davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-02
Prospects for Peace

'The year 1917 opens with the mind of the world groping for peace," says Henry Clews in his annual business and financial review. "A year ago it was wholly bent upon war; now it is more and more devoted to seeking ways and means of bringing the ghastly struggle to a close. There are those well informed who believe that peace is nearer than commonly sup posed, because Germany is prepared to make greater concessions than expect ed; while others as confidently claim that Germany will at present propose no terms that the allies are willing to accept
 "The latter class of believers also incline to the opinion that if present peace movements fail, in spite of their strong support by neutral nations, the war will be resumed on both sides with increased vigor and bitterness An inconclusive ending of the war would be disastrous to civilization, in- asmuch as it would not unlikely pre- cipitate second war as soon as the most aggressive belligerents suffi- ciently recovered. hence an absolute binding, copper-f fastened settlement must be attained. including all the belligerents"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-02
Truckmen Gettinr Busy

"The hundreds of truckmen about Birmingham are taking advantage of every opportunity to get their fields ready for early planting" said I. H. Hodge of Huffman. "The truckmen have had the worst year in the history of the state. Their summer crop was rained out. and their winter fields were ruined by the first cold snap, which was very severe, and came before the greenstuff had chance to toughen by light early frosts.
 Not only the raisers, but the con- suming public suffered. All vegetables have been shipped in and the prices have been high.
 "The ground remains too moist for much blowing, but with every break of the weather, ground is turned over for early work. Next month Irish potatoes will be put in, and from then on chances will be taken on all varieties of seeds. It's the early crop that pays well, and everybody wants to get some of this money. The housewife cer- tainly will welcome home-raised stuff again."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-02
l. .
High Price of Eggs

BlighSs Magiciann's s Career 1T HE high price of eggs has F driven "The Great LEggo," !" mapician. from vaudeville, presum- ably. into private life. "L'Eggo" may possibly get ready another "act," but for the present he is not working in the Continuous.
 The magician has been doing ms nfamous egg trick" for the edlflca- ton of the masses. At every perform ance he broke IS eggs into bowl, nassed a magic cloth over the mix ture and, presto, brought forth a flock of chickens. It was rare niece of humor, subtle fling at the cold storage egg and first class trick. The illusionist admits that much himself.
 So long as "L'Eggc" was playing the sstwo-a-day" houses he maraged to provide enough eggs without gong banb rupt, even at the present high prices. But he was booked at Chi caro theatre where he was expected to do seven turns daily. That would all for 126 eggs day, or 8S2 eggs
 week, for it was seven-day house.
 The magician salary being consld- ably less than the magnificent stl- bends of Gertrude Hoffman, Eva Tanguay, Harry Lauder and other shining lights of vaudeville, he fig ured that after he had paid for S82 eggs every week he would be losing money. The house manager posi- lively refused to provide the eggs as "props."
 That's why .tL'Eggo" packed up his belongings and departed. It prob ably never occurred to him that he might perform his trick with half a dozen eggs, instead of the full IS.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-02
LUKE M'LUKE SAYS

Never try to guess woman's age from
 the number of candles on her birthday cake.
 A woman's idea of female dude is a female who wears a corset when she is
 doing her housework. A colored head waiter is about the only man who can look as important as a
 white drum major. During the honeymoon she wants him
 to preserve all of his precious hair when he has it cut, so that sne can save it for posterity. But later on, If she finds one of his hairs on the dresser, she acts as if she was disgusted. What doth it profit man to foster friendship with girl? She will only want to marry him and end the friend ship.
 The prohibitionist who denies you your personal liberty to drink what you please insists on his personal liberty to make you drink what he tells you to. l The international gas congress con- venes but once a year. But If sou patron l ize some saloons you would imagine that | 1t was in session all the time. | When a man is tempted to do wrong | his first thought isn't devoted to the moral effect of yielding 70 the temptation.
 It Is devoted to the chances of getting
 caught if he yields.
 Why is it that Good Fellow usually ! has lot of bad habits?
 l The gossip doesn't get her bad reputa- tion merely because she repeats every 1 thing she hears. It is because she repeatz a whole lot that she doesn't hear, After man has been married lonn enough he wouldn't mind his wife talking
 SO much if she would only say gomo-
 thing occasionally. 4
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-02
Loss to Community

