davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-17
The Chicago Wheat Market

Conditions in Chicago are very much
 improved" remarked I. G. Cohen rep lresenting a brokerage concern of the lake
 metropolis, who passed through Birming-
 ham en route to Meridian.
 "A great number of the idle men who
 were in Chicago have gone to the wheat fields to help harvest the crops The farm
 CTS in the northwest pay a good price
 for these men and this enables them to
 lay by enough money to tide them over until they can find other work at the end of the harvest season. Money throughout the west is loosening up, and I confident ly expect things to resume their normal condition in the next six months
 In speaking of the effect the attempt ed assassination of J. Pierpont Morgan had upon the Chicago exchange MT. Cohen said: AS soon as it became known that MT. Morgan had been shot, the entire mar ket broke sharply and pandemonium reigned throughout the rest of the ses- sion. The following day when it was
 positively ascertained that the great hnan- ciers condition was not serious, the mar
 ket resumed its normal condition. The
 slightest event or well grounded rupor durinB these tunes mas d tehuency eo completely demoralize the market. The result is that the traders in the pit are
 at a loss to understand how bad the
 market will break.
 "The wheat crop this year is the big gest that has ever been raised in the his
 tory of the world Had it not been for
 the present conflict in Europe, doubt if 1 the farmer would get anything like the
 prict that is offered for his product to- day The corn crop breaks all records, and the best thing about it is that the
 farmer will be enabled to get good price for his grain when it is ready to
 market. Good times are coming-there is
 no doubt about that. Those who forget
 to knock and stick to hard work are bound to reap their harvest of prosper
 ity."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-17
From the New York Evening Post.

From the New York Evening Post.
 IT is not often that critic can fire
 beth right and left, but whereas ~ Henry Canby registers in the Atlantic his belief that the American magazine story is a weak stereotyped product. the same MT. Canby points out in Har- pers that the public emphatically shares his opinion. He is convinced that college teacher, business man and artisan alike think of most periodical fiction as trash In Boston, a critic who had read 60f short stories of the twelve-month recently un- dertook to pass judgment upon them. MT. O'Brien's appraisal was generous enough, at least as to the writers-Mary Wilkins Freeman Katherine Fullerton Gerould. Conrad Richter-whom he rates first. But from the Portland Oregonian the re- view elicits discouragng comment. "The American short story" it remarks, has long since fulfilled all the artistic prom ise 1t ever had and Is now in senile decay. Nor is there any doubt that it's ending should be speedy. When an art form comes to the point where it is produced by the bushel, according to mathemat-
  The short story is a form, and nothing more, and it totters through the pages of the magazines 'as pale. utterly dis embodied specter"
 It must be remembered that it is the average that is spoken of; the mediocre background against which and without reference to which writers of genius may still bring out distinguished work. Upon the short story we Americans have law ished pains and pride. It is the one department in which we have excelled, the one of which the public is by temper ament most fond, and the one which our addiction to periodicals most stimulates. It is still much better than the English short story, quite equal to the French. and not far short of the Russian. In eX- planation of its recent deficiencies we have had a contradictory variety of ther ories. Magazines initiate each other in one prevailing craze; editors are timidly unwilling to risk anything beyond three or four modes esta ablished by years of usage there is the worship of formulas. and the belief of writers that by abject observance of rules alone can they reach commercial success; besides the require ment of inventiveness and constant punch" But these explanations are not so contradictory that they do not all ad- init or imply one thing; the heavy em- phasis upon form and technique, as against character. emotion, atmosphere This is put forward by defenders of the short story as we'll as it's assailants. The stories are as well made as a play they show consummate dexterity, and be- speak a mastery sense of narrative. But those who read many of them know how quickly this superficial merit pals, and the faults involved in an exaggerated at tention to structural niceties obtrude un- til they are offensive.
 The preoccupation with form shows its blghting effect upon plot. Quietness is our first element to go-half of the modern short stories must start with a whizz.- tilt sharply over "-'s's and descend through some nerve Hsag aenonen. nt to conclusion W Il F -- than 15 Der cent the k-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-17
Uncle Sam's Sailors

