davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-15
APPROVING CIVILIZATION

From the New York World
 In exacting another fine of $1,250,00t from Brussels because citizens and police men resisted detective who sought to ar rest the sellers of prohibited Dutch news papers, the German governor-general has shown characteristic contempt for the effect of such step upon world opinion.
 This strain upon the patience of neu- tral nations follows upon the most shock ing destruction of free people known to modern history.
 Out of their abundance the people of the United States have set out to feed the Belgians, whom conquering armies have deprived not only of their stored food but of all the money in the country with which food could be bought, thus leaving them at the point of starvation. Someone must do this, for humanity's sake. The starvation which Germany has brought upon the Belgians she will not relieve her apologists give notice that soldiers must be fed first
 In such appalling circumstances, the ex- ecution of more than s1.00o.c00 from great city for police court offense committed by few persons is like squeezing the last drop of blood from corpse. How is it likely to be viewed in the United States whose good opinion Germany professes tc desire-in the United States which witt splendid and characteristic generosity has yet but half as great as this single wal burden? What can the American peo. pie say except the truth? What can they think except that such conduct affrontf civilization?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-15
THE CURFEw
m the American Boy.

From the American Boy.
 If there is a curfew in your vicinity it is probably signal, imposed by the town
 evening requires small boys to retire with
 in doors, In its beginning the curfew
 served far different purpose, and ap-
 piled to all classes of whatever age In the middle ages, when we first hear of the curfew, the curVw bell was com monly tolled in cities warning to all inha bitants to extinguish or cover up all fires and lights. This was a common practice throughout Europe, and was a
 very necessary precaution against fire. All of the houses were of wood, and the fires were kindled in hole in the floor, with no other vent than another hole in the roof above the hearth. Under such circumstances 1t was all too easy for a fire to start, and wooden buildings and crude fire fighting apparatus offered small check to fire once it was under way. Many histories state that the curfew was introduced into England by William the Conqueror, who in l06S ruled that on the ringing of the curfew bell at D. m. all fires and lights should be immediately extinguished. Students of history have discovered traces of curfew in Eng Hand in much earlier times, and insist that 1t was in use in Oxford in the time of Alfred the Great.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-15
INVADING OCEANS DEPTHS


 In spite of the fact that man began to dive some thousands of centuries be- fore he tried to fly it has been easier and safer of late to go 10000 feet up in the air than 100 feet down in the sea. If truth Is told of a newly invented div ing dress, this ratio will need consider able modifying.
 This Is not the place for minute de- scription of the complicated device. II is not dress properly speaking, at all; 1t is an inclosed metal chamber. with in which the diver works, and from which. by ingenious mechanical arms, he picks up objects on the sea floor and moves them about as he will. It has a telephone in place of the ancient life line.
 Protected by this new sea armor, divers have been lowered to depth of PIP feet, in an open seaway where strong tide was running the while. They stayed some time on the bottom and came up without encountering the slightest difficulty. Il is believed that with the new device oper- ations at 900 feet depth will present fewer difficulties than diving at 100 feet does now.
 If this be true, many an old wreck will be rifled of it's gold and jewels.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-15
DIDN'T GET HIS STRIPES


 One of the men whom General French, in his recent dispatches, specially sin- gled out for praise is Sir David Tender son, commander of the royal flying corps. Under his able leadership, British airmen supplied information to the al- lied armies which helped enormously in the great retreat and also in the subse- ouent great advance If memory serves it was Sir David Hen- derson who not long ago was telling . good story of the old days of volunteer ing when men of rank and position were to be found in the ranks A retired army officer joined one of the volunteer corps as a good example to others. and 1t happened that the assist ant inspector, rather pompous gentle ment. Riding down the lines he noticed a pri- vate with an array of medals on his chest and drawing up his horse he remarked patronisingly:
 Well my good man, so you'se seen some service?" Yes. sir" 'Crimea? Mutiny. eh?' Yes, sir"
 Flaw, did you get your sergeants l stripes?'' l No, sir You were a private on your discharge, were you?'' ] NO. sir" "Well"-rather testily-"what was your | rank when you left the seryice?'' l "A major general. sir {, Coming as near to blush as he had done for years. and utterly confused. the
 pompous assistant inspector rode on.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-15
Visitors Pleased

