davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-25
Renublicans and Roosevelt

As the Eth of June-the date for the assembling of the republican and the progressive conventlons--sp- breaches interest in the G. o. P. tactics increases.
 No matter how much maneuvering there may be in advance, Col. Theo- dore Roosevelt will be the nominee of the republican convention; and as the progressives-t who bolted the regular organization four years ago. present a solid front for the colonel, the leaders of reunited party will ssmarch forth from Chicago in seeming selation.
 But harmony will be largely inn saginary, for not few of the regulars would rather encounter defeat again than to be led by Roosevelt, who, they feel, caused all the trouble in 1912.
 What makes it hard for the repub- licans is that they have no presidential timber of the size and strength of candidates in other years.
 The strongest man they have is Associate Justice Hughes. The pro- gressives have nothing against him and it is believed that most of them would be willing to vote for him ii the harmonizers thought best to make him the standard bearer. But Hughes is handicapped. Occupying a seat or the supreme bench, he cannot an nounce as a candidate. Many repub.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-25
The Rural Credits Bill

For many years past the need of rural credits legislation has been felt and discussed in agricultural and banking circles. The two old political parties have manifested an interest in it. and when the government sent commission to Europe to study the rural credits system in the various countries of the old world, an import ant step was taken in the matter. And now the hope of tho farmer and the economist is about to be realized. The bill perfected by the banking and currency committee of the House of Representatives will soon be de- bated in both chambers of Congress, and as the administration is urging the passage of the measure, it will probably become law within the next | few weeks.
 l Those who have found fault with the rural credits principle, or rather those 
 who have criticized the pending bill,
 have done so no doubt, without first
 informing themselves as to the merits
 of the case.
 The system has operated beneficent- l ly in Germany. Austria, Italy and other countries of Europe, and there
 is every reason to suppose that it will
 be of far reaching benefit in the
 United States.
 l. It is proposed that a central govern
 ment bank lend to the tiller of the soil
 what money he is entitled to and at a low rate of interest Twelve regional farm loan banks are to be established for handling the business in question and the system as whole is to be somewhat analogous to the federal re- serve system. The same banking and
 currency committee of the House gave this country an excellent finan-
 cial plan the federal reserve and the regional banks-and it can be trusted to do for the farmers what it has done for commercial and banking interests.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-25
AGES OF AUTHORS

Among the novelists who have just porary fame is Henry Sydnor Harrison. He rendered his first offering, "Quee5,' when he was 31 years old.
 It is difficult to name an American Of any prominence who battered down the doors of the publishing houses in the first flush of youthful vigor. Jack Lon don did it, however. He commenced publishing books when he was A years old, and has turned out alomst one a week since that time London is only 40 years old now, and has written so many books that he has to keep them IL the woodshed.
 'Twould be worth some research to de- termine why it is that novelists first get before the public in their early thirties. They usually commence to write earlier, and frequently never produce anything batter tran their first offerings. Thomas Nelson Pages first DOOR vas in the hand Of the Harper publishing house for Il years before it was printed. Finally work got slack and they put it in type in order to keep the printers busy. The next day Page woke to find himself fla nous, and Harpers rubbed their eyes and speeded up the press.
 It cannot all be charged to the pub has rubbed off the pumps and en.ented the soft spots of his genius at 30 and begin to produce work of real merit.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-25
From the Des Moines Register ar

From the Des Mones Register and Leader.
 A REVIEWER of W. J. Locke's "A newest book, collection of short 4 A stories, expresses some surprise at the fact that Locke, who is now a few years past the half century mark, did not publish his first novel until he was g
 years old. Mir. Locke has in truth spent busy score of years but he did not get
 later start than the average novelist Of the present time.
 Richard Harding Davis, whose death occurred the other day, was 34 years cid when he published his first book, founded on experiences as a correspondent in the Cuban war.
 Thomas Nelson Page, an unusually pro- life writer, who will probably contribute few more volumes upon his return from service as amba ssador to Italy in war time, duplicated Davis experience. His first work was published in 1881, when he was 31 years old.
 Perhaps o. yHenry's oft-shifted mantle fails to fit the shoulders of any of Amer ica's young writers because they have not grown into it. O.. Henry, O. course, had written short stories in his younger days, but he did not achieee the dignity of book all his own until he had John Luther Long wrote Madame But terfly," his first work, when he was S7 years old
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-25
PETAIN OF vERDUN