Formerly sailors life in the United States navy was a hard one and it was made particularly so by poor food. There were no provisions for keeping fresh meats in the days of wooden ships, so that "salt horse' was aften the only kind of meat re- ceived while on a voyage. This was supplemented with black coffee and hard tack. Today the American "tar" is better fed than the sailor of any other nation. There are about 55,000 enlisted men in the navy at present and it costs the government about $7, 400, ,000 year to feed them.
 A writer in the New York Sun, who discusses the work being done by Ad- miral McGowan, chief of the bureau of supplies and accounts, says that the navy's efficiency and the content ment of the men are largely due to the generous and varied food allot- ment. No matter where a ship may be, an elaborate system of provis- ioning makes it possible for the "jackies" to have an abundance of the best food, and even luxuries. Canned meats are still extensively used in the navy, also canned fruit and vegetables, but refrigerating plants on board the battleships supply the sailors with plenty of fresh meats, vegetables and fruits.
 On the Wyoming, the prize ship of the navy, sample menu is as follows: Breakfast-Fried eggs, fried bologna, fried potatoes, bananas, bread, butter and coffee. Dinner-Grilled sirloin steak, fried onions, mashed potatoes, cocoanut custard, bread and coffee. Supper-Beef a la mode, mashed potatoes, corn fritters, bread, butter and tea. Also many tons of candy and thousands of packages of salted pea nuts are bought by the government every year and consumed by the sail ors.
 It can be seen that Uncle Sam takes exceptional care of his "tars," and if those attractive posters in front of recruiting stations bore more extended reference to the bill of fare in the navy there would doubtless be larger in crease in the number of recruits.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-17
BECKER DOOMED

From the Pittsburg Post.
 It appeared a doubtful business to attempt engaging the United States supreme court in consideration of the case of former Police Lieutenant Beck CT Justice Hughes denial of the ap- plication for a writ of error Is no more than was expected by those who saw nothing in the New York police of. ficials case that presented any con- troversy dealing with his position un- der the constitution and laws of the United States
 By granting the reprieve which en- abled counsel to try this last chance for the condemned man held responsi. ble for Rosenthals murder Governor Whitman went as far as he consci- entiously could go. The federal justice finding no error affecting the proceed ings in the New York courts adds 10 the legal certainty that there is no in justiceJto be corrected. This eliminates the principal consideration under which the governors pardoning power could be rightfully exercised No other consideration involving either public policy or exceptional circumstances il- tervenes to save Becker from the cleo tric chair In Sing Sing the week Of July 26.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-17

patch than by converting it into a garden spot.
 All that is necessary is to give the small boy the right incentive and he will remove the weed patch problem. At the same time, he will be learning valuable lessons in soil culture. His study of plant growth and his near ness to Mother Earth is bound to have a good effect upon him-he will not have time to cultivate weed patch in his soul.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-17
THAT BAGGAGE LAW
e Pittsburg Dispatch.

From the Pittsburg Dispatch
 The amendment to the interstate com merce law which has been responsible for the new regulations requiring the insur- ance of baggage about which so much complaint has been made, has usually been referred to as proposed by Senator Cum mlns of Iowa. This MT Cummins indig- nantly denies. He acknowledges that he introduced an amendment designed to re- store the principle which, prior to 1906. had always been in force in a greater part of the United States, that common carriers should not be permitted to limit theil liability for loss or damage sus- tained in the carriage of ordinary freight below the basis of actual value. But this amendment contained a provision except ing property concealed by wrapping, box ing or otherwise. The irritating clause which has so annoyed the public, and particularly the commercial travellers, was, he says, the product of the states manship of Senator Reed of Missouri Reed struck out the Cummins exception and inserted the amendment now in the law which empowers the carrier to require the shipper to state the value of the goods, and limits the liability to that statement.
 Senator Cummins, moreover contends that the theory that misstatement of value by the shipper makes the owner liable to a heavy penalty cannot be sus- tained. He believes that the statement is merely part of an agreement between the carrier and the shipper limiting liability and has presented that opinion to the interstate commerce commission, which he hopes will recall the ruling This at least, is a common sense view of it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-17
ANTHONY COMES BACK
St. Louis Republic.

