davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-18
More Women Marry

Ida M. Tarbell, who has written comprehensively of Standard Oil, Big Business" and other abstruse matters beyond the grasp of the average citi- zen. contributes an article to the Jan nary Woman's Home Companion, Tn xvb;ch she refutes the statement made by platform orators that "less than half of the 45,000,000 women in the country marry" Miss Tarbell bases her conclusions on figures taken from the thirteenth census.
 If we consider the sex as a whole" says Miss Tarbell, referring to the claim that large percentage of wom- en in the United States do not marry, "regardless of age, this is true. We have in the United States now 44,639,- 989 females including all from year and under to 100 years and over Fifty-two and seven-tenths per cent of these-babes maids and women are single, that is, literally, less than one-half of the sex are married But drop out those not yet of marriageable age, and you have different story. There will, of course, be a difference of opinion about what is marriageable age; but let us call it nineteen or over. If we settle on that we must drop at once from our estimate something over twenty millions of the sex. It puts a different complexion at once on the marriage percentage. As fact, TO per cent of those who are IS years or more old marry; and if you raise the age to 20, 8OA per cent marry; to 25, S6.7 per cent marry"
 Miss Tarbell therefore infers that women marry more freely than they did in 1900 or in 1890. Her conclusions are interesting, since they seem to in- dicate that the rapid spread of SC many progressive ideas, generally grouped under the head of "femin- ism," have not had the expected eff feet on the old fashioned custom oi falling in love and getting married Although a great hue and cry is be ing made for the emancipation ol woman from real or fancied thralldon and large numbers of the sex are nov successful in business or professiona life, home building continues to bt the ambition of majority of womer in the United States.
 This is encouraging, for nothing can ever quite take the place of home The most profound feminists can sug gest no worthy substitute.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-18
Russians in Retreat? ?

Again the situation in Galicia is the center of the interest in the war. Vienna reports that the Russians are in full retreat all along the line after suffering crushing defeat.
 Just how much reliance may be placed in this report is problematical in view of the inaccuracy of previous Austrian reports which, with the ex- ception of the defeat in Servia, have uniformly claimed victories long after the world knew that defeat had been met.
 The Austrian announcement is given countenance in a measure by the Rus sian statement that it had been found necessary to retire to more favorable situations, but that any such sweep ing victory as is reported has been won is doubtful. Berlin evidently ac- cepted the announcement at it's face value as a general holiday has been declared in the German capital in order to give the school children an opportunity to celebrate.
 England is now busily engaged in locking the door after the horse has been stolen and is making elaborate preparations to guard against further German raids. The attitude of the English government toward the bom- bardment of the coast towns is typical of it's stand throughout the war and does not provoke admiration.
 Since the beginning of hostilities England has kept up ceaseless accusa- tions against the Germans that they were violating the rules of warfare, few of which have ever been proved to the satisfaction of the nonpartisan world. Such actions become weari- some and the claims of the English are particularly tiring in the present case, so slight is the foundation. As matter of fact, England's com- plaint against Germany is that she is not playing the game of war accord ing to rule, but is displaying a daring and resource particularly galling tc the Briton. s-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-18

From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
 At dinner of over 800 Pennsylvanians Representative Hobson perhaps had a right to expect that the policy for lavish expenditures for war preparedness would be received with enthusiasm Their state is the home of the big armor plate manu- facturers. On the Delaware have been built many of the big battleships of the navy. Pennsylvania is state where busi- ness and politics have been thoroughly blended, and where the opinion prevails that 1t is the fixed duty of the govern ment to give first consideration to con tractors and captains of industry. That so representative a company of Pennsyl- vanians should show itself indifferent to the Inducements held out in Representa- tive Hobson's plea for big armaments must have been surprising revelation to him. Obviously they were not dazzled by the prospect of big fleets and enormous appropriations, and they took the oppor- tunity to prove that their hearts are in the right place.
 If agitators of the Hobson type will take the trouble to feel out popular sentiment they will discover soon or late that Amer jeans are not In love with military dis. play and are not in a chronic state of alarm over invasion by hostile powers.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-18
New Year Prosperlty.

