davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-14
HOUSE OF roo MUCH TROUBLE

By Albert Bigelow Paine. In the House of Too Much Trouble
 Lived lonely little boy; He was eager for playmate,
 He was hungry for a toy. But twas always too much bother,
 Too much dirt and too much noise For the House of Too Much Trouble
 Wasn't meant for litte boys. And sometimes the little fellow
 Left a book upon the floor, Or forgot and laughed too loudly,
 Or he failed to close the door; In the House of Too Much Trouble
 Things must be precise and trim In the House of Too Much Trouble
 There was little room for him. He must never scatter playthings,
 He must never romp and play; Ev'ry room must be in order
 And kept quiet all the day; He had never had companions,
 He had never owned a pet In the House of Too Much Trouble
 It is trim and quiet yet. Ev'ry room Is set in order
 Every book is in it's place, And the lonely little fellow
 Wears a smile upon his face. In the House of Too Much Trouble
 He is silent and at rest In the House of Too Much Trouble
 With 2 lily on his breast.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-14

as Dr. Gorgas gives and public senti- ment should make itself felt in behalf of an admendment to the pending bill touching the number of medical of ficers allowed each regiment.
 Without adequate medical prepared ness the army would be terribly handl- capped in time of mobilization. Re- member the loss of life from sickness in camp during the Spanish-American war! It is safe to assume that there would have been little typhoid fever and few fatal cases had the army been supplied with sufficient number of medical officers and sanitary experts.
 When Dr. Gorgas says five surgeons to a regiment are not enough, and that seven will be needed for the con- servation of health, he means what he says and it would be little short of criminal on the part of Congress to go against his judgment in this matter. Better have only a small in crease in the army rather than at tempt to practice economy at the ex- pense of the health of the men.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-14
AN 3s0, ,00O CONSCIENCE
,e Pittsburg Dispatch.

From IHS IlLlSpdt6 OiSPoSSis
 Regret has often been expressed at the supposed growing cynicism of the age we live in. Undoubtedly it has been assumed, too lightly, that honor and honesty are not nowadays regarded with the reverence of older days. The feather brained have made it fashion able to affect a vein of scepticism, which unhappily has tained our con- versation, if not, indeed. our morals. But in the light of that letter and ESQ., 900 contribution to Uncle Sans con- science fund, is 1t not evident that the inherent good, the training of child hood, survives and blossoms at times most unexpectedly and in the queerest ways?
 The sender of this sum says that this $30. 900 makes total of $S0.000 sent to Uncle Sam, or four times the amount he Cor she) stole years ago, the fourfold restitution being based on the return of the publican of old. The writer ad- mits hesitation about sending all that money because of doubt whether ii really belonged to the government (pre- sumably the $60,000 added), but con science gave no rest. May every thief, the letter says, understand the aw- fulness of the sin of stealing, is the sincere wish of a penitent."
 The self-imposed penalty in addition to the original sum is so great that il must suggest better than words the state of mind suffered. Those who think 1t smart to affect cynicism may try tt laugh at this penitent. but the thought. full will sympathize and understand Who can doubt that this conscience. stricken man or woman would gladly have given all he or she is worth 1T worldly goods to have escaped that sir and those years of conscience -stricker regret?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-14
Army Medical Officers

It is surprising that the military committees of Congress, which have shown liberal spirit in dealing with the national defense question, should have ignored the recommendation of Surgeon General W. c. Gorgas in re- ine on the adoption of Dr. Gorgas' provided for each thousand enlisted mon.
 pr. Gorgas and other hygienic au- thorities asked the committees to re- port in favor of apportioning seven surReons to each thousand soldiers, but when the bill was drawn provision was made for only five per thousand. Medical societies have taken up the matter very earnestly and are insist inx on the adoption of Dr. Gorgas's Recommendation.
 Tho bill submitted by the Senate esmmittee on military affairs seeks acosmplste reorganization of the army a1d it is believed that most of the fea- ii1ros of the measure will be approved 1r military experts. The plan natur- x1 embraces much that is technical,
 VT many details of interest only to rxn cf the military profession. But @e average layman can readily appre-
 fo the valus of expert advice such
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-14
Coal Shipped from cordov.

