davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-18
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THE LINE IN LORRAINE
,m the New York Sun.

From the New York Sun.
 Lorraine means "Lothair's Kingdom" but certainly it's most famous figure was that Duke of Lorraine. Godfrey of Bouillon. the hero of many fabled exploits, who was said to have cloven asunder tine body of Mosiem emir with one stroke of his good sword. who was leader of the Girst Crusade. who saw the deliverence of Jerusa- lem and became. the ruler of that Holy City wrested from paynim hands. The American soldier might do worse than swear By Godfrey!" Whether we now hold a mile or five miles will presently be of no importance, for our expedi- tionary forces have but made . begin ming. A look at the map will satisfy any American how much of the front line our men should be defending be- fore vsry many months have passed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-18
Russian Problem
 Troubles Germany

1fS HE blundering diplomacy of Ger
 4 many has made of Russia lia- bility Instead of an asset. Just when plans had been carefully laid to reap all possible advantages from the dis organization in Russia, it now ap- pears, as result of the bolshevik attitude, that the very situation by which Germany hoped to profit will work to her own undoing.
 According to the latest advices, Germany will renew war on northern Russia, in addition to giving military aid to Ukraine. Grave fears are felt for the safety of German prisoners of war and other Germans in Russia who are being arrested by the bolsheviki land held as hostages.
 To make matters worse, Austria has adopted policy of ''hands off, and it is announced that Bulgaria has resumed diplomatic relations with Russia" Germany will have to flight alone against the forces which she might have pacified by dealing fairly with them. Whatever criticism may be made of the bolshevik leaders, they have at least shown belated spirit of independence and, disgusted with the trickery of Germany's diplo- mats, have defied the war lords to do their worst. Furthermore, there is reported to be great unrest in Po- land and bitter hatred of the Germans.
 The allies may well view these de- velopments with complacency. Russia lis believed to be unconquerable, even in her present chaotic state. Germany is confronted by one of the most vex- atious and baffling problems she has ever had to solve.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-18
WHEN RILEY SOLD MEDICINES

Edmund H. Eitel, in Harper's Magazine. ZINE hot autumn afternoon. as he IO was pouring hOpelessly over a law book, there swung into town to the jubilee of bugles a covered wagon painted in gay colors. The body of the wagon was ultramarine blue, across which glittered the golden letters, pr. law for Riley that afternoon. He was at the town square with the wagon. There before him appeared the proprie- tor, lowing, on a little back platform, Stetson hat lifted, frock coat Tapping, and hair trimmed to make him wonder fully like General Grant Behind him, in linen dusters, a band of three young fellows. each playing two instruments, poured forth martial tunes, interspersed with sacred music from an organ within the wagon. A free concert was an- nounceed for "early candlelight,' but before it was given Riley had arranged with the proprietor to go on to the next town with him. With that glittering cavalcade" Riley rode off without a good-by to anyone.
 In the period following the civil war medicines were expensive, the people were poor. and educated doctors were scarce. Though my patron," as Riley once remarked, was not a dipIomaed doctor, he had natural Instinct for the art of healing, was a man of ex- cellent habits, and the whole company was made up of good. straight boys, jolly, chirping vagabonds. -. Sometimes l assisted the musical olio with dialect recitation and character sketches from the back step of the wagon.
 He wrote back to an old school friend, John Skinner:
 Union City, September A. 1875.
 Dear John: We have just driven in here, and you bet I feel good at find- ing your letter in waiting for me. :. am having a first-rate time consider
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-18
Shark Fishing Industry
 In Hawaiian Islands

F7N HE official news bureau of Ho-
 0 nolulu announces that the use of shark skin for leather may become the basis of an important new indus try in the territory of Hawaii.
 A company has been organized and has obtained the fishing rights on Johnson Island, where it is expected that thousands of sharks will be killed. They will not only furnish material for leather, but oil which is in great demand in Hawaii. A good quality of leather can be made from tanned shark skins, and the bureau of fisheries of the department of com merce at Washington, which is en- couraging the industry, states that shark meat, when smoked and cured, can be made a palatable article of food. Shark fin is esteemed great delicacy by the Chinese. It will be sold in Hawaii for $60O ton.
 Shark oil delivered in San Francisco can be sold for 50 cents per gallon of 2 1-2 pounds. High-grade shark oil brings $1.25 per gallon. Johnson Island, which will become the center of the shark fishing industry in that part of the world, is member of the Hawaiian group, north of Bird Island.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-18
LUKE M,LUKE SAYS

