davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-13
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American Tourists Cared For

In spite of the difficulties that at tended such work, the American state denartment has succeeded admirably in caring for American tourists who were stranded abroad, and the maJori- +v of them are now safe at home. The poyernments representatives nave conducted themselves from the begin ming of hostilities with such good sense and discretion that after the first obstacles were successfully over come, due to the confusion that natur- ally resulted when war was declared and all methods of transportation were demoralized, American travellers have been for the most part extrieateu from their difficulties without any friction of a serious nature with for -eign military authorities.
 London has been haven of refuge for American tourists and more than 10000 have embarked from Great Britain to the United States since the war started The work of the relief committee in London has been well done and the thousands of stranded Americans whom it helped back home should feel grateful for the substantial aid afforded them It is true that there were some tourists, presumably of the "new-rich" kind, who complained bitterly of the poor accommodations given them in steamships, but they only succeeded in drawing on them selves the contempt of more sensible people who realized that the relief committee was doing the best it coull under the circumstances.
 Although the bulk of the tourists have been brought back, it is estimated that there are 100,000 Americans resi- dent in Europe who are suffering from the effects of the war This coun- try cannot afford to let them become a burden on governments that already have all they can do to provide for their own people. These Americans are in business abroad and to a certain ex- tent will be able to fend for them selves. Also travellers continue to ar rive in London from distant parts of the globe. They are being helped by the relief committee.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-13
Prominent pennsyIvnnian Here

c. K. Williams and daughter of Eas- ton. Pa, were registered at the Tutwiler yesterday. Mr Williams is the largest dry paint manufacturer in the United States. He has several large plants in tile east, one in Kalamazoo. Mich and enc in South Carolina, not far from the Georgia line. He is also largely inter- ested in a gold mine in Georgia.
 Birmingham Is very handsome city, and at a glance l would say that 1t was very busy city, said Mir Williams
 T was here for the first time about live months ago, and was agreeably sur prised to finc this such great commer- cial center. The Jefferson county bank S beautiful 25-story building had just been completed. and I had the pleasure of in- specting the Newspaper clubs elegant quarters in the top part of that tower ing structure.
 About the only change I have noticed in the five months since I was here is the opening of the Tutwiler II is a mag nificent hottl, and it's service is strictly iirst class. The Tutwiler would cer- tainly do credit to New York Philadel- phia or any other big eastern city"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-13
STARED INTO SNAKES EYES

From the San Francisco Chronicle.
 There is q saying down on the broad Moiave desert, where the burning sands conceal many dangers that no true son of the greasewood wastes will pass up a rattler. Strong as is the lure of gold which so irresistibly holds the prospector on his search, there is none who will not stop an hour or half a day to kill the deadly foe of the gold hunter
 There is story which will bear telling and it is comparatively new. It happened three weeks ago in San Bernardino coun- ty. The man to whom the experience came is noted the desert over for his truthfulness He has been bitten twice. His name is George Branch. Quiet, unas- suming, with a laugh at what he termed a joke on the snake, he told the story on recent trip to San Francisco.
 .'I was hiking along with Jack and Jennie and Joe. my three burros, when ran across an outcropping that looked good and in country kne was among the best there is on the desert. So we four struck camp right there and I began sinking a shaft to get look at the in- side
 "I had little timber, but managed to l get enough over to the workings to put down good ladder and keep the sha it open The grub ran short and I had to
 hit the trail back for more. It took about
 q week. When returned I started down
 in the mine to do half day shift. hitting
 into camp a little before noon. I wasn' t DE ying mush attention to anything except getting down the ladder. My candle shed
 q pretty small light for all the darkness
 at the bottcm of the hole.
 T was passing the last set of timbers and when they were opposite my shoulder
 I flashed ms candle to the left to see if
 there was any sign of settling. Just as 1 l was turning around to look on the other
 side heard. about three inches from my | ear, the buzz of a rattler.
 "It sounded more like bell rattle than
 I ever heard them before It was>so close it almost scared me into loosing my grip | on the ladcer. In the half second ! stayed there l saw every scale on the snake and his wicked little eyes and his fengs and darting tongue. Maybe it was | the light or the candle that confused him and maybe it was something else that kept him from striking. But all that lad
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-13
The Tax League Popular

