davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-08
Appalling Loss of Life
 in the Halifax Disaster

E7T HE explosion at Halifax, Nova
 1 Scotia, is the greatest disaster that ever happened on the American continent, and the most amazing, both in its cause and effect. Almost in the twinkling of an eye thousands of people lost their lives aAd mil lions of dollars worth of property was destroyed, leaving desolation and ruin in an area of nearly three square miles. The narrowing scenes which followed were beyond descrip- tion; the army of men and women en- gagged in rescue work will never for get the experiences through which they are passing.
 Appeals for aid were quickly an swered, and while Halifax was for a time cut off from communication and darkness reigned, save for the lurid firss of burning buildings, and a crippled fire department could do lit ti1 to check the spread of the flames the rruesome task of searching fol
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-08
LIKED THE CHERRIES
From the Pittsburg Dispatch.

From the PlttSburg Dlspatcn.
 The barkeeps at one of the Broadway
 hotels were kept busy for over an hour
 yesterday shaking cocktails and 1t
 looked at one time as if there would
 be shortage of glasses. But the man. ager got on the job and played sleuth.
 The cocktails were for the meekest lock- ing woman that ever scrawled name timidly on the register, and her room
 was on the twelfth floor. Knocking at the door of the cocktail bibber, the man. ager expected to meet any number of Elks from Alabama, but instead he was faced by rather elderly woman. timid and embarrassed. evidently won dering why she was called upon. Par don me, madame" said the manager. but I was under the impression that you had visitors and I wished to see If we could do anything toward giving | you reception room for them. You see, you've been ordering quite a num- Der of drinks, and we were naturally curious You seem to be rather fond of cocktails, and you-you will pardon me, bcpe-I wondered if you were al- l together familiar with the effect' Why I don't drink cocktails" responded the little woman. hesitatingly, See. they
 are all here.' and she pointed around
 the wall to row after row of unemptiec cocktail glasses. still blushingly red
 The manager turned back to the woman mystified. ."rhen why do you ordel ithem?" he asked The little woman
 blushed. T like the cherries in 'em.'
 she said.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-08

New York Correspondence Cincinnati Times-Star.
 TIT may be that the revelations con corning shameful and preposterous = frauds in connection with war char F ity enterprises in New York carry 8 warning to the people of other commu- mites, but it is quite certain that in no ofter city than New York could the conditions which have been uncovered be duplicated. There is no other mu- nicipality where organized graft could grow to be a profession with an army of practitioners. In other towns men have to have to have some regard for the reputation which they may establish among their fellow townsmen. In this big and silly city, with its top crust Of rich and weak minded society climbers and it's lower layer of needy and un- scrupulous opportunists, working safely in the shadows of it's bigness, it is diff ferent. It isn't stating a possibility to say that a man in New York may not know his next door neighbor. It is merely describing condition which ex- ists as a rule. The grafters who took
 Sl00 out of every 1o1 which the public paid for soldiers and sailors comfort kits, have been operating in New York city behind the blind of charity or fra ternity for years, and exposure in one field has not prevented them from prompt and successful effort in an other.
 They are the same crowd that 'stung" Barney Dreyfuss, the Pittsburg baseball magnate, for $500 contribution to thc New York Press club and had "Garry' Hermann surrounded and sweating for two days in the Waldorf-Astoria, de- mauding 5000 of him. until newspaper man walked into their circle and flatly announced to MT. Hermann that he ought to know that the grafters would keep 75 per cent of the money they pro- posed to have him contribute and that there weren't any newspapermen in the New York Press club. As an article in
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-08
WAR CHARITY CHAPTERS

