davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-29
Reorganization of the Army

Inst so soon as the President signs the army reorganization bill, which has been ready for his signature for ten days or more, Secretary of War Baker will proceed to put it into ef- feet.
 There are many details that will occupy the attention of the depart ment. but the provisions in which the public is interested relate to the work of recruiting. The minimum of strength of the regular army for the line in time of peace is 160,000. In time of war or threatened war the combatant force is to be recruited up to 175,00O.
 The Secretary will find it difficult to bring the army up to 16O,OOO en- listed men. Able-bodied citizens of service age will always be ready to respond to a call for volunteers when the country is threatened with war, but owing to the high and exacting standard for enrolment in the regu- lar establishment very small per centage of those who offer are ac- cepted.
 Secretary Baker may devise some way to increase the results of the re- cruiting stations. A lowering of the conditions would be the easiest way, but it is hoped for the good of the service that the bars will not be let down materially.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-29
THE HYPHENATES

From the Chicago Tribune.
 IN the utterances of violent American partisans of the entente allies like = Owen Mister and Booth Parking ton there seem to be two unconscious assumptions. The first is that the only form of hyphenation that is inimcal to America is German n-Amercanism; the other Is that hyphenation is a new or newly discovered fact of our national life.
 Both assumptions are the result not of American thinking but of war par tisanism. Hyphenated Americanism is
 not new. and it is not confined to par tisans of the central powers in this war.
 The Slavs are as highly self-conscious
 and as well organized in this country as
 the Germans and Austrians We have
 a British Empire association. We have
 Irish, Italian and Scandinavian societies.
 The foreign born vote is one of the out standing factors of politics and cultural societies keep alive the traditions, lam guages, and sentiments of many conti- mental people. The Jews brought about the abrogation of an important and prof
 itable treaty with Russia. A certain faction of the Irish-Americans would have our policy governed not by Amer ican interest but by their hatred of Eng land.
 This condition is deplorable. but it is a natural result of immigration from all countries and the war has only aggra- vated it superficially. What we have TOW to concern ourselves with is to pre-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-29
The Rural Credits Bill

What the federal reserve bank sys- tenn has done for the financial and commercial world the enactment of the rural credits bill will accomplish for the farmer.
 Roth measures are constructive Tn a high degree and as each was on the legislative programme of the Wilson administration the final passage of rural credits bill, which is to be re- ported soon from the conference con- mittee, will give the democratic party another great asset with which to go before the country in the approaching campaign.
 Of the two rural credits bills-Sen- ate and House-both passed by large maiorities, but the House bill is the easier of application. The conferees will make few changes, but the more innortant features will stand. Under the provisions of the measure which will reach the President for his sig nature the farmer will be able to bor- row what money he may need through the medium of loan associations under the supervision of the government, and at a low rate of interest.
 The operation of the law both in theory and practice will be much like the operation of the federal reserve act. Commercial credits form the basis for currency expansion under the federal reserve act and farm land credits will form the basis of the rural system now pending.
 The agricultural interests of the country, especially those of the west and the south, have long needed the aid that the rural credits legislation will afford, and within the next few wears the material conditions of the tillers of the soil will be greatly en- hanced.
 Crop diversification is going to be the making of the south. There was marked progress in diversification in Alabama last year and there will be still more this year. With favorable weather conditions this should be Ala bama's banner year and with the rural credits law in effect the farmer will find it all the easier to get ahead and keen ahead.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-29
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM BILLY

