davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-10

and the south going each its own way. He might better have said "unhappiness." A house divided cannot endure. Regardless of their religious and political differences, north and south Ireland are as much part of the same state and the same nation as the northern and southern sections of the United States.
 The same situation is created in Ireland that would exist in America if the north and the south were under different govern ments There was a time when this division existed. It was fought out and permanently settled during the Civil war We realize now that it would have been national disaster had the north and south remained separate and distinct. The Irish people are new at self-government and may be pardoned for making blundersy but a continuation of strife between Ulster and the Free State is a mistake, nevertheless. Ireland must solve her own problems now. The Free State has been formally recognized by the British King and Parliament, and the task she faces that has more important bear
 ing on her future than anything else s to effect reconciliation between northern and southern Ireland. To achieve her destiny, Ireland must be united.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-10
A SERIOUS CRITICISM

There was formerly saying: "Grand turies condemn, but they seldom indict." This might now be changed to: "Grand ju- ries praise even more than they condemn" Instead of delving into suspected situations with the intention of finding evidence upon which to base indictments, grand juries too frequently issue literary reports, dropping a rose of commendation here and cabbage of criticism there, but leaving the surface of affairs unruffled except for the slight ripple where they briefly emerge and as gently disappear again. People are glad to know that certain officials are doing their duty and that certain public functions are being duly performed, but if that is all grand juries have to tell them, the result is hardly worth the effort and expense. What the people really want from grand jurfes is a delvng into suspicious condi- tions and the bringing to light of whatever tangible evidence of delinquency may be there Sporadic cases of crime and law in- fraction should not be the object of inquiry so much as fundamental shortcomings in regularly constituted public agencies. Nor should grand juries depend altogether upon solicitors for guidance and information. It may very we'll be that those things that have escaped the solicitors attention are the very ones the grand jury should in- vestgate.
 In the report of the recent grand jury there are two points brought out which merit special investigation. The grand jury has reported personal observation of liquor law violations and declares that the situa- tion is bad. The immediate query is; Where are the accompanying indictments? Then the jury has specifically stated: But the disgraceful situation as to the enforce ment of the prohibition laws is horse of another color, because the flouting of this law is so common, so widespread, so ap- proved by many, that it has gotten into seeming control of the jury box. .. An endless procession of law violators marches into the jail, the courts and the grand jury room. There is mo end of ar rests, backed by the evidence of guilt, nor is there any end of acquttals, the law breaker being told to go free, without even hint that he should sin no more.''S
 This is scathing criticism of trials and the methods of selecting jurymen. It is enough to shake to the very foundations the public confidence in local courts of justice. And yet there is no indication that effort was made to discover where lies the guilt for this situation, and there is no indictment returned in connection herewith. Never theless, the grand jury has placed it's finger upon a vital spot in law enforcement. If it has not returned indictments to cover the case, it has at least pointed out to civilian law enforcement leagues the road they may travel to correct conditions of which they complain. Conditions will not remedy themselves.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-10
SUCCESS OF PIPE WORKS

The United States Pipe and Foundry company is low bidder on 10000 tons of water pipe for San Juan, Porto Rico, and it automatically follows that the pipe will be manufactured in the Alabama plants, the Bessemer shop getting large part of the business because it is especially adapted for the large sizes predominating in the tonnage This is not the largest order for pipe that Birmingham has received. Sew eral years ago it executed an order for 3O,0OO tons for Argentine. Three decades ago Birmingham pipe was used by the citiy of Copenhagen and the City of Mexico in laying their municipal water mains, and Birmingham pipe went into the water-works system of Honolulu. The Pacific coast took 10000 tons of Birmingham pipe in 1921. Pipe is not highly finished product, being but one step fvom pig iron, but it's produc- ton on the scale that is possible in Ala bama by reason of the proximity of low cost pig iron,s is the cause of operation of many blast furnaces, coal mines, ore mines, coling plants and dolomite quarries. besides cars and locomotives employed in assemblago of raw materials at furnaces. Tens of thou sands of men owe their employment to the Alabama pipe shops, and they have served to maintain the poise of this district at critic cal periods. We want the factories produc- ing the highly-finished product, but let 1t not be forgotten that the pay rolls come from the mills and mines that are at the base of the industrial fabric.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-10
A New Offer

In yesterdays mail came letter from an archaeologist in Florida who writes that while excavating in Babylonia for the Uni versity of Chicago he obtained.a number of Babylonian tablets for his private coliec- ton, which he now desires to sell. They are about 4,000 years old, chiefly temple records and business documents, and "illus- trate the oldest of writings" We are not in a position, just at present, to buy Baby lonian tablet, although the idea of installing one in the living room is fasci- hating However, proposition of this kind is a welcome relief, after being swamped with letters from publishers urging us to buy set of books in limited de luxe edi- tion, from oil promoters who desire to make us rich in six months, and organizations who look to us with the utmost confidence that the claims of humanity and the uplift will not be ignored. PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-10
CONCEALED % IDENTITY

