davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-27
Missed n Deer Hunt

T had to turn down one invitation which came on Christmas morning." said Frank Willis Barnett. which I did only because it was-impossible to catch train in tune. Frank Derby called me up from his country home, but failed to get me until II o'clock He wanted me to catch the 11:25 south bound A. G. S. for New York and bring along Frank Willis, Jr., to hunt deer With him on Friday. Frank was more excited over his party having killed three deer the day before than he was about the Red Cross bull sale pulled orr in Birmingham or the rooster sale staged at Demopolis. was Just crazy to accept his cordial invitation but had less than half an hour to get ready and get from Mountain Terrace to the Terminal
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-27
NEGRO AND w. w.

From the New Orleans States. During the war reports were frequent
 printed of surreptitious efforts of I. V
 w., agitators to ally the negro of u
 south with the organization. There ha' been similar reports since. Most peep
 put them down as mere sensationalisr Recently, however, I. W. w. headqua
 ters in Douglis, Ariz., were raided all
 among the literature was found this il
 struction to agents of the organization:
 '.Extreme activity in reaching the n,
 gro is desired We do not exactly wa him in the organization, but we wal him to help stir up unrest and gener; disorder We can drop him out of u
 association How far this activity was carried C is not known. But apparently the result
 were negligible. There may have bee isolated instances in which negros
 Joined the organization. But the gres body of them evidently steered clear it, for outside the outbreak in Arkanss there have been no racial troubles i the south connected with secret organ zation. The I. w W.'s seem to have made tf
 same mistakes as the Germans regardin the colored brother. Both thought |
 could be made to serve their purpose
 creating trouble for the government, bl the negro population of the south ger erally is loyal and the agitators exerte
 themselves with no tangible results.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-27
.MY GRAMPAy

By Wilbur D. Nesbitt. My grampa, when it's Chris mas he Comes to our home the day before An Christmas mornin' he an mo
 Gets all my toys down on tn floor. An he winds up my engine men
 An makes my train go round the trac An he ps me mach my soldier men
 An shows me 'bount my jumpin'-jacl An as for all the things we know
 Bout Santa Claus, he says it's so. My grampa. he don't ever care
 How much l rumple up his clo'1 Or muss his whiskers or his hair
 He says<'at such things only shows At boys is boys. an has to play
 An be glad as they can be- An ever time it's Chris mas day
 Why he comes here to play with me- An ma. one time. she kind O smiled An said: Which one O you's U
 chiid?''
 My grampa always understands
 Just what I mean an how I feel When I don't want to wash my hands Before I sit down to a meal. An ma she laughs at him an says
 A man of his age ought to know Bout raisin' children-anyways.
 He really mustn't spoil me sol An onctsI ast her, when he's gone.
 "Is grampa boy with whiskers on?'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-27
PITY THE COLOR BLIND

From the Kansas City Star
 We have heard of a young lady WI has recently announced to her frient that she had become red. Probabl there are numbers of young ladies wit what they imagine are advanced tn ories-but who really are what Dr. Johl son called "wretched no-idea'd girls who think they are reds.
 Happy they are not. Some of the are pinks and some may be yellows-v have seen some we should not hesfta to pronounce mauves-but it isn't in real American girl to be a red. It enough of misfortune that here ar |, there are some who think they ax probably for no; better reason than b. cause they take it to be fetching colo It's odd, don't you know, and mari one off from the crowd. It's intellectu to be a red-oh. so intellectual!
 Some pale young gentlemen also fir queptly think they are reds when actua ly they are the most verdant shade green. A red COW in an absent-minde mood might eat them and not notice h, mistake. Young ladies and young ger tlemen suffering from this violent inte lectuaf agitation can often find relief an ice cream soda. If the case is fc far advanced for that and they are te old to be spanked, there is one sure cul no household should be without. The can go to work. There is no remed like it for the pinks and yellows an greens who get to thinking they al redq
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-27
An Orderly Chrisfmas

