davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-01-11
ADVANCE IN OIL
rom the Pittsburg Sun

FROM the f1ttSDurg sun.
AN advance OF cents a barrel in Penn
sylavnia grade oil and the Kentucky
oils and one Of 10 cents in Corning mark
the turning of the tide after a long
depression following the war embargo
on export shipments. 1t will be a great
help to producers and is particularly
welcome to owners of small wells In
addition to it's Significance of relief
from the war interference it may be
taken as indicating the zenith of the
remarkable Cushing pool in Oklahoma
That pool has never been eGaaled in the
annals of high grade OIL being a
repetition of Cherry Grove on far larger
scale in Its rapid development and uni
form heavy production. Whether the
analogy holds in rapid decline remains
to be seen, but the probabilities are
against such result. because the drill
ing has been restricted to lease require
ments. Cherry Grove, in its phenomenal
career, reached 10000 barrels a day;
Cushing has passed four times that
amount. Many in Pitsburg will remem-
Der the depression caused by Cherry
Grove-some with regret-and the spec
ulative craze that followed. Fortunate
| ly for the Cushing producers there has
been no speculative market to spread
ruin.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-01-11

wv AsHINGToN. January 1o.-Cspe-
w cial)-The most narrowing
tales of distress and poverty
come to us of stricken Belgium. We are
requested to make donations for the
clothing and feeding of these unfor-
tunate people, whose country has been
devastated by grim and relentless war
Our hearts are moved to sympathy for
them, and we dig up our hard-earned
coin for their succor. But pause, gentle
reader, while l draw for you a picture
of woe and misery right here in our
own country, which is a direct result
of this cruel war. Pause, l beg of you.
that we may consider together some
adequate relief for the gloom and sor-
row that has fallen upon a part of our
citzenry with dull thud.
There are at present hundreds of
millionaires in Wall street who are un-
dergoing frightful torture. Many of
them are right square up against 1t.
Stocks and bonds have shrunk up till
they look like a new flannel undershirt
after a hard days washing. Some
stocks are now quoted at only a few
poihts aPoVe ,heir dctuai value a"u
the cellars in the vicinity of Wall street
are flooded with the water which has
been squeezed from valuable securities.
Many prominent brokers who have con-
templated extensive and expensive adj
ditions to their country. and city resi-
dences this year have been compelled
to forego every addition of this kind,
excent a blanket MORTGAGE
The financial district of our great
metropolis is filled with the unem-
ployed. Many poor brokers cannot get
job whereby they can earn an honest
living, because they neglected to get
character from the last place they
worked. Some of them have suffered
the humiliation of having to discharge
one or two of their chauffeurs and have
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-01-11

From the Journal of the American Medi-
cal Association.
X xANY people think but little of the
MI consequences of bad eyes, unless
i blindness or very sore eyes are
threatened or present. Such conditions
are terrible, but they do not threaten the
people or state as much as other eye
diseases that are not apparently pitiable
People who are blind or whose eyes are
hopelessly diseased are usually taken care
of in institutions and do not become a
menace to the public. But school chill
dren whose eyes look all right, but who
have certain diseas SEES or defects that rem
der study and education a hardship may
become danger to other people.
A school child born with an undetected
cataract or very nearsighted, SO that he
cannot see the blackboard, soon falls be-
hind his class and becomes discouraged
with his school life.
A child with far sight, or astigmatsm
or some other defects of the eyes by
which, when he studies his eyes pain and
he suffers from headache will contract a
dislike for books, study and education,
and will perhaps be punished or kept
after school for something for which he is
really not to blame.
Such children, their educational progress
embarrassed CIR almost stopped by reason
of uncorrected physical defects, soon ac-
quire loathing for education and all that
education represents and the seeds of
idleness and iri responsibility being sown,
may develop into criminals and depen-
dents.
No flight of fancy is required to trans
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-01-11
An Athletic Preacher

