davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-26
FROM 'sHYMlN BEFORE SUNRISE"

Ye eagles, playmates of the mountain
 storm! Ye lightnings. the dread arrows or the
 clouds Ye signs and wonders of the element. Utter forth God. and the hills with
 praise..
 Thou, too hoar Mount! with thy sky
 pointing peaks, oft from whose feet the avalanche, un-
 heard. Shoots downward, glttering through
 the pure serene Into the depth of clouds that veil thy
 breast Thou, too, again, stupendous Mountain That as I raise my head, while bowed
 low In adoration, upward from thy base Slow travelling with dim eyes sunused
 with tears, Solemnly seemest. like vapory cloud, To rise before me-Rise, o ever rise, Rise like a cloud of incense. from the
 earth! Thou kingly spirit throned among the Thou dread ambassador from earth to
 heaven. Great hierarch tell thou the silent sky, And tell the stars. and tell yon rising
 sun. Earth, with her thousand voices, praises God.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-26
CHAT WITH NICHONETTE

Alphonse Duval, in Cartoons Magazine.
 For a long time had been eager to meet Nichonette, as I regarded her a sure, she was at times frivolous; but who wouldn't be, endowed, as Nichon-
 ette with the life and spirit? France was gay and Nichonette was gay. How truly was she fond of dancing and light wine! That was the Nichonette of yesterday. She has changed a good deal since the war. Not that she ism t just as sugary and delicious But she has outgrown some of her frivolity, and if she is caught by the artist now and
 then in an ingenious pose, surely it is not the fault of Nichonette Thus while dreaming in the half light of M.
 Fabiano's studio near Boulevard Pe- reire, I was glancing up over the man. tel at Nchonette dressed in blue and seated on the arm of a chair, her round
 ed chin cupped by her hand. There was an expression, half pensive, half mis- chievous, in her eyes. Our eyes met and | thought that Nichonette stirred l slightly. It was as if some one had moved the least bit in tableau vivant Nichonette smiled more broadly and displayed two rows of milky teeth
 Then through the haze of the cigarette smoke I saw her step lightly from the picture and sink into the awning
 striped chair opposite me.
 |
 But. certainly" l said, you have g real sweetheart somewhere.
 "Shr! Taisez-vous. Mefiez-vous! Ever
 the walls have ears. M'ssieu, and g Boche may be concealed behind this
 very chair But l VIII tei
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-26
HOTEL LoBBHEs
Selections Anprecinted


 T never fail to look for three things in The Age Herald The quotation from Shakespeare, H. M. Els, Beginning the Day." and the verses down in the cor ner on the fourth page" said Dr. T. P. Vowell.
 T have often wished that l had Dr. Edmonds' little pieces from the begin ming all the way down and was much pleased to learn recently that they had been published in book form.
 T have wished also that I knew, just to satisfy my mind, who it is that makes the selections from Shakespeare and the verses. He displays excellent taste, for his selections are always good. I don't think he could have selected better or more beautiful thing yesterday than those verses to dear old Jim Riley"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-26
Reaped Golden Harvest

The streets of Birmingham were almost deserted Christmas morning" said Joe Hughes. q commenced to feel as though no one was going to venture from their firesides for the crowded streets of the city. About noon the streets started to resume their accus- toned appearance. By 1 o'clock the thoroughfares were thronged and re- mained that way throughout the day.
 The amusement places and drug stores reaped a golden harvest. We rented quite a number of taxicabs to those who wished to take advantage of the balmy weather and ride I don't think I ever saw a larger number of people on the streets in my life. Bir- mingham was quiet but alive
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-26
Investigating Oil Fields

"The striking of oil at Cordova has certainly brought large number of to Birmingham said J. R. DeJarnette of the Tutwiler hotel. Since Friday, they have been coming in from that section and it has been noticeable for ordinarily the traffic is not as heavy.
 "They have contided to me that their object in coming to Birmingham was for the purpose of investigating the possibility of an oil field in this state. Tulsa and Shreveport seem to be the centers from which the greatest mum bers have come.
 "The oil interests seem to be very keenly interested in the natter
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-26
Light Diet and
Christmas Fare

