davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-08-19
CHECKERS
From the Cincinnati Times-Star.

From the Cincinnati Times-Star.
 The checker tournament at Cedar Point is ended and the championship of Ohio Is decided. But it was with diff culty that a tournament was completed. At first it was postponed on a-count of lack of entrants. And even after it was under way, the tournament bore the ap- pearance of containing players who were conscripts instead of volunteers Only a. few revealed sufficient ability to be classed as experts.
 Great games enjoy revivals at regular intervals and it would seem that checks should again come into it's own. It is one of the most ancient of games. Pene- lopes sultors played it while awaiting their fate al the hands of the returning Ulysses. Plato mentions it. It was part of the recreation of ancient Egypt and imperial Rome
 In our later days we have turned largely from checkers. Chess has SUD- planted 1t with those who prefer the greater intricacies of the checker board. Whist in it's many varieties has secured an unprecedented hold on the public. Our Ingenuity has multiplied many fold the possibilities of recreation through card playing. Dominoes with the really scientific game of sniff, have increased enormously in popularity.
 But in most instances the newer games and the revision of the old games have increased the difficulties of the player. The rules make demands upon the mind Of the player instead of inducing mental recreation They have not the simplicity and straightforwardness of checkers. There is not the opportunity for conversa- ton and good humored chaffing that the less pretentious game affords
 Checkers is more like genial avoca- ton, permitting complete relaxation. Chess, auction and other games of Iaby- rinthine mental processes that secure a hold on us resemble more closely voca- tions in which we struggle and fret. To us there would seem more relst playing checkers at Cedar Point than auction at Narragansett
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-08-19
THE HOUSE OF HAPSBURG
From the Nashville Tennessean.

From the Nashville Tennessean.
 N N 1259, Archbishop Werner, elector of
 Mentz, was on his way to Rome to
 receive the pallium. The passes of the Alps, through which he had to go, were infested with robbers. It was a per- ilous trip. But there came to his assist ance one Rudolph of Hapsburg. dashing and very able fellow, who guarded the archbishop from robbers and charmed him with conversation.
 That bit of work made the mighty house of Hapsburg. Rudolph was no very great man, though a soldier of some note. His possessions were the land- graviate of Upper Alsace and the county of Hapsburg, together with an ancestral castle in one of the forest cantons of Switzerland AS a king among kings, he was not in position to shine.
 But 13 years after the archbjshop's trip across the Alps, the Germanic electors were confronted with the duty of elect ing a man to preside over the affairs of the Holy Roman empire, that monstrosi- ty that has been described as neither holy, Roman nor an empire" And, just there, probably the first dark horse" in history was trotted out. There were any number of prominent men and favoritd sons, but the electors were not able to agree on any of them. Archbishop Wer- ner, casting the vote of Mentz and hav- ing a pretty strong pull, proposed his Al. pine guide, Rudolph of Hapsburg, who was elected
 With things coming his way, Rudolph kept them coming. He had been elected because he did not amount to much, but he was a pushing young fellow. At that time, Ottocar was on the throne of Bo- hernia, and possessed of the duchies of Austria and three or four others. Also, by marriage and otherwise, he had gained control of Hungary. He was proud person and pestered Rudolph powerfully. Rudolph started out to whip him, which he accomplished with no very great diff ficulty, after stopping on the road to sub- due the rebel Duke of Bavaria.
 Those victories gave Rudolph control ot a pretty wide stretch of territory-practi- cally all that is now included in both the German and Austro-Hungarian empires
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-08-19
WOMEN FOR CONGRESS

