davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-30
ORPHEUM WILL OPEN
 TOMORROW MATINEE
Plays Keith Big Time Vaudeville Same as Lyric Did Last Season-Many
 Features on Bill

Every thing is in readiness for the grand opening tomorrow, Monday, after noon and night of the Orpheum theatre,
 with seven magnificent acts of Keith big time vaudeville. Manager Senlon and
 Jake Wells state that the first weeks of
 fering is one that will live in the memory
 of the patrons of vaudeville and will
 prove great drawing casd for the the
 atre. The announcement is made that the same class of vaudeville acts that played the Lyric last season will be seen
 at the Orpheum this year, and that the Orpheum will be managed on the same high plane as was the Lyric. The box office has been open since Friday and there has been large advance sale of tickets for the opening performances. There will be matinee daily and one performance nightly at S:30 o'clock. The
 same large orchestra used in the Lyric
 last season will be found in the Orpheum A large force of painters and cleaners have been in the Orpheum for the past
 week getting it in first-class shape for | the opening.
 The first weeks bill will have as the headliner the Great Leon and his com
 pany. This magician was routed for a
 tour of Europe, but the war prevented l his appearing on the other side and Jake Wells grabbed him for the southern 1 houses. In the past his seasons have been devoted exclusively to the biggest cities, where he remained six and eight weeks at time, and this is the first of the smaller cities in which de has appeared He will devote only limited number of weeks to the south. and then he goes to Chicago for long run His act is entirely different and far more interesting than anything of the kind seen here He de- yises and builds all his own illusions and conceptions, and they depart from the old | tricks of magic. There are 15 events on this programme, and each of them is vivid, handsomely staged startling and mystifying
 | Sophye Barnard, with the thrush's voice. will be the extra added attrac- ton of the bill. She is an unusually at tractive woman on and off the stage, and has wonderful voice. She was pupil of Jean DeReske for four years, and he
 has always complimented her voice as
 among the excellent ones. Her gowns are reputed to be genuine creations
 | One of the cleverest character come- dians of the stage is Lou Anger, who ap- | pears as ''The German Soldier Coakley, Hanvey and Dunleavey, with their mn-'
 iature nlinstsel show. wil be one of the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-30
'RENUMDERED HOUSE
 REMOVED THE LINK

l Hamburg August 2s.-Special )-In the
 British Ritterstrasse fknight's street. at Weasel. stands house which was num-
 bered 1s and brought i'll fortune upon it's tenants five years. It was renumbered 27 and in month brought enough good fortune to be now called. .The House of Luck
 Here is a record of the disasters that befell tenants of the house since the
 autumn of 1909: man shot himself on the eve of his wedding.
 A cavalry officer was thrown from hSs
 horse and so had to resign his commiS sion.
 An artillery captains only child died eight days after the family moved in. major fell downstairs and broke his leg He was discharged from the army. Two tenants died suddenly. One became a bankrupt. one went mad
 Two were discharged from good situ- ations soon after they came into the house
 When the house was renumbered e7 i'll luck vanished. The ruins were occupied by two fam flies and the father of one soon won $400O prize in a lottery. The wife of the other occupant re- ceiyed legacy of S32,580 from relative in America. while her daughter, after
 being awarded for violin playing at the
 Leipzig Conservatory, became engage{ to Hungarian mine owner whose wealth is estimated at more than $3,5o0- | 000
 The house has become popular show
 place and is visited constantly by curious crowds.
 The landlord, wine merchant named Rothenheim, has been offered consid- erable sums for the lease, but he has de- clined all offers believing that the place
 will bring him luck in his business.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-30
LAND OF SUPERSTITION

are depicted as climbing towering noun. tains of ice only to fall back into a gap- ing abyss as they nearly reach the top As they fall. their bodies are revealed as being caught upon spears and tossed backward and forward by delft execution CTS. These grewsome pictures show the suffering to be finally ground up between millstones. Some of them show sharp swords slashing to pieces the bodies which have escaped the millstone process. and little dogs are pictured as running after the sufferers tapping up the blood. On certain occasions after a death the fam fly will proceed in a body to these tenn ples and will hold a public vail
 On the drum tower of tho Taoist temple at Tientsin 1t has been common to see richly dressed native merchants kneeling to an iron pot containing incense burned in honor of his excellency the rat. Other similar disgusting procedures could be ob- served. It is hard to conceive that human beings can be so approximations as tos0e- liberately endure such empty practices of hallowed mockery. Yet this is one phase of China, the China of today. The few modernized Mongoliaus surely have their hands full in effectively combating this awful element of ignorance and bigoted superstition and in holding their newly organized republic to the main highway of progress.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-30
Revised Baseball Rules

