davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-20
The Free Dispensary

The campaign to raise $685. 900 to
build and equip a free medical dis
pensary to be operated in connection
with the graduate school of medicine
Of the University of Alabama is pro-
crossing, and those behind the move
ment are confident that the requisite
sum will be subscribed.
Birmingham has often been called
upon in the past to furnish worthy
cause by generous giving, but never
has a broader or deeper appeal for
true charity been made than this. The
medical dispensary will be free in
fact as we'll as in name. 1t will be
open to all, and the only ones to profit
will be those whose ills are cured
Physicians will give their services
gratis, and there will be no charge
for the medicines dispensed. Owner
ship and management will be vested
solely in the University of Alabama
The campaign for the free medical
dispensary should end in blaze OF
glory. Everyone who contributes will
have the satisfaction of knowing that
he is doing what he can to ease the
pain and assuage the suffering of his
less fortunte fellow man.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-20
RATES COST MILLIONS

B. F. w. Thorpe of the staff of Farm
and Fireside, the national farm paper
published at Springfield, O., contributes to
the current issue of that periodical most
interesting article on grain saving cribs,
bins and granaries. He shows how rat
proof store houses of ample capacity can
be provided at low cost. On the subject
of the number of rats in our country and
the amount of damage they do. Mr..
Thorpe presents the following facts as a
sort of Introduction to the specific sug-
gestions he gives as to how to build rat
proof receptacles for grain
Uncle Sam has never attempted a re-
liable rat census, but taking the country
over We no doubt have rat population
of twice or thrice the hundred million
mark.
Some of our expert figuring sharps
have arrived at the conclusion by differ
ent processes of reasoning that round
hundred million dollars worth of grain is
destroyed annually by rats. This tidy
sum Is approximately sufficient to feed
and shelter a hen for each man, woman
and child of our republic and outlying
territory. To put it differently, each
family of five could keep a little flock of
five hens in place of it's allotment of n
dozen rats The five hens, with the good
care usually accorded the small flock,
could be counted on to furnish so dozen
strictly fresh eggs for the home larder
annually.
Let me put this big financial PROPOSE
tion still differently. Two or three hun
dred million cheken-killing, disease-carry-
ing rats cost us an annual grain tax of
IS a family. If exterminated and their
living turned over to a half or a third
as. many productive hens, each family
instead of a, So tax, would have an s1S
income. This would be equal to a credit
balance of $500 100000 for the nation. 1t
looks as if our rats have something of a
corner on grain, doesn't It?
"Our rat population will thrive and null
tply just os long as-we continue to har-
Dor and feed them in ramshackle cribs
and granaries and furnish them haunts
under wood-fioored buildings. junlS-piles
and other secluded hiding places in which
to multiply
Concrete floors and foundation walls
and supports of the same material or
solid masonry, together with metal or
wire-screen lined bins and cribs, will
solve the rat problem. Keep the rat in
the open, bar his grain supply, and he
will be down and out"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-20
THE SHADOW

Madison Cawein in the BelIman.
A shadow glided down the way
Where sunset groped among the trees.
And all the woodland bowed. asway
With trouble Of the evening breeze
A shape. it moved with head held down:
knew 1t not. yet seemed to know
It's form, its carriage of q clown
Its raiment of the long ago.
1t never turned or spake word,
But fixed Its gaze on something far,
As If within it's heart it heard 4e
The summons of the evening star.
l turned to 1t and tried to speak;
To ask it Of the thing it saw. "A
Or heard. beyond earths outnnost peak.
The dream. the splendor, and the awe.
What beauty or what terror there
Still bade its purpose to ascend
Above the sunsets somber glare.
The twilight and the long days end.
1t looked at me but said no word:
Then suddenly 1 saw the truth:
This was the call that once heard
And failed to follow in my youth.
Now well saw that this was T. eaas
Ny own dead self who walked with ma
Who died in that dark hour gone by
With all the, dreams that used to bA s
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-20
TELEPHONE GIRLS EYES

