davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-08-12

and the superb manner in which they have met the negro exodus and the demand on extra personal effort has created readiness to consider the talk ing up and exploitation of our farm lands.
 The plan of the league is for a three-year campaign of advertising Alabama resources and bringing here a desirable class of settlers. Back of the league stands the Southern Commercial Congress.
 If the league goes about this ad- vertising and settlement business in a broad, statewide way, as it intends to do, and succeeds in obtaining suf- ficient financial backing for real exploitation, the settlers whom we need on our vacant lands will come. The personnel of the men enlisted for this work foreshadows these re. suits.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-08-12
A FAMOUS STEAMBOAT

gers he objected to this amusement on the Sabbath. If there was minis ter on board the boat there was regu- lar services. If any of the passengers wanted a Bible service they had it.
 Another thing Captain Ziegler would never allow was gambling. He did not offer objections to a social game of cards. but when it came to betting he always objected. On several occasions. it is said, he has set passengers ashore for gambling in their staterooms.
 When the Anchor Line began to lose it's business because railroads cut freight rates the Arkansas City was taken from the trade. Her owners laid her up at St. Louis. but the river busi- ness appeared to be on the decline and she could not be sold.
 When St. Louis was hit by tor nado in June, 1s9s. it caught the Ar kansas City, blew her across the river against the East St. Louis shore and wrecked her. Her hull was saved and converted into a barge for hauling freight. Her machinery was sold and placed on another boat that ran out of St Louis for several years and finally sank. The machinery was never salvaged
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-08-12
IN HOTEL LCBBIES
 AND ELSEWHERE
.sThroueh a Glass, parkiy..

T had occasion to look up the legal definition of a newspaper in connec- tion with the publishment of some orr dinances lately" says c. Lewis Bailes. assistant city attorney "A newspaper is defined by Webster as A sheet of paper. printed and distributed at stated intervals, for conveying intelligence of passing events (
 "BurrilIs law dictionary states that the term newspaper is properly ap- piled only to such publications as are issued in a single sheet and at short intervals, as daily or weekly. The court definition, in my opinion, is the most interesting. It is: The daily and weekly newspapers, common to all parts of the country, of general circu- rtstio1 among the people without re- gard e class, vocation or calling, de- voted to the gathering of news and usually espousing the principles of some political party with persistency, are newspapers within the terms of civil procedure"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-08-12
;Ay1lk9MNIAuu1lI
rHE OLDEST THING IN THE woI

THE OLDEST THING IN THE WOhLD From Travel. for August.
 Five hundred years old and sap- ling" says Edna Hildebrand Putnam in her description of the California red woods, in the August issue of Travel. This reminds one of the lawns at OK ford. and the gardener who replied to the question of an American as to how to duplicate their marvellous green splendor: "Oh, you just plant good seed, and water it enough-and rob it for five hundred years" The trees So gigantic that one can never see their top branches, two or three hundred feet in the air-trees that make a twi- light of the gods of their own. where .'only wavering patches of light fall on the forest floor"-incredibly old. and beautiful beyond any possible expres- sion in words-these trees are doomed unless their destruction is averted soon by public Interference. For these, the most wonderful trees in all the world,
 are being cut dovn-to mako tele. graph poles and railroad ties.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-08-12
J. H. Curtis, in the Memphis Comme'
 cial-Appeal.

