davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-03
Snow In the Balkans

Winter has already put an effectual stop to the operations of the Teu- tons against Russia, even if they de- sired to push their armies any further in that direction, and an unusually early snowfall is now seriously inter- fering with operations in all parts of the war zone. Snow is falling in Rus sia, Flanders, Servia and along the Austro- Italian front. There is even snow in Saloniki, where it has not fallen in November during the past 10 years. The snow is lying deep in the hills, where the allied troops are already suffering great hardships. It is Impossible at times to see the enemy. In the mountains only few soldiers can find billets in the villages and those who are not in the trenches along the crests have only small tents for shelter. The wind frequently blows these down, compelling the half frozen men to turn out and put them up again in blizzard.
 The transportation of troops is also made much more difficult, although it is pointed out that the enforced de- lay may result in advantages to the allies, who have not yet brought their full strength into position to strike
 an effective blow. Not only are con
 ditions bad enough already, but they
 presage severe winter in the Bal
 kans.
 Unless there are some rapid devel-
 opments, the various belligerents may
 be compelled to wait for spring be- fore attempting any more extensive operations in the Balkans or anywhere
 else in Europe. During this Hull in
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-03
A MISSOURI FOLK SONG

From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
 A meeting of the Missouri Folk Lore society at Columbia leads to the discov- cry of an old ballad which is quite new to us. and we presume 1t will be to some others. It sounds like an echo of cave. dwelling days and calls upon us to ad- mire the primordial Missourian. Old Ban gum was his name, ana he was yalorous. From Old Bangum evidently has descend ed that "fittin capacity of the prover- bal Missourian to lick his weight in wild cats Old Bangum was bear. as you will see-he was all of the two bears on the imperial seal of this commonwealth. Old Bangum followed him to his den To rob this wild boar of his life.
 Come I cutie down kill him carry corn. They fought for hours in the day And then this wild boar stole away. Old Bangum followed him to his den And there found the bones of thousand
 men.
 This strikes us as a more heroic utter ance than You Got to Quit Kickin' My Dawg Around This is a war dance, and in honor of the boar-slaying patri- al ch We propose adding third bear to the state seal.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-03

sales through advertising. If you
 gentlemen did not have a sound
 knowledge of it you would not be
 spending on advertising s5O,000,OOO year as I understand the mem-
 bers of your organization are
 doing. The problem of how, when and where to advertise has been pretty well solved. But there are other business problems to be solved
 The work of the advertising man is tied up closely with that of in- dustry in general.
 You know, and I know, that Jumping all business together the real need is for better business methods. When we were all work ing on q large percentage of profit and when 1t was a case of filling orders at our own price, we didn't need any help. But, gentlemen, that day is past. We now have to get down to the hard facts of busi- ness, to learn precisely what they are, where the weaknesses and losses exist, and practice the same thoroughness which characterizes trade and industry in Europe. We need to study standard systems of bookkeeping and cost accounting.
 One of the most effective forms of organization is the trade asso- citation. The association has a wide field of useful and proper activi- ties. Concerns in the same in- dustry may take common action looking toward improving their processes of manufacture, stand ardizing their product, improving their system of ascertaining costs, obtaining credit information and encouraging the development of trade journals. The welfare of employees is one of the important matters which can be best devel- oped by cooperating in associa- tions. The present tendency of the larger firms is to think of the small CT man in the proper spirit and to assist him in arriving at some practical method of ascertaining his costs and meeting his many other problems-in short, to live and let live-is to be particularly commended.
 MT. Hurley discussed foreign trade nd other questions of vital interes md closed with the observation tha industrial preparedness must be th' 
 The federal trade commission ha! hus far made an excellent record, anc las more than justified it's existence With such sensible and experienced nen as Chairman Davies and Vic' Chairman Hurley in charge, it vii continue to commend itself to thu public and for far-reaching achieve nent will rank right up with the fed ral reserve board.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-03
SOUTH FOR PREPAREDNESS

