davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-25
COntentmen

| "I have learned to be content. D Philippians 4, II.
 The disease of discontent has vari- ous origins. a
 Sin is, of course, prolific breeder of discontent, as it is of all other un- clean animals and growths. No person living in conscious and willing sin need ever expect contentment.
 There are certain notifications and refinements of sin which ought to be mentioned in this connection. For ex- ample: Over-estimation of oneself, the feeling that one is not getting one's dues in the world; self elf-centeredness, a constant contemplation of oneself and an unwillingness to look at the estate of others for proper standard of comparison; laziness; impatience with Gods slow processes; the desire to leap at ance to the destination; the wanderlust, kind of spirit of aimless wandering in search of an impossible Utopia; superficial cultivation. There is great yield in nearly any land, but most scratch too shallowly to find it. There is great contentment in near ly any place but -. :. Then there is certain pose of discontent which scarcely deserves mention. Some peo- pie seem to think that it is a sign of deep nature, of great past, of high ideals, of a strange and interest ing disposition, or of highly developed temperament, to be discontented. They therefore assume that pose. That sort of discontent is really indicative of an empty head and dishonest vanity that seeks to engage the attention of the grandstand.
 All these things are wrong, and should be definitely and persistently fought.
 Contentment is big enough and blessed enough to be studied, to be sought for earnestly, to be prayed for without ceasing. And it can be se- cured. q have learned" Paul says in the text. We are not born with con tentment; we achieve it.
 Now it is not paradoxical to say that in every proper life there is a divine and passionate discontent. It is not a discontent with ones sur- roundings, or with one's place in life, or with one's fortune. It is a discon- tent with oneself in the use made of surroundings, place, fortune; not a discontent with ones face or figure or mind or talents, but a discontent that one employs all these with less than entire devotion to the highest ends. Satisfied with my possessions, but not content with myself until I have made the best use of them"
 HENRY M. EDMONDs.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-25
Modern Road Building Machinery

The Alabama Good Roads associa. tion, which held it's annual meeting ir Montgomery during the past week, has done helpful work in arousing the people of Alabama to the importance of good highways, and within the last five years wonderful progress has been made in road building in this state.
 The greatest meeting of the year in furtherance of road building will be the American Road congress at At lanta, November 9-14 At former meet ings there were large exhibits of road building machinery, but the exhibit this year will far surpass anything in that line heretofore attempted.
 The older road supervisors can re- call the time when even the best mac adam bikes through limestone sec tions were made and kept in repair with little or no engineering. Science in road building had not been brought into play, but now science is applied to the modern highway as much as to railroad building.
 Fifteen or twenty years ago when the good roads movement got well un- der way in this country engineers be- gan to invent labor saving road ma chinery. Many of their devices were generally adopted, but progressive work has been done among the road specialists, and the machinery in use today is as far ahead of that of ten years ago as the machinery at that time was ahead of the period when practically no road machinery at all was in. use.
 The road congress at Atlanta will be largely attended. It is thought that fully 1000 men especially interested in good road building will be pres- ent. The papers to be read will be worth while, of course, but the great est interest will center in the exhibits and demonstration of the latest ma- chinery. The Alabama Good Roads as- sociation should be well represented at Atlanta.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-25

ration constitutes a monopoly is yet to be proved. The corporation denies 1t, claiming that it. possesses less than one half the available supply of iron ore in the United States, and that its total pro- duction is but 40.9 per cent of the fin- ished product in the United States.
 The corporation further claims that since it engaged in the steel business the price of the product has been de- creased on the average about 8 ton
 It is one of the weaknesses of the Sherman law that in its denunciation of monopoly 1t fails to take cognizance of the fact that monopoly may be economi- cally advantageous, provided the advan- tage be shared by the people. Combi- nation naturally leads to economies in production and distribution. as 1t has in the steel business. It Is the business of the nation to see that these economies are utilized for the good of the people; that the consumers share in them. The fact that the only law we have now bearing on the subject has no remedy for combinations save to break them up into their constituent parts and sacrifice all the economic advantages which they alone offer is most unfortunate proof that our lawmakers cannot recognize new conditions of industry.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-25
The French Point of. View

