davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-06-10
One of Those Epochal Days for Birmingham

One of Those EpocNal Days for BlfmlmgMaEm
 The spending of O00000 construction here by the United States Steel corporation at the present time will be of farreachng import When the first open hearth furnaces at
 nsey began steel this districts future seemed assured
 Steady progress made by the Tennessee company but 1t
 was until 1907 when the Steel corporation entered Alabama that Birmingham oomed large and potential the steel mak ing map That epocha day for the district The poraon the capital and has the talent The fact that the greatest leaders in the industrial world investing vast sums of here inspired confidence in conservative bus ness men and made of all optmsts greater opimsts
 Yesterday another of those epocha days Since becom ling the dominant industrial factor in the Birmingham district the Steel corporation has expended developing and improve ments something like $32 O00000 Starting with fresh appropriation of $ O0000 requires straning of the i'm agnaon that increased to OOO even more within very years And the best of is that Judge E H. Gary and other members of the finance committee are running over with enthusiasm in observing the way the corporations Alabama properties have been operated Never any of capitalists industrial captains been Tn such fine humor They have met with hearted welcome and they appreciate it.
 As fast as Birmingham growth has been its strides from now will be far greater and the enhancement of values Will be even distinctly marked Birmingham has pretty good boosters but ardent than Judge Gary Mr. Per kns Mr. Prick Mr Baker and Mr. Roberts will prove to be-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-06-10
COMMUNITY MUSIC

Harriet Foster, In the Musical Courier. Americans, as a people, are lacking in innate musical feeling by reason of their feeble responses, or at times uncertain attempts to sing the "Star-Spangled Ban ner," America" Dixie and other American airs of historic association, is fast being proven erroneous by the work of an energetic man from Rochester, N. r., by name Harry Barnhart
 Because of settled conviction that the love of music IS universal in the hu- couragement to bring out a large ex- precision of it In the American commu- nity. he gained permission from the park commissioner to use tho music stand in the Central park mall as concentras- ing point to which to gather any and all passersby who might be attracted by piano. and an invitation to join in a free to all lesson in singing. That most of the passersby fingered. and then came again Sunday after Sunday was proved
 
 tiful summer night in August by a cho- rus of 1000 voices.
 great throng of listeners was thrilled by the spontaneous joy in tho moving outburst of song which sprang solely from the hearts of the people. the ma Jority being unschooled in the art of singing, and never even realizing prior to then that they could experience the pleasure of singing a simple melody. The encouraging and convincing words of the their mouths. fill their lungs with Gods free air and send 1t out again in the rhythm of song.
 The force and power of this fine work for good came to me very strongly as l happened to be taking cup of tea one afternoon with a friend in tho, pretty casino restaurant just above the mall. when we were attracted by the singing of that lovely old air, My Old Ken lucky Home.' The quality of tone was very sweet as 1t floated up to us, and questioned the walter asking from whence that lovely music came. We had a good laugh when he answered, That's not music; that's a singing class down in the Mall" After finishing our tea we took a seat in the arbor overlooking the singers and were so interested in the affair that we were singing with them before the ''lesson" was finished.
 From this beginning in the park sprang the first community chorus which gave that splendid performance of Messiah in Madison Square Garden during the Christmas season. It was certainly in- spring and called forth columns of praise from the newspapers of New York city. had the pleasure of giving my
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-06-10

services to help some of the members of this chorus to prepare for this per- formance of the Messiah" and 1t opened my mind seriously to the power of the people to express themselves in song for teh benefit of all mankind
 Surely we need this power in this hour. For the people to be able to lift their thought in the harmony of song will give strength and courage to the nation. All of us are looking and longing for the end of these awful, discordant, world conditions, and expressing harmony in song will at least help to convey the message that Gods world is a world of harmony.
 Through the courtesy of the Musical Courier. I would recommend that all my fellow artists who may not be loaded down with engagements, interest them selves in this splendid work.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-06-10
GOING WEST

