davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29
BosToN's ONLY skYsCRApER
l the New York Times.

From the New York Times.
 Boston's only skyscraper, the custom
 house tower, now approaching compile
 ton, is expected to be ready for occu- pancy January 1. Standing in city
 where the prevailing types of construc- effect of this new specimen of massive
 ness in architecture is greatly enhanced. Heretofore the two commanding ob-
 jects in Boston were the gilded dome
 of the state house on Beacon Hill and
 the shaft of the Bunker Hill monu-
 ment. But the new custom house tower.
 rising 500 feet in the air, Is 275 feet
 higher than the summit of the Bunker
 Hill monument, and from it's observa-
 ton balcony on 6 clear day 1t is eX pected that the White mountains. the
 long arm of Cape Cod on the east. the flashing waters of Long Island sound on the south and the beautiful Berk- sire hills in the west will be visible. than the Woolworth tower in New York. put the latter llItS US SufuInlt IrOH Oitt the midst of mighty skyscrarers, and therefore its great height Is not com paratively, perhaps, so impressive as that of the lower Boston skyscraper. Like she Metropolitan tower in New York, Boston's custom house tower is to have a great clock which will be placed just below the twenty fourth ! story. The clock, like the tower. will have four faces, and dial 271s feet in diameter, but, unlike the great clock l in New Yorlss tower at Madison square. l it will have no chimes. fact which is l to be regretted. Especially will Boston and classic Cambridge. the home of Longfellow, who commemorated in verses the belfry of Bruges and Its carilion of bells, probably feel as the years go by that 8 mistake was made
 when the government refused as gift
 a set of chimes to be installed in the tower. Governments proverbally nave little sympathy with the romantic and
 the picturesque but surely had Boston
 urged the matter of the chimes with due oarnestness the government architect
 might have been induced to alter his plans.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29

From the Kansas City Times.
 A wealthy Turk once complained about the British rule in Egypt. Isn't it just? he was asked That is exactly the trouble" he replied. "I have no more in fiuence with the government than the water carrier. Of what use has it been to be to work hard and accumulate riches if they bring me no more favors from the government than the water carrier can get who has no money?'
 Has anybody happened to notice the Turkish idea cropping out in spots in the United States?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29

set Magazine.
 Tu1 HEN the traffic department was A/ quite positive that 100000 per-
 W sons would attend, it took up the matter of how they were to be trans ported.
 Could the multitude be tucked comfor- tably into berths at night? Traffic Man ager Mortensen went to Chicago to con suit Superintendent Hungerford of the Pullman company.
 twill you be prepared to furnish uppers and lowers to a million travellers from east of the Rocky mountains?' asked Mortensen.
 Sure thing easy enough" Hungerford replied. For several years we have had our shops turning out steel cars as rap idly as possible to replace the wooden ones. We have on hand many first class cars that were taken out of commission merely because they were not of the newest type. These will be dropped back into the running again for the exposition year. The situation is a happy one from our standpoint, and there will be no shortage either of standard or of tourist cars"
 During other expositions many Pullman cars have been parked at destination and used by their occupants in place of hotel accommodations. This will not occur during the California expositions. All the railroads have promulgated a rule prohibiting the parking of cars within 50 miles of San Francisco, San Diego or Santa Barbara. Thus every Pullman car on the western run, with time allowed for
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29
WAR ECHOES

