davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-19
THE, NIGHT BEFORE CHRIS STMIAS

By Clement c. Moore Twas the night before Christmas, when
 all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a
 mouse; The stockings were hung by the chlmney
 with care, In hopes that St. NICHOLAS sooh "ouiu pe
 there.
 their beds, While visions of sugar plums danced
 through their heads; And Mamma in her kerchief, and I in
 my cap Had just settled our brains for long
 winters nap, When out on the lawn arose such clat-
 ter sprang from my bed to see what was
 the matter AWAY to the window I flew like flash, Tore open the shutters, and threw up the
 sash. The moon on the breast of the new fallen
 snow Gave a luster of midday to objects below; When what to my wondering eyes should |. appear But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny
 reindeer, With little old driver, So lively and quick, knew in moment it must be St. Nick! More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled and shouted and called them by name; 'No, Dasher; now, Dancer; now. Prancer! now Vixeni On, Comet; on, Cupid on Donner and Blitzen! To the ton of thp nOrch. Tn the ton Of the wall Now, dash away. dash away. dash away all!, As dry leaves that before the wild hurri- cane fly, When they meet with an obstacle mount to the sky, So up to the housetop the coursers they flew, With the sleigh full of toys and St. Nich-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-19

olas too. And then in a twinkling I heard on the roof The prancing and paving of each little
 hoof As drew in my head, and was turning
 around, Down the chimney St. Nicholas came
 with a bound. He was dressed all in fur from his head
 to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with
 ashes and soot; A bundle of toys he had flung on his
 back, And he looked like a peddler just open
 ing his pack His eyes how they twinkled; his dimples
 how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like
 cherry; His droll little mouth was drawn up like
 a bow, And the beard on his chin was as white
 as the snow. The stump of pipe he held tight in his
 teeth. And the smoke it encircled his head like
 a wreath. He had a broad face, and a little round
 belly, That shook when he laughed like a bowl
 full of jelly. He was chubby and plump-a right jolly old elf M And I laughed when I saw him in spite
 of myself. A wink of his eye and twist of his head Soon gave me to know had nothing to dread. He spake not a word, but went straight
 to his work, And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk, And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving nod, up the chimney he rose. He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle; And I heard him exclaim ere he droyS out of sight, ,"Happy Christmas to all, and to all .
 good night.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-19
Everything Up But
Aaumalber Prices

A LTHOUGH many large corpora EA tions have made more money this year than in any previous year, comparatively little construction work is under way, notwithstanding the fact that betterments are needed. In every part of the country extensive improvements are planned, but are held up because of the high prices of structural materials.
 One important commodity entering into the cost of building, however, is no higher than it was in 1912-yellow nine lumber. The Southern Pine asso- citation has charted the 'price varia- lions in building material covering a period of five years" and the compari- sons are strikingly noteworthy. As an Alabama rnember of the association remarks, IlleSe LIE ul So 1l v VI PuoAAS interest for the reason that the public generally appears to believe that lum- Der is today selling at a. very high price in common with competitive com- modities," but such is not the case.
 Taking the year 1912 as the 100 per cent base line, cement has advanced 32.6 per cent; brick. 17.3 per cent; steel, 635 per cent, and yellow pine lumber only six-tenths of one per cent practically no advance at all, Of these building commodities cement has never been below the 1912 base line, steel has been only slightly below it. in 1914-while lumber has been far down. 1t struck rock bottom in 1915 and then began to recover, but as just shown it is now only back to where it was five years ago.
 Lumber is one of the great business
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-19
Hearings Begin On
 Universal TTraiuaing