Charlotte Elizabeth Wells, in the New
 xQrk Times. (The British soldiers frequently refer to death as going west.) Going West, O my comrade, To a far home-a long home-oh not the
 home we know Not to the land of hawthorn or of Yet, as we fare the long, long road to-
 gether, Are soft winds and sweet winds that out
 of the Westland blow. Going West, o my comrade, On long road-a strange road-oh not .
 road we know Not to tho moors-O lad. I wonder
 whether
 The gorse is all abloom while we to- Feel s on our faces, now. the winds from
 the Westland blow. Going West, o my comrade. On still road-a dark road--oh not road
 we know;
 I with khaki torn-you with draggled The last old tramp we'll ever take to-
 gether- While taps sound and pipes wail-as
 winds from the Westland blow. Going West, O my comrade, In long peace-a brave peace-the end
 we may not know. Brothers we've been through all the
 stormy weather Brothers we'll be as we lie down to- ! gether- And strong winds from the Westland over the trenches hlow
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-06-10

While the U-boats haven't been sink ing so many ships lately, we have no assurance as yet that they won't be able to "come back" General Goethals and his late as- sistants declared war without the formality of first breaking off diplo- matic relations
 President Ward of the city commis- sion hates to dress up, but he wore a shining topper" in honor of General Wood.
 Mr. Bryan paused while burning up the chautauqua circuit long enough to subscribe 5000 to the liberty loan. It was great day for tho lord mayor of Liverpool when he shook General Pershing by the hand.
 x
 British artillery has put the Krupp guns in second place.
 * k
 Buy a liberty bonds if you have to stint on gasoline.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-06-10
LUKE M,LUKE SAYS

About this time of year the Society for Mindng Other Peoples Business will at- tempt to regulate women's clothes, as usual. And, as usual, the women will keep right on wearing what they feel like wearing.
 Marriage is usually failure when
 Friend Wife spends more coin in the mll- linery shop than she does in the butcher shop
 What has become of the old-fashioned
 man who wore in his shirt front dia- mond stud that had a long arm at the
 bottom and that looked like an inverted
 banjo?
 A modern young man can make as
 much of a goose of himself when he
 writes a love letter with fountain pen las did his grandfather when the latter
 wrote one with quill pen. If black looks from other women would kill, the fathers of 10 or Il children would die once an hour. The reason why girl doesn't forgive a man for stealing kiss Is because she ex- poets him to get busy and return it. Even when man does mix his religion with his business, the business invariably rises to the top. Society always shocks the people who have tried to get into it and failed In every neghborhood there is woman who has so much faith in her husband that the neighbors indignate and wonder
 how much longer it is going to take her to get her eyes open. What has become of the old tad who used to buy his spectacles at the 1o-cent store2
 We are willing to leave the rewarding of our enemies to the Lord. But we would | like to attend to their punishment our selves
 The trouble with lending a man money is that he is going to act as if he were comforting a great favor if he pays II
 back.
 the situation consists of homAly woman
 who is standing in crowded street cal
 when he has seat l Few men take course in physical cul- ture so as to be in better shape to carry the burden of others. If you told some married men that youl wife Is an angel, they would take it fol granted that you were a widower. The fact that a man doesn't know one note from another doesn't keep him from singing his own praise. {; Some deaf men are not deaf at al
 times. It depends on who is talking ant
 what Is wanted.
 dressed calves are higher. That's funny
 The short skirts expose about thousand
 pairs a day and we hadn't noticed an, change.
 l A 60-year-old wife may not look as wei
 lat the breakfast table as a 1s-year-olt wife. But the breakfast is sure to iool better.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-06-10

