davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1916-03-30


gloom and this horror has been follow
ing her all during the course of the war
She writes that that would be almost
more than she could bear, and the
thought that someday in the near future
her beloved country might be fighting
her also beloved Germany is a ghost of
terror which haunts her continually.
And SO the first war Christmas passed.
The year 1915 opened for her with
sufficient gloom but this was pierced by
some rays of hope Her husband was
safe for the present, at least; things
were looking bright for the Germans;
the winter was mild and her baby was
perpetual JOY Soon, however, she re-
cieved news from America, that over
here the Allies were expected to win,
and this caused not only apprehension
but alarm, for she knew that as far as
the real fighting was concerned, she was
not getting news of that. In her letters
at this time, she reiterates this question,
"If America wants peace so badly, why
do they allow millions of dollars worth
of supplies and ammunition to be sent
to France and England?" No one has
yet answered that question to her sat
isfaction. Now and then she seemed to
get echoes of the German sentiment
against America, through conversations
and letters, and she writes as if the
eddy partial to the Allies. This was but
another drop of sorrow in her cup. Dur
ing the summer of 1915, she sends up a
continual prayer that the war may close
before the winter, and her letters begin
to show glimpses of heart ache and sus-
pense when she feels herself neither
German nor American but only wife
The long separation is beginning to wear
on her nerves and the fear that her hus-
band will be sent to the trenches grows
on her daily. However, she still has
glimpses of cheerfulness in her writing
and seems to realize that she is not so
badly off as many others.
In letter dated August 25th, she
writes to her mother the glad news that
her husband is to have a leave of abb
sence for ten days, and it is easy to
imagine the genuine joy which filled
her heart as she wrote The thought
of going through another long winter
without sight of his face had been
so bitter that the news of an ex-
pected furlough was sweet indeed.
Then for several months, in fact until
December, she lived in a state of ex-
pectancy and disappointment All
through September, October and Novem-
Der, one excuse after another was given
why the leave could not be granted and
about the same time the fighting became
more intense along the west front, so
hat it was probable the leave would not
This was bitter news to the
Waiting wife, but she bore it bravely,
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1916-03-30


so far away and vague, that il
means nothing to u.s. 1t beats against
our lives merely as the ocean tide beats
against our state borders. We know
that it is there something vast and
awful and destructive, but no more ruff
ling the even tenor OF our peaceful
days than the tales that our grand
fathers tell of the bygone time when
Kansas was washed with blood. Per-
haps, If we listen to the story of a
Kansas woman to whom this war Of
Europe is an everyday and vital thing
we might be better able to appreciate the
black pail Of woe which darkens the sky
OF Europe, and for a few moments
understand just a little of how the
women OF that country are being tor
tured from day to day.
To nearly all of the older settlers
of Kansas the name Wilder is familiar,
because of the life and work of d. w
Wilder, of Hiawatha, Kans, who was
one Of the foremost of the states sons
during the period just following the
Civil war. At that time he was ap-
pointed Surveyor General of both Kan
sas and Nebraska by the great Lincoln
and ably he filled the Office In the
politics Of the state he took a promi-
nent part until the day when he tired
of the strenuous life and entered into
his library where he found his greatest
Joy and did his greatest work. "The
Annals of Kansas" book which is to
be found on the Library shelves of
every loyal Kansan was the work of
his hand and brain, and during this
period of his life he also corroborated
with several of the most learned men of
his day in the nation and compiled a
book of quotations which is now nation
ally used. Mr.. Wilder numbered among
his friends, Longfellow, Emerson, Low
ell and other literary men of that day.
His life was interesting and fruitful
and until his death, less than ten years
ago, he was a most loyal son of Kansas.
Tbs daughter Odrdn, VINO was DOTn
in Hiawatha, inherited a great deal of
his pluck and energy, as subsequent in
cidents will show, and in spite of the
fact that her life has been transplanted
to German soil, she is faithful daugh-
ter of Kansas, and is daily undergoing
the torture of having her heartstrings
torn between loyalty to her adopted
country and the inherent love of her
native land.
Sarah Wilder is a graduate of the
Kansas University where she finished
in 1905, and while, like her father, she
was an allround student, her greatest
love was for music and her ambition
was to be singer Immediately after
her graduation she went to Paris where
she studied for two years under the best
voice teachers of the French capital.
There her cherished ambition took such
DOT in her heart that she determined to
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-21
INTOLERANT YOUTH

