davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-20
"A DRAMATIC CRITICISM
m the Pittsburg Post.

l. rom lHe IlLlSpurS IOSl
I'VE have no great writers any more"
was remark attributed to the late
Richard Harding Davis, plainly showing
that he was unaware of this column.
Great writing" continued Mr. Davis,
as reported ny the Washington Star, sis
frowned down by publishers and critics.
THE publisher and the critic, when
confronted with a piece of great writ
ing, act exactly like the tin-can editor
when he came to criticise a performance
of Hamlet
'In this piece the editor began, there
Is too much Ginning. The author is
behind the times, and forgets that what
the people want nowadays is thrilling sit
uations, brilliant detective work and
pretty girls. In the hands of an up-t to-
date playwright a sleuth would have
been put on the trail of Hams uncle
and the old man would have been hunted
down in a way to lift the gallery gods
right out of their boots. The moral ct
the piece is not good The scene where
Hamlet sasses his old mother sets a
very bad example to the rising genera
ton. Our advice to the author is a lit
tie more action, lot more sentiment
and spice of variety business in his
next piece. In the play scene there was
a chance for a barefoot and art dancer
that was entirely overlooked. Try again,
Billr"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-20
ORPHANS OF FRANCE

From the New York Times.
IN VERY American who remembers
IN. the history of his country has
81 feeling of sympathy. Of Affection
for France. Without her soldiers. her
fleets, the money which she poured so
generously and to her own impoverish-
ment into the bare Golfers of the revo-
luton, American independence would not
have been attained. Another occasion
to show a little of the undying American
gra titude to France has come. France
is full of orphans; children of the SOL
diers whose heroism, as that of all her
people, has given her new title to the
respect and admiration of the world.
There are hundreds of thousands of these
helpless children. There may be hun
dreds of thousands more before her time
of trial and suffering is over. Under the
monstrous burdens of the war, France,
with work of relief and reconstruction al
most endless to provide for rich as she
ia. cannot nurture adequately these chill
dren, Great regions of her soil have yet
to be won from the enemy. A consider
able part of her population has to be fed
by her charity The war makes myriads
of new drains upon her beneficence. The
instant and incalculable necessities of
war absorb all her energies and re-
sources.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-20

From Puck
President Wilson played golf this
afternoon.-Long Branch News Item.
AS the New York Tribune would
print it:
M AFR. WILSON went out on the
!Wll Spring Lake course this after
SSS noon to try to forget for a brief
space the defeat which he now fully real
ICES is confronting him. He was unsuc-
cessful There was a worried expression
on his face as he teed off, and the cad
dies noticed that he was not even play
ing up to his usual game, bad as that
is. He is making every effort to conceal
his growing discontinue, but the at
tempt is obvious. Democratic henchmen
who were waiting at the executive offices
this afternoon with bad news from Illi-
nois were much annoyed at the length
of time he kept them waiting. and pri-
vately admitted their growing disgust
at having to truckle constantly to Will
sonian domination.
AS the World would print it:
The President was in nne humor this
afternoon as he went out to get his
customary round of golf. He laughed
and chatted with the caddies as he led off
with a beautiful drive, and the pleasure
with which he watches the growing sue
cess of the campaign, and the dscom-
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-20
CAMPAIGN NEWS AS WRITTEN

future of his opponents attempts to dent
his unsuitable record, was apparent IN
every line of his face AS he finished the
round of the course three strokes ahead
Of his best previous record he came out
of the entrance to the club with beam
ing smile for group of democratic lead
ers who met him with kilograms from
Illinois carrying ardent assurances of
support and promises of victory from
prominent party leaders there.
AS the Evening Journal would print it:
Mr.. Wilson played golf this afternoon.
With the blood of our slaughtered Amer5,
lean heroes in Mexico constantly before
his eyes he was unable to get any salts
faction out of the game. The disgraced
flag of our nation must constantly flaunt
itself before his eyes. The murdered in
nocents of Vera Cruz and Columbus will
be avenged.
AS the Sun would print it:
The vacillation and inaptitude Of the
administration was never more striking ly<
emphasized than this afternoon, when DIR.
Wilson idled away three hours on the
golf course. His game was wretched.
Careful observers noticed how he at
tempted to curry favor with even the
caddies who accompanied him around the
course, and it was obvious that he can
not avoid his contemplate methods of
trucking to the labor vote whether at
work or in his recreation hours.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-20

