davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-01
Prosnects for the Colleges

Despite the acute depression that prevailed in the south during the last half of 1914 the colleges in this sec- tion of the country were well att tended, the enrolment in some of them being quite up to normal
 The prospects for college attend ance in Alabama this scholastic year are exceptionally bright. The heads and other officials of the various in- stitutions of learning have been busy looking up new students and they re- port most encouraging results.
 The eagerness for college education was never so great as it is now and as business and agricultural conditions throughout the state are materially better than they have been for some- time past the total college attendance in the coming year will, it is believed, show an appreciable increase over any previous year.
 At many of the colleges, consider able expenditures have been made on buildings and other physical better ments, and it is safe to assume that within the last five years all of them have widened the scope of their cul- tural' activities and strengthened their pedagogic organization.
 When the colleges open this month the enrolment will be very large, but the student bodies will be increasing right up to the end of the year. That 1915-16 may be red letter year for solid culture in Alabama is the wish and expectation of all friends of edu- cation
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-01
ABE RuEF's EXEMPTION
From the Portland core.) Telegram.

From the Portland (Ore.) Telegram.
 Decency applauded when the California courts declared that Abraham Ruef should pay the penalty of his rascality. De- cency would have been more fully gratj- fled if those who were companions in in- iquity with the "Curly Boss" had been sent along with him to a term of expia- tion and possible repentance. But the others, and some of them more culpable. and more deserving of punishment. man. aged to get out from under and leave the entire burden of punishment, though not the entire load of obloquy. to be borne Ly Ruef.
 The former boss as the public has been advised by all reports. has faced the pen alty like man. The belief is warranted that, so far as such thing may be done, he has squared accounts with society, and is now legally entitled to make another start toward restoring himself in good reputation and good citizenship. Appar- enly that is exactly what Abraham Ruef intends to do; and decency should lend him the encouragement of it's applause quite as heartily as it formerly bestowed it's condemnation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-01

Searchlights are indispensable in mod ern warfare both on land and sea. The
 deyelopment of the aeroplane, with the consequent danger of aerial attacks at
 night. has made the use of searchlights
 universal in the European war zone The type now being used at the front are extremely powerful and are mounted on swift motor cars, so that they can be rapidly moved from place to place. To make them still more effective. they can
 be raised on collapsible towers to height of 30 feet in very short time. As a
 rule each light is operated by an observ- CT stationed about 100 yards away from it. thus insuring his safety. as 1t immed- lately becomes target for hostile fire.
 The towers are extended by compressed air carried in cylinders on motor cars. which also transport the apparatus for operating the lights. The illumination is
 so powerful that Zeppelin can be de- tected at any height. In fact, the lights carry to a distance of six miles, although in locating troops they are more service
 able at a shorter distance, as the men
 are dazzled by the glare and thrown into confusion.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-01
Wealth vs. Happiness
cation

l That "home is where the heart is" has again been evidenced, this time by Mrs. Anna Hickman of Chicago, who was few days ago found dead | in little frame cottage in which she I lived alone.
 Mrs. Hickman was not forced to live alone in the little dilapidated house along the railroad tracks, al though that had been her home for many years. Mrs. Hickman's daughter is wealthy and lives in mansion in one of Chicago's most exclusive resi- dence districts. Grandma" Hickman was an honored guest in her daugh- ter's home, and one of the most beau- tiful suites in the house was set aside for her. Servants were at hand to do her slightest bidding.
 But Grandma" Hickman was not happy in her luxurious surroundings. She was lonely and, having worked hard all her life, she chafed at the inactivity enforced upon her. She | longed for the intimate friendships of the humble neighborhood to which she was accustomed-she wondered how her old neighbors were faring, down by the railroad tracks.
 So, one day last spring, she dis appeared from her daughters palatial residence. After a search she was found cozily settled in the old home, keping house for herself, baking cook ies for the neighboring kiddies and gossiping on the sunny veranda with old time friends.
 Luxuries, according to Mrs. Hick- man, do not make home, and trained servants can never take the place of the loving ministration of friends. Housekeeping hearts are happiest' and there may be more joy in the humble cottage along the railroad tracks than in the palace along the lake shore. Few, however, have the courage this aged Chicago woman showed in making her choice.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-01
London as a Target