From the Chicago News.
 The most remarkable thing about Smith was his amazingly large mouth, which he. always contorted into an all-pervading smile when ever he wished to make good im-- pression. His sweetheart persuaded him to "ask father" and he was determined at all costs to make a good impression.
 "Mr. Jones'" he began, with q smile in which his mouth took It's usual prominent part, "l have come to ask permission to marry your daughter. I
 "One moment!" interrupted the old gentleman mildly. Would you mind closing your mouth for mo- ment till 1 see who you are!"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-10
LITERARY GoULISHNEss

A contributor to the Landmark writes sympathetic account of O. Henry's unfor- tunate experience in Texas, where he served prison term for embezzlement. His inten- tions are good, and that may be said of other critics and biographers who have been delv- ing into o. Henry's past ever since his death. But what useful purpose is served by con tinually harping on an episode which Porter himself sedulously kept secret all during his later life, and being sensitive, high-strung man, naturally regarded as too painful to be discussed, even among bis most intimate friends? That it cast blight on his career, made him recluse and influenced his liter ary work there can be no doubt, but the part played by his prison experience in developing his genius could be explained in few words without recounting, over and over again, the fact that one of the greatest short story writers America has ever produced was convict. What would have, been O. Henry's feelings had he suspected that after his death he would become a victim of this form of literary goulishness which is all too preva- lent?
 Such revelations are painful to the sem
 
 of an author and form their conclusions of what he was by his work. Why cannot an artist be judged solely by his work with out dragging in the sordid details of his private life? Scores of men and women who have won immortality in literature have had their weaknesses exposed by biographers intent on writing book that would appeal to the Eerely curious and lay bare secrets that had best be kept. The fact that . .grea. novelist, painter, a sculptor or a musician was guilty of transgressions against the human or divine code does not make his masterpieces any the less great. By those he should be judged and the rest should bs silent.
 There was Francois Villon, father of French lyric poetry, and one of the most notorious vagabonds who ever lived; there were Christopher Marlowe and Robert Green, precious pair, no doubt; Byron, Shelley, George Sand, Hugo, and many another who cannot be dissocated in the minds of some people from the errors they committed, errors which in no wise detracL- ed from the quality of their literary work. Oscar Wilde is more widely known because of his downfall than because of his contri- buttons to literature
 More people can tell you tht Robert Burns was profligate and drunkard than have ever read "The Cotter's Saturday Night" or "Tam O'Shanter." Jean Jacques Rous- seau has been held up to public nfsmy until his true, greatness has been cbscured in the popular mind. Such instances might be cited from the dawn of civilization down to the present time. Even Wordsworth has not escaped the calumnies of his biographers
 About all we gain from studying foibles of the great is the impression that genius shines forth in spite of everything. But then it is not necessary to go to so much effort to prove it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-10
DISUNITY IN IRELAND

Premier Craig has gone to London with n address to the King contracting Ulster out pf the Irish Free State, It was voted unanimously by both houses of the Ulster Rsrliapent in less than half an hour, which nty be regarded as proof of Ulsters fixed {. dtfoxmination to carry on its sfeud with 1enthsrn Ireland. The premier sees no Droeent hope that Ulster will submit to the Unblin government and says happiness in frelsnd can only be secured by the north
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-10
He Didn't Mean tsWaist"

This story may not be new, but Bir- mingham jurist gives it local setting. A truck collided with milk wagon in the business district. The contents of the dairy
 mans cans poured in milky flood over the street. On the curb stood fat woman wait ing for trolley car. or waiting to cross it doesn't matter. Behind her stood man viewing the havoc wrought. What waste" he murmured "Sir." exclaimed the fat wonl- an, as she turned around and gave him a blghting look, mind your own business!"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-10
PLAYING SAFE
+ha Houston Post.

