davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-24
A ChriStmas .ION

lone of the chief joys of the Christmas
season to me is to get out and mix with
the crowds" said man who has caught
the holiday spirit Ordinarily 1 avoid
crowds, but at Christmas it affords me
great enjoyment to be on the streets.
Everyone this year seems to he filed with
the true spirit of Christmas. Everyone
is laughing and willing TO put up with
the little Inconvenience that are newt
able
There are many types which are in
terestng to the observer. One can almost
tell for whom present is being bought
by noting the air of the purchaser. There
is the anxious mother who has over
looked a present for one of the children;
the boy who doesn't know what to get for
DADDY; the young lady consumed with
anxiety to get just the right thing for her
sweetheart.
ut is interesting to watch woman
shop by herself, but when she has her
husband with her the fun is redoubled. A
man goes in, asks for what he wants,
decides whether it will do or not, pays
for it if it suits him and goes out. A
woman will debate the matter at great
length with whoever is with her. She
wants all available opinions on the sub
ject even though she has already made up
her mind to buy the article.
EVERY Christmas 1 make it a point
to be on the street as much as possible,
fol- there is more of human nature in evil
dence then than at any other time
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-24
The Health of an Emperor

Again news comes that Emperor
Franz Josef of Austria is in bad
health. Those close to the court circles
Of Vienna believe that the aged mon
arch is sinking slowly to the grave.
The life of this scion Of the house
of Hapsburg- Lorraine has not been a
happy one. Born in 1880, he was pro-
claimed Emperor of Austria after the
aDdication of his uncle in December,
1913. His eldest brother was the i'll
fated Macmillan, Emperor of Mexico
from 1864 to 1857, who was executed
at Queretaro by the victorious repub-
licans. His widow, Carlotta, still sur
wives, a hopeless maniac.
Archduke Rudolph was the only son
of Franz Josef. He married Stephanie,
daughter of the King of the Belgiums,
and their only child was girl. Ru-
dolph died by suicide in 1889.
Elizabeth, daughter of Duke Maxi
milan of Bavaria, was the wife of
Franz Josef. She was slain by an an
archist at Geneva, Switzerland, Sep
TENDER 10, 1898.
Archduke Francis Ferdinand is heir
presumptive to the thrones of Austria
and Hungary. He is son OF the pres
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-24
CLEVELAND LANDMARKS

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
The stranger in Cleveland looked nneer-
tainly about him and then decided to
Inquire his way from a native. He ac-
costed the first male he net.
pardon me, SIR said the stranger, do
you live in this town?'
'I've lived here all me life," answered
the citizen.
Then you're the man | want to see.
Where is the courthouse2'
The Clevelander scratched his head and
looked puzzled
us 1t the old courthouse or the new
eourthouse?" he parted.
I'm not particular-any courthouse you
have"
''Well-why, darn the luck, l used to
know, but
II was told it was right across the
street from Blanks saloon
"Sure-why didn't you say SO in the
first place? You go three blocks SOUTH
turn to your left, walk two blocks and
turn west and you'll see 1t right in front
of YOU"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-24

From London Answers
TIME dismasted, battered hulk of a
derelict, floating so low in the water
\ as to be almost level with the
waves, is, of course. a very great danger
to navigation. especially in foggy weather.
The majority of derelicts are sailing
ships laden with timber. They may have
been dismasted and rendered absolutely
helpless in storms. partly demolished by
fire, or collision with an iceberg, or by
the mere force of the waves themselves
The crew, unable to make their ship sea-
worthy, may have abandoned it in the
boats, or have been rescued by some
passing vessel, but, whatever their fate
their forsaken ship. if laden with WOOD
remains practically unsuitable and is
driven hither and thither over the ocean,
at the mercy of the kinds and currents.
Tn course of time the swelling of the
wood cargo may burst the hull asunder,
but until this happens, or until the vessel
is driven ashore and broken into match
wood against some ironshod coast, 1t will
remain terror to passing ships.
Now and then steamer may be rem
dered helpless owing to it's machinery be-
coming disabled by shortage of coal, by
fire or by the loss of its rudder or pro
peller in heavy weather. Its crew may
decide to bandon it and take to the boats,
but If they neglect to open the seacocks
en- their departure their ship may float
for many long day.
The erratic movements of some derelicts
are almost uncanny. Not so very long
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-24
AMAZING CONFIDENCE WOMAN