Tt rejoices me to find visitors enthusi- astic over Birmingham" said W. B. Ev- erett, assistant secretary of the Chamber of Commerce.
 The iron and steel men who were here two weeks ago were unstinted in their ex- pressions of appreciation. All of them spoke of Birminghams hospitality as well as it's industrial potentialities. l have mingled great deal with the members of the Southern Textile association meet ing here, and without exception these gem tlemen were greatly impressed with Bir- mingham.
 This will be more of a convention city than ever. No city in the south sur passes Birmingham in the matter of hotel accommodations and no city of Birming- hams size has so many attractive feat ures."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-15
Dark Days at Harvard

A short press dispatch from Cam bridge, Mass, deemed unworthy of more than a one-line head by busy telegraph editors, contains the an- nouncement that permission to wit ness the Harvard football game at New Haven yesterday was refused to Harvard students who failed to make good marks at the fall exami- nations.
 As a result of this drastic ruling, many students who had made arrange ments to see the game were plunged into despair and changed from pros pective "rooters" to gloomy depend ents on telegraph wires for details of the game. Anybody who recalls the time when he was forbidden to go to the only circus that was due to visit his home town in twelve months, simply because of some minor infrac- tion of parental law, can readily inn agine how the Harvard undergradu- ates felt when they were not per mitted to see the battle against liar yards inveterate foe on the gridiron.
 If the Harvard idea spreads among other colleges and universities there will indeed be much literal wailing and figurative gnashing of teeth. A certain degree of proficiency in their studies is already compulsory on the part of candidates for collegiate ath- letic teams. Is the same strict ruling to apply to the "rooters" and that inn portant functionary of all college games, the yellmaster? Undergradu- ates may we'll be excused for viewing the situation with alarm. There is food for thought in it, to say the least. They are confronted with a serious abridgement of their liberties and their enjoyment of college life. All will agree that the trip a crowd of college students make to a neighbor- ing town for the purpose of seeing a football or baseball game is always one of the red letter events of the col lege year.
 No doubt the Harvard students feel that the university authorities have acted in highly tyrannical manner. Even an outsider will agree that the ruling seems somewhat arbitrary and is the next thing to keeping in" stu dents whose class standing is poor.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-15
THE KAISER AT HOME

From Memories of the Kaiser's Court"
 by Anna Topham. Dodd, Mead & Go.
 The Kaiser's conversation at its best has a certain quality of intoxication-is prov ocative of thought and wit. Men often change for the better or worse. when they retire from the public eye, but the Elm peror is much the same everywhere. At home he inspires much the same charm as he does in public, and sometimes the same irritation. He is a man almost bound to get on the nerves of those who surround him. There is no more alert place in the world than the Kaiser s court <
 He disapproves of people who want to settle down and be comfortable. He likes to keep things moving, has no desire for the humdrum, the usual, the everlasting sameness of things. 4
 He believes he is very astute and can see further than most men. He tends to become just a bit blinded by his own brilliancy, by the versatility of his own powers. He has marvellous memory for facts, but deduces nasty differences. He does not give himself time and oppor- tunity to think things out The Emperor William has a great hor- TOT of every possible kind of infection. especially the ordinary cold I remember nic-stricken flights at an hours notice from measles or chickenpox. His majes- ty no more objects to frightfully over-
 heated building than an American does.
 
