MAY BE A MURDER.

New York, 1895

Poles and Germans Fight and Two Get Stabbed.

A stabbing affray occurred at Flushing at an early hour Monday morning in which one man was seriously injured and another wounded so badly that his life is despaired of. One of them is lying in the Flushing hospital, and he may die. A number of Poles, who are employed on various farms at Blackstump, on the Jamaica road, Monday decided to have a picnic among themselves. They bought a keg of beer and repaired to the residence of Joseph Czeeski, where they drained its contents and became hilariously drunk.

At about 11 o'clock Monday night two Germans and a Pole intruded and tried to break up the festivities. When ordered off the premises they refused to go and a fight ensued. Joseph Buschofski, one of the picnicers, was stabbed in the left shoulder and it is believed that the knife penetrated the man's lungs. Another Pole named Tommasso Stofflaski was cut in the back.

Coroner Corey took the wounded man's ante mortem statement. Captain Allen and Constable Slavin arrested five Poles on the suspicion of being implicated in the affair. They were taken to the hospital to be identified by the injured man and he named Felix Bushnoski as the man who stabbed him.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, July 5, 1895, p. 1.

Bismarck's Neat Answer

1895

When he was a young man, Bismarck was for some time an official reporter for one of the courts of justice. In those days his temper sometimes got the better of him, but upon one occasion at least his wit saved him from disgrace.

This was, when questioning a witness, the latter made an impudent retort, whereupon Bismarck exclaimed angrily:

"If you are not more respectful, I shall kick you out of the room!"

"Young man," said the judge, interrupting the proceedings, "I would have you understand that this is a dignified court of justice, and that if there is any kicking to be done the court will do it."

"Ah, you see," said Bismarck to the witness, "if you are not more respectful to me, the court will kick you out of the room. So be careful, very careful, sir."

Kaiser Wilhelm's Wonderful Tablecloth

1895

The German emperor is possessed of a remarkable tablecloth, which was presented to him upon the occasion of his wedding by the women of Schleswig and Holstein. Woven into its texture are a great number of proverbs and mottoes. These had become obliterated by use. The emperor, however, being desirous of having the words rendered readable, caused the cloth to be sent to Berlin, where it has been carefully cleaned. The following are a few of the proverbs to be found upon it:

"Willst thou here have spass (fun), be thou careful with thy glass," "Endurance gives strength that lasts," "Do not believe all you hear, do not say all you know, do not do all you would like," "Always hope, never fear," "Important to despise the past, well and maturely to contemplate the future, well to arrange the present, and thus a peaceful life is spent," "I await fortune according to my idea," "Heart seeks heart everywhere," "Wisdom govern, peace reign, love dwell, labor act, honor grace." — Philadelphia Record.

A Private Soldier of High Rank

1895

Among the stories that are being told about the late M. Victor Duruy, the eminent historian of ancient times, is one which relates to the part he played during the siege of Paris by the Germans. At that period M. Duruy had volunteered for the national guard. One day M. Jules Simon, the minister of public instruction, was returning home to his official residence in the Rue de Grenelle when he saw in a sentry box a national guard on duty who wore upon his cloak the insignia of grand officer of The Legion of Honor, a very high distinction. M. Simon, recognizing him, went up and said, "Hello, Duruy, is that you?" "Yes," was the reply. "A private soldier?" asked Simon. "Yes," said Duruy. "What of it? We can't all be ministers." "At least," was the minister's polite rejoinder, "we can all set a good example." M. Duruy at that time was already over 60 years of age. — London News.


Ada Rehan's Antiques

Ada Rehan, the actress, has a penchant for antique and handsome furniture. Her house in New York is full of lovely things, and a piano, which is of gilded wood, on which are painted Watteauesque figures of wee maids in white wigs and slim cavaliers in blue and pink knee breeches and frilled coats, is said to be worth several thousand dollars.


Astoria

Astoria, Oregon, took its name from John Jacob Astor, the founder of the Pacific Fur company. It was at first a fort and trading station.


Maize

Japan has developed a variety of maize with leaves beautifully striped with white.

