davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-27

WIFI swEENEYs The first public ever interviewed was John A. Johnson son Of poor Wloow who made his way up from dire poverty to become Mn nesota's youngest governor He spoke of man, WnoSe name have long since forgotten. That man loaned me books when was clerkng in country drug Store said the governor He encouraged me to read ne pao Yv subscription at the library. To him more than any other owe whatever am" Recently ran across tnlS sentence in life of Lincoln Abraham Lincoln attended school in Indiana. His first teacher was Andrew CraW- ford his second man named Sweeney; his thlrd was Azel w. Dorsey" man named Sweeney. was ne good teacher? Did he sit with young Abraham m front of the fire at night and talk? Did he suspect at all the power that was hidden in that ta gaunt frame! Who was Sweeney anyway? Just one of the forgotten millions What countless army they are, the unknown of history the Sweeneys! Who was the owner of the Garden of GethSemane where Jesus o Nazareth loVeo to retire for peace and rest? Some rich man of friendly interest and open heart some Sweeney Who was the mother of Socrates? What underpad teacher taught Shakespeare to read? What overworked country doctor tended Joan of Arc? Sweeneys+all Sweeneys So inter woven are the threads of human life that single con- tact is trivial In most casual moments we enter tain angels around the humbeSt of us the influences that touch eternity. The world will never know our names but it cannot do without We carry on we Sweeneys The foregoing story written by Bruce Barton and copyrighted in 1928 by the Mcclure News paper Syndicate It has been repubished times lmme
 oral since honorng the Sweeney tribe. = More power to them!
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-27

jokes, which seems to be the secret of his tremendous audience appeal.
 Compared to Hope, Sinatra is q rank newcomer. Seldom has a Stal risen so fast. In 1886, when Hope had finally hit high e. as an en- tertainer, Sinatra was a Jersey City sports reporter taking his girl Nancy (now Mrs. Sinatra) to see Bing Crosby. Her "oohing" and "aahing" over the crooner decided Sinatra to switch from sports to singing. He collected popular orchestral ar arrangements, bought public address system and rented thsm to local school and club orchestras-along with himself as featured singer. UNEASY LIE THE HEADS
 An addition with Major BowesS Amateurs" won him a first prize and tour and later a spot with an or chestra. Tommy Dorsey signed him, he appeared in two movies, and after buying up various pieces of himself owned by those who knew a good thing when they saw it, he was on his way to crossing a million { year and becoming the bobby sox- CTS delight.
 Radio critics called Hildegarde a flop at first. She wasn't getting over the warm welcome and ilirty per sonality that made her a hit in in- innate clubs where the atmosphere was cozy.
 This season her energetic man. ager, Anna Sosenko hit the right answer she put Hildegarde' $ night club on the air, atmosphere and all. The studio is set with tables and filled with famous personalities for Hildegarde to heckle and tease as she has done always so charm ingly. And there's no more program ming of songs the sponsors wife or such want. She sings only those typically- -Hildegarde numbers that cafe society has okayed.
 Ratings now say he's tops, but Hildegarde's keeping her eye on that dynamic singer Dinah Shore, who's way up there in per- sonality polls and record sales, and inching her way up on the airwaves.
 So you see, not so easy lie the heads that wear the radio crowns.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-27
CATACOMBS MEATH
 CAPITOL SPOOKY
Secret Chambers, Bricked= Up Stairways Spell
 Chills for All

Washington, Dec. N.-(UP)-Boo.
 All right, YOU descend those limestone steps to the catacomps heath the capitol. Tread the corri- dors of damp stone, stumble across those rusty chains, and eventually wind up at an empty tomb, shroud- ed in black.
 I tell you Chats Othman scream ing) the place has ghosts. The light is dim. It flickers. Feel those c,ammy fingers across your lips? Or is it blast of cold air from the place where George Washing ton was supposed to be buried, but never was?
 Boy-oh-boy -oh-boy. There are passages that go no place. Secret chambers. Bricked-up stairways. (Bodies, I bet, maybe.) Locked doors. Hinges that creak, the tap tap-tap of feett hat never ma terialize. Water dripping.
 You can ask Herman about those ghosts, but you'll never find him down there, Not Herman. Not ever again. No-suh. It happened one midnight. James E. Preston, the capitol expert on things ancient was deep in the archives, studying the manuscript of a speech in the handwriting of Henry Gay. Her. man, functioning as clerk anud get- ter-downer of dusty volumes, was sitting there looking into the gloom. Looking and listening. Ker-plop- ker-plop-ker-plop.
 T heard 1t. too." Preston says Footsteps coming from a place
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-27
BY ROSELLEN CALLAHAN NEA Staff COrreSD0ndent

