davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-11
MARGOT
From the Philadelphia Public Ledger.

From the Philadelphia Public Ledger.
 Margot doesn't mind being looked at and she doesn't mind being heard She is doing her best to fit into what Henry James calls "the Amer ican scene," and to put before the American audience what she thinks it will like; and the audience, with traditional good nature, seems willing to be amused and edified by her artless condolences.
 That audience is little less of youngster than Margot at moments appears to believe. It is a sophisticated gathering. It has travelled in Europe as well as on the sidewalks of Main street. It may not know just what decorations in and distinctions in peace have been con ferred upon various members of her family; and in spite of the unretcent babblngs of the Diary, there are still a few details of day in the Asquith household with which it is unac- quainted.
 Yet it is an audience that reads and thinks and pride itself on keeping abreast of the teeming minute. It is not safe to condescend on an assumption of it's ignorance. Margot can afford to cut loose and be intellectually dis play all her wares of profound wisdom and Of scintillating wit. There will be many drawn te her lectures by sheer curiosity. A section of the public will run after any celebrity Sac must not be perturbed It now and then some auditors having satisfied curiosity, walk out on' her, as a few did in Philadelphia.
 The verdict is that she is good sport and has small measure of personal magnetism The impressions that she feverishly complies be- tween dawn and breakfast will find a ready market. Americans enjoy seeing themselves in print as others from abroad have seen them Margot likes us and says so, and her notes en voyage will not be serpent-tongued, but genial and urbane.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-11

Madame Gadski can't prove that her career has been spoiled as long as she is still able to command front-page position.
 :: It is feared that the Genoa conference will not be a success without suitable representation for the almighty dollar.
  The cat crusade in New Jersey should be made to include a type of promoters known as "wildcatters."
  Newberry claims that he bears Henry Ford no i'll will. He's in the position of the cat who ate the canary.
 * * Army morale is reported good, although the plucking board may soon get in it's deadly work.
  A man of Henry Ford's vision could hardly turn around in a ffty-year lease.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-11
THE BEST SELLER

From the Chicago Herald and Examiner.
 Main Street." we are informed, has sold 260,O00 copies in year and half. The sales of "This Side of Paradise" ran up to nearly 100000. The works of the Rev. Harold Bell Wright used to sell probably still sell, about half million.
 These are large figures. But the American Bible society announces that in 1921 it distrib- uted more than 4,0OO,OO0 Bibles; and in spite of industrial depression, the effects of the war on private morality, and all the other factors that might be expected to handicap sales, it sent out 1000 more Bibles in 1921 than in the pre- vious year.
 There plenty of best sellers, but there is only one best seller. It is astounding to learn that Robinson Crusoe" has been translated into nearly 100 languages and dialects; it is not even remarkable that the Bible has been issued in 333, from Arabic to Zapotec and Zulu, what ever Zapotec may be.
 The Bible is interesting as history fascinat- ing as literature and fundamental for civilza- ton.
 Knowledge of the Bible is the basis of knowledge of good style; and anybody ignorant of it, be he the most sincere infidel or the most devout Buddhist, is ignorant indeed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-11

Detroit manufacturer develop the Muscle Shoals property. The list of corporations with which Mir Duke is identified easily explains his un- favorbale attitude.
 Another point was scored for Mir. Ford when Col. John Hull, acting judge advocate general of the army, stated that the government has the legal right to give clear titles to all the prop erty concerned. General Beach also called az tention to the fact that power dams now in use on navigable rivers were built before the water power act went into effect, and these rights are held in perpetuity. He said that conditions on the Tennessee river were such that they might justify a 1O0-year lease and make the 5O-year suggestion of Secretary Weeks inad visable.
 Mr. Ford and his engineers made careful study of the Muscle Shoals project and the proposals to the government were designed, not to take advantage of the government, but to protect MT. Ford's rights and insure the sue cessful development of Muscle Shoals if his of- fer is accepted.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-11
MINIMUM CAPACITY SHOULD
 BE 10000 SEATS

