davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-10
The Financial situation

Henry Clews in his Saturday review says in part:
 The market received a bad shock from news of sinking of the Lusitania. Prices broke heavily in the war group. and for a time a panic seemed imminent There was rush to sell long stocks, especially in shares which led the recent rise In the better class of securities, however, the fall was less serious, and more or less support was afforded. The close was bet ter than might have been expected Con- fidence has naturally been badly shaken by this disaster the outcome of which upon public opinion it is yet too early to forecast. Much depends upon the self control which the American people dis play Thus far under the strong lead of President Wilson the country has taken things calmly and kept it's head. It Is to be hoped that this spirit will continue and that our people will not unduly embar- rass the administration by their resent ment spirit. The remarks which follow were written before the disaster to the Lusitania, and must be accepted accord ingly.
 After the recent advance in values the market was ripe for reaction Reallza- tions had weakened the situation, and in- duced large operators to encourage lower prices. Current events also proved that war is still the dominating influence. This is especially true of foreign trade. and largely true of domestic trade. notwith.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-10
WAR WAGES

bound to rise. If that were all that hap
 pened they might be expected to fall again, for most of the workers return, auction But wages seldom fall. That is .an elementary economic fact. Once there has been general rise in wages.
 for any reason, very little of it is ever lost or need be, if the higher wage has been accomplished by an increase of production per man.
 The productivity of labor per human unit is affected mainly in two ways by personal efficiency and by ma chinery And both factors count in wan as perhaps at no other time. The scarci-f ty of labor remaining at work creates necessity which has to be met. Labor saving devices are rapidly adopted. Eff ficiency is required and rewarded. The labor famine of 1861-s5 compelled the agriculturists of this country to adopt ilabor-saving implements on a very large scale, just as the war in Europe leads to the introduction of similar imple- ments by the Germans not only in Ger many but in the conquered territory oe Belgium and northern France The re- suit in this country was, that after the war less labor was required than be- fore to produce food and more was free to go into industrial pursuits, and the aggregate productivity of the people was enormously increased. Therefore wages. having risen tremendously dur ing the war, never did go back much
 Parallel phenomena may be expected in Europe. There is much latitude there for the introduction of labor saving ma
 chinery and methods of modern ef- ficiency in production. Years hence it will be written that the war greatly benefited labor, whereas in truth the permanent benefit will have come not from the killing of labor but from tho genius of man in the face of necessity and the use he made of 1t. If the produc- tivity of Europe be increased, then wages will stay up. The more a people can produce the more they can con- sume. But if their productivity be not increased, wages will fall again. That never yet has happened, because mans ingenuity has never failed him. It is only possible.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-10
GOVERNOR HENDERSON,

his vacation He will not only hsSt time to think. study problems that rs of vital concern to all the people, te which it was physically impossible to g q his time while in his office during of s hours.
 But fortunately Governor Henderson ss a splendid representative on duty in is office.
 His private secretary, Mr. Will Hen derson. is a diplomat genial, polite. af-l fable, regular Chesterfieldan in manner, and all visitors at the governors office are made to feel at home. And whether they get to see the governor or not, whether they accomplish their mission to the governor or not, they are made to feel by the genial and diplomatic sec retary that there is nothing too good in the governors office for them
 He Is making one of the most popular private secretaries since the days of J. Kirkman Jackson. who adorned the of- flee and gave it one of greater dignity than it had before, and Private Secretary Will Henderson promises to not only maintain that dignity. but to add to it's importance
 Because of the close. intimate and con hdential relataions of the private secre- tary to the governor it is a pc.ssion of gravest trust and responsibility. a re- sponsibility that Will Henderson seems fully to appreciate.
 Handsome in manner, decorous in de- pertinent, genial in companionship, pos sessing rare gifts as an entertainer, and with thorough knowledge of men and a wide acquaintance in the state, Will Hen dersor is peculiarly qualified for his poss- tion in his confidential relations with the chief executive of Alabama.
 The Journal congratulates the governor on his selection of private secretary. and 1t also congratulates the private sec- retary on his clever diplomacy so far in receiving and according all visitors the greatest courtesy and consideration.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-10
THE PULLMAN PORTER'S TIPS

