davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-21
BETTING ON THE FUTURE

From the Youngstown Telegram.
 Joseph Letter, so stock market reports say, profted $3,0oO,OOO in three months by transactions in wheat.
 Perhaps Letter believed the money was owed him. His unsuccessful attempt to corner the wheat market some years re- suited in deficit of s10.OOOOOO and a conviction that all the wheat in the world could not be bought by one man. In his latest dealings Letter had no such am bitions as he cherished a score of years ago but by consistent buying and selling he netted enough to wipe out a good part of his own losses.
 Many persons who will criticize Letter would do the same thing if they had opportunity. That doesn't alter the fact that fictitious purchases and sales of this kind are criminal in times like these. Why should man be allowed to in- fluence food prices by betting on whea to be harvested next July?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-21
THE ELECT
Emerson.


 Where Is nature? Where shall we go to study her interior aspects? She is hard to find. The botanist after com pleting his herbarium, remains dry doctor, no poet The lumberer in Maine woods by Moosehead lake does not get into the forest to any purpose, though he drives logs with his feet in the wa ter all day. The poet goes untimely into a dozen inviting dells, and finds him self not yet admitted but a poor, ex- cluded dilettante. And then comes some fine young gentleman like Milton or Goethe, who draws on his good Lon don boots, and in coat of newest tail- bring, with gold headed cane, marches forth into the groves. and straight, as If he were going to his club, in the lsecret. sacred dell, where all the muses and the shyest gods and fauns and Inaiads have their home. So also did Collins. and so did Spenser; nay, Wal ter Scott himself sheriff of Selkirk- shire, is admitted in full suit to the
 crag and horn.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-21
WHY HE BECAME A SPY

were trying to express an tea h hardly understood himself. Then tried:
 "'You sec he said. it is not eas to get hold of. but it's like il o4 don't know what an office lll- you're a gentleman, being 1ier and all that Ding-dong half-pa seven, get up and cut yourself @his you shave. You don't want to shaY but the boss will have it. and its ea in winter, and you run for tra ns. aa you're-Oh, well, if you're lattA 1at the sack "A hsr a
 "'Yes. said the officer. Ne
 "'A1l that sort of thing. 1oa denS care what the works about; ts eu nothing to do with you. If b1siue is good, 1t doesn't pay you suy Dg ter; they go on paying yop Yoy wages so long as the thing jus; keon out of bankruptcy. So it goeH on AN day and every day, writing fsuz in book, and saying, 'Yes, st" And you have three meals, and get jawe~, and keep your temper, and try to pre- tend you're a man. And in the even- ing, you've got no money, so you so to bed and make ready for another day like that. I tell you, fortnight year at the seaside, it's not enough to keep man going. You want
 Well, what do you want?'
 "'Oh. I don't know. Sort of thing you see in the illustrated papers. The big hotels. and running round in motor car, and going to all sorts of places abroad and-messing about the world, you know
 At that moment the schoolmastcr came uppermost in the officer. He said: oh. I see what you mean. Ad- venture
 "'That's about it., said witney; that's the word I was looking for tell you, men like me, they just can't go on in an office like that, running round and round like a white mouse in a wheel. I'm not 8 white mouse; that's what's the matter with me Things ought to have been different. They mights have been. If I'd been born a, thousand years ago I might have become a lord.'
 "The officer smiled This version of history was not inaccurate. 'Adven- turev he repeated.
 Excitement seized Witney again. Yes he said. that's it. And I tell you there's some adventures in this job of mine. My. what life! The way .L did--the way fellow gets hold of you, and you go about carrying it with you, saying you won't do it. And it won't let you alone. It's not the money, but you sort of feel what game it's going to be-Sherlock Holmes, and all that sort of thing making up with sham whiskers.
 His voice grew thick with excite ment as he told of long watches to find out some fact, of friendships skill fully struck up, of playing one day the part of an engineer, the other that of curate.
 "T tell you he said, its grand. It's always changing, and you never know where you are. When you're on that sort of game it doesn't matter if the papers are dull; you always know when the door opens that there's good chance they're coming to hang you"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-21
HOTEL LoBBIEs
Keep Russia in War

