davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-26
A DRAMA OF BUSINESS

secret of large scale trade, he saw, was transportation, bringing the thing needed to the place and person needing it. Young Gaston in 1911, in company with the secretary of the Baldwin Locomotive Works, took a trip round the world to look over it's trade and transportation possibilities.
 So impressed was he with the commer- cial and shipping potentialities of the far east and south Africa that he brought back experts to aid in devising plans for the conquest of their foreign trade. His
 interests in coastwise shipping became extensive. He was branching out ag- gressively in various transportation fields.
 Then came the war
 Gaston, international dreamer, saw his opportunity to become an international doer.
 He summoned to luncheon two of his closest associates, William H. Williams, a 36-year-old Long Island financier and hustler who was making his mark, and James A. Wigmore a far-sighted, 12- hoIrs-a-day worker who had nvadeo Cleveland penniless, but in 10 years be- came king of it's real estate operators, one of it's foremost citizens, andi lattery, factor in eastern enterprises-all while still in the thirties
 They digested Gastons ideas along with their food. And the 5000 incorpora- tion, Gaston, Williams & Wigmore, waS chartered within "A hoursi
 Gaston hoped aboard aboard the Lusi- tania three days later He was after war orders.
 And he got them-by the millions-first from one government and then from an- other.
 George A. Gaston, William H. Williams and James A. Wigmore worked--worked, worked worked. They have gathered round them stars in every department, paying gigantic salaries. From a 5000 one-room company they have developed in IS months mammoth corporation of GOO common shares (of no par value) and $5,000,000 notes outstanding, with the prestige conferred by the name of Charles H. Sabin, president of the Guar anty Trust company, as chairman-Mr. Sabin, with keen discernment, having backed up the trio early in their en- deavors.
 Today Gaston, Williams & Wigmore are the largest exporting and importing firm in the United States. They are expert salesmen. They are finding for egn markets for Made in America' merchandise at the rate of more than $50, 10000 a year. They have done more since the war began to conquer new commercial fields than any other half dozen concerns.
 They are filling more American pay envelopes than any other exporting firm the United States has ever known.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-26
B. c. Forbes in Leslie's.

B. c. Forbes in Leslie's.
 TT HREE men sat down to lunch one
 day.
 A Next day. October 10, 1914, they formed themselves into corporation. It's capital was 5000.
 Within one year the 5000 company had done some s5o.Ooo.oOo worth of export and import business and had made close to $5,0Oo0O0 profits.
 The three partners had become mill lionaires for 12 months work-and are today piling up millions faster than ever.
 But what F months work they had put in!
 For sheer commercial achievement their record has never been equalled.
 The lightning growth of Gaston Will importers, is the greatest romance in the history of American business.
 From one-room office at 30 Broad street, New York, with not a dollars worth of either war orders or peace or ders, to colossal organization with inn portant branches and service depart ments in England, France, Russia, South Africa, China. Japan, Portugal. Cuba and Canada, with agencies ga- lore, including p in South America alone, with teeming offices occupying whole floor in the Guaranty Trust building and itching to cut through the wall to get two floors in new building to he rushed up at the rear, with other large (steam- ship) offices in the Equitable building, with ships owned outright and others un- der it's control with assets valued at over $17.00 O00, with war orders and peace orders rolling in at the rate of far over $1,000,OO0 weekly and profits approaching $500,00O monthly-that is a bald, incom- plete outline of the triumvirate's amaz- ing expansion.
 How was it done?
 What manner of men are the three Americans who did it.
 George A. Gaston became an as- set-a liability, rather-to a modestly- circumstanced Ohio merchant and his wife Al years ago. He early imbibed the mercantile spirit. After leaving Washington and Jefferson college he en- tered Western Reserve Law school (where he took his degree), not with the intention of becoming and remaining a lawyer, but to equip him the better to battle in the business arena
 Transportation became his hobby-auto- mobiles, trains. street cars, ships. The
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-26

Cyrenaica's dangerous coast line is said
 to have been utilized by Austrian subma- rines operating in the southeastern end of the Mediterranean for establishing supply bases. There are no good harbors, but excellent places of concealment were afforded the Austrians for stores of food and fuel. This region was once occupied
 by one of the most prosperous and highly cultured of Greek colonies, but today it has a population of only 25O,OO0, many of whom are nomads. The territory is about equal to that of Scotland. Cyrene. the capital of the ancient province, Is said
 to have been founded by Battus, who brought a few colonsts from the Island of Thera. The Delphic oracle advised him to choose a site between waters and four springs on an elevation 10 miles from the seashore were thought to fit this society. Cyrene was founded in 631 B. C., and for about zoo years was flourishing city, but under the rule of the Ptolemys it's commerce began to wane, much of it being diverted to Alexandria and Car thage The whole province was be-
 queathed to Rome by Ptolemy Apion in 96 B. c. It remained under Roman do- minion until the Arab invasion of the seventh century. Callmachus, the poet, and Aristippus, a follower of Socrates, were famous sons of Cyrene, the latter having founded the Greek school of phi losophy known as Cyrenaics, a forerun- ner of Epicureanism. Because of the hos tility of the Senussi sect of Araps and the unwillingness of Turks to permit Euro peans in this part of the OttoNan em- pire, the ruins of Cyrene and neighbor- ing cities have never been thoroughly ex- plored.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-26
THE MANTLED GREAT
From the Kansas City Star.

