davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-29
Suggestion to Help
 the City Gardener


 NNT ORK will begin this week on w Birmingham's new $1,000,- 900 postoffice. It has been suggested that the dirt removed from the site on Fifth avenue be used as top soil fo, gardens in the city of Birmingham.
 The idea is one that would doubt less appeal to the citizen who wants to have a garden, but finds the earth in his backyard, or on his vacant lot, slightly less hard than adamant and not much more productive than as phalt.
 However, since the postoffice site is government property, it is pre- sumed that the dirt taken out in ex- cavating for a foundation will also belong to Uncle Sam. In that case, it may require a great deal of red tape to get possession.
 Persons interested may consult the civic and federal authorities. The earth will certainly be carted away somewhere and it might as well be put where it will do the most good.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-29
HOTEL LOBBTEs
Work Among Soldiers

Louis Brenner, field secretary, coun- cil of Young Mems Hebrew and kim tdred associations, will remain in Bir- mingham for few days, following his lecture at Temple Emanu-El on Fri day night.
 "We are greatly interested in work at the present time very much on the order of the Young Mems Christian as lsociation, among the soldiers, and are preparing to do more extensive work in this branch than we did on the bor- der when the soldiers were stationed there, though we did splendid work lat that time" stated MT. Brenner.
 q find Birmingham delightful place, and I am enjoying my stay here very much, though I ara busy" he said.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-29
PROFOUNDLY MIsINFoRMED

From the New Orleans Item.
 Representative Jim Fordney says the newspapers gre profited greatly by ths involvement of the country in war Any body who knows anything about the newspaper business knows that the war has put costs and demands on them that would make peace welcome refuge from their mounting troubles. MT. Tordney. however. evidently knows fully as much about tho newspaper business as a great many of his colleagues in Congress evi- dently know about a great many of tho ether matters they discuss in the interest of the suffering people,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-29
IN OUR BOAT

By Dinah Maria Mulock Craik Stars trembling o'er us and sunset bS-
 fore us,
 M0untains aa1ain. in shadow and foFests Down the dim river we float on forsver, Speak not, ah, breathe not-theres
 peace on the deep. Come not. pale sorrow. flee till tomor-
 row;
 Rest softly falling Der eyelids that . weep; While down the river we float on forever, Speak not. ah. breathe not-there's
 peace on the deep. As the waves cover the depths we glide
 over,
 So let the past in fortgetfulness sleep While down the river We float on for
 ever,
 Speak not. ah, breathe not-there's
 peace on the deep. Heaven shines above us, bless all that
 love us; < All whom we love in thy tenderxlr~
 keep! kl While down the river we float on fsS{ Speak not. ah, breathe not-t
 peace on the deep.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-29
Clara Barton.

Clara Barton.
 Some while back wrote a. story about Florence Nightingale, the Englishwoman, who did so much for the Red Cross so- ciety.
 Now, while a. whirlwind campaign is being led so successfully here in Bir- mingham by Richard W. Massey, wish to speak of Americas great heroine.
 Who was Clara Barton? She was the daughter of an American philanthropist, and was born at Oxford. Mass, In 1850.
 According to one of her biographers, 1t was on the brightest, sunniest kind of a Christmas morning that she was born.
 It was a prophecy of what her life was to be, for she was to grow into womanhood to carry the spirit of Christ on many battlefields. at home and abroad.
 Her father was military officer, who had fought In the French and Indian wars, and had many tales to tell of hair breadth escapes and sufferings among the wounded.
 He taught her the names and ranks of army officers, as we'll as those of the Presidents of the United States. the vice presidents, and members of the cabinet
 It comes down that one day when her mother asked Clara to give her some idea of what she thought these honored men looked like, she answered. Papa al- ways says the great President so l guess he's almost giant. I guess the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-29
A SERIOUS MATTER.
THE RED GROSS Frank Willis Barnett

in Switzerland for rest she heard of the Red Cross society.
 It immediately got her interested and she worked with this Swiss so- ciety all through the eIwar between France and Prussia The foreigneTs called her the Angel.
 When she returned to America, al- though she worked hard to have a branch of the Swiss society started, 1t took eight long years to form branch. She was the first official pres ident of the American Red Cross ((18S1) and represented the organization at European conferences, 1S84-1s0S.
 
