davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-24

LONDOS-Money is quoted at 3 per
cent. Discount rates: Short and three
month bills, 3>17-32 per cent.
Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1918-05-23
Soldiers Ask No Sympathy.

Here is an expression of the sto-
fcism and the philosophy of a soldier
as printed in extracts from his lcttera
In the Atlantic Monthly:
"Don't worry about my privations-
which mostly there amt none Such
as they are. they are necessary and
unavoidable; and, above all, we are
fitted for them. You can't well SYM
pathize with man who Is doing the
thing he has longed for and trained
for all his life. Besides. physical pri-
vations are nothing; 1t is the mental
ones that hurt. A soldier In the
trenches, With little to eat and nothing
but hole to sleep in, can feel hapDy
all the same-particularly IL life has
something In prospect for him IL ha
lives. But man out of work at
home, sleeping in the park and nan.
handling for food, Is much more to be
pitied. though his immediate hardsbin.
nag be no greater"
Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1918-05-23

game, and put up real money. The
Jocks suffered lot Of casualties, and
the prospects looked bright for the
battery men to collect some easy
money. So when the battalion was re-
lteved the gamblers lined up. Several
Jocks got their money for emerging
safely. but the ones who clicked it
weren't there to pay. The artillery
men had never thought 1t out that
way. Those Scotties were bound to
be sure winners, no matter how the
wind blew. So take a tip from me,
never bet with a Scottie, cause you'll
lose money.
"At one part Of our trench where
communication trench Joined the
front line Tommy had stuck up a
wooden signpost with three hands or
arms on It,, One Of the hands, point
ing to the German lines, read, TO Ber-
lin;' the one pointing down the com,
municatfon trench read, TO Blighty,'
while the other said, Suicide Ditch.
Change Here for Stretchers.'
"Farther down from this guide post
the trench ran through an old orchard.
On the edge Of this orchard our bat
terry had constructed an advanced OBJ
servation post. The trees screened it
from the enemy airmen and the roof
was turfed. It wasn't cushy like ours,
no timber or concrete re-enforcements,
just walls Of sandbags. From it a
splendid view of the German lines
could be obtained. This post wasn't
exactly safe. It was hot corner,
shells plunking all around, and the
bullets cutting leaves Off the trees.
Many time when relieving the sig
naler at the phone, I had to crawl on
my belly like worm to keep from
being hit.
ut was an observation post sure
enough. That's all the use 1t was. Just
observe all day, but never a message
back for our battery to open up. You
see, at this point Of the line there
were strict orders not to fire she'll,
unless specially ordered to do so from
brigade headquarters. Blime me, IL
anyone disobeyed that command, our
general-yes. it was Old Pepper
would have contaminated the whole
expeditionary force. Nobody went out
Of their way to disobey Old Pepper in
those days, because he couldn't be
called parson; he was more like a
pirate. If at any time the devil should
feel lonely and sigh for a proper mate,
Old Pepper would get the first call.
Facing the Germans wasn't half bad
compared with an interview with that
old firebrand.
"If company or battalion should
give way few yards against a SUI
perior force Of Boches, Old Pepper
would send for the commanding Off
Ger. In about half an hour the officer
would come back with his face tho
color Of a brick, and in few hours
what was left Of his command would
be holding their original position.
II have seen an officer who wouldn't
say d-n for a thousand quid spend
five minutes with the old boy, and
when he returned the flow Of language
from his lips would make q navy
blush for shame.
Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1918-05-23
The next lnstaIIment relates
how two artlIIerymen "put one
over" on Old Pepper.
(To BE coNT1NUED.)
Use for clothespIns,

Clothespins make an excellent play.
thing for babies. They can be used for
babies or soldiers, or to make fences.
trees, log houses and many other inter.
esting things. Playthings that can be
taken apart and put together again are
good to have; also blocks with which
the child can build all kinds of objects
engines that he can push along the
floor, balls to bounce and throw, doll
carriages, washing sets, etc. Dolls with
clothes that button and unbutton and
come OF may be used to teach the chill.
dren how to dress and undress them
selves.
Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1918-05-23
CHAPTER xvl-continued.

