davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-29
sonthern Farmcrs pro.perous

Farmers of the south are better off by half billion dollars than they were this time last year, writes President
 Fairfax Harrison of the Southern Rail- way system, referring to the figures of aggregate crop values published by the United States department of agriculture These figures show that in the states of Virginia, North Carolina, South Car olina, Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee Ala
 bama and Mississippi the total value of
 all crops grown in 1916 was $1,Ss2, ,060,0Oo as
 compared with s1, ,377, ,352, GOO in 1915, an in- crease of s504, coo or 36.64 per cent.
 These figures are arrived at by taking
 the reported values of 13 principal crops as to which the agricultural department
 collects annual statistics and adding
 values for all other crops based on the
 percentages of the 13 crops to all crops as shown by the census of 1910
 While the increased total value shown is, in large part, due to higher prices for when taken in connection with the un- favorable weather conditions which pre- vailed in large part of the territory. In some localities, as result of adverse weather conditions and the damage. done by the Mexican cotton boil weevil crop yields were substantially reduced, but, taking the south as a whole, it's farmers were never more prosperous than at this time''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-29
THE CROOKED FOOTPATH

ShSOOh Y " n H By Oliver Wendell Holmes An, here it isl the sliding rail
 That marks the old remembered spot The gap that struck our schooboy trail- The crooked path across the lot It left the road by school and church,
 A penciled shadow, nothing more, That parted from the silver birch
 And ended at the farmhouse door. No line or compass traced Its plan,
 With frequent bends to left or right, In aimless, wayward curves it ran,
 But always kept the door in sight. The gabled porch with woodbine green The broken millstone at the mill- Though many rood might stretch be-
 tween,
 The truant child could see them still No rocks across the pathway lie,
 No fallen trunk is OCT it thrown, And yet it winds. we know not why
 And turns as if for tree or Oone. Perhaps some lover trod the way,
 With shaking knees and leaping heart And so it often runs astray
 With sinuous sweep or sudden start. Or one, perchance, with cpuded brain From some unholy banquet reeed- And since our devious steps maintain
 His track across the trodden field. Nay deem not thus--no earth born vii Could ever trace a faultless line Our truest steps are human still To walk unswerving were divine. Truants from love. we dream of wrath oh, rather let us trust the more! Through all the wanderings of the path
 We still can see our Fathers door:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-29
CANDIDA, THE ROME OF CRETE

century, even though the defense of thel city by the renowned Venetian admiral Francesca Morosini Furnishes one of the most stirring pages in the history or Crete This great captain, one of the most distinguished of his age, was member of a noble family which fur- nished many doges to the powerful re- public For IS months he and his fol- lowers performed prodiges of valor in an effort to drive off a vastly superior in- vesting force of Turks under the vlzier' Ahmed Kuprili, but after sustaining 3o,oVO casualties, killed and wounded, Morosini capitulated in order to save the surviy- ing inhabitants. For this surrender he was courtmartialed but was very prop to redeem the prestige of Venice abroad by conquering Athens and all Pelopon- nesus in recognition of which he was iubilantly acclaimed by the Italian popu- lace and received the title of Pelopon- nesiaca.'
 Turkish rule over Crete was not an unmitigated misfortune. In fact, during the second quarter of the nineteenth cen- tury a wise and just Albanian pasha, Mustafa one of the most brilliant states men of his time, gave the island it's golden age He encouraged agriculture, improved the roads, introduced an All banian police force and succeeded in stamping out one of the curses of the country-brigandage During his regime the harbor of Candid, which had become choked with silt, was deepened so that it could accommodate vessels of light draft, such as frequented it during the heyday of Venetian supremacy.
 "Candia exports quantities of olive oil soap manufactured in the vicinity, and also has a moderately flourishing trade in dried raisins, wine, almonds and silk cocoons.
 "One of the relics of Venetian occupa- ton is an aqueduct, built in 1927, which has withstood the ravages of time so successfully that it still supplies the city with much of it's water.
 "One of the gruesome sights which for merly aroused the keen pity of tourists was a colony of lepers, perhaps 70 fam flies, which clustered in diseased squalor about St. Georges Gate. They have been removed recently to Spinalonga on the Bay of Mirabella.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-29

