davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
BIG "WHYS' OF THE BIG WAR

The main German U-boat fleet is al-
 ways in the harbor, that is in a bottle
 whose neck invites closing. Only small
 fraction of it is busy raiding at any
 one time. When you begin to talk Of
 numbers of submarines you are just
 guessing, but this is the best guess that
 has been made, and, anyway, totals for the purpose of what is to be said
 make little difference, so long as the
 proportions are right, and there is good
 technical opinion for believing that the
 following proportions are right Here,
 then, seems to be the best estimate of
 allied naval authorities of Germany's
 submarine strength: A total strength
 of 150 U-boats, of which only about 20
 are operating in British waters at any
 one time. The reason for the small
 number in operation Hes in the delicacy
 of the machinery of the craft and in the
 necessity for frequent repairs Close the neck of the bottle and you shut in
 six-sevenths of the U-boat fleet. and
 better still, all the boats outside have to return to the bottle in three or four weeks.
 Every principal of naval strategy says that this is the way to fight hostile fleet, and it has yet to be shown that
 the rules of sea warfare do not apply
 just as much to vessels below the sur face of the water as to vessels upon the
 surface. Yet for three years no attempt has been made to apply the lessons of l naval warfare to the fight against the submarine The world is beginning to ask "Why?"
 There is another "Why" just as big as these two that have gone before. It is, why do the allies not fly over the Ger
 man lines and attack and destroy the German armys communications? Why is the airplane harnessed to the frontal attack instead of being developed tor use in the much more vital purpose of harassing the rear? Germany, with her U-boats changed her war from one or frontal attacks to one against communl- cations. She strikes at supplies of food | and munitions destined for the allied | army at the front or for the industrial 1 population at home who are necessary 1 part of the modern war system. Ger l manys communications are on lana. 1 The airplane may serve to strike at them 1 in the same way the submarine serves l to strike at the allies communications l on the sea. changing their war into ] one on communications the Germans made great progress toward breaking the deadlock, or would have done so if they
 had not brought this country into the ! +l, | lesson is before the allies. Why don't 1 they too adopt the war on communi- 1 cations, bending their energies toward | developing the airplane for that purpose?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
LUKE M'LUKE SAYS

When man has a new fountain pen he doesn't have to have anything 10 write about in order to write a lot of letters.
 It doesn't take married man long to acquire the ability to read a news paper and listen to a woman at the same time.
 A man has to hustle some nowadays in order to get enough coin to bring home the bacon.
 There is only one good reason why Sunday joy-riding parties should smear up the landscape with their car casses The casket companies need the money.
 When one man hears another talking about owning a bulldog that is worth 5000. he always places the accent on the "bull.' You can't arrest a hard-working laborer on charge of vagrancy. But you could arrest a lot of them on a charge of fragrancy.
 Every time a woman has to get un in the middle of the night and frislS the bed she gets the idea that Noah was too blame liberal when he let the insects aboard the ark.
 There were censors of the drama even in shakespeares time. You may | have noticed how often old Bill use1 l the phrase "Go to-" and didn't get tc ! finish it.
 This is a great country in which q man who isn't satisfied with his walk in life can always run for something 1 Poverty hath it's advantages. The man who dies penniless never has half dozen widows putting in claim! l for his estate. l Even if man is the biggest loafel in 10 states. he will always brag abou | your wisdom if you will tell him tha he is working too hard. 1 Kisses breed germs. But they art usually the germs/of matrimony ant alimony.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
 AND ELSEWHERE
chiIdren,s Page in Rotogravure


