davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-07-31
Concerning Refunds

IT read with no small interest the
statement issued by President Ward of
the city commission today in which
he announced that the city would re-
fund all street taxes collected, in case
the ordinance should be held by the
supreme court to be uncons titutional,"
said w. M. Sorrell, a we'll known local
attorney. 81 do not doubt that Mr.. Ward
is sincere in his statements, but it
must be borne in mind that there are
five commissioners and one city at
torney. knowing what the result of
taxes was, there will doubtless be many
citizens who will resist the payment of
the street taxes as long as possible.
Until the city pays back to the peo-
pie the 100000, more or less, which was
collected under the illegal liquor tax,
I do not see any reason why promise
should be made to repay the street tax.
The lower court and the supreme court
held the liquor tax illegal, yet the city
refused to give up the illegal money.
Why this sudden display of good in
tentions and this unexpected desire on
the part of the city to give up the
street tax money, if it should be held
illegal? When the city commits
seems to me that they could with bet
ter grace talk about refunding subse
quent collections"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-07-31
HONORS AGAIN ARE EASY

From the Cincinnati Times-Star.
Although Lieutenant Marchal did not
succeed in reaching Russian soil in his
epoch making flight from Nancy over
Berlin, he nevertheless made an i'm
perishable name for himself. 1t must be
some satisfaction to the French people
to know that while Marchal was cap
tured 81 miles from friendly soil, he was
nevertheless spared from death and ul-
tmately will be returned to his own peo-
pie.
Lieutenant Marchal drove the only en-
envy aircraft that has reached the Ger
man capital thus far. His nonstop flight
of S07 miles, mostly in darkness, was a
surprising exhibition of pluck and en-
durance.
London, Paris, Warsaw, Brussels,
Strassburg and other capitals have been
visited by enemy aircraft on various oc-
casions, and generally to their sorrow.
Rome, Belin, Vienna and Petrograd how
ever, have been immune. The dramatic
expunging from this list of Berlin revives
interest in a branch of war service which
of late has been becoming rather COM
monplace so far as new thrills go.
Lieutenant Marchal seems to have
evened up honors with the submarine
Deutschland.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-07-31
From the Baltimore News.

From the Baltimore News.
HNOM the golden wheat fields of
peace and prosperity, of tranquil
l. glorious Kansas comes an idyl of
opulence and unspoiled abundance, CRATE
fui to a world shocked by the clash of ar
mics and rulers and rent by innumerable
petty ambitions of private but potent
citizens, world where commercial strife
is as implacable as the struggle of guns
and bombs and where plot and counter
plot are thick. You who have accumu-
lated wealth by deals in war stocks, nerv-
ously glancing at the ticker tape to see
whether the cryptic figures would spell
affluence or perjury, consider these riches
extracted by not too laborious effort from
the kindly soil, and see how paltry ana
futile are the Vaccinations of man.
Pawnee and Hodgeman counties are in
this land of plenty whose paths drop fat
ness. The pastoral from the Kansas City
Star the News republished several days
ago. But we are constrained to advert
in these columns to villages like Rozel
and Burdett, which have fewer than 800
inhabitants between them, but each OF
which is the center of an area, eight
miles or so in radius, which annually
yields 100000 in wheat, not to mention
alfalfa And having in fancy motored
on to Jetmore lin the heart of Hodge
man county, we like to repeat the sales
of wealth that might make Midas en-
vious; tales vouched for "by the editor Of
the county paper" pinnacle of veracity,
and by the probate Judge; tales fur
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-07-31
RILEYS POE HOAX

They were then only three stanzas ana
they showed conclusively that Riley, for
the time at least, had fallen under the
influence of Edgar Allan Poe. He read
them to the friends gathered round him
and then, laying them aside. returned to
his old theory Of unrecognized merit and
gave birth then and there to the Leon
alma ruse" by remarking that If given to
the world over Poes name the poem
would be received. That suggested the
plant of placing Poe's initials to the piece
and publishing it as a long lost treasure
of the master of the muse.
The hoax was conceived in the old An
derson democrat office, and by an ar
rangement with Oscar Henderson, then
publisher Of the Kokomo Dispatch, and
later auditor of state, there appeared on
the front page of the Dispatch, issue Of
August 2, 1871 a statement and the poem.
Copies of the paper with the long lost
poem were sent broadcast. and placed on
the reviewing desk Of every literary ed
itor in the country. The find attracted
immediate attention. Poes untimely
death had resulted in several unpublished
poems being found before this time and
many critics accepted 'Leonainie' as one
of Poe's. Others were skeptical.
The poem did have the effect Of attract-
ing attention to Riley, hitherto wholly
unknown, but it had no part in the repu-
tation he afterward made.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-07-31
LITTLE BIT OF HEAVEN"

