davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-09-14
MILAN GRAVELY ILL
New York Mayor suffering Fron

New York MayOr SufferfnE Ffo"
 Double LObar Pneumonia
 SARATOGA SPRINGS, N. r., sept. 13.-Mayor John F. Hylan or New York is graveiy i'll with double lobar pneumonia. his phy ysicians announced this afternoon. An official statement issued at D. m. by doctors attending the democratic leader said an exam ination of the x-ray plates taken this morning showed double pneumonia.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-09-14
NO C4USE FOR ALARM

Victorian Mamma Do you think. my lamb. that you should be out with that young gentleman SO late at night unaccompanied by a chaperon?"
 Daughter: Don't worry, mother dear. He's not a gentleman. Amer ican Legion Weekly.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-14

are capable of being tanned, or even half tanned, doubtless they are included in the list Besides the animals there is said to be a miscellaneous collection of wares of all kinds bought in the German shops at prices so cheap that the very cheapness was suf- ficient reason for buying. Such possessions serve to make men contented and to give them an interest to take their minds off the humdrum of barracks life. Military com manders recognize their psychological value and overlook the inconvenience for the wider result in improved discipline due to occupied minds. Besides, these mementoes of an unusual experience will serve to give point to stories of the occupation when these young fellows have grown old and become richer in memories than in interest in cur rent happenings.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-14

learned discussion of the modernists and their claims to immortality, but it is mel ancholy fact that the book that creates a furore today may be forgotten tomorrow. There are dozens of writers with long list of hooks to their credit who are scarcely known to majority of readers. What be- comes of all these volumes that pour in a never-ending flood from the publishers presses? The port of missing, or forgotten, books affords an interesting field for spec ulation. They have no place in any we'll chosen library and they are worth little to the dealer in secondhand books. The "best sellers" of a few years ago may be bought for ten or fifteen cents each
 Yet, in spite of this rising tide of fiction, some of the immortals hold their, own, year after year. with undiminished popularity, and no author more successfully than Charles Dickens. There is no character in English literature who is closer to the hearts of millions of readers than the men, women and children drawn by the master hand of Dickens, who has been dead more than half a century. Literary stylists may point yo flaws in his workmanship; they may accuse him of exaggeration, of mawkish sentimep- tality at times and of clumsy plot contsruc- ton, but generation after generation con tines to laugh and cry over his novels. Merely to mention the names of Sam Weller, his jolly old father, Tony, who adjured his promising son to "spell it with " or MT. Pickwick, calls up reminiscent smiles. Yet these characters appear in Dickens first book, which made him famous They were the predecessors of a numerous company who run the gamut of human weakness and subimity. Was there ever a more lovabie scamp than Richard Swiveler? more de- testable hypocrite than Squeers, the York shire schoolmaster, than Pecksniff or Uriah Heep? A more engaging ne'er-do-well than Wilkins Micawber? A more tragic woman with a past than Lady Deadlock? A more pathetic street waif than Poor Jo'' or a more human detective than MT. Inspector Bucket? These are but few. There is the flirtatious Dolly Warden, old Joe Willett, the Haredales, poor Barnaby Rudge, his mind clouded by terrible crime; the absurd Si- mon Tappertit; Sidney Carton, David Cop perfield, the Peggotys, Little Nell, Jerry Cruncher, the Chuzzlewits, John Harmon and charming Bella, the Dombeys, Fagin, Oliver Twist, Bill Sykes and Nancy-these and many others are almost as real as if they were personal acquaintances That is the art of Dickens. He made his characters live.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-14
STILL AN EXPERIMENT

