davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-31

Junius B. Wood, in a cable dispatch
 to the Chicago Daily News, from the
 American army in France:
 Any person who has travelled through an army zone back of the fighting 5 lines has been greatly impressed by
 the sight of hundreds of thousands of
 men working at all tasks from those
 of expert mechanics down to the rough jobs of unskilled laborers. Their &C., tivity is not of the. so-calleS military
 nature. They are not counted when round figures of millions of men ill
 the field roll off the tongue. But their work is absolutely essential to the sup port of the fighting men.
 Many of these workers are engaged in rebuilding the military roads
 France has 15,O0O such men in one sector--under enemy gunfire, while others are farther back in the shops
 repairing trucks, guns and machinery. Many times as many men who are do- ing war work at home are not counted. Finding laborers is one of the most serious problems of the American ex- petition. Every other army has been confronted by the same situation, but they have overcome it partly by the importation of laborers and partly by having war prisoners do the work wise have to do. But there are never enough prisoners to do all the jobs back of the lines, and the United States cannot depend upon that. source of sup ply. Then, too, prisoners must work at specified distance from the lines; must be kept away from inflammable material and they always require a guard.
 One source of labor supply Is availa- b1e to America Mexico is able to fur nish the American expeditionary forces
 with thousands of capable laborers accustomed to a climate similar to that of France. Portions of Mexico are extremely cold on account of the high attitudes and the humidity is equal to that in this country. The success of the United States with Mexican
 
 turn to Mexicans, after the war would not be difficult, as the distance is shorter to Mexico than ifis to the for eign countries from which the other allied nations draw their labor sup ply.
 Based on the figures of the other
 armies, for fighting force of 1000, 900 men labor divisions numbering close to 100000 men are needed along tKg line of communication to keep it going. With the additional work of getting g started the need is considerably great CT. It is imperative that the work ba done even if 1t is necessary to with draw soldiers from training, recupera- ton and fighting. I
 Until a few days ago the American labor shortage was so serious that hundreds of soldiers were withdrawn
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-31
LUKE M,LUKE SAYS

Strange how stingy girls are with their kisses. The first time you kiss a girl you are almost certain to learn from her that it is the first time she has ever been kissed by man.
 Some loafers spend their lives sitting down and getting comfort out of the re- flection that the last shall be first
 Another damli: Once upon time man lost all of his money and didn't lose most of his friends.
 Some men are waiting for opportunity to come to them and ask them what they'll have to drink.
 A woman may find her husband mo- notonous. but she does all she can to break the monotony.
 We never could understand how col ored man manages to resist the tempta- ton to vote under the rooster.
 You can write a business letter that doesn't mean anything. But it is hard to write that kind of love letter.
 There is nothing so remarkable about love at first sight if the girl has that kind of bank account.
 We have often pondered over what a fearsome mixup in relationship there would be in this country if woman could buy divorces at the 1O-cent store.
 A mother who is putting up a front in society is always surprised to learn that her children are as old as they are.
 Solomon went around arrayed in all his glory But the Queen of Sheba never went around unarrayed like modern woman.
 We all hate gossps But we are all ways ready to listen to what they havs to tell,
 Many man who paid $20 for we'd ding ring last June now realizes that he was jobbed out of about $l9.70.
 Smoking is another enjoyable habit, so We expect Congress will give the states seven years to prohibit the use oi tobacco.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-31
LABORERS NEEDED IN FRANCE

from the training area to start con- struction work absolutely essential to the future of the expedition. Regulars stopped firing at targets, practicing with grenades, bayonet drilling and learning other branches of warfare to wield the pick and shovel and ham mer and saw at the supply base along the lines of communication. In one place I found men from seven differ ent organizations at work. Within the last few days the first consignments of laborers have arrived, and the sol diers now are returning to the train ing area as fast as their places are filled
 Until the recent arrivals, the colored stevedores at the seaports were the only American working attachments in France. Their number was trival com pared with the many thousands needed,
 Most of the working companies of artisans will be selected from the na- tional army, in the ranks of which there are men experienced in the par- ticular trades required. Such com
  as the vanguard of the hosts of fight ing men in this army who are coming later.
 The British and French armies are using Chinese labor. Great Britain tried men from tropical climates, but they were unable to withstand the rigorp of the Gallic winters. There Is an
 
