davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-19
SLIDING JAG SCALE

New York Cor. Pittsburg Dispatch.
 A judge here has sliding jag scale.
 He believes that "jags" are progressive,
 that the cure is privation and that the
 older they get the longer abstemation
 must be applied to be effective. When a
 man is convicted in the justices court the
 first time for intoxication he may have
 slipped" His wife may be away at her mothers. His cousin from the west may be his guest. His club may be dedicating a new home, or he may just have been down at the "corner" and been caught in a discussion of sociology. He goes clear. But-if for the second time he is brought before the court his sentence is three months. This, it is calculated, should
 empty a mans system and brain of the allure of alcohol from this life that is too daily" If it doesn't, and for a third , time he faces the judge on the same charge he is given. six months to ponder and re- cuperate On the fourth offense against the decorum of the community and his
 own well being, the afflicted citizen is sent to jail for year. That's what hap pened to man yesterday-it was the fourth time he had appeared before the l judge. So he sentenced him to impris- onment for year in the hope of his l learning that cold ashes are the fruit oi
 overfulflllment of desire.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-19
Governments After the War

The European war was hardly started before amateur publicists 1T neutral countries, including America began to write about the doom ot monarchy, and especially the doom of kaiserism.
 Senator J. Ham Lewis has been eX- pressing his views recently, and in the main they are such as are held by many other observers.
 The passing of kings and emperors will mark new era following the declaration of peace, according to not few public men. Senator Lewis sees Russia transformed into a re- public and constitutional government established everywhere.
 It is quite thinkable that in Ger many the war will be followed by a violent revolution. It is safe to as- sume, at any rate, that if the inn perial fabric remains for time the power of the Emperor will be much abridged.
 War-lordism will be no longer in vogue and the people of European na- tions will have more voice in govern ment than they have had even under modern systems of liberal rule.
 But when writers predict the over- throw or abandonment of monarchy and the substitution of republican forms of government they should make an exception of England. Great Britain's government is based on the principles of democracy. The people actually govern through their repre- sentatives in the House of Commons.
 As a wit once remarked, the British sovereign reigns, but does not rule. The British premier is the ruler; the King only name or symbol-a rem nant of earlier times. Although the King occupies an anomalous position as long as the British people are sat- isfied, the monarchial system will be retained, and that will be for many years to come.
 For lookers-on the most interesting result of the war will be found ir watching the changes on the map But between now and then speculation as to peace terms and the changes in government will do no harm, even if in most cases such discussion belongs to the realm of immature ideas.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-19
f'---------- GOOD RIFLE SHOTS
From the Savannah Press.

T TOlH tlC SdN dHHdI ITeSS.
 In the Swiss military service great inn
 portance is attached to rifle shooting,
 every effort being made to produce as
 many sharpshooters as possible in the
 army. Much of the time spent in the
 school of the recruit is devoted to rifle shooting. When he leaves his school he
 understands the use and care of his rifle
 and has had good experience in target practice. Even when not in active service each private is required to fire a certain num- Der of rounds every year as member of a local rifle club. For this purpose the men keep their guns at home even after the maneuvers end, and the rifle clubs to which they belong are paid by the gov. ernment. Any soldier who fails to fire the requisite number of shots each year must take a course of three days at the rifle school. Before the war there were in Switzerland about 4000 rifle clubs with 235, 900 members. During his term of service each soldier must fire 1000 rounds. Rifle shooting is one of the most popu- lar national sports, and each Swiss fires 1 more than the total required. The result of the care given to rifle shooting is that the Swiss troops are probably the best marksmen in the world.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-19
NEW DANCES COMING

New York Cor. Pittsburg Dispatch.
 If a score of new dances to supplant the fox trot, the bunny hug, the tango, the maxixe, and the dances of oriental inclinations do not come to the front it won't be for lack of inventiveness on the part of the dancing masters and mis- lresses of the country who are in an- nual session here at the Martinique hotel The convention has been in session fol only three days and already more thar D new dances or new steps have been introduced. It is safe to assert that a dance or new step is requisite for ad- mission to the floor of the convention judging from the furry to get them be- fore that body. One of the new dances which was tried was christened, The Broadway Glide.' It trickles off the fee, as smoothly as a cocktail trick'es dowr the throat of midnight son.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-19
Fro,n the New York Times.

