davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-21
LETTERS TO EDITOR
aNormnI, conaitions

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 When the average man asks when will conditions be normal again, he means when will we have the very best business that was ever had in his experience. But 8 little thought the sort of business that is had in the most prosperous times. Normal conditions are more correctly de- scribed IS average conditions, that is, neither the worst nor the best. Many persons feel that it would be advan- tageous for business to be absolutely uniform. that is, for-th volume of trade in 10-year period to be equal ly divided between each one of the years.
 But history shows that we have good and bad periods alternately; :; this may be due entirely to natural causes, or may have been so ordered in the Divine economy because it is best for mankind. Weather statistics show that two thirds of all the days are free from rain, and only one third are rainy, but in business the proportion of bad years is less than one in three. A prosperous term Of years is always followed by a period of dull business, but we can be cer- tain that 8 period of dull times will be followed by longer period of good times. We are now learning the need for economy and the ways in which it can be practiced, and these lessons will stand us in good stead in the better. time that is coming.
 It is realized that note of optim- ism does not readily find an echo in the heart of man who is without work and without money. But a movement has been set on foot in the community to relieve tho distressed conditions in part. at least, and this will have good effect on those who give and on those who receive. It is said that a Persian king asked a. philosopher for sentence, to be en- graved in his ring, that would be restraint to him in prosperity and stay in diversity, and the sage wrote, Even this shall pass away The present distressed conditions will pass away, and probably sooner than anyone expects.
 JOHN H. FRYE.
 Birmingham, June 20, 1921.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-21
Cotswold Village
John prinkwater, in the July Yale

John Drinkwater, in the July Yale
 Review.
 One evening as l was walking down a Cotswold road with Thesiger Crowne, we passed a long striding heavily bearded man, wearing a slouch hat, baggy coat and trousers, and shabby black leggings falling well down on to his boots. He was carrying gun, and beside hint trot- ted large retriever dog, I had not seen him before.
 Who is that?" I inquired of The siger.
 Rufus Clay he answered. He's a foreigner"
 Signs of red hair It birth may have encouraged his parents to call him Rufus, but 1t. certainly turned out to be misnomer. His full beard was black. and his complexion swarthy, but l thought the man looked Eng fish.
 "A foreignerg what is he-a span iard?"
 "Spaniard?" said Thesiger. No. He comes from Pinswick,
 You mean he lives there?"
 "No. He do not live there. He do live here"
 Pinswick is a village IT miles away, on the other side of the county was puzzled.
 But you said he was foreigner"
 ..Yes. he be foreigner He's Pins wicker"
 But how long has he lived herer' persisted.
 "Oh. not above 10 or l2 years"
 I had been Thesiger's neighbor for IS months. and I came from five counties away. As ne spoke, l sup posed that he must look upon me as something out of the seat at least. though we always seemed to be very good friends. I discovered that noth- ing short of two generations of un- broken tenure constitutes native rights. Settlers in this Cotswold vil- lage. if only from the next parish. are foreigners, and openly called so. For casual pass-the- time day ac- quaintance even for neighborly talk. this is no particular disability. but if you come with the intention of ear- rying on business, you are likely te be disillusioned.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-21
From the Brooklyn Eagle.

From the Brooklyn Eagle.
 A LL theatregoers will wish A\ George NJ. Conan joy of his
 first vacation in 26 years, and will hope that it will conserve his vigor for many more years Of such varied and vigorous public entertain ment as is vouchsafed by no other human dynamo In "the snow busi- ness" They wili not take too seri- ously MT. Cohans gloomy prediction that his absence from Broadway enay be for years, and it may be forever" A general belief in any such dire fate as that would start riot which would tear up Broadway.
 As it is, Mir Cohan's temporary re- tirement has not even torn up Equity, which is the immediate cause of his experiment in resting MT. Cohan wants to cast Equity actors In his plays, and under the closed shop rule of that organization he can't get them unless he joins the closed shop union, which his soul abhors, or else joins the Producing Managers asso- citation, from which he retired when he started to lead Fidelity as an open shop organization against Equity. Those managers have contract which protects them from Equitys exclusiveness until 1924.
 MT Conan believes that the trouble
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-21
BILL ME ON THE wIREs

