davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-19
THE FILM FACE


 And now it's the film face!
 Not so long ago lot was heard about the motor car face, an affliction which spread over the country like wildnre and settled upon those who. continually drovs or dodged motor cars. Tt Is readily accepted fact that those of the popula- ton of the United States fortunate enough to drive motor cars are unfortu- nate enough to have to dodge them; % the vast import of an epidemic of this character is easy to understand. Ask any alienist who specializes on motor madness.
 Another epidemic. more malignant even. has seized the country in it's grip. new sculptor has come to work on the expression of our faces. This time it is a case of movie madness. The little jiegly god of the film threatens to develop new and startling styles in facial architec- ture. Few and far between are the faces that will not be influenced, for the per- son nowadays who does not go to the movies is as rare as a German sausage in French restaurant.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-19
Jackson Highway Pathfinders

The commission appointed at the recent Nashville meeting of the Jack son Highway association to inspect the proposed routes between Tennessee and the gulf and report their recom- mendations to the associations board of directors for final action, has reached New Orleans via Mississippi, and will start on the return trip Wednesday by the way of Mobile, Montgomery and Birmingham. The commissioners, or pathfinders, as they are called, are "neutrals, ' that is to say, they come from states north of Tennessee and are, there fore, not personally biased in favor of either Mississippi or Alabama. They will recommend the route they think the best and from general Viewpoint the most logical.
 To carry out the idea of sentiment, the historic roads over which Gen. eral Andrew Jackson passed during his military activities in this region, will have due consideration, but re- gard must be had also for other ques- tions. As for the historic equation, each through route and each branch line in the contest touches a Jackson trail. The matters, then, of most practical importance are those per- taining to the condition of the road way, scenic charm and the attractive character of the cities along the route.
 The Mississippi route has much in 1 it's favor, but the Alabama route has much more. We have larger per centage of improved highway on the proposed Jackson line than has our sister state, and the unimproved links will be made into fine roads without any delay. As for cities of tourist interest, Mobile, Montgomery and Bir- mingham will have a large appeal for all northern automobilists.
 l The pathfinders will reach Bir- mingham in few days and they will be most cordially greeted. They will decide the route question on it's merits, and that being so, Birming ham is almost certain to be on the Jackson highway.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-19
CHASsEuRS ALPINs


 From ''The Retaking of Alsace" by E. Alexander Powell, in the November Scrbner
 When the history of the campaign in the Vosges comes to be written, great many pages will have to be devoted to recount ing the exploits of the chasseurs alpins. The Blue Devils,' as the Germans have dubbed them, are the hghlanders of the French army, being recruited from the French slopes of the Alps and the Pyrenees. Tough as rawhide, hard as nails, keen as razors, they are the ideal troops for mountain warfare. They wear a distinctive dark blue uniform, and the beret or cap of the French Alps, flat topped, jaunty head-dress which is brother to the tam-o' -shanter. The frontier of Alsace. from point opposite Strasburg to point opposite Mulhausenl follows the summit of the Vosges, and over this range which in places is nearly a mile in height, have poured the French armies of invasion. In the Van of those armies have marched the chasseurs alpins, drag gng their guns by hand up the almost sheer precipices, and dragging the gun mules up after them advancing through forests so dense that they had to chop paths for the line regiments which fol- lowed them; carrying by storm the ap- parently impregnable positions held by the Germans; sleeping on the heights which they had captured often without blankets, with the mercury lowering near zero; taking their batteries into positions where it was believed that no batteries could go raining shells from those bat teries upon the wooded slopes ahead, and under cover of that fire, advancing all ways advancing. Think of what it meant to get a great army over such a moun- tain range in the face of desperate op- position; think of the labor involved in transporting the enormous supplies of food, clothing, and ammunition required by that army; think of the sufferngs of the wounded who had to be taken back across those mountains. many of them in the depths of winter sometimes in filters, sometimes dashed to the backs of mules.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-19
Chose the Laws of God