London Summary

1916

London, Sept. 11 — Armies of the five Nations have begun to turn back the German-Bulgar invasion of Greek territory. The British have crossed the Struma and driven their enemy toward Kavala in severe fighting. Under Serbian pressure on the other flank the Bulgarians have retreated toward Monastir, and the French, in the center, have let loose the full power of their artillery, pulverizing Bulgaria's defenses.

Greece is on the verge of war. A Ministerial crisis is imminent, and it is believed Premier Zaimis has already tendered his resignation, reports Reuter's correspondent at Athens. The Greeks, fired by the surrender of the whole provinces to the Bulgars without a blow, are flocking to the Allies for arms and a chance to drive out their bitterest foes.

While Russia is pouring troops into Southeastern Rumania, where the German-Bulgar army has conquered most of the Dobudja, it is claimed, the Rumanian forces are still advancing in Transylvania and overcoming vigorous Austrian resistance.

Vienna declares Russian attacks on Halics in Galicia and along the Kovel front in Russia have been brought to a standstill.

German counter-attacks against the British and French on the Somme front last night and today broke down without regaining any lost ground.

—The Fryeburg Post, Fryeburg, Maine, Sept. 12, 1916, p. 7.

London Summary

1916

London, Sept. 25. — A great attack today by the British and French infantry crushed in the whole German front for an average depth of a mile on the 14-mile line from Martinpuich to the River Somme.

The British captured the powerfully fortified villages of Morval and Les Boeufs, virtually cutting off communication with Combles, and took with a rush several lines of German trenches all the way to Martinpuich, along a six-mile front.

Northeast of Combles the French swept forward to the edge of Fregicourt, almost meeting the English advance on this stronghold from the northwest. Gen. Foch's troops captured the village of Rancourt, a hill near that village and systems of trenches nearly a mile in depth down to the river.

The Germans suffered heavy losses, including a large number of prisoners and much war material.

Gen. Russiloff has begun a fresh offensive on a large scale, according to semiofficial advices from Petrograd, with the purpose of piercing the Austro-German defense from Pripet marshes to the Hungarian border and meeting the challenge of Field Marshal von Hindenburg, who hopes to deal a decisive blow before Winter.

A Russian success in the Rumanian province of Dobrudja is reported in a semiofficial news agency dispatch from Odessa. The dispatch says the Russians took 2000 prisoners.

On another of her numerous battle fronts, in Western Macedonia, part of Russia's countless hosts have begun a violent offensive, along with French and Serbians, against the Austro-German-Bulgar forces north of Florina, where the Allies have captured a hill and a village and are crossing the frontier into Serbia, despite fierce opposition.

French and British troops last night took a village and trenches across the Struma River.

The Italians have carried by storm Garinal Mountain on the Northern Alpine battle line.

Gen. Haig's line now stands three miles from the edge of Bapaume and the nearest curve of the railroad that parallels the German positions and supplies their fighting front on a length of about 20 miles.

Bucharest claims the Rumanian advance in the Caliman Mountains continues, and there and near Hermannstadt prisoners and machine guns were captured. Since they began the invasion of Transylvania the Rumanians have taken 6884 prisoners, it is declared.

Vienna's account asserts: "Rumanian front, between Szurduk and Vulcan Passes, Rumanian advances were repulsed.

"Transylvanian Eastern front: There was lively fighting."

The Rumanian report announces further progress has been made against von Mackensen's army near the Black sea.

It is announced officially in Paris that the number of prisoners taken by the Anglo-French forces on the Somme from July 1 to Sept. 18, aggregated more than 55,800. Of these, 34,050 fell into the hand of the French.

Berlin reports no activity on the whole of the western front.

Deadly Cotton

1916

It takes 400 pounds of cotton to make the powder for one shot from the Queen Elizabeth's guns, or from one of the German 17-inch guns. The same quantity of cotton would provide ammunition for 400 shots from a field gun, or 80,000 rounds from a rifle.

Some idea of the consumption of cotton in the war may be had from the fact that 1,000 tons a day are required to supply the German and Austrian armies with powder.