From the Boston Journal.
 Boston has sufficient number Of isms now, so Billy Sunday will not brins a new one to the city; he will come with the old-fashioned religion that caused the consumption of beer in Philadelphia to fall off 10000 barrels, or 56,OO0,0OC glasses, in three months" said the Rev George c. Downey of Philadelphia, in a Y. M. c. A. address. That is the req son the brewers and booze artists op- pose a Sunday campaign and some of you may know of their intrigues to keep MT. Sunday out of Boston.
 Boston will experience revival of religion, and certainly you need some- thing up here. It won't be emotionallsm or fanaticism, except that 25,0O0 men may be mesmerized into cutting out the booze
 "Godliness is profitable for the mer- chants of city, as has been shown in all the cities in which Sunday cam paigns have been held. The decline in liquor drinking was accompanied by in creased sales of clothing and other neces- sities, and most rent men get their payments. He not only reaches the down and outs, but the up and outs as well, those who have previously held them selves superior to religion.
 "Those who criticize Sunday should re- member that the first Billy Sunday was the Apostle Peter, who could swear like the old boy himself when he wanted to- the man who had 5000 trail hitters on one day"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-29
DIGGING OUT MEMPHIS

From the Baltimore American.
 1 A great many occurrences in which
 the civilized world would be taking the liveliest kind of interest under normal conditions attract little or no attention while the frightful war continues. There is the bit of news, for instance, from the
 American research expedition that is ex- cavating in the region of ancient Egyp- tian Memphis of the find of a buried palace that may be 5000 years old. After digging three months, with pumps and
 modern machinery, aiding a hundred ex- pert diggers, a great hall of columns has been disclosed and no doubt is enter tained that splendid palace, with many l indestructible household acornments and conveniences, has been found.
 l This place, as the first conclusions of those who are making the investigation intimate. may antedate the time when l Moses led the exodus from the land of the Pharaohs by several thousands of years. Of the earlier stages of Egyptian civilization generally, such as of Troy l and of the Babylonian plain, we get glimpses only through such discoveries as that which has just been reported by the leader of the American exploring party in Egypt.
 There has not yet been time to trans late inscriptions found in the buried | Memphian palace, nor sift evidence upon | which to base exact conclusions as to
 the antiquity of the find. Many months will perhaps elapse before the building can be disclosed in it's entirety. But that
 hall of columns suggests what is yet to , come. Perhaps Egypt of 5000 years ago
 was much the same as Egypt of 400C years ago, of which later time we know | something, but the earlier civilization
 may be markedly different The discov- cry of a palace that may have been
 sacked in war that was waged 5000 years ago is a bit of war news that has yet some thrill left to it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-29
NEWS FROM THE NORTH

From the Boston Herald.
 The brief announcement that a mem- Der of the MacMilan expedition has ar rived in England on a Danish ship from Greenland is the first word that has been received from the expedition since April. 1915. more than year ago. It had been expected that letters would be received about this time by way of the Danish whalers. and the return of member or the party over that route occasions no surprise In fact, it appears that two others attempted the sledge journey or nearly A thousand miles which was nec- essary in order to connect with the Dan ish ship, but they failed to get through and the brief dispatch leaves us in doubt as to their fate
 The chances are that they are safe at Etah. 1000 miles north of the southern tip of Greenland, which has been the headouarters of the expedition, as it was of Peary's successive Polar dashes. Un- less the members of the party have made connections with the relief ship Cluett' which was held up in the ice several hundred miles south of Etah. they have had to get along for months on the prim- tive fare of the Etah Eskimos, the northernmost people of the earth, but that would be no insurmountable hard shin for the plucky Massachusetts boy who was Peary' lieutenant when he at tained the pole, or for his associates. The plans for a second relief expedition,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-29
LONG WATT FOR WHISKY

Wilson. N. C., Dispatch in New Yrok
 Herald.
 Some persons think they are imposed upon if they are forced to wait 15 min utes for a drink, but they never have had to contend with the law of North Carolina, which Is responsible for caus- ing a girl to wait for six years before she can get bottle of whisky, bought and paid for, from an express office.
 Under the law, which provides for statewide prohibition, citizen is en- titled to receive by express no more than a quart of whisky every 15 days. All kinds of efforts are made by thirsty individuals to get around this provision.
 Recently a man who is well known in Wilson decided he would do a lot ot drinking, so he ordered a quart ot whisky sent to every member of his family-himself, his wife. his eldest son and his two daughters.
 All went well until the shipments ar rived Then the express agent discov- cred the younger daughter was only IS. He decided she must wait six years, until she is 21 years old. before she can get the whisky out of the express of- flee.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-29
A KANSAS EDITORIAL

