davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-12
LUKE M'LUKE SAYS

Dogs and reformers have so much le1s- ure time that they can always find some- thing to bark at.
 The reason why father never pays any attention to the clock in the house IS because he knows that every time mother sets it she sets it by guess.
 A boy does not get square deal in this world. When he Is accused of doing thing and attempts to state his side of the case he gets lamming for talk ing back.
 When he is served with a notice that the breach of promise suit has been filed it jars a man to discover that 1t wasn't sentiment that caused her to save all Of his old love letters.
 Don't cuss the fool killer because he isn't on the job all the time. Maybe. his carelessness will increase your chances of living to a good old age.
 The reason why we do not care for amateur concerts is because the enter tainers seem to imagine that the best singer is the one who can make the most noise.
 Another mutt who makes us scl, is the lad who tries to give you the impression that he has to use a card index system to keep track of his dates with girls. What has become of the old-fashioned medicine faker who used to wear silk hat and red tie and who threw in dia- mopd ring with each bottle of snake oil or tin of sagwa salve? The Mexican currency market remains unchanged. Mexican paper dollars are still forth ] cents (Anierican) per bushel. and Mexican silver dollars are quoted at % cents (American) per peck. And where is the old tad who used to welcome a boil because he thought il saved him a doctor bill? There is some hard work connected with political job. It is hard work to i land the job. and it is hard work to keep the job from being taken away from you | It must make bald-headed man mad to have to wait while his wife puts on a ] switch. a transformation and bunch oi
 pin curls when she is dressing to go out with him.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-12
Corn Meal May Be
 OverraGed Food

TIT has been truly said that some U body is always taking the joy out of life. Here of late the food barons have contributed materially to that end.
 When the Hon. Champ Clark said the cost of living might be reduced by eating more corn meal, there was a throb of hope in the bosom of the ulti- mate consumer. This individual has long since fallen into the habit of clutching at straws and any means that may be suggested for keeping stomach full without going bankrupt is given careful study.
 Now comes a reader of the New York Herald with the statement that corn meal as nutritious diet is snare and delusion. The "authority" who claimed that cents worth of corn meal contained as much nourish- ment as a dozen eggs or pound of meat is shown to have been sadly mis- taken.
 Through necessity of commerce, !" oil and sugar, which constitute the principal food value of corn meal, states the Herald's correspondent, are extracted from the grain and sold as by-products at profit. In fact, what may be termed "denaturalized" corn meal is even less nutritious than many other foodstuffs.
 "With the present high prices of food the public should beware of fairy tales regarding the sustaining qualities of any commodity" Thus an- other prop in this hour of diversity is knocked from under us. Corn meal will not help us to solve the problem of living.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-12

From the Detroit News. 1ElROM the window of his quiet, book T lined room. Nick Carter" writer of "thrillers,' could look over green fields and orchard bloom to the sparkling waters of Lake Goguac. Until month ago the man who turned
 out exciting stories of hair breadth ad-
 streets, sat at his dignified desk in his
 peaceful room on the Grand boulevard
 here, and when he was tired of looking
 at the rows of heavy calf-bound books
 that formed his library, turned his eyes to a scene of spectacular contrast to the settings of the stories he was pound- ing out on his typewriter. Mick Carter" wrote of New York dives, but he wrote of them at a reposeful coun- try home.
 He wrote of crime in the midst of aus- tere responsibility.
 He wrote of noise and tumult in a
 stiffness that, in winter, was broken only
 by the crunch of ice on the shores of
 the lake, and in summer by the buzz of
 honey bees.
 His stories were the lineal descendants of the shilling shockers of a genera tion ago, but the author was kindly, sedate gentleman with pleasant smile and friendly nod for everybody. Re- formers held up his books as responsible at time for boys daredevil outbreaks, for their running away from home, for pranks and for wild rebellion against
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-12
IN GEORGIA

From Case and Comment.
 Ben Jason.'
 Vas, suh.'
 Accused of being under the influence of liquor on Christmas eve."
 Vas, sut''
 Profanity
 T might CT swo--yas, suh."
 Resisting officer?''
 T sho' tried ter lick dat lrishman, judge"
 Petty larceny"
 Count dat in, too"
 "Ben-the law must deal heavily in your case Is there anything you left out on your holiday spree?"
 The negro scratched his head
 Vas, suh; eff yo' could femme out fo' a few minits, I'd like ter beat up my ol' woman fo' ceptin' presents from Ma con barber"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-12
THE LATEST COCKTAIL

