davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17
A GONER.

Elizabeth c. Watson in The Survey.
 Maria was standing by her cell door when we passed down the corridor of the prison. We stopped to speak with her. Yes, l got 21 days" said Maria. dullv once you get into this life you got to nave the nerve to see it through to the end-the island and all the rest of it. The life aint so easy, either People think ifs easy. l tell you it aint. How long have l been in it? A little over four years. When first came from Austria I earned S6 week on the shirtwaists, not much to sleep and eat on in New York. Still We could get by on that, three of us to- gether in one room if we had it all the time. But the machine'd break down, or the power'd give out, and the girls go home and lose that day and maybe an other, and no pay. Then there was the slack season and sometimes no work for weeks, and some of the bosses were fierce too-and the work! Say, you just worked so hard you went home at night and fell fiat on the bed, too tired to eat bit of supper.
 "Once the girls made a strike so as thev needn't kill themselves working for such :!ttle money. I never went back after that strike; I took to this
 Sometimes I want to chuck it. But you can't Once you get into it you're a goner sure. Nobody wants girl as has been in this life. Suppose you did get a job. Somcbody'd see you, that's plain as mud. And then you know this life, it's -it's-its kind of sport. There's always something doing. When l sewed shirt waists them fouf years. was dead ell the time. Never saw anything or anybody; just worked, worked. worked. all the time. felt like an old woman-and me only 2 nowlr'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17
ALCOHOL AND THE BRAIN

From the New York Herald:
 It is to be hoped that the news printed yesterday that a jury in Kentucky ac- quilted cashier of forgery because of g demonstration" by his lawyer that alco- hol coagulated or, as was said, cooked. the brain, is not quite true.
 Alcohol. even in the dilution represented by whisky, will coagulate an egg, but be- fore whisky gets to the brain it is di- luted by the contents of the stomach, by all the blood in the body. and is modified by various secretions Besides, it is not absorbed all at once. Nature sees to that or we would have good many more ad- dled brains around us than we have
 The demonstration, then, if it took place, was an impudent imposition on the intelligence of the jury, and the surprise is that it should have been permitted. It is encouraging to learn that further in- dictments on the same charge are pend. ing.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
GAY DoINGS.

The Yellow Poppy club of Dayton, O., was recently brought into promi- hence by a divorce suit. It seems that the Yellow Poppy club Is composed of young married couples who have feasts at periodical intervals The man or wom- an who can drink the most champagne on these occasions without being fioored is awarded a prize. The question natural ly arises, if all the members take part in the contests, who is competent to act as judge? Perhaps this onerous task is left to the walters or the chauffeurs who assist in carrying the Yellow Topples" home after the champagne has ceased to flow.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Building Operation. in the Spring

There has been comparatively little activity in the building trades this win ter. in Birmingham and elsewhere, but l expect to see considerable briskness very soon." said Charles M. Allen, the contractor. 'I have had many inquiries recently about the cost of construction impurities from men who intend to build; and l suppose other contractors are having similar inquiries
 Anyone who purposes to build a store or a dwelling will find this the tune of all others to award contracts; for material is cheaper now and labor is more plentiful than it will be next summer"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17

The New York state factory investiga- ton commission has been investigatins wages in four low-paid industries-con. fectionery, shirts, paper boxes and retail stores. The commission has published a report based on the data it has collected and has recommended minimum wage leg islation. Of more than 9O,OOO persons whose weekly wages were recorded, more than three-ffths of the male workers receive less than Sl5 week when working full time and more than three -fourths of the women and girls receive less than $tO d week. In the stores the males get less tban $l4 week on an average and half the females less than s750 In shirt and box factories half the male. receive less than SIP a week and half the females less than S6.50 a week. In the confectionery business wages are shown to be less than sl1 week for half the males and below SC for half the females. More than 1000 fe- males employed in different industries get less than $5 per week.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17

Country bred young men enter ing upon professional careers have, as rule, sought great urban centers for their work in life, leaving the "old man" and one or two of the boys to run the farm in the old fashion way as best they could. The depletion of the rural population has been regarded as a very serious matter. The cities have been over crowded, while the farming sections have been much neglected, but recent movements looking to better farm con- ditions will change the situation.
 No business calls for more brains or more education than agriculture. Young men of liberal education are needed in the cities, of course, and all ways will be; but they are needed just as much on the farm. It need be no surprise, therefore, if within the next ten years a decided drift is seen from
 
 the city to the country.
 There is splendid future for farm ing in the south. Much progress in agriculture has been made in recent years, but scientific farming is yet in its infancy. AS for the social side of rural life, it grows more and more attractive every year. To many cul- tured minds it is distinctly allurinp Good roads, daily free delivery of mail. the automobile, the long distance tele- phone, and good schools at every cross roads will advance farm life to a high level from every social aspect.
 Alabama is having the good roads. the rural free delivery, the auto and the telephone, and in time it will have good school in every precinct. State Superintendent of Education Feagin's Better Farming Day" will have a stimulating effect on the mind of the young and good fruit will be borne.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17
WHEN sOLDITRs WON'T FIGHT


