davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-23
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Merchants Win First
 Victory of Organization

lClOIy Ol VI sdIhhZdhAO
 6N HE Alabama Merchants associa- u tion has induced the city com- mission to adopt merchants license schedule for the year that contains reductions.
 The merchants of Birmingham have borne the burden of taxation many years. They have winced under it from time to time, but they have made little complaint, considering it's size.
 It was to use their united strength in asking for what they believe they are entitled to that small body of Birmingham merchants organized the Alabama Retail Merchants association a few months ago. It grew rapidly until it has an influential membership of several thousand over the state. It will be heard from hereafter before the legislators go to Montgomery, in- stead of making feeble protest after much mischief may have been done and the protest is of no avail
 The city commission did we'll in re- ducing the licenses of the merchants The merchants acted wisely in or ganizing themselves so as to be in po- sition to present their case in a body when their interests are at stake.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-23
Haixnew Them

T hit onto great scheme to get my fresh meat said J. Mercer. Barnett. president of International Kiwanis.
 Bill who looks after the stock and the yards of the Barnett Lumber company, came to me with a request that he be allowed to feed two pigs. l knew this meant that I would have to shell down the corn, so I made a % ln- ter proposition by saying, Bill, I'll pay for two pigs and you raise them, and one will be mine and one yours, but if either one dies it will be yours and not mine
 ''He agreed to it, and brought the two pigs through all the diseases to whi ch |piggies are given, with the result hat both are living and weighing around 1850 pounds each"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-23
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 A LITTLE TOY HORSE

From the Baltimore American. This is the time when the various Christmas charities are insistent in their appeal, and when that appeal should receive sympathetic and practi- cal response. It is true there is heavy burden upon the public arising from va
 rious and pressing sources, and purely materialistic argument urges that real physical needs should get all that the Christmas time is different from all the rest of the year. Man cannot live by i, bread alone" and a little bit of cheer or, happiness put into barren lives means heartening of the spirit which helps as well a material food to brighten the coming year. Especially does happiness mean much to children. One can see it in the yearning, pinched little faces peering wistfully into the shop win dows resplendent with all sorts of gilt tering Christmas ornaments and won- derful toys. One of the most pathetic incidents recorded in a great disaster in Europe was the finding of the body of an.child of six. who, in the midst of all the horrors of that awful death, still clutched in his tiny hand a little horse, one of the toys sent from America to the destitute European children during the war. Even the terror could not snatch his beloved toy from him. And so, in corresponding measure, is the Christmas dinner to the elder pris
 oners of poverty-the bit of brightness, the glow of unwonted luxury. The Christmas cake is a luxury for which they gladly forego the necessity of ex- tended daily bread. It. is not useless charity to furnish these. And the pleasure for the giver. Never were lines truer than those of Mrs. Browning: "A poor man served by thee shall make thee rich;
 A sick man helped by thee shall make thee strong;
 Thou shalt be served by every sense Of service which thou renderest." The giving of Christmas pleasure to the poor, the sick, the little children, ! through the various charitable agen- cies, is an investment which pays big dividends.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-23
Direct Information

One of the best things run in Blf- mingham newspapers, so far as infor- nation to strangers is concerned, is The large print column by Richard F. Johnston. For Good of the Com munity.' in the Age-Herald," said P. w Jones, travelling man from Texas.
 MT. Johnston's articles never fail to interest me. They are most enlightea- ing to a stranger, introducing the wis itor as nothing else does to the re- sources. opportunities. advantages,ssife and problems of the city.
 q think For Good of the Com munity' is most comprehensive reading, and calculated to be for the community just what its title would indicate
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-23
Good Time. In Madison

Very few people are really hard up in Madison county and roIghout the Tennessee valley" said Rev. Walter w. Heflin of Huntsville.
 That is splendid farming country, land diversification is practiced up there. Besides large crops of cotton. there are equally large crops of corn land other farm products, and cattle are raised in abundance.
 Some few who placed their all on |cotton are in very bad way, but the majority raised all the stuff they reed lat home. and are on the sunny side cf the street.
 Huntsville itself is prosperous. Tn fact, there is mighty little going wrong in the Tennessee valley"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-23
OLD ENGLISH CHRISTMAS

