davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-27

porary embarrassment of the com pany is "slow collections" A concern in as apparently good shape as the H. B. Claflin Co.,, but with smaller liabili- ties, could have received sufficient aid from bankers to tide over, but after careful consideration of the Claflin company situation on the part of some of the leading bankers it was decided that receivership was better for all concerned.
 H. B. Claflin, the founder of the company, was one of the great mer- chants of New York a generation or more ago. He was esteemed for his character and his enterprise, and his business grew steadily until it reached enormous proportions. He conducted the largest dry goods business in this country. His son, who heads the com pany of today, sustains the family reputation for integrity, and it is a matter of general satisfaction that no questionable methods of any sort were employed by the concern. In some large mercantile failures fraud has been charged and sometimes proved.
 In the case of the Claflin concern every transaction was open and above board. There was no concealment of any important fact, and the impress sio nnow prevails in banking circles that the task of reorganization will proceed rapidly and smoothly. One fact in connection with the temporary embarrassment which will prevent strain in any one section of the coun- try due to the Claflin company receiv- ership is that outstanding paper is widely distributed, being held by thou sands of bankers throughout the United States.
 The general trade of the country is improving, and with reasonably good conditions the H. B. Claflin company will regain its old time thrift within a few months.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-27

of electric power from great water and steam plants. distributed many miles in various directions over lines of wires car ried over supports of symmetrical steel towers.
 In numerous states reports upon build ing of shops and dwellings convey the idea of steady growth from year to year and even from month to month. By ob- servation during a few days in state or two the traveller may note the rapid in- crease of accommodations for additional population and for manufactures and commerce. Even in towns of from 5000 to 1o,o00 inhabitants and remote from any rivers one may find this astonishing growth of population in one year, with additional wheels of industry turning in the shops.
 The traveller takes. as a matter of course, the great fields of cotton now ris- ing steadily in the heat, but with some surprise, possibly, the ambitious additions of groups of new buildings to villages and towns through which his limited train swiftly passes.
 While Atlanta and Birmingham are brilliant and tremendous in commerce and manufactures respectively, and other im- portant cities are conspicuous for their activities. Galveston comes forward with a later contribution to the industries to cost $750,000 in the form of an additional cotton compress and warehouse. Macon, Ga, will quietly increase it's output of fertilizer and cotton seed oil. In Cedar town, of that state, the production of cot ton yarns will be greatly increased, and
 in Anniston, Ala, it will be doubled.
 Near Ducktown and Copper Hill, Tenn. is a new investment of half million dol lars to develop copper properties. At Ensley, Ala, there is to be an investment of nearly $500,000 in the work, elsewhere in operation, of turning furnace slag into fertilizer through the magic of chemis- try following crushing. At Echo, Tex, there is to be a new cotton seed oil mill at a cost of $35,000. Columbus, Ga, Is to have 25,O0o additional spindles for sstton yarns Bluefeld, w. Va, has an addi- tional industry in lumber. with capital of $50,000. San Antonio, Tex, is to have extension of It's water supply at d cost of $2OO, ,O00
 Here have been presented a few of the important facts and figures out of the many presented by the south within only a few weeks past, without touching any of those reported from the cities along the Atlantic. The growth of the south may be depended upon all the time.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-27
Transatlantic Aeroplane Expedition

1hCAOpihhS <APC0itlOH
 Undismayed by numerous aerial dis asters of the past, preparations for the Rodman Wanamaker transatlantic expedition are being pushed rapidly to completion. Two huge aeroplane boats have been under construction for this purpose on the Curtis flying field at Hammondsport, N. r., at the foot of Lake Keuka. The flying boat America is practically complete, and several trial flights over the lake under ad- verse conditions have been attended with success. Its duplicate, which has been provided to insure no delay in case of accident in trial flights or in transportation from the lake to the seashore, is also nearing completion.
 The expedition is scheduled to start from St. Johns, Newfoundland, early in July. Several short experimental voyages will probably be made along the coast before the final dash across the stormy Atlantic is attempted, and those in charge of the expedition ex- pect to make start soon after the arrival of the machines at the point of departure. Atmospheric conditions, however, will govern to some extent in choosing the date for sailing.
 The America is almost double the size of any other aeroplane yet con- structed, and will weigh when fully equipped for the transatlantic voyage 5000 pounds. The length of the hull is 32 feet, and the measurements of the upper plane are 72 by 2 feet. Yet this great vessel is said to be as easily controlled as are any of the smaller craft.
 Lieut.. John Cyril Porte of the Brit
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-27
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
The University at Dallas

