davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-19
An IndustriOus Hell

"A policeman sometimes runs up against patrol chauffeur on the morning shift. The other morning I was making call
 on the Southside when l happened to no tice the electric burglar alarm bell on one of the big hardware establishments was ringing furiously
 "I immediately stopped the patrol, seized a revolver and began locking for a
 means of entrance. l soon discovered an open window and crawled in. It was as dark as pitch and the only sound was the clamor of the bell.
 After few minutes search I found the watchman coming back from his
 rounds and he patiently explained to me that I was the fifth policeman to come into the building thinking burglars were at work While we were standing talking
 another policeman, who had been passing
 on bicycle, came In by the same way 1 had done to see what was the matter. "The watchInan explained that the beil had suddenly began to ring In the early part of the night and had been indus. triousy wagging ever since. He thought that wires were crossed somewhere and
 had been spending the night looking for i tie tie defect bat without success. When we left the bell was still ringing as if 1t
 had just gotten it's second wind and in- tended to make day of 1t.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-19

ling about dozen less than last year. As there are many vacancies at the academy the comparatively small class just entering is explained by the fact that several of the applicants who passed their mental or book examina- tions were physically deficient.
 The standards of admission to the academy have always been high, but in years gone by few young men who aspired to the military life and who were so fortunate as to be selected for cadetships failed either physically or mentally. It is somewhat different in these later years. The applicant is usually we'll advanced in his books, but considerable percentage of the would-be cadets fail to stand the physical test, and this despite the fact that the boys of today are more care ful in their habits and give more time to athletics than was the case with the boys of previous generation. It may be that the West Point examin- ations are stricter now than they used to be.
 1 The law provides for about 575 cadets at West Point, but when the regular army is increased, as it prob ably will be by the Sixty-fourth Con- gress, provision will be made for an increase in the number of cadets. As 1t IS the graduating class is never large enough to fill the second lieu tenant vacancies. The enlisted men. especially noncommissioned officers. who can pass the examination re- quired of the ambitious soldier, are promoted to second lieutenancies.
 Congress will hardly be expected to do all that the war department asks Tn increasing the regular army. It is understood that the war college will recommend an army of 250, ,O0O. But if
 O,000 men are added to the present army of about 85,0OO even that in- crease will call for about 25OO ad- dltlonal officers. That would result in promotions all along the line. The newly commissioned captains would become majors at a jump and So on through the other grades.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-19
The President of China

President Yuan Shih Kai seems to have firmly established himself as d benevolent despot in China. The President of the republic is to hold of flee for ten years and be eligible for reelection. The election commission consists of fifty members from each of the two houses of Parliament. At present the two houses are dominated to such an extent by Yuan that there is no possibility of their acting con- trary to his own desires. The election law also declares that Eff at election time the administration council should think it desirable that the President ahould hold office for another term two-thirds of their votes shall be suf- ficient for his reelection"
 Provision for the presidential suc- cession is also made. The President is given the right to name three persons, from among whom his successor is t., be elected. He writes the three names on a golden tablet which is inclosed in . gold casket and locked in a strong
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-19
Anniversary of Waterloo

While the history of the world reveals many famous and decisive battles, l doubt if any one Is more widely known than the battle of Waterloo said John B. Daniels "Of course, the fact that Ma poleon, admitted to be the greatest mii- tary genius the world has ever known. was the central figure in that memorable conflict gives 1t great prestige. l ven ture to say the battle has been more wide ly quoted than any other great struggle between warning nations. and previous to the breaking out of the European war the English government was contemplating acquiring the historic battle-ground and making it permanent landmark in Flu ropes history.
 "It Il be recalled that the great battle was fought just 100 years ago Friday, and no doubt had the war not been de- clared the anniversary would have been fttingy celebrated. Speaking of this great battle 1t Is remarkable fact that what is conceded to be the most accurate account of it was written by that great French novelist, Victor Hugo, in his won derful work. Les Miserables.' I read the story many, many years ago. but re- gently had the plea sure of reading It again through the agency of The Age Herald, which has placed the works of Hugo on the market at price within the reach of everyone"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-19
Clark md Bryan

1 "I have followed the recent development
 in the relations between the United States
 and Germany with keen interest, said
 Charles E. Glover "and l was especially
 interested in the resignation of W. J.
 Bryan as Secretary of State. There are a number of phases to the resignation
 but I have chuckled every time l spec ulated on the state of mind of Champ Clark.
 Nobody has mentioned the Missourian
 in the last week. but l imagine he must have done a good deal of hilarious think ing recently, and that ne has patted him self on the back with enthusiasm and fre- quency.
 Tt may not be better to be right than to be President. but it is certainly better to be speaker of the House than ex-Secre- tary of State. To the best Christians
 revenge is sometimes very sweet arss Colonel Clark is now quaffing large draughts of that nectar. 'If he had plotted to get even, could he have arranged for anything more soothing to his feelings than has been handed to him on silver waiter in the full view of the nation? This Is Champs chuckling time, and I must confess that cannot resist the temptation to chucde with him."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-19
Bryan's Earning Capacity

