davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-24
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soUABBLEs OF CELEBRITIES

From the Century.
 In an appreciative article on Charles Haddon Chambers, the celebrated playwright who died few months ago, John D. Williams refers to the gatherings of notables in Frohman's rooms in London when it amusing to watch the little rivalries among the famous authors, al- ways politely obliquely expressed, but often as petty as the sayings or doings of the small est characters in their plays.
 "Maugham (W. Somerset Maugham) hated Shaw because Shaw had once sienced him with the retort dscourteous when Vaughan was opposing the election of Hall Cane to the Brit ish Dramatists' club, which had periodic meet ings, apparently just to quarrel, in the Cecil hotel They all shot arrows at Barrie because of his unvarying success. Most of them dis liked Galsworthy because of his aloofness, fam- ily and Oxford background and everybody was terrified into silence by the mere sight of Hich- ems, because, as Chambers once told me, 'Hich- ems would make copy out of his own mothers death ratte.'
 Chambers was the most well rounded of them all Pinero was always very austere, dictator ial only occasionally turning up, never to dis cuss his plays in the making with Frohman, but to tell him what he must have. His pieces were
  then printed with the unshakable understand ing that they were to be acted exactly writ ten, without the change of a syllable of dialogue or a single stage direction; that they were virtually pre-acted plays, leaving nothing for the actor to do but to obey Pinero's directions
 Barrie was around oftenest of all, more talkative there than in his own rooms, generally on his feet, leaning the back of a chair, smoking an old brier pipe.
 "One night Frohman, Barrie, and l were seated in box at the Gaiety theatre, London, waiting for the curtain to go up on the premiere of George Edwardes musical comedy. There was long delay, as at all Gaety first nights We were filling it in by naming the celebrities in the audience.
 "'I see Pinero and Lady Pinero in the third or fourth row down below said Barrie.
 "'Yes, you've been looking down on him ever since "The Little Minister" Barrie, haven't you? remarked Frohman.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-24
GOOD WORK DONE BY. THE TUSCALOOSA CHAMBER

Greater Tuscaloosa" organ of the Chamber of Comerce in that city, has isued Christmas greeting in the form of a handsome eight page edition.
 Among the items, to which attention is called. is the work of the traffic bureau division of the chamber. This is quite a young institution, but it has already discovered freight over charges of $1S,000 and filed claims on the car riers, besides quoting rates and checking ex- pense bills of the merchant members. The bu- reau also secured rate reductions for it's River view wharf.
 The chamber aided many community fairs, has taken and is now taking live interest in the establishment of paper mill and has made itself the Tuscaloosa community center.
 No ono rejoices more in the growth of Tas. caloosa than the citizens of Birmingham. Many former Tuscal oosans do business here and hun
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-24
~----~----------------ae@ BEAUTY OF THE ORCHIDS

From the London Times.
 While the gardens at Kew just now are shorn of most of their beauty, the greenhouses and hot houses are well worth lingering in. Among the orchids alone one may well spend an hour or two.
 Few people, probably, outside the ranks of professional gardeners, realize how numerous are the individual species of this flower. Botanists recognize more than 5000 kinds of orchids; some, in fact, would estimate them at far larger number. These vary widely in their general habit of growth. All of them are herbaceous with simple undivided leaves, but with most of those of temperate attitudes (including some three dozen natives to these isands) are what the grower terms 'terres- trial') growing, as he says, 'on their own roots" in the soil, most of those from the moist forests of equatorial lands, represented by few score of forms in Houses 1S and IA at Kew, grow on the boughs of trees and derive their moisture from the atmosphere by their aerial roots and other food from dust, fragments of decaying bark, or other matter which may accumulate around them. Some few are climbers, and others feed entirely dead leaves or other organic matter.
 With all this diversity of habit, however, they all conform to two closely related plans in the number and arrangement of the parts of their flowers and fruit. At the moment, the more general of these plants is scantily represented among the plants In flower at Kew. The south side of the orchid houses is almost destitute of blossom; but this type is represented by few species of Cymbidium in the north side of the buildings. The special attraction of the orchid house at present is the wonderful display of delicately curved and colored flowers of the genus Cypripedium, the Ladies' Slippers.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-24
DIME NOVELS NOT so BAD

