davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-15
WAR AND THE CIGARETTE

1 From the Montgomery Advertiser
 The cigarette has been bandished in Austria; real prohibition as to cigar cite smoking really exists.
 This prohibition, however, was not enforced by law. Unlike Americans, the Europeans are not given to reforming the habits and morals of their neigh bors by passing laws. The war block ade of Austria Hungary is responsible for winning the Austrian youth from the blandishments of the cigarette
 No more cigarettes are now imported into the dual empire, and the supply which was on hand was bundled up late ly and sent to the soldiers at the front In Vienna, Prague and Budapest no cigarettes are offered for sale
 A cable to the New York Herald thus describes the passing of the last cigar cite: 'In Prague the last cigarette was smoked by a habitue of one of the well known coffee houses, while his com panions surrounded him an sang the Swan Song from Lohengrin."
 Human nature is not so different, after all. This scene in Prague cof- fee house has been duplicated again and again in clubs and cafes in America, when prohibition laws went into eff feet.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-15
WHERE DRUG STORES FLOURISH

w. E. Aughinbaugh in Lesles.
 atin-Americans are great believers in medicines and, due to the scarcity of physicians, are obliged to doctor" them- selves Pharmacy is consequently profita- ble. With the exception of modern Flu rope, Canada and the United States, pharmacy is practiced in other lands of the world much as it was in the United States 70 or 100 years ago. and this is par ticularly true of the republics to the south of us. The individual druggist makes his and pulverizes his own crude drugs Soda water fountains are few. The usual rub Der goods, toilet articles, soaps, perfumes, instruments and sundries are carried Each druggist makes a line of his own specialties which he pushes In addition to the standard drugs and medicines he also carries remedies and medicaments known only in his immediate vicinity. They are mostly of Indian origin, com pounded from roots, herbs or other inere- dients, produced only in the country where he lives. These find a ready sale among all classes. Expectations ideas are prevalent and these are frequently taken advantage of by the interruptions One pharmacist made a fortune selling Indians, half-castses, and whites, for that natter too, pink love powders and white love powders" The white love powder" was pulverized sugar, while the pink love powder was made of the same material colored. Indians would walk hundreds of miles to buy this precious powder
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-15
"I AM A CATr

A Japanese critic in the New Re- public describes a recent humorous mas terpiece in sJapanese literature ''The tradition is that Japanese literature very seldom smiles. q Am a Cat ap- peared in our literature to relieve the long strain of lachrymose history with a thoughtful, cynical smile-a smile, at any rate It is the biography of name less cat residing in the home of ar absent minded professor The cat is bap- tiZed in a gutter of Tokio and saved himself from the hands of a brusque student with an enormous stomach and a big stick trying to pay him a compli = ment, which marks the first episode of the feline career. He goes into the pro : fessor's house and observes the ingenui- ty and prejudice of that comnolent spe- cimen of humanity, and there he stays in spite of his tastes and philosophy and the story runs on agilely until he dies, poisoned like a Socrates Cats are not as smilable creatures as dogs so the difference between Sosekis book and that of M. Anatole France lies mainly in the nature of their smile, the difference of moving smile and barking smile"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-15
The Confederate Reunion

There is good deal of interest in my part of the country in the forthcoming reunion of the Confederate Veterans to be held in Birmingham in May" said j. F. Saunders of Louisville. While I am not member of any organization, my people were all Confederate sympa- thizers, and l have unbounded respect for the old vets. have attended several reunions, including the one here in 1908, and have enjoyed them. Birmingham s was by far the best that I have seen, and the one this year will doubtless be up to it. l hope to be able to attend. Not many veterans are left in Kentucky, but the state organization will be we'll represented at the reunion, and many Kentuckians of the younger generation will takes advantage of cheap railroad rates and see Birmingham in gala dress.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-15
THE POET

