davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-15
UNWISDOM OF A REFORMER

surprise or consternation.
 pr. Crafts tells of seeing motion picture show in which vampira' woman "seduced' a banker, two other young men. and eventually a billion aire. He says-and many conserya- t:ves will sympathize with him-"I would rather have my son stand at a bar and drink two glasses of beer than have him see that vampire woman. He may get over the effects of the beer in a week, but he could not forget that vampire woman until he was so years old"
 This is a true indictment of false art as we'll as of dcmoralizing ten dencies in many film shows. What is described does not hold the mirrow up to nature" Even Becky Sharp and Mime. Marneffe had Limitations which Thackeray and Balzac recognized. But Dr. Crafts, seeking reform, goes to the other extreme and hurts his cause. On occasion, films may be used to prop agate the Bible.' but exclusive devo- tion to that end is not possible, now or at any time in the near future. Honest representation of human pas sions, of human weakness, of human wickedness must persist. It belongs to the Bible, to Shakespeare, to aii the worlds best art and literature. It is wholly distinct from what appeals only to the pervert or the decadent
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-15

From the Brooklyn Eagle.
 6T7HE Rev. Wilbur F. Crafts is
 quoted as appealing to the
 S Roman Catholic church to join in the effort to rescue motion pictures from the devil and 500 un-C Christian Jews" and convert the industry into "an instrument for the propagation of the Bible" He would crash into Congress, backed by every Christian church and reform organization in the country, and force through a bill to Christianize the movies" He is sure there's s4o,ooo. 900 slush fund waiting to fight his aggressive policy. Indeed, his supporters name J. Pierpont Nor gan & Co. and Kuhn, Loeb & Co. as packers of two big producing interests, and some of them go a bit farther than pr. Crafts in their invective.
 We don't know just what the pro- tagonist of reform means by 'un- Christian Jews" He probably means non Christian Jews. or Jews who have not abandoned the faith of their fore fathers. But it Is real unwisdom to introduce into this controversy the spirit that is behind pogroms in Po- land and in Russia. That a great en- terprise has largely come into con- trol of men of the race that Is pre- eminently distinguished for conner cial shrewdness is not a matter for
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-15
A NATION AMUSING ITSELF

total value of church property in thA United States is considerably less than one-half of what is paid annually for amusement.
 Yet it would not be necessary, wise, nor would it represent the truth, to condemn the American people because of this condition. There ought to be more money for education, for religion and many other worthy features of the country's life. But the fact not always realized is that entertainment, amuse- ment or Indulgence" of some charac- ter is itself a necessity, and that, as Ruskin himself says, after feeding. clothing and sheltering people, one of the biggest problems is to entertain ment too often is improperly directed. provided at the wrong places, with un- wholesome surroundings and is itself often unwholesome.
 Service may be rendered through en- tertainment as well as through educa- tion. But it is true that the people often allow themselves to be cheated and duped in their efforts at amuse- ment. Entertainment and indulgence are costing entirely too much in this country; and this. together with the fact that they are often unwholesome should mean opportunity to the best forces of the nation to place them upon a higher plane. The immense amount of money, time and possible direction to character involved in amusement ofeall kinds make the matter entire ly too important to be left largely in the hands of interests that are actu- ated primarily by selfishness
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-15
LIKE M,LUKE SAYS

You can't make boy admit that fighting is wicked unless he happens to get licked.
 A highbrow has discovered that Shakespeare was drunkard. Too bad we haven't few drunkards of Shakes peares calibre nowadays. S
 They claim that the camera can't lie. But you can't get a homely woman to believe it.
 We know a man who loves his enemy. But he happens to be his own worst enemy.
 woman loves flattery because she likes to hear a man repeat the nice things she has always thought about herself.
 whisky will bloat other things. But it never works that way on pay en- velope.
 It doesn't take long for the patent to expire on the patent leather shoes you buy nowadays.
 Some men talk more religion in 1o minutes than they live in 10 years. Tn man who eats like a horse and drinks like COW has no business call ing himself man of quiet tastes. Many a princess who is peach or the street is lemon in her home. Some of the grass widows give yol the impression that they have gone te seed.
 And a man who is shaving himseli with a dull razor can't be blamed fol talking like the Old Nick.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-15
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
 AND ELSEWHERE
Science and Miracles

