davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1915-02-25
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THE BLIND MANS CREED.


Text, 'One thing know-whereas l was
blind. now 1 see."-John il. Is.
ST. John was evidently very much
interested in this blind man. He has
devoted the whole ninth chapter Of the
book to him, very exceptional thing.
AS Boswell showed his interest In the
life Of johnson and Abbot In the life
OF Napoleon. SO John In this little
sketch showed that he was interested
and that the event was of much impor.
lance John was the disciple Of love.
Love Is sympathetic. Love Is also
ton. so John could put himself in the
blind mans place. The blind miss so
mllch-the green freshness Of spring.
the mellowness OF summer. the glories
Of autumn, the marvels Of winter. "As
Christ passed by he saw blind man"
Looking is not always seeing Christ
saw as he walked. Folks mostly see
what they look for-four leafed clovers,
flowers. babies, buildings. clouds. land
scapeS It's curious to hear folks tell
what they saw In walk-a dress, a
face. an automobile. sick child. Je-
sus saw a blind man. What did his
disciples see? His face was full of
pity. theirs full Of prying curiosity
WHO did sin. this man or his father,
that he was born blind?" There's a
curiosity that Is cruel
Articles of Reiiaion,
The neighbors were also curious.
Curiosity Is not feminine, 1t Is human
Eve was not more curious than Fac.
chaeus. Wonder If that Is the man
born blind?" say they like the way
the man talked The neiyhbors did
not appeal to him. but he. hearing the
debate, interposed and settled the
whole matter. Il am he" He is
bold man who tries to rectify the mis-
takes of his neighbors Then the rul-
ers started to cross question him
They wanted to know how he was
cured. Interested in methods rather
than men. Next: who was 1t gave
you sight? Since 1t was done On the
Sabbath day, was be sinner?'' He
doesn't know any Of these things, but
his answer Is refreshing. "One thing |
know. was blind. now seer That
sounds like the bark of five inch
rapidfire gun. My creed has twenty
FIVE articles Of religion: another has
thirty whine. This mans creed had but
one-"I can seer Most Of us stand up
revcrcntly on Sunday morning and re
peat the Apostles Creed 1t Is good
thing ! suppose the larger a creed is
the better-if man believes it-that IL.
as this man believed his, with his
whole being. Some of US believe too
much. Not more than Is true, but
more than we can respond to-
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1915-02-25
A Greed of Experience.

When the Master was upon the earth
he satisfied different people in differ.
ent ways. He wasn't the same Christ
to each. To the hungry be was bread.
to the thirsty drink, to the deaf hear.
ing. to the blind sight. to the crippled
power of locomotion. That's all they
knew of Christ Their need was their
creed, won't fight folks who can't
believe much. Thomas Chalmers was
once skeptic; so were Robert Hall and
Christmas Evans. | remember how
much Jesus had to say in appreciation
Of faith as large as mustard seed
And Paul said. Him that is weak in
the faith receive you" If your creed
is an experience it is easy to believe.
When they asked this blind man the
o!ogical question he was unable to an
swer. but what he knew he could have
shouted from the housetops, Zone
thing l knOw-l seer You could not
separate that man from his creed. Ev-
cry time he saw bird fly or q leaf
futter be could feel his creed over
again-"I seep A trail hitter spoke
in my church last week. In the coal
region Of Pennsylvania he'd been a
drunkard for twenty-five years. The
Lord had saved him from sin and tax
Ell away his appetite for drink. Yon
couldn't argue that man out Of his ex
perience II you talked seven years and
talk Of Experiencing religion" We
sons Of later years Iengthen our ears
when we ridicule the expression.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1915-02-25
The Unanswerable Argument.