II came out with the first expedi-
tionary force, and. like all the rest,
thought we would have the enemy
licked in Jig time, and be able to eat
Christmas dinner at home. Well, SO
far, have eaten two Christmas din
ners In the trenches, and am liable to
eat two more. the way things are
pointing. That is, If Fritz don't drop
a withholding on me, and send me to
Rlighty. Sometimes I wish I would
get hit, because it's no great picnic
out here, and twenty-five months of It
makesHou fed up.
cts fairly cushy now compared to
what 1t used to be, although admit
this trench is trifle rough. Now,
we send over five shells to their one.
WE are getting our own back, but in
the early days 1t was different. Then
you had to take everything without
reply. In fact, we would get twenty
shells in return for every one we sent
over. Fritz seemed to enjoy 1t, but
we British didn't; we were the suf.
ferers. Just one casualty after an
other. Sometimes whole platoons
would disappear, especially when a
Jack Johnson plunked into their
middle. It got so bad that fellow,
when writing home, wouldn't ask for
any cigarettes to be sent out, because
he was afraid he wouldn't be there to
receive them.
"After the drive to Paris was turned
back, trench warfare started. Our
general grabbed a map, drew a pencil
across it, and said. Dig here Then
he went back to his tea. and Tommy
armed himself with a pick and shovel
and started digging. He's been dig
ging ever since. \
s'Qf course we dug those trenches at
might, but it was hot work, what with
the rifle and machine-gun fire. The
stretcher bearers worked harder than
the diggers.
'sThose trenches, bloomin' bitches, I
call them, were Nightmares. They were
only about five feet deep, and you used
to get the backache from bending
down. It wasn't exactly safe to stand
upright, either, because as soon as
your napper showed over the top a
bullet would bounce of it, or else come
so close 1t would make your hair stand.
1--WE used to fill sandbags and stick
them on top of the parapet to make it
higher, but no use; they would be
there about an hour and then Fritz
would turn loose and blow them to
bits. My neck used to be sore from
ducking shells and bullets.
\ "Where my battery was stationed a
hasty trench, had been dug, which
the boys nicknamed Suicide ditch
and, believe me, Yank, this was the
original Suicide ditch All the others
are limitations.
when fellow went into that
trench it was an even gamble that he
would come out on stretcher. At one
time Scotch battalion held it, and
when they heard the betting was even
money that they'd come out on
stretchers, they grabbed all the bets
in sight. Like lot of bally idiots; sew
eral Of the battery men fell for their
Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1918-05-23
EMPEY GIVES A DESCRIPTION OF THE WORK ON oBsER-
q WALTON POST DUTY.

sinking Of the Lusana with the loss Of
American lives Arthur Guy Empey American City,
goes to England and enlists private
snort experience as recruiting officer
ing France
makes the acquaintance of
mpeys he takes
learns as eomrade falls that death turks always
chaplain distinguishes himself by hot
fire. With trench digger
in No Mans Land listening post detail
Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1918-05-23

The girls this
British forces
United States instead
traditional Hebrew sxponted Star Of David
o recruited for service In Palestine.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-19
ART COMMISSION MAY
 BE CREATED HERE
Local Architects Offer Services Gratis in Erection of Memorials
 or Monuments

