davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-23
Republican Outlook Not Bright

The outlook for the c. O. P. is not bright. When the air was full of a get-together movement in progressive quarters it looked as if the standpat republicans might be induced to ac- cept Roosevelt as the one man who could unite the two sections of the party, which, in other days, had prided itself on it's cohesiveness and it's solidarity. The campaign slogan was to be along lines of military ag- gressiveness. But now that it looks well night hopeless for the colonel, the progressives are drifting to Hughes, and that gentleman's chances for the republican nomination are good.
 Admitting that Hughes is the strongest man the republicans could nominate for the presidency, could he
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-23
Jeff Davis

A "hobo" who wears diamonds and has made his "pile" in Wall street would seem to be anomalous, but Jeff Davis, who originated the Hotel de Gink," confesses that he cannot re- sist the temptation to be "out on the stretch" as he expresses it. The ties of wife and two children and a con- fortable home in New York have not been sufficiently strong to break the lure of the road, and when he passed through Birmingham Sunday Davis was just completing his third trip around the world. He has been a wan derer since boyhood, and early in life was real hobo, whose experiences bred in him broad love of his fellow man, with the result that he now de- votes his time and his talents, as we'll as his money, to helping the "under dog"
 Needless to say man who has visited all parts of the world, who has seen life from the under side with the eyes of keen observer and has him. self known all the vicissitudes of the real hobo, has acquired an interesting philosophy. His theory is that the true hobo is simply wanderer who is willing to work when given the
 chance. He is the shifting laborer who is bitten by the wanderlust, but is neither lazy nor criminal. The lumber jacks of the northwest are represen- tative of this type, as we'll as the vast
 army of soldiers of fortune," whose
 love for adventure and an active life prevents them from settling down.
 Then, too, the there is the hobo who
 has been made wanderer through
 misfortunes, and it is this man for
 whom Jeff Davis has done great
 deal of good. His is the healthy form
 of optimism which makes the offer
 of helping hand acceptable. He is
 neither revolutionary nor sanctimoni-
 ous, but he has a strong faith in hu-
 manity which nothing can shake. His own experiences have shown him that | it is something that can be depended
 on. It was friendly broker who took his modest savings and made him wealthy in Wall street, and hundreds
 of prominent men whose start in life was similar to that of Jeff Davis are
 now helping him in his philanthropic work.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-23
-----------'S --'S.--------- MULE STILL USEFUL

From the RocheSter Democrat and
 Chronicle.
 Prophets who foretold the elimination of the American mule from military opera tions, as the result of the introduction of the modern mortor-driven truck, were wide of the mark, judging from recent experience of the advance guard of the American punitive expedition in Mexico in the mountainous regions of that re- public the trails were constructed without regard to the capacity of the big gasoline cars. The machines were very useful in the deserts and foothills. but when it became necessary to traverse narrow trails. reliance was placed upon the ever dependable mules As usual, they carried their heavy loads patiently were not fas- tidious regarding forage, and thEjved upon almost anything in the way of food which could be provided for them. Valu- able as are the motor-driven trucks, it would have been extremely difficult. if not impossible, to penetrate the mountain fastnesses without enlsting the services of the stolid. if sometimes viciously in- clIned. mule.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-23
Civic Auditorium

While much publicity is being devoted to the $2,0o0,0Oo school bond issue and the $5o0,0oo municipal light plant bond issue Assistant General Secretary w. Blanks Everett of the Chamber of Commerce wants it emphasized that the civic au- ditorium bond issue should not be for gotten:
 We need the auditorium said MT. Everett, and in the midst of the wig orcus campaigns for the other bond is- sues we must not forget to vote for an auditorium that will mean so much for the future progress of the city.
 "Of course, there is little doubt but that the electorate will favor the audi torium bond isue, yet at the same time we must not be overconfident, but should rather utilized the time between now and the election in educating the voters on the needs of a civic audito- rum. Get busy on the auditorium bond issue''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-23
THE TEST OF HIS COURAGE