A man finds out what he wants to know by asking questions. A woman finds out what she wants to know by pretending to have no interest in the matter.
 Of course, this will make the reform CTS snort. But real man would rather attend a prize fight than attend an uplift meeting.
 h Our idea of wasting good space in a newspaper is to print pictures of MT. A. Brayneless Pupp and Mrs. U. Nay ked Huzzie in their bathing togs at Palm Beach.
 The truth of the matter is that the man who brags downtown that he is boss in his home is the same fellow who has to wash the dishes after sup per while his wife is dolling up to go to the movie show.
 It is none of our business. But any man who likes to quarrel should study law and get paid for 1t. There are times when a husband would like to take wallop at his wife. And 1t isn't chivalry that prevents him from doing 1t. It is fear. Tn spite of the fact that he can hear friend wife snoring when he is sneak !! ing up the stairs at a. m.. friend husband knows that the minute friend WlIe hears Hlm entering lhc TOoIH 6ue will insist that she couldn't sleep a wink until he got home. One of the wonderful things in life l is how man often manages to get rich in spite of his wife A romantic young thing may not believe it, but farmer doesn't care what color a hired mans soul is just 1 so he can blow and do chores. You have often noticed that a girl always looks like her photograph, haven't you? Neither have we. 1 A girl loses her name when she mar
 ries, but all man loses is his free dom.
 What has become of the old-fash-
 toned man who used to have to stop
 and count up when you asked him how
 many children he had? It often happens that the man who 1 gets highly indignant if he can't get
 a room with 8 bath at a hotel is the same fellow who was raised in home where a washtub set in the middle of the kitchen floor on Saturday night
 constituted tho bathroom.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-18

ing the boys I am with-they, you know. are hardly my kind, but they are pleas ant and agreeable and with the old party you know, for sensible talk oc- casionally, I have really happy time. We sing along the road when we tire of talking, and when we tire of that and the scenery, we lay ourselves along the seats and dream the happy hours away as blissfully as the time-honored baby in first, as you already know-stayed over night and came near dying of loneliness and would, in fact, if it had not been for meeting Horace Russell and MT. A. P. and Mrs. Williams Grom GreenfieldD. There's where I 'squealed' on street busi- ness-that is, that portion of it where I was expected to bruise the bass drum. Well, I made myself thoroughly solid with Doxy' Ca playful patronymic I have given the proprietor by introducing a blackboard system of advertising, which promises to be the best card out. I have two boards about three feet by four, which-during the street concert-I fasten on the sides of the wagon and letter and illustrate during the performance and throughout the lecture. There are dozens in the crowd that stay to watch the work going on that otherwise would drift from the fold during the dryer portion of the doctors harangue. Last night at Winchester made decided sensation by making a rebus of the well known lines from Shakespeare
 "'Why let pain your pleasure spoil,
 For want of Townsend's Magic Oil?'
 with life-sized bust of the author. and at another time, bottle of Townsend's Cholera Balm on legs, and very bland smile on it's cork, making the Can't come it gesture at the skeleton Death, who drops his scythe and hourglass and turns to flee. Ohi I'm stared at like the fat woman on the side show banner
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-18
Old Glory Ahse-1

T was quite amused at an occurrence at the Jefferson Saturday night" said Hardie Brown, when Colonel Applin sought to make use of the American flag, which should have been flying somewhere in the building, in one of his illustrations.
 After going through beautiful word picture of the love that every American holds in his heart for Old Glory, recit- ing one at a time the many acts of re- spect that he will show it, telling graph- lcally of the struggles that he will make In defense of it. with majestic sweep or his arm he turned to the rear of the stage where he expected to see it fly- Ing, and found it not Equal to the emergency, however, Colonel Applin dis played his sense of humor in the trying situation and saved the day by continu- Ing his illustration regardless of the ab- sence of the flag"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-18
THE PASSING OF "RExn

