davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-20
Chamber of Commerce Activities

All the committees of the Birming- ham Chamber of Commerce will have important matters to consider, and Crawford Johnson, the new president, has made good selections in the per sonnel of his committees for the cur rent year. Several of these committees will take up their work actively with in the next few days.
 The farm committee will follow up the crop diversification campaign ac- tivities, to the end that the interest in the movement so enthusiastically and auspiciously begun be maintained. The committee on conventions may not be able to do much in the way of secur- ing national or district gatherings to be held this year, as most of the large bodies have already selected their places of meeting, but with well directed efforts it should be compara- lively easy to secure several good sized conventions for next year. Now is the time to start workifo 1916.
 No committee will have greater op- portunities for achievement perhaps than that entitled the industrial bu- real. It's scope is wide and there will be plenty of work for it to do through out the year. Birmingham has a great variety of industries-large and small. There are hundreds of shops and factories here now, but there is room for many more. As The Age Herald suggested few days ago, the first thing in order is for the indus trial bureau to gather fresh data and publish complete list of the manu- featuring plants which are located in and around Birmingham. That done the bureau will be in a position to "go out after" new industries, and aid prospective manufacturers as far as possible in establishing themselves here. Another helpful thing would be the inauguration of "get-together' campaign with view of developing civic traits which would make for a more rapid upbuilding of Greater Birmingham. The industrial bureau is composed of energetic boosters, and these men can be counted upon to do their level best.
 The Chamber of Commerce has made excellent records in the years past. Its aim should be, and doubtless will be, to make this a record break ing year in advancing the interests of Birmingham.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-20
F. D. in the New York Sun.

F. D. in the New York Sun
 NF the very rich men of the United O States. Norman Ream, who died
 - in New York recently was, think, least known to the general public. This was partly because of his intense mod esty, which made him refrain from put ting himself forward in any way, and partly because ne was at heart through out his life just as he was in it's begin ming; farmer, with all d farmers love of quiet and domestic comfort and with all farmers dislike of the ceremonies and diversions of what is called "so- ciety.' With giants body and giant S heart and brain, he was the plainest, the most democratic, the most aproachable and best natured of men. He loved to plan and carry on great enterprises, but he did so with such simplicity of manner that even those who were closely asso- ciated with him did not realize sometimes how big man he was.
 I do not know of another rich man of the first rank so typically an American as was Norman Ream. Farmers boy, school teacher, photographer when photography was new art, private soldier through most of the civil war, country storekeep- CT, buyer and seller of grain, and finally and for the last half of his life an or ganizer of great corporations, he was at all times 8 plain, shrewd. kindly man., never obtrusive, but always choosing his ground and standing upon it against any odds Homely in manner and speech, he talked acted and lived in the vernacuar of the United States.
 MT. Ream's most striking characteristic was his abundant possession of what is commonly called horse sense, which by no means implies that he was rough or coarse. He spoke in a low voice, used
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-20

Her father tells that she was ex- ceedingly enthusiastic about her gym nastie work at school and was much fonder of relating to him the science of a basketball game or a swimming match than stories of her more academic and intellectual exercises in the class room He says she was telling him one evening how wonderfully the college gym would develop the form of a wom- an and seizing stick she went through a series of motions, telling him that they were intended to give girl beau tiful arms.
 The father states he sat and watched his fond daughter for some few minutes, when an idea suddenly occurred to him. and he remarked
 Why, my daughter, if you had a brush on one end of that stick, you'd be sweeping, wouldn't you?''
 H. D. Cullen, secertary of the Ad club, tells this:
 "A member of the Ad club, discussing an advertising matter with a nonmem- Der, whom he had been trying to induce to join the club, wanted to know if there was any more short sighted policy than for one to hide his light under U bushel.
 "The other replied that he thought it was very short sighted for one to hide his. bushel under light.
 Whats that? Oh, yes, they elinched.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-20
LUKE M'LUKE SAYS

From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
 A 10-year-old boy who is a member of big family, and whose mother has to skimp to make the food go around, al- ways has an idea that a millionaire's s wife is woman who never cuts pie into less than four pieces.
 The longer you live the more you grow to believe that the brotherhood of man and the Diplodocus are in the same class. There ain't no such animals.
 Quit yelping about your hard lot in life. It Is good bet that what is dumped into your garbage can every day is more food than some poor devils can scrape up for their families.
 There was a time when father and mother passed on the suitability of a young man for their daughter. But daugh- ter does her own selecting nowadays. What do father and mother know about tangoing and fox trotting?
 After girl has been married for about four months she is greatly surprised to learn that the words love and obey are contained in the marriage service.
 In some families some of the battles are caused by the fact that friend wife won't quit kissing Fido long enough to let friend husband sip little honey. And the rest of the battles are caused by the fact that friend husband wants friend wife to wipe Fido's kisses off her lips be- fore she kisses him.
 A girl who has a complexion that looks like last summers straw hat can be ter ribly scared that some brutal man Is go- ing to f0rcibly kiss her every time she goes down town.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-20