I. H. Curtis, in the Memphis Commer-
 cial-Appea1.
 |@ NE of the famous steampoats tnae IV ran the Mississippi twenty-five W wears ago was the Arkansas City. She was considered one of the fastest owned by the Anchor Line. She was not big freight carrier, but her speed and ability to maintain a regular schedule made her popular boat. The Arkansas City was built at Jeff fersonville. Ind. in 1882 by the How ards. She was designed especially Tor the St Louis, Memphis and New Or (leans trade. She was 273 feet long, Al feet wide, with a seven-foot hold. Her gross tonnage was 1,2s6
 The cabin of the Arkansas City was said to have been the finest of any or the Anchor Line steamers. Each door to stateroom was faced outside "i'n a solid mirror from the top of the door to the bottom.
 She had big electric chandeliers swing from one end of her cabin to l the other. The mems caDin was ior- ward and the ladies' cabin in the rear and back of the ladies' cabin were rive chambers set aside for bridal couples. They were elegantly furnished witn walnut beds, dressers and washstands. Tha carpet in the ladies' cabin was silk plush and imported. There was
 piano in the cabin that cost the com pany s2.ooo.
 l When the tables were set for meals the cut glass and solid silver services. l together with flowers. presented a pretty scene The cabin boys stood at attention along the cabin back of each chair. Each cabin boy or waiter was required to serve but two plates and the attention he gave to passengers
 was something remarkable compared
 to present days.
 l Captain Ziegler was in command of 1.-the Arkansas City for many years. He is said to have been one of the best story tellers on the river.
 In those days it was the duty of the captain of a steamer to sit at the head of the ladies table and entertain them Captain Ziegler is said by old river men Ito have been past master at this.
 The Arkansas City always carried a full orchestra It played>when passen- gers ate a monday lunch and again al lthe evening meal At night, after the
 cabin was cleared of tables, the or,
 chestra played so the passengers could dance. : Frequently when che boat made a
 Handing along the river and laid there from two to three hours unloading
 freight. young people from off thu plantations gathered for a dance. Capt. ziegler never permitted danc-
 tng on Sunday. He told the passen.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-08-12
Audit the proper step

T think the new and old members of the board of revenue who have joined in request for an audit of the books of the county have taken the precisely proper step." said Robert c. Redus. The audit will. in the first place, re- lieve a great deal of tension. In the second place, it is right on principle; it is the customary thing for all big enterprises, and Jefferson county af- fairs are assuredly big business mat ter.
 "The governor should send the best man he has for this big job. He should make it a thorough one. l be- lieve the board of~revenue, both old and new, and the people at large will all feel better for an auditing, of the county's affairs and l further believe that we will make greater and sounder headway in all county development as the result"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-08-12
LUKE M,LUKE SAYS

It must make bald-headed man mad to have to shave every morning.
 It would not do any harm to have . nineteenth amendment compelling skinny girls to wear opaque petticoats in summer.
 You know what an awful pest the man is who talks about himself. Then you'll shake him and corner some other man and make a pest out of yourself.
 Woman knows what she wants just as soon as she finds that she can't get it.
 The healthiest people are those who keep the skin exposed to the sun, That is why our women folks are so healthy.
 If cotton ever gets to be $10 per yard, few people will be cheap enough to wear silk shirts.
 When a woman picks up a newspa- per she first looks to see who is dead and then she looks to see who is get ting divorced.
 Every now and then big. husky looking woman. with q moustache, mar ries delicate little smooth faced man because she needs protector.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-08-12
ZONE ROUGEv IN FRANCE

regarding the new law which "protected
 the Zone Rouge, a peasant had returned
 to the site of his old nome, had himself removed the unexploded shells from his soil-twenty-four of them were lined up
 by the road-and so had established him.
 self as producer once more, if only on
 a tiny strip. We have always plowed
 the land he said to M. Riviere: i've
 must blow again. In what was once the
 found. an old woman who was somehow
 roanaging to live alone in the dismal
 wreck of her home, though she had to
 walk ten miles to buy food. She said
 simply that she wanted to die in her own
 house-"Je veux mourir dans ma maison.
 A more cheerful sight in the Zone Rouge is village which formerly housed oo0 people, all but five of whom have turned
 A correspondent of the London Times bears similar witness. The most recent
 battlefield guide book contains picture entitled, All That Is Left of Hooge-tfe. Signboard." But the traveller finds that a new Hooge is already rising upon this site of so many bitter scenes in the bat ties for Ypres. Even the local gufues have their troubles. One of them, hav- ing announced 10 his tourists that Guile
 mont was so completely destroyed that no atttmpt could ever be made to r''V build it, discovered upon reaching the site that four houses had been erected in his | -t.l -1--I+ I+-- ..-.. 'he children playing in the streets. From the nation to which such things are possible much is to be expected Ee
 roic as it was in war. it has equal vigor
 and tenacity in the arts of peace.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-08-12
PAPERS YOUR ONLY WEAR! Eror, the New York World

