davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-21
ALASKA--GARDEN OFTHEWORLD

duces enormous crops of berries having kind that will provide food for live stock and replenish the nitrogen of air and soil, and many other wonderful things. These were fundamental needs-facts acc complished.
 ''The agricultural possibilities of Alas ka are as great he said, "as all the min erals in the ground. and all that have been taken out, put together and multi piled.
 This is big statement I know, but, take a mining claim! There may be million in It. With every thousands taken out. you diminish it's value.... Eventually it is exhausted. Take 20, or 100. or any number of acres of tlila- ble land, and start cultivation. For hundreds of generations 1t will produce it's quota for the human race. China has been farmed for thousands of years and still supports from the soiI 450, ,0Oo people. Thesame. will be true of Alaska.
 T have had charge of an agricultural experiment station at Rampant, in lati- tude 65-3o, degree south of the Arctic circle. There during harvest time have seen the grain in the shock, and the men. and self binders at work in the glow of the midnight sun. Millions of acres can be made exactly like that. One hundred thousand square miles can be used for agricultural purposes. and half. or 50,0o0 square miles. can be cleared for tillage. for grain growing, for homes. !.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-21
Charles Philip Norton, in Leslie-s.

Charles Philip Norton, in Leslie's.
 N LASKA can be made the agricul- A\ tural miracle of the world. Tbs announcement Is made by Prof. |C. c. Georgeson, 20 years in Alaska, in charge of the government farm experi- ment stations, who came out in Decem- Der last and brought proofs of his asser- tion.
 Georgeson Is a great explorer, a pro- found scholar and student He says that what he knows Is trivial in compar- ison with the secrets that nature is ready to disclose to mankind He went to Alaska many years ago to study it's agricultural possibilities. He scorned op- portunities for wealth. He said he was there to discover resources of far greater value than gold. By painstaking efforts through several years he proved that many kinds of food plants would grow In the interior Then he adopted for his lifework the task of developing hardy grains and plants that would mature perfectly, with absolute certainty, yield abundantly and survive the cold. His just before Christmas and announced that Alaska will produce food, fuel and metals for a population of many mill lions; that he has perfected hybrid wheat, oats and barley that will grow to perfection and yield abundant crops throughout an area of 50,0o0 square miles; a strawberry plant that survives the winters without protection and pro-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-21
LUKE M,LuKr SAYS

Isn't it funny that the roughneck
 who doesn't know anything about germs and cares less is always healthy. while the man who worries about germs and takes all sores of precau-
 tions is always laid up with some thing?
 The reason why a woman is so wor- ried over what the neighbors think of her is because she doesn't care four
 hoots in Halifax what her husband thinks of her.
 There are all sorts of folks in the world including the man who worries over how the world Is going to man. age to get on after he leaves it. A successful man isn't one who never makes mistakes. He is one who learns something every time he makes a mistake.
 If a girl can't attract attention to her pretty legs in any other way she will keep on pretending to yank her skirt down over her ankles every time she sits down.
 A man is such a mean cuss that it l makes him feel good to hear that the husband of the girl who turned him down gives her good beating every day
 l As a systematic worrier we will back the mother of five or six children against anything in the world. When they are in the house she is worried
 until she gets them out, and when they are out of the house she is wor- ried until they get back in again. All of the unhappy marriages do not result in divorces. A lot of couples settle down to an endurance contest. rather than have the scandal and pub licity that goes with divorce, The reason why henpecksd hus- ib band is meek and abedient is because lit doesn't do rabbit any good 10 have a mean disposition.
 About this time of year a. lot of
 women are compelled to take stn old 1 s straw hat. sew $456 worth os ding
 bats on it, and sport a new lii that 1 looks lilse 30 cents.
 You may not beifsi <. But it hurts
 corn {, ..is fed girl girl just jus, much so fall Why is 1t that an old junk man usually has horse that looks tooamuch
 like the load it is hauling?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-21

