davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-22
Supervision of Fairgrounds

The appropriation of the city COM
missioners for the employment of
supervisors of the East End, Behrens
and Avondale parks will meet with
popular approval and is the beginning
of a general improvement and super
vision of all the parks in the city.
While the present appropriation COW
ers only period of three months, it
embraces the three months that the
| public schools are at recess and the
needs of Fairgrounds and parks are
more urgent than at any other period
of the year.
The parks of any large city are the
'lungs" by which it breathes and re-
tains it's vitality. 1t is said that the
remarkably low death rate of Lon
don is largely due to the many parks
or breathing spots that are distributed
all over that city. Certain it is that
the children of all large cities, Bir-
mingham included, are materially
benefited by having place where
they can give vent to the natural
exuberance of youth by the indulgence
in healthful recreation as provided by
the several Fairgrounds associations
of the country.
The experience of many cities is
that supervised Fairgrounds are the
most efficient way of deriving the full
benefit of parks and Fairgrounds. 1t
means that some one will see to it
that only healthful games are in
dulged in and by the division of the
Fairgrounds into sections where the
children of equal ages can play to-
gether it gives every child an equal
chance to get the full benefit of the
playground facilities.
The Birmingham Fairgrounds asso-
citation is gratified at the granting of
the appropriation by the city COM
missioners, as the supervision of
parks is new venture.in the city, but
they feel assured that the results
from the three parks to be supervised
will be so gratifying that the system
will be extended to all the parks and
Fairgrounds of the city.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-22

gathered that there is very strong
suspicion of what the minister would
do if the occasion required.
The only fear then is that there
may be rioting, although Sir Edward
Carson distinctly impressed it upon
his audience at meeting in Belfast
that the question Of home rule was
not to be made the subject for a
quarrel among individual Irishmen;
"Our quarrel" said he, lis with the
government"
That there will be the usual July
celebrations in Belfast and other
towns in Ulster is to be expected,
but it is to be hoped that they will
not be accompanied with the out
bursts of disorder which have marked
these events on former occasions.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-22
Fears No Civil War

The apathy and indifference of the
British government, despite the warn
ings and threats of the Ulster union
lists that they will "stagger human
ity" or do something else equally as
terrible in the event of the home rule
bill becoming law, must be attributa-
BILE to the fact that they neither feai
nor believe there will be civil wal
in Ulster or anywhere else in Ireland
1t would seem that there's confu.
sion of ideas in the minds of those
who talk about civil war, and thai
what is really meant is an insurrec.
tion or rioting on large scale
which is quite different matter from
civil war.
The folly of an armed insurrectior
is self evident to anyone who knows
the power Of the British government
to speedily suppress it, and that the
government would suppress it is not
to be doubted. On several occasions
the leaders of the Ulster unionists
have asked the minister of war If he
would order British troops to shoot
down them and their followers in case
they revolted, from which it may be
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-22
PRAYER AND WATER

From the Chicago Record-Herald.
During the Dayton flood a good old
lady of color was rescued with two
white women from the deep water and
placed on the roof of barn for safety.
After the boatman had rowed away the
white women both offered prayer for
their future safety, but the colored wom'
an sat by in stolid silence.
One OF the white women, turning to
her. said:
Pray. woman, pray. Do something to
help"
The cid woman clasped her hands
knelt on the roof, rolled her eyes upward
and said:
Dear Lord, yo once promised us long
time ago dat oey nevah would be no mo-
floods. Now Lord. what does dis var
mean?'
Here's another: An aged darlky. pray-
ing to be saved from watery grave
saw a horse struggling in the deep water,
SO he included the animal in his heavenly
petition
"And. or Lord. save dat poh hoss along
wild de rest of u.s.
Just then whirlpool caused the ami
NAL to disappear from sight and the
co,ored man turned around in despair
Holding his hands upward. he said.
Lord. Use losin' confidence.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-22
Senator Johnston Commended

Senator Johnston believes that his
post Of duty is in the Congress of
the United States. The fact that an
opponent has waged a spectacular
campaign in Alaabma having for his
object the acquisition Of the seat now
occupied by the senator, has not
caused him to swerve from his convic-
ton that his instructions were to rep
resent his people at the front.
There is no question but that the
citizens of Alabama have compared
the department of Senator Johnston
and that of his opponent, Congress.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-22
BY HUGH w. ROBERTS

