davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-14
American Victory and
 Its Great Possibilities

71f7HE Americans have won sensa-
 4 tional victory in their first in- dependent action in France, but there has not yet been anything to indicate the next step.
 The primary purpose of the offen- sive at St. Mihiel was, of course, to straighten the line at this point and to wipe out sharp salient which was thrust into French territory during the first year of the war and has re- mained ever since. It was the last bit of territory the Huns had remain ing to show for their great offensives of the past four years.
 Undoubtedly Marshal Foch and General Pershing have greater things in mind following the American gen. erals birthday victory yesterday. The American victory relieves this menace and also opens important railroad connections between Verdun and the forts further south.
 But with the line in front of -yerdun strengthened, great possibilities are opened. The German fortress of Metz now lies less than ten miles from the American lines. This fortress is the key to the whole German defense sys- tenn in this region. No doubt one of the next steps by the Americans will be the reduction of this series of forts. The most apparent method would be by offensives on each side of it which would develop into an encircling move ment, leaving the bastion isolated.
 With Metz out of the way the pos sibilities before the Americans will be infinite. The way to the Rhine cities would be open. Germany's great hive of war industry would be threat ened. The source of the enemy's pig iron supply around Briey in Lorraine would soon be in the hands of the Americans and their allies.
 By co-ordinating an advance here with the continued pressure of the French, English and Belgians on the western front it should not be long until the truth reaches even the Ger man people--the truth which has been kept from them for so long-that their great military caste has before it the worst whipping that has ever been given a nation in history. It may be weeks or it may be months, but it is inevitable.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-14
New Collection of
 Old Negro Melodies

66NLD MELODIES OF THE | " SOUTH collection of ten negro songs, transcribed by Mary |Gillen and Oliver Chalifoux, and pub- Ilished by the Bond Shop, of which Carrie Jacobs Bond is the head, is a
 distinct contribution to art.
 The words and tunes are traditional land were memorized by Miss Gillen lin plantation cabins which she visited for the purpose of procuring and preserving folklore fast vanishing. !This achievement required not only Ian accurate musical ear and ready depreciation of rhythm, but patient ltoil.
 Many songs and other compositions revealing some degree, of merit have been marred by faulty musicianship.
 As the grammar of harmony is as
 exacting as the grammar of speech, only the thorough musician is able to handle his chords and work out reso- lutions properly and with pleasing effect. Miss Gillen was fortunate, therefore, in finding collaborator of
 MT. Chalifoux's fine musical educa-
 tion and practical experience. He has
 harmonized the melodies and has done lin with taste and finish. Each song lis appealing-most of them haunting and all the accompaniments are
 beautiful.
 l As negro folk music is now in great vogue the Gillen- Chalifoux collection lis sure to be in demand, and as the
 Bond Shop is the publisher the popu-
 larity of the songs will be immediate. ] They will be arranged for chorus land for bands and orchestras. The famous Paulist choir will include one Tor two of them in it's repertoire and l all of them will be heard in artist Irecitals during the coming season. Miss Gillen and Mir. Chalifoux are l to be congratulated, indeed, upon
 their suspicious entrance into the
 field of permanent musical endeavor.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-14
PARENTAL ADVICE.
SEVEN DAYS IN A SHELL HOLE

From Stars and Stripes.
 Seven days in a shell hole without food or water is the biggest event yet in the lie or Private Barnett, of the infantry. The Americans had decided to improve their positions near Fismes They ad- vanced but short distance when the Germans turned loose an artillery and machine gun barrage. The Americans re- turned to their own lines and decided they would fool Fritz some other day.
 A squad of automatic riflemen were unable to get back and took refuge in a large shell hole. Private Barnett was one of the squad.
 The Germans had observed the moye- ments of the Americans and Immediately trained machine gun on the shell hole, whereupon the squad leader decided he would wait out the Germans and return to our line under cover of darkness.
 That night the moon came up oyer the hill and lighted up that marrow strip of debatable ground so that it was impos- sible to return without being observed.
 It was midnight when one of the men -the corporal-decided to make a try for their own lines. He fell few feet from the shell hole.
 Just before daylight the next morning another started back. He fell The following afternoon at o'clock there were two men left in the she'll hole. They drew straws, it being understood that the one drawing the short straw was to go after help. Private Barnett drew the long straw.
 He waited two days, but the runner
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-14

