davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-03

The falling off in steerage passengers coming to this country from abroad is already in excess of soo.oo0 for the year. in comparison with last year. Steamship agents declare that this means corre- spending decrease in the supply of labor for the labor market. It is predicted that unskilled labor will soon be at prem ium. This condition may continue for at least a year and even longer, if the war in Europe is not soon ended. The elass of men in Europe who are needed most in this country for subway work and ether large engineering operations of a similar kind will not be able to earn any money while a state of war continues and cannot save their passage money to America. Last year more than a third of the immigration to this country came over in the steerage. All nationalities were represented, the greater number coming from ports in France, England, Germany, Belgium and Holland.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-03

culty in keeping their engagement. Of course, we shall know better in month or so what the prospect is for a full req son of opera such as sMr. Gatti-Casazza has accustomed us to.
 From pecunlary point of view there is no reason why the opera season should suffer if the performances are up tc the high standard of our opera house. Tc the vast majority of supporters of the Metropolitan grand opera is not very expensive luxury. and they will feel that they can better economize, if economy is necessary, in other pleasures. Society, in period of depression, will be likely to give more time than usual to the opera and curtail the more costly social en.er- tainments. So we may be assured that if the war does not deprive us of the serv ices of eminent foreign singers in such large numbers as to make good perform ances impossible, we shall have our opera and we may fairly expect to enjoy il more than ever in the circumstances
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-03
A LOST UMBRELLA

Paris Correspondence in New York Sun.
 The wife of General Metzinger, a dis captain in the army, was recently wound ed, was travelling from Switzerland to Lorraine a short time ago. She says she overheard conversation between two German officers during a rainstorm.
 One said: 'Oh, I left my umbrella in a hotel in Paris"
 The other replied: Never fear, you will be able to go and get 1t next week"
 Pray do not trouble yourselves, inter- rupted Mime. Metzinger; my son, who is a captain in the French army, will un- dertake to bring 1t himself"
 The two officers alighted hastily at the next station.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-03
Pay Your Small Bills

The retail trade of Birmingham has been fairly active during the last six months but collections have been slow. At least that complaint is gen. erally heard at this time.
 The small merchant usually has suf- ficient capital for his business needs, provided his customers pay their bills on the first of the month, but when customers in large numbers neglect to settle, the merchant is not only in- conyenienced but often seriously em- barrassed.
 It sometimes happens that good customer meets with misfortune and through no fault of his, is unable to meet his ordinary obligations, but 1t is a we'll known fact that many peo- ple who are always able to pay their bills, have a habit of putting off the collector. Why they are proverbially poor pay is a question that migh be referred to psychology. This observa- tion on the habit of many well-to-do folks delaying the settlement of "store accounts" is common to all cities in all sections of this country.
 Of course, a large percentage of people who owe the butcher and the grocer and the dry goods firm are scrupulously prompt in sending checks for the amounts due, but at this sea son when every mercantile concern, large or small, needs all the money owing to it, prompt payment by every body should be the rule.
 The banks have ample funds on hand to accommodate their customers in all reasonable demands, but if all people would pay their small bills promptly, the volume of money in cir culation would be appreciably in- creased. In every large city there are hundreds of merchants who send out monthly statements by the thousand. In many cases there will be thous- and accounts averaging about $5 each. If all the customers made prompt payment the merchant would not have to call on the bank for assistance at time when the financial demands for large operations are pressing.
 As a matter of civic pride as well as a matter of moral obligation let every debtor who can possibly do SO pay his bills without further delay Such action will result in easy money
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-03
GREAT TRIALS OF HISTORY
TRIAL OF JOHN PoRTEoUs

