davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-10

a mistake in marrying him. If you do love him as you should these conditions will make no real difference in your course.
 * *
 English Ginger Beer.
 Can you give me recipe for old ia ash- toned English ginger beer. and also tell how to keep it good without using artificial preservatives? The home made ginger beer one gets in the country is insipid compared with the original product. FIG"
 Last week l printed request from an- other source for recipe for root beer This is along the same line, and l shall have to dc with this as l did with the other and turn it over to my correspondents in the faith that an early and satisfactory an- swer will be received
 Cement of Newspapers.
 ' Almost immediately after reading the inquiry in last Sundays paper asking for cement of newspapers for filling cracks, I picked up a book and read the following. Large cracks can be filled with news paper prepared as follows: The newspaper should be soaked in boiling water till it becomes a pulp; then the water should be squeezed out and the paper mixed with enough flour Oye is preferable) to form a stiff paste. which, with the addition of a few drops of carbolic acid. will be found effective. Press this mixture into the crack and smooth with a broad bladed knife.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-10

through the same experience as J. F. D. anu know that nervous breakdowns come from worrying and from fear and we can overcome it and become happy by doing kindness to others. If one is obliged to move away to get away from noise, why, just move and have it over with. Don't add worry to the strain of moving. l have learned. too, that we must buy friends with kindness. AN OLD LADY"
 This letter served as comforting sort of poultice after the other, and I commend it's teachings heartily. l have no difficulty at all in understanding why her neigh bors are her friends
 The writer of the next again reprimands:
 1 notice that Mrs. J. F. B. complains
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-10

pected that l was guilty of nagging l" at the crying babies, but let that pass.
 The next letter is much more lenient:
 '" am greatly interested in the letter of J. F. B. Having suffered nervous break down l went away for rest and quiet. and with my determination to be an active member of the Don't Worry club. I am steadily improving. We live away from city noises, but cannot escape from the growing of the roosters, and l simply can not get used to them. although l have tried hard for over year. We also have the barking dog near us. but have made up our minds to endure what can't be cured. Our neghbors are our friends and we want to keep them friendly. l have been
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-10

"M " y. : think * s,1a'. s1 a $ s%ss sIss
 do about it. am more than
 glad to express my opinion on the subject. It is high time every think ing woman spoke out and took some action, too. Who are they that any shall dictate that we wear outrageous styles which are not only unbecoming to most of us, while much is indecent and, as Mrs. J. K. B. says,'a menace to life and limb
 Just as long as women bow down and become slaves to fashion as most of us are now doing just so long will extreme styles be forced upon them. As long as we suffer ourselves to be governed by fashion we surely cannot consider ourselves compe- tent 10 vote. We have made ourselves the laughing stock of men in general and If women wish to stand shoulder to shoulder with men in the business and political world they must show themselves worthy of honor and trust. Men do not want us to lose our femininity nor do they wish us to be mannish in our department nor as fool tsh as we undoubtedly appear now.
 :" love to women wear pretty things and to look like dainty, lovable creatures. Because she appears like this does not mean. that she has not intelligence to com pete in the business world In some ways women are superior to men; in most ways we are as capable as they, but in dress and deportment we show much weakness. We ought to stand firmly together in this mat ter of dress reform and not allow fashion to dictate what we shall or shall not wear. We are not obliged to buy dresses which are unbecoming, uncomfortable. or sug- gestive of indecency just because the shops are displaying that kind. If we would pass them by we would soon see something bet ter provided for us
 Women who are mothers of boys who will soon be men should think that just as they are leading those boys up to an honor . able manhood. just so will the men be in- fuenced in later life. If we dress in a way to lower ourselves in their esteemwe fail in our mission in life. Our dress and deport- ment are sign posts which show the way; let them point to that which is best and highest, not towards those things which are foolish, suggestive. and indecent
 st AUNT MAUD" A I think we will agree fully with the point of view of this correspondent. On one point only do l differ with her and that is in her statement that we should not get the sort of things that are sold now but pass them by. We don't want to get them. but how can some of us help it7 The wom- an who employs . dressmaksr for her clothes is able to say how she will have them cut and made, but the large number who do not have time to have dressmaking done for them but find they save time and money by buying ready to wear garments are much at the mercy of the shops. We must get what they sell us, and the best we can do Is to select the most modified styles we can find and try to have them adapted to our tastes. The matter of the shirt waists which button in the back h an illustration of this still. hope
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-10
Remedy for inc Tormented.

