davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-19
sunday Evening Meetings

Much interest is being shown in the Sunday evening gatherings now being held under the auspices of the Young Mems Christian association" said H. R.. Howell, who is closely connected with the activities of the Birmingham organiza- ton.
 We are conducting meetings each Sun day evening in both Ensley and Bir- mingham, and by Sunday after next ex- pect to inaugurate these gatherings in Bessemer The meetings take place in moving picture theatres centrally located in the downtown sections of the cities named. and are well attended The Bir- mngham gatherings are held at the Prin- cess theatre, and next Sunday Dr. R. M. Cunningham will make an address on The Gospel of Health.' Judge William F. Fort will talk to the men of Ens- ley on The Possibilities of Citizenship the meeting taking place at the Franklin theatre. The Bessen1er gatherings will occur at the Grand. Prominent pastors and laymen pf the Birmingham district make addresses from Sunday to Sunday. and their efforts are greatly appreciated by men of the association. Both the Bir- mingham and Ensley gatherings usually average up to 300 each Sunday, and the lectures and addresses are as rule both interesting and Instructive"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-19
A Publishers Hobby

Simon Brentano, head of the firm of Brentano's, booksellers and publish CTS, who died recently in Orange, N. J., had a unique hobby. Probably no other man in the country had made a more exhaustive study of fire preven- ton or knew as much about it as MT. Brentano did. Fires and fire proven ton fascinated him. The habit of go- ing to fires, acquired early in life, re- suited in making him foremost au- thority on the subject and gave him a nationwide reputation which seems to have been amply deserved.
 It is said that for many years MT. Brentano kept special fire alarm at the head of his bed and another near his desk and never missed fire when it was possible for him to go. His wife finally persuaded him to have the private alarms moved from his house, but he never ceased to take lively interest in his pet subject. He was invited to speak on fire prevention at conventions, he was made a member of many associations and his office was a rendezvous for fire chiefs. His knowledge of fires and fire prevention was really profound, because he added to the information gained by obser- vation data gleaned from extensive reading. His library was remarkable collection of books.
 Thousand of reports and pamphlets in many languages were comprised in the Brentano collection. There were books on every conceivable phase of fire prevention, also treaties on build ing laws and ordinances of all coun- tries, insurance books, works on fire history and volumes treating of safe building construction. MT. Brentano was himself the author of several books, among them one entitled Con trol of Fire" He was also associated with the Fireman's Journal.
 This hobby of MT. Brentano was one that not only gave him great deal of pleasure, but like the collectors hob by, it resulted in material benefit to his fellow man. Being in the publish ing business himself made it compar- atively easy for him to acquire a library which is probably one of the most unique in the world. The average small boy would be thrilled to his toes at the mere prospect of spending lifetime running to fires and having his advice sought by the greatest fire chiefs in the land.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-19

spect. We'll, recently when they played the national air in Milwaukee at a "neu- trar' meeting, the audience not only arose but went out, and the only way it could be got back was to play Die Yacht am Rhein."
 This would seem to indicate that in Milwaukee the flag is fin Dutch" But l doubt 1t. I rather believe that If the Kaiser undertook to land an army in Mill waukee he would meet the united oppo- sition of the rest of the population, down to the last man in the last brewery.
 I don't know how many, if any, hy- phenated Americans there are who are not to be trusted where the interest ot the mother country is concerned. but 1 know there are some Americans I don't trust where the interest of their political party or of monopoly or of corpora ton is concerned.
 In this time of, international crises, when all Americans should stand to- gcther, they are doing their utmost to II Se.S ad heckle the administration, j. ,.ig the American navy and the military resources of the country and blackguarding the President.
 In pinch would rather take a chance on the German-American or the Ameri- cans from any of the countries of the allies than I would on the ship trust American, the political office broking- American, the political jingo-American, who in my opinion constitute the only dangerous class of hyphanated Americans the Ex-Americans
 SAMUEL SMILEY
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-19
BAN ON KAISER POSTCARDS