prom the New 1OfK W OTIu.
In the great central diamond mart Of
New York, which stretches in wealth
along Maiden Lane, she was sometimes
called Miss Amethyst, because OF her
swapping black eyes and brunette radl-
ance. otherwise she was Antoinette Bon
ner, young and unmarried, whose life in
the Lane was more or less open and
methodical and elsewhere more or less
hidden and mysterious.
Tall finely gowned, of superb 'poise and
always dignified, the trade accepted her
ON her successful business record, over
looking an INCIDENT or two Which savored
of irregularity on her own statement tn :
"a woman who sought to make her way | /
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-24

by the dealers and manufacturers Every
body connected with the tobacco trade
from the grower to the manufactured
Everybody connected with the tobacco
trade, from the grower to the mannfac-
turer has had money to spend and has
spent it. In periods of prosperity such
as this an impetus is given to the Christ
mas trade through the greater average
ability to give, and the delightful wealth
er for making Christmas purchases has
invited shoppers to BUY. There is no
money stringency in Danville or in the
counties adjacent and tributary to it.
The sale of more than 31,5o0 600 in four
and a half months will leave only $780,
coo. more to be sold during the remainder
of the tobacco year to bring the total up
to 100000 The sales for the period
mentioned have averaged 100000 pounds
per month If an average of only $780,
600 pounds per month be made during the
ensuing four months (January February,
March and ApriD that will total 100000
for the 1914 period and bring the total
for the tobacco year up to 45500.0OO
pounds. Should the sales for the ensu-
ing four months average 4,50O,000 per
month, the total for the tobacco year
would run to practically 5o,O00000. We
hardly anticipate that the years total
will reach 50,0o00Oo, but we are very
hopeful that it will reach 15 00O, 900, the
high estimate we set at the beginning
of the year. There is probably a large
proportion OF the crop in the hands of
the growers yet, and when that is mar
Neted it will greatly swell the figures of
the year.
Danville's supremacy as the great
bright loose leaf market is once more
effectually proclaimed This market
stands unapproached as bright tobacco
mart. either as to quantity sold or quail
lily of the offerings. With the city's biz
cotton manufacturing interests neverfso
large or more prosperous than now md
its record making year in leaf tobacco.
sales, Danville leads Virginia cities ink
prosperity. These two industries alolfee
mean the disbursement OF millions of dof7<
lars for raw material labor and sup-..
lies and other millions in profits. -
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-24
SIX MILLIONS FOR TOBACCO


From the DanVille (Na) Register.
THE city of Danv1lle and this Sec
/. | ton viii have a prosperous and a
merry Christmas, for they are
more prosperous this season than perhaps
any other city or section in Virginia by
reason of the unprecedented sales of leaf
tobacco on this market and the aggre-
gate sum derived therefrom by the grow
ers in the surrounding counties. In less
than four and a half months more than
81 100000 pounds of the bright yellow leaf
have been sold on this market by the
10 warehouses of this city, and at an av-
erage of approximately Is cents per-
pound. his quantity of tobacco has yield
ed the growers more than $4,000, COO That
sum of money, less the commissions of
the sale and the freight charges on some
OF 1t, will be distributed among the to-
bacco growers of about 10 Virginia and
North Carolina counties contiguous to
this city. This will mean prosperity, for
the tobacco sold fresh from the hands of
the farmers in neighboring counties has
exceeded 20 cents per hundred in average
price, and much of it has brought hand
some figure.
The warehouse proprietors and their
employees. the labor engaged in unload
ing and putting this tobacco ON the floors
for auction, and the forces employed by
the buyers to remove and order and ship
this vast quantity of leaf tobacco have
received and disbursed large sums of
money. Seldom has labor been in greater
demand here than during the past four
months and il any man had not em-
pigment 1t was because he did not care
to work or was too choice about the
character of that work. Much of the
money derived from the sale of all this
tobacco has gone to the merchants of
this city in payment for purchases or to
the country merchants in the various
counties and localities.
The pouring out of S7,OOooOo or 100000
into all the channels of local merchants
has stimulated every line of business
as seldom before. The banks have felt
the forward impulse due to the deposits
of surplus funds by many farmers and
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-24
Enterprising, Concern

