davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04

General Wood to report to him fully touching the proposed legion and his relations to the movement.
 If any big thing is to be undertaken in the way of establishing a reserve organization it should be directly un- der the war department. It should be in the fullest sense official and not in any wise unofficial. And tp make such an organization official and workable congressional action would be necessary, for it would cost money to maintain it and good deal of money.
 The very matter of sending post card notices occasionally to 300,000 men--the estimated strength of the legion-would cost considerable sum. Then, too, in order to keep themselves in first rate military training the re- servists would have to drill at stated periods. Otherwise they would soon drop to the grade of raw recruits, even though they had had several years of experience.
 If the war department is a bit jeal- ous, not to say wary, of the 1eservist scheme, as innocent as it looks, it IS because they know that all projects having war in view can best be han dled, and can only properly be handled, by the government.
 The Sixty-fourth Congress will probably take up the army reserve question next winter. The European war will likely be ended by that time and in that event the military spirit in this country will have relaxed. Only the Peace union leaders will be on the firing line, so to speak. Vigorous protests against any increase in the regular army will be submitted to the administration, and Secretary of State Bryan will espouse the cause of the Anti-Armament league with charac- teristic ardor. But it will be the duty of Congress to go ahead and do some- thing substantial in strengthening the national defense.
 In the meantime, General Woods report to Secretary Garrison on what he knows about the American Legion will be awaited with interest.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04
THE COUNT.

A brief news dispatch contains the an- nouncement that Count James Alexan- der von Mourilx de Beaufort, formerly the son-in-law of a Chicago steel mag nate, lost his life while fighting for France in Belgium. When the count was in Chicago his matrimonial experiences and his own eccentricities were given great publicity by Chicago newspaper men who found the impecunious noble- man a fine target for their shafts of humor. The ridicuie he was subjected to, the summary manner in which his wealthy wife divorced him and his own inability to earn living would have crushed the average man and perhaps the poor count, cruelty awakened from his dream of wealth and sweet idleness. felt the despair he did not show. Ac- cording to all accounts he was Q. typical fortune-hunter, with all the follies and vanities found among the decadent mo- bility of foreign countries. But fate was kind to the count. He didn't look like a hero and he certainly didn't act like one. yet. somewhere on a Belgian bat tlefield, he redeemed himself and died as the bravest of his forebears would have had him die. By that supreme sacri- flee the count forever stilled the tongue of ridicule.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04
POINTED PARAGRAPHS s

From the Chicago News.
 It's a strong friendship that can stand a loan.
 Beware of the timely advice of a dis interested man.
 But you never have to go half way in order to get in bad.
 Few people are wise enough to know that ignorance is bliss.
 Marriage license clerks manage to sell lottery tickets unmolested.
 Many a man and woman, marry and live happily ever after-separatine.
 In the bright lexicon of the hustler the word enough doesn't show up.
 An old bachelor says a hypocrite is a married man who seems to be glad of it.
 Revenge is boomerang that often re- turns to the borrower and puts him in the hospital.
 Analyze the contents of your cup of sorrow and you'll be surprised at the happiness found therein. A scientist states that fully two-thirds of a woman's pleasures in life are de- rived from her ability to shed tears at will. A flirt doesn'- deserve the peaceful fate of a spinster. She should be forced to wed shif,less man and take tn scrubbing to support him.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04

From the Coal Age
 "HE abuse of the fee system among
 negroes in Alabama, to which rel
 4 erence is made in our Ideas and Suggestions. is not confined to men or color or to citizens of that state. It ex- ists in a degree throughout the Wnoie country. We well remember how the con- stable and justice of the peace in ht- tle mining village in Pennsylvania used to look upon the foreign drunk" as legit- innate picking. The Americans were passed over and the aliens chosen.
 Order was none too well maintained be- cause the arrests were made not to en- force order but to levy tribute on those whose political influence would not weigh when the vote was taken. The Ioreisn- born who did not know how to vote could be depended on to cast their ballots for all in one party regardless of the way in which some of the lesser nominees had victim.ized them in the recent past And the foreigners. having no votes, had In the eyes of the Tminions of the law no rights deserving of respect.
 Had the constable and justice been tenn perance advocates we might have sym pathized with them in their efforts to ar rest drinking men, but the justice himself likes his liquor only too well. The cam paign in Pennsylvania as in Alabama was animated by desire simply to corral the easiest least resisting quarry.
 Judge H. B. Abernethy of Birmingham has asserted his right to try cases where certai.. misdemeanors are committed. Particularly. he has had haled before him the negroes who have been arrested for shootings craps. This change does not di- rectly help the negro, but it diverts the fines to public funds and discourages the activity of the exploiters of the fee sys- tenn.
 Judge Abernethy at a recent trial VIZ orously expressed his indignation, saying;
 If the officers were half as diligent in running down actual criminals as they are in arresting petty offenders, there woul1 be less crime in the city and coun- ty. The practice of rounding up negroes Saturday night for the purpose of making fees is one of the most pernicious prac- tices in the county and imposes great hardships on a class that is practically helpless so far as the courts are com cerned
 ''In the ease cited above, the solicitor agreed to mol pros the case on the pay ment of the fine and cost. The law fxea the fine at $10, which in my opinion, is entirely too much for a first offender The line, however, is insignificant com pared with the costs involved. Just think of 1t. $375S costs for a case involving nothing more than petty offense agains! public morals.
 "In nine cases out of 10. the negroes sc convicted have to work out the sentence ! and costs on the county roads. all to thu benent of the fee-systsm officeholder
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
 A CLOSE SHAVE.

