davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-03
GIN THE DEEp COUNTRyv

Arthur c. Benson, in the February Num-
 Der of the North American Review.
 I wish I could find words to say how love al. this space and quiet and country charm. Even so the world has lived in these low uplands, perhaps for 1000 years. There was more wood and waste. no land has borne crops and fruit, has been tiled and replenshed for centuries. The churches are very old, the houses are old; indeed in a field that I passed there was unearthed, not long ago, the great country grange of Roman settler, with its refectory, its little cloistered court, It's baths and chambers and storehouses. And it may all last on, hardly changing, for another 1000 years, or longer still.
 I love this land, not for any special beauty that 1t has. though 1t is filled with beauty for my eyes. but just because it speaks of all these quiet secrets to me. and because it is familiar and dear. When I die I do not expect to revisit 1t. But shall carry away the love that l have learned here and all the wonder of it safe in hy heart; and if my spirit comes back to live in the world 1t will surely find other scenes other fields. and woods, and skies to love as well. I claim no permanence of recollection-I do not think I even desire it. Indeed, hardly know what mean when say that love the land of my birth. I think I mean that I love something in it and behind it, of which sloping pasture, and reed fringed brook. and gnarled tree are vis- ible smybols. I am sure that there is something there which can be loved. and which, perhaps, loves me in turn. I only know I have a sense of trust and good will and serenity in 1t all as my eyes. idly straying, recover the well-known sishts-the little grove. the low tiled farmhouse with its stained orange plaster. the manor with its solid chimney-stacks, the high-roofed barn, the wide plaln. seen through the folded slopes. They are all shere. just as and where expect them.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-03
Industrial Census Year

Few departmental bureaus or divi- sions of the government are so inn portant to the business world or are so efficiently conducted as the census bureau.
 It used to be that the census work was limited to the enumeration and classification of population and the gathering of such statistics as related to the wealth of the nation and cer- tain industries. The bureau was a center of activity in the census taking year and year or two later. It was then virtually closed until the next decade rolled round.
 But as the value of statistical in formation became more appreciated and as the bearing of census bureau reports on various mercantile and in dustrial persuits became more appar- ent there was demand for continuous activities.
 During the last few decades very important features of the bureaus service to the public have been the quinquennial statistical reports on agriculture and manufacturing opera tions.. This is the year when such reports will be forthcoming, and mer- chants, manufacturers and financiers who apply scientific methods to every day business are awaiting these re- ports with keen interest.
 There is now a vacancy in the di- rectorship of the census bureau caused by President Wilson's selection of William J. Harris for a place on the federal trade commission. MT. Harris, an esteemed Georgian and at one time secretary to Gen. Joe Wheeler, has made an excellent record as head of the bureau. Large admin istrative capacity is required and he possesses it in high degree
 The census directorship is of es- pecial importance at this "quinquen" period, and the Wall Street Journal, after referring to MT. Harris excep- tional ability, suggests that President Wilson "could do worse than promote some faithful and competent under official to this post, if even in the ca pacity of acting director"
 The suggestion is good, and it may be that the President will act upon it.. He could easily hold the political ap- pointment in abeyance for few months at least.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-03
"lnsidiOus Absinthe"

Attempts have been made in France to check the consumption of absinthe among the French people, who are notoriously addicted to it. When war was declared absinthe was put under ban, a rather substantial recogni- tion by the French government of the evils resulting from its use. People who consider the demon rum" all that the name implies doubtless put ab- sinthe on a par with prussic acid, or some other equally deadly poison, be- cause absinthe, even to the initiate, is more potent than whisky or even varieties of rum, a name given by prohibitionists of the old fashioned sort to all alcoholic liquors except beer. As matter of fact, few per sons in this country drink rum and many people have never seen bottle of it.
 But absinthe doubtless deserves all the reformers say about it and may well be called "insidious." The best ab- sinthe contains from 70 to 80 per cent of alcohol, which accounts, of course, for its ravages on the human system. Whisky contains from 45 to 60 per cent of alcohol. It can readily be seen that in potency absinthe is consid- erably above whisky
 The characteristic flavoring matter of absinthe is derived from various species of wormwood. Angelica root, sweet flag, dittany leaves, star-anise fruit, fennel and hyssop are some of the substances generally used in it's manufacture. The well known green color of the liquer is imparted by maceration with green leaves of
 wormwood, hyssop and mint. Cheaper varieties are made by means of es- sences, the distillation process being omitted. There are two varieties o1
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-03
Easy to Get Boolks