As for children, alas. l have found their market value. On one page of a paper crusade to protect the future mother is being carried on, while on your page one of the refined tortures of mothers who have arrived is printed. Can you jus tify 1t to yourself when you tell them that their highest office is to be a mother, and then nag them when their children. taking their natural right, make a noise?
 As for the remedy for these nervous. tormented higher few, the answer is only this: Find work to keep you busy and treat your body right People who are busy doing more than their share of the worlds work hear nothing that does not concern them, and lie down and sleep through everything that is not their busi- ness But these same people wake from the deepest sleep when their own work calls. Few people are honestly i'll. Either pampered. or petted. or abused bodies will revolt, but one should be ashamed to Haunt her sins before the world and demand that the rest of us assist her in destroying her self? Isn't it raw to complain of these sounds in a city when one cant stand five minutes. night or day without hearing a
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-10

that tiit fdfSt DuiiiDtF ol StHslDiF MpIlen in this country will have an influence on prevailing styles and bring them around to . common sense before long.
 * *
 Wants Quiet Wedding.
 What is the simplest and best way to get married under the following circum- stances? The man is a widower with one child and lives out of town. where he owns home l am helping my family and can't spare much for clothing as my father is old and my mother has been sick so I don't care to have a regular wedding or to let anyone know about it until it is over Would it be wrong not to let my parents know of my marriage until afterwards? Would it look badly if don't buy any bed ding or table linen to begin housekeeping on and do you think such course would make the man think less of me? He has some furniture and some jewelry that be- longed to his wife. l don't care much about using them, especially if he offers me her ring as an engagement ring. Is that often done? Would it be inconsiderate in me to ask for different one? Please tell me just what you would do under such circum- stances and how to treat the child, who is a boy years old. His father seems to adore him. l wonder sometimes if 1t will be hard to get along with him and if shall ever know how to meet the people there and get acquainted with them. They all knew his wife so well l wonder if they would all the time be criticising me and comparing me with her? ANxIousY
 am at a loss to understand your letter. Why should not your mother and father know of your wedding until it is over? To my mind you are putting your family in peculiar position with regard to your future husband and giving him singular idea of your relation towards your parents. can understand that you might not wish to have public wedding but it seems to me it would be much out of the way to conceal the marriage from your father and mother instead of letting them share in 1t with you. If were in your mothers place such a course would grieve me deeply. By all means tell them of it and have them with you at the ceremony. This may be as quiet as you please. at the house of the clergy man or in church with no one present but the immediate family but the other course you suggest savors of a clandestine affair with something about it of which you are ashamed. As to the other details, there IS no reason why you should feel obliged to buy table linen and bedding. Your future husband doubtless understands your re- sources and would not expect this. can understand your feeling as to the engage ment ring and you should be on such terms with him that you can tell him you would prefer ring that should be your own with no other associations connected with 1t. The boy seems to me desirable feature of the marriage and you should treat him as you would if he were your own. Ofcourse. you must be prepared for criticism from the friends of the first wife. That is only natural and what you may look for in the circumstances. Unless. you love the man enough tp stand that sort Of thing you mako
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-10
MARION HARLAND'S HELPING HAND.