 From the Peoples Home Journal for June.
 Just inside the room stood man in a night-robe holding two revolvers. One was pointed at Crawford, the other at the elder man. Hold up your hands!" a grim voice demanded, I'm lookin' for trouble, and when Red Bill Whfpple goes lookin' for trouble he generally finds it." The senior surgeon saw young Crawford flash about, then turn to him inquir- 1ngly. There was a deadly coldness along his spine. The blood in his veins felt thin and chill.
 Its the street car accident case-the man from Arizona" he thought He was in coma and the nurse left him minute. His fever became higher, his brain cleared into delirium and-here he isl"
 The malignancy of the flushed face fas- cinated him with horror, against which rose a petty irritation at the young doc- tors unconcern.
 "I'm lookin for the man that runs this place!" went on the sibilant voice. Some -UOoy DTOuSuL IIlo III n6re ana SIuCk knife into me. They put live coal in my side and it burns like fire; it's one of you, I know; I ain't nobody's fool! Tell me which one, quick, or I'll start in and clean up the whole outfit"
 Its me he's after!" thought the senior surgeon. I'm the man that knifed him! Crawford will Just tell him I did 1t and then"
 He started For Crawford was speak, ing in genial, conversational tone.
 "I'm the head of the hospital. If you lave a grievance, let's hear it."
 The senior surgeon licked his stiff lips with his tongue. "So it's you that put this here red-hot coal inside me, eh?'' scowled the man from Arizona. Well, I'll give you till I count 10 to straighten things out with your Maker
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-23
THEN THE STAR TWINKLED

From Answers, London.
 Long had he worshipped her at dis tance, but his shyness prevented him from proposing.
 Then, one night, for the sweet sake of charity, a theatrical performance took place, In which the charmer was the leading woman and more adorable than ever. Afterward the shy admirer drew near his sweetheart made valiant by the sight of her beauty.
 You are the star of the evening, he said, as they stood alone in a corner.
 You are the first to tell me so," said the damse', with a happy blush.
 Then" he retorted promptly, may claim my reward an astronomer"
 The woman looked puzzled.
 What reward?" she asked
 Why, the right to give my name to the star I have discoveredi" the young man said, speaking boldly at last.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-23
STILL ON THE WAY

From the St. Louis Times.
 Mrs. Booth C1ibborn, evangelist, finds that St. Louis is on the high road to the devil, says her interviewer, the ob- serva tions of Mrs. Booth h-Clibborn being
 based upon a three weeks "hob-nobbing with "St. Louis beau monde" Perhaps the dire conclusion drawn by the evan gelist Is based to some extent upon the fact that the returns to her pledge" distribution were few. It will be remem- bered that one of these pledges had to do with the business of going to war, and there are few men who care to make any pledges in this matter. At the very outset. we desire also, to call atten- ton to the fact that the beau monde" could hardly be accepted as 8 fair sub ject upon which to work to find out whither the general public wandereth.
 Nevertheless, granting that Mrs. Booth Clibborn did not base her views upon either the pledge" returns or the fam cies and foibles of the beau monde" We wish to make note of the fact that some hundred years ago the evangelists-what- ever their titles were at that time-found that society was headed for the dem nltiOn bOW-WOWS, and that every year since that date, and for some few cen turies before that time, there have al- ways ben those close observers of our morals who find us on the wide and well paved road to hell.
 We've been going to hell so long, in fact, that the thing has ceased to in- ject terror And, believe us, the inferno must be some little distance, for the point at which we started is some long way behind. During the days of the apostles the world was hell bent and when Rome fell in 476 there was nothing between civilization and "the weeping and gnashing of teeth.'' In the twelfth century things got blackest and the world slipped on to predition. But it never got quite all the way. In the sixteenth century it was back again and then nations began sliding down the precipice of their own accord. leaving other nations to shift for themselves. The nineteenth century found us still slipping and we're going at a rapid rate now That is, of course, if we believe those who are trying to save us.
 We have sneaking idea that some centuries hence the good people of an air inhabiting civilization will find the confederacy of the world dashing madly in the direction of Beelzebub. Twas ever thus. Twill ever be, until the end of time.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-23
A Vexing Problem

