davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-18
The Great Business Barometer

The wave of prosperity which be- oan to manifest itself early last fall, and which extended over the country during the winter, marked the begin ming of an era of good times now felt in every branch of commercial life.
 One of the greatest barometers ot the business world is the iron and steel trade. The demand for steel shows no sign of Tagging. The books of the Steel corporation are said to be running 10000 tons daily in ex- cess of shipments and February buy ing is far ahead of January buy ing. Steel prices are higher than they have been in 15 years. These facts surely indicate continuance of industrial activity.
 Many of the railroads are overtaxed with freight traffic and nearly all of them are reporting increased earn ings. A few months ago the trans portation companies were ordering new equipment sparingly. Now most of them are purchasing on a large scale Not in recent years has there been such an insistent demand for locomotives and rolling stock, and the steel rail market is displaying a healthy activity once more.
 The real estate business, which is among the first to be depressed by an industrial paralysis and which is the last to respond to general trade revival, is now becoming decidedly active in certain sections. In Bir- mingham improvement in the realty market is noted and there is a very confident feeling that within the next few weeks the local market will be on a healthy boom. Prudent investors are on the lookout for bargains, for whens the tide turns trading will be brisk and prices will advance rapidly.
 The spring of 1916 will witness many new records in Birmingham's industries and everything points to this being a banner year throughout the district.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-18
Al Cure for the RIuea

"As a usual thing, I find very little trouble in keeping myself in the best of spirits remarked Percy Brewer, as he lounged in the cozy library at the Bir- mingham Athletic club.
 There is usually plenty of excitement in town. The theatre and opera have of course been enough to keep my leisure hours fully occupied during each even- ing of the present week. By the way, nothing has ever afforded me such ex- cellent enjoyment as Birmingham's grand opera. There are, however, brief periods when time hangs heavy on my hands. One may, of course always resort to the latest popular novel for diversion; but this in time loses it's attraction, for such fiction is usually the same plot worked over again with a few striking novelties.
 There is, however, always one last resort which seldom if ever fails-San. Jackson, or Big Sam. as the E. A. c. walking colored delegate is usually called Sam is a genuine cure for the blues. It is he who always has pleasant word to say, and it is he who steams the worn- out athlete or social victim when all hope seems gone; and it is he who rubs and cajoles until the spark of life and vigor are, so to speak, rekindled. sam is some porter, and then some
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-18
Preparedness Sentiment Increasing

i Preparedness Sentiment Increasing
 The sentiment in favor of national preparedness has increased since the defense question became a topic of vital interest, and it is believed that today majority of the intelli- gent and patriotic Americans are in accord with the administrators pro- gramme. Opinions regarding details differ among the people at large, just as they differ among military and naval experts; but the general propo- sition that this country's defense needs strengthening is not questioned by any but the -at-any- price propagandists, and many of the so- called pacifists are simply playing the game of small politics.
 Now that the continental army plan which Secretary Garrison had pre- sented and urged has been dropped as impracticable, the military com mittee of the House of Representa- tives will recommend larger increase in the regular army than the admin istration's programme had called for. It had been thought that if large body of reserves could be provided 130,00O regulars would be sufficient, but Chairman Hay is now inclined to recommend an increase of 100000 men. He is also in favor of federal izing the organized militia and put ting officers and men on pay basis. It is believed that an organized citi- zen soldiery of something like 300,- 900 might be available for active mili- tary service under the proposed pay measure.
 With regular army of 175,000 men and a federalized militia of 100000 the United States would have 8 formidable trained fighting force to start with in the event of war, and if Congress will support the proposed plans no further expansion of the military establishment will be de- manded for some years.
 What Congress will do remains to be seen. It will vote for an increase, but not as much perhaps as the situa- tion justifies.
 The army bills will probably be disposed of before May, but the navy bills will not be ready for several months and as they will be long de- bated there is not much chance of Congress adjourning before late in the summer.
 If the democrats in Congress should make botch of the preparedness programme, many of the members seeking reelection will be defeated. It is hoped Congress will act wisely and give the country preparedness legislation that will seem adequate for the next few years at least.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-18
THOSE FLArTEnING MOVIES