'Tt was with much regret that l learned of the death of Jones G. Moore" said Hugh Lynch, assistant mine inspector. T was also much shocked for I was not aware of his indisposition. He was one of the kind Hest men ever came in contact with and was at all times courteous and genial. That he was an authority on the practical as well as the business side of coal mining was attested by the fact that he stood the examina- tion for mine foreman some years ago and. as I understand it, scored a higher number of points than any other of the large class that applied for the coveted certificate. I feel a personal loss in his death and know that he will be missed, not only by his immediate family and friends but by wide circle of acquaintances throughout the state. I consider his death a decided loss to the commu- nfty"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-02
HOTEL LOBBIES
sonthern cluh ActivIties

|
 prospects for the new year at the
 Southern club now appear exceedingly bright" said w. B. Cobbs, secretary and treasurer.
 "The membership is large, and there
 has of late been very perceptible in- crease of interest fin club activities.
 The secial functions planned for this season give promise of being even more attractive than usual. The splendid cafe, perhaps the most luxurious in the south, and the ballroom. with it's un- surpassed appointments, are features which never cease to attract. "On New Years day. in accordance with 8 previous announcement, Judge B. M. Allen, the newly elected president, began his term. MT. Harry Jones is vice president, and the board of gov
 ernors for the year is as follows: J. w. Mcqueen, H. c. Ryding, Al c. Car Der, L. R. Locke and Henry Morsch- |heimer"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-02
Lyaachirag Record and
 Whae 1t Indicates

TIFTY- FOUR persons were J lynched in the United States during the year 1916, according to the records of Tuskegee institute, made public yesterday. Of this num- Der 50 were negroes and three were negro women. In 1915 the lynchings numbered 60, and 13 of the victims were white men.
 The complete list is as follows: Alabama, |; Arkansas, 4; Florida, &; Georgia, IA; Kansas, 1; Kentucky, 2; Louisiana, 2; Mississippi, l; Mis- souri, l; North Carolina, 2; Oklaho- ma, 4; South Carolina, 2; Tennessee, 3, Texas, 9.
 Georgia comes first with IA lynch ings, surely record not to be envied, while Texas is second with 9. Florida, with lynchings, rivals Texas closely. The records of Arkansas and Okla homa, with each, are somewhat >better. It is gratifying to note that E Alabama, although neighbor to Georgia and Florida, had only one lynching during the year.
 It is interesting to note, as showing the grip this form of lawlessness has on the country, that only nine of the negro victims were lynched for crimes against women. Ten were put to death for killing officers of the law and seven for murder. The other cases ranged all the way from wounding cfficers to stealing hogs, skipping a boy and trying to prevent mob from putting a man to death.
 The figures show quite exclusively that the blood-lust of mobs is aroused more often by comparatively trifling attractions of the law than offenses onlnst white women. Race hatred 6cre the disorderly classes Of white
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-02
of Famous
 Waltz ComducGor

