davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-19

AN IMPORTANT QUESTION

The election in the rural school dls- tricts in Jefferson county on Tuesday is for a definite and commendable pur nose. The voters are asked to indorse inc continuation for twenty-five years of the three-mill district school tax which soon expires by limitation. Only the rural school districts are con cerned. Birmingham, Bessemer and the larger communities of the county are not included. No additional tax is proposed. The voters are to deter mine whether the rural school districts will continue the special school levy which has been in force for years.
 The county board of education has worked out comprehensive building and improvement program which calls for the expenditure of nearly one mil- lion dollars within the next few years for new buildings, enlargements and improvements. They are all pressingly needed to care for the increased at- tendance and the necessary equipment. The citizens cannot afford to halt this improvement. Indeed, the tax is B wise investment that assures large and permanent returns.
 Without the funds from such levy the board of education would have to abandon it's plans for improvements, and every child in the rural school dis tricts would be deprived of certain benefits. All of the funds from the levy will be spent to carry out the per- manent improvement program; none will be used for maintenance. It is expected that continuation of the levy will be indorsed by large majority. as it should be. Voters should not take chances on their optimism, how ever, but register their attitude on this important measure at the polls.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-19
Bedtime Story

Harold the Hawk was a tough guy. Yessir, Harold the Hawk was hard boiled. Any time he let out war whoop around the green forest, his little neighbors locked the front door and crawled under the bed.
 He could lick anything in the vicin- ity without so much as batting an eye, and he wasn't bit backward about letting the world know it.
 One day, just about lunch time, Harold was rustling around for his groceries and happened to light on Farmer Browns window sill. And just inside the window, safe in his gilded cage, sat Clarence the Canary, putting on the feedbag.
 Now Clarence was cake eater is there ever was one. To tell the truth, he could not whip a sick cockroach. But do you think he was frightened when he saw Harold the Hawk perched on the window sill? Not so you could notice it.
 As soon as he saw Harold he jumped off his perch and ruffled up his feath- CTS as if he were spelling for battle.
 'Get offa that window sill, va big bump he cried. "Get offa there! gotta good mind to come out there and sock you one on the beezerw
 Just then Farmer Brown started his flivver and the noise scared Harold the Hawk away.
 "That's the way to talk to them guys" said Clarence the Canary, throwing out his chest. "Didja see me give him the run-out powder?" a.
 Gregory the Goldfish, swimming in his bowl close by, shimmied with amusement.
 "Clarence," he said, "you remind me of one of those silk-hat diplomats who hang around in gilded palaces and start fights they don't have to finish"
 LAW, gwan, va poor fishr' answered Clarence, and dug his nose in the feedbag again.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-19
A CHANCE FOR THE AMBITIOUS

A Georgia newspaper expresses sur prise that, of the young men of that state who are not accomplishing any thing worth while beyond earning their board and clothes, and who drag along from year to year with apparently little expectation of anything better, more do not accept the great induce ments held out to industrious young manhood by the cheap fertile lands and semi-tropical climate of that sec ton, and the possibilities of intelli- gent, diversified agriculture and hor- ticulture. A New York newspaper ut the same time expresses surprise that more young men of that state do not fit themselves for skilled mechanical pursuits which offer so much for ser- vice and profit.
 There is a far-reaching reason for both of these conditions, and, indeed, for the strong tendency of young men the country over to stick to hum-drum clerical work, and avoid what is known as manual labor. There is a notice able false pride in the preference for white-collar jobs, especially in centers of population where bright lights and amusement features abound. No small part of the blame for this rests upon parents with the notion that opportu- mites of the trades and the technical callings of civil life are inferior to those to be had from academic educa- tion. A successful industrial leader of the South declared that the aversion of young men to the kind of work which soils the hands is doing serious damage to the development of this sec .tion, Every year it proves a more costly pride, while the wages of man. .ual labor every year have been con stantly rising as compared with those received by men in clerical pursuits.
 eff the years that many of us spent in improving our conversational graccs had been devoted to learning some trade or studying some technical pur- suits, we should not only be more use- ful to the world, but happier and bet ter paid, says the New York contem- porary in this connection. Quite true. Sacrificing one's welfare and future because of the glamour surrounding so-called genteel occupation, in con- trast with hand-soiling job, has not only proved to be folly in its individual aspect, but an obstacle to national progress. There is neither consistency nor common sense in reluctance of native Americans to do manual work, and in discouraging their children from doing it, while complaining be- cause white-collar jobs are poorly paid in comparison with the fields of manual labor.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-19
POOR BOYS WHO
 BECAME FAMOUS Rv ExodaricL Houk Law
Giovanni Viotti
By Frederick Houk La,