 What's the matter with the chairs?' he says sharply. Hard are they?" he
 laughs derisively. "I hope they are Here we live hardily'
 He likes to be identified with success full people of every class The Emperor possesses in an unusual degree what Kipling calls the Common touch" He knows how to talk to poor
 men, working men. without any shadow of patronizing affaibility; an absolutely frank and unreserved interest in their af- l fairs and an obvious desire really to know of the conditions of other people t lives. It is not perfunctory
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-15
The south We'll off

When the European war started the en- tire business world was thrown into a state of confusion.' said George C. Mad dern of Philadelphia, 'but the financial leaders and the big manufacturers and merchants have been cooperating and now the situation is almost normal again.
 The south is much better off today than some of us a month ago ina agined it would be. Cotton will soon be selling for 8 cents, and that price, compared with what was being paid early in Oc- tober, makes difference in favor of the south of considerably more than s1oO.- ooo,oOo; and whatever depression has been felt was only temporary The south is a remarkable productive section, and it is destined to become the richest section of the whole country"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-15
Birmingham College Improvements

The public is aware" said the Rev. l. B. Cumming, financial agent of Birming- ham college, that we are very anxious to begin work on the construction of our new administration building. We do not intend to commence, however, until we have funds on hands sufficient to guaran- tee Its completion without any serious financial embarrassment.
 We need just s26,50O more than we have already collected. We have this amount in past due subscriptions, and under the leadership of Dr. L. c. Branscomb, the presiding elder of the district. there will be collection canvass during the week of November 22-29 We are now organ izing for this canvass and the encourage ment we are meeting all along the line makes me feel good.
 'The Methodists of our city and con ference having announced that they would properly build and endow Birmingham college. realize that their honor is at stake and are determined to do this thing and to do 1t right. So unless there is some extraordinary and now unforeseen hindrance. our friends in Birmingham will see during the year 1915 the beginning of building operations on a plan that will ul- timately mean the erection here of one of the leading educational institutions of the south. We did not get the Southern Meth odist university, but we are going to build great school of our own, nevertheless. Keep your eye on Birmingham college"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-15
The Death of Lord Roberts

Despite his fourscore years and more Lord Roberts had seemed re- gently to be in good health, and his unexpected death last night shocked England, where he was not only revered but loved. By the rank and file of the British army he had long been affectionately termed "Bobs"- Our Bobs." He was a great war rior-one of the greatest commanders of modern times. He had wonder ful capacity for details, a "quick grasp for possible alternatives" and tireless energy. His government had honored him time and again. Many years ago he was raised to the rank of field marshal and in 1900 was created peer. Lord Kitchener had served with him in South Africa as his chief of staff.
 What adds pathos to Lord Roberts death is the fact that he had only a few days ago "gone to the front" to inspect the Indian army mobilized in France. Already idolized by the peo- pie he will be remembered more than ever as hero.
 When Kitchener became secretary of war Lord Roberts was his trusted counsellor. England may well lament the passing awAy of her illustrious and valiant son.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-15

From the New York Sun
 Philadelphia. Snakes are the only true hygienic pets" This was how Prof, Frank G. speck of the Univer- sity of Pennsylvania opened a lecture before a large audience at the west branch of the Y. M. c. A. in West Philadelphia. The opening sentence over, the professor opened one of many boxes on the stage and selected one he called bow snake.
 The snake seemed to be all the pro lessor claimed for it and behaved in the approved manner, The snake seemed to reassure those who had taken places on the stage to have better view of the exhibition which accom- panied the lecture.
 Dogs spread rabies and tetanus, cats carry ringworms. white mice and guinea pigs propa gate the plague" the professor continued.
 By a canvass at a meeting of emi- nent New York physicians lately, snakes and gold fish were voted the only safe and sanitary pets to have around the house."
 As the professor turned to open an- other box he handed the snake to a man on the stage and asked him to hold 1t for a few minutes. The man held the snake for a few seconds and the lecture was temporarily stopped while the few women in the audience stood on chairs and the men went la, O.. l.. sl away. The snake was caught and the lecturer proceeded but he asked nc further assistance from the audience
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-15
Bank Department We'll Administered

