davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-26
DEGRADING THE MUSE

While considering the character of some song compositions which have enjoyed extensive popularity of late. discriminating people will doubtless sympathize with the Chicago man who IS accused of using the mails to de- fraud amateur song writers. He de- clared: "These people want to send me to jail because don't publish their music. Say, they ought to be serving a stretch for the stuff they wrote and called poetry"
 Much that is dumped into the edito- rial rooms of magazines and news papers under the name of poetry proves that would-be writers are not the best judges of their own work. Doubtless the defendant understood this when he declined to publish a con- tribution found in his possession en- titled, "Oh, I'd Love to Be a Nursie. {" A nursie suggests something far diff ferent from a nurse-a creature, in fact, whose services would be very detrimental to one seriously sick. Nor has literature suffered a distinct loss through failure to publish the senti- ments of another disappointed con tributor who sent in for publication a song with these words:
 "Won't you coast with me, dear,
 Every day in the year?
 Down a lifelong hill of love?
 We will ride,
 We will slide,
 Through the years we will glide,
 As content as the angels above."
 The fact is, when neurotics bare their souls through songs telling how they will "glide" and "slide" through life, they are apt to slip up. True, there is something in sentiment as it relates to poetry. An English wag said that no sooner had Lord Byron declared himself to be unhappy than every young man in England with a pale face who could make rhymes like "blight" and might" began court ing the muse. The Chicago song pub fisher probably performed a distinct public service when he refused to un- load on the public some of the con- tributions submitted to him. The man who pigeon-holes many of the verses of folk who imagine that they have the gift of song is public benefactor, un- sung, but perhaps all the more for tunate for that.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-26
GETTING FRESH
 WITH THE TRUTH
By WicIkes VyambeIdf

One negro teek another te task on account of certain cenversa- tional inaccuracies.
 "Yo' ain't callin' me nc nah, is your" was the belligerent query.
 "I ain't presackly callin' yo' a liah." was the rejoinder, "but yo' sho' do git mighty fresh wid de truf sometime"
 It is surprising how many peo- pie do take liberties with the truth when pressure becomes sufficient. and some do 1t without any pres sure at all. Did you ever hear the excuse, "I tried to get you over the phone. but your line was busy? Some time ago I wrote A close acquaintance of mine asking him to confirm a statement he had made in one of his speeches.
 My dear fellow" he replied. i've say lots of things in speeches which we would not care to sub scribe to in writing" One day. I called at 8 mans office to apofo- gize for forgetting to keep an ap- pointment. He leveled a forefin- ger at me and greeted me with, Where were you yesterday after noon?" I was opening my mouth to express my contrition when l had a hunch. Where were you, yourself?" I demanded. Then he grinned. "To tell you the truth, old man." he admitted, q forgot all about It."
 DaoD1a oIwovs eHc,;r. SA. -nr son who is conversationally de- pendable. They feel a sense of se- curity in their relations with him. It is a great thing for a man to have people say of him, You can absolutely rely upon anything he tells you" No man who Is not an employer can ever realize the sense of satisfaction directed to- ward the employe whose state ments never vary one jot or little from the absolute facts. An em- ployer readily develops a feeling of appreciation and cooperation to- ward the employe whose declara- tions can always be accepted without checking up or verifica- ton.
 People are naturally credulous, and are inclined to accept what we say at It's face value. But once they find we have a tendency to get fresh with the truth, thence forth they take what we say with a grain of sodium chloride. Accu- racy of statement is as much an asset to the ragamuffin tp the street as to the president of the United States. It is a procession that anybody can practice, and 1t pays big dividends.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-26
NOT A CURE FOR IT

Abolition of special privilege was announced as their political program by organizers of the recent movement to have a so-called Farmer-Labor presidential ticket in the field next year. Abolition of special privilege would be fine thing. There has been much talk in that direction for many years; but special privilege con- tinues to get large share of every thing within reach. All the political parties declare that they are trying to get rid of special privilege; but they have not succeeded. Each party makes
 vigorous claims, especially before the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-26
THE WHITE RACE
 RAPIDLY GROWING
(W. Russell Taylor in the North
 American Reyiew)