The Rev. w. A. Sunday, better
known to fame as BILLY" Sunday, the
baseball evangelist, is just now waking
up staid Philadelphia by his dynamic
preaching as that old town has proba-
bly, never been Weakened before. The
newspapers are publishing, not col
umns, but pages about his activities.
He is pictured in all his characteristic
poses, his epigrams are quoted every
where and every word that falls from
his mouth is given due publicity. Run
ming about the pulpit, leaping, shout
Ing, punching holes in the atmos-
phere" and using many other strenu-
GUS gestures until he appears to be
on the verge of prostration, the indom-
table preacher comes up smiling and
fresh for his next "round with the
devil"
Mr.. Sunday is a natural athlete,
with rugged constitution that per-
mits him to undergo an amount of
nervous strain that would kill an Or
binary man, and doubtless his DAYS
on the baseball diamond have helped
him to keep fit" while crusading
against the forces of evil, but he has a
rigid system for conserving his
strength and building it up after an
hour of terrific exhortation on the
platform. Jack Cardiff, former pugil-
list, is Mr.. Sundays trainer. After the
evangelist finishes preaching, his
clothes are soaked with Precipitation
and his collar has lost all semblance
IF its former shape. He is Immediately
wrapped in big overcoat, bundled
into waiting limousine and hurried
10 the residence that is set apart TO,
his use in every town where he con-
ducts revival. Reaching home, the
trainer sponges him off, then gives
him Q brisk rundown and massage
Then follows short rest in bed.
Mr.. Sunday rises at 1880 o'clock in
he morning. After dressing leisurely
md having breakfast he attends to his
correspondence and receives callers
until noon. After lunch he goes to bee
md sleeps for an hour. Rising, he goes
Is the tabernacle and breaches his
HARMON sermon. Frequently he holds
.pecial meetings, however, and there
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-01-11

Alabama's crop last year was the
largest ever made in this state. Instead
of 100000 bales it was near 1,700,-
900 bales.
If the Alabama commissioner is to
keep up crop reporting work he should
have a system as thorough and as re-
liable as that of the department at
Washington. Mr.. Wade's administra-
ton of the agricultural office will be
looked forward to with keen interest.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-01-11

is hardly minute in the day when
he is not either working or praying.
While in the hands of his trainer both
he and the former prize fighter, who
is studying for a ministerial career,
pray for strength to keep on fighting.
One of the greatest factors in the
evangelist's system for keeping well is
sleep. Every night he sleeps 10 hours
like a child and wakes literally in
"the pink of condition." although he
has reached the age at which most
men think they are getting old.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-01-11
The Governor-elect's Backbone

Gov.-elect Charles Henderson is a
man of strong backbone. In his state
ment published in Sundays Age
Herald he makes it very plain that he
intends to be governor in fact as well
as in name.
He was elected on a platform that
had in view the upbuilding of Ala
bama as we'll as an honest and eco
nomical administration. He stood for
all that would encourage legitimate
business enterprise and for everything
that would foster spirit of harmony
among the people. He had always been
in line with the democratic party on
the principle of local option and hav-
| ing been elected as local optionist he
will not be swerved from his position
on that issue. The state has prospered
under it's local option laws and to re-
verse the policy of the party now
would mean not only serious loss to
the states revenues but it would re-
suit in much fractional bitterness and
in increased lawlessness.
Governor Henderson sees all this and
he has come out with characteristic
determination to take a hand in the
organization of the legislature to the
end that the radical element may not
set at nought the will of the majority
of the voters by imposing statewide
prohibition upon them.
An unprecedented situation has
arisen, as Mr.. Henderson says, (which
demands that the governor elect
should take firm stand" and he is
taking it. "This unparalleled situa-
tion," he says further, SIS brought
about through methods used in
the attempt to organize these legis-
lative bodies, for the purpose of
thwarting the expressed will of the
people. l now warn those who are
lending their aid to this purpose that
it has much deeper significance than
many now foresee." He then calls on
his friends and all in sympathy with
his policies to support Oscar S. Lewis
for president pro tenn of the senate
and Ed d. Johnston for speaker of
the house.
Everybody must admire leader of
broad views and unflinching courage.
Such man is the real leader, and,
Judging from the ring of Mr. Hender-
sons short but trenchant statement, he
will make his power felt for good from
one end of the state to the other.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-01-11
EFFECT OF BAD EYES