Up in the mountain region Of northern Italy there was a village blacksmith, Guilio Viotti, who hammered out the music of the anvil all day long. Occasionally, however, he stopped in his work, took up horn and played on is simple music. It rested him to turn thus from hard muscular work to the pleasure of music. His little son, Giovanni. played in the shop, and listened alike to the anvil and the horn. Like all boys, he initiated his father, clanking with a hammer, and trying to play the horn.
 Here, little one. I will teach you" said the blacksmith as he put the horn to his sons lips. Now, do as I tell you"
 After a time the blacksmith could gain his rest by listening to the small boy play simple tunes. The boy picked up the art in a wonderfully short time. He had an ear for music, and the father at once foresaw future for the boy. He induced one of his friends lO St6 tlidl llAt idd VI a2 lduB It ltlt violin. The boy again did so well that he gained the opportunity of having one of the best teachers and this only at eleven years of age.
 From his father young Giovanni had inherited a natural love for music, and he did so well once again that he won his way to still better instruction. By the time he was youth he had made him self known throughout the region. By the time he was a young man he was known beyond Italy.
 Catherine the Great of Russia heard of him, as she heard of all that went on in Europe, and she welcomed him at her brilliant court. Wherever he went he won applause, for he could produce from the violin rich music that carried the beauty and charm of the Italian mountains and the sweetness of a happy life. He drew almost human notes from the strings. He became the leader of a famous orchestra, and exer- cised a deep influence on the mu- sic of his day. Meanwhile, like his father, he was a lover of work. He found time to write music for the violin-sweet, delicate, inspir- ing music that is heard even to- day. At one time or another he travelled throughout Europe. spreading, as it were, far and wide, the echoes of the music that had taken it's part in the little blacksmith shop off in the hills of northern Italy.
 He died in 1924 at the age of seventy-one. In all his long life he had carried out to the full the instruction and the inspiration his father had given him at the hum ble forge.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-19
Impressing the Tourist


 Anniston appeals to every tour ist who comes through it over the Florida short route highway. and it requires but little boosting on the part of those who meet the tourists to make them see the many advantages this city has over the general run of 25,0OO pop ulation cities. It is a good plan to try to meet the tourists who visit the city and tell them some of the things that make us live in Anniston and which naturally would make them also like it. Town boosting of this kind can be done without eXaggerating any of the good points Anniston has. The, truth is enough to tell about An niston, but it is important that the world should know the truth about this city. and one way to lot the world know it is to tell 1t to every stranger who comes to the city.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-19

for execution of the stipulations of the Versailles treaty, it is conceivable that Germany would have followed a very different policy, and that the occupa- ton would have been averted.
 MT. Colby very justly exclaims: ''Is the time never reached when delay, evasion and protest on the pa1k of a debtor becomes difficult to distinguish from a settled purpose of repudia- tion?" Evidently repudiation has been the direct purpose of Germany's stall ing, and the sooner the world perceives that and condemns her for it the bet ter for civilization.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-19
Keeping Dollars at Home

