davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06
NEED FOR MORE POLICEMEN

According to Chief of Police McDuff, four hundred men are needed to police Birmingham. At present the Birming- ham police force numbers about one hun dred and five uniformed men. There are approximately one hundred and seventy five men on the force, including all from the janitor to the chief, who says that practically every available man has to be used in patrolling the downtown busi- ness district. After dark the suburban districts are patrolled only by two scouts in motor cars. He hopes to get relief by placing from ten to twenty new men on the force.
 That Birmingham is insufficiently po- liced is self-evident. Most of the resi- dential districts have practically no po- lice protection. The area embracing the city limits is about fifty square miles, which is much larger than that of most cities of like population. Inadequate street lighting makes the situation even more dangerous; for it is indisputable that darkness encourages disorder and lawlessness, especially burglary and sneak theivery, not to speak of highway robbery. The residential section is so unprotected that many otherwie law repecting and law-abiding citizens feel the necessity of carrying concealed weapons while traversing dark and poor ly lighted areas, thus unintentionally adding to the dangers to themselves.
 It is noted that the chief of police and the commissioner of public safety have made widely varying estimates as to the needed size of the police force. On sev- eral occasions the commissioner, urging that the force be increased, has recom- n.cnded th-t it be enlarged to two hun dred ratro men, and that one hundred and fifty minimum are essential. Inc chsef If police calls for four hun dred, w-;ca, allowing about seventyfive for othc, ] lties than those of patrolmen, would 'aa5 three hundred and twenty-five for tha* ice. The large difference in the two . mates suggests that a com preherslve survey of the situation and ali inteie mt estimate of the needs would be se and practicable.
 Meantime the value of the proposed pohce school of instruction would not 1nly he vs able in getting the maximum service C. he department as it now stand, hu would afford some specific bass to 1 gure the actual needs in po- lice protection by eliminating the guess work and proceeding on facts.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06
Dollar And 4 Half
IN 1897 George Jones (that is not his name) nlaadad r.I,ilt.r Ia rhn .r, nf
By DIR. FRANK CRANE

\ N 1897 George Jones (that is not his name)
 pleaded guilty to charge of burglarizing
 plumbers, shop. The crime was com mitted in broad daylight and while the man was under the influence of liquor. The ex- tent of the damage done was about fifty cents.
 They have the parole law, with indetermi- nate sentence in Illinois, where this took place. If the old-fashioned straight sentence had been in use George would have received perhaps a year in the penitentiary, or, as it was first offense, a month or so in the workhouse Under the benevolent operation of the improved law he remained in the pen itentiary twenty-one months, when he was released on parole. &&H&e
 This parole he violated by leaving the state, which he did simply through misunderstand- ing and not with any evil or rebellious intent.
 He soon became aware, however, that he was wanted" as a fugitive from justice. Haunted by this he spent the years till 1909 in timeless rowing. He was not a successful sort of person, just incompetent and restless, but he was not a criminal. He lived from hand to mouth slid from one job to another, but never got into difficulty with the police.
 He went to Mexico and bought small piece of land on the installment plan, in the vain hope of settling down. He ran out of money and wandered north again, arriving in the fall of 1909 in Milwaukee.
 Here he found himself, the ensuing winter, out of funds, with the installment due on his land. It was bitter cold, he could find no work and was hungry. Temptation presented itself and he attempted the burglary of hardware store in Kenosha, Wis. He was caught in the act and sentenced to three years in the penitentiary at Waupun.
 While in prison he was made to tell his record. It was discovered that fifteen years before he had broken his Illinois parole. As soon, therefore, as he was let out of Waupun he was taken to Joliet, the Illinois penitentiary, to be punished for breaking his parole.
 By operation of the Illinois parole rules he would probably be kept at least three years in confinement as an old offender.
 The damage done at Konesha amounted to about one dollar
 So for a dollar and fifty cents worth of offense against society he pays with seven years or more of prison, besides ten or twelve years of his life as a hunted animal
 So for a dollar and fifty cents worth injury the law utterly spoils a life that, treated with a little common sense and or dinary humanity, might have been rendered harmless if not very useful.
 Law, which Is 1mpersonal, puniShes the crime. Justice, which is always personal, would punish while attempting to cure, the man.
 Law seeks vengeance, which is always stupid. Justice seeks to cure one and to help. .. Our whole procedure with criminals is still mediaeval, senseless, irrational. For the criminal is not a beast to be chained or killed he is a man to be restrain ed, helped. mended. Law will never become justice until it learns this.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06
The Right Word
Firing" As A Noun
By ". CURTIS NICHOLSON