of an expert librarian who has gone
 abroad for that purpose. Chaplains. Y.
 M. c. A. and K. of c. secretaries
 and officers stationed at the smaller
 camps are being sent books for dis |tribution among soldiers. The Amer ican people have subscribed $1,7O0,- O00, including grants for buildings. Part of this money will be used in buying hundreds of thousands of books that cannot be obtained as gifts and in subscribing for periodicals.
 It is estimated that half million books are still needed for men in the 34 large camps. Half a million more will be required for military forts, posts and small camps, naval sta tions and vessels, and marine corps training stations and barracks. There is also a demand for an unlimited SUD- ply of books for men on transports and those overseas. Already more than 70O,O0 books are being used by our soldiers.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-21
Uncle Sam Puts
 Dodgers On Notice

MHO honest man liable for the in
 \ come tax or none in the class of those required to make returns to the collector of internal revenue would think of evading the law if he could; and no man of true patriotism will grudge the money that he or his bus |iness concern pays to the government to aid in the conduct of the war. But tax slackers there be, just as there are abie-bodied men of military age who try to keep out of the army, 1.-The man drafted for the colors who
 would fabricate reasons for his Lx- emption, deserves to be shot. But lit is not always easy to apprehend these army slackers or prove their
 guilt. Fortunately there are not many iof them.
 i, But the tax stacker will be caught
 and prosecuted to the full extent of
 the law. Commissioner Daniel c.
 Roper of the internal revenue bureau
 has put the slackers on notice. If they
 do not make returns by April l, they
 will be dealt with relentlessly
 Those who are arrested will come to 1 a realization of the fact that honesty lis not only virtue in itself, but that lit lis the best policy"
 Now that the commissioner has spoken, it is hoped there will be few indeed who will invite prosecution.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-21

A Missouri justice, summoned to a
 hotel to perform a marriage ceremony,
 hired a taxicab for which he paid sQ.51
 The happy bridegroom handed him a
 silver dollar and to make matters worse
 it does not even appear that he got a
 chance to kiss the bride.
 The time Is coming when the Prus- sian war lords will have to make good their promises to the German people or acknowledge failure. When that time comes the House of Hohenzollern will tumble. A former millionaire was tried in Ten nessee on a charge of illicit distilllng. He was probably trying to get his money back and chose the quickest way to do it in dry state.
 # < *
 The job of being a policeman in the wilds of Chicago is no sinecure. Rec ords show that 60 policemen were shot down during the past four years while on duty.
 The pugilist who protests that he Kaiser will gain a respectful hearing after he lands on the soil of France. x x # Secretary Baker absorbs more worth while information in France in single day than he could absorb in a month by sitting at his desk In Washington. # # # The flourishing soft drink business In the south assures plenty of ammunition for baseball fans in the form of empty bottles to hurl at the umpires. # x $ What's become of the old-rashioned restaurant man who used to give doughnut with a cup of coffee, all for the price of nickel? * a # Beaten back, but refusing to acknowl edge defeat, the embattled drys of New York state are preparing to launch a new offensive. # # R | It is a pleasure these days to read an I interview with Henry Ford, erstwhile pacifist. it's so full of pep and pug nacity.
 # # # Beauty Hints and books on "The Care of the Family Goldfish" will not be acceptable gifts for soldiers. # x < Arthur Guy Empey, who went lover the top." fled ingloriously when Pitts burg newspaper attacked him. # x # ] Intentionally or otherwise, when Theda Bara "vamps" she teaches the conservation of clothes. # E s. l, And not so very long ago Siberia was one of the quietest spots on the map j: # # l At this time O year the siren song Of the bungalow man is hard to resist.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-21
X SONG OF PARADIsE