Birmingham felt the full weight of nationwide prohibition this Christmas, according to city hall officials. No fires, no trunks. no murders, no stab pings. no affrays and only the ordinary petty crime took place.
 What a contrast to years ago in the days of the saloon" said H. Scud- der Ryall. secretary to the city com mission. 'srll venture you can go over the files of The Age Herald 30 years ago, and up to the time prohibition went into effect the holiday tragedies would include list of probably 500 murders, to say nothing of the general melees.
 Back in those days the city was notorious far and wide as Bad Bir- mingham Jails would not hold the scores brought in by police and deputies.
 'Its was dangerous for a woman to come down into the business district without husband, father or brother. And think of this year-perfectly safe for woman, alone, to visit the shop ping district and visit any section of the city with feeling of perfect safety
 This is the most orderly holiday week within my memory. Indeed, I do not see how it could be improved"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-27
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
 AND ELSEWHERE
Inaor.er communltr serrlee

-CENAIC
 Anything that makes for the gem eral betterment of community de- serves commendation," said Edward B. Irwin. Tt is particularly true in the case of Community Service. that it's entrance into communities has meant improved conditions, brighter public outlook and a heightened sense of the duties of each individual in those com munities. Throughout the war, War Camp Community Service, here and elsewhere. was wholesome and stimu- lating in its effects. Without any pretense to being panacea for civil ills, Community Service, peacetime successor to War Camp Community Service, is accomplishing certain def mite things which will aid in the so- lution of many of the problems which face the American city or town today.
 The strength of the community is that of the nation; each link must be strong or the chain will break The community's strength consists of it's unity, and I know o9 no way so sure to create and preserve harmony among people as this plan which Community Service offers. The practicable ideals and principles 1t exemplifies, the spirit of democracy and genuine brotherhood is fosters, are better medicine for communities than all the flamboyantl speeches and elaborate propaganda manufactured since Ar nistice day. After all, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. All of us saw War Camp Community Service in action. It had utilitarian value that won friends.
 Community service can do for all of us in peace what War Camp Coms munity Service did for the army and navy during the war. It should get every encouragement No matter how we'll planned a movement is, of course, its future depends on the support it receives. Ap other places Community Service already has proved an instru- ment of tremendous good Grown-ups and children alike have benefited by it's activities. Every man and woman in Birmingham ought to be heartily in favor of Community Service"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-27
Census Enumerators

We are still holding classes for the purpose of instructing the census enumerators for the work of taking the 1920 census" said George M. Cruik- shank, census supervisor of the Ninth Congressional district, "but on Janu- ary every one of the 200 men and women employed for this work will be ready to. start. We have divided the district up into territories and have assigned each enumerator to his or her respective territory and have not only put diagram of same on each ones books, but have showed it to them on the map. We are not an- tlclpating any trouble in this work and expect to have secured all the in- formation desired by the government Of the people in this district within the two weeks allowed for this work"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-27
ALFALFA PHILOSOPHY

Of Greenwich Village? Shall the bufk f the American people be denied a vol, among the criers who have wares to sei
 The reviewer flashes Mir Howe for n, realizing thaY what has been agitatir mems souls for thousands of years h; been the search for new light on what honest We copfess that this is news us. Where have good men searched ft new light on honesty, at least for Il 2oo0 years? Is there any contrpvers among respectable people in America, f, example, as to what is honest? Can thel be such a controversy?
 Why does the esteemed Tribune pril such flapdoodle, anyway?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-27
Making It Harder
 To Dodge Ones Debts

NHICAGO has at last followed the W example of Birmingham and passed what is known as an 'anti- dead beat" ordinance It requires all movers to report to the city statisti- clan transactions involving the nov ing of household goods from one To- cation to another. These statements will be filed for reference and will be available to business firms and in- viduals who are entitled to such infor- nation.
 The objection was offered in Chi cago, just as it was in Birmingham, that the city government would be made collection agency for install ment houses, money lenders and the like. As matter of fact, law of this kind is not objectionable to peo- pie who pay their. bills, who are honest and do not flit from place to place to escape their obligations. It involves some extra work for the transfer companies, but not great deal, and when we stop to consider the prices charged nowadays for nov ing furniture reporting changes in addresses does not seem great nard- ship.
 "Anti- dead beat" ordinances, which have no doubt been passed in other American cities, make it increasingly hard for dishonest persons to profit by their rascality. Everyone knows the old adage that honesty is the best policy, but human nature is frail, dis tressingly frail at times, and wise re- strictive measures keep many in the path of probity wno might otherwise be led astray.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-27
Hohenzollern Downfall
 Attributed to Armenian