 From the Kansas City Times.
 A most alarming report comes from Flanders where the hostile armies face each other in their trenches. The morale of the troops seems to have been serious ly affected. An English officer writes that a Christmas truce was declared in the trenches and that the soldiers on both sides stacked their guns, crawled out of their holes and exchanged greetings.
 This was bad enough, but this was not the worst. When the truce expired and the English slid back into their cover and resumed their guns the Germans refused to take the hint. They continued in their exposed positions, frisking about in most unsoldierly manner, singing, laugh ing. sending friendly halls to their enemy and generally compromising treason to the fatherland.
 What could the English do? As the officer writes, they couldn't shoot down uLarmed men with whom they had been fra ternizing a few minutes before. It would have been a bally shame They tried shooting over their heads by way of a friendly hint that it was time to get back to business, but the Germans only laughed and whooped and kept playing horse Really, it was most em- barrassing.
 The English officer who wrote of this humilating incident in his diary was killed the next day. The enemy, realiz- ing at last the grave breach of duty of which they had geen guilty, had returned to their work.
 This disclosure of weakness in the morale of the armies must be very morti- flying to the general staffs and no doubt they will take vigorous action to strength on it. A spirit like that. if not sternly checked, would demoralize any army and soon make a soldier useless to his country a mere civilian.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17
A BIG UNDERTAKING.

Miss Gadders seems to enjoy nothing quite so much as a crusade
 Whats she up to now?''
 She's fighting for the restoration of the old-fashioned family circle which is to assemble in the living room of the family at least two nights a week.
 T fear she'll never be able to do that as long as the present dancing craze con- tinues."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17

Montgomery Times: Judging from some of the recent bills introduced by them, legislators in Missouri are on a par with those in Alabama Birmingham Age Herald
 The statesmen of another state placed in the mule or asses colts" class The North Carolina and Arkansas legislatures are liable to suffer the same fate, for they are going along the same lines And really the Tennessee legislature hes voted to submit a constitutional female suf- frage amendment, and we are curious U see where that body will be classed Montgomery Advertiser: A member of 1 the Ohio legislature has been dubbed the Benedict Arnold of the minority" Why didn't Benedict retort that his traducer was the Rockefeller of Adams county? Dothan Eagle: "Alabama's Illiteracy. Let's Remove It. is slogan Can't blow it away with legislative hot air, Collinsvile Courier: Hope those fel- lows down at the capitol don't make a
 noise like The Age-Herald thinks they
 make.
 Clio Free Press: Trouble seems to be
 'brewing" again in Mexico. Isn't it
 about time they were "bottling?"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17
Business Outlook Good

Ihere has been some improvement in puslness recently, and the sentiment is decidedly better, said Fred Dimmick formerly of Birmingham, but now of Philadelphia.
 Many prominent manufacturers are en- outraged to think that their plants will be very busy in the spring and summer Every one I meet seems to feel that busi- ness struck low water mark last fall. Conditions have certainly been better since the first of the year, and there is every sign that an era of great prosperity will begin in the near futurep
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17
ALL AFFLICTED.

This actress you are talking about is a bundle of nerves
 "Yes, and no wonder. She has more than her share of eccentricities to begin with, and in addition her poodle, her manager, her press agent and her hus- band seem to have artistic tempera- ments."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17
PERHAPS.

He's never called a girl a. skirt Was never seen a cocktail sipping
 And never has been known to flirt. A model youth, there's no denying.
 Who'd make someone a proper beau, But mulch we fear the modern maiden Would find him just trifie slow.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17
HOW ABOUT IT, WOODROW 'Tis said a man Quits bothering When be begins !
 Grandfathering
CAN'T BE THERE.

The Invitation Edition of the Ala meda, Cal, Times-Star has been received by the editor of this column, llso an in- vital from Fred Schaefer to attend the convention of the American 1ress Hum- orists' association during the Panama Pacific exposition. It's long, long way to San Francisco and much too far to walk.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17
CUPID DROWNED

By Leigh Hunt.
 T other day as I was twining Roses for crown to dine in, What, of all things. mid the heap, Should I light on, fast asleep. But the little desperate elf, The tiny traitor. Love, himself! By the wings I picked him up Like bee, and in a cup Of my wine I plunged and sank him, Then what dye think did? drank him Faith,.I thought him dead. Not hel There he lives with tenfold glee, And now this moment with his wings l feel him tickling my heartstriugs.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17
EXTRA INDICTMENT.

