davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-08
A QUEER SORT OF DEFENSE

l From the St. Louis Globe Democrat.
 l Who is sane is a question as old and
 as baffling as Pilates inquiry about that the percentage or perfectly sane is low. It would be much lower if every body spent much time studying and try ing to reconcile the views of alienists.
 Every murder trial in which insanity is pleaded demonstrates how hopeless it is to get agreement among experts on this puzzling question. Nor is it necessary to suspect that the preponderance of tes- timony is always on the side that is able and willing to spend the more money. Alienists differ widely and money com mands the appearance of such alienists as it wishes to appear. But the conflict of testimony and the wild theories so often advanced have led many of the laity to define an alenist as a scholarly man who is crazy on the subject of in sanity.
 A New York murder trial just con- c,uded attracted wide attention, not so much because of the conflict of expert opinion as because of the strange the ory advanced by the defense It was admitted that the defendant married a girl for her money, studied poisons for the purpose of killing her wealthy par ents, used them in a double murder and sought to conceal evidences of his crime by having the bodies cremated. After an anonymous warning caused an lnves- tigation, he confessed the crime and ad- ,,ai+ lot I,a ole ,,1o to hn wife and then marry somebody else Two alienists pronounced him irresponsi- ble because he is "a moral idiot" They base their view on his callousness and his utter selfshness. They cannot insist There were method and purpose in his crimes. He knew the penalties of the law and planned to escape them. There is no evidence that he did anything out designed to advance his personal inter- ests. But merely because he shows no remorse and can discuss his horrid mur der without any show of feeling, it is seriously argued that he should not suf- fer the extreme penalty. In other words, special consideration should be shown the heartless Criminals are to be encour- aged to cultivate hardness, that if caught they may escape the penalty that is visited on such offenders as show touches of remorse. It was a sensible jury that ignored such a fantastic theory.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-08

The bureau of the census, department the production of needles, pins and hooks and eyes in the United States during 1914 which shows that the products of 63 es- tablishments were valued at $S,952,oS7. In 1909 there were 57 establishments re- ported. with products valued at $7,10S 996. It is estimated that the value of the an nual production of these commodities has increased 259 per cent. The production of needles in the United States consists almost entirely of knitting-machine and sewing machine needles and 6s,644,00O of these needles were manufactured in 1914, valued at $1,273,0S4. Of these 55.S per cent were lznitting-machine needles. Only three domestic factories made hand sew ing needles in 1914 These produced a total of 90,O00. Pins of all varieties made during the year were valued at $2,71S7S2, the principal variety being toilet pins made of steel and brass wire. Of metal hairpins 9242,012 gross were manufac- tured, valued at $52s,362. The output of safety pins was 4,744,3O3 gross, valued al $936,663. The production of hooks and eyes for the year was 1,O76, IF great gross valued at $1.994,745. The 49 establishments listed in 1914 as engaged primarily in the manufacture of pins, needles and hooks and eyes were distributed as follows Twelve in Connecticut each in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, each in New Hampshire and New York, in Massa- chusetts, in Michigan and one each in California, Illinois, Ohio, Oregon and Rhode Island
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-08

From the Montgomery Advertiser.
 "HE Alabama Association of Teach
 CTS of English announces that 1t
 1 will quicken it's activities during the operation of the summer schools in Alabama An earnest campaign in the interest of the cause of better English will be made and it will have the sup port of all people who are interested in better education in Alabama.
 The Birmingham Ledger wants to see the day come when such harsh, blunder- ing expressions as T done it. T ain't," The taken it. etc., will go out of our language.
 A news account of the forthcoming campaign remarks that "the most popu- lar feature of the associations work is the speech improvement activity. This movement proposes rousing the public sentiment to the need and possi- bility of improving the speaking. voice and raising the standard of speech used in daily life.
 The English language is not the easiest language to master. It may be that this fact accounts in some degree for the low standard of English spoken by the av- craze American, but the outstanding, un- pleasant fact is that the principal cause of this low standard has been our wholly inadequate system of giving universal education. The average American not only does not speak the native tongue correctly, but he knows little of the short history of his own people. Uneducated. he depends upon his native wit, his com mon sense, his initiative with all of which he is abundantly and peculiarly endowed, to give him a rock to stand on. Why may we not bring the finishing pro- cesses more forcibly to bear upon the average American? We have long since arrived at that period in our history when we should give the average man refinment, and if he fail to accept it of his own will we should compel him to accept it as far as possible. We have come upon a-time when there is no ex- cuse for the average American to be an awkward, unpublished creature; indeed the day has passed when such a man may feel either silent or blatant pride in his ignorance. We have the money with which to buy the necessities of life. and
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-08
THE TELEPHONE
From the Rochester Democrat ar Chronicle