She made distinct hit even before she
played her trump card. When the time
came for the climax. the denouement of
her little plot. the house was rolling and
rocking in its own merriment With
laughter the skinny Frenchman on the
right was growing fat and the Dutch
man on the left, already hanging over the
boundaries of several chairs, was fast ac-
quiring an unusual and extraordinary en-
bonpont.
And then there came the signal for ST.
lence. The man at the piano, grown
weary of his task of paving ivory, sighed
sly anathema concerning the agility OF
the blonde and mopped his classic counte-
nance. The drummer boy picked his ear
with one of his sticks and smashed ID
drowsy fly with the other. The violenst
took advantage of the opportunity to
whisper dulcet phrase into the lug of his
Griselda. The little Frenehman on the
right prieked up his ears until they re-
sembled the auricuar decoration of a
Spa nish poodle. The Dutchman rolled for
ward in his section. and disturbed the
corn of the gaunt maiden lady with the
tooth of gold. The air of expectancy in
creased the pressure of the atmosphere
until the mercury jumped about In the
tube like an eel in the lard barrel
And the peroxide blonde of an actorine
who had caused all the trouble, extending
the upper extremity of her anatomy for
ward in an angle of 80 degrees. began:
"Under the spreading blacksmith tree,
The village chestnut stands"
There was no longer peace. The little
Frenchman set up such cackle that the
Dutchman was forced to join with his
basso profundo which Jared the maiden
lady with the tooth of gold to such an ex-
tent that she jumped up and down with
the velocity and strange impetuosity of
an electric dasher. To restore order the
drummer beat a tattoo on his snare drum,
and the manager ran ,fp and down the
aisle pulling his hair and swearing softly
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-22
THE PESSIMISTS.

Let others make jest of fate
And chortle: I'VE should worry"
| nearly always have to wait
Just when I'm IN a hurry.
Birmingham Age-Herald.
Let others jest. When | am late
And seek a thing / want.
| find it only-crooel fate
When l give up the hunt.
-Johnstown Democrat.
Let others say there's no hard luck,
But | can prove they lie
Whene'er a quid out door | chuck
/ hit a passerby.
Allentown Democrat.
Let others say whate'er they choose;
! tear round like Jarnation
But when | rive, with redhot shoes,
My train has left the station
Houston Post.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-22
Some Interesting History.

II have been spending my odd moments
going through The Age-Herald's big jubi-
lee edition carefully" said a well known
citizen yesterday, land / am finding some
real historical gems.
II was especially interested in Frank
" Evans story OF how DR.. j. II. Phillips
became superintendent of the Birmingham
public schools 90 years ago. DIR. Phillips
was born in Kentucky and had been edu-
Gated in an Ohio school, and when it was
proposed to put him in charge of Biz
minghams schools there were four menu
bers of the city council who waved the
bloody shirt most vigorously. Four
others, however, stood by him and Judge
A. o. Lane, who was mayor at the time,
cast the deciding vote i'll DR.. Phillips
favor.
II think no one since that time would
question the gratitude Birmingham s
school system owes Judge Lane for that
vote"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-22

Selma Times: The Birmingham Age
Herald ON yesterday issued mammoth
edition of 126 pages in honor of the twen-
ty-tifth anniversary of it's establishment
The patronage extended shows the value
placed upon printers ink by the ,mer-
chants, business men and others of the
Birmingham territory. The reading mat
ter is well selected and is an unmistak-
able fine medium of advertising for JEFF
ferson county. The Selma Times extends
its heartiest congratulations and wishes
the esteemed Age-Herald continued pros
perity and an ever increasing field of use.
fulness.
Tuscaloosa News. The News congratu-
lates the Birmingham Age-Herald upon
its great Silver Jubilee edition commemo-
rating the twenty-fifth anniversary of its
founding. The special number is a mon
umental journalistic achievement, consist
ing of regular news section of Is pages
and 10 supplemental sections which bring
the total number of pages up to 126. The
edition gives a complete picture of the
Birmingham district in all of its aspects
cOiHiIltICldI,
financial, social, religious and historical.
1t also contains valuable information
about the state as whole. 1t is a splen-
did example of progressive, modern jour-
nalsm. and is perhaps the largest single
edition. of newspaper ever published in
the state.
Huntsville Times: The Birmingham
Age Herald this morning published its
Silver Jubilee number, which We regard
as one of the ablest productions of special
newspapers by any paper in the south.
Editor Barrett and his associates have
reason to be proud of their wonderful
success in the newspaper world and at
the same time are to be congratulated
OH the fact that taney are located in Bir-
mingham, the city on which all of the
people of the state have Just claim;
for when birmingham prospers the rest
of Alabama gets hustle on for greater
achievements. Yes. there is quite con-
trast between the Birmingham village of
10000 people 25 years ago as compared
with the nearly 100000 city of today, and
The Age Herald had hand in the making
of the new and great city. We congratu-
late both The Age-Herald and Birming-
ham,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-22

