davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-23
MODELLING AGAINST WEEvIL

The conference at Atlanta to devise
comprehensive campaign against the boil
weevil comprises all the elements interested
in cotton from the grower to the manufac-
turer, and even to the consumer as repre-
scented by Governor Hardwick and the other
public officials. The boil weevil, aptly
termed the 'billion dollar bandit" by one
of the speakers, constitutes not so much
threat as a problem. The pest has fire.
quently been called blessing in disguise
in that it has brought about a greater de-
velopment of diversified farming and has
made it necessary to do better cotton farm
ing 1t is not blessing, however, unless
the entire industry takes cognizance of the
situation and unites to control it.
The primary object Of the conference is
to devise effective methods Of weevil con-
troll and destruction, and to induce planters
generally to adopt such methods. In the
event that there is difficulty in persuading
Indifferent planters to follow such prac-
tees as will protect their neghbors as well
as themselves, it is probable that there viii
be effort to follow President Hardings sug
gestion as to sort of treaty among the
ures that will receive the support of the
state governments. This would not be un-
usual as far as individual states are con-
cerned, for many states have fought va
rious plant and animal diseases, having
gone to the extreme in forbidding planting
for a given period in given affected belts,
and having forbidden import or export Of
seed or plants from infected states or areas.
Undoubtedly some of the statutory meas
ures adopted in combating other agricu1-
tural pests will serve as profitable guides in
formulating measures of weevil control
1t is probable that various plans for the
actual destruction of the pest will include
poison directly applied and poison gas dis
charged over cotton fields. Some of the
measures will be possible of application by
the individual planter, and some of them will
be of such dangerous nature as to require
the direction of men expert in their use.
Agreements among the states will be some
capable of accomplishment during the period
of experimentation that must ensue.
The encouraging feature of the campaign
is the unanimity of sentiment among all
those whose business is touched in any re-
spect by cotton. All are agreed that some
that there may be a dependable supply of
cotton and that growers may be heartened by
this support to continue to operate their
fields. The success of the undertaking is
of concern to the entire nation.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-23
Poor Boys Who
Became Famous
BY FREDERICK HoUK LAW
The House of RothschiId

A Jewish boy, Mayer Anselm
Bauer, watched his father carry on
business as a merchant of slight i'm
portance. Like all boys, he adj
mired his father and resolved like
wise to become a merchant. For
that reason he protested against his
fathers wish that he should become
a rabbi. What was good enough for
his father, would be good enough
for him. All this was in Germany
about one hundred and fifty years
ago.
The young man became money
lender. Instead of putting up a
sign consisting of three golden balls,
the emblem of many money lenders
in the United States, he put up a
sign that was a red shield. The
first day that he looked at the en-
blem he little realized that the Ger
man name for the red seal, "roths-
child" would become the family
name of a great Jewish house, so
vastly rich, and SO powerful that it
would control kings, bring about
war and peace, and make its power
felt everywhere in the world. In
fact, the money-lender's sign grew
into name that is synonym for
untold wealth.
Curiously enough, it was not
alone Mayer Bauer's business abil-
ity that set the family on the way
to wealth; it was also his play. He
became collector of odd coins, and
in this way, by accident, became a
friend of the pretty ruler of Hesse-
Cassel. The friendship brought him
government business and he quickly
became financial power.
The story of his honesty is well
known. When the French invaded
the land, the ruler mad to hurry
away to save his life. With abso-
lutte trust he placed a vast fortune
in the hands of Mayer Bauer, who
hid it away, and afterwards gave
the ruler not only the full value,
but also high rate of interest.
That honesty was characteristic of
the man. and was the real reason of
much of his success. When he died
his ten children carried on the great
business he had established. They
and their descendants developed the
House of Rothschild into an inter-
national power, all of which started
with the small boy who wished to
initiate his father and become a
merchant.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-23
TUTANKHAMEN SAVES A LIFE

There are strange paradoxes suggested in
the news item concerning the seventy-seven
year old man, DR.. William Rouse of Bath,
Maine, who, according to his own predic-
ton, was to die the other day, but when the
time for the expected exit arrived, was
too busy reading about King Tutankhamen,
who has been dead these three thousand
years, to spare the time necessary to shut
fling off. DR.. Rouse's imaginary rendezvous
with death was due not to ill health but to
the fact of his mother and grandfather both
having passed away exactly forty-three days
before their seventy-seventh birthday, and
so it was that Tuesday was his day. To a
reporter calling when the last hour was
supposed to strike the doctor remarked
looking up from his history of daily papers !:
"This Tutankhamen certainly lived while he
was at it and he was a long time dead"
The doctor was too preoccupied with the
dead to die. The contemplation of the
Praroah having lain there, even in such
princey state, for three thousand years was
enough to cause the doctor to pull away
with all mortal powers from the eternal
shadows.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-23
HORSESHOE PITCHING

