davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-25
The Paramount Measure

Only the ultra-pacifists fail to see or refuse to admit that this country's national defense needs strengthening. The peace-at-any price propaganda opposes even a small degree of pre- paredness. These extremists would be glad to see the United States army disbanded and all appropriations for the navy discontinued.
 But the great majority of ,Ameri- cans who have given any attention whatever to the preparedness discus sion appreciate the fact that this country, with it's present navy, as large as it is, and with it's lack of an adequate army, would be practically at the mercy of a strong foreign foe.
 On the question of how large a navy and how large a military force the country should have in the near future, the public is naturally divided for the simple reason that military and naval experts themselves differ in their opinions. But the President and his advisers who have studied the situation hold definite views, and the administration programme, if it does not reflect the thought of all the high officers of the army and navy, would, if adopted, go long way toward ade- quate preparation.
 No matter to what extent the army and navy may be increased, heavy expenditure will be involved, and the question of raising the money without imposing an intolerable burden upon the taxpayers is what makes certain of the advocates of ample prepared ness hesitate. If foreign war were now threatening us, Congress would act in hurry, regardless of how the revenue was to be found; but as the possibility of an attack on the United States may be somewhat remote in point of time, it will require the Presi- dents most convincing eloquence to arouse the democratic hosts to the pitch of demanding action on the part
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-25
Liquor Inspection Fee

A liquor inspection fee would not only be a novelty, but it would re- plenish Birmingham's treasury at a time when the city's financial condi- tion is seriously straitened.
 The United States government has always found liquor ready revenue producer, and commonwealths, coun- ties and municipalities, where the sale of intoxicating beverages is not prohibited by law, have depended largely upon liquor licenses for funds wherewith to meet administrative ex- penses.
 The inspection ordinance which the city commission has under considera- tion is reasonable, and it is believed by those who have looked into the question to be constitutional.
 As the express companies bring to Birmingham, under the present pro- hibition law, an average of no less than 2000 packages of liquor day, it is seen that a small inspection fee would yield large revenue.
 A fee of 50 cents has been sug- gested, but if only 25 cents were charged the city's annual income from this source alone would be $150,000 or more-an amount considerably in excess of the income which Birming- ham had received from saloon licenses.
 In order for the city to live within it's limited income, the commission has retrenched to the point of crip- bling many departments of the local government. The school system has been impaired and the health depart ment has suffered, to say nothing of the police, fire and street depart ments.
 Liquor can well stand the proposed inspection fee, and as it would not be collectable until the package had passed from the Express company into the hands of the consignee there would be no conflict with the United States commerce law. There would be nobody to object except the con- sumer, and as he has got used to pay ing fancy prices for his alcoholic drinkables, a little additional cost would hardly be felt.
 At any rate let the commission go ahead and adopt the proposed ordi- nance.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-25
Busjuess Improvement

Since the beginning of the year busi- ness in my line has apparently undergone quite a marked degree of improvement, |" said E. c. Robinson, well known insur- ance man of Birmingham.
 At least, I have noted much change for the better in the attitude of my own clientile, and naturally assume that other insurance men have had like experiences.
 There is, in fact, no reason why 1916 should not prove a banner year for Bir- mingham and for a great part of the state. Never has the iron and steel in- dustry been more active, or the demand for finished products so heavy as at the present. Practically every industry in the district is operating at full capacity, and still the supply of pig iron, steel and raw products seems inadequate to meet the demand The European war is cer- tainly having a marvellous effect on the iron and steel trade in this country, and it also appears as though cotton had al most recovered from the stunning blow inflicted by the shock of sudden declara- ton of war.
 Tn fact, southern farmers and the bus- ness men have recovered their poise, and telling work is now being executed for the promotion of permanent improve ment In short, the people of the south are more than meeting the overtures of prosperity half way''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-25
 THE HORSE IN THE WAR

From the Boston Herald.
 The day of the war-horse and the cavalry charger has about gone by, but the value of the horse in warfare is greater than ever before. Boston has shipped the last year tens of thou sands of animals for use in France. Great Britain is buying quantities of Australian Walers and New Zealand wire jumpers, ponies from India and stock from the Canadian northwest, as
 well as horses from Argentina and every variety of farm animal and thou sands of highbred hunters in England and Ireland The motor truck and the motor ambulance the motorcycle and the aeroplane, have superseded the horse in many branches of army work, but one experienced observer reports that mo form of tractor has yet been devised for hauling batteries over broken country so that without the horse the guns could not go into ac- tion"
 No wonder then that every method and device science has been able to suggest has been applied to the con- servation of animal life in the fight ing zones of Europe. A mobile vet erinary section camps with every divis- ion of the field troops. The British sec tor alone has veterinary corps or foo officers and 5000 men. The hospitals have operating sheds, X-ray depart ments. laboratories for research work, pharmacies, and schools where at tendants and grooms are taught stabling and farriery, dentistry ana feeding, and, perhaps more important than all else, the care of hoofs. The hospitals also have their tracks Tor exercise, and acre upon acre of green turf upon which the animals may dis" port themselves.
 All this means that, for the hrst time in war, the horse is a creature to care for when wounded or sick, and the degree of efficiency thus attained is indicated by the official report of reduction of morality by AZ per cent, and a reduction of sickness by exactly one-half The sentiment of humanity to which the Blue Cross appeals has ln- spired this work in part, and the para 1 mount interests of military efficiency | have done the rest.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-25
The Foreign Trade Convention

