davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-11-21
From the Louisville Courier-Journal. GT1 HE death of Henry Sienl1iewiez

From the Louisville Courier-Journal.
 whose books formerly were widely
 S read in this country, illustrates the ephemeral nature of the popularity of the successful novelist.
 Everyone who read novels at the time "Quo Vadis" was published remembers Sienkiewicz, but what proportion of those who read all of his books that were translated into English can name, off, hand, the three which constituted the trilogy which everyone in the period of their popularity had to read unless he was willing to admit unacquaintance with current fiction of high quality? You re- member with Fire and Sword,' no doubt? We'll go ahead. Name the three novels which made up the trilogy. You cannot? The name of one of them es- capes you?
 And if the readers who were loyal to the Polish novelist 20 years ago were about to forget what he wrote when reminded, by his death, of his one-time popularity, how many readers of the popular novels of 1916 have read even one of the books written by Sienkiewicz? There are some, no doubt, but they are few. How many habitual readers of novels will be reading "Quo vadis' in 1926? Will Sienkiewicz be remembered popularly 50 years after his death?
 The fiction writer who falls short of true ereoiuS ic shoOtiDo star soon lnSt to view, and forgotten by those who enjoyed his brilliancy, Even the very great nov elsts are talked about a great deal more than they are read. Numberless persons who would be slow to admit it are almost, or quite, unacquainted with Dickens or Thackeray, to mention two of the best know names in English fiction. There are hosts of persons who have no, scru- pies about pretending to have read books, old or new, classical or popular, when as a matter of fact they haven't. Between those who do read them, and those who and pretend acquaintanceshtip, the great names in fiction are kept alive.
 Let anyone who is 40 or 50 or 60 discuss fiction with anyone who Is 20 or 30 if he would realize how few writers of wide- ly popular novels-even novels proclaimed in their day the work of genius-survive a generation.
 Two comparatively recent Amdrican novels, each of which was read widely, and by the more discriminating class of readers, are "The Iron Woman," and ''The House of Mirth." Are the readers now in their early twenties reading either
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-11-21
THE DISTINGUISHED NOVELIST

of them? A few of them are, to be sure; There still is a fair library circulation to show that they are. But the public which gets its novels at libraries is made up, to considerable extent Of persons who dc, not buy the latest novels at the book
 stalls; a public somewhat inclined to take
 its literary gods "second hand" and con- tent to get a recent novel Tor the asking. rather than place request for a later
 one and wait for another reader to fin,
 ish it.
 The novelist who has the gift of humorl a rare and cherished quality in fiction, iIs all other kinds of writing which admit of it's employment, lasts longer than thI more or less serious writer of "problen
 novels" which are accepted with grea seriousness at the time the first editioI' comes from the press and reaches the re viewers. The problem must be one com I mon to human experience, and not pecuh liar to a country, a people or period, Y the seriously intended or accepted novel is to last. The writer must be gifted HE must be sincere. The writer of the popu
 lar problem novel of the year often is no, gifted, or insincere His problem often is as local issue" literary mares nest o,. a nightmare. Next decade he is in ob livion. Even the readers who acclaimed
 him as narrator and defended him a 4 a philosopher and guide, have lost interest,"
 if they have not forgotten just what i
 yUo ha hal fn ha frIIa 0t. xuI,a H,
 told in the way of tale. The youngev generation is engaged with the lates
 books by latest authors, as it is with thu latest thing in wearing apparel.
 The fiction writers who continue durf ing long career to write popular bookk
 writes, or at least publishes, his besI books early, afterward selling in a slumrI ing market many less interesting onek which he writes with fading inspiratio1 and lessening interest after his great sudI| cess, or, still worse, hauls from his trunj| Of unaccepted manuscripts, now salab. Fl because of his advertisement as writes|
 Our modern novelists, particularIr Americans, are wiser than many write folk of an earlier period. They are irs clined to invest solidly in property whit the sunshine is bright and the hayinl good. Those who are successful for years or for five do not die poor li4 | "Ouida," who starved herself to feed heI dogs, or was at any rate not providen<| but in the matter of celebrityship they di early. Sometimes they die hard. Novt writing is an excellent means of makint a fair living, but it offers a slim chane for enduring fame.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-11-21
A GOOD RADIANCE