Washington Star: Germany's action in notifying neutral governments that con- sular exequaturs to Belgium will not henceforth be recognized is not surprising in view of the fact that that power is now fin military possession of practically the entire Belgian territory. It is i'm possible to ignore this condition. and the United States. if informed that it's repre- sentatives would be recognized in Belgium should not be interrupted. The consuls are doing a most valuable work in facili- tating the distribution of the bounty of the people of this country for the succor of the noncombatant sufferers from the war, and any check of their activity through the refusal of recognition by Ger many would seriously interfere with the great charity enterprise now under way.
 Consequently it is to be expected that some arrangement will be effected where by the consuls will be so credentialed as to enable them to continue at their posts. There would be no failure of our official neutrality in the acceptance of condition that admits of no question, and the per nanence of which is dependent upon the final outcome of the war.
 St. Louis Times: The following is taken from a news item under Berlin date line:
 Christmas in the German capital diff fers little from former years The home enjoyments are on a more economic scale, o..5 shown than ever before. Tho gifts for the poor have assumed proportions never before known
 It is difficult to imagine Berlin cee- brating Christmas in much the same man. ner as in other years. And we do not refer to Berlin in particular, but to all the cities of Europe. How can there be joy little different from former years' in those thousands of homes, about the dinner table of which there is today an empty chair? How can those thousands of widows, thousands of pale-faced or phans, thousands of waiting mothers, aged fathers, brothers and sisters enjoy Christmas in a manner little different from the Christmas of days gone by?
 Would the sender of the message have us believe that the great conflict has made but a slight impression on the hearts of those millions in 15 countries directly or indirectly involved in the war? Can we believe that Berlin, Paris, Lon don. and other cities in the various coun- tries can celebrate" to the sound of chil- dren's laughter and chimes, while the cannon boom In the miserable trenches only few miles distant? If such is actu- ally the case, and there must be no one who does not have serious doubts of it being true, then certainly the world is witnessing the greatest manifestation of uncanny stoicism known in history. Waf and Christmas celebration do not har. monize The very significance of the word Christmas is contrary to that of war. One bespeaks peace, the other enmty: one carries with it joy, the other sorrow. They cannot be joined together In fancy or in fact Tt is very improo- able that Christmas is being celebrated in Berlin or in any other country or city involved in the war little different from former years
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29
THE GUESTS OF SLEEP


 Sleep at the Inn O Dreams A kindly host he waits. And all night long goodly throng Comes softly through his gates. A varied company
 Scholar and clown and king. Or prince or priest, or great or least. He gives them welcoming. For each he fills the cup Where poppy petals. swim. Wherefrom each guest at his behest Drinks deeply. toasting him. And old men drink of youth, And sad men of delight, And weary men drink deep again The pulsing wine of might. And poets drink of song, But best and oh, most sweet. I Above that brim where peoples swim The lips of lovers meet Sleep at the Inn O Dreams A kindly host he waits. And all night long a goodly throng Comes softly through his gatss.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29
STILL BoYIsH.

That boy of mine is going to be a phi lanth-opist when he grows up"
 What makes you think so?''
 He went about Christmas day giving away his Christmas candy 60 other little boys in the neighborhoo6
 "Umphi Have no fears SIS to the fu- ture of your youngster He's quite nor nal. The candy he gave my little boy was doctored with something that made him sick all day.u
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29
Prosperifx in Texaa

Despite the poor cotton market, Texas seems to be thriving at this time.' said p. J. Caperton of Washington, D. c.
 I was In San Antonio two weeks ago, and was surprised to find how fast it had been growing. I was there four or i've years ago. It seems to have in- creased vastly since then. I stopped a cay in Houston and a day in Dallas. Houston seems to be having veritable booin''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
OF COURSE NOT.

She stood beneath the mistletoe.
 The right man came along And that is how she chanced to know That he was very strong. He took kiss, and, what is more,
 Bewildered by her charms, He lifted her right eff the floor
 And held her in his arms. You ask me did she angry oeem,
 l say. 'Dldst ever hear Of kittens scorning fresh sweet cream, Or Germans hating beer?''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29

Europe is missing the revenue derived from American travellers, and American travellers are missing the fun they used to have in Europe, particularly in Shat dear Farce made gay expressly for their benefit.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29
AN INVITATION

From the Macon Telegraph.
 Down here in Dixie people read about snow storms in other parts of the coun- try and, but for the cotton situation, would smile.-Birmingham Age-Herald.
 Come on over into Georgia for Christi mas and have . smile. We've never quit over here.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29
NO CONSCIENCE AT ALL.