M( 7 ASHINGTON, January 2S.-(Spe- W\V cial)-"The prosperity and im-
 portance of the Cretan port of 1 Candid was so preponderant during the occupancy of the Mediterranean island by the Venetians that the whole province assumed the name of the city and even today most charts and maps label the land Crete or Candia, says a war geography bulletin of the National Geographic society describing the for mer capital of Greece's largest insular possession.
 Today, Candid, near the center of the northern shore of the island, is second near the western extremity. The larger city enjoys the advantage of proximity to Suda bay, the only deep water har- bor of the island, but in historical and legendary associations Candid ranks with Rome, Athens, Babylon, Nineveh, Mem phis, Tyre and sidon, owing to the adja- cent ruins of the great Minoan capital of Knossos (Cnossus) where evidences of an astonishing civilization, existing nearly 2000 years before the Christian era, have been unearthed, as described in a recent National Geographic society bulle- tin
 "The present city was founded by Sa- racen pirates who wrested the island from the Byzantine emperors early in the ninth century. They named the new town Khandax, from which Candid is derived. On many maps the town is called Megalokastron (great fortress).
 "One of the striking features of Candid is the number of religious edfices of which it boasts. With less than 2o,OO0 in- ha bitants it has numerous synagogues, Greek churches, a cathedral and IA mosques. The metropolitan of Crete re- sides here. One of the institutions of which the city is justly proud is the museum containing priceless antiquities taken from the ruins of Knossos, Phaes- tus and other vanished Cretan strong holds.
 "The Qualifications which surround Cam dia were begun by the Genoese in the twelfth century and greatly strengthened by the Venetians during four succeed ing centuries, but walls of stone were unable to resist the prolonged siege which the Turks conducted in the seventeenth
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-29
Increase In Small
Farms Spells Thrift

Farms Spells Thrift G @oME states are rich in agricultural g resources and some in minerals. Alabama is rich in both. With the states coal, iron and graphite devel- opment the public is familiar; and it's large cotton production in nor nal seasons is an old story.
 But among the substantial assets that have been giving Alabama dls- tinction within the last few years are cattle raising and crop diversification. Intensive farming is being practiced by all of our progressive farmers, and, with favorable weather conditions, the wear 1917 should mark a new high record in production and in the high level of prices.
 A particularly encouraging fact in Alabama's agricultural life is the in
 
 creasing number of "small farmers" In several counties-notably Cullman, and two or three in the wire grass section-vast tracts have been divided into 4O-acre farms and sold to men -,who will make they pay. All this spAlls thrift.
 The 3federal census of 1920 will show a gfseat gain in population and a surprisina increase in the number of small husNandhmen-
 The up-to-date trucker can make a fortune on-40 acres of good land with in few years. Alabama real estate agents are offering great bargains now and the demand cannot be too brisk.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-29
Less Drimkimg By
 Business Men

| II f NDER the caption, Business " Mems Booze," Golfers Weekly publishes an editorial to show that there is less drinking among business men than in former years.
 During a recent month the bill for all the liquor consumed at the lunch cons and dinners of the New York Ad- vertising club was but $30 With about four thousand meals served in the clubrooms during twenty-six working days, exclusive of dinner par ties, Golfers estimates that the aver age bill for liquor was mot over eight-tenths of cent per person per meal In other words, not over one diner in forty took a drink with his meal"
 Anyone familiar with the subject knows that comparatively few drinks are served at the luncheons of busi- ness men who meet on certain days of the week, not merely to eat but to ex- change ideas as well. Quite naturally, no one cares to listen to a befuddled speaker, nor is alcoholic stimulation desirable when a person is dealing with concrete facts and figures, in- stead of merely entertaining guests at banquet. At majority of these business luncheons and dinners no alcoholic drinks of any sort are served and drinking during the midday meal, even when it is taken in some restau- rant, is becoming rare.
 Yet, we are still confronted by an enormous increase in taxes collected by the United States government on whisky during the past year-an in- crease of something like $25, 100000 over the previous year-despite the amazing strides made by prohibition. Where does all of the liquor consumed go to, and who is consuming it?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-29
Full Vote For
 School Tax Urged

1T7 HERE seems to be no question
 O about the result of Jefferson county's 3-mill tax election tomor- row, for the benefit of the public schools, but it is desirable that we should have full vote and sweep ing majority.
 Jefferson is the first county to act under the recently adopted amend ment authorizing each county in the state to levy special tax for school betterment and the size of the vote will indicate the degree of interest the people feel in this all important question. The expression of the cleo torate should be practically unani- nous. If it turns out so, many coun- ties that are waiting to hear from Jefferson will proceed to call 3-mill tax elections and organize campaigns without delay.
 There are not many of the 67 coun- ties of Alabama that have adequate school facilities. Probably 75 or 80 per cent of them need better school houses, and more of them, than they have at present. A great many, like Jefferson, have schools terms entirely too short.
 The 3-mill tax will yield this county sufficient revenue to enable 1t to in- crease the number of school buildings and provide modern sanitary appoint ments; and above all to provide for nine-month schools.
 Birmingham and the whole county will be directly benefited. Every en- thusiastic advocate of the public school system should spare no effort to bring out big vote. No more vital issue has been presented to the voters in recent years than this affecting the school situation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-29
WiIsom Opposed to
 Universal TraimiEaag

