davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-17
OLD WHITE
rrom the New York rribune.

From the New York Tribune,
 "Old White" is dead. Leader oi marauding pack of woIvessin Colo rado, his life was that of Lobo the King of the Currumpaw. Government hunters and private individuals tried in many ways to catch him, but his cunning outwitted them all.
 Each year he and hIs pack took their toll of the cattle on the Bear Springs Mesa range, Each year the ranchmen laid traps for him. Each year some cowboy would come to town with a tale of having just missed him. Forest rangers heard of the wolrs destruction on the mesa and hoped that the chance to catch him might fall their way. On winter nights ranchmen, sitting be- fore a blazing fire or huddling about the glowing stove, would plan to put an end to his depredations. He had killed according to the department of agriculture, as much as s6,oo0 worth of live stock belonging to one man, and even old age failed to curb his ferocity.
 Last spring they caught his mate. It was thought then that he would not last long But he continued to outwit his hunters and fought brave ly till the end.
 His death was inglorious. No man was skilled enough to shoot him. No fair light caused his death--if 1t can be called fair fight to pit man with a rifle against wolf with his cunning. But the steel jaws of 8 powerful trap crushed his leg and held him a helpless prisoner. Four traps had been placed in a blind set viciously strong springed steel traps, so cleverly concealed that even this old veteran had no suspicious. And as he returned fresh from a kill. perhaps a little dulled by overeating, the ruthless jaws snapped to and burned like fire. He struggled in agony for several hours, tricked at last by mans deceit. For IF long years he had escaped his hunters. For IF long years he had been the terror of the range.
 A bullet from the rifle of a govern ment hunter put an end to his suf- fering. And now the range Is safe.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-17
TAFT QUITS JOURNALISM

Washington, D. C., July IS, 1921.
 To the Editor of the Public Ledger:
 Having been appointed and quail fled for judicial office, 1t becomes necessary and proper for me to cease to be e .,tributor to these editorial columns. The degree In which judge should separate himself from gem eral activities as citizen and a member of the community is no. usually fixed by statutory law but by due sense of propriety, considering the nature of his office, and by we'll established custom. Certainly, in this country at least, judge shoud keep
 ut of politics and out of any diver sion or avocation which may involve him in politics. It Is one of those characteristic queer inconsistencies was the forerunner of our own, that the highest judicial officer in Great Britain, the Lord Chancellor, is ofte ]. very much in politics and has always been. lie changes With eacn AumlnlS- tration, and his is a political ap pointment: but all the other Judges of the high courts of England are as little in politics as in this country.
 A judge should avoid extra-judicial activities, not only because they may put him in an attitude actually or seemingly inconsistent with absolute impartiality in the discharge of his judicial duties, but also because he owes his whole time and energy to his judicial work. For those reasons I must give up the pleasant relation to the Aaders of it's editorial page which the Public Ledger has enabled me to enjoy A pulpit like this, from which one can discuss anything and everything of current interest upon which he may hay, opinions. is an opportunity I have valued. I canno. flatter myself that my readers have had equal pleasure or profit. What ever their views on this point. they have my best wishes.
 WILL LAM H. TAFT.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-17
LETTERS TO EDITOR
PAVED ROADS

