davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-04
Dr. Sun Vat Sens Idol

The missing jade idol, belonging to Dr. Sun Vat Sen, for the return of which $1O,O0O was offered in adver- tisements appearing in fifty American newspapers, has been recovered in New York, and it is predicted that Dr.
 Suns political fortunes in China will shortly begin to mend.
 The idol was said to have been stolen two years ago by agents of
 Yuan Shi Kai, and to it's loss is at- tributed the failure of Dr. Sun Vat Sens government. By means of this idol he had powerful influence over
 the minds of superstitious Chinamen and the crafty Yuan seems to have struck an effective blow. by having the fetich removed from it's "sphere of influence" Whether this really had anything to do with the political up- heaval in China or not, it is true that pr. Sun was forced out and Yuan came into power, which he has since found it difficult to hold. It remains to be seen whether or not the recovery of his idol will reinstate Dr. Sun.
 All of which reads like some absurd romance of the orient before western civilization had made any progress there. Dr. Sun and President Yuan, being thoroughly imbued with western ideas, of course, know what sort of valuation to place on the idol in re- ligious sense, but having also fail
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-04
EASY MARKS NUMEROUS
New York Correspondence Philadelphia Dispatch.

New York Correspondence Philadelphia
 Dispatch.
 There has been big increase of the mark" crop here lately. Several days ago a Russian, said to be of noble birth was haled into court on a charge of not paying a large debt He told the magis- trate, however that the debt was one of $45,OO0 lost while buching a crooked roulette wheel and, therefore. he would other Russian, but not nobleman, was arraigned in Jefferson market court on charge of intoxication. He told the magistrate he was a recent arrival in this country was here to buy war mu- nitions and had been victimized by con- from friends Monday night and wandered into a hotel to buy drink. In the bar room he met several very. very nice' gentlemen and had several drinks with them. Then the next thing he knew he awakened in cell. Two hundred dollars And last night two young men from Ho- land came here to buy oil and tobacco. But first of all they started out to ''see the town" They met lady friend; and-- well, one of the Hollanders felt a tug at his hip pocket, and he was fortunate disappearing automobile Some of his roll was returned Score three coups for New York's innocents.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-04
NEAT, NOT GAUDY

From the New York Telegram.
 We are glad to hear that Philadel- phia this year is going to have a Fourth of July celebration "commensu- rate with the dignity of the city in which the Declaration of Independence was signed"
 It is to cost we are told, S6500, divided thus; Music. $500; stands s350; chairs, s250; field sports, $500, and regatta, 5000, with the rest to be held for emergencies.
 This certainly isn't extravagant. In deed. the Quaker City's frugality in duces the Boston Globe to remark Without even any fireworks, it looks as if the celebration might be safe and sane"
 Perhaps Philadelphia is saving it's money for the election in November. Perhaps it is scared by the antices here of few very cheap and nasty poli- ticIans who are hollering for a de- tailed statement of the expenses of Governor Whitman's trip to San Fran cisco to celebrate fittingly New York Day at the Panama Pacific exposition.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-04
Tells of Tacoma Plant

Chester w. Hansen, formerly of Ta- coma, Wash, who is now a resident of Birmingham, tells of the manner in nicipal ownership of its electric light plant. MT. Hansen was a visitor in Commissioner Weatherly's office yes- terday.
 "One of the things that came most forcibly to my attention in Birming- ham, said MT. Hansen, was the pro- posed bond issue for the municipal light plant. In 1907 in the city of Ia coma, Wash. we faced the same situ- ation as is now existing in Birming- ham, the private corporation forcing the light rate to as high as from to 8 cents a kilowatt hour and the power rates in proportion.
 ''We passed bond issue, construct ed our own plant and in 1913 and 1911 the first two years of operation-and at rates less than those formerly charaed by the public service corpor- ations, the plant showed profits of $277,O00 and $321.000 for the respect i've years, net profit of over 52 peI cent, with the results that the rates were reduced and even the small con- : sumer today can purchase power and light as low as l cent per k. w. h. Tor all over 30. and the larger consumer purchases power as low as .45 of a cent. The above profit is net after al- lowing not only for upkeep, operating expenses and depreciation but for in- terest and sinking fund for their bond ed indebtedness amounting in itself to over $106,000 per annum.
 "The most striking fact, however is that the same corporation which in 1907 raised the cry that they were not making legitimate profit at from : to cents. and predicted disaster fol the municipal undertaking, is now fighting hard for the business at A; of cent and still paying dividends on the same amount of stock. Birmlne han would make no mistake in building plant. which would, without ques tion of doubt, both directly and indi ectly. force the price of these com modities down to a reasonable and le- gitimate fig,lr-" m.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-04
SAWDUST AND GOLD DUST rom the Chicago Herald.


