davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1916-05-17

Phone 241.
Specializes in Surgery, diseases of
women, and Obstetrics.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-22
Washington's Birthday

No holiday is more generally recog- nized in this country than the ami versary of the birth of the first Presi- dent of the United States.
 The 22d of February is legal holi- day in every state of the union and in the District of Columbia, Alaska, Ha- waii and Porto Rico The banks are closed by law and in few cities ap- propriata festivities mark the day. In years gone by there was general suspension of business and every mill itary company turned out for parade, but in this time of commercial stress and strain the day passes with less demonstration than was usual even in the recent past.
 A revival of the old custom of mili- tary display on Washington's birth day would be well. But in the absence of public celebrations and formal pro- grammeS the attention or every American boy should be directed on this day to the heroic virtues and the lofty ideals of the Father of his country" and every American citizen should feel his patriotic sentiment quickened as he contemplates the glorious achievements of the man who was first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his country men,"
 George Washington might have been dictator for life. Had he been dominated by selfish ambition he might have assumed imperial pre- negatives and ruled with sovereign
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-22
The Warrior Highmax

everybody seems agreed that the War rlor highway should be built and that inc board or revenue should commence wor,, on the most feasible route, just as soon as possible" said J. A. Rountree. secre- tary of the Alabama Good Roads associa- tion.
 The Jefferson County Good Roads as- sociauon, which has taken the lead in advancing the cause of good roads in Jefferson county, as well as assistine. in the promotion of state and national high ways, investigated the question of build- Ing the Warrior highway, took in con- slderation what the board of reyenue had been and was doing, and met and prompt y passed resolutions commenting their work and urged them to finish the roads now under construction, and then go to work on the Warrior highway.
 The Chamber of Commerce. tbrougt the Warrior highway committee has in Vestlsateo the various routes and now comes out in almost the identical 1a a,,. guage of the Jefferson County Good Roads association, and urges the hoard or revenue to build this road when they flnd 1t practicable and as soon as may be. It is interesting to know That these two bodies are agreed on this oues. tion' is dHSS-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-22
At Motor and Countrv c,uh

Sunday was certainly an excellent day for an outing remarked L. Speigler. and autoists Hooked in great numbers to the Birmingham Motor and Country club.
 The rustic club house was filled with people all during the afternoon and they listened in wrapt attention to the strains or the orchestra, as numerous selections were rendered. There were also many people strolling over the grounds inspect Ing recent developments. Among the crowd l noticed several people with ko- daks who were bent on getting views of the dam which had recently given way under pressure of a great flood.
 Members of the club are naturally very much interested in the matter of securing an early restoration of the lake and l am informed that repairs have begun. This work, however, seems to De going forward rather slowly.
 Much interest was displayed Sunday In two launches which had been con- structed and placed in one of the gal leries of the club house. and all long to see these vessels afloat on the great lake when the water shall have again been impounded
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-22
Army and National Guard

The military committee of the House of Representative agreed yes terday upon tentative bill for the National Guard and an increase of the regular army to 134,OOO enlisted men. It is now about S5,000.
 Certain army officers have said that the army should number not less than 100000 men, but the war col lege and military experts generally have recommended that the army be increased only to 140,000. If a bill gets through Congress providing for regular establishment of 130,000 the administration and officers of the army will be satisfied.
 The idea of federalizing the organ ized militia, designated in most states, although incorrectly so, as the Ma tional Guard, is widely popular, and it is especially popular among the guardsmen themselves. The organ ized militia is national only insofar Gs the government furnishes the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-22
Fine Showing of Alabama Coal

That Alabama coal ranks with the best West Virginia and Virginia coals and is greatly superior to the coals of Illinois, Ohio and western Pennsyl- vania is fact of far-reaching im- portance.
 The steaming tests for the United States navy, made by the government and submitted by R. s. Hodges, chem ist of the geological survey of Ala bama, through the office of Dr. Eu- gene A. Smith, state geologist, and published in Sundays Age-Herald, shows that in efficiency coal from the Pratt seam was 67.8S as compared with 66.78 for West Virginia's Poca- hontas bed, 675O for average of 47 tests of West Virginia coal, 66.69 for average of Is tests of six Alabama mines, 66.06 for average of 32 tests of Ohio coal and 63.41 for average of 110 tests of Ohio mines.
 MT. Hodges says that equally good results may be had from much of the coal from other beds in Ala bama is not too much to expect"
 Additional tests of steaming quail ties will, it is believed, still further increase the good showing of Ala bama coal, and as Mir. Hodges sug- gests that with the increased facili- ties for marketing and with river transportation "a bright future awaits the product"
 Alabama coal operators have long felt that they were entitled to large share of the navy's trade, but in seek ing it they were met with the conten- tion that coal from this state was not equal in efficiency to the Virginia and West Virginia product. Now that the governments steaming tests prove to the contrary, coal from this district will be used on large scale for sup plying the naval vessels that come to the gulf, and not only so, but these efficiency comparisons will result in greatly increased demand for Ala bama fuel from other consumers. Coal mine values will be enhanced and every interest in Birmingham and the Birmingham district will be bene- fitted.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-22
WAITING FOR THE DOCTOR

