davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-21

1 allotted for the legislatures per diem extravagance.
 In this little article mention should be ! made of the fact that the serious senate considered the unusual '.jaybird" bill. One of the humorous members introduced measure providing that all cherry trees be cut down in order that jaybirds might not become intoxicated. Lieutenant Gov einor Kilby, without power to rebuke frivolity in a direct manner, pursued the indirect course by referring the bill to the 'wastebasket'' committees. But the senator was not to be estopped so easily. If the president will indicate" he de- clared in stentorian tone. where and un- der what circumstances this committee will meet, will be present in order to sustain the merits of my bill by subtle argument
 The lieutenant governor considerably nettled by this time retorted:
 'The gentleman may secure the infor- nation he seeks from the doorkeeper.,
 But of all ridiculous legislation enacted the supreme was that which makes it now impossible to buy on any newsstand in Alabama a copy of metropolitan newspaper, or of Life or Judge or Puck. or of the Cosmopolitan, Pearson's, Aims lees, Vogue, and of many other maga- zines.
 That bit of legislation has given and will continue to give Alabama 'blacll eye in that it will make the state the subject of continental laughter It is the invariable custom of travellers, on reach ing distant city, to buy copies of the newspapers published back home" And yet in Alabama, no resident of New York can purchase a New York daily unless before its sale an industrious newsdealer has cut it to pieces and destroyed many of it's ''stories'' in an enort to keep from the eye of Alabamians a horrid whisky advertisement
 One afternoon in the senate, NIT. Holmes of Baldwin exclaimed:
 Lest I be reckoned as one cohabiting with the cohorts of illiteracy I vote against this bill, "
 How much more properly could he have made this statement when the anti-liquor advertising measure was on its final passa ge And he might have added an ad- ditional reason for his opposition, Lest be numbered as one of the ridiculous as well as iliterate!''
 But instead of opposing the anti-adver- Using bill he gave it superb support.
 HUGH w. ROBERTS.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-21
KaiSer's Worried Look

The Emperor William is not an old man, being yet well under 60, but judging from recent photographs he is fast aging. He looks haggard and depressed.
 Always high spirited, pictures taken of him year ago were marked by dash and vigor. No King or ruler of modern times has been so self centered as the German Emperor, and no one has had quite so proud a bear- ing.
 With all his egoism the Kaiser was regarded as man of brilliant talents and exceptional capacity for leader ship. Even his enemies admitted that he possessed some of the elements of greatness. But the war has broken his spirit. According to recent rumors the Emperor now appears to those around him as if he saw the hand writing on the wall. But no matter what the gossip may be his photo graphs tell the tale. He is the pie ture of woe.
 Germany's ultimate defeat in this war seemed almost certain many weeks ago, but recent events have developed a critical situation that makes defeat seem absolutely certain. But the war lord will go down in disaster as resolute as when he first led his legions to the battlefield.
 It is generally believed that the war will come to a close during this year. It need not be surprising if peace negotiations are started before the summer is past.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-21
Continued Business Improvement

Business conditions in most parts of the country continue to improve There has been marked improvement eince early in the year, and within the past two weeks the steel trade, one of the greatest of business barome- ters, has shown large gains.
 The west is exceptionally prosper ous, and the western railroads have greatly increased their earnings with in the past six months. The eastern lines are showing an appreciable in- crease in traffic, and there is some improvement with the southern roads. The movement in fertilizers will be larger than was expected a month or two ago, and that will help keep the southern lines busy until the latter part of March.
 The enormous trade balance in favor of this country has given stability to all large trading, and it is believed that before spring is well advanced business conditions, even in the south, will be approaching normal. The op- timist is justified in his optimism now, even if it were not so last fall.
 An era of record breaking pros perity is setting in and it will proba- bly, extend over period of several
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-21
Temporary Judge Needed at Once

The Jefferson county solicitors of flee has been often criticized unjustly With an energetic solicitor and ener. getic criminal judges the docket should be kept clear; so critics, who have spoken hastily and without the facts in mind, have contended.
 But the dockets in this county have become so large that no judges un- less they be more than human could well catch up. And the same may be said of the solicitor in his work of getting cases ready for trial. What is needed at once is a temporary addi- tional judge to help clean up the clogged docket
 Solicitor Black has written a letter 1 to the governor setting forth clearly the situation and urging the im- portance of immediate relief. On December 21 the docket showed a total of 323S cases. Of this vast num- Der 92 were capital cases.
 A bill for the appointment of an emergency judge-a temporary addi- tional judge-passed both houses of the legislature and is now on the gov ernor,s desk awaiting the executive signature. But there is an intima- tion that the governor may veto the measure. That could hardly be. The governor simply wishes, no doubt, to have time to look thoroughly into the matter of constitutional requirements. But as the solicitor points out all the constitutional conditions have been met. The governor may think that he himself should have the right to appoint the temporary judge, but the law as it stands leaves the responsi- bility to the two regular incumbents of the criminal bench. Should, how ever, the governor exercise his right of veto the legislature, when it meets in July, would probably pass it again. But that would delay relief when inn mediate action is most pressing.
 It is hoped the governor will see his way clear to attach his signature to the bill
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-21
A Model Industry