WAFFLE the high cost of most art
 w icles of food popularized the "eatless" habit and caused many well-to-do family throughout the country to adopt dietary regime at once wholesome and inexpensive, the question arose whether diet clubs and food reform were not after all fads, especially in so far as people with good bank accounts were concerned. But it lis believed that a very large percent age of those who changed from high indulgence in rich bills of fare-to plain victuals, will keep on with their new rule.
 The European war has cut down the food supply in many lands that had always produced an abundance, and frequent fastings and abstinence from meat on three or four days in the week have made vegetarianism and light eating thoroughly respecta- ble. not to say fashionable.
 Nearly everybody is coming to real
 ize that the average man, be he a
 brair worker or a brawn worker, has
 been overfed and his health endau-
 gered thereby. Those who have tried light diet for a month or two cer-
 tainly feel more comportable than
 they did when they were eating with out any restraint upon their appe- tites. This applies especially to men of sedantary habits. For all such one full meal day and that not of the
 epicurean kind, with only tea or cof- fee and oatmeal at breakfast and a glass of milk and toasted crackers for lunch, should satisfy any but a
 ravenous fellow or growing boy.
 On Christmas day many man who had got used to simple meals relaxed his custom no doubt and for rarity
 stuffed himself on turkey and plum pudding, or fruit cake. But it is
 safe to assume that the diet club
 member who ate iN moderation will
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-26
pu Samuel Taylor coleridge.

Rv Samuel Taylor coleridge falls, ye that from the noun
 tains brow
 Adown enormous ravines slope amain- rorrents. methinks. that heard
 mighty voice.
 Ana stopped at once amid their mad
 dest plunge! ,ro+;on1ess torrents, silent cataracts! WHO made you glorious as the gates Of heaven
 paneath the keen full moon? Who bade the sun r,othe YOU with rainbows? Who, with living flowers Of loyeliest blue, spread garlands at your feet? Cod, let the torrents. like shout of nations,
 Answer! and let the ice plains echo, God! codi sing ye meadow streams with gladstone voice! ye pine groves, with your soft and soul-like sounds! And they, too. have a voice, yon piles of snow, And in their perilous fall shall thunder, God! Ye living flowers that skirt the eter- nal frost! Ye wild goats sporting round the
 eagles nest
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-26
Record Breaker

"A hotel is generally the dreariest place in the world on Christmas Day. said J. D. DeJarnette, chief clerk at the Tutwiler. This year has been a record breaker, however. We have the largest number of guests this Christ mas than any previous year. I have been in the hotel business many years and I generally hate to see the day come. The local people are at home enjoying the day with their loved ones and the hotels of the country are gen erally empty with the exception of g few belated travellers.
 To-day is an exception. The best part of it is that most of those in the hotel are perfectly satisfied to be here and seem to have enjoyed the day. I am glad of the crowd. Instead of stand ing idly behind the desk and wonder ing what to do l have been as busy as usual looking after the wants of the public"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-26
LUKE M'LUKE SAYS

Charity begins at home. That is why so many of us are charitable to our selves.
 We don't know much about the in- habitants of Mars. But we'll bet that they wonder why the inhabitants of the earth call dry gin wet goods and call watered silk dry goods. If we had one-tenth of 1 per cent of
 all the money that people are going to save tomorrow and never save, we would have an income of about $50,O00,- 900 a day.
 l Some one has invented a sphygmo- graph with an attachment that makes bell ring when the pulse beats faster 1 than the normal rate. We would hate | to have to wear one of these contrap-
 tions when we were counting a good looking corn fed. l Some watches are like the men who
 carry them-they rarely tell the truth. | When he marries her, he thinks that l he is getting a mate. But later on he finds that what he got was com
 mander.
 1 It is mighty foolish married man i who will admit that he is in doubt
 about anything when his wife is around.
 1 Maybe the reason why a princess | wears 1at-SOieu SuOeS IS pcSduSe SHe imagines that it is graceful to walk | like a camel.
 Some men court in haste and then l hasten to court.
 l Don't be a grouch. Have a smile and a cheery word for even an absolute stranger. You never know when he will
 be on the ju-y that is trying your case.
 | Leave it to any old married woman
 and you will learn that she had so many offers of marriage when she was
 a girl that she had to use printed re- ljection slips.
 1 We would like to get rich quick. But we can't decide whether we would rath- CT be a member of the Ford company or q member of the Mexican Under
 takerr' union
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-26

