
rolled gently downhill towards spring again,
the pace at the factory had Quickened. They
had been doing amazingly WELL and people
in high places had sent them word of con-
graduation - after which everyone did still
better. They set themselves target 50 ambi-
tious it didn't seem possible they could reach
it; but they did.
+ OR the first time in her life Sue was deeply
interested in something entirely impersonal.
For the first time in her life she was working
for team. and not for Sue.
But you got pretty tired. There were shad-
ows under her eyes that had never been there
before, and her face was thinner. She didn't
look like the old Sue at all. She didn't know
what she looked like, and hadn't time to pay
much attention to it.
Miss Churchill went down with nasty
throat on Maundy Thursday She stuck at it,
struggling to work on Friday, making croak-
ing noises like an anemic frog. They sent for
her. then, and told her she must 60 home.
Tears poured down her face. "That'll make
our shift one short" she said, land the holi-
day on Monday, and all. ought to have been
there. Lots of them will be away on Easter
Monday but some had promised to come.
If I'm not there. they won't turn up the same.
Evening star., 1943-02-07

face, just like a child's.
Beauty is but skin
Deep" said Sue, and
winkednaughtily ather
mother, who moaned
and did hope the dread
full new life wasn't 60
ing to teach her dar-
ling a whole lot of
coarse ways. The bloom
on the peach, the dew
on the grass! Gone, all
gone, moaned Mrs.
Shenton. She might
have had a breakdown.
but just then the cook
left to be a boiler max
er, so she hadn't time.
Susie got occasional
news of Lauren from
his parents, but he
never wrote her. She
used to pick up the
paper, a queer little
pain in her heart, won
dering if today she was
going to see it
Major Lauren Grace,
whose marriage is to
take place shortly to
Mice Coororn0h Nor
Evening star., 1943-02-07

planned MISS ChurCnul, ana some Oh IneiH
are waste of time - just trying it, and then
not liking it. But you'll be all right, l know;
only if were you I'd cut my nails to start
with. I'm sure hope you don't mind my men
tioning it. Would you believe it, I'm fore
woman declare it must be my lucky name!'
The shop steward was surprised when he
saw the result of Susan's first weeks work.
She was very neat and quick. She was pune
tual. From the start, Miss Churchill took her
under her wing, could not do enough for her.
Far from resenting the old days, when they
had bullied and sat on her, she seemed to have
entirely forgotten them. All she remembered
was the party.
That was night. My word!' she used to
say, telling the story over and over again,
growing chatty in the lunch hour. And from
the way she told it, anyone would have
thought she and Susie had been girl friends
for years.
The cheek of it,, moaned Mrs. Shenton
when she heard that
But Sue laughed. mo it isn't" she said.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-07-10
Loves Labor Lost

A gentleman named Michael Daniel,
unknown to us, has written "ABC of the
U. S. S. r." published by man named
A. P. WaXman, also unknown to us. 1t is
dedicated "to the men, women and chill
dren of the U. S. S. R., who slowed down
the NaZis and speeded up victory for us"
Neither Michael Daniel nor A. P. Wax
man is name recognized by those who
make business of keeping an eve on
Communist and fellow traveller publicists
1t would appear that they are motivated
by desire to express their gratitude for
Russia'S heroic resistance to Hitler. The
brochure consists of an introduction and
26 alphabetical items, from which the
following are abbreviated:
"E is for England. There1l always be
an England, thanks to Russia"
81 is for Japan. Japan has over mil
lion soldiers, sailors and flyers tied up
on the Siberian border, Sakhalin, Korea
and Japan, hoping to pull Pearl Harbor
on Russia. RuSSiaS for us and is
keeping those million Japs guessing"
'R is for Red Russia d.. . Five million
like him were killed. . But, but, can we
depend upon Russia? Nuts to you buts
Can Russia depend on us"
IS is for Stain . Weren't we smart
when we got him on our side?"
Hitler got Stain or our side by attack
ing Russia. Britain survived the blitz,
while Stain still was Hitlers ally. Rus
STA is not tying up million Japs to help
us; she is forced to tie up huge forces
of her own lest the Japs do try Pearl
Harbor on her. And Russia can depend
upon us if she continues on the level. Such
cheap, silly bootlicking as this brochure
contains cannot aid international comfy
1t doesn't even please the one whose boots
are licked How do we know? Here is one
indication.
From Sender Garln's column in the
Daily Worker, official Communist organ
in this country, for June 26:
americans want the truth about the
Soviet Union. No group desires monop-
oily in dispensing it, but let us not be
fooled by commercial schemes for trading
on the profound interest in the U.S.S.R."
The column goes on to recommend other
works which, says the Communist writer,
"provide the authentic story of our great
ally minus the pandering, vulgarization
and commercialization typified by such
publications as "The ABC of the
U. S. S. R.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-07-10
Correction In Sight