The proposed new tinplate plant at Pittsburg will be, it is claimed, the largest and most modern plant of its kind in the world. The McKeesport Tinplate company will build twenty new mills at total cost of $1, 800, ,000, and will double their present capacity. The number of employees will be in- creased from 1900 to 5000. A pay roll which is now $1,5OO,OO0 annually will be raised to $3,OOO,OO0. The present capacity of the company is 1,800, ,00O boxes of tin. With twenty new mills in operation the output will be 3,50O,- 900 boxes. It is planned to have this
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-21
WAR ECHOES

From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
 The cables brought word few days ago of the arrival of the German cruiser Karlsruhe at her home port, Wilhelms- I haven, safe and sound. If this be true. it concludes the record of the most re-
 markable sea raiding exploit in history. For six months the Karlsruhe (27-knot cruiser, with 960 men and 12 four-inch
 guns) swept the high seas like the Fly ing Dutchman of the fable appearing
 hither and yon where least expected and never entering any port. So far as the world knows she coaled and provisioned during all that time solely from captive ships. When marine growth upon her hull slowed her down dangerously, she accomplished the feat of cleaning her bottom at sea. She destroyed $7000,000 worth of enemy shipping and fought two running battles with enemy cruisers. without losing man or (except possibly on the enemy cruisers) taking a human life. Captain Kohler scrupulously looked after the safety of every person on the ships he captured and sank; he sent them all to neutral ports in captive conveys.
 If he has finally brought his ship home through the enemy's blockading squad- rons, as reported from Wilhelmshaven, he has given Germany fine naval tra- dition and has written his own name high in naval annals.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-21
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Chicago a Busy City

Chicago felt the business depression o last fall as much as most cities, and UT to month ago conditions were far from good, but there has been a wonderful improvement in February" said Charles r. Arsell of the lake metropolis.
 There seems to be distinct movement toward complete business recovery. h. dustries in Chicago that were operating at only % per cent capacity are now up to 75 or 80. General trade is brisk. and it is safe to say that Chicago is buster today than it has been at any time within the past F months.
 "The abounding prosperity in the west is being reflected, as a matter of course, in Chicago 55a
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-21
A Farm and Greenhouse

T have a small farm and large green house within four or five miles of the center of Birmingham" said M. F. Mad dox, who has been a resident of Jefferson county for many years.
 T have planted several acres of wheat this year and expect to raise at least 25 bushels to the acre This is not the first time that l have produced wheat. I have been very successful heretofore on land in this county. I raise early vegetables in my greenhouse. l now have cauli- flower, cucumbers. beets and many other vegetables growing rapidly underneath the glass panes. These will soon be bringing fancy prices on the Birmingham market. Diversifcation of crops is an excellent move for the farmers of this state to undertake'"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-21
Newsdealers and LiuuOr

"A few news dealers may be able to continue in business, even without carry ing papers and magazines printing liquor salesman. But this law which a fanati- cal legislature has passed makes laugh ing stock of the cities of the state. Every visitor to Birmingham looks for a New York paper or Chicago paper or some other daily paper published in or near his home town. All people stopping at first class hotels expect to find on the news stands such popular weekly publications as Life, Puck and Judge. But if this new law of prohibition holds, the visitor must do without them so long as he re- mains in a prohibition-ridden state. Dras- tic prohibition itself is bad enough, but this is not the only prohibition state The travelling public is used to running into such states in the south and west But prohibiting the sale of New York papers and papers published in other cities out side of Alabama is the limit. Birming- ham will certainly get a bad advertise ment from this latest evidence of small mindedness on the part of somebody.
 "The drastic clauses in the proposed prohibition amendment to the constitution caused reaction that resulted in the re- turn of the saloon. This latest legisla- tior will produce the same kind of reac- ton There are thousands of individual prohibitionists and near prohibitionists who will react in 191S.''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-21
A PERILous PROJECT.

] do not fear submarine
 At least, not where | stand, Some distance from the sea, I ween. And safely on dry land. However. travel on the deep
 Just now l do not choose: lis better far at home to keep Than p'rhaps ones life to lose. Or else to be so badly scared
 By ills that might befall, Fen though one unmolested fared, He'd hardly sleep at all.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-21
A TRUE LENT

By Robert Herrick. In this fast-to keep The larder lean,
 And clean From fat of veals and sheep? Is it to quit the dish Of flesh, yet still
 To fill The platter high with fish? Is it to fast an hour, Or ragg'd to go,
 Or show A downcast look and sour? No! 'tis a fast to dolo Thy sheaf of whe0
 And meat, Unto the hungry so0S It is a fast from strife, From old debate
 And hate To circumcise thy life. To show a heart grief-rent; To starve thy sin,
 Not bin And that's to keep thy Lsnt
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-21
NOT A BAD SCHEME.