II s the United States government to
 A carry it's preparedness programme to logical conclusion, or is it to rest where it left off? That is the ques- tion which will press for answer.
 Ample provision has been made for the enlargement of the navy. When the battleships and cruisers are built and ready for commission this coun- try will be on the way to sea supren- acy But how about the army?
 Former Secretary of War Lindley M. Garrison had insisted upon vigorous and definite military policy and in the development of his idea he formulated plan for great continental army. It looked good on paper, but there were many reasons why it would not iprove workable. Judge Garrison was infatuated with his "continentals, and because of the opposition to his "policy" that developed in Congress, got grouch and resigned.
 Chairman James Hay of the House military committee was bent on his measure for federalizing the National Guard. This, he urged, was the solu- tion of the army problem. The feder- alization measure was adopted, and it has been in effect in border service for half year or more. According to some authorities the National Guard as part of the military establishment is success. According to others it has proved unsatisfactory, not to say decided failure.
 Senator Chamberlain had his uni versal training and service bill drawn while the administration preparedness
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-19
Powers of Radiun1a
Much ExaggeraG.

Much Exaggerated l IE vIDENTLY a cure for cancer is e yet to be found. Radium, whose curative properties have been greatly exaggerated, particuarly in sensational newspaper reports, is effective only to limited extent. In fact, the medical profession has conceded for sometime past that the new treatment was not a success and noted surgeons have stuck to the theory that an operation is the only way to check cancerous growths.
 Dr. Francis Carter Wood, head of the Crocker cancer research fund of Columbia university, has been experi- lmenting for year, and in his an- nual report, made public yesterday, he says radium as a cure for cancer and tumors is a failure. It is only success ful as a palliative in cases where the knife cannot be used.
 Dr. Wood makes the surprising statement that the use of radium in small quantities often does more harm than good.
 The widely heralded radium "cures" afforded opportunities for swindlers to fleece unfortunates in all parts of the country. Now that radium has re- ceived the right sort of publicity, it will cease to offer a fertile field to quacks.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-19
LUKE M,LUKE SAYS

About the surest way for a man to develop a bad disposition is for him to get married and have family.
 They can have equal suffrage the world over. But when man and a woman sin, the woman will fall, while the man will merely stumble.
 When a woman is first married she expects her husband to be a pennant win ner. But later on she is satisfied if he manages to keep out of last place.
 After all. the increase in the number of weddings may not beDbecause Dan Cupid is working overtime! Perhaps the reason is because the men are living bet ter than they used to and are taking less exercise and have poor wind and no speed when woman pursueth.
 Another reason for the high cost of liv. ing is that the old-fashioned man who picks pockets.
 Justice may be blind. But the mar who can pay lawyer $500 retaining fee isn't half as likely to be convicted as is the man whose attorney is ap pointed by the court.
 There are 52 Sundays in each year And at the rate the joy riding casualties are coming in, this will be a nation oi one-armed and one-legged people in about 10 years.
 A man wonders why some distillers gel 20 cents per drink for their product, while other distillers advertise booze at $1.S per gallon. But any time you get a gal lon of whisky for $l.30. it is going to b' that kind of whisky.
 What has become of the old-fashionee man who used to say that: You cam sometimes always tell?"
 Even if you are broke. theer is a cer tain amount of satisfaction in having 2 friend nail you for loan of $10o. No matter how much salary a mar gets. his wife is always willing to ad init that she earns it. Don't take all the pleasure out O Christmas books or booklets by writing cheerful @xmas'' messages on them be fore you give them to friends. WheI you write on them you prevent the re cipient from passing them on to others as his gifts, and your friends hate tt have to go out and do lot of shopping The war in Europe has wrought many reformers. The Literary Digest seems tt have supplanted the Police Gazette al barber ship literature. The trouble with owning a white horse is that the animal always looks as if h, needed laundrying.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-19
SPEAKING OF WEATHER
From the Pittsburg Dispatch.