New York, Dec. 27-Silly, swooney and simple is the radio entertain ment order of MT. and Mrs. Average Listener. Give them a gag they can laugh at, a song they can sway to and straight from the shoulder sales talk and they'll vote you tops, as they have Bob Hope, Hildegarde and Frank Sinatra.
 And catering to the armchair audience pays off, for sponsors watch listeners polls as closely as a doctor does a patients fever chart. As the fever pitch of audience en- thusiasm mounts, so do the stars salaries. Those flew minutes" of air time each week, for instance, drop $312,000 year into the sock of Bob Hope.
 The Voice-Frank Sinatra to you -rakeS in $8000 week for his two regular network shows, plus $50OO more for each extra guest appear ance, which is just drop in the $l ,250,0 ,000 yearly bucket Of salary which his recordings, night club and movie jobs help to fill.
 Hildegarde, darling of the sup per clubs, after years of trying to make 8 go on radio, has at last hit the top of the list of listeners favorite femme warblers, and is nicking her sponsor for $10,000 a week for her Raleigh Room" ap- pearances. Of course, this isn't all gravy. The little girl from Milwau- kee with the ,4ard-to- place accent has to peel off few "Cs" for guest talent and music.
 A TOUGH BUSINESS
 But some of the biggest money makers in radio are hardly known by name. They're the soap opera stars and hard working announ- cers. Clayton Collier and Karl Swenson, who play in at least a half-dozen shows a week, keep the wolf from their door to the tune of nearly $1O0,000 a year. Pert Julie Stevens and blues-singer-turned-ac- tress Gertrude Warner vie with their radio sisters for top place at similar salaries. Announcer Ben Grauer, who has shied away from vocal gymnastics and stuck to a
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-27

straight style of announcing for IA years, has outlasted many of radios personality boys. Wo king six days week from 10 o'clock in the morning to. midnight announcing long wave shows in English, short wave OWI shows ir French, narrating, news casting and occasionally acting, Grauer collects close to $50,00O 8 year.
 Tops though they are today, stay- ing there is something else again. Jack Benny and Kate Smith, re- placed in the public's favor by Hope and Hildegarde, fell from top place by throat-cutting piece of air time programming, with the two slugging it out over rival networks. But Benny, with a five-year-non- breakable contract at $10,000 net a program, and Kate Smith with al- most two years to go on her eve ming show at $l3,500 a week plus $250O more for weekly afternoon shows, aren't worrying too much just yet about dropping out of first place in polls.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-27
State Dept.
 To Get Test
BY R. H. SHACKFORD Tv,itad praec CfafP Covrnenov,sza a

OnIVcu EE6SS OCaI1 COrfeSpOu0enL
 Washington, Dec. 27-(UP)-The Latin American section of the team chosen by Secretary of State Ed ward R. Stettinius Jr., to help di- rect United States foreign policy prepared today for its first test-the soon- o-be-announced meeting of all American foreign ministers except Argentina.
 Informed quarters said the deci- sion to hold such meeting with the unrecognized military regime of Fl Salvador also probably excluded would be announced within few days. It may be held in late Jan- uary or early February.
 The announcement, 1t was 1aarn- ed, will not be made by the Pan American Union, indicating that for the first time nthe history of the union an inter-American meeting of thls nature may be held outsid- its framework. It would be difficult for the Pan American Union to call & meeting of American Republics and exclude Argentina, which still re- tains her seat on the unions govern ing board.
 The objective of the forthcoming foreign minister conference will be to discuss the Dumbarton Oaks pro- posalS for a world security organiZa- tion in quest of western hemisphere agreement before the full dress United Nations conference which officials still hope will be held this winter or next spring.
 Sites most prominently mentioned for the conference have been Wash ington, Mexico City and Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. Washing ton now figures more prominently in speculation since revelation that the meeting probably will be held out side the Pan American Unions jur- isdiction.
 In any event. Stettinius, who headed the United States delega- tion at Dumbarton Oaks, was ex- pected to make his debut as the head of an American delegation to an inter-American meeting. He will be assisted by the state departments new assistant secretary in charge of Latin American affairs, Nelson A. Rock afeller; the new director of the office of American Republic affairs, Avra A. Warren; and specialists on world security organization plans such as Leo Pasvolsky.
 The decision to hold the inter- American meeting without Argen- tina constituted a definite rejection of Argentinas Oct. request for 8 meeting of the q American Repub- lies to discuss her troubled position in this hemisphere.
 It was learned, however, that no decision had yet been reached whether the Argentine problem will be included on the agenda of the proposed conference. Apparently the way was still open for that and, in any event, it was unlikely that the foreign minister of the major Amsr- ican Republics could meet without discussing informally and probably reaching an understanding on policy toward Argentina.
 The planned meeting will be in accordance with Mexico's recent sugg .stion-made as a counter-pro posal to Argentina's original request for a regular Pan American Union meeting of foreign ministers.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-27