From the New York Times.
 Over in Berlin, it seems, they have just per suaded the boys to turn in for destruction in a big bonfire a vast number of books which judging from the description of them given In the dispatches were close relatives of what in this country formerly were, and perhaps still are called dime novels. In place of thesA treasures the Berlin boys have received "clas- sical works and other good books"
 That sounds well, but if the volumes burned really were no worse than tales of Indians, the wild west and detectives, they were not very bad, and there is some basis for the contention that almost any book that will be read by boys is better than almost any book that will not be read by them. As some of us remember dime novels, there was nothing whatever in them that would harm anybody. There were merely tales of adventure, more or less well written, but quite free from vice; and if they started few boys out in search of redskins to fight and bears to hunt, that great calamity.
 Certainly no end of books worse than dime novels are printed nowadays, in Germany and out of it, and one cannot help viewing with sus- picion the reference in the Berlin dispatch to "other good books" Good" in whose opinion? In that of the monarchists or of the republi- cans? There is hint of propaganda in 'other pood books
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-24
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
 AND ELSEWHERE
DRAMA LEAGUE AND SHAKESPEARE

During the visit of Walter Hampden, the eminent Shakespearean actor in Birmingham i5 has been very gratifying to note the cordial cooperation between the Drama league and the Shakespeare clubs of the city, said Mrs. J. R. Hornady
 When the Drama league invited the four Shakespeare clubs to attend the luncheon which was given Thursday in honor of Mr. Hampden there was the greatest delight expressed and in- stead of Shakespeare being dead issue in the theatre and reading matter, I am delighted to say that Sthe Bard of Avons wonderful dramas are more alive and more highly appre- ciated than ever before.
 "Mr. Hampden by the way is the one actor since Edwin Booth of whom it is said he has made Hamlet pay which is a great tribute to his portrayal of the Prince of Denmark. The Shakespeare clubs of the district and the Drama league have united to make next Monday night Drama league night at the theatre and MT. Hampden has chosen as his vehicle for that even- ing the immortal role of 'Shylock' which is one of his best. Far from being obsolete Shakes peare when portrayed by the right sort of actor is more popular than many of the modern dramas"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-24
IT WAS A HOT DAY
From Harper's Magazine.

From Harper S Magazine
 The historic old church of St. Michaels Tn Charleston, S. C.,-to be a member of which IS the open sesame to Charleston society-had at one time very eccentric pastor, whose con gregation never knew just what he would do next One hot July afternon he entered hls pulpit, with the sounding board above, sat down and wiped the precipitation from ihs face, re- marking in calm, unruffled tone:
 Damned hot day"
 Of course the congregation was thunder struck. With all his peculiarities, they had not dreamed of anything like this So still was the audience that the drop of pin could have been heard. After long time, when the pre- spiration had been carefully wiped from cheek and brow, he concluded
 That's what heard an rreverant young man say as I came in."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-24
COMING FROM ALL POINTS

Many former Aabamians, just like myself, will take advantage of the annual ekklesa of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity at Birmingham, December 28-31, to come back to their native city and state,' says c. S. O'Neal of the Oregon Journal staff of Portland, Oregon, who was one of the first arrivals for the frat convention.
 Some of us from the far west started early so that we could get few extra days in Bir- mingham. Delegates and alumni will come from all parts of North America, including Mexico, Canada and practically every state of the unon.' O'Nea is Birmingham boy who went west in journalism.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-24
WAR FINANCE CORPORATIONS
 EXTENSIVE OPERATIONS

