davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-22
Thanksgiving Day

Next Thursday being the last Thursday of November has been desig- mated by the President of the United States, according to custom, as a day for national thanksgiving. The people are asked to assemble in their respective places of worship and thank Almighty God for the blessings they have en- joyed through the year.
 Thanksgiving day is an old and hon. ored institution in this country. In 17S9 the Protestant Episcopal church formally recognized the government s authority to appoint such feast" but it was celebrated with more zest in New England than in any other section. There it is an occasion for annual family reunions, and as Bos- ton writer says, "it takes the place which in England is accorded to Christmas"
 Far back in colonial times, before there was any proclamation by gov ernor or other constituted authority the Pilgrim Fathers held an annual harvest thanksgiving. The first of these of which there is any record was in 1921. During the revolutions n1xy xvor tba Con+;oor+o1 Co,oo,.o.e .,<,<. commended days of thanksgiving an- nually, and in 17S4 for the return of peace. Washington appointed a Thanksgiving day in 17S9, after the adoption of the constitution, and again in 1795 for the general benefit and welfare of the nation, but thanksgiv- ing as an established annual festival by presidential proclamation dates only from 1863.
 The proclamations have always sounded clear note of reverence for Almighty God and religion. Many Presidents have written eloquently. and all of them have pitched their proclamations on a high plane. Pres ident Wilson's recent proclamation is not as lengthy as those of some of his predecessors. Indeed, like most of MT. Wilson's state papers, it is brief and concise.
 The people of this country have manifold blessings to be thankful for. Two stand out in strong relief-abun- dant harvests and deliverance from war and pestilence. In Alabama and most of the other states Thanksgiv- ing is legal holiday. The banks will close and business generally will be suspended. The churches will be we'll filled and thousands who do not at- tend divine service will offer up si- lent prayers in keeping with the day.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-22

encs to the time limit set on i'm promptu speeches.
 During these recent yeas womea workers in their organized capacity have developed an admirable style of oratory-quiet, restrained, easy and convincing. Alabama has indeed many gifted women and not a few men of experience in public life may learn from them some of the finer points of parliamentary science.
 May the federation flourish in the years to come, and may it's beneficent influence long continue.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-22
Journeyings of ycter.n

T am just back from a very pleasant vacation" said pr. J. W. Barclay, a Confederate veteran
 Tn October I went to my old stamp Ing ground, in Marshall county, to at- tend the fair at Guntersville, which, by the way, was most excellent and cred itable showing of the Sand mountain country's resources. One of the special objects of my trip was to meet pr. John Wyeth, the noted surgeon, who was boyhood friend, and, by the way, 1 am namesake of his father I thor oughly enjoyed myself at the home- coming, and everybody seemed so happy and contented
 After my north Alabama trip I jour- neyed to the far west to the banks of the Brazos river, to visit my brother. rode 25 miles by hack. but thoroughly enjoyed the journey. l found a land or plenty and prosperity, all sorts of grain grasses, cattle, hogs, turkeys and some cotton. l visited Dallas, Houston, and other centers, and I did not hear much complaint of hard times Most Of the farmers seemed to be holding thelr cotton for better prices"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-22
DEATH OF JOHN T. EVANS

From the Asheville, N. C., Citizen.
 In the death of John T. Evans, the news paper fraternity in Asheville loses one of it's ablest members. While MT. Evans so- journ on the Citizen was not of long duration. 1t was sufficient to allow of this papers keen appreciation of his unusual abilities in the field of Journalism. He was a treless and ungrudgtng worker, and these were qualities which did not swallow up personal attributes of an en- gazing nature. When in recent months the hand of sickness fell heavily upon him. MT. Evans lost none of those gen. ial characteristics which went far to form close and lasting friendships In this city. He will bs sadly missed by tho mem-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-22
md better safety appliances for ocean

and better safety appliances for ocean travel.
 These things, also these negative values, these Sisters of Sorrow have a use in that they furnish a reason and pawn for heroism. If there were no distress, no pain, no loss, no death, there would be nothing from which to save people, and nothing to dare in saving. The element of danger in life gives the element of color and Of courage. Suffering stands, for this time at any rate, as the giver of the finer things. Loyalty, sympathy, sac rifice, all such, are called into being and into exercise by suffering, and they borrow their poignancy and their nobility from the fact that they dare the price of suffering when they mani fest themselves. Life otherwise would be stale, flat, without depths and without heights.
 Here likewise we get our standards of valuation. do not know what God has prepared for another world, but in this one We understand pleas ure because we have experienced pain, we enjoy fragrances because we have met "smells," health thrills us be- cause yesterday we were sick, and death has enormously enriched life.
 An old legend tells how men before the first death lived in a gladsome idlesse. Time had no value, rela- tlonships no preciousness, because there was no intimation that they would ever end. Then came death. And straightway a thousand new things lived. Life had found it's gray ity and it's greatness.
 HENRY M. EDMONDS
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-22
LUKE M'LUKE SAYS