FrGsn the New York Times.
 H RESIDENT WOODROW WILSON N will be 60 years old on December \ 2S lie was elected President of the United States on the democratic ticket ol. November 6, 1912 while he was governor of New Jersey His administra- tion has been made memorable by dlplo- matic controversies growing out of the war in Europe. and by the troubles In Mexico.
 President Wilson was twice married His first wife was Miss Ellen Louise Axson of Savannah, Ga, daughter or d well known Presbyterian minister. 1hlee daughters were born of this unloh' t"' of them marrying after their father pe- came President. The first Mrs. Wllsoll died in the White House on August D. 1914. On December IS, 1915 President Wilson married Mrs. Edith Boiling GalI' daughter of the late William II. Bollns of Virginia and widow of Norman Galt Of Washington. The ceremony was per formed at the brides home at the capi- tai.
 President Wilson was boEn in Staun- ton, Va, of Scotch-Irish percentage. Ills father, the Rev. Joseph Ruggies Wilson was a Presbyterian minister. The son prepared for college at private schools in Augusta, Ga, and Columbia, S. C., and studied for several months during his early youth in Davidson college, North Carolina. He was 19 years old when he entered Princeton university, of which institution he was afterward to become President. He was highly regarded by his classmates and took an active in- terest in athletics. He was one of the staff of the Princetonian, then in it's in- fancy as a publication.
 In 1879 the future President was grad uated from Princeton with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and later took up the study of law at the University of Vir- ginia He displayed fondness for so-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-19

adopted, would yield considerable rev enue, but it would fall short of the S246,350 required to pay interest on the bonds payable within ehe next twelve months. The total needed would have to be obtained, therefore, by drawing on two or more of the sug- gested alternatives.
 Those who pay licenses for doing business complain that they are al- ready carrying too heavy burden. The incidental school fee is naturally unpopular A further retrenchment in the fire department would prove false economy, for the insurance com panies would immediately raise their rates.
 The street tax would be the easiest borne and for that reason would be most generally approved as an emergency measure.
 Default in the interest on the city's bonds! That is not to be considered for a moment. Birmingham's credit is good, despite the dire distress that has come upon us. Default, and the city would go to smash.
 But as difficult as the problem is, l it can be worked out, if the people will stand resolutely together and CO., operate loyalty with the city com mission. If the tax increase amendment had been ratified and if some other things | had been done or left undone in years gone by, Birmingham would now be in very different shape. But talking about ifs" of the past avails nothing. Birmingham must face the present and consider near future eventual | ity; and as MT. Ward points out the city must begin to set it's house in order for the next possible crisis.
 Birmingham will not always be in a hole; brighter day will come, even if it's coming be delayed. In the mean while let's have no pessimists among us. Nothing is gained by croaking.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-19
The Two Old Parties

It has been said by persons of super ficial observation that American statesmanship as exemplified in Con- gress has greatly deteriorated com- pairing the present with the past; but the democratic party was never more virile than it is today, and the bene- ficent measures that have been en- acted into law furnish convincing refutation to the charge made by re- publicans that the democratic party lacks vision and capacity for construc- tive legislation.
 Whatever may have been the limitations of democratic lawmakers during former administrations, the high achievements of the Sixty third and Sixty-fourth Congresses have not be equalled by the legislative record of the republican party in any recent period.
 He QclIiOSidtS OI Iiio SCiCI oCiOii inherit from the sages of ante-bellum days love of political science and a genius for applying principles to the fundamentals of legislation. But if there is less show in the halls of Con- gress now than there was in other years real democratic statesmanship in the abstract has not declined nor has it's power for Interpreting the needs of the people abated one whit.
 The constructive bills to which President Wilson attached his sigma ture will stand the test of time. The republicans may say all sorts of hard things about the democrats, but they cannot improve on the federal reserve system, the federal trade commission, the national defense legislation or the rural credits measure-the latter now
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-19
SPEAKING OF ADS

From the Quarterly Magazine of the
 South Dakota School of Mines.
 You may go back to the dawn Of hls- tory long before the pyramids Of Egypt were built in the valley of the Nile; down through the romantic, troubled times or Chaldeas grandeur and Assyria's mag nificence, of Babylonia's wealth and lux ury; of Greek and Roman splendor; or Mohammedan culture and refinement, down to the dawn of yesterday. You may go back to the Roman senate, and march against Saladin. and his dark skinned followers; back to the battle fields of old, where mighty armies are again contending on the same battlefields where Napoleon-whose name fills more pages in the worlds solemn history than that of any other mortal-contended loo years ago. You may sail the southern seas with Drake; seek the north pole with Peary and Cook, or go to the south pole with Amundsen. You may clrcum- navigate the globe with Magellan and traverse the broad prairies of the west where the grass waves before the wind like the pillows of the sea- and in all this great territory and in all the pages of history you will find no record Of my store that has ever offered greater values for the same money than the Duhamel store of Rapid City,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-19
VII SONS PUBLIC LIFE