Seldom is a man sentenced to death in the courts of the United States without trial by jury or the usual procedure of indictment, but such a case, probably the first, came to light sl Baltimore city court several days ,go.
 A woman, bent by the weight of years and with her age further pro- claimed by the lines etched deep into her countenance, stood before the judge making her plea for mercy. She had son, worthless son, who, coming home in the early hours of the morning in a drunken condition, was wont to beat and curse her.
 Under questions the faithful moth- CT was reluctantly forced to admit that the son on the previous morning had dragged her from the bed, cursed her and beaten her into unconscious ness. Her battered face told it's own story. She ended with fearful plea for mercy for the brute who stood by with downcast head unable to utter a word in attenuation.
 At the close of the mothers story the judge turned to the son and said: John Benyes you are charged with cursing and beating your aged mother. Do you want to be tried by the laws of God or man ?"
 Benyes was surprised. The laws of God were strange to him. He was fa- miliar with the procedure of nearly every court but this one, and he thought he saw a chance. So he ex- pressed preference for the laws of God.
 Judge Levison, who was sitting on the case, called for the clerks Bible and opened it at the book of Levticus He turned the pages until he reached the twentieth chapter and ran his finger down the page to the ninth verse. Then he read very solemnly:
 "For everyone that curseth his father or mother shall be surely put to death; he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood be upon him."
 "The laws of God condemn you to death," solemnly declared the judge, "but it is within my power to enforce only the laws of man, and under these laws l give you six months in the house of correction.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-19
Rats

There have been crusades and cru sades, but it has remained for the lit- tie town of Coleman, Tex, to launch an anti-rat crusade. Coleman has been so rat infested that something had to be done. So the county judge was prevailed upon to act as Pied Piper"
 The judge designated October IS as Rat Killing Day." and enlisted the children of the town and Coleman county by offering cash prizes for the laregst collections of rat tails.
 Sometime ago the department of agriculture issued pamphlet giving data on the loss incurred in this coun- try through the rat pest. The figures given were startling, showing a loss of millions of dollars every year.
 Farmers and grainmen are heavy losers by reason of the amount of grain and feed stuffs eaten or dam aged by rats. Grain elevators and warehouses are heavy losers. The rodents do great damage to buildings by reason of their gnawing, and are credited with being responsible for many costly fires.
 They destroy works of art, they gnaw the insulation from electric wiring, they carry contagious dis eases, especially the dread bubonic plague. Altogether, there is every ar- gument against and none in favor of the rat, and the fact that no more general fight is being waged against the pest, is an amazing example of short-sightedness.
 But one days crusade will not en- tirely eradicate the evil-it will re- quire widespread and persistent ef- fort.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-19

From the St Louis Post Dispatch.
 We waste 2,000,O00 tons of coal year In St. Louis, says Professor Ohle of up in smoke--and, worse, comes down. In other words. about 20 per cent of the soft coal used In St. Louis Is wasted through imperfect combustion repre- sented in smoke. This is nothing new. We have frequently printed the figures on it. But it is horrible to contemplate In the terms of sheer waste of coal and even more horrible to inhale in fumes The two million tons of coal that we waste in breathing and begrim- ing ourselves would run several good sized railroads, not to mention factories, and 1t would warm the poor all win ter. If we could save it toward power efficiency 1t would vastly increase hu- man efficiency all around.
 It would save lives. doctors bills, laundry bills and toilet soap. It would save trees. shrubbery, scenery and arch itecture. It would improve facial land = scape and we should instantly recog- nize each other on the streets. Our Lon don fogs would vanish. There would be fewer cold cats rubbing pathetically against neglected stoves. There would be less window washing, influenza and sneezins at grand opera. There would be highly enhanced reputation for a nice, clean St. Louis and everybody in town would feel more self-respect, in- cluding our nice, warm poor
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-19
Commissioner Barber

