davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-12

Dear Mrs. U1lman:
 Enclosed herewith I send you short letter to the boys of Birmingham to be used in your Age-Herald Junior. To the Teen-Age Boys of Birming-
 ham:
 Preparedness!
 That is the slogan of the day-pre- paredness For what? The papers say for war, and some others say as a bar rier against war.
 War against what? Why, war against our brother and sister nations across the waters.
 These big fights and rumors of fights by all the great nations of the world, except America, are good cause to make the boys of our great cities of America think about preparedness.
 But what you, the Teen-Age boys of Birmingham, need to prepare for Is the life of today and tomorrow and how are we doing it.
 You are being prepared by the edu- cation of the public schools and the education of the Sunday school and the education of the home and by the education of the playgrounds, by the good wholesome shows in the moving picture houses, and, best of all, in the sphere of play by the ever brand new out of doors, the woods and the hills, the creeks and the rivers that are yours.
 Older people sometimes tell us boys that we want to be prepared for the future. That we want to prepare our selves to be men, and they make 1t seem that boyhood and youth is just one continuous getting ready for man. hood.
 But do not believe that and I do not think that you boys believe 1t.
 If you, as boys, live for each day and do your brimming level best each day, then when you do grow up to be men you will be ready for the re- responsibilities that are to come.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-12
Bows View of Helen Keller

her, Do you think if we have suffrage women will vote intelligently?" Her quick reply was, "All of them will not, for I believe God made some of them fools to match with some of the men,
 I think Helen is great because she can be so happy when she has never seen all the beauties of this world, or heard splen- did music and birds sing, and has been without the power to express the thoughts in the mind God has given her.
 Though she was in early infancy blind, deaf and dumb she has labored until she overcame her infirmties to such a degree that she is now using the talents God gave her to help blind people who are far less helpless than she was.
 I came home from her lecture thinking that if she could be so wonderful with so much to overcome, what should we boys and girls of today do, with such oppor- tunities as we have.
 Helen Keller stimulated my ambition and made me resolve to make my life worth while
 EDWIN BRANSCOMB.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-12
PREPAREDNESS AS TT
 APPEALS TO THE BOYS

What we want for you most is be prepared to be boys Study your books hard, obey reasonable orders, do your level best work and when play time comes. play for all you are worth.
 The boy that does not know how to play is not worth a cent.
 Some people have told us that play is kind of a preparation for this same life of the future that they talk about so much. But we know that play that develops, like baseball, bas- ketba1l, football, running and skating, and swimming are a part of a boys life and work, and that if he does not do them with a "good conscience" he Is not doing his duty and being real boy any more than Woodrow Wilson would be real man if he did not handle things up in Washington.
 So we older boys of Birmingham are anxious that you Teen-Age boys be prepared and by that we mean be the biggest boy that is in you every day, at home, at work, at school and at play If boy does this he makes lots of friends. He has plenty of comrade- ship. He is a joy to his folks and his days are full of happiness, be- cause he has treated himself and his home and his work, and his boss, and his school fairly.
 There is lots of satisfaction in it. this business of being prepared for the work and the play of youth.
 Being ready every day for every days opportunities and tasks is the thing that makes for the biggest that there Is during your teen age years.
 It makes your days ring true, 1t makes for your own happiness, 1t makes for that clear inside conscience satisfied feeling, and 1t makes you your best boy self so that when you get to be a grown man you can look back on these today days and say with Hen- ry vandyke, our big-hearted poet for boys, that you are still seeking what I sought when but boy, new friend ship, high adventure and a crown"
 "RAT.PH S BARROW"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-12
OUR JUNIOR JOKES

