davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-16

an increase of s7l.s0a.1Ao from last week. The statement follows:
 Actual Condition--Loans, discounts, etc, $4,564, 5000; decrease s306. .o65,- 900. Cash in own vaults. members fed eral reserve banks fa). $1o7, 900; der crease $2,9S5.00o. Reserve In federal reserve banks of member banks, $626,- 3sS,000; increase sS2,s57. 900. Reserve in own vaults, state banks and trust com panies (b) $19,z53,0o0; decrease s2s6,. 900. Reserve in depositaries. state banks and trust companies, $s,997,000; decrease $759,000. (x) Net demand de- posits. $3.s33, S2,Ooo; increase sSo.195,- 900. Net time deposits. s191.23S,0 ,000: de :. crease $70S,0oo. Circulation, $33,SS3,- 900; increase s4os.ooo. Specie included in (a) and tb), $s5.2s2,ooo. fx) United States deposits deducted, $es5.332, 900. Aggregate reserve, $s55.1e3, ,o0o. Excess reserve. $i7o.S4s,s50; increase, $71.S02,- 140.
 Summary of state banks and trust companies in Greater New York, not in- cluded in clearing house statement: Loans. discounts, etc. $ss7,12s.s0o; de- crease. $2o,570.200. Specie, $23.2s6,3oo; decrease. s16S,300. Legal tenders. $74,- 77s.soo; increase $2ss2oo. Total de- posits. $1,o25, ,541.so0; decrease s34,5s4,- 100. Banks cash in vaults, 12s5o. .oo6. Trust companies cash in vaults, sS5.- .115,200.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-16
The Christmas Story

By Olive Booth Giles. Come, children. let me tell to you 4 story both so sweet and true That all of you with Joy will hear, As this the Christmas time draws near. Tn Palestine. the chosen land Of Israel. a shepherd band, While they were watching flocks one
 night
 Around them saw a wondrous light. With much fear heard they. standing
 there,
 An angels voice sound through the air: Fear not, behold, I bring to thee Good tidings of great joy to be. For unto thee is born this day The day once sung in pSaimist's lay "A Saviour who is Christ, the Lord The Lord feretold In prophets word. And this to you a sign shall be: The young child In a manSer ye Shall find tn David's city ola Suddenly c'er the shepherds' fold A multitude from heaven sang So that the hills and valleys rang: Glory to God in the highest;;'' then, "On earth be peace. good will to men" The shepherd band-so we are told In Holy Withdrawing the fold With eager feet pressed on their way To find the Christ-Chjid where He lay. At that same time, from land afar, There came three men led by a star, Wise in the lore of countries old, Bearing frankincense. myrrb and gold. To worship Him. the newborn King; To Him their costly gifts to bring To Him that babe the shepherds seek. The shepherds poor, the shepherds meek Shepherds and wise men likewise found, With calm-eyed cattle standing round, Tn Bethlehem the babe at rest On His young mothers happy breast At Christmas time while joys the earth, The peoples celebrate the birth Of Him who in a manager lay That long ago, most blessed day.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-16
A Cactus Without Thorns

rum the FeOpte'S Home Journal,
 The thorny desert cactus has furnished food for stock and man in northern Africa, southern Europe and Mexico for ages: but its spines or thorns have made it painful to handle and dangerous as a food for cattle. A thornless cactus is no new thing, but rapidly growing cactus, attaining great size and reaching it's maximum growth with rapidity, has d. ways been thorny. Luther Burbank, after many experiments. has developed d a spineless or thornless cactus-the Opu- tia Tuna-which grows in rocky or arid soil. Is all food and drink from root to tip and preferred by cattle to any other kind of food. This fruit of the cactus varies in size iron, small peanut to 8 very large banana. It is crimson. scarlet, orange. yellow. white and shaded like an apple or a peach The pr oduct of single plant is often from 50 to 100 pounds per annum. The fruit can be shipped safely or stored, like tho ap- pie. Delicious jams, jellies and syrups are made from it, as its juice colors Ices, Jellies and confectionery. It Is also used for making Tuna butter, Tuna horey and Tuna cheese. The fat younr leaves can be made into pickles and are good fried like eggplant, or they can be boiled and used as greens. The mucila- glrons juice from the leaves, mixed with whitewash. gives 1t a glossy appearance and superior tenacity. Paint snanufac- turers are considering plan to utilize this mrcilage as a basis for paint. The estimated returns from a crop of this cultivated cactus after the third year, arc not less than $4o0 per year.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-16
New York Futures
Port Cotton