~ NE of the most cordially hated men in Edinburg 200 years ago
 was one John Porteous, captain of the city guard By his insolence and native arrogance he was both feared and hated by the mob of that city.
 At that time a great number of the pop plation were in some way connected with to help in the traffic of contraband goods. So the majority of the people were in sympathy with the Ednburg merchant. Andrew Wilson, when he war arrested and sentenced to be executed for robbing the customs house at Pitten- ween, which he had done in retaliation for the sever methods put in force against the smugglers.
 One of the customs of that day was forcible church going on Sunday, and as Wilson and an accomplice, Robertson, were in church Wilson suddenly shouted
 "Geordie, do for thy lfe'' and by hold ing three of the guards he left the way clear for Robertson to escape, which he promptly did by running over the top oe the pews. Although the church was crowded no attempt was made to stop him, indeed, when once he fell, he was helped up by a minister, and out in the street he mounted a saddled horse and
 was never again heard of. This shows the attitude of the mob. and so it was with slight msgiving that Captain Por- teous heard ominous -umors of an att tempt to rescue the prisoner from rhe scaffod.
 On April IA, 1736, Wilson was executed with no disturbance. till the corpse was being cut down. The mob then threw as usual some dirt and stones which, falling amongst the city guards Captain Porteous fired and ordered his men to fire, whereupon 20 persons were woun lea and six or seven killed"
 | Subsequently Porteous was apprehended
 and brought to trial. In the indictment
 he was charged with shooting one Charles Husband, and ordering his men to lire I Dr. Andrew Carlisle stated that when the I captain ordered them (the guard) to fire many of them elevated their pieces and 1 showed their reluctance in obeying the order. Porteous turned to them with
 threatening gesture and an inflamed coun- tenance."
 This accusation was corroborated by a number of witnesses who said that when Porteous saw the guards holding their pieces to fire over the heads of the mob after the command had been given he cried to them to ''level your pieces and be
 damned to them' That some of the sol-
 diers aimed high was proved by the fact
 that young man, watching the execution
 from window, was killed by slug. Porteous said in his defense that he himself did not fire, but that several of
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-03
LUKE M'LUKE SAYS
pm the Cincinnati Enquirer.

From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
 There isn't much danger of women rum ming politics in this country as long as 4 girl would rather be perfect thirty-six than be President.
 A man would rather kiss his neighbor' s wife once in a while than kiss his own wife every day.
 The old-fashioned woman who nsed to have to sit on the floor to put h her shoes and stockings now has daughter who can dress herself in the upper berth of a Pullman.
 Any homely girl would rather believe her gentleman friends than her mirror.
 When woman has sense enough to make her husband imagine that he is having his own way, they are not going to do much fighting.
 We all respect gray hair until we lind one in the butter.
 A bridegroom can figure that two can live as cheaply as one. But he never fig ures that the stork may make 1t impossi- ble for six olive as cheaply as one
 Some buffers are a nuisance. But there is always room for the buffer who is al- ways bragging how prosperous he is and how well the world is using him.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-03
IDLE OPINIONS.

 Some people can follow all the rules of health and still never reach the age of discretion
 Just about the time man makes ups his mind to live within his means along comes an agent and sells him another set of books. .ax. Love is sugar." says paragrapher The man who expects his wife to support him seems to think it's loaf sugar. The little girl who stamps her foot when she's angry is the woman who puts her foot down later on in life.
 A very good example of welded bliss is that of the man who is welded to a profession that pays him not less than s10,00O year.
 Oftentimes the man who entertains good opinion of himself is easily enter, tained. P. c.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-03