rose bead. l know ii contains little pas- ter of Paris but do not know the amount of the other ingredients. l would much ap- preciate some information along this line.
 CONSTANT READER.
 .'I wish to ask if you can supply the d- rections for making the salt and corn starch or salt and corn meal colored beads. l will be greatly obliged to anyone who can help me about this. MRS. C. w. b. These two inquiries belong together, and l trust to receive replies to both. The di- rections for making the salt and cornstarch beads were given while ago, but evidently escaped the attention of Mrs. G. w. E. Perhaps some one of the Cornerites kept copy of it and can let me have it to re- print here. Constant Reader does not give her address, but I will be glad to an swer her inquiry in the Corner if someone will send me the information she desires.
 < *
 Wants Letters from Invdlids.
 Would it not be helpful as source of new ideals and inspiration to let many readers who are sufferers and shutins. both from pain and loneliness, know that Miss Anna Risberg. founder of the Sunshine club, national organization for invalids. was prostrate for fifteen years from spinal trouble? She wrote thousands of letters and made many hundreds of fremembrances for invalids whose friendship she gained through her letters A busy lfe pretty good sef-made cure for gnawing loneli- ness. My request goes with this, will some whose invalid lives were frightened by the Sunshine club write to me? Perhaps you will accept as my reason for admittance the statement that have been little busy myself filling corners discovered through your open sesame. The Corner work must be heavy as task but as fragrant memory 1t must resemble the old time rose potpourri grandmother loved.
 "s M A"
 Thank you for the information about the founder of the Sunshine society. I agree with you that such an example is an in- centive and uragement, as we'll as a reproach to those of us who think so much of our discomforts and woes that we have no thought to bestow on the worse trials of others. You are sure to gain more than one correspondent, and the cheer you have brought into other q corners will I trust. come back to you tenfold. The . fragrant memory 2 of kindly deeds must brighten many hearts in our own especial Helping Hand Corner. Just how much blessing and help some of our constituency have brought into darkened lives no one knows but the dear Father of us all.
 k
 She Learned Lip Reading.
 For twenty years have been entirely deaf. I cannot hear one word. When was 50 was sitting opposite my daughter one day at the table and watched her lips when she was telling where she had been and about her school work. In one years time could tell every word she faid. ID the wants in your Corner you often ask Tor ear trumpets foe the deaf had eil nnds of ear trumpets. but nevpt found any comfost fpom them. would edv1ss yee
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-10
. 0ME of you may remember that sev-
 eral weeks ago I expressed myself
 on this page on the topic of " Neigh =. borhood Nuisances," moved thereto

eral weeks ago l expressed myself
 on this page on the topic of Neigh
 borhood Nuisances." moved thereto
 by the recital of the trials of others as well as by certain experiences of my own. Much apropos came letter to me at about the same time from one of our Cornerites telling me of the tribulations she had undergone along the same line. ] printed her letter with the following comment:
 do not apologize for printing 90 long letter as this. for l think it extremely interesting reading. Now, there are two sets of persons from whom I would like to hear this matter. One consists Of the inventive geniuses who can suggest some way for quietng dogs and the cats and the chickens or other live stock-in- cluding crying bahes-or inducing the people who own them to do it, and to ac- complish this without giving mortal of- fense. Any one who can make practical suggestion along these lines should win the rank of benefactor. The other class wish to hear from is made up of those who keep the nulsances and apparently are not annoyed by them. What are their explanations for refusing 10 keep their dogs and chickens and children quiet? By what system have they trained themselves that they either do not hear the racket themselves or are not disturbed by it? l pause for reply--for number of replies, I hope. This topic is of interest to all of us from one standpoint or another"
 I had no idea of provoking a hail storm of comment, but that is what did. Letters came pouring in, some indignant, others sympathetic. many amusing. In the belief they will interest others as much as they have done me, am printing several of them here for the benefit of those readers who may agree or disagree with the sentiments Of the epistles
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-10

to tell these deaf people to watch the lipA of some friend and in short time they will learn to understand what is said. I am now 72 years old. I talk with every body. go out every day. attend gather ings at clubs and parties and talk with anybody. l can understand what my daughters say clear across the street. and l write this letter hoping it may help soma one ard make life more pleasant. Of course cannot hear one sound of music. which is a great cross to me but life is still bright for me because of my ability to understand the spoken word. I hope you will write something about learning to hear from watching the lips and thus help some poor afflicted deaf person. :i sz sF
 !" FRIEND OF THE DEA1''
 Few accomplishments are more valuable to the deaf than this of lip reading, and l wish with all my heart that mention of it by me might be of help to those who have lost their hearing. There are institutions in thls country for teaching the art of lip reading to the deaf. A distressing per centage of children are born deaf. and until few years ago the only refuge for them was a deaf and dumb asylum, where they lived with others similarly afiicted. ''~@ - u SkScah wy tuc Si6 II So&18 tA88 es and were entirely cut off from the word of those who spoke with the vocal organs. The story of the beginning of the nnovs- ment for teaching lip reading to children is too long to be told here but the institu- tions in which it is taught are blessing to all in them. Those persons who arc in . position to speak with understanding upon the subject tell me that the attainment of ( hn ,.t o$ xx-h;l ~~~ s<Ba~ for adults than for children may yet be learned at any age. Have any of our Cor nerites further information to give us on this matter? Would Help Country Woman"
 Win you give me the address of the writer who signs herself A Country Woman? I am doing considerable work of the kind she wants to do and will be glad to let her have try at it. and if she is capable it may lead to an arrangemsn nt mutually profitable sMRs. w. A. H."
 am sorry to say that Country Woman. who wished to write for ma azines did not give her address with her letter. If oh. sees this she will not send t to us?
 An O6er of Magazines.
 VI have magazines l would like to give to some one. All are for 1913. Can vou help me In finding the words of an old sonx my father tried to sing fifty years ago? It ran like this: scenes that are brightest may charm the eye. Hearts that are iishtest must fade and die.
 MRS. Ic. J. T."
 Thank you for your offer of magaxines. l have no doubt they will be accepted promptly and gratefully. wish could recall the words of the song from :. The Bohemian Girl" beginning Scenes that are brightest" Can some one better versed than or with better memory tell nc if they are the ones our correspondent sseiks and supply tho missing words1
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-10

