davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-17
The Newspaper Club

It is gratifying to know that steps have been taken for recognizing the Birmingham Newspaper club anc maintaining it's luxurious quarters or the upper floors of the Jefferson County bank building. Thanks to the vigorous efforts of members who have undertaken the work of rehabilitating the club, an institution that is valua- ble asset to Birmingham will not be permitted to pass out of existence after having become famous all over the United States.
 Prominent men from nearly every where have been guests of the club during the comparatively brief time it has been installed in it's present quarters. Because of the beauty and luxury of the rooms and cafe and their location at the top of the tallest of flee building in the south, and one of the tallest in the country, outside of New York and Chicago, the club has been show place which all visitors to Birmingham desired to see. Its advertising value has been very great, while to it's members it has been an ! ideal place in which to while away a leisure hour.
 A special committee has been formed to take charge of affairs and the gentlemen composing it cansbe relied on to save the institution from disaster. The assets are considerably in excess of the liabilities, and with proper management there is no reason why the club should not continue in existence. It is not intended to make money and if expenses are met, after the present financial problems are settled, everyone will be satisfied. Or ganizations of this kind are rarely profitable. They have other and bet ter uses than that of making money.
 A revision of the membership will be undertaken without delay and that is one of the most important tasks the committee will have to consider. In the scramble to get new members, g great many were taken in who have since given the club no support what. ever. They should be weeded out at once. Finances can no doubt be ad- iusted without much trouble.
 It would never do for Birmingham to lose the Newspaper club.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-17
PLEASED WITH BIRMINGHAM

Col R. M. Gibbes in the Savannah Press.
 As one of the Confederate veterans of Savannah who attended the reunion at Birmingham I want to testify to the splendid time the people of Birmingham gave me and all the other visitors there during convention week. I see my good friend, pr. Purse, stopped at the head quarters where the gold lace wearers and the high steppers" stop. It is ex- pected that a man shall pay for the priv ilege of mingling with the elect at places of this kind.
 But there was certainly no effort upon the part of the great majority of the people of Birmingham to take advantage of the presence of the crowds and charge exorbitant prices for necessities
 I and my friends stopped at private home where the charges were exceed ingly reasonable. We secured our meata from a nearby restaurant and there was no greater charge for services here than there would have been for similar ser vice in Savannah. The Boy Scouts at Birmingham GOV cred themselves with glory. Too much cannot be said in their praise They were everywhere to act as guides. to show way clear for the veterans. On the day of the big parade their services were most appreciated Armed with their long sticks they kept the crowd back in q way that would have reflected credit upon much older heads and hands, The Bir- mingham reunion will always be remem- bered by me most pleasantly. Next year we are going to break into Washington by invitation this time. We tried to get there the other way half century ago but didn't make it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-17

SULLIVAN TO FIGHT RUM New York Correspondence Pittsburs Dis
 patch.
 John l.. Sullivan. by the way, is soon to resume his fighting on the lecture platform against John Barleycorn. Dar- cey OConnor, his manager. has arranged a moving picture scenario which will pre- cede a water wagon talk. The movie shows the big fellow as he is today on the lawn of his farm in Massachusetts, boxing with his six-year-old adopted son. The boy knocks his father out and while in dreamland John Us mind reverts back to his famous fight with Paddy Ryan. One round, the last is shown. in which Sullivan knocks out Ryan and is pro- claimed champion of the world. Next he is seen on one of his drinking escapades. In this scene John l. is in glded booz- ium. He has accumulated a good sized jag and is surrounded by mob of his followers, who are tapping up bubble water at his expense, His last debauch is real knockout. Here the former champion is seen in the same imbibatory. The bartender has refused him a drink because he is broke and his former pals don't know him. The last scene shows Mrs. Sullivan nursing the fallen idol back to health and persuading him to give UT the booze fight. The love of a good woman wins and John L declares never again. And then you see the big fellow in the flesh. Sullivan delivers a 30-min- ute talk on the evils of the red-eye stuff that has real punch.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-17
THE STORY OF A BRIDGE

