davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-10
Thinks Truss Is Efficient

That Commissioner James R. Truss is looking after complaints on the streets with the minimum loss of time is the opinion of pr. Herbert Harris of Ensley, who had occasion to ascertain whether MT. Truss was on the job or not a few days ago.
 ''rhe street in front of the house" :" said Dr. Harris, Twas in such deplor- eble condition that finally I decided to appeal to Commissioner Truss about it. I went to the city hall, met the com missioner and told him my story. He was very polite and made few notes and then I left feeling that as a good citizen I had performed my duty in making the complaint and that as good diplomatic politician he had listened to me with excellent patience. However, to my very great surprise employees of the city were repairing our street within two days after that talk. They call MT. Truss the silent member of the board It must be because he is so busy taking car of the complaints, for although the streets are still in bad shape, we have found that Commissioner Truss is doing everything possible to make them bet ter''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-10

tate a war between the two countries, it will be impossible to extend the American line into Mexico much fur ther than approximately 400 miles, the distance already covered, without additional troops, and it may be long time yet, even under the most favora- ble conditions, before Villa is finally in tre tolls.
 However, the American people VIII not tolerate the suggestion that the troops be withdrawn now, with the spacious explanation that their work has been accomplished by scattering Villas band. The order was, Get Villa" He has not been caught, neither has his power in northern in the tolls.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-10
Reunion of "Av Men

"The reunion of "A men at the univer- sity Friday promises to be an even great CT event than we expected when plans were first announced, said Hugo Fried man, graduate manager of athletics at the university who was at the Tutwiler last night.
 "A large number of the old stars of the gridiron, diamond and track have sent in their acceptances, and many men who made the name of Alabama feared in athletic contests in the past will be on hand.
 ''The programme for the occasion is most attractive. There will be fine baseball game with the University of Georgia, with Turkey Bowman on the slab for Alabama; band concert by the University band; wrestling and boxing events; barbecue, and a dance. We will also have a big mass meeting, at which all the old A men will be given an op- portunity to talk, and we expect to en- thuse the students with splendid accounts of events in the past which have made the University of Alabama a contender for all intercollegiate athletic honors in the south"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-10
BRYAN AT HOME
rom the Boston Herald.

From the Boston Herald.
 Do not misunderstood the absence of MT. Bryan from the front page these days. He is not silent or idle. On the contrary, he has rarely been buster or more vociferous since he became a na- tional figure 20 years ago, and if his activities are local they nevertheless have distinctly national bearing. He is cam paigning Nebraska from one end to the other in behalf of the candidacy of his brother for the democratic nomination for governor The primaries will come April IS. He plans to visit every county before then. If his brother wins it will not be his brothers victory, but his own. In that case the St. Louis convention will have a militant and aggressive Bryan in it's midst. But if the home folks repudiate his brother-which means repudiation of Bryan and his doctrines it will be very mild and harmless Bryan who will journey to St. Louis in June.
 In recent years, while Nebraska has had occasional 1apses into political sam ity and while Bryan has been becoming part Texan and part Floridian, the home state of the Boy Orator of the Platte has been having less and less use for him. Will the recent incidents of our political history and the pressing issues of these exciting times make it warm to him again? Tuesday the 18th will tell the story.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-10
Festival Music This Year