tries and not affected by the work or fight order. The poet is safe. And as nearly every human being over 10 years old who can read and write is guilty of producing verse that seems to open wide way out. Any magazine editor will be willing to prove that there are not less than 100000 poets and S.ooo.ooo poetesses at large in the United States.
 There is also . fine compliment to the makers of rhyme and the builders of short and long fiction in including them in a class with the lofty advertisement writer's. In fact, it would not be sur prising if the ..ad' writer protested that other branches of fiction should not be confused with his supreme product, but he is probably above jealousy.
 One foresees trouble for the editors and conductors of columns. May they not be obliged to issue certificates of gem uineness to all poets whose contributions they use? Added to their already onerous duties this will be a hardship, but any thing must be borne to keep the world safe for writers of poetry. fiction and advertisements"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-14

While It may be true that there are some thousands Of slackers in this coun- try, it is encouraging to note that the number of American soldiers in France Is Approaching the two-million mark. l General Pershings army is not far from German soil American soldiers may be in Germany, via Metz, before Christmas, s, and they won't go there as prisoners or war, either.
 < # *
 Later dispatches indicate that Jim Ham Lewis Iiayed heroic part when the ship on which he was 8 passenger was torpe- doed. Perhaps he felt that ali eyes were upon him
 Skirts, say the fashion experts, will be shorter than ever this year. And trous- erettes will be more in evidence than ever before in the nations history.
 # # #
 At this stage of the game it is hardly probable that by raising the pay of his soldiers the Kaiser has made them more willing to oie for the fatherland
 < x x
 The American people won't have to be educated" fS the next Liberty Loan. Uncle sam's securities are universally tsr,1t
 x # <
 The lad who goes all the way to France only to be invalided home without ever firing a gun is apt to feel that jinx was put on him at birth.
 # # <
 # # +
 A tank can go almost anywhere, but when it gets hopelessly stuck in the mud the appropriate exclamation seems to be. Good night"
 The Germans with their backs to the wall will be hard to whip. Our amateur strategists should pay some attention to psychology.
 
 One never knows the passenger capacity of his automobile until he begins to fill it ur with soldiers bound to railroad station.
 # # #
 Demagosues are being bowled over right and left by the sovereign voter who is at last awake to his responsibilities # < x
 Our deat ti defying navy which Will helm praises so highly, has for four long years defied death at a safe distance. # < + That speech made by the Kaiser to enl- ployey of tho Krupp works at Essen was a classic misstatement of fact. T # # While baseball is dead for the duration of the war, fans are looking forward to the resuwecticn day. x * * No German peace offensive will make much headway until the Teutons drop their guns. + x # Everything seems 10 stalk" in Russia these days, including famine and murder.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-14
REpUD1ArED

From the Nashville Banner.
 The south has flatly repudiated her recalcitrants. Vardaman, Cole Blease and Hardwick rare on the political dump So is Representative Slayden of Texas. But in Chicago yesterday they as any of these, if not worse, 17,000 majority. Thefe is reason for sec- tional reproaches or comparisons now but the loyalty of the south, where the population is 90 per cent pre-revolution- ary stock, can be trusted.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-14
"yOTE FOR MAMMA

From the Philadelphia Public Ledger. date for the republican nomination to the New York assembly in Washington county, is accompanied on her election eering trips by her three children, who ask her hearers io vote foi> mamma" culine way of kissing the children of voters.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-14

