davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New Britain herald., 1915-04-17
Gardiner Hal, JT, Passes Away at
 Home in South Wilmington
HAD BEEN ILL FOR LONG TINE
His Career Presents Maj! Interesting Incidcnts-Onc Worked for $1 a Genius.

South Wilmington, April 17.-Gardi- ner Hall, Jr., millionaire and manu- facturer of cotton and silk thread, died at his home hefe today, after d long illness. MT. Hall was very widely known in the thread trade. He was born in Newport, R. l., on July II, 1887 and came with his parents to thi village in 1S4S. Until his eighteenth year he spent the winter months at school and the rest of thc year ill the mill of which his fatlcr was one of the owners. Mir. Hall grew up in the thread business and the plant has been in continuous operation except for a short time in 1861 when the firm had to cease business owing to Arrangement of affairs due to the out break of the Civil War. In 1860 the firm was that of Hall and Manning and while at different times others were associated with A;r. Hall in the business it has been exclusively in the Hall family girce 1895. Of late years Gardiner Hall has relinQuished most of the cares of the business which had passed to his son, William Henry Hall, a member of the present and many legislatures.
 The career of Gardiner Hall pre- sents many interesting incidents. After the firm of Hall and Manning sus- pended business in February, 1861, MT. Hall went to wor., for the Willi- mantle Linen company in its bleach ing department at s7 a week. In 1862 he started the thread business again and from that time thcIe has been no break or interruption in the opera tion of the plant It is said that throughout his business life Mir. Hall never gave or endorsed a nate and always bought his supplies for cash.
 Had Inventive Genius.
 Mir. Hall was a man of consider able inventive genius and he made many improvements in thread mak- ing machinery, one Of these being u thread dressing or finishing machine. In 1870 he obtained a patent on an automatic spool printing press. and another invention was a tension reg ulator for thread as it is being wound on spools
 Mir, Hall was active in town affairs and in 1896 he was a presidential elector on the republican ticket. He dCCuhluldlcu wealth ana used It l1D- erally to assist the town, building or caring for many miles of road each year. His tax to the town on his realty was for many years one-fourth of the entire tax. He was an or iginal incorporator of the Stafford Savings Bank, and forty years ago exerted his influence in behalf of a law under which savings banks may pay interest on deposits beginning with the first day of the month plan adopted by many institutions. He was a director in the Berkshire Cot ton Manufacturing company of Mass, the Greylock Shirt and the Greylock National Bank of the same place. His other financial connections were many.
 Leaves Four Children.
 Mir. Hall is survived by his wife, | one son, Colonel Hall. and three Miss Rosa Orline, who lives i at home. Mrs. Robert T. Jones of this | place, and Mrs. Ralph H. Paige of | Springfield, Mass.
 The funeral arrangements have not | yet been made.
New Britain herald., 1915-04-17
WAR TO END SOON.

Tokio, Japan, April 17.-Count Okuma, the Japanese premier, speak ing today to a party of journalists on the European war, expressed the opinion that hostilities will have to come to an end soon, owing to the exhaustion of the belligerents
New Britain herald., 1915-04-17
Fall on Swiss Territory.

Delemont, Switzerland, Via. Paris, April IT, $40 a. m.-German shells fell on Swiss territory Tuesday for the third time since the outbreak of the war, says the newspaper Demo- crate. The Germans were trying to destroy a French observation post at Pfetterhausen but the gunners' aim was bad and tn eprojectiles overshot their target, dropping around the town of Buernevesain. An investigation vas made the following day by Swiss authorities who took fragments of shells to Purrentruy for examination by an expert.
 Beurnevesain is on the border of the Swiss Canton of Porrentruy and about ci,r cnilt h nf PfettArhallRan
New Britain herald., 1915-04-17
S3.OOO BRISTOL FIRE

Bristol, April 17.-Fire wrecked the two family house of fiooerts and Arnold at the corner of Harrison and Queen streets this aftrnoon. The loss is $3,000 and the tenants, k. Rey- nclds and J. King and their families hsrx nnAsx of their hsiongings
New Britain herald., 1915-04-17

The above is an excellent likeness of Rev. Warren F. Cook, the new pastor of Trinity Methodist Episcopal church, who will occupy the pulpit for the first time tomorrow. MT. Cook is expected to be very popular with his flock. He Is an energetic leader and mas the reputation of being arr eloquent speaker. The members of the parish lcok forward to his coming with pleasant anticipatiOnS.
New Britain herald., 1915-04-17
PTTRLIC AMUSEMENT
 COM. HAS $101 LEFT
Balance on Hand With Which to Re- gin New Fiscal Year Shown by
 Chairman Prior.

