davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-14
Modern Structure

"Citizens of Woodlawn will be able to point with pride to their new high school when the fall term opens in September, for by that time the large structure now in process of construc- tion will be ready for occupancy" de- clared John R. Hornady, city oommis- sioner. "Woodlawn schools will be ad- jacent to each other, and in location where they can serve the communities of Gate City, Avondale and East Lake as far as high school facilities are con- cerned.
 Inconvenience now caused by the pupils being forced to come to Central High will be eliminated, as will the congested conditions which now exist at that school.
 Everything modern will be con- tained in the new high school, which will accommodate 800 pupils. Work of laying the foundation of the building has been practically completed, and the superstructure will come next. The contractor plans to finish the structure in time to begin the next school term in the completed build ing"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-14
FICTITIOUS MISERY OF POOR"

dren in the world who had never seen grass Grass is so persistent! knew that a street had only to be free of traffic for a short while and little blades of grass would begin to push up from between the cobbes! lt might be that slum children never smiled though 1 was dubious of that-but all of them must have seen some grass some time.
 Then I grew up and left Ulster and went to England. and for two or three years I lived on the confines of slum in South London, where I discovered that my sentimental authors were sentimental liars, that poor people do not live lives of ncessant misery, that they smile and laugh as often as if not more frequently than, rich people, and are fully as happy as anyone else. Happiness and unhappl- ness are conditions of the spirit, and pro- vided a man has sufficient food to eat and a decent shelter and warm clothes, it matters very little whether he be rich or poor.
 MT. Galsworthy is not always as sem sible of this as he might be. Like many idealists he attaches more importance to material things than many materialists do He lets himself be too easily per- suaded that a thing is wrong because 1t looks wrong
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-14
THE LITTLE TOWN

that couldn't git trusted for can O cove oysters in a little town.
 Some folks apologize for Twin in a little town.
 When you ask 'em where they liys they color up an stuter, I-l-l 1.-Two about 10 miles north O Springfield. o. an after while it leaks out that ther from Urbana. o.
 Then they'll say that .ther goin' Chicago as ther's no opportunities in little towns. An then you cant help thinkin what furry they'll cause in Chicago
 Tn park benches O tn cities arc filled with little town people that have been lured from home an friends by tn ambition t git t tn front an be some beans.
 But tn best plan is t git t tn front at home before you try it on some big, heartless city.
 But some folks are jest cut out fer tn artificiality O tn city, so tn little towns can afford t lose 'em.
 But if you want t live nice, clean, honest, peaceful life. relieved by an occasional excursion | Niagary Falls tn little towns tn place--th' place where responsibility is real asset where tM funerals don't trot-where you don't have t pay dime~t git your hat back when you eat at tn O. K raStoNronf
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-14
munities and determining in advance

munities and determining in advance whether the voters would ap- prove the bond amendment if again submitted. They are in better posi- tion than anyone else to give accurate information upon the subject. If a poll of their communities shows senti- ment against the issue, the calling of an extra session would be useless. On the other hand, if they find that peo- pie want their highway system built and want to secure at this time the benefit of the federal governments appropriation to Alabama, the legis- lators would perform a public service by letting the ipct be known so that the highway commission and the ex- ecutive department of the state could govern themselves accordingly.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-14
Abe Martin. ln Farm LIfe.

Abe Martin, in Farm Life.
 TAKE Bentley is in town hidin' at his oU mothers home. He's been away t'
 city fer three or four years an it's said he's been workin' fer auto theit concern. 4.,-es 4s
 He says th5 trouble about Twin in a little town is that everbuddy knows ever'buddy else's business.
 That's tn reason Jake has been Twin in tn city.
 We all thought we knew his business here, but we wuzn't sure enough t have him arrested.
 Tn best thing, about a little town is that we come purity close t knowin who ever'buddy is.
 We know who our next-door neigh bor is an we know who's able t own d car
 In a city, where all that's necessary is t keep slicked up, it's different.
 No buddy knows you an nobuddy cares anything about you.
 They don't know whether tn payment plan truck is takin' your pianner away or deliverin' you Victroly, an they don't care so long as you don't steal ther milk off tn window sill.
 Ther's an unwritten law in tn city against disturbin' your milk an your mornin' newspaper, but aside from that nobuddy bothers you.
 Some folks git t tn front in a city
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-14