The power Of Christianity has not
been knowledge logic or miracle, but
individuals. changed hearts and lives
Christianity Is most Of all life. The
salt that saved the old Roman world
with all its rottenness and crumblinc
civilization was Christianity. Paul
told his experiences to Agrippa. One
thing he knew. Job says. Il know
that my Redeemer liveth." David
says, II know that the Lord Is great
above all" Martha says. II know that
he shall rise again." Paul says, 81
know whom have believed" Men of
one idea? Surely. But 1t Is such men
who have arrived at definite some
where. Howard In prison reform.
Garrison slavery, Howe sewing MA.
chime. Wesley holiness. Watt steam
engine. Stevenson locomotive. Fulton
steamboat. Columbus new world. One
thing they knew. This blind man
hadn't much chance for knowledge
There were no institutions for the
Blind. no raised letters, nothing but to
sit in the darkness He didn't try TO
pit his knowledge of prophecy and the
Messiah and the legality Of Sabbath
healing against the priests. but there
was one point where he was positive,
well educated. one thing he knew
whereas he was blind. he could now
see! Talk rs men will against Christ
and Christianity. hut. when all IS said
and done. what about this blind man?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-06
German Blockade" of England

The Germans in their war on Eng land have manifested another incon- sistency in their attitude.
 For months, in fact since the be- ginning of the war, German news papers and the German public have been frantic with indignation over what they termed the effort by Eng land to "starve sixty million people" by virtue of her superiority on the sea.
 Now the Germans announce that they will attempt to starve England by declaring a "blockade" on her coasts.
 The announcement need not be taken seriously. Germany has long recognized that England's most vul- nerable spot has been in the matter of food supplies. Every effort has been put forth to hinder shipping to England. Mines have been sown in- discriminatory in the channel and along the coasts, and submarines have reaped heavy toll of commercial shipping. Had it been possible for Germany to do more it would have been done long ere this.
 Dispatches from England declare that sufficient supplies are in hand at present to maintain the population and army without difficulty for one year. This is extremely doubtful and any serious disarrangement of food supplies would be immediately and disastrously felt in the islands.
 Germany at the beginning of hos tilities said there was enough food in the empire for a year, but this has been already disproven by the con- fiscation by the government of all available wheat supplies and regula- tions regarding the making of bread which have forced many bakers tc l The step conts eted will injure Germany more will fid her
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-06
National Defense Must Be Improved

If this Congress, which expires in less than four weeks, cannot see It's way clear, on account of the enormous total of expenditures already agreed upon, to make extraordinary appro- priations for the betterment of the national defense, it should not adjourn without at least providing for the com paratively small increase in the coast artillery asked for by the war depart ment As Secretary Garrison has pointed out unless something like eight thousand men are added to that branch of the service, the coast de- fense guns might as well be dis mantled. It would certainly be poor economy on the part of the govern ment to pay for modern defense equipment and then neglect to man the guns.
 What is needed and what the public has a right to expect is legislation for a general strengthening of both army and navy along lines proposed by members of the administration who have studied the situation and by army and navy officers of boise and long experience.
 While this country should avoid even a semblance of militarism we need an organization larger by 25,0O0 or 30,000 men than the present estab- lishment. Such an increase is needed to make thoroughly efficient the or ganization now constituting the Uni ted States army.
 It may be, and probably will be, a long time before the United States government has a large war on it's hands, but patriotic and thoughtful people are more and more appreciat- ing the importance-then necessity-of preparedness to meet any emergency.
 Within the past two years the demo- crats have enacted into law many measures of far-reaching benefit. If mistakes have been made they have been few. But in the new Congress the leaders must take firm position in favor of materially strengthening the national defense, if the party in power would escape just censure.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-06
CreatOre's Good Music

q never enjoyed a band concert more than I did Creatores at the Jefferson the atre this afternoon said an old music lover last night.
 He had very attractive programme, and one thing l particularly like about Creatore is that he never in his encore pieces plays anything trashy or plays even popular vaudeville songs which are sung or performed so much that they have be- come tiresome. Creatore's extras are as good as his regular numbers. He told me once that when man asked him why he did not play ragtime or the fad tunes of the day his reply was: The stuff you sug- gest can be heard in any cafe on the ex- penditure of a nickel for a cup of coffee or a glass of beer. Then why would you care to pay dollar to hear my band play the same tunes?' Creatore's pro- grammes are well balanced. There is al- ways some light music as we'll as some of the very high class, but every number is artistic
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-06
Chamber of Commerce Election