 from the West Indies. France is us. ing Italian laborers, also, their regi1 ments being offered by their own coun- trymen. Both armies also have prison-l CTS of war to work for them, as has Germany.
 These do not include the thousands of civilians, including women and girls, many of whom have donated their services to the army in clerlcal and other positions. There are thou sands of English girls who are called 'waacs" by the army brethren from the initials of .sWomans Army Auxil-l iary corps" worn on their uniformsI The English also have many chauffeurss and clerks in France. There are com-a paratively few such volunteers in thes American army.
 Midway between military labor andS fighting comes quasimilitary works such as policing the lines of communi- cation, regulating the traffic on mili-7 tary road crossings and doing provosts guard duty in cities and at the basesS and ports of entry. England found its possible to recruit civilians for thiss kind of work in France. The menl wear tie regular army uniform, except that they have a distinguishing red4 cap. For the American expedition tha3 provost guard work is practically alla being done by marines, who have beens selected because of their experienced discipline and military appearance. The$ result is that the marine companies4 are scattered through France and Eng Y land. their war training being haltedA by the necessity of doing civilian work.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-31
LAST STRAW IN KNITTING,

From the Pittsburg Dispatch.
 Many critics, or hypercritics. have ventured into print with more or less cautious assertions that war knitting has gone to fathomless extremes when it is pursued in all sorts of public places. The old charge against the Pharisees in regard to their choice of busy corners for praying that they might be seen and heard of men has had the changes rung upon it most ungallantly. Hoods Song of the Shirt" has been parodied with such substitutions as Knit. knit, knit. at theatre, church and cafe" and so on without ending.
 Much of this is mere cavil for the sake of cavil, much for the satisfac- ton of grouchy humor. much in search for something to write or talk about. At least one critic, however, it. must be admitted, has aroused sympathy, and her plaint will doubtless appeal to the most enthusiastic of knitters. She is woman of Bryn Mawr, famous for
 a redundant atmosphere of estheticism. She is devotee of the finest there is in art. and therefore, when she att tends opera or concert or orchestral performance she discovers she is an- noyed when she is forced to listen to
 the discord of clicking knitting needles around her, the knitters industriously
 and ostentatiously adding stitches to
 sock or sweater or whatnot even dur ing the rendition of the finest pas sages. There are musical and theatrical per- formances where clicking knitting nee dies would be welcome and delicate
 melody compared to the sounds pro- duced by artists" Even the click, click, click might be pardoned when 1 it checks sleep in the presence of a
 drowsy speech or sermon but surely {, it will be granted that the point of
 the Bryn Mawr esthete is well taken
 when amid the dulcet pianissimo pas
 sages of an instrumental musical in | depreciation of high order, or the love cooing in opera or drama the cooins | done by good imitators of the real I thing, the friction of steel needles
 booms forth in snappy competition. The
 lady is justified in knitting her brows
 in the public prints.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-31
Business Prosperity
 and the Old Year

.WAR conditions have ' wrought
 WV great changes in the commer- cial and social life of the nation. Material prosperity has been more in evidence this year than in many years past, but it has been based almost all together on demands for war supplies. Labor, both skilled and unskilled, has been employed at high wages. The pay rolls in the Birmingham district were never so large. Money has found it's way through all the arteries of trade, hence the large volume of busi- ness which has come to the merchants.
 Conservation in essential commodi- ties-food, fuel and raiment-which the government has been urging, has had attention by all classes of society during the last six months. Food waste has been greatly minimized, but even closer economy will be needed in the future.
 Regarding mercantile business the outlook , is especially bright. Indus trial activity will be maintained at top speed and thrift should be the rule everywhere.
 The world will witness bloody bat ties in the new year-probably the bloodiest of all. Sorrow and mourn ing will be the lot of thousands of loyal Americans. But men and women who are aiding in winning the war will, unless they be plunged into grief, wear a cheerful demeanor rather than give way to foreboding.
 General trade is always quiet dur ing the first two or three weeks of the new year, but it is almost sure to reach high record during the first three months. At any rate, 1918 will come to the merchants with smiles in- stead of frowns.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-31
NO sNoBBERY ON BATTLE LINE