Referring to the remarks of the Rev. pr. J. D. Simpson at the Rotary club luncheon Wednesday on the Methodist university movement that gentleman did not intend to convey the idea that Dallas would not have a full fledged university" said Rotarian who is deeply interested in education.
 The educational commission of the Methodist Episcopal church, south, has decided to establish a theological school in connection with the Methodist institu- ton already at Dallas. The purpose of the church is to have in time a complete university there; but if Birmingham also should be the seat of a Methodist univer- sity 1t will, as matter of course, be re- garded as the central institution, and will draw students from many states
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-27

~ NE of the most remarkable murder trials in France within the mem- O ory was that of Michael Eyraud,
 who became known as the "Strangler of Paris,'' and woh was executed on Febru- ary 3, 1891. The murder for which he met his death occurred in Paris in July, 1889. With the assistance of Gabrielle Bonn pard, Eyraud had strangled to death a
 notary of Paris named Tossaint Gouffe. l The trial was begun in Paris on Febru- ary 16, 1890. The strange character of | the murder and the subsequent career of | both Eyraud and Gabrielle heightened the interest in the case. The former had 1 had a most picturesque career. When he
 was only 19 years of age he joined the
 French army and served in the war be- tween France and Mexico. While in the 1 latter country he deserted from his regi-
 ment and joined the guerrillas and be- l trayed the position of the French forces, for which treachery he was tried by a French court martial and condemned to death in Contumaciamux, but the am- | resty of 1869 enabled him to return to | France.
 | After his return he led an adventurous | life, committing robberies and other crimes until the murder of Gouffe was
 fixed on him. On the first day of the trial he confessed his guilt, although he tried to place the responsibility for it's inception
 upon Gabrielle. He told how the woman had gotten Gouffe into her clutches, and
 how she had rented elaborate apartments, to which he should be enticed, when the murder was to be committed.
 The death of Gouffe was brought about in this way When the victim arrived at the appointed time he took Gabrielle upon
 his lap and fondled her haid and kissed
 her. Then she showed him a handsome
 new girdle she had purchased and play fully passed it around his throat, saying
 how attractive it would look as necktie.
 Having done this, she passed the two ends through a swivel in the wall to Eyraud, who pulled on the cords and Gouffe was strangled.
 Eyraud claimed that they did not mean to kill him, but only forced him to in- dorse some notes. Then Gabrielle was
 called and she gave her version of the crime. She said she did not know that it was to be committed until she had re- turned to her rooms with Eyraud after
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-27
Business Activity This Summer

There has been marked improve ment in business ever since June 1, and I feel that we will have large measure of prosperity throughout the summer" said Charles H. Needham of St. Paul.
 "A great deal has been said of the pessimistic feeling in New York city, but l was there. recently and found much more optimism than I had expected. The bumper crops will cause something of a boom throughout the country"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-27
A ROUGH ROAD.

