davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-26
By Searle Hendee. in the February mum
 Der of Popular Mechanics Magazine.

By Searle Hendee. in the February num- Der of Popular Mechanics Magazine VV) HEN the cables carried the news A/ that Carl Hans Lody, former W resident of Omaha, had been shot as a spy in the Tower of London. a grim picture of the uglest, and at the same time most romantic, side of war was brought home to Americans.
 'Shot as a spyl The phrase thrills veteran and schoolboy alike and heats the blood of anyone who has a spark of imagination or the spirit of adventure in his veins. In all the English language there is hardly word that carries with it such a connotation of contempt as spy" On the other hand, whether in the preparation for war, or in war itself, there is no more patriotic or self-sacri- ficing work, nor scarcely any of more profound value to the country which is being served, than that performed by the much despised, little appreciated spy.
 The rules of war relating to spies are clearly defined and offer no redress, re- gardless of sex, age, or nationality, to one coming under that classification. If a
 
 secretly within the territory occupied by an enemy during the time of war, for the prupose of communicating informa- ton to a hostile army, he is subject to the death penalty. The single provision made in his behalf is that he must be given a fair trial. Yet even this is not assured, for if he be court-martialed and shot, and later shown to have been inno- cent of the charges against him, there is no redress against his executioners.
 
 Of all the systems of espionage ever or ganized, that of the German war office is unquestionably the farthest-reaching and most efficient On the heels of the Brit ish governments assurance that the Ger man system of espionage had been effec- lively broken in the United Kingdom, nu- merous British war vessels were torpe- doed, many sentries were shot, dispatches containing accurate information impor- tant to the enemy were intercepted mere- ly by chance, while a German squadron succeeded in stealing past patrol boats, navigating uncharted and mined pas sages firing on the Suffolk coast and then escaping. How some of the information which made these things possible leaked cut is known, although the spy has not been apprehended and is still carrying on his work.
 The Rev. Lord William Cecil recites the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-26
Vanity and the Revivalist

When Billy" Sunday conducts re- yiyal in a town enterprising news paper men are never at loss for "human interest" stories.. The "base- ball evangelist" is himself responsible for a great many of the newspaper articles that are published about his revivals, but there are also many "sidelights' that reveal both the good and the bad traits of his audience. Sometimes these incidents, never overlooked by the newspaper man anxious to turn in good copy are tragic, but more often they are humorous.
 Although there can be no doubt of MT. Sundays ability to deliver the goods and give everybody "his moneys worth,' most of his hearers who are attending the present revival in Philadelphia seem to be parsimoni- ous. People who are not spiritually uplifted by MT. Sundays exhortations find his meetings extremely interest ing. Yet, in Philadelphia, at least, they don't contribute literally for be- ing either entertained or reformed, as the case may be. The offering per f,11r Aar 1,lx ha1nW \ cents, fact which will cause aston ishment. In fact the average nearer of MT. Sunday contributes about cents when the collection is taken up.
 A man who recently attended one of Sundays meetings tells an amusing story of handsomely gowned woman who sat near him in the tabernacle. From head to foot she personified wealth and good living. To reassure herself that she was all that she de- sired to be, she frequently viewed herself in a mirror in her vanity case while waiting for the sermon to begin. When MT. Sunday in his character istic way told the ushers to "go to 1t, v referring to the collection, this wom- an turned to the man beside her and asked him if he could change a dime. He did so, giving her five pennies and a 5-cent piece. He watched to see how much she would give. She dropped in one of the pennies.
 If this woman typifies the spirit of Philadelphia the final offering which Mr. Sunday takes as his share of the receipts will be much less than it was in Pittsburg, where he is said to have been swamped with checks of large denomination.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-26
ALABAMA PRESS