From the St Louis Republic.
 A few brief days ago the editorial columns of newspapers scattered throughout the country contained more or less extended expectations of the life and labors of Anthony Comstock. An thony was not dead. but 1t was sup posed that he had been removed from his position as postoffice inspector and it was assumed that he was officially defunct. It appeared that Inspector Comstock had run his course and that all that remained for him was an ob- more impose upon the public the con- sequences of his representative discrim nation between nice and naughty. Therefore 1t behooved the sympathetic commentator to remember that the h. spector had not always been merely a hypercritical nuisance and to admit the value of his public services. To be sure, praise a sigh of relief at the departure. The commendation was enforced by the unalterable demands of fair play. The Thank heaven he Is gonew came from the heart but the postoffice depart ment does not seem to have seen the thing in this light. Inspector Comstock recently visited the Postmaster General and perhaps he carried some of those very editorials with him and underlined the acknowledgements of his worth and zeal. Anyway, it is announced that he is to be retained in the service, and all of those who sped the parting inspector will have a chance to open the door and bow him out again. Comparisons be- tween the next set of farewells and those which were just said may prove interesting.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-17
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Business Conditions in Alabama

I have travelled over the state recently and have found considerable improvement In business,' said Buford D. Chenoweth.
 In northern Alabama, where crop diver slhcation has been in practice for years past thrift is the general rule. The farm- CTS raised some cotton, but more of other crops. Consequently the northern Ala hama merchants as we'll as the farmers m that part of the state are in ex- cellent shape.
 Down In the cotton belt where I had expected to find business dull, l was in many instances agreeably surprised. Much attention is being given to the raising of i've stock in counties that formerly pro- duced little else than cotton.
 All in all, Alabama is far better off than 1 had any idea it would be. Nearly all the merchants 1 met were optimistic.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-17
SOMEWHAT SKEPTICAL.

"I would like to know what Abraham Lincoln would do in the emergency which confronts Woodrow Wilson," said the first citizen.
 So would l." replied the second cti- zen, although I turned down the offer of a man who said he would tell me for s2'
 You must be joking"
 Not at all. He was a spiritualist and I informed him that if he thought he could really get into communication with Abraham Lincoln, he had considerably had"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-17
In the Music Trade

IT business in sheet music and musical goods has been comparatively quiet this summer, good times are ahead and l con- ndehtly expect to see a great rush in all mercantile lines in the coming autumn" said Oliver Chalfoux.
 There are already indications of inn provement in the near future, and as for the last quarter of the year, 1t will wit ness a large measure of solid prosperity. nave never felt more buoyant when look Ing forward than I do now"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-17
SARTORIALLY IMPRESSIVE.

q notice that MT. Buffkins always oc- cupies a seat on the platform when there is a public meeting"
 "Yes. He's been doing that for 20 years"
 "He must be man of some importance in the community"
 "No. He's not at all important and I don't believe he was ever invited to sit on a platform, but he puts on a silk hat and frock coat and nobody has the cour- age to snub him..
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-17
TRIBUTE TO THE SEA
,rom Farm and Fireside.

From Farm and Preside.
 Eleven tons of soil is carried into the Gulf of Mexico every second by the Mis- sissippi river from it's immense drainage district, This material amounts to 340,- ooo,C00 tons every year and is equal to the surface soil, 6 2-3 inches deep, of 3i6 COG acres
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-17
STRICTLY NEUTRAL

From the Topeka State Capital.
 The American concerns that are send ing inferior supplies to the allies are show ling their strict neutrality. They would have done the same thing to their own country.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-17
NO BEAUTY.

T guess Muggson will die a bachelort What makes you think so?'
 He says he's not going to marry until he finds girl who will take him at his face value"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-17
HOW IT WORKS.

