davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-22
RrssEMER,s BuILDING BOOM

The active building operations in Bessemer are attracting attention throughout this dis Srict. Since January 1 more than two hun drew new and attractive tenant houses nave been erected in that city. which breaks all records since the first few years of the city s history when its many industrial advantages began to be recognized by investors and de- velopers. These houses represent investments varying from four to eight thousand dollars In most instances, while some residences call for investments of from ten thousand to twenty thousand dollars.
 This building boom is one of the many in. aications of the growth and prosperity Of Bessemer during the last year or two. That city has kept pace well up with the industrial procession throughout this district In popu- tation Bessemer stands fourth in the state Within a few years it is believed that it will take third place. Industrial expansion in and around Bessemer has been notable, and shows many signs of steady increase. The citizens of that community are to be com mended for the many evidences of their en- 4erprise and civic spirit
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-22
\ DIPLOMATIC TNTERLIJDE

Mr. Hanihara has explained" to MT. Hughes: MT. Hughes has accepted the ex- plantation, and all is merry as a wedding bell. When he uttered his now famous reference to grave consequences" it ap- pears that MT. Hanihara did not mean con- sequences quite so grave as we at first thought. Indeed, it may be that, on second thought, Mir. Hanihara himself chose a set of consequences not quite so grave as those he had at first pictured in his own mind He now finds that it is inconceivable that anyone should think the word grave" capa- ble of such gravity.
 The diplomats may amuse themselves with these naive interchanges. if it soothes their dignity, for surely Mir. Hughes dignity has been as much ruffled by the senate's action as has that of MT. Hsnihara. But the United States congress still believes that this is q sovereign government and of authority to manage it's internal affairs, regardless of threat or even mild expostulation from min isters in it's midst. That the relationship between this government and Japan is so in tricate and 50 essential as not to be shaken by any superficial or constructive basis for schism has been we'll demonstrated Now to matters of more importance.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-22
WILLIAM RANDOLPH SHELTON

When an editor serves his community long end faithfully, the evidences of his influ- ences may not be so separate and distinct that one may clearly detect them. Never theless, the sum total of his effort persists, though it be merged with the community eff fort along the same lines Indeed. unless an editors effort is so merged with the commit nity effort that it does not stand out Tn contrast it is probable that his influence is largely spent in futile remonstrance. An edi- tor that serves his proper function cannot es- cape being a leader of public opinion, but he must not be so far ahead of his people that they lose sight of his leadership. It is be- Iieved that William R. Shelton, late of the Albany Decatur Daily, was one of those edi- tors whose influence for good in his com munity was pronounced and has been an in tirnate factor in that communitys develop ment. Doubtless those who knew him best can point out many items in that locality's progress which are largely owed to his in teIlizent expression of opinion.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-22
A RAINMAKER COMES THRoUGH

According to press dispatches California man has upset the theory of Mark Twain that everybody talked about the weather, but nobody did anything about it. The Cali fornian accepted a contract with a group of farmers to produce one and one-quarters inches of rain within a radius of seventy five miles between March 15 and April Is for two thousand dollars, with a premium of two thousand dollars for each additional quarter of an inch of rain up to two inches. When the rain gauges were taken tine rain maker received eight thousand dollars for his achievement, alter having been on the joD with his equipment for only thirty days.
 It is gratifying to note that the Califor- mia farmers who entered into the rain-making agreement were satisfied, and promptly paid the full amount named in the contract. An nouncement of this fact may help to remove mistaken impression that the farmers are mers, who have been so misrepresented in this respect that even the small boy, when asked by his teacher what he thought of the deluge that ragged forty days and forty nights without cessation, expressed the view that the farmers were not satisfied then.
 Still, the wonder will not down ss to whether the rain would not have discended anyhow, rainmaker or no rainmaker The question is serious for it at once arouses the suspicion that the weatherman may have been trafficking in the weather all this time without the public knowing of if. The sub
 feet is one for the senate to investigate.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-22
MAcDoNALD's SANE ADVICE