, conclude their carols in the warmth and blaze of the hall
 Then cordial greetins are exchanged, hands are shaken, and the singers, their blue faces wreathed in smiles, are led to the great kitchen, to feast like lords on cold beef and mince pies, washed down by gallons of good brown ale.
 Before the singers have well begun their feast the xstrident music of the waits is heard and through the open doorway we see a circle of purple faces and distended cheeks extracting ] the last ounce" from trombone. clarrionet and horn.
 Come in, my lads!' shouts the jovial squire from the doorway, and in pour the musicians with much ducking of the head and bashfu1 greetings of Merry Christmas, squire and ladies and gentlemenr' to be ushered in turn to the festal board "below-stairs." I And now, swift on the, heels of the | waits, come the nummers, St. George 1 and his Merry Men-grotesquely att | tired and mi sked, from Father Christi mas with holly bough and wassail I bowl, to the grand Turk, and the doc-
 tor armed with mammoth pillbox- l to, sconvulse all with their merry antics 1 Then the great hall is cleared as by
 magic, and soon scores of feet are 1 tripping gaily to the lit of fiddle and l harpsichord, the jovial squire leading the way with the principal lady guest 1 How the hours fly as the fun waxes
 more and more riotous, until even the
 most bashful boy dares to snatch .
 kiss under the pendant rnistletoe.
 ] Then after the dancing and the fun. Fill up"' cries the squire. And now
 Tor a so4g" Song follows song and ! chorus follows chor,yS- while fh. sailbowl again fills the hall with it's | fragrance, until at last, "To bed." cries the squire. And with choruses of Good night" and Merry Christmasi' tho
 curtain falls on one days yuletide revels of the forties.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-23
A SOLDIERS LIFE SACRIFICED

VTTALKER COUNTY has added another tragedy to the list of w those chargeable to the existing useless miners strike
 This time boy in uniform, slain while duty upholdng the laws of his state His life is sacrificed to the cunning and ambition of few unprnciped shown their dis regard for law.
 The tragedy will cast gloom the Alabama mining fields where many the stae boys in uniform will be forced c spend Christmas away from home preserving and upholdng laws which others have counseed the striking miners to dsobey
 Alabama aw-abing state and her people believe in law enforcement is for this that good citizens everywhere behind the soldiers the performance of their duty They lament the fact that the boys had sacrifice his life the cause.
 It without saying that the authorities will every effort to bring to justice the who committed this latest buscade When caught there should be prompt usce pun shmen of such cowardy acts public sentiment this state would tolerate delay.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-23
THE TOYS

By Austin Dobson. My little son, who looked from thought
 full eyes. And moved and spoke in quiet grown
 up wise, Having my law the seventh time dis
 obeyed, struck him,-sand dismissed With hard words and unkiusaA His Mother who was patient belr1
 dead. Then, fearing lest his grief should him
 der sleep visited his bea But found him --ambcring caent With darkened eyelids, and their lashes From his late sobbing wet, And I. with moan, Kissing away his tears. left others or
 my own; For. on talbe drawn beside his head. He had put, within his reach, box of counters and a red -veined
 y stone. A piece of glass abrad&d by the beach. And six or seven shells. A. bottle with bluebeus, And two French copper coins, ranged there with careful art. To comfort his sad heart. So, when that night prayed To God, l wept and said: An. when at last we lie with tranccd breath Not vexing Thee in death And Thou rememberest of what toys We made our joys. How weakly understood Thy great commanded good Then. fatherly not lkss Than whom Thou hast moulded from the clay. Thou'li leave Thy wrath. and say: x T will be sorry for their childishnesA"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-23

