davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-19
For Birmingham's Permanent Financial Reliet

per and such for lime of voting be purpose At Frank appointed ing Birmingham financial relief. The other this issue Aged bearing evidence  The city efficiency various increase the rate of taxation But order to do this constitutional necessary be legislature unnecessary delay. Accompanying the posed constitutional amendment providing exceeding onela effect will will If onhaf
  for the of the people  might determine.
 
  board be created by simple act of the legislature
  would high
  considerable the United is not much Bimnghams
  the commission and publish each year budget of the c expenditures making
  In  meeting
 
 
 
  point carefully general and of sailing elenta
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-19
Prison Reform in China

After the tremendous changes that have been wrought in China during recent years, resulting in the trans formation of gigantic monarchy that had slumbered for thousands of years into modern republic, almost before the world at large realized what was taking place, it should cause no surprise to learn that some attention is being devoted in that country to prison reform.
 A recent dispatch from Shanghai describes a model industrial prison opened about six months ago in Paotingfu. There are about five hun dred prisoners in the institution, of whom one-fifth are women. They are classified and housed according to the gravity of their offenses, which is a sensible idea that should be applied to all criminals. These inmates whose terms run from twelve to fifteen years to life are each kept in sep arate cell, except when employed in workrooms or taking exercise. Each cell is about fourteen feet long and six feet wide, with high ceiling and window that gives plenty of light. The buildings are substantially built
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-19

The saloon business fin the state of New York has shown a marked falling off since 1910. There are now 1918 fewer saloons in the state than there were five years ago. When the ratio law went into erect limiting the drinking places to one for every 750 persons, there were o4. 39l hotels and saloons in New York with population of 373 for every drinking place. There is now one saloon for every 4S persons, which still affords ample facilities for thirsty individuals. The decrease in the number of saloons also resulted in a curtailment of s1s2, ,4es in excise revenue. The total receipts of the state excise department for the fiscal year were SIS, S,109260, of which s17, ,4S6 615 was received from liquor tax certifi- cates. During the past year the privilege of selling liquor was taken away from 4 premises because of gambling and disorderly conditions.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-19
The Birmingham Y. M. c. A.

The people of Birmingham have req son to be proud of the great central Young Mems Christian association build ing here,' said Fulton B. Clark.
 Tt is one of the best equipped in the south and is a magnificent structure. The gymnasium and lobby are spacious and afford the members ample oppor- tInity for recreation and physical de- velopment. The basement or subway, which has been fitted out with bowling alleys, pool and billiard tables and cafeteria is the source of much pleasure to those who frequent it. Games are con ducted in quiet and social manner but the young men seem to enjoy themselves thoroughly.
 The cafeteria is greatly favored by the younger business men of the city. and the patronage at the lunch hour has become very large. The men who fre- quent this eating place form many ac- quaintances, and at noon the place has an atmosphere of congenial sociability. Personally, I believe that the casual ac- quaintances formed in and around this institution are the source of more pleas ure than many of those formed in a more formal manner"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-19
The People Are Pleased

Few events occurring here in re- cent years have so pleased the people as the getting together of Commis- sioner James Weatherly and the wa terworks company. The old-time con- tentions may have interested law yers and such citizens as like to see stubborn litigation merely because it is stubborn, but the public was heart fly tired of all the wrangling and, moreover, water takers were paying increased rates pending an amicable settlement or agreement with the city,
 The proposition which the water works company has made the city providing for reduction of the water rate and looking to a sale of the plant to the city eventually, upon a valua- ton appraisement by special com
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-19
Tn Memory of Robert E. Lee