New Orleans: Mddlns 29c; Receipts,
 7ee335; sales, 524; stock, 3256l2. Galveston: Middling. 2S.6Oc; receipts,
 3327: sales, S32; stock, 274633. Mobile: Middling. 29c; receipts, 2; stock 1s,ss5. Savannah: Midding. 2s.13c: receipts 242s: exports, 500; stock. 25e, 1ol. Charleston: Receipts, 1512: stock. 5e, 1ss Wilningtenf Middling, 2sc; receipts, 4s; stock, 4T,250 Texas City: Stock, 17.es4. Norfolk: Middiing, 8.75; receipts, 1876; sales. 157: stock, 7e.912. Baltimore: Stock, &, 329 Boston: Middling, 3a70c; receipts, 6o6; stock. 13.200. Fhiadeiphia: Middling, sos5; receipts 1o0: stock, ese7
 New York: Middling, So1oc; receipts ! 545; stock, 14S.43e. Minor ports: Receipts, 1797; exports 1885, stock, sT.s27. Total today Receipts. 191Ss; exports Ms5: stock, 1,3oSSS7 Total for week: Receipts, 1s,1ss; ex, ports, Sa3S. Total for season: Receipts, s,s74,s7s exports. 1,ss5,T21.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-16
Human Element in Aviation

Fred erick ". Finn, French Aviator. In
 1.eslies.
 Even the briefest consideration of
 aerial tactics. either individual or en
 masse. Is sufficient to indicate the com-
 plications of the aviator's work. In this
 more than in any other branch of war
 activity the human element is the fac
 tor of prime importance. No matter
 what orders the pilot may have received
 on the ground, or what plan he may
 be part of. once the aviator Is in the
 air he is q free agent. Although the
 nature of his work may require the clos
 est cooperation with his fellows he is in a sense, totally cut off from them
 Personal contact between individuals
 the cc-ordinating factor in other military
 units, is wholly lacking in this work
 Even ship far at sea is less isolated
 than an airplane above the clouds; the action of q whole fleet of battleships scattered over a wide expanse of ocean, can be perfectly controlled by one brain, but the means Of communication be- tween airplanes are so parliamentary and insufficient that centralized control Is an impossihlity. Unlike any other man
 in the army or navy an aviator has no superior officer who can think for him; he has only himself to depend on for decisions,
 Not every man has in him the making of an aviator unless he possesses cer- tain necessary inherent qualities. no amount of schooling will make an air. man out of him. Unfortunately there are no precise tests that will determine whether a man Is fitted for the work or not; often the least promising material develops the most astonishing capabili- ties Captain Csuynemer. the French Ace" was a classic example of the de- ceptiveness of appearances. At the be- ginning of the war Guynemer was re- Jected for all army service, even for clerical work. on the grounds of physical unfitness He made four unsuccessful attempts to join the aviation corps. and was finally accepted only provlsionally, more as a reward for his perseverance | than for any other reason Guynemer had just shot down his fifty-eighth "of- cial' German when he was killed. Count 1 ing those he shot down too far behind 1.-the lines to be reported. 1t Is estimated 1 that he had destroyed the equivalent of at least 10 German squadrons.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-16
Capturing German in the Air