Horseshoe pitching, pastime formerly
relegated to small and backward commune
ties, occupies prominent place on the sport
pages of newspapers. The world champion
ship is being holly contested at St. Peters
burg, Florida, where expert tossers from far
and near have gathered to test their skill.
While the tunlult that characterizes world
series baseball game, or a fast pugilistic
bout between two persons of prominence in
the fistic arena, may be lacking, interest is
keen and there can be no question of the
expertness of the leading players. G. G.
Davis of Columbus, Ohio, for instance, tossed
17S shoes, on the opening day of the mid
winter national horseshoe pitching tourna-
ment, to make 20 points, with total of Ill
ringers, of which thirty-seven were doubles.
Other contestants showed the proficiency
that comes from long practice, including
Champion Lundin, who holds the title. Now
that horseshoe pitching has invaded the
haunts of millionaires, and has become the
subject of press bulletins, it promises to
grow in favor and prestige. It is healthful
sport, more strenuous than checkers, but
not as exhausting as football or polo, and
might be termed the little brother of golf"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-23

Constant experimentation with X-rays first
caused DR.. Valiant to lose little finger
This initial injury led to the gradual loss
of his entire right arm and part of the left
arm, but the numerous operations he has
undergone have not impaired his scientific
zeal or his desire to go on with the work to
which he has devoted himself for so many
years.
That the honors paid to DR.. Valiant were
exceptional illustrates anew the tardy recog-
milton given to men whose labors are of in
estimable benefit to the world. From their
laboratories have come discoveries which
have been priceless heritage to future gen
erations and have served as milestones in
the onward march of science. The sacrifices
of doctors and scientists are taken too much
as matter of course. They are none the
less worthy of acclaim, although theirs may
not be the spectacular form of heroism
which captures the popular imagination.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-23
GOOD JUDGMENT OF THE SWISS

By great majority the people of Switzer-
land have rejected proposal authorizing
the state to make precautionary arrests of
Swiss citizens considered menace to their
country. It appears that the principle was
Objectionable because it offered an oppor-
tunity for INSCRIPTIONS officials to crafty
private grudges, as well as removing the
right of free exercise of opinion. The Swiss
republic, like any other, must be in the main
the kind of government the majority want.
If the majority desire change Of govern
ment, that is in line with the principle or
democracy. That popular manifestation IN
which a majority of the people of any ma
tion engage cannot properly be called a
revolt, for the people cannot revolt against
themselves and their own authority. They
can by ballot revolt against the creatures of
their own authority, and that is not treason.
IF there are only few who thus defy consti-
tuted authority, then it is in order to appre-
bend and punish them, not in accordance
with dangerous and unusual policies, but
according to law. The Swiss people are
content to rest their national safety upon
the ordinary processes of justice. I'm
doubtedly their view is sound.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-23
PROFESSIONALLY TO PAY UP

Great Britain's good example in offering
to pay her war debt to the United States
seems to have had beneficial effect on at
least one other country. Czecho-Slovakia
wants to open negotiations for the payment
of $106,292, 600 she owes the United States.
The state department makes this announce
ment, after receiving official advices from
Prague. Czecho-Slovakia is expected to send
a commission to Washington in short time
which will discuss terms of settlement with
the American government. This indication
of good faith and, inferentially, of the sta
bility Of Czecho-Slovakian finances puts one
of the new nations born during the war in
a favorable light before the world, and veri-
flies, apparently, the statements previously
made iii regard to the healthy growth of
Czecho- Slovakia, one of the few countries
in troubled Europe which has rapidly recov-
cred from the effects of the war. 1t is an
odd coincidence that one of the creates.
nations in the world and one or the smallest
are the only two that have so far made any
attempt to meet the obligations they owe
to the United States. Perhaps others will
follow suit, despite the fears expressed in
congress, and elsewhere, that the bulk of
the money loaned to Europe will never be
repaid. So far as Czecho-Slovakia is con-
cerned, she will find Uncle Sam lenient
creditor and disposed to make terms she
can meet without dislocating her finances.
The settlement Of the British loan was eff
fected in such remarkably short time and
with so little friction, that it will be sim
pie matter to adjust the payments of the
Czecho-Slovakian debt, provided the repre-
sentatives of that country offer reasonable
proposals.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-23
WIDE USE.OF WARRIOR