 J. S., Chicago: How would you cIas firing in the following sentences 'Wt could hear the firing of the cannon. w, could hear firing of the cannon?
 When the is used before a participle does the participle become an abstract noun ? In the first sentence, firing is a noun, yery concrete, not abstract. There should be the before firing in tine second sentence
 Synonymous W. l.. Winters, Stapleton, $. l.: "Wuult you be so kind as to advise me through youl column as to the correctness of the followinl this a. m ...... Or should the word tall have been cOnversatiOn?"
 Talk and conversation are synonymous However, "The Right Word" would recon mend conversation.
 Agreeable To-
 Robert Mortimer, New York; "Will you please tell me through The Right Word which is correct: agreeable with conversation of today; agreeable to conversation of to- dayY
 Answer: Agreeable to conversation of today" is correct
 Object Of "TO" Harry Stone. Dobbs Ferry, N. Y: Would you tell me if this is correct: Health is important to him who does not possess it.? l am uncertain about the objective case of the pronoun him. Why should the objective case be used there?' ,f = Answer: The following are few pre-. positions: to, for, by in, into, on, through and with. The following pronouns are in the objective case: him. her, me, them, whom Propositions are followed by pronouns in the objective case. Therefore, Health is i'm portant to him" is correct
 Yesterdays Error Wrong: Note that courage and the old station are all ready identified [, Right: Note that courage and the old station are already identified.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06
Gratified At Success Of Labor Day Picnic
ADVERTISING THE SEAPORT

} Citizens of Alabama, having already demon strated deep interest in the construction of state seaport at Mobile, should feel more personal interest in the port after reading the eighty-fourth annual trade review of the Mobile Register, published September l. The edition gives surprising information about the advancement of the port in recent years, an advancement coming without the state aid afforded by the port amendment. It shows that Mobile has felt q personal interest in the port and has shown its faith by making a large investment This in itself should be additional assurance to the people that they made no mistake when they author ized the investment of ten million dollars of state funds in the construction of facilities for the handling of commerce at Mobile
 During the last fiscal year tonnage valued at more than ninety-one million dollars pass ed through the port. This is shown by the report of Major Earl North, who was gov enment engineer in charge of port improve ments until his recent transfer to another city Major North said this record is the best made at Mobile since 1917 and probably the best in Mobiles history.
 The government completed the construc- tion of the outer bar channel during the year. This established depth of thirty three feet and width of 450 feet. It also com pleted the channel within the bay, giving a depth of thirty feet and a width of 220 feet. But those interested in the port have not stopped their work. Plans have already been made to put before congress the ur- gent need for greater depth and width of the channel. A bill is now pending by which it is hoped to obtain a thorough sur vey of the harbor by the war department with the view of obtaining additional aid.
 The record of the port of Mobile has been one of consistent advancement. Until 1890 commerce handled annually averaged two hundred thousand tons. This tonnage in creased gradually until last year the total tonnage was 2575,O00 with value of more than $91 100000.
 Proof is ample that the people of Mobile are sincerely supporting the development of the port. They had started this development long before the state showed an interest. If the tonnage can be increased from two hun dred thousand to more than two and one-half million in thirty years without a demonstra- tion of interest by the state, no one can predict what position the port will hold among ports of the nation at the end of an other thirty years with the state supporting the citizens of Mobile.-Montgomery Journal
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06
Brief Nature Studies
"N TITSIE BROWN of the Hartman
 WI Park staff says rattlesnakes are more
By J. OTIS SWIFT.

