davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-12
BIRMINGHAM AGE-HERALD, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12

at least lowing acquaintance with Cicero. Horace and Homer in the original tongue, to mention but few of those worthies who have long figured with distinction in the curricula of colleges and universities.
 The value of Greek as part of we'll rounded education is moot question. but to anyone who desires to speak and write the English language well, Latin would apz pear indispensable. Although compara- lively few college graduates keep up their Latin after obtaining a degree, uncoD- sciously, and in many ways it influences their mental development in after life. A mere smattering of Latin enables it's pos, sessor to enlarge his vocabulary and know the meaning of hundreds of words without resorting to dictionary. There are so many English words derived from the Latin that knowledge of this language is of in- calcuable assistance in learning to speak and write correct English. The modern tendency is to get away from the so-called classical education and substitute courses thought to be of more practical value, but as long as scholarship survives there will be strong advocates of teaching the younger generation Latin and Greek.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-12
Investigate Before Knocking

Don't knock till you investi- gate" The Chamber of Commerce of Birmingham is starting out to do a good work. It advocates the theory: Don't knock till you in- vestigate," and if that is carried out fully the knocker will find less to knock about than he thinks. It is amusing to see how many things people will say about something they know nothing about. Every thing from doing things for mu- nicipality on through the various business of government, to say nothing of individual businesses. People knock schools because some- thing has gone wrong. If this ap- parent wron. had been investigated the chances are there would have been no knocking.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-12

occasion the actions of those on the scene have reminded one of showmen at street fair who from the front of the show rouse the public into state of expectancy while there is waiting inside the tent the same old disillusionment. The latest of these performances was Senator Norris futile proposal for the government to spend two million dollars for the experimental opera tion of nitrate plant No. 1. The large sum presumably was for the purpose of giving the people a run for their money" such as the merry -go-round affords for smaller change. Certainly the proposal could have been intended for no other purpose than to keep the crowd in a whirl of expectancy while another show was being arranged in side the congressional tent.
 Now, however, there seems more reason to look to congress for sincere action. Republi- cans in the house of representatives have agreed to remove the gag rule and vote on Henry Ford's offer within few days. The people of Alabama and elsewhere know per fectly we'll that if the vote to be taken is free from prejudice of all kinds and is gov erned by desire to do that which is for the most good to the most people, the Ford offer will be accepted at once. It is because they are believing this that the friends of Muscle Shoals are again permitting hope to be in the ascendent
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-12
AUTOMOBILE FATALITIES

More than twelve thousand persons were killed in automobile accidents last year, ac- cording to figures made public a day or two ago by the National Safety Council. Not including the month of December, New York had 785 automobile fatalities. Chicago was second with 736 and Los Angeles third with 321. Pittsburg, Detroit, Cleveland, Balti- more and Boston had high records, but con siderably lower than the three leading cities. In seventy-eight cities with population of more than 50,000, 1,347 children were killed, a veritable Slaughter of the inno- cents." Springfield, Ohio, and Holyoke, Mass, had but two fatalities each An in- vestigation of the conditions in these two cities, as contrasted with the enforcement of laws governing automobiles in cities Of equal population where many deaths occur every year, would no doubt show that there is strict law enforcement in Springfield and Holyoke. town of only 10000 people where there are but two automobile fatali- ties in twelve months is the exception rather than the rule.
 What explanation can be offered for the shocking loss of life caused by automobiles? The reason is sef-evdent. large per centage of the accidents is due to careless ness. Reckless driving is a menace to life in practically every part of the United States, nor can the rural dweler hope to escape its consequences, with speed maniacs coursing up and down highways from one end of the country to the other. As has often been pointed out, the remedy lies in strict, and even drastic, enforcement of traffic laws. Probably no other statutes are broken more often and with greater im- punity. Magistrates still hesitate to send reckless drivers to iail but wherever this form of punishment has been tried it has proved effective. Revocation of licenses would still further reduce motor car acc;- dents and loss of life. As long as pubic indifference is reflected in the courts, auto- mobile fatalities will keep pace with the in- creased use of cars.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-12