Arlie Barber was yesterday elected to the vacancy on the board of city commissioners by a majority of 1923.
 While MT. Barber has been con- sidered rather cratic in his speeches and writings, he is man of intense energy. He is earnest and enthusias tic and if he will exert his energy and ability to the upbuilding of Birming ham he has the opportunity to do a great and good work.
 The people of Birmingham will watch MT. Barber's work on the com mission with keen interest.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-19
National Defense Day

T have just read in one of the local papers that the American Defense society hao set December as Defense Day." said Rischard T. Robins of Philadelphia
 The National Security league and other patriotic organizations will doubtless fol- low suit It is good move.
 am not democrat, but l wish to see President Wilson's army and navy pro- gramme enacted into law It is not A party measure Most of the republicans in Congress are supporting the admins tration in it's national defense policy. The only opposition will come from demo- cratic members, notwithstanding the fact that the passage of the administration bills along the line of preparedness would rebound to the credit of the democratic party.
 Some people may think that Secretary of War Garrison is urging a large in . crease in the military establishment be- cause of the belligerent frenzy of Europe But it is known in army circles that the secretary took up the question of strengthening the national defense and creating much larger army than this country has ever had, at least six months before the European war began; and some weeks before Austria declared war on Servia a board of officers had started to work on plans for reorganizng and aug mentng the regular army. ~.
 The United States does not need and should not have a great standing army, such as the old world nations maintain, but we should have something like the trained force that Secretary Garrison rec ommends."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-19
WOMEN LIKE NEW PENS

From the New York Times.
 The management of the WoIcott does not know whether to put chain on its new feather pen. It trusts it's patrons, but most of the people who write on hotel stationery in New York are persons who do not stop in the hotel. They just come in and use the stamped letter paper and give their friends in the coun- money for their rooms and their meals than they actually are.
 In opening it's new writing room Thurs day the management of the Wolcott in- stalled a pen-not a quil-but a pen with an eagles feather for a handle, and the pen immediately became popular. Women seemed to like to write with it.
 During the afternoon woman, whose hat was not noticeably profuse in feather decoration. entered the side door of the hotel. Nobody saw her come into the lobby, and subsequent events deter- mined that she got no further than the writing room. She saw the pen It is not known whether she wrote with 1t. but 1t is demonstratable that she coveted it. Only the liveried footman at the dvor saw her go out.
 Sometime late in the afternoon the maid reported that the eagle pen had disap- peared. Inquiry was made. The foot man happened to hear of the loss, and asked that the pen be described.
 Gosh! Why saw a woman come out of tho side entrance a little while age wearing that pen in her hat" he said Another eagles feather was put in the ladies' writing room, and the attendants at tho door have been instructed to sig nal if 1t starts to leave the hotel by the side door.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-19
From the Houston Post.

From the Houston Post.
 "HE Birmingham Age-Herald be-
 lieves that the farmers of the south
 \ will be encouraged to try for rec ord crop next year. because Of the satis- factory prices being obtained for the re- duced crop of the present year. That, of course, is generally the case. Short pro- duction and high prices one year are usually followed by overproduction and low prices the next.
 But we believe the farmers are going to gauge their cotton acreage next year by the prospects they face when the time comes for them to plant their crops. If the war is still in progress next spring. it will not be so difficult to form some opinion with respect to the cotton needs of the world. The experts will be able to figure out about what the world will need and what part of the total crop may be expected from other cotton producing countries. Whether there will be need for 15, ,0OO, ,0O0 bales next year, as The Age Herald thinks probable, is not now appar- ent, although there is reasonable cer- tainty that the south will he justified in DfOQuclnS d H1dtctldlly ldISCi ttOP th0t has been produced this year.
 In any event we must cling to the hope that the southern farmers will not permit their eagerness to increase their cotton production to discourage them from persevering in growing other crops
 The largely increased corn production of the south this year has been an undis- guised blessing. Probably the south is not yet producing all the corn 1t really needs, as it is certainly far short of pro ducing its own requirements of wheat and oats.
 In Texas we shall send out of the state far less money for meat than usual, and Re have probably three-fourths of our corn requirements Many or our farmers have learned that their net profits have been greater with reduced cotton yield because they have raised sufficiency of grain and forage, as we'll as food, for their own tables With their experience of this year. they will scarcely be apt to increase their cotton acreage at the expense of these other crops which have contributed so materially to their pros perity.
 Nearly every derHldh idrrucf III IoAas' and there are thousands of them, has fed his family from his own farm. sup. piled his work animals. COWS. hogs and poultry from the same source, and besides has enjoyed a steady cash income from l his garden. His cotton represents his 1 net profit, and he ia not harassed by
 debts at the bank and the store or taxea l at tho courthouse.
 1 No German farmer vii, be tempted by l high priced cotton to increase his acre ago at the sacrifice of his grain and for. | ass crops. because he knows that if he iu compelled to buy grain and forage and to
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-19
The SchoOlma'am

