davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-29

power of money. and utter disregard of the more fact that certain folk are SO. ciAny powerful.
 think about the most pitiable of all people are the social climbers who are content to be mere "flunkeys' if they can only fetch and carry for those in the Smart Set,'' and by so doing be seen with them at public places or get invited to thsir homes; unless it be. those who money. and covet even the nouveaux riche, although they are vulgarians
 I do mot mean that I hold lightly good birth or am at odds with those who take genuine pride in their ancestry. or that am insensible to the chance which money gives to permit those who have it to spend 1t without ostentation. and use 1t not merely for their own gratifi- cation, but as . means tc give employ ment to some. enjoyment to others. and when they die to leave it in such a way as to enurs to the benefit of the public.
 I have never been one 10 cry out agsinst what ws term ''society,' and while sen sibls of the folliss of what Ward Mc- Allistsr in New York called the -Four Hundred" and which has come to stand for the ultra-fashionable set throughout America in all of our cities, for in spite of the great publicity they get because Etheir slllissk pssfornances sre given SFids notice. have found amongst even the so-callsd ssunart Sst'' in some cities in
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-29

You would never think of calling her Ann, for 1t would be too prim to de- scribe. and you would never think or calling her Annie. for itswould not it in with her personality. but the moment you saw her you would call her Anne.
 
 It takes just the "e'' in Anne to prop erly characterize the splendid youns woman who has just been the guest or Birmingham. for Ann Is bit too man nish, Annie too much >of diminutive' but spelled with tho ''e'' it gives just the needed feninity to soften and set out her charm of character.
 had heard . good deal about Miss Morgan. some years back. but had never given any special thought to her until I began to so over the state with Mrs. Mathis, when we were trying to interest the farms In croo diversification and the women and children in war gar dens.
 It was out great farm-voman who rave me q moro intimate glimpse of the well connected sociAlly and advantAseousiy placed financially young woman who had set out to make a name for herself anu do something for others, in place of set ting down into round of social gaities or losing herself in domesticity.
 I hope am free from all toadyism and am sure that there are few people who core less for the wealthy because of their wealth than I do: and r have been frs- queptly criticized by those who know mo best for my ahsoluts indifference to the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-29
President Signs the
 Railroad Bill

M0 that the President has 4 N signed the railroad bill, the transportation lines will be turned back to the owners on tomorrow. The companies have been reorgan- ized in anticipation of the change and officials and employees will be ready for active service under the private ownership sysytyem as in ante-war days.
 w. D. Hines, director general for the government, has had hard task, but he has handled the various prob lems that confronted him with ability.
 Complaints there have been, but no matter who had been charged with his responsibility, he would have found 1t impossible to satisfy everybody
 Tie railroads had been handicapped by lack of revenue for making ex- tensions and providing for better ments. When war was declared traf- fife was seriously congested and the carriers were utterly unable to ac- commodate the war department, and the public But with the country now flush with money and with capital ready to respond to the needs of the roads, it will not be great while before reconstruction work will 'be in full swing.
 Car shortage has been the cry for some time and the situation is worse in the Birmingham district and other industrial sections today than ever. But the railroad executives and man. agers will be on their mettle. If well distributed, and in reasonable should not be long before cars are supply should not be long before cars are plentiful enough
 An era of prosperity is here. Busi- ness is making good headway, but in order for the peak to be reached the railroads must be able to do their full part.
 If they fail in any particular, it will hpti be becsusel they are lax in their duties Surely the outlook is
 most promising
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-29
HARD TO DODGE.