Although the aerial attacks so far directed against London by the Ger mans have done no serious damage, the idea of a great aerial raid which will leave the British capital in ruins is still popular one in the fatherland
 In fact, it seems to have taken such hold on the popular imagination that, making the wish father to the thought, certain newspapers in Germany are declaring that London has been partly destroyed and it only remains to finish the work so ably begun. Naturally, such claims are treated with contempt and amusement in London, which long ago ceased to pay any marked atten- tion to threats of Zeppelin invasion.
 However, there is campaign being waged in Germany for more air raids on England. Leading Berlin journals say that nothing less than the destruc- tion of London will satisfy the Ger mans. Furious demands are being ..made of the government to wreak havoc on England and particularly on the British metropolis, which is de- clared to be an admirable target, be- cause of it's huge area, it's big build ings and narrow, intricate streets, !. faA the bombs of German airmen.
 \e surprising statement is made
 Uhe German newspaper that France and Russia would share the joy of Germany if London were laid in ruins, a thought doubtless inspired by the active propaganda to create breach between England and her allies. How ever, it is quite improbable that these fiery Teutons will ever see their dear est wish fulfilled. It would be bad piece of politics for Germany to de- stroy London, even if it had the power to do so, and would not help the Ger man cause any more than the wanton destruction of Berlin would help that of the allies.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-01
DIGESTING THE NEWS

mocracy must do its best toward being informed. The papers should be care- fully read.
 It is the duty of the public to read care fully and to seek to digest what it reads. A newspaper cannot think for its read CTS, Today the newspapers cannot be read properly in the crowded street car. The man who reads his paper hastily and throws it away without thought is not only wasting @ precious instrument of service but his own God-given faculties.
 It Is the duty of the public to keep itself informed. Never was the duty more stern than it is today, but we must remember that a democracy cannot rise above it's collective intelligence.
 Collective intelligence! It means so much and it may mean so little. It is public opinion. nation, in other words, can- not rise above it's own public opinion. An enlightened public opinion is quick to respond to the truth and the right It will support the leader who sees far be- yond, who knows that his course is the only right course. It will support and sustain him even though selfishness and greed, prejudice and privilege may try hard to overthrow him,
 If public opinion is slothful and care- less, if it is weak and indifferent, the nation is at the msrcy of the ever-busy powers of evil. It allows might and power to abuse the right.
 Never more than today does the nation need all it's strength and all it's intelli- gence. We are living in dark days A huge, vast storm is raging about us. We must do our duty. Our duty is to think carefully and be cautious in what we say. A careless remark. blindly uttered. often goes far afield.
 The duty is every ones. It is your duty and my duty. for 1t is you and who make public opinion. We cannot shift the responsibility.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-01
From the Boston Globe.

