davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-20

Harding's Analysis of Cotton Situation
 Not only have cotton producers, but business men as well, been keenly in- terested in w. P. G. Harding's article on the cotton situation which ap- peared in Sundays Age-Herald. Mr. Harding has been a close student of agricultural and economic conditions and has long been recognized as an authority on every question relating to cotton. His crop estimates, there fore, have been accepted as of almost equal value to the government re- ports; and being member of the federal reserve board his views are widely sought on all matters pertain ing to finance and the south's great staple.
 MT. Harding. in analysing the sit uation, points out that while cotton, unlike grain, is "a commodity, the market value of which depreciates in time of war;" and that while the south as producer of cotton has suffered, the statistical position of this product is stronger than it was year ago; "so much stronger and financial and other conditions so much more fa- vorable that there can be no doubt that if the south will keep cool and will refrain from doing things that will merely weaken it's own position, the present nervousness regarding the market for the growing crop will soon disappear. He further remarks that "even in the face of all the adverse conditions during the past twelve months, the average price of cotton has been about what might have been expected from 17QOO, ,OO0-bale crop had there been no war" He says there is every reason to believe that the average price of cotton during the next twelve months will be higher.
 He concludes his discussion of the situation by suggesting that southern bankers and all men interested in southern trade cooperate in secur- ing for the cotton producer the bene- fit of this average price, That, MT. Harding thinks, is the real question: At at rate he makes it plain that in his judgment the cotton south will pull through in good shape.
 This entire section hopes that MT. Harding's prediction will prove cor rect. With cotton prices maintained and the pig iron and steel trade in- creasing in activity the south should witness high degree of prosperity throughout the remainder of the year.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-20

Prepaid postage is less than a century old. It was originated by Rowland Hill of Kiddermnster. England. who was knighted in 1860 for his services. It is related that while Mir Hill was still quite young man he was making a walking tour through the English lake country, and while passing the door of a small cottage he saw a postman deliver letter to a woman and overheard her say. as she returned it. that she didn't have the money to pay the postage. MT. Hill had seen the anxious way In which the wom- an looked at the envelope and his sym pathy was aroused. In spite of her pro- tests he paid the shilling required. When the postman had gone the woman broke the seal and showed him why she did not want him to pay. The sheet of paper in the envelope was blank. The woman had arranged with her brother that as long as all was well with him he should send her blank sheet in that way once every quarter and she thus had tidings from him without paying postage The incident set Mir. Hill to thinking, and after making investigation he declared that it would be possible to establish a penny post throughout the United Kingdom. He met with Encouragement at first. but his plan was popular with the people and Parla- ment finally granted an inquiry. The re- suit was a report in favor of the scheme. Penny postage went into effect January 10, 1s40. In 1s46 a public testimonial of $65,000 was given to MT. Hill and other honors were showered upon him.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-20
IN TROUBLE AGAIN

From the Louisville -Courier-Journal
 First 1t was the dock laborers, then workers in the munitions factories and now 1t is the miners in South Wales that are making trouble for the British govern ment. It has been the fashioq Tn thls country to damn the English labore,4s out of-hand for want of patriotism at time when their country Is engaged in a life and-death struggle. Much of the criticism is merited; in almost every instance the assertion of the laborers Is lldefensible. But this is not the whole case for Great Britain's difficulties Any impartial dis tribution of the blame for the unhappy sit uation must hold the government itself accountable for a deal of blind meddlng. The crisis precipitated by the dock lahof- CTS was solved only by the assertive ac- tion of Lord Kitchener, who took the mat the government to act. The munitions situation Is finally on the way to inn provement, but only after year of costly bundering brought to an end by Lloyd Georges courage in pushing on in the face of the most formidable opposition to the only solution possible. Now the coal supply of the navy Is threatened by a strike which has been foreshadowed for weeks and which, on the face of it, might have been forestalled. It Is difficult to withhold condemnation from the miners for precpitating such situation just al this time. Their grievance-however real it may be-cannot excuse the fact of their pressing It, in the circumstances. As a matter of fact the miners themselves ad- init that what they want represents but a negligible advance over what they are now getting. The greater, then, their fault. Nevertheless in the final view, the government must bear the maJor blame. The coal supply situation was muddled
 in the beginning, when the necessary pro- duction was impaired by the recruiting of 50000 miners in the South Wales dis trict. This sort of stumbling over ones own feet tries the patience of sympa- thetic observers. Quite possibly the appli- cation of the munitions supply act to this latest embarrassment may solve the diff ficulty. But in all reason the thing ehould have been attended to before it reached any such serious proportions as have now developed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-20
Art in America