How docs 1t happen that you are .ns ! liquor again when you promised not % take another drink for six nonths?' asked the aacetio person. Tt was the 1uckiest accident you ever 1 heard off," said the bi5ulous one, enthu- siasticaliy. T met a friend who led me to bar and told me my money was counterfeit
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29
Frightening Outlook for the Railroad.

The favorable decision of the inter- state commerce commission on the petition of the eastern carriers for an advance in freight rates is being widely discussed in its bearings on general business, and there is already . distinct improvement in the metals trade as result of that decision.
 No large business interest has felt . depression growing out of the Flu ropean war more keenly than have the railroads, and it is the recent inn provement in mercantile and industrial fields which inspires confidence that 1915 will be a good year for trans portation lines. With the government regulation of railroad traffic and with the higher ethical standards set by many railroad officials themselves the relation of the carriers to the public is closer and more friendly in every way than it was a few years ago.
 The railroads are great developers and their development work is more thoroughly systematized now thar ever before. They are taking part 1T farm demonstration activities and arc doing a large share in bringing de. sirable settlers into the agriculture sections.
 At the recent annual banquet of the Railway Business association in New York the speeches were felieitous and
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29
EFEEcr OF VARIETY

"Why is it, do you suppose. that +bs course of true love never runs smooth? ?',
 For the same reason, guess, that life is not always a grand sweet song. If we didn't get a few bumps occasionally we wouldn't appreciate a ievel stretch in the road"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
The Warm south

This may not be the sunny south at this particular time of the year. but it is the warm south" said Y. s. Hairston of Buffalo
 All through New York state we are having very cold weather and had heard that 1t was cold down in Alabama, but on arriving in Birmingham I find it warm and drfzzly. We northerners like cold weather at home, but we prefer it soft and open when we strike Dixieland."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29
A Great Hotel Town

Few cities of approximately Bir- mingham's size something like 10000, believe, is the population claimed here-are so well supplied with good hotels as the metropolis of Alabama '' said Henry G. Boynton of Philadelphia.
 T was in Birmingham for the first time 15 or Is years ago. There was only one large hotel then-the Morris. On my second visit, which was only five or six years ago, I heard talk of a great fireproof hotel to cost s1, ,OO0 900. That hotel has been built at a cost, furniture and site included of something like $2000, 900, am told. The Tutwiler is one of the most imposing hotels in this country; and it is not only imposing, but the interior constitutes work of fine art.
 Opposite the Tutwiler is another handsome hotel--the Motion The Hill man is still kept up well, am told. and there are 20 or 25 other hotels, many of them good enough for the average traveller or tourist
 New York Is the only city that is full of magnificent hotels. Philadelphia has only few, and Chicago has only a few. In the south Richmond is an exception to the rule in the number of its costly hotels. It has two that cost over $1,000,000 each-the Jefferson cost nearly s2,O00,OOO; one that cost $b00,00o, and another that cost about s400,o00. Most cities of the 100000 of 25o.000 class are doing well if they have one handsome hostelry run in first class style.
 T am passing through Birmingham on my way to Texas. When I have re- | turned east hope to stop over here fol two or three days"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29

The Phi Delta Theta is a great fra ternity and all Birmingham feels proud that its national convention is being held here. It is a fine body of men and the college spirit will rise high
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29
WORTH THE RISK.

WORTH THE RfsK. "Botts was run over by | l,a,.escnle Ii. mousine yesterday" Hurt rnuche" No. A stunning girl whc was ia the car made the chauffeur pick Botts up and she held his head in her lap all the way to the hospital" Think of a thing like that happening to Botts, who has no souli"
 PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29

Santa Claus is apt to incur the disfavor of certain reformers. He scattered a great many Christmas cigarettes about the country this year.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29
Excellent nusine., pro.pec,.