Nov, Johnnie,' the teacher queried what would you do if you had goose that laid golden eggs?'
 'I'd set her on some of the eggs" re- piled the youngster, land hatch out more geese of the same kind.''
 A little girl about six years old was visiting friends, says the Kansas City Star, and during the course of the con- versation one of them remarked.
 "I hear you have new little sister,
 Yes answered the little girl, "just two weeks old.''
 Did you want it to be. little girl?'' asked the friend
 NO, I wanted it to be a boy.'' she re- piled. ''but it came while I was at school.''
 Teacher-"Willie. what does the Mon- roe doctrine mean?''
 Willie-"It means to shinny on your own side."-Exchange Teacher-"Now, children, here's an ex- ample in mental arithmetic. How old would a person be who was born in 1SS8?''
 Pupil-"Please teacher, was it man or a woman ?"--Woman's Home Compan- ion.
 Teacher-'If angry with another little boy, what would you do?-
 Small Tommy-"Sit on him and count a hundred"
 "Oh, dear" sighed little Joe, papa had his old whiskers cut off. and I suppose will have to wear them same as I dc his old clothes"
 First Small boy-'My mamma keeps a coachman and footman."
 Second Small Boy-"Huh That's noth- in! My mother keeps six boarders."
 Papa, queried the minister's small son, 'is 1t true that we must be born again before we can go to heaven?''
 So the scriptures teach us, my boy. , was the reply.
 Well, don't want to be born again, " said the little fellow. I'm afraid ] might be born a girl the next time."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-12
THE TIN CAN MAN

By Joel Towers Head. Listen to the story of the tin can man, And how the tin cans STOW Twill make Jacks beanssalk hide it's
 face
 And wither away-just s~s The tin cans never grow on vines; They never grow on trees. They always grow on s,ig machine, They're quite as thick as bees. Twenty-Five hundred in one day, And one man makes them grow. He calls it play-this tin can game Does he complain? Oh, no! But he grumbles sore when he sees his
 cans
 Ali rolling round the s<reets With heads cut off and lapels torn And emptied of their "ea,s''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-12
Gilded New York


 Sydney Brooks, in The North American
 Review.
 To come from England to Manhattan Island, from a country strung up as never before in its annals to the heroic pitch, full of the spirit of sacrifice and en- durance and in daily touch with the grim- nest facts of life and death-to come from such country and 10 land in New York is to make a change indeed. For New York, always a feverish and pleas ure-loving city, is today simply drunk with money Even during the height of the steel boom of 12 or 13 years ago. when every train from the west seemed to bring fresh carloads of brand-new mil- lionaires, the metropolis was not so openly reeling with dollars as it is at this moment, when the gayest season" of it's history is drawing to close It almost appais an Englishman to find there in full swing the old rotten life that we in England have put completely behind us. And it appals him still more to reflect that bare two years ago he was leading, if one allows for the extra fn- tensity that New York throws into all it's activities, very much of the same life himself. One despairs of ever being able to convey to ones American friends how completely the war and It's condl- tions and consequences have become not merely a part of or side-issue to, but literally the whole British existence. They are so dominant, have utterly swal- lowed up everything else, that no other form of life, least of all, the trivial care lessness of peace, seems normal or even credible I catch myself in New York, if I enter a lighted room, instinctively reaching out to draw down the blinds lest Zeppelin raider should note the glare; and of all the sights that crowd in upon me that of multitudes of young men who are not in khaki strikes me as the strangest and most repellent. It may be one more proof of our demented state but it is the bare fact that not for any tking would we in England change places with you in America or part with the waste and misery of wal 10 receive in return the "blessings' of such a peace as yours. tay-at-home Americans simply cannot enter into or even conceive the at mosphere of the belligerent nations in this struggle and, conN ersely, so long as 1t lasts, visitor from any one of the countries at war will continue to be shocked by the atmosphere of America as something unnatural to the point of being grotesque
 In New York the fact and the vast ness of this chasm of sentiment assai the visitor with the sharp f1nality of a bayonet thrust. Louvain and Rheims are among the stricken victims of the war but New York Is it's supreme and gilded tragedy and has, fear, neither the sense nor the soul to know it. Americans must by now have heard of the English char woman whose husband was at the front and who was drawing her weekly sep araton allowance. She was asked what she thought of the war What" she re- piled "A pound a week and no 'usband! Why it's 'eaven It's too good to last!" There is something in New Yorks atti- tude towards the war which reminds one of this simple soul.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-12
Rules Easily Understood
the Playground.