By Ralph Waldo Emerson. Right upward on the road to fame With sounding steps the poet came. His feet were shod with golden bells, Or when he stepped the soil did peal As if the dust were glass and steel. The gallant child Where'er he came Threw to each fact a tuneful name. Yet every scroll whereon he wrote In latent fire his secret thought. Fell unregarded to the ground. Unseen by such as stood around. f Tho pious wind took it away, The reverend darkness hid the lay. Methought like water-haunting birds Divers or dippers, were his words, And idle clowns beside the mere At the new vision gape and jeer. But when the noisy scorn was past, Emerge the winged words in haste. New -bathed new-trimmed on healthy
 wing,
 Right to the heaven they steer and sing. And we'll he loved to quit his home And, Calmuek. in his wagon roam To real landscapes and old skies But, oh, to see his solar eyes Like meteors which chose their way And rived the dark like new day. Not lazy gazing on all they saw, Each chimney-pot and cottage door, Farm gear and village picket fence But, feeding magnificence They bounded to the horizons edge, And searched with the suns privieee they reached the mountain old, Where pastoral tribes their hocks infold, Saw rivers run seaword by cities high And the seas wash the low hung sky Saw the endless rack of the Armament And the sailing moon where the cloud was rent. :
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-15
The Bond Election Tuesday

Although opponents of the state bond amendment have been active in i their efforts to defeat the measure
 earnest appeals through the press 1 have been made by advocates of the
 amendment and there is now reason
 to hope that it will be ratified at the
 election next Tuesday. If the people were apathetic few
 weeks ago, they are not so now. h.
 terest in the amendment has been ] stirred up in every part of the state
 and enlightened public sentiment is
 strongly in favor of the bond propo- sition. But many citizens allow preju- dice to warp their judgment and many more vote on the wrong side through ignorance of the main points at issue.
 The amendment should be carried by decisive majority and it is the duty of those who understand the situation and who are solicitous for Alabama's good name to instruct those who have failed to comprehend the question.
 The states floating debt amounts to about S2,300,000. An issuance of $1 100000 in short time bonds, which the amendment authorizes, would en- able the state to liquidate as much of that debt as is pressing, leaving the balance to be absorbed by the current revenues. This proposed bond issue would not increase the states indebtedness one dollar. It would simply meet conditions in business like way.
 Should the amendment be defeated drastic retrenchment in the admins tration of the state government would become necessary at once, and it would be retrenchment at the cost of efficiency. The school teachers and the old soldiers would be seriously af- fected and it would not be long be- fore a tax increase would be pro- posed.
 The adoption of the amendment will protect the states credit, and certain ly no patriotic or honorable citizen would willingly see this credit inn paired.
 There will be large vote Tuesday, and if all those qualified electors who have the good of Alabama at heart will only put their shoulders to the wheel the amendment will be ratified by a rousing majority.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-15
Cupid" POdzius

Fritz Podzius enjoyed an interna- tional patronage as marriage broker and earned the soubriquet, Cupid" by his success in bringing lonely hearts together-for consideration. He died recently in New York, where his periodical, Matrimonial News, was published, and by a strange coin cidence his malady was heart disease Cynics may regard this as the just retribution of fate, but opinion in such matters is apt to vary.
 Although Podzius is said to have brought about twenty thousand mar riages, he himself remained a bache- Tor, and this is also significant. And despite the fact that he was thought to be wealthy, he permitted no female servants about him, lived the life of a recluse and did his own cooking. His fare consisted chiefly of apples and tea. Like the god of love, he was blind, or nearly so, wearing glasses with lens nearly an inch thick When his house was searched number of bankbooks were found and about eighteen thousand marriage inquiries which had not been answered.
 The "business methods" of Podzius were not original. He merely inserted columns of "want" advertisements in his paper, which was also published in Berlin under a German name, pur- porting to describe persons who wished to marry. Photographs, the amount of cash or property on hand and the good points" of the appli- cants were requested. Each applicant was charged a percentage of the amount involved if the marriage was consummated. At first, however Podzius charged clients registration fee of $1. There were no legal ob- stacles and the bachelor Cupid waXed rich.
 Who knows but what he had grim sense of humor. rejoicing in his un- holy business, while he himself re- mained in single blessedness and
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-15
Demand for Highway and Railway