The king is considered an ade- quate scholar by professors and educators, and therefore it Is ex- pected the book will be a valuable reference work.
 Although the king has no fur ther official connection with public affairs, his personal relationship as father of the lieutenant gen. eral has led him to follow political developments closely with kecnest interest. It is reliably learned that he converses by telephone with Umberto at least once daily.
 The king and queen are pres ently living in the beautiful Villa Ruffoo, near Amalfi, which is owned by Raffaele Guariglia, for mer Italian ambassador to Paris and Buenos Aires and foreign min- ister in the first Badoglio govern ment after the fall of Mussolini.
 The villa is an ideal place for Victor to indulge in one of his favorite pastimes, gardening. Situ- ated atop a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean, the villa has mag nificent gardens. twisting parks and groves, making 1t a ramblers' paradise.
 It is also understood that the king is pursuing his hobbies of fishing and coin collecting. He has the finest numismatic collection in Italy, which he managed to save from the Germans. andn he con- stantly adds to 1t whenever an op- portunity occurs.
 The king dresses very formally since his retirement. and his favor- ite outdoor costume of a golfing suit with plus-fours and deer stalker hat has become @ familiar sight to his neighbors.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-27
HIS PLANE FLIES FAR

Indianapolis, Ind. (UP) Prob ably the smallest airplane to go half way around the world was a paper plane made by seven-year- old Danny Merrell, who insisted on mailing it to his father in India, Maj. Basil Merrell sent it back with the words, This airplane has been halfway round the world and back again."
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-27
FIND OWN FINGERPRINTs

Kansas City (UP)-After the rob- bery of a small restaurant here, police exulted to find series of distinct fingerprints along the coun- ter beside the cash register. They were identified easily, but the exul- tation ceased. The prints included only those of the proprietor and several members of the police force who ate at the establishment, across the street from their precinct sta- ton.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-27
DOUBLE TRAGEDY COMES TO FAMILY
It. John COOksOn Killed in Action, Pvt. Raymond
 Madison Missing
WATER Correspondents PhOne-S-65ll

Waterville, Dec. 27.-Double tragedy struck yesterday when Mrs. Dorothy Richards Cookson received John CookSon was killed in action in Germany on December 10th ana her sister, Mrs. Fay Richards Matt son received word that her huS- band Pvt. Raymond Mattson has been missing in action in Germany since December 9th. It. Cookson is the son ot MT. and Mrs. Edward CookSon of Cooke street and Pvt. Mattson is the son of MT. and Mrs. Otto MattSon of Yale street.
 WOmen's Society Party
 The Women's Society for Chris tian service of Grace Methodist church held their annual Christmas party recently at the church. Elec- tion of officers was held and those elected were: President, Mrs. Harry Stride; vice president, Mrs. Harry Lattimer; secretary, Mrs. J. M. k. Johnson and treasurer, Miss Ruth Norton. Gifts were exchanged be- tween the capsule sisters and new capsule sisters for the coming year selected. A pot-luck supper was enjoyed. The table was decorated with evergreens and candles and Christmas corsages were given as favors. Those present were: Mrs. Edwin Wightman, Mrs. William Westwood, Mrs. Bertha PlaJt, Mrs. John w. Platt, Jr., Mrs. Dorothy Leonard, Mrs. Arthur Twelves, Mrs. Geoage Hornbecker, Mrs. Harry Stride, Mrs. Ralph I. Lane, Mrs. Eva Kott, Mrs. James Brodie, Mrs. Frank Welson, Mrs. Joseph Caron, Mrs. Clarence Barber, Mrs. Alan rairhurst, Mrs. Harold Booth of Oakville, Mrs. Evan Bargwall, Mrs. Fred zaugg, Mrs. Evelyn Niven, Mrs. WiIsn Lambert, ST., Mrs. William hUrnbecker, Mrs. Charles Greene, Mrs. Emily Berger, Mrs. J. M. E. Johnson, Mrs. Frank Fahy, Mrs. Rheinhold Vowe, Mrs. Russell Atherton, Mrs. Mary Lowell, Mrs. Leo Lafferty, Mrs. William Brandt, and Miss Ruth Norton.
 Briefs
 Mrs. Bertha Platt of Parker street has received word that her son, Pvt. Howard R. Platt has arrived in France with an infantry unit.
 Tech. Sgt. Barney Cluney, son of MT. and Mrs. John Cluney of Shef- field terrace, is spending a fur fought at his home here, after com- pleting 54 missions as tail-gunner int he European zone.
 Edward Johnson of Sheffield ter race was admitted to Waterbury hospital yesterday. His condition is reported as satisfactory.
 Pvt. Joseph Fisher is spending a 16-day furlough with his parents, MT. and Mrs. Leo Fisher. Joe is has recently been in the post hos stationed at Fort Reilly, Kansas. He pital, but seems in the best of health now.
 Edward Seeley has been on the sick list for the past two weeks at his home on Thomaston avenue.
 Pvt. Silvio DiStiso is spending a 15-day furlough at his home on Sheffield street.
 Cpl. Francis Fahy, son of MT. and Mrs. John Fahy of Edgehill avenue has completed an orienta- ton course at an Air Service Com mand station in England it has been announced by the AAF.
 George Mellon of Huntingdon avenue, and Freddie Stevens of Boyden street have completed their recruit training at Sampson, N. Y., and have been granted leaves. Both are seaman second class.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-27