Arthur Chapman in Judge.
 Next to an unretouched photograph, the moving picture screen is the greatest flat terer in the world. It doesn't hatter those who appear in the pictures so much as those who sit in front.
 Nobody can attend a moving picture show without being reasonably confident that he has assimilated everything. It IS not like the spoken drama, where one learns, on picking up the paper the next morning, that he missed just about half the subtleties in the performance and came near losing the big idea of the whole thing. Everything is right where all of us can get each detail without ef- fort, and in grabbing those details we find great matters for self-congratula- tion. Just as an instance, a picture of a young man is flashed upon a screen. He is sitting at table in a dreamy attitude. Finally there appears in the upper corner of the picture a portrait of a girl. The portrait appears slowly, as if through a mist. The young mans features take on rapt expression. Ev- eryone in the audience knows he is think ing about his sweetheart, as visualized in the upper part of the screen. A fat trav- cling salesman who Emma-M Chesney- izes in crockery, whispers loudly to his wife.
 He's thinkin' about his girl,p and then shakes hands with himself because of his cleverness in discovering the point and his quickness in making it known The fat man is confident that he was the
 
 cover what the young man on the screen was thinking about. Then the young man in the picture takes up a desk tele- phone-something which no interior scene is without nowadays. Whereupon the fat man whispers, a trif1e louder than before.
 Ties goin' to telephone her.
 Marvellous perspicacity of the fat mani The young man does telephone his sweet heart, who is seen answering, and who, of course, is none other than the young woman whose portrait appeared on the screen in the guise of a mental image.
 The fat man scores another putout for himself. Before the evening ends, he scores 40 putouts without bobble-a record which the star shortstop in either big league could not equal He goes home shaking hands with himself as clever guy. Quick thinking. that, guessing those situations as fast as they came up. Not many could do it. And several hun dred in the theatre are thinking in the same strain with the fat man. They have caught everything the playwright threw to them. He didn't fool them for quar- ter of a second. They could even tell how the play was going to come out all most two deep breaths and gasp be- fore the hero grabbed the heroine for the final fadeaway clinch and kiss. Thus 1t is that the movies are getting in their evenings of insidious fiattery and send- ing every body home supremely satisfied
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-18
Strong Iron Market

After breathing spell of a few months, the pig iron market has again resumed it's upward journey" say Rogers, Brown & Co, in their Cincinnati report. Two advances in price were made by Buffalo furnaces during the week and from the appearance of the well filled order books in other districts it is quite likely that these furnaces will fall in with the procession. Interest among buyers in the Pittsburg district seems to have Jagged somewhat, but good orders are reported from other fields, mo- tably Chicago. Locally the cry for pis iron and coke is as insistent as ever, practically every customer calling for in- creased shipments. Delivery is being in- peded by lack of facilities, February l showing the greatest car shortage throughout the country since November, 1913. Foreign inquiry is growing and spreading to new countries.
 Railroads not only continue to place orders for cars, locomotives and equip ment for this years shipment, but are buying for 1917. Structural inquiry is improving and shipyards have more op- portunities than they can accept. This makes it necessary for manufacturers to inquire on steel and it is thought the 1917 output of the mills will be contracted for prior to July of this year."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-18
As 'Tis Done In Mexico

