davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-11

which the relentless hand of the law steals in tenderly and unrecognized. And yet, writer's have worked them selves into almost a frenzy with pie lures of terrified days and sleepless nights and "tortures of the imagina- tion." The Nevada law provides for a death chamber where the con demned is to be confined from 60 to 90 days. At some hour after the so days, preferably while asleep st night, an odorless gas, which causes no pain, which cannot even be de- tected, Is let into the chamber. and death occurs without a suggestion 0: discomfort The condemned. simply sleeps on of falls asleep and docs not awaken.
 These writers with the vivid im- agination and more anxious to mako a sensational story than calmly con- slider the actual facts, picture the mental agony of coming death be- cause the exact moment is unknown. Yet,- each of us who reads these words must die. although we do not know how or when. Yet the thought of the inevitable, when we think of 1t, does not destroy our happiness nor change our plan of life. The psychology of the doath chamber par takes of this, even though the meth
 cd and the approximate time are known. T where the condemned hoped for, and many counted on, a reprieve which never came. The gas chamber does not withhold that hope. The most , desperate criminals usually display the least nerve and are most fearful of physical suffering: the gas cham
 Der promises a painless death. The
 gas execution will be found to cause | the prisoner the least apprehension
 possible. The first few weeks be
 knows he Is immune, and by that
 time the end still seems afar off The hearty breakfast which most to-be-
 executed men demand, indicates how
 easy it is to divert the mind from
 the great event to trival things | The gas can be counted on to ac-
 complish it's mission a day, or sew eral days, before the condemned an- ticipates his end with the chances l that on the fatal night he will find
 his pillow as soft, and sleep as well
 come and undisturbed as the many nights previous, from which he |
 inevitable, and submission to what l will be, will be- The state of Ne vada deserves the thanks of her sis
 ter states, and those which still havs nothing better than a rope should lhumanely follow her example.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-11
HAMMOCK FICTION

From the Baltimore American.
 The four works of fiction most in demand in the United States at the opening of the hammock season ,ac- cording to the current Bookman, were, in their order, Main Street" by Sinclair Lewis; JThe Trimming Cup by Dorothy Canfield; "The Age Of Innocence" by Edith Wharton. and Moon Calf" by Floyd Dell.
 So much has been written in de- rision. about the frothy quality of best sellers that this list is worthy of attention. Both Mrs. Whorton and Mrs. Dorothy Garfield Fisher have served a distinguished apprentice ship MT. Lewis has the appearance of a college boy, though several years of excellent literary perform ance lie behind him. Young MT. Dell has won wieh a Afrst novel, though he had already built up rep utation as literary critic.
 All four of these best sellers are books that enrich the quality of our literature. They are the product of superior craftsmanship. They are compounded of the stuff of life. They are sophisticated and analytical of the larger phases of our social struc- ture-many might call them hyper critical But the point remains that they are true works of art an un- usual quartet for any season to pro- duce. and that they won immediate popular recognition, while much lit erary mush and treacle has been gathering dust in the book stores. All this would seem to refute those weary critics who perpetually insist that America has no artistic stand
 ards, s@nd that the only successful artists are those who produce con fections for the bored wives of tired business men. Perhaps we are not as provincial as we think we are.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-11
Good of The Com munity

For some time l have been read ing each day the article in the Age Herald, headed, For the Good of The Community says K. F. Maritime. and have been struck with the grasp of facts and conditions with which they are written.
 T had never met R. F. Johnston, and on making inquiry about him was not surprise to learn that he had long lived in the district and was both a trained newspaper man as well as gatherer of valuable data.
 T am sure that he is doing a good service to the community as well as the state in calling attention in an authoritative way to the various in dustrial problems"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-11
A HUMANE EXECUTION

H. Fl. Windsor, in the July Popular
 Mechanics Magazine.
 0G1 HIS is not an argument for or
 against capital puni6hment,
 but merely a comment upon the snew method of inflicting legal death as determined recently by the state of Nevada Nevada has at least endeavored to be accommodating and for long time gave the condemned his choice of the rope or a firing squad; in either event the duty of the sheriff was very unpleasant. In the firing squad one cartridge was supposed to be blank, to give each member chance to feel his was the harmless one. yet none could escape the suspicion that his shot had been deadly after all. Even so, it had several advantages lover hanging. as every one realizes who ever wit messed an execution of this kind. Too often the condemned, almost more dead than alive, has to be carried bodily to the platform, and proppe up in chair until the trap is sprung. Hanging was in vogue when it was the penalty for stealing sheep, and was intended, by it's very hideousness to put the fear of the law into the seldom humane; so much depended upon the skill with which the moose was adjusted, and this takes experi- ence. What with frequent elections and new officials, few had had op- portunity to become reliable admins trators. With the knot at a certain vulnerable spot, a quick jerk of the falling body will break the neck. causing instant death. But nccks, like sheriffs. differ, and the solar plexus of the neck cannot be located with a tape measure; moreover, the nervous executioner, anxious to have the ordeal over with, is often clumsy, with the result that the victim not only pays the penalty of his life, but instead of sudden death, he slowly strangles, which requires several minutes--an ordeal hardly less terri ble for the witnesses than the pris- oner. One who has witnesses four executions by hanging tells me that in only one case was the neck broken and death instantaneous; in each of the three other executions the con demned slowly strangled in torture too awful to describe, and yet the same sheriff officiated in each case. Anyone at all familiar with the various forms of execution which have been used in this country could not hesitate a moment between such death, or the bloody, noisy firing squad, and the new Nevada way, in
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-11
THE SAM BROWNE BELT