 Isobel w. Hutchison. in the westmin- ster Gazette. I'm an auld body moo, an din. No fit for muckle mair Than juist tae sit an mind the fire An watch the glory there Burn doom an gather on the ribs An ia into the pan. An aye think it's like the spark That's in the breist O man. - The minister comes ben at whiles An talks tae me O God. st, He's a well-meanin' canty lad. An yet canna haud WI a he says. There's some that's gans ' (The Lord forgie!) I tell Ye had liefter see again
 Than even God Himsel. And yet there's some I'm sweir tae@
 think . I'll come across up there. My guid-sister was ane O these, Tn spite O a her care aye keep hopin' (though it's wrang,)ts If she's got slippin' ben They'll let me oot anfther way An doom the stairsagain. | They say there's mony mansions there: <Aa' WcOA uopo II meant, wadna like tae find masel Shut up wi a. I've kent! .@ I'm no for harps or golden croons. I've tried tae dae my best. An sype I've trusted Paradise .s Wad be place O rest.
  So whiles at nicht watch the ire An in the ashes fa' think see the wee cot hoose Where a the bairns were sma'. The water lippins on the shore. The kirk upon the risc,- I dinpa want mansion, Lord.A <. WI that Cor, RaxadtsofSsz ..
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-21
ADRIF'T WITH THE TIMES
wHAr ELsE COULD HE poY

WHAT ELSE COULD HE nOe Said the young woman who spends q great deal of time imagining what might happen, Suppose fierce lion ap- preached me from one direction. a tiger from another, and there was a ratt.e- snake short distance away, coiling to strike, what would you do?" Dear mer exclaimed the young man who calls frequently. If there were a tall tree in the vicinity, I would cer- tainly assist you to climb it.p
 IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY. 50 you are from Petrograd?v "Yes" @ How Is the situation there?n My friend. I left Petrograd more than six weeks ago. How can tell you what the situation is when it changes about : every two hours?" aF
 A MOOT SUBJECT. s 'Is chivalry dead?" Not quite"
 .,No?'' T have hopes of it's ultimate survival as long as men continue to wrangle over whether or not they should remove their hats in elevators when ladies are pres- ent"
 HOORAYi
 Each time a ship
 Glides to the sea
 We've struck blow
 For liberty.
 Birmingham Age-iIerald. And every time
 We gaff Hun You bet we've struck
 Another one.
 Macon Telegraph.
 PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-21
GERMANY AS A NE1GHBoR

By Prof. R. Poliakoff of Moscow.
 "The Russian commercial treaty of 1904 was forced upon Russia during before Russia the dilemma either to conclude with her a treaty selfshiy devised by Germany or see Germany mobilize her armies against Russia s western frontier while Russia was busy with Japan, the Russian govern tive. The treaty of 1904 turned out to be so detrimental to Russia's interests that the question whether Russia Was to continue to be a German colony was repeatedly raised in Russian economic literature. Germany year in and year out flooded Russia with all kinds Of manufactured goods. The result of this de luge of German products proved to be most disastrous. Russia was far from being content with her part as a German economic colony The terms of the commercial treaty of 1904 were to expire in 1917, and as early as 1913 Russia began to prepare for its re- vision. It was clear enough what the result of such a revision would be. The economic enslavement of Russia by Germany was to be abolished. Ger many. of course. was we'll informed about it all. Who knows whether those statements from Russian sources are not correct which assert that Ger many was gradually preparing for war and finally grasped the opportunity of the murder of the Austrian arch- duke to declare war upon Russia and force her to sign a new commercial treaty simultaneously with the treaty of peace?'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-21
Government s Final
 Report on Cotton