he had superior orders to stay, and that the Turkish governor, in order to avoid unpleas- antness, would do well not to urge his de- parture. The Turk, being more of gentle man and diplomat than Turks usually are except when in tight place, gave his ready consent to let matters rest as they were. Therefore, the American warship, being un- der Turkish orders to leave Smyrna, has Turkish permission to remain. The Oriental mind is doubtless able to reconcile these two opposing and conflicting understandings, and nobody else much cares, except for the amusement they are undoubtedly extracting from the whole affair. There may later be hostilites between the Turks and allied forces, but there can be no war except in name, for the Turks are neither equipped nor provisioned to fight. The world, however,
 is growing weary of the whole affair, mad would gladly see the situation resolve itself to something more in keeping with common sense and the dignity of grown-up men.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-12
Illogical As to Convicts Tuscaloosa NeWs)

Somewhat strange, if not illogi- cal, is the position occupied by the state of Alabama Fri reiation to its prisoners or convicts. Alabanla is the only state in tne union which retains the archaic convict lease sys- tom. The present legislature is ex- tending the life or the lease sys- ten until 1927, on the ground that present finances will not permit of abolishing it now. The state con- victs, therefore, continue to be sent into the mines, under lease to pri- vate operators, who pay the state for the labor of these prisoners. Tho convicts produce revenue for the state to the extent of a million or mora dollars anpualrv we are told. Yet. while continuing to hold on to the convict lease system, the state says to the counties which work prisoners that they shall observe regulations regarding the prisoncrs' treatment, which makes discipline difficult, to say the least. In fact. the escapes from the Etowah road force in the last few months have been more numerous than ever be- fore, because the county guards are not permitted by the state to use such means as will prevent these escapes, says the Gadsden Journal If it be wrong to chastise prisoners working on the county roads under the direction of the counties, why is it not wrong to continue the con- vict lease system, where labor of human beings is bought and sold as commodity, to the profit of the state?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-12
THE TURKS PLAY AT WAR

Although ordered by the Turks to leave the harbor of Smyrna, the allied warships are still there. Accordingly, the Turks have begun laying mines. The allied commanders are making no protest, doubtless because they can see where the mines are being iald and can govern their movements accordingly
 Besides, the naval guns have greater range than any guns in Smyrna, and the entire city now lies at the mercy of allied fire. The Turks are merely amusing themselves at war. Nobody takes them seriously, least of all the commander of the American warship
 who replied to the Turkish order to leave that
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-12
CONGRESS AS SNOWMAN

The people of North Alabama particularly have long looked for signs which woul1 show that the government has sincere inten- ton as to the development of Muscle Shoals. Their hopes at times have been high. The succeeding dsappointments have been de- pressing. For two years congress has dallied with the situation. It has played at times with the Ford proposition and with the wishes of the people almost as though pos sessed of sinister sense of humor. On
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-12
ANCIENT LANGUAGES AGAIN.

Established traditions are being upset right and left in this turbulent world. It is, therefore, not surprising to learn that Yale University authorities are considering the elimination of Latin or Greek as a re- quirement for the Batchelor of Arts degree. The elimination of Latin has been discussed for some time, it is reported. Men have risen to eminence without possessing knowledge of these languages. It was even said of the immortal Shakespeare that he had little Latin and less Creek" and com- ing down to later period, Mark Twain pro- fessed to abhor the loftier reaches of schol- arship, but the idea still obtains that the degree of Bachelor of Arts should connote
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-12
NO GENERAL UNEMPLOYMENT