The Jefferson County Tax league which was recently organized has al- ready enrolled many members, but it is desired that every tax payer in the county become identified with the movement. A strong membership com mittee will be announced shortly, and whirlwind campaign will then be in order.
 It is generally known that the pres ent tax laws of Alabama need re- forming. In many particulars they are unjust. The new legislature will have few things before it so important as a tax reform measure.
 A tax league should be organized in every county. The league is committed to no measure in detail, but when the time comes committee will be chosen to draft a proper bill. What is sought now is cooperation on the part of tax payers, and that cooperation will come through membership in the league.
 The league fee is only $1, so that no one will be kept out of the organiza- ton because of the cost. Only by a thorough organization can the public become aroused to the crying necessi- ty of a change in our revenue system In the membership campaign an ef- fort will be made to reach by direct appeal every tax payer in Jefferson county who is not already a member. It is hoped and believed, however, that very large number of citizens will not wait for personal solicitation, but will enclose the little fee to Chairman Robert Ewing, Vice Chairman John W. Sibley, or Secretary W. c. Rad cliffe and ask that their names De en- rolled
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-13
TO BOYLAND

From the Baltimore Sun It's a long way back to Boyland Where the voices sing and call. But it's not so far in autumn. When the ripened chestnuts fall: When the chinquapins are open. And the paw-paws ripe and sweet, Then I go back unto Boyland As if wings were on my feet
 To Boyland, dreaming Boyland.
 Where the voices sing and call Through the golden mists of au
 tumn
 When the ripened chestnuts fall, We forget the old road often And the dust of toll and strife Hides the valley of its magic In the later years of life: But it's not so hard to find it When again you chance to see The ripe persimmons hanging On the old persimmon tree: To Boyland, loved old Boyland.
 With its music and it's thrall.
 When the frost has kist the pump
 kins
 And the ripened chestnuts fall, It makes our old limbs tremble When we think sometimes how far The road runs back to Boyland And its shining morning star: But the loved abode of memory J Draws so close, so close again. When the dear old things in nature Wake the slumbering dreams of men, To Boyland. far-off Boyland,
 Why, it's just beyond the wall
 When October's in the woodland
 And the ripened chestnuts falll
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-13
Fortnne Fayors Germans

Not since the latter part of August and early in September, when the first colossal German rush into France was at it's height, has the situation ap- peared so dscouraging for the allies.
 The principal news from the war zone yesterday was that the siege of the Galician stronghold of Przemysl had been abandoned by the Russians and that the Cossacks had fallen back in order to meet the Austro-Ger- man forces on more favorable ground.
 There is one striking feature. For days the Russians have been announc- ing victories, all of which were denied by Vienna and Berlin, yet which even tually proved to be true; when the Russians really were forced to retire the announcement came simultaneous ly from Vienna and Petrograd.
 In the French and Belgian theatres of war, nothing of importance has been allowed to pass the censor. What little seeps through indicates that the allies are still pressing the effort to get around the German right.
 So far as the world knows, an ir- resistable force has come in contact with an immovable object on the French frontier. What is really going on behind the screen-that is a diff ferent matter.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-13
Hobson on Guard

The Age-Herald, some days ago. ear- ried story to the effect that Captain Hobson had written the state demo- cratic campaign committee that he could not make speeches in behalf of demo- cratic nominees in Alabama. and gave as reason his congressional duties in Washington"
 Thus spoke yesterday Richmond Col lins of Winston. who is in Birmingham.
 And yesterday afternoon" he contin- ued, T read in an afternoon newspaper where Congressman Hobson is taking part in campaign in Illinois for the election of congressional nominees pledged to vote for national prohibition From this angle. one cannot tell whether the nominees for whom Hobson, accord ing to the dispatch, will speak, are demo- cratic or republican.
 "The dispatch said that the campaign was on at the present time, and I am interested to know whether or not Hob son has actually responded prior to the adjournment of Congress If the dis patch is true. it is barely possible that before the campaign Is over in Alabama, we will have the pleasure of hearing the captain speak in the interest of demo- cratic nominees. nominees whom he Iledged himself to support when he en-
 tered the democratic primary April G.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-13
 LITTLE STORY OF -CREOs0TE

From the Toledo Blade.
 You have seen a stream that is bor- dered by gas plant its shores blackcned with coal tar, it's waters polluted with wastes. That stream is ugly and rcpul- sive and ill smelling and barren of life because the gas plant throws away what it should save.
 Germany, instead of, treating coal tar as a nuisance and thing to get rid of, even at the cost of pollutng the streams, saves 1t carefully and from it obtains a thousand useful products. Among them is creosote, O0000,Oo0 gallons of which sine sells to the United States as a timber preservative. The country which wastes It's resources Is the eager customer O! the one which conserves it's resources.
 From Texas comes the cry that plants which treat bridge timbers and cross ties with creosote will have to shut down because of the lack of the preserving material. The war is a wall between the thrifty German manufacturers and .heir market in the country of unthrift.
 The gas makers and the coke makers can go on wasting a useful by-product and the wood preserving plants can stay closed Or the coal tar can be saved and distilled and the demand for creosote met.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-13
LUKE M'LUKE SAYS
no Cincinnati EnouIrer.

