davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27
London's Postcard Peril

At the instance of the war office English postoffice authorities have placed ban on sending picture post cards to neutral countries, as it is be- leved by the government that Ger man agents have been using the cards as secret code to show the result of Zeppelin raids on London.
 It seems that the British govern ment has been suspicious for some time that novel system for impart- ing war secrets to the enemy had been employed by agents who re- sorted to the innocent-looking post card. Detectives were put to work and a careful watch was kept. It was noted that after Zeppelin raid cards showing views of London were mailed in certain sequence to addresses on the continent. Following another raid another set of cards were mailed to the same destinations on the conti- nent, but in a different sequence Practically the same cards were used but they were changed about.
 As result of the governments order, the enormous picture card bus. mess in London has been stopped al most absolutely, er.ailing heavy loss to dealers whose sales formerly ran into millions every week. Huge stocks are left on the hands of shop keepers who are now prepared to give an entirely new version of the "hor TOTS of war" Picture postcards may be prevented from coming into tht country later on, it is rumored, bu for the present the ban has merely been placed on outgoing cards.
 The simplicity and ease of thi' method for conveying information particularly of localities, was doubt less recognized at the beginning oi hostilities by German spies, who were
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27

By James Russell Lowell. There came youth upon the earth
 Some thousand years ago. Whose slender hands were nothing worth,
 Whether to blow, or reap, or SOW. Upon an empty tortise shell
 He stretched some chords, and drew Music that made mems bosoms swell
 Fearless, or brimmed their eyes with
 dew.
 Then King Admetus, one who had
 Pure taste by right divine, Decreed his singing not too bad To hear between the cups of wine: And so, well pleased with being soothed Into sweet half sleep, Three times his kindly beard he smoothed. And made him viceroy OCT his sheep. His words were simple words enough, And yet he used them so, That what in other mouths was rough In his seemed musical and low. Men called him but shiftless youth.
 n whom no good they saw;
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27
The Passing of the Florence

"It is with much regret that l re- aliZe that the first of the year is al most here, for with it the Florence hotel must be torn down to make place for Birmingham's progressive stride in the erection of a magnificent building" said Sol Caheen. For many years it has been the custom of my self and some of my friends to drop in at the Florence hotel or cafe from time to time and talk with the many prominent figures from all over the state who stopped there, as we'll as Manager Burt and other attaches in later years.
 When the Florence hotel is torn down, one of the oldest landmarks in Alabama will be gone. It has not been so very many years ago that the Flor ence was the leading hotel in the city and at one time If was the only hostel ry in Birmingham that had any sem blance to service and comfort. Pro- gressiveness is a great thing and l am for it, but sometimes it plays havoc with ones love for really congenial resting place.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27
Vote for the Amendmen

The importance of the Birmingham
 tax amendment election which will
 be held today should bring out large
 vote in the city. As the proposed
 amendment affects only Birmingham,
 the vote throughout the state will
 probably be light, but no qualified
 elector within the boundary lines of
 this municipality should fail to go to
 the polls.
 All that Birmingham asks at this time is the establishment of the principle of home rule, so far as the local tax rate is concerned, with a 1 limitation of a 5-mill advance. Unless the equalization board~brings ample relief in the matter of revenue, small tax increase will be necessary, but such proposition cannot be sub mitted to the voters before October 1, 1916. In the meanwhile Birmingham must be placed in a position to act for the best interests of the city, when the time comes.
 In order that Birmingham might live within it's income until revenues are increased, the commission had to resort to drastic retrenchment. EX- penditures in every department of municipal administration have been cut and in some instances cut at the expense of efficiency. But such a course could not be avoided In view of the city's financial straits the people have accepted the retrenchment policy with good grace, believing it to be only temporary.
 Birmingham is rapidly growing city and if needed Improvements are to be made and the citizens provided with adequate police and fire protec- tion and, most important of all, IGdltll plOOSCClOIl, CiiC lilSouiC Aidoo bS much larger than at present. Bir- mingham certainly cannot hold it's own as progressive city unless more revenue is in sight.
 No city of the 100000 class has such low tax rate as Birmingham, and if by the end of next year it's in- come is still insufficient, the people will vote for an increase to the end that we may keep abreast of the times. But as there will be time enough to consider that phase of the question, the voters need turn their mind today only to r.lnciple in- volved-whether or not Birmingham is to be allowed to say what it's tax rate shall be.
 The ratification of the amendmt will be the first step in municipal betterment, and majority for the measure will not only settle a concrete proposition, but the larger the city majority the greater will be the moral effect.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27
HITTING X PERISCOPE

