davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20
As to Evening Dress

There is a growing tendency in the south for men to attend banquets, par
 ties and other evening affairs in business
 suits instead of regulation dress" said a
 travelled man. T regret to see this in-
 difference to social convention.
 q recently read the criticism of prom inent citizen of New York who lived for several years in Mobile. This gentleman was on a visit to the Gulf City and re- marked the change in custom, especially men wining and dining at the principal hotel without wearing evening dress. The gents who make up fashionable society as a rule are industrious and successful in the business world. When night comes they are somewhat tired and indulge themselves in the lazy habit of keeping on their workaday clothes and so attired go out and join a theatre party.
 'I have not been much in New York during the past four or five years and was l wondering if dress suits were going out of vogue but on looking up New York World almanac I found more than hall l a page devoted to Mems Dress Chart fol | 1915.' In the first group were the styles | to be observed for day weddings, after I noon calls and matinee receptions. An | other group was for motoring. golf and driving. Another was for afternoon teas church and promenades. Another was fol evening weddings, balls formal dinners and theatres, and the last group was fol l evening, informal dinners club, stag and 1 at home dinners. Under the head of Din l ners and Theatres were these dress regu. lations: Swallow tail coat; waistcoat white, singler or double breasted, pique | linen or silk; trousers same material as 1 coat; hat, high silk, with broad felt band l shirts. cuffs stiff pique or linen, white cravat, white felt or figured pque oi linen, etc."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20

w. Morgan Shuster, in the Century. K 0 one can know when this war will
 IN end, yet every one in the whole 4 world is yearning in his heart for the day of peace to arrive. So we ask ourselves: Of what nature will that peace be? And how shall it be permanently se- cured? And this self-quesioning leads to many fond delusions.
 Because for the normal yearning for an end to dangerous conditions, and while the whole world is still stunned by the spec tacle of 500000,O00 people at war, few super-optimists find breath to say that there will never be another great war, and that the one silver lining to the clouds is the probability of disarmament, partial or complete, after the nations of Europe and Asia shall have fought them- selves to satiety, victory, or defeat, as the case may be. .fs= r
 But this hope is so misleading, it's in- diligence so vain, and yet so natural, that it seems proper, even at this indecisive stage Of the conflict, to point out some of the reasons why anything approaching general disarmament cannot take place.
 Ht ttl III IS dpl tO bC used vaguely to represent anything from the mere cessation of naval construction and army increase programmes to that purely idealistc condition when banners would be furled, standing armies be dis perseti to their homes, and war vessels be transformed into commercial craft. or remain, dismantled, as interesting relics of q benighted past.
 The latter state is manifestly so inn possible to expect, at least within many decades, that it may be promptly dis missed from consideration. To mention only a few of the material objections: Theer are millions of men who are sub stantially unfitted by education, experi- ence or temperament for any other plo- fesson than that of arms, on land or at sea- Society, industry and commerce have long since adjusted themselves to their existence as major police force, and to attempt to thrust them suddenly into peaceful pursuits would creat no lit- tle disturbance. Professional fighters could not be expected to take quietly to mere idleness, even on pay, nor would they be content to be regarded as mere pensioned-off appendages of a baser so- cial state.
 Then the preparation of all nations for war even during periods of peace, has created vast industries. official and pri- vate, largely dependent upon the exist ing armies and navies being maintained and even increased. Enormous amounts of capital are invested in such plants, and hundreds of thousands of workmen would be thrown out of employment, should gen. eral disarmament be suddenly attempted. The expression general disarmament is
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20
Little snow These pnxs

Science can explain many things; can account for much that We call phenom- ena, but have never seen any theory ad- vanced as to the change in our winters taken for a period of say 10 or 12 years" remarked an old citizen last night.
 We used to have a good snowstorm once or twice a year, and fine sleighing nearly every winter. We had a week or more of sleighing in the winter of 1S9s-99. That was the exceptionally cold winter when Louisiana and Florida were frozen tight. We had excellent sleighing here the following winter and there was con siderable snow the year after that but for many years there has rot been snow enough to afford even a half hour of sleghing. l doubt if there are dozen sleighs in Birmingham now. We do not expect as much snow this far south as we used to see in Tennessee, but have won- dered if science can account for the diff ference in this respect between now and the early part of the last decade.
 When large snowfiakes began to fall this (Tuesday) morning l thought maybe the old time winter was coming back but none of the snow lay on the ground"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20
The National Defense