When the room is dry, shoot Persian pow der under the baseboard and around the windows and door frames: make all the dust possible forcing it far into the interior of crevices.' l send this that you may use it. or any part of it, if you see fit. k. B. v
 Thank you very much. I am sure the information will be of use to many of the Cornerites, and hope they will cut 1t out and put it where they can find it when they need it again. We cannot always hope for so happy a chance of promptly answered inquiry
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-10

boys, to come forward now. To my mind a love for reading, and if anything caii be done to foster and encourage this, it is our privilege as well as our duty to lend a hand" hope for many applications for the address of the librarian ..
 * *
 Crochet Patterns Wanted.
 ''I would like very much to have the crochet patterns offered by Mrs. J. w. M.
 MRS. M Is. L.'' regret that those patterns had been given away before your request was re- ceived. l print it here in the hope that someone else may have similar ones to be- stow and that you may have the benefit of them. l will give your address to such one.
 '' am a lonely shut-in. and would be pleased to receive silks, Battenberg pat terms, etc. l can do, such work to while away the time. and l enjoy 1t.
 MRS. ELLEN K Another seeker for patterns! Will not someone who has such things for which she has no further use send for the address of these Cornerites?
 Inquiries for Bead Formulas. would like you or some member of the Corner to give recipe for making what is called the California flower bead. This preparation is not the salt bead, nor the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-10
More Books Needed.

We have a free circulating library in the country, and need good books for boys very much indeed. We have eleven sta tions in different neighborhoods. with 400 borrowers. This is the library which, more than year ago. received generous help through your columns. The library has doubled it's circulation since then. We will gladly pay carriage on all books given.
 st "R. P. H."
 An application like this must appeal to all of us who have faith in the good work done by books. The fact that we thought we'll enough of this object last year to give generous help " should induce us to sup ply further aid. am not asking those who gave before to meet this demand, but hope the request may move those who have not helped hitherto. but who are interested in
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-10
Joined the Don't Worries.

l might remark that invective is not argii- ment or point to the many hard workers whom outside noise distressed. No one would call Thomas Carlyle an idler, but he had soundproof room built at the top or the house in an effort to escape the noise which interfered with his diligent and unremitting labors. l had not sus-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-10

roar, crash, or screech of the bigger things u work? l could talk block on this sub 1ect, but l must get my plagues up, ready to torment the neighbors who can hear two sets of walls what I am doing
 SCATTER
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-10

of the noise made by the barking of dogs and the growing of roosters of her neigh bors. I. for one, would be happy if l only had such a place to live in. l am sure that if J. F. B. can eat the eggs from the hen and the meat of the fowl she ought to be able to put up with some of the noise. We all are a nuisance more or less, so why complain of the animals and fowls put on this earth for our use? J. F. B. will never be happy, no matter where she moves to, because she is not able to enjoy nature. l suppose even flowers an noy her. For myself, l find beauty in everything l love animals and am only sorry l am unable to keep them. The world and everything in it is beautiful if people would only take notice and forget their grouch MRS H. w"
 Complaints Sound Ridiculous.
 The following is a trifie overwhelming:
 ' notice that of late you have said great deal about neighborhood nuisances and>I must say that to me many of the complaints sound ridiculous. such as trying to make the rooster stop growing during the hours when some dear lady is trying to get her beauty sleep. Can you imagine a farmer having such control over his cattle as to be able to say to his Jersey COW, Now. Bess, moo all you like during