davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-03
WEATHER MAKES US WORK
Ellsworth Huntington, in Harper's Mag
 azine for February.

Ellsworth Huntington in Harper's Mag
 azine for February.
 THE ideal climate is said to be found
 in many parts of the world. but no
 . one knows exactly what it Is. The whole matter depends on our definition of 'ideal'' If we are looking simply for rest and pleasure, a warm, sunny climate Is probably the best. If we want to go fishing, something different is preferable. The most essential fact in the lives of the majority of mankind is work. Therefore the climate which is best for work is ideal from that point of view.
 If we take efficiency in the daily work life as our standard, it is possible to meas ure what people actually do under differ ent climatic conditions, and thus to form an estimate of the best kind of climate. From the work of about 800 factory oper- atives in southern Connecticut and of about 1900 students at West Point and An napolis I have prepared curves showing the relative efficiency under different con- ditions of temperature, humidity, and storminess. These curves, based on in- vestigations among large number of in- ulVlQudiS, agree Wltl cuiNcS pIc- pared on the basis of a smaller number of people by two Danish psychologists, Lehman and Pedersen. in Copenhagen. The two sets of data show that the physi- cal activity of the races of western Eu- roue Is greatest when the average tenn perature is about 60 degrees-that is, on days when the thermometer goes down to perhaps 60 or 55 degrees at night and rises to about 65 or 70 degrees by day. Mental activity on the other hand, is greatest when the average is little be- low 40 degrees-that Is, on days which may have frost at night.
 Since life consists of both mental and physical activity, and each is essential to success, the most favorable conditions would seem to be those where the tenn perature never falls far below the most propitious point for mental work. or rises above the optimum for physical work. In other words, if the mean temperature were the only thing to be considered, the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-03

best climate would be one where the ay- craze in winter is about 40 and the aver age in summer about 60 degrees. Only a few parts of the world are blessed with such conditions.
 The most important of these, both in area and in population, is England Next comes the northern Pacific coast of the United States, from Oregon to the south ern part of British Columbia. Here, un- fortunately, the mountains rise close to the sea, and so prevent the favorable con- ditions from penetrating far inland. third highly favored area is found in New Zealand, especially the southern island. This, like its two predecessors, is recog- nized as one of the highly advanced parts Of the earth. The fourth and last of the places where the mean temperature is particularly favorable is not generally so corresponding part of Chilli between lati- tudes 45 degrees and 50 degrees south. Few people live here, and we are apt to think of it as of relatively slight value. It differs from the other three regions in having a deficient rainfall except in the western part, which Is extremely noun tainous.
 From what has just been said it rnuss not be inferred that the climates of Eng land. the northern Pacific coast of the United States, New Zealand, and Pata- gonia are necessarily ideal. Mean tenn perature is by no means the only impor- tant condition. In the first place, not only a deficiency of moisture, as in a large part of Patagonia, but an excess, as in the mountains of southern Chili or in Ireland which otherwise is almost as favored as England, may hamper coun- try. Such conditions produce not only an adverse economic effect by making agri- culture difficult, but also direct effect upon peoples capacity for work. A mod crate degree of dampness-that is, rela- tive humidity of from 65 per cent in sum mer to 90 per cent in winter-is favor able, but when the summers are wet or the winters very dry, people do not work so well.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-03
Crops in Different Sections

