davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1920-01-11
MORE ABOUT CENSUS GAMEr-By Frank Willis Barnett

I gave q short account of how the
by David, and also made some mention
Of how it was even resented in America,
for the United States, along with Sweden,
was the first to get into the modern
game which has become an obsession in
some countries
II you doubt that our forefathers raised
a rumpus when they were called upon by
census enumerators, Just turn back a
few pages in American colonial history
end you will End that when Governor
Hunter of New York, in 1712, attempted
to take a census, the biblical prejudice
against it compelled him to leave it un-
finished; and that when the New Jersey
government few years later wished to
do so, it did not dare begin.
But just because the old Israelites and
early inhabitants of New York and New
Jersey objected to having their noses
counted, do not show your bad manners
in the twentieth century by making it
hard for the enumerators in Jefferson
county to do their work, but answer all
the questions propounded, even though
Frying, for there is reason" Not only
Go so yourself. but tell others to help
see to it that no nose in Birmingham is
overlooked.
The facts gathered for the Swedish
kept secret fer a quarter OF a century,
but upon their publication DR.. Richard
Price, the founder of &ientific life in
surance calculation, based his first insur-
ance tables upon them. 1t is interesting
to see from what small beginning so
great a business has grown. Today actu-
aries have brought mortality tables to
such degree of perfection that millions
of dollars are invested upon their recon-
mendations.
In my former article about the census
I jumped over some interesting facts Dy
emitting the Breviary OF Charlemasne and
the Domesday Book of William the Con-
queror. They were upon the Roman
model. taking little or no account OF pop
ulation. the feudal system probably rem
dering information regarding it unneces-
sary tor the purpose of taxation or mill
tary service. Az a matter OF fact. the
nomesday Book vas register of estates,
with the heads responsible for the feudal
duties. their slaves and cattle. census
of the primitive type for the primitive
objects.
But back to mortality tables. for in
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1920-01-11

receive from three to four dollars a
day for eight hours work, men and
women who have spent many years
in preparing themselves for the pro-
fession of teaching ought not to be ex-
pected to work for the insignificant
salaries they are paid in Jefferson
county. From sixty-five to eighty
five dollars a month, ten months in
the year, is entirely inadequate for
the services required of them.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1920-01-11
TAXES THE PRIZE.

"Dibbs is the most absent-minded man
I ever knew"
whats he been doing latelyY''
HE sat up all night in poker game
with green shade over his eyes"
'well?"
Then wore the thing home and with
it still on tried to tell his wife he'd
been helping to pull a heavy motor car
out Of ditch"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1920-01-11

spect the integrity of Persia I fear this
means we are bound to respect van
ishing quantity The time may come
when, il we are restricting our policy to
respecting the integrity of Persia, we
shall find ourselves respecting nothing
at ALL
Had Persia been an inherently poor
country in an out-of-the-way corner of
the globe, it is just possible that she
might have been permitted to work out
her own salvation. Unhappily for her
self, Persia possessed great natural
wealth and equally great strategic i'm
portance. Containing vast oil fields, huge
deposits Of iron, rich iodes of copper and
lead, outcropping anthracite seams, broad
rriga BILE pains and an Industrious and
intelligent population, she made the
mouths of tho concession hunters water
from London to Petrogfad. Constituting
both the final barrier to Russia's south
ward push for the open ocean and the
main link between England's Indian and
African empires, she haunted the auda-
cious dreams Of Russian and British i'm
peria1isms-
"A British officer, Sir Percy Sykes,
well acquainted with the country, re-
cruited \ native force among the Wild
southern mountaineers. and this corps,
known as the South Persian Rifles" in
conjunction with increasing numbers Of
Indian troops, presently formed respect
able army BY the late spring of 1917
Persia was firmly under Anglo-Russian
control, all organized resistance being at
an end.
80 complete was the Anglo Russian
grip in the spring Of 1917 that. but for one
untoward event. Persia would have given
the allies no further concern. That event,
the Russian revolution, upset all military
and political calculations, and radically
transformed the whole Persian problem.
In July, 1917, the Kerenslxy government
ordered the Russian commander. Bara-
toff, to stop his advance through Per-
STA and announced the withdrawal of
the Russian forces at the earliest possible
moment. This caused unbounded re-
joicng in Persia, particularly in the
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1920-01-11

