davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22
CHINESE POOR SOLDIERS
H. II. Windsor in the November Populs Mechanics Magazine.

H. IT, Windsor in the November Popular Mechanics Magazine.
 The Chinaman is a poor soldier: Not that he is lacking in courage, for on oc- casion he cheerfully sells himself as sub stitute and goes willingly to the exeeu- toner's ax in order to provide his par ents with the small sum necessary to sup port them through life. The strength of an army is in teamwork, and here Is where he fails on account of his aversion to being ordered. This is found in his domestic and industria, work A general line of policy or desired results can be laid down, and he will faithfully work in accordance herewith but he dislikes to be followed up through the details of the work with frequent orders. He will pro duce excellent results-but they must be accomplished in his own way Hence the essence of good militarism- prompt and unquestioned obedience-comes in direct conflict with his nature, and makes him roor soldier. However, this trait is not entirely wanting in other nationalities, as every business man knows to his sorrow, and the difficulty of getting employees to do thing in the prescribed way is one of the constant anxeties.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22
British ProjectiIes One-third Less

The American manufacturer has received severe jolt. It came when British manufacturer of steel pro- jectiles underbid American firms on a naval contract, the difference on 12 and 14-inch shells being nearly $1 100000 in favor of the English maker. This result has opened Uncle Sam's eyes to the situation. The bid of the English maker may operate very much as the threat to establish a government armor plate plant did several years ago when the price was cut about $250 a ton.
 At first it was said that the eight hour law would prevent an award of the contract to the English bidder the Hadfield company-but the gov ernment holds that the eight-hour clause is strictly of domestic na- ture, and cannot be made to fit an English bid. It has therefore been determined to award portion of the contract to the English concern in or der that the quality of its product may be fully tested. The remainder of the contract will be divided among the American bidders even though there be suspicion that they have agreed among themselves to keep up prices.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22
The Presidential Campaign

T have been a voter B years and have always voted the republican ticket
 but this year I intend to cast my bal lot for Roosevelt" said L. T. Wheaton of Pittsburg. My democratic friends think that Wilson has a walkover but in this they are over confident, be- lieve
 Roosevelt may not be elected, but he will get a very large vote, and if we can have whirlwind efforts at the
 close of the campaign I would not be surprised to see the ex-President vie-
 torious. Roosevelt, I think, has a good
 chance of carrying Pennsylvania"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22
AMERICAN APARTMENTS

In Harper's for November Arnold Ben nett expresses the opinion that our apart ment hotels and flat houses are a pern;- cious influence in American life.
 Assuming that the couple have no chil- dren, there is a good chance of catching them later, splendidly miserable. in a high class apartment house, where the entire daily adventure of living is taken out of your hands and done for you, and you pay a heavy price in order to be deprived of one of the main interests of existence. The apartment house ranks in my opinion among the more pernicious influences in American life. As an institution it is unhappily establishing itself in England, and in England it is terrible. I doubt if it is less terrible in it's native land. It is anti-social because 1t works always against the preservation of the family unit, and because it is unfair to children, and because it prevents the full towering of an individuality. Nobody can be him self in an apartment house; if he tried that game he would instantly be thrown out) It is immoral because 1t fosters bribery and because it is pretentious it. self and encourages pretense in it's vic tins. It is unfavorable to the growth of taste because it's decorations and furni- ture are and must be ugly; they descend to the artistic standard of the vulgarest people in it, and have not even the merit of being the expression of any individual ity at all. It is enervating because it favors the creation of a race that can do absolutely nothing for itself. It is unhealthy because it is sometimes less clean than it seems, and because often m forces it's victims to eat in dining room whose walls are d distressing pan orama of Swiss scenery, and because it's cuisine is and must be at best mediocre since meals at once sound and showy cannot be prepared wholesale.
 Some apartment houses are better than others; many are possibly marvels of organization and vasue for money. But none can wholly escape the indictment The institution itself, though # may wei be a natural and inevitable by-produci of racial evolution, is bad
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22
Gov. Dix Stands for Free Speech