"In October many of the leading lusi- ness men of the country said that busi- ness conditions would improve as the end of the year drew on and that fore cast has been in a measure fulfilled, said J. l.. Larriman of Philadelphia.
 While there is still much depression in some of tn eindustrial fields, there has been decided improvement within the past four or five weeks. General trade has been fairly active. and in the west there has been a great deal of prosperity.
 'The consensus of opinion is that by the middle of January all branches of business will be active, and that by spring this country will be on a great boom. The south will then forget all about low price cotton, for this section will prosper along with the rest of the country. As for Birmingham, 1t ought to have the greatest boom in all it's history. for there will be an immense demand for iron and steel products
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-18
Earnest Peace Work

The Church Peace union, composed of representatives of the various de- nominations in America, is organizing for great educational campaign next year.
 The cynically disposed now ridicule movements for the cultivation of peace sentiments among the different peo- ples of the earth. With jest they point to The Hague tribunal and the peace palace erected by MT. Carnegie at great cost. What did all the work to check militarism and to avert the war now raging in Europe amount to |? These are questions that the pessi- mists and skept1cs ask; that the public in general asks. But fortunate it is that there are enough brave hearted men in the world to press forward in any peaceful cause in the face of ad- verse conditions and of biting criti- eism.
 The lovers of peace and those who look upon war between enlightened na- tions as Christian and unjustifiable are not daunted by the present bloody conflict. On the contrary they are more determined than ever to carry on with vigor peace propaganda that
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-18
NEW STEPS FOR CAPITOL

From Popular Mechanics. @E
 Weathered and worn by more than 80 years of serpice the wide stone steps lead ing to the east entrance of the capitol at Washington are to be replaced. The wear on the steps caused by hundreds of thousands of persons climbing them, has been so great that they have become not only unsightly, but also dangerous in their present clipped and0pattered condi- tion.
 It is at the bottom of this flight of steps that the President takes the oath os office every four years. When they were set in place in 1880. the Senate and House wings had not yet been erected. and the old wooden dome was still part of the structure. For beginning the present improvement Congress appropriated So0, 900, but it is expected that at least $75, ,000 aditional will be necessary to complete it.
 It Is interesting to note that when { e District of Columbia was originally. laid out, it was the belief that the ultimate growth would be to the southeast. It was because of this that the main entrance of the capitol was made to face the east. Contrary to plans, however the growth took an opposite direction, and years ago necessitated the construction of the west entrance to the capitol, which since that time has been the one chiefly used.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-18
ALABAMA SANCTUMS

Anniston Star: Running behind at the rate of about 5000 day, Birmingham will have to hurry if she ever expects to catch up with attractive Anniston.
 Selma Journal. Solicitor Black of Jeffer- son county says he will cite the mayor of Flat Creek to appear before his court for contempt. Flat Creek seems to have be- come bit too wet.
 Alabama Courier: Senator Luke Lea of Tennessee has declared for woman suf- frage Luke wants to keep in good stand ing with the women. Senator Shielus of the same state declares himself unal- terably opposed to the women voting. Luke has to stand for election next year. Shields does not.
 Montgomery Advertiser: A Mobile mer- chant offers reduction of 10 per cent on all goods purchased before 10 o'clock in the mornings. This Is done to relieve the congestion around the counters later in the day-a situation which at>this sea- son is trying both upon the customer and the saleslady. In short, 1t Is another one of those much needed shop-early movements.
 Mobile Item: Gentlemen of the road' are very much in evidence just now in all the southern cities. Mobile. like the others. has had large number of these inherent callers and many housewives have had the shivers through the persis- tence of the gentry in their demands f,r present time, holds the record for q sin gle day, account of 501 applicants at the rescue mission and police stations, be- ing made in report for Sunday and Sun day night.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-18
THE DROWNED SAILOR

