davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-07
MORE IGNORANCE

From the Montgomery Advertiser.
 A writer in the New York Tribune tells the following story:
 Sir: It is reported that Marie An toinette, when she was told that the French people had no bread replied: Why don't they eat cake2 This is supposed to argue on her part cer- tain lack of understanding of life's realities. Recently, it is reported, wealthy summer resident of Berkshire, on being informed by his superinten- dent that the necessary labor could not be secured to now the lawns, tele- graghed from New York: Plough them up and plant them, then A century of democracy does not seem to have eliminated all the ignorance regarding life's realities. The French were an- gered by Marie. Unfortunately we are only amused by our wealthy summer resident"
 This is but another 70, and you keep bee, do you?" story. America has always been more of an agricultural country than any other kind or coull- try, save a free country Our love is shot through with agricultural terms and anecdotes yet the lay public re- main ignorant of many of the simplest facts and rules touching agriculture
 We shouldn't be surprised to see a civic society in New York inveigh against the realty owners for not planting corn on Manhattan roof gar deus
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-07

From the Christian Herald.
 interesting on Sundays and holidays when the national costumes are donned. The cottages are generally made of stone or boards, plastered over and are then covered with coat of whitewash. The straw roof is ire quently crowned with green growing moss, which adds to its picturesque ap- pearance. if not to it's healthfulness Water is drawn from the wells by a long pole balanced near the center These wells have a decided old world appearance. The interior of the cot tages is usually divided into two rooms. In one rooms the entire family live, eat and sleep, in the other in more or less harmonious contentmept dwell the COWS, pigs chickens and geese. No household would be com plete without a number of geese Around the cottages number of chill dren are sure to be seen playing. A dozen or 20 or 30 of such cottages, eacn separated only by small yard make up a village. If there is marriage able daughter in the house the lintal of the door and the window surround ings are ornamented with little irreg- ular hands. which is a notice to the marriageable young man.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-07

Get . neat, affectionate. true cem- panion, "> advises matrimonial bureau. Sounds alIurlng, but how much does she weigh2
 *
 Irwin s. Cobb says Billy Sunday looks like Eddie Foy. Maybe so. but Eddie is considerably more of father than Billy is.
 The Milwaukee baseball player who shot waiter because of poor service has probably given umpires world of trouble.
 Judging from reports, that new Stokes gun of the British Is one of the best little killers in the business
 * * * spend 24 hours day trying to kill time, and that's hard work.
 The municipal pool' referred to in a headline is not the kind that calls for a bathing suit
 Japan will not permit kissing on the stage. What is a movie ffllum without a kiss?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-07
WHAT A BILLION MEANS m the Los Angeles Times.

II iOIl lHe IOs AHBoloS IlIn6S.
 If a railway train, proceeding at the rate of mile a minute had been at the dawn of the Christian era start ed around the earth on a straight track, It's object being to run 1 ,ooo, ,ooo- 900 miles without stop. it would have been necessary for that train to circle the earth 10000 times and 1t would not have come to the end of its jour. ney until nearly New Years Eve, 1 2s 16 centuries after Christ was born. During its frantic flight 1t would ha ye seen the Savior live and die; Rome rise, flourish and decay; Britain dis covered and vanquished oy the Roman legions. and London and Paris built It would have proceeded on it's Journey throughout the dark ages. It would have witnessed the birth of Columbus the discovery of America and have a couple of hundred years yet to con tinue.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-07
BIENNIAL X suCCEss
Musical Courier.

From the Musical Courier
 Many of the delegates and visitors to the recent N. F. M. c. convention and biennial in Birmingham passed through Now York last week en route to their homes. and all of them brought the same story about the striking success of the big event in the south, Birmingham excelled even it's own previous proud record for hos pitality. the concerts were or re- markedly high order and unbounded enthusiasm ana spirit of eager co- operation mark ed the meetings of the delegates and their working together The N. r. M. c. is just beginning to come into it's own. The growing power and influence of the organization have been known heretofore to watchful ob- serversi in few years that reaiisa- tien win be matter of general knewl- edge
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-07
c2axNlMMl@ansfI
LUKE M'LUKE SAYS