England's premier is quite as outspoken in his beliefs on public questions as was the iIlustrious Lloyd George. He has no hesita- ton in telling a public assembly what he thinks about the Dawes plan of economic recovery for Germany and the payment of separations. In spite of the fact that the British government can find therein some details it might criticize, MT. Macdonald urges prompt and united application of the plans provisions to the existing situation, realizing that the main principles are sound and just The premier fears that the ex- pression of disapproval of minor details on the part of England would lead to dis approval of still other details on the part of other powers, so that. as result the breach would be widened instead of healed. Eng land therefore is ready to forego all effort to make alterations so that there may be unity all along the line.
 This is liberal view and betokens statesrnanlike vision of no mean order If Europe would recover. Europe must yield herself to treatment. It is not for the pa tient to cavil at the medicine because it is bitter The bitterness will be but momen- tAry, but the benefits of recovery will be perpetual. The powers have been somewhat in the situation of contesting teams that worid do their own umpiring No wonder they could not agree! Now. however, they have called in an umpire. and naturally he must base his decisions on a code of rules. Inasmuch as the goal is economic restora- ton, the rules of economies must be obeyed. MT. Dawes and his associates have defined the rules. Each nation finds that in some respects it has already overstepped certain boundaries and must retire from an unten- able position. These perhaps are the de tails'' of which Mir. Macdonald speaks. Be ing known as a people with a sporting in stinet, it is only natural that the British should be the first to acquiesce in the unn- pire's ruling But the hard commonsense for which Belgians, French and Germans have long been noted should not be far behind in adopting the same attitude.
 In one respect MT. Macdonald somewhat loses his logic. It is in his charge that the allied policy has caused the rise of an in tense nationalism in Germany. If the world is any judge, Germany's intense nationalism was responsible for the war, and was quite extensively developed long before the war. But, as MT. Macdonald might say, that is c mere detail. In the main, his speech is correct.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-22
Insane Or Successful
By H. ADDINGToN B1UCR
Are you insan

Are you insane?
 If you are not little insane you may be put down as exceptional.
 There are men who fondIy imagine they are doubles for outstanding figures in history. There is more than one in a madhouse, who is sure that he is Napoleon. He initiates what he believes to be the dress, the manner, the pose of genius He visions the armies of the earth drawn up about him and ready to obey him.
 This man is locked up. The trouble with him is that he over-estimates his importance to an abnormal degree.
 Now it is not a bad habit, if you are aiming at brilliant success, to estimate your importance in a very high degree. You can ever-estimate it and the psychology of that practice will probably do much for you.
 The, great figures of history-most of them were men who did not over-estimate their importance or at least estimated it to the full measure. That is why they dominated
 Timidity is one of the foremost human failings. Timidity, more than any other qual- ity stands in the way of success for boys and girls. If parents can not find some way to cure their children of timidity they can be assured that heir boys and girls are not going to reach beyond the flat etaee of mediocrity.
 So then, success is largely a matter of degree in which one estimates his importance
 Caesar was one night crossing the Tiber The night was stormy. The skipper was frightened,
 Fear not, boatmAn." said Caesar, thou carryest Caesar and his fortunes" Napoleon rode up and down in front of his ranks during the storm of battle.
 Seek shelter. sire," cried his officers Save yourself
 Am I not Napoleon ?" was the ansvOar
 To be great, your boy and your girl must have self-asNrance. To be successful you must estimate your importance highly.
 Don't estimate yourself into the insane ward. Don't overdo 1t to the point of Ab- normAlity.
 But to be successful, remember that you must Believe in Yourself
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-22
Watching The Parade
By s0HfSJ PII.nRISt <.

You know, how we've been infested with imported lecturers lately. They either tell us that we are the hope of the world, or will be when we will cash another check, or they say that we are a degraded lot of Flutes that do not measure up even to Digger Indian standards. We're used to that But one of the breed gave me to think last night.
 "The trouble with you Americans, ' said he, lis that you are too sanguinariIy polite, ;, He said that we have the wrong sort of good manners. Mind you, he is saying this. Not me. I am not admitting even that I agree with him, although it is true that thought has been paling the rosy sIories of my cheek ever since we had the talk.
 "A Frenchman's manners" he said, "are the best in the world. But not for the req son that you think they are" A Frenchman's manners, said my foreign friend, are simply shock-absorbers to enable him to get through the world more easily. He never gives up anything he wants, said the importee. He does not give his seat in a tramear even to old ladies with wooden legs. He rises from his chair when friends enter the room, but he does not give the friends anything he may happen to value, simply because they are friends.
 "To be more simple about it. said the
 
 ual contacts of life he is altogether charming because of the excellence of his manners. But try to get something from minor from an Italian, or an Englishman, or a German. You do not get it. If you prod too hard, his manners fall off like a cloak and you get superbly hollered at."
 Whereas we Americans. said our friend and admirer, are not polite so mRch as we are soft and easy. We stand for the worst restaurant cooking in the world because we are too good-natured We do not boo bad shows, as the -Londoners do. Too polite. We put our elbows in each others ears in crowded street cars and grin about it. An equally crowded Frenchman, for all his man ners, would make a fuss that would reyer- berate through the chamber of deputies.
 He said we should learn to make q dis tinction between being polite and being trodden upon. Or else stop calling ourselves polite and put on the right label.
 Mind you, I do not admit that I agree with him.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-22