From the Popular Science Monthly.
 One of the most interesting facta brought out in Germany's submarine campaign against British commerce was the accuracy with which the British guns were trained upon occasional in. discreet periscopes.
 The periscope tube is small and an especially difficult target at long range, yet on few occasions--occasions which were so recurrent that the accuracy could not be attributed to accident British guns have demolished periscopes, thereby rendering the subersible help less-an easy prey when she came to the surface.
 Nor can this remarkable accuracy be attributed entirely to the correctness of the gun design. The fact of the matter is that the British method of range finding. aside from being one of the most interesting, is one of the most accurate in the world.
 Whether the enemy appears in the form of a glinting periscope on the water, black dot. or a ship on the horizon, the method of range-f finding is fundamentally the same. A range finder works on the same principle as that by which we can estimate 8 distance with our eyes. Lines drawn from olU eyes tc the object form sides of an angle. The size of this angle determines the dis tance. Unconsciously and automatically we reckon distances by the complicated process known as triangulations What we estimate roughly with >oul eyes, range finders determine accuratel, with lenses and measuring instrument: that are wonderfully accurate.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27
SHEPHERD OF KING ADMETUS

And yet, unwittingly. in truth They made his careless words their law. They know not how he learned at all For idly. hour by hour. He sat and watched the dead leaves fall. Or unused upon common flower It seemed the loveliness of things Did teach him all their use, For, in mere weeds and stones, onl
 springs. Tae found healing power profuse. Men granted that his speech was wise. But when a glance they caught Of his slim grace and woman's eyes, They laughed. and called him good-for-
 naught.
 Yet, after he was dead and gone And cen his memory dim, Earth seemed more sweet to live upon More full of love, because of him. And day by day more holy grew Each spot where he hath tired. Till after poets only knew
 Their hrst-born brother was god.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27
Yesterdays Age-Herald

Compliments were showered upon The Age-Herald yesterday because ot the remarkably wide range of inter- esting contents of the Sunday edition
 The Muscle Shoals section was erected with enthusiasm, for every man in Alabama is interested Tn thls enormous water power project which means so much, not only to Lauder dale and Colbert counties, but to the whole state.
 Confederate veterans were joyful that The Age-Herald asked them to be it's guests Tuesday afternoon at .sThe Birth of Nation," the great Civil war photoplay, at the Jefferson theatre.
 Probably no more striking sermon could have been preached against wal than the full page reproduction in the Rotogravure Section of the painting q Am the Resurrection" The other pictures in the Rotogravure were also striking. The Clanton Press says the Rotogravure Section cl The Sunday Age Herald is like wine in that "the older it gets the better it is."
 By the way, did you read Richard Harding Davis account of his trip to the French first line trenches? Mr. Davis articles are now regular fea- ture of The Sunday Age-Herald.
 From a business standpoint
 yesterdays Age-Herald was
 highly satisfactory. Although
 published the day after Christ
 mas it contained 72 pages, with
 243S inches of advertising and
 337 separate and distinct adver-
 tisements. On the same Sunday
 last year The Age-Herald car
 ried only 1537 inches of adver-
 tising.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27
YEARS FOOTBALL LESSONS