'.He says he found 1t hard to tear him. self away from his old home town" 'If a warrant had been served in time. he never would nave done it, either
 THIS IssoUR OFF DAY. One day we heard a sideshow freak Most bitterly complain, The broken glass he ate that week Somehow gave him pain.
 Springfield Union. Alas, the gray and halting wheeze. Alas, the paneful crash Then why not add. by slow degrees, The pain was meath his sash?
 Cleveland Plain Dealer A good old joke of yesteryear Is to the fore again; But since we pause to print it here, Iris we who have the pain. 
 CURRENT STYLES. Just because a girl wears a halo hal is no sign that she's an angel" .Certainly not. And just because she wears harem veil is no sign that she's Turk, either" NO ESCAPE FROM HIM. 1T always feel safer in steel railway car. don't your ..yes, of course, but the porter is there. just the same.''
 WHAT'S THE USE? A man will work for years and years To lay a million by, And then shed unavailing tears Because he has to die.
 POLITICALLY SPEAKING. "oiI smooths troubled water. does it not?''
 "As a rule but the oil in Mexico seems to make the water rougher.''
 A NEW CAPITALIST. s"That's an important looking man. Is he president of the street railway com- pany?"
 "No. He operates jitney bus"
 PAUL COOK
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04
BEGINNING THE DAY-o Co

BEGINNING THE DAY-O God, give me today some high untrou- bIcd place in my thoughts where I may get away from the noise and the glare, away from the bias of crooked thinking and of unworthy motives, away from wrong ambi- lions and false estimates of suc- cess. For Christ's sake. Amcn.- H. M. E.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04
Ex LIBRIs

Arthur Upson in ''The City, In an old book at even as l read Fast fading words adown my shadowy
 page,
 crossed tale of how, in other age. At Arqua. with his books around him.
 sped The word to Petrarch. and with noble
 head Bowed gently o'er his volume that
 sweet sage
 To Silence paid his willing seigniorage. And they who found him whispered. ''He
 is deadv' Thus timely from old comradeships
 would
 To Silence also rise. Let there be night, Stiffness and only these staid watchers And nos light shine save my low study
 lightr7 Lest of kis kind Intent some human cry Interpret not the Messenger arighA
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04
ART FOR ARTS SAKE"

Behold the classic dancer.
 Her clothes are very light; She's something of a prancer
 And proves 1t every night And yet. it makes her fretful
 When minions of the law Of indignation get full,
 The worst you ever saw, And wicked warrants swear out, Compelling her to dress Such pestering would wear out
 The stoutest soul. l guess.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04
WAR ECHOES

New Republic: War is the bust par excellence-alike for those who go ana for those who stay at home. It Is the greatest of gregarious forms of excite ment. It sweeps people off their feet; II carries them along; it gives them some thing to think ahsut, or rather feel apout' it brings people together; it makes them forget themselves. The more monotonous the life the stronger the appeal war makes. The duller the nature, the more welcome the appeal. The less a man finds to stimulate his imagination in daily hte and the less imagination he has to De stimulated, the crasser and the more un- usual the stimulus must be. And yet too unusual it may not be, To be enjoy able war must not upset the deeper-seated habits nor exact spiritual adjustments. It must not startle us with new ideas or dis tress us with new feelings. It must ap- peal to us only in what, as we say, IS elemental in us. It may stir us to the very depths, but to new heights it may not call us.
 Cincinnati Times-Star: There has been some talk of combination of German Americans for political action against any candidate whose attitude does not seem to the members of the combination suf- ficiently friendly to Germanys cause in the European war.
 It is said that President Wilson is to be opposed on account of his recent diplo- .; days the claim has been made that the defeat of Carter Harrison in the Chicago primaries was due to opposition growing out of the problems of the European war.
 This talk of massed political action by German-Americans is more or less vague. For our part we hope there is nothing in it. The whole scheme is un-American; it probably could not enlist the support of more than a comparatively small minor ity of the Americans of German blood in the United States; and if put into effect 1t would inevitably bring results the ex- act opposite of those expected by it's pro- moters.
 It Is very certain that large majority of the voters of this country would ob- ject to voting on election day on any other basis than that of their duties and views as Americans Of course, it is pos- sble that a. few people who have been very deeply stirred by the events of the past six months in Europe might take kindly to the idea Of running American politics on a European war basis. But as soon as it became clear that a con- siderable number of voters meant to act in this way, support would come to the attacked official from other sources and in tho end he would be, not the loser, but the gainer by the agitation.
 This is an American country We have made success of our government, run ming it as an American government. The minute we begin voting, not as Ameri- cans but as Englishmen or Germans Russians or F'renchmen or Italians, we will b., headed straight for trouble.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04