From the Rochester Democrat and
 Chronicle.
 It is just fl years since the telephone in it's present form, substantially. was evolved from the toy instrument con- structed from tin cans connected by a string. The modern instrument at the outset was almost as crude as its me chanical toy predecessor. It came into use slowly. and it was not at first highly appreciated. But scientists at once toos it up and quickly developed appliances by which the range of the instrument was largely extended. Now, it is stated one telephone company of national repu- tatinn, claims to have 64,000 exchanges, with 9.2O0.000 stations, and 100000 miles of wire carrying 26,OO0.00O messages a day Besides this great company, there are many independent companies which
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-08
------------'s ------------- A PICTURE OE THE RATTLE

From the New York Evening Telegram.
 But speaking of even imitation battles, take tip from Sergeant Chicken, an an- cient Apache scout-yes, he admits being an aged chicken-on emerging from the run-in when Major Howze's cavalry killed 55 Villa bandits at close quarters with the A revolvers Pressed for details, the brave, when the hurricane of questions has ceased, said solemnly:
 Him damn fine fght!'
 Then he relapsed into silence.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-08

largely swell the aggregates of these fig ures. The telephone, even more than the telegraph. has become closely identi- fled with the business of the world. and the extent of the economies made pos- sibe through its use cannot be com- puted. The telephone is also an impor- tant factor in social sense. Taken al- to gether. it may be said to do mora toward advancing the worlds business than all other means of communication combined.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-08
Secretary Baker a Scholar

Secretary of War Baker is really one of the remarkable men of his gen. eration,'' said the Rev. w. N Clay brook q went to school with him and have naturally watched his career With special interest. MT. Baker is one of the rare cases of happy combina- tion of the ripe scholar and the prac- tical man of affairs
 "In handling practical questions he seems to know intuitively what is the best thing to do. That his judgment is of the best is shown by his attain ments. for he has gone far Tor man of his age. But the best part about him is that with all his practical sense he is scholar in the higt est and best sense. He has fine classical educa- tion and he has continued to be stu dent ever since he left the university MT. Baker is the kind of man who when he is taking a journey or has a little leisure will be found reading Aeschy1us or some of the other Greek classics for amusement. He is a man of wonderful gifts"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-08
WEATHER OF THE souI.

Bliss Carman, April Airs.'' (Sman, May. nard & Co. There is world of being
 We range from pole to pole. Through seasons of the spirit
 And weather of the soul It has it's newborn AprilA,
 With gladness in the air It's golden Junes of rapture,
 Its winters of despair And in it's tranquil autumns
 We halt to re-enforce Our tattered scarlet pennons
 With valor and resource. From undiscovered regions Only the angels know, Great winds of aspiration Perpetually blow. To free the sap of impulse From torpor of distrust, 7 And into flowers of joyance
 Quicken the sentient dust. From nowhere of a sudden
 Loom sudden clouds of fault, With thunders of oppression
 And lightnings of revolt. With hush of apprehension <
 And qualSing of the heart, There breed the storms of anger,
 And floods of sorrow start. $ And there shall fall-how gently
 To make them fertile yet. < The rain of absolution
 On acres of regret, Till snows of mercy cover
 The dream that shall come true, When time makes all things wondrous. And life makes all things new.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-08
THE NATURE OF THE SOUL