From the New York Sun.
 Rex the aged Prospect Park lion. better known throughout the United States and Europe as Bos;oclx's .Merr-
 mac'-the oldest lion in captivity-is dead. The former monarch of the forest
 was executed by lack O'Brien, veteran
 keeper of the zoo at Prospect Park. Tt was merciful act to kill him, '' OBrien told Park Commissioner liar.
 man. Rex was 20 years old. so weak from old age and disease that he could not stand and was not able to eat His
 legs and body were covered with sores. hated to kill him, but l knew l was putting the old chap out of misery We cremated his body, as his pelt was not worth saving.
 The average life of lion is about 15 or Is years. So poor old Rex had more , than the lions share of life. He was the last of group of 27 lions that Jack | Bonavita exhibited in the arena at Dreamland Park the night he was bitten so severely that he had to have his right
 arm amputated Poor Bonavita was
 killed by bear in Los Angeles last
 April when working for a motion picture
 show"
 | Shortly after the war began Bostock
 was ill France and offered his lions fol
 sale. Seven, one of which died from
 exposure. were shipped to this country
 Rex" among the number. The old lior
 was purchased about three years ago by
 w. Darby for his grandchildren and pre-.
 sented to the Prospect Park department the others were purchased by subscrip
 ton and also presented to the depart ment
 | Six lions, all in good condition, re-
 main under Keeper O'Brien's care
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-18
Oratory That Inspires
 and Compels Thought

6N HE people of Birmingham have
 H been noted for their patriotism. By their wonderful achievements in response to appeals from the govern ment they have won distinction far and wide. In every money-raising campaign they have "gone over the top," and they will continue to give a good account of themselves in war campaigns that are now being organ ized.
 But after listening to the inspiring speeches of Col. R. V. K. Applin of the British army and Charles Edward Russell, one of Americas greatest thinkers, the men and women of this community will be ready to make even greater sacrifices from now on than they have felt called upon to make in the past.
 All worthy citizens have been loyal to the core, but the loyalty of some of them has been more passive than active. Discipline kind of discip- line that leads to self-sacrifice-is needed on the part of every one who would help win the war.
 Those whe have realized the need of self-sacrifice from the beginning of the war will realize it still moro now that they have heard the mes- sage brought to us by Colonel Ap- plin; and those who have taken it for granted that we would win the war must experience an awakening from the impassioned words of both Colonel Applin and MT. Russell.
 The war can be won and it will be won, but it will not be until all the people are aflame with the love of freedom and righteousness. Orators will come and go, but it is safe to say that speeches so vitalizing as those of Saturday and yesterday will be the exceptions rather than the rule. They Ihave, indeed, compelled thought, and thought which will be translated into service.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-18
IN HOTEL HOBBIES
 AND ELSEWHERE
Obstacle to Peace


 While discussion of peace is more ac- tive than at any time since the war De- gan, the determination to push the struggle to the end was never more res olute than now,' said Henry Clews or New York. "The greatest obstacle to peace is probably the attitude of mill tary Germany. This is something to which civilization cannot and will not consent; so the war-weary titans must continue their wretched struggle until victory definitely decides which side IS the strongest. Happily, endurance, as well as reason, justice and liberty are on the side of the allies, whose unlimited resources and stout -heartedndess will eventually bring the war to success ful conclusion. As for peace proposals, it is plain that at the moment both sides are as yet too wide apart in their views tc admit of a settlement. The desire for peace is unquestionably still running strong in Germany, but for the time being it's voice is silenced by the mailed fist Possibly later events may give opportunity for a renewed out burst of demands for peace from Ger mali cit;zens; but at the moment this Is not feasible"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-18
* * * Speed Up the War Garden Campaion