It's so cold in Alaska that icicles big enough to stall train froze on the tracks. The car wheels froze to the rails while the icicles were being cut and had to be thawed with heavy jets of steam The steam jets froze as the wheels were free and then the telegraph wires refused to work. The same is here- by respectfully submitted.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-19
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
BLAsE BR1roNs

BLAsE BRIToNs Apparently those Londoners Don't pay the least attention When Zeppelins come snooping round And wouldn't even mention The presence of the raiders were It not that certain papers Come out next day and charge the Teuts With having cut some capers.
 OF COURSE NOT "stin trying to cut down expenses. Jib- way?"
 'No. I've given up in disgust" Why so?" 1T noticed the other day where a mill hand in New England lives on so cents week. There is no use of an ordinary human being trying to equal record like that"
 CHANGE OF FEELING Tt was stirring sight to see our sol dier boys marching away to serve their country "so it was, but it's heart rending just now to hear the loud lamentations being { sent up from the border"
 KICKERS ''Tn master of my soul today Said William Henry Blair, Yet almost wept about the way barber cut his hair.
 Birmingham Age-Herald I'm master of my soul. Ament' Said Thomas Riley Hold, Yet kicked like team of oxen when His battercakes were cold.
 Memphis Commercial-Appeal
 ADVICE When life assumes dull grey tint, My friends, let this be said: Don't yield unto a wicked bent And paint the city red.
 PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-19
Preparing for Battle

''The people of Walker county are not yet ready to get actively into the coming state campaigns, said Lawrence Richardson, publisher of the Jasper Mountain Eagle, who was at the Morris yesterday. You know we have to take a brief vacation from politics occasion ally and we have only recently finished rather warm contest with the repub- licans.
 Most of the counties and compression al districts of the state are through with politics forsa time following their pri- mares, but in Walker county and the Tenth district we are just getting ready for another real battle. However, at the proper time and after a brief respite from Politics Walker will be found in the front rank so far as taking prom nent part is concerned"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-19

BEGINNING THE DAY-O Lord' be in my pleasure today. May nay laughing ring clear all the way. May there be in it no mOckerY or sacred things, no forgetfulness or duty, no note of cruelty. May my Joy not be flushed with excess or paie with the dread of reckoning. May no man have bIed that l might pay his price, In Christs name. Amen H. M. E.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-19
Countr Has Money

"The man who wins the governorshp of Alabama in the coming race must beat Judge w. W. Brandon of Tuscaloosa, and I do not think there is anyone in the state who can do that" said Joseph Saks. pro- prietor of g. department store in the Oak City.
 Tuscaloosa county is one of the few in the state that has plenty of money all the time A Tuscaloosa county warrant is as good as gold and is so regarded in financial circles Most of the counties and cities of the state are like the state treasury. absolutely up against it to get enough money to keep going.
 Due to the business sagacity of Judge Brandon, Tuscaloosa has always on de- posit from $10O,OO0 to $15O.0OO in the bank And this is in spite of the fact that every worthy cause has been given aid by the county during his administration, and more money has been spent on the roads than ever before. In addition, he has caused the county to spend large sums in bettering health and sanitation through out the county. Alabama needs a busi- ness governor and Bill Brandon is the man."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-19