(Oneonta Southern Democrat)
 Did you ever think about how hard it is for a dollar you send out of Blount county to get back? You have got to send some prod uct of Blount county after 1t be- fore it will come back, It may be cotton, it may be corn, it may bd chickens, it may be eggs, it may be dairy products or it may be fruits and vegetables, it may be ore, it may be coal. But no matter what it is. is takes Blount county product coupled with Blount county labor to bring it back. Don't send any more of your dollars away than you can help. and those you do have to send make them travel just as few miles as you can.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-19
PRESIDENTS LAST WORDS
 (KansaS Cifv SfarN

fNNA@AS2S &ily otdTJ
 The late President Harding's last words. spoken to Mrs. Hard ing who was reading to him, were That's good! Go oni Read some more" The words indicate he was not expecting immediate death any more than were those attendant at his bedside.
 Most of the Presidents, whose last words have been preserved. were aware that the end was ap- preaching. A short time before death President Mckinley chanted the hymn, Nearer My God to rhee'" His last audible words were Goodbye, all; goodbye; it IS Gods will. His will be done"
 Resignation also marks the last words of George Washington. John Quincy Adams. Andrew Jackson and Zachary Taylor. Washington said, Tt Is we'll" Adams, This is .he last Of earth. I am content;" jackson. Now Lord, lettest Thy servant depart in peace;" Taylor. nave endeavored to do my duty ana am ready to die"
 only three of the Presidents 'housht Tn their last moments of matters of state. William Henry Harrison, but one month a Presi- dent' thought of his official duties with his last breath. His la.t words were, The principles of inc government; I wish them carried out ask nothing more" John Aoains' who had been ex-President Tor twenty-five years, thought os ms old political opponent, Thomas Jetferson, who he knew also was at the point of death. and his last wUrus were, Thomas Jefferson still survives" Adams ana Tatfn. son died the same day. JuIv lS2S, exactly fifty years from the day both had signed the Declara tion or Independence. Jefferson.s mlnd turned to that great occa. sion' and his last words wer. This is the Fourth of July"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-19
Wide-Open Reputation
(Gadsden Journal)

Mobile has had the reputation throughout the state for several years of being next to a wide-open town. Visitors there have found little difficulty in securing liquor. The fact that that is a port makes it so much easier to smuggle whisky into the city. It is to be hoped that her citizenship will arouse itself from that lethargy which has brought scandal upon them, and will turn out the erring politicians and take control of their own affairs into their own hands.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-19
Doing Big Things

(Alexander City Outfook)
 The more one sees of the big way in which Birmingham does things, the more they are im- pressed with the bigness of Bir- mingham. She never lags in any thing that she starts to put over, and now she is engaged in the laudable task of providing a boys club building, or a building Of that nature, where her boys can gather and feel that they have something that is really worth while. Saving the boys is one of the greatest things any commu- nity can do,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-19
Disarmament

V
 A lawyer was defending a burglar accused of housebreaking, T submit, your honor" said the lawyer, that my client did not break into the house at all He merely saw window, inserted his arm and removed a few articles. Now, my clients arm Is not him self. Why punish this whole body when his arm is the guilty mem ber?"
 That argument is well put" said the judge. q sentence the arm to twelve months imprison- ment. The man can accompany It or not. as he chooses"
 The prisoner smiled took off his wooden arm and walked out.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-19
--------es--------------- PROBLEM IN MATHEMATICS

N|OS0VH1 IfuISOIIpII
 If it costs Americans $5,60O, ,0OO.- 900 a year to run their automo- piles, how many German marks would be needed to pay the bill? Anybody who starts to do this lit tie sum in arithmetic should re- member, of course. that the an- swer which is right today will be wrong tomorrow.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-19

President Coolidge has promised the suffragists an "equal rights" amend ment to the constitution, if they want it. Will no one stand up and demand an equal rights amendment for the mon?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-19

Reading reports of criminal trials these days, one infers that there are enough kinds of insanity to provide attempted excuses for the different kinds of murders committed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-19
Faith and Works
(Andalusia Starl