Cincinnati's biennial music festival from May 2 to 6, inclusive, will mark a decided advance in the presentation of classical works.
 As an example of increasing inter- est in the best in musical art the Gin cinnati event is of worldwide concern. Worcester, Mass, and Spartanburg, s. C., have the true festival spirit. Both maintain oratorio societies and give annual festivals of generous scope. But next to Birmingham, Eng land, which has great festival every three years and which leads all the cities in the world in the matter of festival music, Cincinnati takes first rank.
 In recent years the tendency of most musical ventures has been the per- formance of novelties. A great deal of beautiful music is written every year, and among contemporaneous composers there has been no end of music of intellectual breadth and dis tinct charm. But despite the prolific composers of new ideas the message and the thrill of the early masters should never fail in their appeal. And so long as the Cincinnati festival re- mains true to the ideals of the found- CTS of that institution, Mozart, Bee thoven and Mendelssohn will always be heard and loved. None of the old classics will ever be shelved. On one evening of the forthcoming festival two of Beethoven's 'o"~est works will be performed-the famous solemn mass and the stupendous
 choral symphony. On another even- ing Mendelssohn's "Elijah" will be sung and on still another Grahms' sun. and another Brahms raguiem.
 raquiem.
 In connection with classic pro- grammes it will be of interest to state that at the symphony festival to be given here in Birmingham on May Il Beethoven's No. 3-the "Eroica"-will | be heard-the first time in this city.
 It is the greatest of all the sym
 phonies, except the choral.
 This class of music is not only edu-
 cative and elevating but it always is
 diverting and never over the head of I the average music lover.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-10
CLEVELAND WHEN A CLERK

Julius Chambers in the Brooklyn Eagle.
 Dr. Tibbitts used to sleep with Grover Cleveland when the two boys were em- ployed in John McVicar's general store. Their lodgings were over the shop, in house still standing, near the bridge. You can tell it by a green balcony in front of the second story windows. The doctor told me Grover received "$5O a duty of these boys to open up the store, to sweep out, build the fires, deliver the purchases, run errands for the neighbors and close up about 10 o'clock at night. Insomnia was unknown to them.
 'In that upper room, without carpet, without wallpaper, bare of pictures or books, drear and desolate, we lived to- gether for whole year, Dr. Tibbitts said. "McVicar was rigorous. Grover rose at o'clock in the summer and half an hour later in the winter He'd go to a green pump in the square for water ing horses and make his morning toilet in the trough. Then back to the shop to open up. McVicar would appear at to the minute, but rarely greeted us. He was stale old Scot''
 Grover owned a large mongrel animal of which he was devotedly fond. The an- imal slept in the cold, cheerless room over the store, to keep the boys company. He had been taught to climb ladder set against the balcony over the entrance to the shop; but one day, when we were playing circus" with the dog as chief acrobat, the animal fell and broke his fore legs.
 Shoot the dog!" everybody said-the theory being that, like horse, a dog cannot be cured of broken bones. Nc Vicar was especially urgent that the an imal be killed-put out of misery-but Grover and I carried the suffering beast to our room, made sling with carpet and ropes, put splints upon the legs and fed the dog there until the bones healed The big, shaggy animal entirely recov- cred, but he could not again be coaxed near a ladder.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-10

it's preparedness programme, Char man Hay of the military committee of the House of Representatives stated in a newspaper interview that he was opposed to any increase in the regular army; that it was large enough But sensible man that he was, he changed his mind after a careful survey and mature consideration. His bill calls for an army of 134,OOO enlisted men. The Senate bill calls for 100000 or more.
 Chairman Hay, in view of our un- preparedness in pursuing Villa, may be an easy convert to the 100000 proposition. If so large an army IS not needed now it probably will be later.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-10
Horticultural Strides

In 1906 Alabama's crops were valued at considerably less than $10O,- 900 .OOO. Last years crops, with a heavy falling off in cotton, had a money value of more than Sl50,- 0O0,OOO.
 Within ten years agriculture in this state has made remarkable strides, but glancing two or three years into the future husbandry seems today still backward.
 Crop diversification is revolutioniz- ing agricultural conditions in Ala bama. Animal husbandry is rapidly coming to the front. When corn pro- duction began to increase on a large scale, the question of marketing was much discussed, and many enterpris- ing farmers were doubtful as to mak- ing corn profitable. But the veriest tyro in agriculture now sees that the more corn Alabama produces the richer Alabama becomes. The mar keting problem is easily and satis- factorily disposed of by feeding corn to live stock.
 With the enthusiastic interest which the farmers are now taking in hogs and cattle, it is safe to predict that this year will witness new high rec ords in crop values and that in few years the diversified products of the farm will total 3O0,OOO,O 900 in single season.
 Many a young man engaged in farming today will live to see Ala bama producing 15O,OO0,O00 bushels of corn a year; possibly 200,O00,0OO. This state has the soil, the climate and the progressive spirit among the farmers to make anything possible in the way of crop expansion. Why not strive for 100000, ,OOO-bushel corn crop this year and a 150,000,O0O- bushel crop in 1917?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-10