EpICltCUS.
 the physician and the tra.ner, and the soil is the subject for the husband man. And the work of the good and wise man is to use appearances according to nature. For it is the nature of every souI 10 con sent to what is good and reject what is evil, and to hold back about what is un- certain and thus to be moved to pursue the good ana avoid the evil, and neither way for what is neither good nor evil.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-08
PAYING THE PRICE

'Jibway is the kind of man who takes things at their face value"
 T judged so."
 'why?"
 He married pretty woman who turned out to be a shrew." LITTLE NONSENSE NOW AND THEN q think it's very unkind the way some of those politicians make fun of the 'favorite sons," remarked Mrs. Twob- ble. "Oh don't know about that" an- swered Mr. Twobble ''The average po- affair and I presume the delegates feel that they are entitled to certain amount of relaxation" JUST COULDN'T MISS IT Whats the populatlon or thlS townF asked the superciious stranger. "oh, about Soo," answered the nativs
 Have you an active citizenship?"
 ''Toler'bly active. sir. The last time we had a lynchin' here some of our prominent citizens who had been bed- ridden for months, got up to take a hand in the proceedn's.'
 A SOFTENING INFLUENCE
 What is Gertrude Gadder's latest fad?'
 Prison reform.''
 Along what lines?"
 "she thinks every convict ought to have a canary in his cell"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-08
Less Vacant Houses

Birmingham is not enjoying any
 boom, but the city and the district are experiencing a steady growth and a cer. tain improvement in business condi. tions,' said Hill Ferguson yesterday. After more or less protracted period Of dullness, the real estate business is the last to begin to receive the benefits from the revival, but for some months past all lines of real estate have under- gone gradual betterment
 After thousands of employees were out of work here for months immediately following the beginning of the war, it required many months of steady work to place them back on their feet. Prac- tically all the men who were out of work for any considerable length of time were heavily in debt, and their first money had to go to paying procery bills and back rents. Then the dry goods and clothing stores began to feel the inn provement and after that the various forms Of amusement and recreation got a share.
 But 1t requires quite a time after a prolonged depression before men get enough money ahead to make purcha ses of real estate However after months of steady work and with every prospect indicating continuance, the outlook for considerable development along real es- tate lines is now good The most encour- aging sign lately is the fact that there has been a vast reduction in the number of vacant houses. For time there were hundreds of vacant houses in the city and suburbs, but in many parts of town now no houses can be secured and plans are being made for the construction of new buildings.
 Another feature which shows the inn provement in conditions is the fact that within the past F months Birmingham has readjusted and assimilated about 13O buildings formerly occupied by saloons. The vast majority of these places have now been rented and those few which are still vacant will soon be taken. While the rentals paid by the saloont were higher than are received from other lines of business, the disadvantage suffered by adjoining property from the location of the saloons makes the present status not so bad as some had pictured it. Taken as whole, conditions are inn proving steadily and I believe that we have passed through the hard period"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-08

BEGINNING THE DAY-I thank Thee, o my God, that Thou art my judge, and not men. For Thou know est my secret difficulties and my un- seen struggles. Thou are by when my efforts avail not. Thou Judsest the heart. And Thou deepest me strained toward Thyself, for l know that | cannot deceive Thee. Amen and Amen.--H. M. E.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-08
GETTING THE CELEBRITIES

From the Talladega Home.
 Dolly Dalrymples latest interview in the Birmingham Age-Herald is with Tex Rickard the pugilistic rlagnate. Dolly is some interviewer, and has almost com pleted the list of celebrities Emperor William and Pancho Villa are probably down for chat, in the near future.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-08