Little Falls, in central New York, contains many knitting mills in which various articles of underwear are manufactured, chiefly from cotton. The employees of some of these mills have struck and the Little Falls muni- cipality favors and supports the mill operators as against the strikers. Mayor Lunn of Schnectady and six other socialists were arrested and charged with felony because they at tempted to address the people in the streets of Little Falls.
 This action of the authorities of Little Falls has brought Governor Dix into the case. He tells the sher- if and mayor in the little town that the right of free speech and the right of the people peacefully to assemble and discuss public questions is in New York a constitutional guarantee, and Governor Dix tells the mayor of Lit tie Falls and the sheriff of the county that those rights must not be unnec- essarily curtailed. The mayor and the sheriff have been told that the people of the state expect them to see that those rights "are respected in spirit as well as in letter."
 A meeting in the park of Little Falls was held yesterday in which Charles Edward Russell, the socialist candidate for governor, spoke, and no doubt we have seen the culmina- tion of this tempest in teapot in the New York campaign. The battle of Little Falls involved no broken heads and no bloodshed. It was nevertheless battle for free speech and the right to assemble and discuss public ques- tions.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22
WHY SHE DELAYED

From the Kansas City Star.
 An old negro woman who had been sent to jail professed to the judge one day that she had become converted. She requested that the jailer be permitted to remove her from the jail to be baptized.
 why not be baptized in jail?' asked the judge.
 "4Ah wants to be immersed, cause An don't believe sprinllin' is valid baptism, D she replied.
 The judge made no promise. but in- structed the clerk of the court to pre- pare an order stating that the court had decided sprinkling was valid baptism. The old negress was shown the order.
 Tell de jedge Is powerful thankful for dat. I'd got religion d long time ago if I'd knowed l didn't have to be soused clean under"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22
REMARKABLE ARMY

Zurich Cor. Brooklyn Citizen.
 The Kaiser has come and gone. He saw and was convinced For years he has wanted to see the Republican Militia army of Switzerland. Finally he frank ly said he would like to be invited, and the Swiss could hardly do otherwise than invite him. He came-the first crowned head to pay Switzerland an official visit. The Swiss are proud of it, excepting, per- haps, some socialists.
 The Kaiser quickly perceived the effec- tiyeness and efficiency or the wholly citi- zen army of Switzerland. With his usual frankness he spoke words of praise which fell pleasantly even upon Swiss ears, coming, as they did. from the head of the greatest army in the world.
 His Majesty saw an army organized upon a basis which costs s9,0o0000 a year, as against ssJ0,0 O00. which he pays for his own military and sea forces. In the event of war Switzerland would muster about 325000 trained troops. It Is esti- mated that 4o.oo0 youths of about Is, all excellent marksmen. would also volun- teer, and that, all told. Switzerland would have more than aOo,0oo men for defense.
 Military training in Switzerland begins with the sixteenth year, but Is voluntary until 20 is reached. Every town has its ''cadet corps. Every youth and the vast majority of men belong to "schuetzen ver- eins.'' When most boys are still riding hobby horses the Swiss boy is already be- ing taught which is the business end of a gun and that you should never look into that end
 Thero is no standing army in Switzer- land. There are. however, several thou- sand permanent officers, commissioned and n-commissioned, who are the paid in- structors." The number of men that these instructors constantly have under training suffices for all peace purposes.
 At the age of 20 years every Swiss be- gins military duty. In the infantry he is trained 65 days the first time; if he en- ters the artillery, 75 days. and with the cavalry 90 days. He is then dismissed. and between that time and his thirty second year he serves 77 days in Il periods of seven days each; in the cavalry, eight periods of II days each. The Swiss aver age about 1S0 days actual service and training up to his forty-eight year, when military service is no longer required
 Switzerland can mobilize It's army in less time than any other nation. This is made possible b the fact that every man who has served and is subject to call takes his uniform rifle and equipment home with him. Hence the Swiss army is constantly under arms. At specified times the equip ment is inspected and 1t should be saie that the equipment of the regular armies of Europe are not kept in better shape than that of the Swiss citizen soldier.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22
WHEN DISEASE MEANS POVERTY