A man should get behind other stub horn propositions. But it is different with mules.
 And the man who knows 1t all puts mighty little of 1t into practice.
 A young man imagines that getting married is the first thing he ought to do. And later on he realizes that 1t should have been the last.
 Every man is afraid of germs-un- less they happen to be on roll of greenbacks or girls lips.
 A lot of these war brides who grabbed a fellow because he wanted to avoid army duty will discover that war is hell long after the war Is over.
 When opportunity knocks at the door of pessimist the pessimist mere ly remembers that the world is filled with knockers.
 Add it all up and youll find that you have to pay pretty dearly for tho things that you got for nothing.
 A fat man would rather be fat thai, go hungry. But 1t Is different with q fat woman.
 The trouble with tho man who Is pleased with himself is that he ss usually dispieased with everybody else.
 A man may have other trouplos thhl boy hasn't, But he doesn't have to worry for fear there won't be enough pie and ice cream in the world to go around.
 Anyway, the old maid has the con seiatien of knowing that she doesn't have to take in washing to support some worthless man.
 What doth it prefit man to know all about diction when his wife know all about contradiction? jump out of the frying pan into tils fire, People will mere1y ask what thu hex yeu were doing tn the 8ryins pan
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-07
MARCHTONESs DE MATNTENON

him letters, he became interested in hes erness' position became daily more insup- portable, for she freqeuntly auarreled with Madame Montespan, who com- plained of her to the King. 'Why do you not dismiss her then?" said he. But Madame Montespan thought it more easy to appease than to replace.
 By this time Madame Scaron had reached the age of 4S, though still hand- some. Strange as 1t may seem, the in- terest of the King in the governess grew gradually until she finally completely won his affections. The more she was known the more she was valued, and at length, partly from esteem and partly from re- lgious scruples, Louis, by the advice of his confessor, married her when she was g years old and he 4S. No contract was signed, no settlement made, but the Arch bishop of Paris bestowed the nuptial benediction.
 Shortly after the marriage the King which was the only estate she ever had. Seeing her wonderfully pleased with her estate, the King called her publicly Mime. de Maintenon. Unlike most French women who have been thus elevated. Mime. de Maintenon never interfered in affairs of state and avoided all appear ance of intrigue. The marriage, how ever, was kept very secret and the only outward mark of her elevation was that at mass she sat in one of the two little galleries of gilded domes designed for the King and Queen
 But in spite of her honors, Mme de Maintenon was not happy. In letter to a friend she wrote: 'I have at last risen to favor, but I protest to you, my deaf girl, that every one of these conditionH leaves in the mind dismal vacuity."
 The way to please the King was nevor to be out of spirits or health, but the force she put upon herself for this pur- pose rendered Mme de Maintenon's life a burden. To her brother she said; T can hold out no longer. To amuse Is the most perfect slavery"
 Finally Frances retired to the convent of St. Cyr. after she found that her struggle to be publicly acknowledged queen was useless. The King was ins clined to grant the request. but was per- suaded from doing so by his counsellors.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-07
OLD GLORY BREAD
New York Correspondence in Pittsbr Diana tch

New York Correspondence in Pittsburg
 Dispatch.
 "old Glory Bread" was placed on the menu of the Hotel Martinique yesterday. It is said to be highly nutritious and rep resents a saving In wheat flour. A simi- lar kind of bread Is being eaten through out France and Is very nourishing. The following Is the recipe for this wartime bread: Four ounces rye flour. F ounces whole wheat, three pounds of white flour, one quart of water. one-half ounce of yeast and one ounce of salt The chef of the Martinique hotel says that. besides having more nutriment. this bread would keep at least a week before get ting at all stale. The management of the hotel encourages the consumption of the new bread by making an appeal on the menu cards for the practice of food con- serVation
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-07
BANDITS AND LI1TERA ATURE

our history, criminals though they weras Yet we appeal in vain to the standard literature of the day for a word of ina formation regarding these types, albeit our own investigation of the subject has been cursory.
 In the Advertiser library there ara three standard encyclopedias, Britannica, Nelson's and the International. We have examined other similar reference books. In none, however, is there division or space devoted to American bandits The James boys, for instance. the most no- torious and dangerous bandits that ever operated on the continent, are not men, toned,
 Only in the yellow backs is there any literature on American bandits, and the yellow back is never authoritative
 The omsission cannot be justifbied on the theory that these men were mere criminals who contributed nothing to so- ciety to recommend their names to the writers of our annals. The commission can be explained only on the ground that our literature is Puritanical. The writers of such of our history as has been ac- cepted as standard have been disposed to gloss over the unpleasant facts of our history in many conspicuous in- stances. It has been the point of view of the conventional writer that to please pious old people even at sacrifice of essentials is to excel; and while we do not regard bandit history as wholly esq sential to our literature, the point on view which caused our historians to nes- lect issues and persons not approved by them or their immediate constituents, seems also to have caused them to neg lect the Quantrelles and the Jameses.
 Certainly we can have no rounded, sat- isfactory prose epic of frontier life which does not take note of the type of men we have mentioned There are too many people who from time to time find thena- selves interested in this subject for writers of history longer to ignore the seamy side of life in America.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-07
From the Pittsburg Post

