davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-02
sERGEANTs AIM WAS TRUE

Gregory Mason in the Outlook.
 "Dad'' Miller, the old one-legged shoemaker of Columbus. likes to talk about what the soldiers did. He tells how they came in from the eastern end of the town, each man dropping on his knee and covering an enemy with a cool, unhurried precision, quite differ ent from the blind, quick shooting of the already weakening Mexicans. Grad |ually the invaders were swept across the plaza and out to the rising ground southwest of the town by the handful of disciplined American regulars.
 "One O the three Lopez brothers" says the venerable leather worker, stood on that leetle rise to the west O the station wavin' big sword an tryin' to rally his cowardly companions. Major Tompkins an Sergeant Foley were right in front O my store watch in 'ersi.
 "sCan you git that feller, sergeant? 2 asked the major.
 "Tve never missed sir says the sergeant, an he gifts off his horse, draws slow bead an drops the big feller with the sword. That took the heart out O them.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-02

From the Baltimore Sun. TT HE masters at the Gilman Country school have just finished marking \ General Informatiop Test" in which 100 questions were propounded upon subjects ranging from the creator of certain heroes of the Sunday funny paper to the Bible, with politics, the war and science intermixed.
 The scholastic standing of the boys was not affected by the examination. Its object was simply to make them think. and to realize, if they had not kept pace with current events or with modern thought the importance of doing SO. What it proves seems to be that the comic picture sections and the sporting pages of newspapers lead in popularity in the world of boyhood.
 The queerest answers were to the question, What is the Koran?" One lad hazarded the guess that it was "a make of tea;" another thought it was the name of the Japanese cabinet, and others confidently described it as "a section of | China,' the ruler of Korea" and "a peninsula of the east" One boy with great care of detail wrote, 'The Koran is mu :
 sical instrument something like mando- lin, which is played by Hawaiians.'
 Another question was Why was Mrs Inez Milholland Boissevain famous?"
 That was easy for one youngster. She
 was the worlds greatest hairdresser."
 he wrote, and another. seeking to place the suffragette upon an even higher pin-
 nacle, described her as the famous
 dancer who started the Salome dance "Who is the most famous living Ger man composer?" was answered Ine Kaiser" and one answer to the question: identify by author or work the quota ton, You are old. Father William, was .aThat was a remark made by the Crown Prince to the Emperor of Germany.
 Further along Dr. Howard A. keny was given credit for having written Sclence and Health,' and Sir Isaac Newton was l extolled as "a writer of children's books" and s.an envidentor of sowing machines. Evervbody knew the famous person as- 1 sociated with Oyster Bay, though one hoy spelled his name "Ruseafeld But Henry Ford would have realized how fleeting a thing is fame if he could have seen the asnwers to the request, eMen- ton some fact of recent interest about l inc Oscar IT. One guess was that he had l just been crowned "King of the Nether- 1 lands and another that he was the aKing of the Jews.' And -the utter fu- tility of martyrdom was evident from
 one boys idea of the identity of Edith 1 Cavell. s'She was.' he said, recently l elected vice president of the Standard | Oil company.
 l Nearly everybody knew who the cham pion heavyweight wrestler of the world lis, as well as the college that won the l intercollegiate football championship of l 1915 but one boy dismissed a query as to l the authorship of My Country, Tis of Thee" with the nonchalant answer, 1 Some enthusiastic patriot" while an
 other thought 1t was Francis Scott Key. !! And then to clinch the proof of his
 l patriotism the same lad answered the lquestion, Why is James Bryce famous?''
 by declaring that he was a. graduate of
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-02

vival were beginning to appear, but 1t was not until the summer that finan- ciers and economists began to talk about new era of prosperity that was dawning. By the autumn iron and steel plants were operating on a large scale; some of them at full capacity. And production and demand have in creased rapidly ever since.
 Not only is prosperity in almost every direction in evidence now, but there will be continuance of good times well into 1917, and probably beyond.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-02
Agree on Size of Army

