davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-17
THAT SETTLED IT

From the Washington Star.
 Mrs. Charles H. Anthony of Muncie Ind, whose beautiful wardrobe. designed by herself, impressed Paris before the out break of the war, said to a New York re- porter the other day:
 Now Is the time to introduce modest homemade fashions for the fall and winter. The European fashion market is idle now. Let the American designer then, get to work.
 American women will welcome modest fashions, for few of them are as per verse as the American woman I heard about in Paris
 "A friend said at ball to this woman husband:
 How the men are fiocking around your wifei I thought you said you would never let her wear one of those evening gowns without shoulder straps?
 "T know the other man answered but she happened to hear me say it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-17
Birmingham's Public Night Schools

The public schools of Birmingham have been long noted for their high standard and general efficiency, and the best of it is, Superintendent J. H. Phillips, backed by the board of edu- cation, is all the while enlarging the scope of the system as local needs arise.
 The night schools were popular last year, but they promise to be even more largely attended this year. The sessions open next Monday at 7:30 D. m. These night schools are conduct ed under the auspices of the board of education and students of both sexes who are 16 years of age or over will be eligible for enrolment The ses- sions will be held on Monday, Wednes- day and Friday nights. The courses include elementary mathematics, commercial calculations, grammar and composition, elementary bookkeeping, mechanical drawing and Spanish. There is matriculation fee of $1, but the dollar is returned to the stu dent who attends 80 per cent of the sessions.
 In the Ensley night school the course is broader along vocational lines, due to the fact that in that section of Bir- mingham is situated great steel works and other large industrial plants. The curriculum there includes engineer ing-civil, mechanical, steam, cleo trical and mining; also chemistry and metallurgy. The board of educa- ton is to be warmly commended for its progressive policy, as evidenced in the night school work.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-17

celled. In those cities, however, which
 support high class concert orchestras there will be no dimunition in the number of symphony entertainments
 One reason why the war in Europe has not affected the orchestral ma terial employed in this country to any serious extent is because the large percentage of our symphony players are Americans. It was not ever thus. Many concert goers can remember when the two or three symphony or chestras that were maintained in the United States 25 years ago-the Thomas orchestra and the orchestra led by Dr. Leopold Damrosch-were composed almost entirely of for eigners. But in recent years music has progressed wonderfully in the Uni ted States. Some of the best string players and best wood wind players were born on this side of the ocean and received their education entirely in this country. Many of them have not so much as visited Europe. This speaks well, of course, for American musical culture. While the time will never come when the atmosphere of German, French and Italian cities will fail to have an appeal, every musician, no matter how thorough his training has been, can profit by a short sojourn in the European capitals or conserva- tory towns. But as for studying music, the opportunities in America are now ample for the most ambitious young man or young woman.
 But coming back to the musical season, visitors to New York will find few nights passing without a sym phony concert or an artist recital, to say nothing of grand opera. Birming- ham is to have number of musical attractions. Some have been an- nounced already and a number will be announced later on.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-17
Shall Harvard Lose Munsterberg?

In order to relieve the Harvard trustees of embarrassment Hugo Munsterberg, M. D., Ph. D., has ten dered his resignation as the head of the department of psychology. Dr. Munsterberg having been born and educated in Germany is naturally pro- German in these troublous war times. He has written strongly in behalf of the German cause and especially in behalf of the Kaiser, who is his per- sonal friend, yet in discussing the sit uation and in presenting the German side to the American public he has never penned harsh phrase concern ing the allies. But Maj. Clarence Weiner of London, who is an alumnus of Harvard, and who had offered to give his alma mater $10,000,000 has notified the Harvard authorities that his offer would be withdrawn unless the German psychologist was made to quit the chair he held.
 Harvard has long been famous for its liberal spirit. Among it's professors have been men of radical views touch- ing politics, religion and sociology. Some of the professors there today are 
 avowed socialists, and many are avowed agnostics. It may be assumed that the Harvard trustees would never ask Munsterberg for his resignation, but the distinguished gentleman is courageous and high minded. He readily tenders his withdrawal rather than stand in the way of losing such large legacy as Major Weiner's. But if Munsterberg is allowed te give up his professorship Harvard will be great loser. There would bs distinct moral loss. In the facult, are number of educators of prodigi ous learning and strong personality but it is reasonable to say that Dr Munsterberg is the most widely knowi professor at Harvard. He has beer a real factor. He has written books on many subjects, and every one oi them is worth reading. He makes psychology interesting and everything
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-17
LITTLE wILLIE,s FRANKNEss

