The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-10

N IANh I faW-DOneQ appllCdnt lol
~ enlistment in the United States
marine corps, from Oklahoma, was
turned down by recruiting officers at
st. Louis because the middle fingers
of his right hand were missing. He
went to a
May Get His Chance shooting gal
to Do Some Fighting lery close by
and while a
sergeant looked on made twenty-five
straight hits at a moving target with
a rifle. 81 can shoot better with my
little finger than some men can with
their trigger fingers" said the Okla
homan, "and I can't understand why
you won't take me-"
The sergeant explained that hand
with several fingers missing would
not look well in a white glove and
would also make the handling of a
gun during drill rather difficult. The
rejected marksman departed, still I'M
convinced.
But he should not feel downcast.
Men who can hit the bull's-eye are
needed in this country. If proud foe
assails the United States some years
hence he may again offer his services
with the assurance that few fingers
more or less won't keep him at home
TN HE official war dispatches make
= dry reading. There is no place
in them for Mocal color" for those
human interest" stories which reveal
the true and intimate side of war, as
something more than contest in which
the mechanical in
A Little Story genuity of one side
From the Front is pitted against
that of the other.
Some of the special correspondents
are writing vivid descriptions Of
scenes and incidents at the front,
chiefly for the magazines. In COMPARE
son the press dispatches are quite dull
and monotonous, made even less inter-
esting by numerous unfamiliar and un-
pronounceable names.
And because the official reports are
compiled simply as part of the days
work along the battle line and after
being edited are sent out in the same
spirit from the various war capitals,
stories like that of Paul, German
soldier, have to find their way into
newspapers through other channels.
An English officer relates that at a
point where the British and German
lines were SO close the soldiers could
shout at each other and be under
stood, Paul, the possessor of rich
baritone voice, made both friend and
foe forget the horrors of war while
he sang tunes from light operas. The
"Tcmmies" applauded him with en-
thnsiasm.
One day the word was given and the
British troops charged. The lines were
reformed and British soldier cried,
"Tell Paul to sing" A German an
swered, "You hat shooted Paul; he
sings no more"
e1Tu HE government appropriation OF
u $75,000,O00 to aid in the build
ing of post roads is to be expended
judiciously by state highway commits
sions under the supervision of engi-
neers of the United States department
Of agriculture, and one of the wise
conditions announced by the depart
ment is that
System of Good Roads each stat
With Government Aid must submit
for approval
system to be worked out with scien-
tific economy during the period Of
five years for which. the money il
apportioned, beginning with the fiscal
year 1861. Alabama will receive
about $1,550,o00 all told-$1O4,o 0C
the first year, double that sum the
second year, and SO on until tn
nnnount reaches $4,000 in the fifth
year.
Il had been thought that the first
voar's superintendent could be ex-
z ndsd without regard to system o.
r6rxoasion covering the five-yeal