Il understand you are planning to have a garden this year, Mir. Burbing?"
 That IS my usual custom
 Then you have garden every year?, "Oh, no. l merely plant to have one and then graciously permit my neighbors to send me all the vegetables I want"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-21

is such a strong sentiment among the
 members of the legislature to cut out the s144,O00 for building state aid roads and to cut down the appropriation for maintaining the state highway depart-
 ment. I believe that the members of the legislature, when they return to their homes and discuss good roads legisla-
 tion with their people, will find a strong sentiment to re-enact the state aid appropriation as well as to make the state highway department a permanent boHy The Alabama Good Roads association will send strong appeal to the good roads advocates in every county to urge their member in the senate and legislature to support the good roads legislation that is be- ing advocated by the association and it Is thought that enough interest will be aroused to secure the passage of the measures that they desire on the re-
 converting of the legislature in July
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-21
ALABAMA's PLIGHT

From the Houston Post What most distresses us about Alabama Is that the majority of the people of the state are really sensible and the legisla- ture makes it appear that they are suffer- ing from Hobson dementia.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-21

Dr. Oates, state prison inspector, seems to have lost his job because he did his child labor bill that recently became a
 law couldn't be expected to care whether or not Alabama's jais are fit for human habita ton.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-21
From Popular Mechanics.


 French military airmen are employing new weapon, known as a ''1echette, " which is proving to be as effective in harassing the personnel of an army as any offensive instrument yet designed for use with lighter-than-air machines. It consists of a steel arrow of about the same size and much the same appear ance as lead pencil. The head of it is tapered while lengthwise grooves serve to give it the proper balance and allow it to travel through the air point down. ward. score or more of these are dropped at one time over a trench. A | report of the effect of these arrows fall ing from a height of about 5000 feet, states that one of them, striking a sol dier on the shoulder, passed entirely through his body, and traversed the length of his leg, emerging through his foot. A picture of one of these arrows appears in the March Popular Mechanics Maga zine.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-21

If there are any real statesmen in the United States, now is the time for them of their country.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-21
LACK OF FORESIGHT.

No matter where you chance to go, You're very apt to meet The man who'od make a pile of dough 1T he could just buy wheat
 Birmingham Age-Herald, Another, man will make you smile His name I have forgotten: He would have made a "bloominp nile', If he had cornered cotton.
 Memphis Con,mercial-Appeal.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-21

Maine jury awarded a woman $l16,0OC for breach of promise. Any woman who wants to murder a man should do 1t in Maine, where she will be sure to have the sympathy of the jury.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-21

Sunday golf, Sunday tennis and lest we forget-Sunday football And we hear him declare in his argument supporting this bill that his grandfather throughout a period of 50 years saw no Sunday fire burning in the family's kitchen stove And next he tries his hand at so circumscrib- ing the liberty of his bovine majesty that if he is eventually successful. the gentle man COW will no longer have license to exclaim when green is the grass in the springtime, "of all the beasts that roam the field. I'd rather be bull'' topic of discussion, serious and extended debate was had as to whether or not the roaming of beast should be restricted al the age of six months or one year
 This debate would have been worthy of Calhoun and Clay and Webster, and the pleasure of the day would have been com piete, had there been on the scene an- other Patrick Henry with eloquence and lire sufficient to put his immortal ex- clamation into the mouth of the bull.
 MT. Bonner is one of the leading lights O. the senate. He is a good fellow But il he had his way, Alabama would be transformed into a commonwealth to live Tn which would be unpleasant, indeed For he would not only make of this state d desert without an oasis. but he would de- prive the people of their bulls and a considerable portion of the people of their Sunday football.
 It would be impossible, however, to con sder all the. humorous measures in the 1 discussion of which the legislature has cost the state SLIGO day. It has been recorded, already, that the senate actually passed a bill by Mr. Brown of Tusca- loosa under the provision of which city newspaper could charge no mora for political advertising that rural weekly with circulation confined to inc block in which occasionally it is born. And the senate actually passed a bill bv MT. Jones of Barbour under the provisions oI which there would be three divisions Of the circuit court in that comparatively small county The absurdity of this bill IS readily recognized when 1t is recalled that of the circuit court there is but ono division in Montgomery, Mobile and Jeff ferson And yet, the senate in passing eh's biii' and the house in first indefinitely pcstponing it's consideration and later in returning it from committee with adverse report, spent large portion of that s11oo "h'ch IS the sum up to the present time,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-21

soil there Is apparently nothing to pre- vent his fight with Professor Willard, called the white despair" unless Pro- lessor Willard loses his nerve at the last moment.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-21
State Highway Department