"It is confidentally believed in New York that 1915 will be a good year in business" said W. s. Wartmann.
 "The prospects for business revival next month are excellent. I heard a prominent wholesale merchant say that he felt sure an era of prosperity would set in next spring which would brea k all records"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29

A Birmingham man holds the record and bought a package for himself at five minutes to twelve on Christmas eve night.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29

BEGINNING THE DAY--I arise in Thy strength, Lord, eat oi bounty, I go forth by Thy leave, 10 labor in Thy fields amid Thy hnr- vests. This air is Thine, and this pIeasing frame of the earth. l reel Thy touch in my heart inclining me- to caII Thy name. Thou encompnssest me altogether. Amen.--H. M. E.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29
MORE UsEFUL.

Some sing the cheerful Christmas tie That goes around the neck, And some the smokers joys, but I Prefer the Christmas check.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29
WON'T DR ANY.

IIe strikes a match and pulls bit And then he strikes another; The Christmas smoke is net a joke. But often quite a bother.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29

London did not go without it's Christi mas pantomimes, although such shows did not receive the undivided attention given them in past years.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29
so TO SPEAK.

MT Twobble has a boil. Mrs TwobDle has a boil and two of the children are similarly afflicted."
 "A series of family gatherings. ah?'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29

Just to show that they were also will ing to do their part, the warning avia- tors exerted themselves even more than usual on Christmas day.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29

As this is the thirty-third biennial ternity every delegate should be en- titled to receive the thirty third de- gree
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29

The mayor of Terre Haute seems to have set an example to machine poli- ticians that even the boldest of them would hesitate to follow.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29
LOVES ILLUSIONS.

"All that am owe to you" he said. "All that I have owe to you" she saic.
 Tho world said he was a failure. The world said she was a trump.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29

his vote complete. Mir Underwood ought,' says the Chicago News, Ito have sung The Star-Spangled Banner and waved the American eagle.' As vocalist MT. Underwood doesn't measure up to Caruso. as waver of flags he Is not in the same class with MT. Hobson, but as patriot he is nine laps ahead of either.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29

The Mexicans are reported to be suf- fering greatly, but we won't have to knit 1 socks for them, at any rate.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29

That's the way they do everything in Rochester"
 Hold on,' said the friend to whom he told this: What made you think it was rural free delivery wagon?"
 What made me think so?' cried the indignant East Clevelander. Why, it had the letters on the side--'R. F. D." The friend laughed loud and long Why, you poor gink." he said; 'K. : !. D. meant Rochester Fire Department! And this is why the East Cleveland man doesn't care to have the story re peated.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29

Italy has demanded an apology iron Turkey and stands a better chance O. getting it than she would S1O,0O0,OO0.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29

German comedians are still popular on the American stage, which shows that our neutrality is being strictly main- mined.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29

Having returned the recent visit paid to
 England by a German fleet, John Bull
 doubtless feels better pleased with him self
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29

Bets are being made that the war vii end by March. We'd be willing to lose bet to have that happen.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29
THE TURKISH IDEA

The Car talks about moujik as ii he were worth about as much as kopeck
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29

President Wilson is 5S years old, but he is still able to hit hard when the oc- casion requires.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29

cleaning and repairs, will make a rcund trip between Chicago and the coast every nine days.
 The railroads asked the expositions to do everything in their power to 1essen the congestlng of the crowds during the months of June, July, August and Sep tember. The expositions responded, first of all, with flood of reading matter in- tended to educate the country up to thes fact that the finest months climatically are not those of the summer period, but the months preceding and succeeding it. Many of the big programme events were scheduled so as to take the pressure away from the summer months At the Panama-Pacific, for instance; where each California county has it's own day, these days were placed in February. March. April and May. The big Pacific coast days were arranged to fall in October and November.
 Advance figuring has gone unhesitat- ingly into the details "The biggest at- tendance at the Panama Pacific on any single day will reach 250000," said MT. Mortensen. When the exhibitor de- mands to know at what hours of the day he may expect the most visitors we are. able to answer him-the answer being based upon the experience of five or six expositions-as follows: Forty-two per cent of the daily attendance will enter the gates between s a. m. and noon; 3o per cent between noon and p. m; 23 per cent between and S:30 D. m. That night crowd will come in for the purpose of viewing the illumination and .:alxing in the shows of the zone, as the exhibit palaces will not be open in the evening"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29
YOU GOT ONE, AT LEAST.