 The British authorities, acting in con- junction with the French military cen- sorship, intends to discourage sending to the front, from friends at home, pie ture postcards ridculing or caricaturing the Kaiser or the German crown price, It has been discovered that where such productions have been found on prisoners or wounded soldiers, the men have, ac- cording to the German military code, ren- dered themselves liable to summary treatment.
 In some cases they have been maltreat- ed or even shot.
 Nothing apparently apnoys a German more than to discover that a captured enemy possesses pictures derogatory to the Kaiser or his family.
 For that reason it is peter not to ridi- cule the Kaiser-'certainly not at the front"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-19
ON THE HYPHEN

From the New York World
 EAR FRIEND: What is the dif- H. ference between hyphenated
 and an unhyphenated American? you ask me.
 Well, sir, 2 the principal difference is whether his ancestors came over or whether he came over himself. But there is no real difference as long as they both act like Americans.
 An American may stand up for Cousin Willie" as against Cousin "Georgie" or Cousin "Nickie," as they call themselves or for either of the others as against Cousin Willie" and 1t doesn't make any difference what racial name he puts ahead of the hyphen if he will first stand up for Uncle Sam.
 Now, l believe with the Irishman that a man ought to love his native land whether he was born there or not, so I always could understand why so many Irish-Americans loved "or,7 .s sod'' while they hated u from it I sen ruled it. By the same ., kes: Two crgs derstand why the German-AmericaT syme pathizes with the fatherland as against the allies. while, on the other hand if he were called upon to vote whether or not William Hohenzolern should succeed Uncle Sam as boss of this country, l don't believe the Kaiser could carry a precinct in Hoboken, Milwaukee or "Over the Rhine" in Cincinnati.
 Speaking of Milwaukee, you know the custom that when the "Star-Spangled Banner" is played it is the signal for everybody to rise as a tribute of re-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-19
Advertising Liquor

q am not especially well informed about the new anti-liquor advertising law" said a well-known citizen, but some novel possibilities have occurred to me.
 For instance, l saw a moving picture show this afternoon in which a man and woman were represented as drinking to- gether The Bottle, the glasses and the drinking certainly advertised liquor Could such film be stopped?
 Similarly suppose in theatre a drink ing scene is depicted. Will the officers make arrests for such exhibitions?
 Every sign on a saloon and every label on every bottle in that saloon ad- vertises liquors. Do they come under the ban?
 Tn other words, I am curious to know just where the law draws the line. In- deed, it seems to me that the law itself is doing more to advertise liquor right now than anything else. Can the law itself be enjoined from being such a per nicious subject of discussion as to give too much publicity to liquor?"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-19

men, criminologists against what the leading religious paper of the twentieth century denominates the "shameleS styles.' &
 What is modesty for women, so far Is clothes express it? Who invented it-the men who set women's fashions or the men who cry out against them? It cer- tainly had it's origin in the sex that is still deyout and decorous and chaste-by proxy.
 '"The fewer clothes women wear the better for their health,'' says the Chicago woman who is almost reverenced in irrev- erent America today. She who has been called the Pope of American Women de- elines to be shocked by so ephemeral and irrelevant a thing as fashion
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-19

BEGINNING THE DAY-Show me the mystery, Q Lord, of how l gain by giving. Teach me the lesson or the flowers and streams, which live in the riot of beauty and joy be- cause they give themselves away. Teach me the lesson of all this eiv- ing world and of Thy great giving heart. In CbrIst's name. Amen.-H. NJ. F..
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-19

MT. George Arliss, who will appear in Birmingham shortly, is an English actor who once appeared with great eclat in a German play, but of course such things are out of the question nowadays
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-19

flahs are already afoot to make Prof. Jack Johnson's stay in this part of the world as unpleasant as possible, although it is hardly probable that anything Pro- lessor Willard can do will have that ef- feet.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-19
THE FINISHING STROKE