(Andalusia Star)
 Show your faith by your works. That is exactly what the commit tee appointed to raise funds for a cotton mill in Andalusia did. They each subscribed to the fund lib- orally themselves before asking others to take stock. That is the kind of faith that will insure suc- cess. The men behind the move ment to establish Andalusia's first big cotton mill will put 1t over.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-19
Must Be Disappointinc

NDetfUIt TTte TresS)
 The fact that the United States Is still here must be highly dis appointing to those gentlemen who insisted that it would go all to pieces unless the president called an extra session of con gress.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-19
It May Have Been

NCOIUWDIa StateJ The ex-kaiser is about taking French leave of Doorn. The Dutch must have opened all the dikes.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-19
Watch Ont for speeders
(CentreyIlIe Press)

ICentreViIIe PressJ
 When you go to Montgomery take a back street. You are lia- ble to get run over and killed by some careless automobile driver. The drivers of cars pay less at tention to traffic laws there than any city we have visited. It now seems that the court is making them sit up and take a good stiff fine when they violate them. That is the only way that pedestrians are going to be safe.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-19
SMILES
Wise Child

NDVSVVII IIIHsUIIpIJ
 And what" asked the Sunday school teacher, lis the lesson taught us in the parable of the seven wise virgins?'
 Nine-year old Ruth held up her hand.
 That we should always be on the lookout for a bridegroom, she answered.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-19
SMindIcd
GOndOn Paseipg c

NLOnuon Passlng ShOw)
 Agent: I've called to see if you'll renew your fire insurance premium"
 Cottager; Not me, young fel- Ter It's naught but swindle. Five years have I paid this pre- mium and not so much as a win der box burnt"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-19

The Humane Society has sought to prevent the Philadelphia zoo authori- ties from feeding live pig to a cap- tive python. The python will eat only
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-19

Lloyd George says that Stanley Baldwin is weak man, and lets oth- CTS mold him to their will. Inasmuch as MT. George is running for office, he may be pardoned these personal references
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-19
That Helps Some

IAtIanta Constitution) Book Week" is becoming popu- lar throughout the country. and all the better when it's started with bank book.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-19
THE PARAGRAPHERS
Getting Even

Nashville Banner)
 The mental anguish a woman suffers from oot being invited to social function is only the be- ginning. Her husband generally has to finance an elaborate spite party"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-19
Respect for the Flag

(Wetumpka Weekly Herald)
 Reverence for the flag Is a fine sentiment to cultivate, and it is to be hoped that the new flag law will give school children a proper conception of what our flags rep resent.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-19

4NtWS1
 Oll stock salesmen are warned not to let Hugo Stinnes. Jr., pass orr any paper marks on them.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-19
-1 Drr6

Perhaps tic reason the 1GnlaIe Ger man doctor declared that the Ameri- can people have no souls was because they did not loosen up as she had been given reason to think.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-19

Information regarding convict con- ditions is refused the press by the state convict board. Perhaps the board feels that the news is not fit to print.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-19
A Rosy Picture
(HnnfaviIIA Tin1esN


 The fact that this good citizen- ship is sold on this fine commu- nifty is proven in the fact that they are here. The rest of the world is invited to move in and share the development and good things with us.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-19
Help-
Htlp- (Dallas News)

New York vendors are making 13,OOO per cent. on the mark Let's see, what's 1s,0OO per cent of $.00O00000O00025
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-19
A Hot Issue
(SaYannah Newsl

NodNdIIIIdH NtWSJ President Coolidge is said now to hold fate of bonus" in his hands. Bet he wishes he could drop it--it is a hot issue!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-19

The degree of Doctor of Music has been conferred on John Philip Sousa. But the kind of music Sousa stands for needs no doctoring in any degree.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-19
What Liauor VIII Do

(Talladega Daily Home)
 Now suppose Mobile did have a rum scandal. after many had con cluded that Alabamians were made out of picked clay! It all goes to show that liquor will make fools out of most any of them.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-19