From the New York Telegram.
Youth is always intolerant and fire.
quently cruel to age, and the greater the
difference between the two the greater
the intolerance, with cruelty as an almost
certain accompaniment.
A shocking instance of the cruelty of
youth toward. age has just been recorded
in the Bronx, in the case of an aged
bookseller, who had been the butt of the
unfeeling pranks of the small boys of the
neighborhood. In this case the result
was serious, almost fatal, for the hui
NOR" of the boys caused them to throw
a lighted match into some naphtha
spilled on the sidewalk by the bookseller
and in an instant his clothes were
aflame
Before he could be rescued he was SC
badly burned that his eyes were ,e-
stroyed. Certainly the participants ir
this CHASTITY 'humor' will have twinges
OF conscience when they think of the re-
suit of their prank" but that it will
have a lasting influence for good on the
rising generation is almost too much tc
EXPECT.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-21
THE TABLES TURNED

BY Wordsworth.
Up! up! my friend, and quit your
books,
Or surely you'll grow double!
Up! up! my friend, and clear your looks
Why all this toll and trouble?
The sun, above the mountains head,
A freshenipg luster mellow
Through all the long green fields has
spread,
His first sweet evening yellow.
Books: tits dull and endless strife.
Come, hear the woodland linnet.
How sweet his music, on my life
There's more of wisdom in it.
And bark! how blithe the throstle sings
He, too, is no mean preacher:
Come forth into the light of things.
Let Nature be your teacher.
She has a world of ready wealth,
Our minds and hearts to bless
Spontaneous wisdom breathed by health
Truth breathed by cheerfulness.
One impulse from vernal wood
May teach you more of man.
OF moral evil and Of good.
Than all the sages can.
Sweet is the lore which Nature brings;
Our meddling intellect
Misshapes the beauteous forms Of thingS-'
We murder to dissect.
Enough of Science and Of Art; h
Close up those barren leaves;
Come forth and bring with you q heart
That watches and receiveA
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-21
LUKE M'LUKE SAYS
Copyright, 1916, by the Cincinnati
Quirer)

Copyright, 1916, by the Cincinnati En-.
quireD
Once in a while woman buys an ar
ticle at a bargain sale and discovers after
she gets home that she can actually
find some use for it.
If the state could only collect fines OH
Al the contempt of court that isn't ex-
pressed. it would need no other source
of revenue.
A married woman tells other married
women how she trusts her husband, just
as though she didn't know that they
knew she was lying.
The reason why some men are not wor-
ried over ever getting sea sick while on
a voyage to Europe is because they be-
lieve that by the time they get enough
coin to take such a trip there will be a
bridge across the ocean.
A man can understand why some men
dive off suspension bridges. But he can't
understand why some women are jealous
of their husbands.
The average womans idea of economy
is to buy things without paying for them.
Every time you write a promissory note
it sits down on your desk and waits for
you.
Another cause of a lot of trouble Is
the fact that If a mans manners are
good girl doesn't worry about his
morals.
We have a sneaking notion that the
man who tells a lie when the truth
would hurt some other man has as good
a chance in the next world as the rest
of us.
Lots of indulgent husbands are only
that way when they have one foot rest
ing on the rail in front of the bar.
You may have notice that the man who
plays them as II he had them is always
buying another stack.
| A boy is expected to be polite to a
man. But how long has it been since
you heard man say Please" or THANK
| YOU to a boy.
! A bald-headed man can't see why a
man should be expected to take his hat
off when he meets a woman just because
he happens to know the woman.
| If girl doesn't giggle before she gets
married there isn't much chance of her
developing into a gggler after she gets
married.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-21

on the stand in case that was being
tried before him.
1t will be remembered that Judge Ian
dis Is the man who placed $50,O00,o00
fine on the Standard Oil company several
years ago. He is an eccentric man and
has unique method in conducting the
cases that come before him. The law
yers for both sides generally sit and wait
until the judge has found out all he can
about the case himself. 1 went to Peru
to visit my brother, Ed, who formerly
lived here. He is head bookkeeper for
a large concern and is doing fine. He is
well liked by the citizens of Peru, and is
In the best of health. He inquired about
his friends here, and said that he hoped
to come back to Birmingham in the near
future"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-21
From the Louisville Courier-Journal.
0T2HE following dispatch from Jual
is published in American neY