 get tips" Really MT. Lincoln may not put it that way, because travellers would easily ,and gratefully adapt themselves to rule that no tips should be taken, and if the company paid full wage the rule could not be enforced. Tipping brake men and conductors is not the custom. n Concerning the ''uplift'' claimed by MT. Lincoln for the colored brother as the result of his respectable employment. t may be submitted that he would gain just as much from the training imposed upon him in the interest of the service and by contact with well behaved travel CTS If his palm did not know the invisible tip. After many long years of adjust ment, willy nilly, to the system, which has nothing of altruism in 1t, the travel iEg public would view with philosophy practical attempt to institute a tipless service although an advance in porters
 wages might become necessary.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-10
From the Montgomery Journal.

From the Montgomery Journal
 NOVERNoR CHARLES RENDER. SON has gone off for a rest and NJ recreation.
 This is the announcement that has been made fin the press. But if the real facts were known. he has gone off to work gone away from the swirling crowds of men and women who have been seek. ing office for themselves or friends, or asking paroles or pardons for some un- fortunate victim of madness or weakness CT for some other favor. public or pri- vate.
 time to attend to important public busi- ness since he has been governor. He has perhaps had no time he could call his own. Perhaps he has not read half of those letters intended to reach his own hands and none other, but have been opened and answered by others.
 This has not been because he did not wish to read and answer them personally, but because 1t was a physical impossi- bility.
 The office of chief executive of Ala bama has grown in official power and importance in recent years and its duties and responsibilities can hardly be appre- ciated by those not on the inside.
 There is almost a constant stream of callers on the chief executive almost every day in the year. and even the Sabbath day he cannot call his own.
 During business hours at the capitol he has little or no time for public busi- ness.
 He must receive and entertain visitors some of whom have urgent and important matters to discuss with the governor, some perhaps merely think they have, but are of course received with the same cordlality as though their mission was grave and of vital concern.
 The chances are ten to one that the governor will be a busy man while taking
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-10

From the New York Times.
 THE news that wages are rising in
 England will move a great many
 \ people to say: That's what we thought would happen The condition of labor is always made better by war To which a great many others Will say: You might as well argue for earthquakes or plaques" And so you might if you mean to say that war final ly benefits those who toll because it diminishes their number and thereby abates the competition among them.
 Serfdom did not disappear from Eng land until after the Great Plague of the seventeenth century. which so reduced the supply of human labor that men could choose their work and fix it's price in spite of all the laws that were passed to hinder them. Therefore plague, like war, hath it's compensa- economic consequences to elevate the state of labor Yet men are eager to banish plague who cannot agree to banish war. One who argued seriously the economic use of plague would be thought too unfeeling to sit in human society. Yet thousands argue the eco homie case for war. Why this differ ence? The answer is that wars eco homie compensations are In the after thought. War having taken place for other reasons. it Is permissible even desirable, to consider what material benefits, if any, can reasonably be ex- pected, and the single benefit of greatest good to the greatest number may appear to be the rise in wages.
 After the Napoleonic war wages were at least double what they were in France before, and correspondingly higher ell over Europe. The effect of the war for union upon the American scale of wages is well known. That wages must rise on account of modern war is perfectly obvious It is not now as in olden times, when there was a pro- fesslon of arms and the fighting man was chronically nonproductve. Nova days men are transferred in masses from pursuits of production to the fighting line, and the supply of labor being suddenly reduced, wages are
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-10
ALABAMA PRESS

