davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-21
Praise for Hotels

Although hotel business in Bir1ning- ham is slightly below par at the pres ent time, by the middle of next month we are expecting a record business" said Jule Stanley of the Motion hotel. Most of the travellers are slow about hitting the road immediately after the holidays, and it takes approximately month for them to renew activities.
 During the latter part of December and the first part of January, all Bir- minEham hotels enjoyed excellent busi- ness. Birmingham ranks well among other cities in respect to having up-to- date hotels, and all travellers have praise for the Magic City hostelries."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-21
LUKE MLUKE SAYS

A new broom is like reformer. It
 may sweep clean for while, but 1t
 won't keen clean.
 The old-fashioned youth who used to
 go to college to get fame with the sheep
 skin now has a son who goes to col
 lege to get fame with the pigskin.
 A woman who wouldn't think of re-
 specting her husband gets mad because
 the neighbors do not respect him.
 Another fairy tale. Once upon time a woman bought & pair of shoes that
 were so big that she could wear them
 with comfort g It is a blame sight easier to teach a
 parrot to talk than it is to teach wom-
 an not to.
 When a man says that he Is letting his wife keep boarders, he means that he is letting boarders keep his wife. Modesty demands that a girls skirt should reach to her shoe tops. Maybe that's the reason why she wears knee high shoes.
 Our idea of an absent-minded woman would be one who comes home from a
 shopping trip with some money left. After woman has been married for a while she can tell you that King David knew what he was talking about when he said what all men were The old-fashioned preacher retired to his study back of the pulpit for prayer and mediation after his sermon. But the modern evangelist retires to his gymnasi- um back of his stage and has trainer give him shower and a rub-down after he has thrown handsprings and Billings gate until the collection plates are filled. One reason why women do not make good baseball pitchers Is because even
 when girl has good curves she can't control them
 Before he gets her he has eyes for only one girl After he gets her he has eyes for all girls but one. | A prominent female educator announces 1 that the average woman's legs are as straight as those of the average man. We'll after giving our classic props the once-over we are here to say that the | educator isn't handing her sex much of ] a compliment
 And wliere, oh. where Is the old-fash- toned young man who used to have the chromos from the Police Gazette? l When she is II she is waiting for a millionaire to propose. When she Is 27
 she is trying to capture a common, ordi-
 nary meal ticket.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-21

passion to the stage to the impression that the pomp of the Roman Catholic church produced upon her juvenile mind. Her youth, she says, was intoxicated by the religious frame work in which the glory of the Almighty was celebrated. was heard like the trumpet's blast, it seemed to her as if her spirit flew madly round in the whirlwind of the ideal.
 Unless you have lived abroad and ire quented the great cathedrals and been overpowered with their aesthetic and dra- matic appeal you will fail to understand the emotional child who in later years says at times during the celebration of mass she felt herself transfigured. She imagined she was about to ascend to heaven, all of 8 sudden, in presence of the congregation. Its a strange confes- sion; in Its naivete 1t reminds me of some of the intimate revelations of Marie Bashkertseff, the lonely but impressive Russian girl, whose soul revolted against conventions, and whose heart beat against it's prisons
 No wonder she wanted to take the veil, She was in state of religious ecstacy. But her mood changed; she has been a woman of moods. Instead of taking the veil she thought she would like to dress up in the robes the priest wore, mount the pulpit and declaim before a pious gathering, which she would electrify by her words-I haven't time for it. I just call attention to the sentiment of this re- markable sFrench woman which makes her first cousin to George Eliot's Dinah, the woman preacher in Adam Bede
 It has been truly pointed out that be- tween such a frame of mind and this and performing tragedy on the stage, there was but a step, and she took 1t early in life being admitted to the Paris conservatoire at the age of IS. Here she attained the second prize for tragedy. and the following year the second award for comedy. These honors procured her an engagement at the Comedie Francaise, the greatest honor that could come to a French actor.
 She made her debut in '1phegenie," but soon tired of the House of Moliere. She has always had temper. the climax came when Mile. Natalie, an actress of note,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-21
Alabama and the
 Armnor Plate Plant