There was a man in our town,
 Nine times a footpad shot him. Somehow he lived to tell the tale And flourished in this mortal vale
 Till influenza got him. Another escaped from perils great
 In distant Patagonia, But coming home he caught the flu" And died one morn at half-past two
 The doctors said Pneumonia. A woman drove her motor car
 Such things would vex a saint Into a train, but soon got we'll And later on a victim fell
 To the prevalent complaint.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-29
Learning , Lesson
 From Recent Disaster

TIT is reported that within forty O eight hours after the fire Thurs day afterncois which destroyed the building in the downtown district oc- cupied by furniture company, fire insurance policies for more than five hundred thousand dollars were issued by local agei to business firms. It is predicted tha the total will be ap- prcximately orc million dollars.
 Nearly all merchants carry insur- ance, as matter of course, but there must have been some who were try ing to "scrape along" on the mini mum amount: The spectacle of one of the largest retail establishments in Birmingham converted into a roar ing furnace and consumed, along with one of the Finest stocks of furniture in the city, in spite of heroic work on the part of the fire department, naturally frightened all sorts of property owners who had grown careless or indifferent to the fire risk. Insurance agencies state that there is also a brisk demand for insurance on residences.
 It required the world war and our participation in that struggle to teach thrift to the American people. Millions of citizens bought Liberty Bonds who had never owned any form os securities before in their lives. It is true that willy promoters and swlndlefs of low and high degree are using every trick in their repertoire to separate Liberty Bonds from their owners, and are succeeding at an alarming rate, but the lesson has been learned U Inlspite of the lsoosls jobber and tie promoter, the habit H awning securities has been ac-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-29
AT MOUNT VERNON

Al nAOON4 vnkfSNON By Clinton scollard in the New York Sun and Herald. From the tall pillared porch tho slobes That soon will gleam with vernal green Ho where tho swift Potomac, broad and
 brown.
 Rolls onward to the sea. The sparrows twittsr in loquacious
 nocks:
 On an oak bouEh bluebird preens its
 wings; Lining the garden paths the close
 clipped box Breathes . faint hint of spring. In sunny hooks the earliest crocus cup Reveals a dewy globule like a tear; And from the mold slender shoot lifts The first fraii jonquil spear. Here washington iR the unfettered hours Of his last years would walk in tranquil
 mood; Today how much we need his fertile
 powers
 His fervent certitude. His was wisdom at which none may
 mock:
 A high sersnity, a surs control; His was . will as steadfast as a rock An indomitahie soul! Now we plunge blindiy on some unknown
 track.
 Rushing. it may be. toward tho reefs Of fats:e o5 a7ansist e 5 tsNs Out of the past would we might scail him
 back To guids the Ship of atnts!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-29

can co-workers have taken over the VI of aiding the French people. in the vasta.ed section, to rehsbnitate I farms and homes. They are not scatte aims broadcast. but. are giving and S ing to the French people those tn which they most need and must hay exist.
 We owe it to these people Our arlt fighting on French soil dii great ' of this destruction. Cur shells destro farms and villages as well as did J| man shells. In driving the Boche ar& hack we destroyed thousands upon sands of acres of territory and many villages and cities.
 F $. * These French people are asking noti' of us. In weeks of experience in E'rai in going through it's towns and villa from the Channel down as far as I'd -I50 miles south of Paris-T never he| of or saw a beggar or one who wd accept aims, outside of the city of Ps| These people simply want the abl to get the necessities with which, work and to reconstruct that which | destroyed during the war.
 # # # No work being done by any individ or organization to aid in this countryI abroad is more humane or charitable| rccessary or just than this work be done by Anne Morgan and her associal We are not giving, but are lending to| industrious people who will again b1 up and make for themselves an existd don't believe there is a man. wo1 or child in this Birmingham disNict. in any other section of the south, VI when knowing conditions, would not willing to give or lend a small amo for such splendid work. It is to enco age the industrious and to help those p pie who have suffered, but who are whimpering nor complsining., but wo work to get on their feet, so to spe again. It is to give them the necess' t1ihgs with which to work.
 * * #
 oscar Wells, president of the First tional., Bank of Birmingham, has b made treasurer of the fund to be raj in Birmingham and Alabama. There hundreds and thousands of people h who would be more than glad to c tribute to such fund-thousands V don't want newspaper rctoriety nor haA their names printed as donors who would give quietly and slady; I would suggest that these people ss their checks or bills pr coins to Wells. Every piece of money, howe small will do great work And VI this country are the unly peaple < financially able to aid.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-29
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
 AND ELSEWHERE
0ekuine raIent