From the Louisville Courier-Jornal.
 "The Rev Francis von Clafenbeck oi TIlamook, Ore, has sent his naturali- zation papeds and Q letter resgning his citizenship to the district court clerk here The letter in part said that to see a man returned to power after an ad- ministration and policy such as we have seen during the last. four years is too much for me LA dispatch from Hele- na, Mont.
 A good riddance. The United States grants naturalization papers to foreign CTS who disclaim allegiance to foreign princes and governments and swear ale glance to the United States. It is inn possible to go behind the oath unless there exists information that an effort is being made to get naturalization papers fraudulently.
 That the Wilson administration has been too much for Mr Won Clafenbeck, as it has been for numerous hyphenates, is creditable to it's quality. That MT. Von Clafepbeck is ready to renounce his citizenship is creditable to him if he is as willing to go back to Germany, where all patriotic German citizens are needed If he is not of suitable age or physical condition to shoulder rifle and trudge to the trenches to make himself useful there is much work elsewhere in which he can be used. Let him go and plant potatoes or raise pigs for the German army. There is a great shortage of la- Dor behind the lines Every Kaiser's man is needed at home. None should idle abroad when their country is beleaguered.
 If it were possible to prevent the Won Clafenbecks from getting naturalization papers and voting in American elections as representatives of Germany that would be done. Only one in 100000 is willing, even for the sake of a paltry advertise ment, to give up his citizenship, with it's material advantages. The system of granting the benefits and rights of citi- zenship necessarily is not such that only the deserving are favored
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-11-21
Not Caught Mapping

Should America become involved in war the railroads would not be caught napping," said Frank l.. Jenkins, district passenger agent for the Southern rail- way. "The committee. which was head ed by President Fairfax Harrison of the Southern, has made recommendations on the subject, after having given great deal of consideration to it.
 President Wilson has thanked the committee for it's work The railroad heads have asked that the Secretary of War file possible mobilization centers on the Atlantic coast, the gulf coast Mexi- can border and the far west and will make plans for the slightest details of every movement.
 Furthermore, they have planned to have the railroads keep on file a list of their equipment that the war depart l ment may know where every available car is. This will expedite it's quick move ment of troops and supplies"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-11-21
Carload of Chauffeurs

Since the outbreak of trouble on the Mexican border we have seen some rather unusual shipments by the war depart ment," said Hugh F. Latimer of the Queen and Crescent railroad. But the other day I saw 8 carload of chauffeurs passing through Birmingham, bound for Cleveland. There were about 30 of them, and l never saw a more grzzled looking gang.
 q understand that they have just been released from service on the motor trucks on the border It is difficult to conceive of what a vast array of trucks the war department has purchased for it's use on the border. Railroad men who have travelled in Texas along the border state that there are about 1000 motorized trucks employed in army service"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-11-21
Poles Expected to
 Fight For Germany

ID mADEREWSKI and other patriotic < Poles who refused to be misled by the spacious promises of Germany and Austria, regarding the new Kingdom of Poland" have apparently had their judgment vindicated by 10 less a parsonage than Chancellor Von Bethmann- -Hollweg.
 Conservatives and national liberals began to make matters warm for the German government following the reading of the imperial edict at War saw. Before the main committee of the Reichstag, November g, the chan cellor is reported in a dispatch from Berne, given out by the Wireless Press, to have made the statement that the creation of the kingdom of Poland twas only conditional, being dependent on the success of the plan to raise Polish army which would fight for Germany"
 More significant still, the chancsl- Tor is quoted as saying that if an in sufficient number of Poles enlisted, Germany would introduce compulsion. If resistance was offered to this drastic move, or if the Polish army did not meet the requirements of the gen eral staff, the Kaiser's promise would be annulled.
 Clearly, there was a string tied to the beneficent offer of William and Francis Joseph. It was suspected at the time that the ceremony carefully staged at Warsaw was nothing more than political ruse to play on the feelings of the susceptible Poles by holding out the prospect of having CnelT dHclene poWer anu Siory Ie- stored.
 The open threat of compulsion made by the German chancellor will doubt less open the eyes of those poles who did not at first see through the scheme of the Teutons. This is no time for the central powers to be readjusting the map of Europe. That will come later. After the war is over, the Poles, as well as those two mighty war lords, William and Francis Joseph, will be able to tell better where they stand.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-11-21

