davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-25
EMBARGO ON LINGERIE

From the Rochester Democrat and
 Chronicle.
 It is a bit difficult, from this dis tance. to understand the attitude of the French authorities in placing practical embargo upon certain ar ticles of personal comfort and adorn- ment, purchased by Mary Garden at Paris. Ostensibly the objection was founded upon the quite worthy propo7 sition that the present is not time for indulging in luxuries, when so
 many war victims are suffering from the lack of the necessaries of life. It does not require expert knowledge to conclude that the lingerie which made up the purchase by the popular Ameri- can singer involved the manufacture of fine laces; and surely, as the making of these trifies involves much labor, there is no logical reason why for eigner who has the means should not indulge in what she regards as lux uries. The money thus expended would purchase necessaries of life for many artisans, and the refusal to sell the lingerie at a handsome advance over it's cost would in no wise relieve the food situation; for, if the meaning of the term is understood, superfne, hand made faces are to be worn, not eaten.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-25
TO JAMES wHITcoMB RILEY

By Robert Emmet Ward in the Chflst- mas, December, Scribner. When he went home. who went the other
 day, There was an eager scamper of wee feet To welcome him. and faces small and
 sweet. Uplifted, and bright eyes, blue, brown,
 and gray, Danced with delight as only child-eyes
 may When joy is overflowing and complete: And he was crowded on some shady
 seat, Both knees, both arms. filled in the old
 time way. .'Tell us a 'tory!" Say rhyme againr' "Oh, Little Orphant Annie. please, once
 more!"
 NO, Old John Henryv' NO, The
 Ragged Man!' Was it not so, o best-beloved of men? You cannot answer from the farther
 shore,
 But so. know. your first day home
 began.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-25
Over 100000 Mark

Tt was an agreeable surprise to me to find by reading Sundays Age-Her- aid that Birmingham has passed the 20o,00 mark in population" said Frank L. Jenkins, district passenger agent of the Southern. "In view of the fact that we had been hearing so much about people leaving Birmingham for other sections, it is surprising to note such an increase. However, as fast as people have left, others have come in, and there is a probability that they will be better citizens than the ones we have lost. Birmingham has been striving for sometime to pass the 200,- 900 mark, and it is gratifying to know that she has at last done so."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-25

But in recent years uppertendom has been conspicuous by it's absence. New York's modern -four hundred"
 imagines that nothing outside of a
 Tammany clam bake could be more
 plebeian or inelegant than an inau-
 gural ball, but thousands of worthy people from the west and not a few from the south have regarded the af fair as we'll worth while, and especial ly did the westerners at the inaugu- ration delight to tell their less fortu- nate neighbors on returning home what a splendid event the ball was and what a good look they had at the President. Visiting women had the opportunity of their lives in display ing fine gowns and costly jewelry.
 Perfect decorum always prevailed and, II there was something or crush, it was no more than is often experienced in large receptions in private houses.
 One New York paper, in giving the inaugural ball a parting shot, re- ferred to it as a "social humbug." Such a characterization was certainly unjust, for there are many patriotic citizens and many fair women who cherish happy recollections of the dance in the big pension building in past years. But President Wilson having set the precedent of declining to recognize the ball, the institution once so popular has gone never to re- turn.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-25
A SUNSET ON LAKE SUPERIOR

John A. Sleicher, in Leslie's.
 A sunset on Lake Superior! Match it., in it's resplendent beauty on late No vember day, if you can. The clouds that had darkened the sun as the trans continental limited sped along the precip- itous shores, melted away, leaving mar row streaks, like ribbons of gray float ing above the waters rim. Dappled gray clouds in masses clung to the zenith. The slowly setting sun began to paint it's own heroic picture. The ribbons Of clouds changed from gray to pearl, from pearl to amethyst and then to richest gold. The convoluted masses overhead vividly reflected these changes. The quiet waters of the lake shone like mirror of polished bronze. The sun was sink ing fast. While the passengers were voicing their delight, the last ray of the sun disappeared, and lake and rocky shore sank into the shadows of night As the train climbed above the lake it's waters were left out of the range of vision, but strangely enough the lake S6ellleQ lO dppeetI dSdllt III lic oiStdiiNS with low-hilled islands outlined in a faint glow of red. We couldn't under stand it. Suddenly we discovered that what seemed to be the water in which they rested was an illusion. It was caused by the clear atmosphere lit by the gray light of fast-falling eventide. It was beautiful and impressive, but an illusion that quickly disclosed itself and melted away as the train sped on.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-25
Many Compliments