"The cheapest things on the market today" said a buyer of books, are books. A poor man can buy the volumes of the authors he loves for very little money and on any terms that he de- sires.
 And money invested in books is well invested. An education can be put away on a bookshelf for mere song. And then should time come when money must be had, a book or 8 set of books can easily be disposed of for cash.
 1T am so poor that the wolf is ever at my doorstep. But when get in my library surrounded by all the students of all the ages. forget poverty and all the horried things 1t stands for. At that, a book agent is very much of a nuisance despite the fact that he. like the winter, cannot buy as precious stuff as that which he sells"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-03
REVISING "UNCLE TOM.
s Washington Post.

From the Washington Post.
 When an Atlanta society issues pro- test against the production of Uncle Toms Cabin" in that city, there is no lack of ability in any quarter to under stand, if not to sympathize. But the moment the movement goes forward to the point of remodeling the plot. changing the morals and manners of the characters, giving to Simon Legree the halo hitherto reserved for Little Eva, the problem takes on peculiar and grotesque features s.s, ...a .@.s. s .5
 On general grounds the presentation of this somewhat tattered classic in a southern metropolis may yet be pro- why these should go beyond the terms of mild annoyance is not so readily grasped Bad as it Is, misrepresenta- tive and filled with pathos as plot and characters are, its persistence can hardly serve to bring back the memo ries of an unhappy period any more fully than some of the Rev. Thomas Dixons plays, founded on the same general theme and containing situa- t1OnS that Kept the minor dclOrS nov ing before the star for fear some over zealous member of the audience might take a pot shot at him.
 Fifty years and more have passed since Uncle Toms Cabin" was writ ten During the intervening period Lit tie Eva has died and gone to heaven an untold number of times. with the customary accessories of red lights and slow music, while the bloodhounds bayed disconsolately in the background. The main effect on the world, largely occupied with other matters, has been best described in the dramatic write-up of "Kin" Hubbard--the one that gave him his first look-in on fame: "'Uncle Toms Cabin was played at the opery house last night; the dogs was good. but the support was rotten!"
 All things considered, the war being over, we think that Atlanta will re- cover. If not, let Uncle Tom be elimi- mated. But revise him-never
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-03
Sheen Raising and Dogs

oHccp hdlotHB anu DOSS
 In this crop diversification move- ment, which has proved so popular in Alabama and which is sure to bring good results, much attention has been given to hog raising and cattle rais- ing, but the value of sheep raising has not been as much stressed as might have been expected.
 In several north Alabama counties are farmers who have had decided success with sheep culture, but this branch of husbandry should be much more general than it is. In order, however, for Alabama or any other southern state to become prominent in the sheep and wool industry there must be stringent dog laws and such laws must be enforced.
 The Richmond Times-Dispatch, in a recent editorial, expressed sense of serious loss to Virginia in the decline of her sheep farming. It recalls the time when great flocks were seen on a thousand hills, but now wool and mutton are negligible quantities in the Old Dominion. The Times-Dis- patch accounts for the present ab- sence of sheep to the increase in the number of dogs running at large. According to that paper Virginia is the worst dog-ridden state in the union. It may beat Alabama in that respect, but the CUTS and "houn' dogs" that infest many counties of this state are two numerous to be estimated.
 Every manly boy and every we'll ordered man admires and in time be- comes attached to a well-bred dog. Every true sportsman loves a good bird dog and would quickly risk his life in it's defense. Many dogs are of priceless vale. They are real beauties, both as companions and as protectors. But the worthless and vicious dogs make up a total far out numbering the dogs of the noble or useful sort. If three-fourths of the dogs in Alabama were to eat poisoned food over night the prospects for sheep raising at any rate would un- doubtedly improve.
 A proposition to lay heavy tax a prohibitive tax-on CUTS always en- counters fierce opposition. III in formed persons may have an idea that most CUTS are without masters or own CTS who care for them. No matter how much neglected the cur may be at home, let anyone threaten a war of extermination and trouble comes.
 But sheep raising is too profitable a business to suffer from inattention. regardless of the dog question.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-03
The Foreign Grain Demand