to extricate Sir John from St. Quen- tin. The French themselves in the retreat to the Marne were severely handled number of times.
 Yet with all these seeming successes but one-thirtieth of France is in Ger man hands after the greatest out pouring of blood and money in the his- tory of the world. True, they have overrun Belgium, country of seven million inhabitants. But for this vic tory as well as others they paid heavily. The respect, sympathy and trust of the civilized world is an enormous price for temporary posses sion of the cockpit of Europe.
 On the sea German successes have been as barren as on land. Their most conspicuous achievement has been in the employment of the submarine. It has availed only to tighten the moose around their neck with the proclama- tion of the absolute blockade by Great Britain and France. And if the com paratively lax blockade caused Ger many to whimper at the pressure, what will the absolute blockade do?
 Admiral Craddock was defeated and his ships sunk, but within two months Von Spec had paid two for one.
 So it has been throughout the war. The sum total of German success is great, but when the results are they are infinitesimal in with the price paid.
 And the great price that Germany is to pay remains to be ascertained and
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-20
The Birmingham Bond Issue

If those citizens who say they have not vet informed themselves on Bir- mingham's financial condition and have not given consideration to the proposed bond issue of $1 1,250,000 for the city's temporary relief are open minded it should not take them long to decide to vote for the issue.
 It can hardly be that the number of voters ignorant of the situation IS large. The newspapers have published all the official and semi-offlcial re- ports bearing on the city's condition.
 The only means of relief possible at this time is that recommended unanimously by the committee of 10O-a $1, ,25O,0O0 bond issue. It is the only means which would readily sug- gest itself to practical business man.
 The city's floating debt is bearing a large interest rate and the interest IS compounding. The bonds will bear only per cent interest and will run for 30 years. The debt which it is proposed to fund is now very pressing and if the bond issue should fail Bir- mingham would soon be forced into bankruptcy. But such a calamity will be averted for the people will vote right.
 After the measures for the city's permanent relief, now pending in the legislature, are adopted it will be only short time when our municipal af- fairs will be in as good shape as those of other growing and ambitious com munities.
 Every citizen should feel pride in Birmingham-a city destined to be the first in the south to reach the 1,000,- 900 population class. He should put his shoulder to the wheel and strive to promote the city's welfare.
 The majority for the bond issue should be overwhelming. A bare ma jority would suffice, but it should be almost unanimous. The moral effect of such vote would be far-reaching for | good
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-20
NEWSPAPER CLUB STORIES


 A number of newspaper men were dis cussing a local celebrity of reputed riches whose methods of acquiring his wealth were said to be somewhat shady. One of them stated that he was a bad egg" but nobody seemed to think so as long as he had money.
 That's natural' broke in B. 1T. Mooney. bad eggs as a rule are all right until they are broke.y
 As man who is observant and who keeps in close touch with new ideas I am interested in the references to feminine fashions" said E. R. Norman, the Ledger's star political reporter.
 Did you notice a Garden of Eden illustration in recent number of Puck, and the accompanying verses? Atten- tion was called to the fact that the earliest woman did not have to dress up until she had eaten an apple, the point being that an abundance of clothes resulted from so insignificant circumstance as partalxing of an apple Then 1t is pointed out that in modern times the pendulum has swung back and the pertinent question Is asked, Isn't it about time for someone to pass the ap ples again?"
 A certain young and, very attractive girl was at home from college for the holidays month or two ago." relates Clarence Lloyd.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-20
NORMAN REAM A GREAT MAN

gentle gestures, and showed himself man of the widest reading. His business foresight and ability to analyze a finan- cial proposition or situation were such as almost to imply the possession of st species of prescience, except that it was very plain that Mir. Ream's abilities were in no sense matter of intuition They came to a slow reasoning out and bal ancing and pros and cons, and it seemed when he was through discussing a propo- sition IS if the conclusion that he ar rived at would be what every one else would arrive at if they would only take the pains to go over the matter care fully. It was an event in any ones life to hear Norman Ream talk for an hour about the business future of the next to go back to the days of the civil war. and to trace the development of prevail ing business conditions from those days. Step by. step and with the utmost de- liberation he followed business up to it's existing status. and then, without def- nitely predicting the future, he left it plain to his listener what his view of the fu- ture was. He could be pessimistic as well as optimistic, and events proved in nine cases out of 10 that his judgment was right For the last quarter of century of his life Mir. Ream's chief function was that of a general counsellor on the boards of corporate institutions that were so fortunate as to be able to secure his ad- vice. Throughout the administration of President Benjamin Harrison he was virtually silent member of the cabinet. It is interesting to know right at this time that it was his firm belief that our country was now on the eve of pe- riod of prosperity never before surpassed
 In Norman Ream d great as well as rich American has passed away.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-20
To Issue Industrial Report