Although Mr. Bryan's resignation l from President Wilson's cabinet has subjected him to a storm of disap- proval, it is not believed that this will in any way impair his earning power on the lecture platform.
 The manager of a lyceum bureau estimates that MT. Bryan, at his pres ent scale of prices and while at liberty to devote all his time to the work, can earn more than $137 ,000 year, sum which makes even the President s salary seem comparatively small. Mir. Bryan's physical strength enables him to deliver three lectures day for an unlimited period. This is feat he has accomplished on more than one tour, while in his presidential campaigns his capacity for making speeches was amazing.
 Mr. Bryan's terms for featuring in- clude guaranty of $250 for each lec- ture. After that amount is taken in at the box office he, and the manager divide the remainder, an arrangement which frequently gives him more than $500 for a single lecture. He averages S350 throughout a season. During the chautauqua season of fourteen weeks he would have an income of $4200 a week, or $5S,800 for the season, for which he would deliver two lectures a day.
 During the remaining 38 weeks of the year the lyceum manager esti- mates that Mr. Bryan could average six lectures week, giving him gross income of $2100 week, or a total of S79, 800. His expenses, excluding rail- road fare, would be light. Added to his chautauqua salary, this would make a total of $138,6OO for the year MT. Bryan also has other sources of income besides his lecture engage. ments, among them being his paper, the Commoner.
 But in these patriotic days of g strong sentiment in favor of war pre-. paredness dove of peace lectures arc not as popular as they once were anc MT. Bryan's chautauqua audience, may diminish accordingly.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-19
JUST DESERTS.

Any Legitimate" star who yields to the lure of the movies is promptly dubbed film fodder Hard lines for spoiled favorite who has considered the world at her feet for so many years and has been credited by her press agent with re- ceiving a salary so enormous that nt moving picture firm could tempt her with an offer But the screen" has come into it's own and now it is whispered around that instead of moving pictures "eaptur- ing" stage celebrities-which is nothing more than polite fiction. y'know-the aforesaid celebrities are storming moving picture producers in ever-increasing num- bers, some not even waiting to be invited
 With grand opera prima donnas, haugh- tiest of all creatures, falling into films with a loud chatter of publicity, why should the ambitious thespian who has been led to think moving pictures beneath him refuse any longer to accept a living wage and congenial employment
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-19
CHEROKEE A CADET

From the New York Telegram.
 Sylvester LongLance, full bloodec Cherokee Indian and the first of his tribe to be so honored, has been sent to Wes Point as one of the six presidential ap. pointees.
 A graduate of the Carlisle Indian schoo and of St. Johns school at Manlius and a fine athlete, MT. LongLance early deter. mined to become an army officer. In known to him he has been under obser, vation to determine his fitness for tn, Military academy, which was proven be- yond question.
 It is happy appointment and the ca reer of the cadet will be watched witt interest. although probably it will caus' great annoyance to the Kaiser, who ob jects to anybody fighting save white men barring, of course, the Turks, who ar, on his side.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-19
State-COntrolled Cities

State control of public utility cor porations deprives municipalities of islature of Alabama even contemplates striking such terrible blow at the cities of this commonwealth, it should seriously investigate the result of such regulation in the cities of other states.
 The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, published in May, 1914, deal ing with state regulation in Wiscon- sin, presents figures proving that inder the system, corporations have flourished to the disadvantage of the petitioning public In its fearful ar raignment of the system, the journal includes this striking, significant and, in respect to the local situation, highly pertinent paragraph:
 The severest test of the state
 regulation system In Wisconsin Is
 found in it's handling of the prob
 lems of the cities. 1t is here that
 it's failures are the most manifest
 and the consequences the most se-
 rous. The gas, street car and
 electric utilities In Wisconsin
 cities have failed to meet reason
 able public demands and the com
 mission has been unequal to the
 task of compelling them to. The
 commission has often. moved with
 extreme deliberation. Its orders
 when they really meant anything
 have been ignored by the com
 panies or appealed to the courts and litigated to the bitter end. It's methods have distinctly invited lit
 igation, with the consequent delay
 and large expense to both parties
 Would we have such conditions in the cities of Alabama? Would it be wise for us to exchange our oppor- tunity for quick, effective and inex- pensive regulation in the interest of the people for system which, through endless litigation, corporation, if it desired, could easily ignore? If the cities of Alabama have other than plenary power at the present time, would it be the part of intelli- gence to yield those which are already possessed or to demand fuller right of regulation at the hands of the leg islature?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-19
THE BOY AND VACATION
From the Portland (ore.) Telegram.