The British cordite consists of two-thirds guncotton. The raw material is dipped into nitric acid, washed and dried, and the material thus supplied becomes the base of the explosive.

Guncotton can only be made from raw cotton. Woven cotton is of no use, and any attempt to use it would be dangerous. — Tid Bits.

Iron Jewelry No Novelty

1916

Many months ago, almost from the beginning of the war, we were told that German women, following the example of their great-grandmothers, voluntarily gave up their gold rings, necklets, earrings, bracelets and ornaments of every description, to be made or coined into money for the national need.

Whatever truth there may be in this story, there is no doubt that many German women have been presented by the government with iron rings to replace the gold ones they have parted with.

But that happened a century ago. Then Prussia, crushed by Napoleon, and bankrupt, was in dire need of money, and the Prussian women gave up all their jewels and ornaments to help cope with the prevailing poverty. And out of this sacrifice a new industry arose.

This was nothing less than the manufacture of cast-iron jewelry to replace the gold and silver ornaments which the great ladies of the kingdom had given up. At first sight no material would seem less promising as a substitute for the precious metals than iron. It was entirely owing to the wonderful craftsmanship of the ironworkers that the results were so extraordinary.

Strength, of course, would be a distinguishing mark of such jewelry, and a complete set of these iron ornaments, now in the possession of a Toronto (Canada) jeweler, is as rigid and firm as on the day it was made. This particular set, comprising a pair of earrings, necklet, locket and bracelets, has not been looked after until lately.

The ornaments have a wonderfully fragile appearance, due entirely to the exquisite workmanship. Their weight, too, is astonishingly small, the lightness of every article being quite a feature of the set.

How Falkenhayn 'Got In Bad'

1916

Advice to Kaiser Said to Have Led to His Dismissal.

LONDON, England. — According to reports from Germany received here, says a dispatch from Berne, Switzerland, the dismissal of Gen. Erich von Falkenhayn as chief of the German general staff was due to his suggestion of a complete change in Germany's war plans, which Emperor William indignantly rejected.

Predicting the complete downfall of Bulgaria, as the result of converging attacks from the north and south, and in the end a consequent interruption of communications with Turkey, General Von Falkenhayn urged that the whole Balkan campaign be abandoned, that the Eastern line be shortened and that the occupied territory in France be evacuated.

The general expressed the opinion that the transformation of German strategy into a purely defensive campaign on a shorter front would paralyze the Entente Allies and make it impossible for them to crush Austro-German resistance unless they fought with unlimited resources and then for years. Persistence in the present plan of campaign, he said, would lead to disaster.

Field Marshal Von Hindenburg denounced this advice as childish, cowardly and unworthy of the Germans. Emperor William took Von Hindenburg's view and dismissed Von Falkenhayn.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Sept. 16, 1916, p. 2.

Was One Great Large Fool

1910

German Applicant for Citizenship Gives His Opinion of Subject of Polygamy

Herman Selferth, a wood turner from Germany, was among the first of a score of applicants seeking "papers" from a federal judge in Kansas recently. Herman had been in America seven years, and his conversation, albeit a trifle warped, was quite understandable.

So it was with no great effort that the judge and others understood Herman solemnly to assert that liberty was the capital of Missouri and that Abraham Lincoln was the first president of the United States.

So far, so good. The questions of law and morals proved a bit more difficult.

"What do you think of polygamy?" the assistant district attorney inquired.

"Vot iss?" parried the examinee, puzzled.

"Polygamy — polygamy," the interlocutor repeated. "Do you believe it is right, proper and lawful?"

Herman was stumped. There appeared to be no word in the lexicon of the Vaterland that sounded enough like polygamy to give Herman even a false start. The judge ventured a hint.

"What do you think of a man that would have several wives at the same time?" the court asked.

That was easy. Herman looked vastly relieved.

"Oh," he rejoined, positively. "I think such a man would be one great, large fool." And the court was so well satisfied with Herman's moral attitude and right intent that the "papers" were forthcoming despite the applicant's minor inaccuracies in history and geography.

As Dr. Johnson Said It

1910

George Augustus Sala's eloquent testimony to the superiority of English viands reminds us of Dr. Johnson's outburst after examining a French menu.