It is not often that the citizens of any large community are in thorough accord on public questions, but today the people of Jefferson are virtually unanimous in demanding that the county build high class highway from Birmingham to the Warrior river.
 Of the four routes surveyed the choice is practically narrowed to two. and as the board of revenue IS in possession of complete data, fur nished by the county engineer, 1t should not take long for that body to reach an agreement as to the line to be adopted And the question of route once determined the work of construction should be begun as early as possible.
 In addition to highway we must have railroad connecting Birming ham with the river. On this propo- sition there is very general agreement among industrial leaders and other representative citizens. Let the coun- ty authorities proceed witho''+ delay to give us highway and railway to the Warrior and they will rise higher than ever in public esteem.
 A bond issue-$1, 100000 if neces- sary-to cover the cost of bot. IT. takings would prove so popular as to assure an overwhelming majority vote when the proposition was sub >mitted to the people.
 Many important matters will en- gage Jefferson county's attention this year, but none so vital as that of put ting Birmingham on the Warrior.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-15
FavOrs AsphaItic Concrete

"In reference to the Warrior river road I was quoted in The Age Herald as favoring a concrete driveway, but in this the interviewer misunderstood me-" said E. J. Dunn of the Dunn con struction company, While we construct all kinds of paving I am very much In favor of asphalt or asphaltic concrete with heavy concrete foundation be- ing used in this work, as this mate rial not only makes the most lasting pavement but is also smooth without being slick and is in my judgment more pleasant than any other to ride or drive over And this boulevard should be so constructed that it will be not only a freight way but most pleas ant and attractive driveway"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-15
JOHN ID. MEETS SUNDAY
From the New York World.

From the New York World
 "A perfect love feast was the descrip- tion which Billy Sunday gave of his visit to John D. Rockefeller at his home at Dollhouse. near Lakewood.
 Billy and his party were returning from meeting al Lakewood. Word was given
 that the party would go straight to Tren-
 ton without stop, and Mir. Rockefeller
 had already sent his regrets at being
 unable to he present at the meeting be-
 cause of the grippe,
 The two cars went to Laurel-n-the- Pines for lunch, and then headed toward ; the Rockefeller residence. Rev. William Mitchell, pastor of the First Methodist church of Spring Lake, a member of the party, described the meeting of the evangelist and the oil king MT. Rockefeller did not see any one but MT. and Mrs. Sunday he said. 'The old man waved to the others out of the window, then Billy and Ma went into the house. They were there several minutes.
 then came out with Billy carrying two paper vests presented to him by Mir. Rockefeller to wear under his other clothes while motoring. That was all there was to it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-15
Chamber of Commerce Activity

The reorganized Chamber of Commerce is starting off to make fine record this year." said J. E. Shelby. Tt will cer- tainly accomplish great things if President Morris w. Bush has the proper co-opera- sramme as outlined by MT. Bush at the annual meeting Thursday night is thor oughly practical and it should be carried out, With it's increased revenue the Chamber of Commerce is now able to do things that it could not undertake before and with unity of purpose among the off cers and committees we should have big results"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-15
Features for Sunday

Tomorrow's Age-Herald will con- tain some more of the letters from Miss Elizabeth Shelly, the American girl who volunteered for service as nurse in Servia. Her observations on conditions in London, Paris and Ath- ems are particularly vivid and illumi- mating.
 The Rotogravure Section +o-,-o--.---- among other things, will contain a reproduction of striking English painting entitled, Her Cross" In it is portrayed the tragedy of war in a most striking manner.
 Other features in tomorrow's issue will be up to the usual high standard of The Age-Herald The variety of articles and illustrations of special interest to women constitutes one of The Sunday Age-Herald's chief claims to distinction as the premier newspaper of the south.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-15
COLOR OF NEWSPAPERS

