davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-11-25

town, all its citizens are murderers;
nor, because a cerain community gives
forth bad political odor, there are no
law-abiding, upright people anywhere
in that vicinity. No one who knows
anything at all about Huntsville thin
the life typical of the city is now De-
ing mirrored in court.
Until quite recently Birmingham
had the reputation of being one of the
worst cities in the United States-a
reputation now happily outgrown--
but that was no reflection on the thou
sands of excellent citizens who we're
doing their best to make this an ideal
community in which to live, and who
have succeeded in their purpose.
The good name of Huntsville is Sc
cure. Long before Birmingham was
founded, it was noted as a center Of
culture and refinement and it will con-
tinue to be so regarded.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-11-25
LUKE M'LUKE SAYS

Inclose a check in letter and it will
save more than 10 pages of typewriter
matter.
Never get the idea into your head that
you know it all. The best informed men
we know are always consulting an en-
cyclopedia, and the best spoilers we know
have well thumbed dictionaries.
What has become of the old-fashioned
man who al ways had a porous plaster on
his back?
When dozen women meet the reason
why they all talk at once is because
each knows that this is the only way she
will get in a word edgeways.
What doth it profit man to be a born
leader of men when he has wife who
tells him where to get off?
When a woman loses confidence in one
man she goes right ahead and places it
with another.
Lucky is the man who is born with a
good share of common sense.
The old-fashioned woman who used to
get her face into the patent medicine al
manac because she lost 10 pounds by TAX
ing anti-fat, now has a daughter who
gets her face into the advertising COL
umns because she gained 10 pounds by
taking anti-lean.
We see by a Chicago paper that a
woman was bitten in the loop by a stray
dog. Gosh! We wish we had a textbook
on anatomy.
A l7-year-od princess would rather
have a castle in the air than a cottage
on earth. But it is different 10 years
later.
What has become of the old-fashioned
girl whose shoelaces always became un-
tied when she was out with a fellow?
This would be a better country If we
tried to make religion and business mix
and didn't try to make religion and poll
tics mix.
crowning glory is seldom her morning
story.
1t is none of our business. But lot OF
tobacco chewers we know should be com.
PEELED to wear brown shirts.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-11-25
Improved Marketing i'm Sight

ITO enable farmers to get more of
the money that consumers pay for
farm produce is the most pressing
economic problem" said j. S. STAN
ford, farmer of Missouri. 1.-TWO new
federal laws should promote this re-
suit The United States warehouse act
enables the farmer or others any
where to have warehouses so con-
Quoted that the warehouse receipts
for grain, wool, tobacco, flaxseed or
cotton stored therein shall be uni
versally standard and negotiable. The
other law provides standards for grain.
The re-enactment OF the cotton futures
act applies the government standards
to that crop also.
THE federal farm loan act may be
so utilized by growers of these crops
as to benefit them substantially. 1t
may take a long time to work out
the details, but these laws afford far
better means of transforming crops
into cash. The worth of such laws
depends almost wholly upon the use
that farmers make of them. The spirit
of cooperation is abroad and farm
ers are ready"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-11-25
Efficient Service

Il have never seen a more perfect
organization than the one of City
Comptroller Louis Levy said F. Hop
kinson Smith, special representative
of LOOMS. Suffern and Fernald, ex-
pert accountants, who recently certi-
fed the accounts of the city. I'VE
satisfied ourselves that all items of
receipts of which there was a record
were accounted for and all disburse-
ments were duly authorized by the
proper authorities.
In this connection it is a pleas
which the city comptroller has super
vision are in excellent condition, the
work being carefully and intelligently
done, with proper safeguards thrown
around this important feature. 1t is
Iaost unfortunate that in order to live
within It's income the city was obliged
to retrench SO drastically in its ex-
penditures during the fiscal year just
closed. 1t is clear from q perusal
of the comparative statement of rev.
enue and expense, which we have sub
mitted, as well as by comparison of
other similar expenses of progress
sive cities, that the appropriations for
practically all of the main depart
efficient service. IL such a condition is
allowed to continue Indefinitely serious
injury is sure to result"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-11-25
HOTEL Hobbies
Wave of Prosperity