From the Journal of the American Medi-
cal Association.
There are in the United States about
125, 600 telephone girls, whose average term
of service is three years or less. The
working hours are about eight per diem;
the average number of calls Is about 140
per hour running, "at the peak" to 225
or more. The operator sits facing a
switchboard which is covered with num-
bers, each number having small sig-
call is completed. When the person call
ing raises his receiver light flashes on
the switchboard at central and this
light continues to burn until the operator
''plugs'' the number and receives the
call She then plugs the number called
for and this light burns until the called
person raises his receiver from the hook.
When the receivers are finally replaced
on their hooks both light flash and burn
until the operator removes the connect
ing plugs. To .somplete one call means
four flashes of light. AS the average num-
ber of calls is 1i0 per hour. with 225 or
more during the rush hours, the operator S
eyes are exposed to from 500 to 1000 flashes
of light every hour, resulting in fatigue
to the eyes, to say nothing of the mental
and physical strain under which the OPP
orator constantly works. The Bell system,
in 1911. spent s72o,s5a for rest rooms and
lunch rooms for the operators. and it has
secured sufficient air space and good il
Elimination, yet, although only young and
healthy girls are selected, the average
length of service does not exceed three
years The symptoms of eye strain which
the girls develop are headache, dullness,
Indigestion, exhaustion, nerve strain, in
somnia, colds and SO forth. The two or
three short years of telephone work pos
sible to the girls. as well as nine-tenths
of all their suffering. is probably due to
the constant near range eyework, with
|out proper protection for the eyes.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-20
.ShOn Early

Confessing that the "shop early
plea, along with the appeal for a
'".sane Fourth" is a rubber stamp,
a weekly newspaper of New York
nevertheless makes it's annual request,
and remarks:
Did you ever stop to think that the
small sales In department store in the
fortnight before Christmas exceed
those of any other four weeks in the
year? Have you ever stepped aside to
watch the constant pressure upon men
clerks and girls, standing upon their
feet and driven, in foul air, all day
long and often into the night only be-
cause you and others like you have put
off your shopping to the last minute
Have you ever realized that such de-
lay has made the holiday" period a
term of slavely for many? If not, pom
der these things, and, having pondered,
make up your Christmas list and fill
it as soon as possible. Though you may
never know where it lands, you will be
making the biggest Christmas gift of
all.
And don't you know that your own
comfort will be enhanced by shopping
early? Don't you know there is more
satisfaction in being waited upon by
man or girl whose nerves are not
completely on edge from vexation
caused by long hours and overwork
Don't you know that store service is
at its worst when it's normal capacity
is being exceeded?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-20
WHEN MULDooN WAS THROWN

| From the Popular Magazine.
William Muldoon, the undefeated cham
pion wrestler, whose sanitarium is of
worldwide fame, is also a fair actor His
favorite part is that of Charles the Wrest-
Ter, in "As You Like IT.
Some years ago this shakespearean
masterpiece was produced on the lawn OF
the Kenmawr hotel, in Pittsburg, with
a notable cast. including the late Joseph
Haworth as Orlando, Rose Coghlan as
Rosalind, and Muldoon as the wrestler.
Joseph Haworth was a slightly built
man and not very tall so when in the
wrestling scene he stood up before the
mighty Muldoon, with his yard-wide
shoulders and powerful limbs, it looked as
If Orlando would find the throwing of
his opponent-which the action of the play
demands-about as easy as uprooting a
mature oak tree.
However, they went at it-Haworth
with dashing boldness and Muldoon grim
ly. waiting for him. Then things hap
pened. Before Haworth could get a
'hod," Muldoon had the doughty Or
lando balanced on two fingers of each
hand. and calmly stood him on his head
as IL he had been a. wooden doll. That
was not all. In the next few minutes
Orlando had been laid horizontally across
Charles left hand, tossed up, and caught
in his right. Then on his head again,
on his back, on his front, on his ear, up
in the air, spinning around Muldoon's $
fingers as a cane is twirled by a juggler.
up in the air again, held,at arms length
by his waistband. once more on his head,
and finally, dazed and berathless, on his
feet on the greensward.
For five minutes this sort of thing went
on, while the stage manager, behind a
tree begged Muldoon piteously to Let
him throw you! Fall down, won't youl
Good Lord, Muldoon, you'll bust the
show!'
Well, stage business" must be obeyed
Haworth's fingers had hardly touched his
opponents chest when, with a shudder,
Nuldoon fell fiat on his back and was
dead" Haworth was so astonished that
he forgot to go on with his part, while
the dead" Charles lay there grinning
like a fined
1T was the dream of my life to meet
Muldoon." remarked Haworth afterward
We'll, I've met him."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-20
Underwood's Strength

