davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-17
RENTING OLD PLAYS
From the New York Herald.

From the New York Herald.
 Even the least interested theatregoers who take their drama as casually as they do their dinner, without special choice selection, must have observed the number of old plays which have been revived during the present season. And the season is still young Have the paywrights been found wanting? Has the public indicated preference for it's old favor ties? What has happened that the managers are following policy which they found un- profitable in the past? What has led them to change their old theory that it is net pos sible to interest New York audiences in plays belonging to other days?
 David Belasco began the year by presenting "The Easiest Way" which had not been seen here for almost 10 years an,, which showed that times does not affect the ,varues of really fine specimen of dramatic writing. Then he invited David Warfieds admirers to him again in that fine achievement of American stagecraft, "The Return of Peter Grimm" Now William A. Brady is showing once more the satrical study of American life called Bought and Paid For," while George c. Tyler is displaying the glories of the crook drama in Alias Jimmy Valentine" and will recall to the present generation in "Salomy .Iane' chat type or American IlcIloH nldue populdE ny DISC Harte. Since the season has still six months to run there is ground for supposng that other old plays may be acted again.
 It is sad fact that the playwrights this year have disappointed the managers who sought to put their work before the public. At a time when to combat the indifference of threatre- goers they should have been at their best one play after another only served to prove that they were not offering satisfactory work to the public Some of the most popular actors of the American stage have retired until, they can find satisfactory substitutes for the mediocre dramas which the playwrights provide for them. There has been more or less generous bor- rowing from the foreign stage, but the results have not been notably better.
 Naturally, in the desperate need of finding plays for the numerous theatres, the impre- sarios are turning to the successes that once pleased the public. The old favorites will again be tried out Will they quicken the blood of the present generation of playgoers? Will they make the audiences of the day laugh and cry and shiver? As the heroine in more than one of them probably remarked, time alone can tell. In the meantime, the proved successes of the past will be seen on the boards for the excellent reason that there is nothing else available just for the purposes of the providers of amusement.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-17
opERArIc CROSS CURRENTS

From the Philadelphia Public Ledger.
 Mary Garden announced recently at dinner given in Chicago in her honor that she believes the Chicago Opera company, of which she is director, should in the future confine itself to appearances in the west, leaving the east "to New York;" as she puts it, perhaps not quite able to bring herself to mention the of the Metropolitan Opera company. It is in many ways an important utterance. For one thing it speaks of great renunciation. It suggests that the Chicago company is resigned to give up it's previous ambition to show the east how opera should be presented. That was the ambition of the late impresario, Cleofonte Campanin when he inaugurated the custom.
 Apparently Mary Garden is content to let the east rest in ignorance, if it so desire, while she takes her song-birds to the shores of the Pacific instead. And her reason is enlghten- ing: "Our company earned in San Francisco in two weeks," she said, "a sum sufficient 10 make up the losses suffered in the New York season." It is to be remembered that "Our Mary" (who owned that title in select circles before Mary Pickford was ever heard of) has always been considered to contain more com mon sense to the square inch than many per sons have to the square foot. Here she seems to be showing it. The east will not pay for our opera, she says in effect, and the west will; therefore let us hie ps westward Contrasting her policy with that of Campanini's, is it to be said that a women impresario, and she an art st too, with temperament and everything $ to acclaim the box-offce triumphant more sue cessfully than a man?
 For surely Miss Gardens position has nothing to do with the fact that Geraldine Farrar has lately added the role of "Thais" to her rep ertoire!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-17
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
 AND ELSEWHERE
OPTIMISM THE WATCHWORD