Tt would ceertainly be a calamity If Russia were to withdraw from the war at the present time as that would mean that the United States would have to bear the greater portion of the burden of the war herself" said Fort ney Luckie yesterday. For time it looked as though this condition of af- fairs might be brought about owing to the uncertain condition of the Rus sian government. but owing to the re- cent loan of s100, 900 to that gov- ernment by this country on condition that she should remain actively on the side of the allies it seems that the crisis is past.
 T was always in favor of th1s coun- try's sending delegation of represen- tative citizens to Russia to confer with her officials as to the best interests hostilities and it was a source of grat to me to find that this is to be done; in my opinion this step will do more to cement the friendship and cordiality of the two countries and also to keep Russia in the war on the ac- tive side of the allies than anything else that could have been done at this time The war will undoubtedly con- tinue for sometime and be a hard- fought one, and if we are to win we are going to need the hearty and en- cooperation of every nation now interested with us in the over throw of German autocracy. No half hearted methods can bring about ulti- mate success.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-21
GLORY

By Rupert Brooke. These hearts were woven of human
 joys and cares. Washed marvelously with sorrow,
 swift to mirth. The years had given them kindness. Dawn was theirs. And sunset. and the colors of the
 earth These had seen movement. and heard
 music; known Slumber and waking: lover; gone
 proudly friended, Felt the quick stir of wonder sat
 alone: Touched flowers and furs. and
 cheeks. All this is ended. There are waters blown by changNnk
 winds to laughter And lit by the rich skies all day. And
 after. Frost, with gesture. stays the waves
 that dance And wandering loveliness. He leaves
 a white Unbroken glory. gathered radiance, A width. shining peace. under the
 night.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-21
se,o, ,ooo, ,ooo A YEAR FOR ADS

From "The Silent Voice." by Edward
 Mott Woolley, in the June Scribner.
 Any estimate of the money that goes into advertising in the United States and Canada, ie normal times, is little more than a guess. From different sources I get widely divergent opin- ions. One authority estimates the total. Including all forms of printed adver- Using, at s65O, 1000, 900 a year. In this he includes newspaper advertising as $375, ,oOo 900. of which he says $75,Oov,- 900 comes from the national adver- tisers.
 Magazine advertising, emitting mail
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-21
Staggering Total
 of Europe's s Dead

7FHUs far seven million men have < been killed in the European war. The total casualties are placed at more than forty-five million. These estimates were made by Arthur Hen derson, member of the, British war council.
 And still the sickening slaughter goes on, drenching the soil of Europe with it's best blood, leaving desolate homes and multitude of widows and orphans to mourn the dead. It is de- pressing to think of the price humani- tv has paid and must continue to pay. @.ese figures stare us in the face with frightful import. They mean vast army of men who have already died in a struggle which may con tinue for several more years. The sum of the worlds sorrow cannot be
  told in figures, but every one of those seven million men must have left at least one heart to mourn their pass ing.
 Quite as appalling is a total of forty-five million casualties, among whom there are perhaps millions of maimed men who must drag out weary existence, until death comes to their relief. The blind and the cruelty wounded in other ways may we'll envy that silent host who made the supreme sacrifice and suffered no more.
 Ere long American names will be added to the growing list of war vic tins. It is solemn hour for America, yet there is comfort in the thought that our soldiers will fight for glori- ous cause and every drop of American blood that is shed will serve to hallow this struggle waged for humanity's sake and the ultimate peace of the world
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-21
LUKE M.LUKE SAYS