of the railroad could the Sudan be re- covered and Gordon avenged.
 | Rush orders were given for the work, and it was undertaken by British en- gneers-all but one detail. A great bridge had to be built across the Att bara river, and all the British con- struction experts agreed that it could not be constructed in the specified time.
 British bridge builders positively re- fused to undertake the work unless given a long time contract. Kitchener, who was resourceful man, turned to America and Philadelphia firm under took to build the bridge and have it ready at the Atbara within Kitchener's own specified time limit And the bridge was delivered according to specifica- tions.
 Had it not been for American en- ergy the final triumph at Omdurman in 1898 might have been long postponed or never achieved. It required the sourcefulness and broad mindedness of a Kitchener to look beyond his own land for necessary work when his own land failed him.
 The Atbara bridge is still in service, and before the outbreak of the present great war it was annually crossed by many American tourists travelling com fortably in parlor cars to the safe and comfortable British city of Khartum. Not one in hundred has known the story of the bridge or has appreciated that it stands today a monument to American enterprise and to the in-
 domitable will power of Horatio Her bert Kitchener.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-17
PAPA JOFFRE

From the New York Globe.
 One repute has steadily grown since the war began-that of Papa Joffre, the cooper's son, who is at the head of the French armies. Almost unknown outside of France when the conflict began, he is now generally recognized as the one great man thus far developed by it.
 Agreeable impressions in regard to General Joffre will not be disturbed on this side of the water by the recent in formal conversation reported by Freder- ick H. Allen. There is about the French commander-in-c chief a calm sensibleness, a lack of braggadocio, simple and direct way of looking at things calcu- lated to appeal to Americans. Speaking of the military situation, he likens it to the condition that existed during our civil war prior to Gettysburg. It took two years to prepare the union armies during which time, because of their in teror lines, the confederates were gen. orally successful. As to peace. he holds with Lincoln that the only way to achieve enduring peace is to fight to finality As to the meaning of the war, General Joffre has no doubt that it is to decide whether the spirit of pacific democracy or of militaristic autocracy is to rule the future. The coopers son is as fit a champion of democracy even as William of Hohenzollern, with his theories of divine right, is fit champion of the contrary principle of government
 It is permissible for Americans to ex- press approval of the ideas of General Joffre When they express approval they are but commenting the principles at the bottom of their own government. Neutrality has to do with acts. not with opinions, and it is no breach of neutrality to salute with sympathy our own princi- ples in whatever country manifested. The wish of this country is that men with the spirit of Joffre shall be in control when peace is made, to the end that the world may be re-established on the basis of common rights. ri
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-17

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
 ' NGLAND'S Sudan war of the late
 sos required the services of a A great commander. The difficult ties were tremendous. The Dervishes were fighters of extreme valor and per- tinacity, and their fanaticism led them to seek the martyrdom of warrior s death. The field of operations was far remote from any British base of sup plies. The area to be covered by the conqueror was an endless sandy desert.
 General Kitchener, who was given the seemingly impossible task of re- ducing the Sudan to obedience, early saw the impossibility of the task unless he could provide for better communica- tion with lower Egypt. There was a railway extending 700 miles from Alex dria to the first cataract at Assuan. Double that distance remained, by the Nile route. between Assuan and Khar- tum. And there were six impossible cataracts to break the voyage. The shorter route across the Nubian desert was too difficult as path for an army
 Trusting to river transportation from the first cataract at Assuan to the sec end at Wady Halfa Kitchener deter mined to build strategic railway from Wady IIalfa straight across the wa terless desert to Abu Hamed, a distance of more than 200 miles, and thence along the east bask of the Nile to Khar- tum. It was an undertaking of unex- ampled audacity, but Kitchener won the British government by presenting con vincing proof that only by the building
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-17