It is a noteworthy fact that farmers in the counties of north Alabama, where crop diversification has long been the practice, are taking as much interest in the campaign now being launched as are those in the black belt counties.
 While a good deal of cotton has been raised in the counties north of Birmingham other money crops are also extensively produced. Cullman county, as an instance, raises cotton of superior quality and at the same time strawberries and sweet potatoes are produced on a large commercial scale. The farmers of Cullman raise their own foodstuffs, and taken all in all, that county is one of the most prosperous in the whole state.
 North Alabama as a section has been we'll off this winter. The low price of cotton was felt by a few in- dividuals in that section, but as the northern counties of the state were not dependent upon cotton to the ex- tent that farmers were in other sec- tions good times and not hard times were in evidence last fall and are in evidence now.
 The experience of north Alabama. where crop diversification has proved so profitable, should be of especial in- terest to the farmers throughout the cotton belt. There is not county in the state that cannot produce all the foodstuffs needed and have some to sell. The raising of beef cattle is con- ing to be one of the great industries of Alabama.
 In order to push the live stock branch of husbandry extensively re- quires considerable capital, but a start can be made with small capital. and the industry can be built up gradual ly. Sumter has the banner as the cattle growing county, but within the next few years every county in Ala bama should be noted for it's fine breeds of live stock.
 The crop diversification campaign promises to be splendid success, and in two or three years many farmers will be asking themselves, "Why did we not try this diversification many years ago?"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-03
Planning for Fashion Week

Birmingham's fashion week last year was a marked success from every point of view, and this years event will be on even larger scale.
 The Business Mems league, under whose auspices fashion week as an institution is made especially attrac- tive for both home shoppers and out of-town shoppers, is now at work on the programme. There will be many Advertisement features, including daily concerts.
 Fashion week begins March 8 and ends March IS. It has been suggested that a floral parade be one of the features. Birmingham has had several such parades, and the one included In the Confederate reunion pro- gramme in June, 1908, was the largest and most beautiful ever seen in this country, with the possible exception of those held in Los Angeles from time to time. But flower shows or floral parades, to be successful, must be in flower time, when roses and chrysanthemums as we'll as wild blos- soms are abundant.
 In this climate June is the ideal month for a flower display. In the week of March 8 we may have good touch of spring and if it be so fashion week will be a festive occasion. At any rate, the Birmingham merchants have laid in large and varied stocks, and the stores will be scenes of rare brilliance.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-03
West Virginians Troubled

After March l, when the stringent Yost law goes into effect in West Vir- ginia, citizens of that commonwealth will face pretty problem in obtaining a supply of "wet goods" suitable to their needs. The Yost law prohibits common carriers from bringing any intoxicant into the state or moving it from one part of the state to another. If liquor is brought into the state for personal use the consumer must bring 1t himself and the quantity must not exceed half gallon unless the con- tainer is labeled with,the nature of the contents and the exact quantity.
 A "great flood" of orders are now pouring out of West Virginia to cer- tain "wet" centers in preparation for the drouth to come, all of which will have to be delivered before March l. Students of the situation are unani- mousiy or the oplnlon that after that date the drinking man in West Vir- ginia will have to hustle to keep him. self in liquor. On the Ohio side he may cross over the state line, buy in- toxicants and return home without breaking the law. He may do likewise k1A n
 boundary lines. Virginia, however, is soon to be dry" and all the Kentucky counties which border on West Vir- ginia are "dry"
 The man who lives in Mcdowell county, West Virginia, for instance, can hardly afford to travel all the way to Ohio for drink, and no one
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-03
CASTE RULES GERMAN ARMY

has rested-less than year after their ccnsure by the national parliament-in their and the Kaiser's hands. As for the Kaiser and the Crown Prince, who pub licly upheld Colonel von Reuter-, they may for the moment be democrats-the Kaiser has declared that he will never take note of factional differences again but the only reason why they do not fear the social democrats, whom few years ago the Kaiser denounced as traitors to the country, Is the. existence of the army. General Won Falkenhayn declared in the Reichstag, in December, 1913, that without the army not a stone of the Reichstag building would remain in place"
 Is there any doubt that this democratic organization of S00000 men would close the doors of the Reichstag if the Kaiser so ordered? Did not the grandfathers of those now in the trenches in the Imperial Guard regiments crush out the republican uprising in 1S4S? Did not the Prussian guns of the grandfather of the present Kaiser shoot to pieces the same uprising in Rhenish Bavaria, Baden, and elsc- where?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-03
WAR ECHOES