 Then, because there was often sick ness and suffering from fires, floods, famines, pestilences and massaores the work was broadened at her request by Congress to cover wider field than war.
 Besides work in the Russian famine (1892) and the Armenian massacre (1S96), she performed field duties in the Spanish-American war and the Boer war qss9-1sO2). as we'll as con- stant minor duties in connection with the Red Cross. retiring in 1904 at the age of 80 years
 It has been well said that when we think of what heroine Clara Bar ton. proved herself. it would seeS as if the little girl born on the sfnny December morning was a Christmas present to the whole world. Anyway, almost every country on the globe gave her present or a medal.
 P. s-If you haven't already dons so, join the Red Cross at once.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-29
HOW RUSSIANS FOOLED LAPS

Maj. E. D. Scott, in National Service
 Magazine.
 Tn one battle of the Russo-Japanese war, Russian eight-gun battery took position in a level field. a few hundred yards in rear of low ridge that com pletely concealed 1t from all points in the Japanese lines. The battery com mander conducted the fire from higher ridge In rear of the battery. One Japan csc infantry attack after another crum- bled under the fire of the battery. The Japanese artillery tried in vain to locate it. When their fire fell somewhat away from the battery its fire became slow and irregular-to the hostile artillery a sure sign Of effect-and they poured their heaviest fire on the spot; when their fire fell near the battery. 1t increased it's rate and the Japanese sought to locate 1t elsewhere. The ruse worked suc- cessfully through g long summer day.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-29

President is as big as a westinghouse, and probably the vice president is the size of the schoolhouse."
 She loved geography. It seems to me all children ought to love to study. Someone gave Clara a geography and she used to wake up her sister long be- fore daylight and make her hold can dle close to the maps, so that she could find rivers, mountains. cities and coun- tries
 Adventure was in her blood The life on the farm developed. We have a pretty picture of stephen, her big brother. with Clara perched on his shoulders as he waded through the snowdrifts to school. She had no modern organization back of her Back on the farm David had taught her to ride, and the two used to gallop across the county at wild pace
 This free life came in to serve her during the war. for frequently she had to jump on 8 horse whose rider had been shot and dash away for bandages and a surgeon.
 She got her first taste at nursing when she was only 1s years old. She took care of David, her brother, who was sick for nearly two years.
 
 Later she worked in hospitals, camps, battlehelds all the time during the late civil war She helped every sick and wounded man she could whether he fought for the north or for the south.
 Miss Barton's name is known in Flu roupe as well as in America. While
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-29
Many Volunteers
 Physically Unfit

TNHE charge that the young men of U America lack the stamina of their forebears seems to be borne out by the large number of war volunteers rejected because of physical disability. It is estimated that 50 per cent of the applicants at recruiting offices are turned down because they have not the physique good soldier requires.
 The Equitable Public Bulletin for April says: "The American people are now getting a striking demonstration of the physical unpreparedness of the average young man. They are getting concrete and convincing evidence of the urgent need of the physical education and training which our young men would receive under the universal military service plan"
 Last year 12s,617 national guards
 
 men were called to the Mexican bor- der. They had been examined and passed by militia surgeons, but it is stated that when re-examined by army surgeons 23,721 were rejected.
 It is interesting to note that of the various causes assigned for sending these guardsmen back home, about 31 per cent were rejected for poor physique.
 One of the strongest arguments that can be advanced in favor of uni versal military service is the moral and physicalimprovement young men
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-29
A LUCKY BUMP
From the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
 The grown people entertained the call- CTS, while the baby crept on the floor. The grownups paid more attention to the callers than to the baby, and suddenly there was a loud bump and a wild wall. It seemed to come from the direction of the piano.
 "oh. the baby has hurt himself" cried the young mother. Run quick. dear'
 The young father had already dashed pianoward& He dropped on his knees and groped under the instrument for his injured offspring. Presently he re- ported:
 He fell down and bumped his head on one of the pedals"
 "Oh. the poor child; Is it a bad bump?" "No. fortunately his head hit the soft pedalr
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-29

and needs no repetition now. The prize contests for young musicians are another <useful line of activity. The movement to try to interest our government in the establishment of a ministry of fine arts deserves uni versal support"
 The Courier tells of meeting held in New York several nights ago under private and disinterested auspices" for the purpose of taking steps to start agitation for national conservatory
 "This war time is the best time for the raising of all national questions even in art matters" continues the Courier. At the present moment the nation is solidified periodically and is of one mind regarding the uphold ing and further development of Amer ican world prestige. In music we have been behind Europe too long. This is the moment for mighty stride for ward musically. Remember what Ma poleon was able to do for the music, theatre and art of France when that country apparently lived and thought and achieved nothing but war"
 Let all music lovers and educators be ready to join in pushing the con servatory movement along.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-29
CRowDING our OFFICE GIRLS
the Pittsburg Post

Yesterday we decided that we would indulge in an office girls lunch. After we had perched and had been served with our chocolate sundae We glanced around to let our eyes have chicken treat. Our companions were Il men and no girls. Furthermore, in that particular soda dispensary, while we were present, the places of the men who had been served were taken by other males Mon- day we are going to eat fudge for lunch
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-29
THAT oNERY TRAMP COMEDIAN