Andalusia Star: You would be surprised to know how many Covington county farmers are loaning money. Many men have made money out of Covington county farm lands. The Star is placed in po- sition to state positively that 30 farmers in this county are loaning money. Cullman Tribune: The spirit of optimism Ifs growing not only in our city and coun- ty. but throughout the south. and from everywhere comes the cheering news that confidence is fast being restored and the business conditions improving
 1 Dothan Eagle: This Is the month Lord Kitchener said the war would start in.
 He failed to name that that's been going on since last summer.
 Selma Times: The psychologists claim they can tell liar by mechanical tests
 Az liars are generally self-revealtns the ', new method vii mot be in much demand.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-10
Renewing Ties of Fr,endsbiu

The celebration of the opening of Lock r will bring together a repre- sentative body of men and women from the head waters of the Warrior, down it's stream, into the gulf itself; and the occasion will bring the renewal of friendships formed by some of us in our youth and young manhood years ago said former citizen of the black belt
 Il particularly refer to the prom :sed presence of Capt. John Quill, tht veteran steamboat captain, who is to attend.
 There are hundreds of men and women in the mineral district of Ala ? bama and Birmingham especially who will recall with pleasure the kindly of- fees of Captain Quill. who first as as- sistent to Captain owen Finnegan on the steamer Mary swan when attepd- ;rg Sunday school picnics on that boat m the Alabama river; and who later commanded her and others boats and carried many excursion parties iron, Selma and from Montgomry for out ings. These excursions were dating points for children and even older folk 
 l can even now hear the sharp saw cutting voice of Captain Quill as we were ready to pull out into the steam standing on the upper deck, command the deck hands. Get that gang plank well in there! Let go that hawscr.
 And I note that the good boats The Swan and The John Quill are com- ing to the opening. How l would likt again to sit upon the banks of the Alabama and hear the calliope on the St. Charles or the Great Republic. | making the echoes of steam notes fill the air as they came majestically uf from Mobile to Selma and thence into Mont gomery. Or to stand upon the wharf and watch two rival boats race to get away first down stream. back ing out, gracefully turning, and once | headed toward the gulf, rival choruses of deck hands, singing refrains, ort I especially remember. Bound for Mo lie Bay"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-10
From the New York Sur

From the New York Sun.
 \ ZR. ROBERT LINCOLN is said to MI have been ill at ease when quizzed 1 v Xabout Pullman car tips by Chairman n Frank P Walsh of the federal commits sion on industrial relations at a hearing in Washington. The Pullman car porter owho trembles for his perquisites will share MT. Lincoln's discomfort, and the unfeeling travelling public will enjoy it. Yet there is something to be said in favor Of the tip taking porter as an institution. He ia as unobtrusive as any dispoiler could be, to a ncety calculating the time of descent upon his victim: the porter s good nature is unfailng, and his manners are better than those of the coarser cap tains of industry. No one more sympa- thetic and helpful than the uninformed tip palmer; he gives you a sense of being his employer as well as patron and friend. He smooths away the roughness of travel and lights up the darkest day with the >geam of his worries. What would forlorn ladies do without his def ercnetial and undemonstrative ministra- tons? His patience is Joblike; he exists only for service and to please
 It may be objected that the colored factotum does not always earn his tip. Of that he seems conscious. The extra polish he puts upon your shoes stealth fly abstracted from under your berth in the yawning abyss of night and spirited back before the break of day. is his con- fession And then the zeal with which he throws back the collar of your coat as he plies his whiskbroom, furnishes the nap of your hat. applies the-cloth to your shoes for full measure of service, and assemblies your personal belongings, dis arms any lurking criticism. You can con demn the system, but the porter makes himself endurable. If you don't use him it's your fault, and the size of the tip is your affair-do the best you can
 There should, perhaps, be graduated charges according to the length of the haul, if, the system is to be kept up with out consulting the traveller His quarrel. by the way. is not with the porter who takes tips to live. but with the company that fails to pay the porter an adequate wage and expects the public to make up the deficiency. It is significant that MT. Lincoln admitted under examination that the consequences is a financial benefit to the company and the swelling of di-'s- dends. The total of tips is considers e sum in the round of a year. Nigh put it this way" suggested Mir. Linc when asked whether the portsrs were expected to add to their pay of }27.s 2 month by accepting tips. I've know { f
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-10
STANDING ROOM ONLY