T was in Cordova a few days ago., said Boyd LeGrande, district manager of the American Snuff company and was surprised to see an immense barge on the river loaded down with coal. This barge was lowed by one of the Warrior river tug boats, and was of enormous capacity. I was told that more that b carloads of coal was on the one barge. The freight rate by water, down the War rior, was less than one-tenth of what it would have been if shipped overland on one of the railroads. was surprised to learn what great saving could be made by using the river for freight trans porta ton.
 "I was told by prominent citizens of Cordova that the traffic on the Warrior had increased more than 400 per cent for the month of February compared with the same month of last year. This only shows that the people who have the op- portunity of using the navigable Warrior have awakened to their opportunity and are grasping the advantage they have over the towns not on navfgaole stream.
 If a great highway or electric line could be built from Birmingham to the Warrior river, the benefit to this district in the matter of freight rates would be well nigh incalculable. The newspapers seem to be giving much publicity to this project, but thus far nothing definite nas been done. I am in hopes the day Is not far distant when Birmingham will have the highway and thereby increase the many advantages that this city has over other cities in the south.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-14
A NEW POET IN CONGRESS

From the St Louis Repupllc
 Representative Jacob Meeker recently made a bid for public acclaim in the ca pacity of poet. His effort in negro dialect upon the subject of preparedness remind ed literary persons of Paul Lawrence Dun bar, Frank Stanton and Joel Chandler Harris-in one particular. They also wrote in negro dialect But we fear that Rep resentative Meeker's budding renown has been blighted by hot wind from Texas.
 Cyclone Davis has also gone in Tor poetry, and when man from Iexas with a name like that enters the lists we would like to know what business any republican from South St. Louis has in sticking around. The divine afflatus we have always supposed from certain vague etymologcal notions has some thing to do with wind, and we are con f,cent that cyclones have. Therefore, a new fitness appears in the handle of the Texas statesman and also suggestion as to how much of a poet he is.
 We regret that we cannot enlighten the readers of The Republic on this point by printing Representative Davis latest poem, a ballad on the situation in the Senate when the Gore resolution was de- feated: but half column of poetry on any subject, even cyclonic poetry from Texas. is too much. We like the lines which run: Then Congress flushed and fopped and
 flew,
 And didn't know just what to do.
 We had suspected something of the sort. but the outcome, as Representative Davis metrically declares. was that
 All was left to the Presidents care.
 And the rank war fiend was up in the air, And the country moves on as before. With compliments to MT. Gore.
 Where are the Meekers when Cyclone Davis can combine truth and poetry like thet?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-14
Incident of the War

Occasionally the monotonous sum- mary of events along the various bat tie fronts is varied by the account of some display of heroism which shows that the dreary work of slaughtering thousands is not without it's sublime aspect. The Germans, from all ac- counts, while showing the utmost bravery and dying without murmur, are surpassed by the more tempera- mental French in spectacular feats of bravery. This is partly due to the fact that the French soldier is permitted to have more initiative than the German, who is bound by an iron discipline which makes him an automaton.
 A sergeant of chasseurs relates to the correspondent of New York newspaper that "the finest thing in battle was something did not see, but only heard" His battalion when forced to beat hasty retreat left sew eral hundred wounded between the French line and that of the Germans. The wounded lay under terrific fire and neither side was able to assist them. While the French were digging themselves in' to make another stand, [ wounded soldier in front began to sing the "Marseillaise." One voice after another took up the song and soon chorus of dying wretches were singing through their parched and cracking throats the battle hymn of France. The sergeant says it was "in- describably thrilling" and we may well believe him.
 In justice to the Germans, we may doubt the latter part of his story, but horror piled on horror in the present conflict makes it credible. He says he heard the irregular shooting of Ger man sharpshooters. One by one they were picking off the soldiers, as they sang. The chorus grew weaker, the aroans and shrieks of the dying rose moro poignantly and finally the last hero died with the words of the ssMarseill on his lips.
 Exaggerated? Perhaps, but incl dents much more incredible have been related from time to time. Those men typified the spirit of France. Did the German sharpshooters typify the spirit of Germany?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-14
No Excuse for Delay