his Sam Browne when he returned say him nay. Now that the former has replaced the latter as chief of staff, the Sam Browne, we are told, is finally come into its own here in the states.
 Doubtless it is glorious victory for Sam Browne, but doubtless also it will mean nothing in the lives of the great American majority. We recall. in the blue uniformed days of the 90's, a somewhat similar conflict over the width of the stripes that adorned the trouser legs of our officers, commis- stoned and non commissioned. The commissioned rank sported a stripe wider than that conceded to ser geants, and the corporal had to be content with a stripe narrower than that Haunted by the sergeants. Even as the privates in World-war days loved to parade in officers boots or leggings while on leave, so the nom coms of the sos were addicted to Judging on the width of their stripes. The contest waged most fiercely. O course, in the ranks of the organized militia, and some of the volunteer units carried 1t with them into the Spanish-A American unpleas- antness. Since everything has it's good uses, possibly these controxer- -sies over military styles and insignia might be defended on the theory that they stimulate the aggressive and helping to keep them keyed up and on their toes even in the piping days q peace
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-11
* < @
Murder and Revenge in
 the Mountain Country

A POIGNANT, vivid tragedy of GA the mountains is told in dispatch from Sandy Hook, ky. A little mountain girl vainly sacrificed her life to save her brother from the wrath of "moonshiners."
 According to the story told by a witness, Dan Sparks and his IT, year-old sister, Mary, were going to their home when waylaid by a party of mountaineers. As they were about to shoot the man the girl broke loose from her captors, intercepted the bullets intended for her brother and fell mortally wounded. While she lay on the ground another fusillade was fired at her brother and two dead bodies were left as witnesses of the moon sinners" revenge.
 John Fox, IT,, who wrote such a sympathetic understanding of the mountain folk, has woven many a stirring tale around such charac- ters as Mary Sparks. Life is still primitive, still indifferent to man made laws in the mountain country when the mountaineer believes someone is infringing upon what he regards as his property rights. He still maintains, with a Winchester, if necessary, that he has right to convert his own corn into whisky and sell it to the highest bidder. He believed so in the old days of the "revenuer" and he has not been changed by prohibition.
 And woe to the unguarded neigh Dor who is suspected of giving in- formation against him. That con stitutes the most fragrant violation of the mountain code. Even a woman, who is usually safer in the mountains than in cities, may not hope to escape his vengeance.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-11
From the Providence Journal.

From the Providence Journal.
 1N RUSSIANISM has been cheaply |N vindicated and the allies again
 mocked by the acquittal ot Lieut.. Gen. Karl Stenger by the Ger man supreme court at Leipsic on charge brought by the French gov ernment of having given orders to take no prisoners and to kill wound- ed men on the Alsace front in 1914.
 The evidence against Stenger was strong. Former French soldiers who participated in the Alsace fighting swore to atrocities that they had witnessed. Major Crusius, formerly of the generals staff and also on trial for murder of the helpless, tes- tiied that his superior had assem- bled the officers of the brigade and ordered them to shoot all French ly- ing upon the battlefield. Stenger himself admitted that when French soldiers, supposedly wounded and un- able to offer opposition, fired on his men from behind he declared they must be finished:''
 "The enemy shot at us from trees" he said, and the wounded and sup posed dead shot at us from the rear. Take care I warned. and shoot them from the trees like sparrows.' Naturally I would not give this as written order"
 If he did not convict himself out of his own mouth, he came so peril ously near it that any fair minded jury would have brought in at least verdict of / manslaughter against him. But the cables say that the German public prosecutor in his sum ming up said nothing about the charge that Stenger told his troops to take no prisoners and kill wound- ed men. The prosecutor, in fact. as in the case against Lieutenant Neumann some weeks ago, acted more as if he were the defendants at torney than the representative of the state. After his speech, which put the general in the most favorable light possible. despite the evidence, solemnly went through the farce of ordering an acquittal
 Major Crusius. being subordinate. fared less well, although the prose- cutor abandoned the most serious l shooting wounded French on August 26. 1s14--and contented himself with asking for a sentence of 30 months
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-11