In recent number of the Saturday Evening Post appears an article writ ten from the French point of view by
 M. Georges Clemenceau, former pre- mier of France. In the early part of ms article the French statesman prom ises to repress his "Gallic tempera- ment" and make no unkind remarks about the Germans. He succeeds. how ever, Tn making out very strong case for France, but in doing so says little that has not already been inn pressed upon most unbiased observers regarding the German desire for con- quest.
 M. Clemenceau cites a number of oc- casions in the past when Germany tried to get into a war with France but was dissuaded by more temperate mediators. When France was at fault Clemenceau acknowledges the guilt of his country, but in the present war he declares that truth and justice are on the side of France. One disclosure he makes that has not been known to any extent heretofore is that Germany frequently hinted to France in the past that the two of them might become masters of the world if they liked. Ac. cording to Clemenceau France indig. nantly refused to become a party te any such high-handed proceedings, be- ing content to develop within her prop CT bounds and follow course that would not conflict with the interests of other world powers.
 In conclusion M. Clemenceau says his countrymen will fight to the las, drop ef their blood rather than submit
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-25
ADRIFT WITH THE TIrlES
ONE REFUGE LEFT.

Carnegie hoped the dove of peace
 Would welcomed be in every land That war and strife for aye would cease And every nation take its stand Against the arbitration that
 Depends upon the battles won, Which was before the bloody spat
 Of Europe's powers had begun. But now the laird of proud Shibo
 Shows symptoms of acute distress; He does not even seem to know
 The peace doves present home address Cheer up. Friend Andy, do not weep,
 Just brush your .briny tears away; Let others fight, that bird we'll keep
 Right here in the old U. s. A.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-25
PRESS POINTS
Age-Herald Commended
From the Colbert County Reporter.

From the Colbert County Reporter.
 The Birmingham Age-Herald has agreed to print the state laws for 20 cents an inch. which is Just about cost. The Age Herald considered that the laws passed during the next four years would be val uable as news matter and 1t desired also to aid an impoverished state treasury. This is a commendable action on the part of the management of one of Alabama s great newspapers and we are sure the taxpayers appreciate the generosity of The Age Herald
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-25

HE will-o'- -the-wisp which some of the enthusiastic southern congress- men have held out to the cotton farmer in the form of proposed paternal legislation Is gradually fading away. The cotton farmer now realizes that all this talk of the government providing him with ten cents pound for his cot- ton has been buncombe.
 days has been brought upon the gov ernor of Alabama to call an extra ses- sion of the legislature to provide bond issue for taking care of the cotton crop of Alabama. Even though the governor should call an extra session there would be no such legislation. It could not in reason be. It would violate all precedent and stability of government.
 AS matter of fact, the southern banks and the banks generally of this country are beginning to handle the situation and tc back up feasible plans in a practical and intelligent way, and the suffering sick cnes are to get all the practical attention possible under the circumstances.
 The plan of the Warrant Warehouse company of Birmingham, which is now in force and is rapidly relieving the local situation, Is one of the best and most feasible which has been suggested.
 President W. D. Nesbitt of this com pany, who is responsible for the plan, tells me 1t has already been very effective and is growing every day.
 Any farmer or country merchant or holder of cotton in the state of Alabama can deposit his five hundred pound bale with this warehouse company. When he does so he gets in the form of loan on 1t $25 in negotiable seven per cent certif- cates, which are issued in denominations of s, $l0 and s20 each. bearing seven per cent interest from date of issue.
 To get these certificates he gives his
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-25
Loanine Money on Realty