The importance ot lhcreashis 'no national defense which IS pelng vigorously discussed by Secretary oi War Garrison, is now appreciated oy many members of Congress who had heretofore been indifferent to the question or had positive objections to increasing the army or navy ourihg the present administration.
 Secretary Garrison is not only one of the ablest men who has ever been at the head of the war department, but he is tireless in his efforts to ln- duce Congress to see the national defense situation as he knows 1t. lie proposes definite military policy. It is not in the line of militarism. 1t does not call for great expenditures of money, but it does have to do with this country's preparedness to defend itself against foreign foes.
 The Secretary asks for an addl- tion of about 23,000 men to the mobile army and a reserve army of 350,000 to 4O0, ,OOO, the latter to cost the gov ernment comparatively little, as the rank and file would be composed of men who had served short enlistments in the regular establishment and who would be paid only when called upon for active service. The Secretary be- lieves in increasing the efficiency of the National Guard, whose numerical strength is about 10000.
 In an address recently in New York Secretary Garrison said:
 1.-The United States has not treated the National Guard right. It rests with the people to have a proper guard and they will have to change their attitude in order to do so. They must cease looking askance at the> men who sacrifice themselves for the guard in the belief that they simply want to wear gold lace so the girls will look at them."
 The House committee on naval af- fairs has submitted a report to Con gress in which it is recommended that the government build 17 new submarines and appropriate $1,000,- 900 for the construction of air craft. This Congress, which is within six weeks of it's end, may not do much in carrying out the recommendations of the army and navy departments, but Secretary Garrison and Secretary Daniels will continue to urge their respective recommendations with the expectation that the SiXty-fourth Congress will take a large view of the national defense problem and act accordingly.
 In the meantime Secretary Garri- son is doing good educational work in enlightening the public as we'll as the national lawmakers. He has al- ready aroused much general interest, and before the end of President Will sons term the United States army will be increased to reasonable ex- tent and be made vastly more efficient than it has ever been.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20

gcod were sold, middle counters where people ate quick lunches, tables where women and girls and few men sat, and a compartment at the back where orders were sent to the kitchen. Meat, fish and eggs were kitchen orders; the other things, which were called side dishes,
 were kept hot on heaters on the serv- ing counters l was put in the care of a girl who had charge. of two table near the center of the room. I found that | could wear what I pleased to the res- taurant, but once there, must put on al black dress, white apron and white cap.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES

plaining his affliction to his constituents"
 How is that?''
 He gives them to understand that he caught cold by continuously keeping his ear to the ground.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20

used because, manifestly, no nation or na-
 lions will begin it unless all do
 In 100 ways, of which only one or two examples have just been cited, the con | stant possibility of war and it's conse- quence, preparations for war have be- come so interwoven with the worlds en- tire social and economic fabrics as to | render any radical departure from pres
 ent conditions highly improbable.
 Enough has been said then to indicate
 that by disarmament" among serious | advocates of the plan. must be meant state more nearly approaching the one first mentioned; that is, virtually limita- tion of armaments on some basis accept able at least to the leading nations of the world. But if this be what is con- templated, the plan is already doomed to failure, for the simple reason that such a thing as any binding agreement in such matters as national safety and ad vantage has been concusively shown to be farcical. Even if the nations could, by
 some divine christening process, agree on the relative strengths at which their armies and navies were to be maintained, it must be remembered that standing armies and warships are only the first line of offense. the quck-striking force, and that there are dozen ways in which a nation can successfully prepare forI war without actually calling a single additional man to the colors or adding al unit to the navy until hostilities had been actually declared. Whatever stupendous changes occuv in the political and social systems of thel world as result of the present war, itl is safe to prophecy that general disarm- ament will not be one of them. Is thel world, then, to be left, notwithstanding the unutterable sufferings and losses off
 modern war, exposed, after longer or' shorter respites, to constant repetitions ,, of substantially the same tragedy?
 This question is the most vital and im- portant one that enlightened mankindi faces today. The present war is here. and should peace ensue over night, itsI material effects will be felt for half al century or more, to say nothing of it's irreparable losses in other directions. Butt great as is this calamity, it will bel dwarfed by the losses and hardships of the future unless some means can be de- vised whereby the probability of it's rel currence may be at least vastly dimin- ished. If not by disarmament, how then shall this end be sought? Treaties, conventions. and even the accepted law of nations have been shown to be inadequate to preserveI peace They are not self-executing. In-I deed, many treaties and declarations have| proved and are proving fruitful source of discord between both belligerents anal neutrals
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20
uEcINNING THE DAY-I thank

BEGINNING THE DAN-l thank Thee. Q God, for the sunshine. I thank Thee for the death 1t deais and the life 1t gives. l thank Ihee for the color and the form when !. reveals, for the loveIiness, near an" far. which it unveils. I thank Thee for it's warm invitation to wander in if. to listen md think. l thank Ihee for it's amazing call to my spirus. ! thank Thee for it's reminder th". Thou art still the Gfver of life' "no that Thou hast not forgotten. Ameh' HI. M. E.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20
SURE