Attalla Herald: The Birmingham Age Herald suggests that President Wilson wants another "cup of coffee" We thought it was simply another piece of the same political pie.
 Sheffield Standard: If Alabama voters had the authority to "recall' their pulp lie officers, it is more than likely that many members of the present legislature would be retired to private life.
 Randolph Star: One of the first acts of the new governor was to appoint his campaign manager, s. P. Kennedy, presi- dent of the railroad commission. This appointment will meet with the approval of the people of Alabama.
 Tuscumbia Alabamian-D Dispatch Fol lowing Billy Sundays trail one is apt to get pumps filled with sawdust. There's no true conversion where there's an aching corn or a ruined silk stocking.
 Piedmont Journal: Yes, there's plenty of money in the United States, but its inacccessability is the trouble.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-26
portance of a uniform system for all

portance of uniform system for all counties.
 Attention is called to the difficult problem of road maintenance after construction. The engineer reminds county boards that unless a road has the constant attention of some one it IS sure to deteriorate rapidly, matters not how we'll it might be constructed. !" The fault, he says, lies mainly in ''the failure of county authorities to ap- preciate the difference between con struction and maintenance and to en- tlrely separate the two.' Immediately after road has been constructed pro- vision should be made for it's main- tenance. The highway department has had the hearty cooperation of nearly every county board in the state and of the Alabama Good Roads asso- citation, and the engineer expresses his grateful appreciation for all co-opera- ton.
 The report, it is assumed, will be read carefully and with profit by the various county boards.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-26
LIQUOR PROBLEM IN HAWAII

From the Washington Post.
 Hawaii went through much the same experience that the people of the Dis triet of Columbia have had to face re- gently while legislators who do not live in Washington were attempting to make laws to govern the citizens of the dis trict," remarked Frederick A Stahlman, Californian, who has lived in Honolulu for many years, at the Shoreham. 'It was about seven years ago, I think, that Congress tried to make Hawaii dry with out giving the people out there a chance to give expression to their desires, but finally it was left to vote and Hawaii went wet by a vote of three to one. I believe Hawaii has one of the best liquor laws in the world.
 Under the excise law of Hawaii, the governor of the territory appoints a liquor commission consisting of five mem- bers from each county. In every case up to date these men have been of a char acter representing the sentiment of the people on the islands from which they have been appointed. For instance, the island of Kauai is anti saloon, and as the commissioners have absolute power to re- fuse any or all licenses without appeal, they decided that in Kauai there should be only two wholesale liquor houses, which are allowed to sell intoxicants only by the bottle and in no circumstances are saloons permitted. On the other hand, in Honolulu the sentiment is in favor of saloons. There the commissioners grant, ed licenses for small number of saloons, which are required to close at F p. m. and on Sundays. The proprietor of sa loon Is held strictly accountable for the condition of his patrons, and upon com plaint, if man is discovered drunk in a saloon the proprietor is warned. For the second offense his license is suspended for a period of from one to three months, and for the third offense it is revoked. 'The result has been that there has Lever been to my knowledge, case of drunkenness in any saloon in Honolulu, and the people are well satisfied with the way the liquor traffic is regulated
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-26
Seeking to Wipe Out IlIiteracy

The Alabama Federation of Wom- ems Clubs, of which Mrs. L. J. Haley is president, is seeking legislation which should have a distinct appeal for all thoughtful citizens.
 The federation is thoroughly rep resentative of the states best woman hood and the officers and other lead CTS of the organization are known for their unselfish work in promoting the public veal and especially for their efforts to better the condition of Alabama children. These good women are urging the enactment of laws that will wipe out illiteracy.
 As The Age-Herald has long con- tended, if "the stigma of illiteracy' is to be removed We must have more and better rural schools; and in order to have adequate school facilities more revenue must be provided, which can only be done when the people of school districts are allowed to tax themselves for school purposes.
 The federation is asking the legisla- ture to submit to the voters a consti- tutional amendment proposition per hitting the necessary local taxing privilege. A bill to that end was de- feated by the last legislature by a small vote. Such measure should be adopted by the present legislature by an overwhelming vote. Other legis-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-26
THE PRIVATE OF THE BUFFs