never returned. It seemed that everyone had forgotten there was such soldier as Private Barnett
 The next day he ate the remainder Of a raw potato he had harvested from a potato patch a few days before while passing over farm during the advance His canteen was dry; it had gone dry the second day, and there was no water to be had short of the vesle river.
 In the meantime, the unit to which Private Barnett belongs was relieved by another; 1t went away to another part of the line somewhere, or maybe 1t was only for a rest. But it went away shy an automatic rifle squad which the captain believed was all dead, as none of them had been heard of for six days.
 It was on the seventh day that an ob- server saw something lying in a shell hole. A peep through the glasses told him 1t was an American soldier
 That night sergeant and three men went out to investigate. They found him, only boy. He was unconscious, pale and limp. The sergeant thought the boy had been gassed, or maybe slightly wounded. Investigation proved diff ferent.
 Private Barnett told his story after they carried him in--told as much of it as he remembered. On the morning of the sixth day he sank down and could not rise again That same evening thirst forced him to drink, but it was something other than pure water that he drank. Private Barnett will soon be back with his unit.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-14
MUSIC AT THE FEAsr

From the Louisville Courier-Journal
 ''Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah!" so the cable reports the Kaiser cried as he drank the health of the Hetman of the Ukraine.
 "H{Qch, hoch hoch!' the Hetman re- sponded as he drank the health of the Kaiser.
 Sounds like the duet when the Gander swallowed the Frog
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-14
..iN FLANDERS FIELDS,

By Lieut.. Col. John Mccrae. Tn Flanders fields the poppies grow Between the crosses. row on row.
 That marks our place. and in the sky
 The larks. still brAvcly singing. fly. Scarce heard Anptd the runs below. we are the dead: short days ago We lived, felt dawn. saw sunset elow, Loved and were loved. and now we lie
 In Flanders fields Take up our quarrel with the foe! To you from failing hands We thu
 The torch; be yours to hold it lgiEn
 If ye break faith with us who tls We shall not sleep. lhoaNh poppi In Flanders SieldA
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-14
IN TRANSIT
From the Mobile Register.

"Transitory successes" is what Won Linsingen calls the achievements of tho allies in France. That Is an adjective capable of literal interpretation. The allies are certainly moving across. or in transit; and the Teutons are in transit also-as fast as they can go.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-14
A LOFTY PERCH.

"I wuz, once looked up to by every man, woman an child in my home town. mum"
 Poor man. And how did you happen to fall from your high cstateT'
 T didn't fall, mum. clumb down. ! wuz paintin' de flagpole on de county courthouse
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-14
PROFESSIONAL PRIDE puNCruREp

From the New York Evening Post.
 A journalist never has so poor an orinion of the profession he adorns as when. after making the speech of the evening, he gets up early the next day to see how it is featured on the first page of his morning contemporaries. and finds the event dismissed with para graph on an inside page between an ad. vertisement of dandruff cure and the obituary notices
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-14
Negro selectman,. Niewpeint

q have heard good many stories about our colored boys who are in the draft, but the best one have run across was told to me by cousin of mine down in south Alabama said Emmett Jones.
 Miss Mary Winn who taught at Mon tevallo until her brother went to war, and she was compelled to become a woman farmer by going back to the plan- tation and taking charge of things, has a colored man on the place who is one among the few in that section who can read and write. This boy went up to the mall box and got the mail that was left by the rural-carrier. In the batch was Q card from the local board addressed to the negro. It was a call to report for service. He read the card and then wrote on it: He ain't here; he up de road and placed it back in the box. The carrier on his return trip took the card back and in few days the sheriff came after the boy and he was locked up in tho county jail at Greensboro
 Tt was then that he wrote to Miss Vim: Here is what he wrote: Miss Mary Winn: Dey is got mo in jail. l wants you to come git me out. All you got to do is jest come and tell dem l air't done nuthin' and dey will turn mo Ioose'''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-14
SAFETY ron POETS

From the New York Evening Sun.
 A great sigh of relief will arise all over the country as the news spreads that the government has decreed that persons who write poetry. fiction and advertise mcnts'' are engaged m essential indus
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-14
cAo~1EulMltAasssfl
ALABAMA IS WILLING

EFom the Houston Post.
 The Alabama politicians are able to sec now that Senator Eankhead never fails to screw on the nut securely after he has showed the holt through the of flee he wants to hold.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-14
NoBLEssE oBL1eE.