A few powerful labor leaders have made
monkeys out fthe people of this coun-
try and our Congress- Their technique
is to cause untold damage to the nation
ard the war effort and when Congress
is ready ocrack down with legislation
controlling their irresponsible acts, the
labor bosses will ease up the pressure to
block Congressional action
The Administration has been largely
responsible for this condition. 1t has
failed to supply leadership or national
labor legislation, and its blanket oppo-
Sition to correctives has invited hatsily
drawn remedies. How much longer labor
leaders can defy government and intimi-
date Congress remains to be seen.
With any faults that the recently
passed House anti-strike bill may have,
it has some good provisions These in
clude the requirements for financial STAGE
ments by unions, control of political con-
tributions and the granting of statutory
authority to the National War Labor
Board 1t has been the lack of such au-
thority which enabled John L. Lewis to
thumb his nose at the Board and treat it
with contempt.
Commenting on the situation, the New
York Times says: eff a measure similar
to the House bill should now become a
law, it would at least break the long
standing taboo against corrective labor
legislation. Once this was done, the
Administration and Congress should pro-
coed to work out more comprehensive
and better balanced program"
II labor leaders are wise they will not
provide another exhibition Of defiance
of government as witnessed in the last
coal strike
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-07-10

The grumbling goes on among us about
the restrictions, the prohibitions and
whatnot. In fact we find it hard to take
it. But when things seem darkest we
might give a thought to those in other
countries who are undergoing hardships
and deprivations that the most unfortu-
nate in this country have never felt. Con-
corning these the bishop of the Roman
Catholic Diocese of Hartford urges his
people to give what material aid they
can to these sufferers. The bishop says
in part: eve have only faint idea of
the horrors and sufferings endured by the
little children the aged and the infirm,
and the refugees, who all seek alienation
and protection. AS the war continues
and sufferings of it's victims becomes
more acute and the want more extern
i've"
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-07-10

Statistics show that Connecticut is do
ing it's duty in conserving on gasoline.
1t is stated that if other states are as
conscientious there is possibility that
the ban may be lifted before too long.
With thoughts of the open road and park
ways there is a feeling of hope in these
announcements 1t is likewise stated
that 100000 gallons are being conserved
daily under presnt conditions. This will
never be like other summers as regards
driving but there may be more gas-y days
ahead which is good news to those who
follow the restrictions to the letter, like
wise to the transgressors who get away
with it.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-07-10
LEMONS AND THE H. C. L.
(NeW York SUM

According to news item in the
Sunday papers, lemons, despite a
price ceiling of AZ cents a dozen, are
selling at 10 to Is cents apiece.
Probably lemons can be found at
lower prices than these. Since the
lemon is no important factor in
the makeup of the cost of living, the
economist may be undiSturbed.
There is, in fact, one school of price
control which would make no at
tempt to control the price of such
articles as lemons, on the theory
that price control should be con-
fined to commodities that really
count. In the case of lemons, how
ever, there is a condition rather
than theory to consider. If OPA
cannot enforce the price ceiling on
lemons, there remains another cor
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-07-10
Current Comment

Some people are busily concerned
about the past records OF various
French functionaries whom the
Americans have deemed it eXped-
lent to employ. For my part, must
confess I am more interested in the
safety of the armies and in the
success of the operations.
Winston Churchill.
The onward march of civlllza--
ton ordains that this, the greatest
of all nations, must assume
leadership in the world of tomor-
row.
Governor John w. Bricker OF
Ohio.
If nobody ever said anything
unless he really had something to
say, a lot of us might never open
our mouths and few of us would
KEEP them open as continuously as
we do now.
Charming Pollock, author.
To win permanent peace, the ma
lions of the world will have tt
transfer some of their nationa
sovereignty to an internationa
agency.
DR. Frederick L. Schuman
professor of government, Will
iams College.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-07-10