Members of the Alabama chapter Amer, ican Institute of Architects have offered their services through the Birmingham Civic association to the city gratis in advising any committee or organizations who wish to erect public memorials and This offer was made by President w. T. Warren of the Alabama chapter to Judge William E. Fort, presi- dent of the Civic association.
 MT. Warren declared the organized architects had only the interest of the city at heart from an artistic standpoint in offering their services to builders of these public memorials and improve ments. Persons or organizations letting contracts for work very often have no independent advice and as often forget the desrability of following the lines of appointed a committee whose services will be available without charge in help ing to design prior to the awarding of contracts for the contemplated improve ments. This committee was appointed so there would be no hesitancy on the mart of committees seeking advice along these lines.
 meeting of the committee on public of the Civic association will be called this week by Chairman Ohme and it is expected that the com mittee will appear before the city com mission asking to have an art commits sion created This commission would be on voluntary basis and all petitions for privilege to erect monuments and memorials will be submitted to them.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-19

.Practically every concern in the dis trict is going 100 per cent, was the gist of the reports of all divisions of the allied armies when they returned iron. their second days work in the interest of the Christmas Red Cross roll call last night said Chairman J. D. Kirkpatrick. Tn some cases of course, solicitors were turned down but the prospect always explained it by saying that he did't nave a dollar with him, but would certainly get one tomorrow"
 The little buttons that constitute the badge of membership are becoming more numerous on the streets every day and by the end of the week the fellow without one is liable to feel unfayorably conspicuous and be the victim of many momentary arrests by the sentrles wno patrol each corner.
 'All you need is heart and dollar, continues to be the campaign slogan and as the people of this community have demonstrated that they have both. no fears for the success of the movement are entertained by those in charge
 The meeting of the allied armies at the Tutwiler yesterday was featured by brief reports from each general but in no case were any definite figures presented to show the progress of the drive. "The fact that the workers are not reporting promptly Is hindering our campaign con siderably," said Field Marshal Bush. Let me urge every solicitor to turn in his reports each day. This is very inn portant
 Gen. (Mrs. w D. Smith of the Rain bow division, announced that the ladies were going to live up to their reputation in the present drive and had started our
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-19
ROUNTREE'S REPORT ON HIGHWAY IS
 VERY OPTIMISTIC
Back From Washington and Balti- more, Secretary of Bankhead High way Is Confident of Govern
 ment Aid

Secretary J. Asa Rountree of the Bank head National Highway association, re- turned yesterday from Washington and Baltimore where he had been on busi- ness connected with the highway He attended the Southern Commercial con- gress in Baltimore last week and later visited Washington, where he discussed the highway and legislation pertaining to it with Senator Bankhead and other members of Congress.
 The Southern Commercial congress in- dorsed the Bankhead bill pending in Congress which appropriates slOo,0oO,Oot a year for five years for the construction of roads throughout the nation, accord ing to Mir. Rountree. and also an in- dorsement of the Bankhead National highway. together with recommends ton that the government take over this highway at once and build it with ma chinery now in France and the labor of soldiers in this country.
 MT. Rountree was honored by being appointed a member of a special com mittee of five to go before Congress and the good roads department and urge the building. of the Bankhead national highway.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-19
CHRISTMAS GIVING POWER INCREASED;
 READ THE RECIPE

Here's a chance to give more Christ mas gifts than you ever gave before.
 A Christmas appeal for books for wounded soldiers just back fis m France and now under treatment in military hospitals has been sent out by the Bir- mingham public library.
 Thousands of books are needed to help the sick soldiers while away their time in the hospitals. Convalescent soldiers are greedy readers. so there's no such thing as giving too many books.
 Every Birmingham home has some books that soldiers would be mighty glad to read. Any diverting Varn,i with plenty of action and love interest and happy ending would be acceptable, provided the book Is in good condition and will stand some wear and tear.
 The library Is particularly anxious to get some of the recently published nov els for the soldiers. The suggestion has been made that persons who receive new novels as Christmas gifts will donate them to the wounded soldiers collection as soon as they have read them.
 Books may be sent to the library now for the Christmas collection. They will be in the hands of the wounded soldiers before the holiday season is over.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-19
Lieut.. Leighton Wood
 on Destroyer Stribbling
Gives His Version on How to Avoid
 the Influenza