the Manchester Guardian. First of all,
we owe it to the Canadian volunteers for
introducing it. Then came the need OF
something to take the place of pipes and
cigarettes in the munition factories and
the trenches, and the once despised
chewing gum proved just the thing. From
these it passed into a popularity that has
made it a national habit. If you doubt
it read the conclusions Of the solemn and
stolid Britons who conduct the Guardian,
England's most conservative journal:
There is clearly a satisfaction in tho
exercise, and possibly a more positive
solace than is to be obtained from ci-
gazette 1t may be argued that the
American chin owes something of its
force to the chewing habit practiced
from infancy. Be that as it may, it
seems likely that one more link in the
community of ideas and habits has been
established between US and our cousins
across the water
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-20

From the Pittsburg Dispatch.
In response to an official summons
Mrs. Michael Naps of Yonkers, N. j.,
went to the city hospital to get the Is
months-old daughter that had been taken
from her some weeks before during the
infantle paralysis epidemic. The baby
had recovered, she was told, and the hus-
band and father left with JOY in her
heart while he went whistling to his
work. At the hospital they placed child
in her arms, but when she bent down to
fondle it she found it wasn't hers. An
other woman came up, a country woma n,
and received the little one. There was
happiness in her face where consterna-
ton was fixed on the face of the first
arrival little while and they came
again to Mrs. Napis and. through an in
terpreter, told her mistake had been
made; her baby had died two weeks be-
fore and the body had been sent In a
sealed coffin to the other woman. who
had buried it as her own.
The bereaved mother to whom grief
had come at the moment of expectant JOY
did not look at the mother whose sorrow
had turned to happiness, but walked
from the room. muttering as she went.
Asked what she said, the Interpreter
| translated her words: What shall tell
Mchael?" 1t is only little item in the
days news about life among the lowly.
There probably won't be any complaint
made, nor any investigation, because the
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-20

A number of distinguished Americans
the Relief of French War Orphans. They
are going to raise a fund of $3.50, 900, 600,
every cent of which will be used to
support the children to the age when
they can support themselves. The work
of the society will last for Is years. You
can become a founder" for $500 a year
or more, a ''bent factor for $3.50, . ''sus-
tanning member" for 500. And you can
give what you please and as often as
you please, and so help keep down the
expenses of collection.
1t is an imposing sum, $1S0.0O0,000. 1t !,
will be raised. 1t is a pretty INSTALL
ment of the long American debt to
France. TT is lucky for the King his
chief minister, the count of Maurepas,
was saying one hundred and thirty-odd
years ago, that Lafayette didn't take it
into his head to strip Versailles of it's
furniture to send to his dear America.
for his majesty couldn't have refused
it." That was the spirit of Lafayette,
of our friends in eighteenth-ce
France. To democratic France, noble by
endurance, patient in privation, brilliant
in arms, inflexible in resolution, Amer
leans are now to repay thankfully some
thing of their obligations. not as an OBJ
legation, but as an offering. These chill
dren whom they are to bring up for
France will know that America has not
forgotten
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-20
sHIGHBRows,