From the Cincinnati Enquirer
 More women would read theaccounts of the games in the worlds series if the fool sporting editors would only tell who were in the grandstand and what they wore.
 The average man would rather have five pay days in a month than five Sun days.
 More material for the Great American novel A California woman wants a di- vorce because she is her husbands fourth wife and he insists upon calling her by his first wife's name
 When man blows in So over a bar he never gives it second thought. But if he loses S5 on the street he can figure out how he could have paid the national debt with it.
 Father wants divorce when mother has hash for dinner. But if mother puts some dope in the hash and calls it some French name that sounds like a cabaret dish father compliments her on her high brow cooking.
 When friend wife hears frlend husband brag about the rapid stenogl apher he has in his office, friend wife wonders ii friend husband doesn't mean fast. When you pin your faith to woman use safety pin.
 After while, when the other states follow Wisconsin and adopt the Eugenic 1 laws, we will have all the ba bies reg :, istered in herd book. ! When a man gets home late and his 1 dinner is cold, he knows that his wife | will make it warm for him. You can | play this both ways. i Judging from the court records, d loi
 of girls seem to imagine that the old ] proverb should read: Mary in haste and spend the alimony at leisure"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-13
LEARNED PROFESSIONS

From the Chicago Jorunal.
 There was a time when half the col- lege graduates of America became clergy men. and when the legal and medical pro- fessions swallowed up nearly all the other half. Now less than per cent of the men who complete college courses go into the ministry, and the three "learned professions together number only minority of the college-trained pop ulation of the country.
 This illustrates not only the rapid spread of higher education in the United States. but the way in which society is constantly differentiating into more and more diverse occupations. Go back far enough iil his- tory, and there was but one trained pro- fession, the ecclesiastical. In more re- cent times there were three-law, medi- cine and the church. Today, no one knows how many lines of effort deserve the name of learned
 In fact, business itself is rapidly np- preaching the status of profession. both in the learning required and in the ethical
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-13
Barrie's Peculiar Shyness

Sir James M. Barrie, creator of "Peter Pan,' is generally believed to be shy man, but those who know him intimately declare that this trait has been exaggerated in published ac- counts of the author. He is, however, very exclusive, and amusing stories are told of the vain attempts made by newspaper men to get an interview from him.
 On one occasion an enterprising re- porter raced up the steps leading to Barrie's London apartments at No. 3 Adelphi Terrace House while Barrie rode up on the elevator. Although the panting reporter asked the author 2 number of questions, all he got for his pains was the assurance from Barrie that the lift was entirely dependable Once at banquet of newspaper mer he was called on for speech. He rose and said, Well, this is the verry fursi time I've ever had dinner with three editors" Then he sat down.
 On another occasion Barrie was be- ing groomed for Parliament. He was asked to preside over Burns celebra tion in Scotland. During the entire proceedings he never rose from his chair and never spoke word The cf feet of his dumbness on the voters was already bad enuogh, but to make mat ters worse, satirical article was pub
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-13
Going Away Again

From the Montgomery Advertiser.
 Governor Emmet O'Neaf yesterday sig nified his intention of attending the con vened at Milwaukee next month. Gov ernor ONeal since his elevation to the office of chief executive has never failed to attend these annual meetings. Mat ters come up at these meetings which are of invaluable benefit to me as chief executive and l believe it a dirty of all state executives to attend these affairs and give views upon matters relative 10 state government in order that each may work more effectively in the discharge of his duties," said Governor O'Neal
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-13

l One of the most interesting of the
 pro-ka1ser articles appearing recently 1 is Hugo Munsterberg's on the Emperor William. the Man" in Everybodys
 Magazine. The distinguished professor draws fine picture of the Kaiser but the man in his home. Among other informing observations are these "In America l have seen only one per son succeed in an effort to meet every
 one in his own field, and that was Theodore Roosevelt. After the Congress Of Arts and Sciences during the St. Louis worlds fair which was attended by more than hundred leading Euro pean scholars of all scientific denom- nations, the international party went to Washington, and I had the honor to introduce each individual to the Pres ident, who received them in the east room He really talked with philolo- gists about philology, with naturalists about natural science. with historians about history, with geographers about geography and with lawyers about law. Yet six years later l had the feeling thar the Kaiser outdid him. It was at tho hundredth anniversary of Berlin university The scholarly master-spir- it's of the world had come as delegates. After a great banquet in the gala halls of the Berlin castle. the Emperor re- ceived the foreign scholars personally, and l happened to stand quite close be- hind him. It was an intellectual de- light to watch the versatility with which he met every man with interest in his particular subject But the feat became the more fascinating as he dd dressed every one in his own language, peaking especially French and English with exactly the same ease as German And yet this is the man about whom SO many Americans fancy that he has no other idea than the army and mili- tarism."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-13
Financial Situation Improves