IF the reported occupation of Ruanda,
 German East Africa. by Belgian A troops from the Congo, and their es- tablishment of a provisional government in this territory prove to be authentic, one of the richest colonial prizes of this world war has been won by the nation which has suffered most in Europe. Con- corning this region, it's people and it's
 coloniza ton possibilities the following bulletin has been issued by the National Geographic society from it's Washington headquarters:
 If Belgium IS able to retain her hold on the Ruanda region of the German East African protectorate she will pos sess the most densely populated as well as one of the most fertile and salubri- ous territories of Central Africa.
 "Ruanda lies to the east of Lake Kiwu, through which runs the boundary line be- tween the Upper Congo region and the German possessions. To the north lies British East Africa The Kagera river, also known as the Alexandra Nile flow ing in irregular "S shape east north and east, and emptying into Lake Victoria Nyanza, is the eastern boundary. While there are two considerable tracts
 of forest in Ruanda, the central portion of the territory is bare of trees. but on the mountain slopes there is to be found wonderfully rich grass, on which graze | magnificent herds of cattle that consti-
 tute the chief wealth of the natives The agricultural possibilities of the region ars
 almost unlimited.
 l "One of the most striking advantages
 of this territory is it's high altitude, an
 average of nearly a mile above sea leve, so that although it lies under an equa- torial sun, the temperature is usually about the same as that of warm sum-
 mer day in central Europe. Malarial mos. quitoes are not known here, nor does the dread tsetse-fly hover over the land bringing sleeping sickness to human be | ings and quicker death to cattle.
 Two remarkable contrasts are to bt | found among the natives of this region
 The highly developed intelligent Watuss are magnificent physical specimens. 1.-the well proportioned, and athletic. It is not
 uncommon to meet men from feet Il l other hand on the island of Kwidschwei
 in Lake Kiwu. and in the bamboo forests
 of Bugoie the traveller finds the pygmy
 Batwa tribe. whose spear-carrying war. riors are under feet in height, shy. timic and devoted almost entirely to the chase The aborigines belong to neither of these 1 tribes, however. but are the Wahutu, g
 medium-sized, agricultural people. Tn, black sultan of the rg;on one of the
 worlds most powerful potentates. rulini
 in territory held by white colonists. is g Watussi.> His word, subject to the cen l sorship of the European resident or gov ernor, is law to million and half peo pie.
 There is abundant water in Ruanda
 the small mountain streams never run Lining dry. When the grass become
 parched on the hillsides the natives burr
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-17
Attractive Chickens

The negro chicken thieves, it seems, have determined to take my chickens in srite of anything I can do,'' said Dep uty Sheriff Charlie J. Martin.
 Several months ago I caught a negro chicken thief in my hen roost, and when told the thief to halt, he began to run. I shot him in the leg and arrested him the next day, assisted by Desk Ser geant K. P. Warren of the police depart ment This negro was tried in the crimi- nal court last week, and was given a sentence of five years in the penitentiary. Yesterday morning I was awakened and saw another negro chicken thief in my hen roost l shot twice at him, but missed my mark, and the negro made his escape. I have some of the finest chick ems in this part of the country, and be- leve the negroes have them spotted. In view of my recent experiences I feel dis posed to swap them off for common barnyard fowls or a yellow pup"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-17