Atlanta Correspondence of the Philade1-
 phia Ledger
 The south seems to be lining up solidly behind President Wilson's national de- ferse programme. Newspapers are giving a great deal of space to the discussion of the subject, and there is a widespread Public sentiment in favor of it Governor Harris of Georgia has declared himself strongly in favor of the policy of pre-. paredness and has urged very substan- tial increase in funds and equipment of the state militia of Georgia. The Bir- minghom Age-Herald is conducting bic campaign in the interest of the Presi- dents policy in it's columns There is no question. it says, but that Alabama strongly favors the policy. There is, of course, the rather individual interest of the state to be considered, since the Vii cinity of Birmingham is one of the largest iron-producing centers in the country ana any extensive armament policy would very materially affect this business.
 Louisiana too, is backing the President
 The Daily States of New Orleans is pro- nounced in it's advocacy, and goes so far as to criticise Congressman Claude Kitch- in, House leader, severely for his attitude ot opposition to the Presidents plans. Tie States expresses the opinion that 'as Q
 simple member of Congress, MT Kitchin is small potatoes and few in a pile, but as l chairman of the ways and means com niittee and leader of the majority he is clothed with prestige that he has no right to use to the injury of his party" If, therefore,, continues the States, MT. Kitchin possesses any sense of deli cacy he will resign his leadership and let some one in sympathy with the President ond the House majority take his place. Texas newspapers are expressing the idea that since the United States IS so peacefully z. disposed nation as it has re- gently on numerous occasions demon- strated itself to Ee, the idea of an in- creased army and navy being used for any other than defensive purposes is ridiculous and that the voice of the na- tion for peace would carry with it con- siderable mere weight with little more to back it up.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-03
HOTEL LOBBIES
Toys in Carload Lnts

went to Chicago to buy Christmas toys and was fortunate in making choice selections, for the holiday rush was un- precedented," said Abe Weinstein, first floor manager at Louis Pizitz' store, just returned. T had to push hard to get in line. but I got what I wanted. My pur- chases for Mr. Pizits will fill several cars.
 We had laid in large stock of toys, but the demand is even greater than we had expected and therefore I had to hurry off to buy more.
 Prosperity is abounding throughout the country. Everybody I met while I was away had marvellous things to tell of flush conditions in various lines of trade. Birmingham's shopping district is sure to make new high record in this month of December
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-03
State Federation of Music Clubs

The fact that the National Fedora tion of Music clubs is to hold it's next l biennial convention in Birmingham April, 1917-is arousing enthusiasm in musical circles throughout Alabama and steps are now being taken to or
 ganize state federation.
 There are at least dozen Alabama cities, not including Birmingham,
 large enough and progressive enough to maintain musical associations. Most of them have such organizations and those that have not should lose no time in joining the musical process sion.
 As the forthcoming convention will be the first of it's kind to meet in the south, every southern city should be largely represented here. The musical societies of Birming- ham will welcome the state federation, for such body can be of great as- sistance in entertaining the national federation. Though the convention is sixteen months off local preparations for the event are now in order. The national executive board has already agreed upon some of the important details and soon after the close of the Los Angeles convention the pro- gramme committee began to select works to be presented in 1917.
 The national federation will be in session in Birmingham ten days and it is estimated that the attendance will number high up in the thousands. The Alabama clubs alone should bring to the convention 1000 or more music lovers.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-03

Herbert L. Pratt, one of the vice pres idents of the Standard Oil company, has rented the twelfth floor of a new apart ments that could be found in private res- avenue and Seventy -see ond street, New York, for s?0,00o year. This is a record price to pay for rooms. but MT. Pratt will enjoy the most luxurious appoint ment that could be found in a private res- idence. The new apartment house is enc of the most costly structures of it's kind in New York. Mr. Pratt's suite includes 2S rooms and eight baths. Fifth avenues fiji st big apartment house, which was erected about four years ago, established @ record for high rentals. Senator Root and Murry Guggenheim took the largest suites, each consisting of a floor anl half MT Guggenheim's suite was a trifle larger and he paid a yearly rental of about $25, GOO. MT. Root paid about $20,C0O. The modern apartment house has become indispensable to all cities and enormous sums are now invested in build rgs of this kind. For people of means whc wish to enjoy the acme of comfort and luxury, combining all the advantages of hotel life, with none of Its disadvan- tages, the expensive apartment house is an ideal arrangement.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-03
SEX STORIES vs. DIME NOVELS