My dear sir" said the philosopher. when we look about us and see the troubles that afflict other people, we ought to rejoice that our own paths through life are made smooth''
 Your path may be smooth,'' sighed the pessimist, but a laundering big steam roller would have to make great mary trips over mine before the bumps in it were pressed out"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-27

~rHE CRIME wAvEr

sTHE CRIME WAVE"
 Opelika News: Birmingham has been the scene of a series of brutal murders. It is a pity that the guilty parties are not brought to justice.
 Alabamian-Dispatch: The tragic city' of Birmingham reports the assassination of four young men within the last 60 days, and an inability of the authorities to bring the assassins to justice Verify, university is needed.
 Marion County News: The best way to stop some of the murderers in Birming- ham is to hang them.
 Blount County Journal: If the officials of Birmingham were allowed to make raids on hip pockets there would soon pc no murder mysteries for that town to clear up.
 Centreville Press: Birmingham has . crime wave that the police and officers are unable to solve. Four mysterious murders have been committed in the last few days The releasing of hundreds ot criminals who have served their time In the mines and who remain in Birmingham, is given as the cause of the murders. The fact is, Birmingham is large city and the vicious and the criminally inclined will go to a prosperous city to ply their trade, and this fact will probably ac- count for part of the murders. Birming- ham covers an immense territory and the city has not the officers to cover the district as they should.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-27
The "Jap Step-

Tt is said of the Japanese that they use cork shoes on their young in order to give peculiar shape to their feet and that their young women wear narrow skirts that they may. be forced to make short and quick steps," remarked modiste. Tt looks as though the modern Alabama girl, with her flat shoes and narrow skirt, is initiating the Japs; and so Japan has become the leader of fashion for the American girl.
 The Birmingham girl who has not ac- qulred the Jap step is not up-to-date, and the slit in the skirt is an impediment to progress along this line; therefore, she should sew up the slit"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-27
Learning to Play

Walter Moore hit the nail on the head the other day when he referred to the art of learning to work in con tradistinction to learning to play" said a taxpayer, who Is not averse to play for children.
 "A child's natural interest is for play. He knows how from the day he can crawl, and instinct teaches him to play. tut work is somewhat different. I want to propose a cutting down of weeds in the unoccupied lots and blocks of Birmingham and a conver- sion of these plots into vegetable and flower gardens, the products of which are always saleable in this city. Then let the boys and girls plant and work the plots, and the city administration offer premium on best results. There Is no better or more remunerative oc- cupation than that of horticulture and the soil and climate of Birmingham are spiendidly adapted to such enter prise, while the market affords a con stant demand at high prices.
 "To labor is a command of holy writ and the good book is always a correct guide for the young as well as for the old. The vacant grounds in Greater Birmingham can be made to produce enough fruits, flowers and vegetables to support this population and I am sure every owner of vacant grounds will gladly permit demonstration by the young of what can here be raised In the way of valuable productions Let's encourage the boys and girls to work and thereby produce something useful and profitable. What says the public welfare departmentY
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-27
A REASONABLE EXCUSE

From the Hartselle Enterprise.
 We are in receipt of an invitation to attend the Horseshoe Bend anniversary at the site of the old battle-ground 12 miles north of Dadeville on Saturday, July 4. We are very sorry that it will be inn possible to attend the celebration, but we are slated for ball game at Redwood Field on the Fourth.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-27
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
THE sTAGE-sTRUck MERMAID

THE STAGE-sTRUCk MERMAID. mermaid shed some bitter tears.
 Her heart was very sad; She wished to go upon the stage
 In pretty costumes clad. But lacked the limbs on which to put The sillSen sheen of tights; And sailors heard her moaning cry
 Beyond the harbor lights. A wild free life the mermaid led
 Beneath the salty foam. And where the white-capped pillows roll It gave her joy to roam But once, while sporting near the beach A show bill caught her eye And after that unlucky day
 She never ceased to sigh.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-27
A BUSINESS PROPOSITION.

A BUSINESS PROPOSITION
 T understand you are working on a snew automobile romance said the motor I.car manufacturer.
 ''Yes, answered the we'll known perpe- trator of best sellers" with condescen- sion. T am at present engaged on a novel of that sort"
 How much would it be worth to have the hero and heroine elope in a car of our maker" asked the manufacturer, insin- uatingly
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-27
MONTGOMERY REPORTS

From the DOthan Eagle.
 With all the burglary going on in Mont gomery from time to time, the Montgom- cry papers haven't referred to it as a ''crime wave, and a vote of thanks should be rendered them.
 The papers haven't even said that the police have no clue," which is another evidence of improvement.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-27
Will Pay in Full

It was a surprise to the public that the H. B. Claflin Co.,, one of the great est mercantile concerns in the world, had to go into receivers hands. The company is solvent, and will therefore pay it's creditors in full. With assets $1O, 100000 more than it's liabilities the easiest explanation of the tenn
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-27
NOT TO BE ENvIED.

