davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-15

The fires have been started in the furnaces to burn the bottoms and get them in condition for the work they will soon be called upon to do.
 All that Is delaying the starting of the plate mill Is hitch in certain final parts in reaching the city. These parts in- clude the big shears, a portion of a tilting table and some motor accessories. These parts are en route. having been To- cated in Cincinnati, where they had been sidetracked A man from Birming- ham Is now with the cars to give per- sonal attention to delivering them to Fairfield at the earliest possible mo- ment.
 It Is now understood that the Chick asaw company will not make contract with the shipping board for building ships. The company will proceed as speedy as possible to build eight or 1U ships, which 1t is understood. are wanted by the Steel corporation itself to assist in handling it's business. or course. if the needs of the government are great enough, 1t is assumed that the ships will be commandeered as desired. The new industry, however, is to proceed fnde- pendently of the government requirements and it is this feature of the work which gives the most absolute assurance Of the permanence of the industry.
 Conditions have changed greatly since the decision was reached by the Steel corporation last year to engage in ship building in Alabama and made the neces- sary appropriations for the plants at Fairfield and Mobile.
 Among the things which are being given special consideration is the rela- ton of the north and east so far as labor is concerned In other words. steps have
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-15
Barges Authorized WiH Increase Coal Tonnage On
 Riuer By 375,OOO Tons

 propelled barges wooden brges Mobile Orleans announced tonight by the railroad This tenn to provide increased annual coal of sa 9oO tons between Cordova Orleans feet long 4e feet extreme beam and 10 feet deep with two triple 
 posed These vessels will 1900 tons of coal on seven and merchandise freight The estimated cost of each barge about $25O,00O. service between Cordova Mobile it proposed to construct
  The towboat $60,000 barges $120000.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-15

already been taken by the government
 looking to uniformity of wages at ship
 building plants in all parts of the United
 States. If put into universal effect it
 is felt that this will prove special hard
 ship to the shipbuildng industry at
 Mobile. The industry is comparatively
 new to southern labor. The inexperi- enced workman in the southern plants
 is unable to do the same amount of work
 in hour that can be done by the
 more experienced workman in the east
 ern shipyards. If the southern work
 man has to be paid the same amount of
 money per hour and yields less results
 per hour, 1t adds just that much to the
 cost of completing a ship in the south
 ern yards.
 For several months the Chickasaw company has been conducting a ship
 building school at the Mobile plant where men have been given training In the work which they will be called upon to do. This school has been building steel barges for the use of the Steel corpora tion and 1t is understood that eight or 10 of these barges have already been fin- ished. The steel work upon them is so similar to that which they will have to do in building ships that the men will come to their new tasks in a measure as ex- perienced shipbuilders
 In the case of the Chickasaw plant, it is expected to secure as high efficiency as possible through the fact that the ships will be standardized, each part and plant being interchangeable so that the workman is expected to learn quickly the part he Is to perform.
 The problem of getting labor both at Fairfield and in Mobile is still acute but is expected to be relieved gradually
 as men are released from the army.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-15

the civic bodies of Birmingham-tha Civic association and the Chamber of Commerce-for they took action at the psychological moment, appointed strong. committees, and these committees worked in harmony throughout. The able leadership of w. D. Nesbitt, who had a mass of rates and tariffs in his head that he used adyantageously in the hearing before MT. McAdoo. meant much to the committee. and he was largely instrumental in the suc- cessful work accomplished.
 "Dr. G. A. ATomlinson of Detroit di- rector of inland waterways under the railroa administration, reported to MT. McAdco that there was enough tom nage already in sight to make the gov ernments investment yield per cent, and it was largely due to his fairness and brains that Alabama has at last achieved what I term one of her great- est accomplishments"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-15
Stephen O'Meara Dead

Boston, December 14.-Stephen O'Meara, police commissioner of this city, and for merly editor and publisher of the Boston Journal, died at his home here today. Mr. O'Meara was a member of the board of directors of the Associated Press at the time of it's reorganization in 1900.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-15
Prof. Robert Lawrence to
 Spend Christmas Here

Robert Lawrence, who formed the community sing here in 1917 and direct ed 1t until he took up similar work in New York, will spend the Christmas holidays in Birmingham with his fam |ily. He will direct the community sing on sunday, December 29, and that he will receive an ovation goes without saying.
 MT. Lawrence became prominent in New York as sing leader for the start.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-15
CUT|CURA HEALED R|NGWORMS Covered Face. Inf1amed and Red. ltched Badly.