St. John Ervine, in the North American
 Review
 0R7 HEN I look at Mir. Galsworthys s w frightened lips, I feel certain that
 they are drawn closely together. not to prevent himself from forgetting his indifference to himself, but to pre- vent him from pouring out his anger at wrong and cruelty suffered by other peo- pie. His hatred of injustice possesses him like fury, so that I expect to find his hands always clenched. There are times, indeed, when he allows his feeling for others, human and animal, to destroy his sense of proportion, and he will some- times imagine that people or beasts are suffering a great deal more of pain than they really are, even that they are suf- fering when in fact they are not suffer- ing at all This is the complaint most commonly made of him by his critics that he sometimes exaggerates the extent to which people and, particularly, ami mals suffer.
 often read in sentimental Sunday school books of slum children who never smiled and had never seen grass. I suppose that fundamentally I have a sceptical mind, for even then l found myself doubting whether there were any chii-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-14
x < k
North Carolina to Spend
 $5O,OOO,OOO for Highways

7r1HE state of North Carolina, which
 U has been to the forefront of de- velopment the past several years, has taken another advanced step. A bond issue of $50,OO0,OO0 has been author ized under the state road law recent ly enacted by the legislature for the construction and maintenance of $500 miles of hard-surfaced and other roads, $10,0O0,00O to be issued an- nually unless progress of construc- tion calls for more.
 The Carolina road funds will be se- cured in the same manner as was con- templated under the Alabama high way amendment, namely from a tax on automobiles, but Carolina has added tax of one cent gallon on gasoline.
 The Carolina plan also follows that of Alabama in regard to connecting the various county seats with one an- other, and the principal towns in the counties are also to be connected whether town sites or not, the high ways being intended to serve the greatest number of people. The roads are also to connect with the principal state institutions and are to run through the stage parks and the na- tional forest reserve.
 It is altogether an ambitious pro- gramme and there does not appear to be any doubt of it's being carried out. North Carolina has discovered way of doing big things now and does them. Her example is an en- couragement to other southern states feeling the need of permanent inter- county highway system and working to that end.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-14
"EVERYBODY'S- OFFICE"

it up in the correct butchering manner, showing how a well-dressed steer shoulde look This sounds like a rather odd in- surroundings, but actually it was serl- ously important one as it was a clear demonstration of what the standardized cuts of beef should be-so that henceforth "porterhouse steak for example. would mean the same thing all over the country.
 Yes, butchers. bakers. candlestick mak- ers-captains of industry attending con- ference, small clerks attending an Elm ployes' Welfare association minstrel show-these are the people who throng the big hotel of today. Instead of being the lounging place of the idle rich. as the bewhiskered radical imagines it, the urban hostelry is the rendezvous of the hustling money maker the place where the high spots in business happen.
 The entertainment manager, who for- merly concerned himself almost entirely with receptions; social dinners and the dansants, now arranges the utilitarian revels Of the suitcase ana pag mahuldc- lures and of the Independent Barbers association A glance at his printed schedule of events and the jobbers' and dealers convention have it over the so- ciety stunts. Of the latter, weddings and weddings breakfasts are the hardest; for though business booms and threatens to overrun everything people will get mar ried
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-14
Buffalo For Park

q hope the city's efforts to obtain a buffalo from the government meet with success" said J. Ellis Brown, city commissioner in charge of public util- ities and properties. This animal is somewhat of curiosity in this section of the country and the presence of one at the Avondale Zoo should aid mate rially in the natural history education of our school children.
 By the way, school children of Bir- mingham will be afforded the oppor- tunity of playing on more playgrounds this year than ever before in their lives. Citizens of many communities are helping the city establish play grounds, giving substantial aid to the projects. Vivian was the latest to in- sure the fact of a playground there this summer"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-14
Must Obey Traffic Law.