w SSe S<A SSS~00SoS SSSSNSo
 TIT HE death of Edouard Strauss in
 4 Vienna a few days ago marked
 the passing of the last of family of gifted musicians, all of them com lposers of waltzes that easily cap tivated the public. There were three celebrities of dance music pre-emi- Inence-Johann, ST., Johan, Jr., and Edouard, the younger son who has just answered the eternal summons. Johann, Jr., was the most prolific in composition. In addition to many waltzes and polkas, he wrote a num- Der of operettas, all of which were well received. It was he who con- posed the Beautiful Blue Danube" ," and had he done nothing more that
 waltz classic would have imnnortalized him.
 Edouard's dance music was popular, but he achieved his greatest distinc-, tion as ballroom and concert con- ductor. He brought his orchestra to
 this country about twenty-five years ago and appeared before large and delighted audiences in many cities,
 Birmingham among them. While he
 was thoroughly educated musician, his programmes contained little else than waltzes. He had been dance con- ductor to the Austrian court, and was essentially ballroom leader.
 When Richard Strauss, the great composer of symphonies and grand opera, first appeared upon the musi- cal stage many people thought he be- longed to the waltz family. Not a few indeed got him confused with the composer of Beautiful Blue Danube" They were not related.
 The waltz composers were born and reared in Austria. Richard Strauss, who is generally regarded as the fore most musical genius since Wagner great conductor as well as great con- poser-was born and educated in Bavaria. While the Strausses of waltz fame were not in Richard Strauss class, still they were artists of high rank and contributed their share to good, clean musical literature.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-02
TEARS, IDLE TEARS

By Tennyson. Tears. idle tears, know not what they Tears from the depth of some divine de-
 spair Rise in the heart and gather to the eyes. In looking on the happy autumn fields. And thinking of the days that are no
 more. Fresh as the first beam glittering on .
 sail, That brings our friends up from the un-
 derworld, Sad as the last which reddens over ono That sinks with all we love below the So sad, so fresh, the days that are no
 more. An. sad and strange as in dark sum-
 mer dawns Tho earliest pipe of half-awakened birds To dying ears, when unto dying eyes The easement slowly grows glimmer-
 ing square: So sad. 10 strange. the days that are no
 more. Dear as remembered kisses after death, And sweet as those by hopeless fancy on fips that are for others; deep as love, Deep as flrst love. and wild with all re |o death T h Iife. ths d.ys thxt IT ne
 morn. ;s! 1T.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-02

point of view, or higher ideals than holding to a full dinner pail and keeping husbands or sons out of the trenches, will dispose of number of illusions regarding the elevation of politics by the women's vote. The extent to which the national ticket was ''swapped" to save local tick cts and petty office holders and seekers, and the extent to which women voters were parties to this, has not greatly strengthened public confidence in wom- ems usefulness, courage. vision or inde- pendence in political action. This elec- tion has further revealed the astonishing fact that women voters or nonvoters are not regarded as serious factor in Amer ican public life except on election day.
 The woman's party sought by negative action and sex appeal to defeat MT. Will son because he was against the federal atendment It has served useful pur- pose in American political life in show ing that negative methods do not appeal to women, that women cannot yet be de- pended upon for group loyalty and team work, and that America in time of pros- perity is not a one-issue country. It has demonstrated that any sex appeal in po-s litical life is impossible and unsound, and that the real need in American life is po- litical education on all issues through out the year, for men and women alike and together. Women's part in the elec- tion showed all the lack of cooperation, of team work and of generalship which might have been expected from a group that has never had full, vital interest in national public affairs and that has had little training for them. Agitation for the vote is no more preparation for voting than casting a ballot on election day is preparation for citizenship or full fillment of it. Neither by itself develops a national consciousness or public con- science.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-02

Nat Goodwin has been advised by q dramatic critic to quit vaudeville and return to the .1egitimate' stage. Maybe Nat Is like great many other people nowadays and has to do what comes to hand.
 Chicago was limited to New Year celebration lasting only one hour. That explains why so many Chicagoans left the city Sunday night for nearby towns where the lid was off.
 * * < The coronation of Emperor Charles at Budapest was a great success, in spite of the war. None of the Hungarian nobles appeared in patched garments
 * * A youthful crook in New York showed detectives how to pick a Yale lock with his fingers. At least he did it. but he didn't show them how.
 x
 
 on the American continent even faster than the Kaiser is winning new lands In Europe.
 It seems rather waste of time for Greece to inform the world that she has had hard struggle to remain neutral.
 fl if According to the German point of view, a kind word from the Kaiser makes it much easier to die in the trenches.
  At his present rate of progress, Villa will soon be enjoying the sea breezes at Tampico.
 It really seems like a waste of time to wish anybody in Europe & happy New Year.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-02
T ax Election May
 Be This Month