To the Editor of The Age-Herald;
 This writer has noticed that when you attempt to express an opinion, unless you hedge 1t around by limi- tations making the opinion worth less, you are likely to have your opinion misconstrued.
 Bearing this in mind and referring to your editorial on paved roads in your issue of the 14th instant, this writerlwould ask you. have you care fully considered the cost of building hard surfaced roads, that tho farmers pay their own freight bills In motor transportation; that the railroads are now facing bankrucpty in part from competition of motor transportation. and that the tendency in building hard surfaced roads is to connect dty with city and not to build farm to market roads used for rural deliv- cry, and the transportation of chill dren to rural consolidated schools?
 This writer is heart, soul, body and mind in favor of farm to market roads, and he believes they will pay dividends, but cement roads, or mac adam water bound roads and other roads costing upward of t5o,0oo per mile will in my humble opinion re- suit in bankruptcy.
 Money is worth per cent and hard to get at that. Seven per cent on s5o,ooo is ss.5oo per annum. The talk of permanent road Is like sugar coating quinine, it may taste good, but it Is not good
 A cement road docs not wear out, but 1t breaks up and after 10 years service is practically incapable of be- ing repaired. If you don't believe 1t, go to New York state and travel by motor around Rochester and there abouts. The sand-clay or gravel road costing say s7,ooo per mile. has an interest cost of say $tso per mile and an upkeep with drag and scrape of $1oo per mile, and in 10 years time will be better road than your cement road.
 HUGH l.. MELDERRY.
 Talladega, July 1o, 1921.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-17
STONE CUTTER IN OPERA

From the St. Louis Times.
 Only a comedian, of course, coul make his way into comic opera through a graveyard.
 Harry Hermsen did. Now one of the principal pantaloons of the St. Louis Municipal Opera. he spent his youth apprenticed to a St. Louis monument maker and varied his dolorous days work of chipping granite by singing at night and in St. Louis churches on Sunday. Im- agine this youth. whose ambition was to twist the American language into the most startling and ludicrous, of dialects, spending 10 hours day chipping away at the dignified Eng fish of an epitaph.
 My father was Holland Dutch man." he said. "He had the idea thai every boy must learn a trade. l thought I would like to be me- chanic. but we couldn't find anyone to teach me the trade, although l would have worked for nothing and father was willing to pay him for his lessons.
 But had to do something, and SC got a place with marble cutter and learned that trade to satisfy dad.
 II liked the theatre and I used to 10 lot. but I never had my mind on it seriously until one day the boss sent me to a cemetery to fix up a monument which had been split. by time and frost. It was the stone over the grave of that famous old come dians Sol Smith. made up my mind while I was working there that l was through with that job. war going to be an actor. Why not? We'll finished my trade. but I never workedla day ct 1t.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-17
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
 AND ELSEWHERE
Fine Lot of Yeunssterr.

The Jefferson county boys, to whom were given the 30 registered Jersey calves this spring, are doing finely with them" said H l.. Brown, county agent.
 "All the boys are greatly interest ed in their pets and they are running close race in the competition to make the best showing when the anil mals are exhibited at the state fair this fall.
 Without an exception the boys took a serious view of their ob!iga- tio hand they have given time and thought to the best means of caring for their four-footed wards. They are just that many registered cattle enthusiasts"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-17
THE VINE AND FIG TREE'-By Frank Willis Barnett

der his vine and under his fig tree, days of Solomon" And so for cen turies men have thought of their blessed privilege of being home own CTS. The summer foliage of the fig tree in Palestine is thick, and excels other trees for it's grateful shade.
 
 It was in the Sermon on the Mount that Jesus used the illustration which went home to every one of his hear CTS, when He was warning against the coming of false prophets. which would come in sheep's clothing. but who inwardly would be raveniIg wolves, by saying, "Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.''
 At another time He spoke a parable unto His disciples, saying: "Behol1 the fig tree, and all the trees; when they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that sum mer Is now at hand" using the fig tree to show forth that the Kingdom of God was nigh at hand. In Jerusalem the fig trees which have lost their foliage about the end of March begin putting forth their ten der leaf buds.
 freely confess that one of the [strangest acts in the life of the Mas
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-17

the distress caused to their families. These youngsters usually gladly come back after a brief taste of ad- venture, but others neither return nor communicate with their families -and are permanently lost to them They lack in affection and mental capacity to realize what their dis appearance means.
 Normal persons wonder over such cases, which are constantly occurring. they do not understand how such selfishness, indifference and cruelty can exist, but they are judging by themselves. which is wrong. The wide differences in the menatl and moral faculties of the people around them are not understood. Only psychologists, teachers, physicians and other specialists have an insight into them and even these are only at the gateway. of their studies. Ths one thing they know surely is that not all persons are to. be judged by the same standard.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-17