Atlanta shippers were among the first to
sense the low-rate transportation costs af-
forded by the Warrior, barge line and have
patronized that service ever since the barge
line was installed. Heavy tonnages of su-
gar, salt, coffee and rice have been regu-
larly shipped to Atlanta by this route
Chattanooga has also been patron from
the beginning. Their initial patronage was
on north bound business. The manufactur-
ing interests Of these cities have also dis
covered the south bound shipping advant-
ages of water transportation. An Atlanta
steel firm is shipping steel products to Cuba
this week via the barge line to Mobile. 1t
must be real advantage that would lead
an Atlanta manufacturer to forward his
export freight to Birmingham and thence
by water to Mobile instead of by the ports
of Savannah and Brunswick.
What applies to iron and steel products
applies the same to farm products, especially
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-23
The Frying Pan

am a frier of orders gay, for l am the
cook, now the wifes away, and first of all,
when meal | plan, grab that dear old
frying-pan. I'll cook for you what'er you
wish-fried steak, fried ham and exc fried
fish. It's easy as falling off log-you
ought to sample my friend "hot dog, "Hot
dog" you say, "that's never friedw Oh,
yes, it is, know-I've tried. Beneath the
blue and arching sky there isn't food can
not fry The seven-day week is one day
my day-for every day to me is fry-day.
Once, filled with pride, tackled roast, and
once l tried my hand at toast; pride had a
fall, for the roast burned up and the toast
wasn't fit to feed pup. So here's to the
good old frying-pan, the noblest, grandest
friend of man. I sing song of praise su-
preme to the man who dreamed that gor-
geous dream that gave him wisdom to in
vent that marvellous kitchen implement, the
frying pan which rules the day when l am
cook and the wife's away. But I'll give
three cheers and one cheer more when the
wife comes smiling through the door.-Stau-
wood
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-23
A SANER GERMAN VIEW

Nothing has developed in the recent move
ments and counter movements in the Ruhr
to relieve the tension there. On the con
trary, the situation seems to grow con-
stantly more tense. The German populace
is showing more resistance to French orders
because of the expulsion of popular state
officials from the occupied zone, and agita-
tors from Berlin are slipping into these re-
gions in spite of French determination to
keep them out Strikes and sabotage are
resulting in the tie-up of the postal and tele-
graph systems. The British refusal of full
use of the railways in Cologne seems to have
blocked the further extension of French
control.
There seems only one immediate hope of
breaking the deadlock, and that is found in
the suggestion of the German socialists.
They announce that they are ready for an
honorable peace" with payment, to France
of ga reasonable reparation." This appears
the only sane attitude left for Germany to
take. As much as the Berlin government
man reasoning it can not now expect France
to ''take her troops out before negotiations
are started" There was ample time for
Germany to have settled her debt before the
troops went in, of which eventuality France
gave plenty of warning. Germany has now
had ample time also to be convinced that
her cries of Oppression" and starvation
are not materially affecting a world which
believes in the honorable settlement of debts
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-23
Might and Day"
BY REV. Fl. C. oFFERMAN

And God said, LET there be light,
and there was light"
There are times when the world
Is enveloped in darkness.
Are not some human beings like
the darkness of the world!
Are they not gruesome, are they
not creepy, are they not spooky, are
they not cold and forbidding?
And yet, there is a power that is
much stronger than darkness, and
that is sunlight.
When the sunlight bursts forth,
it completely conquers the dark
ness, and then there is only sun
shine.
"And this is the condemnation,
that light is come into the world,
and men loved darkness rather than
light, because their deeds were
evil"
So ought the dark human beings
be overcome by the human beings
of brightness, and brilliance, and
glory, and 80 strong must this be,
that there will only be sunshine and
brightness.
"He was burning and shining
light"
eye are the light of the world. !"
even so let your light shine, be-
fore men, that they may see your
good works and glorify your Fa-
Their which is in heaven"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-23

A HERO OF SCIENCE

A hero of science was homo red when DR..
Charles Valiant, leader in 't-ray expert
ments for the past twenty-f1 years, was
accorded the cravat of the Legion of Honor
in Paris. He also received The Carnegie
medal for heroism, which was presented by
the American ambassador, Myron T. Herrick.
Standing erect and undaunted, with both
sleeves of his coat hanging limp at his side,
DR.. Valiant typified the courageous scen-
fists who risk their health and their lives
to increase the store of human knowledge
and bring relief to suffering humanity.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-23
A Timely Editorial
A Subconscious Hero
(The Commercial Appeal)