Frederic w. zinn, French Aviator, in Lesiie's.
 If fighting pilots are to obtain results
 now co operation Is practical neces- city. They seldom fly sinsly; simply flying in groups is not sufficient; suc- cess calls for team work. Only few days ago we saw an excellent demon stration of team work. Tn an escadrille de chase near us are two boys who have always worked as a pair, their as- sociation beginning when they were in aviation school. They had studied the game carefully, both on the ground and in the air. and had practiced till they
 work together as smoothly as the backs in a we'll coached football team. On this particular occas sion they had caught n German at l2,000 feet, over his own lines. They had already shot down two In the previous month. but. as one of them told us afterward they wanted to set prisoner. They attacked this one from such an angle that he was first forced over the French lines; then every time he would attempt to turn back one of them would be on hand, To escape he would try to turn in the opposite direction; then the other would bounce on him. With each turn the uniucky German lost heiSht and was formed
 farther over French territory. While one plot would attack the other would be climbing back into position ready to dart down at the next turn. One of the French ma achines was always between the German and his own lines. He wa finally forced so low that he had noth- ing to do but land. and he and tsis ob- server gave themselves up. It was only afterward when we had talked with .lic pilots that we could appreciate tn. full significance of all tha.- moves. Maneti- vers which, to us on tho ground. seemed purposeless. were in reality carefully calculated; every move that either pilot made was with definite end in view, and made with a precise knowledge Of what his partner would do. It was more like hockey game than combat; tba German never had a chance.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-16
What Hubby Would Say

From the Philadelphia Ielegfaph
 The conversation in the lobby or . Washington hotel turned to the sub ject of poker. when Congressman Richard W. Austin of Tennessee said he was reminded of little incident along that line.
 One night friend called to sec Jim Smith and found him playing poksr with a bunch of bachelor friends. Bot ties and things shone ccnspicuousiy. and cigar stumps and ashes filtered the parlor floor. Obviously Mrs. Smith was summering by the sea.
 Gee whiz. old manw exclaimed ths friend. sizing up the scenery What would you say were your wife to drop in here at this moment"
 T wouldn't say anything" was the calm rejoinder of Smith. as he handed the cigar box 10 the newcomer.
 What's that?" was the incredulous rejoinder of the other. You wouldn't say anything!"
 "No." answered Smith. 'I am rather inclined to believe that all the talk Ing would be done by Mrs. Smith,"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-16
Weekly Cotton Revicw

New York. December 15.--Cotton goods trading was somewhat quieter during the week. with prices holding firm or nov ing higher. Cotton blankets were prices for fall of 1918 on basis of about 70 per cent higher than in January of this year. Some lines of dress ginghams opened for fall 1918 show an advance of 5c a yard over the spring prices. Staple ginghams and shirtiug chambray are higher, the latter advance being about Sc yard over the price of five months ago. Print cloths have been quieter and there has been a little easing in prices consequent upon sales between second hands. The de- clines varied from M0tA4cs a yard below the recent top. Brown sheetings are higher than a week ago on some of the coarse numbers. Fine plain con1hed yarn goods are firmer with trade still of a moderate character. Fsncies are very quiet.
 The navy department put out further orders for cotton duck. naming a price lasis of a ner cent of the list, which vii, be modified if 1t is found to be too low. as some manufacturers contend. Government and Red Cross demands arc still very large,
 Reports from retail centers tell of a very moderate demand at the high prices, and the jobbers are seasenahly quiet, with the most of their attention
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-16
The Fool Minister
From the Washington Star.

From the Washington Star.
 Oswald Garrison Willard said in New York address:
 "The new German war minister de- clares that mankind can never get along without war and armies. He reminds me of the Nicois.
 "A Nicois emigrated to the prairies of the west. In his mountainous home country the railroads are all tunnels It's like travelling through flue-and SO. when the denizens of the flat western prairies told the Nicois that they were going to build a railroad he laughed at their ignorance. s"'You can't do it. he said.
 "'Why not? said the prairie people. "Country's too flat said the Nicola You ain't got no mountains to run your tunnels through
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-16
Two. Wrecks of the War