a man of national interest either in the past or in the present. hailing from the south, whose life and work can be ade- quately considered without going to the libraries of the north for the authorities and data.
 There is scarcely a southern writer of history, fiction, poetry, or in other lines whose works are even read to any ex- tent in the south. There is scarcely writer in Tennessee, or in the south, the home circulation of whose writings would pay for the typewriting of the manuscript that went into the book. There are very few writers in the south who could af- ford to write at all if they did not sell their writings to the magazines and other publications of the north. There is prob ably not a magazine even in the north, that can depend for added circulation in the south on it's use of writings by south ern authors. There is scarcely library, probably none, in the south which makes, or dares make, a speciality of adding to it's collections the works of southern writers either past or present. There is scarcely one reader in 100 of those visit ing the southern libraries who could name a dozen southern writers of note and one of the productions of each, allowing both past and present from which to choose.
 There is scarcely one of each 100 readers of this editorial who can tell whether there be in the state or in the south any publications devoted to the preservation of southern history. Yet two of the most valuable historical publications in the country are printed in Nashville.
 The south is rich in all the materials for history, biography, poetry and TO- nance. From the coming of the earliest pioneers the soil of the south has abounded in every element of real liter ture. On almost every foot of southern ground history has been made, history as thrilling as that of any country or part of @ country in the world. In every county of every southern state natural beauties and historic interest vie with each other for an interpretation. Such interpreta- ton as has been given has been so re- ceived by those who should have warmly welcomed it, as to discourage effort in that dierction Instead of 100 libraries in Tennessee, and 1000 in the south, gath ering materials for the historian of the future, there are hardly half a dozen in Tennessee or a score in the south. Pride in the past seems lost
 A few of the southern states aid in the work of gathering and preserving state history. There should be a well-supported department of archives in every state in the south, instead of a few with bare maintenance doled out in beggarly parsi- mony. In any one of a number of north ern libraries there exists more material relating to the south than can be found in every southern state combined. Rare southern books are going in steady stream away from the south; soon there will be no opportunity to procure them at all.
 A land without monuments is land without memories, it is said. And a land where precious memories are allowed to die will be a land without monuments, a land whose future can never compare with its glorious past.
 Much can be done; but it must be done u1ick1y or if will he too late.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-10
Expeditionary Army Too Small

General Pershing's expeditionary force in Mexico in pursuit of Villa is far too small. The United States army is well officered and the enlisted men are well drilled and full of grit. There are no better soldiers in the world than those who compose this country's regular establishment, but there are not enough of them.
 The new recruits being enlisted under the recent joint resolution of Congress are being hurried to the border, but it will be some weeks yet before the entire 10000 additional men authorized will be in service. In the meantime the expedition can dc little more than mark time.
 There could be no better object les son in the need of military prepared ness than is now afforded in the Mexi- can situation. Congress may not in crease the army to the numerical strength deemed adequate by the wal college, but there can be little question of the adoption of measure that will place the United States in a safer military footing than it is today.
 Last summer when President Will sons administration began to develop
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-10
THE GAME OF DRAW POKER

