davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-08-06

New York, August 5.-(Special)- more the statement which was issued a few days ago by the United States Steel corporation is studied the clearer the comprehension of the vast and pro found meaning which was contained between the lines of this statement.
 It has been spoken of as rather interesting fact that upon the day the steei corporations statement was pub lished there also appeared in print report showing that the aggregate for- eign trade of the United States in the fiscal year. which ended on June 50 was almost $1O, GOO, ,000 900. Each of these reports, that of the Steel corporation and the one which came from the gov ernment at Washington, really supple ments the other, for the reasons which made it possible for the United States to secure in F months an internation- al trade of the money value of nearly s10,000, ,0O0000, are in part the reason why the United States Steel corporation was able to report that is earnings in the last three months of the past fiscal year were almost exactly s145.0o0,OoO.
 Of course, the war in Europe explains in great measure the magnitude of thesA figures, and yet for time after the war began the Steel corporation was oc- cupied almost exclusively in manufac- turing commodities for the domestic mar ket and for export. Many of these com modities found their destination in the munition factories but with that des- tinatioi the Steel corporation had noth- ing to do. A year and half ago some of the officers of the corporation es- timated that a little over 50 per cent of the products of the cordporation were purchased by the industries which were engaged in manufacturing munitions of war.
 There have been many comments oc- casioned by the unprecedented statement of the Steel corporation. One which was most commonly heard is that had the supreme court at Washington or the low CT court decided that the Steel corpor- ation was organized and operated in violation of the federal statutes, there by compelling its dissolution, it would have been impossible for the corpora tion to make statement at all com parable with the one issued the other day, Certainly it would have been inn possible to set aside $53, ,000,000, as the corporation has done, out of net earn ings with which to pay the presumptive tax the government will exact on account of excess profits. Nor would the gov- ernment have received from this cor poration an aggregate of taxes which may amount within two years to as much as $200, ,000,0O0 had the corporation been disjointed as was the case with the Standard Oil company.
 Although the formal statement issued by the corporation is as colorless as Is the report of an actuary or audi tor, nevertheless the intimations are clear throughout the report that the business which has been carried on upon so great scale as to make possible net earnings of $145. 100000 in three months, reflects efficiency and the great value of coordination and cooperation, includ- ing the harmonizing of plants. Therefore the government can itself now turn with confidence to the corporation for the production of an enormous amount of material of which the government
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-08-06
NOTEL. LOBBTES
Crop. in 1ood cond,,,on

have just been down to visit my parents who live near Tallassee," said Rev. E. T. Reeves, pastor of the Mon- nish Memorial Baptist church, Tusca- Ioosa. T went to Montgomery over the Mobile and Ohio, and the crops were fine l found every growing thing in Elmore county for man and beast in fine condition. The boil weevil has made his appearance. but is not doing the dam age he did last year and the farmers will make good cotton crop. I am greatly enjoying my work at Tuscaloosa. l married here in Birmingham and Mrs. Reeves always enjoys her visits to her old home.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-08-06