1T F the navy department is to locate J the governments armor plate plant, for which Congress has appro- priated $11, 100000, with view to safety in the event of foreign war and the best economic results in time of peace, site in the Birmingham mineral district will be selected. The board which is studying the situation and which will recommend a location to Secretary Daniels is composed of men of large experience in navy building, but before they can reach a safe conclusion on the relative merits of Bessemer and basic irons entering into armor steel they must make searching investigations and learn from the highest metallurgical au- thorities all the facts in the case.
 When the members of the board visit Alabama to look over the ground and hear testimony they may be sur prised to find such preponderance of weight in favor of our basic iron. Men of their technical training will not be slow in understanding the superior value of Birmingham steel after the evidence is submitted.
 But while the location of the plant as between Alabama and some north ern state should be determined by the standards of metallurgical science it will not be amiss for every upbuilder in this industrial center to put his shoulder to the wheel in an effort to bring all the influence to bear possi- ble upon the navy department of ficials who will have voice in this vital question.
 Especially advisable would it be for the Alabama delegation in Congress the two senators and the ten represen-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-21
THE OLDEST NATIONAL FLAG

THE OLDEST NATIONAL FLAG From the New York Herald.
 Tests madesa decade ago indicated that only one person in 20 could give the cor rect list of the original 13 colonies. In a communication printed in today's letter column MT. L. L. Metcalfe furnishes an- other test question, (Which is the oldest national flag?" to prove to the wise that they know more on certain topics than the ignorant. For the Herald to give a supreme courts decision might lead to international imbroglios Just as a mere discussion of the subject brought about severance of the entente cordiale be- tween the writer of the letter and for eigner with whom on a train he dis cussed the state # the universe and kin dred matters of greater interest
 The evidence shows that Denmark. Switzerland and the United States figure in the court records as claimanta The Danes assert that their red swallow tailed standard with a white cross wal adopted in 1n9 but jealous disputants have brought the counter claim that al- terattons have been made since then. The Swiss flag, a red field with a white Greek cross, has been in existence unal- tered, as the flag of a canton, since the seventeenth century, but Switzerland has been a nation only since the confederation of 1S4S. The Stars and Stripes" was adopted in 17n. and although the banner fc % has retained those distinguishing features which Washington breathed into it 1N years ago.
 Some of the other national flags are mere youngters as compared with the American standard, which can show a flawless birth certificate. The standard of Spain was established in 17S5 that of Great Britain in 1901, Netherlands in 1806 Japan In 1859, Italy in 1861. Ger many in 1871 and the tricolor of France in 1794.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-21
VIII Not Depend on Cotton

Planters in the black belt near De- mopolis will not depend upon cotton next year for living" said Calhoun Collins young attorney who has recently To- cated in Birmingham, and who halls rom that section. T was down there short while ago and due to the fact that the tick quarantine was recently lifted, prac- tically all of the farmers are importing thoroughbred cattle and are planting many acres in alfalfa The cattle bring a fancy price and alfalfa hay can always be sold at a profit.
 '"The land in the black belt is called the prairie section of the state, and IS level and rolling. As alfalfa stays green the year around, it is certainly an in spring sight to look for miles and see nothing but herds of cattle and green fields of alfalfa, dotted here and there with a dwelling house I look for land to ouadruple in value in that section Of the state in the near future
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-21