From the Boston Globe.
 V FEVER before have newspaper of-
 M fees been flooded with such mass of news as that which IS flowing continuously in these exciting and uncertain days from every corner of the globe. This mass of news Is of far more importance than that which has been placed before any other generation of readers. Every daily paper now is text book.
 How insignificant does the laborious work of dead historians appear com pared with the graphic records Of fresh events which are chronicled daily in the press of this country.
 Few persons realize the magnitude of that remarkable organization-the news gathering forces of the world. which work day and night in machine-like col laboration to supply fresh news of mo- imentous events to the busy public. A trip through the plant of metropoli- tan newspaper would be revelation to most people, but no one newspaper, work ing independently, despite a well-organ- ized staff covering the country and for eien cities could provide the news of the world. Newspapers are bound together by thousands of miles of telegraph and cable lines; experts of great news-gath- ering agencies are feeding these wires steadily.
 It is perfectly obvious, therefore, that when the world Is in the grip of the most stupendous confiagration 1t has ever seen. of which few men dare predict the out come, when baffling influences seem to be reshaping the old order, the press is per forming the greatest service it has ever rendered. And this is a very expensive process.
 Newspapers are not yet perfect in- struments of service. A newspaper which everybody acknowledged to be perfect would probably be as unipteresting as a perfect man or woman.
 A magazine editorial writer has ap- preached the problem of the public's re- lationship to the press from an unique angle. His criticism is leveled at the public or rather at conditions in general.
 s'Whoever reads the newspapers with care" he writes, ''comes away with indigestion. The war in Europe. Mex 1 leo, Haiti. strikes. the shipping bill, Ger
 man. -Americans-national defense, miss- ing bank clerk-was there a woman in the case?-warden Osborne. the British note. the German note, the Eastland Becker, Thaw will Greece cede
 Kavala to Bulgaria? ?" and we may add
 Frank and the Arabic. How much each
 words connotes."
 l This writer complains that "the mag;
 nitude of the task seems to have stunned our thinking, to have lowered the vita tone of our minds" "The bitter fact ii that our education is too poor. our leis'
 ure too short. our work too crowded
 for any serious grappling with the ques'
 tions which every days newspaper setl
 before us. Surely 1t is tragic to behold
 the voice of democracy when the democ
 racy is uninformed and prostrate tefors Its tasks."
 Despite unfavorable environment dc
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-01
ALMOST GROWN AWAY

By Judd Mortimer Lewis. Somehow I had not realized that you
 were grown so tall, Until I found your portrait hung upon
 my study wall. My gift from you-your offering-your
 love-inspired surprise; And I stood there the longest time and
 gazed into the eyes Which gazed back at me from the frame gazed laughingly down at me; It did not seem you ever were the girl
 you used to be; The baby girl I'd carried home so of
 against my breast, Who only yesterday had asked: Dad
 who you loves the best?' did not Know that you were grown
 T truly did not know. You've been my baby all the time. Deal
 heart. when did you grow? How long have you been wearing skirts
 to almost reach your feet? You were the sweetest baby girl, ani
 now you're more than sweet! There's something I cannot quite grasp
 a sort of newness there It can't be-yes-why, yes it js! Yol
 have done up your hair, Done up your hair! Your golden hair Tn a Madonna braid, What of the ribbon bows you wore-oi the mud pies you made? I knew that you were hidden there be-
 hind my study door; I knew when you crept out on toes whicl scarcely touched the floor, I knew your loving hands were reached
 to blind my eyes, but I. Somehow, could not quite understand tha' you could reach so high. You are, and yet are not the little gir you used to be. I have not told you fairy tales for years 1t seems to me. And still in spite of absent bows. in spit, of "done up" hair, I can look through your eyes and see m, little girl Is there. It seems to me little more and yo, had gone away From ne. as you have grown away iron pick-a-pack and play. And just In time, 1t seems to me, you portrAit on the wall Has helped me to catch up win you my clear-eyed girl and tall. And now we shall walk side by side a, far as we two go, Comrades and chums. and shall tell vol things you ought to know, About the paths which walt your feet and when we come to part r1h carry you. not in my arms. but al
 ways in my heart.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-01
"HE KEPT US OUT OF WAR;

From the Boston Herald.
 It is easy to foresee the slogan of next years Wilson campaign. It will be the words in quotation marks over this ar- ticle-assuming that they are still true. And that assumption acquires increasing strength in the latest news from Berlin.
 If the European war ends. as it seeming | ly must before our ballots fall in 1916,
 and we have kept out of it; and if joint | action of the American republics results in some sort of stay of anarchistic pro- ceedings in Mexico, and we have kept out of there. too, President Wilson will go before the country as a man who, though badgered and derided by Roosevelt and
 the whole military crowd, has kept the greatest republic in the world, and the
 dominant force in this hemisphere, out of
 hostilities into which nearly everybody
 he Is working for. It is no unworthy ann
 bition. Its realization will afford him nc small place in history.
 Anyone who thinks "He kept us out of war would be a weak and unattractive campaign cry makes a very low estimate of the mind and heart of the American people. We can think of few greater ac- complishments. One of these, perhaps
 would be to bring the world war to . | close. and in the mediatorial office the
 Presidents turn may yet come. With war no such chance would have been pos. sible. Since there are times when roy | alty to country. with every right-minded
 citizen. should greatly outweigh any con-
 cern over party welfare. there should be
 no faint response in any quarter to the
 tribute which all Americans owe to a
 President who. in these troublous times kept us out of war;
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-01
A FEW IN EVERY AGE