 J of the seasons ginning show ing a total production in 1917 of Ill., 2S5, 5,999 bales, exclusive of linters, furnishes another illustration of the |dependableness of the governments system of crop reporting.
 Early estimates last fall indicated crop of more than 12.000,000 bales, but a heavy killing frost in October cut those figures by million bales,
 In December the department of ag- riculture estimated the production at
 approximately 100000 bales: Texas, with it's vast cotton acreage,
 has long led in production, and Geor-
 gia has come next. Mississippi used
 to have third place, but Alabama got
 ahead of it and retained third place for several years, ginning about one tenth of the entire crop of the south.
 It became familiar saying, As certain the extent of the Alabama crop, multiply it by 10, and the result will indicate the south's total produc- tion"
 But with the inauguration of the crop diversification movement, it was found that increased food production and a little less cotton was cconomi- cally advantageous to the farmer. The sharp decrease in cotton in this state did not occur, however, until the boil weevil began it's ravages and the fertilizer supply was cut off. The production in 1916-the flood year was small, and again small in 1917, when, according to the ginning report, lit was only 517,279 bales; but the high prices obtained by those farmers who grew cotton more than made up for any deficiency in yield.
 Cotton stasticians agree, as rule, that there will be an imperative de- mand for a crop of not less than 14,- 100000 bales this year. Alabama will increase it's planting somewhat, but merchants, bankers and progressive farmers are of the opinion that it will Ipay better in the end, to say nothing lof present war needs, for agricultural interests to stick closely to diversifi- cation as fixed policy.
 One million bales of cotton would not be too much for Alabama to grow this year, but O0,0OO or 9OO,O0O bales will probably be close to the mark. Among the cotton states, Arkansas, with a production of 973,3 1899 bales, has come forward to take third place. Oklahoma is slightly ahead of Missis- sippi, and therefore ranks fourth. Just how prices will run when 1918 ginning begins, is problematical, of course, but there is every promise of a high level.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-21
WAR NEWS IN RUSSIA

From the Macon News.
 returned traveller was informed in Russia. by the moujiks, that Mexico had revolted from the United States. But as he was also told that this country be< longed to France, there is no special rea-, son why we should worry over the rsss: volt. aN :
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-21
SHOPPING

From the Vancouver (B. CD Province.
 A deaf old lady Of obvious Scotch lin- cage entered store to do some shcp- ping. Whats the price of this si.k?" she asked of the young shopman.
 Seven shillings," was the reply.
 Seventeen shilings!'' she exclaimed "Tll give you thirteen"
 "Only seven shillings. ma'am, Is the price of the sIllk.' replied the honest shopman.
 "Oh, seven shillings, rejoined the lady sharply. Well I'll give you five"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-21
F1o,very Speeches

T was over at Camp Mcclellan orl Sunday said T. J. Crittenden, chalr- man of the ''four-minute men," "and heard good story on Father o'Galla- gher. It seems he was overheard mak- ing some very complimentary remarks about General Morton to some friends down on Noble street. It reached the ears of the commanding general, who sent for the complimentary priest. When he reached headquarters General Mort on said, What is this I hear? I am told that you have been making some flew cry speeches about me. Is it true?' With mery twinkle, the Irishman looked the soldier in the face, and re- piled: I hope ye will pardon me, for me father was a baker, D
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-21
A HOME WRECKED.

A I1OIub WINGShE4O. T understand Mrs. Gabson has left MT. Gabson and gone home to her mother"
 "Yes. sad affair. She charges him with excessive cruelty"
 You surprise me. Gabson doesn't look like man who would beat his wife," "Oh, he didn't do anything of that sort He got hold of a gas mask somewhere, and when Mrs. Gabson started one of her monologues he put 1t on."
 DULL EVENING SOMEWHERE. Excuse this small box of bonbons, my first and only love. You know MT. Hoover advocates the Conservation of sweets"
 T agree with Mir. Hoover" Patriotic girlr'
 You get no kiss tonight"
 EXTENSIVE APPETITE. Are you still taking your early morn ing exercise?'
 No. I had to quit.'
 What was the matter?" T couldn't afford to pay for tho kind Of breakfast I wanted to eat"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-21
x x *

BEGINNING THE DAY-O God, take my eyes away from myself. Relieve the fester. the canker, the gangrene of introspectiOn and self pity. Turn my gaze outward. Lend me into the mir and the light. Make my question not, "Am I getting my riEhts!' but, "Ah I doing my dutys" not, "Am I Ioved." but, "Am I low ingfs In Christ's name. Amen.-H. M. F.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-21
Feeling What It Means to Be An American