n T the tail end of week, on AA the top floor of a great office building, some of the makers of Blr- mingham foregathered to talk over disturbing business situation that was growing acute. It was a good omen that such meeting could be held on the lip of the new year.
 The leading merchants had come to talk over the commissary problem with George Gordon Crawford, presi- dent of the Tennessee company. For years the commissary has been the stormy petrel, singed cat, or yellow dog of the mercantile world. How to get rid of it was the burn ing question. Moody, who remem- bered the fate of the ancient mariner, was daring enough to kill the bird of ill omen. Then, there was the danger, If killed, cat-like, it might have nine | lives. and come back in more aggra- vating way. But every merchant was willing, or thought he was, to tie a tin can to the dogs tail, and chase him out of the city with a shower of brickbats.
 With the big pay rolls the mer- merchants felt that they were not get ting their fair share. And so they had come to one of the big men to pre- sent their views and to get his. sat in more as locker on in Venice, than a partisan. In fact l was pre- pared to hear both sides with an open mind. Here are my impressions after careful weighing of tn. men and things said.
 George Gordon Crawford is not merely great executive, whose in terests are bound up solely with the great corporation he so well manages but, he is citizen of Birmingham who takes the keenest interest ir everything that -akes it a better place in which to live and do business
 Without passion, prejudice or any ar |bitrary show of power he brought tc the merchants attention carefully
 prepared statements showing the vol
 ume and nature of the merchandise handled in the commissaries of his company. Without any buster ol yelled threat but with business acu- men he gave his reasons for. operating them.
 He showed, on a map, the location
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-21
MELANCHOLY
RX Elefcher

By FTetcher.
 Hence. all you vain delights, As short as are the nights N Wherein you spend your folly: There's nought in this life sweet m If man were wise to sect, u But only melancholy, o sweetest melancholy Welcome, folded arms, and fixed eyes A sigh that piercing mortifies. A look that's fasten'd to the ground A tongue chain'd up without a sound, Fountain heads and painless groves Places which pale passion loves, Moonlight walks, when all the fowls Are warmly housed save bats and owls A midnight bell, parting groan, Then stretch our bones in a still gloom valley;
 Nothings so dainty sweet as lovel
 melancholy.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-21

who roughly showed aside Sarah's little caused her elder temperamental to leave and find all the subsidized theatres in Paris closed to her. It was then she took an engagement at the Gymnase To write her history from now on would be to tell the story of the stage for half century.
 To go back just a minute. At the Paris Conservatoire she studied under Samson, who had been one of Rachels teachers, and who was she2 Rachel was that other talented actress of Jewish de- scent who, as a child, sang for bread in the streets of Lyons. She 1t was who came to Paris and became the unrivalled exponent of the classical school, her great part being Phedre am tempted here to contrast the two, how Bernhardt broke away from Moliere, Racine and the classicists and started a new school of aoting-spaoe forbids.
 can't even tell of how she quit the Odeon and returned once more to the great national playhouse, the Theatre Franchise. It wasn't for long, It was during her second stay at the Comedie Francaise that she essayed Rachel's great role of Phedre. She performed Racines heroine of heroines, and met with un- bounded success. From then on she had conquered the first place on the French stage which she has held to this good day.
 And now that she Is to play here in Birmingham on Tuesday night at the Jefferson, I'm thinking not so much of the great actress whose brilliant and stormy life has for years kept the press of two continents filled with stories of her doings, acting and sayings. I'm rather thinking of her as the brave woman, who met the crucial test of suf- fering, and refused to let her rnisfor- tune dim her spirit or stop her career And for this reason I give her space in this column. If 1 want to know why the French SO Ter has won the ad- miration of tn world and the respect of his antagonists, Sarah Bernhardt is the answer. This Is why I hopo her visit will put into all of us a Birmingham spirit that nothing can dampen or con- quer.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-21
SARAH BERNEIARDT- Frank Willis Barnett