From the New York American.
 When Micky. who had joined the new army, was given his uniform by the quar- termaster, everything fitted all right till he came to put on the trousers. which he said were far too tight
 No, mo-" said the ouartermaste they fit fne."
 ''I tell you they are too tight said Mickey; they are tighter than me fkin.
 Nonsense! How can they be tighter than your slxin?"
 "Och, exclaimed Mickey. T can cit down in my skin. but I can't sit down in these trousersv'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-10
TRICKS LATEST PURCHASE

From the New York Sun.
 Henry c. Flick, who recently added to his collections of art objects the Fragonard panels from the Morgan col lection at the Metropolitan Museum, confirmed yesterday the report that he is the owner of the painting brought to this country so mysteriously by the American line steamer Philadelphia. It is believed that MT. Prick paid as high as s250.000 for the work.
 The painting is portrait of Thomas Cromwell, earl of Essex, by Holbein. and was done in 1534. When it was fresh from the artists hand 1t caught the eye of Henry VIII and Holbein was imme- diately appointed court painter. For some years it has been in the gallery of Sir Hugh Lane at Lindsey house Cheyne Walk, London. Sir Hugh was in this country recently and it is under stood that the purchase was arranged with him by Sir Charles Allom, who re- gently established himself as an ar. dealer at 19 East Fifty-second street.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-10
FATHERS A FISHERMAN From the Philadelphia Ledger.

young woman who had returned from tour through Italy with her father in- formed a friend that she liked all the Italian cities. but most of all she loved Venice
 "Ah. Venice, to be sure" said the friend. T can readily understand that your father would like Venice, with the gondolas and St. Marks and Michael Angelo
 "Oh, no," the young lady interrupted. Tt wasn't that. He liked 1t because he could sit down in the hotel and nsh from the window
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-10
THE NATURE LOVER

A. Walter Utting in Judge. like the country for the charms Which finger in its ample space; The valley dimples on It's race The hills which form forehead bank To streams which bleat with shy alarms; The winging of the feathered choir
 In openness. the vernal wood, The wildstuff growing thick and rank. The trees which shade. the perfumed
 buds, The roads man-made for thwacks and
 thuds
 Of horses hoofs or heeting tire
 I like the country. It is good. ike the city. There is shown The strength which moves the world.
 And there
 Comes the first hint of needful care For self-for there self finds its light. A-d nnha that fight for self alone.
 I4N
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-10

General Villa. 1t seems. is not shot half as often as reported. And since he has
 become an adherent of grape juice, neither does the statement apply the other way around
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-10


 kapok. substance used in making life belts and watscoats for British seamen. is soft, silky fiber found in the fruit pods of the silk cotton tree. In appear ance 1t resembles cotton. but is much softer and has the added advantage of great buoyancy in water. Garments padded with lsapok have been made and adopted by the British admiralty and It is believed that some of the survivors of the Formidable owe their lives to these jackets. Kapok is produced in Java, sia Minor and India. It will not rot, is non- verminous and impervious to water. It has been extensively used for stuffing pil- lows and upholstery, but more recently has been found admirable for making life belts and similar devices. One pound of kapok in a waitscoat, properly distrib- Eted so that the greater part covers the chest of the wearer, will keep his face above the surface, whether he is conscious or not If he falls in the water head fore- most or otherwise the waistcoat will keep his head above water. The total weight of the waistcoat is only two pounds and six ounces. It is warmer than wool and weighs less. A life preserver of this kind the risk of drowning to a minimum.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-10