this column asserted before the expo
 sures regarding the army and navy ba-r
 gar and the seventy-first regiment bene- -s
 fit, the mad rush of war charities gave
 this crowd of professionals an oppor-
 tunity which they could not possibly have overlooked. And while the expo
 sures have stopped or greatly limited
 their activities there Is no calculating
 the amount of their despicable gains.
 into consideration and make guess.
 Practically everyone who ever looked for
 "easy money" was in the game, and the fever for fraud touched people who or dinarily were honest, as honesty goes in New York. Women of the streets,
 whose regular business Is parading their overdressed charms about hotel lobbes.
 appeared in Red Cross uniform in rail- road stations and public places, showing
 contribution boxes under the noses of passers-by. The manager of certain
 hall increased his rental from $S000 to s16,000 when he recognized certain pa- triotic bazaar as one of the current good things. A chewing gum manufacturer contribute $1o00 to bazar fund upon an agreement that he should have a con- tract for s1,0o0,oo0 worth of chewing gum
 for soldiers at figure that was frau dulently high, and then ''hollered" for his money back when he found that the promise to let him participate in fraud
 was itself fraudulent The solicitors who had a contract permitting them to keep 70 per cent of the receipts of a regimental benefit didn't even turn over the 90 per cent which the regiment was to get. They kept it all The town, for
 weeks was a symposium of reckless and heartless and shameful graft. Typical members of New Yorks overstock of cheap lawyers advertised to save men from the draft for $100 q head and got the money despite the utterly fraudu- lent nature of their promises.
 Perhaps the war, after all, may be con- sidered good thing. In the end it may make a decent American city of New York.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-08

bodies and caring for the wounded was carried on unceasingly by devoted men and women.
 A great tragedy of this kind has it's ghouls, and soldiers were soon pa trolling the stricken city to stop the depredations of such persons, but it also brings out the best there is in human nature, and among the sur vivors and rescue workers heroism and self-sacrifice became almost commonplace.
 The only explanation offered for the explosion when the Belgian relief ship, Imo, rammed the munitions ship, Mont Blanc, is confusion of signals. When news of the disaster first came it was believed that German conspira- tors were responsible. After a thor ough investigation has been made tfe blame will be fixed-perhaps on the helmsman of the Imo. Yet, it seems almost incredible that moment of carelessness could have such dis astrous results.
 Only about 1000 lives were lost in the San Francisco earthquake and fire and 934 in the sinking of the steam ship Empress of Ireland in the St. Lawrence river. The sinking of the General Slocum took toll of 14OO lives The exact number of lives lost at Halifax will probably never be known, but it far exceeds any other catastrophe this continent has ever yrariay,oed
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-08

must be over IS years old and a de- scendant from an ancestor who '"with unfailing loyalty rendered material aid to the cause of independence as a sol dier, sailor or civil officer in one of the several colonies" Do you wonder, then, that the conference just over took the following pledge:
 T pledge allegiance. to my flag and the republic for which it stands; one nation indivisible. with liberty and jus tice to all" You can count on every member of the Daughters of the Amer ican Revolution to do her full duty in this present crisis.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-08
LIKE M,LuKE SAYS

We see by the fashion news that the new hustle may be worn either in the rear or in the front. But you will have hot time explaining to a corn fed girs why she should wear one in either place.
 A whole lot of men can't stand pros pcrity And whole lot more never get chance to find out whether they can or not
 A small boys idea of a terrible exam pie is any example in the rear of the arithmetic.
 he is getting the worst of it. But 1t is hard to convince him that he ever gets the best of it.
 No matter how much sense a man may have, he seldom displays any of it when he gets hooked up with a pretty girl. It is easy to be popular. Always laugf at the other fellows jokes and never tel any of your own.
 And many a man with an open coun- tenance makes you wish he would close | 1t once in awhile.
 1 After you have roamed around for 6 while you will discover that while thu ! world is always willing to sell you ex. perience or give you advice, it will sel
 dom lend you assistance. l The fellow who is SO good that .ht wouldn't tell lie to save friend may
 get to heaven. But we wouldn't give hin a plugged Mexican dime for his chances l Another reason why slim princess il so proud of her figure is because sht
 knows that if it wasn't for her oorse
 she would look like a man. l Before you get her you think that sh' 1 has a voice like a bird. And after vol Eget her you discover that she talks likt a parrot.
 1 This is a great generation. You can
 get the small boys to bed at night ant you can't get the grown boys up in th' morning.
 We are all willing to admit that knowl edge is power in spite of the fact tha an illiterate pugilist can make as mucl
 in one fight as an educator can in { whole year.
 About the only time 8 woman doesn' I mind having reflections cast upon her l When they come from her mirror. A lot of people are puzzled over tn
 enormous dry vote boiled in Ohio tni year, but it is easily explained Rich
 niond Pearson Hobson failed to help tn
 vets by stumping the state for the dryi
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-08
NoRTHcLIFFE's rURNDowN

