davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-20
SOUTHERN RATE REVISION
 TO BE WATCHED

The interstate commerce commission seems to be in earnest about making a general re- vision of freight rates in the southeast so that base suited to traffic conditions in this section may be reached.
 The commission is aiming at uniformity which vii lobviate frequent muddies. It is inn portant for the southeast to that the base established is just and equitable one. The best method is the employment of expert as- sistance for presenting data as the commission continues it's revising investigation and funds must be in hand to keep this expert assistance on the job.
 Governor Kilby has approved the request of the Alabama traffic bureaus and chambers of commerce that the state appropriate money to this end, and has promised that Aabama's por- tion in the presentation Of the case of the en- tire southeast will be forthcoming.
 The revision IS going to take place. That is certain. It was necessary that the southeast take steps for its own protection.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-20
FATE IN FLYING

From the New York World.
 The death of Sir Ross Smith on the eve of the round-the-world flight he had planned 70 undertake with his brother, Sir Keith Smith, is tragedy of unusual Usefulness even for avi- ation. A fortnight more and he would have been on his way to the aviators highest goal. As it is, the veteran of many perilous aerial adventures, who was knghted for accomplish ing the II ,5o0-mile flight, from England to Aus tralia, dies in the course of what was presumed to be non-hazardous test of the plane with which he was to seek new laurels.
 The element of risk in aviation has rarely been more strangely exempifed The tragedy necessarily postpone the attempt to circumnavi- gate the globe in flying machine Would it have succeeded in this instance? Speculation on the subject is futile. But the chances were favorable under aviator who had to his credit, besides the England-Austraia flight, the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-20
ONE MAN WAS WILLING

From the Los Angeles Times.
 Pierce Van Vleck, Baltimore fnancier, said at dinner party:
 Keeping husband in hot water will never make him tender. Ignorance of this primary truth causes lot of dvorces.
 "A Baltimore man got on a street car the other day in anything but tender mood. His wife, because he could not afford an $500 ser of Siberian furs for her, had snatched the morning paper out of his hand, called hin, a shiftless, knock-kneed failure and thrown his freshly opened package of cigarettes into the stove.
 ''So this man, his mood not at all tender, got on the car and took seat beside gaunt, rawboned woman of 50 or so. This woman started an altercation with the conductor when he came to get her fare. The altercation got hotter and hotter, and finally the woman look sd around the car and shrieked:
 {" Is there gentleman on this car who wil stand by and see lady insulted?"
 'sThe non-tender chap was on his feet at once
 "'Yes, ma'am,' he said, grimly, I will
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-20
SINGING THE SAME orD SONG

From the New York World.
 Mr Capper of Kansas, as successor to Judge Kenyon of Iowa in leadership of the farm bloc in the Senate, submits modest little list of the bloc's demands for favoring legislation, ac- companied by lecture on their economic soundness. The demands extend all the way from long term credits and lower railroad rates for farmers to the Muscle Shoals development The lecture turns upon such profundities ef economic thought as that Agriculture is basic" and when agriculture is profitable the nation is prosperous
 This is what every industry and special inter- est says when headed for Washington to raid the public purse in it's own particular behalf or to seek legislation which will privilege it in getting at the peoples pockets. That song has been droned out by every manufacturing indus try and by all combined whenever new protee- tive tariff is to be logrolled through Congress. The ship subsidists are always sii ging it. The railroads never fail to be 'basic" to the coun- try's prosperity when rate raises and special legislation for their own prosperity are wanted. Even the proponents of a soldiers bonus have not failed to show how that is going to restore prosperity by increasing for moment the buy ing power of the veterans.
 Senator Capper is right when he says that the country is prosperous when agriculture is profitable" But how can it be said that agri- culture is profitable when other industry has to be taxed to make it profitable? What shall it profit industry as a whole by compelling each one to support a subsidy for every other? In other words, can industry, more than man, raise itself by it's own boot straps?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-20
AN A NO. 1 YEAR