Woolen stockings are serviceable wear, yet there is a close relationship between silk and symmetry.
 # a. # MT. Morgenthau's negotiations between the Turks and the Armenians would have more weight if he carried "big stick
 + # +
 Mir. Harding may not care to have a Colonel House in his administration. but he can't do without Joe Tumulty. The Irish home rule bill may at least sound public sentiment in Ireland.
 # x x A labor organizer who wants S50vUO damages for being rotten-egged in Missis- sippi values his wardrobe at an exorbi- tant figure. An increase :n the number Of congress- mer would mean few more lawyers in public life.
 It must be rather difficult for com stitutional monarch to look important when the prime minister says, Sign here"
 While Russia and Poland are technically at peace. it is by no means a case of mutual admiration
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-23

l From Answers. London.
 1 E1ALK about Christmas! Why, your modern Christmas is dull and in 0 sipid compared with those so l years and more ago.
 | The railway had not then spread It's met over the land to trap and kill TO- nance; the air was still musical with | the melody of the coach horn and the rattle of the post-chaise through vll- lfage streets. The old hostelry still gave l the traveller his "warmest welcome | in the warmth and snuggery of it's ] principal room; and the hall of the | squire flung it's Goor open in hospita- ! ble entertainment of tenant and vil- 1 lager.
 ] And there were winters then, when no hedge was high enough to break the white surface or the snow when coaches were buried in drifts many | feet deep and every lake and river
 rang with the music of the skates.
 Behind the red curtains Of the inn rustics held high revel in an atmo- 1 sphere of smoke, to the accompanl- ment of song and chorus and the merry clinkir.r of glasses. But it was Tn the hall that yuleiide frolic and festlvity reached their zenith,, while the Jovial'
 red faced squire as master of the revels.
 l If shut my eyes I can see again 1 the fire roaring up the wide chimney of Squire B--s. great hall; the table grooming under its burden or .usty brawn, of grim boar's head, crested with bays and r6semary;" and the
 wassail lin good brown bowls garn- ished with ribbons"
 Under the inspiration of such regal fare tongues soon wagged merriiy. wit
 sparkled, the laughter rang out, and
 the fun waxed moro and more riotous l Eyes flashed signals to answering l eyes. -Toasts were drunk to the clink- ing of glasses, and over the fruit and
 walnuts that closed the festivity song
 followed song. with choruses that made the black oak rafters tremble.
 Oh, the feasting and the frolic and l the fun! It was worth a thousand l perils from snowdrifts or highway
 mems hlunderbusses to share such golden hours when every heart was
 young. But we a&e still on the thres- hold of our old time Christmas gaiety | There is now snap-dragon to make young and old alike hold their sides 1T
 laughter, while maidens scream 1T mock alarm.
 And now. when the last blue flame
 has flickered out. comes the sound ol
 voices from the chill outer world
 swather in snow:
 i swhen >Christ was born of Mar,
 The carol singers have come to bring their Christmas greeting to the squire I and his guests. their notes issuing 1T gusts of steam in the frozen air. At {
 word from our host the great door i. | flung open, and in they stream, mot
 ley. shiycring crowd of villagers. |,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-23
@os.v1IaM4AasssiI
DEsr WISHES FOR BROTHER JONI


 From the Congressional Record.
 celebrated revivahst came to ad- dress his flock. and before he began to speak the pastor said: Brother Jones, before you begins this discourse. there are some powerful bad negroes in this hcre congregation. and I ought to pray for you" which he did in this fashion 70 Lord, give Brother Jones the eye of the eagle, that he may see sin from afar Glue his ear to the gospel tele- |phone, and connect him with the central skies Illuminate his brow with a brightness that will make the fires of hell look like tallow candle. Nail his hands to the gospel blow. and bow his head in some lonesome valley where prayer is much wanted to be said. and anoint him all over with the kerosene oil of thy salvation and set him afire."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-23
Employees Will Operate
 North Carolina Concern