A. c. Monahan, who specializes in rural education for the department of the interior, contributes an article to Cartoons Magazine in defense of the schoolma am and, incidentally, the little red schoolhouse. Mir. Monahan thinks the "pen-and-ink satirists of America" have done great injustice. both to the little red schoodhouse and its presiding genius by portraying the schoolroom as dungeon and the teacher as "sort of lady demon."
 Hoity! Toity. MT. Monahan is un- necessarily alarmed. The cartoonists are for the most part a good-natured lot and if they occasionally depict the schoolroom as prison for small boys, as Briggs of the Chicago Tribune did recently in one of his clever cartoons, it is all in spirit of fun. The Ameri- can public smiles at the conceit and goes on about its business, thinking none the less of the school and the teacher Nobody really believes that the schoolma'a am is "lady demon,' or anything of the sort. The average small boy considers the first steps to- ward an education irksome and he is not to blame for that, because he nec- essarily has limited outlook on life, but the American sense of humor plays but lightly over the scene and the instrument of his subjugation. It
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-19
Heavy Passenger Traffic

J. P. Thomas, city passenger and ticket agent of the Southern, is gratified at the business done on the Birmingham Special. "The traffic over this train is even better than expected and indicates that the times are better everywhere" said he. We are having heavy tour ist travel and scores of people from the east are pouring into the city each day.
 Birmingham is known all over the country as a progressive and up-to-date city. It's railroad facilities are as good, if not better. than those of any other city of its size in the United States. It is. of course. recognized as one of the great railroad centers in the south The public is quick to notice good railroad service which adds greatly to the att tractiveness of any city,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-19
THE SMALL TOWN FAT ROY

From Cartoons Magazine.
 Every small town has fat boy. How ard is the name of the fat boy in most small towns Of course he is never called Howard outside of the home cir cle. Up to the age of IA years he is called Fatty and after that he Is called Butch. Howard is usually seen munch- ing an apple. His favorite sport is rid ing around on the grocers' wagon with Bill Chidsey. who delivers. When Fat tvs father falls heir to little money he buys Howard pony, and he is also the most successful raiser of rabbits and white mice of any boy in town.
 As a piano player Howard has 1t all over any of Miss Haskells other pupils and twice . week all winter you could see his big and broad rubbers reposing g outside her door.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-19
LAuTERBACH OF THE EMpEN

from the kansas City Star.
 Just to throw in some good mea sure of the wars romance the commander of the Emden has gotten back to Germany after escaping from his British guards in Singapore. The career in one 12-month of Lieutenant Commander Lauterbach out-romances anything in personal his- tory or legend. 1t is crowded with sev- eral. Treasure Islands," Westward Ho's!" Three Muslxeteers" and other fic- tional books of heroes and pirates.
 Lauterbach had adventure and excite ment to last for sometime when he was commanding his dare devil ship. But even they were only preface to the personal adventures that have happened to him since:
 A mutiny of East Indians at Singa- pore. Tn the confusion his escape to sea in a small boat with three of the mutineers. Seven days at sea in the canoe until Sumatra was reached. Then mystery in journey three-quarters way around the world. with Java, Manila and San Francisco as illumined places in the mystery. What risks and con stant perils, what successful impostures, what hazardous interviews and meetings within the still obscured parts of the mystery there were no one can even
 guess. But everyone can know they were plentiful.
 We assume that hero worship and folk lore embellish the tale of the wanderings
 back from the Holy Land of Richard Occur de Lion. We think that the ad- ventures of Don Quixote have been bor- rowed from to add to the story of Ger
 vantes' escape from the Turks. But even If such old time adventures were partly Imagined, the imaginations of the middle ages were far too circumscribed in their experience to take in any small
 part of the experiences of Lauterbach of the Emden.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-19
A Popular Pastors Visit