American Review)
 That the possibility of trinI,n~ tne Worlds population in a cen- tury Is no mere mathematical con- lecture IS apparent from what has already been accomplished. If we accept the best reliable estimate or the worlds population at tha opening of the last century. viz o4o million, and that of today as l''oo million, we see that inc Worids numbers have been nearl,, lripIed in a century and a fiftb
 ne population of England and wares at the opening of the nine .eehth century, S,900,0O0, had in- creased to 3292 million bv tba opening of the twentieth cen+rr,, or had multiplied three and ono' halr times in one hundred ,,oa.,, HloieoVer' the volume of increase per annum In England and Wales In the twentieth century, as indi- cated by the first decade. was more than ten times the corrA- spoholng factor in the eighteenth
 In spite of the secondary influence of European civilization on other peoples, the white race throughout the world, as the analysis of rates of natural in crease would clearly indicate. is increasing much more rapidly than either the yellow or the black With the exception of the French and the Irish, practically no white peoples today are increasing at a less rate than ten to the thousand The Chinese increase slowly if at all. The natives of India reveal relatively low current rates. The Japanese are not increasing faster than the white races, although the Japanese rate of natural increase is advancing. The black race is increasing rapidly only in this country and in the West Indies. not In its native Africa as a whole. 1t is thus evident that the white race is on the road to numerical nomination. Furthermore. since the population achievements of the British and American peoples far transcend those of the rest of the white race, the responsibility of leadership and control of world af- fairs rests with the English speaking peoples.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-26
TEFIEazSS5.I.=#5fl:eC,..0.PCH ..=5l:e (. @p B EAPER.
The Sunny South

Kind neighbors, when the wild winds whizz
 Adown the avenue, I prithee do not ask me: "1s It cold enough for you?"
 Torch Bearer, And yet this inconsistent cuss Will take his oath and swear His climates simply marvellous It never gets cold there.
 Newark, O., Advocate, Each cobbler to his last; Each column to it's goal. Climate is the boast of some; Others produce coal.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-26
 ALABAMA'S CROP VARIETY

It is said the farmers in Morgan county are seriously contemplating to- bacco as one of the crops in the di- versification program which has gained considerable headway in North Ala bama as a result of the boil weevils destructive work. This emphasizes the great variety and productivity of soil and climatic conditions for farm products in this state. There is no doubt that tobacco can be profitably grown in Morgan county and other fertile regions in North Alabama. 1t has been successfully done, and per- haps will be resorted to as part of the program to offset the ravages of the boil weevil.
 Because of Alabama's topography and variety of climate great diversity of farm products can be profitably raised. There is wide difference be- tween the climate of North Alabama and that of the Gulf coast. For that reason and because of soil types, nearly anything that grows in other states can be successfully produced in Alabama. Wheat, tobacco, cotton. corn, hay, cane, livestock, dairy prod ucts, poultry, peanuts, nearly all va- rieties of fruits and host of other things can be produced with ease. Within only a few years the satsuma industry, which did not exist in this state twenty years ago, has come to be one of the largest in South Ala bama, and is making rapid progress in quality and quantity of product.
 But that is not the whole story. Accessibility to the country's great markets, adequate transportation ser- vice, better roads Aa the making, to-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-26
WHY FARMS OF THE
 SOUTH ARE INVITING
(Atlanta Journal)