The House and Senate conferees on the military bills disposed of one of the knottiest features when they agreed upon 18O,0OO men as the peace strength of the regular army.
 Many advocates of a substantial measure of preparedness had urged that 100000 be fixed as the minimum, but 180,O00 will do very well, especial ly since the army can be increased to 250,000 by executive order in time of war or threatened war, without further action on the part of Con- gress.
 Chairman Hays House bill provided for only 140,0OO men on a peace foot ing. A year ago that number would have been thought extravagant. In fact MT. Hay last summer was op- posed to any increase. But after lis- teaing to the administration appeal and in view of what has been happen ing, he became committed to the proposition for larger army, al- though not as large as the war col lege thought it should be, and he be- came at the same time an earnest ad- vocate of bringing the National Guard into closer relation with the regular establishment. He first pro- posed 134Q00 men as the peace strength of the army, but afterwards increased it to 140,000.
 Now that the conference committee has made a practical start on con- promises it should be able to con- plete it's work within the next few days.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-02
JEFFERSON FIGHTING THE TICK

A1G AIOfA From the Mobile Item.
 Down this way one hardly thinks of Jefferson county as being an agricultural county. It is the big mineral county of Alabama, where iron and coal are mined and made into steel and steel products. Though imperial in extent and in wealth, Jefferson is also a big agricultural com munity, and her people are going for ward with a diversif1cation programme. On May they will vote on the eradica- ton of the cattle tick so that Jefferson may become a county of blooded stock.
 United States District Attorney Robert N. Bell of Birmingham is leading in the tick eradication movement. He thinks the law is sound and that 1t is good law For many years he has been run ming 8 Jersey farm, paying fabulous prices for imported stock and taking prizes at many fairs. So it is not as an amateur that he speaks.
 'It has cost me 5000 to learn what I am telling you for nothing is the way he puts the question to the farmers of his county.
 Jefferson will probably follow the leac of Mobile and other counties that have voted to destroy the tick. If any attack is made on the law it will, in all proba- bility, be defended by the state and the counties that are now operating under it. However, the Item is advised that the law was carefully drawn and squared with the constitution in every particular to meet any exigency before it was passed. It is hoped that 1t can stand every test of the constitution, for no more righteous bill for the upbuilding of the country has been enacted into a law.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-02
FAREWELL TO THE KIMONo


 FAREWELL TO THE KIMONO From the Knickerbocker Press.
 Trousers, hailed with jeers and con- tempt on their first appearance, and vic- tims since at times of the unkind com ment of the minimizing. are nevertheless conquering the world. They precede civilization, accompany it on it's rounds of triumph, and will doubtless remain after it has gone.
 Latest victim of this sartorial invader is the gay kimono, graceful expression of the spirit of old Japan It's days are numbered. The Japanese muclzraker has placed it on the grill; it has been found expensive. ,nconvenient. Impractical and absurd and source of grevious burdens of labor for the women.
 Mime. Tsuneko Irisawa, wife of physi- clan. has offered prizes for the best de- signs for an improved and simplifled kimono costume for men, boys and chill dren, for wear at home, while visiting, at school. or at work. Complaining of the kimono in it's present form, she says:
 Tt is very inconvenient when at work and 1t is rather unnecessarily expensive. The people of the middle classes and be- low have to spend one-third of their in- come for clothes, and the lowest class of people spend nearly all of their money for clothes.
 '.rhe number of rolls of cloth needed for a set of suits for a man or woman in winter is on the average about eight; for length of thread needed to sew them about 330 feet. and the number of stitches about 5000. These have to be made by the woman of the family by hand. not by machines, and 1t requires days to do the work. The womenfolk have to devote much of their time to 1t all tho ysar iound."
 Apparently in Japan. as well as else- where the costume or the custom which fails to please the women has little show of surviving. If the kimono Is to coz tinue to exist, it can be only In, a radi- cally modified form. Trousers are the sole soltion.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-02
Abounding Prosperity