Maurice Hewlett in the London Chronicle. Last night saw my true love stand All shadowy by my bed. & He had my locket in his hand,
 1 knew that he was dead. Sweetheart. why stand you there so fast, Why stand you there SO grave?" 'T think" said ha, "this hours the last That ; ou and I shall have. sYou gace me this from your fair breast Us never left me yet; But now it dares not seek the neA- Because it 10 so wet. 2 eThe cold gray sea has covered. it,
 Deep in the sand 1t lies. While over me the long weeds fiit
 And veil my staring eyes. And there are German sailors laid
 Beside me :, the deep. We have no need of gun or blade.
 United In our sleep. "CoId is the bed that I lie on.
 And desp beneath the swell. No voice is left to make my moan
 Or bid my love farewell." Now I am widow that was wife
 Would God that they could prove What law thqutd yules without the. stt1c6
 That's robbed me of my love-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-18
LUKE AI'LUKE SAYS
From the Cincinnati Enuufrer

r rom the Clncinnatl Enquirer.
 woman never answers a telephone ring until she takes time to wonder who
 1t Is that Is calling.
 girl is very dear to a fellow when
 he proposes to her. But not half as dear
 as she Is about five years later.
 Before marriage a man will take 15
 seconds to write 8 sweet nothing in a
 love letter, and after marriage it will
 take him 15 years to explain what he
 wrote.
 The reason why a girl makes such a
 big fuss when fellow tries to kiss her Is because she Is afraid he might quit trying before he got the kiss. A man never realizes how lonely his wife's married life must have been until he loses her and he has to stay home ar night alone as a mark of respect to her memory. Every man has two brands of phil osophy--one for himself and one for the other fellow. The honeymoon is over long before the rousseau begins to look shabby Women are not the only humans who lack sense of humor. For instance, there are the men who write the books of the musical comedies we attend in this country
 Sometimes a man will complain that tnlS IS a COlu, cold WOTl0 Just because he married a woman who makes it hot for him.
 Anyway, you never see a man who is drawing big salary for what he thinks he knows.
 Father will akhounce that nobody but a ding busted fool will argue with & woman, and then he and mother will argue for a half hour. A man always goes 50-50 with his wife on his losses But he makes ir
 9o-10 when he shares his profits with l her.
 | Sometimes girl gets a reputation l of being a prude when all that 10 the matter with her is the fact that she
 kndsvs her complexion would kiss of. YoS can get too much of anything.
 shdA salesman gets awfully tired of seeing femfnipe ankles. An old fashioned stomachache win
 make man qult worrying about the crime of '7s. tha canotity of the con- stitution, the Mq'hros doctrine and the robber trusts.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-18
WHEN THE TIDE CAME IN

IT I oiu tHc 4SdtioHdl MOHtuly.
 Congressman Henry D. Clayton of Alabama on many occasions delights his friends with humorous tales of his personal experiences and otherwise Here is one he told recently:
 "A Confederate reunion was in prog ress in Savannah and among those in attendance were two Kentuckyians who by the way of variety, strolled around, finally visiting the shores and viewed the Atlantic ocean for the first time.
 Say. pard,' one of them remarked, what ought I carry home to the chill dren for a souvenirT
 "'Why, cap'n. it pears to me that some of this here ocean water would be right interestin''
 "'Just the thing exclaimed the cap tain, delightedly. From an inner pocket he produced a flask, and, with the as- sistance of his friend. soon emptied 1t. Then. carefully treading his way down to the water's edge, he proceeded to fill it to the neck and replaced the cork.
 Hi, therev yelled the other. from his position on the hank. Don't do that! Pour out about a third of that water. If you don't when the tide rises shell sure busty"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-18
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
A Mining Town Pastoratc

