davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-23
FATHER KERR|GAN SUCCEEDS FATHER
 JAMES [. COYLE
Former Assistant Pastor of St. PaulS Church Will Re- turn to City--Appoint-
 ment Made at Mobile

Father William H. Kerrigan,> for IS years rector of McGill institute, Mobile, was yesterday appointed to the rectorship of St. Pauls church of this city, to succeed the late Father James E. Coyle, who was shot and killed by the Rev. Edwin R. Stephen son on August II. The appointment was made by Bishop Edward P. Allen of the Mobile diocese and is effective immediately.
 Father Kerrigan is well known here, having been assistant of St. Pauls church during the rectorship of Father o'Reilly, who was killed by falling from his horse Is years ago last July Father Kerrigan as- suming charge of the church until the appointment of the late Father Coyle.
 The new rector of St. Pauls church received his ministerial training at Mount St. Marys of Maryland, where he was ordained and later sent to the city to act as assistant to Father O'Reilly. Following the appointment of Father Coyle, deceased to the To- cal rectorship, Father Kerrigan be- came rector of McG4Il institute where he has been officiating for the past IS years.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-23
CIWITAN CLUB WILL ENTERTAIN CHILDREN
 OF MERCY HOME

Children of the Mercy home will be the guests of the Civitan club at a Christmas celebration to be held at the Southern club this afternoon at 1 o'clock.
 The decorating of the ballroom by special committee has been com pleted and a large Christmas tree has been erected near one of the doorways to the stage through which Santa Claus will come to distribute toys and games to the 1O3 young sters from the home.
 The program will be devoted en- tirely to the entertainment of the children, music and special stunts to feature the various methods of amusement arranged by the enter tainment committee.
 The children will be called for by members of the club some little time before the hour scheduled for the cell ebration and will enjoy tour of the city both prior and following the dinner
 A regular Christmas dinner has been planned for the youngsters with everything from soup to nuts" on the menu, including turkey, Candy and fruits will be distributed among the little tots as we'll as the Christ mas presents.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-23
CHRISTMAS LADDER
 TAKES TREES PLACE

Gadsden, December tSpecial) The sunday school of the East Gads , den Methodist church will give the pupils of the school Christmas lad der Saturday night. This Is a de- parture Tn Sunday school work in this section and Is the climax of one of the best years in Sunday school work in that church.
 The school is being run on q merit system and pupil, to be placed on the ladder. must attend four success sive Sundays. There are IS rungs in the ladder, and to get on the topmost rung the pupil must have q perfect attendance record for the year
 / There were 147 pupils who have won prizes for attendance during the year. and in addition to the special prizes each pupil of the school will receive nice present.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-23
BIRMINGHAM MASONS ATTEND MEETING, OF
 BESSEMER LODGE

Several prominent Birmingham Masons wepe guests of Jefferson Val ley lodge No T95 at Bessemer last night when they addressed the meet ing on pertinent Masonic topics.
 Dr. J. G. Vance delivered an en- Tightening talk on the work of the Masonic employment bureau which is finding employment for many Ma sons in this district.
 He was followed by H. H. McFer- ren, manager of the bureau, and NJ. E. Reeves, secretary of the organisa- ton.
 W. A. Currie told of the prospec- tive organization of a DeMolay chap ter in Birmingham for sons of Ma sons and their chums between ages of Is and 21.
 Albert L. Reese, secretary of Bir- mingham Scottish Rite bodies, de- livered an inspiring address on The Christmas Spirit in Masonry
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-23
CLOE SAYS HE IS NOT
 AGAINST THE LEGION