From the New York Evening World Un-
 dependent- -Democrat).
 At recent fire in the Standard Oil works at Long Island City it took 50 po- ucemen to hold back the women who wanted to crush int othe burning building and rescue their husbands. Rumor had 1t that European agents fired the works and meant to carry off the employees. All the husbands turned up intact. but 1t is reassuring to find that wifely spirit can rise to deeds not unworthy of the past.
 Every one remembers what happened at Dutch city which, after a terrific siege fell before the armies of the cruel Ava. The ono mercy granted the con quered burghers was that the women might bring out such of their most prizcd possessions as they could carry on their shoulders. When the gates were opened line of ladies staggered forth, each bear ing a husband. booted and armed. upon her back.
 May there always be few wives cs this mind.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-01
"SERVIA'S NATIONAL HERO" ron, tho Cnrju pf7eld Rep,Ibltcap

From the SprlngheId RepubIIcan.
 "Servia's national hero' is said to be the exalted titleN given by the people of Servia to an American physician, Dr. James F. Donnelly. who gave his life to the Red Cross warfare on the typhus scourge attending as many as 1400 cases at one time. Another American physician Dr. Edward W. Ryan. cared for 5000 pa tients while he himself had not fully re- covered from an attack of the disease and an American nurse. Miss Mary Kcl- lar. was for four months the only night nurse for 1000 stricken men. America is proud of these three representatives oi heroic humanity, of which no country has anything like a monopoly.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-01
Sign of Early Fall

After long, hot summer 1t sounds good to hear the coal man in his little wagon crying his wares as he drives through the streets" said Dr. D. Hugh son, the well known druggist
 ''The eolored coal vendor usually waits until about the middle of Sep tember before he gets busy, but the drop in the temperature brought him out before August was quite gone. It eels as if we would have an early autumn"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-01
THE AMERICAN MARS RAMPANT

From the Philadelphia Ledger.
 | It would be a real kindness to MT.
 Roosevelt if one of his many friends would
 tell him that he no longer is President of the United States. Unless he realizes
 this it is very likely that MT. Roose- welt may do something rash.
 Two days ago, ''clad in full khaki uni form, similar to that worn by him in the Spanish war" Mir. Roosevelt went to Plattsburg to deliver a speech of 25o0 | words. The object of the camp is 10 teach the country the necessity of pre- paredness. It is essentially an aid to peace; certainly the last thing it encour- ages Is war. MT. Roosevelt, it seems grew rather excited in the presence of 1000 men, not one of whom was mili- tarist, and in the course of a speech which passed all limits of common sense. linked pacifsts with poltroons and class | filed the Germans with burglars. thugs and white slavers'' He also persisted in his favorite delusion that this country bound itself to enforce the neutrality of Belgium. It was characteristic utter ance
 The pity of it is that by MT Roosevelts $ excesses the real value of the Plattsburg camp is called into question. He chose | to stage the melodrama of preparedness. I The Secretary of War, unwisely using
 General Wood a scapegoat, reminded
 him that nothing "could have a more detrimental effect upon the real value of this experiment than such an incident. ' To this MT. Roosevelt replied in these generous words:
 If the administration had displayed
 one-tenth of the spirit and energy in hold ing Germany and Mexico to account for the murder of American men, women and children that it is now displaying in the endeavor to prevent our people from being taught the need of preparation to prevent the repetition of such murders l in the future it would be rendering a service to the people of this country If the President of the United States had spoken so of predecessor who was mak- | ing himself obnoxious to a government
 harassed by thousand legitimate diff
 culties, it would have been deplorah,e enough. But that an ex-Presdent should speak so of a successor in office Is wan ton and outrageous insult. MT. Wilson wil no doubt, take no notice of it. !Tn- fortunately for MT. Roosevelt, the country will not be so generous.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-01
DIFFERENCE OF OPINION.
'....s..s..s.ssssss