T have small but earnest congre- sation at Marvel said the Rev. J. s. Bridges, pastor of the Presbyterian church, '. s. A, but formerly an &C., tive worker in the Y M. c. A. and Cumberland Presbyterian church in Birmingham.
 "As everyone knows the coal trade has been extremely dull for sometime past and many of the mines through Alabama are operating only three days in the week. It Is that way with the mines at Marvel. But we are grateful for three-day week. It gives employ ment to men and keeps their families from suffering. Yes, I like my mining town work"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-18
OUR PITIFUL MERCHANT MARINE

w. E. Aughfnbaugh In Leslie 8.
 With the exception of irregular tramp steamship service there is no direct con- nection with the western part of the United States but Japan. realizing the op- portunities for trade. maintains an excel- lent line between the orient Honolulu, Mexico, Peru and Chile. touching at all the small Intermediary ports, and has de- veloped an extensive reciprocal business with these lands. Both Chile and Peru have national lines with a terminus at Panama, the ships rendering a weekly service. Germany and England maintain direct passenger ships each week, with the entire coaSt, coming from the Atlantic through Smyth channel. while numberless tramp steamers and smart sailing ves- sells servo to carry cargoes. From New York there are several sailings each month of tramp ships. but they have practically no passenger accommodations.
 These countries need direct steamship service between them and our chief ports; dirsct banking connections with our prin- cipal trade eenters, and should be brought in direct touch with our commercial and manufacturing institutions.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-18
LITTLE WOODEN SHOES

From the Amsterdam Handelsblad
 As l trampled for hours among the refugees from Antwerp. one thing im- pressed itself strongly upon my memory the noise of so many little wooden shoes, the children's shoes, that click-clicked on the cobblestones in the characteristic short run of frightened people. My memory holds whole collection of noises, but none quite so pathetic as the quick 'toi- tok-tok' of these hordes of children trying desperately with their tired little legs to keep up with father and mother
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-18
THE LORD NEEDS HELP tha Natfnnal Monthlv.

riou tHc NdtiOu8t NaoutHAys
 A certain preacher. in one of the south- ern states, was preaching away one Sun day night when a fire alarm broke the attentive stiffness of the sanctuary.
 "Sit still!' he cried to his disturbed con- gregation. If there is fire the Lord will take care of His own. and not let anything happen that shouldn't"
 Just then two children, who had stepped outside, shrieked:
 ''Oh. it's the parsonage! It's the par- sonage!'
 Without word of farewell that preach- CT made wild bound from the pulpit and struck out for his burning residence.
 'They Is times. 1t seems" said lean member of the congregation. when tn Lord needs he'p.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-18
Selling Red Cross Stamps

The ladies selling Red Cross stamps in stores and lobbies and upon the streets are doing good business" said business man. "It is very we'll that they remind people of this great char ity which seeks to check the white plague Everyone. is so busy with Christmas shopping that in the rush of the days that are rapidly nearing the great holiday some would forget to lend hand and buy the stamps
 notice that the signs of Christi mas are already appearing in decora- tions in stores and other places By Monday the tide will be full and strong and by Thursday night everyone will be ready to say: Let old Santa Claus come in; we are ready for his gifts and for the joy that goes world wide with thern'"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-18
BEGINNING THE DAY-Help me,

BEGINNING THE DAY-Heip me- n Lord. fo desire the things I pray
 for. May the prayer he born m my
 soul and speak itself unhindered nt the lips. While my mouth tells my petition grant that my heart he mt silent. May my whole life be ut- tered in my prayer. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be one. Amen.-H. m' r''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-18

In these latter days Colonel Roosevelt shows disinclination to talk which amazes friend and foe alike.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-18

The more a newspaper man reads about life in the trenches the more comfort he discovers in a hall bedroom.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-18

General Villa Is making a great effort to settle matters with General Carranza once and for all, but that doesn't mean the early pacification of Mexico.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-18

In the opinion of John Bull that Zep- pelin raid Is now even less remote than it was before the coast of England was bombarded by the Germans.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-18
ARDdoUs LISTENING.