The quadrennial general conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, commonly known as the northern church, in session at Saratoga Springs, has entered upon it's fourth week, and what is regarded by many as a question of overshadowing 1m- portance will be sharply debated and disposed of within the next few days, namely, the discipline against card playing, theatregoing and dancing.
 According to the book of discipline expulsion is the penalty for the mem- Der indulging in either of the three forms of "worldliness" mentioned.
 In years past the law in this re- spect was rigidly enforced, but not now; and many leaders in general con- ference advocate an elimination of the paragraph, and in it's place stresslng the church's original attitude against any form of amusement that might scandalize Methodism and weaken the Christian life of the individual.
 The majority of the committee IS on record as favoring retention ot the paragraph, but the minority Will argue strongly for change. It may t.. that a compromise will be reached by removing the band for dancing, provided it be of the modest kind, and the stage, provided only good plays are patronized. This would seem the more consistent way, since 1t IS ad- mitted that many members of the vast denomination now openly disre- gard the discipline against amuse- ments.
 It has not been a great while since conscientious Presbyterians and oth- CTS, like conscientious Methodists, de- nied themselves the pleasure of seeing the histrionic stars in Shakespeares plays, or even the opera, because their church had put the seal of it's disap- proval upon all places of amusement
 A large part of the intellectual world has always treated the theatre as an educational institution, and in recent years there is scarcely a cul- tural agency in Europe or America that has not done something to pro- mote the patronage of clean plays.
 The Drama League of America is doing effective work in this direction. Its membership is made up to a con- siderable extent of men and women known for their zeal in the cause of religion.
 If the majority report of the Methodist committee on 'state of the church" is adopted it will doubtless be because of the conservative tendency of those who believe in sticking to the landmarks, even if certain laws are no longer enforced.
 As the northern Methodist church and the Methodist Episcopal church, south, have decided in favor of or ganic union, and which will probably become an accomplished fact in 1918, when the general conference of the latter body meets in Atlanta, the ac- tion at Saratoga Springs this week will be of particular interest to every one of the Methodist household wherever dispersed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-23

menace to herself and to the community
 ss in the fact that she never quite con- ceals the fact that she is not a man. and that she adopts, rather obviously, if not frankly. costumes suited to guide the eye or the observer to the fact that she is not altogether devoid of the allure ments of her sex.
 When women discard all that tteir critics can find cause to condemn and put on all that their critics can recom- mend, for the obscuration of the truth that Jill IS not Jack the bob whites best girl will cease to answer his call when the wind is from the south, and the sap is flowing upward that 1t is time to begin making a nest in the wheat field. The mocking bird will give up singing songs which suggest laughter and dalliance and love of the beautiful in line and color. The cock cardinal will dip himself in tho Juice of walnut hulls lest his scarlet coat prove the red flag of moral anarchy in the briar patch and thicket The sun will rise in veil of mist for modesty's sake and set behind a cloud. The dew will give up sparkling In interest of the moral uplift The man in the moon vii. raint his habitation black lest it's silver radiance upon a sensuous night in June exercise an i'll effect upon the good reso- lutions of some one who might be austere if encouraged properly. Roses will de- velop insrowing petals, the night bloom ing jessamine will inquire of the heaven tree the secret of a perfume that Is safely heductive. Many cosmic changes, radiai and fTghtful, which can be contemplated calmly because they are not imminent will occur before the lilies of the field and the girls of the neighborhood extin- gush their charms under sackcloth and ashes at the behcst of those who find ''present-day costumes the wickedest ever worn.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-23