with motorists required to obtain permits to drive cars by March 21. and pedestrians liable to arrest if they ig- nore the semaphore warning, enforce ment of Birmingham's new traffic code is taking concrete form" said c. R. Benton, manager of the Hillman. Although there may be some who feel inconvenienced by the code, the mini mixing of the danger from accidents caused by pedestrians being run over more than justifies the fancied hard ships
 At any event, Birmingham citizens are asked to do no more than citizens of other large cities. We may as we'll start acting like grown-ups right now. We are mature ,and should start ad- vertising that fact right now. It makes favorable impression on the visiting man of business"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-14
Far Reaches of Traffic
 By the Water Routes

IT 7IGH rail freights have brought lIll about trials of water-borne traffic that otherwise would not have been as much as suggested.
 The Western Lumberman mentions shipment of Douglas fir from the northwestern Pacific coast to middle western points that came on vessels through the Panama canal, unloaded at Philadelphia, was then reloaded on cars and delivered at destination at a lower rate than the rails would have brought it direct.
 From Oregon and Washington to Ohio by the Panama canal and Phil adelphia is a circuitous route. It is long and tedious. There is an addi- tional loading and an additional un- loading compared with direct rail transportation. There is the back haul by rail from Philadelphia. Yet water transportation, under the ex- isting scale of rail rates, makes this possible at lower cost than one load ing and one unloading.
 The Western Lumberman observes
 Water transportation is arousing
 the keenest interest on the Pacific
 coast and in view of the high rail
 rates there is a decided tendency on
 the part of the manufacturers to en-
 courage and cooperate in water
 shipments to the Atlantic seaboard
 from which reshipments will be made
 by rail or water to the middle west
 The Portland flour mills have brought cargoes of flour by vessels to Mobile and Savannah for inland distribution by rail. The California fruit growers and canners contem- plate investment in $50,000, ,000 fleet to bring their products to the gulf and Atlantic ports for redistribution.
 American ingenuity seems able to care for itself under whatsoever cir cumstances may arise.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-14
------------------ss----- SITE OF SOLOMON,s MINES
,hn Hays Hammond, in Scribners

John Hays Hammond, in Scribner's
 Magazine.
 In Rhodesia are located King Solo mons mines-the veritable diggings from which that many wived monarch got his great stores of gold. That the novelist, Rider Haggard, should have located the mines in his famous novel of that name, just about where they actually were was purely a literary accident, inasmuch as their discovery post-dated the publication of his book.
 Haggard himself told me that he put the mines where he did for no other reason than that the region was unex- plored and therefore inviting to his imagination.
 The abandoned workings for gold are scattered over a wide extent of territory There are, perhaps, thou sand miles of them, mile or two here, and few miles there in soutn- ern Rhodesia--the land of Ophir of the Bible. The black slaves who got the gold for Solomon extracted it from quartz rock, their method being to build a fire against the face of the vein and when it was well heated to throw cold water upon it. By this means the rock was cracked and dis integrated, the fragments were ground to powder between rocks. as the Mexi- cans grind their corn, and the powder was washed, the gold thus obtained being converted into ingors by melting and pouring it into soapstone molds
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-14
Alabama Confronted
 With Highway Problem

~ HARTMAN JOHN A. ROGERS W of the state highway commits sion in another column of today's Age-Herald discusses the situation confronting Alabama in connection with the building or roads.
 Mir. Rogers makes it plain that the highway commission does not feel like urging that the legislature be called to submit again the $25, ,000, ,000 road bond issue unless they are as- sured that the people will ratify the issue so that Alabama can go ahead with her road programme and draw from the federal government one dol lar for each dollar spent by the state itself upon it's highway systems.
 The highway chairman appreciates the fact that in many parts of the state business conditions are such that the voters might be less inter ested in authorizing bond issue than It the time it was previously ratified. Al the same time he believes that the lresent offers exceptionally attractive Inducements to undertake the con- struction of roads on large scale. Mules are cheaper than they have been in 20 years. Other equipment and materials can be procured at sat- isfactory prices and. many farmers who will not be able to make the usual crops this season would be glad of the opportunity to pick up the ex- tra money that could be secured by using their teams on road work.
 The members of the state senate and house of representatives would be doing their state a service by sound ing cut the sentiment of their com
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-14
CLIPPER SHIP RECORDS