George c. Pound, who is coaching the zamora shriners for their minstrel show this week, says he Is only wor- ried by the lack of opportunity for 90 much real talent.
 ITO begin with," he said, flor any man to reach the shrine he must have q very we'll developed brain. He has to memorise e whole lot of things. Most of the shriners are men who like to have a good time, and a minstrel show is not the worst method of self expression where fun is concerned.
 There are humber of members who could have made their fortune on the vaudeville stage if they had chosen such line of work. Wait till you see that dancing bunch. I'll back them for attractiveness and good dancing against any similar number of chorus girls you can produce and I'm serious when I say that
 T have handled many entertain ments and lot of mighty good talent. but certainly was surprised by what I found hero. If the members had the time and inclination they could take the minstrel show on the road and keep going indefinitely, making good money all the time.''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-29
scoRcHEp FEET

Whats the matter with that new ar rival?" asked Satan, angrily. He's bell lowing loud enough to be heard clear across the birthstone lakes"
 when he was on earth. sire.' replied an imp. "he went to revivals and got converted once or twice a year. He just now mistook a white-hot cinder path for a sawdust trail'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-29
Venerable Citizen of
 Quiet Benevolence

NOL. w. H. SIMS, distinguished NJ Confederate veteran, able law yer and modest benefactor, died at his home here yesterday at the ad- vanced age of 83 years. He was es- pecially interested in the public li- brary He was a contributor to vari- ous charities and was always ready with his counsel in assisting in the administration of certain worthy in- stitutions.
 But a notable benefaction was his plan to donate fifty thousand dollars in government. bonds to the library. As his end drew near he was working on the details of library trust fund, and it was his desire to make the first gift to it. Although the trust had not been actually accepted, it will be delayed, it is said, only by the period of administration.
 Fifty thousand dollars is goodly sum, and its donation will be of far reaching benefit to the cultural prog ress of Birmingham. It will set an example, too, to other men of means. There are scores of citizens far wealthier than Colonel Sims, and if they would be anything like so gen --erous or spirited, Birmingham would soon be conspicuous for it's up- built inG in ways that make for spir- itual and sabstantial gain.
 All honorptp the memory of W. H. Sims, a Chratian gentleman, brave soldier and courtly parsonage of , the old southern school,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-29

A MoNG ordinarily intelligent people A\ great misconception exists as
 to Miss Anne MorEans work in aiding in the reconstruction of devastated France.
 For instance a wsI known woman in Birmingham. who had. however. not heard Miss Morgan. expressed the opinion yesterday that the total devastated re- zion of France was not larger than Jeff ferson county.
 As a matter of fact the fighting line, or best known as the Hindenbers line, ex- tended from tho English Channel to Switzerland. 500 kilometers long. That is something over 800 miles. Perhaps the broadest part of the country totally de- stroyed was that part bstween Liese. in Belgium, and Amiens. in France. On direct line, this is 25o lxilometers, or over 16O miles, In other words a territory wider than from Birmingham to Atlanta in some places. and as long as from Bir- mIngham to Washington. Most of this territory was totally destroyed by mil lions and millions of high explosive shells.
 In many sections or Northern France and in Eastern France extending from Metz through Sedan westward to Rheims and northward through St. Quentin and up to the Channel. every foot of the ter ritory was practically destroyed
 Lille, the great manufacturing city of France, was not entirely destroyed, like other cities, but was footed of all ma chinery in it's manufacturing plants
 Throughout all this territory destruction wss complete. No farm was left tillabls and no farm house standing.
 I travelled in automobiles throughout this territory during the last two weeks
  of the war under guidance of British, French and American officers. The fields were not only mass of shell holes, but contained thousands upon thousands of unexploded shells, known as duds. Hun dreds of French peasants, or farmers. have been killed since the war ended by the explosion of these duds when their blows or implements came in contact with them. They are often buried few inches below the soil. and therein lies the great danger.
 Y q
 A well known business man Of Birming- ham yesterday made remark that he saw no reason why the French people themselves. especially those in Southern France, should not take care of the peo- pie of the devastated section of Northern France.
 AS a matter of fact, during the more than. four years of war very large per centage of the male population of France
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-29
lae,-s3,usd