From Golfers.
 It warmed our hearts the other day to see top buggy, new and glistening. claim a place among the motor cars and farm wagons in the rank around Gen. terville's courthouse square. When we found out who owned that buggy we couldn't help but chuckle. Hodges boy has the right idea gasoline can burn up the roads. but trusty old nag with a buggy will find the shortest way to Sarah's heart. Bide your time. Jim. The good old country buggy is still the king of siege guns in Centerville's affairs of affection. Two or three nights a week young Shaw takes Sarah for a spin in his flivver. We'll, let him-and as often as he wants! Mere speed can't win a girl like Sarah. Give Shaw his choice moonlight nights and be you con- tent with the dark ones. His eyes are always on the road. His hands are busy with the steering wheel. His voice is drowned in chugs and whirs and sput- ters. Here lies your incomparable ad- vantage, Jim: You can lay down the reins. A long road and a shadowy one. Something to say and an eternity to say it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-29
At Tuscaloosa

Beginning today, the citizens of Tuscaloosa, as we'll as the authorities and student body of the state univer- sity. will have their hands full looking after thousands of visitors who are expected to attend an exceptionally brilliant commencement as we'll as one of the most memorable occasions in the history of Tuscaloosa-the cele- bration of the city's hundredth anni- versary. The university commence ments are always interesting and en- iovable. because of the distinguished men who attend and the social gaie- ties for which Tuscaloosa is famous, but this year the centennial .celebra- tion will tax the capacity of the city in caring for it's numerous visitors. However, all arrangements have been made. both, for receiving the guests and for presenting unique pageant.
 Montgomery, Mobile, Huntsville and Tuscaloosa are the four cities of Alabama richest in historical in- cident and the pageant which will he shown at Tuscaloosa will be per- hsps the most elaborate undertaking of it's kind ever attempted in the state. A considerable sum of money has been spent in preparing an historically &C., curate and colorful presentation of the most striking events in the city's history, beginning with its foundation 100 years ago. The spectacle will have a beautiful and appropriate set ting, in which natural charm will be enhanced by artificial means, on the hank of the Warrior river, famous in song and story and destined to add untold millions to the wealth of Ala bama as a carrier of commerce to .he sea.
 The university commencement will slso be epochal because of the tre-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-29

ceeded in occupying the Chateau de
 Mondement. At nightfall, on the evening
 of the Sth, the great plain, seen from
 the height of the cliff of Broyes, pre- scented prodigious spectale-a veri- table vision of the Apocalypse Cloud
 upon cloud of gleaming red and bronze
 rolled over it; the last rays of the sun | lit up the storms of dust raised by the guns and by the great host of horse and foot the bursting shells flashed in- ] cessantly; and over the whole scene
 rose the flames of mighty confiagra- tions.
 l The Germans had only to reach little beyond Mondement to become im- mediate masters of the entire cliff. from the summit of which their heavy artillery could blast our forces in the plain unhindered and turn our retreat into a route General Foch demanded final effort of heroism from his soreiy tried army, and the army answered to his call. The Chateau of Mondement. which the Germans had just seized, was retaken by our troops after three successive attacks. The last of these,
  at nightfall with the help of two guns daringly moved up to within 400 yards in order to shell the defenders of the place.
 At the most critical moment Of the conflict General Foch tmprovlsed ana executed an amazing ly skilled maneu- vre to which our final victory was due. The Germans had driven themselves into our army like a wedge; their front LOOK the form of an elbow. General Foch was inspired to turn to our own advantage a position which appeared wholly Ia vorable to the enemy. He slipped one or his divisions abruptly from lett to right, in such way as to throw IL suddenly upon the German flank. The movement took the enemy by surprise On a smaller scale it was the same skillful maneuvre as that by which General Joffre threw Manoury's army on the flank of Won Kluck. In each case the result was admirable. The two maneuvres were the deciding cause of the German retreat and won us the victory of the Marne.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-29
From the Nashville Tennessean.