FfOH JaHudIy OutAiS'
 The general lesson of the year in foot ball is that the running attack is at last
 firmly grounded and well developed, de-
 spite the gloomy prophecies of three years ago that touchdowns were now impossible between fairly matched teams. To be sure, the problem is squarely up to the quarterback. He must not only have the plays, but also the brains to use them with reference to downs and position on the field--and with reference to the strat- egic moment in the course of the game. l Harvard chose the first quarter in the Princeton game and struck the hardest blows before Princeton had settled to
 work. The result was a lead that Prince 1 ton could not overcome. The fact that i Harvard was outplayed for the rest of the game, save for flash in the last 1 quarter is only so much more tribute to l Harvard generalship at time when geH- { eralship of an aggressive sort was all
 important.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27
A BULGARIAN POET

From the New York Times.
 A fight between Greek and Bulgarian troops is Reported to have occurred in Albanian Epirus. The Bulgarian sol diers of Kultur are waiting on the bor- der Will they or won't they be all lowed to cross the frontier? The Greeks are not entirely convinced that only German forces will invade the soil of HeIlas, seeking the Franco British lines. A Greek force has been inter- posed between the Bulgarians and the allies. The Bulgarians may be fit sol diers of Kultur, but their enthusiasm must be more than a little dreaded. Ivan Arkudoff, the Bulgarian poet, a court favorite, it is said, expressed not long ago the tender exhilaration of Bulgarian patriotism in a song which Paul Nirvana, Greek poet, trans lated in Greek, and which is Englished thus in Professor Sloane's "The Bal. kans":
 Before the day star marks the sev- enth degree above the horizon, shall the sea of blood, which thy sword un- seals, flow seven fathoms higher. Be- hold the aged cripple, who drags along his wretched senile life to escape death and thy fury. Trample him under foot with iron feet, gouge out his dimmin g eyes, unworthy ever to mirror Bulga- ria's grandeur.
 'Why finger, young Bulgaria? For ward, ever forward. Softer than flow cry meads of spring is the carpet woven from the corpses of murdered women and boys. Refresh thy soul in the perfume of their youth, and then, tipsy with passion and heroism, march forth as if you were treaAng the vel vet rugs of a palace"
 Spirited poet of a spirited people. If Greece is to be invaded she will prefer to be invaded by the Turks. Of their gentleness old memories re- main; and later experiences under Ab- dul Hamid II, and those delightful "constitutionaI young Turks. Serv- ians, Greeks, Bulgarians, all distin- guished themselves as the Carnegie peace commission records, by their art less primitive practices in the Balkan wars; as all had distinguished them selves in Macedonia but on the whole, the Bulgarians were the most savage. Of the two "side- partners" of Kultur, Greece certainly would choose the Turk.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27
The Cotton situation

Many men of the cotton trade are as confident as ever that the price will ad- vance to 15 cents before spring, and that ! a strong market will be in evidence throughout January. Henry Clews. in his weekly cotton review, says in part: Tt is doubted if there will be any great amount of activity until after the turn of the year. Meanwhile. the spot 1 market exhibits an exceedingly strong | tone. Special comment is made in the 1 trade upon the scarcity of low grades
 which are largely entering into con sumption. Little if any so-called Christ mas cotton is coming on the market
 and where it is being sold is command 1 ing full prices and does not fall under the classification of distressed selling Further evidence is coming to hand in dicating that the textile business in this
 country is proceeding on record
 breaking scale. A large majority of
 mills are running on full time, while q number of instances are recorded where
 establishments are working their op- eratives over time.
 l There is great activity in the ex- port cloth and yarn market, South America, in particular, being a large | buyer, and American manufacturers l testify to the fact that the market throughout Latin America is the big gest~ and broadest Chat they have ever | known. Boston advices state that the
 product of fine cotton yarn spinners is pretty we'll sold out for the next six
 months. Orders for cdarse yarns are be- ling placed for delivery beginning in
 May and these cover deliveries running 1 through the summer. From a domestic
 trade standpoint the outlook is cer-
 tainly encouraging and there is every evidence that home consumption of
 raw cotton will break all records this season."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27
The Ford Pence Party