N UNIQUE industrial experiment. A is to be tried in Newborn, N. C. Employees of the Newborn Iron and supply works refused to accept a re- duction of 20 per cent in their wages, which officials of the company de- clared would be necessary to con- tinue operating at profit. Since this statement was not believed, the owner of. the plant announced that he would turn it over to his employees and let them find out for themselves that he is right and they are wrong. Both sides express equal confidence.
 The employees will share in all profits above the actual cost of op- eration. The same executive officers are to direct the business at a 10 per cent reduction in their salaries, while the ownerof the plant, will re- ccive no return on his investment.
 Control of industry by the so-called proletariat is fundamental doctrine of socialism. If some of the stories told of Russia are true, it has proved woeful failure there, but soviet sym pathizers can truthfully assert that economic conditions are not favorable to fair test. America is the only country in the world just now, with the possible exception of Belgium, where an experiment of this sort, can be made with the best opportunity to succeed, but nevertheless even in American workmen could not have Nchosen more unpropitious time to put pet theory into practice, when nearly all industries are being forced to retrench and cut down expenses.
 If the working forces of the New bern plant make good their boast to "show' the owner, socialists will have a shining example to point to, but it is far more likely that the employees will shortly confess to an error of judgment.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-23
Fixed Paving

T am glad that the work on Clair mont avenue has been finished. says Chap" Hodges, "as it is now one of the best pieces of pavement in the city. The cement used in the middle of the car tracks and on the edges was put down in a freeze and before the sides had been finished. The two things together made it chack and crunblc. For some time it was full of holes, but the bad places were dug out and new material put in until at present it is in perfect shape. It is stretch which all motor ists like to reach. as for several blocks it skirts the Country club golf grounds without intersecting streets to inter fere with the pleasure of the driver"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-23
THE WHITE PLAGUE

From the New Republic.
 Every year 15o,Ooo Americans die of tu- berculQsis. and about 100000 more drag out wretched lives avoiding death from it. In America tuberculosis is fatal to one person out of every eight it infects And this loss is borne where the burden is heaviest, since people are afflicted with tuberculosis in inverse ratio to the.r income tax and the size of the house they live in. It is vicious circle oi poverty that breeds disease and disease that breeds poverty, against which America has on the whcle fought a win ming fight. So had Germany .until the war-now her doctors say the fight will have to begin all over again. Always the companion of poverty tuberculosis will never be extngushed until all msn and women earn enough to buy decent food and live under . dechnt roof.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-23
Mississippi Has Been
 Taught an Old Lesson.

IA n EN who have travelled over Mis- NVU sissippi return with very diff ferent reports of conditions in the delta country and those in east Mississippi. In the delta there is de- pression and hard times; in east Mississippi there is plenty. In the delta country wealth was created by several cotton crops that were sold at high prices and yielded enormous profits. The producers pyramided. Each years profits were invested in more land and the addi- tional land was planted in cotton. In many instances not an acre was given to corn.
 Then came this years slump; the pyramid has fallen. Men worth many hundreds of thousands of dollars last year are reported bankrupt. Fortunes have been wiped out. In east Missis- sippi where corn and cattle and hay, as well as cotton, were raised, the banks have plenty of money, the peo- pie are prosperous and business has been good. The contrast is so pro- nounced that it attracts the attention of every one who goes through the two sections.
 A little Chicago boy wrote letter to santa Claus, asking him to bring "a bottle of whisky for pa and a case of wine for ma." Flaw sad to think that his childish plea will go unanswered! $; # * Being the guest of honor at a dinner, MT. Dempsey said he couldn't make a speech. but would fight any man present, thus showing that he has latent capabili- ties as an after-dinner speaker. < * x Secretary Colby has no objections to travelling in a battleship and being sa- iuted when he steams into a South American port
 As Mir. Harding sits all day in his stuffy conference room at Marion. he realizes what an easy .ob he had in the United States Senate.
 Seven-cent street car fares in Birming- ham may put a premium on pedestrian ism.
 If New York police were to arrest all the suspicious looking characters in Gotham some of the busiest streets would look deserted
 | Now that the Shepard case in Georgia is ended. we can give our undivided at- tention to the memoirs of Clara Smith Hamon. * x l Ear puffs are blamed for motor acci- dents. A young woman with "ambushed ears' may not be able to hear. an automo- bile horn. but she can always hear an ,n- vitation to take refreshments or see a play.
 * * We doubt if the popularity of Greek classics in American universities would justify our government in lending money to Greece.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-23

: AN INDIRECT QUESTION My latest customer was a diplomatic man." said the prosperous bootlegger.
 .1n what particular?' asked the genial prohibition officer.
 He opened negotiations by asking me if I had anything in stock that would
 create little interest in mince meat il pie.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-23
WHAT OF TT?