w. B. Cloe, commissioner of public safety. Is not antagonistic to mem bers of the American Legion because he is endeavoring to enforce the law in regard to railing and the operat- ing of games of chance. he declared in a statement made yesterday.
 The statement recitc9 that not only is he sympathetic to the lesionnaires and their buddies, but Is in his own undemonstrative way one of their heartiest supporters.
 ne states that he has followed. and will continue to follow, with the deepest interest every movement of a substantial character undertaken in their behalf. He stated that his own brother died in an army camp and most of his intimate friends and well wishers saw active service.
 He points out that he Is the friend of all ex-service men, and when he goes through the quarters of the legion chow house and sees what the legionnaires and members of tho women's auxiliary are doing to tide these stranded boys through tenn porary pinch he Is moved to the high est admiration and Is more proud than ever that through his dead brother he can claim kinship to such a noble organization.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-23

| toiloWing is Mir. Balls statement:
 inasmuch as several articles have appeared recently in the daily papers relative to the Dunn contract. and while I am not in the habit of enter Ing into newspaper controversies, reel 1t Is my duty to inform the pub lie of the facts in the case which finally led to thhe unanimous de- cision by the board to proceed with the work on the North Bessemer road, and If allowed space, will state these facts as briefly as possible and be content for the public to be the judge, asking them to always keep in mind the fact that this contract was let in April, 1920, six or seven months before this board assumed of- | flee.
 As the minutes of the board meet lngs are the only official record I shall deal entirely with things that are either & matter of record or that car be substantiated by undlsputed witnesses.
 In the beginning I wish to i'm press upon every one that I am
 neither lawyer or an engineer, and in all matters where a legal or engineering question arises, am com pelled to rely on the advice of men trained in these vacations, and al- though MT. Benners contends there was no valid contract between Dunn & Co. and the county, l have been advised by more than one attorney that there did exist a valid contract with Dunn X Co. when this board as- sumed office, and this question re- solves itself in a mere matter of diff ference of opinion of attorneys. Mir. Benners' statement that there was an implied condition in the con tracts that the bonds should be sold at that time Is not borne out by the records of the board, but on the other hand the records show that at the time this and various other com ! tracts were let, that the bonds, amounting to s2,0o0,0s0, had been sold to the Alabama Bond company, and their certified check to Insure good faith was in possession of the board, and that after the bond com pany refused to accept the bonds this check was returned to them instead of being used by the county to in part compensate the county for damages accruing by the failure of the bond company to carry out their contract to purchase the bonds, and there is nothing to show that any contractor WAS expected to as- sist or that his contract hinged on the sale of the bonds.
 Wanted To Start Work
 "Immediately after the present board assumed office, Mir. Dunn asked permissio to go on with his | contract, and when he was informed that the county did not have the
 money, expressed a willingness to proceed in the same manner the other contracts were being handled l (that is, issuing 8 per cent interest bearing warrants in lieu of cash), which was refused, and although this board has issued quite a number of 8 per cent warrants, let 1t be under stood that this has only been done on contracts that were under con struction when this board assumed office.
 In May, 1921, the Dunn contract again came up, and the matter was referred to the county engineer and myself to get up comparative prices and see If the board was justified in proceeding with this work, and while the records do not show. a de- tailed report. the fact that the mat ter was dropped shows that the in-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-23
FAVORALE REPORT
 MADE BY LEGION
Details of Work of Post No. 1 Are Discussed by
 Committeeman