The census bureau is now collecting statistical information from the manu- lecturers and mining companies throughout the country for the pur- pose of compiling quinquennial re- port on American industries.
 In 1910, when the last population census was taken, special agents were sent out by the bureau to enumerate the industrial plants and gather such data as would prove of practical value. This workWas we'll done-better done than in any previous census-but as the statistics of five years ago are now somewhat antiquated, the forth coming report will be awaited with much interest.
 It is not the intention of the gov ernment to make now plant-to-plant canvass. Such census activities in- volve an enormous expense. But it it understood that limited amount of field work will be undertaken, while the rest of the industrial information desired will be obtained through cor respondence with manufacturers and mine operators.
 In view of the industrial depression which prevailed last year and is still prevailing in some branches of indus try, showing made for 1914 would not be along prosperity lines. But as period of five years is to be em- braced in the report and as only con solidated figures are to be presented the exhibit should look we'll compared with the statistics published for 1910 Prosperity was the rule in 1911 and 1912. The census bureau will be able therefore, to report an encouraging average of industrial progress within the five years.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-20
Barren Victories

The feelings of General Von Hin denburg must be akin to those of the mythical old woman who attempted to sweep back the tides of the sea with a broom. His efforts to defin- itely hurl back the Russians have met with about the same success.
 There is something common to Ger man operations since the beginning of the war; although the Teutons have won some of the greatest victories of history, according to German accounts, these successes have been quite bar ren of permanent results.
 Take, for instance, the battle of the Mazprian lakes where General Rem nenkhmpf met disaster unparalleled in the history of war, according to Berlin, losing over 100000 in killed, wounded and missing. In a month Grand Duke Nicholas was again ham, mering with thunderous strokes at the gates of the domain of the Old Man of the Lakes. Again, in the east, recall the second great victory by which the Russian Tenth army was annihilated. In less than fortnight East Prussian soil once more felt the hand of the invader.
 In the other theatre of operations the British were soundly whipped at Charleroi, almost cut to pieces at Mons and it required all the masterly strategy of the French generalissimo
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-20
I WENT DOWN INTO MY HEART

From Fannie Stearns Davis Crack O
 Dawn" (Macmillan) went down into my heart It was hollow
 and cold and deep. There were statues standing apart in
 folded icicle sleep. There was beauty beneath their veils,
 wild beauty and terror, too; But they were asleep, asleep, and knew
 not my passing thought l. went down into my heart. to the altar
 the God built there. The lamp burned low to it's death; the
 altar was dusty and bare; And the face of the God was blurred, and
 the gold of his fringes dead. went thither to kneel and pray, but my
 prayers were slow 10 be said. I came up out of my heart to the traffic
 and toll of the day. had been but the wink of an eye. the
 tick of a clock, away. But knew that should not dare go
 back to my heart once more Till the statues walked with cry and the
 God afeamed out from the dooni
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-20
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Signs of Returning Prosperity

Tn our line of business there has been little Improvement, but I think it will be better soon,' said Capt E. J. Dunn of Dunn & Lallande, the we'll known contractors. There has been a very marked improvement in the industrial districts and business in general is bet ter than it was a month ago.
 ''There is without doubt more opti- mistic feeling in the business world. and I see signs of returning prosperity all along the line." , -.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-20

The Birmingham bond issue proposition will receive a decisive majority at the polls on April F, but the affirmative vote should be virtually unanimous. Let those who are now inclined to vote mo" re- member that defeat of the bond issue would mean practically the dissolution of the public schools. a reduction of the police force to corporal's guard, and a reduction of the fire department to such an extent that there would be no such thing as fire insurance But when voting day comes the people will vote right and save the city from a calamity that would hurt everybody
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-20
A GERMAN SOLDIERS STORY

Fritz Arno Wagner in Leslie's
 "one day we were lying on the ground from a. m. until<4 D. m., waiting for the French to attack us. Only about S0O feet separated our trenches from theirs. Shortly after o'clock the whistle of our captain shrilled through the air. As soon as they heard the whistle 0hey knew our commands) they came out of their trenches and charged us. 'En avant,' [ heard their officers cry. With our bayo- nets we made a counter charge The first French fell those behind retired. Others in the second formation were lying on the ground picking us off with their rifles Many of us fell. lost my best friends that day, but we advanced. There was no going back. When they saw us coming too close with our bayonets those in the second formation stood up and threw their guns away. After having killed many of us they wanted their own lives spared. We made 165 prisoners, and cap tured three machine guns, which fney had. for what reason I cannot tell, not used. Of the 25 men I had under my command, eight were left, myself includ- ed, but the battle was won. We occupied the French trenches until the next morn- ing
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-20
JOURNALISTIC REFORM IN WICHITA