Business conditions officially re- norted by the federal reserve banks for the month of April are such as to justify the most ,roseate predictions of optimistic observers.
 Of the twelve regional banks all but two or three tell of abounding pros perity, and the few reports of re- strained tone indicate very healthy situation.
 In the east-New England, New York and Pennsylvania-business IS more active and more satisfactory than at any time in many years past. In the Cleveland zone earnings of steel companies land concerns in kindred lines continue at an unprecedented rate" In Chicago general trade IS buoyant, but the condition of fall wheat is reported unsatisfactory, and as the acreage seeded is 10 per cent less than it was year ago the har- vest will probably be from one to two million bushels short of the bumper crops of 1914 and 1915. But it is believed that prices will continue high. and if the corn production ap- nroaches a record breaker, as it has way of doing now and then, the money value of the crops in the wheat territory wilf be equal to that of last year; perhaps greater.
 Kansas City reports that crop con- ditions in that section have seldom Rbeen better at this season of the year and 'there appears to be no cessation in the volume of business" St. Louis is on boom and the Pacific slope is enjoying abundant prosperity.
 Conditions in the agricultural south are little quiet compared with other sections of the country, but the out look for the summer is extremely bright.
 A year ago, after nationwide de- prcssion, signs of an industrial re-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-02
noy,, Industrial school Drill

"Few people realize the thoroughness of the military training given at the Ala bama Boys Industrial school at East Lake, said w. H. Vim. 'I was out at the school Sunday afternoon when some $50 of the boys. in natty service uniform. with standard army equipment, drilled for upward of an hour going through the formations and evolutions with remark able skill and beauty.
 Add to this a number of selections by the justly famous Boys band and you may see that the few spectators on the spa cious drill ground spent a most enjoyable afternoon.
 s"Thes work of these manly little fel- lows and the all round spick-and-span appearance of the grounds and buildings speak louder than column of words for the efficiency and painstaking effort of Superintendent Weakley and his corps of able assistants.
 '"Take my suggestion and go out next Sunday afternoon and l believe you will agree with me that there is not better place about Birmingham to spend an hour or so during driil time.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-02
THE SYMPHONY
Ry Lyman Abbott.

By Lyman Abbott
 The life of Christ is the story of the beginning of the fulfillment of prom ises which had cheered the faithful in the darkest hours of Judeas apostasy and ruin; the letters of Paul are the unfolding of that fulfillment in spirit ual experience. ever pointing to richer and yet richer fulfllment in the ever increasing crescendo movement of the future; and the literature of promise ends with an apocalytic vision of the perfecting but never perfected fulfill ment in the latter days. If we turn from the structure to the contents of this Literature, this promise character is |cven more apparent. The Bible Is like Ia symphony. Weaving endless varia- tions around one simple theme. which, obscure at first, grows stronger and |clearer. until finally the whole orches- ,tra takes it tip in one magnificent choral. conqucring all obstacles and breaking through all hidings.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-02
MISLEADING QUOTATIONS

From the New York Telegram.
 s No true American will question the acts of the nations leaders if war comes, no matter whether he thinks them right or wrong. We should say as the great Carl Schurz said: q hope our country may always be right. but right or wrong, our country. Racine Times-Call Or. as Herman Ridder said. Give me liberty or give me death.'-Chicago Tribune And as MT. Bryan remarked. ITO be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-02
SOLITUDE

 By Alexander Pope. Happy the man, whose wish and carc A few paternal acres bound, Content to breathe his native air
 In his own ground. Whose herds with milk, whose fields
 with bread,
 Whose flocks supply him with attire; Whose trees in summer yield him shade. tASIn winter fire. Blest who can unconcern' dly find Hours, days. and years, slide soft away
 In health of body, peace of mind
 Quiet by day. Sound sleep by night; study and ease Together mkt sweet recreation, And innocence, which most does pleasd
 With meditation. Thus let me live, unseen, unknown; Thus unlamented let me die: Steal from the world. and nc st Tell where lie.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-02
A .GREAr THRoNGv OF POETS

From the Christian Science Monitor.
 Poets recently assembled in New York for symposium purposes are described by the local press as forming "a great thronglr Just think of it. great}throng of poets, And they used to be so rare that to find them even'in a group was an unusual thing. It will be strange. after this rerfarkable New York announcc- ment if tome clever political pers6Q does not orgaikze the poets and attenSbt to swing an ection with their vote
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-02
A sUccpssFuL ENTERTAINER.