Reasons for joining the American legion were given in a number of addresses made by legionnaires at men held last night in the ballroom at the Hiilman hotel under the aus pices of the legion.
 About 100 eX-seryice men were present and evinced considerable in- terest in the speeches made as shown by the number of men who signed up with the legion during and following the meeting.
 George Lewis Bailes, post com mander of Birmingham Post No. opened the meeting and presented a brief and general outline of the work being carried on by the legion in this district, following which various committeeman under whom the work Is progressing gave more specific de- tails of the operations.
 Arthur Greenwood, chairman of the dance committee and generalissimo of the chow house reported that ap- proximately $1,300 had been raised thus far in the ticket sales for the dance and urged that every legion naire take books of tickets and sell them over the city He next pointed out the work being carried by the legion at the chow house and the work being done by the burial com mittee in the taking care of bodies of returned veterans from the battle fields of France. He also made a report of the employment bureau stating that hundreds of men were seeking the service of the bureau and that the results in obtaining work was progressing to a large extent, but he added and urged that mem bers of the legion do their utmost to help the bureau.
 Favorable Reports
 A. c. Comedy, chairman of the en- tertainment committee for the Christ mas celebration reported on the prog ress of his committee and urged that the legion make every effort to get presents for the men "outs luck" who will attend the celebration. He also made report on the progress of the chow house, stating that morS blankets and clothing were needed.
 Talks were made by several of the men who are benefitins by the work being carried on by the legion who stated that they would sign up as soon as they were "on their feet"
 Stirring talks were made by James Abbot, Horace Wilkinson, M. M. Ull- man and J. T. McEwen, urging the men to take advantage of the le- zion, get behind 1t and give every assistance to the ex-service men by standing together.
 A generous donation was subscribed by the hat route" for the continu- ance of the chow house.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-23

world to speak French, and so need not trouble themselves to learn other languages. We should take up that great work of tempting the world to learn English. Shakespeare, our greatest writer, has incorporated In his plays the treasures of our tongue. He has made the English language an ideal thing. and we should be proud of our inheritance"
 He explained that, aside from the enthusiasm and skill which his com pany puts into Shakespearean plays. We are bringing Birmingham the finest possible embellishments. We have such settings as we think ought to be presented in New York city. Our policy is to give the whole United States the very best we can do. It seems unfair to us to put on fine shows in New York and cheaper ones else where over the country"
 Mrs. O. l.. Stevenson sang two beautlful selections.
 At least seven or eight lengthy tables of hearers were present at the luncheon. Among the guests were: Mosdames L. W. Steele, W. D. Smith, F. Angell. Sidney Hart. Carl wl.- tichen, Earl Drennen. Houston DAvls, R. A. Clayton, Dupont Thompson, Sam Fletcher, S. l.. Ledbetter, Mrs Engstfeldt, Mesdames W. 1. Grubb. L. ". Josselyn, J. B. Dabney, Wade Wood, George Thornton, Haskins Will liams, Miss Emily Wilkerson, Mas- danes Harry Coffin. E. S. Sutton, Miss Lucy Walker, Mesdames S. A. Clements. Misses Coulbourne and Margaret Tynes, Miss Sara Phelan, Me ed a kins, ". A. Hin Charles McDonald, Thomas Lea, J. M Minter, J. c. Smith, Mrs. Whitesde, Mesdames ". j.. Adams, Charles Brown, c. c. snider. J. M. McPherson, F. B. Clements. " O. Bass, Kenneth Charlton, R. B. Broyles Dora c. Fell. Alexander Lon don1 William Hood. Jr., ". I. Grubb, L. M. Simmons. J. Pomeroy, and many others.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-23

It was the latter phrase upon which the Shakespearean actor built a tribute to the Drama league. Said he:
 Drama League Helps
 Your organization, in helping to bring better drama to Birmingham. Is doing great things for the future. You have big city here--a young city-and l am glad that it is his tory that cities with such natural wealth later turn attention to the poetic and artistic. Having money, their patrons of art are able to do great things for the pleasure of the whole world. You are helping the work of others to come after you.
 Team work Is o6e of the finest things any group of persons can learn. Your local speakers have been flatteringly kind in giving me. the title of the Greatest Shakespearean Actor of the Age" They have said so many fine things I am forced to be sorry that I cannot have them on my publicity staff. But have been able to attain what success l have only because of my associates, who have learned, in or 10 years to- gether, one another's dispositions, and how to play into one another's hands to make their stage work and mine a greater thing. They forgive one another's personal faults; have learned splendid companionship."
 The actor Is accompanied to Bir- mingham by his wife, .who takes va rious roles in his plays of Shake speare, and by his son, Paul Hamp- den. 14 years old They sat at a spe- cially raised table at the luncheon, with Mrs J. R. Hornady, president of the Drama league, who presided, and L. W. Josselyn. who introduced the speaker. as well as Mrs Glenn Gazzam, president of the Shakespeare club, Mrs. William E. Bohannon of the Fortnightly Shakespearean club, Miss Lee Ola Shannon, president of the Junior Shakespeare club-ail three of whom represented their or ganizations, which entertained jointly with the league. Each one of them spoke words of welcome.
 Members of Company Present
 Several members of the Walter Hampden company were also present.
 Mrs. Hornady announced that the great actor had set aside Monday night as Drama League Night" when hs would play The Merchant of Venice" in honor of it's membership.
 MT. Hampden, who has a fine old fashioned artistic bearing with clas sicaliy molded features, praised the southern cordiality' which he had re- ceived here, he declared, and brought great applause when he set forth:
 Although I am New Yorker, my own people settled in Georgia with James Oglethorpe-so I can lay claim really to being southerner my self"
 He expressed surprise that Bir- mingham was so young. He had ex- pected an older city. He struck an entirely new note with this thought;
 We shall be proud of our English speech. The French have always been too proud of theirs, feel some times. They have built little wall around themselves, induced the whole
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-23
LEGION TO HAVE TREE