A MoS9 oss,hs tns Mark a zsFnsr Twain lsstsss zine for August Is one to Henry Ward Beecher in September, 1885. in which Clemens tells some in | teresting anecdotes showing Grants fine sense of honor and narrates how | Grant finished his autobiography.
 The sick room Che says) brought out the points of General Grants character-some of them particularly, to-wit:
 His patience; his indestructible equa- bility of temper; his exceeding gentle ness, kindness, forbearance. lovingness, charity, his loyalty to friends. to con victions. to promises infinitesimal frac- tions and shadows of promises. (There was a requirement of him which I con- sidered an atrocity, an injustice, an outrage; I wanted to implore him to repudiate 1t; Fred Grant said, Save your labor I know him; he is in doubt as to whether he made that half-prom- ise or not-and he will give the thing the benefit of the doubt; he will fulfill that -half-promise or kill himself try ing Fred Grant was right-he did ful- fill iD his aggravatingly trustful na- ture; his genuineness, simplicity, mod esty, diffidence, self-depreciation, pow erty in the quality of vanity-and, in no contradiction of this last, his sim pie pleasure in the flowers and general truck sent to him by Tom, Dick and Harry from everywhere-a pleasure that suggested perennial surprise that he should be the object of so much fine attention-he was the most lovable great child in the world q mentioned his loyalty; you remember Harrison, the coiored body servant? the whole family difference, the general always stood at his back, wouldn't allow him to be scolded; always excused his failures and deficiences with the one unvarying for mula, we are responsible for these things in his race-it is not fair to visit our fault upon them-let him alone" so they did let him alone, under com pulsion, until the great heart that was his shield was taken away; then-well, they simply couldn't stand him, and so they were excusable for determining to discharge him-a thing which they mor- tally hated to do, and by lucky accident were saved from the necessity of doing) his toughness as barganer when do- ing business for other people or for his country (witness his terms at Don- olson, Yicksburg, etc; Fred Grant told me his father wound up an estate for the widow and orphans of friend in St. Louis-it took several years; at the end every complication had been strengthened up and the property put upon prosperous basis; great sums had passed through his hands, and when
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-08-06

It is reported that taxicabs have been running on alcohol in Berlin foi year. The fact that Berlin clings tc it's taxicabs shows that it is not prac- ticing strict economy. * | Those scandinpvian countries have accumulated riches by selling food stuffs to Germany and they are going to find to their sorrw that money Is not edible.
 It is highly desirable that the food experts get together. If they did that lit is barely possible that there would be no food problem.
 The high price of oysters will hit hardest the man who consumes two dozen on the half shell as an appetizer for dinner.
 MT. Root is confident that Russia will succeed in finding herself. In the meantime the Teutons are march, ing on.
 If the ex-kings organize a club they will have to make the dues rather low, for most of them are a little short of funds
 X
 The Kaiser needn't delude himself into believing that the German name has been slandered. It couldn't be done. Mir. Balfour reads penny dreadfuls" for relaxation. His conduct, however, is not influenced by what he reads.
 *
 It may be necessary to shoot a few slackers to convince these gentry that Uncle Sam is in deadly earnest.
 Big Bill Thompson of Chicago says he is misunderstood He'll have hard time proving that.
 It's no sign of optimism to say the U-boat is no longer menace. It's sign of eeble-mindedness
 *
 When the French deny that they are all in, down and out, it's easy to be- lieve them.
 All is indeed lost in Russia, if Ker- ensky is going to acquire the resigning habit.
 When man puts on khaki no one ob- jects to his wearing a wrist watch.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-08-06
THE GREAT CRAY SHIPS

By Will Allen Dromgoole. The gray ships softly steal to sea Mild wind and soughinE tide; The gray gulls rest along the wave, The weed-waifs soundless glide And solemn as the still nights flow, The ion-breasted fighters go Their brave lads watch the home shores
 fade
 Within the gathering mist. Their pulses tingling to the touch Of lips their own have kissed Each wondering how. and dreaming
 when. His lips and hers shall meet again. The bold moon woos the amorous surge. The still dark flees the dawn. The red sun climbs the old earth's
 knees
 The great gray ships are gone. Where wounded freedom calls her sons. Tho young lads muster at their guns
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-08-06
Tells Story on Himself

"A fellow never knows when he is going tc put his foot into it." said Judge John c. Carmichael During the famous Kolb campaign l went to Shef- field to make a speech, in which I said that every man who lived in Barbour county was a born candidate, just like every male reared in Kentucky was a born colonel. I looked down into the audience s.nd there sat the chairman of the committee from Barbour county, a candidate, and by his side a Kentucky colonel. I took to myself the soliloquy of the tailless parrot who had whistled once too often at bulldog, and then added insult to injury by trying to sick him onto a cat and getting caught in the mixup. I realized I had talked too much.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-08-06
Brings New Books