Vast peat bogs furnishe inexpensive
 fuel for the poor people of Ireland. It
 is estimated that nearly one-seventh of
 the area of Ireland Is bog land unfit for cultivation. This territory of about
 45oo square miles yields an almost inex- haustible supply of peat For centuries it has kept poverty stricken Irish from acute suffering during winter, which is peculiarly damp and penetrating in this part of the world, says recent bulle-
 tin of the National Geographic society. As a result peat harvesting Is an impor- tsnt industry in the lowlands. Men, women and children do this work, each member of a family doing his or her share, according to their strength. The
 men carve the turf into bricks with
 sane, which resembles a spade. The
 children carry the wet sod to places
 where it is dried in the sun and the
 women pack the peat into baskets or
 paniers slung over the backs of don
 keys. These little animals carry the fuel 
 to market, but quite often women take
 treir places, trudging along with the
 heavy baskets slung across their shoul- ders. In some spots where the percent age of water is high harvesters knead the decayed vegetable matter with their
 hands and feet until it has enough con-
 sistency to be taken out and placed in
 the sun. Peat burns more quickly than coal and is much cheaper. Twelve large size bricks sell for an English penny, equivalent to cents in American money.
 Attempts have been made in recent years to improve this fuel by shredding it and ccmpressng it into bricquets which burn like coal. When mixed with crude mo- lasses from sugar mills 1t makes a food for cattle. The vegetable fibers have also been converted into a cheap grade of paper. Several processes for distill- ing alcohol from peat have been devised, the by-product yielding ammonium sul- phate which Is valuable as fertilizer.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-23
SONG

From an Elizabethan Song Book. Fain would l change that note To which fond love hath charm'd mo Long, long to sing by rote. Fancying that that harmed me; Yet when this thought doth come Love is the perfect sum
 Of all delight l have no other choice Either for pen or voice
 To sing or write. o love, they wrong thee much That say thy sweet is bitter When thy rich fruit is such As nothing can be sweeter. Fair house of joys and bliss, Where truest pleasure is,
 do adore thee; 1 know thee what thou art, l serve thee with my heart,
 And fall before theel
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-23
ONE OF LIFBs LESSONS.

ONE OF LIFES LESSONS. Life is full of disappointments," re- marked the philosopher
 That's fact" answered thre defeated candidate. Full many man who thinks he has been treated like a stepchild."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-23
DANGER OF NIAGRA FALLS

DANGER OF NIAGRA FALLS From the Christian Science Monitor.
 One of these days the United States and Canada will come into agreement on the point that the way to preserve Niagara Falls is to internationalize the Niagara zone; that is, if they are agreed. in the first place. as to the wisdom of pre- serving them. So long as any part of the power of Niagara river is used for com mercial purposes, that part of 1t which is not so used will be sought by private in- terests or municipalities. The only safe way to handle the matter is to remove the river and it's falls from the possibility of commercialization.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-23
Lovers,

BEGINNING THE DAY-I thank Thee, my God, for the quiet places In which Thou speakest to men anu preparest them for the terrible times of noise and struggle. Lead me ofe apart and have Thy say "Hn me And later when the battle is on Thy voice still ring clear and close. m Cbrist,s name. Amen.-H. M. E.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-23
THIRTY CENTS FOR WAR RELIEF

THIRTY GENTS FOR WAR RELIEF From the New York World.
 The commission for relief in Belgium repeats that Americans have given it's work cents each. Carrying the compu- tation further, Ambassador Morgenthau told the Armenian mass meeting that we have given but 90 cents each to all war relief funds combined
 Yet $3O, 900 is no trifling sum; funds privately sent must have added to it greatly; the work of American agents in Belgium, northern France and Armenia has been indispensable; such services are now in Poland and Servia, where en- tente subjects may not enter.
 There is reason why many Americans have withheld assistance. They have held it unneutral to aid Germany by feed ing BeIgians, who might feed themselves if Germany, after destroying their indus tries, had not taxed them $960O0,00O off, hand and $lO.OOO,O00 a month since. They have held that a nation has no right to conquer another and leave it to starve but for charity. In theory they are right; the same objection will apply to Servia and Poland.
 However sound the reasoning, a condi- ton and not theory confronts human ity. By no fault of theirs, Belgians, Poles, Armenians, Jews, in territory over run by -avaging armies, are in danger of literal starvation. The central powers do not feed them, willing or not. If the war continues world sickened of slaughter faces new tragedies of slow tor- ture more horrifyng.
 This is time to drop theories and help wherever a chance appears
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-23
A LITERAL INTERPRETATION