From the Memphis Commercial-Appeal.
 Says The Birmingham Age-Herald: "A former chauffeur who secretely married an heiress says she taught him how to drink and how to make love-" Then she owed it to him to marry him as the finish ing stroke.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-19
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Regulation of Cotton Futures

1 The federal government regulations Of the sale and delivery of cotton on future contracts went into effect wednes- I day" said Percy Clark, who is familiar with the details of the cotton business
 The first reading of the publicity bu- reau's reports contains covert sugges- ton that cotton declined by reason of the new order. In fact, 1t did not, as the new class, somewhat lower in the quality of middling standard, capitalized the loss on paper
 The new rules call for a delivery of spinnable goods, under government regu- lations as to standards of class, the se- lection of spot market for the defining Of the price of cotton on given day or date, in the settlement of contracts, where buyer and seller cannot agree. This gives business basis of character to future contracts heretofore lacking, and should materially help the sales of actual cotton, giving in business parlance tone to the market, rather than the purely specua- tive, fim-fiam, battledore and shuttle cock character to transactions without limit; sales where there was a mere shadow of expectancy of delivery of actual cotton; and often this clubbed into declining of the tenders by the offer of nondescript cotton.
 T believe that with the very large ex- ports of cotton-2, 617,00O bales to date and with bona fide cotton futures mar ket, we shall see cotton steadily climb to 10c. l prophecy that cotton in July will bring 12 cents for the real stuff in the hands of holders"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-19

A bill has been introduced in the Illi- rois legislature to give everybody in the state one day of rest a week Still, there's no way to keep mother from working father about the house when he goes home for his day of rest.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-19
A CONFIRMED TRoTTER

A CONFIRMED TRoTTER. He does the latest dances And never seems to tire; His follies, as it chances, Are paid for by his sire Night after night you'll find him Upon the ballroom floor, Where pleasures letters bind him Quite oft till half-past four. No weighty problems vex him, He seldom thinks at all; I'm sure 'twould not perplex him If dire things should befall, Just so they'd not prevent him From skipping to and fro; For what Dame Nature meant him I'm sure l do not know.
 INCOMPATIBLE TASTES. You say this pugilist is great lover of poetry?"
 That's what said
 But isn't it rather unusual for q man in his profession to care for the finer things of life?''
 Tt is, and l suspect that's why he's al- ways getting trounced."
 HE SHOULD WORRY. How is your lawn coming on this year?' asked MT. Griddings. "The same way the onion crop is com ing on,' answered Mr Lazonton. How Is that?''
 Without any assistance from me-
 WILLING TO FoREGO IT. In ''vodevil'' he no doubt may earn As much as any other, But don't care to see a turn By Harry Lauders brother.
 OVERREACHED HIMSELF. Why did you refuse young MT. Cid ders. my dear? I dare say he pleaded his suit eloquently enough" That's just 1t. His plea was so elo-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-19

Winthrop Ames says the public ex- pected too much of the prize play for which he gave s1o,0OO Well, why shouldn't a great deal be expected of d slo,OOO prize play?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-19

A man may be named Ketchum and still have no luck when he goes fishing. Which merely proves the truth of the old saying that there is nothing in a name.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-19

News dealers in Alabama are not doing any more business than formerly. The brstle and excitement at their places of business is caused by clerks clipping liquor advertisements out of newspapers and magazines.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-19
Cotton Mills Active

''rhe cotton mills in my home town are now running double time," said E. McWillianl. who has recently came from Columbus, Ga, to take up residence in Birmingham.
 Columbus is thriving manufacturing and agricultural center, having a popula- tion of about 10000. The most impor- tant industry is the cotton mills, which employ much labor. This city is termed the Lowell of the South because of it's large cotton interests and heavy output of the finished product. The low price of cotton which has prevailed for the past few months has, l believe, affected the cotton industry of that city in a remark able manner. The output has certainly been increased to a large degree New York agents handle most of the output of the Columbus mills, and I am not familiar with the distribution end of the indus try; but in all probability large portion of the cloth produced there is now be- ing shipped to the warning nations of Flu rope.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-19