The annual report of the war finance corpo. ration discloses operations of an extensive na. ture in promotion of trade by financing ex- ports and the marketing of farm products. Leading items geaned from the report are these
 Loans on cotton aggregated $32, ,000, 900, on grain $16,000,000, on live stock 1S,OO0, ,ooo and for general agricultural purposes SEA- 0o0,ooo
 Advances on exports, $51, ,500,o ,ooo of which $2s,ooo,O00 was on-cotton and $11 ,5OO ,o0o on grain.
 Of the total loans, $52, 1000 ,ooo was advanced to cooperative marketing associations, S72,- 00o,o0o to banking and financial institutions and S9,000,000 to exporters.
 From four to fifty requests for loans rang ing from one million to several millions of dollars are received daily.
 The corporations machinery, both in Washington and in the field, is we'll organized and complete.
 The corporation believes that its work nas not only done good directly, but that it has been beneficial from a psychological point of view. There seems no doubt of the correctness of the statement It may further be concluded that operations of the corporation based on this years experience, will be of greater service to the farmers, and by aiding them, of greater service to the nation in 1922
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-24
THE CELESTIAL SURGEON

By Robert Louis Stevenson.
 If have faltered more or less In my great task of happiness; If 1 have moved among my race And shown no glorious morning face; If beams from happy human eyes Have moved me not; if morning skies. Books, and my food, and summer rain Knocked on my sullen heart in vain:- Lord, thy most pointed pleasure take And stab my spirit broad awake; Or, Lord, if too obdurate l,
 Choose thou, before that spirit die, A piercing pain, a killing sin, And to my dead heart run them in.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-24
SUPREME COURT DECIDES WISELY ANr JUSTLY IN THE MATTER OF VENUE
 IIPET SHIFTS
rom the Rirminpbam News.

From the Birmingham News.
 The supreme court of Alabama, by refusing a rehearing in the suit of George Huddleston vs The Birmingham Age Herald, has term!- mated, accordipg to justice and common sense, a cause celebre in the annals of libel litigation in Alabama.
 The court has held in effect, that if there be grievance and cause of action against a newspaper for libel. the action must be brought in the county in which that newspaper has it's legal domicile Npder the contention of MT. Huddleston and his counsel there was separ- ate cause of action in any Sounty in which copies of the offending publication circulated and proceeding upon this interpretation of the law, suit was brought against The Age-Herald Publishing company-not in Jefferson county but in Blount. At the conclusion of the trial a verdict of S30,0 900 damages was assessed by the Blount county jury. This of course is voided by the final decision of the supreme court that the suit should have been brought in Jefferson county.
 The libel laws of Alabama are restrictive and capriciously severe; and it would have been monstrous perversion of rhe spirit of justice and equity to hold that suits could be brought in remote counties against a newspaper corporation, where, for instance, copy of the paper might have been purposely carried in or der to obtain venue; and thus entail great ex- pense in defending such suit, and injustice in preventing the benefit of long and honorable standing of newspaper at home to have its weight-the same as a lifetime of upright con duct counts for the individual when assaled for wrong count for naught.
 The supreme court has done great deal to clarify the situation and has taken the broad, just and eminently fair view of the case.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-24
ASK NO QUESTIONS

Don't ask any questions and I will not in- duge in prevarications,' said M ID. Orcutt, just prior to his departure for Morganfield, Ky, where he and his son, Walter Orcutt, have gone to spend Christmas with Norman Orcutt, his other son. Mrs. Orcutt is already in Morgan field, so it will be family reunion.
 "Of course, know and my friends know" said MT. Orcutt, "that they used to make very good bourbon in that part of Kentucky but I give you my word that do not know whether there is any of it left over in Morganfied or mott
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-24
PIE AND PERSONALITY

"That guy said, My dear, you ought to be in the movies,'" remarked Imogen, the pastry clerk, as she drowned at a facetious cafeteria patron.
 "He hadda nerve" replied Isobel, high prestess of the pork and beans.
 Yeah. I don't know why it is, but these guys who call for French pastry are always trying to get gay with the help. reglar he- who wants his apple pie and a piece of cheese never talks like that"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-24
KNOWS THE GAME