the soldiers without his orders "unfoTtu-
 nately fired upon the multitude" .
 To the satisfaction of the community,
 Porteous was found guilty and sentenced
 to death After this two petitions, which
 are preserved today, both differently
 worded, were presented to Queen Caro0
 line, then guardian of the realm. the King
 being in Hanover. A reprieve was
 granted and the prisoner was lodged in z the Tolbooth. At this the mob wagJ reused to a high pitch and rumors ot lynchng were everywhere around ths town. eH
 On September body Of men Tn ,lis- guise entered the city and seizing the. burg drummer's drum tied it about ;hiA neck of his son, and bade him beat caKt to arms. The keeper of West Port wa. seized and the keys taken from him and the gate locked. From thence along Cowgate-the faltering drummer beating
 for his life-til the Cowgate port was reached where they found the keeper
 had prudently hidden both himself and
 his keys. Here a guard was left to keep 7
 the gate and the main body, after dist
 patching numbers of the mob to take
 possession of the Bristo and Potter Row posts, poured into High street toward the guard house. They made no secret of their intentional l and with the drum beating and thu
 bowling of the rabble, the original con- spirators were soon joined by sympa- thizers till it swelled into formidable mob The city guards were busy in the surrounding tavers. but Captain Lind. 1 Investigating the noise as soon as he saw the crowd gathered together at the top of Blackfriar's Wynd, 'clapped his
 hand on his sword and ran away as fast
 as his feet could carry him.
 | The now thoroughly inhamed ralbla
 broke into the Tolbooth, set all the pris->
 oners free, and dragged out the unfortu-
 nate captain attired only in a night shirt
 and cap. It was the intention of the mob i to hang him on the gallows where he had
 shed so much blood, and as they pro-
 ceeded he was badly beaten, torches wers3
 thrust in his face and he received nd mercy.
 1 An eyewitness wrote that he was hung on dyer's tree in the square where E'il- son was executed, where he was not ,eft/
 to hang outright, but was hauled ID ti4l 1 he was nearly dead and then put on his feet again and so hauled up and down for nearly an hour AS his hands were not | tied he struggled so much that one of the mob broke his arm and shoulder. Once ! on being pulled down, he asked for half an hour to pray, but this was refused :. | After his death the crowd quickly dis3' persed and in the morning the body and l the smoldering torches were the only traces left and save for these the hup- penings of the night before seemed pi:' frightful and fantastic nightmare.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-03
Educating Jack Tar

Having made the navy construc- eively "dry," Secretary Daniels is now desirous of turning it into "school- room." Thanks to his system of edu- eating enlisted men, old-fashioned sspelling-bees" are said to be arousing almost as much enthusiasm now among the sailors of the navy as a boxing bout or wrestling match. Daniels has created new .,d 'ition among his aides in order to
 New out his educational scheme. x,.-sf. George R. Clark, now command ant of the naval training station at Great Lakes, near Chicago, has been appointed aide for education and will assume his new duties September 15.
 Henceforth the sailor man in Uncle Sam's navy will be able to learn a lit tla of everything, from spelling and arithmetic to naval strategy and tac- tics. If his early education has beer neglected he can enjoy the benefits ot | common school course or he can spe- cialize in certain trades, such as cook. ing, carpentering and steamfitting ol he may perfect himself in music, SC that when his term of enlistment ends he will be able to earn comfortable livelihood. Academic instruction oi men on board ship and at the maya
 stations on shore will be given by off
 cers who will teach elementary subjects such as reading, writing, spelling
 arithmetic, geography and history tc
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-03
Travel Holds In

Travel during the summer has held up remarkably well, all things consid- cred" said H. l.. Street, clerk at the Metropolitan hotel
 The travelling men have many of
 them, kept steady at work, and the fall tide has just begun to roll in. The merchants convention was one of the very best things that has been pulled off here since I came to Bir- |mingham. Our guests were enthusias- tic over the good time they so much enjoyed, and regretted that the body did not hold for five days instead of three, as there were many details they did not get through with on account of the round of entertainments
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-03
yirriu,. Proh,bitiop EIection

AS the time draws near for the cleo tion in Virginia to decide whether the state will remain in the local option col umn or have statewide prohibition, the local optionists are showing much more pluck than was in evidence few months ago when I visited the Old Dominion, said Amos A. Randa of New York city.
 When the Anti-S1Dbon league started the statewide campaign 1t seemed to be almost a foregone conclusion that the league would win. Virginia, like most of the southern states, has great deal of dry territory. l do not know what the percentage is, but my guess is that in not more than one-sixth of the state is liquor sold legally. The prohibitionists assumed that with so many men voting dry under the local option law, a large majority would be rolled up for state- wide prohibition. But that does not follow Missouri and Texas.
 T am not connected in any way with the liquor business but as a locker on l would say that it was an even bet that Virginia would go dry. If such should be the result of the election the next time a vote is taken by the people of the state, Virginia will swing back into local option column.
 "I was very much impressed with the fact while in Richmond a few days ago that the leading business men there were strongly opposed to statewide prohibit tion''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-03
WATERLOO

