davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-02-23
THE PEYoTE BEAN JAG

From the New Orleans Item.
 The peaceful Winnebago and Omaha Indians in Nebraska are now appeal- ing to the state legislature for protec- tion against the blue-lawyers. The SUI perintendent of the Winnebago reser- vation has appealed to the legislative committee on medical societies for strict regulation of the use of the peyots bean, and brought testimony to show that it has effects similar to whisky and may lead to insanity or death. The tribes sent allegation to represent that the bean has curative properties and has been used for years wish ben eficial effect
 We see no reason why this matter should not be compromised. Let the druggists have the sole privilege of growing the peyote beans and selling them at s an ounce. on g prescrip. tion by some physician. and tic peyote bean will cease to be menace. Any Indian who can't dig up $7 may as well be dead
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-02-23
LUKE M'LOkE SAYS

In spite of the fact that a dog gets plenty of rest when a man is over worked he complains that he is lead ing dogs life. The difference between the 1911 model auto and the 1921 model auto Is that you do not have to sit on the back of your neck to drive a 1921 model.
 Contrary to general belief. a real fighter isn't a rough talker. The most vicious fighters we ever knew were soft t-voiced men who had little or noth- ing to say. You may not believe it, but the big ger man is, the less his wife is afraid of him.
 When one hypocrite manages to cheat another hypocrite in deal, he thanks the Lord that the right invariably tri- umphs.
 What has become of the old-fash- toned man who had a big Do It Now sign over his desk. It has just about gotten so that if a woman had the blush that comes and goes on her cheeks. she would go to the drug store and demand her money back.
 Things might be worse. Just sup pose the fool who rocks the boat should l take to rocking the airplane! . After woman has been over the 1 Jumps for while she gets smart enough never to recommend wash, woman or dressmaker to her female | friends
 When a man admits that this wife is 1 his better half he means that she is ] his better nine tenths.
 Copyright l921.)
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-02-23
Now, let's all get to work.

2 the boast of this organization that it has never employed a paid organ izer, while cities and towns applying for membership have been subjected to strict investigation to determine whether or not they can provide the right kind of men.
 With 800 clubs in the United States, Canada, England, Scotland and Ire land, including six in Cuba, there are clubs in Argentina, Spain, Uruguay, France, Porto Rico, Panama, Ha- waii, Japan, China, the Philippine Is- lands and India. Clubs are being or ganized in Denmark, Chile, Peru, Egypt, Australia, Holland, Brazil and elsewhere.
 This is truly remarkable showing for the comparatively short period of sixteen years. The success of Rotary is due to the fact that it whole heartedly lives up to it's motto and its members are the highest type of citizenship.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-02-23
FAMINE TRAGEDIES IN CHINA

From The Wolf at China's Door," by
 Nathaniel Peffer in Asia Magazine
 for March.
 6CJO the Fame-in- -All-Four Direc-
 tions Inn that night came most
 of Meng Chi Ts'un, drawn by the foreign magnet Their story toi- lowed the usual outlines; no crop for year, leaves and weeds for diet. the sale of clothes and furniture to buy chaff and perhaps little grain for luxury, numerous deaths from cholera complicated by hunger, emigration ol more than a fourth of the villagers many of whom had already returned from their futile quest. with their last hope sealed. Three days previously there had passed through the village a number of refugees. from further west on their way to the railway. Two fam flies had offered to sell their children. Naturally there was no market-even children are no longer an asset in many parts of the country. The next morn ing the bodies of five young children were found outside the village walls. They had been left there, to find either rescuers or a quick death.
 Have you, too, had to sell your chill dren?' I asked
 There was silence. each looking to the other for reply. Finally one spoke up.
 Yes, many of us have had to break up our families"
 Rich men from distant cities had come through the village, buying up children, principally girls, they said For the girls there is naturally but one use. The selling of children is famine tragedy at it's highest pitch. With his background of Confucian faith, loyalty to family is the first duty of the Chi pese When he sells his children it is
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-02-23
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
 AND ELSEWHERE
PenaIized Kindness