A few days ago three former Villa ecuted at Juarez in the presence of about 5000 persons, among them sev- eral hundred Americans who doubtless s'came to see the fun" It was a gala day in Juarez, the occasion arousing as much popular interest and excite ment as one of Mississippi's justly famous public hangings, to which the country people for miles around. have resorted, with their families and pie mic baskets, while political candidates, ever mindful of an opportunity to ad- dress the voters, delivered their harangues to the assembled crowds waiting for the execution to take place.
 Behind the trio of Villistas several hundred Mexicans formed a proces- sion. The death march was headed by band playing popular airs. Two of the hardy bandits faced death without flinching, the ordeal being made harder by the executions taking place one at time. As the third pris- oner was lined up before his dead comrades he looked at the bodies, muttered a prayer and said to the captain of the firing squad: "Shoot when you like. Good-by, comrades" :" A few seconds later he was lying be- tween his two companions.
 Three other prisoners had been sen i tSnced to be shot. but in true Mexican
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-18
\ sv.niard reaching Spanish

The Rev. Father Alfaro, a native of Madrid, but lately a resident of Mexico, is the guest of the Rev. Father Turner of West End
 "It is Father Alfaro's purpose to settle here as a teacher of Spanish" said the pastor of the Blessed Sacrament church. "He is exceptionally well equipped for this work In view of the increasing in- terest in our trade with Central and South America the number of young men desirous. of learning, Spanish will be rapidly increasing and the reverend father will be glad to form private classes, which he can teach in addition to teaching in the convent school
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-18

The United States coast and geodetic
 survey and the lighthouse service are
 now doing pioneer work in the waters of
 the Philippines, which have been known
 for long time. but have never been
 charted to any extent The Sulu sea is
 huge body of water, 5O,OOO square miles
 in area, and is inclosed by the southern
 islands of the archipelago and British
 Borneo. It has been little used by the
 ships of modern commerce because of
 the lack of elementary surveys and accu- rate chartings of it's numerous reefs and
 shoals. Shipping underwriters forbade the vessels insured by them to take a short cut through the Sulu sea and as a result all trade routes originating near the sea have been prolonged as much as 25O and 300 miles, In the days of Span ish dominion the royal Spanish mail used to sail across this body of water, but the route required five changes of course When the war in Europe broke out ships taking refuge in sheltered routes of travel tried to feel their way across the Sulu sea and disasters occurred The United States coast and geodetic survey then began the work of charting the sea to make a safe passage from the southeast l ern Philippine ports to the BaIabec straits, which provide an opening into the China 1 sea on the direct route to Singapore and l the Suez canal. A perfect course from 10 l to 15 miles wide has been practically | completed It requires only two changes of course and these are marked by the first high power acetylene lights that nave ever shone on these waters.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-18

ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
MORE MORNING DELIGHTS.

 How sweet to awaken in the morn, When sunbeams first begin to creep Across the lea, and then to turn Right back again and go to sleep.
 Youngstown Telegram. How sweet to walzen in the morn And crawl out from the coverlid And seek the porch at a. m. To get the bottle for the kid.
 Nashville Banner. How sweet to rouse at 1 a. m And bid a long farewell to slumber; And fall across a chair to tell Some chump he's calling the wrong number. Houston Post. How sweet to waken in the morn, Responsive to a wifely clout, And hear her say with cutting scorn: Git up! You've let the fire go out!'
 Springfield (Mass.) Union. How sweet to walxen in the morn When sunbeams first begin to bob Across the lea, and then to know That poor old dad has got a job Gainesville Telegraph Republican. How sweet to waken in the morn And know that you were not a fool, But chose to wed brilliant maid Who has a fine place teaching school.
 Grand Rapids News. How sweet to waken in the morn Without one bit of fear or doubt, And then to quickly realize The furnace fire is all but out.
 -Ashtabula Star. How sweet to waken in the morn For column men what greater bliss? And, browsing through the papers, find filler" that's as long as this
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-18
A GENTLEMAN'S DUDS

ing pink silk corsets for men, but no ac- tion was taken.''
 Action will be awaited with nerve con- suming interest by all gentlemen and by all who want to be gentlemen. Unad- vised, man might buy a half dozen or so mauve cerise, roan or flea -bitten-gray corsets only to find next day that water melon pink is the only shade which gentleman may wear His corsets would then be dead loss. No man other than gentleman would wear corset. They woQld not fit the women of a gentleman's family and you couldn't give 'em away.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-18
THE ORIGINAL METHOD

From EVeryDUuy 5.
 Katherine and Margaret found them- selves seated next each other at dinner party and immediately became confiden- tial.
 Molly told me that you told her that secret I told you not to tell her." whis- pered Margaret.
 'Oh, isn't she a mean thing.' gasped Katherine. Why told her not to tell you!"
 Well" returned Margaret T told her wouldn't tell you she told me-so don { tell her I did''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-18
so IT SEEMS.