 Tt seems to me that I have heard more about the Rotogravure Section of The Age-Herald of last Sunday than any that has ever been published" said Miss Lula Tyus of the stephen son studio. "The reason of this, per haps, was because the pictures were all of children-beautiful children and beautiful pictures. say the latter ad- visedly, because with the exception of the large picture on the front page our studio made most of the others and they were really beautiful Every body likes to see a picture of beau tiful child it doesn't matter whose child it is, and without exception the children's pictures on the Rotogravure page last Sunday were as pretty col lection as I ever saw. Making pic lures of children is a great art; In fact, 1t is far more difficult to make satisfactory pictures of children than grown-ups' and our MT Wilson cer- tain1y has the rare knack of getting good pictures of children"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
Market News Service
 Of Great Value

m HE United States department of
 U agriculture has been of large benefit to the farming interests ever since it was established about 30 years ago. At first the work was naturally experimental, but now few branches of the government are so highly or ganized, or conducted with such bus iness-like efficiency as the agricul- tural department.
 One of the newer and one of the most useful features of the depart ment is the market news service %which is published every day in The Age-Herald. A permanent office has
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29

been established in Birmingham and through this channel the public is sup piled with information of the utmost importance-a statement of daily quo- tations from practically every pro- duce center in the country, show ing the essential market conditions of fruits and vegetables. The local branch is in charge of T. c. Bush field, one of the most energetic and obliging experts in the department, Any farmer, merchant or consumer who wishes special information in re- lation to prices, will be furnished with such by MT. Bushfield on application
 Some idea may be formed of tf / progressive work the departmeac is doing by brief survey of this mar ket news service. In order to handle the great volume of data, the gov ernment establishes leased telegraph wire service. A double shift of teleg- raphers Is employed, and information is being transmitted all day long, be- ginning with 5 a. m.
 For the sake of economy, all this information is handled in cipher, which cuts down the volume of words to a vast extent, and enables the Bir- mingham office to disseminate great deal of information of vital concern. As MT. Bushfield points out, this in formation is the most up-to-date and concise that has ever been published, either by private or public institu- tions. It requires "an excellent piece of machinery, well-trained in every respect to know the number of cars of each crop shipped out of each sate every day, and to know what these crops are bringing on the principal markets daily" Those who desire to know more of the details of this service will find all the particulars
 
 set forth in The Age-Herald's Weekly edition of January 8.
 If the annual appropriations for the agricultural department increase |every year, the amount of the expend- |itures would seem to be fully justified If the same high degree of efficiency is maintained in every branch or bu- reau, as we find in the daily market service.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
IN ARKANsAW

From the Lonoke County News.
 After a courtship extending over an indefinite period of time the mar riage vows of Miss Hester Mays and MT. James Shavers were solemnized at the residence of Miss Hattie Sell on the evening of November 2S. the Rev. w. w, Webb officiating. Hence we pluck an arrow from Cupid's wing and dip in the sparkling fount of connubial bliss to record the congenial bands. The groom was handsomely attired in stylish suit of black and the bride was dressed in the most fairylike ha- |biliments. The attendants were Mr. Will liam Harris and Miss Zeola Logan. A bridal tour was taken to Carlisle and other points of the county in mean dering automobile of uncertain dispo- sition.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
Want to Get Action

.Burr, my soldier brother, is still at Camp Lee. at Petersburg, Va. sa'o Hill Ferguson. "He is managing dl- rector of the ambulance forces, and is kept mighty busy. Knowing him as well as I do, know that the thing that would suit him best would be to be somewhere in France with his friend and chum, Col. James P. Shel- ley, who is now holding down posi- ton ill all effice at Washington. It seems a pity that they are tied up with detail work when they both long to he on tie firing line. I suppose, however, their chance will come later.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
War Savings Stamps
 In Popular Demand

7T HE war savings stamps, by which
 U the government sssks to raise two billion dollars, havs ben in popu- lar demand ever slnss they were placed on sale about four weeks ago. The campaign is te bst year, begin ming on the first of January.
 The month of December was set apart for preparation, but there has been a brisk inquiry for the stamps in the rural districts of Alabama as well as in the cities, and it is believed
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
ALABAMA PRESS