'Dobbs has a charming home, a pretty more does he want?'
 happy or not by outward appearances. Dobbs' home Is heavily mortgaged, his wife has an artistic temperament his baby is monopolized by his wife's rela- tives, and his motor car is a last year s model"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-27

Rodman Wanamaker wisely declines to plane designed to fly across the Atlantic. A man like that can always bear up when disappointed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-27
QuITE SO,
From Tit-Bits.

From Tit-Bits.
 Judge: "What is your occupation, my man?"
 Prisoner: 1T am a bus driver, my lord ? Judge: You mean you are the driver of horses attached thereto?'
 Prisoner: "Yes. sir"
 Judge: You are charged with hitting this man on the face. Did you do it?'' Prisoner: Certainly notv'
 Jndge: What did you do, then?'' Prisoner: 'I hit him on the nasal organ attached theretol''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-27

Superintendent of Education Feagin de- clares that in Alabama there are more than 31. .00O white men who can neither read nor write. When this statement pervades Alabama everybody will rally to Birming- ham in it's effort to acquire the Methodist college.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-27

Alabama Birmingham is the logical place for it. This great plant would mean much for that city and for the state.
 Gadsden Journal: Birmingham is seek ing to redeem itself by raising a,000,0OO to secure the location of the great Methodist university which is to be built in the south. And Birmingham may do it. She is noted for accomplishing the impossible. Here's hoping she does. In her efforts along this line she should have the hearty cooperation of all Alabama.
 Florence Times: The city of Birming- ham will make an effort to capture the proposed Methodist university which the southern connection intends to build to take the place in the church which Van derbilt has formerly held, A movement is on foot to raise s1,000,000 to meet the de- mands. It Is understood that Atlanta will be strong competitor. Here's to Br- mingham! May she win!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-27
BUSINESS GROWTH SOUTH
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.

From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
 Along with other divisions of our coun- try the great south continues to advance in the turning of the wheels of produc- ton from the raw materials delivered to the factories and plants. Throughout the Carolinas there is advance in production
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-27

A crowd of more than 45.00O people went to see a night vaudeville show on Ebbet's Field, Brooklyn. A casual observer would have thought there wasn't a moving pic- ture show for miles around.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-27
A Young Birmingham Musician

Henry Damsky of Birmingham was
 graduated last Tuesday from the New England Conservatory of Music, Bos-
 ton, the pioneer among American schools devoted to educating pupils who desire to make a serious study
 of music with a view to a professional
 career in some branch of the art writes a member of the conservatory organization. Commencement exercises were held in Jordan hall and were largely attended by relatives and friends of the graduates from every
 part of the United States They con
 sisted of a concert by chosen soloists of the senior class and of the conser- Vatory orchestra, conducted by George w. Chadwick, the famous composer and
 director of the school an address to the class by Wallace Goodrich, dean
 of the faculty and presentation of di-
 plomas and special certificates by the
 director
 MT. Damsky, who is president of the class of 1914, had a place on the com
 mencement programme, playing the first movement of Mozart's Concerto in A major for the clarinet In execut-
 ing this classical work he demon- strated the excellent progress he has
 made in the conservatory's department of wind instruments, the instruction in the clarinet being given by Rudolph Toll. one of the virtuosi of the Boston symphony orchestra. Mir Damsky dur ing the past two seasons has played with the conservatory orchestra, thus gaining invaluable experience and ad-
 equately fitting himself for member ship in symphony orchestra He has
 made several public appearances dur ing the school year just passed, in cluding a memorable performance of a 1 "Romanza" for clarinet concerto at
 the recent annual concert of Alpha
 chapter, Phi Mu Alpha--Sinfonia Fra. ternity of America, of which organiza-
 tion he is one of the officers"
 As youth, before going to Boston
 to study. MT. Damsky was a member of Nappfs band and two or three sum
 r CTS ago spent his conservatory vaca-
 tion by playing in Klenks orchestra at
 the Florence. He has many friends
 who will be glad to learn of his grad
 uation honors.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-27