From the New York World.
 The apprecative word said for the dime novel by Kansas professor at the Ma tional Council of English Teachers will perhaps shock an older generation of readers. Can any good thing in the way of literature or morals possibly come out of the Nick Garter and Old Cap Collier brand of fiction? Yet according to this critic yellow-back novels did less harm to the youthful mind than the magazine sex stories. These sex stories," he says, which are found on the reading table of nearly every family, fail to develop the heroic in children They make molly coddles of boys, while ''it is the story of Jesse James and NICK Carter that leads them to read 'Ivanhoe,' the Indian Of Stevenson"
 This is not what old-time parents, let alone public educators. once. thought of the 'literature'' that was surreptitiously devcured by boys. But the character of popular fiction has changed to a degree which makes the yellow-covered tales of adventure appear wholesome by contrast. Bad as the dime novels were in style and plot, they were not as corrupting as the modern sex stcry. They contained plenty of villainy. hut virtue was still virtue in their pages and they were free from sex consciousness and the insidious infiu- ence of morbid emotionalism.
 The vindication of the dime novel comes late ir, the day and is only a halfway vindication at that; it is merely less noxious form of juvenile literature than that which has succeeded 1t. But it is something to know that 1t was itera- ture that made men of its boyish devotees anC not fops.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-03
WHERE WAS PAPAf

From the Youths Companion.
 handsomely dressed lady rescued her fluffy pet with some difficulty from the attack of street cur, and began to scothe and sympathize in this manner:
 You dear little thing, your mamma drove that ugly big dog away, didn't she? Next time you will eat that big. naughty dog up, won't you. tootsy. wootsy? Nam ma wants you to just tear that mean old thing to pieces next time he bothers you"
 Thrce-year old Irene. who had wit messed the whole affair. listened with in- tel est to this gushing monologue. When the lady paused for breath, Irene gravely addressed the diminutive dog:
 Little doggy, where does your poppa wcrk?" she said.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-03
THE RETIRED LIFE

From "On My Retired Life" by tho
 Duchess Newcastle.
 Indeed. none enjoys truly himself. but those that live to themselves as I do, and it is better to be self lover in a. retired life than a self seeker in a wan dering humor like a vagabond. for they go from place to place. from one company to another, and never are at rest in their minds nor bodies. Indeed, they fave no constant dwelling, for going much abroad. they dwell everywhere. and yet to speak metaphorically, nowhere.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-03
VERY oLD-FAsHIoNED.

you if you are sure the chorus will be properly clad" said the model young man.
 Have no fears as to that. I can as- sure you that this show was produced by man who has some regard for the pro- prieties'
 "Good!"
 ''Yes. He won't stand for bare legs If chorus girl won't wear tights she can't work for him.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-03

the fighting well meant efforts to bring about peace may at least profit to the extent of having a better hear ing than they would get if the att tention of the belligerents were ab- sorbed by an active campaign.
 However, the unfortunate men in the trenches are doubtless doomed to spend another winter there and their sufferings will be intensified tenfold by freezing winds and binding snow.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-03
SOLDIER OF FORTUNE