Their, which are merely typical mad moi
extraordinary:
Joe B. McKibben bought a half section
of land six miles north of Jetmore two
years ago at $22 an acre and paid fol
the land with one wheat crop in 1914. and
had money enough left over to buy g
motor car.
C. M. Rasmussen and his boy cleaned
up $1,000 in two years on rented land,
where he had to give the owner one.
fourth of his crop. He had enough to
buy a section of land west of Jetmors
and a motor car, too.
1t is worth reiterating, moreover, that
Hodgeman is creditor county as well az
a debtor 1T has money lent out at in.
terest, and it has $4,000 cash in banh
ready to meet some bonds that will fall
due next December" The fact is worth
impressing upon our proponents of eff
cheney and economy. AS it is SO pros
porous. we are not surprised that, though
Hodgeman has poor farm, it is without
tenants, having sheltered only four in 81
years. The poor farm must be as super.
fluous as refrigerator on an iceberg
One negro, lodged there last spring, is
the county jairs record of occupancy fol
years. 1.-The county has never had a
grand jury
1t is true that the bibulous might dis.
cover scruple of bitter in this pound
of sweet. Not a dring is to be had; but
why worry about beer and spirits in a
land flowing with milk and honey?
land of peaceful plenty and continual
contentment, would that we, too, might
live in Already!
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-07-31
A MORON LOCATED
New York Correspondence Pittsburg I
patch.

New York Correspondence Pittsburg Dis
patch.
1t takes play readers in theatrical Of
fees to discover the ''morons." A mo
ron," using the definitions Of well
known writer, is a demi-fou. and demi-
fou, is a subnormal, a subnormal being a
person with touseled-up turret, or re-
duced to the simplest form with the aid
of the vernacular of the present time, a
moron is "bug'-a nut" Now when
subnormals, or morons get an idea they
want the world to know 1t, SO they pro-
coed to get it out of their system
through the aid Of the typewriter. And
after they have accomplished this they
send the manuscripts to theatrical pro-
ducers for the poor play reader to wade
through. All producers are flooded with
useless material, each specimen more
weird and wondrous than the ono be-
fore. But the prize curiosity among
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-07-31
SHAVING TO MUSIC

curve. What does a man sing in such
the experience of the accompanist to the
trombone that there are dangers in hav-
ing your music played or sung for you.
One would have to be an expert to do
good job at ragtime. That is all very
we'll for the plunge in the tub But most
men who shave themselves work care.
fully and slowly; the only alternative Is
a safety razor, and deep thinkers do not
find in that an incentive to intellectual
exercise; it does not demand sufficient
concentration. If music is to be the ve-
hicle of their thought-and there are
those who deny that it can ever per-
form this function-it should at least
be sad and civil, as suited to their for
tunes. Some such dying strain as the
love sick duke applauded is more appro-
pirate; a catch that will draw three souls
out of one weaver would never do. IL
has been contended that no man sings
at shaving unless he be in love. There
are airs from the operas ideally adapted
to shaving purposes.
This, however, is mere speculation.
The facts elude u.s. How many men sing
when they shave? What do they sing?
What is the proportion Of cuts to the
sintotal number Of shaves? Here are
questions of profound Psychological i'm.
port which cry aloud for an answer.
There are no authorities which may be
cited with confidence. Our knowledge
such as it is, is purely empiric. VIII no
devoted scholar tackle the subject? The
Greek professor who spent a lifetime in
the study of the enclitic "de" had not
half so satisfying field of labor.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-07-31
From the Philadelphia Public Ledger.

