davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-07
From Harper & Bros Book Notes. chaps who travel with tn
 show today are what ca

From Harper x Bros. Book Notes. HHE7T7HESE chaps who travel with the
 show today are what l call
 S feather-bed' showmen. They could not endure the conditions or live the old life that we did, and I don't sup pose they would if they could. Why, a lot of these things I have been telling you about the old times would be just as new to these men as it is to the pub lie.
 When I began travelling with circus ali the men around it were big fellows. Few of them were less than six feet tall and some of the canvasmen were even bigger. The nightly journey could not wait upon the weather. No matter how much or how hard it rained, we had to go just the same, and the worse the roads. the earlier we had to start, in order to insure being on time the next morning for parade. Neither did we have rubber coats to keep us dry. as now, and often have I, like the rest of the drivers. before starting out on rainy night, put my shirt away in box on the under side of the wagon, so that 1t would be dry the next morning to put on after wringing the water out of the rest of my clothes.
 What do you think these fellows who travel with the show now and have their nice, comfortable berths in a train Of their own would say to that sort of thingT'
 The speaker was George Conklin, and there is probably no man in the United States today better qualified to talk about the circus than he, for Q years of his life was spent with it in the various capacities of lion tanner and performer elephant trainer and superintendent of menageria.
 So interesting, in fact, have MT. Conk- lin's experiences been that Harvey w. Root has written out his accounts Of them, and, under the title, Ways of the Circus" they are being published by Harper & Bros
 h the first years of George Conklin's travels much of the country was stiii frontier, and in the south and southweat there were many feuds. Everyone car ried firearms" he says. "Shootings were frequent and accepted as matter or course. It was not unusual for some 10 amuse themselves by trying to shoot the lights out Amusements were few. and the coming of the circus was an event which brought men and their families ir.to the towns from miles away. Many of them came in a day or two peiore the show and camped on the outskirts or the town until after the show had iefs. Some of them pitched tents, while others lived in the big covered wagons in which they came.
 There wsa no eighteenth amendment in those days, and the planters were . tough set, especially if they had been drir king. I used to be bothered lot by their going in back of the cages to drink and treat one another. Almost withou, exception they carried biz bottle 'on their hip and each one thought his par ticular brand was the best w 'Mire's best. You try mine and I'll
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-07
Courtesy a Factor
 In Winning Trade

T4gNdE r Merchants and Manufacturers
 u association, organized by the Chamber of Commerce and affiliated with lt, is attracting out-of-town merchants to Birmingham. They come from Mississippi, the Tennessee val ley and Georgia territory which it had been illogically claimed that Bir- nlinghan could not reach.
 Visiting merchants trading with members of the association are re- funded their railroad transportation both ways. One might argue that a retail merchant is not going to be taken in by a mere refund of trans portation. That is true, but when he also receives a superior quality of goods and courteous treatment, he is thoroughly satisfied and will come again.
 Memphis has built up tremend- ous trade and trade territory of wide area on the refund basis. Bir- mingham has many advantages not possessed by Memphis on account of it's central position with reference to transportation and the use of these advantages will bring the jobbing business that Birmingham ought to have and can have for the effort.
 Machinery like this organization is working from the inside. It is put l ting one's own house in order. Trade
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-07
Girl Show Comes to Grief
 TA~ov~h M;aIaa dsUu Poste

Girl Show OOmes 10 NrICA
 Through Misleading Posters 7EHE New Orleans Times-Picayune Il draws moral from the experi- ences of a certain "girl-and-music" show, as related in the Billboard. This organization recently toured the south, appearing in New Orleans, Birmingham and other southern cities. The advance advertising created the impression that patrons would be s'treated" to an exhibition of nudity and suggestiveness that would sur pass the old-fashioned burlesque show and be a veritable page from the night life of Paris. As a matter of fact, the show was no worse than many othefs of its class and really had some merit as a stage spectacle on the order of the New York root garden revues, after which it was patterned. The sensational advertis- ing was merely designed to appeal to prurient minds. 1t succeeded, fer business was brisk at the box offioe, according to reports from New Or leans, and there were no vacant seats during the Birmingham engagement
 But when the show reached Chios there was different story to tell The Billboard says the mayor Of Co., lumbus saw the way it was hsina advertised and announced thag t would not be permitted to play n Columbus. Forthwith the press aeenH rushed to the mayors office anu him that the piece itself wa harmless and only the publicity ter was naughty.
 The mayor is quoted as saying,
 
 ssSo that is it? You are plannina to attract the impressionable publig by your corrupting announcements and then to take their money under false pretenses? You can't do 1t while I am mayor of this city"
 