From the Philadelphia Telegraph.
 They were speaking of the frankness of the rising generation at social af- fair the other afternoon. when this story was told by Edna Ferber, the authoress
 Sometime ago Percy Claude called al the home of his beautiful neloved. and while waiting patiently for her to appear little brother Willie bulged into the par lor
 Come here a minute, Willie," happily remarked the young man. T am going to tell you a very great secret" "All right, MT. smith, responded the youngster. going over to the caller. Let her slide!''
 ''At the garden party last night" softly confided Percy Claude, T proposed tc your sister, and she has consented tc marry me. Doesn't that amaze your" Well. should say not" was the start ling re3oiner of Willie. That's what l mamma gave the party for"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-17
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
A Cotton Producer's View.

He was toiler. He didn't live hun dred miles from Birmingham.
 T have 12 bales of cotton stacked up on my farm said he yesterday, with much show of spirit. ''I owe a mer- chant in our town s4oO and havc given him mortgage on the cotton I was to raise. At 10 cents pound my cotton would be worth s6o0 I could pay the merchant and have s200 in cash left to start out the new crop year with. But if I sell my cotton at or cents I will barely get enough to pay the merchant. There surely won't be anything left for me if I take my cotton to him to sell at what he can get for 1t today. Now am an honest man but have got to look after my own interests. l don't propose to sell this cotton and don't propose to let him take it away from me. I know a good many people in my neighborhood who feel as do about this and if we all stick together and let the other fellow do the worrying maybe we VIII get more for our cotton.
 But whatever the other fellow does,'' he said as he walked off, T am going to keep my cotton right on my place, law or no law"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-17
HIS CONSCIENCE

From the Pittsburg Chronicle Telegraph.
 There fiourishes in a Washington office building a colored janitor who is very conscientious. One day someone passed him a counterfeit bill. When present. ing this bill to the superintendent he dis covered that 1t was bad and he became greatly excited. He would know, if he saw him again. the man who had swin, dled him, and day after day he would stand in front of the building in the hope of catching the rascal going by.
 The superintendent several weeks later happened to think of the janitor's coun- terfeit and asked him if he had succeeded in finding the man who had cheated him.
 No" said the janitor, 'de man dat give me de bill he ain't never come around no more. But what's the differ- ence? Some days, suh, I thinks de bill is good and some days l thinks it's bad. So I am waitin' for one of dem days when I thinks it's good, and then I passes 1t out :"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-17
Americas Musical Season

When the European war was be- ginning musical circles in this coun- try were much disturbed over the thought that so many of the operatic and instrumental celebrities were abroad and might not get back in time for the fall season.
 Many of the great artists esteemed by music lovers of the United States were in Europe for their summer va cation. There were many rumors to the effect that few if any would be able to return in time to fulfill their 1914-15 contracts, but it now turns out that the war will cause little change In the personnel of musical organiza- tions on this side of the Atlantic. The Metropolitan operahouse will have as brilliant attractions this season as ever, and the larger symphony orches- tras are now beginning to rehearse Cor their November concerts.
 For obvious reasons there will not be as many symphony orchestras on tour as was expected a few months ago. Two or three of the famous or. ehestras had announced extensive southern tours during the coming winter. One of these organizations has gone so far as to make bookings as far south as New Orleans, but itl southern contracts have been can
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-17
It May Be Hysteria