My face was covered with ring worms. especially around my mouth. The ringworms were small and the skin around them was infiamed and red. The breaking out itched and I scratched, and used to get up at night my face itched 60 badly. The eruption even caused my eyebrows to fall out.
 "I began using Cuticura Soap and Ointment. could zee an improve ment every day. and two boxes of Cuti- |cura Ointment with the cuticura Soap completely healed me of the terrible akin trouble" lSigned) Miss c. Deford Hooper. $40 Brune St., Baltimore, Md.
 If you have poor complexion im- prove is by using Cuticura Soap daily Fand Cukicusa Ointment oocasionally
 ss.4A 1esA Y.es ' Nm; Asdssss pest-sard; sssS = 0l:s.sss . = iss IT.. 1s'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-15
Fires Now Burning in Furnaces Of NelU Steel
 Works at Fairfield
Starting of Big Plate Mill Waits Only on Arrival of Certain Final Parts Delayed in Shipment. Chickasaw Plant at Mobile Working
 on Steel Barges

With the lighting of the fires in the furnaces of the Fair
 field works of the Tennessee Coal Iron and Railroad the apprecaby when the big 110nch plate mill will be turning out steel plates and the combination mill will be rolling steel shapes and bars The products after through the fabcatng shops to be used in the building of steel ships at the plant of the Chckasaw Shpbud ing company at Mobile
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-15

terday. contracts will be let within the next few days With the present equip ment and the six new barges to be built the carrying capacity of all the Warrior river craft will be approximately 100000 tons a year, each way.
 Work of raising the locks and dams to provide for an S-foot all the year round stage Is now under way, and is ex- pected to be completed by spring, and when that is done the capacity of the six new barges will probably be in creased to POO tons. thereby increasing the potential commerce of the river to something like S00,000 tons year.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-15

A British army lieutenant, who was killed in France and had been a lawyer in civil life. left $500 to King George, ''humbly requesting his majesty to ap- ply the same to the reduction of the national debt"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-15
MASONIC FUNERAL,

Members of King HirAm lodge No. g7l, A. F. q A. HI.. and Master Masons. are requested ta meet at the Masonic tenalsle af .. -. 8unaAy to attend the funernI of Bsssther Lee Burt.
 HENRY KEY. W. II. A. D, ANDREWes seexefsRy.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-15
Director McAdoo ReleasesNearly$2,OO 900, ,OOO
 For Construction Of Barges 10 Carry On
 Freight Traffic on Warrior RiUer, Alabama
Committee Gets Telegram While Busy Preparing
 Further Data to Be Sub- mitted to Director General
By W. J. ROLES

Victory, long deferred, came at last yesterday to the War rior river committee and broke up a meeting at which further arguments to be presented to Director General McAdoo of the United States railroad ad- ministration were being con- sidered.
 In the midst of the meeting this telegram was received: "Washington, December IA, 1918. "A. c. Crowder, President Chamber
 of Commerce and w. E. Fort.
 President Civic Association, Bfr-
 mingham, Alai
 "Director general of the raii- roads announced this morning that contracts will he let immediately for the construction of barges for the Warrior river service. Please give this widest publicity.
 SC. A. TOMLINsON."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-15
BARGES DESIGNED

Irwin Cox, marine engineer. who ac- companied Dr. Tomlinson on the inspec- tion trip down the Warrior recently, has already designed the barges recommends cd by Dr. Tomlinson, and 1t is assumed, that, in line with the announcement
 made by Director General McAdoo yes-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-08

George Gaul, Florence Nash's lead
Ing man i'll "Remnant," at the Morosco,
Was consccratcd to the ministry by his
hopeful parents before he was old
enough to decide the matter for him
self, because he was u most unnatural
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-08