New York World: Is Count Won Bern
 storff quite sure of his ground when he
 says that shipments of grain to Ger
 many intended, like the cargo of the
 Wilhelmina, for the use of civilians, will
 not be affected by the recent order of confscation? When the federal council | communicated the food supply of the empire 1t probably had considered this matter very seriously. Two courses were open to 1t. One of these was dependence
 upon outside sources, and the other was the seizure by government, which was finally decreed. One was uncertain; the other was harsh, but it was certain.
 Grain intended for belligerent gov ernment or its military forces is abso- lute contraband, and may be seized anywhere by an enemy. Grain intended for the civil population of a nation at war is conditional contraband, which
 means that 1t is not subject to seizure
 unless it's ultimate destination can be proved to be the government or the
 army. The Berlin decree expropriating
 grain and meats was a practical aban-
 donment of the rights of conditional
 contraband and an admission that the
 government had more faith in strong
 administrative measures at home than
 in its ability to replenish its stock of
 food from abroad. To this extent 1t in
 effect inflicted a blockade upon itself,
 for since all needed grain in Germany
 Is government grain, all grain on the
 seas consigned even to private persons
 at German ports is by the operation of
 the act of confiscation made govern. ment grain, and therefore contraband.
 Frank H. Simonds in the New Re- public: When Great Britain the other. day annexed Egypt she gave Russia
 something more than a moral claim upon Constantinople. In fortifying her own position, in securing her own road to the east, she removed the chief ob- stacle, from her point of view, to Rus sian possession of the straits Her ne- cessity to possess Suez is not greater than that of Russia to hold the Stam- boul gate to her own coasts.
 If Russia and her allies emerge vic- torious from the great war, they will have to face Russia supreme on the continent, more powerful on land than any nation since the France of Napo- leon, her hands strengthened by the prostration of her neighbors, who were her natural rivals. Anatolia with it's Turkish rulers will be indefensible l against Russia. English military re- sources will not be adequate to hold Russia back along the new frontier l from the Euphrates to the Himalayas; to oppose Russia on the Bosporus is to | envisage fighting her ultimately in In- l dia, In Egypt, in the valley of the l Euphrates'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-03
Birmingham and the Legislature

|
 Birmingham has been in financial straits for sometime, but it can get out easily if the legislature will act promptly and favorably. Q In view of the fact that 100 repre- sentative citizens, appointed at the re- quest of the city commissioners to act in an advisory capacity agreed unan- imously, after public hearings, on leg islation needed for Birmingham financial relief-both temporary and permanent-the Jefferson county del- egation should stop its wrangling and support the measures that have been proposed.
 The committee of 100, of which Syd- ney J. Bowie was chairman, was se- lected with great care. The fact is that no more thoroughly representa- tive set of taxpayers could have been found. Subcommittees were appointed to consider subjects of vital concern to Birmingham.
 l One of these committees was on temporary relief and John H. Frye was its chairman. Another was on perma- nent relief with Frank Nelson, Jr., as chairman. And the third committee, with H. U. Sims as chairman, was charged with the duty of Investigating Birmingham's operating expenses and report what departments of the mu- nicipal government could be dispensed with without serious consequences.
 Each of the subcommittees gave much time and thought to the ques- tions to be dealt with. The committee with the most difficult problem was that on permanent relief, and it was fact worthy of note that the 15 men comprising this committee voted unanimously in favor of recommends tions which called for an increase in the rate of taxation, but only when such increase should be voted by the people in a referendum election. An equalization board for the assessment of property was also recommended and it was the opinion of members of the committee that after such board had been in operation for a compar- atively short while any increase in the rate of taxation might be reduced. If the equalization board accomplished the desired results the city would have, perhaps, ample revenue on the present tax rate of $1 on the hundred. In the meantime, however, there must be an increase if Birmingham is to fulfill it's destiny as the greatest in- dustrial and financial center of the south.
 The commission is responsible to the people for the administration of the affairs of Birmingham, and as far as public opinion goes the committee of 100, by it's unanimous vote, should satisfy everybody that the very best that could be done in the way of for mulating constructive plans had been done.
 It is we'll nigh unthinkable that any member of the Jefferson county dele gation in the legislature would oppose what Birmingham wants and what Birmingham most needs.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-03
Ready for Amateur Field TrinIs