From the Washington Star.
President Hibben of Princeton in his
address to the students at the opening
Of the university condemned the use Of
the phrase "highbrow," to express scorn
of intellectual things This is a timely
and wise protest against an attitude of
disregard for intellectual development
which is too common on the part of the
certain class who look upon mental
development, research, philosophical
thought and scholarship as Improbable
and of no value to society. This is an
unwholesome position 1t does not dis
courage those who aim at intellectual
achievements. The scorn of small minds
does not deter earnest scholars from
continuing their work. The misfortune
of it all is that form of antagonism
against intellectual enGeavor is created
on the part of many who should on the
contrary be proud of the scholarship of
their fellow Americans.
A "highbrow" is too often viewed as a
mere LneorlSt VINO WITHOUT practlcdi
knowledge of life undertakes to reform
conditions that are palpably undesirable.
1t is the favorite expression of the pro-
fessional politician, seeking to belittle
the activities of men who have read
deeply and have formed ideas of how
government should be organized and
conducted. Often these student reform
re irnnra ideals how
ever, are always worthy of consideration,
and, so far as possible, of establish
ment Progress is often the result of dill
igent striving toward the actually unat-
taina BILE
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-20
LUKE M'LUKE SAYS

BY the time some men are old enough
to know better, they are too old to do
better.
Some men are up against it. Their
pocketbooks won't let them buy auto
mobiles and their pride won't let them
get high power Henry.
An optimist is a fellow who is glad
he is poor, because If he were rich the
sharp edges on the $40 gold pieces would
wear holes in his pockets.
Somehow or other your old suit doesn't
look so shabby to you when you know
that you have a new suit that you can
wear If you wanted to.
If lot of doctors would place their
names in the space reserved for Cause
of DEATH" when they are filling out
death certificates, nobody would look
surprised.
The old-fashioned girl who used to
win prizes for making jellies and fancy
quilts now has a daughter who wears
a medal for being the champeen two
stopper of the neighborhood.
Another thing that makes us laugh is
to see a tall girl trying to look up to
the little runty man she Is trying to
hook.
Why does woman dread the idea of
growing stout? Just as If a few extra
pounds of avoirdupois. would make her
husbands love any cooler.
1t might help some If some people
cruld hear themselves sing as other peo-
pie hear them.
The reformers who are starting a
movement to keep the saloons from OPEN
ing until S a. m. must be trying to
hard the early rising habit jolt.
Why does woman insist on wearing
set of 1O-inch hatpins with a six-inch
hat?
The undertakers get more business out
of the men who loaf too much than
they do out of the men who work too
much.
Nc woman ever managed to become SO
mannish that she hated to go shopping.
Some folks are so sure that the worst
is coming that they let the best get
by them.
Don't go around Dragging about your
honesty. You are merely lying to your
self and you are not fooling anybody.
Before he gets her he would go 10
perdition for her. And after he gets
her he often won't even 60 to work for
her.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-20
A NAME IN THE SAND

BY Hannah F1agg Gould.
Alone / walked the ocean strand;
A pearly shell was in my hand;
stopped and wrote upon the sand
My name-the year-the day.
AS onward from the spot passed,
One lingering look behind l cast;
A wave came rolling high and fast,
And washed my lines away.
And so, methought. twill shortly be
With every mark on earth from me!
A wave OF dark oblivion's sea
VIII sweep across the place
Where I have trod the sandy shore
OF time, and been. to be no more,
or me-my day-the name / bore.
To leave no track nor trace.
And vet. with Him who counts the sands
And holds the waters in his hands,
know lasting record stands
Inscribed against my name,
OF all this mortal part has wrought.
OF all this thinking soul has thought.
And from these flceting moments caught
For glory or for shame
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-20
KEG OF BEER STARTS. ROW

st. LOUISA key of beer and three
men were passengers on Cherokee owl
car at a. m. Three regular fares and
a car ticket for our little friend" said
one of the three to Conductor Homer
Cook. The latter looked from his cage
to see If the little friend" was more
than Il years old. and spied the key OF
beer.
you three can ride but there's a rule
of the company that pars your little
friend Cook told the men. The three
attacked Cook and jumped off the car.
Three patrolmen, who were passengers,
pursued the men, firing several shots
Patrolman May Joined in the chase and
ran in front of the automobile of Charles
Schultz at Cravers avenue and Osceola
street. Schultz turned sharply and his
car overturned. He was cut and bruised.
The men escaped and the car crew kept
the keg of beer
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-20
Ebem e. RexGord
Wrote Famous Song