l The third national foreign trade : convention, which will meet in New Orleans on Thursday, Friday and Sat- urday of this week, will assemble a large and representative body of busi- ness men, including bankers and a great array of manufacturers.
 The convention held in St. Louis year ago aroused wide interest in the opportunities opening to this country for the development of an extensive and profitable foreign trade, and the New Orleans convention promises to be of even greater interest. James A. Farrell, president of the United States Steel corporation, is the chairman of the National Foreign Trade council, under whose auspices the annual conventions are held. He is a recognized authority on that branch of foreign commerce related to manufacturing interests and is the 
 father of the present foreign trade movement. He will be one of the speakers, and the covention pro- eramme will include papers or ad- dresses by distinguished financiers, economists, industrial operators and men of affairs.
 Birmingham and Mobile will be rep resented by prominent citizens, sev- eral of whom have been especially ln- vted to participate in the discussions.
 The expansion of this country's for eign trade should be of marked bene- fit to the various manufacturing in- terests of the Birmingham district. Opportunities will be all the while broadening, and if these opportunities are availed of, as they are expected to be, the railroads and the Warrior river will be crowded with traffic within the next few years.
 In the meantime the foreign trade council will be kept busy working out plans and evolving a national com mercial policy, based on wholesome cooperative spirit.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-25

to them by campaign orators. The nature of the school tax amendment is similar to that submitted in behalf of Birmingham in December and de- feated. The city commission was only to have the right to submit to the voters of the city a proposition to raise the tax rate for a period of three years, the increase not to ex- ceed mills. And yet, notwithstand- ing the fact that only Birmingham was affected, majority of the voters of the state, either through ignorance or a perverse disposition, cast their ballots against the Birmingham amendment. So it will be with the school tax amendment unless the cam paign about to be organized is vigor- ously conducted. The school amend ment, if adopted, levies tax on no one. It simply gives counties and school districts the right to tax them selves if they see fit so to do.
 The illiteracy commission has no source of revenue, but if third, or even fourth, of the qualified voters of Alabama each buys button, the commission will have a campaign fund quite ample to meet all reason able expenses. Be ready to buy bIlttOn
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-25
What a Martian Looks Like

There is probably no subject more fascinating to the lay mind, as well as that of the astronomer, than the suppositious life on the planet Mars. We have been given numerous care fully thought out descriptions of the race that is supposed to inhabit our neighbor in space, all based on the physical conditions prevailing on Mars, which have been determined with a surprising degree of exact ness.
 Writing in the Popular Science Monthly, Waldemar Kaempffert says that since Mars is only one-ninth as massive as the erath and the attrac- tion of gravity is proportionately less, a Martian porter could easily carry as much as an elephant on earth. A Martian baseball player could bat ball one mile and Mar tian athlete, of ordinary agility, could easily leap over house. The stature of the Martian is conceived to De three times the size of human be- ing. with muscles able to do twenty seven times as much work. His lungs would necessarily have to be enormous in order to breathe enough of the rarified atmosphere of Mars to keep him alive. Assuming that he digs ca nals. as the Martian "canals" appar- ently indicate, he could excavate a big ditch with the speed of small steam shovel.
 A striking theory advanced by MT. Kaempffert in his article is that while the inhabitants of Mars may have an exaggerated human form, 1t is possible that they are lacking in intellect and some creature that bears no resemblance to a human being may have gained the ascendency on the planet. This of course will call to mind the experiences of Gulllver or certain of his travels.
 However, regardless of what they may or may not be, it is interesting to speculate about the possibility of Martian inhabitants. It is just such conjecture that makes descriptive as- tronomy perhaps the most fascinating of all studies.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-25