form such children into the nonsupport|
ing meier do WE'LL" the wandering and
menacing tramp or the idle pleasure
seeking and misery-finding prostitute.
Bad eyes that hinder education mean
distaste for school. Idleness, truancy, bad
stealing, murder, prison and the gallowI
may follow.
This is no fancy picture.
it can be proved by observation and
statistics.
Visit the criminal courts, the reforma
tories, the jails and prisons, and how pfte1
10 you find lawbreakers from the rank
of TIE educated.
Some, it is true, are natural criminals
the offspring of criminal parents, but
even here there must have been a begin1
ming, proceeding some generations back
perhaps from some ancestor who was de-
prived of proper training and education
possibly by bad eyes
The great mass of criminals, however
are not born offenders, but become SC
through associations and lack of a cult
vating and ennoh.ing education. which is
oe course, practically impossible If bat
eyes or other defects prevent a suitable
education.
Education is rct of the greatest barrier.
to crime and poverty.
Tt is therefore essential that our chill
dren, the c,Ihins generation, should 81
we'll educated, and that bad eyes, or any
othe- physical or mental defects, should
be detected and corrected, in order that
the requirement of an education may be-
come as easy ana agreeable as possible.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-01-11
Alabama's Agricultural Department

One of the factors in Alabama's
progress in husbandry has been the
states agricultural department. The
United States government, with its
ample means, has led, of course, in
demonstration work throughout the
country, and high class chronological
institutes like that at Auburn have
co-operated with the department at
Washington, so too have the commits
sioners of agriculture in the different
states.
The Alabama department of agri-
culture has been active in pushing on
the progressive farming campaign,
and no branch of the state govern
ment has been better managed, per-
haps, that that under Commissioner
Reuben Kolb. The commissioner of
agriculture-elect, j. A. Wade of Tai
lapoosa county, will bring with him
to his office exceptional equipment. To
begin with he is an enthusiast, and he
is known to be one of the most sue
cessful farmers in the south 1t was he
who won the $1,000 loving cup Of
fered by Andrew Carnegie for the
best long staple produced in 1918. He
has hobbies, but they are all good
hobbies. One of them is his notion that
by the application of industry and
scientific farming every tiller of the
soil in this state can make two blades
of grass grow where one grew before,
SO to speak. He is great believer in
the Boys Corn clubs and in the Girls
Canning clubs. He is tireless worker,
and his friends will have reason to be
disappointed if he does not make his
department the center of uncommon
activities in the states agricultural
development.
OF course Mr.. Wade will use his in
fluence to bring about a large reduc-
ton in cotton acreage. The farmers
themselves see the necessity of cotton
reduction, and with the state agricul.
tural department and Auburn pulling
together Alabama will cut its cottor
crop down this year about one-half
With all the good work that has beer
done by the state at Montgomery il
the past a mistake was sometime,
made in crop reporting. The tendenc.
was to underestimate the cotton crop
The United States government has ;
thoroughly organized corps Of CORE
spondents reporting on crop conditions
every month. When the Washington
reports indicated 1900, 0OO-bale crol
in Alabama the department at Mont
gomery gave out alarmist reports o.
boil weevil ravages and protesting
against big crop talk. The fact is tina
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-01-11
LAJOIE PASSES