T have never received so many com- pliments as have poured in upon me to- day. said Henry Jenkins of the Black and White Taxicab company. "The pub lication of the formal announcement in a full page in Sundays Age-Herald was followed by virtual flood of compli- ments and orders for taxicab service.
 "The little Black and White cars are distinctive and they are attraGtive. A person will have no difficulty in recog- nizing the limousines and this will serve as an additional attraction. They are about the niftiest little cars that you ever saw, and they are smooth run ners, too"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-25
To Men of Good
 Will, Greeting

.NN the great Feast of the Nativi- " ty, Christmas, as it is popu- larly known, there is always a note of hope and cheer, even when many lands are drenched in blood. It was 1916 years ago that Christ was born, but the message He brought is as fresh and compelling as it was in the years long ago. Over the little town of Bethlehem the heavenly choir sang "Gloria in Excelsis Deo"-"Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace to men of good will," or, as some render ings of the Latin text have it, land on earth peace and good will towards men," That blessed proclamation will go sounding down the centuries to come until time shall be no more.
 Professing Christians welcome to- day as one of peculiar joy and glad ness. The liturgical churches cele- brate it with impressive services but all God-fearing people, whether they be connected with this Christian body or that, can but find thrill and a lifting up of the soul in meditating upon the birth of Jesus and the mighty work the Redeemer came to accomplish.
 Christmas comes to us with it's hal lowed greeting and with an inspira- tion for higher purposes and true
 Christian charity. May this be truly
 happy Christmas for one and all.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-25

From the Louisville Courier Journal. HN HE Association of Life Insurance
 presidents is an organization com
 S prising practically all the com panies which carry the life insurance of the United States-and the United States, with less than one-fifteenth of the worlds population, now has more life insurance in force than all the rest of the world This association had meeting in New York the other day, and in canvassing the conditions of their business, had considerable to say about the habits of the people as affected bv the popular protest against the high cost of living.
 The prevailing opinion seems to have been that the protest ought to work to the advantage of the life insuring bus mess by promoting plainer living. MT Day declared the life insurance compan- ies cannot view with indifference the great modern American sin Of extrav- agance," urging that it is their duty 10 make an extra and permanent effort ito check the extraordinary wastefulness of our people" MT. Rittenhouse devoted his address to the deterioration of Americans as effected by this manner of living, illustrated by the fact that one in every 13 of the 1,9o0ooo persons an- nually examined for life insurance is re- jected.
 According to him, the composite phys ical American of today looks smooth, pink and healthy. He is a good liver. He has no time to waste His average age at death is about 40 years. He IS trying, with the aid of new knowledge
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-25
Prohibition Now
Prevails In France

INERHAPS the most powerful ln- H dictment of alcohol ever writ ten is Zola's novel, "L'Assommoir," |" the "epic of drink" which was pub Ished about 1878, the exact date be- ing in doubt. The book immediately established Zola's reputation and made him one of the most widely dls- cussed noyelists in Europe, if not in the world.
 The economic problems brought abont by the war have caused France to pass drastic prohibition laws, ana according to the latest announcement the nation is practically denied all alcoholic beverages except wine and beer.
 Zola's intensely vivid description ot the brandy drinkers of Paris was writ ten at time when drunkenness was more prevalent in France and throughout the world, in fact, than 1t is now. or was even before the war started
 While a remarkable transformation has taken place since the great con flict began, with France, England and Russia trying to solve the drink problem, the leaven had been al work for long time and the wal merely hastened the passing of re strictive laws.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-25
Christmas R0wdyis1n
 Was Not Tolerated