From the Houston Post.
 The dear old lady entered the drug store and looked doubtfully at the youthful clerk behind the coun- ter.
 ssI suppose" she said, "you are Q properly qualified druggist?"
 "Yes, madam. :"
 You have passed all your esam- inatiopsl"
 "Certainly."
 You've, never poisoned any one by mistake?"
 'sNot to my knowledge"
 She heaved a sigh of relief.
 "Very we'll, then, you can give mo a nickePs worth of cough drops"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-10
THE COLLECTION

From the Detroit Free Press.
 Secretary Hoover said in an ad- dress in behalf of Russia's famine victims:
 s"Give till it hurts. Don't be like the audience of poor chap whom once heard in London orating at the Marble Arch. This roor fellow got boy. to take up n collection for him at the end of the oratlon, and when the collection was over he said: ~ 5.
 "sWell, I lave got me at back. any'ow'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-10
Adrift With the Times
His Attitude

" It seems that the flogging industry has been revived in and around Birmingham remarked MT. Grumpson. T don't know of anything I've done to deserve whipping, but if mysterious stranger appears at my domcie in the middle of the night and says I'm wanted outside he's going to discover that haven't got darned bit of curiosity
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-10
SPOKE FOR ALL

From the Pittsburg Chron1cIe- ele-
 graph.
 A certain elementary school was visited one day by an important edu- cational authority. who cross-exam- ined the pupils and was eminently satisfied with the results. The boys strained their brains and did thcir dutiful best.
 "Well," said the visitor at last, lis there any lad here who would like to ask me something?"
 "Yes, sirw came a tired voice. "What time does your train leave?"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-10
Lett Not Forget

From the Sand Mountain Banner.
 An article making the rounds of neighboring papers that don't know what the farmers have to kick about, says: Twenty-Five years ago corn was selling at Is cents bushel, hogs at cents a pound, fat cows at 21-2, cents, fat steers at 21-2 cents, wheat 80 cents bushel, eggs 1 cent each and butter 12 cents a pound." The compiler of these hard-time figures of the 90's over looks two facts. One is that carpen- ters were getting $2 day, good shoes were $2.50 to S3 a pair and good suit of clothes could be bought for s15. The other is that if the farm prices quoted had continued for a number of years thousands of farmers would have gone broke and the country would never have fully recovered. The average Albertville citizen wants good times. of course. But he doesn't want to return to what some people call sthe good old days. when butter sold for 12 cents pound
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-10
A Timely Editorial
Books as Adventures

From the Christian Science Monitor.
 Observation of the recent futile efforts made by those who advocate the censorship of books and of mo- tion pictures has taught many the folly of generalization. It is un- deniably obvious that what each gains from an experience is neces- sarily the product of his own men, tai equipment; that he finds ill books, in plays, in travel, precisely what he takes to these adventures, no more, no less. It is beyond req son, then, that one person should be, set up to pass upon this vexlng question of the proprieties, laying down arbitrary rules for scores of whose points of view he is ignorant. It is true, too, that censor's con demnation is often the strongest commendation to host of readers. At present, at least in the United States, a critic has only to disap- prove a novel, the proper official to order it suppressed, and there IS aroused a tremendous interest in that work. Most persons still man crave whatever is forbidden. Yet crave ghatever is forbidden. Yet no sweeping measure can be ex- pected to right the existing wrong.
 This being true of adults, one considers how it affects the read ing of children. Many literary men express gratitude to elders who allowed them to go unhindered in this matter of choosing their read ing. Tn recent book of reeollec- tions, "Far-Off Things" work of much sweet and mellow wisdom, Arthur Machen writes, referring to his childhood in remote Welsh rectory:
 And, firstly, I must record
 with deep thankfulness the cir
 cumstances that as soon as
 could read I had the run of a
 thoroughly ill-selected library;
 or, rather of library that had
 not been selected at all.
 Perhaps we might more trust ingly leave this business of selection to the instinct of childrenj though not every mother could embark upon a course OI SuCH HeTOlC lISdt- ment as has Mrs. sConkling with Hilda, the elusive poet of 12 years, whose reading has never been guided in the smallest degree.
 Granted that some books must be recommended by parents, some required by literature masters at school, others relegated to distant upper shelves, the great thing IS that book shall be an adventure and the marvel that each book re- tains the power to appear fresh adventure to the. newcomer. Hugh Walpole has unfolded tale of how a despised copy of Walter Scott's "The Talisman," which he was once allotted as holiday task, was sud denly transformed into an adven- ture of inexpressible delight when he himself purchased it for a penny from great pile of very small vol umes in dusty shop. This story gives point to the rising voice of protest against the use as textbooks of such classics as children should come naturally to love. The ln- itiative ought, whenever possible, to be entirely in the hands of the read CT who will increasingly learn to separate the chaff from the wheat
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-10
Look Out. Loul

Now for little gossip. It is rumored that Lou Tellegen is going to marry Peggy Joyce. If Geraldine Farrar has vindictive nature she'll say, T hope he does"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-10
GrowIer. Don't Vote

From the Pickens County Herald.
 As usual, there are many people who are more or less disgruntled over some aspect of the recent cleo tions. If each case were investi- gated it might be found that ma jority of the loudest growlers did not even vote. But that's the way. Some people will inconvenience themselves to any extent in order to vote, and then accept the will of the majority with the best grace possible. Others are "too busy to vote," but can always find time for airing a grouch.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-10
Alabama Press
Butter Industry Growing