From the Cincinnati Enquirer
 One reason why woman likes to feed a tramp is because it is a pleasure to see man eat without kicking about the food
 It must be tough to be a female sten- ographer and have to submit to dicta- tion all day.
 What has become of the old-fashioned boy who would split kindling for an hour, clean up the yard. sweep the pavement and the cellar, wipe the~ dishes, go to the grocery, shine his shoes and wash himself behind the ears, all to get his mother to come across with dime so he could go up in the gallery and see ''Mugg s Landing or "The Lights O London?'
 A woman always knows what she wants when she knows she can't get 1t.
 Some telephone operators are so oblig- ing that if they can't remember the num- Der you ask for they will give you some thing just as good.
 . The man who designs the winter waists must live in a hot country. He always sees that the necks are revised down ward.
 Sometimes a woman is so hard up for something to crow over that she will brag about the number of deaths in her family.
 The old-fashioned 'shoss" doctor who used to chew tobacco and rub the lni- ment in with his own hands now has son who uses D. V. $. after his name and holds his kid gloves in one hand while he writes prescriptions with a x fountain pen.
 Some fellows lay up a percentage oi their earnings for a rainy day and oth- CTS act as though they were going tt live to be 600 years old and it was go lng to rain every day for 599 years. If man gets up on a cold morning and his thermometer registers five degrees lower than the thermometer owned by his neghbor, the man acts as If this wal the proof that he is five degrees smarter than his neighbor.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-22
Business-like Methods of Women

The twentieth annual convention of the Alabama Federation of Women's Clubs, in session at Montgomery the greater part of last week, was the cen ter of wide general interest and what seems to have made a particularly deep impression upon men who were at the various meetings as lookers-on was the excellent method with which the business was -onducted.
 The federation represents the flower of this states womanhood, and it represents, too, all departments of woman's work, except equal suffrage. While many of the active members of the federation are active also in the suffrage propaganda, all political top ics are strictly barred.
 The organization embraces civic clubs, literary clubs, musical clubs, and societies striving especially to inn prove living conditions among the poor. It combines, therefore, most of the humanizing activities of Alabama.
 With scarcely an exception the pa- pers and addresses heard at Montgom- cry possessed distinct merit, and the discussions were at once practical and animating. Another noteworthy fea- turs of the convention was the adher-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-22
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Good Times Ahead

That was a good interview which Charles M. schwab gave out Friday, and which appeared in Saturday morning Age Herald" said ]. M. Meighan.
 T have been expecting a revival oi prosperity throughout the country have been saying that we would have good times early in 1915, and MT Schwab's statement confirms that pre- diction. Sehwab is recognized as one of the greatest steel makers in this country. He does not talk for publica- tion often. and his interview on inn proved conditions and telling what was In store for his line of industry was all the more significant Business is better and it will, I believe, continue to improve right along"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-22
THE FATHER

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Gretchen has run to the garden gate. The gray-coat man Is near; Only a moment she has to walt "Nothing for you. my dear" Softly he touches the flaxen curls; Sorry. my dear." says he; Fathers should write so their little
 girls,
 Over the wide. wide sea-" Under the gray of the Flanders sky. Under the sleeting rain; Swept by the gales they whistle by, Creasing the sodden plain. Stretches grave with a snowy pall-- Chill are the winds and free; There lies the father who sends no call Over the wide. wide sea.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-22
AN ALL-STAR BILL.

visited ''vodevil' show
 And this is what I saw: A dame who laid her husband low
 think, in Saginaw; Two baseball players in a sketch 7 Put on in clumsy style. A comedy" that did not fetch
 A single fleeting smile; Some pigs that danced the latest "trot, '
 Or so their trainer said; A "turn'-the name I have forgot
 Done by a girl in red; A man once buried Tn a mine
 For twelve or fourteen days, A pugilist who used to shine
 But now wears faded bays; And moving pictures at the close
 Of war; that causes woe. Which nearly everybody knows
 Were made some years ago.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-22
THE ART OF PROPER GIVING WITH A STORY
 OF REAL LIFE RIGHT HERE IN BIRMINGHAM