objection to that, either. The south has sense enough to keep her leading public men in office until they acquire prestige and experience. There are other parts of the country that might learn a useful lesson from it in that regard.
 Economic conditions in the south are changing and those conditions are sure to result in a growing division of po- itical opinion It's sugar that makes Louisiana look more kindly to the re- publican doctrine of protection and not attacks on sectional grounds. And it's factories and a growing diversification of industry that will lay the foundation for a newer point of view on the part of great numbers of southerners. While this process goes inevitably forward northern and eastern and western citi- zens are going to keep on liking the south just as much as ever.
 And they do like her-well, you might say love her without making it too strong. 'Whn we know each other bet ter we will love each other more" has certainly worked out in the relations of the northern and southern sections of this country Nobody is going to make a hit either in public or private by att tacking the south these days. It happens to be a notorious fact that about one of the best ways to make a hit in public is to praise her or to strike up Dixie" or something that calls her to mind.
 Southern newspapers needn't get un- duly excited over the occasional out bursts of spleen in newspaper here and there. Those things mean just as little as the occasional outbursts against the north down south. There are always some newspapers looking for a popular way to be unpleasant and failing to find it. But nobody pays a great deal of at tention to them up here, and We trust they pay as little attention to the type across the Mason and Dixon line.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-11-21
THE sOUTH,s ALL RIGHT

From the Chicago Herald.
 The democratic victory has evoked the customary expressions of indignation at the south for the supposed crime of going democratic from few unrecon- ciled citizens and from grouchy news paper organ here and there.
 Isn't it getting about time for that sort of thing to stop? The south's all right. If she wants to go democratic. why, bless her. let her~keep it up as long as she feels like it. That's her business, and the overwhelming majority of people around here and everywhere else in the north are perfectly willing to let her attend to it. They have business enough of their own to keep them fairly oc- cupied.
 What is more if the south keeps on furnishing a quality of public men for committee chairmanships and legislators superior to those the northern democrats seem to be able to find. there's no sound
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-11-21
Where is Hlughes'
 Sense of Courtesy?

|WHEN H,+ MT. Hughes, s.tis.te the defeated ted President, "broke up" at the Astor and moved with his family to quiet nook in Lakewood, N. J., might have been a fitting occasion for sending his congratulations to MT. Wilson. But two weeks have passed since the election, and not word of felicitation has come from the former associate justice.
 One of the bitterest presidential contests ever waged was that of 1884 when Cleveland and Blaine opposed each other. It was a singularly close election, Cleveland carrying New York by less than HOO, and that state was necessary to give him majority in the electoral college. Yet with such narrow margin his triumph was con- ceded by the republicans after two or three days-after the returns had been checked over. And MT. Blaine was prompt in telegraphing Mir. Cleveland his congratulations. Not only that, but after the inauguration
 Blaine was one of the first persons
 to call on the President at the White
 Ho',sA
 N yeland defeated Harrison in 1ss. retiring President was
 ready wi. his felicitations. Bryan
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-11-21
Safeguard Ghe Public HeaIeh

The with fine oppor improving the health conditions Jefferson
 Today members will be asked the minutes request % of health that lme health officer designated for Jeer practically
  spirited members the board Of
 
 health has alme health officer he his and put him in charge or wonderful opportunity 
 possibility epidemic situation existed here last
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-11-21
? Cattle Industry