Cornelia B. Sage, director of the Albright art gallery, Buffalo, N. r., predicts that the present war in Flu rope will be followed by a new art which will make the twentieth cen tury notable and will have it's incep- tion chiefly in America. It is no longer customary to regard the works of American artists as inferior to foreign masterpieces and there is unquestion- ably an artistic awakening that ex- tends throughout the entire country. The esthetic side of the American peo- pie is being cultivated in variety of ways. There is no community too small or too remote for some form of artistic endeavor
 Heretofore we have been so en- grossed in the business of making money that scant attention has been paid to the finer things of life. The more settled, more highly cultured na- tions of Europe. have sneered at our rampant commercialism and our lack of artistic appreciation, but America is now the richest country on the globe and the possession of great wealth makes it possible to encourage art on a liberal scale. Not only are the moneyed classes stimulating the artistic life of the country, but there is a notable striving after esthet- icism among all sorts and conditions of people.
 It is not generally known how suc- cessful American artists have been abroad. They have won distinction in other lands which is denied them here, but the American collector has at last been forced to recognize na- tive talent. The American school of landscape and marine painters have achieved lasting fame and are said, in fact, to lead the world If the twen- tieth century is to witness a renais- sance of art, though it may not be confined to America, there will be no lack of appreciation on the part of Americans who realize what art has done for Europe.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-20
From the Philadelphia Record.

From the Philadelphia Record.
 A WELL KNOWN authority has "A pointed out that ''the master eye \ in sport is trait possessed by most athletes, ball players runners and equipment of billiard players.
 In the physiology of sport the eyes, the brain and the voluntary muscles are the three most important factors toward sue. cess. the eye being the most important of all. Every sportsman who depends upon his vision to measure distance or the accuracy of some flying object before him has what Is called the master eye" that is to say he depends upon one of his eyes to do the minute calculation. It may be the right or the left, for men are differently constructed, and they vary in their methods accordingly. To prove the existence of the master eye one has but to watch the doings of baseball players, the golfers and the tennis players.
 For example every tine the baseball pitcher tres to put the sphere over the plate' he invariably turns sideways and can only see the batter with one eye as he sends the ball away; the golfer on the green, as he .'addresses' the ball before he makes the drive. has his eye on the next hole, and as he stands sideways is measuring the distance between the greens with his master eye'' The same side movement Is noticeable among the tennis players, for as the server stands at the base line and throws the hall iu the air for a good sma shng service he turns sideways as he swings the racquet, all the time the master eye'' having measured the fault" line of the court. Similar conditions apply to track and field sports and to the men who take part in them.
 Pole vaulters. high and broad Jumpers, all do the chief part of their work with the eye, and 1t is a notable fact that men jump never measure their stride to the take-off, but trust to their eye. It is a fact also, that they never take bad breaks in this respect. Every man. whether or not he might be a sportsman has master eye" and It needs but a simple experiment to find out which eye it is.
 Any one desirous of finding out can take sheet of note paper and in the cen- ter cut hole about an inch in diameter, placing the piece cut ont on the floor Then with both eyes open the sheet of paper should be held about an arm's s length away with the piece on the floor visible through the hole. One eye-the left should be closed, and if the piece of white paper is still visible through the hole the right eye is the master eye" :" Some very interesting points are revealed by this experiment. When the paper Is held in position with the eyes open that which Is the master will be found to be in a straight line with the hole In the paper, the other eye being to one side of line which joins the hole and the .b- ject.
 Another method of finding the master eye has l0hg been known to gun makers. Whsu thsy want to- and out they. get .
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-20
SOUTH AMERICANS As READERS

From the Christian Science Monitor | That South America possesses a litera- ture distinctive and important. that the nations to the south have newspapers which compare,in every way with the best published elsewhere, that the people as whole read much and are well in- formed are matters which are becoming known more generally as intercourse with these countries is increasing. To those who have visited such cities as Rio de Jareiro Buenos Aires and Santiago, and who have entered wholeheartedly into the every day, affairs of the. southern neighbors, it has been borne home that in point of cul- ture the Spanish-speaking people. as well as those of Brazil. are keeping pace with the world at large. True. the immensity of the southern republics, and the sparse ness of population in most of them are factors responsible for a considera ble amount of illiteracy still existing there. But in the cities education is at a high water mark, and even newspapers reflect this condition. The best of the South American newspapers differ from those in the United States in that they feature literature as part and parcel of daily Journalism. The leading editors in fact are also among the most popular writers of books Statesmen who may have weighty things to say to the daily press may have In the same issue of one or the other papers a short story or part of a continued novel. The European corre- spondence of these papers before the war was of a quality that stamped it as liter ature. and the correspondents abroad were frequently those who, whether in Paris, London. Lisbon, Madrid. Berlin. Rome or other capitals, held high rank in the profession.
 Since the outbreak in Europe the South American newspapers have changed con- siderably in their makeup. One who picks up copy of the Jornal do Commer- cio. La Nacion, Fl Mercurio-respective of Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires and San tiago-may read war news about similar to what is found in newspapers in North America. However, this change may be but temporary, for South Americans want literature matters, or such news as lends itself to artistic treatment It is, of course, to be remembered that many of the best continental writers are now at the front and their output has been curtaiIed in consequence.
 There has been seen in recent months turning. to the United States for material for the newspapers of South America. Just as the trade propaganda is bringing re- suits. so also in the domain of arts and letters the ties between. the big republic this side the Rio Grande and those below are being strengthened.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-20
THE BRAVE AT HOMn

