davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-31
LAPS NEED VARIETIES

me a good scout and talks much about princes, lords and dukes she has known. Amazing!
 We need all these thngs-the millions of lights, the great cafes. It makes for public happiness. But I think we in Japan would enjoy it differently. I sit here and watch the women. They sparkle They are never tired. They sip, sip, sip and then they dance. They wear so few clothes that cannot believe that they are not cold
 T see all these and 1 am impressed that the American girl and woman is the most beautiful. The German girl is too stout; the French girl paints her face too much; the English girl does not know how to dress. The American girl tales from each the most attractive thing and she is a composite beauty. But the American man is tired look
 ing"
 Are you married, Baron Ito?" demand ed Miss Laurell.
 "Ah," beamed the baron, that would , do you good to know, nor for me to tell. A man has secrets always"
 Well, you're a good scout anyway" said Miss Laurel.
 The baron looked bit mystifed. but MT. Nakamigawa, who is a Cornell uni versity graduate, explained satisfactorily, anu tiie pdrOn Jotttu doWH Soou sCout in his notebook. . q am amazed at every step. l come to New York hearing that the war in Eu | rope is making times bad. But I go to these gay cafes and see them crowded | Money is spent with startling abandon. There is a crowd at the doors angry be- cause they cannot get in to spend their money. You speak of poverty You l should go to Europe and Asia" l The baron had rather hard time of I it trying to understand the songs.
 "Who is this Dear Oliver about whom Mir Granville sings so sadly?' he queried. l He looks soulfully at me and pleads with me to tell him where Dear Oliver is. And why should people laugh? "To me the word that stands out big gest in New York is get You get this and that with a rush and a slam. You
 get in and get out get money, get pleas ure and seem to get old all very quickly. Everybody in these streets seems to want | to get something.
 I "The policeman at Tenth avenue and Forty-second streets tells me that he was going to get a man whom he characterized as a gunman before this gunman got him.
 A young lady in Healys told me that l she had been insulted by man who had | got his next day. l shall always remem-
 Der the great American get"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-31

unsatisfactory. Many of them never came into commercial use. Among some of the inventors were J. M. Taurines of Paris and F. D. Artingstall of Manchester, Eng land.
 In 1872. and again about 10 years later, A. H. Emery obtained a United States patent on weighing machines which came more or less into general use. Gauss and Weber. of the University of Gottinxen, experimented many years ago upon bal ances with twisted wire for pivot, but their experiments and those of some others who followed them were unsuc- cessful in producing a commercial bal ance. The chief reason for their failure was the want of a correct way of strelch- ing the wire This was remedied in 1882 by Prof. Frederick Roeder of Cincinnati. He and his associate in business, pr. AL fl ed Springer. discovered that the objo, ,- tiona ble effect of the elasticity of the wire could be entirely overcome by making the beam topheavy, that is, by raising it's center of gravity above the point of support of axis or oscillation These gen. tlemen were granted numerous paten' between 1882 and 1887
 Some system or other of weighing is as old as history. But it is only little more than 100 years ago that universal sys- tenn was practically adopted Before man had developed beyond the savage he felt the need of some method of measurement or weight So old is the idea that there is found in Josephus the statement that Cain invented weights and measures. Many balances were unearthed amid the ruins of Pompeii.
 Early in the thirteenth century 1t was enacted under Henry III that there should be uniformity in the weights and meas ures throughout the realm and soon cfter- ward weights were established upon the weight of grains of wheat. This was in use until inc middle of the fifteenth cen tury.
 The establishing of standard weight in the United States was first taken up in 1877, but the national bureau of stand ards in this country was not established until July 1, 1901.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-31
Good Road Days