that the Lake states, many of the Western and Northern states and some Southern states, have found by experience that the establishment and maintenance of fish hatcheries is wise and productive invest- ment economically, not to speak of the pleas ure to their residents in recreational oppor- tunities. There are many large hatcheries in the Lake states. One result is that these states offer special attractions to tourists and particularly to fishermen, from many parts of the country, whose annual pilgrim ages to those states carries more than enough cash to pay for all the hatcheries. This is money which would not be procured without the hatcheries, and hence is a source of that prosperity which comes from development of local opportunities.
 There are few states which have so many ideal fishing streams and lakes as are in Alabama. The trouble in this state is that fish not only have not been properly pro- tected under reasonable conservation laws effectively enforced, but practically nothing has been done towards restocking, as in so many other states. The example at Tuscum- bia is well worthy of emulation in many other parts of Alabama.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-22

cred in connection with the proposed change is the fact that the possibility of having all the members of the board new men inex- perienced in details of county administrative affairs would be eliminated.
 Perhaps the most important benefit to be derived from the suggested change is that it is less difficult to find two capable can didates, than 1t is to pick out five capable candidates. One of the weaknesses of mu- nicipal and county governments at present is the difficulty in putting men of capacity in the race and in electing them. Obviously it is easier to do this in the case of two men than of five.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-22
The Right Word
The Hanging ParticipIe
By CURTIS NICHOLSON

tFlnd the error in this article1
 W. F. F. of Chicago writes. Please state what is a hanging participle and give an example. Also, are the words that and which interchangeable? Would it be cor rect to say the following that coat which l gave you; the coat that I gave you; the coat which I gave you?'
 The following sentence contains a hanging participle: Sailing proudly up the bay, the pilot guided the ship to a safe anchorage. The foregoing sentence states that the pilot was sailing proudly up the bay, an absurdity. Sailing is the hanging participle.s The sen- tence should be rearran9ed as follows: Sail ing proudly up the bay, the ship was guided by the pilot to safe anchorage.
 That and which are not interchangeable, except occasionally for the purpose of eu- phony. However. there is much confusion in the use of these two words. They may both mean the same thing, but be used under different conditions. When that with tho words following identify the noun to which they refer, that is the appropriate word ; as the coat that I gave you. In this kind of construction the word that may be omit ted; as, the coat I gave you. Which is used when one is not identifying a preceding noun or pronoun. but injecting a description for the sake of description only; as, The large volume, which I have owned for many years, you may read if you wish. .
 Safe Or Safely
 To Clara Stoffels, Chicago: "I arrived safe" is correct There are those who main tain that either safe or safely is correct but "The Right Word" prefers safe. "I ap- preciate your kindly expressions is correct.
 Yesterdays Error
 Wrong: The word ''now" can be pre- ceded by proposition.
 Right: The word "now" may be preceded by proposition.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-22
THE WORD MORSE"

There are many Morses in American an nals, including S. F. B. Morse and Charles W. Morse. But they all owe their names to an animal That animal is the walrus, which the Films call "morj."
 From the Films the Russians borrowed the word and from the Russians the English borrowed it and incorporated it in their language.
 A walrus is now seldom called a "morse" in the English language, on this side of the water at least, but it is by no means an ob- solete terme
 Morse" possesses the distinction of being the only word which the English language has borrowed from the Finnish 80 far as Is known. @
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-22
Ride Dudley's Rhymes

We've got 'em-you bet we have. We're thankful for 'em, too They're frayed around the bottom and their color's rusty blue. They're hangin' in the closet where they've been ten years or more-the first and only pair of jeans a kid named Billy wore. l never shall forget the day I brought 'em home with me. That youngster was the proud est boy man could hope to see. The pock- cts tickled him a lot; those jeans were his delight. He lovedem so he wouldn't let us take 'em off at night Perhaps you think we're two old chumps but Mister, if you do, you've never lost baby boy-now have you honest true? We've got 'em yet-you bet we have! To keep 'em is our aim. Although he's gone we sort O feel they're Billy's just the same.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-22
SUGGESTED FL FICTION CHANGE

While amendment of the election law to provide for election of part of the county board of revenue, instead of the whole body at one time as at present, cannot be accom- plished except by legislative enactment, which means that such change must be matter of the future, the proposition is meri- torious. Under such a change all the mem bers of the board would not be out election eering for votes at the same time. as at pres ent, with accompanying neglect of the public business for weeks or even months prior to each election. AnEther point to be consid
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-22
WORDS OF WISDOM

He who does evil that good may come pays a toll to the devil to let him into heaven.--Hare.
 When we have not what we love we must love what we have.-Bussy Rabutin.
 He threatens the innocent who spares the guilty.-Coke.
 Every library should try to be complete on something, if it were only the history of pinheads.--Holmes.
 The lunatic, the lover, and the poet, are of imagination all Shakespeare in "Midsummer's Night Dream"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-22
Beauty Of Old Age