| There has not been a day since
Oscar w. Underwood announced for
the United States Senate that his
strength throughout the state was
not in evidence. And as the cam
paign progresses his strength in
creases. His campaign COMMITTEES,
recently organized, is composed of
picked men known for their political
ability and political experience.
1t was felt that Underwood could
have been elected without much or
ganized effort, but his supporters have
determined to leave nothing undone
for the rolling up of record break
ing majority. And to that end every
beat in the state should be and will
be looked after.
1t would be strange indeed if Mr..
Underwood, statesman of national
fame, were to be elected senator by
anything less than an overwhelming
vote. Not only has Alabamas favor
tic son achieved distinction because
of his work on the revised tariff, but
as chairman of the ways and means
committee he has proved himself a
party leader unsurpassed in skill, tact
and poise by any democrat in Con-
gress since the war. Mr.. Underwood
is a great mana great man who has
done things. And had he done moth
ing more than weld into harmonious
whole and preserved in harmony fac
tions at the start divergent, he would
have won the gratitude of the national
democracy.
From the time he entered Con-
gress twenty years ago he has been a
close student of economic questions.
He has advanced step by step by fair
and honest methods until today he is
recognized as this country's foremost
authority on the tariff. He has never
failed to rise to every occasion. His
congressional associates and his
friends throughout Alabama have al
ways appreciated his capacity. But
in the responsible position of parlia-
mentary leader he has simply sur
passed himself.
Some men are not without honor
save in their own country, but Under
wood is loved and honored in his dis
trict and in his state as we'll as in the
nation. His opponent, Congressman
Hobson, has friends and many of
them, but even if he were far stronger
with the people than he is, he could
not defeat the man who in addition
to the prestige of leadership, is the
personification of all that is clean
and straightforward in politics.
That Underwood will sweep the
state no we'll informed voter can
reasonably doubt. He will carry
every district. The eyes of the whole
country are upon Alabama now, and
for the credit of this state the democ-
racy can be counted upon to give him
the victory by rousing majority that
will be forever memorable.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-20
BURGLARS NARROW ESCAPE

trailing him in. After four days they
decided upon a break. each to travel by
separate route to a rendezvous agreed
upon, which was in New York city.
Watson selected for his point of de-
parture little railway station on the
outskirts of the city. He sauntered down
to it with his share of the $4,000 in a
small grip The first man he saw at the
railroad station-and the last he wanted
to meet-was a policeman. Watson tried
to appear unconscious as he approached
the ticket window to inquire for the train.
To his dismay he learned that 1t was 10
minutes late. Feeling the policeman q
eye boring into his back he decided that
the safest plan was to get chummy with
him, so, turning about, he dropped his
precious satchel carelessly on the ground
not six inches from the 'Flatty's foot and
fell into conversation, explaining that ne
was theological student hurrying to the
bedside of his dying mother. The police
man was properly sympathetic.
Presently the conversation turned upon
the bank robbery.
Those must be very desperate men,
observed the theological student awe
somely. ~
"'They are, admitted the policeman
gravely. But he affirmed with a con
fidential air, we are getting very near
em. We are close to the swag right
now
Would that train never come?
When few minutes later 1t did come.
the policeman stopped and picked up the
grip. Watson's heart nearly leaped out of
his mouth, but he controlled himself. In
a fatheriy sort of way the officer es-
corted the theological student to the car
steps, handed him his bag again, and
paoe the young man sympathetic fare
we'll" f=s
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-20
Talks of BlrmIngham,. Growth.