FrCm the New York Globe.
 Most newspapers of large circulation, like the Globe, are now printed on paper of yellow, or natural color That is due to the war Among the anline dyes which came from Germany was one that gave the spruce paper used by newspapers the blue-white, artificial color most of us are accustomed to. Deprived of that dye, the big paper mills must now supply us with paper as it comes from the wood, A feW blue-white rolls are still in stock. Hence the mixture of colors seen in some issues. Soon all the pages will be of natural tint.
 Oculists tell us, by the way, that the natural color of the paper is less trying to the eye. Its enforced use, therefore may be a blessing in disguise.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-15
DAN EMMETT

From the Memphis NeWS-Sclmltaf.
 Daniel Decatur Emmett, an old-time minstrel who died at his home town Mt. Vernon, O., in 1904, figuratively asked for bread during his lifetime, and he IS about to be given a stone after his death. He was one of Bryants minstrels, one ol the earliest organizations of this char acter in this country and when he wrote Dixie" in 1859 he had no idea that he was doing anything that would live be- yond a few nights or week or so. He wrote and sang "Dixie,'' and since then the words and the music have become fa- mil;ar to all Americans, while the strains of the wonderful composition thrill for eign multitudes and win applause where ever they are heard.
 Dan Emmett left the stage many, many years ago, and when he died he was Tar beyond the three-score years and ten Like most showmen, he lived up to his in come while he was in active life, and after he retired from the business he had to depend upon the munifcence and poun- tv of his friends. For a long time Al G. Field, the popular minstrel, who is known intimately and fondly loved throughout the country provided for his necessities and made life easy for him. As regularly as the week rolled around he received check from the successful minstrel man, and he was never in want or distress, and was never denied the ordinary comforts of life.
 When he died some years ago the lodge of Elks to which he belonged furnished -r;-- l,i t.11o fl1- neral, but his d-time benefactor did not want to be left out when it came to paying the last sad tribute which the living can pay to the dead, and he insisted on bearing the funeral expenses. This Dan Emmett's lodge would not agree to- sc a compromise was struck-the lodge paying half of the expenses and the snowman paying the other half Now comes a wealthy bachelor named James Lewis Smith of Ashtabula, O., where the great railroad wreck occurred some years ago, and he has agreed to take the mat ter of erecting a monument to Emmett out of the hands of citizens association of Mt. Vernon, which was not making progress as rapidly as he thought it ought to do, and he will, at his own eX pense, crest a suitable monument which will bear the following inscription: "To the memory of Daniel Decatur Emmett, 1S15-1904, whose song DiXieland' inspired the courage and devotion of the southern people, and no wthrils the hearts of a reunited nation. This tablet is erected by James Lewis Smith, Ashtabua, O." This is a merited recognition of one whose genius or good fortune, or both, has made his name a household word throughout the country. Dan Emmett was modest and unassumng, but he reached his su- premacy at a time when great things were happening, and he caught the drift of events, seized an opportunity and de- veloped it into something of permanent value and wonderful magnitude The country will unite as one man in it's grat- itude to Mr. Smith for the noble work he is undertaking.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-15
TWO GODD REASONS.

You are not in favor of armed inter- venton by the United States in MeXico?"
 Not just now
 How can you take such a stand in view of the outrages recently committed against American citizens?"
 For two reasons"
 "Well?"
 Tn the first place, those American cit izen were warned to stay out of danger ous territory and in the second place, I don't happen to live in Fl Paso."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-15

him remunerative work, at least we can hear his story and do what we can to put him in line for his chance. We can concede him the same right to live that We enjoy while he is struggling to regain the foothold that for any reason he has lost. "One would think there could be nothing worse than the posi- tion of the penniless man seeking em- ployment to keep his family alive" says the eyewitness quoted; but there is something worse, and that is to insult or abuse this man, or to keep in your employ anyone who does insult or abuse such a man. These things, more than all else in the world, make anarchists, infidelS and criminals"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-15
FOR THE UNDER DOG