The fourth annual observance or Good Roads Days. August IA and 10, VIII arouse more enthusiasm this year than ever" said a well known citizen. 'Ine custom of volunteer work on the pub lie roads has grown to be great state event and every effort will be put forth to make the days of greater signlf1- canoe this year than ever. Saturday August If, will be devoted to working the roads and holding good roads rai- lies. Sunday August Is. will be devoted to religious services, when the min isters of the gospel throughout the state will be expected to preach ser mons on the benefits of good roads. While Sunday school officers will talk to their pupils on the subject
 Governor Henderson is expected to issue proclamation calling on the peo- pie to observe Good Roads Days. Pro bate judges, county commissioners and 1 mayors will also request the people tc observe the days.
 l. "The Alabama Good Roads associa
 ton is using its influence in creating
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-31
Consider the Automobile

Every once in awhile some pessi- mist emits howl to the effect that the automobile is a satanic invention, that it is a luxury sapping the life blood of ordinary commerce and that the world would be generally better off if inventive genius had never been focused upon motor car construction.
 True, much of the country's wealth is invested in automobiles and the toot of the horn, sounding like the shriek of lost soul, may be a bit satanic at times. But, after all, if the automobile had never accomplished any other good at all, the effect it has had toward public highway inn provement is enough of itself to over balance all of the evils charged against the automobile-even admit ting, for argument sake, that such alleged evils are founded upon fact
 Time was, not so very many years ago, when bad roads were the rule rather than the exception over large area of the United States.
 Now consider for moment what change has occurred. Statistics pre- pared by the United States depart ment of agriculture show that last year approximately $206,0 100000 was spent for public road improvement in the United States. In 1904 the total expenditure was only $79,000,000. In nine years, therefore, the increase has been over 25O per cent.
 Among the states ranking highest in road improvement are Texas, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Vermont, Vir- ginia, Ohio, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska Alabama and Tennes- see and Georgia have made fairly good showing. Kentucky lags far be- hind.
 In many states state aid to counties and other local communities has been a prominent factor in bringing inn provment.
 From material gathered by the Uni ted States department of agriculture 1t is clearly evident that good roads are a profitable investment and if it re- quired the advent of the automobile to bring about the awakening, then We rise up and bless the automobile as the vehicle of public betterment.
 In the case of one county in Virginia where particularly thorough records have been kept, the agricultural out put was more than doubled following road improvement. The farmers found
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-31
From the New York American.

From the New York American.
 lkk ow, I know what Japan
 M needs" decided Baron Bun
 A kichi Ito, son of the late Prince Ito premier of Japan. I've known all along that we needed something. What we need is a few midnight frolics like MT. Ziegfeld owns. a couple of Tom Healys, a Reisenweber or two and a Jacks.
 Baron Ito had seen Broadway; had ex- perienced a New York night. He had danced the one-step with Kay Laurell on the Amsterdam theatre roof He had joined a nameless but jovia club at Dealy's. He interviewed policemen, chauffeurs. walters, chorus girls and subway guards.
 Now I want to meet MT. Willard, the champion boxer, and see boxing fight, preferably by MT. Willard he added "T want to see an American baseball game and I want to see the other ways that the hurrying American man enjoys him self ~a sA.
 "Once I thought the Winter Garden in
 
 Frolic. Compared with MT Ziegfeld's es- tablishment the Berlin Winter Garden is what you call the morgue.
 It was 10;30 precisely, and Saturday night, when the baron, his friend, T. Ma kamigawa, and a reporter set forth. Lest there be any joy stifling formalites ob- served, the baron stipulated at the out set that he was to be called 'Bonnie'-a nickname of which he is particularly fond He didn't know the Battery from Column bus Circle. but was In a receptive mood What impresses me particularly" he declared, lis the utter inattention to things which would precipitate a riot ir Yokohama or Tolxo. A motor car bumps into you. The chauffeur curses. You pro- test to the policeman. The policeman tells you to run along and stop blocking traffic.
 My impressions? They are so many. have noted them in my book. At the mid night frolics the girls come to my table and wink and smile. I try to find ir i my memory some recollection of seeing them elsewhere But I am told it is just their way. Miss Kay Laurell calls
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-31
ALABAMA PRESS
Dothan Eagle: Have you a little fly swatter in your home?