|1HHE indefatigable correspondents
 S are trifle late in digging up
 Ia man of mystery" to account for the former Kaiser's downfall and hu- Initiating flight to Holland, but he has
 been found. He is said to habe been an Armenian, by name Karamandjan. He
 was the. Rasputin of the Hohenzol-
 lerns, but it is not claimed that he
 was such wild and wicked fellow as the Russian monk, who was the devil
 inearnate, if half the stories told
 about him were true.
 The Armenian is said to have had la strangely quieting effect on Will helm and after being introduced at court, ostensibly as a masseur. be- Icame the German Emperor's insepa- rable companion. He had the arts of the hypnotist-he looked at his royal master fixedly and mumbled words in ian unknown tongue. It is significant that this mysterious parsonage made relations more friendly between Will helm and Von Ludendorff. Could he
 have been in Won Ludendorff's pay?
 Sad to relate, Karamandjan went away on vacation, carrying a gold snuff box presented to him by the Kaiser. He was arrested and thrown into gaol. The, snuff box aroused the suspicious of officials and the Ar Imenian was deported as an undesira- Ible alien before the imperial order demanding his release and return to great headquarters arrived. After that things simply went from bad to worse.
 It remains to be seen if the movie |magnates can coin the personality of Karamandjan and his alleged exploits into gold. Rasputin proved to be |"find" indeed.
 < ] E
 Russian reds predict that China will be the next big country to become bol- shevist. Before that takes place China
 may have to substitute vodka for the
 poppy
 * # #
 ''The worlds not going to the bad" says the Montgomery Journal Certainly
 not. The time is coming when little children will no longer ask. Pa. who
 is Trotzky and who's Lenine?''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-27
LUKE MLUKE SAYS

Somehow or other the old-fashioned glrl who could bake good biscuits did rot nave to go out on the street half naked in order to land a husband
 New York man has deserted his wife Tor the ninth time. We'll bet she hopes ne leaves her as much when he dies as he did when he was alive.
 A woman does not put on her best known when she takes a railroad trip But Sou can bet that she puts on her best underwear.
 prudish princess can learn nasty things from mans conversation that the man isn't even thinking of
 No matter how poor and raggedy a man or woman may be. if you will let them do the talking you will discover that they have rich relatives
 Too many people are against a thing because they hate some man who is for it.,
 Never judge by appearances. The most important looking man in an establish ment is more likely to be the third as sistant clerk than the boss.
 Many a man gets gray-haired worrying about what people think of him when the fact of the matter is that people do not know that he is on earth
 We never could believe that the Lord has much use for the man who sits up all night worrying for fear his neighbors might get beer containing more than one half of 1 per cent of alcohol.
 About the only reason why the stss | brings man 12 children is because he can't support two.
 There is nothing SO remarkable in a man forgetting to return $W bill that he borrows We once knew man who borrowed a donkey engine and forgot to return 1t.
 A reforrHer and carpet tack both point haavenward when they are trying to injure you.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-27
Birmingham Steel
 Afloat in the Gulf