you secret. He receives his leave of absence in a week, and will be here, my pernisisonaire, all hideous with a black beard, but just the same.
 ."
 Havng no bearded permissionaire to hug, Niehoneete hugged herself, and with such ardor that I feared serious Consequences should the young bleu re- turn unexpectedly.
 And how, since the war began" Nichonette resumed, have our nam mas changed for the better! Formally, 1 assure you Mssieu, one had to carry on a love affair at 20 paces, so vigilant was ones mamma. But today, presto! God bless you, children! And we fall into each others arms right under mammals nose"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-26
An Orderly Christmas
Snent By Birgmirghagm

Spent By B1TEaAHlgNaQSG1 F7HHERE has been a noticeable ab- J sence of disorder in Birming- ham at a season when crimes, accl- dents and rowdyism have been noted in the past.
 Birmingham has never had a quiet CT Christmas. Credit is due the police department to a great extent, but there is an increasing sentiment In this country against reckless celebra- tions of any sort.
 It took the American people long time to see the advantages of "safe and sane" Fourth of July. Now it is taken as a matter of course. There is no longer heavy toll of life and the day is enjoyed quite as much as for merly.
 The authorities of Birmingham do not permit the sale of fireworks, and now that the Christmas hoodlum is not allowed to work his will on in- offensive pedestrians there is vast improvement in the city's Christmas celebration. The true spirit of the oc- casion was more in evidence this year and for that reason the day was ap- propriately observed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-26
NIPTOMS

From Judge.
 Friend: What is your baby going to be when he grows up?
 Financier: A blackmailer, I'm afraid Friend: Impossible! What makes you think so?
 Financier: We have to give him some thing every little while to keep him quiet.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-26
PEACE OF FRANKFORT
From the Kansas City Star.

From the Kansas City Star.
 HH11 THINK" said one of his generals
 to the Prince of Orange, that
 the enemy is going to give bat tle.' That" replied the hawk-eyed William, shall be as I desire, sir"
 As with accepting battle so it is with making peace-it is for the side that occupies the strongest position to de- eide on terms. If neither side has won marked victory then any peaceful proposal become matter of delicate negotiations.
 The last time Germany offered peace to France the circumstances were very different The Emperor Napoleon had surrendered at Sedan with one great army and another had capitulated at Metz Strasburg had fallen and Paris was besieged The surrender of Ma poleon, who himself became a prisoner of war, had ended the empire, and France under a provisional government of national defense continued the struggle until the fall of Paris ended all resistance. The government of na- tional defense, having no legal sanction and declining to assume the responsi- bility of accepting peace terms, an armistice was signed to permit the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-26

BEGINNING THE DAf-Lorp' Thy strength is in Thy love- Thy might is Thy sacrifice. Thou draw est all men unto Thyself because Thou hast bled, Thou Orderest me hosts of heaven and turnest t"e hearts of men by the power "A tears and the majesty or pam
 sr-ar,a .s n cross. Amen.-H. M. E.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-26
A RADICAL CHANGE

From the Youngstown Telegram. Rankin-Here Is a real novelty.
 Phyle-What is it?
 Actress starring in new play called Under Cover
 "Why do you consider 1t a nov elty?"
 What most of the actresses have been in lately is just the other ex- treme."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-26
MiIiGary Measure
Dropped Temporarily