"Mr. Ford is evidently suffering from nervous prostration, but the press dis patches say he is not in a serious con dition, and with a little rest, after his exciting experiences on board the steamship Oscar II, he will probably lsbe himself again." remarked John M Cochran of Philadelphia. T was in New York few days before the peace party sailed and caught glimpse ot MT. Ford at his headquarters. He did not look well, but I had no idea that he would so soon have to abandon his project of ending the war.
 ''He left a committee in charge of his party, but as he has ordered that expenditures be cut down, the organi- zation will not last long. The wonder is that any men of prominence should have gone abroad at MT. Ford's ex- pense, for the whole affair looked ri- diculous. It has certainly turned out to be fools errand'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27
The Presidential Campaign

President Wilson will not only be nominated at St. Louis without oppo- sition but the probability is he will be reelected by a decisive majority" said H. W. Heathcote of Chicago. q have met democrats from eastern states re- gently who told me that MT. Wilson was as strong as ever in their section.
 "In the middle west the President has a loyal following. He carried Illi- nois, Indiana and Ohio in 1912 and I believe he will carry them again in 1916.
 "The republicans will probably nom- mate Hughes or Roosevelt. Hughes would in my opinion be the harder man of the two for Wilson to beat, but as the situation stands today the demo- crats are headed for victory"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27
St. Bernard College

The Rev Father Stephen, o. $. B. and the Rev. Father Germaine, O. S B. are here from St. Bernard college and will be glad to meet their friends during the week. While the enrolment at the college last fall was not up to the maximum we have fine student body, including about 50 from Birmingham, and it will increase in numbers with the beginning of the second quarter, January 1, salo Father Stephen. Many handsome Improvements have
 been made at St. Bernard within the
 past two years. Our friends who have
 not visited the institution recently
 would hardly recognize the place.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27

everywhere in England at that time. Heretofore the postcard has been chiefly the target of moralists who considered certain subjects taboo. It acquires new dignity as a develop ment of the spy system.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27

REcINNING THE DAY - Let nothing interrupt my commuhio" with Thee, my Father. May ! ao Thy will and see Thy face. May vaIue the sense of Thy presence more than ak the enticements oi sin, May I walk with Ihee an" talk with Thee today. ana may crything I do he laid before n1
 ~. In Cbrist,s name. Amen.-H. M. K.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27
ALABAMA PRESS

Talladega Home: The paper strength of the British army Is nearly 100000. But since what happened to a scrap of paper" in Belgium, there can be no de- pendence put in such things.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27
HOTEL HOBBIES
Bright Business Outlook

"The last quarter of this year has been marked by great business activ ity and the feeling in industrial circles is most optimistic with regard to next year" said L. c. Ericsen of Cleveland.
 Prevailing conditions indicate rec ord breaking prosperity in 1916. A year ago depression was acute, but l have never known business men more buoyant than they are now"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27

Collinsville Courier: Take this from us: If Charles D. Hughes is not nominated for President on the first ballot, then Teddy Roosevelt stands mighty good show to get the plum.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27

Every time Mrs. Woodrow Wilson ven lures forth her gown is described minute ly, but not a word is said about the Presidents s clothes.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27

The Greeks know the Bulgars, as the saying is, from the ground up That's why they don't want any Bulgars on Greek territory.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27

Madame Schwimmer and other female pacifists may be able to carry on the peace crusade, but Henry Ford is not the op- timst he used to be-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27

Just when cartoonists were weary Of drawing war pictures, along came the Gary dinner and put T. R. back in the limelight.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27

Santa Claus even remembered the poodles of the wealthy. The poor seldom indulge in poodles.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27
be kept out of politics, and the action of the board will meet with general approval.