From the Youngstown Telegram.
 Kansas has nominated for the frst time a woman candidate for Congress. The rominee probably boasts an even greater distinction as this is apparently tbe first congressional nomination given a woman in any state as the representa- tive of one of the two major parties In still another respect the contest was unioue for the woman's opponent was a minister. who piled up a big vote but was nosed out when complete returns had been tabulated.
 Unfortunately the country will likely have to look elsewhere than Kansas for a woman 'congressman' this year. Win ming a nomination is not winning an cleo ton. The suffragist candidate appears to have put hard fight against the ministerial candidate only to draw a blank for she is now the democratic nominee in district so hopelessly re- publican that even the democratic land slides of 1910 and 1912 left it unaffected and the republican nominee in 1914 won by upwards of 12,000 with progressive candidate in the field to draw votes away from him. Probably her opponent will do little more worrying, however, than he has done in past campaigns for the the district stampeding to woman nominee regardless of party is enough to bring cold chills to a male congress- man who has held down a job for 10 years and rather likes it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-08-19
LEG SHATTERED BY HEAT

From the Pecatonica, H., News.
 City Clerk Clarence Schmich of Freeport had his wooden leg shattered by the heat last Saturday. It sounded like a pistol shot and for a time he was unable ot un- derstand what had happened, but he soon discovered that his wooden underpinnng had been shattered. That is new record for the heat. People who have wooden legs better put them on ice during the present heated term. It is no joke to have a wooden leg shattered by the heat or any other cause. Aside from the incon- venience of going on srutches until he can have another limb fitted. the city clerk will be put to considerable expense. Wooden legs are made of English willow and they are a rather expensive luxury slnce the war in Europe has caused sucn a demand for wooden legs. They cost now s125 and are hard to get at that.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-08-19
THE WOMAN LAWYER
the Savannah Press.

From the Savannah Press.
 We have no idea Governor Harris, al- though a lawyer will veto the bill per hitting Georgia women to practice law. While the state bar association has on several occasions declined to indorse the proposition that a woman has intelligence enough to pratice law in this state we are glad to know the legislature has if nally formally disagreed with that au- gust assemblage. There is no reason why woman would not make as good a lawyer as a man. Indeed, we should feel very sorry for the sex if they did not make better lawyers than some men we know
 Now that the women are to be permit ted to practice law in the state We ex- pect to see some of the smartest attor- neys of the state forming partnerships with those of the feminine gender. The progressive women of the state will be glad to know that at last, so far as pleading and practicing are concerned, they are the equals of those of the sterner sex.
 The passage of the law which gives women the right to practice law is but another step in the direction of votes for women." It will not be many years before the women of Georgia will be able to go to the ballot box and cast their ballots like a man-but not always as a man says
 We notice our republican friend. Sen ator Pickett, voted against the bill This must mean he is not as enthusiastic in his desire for women to have their rights as his friend, Justice Hughes, professes to be.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-08-19
HERE'S TO LAUGHTER.
rom the New York Herald.

z run Iuo NeW 1OIk f1erdlU.
 Here's to laughter the sunshine of the soul, the happiness of the heart, the leaven of youth, the privilege of purity, the echo of innocence the treasure of the humble, the wealth of the poor, the bead of the cup of pleasure; it dispels de- jection. banishes blues and mangles mel ancholy, for it's the foe of woe, the de- stroyer of depression. the enemy of grief; 1t is what makes kings envy peasants. plutocrats envy the poor, the guilty envy the innocent; it's the sheen on the silver of smiles, the ripple on the waters de- light; the glint of the gold of gladness; without it humor would be dumb, wit would wther, dimples would disappear and smiles would shrivel, for it's glow of a clean conscience, the voice of a pure soul. the birth cry of mirth, the swan song of sadness.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-08-19
AN ORATORS WATERLOO
From Everybody's Magazine.