6NFIE coming of Mime. Sarah Bern
 hardt to Birmingham awakens
 many memories of my student days in Paris. At that time she was on the very crest of her great career, and Paris sat at her feet and listened with rapt attention to her wonderful voice, watched with eagerness her pam ther-like movements, and marveled at the swift changes of her mobile face. At times her notes were soft as a mother g lullaby and again as true and clear as the tinkling of silver bells and then once more charged with pent-up passion.
 Yet I daresay I am the only man in Birmingham who ever saw the Divine Sarah in pantomime. It was at benefit performance for some public charity that was staged in the great hall of the Pal ace du Trocadero. A vast throng was present to see the versatile actress in her new role. Pantomime plays much greater part in the life of a Parisian than it does in ours It used to be delight to WlIueSS luS CIOWuS Ol AdpPJ DoJo and girls and hear their shouts of laugh ter ring through the trees that lined the sides of the Bois du Bulogne.
 About all we know of pantomime in America is the raw work of circus clowns, but in Europe it is refined.
 And so Paris was on tiptoe to see her foremost theatrical star take her part as pantomimist. To say that she achieved a triumph is to put it mildly. With her great histrionic ability, she lifted 1t out of it's place as bit of clever sign work and facial gymnastics into an art, though dumb, which spoke as loud as words.
 dienne who for quarter of 8 century has held her supremacy as the world s greatest actress.
 The mother of this talented woman was Dutch Jewess, and her father a Parisian of means.
 This great interpreter of the master pieces of the worlds choicest comedies and somberest tragedies, whose very name calls up visions of the magnificent leatres in the capitals of Europe and America, just escaped hiding her life in g convent.
 T.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-21

be doubted. Picture the two men, with only two sandwiches and two oranges each and a gallon oil can filled with water drawn from the radiator of their wrecked aeroplane, starting out over the bleak desert to walk back to civilization. Lieutenant Robertson says the water supply gave out Janu- ary 14, but as they were almost con- tinuously drenched by rains, they were spared the horrors of burning thirst, added to the bangs of hunger.
 It was fortunate that Lieutenant Robertson decided to leave his com- panion behind when Colonel Bishop became too weak to walk, for he struck the automobile track of searching party and when rescued himself was able to direct them to the spot where Colonel Bishop was soon found. If both men had succumbed to their privations they might never have been discovered.
 Colonel Bishop may be able to ann plify Lieutenant Robertson's story when he recovers. If both officers lack the gift of narration, they might call to their assistance Damon Run yon, whose newspaper articles based on his experiences along the border and in Mexico with Pershing's troops are fine examples of graphic repor- torial work.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-21

yesterday He was properly dressed for the day except for the little inatten- tion which makes the basis of these few lines. He wore silk hat, we'll fitting, black overcoat. gray trousers and black patent leather shoes. He carried stick, but he had neither scarf nor collar on. He stopped and looked to see if car was coming, coughed once, took out his watch, and, having ascertained the time, put his hand up to adjust his cravat. He jumped two feet from the pavement, looked about him quickly and then ran back home-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-21
Officer Overlooks
 Chance For a Story

NEWSPAPER readers cannot help J N wishing that Lieutenant Rob- ertson, one of the army aviators lost in desert lands of Sonora and found after a nine-day search, had more vivid imagination. His story as told to the rescue party is prosatc and matter-of-fact recital, typically the report of soldier who states bare facts and leaves the details to be sur missed.
 That Colonel Bishop and Lieutenant Robertson had the sort of adventure that turns mems hair gray can hardly
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-21
A Business Sermomette