11HE police department of Birming- U ham deserves the highest praise for" the excellent order maintained throughout the city, particularly in the shopping district, Saturday after noon and night.
 In previous years it was custom ary on the final shopping day before Christmas for young people to in- dulge in great deal of noisy merry making. As it was understood that such conduct would be tolerated, riotous scenes resulted, women were exposed to insults and annoyances which would have brought speedy retribution at any other times. Peo- pie who had business to attend to were glad to escape from the uproar which lasted until late hour.
 This year Chief Martin Eagan an- nounced that plain clothes men would be stationed at all the most con- gested centers and no rowdyism would be permitted. The improvement was marked and highly gratifying. Although the streets were thronged as usual, there was no disorder.
 The enjoyment derived from yell i ing, blowing and confetti throwing is limited to the persons who indulge in this form of 'cele- brating." AS they are decidedly in the minority, most people are thankful to be spared such annoyance.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-25

Congressman seizes 1t for draining a river that never will be nayigable or building postoffice in one of the waste places of his district
 Meanwhile Ripon deserves national fame. And if ever the war department places an aviation station in Wiscon- sin. we hope Ripon, which averted it's face from Congressional pork, will get thn hnnnr
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-25
"THAT RARE PRIVILEGE" From the Chicago Herald.

Another brave, inspiring note from the glorious company of war singers! The recently published poems of Alan See ger, the vivid, brilliant young American who gave his life for freedom and France last July, sound a pure trum- pet call of poetic--not pathetic-courage and high gladness. 'Death is nothing terrible after all," so wrote Seeger in a private letter of June, 1915, with his 27th birthday scarcely over. Tt may mean something even more wonderful than life It cannot possibly mean anything worse particular "good soldier has been ac- corded 'that rare privilege of dying well'' and with joy.
 Another of the "beautiful boys never to attain full fruition of genius, Alan Seeger, Rupert Brookes he might have sunk yet more nobly in the years early death denied him. But "of all the poets who have died young" says William Archer summing up the Seeger story,
 none has died so happily The death Alan Seeger knew was the death he had sung and would have chosen. And no life however brief, has been stinted which can produce, at the age of 2S. a poem of such varied and moving records as Seeger's characteristic and in sense
 prophetic. T Have a Rendezvous With Death.'
 | I have a rendezvous with Death | At some disputed barricade | When Spring comes back with rustling shade
 l And apple blossoms fill the air l I have a rendezvous with Death. l When Spring brings back blue days | and fair.
 God knows 'twere better to be deep 1 Pillowed in silk and scented down. | Where Love throbs out in blissful sleep, 1 Pulse nigh to pulse, and breath to | breath,
 l Where hushed awakenings are dear l But I've a rendezvous with Death l, At midnight in some flaming town,
 When Spring trips north again this 1 year,
 And I to my pledged word am true, I shall not fail that rendezvous. To such spirit unselfish death inevi- tably must come rather as accolade than bolt of doom. From such spirit must
 proceed. always, new and infectious zest
 alike for death and life.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-25
Mail That Reaches
 Dead Letter Office

TN URING the governments last O fiscal year about 11,0OO, ,OOO
 pieces of mail were "blindly" ad-
 dressed and had to be sent to the
 dead letter division, where super-ex- perts strive to decipher the illegible
 writing and, if possible, address them
 properly. A half century ago, when there were more illiterate people in the United States than are supposed to be here now, many letters illegibly or carelessly addressed found their way to the dead letter office, where they were opened and every effort
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-25
RELICS OF GIGANTIC BATTLE

From the New York Sun.
 Under escort of Prof. Barnum Brown portant cargo of bones has arrived in town. The bones are petrified and be- longed to animals that roamed through the west from 3,OO0.oo0 to s,ooO.O0 years ago.
 They were al. dinosaurs and several of thAna are newly discovered species.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-25