The annual election of president, vice presidents and directors of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday afternoon, but It was a mere formality, as the nomi- mating committee had presented a ticket which was unopposed.
 Crawford Johnson succeeds Paschal c. Shook as president, and he will make one of the best executive of ficers the chamber has ever had. The committee charged with the duty ot making nominations was fortunate, indeed, in being able to induce man of MT. Johnson's eXacting duties In business life, proven capacity, public spirit and talent for leadership to ac- cept the presidency.
 MT. Shook had an exceptionally successful administration. Although his private business required close at tention, he managed to devote great deal of time to the Chamber of Con- merce and on his initiative much was accomplished for the benefit of this community.
 The Chamber of Commerce has al- ways been a center of influence and a developer of wholesome civic pride. As an organization it has not only grown numerically, but it's potentiali- ty for the upbuilding of Birmingham has steadily increased. It is great factor in whatever makes for the progress of this district. It had a high record of achievement last year and the year before, and un- der MT. Johnson's presidency the chambers high record will be main tained and probably surpassed, for new opportunities may present them selves, and if so, they will be quickly embraced.
 The people of Birmingham extend all good wishes to President Crawford Johnson.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-06
Regarding Legal Holidays

Next Tuesday being Mardi Gras is a legal holiday in Louisiana and has been from time immemorial, and it is also a holiday in Florida and Alabama" said an old citizen.
 q am not one of those who complain that we have too many legal holidays. Alabama has more than most states, but there might be a few more without detri- ment or loss to anybody. At one time we had Mardi Gras carnivals here on large scale but this climate was a little too far north, and the atmosphere was not conducive to Mardi Gras festivities. Mo- bile, however, is a great Mardi Gras city. It has the most brilliant and at- tractive carnivals in the United States except, of course, New Orleans, and on account of Mobiles interest in Mardi Gras we have a state law making the day a holiday.
 up to few years ago Good Friday was a legal holiday in Alabama, but some how or other it was dropped out by the legislature of 1907. It srould be restored | to the list of holidays. The New York World almanac table of holidays has | Good Friday legal holiday in Alabama but it is simply mistake"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-06
High Grade Dogs

Tt is really surprising to one on the outside to learn that there are more high grade dogs in the Birmingham district than possibly in any other section of the south,' said A. E. Lundstrom, promi- nent member of the Birmingham Kennel club. This includes all breeds, and many dog fanciers in the district own dogs that are of the bluest of the blue bloods and of pedigree stock known throughout the world. The kennel club is planning a big show in the early spring, and while there will be many entrees from other sections of the country many of the local dogs will be well up in the running.
 "The dog fancier as a rule is in the game for the love of it and not for any profit or fancied profits that may come from owning prize winning dogs; as a matter of fact it is rather an expensive hobby but once a man has got the bug he rarely quits the game"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-06
AN ICEBERG THREE MILES LONG

On my Journey north, whites Lacey Amy in the February Wide World Mag azine, we had striking evidence of the possibilities of the iceberg even befor we reached Battle Harbor, the most southerly settlement on the Labrador coast. Just before sundown we could see ahead strangely misty object. blending elusively into water and sky in the way that so often takes the heart from photographer. It's fiat horizontal top was its first noticeable feature, but as we approached it's great size made us for get everything else. The captain ran as close as he dared, and its mile of length and 60 feet of height rose near us like a magnified block left at the door by tho iceman-with the difference that on this gigantic block there was enough ice to stock all America for years. Since the opening of navigation it had been in the same place, stranded two miles outside our course. and at that time it was three miles long and a mile wide. On our re- turn some weeks later it was still there.
 but in the moonlight we saw three blocks
 instead of one. The sun was doing ita work
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-06
General Trade Will He Brisk