Modern psychology does not regard ass strange at all happenings that are more miraculous than some recorded in the Scriptures" said Dr. H. M Ed monds. At great American uni versity there was a conflagration. A student using crutches to, get about and never having been known to walk was thought trapped by the flames. Beholdi While friends were despair ing of his life, he rushed from the building and across the campus With out his crutches, and he never wore them again.
 Evangelist Moody could not erase from his mind for several months d certain place as one bidding him to go and hold revival The suggestion kept coming to him with more and more force. Finally he could not re- sist the impulse and went. It was discovered that citizen of that place had been praying for his coming for months.
 Modern science says there is noth- ing remarkable about these latent forces, yet it is considered remarkable that the sick man took up his bed and walked the moment Christ told him to do so and he believed Christ. There is very little new under the sun.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-15
Trusted During the War,
 Why Not Trust It Now?

N07HEN this country was conduct wv ing the greatest war in his- tory any temporary inconvenience and even privation would not have elicited complaint.
 The tremendous task of creating a great army in record time and sending it across the sea, of building an eff cient war fleet and a merchant marine simultaneously, of financing the allies and taking care of commerce in this country-this task was done in man. ner that made the country issue from the war stronger physically and finan- cially than ever in its history.
 By common consent the nation credited the stability of American
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-15
---'---l-----s6s---------
 A HURRY CALL

From the Pittsburg Christian Advocate.
 The genial editor of the Christian Advocate (Nashville) likes good story, as most wholesome people do. and so passes the following along in his edi- torial notes:
 Several months ago, when pr. Hyer resigned as president of the Southern Methodist university, Bishop Mouzon went to Louisville to see if pr. Boaz could be secured to take pr. flyers place. In a day or two the bishop wired to Dallas. This is the form in which the operator at Dallas wrote and deliv- cred the telegram: Booze is available. Call meeting of the committee. Mou- zon.'"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-15
Enouyh for Him

"As an example of the way people will misconstrue the good influences that come into their lives, l have Tn mind a negro who was about to De hanged during my reportorial days said Commissioner John K. Hornady.
 T was assigned to cover the story and went early to get all of the neces- sary local color to make the story in- teresting. Rastus was walking up and down his cell wringing his hands and exclaiming Blessed is them that's per- secuted. The Lord says, Blessed IS them that's persecuted." That's all he knew about the Bible, but he got Just as much out of his Knowledge as if he had really been persecuted for no cause instead of being a self-confessed mur- derer. He was just as sure the Lord meant him as though the Bible had not stipulated that those who are blessed are those who are persecuted Tor Righteousness sake.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-15

finance during the war to the federal reserve system. Only since the war have interests seeking special aid from the government begun criticism of its conduct. Senator Pomerene expressed a sound sentiment when he said:
 "Let US be careful lest we interfere with the government of the federal reserve system. We trusted that sys- tenn during the war. We can trust it now"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-15

From the Kansas City Star.
 TIT was a hard saying of Barnum, the
 snowman, that the people like to be laration of John Ruskin that people, as a rule, only pay for being amused or being cheated, not for being served" There would appear to be considerable truth in these statements in so far as they refer to amusement, however. in ment on war tax receipts.
 From these estimates it appears that since the signing of the armistice the American people have been paying for entertainment and indulgence at the rate of s4O0, 900, 900 per month. or nearly would meet the expenses of the gov ernment for 12 months-and the gov ernment, it is believed, is notoriously extravagant and it's taxes are a heavy drain upon the people. The greatest "necessities'' for the entertainment and indulgence of the people were to- bacco, candy, soft drinks and theatres What was spent on alcoholic drinks is not easy to estimate.
 The per capita cost of this amuse- ment programme, excluding the big item of alcoholic drinks, was approx imately $46. Meanwhile, the country has been jogging along in educational affairs by paying all it's public school teachers less than one-seventh of the sum for amusement, or putting into all educational effort an investment that amounted to about $s per capita, or about one-fifth the total required for fbe matter of entertainment The
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-15
WELLS IS NOT PERDTTA