By F. H. Doyle, 1S35-1S9l.
 These stirring stanzas were suggested by the following incident during one of England's little wars in China: Some Hindoos and private of the Bluffs Q1ast Kent regimenD, having remained behind in charge of commssariat supplies fell into the hands of the Chinese On the next morning they were brought before the Chinese commander and ordered to perform the kotow prostrate themselves abjectly). The Hindoos obeyed but Moves, the private of the Bluffs, declar- ing that he would not prostrate himself before any Chinaman alive, was imme- diately slain)
 Last night among his fellow roughs,
 He tested. quaffed and swore; A drunken private of the Bluffs,
 Who never looked before. Today beneath the foeman's frown,
 He stands in Elgins place, Ambassador from Britains crown.
 And type of all her face. Poor, reckless rude. Dwborn, untaught.
 Bewildered and alone, A heart with English instinct fraught
 He yet can call his own. Ay, tear his body limb from limb
 Bring cord or ax or flame; He only knows that not through him
 Shall England come to shame. Far Kentish hop fields round him seemd
 Like dreams to come and go; Bright leagues of cherry blossom giaam'd
 One sheet of living snow; The smoke above his fathers door, \
 In gray soft eddyings hung Must he then watch it rise no more,
 Doom'd by himelf so yNung? Yes, honor calls!-with strength like steel
 He puts the vision by; Let dusky Indians whine and kneel,
 An English lad must die. And thus with eyes that would not shrink,
 With knee to man unbent, Unfaltering on it's dreadful brink,
 To his red grave he went. Vain, mightiest fleets of iron framed;
 Vain, those all-shattering guns; Unless proud England keeps untamed
 The strong heart of her sons. So let his name through England ring-/
 A man of mean estate. Who died as firm as eparta's king,
 Because his soul was great.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-26
A Businesslike Campaign

The crop diversification campaign in Alabama, which originated in the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, has been thoroughly organized, and the field" work, all systematically planned, will begin next week.
 A great many campaigns with worthy objects in view have been lacking in businesslike methods. There has been much talk and much waste of energy in the early stages of or ganization, but with the crop diversi- fication movement the practical has predominated. Good business men have worked enthusiastically in the matter of organizing. Montgomery has joined with Birmingham in pro- noting the diversification cause, and all the important cities in the state, through their civic bodies, are now in line with the movement and will con- tribute materially to it's success.
 In all large undertakings intended for the public good concerted action is essential The better the organization the better the results. The crop diver sification idea has been pressed throughout the entire cotton south for several years past, and since the dis cotton farmers have been quick to make up their minds that the south's agricultural situation must be radical lv changed. Every farmer has come to full appreciation of the necessity of raising food crops as we'll as cot ton.
 Without this diversification cam paign many farmers would diversity and do it successfully, but one great advantage that could come only from intelligent organization is found in the fact that expert demonstrators and scientific authorities, some of them provided by manufacturers of farm implements and manufacturers of fertilizers, will attend the farm ers' meetings to be held in each county and discuss everything bear ing on the question of how best to diversity under given conditions. Alabama has as large percentage of educated farmers as any state in the country, perhaps. Certain it is that the majority of it's farmers are men of high intelligence and industrious habits But even the most scientific tiller of the soil, the man with a board knowledge of agricultural chem istry and of entomology, can learn something of real value from the men who will address the county meet ings-agricultural specialists from Auburn and from the department at Washington, to say nothing of ex- perts from the industries coming in contact with farm interests. These men will bring the last word in crop diversification.
 The citizens composing Birming- hams campaign committee have taken up this great work with zeal, and it is safe to say that unflagging enthusi- asm will be in evidence to the end.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-26
THE SPY AND HOW HE WORKS