"The great majority of the people in the south are laying too much stress on what they consider an industrial depression. It was very noticeable to me in coming from Philadelphia that the further south the more the recent de- presson has affected the people," said Clark W. Booth, formerly of Birmingham and re- gently copy editor of the financial section, Philadelphia Ledger "In the Pennsylvania in dustrial section conditions are no better than Tn the south. In the steel mill districts the out put is only about 45 per cent of normal while am told that in the immediate Birmingham district the figures are higher than this The people in Pennsylvania will not talk hard times, but will look on every improvement no matter how small, as another step toward nor nal conditions. great deal of the so-caled depression seems to be mostly in the minds ot number of people who should, as the Pennsylvanians do, look forward to the new era in the business and industrial world I am very much delighted to get down south again among old friends, and expect to be pleas antly located in New Orleans, where will be the manager of the New Orleans bureau of the United Press"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-17
SHOP HOLIDAYS WILL NOT
 BE PROLONGED

From day to day until Christmas shops will be closed down for the holidays This is GUS tomary and seasonal. In some instances the shutdown will be for week and in others for a fortnight, but all are of temporary nature
 The sanitary pipe shops, which have done an unusually good business during the past three months, will operate until the eve of the holidays and resume promptly thereafter. Men laid off at railroad shops are expected back after New Year. So far as can be ascertained resumption following the holidays will be as prompt usual.
 While shops are closing down, the Soss- Sheffield Steel and Iron company, the south's largest producer of merchant iron, is drying out furnace at Sheffield and preparing to begin iron making after months of non-pro- duction. This concern has reduced large yard holdings to point justifying resumption.
 The consensus of opinion among industrial experts is that the inventory period will be short one and that purchasing of iron and steel products will be renewed on or soon after January 1.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-17
cADa!EuaM MS4AausttH
ENGLISH SLANG
From the Buffalo Express.

From the Buffalo Express.
 Evidently there is good deal of wisdom in the National Council of Teachers. At least those speakers who put the stamp of the1 learned approval on the of slang might be offered exhibits in proof of the contention. if there be any contention on this subject. of two boys are fighting, don't tell them to 'desist' Cut it out is more affective. If the movie is bad how inferior may describe it, but good. night conveys richer feeling" So the presi- dent of the organization told his hearers. A teacher from Wellesley college rather neatly put it when she said that the English language is afflicted with "stylistic pedestrianism." The so-called purists used to stand in holy horror of the advent of words or of new meanings given to old words They dislked to admit that language grows through the use of slang. It offended their sensibilities to see slang words and phrases rise to the dignity of a place in the dictionary. But that book is full of slang, CT what was once slang. Slang is the means by which make language snappy. The best of slang lives; the remainder dies. That which lives takes it's permanent place in the language: we forget that which is rejected And thus our language is made more impressive.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-17

into disfavor. The very titles of some of these pieces offensive and more suggestive than the pictures themselves. Crafty advertisers have learned that salacious title has drawing power, even when they don't dare to live up to it.
 A great deal of the Dempsey Carpentier pie ture is taken up with preliminary views of the Battle of the Century," including the big stadium, the largest of it's kind ever built; the two pugilists in training, celebrities who at tended the fight and amusing incidents caught by the cameraman.
 As for the fight itself, the spectacle of Dempsey lifting his fallen adversary in his arms and taking him to his corner, where shortly aft erward the two men cordially shook hands is more edifying, to our mind than the murderous episodes of the underworld, the dope dens, the procurers the forlorn victims of white slavery and other choice details which photoplay pro ducers have set before the youth of the country
 Birmingham is afflicted with too much un- bridled reform, the kind that strains at gnats and swallows a camel
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-17
FIGHT PICTURE WILL NOT RUIN OUR MORALS

After needless wranglng the city comms- sioners have decided to permit the exhibition of the Dempsey Carpenter fight picture in Bir- mingham, with the proviso that part of the re- ceipts be devoted to charity.
 There were no reasonable grounds for oppo- sition to this film when the attempt was first made to show it in local theatre There are times during the combat when Mr. Dempsey and Mir. Carpentier are undeniably rough in exemplifying ''the manly art of self-defense,' J but there is nothing in the picture to corrupt public morals, and little if anything to brutalize our susceptible citizenry. There is infinitely more evil in the "vamp" films and the sex pho toplays which clutter up the screen and have done much to bring the motion picture industry
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-17