From the New York Tribune.
 The Honorable "vic" Murdock is about to show his almost native Wichita how to run newspaper. Twelve years ago he projected his red-headed personality into the serene social climate of the na- tional capital and observed and inhaled and now, having absorbed cosmopolitan ism into his innner being. he intends in- troducing certain revolutionary changes in the timeworn policy of "The Wichita Daily Eagle"
 be "sane and adjectiveless society page" Mrs. Wilberforce Dustin-R Rocks (alias Mrs. Will D. Rocks, wife of the properly esteemed druggist and banker) will henceforth be no longer beautiful and charming-in print. She will not be be comingly' gowned, and her dinner party will cease to be delightful" All refer ences to flowers will be omitted.
 The Honorable "Vic'' should be com plimented. In this simple proposal he has demonstrated his complete emancipation from the kindly provincialism of the corn belt where the church sociable still attracts the "elite,, where the bride re- mains sweet" "girlish," and lovely" the yong man ''popular,'
 And every goose a swan, lad.
 And every lass a queen.
 'T get tired of reading those fluffy society notes in the newspapers" MT Murdock has announced. Granted. But will the folks back home appreciate this enlightment of their neighbor? Will they share this weariness cultivated in a school they have never attended? The Honorable "Vic' had better beware lest Wichita. suddenly stripped of her ac- customed social garments, turn on her favorite son.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-20

The latest periodical 10 make it's an- pearance in New York is the Immigrants in America Review. No. 1 of volume l contains 96 pages and is well printed and neatly bound. The motto of this publica- tion is "America-one people, one nation" Among the directors are ex-United States John Mitchell, and S. Davies Warfield
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-20
Redistrictinr the stnte

The legislature has before it the ques- ton of redistricting the state" said Earle Pcttus, but I do not believe it will be done
 Every congressman now holding will object to any changes in his bailiwick. The politicians long affiliated will oppose being forced to seek realignments. As 1t is the congressman from the state at large will claim the constituency of senator as he is elected in the same manner and by the same statewide vote. and this or any question of representative influence should per se give him a rank over the other nine members of the House
 II believe the legislature could make a separate taxing district of Birmingham. other counties if they must, but I doubt If they can agree upon a redistricting map, all things being considered
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-20
Each present joy or sorrow seems the
 chief. -shakespenre's Poems.
BEGINNING THE DAY

BEGINNING THE DAY - My Father, give me eyes Tor me changing hues of life. snow me the marvel of shifting scenes--the procession of day and night, the pageant of the seasons, and all the varying voices, forms and coiors or tbis world. Thrill me as I walk in my own living along the wondrous, lighted reaches of all life. Amen.- H. M. E.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-20

Vice presidents have little opportunity to shine, but the Hon. Thomas R. Mar shall as the official representative of President Wilson at the Panama-Pac exposition will be much in the spot light Tor time. He is an orator of more than ordinary talent, and when he has a. chance to speak he usually says something start ling
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-20

whats to become of the Porte? asks an editorial writer. We'll, here in Alabama it's going out with the rest when prohibi- tion becomes the law.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-20

Tom c. Rye, governor of Tennessee, re- ports say went a-courting astride a calf. Alas, for romance, such an act under the Bonner bull bill might be a prison offense in Alabama today.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-20

strikes terror to the chicken hearted There is also class of criminals which is sent into exile and sentenced to beN for certain period of time in a prov ince long distance from their native places. This does away with the neces- sity of the governments feeding the criminal and puts him out upon public charity.
 Of very different class are the men who have a pitiful tale of starvation to tell, which, they bewail, compels them to sell their wives or sons. Few, indeed, would think of making a purchase of this nature, aAd the story almost in variably results in the bestowal of money on the unfortunate" man. How ever, if he finds some one who is will ing to make the bargain and take the child, he is inwardly delighted, for this means full bag for him when he finally hauls in his net. The son goes with the new master and proves himself an un- usually satisfactory lad. doing his work with his whole heart in 1t, and thereby gaining his masters approval and en- tire confidence as he had plannedH In due time the dutiful son slips the latch and secure all the goods possible, and together father and son leave with all the plunder they can possibly carry.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-20

Even in the celebration yesterday of his fifty-fifth birthday, the wires report William Jennings using nothing stronger than grape juice
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-20

Maybe China forsaw troube with Japan when she invited Teddy to pay her a visit
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-20

A Montgomery court has declared un- constitutional bill drafted by I,eeisIa- tor Bonner, author of the "bull bilI.'' It might seem MT. Bonner is a bull ar- tist
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-20

Werner Horn is the name of the Ger man who blew up a Canadian bridge Some blow even for a German horn.