 The company left Columbus with out being permitted to give a per formance and met with similar treat ment in other Ohio towns. As the Times -Picayune remarks, "Pruriency no longer paid.'
 Nevertheless, it is rather discour- aging to reflect that "pruriercy paid" most of the time the show was on the road, and it may still be pay ing, but not in some parts of Ohio The public taste has been educated downward until filth on the stage is taken almost as matter of course.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-07
AN IRISH MESSIAH
By John Eglinton, in The Dial.

By John Eglinton, in The DiaE
 It is scarcely surprising, in the pres ent national mood of almost religious exaltation. that certain visionaries have begun to foretell kind of Irish Mes siah. TheyAappear to take tor granted that he will come of Gaelic stock. feel ing justified, I suppose. in ignoring to this extent the lesson of human ex- perience. that fixed preconceptions are liable to disappointment, Perhaps he will come as a jester. causing ripple of oblivious laughter to pass over the countenance of the Ireland of Sorrows: whimsical Cachullin of whose benefi- cent prowess MT. James stephens might in his extreme old age be the devout St. John.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-07

IS susceptible 10 courtesy. The re- fund system is sound in principle and that is why it is doing good work. Young business men of Birmingham threaten to start a "carry-your-lunch'' campaign if restaurants don't reduce prices. What is the present price of the hot dog?
 Sarah Bernhardt's long career on the stage is attributed to her ability to relax wien she is not acting. MT. Chaplin re- laxes during his working hours and tightens up when he's at leisure.
 < * < Birmingham's traffic policemen should blow their whistles louder. Sometimes they can't be heard when a 1918 flivver is passing.
 Robin Red Breasts refusal to sing in the south won't hurt anybody's feelings as long as we have the mocking bird to give us woodland opera.
 * # 4
 Washington is wondering what it Is go- ing to do with an ex-President and President on it's hands. That's easy. Give precedence to the President
 # # <
 Suppose we change the name to Hard ing dam" and go after that sl0,0O0,VO appropriation for Muscle Shoals again? The Hardings are so hospitable book agents may be tempted to drop into the White House.
 The scent cigar has reappeared in Chi- cago. When, if ever, shall we again see scent slice of pie? % % %
 Mir. Marshall is such an amiabie gem tleman we understand he even has the good wishes of Senator Reed.
 F < < If Panama and Costa Rica are not care- full they are going to get spanking that will do them both lot of good. x F *
 The Utah legislature has passed an anti cigarette law. The next step, of course, is to abolish the matutinal cup of coffee. That enterprising firm which advertised Rockford" cheese may have been try ing to Americanize it.
 # * #
 As long as he gets the desired support at home Lloyd George isn't worrying about his unpopularity in Berlin. It would be tough if Judge Landis should lose that s2ooo year after he'c planned how to spend it. l E # *
 MT. Hardings willingness to "sit down and talk things over' is characteristic of men who like to smoke.
 # x <
 It begins to look as if Lenine and Trotzky would be able to hold out an- other six months.
 < # F
 The observation isn't new, but great deal happens in Downing street that never get into print
 z E x
 If MT. Harding brings back the s2S a month flat he is as good as elected for second term
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-07
Improving in Cuba

'T lay great store by Oscar Wells being in Cuba" said R. l. Ingalls,, who has just returned from there. "An able financier such as he is should ac- complish a lot of good for those peo- pie. Conditions already appear to be better down there and there is bright prospect for the business which we do with Cuba and which has been ham pered by the distressed condition of the country's finances. In fact Bir- mingham's business with Cuba has all ready begun to assume a better aspect and the trend is encouraging."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-07
THE REASON