(James Henry Potts in Detroit Free Press) They tell me age is beautiful. So is snow A spread of white, a depth of cold Fit figures these of growing old
 A whitened crown a chilled extreme. A tumbling down, fading dream,
 A vapory mist, an icy step,
 A sinew twist, loss of pep" Odd beauties these, as old folks know. Such beauties ns one would forego. And yet old age is beautiful Be it SO; The beauty of the melting snow
 The signs of spring, the freshet's flow, Recalling youth of long ago;
 Forecasting youth in heavenly bowers, A genial warmth, unfading flowers,
 A strength restored, life to grow; A home with loved ones all aglow; Yes. age is beautiful. know.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-22
Forum Of The People
Apnreciates Rroadcasting Sfation Iists

To the Editor of The Age Herald:
 Just word of appreciation of your carry ing the list of broadcasting stations daily with their programs. I hope you will be able to add to the list as time passes. Station WSA1, Cincinnati, announced they would furnish any daily paper with theirs in ad. vance that would request it. They have good programs and I for one would appreciate this addition. Wishing you success in this new feature, l am yours very truly.
 DAVID H. JOHNSON. Blossburg, Ala. April 19, 1924.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-22
TusCUMBIA,s EXAMPLE

Announcement that the old bathing pool in Spring Park, at Tuscumbis, has been turned into fish hatchery, and that ten thousand trout and ninety thousand bass will be placed in the pool where fresh water will flow in and out, shows that the people of that community are alive to the value of fish propagation. All going out and nothing coming in is a practice which will soon have tragic effect upon the supply of fresh-water fish
 In this connection it may be mentioned
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-22
May Day For Child Welfare

To the Editor of The Age Herald
 I wish to thank you in tn ename of the American Child Health Association for the publicity you have already given Child Health Day to he held on May 1. We have had n splendid response from editors through out the country and we believe the celebra- tion will be one of the most successful ever held.
 This is to remind you that we should be glad of editorial cement on or before May 1. And in order that you or your editorial writ er may have the facts in hands, we enclose a sheet which sets forth the entire situation With great appreciation of the help you have already given and of whatever you may be able to do in the future,
 (MRS.N AIDA DE ACOSTA ROOT.
 Washington. D. c.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-22

Readers are requested to contribute. All humor: epigrams tor humorous mot toes), jokes, anecdotes, poetry, burlesque, satires and bright sayings of children must be original and unpublished Ac- cepted material will be paid for at sched- ule rates, which will be furnished on ap- plication. All manuscripts must be writ ten on one side of the paper only, should bear the name of this newspaper; and ac- companied by return postage, should be addressed to the Fun Shop, care Age Herald. Unaccepted contributions cannot be returned.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-22
6W@ fun ch!!0b {! MAXS0N E1x1EAEL JE0Ezk
The Inauisitiye Reporter
MAXS0N NxKlEL LONE

The Inquisitive Reporter
 Our inquisitive reporter yesterday asked this question of four people chosen at ran dom: What is the subconscious feeling about the radio-activity of hellum produced by spontaneous atomic disintegration, or do you favor an attitude more latitudinarian in spe- cific content towards the universal use of red woolen ear-muffs:''
 Oracle Mills, hotel clerk "Now that us girls wear our hair bobhed, freshie, we don't need no ear-muffs. Jim Crook, taxi driver: 'I deny the charge. I was in Kankakee last Saturday night and I can prove it." Mrs K Peattie, bookkeeper: 'I always get that tired feeling in the spring, too; but have you tried sulphur and molasses" ], G. Frink. barber: You, certainly said an earfull. Nextr' a1
 A Toast
 Here's to those that love us
 If we only cared;
 And to those that we'd love
 If we only dared.
 Anna E. GumAer.
 Hard To Understand
 Bibbs Some people get everything they go after"
 Gibbs Yes. and others don't seem to get what's coming to them" --C. l.. P. A man is known by the car he drives; a woman by the car she rides in.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-22

It is good business for man, to do his kissing later in the day because as the day wears on the germs scatter and go into new territory. Some of them remain. but they grow more and more listless until by night they don't give a darn about anything.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-22

This is explained on the ground that germs use the lips as community parking places while humans sleep. In the early morning hours these germs are very testy. They re- sent being disturbed and pacticularly resent being kissed Especially by strangers
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-22

Dr. Armstrong says the danger of the kiss varies with the time of day. In the early morning it is full of peril. Along toward noon it is still risky. A kiss aroundsfou in the afternoon may be taken with a reasonable regard for health. By theatre-hour kisses are beginning to become quite safe, and the mid night kiss is as good as if it had the Dr.. Wiley label on it. .-f ..
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-22

It is reported that the Rhode Island legis- lature has been in session for thirteen weeks without accomplishing anything. Even the Pocket -Handkerchief-S -State,' which has two counties when the tide is in, appears to be getting some inspiration from Washington.