EXTRA INDICTMENT.
 Don't you think Mrs Gadson has gracious ways?'
 Yes, indeed. Particularly when her clothes happen to be a little better than the clothes of the woman she's talking to-" PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17
HIS AMBITION
From Judge.

From Judge.
 Young man. what profession do you expect to follow when you grow up?'
 I'm going to be doctor" answered the young man, taking out a notebook and pencil May I count on you to save your appendix for me?"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17

Business" at Monte Carlo is said to be poor. The same thing might be said of many other enterprises more entitled to than the Casino at Monte Carlo.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17

Noting the stringent prohibition law re- gently passed by the state legislature, the Cleveland Plain Dealer wants to know what people in Alabama will do in case tie does a hard-hearted legislature care.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17
A FREE TRANSLATION.

A FREE TRANSLATION. What does 'sauve qui peut mean?" asked the seeker after knowledge. Why" answered the picturesque globe trotter, that's French for Beat it. The cops are coming'"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17
Washington bureau, 207 Hibbs build

BEGINNING THE DAY-What message hast Thou for me, today. my Fatbers would incline mine ear unto Thee and henr Thy word. Speak to me fin the secret places of my heart. Show me Thy will through the experiences of this day. I whit on Thee, for in Thee l live, and out of Thee I die. Amen.-H. M. E.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17
Observance of Lent

While only certain churches observe Lent, l find that many members of the churches not recognizing the ecclesiastical year fall in line to some extent and
 minimize at least their social activities ' said a clubman.
 Fashionable society is always quiet on Ash Wednesday, and more or less sub dued during the entire Lenten season."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17
NOT GOOD FOR THEM.

l hope this war will soon be ended
 And ships may sail across the sea, By all good wishes still attended
 And with no fears that they may be Blown up by floating mines or shattered
 By shots from submarines below. A ships hull by torpedoes battered
 Is apt to leak a bit you know.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17

Boots that lace on the inside are one of the new freaks of fashion, also walking sticks for women with handle that rep resents a shapely leg. Both are calculated to make the men look longer
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17

If Germany is willing to make conces- sions, provided England does. why not agree to stop fighting and lift a burden off the whole world?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17
NEXT IN ORDER

From the Houston Post.
 We suppose the Alabama legislature is about ready to enact law compelling every male adult citizen of the state to drink eight gallonslo of water q day.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17

Maybe the rubber found in those cot ton bales consigned to Genoa was only put there to make them bounce and thus tighten the labors of stevedores.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17

Professor Taft says he Is acking Pres- ident Wilson's war policy. Naturally, that puts T. R. more or less on the other side.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17

A Detroit doctor says there's no such thing as collie. Talks as if he might be paving the way for an appendicitis oper- ation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17

The milk of human kindness is curdled in people who send comic valentines.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17
A TRENCH.

.'so you've been on the firing line?'
 Pardon me-in it. The firing line was six feet deep"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17

If this country should blunder into a war with Germany what w-;.d 100000 hyphenated Americans do?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17
A DISTINCT~N.

'Is DublSins fond of music?" Not at all."
 But he plays a great deal of stuff op his phonograph?" You said music
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17

A New York Chnaman who wore a steel shirt was evidently prominent member of a tong.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17

Sluggers attacked man in Chica go S city hall. They must have had great con- fidence in the ruling powers
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17

Judging from recent remarks of British statesmen, England is about to make war in earnest.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17

It is no longer considered bad form to be seen in one of Belgium's 'soup lines"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17

People with foresight are already be- ginning to inspect their fly swatters.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17
POINTED PARAGRAPHS

Some citizens of the state wouldn't care if the legislature never met again.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17

evidence that he was always on hand when Aunt Maria had ravaged the prick ly bushes that bordered the garden spot which by much wooing, she availed upon h5m to blow just twice d year. And huckleberry pie-thats the kind to be eaten in your shirtsleeves, at the edge of the back porch, where the juice can run down to your elbow and drip upon the hollyhocks below. And .chessy" pie, Have you ever heard of "cheasy' pie |? That's pie as is a pie.
 But why continue2 One might with out proclamation paraphrase the list of the faithful set down in the eleventh of Hebrews and exhaust the roll of eternal worthies long before pie, in it's diver sity and variety, had been more than faintly described
 How were they made? Search us In boyhood's day the spirit of imitation and emulation was rife. No circus came but we turned handsprings for months aft erward In years to follow we envied only the one-legged clog dances and the couple that played the xylophone. But the making of pies belonged to the vim min folks For us to eat was enough. Only in those days we never got enough!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17
ALABAMA PRESS

Anniston Star: George Ward, Birming- hams bachelor commissioner who has never been kissed, objects to 'jitney'' busses.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17
ENTERTAINING TO PIE