'The Servian People in War Time" by
 Stanley Naylor in the March Scribner,
 To watch the sick peasants waiting
 outside roadside dispensary was to be given an Illuminating insight into their isolated lives. From dawn till sun set, men, women and children would arrive, the victims of every conceivable kind of disease Some of them, never having been able to consult doctor before, would walk from 50 to 100 miles across country for the privilege That, weak and i'll, they could perform such big walking feats seemed impossible to believe. One woman I saw had walked 20 miles with condition of the neck and throat that would make a civilized being think twice about cross ing a room. Another, suffering from cancer, had ridden on horseback on a journey lasting several days, while oth- CT patients came in oxcarts or, if too poor to afford even that mode of travel were strapped to the backs of donkeys. One grimly stolid-looking peasant brought two children delirious with diphtheria. His wife and two other children were lying dead at home.
 The way in which these destitute, stricken people sought to express their gratitude was not without it's touching side. Many of them would bring punches of flowers gathered by the wayside on their long and tedious jour- neys. Others, at the American clinic, were distressingly anxious to give the eminent Dr. Castellani his fee in coin. For the medicine he prescribed they tried in vain to induce him to accept a penny or twopence-probably all they had.
 Such flashes of self-respect and pride, revealed by the most submerged of Serbia's population in the face of pow erty and pain, are an earnest of the spirit and temper of the race as a whole No matter how poor he may be, the Serb still remains proud. Our enemies may trample over our bodies, but stamp out our spirit they never will!' M. Pashich declared lately, when the outlook was at it's b1ackest: Better far for us to die in beauty than to live in shamei"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-22
Will It Be a Draw?

The Hollanders, according to re- ports emanating recently from abroad, think the war will end in draw, a belief said to be shared by the King of Greece and doubtless con- cured in by the heads of some other neutral governments who have waited long for one side or the other to achieve a decisive victory.
 Along the western battle line the contending armies have been practl- cally deadlocked for months past and there is no reason to believe that either side will be able to make any headway there. The attempt to force the Dardanelles came to nothing. The Russians are apparently holding the Teutons firmly in the eastern the atre of war, with some small gains reported, and the predicted develop ments at Saloniki have presumably not yet come to a head. At least, Sa- loniki has for the time being ceased to figure in the war news.
 However, the latest Russian victory over the Turks, resulting in the cap- ture of Erzerum, is a smashing blow, and as the Russians seem to be fol- lowing it up with ardor, it can no longer be said that the allies are standing still. The Italians have ac- complished little so far and it doesn't appear likely that they will give the Austrians much trouble, The conquest of Servia and Montenegro is of course something to the credit of the Teu- tons, although by no means decisive. All eyes are now turned on the Rus sians who are fighting so gallantly under the leadership of Grand Duke Nicholas. The war may be decided in this part of the world, while the other fronts remain in statu quo.
 Those who predict that the struggle will end in a draw don't take into con- sideration the unalterable determina- tion of the allies to shatter the ann bilious dream of the Teutons. Ger many is in position now to make an advantageous peace, but for the allies to quit would mean a virtual defeat and afford no safety in the future. Unless their temper has been greatly misconstrued, they will not stop the war of their own volition until they win many victories. Even a person who is not war expert can see that that is going to take time.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-22
CABARETs AID PAwNsHoPs

From the Chicago Herald.
 "The cabaret craze" the pawnbroker said, "is one of the best little indoor sports for the business of the pawn shop. know, because I am located right in the heart of the tango belt, and there come to my emporium youths of tender years and depleted purses who part with treasured possessions at slight mercantile discount and a high rate so that they may resume the syn copated tenor of their ways
 Personally, I get the wild youths who take in the matinees but some of my brother merchants who keep open later than I do, take care of the even ing business. The poor lad that finds himself unable to stand for another round of drinks has only one recourse, and that's me.
 "I can always tell a newcomer to the ranks. He comes in with fear and trembling, and he goes out with dol lar and a ticket. The second time he comes in he is more at ease, and in course of time he gets so calloused and careless that he actually comes in with out his hat on.
 That's a fact. They save the tip by not taking their hats and coats, and it's only short run from the cabaret to the pawn shop. I had a yougster come in here the other day, and could see by his flushed face and tell by his hushed tones that if he didn't have another dance he would just naturally peter out. He had bracelet that he desired to part with for the price of two beers and tip, so I allowed him 30 cents on it, so that he could have enough left for his car fare home, pro- viding he didn't get soaked more than 10 cents apiece for the drinks ''In a great many cases the young men are far sighted enough to do their pawning before they do their tangoing but we have lot of steady customers who don't look that far ahead, and they break up the monotony of the dance by trip to my counter.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-22