"Sir," said he to the faithful Boswell, "my brain is obfuscated with the perusal of this heterogeneous conglomeration of bastard English ill spelt and a foreign tongue. Bid the rascals bring me a dish of hog's puddings, a slice or two from the upper cut of a well roasted sirloin and two apple dumplings."


National Traits

It takes one hour to know a Frenchman, one month to know a German, almost a lifetime to know an Englishman — well.

What German Soldiers Want for Christmas

1915

The Berliner Tageblatt has published the replies of the various German armies to its inquiry of what the soldier boys would like to have sent them for Christmas.

Following is a summary of what the soldiers ask for:

Army of the Crown Prince: Red wine, cigars, cigarettes, smoking tobacco, canned milk, sewing materials, chocolate and cheese.

Army of Von Hindenburg: Honey cakes, herring, preserves, mitts, mufflers, ladies' muffs, sewing material, chocolates, mouth harmonicas, pocketknives.

Army of Mackensen: Sausage, lard or butter, dried fruits, chocolates, smoked fish, accordions or harmonicas. No woolen goods.

Army of Gallwitz: Cigars, cigarettes, chocolates, soap, sardines, fish, preserves, sewing materials, darning needles and wool, any kind of musical instrument, picture books and comic papers.

Army of Loewenfeld: Cigars, cigarettes, smoking tobacco, chocolates, stockings, handkerchiefs, canned milk.

Army of Von Kooster: Stockings, mitts, mufflers, towels, handkerchiefs, soap, chocolates, pickled meats, wine, beer, electric pocket lamps, pocketknives, funny papers.

The list offers variety for all tastes and purses.

An Incomplete Education

1899

Ignorance, even dense ignorance, is often to be met with in this country of public schools, but it is seldom that one finds a man in all his senses whose mind does not contain some suspicion of a world beyond his potato-patch or logging-camp.

Among the European peasantry, however, education is often absolutely unknown. Sad to say, a conversation which occurred between a French conscript recently taken from his farm and the adjutant of his regiment is not unique, although it may sound so.

"Come!" said the adjutant. "You are a Frenchman — a soldier; do you know why you are here instead of working in the fields? I ask you why you are here — a soldier? You give no answer. Have you never heard of the Germans?"

"No, my adjutant."

"You have never heard of the Germans? What is Germany?"

"I don't know."

"Are you a Frenchman or a German?"

"I don't know."

"This is wonderful! Where were you born?" "At Vaucouleurs, my adjutant."

"At Vaucouleurs, and not a patriot! Did no one ever tell you of the invasion?"

"No, my adjutant."

It would be hard for a Jacques of Vaucouleurs to grow up in the United States. — Youth's Companion.

Bagpipe Music Kills a Horse

1896

The important question of whether or not the bagpipes are musical instruments has been settled in the negative by a Milwaukee jury.

William Mattham brought suit against the Wisconsin Theatre Company for damages sustained by his horse taking fright at a procession headed by a Scottish piper in full Highland costume, who was waking the echoes with "The Campbells Are Coming." The sight caused the horse to rear and plunge and finally drop dead.

The foreman of the jury happened to be a German with decided opinions on the question of music. The prosecution sought to show that the bagpipe was not a musical instrument. In this the foreman agreed. He held that it had no place in a Wagnerian symphony, and was nothing but a "doodle-sack." In consequence of these views the jury returned the following unique verdict:

"State of Wisconsin, Milwaukee County. William Mattham vs. Wisconsin Theatre Company, ss. — We, the jury in the above entitled action, find:

"1. That the doodle-sack is not a musical instrument.

"2. That the said horse, being of a nervous temperament, was scared to death by an unearthly noise made by a friend with the aforesaid doodle-sack.

"3. That the plaintiff shall recover from the defendants for said horse the sum of $125." — Chicago Times-Herald.


Wouldn't Wind His Clock

A jeweler of Tuscola, Michigan, says that during the past year one clock has been brought to him seven times for repairs, and each time all that was wrong with it was that it needed winding. Each time he explained the cause to the owner, but after a few weeks, or sometimes months, the clock, being neglected, would stop, the owner would shake it, blow in it, and then take it to the jeweler, who would astonish him by winding it and handing it back. — New York Sun.