 Gold dust sounds great deal more inn pressive than sawdust-until one has had a few moments conversation with del- egate or two to the convention of the National Lumber Manufacturers associa- tion. which began it's sessions yesterday in Chicago.
 Then he sees that gold dust has been greatly exaggerated as an impresser of the imagination. Confronted with the figures which lumber statisticians pre- sent, it quickly pales its intellectual gilt ter. Gold dust doesn't even show up as a fair second to the less advertised but vastly more important sawdust.
 For instance, during the year 1915 the total production of gold dust in the United States was $9S,S91, 100. The total production in the entire world for the same period was $476. .767, 636.
 During 1915 the total production of lum- Der in the United States was s1,S75, 100000, or about 19 times the output of gold for the United States and nearly four times the total production of gold for the whole world.
 Nor does even this stupendous total mean that all the lumber in the country is on the point of being exhausted There are at present in the United States 55O 900, 900 acres of what is still classified as forest land
 Chicago is the city of big things and it likes to have the doers and makers of big things like the lumber business drop in and avail themselves of it's hospitality. It may not make quite as much fuss over a lumber convention as over a na- tional political convention. but it realizes that the former is significant out of all proportion to the noise it makes.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-04
HOTEL LOBBIES
Should Report Moving

Birmingham people who move from one location to another in the city should insist that the drayman who hauls their effects make a report of the move to the police department said Mrs. Mabel F. Leake, secretary of the Birmingham Furniture Dealers as- sociation. "As a matter of self-protec- tion this should be done, and the city ordinances covering this point should be obeyed.
 T received message recently from out of town asking for the address of man who had moved and could not give it, as the drayman had failed to make report of the move. People who are moving should see to 1t that proper report is made, for it might mean much to them to have their new address re- corded"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-04
The Auditorium Question

A large auditorium or convention hall in a city the size of Birmingham is public necessity and should there fore be built for the people and paid for out of the public funds.
 Private capital is seldom interested in an auditorium proposition from an investment point of view. Even if such a place were frequently rented at a high price, the income would not be sufficient to make it pay on liberal first-cost expenditure.
 But few public improvements pay a city better in the long run than large auditorium. The experience of all cities bears out that assertion.
 One sometimes sees the statement in . newspaper that Atlanta's auditor ium, with seating capacity of not quite seven thousand, was built by public spirited citizens and not by the city. A statement like that IS mls- leading. So pressing was Atlanta's need for large building where grand opera and conventions could be held, that few prominent men underwrote the project, costing less than $200,00O, with the understanding that the city would take it off their hands, which it did inside of a year.
 While Atlanta is entitled to great credit for making start the auditor ium was of such cheap construction that it is now, after only seven years, dilapidated.
 Atlanta will probably build new auditorium within the next year or two. If Birmingham votes the $50O,- 900 auditorium proposition Monday
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-04
Railroads to Fight Demands

At the second conference between the 19 officials representing practical ly all the railroads of the United States and the four leading organiza- tions of railroad employees in session in New York it was made plain that the carriers would fight all demands of the men, which is for an eight-hour day and the supplementary requests of the employees.
 That was a good suggestion that hearings be open to the public, as the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-04
PERILS OF A BOOM TOWN nm the Pittsburg Dispatch.