What impresses the New York Times as a principal factor" in favor of the movement to secure Northern and Western settlers for Dixie farms is the amount of rich lands obtainable cheaply in certain Southern areas" The larger possibilities in such tracts are yet to be realized; as this ob- server says: Despite the splen- did development of agriculture in the South during the, last three decades, there is still much to be done. The tendency away from staple crops such as cotton has been increasing, but the principle of diversification is not yet so widely applied as it should be-" The Times Is doubtful, however, that the movement will be greatly successful unless the invitation Is broadened to include the better type of immigrants. Further. there is every reason to believe that the South might get the same satisfactory results Gas have the Northwestern states). Moreover, "in encouraging immigrants to settle there it would help the dif- ficult task of distributing the alien population more evenly throughout the country. A glance at the 1920 census report shows the extremely low percentage of the foreign born in most of tho Southern states. This is especially true of the Carolinas and Georgia, which are among those that have the most attractive lands to offer"
 The first preference is naturally for native Americans; and 1t will not be as difficult to procure them as might casually appear, provided that the rare and substantial in- ducements which Georgia and her neighbor states present are made plain to those in quest of farm op- portunities. Not only the cheaper prices of rich Southern lands call to the prospective settler and in- vestor, but also the profits to be gained from an extraordinary com bination of natural and economic advantages. With the long grow ing season is joined accessibility to the nations greatest centers of demand, so that it is possible not
 only to produce crops throughout the year, but also to market them to advantage. In Georgia alone
 the range of climate and diverse ness of soil are so great that the pine and palm, the apple and the fig, wool and cotton, staples and delicacies, all are grown with
 equal ease. At the same time, thanks to excellent roads and to
 the best of railway and steamship service, this wondrous variety of products can always find conven- tent outlets.
 It is no wish of Southern leaders | to gain at the expense of other re- gions of the common country, but simply to aid good Americans ev-
 anywhere to find richer opportu-
 mites when they are minded to change. Nor do we doubt that during the present decade tens of thousands of discerning farmers and investors, after looking care- fully into what Georgia and adja- cent states have to offer, will cast their lots here and become build CTS, not alone for a greater South, but for a greater America.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-26
Maintenance Important lOnAlika NaWSl


 Lee county is now receiving a handsome sum each month (de- rived from the gasoline tax) for road building purposes. That in addition to our road funds from other sources should soon begin to show in much better roads. The construction of better roads will be comparatively easy of &C., complishment. How long such roads will remain good is just as important matter to the people as is making them good. Upkeep, maintenance of our county roads, should be given the full consider ation by our county commissioners, and we trust will be. The haul ing of extra heavy material, such as stone, timber and lumber, over roads will do more to wear them Out quickly than will all the other traffic combined.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-26
Deaths From Football

IFOrC FAyN6 JOuIHdII
 Already four young men nave died of injuries received in free for-all fights, called by persiflage football games, and the season is hardly opened. Men lose their lives in worthy efforts to accom- plish some good or save some other life and are heartily ap- plauded, but when they lose their lives in an effort that accomplishes no good and has no worthy end they are not entitled to applause or commendation. Life of the youth of the country is too val uable to be thrown away in 8 vainglorious struggle for purely animal mastery.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-26
Latfn-American Trade (GadSden Ttmes-News)

The value of the Latin-Ameri- can trade is increasing and will be made to increase still more. It's tremendous potential value to this country is being fully realized and the business men of the United States are augmenting their efforts to increase their pro- portion of the imports of those countries so that this country will be getting a still larger share of the business and at the same time they are working to increase the demand from those countries for American made products. The market which those countries offer is capable of a still greater development.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-26
College Football
(Gadsden Journal)


 To be sure. there are still some people, considered rather old-fash- toned in some circles, who still hold to the idea that the efficiency of a school is measured by the kind and amount of learning 1t instills into it's students. But too many of us are prone to gauge an institution of learning by compar- ing it's football scores with those of other colleges. The school with the champion team gets the most advertising, the most favorable mention and the largest growth. Of course, there are many institu- tions which have both good foot ball teams and good scholastic courses, but in a majority of cases the football coach is a higher salaried man than the average professor.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-26
What She Was After