ID RESIDENT WILSON is opposed G to the universal military train ing and service measure prdposed by Senator Chamberlain and he has been emphatic in expressing himself. Of course no one expected the Chamber lain bill to get on the Senate calendar at this short and crowded session of the Sixty-fourth Congress. But the more it is discussed the more support it develops, and 1t Is sure to be one of the pressing measures in the next winter session.
 It had not been known just how the President stood on this question until delegation from Maryland urging a Strengthening of the national defense called upon him few days ago. The z Marylanders presented a memorial criticizing the National Guard and the administrations military policy in general, and advocated compulsory training. The President took umbrage at the strictures and in his written reply was somewhat caustic. He stood up stoutly for the National Guard. "Unquestionably, he said, sphysical training is needed and will accomplish great deal, but it can be done without compulsory military service"
 The delegation stressed the hard ship and the waste that resulted from withdrawing guardsmen from their business or their regular employment. To this the President replied:
 Any brief service in the army
 of the United States withdraws
 men from civil pursuits just as
 much as the recent service in the
 border does. No service except
 standing army with professional
 soldiers prevents that occasional
 and frequent withdrawal of men
 from civil pursuits. That may be
 inevitable, but what you are pro-
 posing does not meet sthe diffi-
 -culty which you condemn. These
 things are of the utmost intricacy
 and difficulty and are not to be
 bottled ex cathedra.
 And yet notwithstanding the fact
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-29

BEGINNING THE DAY - Lord, shall life be only lifes Shall my days he only flat expanses, lacking all infinitude. Shall my deeds be only deeds, having no bath of heaven on them. Or shall I find in my God the secret aura, the hidden halo, the magic spell: Lord, invest earth with heaven and every common thing with ThyseIf. In Christ's name. Amen.-H. NJ. E.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-29

that I think you have gone too
 far, I will say to you that of
 course this will have my most se-
 rious consideration It. is receiving
 serious consideration with the
 country and we in Washington of
 course share and feel the great
 tides of opinion in the United
 States. I am sure that speaking,
 if 1 may speak. for the members of
 the House of Representatives and
 the Senate, weD are all desirous
 of doing the wise thing for the de-
 fense of the country and it must
 and will be done, but we must not
 close debate by having too dog
 matic an opinion as to a method
 Two years ago when large addi- tion to the navy and an increased reg ular army was talked about the ad- ministration was opposed to anything like "big preparedness. But the President changed his mind and be- came stanch champion of larger navy and a larger army. He worked passionately for his new programme and had the satisfaction of seeing it enacted into law.
 The President may change his mind on the universal training issue and if he does he will put it through" In the meantime there is no cause for hurry.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-29
Big Coal Productions

The figures from the coal operators of Alabama for their production dur ing 1916 are coming in nicely" said c. H. Nesbitt, chief state mine inspec- tor Tt seems that the 1916 production of coal will exceed 16,500,000 tons, which will be many hundred thousand in excess of the output of 1915.
 "As regards coke. 1t seems that the tonnage will go over 3,700,000, which is decidedly large output for Ala bama. During the past year. the fur naces ran at full blast and this ac- counts for the big figure. The greater proportion of coke was manufactured d in the by-product ovens. From the present indications the year of 1917 will be even greater"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-29
Tightening of Belts
ATga@mg BeIAlgereEat

AIGl@mg BGIIlg@TGElGS
 NNTHETHER or not the food short WV age in Germany is acute, there can no longer be any doubt that the scarcity is being felt by the civil ian population throughout the empire.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-29
cAmEzMM1@Ou16H
BROKE UP THE PARTY

From the Prescott Qowa) Argus.
 A general good time was had by all until about Il o'clock when fruit. salad and cake was served by the B. B. B. club.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-29

scorn at first, makes after love th' more.
 Two Gentlemen of Verona.
 <. * ;,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-29
Development at '. M. c. A.