Lloyds of London, the famed insurance company, doesn't miss trick. They now have pOlicy-which one American wag has labeled WhOOpee Insurance - so designed to protect buildings and contents from dan- ages resulting from public reaction following the notice of an ARMISTICE-false or otherwise" Covers damage up to $1OOOOO during any period of 48 hours and will be issued for period not exceeding one year.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-27
PRESIDENTS OWN"

The U. s. Marine Corps band be- came known as the Presidents own when President John Adams set Q precedent and ordered its ape peararce at all official functions.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-27
Victor Emmanuel Spends Time
 On History Of House Of Savoy
BY ELEANOR PACKARD United Press Staff COrreSuOndent

abdcad Victor Emmanuel has been hard at writing the history history voy the king too busy to make rapid whereas is his chit occIp
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-27

Easy though it sounds, comedy is tough business. Hope and his four gag writers, for instance, work 4a hours a week on each show. Hope lays out the situation idea-it might be the Army Navy football game ol the morning after New Years eve and the gagsters go to work on writ ing around it. Then Hope edits and rewrites it in his own style, making certain that he's the butt of all
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-27
NEEDED LOTS OF POOD

Diplodocus, ancient dinosaur. was 70 large (about 100 feet long) that BclentistB figure c T00-poand daily diet must have been necessary to sustain C.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-27
Good Evening.
SKATING IS IN SEASON
BY THE MAN IN THE TOWER

Let's get busy now with dating For . merry bout of skating The time is ripe for fancy twirling, Doing figures and intricate whtrltng: It's time now to don the parka hood, The ski pants, and of through the wooos Where ice is getting thicker day by day, And the jolly skaters appear merry and gay. Skating should be in season by reason and by law' A'O'Ae " FEM EM.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-27

Dr. and Mrs Francis P. Barnes of Fern Circle today are celebrating their 7th wedding anniversary together with their four lovely children. Dr. Barnes is the well known local dentist and his wife is the former Marguerite Tower who wishes ten times seven more, at least.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-27

Two Waterbury Majors of this war home on leave at this time Major Cyril (Cy) Dunphy is sched Clancy has just arrived for 30 days leave from New Guinea, and elsewhere
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-27

Today marked the second day of Swapping Sea- son. the period when Exchange Departments" of var ouS mercantile establishments crowded like pre- Christmas day-only in reverse. It's actually post Christmas shopping with Christmas gifts being used as medium of barter in other words dad or the boy friend is returning that blazing cravat for conservative creation in mems ties or Mamie wants size or two smaller for the little remembrance Santa Claus left for her, etc. It is annual event and clerks usually com ing smiling through such ordeals The only unhappy merchant" is the chap who set temporary business stand and ordered carload two of Christmas trees to cut in the regular business mans Yuletde profits only to discover that he had gambed and lost Several night stands noticeebly well stocked with left over trees the morning after December 25th. In general, merchants found Christmas shopping this year excellent The only fault which many reported that there plenty of money, but the things mostly desired unobtainable due to restrictions civilian production And the chief casualty along this line the little feler who didn't get latest mechanical toys his big brothers received in by-gone years.
 following
 THE A SOLDIER Hear nOw America speak your fighting
 And come from land blood and death m land of tanks and guns Has became ghOly, day wait America complain limbs our life % ow to be which heTe no release Till God in His infinite mercy shall grant heavenly M H S for ss @ @ % ss% v 1ny VII know the truth of the promise that Cod saw Tt to give
 speak America for those of who will from A they offer question: What shall this conflict yied'" Tell them what price they pay Shall you say them. America You ssS to sr fatS sss that Sons should ever be That never again should be forced fight for liberty wnss have % you % Gsr % nOE besides sOEr0vns sssr:S CT w you % say .t AGsr 9 :m ,SD and Hsr comrades slain
 Good Night.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-27

Cpl. Francis Fahy. son of MT. and Mrs. John Fahy of Edgehill avenue has completed an orienta- ton course at an Air Service Com mand station in England it has been announced by the AAF.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-27

George Mellon of Huntingdon avenue, and Freddie Stevens of Boyden street have completed their recruit training at Sampson, N. Y., and have been granted leaves. Both are seaman second class.
Henderson daily dispatch., 1944-03-09

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