The development of a new transmitting Iproved the efficiency of telegraphic com munication. printing telegraph sys- tenn that is said to have pronounced f1ex- ibility has materially increased the traf- f1c-carrying capacity of telegraph wires. Although the new apparatus is quite com plex in some particulars, 1t is simple in operation, obviating the necessity of em- ploying telegraphers. Messages are sent and received simply by operating a type ton after another as it is printed on roll of paper A girl who knows nothing of the Morse code, but is an experienced typist, can send a telegram by this meth cd as quickly and as accurately as if she were a veteran telegrapher. The prin- cipal points of the new invention are high-speed transmission and the great volume of business that can be sent over a single wire. What is known as quad ruple-QupleX OperdtiOli IS huoNo PoSSiSA-' Four channels in each direction are pro- vided on a single line. The average rate of transmission is 45 words minute. which means that 1S0 words a minute can be sent over a wire in each direction or a total of 360 words a minute. An in- terestng article descriptive of this mech-
 To, nv ,111T the Popular Mechanics Magazine
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27

Georgia bigamist, sojourning in Jall, received a visit from his 10 wives. A case where stone walls do not prison make, nor iron bars a cage.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27

The moving picture actor with curly lccks and soulful eyes doesn't have to do much acting.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27

Although the late Christmas shoppers swooped down on the merchants in large of
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27

Birmingham's Christmas behavior was beyond criticism. Bad Birmingham IS thing of the past
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27

Still. Don Quixote didt have a profitable automobile business to return to after assaulting windmils
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27

The Chicago woman who wants di- vorce from her husband because he snores should first try clamping a clothes pin on his nose.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27
NOT LIKE THE OLD DAYS

From the Washington Star.
 A royal birthday party in Europe is
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27

Villa adherents are said to be bitter toward the United States. Small wonder This government put an effective check on their pernicious activity.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27

Fairbanks boom is reported from ln- diana. However, it doesn't seem to DC gathering momentum
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27

Radium is selling for s37, 900 a gram. Still it's fortunate that the babies don't cry for it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27
A WORD OF WARNING.

From the Memphis News-Scimitar.
 When you kiss her under the hanging branches you should beware of mistle- ptomaine poisoning.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27

LID. Griffis and W. D. Brumbeloe are the only authorized traveIlng repre- sentatlves of The Age Herald ln its cir culatlon department.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27

By call .aAsaasN members clerks, 2hau x4& it be known where he
 cabinet appointment.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27

Daily and Sunday Age-Herald, year $6.o0 Daily without Sunnay. y.-........-. 4oo Daily and Sunday, per month";. .59 Daily and Sunday, three months. l.5U Weekly Age-Herald, per annuIn. .o0 Sunday Age-HeraId, per annu1n.. 2.O0
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27

For an amazingly rich old fellow, Uncle Sanl's health is surprisingly good
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27

No communication will be published without it's authors name. Rejected manuscript will not be returned un- less stamps are enclosed for that pur- pose.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27

Experiepce is by industry achiev'd And perfected by the swift course ''
 time, Two Gentlemen of verona
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27

Washington bureau, POT Hibbs build ing. ...
 European bureau. Henrietta street. Covent Garden, London.
 Eastern business office. Rooms 4s to so. inclusive, Tribune building, New York city; western business o1ilce' Tribune building, Chicago. The .. S' Beckwith Special Agency. agents loi- eign advertising.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27

Marion Standard: The price of gasoline has advanced to 23 cents per gallon, but the joy riders are managing to get there just the same. But the question is what will become of the jitnies?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27
THE HORROR

Now for the New Year resolutions!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27

Selma Journal: Woodrow refuses now to pose for newspaper pictures. We re- member, and it was but short while
 ago, when he was sending out his pic-
 lures to all the newspapers, charging us
 nothing for them, but simply asking that
 they be published
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27

Gadsden Journal: Colonel House. the Presidents personal representative, is re- ported to be going on special mission to Germany. Hope he will not meet the re- ply, Nobody at home
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27

Sheffield Standard: Alabama, long noted for peanuts of the political variety, has now capitalized the real article, and the crop promises to be of much value to the growers
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27

Entered al the Birmingham, Ala, postoffiee as second class matter un- der act of Congress March 8, 1879.