Greenville Advocate: Any price booster will pay 5000 fine when he can clean up $t0,OOO by doing it. Send the cusses to jail
 Greensboro Record: If the Czar of Rus sia. ever eats a Christmas dinner in Der lin, doubtless he will be the invited guest of Emperor William.
 Russell Register: A contemporary says 6-cent beer is coming" Most of the fellows will be glad to learn that it is coming, and will not worry about the price.
 Marion Standard: Now if Colonel Well of Birmingham, the political prognostica- tor can tell us how to defeat Billie Boil Weevil we'll excuse him for missing the mark as to Judge Hughes.
 Talladega Home: Birmingham police men and fremen have received a raise in wages. There are none more deserv- ing than the dutiful members of these two classes of public servants.
 Attalla Herald: Appropriate Christmas presents for your wife. A new gown, a piano, an automobile, a thousand dollar check, a poodle dog and a kiss. She'll be happy and reasonably satisfied.
 T,ipeviila TJaadlioht. T,ipaUilla ie fril of visiting capitalists these days who are looking over the graphite district. Many of these capitalists are investing their money in Clay county graphite lands.
 Florence Times: The Iron Age says the American people are drunk with un- earned prosperity" The drinks haven't been quite equally distributed; but all of us, more or less. have had 8 little "snifter"
 Guntersville Democrat: Hungry people are excusable for infractions of law at times, but the thugs who stole the car- pets from a Baptist church in Birming- hams suburbs are craving for luxuries that they could easily do without.
 Carbon Hill Journal: It is to be hoped that the story appearing in The Birming- ham Age-Herald of Thursday to the eff feet that Mir Bryan is coming back into Alabama again for the purpose of fight ing the reelection of Senator Underwood is altogether unfounded, born, perhaps, in the mind of an over-zealous news gatherer. However, the suspicion has been in the breeze for a long time that the Alabama Anti-Saloon league had Sen ator Underwood marked, and late devel- opments in their plans in the state give good cause to believe the reporter for The Age-Herald was right.
 One of the surest and quickest paths the Anti Saloon league in Alabama can take toward the toboggan is to continue the personal fight it has been making against some of the leading citizens of the state who do not always agree with it, and it could not devise a more egre- gious blunder than to wage war against the popular junior senator.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-19
2 erdimamd Escapes
 With His Army

lOEACE talk in Europe, whether \ anything will come of the Ger man offer or not, has lessened interest in the progress of the war in the va rious sectors, particularly in the Balk- ans.
 However, fact that stands out sharply in the operations of the Ru- manians and Russians is the escape of the Rumanian army, practically intact. It does not even appear that great amount of equipment was lost. Ger tainly, what would have been the crowning coup of the brilliant cam paign directed by Field Marshal Won Hindenburg, the capture of the Ru- manian army, has been forfeited.
 It is true that the Rumanians lost their capital and a great deal of their  richest territory, but they are now re- forming behind the Russian line in Bessarabia and will soon be able to re- new the struggle, aided by powerful Russian endorsements.
 King Ferdinand at least saved his troops from the final and most crush ing disaster. With the Czar's soldiers guarding the entire Rumanian front, Ferdinand's forces can be reformed at leisure. If the war is to be continued, the Russians and Rumanians should be able to stop any further advance of the Teutons.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-19

measure was pending, but in order that urgent legislation might not be baked or delayed, held his bill in abeyance.
 Senator Chamberlain, as chairman of the military committee of the upper house, has made a study of the army, and his universal training and service bill is enthusiastically indorsed by Maj .-Gen. Hugh L. Scott, chief of staff, and all the other high officers of the army, so far as heard from. General Scott made it plain to the Sen ate committee yesterday that, in his opinion, the National Guard, as part of the army, was failure. He insisted on compulsory service plan.
 The opponents of universal training anu oSiNICe-SIA llOlsHS Ol SSl lNAOS with the colors-are numerically strong, but the advocates are by no means few or weak in backbone.
 There will be a lively tussle over the measure. No bill will pass in this Congress, because of the shortness of the time, but the issue will come up again in the Sixty-fifth Congress and will then be fought out to finish.
 The campaign of education, soon to be in full swing, will be Illuminating and will interest the country all winter.
 A Chicago dramatic critic says he was floored by a motion picture spectacle. However, he had strength enough left to crawl to his typewriter and pound out a few hundred words about it.
 General Nivelle speaks of victory in confident tones. Still, he should remem- Der what happened to Grand Duke Nicho- las, French and Joffre.
 President Wilson will again receive the newspaper correspondents twice a week. but Colonel House will see to it that he doesn't talk too much.
 Germans who knew about the peace offer in advance "cleaned up in Wall street still, Uncle Sam can't be expected to look into that.
 President Wilson felt it his solemn duty to contribute handsome check to help make up the deficit in the democratic campaign fund
 The prophet who says, "No one knows what the future will bring forth" isn't taking any chances with his reputation for veracity.
 One thing is certain If Washington goes dry it will be less expensive for congressman to entertain visiting constit- uents m
 Considering the number of ships she has at the bottom of the sea, almost any sort of peace should be acceptable to Nor way
 If Colonel Roosevelt ever visits Ger many again he will hardly expect to chat for an hour or so with the Kaiser.
 The blows being dealt fathers pocket book these days are heard from one end of the country to the other.
 Congress will have it's hands full if it hoods and the railroad heads.
 By the way, what has become of that movement to kick the Turk out of Eu- rope and be done with him?
 