ter to me was His act on the morn- ing after spending the night at Beth-ny He returned into Jerusalem, and hungered: And when He saw l fig tree in the way, He came to it and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward forever. And presently the fig tree withered away" I'll not attempt here to try and explain or interpret the miracle. Self-sown fig trees are usually bar ren, and are known to the natives in Palestine as wild or male" fig trees.
 Figs are eaten in Palestine not only fresh but dried, the fruit being often threaded onto long strings for convenience of carriage. They are also pressed into a solid cake which can be cut in slices with knife, These are the fig cakes about which we read in the Old Testament. It may be of interest to know that a lump of fig cake was used as a poul- tice for Hezekiahs boil, and we know that the remedy ordered by Isaiah worked a cure.
 But when I sat down to write, I had no idea of setting out figs from Biblical standpoint, but before I knew 1t, I was calling up some pas sages and incidents which had lodges in my memory. All that intended to do was to express thanks for the thoughtfulness of a dear lad who used to see me make for the fig tree in the front yard during the time when pastor at West Blocton I used to find rest beneath the wine and fig tree" of his fathers house.
 Reared at Eufaula. where the little blue fig grows to perfection and three fine specimens of trees adorned our back yard, I spent many happy hours during many summers in their branches, eating a fill of the luscious fruit; and so when eating the ones which came to me by parcel post, l had pleasant memories of my boy hood days and the good times I used to have fighting the junebugs away as picked here ,.nd there among ths leaves in search of ripSned figs"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-17
Home for Feeble-Minded
 Protection to the Race


 m REAMS of humanitarians are W being fulfilled in the build ing of the home for the feeble minded at Tuscaloosa. The con- tract for the first unit of the home has been let and work has been started on the foundations.
 Thus the state of Alabama takes another step forward in the care of her wards needing and deserving help. Some great estates have been created which men have afterwards classed as folly. Some experiments have besn made in trying out new theories that have proved mere waste of time and money. But no money that has gone into schools, asylums and places for relief of af- flicted humanity has been mis- placed.
 Institutions such as the home for the feeble-minded are moreover . protection to the race. We can not well place the feeble minded in institutions for the insane, because they are not insane, but society runs a great risk in having them at large.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-17
THE MORON

From the Indianapolis Star.
 ., Some of the psychologists and medical scientists are telling alarm -inx stories about the proportion of morons to be found among our fel- low human beings. Morons are men tally undeveloped persons-"not very bright" Is the common term used by the nonscientific in describing them. They. are not idotic or even abnormal in any way and go through life. the most of them, as useful citizens with out attracting special attention to themselves. Being of low mentality, however, circumstances may easily develop abnormalities among them, and 1t Is among this class. undoubt- edly, that many unexpected and seemingly unaccountable crimes take place.
 Tie Decker boy of IS, who was lately convicted of having killed a neighbor and former chum withI g hope of realizing on 2 life insurance scheme, evidently belonEed to the moron class. Apart from the crimi- nal and brutal phase of the affair Il was an unintelligent undertaking fos . child could have unraveied the mystery at first involved in it. A bo, with a keen mind. however. lacking In moral sense he might have been
 would not have perpetrated that particular kind of crime.
 It is | common occurrence for boy. O. 14 or 1s to run away from home
 The most of them go from hoyist love of adventure and with the heed ] lsssnsss of youth not cemprehendipl
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-17
< * X
Strategic Situation of
 the Town of Cordova