Alabama is fast taking it's place as 8 cattle raising state" said Y. w. Webb of the Mutual Loan society, who has had some experience in the cattle business. "The black belt of Alabama is particularly adapted to the raising of cattle. This land is not only ex- |cellent from an agricultural standpoint, but is also ideal for the cattle indus try.
 Tt has only been within the past few years that any cattle has been raised in this state on a large scale. At the present time there are score of cat tlemen in Alabama that are rapidly getting rich. If one is so fortunate as to own a farm in the southern half of the state the cattle business should be especially attractive. Grain can be grown for the herd nine months out of the year. There are few lands in the United States any finer than those of the black belt, and firmly believe this section of Alabama will in a short time become equally well known for it's cat tie as it is at present noted for it's agriculture"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-11-21
'sYET, YET, VIE DOwNCAsT HOUR

By Walt Whitman.
 Yet, yet. ye downcast hours, I know .
 also;
 Weights of lead, how ye clog and clii
 at my ankles,
 Earth to chamber of mourning turns
 I hear the o'erweening, mockiII
 voice. Matter is conqueror-matter, triumphal
 only continues onward Despairing cries float ceaselessly towa|
 me,
 The call of my nearest lover, puttil
 forth, alarmed, uncertain. 'The sea am quickly to sail. come Il
 me, Come tell me where I am speeding, q
 me my destination" I understand y0ur anguish, but cann| help you, I approach, hear. behold, the sad mouf the look out of the eyes, your mtI inquiry, "Whither go from the bed recline q come tell me-" Old age, alarmed. uncertain-a youl woman's voice, appealing to me 4
 comfort; young mans voice Shall Il
 escape?'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-11-21
Closed Cars in Demand

There is decided tendency on the part of the automobile buying public for closed cars" said Bradley J. Saun- ders. Most of the manufacturers have placed a convertible car at the dis posal of the public. These tops can be used throughout the winter and stored in the summer. A year or so ago it was necessary for man to own two separ- ate cars if he wanted to have a closed and open car.
 There is no industry in the world that has progressed so far as the mo- tor car industry. It seems that the United States will have to supply the demand of the world if the European 'confiagration'e keps up. Most of the European factories, in fact all of them are now busily engaged in the manufac- ture of ammunition. The Damlier com pany, makers of very fine car in Eng land, have been making shells since the beginning of the war. It is so with all the automobile manufacturers of the old world. These editions have caused a big demand and market for Ameri- can built cars, which will be hard to displace even when the war is over"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-11-21
Public EIeaIth and the Larger View

IT T is distinctly encouraging to learn ~ that brisk demand for Christmas seals to be sold during the holidays to aid the anti-tuberculosis cause is in prospect. The state league sold not quite one million last year, but the campaign of education going on all the while is bearing fruit and three or four times as many people are manifesting interest in the work as seemed enlisted in the movement in 1915.
 As the beautiful Christmas tokens are priced at only one cent sale of ten million should not be too much to expect. And what vast good could be accomplished by the league with some ching like $90,000 or $1O0,O0O at it's disposal!
 Owing to the terrible havoc wrought by the European war and the suffering of women and children de- prived of the necessaries of life, all hearts in this prosperous land are
 Pftened, and most generous have been the appeals for relief. During Thanksgiving week, at the solicitation of the President of the United States, the purse strings of the well-to-do will be opened wider than ever, and while contributing to the funds being raised for the war victims, let not our people
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-11-21

she adopt these pinchpenny methods ( nation at war. There is merely u suggestion that there are ways of wres ling with the high cost of food if or sits down and thinks them out. c. operative buying is one of these way and it is simpler and more economic; than one might imagine
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-11-21
A FRIENDLY HINT.

When I was in here last week." sait the restaurant patron, q was charged only 80 cents for this entre. Now see it's marked s1."
 That's right, boss" answered the ada- ble waiter. An advises you to order it today. There ain't no telling what it'll cost you nex' week"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-11-21
HOTEL LOBBIES
No Christmas Rafnins

The police department intends to break up all railing and games of chance that have occurred in Birmingham in the past during the Christmas holidays" said Chief of Police Martin Eagan last night
 Several complaints have been made recently that parties are raffling off diff ferent articles, and have issued orders to all policemen to arrest any and all parties guilty of such rafling. or run ming any kind of game of chance"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-11-21

BEGINNING THE DAY-"BrinS your health and your strength to the weak and sickly, and so you will be of use to them. Give them, not your weakness, but your energy, so you will revive and lift them up. Life alone can relxindle life. What others claim from us is not our thirst and our hunger, but our bread and our gourd."-H. M. E.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-11-21
A GRIM JEST.