During the last few days we have placed loans aggregating $38,00g on Birmingham real estate at per cent" said W. R. Chambers of the Messer Real Estate and Insurance company.
 We have s100,000 more to lend at 6 per cent This is northern money, and our clients are glad tor invest in this city. A month or two ago 1t would have been impossible for us to have induced our clients to make these loans but now they do so eagerly It shows that the business situation is improv- ing"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-25
THERE Is NO DEATH

By Lord Lytton. There is no deatht Thesstars go down To rise upon some fairer shore; And bright in heavens jeweled crown They shine for evermore. There Is no death! The dust we tread Shall change beneath the -summss
 showers To golden grain or mellowed fruit,
 Or rainbow tinted flowers The granite rocks disorganze,
 And feed the hungry moss they bear; The forest leaves drink daily life,
 From out the viewless air. There is no death! The leaves may fall, And flowers may fade and pass away; They only wait through wintry hours. The coming of the May. There is no death! An angel forr4
 Walks o'er the earth with silent tread; He bears our best loved things away; And then we call them dead He leaves our hearts all desolate
 He plucks our fairiest, sweetest howers; Transplanted into bliss, they now
 Adorn immortal bowers. The birdlike voice, whose joyous tones. Made glad these scenes of sin and strife Sing now an everlasting song
 Around the tree of life. Where'er he sees a smile too bright, 4 Or heart too pure for taint and vico, He bears 1t to that world of light.
 To dwell in paradise. Born unto that undying life,
 They leave us but to come again; With joy we welcome them the same,
 Except their sin and pain. And ever near us, though unseen,
 The dear immortal spirits tread; For all the boundless untvoBoo
 Is ufe-there are no deaA
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-25
INCORPORATING.

What is your idea in running for Con- gress?'
 'I want to serve my country
 But the true patriot serves his country without pay?'
 well, If my country would permit me holding office would gladly devote the rest of my time to looking after its af- fairs"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-25
RINGING THE CHANGES.

If great minds run in the same channel to certain extent. lesser minds do so almost universally. A short time ago a play was produced in New York with the interesting title of "A Pair of silk Stock ings" Paragraphers throughout the land fell upon it, fguratively speaking with great gusto. In the south nearly every body seems to think that the stockings should be cotton. as more suited to the times. A Cleveland paragrapher was pleased to learn that the play was well put on, that being the most acceptable way to clothe the neither limbs in silk. The management evidently hopes to get money out of "A Pair of silk Stockings" which has also been done before.
 PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-25
TRAINED ELEpHANrs

From Lppincott's
 Mfr Craig was reading the evening paper While his wife sat nearby, knit ting.
 Just listen to this, Debby," he said. it says here in the paper that more than 5000 elephants year go to mako our plano keys"
 Gracious" cried the wife. "Anit it jest wonderful Dan. what some animals can be trained to do!'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-25
Decidedly optimisfic

"The business situation throughout the country is improving steadily" said Otto Mooney, cashier of the Traders National bank, and here in Birmingham condi- tions are good.
 There is great deal of industrial activity in this district, and our mer- chants are having good trade and with cooler and more reasonable weather busi- ness will be unusually brisk I never felt more optimistic about local conditions than do now" af
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-25

Roy L. McCardell, formerly on the staff of The Age-Herald and one of the bright est newspaper men in New York, has just won prize of 5000 for the best photo play comedy submitted in comedy scenario contest under the auspices of the New York Morning Telegraph and the Chartered Theatres Corporation. MT. McCardell wrote a two-act comedy en- titled "A Jay in Peacock Alley" which Is said to be one of the funniest plays Mr. McCardell has ever written. It will be produced by the Flamingo Film com pany.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-25
YES. INDEED.
7,es)rd3,aeQ