Now, as for southern chivalry," said the westerner. Tt seems to me. trile overdone."
 That's strange" replied the south- erner. q met fellow from Georgia tho other day who seemed to think it was just little raw"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-01
The Cotton situation

q found the business men of Atlanta feeling good over the cotton situation. |" said w. D. Nesbitt. who spent Monday in the Georgia capital
 "The Fourth National bank of Atlanta recently issued leafiet entitled, Cotton Loans which interested me very much. The bank referred to says in its introduc- tory remarks: Tn view of the prevailing market conditions and with the idea of being of practical service to this section, we will, until further notice. make ap- proved loans on cotton to such farmers and merchants-customers of our core spondent banks-as these banks may rec ommend to us.
 Loans will be made for any time that may be desired up to a period of six months The rate of discount will be per cent If the cotton is sold before the ma turity of the note interest will be rebatcd for the unexpired time at the same ratc, thereby giving the borrower the advantage of a note reading lon or before" The amount loaned will be 7b per cent of the market value of the cotton. The mini mum of any one loan will be 800.
 "'Cotton must be insured and stotcd in any warehouse of the Atlantic Comrpess company
 We feel that this plan will meet the requirements and consequently the }ap- proval of the holders of cotton, as itl al. lows them to store ct any of the 90 points named in this folder. These are concen- tration points, through which all cottor for nothern. eastern and foreign con. sumption must pass, and will. therefore, conform to the natural trend.'
 Tn list of 90 'warehouse cities to which the Fourth Nationals proposition applies are these Alabama towng: Doth. an. Eufaula, Montgomery. opelike and Troy" s,t:.i..J
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-01

The war is also popularizing Made in America" cheese. The imported kinds can be initiated so perfectly that even con- nosseur is baffled.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-01
MORE DISTINCT STILL.

What admire about that prima donna is that she enunciates every word dis. tinctly.''
 You admire that in her singing, ehs'' "Yes.'
 ''Umph. You ought to hear her enuncia- ton when she gives her manager piece of her mind.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-01

General Villa is reported to be getting a fancy price for gambling concessions at Juarez "Pancho" has already accumu-
 lated enough of this worlds goods to make a noise in Wall street.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-01
All unavoided is the doom of destiny
 -Richard III.

BEGINNING THE DAY-The cen tral aim of life is to be onself. Drugs and drinks, which intoxicnte. ruin the body and mind, but worst of all they steal away the self. Im- itation dissipates the true self. All sin eats away the self. "This mortal shall put on individuality."-H.M M. E.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-01

Those German newspapers which assert that London has already been partly de- stroyed are taking an optimistic view of the situation not warranted by facts.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-01

The Czar will raise a new army of B. O00,00O men to fight the Germans, which shows that while the Russians may be
 shor. of ammunition, they still have plen- ty of "cannon fodder"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-01

John Bull isn't going to make himself
 popular with American kiddies by shut
 ting off the supply of Christmas toys from Germany.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-01

The prices of other food may soar to the empyrean, but the grand old oyster is still within a poor mans reach
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-01

A Kansas baseball player recently in-
 herited s1,ooo,ooo. and he can now jump contract without fear of the conse- quences.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-01

According to Colonel Roosevelt. an ul- timatum is not an ultimatum when it is issued by the Wilson administration.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-01

baseball can now compete fiercely with the movies.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-01

Henceforth the bark of that fierce old sea dog, Admiral Won Tirpitz, will be worse than his bite
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-01

The season for rubberneck wagons is rapidly drawing to close and the sea shore nyrnph will soon make her farewell appearance on the beach,