"Gadsden. and in fact the whole Of
Etowah county is enjoying an I'M
usual amount of prosperity" said
Thomas Stephens of Gadsden, who lis
here to attend the Zamora ceremon-
ial. Every industry in the city is
working night and day to keep apace
with the numerous orders on hand at
present
The main trouble is providing suf-
ficient housing for the numerous me-
chanics who are flocking into the city
to obtain work. Hundreds of houses
are now being built to supply the de-
mand for housing facilities for the
crowds who have recently become Cit
liens of Etowah county. Every kind
of business in Gadsden is prospecting.
We have commenced to feel the tidal
wave of prosperity that has been
sweeping over the east and middle
west for the past year. 1t is about
due to strike Birmingham and I be-
lieve 1T will be a welcome change
when 1t comes"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-11-25
LINDSEY DOWNS sTHE BEASTs

From the Philadelphia Public Ledger.
To the disgust Of a large and rancorous
antagonism, Denyers belligerent juven-
lie judge has been reelected, running
ahead of his county ticket, and winning
by the safe margin of 10000 votes. ben"
Lindsey thrives on persecution. He has
offended even certain pillars of church
and state who are ever ready to explain
the harm he has done in Denver. They
will cheerfully essay to prove to any
who will listen that he is the incarna-
ton of evil. But somehow the people
have seen through the maze of misrep-
resentation to the man he is, and the
voter stands by him. Perhaps he has
not at all times been suave, urbane and
tactful. Perhaps he has hit back hard.
All the world loves fighter, and Lind
sey's earnest, honest, constant effort
against all manner of british and crooked
opposition for the redemption of boys
and girls has rallied supporters who are
bound that he shall have fair play. The
vote for Lindsey is the evidence of the
ascendency of good citizenship in Dem
Yer.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-11-25

From the Christian Science Monitor.
6NHE news that Arabia has been pro-
claimed separate kindom' "lth
q the Grand Shereef of Mecca as its
first sovereign, brings into prominent no
tice once again, one of the Oldest and
at the same time one of the least known
countries in the world. The greater part
of Arabia is still UNEMPLOYED. Schoolposs
generally are familiar with the welcome
scarcity of names in the interior us
played by maps, and more than one mas
been found inwardly to aver that II was
a practice which might have neen TOT
lowed with advantage by other couh-
tries. The geography of Arabia was
ever easy to learn.
Arabia is a land of Semites and is
supposed by some people to have been
the home of the Semitic peoples. Ihere
is much disagreement among scholars
as to the dates to be assigned to the
early civilizations of the country; but the
fact that it possessed at least four civ
ilzed kingdoms during the eight CEN
turtles before the Christian era Is now
generally conceded. OF these four king
doms, the Sabaean seems to have been
the most important; but the Information
in regard to all these early times is still
being iaboriously pieced together from in
scriptions and so forth, and many points
arr eagerly debated by scholars. There
can be no question, however, as to the
antiquity of the civilization of the coun-
try So far back as can be traced,
Arabia has had great influence on the
spread and cultivation of literature, and
for a long time was much in advance of
the rest of the world in this respect, as
in the matter of art and the natural
sciences. Even today, illiteracy among
the Bedouin Arabs is practically I'M
known reading, writing and some mathe-
mates being taught to every child
1t was. however, with the advent OF
Muhammad that Arabia entered upon
that phase of her history which still
forms the most important connection
with the rest of the world. AT the tins
of Muhammad the country was peopled
with various tribes. some more or less
settled under governments. but many still
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-11-25
DARFUR AND ITS sui TAN
NH 81 ASHINGTON.