A LITERAL INTERPRETATION.
 T understand there was a free-for- all fight at the wedding of Catamount Joe and old man Hawkins daughter, Sally"
 Yep replied Cactus Bill. There wuz quite consider'b ble excitement fur while One-eyed Pete from Perkins Gap blew into tn assembly half full of flicker, swore he wuz' the best man at the wed- din an tried to prove it."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-23

There is usually some meat in the essay of the sweet girl graduate whose gown cost but a dollar.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-23

The Germans protest against England s attempt to starve them and then de- clare it can't be done.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-23

A history of Tuscaloosa will be shown in a pageant. but it will not be complete without reproduction of the White Ele- phant saloon, where college students laid many a deep plot in the old days.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-23

The reformers are still at work or Chcago's cabarets, which seem to bt gluttons for punishment.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-23

The Waite trial promises to give a number of alienists a chance to show how much they don't know.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-23
ALABAMA PRESS

Coosa River News: Alabamians. appar- ently, prefer to sue corporations for real and imaginary wrongs than to regulate them by equitable laws.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-23

Every day somebody asks, What's the matter with the drama?" And no two answers are quite the same.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-23

An anxious laundry assures us that the safe to try out Palm Beach suit, but the average laundry is not reliable weather prophet.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-23

While Dublin ran with blood, other Irishmen were gallantly fighting the Teutons at the front and cherishing an opinion of Sir Roger Easement that wasn't fit to print.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-23

Now that the Russians have succeeded in joining the British in Mesopotamia, John Bull may anticipate a change In his luck.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-23

Teuton airmen recently dropped bombs on Cairo. It's shame to wake up a town that has been asleep for centuries.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-23

An authors union may yet be formed, but there Is not mucn chance of their ever clamoring for an eight-hour day.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-23

Scientists say that straphanging causes nervous diseases. It seems to affect some peoples temper unfavorably.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-23

When is a tick not a tick?' asks a faithful subscriber. Just offhand would say, When it's In a dollar watch"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-23

It is said that inactivity along the Mexican border will probably continue for sometime. However, the bandits may have other plans In view.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-23
TWAS EVER THUS

From the Louisville Courier-Journal
 'Immodest dress contributes more than any other factor to bring about the disgrace of young wom- en, declared Mrs. Morris Bartlett of Law renceburg, president of the Federation Of Womens clubs, when she urged that mothers bend their efforts to reform present-day exaggerated styles" From the days news.
 A long as any one can remember,
 A< and as far back into the past as A anyone can read, "present-day exaggerated styles have been condemned as immodest, and to their effect upon the morals of both men and women a con- siderable part of the sum of human wick edness has been attributed. Have cos tunes worn by women been more immod- account need be taken of the gay girl who makes each change in style her op- portunity to go to extremes in the hope of attracting attention to herself and ad- vertising her temperament She would find a way if the fashionable dress for women were that of nun. The love of everything laughs at locksmiths. But is the average young woman dressed less modestly in 1916 than she was in 1896, in 1886 or in S06?
 Some persons speak of the modesty oi the period in which women wore hoop skirts. When they were worn the critics of woman's dress said they were immod- est in effect and in intention, for what might not occur in the event that the wearer leaned over. sat down carelessly or otherwise tilted the hoops? When skirts were long they appeared. to some persons. shockingly clinging. Now they are full. but shockingly short. The fail ure of women to meet the exacting re- quirements of those who view her as a
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-23

So long as they get plenty of candy and tobacco, United States troops in Mexico have nothing in particular to worry about.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-23

Alabama Democrat: The purchase of Ford is printed as a news item in The Andalusia Star. Things must be getting stupidly dull in the Covington capital.