Selma Times Georgia is making the same general complaint of empty jails heard on all sides in Alabama. The im- portant and pleasing fact is, the Jails are empty-the cause or causes therefor we leave to the controversialists.
 Centreville Press: Birmingham is pa triotic and seems to enjoy giving ana working to aid the soldiers. The people of that city are right up in the lroie line trenches with the boys when they are after the scalp of the Kaiser IL IS a commendable spirit, but it IS the spirlt that all true. loyal Americans have at this time.
 Alahama,s Free Lance: The question of national prohibition is now squarey before the citizens of this republic ana should be fairly and unflinchingly met and the facts considered without pre1u- dice or partisanship. The publisher of inc Free Lance has for half century stood for fair, good natured discussion and investigation without personal abuse both through the press and on the platform.
 Greensboro Record: Mr. Hoover has TO intention of putting the ban on su' gar All he asks is that you use sugar 1 in your coffee instead of coffee in your sugar.
 1 Guntersville Democrat: Every edifol 1 in the state emitted chuckle when he
 read of the Abbeville merchant who was forced to restore the extra profits h'
 made when sugar was scarce and people ] had to pay his price. We are expectint
 the same thing to happen to wood sell
 CTS.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
MT. Thomas Atkins
 Accurately Described

TH HERE is not a more oeiisii'4u u'
 character in literature than Kipling's Mulvaney, a favorite With millions of readers who have never become acquainted with real British aTommy." Yet, Terence Mulvaneys wit and irresistible good humor, his rough and ready ways and his ability to land fright side up," whether In fisticuff. a drinking bout or brush with the enemy, are by no means ex- nggerated.
 "Oyer there" newspaper correspond ents, particularly American writers, who find the British "Tommy" source of unfailing delight and the inspiration of many rattling good story, never tire of telling about his superb daring, his sangfroid and his ability to smile regardless of the world. the flesh and the devil, par ticularly the Hun devil. By the same / ,ken, we in America, can never get
 much information about "Thomas 1. ," because most of us have M. d to know him through Kip lingy golden pages.
 As further proof that Mulvaney lives and moves along the battle lines < today, there comes dispatch from Fort Oglethorpe, Ga, which states that several British regulars are now at the fort instructing American sol- diers in the gentle art of running a bayonet through a Boche, throwing hand grenades and other exercises much practiced in France and Fland- CTS.
 One of the British "Tommies," Ser geant Parkes, addresses his "class" in these words:
 "Longpoint, now, advancing! I get number one in the guts and with draw. Don't forget to withdraw. We had man who had the habit of toss ing the Boches over his shoulder, until one fine morning he tossed one of the bloody butchers into the colo nel's breakfast. Now, longpoint and get number two. Advance! Turn at high port and get number three!"
 More forceful than elegant, maybe, but soldier has no time to affect drawing room manners. Sergeant Parkes is said to have a vocabulary that Mulvaney himself might envy. And is Sergeant Parkes every inch a fighting man? We are willing to gam ble on it!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
German Liberalism
 Is An Idle Fancy

Tt is hard to be patient with
 those who, with astounding ignor-
 ance of European affairs and in-
 ability to understand German
 methods, persist in the belief that
 there is a German liberalism ready
 to renounce the fruits of conquest
 and to remalSe Germany in demo-
 cratic terms. One way, and one
 only is open, and that is to break
 Germanys military power."-The
 Public.
 WHIIE it is true that President WV Wilson has differentiated be- tween the German people and their rulers, as long as they persist in blind ly following Kaiser who claims part nership with God in overrunning the earth and placing all nations beneath the heel of Prussia's military power, there can be no hope of a lasting peace and world safety until the German people are taught the error of their ways.
 Force is their fetish. Nothing but force will separate them from their false gods and their false ideals. It is waste of time to argue for the brotherhood of man with race who are convinced that they are superior to all other inhabitants of the earth and firmly believe that others must give way or be crushed, in order that Germania may achieve her destiny as mistress of the world. The German people have had this doctrine drilled into them from early childhood. It lis the dominant idea in all that Ger many has done and tried to do for the past 40 years.
 A vast machine has been created for the sole purpose of making Ger many supreme, in military power, in commerce and every other branch of human activity. Until recently this in- tricate mechanism, devised with mas terly cunning, functioned with smooth ness and success. It was only when the eyes of other nations were opened that the machine began to break down For these reasons, and the further fact that Germany still holds the best cards, which would enable her to forti- fly her position if patched-up peace were made now, America and the al lies must "carry on" until the victory is won.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
GOOD ADVICE