ARDuoUs LISTENING. Grand opera in English has been found as hard to understand as it is in foreign language" sr ''stiil. I prefer to hear it sung in a foreign tongue.'
 why so?" azffH s$ zs Tt requires less exertion on my part When I hear grand opera sung in Eng fish I am constantly leaning forward and trying to catch word"
 ACcELERATING THE JUMP. Tt seems quite the fad nowadays for players to jump from organized base bali to the Federal league"
 ''Yes.4 It appears that a fat contract makes a fine springboard." JOHN BULLS RATTLED. What do. you think of those German cruisers bombarding the coast of Eng land?"
 "Oh, think it was a daring feat, but England hasn't been able to think con secutively since. it happened" 8
 THE FIRST STEP.
 ''Doppef will never get his Christmas shopping done" f
 Why .not?' W He hasn't even given the principal shop windows the once over.''
 NOT IMPROBABLE. q can say this for Dabworth He's white through and through
 Don't you exaggerate trifie ?'' What do you mean?"
 Before coming here Dabworth lived for many years in Pittsburg and I'm sure his lungs are black PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-18

The fact that the Belgians have received more baby clothes than they need is a fine compliment to the Belgian stork.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-18

Turkey has not so far been able to de- liver anything like a solar plexus blow in the European war.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-18

Whats become of the movement to dc away with the usherette in theatres?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-18

When those German cruisers bombarded England the wheat market almost threw a fit.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-18

Villa says he is unfit to be President of Mexico. Is this a modest patriot speaking or an exceptionally smooth politician?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-18

timorous woman living in a Chicago suburb hid her money in piano, but burglars found it. It's hard to keep any thing hidden from a Chicago burglar.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-18

Don't throw away the old fly swatter Cold weather won't last forever and twill be useful again.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-18

MT Brisbane with his appendix out will doubtless be more militant than ever
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-18

The real Christmas pipe" is being able to send checks for presents and escape the arduous duty of seeing how far you
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-18
COLD CREEPING TO HoBsoN

It is now up to MT. Edison to prove tha he Is wizard.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-18
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
LONGEVITY RULES.

LONGEVITY RULES. Just now and then ft We can't resist The pleadings. of
 A scientist
 Who tells us what 4f We ought to do If we would live
 To ninety-two. M We mediate
 His sage advice And often read
 It over twice, And maybe for A day or so Conform to it.
 He seems to know So much about
 The subject and His arguments
 We understand. But soon, alas,
 We fall from grace And go back to
 The same old pace And break health laws
 Just as before, Since keeping them
 Is such bore And if the truth
 We're bound to tell, We get along
 About as well.
 SOMETHING LACKING. Pa. what is a song without words?'' 'sI don't know exactly, son. but to the average low-brow a song without words is about as unsatisfactory as a philan- thropist without money"
 INCONSISTENT. However fair the world may be, You can't escape the fellow Who wears look of misery And shows streak of yellow.
 Birmingham Age-Heraid. However sweet the world may be, Wherever you may go You'll always run square up against Some sore and stepped-on toe
 Memphis Commercial-Appeal.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-18
Lexislative Caucu.e. Suggestive

The assembling of members of the legislature here in Birmingham. fer caucusing suggests that ultimately the capitol will be moved to this city.' said a man conversant with public affairs.
 "It may not come for few years, but the moving cycle of time and the mutations of affairs of a political and civic nature make possible many things not for the time being appearing even remotely possible. e4 7
 By and by we shall write new constitution for this state and then the demands of modern conditions will bring many changes. We will have counties smaller in sizd, with more of them, and centers of Influence created thereby.
 "It would be happy coincidence to have new state fcharter on the one hundredth annivdrsary of the states birth, 1919, if i've do not soon- CT write one. There are so many things calling for q new constitution it is doubtful if we should postpone 1t to the time named ' saEi < < ss5. <