I1OETITIONS requesting the board U of revenue to call an election in Jefferson county for the 3-mill school tax under the recent amendment are being circulated, and as only 200 sig natures are required early action on the part of the board may be ex- Ipected.
 The campaign committee had fixed upon February as the election date, but in view of the fact that poll taxes become delinquent on the first of Feb ruary the board will probably be asked to move the date up two weeks in order to have an expression of the electorate as at present qualified. Otherwise if every citizen on the reg istration books is to have an oppor- tunity of voting time would be re- quired for legal action allowing de- |linquents to qualify. This delay would cause the election to be postponed until spring. While this would not make any material difference, the committee and the voters, too, would like to have the question of the 3-mill tax disposed of as soon as possible. It had been intended to have a months campaign, but the people are ready now to ballot for the tax. A ltwo-weeks' campaign, therefore, should be sufficient to bring out a full vote. The large majority rolled up in Jefferson county for the amend ment in November indicated clearly a strong sentiment in favor of the spe- cial tax. There can be scarcely a doubt but that another large majority will be recorded whenever the tax election is held. Still, nothing should be taken for granted.
 All friends of education must get together as they did in the amend ment campaign and work for an over whelming vote.
 * *
 Tenants in the Bronx have gone on a strike against landlords who raised the rent. There is an old saying to the effect that the worm will turn.
 The President probably would not mind a sprained ankle if he had made more of hit with his peace proposal. The high price of shoes probably isn'1
 worrying those Hollanders who chatter around in wooden ones.
 1 .
 Incidentally, what has become of Chica
 go's egg king? Is he behind the bars
 Not enough to notice
 Newfoundland is now as dry as the pro lverbial bone. What do the old sea dog,
 think Of thata
 csrraSka troops go over to villa with . cheerful Aacrity that bodes no good te the first chlef.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-02
Hessemer Busy Rurg

'Bessemer is indeed a busy burg these days, remarked R. B. Ragsdale, Jr., of the Marvel City.
 'The real estate market is booming and all the works are running night and day. The laborer is well paid and the merchant is prosperous. The holi- day trade, I understand, was exceed- ingly good. There Is hardly a vacant house in Bessemer. The streets are al- ways bust1ing with traffic and com merce and the crowds are large"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-02
FOOT RULES IN THE ARMY

Kathleen E1lllS Tn LeSlle B. Napoleon once said that an army marches on its stomach rather than on its feet. and to him is also credited the remark that more battles are won with legs than with arms Time has not disproved the correctness of this deduction, for today the military au- thorities of all the great powers give it due recognition, and even a more lit eral application, and agree that an army
 marches more on it's shoes than on it's feet Evidently Maj. Sanford H. Wad-
 pairing the Manual of Military Hygiene
 adopted by the United States army, for
 of it's A pages 13 are devoted to the shoe
 and the care of the feet. The mobility
 footgear than on any other one factor. If this mobility is the secret of military
 efficiency, satisfactory shoe, therefore,
 becomes about the most important item in the soldiers equipment. The shoe
 adopted by our army after four years investigation of the subject by board
 composed of both line and medical off,
 ficers is broad toed, with the inner line of the last almost straight. While the
 shape of the army shoe assumes the
 place of first importance, emphasis is laid on It's proper fitting to the individual soldier
 No better advice to the public can be
 given in reference to the care of their
 feet than is embodied in the Army Man
 ual referred to, but which, Of course, is
 not in general circulation. The points
 particularly emphasized may be para
 phrased as follows:
 Wear a shoe wide enough and straight enough on the inner margin to give the
 toes space for their proper position.
 The best treatment of bunions will be found in removing the pressure over the affected joint. This can only be done by
 supplying a properly fitted shoe.
 To relieve .ingrowing nails they should
 be cut squarely across and not rounded.
 Scrape the nail thin on the top and insert
 a pledget of cotton under the edge. For corns use properly fitted shoes.
 Remove corns or callouses only when
 they are source of pain and irritation. Have at least two pairs of well-fitted shoes for constant use, and smooth stock ings as free from holes and darnings as poible.
 After a long walk wash the feet, dust with foot powder and put on clean stock ings and shoes, but do not soak the feet in cold water.
 Do not use arch-supports for flat foot except on the prescription of physician. Foot powder shaken into the socks or dusted over the feet will help prevent blisters.
 Woolen stockings will absorb perspira- tion Those who are on their feet very much should harden them by applying foot powder and bathing the feet fre- quently in cold water.
 The correction of flat foot may require a long period and can be aided by fur nishing broad and well shaped shoe. taking care that the foot is strengthened by proper exercises and not overloaded. Do not "toe out,'' but walk with the inner margins of the feet parallel, so that the weight of the body will be thrown on the outer or stronger part of the foot.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-02
WOMEN IN REGENT CAMPAIGN