New York Correspondence Pittsburg Dis-
 patch.
 Here is the latest drink, the Uncle Sam cocktail" composed of red, white and blue fluids. It was concocted by a German-born mixerologist, who says he will stand by Uncle Sam. The drink has had quite vogue along the big street since President Wilson broke relations with Germany, but you must not get too patriotic with it. The recipe follows: One-third grenadine (red), one-third cura- coa (white), and one-third creme de vio- let (blue). Pour into glass rubbed with half lemon and mix to "ta ta ta ta ta ta."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-12
THE CRADLE OF DIME NOVELS

law and order The author himself was a peaceful, highly respectable citizen.
 Nick Carter" was known throughout the United States. Alfred B. Tozer-who was Nick Carter and dozen other au- thors all at the same time-was not known a mils from his quiet country home.
 The man who died in Battle Creek a few days ago was a fiction foundry His typewriter turned out literally hundreds of stories. Some were signed by Nick Carter. many by other names. Tozer was the Inspector Clarke who wrote "The Cost of the Clue" and '"The Victim of the Occult" ~
 He was Dick Stewart, who wrote "A Queen of Chance and '"The Strength of the Weak" He was John K. Stafford, who wrote Morgan, the Dauntless," and Carl Frisbie who penned "A Flash of Light
 When boyhood turned from the luridly adventurous type of fiction to books re- flecting the service ideals of the Boy Scout movement, Tozer turned too. In- stead of volumes depicting daring hold ups of the overland express and the drugging of the. beautiful heroine in Ting Ting Los opium joint. in New York's tenderloin, his adaptable typewriter ground out stories of the faithful, effl- cient. brave and gallant Boy Scout, who rises to fame and fortune in such strange ways in the books signed by Harvey Ralphson.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-12
Courtesy As Rule
No. l On Railways

No. On Railways
 7TIME was when courtesy was only II slightly regarded by public ser vice corporations, but now it is a prime asset. With street car compa- nies conductors have been impressed with it's importance, and on the great system of railways the habit of po- liteness in all departments is of high concern. Courtesy ranks next to practical economies in operations, and no transportation line can hold it's own with the public unless its officials and minor employees are well disposed when dealing with it's patrons.
 The Southern railway has been a pioneer in looking after little things as well as engineering and traffic problems. Many other railroad com panies have followed closely its pol Y
 icy in this respect, A circular issued by the Southern recently sets forth the fact that Courtesy is rule No. l." and that it's new manuel of regula- tions for the guidance of ticket and baggage agents, conductors and train  men stresses this point.
 "A railroad is first of all a public servant" says the Southern. "It follows that the success of railroad as a business enterprise depend, in . large measure, not only upon the efficiency of the transportation it af- lords, but upon the personal treat ment which those doing business with the railroad receive at the hands of it's officers and employees"
 The agent is remi lded' in the circu- lar that at stations "he is the railway and that the reputation of the com pany depends on the courtesy with which the public is met" Conductors and train employees in general are s'admonished not only to be courteous
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-12
Praises Boy Scouts

'The Boy Scout organization is getting to be decidedly live one," said George B. Ward, "The manly little fellows were much in evidence about the streets Sat- urday afternoon with the Walk Rite signs on display and the Use the Trash Cans appeals. If there was anything in suggestion these two laws were observed.
 "The fife and drum corps that the Boy Scouts have fostered Is indeed good. ana I believe that it will be very useful or ganization. The principles that the scouts set as theirs are fine. and am mighty glad to know that Birmingham has such a bunch of boys"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-12
HOTEL LOBBIES
No Demonstration

There seems to be feeling of deli cacy on the part of the theatre going pub lie to show any outward demonstration when reference from the stage Is made to the awful war in Europe or when characters are shown representing the warning nations,' said Frank Harms. "lt matters not whether it be a display of the flags of all nations or a chorus ensenn- ble with all the nations represented, there is very little applause no matter how striking the act may be- But it is entirely different If the 'Star-Spangled Banner is displayed, or a patriotic en- semble representing the United States for then the audience is very generous with its applause. It is tribute to the ap- precation of the fitness of things on the part of the American people to re- frain from expressing approval or disap- proval of matters pertaining to the war, for in every audience there are no doubt people whose sympathies are with the allies, and others with the central pow CTS. hence any demonstration might be distastful to one or the other I think the American people generally would welcome peace almost as much as the warning nations.''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-12

BEGINNING THE DAY-LOrd, Thou art knocking at the door. But Thou wilt not batter 1t down. must open. 0 may | open-O heip me to open. For my house is cold and bare. 1t may seem not so, but my house is cold and bare. Come Thou in and my house shall he warm and furnished unto all eter- nifty. Amen.--H. M. E.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-12