Alden Brooks in Golfers Weekly. l asked how it was that General Petain. with all his qualities, was only colonel when the war broke out and so little known
 Because he has horror of advertis- ing, answered one of his officers; be cause he hates politicians; because lie is man of uncompromising opinions. and he has made enemies; because he believes he is right and the men who differ from nm Wrong because he has always been correct before his superiors and nothing else; because while other officers. whom could mention, were busy with the fan. faronade and brass buttons and fancy | ceremonies of garrison life and were bent
 on getting their names and photographs | in the papers, Petain was only preoccu-
 pied with one thing-t training his officers and trained himself"
 | When an editor asked him for some ac.
 count of his militaiY career he sent ! pack three dates, and that was all. He
 has steadily refused to be photographed l since the war; the only photograph I have
 of him comes from the Thirty-third reg. l wonderful lectures at the Ecole de Guerre
 into book form, but he only replied
 Whats the use?' Then his enemies safe i he was jealous of his ideas. And finally
 when Ferdinand of Bulgaria decorated
 him for these same lectures, he put tho
 decora ton in his pockets. That's wh, Petain is unllnown because he has willel it Even today he has asked the censo,
 to cut out all mention of his name. But now he has got to be famous in spite ol himself"
 l suggested that, in short, General Pe
 tain might be the superman the allies needed.
 l Exactly; tactician, strategist but
 above all and to the last ounce in him a fighter. And mark my words, before l the war is over %'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-25
VTTALIZING DULL BRAINS

looks which the boys faces often wear. lighting up as they work; to see the ea- gerness of their eyes and hands, and the quickness and exactitude and immeas- urable pride with which they turn out a picture frame or an umbrella stand, or knife box. The younger children are taught chair caning, basketry, brush making and clay modelling by Miss Far ley.
 About once a month there is an as sembly of all the ungraded classes Then there are folk dances recitations, songs, gymnastic drills and dramatizations.
 How they do sing!-and that little one, with golden red hair and the look of a cherub lifts up his face in the way that choir boys in pictures do on Christmas morning. He wears no robes, but prob ably no pictured seraph could have dis covered as quickly as he did, immediately after recess, that if man has $48 for car fare for a year he has $4 of it for one month. He did not have to trace the division signs madly in the air with his first finger, either, as did the highly ex- citable youth at the end of the row.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-25

IIut-el-Amara, 100 miles southeast or
 Bagdad, was little known city before
 the English army under General Town shend was hemmed in there bS the Turks It is an unhealthy coaling sta
 ton for steamers plying between Bagdad
 and Basra. The Turks had a post there for controlling the lower reaches of the Tigris. The town is situated at the juncture of the old river channel and the
 new. The Tigris and Euphrates are within 35 miles of each other at Bag
 dad, but are nearly 100 miles apart at Kut-el-Amara. They converge at Basra, 60 miles from the Persian gulf, During
 the latter part of May the Tigris is at it's maximum stage and the sufferinss of the British troops are expected to be- come greater than now unless they are
 rescued from their plight When the marshes. Flood conditions are said to be already hamperng the operations of other British troops trying to reach Kut- el-Amara. Irrigation formerly made this region garden of fruits and flowers, but centuries of disuse have caused the canals to be choked up with silt and refuse. Much of the country has been converted into miasmatc marshes which breed disease. However, sporadic ef- forts at cultivation amply repay the hus
 bandman. The finest dates in the world are raised near Kut-el-Amara and ex- ported to Basra. Rice, wheat, barley, roses and lcorice roots are also pro- duced. The principal wealth of the nomadic tribes are horses, sheep and goats prevalent disease in Mesopo- tamia is the "Aleppo button.' or the "Bagdad datemark" boil which at- taeks the face, neck, hands and soles of the feet, leaving a deep scar.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-25
ALL SPOKE "AMERICAN"