thoughtful as if she was preparing>a des. perate programme
 The clerk. still having hold of the meal sack. inclined across the counter in si. lent contemplation. He knew that there was something wrong. He acknowledged to himself the prompting of an impulse to give the woman the meal and charge the cost of it to himself
 And just at that juncture other cus- toners entered the store. To serve them, the clerk retired to the rear The woman, moving rapidly under the spell of a cer- tain determination, strode across the aisle removed the sack and departed. As she passed through the door the clerk ob. served. He ran hastily to the front. Fifty feet away the woman was walking rap- idly-and absolutely unafraid.
 Two motorcycle policemen passed. To them the clerk told the story.
 Don't arrest her. he cautioned. Fol low her and find out what she does with that meal''
 The policemen followed
 The woman after maintaining her pace for less than half an hour, and without having looked either to the right or left, entered her home. On the outside. re- mained the officers
 'In five minutes.' they agreed. we will move around to the kitchen window. and find out for ourselves"
 In the cold ,the minutes passed slowly. Finally, however, the policemen knew that sufficient time had elapsed for their purpose. Very cautiously they left the porch, and treading lightly, lest a false step might give the quarry warning, ap- preached the kitchen window.
 
 Through it, one peered. In moment, he withdrew, giving his place of vantage to his brother in arms
 :s # <
 That which they saw?
 The woman had poured upon the meal a quantity of water She had dropped into the mixture a pinch of salt. She had poured the whole upon an oven and on the stove the bread was cooking. Besides the woman there were in the room three children, little fellows with pale faces, little hearts which could not understand why in the midst of plenty they had nothing.
 Two Of these children were ralSing with anxious fingers the uncooked dough from the vessel in which the mother had poured the meal, ral1ing hurriedly, hungrily and transferring the watery substance to their mouths.
 The other child was standing on tip-toe about the stove, and as if she found it impossible to await the moment when there would be bread, was plucking from
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-22
UNDERTAKER's PHILOSOPHY

From the Montgomery Advertiser.
 A Birmingham undertaken, asked if business and industrial depression affected his business. replied keenly:
 Sure 1t does. You see in hard times the people economize. They eat plainer food and less of it and consequently do not get sick. Then again, not having any money they don't call in the doctor In the event of sickness and-they get well! So you can plainly see how 1t affects me.
 There's an ounce of philosophy in what the undertaken says. If we live plainly We live better, healthier and happier lives.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-22
THE HORRORS OF WAR.

THE HORRORS OF WAR. T have just been reading a story of hardship and suffering endured by d British soldier that drew tears from my eyes,.
 Tell me what happened to the poor fellow"
 For three days he was cut off from his comrades without so much as grain of tobacco"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-22
STILL. THAT'S SOMETHING.

You ought not to be discouraged, said the optimistic person.. ''If you would only stop to think I'm sure you would find great deal to be thankful fof-'
 Well, I don't know about that an swered the pessimistic individual. All 1 can think of just now to be thankful for is the fact that I wasn't born Belgian"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-22

fine military education, had fits; Alex ander Pope was misshapen. Carlyle was dyspeptic. Stevenson was sickly boy ami fragile man. The list may be greatly extended. Good old nature of- fcrs her compensations here as else- where A sound body and a sound mind should go together. But occa- sionally the weak body finds compensa- ton in a phenomenal mind.
 We know so little about Shakespeare, and Shakespeare knew so little about higher education. that there is no place for him in this discussion.
 Anyway, we are glad to know that pr. Nicholas Murray Buffers physical condition has entitled him to the boon he so highly values.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-22

the side of the oven that portion of dough which overfowed.
 The woman?
 in the corner she sat There was on her face an expression of satisfaction-a fieeting expression as if she were aware that the satisfaction of the moment could not long endure. And mingling with that expression was another-hopelessn
 The two policemen, feeling for the mo- ment as if they were culprlts, retired silently. rapidly and yet thoughtfully.
 On the sidewalk they mounted their wheels and return to the store There they told the clerk, and the proprietor, for he had returned, that which they had wit messed
 Now, money is tight with me-. said enc of these officers "but am going to
 
 Me, too. Bill' exclaimed his brother officer. This is the last cent I have on earth"
 On the counter the two dallars fell.
 And then said the clerk, Here's my Of fering, and 1 wish it were more" Half dollar fell among the other coins.
 The proprietor in the meantime had been silent.
 Now, fellows" he finally said. T will not be backward. I am going to add to the meat and bread that your money will buy. a well rounded bill of groceries Times are hard, butt am not hungry and never have been"
 Of course, there are not many hungry people around Birmingham. But there are hundreds of those who need helping hand. Some of them. indeed, while not in danger of starvation. do require that food which gives blood and strength. Others are full of pain. Others are silent witnesses of the suffering of those they love. Others are stricken with a fatal disease and are dying-slowly, in stages
 This is the season of the year-the Thanksgiving season, the beginning of the Yuletide season-when happiness is abroad in the land when hearts are glad when bells ring out, when children shout in merry enthusiasm, when homes are warm and comfortable, when dinner ta- bles groan beneath sumptuous burdens
 And it is the season, too, when instinc- lively one thinks of the man who is out in the cold, of the poor cripple who sits with hand extended on an icy pavement, the little child with pallid countenance, in need of nourishment.
 Give to Belgium, all you who are chari- table.
 But first know to your own satisfaction that when you give to those who suffer across the sea, you do not through the prompting of that which is good in you stihe the cry of one who suffers on your doorstep HUGH ". ROBERTS.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-22