War souvenirs command ready sale in England. German helmets are said to make excellent hanging baskets for plants when suspended upside down by wires,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04
UNFORTUNATE
From the Brooklyn Times.

From the Brooklyn Times.
 What small appetite you have MT. Jones," said the maiden coyly to the bashful lover who had been invited to share the family Christmas dinner.
 "Yes,' he replied. Then seeing chance for pretty speech. he hastily added: ITO sit next to you. Miss Grace, Is enough to make any man lose his appetite" He wondered why she didn't Gpaile.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04

Some of the exclusive London clubs are facing hard times as a result of the war and strict regulation. Dark streets and soft drinks are not conducive to club life.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04

Washington school children presented MT. Bryan With a peace petition said to have been two and half miles long. Running ones eye down a petition like that is apt to prove tiresome.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04

An authority on masculine beauty says the perfect man must not measure more than 34 inches around the waist. The size of his head is also important
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04

The Swedish building at the Panama Pacific exposition has been dedicated, also the Texas building, which is, of coursG another matter.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04
REVERSAL

From Tit-Bits. What's the trouble, old man?" I'm in 8 bad way. I lie awake nights thinking about my work. Then when I'm at work I keep going to sleep"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04

"Lenten dancing is differentiated from other kinds, no doubt. by the absence of all movements of the feet and body not absolutely necessary.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04

If the New York police had let those anarchists alone they would have had a perfectly lovely time blowing up mill lionaires.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04

Chicago fashions will be exhibited al the San Francisco fair. A slap right ir the face of New York.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04

If you see woman wearing an iron ring. adorned with small iron cross, it's a sign that she has given up some- thing for the fatherland.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04

Just when 1t seemed that nothing would stop the allied fleet from capturing Con- stantinople. the weather man interfered.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04

No wonder the Belgians admire the American flagl It means square meal to them.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04

The man whose cash surplus is about $7S0 at least has the satisfaction of knowing that there are no anarchists on his trail.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04

What particularly comforts the song
 writer who put Tipperary on the map is that his song also put money in his pocket
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04

There is no man hath n virtue that he hath not a glimpse of, nor any man nm attaint but he carries some stain of 1t. -Troilus and Cressida.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04
A Cincinnati visitor

O. K. Jones, a member of the Cincinnati bar and member of the board of alder men, is visiting Birmingham for the first time. He IS accompanied by Mrs. Jones and they are registered at the Tutwiler.
 "I have been hearing a great deal about Birmingham and have long wanted to see the city but this has been my first sop- portunity," said MT. Jones. "I had a call to Florida on business and my wife and I concluded that this would be a good time to stop over in Birmingham for little sightseeing. We are greatly inn pressed with the city. We knew it had a large population and that it was an important steel center, but it is far hand somer than we had expected to find it. It is very beautiful city and must be a pleasant city to live in. Of course Bir- mingham has great future. With the next wave of prosperity it is sure to make wonderful strides"
 MT. Jones is a personal friend of H. M. Waite, former superintendent of the Seaboard Air Line here, afterwards city engineer of Cincinnati, but now city man. ager of Dayton. MT. Jones said that MT. Waite was making an excellent record in his present position
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04

Mine-sweeping is entitled 10 be con- sidered one of the extra-hazardous pro- fessions.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04
A Lesson from Boom Day.

Having accidentally overheard the price of certain lot in one of the oldest of Birminghams suburbs, and knowing what the owner paid for it some 90 years ago. was much impressed with the mis- takes that were made here at that time and the lessons they should convey" said Col. N. F. Thompson
 ''To explain my meaning: There were offered to Birmingham along about that time some for our five important indus tries, but they were literally riven else- where for want of proper efforts being made to locate them here One of these went to Bessemer, another to New De- catur. another to Anniston and another to Gadsden, These industries promised employment to at least 1000 persons each. which meant a possible additional popu- lation of 2n,000. If that much population had been added to Birmingham at that time there would have been little reac- tion to real estate values, and instead of what we now have there would have been a. city here of fully 250,0OO persons; for those industries would have brought many others in their train and the growth of Birmingham would never have had the slightest cessation. But "oppor- tunity'' is again knocking at Birming- hams door, for with the demand from all South American countries that the European war has forced upon the Unit ed States for all lines of manufactured articles, and the opening of .he Panama canal, there is possibly a better leverage for locating industries here now than ex- isted 30 years ago. Unlike the sentiment expressed by J. J. Ingalls, in his famous poem in which he said that opportunity came no more when once it was lost, believe with Walter Malone. who said: Every day I stand outside your door, And bid you wake, and rise to fight and
 winv
 "A campaign for industries for Bir- mingham will bring genuine return of better times and will restore all real estate values to something like their worth in all suburbs of the city"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04
Praises the Good Roads