T am just back from a three weeks trip east" said William J. Doxey, the new manager of the book department at Loveman, Joseph & Loebs, who used to have charge of one of the big depart ment stores in Chicago.
 T think I have bought. an attractive line of books and hope the Birmingham public will appreciate the efforts of the book department to give them a chance to buy the latest books at reasonable prices. l expect to be able to build up a great book business, for I like to sell books. I want the people to make my department their headquarters when they visit the store"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-08-06
Used to Run Newspaper

T once worked on a newspaper" said Rev. John w. Inzer Tt was when l was IA years old. I allied myself with the Savoy Reporter. We got out four page weekly, two sheets being pot boil CTS, but two set up by hand I had as my helper young girl. How long did it liver you ask. We'll to be truthful, 1t lasted six weeks. Since then I have never had the courage to get back into the newspaper game, though at times I dc have an itching to set type and write news articles"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-08-06
LUKE M,LUKE SAYS

The reason why 1t makes a man so mad to have to sit in the back row in a theatre Is because 1t makes him twice as mad if the usher takes him to the front row when he goes to church.
 Ever notice that a lot of women are not nearly so good looking when you get a closeup view of them?
 You can't blame a man for wanting to do all the talking when he Is in a saloon because when he is at home he can't get a word in edgeways.
 The old fashioned small-town sport who used to refer to girls as heifers now has son who refers to them as skirts
 No man is going to get through life without getting his share of criticism. So let them knock and don't worry
 When woman can't keep a secret she intrusts it to a dozen other wom- en to keep for her.
 enough for comfort after she passes her sixtieth year.
 We have often wondered how a lee turer manages to make a living. Wom. en do not like to be lectured and mar red men get more than they need What has become of the old fashioned man who used to wear rubbers on rainy days in summer? A man has to have pockets because he can't stuff his handkerchief and his powder rag and his money down into the front of his waist like a woman But what would a womans waist look like if she had to carry a jackknife bunch of keys, a wad of old letters a pocketbook, box of matches, hand full of cigars and a l>ack of scrap to- .bacco.
 | If there are any men who love their enemies. the betting is that they do Il at the expense of their friends. 1 Another reason why there is so much trouble in the world is because a wom- an will listen to flattery when she won't listen to the truth hustler doesn't stop when he man. ages to make both ends meet. He keeps on until there Is enough lap-over on the ends so he can tie them into knot
 and make them stay put.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-08-06
Extend Hospitality to- Officers

T think Birmingham ought to make it plain to the officers and their fam lilies who come to Anniston," said Key Milner, that we will freely open our clubs and our homes to them.
 Tn the work I did in trying to get an encampment here, I found out that the officers were always keen to know what social advantages a community offered Now, Birmingham is wonder fully well equipped in it's social clubs, theatres and churches and I am sure there are no more beautiful and hospi- tabel homes anywhere in the land. Sc let's make these facts known to them"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-08-06

No more they dream of clinging lips No more of clasped hands Nor who shall sail back home again, Who sleep in foreign lands: But, stripped and cleared their souls.
 they wait.
 Like those gray ships. soldiers fate. O silent ships with those who love Sail on to lands afar: There is no prouder thing afloat Than you, gray ships of war; And safety rests, abides. endures In those brave sailors hands and
 yours We do not charge you to bring theh
 back
 Whate'er the bitter price; But only that the victory NV Shall match the sacrifice: That freedom live, and sing aloud. Within the soldisr's threat--or Rhroud-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-08-06
HER SECRET CHOICE

From the Saturday Evening Post
 Porter Emerson Browne's little girl came home from Sunday school one morning and said to her mother:
 Mamma, in Sunday school today they asked all the children whom they wanted to be like
 And whom did you tell them you wanted to be like?" asked Mrs. Browne.
 T told em the Lord--but I meant Mary Pickford."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-08-06