HAS LOOKED ABOUT A BIT.
 Why, Niblick used to say Mrs. NJ lick was all the world to him"
 True"
 Now he's having desperate affl with another woman"
 You know how men are. NibIic| perspective has broadened."
 AN UNsoCIABLE CREATURE. Are the Jibbletons the kind of peoI you like to have about you?'
 No" relied MT. Grumpson. they not. The Jibbletons are always nd ging me about being unsociable. Th seem to think that just because a m builds big, broad veranda around house he ought to keep it cluttered with neighbors. built that veranda sit on all by myself and I don't mi telling you there are times when \ it was mile wide.y
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
 Did you hear about Jibway smashi Mrs. Jibway's ouija board in fit anger~
 No. What made him do that7"
 He tried to get the spirit of Patisn Prune to tell him what kind of pok hands he was going to hold at the cl, and Patience Prune wouldn't answs PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-29
LUKE McLuKnMAxs

When fat man diets Ne gets thin. But when fat woman diets she gets fatter.
 In the old days a gentleman had to Do familiar with Green in order to ac- qutre polish. But nowadays all the pol ish he gets from the Greek Is on his shoes.
 There Is always hope for the man who takes his medicine like a man and admits that 1t was coming to him.
 Every neighborhod has it's nosey man orwoman who Is willing to do the wor- rying for the community.
 You may have noticed that a woman does not do much worrying about her rights until she hasn't any complexion to occupy her mind
 We have no complaint to make about the tight clothes women are wearing in 1920 We can remember that in 1880 you had to walt until woman's clothes began to move before you could tell that there was anything in them.
 A jury of twelve men could agree twelve times where jury of two women would not agree once.
 Man was born to mourn About the time he escapes from the pedagosue and the rod he runs right into the better hail and the tongue lash.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-29

A handsomely Illustrated pamphlet sets forth St. Louis claims as convention city. But who cares particularly about going to St. Louis nowadays when the chances are visitor viii merely Dc taken out to famous brewery that has been converted into a soft drink factory and given free bottle of 'BevoT'
 Life Ia not all beer and skittIes, even for poet who has succeeded in making poetry pay. Mrs. Lee shippey, wife of sweet singer of Kansas, positively re- fuses to let him marry 8 French girl he met while doing Y Nj. c. A. work lover there"
 Lady Astor says, Everybody knows a woman of IS years is far older and wiser in many ways than man of B. There must be something in that. Specimens seen on Birmingham's famous Chicken Run" are quite mature at 1s years of age.
 Others take the view that since Clsvs- land appointad Gresham Secretary of State. Wilson had right to appoint Colby. Unfortunately. the younger gen. eration of voters don't remember much about Gresham. So far as they arc aware he was . rock-ribbed democrat.
 q q =
 The person who has been clipping 1okss for the editorial page of the Houston Post since Judd Lewis' departure should credit them to the papers from which they are taken. Even the fAther of . joke has some affection for his offspring.
 q q Y
 state contemporary accuses Tho Age- Herald of supporting Hoover for the pres idency. Herbert is merely an easy sdb- 1ect for paragrapher to toy with.
 Governor Edwards of New Jersey sug- gests that MT. Bryan go to the dry party. Tut, tut! MT. Bryan desires to emphasize the bone-dryness of the demo- cratic party.
 It's hard to satisfy some people. Hay ing flown to an altitude Of ss,oeo feet and having descended safely to earth almost by miracle. Maj. R. W. Shredder. army aviator. wants to reach 4o.ooo feet. q Y . An air of suppressed excitement among book collectors may be due to the an- nouncement that jewsl-bound volume of Chaucer. valued at 5000. will soon be brought to America by London dealer. E x x | Judging from his photograph, Major Dalrymple, who invaded" Iron county, Michigan. has determined face. But so has the William goat that butts his head against . stone wall Y *,& Dempsey and his manager loudly de- manded an investigation of the charges that Jack was draft dodger. They seem to have gotten what they asked for. E q z There are such deep holes in some of Birmingham's streets that flivver trav- cling rapidly bobs up and down like . shiy at sea.
 Miss Anne Morgan has such . forcsful personality if she lived in Birminsham she'd have sl.ooo.ooo auditorium built in twelve montha
 1 F x q 1 When calls exceed forty day. there il certainly more prose than poetry in the life of a Birmingham fireman. 1 ' ' ' l The manner in which President Wilson ignores D'Annunzio might crush lesa hardy spirit
 lss ssfs b0e 3 Hesx pil~ uss
 In spite of handicaps the farmer sttll shows . astsrmination ts As his darnAsst.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-29