Echoes from the city hall regarding the audi torium continue to refer to a building too small to serve the purpose for which it is intended The minimum seating capacity should be approx imately 10000.
 The city commission should realize, once and for all, that the auditorium is not required for theatrical purposes, but for large assemblies. Its greatest service to the community will be in housing expositions showing the products of this district and state and in providing quarters for expositons of textile, iron and steel-making de- vices.
 It will be needed when there is great pub lie question to be presented to the people and when mass choral events are presented by the districts local organizations. It will be needed when the city has community Christmas tree, so that children will not be exposed to inclem- ent weather.
 Space is the chief requirement of suitable auditorium. A smaller structure might be a credit to architects and appeal to the eye, but a peoples auditorium is for service. That comes first.
 An auditorium of limited seating capacity would be waste of money.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-11
PLAIN PEOPLE WILL PAY THE SOLDIER BONUS

Washington dispatches say Congress has found way to raise the money or the soldier bonus. It is proposed by the tax division sub committee of the House to impose a tax of cents pound on tobacco, 50 cents per thou sand on cigarettes, 25 cents per horse power On automobiles 2 1-2 per. cent on undivided profits of corporations, cent gallon on gaso- line, one-tenth of per cent on stock and bond transfers, $5 per $1 900 on real estate transfers and 20 per cent, on all theatre tickets over 25 cents. The proposed tax of 1 cent on bank checks was rejected. An increase in parcel post rates was understood to have been adopted The Senate will probably accept the committees report.
 The American people are presumably still grateful for the services of our former service men. Tax experts in Congress seem to believe so, at any rate, for these taxes will bear heavily on the so-called common people, including the men and their dependents who are expected to benefit from 8 bonus.
 There has never been any widespread senti. ment against rewardng our World war heroes It is, in fact, regarded as a duty which all of us should cheerfully perform, but there has been much legitimate discussion of the ways and means for raising the necessary funds The soldier bonus will not be quite so popular with certain type of professional patriot when he discovers that the cost will come out of his own pocket.
 Indignant nrotests are already reacb;nc Washington to discomft members of Congress, between the devil and the deep sea, who feel that they can't afford to oppose the soldier bonus, but are also aware that they will stir up hornets nest, no matter what kind of taxation scheme they devise.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-11
NEED loF PORT SHOWN

'The Federal Reserve Banks Monthly Bust ness Review of January states that merchandise to the value of 6,7ss, SPA was imported through the port of New Orleans during the month of November, 1921," says E. R. McDavid, Jr.
 ''In this connection it would be well for us to consider the opportunity that will be presented to the voters of our state in November when we will be called upon to vote on the Mobile port amendment as authorized at the special session of the legislature.
 'With Birmingham at the head of the nav gation on the Warrior and an adequate port at Mobile, domestic and world markets never be- fore known to this state will tbe opened to farmers and manufacturers in Alabama
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-11
SHOULD CLEAR CRIMINAL DOCKET

"The presence of Judge Lum Duke, who is assisting in the criminal division of the court this week and that of Judge s. F. Hobbs, who will be with us the week of February 27, should go a long way towards aiding in clearing Up the criminal dockets,' said Forney Brandon, clerk of the criminal division.
 Tt is very often hard matter for two judges to keep up with the docket, owing to the large number of cases always on hand. We always have to set more than can possibly be tried given day. This is especially true. as on several occasions recently, when case goes to trial which consumes several days in the hearing. This always means that all other cases in that division have to be postponed as no judge can try more than one case at a time.
 Recently we have had several cases which oc. cupied the entire time of one division for q whole week, resulting in all other cases in that division having to be postponed"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-11
THE PRICE OF PoLITENEss