BEGINNING THE DAY - Our Father, help us to forget the bad and remember the good. May our de- feats be swallowed up in the recOi- lection of the gOOdly lessons we learned from them. May our sins be buried under the wonder of forgive ness. May our graves all become mounds of iOwers.-H. M. E.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-08-06

through trial and tribulation, would make out, create and perpetuate a great, free, self-governing democracy. Other members of the mission spoke with like optimism. Let us hope that they are true prophets.
 The allies, including the United States, will win the war against Ger many. If Russia gets well on it's feet again victory will be easier and swift CT. But if Russia should be entirely out of the running the other powers in the alliance would not be defeated. When the United States entered the war the situation not only changed but made a triumph over autocracy ab- solutely sure.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-08-06

If T is to be hoped that the above S paragraph, which appeared in recent issue of the New Republic, is the final echo of an unfortunate utter ance made by President Wilson, an utterance which was seized upon by enemies of the United States and dis torted until it became something en- tirely different from tho thought MT. Wilson had in mind.
 In Germany there is still a brisk campaign on to delude the German people into believing that if America is not "too proud to fight" she will nevertheless prove a negligible factor in the war. The Kaiser and other leaders in Germany are, however, no longer under that impression, if they ever harbored any such belief. They know full we'll what the United States can and will do. Their bravado cannot conceal aslurking fear of the consequences which "frightfulness" on land and sea has brought down upon their heads. They know that in short while the full strength of the United States will be directed against them and with results fatal to German ambition.
 America never was "too proud to fight" reluctance with which we en- tered the war was by no means an indication of weakness, but was due to laudable desire to make doubly sure the righteousness of our cause. Now that we are assured that we fight for humanity and the preservation of democracy, both at home and abroad, we shall perform the task we have un- dertaken with an unfaltering de termination to fight to finish, re- gardless of the cost.
 * *
 Georgia woman writes The Age HerSld that Sammy is good name for an American soldier. and the of ficers may be called--'Sams." Shouldn't imagine strict disciplinarian would stand for that.
 1 s < *
 | Washington police carry ammonia capsules to revive fainting women. The average "suff" picket would scorn te show such weakness. particularly when there was hated cop around. 1 < * *
 The United States government is ac- cused of having plotted to alienate Austria from Germany. It would have been a lucky thing for Austria if the United States had succeeded.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-08-06
Opsirniseic alk
 About Russia

1.-THE situation in Russia has been
 u desperate of late. If there are signs of improvement today, the as pect of affairs seems gloomy tomor- row. Kerensky, Russia's ablest statesman and popular leader, enjoys the confidence of the people. He is not only a statesman, but an in- trepid soldier and if any one can rally the chaotic elements, military and ci- vilian, he is the man.
 The Root mission, which proved so heartening to Russia, is back in this country, having landed at Pacific port Friday. Mir Root will not have much to say until he reaches Wash ington and reports to the President but in a brief address at a luncheon Saturday, just before he and his col leagues were leaving for the east, he expressed abiding faith" that Russia,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-08-06
Certain Furniture Is Scarce

T am looking for good times this fall,' said Edgar L. Gold, II have just made the rounds to Detroit, Chicago and Grand Rapids, and met men from all parts of the country, and prosperity seems to be in the air. The men from the south were optimistic, and I feel sure that a prosperity wave is going to hit Birmingham. I found it hard to get certain lines of furniture, but on the whole managed to buy lot of attrac- tive merchandise. I am glad to be back home again as I can now run up to Mentone for the weekend and see my family''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-08-06
Alabana's Food
 Crop This Year