Dothan Eagle: Have you a little fly swatter in your home?
 Butler County News; The one-crop system, cattle tick and illiteracy must go from Alabama.
 Huntsville Mercury Banner: It is an- nounced that Howard college at Bir- journalism next session. This Is good news and makes us more in favor of compulsory education, if it will make a number of guys who are now running newspapers in this state take a three- year course.
 Gadsden Evening Journal: A eulogy on the mule was given in an Atlanta courtroom the other day. Don't know about the Georgia mule, but the Ala bama kind always makes good. inn pression wherever he sets foot.
 Andalusia Star: They read the ad- vertising columns of Birmingham news papers. We inserted small advertise ment in those newspapers and received replies from all over the state and as far south as Jacksonville. Fla. It was u surprise to the Star to know how many nonresidents of Birmingham are interested in property in that city, Bir mingham is destined to become the me tropolis of the south.
 Troy Messenger: Pike's wheat croI this year has proven the attempt en tirely worth while. Pike can feed her self in this particular, not this year but in a few more years if the whea crop continues to grow in acreage an, the plants to thrive as they have thi year.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-31
GOSSIP IN LONDON
From the Philadelphia Evening Tele-

From the Philadelphia Evening Tele-
 graph.
 The other day letter was received in London from a neutral country. IL had been censored, but it happened that the letter was read out of doors, and that the day was bright and sunny. Un- der the suns rays the censored pas sages were easily decipherable. They weren't anything very important-but they might have been.
 The officers in certain British regi- ment have to go through the days training under exactly the same condi- tion as the men, and carry the same sized pack One of the officers for a long time amazed his colleagues by showing extraordinary agility and en- ergy in spite of this fact, until few days ago his secret was divulged He had been filling his pack mostly with an air cushioni
 Sergeant H. Budd of the South Staf- fordshire regiment, also of the Bir- mingham police force, whose home ad- dress is Osborn road, Sparkbrook, was wounded in Neuve Chappelle, being hit with shrapnel in the back and right arm. Strange to say, it was his last day in the firing line, as he was going on mounted police duty. Sergeant Budd is now in Warrington infrmary dis pensary.
 The Rev. B. S. Batty, rector of South Hackney, who has just returned to Lon don from working with the church army | among the troops in France, told the Daily Sketch some good stories. "On the way out I went down into the saloon and found city man. who was going over to do some business, grooming horribly. He was violently sea- sick.
 | "'Oh, if the Germans would only come and submarine us" he was saying.
 "'You don't mean it?' I said. 1 "'I do,' he answered. And if they of ! fered us 10 minutes to get away, l should say, "Oh, please do it now.!' " Cardiff tramwaymen have pledged themselves to a strike policy if the girls
 employed as train conductors are not
 withdrawn. They have given the nut
 nicipal authorities two days to dispense with the services of the girls. 1 The mems hostility is based solely or
 economic grounds. They say that mar
 ried women whose husbands are in full
 work have been engaged and that there is no need to employ female labor, witl its danger of reaction, because there are plenty of men and youths ineligible foi
 enlistment who would be willing to serve on the footboards.
 A few days ago a number of girls began as conductors on probation or one of the easiest tramway routes + the city. Over 200 applications were re.
 ceived from women, but the authorities decided to await the result of the small.
 CT scheme before engaging any more female labor
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-31

The compound microscope, according to an article in the Youths Companion. re- quires extreme accuracy in mounting it's 60 or 70 parts and the work must be done by hand. Nearly 100 screws are used in the stand. Some have to be turned with such exactness than an error of more than 1-5000tt of an inch spells the screw. Great care is also exercised in making the brass glass used in making the lenses is the best quality of lead flint" It is received from the glass works in small slabs and bricks These pieces are cut into the re- quired shape by a circular saw, with dia- mond dust hammered into it's edge for teeth The detached piece is clipped into a circular form with a pair of shears and is then ground to the proper size and thickness. Giving it the necessary degree of convexity or concavity is the next part of the grinding The lens is pressed on a rounded grinder if it is to to be concave, and within a cup-shaped grinder if it is to be convex. The polish ing of the lens must be carefully done, as lens is worthless unles sthe refrac- ton of light rays through it causes them to be brought to an absolute focus. After being fully tested each lens is mo,----Ha- The complete instrument sometimes costs as much as 5000. which is paid chiefly for skilled labor, as the cost of the materials is very little
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-31
No Handicaps for Warrior Road