From the Philadelphia Public Ledger.
A SAD tale comes from a New York
"a hotel of a guest who cut himself
y while shaving because a trombone
that was being played across the street
broke down. He had been moving his ra-
Dor rhythmically to the inspiring strains,
and their sudden cessation caused his
hand to slip. 1t is perfectly plausible
tale. Shaving, it is true. is an act more
conducive to contemplation than to ex-
preston. Many who sing gayly as they
turn on the water for the bath find in
the first touch of the lather powerful
aid to their intellectual processes. The
beardless face is not, as with the ancient
Gauls, a badge of servitude, but OF men
tai liberty that outruns all the bounds OF
time and space. Like Tarquinius Pr1scus'
they wonder if they could cut whet-
stone with a razor; and sometimes they
do cut the strap.
Men for their sins
Have shaving too entailed upon their
chins."
Perhaps; but the reckoning of ones sins
is not Improbable. And if, as Lady
Psyche put it, man. however we'll be-
haved, at best is only monkey shaved
he can at least find pride in the reflection
that he is this much beyond the brutes
that perish.
Song in the morning may be, after ALL
the mark of a good conscience. Memories
ne n ,,,icepant pipht before might well
check the flow of exhuberant melody,
But he Is surely integer vitate indeed
who can ply his razor to long melodlc
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-07-31
A SLAVE TO PRECEDENT


From the Kansas City Star.
'Help-helpA" with a rising infection
cried the man in the creek. Help! /
am drowning!"
How many times have you gone down
already?" we asked. for we had but just
arrived on the scene.
"One-ug-gug!-" he replied. Help
help!'
1--WE intend to do so to the best of our
ability" we answered. but not yet. You
must go down twice more, according to
all rules, before we can rescue you.
When you have done so we Will exert
our utmost endeavors in your behalf, but
until then we cannot go contrary to ira
dition. Our respected grandfather was a
member of Congress and early instilled
into us profund veneration for prece-
dent"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-07-31

1V6W IIQ6PCItQcIIC.
Woodrow wilson, am by instinct
a teacher
G. X. Chesterton-I never claim for
my opinions the vice of impartiality.
Lillian Russell-The intelligence OF
the expression depends on the arch of
the eyebrows.
Chancellor Won Bethmann-Hollweg.
We are the most democratic govern
ment in the world.
washington Gladden-Each nation
must have it's own God; religion is a
purely ethical affair.
Ed Howe-I know of woman who
writes for the papers and calls herself
Sunshine Mary-Moral: Her daughter
lately ran away from home.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-07-31
NAPOLEON AND WAR

From the Rochester Democrat and
Chronicle.
A New York paper has reprinted selec-
tons from epigrammatic. views by Ma
poleon on number of subjects, recently
published in English by the A. c.. Nc
Clurg company of Chicago. Some of
these pithy sentences relating to war
furnish an asnwer, more or less incom-
plete, to the often asked question, how
would the armies of France have Jared
in the present conflict if Napoleon had
been alive to command them The follow
ing extracts show something of the great
commanders ideas regarding the conduct
of warfare:
Unhappy the general who comes on the
field of battle with a system.
A general must be a cs1aiatan.
1t is imagination which loses battles.
The moment of the greatest peril is the
moment of victory
For the brave gun is onl ythe handle.
of bayonet.
Goodness is the greatest quality in a
Military science is the concentration OF
masses on given points.
Napoleons ideal general is, in brief a
man wholly alert, more quick witted than
foresighted. fearless. and with the ability
to see and seize every casual advantage
full of the enemys mistakes, and be re-
sourceful in trickery designed to lead the
enemy astray.
Such a general would be worse than
useless in the present war. Now there is
little attempted in the way of surprise
and concealment. The most brilliant
leadership in modern warfare is exem-
plified in General Foch's conduct of the
French Somme campaign. There are
three distinct phases in his attacks:
First the bombardment which destroys
entanglements and Notifications; second,
the charge by infantry armed with rifles
and hand-grenades, and, third, the im-
mediate support of the infantry by ma
chine guns and light artillery. Then,
later, come more infantry and the supply
service, and, last of all, the big guns
creep forward as fast as railways can be
built for them. Results are won not by
surprise, but by the employment of ire
sstible forces, which are the fruit OF
months of preparation
Napoleon, however, was master of the
warfare of his time. He had genius and
tremendous capacity. Had he lived to-
day, he probably would have known how
to use modern weapons. But he would
not have won. France may thank her
stars that he Is safely out of the way.
Emerson spoke truly of Napoleon's ca
reer when he said: Here was an ex-
pertinent, under the most favorable con-
ditons, of the powers of intellect without
conscience. Never was such leader so
endowed and so weaponed; never leader
found such aids and followers. And
what was the result Of this vast talent
and power? - 1t came to NO re-
suit. All passed away like the smoke of
his artillery, and left no trace"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-07-31
A wIFE,s WIT