I'M Ew YORK. January 1c.-@peciaD
|. NWl Persia is dead. Its death GER
g tificate is the Anglo-Persian
treaty announced by the British govern
ment on August Is, 1879 Thus Lothrop
Stoddard, scholar and historian, sums up
his Investigation of recent Persian his
terry, an investigation which is published
in full in the January Century under the
caption, How Persia Died: A Coroners
Inquest" Mr.. Stoddard deals exhaust
lively with the English and Russian in
trigues which have led to the extinguish-
ing of Persian sovereignty.
This treaty Mr. Stoddard writes,
Great Britain. that systematic destruction
of Prsian sovereignty initiated by the AM.
glo- Russian convention Of 1907. Bolshe-
vized Russia having fallen by the way
side, England reaps the full profit. Per-
STA hcnceforth takes her place alongside
Egypt, Arabia and Mesopotamia as a pro-
tectorate Of the British empire. OF course
the thing has been done decently and
with due regard for the proprieties, ac-
cording to the best traditions of British
diplomacy. But the thing has been done,
and it will not be undone.
1.-THE first act of the Persian tragedy
was the Anglo-Russian convention of 1891
BY this instrument Russia and England
composed their former rivalry and agreed
that Russia should take Northern Per-
STA as her sphere of influence and that
England should similarly take the south,
with a neutral zone mostly desert, be-
tween. OF course at the head of the doc
ument both England and Russia 'mutu-
ally engaged to respect tho integrity and
independence of Persia but as every
diplomatic grab from Morocco to Korea
had contained similar stock phrases, no.
body in the world was in the least de-
ceived as to what was afoot.
Sir Edward Grey, the British minister
Of foreign affairs, as far back as 1903 had
stated in the House of Commons: The in
dependence of Persia is a phrase, and it is
becoming less every year when we are
told that we and the Russian government
are equally bound year after year to re-
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1920-01-11

England the first bills OF mortality be-
then recorded weekly after 1903, the year
of James rs accession; and in the last
years of the seventeenth century Sir Will
liam Petty, the noted political economist,
used them as a basis for very valuable
and stimulating works on the extent and
the growth of population, human fecun-
dity, effects of social and political causes,
etc. Others took up the computations
and used them to bolster their theories.
Perhaps the most herculean statistical
task ever attempted by single individual
was that undertaken in 1871 by Sir John
Sinclair. 1t was nothing less than to
compile census of the population, as-
riculture, trade and INDUSTRY Of the en-
tire British kingdom, by inquiries sent
to the clergy Of the Established church.
Now, some of you who helped the en-
listed men with their papers and who
felt like a lot of unnecessary questions
were set down, just bear in mind that this
lone. man had sent out schedules with
$50 interrogatories, but the strangest part,
he got back 800 replies, and in 1873 pub
lished Fl volumes of results. But his
work, coupled with his weighty cxhorta-
tions. induced Parliament in 1900 to es-
tablish census office. The first census
was taken the next spring, and decennial
censuses have been maintained ever
since
It's true that the Russian censuses had
begun earlier, but they had been on the
purposes. and therefore with no count
OF females (but this was too long ago for
any of the ladies Of today to take Of
fense). There we're a few partial censuses
from 1901 on. Then Peter the Great took
a hand in the numbering business. and in
17oS ordered all landed proprietors to give
an account of their slaves; and the same
year organized a body of canvassers to
visit>all the provinces and make returns
to him of peasants, mechanics. domestics
and people without occupation. This goes
to show that the gentlemen without vis-
ible means of support have been closely
watched for quite WHILE" In 1722 a
ukase ordered a census taken every 20
years thereafter, and it was obeyed till
1882. another taking place in 17ss. A CEN
trail bureau was organized in 1902 to take
over the matter.
France began taking them after the
revolution. Prussia in 1905; Austria. which
had made rough counts for military pure
poses Of conscription, organized . bureau
in 1s7s: Belgium established one immsdi-
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1920-01-11