 So long as there is any possibility of Zeppelin raid. Londoners won't object to @ dense fog now and then.
 When the Rumanian government is re- moved to Petrograd it will be reasonably safe from the enemy.
 c
 The allies seem to think that peace, wearing spiked helmet, is an object of suspicion.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-19

baroneters. When the pine trade is normal business in general is buoyant. When pine is low and in slow demand it follows, of course, that the building trades are dull.
 The fact that yellow pine lumber has now an advancing tendency is en- couraging to the commercial world. But as no one can complain of present quotations the new year should be marked by very active buying. For those persons contemplating the cree tion of wooden houses this is the time to go ahead. Prices are unquestion- ably inviting
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-19

That man that hath a tongue, say is no man,
 If with his tongue he cannot win s woman. -Troilus and Cressida.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-19
New Windsor Hotel in Jacksonville

New Windsor Hotel in Jacksonville
 Nothing during the past year has been of more Importance to the south than the opening of the New Windsor hotel in Jacksonville Fla, last week." said Mrs. Orline Shipman, who formerly lived in the Florida metropolis
 Pages in the newspapers have been corning the magnificent hotel, which is English in name, Spanish in architecture, metropolitan in recognition of the tour ists wants, and purely southern in it's hospitality.
 ''The opening was attended on Friday evening by the beauty and chivalry of Florida, the superb terrace dining room, and the handsome Japanese tearoom be- ing shown for the first time.
 Birmingham is especially interested in Meyers cleverness and splendid business sagacity inspired the big enterprise. MT. Meyer has invested hundreds of thou sands of dollars in the hotel, and besides has put over s150O00 worth of improve tnents on the hostelry. which is now one of the finest and most n1odernly equipped hotels in the south MT. Meyer, who is in Birmingham at present, said in speaking of the reception which the Florida peo- pie gave the new hotel Friday evening, that it was the most cordial and the most enthusiastic that he had ever witnessed, over 5000 people being present"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-19

The selection of the judges of the muni- cipal court was left to all the other judges of the county, and last week the judges met to name the judges of the municipal court. It was announced that more than a dozen candidates were seek ing the places and people outside of Bir- mingham wondered why anyone would have the timerity to oppose the senior judge, the author of the act creating the court, and many friends were hoping that the efficient judge of the first division would be unanimously chosen.
 Saturday afternoon it was announced that Judge H. B. Abernethy had been chosen to succeed himself and his many friends throughout the state were de- lighted. No man in Alabama has given better service in a public position. And his greatest virtue is his love for his friends and his fellowman. "Ab" is a unique parsonage in that he prefers to continue service in a municipal court when his ability and his popularity would easily land him in higher judicial off, flee. He prefers to go along in an un- ostentatious way doing service for hu- manity and content to aid those who are deserving. He's got heart in him as big as Red mountain and he is one of the best that ever served in a public of flee. The Standard hopes Judge "Ab'' will continue to realize his every ambi- tiOn
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-19
After Tourist Trade

q have attended every hotel men's convention in Alabama for the past six years" said Hardy Burt of the Burt hotel. T returned from Mobile this aft ernoon after spending a most enjoyable three days in that city as delegate of the Alabama Hotel Mems association.
 q want to say that MT. Peck of the Battle House and Mr. Hervey of the Caw thorn, the two Mobile members of the association, proved themselves to be most hospitable and we had some of the finest food I have ever eaten. Mobile seems to be one of the most prosperous cities In the south today. A special bid is being made by the business firms of that city to attract tourist trade. The success of the efforts expended thus far is apparent on all sides@'