From Flotsam and Jetsam, py John
 Galsworthy, in Scribner's.
 The tides of the war were washing un millions of wrecked lives on all the shores. and what mattered the tlotsam of a conscripted deep-sea Breton fish err,an slowly pining away for lack of .u he was accustomed to; or the jet sam of a tall glass-blower from the ";nvsded countries" drifted into the bosnital-no one quite knew why nrisoner for 20 months with boches. re,ease at last because of his half par alvzed tongue. What mattered they: What mattered anything, or anyone, in days like those?
 Coporal Mignan, wrinkling thin, narchmenty face. full of suffering and kindly cynicism, used to call them ines deux phenomenes" Riddied to the soul bv gastritis, he must have found them irving room mates, with the tricks and manners of sick and naughty children toward a long suffering nurse. To un- derstand all Is to forgive all, they say: but, though he had suffered enough to understand much, Mignan was tempted at time to deliver judgment-for ex- ample, when Roche, the Breton fisher man, rose from his bed more than 10 times in the night to wander out into the little courtyard of the hospital and look at the stars, because he could not keep still within four walls--so un- reasonable of the type" Or when Gray, the tall glass-blower--his grand father had been English--refused with all the tenacity of a British workman, to wear an undervest. :. with the ther- mometer below zsro, Centigrade.
 They inhabited the same room. Flot- sam and Jetsam. but never spoke to one another. And yet in all that hos pital of French soldiers they were the only two who. in manner of speaking. had come from England. Fourteen hun dred years have passed since the Briton
 ancestors of Roche crossed in their shallow boats. Yet he was as hope lessly un-French as Welshman of +ha hills is to fhiS day nm F,n e-Iish
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-16

A complete reversal in form is the best way to describe the stock list yesterday. as the favored list forfeit ed all gains of the day before. There seems to be nothing to the list when it comes to stability. Various rumors from Washington put rails. coppers, steels and oils to the bad. United states Steel felt the shock to the ex- tent of 2A points, closing at STA. Bonds were still depressed.
 Liquidation featured cotton yester- day and a sharp break occurred early
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-16
Hubbard Bros. & Co.'s Letter

New York, December 15.-A lower market was brought about by the liquidation by outside holders who bought previous to the bureau report and who, when they found the spin ners did not follow the advance, dis
 posed of their holdings. On the de-
 cline the south bought, as did some spinners, on a liimted scale. Our local trade were surprised at the decline, as they have been buyers and expected a sharr, demand from outside sources.
 They, however, rather look for better
 market next week
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-16

devoted to preparing lines for spring shipment.
 Cloth quotations are as follows: Print cloths, 2S-inch. 64xGfs, 9c; 64xG0 s, sac; 3s1s-inch e4x6fs. 121s and 12Ac; brown sheetings, southern standards, 19is and 200; tickings. s-ounce, 35c nominal; den inns, 2.2o's indigo, 325zc; prints. 1Sc: staple ginghams, 161ac; dress ginghams, l7Hc and 1gl6c.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-16
Wall Street Shows Reversal of
 Form In All Leading Stock Deals
By JOHN c. MOSES

in the session. All offerings were ab- sorbed by those inclined to cover. Late in the day a rally of few points occurred, owing to trade buying. Small transactions were reported in the dry goods market.
 In the grain pit trading looked brighter as far as prices were con cerned, corn closing k to &c up. cats made about the same rise, while pro visions suffered declines of PA C roc. Buying for experts stiffened ug oats. Hog prices collapsed and carried down provisions with 1t.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-16
Hubbard Bros. & Ca.