From the Pittsburg Post.
 Tn his tramp monologue Nat Wills burbles this from the slit in his face. fringed with stubble:
 T like windy days. The other day was standing near the Flatiron building when two pretty girls passed. One wore red. white and blue stockings. while the other wore green. I didn't know which to look at. so finally I decided to ses America first.
 .King Georgle of England cables that he wants us to send him 5000 sewing ma chimes immediately so he can hem in the Germans on the border"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-29
Minisery of Fine
 Arts Now Urged

lMURING several years past there D have been suggestions for an insistent movement to induce the gov ernment to establish national con- servatory in Washington, to be con- ducted on lines similar to the Paris conservatoire, but not until recently have steps been taken by people of civic as we'll as musical prominence to give the scheme practical shape. Much interest is being manifested in a proposed ministry of fine arts as a department of the government and with the establishment of such de partment the building of a conserva- tory, strongly advocated by the Fed eration of Musical Clubs, would logi- cally follow.
 A generation ago no one would have imagined that Uncle Sam would ever have serious concern about tonal art, but the times change and this country is fast coming into it's own in the matter of musical appreciation and musical progress. Who would have thought that the congressional library's department of musical man. uscripts and published scores and books on music was to rank by now as the third musical library in the world? Yet it so ranks-Berlin first, Paris second and Washington third. A national conservatory is certainly a reasonable hope, and then national opera house and national symphony orchestra would be next in order.
 The musical journals have given large space to Birmingham's great musical event-the national biennial Musical America and the Musical Courier making especially big fea- lures of the affair. The current num- Der of the Courier just received says editorially:
 Several current developments along national musical lines make the future look promising. The recent bi- ennial and convention of the National Federation of Musical Clubs, held at Birmingham, was an important event fin every sense of the word. The fed eration is doing a valuable work in American music and the work is of especial significance because 1t is done not for monetary gain, but for pure love of the cause. What the Ma ton Federation of Musical Clubs has meant in the upbuilding of concert life in America is an oft told story
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-29
In Interest of Harmony

T should like to say just word about the good work Frank Willis Barnett is doing among the negroes of Alabama just at this time,' said A. L. Brown, whose offices are in the Title Guarantee build ing
 we who were born and reared in the south know and appreciate the importance of living in harmony with the negro. We know each other and when men of MT. Barnett's ability get to work seriously to counteract the evil work of certain labor alien to our country I think 1t should be commended"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-29
THERE ISN'T ANY POINT

From the Montgomery Advertiser.
 Birmingham's celebrated representative in Congress-. who has never been right since he went to Congress- says the de- mand for conscription comes from men representing Hayward, Yale and Union League clubs, not from the working peo- ple Under conscription these clubs would of course be compelled to furnish their quota of men. What Is the point?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-29
Need Sparrow Department

If this sparrow business grows any more, am going to have to forget am clerk of the commission and go into the sparrow and sparrow egg busi ness, for 1t Is getting to where 1t keeps some one busy handling it all the time" said Clarence B. Lloyd of the city com mission yesterday.
 Tt looks to me, though, that 1t ought to benefit the gardeners, for we have put to rest about 6o,O0o of the pesky little critters, and still the boys are on the job-black and white"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-29
When age is in the wit Is cut. -NIuch Ado About Nothing.
 * * &

BEGINNING THE DAY--God of our fathers, we commit our cause to Thee. Deliver us from all cur enemies. But chiefly we beg Thy power against those foes which sleep in our own hearts. We would make Thee partner in no crimes. We would learn no hymns of hate. We would call even our enemy brother. In Chrfst's name. Amen. HI. M. K.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-29
ELY THE FLAG CONTINUOUSLY

From the New York Globe.
 A correspondent writes the Globe as follows:
 Authorities on ''RespectNto Our Flag say the flag should be lowered at sunset. Will you kindly advise why and by whom such orders were issued. The words of the Star spangled Banner"
 And the rockets, red glare,
 The bombs bursting in air
 Gave proof through the night
 That our flag was still there, do not bear this out and I know a num- Der of Americans who would display their colors if they could let them fly contin- uously. I, for one, can see no insult to my flag by allowing 1t to fly at all times from my home; if you feel the same about this, kindly advise all lovers of the flag to display their colors.
 Your flag need not be lowered at sun set No less an authority than Adjutant General Simpson, stationed at Governors Island, is responsible for the statement that the flaw can remain up during every hour of the "A and until the end of the war; if 1t is the wish of those who dis play 1t.
 Article 4s7 of the army regulations pro vides that at every military post or sta ton the flag will be hoisted at the sounding of the first note of the reveille or of the first note of the march, if a march be played before the reveille. The flag will be lowered at the sounding of the late note of the retreat and while tho flag is being lowered the band will play the national anthem. or if there be no band present the field music will sound ito the colors.''
 But special regulation provides that at the beginning and during an action in which the forts may be engaged the flag shall be kept masted whether by day or by night Or until the action closes
 The adjutant general said. however, that this did not infer that private in- divicual could not use the flag at all times and especially during wartime as long as a sense of rhtriotism dictated It. Therefore, put out your flag and. if it pleases you, keep 1t there.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-29
HOW POPULAR SONGS ARE BOOSTED