From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
 police judge, of course, has a great deal to contend with, and he must protect himself against polite people who come into court and throw thank-yous at him. Judge Mix fined man $450 for four thank-yous.
 All that the judge did in the first place was to fine this man $50 because he refused to tell to whom he had sold his underheated hotels That was nothing to be thankful for as any body who has been fined $50 will agree but this man bowed to the judge and handed him one of his incest thank-yous. The judge did not want it and charged him $100 for it. Another thank-you and another S1OO and 50 on up to $45O, when the judge had to make the final jump $50 and stop, because the law says you cannot fine more than $500, no mat ter how polite he is.
 In this case no hardship results because the man had just sold two hotels and could afford to be polite, but plain persons who by any mischance get into the police court should hc careful to leave their politeness outside. T ing it inside is too expensive No judge likes to be thanked for fine. Politeness pays everyS where but in police court. There it costs
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-11
SECOND COMING OF "oLD ANDY"
William Allen White, in Judge.


 This is the season of the year when demo- crats all over the country begin celebrating Andrew Jackson. They begin early in January celebrating Jackson Day. the battle of New Or leans, and intermittent Jacksonian outbursts may be expected from now until March Is. old Andy's birthday. He was the first great unwashed democratic President, and it has been 84 years since he made his exit from the White House. in blaze of fireworks. In all these years he has remained the symbol of the great unwashed. Jefferson was from the cloister. His democracy was faint squeaking, a small I'd" democracy echoing the French academi- clans But Jackson's democracy was with . large I'd" for Damn
 Some day we shall have in the White House the Jackson equivalent of old Andy" In his blood coursed the Bryanesque naivety and the Rooseyetian viriity. He may have had even jigger of the blood of the old booted and bewhiskered populsts. And in due time he will come again-the modern Jackson. What con sternation will roll from the capitol back to the treasury building and go Tapping and surging over to the monuments of Washington and Lincoln when this modern Jackson comes to town! Observe him gettin gout of the car riding back from the capitol after dumping let us say, ex-President Hughes, after his eight year term. See him sailing into the White House and isuing general order number one "On and after this date all newspapers carrying stock market quotations and accounts of ficti- tious sales of stocks and bonds will be denied the secondclass privileges of the post office de- partmentw Bang will go the blue sky over Wall street.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-11
BETTER KNOWLEDGE OF FRANCE
 AN AID TO FRIENDSHIP

The American people are not going to per init any little misunderstanding in the arms conference or elsewhere to lessen their warm friendship for France. Cordial relations have existed too long to be impaired by anything France has done is likely to do and they were further strengthened by the blood sac riice of Americas young men who died on French soil while fighting for comomn cause
 There has recently been evident tendency to be impatient with France and to criticise her, perhaps unjustly. The Literary Digest makes timely and worthwhile contribution to better understanding between America and France in it's current issue which is devoted largely to setting the French people and many phases of French life before American readers. This France number of the Digest is one of the most interesting and comprehensive it has ever published.
 Some of the articles are: France of Fiction and of Fact" Frances Far-Flung Colonial Do- main,' "What France Did in the War" "Ties That Bind France and the United States" An Outline of Frances Tempestuous History" "In- innate Glimpses of French Life" French. Character and Psychology and Paris as the Worlds Arbiter of Fashion"
 We have never understood the French peo- pie well as we might While admiring them particularly when they showed their heroism in the World war, we have shown a disposition to regard them as "just trifle queer" We should know them better. To say the French are great nation is trite, and yet many of us could not say offhand just why they are called great. We do not realize in how many ways France has helped to shape the course of civ ilzation. By all means let us get better ac- quainted with France
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-11
IN HOTEL LOBBTES
 AND ELSEWHERE
BURNING OF SHIP RECALLS WAR