The Guarantee Shoe company is writing
tc its friends and customers a bright and
suggestive holiday letter which reads in
part as follows:
I'm looking over the game of business
in all its lines, have you ever noticed
that for some men buying and selling is
as great delight as telling a deer? For
others the manufacture of goods is as
great joy as landing trout. For such
a man enthusiasm for his work is I'M
failing and industry unremittent.
Unfortunately, we have entirely too
few men of this kind and character in
all lines of business. But in nearly every
line there are one or two, perhaps a few
more, of just such men. 1t is a joy to
the employer, as well as joy to the en-
plcye, and it seems to me that it would
be well to reward men of this kind with
q slight token of esteem and appreciation
by sending them a shoe order as a
Christmas present, letting them know you
are thinking a little more of them thar
merely paying them a salary
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-24
A Busy Congress

The passage of the democratic cur
rency reform bill recalls the work of
the recent extraordinary session, one
of the longest and busiest extraordi-
nary sessions of Congress ever held.
While the currency bill was not COM
pleted in that session the greatest part
of the work on it was done during that
time and it is practically an achieve
ment of the extra session.
Two measures have been enacted
which will mark epochs in the eco
nomic history of the United States.
The tariff was revised according to
the pledge of the democratic party
made to the people. The currency re-
form measure is now a law All this
was done in less than nine months
after the democratic party came into
control of the national government.
This is a splendid achievement of
the democratic Congress and it must
be gratifying to the people at large to
witness the fulfillment of party
pledges without hesitation and with
out faltering. The two ideas of Presi-
dent Wilson as embodied in his mes
sage to the American people imme-
diately after the election, have been
carried out. The party may well point
with pride to its accomplishments and
to the men who have done so much to
aid in the passage of the tariff and
currency bills.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-24

ent Emperor's second brother, and was
born in 1868. He contracted a NOR
ganatic marriage, but as there are
more than 80 archdukes and arch
duchesses in Austria, cousins of the
Emepror, collateral relatives of the
reigning house and members of the
formerly reigning branches of Tus-
cany and Modena, there is little dan
ger of the lines becoming extinct.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-24
CHRISTMAS MEMORIES

From the Chicago Record-Herald.
Once again the lights are streaming
From that beauteous Christmas tree
Once again I sit, and dreaming.
Hold my baby on my knee.
can see the candles glowina
And the family gathered tasfe
Hearts with thankfulncss O., @ash.
Christmas spirit everywher.
Toys around the floor they ~
Choo-choo train and bear nod II.
But the litter does not matte ~,
Santa Claus has been in to SfS
And without the twilight CIR,
Draws to close tlat Chris.
In my arms the baby sleepir6
Tired with toys and happy pihs
Once again | sit, and dream
See once more that Christians Al.
Still. the candle lights are eli 5.al..4
Back into the past l see,
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-24

From the New York Tribune
A New York man in Boston was over
taken by hunger late one night. He en-
tered a quick lunch restaurant, perched
himself atop of stool, and said to the
waiter: "Sinkers and coffee"
.Sinkers? Sinkers?' said the waiter
ITO what do you refer, sir 2"
'Sinkers are doughnuts in New York. -
the customer explained.
''Oh, | beg your pardon" replied the
waiter. Here we always refer to them
as submarines"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-24
NOT A PATIENT ONE