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
For 10 years Napoleon Lajoie has been
the big Nap" Other stars have come
during this time, but they have made
no such impression on the Cleveland en-
thnsiasts. Lajoie has been the great at
traction, the one man whom Cleveland
ers have most desired to see.
Lajoie was star of the first magnitude
when he came to Cleveland Thirteen
years of active service have been piled
on top of a reputation already estab-
lished. And not till last year did it be-
gin to appear that Napoleon was no long
err the king he used to be. that the
years had robbed him of some part of his
skill.
Baseball players cannot last forever.
Usually they last but . short time. Lajoie.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-01-11
Prohibition and Temperance

when the liquor question in this coun-
try is finally settled strong alcoholic bev-
erages will be abolished, but beer, which
| is only very mildly stimulating, and light
wines will be legally mstle and sold in
most states as now; at least that is my
notion about the NATTER said Wilfred
j. Horton of Philadelphia.
Because certain states in the south
have an idea that the handwriting on
the wall is to the effect that the ma
| ton will soon be dry. I have never been
| tippler and 1t is only occasionally that
| indulge in a bottle of beer. But I do
not think anyone now living will see
prohibition written into the constitution
OF the United States.
Everyone recognizes the fact that the
abuse of liquor has caused much suffer-
ing in this country, but that is no rea-
son why beer and wine should be barred
The total abstinence societies should put
forth greater efforts than they do to
build up real temperance. When
was a small boy one of the popular tenn
perance orders had double the men,
bership that it has today. I understand,
however that there Is quite revival
among all the total abstinence fratern-
tiles. The Sons of Temperance is the old
est of them with initiation and passwords.
1t was established in 1S42 and gained
wide popularity. But little was heard of
it % years ago. 1t seemed to have be-
come defunct, but I understand that it
is now taking on new life. But it would
be well to permit the members to drink
beer.
But reverting to the prohibition ques-
ton, the tendency in rne north is about
as strong today in favor of local option
as it ever was. | see that the prohibit
tionists of Alabama are trying to get a
bill through the Legislature providing for
statewide prohibition. I am not in touch
with southern politics, but as state wide
prohibition was once tried in Alabama
and found to be a failure, l think it
Is safe to assume that local option will
continue to be the policy here for
long time to come"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-01-11
WAR ECHOES

| Providence Journal The dispatch from
British East Africa which declares that
the British battleshp Goliath and light
cruiser Fox have carried out succcessful
operations" against Dar-es-Salaam, the
capital of German East Africa, leaves
something to the imagination.
Apparently the town was not captured,
! else the dispatch would have said So But
what are successful operations" that
| fall short of that result? The brace OF
British ships, we learn, bombarded Oar
es-Salaam and did considerable dam
age" Also, all the German vessels in
the harbor were disabled, and number
of Germans and natives were taken pris-
oner
From this it appears that Dar-es-Sa-
laam remained in the hands of the enemy
at the time the dispatch was filed. But
with all the German vessels in port dis
abled it seems as if the British flag might
soon be flying on the government build
ings. One by one the German colonies are
disappearing-as such-from the map.
Philadelphia Telegraph: There is a
Russian army on German territory, an
other Russian army is marching deep into
Hungary and third Russian army has
just administered a crushing defeat upon
the Turks and opened the way for an
invasion of Asia Minor. THE bear that
walks like a man. has gone into action
with vengeance.
Had the Austro- Hungarians and the
Turks more than held their own against
the Cars legions while the military ma
chine of the Kaiser ripped it's way swift
ly to Warsaw and beyond, the average
observer would not have been surprised.
All would have recalled Bukden and Port
Arthur and murmured, what could you
expect of the Russian mob?
Immediate consequences of these Rus
sion victories are likely to be of several
sorts-to shield his empire from destruc-
ton the Sultan may have to mass his
forces on the Transcaucasian borders,
freeing Egypt from menace. Bucharest
may go to war on the side of the allies
to prevent invaded Pennsylvania and Blu
kowina from becoming Russian instead
of Roumanian territory Or, with Russian
bayonets piercing Austria Hungary in
the north, Italy may be persuaded to
strike now for the recovery of Trieste and
Trent.
So much for allied optimism. The
Kaiser may upset all this speculation to-
morrow by decisive victory in Poland,
Flanders or the north of France.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-01-11
THE TAVERN OF THE BEES