that the name of poker is associated with frightful objects, and in the form Old Poker designates specifically that foe of mankind whose commoner appellation is the devil"
 Clearly the writer in the Sun knows what he is writing about. He can, we dare swear, tell "fust off" what "Kel- tur'' is and what a "Blaze"-distinguish between ia big dog, little dog and a middle dog'-maybe has played the deuces wild" Old Man Greenlaw must be personally known to him. Perhaps he has had a look into the little back room of the saloon on the bluff in Arkansas City upon Blaisdell and Pearson and Owen Pepper. Judge, however, of the dismay, the humiliation of the Courier-Journa when, having perused the foregoing in the Sun, it read the following in the World
 Reform in the F'lowery kingdom must be bending over backward when it in- cludes the prohibition of poker as like ly to upset the morals of the Chinese.
 Shades of An Sin! And all this notwith- standing Magistrate Levys recent ruling that poker is not gambling, but a gen tleman's name of chance
 Possibly the motive behind it's sup pression is to be found in the fact that poker is fast superseding other forms of gambling in China As an invention of the foreign devils it naturally pro- vokes the opposition of devotees of fam tan. It is not long since moralists dis covered a corresponding menace to
 China in the American cigarette follow ing the ban on opium.
 But as respects the corrupting in fluences of poker, it has never seriously impaired the morals of the country in which it originated. Why, then, should it undermine the morals of the race which has the greatest genius for the game? Has the heather Chinee lost any of has cunning at cards since the time of Bret Hart?"
 Lord the ignorance of some people, as the good book says. An Sin played "euchre," not poker" The cards that he dealt unto William and Me- were not "straights' and "flushes' and, "fulls,'' but "aces' and "bowers.'
 What is the matter with the bully boys of the golden dome? They need to go to school-to night school!-alI-night school! Or, if they will send delegation out to Kentucky the Courier-Journal will en- gage to see to 1t that they are sent back Instructed"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-10
JUST BEFORE

 By Robert Louis Stevenson. Though he that, ever kind and true, Kept stoutly step by step with you, Your whole long. gusty lifetime
 through,
 Be gone a while before, Be now a moment gone before Yet doubt not. soon the seasons shall
 restore
 Your friend to you He has but turned a corner-still He pushes on with right good will, Through mire and marsh. by hedge and
 hill.
 That self-same, arduous way That self-same upland, hopeful way. That you and he, through many .
 doubtful day.
 Attempted still. He is not dead, this friend-not dead. But in the path we mortals tread Got some few trifling steps ahead, And nearer to the end. So that you, too, once past tho bend, Shall meet again, as face to face, this
 friend
 You fancy dead. Push gaily on. strong heart! the while You travel forward mile by mile, He loiters with backward smile, Till you can overtake; And strains his eyes to search his wake, Or, whistling, as he sees you through
 the brake,
 Waits on a stiles
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-10
"Chimes of Normandy

'T was asked by a friend to attend the rehearsal of the Chimes of Nor mandy last Monday night" said Dick Johnston. q went expecting to hear the usual amateur presentation of one of the prettiest of all the light operas. was surprised to hear it sung and even acted like the best of profession als. The chorus is a we'll balanced or ganization of splendid voices perfectly familiar with the score. The princi- pals, too, are finished. Young Lawrence
 Smith, who takes the part of Greni-
 cheux, has a remarkable voice, and tal-
 ent as an actor. MT. Wiggins (Gaspard)
 is finished performer. and it takes
 real talent and training to take this
 rart well. The women are all good.
 and the other men who are training are already in fine form, though the opera is not presented until May 4. The Bir- mingham Opera association and MT. Lawrence are doing fine thing for Birmingham in preparing and present. ing these annual operas to the public. noticed a number of singers in the chorus from out of town, one charm ing little singer from Shelby county. am delighted with The Chimes as presented so far, and hope they will have an overflowing house at the Jeff ferson when persented."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-10