The critics said a movie show
 Was one we should not see And held if anyone should go,
 'Twould most imprudent be. The papers then took up the cause, Expressing pained surprise, And running on with little pause, They served to advertise The naughty film to such extent,
 With virtues fond pretense, That nearly everybody went
 And profits were immense.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-17
o the difference of man and man!
 king Lear.
BEGINNING THE DAY-O Go,

BEGINNING THE DAY-O God, help me to remember today that those who serve me on street ears, at telephones, in shops, are not mn- chimes, hut people. Give me n quick sense of their need of the human touch. Give me n due appreciation of the abiding value and high dignity of their work. For Christss sake. Amen.-H. M. F.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-17
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES

dance. We've got a couple O city board CTS here who's so used to them cabarets that they can't eat unless some sort n show Is goin' on."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-17

In claiming that Thaw was trying to hypnotize him. old Doe" Flint strength ened Thaw's case considerably with people who don't take much stock in courtroom alienists.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-17
ALABAMA PRESS

Greene County Democrat: We under stand there is considerable home raised. home ground flour in the county. but the owners are so well pleased with it. they are not offering it for sale but gre keeping it for home consumption.
 Falksville News: One hundred cars of Alabama hay received in Birmingham during the past few days. This sounds well, but there were perhaps another 100 cars gone to waste. We lose as much as we save.
 Conecuh Record Industrial activity and old general prosperity throughout the United States are greater today than they have been for 10 years, and the tide is still rising.
 Gadsden Daily Times-News: We admit that the weather is hot in Gadsden, but Alaska, Denver and other pleasure re- sorts are much warmer.
 Mobile Register: The Kaiser expects to win by October. He doesn't put it that way. He says the war will end Tn October; but he does not expect it to end until he wins.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-17

With Champ Clark, Colonel Roosevelt and MT, Bryan guests at the same time, California has more than her share of nd tional celebrities.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-17

The Ccssacks are probably the most un- popular soldiers in Europe. They do not specialize in department
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-17

MI. Bryan Is blamed for the atisfac- tory tone of the last German note. The eminent Nebraskan would feel lonesome
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-17

The eugencs law in Wisconsin has de- creased marriages 20 per cent. A great many people continue to believe that mar riage is a game Of chance with which science has nothing to do.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-17

orville Wright says 1t would take two years to equip the army and navy with necessary aerial craft. It is hardly prob- able that any European power will be in a position to tackle us before the expira- tion of that time
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-17

Within the past week or two summer has made her conquest of the country complete, but she hasn't been able to route sum mer furs.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-17

General Huerta's vacation has been made a hollow mockery by the solicitude of Uncle Sam
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-17

Dentistry is one of the oldest profess sions. Martial, 20O0 years ago. wrote of false teeth and as far back as l3o9 3. c. the physician Asklepios recommended the extraction of teeth for certain maladies In 400 B. C. Hippocrates prescribed dill anise seed and myrrh dissolved in white wine for the treatment of unhealthy gums. After 200 years myrrh is still pre- seribed by dentists everywhere. Hippo crates also recommended chalk for clean ing the teeth, although it is true he ad- vised that it be mixed with the head of hare" and the "intestines" of a mouse. Chalk is the basis of tooth powders used at the present time. Ancient dentists had few instruments, but they did remark ably good work. Roman dentists had pair of tweezers, corresponding to the modern forceps; phizagra, to extract roots; vulsellum, for removing bits of bone and tooth, and the specillum. d sort of probe. In the museums of Greece and Rome are many specimens of crown and bridge work. while Columbian skulls from Ecuador and Mexico have teeth in- laid with gold and precious stones
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-17
BY coNTRARIEs

From the Memphis CommercIal-Appea1a. "a
 Things go by contraries King George, after all these long years, has bestow<dr, frf cg-er - " r--A-- - ,pov-,ar-nHd
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-17

Charging wire fences with electricity is also proving beneficial to the fatherland.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-17

A New York man made more than S1,- o000oo last month by the rise in Electric Boat stock. Not bad for a summer month.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-17

The Germans are said to be negotiating with Roumania on the assumption that Constantinople will be able to hold out at least another month. In the long run, however, the Turk will be the goat
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-17

European war is not an unmitigated evil stock in an American munitions factory.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-17
HELPING CONSIDERABLY.