The elimination of bread lines in the mid de west indicates marked improvement in business and industrial conditions. Infor- nation based on reports received from state labor departments, industrial commissions, employers associations and employment bu- reaus gives uniformly favorable showing for that part of the country, which Is re- flected in other sections of the United States. A mild winter helped, but there is more employment generally, and common la Dor, which feels the full weight of industrial depression, is now in demand. In fact, advocates of increased immigration claim that the shortage of common labor Is be- coming a serious problem, although their argument has little weight with large pars of the American people who are opposed to letting down the bars to a flood of aliens from southern and southeastern Europe.
 One exception to the encouraging reports comes from Cincinnati, where a floating negro population is idle. Many of these negroes migrated from the south, lured by the prospect of higher wages, and they are now facing privation. Liko others who Joined the northern migration, they are probably repenting their haste in leaving the south where negroes, at least, never go hungry. The northwest wants lumberjacks, workers in the building trades and common laborers. At Columbus it is estimated that there are three thousand men out of work, compared to 15,000 last year. The number of men and women employed In Detroit Is estimated at maximum of three hundred and fifty thousand, more than ever before fin the cty's history. That situation, no doubt, is due to activity in automobile man. ufacture, another symptom of the nations increased buying power. Conditions are re- ported nearly normal In Indianapolis. In St. Louis about five thousand men are idle. There were forty-five thousand last winter
 In Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and other states there is marked improvement. The "army of the unemployed" which was an object of concern to the federal govern ment and was widely discussed in the news papers of the country, has not entirely dis appeared, but it has dwindled to such pro- portions that it is no longer causing alarm It is probable that the demand for workers will increase, rather than decline, and re- duce unemployment throughout the United States to minimum.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-12
%NN gls:1oRetEBEARER
Too bad all this auditorium comedy could lot be staged in the auditorium.
More About Books

The golfer spoke: "If I were cast
 Upon a desert isle, Ten golfing books would be my choice, That might read the while And penetrate the mysteries
 Of rhythm and form and style. "And I would read them word by word Full twenty years and more, And cogitate and ruminate
 The chapters o'er and o'er, And I would know was little then
 As I had known before."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-12
Boosting the Booster By REV. H. C. OFFERMAN

It takes much to preserve your godo name, and come through life with power and influence and pop ulsrity and love.
 Life with all it's trials and tribu- lations and hardships may yet bring you great rewards, successes and happiness.
 When you see someone trying to do good, and live right, and help others, do you give nim your moral support and your thought?
 A world of boosters is world of happy. progressive, optimistic and successful people.
 You and I, and all of us, are en- toying the fruits of the efforts of the men who boosted, and who boosted the boosters of yesterday.
 So, boost the boosters.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-12
Better Pay for Teachers
(Tuscaloosa Newsl


 Better pay for rural teachers will help very materially to make better rural schools, for the profes- sion of teaching is one requiring the best minds and the most care ful training and it should attract well-equipped men and women as strongly as other professions. With small salaries, there always will be a shortage of teachers and this shortage Cannot prove other than harmful to educational progress, says the Anniston Star. The most important thing to be done in be- half of future generations is to train the youth of today so that the youth of the future will be equipped to fight the battles of life and win the victory. This cannot be done with inaoequate schools or with constant shortage of teachers. The only remedy is to pay the teachers and equip the schools to meet the needs of the daV.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-12
ANOTHER SUGAR SHORTAGE"

Raw sugar is again becoming ambitious. It has gone to new high price level fo rthe present season and still tends upward, on the strength of report of the department of commerce that there exists a Shortage" of 250,000 tons in the worlds ''visibleo supply. This is about the amount the people of the United States normally consume in seventeen days If this Shortage" were distributed among the peoples of the world it would amount to only three or four days supply. Perhaps by little care and economy the situation could be relieved py few days rationing without suffering an increase in the price. Of course, the world won't be economical of sugar voluntarily, and neither will the people of the United States. They would rather pay the price increase that Is bound to come. They will even pay this in- crease in the face of an artificial shortage, such as prevailed shortly after the war, when people paid twenty to thirty cents pound and were glad to get sugar for the price. It turned out afterwards that there was no shorage, but normal supply, the specula- tors having seized the sugar and profited on the manipuations of stocks and propaganda.
 Now, with an actual reduction in the wis., ible supply, there is little duobt that the con sumer of sugar will be asked literally to contribute to the profit of somebody or other. It's the way the game Is paved. Be- sides, the producers of sugar in Cuba have become organized and are demnading an in- itial price larger than has been the cussom. Further, they can now borrow money on stored sugar, and are in position to hold It until the proper price level Is reached. It is not supposed that the Cuban producers are asking more than reasonable profit on the cost of production, but those in between are not so modest. Then, too, congress has pro- vided little duty on sugar, which is to be generously paid by the American consumer on the sugar produced in this country as well as on that imported from Cuba. All these factors are favorable to speculation in the commodity, as the American housewife will undoubtedly soon discover.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-12
Ten Books at Large