From tne FIHyBrUuTu
 The Little Citizens committee of the Bella Vista playground in oakland, Cal, asked to draw up rules and regulations or conduct of the grounds. submitted the following series:
 ..No cigarettes. They're no good Any boy found smoking will be shown the gate.
 'You're got to keep paper and trash off the grounds. If you eat here. do it decent and take the refuse away with you. If you don't look ous for trouble.
 Small children must be given a chance all the time. If any boy takes anything away from 8 little kid, ne'll get his.
 Say thanks It don't nurt you, and being polite ain't crime''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-12
SOUTH HIGHLANDS

Editor of Junior Age-Herald:
 Dear Mrs. Ullman: I find the follow ing items of interest in the South High land newspaper. Yours respectfully,
 PAUL BOWRON,
 South Highlands Editor Harry Beavers and James Brooks caught skunk in their steel trap. We had more children absent Thurs day, February A, 1916. than we have had during this term-three.
 Miss Chisholm wants to explain that Louise Marx has been very kind about explaining arithmetic to some of the oth- CT pupils. That is one reason why Bal lard BaylfsS has worked more than she has.
 The races made by the class took two Gays On Thursday they were finished The winners were: Girls, first, Viola Babbitt; second, Eva Lathrop; third, Lorraine Webb; boys, first, Harold Gill; more: second, Robert Dreher; third, Will Hunter Ryan.
 It was thought that Louise Marx would make a showing. She is swift, but not tall.
 How they stand in junior history: Ida Elizabeth Jackson Mary Biting, Estelle Roberts, Earl Roy Saeger, Marlin liar ris, Henry Jones, Paul Bowron. Bryson Glass, Lorraine Webb, Max Stern, Charles Evans, John Lewis. Dorothy Merrill, Coleman Gillian, Ernest Edwards, Ar thur Delay, Fred Dearborn. The senior record has not been given in yet
 Our boys recommended the following books:
 Bryson Glass, ''The Young Mariners Henry Robertson. The Boy Allies" George Jackson, 'The Book of Knowl- edge in 20 volumes.
 JOKES
 Sunday School Teacher (to new pupiD My little man. can you tell me who made you?
 Johnny-God made me when I was very small and I growed the rest n.y. self
 Father-well Carolyn, how do you like school?
 Carolyn (age 6)--Oh. it was just grand, papa.
 Father-What did you learn? Carolyn-I learned the names of all the little boys in my room!
 An old mule was standing in the sun with bog of popcorn on his back The sun was so hot that the popcorn be- gan to pop and fall all around the old mule.
 The old mule thought it was showing and froze to death.
 A story by one of our pupils. War ren Stone.
 How I would spend 5.
 If had $ the last of May I would go to meet Robert Dunlapot the train We would go over to Norwood and get James Wissinger. We would go to the Lyric, which would cost 90 cents Then we would go to the Strand, which would also cost 90 cents. I would call a taxi and ride an hour which would cost a dollar. We would have supper at the Tutwiler at sl.50. Then we would go to Nunnallys and get pound of Bra gil nuts. leaving me 10 cents oget home on. I'd tell them good night and buy a sack of peanuts to eat on the car (Edi- tors note: He don't seem to care how his griends set home.) We'll, I knew we would all have fine time, but that was the end of good S bill.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-12
AROUND THE CLOCK
 WITH THE FLOWERS

We seldom think when looking at the flowers that they are really very good substitutes for a clock, one may never be at a loss to ascertain approximately the correct time from them.
 There are number of blossoms that open and shut at regular hours "A practical botanist," says the New York Times. has made a list of a few of them and makes the statement that as far as he is concerned he is willing to order his time according to it."
 From his tabulation has been made the following little poem. an easy way to remember the hours as the flowers open.
 By this little act of nature, making the flowers obedient to certain rules, we are given a service that seems small, but Is really quite unique and worth while
 We may rise at a. m. with the opening satin -petaled morning glory" and go to bed at with the primrose. If we believe in the old adage Early to bed and early to rise, makes 8 man healthy, wealthy and wise," we may lunch at IF with the opening of the passion flower and dine at with the lycus vesportina.
 This flower time is another service of Mother Nature. Come, let us go round the clock with the flowers Can you tell the time of day,
 With the dainty flowers? Many of them mark the time.
 So you pass the hours. With the satin morning glory
 The day is first begun In all her many colors-
 DeW-kissed she greets the sun. At three a. m. the Rutland beauty Opens for the day. At five o'clock the dandeliou
 Is ready for display. The gorgeous, scarlet poppy
 Mods at five her sleepy head, The bitter sweet at five comes too From out her grassy bed. At six the water lily
 Ops her petals to the sun, And with her starry presence
 The day is well begun. Eight o'clock announces
 The scarlet pimperne, That tells the weather bureau,
 If the day be i'll or we'll. At nine the yellow marigod,
 And red sandwort will mate. The eleventh hour flower. Star of Bethelem is late. At noon the passion flower
 Gives it's white and purple bloom, At two the fever dew comes forth,
 From out the dusty loom. The four o'clock is here on time,
 Open to evening dew. When all the others nod their heads
 He alone is new
 With the Lycus Vespertina,
 The primrose comes at seven, And at night the blooming Cereus,
 Sends her perfume up to heaven.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-12
THE BOY SCOUTS