What's the use of qualifying expressions any longer?" asked Wyndham Mason, the shoe man. "We are absolutely certain of good yeas. It is getting better every day, and pay rolls increase it will be better still Trade is grow ing in every direction. All manner of business is improving.
 q felt like being cautious in my aspect to the future at first, because we had come out of such deep hole, but there is no sound reason against all manner of optimism now. l expect it to be the best of years in shoes. Why not in other things also?'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-20
LETTERS TO EDITOR
CITY GOVERNMENT

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 We are hearing quite good deal about the corruption which held sway during the alder manic control of the citys affairs.
 But while we must admit that no system in human management of things is free from im- perfeetions, still it is hard to conceive of a worse state of things than that which has ex- isted during the years we have had demon- strated to us the commission form of municipal control.
 For utter fooishness and child's play for the agitation of trfling, useless questions, while the vital things of the community were allowea ment has been the limit.
 May be the city was in debt under the old aldermanic system, but that is nothing to be surprised at. All municipalities are always in debt, and always will be, no matter what form of government we utilize.
 This much we have to the credit of the al- dermanic system They have employed graft here and there, but they, with it all, did many things which advanced the growth of the com munity. While our commissioners play at hold ing their jobs, like little children amusing themselves by pretending that they are grown ups.
 A goodly number of our citizens have expert government and would sincerely be glad to re- turn to management which is not swayed by a few special interest, moral otherwise.
 LOUIS A. WEAVER.
 Birmingham, April 19 1922.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-20

cent, while building materials, which made the next largest increase, one of 241 per cent, are still 102 per cent above the 1913 level. All commodities advanced TIP per cent above the 1913 prices and are now averaging 48 per cent above.
 There is close relation between the metals and the farmers, because an immense amount of metal goes into farm service. Wire mills reflect farm conditions. That is, perhaps, why metal and farm product prices seem to share the same ups and downs
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-20
THE NOMAD A MAGAZINE FOR
 SOUTHERN WRITERS

The first issue of The Nomad literary quar- terly published in Birmingham, has made it's appearance. Albert A. Rosenthal is editor The associate editors are Andrew L. Andrews, D. Russell Beddow, Chiffon Chase, Scottie M. Frasier and Ida D. Schwartz
 The Nomad will exploit the work of southern writers of verse. It is not intended to be a money-making venture. The work of getting it out and contributing to it will be largely Tabor of love-" It is hoped that The Nomad will prove an inspiration to many writers who will find medium for reaching the public through it's pages, and it will be the purpose of the editorial staff to cultivate a keencr appreciation of poetry among it's readers.
 It is time that the south quit meekIy snr- rendering its literary birthright to other parts of the country. The list of southern men and women who have added substantially to the nations literature both in verse and prose is extensive. The great names are known to everyone, but there are many other writers who would produce worth while work if they were given sufficient encouragement
 The Nomad is neatly printed and in it's con- tents will be found verse worthy of serious con- sideration. Its object is commendable and it deserves the support of writers and others in- terested in giving needed impetus to litera- ture in the south
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-20
METAL AND FARM PRODUCTS
 TRAVEL TOGETHER

The Harvard Economic Service points out the discrepancy in the rise and fall of different commodity prices. Tobacco remains at 225 per cent above it's 1913 prlce, while rubber is 8 per cent below. No attempt is made to ex- plain the difference.
 Prices of farm products and metals and metal products are nearer the same base than any others. Farm products average 16 per cent above the 1913 prices and the metals av- increase, the base in May, 1920, being 93 per cent above 1913, while farm products on that date were IA per cent above the 1913 prices.
 Clothing made the greatest advance, reach IT 2l7 per cent, but has dropped to S3 per
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-20
LuNcHEoNs WELL ATTENDED

"The weekly luncheons of the Associated Re- tail Credit Men of Birmingham, held every Thursday at the Southern club are being at tended by quite a good-sized number" said w. V. Trammell, secretary of the association, yesterday. These luncheons are held as g get together meeting for the credit managers in the retail stores of the city.
 "A contest is being staged now by which if a member secures a certain number of new members all expenses are paid on the trip to the national convention in Cleveland this sum- mer.n
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-20
FIGHT ON SENATOR LODGE s> IN MASSACHUSETTS