SURE. Tt may seem queer'' said MT. Burke But you can bet it's so; An idle rumor does more work Than anything I know.
 Cincinnati Enquirer Tt may seem queer," said MT. Binks, But it is so, you bet, A lot of coin a fellow sinks Into floating debt''
 Detroit Free Press Tt may seem queer." said MT. Binn, That there's not any doubt That when collectors find me in I'm almost always out"
 Houston Post ''It may seem queer,' said MT. Budds, And yet. 'tis true, I hope. Some men who'd sell their souls for 'suds' Have little use for soap"
 Birmingham Age-Herald Tt may seem queer," said MT. Boise, "But here's a bone to pull; An empty kettle makes more noise Than one that's brimming ful'
 Memphis Commercial-Appeal Ut may seem queer," said MT. Beggs, But yet 'tis widely known, A fellow that's on his last legs Can always stand a loan."
 Peoria Journal
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20

The Sunday edition of the Buffalo Buffalo Evening News has heen one of the most prosperous newspapers of this country, but it found it could not main- tain Sunday morning issue in con- nection with it's afternoon edition and make both profitable.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20

One of Birminghams star baseball play CTS will not return this season. It is bet ter so. He had a fancied grievance and a baseball player with a fancied griev- ance is an unmitgated nuisance.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20
TERSE!

From the South Wales Journal.
 Everybody knows how difficult it is to form, and more so to give, a terse and vived description of battle. It would be hard to beat the following picture, given by wounded British soldier. Asked what he could tell about the battle in which he was hit. this was his answer ! First you ,ears ell of a noise, and then the nurse says: Try and drink a lit I tie of this
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20

contemporary says President Wilson conceal thought. However, he doesn't attempt to hide what he thinks of his new grandson
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20

instead of '. there will be a crop in the ground that will not be able to stand the climatic vicissitudes that always occur during midsummer. and there might be disaster"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20
Business Improvement in the South

 My vocation takes me to many of the southern states, and I am glad to be able to say that business conditions are improving steadily" said H. D. Hare of Jacksonville. who represents a large fire insurance company of Connecticut. Louisiana seems to be exceptionally prosperious at the present time, and as for New Orleans, l have never seen it so busy as N is now. Atlanta, my old home town, was hurt of course by the bad cotton situation, but it is getting over it, and when I was there recently heard little or no talk of hard times. I find marked improvement in Bir- mingham as compared with conditions here a month or two ago. Birmingham looks normal now. It is a great city and will never stop growing.
 Jacksonville Is somewhat quiet this month, but it is one of the most solid cities in the south, and Florida is in fairly good shape. There will be a very large tourist business in February and March, and Jacksonville and all the dis tinctly tourist resort places will be full of life. From now on the hotels will have all they can do.
 optimism in all parts of the south is coming in evidence once more. Every body is feeling that we are going to have a fine year.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20

It would be going too far to say that South Carolina was no more to blame for Cole Blease being governor than Italy was to blame for the recent earthquake.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20
MAY HAPPEN YET.

I dreamed that many years had gone, Twas nineteen-fifty-four, fst And someone did a question ask,
 I'd heard in days of yore. He said to me, I'd like to know
 If you can tell me. Bill, If down in dear old Mexico
 They're 'revoluting' stil.''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20

Old winter shook a cupful of snow over this part of Dixie yesterday morning. but old Sol came out and soon chased him back to where he belongs.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20
Regarding Higher Cotton

In discussing the cotton situation and the advancing prices, a representative of a prominent New York brokerage house said yesterday:
 President Wilson says: If you are going to buy it, but it now This seems to me to be pretty good advice to follow in cotton. Those who try to get the ulti- mate dollar and wait, hoping it will go just a little lower,' nine times out of ten miss their market. All the worst is known, the size of the crop. the weight of the crop, the war has been with us since July, and the price has been the lowest since 190S All these facts have been discounted by the low prices.
 Tt must be remembered that prices precede the event. the market has com. menced to discount the lessened produce tion of next year and the prosperous times that are unquestionably ahead of us. There are other possibilities that should be taken into consideration also. With a crop planted under adverse circumstances as the coming one will be. poorly fertil- ized and under the circumstances there will not be the care taken of it that would be the case if the price was F cents
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20
TEMPTING THE HUNGRY

From the Memphis Commercial-Appeal.
 Birmingham had better be careful how she reports her bank conditions as hash in hand" Hungry depositors will be making a run on the bank.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20

The governor of Missouri made an in- augural address that filled IS newspaper columns. After that outburst he ought to keep quiet for a long time.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20

Late pictures of the Kaiser show that he is aging rapidly. It is nothing but and tear of war.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20

A magazine writer who maligned the minute men of New England stirred ftp a hornets nest. but maybe that was what he intended to do.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20

Lord Kitchener says the great European
 war will begin in May. For the love of Mike, what has been going on recently over there?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20
ExCUSABLE ERROR.