From the Ptttsburg Post.
 ENTRANCES D'AUBIGNE, who lTJ through French royal favor was S given the title of Marchioness de Maintenon had a meteoric career during the latter part of the seventeenth and early part of the eighteenth centuries, the result of which was that her name is one of the most familiar in French history.
 Frances D'Aubigne was born in prison. Her father had been placed there for murdering his first wife and marrying Frances mother, but the mother was so devoted that she at length obtained leave to confine herself with her husband in prison.
 Later when the husband and wife were released, but found themselves unable to maintain their daughter, she was adopted by Madame villette of Poitou, her aunt on her fathers side. As religion entered serious into affairs in those days, and Madame Villette being a severe Protes- tant, an aunt on the mothers side, Madame de Neuillant, secured the custo- dy of the child and took her to Paris.
 In the gay French capital the beauty and accomplishments of the girl wera soon recognized. At the house of the famous Scaron she was frequent visi- tor, and this celebrated wit began to feel lively interest in the girl, and loved her without daring to avow it.
 But Madame Neuillant finally grew tired of her charge, and, recognizing this, Scaron picked up sufficient cour- age to propose and was accepted. The pair lived happily together up to the time of the husbands death. when Frances again found herself in reduced circum- stances.
 She had been brought to the attention of Madame de Montespan, who was an eminent woman of the world of the period and through her the King gave the pretty widow a pension, and when Madame Montespan wished to conceal the birth of the children she had by the King, Madame Scaron was thought a proper person to be entrusted with their education. She was, therefore, created governess by the King.
 The King dislil1ed the. governess at first and fancied her female pedant but finally when she was compelled to write
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-07

From the Montgomery Advertiser. 6Tl HE curtain falls on the final scene
 of the operations of the Jeff liar
 rison band of train robbers on Tuesday and the successful lold-up Of a train in Wisconsin on Wednesday. The incident serves to remind us that while the day of the bandit is not over by any was 20, 90 and 40 years ago. It is prac- tically as easy to rob train now as 1t ever was, but escape Is more difficult than in the frontier days
 |. There is little of the spectacular and romantic in the short career of the liar rison gang. They were a sordid bunch who loved money rather more than ad- venture, though they possessed meas ure of boldness which cannot be denied them
 America has developed a type of ban dit peculiar to this country and not par alleled elsewhere. The pirate of the high seas looks to Spain for the glory of his ancestry. The bandit prince of the cas- tie and feudal days, known to every Eu-
 
 ropean country, was half patriot and half robber. These have gone down in literature to fascinate posterity as it gradually appears above the mists of the dawn.
 But the American bandit, the man on horseback, armed with rifle and two revolvers, attired in a broad-brimmed hat, high boots, long spurs and a hand kerchief and mounted on fast horse, was not only romantic figure, a bold and daring figure, but a type unlike the highwayman of any other country.
 The typical American bandit must take his character from the west. from the man of the plains and lariat. When we think of the American bandit we think of the Quantrelle boys. the James boys the Fords and Al Jennings. These are the men who in their day terrorized the west and baffled for years the detec- tive genius of the land.
 They are interesting figures in our history. Actually they are a part of
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-07
ONCE BAGDAD'S RIT' A IT

NN F ASHINGTON, May 6.--(Spe-
 WNW cia1 1)-"Samara. the scene of
 recent success scored by General Maude. in command of British troops in Mesopotamia. was once, for a brief period of 40 years. rival of Bagdad" says a war geography bnl- let,n of the National Geographic so- ciety.
 .The samara of today is almost swallowed up within the site of the ancient and mighty city of Old sa- mara or samarra It Is situated on the left bank of the Tigris some 65 miles northwest of Bagdad. and Is connect
 ed with the right bank of the river by a bridge of boats. The ruins of the ol1-
 CT city stretch along the left bank
 for distance of nearly 20 miles. and
 among the crumbling monuments of
 it's departed glory are the chief
 mosque. the Malviyeh minaret and two
 palaces built by the ninth century call
 iphs One of the royal residences was
 erected by Motawakkil at cost of 2, ,ooo, ,0oo. 900 dinars (s4,5o0.0oo). the money being extorted from minor of
 ficials of the realm who had abused their power to amass great wealth "Samara Is now . town of ---r--- e500 inhabitants, with a fe' thanf and shops on the opposite eenk of the river. Tn tho center of ne town Is the pilgrimage church of Il stsh tfas and there is an interesting 9il quay faced with burned bricks. Brfore tke outbreak of the war there VI put lie carriage service to Bagdat also an occasional pilgrims steamer
 "The star of 6amara came Into fhe l ascendant in the year Sa4 wisn tns caliph Motasim bought some sFsitorg in this vicinity. Two years later ne 1 transferred his residence ht A trefa Bagdad because his bodyt 4sfs ef l Turkish slaves had by their ~xfesses and impiety aroused the ht ltg the people of the capital T aSGui et antagonizing the populaee efea F.
 ly afraid to take aides af ns' hss
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-07
HARD ON THE HOBO
the Minneapolis Tribune.