From the Philadelphia Public Ledger.
 successful men, who do not want to -A lift the lid from industrial depres- sion or the problem of unemployment, that work always goes looking for workmen, and will meet the man who is out of a job more than halfway. The facts refute the theory.
 Roseate reports come from all parts of the United States to the effect that charitable societies have less to do, that bread lines and soup kitchens are de- pleted, that big factories are running overtime and their employees have their pockets stuffed full of wages Yet the fact remains that in every large city there is still a multitude of men who want work and cannot get it. Many of these men are worthy. A great num- Der are crippled by i'll health and they must be restored to prime physical con- dition before they can endure long hours and confinement and toll that keeps them on their feet closely at tentive to some flying mechanical de- vice, some intricate process that de- mands an eye and mind absolutely concentrated upon it.
 A man who as an investigator dipped down into the life of the forgotten, un- dertrodden millions has recently recited his experience. He saw a man rejected by an elevator boy, With cigarette and a paper novel, who vouchsafed only the contemptuous reply to plea for work, i've ain't got nuttin' here" The man who asked for employment ap- pealed in the name of three children and wife at home, with nothing to eat and seemingly no way of turning an honest penny. The elevator boy, secure in the prospect of his pay envelope, felt that he did not need to be polite to the man who was down and out" What could the ragged, piteous mendicant do for him? So he slammed the door in the poor mans face.
 Is it any wonder that the starved, embittered soul of man thus treated rises in him to the point of black and bitter rage, that seeks it's vent in social anarchy? He has, perhaps, sought work till his asset of neat and pleasing exterior is destroyed. He looks pinched and meagre and his clothes are worn thin. He has again and again been one of a seething, nut tering crowd at an early hour, clamor- ous at the door of some establishment where men were being hired At ran dom three or four men from that vast. unkempt gathering were taken; the rest, after the long and weary wait, 1oI,11 tynn t.,,, 1nn t,l l or could drown themselves for all that anybody seemed to care.
 The man out of work is still human; he is still your brother and mine. If we were in his place we would know the same despair he feels at mans S inhumanity to man." If we cannot give
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-15
HIS CHOICE.

"The automobile is great improvement on the bicycle as Q means of getting about remarked the more or less ob- servant man.
 Quite true" replied the timorous pe- destrian, "but I regret somewhat the passing of the bicycle"
 "Why sop
 "The tnkle of it's bell, even when heard, immediately in ones rear, was far less alarming than the strident 'honk' of an automobile horn"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-15
The AriOn Concert

"The Arion club, MT. Rienzi Thomas, di- rector, is in excellent practice this season and will. I believe, surpass itself at the concert to be given at the Jefferson thea Ire Friday night of next week, January 21," said J. D. McGil1. "The Arons will be assisted by Robert Dolejsi, violin, and Prudence Neff (NIrs. DolejsD, piano, in several beautiful numbers. The pro- gramme as a whole is one of the most brilliant ever presented to a music loving public.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-15

reaped a harvest from his knowledge of human nature? There was at least grim irony in the mans habits and way of living. If his own hopes had been blighted, say in early youth, what exquisite revenge was his who brought about twenty thousand mar riages, of which no doubt large per centage proved unhappy.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-15
FATHERS CONCESSION.

Henry, I'm going to fight for the rights of doWntrodden women"
 "Very well, my dear answered MT. Pecton, meel1ly. You've been the boss of this establishment so long that I suppose the situation has long since lost it's nov city, and if warfare in wider fields will give you Q new interest in life, far be it from me to object"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-15
\ RASH STATEMENT
the New York Telegram

rom the New I ork TeleSfan-
 'I do not think" says woman law yer. there is any man between the ages of 30 and 60-in other words, any man within the period when he is in full possession of his developed facul- ties-who ever gets married of his own accord" That s3O0.000 cargo of squirrel food shipped on the Oscar II wasn't near all, evidently.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-15
But, 0, vain boast! Who can control his fate:
 -OthelIo.

BEGINNING THE DAf-ln the early hours of this day, Lord' teacn me how perilOus 1t is to hve-ho" easy to mistake the path, to choose the worst instead of the better heip me then to cIeave unto that whicn ;s pood. to hold fast unto Thee lest my man take away my crown, For .Jesus, sake Amen.-H. M. E.