biological and political problems at an early age. He practiced law for three years at Atlanta, Ga, but found the pro- fesson not to his liking and gave it up to become teacher.
 He then took up the study of history and politics at John Hopkins, his fourth university. While there he completed writing his Congressional Government" work he had started in Atlanta. This was the beginning of his active literary efforts as an interpreter of modern so- biological and political problems and in- stitutions.
 In the same year of his marriage to Miss Axson President Wilson became associate professor of history and politi- cal economy at Bryn Mawr, Penn, serving in that capacity until 1888, when he was called to the chair of history and political economy at Wesleyan university. Two years later he returned to Prince ton as professor of jurisprudence and in 1902 became President of the institution.
 In the same year he published his "A History of the American People" He had, in the meanwhile, also written other books, notably. ''The Constitutional His tory of the United States The State, and "A Life of George Washington" His first appearance as a candidate for pub lie office was made at the 1907 session of the New Jersey legislature, when he opposed John F. Dryden's reelection as senator. Although he was not cand- date himself he received IS votes Three years later he received the democratic nomination for governor of New Jersey.
 New Jersey had been under republican rule for 15 years, and only MT. Wilson's most enthusiastic friends thought he would be elected. This was before he took the stump, but his work as a speaker was so effective that he rapidly obtained large following. He was elected governor, serving from 1911 until he became President of the United States.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-19
GILBERT AND SULLIVAN

From the New York Globe.
 For the first spring in seven New York is without Gilbert and Sullivan season and there's no pretending it isn' missed. The revivals of The Mikado, "Pinafore," ''The Pirates of Penzarce,' "Iolanthe'' ''The Yeoman of the Guard were artistic events calculated to en- chain the most exacting, to divert the most blase. Even Patience" though cast so much less happily than the oth- CTS, gave pleasure through the peren- nial wonder of it's book and music. The company secured for the revivals did differ somewhat from year to year. At its best it deserved, and won, superla- tives of praise. At it's worst-but there was no worst, only less good.
 The central figure of most of the per formances, De Wolf Hopper, though long known as capital fun maker in musical pieces, never had definitive recognition as one of the foremost artists of the English speaking stage until as Koko. as Dick Deadeye, as Edward Policeman as the Lord High Chancellor, as the wan dering mountebank he showed the range the power, the fineness. the authority of his art. William MacFarlane, Arthur Aldridge (the Gilbert and Sullivan tenol by the grace of GodD, and several others in the casts helped MT. Hopper. impar to them rare quality. Delectable ant Attic nights were those! New York coulc
 revel in the inimitable sngularity O. ;ilbert in the music of the one mar uf English speech who has given vita opera to the world since old Henry Pur cell. This spring we feel the want.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-19

in conference committee. Should the republicans, peradventure, return to power, they would not think seriously of repeating these laws. The party now led by MT. Hughes has able men Tn its councils as it had in the time of Sumner, Hoar, Blaine, Reed and Edmonds, but the democrats as prac- tical lawmakers are in the ascendent.
 No, statesmanship on the demo- cratic side has not waned.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-19
Still Talking of Peace

Because of numerous and strongly conflicting forces a. very mixed situa-
 ton exists in the financial district" says Henry Clews in his weekly finan- cial review "The war is being more vigorously pushed than ever and, aside from a fearful waste of life is costing over $SO, O,O00, GOO daily, goodly portion Of which is coming this way. This latter sum is not all additional loss, because many millions would be spent in any event for feeding and clothing the mil lions of men if engaged in peaceful pursuits. Armies and navies would have to be paid for even in time of peace, and it should be remembered that the territory and industrial plants of two of the most important belligerents have escaped thus far without damage
 '"rhe awful struggle mas cost terribly in blood and wealth, some losses being entirely beyond calculation, but some deductions have to be made from cur rent outlays, and nothing is gained py exaggeration or miscalculatlon. Ihe financial position of some of the belllg- erents will. be serious matter of ad- justment when peace comes, and that period cannot be safely predicted. There Is a very suggestive growth of optl-
 mism in this direction, and belief grows with strange persistence that the war will end during the present year rather than face another dreadful winter"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-19
City Facing Serious Situation

As bad as Birmingham's financial outlook would be in the event that Mir. T. C.. McDonald's injunction proceed ings previal-it could not be worse this side of bankruptcy-the grave situation would have to be met in a business-like way, no matter how he roic the action required.
 President Commissioner Ward, in his statement in Sundays Age-Herald, made a clear presentation of facts that bear upon the question of interest payments upon the city's bonds, and suggested certain alternatives for raising the revenue necessary to pre- vent the municipal government from defaulting.
 Many financial discussions are con- fusing to the public mind because they lack definiteness. There is often a juggling with figures, for nothing is easier than to manipulate statistics for the purpose of strengthening some particular contention. But MT. Wards statement is straightforward and is in terms of plain, everyday arith- metic. Every intelligent citizen can understand it and none should fail to read and ponder it.
 As a result of rigid retrenchment adopted by the commission last year Birmingham is now living within its means. The people, realizing the necessity of cutting down." accepted the retrenchment policy with gooc grace, and now if another emergency condition presses the men who help te make Birmingham must get together and rise to the occasion.
 With an additional drain of $246,. $50 upon the city's general fund which an injunction would cause, how is that amount to be raised? MT Ward suggests certain alternatives il order to provide for such a contin gency. One is to still further reduce the police department and the firt department, both of which are alread, handicapped by the present retrench ment policy. Another is to increase al licenses 40 per cent. Another is tt impose street tax of S5 per capits on the male population, and still an other is to increase the incidental fet in the public schools from p cents tt 75 cents.
 Either one of these propositions, i
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-19
JULES VERNE EXPEDITION