Tn the absence of authentic reports at the beginning of the war and the strict censorship that has been en- forced by the combatants, this country has been flooded with stories ot Hatrocities" that are now given but little credence. The fact that the pub lie has assumed skepticial attitude has not deterred many newspapers from publishing letters from private individuals who give such sickening accounts of the way the Russians, the / Germans, the Belgians, the French and even the English are behaving that, whether intended to create prejudice or not, they simply can't be swal- lowed.
 A characteristic letter of this sort was recently written by q young wonl- an in Berlin to her ncle in this coun- try. She says that while travelling on . train few days ago she saw a Red Cross nurse who had both hands chopped off by English soldiers. The nurse asked the conductor to wipe away her tears because she could not do SO herself! That is an example of the absurd stories constantly being published in American newspapers. Regardless of whether one's sympa- thies lie with the Germans and Aus trians or with the allies, it is incredi- ble that the soldiers of any country would maim Red Cross nurse in the performance of her duty. Now, if she were posing as Red Cross nurse and amused herself by gouging out the eyes of wounded soldiers, as the wom- en of Belgium have been accused of doing, there might be different story to tell.
 The young woman declares in her teIteI Iudt IilS rISHtil cut oll Jne Ill gers of the wounded to steal their rings; that Belgian priests operated machine guns from the church towers, and that the Russians have tied the helpless people of villages together and burned them. It is impossible now to sift the true from the false in such stories-to decide which are the prod uct of hysteria and which have some foundation of fact. If half the charges made are true, then the English, French, Belgians, Germans, Austrians and Russians should be ashamed to look Dyak head hunter in the face.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-17
THE FOOTBALL SEASON

From the New York Tribune.
 In the football season which is just beginning the new open game is no longer on trial. It has been made practicable. and has incidentally carried football to an unprecedented height of popularity. The devisers of the new game sought to get away from the slow. crushing and to the spectator rather uninteresting, push- and-pull style which had come into vogue with the mass formations. They broke up the sluggish and dangerous mass at- tacks, but in their anxiety to encourage open playing they went to the other ex- treme. and so reduced the power of the running offense that little consistent progress could be made, and each side had to kick continually and trust to a tumble to get within striking distance of the goal line. Experience with the open
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-17
Comes from 1llInoi. to AI.b.m.

"Yes, have come to Alabama to live, and some months ago purchased a farm near Sterretts in Shelby county" said F. l.. Munroe. who is stopping at the Mol ton.
 We do not expect to revolutionize farming in our locality, but my sons and intend to use the very latest machinery and implements and methods in the cul- tivating of crops. We do not intend to plant cotton. We expect to grow grain and forage crops and to engage in stock raising. 4.5f
 We are all practical men. One of my sons is a graduate of our Illinois agricul- tural college. Another Is horticultur- ist and at present has charge of a large apple orchard in another state.
 'T think that probably. your mild cli- mate here in Alabama, and opportunities for buying fairly good agricultural lands at reasonable. prices, may bring some oi my friends, in Illinois to make their homes here, and as neighbors to us.
 T am much interested in the construc- ton of the good road link in the high way from Vandiver to Leeds, for when this is done, shall bring my automobile down here to Alabama and I can then run into Birmingham any day and home again by nightfall"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-17
WHEN HIS LOVE COOLED
m the Chicago Tribune.