"The Age-Herald is fortunatein securing the services of D. c. Tinsley as courthouse re- porter,' says William J. Waldrop, clerk of the circuit court.
 Not only is he good writer, but he is a graduate lawyer, and understands how to write legal stories easily ineligible to the readers. He is the best reporter who has ever been the courthouse run in Birmingham, when it comes to writing stories with any legal phase.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-24
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
AFTERMATH

After the fun and the frolic, After the laughter and song, And bright faces smiling, mid gay scenes
 beguiling
 The hearts of the holiday throng; After an orgy of feasting And giving of presents around, And perhaps wee nip just for weting the
 lip,
 If somebody like that can be found, We must settle once more to the labor Of keeping the wolf from the door; It's curious thing, but after fling Life's duller than ever before.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-24
TWO HAPPY ORPHANS

Our word contest made two orphans happy, D said Charles c. Davis, president of the Birming ham Automobile club. Both hail from the East Lake orphanage. One, a boy, lunch ticket at city restaurant The other, girl won pair of silk stockings. It was quite clever of these two youngsters to be among the win ners of the contest, which consisted of send ing in the greatest number of words to be coined out of the word automobile.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-24

A French diplomat who made faux pas in Washington is said to be slated for retirement. Diplomats may commit high crimes with im- punity, but they can't get away with faux pas.
 Attorney General Dau9herty has discovered that the cost of living is too hgh discovery already made by 90 per cent of the American people.
 Hi Johnson is in California keeping an ear to the ground, and we'd be willing to bet nine dollars to a nickel that he's hearing something.
 The stern look DeValera was reported to be wearing the other day cast no gloom on more enlightened members of the Dali Eireann.
 The chicken thief who robbed the Salvation Army home the eve of Christmas is about low down thief gets to be.
 King George and Queen Mary are reported to be planning visit to Ireland, but they'll wait for the dove of peace to light first.
 A New York office boy who killed daylight bandit deserves something substantial in the way of Christmas gift from the firm. 
 Mir. Debs and MT. Bryan share the unique distinction of running for the presidency more than any other men who ever lived
 Science is fighting mosquitoes with minnows and millions of sweet singers of the night, will never be able to burst into song.
 Members of the medical profession who in sist that Dr. Lorenz get license surely won't demand that he get reputation.
 Germany claims to be making synthetic gold. Chemists may eventually be able to do something for the German mark.
 It really doesn't matter to the rank and file whether the Volstead law went into effect Jan uary IT, or January Is.
 Another famous restaurant has fallen vic tim to prohibition The mortality rate among cabarets is appalling.
 MT Wells first name doesn't matter. His in itials and his last name keep his publishers busy raking in the shekels.
 The Latin quarter of Paris, says a writer, is just as gay as it ever was He needn't try to tell an old boy that.
 It's an easy matter to spill the beans in the arms conference, fact well known to Presi- dent Harding
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-24
DISADVANTAGE OF PRESIDENCY
From the Houston Post.

From the Houston Post.
 The President will celebrate Christmas in the white -pillared temple at Washington, manacled and clamped by the chill formality of high sta- tion. If he should take an eggnog, or smoke a cigarette or dance Christmas jig in the East room, somebody would crticise him. And should he enjoy rabbit hunt in the snow on the Mary land hills, some dunce would sheer Lat him. We have decided not to run for the presidency.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-24
THOSE wHovE CONE BEFORE

'"The medium is now about to go into a trance" remarked the master of ceremonies 'Ts there any gentleman present who would like to communicate with g. >friendsin heavenf'' 'T'll wait whilo," said one client, diffidently ''Eh, sir7"
 "Shes mora apt to find somebody who knows me by calling the .otherspiace.'
 PAULCooK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-24
GOOD VAUDEVILLE HERE

q glad to see the real high-cass and re. fined vaudeville acts that are playing on Bir- mingham vaudeville stages nowadays" re- marked Mrs. John B. McLane of Goodwater, who was shopping in Birmingham yesterday.
 "Oftimes in the past I have heard it men toned that there regular epidemic of ob- scene vaudeville acts being shown here, but believe that that time is over.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-24
AS SHE READ IT