Max Harden says the Germans neei a big man to guide them in the Uni ted States. Is this reflection, we wonder. on the diminutive Bern storff?
 * < # The Turks are reported to have started another offensive. The Turks long suit is making himself disagree able to the Greeks.
 x 4 4 Thilors In Italy are still charging from s1Oo to s2oO for suit of clothes, in spite of the fact that the war has been over nearly three years.
 4 # # There is great deal of starvation in Europe, but several million men under arms are not missing any meals.
 The hammock is holding it's own as first aid to matrimony, although the roadster built for two is a close rival
 Former chorus girls in New York are going to work as salesladies. It's getting up in the morning that hurts.
 # * # The uplft is marching on. Cellu Ibid collars have been barred from the Chicago police department.
 # x # Although Mir Dempsey has drawn the color line, history relates that he was not so particular in the old days.
 # # < If De Valera will only listen to Jan Shuts he will learn something to his advantage.
 It required an X-Ray photograph to convince the skeptical Fethren that Georges really hurt his hand.
 # x # Frequent arrests for drunkenness prove that prohibition is still more or less theoretical in some parts os the country.
 A new students quarter is planned for Paris. The Latin Quarter will continue to get the tourist trade
 # $ # It might make the work of beach censors less wearing if they we1e equipped with shock absorbers.
 # # < Tension has relaxed at Tampico.. but the oil men haven't cooled oft enough to notice.
 Beginning at noon today Ireland will settle down for a pc.!od c. watchful waiting.
 j. # < People who put in a few weeks at jazz resort don't go there pri- marily to rest.
 # 4 # Peggy Joyce will keep the jewels for the time being and hold the wolf at bay.
 # # # MT Harding is at his best when he is addressing letter to a small boy.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-11
From the New Orleans. Times -Pica

From the New orleansl Times Pica-
 yune.
 N DISPATCH from Washington i'm A\ forms us that on and after e July Is the Sam Browne belt will be part of the regulation uniform of commissioned officers in the Ameri- can armies. Civilians doubtless have wondered why the item should be ac- corded prominent mention and place. But ex-service and in-service men will hail it, according to their individual tastes, as the happy or unhappy end of q conflict waged within the Amer ican lines during the world conflict and inflicting casualties in terms of heartache or ruffled pride that may have left permanent scars here and there.
 The Sam Browne belt, as we re- member it, was discovered" by the American units first overseas and promptly adopted by our overseas off, ficers in preference to style already set by their commissioned associates in other armies. Whether it was first adopted for utTiitarian reasons or for purposes of adornment is one of the things few civilians have been able to find out. General Pershing, at any rate, liked it fine. General March, re- called from France to take post as chief of staff apparently did not. So in France General Pershing's officers sported it, while at home General had two kinds of officers-the sam Drowned of the A. E. F. and the sam browneless in the home camps. Gen. aral perS hincc 1t iS relatad cIaner tn
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-11
{ sCourthouse Reflects
 On Jefferson County

TN letter to the editor of The II Age-Herald, MT. John w. Cham blee asks, "What about that new scourthouse The question is being asked by a great many Birmingham citizens who regard our antiquated courthouse as a reflection on the richest and most pcpulous county in Alabama and the unsightly jail as .an affront to decency.
 No improvements could make the present jail fit for human habita- ton. It was built many years ago when n idea prevailed that persons
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-11
Summer School

"The University of Alabama cer- tainly has had large crowd at it's summer school during the past five weeks" said Dr. N. R. Baker, county superintendent of education, who visited the Institution about week ago There are about 1200 stu dents, which is a very large increase over former summers.
 "A large number are taking col. lege credit work, and of course a great many teachers are attending for certificate work. There are {. number of Birmingham students in attendance. The session closes We'd hesday."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-11
INTERMISSION

 Siegfield sasson, in the London Mer- cury. Ten minutes intermission at the My dreams along a primrose valley And my humor, like this gilded cock
 tail bar, Is the color of champagne. pale liquid
 gold, Clustered with orange lamps whose~'
 radiance falls To fill the mirrored insubstantiGl With warm hued tranquility If
 flame. Black suited figures loli and stas7
 and drink. Two gilt haired haggard women sml'e
 and blink, Pouring the saffron beverages of
 night. The florid bulging ceiling and the Discriminating faces fail to mar The rhythm of calm design, the flow
 of line, And the composing rhapsody of light. My brain is walled with glass; and
 thoughts that pass Reflect the atmosphere of all that's
 here: Reffect. and then awake to criticize; Detect corruption in the crapulous
 eyes And dissipated. cynical mouths If men With tilted shiny hats, I hear them
 saying, .Another drink. old chap? It s
 nearly ten." Then, hark ... through dazzling
 muffled corridors; The Palace orchestra has started
 playing.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-11
Fire Wall Held

