davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-08-25
Pilfering as a Fine Art

Edwin A. Goewey, in Leslie's.
 Baserunning and the stealing of bases today constitute one of the most inter- esting features of the nations favorte sport Probably 1t is a toss-up with the average fan whether he would rather see clever sack pifering or long-distance hit ting, hut the closer students of the game usually prefer the former, because of the unusual amount of skill required to perform the feat successfully in any Fthing like majority of attempts.
 Ask any rooter to name the greatest hitters of recent years and he will re- ply, correctly and unhesitatingly, Cobb, Wagner, Lajoie, Keeler, Crawford and Speaker But of these, which one has long been considered the greatest man on the bases. the king of the paths and the most daring and successful of runmakers? Ty Cobb, the Georgia Peach" is the correct answer
 Not only has Cobb hit better than 30o for the last F years, slammed the pellet for well over 400 in 1911 and 1912, led all the batsmen in the country time after time as the seasons sticking king but also in six separate years he topped the American league in the number of bases stolen and in five of these years he led the sack purloiners of both major leagues Cobb is wonder as a hitter 
 that the fans admire him most, for he is daring, clever and fearless. and his efforts possess all of the elements oi the spectacular. There have been other sensational base-stealers in modern base ball, including Milan, Collins, Chase, Carey Bescher and Wagner, but none oi these ever enjoyed a vogue equal to that of Cobb, who will go down in base ball history as the player who perfected the hook and the fallaway and who goes into the bases equally well from either side
 Stovey of the old Athletics of the American association holds the big league record with 156 steals in 1888 Cobb established the modern record in 1915. when he stole 96 bases. Despite the great difference in these figures, base running has advanced and not deterior- atod and. remarkable runner as Stovey undoubtedly was, had he operated under the existing rules it is doubtful if he would have been able to pilfer even 5t sacks, the number with which Carey won the National league base-running cham pionship in 1915, the lowest championship figures ever recorded. Tn 1871, in an ar ticle on scoring, the words "stolen base were used for the first time. Previous to that made" had been used.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-08-25
DOLL, ,Y-ETTES
One Art in Life worth studying is that of Taking Nobody too-Seriously!

cutor or district attorney, whose duty permits TO discrimination between child prisoner and one of maturity
 I venture to say that to the mother who is not familiar-with the law and it's technicalities, it would seem impos- sible that a 16-year-o old boy of good heredity and decent bringing up could find himself in the situation of Paul Chapman Looking at Paul Chapmaus mother and talking to her for 10 min- utes leaves one wondering still moro at the enigma of the law.
 But since the law has thus enmesheG the son of this unquestionably refined intelligent and affectionate mother. is is clear that a similar tragedy can envelope any mothers boy at any mo- ment.
 Especially can it happen where the mother isAa widow, obliged to work away from home each day for her own and her boys support. as Mrs Chap man did for 13 years
 When the 12 jurymen who found the verdict of first degree murd er against Paul Chapman were asked hoy they brought themselves to so sterS 8 view. they replied to the effect that there was no sentiment in law and that the judges charge 10 them made their course quite plain.
 No' sentiment in law. Those of Us who have sat through the court pro- ceedings in notorious cases where women were on trial for their lives know differently! We have seen law yers and jurors slosh round to the knees in sentimentality.
 We have written sob stories by Inc ream about the pathetic innocence of the accused, the temptation the goad- ings the weaknesses that Justified the crime. And deeply-affected public has wept over them and cried, Yes. poor dear, she may have done wrong. but she didn't realize if! She is only a woman after ali!"
 Well- what about this 15-year-oll boy who did wrong2 Is it to be pre- sumed that he ''realized it?' Is he nof 'iust a boy after all?' If he is killed by electricity in the death house a Sing Sing, will it deter other boys iron getting in with gangs and doing mis-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-08-25
Danger of Knowledge