NoBLEssE oBL1GE.
 T didn't think I'd live to see it, but have," remarked the old-fashioned gentle man. "You've often heard men say their wives made them?' 7 Certainly"
 Yesterday I heard a suffrage orator reverse the compliment in favor of friend husband" PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-14
SELFISH MoTiyE. PERHAPS

A Prussian officer went on distributing iron crosses after he had been captured. He may have desired to tempt his fellow- prisoners of less rank to be little easy with the hazing.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-14

BEGINNING THE DAY-O great and gracious God! Not to work for Thee but to let Thee work through me. Not to spend my strength but to give Thy strength its chance. D to be to God swhat His own hand is to a man!- Amen.-H. M. E.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-14
PROVING THEIR METrr.E.

PROVING THEIR METTLE.
 Perhaps we ought not to take seriously the foolish remsfKs young women make. For instance?"
 Many girl who used to say that she was never quite herself until the bright lights began to glow is making good as war nurse in France
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-14
American Soldiers
 Sing in Battle

NOING over the top in Lorraine M behind a barrage, American soldiers sang, Where Do We Go From Here, Boys?"
 Who does not feel thrill of pride in such an exploit? What forces can withstand soldiers who go to battle as to great and glorious adventure, with joy in theT hearts and song on their lips? This is the spirit of the American army Each Yuan regards himself as crusader who strikes a blow for humanity; the eyes of the world are upon him, he is followed by the prayers of millions, at home and abroad, and he is the last resort in tho war of democracy against au- tocracy.
 It il this individual sense of his re- responsibilities and the boyish craving for the greatest of all experiences that makes sharp contrast between the American army and the German army. Whatever the German soldiery
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-14
Col. Watterson to Edit
 a Quarterly Review

61OL. HENRY WATTERSON'S NJ editorial pen will not remain in- active. The fromer editor of the Louisville Courier-Journal has been chosen to edit quarterly review which will be published by the Sul- grave institution.
 This organization was incorpor- ated to promote friendly relations be- tween English-speaking peoples. It takes it's name from Sulgrave manor, ancestral home of Washington, ac- quired in 1914 as part of the move ment to celebrate one hundred years of peace between England and Amer ica. The manor is held by trustees, half of whom are American and the other half English.
 The American governors of the Sul- grave institution met recently in New York when plans were made for issu- ing quarterly and for commissions to interest Canada, Australia and oth- CT English-speaking countries in the venture.
 The institution has among it's mam- bers some of Americas most dis tinguished men, including former Presidents Taft and Roosevelt, Judge Alton B. Parker, Charles H. Hughes, Senator Burton of Ohio and Dr. Charles E. Elliott, who is honorary chairman of the advisory council.
 If Colonel Watterson intends to contribute to the Courier-J Journal from time to time, as was announced when he retired from active control, this will not interfere with his du- ties as editor-in-chief of the Sulgrave Review. The governors could not nava made happier choice.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-14
sANcTIrY.

Have sasolineless Sundays increased church attendance?''
 I'm afraid not replied Dr. Fourthly. Doing without the usual Sunday joy ride makes some people feel so pious and self-sacrificing they think that noth- ing preacher might say in, his sermon could possibly apply to them"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-14

Washington bureau. POT Hibbs build Ing.
 European bureau, Henrietta street. Covent Garden, London.
 Eastern business office, World build ing, New York city. western business office, Tribune building, Chicago. me $. c. Beckwith Special Agency, agents for foreign advertising.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-14
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
rHE oLp oRpER cHANeErH.