Feed corn IS desperately needed
by poultry farmers, dairy farmers,
and corn professors. But corn is
not moving to market because
farmers are holding for a higher
price.
The typical farmer in the corn
belt today is looking at his bins
full of corn and reasoning that
he might as well hold it for
while, since he doesn't need the
cribs yet, and since the price
might go up.
washington is partly to blame
for this. The attacks On OPA,
the firing IF Chester Davis, and
the Congressional demands to set
aside the p,lce ceiling, all have
created uncertainty. So the far
mer sits tight, saying, I'll just
wait till they make up their
minds"
But when thousands of farm
ers do the same thing, it creates
a scarcity which throws the ma
tional economy out of gear just
as much as the lack of coal pro-
duction. The patriotic things
to do, say washington officials,
is to send your corn to market
now, especially since the farmer
is guaranteed the benefit OF
price rise, if it comes.
Meantime, the corridors of the
Department of Agriculture are
seething. Pressure for corn rise
is terrific. This is Marvin Jones
first big battle.
WICKARD GOES SHOPPING
Secretary OF Agriculture Claude
Wickard went shopping with Mrs.
Wickard the other day. He stood
in the grocery store watching the
shoppers, while Mrs. Wickard did
the buying.
He noticed a crush in front of
the meat counter, while the Vege-
tables, including potatoes, were
going begging.
That's human nature for you,'
unused Wickasd. "Only few
weeks ago, when potatoes were
short for few days, there was
great howl from the public, and
potatoes were sold in the black
market. Now there's plenty
of potatoes but everybody
wants meat
When Mrs. Wickard appeared
from the crush, she announced
with pride that she had some
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-07-10

We can, however, venture Opinions,
and two at least appear reasonable.
Both these are based on the as
sumption that earthly existence is
a proving ground, preparing men
for an everlasting existence. One
reason, therefore, why useful peo-
pie pass away and useless people
remain would appear to be that
those who have been taken have
finished their work, fulfilled their
lives, and are ready to go on to
another stage of their journey. The
other reason is that God may be
allowing the apparently useless to
remain, still giving them a chance
to turn from their wrong ways of
life and become useful to God and
man.
But it is also true that people
of the most sanity character some
times live to a great old age. Even
though God takes out of the WORLD
many who have completed and full
filled their lives, He also allows tc
remain many who will be the guides
and mentors of their generation.
All Rights Reserved Babson
J Newspaper Syndicate
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-07-10
CHINA'S SIX YEARS
New York SUM

The road that China has travelled
since the incident of the Marco
Polo bridge has been long and hard,
but it has been lit all the way by
the patience and courage of great
people. 1t is matter Of humilia-
ton to China's allies that her lot
has been even harder since she
ceased to fight alone. The closing of
the Burma road meant to China
new trials and hardships, fresh
economic burdens for land already
economically dislocated. Recent
offensive operations in the Pacific,
together with the promises implicit
in conferences at Washington, mean
that the war is to be carried to
Japan with ever more power; the
day will come when the Burma
road will be re-opened and when
air bases in China will be used to
bomb military detectives in Japan.
In the meantime, however, until
that pledge can be redeemed, let
the faint-hearted remember the
unf1inching courage of the Chinese
now starting the seventh year of
their war.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-07-10
Loose Talk From Public Servants

A remarkable case has developed deal
ing with two major utility holding COM
panies and the Securities and Exchange
Commission. The companies accuse the
Commission of engaging in loose talk"
and of presenting arguments "completely
false" in it's attempt to defend the "death
sentence" provisions of the Public Utility
Holding Company Act,
The American Power and Light Com
pany and the Electric Power and Light
Company, challenging liquidation orders
of the SEC in the Circuit Court of Appeals
in Boston, declared in briefs filed, that an
atmosphere of evil pervades the Com
missions actions with respect to the
American and Electric systems Last
year the SEC issued orders calling for
the liquidation of both companies, where
upon the two systems took the issue to
court.
In a brief filed with the Court, the
SEC termed the systems ''noXious," can
cerous," "malignant," "abominable,"
"monstrous" and ''mess from any point
OF view The companies in question say,
ut is shocking that the outstanding
characteristic of the brief (SEC's) to
which we must reply is its undignified
verbal abuse, and that such brief has
come from one of the important instru-
mentalities of our Federal government"
In it's brief, Electric Power said: "The
premise underlying the Commissions
brief and without which its entire case
must fall, is that the Commission is
entitled to treat Electric Power as if it
were mere nameplate en- the office door
of Electric Bond and Share. That this
premise is completely false is obvious
from the fact that Electric has tens of
thousands of security holders, holding
millions of dollars of it's securities has its
own separate property, has its own sep
arate corporate existence, and has its
own separate directors and officers. Can
it be the position of the SEC that no
Sub-holding company, under any cir
cumStanceS, should be permitted to re-
American Power, in it's brief, asserted
that the SEC is seeking power to smash
solvent corporation decision uphold
ing the "death sentence" would mean that
commissions may be established and au-
thoriZed 'to smash corporations in any
line of business which have violated no
law, or make such corporations dispose
Of their property for whatever the prop
erty might bring at forced sale"
Regardless of the sincerity of men who
conceived the Public Utility Act of 1885,
the Congress that passed it, or the Com
mission that is constituting it, the fact
remains that the investments of thou
sands of innocent persons have been and
are being threatened by governmental
agencies and officials whose duty it is
to protect not destroy the rights and
property of citizens 1t is time the people
began inquiring into such proceedings as