What makes submarines so dangerous to shipping is the way they have of bob ping up serenely when least expected.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-19

Maybe personal apology made by the Kaiser to Ambassador Gerard will cool off some of our overloaded citizens.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-19

Being the cockpit for international warfare Is about the least desirable plight in which a small country can find itself.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-19

Militant prohibitionists gave a banquet in Montgomery to feicitate themselves on the good work they have done. It's all matter of opinion
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-19

Since the arrival of the 'jitney bus" nobody seems inclined to wait for the next car"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-19

Birmingham consumers are paying the same price for a small loaf of bread. The question is, Why?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-19

sop for hyphenated Americans: As a fighter General Von HinCenburg is one of the best ever.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-19

The sober-minded citizens of Alabama are quite willing for the state legislature to go home and stay there.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-19
ARE MARRIAGES ACCIDENTS. .

Paris and London continue to say large amounts on their light bills
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-19

Cleveland Plain Dealer: From the beginning of the war it has been considered proper to discount the official Serbian reports issued by the government at Nish. The Nish bulletins have been held up to ridicule as ex- emplifying the extreme development of the national press agency output Ser bian successes were constantly claimed, and there was no mention of Serbian reverses
 It later became apparent that the Serbians really had been successful; not so successful as claimed by Nish, but in general way doing very well with
 their war. After the great Serbian vic- tory which drove the Austrians in dis astrous rout well out of Serbian terri tory Nish ceased altogether to be a joke. Now come official reports from Nish of an entirely new character. They re- late to the defeat of Serbian troops and
 a. rapid Serbian retreat before an army of invading Albanians. There can be no doubt that the reports are true.
 Serbia has won much admiration by her stand against overwhelming odds, and by the excellence of her military organization Now that she is bracing herself to meet a new Austrian attack 1t must be regretted by her sympa- thizers that she is distracted by a petty attack from the rear.
 Were Serbia not otherwise engaged she would make short work of the ma rauding Albanians. These tribesmen are brave and reckless soldiers, but they
 know little of modern warfare, and are uttrely ignorant of military discipline
 At present they are without even the semblance of a government, and are in- dulging in their favorite pastime of brigandage and guerrilla fighting against their hereditary Serb enemies
 Theoretically Albania Is still an in- dependenct state, as created by Aus trias demand at the close of the Balkan wars to block Serbias progress to the Adriatic. Actually there is no Albanian nation, for there cannot be a nation without at least some claim of respon- sible government. Albania cannot there fore, be properly reckoned as the elev- enth nation to enter the war. The tribes men who have attacked Montenegro and Serbia are merely brigands from No Mans Land, and will doubtless be treated by the Serbs as outlaws and not as soldiers.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-19
Substantial Ground for Confidence

Substantial Ground for Confidence
 Rogers, Brown & Co.'S Cincinnati iron circular this week says.
 Developments of the week supply addi- tional and substantial grounds for hope fulness and confidence. As February ad- vances our foreign trade position be- comes stronger and the exchange rates ume of our export business and the turn of favorable financial conditions in our direction as a consequence. It is hoped that home business will increase pro rata with the amount done abroad.
 "The south and southwest were much improved over two months ago in general business and finance. Sales in the west have increased during the week at a faster rate than any other portion of the coun- try.
 Again, the interstate commerce com- mission in the long pending intermoun- tain rate case has modified it's previous order in favor of the railroads, one more added influence for better things Almost all the developments are toward increased confidence and expansion. slight, though steady, in trade improvement
 While business during the week in the Cincinnati district has been quiet reports from other points indicate in- creasing interest and brighter outlook. In the east various inquiries for pig iron delivery during the first half, have been good indicating better activity with con This has not been confined to any one line of the consuming trade. Foundry and steel making irons have been in equal demand and there is generous inquiry now pending.
 Tn the Pittsburg district continual improvement in operating percentage is reported in the steel plants and stiffen- ing in prices in some steel products.
 Tt is undoubtedly true that the gen eral consumption of pig iron is increasing but steadily, throughout the country. Prices have been without change up to the present time Good sales of steel making irons are reported from the east, together with some inquiries Tor ex- port iron.
 Coke is feeling the iron influence and for the first time in several months more oven capacity has been put in blast in the Connellsville field"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-19
WAR ECHOES