''It is said we never grow too old to learn.' and l am beginning to believe we never learn until we grow old' said Louie Reese. ''One new thing have recently learned is that when l through kindness, stop my car on the way to town in the mornings and load up with passengers who stand along the way waiting for street cars, take on a great deal of liability
 This had not occurred1 to me until I was recently subpoenaed as witness in two damage suit cases arising from a man through unselfishly stopping and inviting people waiting for the street car to ride and en route had an accident bruising his passengers up.
 Now in the mornings. as l come down l am afraid to pick people up and at the same time I feel very sell fish not to. It has put new phase on the matter to me"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-02-23
An Appreciation A

"On my run from here on the Sea- board to Atlanta and return l have an opportunity to see both the Birming ham and the Atlanta papers,H said the well known conductor, w. w. West moreland, and I unhesitatingly go on record that the editorial page of The Age Herald is the best of them all.
 This is not only my opinion, but hear many passengers who are of the same opinion. 1t is we'll made up, well written, and well assorted. In fact, it that 1t is well spoken of, as Birming- ham is my home town"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-02-23
IRELAND THE UNKNOWN

 By William Watson. Thou whom ten thousand searchlights
 leave obscure; The white foams sister, as the white
 foam pure; The dark storms daughter, guarding
 long and late That far-descended heirloom. ancient hate 4 .s4 ss.< I cannot say: Tn all things that con-
 cerned Thee and md. thy n hopes never swsrved or Or held with stumbling mind a wavsr-
 ing creed" But this at least . can declare indeed: Through days with tempest packed.
 with thunder piled, My dream is of an Ireland Reconciled: Not mocked and thwarted. conqusring
 some vain goa1 That only bauiks Sths hunger Of the
 soul; Not still unchesred. and in fierce mood
 unchanged, The spouse whom wsdleek hath the more estranged, Whom bonds have Che more dtrs2y
 wrenched apart; But after that long. solitude of heart And all the dissonance of the loveiess An Ireland willing to be loved z sass An Ireland healed with . more sovefl
 eign b2lm Than the old deep hurts have known,
 and in blest calm Risen from a huAdred shatserinss. great and new. To that the dreem might even nc v eciTs true!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-02-23
Balloon Races

The people of Birmingham should by all means get together and pull to have the national balloon races helc in Birmingham again" says R. J. An derson. The national races will be held somewhere ,in the United States in May to decide who shall represent this country in the international races which will be held in Belgium in Oc- tober.
 The way Birmingham handled the national and the international balloon races here last year should give her good bid for it again this year, and believe that if the clubs and the civic organizations of the city get behind it with the fighting spirit that they have shown in many instances, Birmingham will win"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-02-23
In everything, the purpose must weigh with the folly. Henry ".
 Y * x
"The Grand Old Man" of
 the L. & N. Railroad

G7T7HE death of Milton Ii. Smith
 U yesterday removes one of the ablest railroad executives in Amer ica. What MT. Smith accomplished while president of the Louisville and Nashville railroad, d position he held from 1891 until his death, will for ever link his name with the prog ress of the new south.
 Milton Smith loved the Louisville and Nashville railroad as if it were his own flesh and blood. His knowl- edge of the railroad business and the fighting spirit he showed whenever he believed the interests of the Louis- vile and Nashville were mepaced were proverbial in the south. The ex- tensive property which he directed for 80 years was regarded throughout the country as one of the best managed and most uniformly profitable rail- roads in America.
 Milton Smith was a personality. His influence was. felt in every de- partment of the great system which he helped to build up and carried safely through many storm. Every employe of the road loved and ad- mired the "old man," as they called him. It was a proud moment in the life of grimy yard man when the president stopped to chat with him, a democratic custom that did much to make MT. Smith popular among his employees and to insure their loyalty. Like nearly all self-made men, he never forgot that he, too, began at the bottom. x
 In Alabama and other states MT. Smith fought many a hard battle. Sometimes he won and sometimes he lost, but his foes feared and re- spected him to the last and his worst enemies will admit that the history of the south would De incomplete without the Louisville and Nashville railroad and Milton H. Smith. He was man who achieved much and may justly be regarded as a public benefactor.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-02-23