"The burning of the Northern Pacific in mid-ocean yesterday recalls the fact that this was one of the most famous transports during the war;" said Hardie Brown.
 "This ship was in service during the sub marine menace and made oyer dozen trips to and from France during that period. She encountered several submarines, but alwaya was able to outrun them or light them off.
 Tt might be of interest to know that one of our local boys served on the Northern Pa cifc during these dreaded times He was John E. Mandy, son of Mir. and Mrs. E. c. Mandy of Ensley, who served as chief petty officer on the transport. He was on the vessel when it stranded on the Atlantic coast near Fire Island when the ship was returning from France with several thousand wounded soldiers many of them in helpless condition.
 "The crew assisted in the removal of the wounded men and all were safely transferred to shore despite the condition of the men and the storm and unfavorable weather that pre- vailed
 "Mr Mandy had also the distinction of be- ing one of the youngest chief petty officers in the service, being only 23 years of age at the time of his promotion, having advanced by regular stages to that position. He was dis charged shortly after the close of the war and is married and lives at Ensley
 Incidentally he is brother of Norman Mandy, the star player of the B. A. c. basket ball team"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-11
A. GRAY DAY IN CALIFORNIA

Theodore Maynard in the New Republic. Gray and timid, sad and chill The morning crouches on the hill.
 Is this the glad and golden morning That crouches heavy-eyed and i'll? In London early morning rain Has often washed my window pane
 And rolled along the yellow gutters, And here come misty skies again. A sweet and surprising thing Is daybreak in an English spring;
 When on the alder in the garden In tender light the linnets sing. So rarely, rarely did it come! But now 1 cannot count the sum
 Of these recurring brilliant mornings So many that my praise is dumb This gray day comes as something lost And found again--a friendly ghost
 The air of England. And I wonder Whether I love the sunshine most. Yet sunshine taught me love of gray, Always unvalued till today;
 When in her shy and secret beauty The day broke OCT me, cold and gray
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-11
SOME EXPERT TESTIMONY
 ON FORD OFFER

That selfish interests have been opposing the Ford offer for Muscle Shoals was brought out yesterday in the testimony of Major General Beach, chief of army engineers, before the House military committee.
 This is already common knowledge and ex- plains much of the opposition to Mr. Ford, but it is just as well to have corroboration from knows what he is talking about. Incidentally. he mentioned the name of James B. Duke as one of the persons who is unwilling to see the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-11
AUDIENCE ENJOYED FILTRATION

Everybody had lots of good-natured fun at the expense of Mrs. A. J. Snell the amusement inspector, at an afternoon performance at the Lyric yesterday" said Miss Helen Mulford. "There eccentric dancing and violin comedian the stage in musical comedy act in which time about for him to do some comical filtration about the audience The comedian flirted here and there and got num- Der of laughs, but when he suddenly selected the censor in her customary seat in one of the boxes for his filtration victim, it was more than the audience could stand, and they had a good laugh at the comical situation No one has found out whether Mrs. Shell cut out that part of the eccentric comedians act or not. They all saw her begin writing very heavily, but that was no doubt to cover the situation"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-11
MRS. oUssEN,s FINISHED ART

Birmingham should be very proud of pos sessing such finished and beautiful artist as Mrs. Edna Gockel Gussen, said John M. Cart wright.
 When she played her group of piano solos at the concert on Thursday evening, which was given by her and Frederick Gunster the we'll known tenor, I very much impressed with her art. Her interpretations of the three abso- lutely different numbers-Mendelssoh Liszt and Grainger ompositions-showed her yer satility to marked degree; her technique is faultless and she plays with feeling and ap- preciation. Mrs. Gussens piano work is what might be called real music Her accompani- ments for Mr. Gunster eicited great deal nf admiration from the audience, especially the lovely Rain (Pearl c. Curran), which Mr. Gun ster sang with fine effect, and which is really piano solo with voice obligato.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-11

An Indiana preacher says college boys are developing their bodies at the expense of their minds. Perhaps he's right, but he should con sider the applause given to husky hero and the fathomless obscurity of bookworm. Some people may not be so particular, but we draw the line at believing all valets have to say about night life in Hollywood. No man is hero to his valet, not even movie star.
 