The King of Spain has found time to write polite letter to little English girl whose uncle Is a prisoner of war. Alfonso Is one monarch who doesn't t have to look under his throne every morning to see if someone has placed bomb there
 Things are coming Birmingham s way at last. Approximately $11,o0o, 900 spent in this district by the United States Steel corporation will do much to soothe our lacerated feelings,
 < x
 A Connecticut man who went to register said he was supporting wife and two children in America and wife and three children in Russia, That's downright extravaganza.
 <
 After reading Kipling.s vivid de- scription of the Italian front, even a swivel chair strategist could under stand why the Italians don't advance any faster than they do.
 k A
 Some of these days one of our ram nant socialists may have good word to say for Elihu Root, but if he does his friends will promptly hustle him off to a foolish house. says she wants to live in Mobile when she grows old Always had an idea that bright newspaper women didn't grow old.
 MT Eustis, agent for the government shipping board, is employed at a sal airy of s1 year. There Is one man who feeds lightly at the public trough
 The friends of the colonel are still talking about what he would have done if he had been permitted to take volunteer army to France a A A little wining Gld dining will d no harm, but the Britons should re member that General Pershing hal gone abroad to work.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-06-10

But before I begin let me take you as I got off the train and said, Henry, see you are going to lecture on Money and Morals" Why do you attempt itY You well know you never have had any money and so far as morals are con- cerned, you are bankrupt It caused a litter and he delivered a most entertain ing lecture.
 Can McAdoo speak? Ask the bankers who heard him at the lunch at the Tut .wiler given in his honor at Saturday noon by the Birmingham Clearing House association. He held their rapt attention as he spoke in terms of high finance.
 I wasn't surprised to see and hear him bewitch the capitalists. I said the test will come at the Jefferson when he faces an audience made up of men and women of all ranks. Did he capture them? Just ask the first man you meet.
 He spoke for an hour and swayed the audience, not so much by oratory, for he isn't spellbinder. But William Jennings Bryan in the heyday of the silver craze never had a bimetalist crowd more com- pIetely in his power than did McAdoo with the sheer force of his great position and the weight and moment of what he was saying.
 An what a notable crowd sur rounded him on the stage! The govern or of the state, the finance committee Of the greatest industrial corporation on the face of the earth. group of the men be-. hind the federal reserve banks, the strongest bankers of Alabama, the leading merchants of Birmingham, the success ful politicians; in fact, the representa- tive men of this great commonwealth.
 And what an audiencel AS I sat and looked into their faces I recognized men and women who stood for the best things in the community. Every walk of life was represented. It was the most respon- lieving it was to be a great hour, and they showed their appreciation by ap- plauding every patriotic utterance
 It was truly a dramatic moment when Secretary McAdoo said that the heart of big business was beating true to the call of the nation; and when he told of
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-06-10

recent conversation he had had in the office of one of the biggest hank CTS In New York who had said that if his country needed it he was willing to give one-half his income, there was a burst of applause.
 But friends, that man is now sitting on this platform" and pointing to him said; Tt was none other than Mr. Baker chairman of the board of the First Ma tonal bank of New York" After re- reated cries for Baker" the Secretary got the patriotic banker to rise and with this the entire audience stood and shouted itself hoarse. It was a great tribute to the distinguished visttor-a thing that comes but once in a mans life-and as he sat down he was visibly touched, and there were tears in his eyes.
 I thought I had passed beyond the time when could get thrill at public speak, ing. having to do so much of it myself and having to listen to so many others, but, believe me, when the Baker incident was in full swing every nerve in my body was tingling and if it had been in a. church l dare say I would have shouted. It was good to be present. It was good to know that the great heart of Bir- mingham was ready to respond to the real thing.
 McAdoo. the unbeaten democratic American game, was in the ring in fighting trim sending out his clarion call to the German eagle to get off of its high imperialistic perch and get Into the sawdust so that all the world might know which was the better bird. And everyone of us who looked into out champions keen eyes knew that he was going to win the match. Said he T had rather be a dead American than a bond servant of the Kaiser"
 It was a great ovation given Cover nor w. P. G. Harding, whose thought ful speech made a deep impression on his hearers. Morris Bush, the chair man, was at his best. and he had cracking good new story that caught the crowd.
 P. S.-What can Nc do? Nc can do lot. Will he help us get the camp? I don't know. for Nc refused to tell what Nc would do. Just keep your eyes on McAdoo
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-06-10
THE TRUTH AT LAST,