Attila, King of The Huns

1915

Warrior-Barbarian Who Ravaged a Great Part of Europe in the Fifth Century

"Like the Huns under Attila" is a phrase which is on everybody's lips at the present time. Yet comparatively few people know by whom it was first used, or understand the reference.

It was with these words that the Kaiser bid farewell to his troops when they were dispatched to China to help put down the Boxer rising: "Gain a reputation like the Huns under Attila," he told them, says London Tit-Bits. The significance of the advice will be appreciated when it is realized that Attila was a barbaric chief whose ravages in Europe about the beginning of the fifth century gained for him the name of "the Scourge of God."

The leader of countless hordes of Huns, who were a Mongol race which crossed the Volga and struck terror into Europe, he was regarded by his men with superstitious reverence and by Christendom with superstitious dread. Among the acts which were committed by his direction were the following:

Bleda, his brother and co-chieftain, put to death.

All the countries between the Black sea and the Mediterranean devastated and pillaged.

Thrace, Macedon and Greece overrun, and 70 flourishing cities devastated.

Several cities in Italy razed to the ground and their inhabitants put to the sword.

Conquered peoples either killed or forced to follow in his train as prisoners.

Yet for all this ruthlessness Attila was a magnificent soldier and a striking personality. He was induced to spare Rome from destruction by the personal mediation of Pope Leo I, who is said to have subdued his ferocity into awe by the apostolic majesty of his mien. This deliverance was regarded as a miracle by the affrighted Romans, and old chroniclers relate that the Apostles Peter and Paul appeared in Attila's camp and changed his purpose.

Attila died on the night of his marriage with the beautiful Hilda — possibly by her hand. His death spread consternation through the host of Huns, who cut themselves with knives, shaved their heads and then prepared to celebrate the funeral rites of their king.

His body was placed in three coffins — the first of gold, the second of silver and the third of iron. The caparisons of his horses with his arms and ornaments were buried with him, while the captives employed to make his grave were all put to death so that none might betray the last resting place of Attila, king of the Huns.

Note: In World War I reporting, the Germans were frequently called the "Huns."

Loss of Wife's Love Worse Than Jail

Feb. 1920

Released Spy Hopeless When He Learns She Will Rewed

SAN FRANCISCO — The highest hope of Wilhelm von Brincken, cherished by the former attache of the old German consulate in San Francisco during his twenty months' imprisonment for violation of American neutrality, was shattered upon his liberation a few days ago when he learned that his divorced wife was engaged to marry another.

"She is all I have been living for," said Von Brincken, referring to the beautiful Milo Ambercrombie, mother of his two children, who divorced him on patriotic grounds while he was serving his terms at McNeil's Island. "I had expected to effect a reconciliation, to take out citizenship papers and to father my children in the land I love above all others. Now — with these other plans — I am too shocked to think."

The former Mrs. Von Brincken, who has resumed her maiden name, has announced her forthcoming marriage to Lieut. Lyman K. Swenson of the United States Navy.


Demands $500 for Snow Bath

WOOD CENTER, N. Y. — Byron Smith went to the depot here to take the train to Yonkers. He purchased his ticket and a few minutes later heard the approaching train. As he left the depot a quantity of snow fell from the roof of the building completely burying him. Smith crawled out and went home. He demands $500 for his snow bath and says the company must pay.

Frenchwoman Describes Her Experiences at Soissons

Printed Jan. 1915

Live in Daily Dread of Shrapnel as Bombardment Continues

Edinburgh, Scotland. — A letter has just been received here from a Frenchwoman whose home is in Soissons, long one of the hotly contested points on the French battlefront. She describes to her Scotch friend the misery of he inhabitants of the city. The Germans, it seems, were driven out, but not beyond the range of their big guns. The Frenchwoman did not desert her home. She says:

"We have to remain in our house, for we really could not bring ourselves to leave it and all our possessions, although most of the inhabitants have left the town.