From the Los Angeles Times
 Arthur Hadley, president of Yale uni- versity, is an honored authority of many subjects, but he declines to include among them dislocated jaws. Thereby hangs this tale.
 The educator was sharing his state room on Fall River. boat with pleas ant gentleman who had otherwise slept on cot in the open cabin. when, well along towards morning. he heard, com ing from the upper berth, sounds of gazing and gargling and moaning. Jumping up and switching on the light he say his acquaintance avs suffering greatly. His chin was on his breast, lis mouth rigidly open. his eyes tight closed and precipitation on his forehead.
 .Be calm. sir cried MT. Hadley. 1T know just what to do."
 Wrapping towel around his thumbs to save them from the release, he clam bered mp beside the man, knelt by his shoulders, began to work the jaw into it's place-and then spent the rest of the night trying to explain himself. For it was only case of nightmare
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-08-25

chief that occasionally ends in trasc-
 dy?i Would it not be better to spend
 the money used in electrocuting chill
 dren to provide decent play-places for
 them, under wholesome leadership2
 If 1t serves the pest interests of sS-
 ciety to permit women murderers to go
 free because they are women. would it
 not be as safe to spare the lives If
 derelict boys because they are boys The world is full of peoplNwho stand
 ready to educate and eelp them to
 worthy citizenship if their own moth
 CTS can't. But generally their mothers
 can, once they are awakened and
 warned. Death cannot, that's certain,
 An interesting light is thrown upon
 the workings of jurors minds by the
 fact that these F men who so zeal ouSly followed the dictates of the law as propounded by the bench all sub- quently set their names to petition
 for the pardon of the convicted boy. Does it seem to you, mothers that if more sentiment were used in the fram- ing of laws. less sentimentality would be used in the administration of them. Since lou are now voters as well as mothers, your protests against the in- justice of existing laws will be heard and needed
 The injustice, for instance, of a law which is made to apply alike to the Slii.u anu " the iuli-SFNWh man A law which, while denying the voting priv lcge to. person under q on the as- sumption that he is immature in under | standing and judgment, wreals upon him | for crime the full punishment that is meted to the mature malefactor.
 To protest against this injustice and Co bespoak the interest of mothers o save Paul Chapman from electroeution, l 2 meeting of the Legislative league oi New York was called recently at thd | Hotel Astor.
 | An amendment of the law which | makes possible the execution of chidran l vas formulated and voted upon at this | meeting and petition framed and ad- 1 tressed under many signatures to Coz
 Hrnor Whitman, asking pardon for Paul | PauPs mother was present-a slender | we'll gowned woman still in her thirties l with a pale, sensitive face, soft brown
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-08-25
DOLLY
All of Life is matter of Bossng; you've either got to BOSS or be BOSSEDi

after she had read Mrs. Beckley's story.
 and asked him what aid she could eiVs in the matter He forthwith sent her the following petition to be signed, with the suggestion that she get as many people interested in the case as she cou'u -fill out the blanks, to be sent to Gov ernor Whitman, and return them, which Mrs Ftlenwider did at once; she sem in several rages of names, put the law, 1 yer wrote back that ne must nave s more. hence Mrs. Fulenwider felt taat 1 if throueh tfe medium of the press shs could uIace the case of the young boy sentenced to his doom before the puplle I that she might secure many names "a. l the petition that otherwise she eouidn ] get.
 The petition reads thus;
 I .IIon Charles s. Whitman, governor CT the State of New York
 1 we. the undersigned, all being of fuil 1 age and citizens of the state of Ala I bama, residing at the places appearing opposite our respective names, do here l by petition your excellency with refer ence to Paul Chapman. convicted of mus-
 der in the first degree in the New York supreme court Kings county, February 1 19, 1918, and sentenced to death, so that | he may be (a) pardoned; or (b) his sen~ | tence be commuted and he be placed in Ia reform school until he is 21 years of age
 We do not believe that a boy of the age of Paul Chapman, should under any | circumstances, be put to death, and we
 believe that his execution is antagonistic
 to the enlightened spirit and sentiment of the best citizens of our commonwealth, and that his execution would be stapd- | ing blot and disgrace upon the admin I iistration of our criminal law 1 Accompanying the petition is the fol- ! flowing letter from MT Wood, the lawyer 1 in the case:
 Mrs. A L. Fulenwider, Birmingham, l Ala.
 | Dear Madam: As requested, I enclose petitions in the Paul Chapman case, and trust you will be successful in obtain ling a great many signatures Any CO., operation you may De able to give US l in the obtaining of signatures will be
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-08-25
Li'l Honey, DIVORCE is de Consolation Prize in de Lottery uy Marriage. Yassum.