From the Tampa Tribune
Oscar Underwood of Alabama. sem
ator, statesman. student of causes and
proposer of remedies. spoke recently
in Birmingham on the two sections of
the Cummings railroad bill relating to
finance and labor.
Senator Underwood Is strong man
in tho race for minority leadership in
the Senate. which position will be
filled on the 18th of this month. From
some men. most Of them. in his posi-
ing. petty jockeying. or trucking.
statements with Reservation" and an
nouncements with "provisos." But not
so with him. He came out square.
PLAINLY and without seeming to realize
that political capital would be made
Of his position Whom he came to the
anti-strike provision. Senator Under
wood said: II am thoroughly familiar
with that. because I originated 1t:
wrote it,
What he said else we take pleasure
in lifting from. an editorial from the
next mornings Birmingham Age-Her-
aid:
'Tt is a provision he said. in the in
terest Of the American public and OF
the railroad men themselves. 1t pre-
vents any two or more men from con-
spring to interfere with interstate
commerce. whether they be railroad
employees, railroad general managers
or anyone else. 1t deprives the rail-
road man OF the right to strike. but
| it gives him in return the right to quit
work individually whenever he gets
ieady.
| "A s0-day strike of railroad men.
tho senator said would not be q strike
| against capital. but against the gen.
eral public. s0-day strike would
paralyze the nation. 1t would mean
starving women and children. II
would mean idle factories. mines and
workshops. The timo has come. he
said. when no single class of citizens
either for selfish or unselfish purposes
shall fight it's battles with tho homes
| of the entire innocent American pub
lie as the battle-ground. 1t is the duty
Of the government to make such q
thing impossible and any government
Representative is not only recreant to
his duty. but is a traitor to the In
terests of the people il he permits class
dictation.
And vet the senator contended fol
equal and exact Justice to everyone
and pointed out how this railroad
measure provides it. with board Of
transportation appointed by the Presi.
dent to decide any controversies which
cannot otherwise be adjusted. One Of
his strongest points was that the Law
is protection to the railroad mar
himself and assures MIN justice at al
times when his cause Is just
II the democrats in the Senate arr
in need Of a man bold enough to lead
where others are stumbling along be.
hind the skirts of hidden meaning and
doubt. it appears that tho man who
took the position that Senator Under
wood did in his Birmingham speech
is the man they are looking tor.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1920-01-11
VALE.

From the hills of old Kentucky,
From the state of Tennessee
The liquor trains are pulling out
All beaded for the sea.
There's weeping now In Illinois
And In Missouri, too;
Ohio lifts wailing voice,
And Maryland is blue
The colonels are disconsolata,
Wherever they are met,
But cheer up, cheer mp, gentlemen--
We hear the oceans wetl
PAU6 COOK
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1920-01-11
WHEN HONEY WAS CHEAP

From the American Legion Weekly.
1t was toward the close Of the Civil
war; when paper money was changing
hands BY the bale. A lank negro rode
into town ON melancholy mule.
'Hey. boy. I'll give you $4,000 for
that mule!" cried a. soldier.
you amt talking to me. is your
queried the negro. "Ah done just paid
$4,000 to have dis mule curried dis
mawning."
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1920-01-11
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
AND ELSEWHERE


1T always gives me pleasure to get
chance to visit Birmingham" said
Rev. Curtis l. Shugart, who now lives
In Atlanta and is pastor of the Log
Cabin Baptist church. near the Gate
City ON the road to Marietta. 1T
makes no difference where I am To-
Gated for the time, Birmingham seems
moro like home to me than anywhere
else. I have accepted an invitation to
preach for Pastor E. G.sEIson at the
Elyton Baptist church tonight. This
is one Of the oldest churches in the
district.
The Baptssts I am glad to note, are
at last going to put on a worthwhile
campaign IN the Birmingham associa-
ton. which is the largest in the state.
The raising of the SIS, 1000. 900 fund and
the talk of greater Howard have
put new life into the denomination
not only here but throughout Alabama
and the entire south"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1920-01-11
Underpaid Teachers
Handicap Schools