TIE OLD ORDER CHANGETH. Let poets sing the joyous life
 The simple rustic leads, Apart from scenes of worldly strife And more expensive needs; Whose work is hard, but slumher sweet, Whose heart is ever light, Who doth each day with courage meet, Whose fertile fields requite. With plentitude of wholesome food, His flocks with clothes to wear, man who finds the old world good And seldom has care. That was the kind of life he led
 In far less strenuous times And well deserved all that was said By poets in their rhymes. The motor ear has changed his ways, The rural wight no more Doth spend a round of tranquil days Until life's journeys OCT. Instead he seeks amusements gay And motors into town, Much to the moralist's dismay,
 Who finds it vain to frown.
 IN THE TRIANGULAR. Rather unusual case in the court Of domestic relations
 'Ten me about it." "A husband claims that his wife won't live with him since she got job in a munitions plant at sS5 a week.
 And what is the bone of contention between them?"
 There are S5 bones of contention. He thinks he's entitled to her wages"
 PARENTAL ADVICE. My boy, now that you are going out into the world to make your mark, you will probably have some love affairs" Yes, dad.
 But I want to warn you particularly against one type of woman"
 And what sort is that, dad?,
 The kind who says she is trying to find herself. Ninety-nine out of hun dred men who join woman in that sor, of search come to grief sooner or later.''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-14
niatinxniuhed Family

"Dr. William States Jacobs of Houston, Tex, who has been called to the South Highlands Presbyterian church, comes from distinguished family of preaoh- ers,' said Char1es A. Calhoun. His father was for years connected with the famous orphanage at Clinton, s. C., and his two brothers, Thornwell and J. F. Jacobs, are Presbyterian preachers. pr. Thornwell Jacobs was at the head of the movement to establish great southern Presbyterian university at Atlanta. J. F. Jacobs is not actively in the ministry at present, being the president of the Re- ligious Press Syndicate. It's family Of docrs, and I am greatly in hopes Dr. Will liam States Jacobs will come to Bif- minham to live, as I am sure he will be an addition not merely to the religious and social, but also to the civil life of the city, as he has been in the forefront of every aggressive movement in his home town in Texas"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-14
! Non FoRrHcoMING

I cannot sing the old tune,
 I do not like the new. I haven't found a war song
 That pleased me yet. Have you7
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-14
Mcmber of the Assoemted rress.

Member of the Assocmted Press.
 The Age Herald is the only morning and sunday newspaper in Birmingham carrying the Associated Press dis patches.
 The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to the use for publication or all news dispatches credited to It or not otherwise credited in this paper and also the local news published herein.
 All rights of republication of special dispatches herein are also reserved.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-14
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
 AND ELSEWHERE
Compli,nents Aee-Herald

 T am sadly disappointed if we fail to get The Age-Herald in the morning, said Mrs. Lige Loy last night
 T like to get the news over night early in the morning while ft is fresh, and especially do like to read the war news in The Age-Herald; it is always so accu- rate and so full. In fact, I consider The Age-Herald very high class paper in every respect"
 Pastors in War Work
 ''Dr. J. W. Johnson, leader of the Methodists in the Birmingham district, is taking his vacation at Camp Taylor near Louisville said Dr L. C. Brans- comb, editor of the Alabama Christian Advocate. Tt Is whispered among friends that when he returns he may be wear ing Uncle Sans uniform. A great mum Der of our leading pastors in the south are engaged either in Army T. NJ. C. A. or as chaplains in the regular army"
The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-11-22
LET SIGNATURE BE PLAIN
MIR. Binkinton Has Many Reasons for
Advising Young Men to Acquire
the Habit of LegibiIity.

81 like a man who writes legible
hand" said Mr.. Blinkinton, land 1
should be inclined to trust a man who
wrote his signature so plainly that it
was Enthusiastically clear In each and
every letter.
The best letter of recommendation
that I could receive for a young man
would be one written by himself in
which each and every word including
his signature, was absolutely legible
and clear, the signature being Of eS-
pecial Importance. An older man
might perhaps be pardoned for slur-
ring his signature; a famous man
might write a signature that was
quite undecipherable in itself, but
that was known because 1t was asso-
ciated with him in the public mind,
but young man or a man publicly
unknown should write his name so
that it can be read.
Gan absolutely clear signature
means that the writer of 1t likes his
own name and is ready to stand back
of It and that he wants YOU to know
it without possibility Of mistake.
"When / see a signature like that
J feel that the writer of it is stand
ng up like a man and looking me
fair and square in the eye. l feel that
l know where to find him and that
I can trust him. A young man could
have very few characteristics or hab-
its more helpful to him than that Of
writing an absolutely plain sigma
ture."