WOMEN IN ftECfINI CAMEAlGN Frances A. Kellor, in the January Yale
 Review.
 Although the battle lines of the recent presidential election are still confused the women voters of the western states may very properly be accredited with being the decisive factor in MT. Wilson's reelection, since 10 of the 12 suffrage states went democratic. One of these, California, must be judged separately, as the progressives there avenged what they considered an insult to- their governor and "favorite son." and no estimate can be made of the influence of the women's vote. The determining issues were the sentimental one-"He kept us out of ity, combined with domestic reluctance to "swap horses in the middle of the stream"
 This decisive alignment of the women's vote may turn the suffrage clock back in America, as the majority of the state where suffrage will como to vote in the near future are normally republican; and the republican party will be loath either to forget or to forgive the women voters of 1916. Since the democratic party is committed to the method of obtaining suffrage through the states. little help can be- expected from this quarter. It is possible the east may feel the injus- tice of the west's having . double vote and may resent the way in which votins women represent thelr sex. This may hasten suffrage. but the odds are the other way at present
 The failure of the women to express 2 more decided appsseistf6n of International issues, nationel pollelss. or clearly to deponsfrate tf6< 1keX ma q1<f)fen(
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-02
ovERAwED

Take this grocery bill around to Mrs. Grabcoin, see her in person, and say that we must have check at once"
 If it's all the same to you, boss. would you mind sending somebody else?"
 "what forr'
 When that woman stares at me through her lorgnette can't talk busl- ness"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-02
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
POETS WORK

Let poets sing About the spring
 And fill the world with joyance. Though, here and there, Some may declare
 Their verse a great annoyance. When skies are gray And cares dismay
 And fortune isn't smiling, They serve sometimes With pleasing rhymes
 A moment for beguiling.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-02
FEEDING BABIES IN PoNDoLAND

FEEDING BABIES IN PONDOLAND A. M. Anderson, in World Outlook for
 January.
 If a Pondo baby lives through the first year of his life, nothing short of an earth quake or submarine can jeopdardize his future Consider, for example the way he is fed.
 His mother lays him flat on his back on her lap. With one hand she makes a funnel over his mouth and with the other holds a gourd containing about a quart of thick, sour milk, called "amasa." This she proceeds to pour down the screaming child despite his sputters, Kicks and chok- ings. Not until the last drop has passed through her hand does she release him.
 A frequent result of this forced feeding Is a convulsion, and the mother, frantic with fear, dispatches a messenger for the medicine man. If he is proper medicine man he has carefully quizzed the messen- ger on the way over and knows just what is expected of him.
 Without even cursory glance at the sick child, he calls for large dish and into this pours little more than pint Of water. Powdered roots, park, bones, claws and sometimes pieces or hair are mixed with the water and the mother is then ordered to give all of this splendid medicine to the baby instanter The doc- tor then departs for some distant place, leaving no immediate address.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-02
NO SOUR GRAPES

From the Macon Telegraph.
 Birmingham" says The Age-Herald of that city, .'can worry along without the farm loan bank" That's the way we feel about grapes before they are thor oughIy ripened.