A balance on hand at the end of the fiscal year, April 1, of $101.S5 is shown in the report of the public amusement commission which was filed with the city clerk today by Edward H. Prior, chairman of the commission.
 The financial accounting follows:
 Receipts.
 Cash on hand, April 1, 1914 5 .36 Received from city ....... 2,720.0O Total received $2,720.3G
 Disbursements.
 Payrolls ............ $1,619.35 Apparatus ...... 2S5.65 Conferences .............. 22.60 Supplies 299.4o Repairs 57.24 Celebrations ............ 25o.3i Miscellaneous ..... s4.17
 ------ Total disbursements s261SSl Balance on hand April l. 1915 $101.S5
New Britain herald., 1915-04-17

Berlin Claims German Aeroplane Dropped Shells i'm Greenwich, in Metropolitan District of London French Battleship Shells Turkish Position Near Egyptian City of El- Ar.ish--AIlies Gain Ground.
New Britain herald., 1915-04-17

(Continu"t on Eleventh PaSa-l
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04

ment the school department helps out to the extent of $25,000. That is what the "cuts" in salaries from superinten- dent and principals down will amount to. Not many professional workers, requiring special training, are so poorly paid throughout the United States as the teachers. The principals and teachers in our public schools are to be especially commended, therefore, for their readiness to accept the sit uation and cooperate with the city commission for the city's temporary good.
 If further retrenchment should be found necessary the city makes it plain that whole departments will be cut out But it will hardly come to that.
 Those persons who contend that a government should be conducted ex- actly in the same way that an indi- vidual conducts his household affairs as to expenditures, lack breadth of vision. When the man with family who was able to live at and was living at the rate of $10,0OO a year, finds his income suddenly reduced, he can retrench to the point of paying for only the bare necessities and still maintain his respect.
 It is not so with governments, city, state or national. While certain economies can be practiced without serious inconvenience to the public, as here in Birmingham, many large ex- penditures are absolutely necessary not only for appearances" but for the safeguarding of life and property and the public health.
 If the legislature at it's July ses- sion adopts the bill submitting a con- stitutional amendment providing for the people of Birmingham to vote an increase in the tax rate for a limited period, then it would not be a great while before this city's revenues would be ample for making needed and restoring "cut" salaries, for there can be scarcely a question that the tax increase proposi- tion would win at the polls.
 But the city commission has had to meet strenuous conditions staring them in the face. And its retrench- ment work thus far should have pub lie approval
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04
The American Legion

As attractive and appealing as the American Legion of first reservists looks on paper it seems to lack the practical, notwithstanding the support alleged to have been given it unoffi- cially by Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood, U. 8. A., commanding at Governors Island, and the direct and enthusiastic backing of Ex-President Theodore Rootevelt.
 The plan as announced in detail in the Monday morning papers seemed to the average citizen workable enough, no doubt. Every man who had served in the army--volunteer or regular -or in the navy was to be 6ligible to membership in the legion. He was to receive no compensation in time of peace, but was to respond promptly to a call to arms when the country was menaced by foreign foe. In short, the legion was to be re- oerve army of patriots serving the country without pay.
 One trouble at the start is the evi- dent disapproval of the Secretary of War. Secretary Garrison is reticent, furthst than to say that he has asked
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04
THE FEE SYSTEM

There is no fee attached to the court of common pleas. Judge Hickman and myself are on salary as are both of our clerks. All the fees collected, which are very small, go into the county treas ury.
 T propose to try all cases of this char acter that come before me, and if the law would permit, for the first offense would impose more nominal fine, but for the chronic offender, would give tho limit"
 It seems that not only in Alabama but in several states north, south, east and west, more reasonable system should prevail. A number of legislators in Ala bama have been elected on the strength of their opposition to the fee system, and though there will undoubtedly be strong lobby in favor of the spoils the advocates of more scientific system will probably win their fight.
 To show that the fee system is a form of spoiliation. it is only necessary to quote the fees received by the sheriffs of New York county-men whose names are hardly known to the citizens of the city which they are supposed to serve. These men also receive salaries of s12Oo0 per year. Nicholas J. Hayes u9O6-1 -1907) received in fees $70,193 .91 Thom- as F. Foley QsoS-19o9) made sS2,594.s4 and John J. Shea Q910-19lD s95,62s.sl To Julius Hamburger u912-1913) fell no less than sos, "A in fees. Max s. Griffen- haben made more than $1,0oO last year. The total amount of fees retained by sheriffs in New Yorw county from 1906 to 1914, inclusive-nine years-was $4O6. .s24. A.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04