'Those dealers who were not satisfied with the extremely high quotations that have prevailed in the wheat market lately and who were awaiting further war developments in the hope that prices would soar even higher on ac- count of the length of the war, cer- tainly received a sudden jolt when Great Britain declared an embargo on everything going to Germany" said a Birmingham man.
 "Wheat prices received knockout from which in my opinion recovery will be very slow, if. indeed, there is any recovery at all in the wheat and flour market. The embargo act, taken togeth- CT with the rapid progress which the allied fleet is making in forcing it's passage up the Dardanelles will, l be- lieye, soon affect the retail flour mar ket in all parts of the United States, and the laboring man will be relieved of a great burden. Russia, as is gen. orally known by dealers, is the greatest grain producing country in the old world. and its granaries are said to be overf1owing. As soon as ships are free to come and go from the Black sea ports people of the allied nations will have no trouble in securing plentiful supplies from this source; and any ef- forts madeNto reach German and Aus trian ports with American supplies will prove a most hazardous risk"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-03
WAR ECHOES

The New Republic: Japan is now reap ing where she has sown for 20 years. One | after another, alone or by cleverly avain- ing herself of the increasing opposition to German expansion. she has removed the various obstacles in the path or eHipiie. China was driven from Korea and south- ern Manchuria by the Chino-Japanese war.
 Russis's S attempt to contest Japan's infiu- ence in these regions was defeated at Mukden 10 years later. The Chinese en- deavor to re-establish sovereignty In the three eastern provinces by creating a foreign investment in I.-anchuria, and the naturalization of Manchurian rail- roads, was successfully blocked.
 When France and England sacrificed the balance of power in China in order to consolidate their position for the in- evitable clash with Germany in Europe, and the United States withdrew from the "six- power'' financial combination. Japan was confronted at Pekfng only by German and possible Russian opposition. The Kaiser has been expelled from Asia, and the Czar has fixed his eyes on Constanti- nople. Tn these 20 years Japan has fought
 three wars. She is prepared to fight an- other. The victim Is helpless China may
 look to us for aid but we will not inter- vene on her behalf. Nor will England, France or Russia turn upon their ally.
 For the present, then, Japan is fully se- cured.
 New York World: During the first
 week of the German war-zone operations, eight British vessels, ranging from the
 Downshire of 337 tons to the Harpalion of
 5S67 tons, were destroyed by mines or torpedoes. One small French steamer
 was torpedoed by German submarine
 but reached port in tow.
 In the same period six neutral ships
 were sunk or damaged by'mines or torpe-
 does. Of four Norwegian ships lost, two
 struck mines outside the war zone. one
 was sunk In the channel and the fourth,
 after being torpedoed, was beached on
 the English coast. Two American ves-
 sells, bound for Bremen with cotton, were sunk by German mines in the North sea.
 The total losses to British shipping
 through the German war-zone operations amounted to Il, ,750 tons, not including two
 small coasting steamers, tonnage not given. Measured in tonnage, this is about
 the equivalent of the St. Paul or St.
 Louis of the American line; in money value it is less
 There are about 95O0 British vessels, of nearly il, 100000 tons, engaged in the home and foreign trade. The Germans have destroyed less than 12,000 tons, or about
 one-tenth of 1 per cent. in the first seven days of their blockade of British com- merce. At thfsN rate they are likely to gain no great military advantage. They have made war indiscriminately upon un- armed ships of commerce, enemy and neu- tral, and are as far from their goal as ever,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-03
THE HEN
. rch sr,. If s.t