Odessa is Russia's first naval port on the Black sea. Although a great and
 1ourshing port, it is one of the youngest cities of the east, having been founded by Catherine l after her war against the Turks was ended by the Treaty of Jassy in 1791. It's foundation was due chiefly to the desire of the Russians to have a strong city as near to Constantinople as possible, to be used as point of depar- ture for Slav troops in future wars of conquest in the east. The Russians have capturing the world city on the Bos- phorus Odessa is a distinctly modern city and is more like an American or European metropolis than any other city of the Czar's empire except Petrograd. Although Odessa is barely 100 years old, at the outbreak of the war it was sur passed in size and commercial importance by only three other Russian cities-Petro- grad, Moscow and Warsaw. The site was marked py lew nuts ol Ihuo anu reeds and Turkish fort when Catherine commanded a city to be built there. Eight years after its foundation Odessa had population of 5000 Greeks, Rus sians, Italians and Albanians. The pres ent population is more than half mil lion. Life in Odessa was exceedingly gay before the war. It is a town of ings and a prosperous air. However, about S5,OOo of it's population are wretch edly poor and live hand to mouth ex- istence.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-25
LITTLE DIFFERENCE

From, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 There had been several little snort ages in the petty cash, and at last the partners in a certain firm set trap TOT the pilferer.
 If succeeded The culprit was the or fee boy. The junior partner was so in- censed that he wanted to call in the po- lice and give the lad in charge without further delay.
 But the senior partner was Kind olo man. He took a more humane view or the situation.
 NO. no, Smith!' he said gently. Let us always remember that we began in a small way, too!'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-25
FROM "sUNRIsE"

By Sidney Lanier 'rris a motion of dawn, like flicker of
 shade on shade, In the leaves 'tis pa.pable; low multltuoi- H.
 nous stirring Upwings through the woods; the ilttle
 ones softly conferring Have settled my lords to be looked Tor;
 so they are still And look where the wild duck sails round
 the bend of the river
 And look where passionate shiver
 Expectant is bending the blades Of the marsh grass in serial summers
 and shades And invisible wings, fast fieeting. fast
 fieeting
 Are beating
 and steady and free. Is the ebb-tide flowing from marsh to (Run home, little streams,
 With lapfuls of stars and dreams)- And a sailor unseen is hoisting apeak, For list, down the inshore curve Of the
 creek
 How merrily futters the sail And To, in the east Will the east unveil? The east Is unveiled. the east hath con
 fessed
 flush:
 Iris abiding, 'tis unwithdrawn: Have a care, sweet heaven! 'Tis dawn. Now a dream of a flame through that dream of a flush is uprolled To the zenith ascending, dome of un- dazzling gold Is builded, in shape as a beehive, from out of the sea: | The hive is of gold undazzling. but, oh the bee, | The star-fed bee, the build-fre bee, 1 Of dazzling gold is the great sun-bee i That shall flash from the hive-hole ovel | the sea. 1 No slower than majesty moves, for 1 mean and a measure Of motion, not faster than dateless Olym l plan leisure Might pace with unblown ample garments i from pleasure to pleasure, | The wave-serrate sea-rim sinks unjarrng | unreeling, 1 Forever revealing, revealing, revealing Edgewise, bladewise, halfwise, wholewis 'tis done
 Good morrow, Lord Sun!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-25
The Cotton Situation

Cotton futures were weak yesterday. The price dropped a dollar a bale, but It is believed the bulls will soon get to the front again. Henry C!ews in his weekly review says in part:
 Financial conditions throughout the country, and particularly in the south, are so much better now than they were a year or even two years ago that it will not be an easy matter to frighten the southern holder into sacrificing his cot ton, even if the market at times displays a declining tendency. The south is too well informed as to the actual demand for cotton to be misled by market fiuctua- tions It is believed that the recent de- cline in the price of contracts has engen- dered short interest of considerable size Local sentiment has been pretty bearish of late and the recent setback has been due in great part no doubt to heavy selling for the short account. At the moment this position appears to be somewhat congested, and, if for no other req son, it is not unrea asonable to expect a good size rally in the near future"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-25
MAGAZINES AND BOOKS

too carelessy. They forsake their art
 and seek the money while they can get it. Thus they produce vast quantities of ''rot" instead of real literature weaken ing their powers, and in the end even destroying their own vogue.
 The deterioration in literature is seen, says MT. Holt, in the deteriora ton of the book trade We read great quant- ties of periodicals, and few books. A gen. eration ago, when our country had half it's present population, we had 5000 and
 4O00 booksellers. Now we have only 15OO
 But we have 100000 stands selling period- icals and newspapers
 ] Book production is usually regarded as | the measure of nations enlightenment | If we accept that standard, MT. Hot's criticism seems well founded We publish
 in this. country 10000 books year.
 Darkest Russia" publishes nearly three times that many. Even in it's per capita production of books Russia is ahead of i us. Great Britain produces twice as
 many books as we do in proportion to l population; so does France. Germany
 produces nearly four times as many. The governments responsibility seems | to consist in the fact that it charges higher postage rates for books than for periodicals. "The government carries the Police Gazette at a cent a pound" says
 MT. Holt, and charges eight times as much to carry a spelling book or a Bible. It cannot be expected that literature Will thrive under these conditions"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-25
Experience at Lady Barber shop