"N TITSIE BROWN of the Hartman WI Park staff says rattlesnakes are more
 in evidence this season than usual" writes A. II. Shorey, nature lover and scout master. 'I can well believe it. On two successive Ramapo hikes scouts of my troop, Brooklyn, No. 77, have met them. One, with seven rattles, was killed, cooked and eaten with relish by the boys. The other, with eleven rattles, was taken alive to the Scout Museum.
 In a Ramapo swamp one August Satur- day we found the yellow-green fringed orchis, the small and the large purple-fringed orchis and the red lobelia or cardinal flower in bril- liant profusion. An unusual sight was hummingbird perched on a telegraph wire.
 Everywhere, high and low-bush blueber- ries, blackberries and dewberries were in prime condition. Here and there on the trail we passed the sad-looking but dainty coral-rOot"
 In the Ramapos as in New England this seems to have been a good year for wild berries. The large number of cones on the spruces is evidence, farmers say, of an ap- proaching hard winter-food for birds and squirrels.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06
Home Art In Europe And U. S.

A writer in the Manchester Guardian asks the question, why there is no peasant art or home art in America, like there is in France and Italy. Flanders, with its lace industries, practically maintained by the women and
 girls, or the woodcutting art as it is found in Scandinavian countries and Germany. Could he but take trip over here he would find the answer himself. It is wealth. No other country has such prosperity and pos sesses in such degree the means of enjoy ment for all classes as the United States. The country roads are filled with automobiles and every place has it's movie theater. No where else in the world is there so much waste, either, another indication of afflu- ence. Farming machinery is allowed to stand out in the open all winter in many instances out west The farmer buys new equipment when the new harvest comes. Of course, this does not apply in every case, but this writer, fresh from Europe after the war, observed it with amazement and sur prise on a trip through the west. Periods of depression will lessen this waste. But it is doubtful that there would be such flour ishing home art in Europe if the people over there had more ''flivvers" and movies ''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06
The Winds Of God
Ethel McKenz:e in Contemporary Verse

Ethel McKenz.e In COntemp0rary Verso The winds of God are out today, Exultant through the world they play, They sweep the heavens, chase the clouds, Blow clean and sweet where mankind crowds They toss the great arms of the trees, The withered leaf before them flees; They catch the arrows of the sun, They bear me upward on their wings, With joy my spirit scars and sings, Above the waves of pain and strife That beat upon the shores Of life.
 In mighty play they romp and roar, They shake the hinge of heavens door; Across the hilltops wild they race, They wrestle through the open space; They rouse the giants of the earth, The welkin rings with goodly mirth. And all the earth in triumph swings! o Winds of God! Give me your wings!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06
EEs M FUN HR1 % #H SHOP US9gS4f /Z4XSON F2KI4LZ JZz1EZk
RornanSe

Grandfather leaned OCT the garden wall
 Where fell the moonlight din, Grandmother blushed on the other side,
 Modest and simple and prim, He gave an old-fashioned kiss to her,
 And she gave her heart to him. Grandfather's grandson calls at the door,
 Waits with a chauffeur prim, And grandmother's granddaughter appears
 Tailored and modern and trim He gives her the same old-fashioned kiss,
 And she gives her heart to him.
 (But he also gives her dozen roses, sever pounds of chocolates and glaced fruits theater tickets, twelve books quart of per fume, an engagement ring set in platinum, { pearl necklace, jewelled wrist watch, house in the country, and car.)
 Elizabeth Evelyn Moore.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06
A Lesson In 'DipIOmacy"