Since Birmingham has an oppor- tunity of providing itself with a mag nificent city building, combining mu- nicipal quarters, an auditorium and a public library, on an economic basis, by acquiring the Roden hotel prop erty, the commission should not delay action.
 As the project can be financed to the benefit of the city without the is- suance of single bond, there is no excuse whatever for hesitation on the part of the commissioners.
 Birmingham needs many things, but from a purely civic point of view the need of an auditorium is by far the most pressing. If negotiations with the Roden estate were to proceed presently and the work of converting the History steel frame at the corner of Fifth avenue and Eighteenth street were pushed Birmingham would have early next year the largest and hand somest auditorium in all the south.
 The lack of a great assembly hall keeps Birmingham out of the first rank as a convention city, but with this need supplied no city in the south ern section of the United States would be anything like so popular with na- tional organizations when deciding where their big gatherings should be held.
 This is the most centrally situated city in the south. It is reached by ten railroads. Its hotel accommodations are unequaled and it's climate is ideal. If the city starts on the auditorium now many conventions of national scope would be scheduled for Birming- ham in 1917 before the construction work was well under way. Let's wait no longer.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-14
The United States and Mexico

! Now that United States troops are about to cross over the border and traverse Mexico in pursuit of Villa and his bandits all manner of specu- lation and guesses are indulged in as to the final outcome of the expedi- tion.
 Carranza, chief of the de facto government, has been assured in formal diplomatic. terms that the ex- petition is in no sense an invasion, but it requires little imagination to see a sanguinary clash between the American forces and the Mexicans be- fore the expedition has progressed very far.
 This may be the beginning of the end of Wilson's "watchful waiting" policy. The American people have been extremely restive under the ad- ministration's indulgent attitude to- ward Mexico. When our army was at Vera Cruz it should have been marched to Mexico City and there should have been set up then stable government under the stars and stripes.
 
 Soon or late the United States must intervene in the turbulent republic and bring order out of chaos. Has the opportunity that slipped away come again? It may be so. Carranza is not to be trusted, and if this country does not become embroiled in bloody war with Mexico it will be something of a miracle.
 What is needed at Washington at this juncture is virile policy that will lead to cessation of brigandage and political turmoil. If direct inter vention is the only way this can be accomplished, then let's have inter- vention.
 The situation in Mexico is hopeless and will remain hopeless until the United States takes a hand, and a very strong hand at that.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-14

At the outbreak of the European war lower Mesopotamia was enjoying great prosperity due to a large extent to the profusion of date palm trees, which flour According to statement given out by the National Geographic society, the trees are thick in some of the Mesopota- milan valleys that they resemble banana plantations along the rivers of Costa Rica and Guatemala. The annual date harvest of the river country of southern Mesopo- tafnia is estimated at about 10000 tons. The date palm has a trunk from 50 to 80 feet high and cluster of leaves at the top which resemble an umbrella in shape. The bark is rough and affords footing to the abiie Arab who climbs tv the top by using a loop-noose. Practically every part of the date tree is used. The pistils of the date blossom contain a fibre which is used as a substitute for rubber sponge. A large bud at the extremity of the trunk Is COnSfQereQ chOiCe taDie QefiCdCys IL has an alnon flavor. Old dates are used for making syrup and sugar, and brandy is sometimes distilled from them. The pit of the date Is ground up and fed to cat tie. Whole pits are used for beads and counters for children. Beds, tables, chairs. cradles, boats and other articles are made from the branches after being stripped of their leaves. The leaves pro- vide material for making baskets fans, and strings, while the bark furnishes an excellent fibre. Te wood of the trunk Is used extensively for bridge building and architecture At the beginning of the war large sums were being spent on irri- gation projects. One concern was pre- paring to spend s13o,Ooo.Ooo to irrigate about 100000 acres of land. It is esti- mated that there are 100000 acres of land in Mesopotamia that could be irri- gated profitably. an area equal approxi- mately to New Hampshire Massachusetts and Connecticut.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-14
GEORGE ELIOT