''Birmingham has indeed become met ropolitan city," remarked Dr. Howell T. Hefin, and there are few things to be found in large northern cities that cannot be found here.
 Perhaps the latest thing to come to town is the lady barber. A tonsorial shop understand, operated exclusively by ladies has recently been opened on Fourth avenue. Birmingham, I believe, is the second city in the south to have shop of this kind. There have, of course been lady shops in large northern cities for a number of years past, and New Orleans now has shops of this kind
 q will never forget the sensation which I experienced in Buffalo some years ago when I was first shaved by female bar Der. It had become a habit of mine to doze at times during the shaving pro- cess; but on this occasion every nerve seemed to be alive, though my hair did not stand on end. In fact, the delicate touch of the s1illful lady seemed distinctly pleasing and perhaps I shall renew the experience since a shop has been opened in Birmingham. I would not, however, take the responsibility of advising young men under 50 to expose themselves un- necessarily to the wiles of the aforesaid female of the barber species"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-25
Buy a Button

Everybody can aid in the campaign aganst illiteracy in Alabama by pur- chasing an illiteracy button. The little tokens will be offered for sale at the minimum price of 10 cents on and after Saturday next.
 The illiteracy commission is to launch the campaign in Montgomery and the canvass for the cause of edu- cation will be continued actively until the school tax amendment is voted upon at the general election in No- vember.
 The commission finds many ways in which it can help reduce illiteracy, but by far the most far-reaching agency for extending the public school system in the rural sections will be the amendment authorizing the peo- pie in school districts to vote special tax. levy for school purposes.
 The greatest interest among the friends of education, therefore, must be concentrated on the proposed amendment. It should carry by prac- tically a unanimous vote, but it will not be so. It has been seen that many citizens have a way of voting against measures seeking an increase m any tax rate or the issuance of bonds.
 Thousands of people often fail to understand the proposition upon which they vote unless it is explained
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-25
DOSTOEVSKY'S ANSWER

From the New York Telegram.
 In the doctrine that each is responsible for all, that suffering is a purifying dis cipline and may be vicarous as well as personal, and that through such disci- pline man may find God, is the answer of Dostoevsky, the Russian novelist, to the riddle of the ages.
 The words he put into the lips of Father Zossima may be taken as summing up his message to mankind;
 Brothers, have no fear of mems sin. Love a man even in his sin, for that is highest love on earth.
 Loving humility is marve.ously strong the strongest of all things, and there is nothing else like it."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-25
BEST SELLERS

From the Chattanooga News
 The six best sellers for 1915 as an- nounced by the Bookman are likely to arouse mixed emotions in those who are seriously interested in the advancement of American literature. The list offers some consolation. It is quite true that
 ''The Eyes of the World" was one of the six best for the year, but the fact re- mains that Booth Tarkington's- '@The Tur- moil' led them all, and that is the best
 work of Hoosier writer who seems to improve all the time. Winston Churchills
 "A Far Country was second, and it is good to see him running Tarkington neck and neck. Then came "Polyanna Grows
 Up.' Michael O'Halloran," "The Ewes of the World and Mrs. Rinehart's inter- esting tale, "K," in the order named. No English writers "got on' this year. b.
 Phillips Oppenheim, who utterly exposes European diplomacy in almost all of his stuff did not have his usual high bat
 ting average. With MT. Crex of Monte Carlo he was on the monthly list of best sellers twice, but not for the year. The Bookmans list does not take into account the sales of the well-known writ ings of Old Sleuth or Nick Carter It sights also the sales of the books of Bertha M. Clay Charles Garvice Laura Jean Libbey, etc. We want to know how the sales of the really meritorious Amer ican novel of the year. .The Turmoil.''
 compare to such old and steady favor-
 ites as "Lorrie, or Hollow Gold" Her Wedding Night" More Sinned Against
 Than Sinning," "They Parted at the AL tar' or Bertha, the Sewing Machine
 Girl" However, for the good of MT. Tarkington's reputation as a money maker we suppose it is best that these statistics Lo withheld
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-25

of Congress in support of the admin istration's paramount measure.
 A defense policy covering period of five years is unquestionably needed. Congress should shake off it's apathy and stand by the President. Many of the republican members are doing so. Members of the administra- tion party cannot well be expected to do less.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-25
DETACHMENT

That woman with the far-away look in her eyes has played a church organ for 20 years and has never missed a serv- ice"
 'Remarkable How do you account for the far-away look in her eyes?"
 q guess that comes from habitually thinking of something else while the preacher is delivering his sermon"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-25
A PRACTICAL THOUGHT

q intend to spend the rest of my life laboring for the good of humanity" said the round shouldered man who was wear ing spectacles with celluloid rims.
 "In that case, I presume you will give your services without charger"
 Well no. I still believe the laborer is worthy of his hire, even though he happens to be a reformer."