From the Minneapolis Tribune,
 The hobo and the I-won't-wori are going to have hard times in Minnesota this summer, if having to work means hard times for them. The rural cemmu- mites as well aset the cities are going to plan plenty of work for those who have no regular jobs and the fellow who re- fuses to work will be dealt with under the vagrancy law. If he persists in re- fusing to work it will be the werkheuse or the jail for him, and in these cara vansaries there will be no pie or cake. The professional tramp Is pretty sure to lose some of his wanderlust, fer il woat make much difference where he goes. he will have to work for what he eats. The war may solve the tramp prob lsaa for us snyxay,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-07
Preparing for Real Service

George Griffin Everybody knows George Griffin at Parker's) famous for one thing, if not for dozen. Georges principal feat is that of Coming in on his own steam" as George describes his mode of transportation to and from work, he being life- long apostle of bicycle rid ing for good health's sake. When inter- viewed on conscription recently George said this:
 ITO be sure, I believe in 1t. You ought to get back here and stand with me and hear ail of these patriotic utterances that have to stand for every day. They are shouting for Uncle Sam, wearing flags as big as table napkins, and never miss a patriotic rally of any kind. But the recruiting stations don't seem to get any of the boys that entertain me all day with their uncorked patriotism One asked me the other day if I was at the mass meeting Great stuff George he says you ought to have been there but told that guy that I was at home clean ing my rifle, getting ready to go to the front didn't have time to attend mass meetings"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-07
olNCH!

From the Houston Post.
 We cannot see far enough ahead te know who is going te have the softest snap in 1918, but our simoleen goes on the man whe runs for Congress 1T Alabama against Ag, Huddlssten,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-07

1908; tables of organization; may reading; military sketching; field service regulations, information; ad- vance guards; information and pa trols marches, shelter; administra- tion (army regulations); field artil- lery material; coast artillery material; instruction order; marching maneu vers; explosives, storage and care; duties of emplacement officer; rifle in war; hippology; manual of interior guard duty.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-07

BEGINNING THE DAY-Lord. in the deep of the earth the iowly seed feels the stir of life and starts to-. ward the parent sun. With what unresting heart the day is sought, the stalk is built and then the su- preme offering of flower or fruit K spread for the Light-Giver So would |, Q my God. would feel Thy life. climb toward Thee and lay my all at Thy feet. In Christ's name. Ameu.-H. M. F..
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-07
Feeding Home and .

Feeding Home ana SelInS 10 Others There is one portion of the south that is in an admirable state of preparedness in food supply,' said Col. N. F. Thomp- son, who has just returned from six weeks trip through central, southeastern and northeastern Georgia. Colonel
 Thompson states that that section, or the
 major portion of it, is not only supplied
 with bread and meat sufficient for the
 people to feed themselves, but is ac-
 tually selling corn and hogs to other
 sections.
 q saw six carloads of young hogs shipped from Dublin, Ga, to Louisville, Ky, packing houses" he said, and banker in Dublin told me that his bank had handed over s1Oo,Ooo for the farmers of that county in hogs and cattle this season. a sum greater than his bank had handled in IA years of previous record combined. A flouring mill in Dublin had been running night and day grinding To- cal wheat and another mill is about ready there for this years crop
 "A good deal of wheat has been raised. even as Tar sOuln as Hlerce dAu WiiSo-> counties, which are on parallel lit tie south of Montgomery. It is in flour that the south is most deficient. and | in the food campaign which is on all over the south, this deficiency should be stressed and arrangements made to hup- ply 1t the coming year. The president of the Bank of Tennille, Ga.. told me that 1 one acre of ground in the outskirts of | the town of Tennille had supplied his I family of five persons with all the flour and meal that they had used for the past
 three years This can be done practically all over the south If the ground is prop erly prepared for 1t in advance.
 'In the conservation of meat, there should be an ordinance in all the towns and cities of the south forbidding the l killing of calves for veal or pigs under eight months old. These can easily be l kept until next fall or winter and will
 then furnish double the present suppls from them, and meat will then be more badly needed. Hotels and restaurants should cut out veal and young pigs from
 their menus entirely. The farmers of the south will raise all the food crops neecsd to supply this section if the business men of our towns and cities will assure them of markets, and this is just now the
 one essential thing to do