CLIPPER SHIP RECORDS Letter in the Philadelphia Public
 Ledger.
 of racing yachts for the transatlantic passage but it said nothing about the record of commercial ships before the era of steam.
 For some years before he retired from the sea in 1882 the writer's grand father, Capt. William West Jr, com handed successively several of the Cope packets in the Philadelphia Liverpool service. Extracts from two of his let ters to his brother-in-law, David Henry Flickwir of Philadelphia, follow. in command of the Lancaster he writev on August 21, 1924: Here am I once more in Liverpool after glori- ous run out-beat everything on the passage. The packet of the 24th from New York came in astern. the Monte-' zuma only three days before me (sailed 1 5th). You may perhaps put a feather in my cap by reporting fine rrn to the Lancaster. When you fall in with friend Ca longshore one) say you heard the Lancaster had fine run out. If they do not know you to be a relation of mine so much the better. If you do not understand the art os puffing, take New York paper for month"
 He had been transferred and was in command of the Montezumma when he wrote from Liverpol, December 2S. 1921: T received yours of the 23d by the Bir- mingham some time after my arrival. She came far behind the Montezuma this time. had glorious run 17 days from the Capes in sight of this place. II did not get in until next day owins to late tides. I consider this equal to any passage ever made; it is better than 16 from New York"
 Was this a record. and if so, how long did if stand? MT. Flickwir used to claim that it was. The captain received a percentage on the freight and share of the profit on the passengers.
 J. D. B.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-14
OH. Y0u HADES.
To the Editor of the St. Louis Post
 Dispatch

To the Editor of the St. Louis Post
 Dispatch.
 I am slowly drawing near the three score and ten mile post. I have heard 50 many conflicting stories during my life about the hereafter that have never been able to decide where it would be best to land. But according to an article in Sundays Post-Dispatch one Overseer Wilbur Glenn voliva of Zion City H., has advance news. He says that in he'll we will swim in vats of whisky. wine and beer. He doesn't state what brand Of beer or where made, as I understand. but no doubt St. Louis, because we made the best here Now that's the place that looks good to me. We won't have to dodge prohibi- tion agents. All we'll have to do Is submerge below the foam line and fill up. then rise to the top and wipe our mouth. Pretty soft"
 NEAR SEVENTY.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-14
Lawton Mackall, in Leslie's.

Isawton Mackall in Leslies.
 HlRHAD an awful shock" says the
 architect of one of New York $
 z new caravanseres. Soon after the hctel was opened I went to the grand ballrom to see how it looked when there were people in it. I had planned the color scheme of that room so that II would harmonize with womens evening gcwns-Id had in mind the picture or gay couples waltzing over gleaming floor Imagine my horror when l en- tered the ballroom to find it occupied by the American Gas association with an exhibit of gas stoves, gas irons and the like.'
 , If this sensitive colorist had happened in a few weeks later he would have come upon the assembled American Laundry Owners, and beheld mangles and centrl- fugal driers in action, and, in small dining room at the side choice machinery for making soap.
 In this same dining room, at another time, under the auspices of the Amer ican Pharmaceutical association. was set up patent pill maker and samples or every drug in a drug store; which, one might say, was carrying the idea of medi- cine with meals rather far.
 If he had been on hand one evening last August he could have picked up some fine points about carving. for the United Master Butchers of America blithely brought in an entire side of beef and cut
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-14
BRIGHT SIDE or THE STRIKE
From the Ashburn (Ga.) wiregrasi
 Farmer