In. the Berliner Tageblatt writer tells an incident in the night train from Cologne to Berlin. Three English girls are the attrac- tion of all the young German gentlemen trar
 elers. The writer himself a student in Hei- delberg, says that their skin was 'fairylike'' and their eyes "divinely blue" After a great deal of hesitation he gets up enough courage to take seat with the three ''Englanderin- nen'' in the dining car. There are four rolls on the table. The eldest girl gives her two companions each a roll and takes two her self and then smiles at the confused Ger man. After the meal he relates his experi- ences to his companions You had prac- tical lesson in British diplomacy" they tell him. That's the way they took Gibraltar and Malta and India and the rest of the world. They take it and then smile. That smile has cost us Germans dearly. We do not know what to do against such tactics"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06

of Birmingham are essentially optimistic, patient and long suffering, else they would not continue to hope for the best as respects the management of the au- ditorium and other administrative func- tions of the municipal government.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06

Ten years ago part of the world was engaged in efforts to cut the other part's throat; today both parts are busy trying to cut their budgets as a consequence. Obviously war is very bad investment, to say the least.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06
Then Why Hide Them?

Six-year-old Ada was watching her grand mother dress.
 "Why, grandma" she asked, what are you putting on two petticoats for?"
 "So that people can't see my legs" primly replied her grandmother.
 The modern little miss looked pained and lowering her voice, she inquired anxiously Grandma. what's the matter with your legs?" -E. F. M.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06

1The prince is oldest son of the king of England. He is also the most battered. The sun rarely sets on spot upon which the prince has not fallen. He has many imi- tators in this line but few superiors.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06

It is said that ninety-eight million pho- nograph records were made last year. A large percentage of them were doubt less no less strain upon the tempers than upon the purses of the public.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06
HINDENBURG's QUALIFICATIONS

Perhaps Hindenburg's right-hand-man will never learn that as a politician he is a splen- did quartermaster general, if he had an army to be quartermaster general for and ofs--St Louis Stnr.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06

The prince brings all his titles with him. He has lot of them, but is perhaps best known as the Earl of Somersault, Duke of Ditches, Baronet of Backflop and Viscount of Topsy Turvy..
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06

It seems to have been demonstrated of late that prevention of crime by proper home training is safer and cheap CT than trials in which startling theories of eminent alienists are featured.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06

National defense day, like fire drill, is helpful in suggesting to people what to do in an emergency, however anxious they may be that the emergency will not materialize.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06
Corn POme

I like the tender, juicy corn, It hits the spot, my dears; But cant someone contrive it so That spot won't be my ears?
 Josephine Hemphill.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06
OFTEN FIRST AND THIRD ALSO

Lima Beane says the second number on the program of reform movement is to take up a collr tion.-Toledo Blade.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06

After his visit to the United States he is going to his ranch in Canada, where he is breeding horses closer to the ground and teaching them to retrieve fallen riders
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06
SHARP FIGHT LIKELY

There should be n sharp senatorial fight in New Jersey Messrs. Edge and Kean are the andidates-Cincinnati Enquirer.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06

With all the complaint of the high price of bootleg liquor, it's heaviest cost comes from the encouragement its pat rons give to violation of the law.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06

It is reported that ninety-eight-year- old man in Florida has just seen his first automobile. And he is too old to learn new tricks in lodging, too.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06

He is in this country to attend the inter national polo matches. But he will not play, although he is what is known as a fiv, fall man. cv"-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06

MT. Davis does not appear to have succeeded in impressing MT. Coolidge that the water is fine enough to come in.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06

All further comment upon his horseman. ship aside, the prince is a prince of good fel- lows and the best advertisement England ever had. He has been to the United States be. fore and on the previous trip swept the country so completely by his boyish charm that even members of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick found themselves cheering the lad as he passed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06
THE MOST POPULAR

The most truthful man chopped down a cherry tree, but the most popular one shakes the plum tree-Norfolk Ledger Dispatch.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06
Forum Of The People
Legion Will Obtain Adjusted Compensation