Have you ever borrowed any money from Glithering?"
 "No"
 i've been acquainted with him for sometime. I believe I'll ask him to lend me s1O."
 T wouldn't, if were you"
 "Why not?"
 ITO my personal knowledge Glither- ing has had the same umbrella for six or seven years. If he can hold on to an umbrella like that. you'd have fat chance to separate him from $1O."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
"THIs IS THE LIFE!,

From the Louisville Courier-Journal
 Trotzky never was as happy before in all his checkered career as flannei- mouthed adventurer. A year ago he was a reporter at SIP week on a little so- cialist sheet in the East Side of New York. Now he can deliver daily ti- rades, reported by the worlds cables. abusing whom he pleases and even threatening the ambassador of the coun- try in which he drew his SIP envelopes. It is not likely that his tether is long one. and 1t is not unlikely that it may prove his halter.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
Beavjps congratuIates Clubs

''The recent movement of the Rotary and Kiwanis clubs in placing safety first zones in the business district IS a splendid achievement" said J. D. Beavins, secretary of the Birmingham Athletic club. "I have noticed the change already in the speed of the motorists and fewer accidents should occur.
 7 Until the posts were placed auto mobiles often forced people waiting for street cars to jump back upon the sidewalk to preserve their life In many cases I have seen people knocked down, but only slightly injured by au- tomobiles while they were waiting in what now is the safety zone
 "The movement has proven de- cided success in all cities previously tried and the results thus far cause me to believe 1t will make vast inn provement in the conditions here. I will be glad when the posts are placed in all parts of the business district It will be one of the most progressive moves the city has ever made"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
William JennAags o'Brien

q had d right amusing thing to hap pen in the sleeper on which l was travelling to Washington recently said Blanks Everett.
 'In the smoker I noticed gentle man with his hat pulled low down over his face, but not low enough to hide the features of William Jennings Bryan. In a bit several men came in and got into conversation with him concerning national prohibition. He got up and went back into the car. l said to the negro porter: I see you have some distinguished passengers aboard and I told him who he was hauling. Shortly after I heard him, as he walked up to where the d1stin- guished statesman was sitting, say' .E;xcuse me- boss, but is you de Hon. orubul William Jennings OBrlen 1 heard so much about down souf% It seemed to amuse the commoner very much and he laughingly admitted his identity"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
YULE SONG

By Clinton Scollard. An opal sheen is on the snow;
 GA ho! and a heigh-hoD Then who would not a-footing go
 To pluck the sprays of holly? Then who would not a-roving go To pluck the bonny mistletoe?
 GA ho! and a heigh-hoD Beneath the sun, beneath the moon.
 co piper play merry tuneD will lad and lass. with nimble shoon, Seek out the mistletoe, boon That's sweeter than the rose in June % piper play this merry tune
 Away with melancholy!)
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
Acknowledgement of Glasses

T had a letter of thanks frcm Franklin D. Roosevelt, assistant sec retary of the navy, for the field glasses I forwarded" said H. Key Miner.
 He wishes all who have field glasses that they wish to give to the navy to send them to him in care or the Naval Observatory, Washington, D. (. feel that many have glasses that they can readily give to Uncle Sam. I hope a large number will for ward them to him for the help of those who need them So bal"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
Wonders "yhcre He Is At,

--oYes, am off my beat" said c. E. McGlemmery, the well known Louis vile and Nashville station master, who was found in the lobby of the Tutwiler. "but you needn't be surprised at any ,bing a railroad man does from now on, for Uncle Sam has got us and we don't know just where we are at. I have worked for the old man (Mil- ton II. Smith) so long that it seems strange to have a new boss"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
A MAN WORTH WHILE
From the St. Louis Republic.