1 1.-THE universal military training 1 and service measure proposed by Senator Chamberlain and strongly urged by the general staff of the army has been abandoned so far as this Congress goes. It is well. While the Chamberlain bill has many features of merit, there is no imme- | diate need for its enactment into law. Moreover, no measure such as com pulsory military service, no matter how short the term of service with the colors proposed, can be passed un- less public opinion is pronounced in it's favor, and it will take time to work up such sentiment.
 President Wilson was backed by public sentiment in his preparedness programme and that made it easy of adoption in Congress. But enough has been done along that line for the present. The administration is right in deciding to give the federalized National Guard fair test before com- hitting itself to the universal train | ing proposition.
 In time of peace prepare for war, is an old adage based on common sense, but the maintenance of a large military establishment entails an enormous expense and until a conflict With a well equipped foreign power seems imminent Congress will make haste slowly in providing vast army on peace footing. In the meantime the public will have an opportunity to think it over calmly.
 * * *
 The postal clerks didn't work any harder handling Christmas packages than the express clerks worked distributing liquor throughout the prohibition belt.
 * *
 Boston's wet" vote was considera bly, larger this year than it was last year, but whole states have gone dry in the meantime.
 
 Perhaps if President Wilson had con- suited Wall street first, his peace notes to the powers never would have been written.
 Sarah Bernhardt will visit Birmingham again this season, but as a farewell ap- pearance her visit will not be taken seri- ously.
 Time was when prohibition got short shift from Congress, but what some peo- more.
 Maybe the world is not moving so fast after all. New York crowds continue to take an interest in six-day bicycle races. Great is reciprocity. Gum chewing is becoming popular among the Chinese and Americans are playing fan tan.
 *
 Santa Claus must have made two trips in order to deliver a large number of au- tomobiles and automobile accessories. <
 A few forlorn turkeys were left on the hands of dealers because the ultimate consumer couldn't raise the price. l; *
 There are captains of industry and head walters in this country who have a re- markable memory for faces. As a rule foreigners do not remain to extend welcome to Villa when he ap- breaches a Mexican town. Switzerland and Colonel Bryan stand squarely behind the President in his desire for peace in Europe. k , Birmingham has demonstrated what a big town can do when it tries to behave itself.
 Any sort of toy pistol' that wilt shoot loaded cartridge ceases to be a toy.  Alabama S oil boom will remain in statu quo until after the holidays.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-26
LONG APPRENTICESHIP TO ART

LONG APPRENTICESHIP TO ART From "The Field of Art' in the January
 Scribner.
 The general public is prone to overlook the fact that painters must go through long years of effort in work of the most exacting kind, that brain and hand must both me trained, and that little praise and, too often, less money or centre-of- the-stage privilege is apt to come to one during these years of probation. Mod ern life moves too fast to endure this youth is too eager. An easier way in these modern days of all sects, of new isms. is to sweep aside all such old fashioned notions as the need Of knowi- edge of drawing, of color. Color, 1t IS said. does not exist--anything will do, and of composition and design the less we know the truer and more direct we are To interpret life as one sees IT, regardless of any preconceived or long tried canons, is all that is necessary to constitute one an artist, if his work put reeks with the verities of his own ols- torted soul.
 Over against all this may be set the work of the distinguished artist "hose name is written at the head Of this ar ticle-work which has lived ana IS SUI uv;ng without hurt throughout all the changing fashions of art fancy or 1ooi- ishness.
 More than 30 years ago the salmaguhoi
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-26

wake up this morning with less head ache than the man who overtaxed his organs of digestion.
 Light eating for the benefit of ones health is coming more and more in vogue.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-26
Getting At the Facts