SOLDIER OF FORTUNE Clinton Scollard. in the New York Sun. You. who sought the great adventure That the blind fates hold in store, Have beyond our mortal censure
 Passed forever, evermore; Passed beyond all joy or signing.
 Blush of eve or flush of dawn, Who beneath the sod are lying
 In the forest of Argonne. What it was that lured and led you Who shall venture, who shall say? From the valley of the dead you
 Speak not. question as we may; Yet somehow our thoughts have flowed c The remembrance of the debt That our land has so long owed to Rochambeau and Lafayette. You, bereft of earthly raiment,
 Brave as they and theirs were brave, Have made sacrificial payment For whate' CT their valor gave. As they came, with aid unsparing,
 When both fears and foes were rife So you went with dreams of daring
 And the offering of your life We who cling to freedom. hai, you,
 Son of never vanquished sires, Knowing courage did not fail you
 When you faced the battle fires: Knowing that no vaunt of svandal
 Daunted your determined aim. Though your breath failed as candle Meath flash of morning flame. All the brown Atlantic beaches
 From far Fundy to the Keys, All the billowy prairie reaches
 Sweeping westward toward the seas Mount Katahdin and Mount Rainier.
 Lake and river great of girth. Greet your spirit, bold disclaimer
 Of the tyrannies of earth! Thrones shall crumble. kings shall perish Howsoe'er their legions strive, But the liberties men cherish,
 They shall triumph and survive. You, blithe wrafth, shall be beho,der
 Of the towering of that dawn, Though your pulseless clay may n,oulder
 In the forest of Argonne!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-03
A TIRELEss pEgUrANrE.

A TIRELESS DEBUTANTE. ''How does Felice pass the time these days?"
 "Oh, she firts dances, motors, golfs, dimes, dabbles in settlement work, visits the theatres and keeps up an active mem bership in half dozen clubs"
 ''Umph! And I've heard shop girls com plain of being tired!'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-03
PONIES VERSUS SHOW GIRLS

there anything to show that the pony type was especially in favor. Of whai stature were the famous dancers who took part in the first ballet, in the present sense of the word, which history records that given at Tortona in 14S9 by Bergonzt di Botta to celebrate the wedding of tht Duke of Milan? How tall were Grisi Cerito, Taglioni Fanny Ellsler? Befor, the time of Lully all the dancers were men. Were those who took feminine part usually boys, as in "the legitimate" ane does the art of the pony really date bach to them? Noverre, the creator of thu
 ballet d'action.'' would assuredly hay, spurned a show girl. It is said that ht rever permitted dancing which was moi the direct expression of an attitude o. mind,'' and for this the show girl is con spicuously unfit. There Is a subject for whole essay in '"The Pony as an Intelleo tua Force" Gaetano Balthazare Vestris would never have tolerated the mer wearing of clothes and looking pretty iH "Ipnigenie en Aullde,' in which he col laborated with Gluck.
 Perhaps the degeneration of the balls began with the Skirt dancing introduced by Kate Vaughan and carried on by Syl via Grey and Lefty Lind. Not that thii was not an exquisite art in itself; quit the contrary. But did not the emphasis put upon skirts carry within 1t the seeds of decay and prepare the way for thu show girl, who has looks ct praeterea nihil? This is an interesting point ol which the pony bride might be able t throw some light. If she lacks philo sophie bent or literary facility she migh offer the results Of her practical knowb edge to Herlkimer Johnson. Or has he all ready devoted Q volume of his collossa work to the subject?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-03
F. om the Philadelphia Public Ledger.

E. om the Philadelphia Public Ledger
 A N important question of dramatic
 "A art is discussed-may we not even . say decded?-by a young bride from the stage whose marriage an un- sympathetic father-in-law is seeking to have annulled. In her professional days she was pony and she naturally has a healthy contempt for the mere show girl. "Anypody can be a, show girl,' she says, "who has the looks" Those earnest students Of the drama who are familiar with both ponies and show girls will prob ably agree with her. All the latter have to do is "to look pretty and wear clothes -or not wear them. Excess baggage is what we call them on the stage The ponies are the little girls who do all the hard dancing." It is difficult to find them short enough, and still more difficult to persuade them to the grinding labor of their task. They are the rarae aviculae of musical comedy and burlesque. Why should they not pride themselves on their superiority? Why should they not regard with disdain mere beauty of face and form? All that nature has done for them is an abridgment of their inches. The rest is due to their own efforts. '.I am a pony, and trick one at that the lady coyly confesses. From the proud summit of her eminence the show girl seems a. poor creature indeed.
 It would be a pleasant occupation for her leisure to write treatise on that modern development of terpsichorean art which has thus fixed a great gulf between the pony and the show girl. It apparently did not exist in the earlier days of the ballot. At least there was no show girl, as such, then; everybody danced. Nor is
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-03
FoREsTALL1NG A PROPOSAL.