"J A. Rountree, secretary of the Ala bama Good Roads association and sec- retary of the United States Good Roads association. reports to the good roads advocates of the state that the legis- lature adjourned without making pro- visions for the permanency of the state highway department and continuing the $144,0OO appropriation annually for state aid roads," said a good roads pio- neer.
 Under the law the state highway commission was created for four years only and no provisions were made in the act for continuing it or for the ap- pointment of successors. Hence in April that body will pass out of existence. according to the opinion of some of the best lawyers in the senate and house as we'll as other legal author ities. The commission is honorary and does not come under the head Of of fees of pay and was created for spe- cific purpose and for a stated time. It is unfortunate for the cause of good roads that the state highway department and the annual appropriation will go out of existence and that new law will have to be enacted to continue the work.
 Tt is greatly to be regretted that the legislature did not make provisions for continuing the commission until the split session which convenes on July IS. It is also regretted that there
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-21

The crop diversification movement in Ala bama is proving immensely popular. Ala bama is not to be judged by the antics of it's legislature.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-21

England is said to have a new howitzer that can be heard for 20 miles. However sound waves don't batter down any ca thedrals.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-21
EASY TO PLEASE

He takes things as they come eh?' Yes. It's all one to him whether if happens to be trolley car or jitney bus"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-21

Lower California has also developed a revolution said to be financed by Amer ican capital. The peace zone is being gradually restricted.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-21
NOTHING IMPOSSIBLE.

You say Mrs. Gaddersly is the social arbiter of this town?''
 Yes, and all powerful Why that woman could make malaria a fashion. able complaint"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-21

President Wilson says this country has thinking spaces" The time has come when everybody ought to think
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-21
ADRlFT WITH THE TIMES

brass band to draw a crowd On one occasion Mir Fields company was booked at Mobile theatre. The house was sold out in advance and, as is customary in box-offices when all the tickets for a coming attraction are sold, the rack was filled with the tickets of the next show Mir. Field walked into the box-office on the day he was to appear at the theatre and saw the rack was full, with the ex- ception of ten or twelve tickets. Turn ing to Jake Tannenbaum, the manager ATr. Field asked, Are those my tickets on sale?' Mir. Tannenbaum being slightly deaf, did not understand the question and said, Yes" MT. Field rushed out into the lobby and called to that band,' The musicians were quickly assembled and MT. Field paraded all over Mobile for two hours or more Return- ing to the theatre, he found the lobby jammed with crowd of people who were besieging the box-office. The ticket seller was shouting, "very sorry. people, but everything for Mir. Fields show is sold out!' A smile of satisfaction spread over the face of the veteran minstre4 and he said, That band never fails to get 'em.' PAUL COOK
 fused, but-also quack-like-she offered to give up the formula for e5000 (S25,00O). At tempts were made to raise this amount by public subscription, but without suc- cess. In spite of the fact that many contributed to this fund. only about G1300 was raised. Parliament was then peti- tfcned to make grant, which, in due time, it did. Mrs. Stephens got her f50Oo and the public got her formula" The latter was published in the London Ga zette. The "cure" consisted of egg shells. snails (shells and alb, hips and haws, ash keys, swine cress and various other vegete bles all burned to cinder and the ash mixed with camomile flowers and fen nei and other vegetables. But alas, Now that the public knew what was in Mrs. Stephens nostrum, 1t would have none of 1t. The cure fell into disrepute. and finally went the way of all such frauds. into oblivion. Dr. Hartley died of the disease of which he believed Mrs Stephens had cured him.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-21

The question is being asked, How far will the Kaiser go?" He's the sort of man who believes in going as far as he can.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-21
AL. FIELDS BAND.

Brown Parks. of the Jefferson theatre says Al. G. Field, the popular minstrel is a great believer in the efficacy of q
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-21

According to the English view, the flag of Germany on the sea is now equivalent to the Jolly Roger
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-21

Legislators who loom large in Montgom- cry come to Birmingham and are quickly lost in the crowd.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-21

Henry Ford says it Is easy to make $1,- O0o,O00 a week. He means comparatively easy" of course
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-21

Japan says she wouldn't take the Philip pines as a gift. Mr. Hobson, however re- fuses to be paefied.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-21

BEGINNING THE DAY-O God, I thank Thee for the morning with It's sparkling mir, its dew-washed earth. It's train of fresh mercies, it's new chance. May | answer it's call, may ! bathe myself In it's promise and its balm. In Christ's name. Amen.-H. M. E.