r7T7HE eight-page Cordova section
 H of the Jasper Mountain Eagle under date of July 13 tells in word and picture the story of that pro- gressive and picturesque northern Alabama city. The incident calling special attention to Cordova at this time is the completion of the coal terminals of the federal government at that place, which makes it depot for the shipment of great quanti- ties of Alabama coal for bunker, domestic and export purposes at the ports of Mobile and New Or leans.
 Cordova already possessed claims to attention, being the site of the Indian Head cotton mills, and in the heart of the Walker county coal field, one of the richest in the world. Before we had waterpower the Indian Head mills were operated by steam generated by coal dug from mines whose mouth was at the engine room doors, thus affording the low  est priced fuel of any mill in the country.
 Situated at the head of naviga- tion on the Warrior and in the cen ter of the Walker coal field, Cor dova's future is assured. She is a port whence goods come from gulf ports for delivery in five states at a 20 per cent saving of the rail freight rates and goods from these states may travel to the gulf ports for the Atlantic and Pacific sea boards and to the nations of the earth at the same saving.
 A sturdy citizenship, whose fore bears were Alabama pioneers, con- stitute a community that will build we'll and wisely on the sure founda- tion of natural resources.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-17
HEROES THREE TO A GRAVE

From the New York World.
 Though the blame for the burial of a number of ex-soldiers three to a grave appears to rest with an under taker who broke his contract. the story Is in line with nearly every thing else one hears in regard to the treatment accorded to the men who were wounded or disabled overseas. Those who most deserve the nations gratitude have had least of it. Ill.,
 cared for, uncared for or ignored, they are almost equally out of sight and out of mind. It is only by acci- dent that the city discovers how or where they are buried. Millions for the next war, the motto of tho United States might read. but not a cent If we can help 1t, for those who suf- fered in body or mind by helping to win the last one.
 Yet scant as the nation has been with rewards for the wounded. 1t has
 been liberal meanwhile in punish ments for those who refused, either through cowardice or conviction, to
 serve. The proposal of general
 amnesty for objectors and war-of- lenders has been met with the argu-
 ment that unless every prisoner is compelled to complete his term. there will bs difficulty in applying another
 draft in case of . new war emar- gency.
 If the memory of . general amnesty would be injurious to the national morale in the future the memory of
 the careless and callous attitude of | the government toward gassed
 maimed and she'll shocked men will
 work oven more permanent harm. II its "fIurrah, boys." while the wal
 ia on and unmarked oblivion after
 1t Is over, men and boys Will think
 twice when recruits are in demand
 for another conflict. no matter how 1 worthy the cause. ns
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-17
AGE STEAKS

By Berton Braley. It's eyes are burning with lustful
 glow, And there is cruel purpose in its
 face. With muscles tense and with
 tigerish grace It gathers for spring An. well I How strong it is, and how its pulses
 flow
 With hot, red blood that throbs
 and leaps apace. Not all my cunning nor my power
 and place Shall long avert the inevitable blow. God! how hate 1t. as feel its breath.
 That flames about me. Yet.
 smile: my fear Shall not be plain. But. certain as
 is death
 know the fact that ages hay.
 made clear, The cosmic unacceptable. cold truth That l shall fall before this monster
 -Youthl
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-17
Passing Plate Viewed
 as Charging Admission

NINTH the southern Methodists wv demanding total paralysis of the national life on the Sabbath day, an interesting contribution to the reform controversy has been made by Superior Judge Burnell, of California. He said that an ordinance of the city of Pomona, near Los Angeles, prohibiting Sun day amusements for which an ad- mission fee was charged was uncon- stitutional.
 Judge Burnell declared that the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-17

happiest aggregation of men and women whom he had ever met.
 It seems the law of mankind that compensation works it's way out of human deficiency and suffering in wondrous ways. The blind learn how to tell colors by feeling cloth and have been known to enjoy paint ings and to be able to separate the good from the bad.
 The deaf and dumb learn how to communicate with one another with almost as much ease as those whc can talk. Their communications are probably less confusing be- cause their finger code is accurate and cannot be misunderstood as the spoken word often is.
 If they live in silence they are spared the noises that disturb and ruffle those who can hear. If they are deaf they do not overhear dis paraging remarks.
 But the cause of their cheerful ness lies deeper than the physical and the material. Looking about themselves and realizing their de- fectiveness, they try to overcome it. The mere effort to overcome gives them mental and spiritual strength and that produces mental serenity.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-17
DR. ELIOT wouLpN.r JOIN