Glno C. Speranza in the Outlook.
 Early in the war a story was current in Italy which, although never officially vouched for. has strong elements of prob ability
 It was said that young man born in Chicago of Italian parents, having come to Italy to enlist volunteer, had been captured by couple of Austrians dur ing a daring reconnaissance on which he was sent through a wooded section of the lower Isonzo. As he was being led, hands bound behind him, toward the Austrian trenches. he heard his captors speaking in his native tongue. or. as the story says using that particular pro- nunciation which distinguishes the Eng fish of Americans" So he entered into their conversation and soon the three dis covered that each was American born and til were more at home in the vernac. ular of the United States than in the language of their rulers" It appeared that the captors happened to be in Aus tria when the WET broke out and had Teen compelled to join the army. They made no complaint, however. except tc state that the food they received was rather poor and the work endless and very heavy.
 Thereupon the willy Chicasoan depicted the succalent rancid of the Italian army and the excellent treatment accorded by Italy to prisoners of war. All of this was true, but it was painted with such fine Italian hand that after a while captive and captors were retracing their steps and heading, quite naturally, for the Italian trenches In half an hour the Chicago Italian was delivering to hls command two Paterson Austrians- friends of his''-with very special plea for consideration
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-25
RALLIED AT ARMY CORPS

Alden Brooks in Golfers Weekly.
 When the war broke out Colonel Pe-
 tain was put in command of a brigade in
 the first army corps, though he still
 kept his rank of colonel That brigade distinguished itself during the long re-
 treat from Charleroi to the Marne by the savage ferocity with which it re-
 peatedy turned and beat back the en-
 emy.
 Just before the battle of Marne he
 was promoted to general of division and
 was sent to rally the remnants of the
 third corps, badly disorganzed during
 tSe retreat by General Sauret's ineffi- cient handling. He met the third corps at the Marne, took charge at once, and, sitting on his horse beside the bridge,
 pistol in hand, made every man march
 calmly past him and look up at him as the embodiment of authority. These were the words with which he was cited in the army order of Septem- Der 21, 1914.
 ''Petain, general commanding the sixth division of infantry, has, by his example, his tenacity, his calm under fire, his in- cessant foresight his continual interven- tion at the right moment. obtained from his division during IA days of consecutive fighting magnificent effort, resisting repeated attacks night and day, and the fourteenth day in spite of his losses, repelling final very violent attack
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-25
VERDICT OF SCIENCE ON ALCOHOL

From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. An esteemed reader, in Fridays Letter Column, took issue with Professor Taft and the Post-Dispatch on the prohibition question, citing certain German scientists, whose experiments are said to have proved that the use of alcoholic drinks is harmful, even in small quantities. The
 authorities cited and others to the same effect would be conclusive, but for the fact that equally good medical and scien-
 tific authorities not only treat alcohol, used in the right way, as harmless, but positively beneficial
 For example, in the new treatment for diabetes, said to have been remarkably
 successful, it's inventor, pr. Frederick M. Allen of the Rockefeller Institute hos pital, gives the patient one ounce of whisky every two hours from a. m. to z D. m., during the first two or three days of treatment to furnish the body with the necessary calories in such a form as to prevent the indication of sugar in the
 excretions, which is the object of the treatment.
 And, while the use of this stimulant may, temporarily, cause an abnormal condition, it does furnish the necessary calories, and as the authors of the text book describing the treatment say, keeps the patient more comfortable while he is being starved
 The verdict of science on alcohol has not yet been rendered. But the verdict of humanity as to it's use in moderation is still to the effect that such use is not 1ar f,,I as with tobacco and other stmulants, persons whose temperament and idiosyn- crasies make even the moderate use of alcohol injurious. They should avoid it, but they should not expect to make their weakness an excuse for the ere ation of legislation which, as MT. Taft says, demoralizes law because it cannot be enforced.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-25

