davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-07-09
A PLACE TO PLAY AT LIFE larry A. Franck in the Century Maga-

A PLACE TO PLAY AT LIFE Harry A. Franck in the Century Maga-
 zine.
 Every one appears to be entitled to three guesses on the population of Quito Capital of EcuadoD The figures range from 5000 to sO,O00, with the truth some- where near the 75,Oo0 attributed to it in Stevenson's time. Though more in touch with the outside world than Bogota, 1t city apart. peaceful. restful spot, with some of the principal modern conven- fences of a crude, breakdown -often sort. but with little of the complicated lifa of the great centers of modern days.
 It is a splendid place to play at life, to lie fallow, and to catch up with one- self. with nothing more exciting to stir up existence than the evening concert inhabitants do not come to stroll at least once week. A score of carriages rattle over its cobbled streets. The rails of a street car line had already been laid years before our arrival, but the requi- site cars had not yet even been ordered.
 We of more powerful nations hardly realize what it means to live in so small country until 1t Is brought home by some such incident as hearing the entire Congress of Ecuador debate two hours whether it shall or shall not order two new electric light bulbs put up in front of the government palace
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-07-09

attract the attention of large manu- facturers of powder. The cave was known long ago. It was here that powder was made for the Confederate army. The earth in the cave contains on an average more than 2 per cent of nitrate of potassium, which when properly treated would yield enough
 7f great value.
 Dr. Smith is taking a personal in terest in the cave referred to. Under his direction. Dr. Prouty, assistant state geologist, visited the cave and made personal survey. Specimens of the saltpeter earth are being analysed in the laboratory at the uni versity. If the result comes up any thing like to the claim that is made for the saltpeter deposits, vast wealth will be added to the resources of Alabama.
 Saltpeter is always in demand. Now it is in great demand and as long as the war lasts it will bring fancy prices. It is not improbable that large industry will be established near
 we in Jackson county.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-07-09
A Popular Page

The automobile page is getting to be one of the most popular pages in the Sunday edition of The Age-Herald, according to the way I have noticed peo- pie going for it, and the comments that I have heard about it" said B. M. Stone
 Recently there was little item about my lack of ability in handling my new ly acquired flivver written in humorous style, and I have had as many letters about 1t as I would have expected anent the announcement of my joining the benedicts-which, mind you, l have not done as yet. But this goes to show that people turn to things that entertain rath- CT than to those that would perhaps ap- parenly appeal to the average reader first. l want to congratulate The Age Herald on this page, it is an interesting record of automobile row weekly"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-07-09

From the New York Times.
 SN RANGE first heard the name of
 l Joffre in 1894. when he was Ss S years old. He was south of the Sahara in Africa, major in the French army, when suddenly his name rang through France as "The Hero of Timbuk- tu." Years ago he told how it all hap pened in a little book that was trans lated into English under the title of My March to Timbucktoo." It is a modest, simple narrative, so condensed in style, so full of weighty matter pithily pre- sented, that it cannot fail to remind the reader of Caesars Commentaries"
 He had been sent to Senegal. French West Africa, to build railroad from Raves, at the head of navigation on the Senegal river, to the Niger. This route would give river and rail transportation between the French Atlantic ports in Af- rica and the famous City of Timbuktu. The world is today thus linked with this
 once mysterious trade mart in inner Africa.
 It was known that the merchants of
 Timbuktu were handling trade of some
 millions of dollars a year along the caravan routes across the Sahara; and that this commerce was greatly handi- capped by the Tuareg of the desert and
 the Fula of the Sudan who were alter
 nately masters of Timbuktu. as one or
 the other gained the ascendency. Each
 race,( in its turn, exacted enormous trib-
 ute as the price of permitting industry and commerce to be carried on; and the
 helpless people of the city were on the
 verge of destitution and despair when
 France decided to go to their relief.
 While Major Joffre was pushing his
 railroad forward as fast as possible, Colonel Bonnier was dispatched with troops to the relief of Timbuktu; and some time after, Joffre was ordered to leave the railroad in other hands and lead another body of troops to that city. He made wonderful march of about 800 miles under very difficult circum- stances, for the Niger was in flood, no boats could be obtained, and the troops had to march, heavy laden with sup plies through dense scrub. beyond the rivers reach. In spite of these impedi- ments, Joffre gained rapidly on the ad- vance party; but he did not hear till he was within few miles of Timbuktu that the Tuaregs, who were then masters of the city, had killed Colonel Bonier and l most of his men.
 Then Joffres turned defeat into splen- did victory. He had his force within the city almost before his presence was known; and he trounced the Tuaregs so | effectively that in few hours he was master of Timbuktu. to the great joy of | it's inhabitants. He so firmly estab- l lished French supremacy over that town and the whole of northern French West l Africa that the vast region has never again been In Jeopardy. The hero of ! Timbuktu suddenly became one Of the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-07-09
THE STACKER
From the Memphis News-scimitar.