NIX II AsHlNGToN, November "a.
WV (Special.)-The rebellion in OAR
fur, the most westerly state of
the o-Egyptian Sudan, which was
recently suppressed by British troops,
has attracted the attention of the world
ing years of the eighteenth century had
never been visited by white traveller.
The National Geographic society, in war
geography bulletin, gives some interest
ing data concerning this land which has
an area about equal to that of the state
of Montana, but with a population almost
twice as large as the American common
wealth. The bulletin says:
ut was more than quarter of CEN
fury ago that Germany and Italy recog-
nized the state of Darfur, south of Egypt
as within the sphere OF British influence
and 20 years ago it was made part of
the Anglo Egyptian Sudan, but the inter-
nal affairs of the region were left to the
administration of the Sultan, Ali Dinar,
who few days ago was killed by Brit
sh force of 800 men sent out to quell the
rebellion which this ruler had fomented
for several months.
"Barfur which derives it's name blouse
of Furs) from the negro tribe of Furs,
comprising more than half of its popula-
ton of 10000, was for many years IA
nous for the slaves which it furnished to
Egypt and the western world, an annual
caravan being organized to carry the
human chattels together with ivory,
gum and ostrich feathers to Assiut, $50
miles south of Cairo.
'tIn connection with Darfur's slave trade
the following interesting anecdote is told:
At the time of Napoleon's campaign in
Egypt the Sultan of Darfur was ADD
er-Rahman, surnamed the Just, great
grandfather of the recently slain All
Dinar. This Sultan sent a letter OF con-
graduation to the French conquerer ap-
plauding his victory over the Mamelukes'
whereupon, his attention being directed
to the monarch far to the south, Napo-
leon replied with request for more sub
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-11-25

stantial evidence of the Sultans goo'
wishes, in the form of 1000 youthful
slaves.
"Abd-er-Rahman, an able ruler, wa
succeeded by his son Mahommed-el
Fadhl, who died of leprosy, bequeathins
his 40 sons. 1t was during the reign O
Hassin's youngest son, Ibrahim, that thu
Khedive of Egypt made war on the Oar
furians. Ibrahim was slain in battle ant
his kingdom annexed to Egypt, the roya
family being removed TO Cairo, in 1875.
Eight years later the country fell undeI
the sway of Hohammed Ahmed, tn
Mahdi who slew General Gordon and hi.
men at Khartun. While the Mahdi wa
all powerful in that part of Africa, Al
Dinar, the future Sultan, was held
prisoner at Omdurman, across the Nil
from Khartum, but upon the former
death the Darfur royal family was re
stored to power, and up TO the recent re
hellion the country had enjoyed com
parative peace, Ali Dinar paying an ar
nual tribute of $500 to the Sudan govern
ment.
''Darfur is traversed from northeast 7
southwest by range of volcanic mour
tains, while the eastern and western edge
of the land are sandy and non-produd
tive. There are numerous fertile valley
in the mountainous section. howeves
where cotton and tobacco are indiger
Gus, and where considerable wheat
grown. Cattle raising has been the chif
occupation of the natives, however, sinf
the adjustment Of the slave traffic. I'll
chief exports of the country continue
be features, ivory and gums.
1.-THE capital of Darfur is Ell flasher,
town of 10000 inhabitants situated abo}
500 miles southwest of Khartum. 1t WI
by Abd-er-R ahman and Is,
the main, a collection of straw huts, a
though there are one or two buildings
some size, including the Sultan's res
dence.''
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-11-25
MERELY NIILLIoNAIREs