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
i've got an awfully witty wife,
boasts Solomon Beach. II get most of
my good stuff from her. to tell you the
truth Sometimes. though. her wit is a
bit too sharp for comfort. Now. the
other evening came home feeling sort
of mean / had a corn that was rails
ing thunder with me, and I wasn't in
tho best of humor. Well, I came limpins
up the walk and my wife stood at the
door, cycling me suspiciously.
What makes you walk so funny?" she
said
,"Oh," she said, turning away. II
thought maybe it was rye!'
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-07-31

BEGINNING THE DAY--O Faith
err! give me Thy child that when
he himself knows not how to ask.
Behold my needs which L know not
myself; see, and do according 10
Thy tender mercy. Teach me to
prav. pray ThyseIf in me.-FenelOn.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-07-31

Some grief shows much of love;
But much of grief shows still some
want of wit.
Romeo and Juliet.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-07-31
Situation is Good

Reports that the local real estate
situation was in a slump were fatty
contradicted yesterday by ]. M. P. Otis,
an official of the Jemison Real Estate
and Insurance company who asserted
that present conditions far surpassed
any period in the past three years in
the realty business.
I'm normal times" said Mr.. Otis,
there are always about 1000 houses
empty and at the present time, accord
ing to the figures furnished by the Bir-
mingham Waterworks company, there
are only about 1900 houses that are va
cant in comparison to about twice that
number empty last year and the year
before.
Conditions are really improving
Despite the rains of the current mouth
realty sales have been contaminated
and the outlook is very optimistic for
this fall when the city will be sur
prised at the big deals that will be
announced. 1t is only the 1dlers that
preach hard times as present conditions
in Birmingham do not warrant such
statements from anyone"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-07-31
Probable Duration of War

Fundamental conditions are little
changed, the war still overruling all other
considerations" says Henry Clews, in his
weekly review. THAT the struggle Is
drawing to it's close everyone believes,
but the date and the terms Of peace are
as much a matter of guesswork as ever.
THE war might end much earlier than
anticipated, provided some great event
occurred tending in that direction. It is
to be hoped that representations that the
end will come with the New Year will
prove correct; but such anticipations are
almost too good to be true, and the strug-
gle is quite likely to be carried into the
coming year, judging by present resist
ing power of the Germans The latter
will in some respects grow in strength
as their forces contract and fall back
upon undevastated country, supplied with
good railroad service and nearer the
source of supplies.
ION the other hand. as the allies press
forward they leave behind them nothing
but chaos. their supplies become more
and more distant, and traffic routes will
be temporarily demoralized Hence should
the allies continue their present rate
Of success, real progress for them will
become more and more difficult as the
armies move forward.
This week marks the second anniver-
sary of the war. Conditions have vastly
changed during the interval. At the be-
ginning the Germans were overwhelm-
ingly on the aggressive. Now the Gen.
trail powers are on the defensive and
driven back in every direction, while al
lied preparedness is becoming equally
overwhelming on every side. Thus far the
cost of the war to all the belligerents
has been over $4,000, oOo.O 600. and about
81, 900, 100000 of this amount was raised by
loans in the United States. Should the
struggle last another year. as expected
by Kitchener, the outlay will run UP
to between 100000 5000 and $4,000, ooo 600
a sum utterly beyond ordinary compre.
hension. Peace still seems long way
off. and when hostilities cease months
must elapse before any treaty of peace
will be actually signed
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-07-31