From the Nashville Tennessean.
 "IE ST. FRANCIS, newspaper published at Marion, Ark, devotes
 -A great deal of space in its May 20 issue to Walter Malone, the Memphis poet and jurist who died year ago. and to whom a memorial is to be erected. An entire page is devoted to letter, reproduced exactly as it was wrfetem' from Judge Malone to A. Frank Cham hers at the time the letter was written reporter on the Memphis News-Scimi- tar. MT. Chambers proposed writing human interest feature story about the poem, Opportunity" and wrote Judge Malone, who was at the time on hls vacation in the country, for some facts In his reply, Judge Malone said two things about two of his poems that taken in connection, are significant. In the personal and gossipy portion of his letter, he said:
 I read the notice about my vacation trip and thank you for it. I am getting along finely with 'DeSoto" now, and ex- pect to have it finished next year. Many pages I have written and rewritten 10 or F times l first conceived the idea of writing "DeSoto" 31 years ago, when boy of 15. I began it in January, 1908, four and a half years ago, and have been hard at it ever since.
 Then, beginning to supply the infor- nation requested, he wrote:
 As to Opportunity" I don't know much of interest to tell about it. I wrote it in October, 1904. I wrote it in about half an hour one day, and he wrote it in about 20 minutes the next day. So it gave me very little trouble.
 Opportunity is one of the really great short poems, poem that will live as long as the English language is spoken and read possibly longer, for it has been translated into three or four other
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-29
REASONABLY SAFE MURDER

From the Louisville Courier-Journal. Mrs Ruby Stephens confessed today that she called Clifford kistner, wealthy farmer, to the door of his home last night and shot him to death in the presence of his wife
 Mrs. Stephens, divorcee, IS z3 years old. She said Kistner had ruined hei llfe."-(A dispatch from lola, kan) And as dead men tell no tales the woman's story will be accepted. Shs will not be punished for having com mitted assas ssination
 The fact that Mrs. Stephens is of age and sufficiently acquainted with life tc make it impossible for guile to impose on her innocence, will not operate te
 make it impossible for her to be ac' ouitted such is the disposition of the male or the species, sitting as juror to deal leniently with women who have committed crimes.
 Should equality of the sexes ever be- cone an existence condition, a woman guilty of assassinating a man Who had ruined her life" would be no more par donable in the eyes of a jury than man guilty of the same crime and pleading the same excuse. The idea of the sanc- tity of one sex can exist only upon basis of chivalry.
 But it is easy to imagine proclaimed and pretended equality-marked by votes and offices and jury service, and other manifestations of the superficial idea or the raging of the barriers of sex-in which woman tried for the murder of q man would run even less risk than she does today. It is, in fact, one of the ideas of opponents of femininism that men would be held to stricter accounta- bility for their conduct toward women if sex equality existed. Quite the con- trary would be true if there were actual equality. The chastity of women would have no higher value in the eye of the law or of social convention, than that Of man.
 One effect of actual equality would De to make it no longer safe for woman to murder a man with whom she had quar- reled and give as an excuse her version of the rela ationship which existed be- tween them prior to her silencing of lips that perhaps could have told another story.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-29
TWO POEMS BY MALONE