From the New York Tribune
Many plain American parent who is
very far from the exalted rank of mil
lionaire will read with interest and ap-
prevail of the two Yale freshmen who
'beat it, from their alma mater for parts
unknown because they became tired of
being merely sons of mililonaires" and
wished to go to work.
To send a son to college or not send
him is very ticklish problem in these
happy days. The book learning may or
may not be important. The real question
is. does the four years in college make
boy a better all-round human being or
not? Oftentimes, we regret to say, it
does not. Millionaires' sons are perhaps
not as prone to waste their four years as
the boys who think they are millionaires'
sons or, at any rate, pretend to be.
From whatever causes, there is plenty
of wasting.
1t is a good sign that two American
boys have resolved against college be-
cause it didn't give them enough to do.
1t might have been better for their col
lege If they had stayed on and resolved
to make their college life worth while.
Their example would have been worth
many chapel lectures But the main
point is that they wanted to do some
thing worth doing and proceeded to do it.
Of NV iY,if
and American colleges would cease to be
doubtful Injuries and would become al
most necessities
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-11-25
Fair Repuea lion of
EIumesville Unsullied

e7HHE good people of Huntsville
y were inclined to resent the SEN
sational newspaper stories that were
published Immediately after the body
of Probate Judge Lawler was found
in a slough of the Tennessee river.
They felt that their attractive city was
being misrepresented in the eyes of
the world, that an impression was ere
ated elsewhere that lawlessness pre-
vailed there and it was dangerous
community in which to live.
While some of the more imaginative
correspondents may have written
highly colored reports of the tragedy
and magnified somewhat it's sensation
al features, it must be remembered
that in reportorial work the news
paper man is concerned chiefly with
the events which have in his
eyes the greatest news value.
In other words, while he may
meet some of the best people in
the world and see much to praise in
the way they conduct their private and
public affairs, he writes about the par
ticular crime, tragedy or catastrophe
which he was sent to ''cover."
No one is going to believe that be-
cause a murder is committed in a
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-11-25
THE DOMESTIC LOAN SHARK

Claude Calan, in the Fort Worth Star
Telegram.
Speaking of loan sharks, wouldn't wife
make a good one? When poor pa is
forced to borrow some of "her money"
with which to pay the gas bill. she wants
at least 50 cents interest on each dollar.
and besides she requires solemn oath
that he will pay the principal and interest
Saturday. When she finally agrees to
let him have the sum, she orders him to
leave the room. but to be doubly sure she
counts it again as she hands II over to
him. and she is little short. 1t was an
honest mistake, Of course. but she never
makes the honest mistake OF getting lit
tie too much. Before placing it in his
hand she has another understanding
about the interest. and makes him once
mere declare upon oath that he will re-
turn the money on pay day. Then she
hands it to him, and as she hands over
"her money" you can tell by her looks,
by her actions and by what she says that
she feels as If she--poor little woman
that she isis supporting the family.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-11-25
KINGDOM OF ARABIA

preserving the old family and tribal ru
and attaching themselves, when it suit
trem, to some one or other OF Z
greater powers. Muhammad appealed
once to the religious patriotism OF the
people, or as 1t has been said, Great
both. And the story Of how he succeed
in bringing about, first united q.
then a conquering Arabia is one OF I!
great stories of history. Tradition n,
it that Muhammad himself did actual
sent letters to the Emperor Heraclius,
the Negus of Abyssinia. the King I
Persia and to many others summon
them to accept Islam, and threaten
them with punishment in case Of refus
The task of carrying out these threi
fell to Muhammad's successors.
them, the great work of spreading ISL
was carried out with such effect u
Egypt, the north of Africa, Palest
and the Spanish peninsula were all W
ded together with Arabia into one "
empire.
The story Of the Caliphs is, of coul
a story very much in itself. Many Y
umes might be written about it, as me
volumes have been written. With
removal Of the capital of the Callphl
from Mecca to Damascus. Arabia or
uaily lapsed from it's high estate,
became mere province. though 1t Y
always important. because of its RI
session of the two sacred cities, Me
and Medina. BY the sixteenth century
had become once more thoroughly
united, and, being attacked by the TuI
and the Portuguese, some portions of
country fell into the hands of these pS
ers.
About the middle Of the eighteenth
tury, however, the great reaction
movement headed by Muhammad WI
hab, resulted in the northern part of
peninsula again becoming an indepenei
realm, condition which lasted for ata
half century. Eventually the WI
habite armies were defeated by
Turks; but they are still powerful.
instructions against Turkish authos I
have been almost stock occurrences at
tervals for many years past. The
of them was witnessed only few MOI
ago.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-11-25
Alabama Loses Her
Last Stage DRIVER