From the Decaturs Daily.
 "HE Birmingham Age-Herald of to-
 day prints in its news columns
 4 most interesting boast as to the re- suits achieved there by an advertising campaign. The fact is brought out that the Magic City has done il per cent more business for the first five weeks this year than for the first five weeks of 1914 ,and this despite the cry of 'fiard times that has been constantly heard. The business. of course, was from out-of-town, and for that reason it is of significance to the Decaturs It can be taken for granted that local residents contributed a consid- erable amount to the grand total, and that they have stifl other first aid' money to be carried off to the Alabama mining metropolis later on.
 An extract from The Age-Herald's ar tNcle is here given for the information of the local public:
 Last week in these columns hgures from the rebate bureau of the Business Mems league showed that there had been a gair. of about Il per cent in the volume of business done by Buckingham mer- chants for the first five weeks of the year as against the same period of 1914. This increase is all the more wonderful when it is remembered that Fashion Week was held for the first time last year, and that convention of school teachers from the entire state brought much trade to Birmingham.
 .'The reason for the great increase. ac-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Moderate Priced Restaurant.

As in many other large cities of the United States, the Greek restaurant flourishes in Birmingham to the exclusion of numerous moderate priced eating places under American ownership" said J. B. Roberts, of this city.
 There is a class of Greek people who make a speciality of the restaurant busi- ness. These people have given close study to the catering art and practice rigid economy. They are thus enabled in many instances to compete most suc- cessfully with eating places operating under English or German management I have noted during the last week or so that Creek restauranteurs have opened up places at locations in which American owners had failed to make good. Of course there are numerous high class restaurants and hotel cafes of did patronage; but believe that Greek restaurants outnumber those under other management.
 There has been persistent rumor to the effect that the well-known Childs company would establish large eating place in Birmingham, and as these peo- He do business on a very large scale and have operated with great success in many cities of the country, I see no reason why a Birmingham branch would not pay. I am quite sure many Bir- mingham people would welcome such an enterprfse'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04
Municipal Retrenchment

No matter what criticism may have been made of the administration of Birmingham's municipal affairs under the commission form of government, there has been no ground for charge of wastefulness or extravaganza. The recent investigation of the city's ex- penditures by special committee of prominent citizens selected from the committee of 100 resulted in report that was highly creditable to the com mission.
 Retrenchment plans had been put into execution more than year ago; some of them more than three years ago. But present conditions called for still further retrenchment and, by a very general cut in salaries, saving at the rate of $1O0,O00 a year has just been effected. The salaries that have been paid by the city of Birming- nam nave DeeIi III AiidAy AioeaiSCo uio- tinctly liberal, although they were no higher than salaries provided for like service in other cities.
 The reduction in pay brings a hardship to many faithful employe, but it is noteworthy and gratifying fact that the "cuts" have been &C., cepted in good spirit by all concerned. It would be strange, indeed, were it otherwise, for in the first place public officials are expected to set examples of civic loyalty which means good service regardless of the size of the i pay check. And in the next place, they have plenty of company, for a great percentage of the salaried em-
 ployes of business houses have suf- fered large "cuts."
 In our latest municipal retrench-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04
Mysterious Theatrical Methods

The amusement loving public of Birmingham is inconvenienced by some little, petty row among theatri- cal managers.
 A beautiful theatre, known as the Lyric, was built sometime ago and opened to the public with good shows at popular prices. The Bijou and the Orpheum were closed by the dominant Jake Wells aggregation. The popu- lar prices of this Lyric theatre prac- tically closed up the Jefferson theatre. There has been but,few shows at the Jefferson this season because Man ager Douglass found that nothing but the star attractions would draw when the popular priced Lyric was open.
 Now, without any explanation to the public, and in Czarish style, the Jake Wells combination closes it's Lyric house in the face of the amusement loving people of Birmingham, without explanation, and apparently says, The public be blanked.
 It is true that the performances given at the Lyric since the first of the year have not been of the best, but the theatre was large and com fortable and the people wanted some form of amusement.
 The Majestic is open, but it is too small to accommodate one-tenth of the people who like amusement.
 The public is entitled to know why three of its theatres controlled by the Wells aggregation are closed. It is not because the people failed to patronize the Lyric.
 If Wells proposes to wall in Bir- mingham it is time that the people know it and get someone else to handle the amusement situation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04
The New York Anarchists