From Everybody's Magazine.
 A member of Congress from one of the rural districts of Wisconsin was ambi- tious to distinguish himself by his ora tory, and watched for a favorable op- portunity. A motion was made in the House for enforcing the execution of some statute whereupon the would-be orator rose and, after solemnly gazing upon the House in silence for moment or so addressed it as follows:
 "Mr. Speaker, have we laws, or have we not laws? If we have not laws, and they are not observed to what end are those laws made?"
 So saying. he sat down. his chest in Hated with conscious consequence. h. stantly Jim Mann of Illinois, rose and delivered this thought in these words:
 MT. Speaker: Did the honorable gen. tleman who last spoke speak to the pur- pose, or did he not speak to the purpose If he did not speak to the purpose. to what purpose did he speak?"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-08-19
GRIEF
By Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

By Elizabeth Barrett Browning. I tell you, hopeless grief is passion-
 less; That only men incredulous of despair. Half taught in anguish, through the
 midnight air Beat upward to Gods throne in loud Of shrieking and reproach. Full desert
 ness In souls as countries vertical eye glare Of the absolute heavens. Deep hearted
 man, express Grief for thy dead in silence like to
 death Most like monumental statue set In everlasting watch and moyeless
 woe, Till itself crumble to the dust beneath. Pouch it; the marble eyelids are not
 wet;
 If it could weep, it could rise and sa
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-08-19
EFFECT OF DISTANCE

EFFECT OF DISTANCE
 That is the voice of your departed wife, said the medium.
 T don't believe it." answered the client. My wife had a strong mascu- line voice. This one is not only meek and mild, but so faint can hardly hear it."
 'Ahem! You must remember that your wife is speaking to you from the Great Beyond"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-08-19

together with his original possessions in switzerland and Alsace, and with more or less shadowy claims upon great stretches of territory elsewhere.
 Through several centuries, the house of Hapsburg was quite the biggest establish- ment in the king business in Europe. But it had its ups and downs, it's seasons of prosperity and it's seasons of depression It gained only to lose and sometimes to est part of it's empire was torn away and conferred upon the Hohenzollerns. Through many years Franz Josef, the present head of the house, has been the most miserable monarch in Europe. He ruled country of diverse and discon- tented peoples. Political troubles have beset him and domestic troubles have overwhelmed him.
 And today, 657. years since the house of Hapsburg came into large prominence, it is tottering to it's final fall The meeting of Rudolph with Werner in the Alpine passes marked its rhetoric rise. The streaming of Bhussiloff's Russians through the passes of the Carpathians- and of the Italians through those same passes of the Alps-marks it's bloody set ting. The house of Hapsburg is about to become again what it was so long ago. a weak house of small and obscure pos sessions.
 Between the making and the unmaking is vast deal of history. From 1259 to 1916 is more than one-third of the era since the birth of Christ From an elec- tor of the Holy Roman empire to the Cossacks of the Little Father is far call. The Hapsburgs began influencing the world in the May morning of it's re- naissance. They are ceasing to influ- ence it in the dense darkness before the dawn of a day that may not yet be known. They came from little old cas- tie in the Swiss woods, and they have looked as masters upon half of Europe. The distress warrant of fate runs against them at last, and shortly they will go forth homeless-maybe to some other It. tie old castle in the hinterland.
 Watterson's ito hell with the Haps- burgs'' is about to be realized
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-08-19
SOLDIER BOYS WANT BOOKS

SOLDIER BOYS WANT BOOKS From the San Antonio Express.
 Soldier boys on the border want books' more books. They want to borrow them. And they want books on serious topics engineering, Mexican history, Texas his- tory, agriculture and the like.
 This is the gist of a letter received by Miss West, librarian of the San Antonio Carnegie library. It is from Private W.. R. Offutt, Battery B, Indiana Field ar tillery, stationed at Llano Grande, Tex. The message declares the battery is made up of Purdue university men and is cap tained by a Purdue graduate. It further declares that the men have to drill only four hours a day and that the rest or the time is theirs with the one condition that they do not leave the camp. They don know what to do with their spare time. 3
 Miss West answered the letter by say. ing that the Carnegie library here couio not lend books to anyone outside of the county. She said, however, that she IS making every effort to obtain DOCKS TOT the miltiamen on the border.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-08-19
BUSINESS POOR FOR PoRTERs