After a girl gets married and tries to raise baby of her own, she often wonders how her mother ever had patience enough to raise a half dozen of them without choking a few of them
 What has become of the oldfash- toned congressman who used to print in the Congressional Record speech that he never delivered, and that used to read like this: "The eagle screams (applause) from the rock bound coast (applause) of Maine (applause) to the sum- kissed (applause) coast of Cali fornia {continued applause), and no foreigner (applause) dare pluck Gap plause) feather from its tail (con- tinued laughter and applause)?"
 And maybe after the women get to running the country the marriage cer- tiicate will be drawn up in the form of a baseball contract, giving the party of the first part the right to exercise the 10-day release clause, Friend Wife, of course, being the party of the first part.
 There are all kinds of people in the world, including the man whose idea of getting even is to call up news paper and cuss the editor over the phone.
 Another cinch bet is that it isn't the belief that two can live as cheaply as one that makes men get married.
 A bank statement is all Greek to the average man. But it Is different with a box score.
 The reason why a girl hates to sit in a mans lap when they are engaged lis because the ocean is so dusty that sailors have to wear goggles 10 Keep the dust out of their eyes.
 And there was the old d-fashioned woman who used to believe that half of the people who were buried were buried alive. What has become of her? If the hookworm is responsible for all the laziness in this country we'll give him credit for being the busiest animal in creation.
 Leave it to us and we'd say that the hardest jobs are trying to give satis- faction either as a stepmotner or as manager of a taii-end baseball club.
 Add fairy tales: once upon time there was man who admitted that he was narrow in his views. ! Looking down on man IS no way te make him look up to you.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-21

IMS(n RITING in Harper's Magazine ->\VW for June, W. L. George
 makes a study of the psy chology of spy caught last year within the British lines in France. Mir George sets down the spy's explana- ton of his choice of a vocation as he gave it to the British officer who had charge of the Spy until his execu- ton. The officer, who before the war had been schoolmaster, in turn mar rated the facts to MT. George
 There was something in this man, so brave before death, that was cal lous and shocking. The officer was irritated into speech, as a musician Is rasped by a false note. He had to conquer the impulse of reserve that Is in nearly all the English, but he was assisted by the materialistic com mon sense which Is always theirs It struck him as ridiculous that a man who obviously had never starved who Indeed seemed to have made a fair living, who was young, healthy, cared enough for a woman to want to mar ry her, should ply such trade, take such risks for so little pay. From my point of view he told me, it didn't seem good enough. Common sense conquered reserve, so that he said, almost irritably:
 Hook here, what did you do 1t for?
 "Witney, I believe, thought for a little while. His excitement had sub- sided for his mind was working and set his nerves at rest He did the characteristic English thing: he drew back little into himself, finding 1t easier to think than to express; he showed cowardice before self-manifes- tation. He replied:
 "'oh well. I hardly know
 Money said the officer; and there is in that remark something of the tragic. for in that moment the school master-officer must have lost all his class self lf-consciousness or he would not have made a remark which, ad- dressed even to a sentenced criminal, was ill-bred. CAfterward,' he confided tO Lle, 1ell It was JOlly Dau form.
 "Witney did not seem offended The remark did not to him sound ill-bred; with the simplicity of his class he ac- cepted the simplicity of sincerity.
 "'No,' he said. it wasn't money. This sort of thing gets man living, but it's not a fat one, not unless you get hold of something big, and you don't in the ordinary way. Besides, The smiled-I'm not mercenary; I could have done quite as well in my old job Of course I don't say A tinge of pride came into his voice, as there comes into that of country doctor when he mentions the name of world-famed specialist. There are some who've done big things at this game. Oh yes, one might make a lot One might get all sorts of things influence, you know, or an estate, or something. That's really what-well, you know, or an estate, or something That's really what-well, you know
 "The officer shook his head No. I don't know what. I see you mean it's not just money, but what else can it be?'
 'Witney looked at him with some thing like pain in his eyes, as if ne
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-21
order magazines, is estimated from

order magazines, is estimated from $45,ooo,oOO to sso.ooo,ooo. Various esti- mates give other items as follows: Cir- culars, booklets and form-letters, $100,O00,0 000 farm and mail-order ad- vertising, $75,000, 900; department stores $65,Oo0. 900; novelty, $25,000, ,0oo: bill-posting, s25,0Oo.O0O; electric and painted signs, s25.oo0.0OO; street cars. $10.OO0.000 house organs, $7,O00, ,OO0 1; theatre programmes and miscellaneous. $10, ,Oo0oo0 trade and techinal period icaIs. $45.oOO,oO0. There are 25.Ooo pub- lications, with an aggregate circula- tion of 165, ,OO0, 900. So now you have the voice and the audience.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-21
< * x Patriotism and Liberty Bonds