That was an interesting and grati- flying report which Examiner of Pub lie Accounts J. T. German made on the books and accounts of Alex E. Walker, state superintendent of banks. Major German has established a repu- tation for thoroughness in his audit ing work, and particularly good feature of his reports is clearness. He sets forth facts succinctly and sums up conclusions or makes special ob- servations as the case may be in few words.
 Major German reports that the total resources of the 389 state and national banks in Alabama are $145, ,112, ,57S. 31 while the capital stock of these insti. tutions totals $23, ,626, ,sS4.76.
 Superintendent Walkers depart ment is economically administered He receives the modest salary oi $3600 year. Under the superintend ent are two expert bank examiners with salaries Of $500 each. A $100t clerk assists Mir Walker in his offic, and the other expenses amount to al most nothing. The revenue for tn, maintenance of the department is de rived entirely from assessments on tn, banks.
 The office of superintendent O banks was created by an act of tn, legislature, approved March ?, 1911 Before that time the banks were unde the supervision of the state treasurer
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-15
Observations on Business

While l was in Chicago the other day l found most branches of busi- Less very active,' said R. W. Ewing. president of the Birmingham Board of Trade. only the bond market seemed to be inactive. but that was expected to improve shortly.
 Western grain Is now moving in large volume. and the best of 1t Is that prices are higher than they have been in long years. Wheat at s1.22 q bushel is to the western farmer about what la-cent cotton would be to the south ern farmer. The westerner makes a profit on wheat at S9 or 90 cents. Whom he can get $1 he makes big money, and it goes without saying that s1.22 en- ables him to accumulate a large sur plus.
 Tn Chicago l met men from all sec tions of the country and virtually all of them predicted a high degree Of prosperity this winter. The advancing price of cotton is sure to help the south wonderfully. Business right here in this district will improve between now and the holidays, and by the first of Jan Idry we should see exceptional ac- tlvity in every direction. Next year promises to be a high record year in the matter of good times
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-15
TO MY MOTHER

Fly Edgar Allen Poe. Because I feel that in the heavens above,
 The angels, whispering to one an-
 other. Can find. among their burning terms
 of love, None so devotional as that of
 ''Mother:" Therefore ty that dear name I long
 have called you You are more than mother unto me. And fill my heart of hearts. whero
 death installed you. In setting my Virginia's spirit free. My mother-my own mother, who died
 early,
 Was but the mother of myself; bu4
 you Are mother to the ono loved so dearly. And thus are dearer than the mother knew By that infinity with which my wife Was dearer to my soul than its own
 soul life
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-15
ECONOMY ON THE pArrLEFIELD


 Rev. Peter MacQueen in Leslie's.
 One of the interesting things about the French in this war is their won- derful economy. An officer one day LOOK me to great military depot to show me the gathered spells from ths battlefield near Rheims. There were heaps of German knapsacks made from sood leather with the hair of the ani- nal on the outside, big shells for the great siege guns. even German un- derwear washed and hung up to dry. But what interested me was a heap of empty German shells from 77-milimeter guns. l asked the captain why they took such care of these empty shells that would not fit French guns. He replied that the brass was very valu- able and would be taken to the foun- dries and recast for the -mlllimetre gun of the French army. In some cases the French got the dead horses of the uhlans, skinned them and ground the meat up for chicken food
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-15
MARCUS WELLS PREDICTIONS
From the Franklin County Times.