From the New York Post.
 NALVATORE put the little horn to
 his lips. He blew blast upon it., o then went on with the verse, classed as nursery rhyme, which begins and ends, Little Boy Blue, come Blow Your Horn.'' But, some way, as Salvatore spoke it, his grimy hands lingering hls little, old, red sweater. his big, dark eyes seeming to see the sheep on sunny uplands the cows knee deep in corn, Little Boy Blue" left forever the pig con hole of nursery rhymes and became one of the most beautiful of the poems which tell of shepherds and their sheep
 Salvatore is one of the deficient chil- dren in the ungraded classes of public
 school 19-the exceptionally interesting and effectual ungraded classe taught by Leo M. Hogan and Miss Farley, and the way he made the jingle into poetry seemed symbolic of the work which NIT.
 Hogan and Miss Farley are doing in turning poor, puzzled, half frantic chill
 dren, high grade detectives with crim- inal instincts" into sensitive under
 standing, skilled, interested human be-
 lnSS, WlIn the poWci lo SOo oiisA A-~. and tell again what they know.
 The deficiencies never can be alto
 gether made up, but every possibility that the children have can be developed They are learning how to learn, how to
 be interested and industrious and in genious. how to take the initiative and to work together And the new rhythm and balance of their bodies, which comes from gymnastics and music. makes new rhvthm and balance in their brains. This rhythm is the fundamental idea upon which MT. Hogan builds and it has been proved good one, for boys have gone out from his classes to earn their own living, and are doing it. His class is of older boys. up to 16. Miss Farley class includes younger boys.
 Some are lazy, some melancholic, some seem to have no ability to think. Some of them come from reformatories, juve- nile courts, other places. One boy who | had just come into the class is being held for murder, for stabbing man who tried to interfere with him one day.
 The classroom itself says great deal. MT. Hogan says: Just now we're work | ing on spring. Their efforts seem to | have been successful. On the green bur lap which the boys have stretched over the rather dilapidated wall of the room where those of criminal instincts study are the improvised yellow chickens and ! the birds of the season. The green bur l lap is held up at the top by stained 1 wood molding made and put into place | by the boys, for "shop work or carpen- ! tering takes up all the afternoon.
 1 They made the window boxes where I the flowers are. And this is where the initiative the cooperation which MT | Hogan says they so much need when I they first come, may be seen They work out all the problems of measure ment and construction themselves.
 Ut takes awhile to get them to work 1 ing together instead of fighting each 1 other" MT. Hogan says. And do not help them in the work. If they were working for boss they could not run
 to him every minute to find out what
 to do next
 It is remarkable to see the puzzled
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-25
Big Ad Men Here Today

"The coming to Birmingham of three officers of the Chicago Advertising as- sociation means much to this city from an advertising point of view" said Sec retary Fl. D. Cullen of the Birming am Ad club yesterday These men all are big men in the advertising world, and what they will say at the dinner to be [tendered them tomorrow night will be worth listening to.
 Their coming to Birmingham is cal culated to arouse interest in the forth coming meeting of the Associated Ad- vertising Clubs of the World at Phil adelphia and it is more than likely that a full delegation to the convention will go from Birmingham.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-25
AMERICAN VAUDEVILLE

trOm IlIe
 .The Miniature Navy" Direction, the Hon. Josephus Daniels, N. c. B. An eH- act reproduction in miniature of any standard fleet of dreadnaughts. Real water is employed in the staging Pa- irons seem never to tire of this act.
 MT. Henry Ford, "The Man Who. Made the World Laugh" MT. Ford unfolds, in his own inimitable manner, his latest peace plan.
 'sThe Villa Villains Mexican troupe in a series of murders, outrages, pill lages and other native pastimes The use of American lives and property adcs great interest to the act. w. J. Bryan Sweet Singer of Sweet Songs. MT. Bryans offering includes the following successes: T Didn't Raise My Dove to Be Il Nulture, 'The End of the Perfect Peace People, I Am Grow ins Old" T Hear You Calling Me, There's Little Spark of Hope Still Burning.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-25
DECENCY