@ PRING is almost upon us and |0 there should be lively speed
 ing up of the war garden campaign in Jefferson county. There will be some cold weather between now and April,
 but each "spell" will be of short dura- Ition.
 Weather prophets are inclined to think that we will have an unusually
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-18

l Alfred Moves, in the New York Times Steadfast as any soldier of the line He served his England, with the, inn
 minent death Poised at his heart; nor did the world rhe constant peril of, each burdened
 breath. EnslsnS, and, .s,S.s anS the h0n9r of England he Walking the strict path. with the old
 high pride Of those invincible knights who never N swefved One hairs breadth from the way until
 they died. Quietness he loved and books. and the
 grave beauty Of England's Helicon. whose eternal
 light Shines like lantern on that road of
 duty,
 piscerned of few, in this chaotic night. And his own pen, foretelling his release. Told us that he foreknew the end was peace. Soldier Of England. he shall live. un-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-18
TO CECIL SPRING-RICE

sleeping.
 Among his friends. with the old proud
 flag above; For even today. her honor is in his keep
 ing.
 He has joined the hosts that guard her
 with their love. They shine like stars. unnumbered,
 happy legions, In those high realms where all our
 darkness dies; He moves. with honor. in those loftier
 regions,
 Above this world of passion and of
 lies.' For so he called it. keeping his own high passion A silent flame before the true and good; Not fawning on the throng in this worlds fashion. To come and see what all might see who would. Soldier of England. perfect. gentle knight, The soul of Sidney welcomes you to-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-18
John r,x,or Gets Thril,

I vas at the Lyric Saturday afternoon when the lights went out, and I felt nightly like going out myself" said John H. Taylor commissioner of pub lie safety.
 Tt is no fun to sit in dark building surrounded by hundreds of people, not knowing when the bright lights will be turned on. I got some idea of what il must mean for playgoers in London or Paris when Zeppelins are reported over the city.
 Its curious how little inconvenience suggest and bring the war closer home to us Garfield's heatless days added to the wheatless and meatless ones gave us jolt, and now lightless nights may cause someone to stump their toe and get my friend, Commissioner Burruss, into trouble''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-18
Popular Institution
 Must Be Supported

TF HE community "sing" has come H to be known as one of Bir- mingham's most popular and helpful institutions. It has not only afforded innocent and refining entertainment for the many, but has done more to develop the true community spirit than any other civic factor here.
 The fact that the largest theatre in the city is filled to overflowing with an eager crowd Sunday after Sunday shows plainly what hold community music has upon this city. Robert Law renee, who started the community concerts last June, and who has been the directing force ever since, con- tributes his services without pay, but the professional musicians who con stitute the greater part of the or chestra, have to be remunerated, and when the pay of the stage crew is added, the total cost, exclusive of theatre rent, which was met by the city commission, amounts to about $100 week. As the orchestra is ab- solutely essential to the success of the concerts, public-spirited citizens gladly contributed to the fund re- quired to meet the necessary ex- penses.
 The indoor "sings" were announced 1t the beginning of the season for a series of thirty weeks, but Sol Caheen, who handles the committees finances now finds an empty treasury, and the statement was made yesterday that unless more money was raised al once the concerts would have to be discontinued But citizens who are interested in the unbuilding of Bir. mingham morally as we'll as physical ", and who are able to give, will moi allow the community music to stop When the condition of the finances o1
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-18
AsTRAL AUTHORSHIP

From the New York World.
 The suit of Mark Twain's daughter to restrain the publication of book alleged to have been composed by the author in the spirit world raises a novel question. If the work were mere ly a posthumous volume written while Mark Twain was in the flesh the copy right would naturally belong to his l heirs. In the case of astrally inspired literature, there can, of course, be no Qualification without the aid of the medium" and hence the problem or proprietary rights
 But inf fact does an authors fame after his death remain in the custo-
 dianship of his family as repects their right to protect it from prejudice: Given an attempt to trade on It oy foisting supostitious manuscript on the public or a manuscript preJudical
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-18