From the Ashburn (Ga) wiregrass
 Farmer.
 A wonderful sentiment has sprung up in connection with the Atlanta, Bir- mingham and Atlantic railway strike. It is conceded that if the strike was bound to come anyway, it could not come at better time than now, as far as south Georgia is concerned. For corn cribs, smoke houses hen houses and nests are all full. No scarcity of food, besides there is but little cotton moving. Of course, there will be some inconvenience. However, it is being planned to overcome this to a great extent by motor truck and passenger auto service. There are hosts of farm CTS and large farmers at that who have not made as much money in the past year as a negro fireman is now making in month. Among them they have fleets of trucks and autos lying idle for the lack of money to buy gas. They are only too glad to man these machines, and will be satisfied to earn less than even the reduced wages of these firemen to help them out in making this years crop. The situation is also looked upon from this angle: The Atlanta, Birmingham and Atlantic is saving s100,000 per month, while the employees are not alone losing their wages, but by their action making the open shop inevitable.
 If general strike takes place, peo- pie look upon it as the opportunity for the motor world to exploit the long discussed plan of freight-truck and passenger bus service all over the south
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-14

From tne montgomery AuNertlSeE.
 Billy Williams, United States com missioner of internal revenue, says a lawyer told him once that "a letter of recommendation does not evidence a mans ability, but merely signifies the amiability of the writer That is about as solid truth as one will see in a days walk. Every ready letter writer will agree to that. Many letters tell the truth about the man for whom they are written, but they rarely tell the whole truth. If there are unpleas- ant facts about the bearer of the let ter. the writer has been discreetly and courteously silent in respect to them. It is not his business to argue and analyze. It Is his job to give friend lift.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-14

.IORD ULLIN's DAUGHTER. By Thomas Campbell. A chieftain to the highlands bound. Cries .Boatman, do not tarry. And I'll give thee silver pound To row ns OCT the ferry" "Nowfi. who be ye. would cross Locn-
 gele, s
 This dark and stormy water?' 70, I'm the chief of Ulvas Isle, And this, Lord Ullins daughter. And fast before her fathers men Three days we've fled together, For should he find us in the glen, My blood would stain the heather. "His horsemen hard behind us ride Should they our steps discover, Then who will cheer my bonny bride. When they have slain her lover?' Out spoke the hardy highland wight: "Tll go, my chief, I'm ready; It Is not for your silver bright, But for your winsome lady! And by my word. the bopny bird In danger shall not tarry; So, though the waves are raging white, I'll row you OCT the ferry" By this the storm grew loud apace, The water-wraith was shrieking; And in the scowl of heaven each face, Grew dark as they were speaking. But still as wilder blew the wind, And as the night grew drearer, Adown the glen rode armed men, Their tramping sounded nearer. "Oh, haste thee, hastew the lady cries Though tempests round us gather; I'll meet the raging of the skies. But not an angry father.' The boat has left a stormy land. A stormy sea before her When, O! too strong for human hand, The tempest gather'd OCT her. And still they row'd amidst the roar Of waters fast prevailing; Lord Ullin reach'd that fatal shore His wrath was changed to wailing. For, sore dismayd, through storm and
 shade
 His child he did discover: One lovely hand she stretchd for aid. And one was round her lover. Come back. come back" he cried in
 grief.
 Across this stormy water; And sIll forgive your highland chief. My daughter.-O my daughter,'' Twas vain; the loud waves lash'd the
 shore, Return or aid preventing; The waters wild went OCT his child, And he was left lamenting.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-14
ORIGIN OF YANKEE DOODLE

From the Detroit News.
 The origin of Yankee Doodle" is in volved in obscurity; but it is said that the song was introduced by the British troops about the beginning of the American revolution. While the British were in the city of Boston in the sum mer of 1775 some rhymer among them wrote a poem in derision of the dress, equipments, etc.. of the New England troops, or Yankees" That was the original Yankee Doodle" song. The authorship is generally ascribed 10 Dr.. Richard Shuckburg, a British surgeon and wit.
 pr. Edward Everett Hale has attrib- uted the present verion of Yankee Doodle" to Edward Bangs, who gradu- ated from Harvard in TIT. The tune has been attributed to various countries and even carried back to the church of the middle ages, but most likely it had it's origin in England. It is found in an opera by Samuel Arnold. Two to One" produced in London in 17S4.