From the Memphis News-Scimitar.
 am person shunned-an outcast.
 Appeals sway me not; conscience have murdered
 My name is byword upon the lips of decent people,
 While I am in the minority. my num- bers are far too large.
 Fear, selfishness. cowardice and false ideals are my gods" and rulers.
 Detesting myself secretly. bolster up belief in my stand by refusing to think.
 Fathered by "cringing fear" nurtured by "mollycoddle teachings" my skin Is saffron, my soul is dead.
 I hide my shortcomings under blatant mouthings of misstated beliefs; cover my cowardice beneath high-sounding lies.
 Called citizen" am an undesir- able; a man without feeling; person whose love of life and gain has far over- balanced sense Of duty and obligation.
 am-Ths Stacker.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-07-09
Duties Exacting

Because of the nature of their work policemen are among the most unpopu- lar people in the world" said E. A. Lyons If the policeman arrests a per son he has made an enemy of that per son; if he does not make the arrest there he should have done so and. therefore, dis likes him. When they perform their duty some one feels hurt about it. The pub lie should not have this attitude, but should remember that the policeman is doing what to the best of his knowledge and judgment, is his duty and that po- licemen, like the rest of us, err some- as others"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-07-09
MiIiEary 1rraimimg
AEeer &h@ War

1T F men in large numbers had a habit H of volunteering for war duty, as many politicians would have the public think, there would be no need for con- scription. It is impossible to recruit the regular army up to 3O0,000 Tn time of war, even when the President of the United States, as commander in-chief, appeals for men on patriotic grounds. The ranks will have to be filled by draft.
 Members of Congress who voted against the selective draft bill talked eloquently about volunteers. Accord ing to their way of thinking this coun- try should ask only for volunteers. MT. Bryan declared that if a call were made for large army a million men would spring to arms between sunrise and sunset, or words to that effect. But as experience has shown, it would take long time to raise formidable army if men were depended on to come forward voluntarily and be mus tered into service.
 Great Britain's military status when the war started three years ago was something like ours. It was depend ing on volunteers, but they came too slowly. The government then resorted to conscription as the only way to raise an army of millions of men.
 The situation in this country was carefully considered by army experts and by the President. A selective draft was the only solution of the problem for raising an adequate num- Der of troops. Critics of the plan, now that it is law of the land, are illogical, to say nothing of being un- patriotic. The time for discussion has passed. The time for action has come.
 If Congress had adopted training bill with year of intensive training compulsory, when such measure was first proposed, there would have been no conscription today. A universal training system has many things to commend it. In the first place it is strictly democratic. The duty of serv- ice is borne by all classes of society alike.
 When peace comes it will probably continue for long period. Military activity will cease for time, but the discipline of a soldier is good fo1 youth, morally and physically, and there will always be place for it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-07-09
Misses the Old Route

Although 1 have been running on the cutoff on the Louisville and Nashville between Birmingham and Decatur for the past three years" said Conductor Tom Hobart, the dean of conductors of this district, T have not yet got used to it and miss the old route. I reckon I went over it for so many years that it got to be like home to me, and the change to the new route is like moving into a new house. It may get better in many ways, but one misses the old place in which he spent so many happy years."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-07-09
Alabarma's s Rich
Natural Resources

NaGwral Resources
 .1E Ew states have such thorough 4 ly organized geological survey as Alabama, and yet with all it's up- to-date exploitation new and valuable discoveries are from time to time in evidence. The survey as an institu- tion dates back into the '40s and in this time, through the indefatigable work of Dr. Eugene Smith, state geologist, vast industrial develop ments have been made. Millions upon millions of dollars have been added to the wealth of the Birmingham dis trict alone.
 It used to be all coal and iron. Later other minerals were added. Py- rites and graphite are now being pro- duced on a large scale and are com- mercially valuable. In fact, graphite F one of the states best assets.
 Very recently saltpeter in one of the big caves in northern Alabama Jackson county, near Limrock-has been found rich enough in analysis to
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-07-09
This Years Fair
 To Be Best of All

ID A. BROWN, as president of UNo the State Fair association, has been a great upbuilder in assem- bling Alabama's agricultural re- sources. Whenever enthusiasm waned MT. Brown came strongly to the front and by rallying all the business interests of Birmingham, made the fair splendid success.
 Mir. Brown is still on his job. We are going to have the best fair this fall that was ever held. President Brown will be assisted by James L. Dent, a state fair specialist. As sec retary MT. Dent will look after all details and from now until the gates open he will be one of the busiest men in Birmingham.
 It was not many years ago when the active work of the fair was put off until the autumn. It was even later in the summer before the cata- logs were issued. But with the mod ern snap that came with MT. Browns
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-07-09
BIRMINGHAM MEN IN OHIO