You mustn't mind what said while I was delirious.'
 Certainly not replied the pretty nurse. mind what you say while you are con- valescent.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-03

Andrew Carnegie returned all of the turkeys that were sent to him on Thanks giving and bought one from his grocer" After that can there be further centro- versy about who is the richest man?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-03

The Grecian crown prince says the royal ia nly is behind King Constantine. Still, it's not bad idea to take the dear peo- pie" into consideration these days when crowns are none too secure.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-03

BEGINNING THE DAY--o God, what wonder to live! Thou mishtest have left me. But Thou cailest and I heard. To, I am here. And here in form and being of man. Thy gifts rich upon me. Thy name In my heart, and around md before me- life with its heights and its depths. I rejoice and I faint at the glory and the peril of 1t. Amen.--H. M' E'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-03
PAMPERED wORKMEN

From the Memphis Commercial Appeal
 Those California labor leaders who are asking for a six-hour day must want to get off for the o'clock matinees.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-03

VACATIONS A trip to Europe we would make But just before we sail, We'll be quite certain that we take At least one suit of mail.
 Youngstown Telegram A trip to Europe we would make And think it very fine, But not just now. for fear we'd bump Into a floating mine.
 Birmingham Herald. A trip to Europe we would make Gust that or something worse) The penalty for guys that write Such gosh-blamed silly verse.
 Springfield Union We haven't had a trip since we remember For the reason that we never had tho price, But we hope to have day off in Decem. Der, If it's only for "trip" up on the ice
 Lawrence, Mass, Critic
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-03
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
WON'T STAY DOWN.
sssssssssss.s.sss.ssss

WUN'T STAY DOWN. Experience is a hard teacher" re. marked the philosopher. Quite true, but an optimist of my ac- quaintance has the matter well in hand, 1 think
 How so?'
 ''The harder he gets bumped, the higher he rebounds"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-03
YOUR PART.

Life is sometimes stale and flat Sure it is, but what of that? If you hustle every minute
 You can put seme bubbles in itl
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-03
GETTING ACQUAINTED

From the Atlanta Journal.
 Carranza seems to be recognized by ev- erybody. Even Mexico is recognizing him. u. .--.-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-03

General Coxey should stick to march, ing and let economies alone It's a deep subject, anyhow.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-03
STARING HER FEELINGS.

You say the fashionable Mrs Daffing. ton Is the daughter of a brewer?"
 why, yes. AS matter of fact, that's what she is, but if you happen to mention the old gentleman's business in her pres. ence, be sure to call him a malster."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-03

The Paris Apache is giving good ac- count of himself in the trenches. Com paratively few Germans survive to bear witness to his exploits.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-03

Considering what he has done to make the American flag famous George M Conan should be invited to accompany Henry Ford on his peace iunket.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-03

Just to show that he hasn't given up hope yet, Villa announces that his gov e,nment will be reorganized
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-03

Although MT Carnegie has only about s2O, ,OOO 600 left he will still be able to pay fer his gasoline.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-03

A New York man says bald-headed quarts of spring water daily and fasting two years. He probably made the an nounccment from the vaudeville stage.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-03
MOST RARE.

My wife's a superwoman,
 Said William Henry Grange. She never frisks my pockets To get piece of change"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-03

Contrary to belief expressed in some quarters, Irwin Beds,'' current at a local theatre, is not a furniture ad.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-03

It's a pretty safe assumption that the Missouri mule recently sold for $S50 was ret bought for war purposes.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-03

When powder plant is mysteriously blown up there isn't much evidence to work on except a hole in the ground
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-03

It's a poor war correspondent who can't locate peace rumor in Vienna at least once a week.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-03

Germanys latest war aeroplane is a huge affair and is thought to mark an- other advance in ''frightfulness
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-03

Winston Churchill seems bit slow in getting himself decorated for conspicuous gailantry at the front.