my professional skill to cure you Most of my patients are rich people with inn agnary ailments. I'm glads to get a chance now and then to practice some thing besides deception.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-29
NED BRACE TALKS ABOUT THE GREAT
 WORK OF REHARGLITATlNG FRANC

, between the ages of IS and 4s were killed.
 Most of those not killed were maimed. No one was left at home during the
 war to till the soil and the farms of all Southern France were for four years
 without cultivation, except what the
 women and children could do. Many of the vineyards went to ruin. These people.
 therefore, are In no position to help their
 brethren of Northern France.
 And we all know that the French gov ernment owes all the world, and is un- able to do that which is expected of it. Of course, there were pronteers in France. many of whom made fortunes in
 supplying their government and our gov
 ernment with munitions and material
 These are like many prohteers in this country who are today hiding out their wealth.
 All of France is today almost devoid of man power and the women and chif- dren and old men and cripples must have tools and raw material to work with. The French peasant and farmer is un- like many of similar class in the south.
 We have farmers who are willing to move from one farm to anctner-in differ ent counties or states-year after year place for generations. His buildings were of stone and cement. His barns were ot the same material. He mad fertilized his soil and taken a pride in every improve ment all of which were constructed to |, last all time. These the German army completely destroyed. The Roche never left growing fruit tree, nor a farm inn plement, nor house, nor barn. I saw near the ground and every farm impIe- ment destroyed. The Boche was deter
 mined to make his destruction complete and he did it.
 x * *
 Practically all of the men of this sec tion were. killed or msimed. including a large percentage of the old ones. The women and children, the maimed and the old men who escaped lave returned to their homesteads. They need cows, chick ens and pigs, and tools ard implements, to rebuild and to reconstruct their lands. These tools and implements are not in France They must be sent from this country French exchange, or francs, were exchangeable before and during the war for American money at the rate of
 five francs for one dollar Today ex- change is fifteen francs for one dollar and the French peasant must pay today fifteen francs for a s1 American hoe which he could formerly buy for five
 francs It is impossible for him to do this.
 Therefore Miss Morgan and her AmerI :
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-29
AN ULTIMATUM.

My dear said MT. Grabcoin, fret fully, T wish you would be a little more gracious to my friends when I bring them to the house. You might at least smile occasionally
 John Misgles Grabcoin,'' replied Mrs. ,Grabcoin. in awe-inspiring tones. listen carefully to what I'm about to say and never mention the matter to me again. I wouldn't crack the enamel on my face for the best friend you have in the world"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-29
TAKING THE STING OUT.

TAKING THE STING OUT
 'It seems to me" said the oldfash- toned man. that s7s is lot of money to pay for ready-made suit of clothes"
 Perhaps it is," replied the purchaser, but the salesman made the transac- tion as painless for me as possible" How so."
 "He told me the same suit would probably cost s1oo next year"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-29
Excitement in OH Gam. i.

some of my friends who meet me since my recent visit to shreyeport La. are kidding me to know If Iam now an oil millionaire" said Val I Nesbitt. -and. while cannot lay claim to any such sudden fortune, can 'essify that those in the game out in the southwest are, to say the least or It. enthusiastic From 10 to 1a o'clock the lobby of the Youree hotel is like stock exchange. As a mat Ter of fact there Is much open trad ing done by the holders. promoters and visitors. It's little bit wilder than the old boom days here in Bir- minsham. I wasn't here at the time put my friends have described the situation to me so often-t that almost reel like lived through them"