From tle New York Evening Sun.
 The game begins with the summons of a court attendant: "Oyez, oyez. oyez come into court.''
 Upon the announcement of the batting order the owner of the opposing team is entitled to four peremptory challenges New panels may be drawn from time to time
 In case the batters of one side find it impossible to hit the delivery of a pitcher on the opposing team the offending pitch CT may be removed by writ of habeas corpus
 All parties participating in any game prosecutor was not equal even to giving writs of injunotions against all other parties in said game.
 Empires shall provide themselves with volumes of Blackstone to settle disputed points.
 Three strikes retire league automati- cally.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-30
ANTITRUST LAWS IN AUSTRALIA ISSUE IN
 GENERAL ELECTION
Fear Invasion of Chicago Meat Packers-Labor Party Striving for
 Control

Melbourne. August s9.-( Special l)--Anti- trust measures. proposed particularly be- cause Australia is facing invasion by the great Chicago meat packing compa- mics. form one of the principal issues in the general parliamentary election cam paign which is now in full swing. The election will be held September ).
 The labor party, forming the opposition to the liberal government, is striving to control promising, if put in power, to provide constitutional regulation of trusts The liberals on this point maintain that all trusts are not evil and that the present powers of the constitution are sufficient to deal with the bad" trusts.
 The unique feature of the present cam paign is the fact that the elections are brought about by double dissolution of parliament-disso of both the senate and the house This is the first time in history that such action has been taken in Australia and it is said to have had no precedent in any constitutional govern ment of the English speaking world.
 The dissolution was gtanted to the gov ernment by Sir Monro Ferguson the gov general. because the senate rejected a bill which aimed to prohibit preference 10 casual labor unionist employees in government service.
 The parliament has lasted about year, and with liberal majority in the house and a minority in the senate. The result was virtually legislative deadlock.
 The opposing leaders are Premier J. Hume Cook and Andrew Fisher, the for mer premier. Both men are of the self made type each having begun life as miner.
 Both trade unionists, but the pres ent premier is twitted by his opponent as having abandoned his trades union principles. Both are good speakers and are now stumping the country, addressing audiences in which the women electors are well represented
 In addition to the trust regulation, is- sues are the reduction of the high cost of living, tariff reform. a constitutional amendment to provide a nal 'onal refren- dunn as d substitute for the dissolution of parliament, an a1endment to give greater force to the industrial arbitrat tion act and means of national defence.
 Characteristic antipoGean issues include a federal provision for cures for cancer and consumption, and a federal public service superannuation scheme.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-30

ganza in the world. The first of these companies will number A people, with a chorus of 2i pretty and sprightly girls
 The opening tomorrow night will be a big event of the season il Birmingham The box office has been open since Thurs day and there has been q steady stream of ticket buyers each day. The .assur- ances are given that every seat in the Bijou will be occupied for the opening as an amusement-h hungry people are long ing for some place to go and something at which to laugh. The .heatre has been remodeled and given thorough over hauling since last season. he scenic men have been busy repainting the seen cry and house. sets, the front of the stage. etc, while on the outside the lobby, the front and all woodwork has been re-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-30

Ii Is not always safe to kill a snake in China says the Philadelphia North American. It doesn't matter much wheth- CT the snake is of the water species or of the and variety for within this rep tiles body Is supposed to reside the spirit of what the yellow men worship as the Dragon King. This latter is be- lieved by the average superstitious John" to have the power of ruling over floods This dragon king represents one symbol in the ritual of worship of the Chinese religion called Taoism.
 China practically possessed three diff ferent forms of religion until the advent of the Christian missionaries. The first philosophy. This still exists to some extent, and is known as Confucianism. The second form has been recognized as Buddhism. which still exists throughout China as symbolized in the worship of idols. As you travel through the country here and there you will frequently run across idols of Buddha located on the hlllsides or other quiet and sequestered spots conducive to reverential reflection. Plenty of worshipers yet pay their hom- age to these Buddhist idols, and you can see them conscentiously observing the formal ceremonies of their worship But this form of religion is steadily dying a natural death since the advent of Chris .ianity.
 The third variety of religious observ- ance among the Celestials is that of Tao ism This was started by an old patri- arch named Lao-tgu, who had surround ing him group of '.eight immortalsr as his dfHcinleS One of tat given the responsibility of representing the god of barbers. The Taost worship CTS have temples erected in each native town. In these temples are pictures DOT traying the horrors of the future life. When the souls of the dead are ferried across the river Styx, the artist has paint ed a grewsome thought. Men and women
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-30