Senator Henry Cabot Lodge is facing hard fight for reelection in Massachusetts. There are indications that the Bay state is grow ing a bit weary of the little man who has contrived to stay in public life much longer than his achievements or his abilities war ranted-
 An interesting bit of gossip comes from Washington that Woodrow Wilson, who has be- gun to lay about him with more yigor than we would naturally expect from sick man, may do his bit to bring about Senator Lodges de- feat. There is no love lost between the Mas sachusetts statesman and the former occupant of the White House, and whatever MT. Wilson's faults may be, he would not be human if he didn't cherish desire to "get even' with Lodge.
 We have recently witnessed the spectacle of Senator Lodge, bitter opponent of the League of Nations and the Versailles treaty, helping to win ratification for little league" spon- sored by republican President That made all the difference in the world, apparently, to Senator Lodge. What democratic President sought to do was obnoxious in the extreme, but when republican President proposed to do on a smaller scale what Mir. Wilson tried to ac- complish by putting America into the League of Nations, MT. Lodge rallied to the colors nobly. If he played an inconsistent role, in the language of the day, 'he got away with it."
 It has taken Massachusetts a long time to discover that Lodge is decidedly smal-bore statesman. He has culture and pedigree, and all that sort of thing, but he owes his present eminence in republican circles, and in the United States Senate, chiefly to time-serving.
 If Lodge should be defeated in Massachu- sets, where the opposition to him Is reported to be of that desperate nature which is willing to take almost anybody as a substitute the loss to the nation will not be irreparable.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-20
BIRMINGHAM BUSY CITY

"In many respects have found Birmingham a better business town than Buffalo, especially considering the relative size of the places says John " Liberante of the United Shirt Shop
 ''We did business last Saturday larger than any Saturday during my experience in the Buff falo shirt shop, and this in spite of the fact that We have only been going for month. Of course a town that responds to new business like that is going to make hit with out-of- town capitalists who are going to invest their money here in turn, and as a result the city is bound to grow more and more It is q kind of tit for tat affair, I think, and the way Birmingham picks up the new firms is bound to tell in greater and greater growth"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-20
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
 AND ELSEWHERE
"IT,S A RIG THING"

"We traffic men and Chamber of Commerce representatives were gratifed at the interest Governor Kilby showed in the matter of fnane- ing an all-southern committee to look after southern freight rates in the general revision ordered by the interstate commerce commis- sion," said Charles E. Jones, secretary of he Birmingham Traffic Bureau.
 'It is the most far-reaehing thing the eonl- mission has ever undertaken, and of utmost importance to the south that it watch it's step so that it gets fair base rate following the Investigation The south seems awake to the matter and Governor Kilby demonstrated his appreciation of the situation when tn. case was presented to him by the traffic and Chamber of Commerce crowd on Tuesday,"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-20
POINTED PARAGRAPHS

From the Chicago News.
 He laughs best when he has got out of the woods
 The village gossip never feels the need of vacation.
 A wife plays the leading role on many do- mestic stage.
 The way of the average woman exasperates the average man.
 Poets are born-and there doesn't seem to be any remedy for it.
 If you would fly high use the wings of your imagination and good motor.
 There is heap owed to a good woman in the next world for what she never gets in this.
 How can you expect man to stand up for himself when you are constantly sitting on him?
 woman always feels that she ought to show some jealousy toward her husband, if it's only about an old pipe.
 No wonder girl never worries about not having brains when she sees what she can do with men who think they are full of them.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-20
SIDESHoWS AT FAIRS