Cotton Mcrchnnts, Hanover Square, N, Y. Members New York Cotton Ex. change. New Orleans Cotton ExchanKe, New York Produce Exchange. Associate Members Liverpool Cotton Association. sale or Cotton and Cotton Seed Oil for future delivery. Special attention and spot cotton for delivery. Correspond erce invited.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-16
Chicagn Futures
Casl, Grain

Chicago, December 15.--Corn, No. ! yellow. nominal; No. 8 yellow, nom- inal; No. { yellow, nominal. Oats, No. B white, 75% @76kc; standard, 76A @ 76s4c. Rye; No. 2. nominal; barley, $f.40 Q1.s3; timothy, s5@7.50; clover, $2o n 2s. Pork, nominal; lard, s24.12; ribs. s2s G24.
 St Louis, December 15.--Corn, steady: No. ? track. s1.60; No. white. s1.6S; December, s1.27ss May, $1.2oh. Oats. steady; No. 2 track. 7so; No. white. soc; December. 72hc; May, 72he,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-16
A Little Too Thrifty

Secretary of War Baker tells a story Of a coutry youth who was driving to the county fair with his sweetheart wben they passed booth where fresh popcorn was for sale.
 My. Ahner, ain't that nice?" said the girl.
 ..Ain,t what nicer" asked Abner
 s.Why, the popcorn; 1t smells so aw- fully good;" replied thegirl
 'Tt does smell kind O fine drawled the youth. "I'll jest drive little clcser so you can get a better smell"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-16
New Orleans Cotton

New Orleans. December 15.~Heavy selling in the nature of liquidation of long contracts continued in the cotton market here today, forcing prices down for 8 loss of 1hc pound before re- action set in. While portion of the offerings was conceded to be inspired by the approaching holidays, it was claimed that much of the selling was Of spe- cial nature and the result of unloading of large lines of speculatively held long contracts.
 The opening was at the decline and the downward movement was sustained until the trading months were ss to 54 points under yesterdays close At this level short sellers of the early session took their profits and the demand from them was sufficient to bring about par tial recovery Closing prices showed net losses of p to 27 points.
 The market was steadied somewhat by the bullish showing of the weekly sta tistics the into sight movement being small. the out of sight large and the increase in the visible supply unusually small for this season of the year. An influsaee which worked for the recovery was unchanged quotations in the spot department.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-16
Produce Market

New York. December 15,-Buttsr strong; receipts, s0ss tubs. Creamery. higher than extras, 5otaG51c; creamery. g. score. 50c; firsts, Hq45c. Eggs. re- ceipts. 2o59 cases Fresh gathered extras 6i@s2c; extra firsts, 5sd6oc; firsts. 57G5.e. Cheese steady; receipts, 5z9 boxes; state. whole milk. flats, 23N@23tsc: do average run, c2iz923c. Poultry. live, strong; chickens, 2S1sc; fowls. 25dZ7c; turkeys. 1Sc; dressed strong and unchanged.
 Chica go, December 15.-Butter higher; creamery, 38Ga9c. Eggs higher; receipts, s3s5 cases; firsts, 51dS21ac: ordinary firsts. 4iQ4Se at mark. eases included. 4sd5oc Potatoes; receipts, 10 cars. un- changed Poultry, alive, unchanged
 St Louis. December 15.-Poultry rn- changed, except turkeys. eSc. Butter. creamery, 49c; eggs, 49c.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-16
Bonds

Money Market
 New York, December 15.-Mercantile paper, 5AG5% per cent. Sterling 6O-day bills, S4.7lA; commercial 60-day bills on banks, s41; commercial 6O-day bills, A.7o1s; demand, $475N; cables, $4.76 7-16. Bar silver, S5Bc.
 London, December 15.-Bar silver, 4a pence per ounce Money, per cent. Dis count rates: Short bills. 4ss per cent: three months bills, 4N per cent
 Francs. demand, 5.731a; cables, 5.7iis. Builders, demand 43A; cables A. Lres, demand. S.32; cables s.S0 Rubles de- mand 12%; cables, 13k. Mexican dollars. SIC. GovernmeiI bonds easy Railroad bonds heavy.
 Live Stock
 St. Louis, December 15.-Hogs: Re- ceipts, 5000; lower; lights $15.s0@16.20,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-16
Sweetly Expressed
the London Tit Bits,