 Allan H. Thompson lost his courage when he decided to break his engagement to marry Miss Elsie Ludwig, of Manito- woe, Wis. He did not dare to face her and tell her his decision. So he decided to tell her he was dead. With this plan in mind he sent her a | telegram from Chicago. The telegram purported to>come from L. A. Spencer, his friend. The telegram received by the girl read
 Allan seriously injured Four ribs broken. Will write later CURLY" On the evening of the same day he sent the telegram Thompson wrote Miss Ludwig postal card describing his own death and requested her to send money for funeral expenses.
 The card read:
 q regret to say that Allan H. Thomp- son died tonight at :25 D. m at the home of his aunt, Mrs. F. NJ. Marvin, of in- juries received on the boat. Burial sun day at 2 p. m. Four ribs brokent, left lung punctured and both arms broken. .He was unconscious to the last Please send money in your care to MT Alfred Spencer (Curly). Please send SC I can get it Saturday p. m. His insur- ance, about $500, will be paid over to you las soon as the company settles. as the policy was made over to you. His money goes toward funeral.
 ''Please send by American Express com pany money order payable to A. H
 Thompson. Will write particulars Sun. day. Yours very truly, CURLY" I This sudden and startling news un nerved Miss Ludwig at first and she wept
 The wedding day had been set for Octo
 Der 20. Then she began pondering. In
 tuitively she became suspicious.
 She reported her suspicious. When ar
 rested Thompson gave written comics
 sion in which he stated that the report of his death twas greatly exaggerated"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-17
THE COUNTY FAIR

From "The Point of View" in Scribner's s What a ricture it is, this gala period
 of the autumn when the county fair or cattle show-call it which you will-comes bustling into existencel On a certain day a level stretch of meadow. usually ringed by track for the "trotting," suddenly bristles with life. The farmers with their rigs swarm down upon it. With them comes their wives and children, and
 more necessary to successful fair-their cattle and horses and poultry and farm truck" The fair grounds take on a festal appearance, while mingled low ing, bleating, grunting and cackling fill the air. In Floral Hall, as it is always called, are the fruits of the season: man. mouth squashes and pumpkins, startling ears of corn, apples as big as your two fists and such domestic triumphs as pre- serves and patchwork quilts. In pens ra- diating about the grounds is the live stock. There are mild faced sheep and grouchy old lambs, philosophic cows and omnipotent bulls, porlSers of impossible whiteness. Horses poke their noses from the box-stalls on the lookout for the poSsipie lump or sugar. Ana the genial owners who have brought these animals
 together roam about in calm happiness
 yet all the while shrewdly prospecting
 for a sale or swap" Babel rules. The
 popcorn man and the lemonade boy vie
 With the barker for the fat lady and the
 cheery soul who invites one to ring a
 cane or to "get a good cigar" by sound- ing the gong in the sledge- hammer strength test. I never could succeed in winning ono myself, but sturdy young
 farmer once presented me with a speci- men of the Il he had just acquired, and after two puffs I realizied there are ad- vantages in not being a Hercules. Ger tain pale gentlemen with glossy black
 mustaches Ca suspiciously intense black) have games which require a revolving wheel. walnut shells or three cards. And the light-fingered gentry are hard at work. The racket Is increased by the bell in the judges stand calling back the horse in the 2.2S or 2s0 classes from countless false starts. Such are a few of the elements which make this demo- cratic gathering comprehensive in it's appeal-the youngsters paradise, the good wife's recreation, the farmers mart
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-17
The Iron Market

The pig iron market is without special feature this week. As Mathew, Addy & Co. say in their letter just issued. 'when the war broke out there was a sudden burst of hope; for few days we had q glorious dream of running all our shops night and day to supply the markets of the world. But that dream has not ma terialized."
 Tt is true we are doing some little ex- porting" say Mathew. Addy & Co.,. but that is only a drop in the bucket and by no means makes up the loss occasioned by the practical paralysis of the home market. Of course. the export trade will grow; we are bound to be more and more factors in that: and this is a cheerful prospect for the future. though as an im- mediate asset 1t has relatively little value.
 "This week has seen no change of note. Buying has been confined to small ton nages for quick shipment. There has been some movement of pig iron on old orders. but 1t is evident that the iron and steel trades as whole are not averaging to exceed 50 per cent capacity"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-17
he says is within the comprehension of

he says is within the comprehension of the average man or woman.
 Dr. Munsterberg was born in Danzig in 1863. He graduated in the Danzig gymnasium when he was 19 years of age and then took course in natural science at Leipzig and in medicine at Heidelberg. He is Ph. D. of Leipzig and an M. D. of Heidelberg.
 Before Munsterberg was as popu- larly known as he is now he wrote a magazine article on the side of tenn perance but against prohibition. It was somewhat unique from the fact that the distinguished German said he had never drunk liquors of any kind, not even beer, and had never used to- bacco in any shape or form. But he was against all sumptuary laws from principle.
 Among Munsterberg's most valued books is that entitled, Psychology and Industrial Efficiency" It was published only two years ago. It has been largely read not only by officials of industrial corporations and by edu- cators in general, but by the more in telligent of the army of industrial wage workers.
 Harvard should not accept Munster berg's resignation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-17
THE UNCROWNED KAISER