languages. 'DeSoto" is a long, tiresome, historical and narrative poem that has probably never been read from begin ming to end by anybody except some personal friends of the author. It win never have readers in any number. It will never make any impression on the world.
 And yet it is clear that "DeSoto" had a place closer to Judge Malone's heart than had opportunity" He loved the one that has never lived more than the one that will never die, the one that will never influence any man more than the one that will go on for ages influencing it's tens of thousands.
 That may appear strange, but it is not unusual Men are rarely accurate ap- praisers of their work, and very fre- quently they exalt their dross above their pure gold. Often they resent the fact work they have done as the best of which they are capable.
 It comes to mind just now that Joaquin Miller regarded his work as did Judge Malone, only much more pronouncedly so. One of the last letters Miller ever wrote was to a Nashville man who had inquired about one of his little poems. "The thing is mine" wrote the poet ot the Sierras, but I canot remember any circumstances concerning it, and I neve keep any of my little books about me-" In his last days, he regarded everything he had written as of no consequence and, up to the time of his death was at work upon some monumental thing having to do with Balboa and the Pa cific ocean-very similar, no doubt, tt Judge Malone's ponderous poem upon DeSoto and the Mississippi.
 Many other parallels might be drawn. The thing is characteristic rather than unique.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-29
THE INCHCAPE ROCK

And cut the Bell from the Inchcape
 float Down sank the Bell with gurgling
 sound: The bubbles rose and burst around. Quoth Sir Ralph. 'The next who comes
 to the Rock Won't bless the Abbot of Aberbrothok." Sir Ralph. the Rover sailed away, He secured the seas for many a day; And now. grown rich with plundered He steers his course for scotland's shore. So thick haze oerspreads the sky They cannot see the sun on high; Te wind hath blown gale all day; At evening 1t hath died away. On the deck the Rover takes his stand; So dark it is they see no land. Quote Sir Ralph: Tt will be lighter soon, For there is the dawn of the rising
 moon.' "canst hear" said one. 'the breakers
 roar? For wonder. methinks. should be the
 shore" Now where we are I cannot tell, But I wish I could hear the Inchcape
 Bell" They hear no sound; the swell is strong; Though the wind hath fallen. they drift
 along, Till the vessel strikes with shivering
 shock 70, Christ! It Is the Inchcape Rocky Sir Ralph. the Rover, tore his hair; IJa hiv71so sv, 1n n;c The waves rush in on every side: The ship is sinking beneath the tide. But. even in his dying fear. One dreadful sound could the Rover
 hear A sound as if. with the Inchcape Bell, The devil below was ringing his knslL
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-29

By Robert Southey. No stir in the air. no stir in the sea. The ship was still as she could be; Her sails from heaven received no nu'
 ton,
 Her keel was steady in the ocean. Without either sign or sound of their
 shock,
 The waves flowed over the Inchcape
 Rock; ,, Sc little they rose, so little they fell. They did not move the Inchcape Bell. The holy Abbot of Aberbrothok Had placed that bell on the Inchcape On a buoy in the storms 1t floated and Ard over the waves it's warning rung. When the Rock was hid by the surge's
 swell.
 The mariners heard the warning bell; And then they knew the perilous Rock And blessed the Abbot of Aberbrothok The sun in heaven was shining gay, Al, things were joyful on that day; The sea birds screamed as they wheeled
 around,
 And there was Joyance III tneir souiiu' The buoy of the Inchcape Bell was seen A darker speck on the ocean green; Sir Ralph, the Rover, walked his deck, And he fixed his eye on the darker
 speck.
 He felt the cheering power of spring. It made him whistle. it made him sing; His heart was mirthful to excess; But the Rover's mirth was wickedness. His eye was on the Inchcape float; Quoth he, My men, put out the boat And row me to the Inchcape Rock, And I'll plague the Abbot of Aber-
 brothok."
 The boat is lowered, the boatmen row And to the Inchcapoe Rock they go;
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-29

mendous progress made in recent years by this grand old institution under the direction of Dr. George H. Denny. Class reunions will draw an unusually large number of alumni, many of whom have not visited their alma mater in years. To these the handsome new buildings, improve ments made on the spacious campus and the vastly increased facilities of the university will come as a revela- tion.