Well constructed fire walls are invaluable assets to owners of buiId- lnss and occupants of the strue- tures," declared A. M Taylor of the Birmingham Hide and Tallow com pany. This was aptly demonstrated Saturday in the fire which destroyed the Jaffe Iron and Metal company stock and building.
 Although an intense blaze at- tackled the wall between the Jaffe building and the building occupied by the hide company, the wall held. The only damage to the structure was occasioned by water which slightly damaged a portion of the stock"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-11
LETTERS TO EDITOR
PRICE OF COAL

To the Editor of The Age-Herld: I notice you quote Acton coal at sS.75 per ton in this mornings paper. I bought seven tons for July delivery at this price last year. Therefore am not able to figure the s2 reduc- tion in price. Yours truly.
 J. H. STILLMAN. Birmingham. July 9, 1921.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-11
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

From Llfe.
 We understand that monster mass meeting has been neld by the Cats against the use of the word Pussy foot" in describing prohibition propa- gandists.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-11
puEpARED TOM THE woasr

From the ToIedo Blade. :
 When woman starts out for picnic on sunny day with a lunch basket in one hand and an umbrella and a pair of rubbers in the other, shes pessimist
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-11
Birmingham Citizens
 Are a Thrifty Set

X IL through the trying nine EA months that the nation has experienced the thrifty citizenship of Birmingham has held it's ground. Savings deposits are larger now than they were at this time last year when the high tide of produc- tion and wage earning was at its crest and King Cotton was not aware of the blow that he was to be struck in the late fall and winter.
 In three Birmingham banks the total of savings deposits now ag- gregate $l7,914,0Oo, an increase over this time last year of $771,- 900 and an increase over March, 1920, of $1,sS4,O00. What these three banks report is also recorded by the other banking houses.
 Why has not this money been drawn out? It must be because the average thrifty citizen, by con scientious performance of duty, has kept his job through all these months. If some have made less, they have lived on less. The certain thing is that they have not with drawn their savings.
 The stability of these savings bank totals is all the more remark able when one considers the amount of money that has gone into the building of homes and the amount known to have been invested by men of modest means in local and other securities paying high rate of interest this spring and summer, Out of it all we gather proof of the character of citizenship that Birmingham possesses.
 * q x
 l A Memphis man who was made sIcs by some "moonshine" is suing for damages. He doesn't seem to realize that people who drink ''moonshine' are supposed to be willing to take a sporting chance
 # # #
 A Cleveland cafeteria announces that the backbone of winter has beer broken. We have never seen head waiter who had sense of humor That sign was probably written D, somebody else.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-11
---------------------- MATERIAL DIFFERENCE

Now that Estelle is engaged, I suppose you are going to give her a linen shower.Y
 No; she said she preferred lawn party
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-11
FARCIAL ACQUITTALS

on another charge. He said that the major was not responsible for his ac- ticns, having been insane at the time. The court took cognizance of this plea and directed a sentence of two years in prison and also forbade the prisoner to wear the German ani- form again.
 The allies have reserved the right to review the cases tried at Leipsic Either they should act upon this right speedily or give up the present attempt to make the German war criminals suffer for their crimes. The Neumann acquittal was bad enough. but the Stenger case, the first to in- volve Prussian of high military rank, is downright travesty on jus tice. 1t would be mocking the dead to let the Germans try another sim liar to it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-11
Sewers Too Small


 Rains of Saturday afternoon aeair demonstrated the woeful inadequacy of Birminghams downtown storm sewer system," declared R. c. Todd
 It does seem as though some ac- ton could be taken by the city 10 eiltp'hate the ever-present menace of damaged stocks which is constant source of worry for merchants on Nineteenth street between Third and Fourth avenues, particularly.
 'The sewers now used were in- tended for city much smaller than the present Birmingham. They have outgrown their usefulness. It is hlgh time something is being done to remedy these conditions"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-11
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
 AND ELSEWH HERE
The Mother Quality

Tn the passing of my aunt. Mrs. J, H, Philips" said ". II. Wolverton, T feel more like have lost a mother. Although never blessed with children of her own, she had more clearly developed than almost any one | have ever known all the instincts of motherhood. Even after her health failed several years ago she was keenly interested in children and al- ways had the comfort or well beiog of some one on her heart and mind. She not only felt motherly inter- est in the young but 'mothered' tae grown ups whom she loved.
 Her aged mother had her tender care and constant attention until very recently when those of us wao knew that her strength could not hold out sent her (Mrs. Holman) bac;: to her old home at Camden. vii, miss her tender interest in me and mine"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-11

A MORNING PRAYER
 Temper my spirit in happiness, Lord, with the thought that hnp- piness passes. and strengthen my spirit in sorrow, Lord, with The knowledge that happiness comes. Amen.--M. s. B.