However hard a man must try
 To make the best of life, Still plodding onward patiently,
 Mid petty troubles rife, Sometimes he'll get a chance to laugh A bit, if only when He reads the fulsome epitaph
 Of those departed men Who didn't even earn their salt
 While tarrying on earth, But dead, proclaimed without fault, Possess astounding worth.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-11-21
UNIQUE SIGN

From the Greenville Advocate.
 Scott Rogers, who deals in count produce, chickens, eggs. etc., also bu, hides of all kinds. He has a most nov sign advertising this part of his busine which is painted on a goat skin. I'll skin is stretched tight, and perfect cured. The sign Is attracting much a tention.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-11-21

was cordial in his greeting to Me Kinley in 1896, and all along the line the amenities have been observed, un- til we come to MT. Hughes.
 Can it be that he was so staggered by his defeat that he has been unable to pull himself together? But why does not George W. Perkins or some other progressive statesman tell MT. Hughes what to do and how to do it :?
 The ex-candidate still retains his armed guard and has him at his heels, after the manner of a President or Imagnate. MT. Hughes is an unosten- tations man, and does nothing for show. Is it possible that Chairman Wilcox has told him not to give up until he gets the word from him Howsoever it may be Mr. Hughes is making himself ridiculous.
 * # *
 The unbending attitude of Senor Cabrera toward the American commissioners creates the suspicion that he is trying to make himself popular with a certain element in Mexico.
 If efficiency" is to be the watchword of the Wilson administration for the next four years, it's no wonder that many officeholders are quaking in their boots Philadelphia is paying around 52 cents 8 dozen for eggs. It ought to be com paratively safe for transformer to play Hamlet" in that town.
 It behooves the democrats to keep an eye on Hi. Johnson of California As a presidential possibility four years hence he'll bear watching.
 
 A hotel stenographer says she has no trouble in getting rid of mashers She probably gives them one of those "cold storage looks
 Having broken the long distance aero- plane record, Miss Ruth Law probably doesn't care whether she is permitted to vote or not.
 Some of the republican leaders are blaming MT. Hughes for their defeat Yet, none of them had more to lose than he.
 King Peter will hardly feel like going back until conditions become more settled. A shining example of optimism is the man who thinks he's going to win big fat turkey for Thanksgiving in a raffle. The high cost of living has not ap- preciably affected the people who take their lunches at soda water fountains.
 x
 If those damage suits go against tEe Deutschland's owners, a considerable hole will be made in their profits.
 While it may be true that blood is thicker than water, John Bull shouldn't t presume too much on that.
 It's surprising how unimportant a town becomes after the Teutons have been forced to evacuate it.
 A critic speaks of the new note' in poetry. It seems to be a sour one.
 LUKE MLUKE SAYS
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-11-21
DISTRESSING.

Here's a heart-rendlng account of a chorus girls privation"
 Lives in hall bedroom, I suppose. and doesn't get enough to eat?"
 'oh. no. It seems she's the only girl in the company who doesn't own limou- sine"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-11-21
LIFE IN KENTUCKY.
om the Berea Quarterly

From the Berea Quarterly.
 The Dixie highway has had to fight its way through some opposition, wit ness this confab:
 "This highway will help your folks Don't like hit; don't want ter be goin' caint keep my gals ter hum neow.'
 But it raises the value of your land.'
 Can't pay ther taxes neow."
 "But if you sell you will get more.'' Don't aim ter sell; I'm a-buyin' land"
 'I dew crave ter quit tippin' ther bottle, but I can't get ther consent uv my mind
 What yew owe me fer entertain ment We'll sir. jes' this-you owe me ter cum agen.'