''The outlook for general trade in all sections of the country is good,' said w. N. Satterfield of Philadelphia.
 'In some parts of the country extreme dullness has prevailed, but there is un- occasionally an improvement now every where. In Philadelphia there is as much optimism as I have ever known, and business has materially improved. New York, Baltimore and other cities that ] have visited recently are apparently en- toying normal conditions once more. The south is certainly in better condition than it was in December when cotton prices struck bottom. The advance in the cot ton market has been great thing for the whole country, and, of course, in a very particular way it has been a good thing for the south. I believe that when we get into the summer business in all lines will be wonderfully brisk"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-06
WHO IS THE TYPICAL AMERICAN.

From the Philadelphia Public Ledger
 Irwin S. Cobb says that it Is George M. Cohan, and explains that he does not forget the existence of either Theodore Roosevelt or Sitting Bull. But some one may ask who George Conan is, as sena- tor Lodge wanted his son-in-law to ex- plain to him whether Connie Mack was a man or brand of underwear. For their benefit it may be said that Cohan Is en- gagged in the trade which Shakespeare made famous, and that he has written dramas beyond the power of that great genius to create, and has acted them in way that would have made the Strat- ford player throw up his hands in despair.
 Before agreeing with MT. Cobb the Anx- ious Searcher after Type would like to know what he regards as typically Ameri- can. If it is financial success, then MT Conan Is eligible. He has accumulated large amount of money, if we may be- lieve his press agents. That is what made the late Pierpont Morgan distinguished are rivals of the agile actor -dramatist in the accumulation of cash; and Mir Weyerhauser, a distinguished western lumberman, piled up more millions thar Mir. Cohan can yet count his own. Al these men are types.
 | There was a time when Mark Hopkins was regarded as great man, and tho | traditions still survives that one A. Lin coin was once called typical of wl.at thi. country would produce. There are old
 fashioned persons so far behind the time. that they would object if we should men ] ton the author of "Forty-five Minute.
 From Broadway in the same paragraph
 with either of these one-time distinguished | Americans.
 | And there are others who would no disagree if we should say that not Cohai
 but Cobb is the typical American. Cal
 any one give a better answer to this burn | ing question?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-06
An Early Spring

'The ground hog forecast was for ar early spring, and l believe we will have it." said a man who has spent the greater part of his life on "a farm ard has always kept tab on the weather
 ''The fact that we have had wind and rain since February does not count against the early spring prediction. Ac- cording to the old notion about the ground hog we should have six weeks of good weather, but if we have little rain now and then it will not count against the forecast.
 There is danger of too much warm weather this month for if the fruit trees bud too early there will be a freeze later and the orchards will be injured, if not ruined. But as far as farm work is con cerned planting season will probably be ideal"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-06

a whale which was mistaken, not by an- other whale, but by a warship. for a sub
 marine boat.
 The body of that whale has been cast
 up on the Dutch coast full of holes made
 by three-inch shells. Perhaps a whale
 resembles a submarine moTe closely than 1t resembles torpedo. There are arch
 ltectural differences, to be sure, which
 would be noted except in moments of ex-
 treme excitement. On and near the North
 sea today, however there is a great deal of excitement, and this doubtless perfect ly neutral creature has suffered in con- sequence of it. There is no evidence that this whale, like his predecessor. loved to swagger and bully" or that the ladies , loved him so." Not being in comic opera, he, or she, presumably had no charac- teristics unusual to the whale of sober
 natural history. No record of the inci-
 dent except the stranding of the mortal
 remnant exists One who would describe the encounter must use his imagination. A Kipling or Bullen might be moved to splendid utterance by contemplation of this tragedy. but in a daily newspaper we must stick to facts, and the ascer- tained facts in this case are scant.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-06