NOHIHCLlFFE'S TURNDOWN From the Washington Star.
 As the burly and distinguished figure of Lord Northcliffe hurried down the hotel lounge a correspondent said:
 There goes the most successful and deservedly successful Journalist in the world. In this war he has done more for the allies cause than any other man, except Lloyd George.
 "A hard chap to interview, though. I could never land him. The last time l wrote him for an interview he wrote back:
 I am sorry. but Imust ask you to ex- cuse me from accedlng to your request. am like the little boy at school treat who. when the squire's wife came round to him with the strawberry jam. prompt ly said:
 No. thank you. ma'am works at the place where they make 1t.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-08
Community Singing as Civic Asset

M7OW that community music in IN Birmingham has passed the ex- perimental stage and is becoming more and more popular with the peos pie, it is recognized by all public spirited citizens as great civic asset, and, therefore, worthy of whole hearted support; but to bring it to full flower an auditorium of large seating capacity is needed and needed, too, with as little delay as possible. The city is going to supply this need. I It is known that the commissioners fare giving this matter very serious
 consideration and it is believed they
 will be ready to present some definite plan early in the new year. When the I question of site is settled-and it should be settled in favor of Capitol park--it will not take long to agree
 upon an architectural design. It may Inot be possible to break ground in January, but the work of construc- ton should be under way before spring so that the building might be ready for occupancy during the com ing season.
 All the war boards are1 counseling rigid economy while the conflict lasts. That is as it should be. But some men in Washington and elsewhere go So liar as to say that not dollar should be spent for anything that is not ab-
 solutely necessary. If such practice iobtained all business concerns not lselling food or turning out war sup
 plies would go into bankruptcy, and
 of course no one wishes or expects Ito see so distressing condition
 There should be no extravagance, but
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-08
E E x Urging Conservation of Farm Products

jWITHILE less food has been wasted | WV in restaurants and house.
 holds this year than in former years,
 there is still room for improvement,
 according to government experts who
 are giving especial attention to this feature of conservation. As system
 atic saving did not begin until house.
 wives and cafe proprietors signed the "pledge cards" at the solicitation of the department of agriculture few weeks ago, the practical operation of this organized effort cannot be ascer- tained until later, but it is safe to assume that the estimated waste at
 the rate of about seventy million dol liars annually will be cut at least one half in the first twelve months, and virtually eliminated in the second year, after methods of economy are generally applied.
 In addition to kitchen waste great deal of food and feedstuff have been destroyed by rats in barns and eleva-
 tors; and although this cannot be pre- vented altogether, the waste will be greatly minimized when concrete ele- vators are built and corn houses are better protected.
 The department has not only done splendid service in developing inten- sive farming and better market con ditions and in promoting conservation in food, but with new experience gained every year, it is bringing az riculture up to the highest state of commercial efficiency. The farmers are now fully alive to the importance of cooperating with the government and with schools of technology in the
 south engaged in demonstration work
 and with all the agencies now in op- |eration it will be only the question of a comparatively short time when this section will double in wealth.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-08
Harold Enjoys Dr. Broushton

the same time very touching talk by pr. Len c. Broughton, the nationally known minister, who did such noble work for the Belgians, who spoke at a public meeting at Sheffield, while I was in that city, said Charles l.. Harold.
 MT. Broughton was an independent minister of Atlanta, but when the war broke out he went to London, where his work was commended by the highest men of that city. He returned to this country owing to his greatly impaired health and now has charge at Knox vile, Tenn
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-08