A. P. Longshore, probate judge of Shelby county, while visiting Birmingham connected his county with Jefferson, which draw the two close together. and are proving such a boon to both.
 Good roads, our good roads," said the judge, "are among our most precious possessions We can leave Columbiana at 6 o'clock in the morning and two hours later, be in Birmingham. The company operating the automobile line charges us the railroad rate.
 "The county has been criticized, and the state has been criticized to some ex- tent for spending money on roads, but the criticism in it's last analysis. is a compliment. Iii other words, the critics are damning us with feint praise"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04
Finds Les. Cotton Planting

Tt is encouraging" said J. H. Edmond son of Anniston, who was a visitor yes terday, Ito note that the farmers are diversifying their crops.
 T travel extensively through east Ala bama. In other days. I would find nothing planted save cotton, cotton, cot ton, with eyception in the form of corn just sufficient to prove the rule Now, however, l find every variety of grain planted, and cotton in greatly reduced acreage.
 Up to the present time. have found no man ignoring cotton to the extent of planting 1t not at all, but there is no question but that our average yield for the past 10 years will be materially re- duced this season. This means higher price for cotton and greater content in the rural district in that the people will have raised enough on which to live and feed their stock
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04
UncalIed for Balances

Nearly every bank carries uncalled for balances" said D. B. Grace.
 These inactive accounts may sleep for years from various causes. A man may die suddenly and leave no record of his bank balance. Every business man ha, had some experience in this matter. ], law requiring banks to publish in some newspaper every five years a list of their inactive accounts would be just ana equitable. The attention of the legisla- ture is called to this hiatus in our laws"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04

TELEPHONE Bell (privnte exchange connecting all departments) Main 49OO.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04

''He says he found 1t hard to tear him self away from his old home town"
 "If a warrant had been served in time he never would nave done it, either
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04
CURRENT STYLES.

A man will work for years and years To lay a million by, And then shed unavailing tears
 Because he has to die.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-06-05
EXAGGERATED FASHIONS.

A woman was remarking this week that never had she seen such a whir1- igig of styles as the past year. These eccentricities are emphasized by the contrast with previous forms.
 z Less than year ago, mora1ists were still entering protests against the scantness of wonen's skirts. Railroad companies were posting notices claim ing exemption from damages in case women fell in their hobbies and got hurt. The movement to persuade street car companies to lower their steps was on in many places.
 Today stylishly dressed women car ry a swirling array of skirts that are Hkened to the traditional pictures of Dutch women. On a young and slight figure. they have a certain piquancy. But alas for fair, fat and forty, when she puts them on, there a1re.
 rIn New York. Washington and oth- CT centers of style. many women are wearing skirts 12 inches from the ground. You can distinguish a ma tron from a debutante. only by the color of her hair and the wrinkles. These marks of age of course are nc longer supposed to exist.
 A drsEsrnaker says that few 111OaCAlS d5O S1AS 4AldAS d SO"1L III SA- aggerated up to date style for a cer- tain young woman. Seeing the girl h few days ago, she asked her how she liked it. Fine she exclaimed subiIantly. ''It has caused a lot of comment and everyone seems to look Rt it.''
 That seems to be the keynote of Fashionable dressing. To get every pne to look at it. The people who thus attract notice perhaps believe they are admired. Were they here Eo hear the comments made at safe distance, they might think different
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-06-05
HAND-To-HAND WARFARE.

During the battle of the Marne, at which the Germans were defeated the French General Foch's left wing was forced to give a little ground, but his centre held fairly we'll It was posted on a, series of slight elevations back of the marshes of St. 'Gond, and here, particularly about the group of connected buildings, known as the Chateau of Mondemonts some of the most desperate fighting of the whole battle took place. For three days the French succeeded in holding this po- sition; on the fourth they were driven out, but when the Germans occupied the buildings the French artillery made the place a perfect hell. Then the tirail1eurs charged; and in the rooms of the chateau a hand-to-hand fight occurred in confined spaces where the rifle and bayonet could not be used and men fought with short iron bars they had found in an out house. The number of killed was ap- palling for small a space. The ceilings dripped blood.-E. V. Stod- dard in '"The Worlds Work for June.