F
 Mrs. Skiffington. during the course of an afternoon call upon Mrs. Ellington. sought the latter's advice as to applying for di- vorce.
 well" said Mrs. Ellington, upon the conclusion of her friends lengthy recital of her woes, you have had your marital troubles just like the rest of us; but really. dear, to judge from what you have told me, l am not at all sure that you would be jus tified in taking this step. You have no other grounds for seeking a divorce, have you?"
 Mrs. Burlington hesitated . mo- ment and then added: "To tell the truth, in addition to what l have just said, I have a brother who is & lawyer ahd I am very anxious to give him something to do."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-26

gether with necessary port facilities at Mobile, provide outlets for this wealth of product. Once the story of Alabama is comprehensively brought to public attention, its agricultural ex- pansion is a logical consequence.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-26
MISSOURI PEARLS
(Ralls County Record)

John l.. Jones recently found a pearl weighing fifty-two grains while pearl fishing in the Salt river. It is of pinkish tint and with the exception of a slight dent on one side is the prettiest pearl ever found in this section. MT. Jones has been quite successful fisherman. He found another pearl recently that weighed thirty five grains
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-26
whil. the Going Was Good

(Atlanta JOuIHaii
 Bill Roarer had a tremendously loud voice. One cold morning ne walked into tho village hotel and shouted out:
 "Good morning. landlord! How are you7" every we'll" came the reply. "How arc your"
 "Oh, I am about frozen-I can hardly talk!"
 Just then a nervous traveller, who was present. ran up to the landlord, exclaiming:
 "Please have my horse brought round as soon as possible"
 "why, what's the matter!' asked tho landlord.
 Nothing. Only want to get away before that man thaws"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-26
Bigger Purchasing Power
 (Selna Timea-JouruaO

Although the cotton crop in Central Alabama this year is one of the smallest of which there is any record, the purchasing power of the crop in the state as a whole will exceed last year and even surpasses the value of the bumper crop that was produced in 1914.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-26
RIaunt Sweet Potatoes

(Oneonta Southern DemocraC
 Blount county Is a great'section for the growing of sweet potatoes. They can be grown here in abund- ance and to enormous size. The people are finding out that the potato that is the largest in cir conference is not the most desir- able for the market, and many of them are directing their attention to the growing of potatoes that are long. but uniform in size.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-26
signs of Buoyaney

Increased trading in real estate. the advent of a series of auction sales In mother earth and general construction activities are all signs of the buoyancy whidh at tend tho coming of a great and growing metropolis. All of these blessings and more attend Greater Huntsville.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-26
Young in the Business
fClaveland Plain Dealarl

{Cleveland Plain Dealer)
 A woman proprietor of Broad way Inn leaves an estate of s1,- 250,o00. She must haye died com paratively young, not to have left more than that with Broadway food prices what they are.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-26
Good Nightl

"Good night" she said, and there was soft sadness in her voice that quenched the fire in my heart.
 May I call D. some time?" I ven- tured, hoping against hope.
 She shook her head and a sad smile dimmed her eyes.
 "One must observe the conven- tions," she said. And with blush mantling her cheeks she added: "It was unconventional the way we met"
 As l looked around at the marble walls of the entrance where we stood the richly decorated portals of a mansion-I realized the chasm that lay between us. I, a mere salesman she, a daughter of wealth.
 We had met by chance in a dance hall and I had begged the honor of escorting her home. In the old days it never could have happened, but in these days of social upheaval one never knows whom he may meet in public places. But still, there are cer- tain conventions that must be observ- ed. Her words, though softly spoken, made me understand the gulf between us. This, then, was the end of my brief romance.
 Good night" she said again, and with an aching heart I turned and fled into the night.
 l paused beneath tree, for the darkness seemed to welcome me and the night breeze cooled my fevered brow. Looking back at the mansion 1 was startled to see once more the object of my dreams.
 She emerged from the massive door way, looked furtively up the street in my direction, then skipped around to the side of the house and let herself in by the servants entrance.
 Good night" I said, and went away from there.-Horatius.
 'Raids Still on Chicken Farm" The chicken farm no longer raises
 chickens
 It raises hooch, which makes you raise
 the dickens.
 "Was King Tut old or young when he died?" That is the question. Everyone in Egypt is het up about it, with the possible exception of King Tut.
 My soul delights in movie fights,
 The death scenes make me sad, The love scenes make my bosom quake
 But "close-ups" drive me mad.
 The city commission has decided one thing: Either the jitneys will continue to run, or they won't.
 The new county extension service of the public library makes it so that xxy1O Tx. ok
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-26