France is already beginning to realize the difficulties of her plan to enforce collection of German reparations by occupying the Ruhr valley. It is an experiment such as the world has never before witnessed and whether it is to be failure or success will soon be determined. France is de- pendent on German cooperation. That IS the weak part of the entire scheme. If the existing industrial organizations of Germany refrain from cooperating there will per haps be quick collapse. It appears that the French have not enough financial, economic and technical effectives to do their share of the work. It was believed that the Ger man workers themselves would not protest against the French occupation, because they would be paid in francs, which have higher purchasing value than the mark, but that is only one phase of the problem. France must also have the assistance of Germany's captains of industry and the technical ex- perts, who are indispensable for the con tinuous operation of the industrial enter prises of the Ruhr. Naturally, such men as Hugo Shines and other leaders are not disposed to be friendly, but they may be depended on to do nothing that would con- flict with their larger economic interests. What they decide to do will have an inn portant bearing on the success or failure of Frances move.
 What threatened at first to be a serious obstacle, clashes between the French and the Germans, has not developed That is. so far, the most extraordinary feature of the French occupation. The Germans ap~ parently realize the folly of active resist ance. They are shrewd enough to see that they have more to gain by indirect methods. A policy of passive resistance would soon place France in an awkward position. There is still hope that Secretary Hughes sugges- tion for referring the separations problem to m interallied group of experts may be acted on and reconcile the conflicting views of France and Great Britain. It may yet be taken up by the allied governments, but consideration of the Hughes plan will prob ably be postponed until France has proved whether or not her theories regarding Ger many's ability to pay are sound.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-14
A Timely Editorial
The Flight From Turkey
From the New Orleans Times-Dem-
 ocrqt

From the New Orleans Times-Dem-
 ocrat-
 If reports are not exaggerated, and they must moi. be far from true, the flight of Christians from Turkey is an unprecedented and terrible event. American obsery- CTS speak of it as a "great human tragedy" but the pictures they draw for us present something even worse. The Turkish nationalist governments announcement that all Christians. save able bodied men between the ages of .19 and 55," :" would be given .nernlission" to leave the country within certain time was tantamount to an "ordeE,t for them to get out at once, s(ld consequently thousands upon thou sands fled for other soils in panic. According to the latest estimate, more than 100000, mostly Arme- nians and Greeks. -lready have joined the exodus, and the migra- tion continues
 Among the fugitives are seen but few "able-bodied men between the ages of 19 to 55," which indicates that the governments publication was accepted by this class as an "order" to remain. Without re- straint the male bread-winner nat urally would want to go with his dependents. Yet the fugitive hordes are reported to be composed large ly of women,s children, cripples, in valids and. old men. In the event of war Turkey will not need them as much as their room, although she will need man power. This is a bru- tai way to prepare for a possible national emergency, but it is char acteristically Turkish.
 It follows. of course, that other nations must care for the victims of Turkish barbarity as usual. The Kemalists have literally kicked them out, but contribute nothing toward the expense of providing them with necessities. The American relief ex- petition in the Near East was com pelled to divert food stores for 100000 orphans. also Turkeys. vic tins. to the new emergency. And to think--two or three years ago there was still "talk" of busting the Turk from Europe and otherwise tanning him.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-14
THE cANoNIzED TAXI
he New York Sun.

From the New York Sun.
 The war chariot of General Gal lieni, who called the taxicabs of Paris to rush troops to the front at the Ourcq, was formally established in French archives last Thursday. A battered red taxicab was made a national relic. to rest in a place of honor on the Esplanade des Inva- lides alongside the railway car in which Marshal Foch signed the ar- mistice. The unbudging stand made by the French at the battle of the Ourcq led to the pivotal battle of the Marne, when Von Gluck's army was turned and Paris saved. The swift mobilization effected by Gen. eral Gallieni was the moving spring of victory so important as to be called, if not the winning stroke of the war, at least the military action which prevented the invaders win ming the war in a rush as they had planned. No state coach of Napo- leon. no chariot of Caesar or Pom pey could have quite the vivid ap- peal to Frenchmen which that scared old taxicab will make to the present and future generations. Who would have thought to see the wheeled hack of the Boulevards roll into Elysium? sss se
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-14
The Peoples Forum
Socrates Not the Author
To the Editor of The Age-Herald:

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 Under the caption, Mothers of Famous Men, (yesterday's paper), the writer would seem to convey the idea that Socrates was the author of that age-old aphorism, Know myself" Maybe he did not so in- tend it, but the average reader will probably so understand. This wise say" is usually credited to Chiffon, or Chilo, the Spartan Ephor, one of the "seven wise mem of Greece, who lived about century, or a gen. tury and a half, before Socrates was born. He was Lacedaemo- nian by birth, and is supposed to have originated the officers desig- mated as Ephori. He is also cred tied with having originated many other wise apothegms which may be found in Orelli's "0puscula Grae- corum Sententiosa." According to Chiffon. whose name seems to have been pronounced Kilo, or kilon, the greatest virtue is prudence and correct or well-grounded judgment in future events. He is reported to have died of iov on receipt of news that his son had won prize at the Olympic games. Bias, another of the 'seven wise mem of Greece, but slightly younger than Chiffon, originated. it is said, many wise aphorisms, among them, "Know, and then act" which reminds us of Davy Crocket's "Be sure you are right and then go ahead" Another from Bias was. Hear much, speak little," and yet another, DO not praise an unworthy man because of his wealth." Bias. we are told, too, was "the author of that famous and often initiated reproof" of an i'm pious sailor who, in the midst of a storm at sea, was calling on the gods. "Be quiet" said Bias, Hest the gods discover you are here;o It has been questioned in fact, wheth- CT Bias was not the real author of this famous Greek aphorism, "gnotha seauton." "Know thyself" {; but the weight of authority is strongly in favor of Chiffon.
 ED. D. HAMMER.
 Attalla, Ala. Jan. 12, 1923.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-14
4 LEHMAN TRAIT

Acquisitiveness is human trait that con- stantly manfests itself under almost all conditions. Even the severity and austerity of army life do not prevent soldiers from collecting all sorts of possessions, which must be transported with them when the camp is moved. In Germany, where our sol diers have for many months been quartered, it is said that the possessions of the soldiers run the entire gamut of movables, from live nlascots and pets to curios of every descrip- ton. When the liner comes bearing home ward the twelve hundred in the rearguard of our overseas army there will be dogs and cats and monkeys, birds and goats and fish. IF there be other animals in Germany that
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-14
VICTORY FOR THE PEOPLE

The position promptly taken by The Ago Public Service Commission upon the prop critics of the Alabama Power Company WAS not properly arrived at, is vindicated by the action of the commission itself in staying the order pending further investigation. The two associate commissioners, who were responsible for the valuation and who have been severely criticized for the irregular manner in which the decision was arrived at, were unable longer to withstand the pressure of public opinion, and have yielded the question to their successors in office. Thus the action of those who presumably claim to serve the public interest but who sought to uphold the action of the utilities commission and minimize the public's rights the people about a matter vitally affecting them. has been rendered null and void. The decision staying the order is victory for the people, and was forced upon the two associate commissioners by public opn- ion and by the unassailable arguments of the organized industries of Alabama, who perceived in the valuation the possibility of a permanent excessive tribute to be levied upon them and upon the consumers of Ala. bama by the power company. But for the full and complete publicity given every an gle of the commissions proceedings and find ings in this matter public opinion would probably have been awakened too late to the burdensome character of the decision.
 One gratifying feature of the situation is that now the important decision, affecting the valuation of Alabama's largest utility and involving the permanent cost of current to the industries and homes of Alabama, will be made, not by the two commissioners repudiated by the people, but by commis sion composed entirely of men whose liberal majorities at the polls authorize them to as- sume the great responsibility inherent in this question.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-14
IMPROVEMENT EVERYWHERE