 Accommodations at some of the army posts are said to be inferior to many prisons That doesn't seem right although some of our smartest people are behind the bars. One hundred and four mdshipmen failed to pass their semi-annual examinations at the Naval academy. Maybe they were discouraged by the prospect of naval holiday.
 x
 When the "supertelephone' is in general use there will be no more opportunities for '1isten ing in" on party lines. There are times when progress has it's disadvantages.
 <
 The Philadelphia Public Ledger says Margot Asquith will write pleasantly about America Poet Watson has his doubts about the amiable qualities of Margots pen.
 * x <
 Here we going about our daily tasks as if nothing in particular were happening, while the worlds checkers championship is being de- cided in Glasgow
 % * <
 An interesting article was contributed to the press on male vamps of history. Few of them solved the divorce problem as easily as Henry VIII of England.
 < * <
 Secret service men who guarded delegates to the conference must have done their work well. The delegates showed up promptly at roll calls.
 x x
 It is just as we'll for the morals of the coun- try that few of us see the kind of dancing that is done in New Yorks fashionable supper resorst.
 Owners of Hollywood property who put up signs reading, "No Movies Wanted" have ev- denty been reading the newspapers.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-11
POINTED PARAGRAPHS

From the Chicago News.
 It is never too late to mend, marry or get divorce.
 Instruction as to eggs and colts: Break before using.
 Why don't chattering teeth usurp the func- tion of the tongue?
 Silence is golden when you can't think of a satisfactory answer. Y When young mans best girl expresses wish it's up to him to pay the charges
 An old bachelor says that a wonlan's change of mind is an example of an effect without a cause.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-11
NO CUT RATES

That sawdust evangelist who said he was going to clean up Chiggersve didn't stay long,"
 "No," replied Squire Wtherbee q think he kinder had it all figured out to save us for about $lO head, but collections fell off so after tn second sermon that if he'd stayed around here much longer souls would have been down to 50 cents apiece, an I've never heard of sawduct evangelist advertisin bargain sales of salvation,"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-11
OPPOSES NuMBER-DEsIcNATIoN PLAN

Sentiment over the state, both among candi- dates and the people generally, is against the number-designation plan of the executive com mittee in specifying what office each candidate must qualify for in the coming democratic pr- mares," said Cyrus B. Brown of Montgomery, former secretary of state and member of the state committee.
 The plan is pure and simple scheme to de- feat certain candidates, and I believe the meas ure will fall through when the referendum is voted on by all committeeman. In my opinion it is undemocratic in principle
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-11
DRY BANQUETs

''You are not going to attend your class re- union?"
 '''No, said MT. Jagsby. "The college spirit is is still strong in me, after 20 years absence from the academic halls of my alma mater, but I don't feel equal to emitting the college yell with nothing behind it but few glasses of cold water"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-11
THE FoLLoW-UP SYSTEM

doctors waiting room to a person sitting next to him.
 T beg your pardon for asking, but are you going to hand the doctor anything?"
 Why, yes. l expect to pay him little some thing on account"
 ''Then I'll go in after you. Pm bill col lector."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-11
STILL IN BUSINESS

"Yes,' said the prosperous looking citizen. "I used to be bartender.'N
 Doing anything now?"
 "Eh?"
 q mean, are you still selling liquor?"
 Pm not confessing anything, you under stand" said the prosperous looking citizen, with wink, "but the fellow who said it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks knew what he was talking about"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-11
I mean, are you still selling liquor?o
A FRANK CONFESSION

Please, mum, will you help an unfortunate man?"
 "What seems to be your particular trouble?n T wuzn't born wid gold spoon in me mouth an hope to die, mum, if it Nain't been han- dcap to me ever since' PAUL COON
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-11
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
THE MooNsHINE CouNTRY

LIE MOONOEllNG SOOlN I NJ Ar Fair scenes of rustic beauty
 Entrance the rowing eye; Hills rear their tree-clad summits Beneath a southern sky. The little streams make music
 While dancing to the sea, And far and wide the landscape Sleeps in tranquility. But, hark! sudden tumult,
 The wicked bark of guns, While here and there to cover A fleeting figure runs. A shout, groan, then silence
 Down where the bullets sprayed; Word comes to mountain cabin, Bills shot-another raid"