story of how British raid on a German squadron in the North Sea was frus- trated. During heated argument in an alehouse, an English sailor, championing the prowess of his navy, declared that he Knew positively that dreadnaughts, cruis- CTS, and torpedo boats were at that mo- ment pushing ahead under full steam to surprise the German boats. Shortly aft erward the bar was closed for the night, and one of the group, who had precipi- tated the argument, mounted a bicycle, which had a brilliant headlight, and struck down a road leading along the coast. After a time he jumped from the cycle, released the air from the front tire and then set about to mend "puncture' In doing this he repeatedly passed in front of the lamp crossing the patch of light now for just an instant, now deliber- ately stopping in front Of it. Presently he inflated the tire and pedaled back to the city. When the British battleships ar rived at the scene of the intended raid the Germans were not there. The bi- cyclist was a German spy. His, mes sage, flashed in dots and dashes had been seen through the periscope of waiting German submarine.
 -
 There are many other ways by which, an agent, working ahead of his army, may and does communicate information* to it without passing back through the5 lines. Some of these systems are employed to inform the artillery for instance, where it's shells are falling, thus enabling 1t to get the proper range on the ene- mys positions. Some of the subterfuges are so ingenious and executed so cleverly that detection, because of the act itself is difficult. For instance, clothes must be washed in war time as well as in days of peace-yet, a clothesline may be made to talk by arranging garments on it by size and color according to a prearranged code. Likewise, the vanes of large wind mills, so frequently seen on the Conti- nent, transmit messages merely by turn ing them to certain positions, a method often used in time of peace to convey in- formation to surrounding neighbors. Such a simple operation as that of washing a feat of an army. It is readily seen how a spy thus engaged can signal to look out, by means of dots and dashes, for
 long periods of time, if need be- And the polished interior of watchcase, a bright spade, a saw, and similar things, all have been used for flashing heliograph mes- sages.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-26
POINTED PARAGRAPHS

From the Chicago News.
 It is to laugh when fortune smiles.
 When a man falls he never seems to hit the bottom.
 The chap who is buried in oblivion is also a dead one.
 Kisses are the coupons clipped from the bonds of love.
 Few people to whom you are introduced really care to know you.
 He is an exceptional man who knows more than he thinks he knows
 Many man of small caibre thinks he's a big gun when he Is loaded.
 But the poet doesn't necessarily dwell in an attic for the sake of the view.
 But you can never measure a man s achievements by his own tongue.
 You may kick, you may shatter a boom if you will, but the hope of candidate clings to it still.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-26
Business in Southern Cities

There has been decided improvement in business conditions in several south ern cities since the first of the year." said Nj. l.. Rose of Baltimore and Richmond one of the best known travelling salesmen in the United States.
 'To begin with, I find great improve ment here in Birmingham, as compared with last fall. have always liked this city, and am glad to see it going ahead, even when trade generally is backward Ten years ago I predicted that Blrming- ham would be a great city, and I now more than ever realize what a splendid future it has. It is a better city today than Atlanta and that is saying a good deal, for Atlanta is known for it's progress sive spirit. Birmingham strikes me as being more of metropolitan city than the Georgia capital. Atlanta is full of tall buildings, but Birmingham has enough of them, and as for it's residence sectons it is safe to say that few cities in the union are so attractive in this respect
 T have been stopping at the Tutwier since Thursday, and l know of no greater compliment l could pay the hotel than to say that it is in the class with the Jefferson at Richmond, which is famous for ts grandeur. The Tutwiler is not only a magnificent hotel but l have found the service strictly first-class.
 My old home town of Richmond, like most other cities in the east and south, has been somewhat dull this winter, but 1t is one of the exceptionally prosperous cities of the country, and, as we all think one of the most beautiful. I am going from Birmingham to Nashville. I under stand that business there Is quite brisk. That city does not depend upon the cotton situation as do the cities further southn
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-26
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Thrift in Mississippi