Dear Torch Bearer: I do not expect to be cast away on a desert island for life. Neither do I consider myself competent to name the ten works of literature necessary to appease the mental hunger of a man in that position. But there are ten books whose names crave to see emblazoned in the public prints. To-wit "If Winter Comes," "Scaramouche," "Eric Rorn," Treasure Island," "Poe's Tales" Brass" and "The Sign of the Four"
 These books have been borrowed from me during the last twelve-month and are still at large. I hope you will print the list so that the borrowers of same may be reminded that am still on earth. Thanks.-D. D. s. In the case of books the term borrow" is a highly courteous expression.
 According to the Mystery Man, the movie actor does not speak the words pictured on the screen; but the fellow sitting behind you makes up for it.
 The Alabama legislature evidently thought that it was elected to pass laws and then go home-which it did.
 Too bad congress doesn't have the same thought.
 Tobacco addict dies at the age of IF. His parents should have taken him in hand before it was too late.
 Dear Torch Bearer: To be tucked under the protecting arm of modern Venus-who looks as if she might have stepped from the cover of magazine-to be fondled-not to mentioned caressed by same-is not my idea of dogs life.-E. Pluribus Unum
 Today in History
 This is the 187th anniversary of Gustave Gimme, the first man to borrow match. He died young, but left millions of descend ants.
 And while the public prints are throbbing with warnings, appeals, injunctions, etc., to stay the ever-increasing wave of crime, we find the following want ad in another Chi cago paper:
 PEN WRITERS
 To initiate signatures. If you are not an expert in this line do not apply.
 The proposal to widen the highways and byways has our unanimous approval. And while they are about it, why not build cush- ions along the roadway where the pedestrian may land?
 Sheep glands, they tell us, will grow hair on bald head. One of the crying needs ofthe day is an all-wool hair restorer.
 "Election time having appeared in the offing,''
 Suggests E. P. s.
 "How about this for last line:
 "Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of the party?"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-12
Alabama Press
Publicity Laws of Benefit
(Sylacauga News)

The legislative committee of the Alabama Press Association may succeed in getting some laws drought this legislature, but if they do it will be an accomplishment other similar committees have fail ed to achieve during the last quarter of a century. However, the present body seems to be an improvement over the former ones, and if this proves correct they will see not only the justness of these laws, but the public benefit to be derived from them.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-12
CANINE SANDWICH MEN

American advertising men, who have boasted of their supremacy in devising novel publicity methods, are beginning to fear for the per manency of their laurels. On the heels of the successful introduction of airplane advertising by "sky writing" in England, comes the statement that in the future a prominent British home supply com rany will have it, announcement engraved on the reverse side of every dog license issued in London countv
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-12

The possibilities of snappy headline writ ing are again achieved by an eastern news paper, which announces that a prominent citizen reported to have died in Switzerland is "Not Dead But Skiing
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-12
TOPLOFTY

Louisville Courier-Journal)
 New York boasts one clubwoman who was Russian countess, but in Louisville there are innumerable housemaids with the airs of Rus sian countess.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-12

Ismet Pasha's departure from Lausanne is said to have worried the French. There is hardly spot in Europe where it it would be worth while to found Don't Worry club.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-12
-------------f---------ses-- es----7777=
 A VOCAL NATION
(Washinqton Star)