Lieut.. Leighton Wood, United States navy, Is gunnery and torpedo officer on the destroyer Stribling. It seems now that he is located near Durazzo, Albania just on the east coast of the Adriatic Sea. In writing to friend. he says, in part:
 "I have kept clear of the "flu' all though 1t is almost worldwide. and l have had it all around me. The method I have taken Drought on by war condi- tions), has been to stay up about 20 hours of the day, sleep on transom in full uniform with blanket over me, and get a bath every time we made port, which would be when our fuel ran out. I'll not recommend the plan as for it's proper use it requires darkened ship, zigzagging at night at 20 knots. and trying to dodge huge darkened ships in the convoy run by nervous shippers. who would change course and cut loose with all guns at every blackfish or porpoise in the sea. I really believe, of all the naval auxili- aries, the blackfsh and whales were the happiest when the armistice was signed, for many a poor one has been shot up and depth bombed just because he looked like a tin fish The old Jesse James doctrine of shoot and inquire afterwards has been a cardinal precept of many a skipper, especially on the first or second trip"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-19
K|WAN|S CLUB IN
 SANTA CLAUS ROLE
Presents City WiSh Six ''Stop-and-Go" Signs for
 Busy Corners

The Kiwanis club has made Christ mas presentation to the city of Birming- ham in the form of six stop and go' signs which Commissioner Taylor has ac- cepted. and will have placed upon the streets in the congested area of the downtown business section as soon as possible.
 The Kiwanis club has been very az gressive in aiding the police department In enforcing the city traffic laws, and in conjunction with the Rotary club they gave to the city some months ago num- Der of safety zone markers, which havs since been in use on busy corners.
 The city greatly appreciates the aid the Kiwanis club has rendered in the past in helping to enforce the traffic laws, said Commissioner Taylor, and the stop and go signs will be a great heiy. find the Kiwanis club alive to the situ- ation at all times, and I want every mem Der to know that as police commissioner appreciate their cooperation in the fullest sense.'
 The presentation was made informally by the president of the Kiwanis clubs J. Mercer Barnett, yesterday.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-19
RAILROADS URGE ALL SHIPPERS ID
 MOVE STUFF NOW Shortage of Box Cars An ticipated During Latter Part of January by
 Administration

In anticipation of a shortage of box road administration, through the traffic department of southern roads is urging shippers and farmers to make early ship ments of fertilizers. They state that a heavy movement of cotton is expected to set in about February 1, and, if it does the available box cars will not be sui ficient to handle that and the usual shipments of fertilizers.
 Tn the little town of Roanoke, where I was day Or two ago, there are 10000 bales of cotton stored in the warehouses, said L. G. Scarboro, chief clerk to, the general agent of the Atlanta, Birmingham and Atlantic Railway company yester- day. "The farmers are holding this cot ton for higher prices which they are expecting the latter part of January They are out of debt and have money, and, therefore, are not compelled to sell their cotton to pay debts as in past years Even if they do not sell their cot ton now they have money to pay for fertilizers needed next year"
 Fertilizer shipments usually begin about the first of February and continue until the middle of March. Railroad con- gestion and shortage of cars last winter and spring made it impossible for many farmers to get their usual supply of fertilizers, with the result that they had enough for their crops, thereby re- ducing their yield to a considerable ex- tent.
 The same condition is likely to pre- vail again." said MT Scarboro, unless the farmers secure their fertilizers while train movements are reasonably prompt.
 Traffic agents of the Atlanta, Birmlng- ham and Atlantic and other roads in Alabama have been calling upon shippers and merchants within the last few days urging them to start shipments of fertil1- gers as soon as possible after Janu- ary 1 and if possible to complete their shipments by the early part of February
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-19