Andalusia Star: Some of the south
 Alabama school boys are going to help
 Kansas harvest her wheat crop. Scottsboro Citizen: Experts have de- ] clared that the June bride crop has not
 been affected by the war in Europe. - AgeH Herald. Certainly not. brother Doesn't love laugh at locksmiths, pris-
 ons, etc.? So why not at the interna- tional struggle across the waters? Marion Times: A trip through south Alabama by automobile will surprise one who has not been through that section during the past few years. Everywhere road work is being carried on, and where
 not already graded and graveled appro-
 priations for the work are being made and within a year or so network will cover that section of the state
 Mobile Register The newspaper men got quick action in their smoking out of Judge Hughes on the question of his relations to the German-American all liance. Monday he would not talk, but Tuesday he thought better of it and de- clared:
 My attitude is of undiluted American ism and anybody that can support me is supporting an out-and-out American and an out-and-out American policy, abso- lutely nothing else"
 We thought he could not run long under Emperor Williams auspices.
 Guntersvile Advertiser: A few moss- backs down in Morgan are trying to stay the progress of that county by blowing up the dipping vats and doing everything possible to keep from dipping their cattle. They have even asked for
 an injunction in chancery court to keep
 the authorities from enforcing dipping.
 It is strange how men will prefer to stand in the way of their own progress It looks like man with just ordinary lntei- 1igence could see the advantage of erad- that cattle from tck-free counties sell for ? or cents more per pound than cat tie from tick-nfested counties. Some few selfish fellows owning an old poor, hide
 bound tick eaten COW or two say they
 are not raising cattle for sale and are opposed to dipping on this ground. They would hinder their more progressive neighbor who does or would raise cat tie for the markets if conditions were favorable No county can make any progress in the cattle industry until the ticks are eliminated.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-17
HOTEL LOBBIES
Live Organization

T think the meeting of the Alabama Travellers association in Birmin gham June 23 and "A, will bring together the lGl gest body of travelling men ir s.n- gle organization Alabama has ever seen,' declared George M. Plaisance yesterday.
 )"The A. T. A. is one of the livest of the travelling mems organizations and is working for the betterment of conditions with which the travelins man has to contend.
 There are something like 1000 mem bers in this organization and there will be good crowd in Birmingham next week to attend the meeting"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-17
Ministers as Business Men

Tt always goes a little against the grain with me to have people refer to
 ministers of the gospel as never being
 business men," said the Rev. J. w. John son, pastor of the First Methodist church.
 T do not pretend to be 0 business man
 myself but there are ministers among
 us who are, as capable business men as know in any city.
 "As matter of fact, it is necessary for every church to have able business
 men among its ministers. They have bus mess problems of the greatest import ance to meet and solve and this holds good not only in the church's institu- tions of learning but in the churches themselves. I know one prominent Meth odist minister right here among us who, I believe, can look into and who can see through business proposition more quickly and with surer intuition than almost any layman with whom I am acquainted. Some ministers, of course, dc l not have business ability and make no pretense of having it. But the point I wish to make is that the church has
 many men who would be very rich if | they were not in the ministry and were devoting their entire business talents to
 making money for themselves"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-17
Band Concert

The band concerts given by the T. c. l. brass band are again proving popular and large crowds attend every time the band appears" said Frank McGowan, secretary of the band organization. 'The hand now numbers 45 pieces and includes some exceptionally fine sooists as well as other talented musicians.
 "A fine esprit de corps exists among the membership of the band and all take personal interest in the welfare and success of the band.
 We expect to visit Birmingham in the near future and will present a programme of high class music that will please the many music lovers of the city"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-17
Second Crop. of Vegetables

The vegetable growers in the Bir- mngham district were much disheart- ened at the turnout of their first spring | planting" said John Herman of near East Lake. r"We planted seed that stayed in the ground for a month, there being insufficient moisture to germinate the seed. When we got a light shower they managed to get their heads above the ground, only to finger in the first stages of growth so long that the plants were permanently stunted, and when at last they received a good shower they were so tough ared bitter that the market value was at low ebb.
 But we all were treated alike by the Rainmaker, and got busy on the midsum- mer crop. This crop is now at its best. The present showers are rushing every thing, the greens are tender, tomatoes about ready to turn, melon vines grow ing inches every day, and it begins to look like we will retrieve part of our early loss.
 "On strawberries we lost completely out It takes about three good rains to make berries pay. We got none except oit lHe tall eHu OI the perry SedSoH, when the small fruit was turning. But why kick? It looks like we are going to get s1 basket and better for our first tomatoes. When you deal with the ele- ments you must prepare to take your chances I always plant some of each kind of vegetables and try to come out ahead on the general years average. Just as soon as the present rains cease and the ground is right. in goes an- other crop. It's just a case of move or quit the game.''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-17