T suppose you are willing to do your share to lessen the horrors of war;" said the inquisitiye person.
 Not only willing, but I'm doing my share" said the quiet man.
 How sop
 with people I know I argue about it as little as possible and with strangers not at all"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-17

In the meantime, it seems long. long way to Constantinople.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-17
ITS INDEED.

Its good plan to think twice before speaking"
 NO doubt that's true in some cases, but not in others"
 For instance?"
 When I'm talking over the long dis tance telephone at 50 cents a minute stopping to think seems like a waste of money"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-17
THE KILLING PASSION.

Whats all that racket in your dinin' room, Hiram?'
 That's my hired man doing a clog
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-17

What Mexico needs first of all is three square meals day.
The day book. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1911-1917, 1915-09-14

sha on Sept. II. Arrested. Con-
fessed.
Police unsuccessful in hunt for
robber who stole $3.50 worth of jew
elry from aMrs. w. A. D'Rixa, 1912 N.
Ashland av.
Thomas Moran, arrested here, con-
fessed he stole $3.50 worth of jowelry
from home of Col Knox, Wilmette.
Taken there.
Evanston Rifle club organized; IS
members.
Petitions being circulated by citi-
zens' Party of Oak Park to see wheth-
er government shall change from
village to city form.
Mrs. Armour's servants refused to
go to station house to identify four
men held as jewelry robbery suspects.
Harry Link, 1916 Vincennes aV.,
died after being hit by auto driven by
Miss Helen Doyle, 527 fremont. Girl
took boy home, then reported to po-
lice station. Not held.
Andrew johnson, $50 Clark, had
pocked picked of 5000 and notes for
1,500 on Sheffield av. car.
800 delegates to annual convention
of International Brotherhood of Elec-
trical Workers leave Sat. night for St.
Paul
Special party of refrigerating en-
gineers to leave for annual conven-
ton at San Francisco tomorrow.
Policeman John Rose, Chicago aV.
station, fired twice at fleeing sus-
picious character. Later Thos. j. Cur
ley found shot Denies he ran from
Rose.
German and Austrian papers and
people of Chicago displeased at pro-
posed loan of billion dollars to the
allies.
Pie wagon hit at Washington and
9Th av. by motor truck. Feast for
street urchins.
1890
The day book. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1911-1917, 1915-09-14

CICERO STILL HER OWN BOSS IN
LIGHTING GAME
Cicero still owns her municipal
lighting equipment The Public
Service Co. last night failed to get
the plum promised them by the "Citi-
zens' party-a twenty-five-year
franchise for the commercial light
ing and the town street lights for
$4,000. A delegation of 300 citizens
appeared at the town hall last night
to protest against the action of the
five trustees of the Citizens party.
Cat-calls and Kisses were heard when
the trustees voted for the ordinance.
Aldermen Hlavka and Wyrzykow-
swi, Republicans, have so far prevent
ed the passage of the ordinance. 1t
takes a three-fourths majority to
pass the ordinance and they are i'm
movable in their stand for municipal
ownership.
The chief argument used by the
"Citizens: party is their claim that
the lights cost the city. $55 each to
maintain last year. Wyrzykowski
SIOW0u LIlllS SLdI0L10IlI up. 1H0y ulu
cost the city that if the damage suits
were added into the expense, but not
otherwise. The Public Service Co.
wants the town to pay $44 for each
light.
due to improper equipment sew
eral men were electrocuted last
year." tbs alderman said. ''The
causes have been abolished and we
do not expect to have any more acct
dents.
"That story which the Examiner
published this morning was untrue.
1t says we may be without lights.
This is impossible, for we have al
ready purchased the equipment from
the sanitary district and we now pur-
chase power from them at a much
less rate than what the Public Serv-
ice Co. wishes to supply US. That
company can have our commercial
lighting. but it cannot have our street