How delicate is the machinery of
the human brain and how thin is the
partition that protects sane, orderly
thinking from wild, disorderly mag
cry the world has seen on numer-
Gus occasions when great minds
snapped and the sufferer became
more helpless than any of the lower
order of animals. As intimate to us
as our thinking faculties are, they
are in their complicated and sub
tie workings still enveloped with
considerable mystery <or both ex-
perts and laymen. We know these
faculties may refuse to function at
times, and at other times they may
work perfectly, while in third case
the operation may be excellent in
| one endeavor and entirely useless
in another.
What strange piece of work the
thing we call the human mind is
was shown in an incident of the fire
that destroyed a part of New York
city's insane asylum. One of the
many inmates was a man who in
his normal senses had sought on
several occasions in the great war to
do something heroic, but had always
failed. Normally he had the high
inspiration, but became vitiated by
the human element of fear. There
must have been for him unrealiza-
Bile pangs in that twilight zone of the
mind between resolution and fail
ure. His mental faculties became
dlsarranged and in the New York
asylum. where he was confined he
was regarded as a homicidal ma
MAC, one of the most dangerous in
the institution.
But IN the stress, TIE excitement
and the danger of the fire that was
raging around him something hap
pened to his mental machinery. His
mind was brought back not only to
normal, but also to what must
| nave been an ideal condition for
him. He became real hero. We
are told that he stood calmly with
flames cracking around him and
smoke almost binding him and 6i-
rected many of the other inmates
along the path to safety. His dream
was realized. He acted in an un.
looked for emergency just as he
had tried and failed to act through
preparation and resolution. And,
| after his heroic deed had been done.
we are told he lapseG back into his
mania, making it necessary to place
him under guard again.
Psychological experts doubtless
will furnish detailed explanations
of these mental transitions that will
be illuminating as to the working of
the subconcious mind. We leave
the expert and technical solution TO
them. The asylum guards tell us
their hero was unconscious of his
| own heroism and, therefore, was
denied the mental qualification it
should have given him. But this
we refuse to accept absolutely. We
much prefer to believe that he was
possessed of some sort of subcon-
scious knowledge of the high and
heroic deed he was doing and re.
| ceived some compensation in the
momentary pleasure it gave him.
1t would be cruel to think otherwise.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-23
Problem of Conduct

Dear Torch Bearer: I am in quandary.
All my life 1 have been a disciple of Ches-
terrified. Courtesy is my middle name
Never once have 1 knowingly broken, nor
even bent, any of the tenets of social deco
rum. But now / find myself up against it,
in manner of speaking Riding on the
car this morning, l offered to share my
strap with young lady who stood beside
me, strapless. She turned on me look that
was almost as frigid as the surrounding at
mosphere. Ever since then / have been
wondering: Is it proper for gentleman to
offer a lady half his strap without formal
introduction? Probably you or one of your
vast concourse of contributors can enlighten
me.-Herb.
Riding on the street cars enables one to
study human nature. For example, there's
many man who doesn't like to embarrass
a lady by offering her his seat.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-23
Go-GETTERS OF EUROPE
(Springfield Republican,

BY awarding Memel to Lithuania
the council of ambassadors may be
following the line of least resistance,
but the decision is calculated to en-
courage the "go-getters" Of Europe.
1t now remains to be seen whether
it will mollify the Lithuanians to
such an extent that they will aban
don opposition to the occupation of
the neutral zone near Wilma by Po-
lish troops. Moscow has held the
synical view that the Poles encour-
aged the Lithuanians to seize Me-
mel for just this purpose.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-23
SMALLER EVERY DAY
christian Science Monitor

IChrlstlan Science MOnltOrJ
1t was rather a clever repartee
which William E. (Pussyfoot) John
son made recently to a question
whether he thought the light wine
and beer sentiment in America was
growing. eyes," he answered with
out a moments hesitation, sit is
growing smaller every day."
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-23

A group of thousand counterfeters is
being rounded up in this country, so it is
said. They should go to Russia where their
profession is legitimate.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-23
Alabama Press
Conflicting News
(Andalusia Starr

The Selma correspondent report
ing to one of the state papers claim
ed in one paragraph that Selma has
the lowest death rate of any city in
the state and in another paragraph
IN the same article he makes the an
'nouncement that Selma is seeking a
new site for a cemetery, the pres
ent one being filled up.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-23
BIRMINGHAM AGE-HERALD, FRIDAY FEBRUARY 23, 1923

and not that just obligations are scraps of
paper. It may be that if Cuno and his ad-
visors do not heed the voice of this strong
political party now raised for "a reasonable
reparation," they will be shorn of their
mowers
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-23

They say that fighting has broken out
again between Free State troops and repub-
licans, and that dublin is in a panic"
Hasn't Dublin ever got used to it?
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-23

The scientists are matching their wits
against those of the boil weevil. Still, the
weevil is by nature pretty well endowed with
talent for self protection.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-23
Jls-]oReEkBEARER

Having failed on the auditorium, the COM
mission now turns its passion for achieve
ment to the viaducts.
The theory the commission works on is
this: Viaducts have been built, therefore
viaducts can be built.
However, there may be fallacy in this
reasoning.
Time will tell, even if it doesn't tell all
it knows.
Those Alabama state plums seem SLOW in
ripening. Yet there be those eager to pluck
them.
There is no thirst like thirst for political
preference.
The nonbreakable cigarette ash is pro-
duced by mixing asbestos with the tobacco.
The theory is that man who smokes
cigarette doesn't care what's in it.