By Thomas Buchanan Read The maid who binds her warriors' sash With smile that well her pain dissem.
 bles.
 The while beneath her dnpoping lash One starry teardrop hangs and trembleo. Though Heaven alone records the tear. And Fame shall never know her story, Her heart has shed drop as dear
 As eer bedewed the field of glory. The wife who girds her husbands sword. Mid little ones who weep or wonder, And bravely speaks the cheering word, What though her heart be rent asunder. Doomed nightly in her dreams to hear The bolts of death around him rattle. Hath shed as sacred blood a e'er
 Was poured upon the field of bnts.o! The mother who conceals her grief
 While to her breast her son she presses, Then breathes few brave words snd
 brief.
 Kissing the patriot brow sho blesses. With no one but her secret God To know the pain that weighs upon ho3' eheds holy blood .as e'er the cod
 Received on Freedep'a dsad of honos.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-20
LANGUAGE GROWTH
From the Youngstown Telegram.

From the Youngstown Telegram.
 Every invention adds new words to the English language. It would perhaps be wrong to say that every invention adds wealth to the language as some of the ad- ditions to the tongue we speak are too atrocious to be classed as assets. Within less than score of years new and strange expressions have come into use because new and strange devices have become part of our daily life and we found ourselves curiously unable to describe them at all or able to describe them only with cum bersome and hyphenated expressions. The automobile and the airship made neces- sary the borrowing of words from neigh bor languages or caused us to go back to roots and invent new ones. The mo- ton picture is even more incessant in its demands. The barbarous term of movie we may discard, but apparently we must accept ''photodramatics," Camera wise" [" ."screened," filmed. and numerous other words that are expressive if not wholly correct Photographers and savants may not avail against the demand for short cuts to English
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-20
A Book for the Farmer

The Year Book of the United States department of agriculture. recently issued, is of great educative value and should be in the hands of every farmer in this country.
 When the agricultural department was created in 1889 and it's chief added to the Presidents cabinet, prac- tical results were expected, but ex- pectations have been more than full filled. At first the activities of this new adjunct of the administration were limited for the most part to entomology, soil analysis and the col lection of statistics. But the scope of the department gradually broadened and today this branch of the govern ment has come to be recognized as of incalculable benefit to the class it was intended to serve. The department $ farm demonstration work has been worth millions upon millions of dol lars to the farmers and through it's bulletins, issued from time to time, it has conducted a far-reaching educa- tional campaign.
 This years Year Book of over 700 pages is neatly bound and is well Illustrated. While many thousands of copies have been distributed the num- Der should reach into the millions Numerous phases of farm life and agricultural economy are treated in- terestingly by specialists, and the last annual report of Secretary D. F. Hous- ton, which covers the first 60 pages of the book, is in itself compendium that would make the publication well worth while for any farmers library.
 Among the subjects discussed by
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-20
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Predict. Brisk Coal Trade

The coal business is still quiet but expect to see it very brisk in the next three months." said James Bonnyman, the well-known mine operator.
 In times of depression the coal trade usually is about three months in slow Ing down and when industrial prosperity returns 1t is, as a rule, a few months late in responding. There is certainly good deal of prosperity in the country now. It is being felt here in Birming ham and in time coal will catch up with the other industries. The future looks biight'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-20
COURTsHIP AND "sNooPERsv

From the St. Louis Globe-Democrat
 If, then, courtship is a right. an in- alienable one. in this land, why should it be prohibited in the parks, if it is con- ducteo within the boundaries of ordinary propriety? And why should young people be subjected to the prying inquisition of 'snoopers,'' collective or individual. pri- vate or official? Why should they be spied upon as suspected criminals, be- cause of the propinquity that is an &C., compartment of all courtships. indoors or out, chaperoned or free? The park police man should be competent to, take care of the palpable breaches of decorum, and even they should temper justice with dis erection. and have hearts in sympathy with Cupid.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-20
THRIFTY BILL