Tt is to be hoped that the plans to utilize the Warrior will not be handi- capped at the outset by any scheme to buy or build a railroad; that Is, not ur,- til the river transportation is established upon some permanent plan" said a man who takes an active interest in industrial development
 Let the Southern railroad keep and op- crate it's Maxine branch. This road winds and twists too much, and will make trans portation by water just 24 hours longer than line tapping Lake Bankhead nearer Lock r.
 "The thing to do is, for the county of Jefferson to acquire right of way by the very best route, all things considered, from a point convenient for Birmingham and Bessemer of sufficient width to ad- init of the construction of broad paved roadway, with side roads of chert, and also for a double track car line. The car line, either steam or electrical, to be constructed at a future date as the demand is shown. I believe that an cleo trical equipped road would not only pay as a freight carrying proposition, but that sooner or later. the passenger serv- ice patronage would be a profitable one. For it is foregone con ,lusion that there will be, on Lake Bankhead many indus tries located, and with them, manufac- turing villages, and possibly city of inn portance, in the future.
 "One thing that would pay on the banks of Lake Bankhead would be a boat build ing plant for the manufacture of canvas pleasure boats, swell sailing craft yachts, | lifeboats and steam propelled barges "A furnace plant on the Warrior would pay, with plenty of water, coal bargeo from the mines and ore, with short | haul.
 | "Clay working plants can get high grade clays from the upper waters of the War rior, and also from the counties of Ma rion and Franklin by a short railroad | haul"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-31
IN A GARDEN

By Bliss Carmen.
 Thought is garden wide and old
 For airy creatures to explore, Where bloom the great fantastic flower
 With truth for honey at their core. There, like a wild marauding bee,
 Made desperate by hungry fears, From gorgeous if to dark perhaps
 I blunder down the dusk of years.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-31
BUTTERMILk DRINKERS
he Selma Times,

Buttermilk drinkers are called 'lacto- maniacs. No suggestion of ''offness'' in their mental constitution is implied by the name. They are always of sound mind and memory. Charles Lamb said nothing serious could be wrong with the man who was fond of apple dumplings. The same observation covers the drinker of buttermilk
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-31

Mir Edison is reported to be working 20 hours day. He seems to have made up his mind that he cant live forever and any odd jobs remaining on hand should be finished without delay.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-31

The British are accused of letting their allies bear the brunt of the fighting. It seems that nothing short of a German in- vason can rouse the average Englishman to the gravity of the situation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-31

steam roller was reported stolen in Chicago, but the meanest holdup ever re- ported in that metropolis of footpads was that of a man who was robbed of his um- brella and ralncoat in a downpour of
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-31

Althought the hatchet was presumably buried by Secretary Bryan and Speaker Clark, the handle seems to be protrud ing. It is reported that MT Bryan is the only man prominent in official life who has not been invited to the marriage of MT. Clark's daughter.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-31

Paris is trying hard to resume it's for mer gaiety, but the spectacle of so many wounded soldiers limping along the streets has a depressing effect on the temper amental Frenchman.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-31

While not denying that the United States navy presents a fine appearance, naval experts think it better adapted to mimic warfare than the real thing.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-31

Viewing the entry of Italy into the war, Germans say the victory will only be the greater when it is won However, the
 last part of the sentence may be long in | fulfillment.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-31

An Evanston man was fined for kissing his wife in an automobile. The fast that enormity of his offense. People who didn't know thought the couple were joy riders.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-31