There's many a sordid drama un- folded in court of domestic rela- tions." sighed the melancholy individ- ual.
 "Cheer up, my friend" said the op- timist. @Have you ever stopped to think how many couples there are in the world who have never even heard of a court of domestic relations?"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-08

BEGINNING THE DAY-Lord, l thank Thee for food, raiment, shel- ter, comparative safety; for books for friends, for family; for the heritage of freedom and the chance to achieve it even more fully in the future; for the calls to courage, ser vice and sacrifice; for the experience of God and the expectation Of inn mortality. Amen.-H. M. E.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-08
ITALY
GA Battle cry.>

GA Battle Cry) By Olivet True. Now, Lord of Battles, lend thy grace At last we meet them face to face # Not hid in trenches underground ss Not ,dinly lurking underseas Not bombing from the dark profound.s A madison. on foes like these! Now face to face, and man to man, As brave men should, and brave li1eu
 can,
 Beneath the clear suns shining light. We meet to battle for the right! Now Lord of Battles make us strong. To serve the right. to crush the wrong. A hero make of every one. Make bold the hand that grasps thu
 sword,
 Make true the eye that trains the gun Make high the heart that leads us, Lord When face to. face. and man to man. As brave men should, and brave men can Out in the clear suns Judging HKht We meet to battle for the right Mobile. Ala
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-08
Hutchinson Delighted

Northern Alabama is responding nobiy to the cry for volunteers" said Capt. James B. Hutchinson. who Is in charge of the recruiting in Alabama. "We are receiving more applicants than our pres ent office can expedientiy handle"
 "The principle that I admire more than any other in our boys who are vol unteering is that they are going because they have felt necessity deep down in their hearts. They are not going in the quest of adventure, or to obtain grasp upon money bags; they want no other reward than the satisfaction derived from consciousness of duty done or loyalty displayed in an unpretentious way. They want no brass bands to lend a. martial air to their march to the trains and no dinners and dances to be given. in their honor. They desire that this money be spent in aiding the government to bring this world war to speedy conclusion. They are volunteers going to struggle for worldwide freedom-for their coun- try-my country-your country
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-08
Big Conduit Bursted

T regretted that the Bijou was cold at the morning performance given for the Red Cross" said pr. Barrett, who made a patriotic talk between curtains. "It was no fault of the management. MT. Keene was greatly put out, but powerless to help it, as one of the big conduits of the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company bursted, and it could not be repaired in time to fur nish heat A good crowd was out and a good bill was given. I think all of the theatres deserve credit for opening their houses and donating the proceeds. also commend the stage hands and other employees and the actors and &C., tresses for doing their part to help the fund.-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-08
cAm1ulaGNdAaMeH

P. S.-They are going to send $1oo to the soldier boys at Camp Wheeler ana also will give an ambulance to the American soldiers in France at cost of $1750.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-08
LITERARY EMoLUMENT

"Ive just sold a story" said the young author. proudly.
 How much did you get for it?' asked the elderly cynic.
 "A check for $25."
 And how long did you work on it?'' About six weeks"
 Young man. have you ever stopped to consider that fairly good stenog- rapher who works six weeks gets paid about s15og'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-08
NO CHOICE

'Do you believe the old saying that an apple a day will keep the doctor awayr"
 "so far as I'm concerned, it would have to serve" replied the impecunious citizen. T can't afford to buy apples and pay doctors, too"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-08
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
 AND ELSEWHERE
Southern Patriotism and Hospitality

Southern Patriotism and Hospitality
 Tt has been my pleasure for many years to hear of southern patriotism and hospitality, but never before have I seen it manifested.in quite the unique way that it was done in Birmingham yesterday" said George Bowles, man. ager of the "Chin-Chin" company. When we were fin Atlanta Thursday, we received wire from the Kentucky Livery company of Birmingham saving they wanted to do their bit for the Red Cross and so they asked to entertain Ned our 'Chin-Chin' horse, at their hostelry free of charge on Red Cross matinee day. Of course we accepted, and it occurred to me that it was quite the cleverest thing I've heard of. And let me say just here that Ned is an old friend of mine. was with the Bar nun & Bailey circus for IA years as publicity man, and Ned was with the circus all the time I was, and so was the man who takes care of him now. Ned is a thoroughbred, and he's worthy of any hospitality which may be extended to him."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-08
Want sunday Soon