From the Pittsburg Dispatch.
 Detroit is beginning to pay the penalty of prosperity. The thousands attracted bv the boom have exhausted the housing accommodations and the scarcity of labor for the construction of new buildings has accentuated the situation. Rents nave been raised to the roof and raised agaih. And now a spendthrift city government ba wing carried the tax levy as high as IL d.red has turned to initiating valuations +o oct more money. The assessments just announced are said to be 30 per cent higher than last year, total increase III the taxable valuation in one year or over s,7O GOO. 900. Practically nothing has been allowed to escape. Downtown ouslness sites are reported by tax expert to oe assessed at higher figure than any olhel property in the world. Residences large and small. have been boosted in valua- +;on far beyond similar valuations in any other city of the size.
 A frenzy for real estate speculation has swept the town. People are paying 1ancy prices for property as speculation that
 they would never dream of giving TOT nlaces for their own homes or business
 premises Warnings that there IS maxi
 mum real value, the value to the occupler
 have gone unheeded People are not think
 ing of buying homes, one Detroit paper says, they are going wild on speculatlor
 and living in rented quarters. And the
 city administration with that 90 per cent increase in taxable property to levy on has graciousy reduced the tax mlllage from over 235 mills to 18.5, with the net result that the total amount raised oy taxation has been boosted to over $lS,5oo,- 600 annually.
 Los Angeles had such boom once anc is now recovering from the effects. Other cities that have been through the mil know also by sad experience what it is te pay the price of premature prosperity Fictitious values and all too real taxes levied upon them have reacted with dis | astrous effect. It is better not to trave | too fast and then when forced to hall | for breath be overtaken and passed bJ steader gaited and surer footed competl- | tors
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-04
ALABAMA PRESS

Andalusia Star: Potato bugs and boil
 your pocketbook
 Alexander City Outlook: Good roads
 are being built all over Tallapoosa
 county and the people are as proud of them asrN boy used to be of his first pair of red topped boots.
 Prattville Progress: An inventor has found a way of keeping everybody on a party telephone line, except the party called, from hearing word of the con- versation. But he needn't expect the
 company to utilize his invention. It would ruin its business
 Guntersville Democrat: When a pro- fessional politician issues a booklet set ting forth his admirable fitness for preferment and urging such policies as he wishes to pursue, does it strike the average reader as a "nonpartisan' docu- | ment? If so. the average reader needs | more schooling.
 | Carrollton West Alabamian: Much credit is being given the Birmingham | Boy Scouts for the good work they per 1 formed as guides, etc., at the recent United Confederate Veterans reunion in that city, and from what we learn they handed out to them. If they continue to exhibit the spirit displayed on that oc- casion, their future success is assured.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-04
Boys, Band Praised

"The band of the Boys Industrial school is a splendid organization and reflects great credit on that institu- tion," declared c. s. Goodwin yester- day, "The class of '96 of the univer- sity had the band as it's guest at Tus caloosa during the comm encement and centennial and universal praise was given the boys for their work. They not only make splendid music, but they are a fine lot of boys and they are a constant reminder to the people of Alabama of the good work the indus trial school is doing.
 Among the most pleasant features of our class reunion were the visits we paid to Col. T. c. McCorvey and Dr. Eugene A. Smith, the only men connected with the university in off cial capacities who were there 20 years ago. We also called on President Den ny in a body and extended our con- gratulations upon the splendid pro- gress being made by the university"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-04

working knowledge of western politi- cal methods, they know that millions of their less enlightened countrymen can be influenced by it to promote or destroy the chances of an ambitious candidate for office.
 Bret Harte's analysis of Chinese character is again verified.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-04

The Tuscaloosa News issued spe- cial edition in connection with the Tuscaloosa centennial celebration which was read with a great deal of interest throughout the state. The Age Herald extends congratulations to one of Alabama's best newspapers.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-04
A STEADY JOB
he Savannah Press.