From the Tampa Tribune.
 The Birmingham Age Herald won- ders why man who boasts he never changes his tailor and his barber will jump from one bootlegger to anothss. Easy, his old ones cannot serve him when they are in jail:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-07
Are Two Sides

T welcome any fair minded man to look over my books, see the prices l pay for stuff that l prepare and serve, what I pay for cooks and walters, TOT rent and laundry and render verdict as to justice of the prices which 1 charge on my menu said Chris Colias q will show them the re- ceipted bills so that there will be no doubt about it.
 For instance. I pay the head cook s250 a month and the next two kitchen chefs $170 per month. l pay walters $40 per month. I pay S4.50 per dozen for the smallest kinds of cans of as paragus tips and 50 cents a pound for broilers and butter. You ought to see my laundry bills.
 T invite any business man to come and see for himself"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-07
Fills the Bill

Ed Rowe, the vice president Of the Birmingham Rotary club, is making fine impression as a presiding oftlcer in the absence of President Oscar Wells who is lending his aid to the Cupans in an effort to reform the finances or the island and put it on a sound basis, 7, says John c. Henley
 Ed is not what you might call spectacular chairman, but his sincerity and straightforwardness causes him to get by with ease, when more daring and self -assertive man might run into all kinds of parliamentary trouble.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-07
asPRING EVER RrrURNINGr

Joseph Campbell, in The Dial. Spring ever returning, Cowslipe thro' ages burning. Rainbows never going, Lark-song like water flowing,
 Only the bayoneks. rust and die.
 Under the madness of Gods eye.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-07
A CHANGE OF HEART

From the Detroit Free Press.
 My advertisement of Feb 24 was er- TOT. will be responsible for my wife's. debts. LEO ITO.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-07
-------------- ---~e' --- HAVE A CARE, HORACE:

Personal in the Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle.
 Horace-Please do not phone me again. Father is cleaning his gun.
 LULU fN
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-07
POOR COPY

From the Washington Star.
 Trotsky's present propaganda liter ature does not read any better than the editorials he used to turn out in tho Bronx.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-07
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
 AND ELSEWHERE
Summer Colds

Summer NOAub
 For the past few days I haze been effected with one of the worst summer colds it has been my misfortune to catcn," said A. C. Small, yesterday T wouldn't mind little cold, one of those nice little fellows that stay with one for day or two and tn n lHr' away to catch another unwary victim' but I do seriously object for colo to use me as a camping ground.
 T have received cure for 1t from practically every one of my trlehos but have been following remedy or my own which dosen't seem to nave any effect on it. However, II 1 TOT low the advice l have received rom all my friends it will take me apout two months to get around any klna ol cold should be broken up 5y theH'
 The Land of Flowers
 q have just returned from two and a half months trip through flori- da," says NJ c. Reynolds. Mrs Key holds and I concluded that one of the pleasantest ways to spend the winter would be to go from here to the ex- treme limit of the Land of Florloa in our car. We took in both the east and the west coast and got as far south as. Florida City, travelling In all nearly 5000 miles.
 We found it perfectly feasible 10 make the trip with a trailer attached which carried our tent ana luggage Florida is on vritable building boom and one hears little of hard times out side of the citrus growers who ike the cotton growers have had pao year for marketing good crop.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-07
ielay in exerting pressure. economic

delay in exerting pressure, economic and otherwise.
 Germany's protests that she is un- able to pay the indemnity asked of her have been viewed with suspicion. None of her spokesmen has succeeded in convincing the world that these protests are sincere. Furthermore, representatives of the present govern ment have stubbornly refused to &C., knowledge that the imperial German government was responsible for the World war, despite the fact that it has been proved guilty on conclusive evidence.
 The most powerful man in Ger many today is Hugo Shines, great captain of industry. It is believed that his hand has been directing the movements of Dr. Simons and other German statesmen who have tried un- successfully to dupe the allies.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-07
Democrats Retain
 Their Trusted Leader