From the Alexander City Outlook.
 Alabama is fast becoming one of the butter-producing states of the union. Here in Alexander City the creamery is making as fine butter as can be found in the country, and it is meeting with much favor wher- ever it is eaten. There is absolutely no reason why Alabama should not produce as fine butter as any state in the union. for there is no section of thescountry better adapted to grazing all the year round.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-10
Wouldn't You7

think I'd turn a somersault
 For happiness. could we Just lock our troubles in a vault And throw away the key.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-10

like This attitude on the part of the press may easily pass into one of ridicule, and perhaps not even a pachydermatous La- Toilette can thrive on that diet
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-10
Flippsnt Prophecies

If winter comes, the girlies quaint Will need an extra coat of paint.
 Louisville Courier-J ournal. If winter comes, the girlies will Expose their wishbones to the chill.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-10
Waited Too Long

Wnlteu T DO Long
 "Who is that gray-haired old fellow hop ping about the dance floor?"
 "Oh, just one of those pathetic figures" "Eh?"
 "He spent 50 years accommodating a for tune, and it would take him at least 50 years more to learn how to enjoy it."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-10
In Hotel Lobbies<
Embarrassment

Truth is really stranger than fic- tion," said Paul Hughes, land the insurance company which 1 repre- sent was certainly placed in an em- barrassing position recently when one of the clerks in the branch of- flee at Troy misinterpreted mes sage.
 "The wife of our representative, who has his headquarters at Troy, had been in ill health for several years, and we received telephone call from that office stating that she had died. Practically every member of the company immediately wired messages of condolence, and later we pooled a neat fund and sent a handsome floral offering as an ex- precision of our sympathy to our be- reayed co-worker. This morning we received a message saying that the first message had been misinter- preted, that our friends wife was not dead, but was in critical condi- ton, and that physicians held little hope for her recovery.
 ITO say we were hurt is express ing it mildly, because we all felt mis- erably over the blunder. The next time 1 hear of the death of friend 1 am certainly going to investigate before l believe it. How any one could make such a p1undering error over anything sofserious 1 can't un- derstand. Just how it happened none of us know, but we have done much calculating"
 No Place for Nerves
 q can surely sympathize with per- sons of a nervous temperament" i" said Wallace Johns of the Johns un- dertaking establishment. "Thursday afternoon when the streets were slippery from the rain, was driving into town from West End, and just ahead of me an aged woman at tempted to cross the street. She was walking slowly, when the driver of car in front of me stopped sud- denly to avoid hitting her. When he did so the wheels of his heavy car skidded in her direction and by a margin of few inches missed strik- ing her. l was close in behind this car, and it was necessary for me to turn out of tbe way as quickly as possible to avoid a, a,serious accident. Just by a hair breadth we missed a terrible collision.
 "The thought of killing the help less old lady and the narrow escape that both the driver of the other car and myself had made got on my nerves terribly, and it was some time before I could put the thought out of my mind. At all times automo- bile drivers should be careful, but even more so on rainy days and paved streets as no one can tell when the wheels are going to akid and whom they will hit while skid ding
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-10
Pecans Are Profitable lnnn the Rrewton Standard.

fJOUl tuc DlCWtOAi 0t0it40l0s
 Although it takes several years for a pecan tree to bear fruit in suf- ficient quantities to be profitable, those who have even small piece of land make a good investment when they set out few trees. This season thousands of pounds of pe- cans are being shipped out of Brewton and, compared to the num- Der that might be shipped, there is really not great deal of interest taken in the industry here. The gulf plain is admitted to be the finest place in the world for pecan growing. and while bad year comes occasionally. the grower who properly cares for his trees will make mohey out of the pecan busi- ness.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-10
Should Export More
From the Ashland Progress.

The statement was recently pub lished, and we have not seen or heard it disputed, that Alabama con- sumes annually nearly $125, ,000 1000 in food products imported from out of the state in excess of such goods exported. If this be true there's small wonder that prosperity is not being seen and felt in our midst. Alabama should be an exporting state. We have the soil and the cli- mate to produce great variety of foodstuffs as well as other prod ycts of farms, forests, furnaces and factories.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-10
A High School Education

From the GadSden Journal.
 Many, many boys quit school Be- fore entering the high school. They go into indusfry and begin earning money for themselves. They become independent, which, of course, is a nice thing. They look with some thing of pity upon those boys who remain in school and are unable to make money. But 10, 15, 20 years hence, the story will be reversed. The boy who quit school early is still working as an unskilled laborer, while the boy who continued his studies has secured better paying position. In fact, 1t is stated that just 42 professions are closed to those boys who have not completed a high school education.