oil cloth, window shades, percales, gum tape, sheeting which we send west, and which comes back as containers for sugar, salt and flour. Our yarns go away and come back as Munsina- wear, lace curtains, silk lsle stockings, plushex. Whittall carpets, auto tires, fire hose, wire inc sulation and rubber boot Things. We make towels, osnaburg and rope. Occasionally you will find our bales marked for Arabia, Africa, Central and South America and China.
 It was wonderful story he told about the early manufacture of cotton, its growth and development. Starting with it's planting he carried his hearers spell bound to the finished product and closed with wonderful tribute to "King Cotton:' "Not the feeces that Jason sought can rival the richness of this plant which unfurls its banners in our fields. It is gold the instant it puts forth its tiny shoot. The showers that whisper to it are heard around the world. The trespass of worm upon it's green leaf means more to England than the advance of the Russians upon her Asatic outposts It's fiber is current in every bank. The dominion of our King is established forever This princely revenue assured to us not for one year, but for all time to come. It is the heritage which God gave when He arched our skies, established our mountains, girted us with the ocean, tempered the sunshine and measured the rain. and children forever"
 Small wonder that he sat down amidst thun- derous applause with such close.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-17
JOSEPHUS DANIELS

From the Washington Star.
 One hears talk these days-much of it friendly-about former Secretary Daniels What is his game? Does he desire seat in the Senate? Or is his objective the vice presi- dency?
 For time the Senate had the When upon leaving office MT. Daniels returned home and took personal charge of his newspaper opinion was general that he would lay the foundations for senatorial contest. Let Mr. Simmons take notice.
 There is a suggestion now that Mr. Daniels may have his eye the vice presidency. He has of late been delivering addresses here and there outside of North Carolina, and extending his personal acquaintance as Mir. Bryan did for several years prior to the Chicago convention of 1896
 And MT. Bryan, by the way, is one of Mr. Daniels warmest friends He stood for him at the time of his selection for a place in the Wilson cabinet, aud is as cordially his well wisher now as then
 The Daniels vice presidential boom booms like this; The North Carolnian as a candidate would command the support of both the Will sonites and the Bryantes. He was Bryanite before he became a Wilsonite, and remains a Bryanite after eight years of Wilsonism. Some feat, as politics go these difficult and confusing days.
 Before taking national office Mr. Daniels had cultivated the pen rather than the tongue. Since then he has made himself an effective public speaker, and i5 remembered by his party friends here and there when they are arrang- ing public functions and speakers of note are a feature.
 Last year the Old North state presented the name of MT. Simmons to the democratic na- tional convention for the presidency. Will she present the name of Mir. Daniels to the conven- tion of 1924 for the vice presidency, yoking him with an eastern man, say New Yorker?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-17
.ORNING PRAYER
FREIGHT RATES AND COMMODITY VALUES

The price of Birmingham high-pressure pipe is S34 to $35. Extra large sizes can be had for less The rail freight to Denver (Rocky mountain territory) is $22 90, to Phoenix, Arz., $50, to the Pacific coast, $50.
 The base price of Birmingham pig iron to- day is $17.50 The freight to Denver is S16 .04, to the Pacific coast, $2e, and to Phoe- nix, $2O.
 Railroad executives say earnings do not jus- tify a reduction in freight rates. How can earnings be increased when goods are so weighed down with freight rates that they do not move?
 The freight on pipe to the Pacific coast is almost equal to the price at Birmingham shops. The freight on pig iron to the coast is $2. 50 more than the price f. 0. b. furnace How sro pipe md iron to move to the Pacific esae th fsaieht the equal and more than the price sf tue commodity to be moved? The @aestion ia practical one. "N Iron and steel products shipped to the Pa cihc coast from Birmingham in the past IS months have been carried by water out of Mobile. The rate on pipe by that route is one half the all-rail rate. Pipe makers have no alternative in the matter. But for the lower rates by ship the pipe would not have been purchased. But for the rate on steel products by ship the Pacific coast would have taken German or Belgian steel.
 Is there not a point where freight rates mean no earnings? There certainly is one where diversion from rails to ships becomes compulsory.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-17
CoMMENDs FIRE DRILLS