man Hobson, and there is no doubt
but that the former by remaining in
the fight which RACES in Congress,
has made new friends and welded the
old with hoops even stronger than
steel.
As characteristic of the expression
of the newspapers of Alabama, the
following, which appeared in the
Greensboro Record, is typical:
The citizens of Hale county have
received letters from Senator
Joseph f. Johnston announcing his
candidacy for reelection to the
United States Senate. We were i'm
pressed with the fact that the SEN
ator in sending out these letters
did not do as many senator's and
congressman would have dome
abuse the franking privilege. Each
and every letter bore its 2-cent
stamp.
The letter is dignified in tone
and very forcible in expression.
and one on reading it is forced to
the conclusion that here is a man
| who has been faithful in his service
| to his state"
1t begins to appear that Captain
Hobson has SO far, at least, failed to
win the state. Alabama in other days
has followed the spectacular politi-
clan, but there would be little surprise
were the state in the present cam
paign to give favorable expression
IN honor of the man who works.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-22
THE NEAR-RILEY POETS

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer
An Indiana correspondent of st. Louis
paper declares there are other and greater
poets than James Whitcomb Riley in
the Hoosier state. lie even names them
Alfred Ellison, l.. O. Harris and b. S.
Parker.
Quite unintentionally. it is hoped. the
correspondent does these worthy In
danans.. a real unllindness-and it is pos
sibe they feel worse about it than Riley
does.
Jim has been regarded so favorably
and so extensively, that he may have be-
come little obtuse regarding the favor
ite sonship. To rudely depose him. to
topple him from the knees of the gods
as it were, seems both cruel and un-
usual. But If Ellison. Harris and Park
err are forced fnto pushing their claims
there doesn't seem any help for it.
1t Is difficult to call to mind the spe-
cial gems that Parker has penned, and
the same is true of Ellison and Harris
more particularly of Harris because the
only literary Harris we ever knew was
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-22
ADRTFT WITH THE TIMES

accounts to an appreciable extent for the
way in which it nourishes. BE that as
il may, there must be a certain amount
hnmor in the makeup of the Gallo eoun-
ty, Ohio, official who bought rouge-or
rather. permitted it to be bought by men,
bers of his family-and charged it up to
the county as cattle powders Graft being
habit that grows, many other toilet ar
tieles were charged in the same way. and
IL any of the county's cattle got sick we
presume they either recovered or died
without the aid of powders
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-22
Ridiculing Politicians

1t is indicative of healthy state of
affairs when people positively refuse
to permit themselves to become agi-
tated in regard to politics and politi-
clans. The matter of government is,
of course, most serious matter. But
it is well not to take the ordinary
politician too seriously.
Although astute politicians have
already started gubernatorial cam
paign which will Of necessity endure
a year, it is source of comfort that
the people, still working in the fields,
have not heard the siren lisps Of the
officeseeker, or rather have not heed
| ed them.
This attitude of the people is re-
Elected in the editorials of many of
the states newspapers. Instead of
| giving vent to abusive or commenda-
tory utterances, the press is wisely
having its fun. For instance, the' Mon
roe Journal says:
| Former Governor Conner should
| have explained that his recent re-
mark to the effect that the state
| is now passing through Hell's Gate
| and it behooves every man to stand
| by the anchor was simply meta
phor, or some such figure of speech.
There may be some who will mis-
| construe it as a personal reference
| And again:
| "Governor O'Neal declared in his
speech at Eclectic the, other day
| that the people have had enough
| of agitation, bitterness and strife
| With which sentiment the Journal
agrees entirely No one having
| contributed more literally to the
| condition described than the gov
| ernor himself it is eminently prop
| er that he should be the first to call
| a halt"
| 1t is to be regretted that the time
will ever come when seekers for pub
lie office will be able to stir the peo-
pie to the point of breaking with
friends and aiding in the division of
families. There is no question but that
politics is a most disturbing element,
and it should be remembered that
there is scarcely politician in a
thousand who desires to grind any
other AK save his own.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-22
AND THIS FROM ENGLAND