From the New York Tribune.
 The news from Peoria that the shade of Bill Nye has taken to writ ing poetry will come as shock, even to those of us who are in fair ly good health
 Thirty years or more ago Bill We was one of our most popular humor- ists. Beginning his career on the Laramie Boomerang, he rapidly achieved repute for funniness. Now this would mean the screen. In his day, it meant, the lecture platform. He formed an oratorical partnership with James iWhitcomb Riley. It was a great occasion in the Fremont tenn pie. Boston, in November, 1888, when Mark Twain introduced Nye and Ri- ley as the Siamese Twins.
 Tn moral matters said Twain, "Mr. Chang Riley was always dyna- mo. MT. Eng Nye was always .notor; for while MT. Chang Riley had a high-in fact, an abnormally nigh and fine moral sense, he had no ma- chinery to work 1t with; whereas, Mir Eng Nye, who hadn't any moral sense at all. and hasn't yet, was equipped with all the necessary plant for putting noble deed through. if he could only get the inspiration on reasonable terms outside"
 But Bill Nye, beyond a few halting stanzas that struck terror to the eyes of his friends. never wrote verse. Is it possible that Mark Twain was right in intimating that Mir. Eng Nye" hadn't any moral sense Tt all, and is willing, as he remarked, to Itry anything once? Otherwise. how can we account for the statement that Bill Nye has apparently given up humor and has added himself to the number of the choristers? We don't need any more poets; the case of free versing insures this; but there never seems to be enough hu- morists to go around.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-21
THE EXALTED DADA
From the Chicago Herald and Ex.

From the Chicago Herald and Ex-
 aminer.
 missionary has just brought to this country four children of the Bushmen tribe of Africa. This tribe according to the missionary, wear nc clothes and have an exalted opinion of white men, whom they call "Da da." They called the missionary "Bis Dada"
 It is pity athe whole tribe did that has an exalted opinion of white men deserves 8 free sightseeing trip around the world
 Of course they would miss the greatest show that the white man ever staged--the spectacle of 500,- o0o,00o,0o0 Dadas at war with one another, But they would be in time to see 105 100000 Dadas still in a state of war even after the war is over.
 They would also be in time to see two exalted white men Slug each other with a million Dadas breath lessly awaiting the outcome. And they could watch the developments of Dada Stillman's exalted affairs. become acquainted with Dada sims and Dada reformers and many other Dadas who are contributing to the exaltation of the white man.
 It would be great educational trip for them. When they got back to Africa they might, perhaps, have an exalted opinion of Bushmen.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-21
* J. * Former Bandit Chief In Role of Gentleman Farmer

N GOVERNMENT agent who &A recently visited Francisco Villa on his farm in Mexico pic- lures the former bandit as leading the life of country gentleman with 500 of his followers, who oc- cupy about 5oo,O00 acres in north ern Durango.
 The colony is growing wheat, corn, beans and vegetables. Villa, who achieved prominence without an education has established schools to accommodate 300 children and made arrangements with the government to provide teachers.
 One can never tell what is going to happen in Mexico, or what will be the attitude of leader who still commands a considerable following, but it appears that Villa has left the glamor and excitement of ban ditry behind him to play the role of chief and instructor to his erst- while soldiers whom he is teaching the useful arts of peace and inculcat- ing lessons of thrift and industry, a kind of training they have never had before.
 Yet, there must be times when "Pancho" yearns for the stir and tumult of other days. Farming has it's advantages, but it is a quiet life and apt to grow monotonous to one who has had such a pictur- esque and adventurous career as Villa. An outlawed cattle rustler, he became for a while Mexico's fore most military leader. It is we'll for the peace of Mexico that Villa is where he is, and the Mexican gov ernment did a fine stroke of busi- ness when it made him landed gentleman.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-21
HOPE AND FEAR