From the Louisville Courier-J Journal.
0G2HE following dispatch from Juarez
is published in American news
papers:
Juan Rangel was struck by a train
on the Nor-Oeste de Mexico railway and
injured. Juan was we'll known to many
Americans in Ell Paso.
Doesn't sound like much of story
but wait. Juan was famous and expert
bull fighter. Hundreds of tourists have
thrilled when he avoided the. furious
rushes of maddened bulls in the bull ring
here. The train which hit Juan runs
once a week. 1t was whizzing along at
all of four miles an hour.
And Juan was hit by the cowcatcher."
Bull fighting is an occupation which
accident insurance companies should rate
with commercial travelling or the prac-
tice of law as to the desirability of the
risk Bull fighting as spectacle is
a carefully staged farce, fairly safe for
the human players because of the pro-
found ignorance and gross stupidity of
the bull, plus his complete unacquaint-
ance with the rules and the nature of the
game Every bull fighter who enters the
ring knows exactly what to expect and
what to do. The bull is a novice He
would not know what to expect or what
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-21
Good Shows Booked

I will be in my element once more
when the theatrical season opens up
again" said Brown Parks, treasurer of
the Jefferson theatre. This winter will
be one of the most brilliant theatrical
seasons that Birmingham has had in
many years. Some excellent shows have
been booked and some of the leading
stars of the country will appear on the
local stage.
"Al G. Fields minstrels will open the
season here. 1t has been customary to
open the Jefferson season with a good
minstrel show. There are a great many
people who prefer real good minstrel
show to any other form of amusement.
The Fields Ministries this year are up
to-date and the last scene depicts a ball
game in Darktown that is one of the
most comical skts ever presented to the
public"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-21
THE BRAVE BULL FIGHTER

| to do If he possessed human intelligence.
Bull fighting is less dangerous to men
than football playing, bridge carpentry,
window washing or hunting in American
forests during the open season for deer,
and for men mistaken for deer. The
chances for longevity among bull fighters
are better than the chances for longevity
among bartenders or millers There is
danger of an occasional free-for-all fight
In the barroom, in which somebody may
be hurt, and the miller's occupation takes
him out of the fresh pure air and sun
shine, while that of the bull fighter takes
him out into it.
When brave bull fighters are not on
duty, and go wandering about where
there are four-mle an hour Mexican
trains and grade crossings they should be
looked after, in the interest of a noble
sport, by keepers. They are accustomed
to performing routine duties involving
little risk. Any unexpected occurrence
may upset their calculations. The torea-
doreal intelligence is not able to cope
with emergency conditions. 1t was rep
rehensibly careless of the promoters of
bull fighting in Juarez to allow one of
their heroes to go at large and unat-
tended amid the dangers Of traffic. Wit
ness the tragical and logical results.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-21
APOLLO ON THE HUsTINGs,

From the Nashville Tennessean.
Under that heading the Chicago Trib-
une prints an editorial beginning, when
Fob Taylor fiddled his way into the state
house at Nashville, the spirit of Apollo
may be said to have entered American
politics." Then the Tribune goes on to
tell how man named Rowe is trying to
win the treasureship of New Hampshire
by singing his speech, accompanied by
his wife and banjo. The Tribune likes
the idea and suggests that Woodrow Will
son thrum a lutte and sing II Kept You
Out of War" and that Jim Ham Lewis
twang THE Whangdoodle" and chant
in golden numbers paeans4 to the Pres
ident.
Almost, the Tribune's editorial is per-
feet. 1t is witty. brief enough and reads
well. The only trouble is that it is full
OF errors. Just to mention slight one
the whangdoodle, according to accepted
tradition, is not a musical instrument but
an animal. 1t sounds a fearsome animal
For aught we know to the contrary, it
may be the very animal that forms the
emblem of the republican party. And
Jim Ham certainly will do some twanging
on that critter!
Then, to point out Just one more error
| the basis Of the whole thing is an err
| ror. Bob Taylor never fiddled his way
into the statehouse at Nashville. He
/ hardly drew bow in that campaign and
| there was a mighty good reason for it..
| His brother, ALT, who was his repub-
| lican opponent, was a heap better fid-
| dler than Bob. Bob Taylor did some fid-
| ding in the mountains In his boyhood,
| and they do say that he sawed the old
| box a little when he was running for
| the legislature. He may have touched it
| time or two when he beat Pettibone
| for Congress. But Bob Taylor was too
good politician to employ the fiddle
| against ALT Taylor.
| But all Of that amounts to nothing or
| less. What's a fact when it stands be-
| tween the Chicago Tribune and good
| opening sentence for an editorial? And,
| anyhow we suppose the Tribune didn t
| know the fact. We just love to suppose
that we are furnishing somebody with in
| fOrma ton
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-21
BUFFALO,S MODEST BID