Today is the anniversary ot the birth of Robert E. Lee and IS oo- served as legal holiday in Alabama and nearly all of the other southern states. There will be appropriate ex- ercises in many of the schools throughout the southland, and around the camp fires of Confederate Vet erans growing eulogies will be heard.
 In the Southern Confectionery there was no lack of general officers ot high talent and the best of military training. In 1861 it's brigades and divisions and corps and armies were commanded by men of exceptional character and distinction. And to the end of the war great men were at the head of the principal commands. but Robert E. Lee, who commanded the famous Army of Northern Virginia, was the most widely revered and the most truly beloved of all the south's galaxy of war heroes.
 Although General Lee had come of fighting stock and was himself a cavalier of the cavaliers, he loved the walks of peace rather than the armed camp; but being a loyal son of Old Virginia and placing duty to state above all else in his military profession, he resigned his colonelcy in the United States army and de- clned a large and conspicuous gen eral command on the Union side in order thatrhe might fight in defense on his own commonwealth. Other men who achieved brilliant triumphs during the four years of bloody con- flict were well poised as well as in trepid, but Lee, with his exalted ideals, seemed the best rounded and the noblest of them all. He was a devout Christian, but his piety was as transformations as his military life.
 The observance of Lees anniver- sary is not confined to the south, for the memory of the south's illustrious chieftain has long been honored in the north and in all foreign countries. Those who fought against the south have spoken harshly of some of the southern leaders, just as some of those who fought against the north have spoken with bitterness against their old time foes; but no self-re- specting soldier ever thought of Lee except with admiration or with the utmost respect.
 Today the whole nation will pay silent tribute to the name of Robert Edward Lee.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-19
SOLDERING

From the Detroit News.
 To work long hours, sometimes for days
 and nights, with entrenching tools-the
 work of a ditch digger; To load and unload and carry large packs of supplies-the work of a steve-
 dore; To stand at the beck and call of officers,
 and serve them their food-the work of a
 waiter; To replace torn-up ties. and relay torn up rails. and rehoist torn-down poles the work of section hand; To serve in the mess with towel and troughs of water-the work of dish
 washer; To cut down forests and hew large trees
 with adze and ax-the work of lumber jack; To feed and curry and tend ones horses, or some one elses horses1-the work of hostler To touch the torch to peasants crops and hayricks and cottages-the work of a vandai To stand up before one man or two whom he has never met before, and shoot them to oeath-tne Work ot dh execu- tioner: To run off pigs and cattle belonging to others, and prepare their flesh for the kettle-the work of a butcher; To march for hours and hours ill sun or rain, until his movements become me- chanicel. the mind benumbed and the whole matter less than a nightinare-the work of Frankenstein; To be flung into combat where and with whom he cannot tell; And then to have the trench covered over him, or to be laid in the ditch and rave the road plowed over him, or to be | tied up with three others ('bodies are
 tied in bundles of four to facilitate hand l ling')-
 | That is the work of soldier. l That is the romance of soldering.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-19
The New Governor

A new executive sits in Montgom- cry this morning.
 With the inauguration of Charles Henderson as governor, another hand takes the helm, and a new era opens before the state.
 The, keynote of Mr. Hendcrson's inaugural address was harmony. It was particularly happy theme, and all citizens of whatever faith will join him in his plea for concerted and har- monious action looking toward the betterment of Alabama.
 Mir. Henderson assumes the gov ernorship with great opportunities before him. Problems vital to every inhabitant of the state present them selves, and he will find weighty mat ters pressing upon him on every hand. In the solution of these prob lens the new governor will have am- ple scope to demonstrate anew his proved abilities and make a name for himself as a constructive and far seeing statesman.
 The people have confidence in MT. Henderson and expect much of him; and that he will fulfill these expec- tations The Age-Herald confidently believes.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-19
Harmony m Excellent Sign