Se%AAy oPAAAlEss HI iOSCAS JOoAo 6oAoSAAo hereabouts have not been planted be- fore April, but much seeding should be done this year by the middle of March.
 The importance of increasing gar den production in order to help win the war cannot be overstated. If home gardeners do their best and Provi- dence is kind to the grain fields there will be no cry of food shortage next fall. It is up to every householder to plant garden and cultivate it in- tensively, but the sooner the cam paign gets under way the better will be the results.
 | It probably gives the crew of German submarine as much satisfaction to bonn bard an English coast town and scoot for cover as it does small boy to smash the window of crusty old gentleman who confiscated the youngsters ball and bat.
 According to his published pictures, the new republican chairman is melancholy looking individual with a mouth that droops at the corners That is usually the way republicans look during demo- cratic administration. af @ x 1 Since Dr. Garfield tells us that the five- day shutdown of factories and heatless Mondays accomplished the desired re- suits, we should worry about the wear and tear on our pocketbooks. I $ # E 1 It will be hard for incendiaries to burn another school building in Birming- ham, Lut the vigilance of watchmen now will not restore the three hand some structures lost. l A contemporary tells of a man who was pallbearer at so many funerals that pussyfooting became second nature with i him. But how about shedding the fur tive tear?
 Now that the plumbers have caught up with their work. we are ready for another freeze to come along and put our water pipes out of commission. < * * l It is safe to assume that the maiden who received thrift stamps instead of valentine felt bit disappointed in the course true love was taking. l Putting ground glass in candy to poison American soldiers is just one of the ways German plotters have of showing what practical jokers they are. l a * 4 l Can you blame Austria for leaving Ger many to deal sngle-handed with the Russian situation? It's Germany's fault that the fat is in the fire. | ] In the meantime we are still waiting | for somebody to write a war song for American troops to sing when they march through Berlin. # x. F The colored brother who found vac- cine point on the street and picked his teeth with it became later on sadder but wiser man.
 l * * l Atlanta's latest blackmailing case Is giclng the town a great deal of adver- Using, which must be gratifying to all civic boosters.
 l The Russian situation does not look encouraging for Germany. The allies are expected to shed no tears over that. l x * !: | For the time being Lloyd George seems to have the opposition we'll in hand. 1 * as * 1 The colonel is getting well, but of course he doesn't yet feel "bully."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-18
CoMICAL KINGS
From the Nashville Banner.

FTOm tne NdSHVIIIe bHHHtr.
 King George of England functioned his address from the throne" quite becomingly. How proud a King must feel when going through such a cere- monial. The speech is always written for him under the prime minister's di- rection. All he has to do Is to read it and try to look the part. In the final analysis aren't Kings rather funny, anyway?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-18
WORTH TRYING
From the Washington Star.

From the Washington Star Vice President Marshall has been quoted as saying that he believed tho country would be better off without elections this year. Having tried about every other kind of Tess" day. an electionless election day might be in
 teresttng.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-18

BEGINNING THE DAY-Back of the blue sky Thou art, and behind the star; beneath the flower and within the sea. The heavens declare Thee and the earth speaks Thy name. But we meet Thee most in the hearts of men, throbbinG and painting to be heard. If we fail Thee, God, what couldst Thou be but disconsolate and alones Amen.-H. N. E.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-18
HIGH AND LOW VISIBILITY

, ganda efforts among our southern neigh bors of Mexico and Colombia would seem to indicate that such at least Is the German assumption. Nothing less than an assumption of visibility low to utter oblitera tion would account for the publication in El Nuevo Tiempo, a Colombian newspaper, of that prepos- terous yarn about the Japanese insult to the United States in the Panama ca nal
 A Japanese vessel Accompanied by two frigates,'' this fable asserts entered the canal refusing to fly other than the Colombian flag of port entry on the ground that the territory was Colombian
 and not United States; that still de- flying Uncle Sam, coal was demanded and obtained, and that we did not 'an- swer the outrage and defiance to the
 nation" but swallowed both and delivered the coal.
 | Accompanying the yarn is the state-
 ment that such stories ara accepted and believed and are doing untold damage to the United States and the allies" 1 Admitting low visibility or no visibility 1 in Colombia, there surely is a zone even l there wherein lies can be sufficient in-
 suit to Colombian intelligence.