of each commissary, gave it's distance from Birmingham, graphically pie tured it's surroundings, with an illun1- mating side-light on labor conditions. His presentation of the company's viewpoint was frank and full. He never for one mdment showed an- noyance or temper under the rapid fire and keen questioning of the able men who were cross-examining him. He never lodged, or equivocated. So much for MT. Crawford.
 A word about the merchants. I couldn't help being impressed by thu representative men present. There wasn't a small man in the lot. They spoke their minds freely, they un- hesitatingly put their fingers on the sore spots of the commissary system. There wasn't an ev1l connected with 1t that wasn't brought to light and fearlessly discussed; and yet, the temper of the merchants was as fine as that of MT. Crawford. There was no mincing of words, but the talk never degenerated into a debate, CT was lowered by personalities.
 It wound up fraternal conference in which both sides realized that 1t would take patience, and a give and take spirit, to work out a just con- cluslon. We sat from little after 8 until past 6 o'clock. I saw the sun lose his glow and night creep upon the hills. In the distance tho flame of great furnace leapt blood red agalnst the sky and died away. The ilgnts In the great terminals began to twlnkle as the cars pulled out bearing men and merchandise on their jour ney. Somehow I got a vision. for I 1elt that at last the merchants and the great corporations were ready to fol- low a gleam of fraternity and find a way out of the fruitless bickerings and senseless agitations which have held back Birmingham's growth. The Age-Herald is set to do all in it's power to bring together the mer- chants and the heads of the other great corporations in friendly coun- sel. As new man on the staff I glory in chance to have part in the progressive and const~ :tise policies of the paper.
 1 <<<rs nH A >
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-21
TAKING A BACK SEAT.

"The home should be center of cul- ture." said the high-browed woman.
 q don't object to that" answered Mr. Dubwaite 'but personally, prefer. while Mrs. Dubwaite enlightens the children, to play the part of an interested listener"
 SUPPLYING THEIR WANTS. "Is this an up-to-date hotel?"
 Strictly
 "Is there a place for women to smokeY' Why, certainly Also bartender who specializes in syrupy cocktails for women"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-21
THE BR1GHrER SIDE.

THE BRIGHTER SIDE.
 T see where another fortunate man has found valuable pearl In an oyster. " Nothing like that ever happens to me" said ths poor, but cheerful citizen. "stiIl, I don't worry. would consider myself lucky to get the oyster.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-21

BEGINNING THE DAY Life's mystery-deep, restless ns the ocean, Hath surged and walled for ages to and fro; Earth's generations watch its ceas- less mOtiOns As fin and out its hollow meanings flow. shivering and yearning by that un- known sea. Let my soul calm itself. o God, In Thee.
 Harriet Beecher Stowe.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-21
JUST ENv1oUs.

When Arabella, sly f1irt,
 Goes out to take a walk, She wears rather high skirt And all the neighbors talk. But Arabella's ankles
 Are wondrous fair to see, And that's the thing that rankles, Or so 1t seems to me.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-21
WAS WELL ALTERED

New York Correspondent Pittsburg
 Dispatch.
 He was dapper looking young man that was noticed on upper Broadway
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-21
ROUGH TACTICS.

ROUGH TACTICS. Take my advice" said the man who has a great deal of litigation. Do any thing rather than go into court" T tried that once and it taught me a lesson"
 How so7' T was given stiff fine for resisting an officer"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-21
ADRIF'T WITH THE TIMES
HOPELESS.

HOPELESS ''ThIs talk of peace" Said William Drew, T prithee cease; My wife's a shrew."
 Birmingham Age-Herald. There is no peace" Said William Hirt, My creditors Are too alert"
 Savannah Press. Peace? There's no such thing" Says MT. Frolick; My neighbor's baby's Got the colic"
 Memphis Commercial-Appeal.
 FINE TRAINING. Where did B1bson get his early train ing as war correspondent" When he was an ordinary newspaper reporter he used to cover a court of domestic relations"
 FIGURES OF SPEECH. T don't see anything funny about you, Mfr. Glithers," said little Tommy Twob- ble. T hope I'm not peculiar, Tommy. Why do you say that?" Maybe I'd better not tell.- "Oh. go ahead. Don't mind me- well, ma said she thought you were a fish, but pa said. That just shows how little you know about Glithers. He's a regular bearcat'"
 PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-21
Our virtues

Our virtues Lie in the interpretation of the time'
 --Coriolanus.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-21

TELEPHONE Bell (private exchange connecting aAi departments) Main 49OO.