\ rTOHi AlIe.
 memorial to George Eliot Is to be erected at Nuneaton. England, her birth place. It is a private gift and will take .he form of museum and art gallery.
 It will be located in the midst of the scenes from clerical life made famous by this distinguished woman.
 Will 1t stimulate the reading of her books? We doubt 1t.
 The business of being dead author is getting all the time to be more and more fraught with grave perils. When they had only themselves for competitors times were better for them. but now that the Sunday magazines and monthly maga- zines haev been added to the list. not to mention the best sellers. they are hav- Ing sorry time. They are also sadly ham dicapped by the very fact that they can not come back and write their works over again to suit the modern taste.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-14

The Tampa Tribune. one of the most progressive newspapers in the south. re- ment devoted to the resources and ad- vantages of it's immediate district, which is attracting wide attention. Florida is already recognized as nations play ground, but from a business point of view it also offers many attractions. The Tribune's supplement is fine piece of work geographically, and is we'll worth reading. Numerous illustrations add to it's interest.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-14

expensive wine suppers and white lights to prove the contrary. lie is wholly unable to understand that these do not denote broadness of spirit and breadth of view.
 The intolerance of New York applies to music as we'll as to everything else. A case in point is the treatment given by New York newspapers, with few ex- captions. to northwestern orchestra which recently played at Carnegie hall.
 The concert was excellent. The pro- gramme was we'll chosen. The work of the orchestra was commendable. The engagement had been arranged by the management solely to show New York that elsewhere than in that city, an earnest effort was being made in the cause of music. The orchestra wanted merely to indiccate that something had been accomplished. There was no inten- ton of swaggering into the worlds metropolis with an idea of making its people ashamed of their own musical standards. The visitors were modest and appropriately humble, and declined to challenge comparisons.
 Yet the New York critics, with | the greenest ink and in their most ironical style fell upon the visitors. They were accused of playing in New York to show the musical elect of that city "how symphony music should be rendered. Musical journals, which are supposed to stand for the national up- lift of the art were as uncharitable as the others. The advancement of music in America was completely forgotten in the joy of being satirical and clever rather than fair.
 Music in America will progress in spite of this thoroughly petty attitude. But it would deevlop more rapidly if 6 broader spirit of fellowship were shown in city from which the nerve centers of American art are largely controlled. New York is mighty enough in music to afford to extend the encour- aging hand rather than the poisoned
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-14
"TIME" ON RAILROADS fha Cbica go Herald.

From the Chicago Herald.
 Commenting last Tuesday on H. A. Enochs' presentation of the case of the men in the pending controversy over rail- way train service wages the Herald re- marked that "a question of fact" was raised by MT. Enochs' allegation of a tendency toward keeping men on con- tinuous duty for 16 hours, tying up freight crews on the road between the fourteenth and sixteenth hours whenever 1t is possible" and under conditions in which they could not obtain proper rest.
 It further remarked that 1t ought to be satisfactorily demonstrable whether such infringement of the spirit, if not of the letter, of the 16-hour law Is so frequent as to indicate a policy, or so infrequent as to be regarded as merely occasional and accidental, and pointed out that such Q showing is vital to the contention of the men that their demands are not much for 25 per cent higher wages as for more humane hours.
 J. w. Higgins in letter printed Wednesday, cited official figures showing great decrease since 1913 of train crews kept on duty more than Is hours. The
 