01fSHE matter of underpaid teachers
4 = is proving a serious handicap
ito the public schools Of Jefferson
county, according to the annual re-
port of Superintendent N. R. Baker,
made public day or two ago. He
states that one hundred and eighty
one teachers resigned during the year
1919, and that new and inexperienced
INSTRUCTORS had to be engaged to take
their places.
The teachers who left to take other
ierlploymen. that was more remunera-
hive were, in the main, well qualified
and experienced and Superintendent
Baker had considerable difficulty in
filling the vacancies.
In these times Of high prices the
teachers cannot be blamed for accept
ing more remunerative employment.
They cannot live on the salaries the
school board is able to pay them and
they must per force seek other
Sc rces of income.
So important an institution rs the
public schools, and there is none Of
more vital interest to the state should
come first in the consideration of
those raising and disbursing the
STATES revenues. When day laborcrs
-wislout special trainins ; Sny line
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1920-01-11

BEGINNING THE DAY-Lord, the
vision plays before my eyes as 1t
mas played before every mans eyes.
Shall L be disobcdicnt to IL, thus
inviting blindness which sees no
vision: May pray to follow 1T,
suding decd to dream. would
thus gain strength to go ON resIiz-
Ing md sight to go on seeing.
Amen.-H. NJ. e.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1920-01-11
Last Chapter Written
In Greatest of Wars

In Greatest of Wars
TTHE exchange of notifications be-
u tween Germany and the allied
ratifying powers took place yesterday
afternoon in the Clock hall at the
French foreign ministry, putting into
effect the Versailles treaty and Off
cially ending the most momentous
war in history.
There was q noticeable difference in
the scene witnessed at Versailles
when the treaty was signed by the
various allied delegates and the Amer
lican and German representatives and
the event Of yesterday. To Americans
the most forceful reminder of our dill
atoriness in assuming a great and sa-
cred obligation was the absence OF
any American representative in the
Clock hall.
Clemenceau was there; Lloyd
George was there, and many others
of lesser fame, including the two un-
certain German statesmen, not easy
lin their minds as to the way they
would be received and the manner in
which they would conduct themselves
lin the presence of the victors, yet suf-
|ficiently humble withal. The French
and British premiers are described as
chatting pleasantly together. They
did not seem particularly distressed
by the fact that America, who played
an important role in bringing peace,
had no one there to carry on the work
so well begun.
But there must have been thought
in everyone's mind that the nation
which should have been represented
there above all others, the nation that
lis yet expected to form the bulwark
of the League Of Nations, was shut
tout.
Colonel Halstead says he once saw
Captain Deter in disguise wearing "a
large pair Of army shoes, with his army
socks showing beneath his trousers .
Captain Deter must have gotten his idea
of "sleuthing" from correspondence
school for detectives.
y y =
In calling Mr.. Bryan the D'Annunzio OF
the democratic party The Ase-Herald did
not mean that the resemblance was mere
ily = matter Of hairless domes.
4 = 4
; How can the United States Senate con
tsmsaats Siam ana Uruguay without :
blush Of shame. They long since ratified
the treaty Of peace.
y = =
Mr.. Hoover may have a soft heart. but
there's nothing soft about his head. a
shown BY his sensible advice to Europe
; to g to work.
A Philadelphia syndicate is said to b
offering ~ quart for certain brands
, Of old whisky. And the worst is ye
to come!
Mr.. Bryan says he asks nothing fol
himself. That doesn't necessarily NEAR
he would spurn the presidential nomina'
: ton IL It we're offered him.
= q
Old Ed Howe says press agents edit the
Monday morning newspapers. And HI
might have added that they do it with
cheerful alacrity.
= = =
Alienists in Los Angeles are making .
rice distinction between a New who
is insane and one WHO is merely
queer"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1920-01-11
Will Prohibition Destroy
British-American Friendship