LegI0n VIII ODGain A0JuSt00 COmpcnS&biOn To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 Birmingham Post No. 1 of the American Legion, with headquarters at room POS Old r. o. building, has supply of bonus blanks to issue to ex-service men who served during the World War. All ex-soldiers and de- pendents can secure same by applying. Bir- mngham Post No. is anxious that all ex- service men file their application as soon as possible Assistance will be given ex-serv- ice men and dependents in filling out their claims. Fingerprints will be taken at Ameri- can Legion headquarters.
 A dependent making application for the adjusted compensation will use the same form that a veteran uses in applying for the benefits In case a veteran who has died after leaving the service the dependent must file with the application a proper authenti- cated death certificate of the veteran. BIRMINGHAM POST NO. I AMERICAN
 LEGION. Per J. H. T.
 Birmingham, Ala Sept. 4, 1924.
 Gratified At Success Of Labor Day Picnic To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 With all my heart l wish to thank those who so generously assisted us with the La bor Day picnic. I am sure the sisters es- pecially rejoice with us at the knowledge of your charity to them and to our little ones. God will surely bless and reward you and I want you to know that l am most grateful for your goodness l am, my dear friends, gratefully yours,
 SARA NJ. LATIEM
 Birmingham, Ala. President
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06
ANYWAY, BOTH MUST BE GRATEFUL

It isn't because he is bashful that Senator Brookhart will refuse so talk for either Cool idge or aFollette.-Toledo Blade.)
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06

A scientist says that long legs are a sign of intelligence. In other words, the possessors are high-b1'ows.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06
WILL MEAN SOMETHING, ANYHOW

Some day a candidate will make a speech of acceptance as follows Yes" And then we shall die happy.-Boston Post
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06

If the choice were left to me, whether to have a free press or free government. would choose free press.-Thomas Jefferson.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06

Institutions and movements would do well to knock the pagan" out of some propa- gandists.--New Orleans Times -Picayune.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06
Seat Of War

Willie: Does your father ever spank you?"
 Freddie: You bet he does. Yesterday he spanked me for breaking window and then spanked me again because he broke the hairbrush while spanking me the first time" HI. H.
 (Copyright, 1924 Reproduction forbidden)
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06
Top Dat!

Little Mary was five years old. One evening her tummy ached and put her in misery.
 She slapped it vigorously, saying at the same time: Be still, tummy. You've had your dinner" Mrs NJ. H. Scandutt
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06

When father pays his income tax
 Hoping a dollar to save, He finds the crimp in his pocketbook es really a permanent wave.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06

 0llA OVER
Hail To The Prince

HE Prince of Wales, the worlds great. | est travelling man, sitting or standing,
 is in the United States again. He arrived safely making perfect land. ing in. vertical position.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06
Learning How The Other Half Lives

When a neighbor changes his butcher and grocer, find out the reason why.
 Give the clothes-lines in the neighborhood the once-over every wash-day.
 Get up parties for the little boy next door and proceed to pump him.
 Engage the servant girl your former friends used to have.
 Recall which families have to borrow things from their neighbors whenever they give a party.
 Listen in whenever you're using a party wire.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06

MEMBER OF ASSOCIATED PREss-The As. sociated Press is exclusively entitled to the use for publication of all news dispatches credited to it. not otherwise credited in this paper and also local news published therein. All right, of republication of special dispatches also reserved.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06

The man who says that he has never de-
 ceived his wife is telling the truth-but he thinks he is lying,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06

He is now 30 years old and still single This is source of great worry to the king and queen, who have grown grey trying to get their son down the center aisle with the right girl. This has taken up so much ol their time that labor took over the British government in order that the king and queen might devote their entire future to it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06

EXCLUSIVE MEMBER OF NORTH AMERI- CAN NEWSPAPER ALLIANCE IN ALABAMA.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-06

Peggy Joyce is being carefully watched Eddie is one of the few princes she has never been reported engaged to.