From the New York World.
 If the United States, thanks to Sena- tor Harding's associates, were not still technically at war, New York might now be experimenting, like London. with paper clothes Made in Germany"
 The American Chamber of Commerce in London reports that these suits can be billed to London, f. o. b., at f130 per thousand, and retailed at from 2s Sd change rates. 45 cents to $1.s9 each. American money. London agents have imported 40, 900 suits. and 5000 more are on the way.
 Dressy youth are told that they can have a new suit weekly for year at the price of single West End outfit; the added statement that the new raj
 ment Is ideal clothing for tropical climes" is of little interest in London. except to East Indian clerks on vaca- tion.
 Old-timers who remember that dur ing the civil war packages were tied up with paper strings. which were all right unless 1t rained, will be curious to see the new raiment. The old joke about red flannel undershirts shrink ing into coral necklaces will have to be rewritten. Caught in thunder shower while picnicking with his best girl. the paper clad young man might be re- duced to extremities which the modest lscomic artist always symbolically rep.
 resents with a headless and bottomless barrel.
 Perhaps modern paper clothes art better made. If they are. the frs
 Broadway merchant that puts sample suits on exhibition will have to call tho
 police to protect his show windows l from. the crowds.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-08-12
From the New York Times.

From the New York Times.
 12 A FRANCE is ''an American mag
 azine'' which aims to promote
 ~ Franco-American sympathy and
 understanding, and is conducted by A
 group of pu5,ie-spirited citizens. Recen.
 numbers have contained notable records
 of the revival of agriculture and indus try in the devastated region, photographs showing the progress which has been made in rebuilding churches and canals. and significant statistics as to the great recent increases in taxation, thanks to which France hopes to fund and eventual fly wipe out her wartime debt. Most i'm pressive of all, however, is the story of French failure as told by Claude Ri- yiere.
 In certain devastated districts the vii. Ilages had been so thoroughly pulverized and the soil so completely blasted that it seemed impossible to repopulate them. Not a house was remaining, nor tree; and instead of the familiar green herbage there came "a curious yellowish grass. utterly unlike anything seen before in this part of the country With charac- teristically dramatic instinct. the authors 1 ties planned to keep these districts as they were, and especially such places as | had been the scene of signal and mem- orable examples of German barbarity. They were to be an example and warm ing-the Red Zone" But these drama ists reckoned without their hero-and he roine. Deep in the heart of the Zone I Rouge amid scenes of volcanic" devas' tation, M Riviere saw through his held l glass a tiny green square upon a vts- I tant hillside It proved to De cui'i-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-08-12
Made n Convert

T had a great trip out west says pr. c. C. Jones. T had no idea of the magnitude and the beauty of the coun- try west of the Missi ssppi river. I think every one ought to first see their own country before going abroad, for America is certainly worth looking over. I got as far as San Francisco and enjoyed my first national conven- tion; but I was more impressed by Los Angeles than any city l visited. It is certainly an attractive place from every standpoint. 1 met an old Howard graduate who put me under many ob- legations by giving me every oppor- tunity to see the city and the country from his automobile. The highways are great and the scenery enchanting. wish it was nearer to Birmin gham. as would like to look it over often"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-08-12
A FOOL YOU CAN'T BEND

From The Golden Sayings of Epicte-
 tus."
 'T think I know now what I never knew before-the meaning of the com mon saying. "A fool you can neither bend nor break" Pray heaven I may never have wise fool' for my friend! There is nothing more intractable. My resolve is fixed.' Why. so madmen say. too; but the more firmly they be- lieve in their delusions, the more they stand in need of trsatment
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-08-12
of thousands of tons. Chicago smelt-