BEGINNING THE DAY-"Father Inf all, teach me the meaning or mat great word. May my lie not l"VcN my prayers. May my brotherli"esS witness to Thy fatherhood' way "s unseIhshness proclaim the wohoefs of Thy love. May my hie hlt eyes of my fellows 10 Jowett.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-25
Inaugural Ball
 Will Be Misse@

6NHOSE metropolitan editors who U have been disposed to con- gratulate the National Capital on the passing of the inaugural ball, lose sight of the fact that many visitors to Washington on the occasion of the Presidents induction into office looked forward with keen interest to the one great social event to which all who chose to pay for tickets were admitted.
 Even if the ball had been intended primarily to benefit local trade, it was a brilliant affair and was enjoyed by those who have fondness for the Tight fantastic" either as partici- pants or spectators. While the s'function" was not strictly official, it had government sanction, for the great pension building was converted into a ballroom at considerable cost; the United States Marine Band fur nished the music, and the newly in- stalled President and his lady graced the scene by heading the grand march.
 Mr. Wilson seems to have an aver sion to inaugural balls and his fail ure to give the one planned for 1913 his approval caused it to be "called off" The committee of arrangements for the forthcoming inauguration thought the President would change his attitude and encourage the com mittee by accepting an invitation to be present in case the programme was carried out; but the management was disappointed. MT. Wilson was obdu- rate. He made it plain that he wished to see the ball as an institution dis continued for all time.
 Of course, the committee could have it without the Presidents pres ence and approval, but without the chief executive participating it would be like the play of Hamlet with Ham let left out.
 In years gone by the inaugural ball was attended by the flower and chiv- airy of the land; stately danes and lovely debutantes from the aristoA cratic circles of the east and souyh.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-25
TRUTH

From the Washington Star.
 Has the line been busy?" asked the man with nickel poised between his thumb and forefinger.
 '.No' answered the precise operator. "The line wasn't busy. I was.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-25

 for whom they were intended, or re- turn them to the sender.
 But large part of the dead letter mail, even in those days, never got farther than the office department. It was finally burned. In this age of knowledge and progress one might think that very little mail would be dropped in letter box too badly ad- dressed to be forwarded; but the dead letter record of 100000 pieces shows how this sort of "worry" in- creases.
 The department is all the while asking the public to be careful in addressing letters, but millions dis regard the caution notices.
 A Washington correspondent, in writing about the vast accumulation in the dead letter office, says that Iilliterates are not responsible for all of this confusion. In the period of 12 months letters opened contained checks, drafts, money orders and other valuable papers amounting to $2,302, ,119.56. Few of these enclos- ures were mailed by persons without education. The bulk of the trouble was caused by carelessness.
 A large quantity of blind" mail consists of wedding invitations.
 Students of the mystery" says the correspondent, "can only guess that there is such unusual excitement about household where wedding in- vitations are being sent out, cus- tomary carefulness does not pre- vail"
 Political observers say MT. Roosevelt and MT. Bryan must be reckoned with in 1920 Still, four years is long time to worry about something that may not happen. Without the aid of either a Zeppelin or an airplane, President Wilson con- trived to throw bombs into all the cap- itals of Europe in the form of peace notes. I A gallant jury has acquitted another woman charged with killing her hus- band. There is apparently no closed sea- son for husbands in the United States
  In the east recness coasters are alarming automobilsts. In this part of the country a youngster would hardly know what to do with a bobsled As further proof of the prosperity this country is enjoying, great many dia- monds were found in the toes of silk stockings this morning. It is now an assured fact that those t'boys" will spend another Christmas in the trenches. Christmas has arrived and they are still there. Miss Laura Jean Libbey uses a pale mottled stationery in correspondence, of her feelings
 Having mastered the ukelele, the colored minstrel roams the streets at night and plays ragtime for small cash donation.
 Carranza officials are almost as reluc- tant to admit a Villa victory as Petro- grad is to acknowledge a Teuton ad- vance.
 