Ine Rev. Dr. l. D. Steele, former pas tor or the First Cumberland Presbyterian church of Birmingham, but for the past tnree years pastor of large Presbyterian church of the Northern General assembly In Chattanooga, is visiting friends here lie Is one of the most highly esteemed ministers in the south and is being cor olaiiy greeted here in his old home.
 It has been two years since I was in birmingham and there have been many handsome improvements in that time. in- ciuoihs the Tutwiler hotel and the Mol ton hoteL said Dr. Steele. Birmingham mas all the appearance of a rapidly grow Ing city. Its future never looked brighter"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-19
The Real EState Market

mere has been great deal of anma- ton in the real estate market within the past few days, said S. E. Thompson.
 Inquiries for property in a certain in dustrial section are very insstent and here in the city there is considera bla trading. l look for an uncommonlv brisl. market before the end of the year and when real estate does boom there is no telling where it will stop"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-19
THE MAIDEN AND THE LILY

By John Frazer (1750-1S11). A lily in my garden grew.
 Amid the thyme and clover; No fairer lily ever blew,
 Search all the wide world over. Its beauty passed into my heart;
 I know twas very silly, But was then a foolish maid,
 And it-a perfect lily. One day learned man cams by.
 With years of knowledge laden, And him l questioned with a sigh
 Like any foolish maiden: Wise sir, please tell me wherein liee- l know the questions silly The something that my art defies,
 And makes a perfect lily" He smiled, then bending. plucked tho
 flower
 Then tore 1t leaf and petal. And talked to me for half an hour,
 And thought the point to settle: Therein it lies," at length he crte&
 And Fl know 'twas silly Could only weep and say: But whssp0r 0 doctor. where's my lily7r
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-19
A SMALL MATTER
From the Argonaut.

From th6 AfgOnaut.
 man was walking along the street and he saw a house or fire He rushed across the way and rang the bell. Afte, some time lady, who proved to be slightly deaf. appeared at the door.
 Madam. your house is on fire.
 What did you say?'
 The man began dancing up and down. He pointed above. T said your home is afire. Flames bursting out No time to lose!
 What did you say?'
 House afire. Quick"
 The lady smiled. "Is that all?" she sa i'd sweetly.
 Well. replied the man hopelessly. that's all can think of just now''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-19
TROUBLE IN STORE.

Pm not worthy of you, my dear.Y
 'I know it, Henry, but after I take you "So I'm to be made over, eh?''
 ''Oh, mo- You will merely be altered to conform to certain plans and specifica- tions mother and I had in mind before you appeared on the scene."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-19
OUR NEXT COTTON CROP

pay high prices and freight out of the proceeds of his cotton, his net profits will be materially reduced M
 The cotton farmers will be wise to ob- serve closely the trend of the European conflict and avoid an overproduction that might send down the price of the staple and embarrass them. as they were em- barrassed year ago.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-19
IT HAPPENED IN kEokUk

From the Chicago Tribune.
 Proprietor of hotel answering call from room: Hello"
 Voice: We are in Room 30 and now ready to come down."
 Prop: Take the elevator down."
 Voice: 'Is the elevator ready?'
 Proprietor sends bellboy to Room 30 to escort newlyJwedded couple to terra hrma.)
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-19
LUCKY WOODROW

From the Knoxville Journal and Trib-
 une.
 In writing his Thanksgiving procla- nation. the President will be too mod est to refer to one of the blessings that has ovsrtaksn him.