Lord Dunsany, in March Smart Set.
 All along the farmyard gables the swal- lows sat arrow; twittering uneasily to one another. telling of many things. but think ing only of summer and the south. for autumn was, afoot and the north wind waiting.
 And suddenly one day they were all quite gone And everyone spoke of the swallows and the south.
 T think I shall go south myself next year. said a hen.
 And the year wore on and the swallows came again. and the year wore on and
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-03
Need for Excise Commission.

Governor Henderson is to be commend ed for his determination to withhold his signature from that bill which was cal culated to abolish the excise commission of Jefferson county and permit all others within the state to remain intact until the operation of the prohibition laws, July l." said visiting member of the legislature.
 When the bill was originally drawn, it provided for the abolition of all commits sions in the state, the argument in sup port of the bill being that the duty of the commissions for the current year was to all practical purposes. discharged by the conclusion of January. In that shape the measure passed the house.
 "In the senate, however, it encountered serious opposition. Montgomery made a bitter and brilliant fight in that it's com mission might be excepted from the meas ure's provisions and won its fight. Mobile followed suit and won its fight. Jefferson, therefore, was left alone to suffer chiefly because Senator Judge did not make an effort to preserve the local commission.
 "The bill, as amended by the senate and ultimately concurred in by the house, was obviously unfair. If it was wise to abolish one commission it would have been wise to abolish them all And it naturally follows that if it was the part of wisdom to permit any one to escape the provision of the bill 1t would have been the part of wisdom to have permitted them all to escape
 Governor Henderson, in addition to the foregoing, considered the bill unsound in view of the fact that without the con- missions blind tigers in anticipation of the operation of the prohibition laws, would begin now to spring into being"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-03

absinthe, the Swiss and the French. The latter contains higher percent age of alcohol Storage is said to im- prove the beverage.
 The Paris boulevardier considers ab- sinthe an admirable appetizer, but ex- cessive indulgence in the habit soon proves disastrous.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-03

thought of fear or favor. They dis
 eliminate between the good and the
 bad. the reasonable and the unreal
 sonable. These writers are having
 a marked influence. They are more
 popular than ever before for the
 public is quite disposed to be fair
 and impartial; and the number is
 increasing.
 The general attitude of the great
 newspapers of today is fair and
 just. They influence and are in
 fiuenced by the general public. They
 reflect the general sentiment. This
 is most important in considering
 the future welfare of this country.
 Judge Gary concluded his remarks with a plea for proper treatment to al people. 'We must conduct affairs ir our charge with the expectation that we will be criticised,' said he. "We must square our conduct with prin- ciples we believe to be right and just to all concerned"
 All monopolistic trusts having been curbed, and whatever benefit to the country was to be derived from "the findings" having been enjoyed, "big business" and corporate enterprise, industrial, financial, social, or elemosenary, should be entitled to a good, long rest.
 When the war is ended prosperity will return to America. And business recovery will be all the speedier if the habit of indiscriminate criticism be got rid of flor good and all"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-03
CRYSTAL PALACE
From the Lond,

From the London Chronicle.
 The Crystal Palace, which Is to be closed in order to provide quarters for 1000 recruits. Is not without other con nections with the war. Had there been no Krupps. there might have been no war. and the palace helped to make the great gun firm famous. Ths Krupp es- tablishment as Essen was quite a small affair until two-ton ingot of cast steel shown by the contemplating Alfred krupp at the great exhibitoin of 1851 attracted shoals of orders, and led on to almost dubious prosperity.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-03
Better have a bad epitaph than their i'll report while you live.
 Hamlet.
pucrNNrNc THE DAy-o great
Hamlet,