From the Savannah Press.
 Jess Willard is much larger man physically than Billy Sunday, but he has fewer knockouts to his credit Birming- ham Age-Her erald.
 But Jess doesn't work at his trade as steadily as does Bill.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-04
A HoMILY

The pace is swift and life is jolly Where the bright lights glow, in the halls
 of folly. The music thrills and the dancers throng And gay butterflies are swept along On tho senseless tide. but the end is the
 same It's the old, old tale of the moth and the
 flame.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-04

According to an imaginative writer, thu world will eventually be ruled by fed eration and order will be maintained by international police. If that comes tt pass, the international cop will be person of considerable importance.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-04

BEGINNING THE DAY-Grant me, o Lord, to know that my field over laps no other mans. Teach me now distinct are our labOrs. And may | rejoice in the success Of my rel low since we work together Tn the common cause of light. Teach me how his glory adds to my own. Fof Jesus, sake, Amen.-H. NJ. k.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-04

It's a mistake to think that every other man on the streets of Chicago these days is politician. There are quite a number of hardworking foot pads in the city by the lake.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-04

Whenever George w. Perkins speaks to the assembled hosts he is given re- spectful attention, which is fitting and proper. George is the man behind the check book.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-04

The German fleet is reported to have returned to it's base in fine spirits. The Kaiser will be working overtime for a few days distributing decorations.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-04

A Malaysian prince has arrived in New York with + wives. He could dig up a few old jokes and go on the road as a musical comedy.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-04

It is rumored that Saratoga will be wide open this year Lid filters from all parts of the country are therefore hastening to Saratoga.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-04

MT. Hitchcock is said to be working for Justice Hughes simply because he thinks the justice ought to be elected. There's a patriot for you!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-04

Uncle Sam may yet reach the conclu sion that compared to Carranza, Huert; was a scholar and gentleman.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-04
NO EFFORT REQUIRED

NO EFFORT REQUIRED Speaking of light occupations. how about teaching a debutante to flirt?' T know one easier than that.'' Name it "Grooming dark horse for the pres. idential nomination." SOMETHING WORTH WHILE You say that fellow in the limousine is popular author?' Yes"
 Look at him! Rolling in luxury, and
 daresay his books are not worth read
 ing"
 You shouldn't be hard on him. He still has ideals.'' ''Nonsense!'' "He says that after he turns out one more best seller he expects to write a book that hardly anybody will read.''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-04
CHOOSING PICTURES

From the Irish World.
 Pictures add a great deal to the beauty
 of home if they are selected with taste
 and care. They do not have to be expen-
 sive to be beautiful, many delightful re-
 productions of the works of the old mas
 ters being on sale nowadays at prices
 within the reach of the most modest
 pocketbook.
 Before putting up a picture on your wall be sure that it has some meaning and some beauty. Also it should be ap- proprate to the room it is to adorn.
 For instance, family photographs have no place on the walls of living room. They are too intimate decoration for a room in which strangers as well as friends are are apt to be entertained. Reserve family photographs for the bed
 rooms or "den,' and select for the liv- ing room landscapes, reproductions of still life, ideal heads and faces and good photographs of masterpieces. Such pie lures are not only instructive to the fam 1 fly, but they may form an interesting l topic of conversation to the friends who are entertained in this room.
 | The music room, of course, should be | adorned with good photographs of emi- 1 nent composers and other musicians,
 while the library calls aloud for portraits
 of literary and other public men, ] So much for the selection of pictures. 1 Now for the equally important subject | of how to hang them so they will appear | to the best advantage. Do not make the | common mistake of hanging pictures above the line of sight so as to make it necessary to strain the eyes in looking up at them Pictures should not as rule be hung more than five and one-half | or three-quarters feet from the floor, or, l in other words, on a direct line with the | eyes of the average sized person. Of course every picture in the room cannot | be hung just so many inches from the floor. This would be monotonous. and l to escape this the line must be broken by l hanging some bit higher, others a trifle l lower.
 1 Do not hang picture in direct light,
 as exactly opposite a sunny window. i When possible a picture should be To- l cated with reference to windows and other openings so that it will be lighted l as the artist intended-that is. the
 shadows in the picture should appear to
 be cast by the light that falls upon it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-04
A POINT WELL MADE