From the Louisville Courier-Journal.
 A T length bridge" has made "pok-
 "A CT" respectable. Time was when 4 a man had to lie to his wife-to perfect himself in the arts of lying-some- times even to divide his losing with her in order to keep the peace at home But those good old times are, with the sick friend and the "belated train," alas, no more The women come to the rescue of the men. They have made 1t quite the thing" to gamble.
 Yet, stay; here we have an eastern jurist to declare that poker is not gambling" From the New York Sun we quote the following:
 Poker rules Magistrate Levy, can not justly be considered gambling. He supports the contention frequently put forward by Old Man Greenlaw, and sus- tained by the record of the proceedings in the back room of that philanthropist' s Arkansas City establishment. Poker is an art science, a profession, an industry. From it the student derives a liberal edu- cation, requires analysis, inculcates cau- ton. No practitioner of poker will be de- ceived by outward appearance; he has learned that disconsolate face may sit behind full hand.'
 Our esteemed contemporary goes on to point out that the dictionary sustains the magistrate "A game of cards in which the players bet on the value of their hands, and he whose hand contains the highest group of cards wins the pot or entire sum wagered provided he has car- ried the betting through is the lexi- cographer's gawky way of saying that the best hand wins if it's holder isn't bluff fing, but though originally always played for money, as it's technical terms show, it is now much played simply for amuse- ment, the player who has most counters or chips at the end of a specified time be- ing accounted the winner
 o, learned Pundit, A Daniel come to judgment! But let the Sun continue. We quote again:
 ''So poker has judicial and dictionary vindication from the charge that it is gambling; yet we have been told that gamblers adapt it to their nefarious pur- poses. Their depravity transforms this innocent and highly intricate pastime into an agency for the extraction of good money from the pockets of some for the edlfication of others; and this abuse of the national recreation rather than any inherent wickednes of the game itself, we take to be responsible for the fact
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-10

San Francisco dispatch in the the New
 York Times.
 TSHI, the last of the Yahi, the stone
 age tribe which once fourished and 1 fought the whites among the crags and cliffs east of the Sacramento, is dead-a sacrifice to science, which tore him from his green forests and run ming streams to dispel the darkness clouding the primitive life and view point.
 Ishi, whose living prensence at the Affiliated Colleges Museum served to revive a memory of what once was; who brought back the days when the western plains were scenes of strife and massacre; and further back, the time when the dfscoverers of America, landing on its eastern shores, found there race of matchless physical per lection, breathed his last upon small cot in the University of California hos pital.
 Ishi died nameless, for "Tshi," in the language of his vanished tribe, means simply man." and of tuberculosis. For S1 months, says Drs. Herbert c. Moffltt and E. H. Falsoner, who attended him, his primitive existence before science claimed him for it's own-resisted the ravages of the disease. Ishi explained by signs and in the few words of Eng fish which he had been taught that he was i'll and must go to bed.
 Ishi, whose age is placed between 55 and 60 years will-in the manner of his forefathers-be cremated. He will not carry with him to the grave, as was the custom of his tribe, the crude, primitive creations of his nimble fin gers. These will remain as monuments to his memory in the California room of the museum to which Ishi in his life time drew great, curious throngs.
 Thin, hungry and clad only in cast off undershirt, Ishi was discovered in August, 1911, four miles from Oroville. His appearance caused a furor of ex- citement, and the sheriff of Butte coun ty came out, took the wild man" in charge and gave him, as the most avail able lodging, the insane cell Of the jail. The news of the capture trav- elled through the newspapers to the University of California, whose savants
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-10
the Kansas City Star.

From the Kansas City Star.
 The best manicure in the world-one with all the requisites that go to make the finger nails artistic in design and color--is not worth more than $1.25, ac- cording to Judge Jules E. Gunotte of the probate court
 Judge Guinotte made his ruling on "manicuring. talcum and file," for work Miss Lillian Herr, a manicure at 11G4 Walnut street. Miss Herr filed claim for $2.20 against the Peltzer estate for 'manicuring, talcuf and file.' for work done on Theodore c. Peltzer's finger nails.
 ''The best manicure in the world" Judge GIinotte said, lis not worth more than $1 20. Even though the fingers are soaked in rosewater, the nails polished until they shine and sparkle like diamonds, the fingers dusted with talcum powder and the nails shaped like almonds by pretty manicure..'
 And so saying the judge cut down the claim of Miss Herr to $l25. which amount he allowed.