against the alternative of starvation not for himself only, but for all his family. And. the extremity of his pres numbers of children sold. In certain districts there are regular stalls at the fairs at which children are auctioned. In most cases they are the children or refugees who have come to the end or itheir means and must sell some of their children to save the others And often the children are given away in ex- change for the promise that they will be fed. In Shantung, few days after I had left Meng Chi Ts'un, an old man followed me out of a village, sknelt be- fore my cart and implored me with tears muddying an unwashed face to take two. small boys he had brought with him.
 With little variation the story re- peated itself as I made my way slowly across the country. At intervals of half an four I came to village. alighted from my cart and waited for the crowd that would soon surround the foreigner, heralded by the cries of startled children. And as they told me of one who had died the day before, another who was dying now. one fam fly that had not eaten since the pre- vious day and others that had gone, leaving their children behind, always had the feeling that they were telling me not of themselves. but of some dis tant people. They laughed at my in sistent questions ssas to what they planned to do.
 "Plans?" they said. we shall die. Those are our plans. What is there to plan when the stomach is empty? Mei you me'er--there Is no door," And they waved me a cheery greeting and wished me a peaceful road.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-02-23

From the Philadelphia Record.
 6NHE scandals growing out of the
 attempted enforcement, or non-
 Q enforcement. of the volstead law prohibiting the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquor. of which Pennsylvania seems too have an un- due share, are ap interesting reminder of the somewhat similar evils which fiourished during the days of the old whisky ring. This was an organiza- lion of distillers, rectifiers and whole sale dealers which came into existence soon after the close of the Civil war, when the heavy taxes imposed by the government on the makers of hard liquor led to many attempts to evade this tax, and by so doing to increase greatly the profits of the business. Revenue agents were bribed. politi- clans of every degree corrupted and the ramifications of the tax dodgers extended to every part of the country. The ring had it's spokesmen in the House of Representatives and the Scn- ate and for the first and only time in the history of the United States the breath of suspicion touched the White House. President Grants secretary was indicted and tried on the charges that he was implicated in gross frauds on the government and, though he was acquitted, popular belief persisted that he was guilty, and that his acquittas was really due to . desire to protecr the good name, of the President from any animation reflecting on his in- tegrity.
 The slimy trail of the whisky ring ran through American politics for many years. until more vigorous and honest enforcement of the law grsdu- ally closed all the leaks by which its mem00E8 4A0 oV 0ASSSAS R@~~>~~-' ttk generation later we are threatened with repetition of all the nauseatine old scandals through the application of the volstead law to the America of today. The gains to be made from moonshining and bootleggins are now so immense. that it Is no wonder that all sorts of attempts are made to cor rupt the officers of the government, and that insinuations of crooked po- litical deals are undisputed. We seem to have learned nothing from the les sons of the past.
 An unfortunate feature of this dis susting mess is that it seems likely to continue indefinitely. It would re- quire perfect army of federal offi- cers to suppress the traffic in liquor entirely, and the cost would be tre- nendous. Lacking such an effort, scandals of many kinds may be ex- pected for a long time to come. Just as in the days of the whisky ring. po-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-02-23
THE COAL STRIKE ENDS.

HE Birmingham district has it's and the long S drawn out coal strike is ended.
 This will be good only Birmingham but to the entire state It means that Birmingham get down business stop petty bckerngs and forward to of prosperity and happiness
 AS to credit for bringing the affair to end there enough round Perhaps the operators feel that they victory Perhaps the miners union feels that has been torious They both entitled for being will contribute bring about result which the general pub lie ardenty wished Everyone will breathe sigh of relief longest and satisfactory signs of relief will beahed by the who have wresed with the unpleasant accompanmens for months
 expression would be incomplete without word about the boys the battle line and in the front trenches for their members of the national guard They entitled to the everlasting gratitude of Alabamians
 Now, let's all get to work.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-02-23
Rotary" Celebrates
 Sixteenth Birthday