But you'd better beware
 Whenever she sneezes.
 A SUCCESSFUL ENTERTAINER. You seem to be popular with your con- stituents.D
 Yes" replied the uneasy statesman I'm afraid they like to hear me tell funny stories so well that they would rather keep me at home than send me back to Congress for another term" CAN BLAME THE PUBLISHERS. ''The literary life has it's compensations, no doubt"
 "oh, yes. man with a literary turn always has good excuse for his inabil- ity to make a living"
 A PLEASING RECEPTION. Who is your favorite comedian?' ''Slithers, of the Follies" ''Still, he isn't as famous as some of his contemporaries'
 "No, and as a matter of fact, he isn't as funny as some other comedians, but he stands high in my regard because he has never said that he would like to play Hamlet"
 THE RIGHT IDEA. ''Do you think you could serve seven- course dinner?"
 ''Yes, num-" replied the applicant Well, where would you start fron?'' "rd start from the kitchen, mum"
 NO CAUSE FOR ALARM. 'If this country were to call for volun- teers, do you think many men would re- spond?"
 ''oh, yes,' answered the optimistic citi-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-02
Need Rest Rooms for Women

Better arrangements should be made for caring for women and children who are forced to attend the sessions of the various courts" said B. F. Smith, well known local attorney, yesterday. "At the present time it frequently happens that women with several children are forced to attend court for several days at time. They cannot leave the build
 ing and must wait around in the cor riders with the crowds which are con- stantly around the courtrooms
 Some proper rest room for women and children should be devised at the court house at least. recently knew of a case where a woman with three small children living in distant part of the county attended court every day for a week She could not leave during the day for fear she would be called as a witness. With her three children, all of whom were small, and some of them sick, She was in a really distressing sit- uatipn.
 This same situation applies to women shoppers and other women visitors who come to the city in crowds each day. It seems that it might be good plan while the new municipal building plans are under consideration, to provide some place in the new structure where women who had finished their shopping could go and rest and await the time for their train to leave. believe this would result in great increase in the number of women who would come to the city every day from the country and the small towns surrounding Birmingham.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-02
DIs erslfied Farming $

q am planting only five acres of cotton this, year, said Love Ellis, prominent farmer near Leeds T. too, have fallen for the diversified farming idea, and am planning to raise a little of everything that grows in Alabama. I have six fine brood sews. and since the serums are making isog cholera a thing. of the past | am expecting a fine lot of meat next fall
 MT, Ellis was formerly in the employ of the city. but the farm fever had him so completely that he bought farm and
 moved on it. He says he would not move back to the city and give up the farm life at all
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-02

The women who are earning high wages while their husbands are at the front won't stand for dictation when their erstwhle lords and masters return home.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-02

Who would have thought that Dr.. Dernburg would ever be writing editorials conciliatory to America? However Cap tain von Papen will probably consider us 'idiotic Yankees as long as he lives
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-02

The man who tells fishing yarns is ashamed to attempt one this year. while the war correspondents are so busy manufacturing news.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-02

The British insist that General Town shends campaign was brilliant achieve ment. The Turks don't have to argue that question. They simply point to 10 GOO troops captured in Kut- Fl -Amara.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-02

BEGINNING THE DAY -- hord' what wait I for: Why stand \ here idle. questioning, finding haut' Wonder ebbs and flows the pattae' wonder is panic to turn' 'yonoer a.e wounds to staunch, yoneer the world for word Arom oo1' S.nd me. In Christ's name. Amen. H. M. E.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-02

Another revoltng murder has been traced to a half-wtted boy in Chca go. That town should lose no time in putting it's morons in a safe place.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-02

Pictures of the Hughes family are be- ing published in the newspapers. That's a sure sign that the head of the family is presidential timber.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-02
He1ping the Farmer