From Puck
 Think you can learn a part if give it to your" inquired the Broad way manager of the chorus girls. Tn the second act you. Hurrah, boys! Here comes the captaini Now, l want you to cut out the bright lights and late eats for awhile and get right down to hard study'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-22
GUYS AND GINIxS.

GUYS AND GINKS. Some day we hope twill he our lot To write tuneful dirge About the guy who won't do things Butts always on the verge.
 Geneva Free Press-Times. The always hesitat.ng guys Wed stack up high in heaps Upon the gink who never tries To look before he leaps -.C. A. Leedy in Youngstown Telegram. And both of those poor guys will win To heavens gates so peary Before the guy who don't get in His Christmas shopping early.
 Houston Post We don Scare what hard lnclx befalis The empty-headed sinner Who thinks, at dinners, parties, balls That he's sure-fire winner.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-22
BRAwN AND BRAINS
rom the Cleveland Plain Dealer

After Dr. Nicholas Murray Buffers suggestion that higher education be withheld from the physically unfit the unhappy fact is forced upon us that 1t Is the physically unfit who get tho largest profit out of higher education Napoleon Bonaparts. who received .
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-22
RATHER HOPELESS.

When a man is without uplifting in- fluences he is apt to degenerate" said the amiable philosopher
 Quite SO, answered the cynic, but nothing less than a steam derrick will uplift some men and I fear that the supply is limited.''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-22
Planting of Small Grain

The much agitated question of the farmers planting small grain instead of all cotton brings up an aspect of the matter that probably has not been fully taken into consideration" said a man who has had some experience in agri- cultural life.
 The old system of sowing grain broadcast in cotton patches, corn stub : ble and other indifferently prepared lands does not yield profitable returns. Many farmers do not know that the soil should be fred; that is, turned over in fair weather, narrowed and reharrowed. For wheat it should be combed with small tooth harrow until almost pul- verized. The planting should be by drill, with fertilizer drilled also. but mixed by stirring. No fertilizer should come in contact with the seed as-it will kill the germinated plant just sprung from the seed. After planting. the ground should be rolled, to press the soil close to the seed to make the propagating bed Drainage ftsrrows- very shallow-should be crossed over the planted area for unexpected rain- falls
 The modern system of economy as to labor calls for a self-reaper and twine, or wire binder, a very costly machine. Next a thresher. power driven, is required to get the grain from the straw, where there is to be marketing also in the saving of seed Tor another crop. Therefore, the cul-
 tivation of small grain with profit re- quires capital for modern planting and harvesting machinery. Behold it is an i'll wind that blows no good; the National Harvester monopoly would make hay while the cotton farmer pavs the price.-Selah.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-22
Graves only be mems works and death their gain. Sun, hide thy beams! {!
 -Timon Of Athens.
BEGINNING THE DAy-HeIp me,

BEGINNING THE DAY--HcIp me, Lord, not to promise less, but to do more. May my performance outrun my speech. May I pay more than I pledge. May my words he quiet and modest, my deeds strong and con- sistent. In Christ's name. Amen H. M. E.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-22

An Alabama man asked the city com missioners of Birmingham to collect So Tor him from Birmingham merchant. Just shows what reputation for eff ciency will do
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-22
ITS FATE.

A hopeful man was Henry Green Who went and purchased gasoline One year ahead.
 His auto car did turtle turn, With him beneath began to burn And now he's dead.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-22

The "burrowing'' soldier and the ''muskrat" soldier are the newest types of fighting men.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-22

Charley Schwab Is speaking in an opti- mistic vein of returning prosperity. Pre- sumably he has pocket full of con tracts with European governments Why shouldn't he cheer up?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-22

The Mothers congress wants girls to be simply clad. A good idea, Mothers. Set the examplel
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-22

Some of us may not be able to have a turkey for Thanksgiving day, but oys- ters are still cheap.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-22

There used to be a time when Vesuvus could attract some attention by going on a rampage, but now that old crater