Coincidence" printed in May, 1915, just after the Lusitania crime. The second poem depicts in scathing satire the visit of Ambassador Bernstorff to the White House to convey to the President his grief over the loss of the women and children on the liner It was in 'The Condolences'' that another prophetic line occurs, since the French poet dramatist pictures the final scene as follows: And Wilson said, in the darkened room,
 We shall wait and see.' And Washington, Lincoln, shades in the
 gloom,
 Sought his hand grasp free. And Bernstorff slunk through the open
 door,
 Averting his face,
 As if the victims lay upon the floor
 By his country's grace"
 Having thus foreseen propheticaliy that this country would never accept the Ger manic scheme of things as its own, Ros- tand feels justified in his confidence and his belief in our highmindedness. In pay ing his latest tribute he voices the French mind as no one else can do save Maeter- linck, who also has never doubted us or joined in any criticism of our seeming delay in aligning ourselves on the right side. They know the American soul, sensing 1t with prophetic insight
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-12
AN EXPLANATION

From the RockvilIe Booster
 The Booster is late this week for the reason that we were unable to get the office warm enough to run our presses At the time of writing we have our init tens on and have just discovered the ofA flee cat frozen to a stove leg.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-12
HERO

New York Correspondence Cincinnati
 Times-Star.
 Think of the heroism," said Bill Stuart reading his morning paper in the waIdorf-Astoria. "of this German U-boat commander who had been living accord- ing to the government menu schedule and dumped 30 tons of Holland gin and Dutch cheese off a Rotterdam ship!"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-12
4 pEN-KNIFE REVOLVER

From the Popular Science Monthly for
 February.
 A pocket knife which has two blades and an attachment that enables it to discharge a 22-calibre short cartridge either blank or ball. is one of the latest novelties to be placed on the market. It is said to be practically as effective as regular 22-calibre revolver of the short barrel type. It is three inches long and one-half inch wide.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-12
THE ROYAL ToMBs OF GoLCoNDA

THE ROYAL TONIBs OF GOLCONDA Sarojini Naidu. .'The Golden Threshold;;" John Lane.
 must among the silent fanes Whose spacious darkness guards your
 dust: Around me sleep the hoary plains That hold your ancient wars in trust. I pause, my dreaming spirit hears Across the winds unquiet tides. The gllmmering music of your spears. The laughter of your royal brides. In vain, O Kings, doth time aspire To make your names oblivion's sport, While wonder hill wears like tiar The ruined grandeur of your fort Though centuries falter and decline, : Your proven strongholds shall remain Embodied memories of your line. Incarnate legends of your reign. Queens, in vain old fate decreed Your flower-like bodies to the tomb; Death is in truth the vital seed Of your imperishable bloom. Each newborn year the bulbuls sing Their songs of your renascent loves; Your beauty wakens with the spring To kindle these pomegranate groves.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-12
Back to the Old steed

The city hall has been quieter of late then l have ever known" said Secretary C. B. Lloyd yesterday. Perhaps the greatest event of the past week has been the horseback ride of the president of the commission, MT. Ward. He has seemingly tired of the automobile and has repaired to the dashing steed."
 The fact that the head of the com mission had been riding Friday was evil dent yesterday morning. Some wag had a bottle of liniment nearby, several cushions and other measures of relief. But according to the president, there was no need for such measures.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-12

A chorus beauty told an Age-Herald reporter-who didn't succeed, however, in coaxing her out to supper-that most chorus girls are quiet and well behaved. Maybe so. maybe so. Just because they kick up their heels in cabaret scene on the stage does not necessarily mean that they lead that sort of life.
 a * <
 It is gratifying for tourists to know that Paris has suffered little material damage as a result of the war. When globe trotters get around to Paris again they will find the good old town much the same and perhaps as gay as ever.
 ;: I <:
 During these parlous times where, oh, where is Richmond Pearson Hobson?' asks the Cincinnati Times-Star. The Hon. Richmond now catches trains out of Evanston, H., and in full panoply continues to tilt at the Demon Rum.
 * i; President Wilson never did say that the American people were "too proud to fight" but it was not until he broke off diplomatic relations with Germany that he silenced the critics who made capi- tai out of his Philadelphia speech.
 