equipment and furnishes army off cers as instructors.
 The governor of each state is the eommander-in-chief of the National Guard in his state and the President of the United States has no control over the men unless they enlist in time of war as United States volun- teers.
 If the liberalization bill passes, members of the guard will be invited to enlist under rules and regulations of the war department and take an oath of allegiance to the United States government. The President would then be their commander-in- chief. In the event of riot gov ernor could not order them out for duty any more than he could order out United States regulars. In other words, the National Guard would be on military footing with the United States army. They would receive small pay, but would still be citizen soldiers, just as now.
 With a federalized National Guard, union labor men would be inclined to join. As it is they will not enlist because of the possibility of being ordered to perform strike duty,
 Since the administrators conti- mental army scheme has been aban- doned the chances for the passage of the National Guard measure are bright. The bill once law the guard could be easily recruited up to ap- proximately 45O,0OO It totals now only about 125,OO0 men.
 With the withdrawal of the Ma tional Guard from state control, each state would find it almost imperative to organize battalion of constabul- ary, armed and drilled like soldiers, for police duty. About 150 state troopers" would be ample for Ala bama.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-22

The new government railroad in Alaska
 covers a distance about as far as from
 Baltimore to Pittsburg. This is com paratively short in view of the fact that Alaska is as large as the combined area of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota. The annual commerce of this vast territory approximates $7S, ,00O,- 600 according to an article in Leslie's Weekly by Thomas F. Logan. Alaska is greatly in need of improved roads and trails Under the direction of Col. w. F. Richardson, head of the board of road commissioners for Alaska, up to 1915 there had been constructed 901 miles of wagon road, 57 miles of winter sled road, and 2216 miles of trail, the average cost being $3OO0 per mile for wagon road, $325 for winter sled road and $1OO or less for for 10 years, having been provided for under an act of Congress passed in 1915 Yet it had had but $1,4S9, ,413.SS, from what is known as the Alaska fund" and $1,6OO,OOO of special appropriations made by Congress for military and post roads, bridges and trails,' for carrying on it's work. Both motor trucks and passenger cars are getting to be numer- ous in Alaska. The total population is about 7O,OOO During the past 40 years revenues collected from Alaska by the United States government show profit of about $5O9, 100000, although but $24,oO0,- one-fifth the size of the entire United States.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-22
MILLIONAIRES MADE BY WAR

went up the miners were to be paid more; when it went down they were to get less The machine men the work CTS who run the air drills) were getting $2.25 a day before the boom started. They are now getting from $4.25 to s4.50.
 The Webb City zinc mills go right on grinding and the millionaires so right on tumbling out the hopper. The men who have been working in the mines on sal ary lease a few acres, sink a shaft and install grand piano. You never can tell who is going to be the next mill lionaire and you can never tell 'em by the way they look.
 Then take G. L. Cole. Before the war boom came on he was sitting up nights with two wheezy mills that looked as if they'd never see warm weather again. He had to take his wife's egg money to pay off Saturday night, but the war came on and his mines began to take the long, regular inhalations of cross country athletes. Since January. 1915. he has salted away just trifle better than $12500O.
 You can go right on down this line friend. Pick em out and I'll tell you about 'em Who's that with the round face and red complexion? That's Tom Coyns Why I used to know him when he was clerlking in the postoffice. He saved up his money-a fellow who does that gets ahead sooner or later-and borrowed some more and in August 1915 invested $60.00O in mining proposition He ran on to some good sheet ground, and is now making $10,0O0 week. Mind you; week. The From C."-that's what he calls it-pays for itself every six weeks.
 There, did you see that fellow go whizzing byl That was John c. Quinn. He's got it all right-made every dollar of it here, too. Came here from Geor- gia and bought $40 acres of land at $3.75 an acre. Well, he was stringhalting along until 14 years ago when they dis covered ore on his land. Will you believe it his fortune doubled three times be- fore morning. He built him a house out in the country and calls it after his old state-Georgia City. He says there aint person in Boston as has a house like his-aH walnut The wars made that man and he's worth--let me think minute, I want to play safe-$3 000, 900.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-22
Homer Croy in Leslie's.