ly godly little boy and because he had
a taste for oratory.
81 was sent to Lawrenceville Pre-
paratory School in New Jersey. Here
| discovered that though my talents
lay along the line of ranting they were
destined to be directed into a different
channel The idea grew on ME gradu-
ally that acting was more in my line
than preaching, for by that time had
also lost much of my 2cst for being
good.
II approached my family with great
trepidation on the subject Of q dra-
matte career and they greeted it much
as expected. Then ensued the mel
ancholy days for me. decided week
before WAS scheduled to go off for
my first term at divinity school TO
break away and Try hin. at the world
Tor myself.
81 went to the Sergeant Dramatic
School for while, and then, when
there was 10 more money left, got a
tiny part with Marie Doro in The
Morals OF Marcus 1t paid me so little
that wondered if should really be
able to keep alive en- it. did, and
very much so. More than that, saved
certain sum each week. Ii MY home
training had left me nothing more, it
certainly had made providcnt soul Of
me, which is, believe. an unusual
characteristic in the profession Per
haps this thriftincss, which still per.
sists in me, is the vice Of cowardicc and
not the sturdy virtue | think it.
81 was soon playing Shakcspcarian
roles, which WAS at that time the height
Of my ambition. played with the Co.
burn company Romeo, Tombstone,
Claudio in Much ADO and important
parts in 'Iphecnia, 'Elcktra' and other
Greek plays"
The next season saw Mr.. Gaul with
OTIS Skinner in "Kismct' as the story
teller. and later he played the part Of
Wu2ir Munsur.
Then came the revival of "Thc Vel
low Jacket IN which Mr.. Gaul gave an
cNccllcnt characterization Of WI Hoo
Git. Last winter he made Genesis one
of the outstanding parts in Stuart
Walkers production Of Seventeen"
and in the spring won high praise for
his magnificent Interpretation OF Job
iu Mr. Walkers dramatic presentation
Of The Book of Job
During the last two summers Mr.. Gaul
has been a leading member of Stuart
Walker's summer rcpertory company at
the Murat Theatre in indianapolis,
where he has been most successful in a
variety of roles.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-08
Collier Demands
Christmas Day

William Collier has refused to play a
matinee performance Of Nothing Bue
Lies" at the Longacre Theatre en-
Christmas Day, notwithstanding "a
wishes of his managers. G. II. Andcr-
son and L. Lawrence Weber. In a
threc-cornered argument between them
yesterday Mr.. Collier had the last
word. 1. was NO" sharply and en-
phatically.
q want TO spend that day with ny
wife and boy he insisted.
"How about the public that expects
TO be entertained on the afternoon Of
such 4 holiday" asked Mr. Anderson
care you speaking for the public or
for Messrs. Anderson ard Weber,"
spoke up Collier.
81 said public. didn't I -
yes, I know; but was that what you
meant? In my opinion, every one who
has q home or a family wants to be at
home on Christmas Day. I know do,
and l mean 20 be. But I'll tell you
what will do. III give an extra matt
nee i you insist. I'll play on Friday
afternoon"
You'll play on Thursday" cut in Ny.
Anderson.
NO, Friday" added the comedian,
laconically.
SO the holiday matinee Of Nothing
But Lies" is going TO be on Friday Nr
Collier has added that in future he will
refuse TO sign contract which re-
quires him to play the Christmas matt
nee.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-08
NEWS AND NOTES OF PLAYS AND PLAYERS

dollhouse; throws her little beribboned
handbag with its apparently inexhaust-
lbic contents into a corner; takes off
her furs and instantaneously dwindles
into a mere scabbard of white silk;
rushcs onto "a dimly lighted stage ant.
Immediately puts life into whole
crowd Of listlcss, yawning, lettering
folk; dashes backward and forward,
inspiring every one with her own fever
ish energy; goes into the prompters
boz, arranges her scenes, rises up in
wrath and insists upon everything be-
ing done over again; shouts with fury;
sits down and calmly smiles, drinks
tea and begins to rehearse her own
part; draws tears from case-hardened
actors; returns to her room, where
the decorators are waiting, demolishes
their plans and reconstructs them; col
lapscs, and thinks Of fainting; suddenly
rushes up to the fifth floor, invadcs the
premises OF the astonished 'costumier,
rummages in the wardrobes, makes up
costume, pleats and adjusts it; re-
turns to her room and teaches the
hgurantes how to dress their hair, has
q piece read to her while she makes
bouquets; listens to hundreds of let
ters, weeps over some tale of mis-
fortune, and opens the inexhaustible
little handbag; confers with an Eng
lish perruquier; returns to the stage
to superintend the lighting Of a scene,
objurgates the lamps and reduces the
electrician TO a state Of temporary in
sanity; sees super who has Numbered
the day before, remembers it, and over
whelms him with Indignation; returns
to her room for dinner; sits down to
table, splendidly pale with fatigue;
Eliminates her plans: eats with peals
Of Bohemian laughter: has no time to
finish; dresses for the evening per-
Torrance and acts with all her heart
and soul; discusses business between
the acts; remains at the theatre after
the end of the performance and makes
arrangements until o'clock in the
morning; gets into her carriage; bursts
out laughing on remembering that
some one is waiting to read her five
act play; returns home, listens 10 the
piece, becomes excited. weeps, accepts
it, finds she cannot sleep, and takes
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-08
Meeting OF Catholic
AcfOrs' Guild