Sing Sing prison Paurs mother prays you to help her in her effort to have her .aa released.
 Mothers in general may not be so much concerned with specific details of the case with the existence of cer- tain prehistoric laws which cumber the statute books of this sovereign state defying time and progress and the spirit of present day humanity.
 How many mothers know, for il- stance, that to be concerned in a plot for burglary in which a murder is committed makes a person chargeaple with murder in the first degree. 90 matter how remote his connection with the actual crime, or whether the kill ing was intentional or not?
 How many mothers know that there is nothing in the laws of New York to prevent the execution of any child over seven years of age if sufficient evil dence is brought to show the child knew the nature of his act and that it was wrong?
 How many mothers stop to realize the necessity of having a public de- fender in cases where minors are charged with capital crimes to offset the onslaughts of the public prose-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-08-25
Landing of Americans

American Port in Western France July
 20- Correspondence of the Associated
 Press. )-An American armada of l3
 great transports, bringing S6.0oo fighting
 men to France, had come quietly nso
 port during the night and the landing
 of this little army was soon to begin Going on board the transports the Associated Press correspondent had an opportunity to see the equipment for this huge undertaking. and how the men had lived and fared on their trip across. IL was a long climb up the rope ladder to the deck of a former Ward liner, rebuilt
 as transport Soldiers packed the decks and were thick as flies in every cabin, hatch and between decks, down
 to the very bowels of the ship. The
 spacious promenade deck had disap-
 peared, and and in it's place were long lines ofN standees," or metal hammocks for the fnen sleep in the open on deck Us well as between decks
 The men looked well, and the report from the sick bay showed only six cases of sickness out of 5000 men aboard, a | very good showing, said the doctor. In
 the mess hall relief of men were talk ing their breakfast. There was no sit ting down at table. The men stood at 1 high troughs. very clean and practical, i each man with his own tin plate, knife, | folk and spoon, tossing off with relish 1 the hot coffee and good white bread ana butter. We tasted this bread so different l it revelation-real bread, so different
 from the potato bread we are used to as war diet. And real butter, luxury | for soldiers onlY which no one be- grudged them.
 l Between decks tiny blue lights were burning to let the men see their way
 about with some degree of freedom.
 These are the only lights aboard. no lights on deck of any kind to avoid
 danger of fire. At night the men felt ! their way about.
 ALL IS CLEANLINESS l The living quarters between decks were lscrupulously clean, and even after 10 days of this crowded life afloat, there Twas not trace of odor. the floors were scrubbed and there was no litter about. | It would have cheered the heart of an | exacting housekeeper.
 l The admiral says 1t is the cleanest I transport afloat," said the naval officer, with as much pride in the record as one l in markmanshu.
 l long porcelain wash troughs. Everything 1 showed the spick-an-span neatness of
 the efficient naval management. In the
 kitchen galley savory dishes were being prapared, and in the breadmalSng plant 1 the long line of ovens were turning out l stacks of white bread for these 5000 1 hearty eaters. This was meatless day. | for civilians, but one of the cooks offered us taste of the steamins meat 1 curry, which would have done credit
 to a Paris chef.
 | An exciting event of the trip was
 learned as we passed along. Most of
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-08-25
THE BOOK SHELF
Rx THE BIRLIoPHILE