MAZE E who used to take delight w in reading anecdotes of those irrepressible "Tommies" in France, little stories which revealed their un- efailing humor and their courage in tight places, are experiencing now the pleasure of hearing how our own boys behave under fire. From all re- ports, they are proving worthy of their forebears, the men who made America what it is today.
 A sailor returned recently to the Puget Sound naval station, after sec ing service in the submarine zone on board the U. S. s. Shaw. Naturally local patriots were curious to know about his adventures, for it was rumored that the Shaw had had more than one brush with the Kaisers U- boats.
 "We've heard that the Shaw had some exciting times," said an admir- ing citizen
 "Yes?" replied the sailor, as if he were the person seeking information.
 Many reports have reached here indicating that the Shaw accounted for ten or a dozen submarines.
 "Well, we had average sport. "That ended the interview.
 Tars who talk like that-and Amer ican soldiers talk the same way--can not be beaten. We may say that mod ern war has been stripped of it's glamor, but it is still the great adven- ture for our young soldiers .and sail ors
 A Wisconsin lad of German parent age who recently enlisted in the avia- tion service, wrote to his father: "I'm going to fly back to Berlin, where you came from, dad, and drop bomb somewhere near your old home." The father replied, "God bless you, son. I'm proud of you"
 Who says the melting pot does not fuse? In that spirit we and our gallant allies shall conquer.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-21
Loyalty of Women

Tt is perfectly splendid the way inc women or Alabama are responding to the call of the government" said Mrs. ]. R. Hornady of the woman's committee for the third Liberty Loan. and those com posing the speakers bureau are touring the state in the interest of this drive. Mrs. Henry Badham, who has three sons in the various branches of the service. is giving much of her time to this work. She has expressed willingness to spend the entire week of April l. which is speakers week. in touring Alabama and urging the people to respond to this call of the government" "
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-21
Keen on Knitting

some people nave gotten the idea that they wont have to knit any more for the soldiers said Mrs Morris Marx. one of the most interested of the Red Cross workers. but such ia not the case. as we will soon be called upon for a num- Der of knitted garnAnts and must not think about stopping but must work all the harder.
 After April we will begin D knit Ia larger sox and directions will be given for this work at headquarters. The knitting must be continued all summer that the boys will be prepared for the cold weather over there next fall if they stay in the trenches that long,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-21
SOMETHING IN HER YOUNG LIFE ho

' roIH tHe H0uStOn Post.
 Take one of the little lizziedizzy girls and next to getting that new hat, see ing the Theda Sara film. whirling in a
 public dance han two hours, tapping up two saucers of cream, chewing seven pieces of gum and chattering "boy" to her chum about four hours a day, the
 most important thing going on in the world is the war.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-21
Foot of Pennies

Our church needed hundred dollars for special purpose" said w. F. Jor- dan, the successful superintendent Of the West End Baptist Sunday school,
 and I told them that we would raise the amount for it. I got the idea of doing it in way that would not be burdensome to any one. It's very easy and simple method. I started the schol- ars to gathering a foot of pennies. It takes l6 to the foot, or 625 feet We began about week ago and we are getting several quart fruit jars full every week. I have calculated that it will take about a candy bucket of pennies to make the ten thousand needed
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-21
SPARE HIS FEELINGS

From the Washington Star
 The report that Secretary Baker took refuge in wine cellar during an air raid on Paris should be communicated 'as gently as possible to William Jen-
 nings Bryan.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-21
Great Work Being Done
 By Library War Service

10 IRMINGHAM is giving books to
 O our soldiers and sailors this
 week. While donations are being made
 gladly by patriotic citizens, perhaps
 not many who give books know about the tremendous task undertaken by the library war service of the Amer ican Library association, at the in- vitation of the war departments com mission on training camp activities.
 Library buildings have been erect cd by tho association in 34 of the large camps. Each one of these build ings will accommodate from 10000 to 15.OOO volumes. There are from eight to 20 branch libraries in every camp, maintained in Y. M. c. A., K. of c. and Y. w. c. A. buildings and in hos pital reading rooms The branch li- braries require from 500 to 1900 books each. Depotis stations of 50 to 100 books are being established in bar racks and mess shacks. Our fight ing forces overseas are being supplied through dispatch offices at Atlantic pcrts and by the purchase of books abroad. This latter work ii in charge