engineering was instantly at hand. The
 water supply failed, not enough being found even for the brilers of the trac- | tors, and hundreds of natives had to be | impressed to carry water in Jars for miles through the jungle.
 When the river was reached one set | of troubles was merely exchanged for another. The boats were launched, but
 mud bars, treacherous currents and nu-
 merous obs tructions made the journey | by water almost as slow as that through | the bush Even when the lake waa reached it was found necessary to con-
 struct harbor works to protect the craft l from the sudden and violent storms of
 the region
 At length the Mimi and the Tou-Tou were got in fighting trim and the hunt
 for the German flotilla began. The day after Christmas the German gunboat 1 Kingani was sighted on Boxing Bay and after a spirited fight was captured. A l six weeks cruise of the lake followed before this victory was clinched by the sinking of the Von Weissman, the Ger
 man flagship in the East African waters.
 It was the Trafalgar of Africa, leaving
 the British in complete possession of | the region.
 The account of this extraordinary ex- petition, when it shall be written, will prove more interesting to lovers of the adventurous than many greater opera
 tions in better known fields. It is ex- ploits like this that give the touch of romance to war which the gigantic struggles in the European theatres have failed to impart.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-19
MuLDooN,s TIP ON HEALTH

From Commerce and Finance.
 In a letter to Robert Grimshaw or
 the New York university, William Null
 doom, who ranks as one of the fore
 most remakers of physically broken down men. gives advice that it would bc we'll for every man and woman, boy and girl in America to take to heart He says:
 q was taught in early manhood not to throw my shoulders back, stick my chest out. draw my stomach in, or hold
 my chin down like goat preparing to butt but to always try and touch some ina ginary thing with the crown Of my head. If one tries 10 do that first understands how to try and then | tries-he doesn't have to nay any at teEtion to the rest of his physical be- | iEg; that effort to touch something above him, not with his forehead, but with the crown of his head, will keep 7; every particle of his body in the po- sition that Nature intended it should Fbe. And as a boy 1 was advised to | frequently back up against the wall and make the back of my head my
 shoulders, hips. heels, all press against
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-19
Books at Neighborhood House

For several months the Neighborhood House on South Nineteenth street has been public library deposit station, said Miss Annie Laurie Sparks.
 At first I had about 25 books sent out. They were so popular with my friends who come to the house that now I keep about 40 or 50 on hand all the time. The circulation averages some thing like 100 books a month, and l know from what the readers say that the books are much appreciated. The library lets me have almost any booK it owns and sends out once a week in
 the city delivery car whatever l have
 requested. I understand the library, in
 it's effort to extend it's usefulness, has established several deposit stations Of this sort, some in schools, some in set
 clement houses and some in factories.
 And I don't doubt it would be willing
 to establish others if a request was
 made for them.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-19
GOLOOK AT THE STARS

remember that the wonders of time are
 as great as the wonders of space. No- | body knows or can even guess how long | this Big Show has been running. Any | way, it is 8 very old show as well as a | very large one.
 q am glad that Uncle John has | brought this matter to our attention again. It is a good thing once in while to be set right on our compara- | tive importance in the scheme of things. | At this time it is an especially welcome an1 refreshing bit of comment. For one thing, it makes the Emperor of Germany seem less important Also, it will help us to pass through the egotism and dog matism of presidential campaign with better perspective and more humor. Fur | the-nore, the hardships we have to en- durc may be nothing compared with those which are pestering the inhabit- ants of other worlds, who, for all we
 and sensitive than we-though this seems | hardly possible.
 That knowledge of the stars helps
 to keep ones ego in proper restraint is | demonstrated in the case of MT. Brasher himself, for in all Pittsburg there isn't man with less ego than Uncle John.' Anybody, from the mayor down to the | tiniest newsboy on Smithfield street, will 1 tell you that he is the biggest man in
 the city--and the simplest and most att | tractive street car motormen and conduc- | tors spy the old gentleman a block away and hold up traffic for the privilege of | getting him as a passenger. They love | him because he loves them-and because arrogance and superiority. are totally ab- | sent fl om his makeup. From studying l the stars Uncle John has learned humil-