"For three months the bombardment of the town has continued, sometimes for days and nights without ceasing, and then we hide in the cellar — you may guess how happy we are. We simply live in dread of the shrapnel, which is going to fall on our house and set it on fire and bury us in the ruins.

"You have no idea what terrible engines of war the Germans have. Seeing everything around us burn and fall to pieces, we live in a sort of nightmare. Everything in our quarter is demolished. Fortunately our house has so far escaped, though all the tiles are smashed and the windows broken by the force of the detonations. You may imagine how uncomfortable we are in this cold weather, and the terrible thing is that no one can say how long it will last.

"On their way back from the Marne the Germans took possession of all the quarries along the hills to the north, which they had carefully prepared on their way south with concrete and iron, making of them veritable forts. They are terribly clever, and now they are shelling Soissons from the quarries of Pasley, Clamency and Crouy, from which they can dominate all the main roads from the town. There is absolutely no chance of taking them by surprise, because from there they see everything that happens. They have got the light railway to Coucy, which enables them to revictual from the rear. From Coucy and Chauny they have the main lines right to Germany, so that they can bring up re-enforcements as they require them.

"They have driven away all inhabitants, and they take everything movable they come across.

"Quite a lot of English soldiers have been here — fine men and splendid horses (we have not a horse left in the district) — but now they have left this quarter and are in the north. They did well, too, and I am sorry for them where they are, for with the severe weather they are going to be very uncomfortable.

"We also had some of our own men from the south, and they were shivering with the cold, for now it is freezing hard. I forgot to tell you that Crouy, Cuffies, Vailly and all these villages you know so well are all razed to the ground — churches, houses, everything — nothing remains.

"As I write the bombardment commences afresh, and I must run. The room is shaking and the table dances. Who knows? It is perhaps our turn now, for as I told you, we await the shrapnel that is to finish us off."

Lauds The Bantam Soldier

1915

British Medical Journal Says the Little Fellows Are Good for Trench Work

London. — That little men have many advantages in war time over their bigger brothers is an argument advanced in the British Medical Journal.

After expressing the view that 30,000 have been lost to the army in the last few weeks owing to the present high standard, the journal says:

"Not a little is to be said in favor of short infantry. Short men occupy less room in transport. They find cover more easily and offer a smaller mark to bullets and shrapnel. They are better sheltered in trenches and require to dig less deep trenches to protect themselves.

"It takes less khaki to clothe them and less leather to boot them. The army blanket covers them more amply and they need much less food than tall, thin men to keep up their body heat and maintain their marching energy.

"Those who stand the rigors of cold climates are not always big men and the sailor, like the wind-swept tree on the coast, may be a short man. Warmth and easy conditions of life rather tend to the development of tall men.

"The cavalry and artillerymen require to be big and powerful, but as to those who burrow in the trenches, how can it matter whether they are four feet nine or five feet six? We are not out for a show and a parade, but to win a war of sieges and attrition."


Germans Advised To Save

Commerce Minister Warns People to Be Sparing With Their Grain

Paris. — The Amsterdam Handelsblad says the Prussian minister of commerce has issued a proclamation which says that although Germany is well provided with grain the people should not waste it.

"The enemy," the minister says, "are trying to starve Germany as if it were a fortress. Therefore be sparing of your bread. Remember that the soldiers would be glad to have on the field of battle the bread you waste."

Germans Bury Dead Without Clothing

1918

Permit Only Paper to Be Wrapped About Bodies to Be Interred

The Germans are expected to strip their dead before they bury them. Bodies are to be placed into the coffins without a stitch of clothing. They may be wrapped in paper, however. This is the only concession made to the relatives of the dead, whose feelings are hurt by the order.

Clothing is very scarce in Germany. Every scrap counts. The government has no use for sentimentalists who would squander garments on the dead while the living are without clothes. The rules and regulations regarding burials are not observed strictly enough by the population of Munich, says the Neueste Nachrichten. According to a report published by the mayor's office there were 936 men buried in Prince Albert coats and 1,300 men buried in sack coats during the year, while 136 women were buried in silk and 2,132 in woolen dresses.