From the Pail Mail Gazette.
 Recent events recall the fact that Will liam 1T has never been crowned aa Kaiser, and an old story finds repetition that he postponed the ceremony until it could take place in Westminster Ab- hey. The ambition may possibly animate him now, but his refusal to se crowned on his accession was due to pique. His dearest wish was to be crowned, not German Emperor. like his two predeces- sors, but Emperor of Germany, after the manner of Charlemagne. He made elab- crate preparations for the ceremony. but to his intense chagrin the 'ulers of the minor German states, always jealous of Prussian predominance, refused to grant him the title. Whereupon he decided not to be crowned at all
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-17
EDWIN BOOTH MODELS SHOWN

From the New York Sun.
 The models and sketches submitted in the Players club competition for me morial to Edwin Booth are now on ex- hibition in the galleries of the National Arts club, East Nineteenth street. to re- main on public view until October IS.
 The successful design is the work of the sculptor. Edmond T. Quinn, and rep resents the actor in the character of Ham, let. The figure has just risen from a chair and has a pensive attitude sug, gestive of the soliloquies. The grace and elegance that Booth gave to this imper- sonation are already suggested in the sketch.
 Other designs in the exhibition, all of which have special points of interest. are by MT. Tonetti. Robert Titlxen, MT. Fraz- CT. J. H. Roudebush, John Flanagan and J. Massey Rhind. All of the sculptors who took part in the competition are members of the Players club.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-17
GOOD ENOUGH REASON

From the National Food Magazine. This little incident has been told of Thomas Bone. 'the sailors missionary':
 Seeing him approaching one day, one of a group of sailors announced his in- tention of having some fun. He stepped forward and removed his hat. revealing a perfectly smooth crown. and asked:
 Can you tell me why my head is SC bald, while all my companions have plenty of hair?'
 CT don't know was the smiling reply unless the reason given me the other day by a farmer would apply. that an empty barn is not worth shinglinG.' '
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-17

l in the old swifnmin' pool. nor steal straw berries from Jones' patch at midnight.
 To grow up in an atmosphere suffocated with convention. to have hundreds of things you don't want. and to be rapped over the knuckles whenever you reach for thing you do want.
 To be surrounded with alleged friends who you know do not care a hang for you, and who would push you off the roof in minute if it was not for your father. Not to have one friend who will slap your face and tell you the truth, but to be surrounded by enemies who smile upon you and are only waiting for an oppor- tunity to slip knife under your fifth rib | To have your wife picked out for you | by a lot of wizened old diplomats. 1 To be allowed as many loves as you please to be as drunken. cruel, selfish, violent and mean as you will, but to have every honest and generous human feeling vetoed by court and , fashion.
 To have your pride constantly fed. which renders any man unhappy. To miss all of lifes true values, and to become past master in all that makes life sordid and cheap.
 TO cease to be a normal, cheerful hu- man being and to become a wooden lad der for mems ambitions.
 To have people blame you for their own mistakes, to be the political and eco- homie scapegoat of the nation, and to be cursed and hated by a large section of the population, no matter what you do
 To have every man in the machinery of government, every place holder and priv iiege 1nheritor, turn against you when you try really to help the people
 To know that every hour of the day and night the poisoner. the bomb thrower and the plotter are seeking your life.
 And in return for this all you get is money. fine clothes, food and drink, and incense burned before. your wretched van- ity.
 Few families in the world have had snore imperial places than the Haps- burgs, and few families have had a more tragic history.