Some years ago in St. Louis man failed for s1,oco,Ooo He owed that much money to great many different credi- tors. He did not whine or plead the bankruptcy act. He went to work and in time paid every cent he owed. That was Moses Fraley He died yesterday. honored and respected by all who knew him, He was a man.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
cAwlEzU1MdAauttH

P S.-I found that Ashville was proud of the way Birmingham was putting big things over. Many of her leading citizens congratulated me on natriotiSm
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
NOT so BAD

NOT so BAD Poor devil. He has wife and seven children, and his salary is only SIP week."
 q refuse to sympathize with him until hear more details" What do you mean?" "Just this. I know married man with a wife and several children who gets only SIP week, but his wife earns $40.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
QUICK REACTION

%rhey married in haste" / And repented at leisure no doubt?"
 q don't think so. They waited 6 week to get married, but they re- pented the next day.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29

HONOR WHERE HoNoR's DUE Concerning your friend, Colonel Jagsby."
 "Yes%
 "Is he a colonel by courtesy" "No, indeed. Any man with a ca pacity for liquor as great as Jagsby's has right to be called colonel in this part of the country"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
UNUSUAL CASE

UNUSUAL CASE "Your friend, Dubwaite, doesn't have much to say" That's true, but he's an excellent listener. In fact Dubwaite listens too we'll"
 "IIow is thatT' ' 'The other day foreigner spoke Italian to him for half an hour before he discovered that Dubwaite didn't understand word of Italian'
 PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
PLAYING SAFE

FI1A ING FSAFb "Do you find smoking injurious to your health?"
 "No.' replied devotee of the weed. "But some authorities say" "oh, yes. yes know what some authorities say. I'm not going to risk destroying my peace of mind by trying to find out whether or not their state-' ments are true"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29

BEGINNING THE DAY-Lora' when need more than l have' heip me to sink a shaft little deeper down into Thee. Thou art ncheah' and Thou art inexhaustinie. Anu remembering that Thou art as"ass there waiting, may ! go rieht on fearing nothing that may come \" Christ's name~ Amen'--hs m' G'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
THE RAID

Thick clouds obscure the vault above And all the valleys sleep; lis then the ''moonshine" brethren Their lonely vigils keep. In cave or secret dell "still"
 Turns out the devils brew That's in demand throughout the land And known as Mountain Dew" But, harlS, a sound comes on the wind 'Twere lost on city ears That tells the gnomes who feed the
 fires
 A dreaded posse hears. "A soft footfall a snapping twig,
 Winchesters flash and roar; From rock and tree and darkened knoll The "revenuers' pour A deadly hail that takes its toll
 Of rugged mountain men, And rumbles through the circling hills And rushes back again. And ere those fateful echoes die
 Upon the midnight air, The law has thrust an averaging arm
 Into the "wild-cat's' lair.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29

Many profitable book has been ban died about from one publisher to another before 1t finally saw the light of day and ran into many editions. A thing like that makes publishers sick
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29

Remittances can be made at current rate ot exchange. The Age-HeraId VIII not be responsible for money sent through the malls. Address,
 IdE AGE-HERALD,
 Birmingham, Ala
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29

wall Street Gives Strong Approval to Railroad Plan" Fine! But President Wilson tacitly ignored Wall street when he decided that the government should take over American railroads. -~'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29

Entered at the Birmingham, Ala.' postoffice as second-class matter un- der act of Congress, March $, 1879.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29

No comm unication will be published without its autnor's name. Rejected manuscripL win not be returned unless stamps are enclosed TOT that purpose.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-29

Daily and Sunday yAge-Herald, year SS.oo
 Daily without sunday. o.VV Daily and Sunday, per month..'. .fo Daily and Sunday, three months 2.Vu Sunoay AgeNHerald, per annum.. 2.VO w eekIy Age-AeraId, per annum.. 20