From Answers. London.
Smith was a constant worry to his
friends. They never knew when to and
when not to treat him seriously, since
as he frankly admitted, he delighted in
pulling other peoples legs.
One day he and Brown met casually
in the street, and stopped. as friends
often do. to gossip for while.
big blaze-that fire at the factory
in johnson street last night, wasn't it?'
asked Brown.
YES" replied Smith; II went down
to have a look at it. And, my word,
there were several mighty narrow es-
capes there, too!'
"Escapes!' cried Brown excitedly. "But
the morning paper said that there was
no one in the building
Smith nodded.
''Oh," he said. 'the firemen brought
the escapes down with them! So long,
old chap!''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-22
BIRMINGHAM is EASILY TICKLED

~HAKEsPPEARE found men in his
time who would not show their
-" teeth in way OF smile, though Mes
por swore the Jest be laughable 1t is pos
sible that today in Birmingham there are
individuals similarly constituted, individ-
uals of vinegar aspect and cynical obser-
walton.
1t is possible. But if there are such
thew do not attend the summer theatres.
Those who do are prepared to smile when
the performer makes his first appearance,
to caclle when he opes his mouth, and
to wax boisterous with shouts of golden
laughter when he spins his yarn.
There are keen observers who declare
that Birmingham fails to draw the finest
shows even in the winter season. or the
summer performance little is expected
and less realized. But still the merry
laughter of the Magic City responds 10
the effort of the salaried wag in sueh
charitable measure that the aforesaid ).
w. wonders. first and then congratulates
himself that he has come
Last night, despite the oppressive neat
the theatre around the corner was load
ed TO the guards The S. r. o. sign was
doing business with a vengeance, and the
fire ordinance against standing in the
aisle was broken with impunity. The
star of the cast was a blonde, one of
those paroxide actorines who despite the
scantiness of her covering, insists on
singing. and despite her lack Of discrimi-
nation In humor, persists in delivering
her buxom repertoire of "old ones" with
out the slightest variation.
Birmingham, in all the heat and smoke
and CRIME and perspiration. laughed.
Story after story the little woman related,
and finally as a result of her bodily ex-
ertion a visible rivulet of medicated paint
flowed southwark from her cheek, and the
mole of a sticking plaster. freed by the
moisture, fell to the floor with the
"soush" of a wet towel.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-22
POINTED PARAGRAPHS
From the Chicago News.

from the Chicago News.
Gossip is the mother-in-law of lies.
The price of liberty often depends upon
the judge.
Love in a cottage is another name for
a labor union.
II you have skeleton in your closet
train it to stay there.
If you don't believe art is long, visit a
moving picture show
According to accepted standards the
right side of politics is the inside.
Sometimes man will boast OF his vir-
tues after he has been scared into being
good.
Many man rides downtown on the
water wagon In the morning-and Tries
to walk back that night.
II diamond is hard what about the
heart of the pawnbrolSer who refuses tc
advance more than 10 per cent OF Its
value?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-22
AN IDEAL-JUROR

From Puck.
Counsel Ito talesman)-"Have YOU any
knowledge of anything in this world or
the world to Gomez"
Talesman-'I have not"
counsel7i"Do you know enough to come
in out of the rain?'
Talesman-"I do not
Counsel-"If you were standing on a
railroad track and an express train ap-
preached at a speed of 30 miles an hour.
would you step out of the way?''
Talesman--"I would not
Chorus of Lawyers-"Step right into the
jury box.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-22
MELODIES.