 seem more responsive to it's question: What percentage of train crews are thus tied up on the road where 1t is impossi- ble for them really to rest?"
 Exhibits made by the western railroads in the arbitration of 1914-15 with the engineers and firemen show that out of 5,s49 ,635 trains run only 34,S8S. or fifty nine- -hundredths of l per cent, exceeded the 16-hour limit and that only 35,491, or six-tenths of 1 per cent, were tied up to avoid infringing the law. In similar arbitration in 1913 the eastern railroads showed that in the month of 1912 of the greatest number of such cases only 5554 out of 2S5, 343 trains run, or 1S7 per cent, were so tied up, and only 2311, or seventy eight-hundredths of per cent, were out more than 16 hours.
 Taken in connection with the decrease from 26l,332 men in 19l2-13 called upon to work more than 16 hours to 59,373 such cases in 1S14-15, these figures seem to show that the railways cannot be justly accused of anything in the nature of the policy imputed to them by MT. Enochs, and that such detentions are largely accidental. In fact, the official figures show that out of the 5000 men so kept out in 1914-15 about 5000 were the result of collisions, derailments and other occurrences which relieve from any charge of violating the law.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-14
Wilson. Chances for Re-eIectio.

President Wilson's chances for re- election have seemed good. indeed, and if he will only keep an army in Mexico, after sending 1t there. he will be stronger than ever with the people," said M. w. Bayne of Philadelphia.
 MT Wilson has made, in many re- spects, a great President His Mexico policy has been weak. but in spite of that he deserves reelection, and l do not see how the republicans and pro- gressives combined can beat him. Much depends. however, upon the course of events within the next few months.
 When I was in New York and Boston last week I heard more people praising Wilson than had been the case on former visits to those cities. There is some Roosevelt talk. but the chief interest now is centered In Wilson,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-14
From the New York Times.

From the New York Times.
 A BLOOD-FLECKED train marked
 "A the show in Central park near ' Seventy-second street and Central park west yesterday, where eight girls dancing for the movies. Their feet and ankles were cut and scored by breaking through the crust of ice. Apparently neither the girls nor their instructor, Miss Marion Morgan, all of Los Angeles, knew that the sieet and rain of Monday night had left a covering, brittle and sharp as glass when broken, when they stration in the park. The girls discov- cred the Spartan character of their task when their feet first sank through the frozen crust but they were urged on by Miss Morgan and the camera men until one little miss cried in pain: Cant you see our feet are bleeding"
 But their protests were little needed, circling while the instructor measured their rhythm. They went to the dance in high glee, but ended it almost in tears.
 Shivering in their sleeveless flmy gar ments of red that hardly reached half way to the knees. the girls stopped time and again, though the camera operators and Miss Morgan urged them from one they rubbed the blood from their ankles and feet, but obeyed orders like soldiers going to charge.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-14
Return. from New York

A. w. B. Johnson. president of the Steele-Smith Dry Goods company, has returned from business trip to New York.
 What most impresses a merchant visiting New York is the scarcity of many articles in common use," said MT. Johnson. There is, in fact, scarcity of nearly all lines of merchandise, and, of course, prices are high accordingly and they are going higher. There is a. great rush for goods. and this is one of the times when the supply is not equal to the demand
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-14
ENTIRELY TOO OPEN

From the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
 A professor connected with the Krupp works threatens to construct artillery that will shoot clear across the channel from the continent. This Is in line with predictions of the coming out of the German navy from Kiel and other predictions. This plan of an- nouncing in advance just what one government is going to do Is becom- ing so frequent that strategy boards may lose their jobs.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-14
RATHER p1scouRAG1NG.

He had noble aim in life
 At least he so declared; He talked about his neighbors' faults,
 Their feelings never spared. Confessed his heart was filled with woe, To see their wayward ways, Who evidently did not wish
 For pious peoples praise. And when he went around the town
 Some needed funds to seek, He didn't gather coin enough
 To keep him for a week.