LRROR. How many people came over originally in the Mayflower?"
 "I believe the latest estimate is some- thing like s,7s4,326 persons" Nonsense. The vessel could only carry a few hundred"
 ''The estimate was based, I believe, on the apparent number of their descendants in this country"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20

A shift of fortunes wheel has givel Mexico another President and the end ii not yet in sight
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20

It is impossible for some legislators to accomplish anything without numerous conferences in bathroom.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20

Rats that come from tropical countries on board steamers are highly undesirable aliens.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20

It doesn't require federal investiga- tion to show that somebody is getting rich in this country by selling wheat
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20

Woodrow Wilson complimented Billy" Sunday and there was nothing left for the revivalst to do but to return the compliment.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20

From present indications, 1t will be a long time yet before Villa will be able to enjoy much needed rest.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20

Any man who goes about town these days with q $10O bill in his pocket is open to suspicion.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20
SOME MORE FICTION

From the Houston Post
 We observe in the Alabama headlines the amusing fiction that ''The State Will Be Dry Again.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Anniston's Prosperity

We have one of the best cities in the south," said Leon Ullman of Anniston. of the well known firm of Ullman Brothers.
 Even when depression prevails in other sections Anniston manages to keep busy. We have seven pipe works. seven cotton factories and a number of other industries, and they are all thriving. I went to Anniston to live in 1885 and can therefore claim to be one of it's pioneer citizens. It was a very small city then. but we have grown steadily. We had a population of 12,79i in 1910, and there has been a consider able increase since then. Anniston is certain to give a good account of itself in the next census
 "I visit Birmingham from time to time and note with pleasure its handsome improvements. On this trip 1 have seen the Tutwiler hotel for the first time. It is a magnificent hotel and would do credit to New York or Chicago"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20

A prize fight at Juarez will be decided improvement over the old-fa shioned bull fight
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20
New OrIean. Mardi Gras

T believe that New Orleans will have one of the biggest crowds at Mardi Gras, February 16, in its history of great crowds" said a railroad official. "The great number of reservations at the rotels and boarding houses indicate an immense throng of tourists.
 New Orleans always has fine carni- val, but the one this year will be excep- tionally brilliant. Birmingham will be we'll represented in the crowd of visitors. D
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20
AsTuTE POLITICIAN

ASTUTE POLITICIAN. Congressman Blowster seems to have a severe cold in his head"
 "Yes he has been suffering for a week or more, but he has clever way of ex-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20

General Stoessel is dead now and the voices of his detractors are silenced.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20
CHEATED.

My friend" said the reformer, how can you drink vile stuff? Let me see the bottle. Ah The label says 45 per cent alcohol. Awful! Awful.'
 'Ain't it the truth, mister'' said the bibulous one. Think of a poor duffer like me having to pay s1 for a quart of stuff that's only 45 per cent alcohol and 55 per cent prune juice'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20
OF COURSE NOT.

OF COURSE NOT.
 T have a piano that I got with soap wrappers. Would you like to see ito'' I don't mind. No injury can be done to the auditory nerve by merely looking at such a piano." PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20

TO BE SURE. It doesn't seem like Dixie Land When snowflalles gin to fly, And dark and dismal are the clouds That cover up the sky. It seems more like the frigid north Where blizzards often blow, But then it isn't every day That Dixie has a snow,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20

PRACTICALLY NOISELESS, ANYHOW.
 For once the drummer in this moving picture orchestra is nonplussed."
 How do you account for that?"
 why, the picture on the screen shows political steam roller in action and he has nothing with which to initiate it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20
MAKES HER RESTLESS.

MAKES HER RESTLESS. '"The confidence Mrs. Gadders reposes in her husband is wonderful My wife says she has confidence in me, but fear it is not the reposeful kind.,' "No?'
 Its the kind that keeps her awake at night until she finds out where I've been."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20
HOPE OF PERMANENT PEACE

w. Morgan Sinister. in the Century. Q one can know when this war will
 M end, yet every one in the whole A world ic yearninor in his hea If for
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20

A J. Eaton, Jr., and o. D. Young are the only authorized travelling represen- tatives of The Age-Herald In its cir culation department
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-20

No communication will be published without its authors name. Rejected manuscript will not be returned unless stamps are enclosed for that purpose.