the 'front.' or TO coHCenCIdIioH CdnPS
in remarkably short time, all things
considered.
When the matter of mobilization
ceased to be subject for criticism
fault-finders, many of them opponents
of the democratic administration, be-
gan to circulate false reports about
sanitary conditions. Some ill-disposed
persons went so far as to say the
guardsmen were not properly fed.
While in a few instances complaints
came from guardsmen whose patriotic
ardor had cooled, disquieting reports
were fabricated by vicious creatures
who never were a uniform or Shout
dered a gun, and who could never be
induced to help defend their country
if it were invaded by foreign foe.
Guardsmen having families de-
pendent upon them are asking
10 De IcAedoCu Alo"i A~1 eiioA
service. If such men can He
spared from the ranks without
|impairing the guards efficiency,
all we'll and good. The war depart
ment has shown every disposition to
be lenient with individuals submitting
reasonable requests. Not few men
with relatives dependent upon them
for support have been released al
ready and others will be so favored
later on.
But one loses patience, to put it
no stronger, when organizations of
business men in formal resolutions
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-04-18
Drug Clerk Tells How
To Cure Indigestion
Recommends to Sufferers the Best
Stomach Remedy in Salem
Today.

"lt is a wonder some Of us have stom-
achS left remarked a well.known drug
clerk recently. "While all drug stores
sell a score or more Of stomach remedies
for which there is wide dcmarG most
of them are just pepsm pills which di.
geSt the rood that is in the stomach at
the time. They have no curative or
Strengthening effect ON the stomach at
ell, and Of course do not reasl r' cure
;he cause. So the same peap,e Keep tn
coming here and buying and using them
until they are real chronic lyapeptics.
When iyone really asks my advice. |
swear by and recommend ordinary bisu.
rated magnesia, which doeSu digest
the food at all but just acts as an
antacid and sweetens the sour. rerncnt.
ing contents Of the stomach. That stops
the pains heart burn. sour rising. wind.
bloating, fulluess, etc, in Just few
minutes and the stomach digests lie
food without help or trouble, whi.h is
the proper way. "
Doctors make mistakes sometimes.
too, he continued. My own aunt had
f0ll kinds Of trouble with her stomach
for years, She bought aud used several
styles Of digestive pills but got worse
right along, as naturally she would.
Finally she went TO doctor, who near.
ly scared her to death by telling her she
had cancer of the stomach. She came
to me with his prescription and told me
what he said. thought it was nonsense.
l sent her to another doctor whom l
knew very well and he didn't tell her
anything, but just gave her this same
thing. bisurated magnesia She took it
two weeks and never has had any stom.
ach trouble since and that S three years
ago. SHE'S my own aunt and I know
this for fact. Yes, n lot of hisurated
magnesia is sold in Salem. All the drug
gists have it, suppose, and an YOU
take is a teaspoouful after every meal.
Il S an right.
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-04-18
FARMERS AND THE CLUB


Oregon City Enterprise)
The Salem Commercial club is consid-
ering a plan whereby the farmers will
be invited to join the organization. 1t
is proposed to make the farmers mem
bers Of the agricultural department of
the club and give them voting power in
that department, but NOT in the general
commercial club organization. The
farmers would also be given the social
privileges of the club and the dues re-
ceiyed would be used to promote work
in the agricultural department.
The plan is one worthy OF careful
consideration from similar organza-
tions throughout the state. The COM
mercial club Of the capital city has seen
the necessity of the town uniting with
the farmers, has been converted to the
gospel Of cooperation and organized eff
fort and now is debating taking in all
the surrounding country into the scope
OF the club s membership and work.
There is only one flaw in the Salem
Commercial club scheme of things.
The club proposes to interest farmers in
its work and, incidenly, to collect fees
therefor, yet the club win not give
them the full privileges of the club. The
farmer cannot take part in the general
activity Of the club, cannot vote at
the general commercial club elections.
His place in the Salem Commercial club
scheme is in one lone department.
The Salem Commercial club will find
upon investigation that the farmers of
Oregon are worthy of confidence, tnat
they are, as a body, hard working, say
ing, interested in the matters of public
concern and as earnestly devoted to the
upbuilling Of the state as the business
man in town. The farmer is worthy of
partnership with the business man in
shch body as the Salem Commercial
club, but he should be given full mem
bership, with equal duties, burdens and
uOnurs.