Most everywhere that Mary went The car was sure to go.
 SONG OF THE HIKE I've hiked all over Marshfield, I've heel and toed to Bourne I've stopped in all the Carvers, To Tinker Town at mourn. I'm never cramped in auto, Afoot please let me go, And mock the fitting hedge birds That carol to and fro. Charles Robinson, in Old Colony Me morial. One of your great desires Is really worth the while; On gasoline and tires You ought to save a pile. But why, if we may ask you, That eager yearning, Bo, To mock the fitting hedge birds That carol to and fro?
 Springfield Union. He's out for simple living And small expenses, so He'd mock the-flitting hedge bird That carols to and fro; 'Twould not cost much for living If he, like them by jings, Could carol to and fro and SI bsist on bugs and things
 -I1OuSlOn EOSl Hell save a lot on gasoline, Likewise on wheel and tire, But has no one told him that the price Of shoes is going higher? Twill cost a pretty penny A-hiking thus to go, To mock the fitting hedge birds That carol to and fro.
 Memphis Commercial Appeal. We fear this nature lover, Who says he fain would so And mock the fitting hedge birds That carol to and fro, IS something of a jester Who really doesn't mean That he would rather hit the grit Than pay for gasoline.
 JUST AS BAD You look exhausted" "Yes"
 Been shopping with your wife?" NO. I've been trying to get out of going"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-08

Whether or not the war has anything to do with it, you will notice that the prize fighting profession is getting pre- cious little publicity these days.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-08

Yuan Shi-Kai rose to dizzy height in China. and being an astute individual, he left his ways and means more or less in the dark.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-08
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
ONLY A RESPITE

ONLY A RESPITE Observe the glad vacation throng Who've left dull care behind them. And though, mid revelry and song, Their present joys may blind them To all life's ills, their bliss is bound To have a short duration. They'll come back to the same old rour Cf toll and tribulation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-08

While there may be no particular req son why people shouldn't eat bugs as a government entomologist says, the supe-
 riority of fried chicken over fried June
 bug cannot be questioned.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-08

Philadelphia plans an economical Fourth of July celebration. Oh, well, the country at large takes it for granted that Philadelphia is patriotic, regardless of the baseball situation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-08

At any rate, no other man could make the "Old Guard'' spend as many rest. less nights as T. R. has.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-08

Russia fought the Japanese on a liberal allowance of vodka. She is making a better showing in the present war, and prohibitionists say there is reason.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-08

It's a mistake to suppose that any man who could subsist on diet of old boots would make successful polar explorer.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-08

Considering the amount of noise they are making, it seems strange that the prohbitionists and suffragists find it so hard to get hearing in Chicago.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-08
THEY SHOULD WORRY

'rs said convention delegates Don't understand the game. What should they care who've journeyed
 there To cheer the colonels name?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-08

The next time the Rev. Bouck White burns the American flag, he should seek solitary spot far from the madding crowd.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-08

Lord Northcliffe should do the hand some thing and give Earl Kitchener the sort of obituary notice he deserves.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-08

Many man in the cyclone belt doesn' t make up his mind to dig a storm cellar until he no longer has house to dig it under.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-08

A globe trotter says he "hesitated" at Colon. A sort of semi Colon, as it. were.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-08

If mine and not a torpedo sank the Hampshire, some Teut commander missed an excellent chance of being embraced by the Kaiser.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-08

President Wilson is going to take more than an academic interest in the demo-
 cratic platform
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-08

The idea in Santo Domingo seems to rines aren't looking
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-08

Chcago's wind supply was but slightly
 increased by the def'ation of the Burton boom
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-08
MARY's FLIVvER

Mary had a little car
 And hated walking so. Most everywhere that Mary went The car was sure to go.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-08

From the Montgomery Advertiser "HE Alabama Association of Teach
 CTS of English announces that it
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-05-25
RHEUMATISM
MEDICINE FREE