The year 1922 may be said to have glided into the year 1923 on ball-bearing runners. There was practically no interruption in business of any kind. The inventory period, usually an occasion for lull in buying and selling, passed without stoppage of any ac- tivity. The orders were there, the machin- cry was in prime working condition and the consumers wanted the goods. There was nothing to do but go ahead The one local industry which confidently expected to have real holiday between Christmas and well into January, received the most pronounced impetus of all. This was the sanitary pipe trade, which has been signalized by an un- usually large placement of orders fully month before the customary time.
 The railroads report the heaviest freigh. loadings for this time of the year in their history. Birmingham bank clearings have made new high days records several times this month. Additional blast furnaces have gone into operation. Record sales of Bir- mingham pig iron were made in the last six weeks of 1922, placing furnaces on easy street for the first two or three months of the year, yet large pig-iron sales have been been made and the middle west has been an especially liberal buyer of both Bir- mingham iron and of iron made at Muscle Shoals and shipped north by the Tennessee river The wire-drawing mills are booked to capacity for two and three months ahead and one of them began the new year with the institution of double turn in its mills.
 The industrial status is good over the entire country and the first six months of the year seem absolutely assured of steady operation of industry at fair returns for operators and employees.
 Meanwhile Europe, in spite of political ups and downs, is getting in better busi- ness way and presents the prospect of d gradually increasing ability to take our sur plus products. Altogether 1923 has made the most satisfactory entrance of any year in the past decade. It is the more satisfac- tory because the underlying factors pro- ducing the present commercial and indus trial activity are all of sound nature This property has come about gradually and each advance has been on solid ground For that reason it should last the longer.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-14
ACCORDING TO ETHICS

From the Home Sector.
 During the early part of the war a negro soldier was walking post in. one of the big mid-western camps. A group of officers, among whom was the camp commandant, passed within few feet of the dusky guard, who continued calmly obliyious. The irate general wheel ed on the derelict African and snapped: Don't you ever salute officers?" < "Yas, suh! vas, suh," chattered the badly frightened negro.
 "Then why didn't you salute mel"
 "Kase, Pse got gun, suh."
 Don't know how to salute with your gum"
 "Oh, yas, suh; vas, suh, but this here ain't my gum"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-14
Fastening the Blame By REV. H. C. OFFERMAN
"Judpe not. lest ye be judged"

Judge not, lest ye De JuuSeu.
 "Oh, God, be merciful unto me, a sinner"
 Forgive us our trespasses, as. we forgive those who tespass against us."
 "The blame rests upon you!'
 "You are not to blame"
 Will you point to the offender? Let your God be the final judge.
 There are innumerable sins com mitted each day. There are innu- merable people committing innu- merable sins every day, and every one commits his or her share sof those sins.
 Our God gives us His love. He saves us from sense of guilt. He does not want men weighted down with a guilty conscience.
 "Be not anxious for the nor row." fa
 Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.'
 q lay my sins on Jesus"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-14
Alabama Press
Mobiles Progress

From the Greene County Democrat.
 You possibly do not know it, but Mobile ranks as the ninth port of the United States. That shows it's importance. And furthermore, it's growth has been steady, always, but n the past two years it has jumped four places. With the seaport amendment allowing it to improve shipping facilities, we may expect 1t to come up to New Orleans, which now ranks second, New York being first. The records show that the entire south is, making rapid strides, both in agriculture and in I.g se
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-14
ABSENT MINDED PROF.

1OliI UI1C oPONCcIIIoI IscVIeW.
 A professor of biology addressed his class thus:
 "I propose to show you a very fine specimen of dissected frog. which I have in this parcel"
 Undoing the parcel. he disclosed some sandwiches, ashard boiled egg and some fruit.
 "But-but surely I ate my lunchr' he said.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-14
THE RECORD

From the New York Sun.
 Fred-Bilkins is about the worlds most cautious man, I guess.
 Ted-Why?
 Fred-He's the only man I ever saw read the contract on the back of a telegraph blank before writing his message.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-14
A FORTUNE OVERLOOKED

From the New York Herald.
 Tut-Ankhamen's tomb was safe enough for centuries, but now it has to be padlocked to keep out the ma rauders. How tourists who have been in it's vicinity must regret the lost opportunities of the past!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-14
Modesty