The fact that political develop ments caused singing in the streets of Rome is not necessarily signifi- cant. The Italian temperament is always artistic, and singing is a natural form of Latin expression.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-12

Professor William Muldoon of the New York boxing commission says, "Of course Willard can box for charity. It is fine spirit" No doubt, professor, but it it said Mir. Willard will receive $25,o00 for his charitable efforts.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-12

A New York legislator wants to put night lights on go-carts. A horn that youngsters in perambulators could toot at frequent in. tervals would also please them nightly, but it would be wearing on the nerves of grown-up people.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-12

The commerce department reports that for the first time in three hundred years gold mines are being developed in Germany, but not with the ultimate purpose of paying reparations.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-12

Happy folk, the historians! While the rest of us are trying to solve problems of immediate and pressing importance tsey find time to wrangle over the identity of Abraham Lincoln's Host grandmother"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-12
THE AGE- E R A L D

Entered at the Birmingham, Ala. postoffie,e as
 6. 1s79
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-12

FREDERICK I. THOMPSON. President
SveÌŒt = World. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1911-1939, 1923-10-22

Kdyz pax vcera o poledni
ubiral sc ma lunch do cesko-
slovenskeho vyslanectvi, tisice
kancelarskych zamestnancI
a delniki kupilo Sc ma ulicich,
ably zahlednouti mohli cesko-
slovenskeho presidenta.
B6hem odpoledne Masaryk
inauguroval ma Sorbonne no
YOU skolu slovanskych jay
XII a phi teto prilezitosti YiE-.
nymi recniky oznacov&n byl!
jakozto jeden ze zachranci de
mokracie.
Uredni cast Masarykovy ma
vstevy zakoncena byla vcera
vecer statni hostinou, kterou
ma jeho pocest usporadal mi
nisterPky predseda Poincare.
DaEi tri dny bude Masa-
|ryk hpstem franconzske repu-
bliky ma zaprenou a nebude
vice vystaven zvedavosti "a
stupci tisku. Vsechna jeho
dalsi cinnost v Parizi bude Vi
ce povahy soukrome.
Koluji povesti, ze president
Masaryk csl. ministr zahra-
nicnich zalezitosti dr.. Ed. Be
mes b6hem poslednich dvou
dni NELL cetne rozmluvy s pre-
sidentem Millerandem, mini
sterskym predsedou Poin "a
rem a marsalkem Fochem a ze
docileno bylo vojenske allan
ce mezi Ceskoslovenskem a
Francii, avsak urednieh kru
zich jsou povesti ty vyvrace-
ny jako Zcela bezpodstatne,
ponevadz alliance "a nynej-
sich pom6ri povazovana jest
Ia nevhodnou.
SveÌŒt = World. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1911-1939, 1923-10-22

franko-belgickych lradd. Poa
klada Sc "a nepravd9podobne,
ze hnutf rozsfri Sc do jinych
NEST v Porynf a Ruhrsku.
Potravinova situace v Berli
ne jest velmi vaznou, die do
znani 1radd.. Jest nedostatek
masa, chleba, masla, vajec,
mouky, ba uzenaci v riz-
nych castech m6sta.
Vlada -vydala dnes provo
lanf k n6meck6mu, lidu, v
nemz odsuzovano, Jest :poruse-
nj, dstayy. Bayorskern.s Tamni
;aiaada ~ jaIa sstqtiz. J. II, 900
,ynazi ils q derainfflh yojska v
ri znyea rosaa kaEh, a hodla je
Edrzeti sjak ra,koIjfni,. pokud ne
'dojds { k na]aks emu 'uspokojive
sn1' doE1xlna< mi 'sss sBerl{nem. A
,1a1imos fs 1srs Vons Lossoua Sc
3 'isaaassena1 Il 1sS 6sffe NJ vladou pro
'jehe shevilvavost vdef., bavor-
.skym nacio listGm, ustanovi
"a "a; "a = ! veliteJ ddfIhss ffsske O.
brany W. Bslvo ors3als W. prohla-
Semi vgsdaneIn SBerllna ase.pra