In Munich the custom of hiring women who attend to washing and dressing the dead is in vogue. These women, the official attendants of the dead, have been ordered by the mayor to refuse their services wherever they are asked to put into the coffin a corpse clothed in anything but paper. These professional women are held responsible for the execution of the edict.

In order to facilitate matters it has been proposed to inaugurate a new activity on the part of the state. All the clothing worn by and left by a person deceased is to be turned over to the authorities, who will furnish a paper costume for the body. Thus no more of these precious textile materials are to be buried with the dead.

Two Women Stopped Selling Books, Feared Pro-German

Ohio, 1918

GIRL STUDENTS WERE CANVASSING FOR A PRO-GERMAN BOOK

Sheriff Charles Swank was called to Hanover last Friday to make an investigation of two young women, of Mt. Vernon, who were selling a book, said to be pro-German. They were in the village in the morning of that day and the sheriff did not receive the call until the afternoon and by that time they had left.

Yesterday they were again reported to him and he found them on the road between Hanover and Purity. He gave them orders that no more of the books were to be sold in Licking county. Both of the young women were students and were canvassing to make a little extra money during the summer vacation, and were perfectly innocent of doing anything out of the way. Upon the advice of the sheriff they returned to Newark with him and returned to their homes at Mt. Vernon from here.

The title of the book was "A World In Perplexity," and the substance of it was that the American people wanted peace at any price. The book was put on sale by J. C. Castle, head of the Ohio Tract Society. They also were taking orders for another book, "The Prophesies of the World," but had no copies of it in their possession and were selling it from a prospectus. The Sheriff carefully examined this but found nothing that pointed to the fact that this was pro-German, nevertheless the sale of both books will be prohibited in this county hereafter.

—The Newark Advocate, Newark, Ohio, June 11, 1918, p. 5.


TWO MORE GIRLS FOUND SELLING FORBIDDEN BOOK

Sheriff Charles H. Swank was called to the south-eastern part of the county yesterday afternoon to make an investigation of two young women who were selling books in that vicinity. He met them one-half mile north of Brownsville and found they were selling the same books as the two girls found near Hanover, Monday. They gave their names as Earline Trapp and Violet Murphy, both of Mt. Vernon, and were working for the same people as the other two girls were.

The books are being put out by J. I. Castle, head of the Ohio Tract society of Mt. Vernon, and the one book, "A World in Perplexity," has been found to have pro-German tendencies and the sale of the same has been forbidden in Licking county. The other book, "Our Day in the Light of Prophecy" was carefully examined by the sheriff and he found it to be alright, with nothing in it detrimental to the government and gave them permission to continue selling it.

The girls were entirely innocent of any wrong doings and were very much overcome when the sheriff told them that the one book was pro-German. The had sold a number of copies of the book, which met the approval of the sheriff and as soon as the information spread over the community, orders were canceled over the telephone practically at the very house they stopped at. The girls had worked hard in making the sales as they have walked the entire distance over the county and to find that their work had been all in vain was quite a blow to them.

Sheriff Swank gave them one of his personal cards, stating that the text of the latter named book was alright and that it met with his approval and allowed them to continue the sale of the same, but the distribution of the other book will be prohibited in this county.

—The Newark Advocate, Newark, Ohio, June 13, 1918, p. 6.

Note: "A World in Perplexity" was by Arther G. Daniells, published by Pacific Press or Review and Herald, which are names for the Seventh Day Adventist church folks' publishing house. The other, "Our Day in the Light of Prophecy," was by William Ambrose Spicer, same publishing info. I don't know these particular books, but I've seen books like them, in which they size up all the bad news of the day as signs of God's work of judgment and final deliverance. Even "progress" is seen for its negative aspects, how families are broken up, girls go off the the city and are disgraced, etc. I would guess they would portray Germany as being very formidable, lots of men, lots of armaments, since these big battles at the end of the world can't be minimized, and that's the problem for the Sheriff, and that they don't actually take a "pro-German" view. Their business was religion and conversion, not politics or sedition. As for Brother Castle, the one article definitely gives a "C" for his middle initial, the other is hard to read but looks like an "I."