 After thinking the matter over, the Kaiser seems to have decided that he went bit too far when he snapped his fingers the last time under the nose of the long suffering Uncle Sam. Since Mrs. Fiske has paid handsome compliment to Charley Chaplin, maybe few of the "highbrow' movie fans will acknowledge that he occasionally coaxes laugh out of them.
 * * * German leaders come right out in the open and acknowledged that the Zeppelin campaign against England has been a IdlluIG. IHSSG dlS lTylUS lllIl6S TUT LllC count.
 Just at present there seems no danger of this government having to break off diplomatic relations with Turkey. We couldn't think much less of Turkey, any, how
  There is no use asking, tWhat would Lincoln do?' and What would Washing ton do?" in the present crisis, because there is no earthly way of knowing.
 * * Now that Atlanta's liquor shipments have been cut off, large numbers of her bibulous citizens are probably patronizins the Underground routes"
 * * Somehow a striking baseball player doesn't create half as much sympathy for himself as a striking workman with a wife and r children.
 * The very fact that Great Britain is re- ominously quiet while the Teuts sink her ships bodes no good for the said Teuts.
 In a few more days the world will know whether or not Germany's subma- rine campaign is going to be a success or a failure.
 MT. Jess Willard seems anxious to take on" fighter, Maybe the Hon. Jess exchequer is depleted
 
 The title of the fatherland is to be changed. Another straw showing which way the wind blows.
 * * Now that cabbage has gone up in price. even boiled cabbage may contrive to get into good society
 Henry Ford is getting all sorts of com notices to paste in his scrap book these days
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-12
sAPPHIREs

From the New York Telegram,
 Contrary to popular belief, not all sap phires are blue. They are found, how ever. In various colors-green, red, white, violet and yellow.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-12
Wilson the Man

If President Wilson succeeds in his present undertaking of protecting the rights of American citizens and uphold ing the honor of this country without getting into war with Germany, he will go down as one of the greatest men in the worlds history" said Sydney J. Bowie yesterday. He has conducted the affairs of the United States through the most critical period in our history and thus far success has crowned his every effort.
 'The whole world today seems to be carrying a chip on its shoulder and to keep this country out of war and at the same time protect her honor and rights, Is a herculean task. Any kind of ordi- nary man in the presidency could get us into war, but it takes man of the force and ability of Wilson to keep us out.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-12
Southern Club Activitiea


 Upon learning of the reduced rate now in effect at the Southern club as initia- tion fee, many applications for member ship are being made" remarked Henry Morscheimer, who is a member of the board of governors.
 This Is most gratifying. And what is even more so is the evidence of stimu- lated interest among the members of long standing, in the affairs of the club. 'As has been announced a splendid en- tertainment will be staged at the club on the night of the twentieth; and this ex- elusive social affair. I believe, is to be only a forerunner of what is to come in the near future in the way of enter tainment'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-12
Gerard Leaves Berlin
I'm ExcelIemt Eum0r

1Gl G&G@40@l0G HUI Ml0E WMHEN Ambassador Gerard's
 w train pulled out of Berlin Sat urday night he leaned smilingly from the window and called to the Ameri- cans who were remaining in the Ger man capital: "Auf wiedersehen on Broadway"
 The first effect of reading this in America will be a relief of the tension. It indicates that we have had an ex- aggerated impression of the hardships and inconveniences to which the re- tiring ambassador was being subject ed in Berlin. Representatives of the German foreign office and many of the neutral diplomats had come down to the station to bid him farewell. The ambassador was even represented as hopeful over the outlook of relations between Germany and the United States.
 The train left Berlin at 8 o'clock Saturday night and arrived in Switzerland Sunday afternoon. He will probably remain there for several days while arrangements are being made for him to pursue his way home by way of France.
 Associated Press correspondents in Copenhagen yesterday, who had just arrived from Berlin, report, however, that the German view is that war with the United States in unavoidable. This view is based on the idea that neither side will recede from the position it has taken and that an Covert act' which will prompt President Wilson to take sterner measures is only ques- tion of time.
 Meanwhile every word over the Eu- ropean cables is now being read in America with the most intense in- terest.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-12

The fIighty purpose never is o'ertook Unless the deed go with 1t.
 Macbeth.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-12
A Great, Big City

Birmingham is a greai big city, and one only has to remain at the local Y. M. c. A. for a few minutes during the day to realize this fact" remarked Secretary Stallings
 NO other city in the south, perhaps, has so large a membership as the Bir- mingham association; and certainly the attendance is not so large in any other. And the " is growing more popular each month. One needs only to stand in the lobby for few minutes in order to see hundreds of young men pass to and from the various departments which are always thronged with visitors sv
 Tn no city except 8 wide-awake and metropolitan center such as Birmingham could such a large and representative bunch of fellows be brought together as is the case at the local central associa- tion building.''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-12

to passengers but to give responsive and intelligent answers to questions about anything that may happen on the road"
 Many of the complaints against "soulless corporations" in the years past would never have been in evil dence had the railroads adopted the courtesy rule, now rule No. 1.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-12
A BIG SERMON

From the Tuscaloosa News
 The Birmingham Age-Herald says thero is room for 20 or more packing plants in Alabama. The Age-Herald has a knack of delivering big sermons in few words. sa