a THREE-LINE dispatch in the
EA newspapers announced tn e
death of Eben Eugene Rexford, au-
thor of "Silver Threads Among the
Gold" Mr.. Rexford died at Green Bay,
Wis, a victim of typhoid fever. AL
though by no means national celeb
rity, in spite of the fact that his song
has taken its place with the melodies
that never die, who's Who" devotes
a paragraph to him, in which 1T is
stated that he was born in New York,
1848, at Johnsburg, and began to
write for publication at the age of IA
years.
n Mr.. Rexford has been an indefatig-
,ble worker all his life and has con-
ributed stories, poems and special ar
ticles to scores of magazines and
newspapers, but his name is not
familiar to the average reader. Per-
haps this is due to the fact that he
wrote much on horticulture. He was
an expert in this branch of science and
was also interested in welfare work"
Naturally his contributions, although
not without literary value, were unin-
teresting to the sort of people who
care only for sensational fiction.
Most of his books are about flowers
and gardens, and while he wrote many
songs, only one, "Silver Threads
Among the Cold" is widely known.
This composition will keep his name
from being forgotten and again illus
trates what small and comparative
ly-insignificant part of mans life
work is often the sole basis of his
fame.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-20
Wilson Gaining

THE gains made by President Wilson
recently have caused the hopes of the
democrats to soar" said Mitchell Neff,
assistant to the general counsel of the
Southern railway with headquarters in
Washington. Mr.. Neff was in the city
yesterday on business. II have kept up
with the presidential race closely and
have carefully noted the opinions of
some of the foremost republicans as
we'll as democratic and Independent news
papers. l believe Mr.. Wilson is today at
least 25 per cent stronger than he was
a month ago.
From what I can gather from the
national politicians of Washington, the
race will be the tightest one in the his
tory of the country, with Mr.. Wilson hav-
inf a little the best of his opponent. Mr.,
Hughes seems to have lacked the per-
sonality and arguments that tend to sway
the crowd in favor of q man once they
have heard him speak. Some are of the
opinion the republicans would have a
better chance if Mr.. Hughes refrained
from his speaking tours"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-20
SOON LOCATED

Are you the head of the house, sir?'
asked the agent.
"Why-er," stammered the timorous
looking little man who had opened the
door.
Henry" came strident voice from
the rear what does that fellow want?'
"Ahem! Would you mind telling the
head Of the house that 1 would like to
speak to her, sir?'
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-20
Blaiuae's Campaign and
DIR. Burchard Recalled

uUQ 4hO0NN S0U02J0 VI ONSNcolANSSA
A WRITER in the New York Sun
6A likens Norman Hapgood's alb
surd charge that Mr.. Ritter wrote
one of Mr.. Hughes speeches to the
Burchard episode which lost James G.
Blaine the presidency. He thinks Hap
good will prove President Wilson'S
Burchard, but the comparison is not
only far-fetched but ridiculous.
Blaine was the republican candi-
date in 1854, and while Cleveland, his
democratic opponent, was strong in
Connecticut, New Jersey and In
diana, he had not been able to rally
the normal strength of his party in
New York, without carrying which
he could not win. Blaine had played
for the Irish Catholic vote and had
the active support of many influential
Irishmen who had hitherto been loyal
to the democratic party Blaine was
= member of the Presbyterian church,
but his lively interest in Ireland's
home rule cause and his vigorous at
lacks on England had endeared him to
the sons Of Erin in New York. Tam
many fought Cleveland and as the
campaign drew to close there seemed
mo chance for the democratic ticket.
But on Friday before the election
. large deputation of ministers from
the New York presbytery, headed by
the Rev. DIR. Samuel D. Burchard,
called on Blaine at the Fifth Avenue
hotel, where his headquarters were,
to extend cordial Presbyterian greet
ing. Burchard and his associates
started upstairs on their way to
Blaine's apartments, but meeting the
standard bearer coming down, they
stopped at the first landing and made
known the object of their visit. s..
DR.. Burchard made brief but ring
ing address, in which he affirmed
that the "antecedents of the democ-
racy were Rum, Romanism and Re-
bellion," and congratulated Mr.. Blaine
that he stood apart from such "evil
influences" The man they were
seeking to aid took In the situation
ct once and turned pale, but it was too
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-20
A WORD TO LAMBS