From the Kansas City Star.
 "HACKERAY, after thinking the
 matter over. decided he would not
 A have cared to live with Dean Swift. Most of us will agree that his de- cision was right one The great are very attractive at a distance. but which of them would we choose as a boarder in the house?
 Carlyle is an excellent companion-on the book shelf When we get tired of him we can yawn and go to bed. But how would you like to have him come down to breakfast and talk about the relation of a truth to a simulacrum, say in refer ence to the coffee? Macaulay thought he would have liked to know Milton. He wanted to sit in his presence and to touch his hand Miltons daughters didn't feel that way about it. One of them was so undutiful as to remark on the news of the poets coming marriage that his death would be better news. Thackeray thought he might have stood Dr. Johnson. or Gold smith or even Boswell. It may be doubt ed. It is pretty hard to stand Johnson even now and he has been quiet a long time
 Of the great who have written their own biogra phies-and we could expect no more favorable testimony of them-which recommend themselves as companions? There is Franklin. He would be mighty instructive, no doubt, but wouldn't he be a trifle wearing, say on fishing trip? wouldn't he have some new theory about batting your hook that would make you want to throw the can of worms at him? :? He wouldn't let you build the fire the way you wanted to. He would demonstrate his own way of baking the potatoes, and probably spoil them for you. And you would be getting up and going to bed, and washing your face. and eating your meals by maxims that would make you wish
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-26
Should Lead As School City

No city of approximately Birming- hams size has more progressive | board of education or a more heartily approved public school system than those which distinguish this con- munity, and after the proper new buildings are erected and the old ones modernized and r.>de perfectly sani- tary Birmingham will easily take the lead as the school city of the south par excellence.
 The school machinery here is taken as a model by many northern cities larger than Birmingham, but since the last federal census, showing popu- lation of 132,65S, the authorities have had to apologize fo! it's inadequate school housing facilities. And now that the population is estimated at close to 100000 apologies are still more embarrassing.
 But if the people roll up majority for the $2,000,0 bond proposition for school purposes, Birmingham will at once become the public school leader arlong southern centers of educational or pedagogic prominence.
 There should be no ground for doubt as to the result of the vote on the school bond issue. It is hard to conceive that any considerable num- ber of citizens would vote against the bonds. But Commissioner Hornady and public spirited citizens who are aiding him in the 3cnooi bond can vass are right in keeping the cam- paign well keyed up When the bal lots are counted on the evening of June the result should show prac- tically unanimous vote for the ex- penditure of $2,OOO,OOO on the Bir- schools.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-26
IMPORTANT LOUIS

From the Youths Companion.
 Little Louis was smart boy and very anxious to forge ahead in the world. He got a job in the local bank. wealthy uncle met him in the street one morning and said, Well, Louis. how are you get ting on in business? I spose the first thing we know you will be president of the bank?"
 "Yes, uncle,' replied the boy. I'm get ting a'ong fine. I'm draft clerk already"
 What" exclaimed the uncle. Draft clerk? Why. that's very surprising, but very good.'
 "Yes. uncle," replied the lad, Il open and shut the windows according to order, and close the doors when people leave them open!"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-26

their author had been caught by the Brit ish and hanged before you ever met him.
 Rousseau, of course, is out of the ques- ton. Nobody could live with him. No body did for very long. And he would have put you in his confessions and prob- ably told as big lies about you as he told about himself. Nor would a prudent man choose Cellini for housemate. However much we may admire his works of art or the charm of his writing we would be apt to require less uncertainty of temper in daily companion. The privilege of associating with genius perhaps would be too dearly purchased at the price of dagger between the shoulders.
 Are there any votes present for Her. bert Spencer? He would shed lot of light around the house-althougn of dry and frosty sort perhaps-but wouldn't that habit he had of clapping on his ear muffs when the conversation bored him be little disoncerting. especially when there was company to tea? Or Macauiay, now. Wouldn't he be somewnar pervaslve in a small house-a house with only six or eight rooms and no attic to hide in? Macaulay had Flashes of silence" 1t is true but mostly he was talking. One can imagine him standing before the fireplace with his cOattails parted, stunning the whole household till long past bedtime. Charles Lamb would be an amiable creature to have around, perhaps, but the temptation to shock him occa sionally, as one would maiden aunt certainly would be strong at times. Nobody would want Leigh Hunt in the house--he was always borrowing money. And Goldsmith-he would come weeping into the room to tell us his play had failed. There certainly Is no place in our affections for fearful playwright. De Quincy, of course, would be pounding on the door at o'clock in the morning and shouting for his opium
 On the whole perhaps it is best to keep the great in their place, both for their sake and ours. Let them keep their man. ties wrapped about them and let us be- leye if we can that they had none of the defects that make us sucn disagreeable companions to our own acquaintances
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-26
-----ses---------------- DRUGS AND INSANITY