Birmingham is growing at a great
rate said Paul Calame, the well-known
matchmaker.
Il came here in 1887. 1t was estimated
then that the city's population was about
1900, and that in addition to the people
who We're permanently settled here there
were 10000 floaters
The collapse of the real estate boom
stopped Birmingham's growth for a little
while. but the periods when we were not
going ahead were comparatively short.
Toward the latter part of the 90s Bir-
mingham started on new and solid for
ward movement, and there has been prac-
tlcally no lull in prosperity since then.
business conditions in Birmingham seem
to be as good now as they ever were, If
not better, and it would be hard to over
estimate this city's future"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-20
The Farm Demonstrators

A convention of real conservators
Is in session at Auburn. 1t is composed
of the Alabama farm demonstration
agents, that body of men which is
showing the people of the state how
to obtain the wealth that should be
theirs. No work greater in results al
ready achieved or richer in promise
for the future could be undertaken.
This year Alabama las raised more
corn than ever before in its history.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-20

In the November American Magazine
Peter Clark Macfarlane continues his
- series entitled "Those Who Have
Come Back" This series is a collection
of true stories showing how men ana
women, failures or disgraced at 40, have
taken new hold on life and are today
helpful members of the community. This
month Mr.. Macfarlane tells the story of
famous bank burglar who has reformed.
This burglar, Watson by name, was a
nervy individual. Following is Mr.. Mac
farlane's account of one of his thrilling
adventures:
HE and four other men took s12, 600
from small bank in Pittsburg. One of
the gang was Sidney Gripp, who died re-
Gently in a southern prison. Another was
Big Ned Kelly, college graduate, who
is now doing life In Auburn prison or
Dannemora. The raid was such daring
one that an immediate getaway was inn
possible. So the five men took the swag
to the two furnished rooms in which they
had been living. OF course, the front
pages of the morning papers fairly
screeched the story.
Detectives swarmed over the city and
guarded every railroad station. Flat
ties, one of the contemptuous names of
criminals for policemen in uniform, were
watching every street car and every
strange face upon their beats. The five
men in the two rooms which they rented
from the unsuspecting deacon of a Con-
gregational church, We're held by their
fears in a state of siege. They used to
match dollars to see who would go for a
basket of sandwiches When one had
ventured out the others were In constant
trepidation lest he should not return, and
after his return trembled at every football
upon the stairs for fear the police were
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-20
THE hooks READ NOW

Richard lie Galienne, in Harper's
Weekly.
OF course. you run a risk in carrying
such old books along with you. Some one
may catch you at it-say, whats the
book?" and when you have shown 1t to
him exclaim, browning" with raised
eyebrows. and a surprised. rather plying
look at you. You are very evidently en-
tering the period of fossilization TO be
reading Browning OF this time of day?
Now, if 1t had been Bergson, or Suder-
mann, or Shaw, or Brieux. Sorry, but
it was Browning. The other day I was
caught with volume of Gibbon, still
another day with Boswell and yet again
with Scott! Can there be any doubt
that hardening Of the mental arteries
is setting in and that I shall soon be
joining the superannuated old gentlemen
who drink nothing but port and read
nothing but Horace? Well. 1 can con-
ceive of worse drinking, and worse read
ing. know no modern company to match
either.
I suppose that to be caught red handed
with Scott Is most discriminating of ALL
Dickens and Thaclseray a man may still
read and escape the suspicion of second
childhood. But Scott! Well, I suppose
that there was period when we all felt
like that. Probably it was what we might
call our Meredith period-generally our
formative, fermenting period, when we
were busy finding ourselves spiritually
and mentally, impatiently shattering the
scheme of things in which we had been
reared, and feverishly rebuilding another,
nearer to the hearts desire. Scott is not
for such periods. He is for the boy. and
the grown man. For the intermediate ev-
olutionary and revolutionary adolescent,
ne seems wingless, fiameless, lacking in
sidereal fire. The romanticism which
charmed the boy seems a plaything and
the humanity which holds the man seems
earth-born, earth-limited. Here. says the
young impatient. is nothing for my soul;
and flies off somewhere In search of the
thrill the ache, the rapture of life. He
reads the fashionable doctors of the soul.
inevitably fascinated by sundry brilliant
quacks of the mind, drawn. as is natural.
by flashing novelty in utterance. which
he fondly takes for newly sounded pro-
fundities. All is so new, SO amazing. Be-
cause he is living life for the first time,
it never occurs to him that it has been
lived before; yes, and lived in almost
precisely sthe same manner by that old
fogy, who, in world of radium and aero
planes, not to speak of "eugenics," is
discovered in the criminal enjoyment of
Scott But must not sound too superior.
1t Is comparatively only the other day that
rediscovered Scott for myself. I had
come to the end of Dumas for the third
or fourth time; and happening to face set
of Scott on my bookshelves, had asked
myself: "Is it possible to read Scott now
adays?" 1 determined to try. and. for
the good fortune of my experiment, ]
lighted on the Fortunes of Nigel" II
was indeed fortunate movement. What
a vivid, real world I found myself in
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-20
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
SUCH A PRUDE.