When a sixteen-year-old boy begins to change his tie and spruce up before supper, his mother begins to get wor- ried about him.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-26

dren who were killed by automobiles. The most practical memorial to them would be a jail set aside exclusively for sneeders.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-26
WE'D BET ON THAT

Shelby, Mont, has a new bank. The names of the directors have not been telegraphed this far east. but without that information it Is still safe to say that they will not finance any prize fights.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-26
TO MAKE IT HEAVENLY
Washington Star)

Some folks" said Uncle Eben, lis so vindictive dey wouldn' ap- preciate goin' to heaven unless dey thought dey could look out a win. dow an see certain people not bein' able to get in."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-26
THE ALABAMA PRESS
Take Up the Fight Early
(AnnIston Starl

The cotton grower should be eager to take up the fight against the weevil early and to keep at 1t continuously. It is his loss If the weevil destroys his crop, and it will be his gain if he can elimi- nate the weevil and produce the size crop he expects.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-26

Of all the heralded genius of Ger many its long suit in this respect seems to be the painting of dark pictures for propaganda purposes.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-26

The trouble with many reformers who are working to keep civilization from going to ruin is that their achievements do not indicate that they are earning their pay.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-26
THE PARAGRAPHERS
A Tip to Hiram
(Arkansas Gazette)

Hiram Johnson can't expect to carry his home state unless he takes the right stand on the pro- posed movie salary cut.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-26
PROCESS sPEEDED UP

(Louisville Courier-JournaD
 The first institution for coining money in the United States was established in 1792. Since then have come oil stock promoters and the coal dealers.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-26
-e---------- - AN UNIMPORTANT DETAIL

IWaShlngtOn Star)
 Jud Tunkins says he's not going to put in any more time trying to comprehend the Einstein theory till he can at least understand what difference 1t makes.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-26
One He Won't Grant

(Washington Post) The Oklahoma senate has unan- imously removed Governor Wall ton for abuse of the pardon au- thority. He will never pardon that.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-26

Congress would be a great success If it could get as much interested in constructing public benefits as in re- building it's fences.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-26
Has No Popular Pull (NashvillA Rannerl

The former crown prince of Germany Is occupying himself with deer hunting. In fact, the people over there seem to be fa- vorable toward sending him bug hunting
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-26

A Chicago professor claims that the 'Uncle Remus" stories originally came from ancient Egypt. Tutl Tutl
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-26
SMILES
Street Conversation

(Leuisville Courier-JournaD "Eind sor, I have no home" "Eemetimes envy men like you. My home has two mortgages on it."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-26
ReIntiveIy speakinx

Memphis Commercial AppeaD
 Einstein has fled from Germany to Holland. Of course, he realizes that he was in no danger In Ger many, but knows that he Is rela- lively safer with the Dutch.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-26

In the last analysis the continued success of this government depends on the number of voters who hold the public interest above partisanship.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-26

A considerable percentage of the people who are down and out threw themselves down and kicked them selves out by talking too much.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-26
Three Is a Crowd

After reading comments by a num- Der of our statesmen, have reached the conclusion that a third party in politics is as welcome as a third party in a hammock-D. D. s,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-26

As rule, the coming man starts in time to arrive before it is too late.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-26

An exchange says that the fuel mo- nopoly is hard-boiled. It seems to have been well roasted, anyway.