Doing much advertising these days?'
 Not great deal" answered the man. ufacturer of a household remedy. we are spending about s5oO,OoO with the news papers this year and perhaps s5OO,OOo on billboards and other forms of outdoor advertising, but can't say that we are exerting ourselves. You see, our remedy sells itself" o
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-18
GIVES HIMSELF AWAY
V

When Gadsby takes few drinks downtown he smokes. chews gum and tries in other ways to keep Mrs. Gadsby from suspecting that he has had a stim- ulant'
 Well. does he succeed in his base de- ception?"
 Not at all. He has never yet found out how to take few drinks and keep his tongue from wagging."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-18
LIKES TO QUIT.

T understand your son, Jabez. is thinking of taking up the study of medi- cine?"
 So he is," replied MT. cobbles.
 'rYou don't seem very enthusiastic about it."
 Maybe not. That's because I've no, ticed that whenever Jabez takes any, thing up it isn't long before he lays it down."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-18
THE WHITE PEACE

By Fiona Macleod. It lies not on the sunlit hill,
 Nor on the sunlit plain; Nor ever on any running stream,
 Nor on the unclouded main But sometimes, through the soul of man.
 Slow moving OCT his pain, The moonlight of a perfect peace
 Floods heart and brain.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-18
Wholesome Activt,

 Wholesome Activities at Y. M. C. A.
 Things have never been in better shape around the Central association building than at the present time" re- marked Secretary Stallings, and the membership of the Birmingham institu- tion is indeed exceedingly large.
 Though we perhaps lead the south il point of numbers due to our extraordi- nariiy successful membership campaign of a few months ago, it is not this in which people interested in the associa- tion take the most pride The fact which strikes the newcomer with most force is that the spirit of young Ameri- canism finds full and wholesome express sion in the activities of the Birmingham organization.
 There is in evidence in all departments spirit of aggressive action that brings results. Both in social and athletic en- deavors full play is given to the indi- vidual; and there is always some novel and striking manner in which new feats are performed"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-18
TT PAYS TO ADVERTISE

From the Louisville Courier-Journal
 Wisconsin is making S65 trainloads of cheese every year, but still is more widely known as the producer of Senator La Toilette, which shows what advertising does.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-18
prc,NNING THE DAY-May ]

BEGINNING THE DAX-May hide not nay Lords money today. May | use all the things that EnOu hast given me. God, keep me rom living half life. God keep me rom covering my light, from hoardins my talents, from shutting up my aoul. Lord, may I use myselH Aest I lose myself. In Chrtsfs name' Amen.--H. M. E.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-18
Stray Aneoras

Commissioner Barber is hereby noti- ned to advise Chief Eagan to instruct ms subordinates to be on the lookout next Wednesday morning for bunch of stray 'buttinskies of the Goat family that may be wandering about the high ways and byways of Birmingham" said J. H. Edmundson yesterday.
 The Shriners of Zamora Temple have staged "A Night in Arabia to be pre- sented at the Tutwiler hotel on next Tuesday evening in honor of the visiting imperial potentate, J. Putnam Stevens of Portland. Me. Members of his imperial divan will accompany him, and nobles from the temples of other states and many foreign nobles will be present. As is well known, some Shriners, like other bashful beings, have a goat. It is in- tended by certain of the prankishly in- c.ined who will be present to corral as many of these Angoras as possible, and the wiser the owner, the surer is his 'animule' to escape. "A Night in Arabia is from all information obtainable 'sho-nuff' stunt within itself, and ma Jority of all present being in fantastic costumes, the grand ball which will close the evening will be a gorgeous sight to behold'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-18