e OMEWHERE on the Gulf of " Mexico is a steel ship south ward bound which has great deal of significance to Birmingham. It left Mobile two or. three days ago des- tined for one of the South American ports
 It was built at Mobile, by the Mo- bile Shipbuilding company, and of Birmingham. fabricated steel. It is the first ship, made of Birmingham fabricated steel ever launched, but it is only the beginning Two of the big shipbuilding plants at Mobile get their fabricated steel from Birnhing- ham. rThe steel used in at least one of the plants is made from Birming- harl ores right here in Birmingham, and Birmingham may rightly and proudly proclaim them as part of her self.
 In the years to come, when the trade lines in the Gulf of Mex leo are as heavily traveled as the Atlantic lane, ships not only made of Birmingham steel, but ships carrying cargoes of Birmingham products, will go to make up great part of that traffic. .
 The iron and steel and coal and ce- mant and other commodities made in Birmingham, CT assembled here for shipment to the southern countries, will jam the Warrior river with boats and barges and load scores of long freight trains daily between Biming- ham and Mobile, and well laden ves- sells and cars will return with good loads for distribution by Birmingham merchants
 It will not be many months until other steel ships built at Mobile of
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-27
Time "Parlor Reds" Were
 Brought to Their Senses

i! TIT is reported that the government
 0 is contemplating drastic meas
 ures to curb the Activities of the so-
 called "parlor bolsheviki." It is a
 well known fact that persons of
 wealth in the larger cities, with more
 money than brains apparently, have
 been foolishly helping bolshevism, lsneering at their own class and spur
 ring on deluded anarchists to fresh
 outbreaks of violence and bloodshed. Of the two types of "reds," the out
 and-out bolshevists to whom their crazy creed is a matter of life and
 death, and the dilettanti who are bol- lshevists merely for the sake of new sensation, it is hard to decide which lis the more reprehensible. Perhaps the sincere bolshevist is less to be Icondemned than the bobbed-haired
 women and the long-haired men who preach revolution while slipping tea and smoking cigarettes; who may have some other fad tomorrow, but today are quite willing to give their money to the support of such people as Emma Goldman and Alexander
 Berkman. row, thank heaven, on their way to Russia, where they belong.
 The "parlor bolshevik" is menace to society; he flouts the same laws and the same government the un- kempt fred" is seeking to overthrow. If one can be arrested, why can't the other? Why make fish of one and fowl of the other?
 The American people have precious little, patience with "parlor bol- sheviki." Their capacity for evil is
 great and their ignorant associates will go to any extremes to carry on
 the work of terrorism. If these men and women who ought to know bet- ter and are nothing more than fad dists, won't listen to warning, they should be given convincing illustra- ton of the governments ability to protect itself.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-27
\ Dry Christmas

According to information heard on all sldes, this was practically dry Christmas," said M. P. Hollingsworth, assistant secretary of the Civic asso- clatlon, and I was talking to a man yesterday who told me more men had gone back to work this morning than ever before. He attributed this to the fact that it was dry and those who had little liquor did not have enough to Keep them away from their jobs. This man employs a large number of men and he declared more men returned to work the day after Christmas this year than ever before and he was in deed glad that liquor was scarce this year."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-27

No more ships laden with gold are sailing from America to Spain, but cargo of equally precious stuff is en route. A Spanish gentleman is carrying back 4s casks of wine, part of a legacy left by his father and brought from Spain 15 years ago.
 Those were striking cartoons published last year, showing Uncle Sam at the throttle of a big locomotive, but it's a painful fact that government control O: railroads caused, deficit of more than s6OO, ,OOo.OOo
 Pay for harvest hands in Kansas has gone up 255 per cent over the wages paid last year. More than one college pro- lessor is apt to hear the wheat fields call ing him in 1920.
 Just when everything in the navy was pretty as the saying is. Admiral Sims and Secretary Daniels have a falling out which promises to bring onsa a congress sional investigation. # # #
 Secretary Baker says he has no favor- ite candidate for the presidency. Forced to cross his heart, he might acknowledge that he, occasionally gave some thought to himself. General Pershings disinclination to throw his hat into the ring is discounted by crafty politicians who know whar they would do if they had his record of service to the nation. # # # A. Mitchell Palmer sees a drop in prices in 1920. If A. Mitchell will lend us his rose-colored glasses, the favor will be appreciated,
 The amount of eggnog consumed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day was rerhaps just that much more than will be consumed one year hence. E 4 F ! Judging from the number of high priced photographs sold in Birmingham to working people, white and black. the local Santa Claus had a full purse.
 # # #
 The pose Admiral Sims struck In rerus ifg to accept his distinguished service medal was rather stagey, but of his sim oerity there can be no doubt.
 # # %
 Santa Claus caught fire as-usual this year, but not in so many different places at once.
 # # +
 Bitter -endersp in the liquor business are talking of suing the government. It's forlorn hope, gentlemen.
 # # I.
 Wilhelm's Christmas tree in Holland must have been more or less of rnock- cry.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-27
PLAYING BRIDGE WITH A suIrA,