By Algernon Charles Swinburne. Beneath the shadow of dawn's aerial
 cope, With eyes enkindled as the suns own
 sphere, Hope from the front of youth in goi,
 like cheer, Looks Godward, past the shades
 where blind men grope Round the dark doors that prayers
 nor dreams can ope. And makes for joy the very darkness
 dear That gives her wide wings play; nor
 dreams that Fear At noon may rise and pierce the heart
 of Hope. Then, when the soul leaves off te dream and yearp. May Truth first purge her eyesisht
 to discern What once being known leaves Time no power to appall; Till youth at last. ere yet youth be
 not. learn The kind wise word that falls from
 years that fail-- Hope thou not much, and fear thou
 not at all"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-21
Too Many Commissions
 a Clog to Business

IT TINTED STATES senators who " see the effects of numerous government commissions interfer- ing with business and private initia- '-tive have begun to oppose this form of regulation.
 Senator Fernald of Maine says, Government by commissions has become the greatest business in the United States" Senator Under wood believes that-if these commis- sions continue to multiply there twill soon be no government and no business"
 Senator King wonders when, where and how the tendency of govern ment regulations is to end" Senator Elkins has gone to the President about it, and reminded the latter of his famous utterance, More busi- ness in government and less govern ment in business"
 The usual federal commission spends a lot of money and seldom leads anywhere. By the time it has concluded it's laborious investiga- tions the thing about which it is concerned has either rectified itself or assumed new phases that call for other commissions to take up the problem.
 The Senate reconstruction com mission went about the country en- deavoring to find some panacea for the lack of building enthusiasm. Be fore it had made it's report to Con- gress materials and labor had come down and the people were build.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-21
Haywood Makes Best
 of a Bad Situation

eeTR iG BILL" HAYWOOD has
 ID cause to be in Russia. The alternative is a 20-year penal term in America.
 At the convention of the third in- ternationale at Moscow, he is quoted as having said that formerly op- pressed Russians fled to America. but that now American workmen escape to truly free Russia.
 But Haywood, having done no work for long time, is not in a position to speak for workers. If he had declared that, where Ameri- ca formerly permitted anarchists from Russia to come to this country, it has either sent them back to Russia or caused them to return to avoid the penalty of their treason. he would have more exactly stated what is fact and what he knows to be fact.
 The only workers known to have left America for Russia are such fiery manipulators of pen and tongue as Emma Goldman, and AL exander Berkman, who were de- ported, and men like Haywood, who have merely chosen exile in pref erence to prison.
 The Russians, who cheered Hay wood, probably laughed in their sleeves. Even an anarchist knows the difference between voluntary and involuntary exile.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-21
Cruelty Is Charged to
 Oglethorpe Commander

~ OE. F. S. Foltz of the Sixth N cavalry has been relieved from command of duty as the command ing officer at Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., for alleged mistreatment of g sol dier.
 It is charged that Private George P. Rhodes, who was absent with out leave, was placed in heavy irons which chafed his right leg so badly that it became infected and several operations were necessary in the post hospital. Rhodes claims that in spite of his condition the shack les were not removed for IT days, when he promised the commandant he would not try to escape.
 The case was called to the at- tention of Secretary Weeks by Rep- resentative Rosenbloom of West Virginia. from which state Rhodes enlisted. The secretary summarily relieved Colonel Foltz of his com- mand, pending an investigation of the charges. It appears that Rhodes is a graduate of Culver Military academy, one of the finest military schools in the country, and had also attended an officers training camp Although Rhodes had been absent
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-21
% < <
Getting Freight Rates
 by Friendly Processes

TIT is gratifying to learn that the I lower export rates on Bir- mingham iron and steel products to the ports effective July 15 have come about by friendly conferences between the southern trunk lines and the Birmingham distribution and steel traffic managers.
 The reduced rates are consider ably lower than those now in ef- feet and are the equivalent of the rates an iron and steel products when destined for the Pacific coast. On products like rails and pig iron the difference between a freight rate of S4.13 and $2.75, the present and new export rate, is considerable. It is more than S1 per ton and that frequently makes for or against a transaction.
 Other good news is to the effect that at least one large southern rail carrier looks on water rate to the east via the Warrior and Nal lory line with favor. It is realized that it is better to have a short haul to the river than have Bir- mingham pig iron shut out of New England and contiguous territory. We have done business of as much as 100000 to 250,000 tons in Bir. mingham in that direction, but are doing practically nothing now.
 Railroads gain nothing by snuff fling out traffic, or by holding off from helping the resuscitation of business in a section served by them. When business is good there is room enough for all transportation agencies. Ships cannot handle stuff that is not brought to them, at least part of the way, by the rail carriers.
 Honorable competition consists of providing business at all times and then bidding for ones share. That is the kind that pays.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-21