live spots on the bill The three come dians have just returned from Europe, where they appeared in the leading thea tres. But when the real troubles com mebced they departed for their home lands.
 Ubeat Carlton and Helene Davis will present their comedy idea, ..Watching the Trains Go Out" which is one long laugh. and the Dare Brothers, society acrobats. will show some startling feats in skill and entertainment. Ben Deyer and brother, comedy cyclists, will complete the bill of seven acts
 One of the features of the service this season will be the famous Pathe Weekly pictures, one of the greatest features of the motion picture world. There will be matiness every afternoon and a perform ance every night, as last season.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-30
BIJOU OPENS WITH
 BIG MUSICAL COMEDY
Popular Playhouse Now Becomes the Home of Music and Comedy.
 Tomorrow Night

Bijou the home of music and comedy opens tomorrow night under an entirely new policy. Nothing but musical come dies will be seen at the theatre this fall and winter, and each of these will be show that will commend itself to the discriminating seeker after healthy amusements.
 The theatre has booked 35 weeks of musical comedies. all of them being plays under the auspices of the Columbia Amusement company. the greatest pro- ducer of musical comedy and extrava-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-30
Need for Haste

From the Louisville Herald.
 Hobson, who is, to say the least. little absent-minded was on his way 10 his own wedding when something impeded tine progress of the carriage. which stood at a stand so long that Hobson put his head out of the window and said to the driver:
 Hurry up, or the whole thing will be over before we get there.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-30
Too Many Obligations

From the Louisville Herald.
 You have been talking of buying a car for the last 10 years
 Yes"
 Aren't you ever going to buy. it?"
 q don't think so. You see l have promised so many people rides that 1 would never be able to accommodate them all during the life of an ordi- rary car"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-30
Was Satisfied

From the London Tatler.
 Hair Dresser: Your hairs very thin or the top. sir. Customer: "Ah, I'm glad of that hate fat hair.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-13
Land Congress Results

''I have been watching the results of the work of the Alabama Land con- gress,' said d man who attended the Mobile meeting of that organization in 1912.
 Among the policies adopted at that meeting was one urging the press and people of the state to do all they could to stimulate the farmers to raise what was consumed in the state in food and forage crops. Now the value of these crops in 1913 increased over the pre- vious year approximately $35000, 900, being the first time since the civil war that the value of the crops raised in the state was in excess of the sum sent out of the state for food and forage crops. These figures are $200,- ooo,ooe for the 1913 crops, with $50. :
 ooo,ooe sent out for good and forage
 Alabama last year.
 How much the educational work of the land congress contributed to this
 result one can judge for himself. but 1t is certain that it had a large share in that result, for one farmer who at
 tended the Mobile meeting has stated in the public press that he had derived 5000 in benefits from one addresses he heard at Mobile, while spending benefits were more or less distributed from the same source throughout the | state. learn that the same policy is to be vigorously followed by the Southern Settlement and Development organiza- : tion in it's work for Alabama, and if
 this drain can be stopped for food money
 going out of Alabama it will be worth all the time and money that may
 be required to bring it about, and from the results of last year, it would plshed."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-13

of size to cause comment, although d good tonnage was booked.
 "There is no getting away from the higher prices recently announced. and sellers are holding steadfastly to these figures On account Of this recent ad vance and the added fact that customers are fairly well covered for first half de livery. the actual volume of sales is somewhat less than has been the case previously.
 The good business in steel making irons during February brought about an in crease in the average price for that month for the first time in almost half t year, the time since which there had been an advance in Bessemer figures.
 Business placed by the railroads in February for equipment was well up, and on account of the shorter month it is figured practically the equal of business done in January, making continued de- mands on makers of railway supplies.
 Some good buying has been reported from the east for last half and third quarter shipment, but considera ble ad vance was paid for this over quotations for prior to July delivery. There is good feeling present and the clearing up of winter, with the taking up again or active building operation. will have q good influence"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-13
Transit Through the Canal