From Pulitzers Magazine
Mr.. Evans entered II New York restau-
rant and saw a friend seated at one of
the tables.
Hello, Lowell" he said, "how are
your"
ooh, pretty WE'LL" replied Lowell
what are you doing now?" inquired
Evans
. well, when | came in here" said Low
ell, about two hours ago | was in BUSH
ness, but I've changed since then. I'm
waiter now"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-24
TOO RICH For HIN

From the Youths Companion
During the street car strike in Boston
a year or two ago the cars were put in
charge of conductors who were far from
exhibiting the courtesy and obliging man.
ners of the regular men.
A lady signaled car in Brooklne, and
as it stopped she said to the conductor
do you stop at the Touraine?"
mo, ma'am," said he, with grin. ~
cant afford to-" And he gayly started
the car Bostonward leaving the lady
agape with establishment
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-24
TELEPHONE
Bell (priyate exchange cohnecs -
Main 1900.

When the rain came TO wet me once
Ia al. wind to make me chatter; when
the thunder would not peace at my Did
ding; there / found them, there 1 smei'
,bem ont. Go to. they are not men o
their worlds they told me was every
thing;-'tis n lie; I'm not ague-proof'
king Lear.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-24
TACTI.ESS

From the Detroit Free Press.
Il saw you with my first husband on
the street yesterday, Mr.. Singleton
''Yes, Mrs. Oftwed.'
by the way, did he say anything
about me?'
mot a Nword. We were just having a
pleasant little chat, you know"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-24
Ideal Christmas weather

'The government forecast day or two
ago was for bad weather this Christmas
week. but fortunately the forecaster
missed it-at any rate, SO far as this
section is concerned" said a citizen.
II am not especially weather-wise. but
we are almost sure to have crisp, brac-
ing atmosphere Christmas eve and Christ
mas day | would call this weather ideal
for Christmas
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-24

From the Pittsburg Post.
What sent him to sanatariuln? ?"
He's an efficiency expert, and he gci
to brooding over the lost motion ex
pended in Christmas shopping"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-24
RLISSEuL IGNORANCE

From the Boston Transcript.
He-They say he has more money than
he knows what to do with.
She-Ah, such ignorance must be bliss.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-24
SOME TIGHT

From the Louisville Post
1t is venerable axiom that the small, r
cannot contain the greater But on
Fourth avenue any day yon can see six
cylinder women in one cylinder skirts.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-24

'Heflin Pleads for Rest in Building
Ba ttleships, Headline. Really, now,
does the distinguished Alabamian fear
that the petticoated peril may blossom
into bluejackets?
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-24

A Chicago eX-alderman has been round
cd up by Mexican rebels charged with
passing queer" money. Gadzooks! There
never vas such comedy since Humpty
Dumpty came to grief.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-24

Scoops hair went ponipadour from
the rear the other night when a large
POT and hoarsely inqeired Anything new
from Harry Thaw?''
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-24

Santa Claus will work overtime today,
but after tonight he will have plenty of
needed rest.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-24

Who said President Wilson was an
academic statesman and not a politician?
He has proved to be the highest type of
the practical politician. EIe is a sue
cees
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-24

Doubtless no one in Mississippi will
more sincerely welcome the President to
that state than Messrs. Hobbs and Bilbo.
Their tallow dips will DE speedily doused
in the rays of a real bright light.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-24

President Wilson's Christmas gift to
the business world is the currency reform
law; and it is highly acceptable.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-24
PAPA KNOWS EVERYTHING

From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Willie-Paw, what is meant by the trim
figures of women?
Paw-Milliners bills, my soii
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-24