'The greatest function of an Alabama newspaper today, in my opinion, is in getting in touch with the farmer by per- sonal contact, ascertaining his needs, in what subjects he is most interested, and giving him practical information upon such subjects" said Roland Turner, ag- ricultural agent of the Southern railway and allied lines.
 q am glad to see, resumed MT. Tur- ner. .the effort in this direction made by The Weekly Age-Herald As me- dium of interchange of views of the gov ernment demonstration force and other agencies throughout the state, incalcula- ble good can be done, and the practical in this as in other lines of activity, Is what counts"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-02

It is rather hard for a globe trotter to escape the indefatigable reporter, if he happened to be on board ship that was torpedoed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-02

The submarine may be able to smuggle arms and ammunition into a seditious country, but as transport ship 1t Is a failure.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-02

provisional President Pearce of Ire land enjoyed an extremely brief tenure of office
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-02

The beer saloon in Georgia gave up the ghost without a struggle.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-02

Although a newly married man, Gen. eral Obregon seems able to concentrate his mind on other matters.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-02

Palm Beach suits are blooming in Dixie and the fool who rocks the boat is bob ping up again.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-02

That stout warrior, Grand Duke Nich- olas, is not in Constantinople yet, but give him time.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-02

An Alabamian says 1t is worth travelling out of the state just to see the book beer signs in "wet' territory.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-02
ALABAMA PRESS


 Cleburne News: Over in Europe they build a neat little house in the top of a tree for observation purposes. and then along comes an enemy's shell and whisks house and occupant off to glory.
 Talladega Home: A Milwaukee man in suing for divorce numbered among his wife's affinities a photographer, musician, saloon-keeper, fireman and Hawaiian mandolinist. Why did she slight the brewers?
 Gadsden Journal: Good food and al bath proved fatal to Milwaukee's "cave man," who existed for 20 years without washing, and who lived on scraps from garbage cans. On the other hand, we are told that too much bathing weakened the Romans.
 Selma Times: The Birmingham Age Herald writes piece on '"The Passing of MT. Bryan. Several thousand lachrymose obituaries have been indited about the political demise of Mir. Bryan, but he is sfill in the flesh, drawing $500 a night, when he is not engaged in saving the country.
 Montgomery Times; The reunion to be held in Birmingham may be the last the Confederate veterans will ever hold. The boys are getting old, their steps are tot tering and many of the deepest thinkers in the ranks of the men who were boys in the early sixties are favoring the abol- ishment of the reunions. There is tinge of sadness in this thought, for it will be the most forcible reminder yet brought to bear on the men who fought the war between the states that they are getting old. They fought great fight, won the admiration of the world for their gallan- try, but they cannot fight against the re- lentless inroads of time
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-02

Just now Dublin is about the most dan- gerous city in the world for innocent oy- islanders.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-02
"HOWLERS' IN MARYLAND

the Gilman Country school, evidently thinking of James Bruce. a son of Will liam Cabell Bruce, the candidate for United States senator.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-02

An Irish uprising made in Germany was doomed to fail.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-02
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES

zen. q feel sure so many would respond that those who pretended to be hard or hearing would not be missed"
 NO JOKE. 'It is a fact said MT. Hint, "On any job beneath the sun; The man who isn't doing it Can tell you how it should be done.
 Cincinnati Enquirer. "It is fact" said MT. Leet, Who tolls among the pots and kittles, ''The man who has the most to eat, Is least inclined to share his vittles."
 Nebraska State Journal "It is a fact said Mir. Moore That when 1t comes to government The loafer at the corner store Is wiser than the President" rH Peoria Journal Tt is fact" said MT. Ford, That Bryan lost he don't know how, And that Nebraska's strong for me, I wonder who's flivver now?'
 Houston Post "It is 8 fact" said William Ely. "A mans opinion of himself Is apt to be extremely high When he accumulates some pelf.',
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-02
THE COLONEL IS SAVED

T. R. has already "dug himself in' a Chicago.