ing. The Senate commission had no more to do with starting this movement than the stars.
 One-half the commissions find their work done before they get to it; most of the remainder serve to halt enterprise waiting on the re. suits of their interference.
 Private initiative built America. It ought to have a chance to re- build.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-21
A VALUABLE DEMON ASPIRATION

From the Birmingham News.
 Newsprint paper made from Ala
 bama spruce pine was used in pub
 lication of The Birmingham Age-Her-
 aid Monday, June 20--pine from the
 hills along the banks of the Warrior
 river Fifty cords of this wood were sent to paper mill at Niagara Falls and manufactured into as good news
 print as can be found anywhere.
 The Age-Herald has performed a
 very valuable service in making this
 demonstration. It is shown that the two newspapers of Birmingham use | 20, 900, 900 pounds of newsprint year,
 upon which the freight is about S5 cents per 100 pounds from northern mills. It is estimated that If the plan advocated by The AgeHerald, of building modern paper mill some
 where on the Warrior. can be carried
 out the newspapers of Birmingham can save s134,000 a year on freight rates alone. The rest of the state would offer large market for the
 output, and altogether, the proposi- | ton possesses great deal of merit. Chief among the arguments in favor of the idea is that 1t will make a market for 8 product now valuable only as fire wood-the short leaf pine, or spruce, of the Alabalrs. hills. | It is now 8 settled fact, The Age-
 Herald says. that Alabama spruce
 pine win make as good paper as the
 Canadian spruce. The next step
 should be to commercialize this denl-
 onstration made by our morning con- 1 temporary. make use of tats raw ma
 terial now 2 waste product, @Hd not ] only give value to something which ], has practically no value. put give em- ployment to many people and pioneer | in the establishment of an industry
 new to the south. It is true that a \ paper mill at Laine, Miss, is making "artcraft" and wrapping paper out of the slabs and refuse lumber from | the Denny sawmills. and at Bogalusa,
 La, the Great Southern Lumber com psny has a similar paper mill as by-
 product proposition. Much of the brown wrapping paper in use h lsn :
 mingham comes from one Or thefother
 of these miils-msde from refuse of
 the long-leaf yellow pine. Until now
 it has been popular conception that
 newsprint could not be made from any of the available southern woods.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-21
cAs..Ie1Ia MlQaa.slI
IN OTHER WORDS. SHE DID

 From the Los Angeles Times.
 once charming young woma q presented small check at my wia- dow said the speaker at a recent bankers convention. "She was trans parently honest, but had no ac- quaintances in the bank nor any let ters or other papers with her. asked her if she had handkerchief or some article of jewelry marked with her name or initials. After q moments deep thought her face frightened and she asked.
 Would an initialed garter buckle do?"
 Did she get the money?" asked q voice of detached scientific inquiry from the back of the room.
 T must remind you,' said the speaker, judicially, that banks relations with it's clients often ar. confidential"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-21

of Mount Everest, declaring il not this country under which Parker could have been prosecuted for set ting rp his monument to Booth. Neighbors might have ridden him upon a rail, or tarred and feathefed him, but mob lawlessness is not rec commended and indulgence in it is not creditable to a community.
 The people of this town did not approve of the monument which was seen by few persons, because Iarksr lived upon a little frequented street.. says the Troy Herald, protesting against assailment of the city whici, received undesirable publicity because of Pink Parker's peculiar views
 Could Abraham Lincoln know the facts he might look compassionasely upon Pink Parker, the crank He would resent passionately the bent of writers who have striven to account for his greatness by raising the qties- tion: Was he Thomas Lincoln's son? Yet nobody has been tarred and feathered for that wanton insult to Nancy Hanks and the insult to lhe plain people of America from whose ranks have come majoriy of Amer ica's great men. and no new wspaper has recommended that such writers be dealt with by mobS.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-21
A BROKEN ITINERARY