Everything is ready for the start Wednesday afternoon for the trainins grounds at Oneonta for the Alabama Am ateur clubs annual field trials" said Sec retary Jack Riddle. "The train leaves at $40 p. m., and many members will go up be ready for the running of the derby which it is planned to start at a. m Thursday.
 ''The drawings for braces for the derby and for the all-age, will take place Wednesday night The derby will be Sc minutes to the brace. with a run-off as ordered by the judges as to dogs and length of time of race.
 President T. T. Ashford has offered A s25 silver cup for one of the classes and the club has one for the derby The sub- scription-the last race-will be for the purse with an entry and running fee of S.
 "The following gentlemen will go UT Wednesday afternoon: A. c. Chesney, T. T. Ashford, Hugh Seals, Hayden Chil- dress, W. H. Jackson, K S. Ward, J. Chap Hodges. Gordon Moughon. E. J Rowe, Judge Zell Gaston, C.. F. East ham, W. J. Allen, Hubert Moore. c. M Cook. Mayor D. e. White of Courtland w. J. Hutchinson of Talladega, and my self
 "Others will go on the Thursday morn. ing train, leaving at S:45, and arriving al Oneonta at 10:10 In time for the derby finish, and for the all-age start. This last will have one hour heats. q had a long distance chat with Mayor Clayton of Oneonta, who says the grounds are in fair condition, notwith standing thesrain, andftha all prepara tions. including saddle horses. have beer made for our coming. 'The outlook is for & very successful meet, with many brilliant performers some one of which may probably develop into Lewis c. Morris, who, by tho
 way, made his first appearance at oul meeting at Eutaw last year, winning first honors'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-03
AUSTRIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM

AUSTRIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM Translation from Baron zedlitz. God preserve our gracious Emp'ror,
 Franz our sovereign, great is he! Wise as ruler, deep in knowledge.
 Nations his renown may see! Love entwines 0 crown of laurel
 That shall all unfading be; God preserve our gracious Emp'ror,
 Franz our sovereign, great. is he! Ger a vast and mighty empire
 Ruler and sovereign day by day; Though he yields a potent scepter,
 All beneficent his sway! From his shield the sun of justice
 Ever casts its purest ray!
 God preserve, etc. To adorn himself with virtues
 He, and all successful. tries, Ne'er against his loving people
 Does his hand in anger risei No! to see them free and happy,
 This he holds tho highest price. God preserve, etc. Pioneer of perfect freedom.
 Blessings round his footsteps cling! To It's pinnacle of greatness
 Soon may be his country bring! And when death at last approaches
 Shall his grateful people sing: God preserve. etc.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-03
A CAREFUL EDITOR
From the Rockville (Mo.) Booster.

From the ROckv1Ile (Mo.) Booster.
 They, the drivers, chased them. the cattle, all over that pasture and they. the cattle, finally broke back into Hook 2 pasture and they. the drivers, had to start them, the cattle, from where they, the drivers, started them, the cattle, out O couple of hours before. After consider able racing and chasing they. the drivers. tired them, the cattle. out until they, the cattle, were willing to be driven quietly into town.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-03
TROLLEY CAR IN PORTO RICO