WHAT OF IT? Mrs. Calder is always on the go." What of it?' "But Mir. Calder likes to stay at home 'Umph! If you were to make that re- mark to Mrs Calder she'd make the same
  reply I did"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-23
Anniston Star Celebrates

Anniston Star Celebrates
 Twenty-second Anniversary T1F HE AGE-HERALD extends its u congratulations to the Anniston Star, which was g years old last Sun- day. The Star began in modest way as most good newspapers do. It was first published iii the office of the Anniston Republic, edited by Dr. T. w,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-23
ADRTFT WITH THE TIMES
WICKED WORLD.

A WICKED WORLD. There are many ways to stumble, Though you're full of pride or humble, As you journey unprotected through this
 mortal vale of tears; And no matter what your station, You will have to meet temptation Which relentlessly pursues you though
 you live for ninety years. Strong and rugged was McDugal, Honest. too, and kind and frugal, A citizen by ali esteemed of truly
 virtuous stamp; Starting out he worked in ditches, But accumulated riches, And was sued for breach Of promise by
 a lovely cuckoo vamp.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-23
HIS TOP FLOOR.

T noticed young Dubson standing on a street corner just now apparently lost
 in thought" said MT. Gadspur Tt could not have been that said MT. Dubwaite. "No?e However. an idea may have been
 struggling to enter an otherwise unfur- lnished apartment"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-23
A MORNING PRAYER

x NUKNING FRA ' EH Let me sec in my Eladness, Lord. t..e sure proof of thy love for me,
 and in my sorrow let me see thy pity and know thine infinite tenderness. So shall all paths lead me home. Amen.--M. $. D.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-23
A GENTLE HINT TO co.

A GENTLE HINT IU 0U'
 "whcn I'm holding your hand. Miss Teacher, I feel as if I were in heaven" said MT. Pawker. waxing bold as the hour grew late.
 But the clock is striking twelSe.@ MT. Pawker," said Miss Teacher, as she withdrew her hand. and your motor car is at the door. don't believe there is any biblical authority for clocks and automo- piles in heaven"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-23
IMMUNE. .

What is your attitude toward the slo movie?"
 Ut leaves me calm and collected said Mir. Grumpson Tn other words. it means nothing in my life. How is that?y T don't even know the difference be- tween a .cut-back' and 'fade-out-'"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-23

-If a man has beautiful stenographer. do you suppose that will cause him to take more interest in his business?" asked MT. Piglatch.
 q don't know whether he will take mora interest in his business" said Mir. Peca- ton. thoughtfully, but his wife will"
 PAUL. COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-23

sen .cut-back' and a fade-out'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-23

reply I did.
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-02-09
SALVATION ARMY TO
EXTEND ACTIVITIES

Especial Correspondence to The Journal
Denver. Colo, Feb. S.-General
extension of the Industrial farm
and agricultural training school
systems of the Salvation Army is
contemplated as soon as practical
according to salvation Army Off
Gals who have been closely OBJ
serving the results of social
studies now being made in all
countries of the west as a part of
the 1920 home service program.
The Industrial and agricultural
schools fiji long felt need, Off
GERS of the army declare. The
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-02-09
Whose Word Is Better
Than Your Druggist s?
Physicians, Dentists and Nurses Rely On Hn-Isnt That
Sufficient Reason for Public Confidence?

in order to obtain the best formu-
las for its products that the com
btned skill and experience of lis
members could produce. All these
articles are non-secret, strictly
ethical. The ingredients in all A.
d. S. preparations conform to the
standard advocated 10y the govern
ment and cannot he cNcelled in
quality. As the association is
strictly cooperative, its mcrchan-
disc is also sold at the very low
est prices possible for the quality.