" AC BURZETT, reputed to be the
IA last stage driver in Alabama
died at Athens, aged 90 years. Mr..
burnett drove stage coach between
Florence, Huntsville and Athens in the
early days, long before pioneers
dreamed of founding the city of Bir-
mingham. 1t is even said that Mr..
Burnett once helped to haul the Bar
mum & Bailey circus over the old stage
route. That must have been proud
event in his life and to the day of his
death he probably related the STIRRING
adventures he had with the greatest
show on earth"
The passing of such unique figure
breaks another link with past that
is being rapidly forgotten. The aver
age young man and young woman OF
today has never seen stage coach,
except on exhibition, in a "Wild West"
show or in some parts OF the west
where a few of these relics of by
gone day survive.
Even Dickens, with all his glowing
descriptions of stage coach travel,
failed to make it appear luxurious,
or even comfortable way of getting
about, although the cramped passen-
gers who were inside and the number
of hot and dusty ones outside, depend
ing on the season and the state of the
weather, were more than compensated
for their hardships when CHEEKY
English inn was reached, with its good
things to eat and drink.
In America travel by coach was not
only beset with the ordinary perils of
journeying through what was for the
most part rough and sparsely inhabi-
ted country, but the genial "road
agent" found the coach, with it's pas
sengers' purses and it's mail sacks,
tempting and easy prey.
Not by the widest flight of fancy
can the stage coach be compared to
the modern Pullman car in comfort,
speed or convenience, but it still re-
tains it's hold on the popular magma
ton and there was something to
quicken the blood in the sight of it's
flying horses and darewevil driver,
far more of hero in his day than the
locomotive engineer is now.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-11-25
Long Era of Democracy

81 have always been Jeffersonian
democrat and have long looked for
ward to the time when the national
democratic party could remain in
power for a period of eight or more
consecutive years." said ]. Morgan
Flowers.
Now, my fondest dream is about
to be realized, President Wilson hav-
ing been reelected. With both houses
of the national Congress apparently
democratic and with such great lead
ers as Oscar Underwood. who will in
all probability, succeed Senator Kern
as majority leader of the Senate, and
Champ Clark and Mr.. Kitchen, I be-
lieve the incoming democratic adj
ministration will be one of great
achievement for the American people
as a whole and will be such a pro-
found success from every point of
view that the successor of President
Wilson will be a democrat and that
democracy will reign supreme in the
land for a decade at least.
with four more years of success
full democracy the time honored ca
lamity bowler who, by crying wolf
for the mere purpose of controlling
American votes for the republican
party. will be laughed at"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-11-25
Century To Mark
Pr0digious Strides

Pr@digi@Ws Strides
m HE census bureau, estimating the
. population of this country,
upon the increases shown in 1900 and
1910, finds that continental United
States should start the new year with
102, 826, 300, and that with outlying
possessions Uncle Sam then should
have under his protection 113,309,285,
When the next census is taken in 1920
cur continental population will be
close to 115,0oO,OOo.
When. the first enumeration was
made in 1890 the population was
1929 PA. In 1900 it had increased to
5,308, 483. 1t is curious fact that at
that time Virginia had a much larger
population than New York. The
former was credited with $4,000,
while the now Empire state had only
589,051.
In 1920 Virginia and New York
were about neck-and-neck, each hav-
ing just crossed little beyond the
million mark. After that New York
established an outstripping record.
Today it has population of over
100000. Virginia is highly pros