"The manner in which some schools are in- structing their pupils in fire drills certainly meets my approval stated Capt. Alfred Brown of the Ensley fire company, recently
 "Only recently witnessed the drill of the Bush grammar school in Ensley,' and believe me I saw some pretty nifty work. This school has an enrolment of over 500 students It took exactly one minute and half 10 empty the building, and in an orderly manner too.
 Back in the days of the little red school on the hill' when any one said 'Firer away we ran, lickety-split. Nowadays you see the pupils march out the buildings in a steady and quick march, no confusion whatever"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-17
JoY-RIDERs STEAL CARS

For the past few weeks the Birmingham Automobile club has been kept busy locating stolen cars,' said Miss Amy Angell, who is con- nected with the club. "Withn the last four days we have had exactly eight stolen cars re- ported, and we have certainly had to hustle to trace them. We are in line with most of them. Tracing these cars to Leeds, thence to their destination, have had messages fol- lowing the descriptions of the automobiles giv- ing us line on their itinerary. For months we logged along in the same old way without any reports from members of the Birmingham Automobile club on stolen cars, just now and then report, but as Christmas draws near it seems that the joy riders are more plentiful, and many members of the club have asked us for help in locating their cars"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-17
POINTED PARAGRAPHS
ertoire
m the Chicago News.

From the Chicago News.
 Afterthoughts are sometimes best. Woman was an afterthought.
 Blind love often transforms two lovers into pair of spectaces.
 It is fortunate that the best man at "a we'd ding is content to take second place.
 woman is never happily married until she has refused at least one other man.
 When thief has an opportunity to steal, he always steals something besides the oppor- tunity
 When woman declares that she is homely she doesn't expect a man to believe she be- lieves it.
 Some men manage to acquire reputation for cleverness by working overtime what little they know
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-17
CHRISTMAS FLOWERS PLENTIFUL

Those who say it with flowers will have some beautiful things to choose from, for the Christmas flowers this season are going to be more beautiful than ever before," said Hugh Seals "There will be great many hand some chrysanthemums, poinsiettas, American Beauty roses, ophelia Crusader roses-the lat ter is the brilliant crimson rose-also La France and jacqueminot. The Cleveland berry plants are among the prettiest and the most effective Christmas potted plants which will be shown, and they are among the best
 lasting well and of brilliant colorng either ia yellow or red. There will be decided absence of the ever popular azalea, as there is an em- bargo on azaleas, and we won't get any ex- cept those raised in California. Most of these pretty plants come from Holland, and as they are not allowed to be shipped, we will have to depend on the California products. Valley lilies and violets, the single hyacinth and roses will be used mostly for corsages, and nothing combines more gracefully than these flowers"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-17
LETTERS TO EDITOR
EASY TO RAISE CAME BIRDS
To the Editor of The Age-Heraid: >

10 the EdlJor o1 The Age-Heralu.
 The Game Bird society is promoting move ment to increase our game bird population for the benefit of farmers and the pleasure Of sportsmen.
 To this end we desire that women be shown the facts that raising pheasants is easy for any woman, that it is very profitable, that they can be raised inexpensively on a city lot as well as on farm, that chicken requires as much feed five pheasants, that practically no housing is required by pheasants, and that ready market is waiting for pheasants when six months old at from $4 per bird ur
 This society will furnish free oi charge to all inquirers any informationsreque, ted on this subject.
 Will you give us help by giving publicity to the movement? JOHN w. TALBOTT,
 Secretary the Game Bird Society
 South Bend, Ind, December 13, 1921.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-17
A DIP INTO LITERATURE.

Mrs Calder has asked me to suggest some thing for her to read"
 "How about Twenty Minutes With Great Authors?"
 Twenty minutes, eh? That's just about long enough. don't want to spoil a good bridge player"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-17
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
BUSINESS MEN.

Queer people, those Americans,' remarked Lord Helpus on his return to dear old London. How so, my lord?"
 "The front seats in the playhouses there are occupied almost exclusively by fatigued per sons in trade"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-17
A SLIM ONE.