We want the name of every person everywhere who is suffering with rheumatism. so we can send him 8 free sample bottle of Hills Rheumatic. kennedy, We don't care how long or how severe he has had it, as there ara very few cases that have not yielded and been thoroughly cured with it. It works at once. In twenty-four hours it stops the pain. Don't take our word for it-test it at our expense. This is not a new untried thing. For twenty five years 1t has been regarded 5v nhvsicians as practically the only cer- tain treatment for this terrible di- sease.
 Over 10000 Testimonials Like These:
 MT E. M. Ehlers, Sect'y. Grand Lodge of Masons of New York City. writes that, Although sufferer from rheu- xy,atisna for. many years two doses stopped all pain and one bottle cured me-
 MT. A. Goldman. Victoria. Texas. saws: 'I am very well pleased with vour medicine; am recommending 1t very highly. It has done more for me than anything I have ever tried"
 Marshall F. w. Geraty. of 70 Man haitian St., New York. says: II have suffered with rheumatism for many years, have tried almost every known remedy but got no relief or cure until I took yours. In forty-eight hours l was entirely cured and free from all pain. I send this unsolicited
 Hills Rheumatic Remedy is on sale at most drug stores at $1.0o per bot tIe One bottle generally effects a complete cure. Call or send for free sample bottle and booklet at once. There is no greater service you can perform for humanity than to tell any rheumatic sufferer about this wonder full preparation. Address: Hill Med1- cine Co.,, 117 East 34th St.. New York, N. Y.
 AGENTS WANTED EVERYWHERE,
 Good Men Make $1O Day on OuI Preparations. WRITE NOW.-AdV
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-05-25

I've been watching you, and I reckon you're cool customer. reckon, too, you're an honest man and not afraid of playing bold hand. I'm going to confide in you. I need help worse than any man ever needed it, and want to know if I can count you in?'
 "Get on with your yarn,'' said, "and then I'll tell you"
 He seemed to brace himself for great effort and then started on the queerest rigmaro1e. I didn't get hold of it at first, and I had to stop and ask him questions. But here is the gist of it:
 He was an American, from Ken lucky, and after college, being pretty well off, he had started out to see the world. He wrote a bit and acted as war correspondent for Chicago paper and spent a year or two in southeast ern Europe. I gathered that hat was a fine Hnguist and had got to know pret- ty well the society of those parts. He spoke familiarly of many names that I remembered to have seen in the news papers.
 He had played about with politics, he told meat first for the interest of them and then because he couldn't help himself. I read him as a sharp, rest less fellow who always wanted to get down to the roots of things. He got a little further down than he wanted.
 am giving you what he told me as well as could make it out Away be- hind all the governments and the ar mtes there was a big subterranean movement going on, engineered by very dangerous people. He had come
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-05-25

a porter and a lift man at the entrance, but there was no restaurant or any thing of that sort, and each flat was quite shut off from the others. I hate servants on the premises, so I had a fellow to look after me who came in ' by the day.
 He arrived before o'clock every morning and used to depart at ', for I never dined- at home.
 I was just fitting my key into the door when I noticed man at my eI- bow. had not seen him approach and the sudden appearance made me start. He was slim man with short . brown beard and small gfmlety, blue eyes.
 I recognized him as the occupant of a fiat on the top floor, with whom l had passed the time of day on the stairs.
 Can I speak to youY' he said May I come in for a minute?" He was steadying his voice with an effort, and his hand was paving my arm.
 got my door open and motioned him in. No sooner was he over Che threshold than he made a dash for my back roomi where used to smoke and write my letters, Then he bolted back.
 fIs the door locked?' ?'' he asked fever ishly, and he fastened the chain with his own hand.
 'sI'm very sorry he said humbly. "It's a mighty liberty, but you looked the kind of man who would under stand I've had you in my mind all this week when things got troublesome. Say, will you do me a good turn 2"
 "I'll listen to you" I said. sThat's all I'll promise.' I was getting wor- ried by the antics of this nervous little chap.
 There was a tray of drinks on the table beside him, from which he filled himself stiff whisky and soda. He drank it off in three gulps and cracked the glass as he set it down.
 Pardon he said "I'm bit rattIed tonight You see, I happen at this mo ment to be dead"
 sat down in an armchair and Lit my pipe.
 What does it feel ikeT' I asked. I was pretty certain that I had to deal with a nladInan.
 A smile f1ickered over his drawn face. ~I'm not mad-yet. Say, MT. Hannay,