or thousands Of tons. Chlcdgo SmeiC- CTS have purchased enormous amounts. Great quantities have been shipped to Boston for New England distribution.
 This business has been largely due to strikes and car congestion in these centers. Shelters have seen fires in their neighborhood furnaces die down and have been forced to come to Birmingham because here the industry is regular and stable. Not only have they come from afar to buy our iron, but they are coming here to locate and get that metal fresh from the furnaces with out freight rates. A number of Chi cago industries have secured sites l in Birmingham for the building of 1 liron-consuming establishments. And this is just the beginning. # # 4 It is predicted that there will be fewer road shows next winter, because of the increase in passenger fares. Theatre pa- irons will bear up serenely if it eliminates the third-rate girl show" ! # # 4 1 Senator Harding has nothing on great many other American citizens who are monopolzng their front porches while their wives are away i "Is it war again?" ask the anxious mothers of Europe The world-old cry of mothers as well as wives and sweet hearts.
 While Cox unquestionably understands how to get publicity. certain amount of gumshoeing is necessary to political success.
 | Franklin D. Roosevelt may make such an impression on the country before the. ] lcampaign is over that the public will '
 want to know what is his middle name 1 x # Y The negro who advocates the Back to Africa movement is the president of steamship company, with an eye to busi- ness.
 A doctor says home brew is liable to contain anything. This may explain the curious behavior of some of your neigh bors.
 Having signed on the dotted line, the Turk is too depressed to even ask. What next?"
 The suffragists are carrying on fight in Tennessee that hasn't been eaualed since the Civil war. z
 x E + Mayor Thompson of Chicago is just an- other example of man who continues to flourish despite the power of the press | A contemporary says the ice cream soda has a mission of it's own, But who will say it fills long fetl want? | F * +
 lawn McGraw is suspected of having tried some of his diamond tactics in the lambs Club Told that the cost of living is on the down grade, the consumer Is cultivating an air of cheerful expectancy
 F x F Hi Johnson may be placated. but he has not professed himself willing to eat out of Hardings hand.
 < r q Some of the people Ponzi used to know in Mobile would be glad to visit him in his s-OOO00 home.
 x- E H
 These are trying days for Jim Reed, whose system is believed to be chock- full of anti-league speeches.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-08-12
HER MAkE-BEL1EvE DOG

From the Youngstown Telegram.
 A little girl stood at the bottom of ti.e stairs calling:
 Here, Fido. Here, Fidc.'
 4 man who likes o1-piss stopped a I, srreni to see what k.nd of 3 pet the little girl had.
 When the pet made it's appea<ance he exclaimed in surprise:
 Didn't hear you call it Fido?-
 Yes" the little girl replied compla- gently. T know it is cat but am Gavi1g it for dog"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-08-12
COUNTERsIau

From the ChurchmAA
 Out in the dark. night-ionG l heard whispered sony. The dark pines harmoniea For frozen earth and skssa And with the first wan ligh1 l saw lone gulls flight Toward morning and the seA These things did counsel mo; To teach Despair to sing. To find for Doubt a wing. To make.Faith's ccuntsrsigD A gray gull and ! pi1ei
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-08-12
F F F Another Obstacle to Building an Auditorium


 ; TIT IS announced that owners of the U property chosen as site for Bir- mingham's auditorium demand $53,- 900 more than the price fixed by the Real Estate Exchange.
 ..s The sum of 85,000 was agreed on . as fair price for this property after an investigation had been made by public-spirited citizens who are ex- ': perts in local real estate values. Their report was disinterested. They have nothing to gain by the transaction.
 The City Commission states that it sewifl not institute condemnation pro- ceedings until it has heard the prop erty owners side of the matter. Be- fore reaching decision, it will make !. a more thorough investigation. It is evident that the commission wants to be just and impartial.
 However, if it is found that the property owners ask considerably r more than the land is worth, it should be condemned without any further de- lay. Selfishness must not be per mitted to hold up project in which oI1 tho panp1o of Rirynin Oharo ara deeply interested.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-08-12
4 WARNING.


 Two flashily dressed young men cana into a Birmingham restaurant and sat down by r typical old-fashioned @south- 'ern gentleman They immediately began to talk loudly about New York. partic ularly Broadway. evidently to show anyone who happened to be listening that they were sharp fellows who knew thing or two
 After ordering briskly. in the best New York manner. the two young men con tinued their conversation. Discussing va rious people of their acquaintance. they applied to them an epithet, apparently without any malice which usually leads to a fight in the south. and often to bloodsheds
 Finally the old gentleman could stand it no longer. Turning to the customers. he said. T beg your pardon. but judge i from your conversation.that you are from New York;"
 I We are" said the visitors 'T just thought I'd tell you that while -- may be regarded as pleasantly by the people with whom you associate. | if you apply it indiscriminately in this part of the country. you are apt to wake up in hospi.al-if you wake up at all.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-08-12
MANIPULATING DISTANCE.