T understand that the probability is very strong that all three of the sub committees of the committee of 100 citi- zens named to work out a plan of relief for the financial troubles of the city, will make unanimous reports,' said a well known merchant yesterday.
 "If they do, i. will seem like a very significant fact to me- As in all things of this nature, there has been some talk ever since the committee of 100 was or ganized that 1t was packed and that the subcommittees were packed. No mat ter how high may be the character of the men connected with such undertak
 ngs there always are such reports to be heard.
 But, if all those three subcommittees make unanimous reports, as understand is very probable, it will prove to my mind that the members of those com mittees were men imbued with keen sense of duty to the public veal. When any group of men from as many differ ent sections of the city and as many different lines of business and interests as the men making up those commit tees all agree on one report there can be no better proof that there was no one man and no one faction of men on the committee that stood up for any one thing and thereby ruined the harmony of the body
 "I think it augurs we'll for the future of the city when body of men can be organized like that each willing to listen to the views of the other and to so tenn per his own opinions as to harmonize them with those of his fellow committee
 men. all working for the good of the city as a whole I now look for complete
 success in the labors of the committee of 10o.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-19
THE TWILIGHT WITCH

By Madison Caweir. The twilight witch comes with her stars
 And strews them through the blue; Then breathes below the sunset bars
 A breath of meadow rue; She trails her veil across the skies
 And mutters to the trees. And in the wood. with firefiy eyes
 She makes the mysteries, The twilight witch, with elf and fay, Is coming down the slumber way,
 Sleep, my dearie, sleep. The twilight witch, with crescent moon
 Stpops on the wooded hill; She answers to the owlet's tune.
 And to the whippoorwill. $ She leans above the reedy pool
 And wakes the drowsy frog, And with the toadstool, dim and cool
 Rims gray the old dead log. The twilight witch comes stealing down To take you off to slumber town,
 Sleep. my dearie. sleep. The twilight witch, with windlike treadl
 Has entered in the room; She steals, around your trundle-bed
 And whispers in the gloom. She says: T brought my steed along
 My fiery steed of gleams. To bear you, like a breath of song. y Into the land of dreams. I am the witch who takes your hand And leads you off to faeryiand.
 Tho far-o& land of aleep."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-19
No Hard Times in Florida

There are no hard times in Florida despite the business depression else where," said Herman Ploeger, who owns an orange grove in the state of perpetual sunshine. "Especially true is this of the section where truck farming is carried on on an extensive scale, for the garden products find a ready market in the north and northeast at good prices.
 "Of course it takes a practical knowl- edge of this branch of farming to attain success, for the truck farmer of Michigan no matter how successful in his own state would find a great difference in climate and soil in Florida as compared with his northern home and a knowledge Of climate and soil is essential to the successful operation of a farm in Florida. However, for the man who applies scien- tific principles to truck farming there awaits golden opportunity in the state of Florida"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-19
LIFE IN ARKANSAS
the Arkansas Democrat.

FrOm tHe ArkaHsas DenOcTdt.
 He gets up at the alarm of a Connecti- cut clock, buttons his Chicago suspenrs to Detroit cveralls; washes his face with Cincinnati soap in a Pennsylvania pan; Chicago meat and Tennessee flour, cooked with Kansas lard on a St. Louis stove; puts New York bride on a Kentucky mule fed with Iowa corn: ploughs farm covered by an Ohio mortgage, with a Chattanooga blow; when bedtime comes he reads chapter from a Bible printed in Boston. says prayer written in Jeru- salem, crawls under blanket made in New Jersey, only to be kept awake by an Arkansas dog-the only home product on his place.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-19

of brick and in each cell there is a board bed.
 Prisoners who have light sentences to serve are treated more leniently From two to four occupy large rooms together All prisoners are given three meals a day, which compare favorably with the food of country people who live in the vicinity. A number of industries have already been successfully started, among them the plating of straw for hats and the weaving of reed mats. The prisoners also weave the cloth for making their own clothing and bed ding. Cooking and serving food is done by inmates fitted for that work, while other groups of prisoners take care of the buildings and grounds.
 The discipline is said to be kindly and the morale of this institution is excellent. There are many prisons in the United States that would suffer in comparison with this model prison of China, until quite recently consld- cred land of benighted heathens.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-19
REPUBLIC OF SAN MARINO