S1TSHERE is no end, apparently, to
= the ramifications of the liquor
problem. A startling theory, sug-
gested by the London Saturday Re-
view, is the subject of an editorial
in recent issue Of the English
Speaking World.
The Saturday Review makes the as
sertion that if "this Yankee propa-
ganda," meaning prohibition, is car
ried too far in England, the United
States may be supplanted by Ger
many in the affections of the English
people. Great Britain, being Euro
pean and having damp climate
which calls for strong waters at fire.
quent intervals, would prefer a Ger
man to an American depotism.
Despite air raids on London and
atrocities in France, there is a bond
of sympathy between Germans and
IEnglishmen. Both loathe the idea Of
y dry world. Both are fond Of beer
and it is said that the German, who
formerly. drank only beer and wine,
has in recent years cultivated taste
for more potent beverages, such as
those with which the Britisher dis
counts fogs and rainy weather.
This may seem preposterous the
DRY, but philosophers from time i'm
memorial have commented on the way
in which drinking, fellowship in
vice, draws human beings together.
1T is inconceivable that Briton would
rather take beer-soaked Prussian ia
his arms, who was furthermore a re-
cent and vindictive enemy, rather
! than an American "prohi" preaching
s'Thou shalt not, Yet stranger things
have happened in this world of ours.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1920-01-11

90 thy ways. old Jack; die when
thou wilt. If manhood, good manhood.
earth. then m, I am shotter herring.
Henry Nv.
~ x sc
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1920-01-11
THE GENERAL THEME.

THE GENERAL THEME.
Where are you going for your sum-
mer vacation?" said Mr.. Giibwitz when
Mr.. Jagssy hailed him for a short chat
on a street corner.
isn't It rather early for that kind OF
talk?" asked Mr.. Jagsby. in some sur
prise.
Yes, it is. But I was afraid you were
about to utter q few remarks appropriate
to the passing OF John Barieycorr. I've
had to condole with so many people on
his account lately that + seized on the
first topic that popped into my head,
hoping to start = conversation about
something else
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1920-01-11
IN A RECEPTIVE MOOD.

IN 4 RECEPTIVE MOOD.
The lady voter covly waits
The tender of some candidate
Who thinks himself well qualified
To navigate the ship of state.
OF course he'll hand out no cigars.
As in the days gone by, and vet
Methinks it might be worth his while
To offer her cigarette.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1920-01-11
WEALTHY,

To prove that he is blest by fate
Need any more than this be said?
He buys fresh "hen fruit by the crate
And eats real butter on his bread.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1920-01-11

uFu1uTe scarce
FURNITURE will be scarce in ouan
tity and high in price for several
years"
So says w Q. Broyles. 4 well known
Birmingham furniture dealer, who has
just returned from a buying trip to
the furniture centers of Grand Rapids,
Mich. and Chicago.
Tho reasons" Mr.. Broyles con
tinued. ARE labor troubles, the rapid
sales during the past few years Of
available stocks on Aand. the big de-
mands made on cured woods. from
which furniture is made. by the gov
eminent and large corporations which
took SO much of the treated wood for
office furniture. factory. equipment
and many other things.
The higher prices and scarcity will
be much in evidence for several years.
Especially will this be true of the
finer grades. which can be made from
the thoroughly prepared woods only.
and the stock of this naturally cured
wood was long ago exhausted from
wholesale or manufacturing stand
point
In order to secure any kind Of sup
plies at all for my business, 1t was
necessary for me to make contracts
now for shipments that may be made
from time to time. and the price of
each shipment governed entirely by
the market quotation at the time Of
placing it on the cars for transit.
1T was the best I could do in the
circumstances"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1920-01-11

In speaking yesterday of the funds
received from the school children of
Birmingham through the sale of Red
Cross Christmas seals, aiding the anti
tuberculosis campaign in Jefferson
county. George Eaves, the secretary
for the county. said:
We cannot thank the students of
the various schools in person, but we
want AL Of them to know through the
papers that they are doing a whole lot
OF good for those of their neighbors
who are suffering from the malady
We want it to be known that the
money the school children have given
is to be spent on suffering children
of Jefferson county. especially OF the
open air school at Green Springs,
where many of the playmates of the
children now in the public schools will
be aided
II cannot at this time definitely
forecast the shape which the first Of
these institutions win take, because
the entire financial response to our
appeals. thus far. does not justify the
generous programme which we had
outlined