From the New York Evening Mall.
 Here is bit of advice from a Cana dian soldier of Ypres to certain sol- dier and to a certain officer of the army of the United States. To the lat ter he writes:
 Don't refuse to associate again with an enlisted man whom you meet off the drill ground and away from camp. You may need him some day to carry you off the field in Flanders. And II he likes you and your kind it'll make q heap of difference"
 And to the enlisted man this soldier of Ypres has also his bit of advice:
 Don't mind young officer who Is snobbish. He's rookie in his way like you are in yours, or he wouldn't do it. His snobbery will all be shot away in the first fight. It has to be or he'll go down. Remember 80 per- cent of all the big officers in France were privates once in this war;
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-31
Increase in Sheep
 Industry Imperative

661HHE worlds wool problem has
 ~ been made acute by the war, and in the United States the necessity for very large increase in the sheep industry has become imperative" Such is the statement of the United States department of agriculture in 1 its introduction to bulletin on pres ent conditions just issued. Sheep ranges in the western states have been reduced in area as crop produc- tion has advanced. Vast stretches of land have been changed to farming land. According to the agricultural department, only on one farm out of seven in this country are sheep to be found; "yet by proper management practically every farm can support some sheep without reducing other l live stock, and with very small addi- tional feed and labor charge. Amer | ica's solution of the wool problem is to get sheep on these sheepless 1 farms"
 i The average annual wool importa- ton of the United States for the last three years could have been produced at home, If one-fourth of the farms without sheep had carried one sheep to each three acres" Before the war England had one sheep for each three and a half acres of its entire land area, while the United States, exclu- ,sive of the western ranges, had one sheep for each 31.8 acres of farm land.
 "The object of range production
 was wool" says the bulletin. "Mut- ton was minor consideration; first, because the world didn't need it, and lsecond, because it could not be trans ported from the pioneer lands. Wool, on the contrary, could be held indefi- nitely and could be shipped to mar
 ket in time, no matter how limited or
 how difficult the transportation fa- Icilities."
 As railroads began to reach the f"new countries" these conditions changed. Homesteaders settled upon range land and cultivated it. Smaller
 areas were available for sheep
 Steamship refrigeration and other
 transportation improvements made il possible for the western growers to ship mutton to the old world. High
 prices obtained for mutton caused . slaughter of lamb to an extent that prevented flocks from increasing suf- ficiently to meet the world demands As the agricultural department says
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-31
ALABAMA PRESS

Huntsville Mercury MT. Trotzky' s on the peace proposition antedated Mr. Lawrence's call for a showdown on the prohibition question just a few hours, ar demonstrates how nearly akin great m@n are in mind and sentiment.
 Sylacauga News: Now that Senator Bankhead has voted for the submission of the prohibition amendment, and Con. gressman Heflin has voted against it the political significance of what nas been intimated by MT. Heflin and his friends about his candidacy for the Sem ate is floating to the surface.
 Montgomery Journal: Distinguished Chicago psychopath announce that the longer you kiss the same woman the less t,srill you get, because the electro chem are trying to work us toward 2 kissless dayI
 Selma Times: The Huntsville Times is being sued for s10,000 damages for libel. Libel suits against newspapers do not appear on the Hoover list and. of course, they come high.
 Hartse,le Enterprise More wheat, more rye, more clover, more potatoes, more horses, more cattle. more hogs, and less lazy land. less knock-down fenc- ing, less rubbish in the barnyards and about the premises and less time wasted on things that don't pay. is the slogan everywhere.
 Talladega Home: From the Alabama papers coming to this office we learn that there is an alarming scarcity of school teachers throughout the state. The teachers. in many instances, have been treated like "step-children,' and now that they have opportunities to bet ter their conditions, and free themselves from autocratic rule, are taking up other lines of work.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-31
City Well Adxertined