From the Pittsburg Dispatch.
If the 125 communities which are bid:
ding for that government armor plant
are as modest as Buffalo no wonder the
committee is puzzled. Under the heading,
"Buffalo's Reasonable Bid" the Evening
News of that town says Moreover. Buff
falo Is now the center of the steel in
dustry." Do you get that? Can you
get 1t?
We have heard of Gary and Birming-
ham and other ambitious towns claiming
they were about to displace Pittsburg
as the worlds steel center, but it seems
while they have been talking about do
ing it Buffalo has gone and done it. And
to think that here in Pittsburg we never
dreamed, never suspected it. Perhaps
there is something in that aphorism that
cit is always the unexpected that hap.
pens" after all.
/; South Bethlehem, Midvale, Birming-
ham, Gary, and even Baltimore have been
candidates for Pittsburgs shoes, but to
put us off at Buffalo is too. too, much
Why, we could put Buffalo's steel indus
try in Braddock's back yard.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-21
THE SHERIFF'S PIETY

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
The independent Arab state which has
been set UP by the rebellious sheriff OF
Mecca is based on piety. The Society of
Union and Progress, which under the
domination of Enver, Djemal and Talaat
rules Turkey today, is essentially non
religious. The Koran is something of a
bore to such men as Enver. and its edicts
are dead letters in Turkish government
circles. The sheriff. on the other hand.
is stanch supporter of Moslem ortho-
doxy, and his rebellion, which has been
surprisingly successful, has been inspired
by his own religious zeal and by the de-
votion of his followers.
Now that he is well established as ruler
not only Of Mecca and Medina but also
of much of the Arabian coast of the Red
sea, the sheriff has pursued the course
followed by European cabinets. and has
issued book" to explain his actions
1t is not a white book or a. pink book
or lavender book, but just a circular
written in flowery Arabic. and bearing
evidence of extreme sincerity. 1t sets
forth the high crimes of the Turkish gov
ernment-including instances Of un-
doubted cruelty and also examples Of d
ruthless impiety which must seem rather
inconsequential to non-Moslem readers
and calls upon all Mohammedans fol
support and prayer
There is something naive In the sher.
ifs pronunciamento, but it is none thu
less document worthy Of attention
When the war is over and the great set
Element is made the sheriffs possession
of the holy cities will doubtless be 9
matter of real Importance. 1t is ever
now SO important that the Ottoman gov
ernment. If 1t can find troops for the
work. will doubtless attempt to punish
the rebels. A war between Turkish ag
nosticism and Arabian orthodoxy may b.
one of the minor features of the worlt
struggle. But whatever the outcome it Il
not highly probable that the Arabs WHIT
have established their independence will
be restored to their Ottoman allegiance
Nowadays the Turk seldom regains any
thing he has once lost.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-21
ALABAMA PRESS

Dothan Eagle: Some want biennial ses-
sions of the legislature so we can have
more laws passed when there are already
SO many they couldn't all be violated II
the violator did nothing else.
Admission Star: The Illinois judge who
ruled that women do not have to give
their ages when they vote can have any
office in the gift of the suffragists
Talladega Home: Birmingham, with her
great iron and coal mines, and all the
facilities for manufacturing and trans
portation, except when there is a car
f. mine, ought to pull up stakes and
move the Birmingham district. Magic
City and ALL with its mighty resources
north Of the Ohio. Perhaps then she
could get the recognition and aid from
the nation she SO richly deserves.
Selma Journal: The primary for COVER
nor and statehouse offices will be in
August 1913. This gives the candidates
plenty of time to warm up" their
races even after another summed Iand
two more winters have passed away
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-21
THE "wILLIEs, OF WAR