The first public meeting of the sea-
son of the Catholic Actors Guild will
be held in the Morosco Theatre, West
Forty-hfth Street. this evening.
The Hon. Victor J. Bowling. will pre-
side. Among the artists and speakers
to appear will be George NJ. Conan,
Miss Nora Bayes, Wilton Lackaye,
William A. Brady, Miss Alice Brady,
Donald Brian, Miss Elizabeth Marbury
and the Friendly Sons of st. Patrick
Glce Club, with Victor Herbert.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-08
EIit-Edn1ond R0sfund

When Edmond Rostand died last
week, a victim Of pneumonia, Paris
papers lamentng his death stated that
his loss will be felt not only by France
but by her allies, for he was worthy to
have celebrated the recent victory by
triumphal odes. But NJ. Rostand did
not have to wait for post-mortem
tributes. Edition after edition of his
works has been exhausted, actors and
actresses have made fortunes and won
fame in his plays, critics praised him,
the French Academy elected him at
thirty-three, the youngest of the "Im-
mortals."
Rostand left to posterity many dis
tingushed contributions to the annals
Of French poetry and literary drama.
These include Les Romanesques," ola
Princcssc Lointainc," "La Samaritainc,"
"L'Aiglon" and one great play, "Cyrano
de Bergerac." He was born at Mar
settles in 1868, the desccndcnt of long
line of bankers and merchants, with
whom a love Of art was a tradition. 1t
is said that the Quartets of Beethoven
were played at the Rostands' for the
first time in France.
Eugene Rostand, the poets father
was editor of prosperous newspaper.
He devoted his leisure hours to poetry
and published several volumes of
verse. From his father, besides love
Of poetry, the younger Rostand also in
herited an attractive personality and
charm. Young Rostand was educated
at Marselles and at the College Stanis.
las, in Paris, where he studied COM
position with Rene Doumic. Aftc,
graduation lie studied law for time
and tor very brief period was EN-,
ployed in bank. Soon he succeeded
i'll having a vaudeville sketch produced
at the Cluny. 1t failed Two Years
later his first volume of poems, Les
Musatdise,' appeared.
Meanwhile Rostand had married
Roscmonde Gerard, a young poetess of
eighteen, whose "Pipeaux" received the
sanction of the Academy.
The young poets first play, Lies
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-08

A Now Hamlet Will make his debut
in New York Thursday afternoon, De
ccmbcr ~, when Robert b. Mantel pre-
scnts for tho first time Oh any stage his
young leading man, Fritz Lciber, in the
role Of tho Dane The performance
viii be given at the Forty-fourth Street
Theatre, where Nh Mantcll is filing
his engagement, and the entire Man
tell production of "lIamlet' viii be
used Miss Gcnovicvc Hamper viii be
the Ophclia. and the supporting cast
viii be made up almost entirely Of
members of the Mantell company.
Mr. Leibcr. has been with the trag
cdan for ten years, playing Antony,
lago. Macdufi, Richmond, Lacrtcs and
similar parts.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-08