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 I was interested in the item in your column this morning relating to the elimination of falsirs and sideshows from the State Fair. This should be done by all means. Aside from their immoral influence these useless adjuncts are fast killing the interest of the people in ag- ricultural fairs.
 In fact, there are no real agricultural ex- habits any more The last time I visited your so-called fair, I was impressed with the small number of exhibits of farm products and live vices and midway shows. Having seen the real cattle shows in Kentucky, the grain exhibits in Tennessee, the hog displays in Oklahoma and the wonderful crop exhibits in Texas, l was actually ashamed of the few samples of Ala bama's farm production presented by your mid way plaisance.
 Last year by colaborator, MT. Hoolon, of the state markets bureau, came up to present some pictures furnished by the state and fed eral departments, presenting stories of produc- tion and marketing, and could not even find 8 place to put them on The space was all oe- cupied by silly shows, wheels of chance and ''hot dog'' dispensers. At a so-called county fair last fall counted IT individual farm exhibits and 43 separate fakes chance wheels and shows on the outside. At such fairs" the visitor gets nothing for his entrance fee ex- cept tired feeling of disgust.
 F. W. CYST,
 Agricultural Statistician. Birmingham, April 19, 1922.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-20
TRUE TO BANKHEAp HIGHWAY

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 The article in your paper of this date, headed, "State To Take no Part in Nation Highway Meeting is being commented on by the citi- zens of Leeds. "While rose may smell as sweet by some other name," the citizens of Leeds will continue to do honor to our late and lamented Senator John Hollis Bankhead, the father of good roads in the United States. Leeds is the place where the Bankhead high way first started, and it is nv extended from Leeds west across Jefferson county to the borders of Walker county, and will soon be extended east from Leeds across St. Clair county. The official Bankhead markers are all up across Jefferson county, so that The who runneth may read" and the ladies' beauti- fcation committee have already commenced to beautify this splendidN highway from Leeds to Birmingham. The citizens of Leeds, "Galilleo like" care for none of these things so long as they now have the highway.
 J. B. ELLIOTT.
 Taads Anril "a 1929
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-20
THE MESSAGE
By Samuel Minturn Peck.

By Samuel Minturn Peck. I sang a song not long ago
 Unsung by me for many year; Why it came back I do not know,
 Alone I was, and none were near Alone and yet-and yet I felt
 The presence of the loved of yore Who once with me on earth had dwelt And I, on earth, could see no more. All solitary singing there
 There in the twilight's fading gleam-- 0 it was strange flied grief and care; I was as one who lived dream; I was as one two worlds between,
 My soul at peace, by doubt untost, And with an audience unseen
 I sang to those I'd loyed-and lost Oh bitter sweet remembered yet
 Oh ties not even death had riven-- Harsh words remembered with regret I knew, that night, were all forgiven; I sang as had never before,
 My words flew forward like dove, And to my dead their burden bore, A message of undying love. 0 Loyel it is the strongest thing
 That God hath ever given to man; o Love, it is the longest thing,
 A thing that naught can ever span; Love, Love, it is the sweetest thing For is it not the soul of grace? And, oh, it is the fleetest thing,
 Defying Time, and Death, and space. When in the dusk my song was done, And echo vanished on the air, I felt howe'er life's sands might run
 All would be we'll somehow, somewhere; Though it may seem that nothing's left, Though body crumble into dust, We triumph still, of naught bereft
 If but to love our fate we trust.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-20
PEOPLE MORE socIABLE

'I don't know whether the world is becon- ing more socially inclined or not, but I've mo- ticed perceptible habit of great many peo- pie in passing along the streets and through buildings to greet the passersby with search ing stare as if they wanted to speak, but de- clined because of the barrier of the absence of formal introduction" remarked pr. Sidney Leach of Tuscaloosa, who is in Birmingham as delegate to the convention of the Alabama Medical association.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-20
WORKS BOTH WAYS

Cancer prevention is very comparable to fire prevention in respect to the way it is gem orally carried en,' declared Dr. w. D. Hag- gard, professor of surgery in Vanderbilt uni yersity, Nashville. There are surgeons almost everywhere who can control and prevent can cers in their ineipieney, as fremen can do in the case of fire, but in both eases the as sistance is not solicited until the destructive work is well under way The fire has usually consumed half the building built by human hands, while the cancer has usually eaten deep ly into the human building, wrought by tine Super Human Builder" concluded the emit ent surgeon.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-20
Leeds, April 19, 1922.
HAVE PLEASANT REcoLLEcTIoNs