By Madison Cawein.
Here's the tavern of the bees;
Here the butterflies. that swing
Velvet cloaks and to the breeze
Whisper soft conspiracies,
Pledge their Lord, the Fairy King;
Here the hotspur hornets bring
Fiery word, and drink away
Heat and hurry of the day.
Here the merchant bee, his gold
On his thigh, falls fast asleep;
And the armored beetle bold,
Like an errant-knight of old,
Feasts and tfpples pottles-deep
Willie the friar crickets keep
Croak.ng low drinking song
Like an Ave, all day long.
Here the jeweled wasp, that goes
On his swift highwayman way,
Seeks 4 moment of repose,
Drains his cup of wine Of rose,
Sheathes mis- dagger for the day;
And the moth. In downy gray,
Like some day star of the gloom,
Slips into perfumed room.
When the darkness eometh On,
Round the tavern. golden green,
Firefiies fit with torches wan,
Looking II the guests be gone.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-01-11

Nerves nowadays are remarkably steady
in human beings A French surgeon flew
eight miles in five minutes in an aeroplane
to perform a delicate operation and his
there to do his work without laundering.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-01-11
JUST WOULDN'T BE GERMAN

From the New York Times.
A German appeared in the naturalization
bureau for his second papers admitting
him to citizenship yesterday. comeiy
woman came with him as his witness.
II am his wife" she said to john
Helm, who is in charge of the bureau
"You won't do she was told, "because
only citizen can be witness.
The woman bridled and said;x
II would have you know that am
citizen; l was born in New Jersey.
But positively will not be German
she declared. land i defy anybody to
force me to be one
"Well,, WE'LL" said Mr.. Helm soothingly'
.you will be an American again as soon
as YOUR husband gets his papers"
"And 1 want to tell you, said the
woman, turning to her husband, that you
had better be quick about it. Why. that's
the most ridiculous thing I ever heard
of. II makes me feel like an orphan"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-01-11
PREPARE OUR NATIONAL PARKS

From the ST. Louis Times.
The time was never more opportune than
the present fer preparing the great CEN
tiers Of interest in the United States so
that Americans may live up to that pa
triotic and common sense slogan, See
America First" Foreign travel, so far
as sightseeing or touring goes, is at a
standstill and Indications are that it will
remain so indefinitely, The large army
of annual tourists will naturally turn
their attentions to America. How are
we prepared to cater to their pleasure?
There are at present 10 national parks,
all under tie direction and jurisdiction
Of Secretary of the Interior Lane. We
are justly proud of the recent move of
the secretary in appointing a superin-
tendent for these parks, and we are still
further pleased h. the announcement that
this superintendent has under way several
plans which will make for the betterment
of our rational show places. The entire
department OF tie interior should strain
every effort TO raise our national parks
to the highest standard, and the admins
tration at Washington should lend every
aid In the accomplishment of the work.
There Is a bill before the House in
Washington which should be speedily
passed. 1t provides for the establish
ment Of the fourteenth national area to be
known as Rocky Mountain National park.
This strip in Colorado, comprising 1855
square miles Of the most picturesque Sec
ton of the Rockies. can become as fam
Gus as the Rigi of Switzerland, If only
given the proper attention by Congress
and the department of the interior The
bill has already passed the Senate; it is
to be hoped that congressman will not
overlook ii curing the stress and strain of
their other cuties. 1t may mean millions
to America.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-01-11

Soldiers in the western theatre of war
continue to find new comforts in their
trenches although naming ones favorte
trench the Ritz is still nothing more than
a witticism.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-01-11

A citizen of West Hartlepool, who died
from fright following the bombardment
doubtless one Of those Englishmen who
firmly believed that when such a thing
happened to an English coast town the
world would come to an end.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-01-11

with his wonderful physique an6 his ex-
cellent habits, has lived in basei,sn far
beyond the average span of years.
There is something pathetic in the rele-
eating of popular idol to the minors
or the bush league" whence he came to
startle the baseball world. Clevelanders
will be we'll pleased that Larry" has BEEN
spared this humiliation. He is sent from
the tail end club to the club which il
champion of the league. In whatever
role the crafty Mack may place him all
Cleveland will hope for Lajoie's success.
and will hope that his final retirement
frora the game may be indefinitely post
poned