The Christmas books, oh, millions strong, Have swept across the land; The numbers large but can't be wrong They're found oo every hand
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29

The glare of powerful headlights has become a serious menace in this country, where the streets at night and many country roads are traversed by motor cars. There is no situation more paralyz. ing to the traveller of any description than meeting morton car with powerful head lights" declares a city official. "All that Is visible to him is pair of eye scorching white disks set in the midst of impene- trable darkness. Anything that may be oa either side of, or behind those lights, man or beast, is absolutely invisible to hlm- It is not simple matter to find a way out of the difficulty. If low illumi- mating standard were set by law, matters would by no means be improved, for the travellers in the light of the advancing car would not be clearly visible to tine driver and they would be able to distinguish objects on each side of and behind the car no better. A strong light is essential to safe driving. It is quite as important that the sides of the road for 50 or 100 yards ahead should be in clear view as that the center Of the road should be visible. The only practical solution which presents itself is that Of incorporating some form of glare~subduer in the con. struction Of the lamp itself" Efforts have been made in some cities to check the use of headlights with a marked in- crease of safety for people who cross railway and trolley car tracks at night.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29
The Cotton Situation

A prominent New York brokerage
 concern, in reviewing the cotton situa-
 tion last Saturday, said:
 "The week has witnessed the heaviest foreign buying that has been seen since business was resumed on the exchange German orders now predominate, and houses with Bremen connections have accumulated large lines. There is every reason to expect that this buying will continue for sometime to come
 ''It will be recalled that in 1911 when cotton was selling around S1s cents, un- der the weight of a record breaking crop for that year, it was German purchases that first checked the decline. On that buying movement Germany took about 100000 bales. There is no question from recent developments that the German bargain hunter is in the | market again, he is apparently con- fident that whatever the outcome of the | war may be, German industrial enter prise will not he destroyed.
 Aside from this, however, it is noted
 that the stocks of other European cotn
 tries are now the smallest on any cor
 responding date in years. and this added
 to the fact that most of the obstacles
 to exports are removed and that the foreign demand for cotton is growing at time when 1t should be slackening | should before long result in a statistical
 position which, considering the price level. can no longer be construed as
 unfavorable to values. In addition to
 the export development the most i'm portant consideration is the conditions surrounding and leading up to nexi years acreage curtailment. A conven-
 ton of the commissioners of agricul-
 ture of the southern states was recently
 held at Atlanta. J. D. Price. commission
 CT for Georgia. says: I talked with eac., | one of the commi missioners and asked
 them to give me conservative estimates
 regarding reduced acreage. I am in-
 clined to think from what they told me | that the reduction will come nearer to f 50 per cent than 40 per cent, as pre-
 viously estimated. It is not a question I of what the farmers want to do, but
 what they have got to do.'"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29
Ah0ut Pers0ns

George Banta of Menasha, Wis, is in Birmingham. He is an old friend of George Blinn. Mir. Banta is accompanied by his daughter, Miss Eleanor. who is fast winning a reputation in the liter ary field.
 Elam Fisher of Eaton. O., an esteemed member of the bar, and George Wilson Hoke, professor of geography of Miami university, Oxford. O.. are attending the Phi Delta Theta convention.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29
EXPOSITION TRAFFIC

Rufus Steele in January number of Sun set Magazine