From the Syracuse Post-Standard.
 From one point of view it is discourag- ing to learn that the ruin of families more often results from disease than from anything else From another point of view the figure sent out by the New York Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor have a brighter side.
 If one-quarter of the families that ap- piled for aid in New York between Oc- tober and June were forced to seek aid because of illness, and If one-third of their illness is the preventable disease known as tuberculosis, then the problem of abolishing poverty will be far lighter In proportion to the population twenty years hence than it is today.
 Tuberculosis can be abolished. We are on the way to that consummation. With it's removal from the causes of death in the great cities will vanish one-eighth of the Restitution that now exists.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22
The southern. Annual Report

The Southern Railway company has just published it's eighteenth annual report
 in elegant pamphlet form. President w..
 W. Finley says among other things:
 No part of the United States should
 benefit more from the approaching coni- pleton of the Panama canal than the ter ritory traversed by this companys lines. The geographical relation of the canal to the south Atlantic and gulf ports served
 by these lines is advantageous; and condi- tions are favorable for the production in
 the southeast of many of the manufast-
 ured products which are in demand in the
 markets of Central and South America, Asia and the Pacific islands. to which the canal will open a more direct route.
 Increased attention is being given to the development of direct trade with tte markets of the Atlantic side of South America, as well as those that will be reached by way of the canal. During the fiscal year regular steamship service was established between New Orleans and the ports of Rio de Janero and Santos. Bra gil. and Bilenos Ayres. Argentina; and | since the close of the fiscal year regular service has been inaugurated between Mo bile and the ports of Montevideo,
 Uruguay. anl Buenos Ayres and Rosario,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22
It stuck upon him, ns the sun I. the gray vault of heaven.
 -2 King Henry lS'
Vocational Schools

The proposed vocational school that the Illinois Central railroad will per haps establish in this city should De warmly invited. A committee from that company will soon come here and if they are properly met a voca- t;onal school will no doubt be estab- ished in which the boys will spend one day in the Illinois Central shops learning mechanical lines, and the next in the High school. This will 20 on alternately until the young man is ready to leave school.
 The vocational school is of German origin and it is spreading over the civilized world. We should welcome it here, and Superintendent Phillips will no doubt second the motion, Tor he is a warm advocate of vocational training. The alliance between science and practice can be rendered highly useful in the proposed combination of the Illinois Central shops and the High school. The committee of the railroads bureau of education will soon come here, and the hope is that an arrangement will be made by which boys mechanically inclined will be selected from the High school to serve as shop apprentices. The plan has been adopted in the public schools of Cincinnati, and it could be applied successfully in this city.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22
OUR MOST CROWDED STREET

Arnold Bennett, in Harper's Magazine
 for November.
 The supreme sensation of the East Side is the sensation of it's astounding popu- lousness The most popuous street Tn the world-Rivington street-is sight not to he forgotten Compared to this, an up- town thoroughfare of crowded middle class flats in the open country-is an un- inhabited desert, The architecture seemed to sweat humanity at every window and door. The roadways were often impas- sable. The thought of the hidden interiors was terrifying. Indeed. the hidden in- teriors would not bear thinking about. The fancy summed them-a problem not to be settled by sudden municipal edicts, but only by the efflux of generations. Confronted by this spectacle of slckly faced immortal creatures, who lie closer than any other wild animals would lie; who live picturesque. feverish and appall- ing existences; who amuse themselves. who enrich themselves, who very often lift themselves out of the swarming war ren and leave 1t forever, but whose daily experience in the warren is merely and simply horrible--confro..ted by this in- comparable and overwhelming phantas-
 magoria dor such 1t seems), one is fool ishly apt to protest, to inveigh, to accuse. The answer to futile animadversions was l in my particular friends query Well.
 what are you going to do about it2'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22
THRIE'T