From the Canton (O.) News
 Burton Knisley has rendered his resig- nation as editor of the Canton Daily News. effective today.
 After a short vacation MT. Knisley will probably be located in Washington or Cleveland with the Scripps newspaper properties.
 Joseph B. Babb of Birmingham. Ala. has been appointed editor to succeed MT. Knisley and will assume his duties Tues day.
 c. w. Ufford, who has been business manager of the News for the past eight months, becomes general manager and will have supervision over the editorial, business and circulation departments of the paper.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-07-09
BYWAYS OF LITERATURE

From the New York World
 The passing the other day of Katharine Sarah Macquoid, an English novelist and writer of books of travel, at the ad- vanced age of s3, was not notable event except perhaps, In respect to the often- discussed question of the relation of lit- erary work to longevity. Few Americans were familiar even with the name of this literary toiler woh wrote 60 or more books besides innumerable short stories and ar- ticles. Her last volume was published only few years ago.
 Another event of possibly greater lit- erary interest was the death recently of the widow of Anthony Trollope at the age of 96 Yet such interest as attaches to her name may be indicated by the fact that the London Daily Telegraph devoted a full column to Anthony Trol- lope and about 10 lines to the nominal her death she served the fame of her husband by giving England's journals an opportunity of recalling the place Trol- lope held in English letters and still holds to the literary student of Queen Victorias reign.
 Both of these lives are examples of the interest attaching to the byways of lit erature. That writer may go on for half century producing a book every year, with essays, stories or poems in the intervals, and then drop out of sight with brief mention and perhaps still briefer l interest in a generation that has forgot l ten the books she wrote, is not a pleas | ing reflection to busy writers to whom
 such an event may presage the fate yet | to overtake their fame.
 l And yet in some respects such writers i held an enviable place. The fact that
 Katherine Macquoid produced a book
 every year for 60 years shows that she had friends and readers to whom her writings appealed.
 l Whether such writers follow Anthony Trollope's plan. write certain number 1 of lines every day and stop as promptly at the hour as the workman leaves his
 shop, or whether they do their daily
 stint in hours of inspiration such as poets l are supposed to have, does not greatly matter The chief thing is that their | readers and their publishers can count l upon them as trustfully as the clock.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-07-09
HOTEL LOBBIES
Splendid Food Crop

'Fayette county learned her lesson last year." said J. c. Grimsley, the banker of Fayette "and she is not depending on cotton but has splendid food crops to pull her through. Last year was the first time that many of the best farm CTS had to buy forage and grains for their stock, but unless something unusual happens before fall, the county will not have to depend on the west for corn, oats and hay"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-07-09
FOUNDER OF THE RED GROSS

T By Theodosia Garrison. Henri Duant. look down from heaven
 and see The great and glorious harvest that has
 sprung From that one seed you sowed-that pity
 flung From your high heart to crushed human
 ity. You were the first to bend and recog-
 nize And lift brother from field of pain: Now, tens of thousands seeing with
 your eyes, Follow that path you made amongst the
 slain. You were the rhst to raise the Cross
 of eRd The stricken and forgotten hosts above; See now, what banners to the winds are
 spread. What faithful priests work on to prove
 your love. Oh. sower of the seed your harvest lies A glory in the sun--and high and free Your holy banner of compassion flies Henri Dunant. look down from heaven
 and zee
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-07-09
ImnroYe the HiIImam

"As soon as we can finish the details of plans now being formulated" said N. w. Driver, the new manager of the Hillman hotel important improvements will be made to the Hillman hotel. We expect to improve both the hotel and the service in every way possible. We are going to try to make all guests at the Hillman feel as much at home as we possibly can."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-07-09
NOT NEEDED

From the Talladega Home.
 This country can get along without the fellow who is a patriot for profit.-Age-j Herald And still better without the fell low who has made such a profit ou9 of war prices that his dollars have| smothered the last spark of patriotisna| of any kind.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-07-09

BEGINNING THE DAY-o noble march of time! A shining procession of the years! With what ordered majesty you come out of the past and disappear in the future! what things you have seen--what -noDih- ties, what degredations! What treasures you carry! What tales you could tell!-H. NJ. E.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-07-09
Held far Profit