From the Portland (Ore) Telegram
 THE Deseret News of Salt Lake City
 says; "one of the ever recurring
 A problems of our city is: What shall we do with our boys during the school vacation? And the larger the city the more serious the problem. Every summer hundreds of boys are turned loose to roam the streets whithersoever they will, with out anything to occupy their hands or their minds, but such mischief as oppor- unity may send in their way.'
 Therein the Desert News breaches a m alter of great social interest. It raises considerations that are not limited alto gcther by the days of the school vaca- ticn; although as we realize. the oppor- tunity for mischief which leads to evil that comes with those days gives empha- sis to the vacation aspect.
 Tc the city boy the city street is de- moralizing. It Is there that idleness works dc generacy with the average boy faster tack Is idleness, and how to prevent the city boy who must go into the city street from becoming a victim of it.
 All of us are familiar with the old saw about all work and no play. and what that sort of thing does for the boy; but uncontrolled and undirected play in the | streets creates more pernicious result than dullness. From the very nature of the boy he must do something-he must either work or play; and the question with Us is can we so fashion his conduct that he will do both to his pleasure and his profit?
 ] A partial solution of the summer vaca- | tion problem lies in the summer school. which presumes to provide for lighter dis cipline. less rigorous study and more play | time than the regular school This in itself seems to go as an admission that we should not require the boy to do anything serious; that we should avoid all attempt toward enisting him in some useful and gainful occupation; and in those respects the summer school is deficient
 The thing to do for the boy is to create for him some system that will introduce him to wholesome and responsible work; some system that will enlist his individual interest by enabling him to earn some thing.
 1 Whether it is possible to promote such a system outside of the individual family supervision or not. Is another and a fur ther consideration; but that all social agencies that have to do with the boy in one way and another, should seek to in- culcate family appreciation of the value of work and the boys interest in it. is hardly in question.
 1 Fundamentally our entire viewpoint re- ] garding work and the boy. needs some radical readjustment: and as the matter
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-19

Memel East Prussia. is described a a ahd end for the Germans in a bulletin recently issued by the National Geo. graphic society It is the most northerlv town in the empire. lying a few miles from the Russo German frontier. It's mort is midway on the Baltic sea, conveniently located for trade with Stockholm, Sweden. to the north; with Riga and Petrogra d. Russia, to the northeast; with Copenha gen. Denmark, to the west, and with many north German ports. Before the war Memel did a 1ourishing commission business. It's harbor is an excellent one. well improved and protected by two light houses and by forts. It was the center of the Baltic lumber trade Huge rafts of logs were tioated down the Neman river and the Koenig Wilhelm canal every yea from the forests of Russian Poland and western Russia. The lumber produced bv Meme had a well-to-do population of every Baltic port. few months ago Mmel had a well to do population of about 22,0oo, but according to recent dis patches is now in runs. It had thriving trade in transit goods, being a sort of clearing house for agricultural and man ufactured products. It also had a growing iron industry with foundres, shipbuildng yards and factories for making chemicals, machinery, soap and amber ware Its most important business was the export ing of timber and grain. The lumber shipments of Memel were valued at more than $5,0O0,0O0 a year The town was founded by crusaders in 1252. It was first called New Dortmund and later Memel- burg.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-19
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
The Dixie Highway Boosters

The Jefferson County Good Roads as- soclation is to be congratulated, said Hugh MeGeever, "on the splendid enter tainment that they provided for the Dixie highway boosters from Rome, Ga. Gads- den and other points in Alabama visiting Birmingham last week
 The association. through its president, John W. O'Neil. and its secretary, J. A. Hountree, headed a delega ton of % citi- zens In automobiles and met the visitors and escorted them to the Newspaper club, where splendid banquet was served to these delegates. The entertainment was unexpected to these boosters and they appreciated 1t more than words can tell. Since they have returned home the Gads- den and Rome papers are full of praise of the Jefferson County Good Roads asso- ciation for this cordial reception
 By the way, this association is doing excellent work in promoting good roads and taking care of good roads delegations on every occasion that presents itself. Every encouragement should be extended to this organization by the citizens of Jefferson county"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-19
s777777-7--------- X JEWISH NATION