To1lI tHe TdHKIIH COuIIy IInntS.
 It Is positively uncanny the way this
 man Well of Birmingham forecasts
 an election. He came within 100 votes on the primary and predicted Hender-
 son would win by the same vote as he actually got. Now comes the most wonderful of all. Two weeks befor 3 the election, Mir. Well made a table of the coming election. showing the repre- scntatives in the next lower house of Congress and by each state His to- tals showed exactly as totals now show after the election. Well. 1t Is exactly that. Really this is ghostly or ghastly
 whichever way you have mind to
 +ake 1t.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-15

The increased number of state banks and the steadily increasing volume of business made it advisable to estab- fish the office of superintendent as an independent department of the state government. The good results have fully justified the action of the law makers.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-15
NED BRACE TALKS ABOUT THE NEW
 FEELING NOW EXlSTANT IN THIS DISTRICT

THE first army corps of the Birming-
 ham Knockers Association has
 been disbanded and the men com posing 1t have taken to their holes and to the trenches.
 The better element wouldn't stand for their talk, and they just naturally went out of existence
 The boosters, or the real practical men. have taken their places and sro in the saddle today.
 The interview of President Farrell of the Steel corporation in last Wednesday s Age-Herald has had a gratifying effect. The fact that he predicts work for the operations of the Tennessee company in this district at much better schedule than now maintained means much for this district.
 We have all observed the better tone in the business situation during the past week. Men are paying their bills with a better spirit and we all find collections better. The cash is coming out of the stockings and hiding places. The business men are helping one another and cooper ating to bring about better general re- suits.
 Indeed, there Is a better all around tone than has existed in sixty days past.
 The fact that the New York cotton ex-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-15
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Effect of Better Cotton Prices

''The steadily advancing cotton mar ket will not only be of very direct benefit to the Birmingham district. but to the entire country" said Felix NJ Drennen.
 When cotton sold around cents a few weeks ago it had struck bot tom It is something like 71z cents today and will probably reach cents the coming week, and S1s of g cents by the end of the year. Other factors in business have been of healthy and helpful sort and I look for a very de- cided improvement in the immediate future. believe that the new year will come with a whirl of prosperity"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-15

MONTHLY MULLYGRUBS A happy man ! Was Samson Blue, Except when bills Were falling due. And then he'd wear So sad a face And up and down His room would pace, And voice so many Loud complaints, To tire the patience Of the saints, One would have thought His whole life long He'd never met
 With aught but wrong. And yet, methinl<s An optimist Worth while is one Who can resist Attacks of gloom And blithely say, Please call around Some other day"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-15

The crown prince of Germany has not accomplished anything in particu- lar, So far as disinterested observers can see. but lie has nevertheless been Flaced in charge of the campaign against the Russians.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-15

Persia begins to fear that she may suffer a fate similar to that of Bel gium. However. Persia Is more ac- customed to being trampled on than Belgium was prior to the beginning of the war in Europe
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-15
A JUST GRIEVANCE

A JUST GRIEVANCE
 Nowadays young people don't have much respect for their elders" said the old d-fashioned man.
 How can that be possible?' asked the debutante, "when their elders, oh- new trots, crowd younger, and better dancers of ballroom floors?"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-15

Roger c. Sullivan is mentioned as q candidate for mayor of Chicago Still, there is a wide gap between being mentioned and being elected, as Roger himself has lately found out.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-15
BEGINNING THE DAy-My Fnth

BEGINNING THE DAY--My Fnth- CT, help me to show my love to Thee this day by simple obedience. May my affection not spend itself in a sentimental outpouring of words. May my devotion he not merely a gush of fond names. I would stand the sterner test of doing Try will. In His name. Amen.-H. M. E.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-15
Full of War Stories

My father and mother were glad to get back to New York after their exci-- ing experiences in Europe after the war started" said Herbert Steiner, son of MT. and Mrs. B. Steiner. "They suffered from mental strain, but will, I believe, soon recover, and have their usual good health.
 My father is full of war stories-some of them humorous, but many of them sad. I went to New York to meet my parents on their return, and Of course we had joyous time together"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-15
A NECESSITY

You seem to have 9 large number Of picturesque characters about here.- said the tourist
 We have to have 'em," answered the proprietor of western hotel flor travellers who come here expecting to find local color All these Indians and cowboys you see are paid by us to loaf about the premises and keep within easy range of kodaks.s
 PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-15

Although a prince was on board the lieyed that he was the brains behind her successful attacks on British ship ping