From the Kansas City Star.
 OW that Monaco, the smallest
 IN principalty in the world, has de- clared war on Germany, San Ma rino, the smallest and oldest republic, is shaking its fist at the Kaiser. San Ma rino is dot of 3S square miles in east ern Italy. Its quarrel with Germany is the result of the Kaiser's protest that the San Marine wireless station was in- tercepting his messages.
 San Marine, literally, is a mountain and three little villages. Its total population is 11,000. Jefferson City or Moberly would make more populous nation. It has no railroad, the visitor having to ride four hours in diligence from Rmini. an Adriatic resort city.
 The founding of San Marine is solne- what of a myth The local tradition is that Marinus, a Dalmatian stonecut- ter, fathered the. nation in the fourth century. He was working on a gate way at Rimin. The nearest rock quarry was Mount Titanus. As reward for faithful work Marinus was given the mountain, where he established a refuge for Christians. Since that time San Marine has maintained its independence.
 In the seventh or eighth century it's monastery was turned into fort. Many invaders marched by without attacking the republic. For one reason, it was difficult to attack, and for another, it had no wealth to attract the conqueror.
 Once a pope attempted to collect taxes in the state. San Marine appealed to a judge in Rimini, who held that it was an independent nation and therefore no taxes could be collected. Italy has never tSied to incorporate the republic in it's realm. True, today Italy maintains the San Marinan gendarmerie and medical staff, but the republic turns in enough revenue to the kingdoms treasury to recompense it.
 San Marine is proud of it's claim as the oldest republic. All around it's 8 miles of frontier one can see monuments marked "Italy" on one side and "The Republic of San Marino'' op the other. But while it claims to be a republic it is an cligarchy in fact. The govern ment is grand council of 60 elected for life, in equal numbers from the landed proprietors and the bourgeois. The council elects it's own members when vacancies occur. An inner council of 12
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-19
ALABAMA PRESS

Andalusia Star: The Birmingham Age Herald refers to it as "staid old Mont gomery." We always had an idea that Montgomery was in the chicken class
 New Decatur Advertiser: Wet or dry, drunk or sober the people all want econ- omy of administration. better education and good roads.
 Greenville Advocate; One generous diff ficulty about getting policy of pub lie economy adopted is that few people are really interested in public economy. Large expenditures are more attractive to the ordinary citizen than large sav- ings.
 Tuscaloosa News: The legislature will do thing that will please the people particularly the farming interest, if il will pass bill putting state convicts to work on the roads.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-19
LIKES TO L1NGEP.

chosen from the GO forms a kind of
 senate. It has two presidents or cap tains regent as they call them. The. are elected every six months at a gran, public gathering The main reason fol the frequency of those elections is tha is the principal amusement the citizen have.
 There is only one level spot in Sal Marine. That is plaza in front of th national palace. It is used as a parad ground for San Marinos citizen army o $50 men and 3S officers. San Marino'| army is not a professional one. Its soil diers sall make their living at some othe| occupation. Thus the commanding office of the army is also librarian of th1 national library and a professor of Bell luzi college.
 The people generally work in the quar- ries and do some hillside farming. Al the expense of maintaining the govern| ment is small, taxes practically amount to nothing. San Marine has a diplo| matic force of II consuls. Three are iI Italy, one in England, one in FrancI and the others in neighboring countried Their only pay is fees San Marine onc( thought it would send a consul to thu United States. Not that it needed onl here, but it was a happy thought thai the oldest republic should be represented in the largest republic. The captains rel gent of that date investigated the natl ter. They saw a way to make the ven| ture profitable by having the consul sel lotter ytickets. When they learned thai lottery tickets. When they learned tha States the idea was abandoned
 San Marine has some salt mines whici it uses to pay the captains regent { salary. The regents have the salt mol nopoly during their term of office.
 Two names are revered in the historI of the republic. One is Napoleon, wh{ sent an ambassador to San Marine and guaranteed them independence. AnotheI is Garibaldi, who took refuge there aftei the Austrian war and came near involv| ing San Marine in war with the dual monarchy.
 Since San Marinos streets all run al some precipitous angle drainage anI sewerage is no worry Nature handle| that. Few horses are owned in the re public and in many cases the familI cows have to climb down stairways il get their daily pasturing.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-19