The financial interests of this coun- try are rapidly adjusting themselves to the business situation growing out of the European war One of the lead ing financiers of New York says that each week marks further improvement in the financial situation. The same authority says that foreign trans actions, though still seriously inn peded," are being conducted with in- creasing facility and that the posi- ton of foreign exchange grows more favorable every day.
 It is pointed out that the formation of the $100, 0,O00000 gold pool has af- forded material relief and is offering conspicuous example of what can be accomplished by intelligent co-opera- tion.
 This war has brought many sur- prises; also some highly gratifying incidents" says the financial author ity above quoted. Among these must be included the work accomplished. by New York bankers toward meeting the shock of war, thus preventing dis aster and successfully adjusting our commercial affairs to the new situa- ton. When the facts become fully known as to the ability, courage and unselfishness with which the New York bankers faced the most serious financial crisis in our history there will be less prejudice throughout the country, and particularly in political circles, against New York as fi- nancial center. There are serious problems brought on by the war yet to be solved, but the worst part of the crisis has been safely passed"
 Notwithstanding the fact that the various exchanges are yet closed there is still firm and widening mar ket for many high grade securities The world is becoming accustomed tc the war The bloody hostilities vii continue for many months perhaps but the business of this country vii become more active with the advanc, of autumn, and the prediction is free ly made that the holiday season vii witness high tide of prosperity.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-13
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Fair a r'inancial Success

The Birmingham State Fair was a great success from an agricultural ex- hibit point of view, if we ire to accept the complimentary remarks of good Judges. and it was I am slad to say, quite financial success said President K. A. Brown. 'The weather was against us the entire first week. and the Euro pean war which directly affected the cotton situation was against us through out the two weeks. Nevertheless, the at tendance averaged well.
 The Fair association will be able to meet all It's obligations. We will have another great fair next year. The people of Ala bama now look upon the fair here as an educational institution and each year will witness q better fair"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-13

would have had to do was to reach out a couple of inches to get me on the cheek and I would have had no chance to stop the poison from doing it's work
 "I asked Q college professor afterward just how he thought did it. l don't re- member. But in about two s<ips of flea I was out on the surface and listening to the rattler buzz away down in the shaft. The professor said there was something that always made a man in an emer- gency do just the right thing.
 q got a stick and poked him off the timber and killed him by dropping rocks into the shaft. He was four feet long and had 16 rattles. He had slid down the
 incline of the shaft and rolled on 4-inch beam. l think he was afraid of falling or he would have struck.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-13
Cattle Raisinw in .,.tam.

] H. Walker, formerly of the Birming- ham bar but now a citizen of Marengo county. where lie is engaged in live stock farming. was registered at the Southern club yesterday. and was cor dially greeted by many of his old friends
 Beef cattle can be raised with profit in Alabama said Mr Walker. "In Madison and in some of the other coun- ties live stock husbandry is already a well established industry. Much atten- ton is being given now to cattle raising in Marengo But some farmers expect large results too soon. To build up beef cattle industry requires several years. Like every other business. capital is needed; also patience. But know of no investment that promises better re- turns. Eventually, Alabama should be- come a great beef state.r
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-13
IN ALABAMA SANCTUMS
Cry of Craft

From the Scottsboro Citizen
 And now comes Gallinger of Nes| Hampshire, and Shoot of Utah, survivord of that notable political era when cerftfil cates of deposit nestled under senatofia dinner plates, flaming the air with charges of graft in the river and har1 Der bill Why. the word was invented when they were running the government.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-13
Boastful Tusca1oosn

From the Tuscaloosa News.
 The more one talks with people from other communities in Alabama the more strongly is one convinced that Tuscs lcosa is in the soundest condition of any city in the state. Of course conditions here could not be described as exactly normal, but they are less disturbed than in other sections. The people of Tusca. loosa have right to feel confident ol the present and the future. for the pros perity of this community rests on the soundest of founda tions
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-13
SENSIBLE FooTPADs.


 The old-fashioned taxicab robber hal been superseded by more enterprisiliI sort who. put their prospective victim int a taxicab and drive off with him to som| quiet place where they can pluck him al leisure. The wisdom of such procedur| cannot be commended too highly-froSI the footpad's point of view. There is all ways danger of being interrupted whilI robbing a person in a busy part of townl Cases are on record where sootpads hav| been forced to flee with nothing morl than dollar watch, whereas if thed had had more time they might have dls| covered large roll of bills carried b1 cause man wears a dollar watch Il no sign that he isn't rich. Certainly nod It indicates the thrift that accumula tel riches. The new form of taxicab robberI will no doubt become very popular amond metropolitan thugs. 1t>is safe and con| venient, if not quite so expeditions a, frsking a man of his valuables while hd is walking along the street or riding ir| a trolley car PAUL CoOFA