Homer Croy in Leslie's.
 HIN the fall of 1914 a mine operator N noticed faint stirring on the part N of jack" as the miners call zinc ore. It was 8 long time before the peo- pie of Joplin, Mo- connected the boom ing of the big guns at Iiege, Rheims and along the Aisne with the upward move ment of jack Then they remembered that the Germans had control of the zinc mines in Belgium, and that now the allies must look elsewhere for their zinc. Zinc combined with copper makes brass
 The big rise began about the first Of January, 1915, and during that year staid, quiet Joplin was a boom town. Nome suddenly moved to Jasper county. Pa tient, plodding, straightforward citizens who thought it was wicked to stay up after Il got night keys and began taking tango lessons from an English dancing instructor with a small, refined mus tache and a broad accent. Wives who had shopped regularly for 15 years out of mail order catalogs suddenly had to go to St. Louis for fitting, and wrist watches became as common as fried eggs.
 "Jack'' had been selling for $S5 ton, but it began to edge up: $40. $50, $6O-up- ward it crept day by day, the people growing more and more excited. When it reached $SO the autos got so thick that pedestrians went out only in twos and threes But it was not to stop-onwark' upward it scared. When it reached Sso the Browning clubs and new thought or ganizations had to go out of business on account of the cabarets and the dam sants Steadily jack climbed until It hit $100, when they had demonstration on the streets with band to play and an orator in frock coat to tell them about this glorious commonwealth where every boy may be president, to say noth- ing of the growing electoral chances of the girls.
 But the end was not yet; jack" kept right on going up. One hundred and ten it struck and went on through, headed in the general direction of the Milky Way. The very highest, tiptoppest price of all was get by Orleans Longacre for a limited amount at $139.6O.
 During 1915 the streets of Joplin and Webb City ran with European money. The spirit of 4s was upon them. Into the district tumbled hundreds of miners; the wages paid the men underground the shovelers. the machine men, the powder monkeys, the tub hookers--dou- bled. There are no unions in the Joplin district and no foreign labor; everybody speaks English or he doesn't work, that's all. The miners see to that themselves. sliding scale of wages was ma K0t the miners by the operators. WI M ufe
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-22
-'s------------ TEAR-STAINED WAR ApU

me boulevard shops of Paris just now writes Erik Sojoestedt in Cartoons Maea- zine' are Hull of displays of prints bv french war artists. Many of these ar- lists do their work on the firing lina and are depicting war as it really is of Abel Faivre, the noted crayon artist inc writer says:
 Among the most touching of his draw lngs' powerful in it's depth of feeling. is the one which he has dedicated to erhe Day of the Dead Here he shows us inc popular-a Frenchman would say adored -General Joffre in silhouette, standing soiemnly and with bowed head beside a humble mound on which the wooden cross crowned by a kepi marks the place where a son of France has fallen.
 But, lel from under the kepi the youthful shadow of the dead soldier half rises from his earthen winding sheet and m response to the great chiefs salute, greets him again with a gesture of obei- sance and sacrifice.
 This same nobility of thought, always soperly expressed, is noticeable in all M. FalVreS works
 Here is pale, starved woman sitting on fallen stone beside her ruined home, nursing babe at her emaciated breas st and holding an older child between her knees. A Prussian officer is passing by in his flat cap and great coat, a monocle Tn his eye, jaunty, trim, and polished. The legend reads: Tt is quite good of us don't you know, not to requisition your milk The child, boy of 10 glares at the invader, and in this look one can read the wild indignation. the promise of vengeance to come. and the cry of com ing generations.
 And yet M. Faivre's personality with it's nonchalant elegance, it's southern soft ness and charm of manner, while it sug- gests the delicate feeling of his art, scarcely seems in keeping with these tragic impressions.''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-22
LOVES LABOR LOST.

In passing drop a gentle tear
 For one who might be living now, But that upon a holiday
 He registered a foolish VOW That she, the maid he most adored,
 Should hail him as a hero bold. He pushed her off the dock, then plunged Into the water, icy cold And saved her life" Did she rejoice At such devotion, greatly shown, With arms around his manly neck
 Declare he had her love alone?' An, no. She caught a case of grip
 Twas from the wetting, you'll infer And wed, when she regained her health, The youthful "doc" who tended her. The swain forsaken sickened soon,
 And did not care to cure the cough, Contracted on that fatal day,
 Which most untimely took him off.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-22
Alabama and the Confeder.ev

John Witherspoon DuBose goes this morning to examine for week the ref erence libraries at Montgomery to pre- pare sketch describing the civil and military attitude of Alabama toward the genesis and career of the southern Con federacy; apropos to the twenty-seventh reuDion of the United Confederate Vet erans, to meet at Birmingham May IS.
 This Is a very comprehensive research and most attractive topic. to be included Tn the items to be developed by the lit erary bureau of the reunion. Alabama history in this domain is rich beyond the ordinary intelligence of our people, neg lected too long.
 MT DuBose would be pleased to re- ceive at Montgomery information not usually now known, concerning soldiers and sailors who went into the army from Alabama. There is much of Alabamians worthy to be preserved to immortality of fame now in jeopardy of oblivion. Men, women and black servants are of that noble class