Senator Harrison has selected Ral- ston as the dark horse to win the Dem- ocratic nomination. But a dark horse is not revealed beforehand.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-19

live food. The society has split over the issue, the question now being, "The Pig or the Python?"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-19

Their policy, as explained to
 us by members of the govern
 ment, is to make their budget
 balance, to stabilize their cur
 rency, and to preserve a favor
 able trade balance. They are
 cutting down their expenditures
 very heavily and pushing up their
 taxes. In fact, they fear they
 have put their taxes up too high,
 and that they may have to bring
 them down again. Income-tax
 ranges from two and a half to
 twenty per cent, and they have
 placed a tax of about three per
 cent. on the turnover of the busi-
 ness community which seems to
 be the equivalent of our corpo-
 ration profits tax. Itis Krassin's
 job to see that they keep a favor
 able trade balance, and that their
 imports on no account exceed
 their exports. They are trying to
 establish their currency on a
 tchervonetZ basis. A tchervo-
 metz is the equivalent of our
 pound. They are backing the new
 currency by gold or gold certifi-
 cates up to twenty-five per cent,
 and by other securities, such as
 short-term bills, for the remain
 der. The law is that no more of
 these tchervonetz shall be issued
 than can be backed in this way.
 We are told. and l have no req
 son to doubt it, that this new
 currency represents about two
 thirds of their total currency.
 While we were there the value
 of the ruble was falling all the
 time as against the tchervonetz.
 It was constant remark among
 us that we only wished the Ger
 mans were handling their cur
 rency problems as we'll.
 It does not seem any more logica to doubt the sincerity of the Russian effort at currency reform than t' doubt the sincerity of the efforts o person fallen into the water to saw himself. With the Russians it wa sink or swim, for the other nation stood aloof. Of course, there ar anti-soviet writers who declare tha things are going from bad to worse that the currency reform is myth and that a new and still more terribl famine is in the offing. However thesa tales of desperate famine fai any longer to impress. With all tn hundreds of millions reported dead i Russia out of it's original population of only three hundred millions it woul appear that the principle of simpl subtraction had been revoked alon with all other dogmas of czarism. A many have Said, Russia's salvation must come out of Russia. Inasmuc as her affairs were about as bad a they could get, why marvel or ques ton that they are now improving?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-19
THE ALABAMA PRESS
Definition of Men
lCollinsvilIe Courier

We heard a Collinsville woman say that men are just like eggs they're either fresh, rotten, hard boiled or just spoiled.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-19
Mastered the Hard Part

NOHICdsO NeWS) MT. Coolidge has mastered the most difficult part of rhetoric. He knows how not to say any num- Der of things.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-19
Selecting the PIncc

otdIEJ It seems that Ludendorff and the members of his fatuous "Putsch" couldn't get on the Spree at Berlin and so went on one at Munich.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-19
Farmyard Epitaphs

(The Gobbler) Here lie I in peace q mean in grease) After long life, made bitter Because r'oosters get up before day,
 light, Poor simps! Because pigs live ia
 pigpens Instead of parlors. Because ducks Quack. Because I had red wattles When born with a passion for purple. Because everything was not What it was not. Here l lie in grease An, the glory that is Grease!
 Samson the Bull) Glad was When the butcher brought down His ax, For l was sore and bruised At the hands Of amateur singers; America ain't no place For bull. Give me a Tobacco tag. But fate will make Me hash, to be slung again.
 The Kick.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-19
Clean Picking I.l x.N

An enterprising coal dealer adopted for his Slogan" which he printed on his bills, the followine, motto: It's a black business but we treat you white"
 A customer, on receiving his account recently for his supply of coal at the price of s22 per ton. inclosed his check in payment. ana at the same time suggested that the merchant change his motto to read: Its dirty busi- ness. but we clean you good"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-19
-. -.e.----------'-------------- MISSOURI PHILOSOPHY

IAtchison county MaiI) If you want to be comfortable in this world you've got to believe some things that you don't under stand.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-19

The Veterans Bureau inquiry be- gins to sound like a Hollywood scandal.