A BROKEN ITINERARY I'm not 8 common tramp your honor,' said the tattered individual who was charged with vagrancy What are you thenp
 I'm tourist. I started out to see America"
 Your tour will be interrupted for six months. Next case"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-21

to have been due to animosity ere ated against him because he thought he knew as much about a soldiers duties as his officers.
 Rhodes may have been a trouble some and refractory private, but his offenses did not merit such ex- treme punishment. He returned to the camp and voluntarily surren- dered. The prompt action of Secre- tary Weeks shows that he will not tolerate the abuse of soldiers by their superior officers.
 No army officer should permit his, resentment to get the better of his judgment, and if Colonel Foltz erred in this respect it is a regrettable incident which reflects on the service.
 # < 4 Louis Mann quit the ''Wh II of the Town because he ami the snuberts couldn't agree on the proper way Tor lunatic to be played. Both sides may be right. Lunacy runs the gamut from picking pansy to pieces to thirsting for human gore.
 # # < If the festivities at Jersey Cfty-the major part of the festivities-don' last longer than one round. it will put terrible crimp in the Mar seillaise."
 H. G. Wells thinks China's prog nese written and spoken language. This disposes of the theory that it is due to a weakness for stale eggs.
 * # #
 A paragrapher says the bathing suit wheeze has lost his punch May be so, but the bathing suit will all ways be an object of interest as long as lovely woman wears it.
 # # < Another raise in street car fares may cause some of the more daring suburbanites to trust themselves on bicycles, quaint form of locomo- tion.
 Bergdoll's substitute in tine World war died a hero in action. His fate will not awaken a pang of envy in the bosom of MT. Bergdoil.
 E x < New York preacher has for bidden the chewing or parking" of gum in his church. Some of his parishioners must think they are in d movie house.
 ,. x <
 Soviet Russia must be enjoying better telegraph and cable service.
 
 Trotzky says world revolution is not probable now.
 < < 4 At any rate, the obregon govern ernment has lasted long enough to carry on leisurely correspondence with Washington.
 x X The French are relying on the quick thinking of Carpenter to win a vic tory. which will prove the superiority of mind over matter
 # x # Bolshevists who cheered Haywood at Moscow should not get the idea that he is our foremost American.
 <. * * Dr. Einstein is coming back to con tinue his explanations. Heaven save The devil-may-ca part oe Utah's population continues to smoke in public.
 The signs read, This way to nor malcy." but we are still making de. tours.
 x x * The League of Nations keeps one eye on Europe and the other on America.
 * # # It seems to be sort of So-5o propo- sition with the Stillman children.
 * < < Sim Feiners prefer to say it with machine guns.
 HILL ME ON THE MIREs
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-21

raised To knock the Dempsey person. ADVENTURES OF CHESTER SAPE Here lie the remains Of Chester sapp; He drove his car With a girl on his lap.
 Washington Pa.) Observer. Poor Chester might still Have been alive Had he only taught The girl to drive.
 -Lamonte (Mo.) Record. Sapp could have saved His life-and gas By parking the car So all could pass.
 -Warrensburg star-Journsl. Yes Ches it seems You pulled a bone You oughta left The girl alone.
 Pleasant Hill Times. Yes sad to say Poor Sapp is dead But other "Sapps" -~ Will take his stead
 -Creightc1 News. Poor Chester Sapp Was a good old scout But he auto got horse And cut the auto out.
 Butler Republican Press. Poor Chester Sapp The sweet bells chime. But while on earth He had a good time.
 -Cass County Leader. This lesson we learn From Sapps' brief whirl: You can't drive car With Your arms full or girl.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-21

Abb LIFE's LITTLE TRAGEDIES From the Macon Telegraph.
 By way of being joeular, he asked his new acauaintance if the notorious murderer of the same naMe was a relative.
 He was