Although the New York police de- partment has, from time to time, brought discredit upon the metropolis by reason of graft and other forms of corruption on the part of individual members of the force, it has main- tained an exceptionally high record in it's detective work Within the past ten years it has unraveled many mur- der mysteries and aided the district attorney in securing convictions.
 One of the greatest achievements of the police department recently was the detection of an anarchist plot to dynamite St. Patrick's cathedral and the arrest of two anarchists in the cathedral Tuesday morning just after they had lighted the bombs. Accord ing to the confessions of the mis- creants they had plotted dynamite war against Protestant and Catholic churches and against men of wealth. .s While assuming full responsibility for the diabolical attempt to blow up the cathedral they denied that any sA her persons were involved. But it has been discovered that they be- longed to large and active group of anarchists who were preparing to ere ate a reign of terror in New York.
 A month or more ago the police department had reasons for suspecting that bloody plot was being worked out. The shrewdest detectives were assigned to the duty of watching the anarchists. A young member of the police force, known to the commits sioner as man of intelligence and courage, was detailed especially to join the anarchists, to live with them and become an active participant in their plans. So we'll did he play his part that the two bomb men did not suspect him. And so sure were the police officials that their trap was in perfect working order that they permitted the bombs to be lighted be- fore they made a move to take the anarchists into custody.
 In many cities of Europe and America of vast population groups of anarchists are discovered periodically. Only the vigilance and firmness of the police authorities keep them from their nefarious operations the year round. New York and Chicago will probably never be entirely rid of an- archists, but as result of Tuesdays confessions in New York there should be, and will be, no doubt, a more vigorous campaign against these mur- derous wretches than ever.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04
TT PAYS TO ADVERTISE

cording to Sam II. Fowlkes, secretary of tho Business Mems league, is that a systematic campaign of advertising has been vigorously pushed this year. One of the cleverest ads the writer has seen for many months is one mat MT. Fowlkes wrote and mailed to something like 5000 people throughout the state. The ad was for January consumption" only. A cut showing tumble of printed lines, taken from ads of local merchants, shows that any number of sales of all sorts of mer- chandise are being held continually in January. The ad tells the reader how much money is to be saved by shopping in Birmingham in January, and informs the prospect that the Business Mems league stands ready to rebate railroad fare.
 This advertising is followed up by the local merchants. y
 "It is sufficient explanation of why Bir- mingham merchants have found their business increasing over last year in the face of alleged hard times As George M. Conan might say, if properly approached, Advertising shore do pay"
 The merchants of the Decaturs could profit by Birmingham's example. It is quite evident that part of the secret of getting business is going after it, and the plan used by Birmingham and many other cities of relating the cash fare of a customer who purchases specified amount usually attracts out-of-town trad
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04
CoLLEGE vourH,s soCks

From the Philadelphia Public Ledger
 Is there not subtle fallacy in Director Cooke's theory that life at college should be made as much like life in the world as possible? Youth must have it's fling in one way or another, after all, and there are worse things than the "frills and tom foolery' which he denounced so vehement ly to the Public Education association. The spirit of conradeship is as much development. Boys should be made to study, of course; but may there not be a little exuberance Ion the side?" All through life we learn as much from folly as from wisdom. No one doubts that too many college men run wild, often because injudicious parents give them more money than is good for them. It does not fol- low, however, that the absurd customs' MT. Cooke stigmatizes are fatal to sim pie living and sincere and dominant in- terest in their work" That were to con- sider it too curiously.
 'If it is bad thing" MT. Cooke ob- serves, flor young man to appear with his trousers rolled high to display bril- liant-hued stockings in a business office. 1t is equally bad for him to be seen in such an outfit on the university cam pus." Some might take exception to the premise no less than to the conc A sion. What are passionate socks but an ex- pression of the joie de vivre natural to youth? Even men of mature years and grave aspect have worn them as a pro- test against the drabness of existence which the solemn garb ordinarily im- posed on them symbolizes. Many a busi- ness office would be brighter with glimpses of deep purple or bright red, not only in hosiery. but in what the elo- quent haberdasher calls ''neckwear.'' ? Should such appropriate hints of sunny and carefree disposition be forbidden in the groves of Academe? Perish tho thought
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-04
ALABAMA PRESS

Selma Times: A military writer says 100000 German soldiers, once landed, could take the British islands beyond the shadow of a doubt. "Once landed" is good Archimedes said he could turn the world over if he could just find a place to put his lever.
 Talladega Home: The annual audit Of the savings department of the First Na- tional bank of Birmingham, as published in The Age-Herald. shows a gratifying state of affairs in spite of the strin- gency of the past eight months. The audit shows an increase of 691 in the number of savings accounts and an in crease of s193,472.59 in deposits in that department. The necessity of saving is one of the lessons that has been taught to many during the past several months.
 Montgomery Times: A sweeping reduc- tion in salaries has been made in the city commissioners of Birmingham A society composed of persons who have had their salaries cut would have a very large membership. -Birmingham ASe-deralu.
 There has been no cutting of salaries in this town, but the commissioners have been cut from five to three, and before the board of safety gets through, there will be many more heads cut off The only recent cut our commission has de- cided to make is a ditch in West End
 Monroe Journal: Governor Henderson has approved the bill prohibiting the employment in the public schools of the state teachers under the age of F years. There has been altogether too much ju- venile effort at instruction heretofore, and it is to be hoped that salutary re- suits will follow this reform.
 New Decatur Advertisers We may be sure that when the divine Sarah suf- fered amputation of the l- it was not done for adveEtising purposes.