From the New York Times. R0HAr MT. Wells, in his defense of
 bolshevism. has excited the high Q comedy raillery of Henry Arthur Jones and drawn riddling fro of criticism from . socialist. John snarro. need not lessen our interest in what he writes about Russia. Mir. wells is one of those people who would d;sappoint if they were not so uniform ly and so luminously disappointing.
 There are mortals who have the fac- ultv of being what they are supreme ly. Of Perdita, Shakespeare makes Florizel say:
 When you speak. sweet. I'd have you
 do it ever.
 sNWhen you dance, wish you A wave O the sea. that you might
 ever do
 Nothing but that
 But MT. Wells is not at all like Perdita. When he does anything he generally makes you wish he was do- ing something else. If he writes history of the world. you perceive that his eve For .he startling and tho pc tur>scue is that of a born journalist If he writes as journalist ono rec ognizes with equal clarity that ms method is that of fiction. If he writes novels, the conviction is borne home that the man is essentially puohclst. Ard when, at rare intervals, he ceiiv- CTS himself as a pubiicist. the conciu- sion is inescapable that his opinions arc superlatively private. HeSis no less supreme in his faculty than Per dita, but his faculty is for always be- ing something else. A
 IL is q faculty easily underrntcd. and was possessed by one far greater than
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-15
Answer to Keller

"one answer to the strictures of General Keller of the war department in calling attention to failure to make greater use of the canalized Warrior is at had" said 0. L. Bum, general manager of the Chamber of Commerce. We have not declared through rates from the east, nor from the western points like St. Louis. Neither have we any from the Pacific coast. All these We should have and will get before long. in my opinion, but the Warrior must not be judged until we have these rates.
 These are the rates that will give us the northbound business. As a matter of fact, the Warrior is already doing considerable business regularly and, when all the new craft is on the river, we will make showing that will convince all doubting Thomases."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-15
Managerial Greed
 on Opening Nights

on OpentnS INlgnLS
 ke77 7IEWING MT. Griffith Impa-
 V tiently" is the title of an edi- torial in the Chicago Tribune which takes that producer to task for charg- ing $10 seat for his latest motion picture, on the opening night in Chicago.
 The Tribune not only criticizes ad- vertising matter describing the play as "D. w. Griffith's ''Way Down East,'" (which summarily disposes of Lottie Blair Parker, who wrote it." but having seen the play, the Tribune writer thinks $10 several dollars too much" to charge for seat. Although conceding that MT. Griffith is large advertiser, the Tribune notifies him that it's motion picture critic will not review the opening exhibition of his $1O picture. "That is not economy" says the Tribune. "It is a protest, for whatever it is worth. The same goes for other theatrical gentlemen who celebrate their opening nights by eonbling and trinling prices. The silk snirt craze is over, And hereafter no ore w1li reaks IS think he has a good show just U Charging $10 a seat for it."
 This is straight talk, but it is not too straight. Griffith is one of the few producers who has really done something to lift motion pictures from nediocrity and thereby create new art. But it is monstrous imposition on the public to charge $10 for any picture that has ever been made, or any other theatrical performance, for that matter. In New York theatrical managers are accustomed to charge extra prices for the opening perform ances of their "girl" shows. The fact that there are always plenty of peo- pie willing to pay is no justification of this practice. The first perform ance of a play or a show is seldom as good as succeeding performances, simply because the actors are nervous and the company does not work to- gether as we'll as it will later on. Flaws are discovered and improve ments made, so that all other things being equal, the tenth or the twen- tieth performance is apt to be better than the first.
 The $10 movie, however, is the last straw on the back of patient public. MT. Griffith is a past master of pub licity and has great ability as a pro- ducer, but he has overreached him. self in the case of "'Way Down East" Furthermore, anyone who knows how the movie business is conducted can safely predict that sooner or later this film will be exhibited throughout the country for S1 or less.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-15
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES

UNFINISHED BUSINESS The stouteSt heart
 Cannot resist The terrors of A shopping list A fearsome thing To lug around Where Christmas gifts
 On sale are found. But sadder yet
 You think you're done, With presents bought For everyone, Only to learn,
 As like as not, Of sixteen more
 You'd quite forgot.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-15
He Win Be There

T had a number of my friends brag about the good times they had on the hunts at the Delta Duck club.' said Fred Phillips, and for several years had had invitations to be the guest of some of the Birmingham members, but I only had an opportunity to go last week, and, believe me I do not wonder that those who have a chance to take the trip are crazy about it. where and the fellowship is great. I'll never turn down another chance, pro- vided I am able to sit up and take nourishment, for business will not keep me away"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-15
THE CAsE OF M. yIyIANI

From the Brooklyn Eagle.
 The trouble with NJ. viyiani seems to be that he has a French mind and an Italian temper, for which the atmos- phere of Switzerland is constant irri- tant. Homesickness is the sequel.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-15
Propaganda Against
 British and Hebrews

IT T is curious paradox that, follow ll ing a war which divided the world into two camps and victory which, it was hoped, would inaugurate an era of fraternity and understanding among the people of the earth, race antagonism is more violent than ever. Not only have the old prejudices been revived among former associates in the World war, but here in Amer lea, for nearly 15O years noted for it's toleration of all races and all creeds, certain influences are at work on an unprecedented scale to inspire race hatred. Attempts of Irish sympathizers and others to de- stroy the friendship existing between Great Britain and America are not new manifestation. Everyone
 who realizes that the future of ciyili- zation, as well as the safety of demo- cratic government, depends on Anglo
 Saxon solidarity deplores this perni-
 cious propaganda. Henry Ford's at-
 tacks on the Jews are serving still
 further to create discord at a time
 when every effort should be made to
 promote the spirit of fraternity among
 men.
 | The Vancouver Sun recently pub
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-15
KANSAS BEATING BACK

From The Chicago News.
 Pie is down to cents a cut in one Topeka restaurant. Kansas seems to be recovering from whatever was the matter
 with it
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-15
IN QUAD

From the Montgomery Advertiser.
 Ex-Banker Ponzi Is off on well-de- served vacation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-15
Diversification Has
 Saved the South

Diversification Has
 Saved the South
 s71HE cotton crop of 1919, which be-
 u gan the season in the worst con- dition of 50 years, has turned out to be the largest since 1914. The lat est estimate is 12,987,0 ,000 bales. A late season permitted full ripening and maximum yield of the acreage planted.
 Of more than passing interest is the report as to the size of the crop in several states. It is large in Texas and South Carolina, colsely approach ing the record. Oklahoma's crop is record one. So is that of Arkansas. California and Arizona doubled the production of any previous year.
 Talk of reduced acreage seems to  fall on deaf ears. Good prices ob- tained for two years made the pro- ducer think favorably of the other fellows cutting down the acreage while he increased his own. Again, the farmer, little as he knows of the details of business, has sense enough to understand that the world needs cotton and that it is a cash asset. A reduced cotton acreage should not be without the corallary propo- sition of planting land formerly de- voted to cotton in other farm prod ucts. It is not the size of the cot ton crop of any year or series of years that has held back the price, but the fact that too many producers relied on it exclusively and had to sell dI any PIlce.
 After a man has planted the crops on which he and his stock must live and has made himself safe with these other crops, it matters little how much cotton he plants. Many rural sections of Alabama are pulling through the present market price of cotton with small worry because they are living comfortably on other farm products. Sidelights on
 Farm Conditions HHETHER there is much cash wv in hand or not, there cannot be a bad state of affairs under such conditions as described by M. B.. Thompson, county commissioner of Tuscaloosa county. He is quoted as saying:
 Farmers in my neighborhood
 have corn, potatoes and peas stored
 and I do not think that single
 bale of cotton has been sold. The
 farmers are holding cotton for
 higher prices.
 Cotton is, of course, the best cash collateral on account of its imperisha- ble nature, but to a man who has stock, potatoes, syrup, velvet beans, peanuts and the like represent money just the same as cotton.
 It is argued that many growers are able to hold their cotton simply be- cause they will not liquidate their debts. Even if that be the case, sheds filled with edible products enable the cotton producer to keep away from the store and hold his cotton.
 After all else is said and done the return of the 50-cent dollar into the dollar class is going to have a great deal to do with readjustment. < # #
 Propaganda Against British and Hebrews IT T is curious paradox that, follow II inp a war which divided tha uor1d
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-15
MONEY TO LEND