From the Nashville Tennesseean.
 As result of the European war is
 there to be Jewish nation, with a land
 of it's own, a government of it's own. A reassembling of the clements of a na-
 tional life so long scattered throughout
 the earth and so long holding together spiritually though widely sundered physi- cally?
 From time to time We have spoken of the probability of submerged nations com Ing to the surface in the making of peace Poland, Bohemia, Silesia, Hungary-but
 sentimentally al least, the re-establish-
 ment of Jewish nation in Palestine is
 matter of much wider interest than any of the others. And just that thing does
 not appear impossible or even particularly remote.
 For long time there has been a move
 ment of Jews back to their own land Zionism a movement has spread throughout all the lands where Jews are residents, and that means throughout the world Sometimes il takes the form of religious Zionism. Again. it takes the form of political Zionism But heretofore the ostensible object has been to re-estab- fish the holy land a center of social influence for Judaism. In the beginning there probably no thought of estab- fishing Jewish nation. The war how ever. has changed that as it has changed nearly all things
 The holy land Is part of Turkey, as 1 it has been for hundreds of years If | Germany loses, Turkey goes rrevocaby to pieces, There will remain nothing of l Turkey in Europe, and the victors will do as they see fit with Turkey in Asia | Jews interested in the Zionist movement have seen the opportunity that the war offers for national rehabilitation. l This week, the Independent Order of B Rith Abraham has been in annual con- l vention at Atlantic City. Delegates were present from all parts of the United l States. There was discussion of the pos
 sibility of having Palestine created an
 independent Jewish state. So hopeful was | the outlook that Louis Brandies of Bos- | ton declared, 'zlonism is no longer a l dream--it Is now a fact"
 With Turkey not to be consulted in the negotiation, there would probably be lit | tie objection to the establishment of Pal estne as an independent Jewish state In the negotiations, Jewish citizens of Great ! Britain and of France would sit. Russia which has not treated the Jews so consid-
 erately as the more westernly nations of
 Europe, would probably be glad enough to
 create this outlet for her surplus Jewish population. On the surface of things, no serious objection would seem to exist any where. The possibility of a Jewish na- ton does not appear at all remote
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-19

of such readiustmenti is all the more conn plex, we consider the city boy, so is
 there need of giving 1t more serious
 thought. We should seek to incorporate tuition in work in the public school sys-
 teia itself. and to bring about such CO., operation between the schools, the boys
 and the managers of industry, that the boy himself will come to look upon use- ful occupation as pleasure and a pride for the qualification of which he will not fail to find opportunity.
 If we have the social wisdom to devise such system and develop it to work ahle status, this quandary over the idle
 hoy during the school vacation will we'll
 nigh vanish. The results so far as the
 boy is concerned will be immeasurably beneficial
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-19
At the Athletic Club

That was a most successful swimming contest and exhibition held at the club Thursday night,' remarked Ed L. Ander- son, recently reelected president of the Birmingham Athletic club.
 There were some very spectacular feats performed by our athletes and many of those present expressed great pleasure at tho manner in which the event was pulled off. large number of ladies were in
 attendance, who showed the greatest in- terest in the affair. There are, indeed, a great number of lady members of the club, and our social functions are rem
 dered most pleasant by their presence on different occasions. It is for this reason that we have decided 10 make the insti- tuition more attractive than ever to the
 ladies, and have accordingly placed the pool and other parts of the building at their disposal between the hours of 9:3
 and 1l.3o on Mondays. Wednesdays and Fridays of each week and are organizing swimming classes for those who wish to
 learn the aquatic art
 "Only a nominal charge is made to those who take out limited membership
 for the summer months, and great num- bers are now coming forward to avail
 themselves of the opportunity of learning to swim under the supervision of our skilled instructors. Tn fact 1t would be
 surprising to know the number of ladies who are interested in swimming. A number
 are learning the art so as to be able to ride the waves at the seaside resorts
 this summer, and our instructor guar
 antees that no one will fall to be able to
 swim at the end of the season here The interest manifested by the lady frienda of the club served to give additional life to the organization, and our members are always at the commands of these pa
 trons."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-19
ROUGH ON TOMMY

From the Chicago Herald
 The mails from home had just been re. ceived by a certain regiment Not only were there letters. but many parcels from rela tives and friends at home for lucky soldiers. One of the Tommes received large box addressed to himself, and with a triumphant yell he rushed off to his companys lines and gathered them around him to share in the eagerly antic- ipated contents of his box
 Smokes, lads.' he cried as he undid the wrappngs. From the old man; know it. An there's sure to be a bottle or two of Scotch.'
 He opened the box, gave one look at the contents, and collapsed in a heap.
 What is t?" cried his comrades. press- ing around.
 Its from old Auntie Mary,v groaned the disappointed warrior. "Bandages an ointment an embrocation an splints. an a book on low To Be Your Own Sur gin'!'