By the way" said the owner of an air yacht. where shall drop your" "oh. don't know" said his guest, with yawn. Where are we now?"
 About an hours flight from Chicago. "oh. well. Suppose we jog along to Los Angeles. l don't have to be back at the office until the end of the week.
 PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-08-12
Battered Relics of
 a Once Proud Navy

177HE five German warships lowed !. U into New York harbor are be- ing viewed as curiosities. As thsy are valueless they will ultimately be | sent to the bottom of the sea.
 The great dreadnaught Ostfries- land was the only one of the bat tered vessels that could move by it's own power In the list of captured ships these were allocated to the United States.
 X Ostfriesland will be studied with special interest by American officers. It is powerful fighting unit, but the guns are damaged beyond repair. Many new and clever devices, how ever, are noted which will be worth something at least to the American navy.
 This battleship has six heay yily armored turrets, with guns ranging from twelve to fourteen inches. It carried crew of 400 men.
 It was majestic ship, indeed, but H is fast approaching deserved end, German sympathizers, of whom there were not few in this country, will look so mournfully on as these cap tured ships go sullenly to the bottom.
 Y + *
 Psychological Moment for
 Alabama Commercial League 1fS HE Alabama Commercial League 0 has sprung into existence al the right time.
 The attention of the nation is on the south at large and on Alabana in particular as never before. The char acter of southern people and their in- stitutions, insuring peace, content. ment and continuity of industry while the east has seethed with upheavals, halting industry and commerce, is rec cgnized the nation over.
 Not only has industrial Alabams attracted attention, but the remark able dispatch with which the south ern people have placed their agri- cultural affairs on solid foundation
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-08-12
Wonderful Roadvvays

California has wonderful roadways all through the state,'' said B. c. Ber- gain. "and only a few months ago it was voted to construct $40, 00o. 900 tion of permanent roads is most ex- pensive. but when built they will last hundreds of years. It is7a real pleas ure to motor through that state. and even Ford, which is the butt of roads. Money expended in building roads is money well spent. and every one should encourage the erection of permanent highways as piece of economy"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-08-12
Far Reaching Decision

"A recent decision of the supreme court of Maine is of importance to health departments and interesting at the same time,'' says Dr. J. D. Bowling. city and county health department "A man rented a room at a boarding house for period of month, but left after few days without paying his bill because the number of house flies about the place were obnoxious to him.
 "The rooming house carried the case to the supreme court in an effort to force the roomer to pay for a month S use of the room. The court held that flies are a public nuisance and dstri- mental ohealth. As result. the man was judged to be within the limits of the law in refusing 70 pay the bill"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-08-12
Chinks to Tinkle

ITO prove the absolutely unequalled qualities of Ford. I have just signed contract to go to China and sell them,' said Robert Chiffon. a young Montgomery youth, in Birmingham last week. T am going to leave San Fran cisco in three weeks for the land of the lotus.
 While it is more of an adventure to me. I understand that China is loos- ing the name of the sleeping giant" of Asia. The Ford people are prepar- ing for a great business in that coun- try. queer thing about automobile selling in China, I understand, is that the limousinetype is by far the more popular. Orientals seem to dislike to be exposed to the gaze of the public"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-08-12
BRAVE DESERVE THE FAln

From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
 France is looking to America for hus- bands for her 1000 900 women who are minus mates. Has the Yankees rspu- tation for daredevil courage anythins to do with this?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-08-12
PIT lean upon one crutch, and fiGh with the other. Ere stay behind this business.
 -COriOlanus.
A MnRNING PRAYER

A MORNING PRAYER
 Set watch upon my lips, My Father, that they may speak no falsehood, and give me grace to close them even on unlOvely truths. May I use them to comfort others and may such use comfort me and mine. Amen.-M. $. H.