From The Porcupine.
 A story about Julian Hawtorne and a Prussian officer which has been floating about in variety of shapes during the past quarter of century was recently run to earth by The Porcupine, who now presents it as 1t actually happened. One day in Dresden MT. Hawthorne and his wife were strolling along the street when they encountered a swaggering uniformed officer who edged Mrs Hawthorne off the sidewalk Hawthorne was. and Is still, a man of commanding presence, great phy- slcal strength and resourceful intelligence. His first impulse was to strike the of
 fender with his fist, but to strike an officer in Germany is a serious matter. He did better than that. He sprang for ward, tore the Prussian's sword from its scabbard, broke it across his knee and threw 1t down in the gutter. His sword broken, the Prussian boor was compelled to resign from the army, but he had learn ed somehing that he had never known be- fore. Had we a nation of Hawthorne's, s, the Lusitania never would have been sunk.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-06-10
There Are Others

T never knew that bugs could do such damage" said Charlie Locke, who has
 one of the best gardens in the city, in the i rear of his beautiful South Highlands res- idence. Pulling out envelope, he ex- hibted some leaves gathered from a number of different vegetables in his plot It's enough to dampen anyone's ardor to
 have the pesky things come In and eat
 up one's prized treasures. He had shown
 them to one of the seedsmen, but the only comfort he had gotten was that they
 were suckers instead of borers. Being just plain layman," he said, T couldn't see how that relieved the situation; for, sucking, or boring or eating, they are ruining my garden"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-06-10
Mo,

NhSHAbOO.
 cock-a-doodle dol
 Why bring in a bird?
 For two reasons. After hearing the Secretary of the Treasury speak I felt like growing
 And then while he was speaking at the Jefferson Max Wellborn, chairman of the board of the federal reserve bank, an old Eufaula boy, by whom I was sitting on the stage, said: Just watch him. He looks like and reminds me of game rooster.
 Yes, sir, this hit him off to "ty-tie" There isn't a surplus pound of flesh on his live body and as he walked about the stage I was ready to put my money on him.
 And I believe this Is the way every man and woman present felt: If he wanted them to give him a chance to win and do his bit as the governments S war fnancier, they were more than willing to buy his liberty loan bonds.
 My word Is my bond" How often have you heard some fellow say this? And how many times have you felt that 1t was mighty poor security, and in- stead of bringing a premium would be a drug in the market even when of- fered at a big discount?
 But the kind MT. Secretary McAdoo is behind are gilt edge. for Uncle ~Sams name Is writ large across them and his indorsement is good at home and abroad for he has both money and morals.
 This reminds me of lecture "Marse Henry" Watterson delivered at the old .O'Brien opera house about a quarter of a century ago. Every one was keen to hear the great editor of the Louis- vile Courier-J Journal, and so the house was packed from pit to dome.
 In his own inimitable way, the gallant colonel sauntered out before the footlights and calmly looking his audience over and said: 'Ladies and gentlemen, the subject of my lecture tonight will be. Money and Morals
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-06-10
HOTEL LOBBIES
na..rres All Praise

T want to congrat tulate The Age-Herald for the splendid way in which it boosted Col. Allen Crenshaw in Friday morning paper" said John Yeatman He deserves all the praise bestowed on him, and Bir- mingham ought to get behind him in a big way and let him understand that 1t appreciates his presence in our midst and that if our boys must go to the war, we want them to be under such an officer and gentleman as he has shown himself to be-"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-06-10
Remarkable Poem
 By Birmingham Man

THE fine and spirited poem, en- H titled France" which was published in The Age-Herald of Thursday last, has been highly praised by discriminating readers.
 The author is Birmingham man, Hugh N. starnes, who is employed by the Warrant Warehouse company and writes poetry during his leisure moments. MT. Starnes' verses bear xhe stamp of genuine inspiration. They deserve to rank with the best poetry that has been called forth by the great world-war. As an express sion of Americas regard for France and eu1ogy of those qualities which have made France immortal among the nations, Mir. Starnes' verses have unusual poetic beauty and power.
 Newspaper offices are bombarded with so much drivel by persons with an itch to write poetry and no gift whatever, that it is pleasure to re- ceive and publish something really worth while.
 It was unfortunate that the printer left out line in the fourth stanza.
 k
 The Youngstown Telegram predicts that women wearing overalls will soon be common sights in this country When that comes to pass they'll hav' to overlook the matter if a near sighted man fails to give one of them his seat in a trolley car under the Impression that she is male me- chanic.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-06-10
FRENCH ORE FEEDING KRuPps