@ FIFTEEN years ago the first Ro- 0 ,tary club was founded in Chi cago by Paul P. Harris, a lawyer who was lonesome. Since the day when he invited coal operator, coal dealer and merchant tailor to form a group of friends and meet once week in each others offices, this unique movement has spread to all parts of the world and there are now about 65,0O0 Rotarians, picked men from the businesses and professions which they represent. It may be of inter- est to explain how the name Rotary originated. As the meetings were first held in rotation in the various offices of the members, it was sug- gested that the club be called the Probation" club By happy thought it was soon changed to Rotary"
 
 Wherever a Rotary club has been established it has made an enviable record of public service The under lying purpose of this great organi- zatioh is first to promote better Acquaintance among the represents tive men of community or awaken | desire to be of service. The slogan, hService Above Self-He Profits Most Who Serves Best" expresses what Rotary stands for and what it is doing in America and many oth- sr countries.
 The growth of the Rotary idea has been indeed remarkable. because it has been entirely spontaneous. It is
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-02-23
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
DOMESTIC JEWELS.

DOMESTIC JEWELS.
 According to prohibition enforcement officers. women are making large auanti- ties of alcoholic liquors cat home re- marked the reformer. "sog" replied Mir. Bibbles. with slight show of interest
 What does that prove, sir?'
 "Well." said Mr. Bibbles, thoughtfully' for one thing it proves they are true helpmeets. bless their hearts!'
 SKIMMING THE NEW ONES do not own a motor car,
 And vet I oft indulge in speeding So tiresome modern novels are, have to skip or stop my reading.
 WRONG TIME TO PRIMP. 50 your experiment with a female traf- fc officer was not success7''
 NO"
 What was the trouble?"
 "she started to readjust hairpin at the busiest hour of the day. The re- suit was a traffic jam that three mount ed policemen worked an hour to straight en out"
 MIGHT HAVE BEEN HARDER. T wuz in de movies, once,' said the tattered visitor.
 Not an actor?D
 You could hardly call me dat, mum. But in de big scene I wuz thrown out of a barroom by de star" You should have been we'll paid for that "well, got my s5 day, an de drinks I took wuz real ones.' PAUL COOK
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-02-23
PIPE DREAMS FOR LEVINE

From the san tranclSco CnrOn1cle. The American millionaire" with whom Lenine held solemn conference on the military policies of the United
 States sounds suspiciously like one Washington D. Vanderlip. a promoter who took a flyer in Siberian conces- sions. It is to be wondered how this
 American ''millionaire' managed to persuade Lenine that he spoke with au- thority of the desire of the United
 States to acquire base in Asia for use
 "in case of war with Japan" As Lem inc told 1t to H. G. Wells, repeated in Wells latest book, There was to be economic assistance for Russia and rec ognition of the bolshevik government There was to be a defensive alliance against Japanese aggression in Siberia. There was to be an American naval station on the coast of Asia and leases for long terms of SO or 50 years of the natural resources of Kamchatka and
 possibly of other regions of Russian Asia"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-02-23
nor Situation serious

"The situation with regard to stray dogs running at large is bad" de- clared H. P. Burruss, city commis. sioner.
 Drastic steps to eliminate this menace are necessary. Action of the city commission at the special meet. ing to be held Wednesday mornrins shoud solve the problem to a great extent. It is matter which concerns every citizen, and all should coop crate in checking hydrophobia.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-02-23