Their Trusted Leader
 1T1HE democrats did well to again
 H elect Senator Underwood their leader. At no time in the history of his party was he more needed than now. Under his leadership there will be frank admission of the large republican majority, but that majority will likewise be on notice that mis- takes will receive attention and be acted on with promptitude.
 The dignity and political astuteness of Senator Underwood will cause the democratic minority to be treated with respect. No majority, however great, will attempt to run rough shod over such skillful statesman.
 It does not stand to reason that, because the republicans have such a pronounced majority, they will always enjoy smooth sailing. There will be several kinds of republicans, accord ing to the various sections of the country from which they come and the different and often contrary in terests which they represent. There will be occasions when shrewd demo- cratic party leadership will be able to do some telling work.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-07

A MORNING PRAYER If all the world were sunshine, Lord, | would never know the Joy os coming out of darkneSs Into HHh'' Amen.--M, $, n.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-07

We cannot hold nortaIity's strong hand
 king Lear.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-07
Did Wilson Overestimate
 kSunnan Possibilities?

TdF7iiE Paris newspapers have joined
 . sincere appreciation of for mer Pt9sident Wilson. No tribute is
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-07

Gen. Isaac R. Sherwood in Leslie's. NNUT of the crowd of 20, 900 people V y who stood in front of the capi-
 tol on the fourth day of March
The Washington times., 1921-04-30
We Should Cultivate Better
FeeLinq at Home and Abroad

matter will be adjusted in time, and,
no doubt, fairly and honorably ad-
justed.
The best thing we can all do is to
initiate the good sense of the Knox
resolution and declare al end of the
individual war upon Germans and
all things German.
The quicker this kind of feeling
dies out the better it will be for the
world.
There is no patriotism in stirring
up the cooling embers of hate in
striving to array citizens of one de-
scent against citizens of another de-
scent.
We are a people of mixed ances-
try. We always will be so. And the
sensible and patriotic thing to do is
to cultivate goodwill among all citi-
zens.
The signs of other wars to come
are still to be seen, and it is very
foolish and very unpatriotic to alien
ate from the common loyalty and
the common strength millions of men
and women who are of German blood
and American citizenship.
That is mischievous work, injuri-
GUS work, dangerous work, and
really and truly unpatriotic work.
The war is ended. ....
Let US have peace and goodwill
abroad and at home.
The Washington times., 1921-04-30
Mothers Pensions for the
District of Columbia
By BILL PRICE.

Congressman MASON has introduced into the House bin
which should not be cast into the Congressional unkpe 1t
"To provide allowances for mothers in the District of Columbia
with children under sixteen years of age dependent upon them
for support"
Briefly the bill authorizes the Board of Chdens Guardians
grant from appropriations made by Congress such allowances
the mothers of dependent children will enable the mothers
to "care for their children in their own homes"
The statement made that forty States of the Union 1.-THE
first being Inois) have mothers pension laws Three
provinces of Canada progressive New Zealand and other coun
tries have similar laws.
There every human and legal reason why the District
of Columbia the Nations Capital should lead all States in ber
atty of allowances to the mothers of dependent children sad
commentary upon conditions the District is that these mothers
and their little ones must be cared for by public private
charity the mothers too often separated from their offspring
The bill reces that these children shall be cared for
in their OWN HOMES not torn from their mothers and put into
public homes famed out at much per head to wemean-
ing people.
The hallowed MOTHER is beautifully inspiring to
the legislators of nation plunged into and yet how lacking
inspiration it the cold halls of Congress when few dol
lars are to aid mothers bring to healthu and happy
manhood womanhood the little left to them to care for
The Washington times., 1921-04-30
HUM ANISMS
william Anterior Du Puy-