7HHE two billion dollars of liberty
 Il bonds are not in the brisk de- mand that was expected, but with a reasonable amount of stirring up and stirring around Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo, Governor of the Reserve Board Harding and other forceful men high in the government service, the issue will eventually be oyersubscribed. What is particularly desired is quick action for the moral effect.
 The country is flush with money. War always means an increase of cur rency in circulation. And the United States preparing for war on a tre- mendous scale will mean that more fortunes will be made within the next few months than ever before in a short period.
 There is no end of patriotism, but what is needed is concrete demonstra- vspn of it. Those who have the money should be liberal in subscribing for these liberty bonds. That will be con crete evidence that American patriot ism is what it claims to be.
 A full division of United States regulars, in command of Major Gen. eral Pershing, will soon be on French soil. The general and staff will go somewhat in advance, and their de- parture will be the signal for a fresh outburst of patriotism. The liberty . bonds will then be in frenzied demand. But they should be oversubscribed within the next few days. Don't wait for liberty outbursts.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-21
NEATNEss MADE HIM SENATOR

A former member of the United States Senate says in the June American Maga- zine:
 The habit of neatness, too, had grown upon me. I know now that it had a great influence on my entire future career. l got so that I couldn't bear the sight of a flyspeck. When not waiting on cus- toners, I busted myself polishing glasses or scrubbing the counter. I saw to it that everything about the place gis- tened with it's spotless cleanliness We had big glass domes which we used as covers for cakes. I kept these so bright and shining as to excite comment by travelling men. One of my duties was to prepare the ham sandwiches. I care fully cut away all the fat, and people got to liking my sandwiches better than those served at other stations" Through his habit of neatness this man won the start in life that ultimately landed him in the United States Senate.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-21
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS
Gee whiz.

oSS WnlZ.
 No this isn't 1t.
 In trying to think what it was Henry cray told me to drink for him at New Orleans
 lFe got it, but I haven't done it. It was a Ramos gin fizz.
 Aiex Bealer, whilom feature writer on the Atlanta Journal, but now publicity man or the Southern Baptist convention, ana Baptist preacher is here
 we went up to the press club, and l toia the general secretary about an order friend of mine gave me to do for him. lie seemed surprised that we hadn't al- ready tried gin fizz la Raymos He said it will exhilirate us but he said he would advise us not to drink more than one or We might fall by the wayside. Now, every one who knows me knows that I've been temperate from my youth up, and that I've stood for prohibition durlng the past score of years, but I know the smell of barrooms, and it's an unforgetable odor I've just passed one and it's stench is still in my nostrels
 
 l saw bunch of Alabama preachers standing in front of a saloon where there was a window display of the various and well known brands of whisky. l said hello. I see you fellows are get ting ready to lay in a supply against July 1, when the bone-dry law goes into effect Laughingly they said: "It looks like you have almost caught us with the wet goods upon us, but the fact is we were just looking at the window display as 8 curiosity and memory of the old times in Alabama.
 I see illuminated signs by night over doorways telling of Schlitz and other beers on draught Just think of beer in wood and it sold openly, and fellows standing up to the bar blowing the suds off the schooners. Fll>stop, for I don't want to tease any mans thirst
 
 Somehow it does seem curious to me to see the bars open day and night and crowds going in and out. It seems like 8 relic of ancient days in Birmingham. A sign on the Grunewald hotel bears the silent warning to the forehanded man who wants to be prepared against a dry time:
 ''The Bar and Cigar Departments,
 of this Hotel
 Will Be Closed on
 Sunday Our guests are advised to provide
 accordingly"
 In the first prohibition campaign I had to make a speech out in the streets of Calera. It had been well advertised l got off the train and just as turned the corner fellow about three sheets in the wind was coming across the street to meet me.
 Said he, with significant smile: Are you the young fellow whose come down from Birmingham to make talk on temperament"
 I admitted I was the man. That's all right" said he, you may put it out of Alabama, but, thank God, old New Orleans will never go dry"
 He was content for he felt that there was place where he could get a SUD- ply. I daresay there are some fellows who read this who are not quite so sure that they are going to be able to get any.
 