In the American Magazine is an ar ticle by B. M. Wickes called Putting Over Popular Songs" in which he de- scribes the way that hoped-for hits" are foisted on the public with the aid of actors and vaudevillians.
 The public seldom takes to song without first hearing 1t from the other side of the footli6hts. The publishers. knowing this, often pay theatrical per- formers for singing their songs. The rate of payment ranges from s5 to sloo week, depending on the performers standing. Now, when publisher plunges to the extent of buying up 200 or 300 acts Gas some of the big ones dol he stands Ito lose a goodly sum if the song does not make q big hit
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-29
BOLD ENOUGH.

T used to think women had no per- sonal bravery" remarked the observant man.
 "Yes?'
 But that was before noticed how a woman with subscription list In her hand will force her way into the private office of a capitalist while 10 or F male visitors of more or less prominence fever ishly await an interview in an ante room"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-29
News Was "Twisted,

News has a strange way of get ting twisted. at times" remarked H. M Archibald, Jr, yesterday.
 Tt was while I was in New York Icity that the wholesale jail delivery occurred in Birmingham, and one of my Gothamite friends called attention to an article in one of the daiAes of the metropolis with the remark that several prominent citizens of Alabama had been killed by officers in my home town. I was of course rather curious to know what had really occurred, and accordingly read the meagre account with interest. Had [ not been thor oughly familiar with ceertain pertinent facts and names in this locality I would also have been deceived. To the casual reader it would appear as though some kind of riot had taken place in Birmingham and that men who had been convicted of such crimes as forgery, theft. or murder had been assassinated"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-29

although the book is fiction. It Is the reporting of what a nation went through In a terrible crisis-of how people felt and thought. All his work in the war has shown this same quality. Evidently he has been educated by events. They have made him the most authoritative in terpreter of tho war in It's relation to the people of Britain.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-29
ADREFT WITH THE TIMES
aoor TO THE CONTRARY.

PROOF TO THE CONTRARY. "But you have no art in this country" said the captious foreign visitor. Permit me to lead you over to that newsstand across the street." saM the proud citizen. What for7" "1 want you to take a look at the covers of this months magazines"
 HooRAYi
 friend of mine
 Is Ezra Feather.
 He never talks
 About the weather
 Luke McLuke. A friend of mine
 Is Hiram Delf.
 He never talks
 About himself.
 Detroit Free Press. / A friend of mine
 Is Abner Lee.
 He always lets
 Me talk of me.
 Newark Advocate. A friend of mine
 Is William Hive,
 Who never says, Please lend me i've" SERIOUS MATTER "The war has brought great sorrow to the Gadspur famfly~ Have they lost son7'' .'No, g son-in-law The marriage of their eldest daughter has been indefinitely postponed" PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-29
SMILES.

 A man who makes the best of life Is William Henry Pile, For cen when lectured by his wife He wears a tranquil smile.
 Birmingham Age Herald. We do not take much stock in Pile, He smiles just fit to kill, But yet you know man may smile And be a villain still.
 Newark (o) Advocate. We've studied every kind of smile And at no kind we scoff, But only one kind is worth while: The kind that won't come off.
 Youngstown Telegram Of smiles we are no connoisseur, But we know several things, The smile that's best-of this we're sure Is that the payday brings.
 Peoria Journal As far as you have gone, no doubt You've stated only facts; But have you fellows ne'er gone out For smiles, between the acts?
 Houston Post
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-29
Don't Forget to
 Stop Food Waste


 THE food preparedness campaign
 H is we'll organized in every part of the United States, and farmers, big and little, are doing their best to increase food and feedstuff produc- tion. The home garden is likewise re- ceiving especial attention. It all helps.
 But the question of household economy in food for the family table is being overlooked in, too many in- stances. Wastefulness is still in evil dence. The peeling of Irish potatoes before boiling should be prohibited. In this time of food shortage no par ticle of any vegetable fit to be eaten should be thrown away.
 According to the estimate of ex- perts of the United States department of agriculture the enormous sum of $7oo, 900, ,OOO is the annual food waste in this country. Most of it is made up of little items in the kitchen form erly thought to be trifles. Now is a good time to look closely after every thing that has any food value.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-29
A CHRONIC VICTIM.

Have you ever felt the weight of pub lie opinionY"
 Have IT. exclaimed the disappointed candidate. "rve been running for office for the past IS years and I've never been elected to anything yetr'