From the February Wide World Maga-
 zine.
 Since the Island of Porto Rico has been under the dominion of the United States many traffic improvements have been installed, and electric trolley cars are in use in all the larger cities. In Maya guez, however, the third largest city, the antiquated horse car line still re- mains in use, and very antique it looks. There is only accommodation for three passengers, besides the driver, but pre- sumably at busy times, strap hangers are not objected to.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-03
Creatore and His Band

q was very glad indeed to learn that Creatore and his famous band were sched- uled to visit Birmingham this week-Fri- day for matinee and night perform ances-and I shall take great pleasure in attending one or both of the concerts at the Jefferson" said patron of goc.i music.
 The programmes, I understand, are ex- cellent and present quite a variety of high class music.
 By the way, I was talking with a theatrical man a day or so ago, and the subject of our conversation was famous operattc stars of the past. He recalled the romantic career of Adelina Patti, the Italian singer, whose superb voice won fame and fortune on the American stage. He stated casually that distant relative, a certain Hector Barili, was now con- nected with the Creatore organization in the capacity of treasurer"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-03

The new home of the Mellon Institute Of Industrial Research and School of Spe-
 oific Industries of the University of Pitts
 burg will be dedicated February 26. Above
 the doorway of this handsome structure
 will be a bronze tablet bearing the in
 scription, This Building Is Dedicated to the Service of American Industry and to
 Young Men Who Destine Their Life Work to the Industries: The Goal Being ideal Industry Which Will Give to All Broader Opportunities for Purposeful Lives" The Mellon institute is operated under the in- oestrial fellowship system and has dem onstrated it's services to American indus- tries through the solution of problems in manufacturing glass, in natural gas, in oil, fertilizers, soap, glue and bread making and in the utilization of low grade orc, fruit wastes and leather scrap. The fel- lowship system was first inaugurated at the University of Kansas under the drec- tion of the late Dr. Robert Kennedy Dun- can, who introduced it in the University Of Plttsburg. The institute of the Uni versity of Pittsburg was put on a perma- nent basis by the donation of over half million dollars made In 1913 by Andrew William Mellon and Richard Beatty Mel len, citizens of Pittsburg
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-03
Able Paper on the x-Rsy

One of the ablest papers that I hava heard read at the Birmingham Rotary club was that by pr. Edmondson. the N-ray expert at last weeks luncheon" said Rotarian.
 There was necessarily a great deal of technical matter in the paper, but 1t was not so technical as to be over the heads of intelligent men, and no address has been listened to more attentively. hope to see the address published in full in the Rotary organ"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-03
Business Improvement General

If the east and the south were hav- ing such prosperity as prevails in the grain growing west at this time busi- ness would be humming in every sec tion," said Wilson s. Netherland of Chi cago.
 Since the first of February there has been decided improvement in industrial centers, and general trade has shown a great deal of improvement. I was in New York few days ago and was glad to see signs of activity in nearly every line of business there and to hear business men talk enthusiastically The improved cotton situation has helped the south, of course. and l believe that before another month has gone condi- tions will be 50 per cent better than they were in December
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-03
Breadth of Steel Corporation Policy

The business depression of last fall was hard on all industries, and the United States Steel corporation was forced to operate at a very low record capacity, which made it impossible to earn dividends on it's common stock" said member of the Chamber of Com merce
 'The business of the Steel corpora ton Is now improving steadily, and it will not be great while, I imagine, before dividends will be earned again. It is to the credit of the corporation that 1t has kept up it's wage scale. Had the management seen fit 1t might have cut wages and paid dividend The broad minded policy of the United States Steel corporation cannot be too highly commended"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-03
LITERARY ADVICE

From the St. Louis Post Dispatch. No spirit of raillery but an active sym pathy prompts us to reply to the fol- lowing:
 St. Louis, Mo-, 1-27-1915 Dear Sir--I have composed and wrote story this being my first one I would like to get your advise as what to do first. Should I consult and editor if so would like for you to tell me where may find one here in the City. would
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-03

What did the ground hog do yesterday |? If he came out of his hole in this neck of the woods at noon, the appointed time according to tradition, he failed to see Now look out for an early spring.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-03

One of the bills introduced by an Ala bama legislator is intended to prohibit the cartooning of any prominent, man by a newspaper and another seeks to make all newspapers charge flat rate of 30 cents an inch for political advertisements. Yet people outside of Alabama wonder why this state doesn't make more rapid prog ress in education and other improvements worth while