There is some consolation in believing that the golden streets of heaven will not be torn up to lay new pipes and improve the car tracks.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-27
Business in Alabama and Ml.sI..ippi

nusiness in Alabama and Mississippi
 Alabama will have large crops this year. but in some counties I have reports or DOH weevil damage" said Joseph Belt man. The weevil has been really a blessing in disguise, for 1t has put the farmers on their mettle and caused them to diversity their crops. Rain Is needed for the corn, but there is now promise Of an unusually large crop
 My business takes me to Mississippi, and In certain sections of that state crop conditions are good On the whole, Mis- sissippi and Alabama are both enjoying great deal of prosperity. As this state produced large crops last year. and the farmers received high price for cotton, money is more plentiful than usual. And the money value of this years crop will be even greater, perhaps, than that of last year"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-27

BEGINNING THE DAY-Help me, 0 Lord, to approach men and prob- lems from above. May I urge divine considerations and heavenly mo- lives. Grant that my appeal may be .o ,he highest and the sweetest. l would weigh with the scales of God I would come out from His pres ence, md look with His eyes, Amen III. M. E.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-27

The college graduate who was killed in Chicago by his fiancee's trained lions would have fared better if her pets had been poodles.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-27

We don't hear much these days about cubst painters, although. unlike some artists who beat their board bills, the cubists are on the square.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-27
A "sPIzzERINKTUAI. :

A newspaper writer says, "A spizzernk- tum' is person who possesses initiative, vim, vigor, efficiency, intelligent persis- tency and an overmastering will to suc- ceed." In other words, 'spizzernktum is sure fire winner and not, as the word might lead one to suppose, the sort of man who perfumes his handkerchiefs and says Dear mei' when a regular" man would use profanity.
 A WORD OF ADVICE. Bear up, my friend, and keep at work However hard your job is; If your one aim in lifes to shirl You'll stay right where the mob is.
 F. c.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-27

= A crumb from Tammany for woman suffrage. Consider the source, hencn- women. consider the sourcei
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-27

T. R. returned on the Imperator. After having had such a big time he naturally wished to return on a big boat.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-27

The harvest hand may not be hero, but at this season of the year he is a useful and important citizen.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-27

King Albert of Belgium is almost as popular with his people as old Leopold was unpopular.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-27

An optimist is a man who can get a laugh out of the joke department of the average magazine.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-27
THE METHODIST COLLEGE

Opelika News: Another rivalry now ex- ists between Birmingham and Atlanta. It Is for the site of the new Methodist coll lege.
 Roanoke Leader: The effort to be made by Birmingham to secure the location of the proposed new university to be estab- lished by the southern Methodist church should be aided and encouraged by ell
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-27
NOT INTERESTED.

Some men will read the baseball news And rarely miss a word; That papers publish book reviews.
 It seems they've never heard.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-27
WELL MATED.

q heard of an appropriate wedding the other day."
 ''Tell me the particulars"
 "A Diving Venus married human tank
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-27
PARADoxIcAL.

Pa, what is meant by the height of fashion,"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-27
SOMEWHAT RESCUE.

SOMEWHAT RESCUE. "Twobble brides himself on calling a spade spade. Quite so, but what makes his conver- sation offensive is the fact that he doesn't confine himself to spades"
 LIGHT LITERATURE.
 Some books I read, 1t seems to me,
 Are just whir
 Of lingerie.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-27

TELEPHONE Bell (private exchange connecting all Separfments), Main 49OO.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-27

Just now, son, it means that woman can be considerably overdressed and still have practically nothing on''