There are being inaugurated at the port OF
New York certain regulations which have to do
with a more careful handling OF those precious
packages which immigrants bring with them
when, in preparation for the great pilgrimage
they sort out the belongings that are nearest
their hearts
This extra OF immigrant bundles origi-
mated in the office of the Secretary of Labor.
down in Washington. Mr.. Davis himself is re-
sponsible for it. And it all goes back to a hap
pening OF forty years ago
The father of Secretary Davis was a Welsh
iron worker and came to the United States. work
ed feverishly and saved enough to bring over
his wife and six children. The mother possessed
two feather beds which. according to her stand
ards were foundation stones in the establish
ment of a home. SO she made bundles OF these
beds and added to her responsibility for six small
children the task of taking care of them the
journey
But in the confusion of landing the feather
beds were lost The blow a heavy to
the immigrant mother. marred the happiness of
meeting her long-absent husband, the glory of
the great day Of arriving in the land of the free.
Those yet to come shall be spared that blow
far as is humanity possible.
An Italian scientist who had spent some time
in England and getting fairly well with
the language was among the speakers on a some
what crowded program, says DR.. Kenyon Butter
field. president Of the Massachusetts, Agricultural
College. He began this way:
II shall not cockroach your time and
paused apprehensively "Cockroach, hencroach,
what should 1 say? l get your English genders
so mixed"
DR.. w. ]. MCGEE profound government scien-
fist. who died a few years ago, could his left
hand well as his right and his right well
his left.
He revealed a peculiar thing ABOUT those who
ambidextrous They never dream, he said.
He had never had dream in all his life None
OF his ambidextrous friends dreamed.
Dreaming comes from the fact that one part OF
the brain is awake while the other part is asleep.
The ambidextrous brain works whole and
knows twilight zone in which dreams come.
Copyright 1921 by Public Ledger Coz
The Washington times., 1921-04-30
Artificial Veneer From Australia.

A recent Australian invention OF artificial
composition similar 70 veneer, says the British
Board Of Trade Journal, should be OF Interest to
ma manufacturers In proximity to large supplies OF
waste material of vegetable origin such az saw
dust AS patent applications are pending in Aus
tralia and other countries. the inventor Is at
present retcent in furnishing details other than
that the substance is worked up entirely from
waste fibrous products and other vegetable mat
ter, and that saudust can be utilized In consid-
cradle quantities In the manufacture OF the
cheaper grade OF the composition.
The Canadian Trade Commisso at Mel
bourne describes the product In the following
s. "The Substance-named keltona-can be
used for a variety OF purposes, such as chair
a.. rs and seats, furniture generally, veneers and
and other panclling and cah be produced TO
represent excellent marble effects. 1t Is capable
Of being bent freely for a variety OF commercial
purposes. worked with tools. sawn, bored, pianed
sAndpApared- ETC. AID will TAXA nAils with casa"
The Washington times., 1921-04-30
Dante
m HIS is Dante year.
All over the world his name is
q being exalted.

All over the world his name is
. being exalted.
There will be pilgrimages to his
tomb at Ravenna, lectures expound-
ing him in all centers of culture, and
ltaly's greatest son will be honored
wherever letters are beloved and
poetry esteemed.
And Dante has been dead six CEN
turtles.
How many millions of the chill
dren of men have in this vast interim
been swept into unknown graves!
And why does he live! And stand
among the fadeless figures of Homer,
Virgil, Goethe, Hugo and Shakes
pearei
1t is difficult for the average per-
son to be interested in Dante, for
several reasons.
We reach him only through trans
lations, and no matter how excellent
these may be they bar us from the
amazingly beautiful original, the
liquid charm of the Italian tongue.
Besides, he is wholly medieval.
His world is lost and sunken. No
one cares particularly about the
things that interested him.
The conflict of the papal with the
temporal power is dead issue, the
intrigues Of Florentine politics are
to us strange and outlandish, his
theological and astrological argu-
ments are curiously antique.
And yet his Divine Comedy, loaded
down with old junk which the most
copious notes cannot galvanize into
human interest, is today one of the
worlds most highly rated and wide
ly read books.
One reason is the essential no.
bility of the man. He thinks on all
subjects majestically. He touches
the meanest themes and the OBJ
scurest names with kingly air. He
has the Grand Manner.
Another reason is, as an Ameri-
can essayist has said, "the sheer
beauty of his craftsmanship. It is
doubtful if any human being ever
wrought so perfectly and so ex-
quisitely with words. We get but
shadow of this in translation, but
the original Italian is a masterpiece
which, being thing of beauty, must
be a JOY forever. Even those to
whom Italian is a strange tongue
must admire the sorority and music
of the lines if he hears them recited.
Such cadences haunt the world. We
cannot let them die"
. But most of all, Dante lives in
world esteem because he discovered
Woman to literature. Before Dante
woman had been written of as toy
or chattel.