OF games of chance there seems no end,
But you can bet your dinner
You're far more apt to lose, my friend,
Than e'er to prove winner.
The men who formulate such schemes
Are seldom philanthropic;
No kindly thought their work redeems,
Their hearts are microscopic
Their fell design is but to trim
The hopeful and unwary,
Sc when you dealings have with them'
Be crcumspect and chary.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-20
East and West Highway

THE people Of Birmingham are becom-
ing more patriotic in regard to good
roads, each day." said Commissioner j. d.
Truss yesterday. Il find that 1 am get
ting a great deal of cooperation on the
part of the citizens on the east and west
highway. The highway will extend from
the outskirts of East Lake to the out
skirts of Ensley, and when completed
will be one of the finest boulevards in
the country.
II have had a number of conferences
with the board of revenue. and they are
willing to do all they can in order to help
put this proposition through. The Bir-
mingham Railway, Light and Power com
pany are willing to pave their right of
way and the remainder of the cost will
fall on the property holders and county.
The enhancement of the property along
this route will mean that the money ex-
pended will be great investment instead
of burden. The best part of it is that
most of the citizens along the route want
and demand this roadway"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-20

Russian mother and the Russian father
are neither rich nor powerful; doubtless
they will figure that official interference
with the lives of individuals Is in a way
much the same in this new land as in
the land they came from. and SO they
will comfort each other as best they can.
But the native born. proud Of the prog
ress of their time and. country. may be
inclined to wonder if any of the boosted
efficiency Of the age has reached this
particular hospital-and there should be
efficiency in hospital il it is to be found
anywhere. And they may wonder. too,
whether there can be any condoning Of
a mistake that brings such grief to even
the humblest mothers heart.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-20
A LOCAL M

A LOCAL MAGNATE
Are you the postmaster"
Yep"
Gimme two stamps"
Here We are. I also sell dry goods,
groceries, hardware an collins. Need
anything of tn sort?"
mo. I'm just passing through here.
Fact is, I'm on my way to the station
new"
in town. Sam, my driver, will take yer
to tn depo' for quarter
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-20
CHEWING GUM CONTRABANDS
from the Pittsburg Dispatch

MIX Tor babies is not the only unex-
pected item on the list of contraband ar
ticles in the great war. Chewing gum
may be next One of the oldest conse-
quences Of the conflict has been the con-
quest of old England by the so long con-
demned American habit of chewing gum.
1t took years and years to get John Bull
to like our soda fountains, but not even
the most sanguine ever hoped he could
be won over to our chicle. The war has
done 1t. according to the confession OF
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-20

be ratified by a decisive majority
The vote should be practically unani-
nous. What a splendid effect that
would have on the future of the pub
lie schools in Alabama!
Next in Importance to the educa-
tional amendment is that seeking to
protect the saving depositors in the
state banks. Under the constitution
as it stands, the checking depositors
are preferred in case of banks in
solvency. The proposed amendment
puts all depositors on the same foot
ing. 1t would be a shame, indeed, if
this amendment We're defeated. Other
amendments are important and will
probably carry, but every qualified
elector, be he democrat, republican or
socialist, should make it his business
to vote for the educational and the
bank measures.
Organized campaigning should be
kept up to the very eve of the cleo
ton.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-20
SLOW PROGRESS

when Mrs Dubson married Mr.. Dub
son she thought he would be a captain
OF industry some day."
And where is Dubson now?"
Still in the ranks, poor fellow. He's
not even corporal of industry
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-20

BEGINNING THE DAY-"Oh, do
not let us wait to be just or pittfui
or demonstrative toward those we
love until they or we are stFucA
down by illness or threatened with
death! Life is short and we have
never too much time for gladdehins
the hearts of those who are traV-
cling the dark journey with us. ON,
he swift to love- make haste to be
kfnd.,-H. Nj. Il.