New York World: The German ambassador. Count von Gernstorff, in- formed Secretary William J. Bryan that the imperial government will con
 slider the abandonment of its war zone decree if Great Britain can be persuaded to permit foodstuffs consigned to Ger many's civil population to reach their destination As this is an appeal by one
 belligerent to friend of both bellig-
 erents, it is important to know the facts
 upon which it is based.
 Under generally accepted interna-
 tional law, foodstuffs are conditional contraband. That is to say, they are absolute contraband if consigned to an enemy army, but they are free if con- signed to the civil population of an enemy country. In times past Britain and the United States have upheld this idea with great vigor. Yet. like every other point in international law, it is one that each belligerent usually elects to settle for itself.
 Acting upon the accepted American and British theory, we have not failed to protest against all British seizures of our cargoes. We did so in numerous cases that arose before the recent de- crees of the German imperial council were issued. We have done so in one notable instance since then, that of the Wilhelmina, whose cargo was yester- day sent to the prize court.
 While Count von Bernstorff is correct ly actuated when he assumes that we are interested in lawful trade with Germany, he makes no note of the fact that Germany itself has probably closed the door upon this trade. By decree of January 26 it seized all supplies of wheat, corn, flour and preserved meats. Last Sunday, by another decree, it ex- all stocks of oats. Hence, practically all food in Germany is gov- food, army food, fighting food, and therefore contraband, through no fault of ours. The ambassadors state ment that civil and war supplies will be scrupulously separted will hardly stand as against decree of the im- perial council or an act of the Reich stag which says they are one.
 International law is 8 very uncertain thing, but there can be no question that when a military government comman- ieers food, it gives its enemies an ex oellent opportunity to set up the claim that all food is contraband. We could do much more for Germany in this case If Germany itself would come into court with clean hands
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-19
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES

auent that it sounded to me like borrowed
 stuff"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-19
EXPLAINING PERFORMERS.

EXPLAINING PERFORMERS. "One-half the world doesn't know how ! the other half lives.' Maybe that's why one-half the world is always telling the other half how it ought to live" coNCEALING THOUGHT. This baby of mine is destined to be a great political speaker when he grows up," said the proud father. Slowing signs of it already?" Yes He babbles for hours without giving anybody the least idea of what he's thinking about
 KEPT BUSY. "Is there much reading of books in this community" asked the new arrival Not a great deal" answered the old resident.
 Have the people here no desire to im- prove their minds?'
 "oh, yes, but they are compelled to spend so much of their time learning how to conform to new laws passed by our state legislature that they don't have an opportunity to study anything else'
 LACK OF FORESIGHT No matter where you chance to go, You're very apt to meet The man who'd made pile of dough If he could just buy wheat
 Birmingham Age Herald But honest, Bo, cut out your sneers. The way this town has grown, Wed been in wealth to our ears-- If we had only known
 Houston Post.
 PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-19

A J. Eaton, Jr., and 0. E. Young are the only authorized travelling repre- sentatives of The Age-Herald ln its cir culation department.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-19

No communication will be published without its authors name. Rejected manuscript will not be returned unless stamps are enclosed tor that purpose.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-19

Entered at lne BlrnInsnam, Ala, postoffice as second class matter under act of Congress March 3. 1873.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-19

Maybe that's why one-half the world is always telling the other half how it ought to live"