Automobiles are said to be so numerous in Pawnee county, Kansas, that it is hard for prosperous farmer to find someone to look down on.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-18

In certain parts of Arkansas the hospi- table native invites the stranger to sit and spit the fire out. Plug tobacco is still popular in that section
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-18
ALABAMA PRESS

Gadsden Journal; There is state tax on dogs, but none on hogs. And hogs mean money, too
 Anniston Star: Through the mistake of some of the newspapers in spelling his name Brandeis, the Presidents nomi- nee for the supreme court now has the prohibition party against him. Besides he was born in Kentucky.
 Montgomery Times: There does not seem to be very much regret at the res isnation of Secretary of War Garrison. The country is against the big prepared nee for the supreme court now has the he did the proper thing to get out of the cabinet. He was not in accord with his chiefs views for Mir Wilson knew that the majority of the people of the United States were against the big standing con tinental army that he advocated and hence his staying in the cabinet would have been an embarrassment to the President instead of an aid. About the best thing about Garrison is, that after he got out he had the good taste to keep his mouth shut
 Talladega Home: violators of the pro- hibition law in South Carolina. will have to serve chain-gang sentence of at least six months. Times look dark for the South Carolina bootlegger-Bir Birmingham Age-Herald. Well, the trade of the boot lesger is usually dark.
 Tuscaloosa News: The country is waiting for definite steps to be taken to put the country in shape to defend itself from attack, but it doesn't want to wait too long.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-18

A pretty girl in a modish bathing suit is reported to have shocked Palm Beach the other day Yet, Palm Beach is noted as a shock absorber.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-18
ToM,s REASONABLE

From the Nashville Banner.
 MT. Marshall says he will gladly run or retire. It has been expected that he> would.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-18

A correspondent asked 50 Parisians what they thought of the United States, and they expressed opinions that varied widely. That's encouraging. They might have denounced us unreservedly.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-18

Winston Churchill is still being blamed do. He seems to bear up under it well.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-18

Grand Duke Nicholas was presumably denoted, but recent developments in the Caucasus indicate that you can't keep a good man down.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-18

The Virginia legislature was willing to tackle prohibition but baked at regulat- ing the length of women's skirts.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-18

Purists may object to President Will sons use of very" but that isn't going to hurt his chances with the common peepul."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-18

It will be positive relief when the United States army can no longer be re- ferred to as ''microscopic.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-18

As surfeit is the father of much tast' So every scope by the immoderafe use Turns to restraint.
 Measure for Measure.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-18

The trap hasn't been invented yet that can hold that elusive person, "Pancho" Villa.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-18
A PERTINENT QUESTION

From the Kansas City Star.
 Still, if MT. Claude Kitchin desires to remain democratic floor leader of the House, why doesn't he do some leading?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-18

The boil weevil is a hustler, but the cattle tick has staying qualities of a high order.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-18

Maybe German diplomats don't under stand the United States and then again they may understand only too well.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-18

The newspapers have contrived to go to an interview with Mime. Schwimmer.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-18

The country may be afflicted with movie madness" but that is consider ably less harmful than speed mania.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-18

The prediction has been made that the war will last 10 years loner-presumably by a pessmist.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-18
A BAD POLICY.

A BAD POLICY. T see where candidate says he is going to keep running for certain office until he gets it"
 Hes making great mistake" How so?"
 You can poster man until he pays back borrowed money, but you can't make him vote for you that way"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-18

wasnin gton bureau. 2O7 Albbs build ing - ..
 European bureau, Henrietta street, covent Garden, London.
 Eastern business office. Rooms 4S to k0 inclusive, Tribune building, New york city; western business ottlce Tribune building, Chicago. The 5. G Beckwith Special Agency. agents TOT sigu advertising.