Congo Correspondent, Benton, (Ark.) Courier.
 An old lady here told her pastor that if It warn't for certain passage of Scripture from which she derived great comfort she could not endure her trials and tribulations. She said she didn't know exactly where it could be found but what it said was, "Just grin and bear it."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-24
WITH A COMPETENCY

From the Los Angeles Times
 Governor Allen of Kansas says that his state is passionately fond of prohibition and even the bottleggers going out of business. Kansas was prohibition state for 30 years before the amendment and consequently it's bootleggers have grown old enough to retire.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-24
COP WITH A CONSCIENCE

From the Tampa Tribune.
 A policeman in Marion O., becoming con- verted at revival, has resigned from the force on the ground that he "could not be a good Christian and policeman at the same time." We wonder, now, if his conscience would let him be President
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-24
SUBMARINE AND POISON GAS
 WILL NOT BE ABOLISHED

The submarine and poison gas have come to stay. At any rate, they will be used for of fensive and defensive purposes until some other more destructive way of waging warfare is discovered by the scientists
 England's desire to abolish the submarine was due not so much to humane impulse as the fear Germanys U-boat created in the tight little island" and the lesson the British government learned during the war, that the submarine constitutes of the greatest perils to which country situated as England is can be exposed.
 There will probably be lengthy discussions of the part to be played in future wars by the submarine and poison gas, and doubtless decision will be reached to keep them within the limitations of so-called civilized warfare" but they too effective to be abandoned.
 Human nature has not changed much, al- though in recent years it has shown signs of improvement. It has profted to some extent from the bitter experiences of the World war. The arms conference in Washington and the revied League of Nations show that humanity wants to shake off the incubus of militarism, but we not ready yet to part with two weapons which will be tremendously useful if human nature should have relapse and "see red' again.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-24

dreds of university alumni are helping to make Birmingham. Tuscaloosa is historically dear to Alabamians, but they are also gratified to real ize that no city in the south has more commu- nity pluck, pride and progressiveness.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-24
RESULT OF WEAR AND TEAR

From the Arkansas Gazette.
 Five years ago Jim Reed said that his voice, which once was ''as sweet flue-note wait ed on the evening breezes to a waiting lover," had become as husky as a buzz-saw. Maybe, Jim, little rest would bring back the flute-like voice This. of course, is not hint.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-24
A SPECIALIST OFFENDED

"Whats the trouble?"
 ''Dr, Pillars trespassed on pair of tonsils Dr. Slasher regarded as his personal property and took 'em out just at the time when, you might say, Dr. Slasher was whetting his knife for the job"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-24
BAFFLED RESEARCH

"Do you believe in the medicinal value of beer?" asked Prof. Diggs.
 Certainly" answered MT. Bibbles. "T also believe Mars is inhabited, but have fat chance to prove it.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-24
THE WAY IT TRAVELS

THE WAY TT TRAVELS 'T hate gosip," said Mrs. Calder. s"So do T." said Mrs. Clipping. But when I hear anything feel that ought to share it with my friends"
 "Of course you do. Let's sit down here in these comfy chairs and you tell me what you've heard"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-24
NOT SEASONED YET

NOT SEASONED YET "Does Mir. Clipping play golf on Sunday?" "Apologetically." 'Is his game as bad as that?" "No, but his conscience hurts"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-24
GOOD WORD FOR J. B.

From the Washington Star.
 About the only thing now being said in favor of old John Barleycorn is that he was liberal taxpayer.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-24

Know you not, master, to some kind of men Their graees serve them but as enemies7
 As You Like It.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-24

A French diplomat who made faux pas in Washington is said to be slated for retirement Diplomats may commit high crimes with i'm punity, but they can't get away with faux pas