From the Pittsburg Sun.
 At a meeting held in Dixmont recently of those in authority in the different in stitutions throughout the state where the mentally defective are treated the Har- rison drug act came up for discussion. When this measure was put into opera tion, there were many who insisted that its severity was such as to effectively stop the supply of drugs to habtual users and that murders, suicides and other offenses would result. The victims of the drug habit, it was prophesed, find- ing themselves deprived of their favorite stimulants and unable to procure sub st;tutes would run amuck, with disas trous results. Such events have not hap pened and crimes attributable directly to the enforcement of the Harrison law have been comparatively few.
 The physicians in the state institutions who have been brought into direct con tact with the ones who suffered directly from the federal law were outspoken in their opinions that the measure had been productive of great good. Victims of the drug habit, with sources of supply closed to them. went to the state institutions and were treated. with the result that many were released with strength and mentality restored. In the decreased num- Der of mental defectives who were drug victims or the drug victims who were mentally defective, the difference being that in one case the mental status pre- ceded the habit, and in the other it fol- lowed, the hospital authorities see the effects of the measure.
 By making it more difficult for people whose powers of resistance are very low to gratify a passing whim for drug stim- ulant or giving way to a momentary inn pulse to dead sorrow or pain by the use of narcotics, the Harrison law is doing a splendid work. The state and federal authorities are putting forth every effort to prevent illicit traffic in habit-forming drugs and while there are those who manage to evade the law, they are few. and their activities have to be carried on so clandestinely that the number or patrons is reduced to a minimum
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-26
MEANING JUNE

The sweetest month of all the year, The poets say, will soon be here. When roses bloom in every dell And joyously the marriage bell. Rings out glad tidings to the world, The blades of grass with dew inn
 pearled.
 More brightly gleam as morning breaks. And silver throated chorus wakes. The woodlands round with peals of song Where troops of listening blossoms
 throng.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-26
HOTEL LOBBIES
Flowers on Exhibition

All enthusiasts of the city beautiful movement should visit the city hall to- day and tomorrow, according to Com missioner George B. Ward, to see the exhibit of the Home Garden associa- tion.
 Every public school in the city will have an exhibit said Commissioner Ward, and several prizes will be awarded. There will be exhibits of all varieties of flowers and vegetables in the rotunda of the city hall and the general public is cordially invited to the exhibition, which is for the purpose of boosting the city beautiful movement. Come and see the beautiful things of today"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-26
LOVES ALBUM

LOVES ALBUM By w. B. Yeats. When you are old and gray and full of sleep, And nodding by the fire. take down this book, And slowly read, and dream of the soft look Your eyes had once. and of their shadows deep; How many loved your movements of glad grace, And loved your beauty with love false or true; But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you, And loved the sorrows Of your changing face. And bending down beside the glowing bars Murmur, a little sadly. how love fled And paced upon the mountain overhead And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-26
A SCOTCH. ECHO

From the Philadelphia Inquirer.
 A certain glen in Scotland had the rep utation of having a splendid echo An English gentleman visited the place and asked his guide about the echo.
 Just shout Two bottles of whisky" said the guide.
 The gentleman did as requested, and, after waiting several minutes. ne turned to the Scot and said:
 But I do not hear any echo." Maybe mo-" chuckled the scot, but here's the lassie comin wi the whisky"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-26
Challenge to George Ward

T see where my friend George Ward president of the city commission, says it would do me good to see the 'edu- now being shown by the advocates of the $2,000,000 bond issue." said Wal ter Moore yesterday.
 Now. like George Ward, but what I would like to know is this: How did he find out that those pictures were educational? What does he know about education, anyway?
 T have been knowing George for a long time and I never heard of any, one accusing him of being educated or educational Some of his friends must have told him those pictures were 'edu- cational.' George could see them a dozen times a day for the next year and he would never know what they were intended to portray.
 q am inclined to think that those fellows down at the city hall are try ing to bite off more than they can chew. They have grown so accustomed to bond issues and the people have grown so accustomed to voting them that every time business gets dull with them they holler' for few mil lions more.
 Now, I want to make trade with George Ward. I will agree to go to that educational picture with him, provided he will agree to remain with me throughout the entire presentation. He must also agree to explain to me what the picture shows so that I can ascertain whether or not he really un- derstands it."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-26
LIVING IN HOPE