POINT WELL MADE "Fathead! It's a waste of time to ar gue with your" shouted the irasc1ole man.
 s'You're an inconsistent cuss." 'What do you mean?"
 "If you consider it a waste Of time to argue with me, why don't you turn loose my coat lapel and let me go OH about my business?'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-04

Might as well think up a new qualify ing adjective for the "invincible" British fleet.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-04

Persons who have been hearing can nonading in the North sea for months have at last been vindicated.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-04

Owen Mister is supporting Roosevelt However, the colonel is probably not to blame for that.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-04

A 'favorite son. should not take him. self too seriously, but he nearly always does.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-04
MED BRACE TALKS ABOUT THE PAGEANT AT
 TUSCALOOSA AND SOME POLITICAL MATTERS

been filed against The Age-Herald. have since decided to print nothing about it but let it be threshed out in the courts
 Knowing that I am right, there is no use in stirring up the public on re- ligious controversy with which I Tad nothing to do and care nothing about.
 Indeed, feel that whatever might be any of our religious views it is time for us all to get together and dtvelop Bir- mingham, not only as an industrial city. but as city beautiful, a city of culture and city of unity of spirit.
 I am going up to Chicago today to ob- serve the great contest in the republican convention I expect it will be the most interesting political performance this country has seen since the Minneapolis convention, when the great effort was made and the plumed knight display to nominate James G. BiaIne. That effort failed.
 |N This time it will be a spectacular per- formance in the effort to nominate Theo- dore Roosevelt No one can tell what will be the result, but certainly it will be a spectacle worth the seeing.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-04

If Dr. Waite had limited his misdeedi to writing poetry, he might have escaped the death sentence.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-04

strates more thoroughly than anything I have thought of recently the necessity of a great auditorium in Birmingham Nobody. here cares whether 1t be the Ro- den hotel property site or Capitol park or whether it be located in one of the other parks of Birmingham.
 There is sore need of great audi torium here. It would mean more to this city than half dozen new blast fur naces.
 am firmly of the opinion that every man of Birmingham should cast his vote Monday for an auditorium and trust to George Ward and his associates of the city commission to build the proper building on the proper site
 After we get this auditorium and the speedway at Edgewood we will have the most modern form of amusement for our people. We will have something for them to do in leisure hours rather than standing around street corners discuss ing each other and kicking about some thing which is going wrong in Birming- ham.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-04
RIVALRY

How many servants have the Gadsons now?"
 Mine, I believe
 That's a rather large establishment. "Yes, but it will hardly be reduced so eight"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-04

At any rate, that German naval vic- tory off the coast of Denmark gave a boost to preparedness in the United States
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-04

"HAT was wonderful pageant in
 Tuscaloosa last week.
 The unity of spirit between the townspeople and the university faculty and students was perfect.
 business way, but it is made up of people of culture and refinement. They are an ambitious people, both commer- cially and artistically.
 I have seen open air theatrical per formances in many places throughout the world-in Switzerland, in Japan and ur on the north shore of Massachusetts and various other places, but nothing have I ever seen put on which was better costumed, better acted and of better sur roundings than this wonderful perform ance at Tuscaloosa.
 Charles Dillingham; in his performances at the Hippodrome has never produced better or more artistic effects, nor bet ter trained dancers. The girls of Tus- caloosa had the spring of youth and the refinement of an old southern city in their every movement. There was grace and culture with it all.
 # # *
 And, by the way, this magnificent per- 800 performers on natures stage. demon