Immediately after the holidays the a public meeting, to which all persons interested in proposed Legislation, or other matters to come before the legis- lature, will be invited to appear and make known their wants. In this way they hope to ascertain the views of the people of the city and the county upon important legislation by which they will be largely guided in their of ficial acts and votes.
 Recently there has been considerable talk of an effort to be made before the coming session of the legislature to have an act or a resolution or other requisite legislative measure passed calling a constitutional convention to be held sometime within the next year or two. Those advocating a constitu- tional convention argue that the pres ent constitution is out of date and inn poses many handicaps upon the indus trial and commercial development of the state. The Jefferson county mem bers thus far have given no intima- tion as to how they would vote on a proposal for a convention, but it Is be- lieyed that at least part of the delega- tion would favor 1t. Information comes from other counties that number of their senators and representatives favor changes in some of the provisions of the constitution, and to effect these they would either vote for a convention or for the submission of certain amend ments to a vote of the people at the next rugular election.
 A number of very important bills af- feCtlng Birmingham and Jefferson county, or the industries and public utilities of this district, will be intro duced into the legislature shortly after it convenes, among them the work mems compensation act, an act to with draw convicts from the mines, forbid
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-19
Red Cross Button ls
 Badge Of Membership
"A Heart and Dollar Is Slogan of Christmas Drive for Red Cross Membership Marshal Urges
 Prompt Reports From Field Workers

by selling 39O memberships during the first day.
 Gen. John Sparrow sprung a surprise at the luncheon yesterday by stating that If womans suffrage carried in Alabama he was going to run for congressman att large. provided that he could be at large during most of his term.
 He told of a negro who came in and bought three buttons, saying that one was for his wife, one for his daughter and one for himself. Later the same negro returned and asked for dollar back, explaining that he had forgotten lit but that his wife had died sometime ago
 Dr. J. D. billiard, pastor Of the South side Baptist church, was the principal speaker at yesterdays meeting. He char acterized the Red Cross as the "Ameri- can army of mercy waging war of com passion for humanity" vThe Red Cross is seeking to do for a motherless world what my mother did for me and what your mother did for you" said the speaker. Back of every fighting man there Is a woman and some- times many children. In this war the Red Cross takes the place of all these while the boy Is away from home. Wherever there Is a man with heart and a dollar he ought to be member of the Red Cross"
 Publicity Chairman John Henley an- nounces that a plentiful supply of but tons is now available and there is no excuse for workers or members to be without their badge of membership. All of the civic organizations and clubs are merging their meetings with those of the allied armies. Yesterday the Rotarians met with the army, to- day it's the Realtors and tomorrow the Civilians
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-19
FIREMAN GRANTED
 SECOND INCREASE Agreement Reached-Fire- men to Get $10 Raise, Eff
 fective October 1
of Birminghnm. Ala. Statement November 1, 1918
 ID

A second raise in wages was granted Iiremen employed by the city of Bir- mingham, yesterday, it was announced by Commissioner of Public Safety John H. Taylor, following conference with the heads of the Birmingham Firefighters association and the city commissioners. The increase in salary granted the 12S firemen employed by the city will amount to an annual increase in the city's 'ex. penditures of s35,3So.
 The statement issued by the commis- sion and the committee from the Fire fighters association. made public yes terday afternoon follows:
 Effective October the first, the sal aries of all experienced firemen were raised to the maximum of $l15 per month and the salaries of inexperienced firemen raised to the maximum of $1O0 per month-this being a $25 increase for the experienced and $20 increase for the inexperienced firemen during the incumbency of the present commits sion.
 All firemen are to receive sne-half salary for time lost during illness. All Sfiremen who are injured in the dis charge of their duty are to receive full pay during such illness. In addition thereto, all sick or injured firemen are to receive hospital accommodations in cluding medical and surgical attention at some high class infirmary to be paid for by the city.
 The above has been agreed, upon in the settlement of the petition of Sep- tember 6, 191S to the Birmingham Fire fighters association for an increase in salary and betterment of conditions or the fire department. This has been amicably settled and the fire depart ment will continue to give to the city of Birmingham their usual efficient and hearty cooperation in maintaining the highest standard of efficiency