New York Correspondence Pittsburs
 Dispatch.
 This is the poorest summer I've seen' said porter in the Pennsylvania station, who was carrying a bag for passenger, in answer to the question, flows Dusl- ness?" "Yes, sir" continued the porter; if is plain rotten. You see. they put on a lot of extra men, expecting lots of business this summer, with nobody going to Europe. Then along comes the shark scare, and nobody goes to the beaches. And now, with this infantile paralysis. nobody with children is travelling, and there aint enough tips to go around no how"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-08-19
ALABAMA PRESS

Anniston Star: Mr. Hughes sacrificed a portion of his whiskers on account of the hot weather, but the way he talks you would think President Wilson stole them from him.
 Montgomery Advertiser: Another Mis- sissippi river pilot has killed himself. It seems that pilots live longer than any other class of people. They often get tired of waiting for the final summons, so they not infrequently hasten the end themselves.
 Selma Times: Most of the newspaper nominations for governor so far made, seem to fall in the lightweight class. By the way, why may not a man like W. P. G. Harding be drafted for the place? It would be a notable case of the office seeking the man, and for that reason as well as the needs of the public service the suggestion ought to be encouraged.
 Talladega Home: 1t is stated that Eng land will use New Orleans as her load ing port when she begins drawing on Bir- mingham for coal, iron, munitions, etc. via the Warrior river and then by rail- Why not divert to Mobile by the river route if Mobile harbor is able to take care of the business? If not, Mobile Alaba ma and the nation should see that her terminal developments are perfected at once. A favor of this kind done Mo- bile when circumstances will at all ad- init, is a favor to Alabama and the union, and rebounds to the good of the nation bestowing the favor. Mobile has fine harbor. Water transportation is cheaper than rail, and our seaport, which can easily be made the greatest on the gulf coast, is the most convenient and legitimate international distributing point for the products of the Birming- ham district.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-08-19
BILL

 Unless his eggs are fresh Bill Gum Will find a lot of fault; But always when he's served with one, He covers it with salt.
 Springfield Union. More silly traits to Bill belong, Here's one of which we speak: Unless a. cup of coffee's strong He'll holler for a week.
 Philadelphia Evening Ledzer. Yes, Bill has quite a feeble mind, On breakfast food he dotes, But how he kicks if he doth find A stick in his rolled oats.
 Harrisburg Patriot. Bill kicks if he don't get his rent To in safe place lock it; And he will also kick when he Finds rent in his pocket.
 Houston Post. And Bill has oft been heard to say, Expressing discomfort, That he no sooner gets his pay Than every nickel's spent. s
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-08-19
AN EXPLOSIVE STyLE

AN EXPLOSIVE STYLE
 T want to write stories with a punch" That's a laudable ambition, son, but an exclamation mark at the end of every sentence doesn't necessarily mean you are turning out snappy stuff'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-08-19
A LUCKY FELLOW

A LUCKY FELLOW ''Who is that fellow talking so learn edly about poultry raising?"
 That's Gadson. neighbor of mine.' But you live in an apartment house." So does Gadson. Fate has been so kind to him that he has never had an opportunity of trying to put his theories into practice"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-08-19
To things of a sellers praise be- IonEs. Loves LabOrs Lost.
 

BEGINNING THE DAY-O Lord God, who art as the shadow or great rock in a weary land, Who behoIdest Thy weak creatures, weary of labor, weary of pleasure, weary of hope deferred, weary of self, Tn Thine abundant compassion ana un- utterabIe tenderness, bring us, we pray Thee, unto Thy rest, through Iasu. Christ, Thy Son. Amen.-Ro- setti. h' AA' H'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-08-19
. War Munitions

The orders for war munitions con- tinue to pour into the United States, thereby rendering the country exceed ingly prosperous" said I. J. Osbun local manager of the Aetna Explosives com- pany. 'The recent announcement of the Aetna company of the purchase of the allies of $40,0oO,0OO worth of powder and explosives gives some idea of the enor- nous amount of ammunition that is ex- pended by the allies each day.
 Contrary to the belief of some people, 1 think this country will be just as pros porous at the conclusion of the present war as We are at present. Now, the powers are ordering war materials to maintain their armies fighting standing, after the war the battle scared nations will have to have materials used in times of peace to reconstruct the country. The result will be an influx of orders from the European nations for various imple- ments, building materials, steel, iron and other commodities that will be needed
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-08-19
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
HARD LINES