FOIiI tH6 I1UIIuUH III LftS.
 Not for worlds would Mrs. Smith speak an unkind word about anyone. She was one of those charitable old ladies wh otry to think and speak kind ly of everyone. If anyone asked her opinion of & person. and she did not particularly like the individual in ques- ton. she would express her feelings in such quaint and original way that the sting would be quite lost.
 What q brilliant conversationalis. young MT. Jenkins is." said friend to her one day. DO you know him Really it's an education to listen tc him talking.p
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-16
New Orleans Futures
Spot Cotton

New York, December l5-sopt cotton. quiet and unchanged; sales on the spot. 5A bales; to arrive. none; low middling. 2S12c; middling, 29c; good middling 2s. soc. Receipts, T2s5. stock. 325,6
 New York. December 15.-Cotton, spot, quiet middling uplands, 3o.10c.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-16
w. k. Campbell

Stocks, grain. provisions and cotton seed oil. correspondent Shepard < Gluck, New Orleans; E. w. Wagner & Go. New York and Chicago. Continu- ous quotations; private wires to all exchanges.
 x el6 and 0l7 Woodward Bldg. # Telaphone Main 0141
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-16
Dry Goods

New York, December 15.-Cotton goods here today were steady, demand not quite SO broad. Government demands for heavy duck were in excess of sup- ply Linens and burlaps were quiet Knit goods were in fair demand for next year, with spot demand for wool goods active
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-16
Interior Movement

Houston: Middling, 2s .25c; receipts. TIP; shipments, 8337: sales, :7s3: stock, PA 5so
 Memphis: Middling. % sae; receipts s14s; shipments, 4o31; sales. 600; stock. 246, s12.
 Augusta: Middling. 2ac: receipts, 2Sls shipments. AS; sales, 2T2; stock, l55,o4e
 St Louis: Middiing. 29.75c receipts 1855: shipments, 1913; stock. ll.ess.
 cfneinl1ati. Receipts, S1i; shipments al. stock, 1a,5as.
 Little Rock: Middling. go. 5sc: receipts 1sl7' shipments, 54s; sales, 54s; stock, 52, 123
 Total today: Receipts, 1S,97s ship ments, t5,oss; stock. 7os,1e7.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-16
Birmingham Live Stock

NUnion StockyardS.) Fec Steers: Good to Choice-sdac. Medium to Good-6h@7izc. Common to Medium-~6Q61zc. Grass cattle. according to weight dual. ity and flesh: Steers-6Q7c. Fat Cows-6GS1lc. Medium Cows -5.25QS. 75e. Cutters 5,59Q5 soc. Canners--o.06q5.5 Heavy Bulls-6G7c. Light Bulls-5.5047c. Oxen-5.q6.50c. Fat earlingsTsa7c. Medium earlings-415q5. soc. Vealers-6d7c. Hogs: Choice Corn Fed Hogs. 1ss and up- l59i6c. Choice Corn Fed Hogs. 1855 to 15e-- 1+@16c. Choice Corn Fed Hogs, 90 to 1s5-1s1s @i31ac. Light Pigs, 90 Pounds Down-11Gi2c. Best Heavy Rough Hogs--l1hdlsc. Half Fat Hogs-11912c. Soft and oil. hogs from 1e to 2c per pound less than above prices.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-16
Fruits and Produce

Fruits and Produce Coeoanuts-Sc each. Bananas-Large, s250dS. Fresh Peanuts--l2c ib. Oranges--California, A.25. Limes-lmported, a0c0Sl. Colorado Celery-9oc doz.. s crate. Cranherrles-s3.25 9 per crate; st5 barrel. Snap Beans-s5 hamper. Florida oranges-sL25 box. LemonS-s5 Grapefruit. s45o. Gariic-i21ac ID.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-16
Weekly Liverpool Statistics

Liverpool, December i5.-Weekly cotton statistics: Total forwarded to mills, 6 coo bales. American 10000: stock. 401, GOO, American sss,0oo; imports, 4s.0S0, Ameri- can 20.00O exports, none.