'Is there any cotton in Warrior?" Dr. T. M. Davidson was asked Yes" said he. T have one bale. I bought it when the buy-a-bale movement was at it's height, and I have kept it ever since. It cost me 10 cents. Some sold at loss but I have a good profit in mine.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-07-09
LOTTERIES EARLY FAME

marked men of France; and the steady advancement that came to him culmi- mated, early in the present war, in his supreme commandership of the French forces, and later in the position recreated for him, of marshal of France.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-07-09
PATRIOTIC COUNTRY

 From the Chicago Tribune.
 An Englishman touring the United States writes to Manchester paper: "In all my travels I have never seen such outward evidences of patriotism. Wher- ever the gaze falls is seen the Star Span gled Banner. Even the barbers' poles in this country are striped red, white and triots!"
 LUKE M'LUKE SAYS
 A father is doomed to many disap- pointments, including his great expec- tations that his sons will do better than he did.
 A woman will go long way out of her way in order to make the neigh bors think she is having it.
 History is about as unreliable as other things. It all depends on who wrote it. It seems to us that the old-fashioned woman who used to cry for what she wanted got it oftener than does the modern suffragette.
 It may sound paradoxical. But it isn'i the folks who are tilted that are dis appointed in love. It is the folks who marry.
 II q WOlldH ohoWSs AST lud she is homely when she looks at it, shs can always look at her retouched pho. tograph and see that she is handsome because the camera can't lie.
 One thing in favor of the kind of g town that has wooden awnings in from of the stores is that taxes are low. The surest way to make a woman dis play her bad temper Is for her husband to insinuate that she has one
 Talking about going to extremes, some mems corns hurt them so much, that they give them a headache.
 Before he gets her he raves over hel wealth of hair. After he gets her he raves twice as much when he finds il scattered all over the dresser.
 Many man who is too nice to speak of tinkers dam will cheerfully re. fer to an intnerant tinsmith's obstruc ton.
 Another citizen who never fools any. body is the lad who is lion down town and rabbit at home.
 The smartest woman we ever knew was one who would never recommend a washwoman or a dressmaker to hel friends.
 A waiter can wear a dress suit and maintain his dignity. And that's more tran most of the men he is waiting on can do.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-07-09

that spelt progress.
 There is no reason why Birming- hams State Fair should not be the best in the entire south. In fact, it was the best last year and it will doubtless be so again in the coming fall
 If Alabama's big food crops are not up to the 1917 level expected, they will be large enough to attract att tention. The minor crops-vegetables and the like-will certainly make a fine showing.
 Live stock will demonstrate the fact that Alabama can feed itself. The cat tie and hogs in Alabama were never so plentiful as now.
 Cotton will make creditable ex- hibit, comparatively speaking. The yield will be small, but what there is  of it will be produced with greater economy than usual-more bales to the acre-and will bring high prices. The year 1917 will be great year for Alabama and the annual fair will be of the highest importance.
 
 On one occasion when Oliver Goldsmith had given a poor woman the blankets off his bed he got cold so he ripped open his mattress and buried himself in the feathers Next winter, shiver- ing mortals who can't pay fancy price for coal won't be able to follow Olivers plan, because the chances are they don't possess a feather bed
 An Oklahoma sheriff compelled the German manager of a theatre to kiss the American flag while standing on his own stage beneath his own spotlight. That sheriff has thorough way of do- ing things.
 * *
 You may count on it. The inventor who rushes to the nearest newspaper office with a description of a device to destroy U-boats hasn't solved the prob- lem
 King Alexander of Greece would rath- CT drive fast motor car than bother his head with politics. There are any num- Der of people who feel the same way.
 * *
 Efforts to "clean up'' burlesque have been so successful that it is no longer considered wild and wicked to see a bur lesque show.
 You'd think the fact that American soldiers in Paris were kissed by French girls would speed up recruiting in this country.
 "Teddies' or ''Sammies, just so they do their 'bit'' in helping to trounce the Germans, their name will take care of itself.
 Old John Barleycorn is beginning to think that he has been much harder hit by the war than the battling Bel gians.
 pr. Sun Tat Sen not only looks like a western business man, but he knows thing or two about western politics. A reduction of prices that leaves them higher than they were before is, to say the least of it, misnomer.
 * * k
 Since food conservation has been made fashionable, there is no reason why 1t shouldn't sweep the country.
 If men are not allowed pockets in their clothes next year. slackers may be seen carrying vanity bags.
 X
 Uncle Sam's hospitality is famous, but the latch-string is no longer hanging out for the Teuton spy.
 * *
 The amateur gardener gets acquainted with great many bugs he never saw before.
 It is surprising how many different objects can be mistaken for a periscope.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-07-09
Great Institution

T have been reading The Herald since 1885," said M. l.. Ward, the well known lawyer, 'and I would be at a loss without it, I look on it as a great Birmingham institution and am glad thatit is putting on lot of new sub scribers"