HARD LINES In days of old When knights were bold And ladies wondrous fair, And noblest drest, Though debts opprest, In velvets, silks and vair, The common herd, Not much preferred, Were in a far worse plight. By lordings quelled, They were compelled, To either work or fight.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-08-19
GOOD SUMMER BOOK

 What have you there?' "The memoirs of a famous baseball pitcher" Easy reading, I dare say" ''The easiest ever. Nearly 400 pages without single foot note, historical ref erence or quotation from the classics"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-08-19
sENs1BLY PROLONGED

So your wife was waiting for you at the head of the stairs when you got home last night?"
 Yes"
 "Oh, well. It's only short flight presume the oEdeal was soon over''
 'In actual time I don't suppose it took me long, but my wife looked at me so hard that when I reached the top l felt as if I had been climbing for ages"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-08-19
A MOVE ON

A MOVE ON But I thought you said prohibition would work wonders in this town" And so it has" "I don't see any improvement" "Men are hustling to get a drink these days who have never hustled before"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-08-19
Always Opposed to Spending Money

Rufe R. Bivens is one member of the board of revenue that is consistently opposed to the spending of money when 1t can possibly be helped.
 We came on the board of revenue" said MT Bivens, with a good surplus in all the various funds and now we are over half million dollars in debt It is time that we should consider steps toward retrenchment. We are spending too much money, going little too fast, and we should hold our horses until we catch our breath. I favor in the future spending just enough money to keep present activities going, but to start nothing else until the countys finances are in better shape"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-08-19
HOTEL LOBBIES
To Have Good Team

Lownes Morton, captain of this falls eleven at the University of Alabama who returned yesterday from Tuscaloosa where he had a conference with Coach Kelley, stated that he would have an $. l. A. A. championship this year. He was most optimistic at the prospects:
 Something like 40 men will report on September f." said Captain Morton, ito report for early fall practice. All of them are varsity caliber, and we can req sonably expect an S. l. A. A. champion ship team this year. It looks like grand football year for the old Crimson and White.
 We have the hardest schedule for the football team this fall in the history of the university. However, with the good material already at hand and what we know will arrive when school opens the prospects are of the brightest"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-08-19

TELEPHONE Bell (praynte exchange connecting all Aepartmenth) Main 49OO.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-08-19

reintroduced the bill.
 It is said that the exemption had been inserted for the especial benefit of certain retired officer known to be eager to criticize the army, and who was only waiting to be immune from discipline to act the part of a free lance.
 As the articles of war stand, and always should stand in respect to re- tired officers, retirement carries with it all the honors pertaining to the same rank on the active list, and also the same discipline when it comes to the jurisdiction of courts-martial. Retired officers draw three-fourths of the pay they were receiving at the time of retirement.
 There are always men in the army and navy, as there are in other voca- tions, who are predisposed to pick flaws and magnify small matters. They are never happy unless they are making somebody unhappy.
 There are too many troublemakers in the world, but there would be few more of them if army and navy re- tired officers were not held in re- straint by the fear of court-martial If President Wilson had let the ob- jectionable clause in the army bill slip through there would have been some "fireworks' perhaps; but the great majority of the retired men prefer to have the law remain as it is. It is only the ill-disposed fellows-the chronic knockers-w wish to get away from Uncle Sam's reasonable discipline.
 Many people&seem to be under the impression that a retired officer of the army can be ordered back into active service in time of war. No such rule exists. A retired officer some times tenders his services, but if they are accepted it is likely to be for some light duty. Once out he has only to
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-08-19

The first and last performance of a musical comedy was given one night re- gently in New York. Still, if that show were sent out on the road the versatile press agent would speak proudly of its New York run