 By Aubrey De We're. Why have the mighty ived--why have they died? Is it ever thus with idle wreck a strew Fields such as thine, remorselesi Waterloo? Hopeless the lesson. vainly hath eyed cried Stern fate to man--"so perish human| pride.' still must the many combat for tlns| Still must the noblest blood faiH earth bedew; Tyrants. slaves, freemen, molderind side by side! On such day the world was lost. and won,
 By Pompey at Pharsalia: such day Saw glorious Hannibal a fugitive: So faded meath the Macedonian sun Persia's pale star so empire passed away S From Harold's brow-but ne dis- asined to live: :. E. E. iss
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-03
CHANGES OF THE OPERA
rom the New York Times.

From the New York Times
 While. Boston must forego the 'nxurq of grand opera this winter. 1t is bs,:evef' that the plans of the directors of the Metropolitan opera house will be carried out with few changes, unless Italy is in- volved in the European war. MT. sOttc Kahn has announced that, though num- Der of women singers engaged for the season are Germans, most of the men ars Italians or Americans. It is believed that the German women will have no difri
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-03
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
LOOKING BACK.

Ils sweet to sing vacation days
 because. you see, they're ended; From mountain inns and summer bsys
 Most everyone has wended Back to the walks where duty lies
 And daily tasks are calling. Ere long will clouds obscure the skies And winter rains be falling. III retrospect, methinks we drain
 A cup of sweetest pleasure Ano wonder if we'll e'er again
 Have granted us a measure of summer joys so brimming full
 or mirthfulness and laughter. With scarce thought of abors dull And troubles to come after We don't recall the insect swarm
 That started us to swearing, The sultry days and nights so warm
 We almost were dispairing; The stuffy room, the tiresome bed
 The food we vowed was "rotten.-- si Though but a week or two has sped.
 These ills are all forgotten.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-03
EDITOR HAS GIDDY TIME .om the Waldron (Ark) Advance Re-

From the waldron (Ark.) Advance-Re-
 porter.i
 The editor attended the picnic Friday night He milled around with the crowd for awhile, looking for one of his boys. drank ''bloodwine something or other' on Bert Lewis. borrowed 5o cents from Hal
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-03

Prince William of Wied may have tt get his credentials renewed when tn, wars over.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-03

Brand Whitlock, who is said to have sought the post of minister to Belgium because he wanted to enjoy peace. would have found better brand of it in little old Toledo.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-03
As to Pockets

Colonel Roosevelt gives a hint tha. has merit in it. said D. B. Grace. "In the account of his. adventures in the swamps of Brazil, he says that native men and women came to his camp and The women especially were alert to the opportunity to take table utensils but they had no pockets in which to conceal stolen goods.
 This suggests the thought that pockets are the cause of much sin and suffering in the world. If nature had intended for us to have pockets she would have put them in the folds of our skin as the kangaroos have No pocket, no pickpocket No pocket, no pistol No pocket no pipe. No pocket no pocket flask. Our impecunious and importunate friend would not ask for a loan, seeing that we were empty handed. Mister, have you got a match% would never assail our ears
 The wife who goes through hubby's pockets would have night of un.
 broken sleep. Idle hands that are now
 stuck deep in their owners pockets
 would find work. The awkward gus who enters a parlor with his hands ir his pockets would perforce have tt
 clasp them in front or behind. Hav- | ing no place to carry our purse ws have a better excuse for not paying
 our debts than the European war O,
 the low price of cotton.
 "The toothpick is the only articl,
 that can be carried about with us i
 we have no pockets, for it can be car
 ried in the mouth or behind the ear.
 "The ladies have taken first steI
 toward abolishing pockets by carrying | a handbag. A New York hotel. keep
 step with the march of progress b,
 recurring it's walters to wear a uni 1 form with only one pocket. into whicl
 the walters must drop their tips Thi
 pocket is operated on the nickel in tn, slot plan, and the proprietor keeps tn, key. At midnight the walters hafg ul ltheir uniforms In the clothesroom an, the proprietor unlocks the pockets an' distributes the proceeds eauitably be
 tween the house and the walters. Thu the balance of power, which Is jus now rudely shaken in Europe. is ju
 diciously maintained"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-03