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer The brisk little man who had dropped in to buy up the householder's old tires. smiled broadly as he closed the pur- chase. q made me a good bargain only yester- day." he said.
 How was that?" inquired the house. holder.
 T bought me a two-hundred dollar au-
 tomobile by the West Side for only $S- a fine car. Then l put some little re- pairs on it and a good shine, and made it an offer to a friend of mine for
 BOO" "Eh. Did you get it?" q got fifteen. I wish I could find me
 some bargains like those every day" And he went away smiling broadly.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22
Traaes Parade Suggested

I believe Birmingham could get up a fine trades parade next spring" said w. F. Shelby. And a floral parade, such as we had for the Confederate veterans reunion in 1908, in connection with carni- val procession displaying Birmingham g varied industries and mercantile business would give us magnificent gala affair. If all the business interests would unite in such an enterprise we could count on q great crowd of visitors"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22
REFLECTIONS OF BACHELOR

From the New York Press. The trouble with woman whose face is her fortune is that she'll waste it.
 What makes Il mans expenses so high
 is for him to have low bank account. The baby is never going to feel so bad
 about looking like its father as it's mother feels.
 Telling a woman she has pearls in her mouth isn't going to cure her of wanting some for her neck. | Whenever the coal bills for d mans s family get up anywhere near the cigar bills for himself he begins 10 denounce
 aAtortion.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22

in Wall street, but there is an inclina- ton to bet that Roosevelt will get more votes than Taft At one cafe in Brook lyn more Wilson money is offered than can be placed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22
THEY FELL AT BANNOCKBURN

Ramsay's Scottish Characteristics.
 A splenetic Englishman said to a Scot tish countryman. something of a wag, maiffing any time in such a country as Scotland. To which the canny Scot re- piled. Tastes differ; I'se talk ye to d place, no far frae Stirlin, whaur thretty thousand O yer countrymcn ha' been for five hundred years, an they've nae thoot o' leaving vet.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22

cident with a bruised eye. and this eye has been removed in order to save the is nothing the automobile is not capa- ble of.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22
THE LITTLE WAVES OF BREFFNy

By Era Gore-Booth Tn grand road from the mountain goes
 shining to the sea.
 And there is traffic in it and many
 horse and cart, But the little roads of Cloonagh are
 dearer lar to me,
 And the little roads of Cloonagh go
 rambling through my heart. A great storm from the ocean goes
 shouting OCT the hill.
 And there is glory in and terror on the
 wind, But the haunted afr of twilight is very strange and still.
 And the little winds of twilight are dearer to my mind. The great waves of the Atlantic sweep storming on their way. Shining green and silver Witn tho hidden herring shoal. But the Little Waves of Breffny have drenched my heart in spray. And the Little Waves of Breffny so
 stumbling through my soul
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22

John Shrank indignantly denies that he is socialist. He claims to be conserva- tive who clings to the unwritten law against third terms. So much for theory. In practice he was at heart a murderer.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22

Infant John Jacob Astor is playing in great luck. It is not to be a bottle-fed baby. butt the question arises, will the baby's mother do her whole duty?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22
TOM LAWSON AND THE SYSTEM
BY BILL VINES

la little stingy raising only a million for perfectly good democratic nomi- nee when they had spent manly times
 that sum for one of the republican brand
 But any how, Thomas, the weasel.
 foiled them, and he don't care hoot
 whether the Clapp committee likes his
 brand of testimony or not.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22
THE POETS.