DCtCAOPhSht ae As thA' Ss ]H'
 'The management of the Birmingham Young Mems Christian association is now perfecting plans to enlarge the work of the boys department" stated General Secretary w. s. Stallngs. and special attention is being given to the matter of providing adequate facilities for the development of working boys and high school pupils.
 '"The attendance is exceedingly large and is constantly growing. As is general ly known, the membership has passed the 2OO0 mark, and at times the physical de- partment is taxed to the utmost to ac- commodate them. For this reason it may soon become necessary to enlarge the facilities of this department. However, time.
 The popularity of the Central associa- tion was never more accentuated than at present and all departments are humming hives of activity. In regard to the mat ter of accommodation, which is now quite good, the membership may rest assured that those directing the destiny of the HdIIl lilSlitdtiOii "iAA AiS'Si PSi - init lack of facilities or space to stunt Its most rema rkablel and steady growth :" THEY LOVE THE HURDY GURDY New York Correspondence Pittsburg Dis- patch
 The people of the East Side don't think that the '.hurdy gurdy's' play bad music, so they will oppose the Italian associa- tion which asks for law prohibiting the hand organs. "Go to the East Side or the West Side streets" they say, where the children of the poor are play ing and you will see how the organ grin der is loved The hurdy gurdy is the music of the poor. In the spring, or when the sidewalks are dry, the children pour out of the narrow tenements for a dance. Where did they learn to dance that way? They never saw Pavlowa or Isadora Duncan, and yet see how they understand the intricate art of the inter- pretatiye dance See how their arms fling about. See how their faces are alieht. See how their feet trip in light 1 ness and grace And from the windows above listening and watching, a,e tne mothers their faces beautiful. It is the hurdy guidy that has worked tnis en- chantment on the dnsy street of the poor.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-29
HOTEL LOBBIES
Morris Bush on Grand opera


 T feel highly complimented that Mrs R. F. Johnston, chairman of the opera committee for the Boston Ma tional Grand Opera company, should have selected me as a member of this distinguished committee" said Morris w. Bush. 1 I regard the coming of the Boston opera as a distinct advantage to Bir- mingham, recalling as I do so pleas antly the beautiful performances that were given here last season by this company. Mrs. Johnston is just the woman to act as chairman of tie opera for she is a wonderful worker. She has such large following, too of friends, who know that when she in- | dorses musical proposition it is every thing that is claimed for it. I feel sure that the opera committee with Mrs. Johnston as it's leader will make of the opera season here great success" Regrets ''Twenty-Cent Fever"
 The high price of cotton should not stop diversification of crops in Alabama, '' said D. B. Gather, former editor of the Farmers union official paper in this state, and now connected with the Pell City Progress.
 T have just written an article for our paper, to which I think farmers should give careful attention. In it l have pointed out that the 2O-cent fever is or throughout the entire south, and there is going to be a tremendous increase in cot 1 ton acreage this year. I look for a crop of 100000 or possibly 20,OO0, 900 bales, and prices ranging from 6 to Il cents. Many will think that the cotton will be cut by the boil weevil but this pest is ravaging only small part of the cotton section If this section plants too much cotton We may have short crop, while the rest of the country makes a bumper crop, bringing low prices.
 We must look out for ourselves. We must fill the crib with corn, the smoke house with meat, and the barn with hay or other forage, and make the potato hill higher.
 And next fall when a great crop is be- ing rushed to market at low prices we will be ready to save this section from starvation and ruin.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-29

Rev. J. M. Broadly, pastor of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian church, is off for vacation. He has been fishing at Bayou La Batre, and touring in Florida, visiting St. Augustine, Tampa and other points in the state. He will visit New Orleans before returning on the 9th of February. Mrs. Broadly is with the doctor
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-29

After the censor gets through with sometimes have more white space than printed matter. In view of the cost of white paper, the censor should be more consderate.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-29

As soon as General Pershing gets out of the way, Villa will start a Mexican spring drive.'' "Pancho' is evidently studying European strategy and may soon be styling himself General Won Villa
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-29

The legislature of Michigan is having a hard time deciding whether the state shall be comparatively dry" or bone dry" The tendency at present is to- ward ''bone-dryness" in prohibition rt..c nbn al de
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-29

This reminds me of an incident, that
 struck me all in a heap, at the first
 suffrage convention I ever attended. It was the one held in Atlanta years ago. In the opening prayer offered by one
 of the women delegates she said: Our Father and our mother who art in heaven" Now this isn't to start any thing. It's a mere statement of fact.
The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1917-06-22
NOTHING new
Bomb and Incendiary
Shell OutgrOwth of Missils En-
ployed Long Ago by Chinese

Many fthe new weapons produc-
ed by the world war are really very
old. Thus the asphyxiating bomb is
an outhgrowth of missile employed
long ago by the Chinese. Instead of
deadly chemicals it contained some
substance that omitted a nauseous
odor, accompanied by sitting smoke.
Later this device appeared in Europe
and was known by the inelegant but
expressive name of stink pot.
Another Chinese war method paw
ed the way for incendiary shells.
They invented rocket, later adopted
and widely used by the Saracena,
which fired a kind of ball having
claws or hooks that would catch hold
to the side of building and set fire
to it. These balls were made of Pc
troleum and inter, which became
famous in the latter ages as Greek
fire.
The German device of throwing
petrol upon an enemy by means of
a pump was used long ago, when an
attacking ship often spouted flames
at the object of it's assault. This
plan was reserved for close quarters,
and frequently resulted in the des-
truction of the vessel SO attacked.