Anniston, December 22.-(Special. ) The municipal Christmas tree to be given on the postoffice lawn Satur- day evening under the auspices of the Anniston post of the American Legion promises to be one of the most interesting events of the holi- day season. contributions of the most liberal kind having been offered the former service men. Commander Louis Klein and the active commit tee in charge of the arrangements are making their plans for making the tree an abundant success, and they expect to bring gladness to all of he children of the city.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-23

What better thing than to give them Friday nights for their very own romping time with you? Make no other engagements; be with them; plan something for them; have a glorious good lot of joy with them.
 Tell q Story
 If there Is a particular story you would like them to know, make Fri day nights the occasion of pro gram of 1t reading aloud Or, if you wish, tell them the story. inn pressing it in some colorful way maybe by showing them pictures,
 Which means that ths is chill dren's night-Friday night. Are you prepared to be ringleader in gay
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-23

ety? Or have you grouch to work off? Perish the latter thought, and get out of it! Take the 14 children and raise sand in some way. Bed time'l come in jiffy. and you'll sleep better afterwards.
 Hundreds of children and young boys and girls send letters each week to the Children's Page The Age Her aid publishes each Saturday. There's always lots of good fun and human nature in the children's letters, and if you don't read them you miss many smile, and many mind jour ney back to your own school days. It's a grown-up's page, therefore. as much as it is for the children. So watch for 1t each week, and if the babies at your house can't read 1t themselves. read 1t to them
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-23

formation furnished the board at that time did not in their opinion justify the board proceeding with this contract.
 Four months later the matter again came up, and on September I3 Mir. Gwin and Mir. Edmundson were appointed as committee, Mir. Ed mundson to attempt to settle some right-of-way dispute and Mir Gwln to compare prices existing then ana report back to the board. At that time 1 considered the board fortu- nate in having My. Gwin on this com mittee for two reasons-first. be- cause of MT. Gwin's known ability as an engineer, and second. that he was at that time engaged in the contracting business. having at that time contracts for the construction of roads in other counties in the state. On September 27 MT. Gwin not having made report to the board, MT. Dunn again came before the board and asked if any action had been taken, and during the dis cussion I called on Mir. Gwin for a report, and he made the following statement: That he. had been pres ent at almost every letting of con tracts for building roads by the state of Alabama, as well as some in other states, and 1t was his opinion that MT. Dunn was a little high on the concrete base, but a little low on the bituminous top, but taking the road as complete job, together with the fact that MT. Dunn would Nave to provide a purchaser for the bonds and presumably loose the diff ference between the price of the bonds and par, that Mir. Dunn's prices would be in line with the prices being paid by the state for a similar class of pavement, and q res olution was unanimously passed, all members being present and voting that If Mir. Dunn would buy or pro- ddce a buyer for the bonds at par, that the board would allow him to proceed with his contract, and l as chairman was instructed to sign his contract Acting under these in- structions, on October 14, I signed the contract with Dunn Construction company. with the express under st&nding that if they failed to buy or rroauce a buyer for the bonds, the contract would be considered null and void.
 Willing To Take Consequences
 So 1t can be readily seen that Tn every instance where I was in doubt have always sought the advice Of men trained in the particular line Of wcrk of which I was in doubt, and acted on their advice. When this Is done. l feel I have fulfilled my duty as a public servant. and am willing to take the consequences.
 Since entering upon my duties as a member of the board of revenue I have given my whole, undivided time to the duties of the office, and feel ing the same responsibility of carry ing out a contract of the county that would in my personal affairs, am willing for the people to judge the matter and abide by their decision.
 "Iu conclusion 1 am constrained to say, however. that If all members of the-board would be as energetic in the interest of the county before contract was let as they have been in explaining why they are willing to abrogate contract, for which they are equally responsible, that the board might not find themselves in the position they are at present.
 ID. c. BALL,
 President Board of Revenue"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-23
County Bound To Carry Out Dunn Contract Is Claim Of
 Board of ReUenue Chairman.
D. C. Ball Takes Issue With Benners in Explanation to Why Bessemer Road Work Should
 Not Be Done