I Caruso has turned over his villa near
 Florence to the Italian Red Cross. Ca-
 ruso records for the convalescent no doubt are included.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-31

Lord Northcliffe has stirred up a hor- nets nest in England, but he is the sort of man who seems immune from hornets attacks
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-31

Dr. Dernburg succeeded in making a disagreeable impression on the people of this country that will finger long after the man who created it has been forgotten.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-31

The "drys'' are hitting whisky and gin nard in this country, but so far the two alcoholic allies show a disposition to
 "come back when least expected.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-31

The English suffragettes have behaved so admirably since the war started that nothing less than the ballot should reward them
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-31

With the exception of Rostand's poem the output of war poetry is considerably below par.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-31
QUITE A LITTER.

QUITE A LITTER. A capacious waste basket would be need ed to hold all the scraps of paper" that have fiuttered from the hands of European diplomats
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-31

As soon as the colonel began to draw broad smiles from the jury, the fate of Boss Barnes was sealed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-31
Increased Eurniture saIes

The furniture business Is proving right up to our best expectations this year, remarked Louie Reese of the Searight- Reese Furniture company, and the vol ume of sales for the past month has been greater than that for the same month last year. Indeed, our sales for last month showed an increase of fully 9 per cent above those for the same period or 1s>4, and the indications are that this month will also show an excellent in crease in business. People are now man lfesting much interest in all grades of furniture. Every one of course desires the home to be supplied with neat and at tractive furnishings, and nothing pleases the housewife more than the addition of a new suite or some much needed article which will fit in well with the general color scheme of the apartment.
 The most important feature however, to be considered in the selection of fur niture. l believe, is that relating to util- ity. Designers of good furniture are now giving this essential much consideration; and progressive manufacturers are plac- ing numerous new conveniences in the way of household equipment on the market. There is large and growing demand for novelties which combine elegance of design with convenience and utility, and one is at times astonished at the ingenious man. her in which specialtes are designed. My experience is that specialties of this kind give the most pleasure when pre- sented as a gift, and our line of novelties hoc aia1 designated as the gift department has been set apart. Presents from this de- partment are most graciousy received by the brides of May and June and the giver is seldom forgotten"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-31

BEGINNING THE DAY-We are told that God Giveth hberaiiy 10 alI men and upbraideth not. Men' even when they give. are apt '" upbraid the supplisnt for asking or for not having. God giyeth ioer"i- Iy and upbraideth not. what oo "" need today. Ask Him TOT II. NJ. E.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-31
ADRIF'T WITH THE TIMES
A T1REsoME GU ss.

The Jeopardy of Jacqueline''
 Was shown upon the movie screen. And though we felt for her, by heck, We hoped the hero'd break his neckl
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-31
HAS WINNING WAYS. An able pleader at the bar Is hobo Henry Dink. In many towns bartenders are Who've given him a drink.
AN INANE QUESTION.

We'll Well, Going fishing. old scout?' asked Boresum of Gadsby. who was loaded down with expensive paraphernalia.
 "oh. no." answered Gadsby, in sarcastic tones. q bought this outfit for the ex- press purpose of whitewashing my back yard fence"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-31


 NECESSARY PRECAUTION. What are life preservers filled with?' asked MT. Jimpson.
 That is hard to say, sometimes,' replied Colonel Soaksby. However, if the bottle happens to be the nonrefllable kind, you are reasonably safe from adulteration."
 OUTWITTING THE COURT. q understand that when Dibbles and his wife separated they parted the best of friends"
 50 they did. unluckily for Mrs. Dib- bles"
 why so?"
 ''Dibbles pays her alimony every month and then borrows half of it back"
 DIDN'T DESERVE IT. 'I gave seat to woman in a street car this morning.
 T don't suppose she even acknowledged your courtesy"
 "oh, yes. She acknowledged it, all right. She said, I was just wondering how long I would have to stand in front of you before you would get up.'