 when peace terms are discussed, but her spokesman will hail from Berlin.
  Europe should turn over new leaf and behave itself in 1917, but the habit of war is hard to overcome.  l The safe and sane Christmas shopper made most of his purchases in the five and 10-cent stores.
 I Tt is no breach of neutrality to wish Captain Koenig of the Deutschland merry Christmas.
 With eggs costing cents apiece the man who dspenses eggnog is real 1 philanthropist.
 | There may be a scarcity of turkeys, but there is enough mince pie to go around.
 LUKE MTUKE SAYS | Another reason why 8 man likes his
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-25
VIRTUES OF PLAIN EWING

and inventions to crowd the experiences of two lfetimes into one. He is hav- ing some success, but the strain is tell ing on him. His digestive organs have been given so many new and arduous duties to which they were not trained that they are showing signs of rebellion. He is seriously overstraining his heart, arteries. kidneys. nerves and digestion. as the rapidly increasing death rate shows
 ''The evil effects of his physical inac- tivity'' MT. Rittenhouse complains. have been greatly aggravated by his deadly excess and errors in eating and drinking. There is no burden too great for him to put upon his digestive system. With every pound he gains of excess fat, his chances for a shortened life in- crease. He should note the insurance records, which show that with those. above age 40, having 15 to 80 pounds over weight, the excess death rate ranges from nine per cent to 75 per cent above the average of all policy holders com bined. With these statistical and other facts before us, it seems reasonable to assume that. the power of our people to resist fatigue and the physical stress of modern civilization is declining rather than advancing
 Dr. Tanner, who demonstrated the pos sibility of living 40 days without eating, may not have pointed the way to the true reform of our methods of living, but in the opinions of those who are having most to say on the subject just now, that reform lies in his direction rather than in that of pr. Epicurus.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-25

There's not one wise man among twenty that will praise himself.
 Much Ado About Nothing.
 * *
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-25

TELEPHONE Bell (priyate exchange connecting h'' deDartments) Main 49OO.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-25

Entered at the Birmingham Ala'' postoffice as second class matter un- der act of Congress, March 8, 1879.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-10-25
UMBRELLA MENDER
WILL VOTE PROHIBITION

James Cassidy who is one of the
best umbrella members in the State
of Michigan, and who has made this
city his headquarters off and on for
the past year, says he will vote for
statewide prohibition in November
if he lives to cast ballot Cassidy
who has been making this town for
the past twenty years has probably
seen more of the United States in
his travels than any other man in
Michigan. There is not railroad in
the union which he hasn't rode on,
either in the coach, freight, blind bag
gage or on the bumpers, and not in
frequently has he counted the ties
while hot-footing it from one town
to another plying his trade with an
armful of old umbrellas and his kit
of tools. Box cars, hay stacks, coal
sheds and dry goods boxes have been
utilized by him for nights lodging
on numerous occasions, when short
of funds because of poor business
or of hitting the booze joints too Law
ishly. Mr.. Cassidy concluded year
or two ago to cut out the booze part
of his business activity entirely and
store up a little money for himself.
Since making that resolve he has
manged to build up a bank account
of about $3.50, and one day this week
he was hurrying along the street
with big roll of fifteen or twenty
more dollars to add TO it. Undoubt-
edly there are but few families in
this section of the country who have
not had their umbrellas repaired by
him.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-10-25
MEETINGS SUCCESSFUL
CHURCH ORGANIZED

Rev. j. S. Raun, who has been con-
Quoting the evangelistic meetings in
Langston, assisted by Roy Simmons
and wife left for his home in Pc
toskey Monday, the meetings having
been closed Sunday night. Mr.. Raun
stated that the meetings had been
very successful, more than one hun
dred conversions having been regis
tered, and eleven came to the altar
Sunday night, and professed Christ,
among them being prominent busi-
ness men of Langston. The amount
pledged for the new church was in
creased to $4,000 and all the money
is now in sipht. A church has been
organized and pastor is already en-
gagged for the field, Rev. j. S. Curch,
who will move there this week.
Mr.. Raun speaks very highly of
Mr.. and Mrs. Simmons. They will
go to Owosso in a short time to be-
gin series of meetings there.