My brother" began the serious-minded person, "I have great task before me-"
 "What is it?" asked MT. Dubwaite, sus- piciously.
 Uplifting the human race"
 q have no doubt you can do it," replied Mr. Dubwate, as he edged off, "but Pm such an unimportant member of the human race that Pm sure you'll get no particular credit out of ofsuplifting me"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-14

and made so smooth that the debtor can carry on in normal way while he is tra- versing it."
 of people and statesmeA alike, it is evident that the British commission will find easy sailing for their negotiations.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-14
REPUDIATION

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
 The Russian government an nounces that it has no debts to pay. That is one way of saying that it will pay none of its debts.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-14
The Main Chance

The Associated Press relates that when French soldiers marched into the Ruhr German proprietor of beer shop indig- nantly closed his shutters and signaled to his three competitors across the street to follow his patriotic example. They were too busy selling beer to the invaders to pay any attention to him and after an hour he re-opened his place and was soon getting his share of the trade. Well, business is busi- ness, and, besides, franc is worth more than mark
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-14
THE ART OF DICKENS

From time to time the book reviewers hold more or less heated controversy over the "best novel of the year., There is
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-14
Trueto Form

A certain grand opera star informs the world that she has" "Coued" back to health. As she is one of the best little advertisers in the country, she naturally lost no time in developing an ailment and leaping on the Coue bandwagon.N
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-14
C.sualtie.

Why asked the Man from Mars, ''do I see so many people lying about in your streets and making piteous sounds as if they were in great pain? Are they the victims of some disease?"
 'Yes," replied his terrestrial host. "They are victims of motormania."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-14
The Rural School System

From the Gadsden Journal.
 It must be admitted that there ia a sentiment in some sections of the state favoring return to the old system whereby the county superin- tendent of education, was elected by the people instead of being cho- sen by the county board of e}luca- tion. Under the old system it was possible for a politician without school training to land the job. It was possible for the schools of county to be placed in the hands of men totally unfit and untrained for the place. The schools suffered, of course. Many of the men elected to office were conscientious in the performance of duty. but they were badly handicapped by lack of train- ing in school matters and school ad- ministration. Under the present system members of the county board of education are elected bv the people. This board, in turn. selects county superintendent of education who is a trained school man. sf+
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-14
Heard It Rattle

Heard If Rattle 'Is MT. Clipping at home?" asked voice over the wire.
 ''No," replied Mrs. Clipping. But, wait a moment. I hear him coming in the car" Are you sure it's MT. Glipping?" Quite "We're the only family in this neighborhood with 1917 model.''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-14
Build Schools and Road.

From the AndaIusia Star.
 The fact is there will be no re- duction in taxes in Alabama and we should be glad to see this states law-making body take forward step in providing program for financing our schools and for in- surfing more adequate road con struction. If they will find way to make all property in Alabama bear its just share of the burden of government they will find that at the present rate of taxation we would have ample funds with which to build adequate schools, to pay trained teachers to run them and then have large surnlus with which to build roads. et
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-14
Pecan Raising ih sAutauxa County From tha 7D,o++,,sI1- :

run tne TrattVllle Progress.
 The largest number of pecan trees in any one year within the history of, Autauga county has been set out this season. The Progress wishes to impress on those who have set out these trees the importance of taking care of them. They must be cultivated and fertilized just as much as cotton if they do we'll. They will not grow if grass or weeds are permitted to prnw around them. If they live and are neglected they do not bear within ten years. Car- tie are very destructive to pecan trees. Where a pecan tree is cul- tivated and properly fertilized it will bear some nuts within three to six years. If the pecan trees of Autauga county are cared for we should be selling at least S5O,O00 worth of oceans within the next ten years. The pecan raisers of Au- tauga should hereafter grade their oceans and market them more CO., operatively.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-14

The fair frauleins will miss them,
 The thrifty tradesmen, too; They'd rather see the khaki there vi Than French horizon blue.