From the Providence Journal.
 MT. Bryan wants $500 and a guarantee of an attendancse of 60.oOo. to be the orator of the day on the occasion of peace pageant under the auspices of the St. Louis Neutrality league. The committee of arrangements is understood to be balk- ing at the terms. but whether they hesi- tate to part with the money, or are afraid to listen to thrifty Bill. is not disclosed. that 5OOOO people could not be induced
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-20
A Real Boom

Business Is now booming in most sec- tions of the country" said J. V. Shirley of Boston ''In the east. wherever the steel industry is established mills are operating at a great clip, and in New England the cotton spinners are thriv- ing greatly. In the middle west and the west generally prosperity is in full swing.
 Six months ago, when I was in Bir- mingham business seemed quite dull. but it ic very different now. This Is a busy c;ty"/
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-20
Local Business Barometer

There has been decided improvement in business in the retail district" said George McCleery, manager of the Kress store. At least, it is so in my branch of trade, and that is an excellent barome- ter
 During the past three weeks our sales have been increasing right along and Monday started out with rush. I am confident that improvement will continue It looks as if period of good times had set in"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-20
FIFTY DOLLARS LOST
7rom the Andalusia Standard

We were little surprised the other day to find $50 on the road beside the hedge at the corner of a prominent farmers s house. and more so to find that 1t had lain for several weeks unmolested and was beginning to look much the worse for exposure. The money was in the shape of corn planter, which will have to be replaced by a new one before another season. unless cared for better. If we had the money that is lost every year by neglect of farm machinery we would not be running a newspaper.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-20
THE STUMBLING BLOCK.

Alack, alas for true love, For old love and for new love And couples everywhere who're blithly
 weddingl Says she. These bills are due, love" Says he, "They're far from few, love-" And then the bitter tears she falls to shedding. Methings the course of true love. Methinks the course of true love, Would smoother be and oftentimes more
 sunny For those who really do love And learn forbearance through love, If no one ever had to think of money.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-20
BEGINNING THE DAY-"Love

BEGINNING THE DAY-"LOve your enemies and pray for them which persccute you" One applica- ton of this law of Christ Is toward the states prisoners. Prison sys- tems are not for the punishment of criminals. They are for the tenn porary protection of society by the detention of criminals, and for the permanent protection of society by the reform of criminals.-H. M. E.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-20
Librnry Reading on Holidays

'It would surprise one to observe how many people come up here to read on holidays and Sundays" said Miss Lila May Chapman, librarian of the Central Public library. "Of course, when we first inaugurated the policy of keeping open every day in the year not so many peo- pie came on holidays and Sundays. The first Christmas we kept open hardly any one came, but the Fourth of this month and the fifth also, the reading rooms were we'll filled throughout the day and there was considerable circulation of books.
 "It looks rather hard to keep any of the library attendants at work on a holiday. but the girls don't mind and then they get it made up to them dur ing the following week, so 1t really does not matter. I have observed how grateful many people were who would otherwise have had nothing to do or anywhere. to go had 1t not been for the fact that the library was open.
 T feel sure that our every day in the year policy has met with wide approval by the public"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-20

The German government has notified union officials and the Krupps that no strike in the Essen gunworks will be toll erated. That's one advantage of living in a country where the indivdualism is not made fetich
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-20

the Fifth Royals, left Canada last Feb ruary, HOO strong. There are now 37 mem- bers left, and they are prisoners in a German military camp. Cannon fodder Is soon consumed
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-20
Talk. of Improved Conditions

There is no doubt in my mind that the iron and coal business is picking up considerably" said Walter Kirkland, who travels for a concern in the industrial line of trade. There was a feeling of con- fidence in almost every city have visited recently. A great deal of coal and coke is being imported at the present time. and the general feeling is that this branch of business will resume its normal con- dtion shortly.
 'I notice that conditions in New Orleans are improving rapidly. That city ships an abundance of cotton, and the war in Europe had a very demoralizing effect on the staple; however. there seems to he a great deal more activity in this line than has existed heretofore.
 Tn none of the cities I have visited recently has the improvement been so marked as in Birmingham. If anyone thinks the people of this city are pessi- mistic over the future all he has to do is to talk to some of the business men who have watched their trade closely for tue past few months. In nearly every instance he will find that the increase over the previous months has been marked and that collections are much better There is no stopping Birming- ham. It Is a real city and is recognized as such all over the country
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-20

If the tiny lake submarine which burns oil can travel across the Atlantic and back again without replenishing its fuel supply. 1t seems to be the. kind of craft We are looking for.