stance Garnett's new series of Chekho' tales. contains nine stories dealing with the life of the educated class in Russia It is a thoroughly interesting collection, exhibiting Chekhov's mastery of char acter analysis and understanding of the quality of suspense. At the same tune. ilSaddition to the entertainment and in terest afforded by the volume, it gives new insight into phases of Russian life with which few Russian writers have dealt.
 THE WITCH AND OTHER STORIES's By Anton Chekhov The Macmillan
 company, publishers, New York city.
 "Chekhov is indispensable to our un- derstanding of the psychology of the great people that has introduced into the present world situation, so tragic, so complex, so disturbing, so tragic, and so beautiful Chekhov is the faith- fnl reporter, unerrlng, intuitive, direct. He never bears false witness. The es- sence of his art lies in fine restraint, an avoidance of; the sensat ational and spectacular. His reticence reveals the elusive and lights up the eniS- matic And what a keen, voracioGs observer he was Endless is the pro- cession of types that passes through his pages--the whole world of Rus sians of his day; country gentlemen. chinovniks, waitresses, ladies of fash ion, shop girls, town physicians, Zem- stvo doctors, innkeepers, peasants. herdsmen, soldiers. tradesmen, every type of the intelligentsia, children men and women of every class and occupation. Chekhov describes them all with a pen that knows no bias.
 Ut is only necessary to compare Mrs. Garnetts translations with that of others to realize how wonderfully well she performs her task"
 "A NATION AT BAY"
 By Ruth $. Farnum. The Bobbs Mer-
 Till company, publishers. Indianap-
 oils.
 The crown prince, Alexander of Serbia, has decorated personally Mrs. Charles H. Farnum (Sergt Ruth Far num). of New York, with the order of St. Sava for her services in Serbian relief work. Mrs Farnum was the first woman of any nationality to en- ter reconquered Serbian territory
 In the war with Bulgaria Mrs. Far mum was awarded the medal of tho
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-08-25

from technical phrases and confusing references. The style is lively and invit- inglX readable. It is book to be read and pondered. Thoughtful people every where will welcome this most original and Illuminating contribution to rho literature of the new order
 Democracy Made Safe is book for all time. If deals principally with truth of a trarscendent and permanent nature. Clearly in advance of accepted social tae- ories it anticipates society in which democracy can safely thrive-free from the artificial limitations of decadent capitalism. This volume belongs to the pioneer order.
 OTHER BOOKS RECEIvED
 (REVIEWS LATER,)
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-08-25

The southernmost permanently inhab- ited spot in the world is Laurie Island. in the South Orkneys. and it's sole in- habtants are the party Of meterologists who mtaintain station there for the the meteoroiogic service of Argentina. The Argentine government sent out
 new staff last February. as usual. on
 naval vessel to relieve the observers, whose term of service in this desoate spot lasts one year. From time to time there has been talk Of installing wire less station at Laurie Island, but still the place is cut off from all communication with the rest of the world.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-08-25

Order of the Serbian Red Cross for her work in the hospitals.
 She also received the decoration of the Order of Kessovo-which is given only for personal services to the wounded in battle.
 For what Sergt Ruth s. Farnum has done, Gen. Michael Rashitch, member of the Serbian commission to the Uni ted States, comnends her highly inO letter to this wonderful woman whose story of "A Nation at Bay is so graph ically told in her book
 Tine Secretary of War has given you the rank of honoary sergeant and you are informed that you will receive for nal information of this distinct tion which has been bestowed upon you.
 have personally heard a great deal about your interest in the Serbian army and here in America I have heard 1f your indefatigable work for the Serbian Ffelief committee in helping them to carry on their noble undertaking as suc- cessfully as possible. The high Serbian orders which adorn your breast are all proofs of the great services which yoI have rendered to Serbia.
 As it will give you pleasure to have permission to wear the uniform of the Serbian army after my personal right which possess according to our law bestow upon you this permission, and [ also take upon myself the responsible .ty of getting for you a confirmation Of these things from our secretary of war.
 THE WIRE DEVILS" By Frank L. Packard. George H. Doran
 company, publishers, New York city.
 They were experts in telegraphy-mas- ters of the art of cipher codes.
 With every avenue of escape watched and every method of detection practiced The wire devils moved from one as- founding exploit to another, baffling se- cret service men, government agents and detectives.
 ~ 'rhe Hawk indomitable, courageous, a marvel of expert skill, foiled the at temupts of the wire devils, but only added to the confusion and consternation of the investigators.
 Mystery and suspense are maintained to the very end. The book is a 100 per cent adventure tale.
 "WooDCRAFT GIRLS IN THE CITY" By Lillian Elizabeth Roy. Illustrated
 from photographs. George H. Doran
 company. publishers. New York city.
 The author has made this woodcraft field her own. Thoroughly familiar with the ideals and practice of the Woodcrait league and in some sense spokesman for it's young folks, she has woven very delightful tales of fun, adventure, and outdoor prowess into these very popular stories.
 The present story is a companion book to "Woodcraft Girls at Camp and Little Woodcrafters Book" The char acters completing the circle of big lodge Sbovs and girls here for the first time are brought to know one another and their young reader friends
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-08-25