"A committee of leading citizens will go to Atlanta Tuesday to confer with Billy Sunday to try and induce him to come to Birmingham as early as possi- ble," said pr. IT. 1T. Hibbs pastor of Ruhama Baptist church, who was a member of the committee which visited him somewhile back. q am very hopeful
 that we can prevail upon the noted
 evangelist to give us date in the near
 future
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-08
Birds Plentiful

T had great time down on the hunt at Boligee.'' said Fred Le Blond, who stopped over between trains with his friend, George Morrow, Jr, en ropte to his home in Cincinnati, where he is one that has sent many lathes across the water to the allies. ''The birds were plentiful and the dogs had good noses, but somehow I couldn't hit them like other members of the party. Partridge shooting is different from the prairie hen variety"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-08
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES

THE MONARCH OF THE SOIL Time was the farmer titled his lands And seldom won to great renown; His simple ways and rustic clothes Were laughed at when he came to
 town. Bold swindlers followed on his trail And lured him into games of chance, Or bricks they sold of "solid gold" Collecting for them in advance. But times have changed, the farmer
 now
 Is wondrous rich and very wise; Great orators proclaim his worth And sing his praises to the skies. His motor cars are upto-date, His raiment, too, is extra fine. And when he speaks all other men Unto his slightest word incline.
 A LEGAL LIGHT
 q understand he's an expert crimi- nal lawyer"
 "one of the greatest in the country" "Yes%
 "fWhy, time and again he has won favorable verdict for his clients with out employing an alienist"
 WITH THE EDITORS REGRETS "who Is this MT. scribson? I notice he stays around home great deal" Hes a literary man. He writes for Ia living"
 "well, don't know who. he writes to, but judging from the number of bulky envelopes the postman leaves at his door. he must get great many re- plies"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-08
KILr1Es

KILTIES "You womenf ought to be ashamed to wear your skirts so short.'' You've never seen women walking about the streets with their skirts above their knees, have your" NO"
 well. I've seen men do that" sI'd like to know where?" Tn Scotland" PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-08
DRAT HIM!

DRAT HIM like strong and manly grip, But in my heart deep hatred fingers, When some big boob shakes hands with me And tries his best to break my fingers.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-08
Dates for Glee Club

T have arranged dates for the Howard Glee club at Sylacauga, Ashland, Alex ander City and Pell City" said l.. w. Cookery, assistant director "The club is holding daily practices and working hard to get fit to render high-class work. It has a lot of new songs and some new voices and will be able to live up to the fine record it has made during the seasons past. The club enjoyed Bijou, but was badly crippled by the ab- sence of the first tenors, who were away trying to enlist in the army
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-08
HIS ALL

From the Portland Oregonian.
 The man whose service flag has one star is just as proud as the one whose flag has dozen, and why not? The one boy was all he had
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-08

direction. And yet there is large per
 cent of the crop that is still ungath- cred, and still another considerable part
 that will be left in the fields for the
 stock to gather. Velvet beans are help ing turn the tide to prosperity Clanton Press: If fellow could live on
 air. wear newspaper rsSment and do his sleeping under clay5 roof, running
 a country newspaper would be an ideal profession.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-08

TELEPHONE Bell (private exchange connecting nII departments) Main 49OO.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-08
# # *

Our foster-nurse of nature Is reposc.
 king Lear.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-08

Entered at the Birmingham, Ala, nostoffice as second class matter un- der act of Congress, March s, 1879.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-08

I remember with what rapture I used to gaze on the picture of a handsome man in military uniform which hung in our parior Gin those days parlors were the style). It was the portrait of John Treutlen, direct descendant of the first colonial governor of Georgia, and came into the family through my mother. whose maiden name was Celeste Treut-