T am now making my headquarters J. R. Stodghill, formerly of Birming- ham, is now pastor of the Baptist church" said Ralph Stodghill, the well known gospel singer. T am just from great revival meeting at Rankin, H.. old friends. Birmingham is certainly well advertised wherever I go, not only as great industrial city, but city which does humanitarian things in a big way. I am always proud to tell that consider myself Birmingham man, as I spent many happy years in it as lad just coming into mans estate''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-31

concerning his duty and his destiny Tn these sculptures and many more,l Rodtn put not only his skill as crafts ] man, but his very self, his vitality and the force that makes the whole pro I duction creative. He had mission to| awaken the higher and deeper
 thoughts of men. He achieved great
 ness by the only means through which, it can be reached; by putting his soul into his work.
 And so it Is in all kinds of human| effort. We may labor painstakinglyi and apply every known device to att tract amuse, entertain and give pleas X ure; but unless we put our soul intoI our work, we miss the great rewardI which Is the permanent and abiding} one, and which does not fade with thsI passing of the years.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-31
Will Help Solve
 Farm Labor Problem

@ECRETARY BAKERS purpose to G permit farmer boys in the army to return to their homes in the spring and autumn to assist in crop produc- +ion is the result of conference with representatives of the New York fed eration of farm bureaus.
 Scarcity of agricultural labor grow ing out of the war has brought about acute conditions and MT. Bakers plan offers practical way of solving to some extent at least, very serious problem. It was pointed out by the New York farmers that the shortage of crops in their state this year was due to labor scarcity. The migration of farm hands to industrial centers began in 1916 and continued or a larger scale in 1917.
 The conscription for the army made the situation worse and it may be found necessary, in addition to fur loughing soldiers of farm experience, to conscript farm labor. Before a compulsory course is considered, how ever, the other plan will be given a thorough trial.
 Farm labor shortage is probably more seriously felt in the eastern states than in the west and south, but there will be aggravated instances of it in all sections.
 If America is to feed itself and help feed the allies in 1918, largely in- creased production will be necessary. While intensive cultivation will con- tribute toward the desired result, there will be no means of escaping a demand for more labor.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-31
Street Safety Zones

T think the new safety zones are going to be great success" said Com missioner Henry Page Burruss, who has the streets of the city under his care. T am trying to work out a scheme of marking the crossings with white lines to get the public used to following them in order not only to make it safer for the pedestrians, but ito expedite traffic The city will make few ex- periments before 1t passes any ordi- nances to govern the use of the streets"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-31
Campaign for Early Poultry Matching

WIFE government as is planning ing for
 new food campaign, that of inducing poultry farmers and house. wives who raise chickens in the back yard to promote early matching. Peo- pie in cities who have place for chickens will be urged to produce their own supply of eggs. Every farmer will be asked to enlarge his poultry yard, and if the advice of the agricul- tural department poultry experts is needed, the meat shortage situation will be materially overcome. A poul- try authority ill discussing the forth coming campaign says:
 n "At present, owing to the scarcity of feed the poultry specialists are not recommending an increase in the flock, but they are recommending a more efficient flock The average yearly egg production per hen in Mis- souri is 62. This can be increased to 120 by better methods and by elimi- hating the unprofitable hens"
 In this country the egg industry . has grown rapidly during recent Sears, due chiefly to the use of incu- botors. Time was when the United States relied largely upon importa- .tion, but now it exports far more thnn 1t imports, yet there is great room for further increase in both povltry and eggs. The egg output in fhG United States amounaS. it IS V
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-31
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
 AND ELSEWHERE
NIayor Jones seIIs CoaI