The mechanism for operating the Panama canal is most wonderfully intricate system, and yet it has been brought so completely under the i'm mediate control of the operator by means of a miniature duplicate that absolute perfection has been attained.
 This miniature displays every exist ing condition of the gates, locks, height of water and every other es- sential at a glance so that the opera tor is advised in an instant as to what is required of him. The position of the vessel in transit is indicated by the towing master and the engineer of the locomotive which is assisting it through the locks.
 The position, of the canal gates may be readily seen by the towing master, but behind each gate is huge fender chain stretched across the canal to prevent collision with the gate should the vessel happen to have gotten be- yond control. This chain cannot be
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-13
singing Birminghnm's Praises

The more l see Of Birmingham the more impressed I am with it's wonderful growth and metropolitan character" said F. l.. Hoff Of Buffalo, who after spending nearly three weeks here returned home las night
 T had visited this city twice before. but my stay being longer this time I had better opportunity of observation. No prophet of Birmingham can overestima te the greatness to which the city will at think Birmingham's population will have reached the 100000 mark by the time the next census is taken
 ''rhe Ridgely apartment house, whici, represents an investment of nearly s7c0,- 0Oo would be a credit to New York city, and the magnificent Hotel Tutwiler. near ing completion, will rank among the hostelries of this country in the very first-cass. Everything in hotel will be strictly up-to-date. l can imagine; in- deed. that it will be the last word in hotels
 AS for clubs Birmingham leads al, the cities of the south. Few easten. cities of approximately Birmingham's g size can approach this city in the num- Der and elegance of its clubs. And again lew cities have such beautiful residence sections as Birmingham. Yes, I go back to Buffalo singing this eitys praises
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-13

observed by the tow master but it's position is indicated to him by means of semaphore arms on the lock walls.
 After vessel, propelled by its own steam or the power of tug, reaches lock forebay it comes to a full stop. It is then taken charge of by four huge electric locomotives, two forward l upon either side to move it along, and two at the stern upon either side to keep it in the middle of the stream and halt 1t when the necessary point is reached. The towing master then signals the switchboard attendant who in turn lowers the fender chain by means of control switch and this movement is duplicated by the minia- ture duplicate model in the operators office. As soon as the vessel has been drawn into the lock by the electric locomotives the fender chain is raised in it's rear and the massive gates are closed behind it which movement is also duplicated by the miniature model.
 Then the water level in the lock is raised or lowered as the case requires and the level is shown upon the in dieators on the control board so that the operator sees every movement as distinctly as he would were he actual ly present at the lock at the time
 When this is done the gates are opened and the vessel is drawn by the locomotives into the next compart- ment to repat the process of passage.
 The whole procedure is remarka- ble triumph of engineering skill and mans ingenuity and it's most astound- ing feature is it's exceptional sim plicity.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-13
A Problem for the Ice Man

The question whether ice is colder in winter than in summer, or if it ever gets colder than 32 degrees is being discussed in the daily newspapers of the country.
 It is quite certain that ice can never be made warmer than the freezing point, for if large lump is cast into a pot of boiling water and allowed to remain until it has almost entirely melted the remnant will still stand at 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
 It was long supposed that zero was the lowest temperature possibly at tainable by artificial means, but to- day temperature of 3S3 degrees be- low that point is reached by chem ical process.
 Many persons maintain that ice all ways remains at the 32 degree mark and that if it were possible to trans port to the polar regions immediately a piece of ice of that temperature it
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-13
THE SONG OF THE CAMP

By Bayard Taylor. Give us a song.' the soldier cried, q The outer. trenches guarding, When the heated guns of the camps
 allied
 Grew weary of bombarding. There was pause. A guardsman said: We storm the forts tomorrow; Sing while we may; another day
 Will bring enough of sorrow" They sang of love. and not of fame;
 Forgot was Britain's glory; Each heart recalled a different name,
 But all sang Annie Laurie" Voice after voice caught up the song,
 Until it's tender passion Rose like an anthem rich and strong- Their battle-eve confession. Dear girl, her name he dared not speak. But as the song grew louder, Something upon the soldiers cheek
 Washed off the stains of powder And once again fire of hell Rained on the Russian quarters With scream of shot and burst of sheii And believing of the mortars. And Irish Nora's eyes are dim
 For a singer. dumb and gory: And English Mary mourns for him
 Who sang of Annie Laurie" Sleep, soldiers! still in honored rest
 Your truth and valor wearing; The bravest are the tenderest.
 The loving are the daring.