She's stopping at the Mountain House.
But great seclusion seeks; H#ts s.
She always dresses in the dark,
Because the mountain peaks.
Judge.
While at the sea resorts she thinks
The men are iirty lxnaves; Il
She will not walk upon the beach
Because the ocean waves.
Cleveland Press.
And stopping in the woodland dell,
Among oid-fashioned camps,
She's always careful in the dusk
Because the kerosene lamps.
Detroit News.
And when she wades across the brook
The wavelets of which please her, s
She shrinks and hollers: Get the hook!'
When she sees the dog Caesar.
Houston Post.
And when she wanders through the glade
Where Autumn walls sad hymns 8
She drops her eyes, this proper maid.
Before the trees bare limbs.
DEADLY STUFF
"Dobbs seems to be in high good
humor.'
Hes made great discovery
''Will. it benefit science?"
"It may benefit the medical profession.
He has found place where he can buy
mince pie two inches thick"
CAUSE FOR GRADUATION.
MY doctor has put me on a Dict
you seem to be rather proud"
Eyes. It's the kind of diet I cant
afford to pay for"
OPEN TO BIDS.
or turkey day
Tho poets sing,
Who hope it may
A dinner bring.
PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-20

What character. what movement, what
genuine romance! Then I tried Quentin
Durward,'" then Rob Roy" We are
supposed to nave improved on the his
torical novel since Scott's day. In GER
tain minor matters OF artistry, doubtless,
we have. Yet, should like to know wha t
we have to match those three full
blooded. high-mettled, wise-hearted books
have named; and ] own myself Mr..
Maurice Hewlett's willing slave. But,
after all, whatever class of book we are
dealing with, 1t is the man behind the
book that counts, that finally decides its
relative calibre
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-20

brilliant record at johannesburg as he
did at Panama, but we regret his going
TO South Africa. Guayaqull is not yet free
from yellow fever and the west coast
still trembles in fear of bubonic plague,
despite the rigid quarantines and disin-
fections. With the opening of the canal
that coast will be so near that we would
like to feel II free from taint.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-20
THE ELEPHANT
he Alfalfa Herald.

From the Alfalfa Herald.
The Birmingham zoo has at last got a
S20O0 trained elephant. purchased last
week in Tuscaloosa from the Wallace
Hagenback circus. She is said to be very
docile and fond of taking the children to
ride on her back, and eating all the pea
nuts they will give her. She bears the
name of Fancy" and does all kinds of
fancy stunts.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-20
Pleased with birmingham.

l was in Birmingham last July and was
greatly impressed with the city then. and
now on my second visit this seems really
to be the Marvel City, - said Frank
organ, of Richmond. supervisor of the
Lit'e insurance company of Virginia.
"One can see that Birmingham is grow
ing by leaps and bounds, as the saying
goes. 1t is not only large and progress
sive city but it is handsomely built up.pe
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-20
IN HOTEL LOBBIES.
Turkeys Cheaper Than Usual.

Turkeys seem to be unusually plentiful
in the Birmingham market at this time,
and the price of the popular bird is lower
than usual this near to Thanksgiving"
said Mai Charles j. Allison. -a
This is welcome fact to all of us, for
everybody likes turkey. and for Thanks
giving dinner everybody has a turkey on
the table, f ..s, -
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-20
ERRONEOUS IMpREssION

From the Philadelphia Ledger.
1t is charged in Alabama that high
protectionists are backing the candidacy
of Mr.. Hobson. They must think down
there that high protectionists are anxious
to keep Mr.. Underwood in the House.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-20

st. Louis woman has applied for di-
vorce because her husband published a
premature announcement of her. death
She probably objected to being called a
dead one"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-20

Prince William of Wied says he is en-
tirely willing to become King of Albania
provided his salary is guaranteed. 1t
seems that candidates for kngships act
about like all other offieeseekers.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-20

Just why the cabinet ladies should
strike the house" ladies off their calling
lists, or just why the "house" ladies
should object if the cabinet" ladies
should do SO are matters of very little
serious concern to the country. But
Washington has to have something to
worry about