FHENCH OHE FEEDINC hhOfIS Lieut.. F. s. of the French Army in the
 Atlantic Monthly.
 It was, if possible, even more painful for Frenchmen to see (from the win dows of the prison hospitaD every day trainload after tfainload of French iron orc working It's way toward the indus trial district of wesphalia. That ore came direct from tho Briey and Longwy mines. which had been conquered by the Germans as early as 1914. and which they were now working at full pressure. with the help of Russian prisoners, to provide all their arsenals with the neces- sary quantities of iron and steel.
 We knew that Germany would have been short of iron ore if she were not in possession of the French lodes; and we stood there powerless, motionless. sometimes with tears in our eyes, while the riches of France were migrating eastward. to be turned into guns and shells which would kill the sons of France.
 This sight was almost worse than bad communique 1t was defeat made visible to the eye, defeat made audible to the ear. defeat hammering at our very hearts Our grief was so keen that we did you even resent the jubilant grins which were noticeable on the faces of the wounded German soldiers who rushed to the corridor windows in order to see the ore trains pass. Our emotion was only a little less deep when we saw the same trains rolling back from the Rhine and Ruhr districts with their freight of coke, evidently destined to feed the blast furnaces of French Lorraine. All this made up sum of daily moral sufferings which were infinitely worse than whatever physical twinges of pain we might feel in our beds or on the op- erating table. We were one in our smart ing sorrow, in our hopes and wishes Never have I more clearly realized tna' French was and French I would re- main, although I had spent more years abroad than at home.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-06-10
A SLIGHT MIx-uP

From the Lead (S. D.) Call.
 Lead Daily Call: wish to call your attention to an error copied from the Deadwood Pioneer on the .21st inst. Baby born to Faulk county superinten- dent on Burlington train. instead of Hand county superintendent. Please pub- fish notice of error Yours truly.
 MISS LESSEE MONCUR- Superintendent of Schools Hand County.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-06-10
Araericam Soldiers to
IIsa British Rifle

Use British Rifle
 1Tis announced that the American ll army abroad will use a British rifle. It has already been stated that American aviators will fly in ma chimes of foreign make because Amer ican airplanes do not come up to the requirements for active military ser vice in Europe. Our backwardness in developing the submarine is notori- ous.
 America gave to the world the first practical heavier-than-air flying ma- chine and the submarine, among oth- CT modern inventions which are play ing conspicuous part in the Flu ropean war. The Lewis machine gun was the invention of an American whose offer was turned down by American ordnance experts. He sold the rights to his gun to Great Britain and it has made a remarkable show ing along the battle fronts.
 American inventors take first rank among the worlds scientists, yet we have allowed other nations to perfect devices which we now need badly. Our submarines and our airplanes, so far as numbers are concerned, pre- sent a woeful contrast to the thou- sands in use abroad. And those we have are inferior to the latest models of European governments.
 There is enough ingenuity in America to accomplish almost any thing. Although we have fallen be- hind, by the proper effort we can soon place ourselves on an equal foot ing, so far as airplanes and subma- rines are concerned, as we'll as all other instruments of war, with the most advanced nations of Europe. We have the brains and the facilities. An indifference to the needs of the hour has caused us to drop behind our al lies. We should lose no time in over coming our deficiencies, for which nc valid excuse exists.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-06-10
WASN'T THAT JUST LOVELY.

From the Toronto Star.
 don't-be-dirty shower and hard times party was recently given for an April bride when everything that could be thought of in the way of cleansers was given the bride-to-be.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-06-10
STILL HERE

I'm afraid the Fourth of July cele- brations this year will be rather tame affairs"
 why so?'
 Because of the war"
 Well. there ought to be plenty of speeches If any 'spread-eagle' orator has gone to war, I haven't heard about it."