To the Editor of The Age Herald: In closing up the details of my work for the Alabama Education association, want to ex- pres to The Age-Herald and its staff our sin- cere thanks for the hearty cooperation you gave us in all of our undertakings. The great success of the meeting was, in large measure, due to the assistance that you so ably and so cheerfully rendered us. Each member of the association will ever have pleasant recollection of Birmingham and of The Age-Herald. Very truly yours,
 T. w. PALMER, Former President Alabama Education Asso- citation.
 Birmingham, April IS, 1922.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-20

feat of flying from Cairo to Calcutta.
 That it will eventually be achieved is hardly open to doubt. But the regret must be that the glory is denied to the aviator who had con- spcuously won the right to attempt it and whose tragic death is loss to aerial progress the loss of a lold airman .ho had contributed largely to the constructive development of flying.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-20
ON MIDDLE GROUND

Much culture in Chiggersyille2"
 "We do middlin' fair,e said Squire Wither- bee. There must be about dozen sets of Doc Elot's five-foot shelf of books in town an a scatterin of Shakespeare. I understand there are also few unexpurgated volumes written by French authors but Chiggersville is not yet cultured enough to make it safe for their owners to come right out in tn 'open an brag about 'em." PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-20
A MOOT POINT

"You say all the marriages are happy in the hereafter, but no babies are born?"
 "Yes," said the spiritist.
 eTel me this. Will it cos tas much in the spirit world to maintain a soul mate as it does in this mundane sphere?"
 "Well,' said the spiritist, as he scratched his head, eI'm not an economic expert. You'll have to wait until we get better knowledge of the subject"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-20
THE PHENOMENON oF A FIsT

Your honor, I'm misunderstood man."
 But you are charged with assault and bat tery on this person with black eye.Y
 "That's just the point your honor. l slapped him on the back. It seems he wasn't feeling well ftfi he slapped me on the jaw. The very next time had occasion to use my right hand I discovered it was folded up"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-20

A Pullman porter has bought $1oo,0O0 farm in Minnesota with his tips. We've al ways maintained there was money in whisk- brooms.
 x * If Lloyd George were in the habit of biting his nails he'd probably be doing it now
 * x A knowledge of cosmetics is all that is neces- say for membership in flapper club.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-20

From the Montgomery Advertiser
 When David B. Hill of New York was can oidate for the democratic nomination for Frs. ident he said that if he should be elected Pres ident there wouldn't be republican office holder in the country in six months. Elm poyes of the bureau of printing and engrav- ing now are beginning to suspect that the re- publicans are taking leaf out of Hills book.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-20
JUST A DREAM GIRL

She needs no rouge for her ruddy lips, For over the dewy grass she trips
 And breathes the pure ozone; No paint upon her cheeks is laid sing of a simple country maid
 Whose roses are her own.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-20
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
APRIL VERSE

@This poem was written to welcome April" said the bard. ''If you don't hurry up and use it, May will be here"
 q understand your point of view exactly" said the editor, "but perhaps we'll have some rain in May, and then 1t will be quite appro- priate to rhyme flowers with showers"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-20
ANOTHER sPIRITIsT

From the Louisville Courier-Journal
 John Kendrick Bangs, who wrote "The Houseboat on the Styx,'' had had just as much communication with the other world as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has had, and he had sense of humor which helped.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-20
 SPIRIT WEAR

From the Kansas City Times.
 The Rev. Oscar Eagerly of Chicago, spirit uaist tells the world that ''snappy'' clothes are now being worn in the spirit land. Gan the old time New Workers imagine the late Seth Low in "eake eater' gafb?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-20
PAYING IN ADVANCE
we to pay in advance. ;!

'T have no baggage-that is, no visible bag gage"
 Then you'll have to pay in advance" "Im willing to park quart from Rimini in the hotel safe"
 "If it's genuine stuff it will pay for a room and bath for three days. Erontg