MONEY TO LEND Do you believe America is the hope of hhnanity?" T certainly do,' replied MT. Grabcoin. cynicaily.
 "Yes?"
 And the symbol of that hope is the grand old dollar mark
 CLOSING THE SHOW The autumn hills of red and gold Their glory to the world unfold. A painted scene, and wondrous fair, With hosts of flaming standards there. King Winter rings the curtain down.
 THEIR STATUS Are the wadleighs prominent social ly?"
 '1n negative way" Flows thatT' 'sT'hey are invited to donate more often than to dine"
 CRUEL AND INHUMAN~ "on what grounds did she seek diyorce?s
 "she claimed her husband forced her to ride behind him on a motorcycle "She got her decree?" Certainly. And the judge told her with tears in his eyes that she was entitled to alimony.'
 A WORD IN REBUTTAL Men puff the pesky cigarette From far Cape Horn to Nome; Rut. truth to tell, it never yet Has broken up home
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-15
o cunning enemy, that to catch saint With saints doth bait thy hook:
 Measure for Measure.
 + # E

Lord God, when those love wound nte, give me to see the love shining through the pain. The hurt is for the moment only, but the love cn- durea forever. Anen.--M, s. B.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-15
TRAPPED

1hAHFED "Cross-examined. the defendant said he had merely kissed the young woman in the case under a sprig of mistletoe-" "Ah! A clever defense. What did his wife say to that?'
 She sniffed loud enough to be heard in the corridors of the courthouse and begged to inquire if he carried a sprig of mistletoe suspended over his road ster."
 ACUTE LONELINESS "A queer case.-
 Weil?"
 "A rich man with bSbulous habits bought the corner formerly occupied by his favorite saloon and established his favorite bartender in business drug gist."
 What was his idea?"
 He says he can't pass the old corner without stopping and when ne drops in he wants to see a. familiar face"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-15

toe ingenious heroine of 'The Win ters Tale" Like Falstanf, MT Wells is not only witty in himself. but the cause that wit is in other men. Quite as admirable as the power of thtnkinc Is the power of rousing thought. Par adoxically enough, those who have told the grim truth about bolshevisu, ,nost convincingly are those who 1ourneyed 10 MOSCOW as on sacred pilgrimage
 of adoration-the Bertrand Russells and the Wilhelm Dittmans., Having gore to pray, they returned to scoff. Whea MT. Wells entered Russia it was with
 the intention to write a farce. "rba Shaving of Karl Marx" and by the irresistible law of his being he emerses as sober champion of bolsheyism- in such sort that the world dei,rhts to deride him. Never before has his genius and the nature of it been So manifest.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-15

LITANY OF THE CAGED SONGnIRD, Dorothy Una Radcliffe, in the Poetry
 Review, London. Once l swung in Heaven blue.
 Once was cradled by the trees. Once knew the bending branch.
 Touched the pinions of the breexe! Little saint of singing things, Francisi hear my flutterings, Hear The breaking heart of me. Mortals think I sing of Joy.
 Canticles of dewy light. Rouiades of the briared dell.
 Of the runnePs fresh delight. Little saint of singing things, Francis! hear my fiutterings Hear the breaking heart of me. Here I sing encaged in wire, sI
 But my spirits on the thorn Of the dancing moon-white way Near the nest where was born Little saint of singing things. Francis! hear my flutterings, Hear the breaking heart of me For the loving sake of Him Who was crowned with 3 thorn, Who once died upon tree