The boys around Fountain Heights have gotten new start and have or ganized as Troop g. A scoutmaster will as good troop as any.
 Troop 1S at West End, John A. Udden, scoutmaster, is one of the live troops. They are making great preparations to do their part at the reunion in May. They are going to spring a surprise on the public some of these days.
 The orchestra is one of the activities of MT. Burchfiers troop at East Lake, which is proving very attractive. The boys have frequent calls to play at lit- tie gatherings and they are always com plimented on their productions.
 A troop has been organized at the Independent Presbyterian church with MT. E. R. Moon as scoutmaster.
 CIVIC ACTIVITIES
 Last week MT. Ward, president of the city commission, called our attention to the fact that some signs were being tackled on trees and posts. contrary to clean up those trees Candidates, take notice.
 This last week several of the troops have been busy helping the ladies by distributing the good baby literature. It was not all fun but the boys did the work all right.
 This week we will all be busy doing out part to help with Fashion Week. MT. Fowlkes wants two boys from each troop to be on duty from to p. m each day.
 SCOUTMASTERS' ASSOCIATION
 The scoutmasters have changed the name of their organization to the scout masters school, and they will meet reg ularly every other Thursday at the Y. M. c. A. for hard study of the prob lems that confront them. On Thursday night Dr. George O'Connell lectured on first aid work. Other well known men will present different subjects at subse- quent meetings.
 PERSONAL
 Clanton Miller, who has been out of town for sometime, is back with the boys now and Is very much interested in Troop B. and has been elected presi- dent by the boys of that troop
 Master Charles Bromberg is one of the livest scouts in town. It will do you good to hear him sound the mess call  on his bugle. At camp next year he may not be the biggest bugler, but no one dares to say there will be any bet ter than he.
 The older boys are missing Scout Jo- seph Gelders, who finished at the high school last semester and is now at the university at Tuscaloosa We are ex- pecting to have him with us this sum- mer, especially at camp. Last year at camp Joseph made a collection of over 90 varieties of leaves and made blue prints of them.
 Charles LeCroix, who has been a first class scout for sometime, has become Is years of age, and has accepted com. mission as assistant scoutmaster, and in that capacity is of great value to MT. Morgan of Troop g.
 Cambridge Norris Of Troop 13 Is learn ing the automobile business. We have use for good mechanic in our scout work, and will make Cambridge our of- ficial mechanician.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-12
Try This Spelling Test

Here are 21 common words frequently msspelled. Get someone to dictate the following paragraph to you and see how many of them you can spell correctly:
 "The privilege of separating ninety miscellaneous calendars, arranged in two parallel lines, was against the prin- ciples of the superintendent, so his niece, not to disappoint the government or cause it to lose business, removed the principal calendars and thus relieved her uncle of strain which might have brought on disease Then she believed it had become truly necessary for her to receive her instruction in grammar"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-12
BOYS CLUB DEPARTMENT
By BRoDTRIoK LAHAN, Editor