"A friend of mine who is 'roughing it. in South America describes his experi- ences on the hurricane deck of a mule.' Just so."
 "As matter of fact. mule has no hurricane deck"
 Perhaps not, but the heels of mule have cyclonic possibilities."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-25

demption of the certificates. which are numbered, and the holder of them pre- sents them through one of the several banks in Birmingham and gets the cash money with seven per cent interest from certificates because they pass as cash on purchases or on the payment of obiiga- tions.
 It is wonderfully practical and feasi- hle scheme and is being utilized by farm CTS and merchants in all that section within radius of hundred miles or more of Birmingham.
 This plan, understand, is being adopt ed in other sections and will undoubtedly have substantial tendency towards re- lieving the situation.
 The cooperative spirit already devel- oped in Birmingham. Alabama and other southern states in the handling of the cotton situation is having a splendid eff feet in the improvement of business con- ditions in the south generally. Pessimistic \ talk is fading. The merchants and manu- lecturers are adjusting themselves to conditions and are really beginning to feel optimistic.
 The big Tennessee company plants-es- pecially the finished products one-are now running on full time. This is not be- cause the Iron and Steel institute is to meet here this week. but because they have the actual orders for the stuff, and the officials believe these orders will con- tinue to multiply.
 Regardless of the European war. the local excitement over which has subsided. I believe things here have settled down to a foundation basis and that on this foundation good. substantial and earning structures will be erected
 That the business future promises well is the best opinion of
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-25
We Wot Not

From the St. Louis Republic.
 A well known historian travelled all the way from New York to Edwardsville to see the originals of certain letters writ ten by Abraham Lincoln. Will any of the numerous. statesmen now in the habit of comparing themselves to the rail splitter attract that much attention 50 years hence?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-25
IN HOTEL LOBBIEs
Birmfngham College

The enrolment at Birmingham col lege Is the same now that it was this tune last fall-140 students" said the hev. Dr. J. D. Simpson. president. "we VIII have Several additions before the holidays.
 Landscape architects are at work on plans and 1t will not be very long before the grounds are improved and beautifled.s
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-25

A picture of King George and Lord Kitchener walking side by side has re- gently been published One glance by 2 person who had never heard of either would be sufficient to tell which was the nan of the hour in England.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-25
A KNOWING WIFE.

Henry, you've been to the races again."
 What makes you think so, my dear?"
 'The baseball season is over now. and except when the home team is defeated nothing makes you come home with g more woebegone expression of counte- nance than losing g on horse race''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-25
A Foreign Bull Moose [

From the Spokane Spokesman- Review.
 Count Teddysky has been unearthed in Austria. Counts Woodrowsky and Bry. anovitch, however, are still missing.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-25
Washington bureau. POT Hibbs build.

BEGINNING THE DAY--O God, instruct me. Tell me what I shall choose. Help me to see clearly. May learn to distinguish the best things. May I come to depend more nnd more upon the inner whispering of Thy spirit. May I commit my mind to Thee for the word of Thy wisdom. In Christ's name. Amen.- H. M. E. ft.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-25

If joker were to shout "Zepp!' on the
 streets of London, it would not be neces. sary to complete the word. Everybody would scurry to cover.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-25

Although runaway automobile crashed into the front of a Dayton, O., saloon and wrecked it, the accident was not. properly speaking, part of the prohi- bition movement.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-25

When the name of new town that s spelled chiefly with consonants bobs up in the press dispatches, what can a harassed telegraph editor do but shut his eyes and hope for the best?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-25

London is troubled with Zeppelin neck," contracted by looking up for zeppelins If a Zeppelin should come, there would be no use of trying to dodge. The bomb throwers themselves don't know where their missiles are going to strike.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-25

The Milwaukee Sentinel declares that there are some things more disagreeable than fresh garlic, indicating a profound knowledge of bad odors.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-25

It seems the Kaiser's dauntless troops Have bumped into a living wall; That's why the Prussian eagle droops And men in vain by thousands fall.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-25

Submarines are meek and lowly craft.
 merely designated by a number, but they
 can send battleship to the bottom in ai jiffy.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-25
Wantr to Reat