"The car load of coal I bought to sell to the residents of Bessemer in small quantities, which arrived Friday, went | as fast as it could be loaded in wagons, sacks, buckets and baskets" said Judge B. C.. Jones, mayor of Bessemer. and am trying to get two more cars for next week.
 This sudden drop in temperature and the shortage of coal all over the district will cause suffering, I am afraid. and the coal will be needed, especially by negroes, who are only able to buy small quantities at a time. think I will be able to secure two cars next week, one of which will be exclusively for the negro residents, while the other will be for white people.
 T have received many calls during the past two days from residents want ing coal and am doing my very best to help relieve the situation as much as possibly can"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-31

BEGINNING THE DAY--O, God' teach me the difference between seryflity and service. May DOW but not cringe. May I kneel put not groveI. May I seek TO serse' though not always to please. May \ rejoice to be a servant but d'suah to he n hireling. In Chrfsfs na"e' Amcn.--H. NJ. ID.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-31
Uncle Sam Got Him

'I have heard many good stories about negroes who have enlisted in the war or been drafted" said J. Mercer Barnett, "but the one which amused me most was the saying of the darkey, which has the true improvisation ring of his race, and is a cross between prose and poetry: Rocks in the noun tain, and water in the sea. The boil weevil's got the cotton, and Uncle Sam's got me- L reckon he hit on the truth and that is the way many of the drafted ones feel, but they accept their fate make good soldiers"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-31
Decrease in Crime

This has been a delightfully."- quiet Christmas in our line of york; said W. c. Baty af Bessemer, constable of Beat 22 and everyone seemed to en- joy themselves in a quiet way.
 There was little, if any, disorder and we did very little work; in fact, there is large decrease in crime since Ala bama went dry, especially in Bessemer and vicinity. comparing this Christmas with the same time in 1916 when the town was wet"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-31
Proud of the President

T am proud of our President" said J. G: McGlothlin, land I am prouder still that I had the honor of knowing him personally long before he stepped into fame as Americas greatest citizen. Twenty eight years ago I was selling Bibles in Virginia and 1t was my priv ilege to sell one to the mother of Pres ident Wilson at staunton. I will al- ways hold it among the precious things in my life''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-31
REIMBURSEMENT
tba New York Herald.

From the New York Herald.
 Whats the matter with silk shirts if one can afford to buy them? Dean Joseph French Johnson of the New York Uni versity School of Commerce appears to see in these garments evidence of waste full luxury and intimates that men whd| wear silk shirts may soon be required to prove their loyalty. This haberdash- cry test surely will come home to men'1 bosoms
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-31
DOING HER BIT

From the Cincinnati Times Star.
 One of the chorus girls at the Cocoa nut Grove has hung service flag with seven stars on it in her dressing room. It represents the men, to whom she was engaged, who have gone to war.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-31
CREEPING UP THE STAIRS

Author Unknown. In the softly fading twilight Of weary, weary day, With a quiet step entered Where the children were at play; I was breeding o'er some trouble Which had met me unawares, When a little voice came ringing,
 ''Me is creeping up the stairs. An, it touched the tenderest heart
 strings,
 With a breadth and force divine, And such melodies awakened
 As no wording can define. And I turned to see our darling, All forgetful of my cares When I saw the little creature @ Slowly creeping up the stairs. Step by step she brayely clambered
 On her little hands and knees. Keeping up constant chattering.
 Like a nnagpie in the trees, Till at last she reached the topmost
 When OCT all her worlds affairs She delightfully."- stood victor After creeping up the stairs. Painting heart. behold an image
 Of mans brief and struggling life, Whose best prizes must be captured
 With noble. earnest strife; Onward upward reaching ever.
 Bending to the weight of cares, Hoping, fearing. still expecting.
 We go creeping up the stairs. On their steps may be no carpet,
 Ky their side may be no rail; Hcmds and knees may often pain us.
 And the heart may almost fall; Still above there is the glory,
 Which no sinfulness impairs, With ifa inv and rest foreVor. After creeping up the stairs.