TIMBER Of cabinet material there seems to be
 no end. statesman can be mentioned" if he has single friend. His name is forthwith seized upon and
 published far and wide While he modestly acknowledges the conn
 pliment implied. The chances are he doesn't stand the
 vestige of a show For getting the appointment, but the pub
 lie doesn't know, And little advertising in the papers.
 now and then, Is relished by a certain type of self
 important men.
 A FOOL AND HIS MONEY. The silk shirt era is thing of the past
 T was talking to former seO-a-week man the other day. who was standing in a bread line"
 "Yes?"
 He assured me that it vas
 NOT A BAD GUESS Where is this Already the poets are always singing about?" asked the head filing clerk. q don't know" said the third assistant bookkeeper, with a sigh, but it must be a place where there are houses enough to go around"
 BAD FORM. Judge. I wasn't trying to flirt with this young lady." "She says you called her Precious" "I was talking to myself pet names. Ten dollars and costs.''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-02-23
DAYS OF THE WHISKY RING

litical life in many places will bs poisoned by this new element or cor
 ruption. This is one of thel penalties we are paying for the privilege Of liv- ing under the eighteenth amendment of the constitution of the United States.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-02-23
TRUE TO FORM

From the Atlanta Constitution.
 'The dictatorship in Russia will last other officeholder that doesn't want to let go.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-02-23

that powerful private interests have stepped between a great project of public benefit because they have no hand in it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-02-23
Mexico Is Inquiring
 for American Goods.

for American Goods.
 N MONO the inquiries indicating a AA. revival of export business are
 some that come from Mexico. New
 York correspondence of the Iron Age
 mentions in particular "an inquiry from Mexico for about 20 miles of 10-inch oil pipe and 20 miles of 3-inch water pipe" It is also stated that orders have been received by New York exporting houses for steel
 plates, wire and other steel products for Mexico. This country has much to gain from peace in Mexico and the opportunity to do business there. Alabama, in
 particular, should be most anxious for
 stable conditions to the south. Mex ico is a natural market for Birming-
 ham steel and iron products, as well
 as coke. Large amounts of Birming-
 ham coke have been shipped to Mex ican smelting works from time to time, and this alone would be large
 business under a continuance of sta- ble conditions in that country. Instead of busying themselves over
 an insincere tariff measure which is calculated to excite reprisals and ere ate resentment among other nations
 the republican party should promote an interchange of goods. It has been proved to Americans that other peo- | pie trade with those who treat them
 best and endeavor to maintain recip- rocal relations. It is pitiful to con- Template the world suffering because
 business is not going on while the
 leading country seems bent on erect ing new tariff walls.
 Norwegian Nitrates Versus Those Made in America IE ARMERS on the Pacific coast are U buying nitrates produced by the
 air fixation process in Norway. This is we'll known fact. Gray Silver, o1 the American Farm Bureau Fedora. tion, in his testimony before the
 House conferees, said:
 There is no measure before Con- gress that is more important and
 which more vitally affects the farmer than the fixation of nitrate from the air.
 1 Colonel Cooper, the distinguished
 engineer, who has no personal inter.
 est in the Muscle Shoals development
 but has passed on it time and again
 as a matter of the greatest impor- tance, told the conferees that "the people of the south are not going to
 enjoy any waterpower development
 until the policy of the government with respect to Muscle Shoals is de-
 termined." In his indignation at be. ing so frequently misquoted by par
 tisan opponents of Muscle Shoals, he
 charged there had been 10 years ot systematic misrepresentation.
 There is no excuse in stopping the
 work on Wilson dam. Even though
 the nitrate plant is never operated it would be unjust to deprive the peo- pie of the south of the latent water power of the shoals. This power is
 of value no matter how employed. Il
 can drive machinery for any kind o1 plant.
 The appropriation for She Wilson dam will go through and the worl , will continuesor the country will know
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-02-23
Easy to Get At

have been moved to Fifth avenue, we have received many congratulations from subscribers upon the convenience of the new arrangement" said W. A. Steadnan. assistant district manager of the Southern Bell Telephone com pany.
 f The new location is just as accessi- ble to all car lines as the one at 1912 Second avenue, north, which Is now de- voted exclusively to company opera tions.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-02-23
Opera Company Here

T hope to see the development of an opera company in Birmingham within a few years" said Gordon Erickson, community concert director.
 Birmingham is a center of music lovers, and should be able to support an opera company or symphony or chestra.
 Nothing would give me moro pleas ure than to see company or orches- tra making trips around the country with the name Birmingham connect ed with it's title"