From the New York Sun.
We may imagine the feelings of Ger
man infantry in shell battered trenches
when in the uncertain light of dawn they
saw advancing upon them an array of
unearthly monsters cased in steel. spit
ting fire and crawling laboriously but
ceaselessly over trenches, barbed wire
and shell craters.-London Times
No wonder Tommy Atkins calls these
terrible armored motor cars the Twill
les Are they not Pigments of the i'm
agination?
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-21
LEARNED EXPLANATION

Henry. you've been taking stimulants
again." said Mrs. Twobble. severely.
mo, my DEAR" answered Mr.. Twobble.
Don't try to deceive me. I smell
liquor on your breath"
II don't deny that. my dear What
was about to say when you interrupted
agree that alcohol is not stimulant,
strictly speaking, but depresses the heart
and lowers ones vitality
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-21

great deal, but when platitudes and
statements that failed to appeal to
the intelligence of the people are con-
sidered there has been very little left.
Yet Mr.. Hughes will get large
vote and it behooyes the democrats
in the doubtful states to work hard
from now until the campaign closes.
Returning on board the justly cele-
brated oscar II, CASTOR PLAINTIFF an
nounces that Mr.. Ford has not aban.
doned his plan to end the war. Proba-
bly, not but he has reduced the expense
account considerably.
y 4
Each claimant for the government ar
NOR plant declares it is the logical
place. state of affairs that strikes
the unprejudiced observer as most illogi-
cal.
General Won Hindenburg seems to
think the Kaiser is a better speaker
than tactician. At any rate, he can do
less harm making speeches than trying
to direct his troops.
X y y
The critics said the minstrel show was
thing of the past, yet the New York
Hippodrome is putting on one with 400
count 'emAoo "blackface artists"
y
Standing on his record-and his front
porch-President Wilson will make 6
strong appeal for reelection withou,
stamping the country.
n II
A discussion has been raging as to
strument. It's as much entitled to that
designation as trombone.
* 4 *
If the state of Florida goes dry, Pen
sacola will miss the smiling faces OF
Alabamians who run down just to gel
| a Whit of the sea-"
| Automobile manufacturers are adver.
tising their cars with the help of pretty
actresses, who are absolutely fearless
in front of a camera.
II u X
Mr.. Hughes has a good physique, but
some of the admiring republican car
toonists give him the muscles of San
dow
* "
oniceholder in the south who will be
able to save every cent of his salary.
* y
Times must be getting better in Mexico
City. Street car employees have been
given 40 per cent increase in wages.
| Montgomery proposes to make the life
of labor agent in that particular town
anything but a grand, sweet song.
Il Il
new dance step is said to be the SIM
piest of all. That should prove bless
| ing to simple dancers.
Once a Mexican general acquires the
revolution habit, nothing can cure him
but the firing squad
* x *
It's too bad about Villa health but
he won't be invited to any American
spa to recuperate
The railroad brotherhoods have
adopted new slogan. It's Work for
Wilson"
Blackmailers would be more successful
in their business if they knew when to
stop.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-21
Likes Birmingham

This is my first trip south" said D.
Eisenberg of New York, who is one of
the principal stockholders In s. A. Will
liams Co. Qnc), which will open up a
cloak and suit house on Third avenue.
Il have often wanted to come south, and
would have done SO before had 1T not
been that the pressure of business mat
ters kept me in other sections OF the
country.
MY firm has come to the realization
that the south Is the section OF the
United States that is improving more
rapidly than any other. OF all the cities
in the south, and we visited most OF the
principal ones, we decided on Birming-
ham. This city has as many real advan-
tages as any other town in the north.
east or west and I believe 1t is only a
matter of few years until 1t will be
as large as Pittsburs. Birmingham Is
well known everywhere. 1t has q repu-
tat.on for progressiveness and from all ]
can see it more than deserves it.