Tag Day is over. How many of you cheap skates bought tags? Why those swell chaperons and good looking dam oiselles stayed downtown all day in the freezing cold and sold tags just for us worthless buns. How do you think the new club Is going to stay on it's feet if we don't help all we can? Well, if it hadn't been for the good people of Bir- mingham coming across Saturday with the filthy lucre, the Boys club would have gene up the spout. Didn't those rich guys come across swell with their spon- duly? And that Rotary club They made things hum. See how they flagged the cars so the ladies coulo rake In the kale? Yes, sir, they were the chief fun keys for the skirts that day. And these "Growlers" made a noise like a bull (po, not dog). Straight out bull. And it got the dough, too. We are also much obliged to the Boy Scouts. They were on the job all day.
 BASKETBALL TEAM
 The basketball season has about closed. The varsity has been picked in the News boys league. And varsity means that the fellows who have been picked for 1t are the cleanest, best and hardest work ing players in the league. To earn varsity letter, a player has 10 piay hard the entire season, not to star, particular ly, but to do his best for his team. The eight fellows who have been picked for newsboys' varsity were awarded letters last Saturday morning at the Club Gym by Mrs. Roberta Harris Winn The following fellows made their letters: Minnie Mccormack, Dewel Ovens, "Houtney' Betts, Sol Dank, Moses Sig Ter. Walter Suttle Henry Ehlbert and Broderick Lahan.
 INSIDE DOPE
 Note: Mister Frank Mccormack and Dutch" Mccormack are the closest of friends Returning from the basketball meet last Saturday, Junior" reporter overheard the following conversation be- tween these two young men:
 Hey there, Dutch! How you got 'em,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-12
Took the Hint

From the Detroit Free Press.
 Jane. what time it is?" called down the irate father.
 q don't know, pa. The clock isn't go- ing" who cold take hint
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-12
The Cheerful Outlook
where

rom L1Ie.
 Satan surveyed the world, whore everything was at sixes and sevens.
 He smiled sardonically.
 If It were not that hate to pose so,'' he remarked, 'I should be the first of optimistsv"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-12
Making It Up After War

From Pearsons Weekly.
 Just how the present war will end no- body knows, but it is unlikely that 1t will finish in feast or friendship be- tween the belligerents.
 Yet this-nothing less-nas marked the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-12
LanRuare

From the Medicine Man.
 First Co-ed-Tve lost a diminutive. ar genteous, truncated cone. convex on it's summit and semiperforated with sym metrical fluctuations.
 Second Co-ed-Heres your thimblA
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-12

old top? Say, guy, you're certainly some swell basketeer. Why, kid, if I could pitch the leather globes through the iron rings in the style that you do, I'd walk right up to Tommy McGowan and tell him to chase it. Dutch,' kid, you've got it on every chap in Birmingham in the basketball line. Listen, bo; let me tell you something confidential: Coach Brumage must have his eyes riveted on you. I'll bet that you will be wearing E. A. c. basket sweater Tn three years.
 Kid, the fellows certainly do envy your shooting Especially Dewey Ovens Bo, Old Dewey gets right down on his knees every night and let's up a righteous ap- peal that he may also shoot even as one Dutch Mccormack does. Yea he adds, The One Great and Unparalleled Dutch
 That's right, Dutch, make them en- vious, old boy. It's just naturally in you, old choppy. You will be a greater athlete, real soon. than Bully Vande- Graaff or Jim Thorpe. And now, Dutch, come on and do your old-tine famous stunts in the baseball game. And if Moley doesn't spot you before the season is over, your name ain't Minnie. 'Good-by. Frank So long, Dutch. old athlete
 NEW BOOKS
 The Secret of Keepink a Secret Moses Sigler.
 How to Remove Freckles' Lewis Mooney
 "The Cost of a Smile.' Julius Stein. How to Put Out a Winning Basketball Team" Frederick Lahan.
 "The Silent Voice." Ice Cream. "The Art of Juggling Soda Classes Willie Graham.
 "A Mexican Athlete James Childers. DAFFODILS If Chauncey shouted would Tee Cream? Could Hardin's tell how much Harry Odom?
 If he was dead could Aiger Field? If his girl were ugly, would Eddie Lotherf If the gang were to match for drinks, would Arthur Flippin? Would a lady smile should Wiley Patterson?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-12
A Funy Calendar

January snowy, February flowy. March blowy. April showry. May flowry, June bowry. July moppy,
 August croppy. September poppy. October breezy, November wheezy, December freezy."