Shame on Kansas. A learned jurist
sitting in one of her high courts has
confirmed the expulsion from school of a
young and pretty miss because she called
the principal "Snookums." 1t is a safe
wager that Snookums' other half is at
the bottom of this.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-24
BOGY MEN OF THE SEA

ago a Norwegian sailing ship called the
Crown left Nova Scotia for South Amer
lean port. 1t was laden with timber, and
was overtaken by terrible storm, which
dismasted and left it a battered wreck
The crew. realizing it was useless to
remain on board, abandoned 1t and took
to the boats, never to be heard of again;
but their ship, although IL Vanished conf
pletely for no less than three months, was
sighted at the end of this time on the
edge of the Sargasso Sea, good 10.
miles from where disaster overlook il n
Soon afterward 1t was sighted off Bel><
muda, but then disappeared again, ana
may still be drifting about the ocean.
Another sailing ship was abandoned Off
Cape May. The crew gendeavored to de-
stroy 1t by fire on their departure, but
although 1t bazed furiously. the sodden.
water-logged cargo eventually cxtin-
guished the flames.
A few weeks later the hulk was off the
English coast and it was though it would
be dashed to pieces on the shore, but, al
tering its course, 1t proceeded to the
southwark along the French coast and
was next seen near the Azores. Having
got thus far, it proceeded to cross the
Atlantic. and after covering fully COCO
miles in its wanderings, finally drifted
ashore near Panama.
Dereicts are sometimes salved and bring
IT. a large sum in salvage money to .he
crews of the ship who tow them into
port.
jorty of the people of China understand
and are moved by the spirit of orderly
freedom a republican FORM of govern
ment there will be little more than form.
That is what DR.. Iyenaga means. and he
has the best reason for saying it,
Yet it would be entirely worth while, IL
the Nipponese educator could Be induced
to give it. to hear his opinion of whether
his own Japan has attained place among
the powers of the earth by virtue of
Tebirth of spirit or through the national
genius of imitation. Apparently it is not
'atsinst the laws of evolution" for a ma
ton of bow-and-arrow warriors suddenly
to equip themselves with dreadnaughts
and howitzers and shatter the imperialis-
tic pretensions OF Russia in Asia.
Suppose China should determine to do
in civics what Japan has done in mill
taiism? What if the long -fallow intellect
OF the Chinese should address itself to the
teaching and practice of political democ-
racy with the same devotion and enthusi-
asm that Japan displayed in her amazing
emulation of civilized warfare? Japan
broke the precedent of evolution Is 1t
certain that China with not shatter an
other.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-24

Washington bureau. 2O7 Hibbs build
ing -.
European bureau. Henrietta street,
Covent Garden, London.
Eastern business office. Rooms 20 "
so, inclusive, Tribune building HeW
York city; Western business oliiec'
Tribune building. Chicago. Inc .;
Beckwith Special Agency. agents AZ.
Ign advertising.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-24
BALKAN WAR

Good morning! Have you been probed
vet3
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-24
zen. Leonard Wood and his fellow

Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood and his fellow
officers of the army and navy are now
cognizant Of the fact that while the grid
iron dinners of the Washington CORE
spondents are not copyrighted affairs, it
is highly hazardous TO initiate them.
Roast "Caraboa' is some plentiful at the
capital today.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-24

Remember the East Lake crphanage on
Christmas Day.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-24

IF you can't trust me, you can't trust
Bilho," is the story the dictaphone al
leges on Mr.. Hobbs of Mississippi
Chances are that when all the dirty linen
in this odoriferous case has been tubbed
neither the gentlemen will be trusted to
any appreciate extent
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-24

spit Rumored in the PanlShurst Fam
ily," reads a headline. 1t appears that
Sylvia is bent on wiping cut Londons
West End with her arson squad, while
iChrstabel, who carries the wampum
stocking, has other work mapped out for
that valiant band. Meanwhile .'mommer"
has forsaken her post in Iiollowell Jail
Tor an epicurean stunt in Switzerland.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-24

The first postal system of the colonies
was organized by four printers-FranlSlin
Holt, Goddard and Hazzard-July, 1775.
Congress appointed Franklin the first
Postmaster General with n salary of $1,000
lis instructions were 10 establish posts
fl ON Falmouth, New England, to Savan-
rah, Ca, with cross posts and rates 20
charges" The secretary and comptroller
received a salary OF $3.50 each.