.'I was agreeably surprised to find thrifty conditions in Mississippi" said H. P. Duckworth of Chicago.
 T had not been in that state for seven or eight years, and knowing it to be a large producer of cotton, I naturally ex- pected 10 find depression generally pre- yailing there. There are no very large cities in Mississippi, but there are a great many prosperous towns. Occasionally one fears a man talking about hard times, but as a rule the Mississippians struck me as being very we'll to do. Most of the men met talked as if conditions were not bad-not far below normal, at any rate.
 ''The favorable situation in Mississippi is accounted for, l take it. by crop diver sification. The cotton raisers got scared about the boil weevil and started to di- versfying their crops on a large scale two or three years ago Mississippi is eer- tainly good state.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-26
The Cotton Situation

A prominent New York cotton ex- change house says. in part, in its week ly review just issued:
 "The absence of important hedge sell ing was again the biggest factor in the cotton market during the week. and this, coupled with good sales of spot cotton in the south at constantly lnl- proving quotations, resulted in further advance in contract prices to the high est level scored since the outbreak of the European war. The continued ah- scene of hedge offerings simply tends to confirm the theory that it is due not alone to the unwillingness of southern
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-26
WAR ECHOES

stephen Graman, in Collier's Britain peace. France is fighting to save herself from the monster who has already de- voured a portion of her side, Alsace- Lorraine Germany is fighting to inl- pose her order on the rest of the world to make us all, as it were, wear German uniforms. Germany has had great dreams; one of them was of a German and Austrian belt from Hegoland to Constantinople; another was of finally subjugated France and, possibly, of a Bel eium absorbed into the German empire. Germany, taking herself seriously as the standard bearer of western civilization, considers that she has carried order, cleanliness, education, and national ef- fieiency to point of perfection unattain- able by the people of other countries. Russia is fighting to preserve her na- tional life and religion.
 This war has come as a relief to Rus sia, uniting all parties under one idea For a long while Russia has been sub jected to a strong German influence. Germany has long felt that something might be done with Russia, and it has done all it could to give a Germanizing tint to Russian government. It is not without significance, that story in Dos- toieffsky's Adult" of the German who shot himself through vexation at the idea that Russia might come to nothing
 Pittsburg Dispatch: The desire of the people of Servia that the rest of the world shall adopt the .'b'' in the name of their country and know it as "Serba" and them as "Serbians" has it's strongest support in the recognized rule that the best authority with regard to names is that of the people bearing them. After the majority of the world has accepted the Russian rule of turning St. Peters burg into "Petrograd'' it certainly seems probable that it will comply with the Serbian desire to spell them with "b''
 This request is based on the view that the name with "v'' is suggestion of a serv- ile organ. This is hardly as strong with regard to the entire Slav race We can talk of Servia for days without necessar- fly connecting it's people with servile ideas or customs. But to speak of the Sav race inevitably suggests-to the English speaking world at least-some connection with the old institution of slavery But as slavery is pretty nearly abolished from civilization, no demand for change of names in that respect is heard.
 The Serbians have fought well enough and hard enough to be entitled to the freedom in their government and to free dom to have their names spelled as they choose. But they should keep in mind the fact that freedom in name is not as important as freedom from disorder and lawlessness in their everyday acts
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-26

san Francisco has been placed in direct telephone connection with New York hv the completion of a new overland line passing through Denver. More than 3D00 miles of copper wire was used in tbe construction of this line. The mileage of the American Telephone and Telegraph company, known as the Bell system. in- creased from 3,95s.ss1 in 1903 to 16.111 Oil Tn 1913. In former years daily messa ges numbered 10,13i020. In 1913 they were o7 23I,l6l America leads the world in inc use or telephones. On January 1, 1913 the United States had 2o,24s.32s of the 55'2ol934 miles of telephone lines in the world. Germany came second with 4,175.- 1S2 miles. England had a mileage of 2,36o.00o. The American investment in telephone lines represented more than a billion dollars. No other country had more than a quarter of this amount. The four cities in the world using the largest number of telephones are New York. with 526,391; Chicago, S69, ,715; London, 244- S2o; Philadelphia, 172727. In Paris there are only 95,0SS telephones.