law the government machinery for determining the twelve locations will be set in operation; and then all Bir- mingham should put it's shoulder to the wheel and do it's best to secure one of these prizes. It is well worth trying for.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-17
THE LUTE PLAYER
Ey William Watson.

Fly William Watson. She was a lady great and splendid, l was a minstrel in her halls; A warrior like prince attended Stayed his steed by her castle walls. For had he fared to gaze upon her. 70, rest thee now. Sir Knight" she
 said.
 The warrior wooed, the warrior won
 her,
 In time of snowdrops they were wed. l made sweet music in his honor And longed to strike him
 dead. < +s I passed at midnight from her portal. Throug hout the world till death
 rove: Q iet me make my lute immortal With rapture of my hate an1 love.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-17
Government Nitrate Plant


 Birmingham and Alabama generally and the whole south as for that matter-should be well represented at the meeting to be held in Nashville July 10 for the purpose of organizing a strong movement to secure the loca- tion of the governments S20,000,000 nitrate plant at Muscle Shoals.
 The Chamber of Commerce has ap- pointed committee to arouse inter- est in this vast and far-reaching proj- ect and it should be an easy matter to induce a large number of prominent citizens to visit the Tennessee capital on the date named.
 Col A. M. Shook, in addressing the Commercial club of Nashville recently on the subject of the nitrate plant, emphasized the magnitude of the en- terprise and it's manifold benefits, and said it was now possible for the south to secure ''the greatest industrial plant that has ever been established in America;" not, he pointed out, on ac- count of the initial investment, for there are many plants in this country that have cost four or five times as much, but on account of the resulting benefits from the products of this in dustry. While the plant will be con- structed primarily for "the purpose of manufacturing war munitions as a preparedness measure," the act of Congress authorizing it is so broad that the President has the power to acquire all the property that may be needed to establish and operate the plant and dispose of all the products not necessary for war purposes, for the benefit of the surrounding terri tory. This would mean the production of high grade, cheap fertilizer for the farmers of the entire south.
 In his address Colonel Shook quoted extensively from W. P. G. Harding's University of Alabama alumni speech, published in full in The Age-Herald, showing the incalculable advantages that would be derived from the Muscle Shoals development.
 Many sections of the country are bidders for the governments nitrate plant. Colonel Shook learns that the states of Minnesota and Iowa are now actively at work to secure the loca- tion of the proposed enormous devel- opment. It has been intimated that those two states will buy the large water power plant at Keokuk ana present it to the United States if the in return will establish the nitrate plant near that clty. Colonel Shook mentions other states that are putting forth active efforts tol secure the plant, among them Georgia, which, through the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, is urging the claim of the Chattahoochee river. He calls attention to these facts, he says, to show that we are not going to get this plant at Muscle Shoals unless we put enough work, energy and in- telligence behind our efforts to en- title us to it."
 The Chamber of Commerce is or ganizing a campaign to induce the government to locate the $11, ,00O,OOO armor plate plant in the Birmingham district, and the nitrate plant, if es- tablished at Muscle Shoals, would go far, it is thought, toward bringing the armor industry to Alabama.
 But what the Chamber of Com merce is most interested in for the moment is the Nashville meeting and the assembling there of large Bir- mingham delegation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-17
HIGH COST OF PLATINUM

From the New York Telegram.
 The demand for, platinum for war pur- poses has caused the British government to forbid it's use in photography. Ever in America the use of platinum paper which admittedly gives the most beauti ful effects of any photographic medium has been restricted on account of it high cost.