I'm GWT@Ip@' s MlW0dlIG | 6T1HE reception accorded President
 0 Wilson's peace proposals abroad is what might have been expected. In fact, the President himself is proba- bly, not surprised by the trend of newspaper comment and public opin- ion. It is hoped, however, that the unfavorable impression at first cre- ated will wear off and that way will be found to bring about discussion of peace terms.
 It has been pointed out that the purposes of the various belligerents, as reflected in the speeches of their leading statesmen, have become in- creasingly vague and unsatisfactory, so far as neutrals are concerned. It is but natural that the United States should wish to know just what the powers are fighting for, or what they think they are fighting for.
 High-sounding generalities on the rights of humanity, the overthrow of militarism, the safeguarding of civil ization and the protection of small states may carry weight for awhile, but if any sort of basis of peace is to be reached the belligerents must get down to brass Jacks. That is ex- actly what President Wilson wants them to do.
 Take the utterances of German statesmen and those of England and France. There is a sameness about all of them. Each of the belligerents is apparently knight errant among nations, inspired by the loftiest mo- tives. Everyone knows that there is a great deal of bombast in these ad- dresses.
 If MT. Wilson succeeds in getting at the facts, we shall at least have a better idea of what is really at the bottom of the war, and once stripped of their pretentions, it may be easier for the belligerents to discuss peace.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-26
Generous Aid In a Great Cause

6T1HE educational campaign in be- U half of the anti-tuberculosis movement in Jefferson county is bearing good fruit. The sale of Red Cross Christmas seals for the benefit of the cause was much larger during this holiday season than in any pre- vious year. Here in Birmingham the response to the appeals from the county association was especially gratifying. But the big financial cam paign for the coming year will not begin until July.
 The work of the association has broadened greatly to meet urgent de- mands. The number of beds in the Red Mountain sanitarium has in creased to 33. The cost of main taining a bed is $360 year $11 ,8S0 for those now in use. Other necessary expenses for operating the institution and for extensive activi- ties will bring the total up to $18,000 for the ensuing 12 months.
 The only public revenue which the association receives is $400 a month appropriated by the county, leaving to be raised $13,200 for the year $1100 a month. Where is this money to come from? Several of the indus trial corporations contribute hberally, but after they have done their part several thousand dollars will remain to be collected. The officers and directors of the Anti Tuberculosis as- sociation are tireless in their efforts to promote the cause and now that the importance of the work is better understood than it was when it was first started there should be no diff ficulty in securing adequate funds.
 But as much as has been said ano printed about the menace of the white plague, comparatively few people seem to realize the heavy toll that death exacts. In the pamphlet pre- pared by the national association fol the study and prevention of tubercu Alosis and distributed by the Alabama league, it is stated that every thirc person between 15 and 50 dies of tho disease, or every fourth person be tween 20 and 50. That means that i kills about one in every ten of al people who die at any age. Tuberculo sis is not only preventable disease
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-26

but when once contracted it is curable if taken in time and properly treated.
 The national association points out the fact that there is among the pub lie great amount of transformation and misunderstanding about tubercu- losis, and it is obvious that "the only way to remove such transformation is by the dissemination of accurate knowledge on the subject" and this the association is striving to do.
 In view of the prevalence of the white plague and the dire conse- sequences that follow when the dis ease is unchecked, it is the duty of every one to aid as far as possible in it's suppression. The Jefferson County Anti Tuberculosis association is not only engaged in a philanthropic enter prise but is carrying on a campaign of defense for the health of the whole community. Giving for sweet charity's sake is pleasure for those who like to give, but individuals who con- tribute of their means to assist the white plague fighters are protecting themselves as well as helping to sup port one of the noblest of charities.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-26

club used to have exhibitions of work done in black and white only. If one had keen and sensitive eye, the treasures of these exhibitions were the delicate yet very firm and strong, pencil drawings of J Francis Murphy. A growth of weed forms against the light-a cluster of slender brth-trees at the edge of a meadow-the slant of an old barn-these were the things; but the beauty and the interest lay in the way pencil perfectly pointed had been made to render explicit ly truth of form, and one realized that here was man who was studying, study ing closely, and laying up for himself A perfect mine of edge-knowledg that was one day to make him veritable master If we turn to the pictures of that day, whether in water-color or oil. we see the use he made of his informa- tion-how happily the word comes here, for Mr. Murphy's works were informed. One never had to question or to grope- his objects were drawn and painted with extreme consciousness of what they were.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-26

Happy are they that hear their "e- reactions. and put them to mendinS' Much Ado About Nothing
 k *