In sylvan dels where shadows cool
Invite the soul to rest
And blossoms crown the woodland pool,
Fair -mirrored on its breast,
The wind that through the stree-tops sighs
Sings varying songs to me
And the pine that scars SO close to the
skies
Z Sounds message from the sea.
The stream that purls er messy stones
The while 1t lilts along
And many silvery note intones,
Adds still another song.
But. passing all. far sweeter yet
Than farest music heard
In hearts that never have known regret,
Is the matin song of bird,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-22
HIS busy DAY

From the Chicago Record-Herald.
Lieutenant Won Egan-Kruger of Ger
the other afternoon, then made an aero
plane trip of 80 miles in 90 minutes and
arrived at Potsdam in time to ride his
own horse in a race and win a gold cup.
We haven't heard what de did to kill time
during the evening.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-22
Birmingham's Former Railway Stril

In spite of the street railway strike
on the lines of the Birmingham Rail
way, Light and Power company,
which became effective at midnight
Friday, service on all the lines was
apparently normal yesterday.
The last street railway strike in
Birmingham began during the latter
part of May, 1907, during the admin
istration of Mayor George B. Ward,
and lasted exactly Is days. The strike
was directed by the famous Ben Com
mons and caused very serious incon-
venience in Birmingham for four or
five days.
The strike was declared effective at
noon Monday, MAJ 10, 1907, and that
afternoon Mayor Ward ordered all sa-
looms in the city closed, ordered the
entire police force on double time and
in a proclamation urged all citizens to
refrain from congregating on the
streets.
President Robert Jemison of the
Birmingham Railway, Light and Pow
er company also issued statement at
the beginning of the strike in which
he said, eve will never recognize the
union" Samuel Gompers, president of
the American Federation of Labor,
spent the day here on Tuesday, May
20, in conference with the union labor
leaders.
AT the time of the strike the union
claimed but 230 members. On the sec
ond day the Alabama Great Southern,
the Frisco and the Birmingham South
ern began running shuttle trains to
and from the various suburbs.
An interesting incident of Wednes-
day, the 22d, was the fact that Rick
Woodward acted as motorman for the
day on the North Bessemer line.
Conditions had become so satisfac-
tory that saloons were allowed to re-
open on Friday, May "a, and the
steam trains were discontinued Sun
day, all the electric cars being in
service.
A big union mass meeting was held
on Sunday and on Wednesday, May
29, a largely attended meeting of the
Trades Council issued an ultimatum
to the Birmingham Railway, Light and
Power company to grant the demands
OF the street railway union, or a gen.
eral strike of all unions would be
called on Monday, June 8, at noon.
The street railway company was still
firm in its attitude not to recognize
the union and a general strike was ac-
cordingly ordered for Monday, June 3.
The response was not encouraging
to the union forces. 1t was estimated
that only about 1900 men quit work.
In fact, the general strike was such
failure that on Tuesday, June a, it
was called off and the entire strike
was formally ended, with the street
railway company completely victori-
Gus, through the assistance of en-
ployes who remained loyal to it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-22
STRlNG BEAN RIVALRY.

One Appleton Jones of Kansas City,
Kan, claims that his town beat Kansas
City, Mo-, in producing the first string
beans of the season. If there is any dis
position among the citizens of Kansas
City, Mo-. to argue the matter, we hope
and trust that the quarrel will be settled
in an amicable way. The weather is en-
tirely too warm to wage a fierce ip-
ternecine struggle over string beans.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-22
Would Eat Only lee

"I noticed in recent issue of The Age
Herald several suggestions from promi-
nent men Of the city as to what to eat
during the summer months, said kili
Moore. This is q question to which
have given considerable study and have
at different times entertained many differ
ent theories which were sooner or later
exploded. During the past few days
however, l have reached the conclusion
that the only thing to eat in weather like
this is ice, and lots of it
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-22
THE LOVERS PRAYER

From Tennyson's "Maud.''
o let the solid ground
Not fail beneath my feet
Before my life has found
What some have found so sweet.
Then let come what come may,
What matter If l go mad,
l shall have had my day.
Let the sweet heavens endure,
Not close and darken above me
Before | am quite sure
That there is one to love me:
Then let come what come may 2
To a life that has been so sad,
l shall have had my day.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-22

APPERTAINING TO WHISPERS.
We refuse to become excited over the
newspaper announcement that whiskers
are coming back. Whiskers are always
coming back. 1t is way they have of
coming back that Keeps thousands of bar
bers busy shaving them off.