How sweet the songs the poets sing, Inspired by happy thoughts of spring. But sadness holds their muse in thrall When autumn leaves begin to fall. And yet this mood is but a pose
 And they who sigh for summers rose Are fiekle wights and creatures vain, Who soon will be quite gay againl
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22

Some New Workers loaded up with se- curities save handsome income by nov ing to Washington, where personal prop erty goes untaxed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22

Prophet Marcus Well sees farther into next month than do Prophets Hilles, Me Combs and Dixon. Watch his final pre- dictions.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22

Four kings are lined up against Turkey, but one sublime porte with a full lot of queens may hold them down.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22

Eugene W. Chain is himself a presi- dential candidate, and he admits that Wilson will carry 40 states.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22

A defaulter in Belgium robbed "A banks of $5,6O0,o oo0 He fled with slo0,oo0 in his pocket and has not been caught.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22

It is Officially stated that the prices Of
 Holsters on the hoof have not been raised over those of last year.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22

Next to food trust war is the worst thing that can happen to a consumer.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22

Do not lose faith in your colleagues. The country will be saved November ,, only two weeks away.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22

The Turks are beginning to see already that this war is peculiarly and essentially a holy one.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22

Merkles neglect in not touching second base is forgotten in the muffing of a fly by Snodgrass.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22

Nat Goodwins troubles all wear skirts and it is just one skirt after another.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22

Pauline Wayne, the administration COW. still retains good appetite for bran wholly regardless of straw votes.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22

More cars are being handled in this dis trict each month, but business is inereas- ing so fast there is still a car shortage.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22

Soloman supported all his wives readily because no beef trust existed in his reign
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22

The reckless motorists should restrain themselves until there is more room il the hospitals.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22
PASSING POOR.

Her face is her fortune.'
 ''Ah, mel That's roundabout way you have of saying she will never own limousine"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22
A GREAT HELP,

The poets task would be as hard As any ever seen, If cruel fate forbade the bard
 To use the phrase T ween.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22

snodgrass, poor fellow. is now out. classed in New York by It's policemen.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22

An X-ray photograph of the bull moose platform would disclose a good many Per kinscs.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
PRECAUTIONARY

PRECAUTIONARY The grafter halts and turns quite pale; The law he snarls, ..fs on my trail, And s seen no more to wear a smile. Until he's safely hid his pile.
 REALLY A SMALL NATTER
 Have you anything against Timpers?. Nothing more than the fact that he makes film word of two syllables'' HARD TO TELL.
 We don't know who's A greater bore,
 freshman or A sophomore.
 THE HEIGHT OF ROMANCE.
 Romantic love, indeed, may be said to be on it's last legs"-Gertrude Ather- ton.
 Oh, cheer up, Gertie. A great many young men continue to get married on salary of SIP week, who can be called neither cold nor calculating.
 THE sLIGHTED CANDIDATE. How sweet the sound or his own voice
 To his attentive ears; But when he cried, I'm the peoples choice." Came no responsive cheers. HER CHERISHED SECRET.
 Little Jack, aged five. had accompanied his mother on trip to the city. When the conductor came around to col feet the fares he asked the usual ques- tion: After being informed the correct age, which did not require fare, the conduc- tor passed on to the next person. The lad sat quite still apparently pom dering over something: then, concluding that full information had not been given, he called loudly to the conductor at the other end of the car: And mothers thirty-five." ."-Harper's Bazar for November. PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22
IN ABEYANcE.

IN ABEYANCE. And who's little girl are you?'' T can't till you, thir until tomorrow, thir.'
 Why can't you tell me today?" "Becauth the court ithn't goin to de- thide mother'th diyorth cathe until tomor- row, thir.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22
REACHING A LIMIT.

REACHING A LIMIT. A young woman appearing at a vaude- vile theatre in Birmingham is billed as the "adroit adducent athletess." Until the present time We had no idea that "apt alliteration's artful aid' could prove so frightfully abortive.
 HER CHIEF AIM.
 The chorus girl
 Cares not for books;
 She studies to
 Improve her looks.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22
THE HEIGHT OF ROMANCE.

I Romantic love, indeed, may be said
 to be on it's last legs."-Gertrude Ather-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-22

PRECAUTIONARY.
 The grafter halts and turns quite pale;
 The law, he snarls, "is on my trail" Ana seen no more to wear a smile, Until he's safely hid his pile.