komanesques," produced under Difficult
lles' Immediately won further rccogni.
ZION Tor the author. Sarcey called the
piece brilliant success. LA Prn.
cess Lolntaine" and LA Samaritainev
followed, both produced with Sara
bernhardt in the title role. Finally
came his greatest triumph, "Cyrano,"
Tor years feature of the Bernhardt
| Coquelin repertoire.
"Chantecler" was the play that
brought its author the greatest fnan-
cial returns. He received $4,000 ad-
vance royalties from the producing
manager, while some $1,000 worth Of
seats were sold for the first perform
ance. Unfortunately Coquclin died be-
fore the play could be produced. He
was succeeded by Guitry, an Indifferent
Chantecler. Still more febrile and in
adequate was Miss Maud Adams in an
English version given at the Empire
Theatre in this city. Certain charac-
tiers, LA Samartaine,' ola Prncesse
Lointaine," "L'Aiglon," are indelibly
associated with the personality and art
of Nine. Bernhard, and who will soon
/ forget the Flambeau and Cyrano of
the inimitable Coquelin?
1t was not to be expected that such
volcanic temperaments as the illustrious
Sara's and the French poets should
have always been in perfect accord.
Now and then sparks few. Still Ros-
tand was none the less grateful to the
actress for creating his characters. In
the preface to Jules Huret's Life OF
the Worlds Most Extraordinary
Woman Rostand gives the following
description of an average day spent by
her whom he christencd sour Lady OF
Energy:
81 have seen this" he wrote.
a brougham stops at door; a
woman. enveloped in furs. jumps GU,
threads her way with Il smile through
! the crowd, attracted by the iinglng of
the bell on the harness, and mounts a
winding stair; plunges into a room
crowded with flowers and heated like a
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-08

advantage of the opportunity to study
a part.
This is the Sara have known
Nine. Bernhardt also paid the poet
many compliments. but her greatest
tribute was her embodiment Of the
children Of his brain. In his death
France loses a unique figure in her
world Of letters, and the literary drama
one of its most successful contributors.
X "
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-08
Plays and Players

When Mrs. Fiske acted the powerful
war play Service" at the Criterion
Theatre last year one brilliant young
actor was exhibited to the admiration
OF playgoers and critics alike. He was
| Georges Plateau, name unknown to
Broadway, but who in one night won a
success which has seldom been eoualled
on Broadway. It was he who enacted
the role of the son, torn between the
filial emotions due to his mother and
father, unhappily at variance over the
ideals Of war. ~ Plateau gave an i'm
passioncd performance Of this role. and
then people began TO ASK whence he
came He came from France direct
from the trenches, in which he had
served his country with such fidelity
that he now wears u CroiX dc Guerrc.
After being wounded he was given
leave Of absence TO permit him to ap-
pear in the great war play which had
been so successful in Paris and which.
it was thought. would serve as excel
lent propaganda.
IN The Crowded Hour in which he
IS now appearing, arc many players
speaking only the French language. but
NJ. Plateau, who plays Captain Soulicr,
the liaison officer, speaks the English
language with huency that is most
remarkable, even considering the fact
that, though born in Paris, he studied
AT Marshall College, Aberdeen, Scot
land. He is required by the cxgcncics
of his part TO deliver his lines in Eng
lish with rapidty and under handi-
cap which would tax the fucncy Of the
: most volatile actor.
A fact which win interest playaocrs
in this country is that NJ. Plateau, be
sides moro than three hundrcd> other
parts, has acted the title role in "Shcr-
lock Holmes" in French more than five
hundred consecutive times. His wife
is Il member of the Coincide Franchise.
iii Paris, and besides the success he
has achieved d an actor and manager
he is also u composer of distinction and
Il pianist. His Paris theatre, La Cicalc,
is devoted to light musical productions,
and he has played roles ranging from
characters Of Paris Apachcs
Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1918-01-08
PENNSYLVANIA CAPTAIN
GIVES MODEST ACCOUNT
OF BRAVERY AT CAMBRIA

PITTSBURG, Jan. Writing from
a Bochc dugout under the fire OF the
heavy guns OF the Germans a short
distance back of the Hindenburg line.
Captain Harry l.. Murphy. OF Cora
Opolis. now fighting with the Queens
own Sixth Surrey Regiment around
the Cambria sector gives a vivid de
scription OF General Byng's famous
drive on the kaiser's stronghold:
Il am dirty and tired" writes
Murphy. but we are all bucked VI
over breaking the mythical line that
everyone told us was unshakablc.
we are winning today and our
lads who have been out here for five
days without sleep and very little ra
tons are CHEEKY and bright
at was great going over The tor
with these lads. They are brave
lot. and feel BATTERED 10 b. with
them.
we never faltcrod; in fact, we
went further than we were expected
to 20. The Eritzcs gave mo a few
merry hours during our attack.
81 wasn't in danger, for they can't
shoot straight. They caught mo in a
sh"U crater and kept me there with
rifle and machine gun fire.
81 had gone a little farther nor