"of course you have picked out an ideal place for your summer vacation" " "Oh, yes" replied Mr. Jobson.
 When do you expect to get away?"
 T don't expect to get away at all."
 But, you just said ---?''
 That l had picked out an ideal place for my summer vacation. I've decided on the same place every spring for the past seven years, but I haven't been there yet"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-26
FOR PRACTICAL PURPOSES

FOR PRACTICAL PURPOSES
 "So you prefer a political boss in charge of municipal affairs to city com 
 Yes" replied the old-fashioned poli- tician. Tt stands to reason that it is much easier to bring one man around to your way of thinking than it is to convert five or six'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-26

Japan would gladly assist China, in pull ing herself together. but China can't see it that way.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-26
ALABAMA PRESS

Roanoke Leader: All the fellows who want war should be excused and al- lowed to join the allies or the Teutons The United States needs no war.
 Fort Payne Journal: Uncle Sam is now, by the logic of events the policeman of the world-and he has not a sufficient force to police half his own hemisphere. Opelika News: No doubt Georgia is going to enforce it's prohibition laws. The daily press of that state is a credit to the commonwealth. It is standing for
 law enforcement.
 Talladega Home: The more some peo- pie are uplifted the more determined they seem to backslide at the first opportu- Age-Herald. Which demonstrates human nature in every thing.
 Mobile Register: Emperor William has said that the war will end at Verdun. That is the report. It sounds true. Something has to be accomplished at Verdun before either side can talk peace
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-26
PROFOUND IGNORANCE

PROFOUND IGNORANCE ''Why did you give that waiter a dol- lar? He neglected us shamefully. "Oh, wanted to make him feel sorry for the way he treated us. You see, I'm a student of human nature"
 "Umph! You may j. nv something about other human beings. but you still have great deal to learn about wait ers.''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-26

Asked to say what he thought of brush between United States troopers and Villistas, Sergeant Chicken said, Him damn fine fight" The sergeant would never make a war correspondent.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-26

It is predicted that the number of au- tomobiles in use in the United States will reach 100000 this year. However, ap- proximately nine-tenths of the popula tion will continue to dodge.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-26

More than foo members of the Texas National Guard failed to answer the call for duty on the Mexican border. The fighting spirit of Texas has been consider a bly, overrated
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-26

The old veterans continue to express their thanks for the hospitality extended them by Birmingham during the Confed- crate reunion. That's the kind of adver- Using that pays.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-26

If President Wilson could bring about peace in Europe it would certainly be 8 feather in his cap, but on the other hand an abortive attempt would soon have the lampoonists and caricaturists of Europe working overtime at his expense
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-26

BEGINNING THE DAY-O Lord, may | take my joy gladly, may l bear my pain bravcIy, may pc thankful in all things. Teach me the wondrOus height and depth anu richness of living my life faithi"i' in high place or low. May l see ioot- prints of the Master Of Men, Ai"eh and amen.--H. M. E.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-26

When a person reaches the point where he can talk intelligently about the plas- tic art, he can easily monopolize the con- versation in a group of low-brows.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-26

A man doesn't necessarily have to know the difference between a superdread- naught and a battle cruiser to be an ardent advocate of preparedness.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-26

The Krupp plant has recently been en- larged It begins to look as if the war will last all summer.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-26
ADRIF'T WITH THE TIMES
THE MYSTERY OF MAY

THE MYSTERY OF MAY O, the light above, o, the blossoming!- Is it sudden love Or the torch of spring? Blanche Shoemaker Wagstaff in Smart Set. Well, to make an ans Wer I'm nothing 10th There is just a chance Maybe it was both.
 IF. P. Adams in Pittsburg Post. It may've been spring When the blossom flares. But that was dads light Coming down the stairs.
 Houston Post. Or spring, or love, We do not care; With hectic stuff Blanche sure is there!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-26

The advocates of birth control fail to see how necessary it is to Keep the world supplied with cannon fodder
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-26

A St. Louis poetess writes, T smell the stars' And yet woman like that never could smell biscuits scorching.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-26

Oh, well, Dr. Waite's affinity still feels kindly toward him at any rate. What his wife thinks probably concerns him but little
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-26

According to the latest report. Villa is recuperating. And yet. 'tis said the good die young.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-26

A rattlesnake may have mean disposi- ton. but he isn't more unpopular than the average road hog"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-26

Speak king of detached attitude" In- diana is still booming Charles Warren Fairbanks for the presidency.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-26
WITH ONE EXCEPTION

T presume Dubwaite thinks his little son is just about the smartest boy ever born?''
 "Oh, no. Dubwaite remembers that he was youngster once."