From the Louisville Courier-Jourhal The Nizam of Hyderabad who has sev- eral hundred wives. may join the allies to find the balm of peace in war.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-25

Circuses should not groan because a war tax has been put upon them. The at- tention of circus owners is directed to the war tax that has been put on Antwerp.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-25

English and French soldiers borrow to- bacco and Tight" from each other, thus showing that they are allies in spirit as well as in the fortunes of war.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-25
Lenson Learned 

From the Tuekegee News
 In ccnversing with the farmers of Ma con county. we learn that the majority of white and black are determined that the cotton crop of next year Is going to di- vide honors with corn, peas. potatoes, sugar cane, oatss hay and hogs. They are never again to be caught so nearly out of the staff of life.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-25

One of the few men who find it impos- sible to avoid the spot light just at pres ent Is Manager stallings of the Boston Braves"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-25
The .wet. Stronghold

From the Houston Post.
 We are highly gratified. of course. at the reconciliation of the President and Marse Henry. but we are so anxious about the situation in Kentucky we hope Marss Henry will remain on the watch tower of liberty. Never surrender those 14 coun- ties!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-25
NED BRACE TALKS ABOUT THE COTTON
 SITUATION AS HANDLED IN BIRMINGHAM ,.

four months note to the warehouse com pany for the amount of certificates he re-
 ceives plus s1.so storage and insurance charges. covering the bale until Septem- Der l. 1915. 5s cents interest for four months at seven per cent and 25 cents commission, which is at the rate of one Fer cent. These charges aggregate $274. He, therefore. gives his note, due four months from date, for s27.74. which is re- movable for another four months and still another four months, or until the first of September, 1915.
 After depositing his cotton and signing the note he gets s25 in seven per cent in- terest bearing certificates. With these certificates he can purchase goods and ray his indebtedness with practically every merchant in Birmingham and the surrounding towns. with six of the lead Ing banks of Birmingham and with many of the banks in the state.
 Arrangements have also been made by which the merchants who take these cer- tihcates can use them in paying the wholesalers from whom they purchase supplies in other cities, both in the north and west.
 Under this plan the farmer or the coun- try merchant is supplied with paper which will pass practically as cash to the ex- tent of five cents pound on his cotton.
 The Warrant Warehouse company, I un- derstand. is prepared to handle several hundred thousand bales of cotton in this way. both in Birmingham and in Mobile. where there is a branch.
 Under this plan the farmer can sell his cotton any time within the next year. when the price will be supposedly higher. In other words. If cotton goes to nine or ten cents he can sell his cotton, take up his note and get the balance in cash. When the note is taken up the Warrant Warehouse company advertises for the re-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-25

According to the Danish press, there | was a disagreement between the Kaiser
 and the German headquarters stan after
 the battle of the Marne. It is even said | that the Kaiser's strategy nearly changed | the Marne retreat into a rout Although
 the left wing was in great danger, the
 Kaiser insisted that 1t should continue to
 advance. The imperial command was not carried out and calamity was averted
 It is said in Berlin that the Kaiser. on
 hearing of the retreat of the Prussiai guard at Vitry-le- Francois, said, What
 and General Von Hausen still living? A Samurai would have acted otherwise. :" The remark credited to the Kaiser had a rather depressing effect on the German generals who may be called on at any time to retreat flor strategicaI purposes" After the maneuvers of 1897 Count Won
 Haesier said to member of the Reich
 stag. "The grand battles arranged by the Emperor are magnificent only in their de- fects. They terminate like the legendary combat of the two lions. only their tails remaining on the battlefield If the triple alliance entered campaign under com. mand of the Kaiser, with the Germans and the Austrians fighting side by side and the Italians forming the rear guard, l fear that the Italians would most likely play the role of grave diggers if they escaped decimation by the plague. In my humble opinion the dead never enter into his majestys calculations''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-25

Prohibition works like a charm in Rus sia, but Russia is land where bootleg- gtng can be discouraged with the knout.