God. engage my mind l pray Thee with the great things today. De- liver me from the low and unworthy by occupying me with the high and splendid. May the things that are lovely invite, compel and enlarge my though hts. Make me unwilling to use the majestic temples of my tmngina- ti0n as dwelling places for uncienn animals. For ChriTts sake. Amen H. M. ID.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-03
A LOVE sONC

By Robert Burns. O, my luve's like a red. red rose
 That's newly, sprung in June; O, my luves6 like the melodie
 That's sweetly played in tune. As fair thou art. my bonnie lass.
 So deep in luve am |: And Will iuve thee still, my dear.
 Till a the seas gang dry. Tin q the seas gang dry. my dear.
 And the rocks melt vi the sun: I will luve thee still. my dear
 While the sands of life shan run And fare-thee-weel, my only luve!
 And fare-thee-weel a while! And will come again, my luve.
 Though 1t were ten thousand ID
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-03
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Certain Changes. Hard to Make

teFtHiM Onhn&e8 6ar0 10 uake
 1.-Two years from Thursday will be presidential inauguration day. and if the weather be at all springlike no one will suggest that the date be changed to the last of April. but if 1t be blizzardly there will be the usual clamor for a new in- aLguration schedule" remarked an old citizen
 During many years past there have been frequent agitations for changing tho Inauguration date to April 30, but the whole matter was too indifferently re- garded by the public to be pushed in Con- gross.
 Another duestion--a more important qlestion-has been up for consideration more than once in my day, to-wit, malS- ing the presidential term six years and making the President ineligible for a sec ond term. When Judge Henry D. Clayton was in Congress he introduced bill to submit a constitutional amendment pro- viding for 8, six-year term, with the sec ond term ineligibility clause. It was a popular measure and it looked as if 1t would pass. But it came to naught.
 Thomas Jefferson insisted on con- stitutional provision preventing a Presi- dent from succeeding himself. He was great believer in the one-term proposi- ton, even If that term were seven or eight years.
 But we have had it as it Is so long, that change will probably never be trade. It is hard to change old customs. ''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-03

rustling heard all through the fair southland is not the south wind. although the south wind is rustllng too It is the sound of people doffing their winter un- dcfwear in strict privacy
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-03

Now that the city commissioners have voluntarily reduced their salaries 5000 4 year, the clerk whose salary has been cut from $17.50 a week to s15 can feel that he's in good company
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-03

Why doesn't somebody make the swap pers' column still more popular bv ofrer- ing to trade a fake reformer for a good citizen who minds his own .siness and lets other people mind theirs2
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-03

An Englishman writes to The Age-Her aid that drink ruins everything" Gen. eral Villa and other distinguished prohi-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-03
EsPECIALLY HERr OF LATE

From the Houston Post.
 It was 1SS years ago that George Wash ington was born. He was true southern gentleman, possessed quite 8 collection of human frailties and noble reputation for telling the truth. In the IA years that have elapsed since his death, however, the art of lying has made notable prog ress.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-03

The Arizona house of representatives has rescinded an antismoke resolution .e- sI'te the protest of a woman member Those sapient solons evidenly think tha. woman's place is in the home
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-03

What Premier AsQuith meant was that what England will do to Germany will be a plenty. although he expressed himself in more elegant language
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-03

The Elizabeth is such powerful battle ship there is no possibility of her ever
 being fiippantly referred to as the Liz zie'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-03

What eastern newspapers and magazines publish about afflicted Alabama isn't going to embarrass any of our state solons. Their hides are too thick for that
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-03

The wife of Chicago railroad official who went to Louisville to see the under world, overlooked opportunities offered by her home town.