 This is not a temperance tale I'm merely setting down a few things that came into my mind at the sight and smell of "old booze.''
 Boys, better get on the water wagon while the riding is good; don't wait until July.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-21
What to Do Wieh
 Our Ex-PresidemGs

MNT HEN presidential term is
 w about to end someone starts the question, What shall we do with our ex-Presidents in the matter of giving them an official status? Varl- ous things have been proposed. Make them life senators, says one. But for obvious reasons that would never do. It would happen from time to time that an ex-President's policies would be at variance with majority of the Senate.
 A proposition that met with some favor was to make retiring Presi- dent a life member of the cabinet. But that would not work well. A democratic cabinet or republican cabinet would not feel comfortable with man of an opposition party sitting in secret session to advise the chief executive or exchange views with political opposites. Several years .xo The Age-Herald joined in news paper symposium and suggested that President passing out of office might, with propriety, be honored by being commissioned automatically a full general, retired. Congress, by special act, so treated U. s. Grant. The famous soldier was national hero impecunious, and as he had been a general in the army, but resigned to become President, the sentiment of the country was in favor of restor- ing to him the rank he had previously held. But no steps were ever taken to give Presidents military standing after they had ceased to be chief magistrates.
 Dr. James H. Finder, an esteemed citizen of Birmingham, contributed a short discussion to the ex-presidential subject in Saturdays issue. He sug- rested that when the President Ire
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-21
HIGHER JOY
Chicago Herald.

From the Chicago HeraId.
 Being hampered by strict parent s. Herbert's chief joy. up to the age or s, had been the weekly prayer meet ing. When he arrived at that age or discretion a worldly minded relative smuggled him off to a circus. Her bert came home bursting with enthu- siasm
 "Oh, mother" he cried. If you once went to circus you'd never go to a prayer meeting again in al your life
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-21

shout "vive la France!' while Joffre wa in town. Never having seen those word on menu card, they were unfamiliar to most New Workers. | *
 It is estimated that the French and British have about 2oooo airplanes ant 10000 trained pilots. With about 17o ma chimes in active use. what sort of aie can Uncle Sam lend? * * *
 Burlesque managers announce that they will insist on clean shows hereafter. Does that mean that professional wigglers are going to be drug on the market? It is predicted that tobacco chewing will soon become a lost art in America. Speed the day when the promiscuous splitter is also cured of the habit k * *
 Mir. Balfour has made his first speech from the rear end of train. Might have known he couldn't stay in America long without getting around to that
 <
 Smelling salts will soon be required on every restaurant table to keep patrons from fainting when they glance over the prices on the bill of fare.
 * < It is reported that Emperor Charles of Austria would like to break away from German control The allies would doubt less be glad to offer him any assistance in their power. A dyed-in-the-wool alarmist is the per son who expects to wake up any day and hear that the Gulf of Mexico is full of U-boats
 It begins to look as if the people of Birmingham haven't the heart to charge a soldier or a sailor for anything he wants.
 At any rate, the soft drink establish ments are pleased to report business better than usual" Must be the weather.
 *,* < The word pants says an etymologist, is still knocking for admittance into good society Long may it continue to knock!
 < Observers on the Pacific coast are thought to have mistaken whale for a submarine Sit steady and keep cool.
 * The man who has a son in the army or the navy occasionally finds something else to talk about, but not often. The scarcity of cans may eventually force the fisherman to carry all of his so many empty ones from accommodating On vacant lots.
 Carry the news to the Kaiser. Naca- ragua has set her face sternly against 
 * < Well, the colonel still has the twilight of his life.'' What is he going to do with it?
 We have yet to hear of a patriotic lady of fashion putting her poodle on war ration.
 * Buy liberty bond. That will be some thing you can tell your grandchildren about.
 * * Those millions loaned by Uncle Sam selves