From the Cincinnati Enquirer
 :" NOWN to all, no doubt, is the in N dividual obsessed with the impell- 4 A ing idea. In the higher human
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17

A. J. Eaton, Jr.. and o. E. Young are the only authorized travelling repre- sentatives of The Age-Herald in its cir culation department
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17

Entered at The Birmingham, Ala. postoffice as second class matter under act of Congress March 3, 1879.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-17

No communication will be published without its authors name. Rejected manuscript will not be returned unless stamps are enclosed for that purpose.
The Cordova daily times., 1915-12-15
IF ENGLAND |S
 DEAD

LONDON, Dec. 15. - Sir Richard Everard Webster, known as Viscount Alverstone. and Lord chief justice of England, died here today, after lin gering illness Alverstone was al most 73 years old, and has had a distinguished career as a jurist. He is known to Americans as one of the arbitrators in the Boring Sea contro, versy, and five years after that was settled he performed the same func- ton in the matter of the boundary between British Guiana and Vene- zuela. In 1899 he succeeded Sir Ma thaniel Lindley as master of the rolls, at the same time being raised to the ,peerage as Baron Alverstone Tn October of the same year he was elevated to the office of lord chief justice upon the death of Lord Rus sel of Killowen.
The Cordova daily times., 1915-12-15
Allied Troops Carmp@d Tn Greece
ITALY WANTS COAL
 FROM UNCLE SAM

ROME Nov. 15-Coa is $40 ton in Italy, and continues to It went up $lO ton in week This has become serious, and might become decisive factor, far Italy concerned for coal is the fundamental element of Ita ian industry and commerce. moving the railways running the factories and keeping up such public utilities electric light and power plants and water works street railways and ramways well for household heating and cooking, not only in Rome, but all over Italy.
 People longer buy coal by the ton but by the bag and
 bag of coal which be swung the shoulder $ This means of that poor people longer buy coal and longer keep except the mild Italian eli mate may help them But the climate does dot help the rail ways and factories, and industrial Italy the worst sufferer from coal shortage and excessive prices There has been talk, since Italy not at with Germany of getting coal from Germany and for the possible exchange of other articles of mutual need Importing coal from Japan is also being considered but the transportation cost great that Japanese coal would probably not bring the price down much in Italy.
 American coal shippers have been urged to enter the ta field But the scarcity of ships and the high cost of trans portaton to the dangers of coal cOnaband of said stand in the way relief from that quarter So that of the effects of the European to make high price coal vital question for Italy and the absence of any apparent remedy is more serious question.
The Cordova daily times., 1915-12-15
ADDITIONAL TAX ID BE LEVIED
 ON PEOPLE

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15. - The ways and means committee of the House today reported to that body asking that the present emergency revenue law be extended. They also many sacks of mail were held up there 1t, such as a stamp tax on checks. as they estimate that under the present revenue law the receipts for next year will fail by eighty-two million dollars to meet the disbursements of the government. The government deficit under the present law would include ten million dollar deficit in the postoffice. The internal revenue from distilled spirits. fermented li- Quors and tobacco decreased twenty five million dollars during the last fiscal year, and a further decrease is expected the coming year, as the pro hibition area of the country has been extended.
The Cordova daily times., 1915-12-15
1 Ab ] R LEADER ER CONFERS WITH
 PRESIDENT

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15. - Presi dent Gompers, of the American Fed eration of Labor. held a conference with President Wilson today relative to the attitude which organized labor would take in regard to the adminis- tration's program for national pre- paredness. Gompers told Mir Wilson that his organization was ready and willing to support the President and his defence plans, and he asked Will son to appoint a representative of labor on the committee which is to be appointed to confer with the army and navy officers relative to the mobilization of the nations resour- ces. Wilson promised to consider Gompers' request carefully, and said that while he did not care to decide the matter at once, the idea appealed to him.
The Cordova daily times., 1915-12-15
ENGLAND FEELS SHORTAGE OF INDIGO

LONDON Dec 15.-The absence of the usual supplies of German synthetic indigo the leading markets of the world has led to an eager demand for the natural product and record prices are being paid for the small quantities of this mdespen sable blue dye which from India India the principal producing country but the expanding demand Tor indigo has to revival the industry China where interesting de velopments expected.
 estimate from the Punab district of India states that under indigo represents 4 cent of the total area planted British Ina but the condition of the standing crops is said to be below average and the yield from all the standing crops will probably be small
The Cordova daily times., 1915-12-15
INTERIOR WILL 1 PAY FRE|GHT
 FUR MAIL

FAIRBANKS. Dec. 15. - The peo ceive their parcel post mail this year that they have raised sufficient money by private subscription to take all of it over the trail from Cordova A wire was sent to the postmaster at Cordova today, asking him as to how many sacks of mail was held up there addressed to Fairbanks, so that an much it would cost to bring in the surplus mail.