It is pleasant to live in land like this, where you can go to sleep at night with out being afraid that Zeppelin will come in the night and blow you to kingdom come
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-03

Clymer to buy his children some whistles
 with, came near blowing the 50 cents to
 have his fortune told, set up the merry go-round' to Bert Lewis, couldn't find his boy; the excitement, etc. lad tendency to make his legs wobbiy so ne couldn't walk good, boarded car and went homo; through dust too thick to stick peg>| ging awl in. 5
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-03

It is sad but true that American women may parade as a protest against war until they drop from exhaustion, without in the slightest degree altering the aspect of affairs abroad
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-03
Considerable Business Activity

Notwithstanding the fact that the El- ropean war has caused much confusion to business, there is considerable activity in mercantile and industrial circles in the east said J. J. Clinton of Philadel- phia.
 Assuming that the war will be pro- longed for many months, business condi- tions in this country will be adjusted to the situation and will become normal within the next few weeks. Not only that, but America will rapidly expand. and in the end the manufacturers and merchants will profit by the war
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-03

Although Poet Watson shows a com mendable desire to strike while the jror
 is hot, his latest effusons seem to in-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-03
A WOMAN OF PARTS

Don't you think Mrs. Twobb her years lightly?''
 Yes. And so quietly that hobo how many there are.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-03

It is said that Walter Johnsons parents have never seen him pitch. Still, they probably know that he has a great repu- tation of some kind or other
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-03

The most remarkable part of John Linds silence is that he has consistently maintained 1t under the merciess fire of para graphers
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-03

If congressman are to be mulcted part of their pay for being absent the chau- tauqun circuits are apt to experience an aching void.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-03
FATHER NOAH.

 If Father Noah lived today And 1t began to rain, He would not build an ark-he't A hydroaeroplane.
 New York If Father Noah lived today He'd think it worth his while To carry germ-proof drink cups For every animile.
 Cleveland Plain ] If Father Noah lived today He'd steer his ark for Rome, And he'd make snags of money Bringing Yankee tourists home.
 Springfield | If Father Noah lived today And saw men spilling blvoG- He'd crawl into his ark and pray God for another flood.
 Houston Post If Father Noah lived today And started for cruise He'd have to put wireless up To gather in the news.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-03

A great many people who are alarmed over the rise in the price of sugar are prepared to face a shortage of grand opera with euuanimty.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-03

The believing of the bull moose is drowned out by the roar of big guns in Europe.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-03
npeuNrNG THE pAY-o God,

lmy Father, help me in the midst or
 all my disappointments and dis- ,Nreases and griefs to cling 10 the 2 ansnurance that Thou lowest me. het all others forsake me. let body faii .uA hlessinrs take their flight, if 1Tnnu Iovest me and art working sThv will with me. Amen md Amen. H. M., E.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-03
REGULAR RATES.

Pa, what are literary emoumentsg About 5 for story. son. and s5 for a poem.''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-03

Shooting down Red Cross nurses is unspeakable barbarity, but is anybody really doing 1t?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-03
THE AMERICAN EXAMPLE

Nobody cares how much embonpoint an oyster has.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-03

There's no use worrying about the future of Cole Blease. There's not much chance of his ever being President.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-03

Though preparing for the worst, Paris doubtless continues to hope for the best.