looked forward anxiously to getting into
 the fighting front for there was one
 common impulse running through them
 all as shown by their letters home-t that
 there was big job ahead which had to
 be done, and they wished to do it and
 have it done with it so as to return home
 As we came ashore two American air pane sections were being debarkcd. with 1 tteir Liberty motors and all the para | phernalia of flight, These arrivals, long I deferred, but now corning strong and | fast, were almost as cheering as the ar | rival of troops. and together they sig
 naled that vital part in men and ma chimes that America would soon be talk | ing in the critical stage of the great con- | flict.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-08-25

the voyage had been uneventful. But, nearing this side, lookout had signale1 the appearance of a perscope. Soon the deck guns got into action, and two depth charges were dropped over the spot where the periscope was last seen. But there was no further sign of hostile craft. lf the depth charges took effect they left no trace for there was no wreck age on the water. Very soon the incl dent had passed and some of the ships did not even know anything unusual had occurred.
 THE DEPTH CHARGE
 On the upper deck we saw the dead ly depth charges and the long toboggan slide along which they are started on their errand. The charges were in metal cylinders, the size of cask, two on each side ready to drop over.
 Besides these the gunnery officer was proud of the possession of guns made 1 for use on battleships, but mounted here on deck.
 They will out-shoot any submarine l, afloat,' said the officer batting his big weapons as though they were pets. In the officers mess hall one of the officers summed up the results of the trip. Most of the men, he said, were from the west, with a large number of farmer boNs who had never been on the water before. This was a great experi- ence, great adventure, and they were eager for 1t. There was little sea sick ! ness after the first few days. The men
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-08-25


 remain, very truly yours.
 MATTHEW W. WOOD
 The object Mrs Fuleuwider has in mind regarding the pathetic case ot Paui Chapman has to do of course, with wnetAer mothers in this part of the country are interested in laws which con- demn to death child of I6 sufficiently to get enough names to present to Gov ernor Whitman in order that the child may be pardoned; to interest mothers Tn the question of a law which. while denying the voting privilege to a persoa under 2l years Of age on the assumption that he IS immature in understanding and Judgment, wreaks upon him for a crime the full punishment that is meted to the mature malefactor.
 If you are at all interested in such conditions and believe that ciemenov should be shown the l6-year-old culpr | up in Sing Sing, Mrs. FTuienwider would like to have your signature to the pe.i- tion, and it is almost inconceivaOle how any mother anywhere who has boz could be d!sinterested in such case.
 Read the story Zoo eBeckley wrote which attracted the attention of Mrs. Fuien- wider and thousands of others, not only in New York city where the story ap- peared in one of the big dailies, but n all parts Of the United States. Mrs. Becidey received letters from mothers. tender hearted, sympathetic mothers who wanted to hep in the release of the boy from his dreadful fate and give him ;i fighting chance in life.
 Read Zoo Beckleys story--here it is:
 Mothers Of boys who are far away; mothers f little boys who don't know the world yet; and of big boys who perhaps know it too well: mothers who know their boys are safe; and those who are heavy taarted because they oo not know; mothers in spirit, who have nc cf1ildreA of Il cir own but love all chn- dren; ask you to think for a moment of .Losise Chapman, whose only son, Paul, aged Is, is in the deathhouse at
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-08-25
Owns a Flivver

From the Boston Transcript
 What kind of an engine have you ir your car?s
 "A donkey engine. I guess. It's awfuly stubborn
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-08-25

Lady Kathleen Scott. widow of Capt. K, r. Scott, who lost his life in his ef- fort to discover the south pole, is doing her bit by acting as secretary to the ministry of pensions in England.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-08-25

The local trades council has made 3 strong protest against the proposal to employ women as street car drivers in n West Midland fEngland) district
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-08-25

greatly appreciated both by Mrs. Chan man, the boys mother, and myself Thanking you for your assistance, remain, very truly yours.
 MATTHEW W. WOOD.7