Considering the fact that Dr. Cook will the public may get positive information as to whether or not the Doc scales Mount Everest
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-10

BEGINNING THE DAY-Breathe mon me, o Gracious Father, spirit of love for all men. May l nor nsh If they can love in return; may not ask if they can love In ret"r", may | not ask if they are not worthy of love, may not asN II they are already loved ny others. May love ms Christ would love 1T be walked here again. sAmen.-- H. Nj. E.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-10

Asquith admits that the Turk is good shot. Maybe. before the war is over, Eu- rope will be ready to admit that the Turk is fairly good citizen.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-10
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Large Banker. Convention


 The Alabama Bankers convention which will be held here Monday, Tues. uay and Wednesday, will be largely attended; perhaps the attendance viii De the largest in the history of the State association" said an officer oi local bank.
 birmingham has long been a pop ular meeting place for Alabama or eanlzations and with our largely in- creased hotel facilities it is more pop tlar today than ever.
 Many of the large banks of New fork, Chicago and other northern cen 'ers always send representatives to our state conventions. Several north ern bankers have already arrived"
 Confederate Gray Hedfyivus
 Two days after the 5Oth anniversary or Appomattox and the passing of the Confederate gray from the sea and from land as our insignia of fighting phalanxes and battling crews, warshlp drops anchor upon the scene of the great con flict between the Monitor and the Mer- oimac, with her crew attired in this same color, said a son of Confederate vet eran.
 When the Kronprinz Wilhelm was upon her cruise as q raider and commerce de- stroyer, she made no port; certainly no German port, wherein to dress her crew In the regulation naval blue of the haiser's sailors Among her prizes she took French merchant vessel with a rich cargo, and. according to Captain Lieutenant Theirfelder as his men were In need of clothes, and as there was a large stock of Confederate gray color cloth in the 'Frenchman's cargo he had uniforms made of it for his men who were much in need of a change of garb. And so the ship sailed into Newport News. April Il, with her band playing the Star Spangled Banner while the men wore the dress that followed for four years the Stars and Bars of the Southern Confederacy
 But when Semmes and Catesby Jones and their men wore the gray there was no piracy; there were no women and children cruelty murdered in their berths on merchant ships. Why, even the neg feet of medicine and proper food in prison for federals, when the south was de- prived of both by the exigencles of the blockade during the late war, was con- sidered a crime by her enemies. Ye gods what of this modern helishness that graduates on wholesale murderl'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-10

Still, if the result of raising the Pullman porter's wages makes him so independent that his solicitude for the travellers com fort abates. somebody's going to suffer
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-10

If British soldiers are equipped with wooden helmets as a protection against asphyxiating gases they will look like a lot of deep sea divers out of their proper element.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-10

Kaiser Wilhelm returned to Berlin look ing fresh and we'll" A little trip to the front is a great bracer when one runs no risk of being shot.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-10

The three major baseball leagues will probably continue to worry along without a peace pact, which is just what prospec- tive jumpers want.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-10

The Japanese idea of Monroe doctrine for the east is one that will give Japan plenty of room to grow.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-10

The fact that Uncle Sam is not winning any plaudts- from the Germans or the allies indicates that his neutrality is still intact
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-10

John R.i, shows no disposition to follow the example of King George in the choice of barley water as his favorite tipple.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-10

Citizens are advised to oil the mosquito, not because this insect needs an emollient, but because oil Is fatal to his welfare and happiness.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-10

A kitten valued at s5O,o0O is in litigation. To have s5Oooo cat purring on the hearth is a luxury enjoyed by few households.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-10

Police are making 1t increasingly diffi- cult for the genus hobo to enjoy the priv ileges of a large hearted town.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-10

Carranza will have to show better hand before he can hope to be recognized by the United States government.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-10

The imminent death of twenty thou
 sand men,
 That. for fantasy, and trick Of ran'e' Go to their graves like beds; fight Tor
 plot.