From the Saturday Evening Post.
 Every married woman who does her
 own cooking will agree that man has a
 devil which lives in his stomach There
 Is nothing about which the average man
 is half so cranky as the food he eats.
 Eighty per cent of the petty domestic
 quarrels start at the table; disprove the
 statement if you can.
 What! Chops again? Why in the
 name of all that's good and great can't we have a steak once in while?' why, John, I had nice steak for you Tuesday night and you telephoned that you wouldn't be home for dinner! Went to your old club, I suppose!" "Well, there's one thing about the club T can get what l want there. Now, my mother used to have some variety to her cooking! I remember-." And they are off to a fine flying start with no telling where they will finish; but one thing is certain-the demand foI variety was the cause of the trouble. Variety! How well know that word as applied to the commissary department Ever since the dawn of history people have been complaining about the lack o1 variety in their food. Very likely Noaf had trouble with the crew of the ark big trouble, for his sons brought theil wives along.
 Moses is one Old Testament character who has always had my sympathy. H' led the children of Israel out of Egypt and no sooner were they across the Ret sea than they began to complain abou shortage of food. Mama was sent then from heaven-a miracle; but were the, satisfied? No; they wanted meat, an' | they got quail.
 | The next we hear of them they wer reminding Moses of the melons and tn 1 onions and the leeks they used to hay when they were the slaves of Pharaoh And they wanted fsh-on desert! Wha do you suppose they would have done t
 Moses if they had been paying tbei board?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-06
THE SCHOOL, TEACHER

By William Shenstone. A russet stole was OCT her shoulders A russet kirtle fenced the nipping air; Twas simple russet, but 1t was her own; Twas her own country bred the flock
 so fair;
 Twas her own labor did the fleece pre-
 pare; And sooth to say. her pupils ranged
 around,
 Through pious awe, did term it passing
 rare; For they in gaping wonderment abound. And think. no doubt, she been the great
 est wight on ground. One ancient hen she took delight to feed, The plodding pattern of the busy dame; Which, ever and anon, impelled by need. Into >her school. begirt with chcksnss
 came;
 Such favor did her part department
 claim. And if neglect had lavished on the ground Fragment of bread, she would collect
 the same; e For well she know. and quaintly could What sin it were to waste the smallest
 crumb she found.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-06
The Liberty Bell

The Philadelphia Daughters of the American Revolution protest against the Libery Bell being taken to San Francisco for exhibition purposes. It is said that somewhere along the shores of Lake Michigan, buried beneath sands that have drifted over it for 20 years, lies replica of the Liberty Bell which was an exact model, even to the historic crack. It was sent to the Worlds fair at Chicago and was lost. The Daughters of the American Revolution in Philadelphia fear that a similar fate might overtake the original Liberty Bell, if it were sent across the continent to the Panama Pacific exposition.
 There is some justification for their protest. Although patriotic American citizens who might be called on to transport the relic from Phil adelphia to San Francisco would han dle it with loving care and high re- gard for its historic value, the triI is a long one and an accident might damage the bell, already badly cracked. It is hardly probable that il would be lost, but it is quite likely that the crack might be widened by q trip across the continent in freight car. This is just what it is most de- sired to prevent. Not long ago the crack was reported to be getting wider and it was said that the bell would be supported on jacks.
 The San Francisco fair can get along very well without the Liberty Bell as one of it's exhibits. In fact, the bell. or a replica of it, would not be novelty to fair patrons. There is nc reason why it shouldn't be allowed te rest in Philadelphia, where it natural lv belongs and where it can be seer bv anyone who wishes to do so. Il rather cheapens relic so intimately
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-06
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Good Sign in the Business World

Business conditions here are better than they were at the end of last year. and I am expecting a steady improve ment.' said H. F. Jones of Clark & Jones, piano dealers.
 Tt Is not that we are rushed with bus mess that I say what I do, but I can truthfully state that collections are much better than they have been for months past, and that is one of the very best signs. Slow collections last fall constitut- ed one of the complaints heard through out the south, and l might say through out the whole country. It was no worse in Birmingham than it was in other cities. and now that collections are better-much better-business should pick up materi- ally before the end of the month"