From "A Sultan at Home" by w B.
 Harris. in Asia" Magazine.
 The ex-Sultan took assiduously to bridge and played whenever he got the chance One of these chances was with his dentist. His relations with his own particular Spanish dentist having been very much strained on the question of the price of a live 1on, he was forced to an ply elsewhere for such dental repairs as ne required from time to time-and for tune favored him, for he discovered an excellent American dentist who had late lyNarrived. A close friendship sprang up between the ex-Sultan and the dentist. place or dentistry. The American would arrive with his timid lady assistant and all his implements of torture, only to be
 invited to sit down at the table and play cards. The lady assistant was very youne. ana very shy, and was more accustomed to play children's card games than bridge fourth player would be found and the iIl-assorted party completed. She ex-S,fl- tan enjoyed himself immensely. He gen. erally won, perhaps little by never per- mltting the trembling lady assistant to be his partner In this manner the whole afternoon would be passed, and Mulai ifafid in the evening would sNew the few rrancs~ he had won with great joy. The points were franc hundred, so no very serious damage could be done, but rich as the Sultan was, he rejoiced more in ms humble winnings at bridge than over his many thousands in the banks. Not a little of this enjoyment was owing to the fact that he felt that he was "doing', the dentist
 He comes,' the ex-Sultan would say, to mend my teeth and to take my gold, 1 ana Tn the end I win his francs"
 Weeks went by. Now and again there was an afternoon for real dentistry, but there were many more for bridge-and all ways the Sultan won. But the day of reckoning came. The teeth were excel- iently repaired-the work was of the best there was no more to be done but to pay the bill, and the billvery naturally and rightly included all the bridge hours-at so much per hour! It was the most ex- rensive bridge Mulai Hafid ever played.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-27
Tax Collector Busy

If anybody thinks there is no busi- ness going on in the courthouse dur ing the vacation period" stated James Hawkins yesterday, just let them stand here and watch the never-end- ing line file past the windows of this office. We had over 400 people come in today and pay their ad valorem tax. and l could hardly begin to estimate the number that have paid poll tax. A lot of people might imagine that the day after Christmas wuold be a dull day in the tax collectors office, but they would be entirely wrong, Judging from Fridays receipts"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-27
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
THE CHANGE

Old fashioned pledge signers
 Will no more appear And Swear off hard Ticker,
 Red wine and cold beer, And wipe the slate clean for
 To start the new year. They used to be noticed
 Along about Jan, Each one quite determined
 To follow plan Of strict reformation
 And drinking to ban. ia ,-aA But stern resolutions Are not needed now; The weak, erring brother
 Does not have to vow He'll be a new person,
 Eschewing Here's how" We've all been reformed and Brought sharply to taw. A whole blooming nation
 Made dry by a law And sadly imbibing
 Soft drinks through a straw.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-27
CERTAINLY NOT

How do you feel this morningT
 T have felt better" growled N Grumpson.
 Tt seems to be you are always little under the weather, or something
 Nonsense. I'm about as cheerful the average man, considering wh we are up against in this world. l you expect me to always be as mer as the chief beneficiary on his way the reading of his rich uncles will?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-27
vENGEFUL NATURE

VENGEFUL NATURE
 T beg your pardon" said the polite auto bandit. as he strolled into a bank. accompanied by two well groomed as- sistants, 'but I'll have to ask you to hold up your hands, along with these clerks and officialsp<
 "oh, that's all right" replied the customer. You needn't mind me. I've just been refused foan in this place and even if I tried to give the alarm, I don't believe could speak above a whisper"