From the Detroit Free Press.
 pr. Charles w.. Eliot at Cam bridge tea was taken aside by a Woman's Christian Temperance Union leader.
 "Dr. Eliot" she said. I've want you to join us in our anti-tobacco cru- sade."
 'Iiumph" said the veteran teacher,
 You know, pr. Eliot" the lady went on. man Is the only animal positively the only animal, that uses tobacco.'' ''Humph." said pr. Eliot again Man Is the only animal that wears clothes"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-17
N E E E Why Deaf and Dumb
 People Are Cheerful

A BIRMINGHAM citizen re- 3A gently in Atlanta during a
 large convention of deaf and dumb persons from over the country was struck by the chseriness of their demeanor in the hotel Hobbies as well as in their convention sittings. He declared them to be apparently the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-17
THE LAST RESORT

Prohibition makes people desper- ate," remarked Mir. Jagsby.
 'The thirsty onesT
 "Yes. A neighbor informed me that he heard corks popping in a house across the street. Are you going to call the officers?' I asked. Mo- said he, we'll give them chance to invite us in, first. If they don't. they'll have to take the con rauuances'n
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-17

Feed him with apricots and dew
 berries; With purple grapes, green figs and
 mulberries."
 I am constantly astonished at the myriad Shakespeare, for it seems that his vision took in ev- erything. For example in the couplet above he names three of the fruits common to us here in the south.
 But the one I am thinking on just at present Is the fig. and it all comes about because a your.y friend of mine, Walter Perry, Jr., of West Blocton, sent me a box of the little blue figs, to me the most delicious of all the fruits. I like them better than ap- ples, pears, bananas, or even peaches, as they carry sweetness all their own.
 Every one reared in the southern part of tho United States. or who came here from the Mediterranean littoral knows that the fig is one of the most prized of natures gifts to man, and by the way it came into his tory at very early date as the ifs leaf story had for its setting the Garden of Eden.
 But there is another, use in which jt stands to typify shelter as well as clothing, for in the time whom Solomon was King ovsr all Israel: And Judah and Israel dwell safely, every man un-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-17
TIE OLD, OLD RECIrE

From the ChicaGo News.
 Nothing but toll and economy. MT. Hoover asserts. will lead the world out of It's difficulties. Alas, that there are no cheap mechanical sub., stitutss for toll and economy!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-17
Lose Their Home.

"Workmen on the bell tower of the First Presbyterian church who are remodefing it frightened hundreds of pigeons fro mthe tower the other day" said Miss Mary Sue Walker, yesterday, The pigeons have been making their home under the caves of the roof for years, and they seemed at loss where to go.
 T haven't been able to find where they finally went, but we saw some of them in the trees. It seemed a pity to drive them away from their home after they had been there SO long. It may be they will go back after the work Is completed. There were so many of them am interested in watching what they will do,"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-17

majority of the Japanese people have for a long time desired war with the United States. They believ, the Japanese army and navy could drive us out of the Pacific and force full recognition of their people in California, Oregon and Washington. Only the wise statesmen of Japan have prevented declaration of war upon us on several occasions. They know how futile it would be. Yet we all know that the great majority of the personnel of the Japanese navy are itching for a scrap with us. The American naval people feel like- wise.
 They look upon Japan as an up- start nation since their naval brush with Russia, and our naval people would like nothing better than to give them sound thrashing.
 < # #
 Knowing the feeling among the populace of both nations, the Jap anese controlling powers are natur- ally cautious in anything proposed by United States officials and arc loath to place their country In posi- ton where any sort of snap judgment might be taken.
 But if it be question of disar- mament solely to be discussed Japan will be with the other allied nations in the Washington conference.