piles has cut into the industry some what in recent years there is an in creased demand for the little animals i the rural districts and in the park throughout the country
 The pure bred Shetland ponies requl,' practically no "breaking." When the an imals are hard to manage it Is usuail because they have been bred with India pony stock in an endeavor to get irl creased size.
 Shetland ponies require little sheltd and story is told of one pony that fe into deep ravine with two full-size horses. Several weeks later the two larg horses were found dead and the pom alive and almost as active as when met with it's mishap. It had literally du| out living from among the weeds an shrubs of the ravine Five head of Shet land ponies may be kept on what it take to keep one dairy COW.
 The prices obtained range from $40 t Sl00 for colts and ponies, although sonl choice specimens bring more than that.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-19
FOOLISH STUFF.

 In a little country village Lived the charming Eloise; Then there came a circus fellow Who performed on a trapeze.
 Detroit Times. She was in box, and he was Doing stunts to cause a stir, When the rope brolse-and that's how ths Trapeze guy fell on her.
 Houston Post. Eloise. the darling, nursed him Back to life and health and hope, But her father caught and cursed him When they started to elope.
 Birmingham Age-Herald. Do not be so nasty, mister" Cried the acrobat; but my, Angry pop knocked him a twister With a swift poke in the eye.
 Grand RapiN5 News Seems ito US nifty codger Used to stunts in circus rings Ought to be better dodger Than to fall for papa's swings.
 Youngstown Telegram.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-19
Here From Texas

w. A. Green, formerly of Birmingham, but now prominent official of the Texas company, with headquarters in Houston, is at the Tutwiler. He will remain here until Thursday or Friday.
 MT Green was at one time manager of the Alabama end of the Republic Iron ana Steel company, and the local friends that he made while he held that position always have cordial greeting for him. lie was an old and confidential friend of the late John w. Gates and he has been associated with Gates interests for many years. It was John w. Gates who jn- duced him to go to Texas and take charge or his large oil properties there. which are operated by the Texas company.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-19
Advance in Cotton Cheering

The advance in the price of cotton must be cheering to the entire south, for it is regarded as a good thing for business in general-north as well as south," said w. J. Searcy of New York
 T was in Georgia early in November, and the depression there seemed serious And it was serious. It looked as if the bottom had dropped out of the cotton market. But the situation is very diff ferent now. Today's prices are caus- Ing the farmers to sell and pay their debts, and that will have the effect of causing all southern interest to look up. Business in the south will, I believe, soon approach normal"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-19
POINTED pARACRAPHs

From the Chicago News.
 A bad break is often followed by a flood of tears. 2 Extremes meet when art is long and the artist is short.
 The worse the weather today, the bet ter it may be tomorrow.
 It may be small matter even If q woman doesn't know her own mind.
 As the twig is bent the small boy is inc clined to make quick disappearance.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-19

mission, is thoroughly business-like. It means that the people are to be relieved presently of water tax bur den and that in the not distant fu- ture Birmingham will own it's water works system. We'll may citizens ex- press themselves in terms of hearty commendation over the changed situ- ation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-19

BEGINNING THE DAY-Hcip me to build today on the house of Tn! old age. Help me to put in the things which will stand the strain anu weather the years. Help me to buiia in gentIeness, in sweetness, m cous- agc. in fidelity. that in the evening I may live in security ana q"ies without fear and without overmueh .h,me and regret. In Christs name. Amen,-u. NJ. E.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-19
RAISING sHETLAND PoNIrs

From the Uniontown Telegram.
 The Tri-State Farmer says Mahoninc leads all other counties in the country in the production of Shetland ponies and that there are great possibilities in pony raising for the farmers.
 While 1t Is true that the sale of automo-