 MM RS. G. H. MATHIS, in yester- GV4 days Age-Herald, told of Ala bama's great food crops-"the best the state has ever grown" If produc- tion had been just little above nor nal the agricultural department might have considered this a good year, especially when it was remem- bered that cool weather prevailed in the first half of June. But as it has been bumper year congratulations and jubilation are in order.
 Not only have the farmers increased their food crop acreage, but they have cultivated the fields intensively and have made a fine record in yield per acre. Also the summer gardens are grand" as Mrs. Mathis says, and the women are canning as fast as possible. Thousands of cans of vegetables will add to the winter food supply in every county. After enumerating several of the large crops-corn, sweet potatoes velvet beans and so on Mrs. Mathis gave this practical ad- vice: Keep planting something for fall and winter" She tells what to plant as the summer season draws to a close. She urges the farmers to plant "fall food acres," and above all to SOW four or five acres in wheat in September, to each family.
 Mrs. Mathis article is one of the most helpful that has yet appeared Any farmer, or any business man of BirminghamS as for that matter, who failed to see it, should procure copy of the paper and read it. It would be we'll worth while.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-08-06
Evil Foreulme Attends
 a Stacker Wedding

7FHE bells jangle out of tune at a
 H stacker wedding. It is furtive affair, hastily consummated. If the bridegroom has any self-respect left, he finds it difficult to look the min ister in the eye who performs the ceremony, and he doesn't call on his friends to attend the glad event. In fact, a stacker wedding is for obvious reasons as quiet as circumstances will permit. And as for well wishers, where are they?
 Surely the family of young wom- an who marries man to save him from military duty do not consider the match the best in the world, They doubtless have an idea that military stacker is going to prove matri- monial stacker later on. The friends of the young woman must share that belief. Events will prove that it was well founded. A young man who rushes to the altar, or the courthouse, or anywhere else he can get the knot tied, rather than serve his country in the hour of her peril, is going to turn out a poor sort of husband. He lacks the spirit which makes man worth while, not only as soldier and citi- zen, but as a husband and father. There is something missing in his makeup.
 Getting married under such aus pices and with such discouraging prospects for the future, should give Ia young woman pause. She should ask herself, first of all, what it is worth Ito have husband who marries for purely selfish reasons-to save him self from shouldering a gun and fighting for his country. Is a man like that desirable mate? The ques- Dtion requires no answer. A stacker has kslackerism born in him. The chances rare that he has been a stacker all his life, in matters large and small. If The has never exhibited such qualities before, it was merely because they swere not called forth by fear, self-in- lterest or some other motive equally IRs little to be commended.
 | Strew no flowers at stacker we'd Ming. Save your compliments and your congratulations, for felicitations Ion an occasion that rebounds so little to the credit of the participants, can
 only prove hollow mockery
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-08-06
Armerica Never Was
 "1Too Proud to Fight

Bethmann- -Hollweg, anxious to keep the United States out as long as he could. tried to deceive our government by methods certain to be exposed That was mistake, yet he had some excuse for 1t. Long after the war began the Uni ted States still looked. to most outsiders and to many insiders, like nation that might remain too proud to help make the world safe for democracy-The New Re- public.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-08-06
Took Him for Provost Marshal

II had funny experience recently said Arthur Crowder. "The phone rang and I went to 1t. A lady at the other end of the line asked: "'Is that MT. Crowder?" Yes, madame, I answered. what can I do for your You can do a plenty was her quick reply. I could almost hear her heavy breathing and see the flash of her eyes as she said with some heat: I have two boys that have been drafted and 1 want to know where you are going to send them?'
 "I am sorry. my dear woman, tifat I can't tell you, for I am but poor in surance man, and no man goes or comes at my bidding, save few insurance agents She had done me the honor of mistaking me for Provost Marshal Gen eral Crowder. with headquarters at Washington, who may be a very dis tant relative, but whose job I would hate to hold in these trying times"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-08-06

Washington bureau, POT Hibbs Build ing
 European bureau. Henrietta stree - Covent Garden. London.
 Eastern business office. Rooms AS to 50, inclusive. Tribune Building, Now York city; western business office, Tribune Guiding, Chicago. The ;. .. Beckwith Special Agency. agents Tor foreign advertising.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-08-06
Sir. in delay

We waste our lights in vain, like lamps by day.
 --ROmeo and Juliet.