"Just what is meant by "a Chinaman's chance'?"
 My dear sir" replied MT. Dubwaite, "Tn afraid you haven't been reading reports of the arms conference in Washington
 "No, haven't"
 Well, if you knew how much the Chinese are asking for and how little they are getting. you'd have good idea of what is meant hv "a Chinaman's chance.' PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-17
POLAND'S POPULATION

From the London Times.
 Polands population, revealed by the Sep tember census, is 29,94OOO0, exclusive of the army and prisoners of war, and also of that part of Upper Silesia which has been allocated to Poland.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-17
THE CITIZENS COOPERATIVE
 COMMITTEE ORGANIZED

COMMITTEE ORGANIZED The Coordination and cooperation" com mittee of citizens to act with the city com mission as an advisory body has been organ ized.
 The personnel of the committee is good It represents the leading civic bodies of the city, business and professional men and women and wage and salary workers. The community has a mouthpiece to speak for it to the com mission.
 The principle which the committee is based is sound one. It means closer rela- tionshp between the governed and those who avoided if there were more frequent consulta- tion with the public than has been the vogue Officials have often done the wrong thing be- cause they misinterpreted the public mind. They will not do this when there is a repre- sentative body of citizens at hand to whom problems may be submitted and through whom the community's attitude on given questions may be ascertained.
 
 Personally, prefer pictures of Bill Hart with gun in either hand and a hard look on his face to the recent crop of photographs showing him gazing into the eyes of his bride with the expression of dying roach.
 
 Josephus Daniels is said to have kept on friendly terms both with Wilson and Bryan. That's the advantage of being an editor and accustomed to dealing with all kinds of people.
 
 The Vengeance complex" is a new term figuring in murder case. After a while jurors will have to be intelligent to know what is going on in court.
 Grandmother dolls are now being made with gray hair and placid faces, but the "vamp'' doll is the most popular, being more in keep ing with the times.
 The Atlanta Georgian says there is too much loose thinking and loose writing. Infants Tn arms think they can write movie scenarios. The fire department has issued list of Christmas Donts." Above all things, don't touch match to Santa Claus whskers. The inhabitants of Arkansas came within an ace of making hero out of Tom Slaughter, but sober reason has asserted itself.
 *
 Zion City is being polluted by the so-callcd Demon, Rum Has Overseer Volva lost his power to banish evil by ukase?
 
 Senator Reed says the four-power pact is "gold brick" Let us hope our friends from Asia don't understand the vernacular. Sergeant Woodfll has dropped back into that fathomless obscurity which is the fate of most heroes who don't advertise.
 
 A family of gorillas, on their way to America. will be cordially welcomed. Gorillas are preferable to bolsheviks.
 The first thing we know, Ulster will be call ing herself a pariah, the last stage of sad, eventful history"
 Tho Mutsu will ride the waves. Incidental ly, a few other dreadnaughts will escape the scrap heap.
 The gallows waits for Lucky Tom" O'Con- nor, who expects to spend the holidays else where.
 The four-power pact IS causing Senator Jim Reed to put an additional strain on his vocab- ulary.
 Over in England "bitter enders" are called >"de hards." Their functions are the same. Uncle Sam retains the talking privileges on Yap-and the blessings of prohibition.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-17
WHEN A HAWAIIAN TAKES OFFICE

From the Manchester Guadian.
 One of the most quaintly worded oaths Of office still in use in the British isles is that which will be administered to the two gentle men, MT. c. T. Callow and MT. F. M. LaMathe, who have just been appointed deemsters of the Isle of Man. It runs By this Book and by the holy contents thereof, and by the won derful works that God hath miracuously wrought in heaven above and in the earth beneath in six day and seven nights, I swear that I will without respect of favor friend ship, love- consanguinity affinity, envy or malice, execute the laws of the isle justly be- twixt our Sovereign Lord the King and his subjects within this isle and betwixt party and party, as ndifferently as the herring backbone doth lie in the middle of tho fish. So help me God and the contents of this Book.