From the Kansas City Star.
 The dismissal of another batch of the charges against Thomas Mott Osborne, ex-warden of Sing Sing prison, fore casts the final breakdown of the des- perate effort made by the New York politicians to get man who had placed public service above the interests of the anti-social forces MT. Osborne s case is typical of the methods used by privileged graft to combat invasion of it's fortified places. He had dared to uncover the systems workings in the New York state prison. and for tnis there was marked out for him a punish ment the most bitter that hate and fiend- ishness could devise. He was to be ruined and his name made thing of infamy for a warning.
 The failure of this hateful plot will encourage men to believe that it will still be possible in American public life for courageous officials to do their duty without fear of poison or the dirk.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-25
THE TWO PAVLOWAS
From the Cincinnati Ti1nes-Star.

From the Cincinnati Times-Star.
 Some of the advertisements of the at- traction at the Lyric theatre this week declare that Pavlowa is appearing in 'The Dumb Girl of Portici." There is 10 word or suggestion that it is Pavlowa once removed, that is, in moving pie lures. As the Lyric theatre is a house that entertains the legitimate in the regular season, the possibilities of confu- sion are many. For, after all, there is a difference between Pavlowa of flesh and blood and Pavlowa in Counterfeit pre- sentiment" no matter how beautifully accomplished
 The character of the advertisements producer toward the actuaites. He really believes that the counterfeit pre- sentiment" is an actual performance by the actor in person. To him art finds expression only in his cinematographio mirror. Sir Herbert Tree, for instance is effective on the stage as Macbeth ' But such performance is but dress Herbert's art, the depletion of Mac. beth'' on the screen. What about Shakespeare's immortal lines? A mere incident. Shakespeare was the victim o1 contemporary circumstances. He uset words merely because he was not per. mitted by his mechanically deficient ag' to write moving picture scenarios.
 As primary production was the first il the field, it would be only courteous il cinematographic producers should defer in their announcements to the old style play or dance. And incidentally sucf deference would prevent confusion in the minds of those who still enjoy the rapidly disappearing personal equation between the actual performer and the audience.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-25
Plenty of Politics

"Anniston has been having her full paign," said Harry NJ. Ayres, editor of the Anniston Star and Hot Blast, who was registered at the Motion yesterday. We have two residents of Anniston who are running for Congress, Fred l.. Black mon and Dr. John w. Abercrombie. In addition there. are two citizens of our city in the race for the court of appeals, Judge John Pelham and Chancellor for president of the public service com mission, and J. J. Willett, candidate for delegate from the state al large, live in Anniston also. Then we, of course, have our full quota of circuit and county races to occupy the attention of the voters.
 However, Anniston is not devoting its entire time to politics. Business condi- tions have shown a wonderful improve ment in recent months and there has been no small amount of industrial develop ment. The munitions plant was one Of the best advertisements we have had in recent years, and the developments being made by the Alabama Power company will still further add to our importance as an industrial community. The strike at the pipe plants which caused more or less friction for sometime, has been settled and the outlook for the future is very bright now.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-25
THE ONE HOPE

By Dante Gabriel Rossetti. When vain desire at last and vain re-
 gret Go hand in hand to death, and all is
 vain,
 What shall assuage the unforgotten
 pain And teach the unforgetful to fcrgetc Shall peace be still a sunk stream long
 unmet- Or m. may the soul at once in green stoop through the spray of some sweet
 life fountain And cull the dew drench'd Towering
 omulet?~ An. when the wan soul in that golden
 air Between the scriptured petals softly
 blown Peers breathless for the gift of grace
 unknown An! let none other alien spell soc CT But only the one hopes one name be
 there Not less nor more, but even that word
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-25

BEGINNING THE DAN-haNe | ,ee.p this day weIlt Did | spoil it before its beginning by sleeping 100 ,ittye. Did | lie idly in bed and inaf>e its bcsinning lazy and iisfiess ""', Iatee Did | contribute to the Joy oi inc morning meal: Have ] met me world with my ''mOrninS race Lord, help me to begin we'll. Ameh' III. NJ. F..