Taking with Augustus the law firm Burr valid the building North Bessemer road D. C. Ball. president of the yesterday declares that the minutes of the board show that resolution unanimously provided Dunn would buy that Jerry GNn appointed committee investigate It that while little high base he little low the btumnous taking whole together with the fact that Dunn would chaser for the bonds and presumably the price of the bonds that his would being paid by for snila work
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-23
Fine High Sentiments tn
 Address Of Great Actor
By MICNON HALL

luncheon yesterday at the Southern club: himself.
 There fine things this world for the mind know and the heart explore They everybody The that the not know missing great things And missing grat things, he missing thrills
 We let so wonders by.
 An worth while left thrill; only felt life there Sometimes something enough to wreck the vessel but wonderful had such for nthar to ohllld
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-23
BOY sERIoUsLY HURT

Anniston, December 22.-(Special.) ) Oscar Robert Pope. the 10-year- Id negro boy who suffered broken leg in an automobile wreck on Eleventh street and Moore avenue Wednesday night, was reported to be suffering intensely at St. Lukes hospital Thurs day. The boy was struck bysa truck of the AnIfiston Auto company while riding along Moore avenue eating An orange. the injury inflicted at the time being characterized as serious by hospital physicians.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-23
SINGING ANNOUNCED

Singing at the courthouse Christi mas dav by the Sacred Harn singing class will be from 10 a. m. to p. m. Dinner will be served at noon to all who attend. At D. m. the B. F. White Sacred Harp Musical society of Alabama will have & business ses- sion. Prof. A. A. Jackson will be n charge and direct the program.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-23
O'NEAL GIVES $30 FOR
 DESTITUTE FAMILIES

Following notice in yesterdays Age Herald that food and clothing were needed by the city welfare de- partment for three destitute families In the city, one contribution to the cause came with $3o sent to The Age Herald for the fund by c. l.. O'Neal of the O'Neal> Lime works at Eureka. Ala. The paper will turn the amount over to the department for proper distribution.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-23
PENSION wARRANTs MAILED

MOntEomery, December 22.-(Spe- cial.)-Pension warrants due January to Confederate soldiers and their widows were mailed to the probate judges by the state auditor today. The total to be paid in pensions for the quarter Is $30s.43s. The total number of pensioners now is 18.67S. of which 11.532 are men.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-23
Big Night Tonight With
 Riddles at Your House?
By MIGNON HALL.

Deep the heart of chid there loneliness? children all they should with possible ton of companonship? The latter the thing that according who made these questions children their child
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-23
A WEAKNESS OF THE SEX

From Judge.
 It isn't at all unusual for a wife to stay longer on her honeymoon than her husband.~