davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-27

The city commission has formally ratified the agreement whereby the Birmingham Rail way, Light and Power Company receives con- alterations of value not at present to be computed; while the municipality has re- ceived in return therefor no items of worth at all commensurate. The commission has surrendered its leverage upon the utility and thus caused a public forfeiture of the strong position the municipality held. The state
 neut that the city for the first time received payment for franchise extensions is an under statement, for the city receives not tithe of . their value. The commission unfortunately thinks only in terms of monetary considera- tion, which is paltry, and is forgetful of its primary obligation to protect the travelling public. Why all this official concern for the utility, which has competent attorneys to fight it's battles? The city commission lays much stress upon it's activity in bringing about the reorganization of the utility. The public would be far more interested to have catalog of any public benefit that the com mission has thus established.
 To say that the franchises represent only a tenth of the total existing franchises is only , to obscure the fact that this one-tenth is in reality the key to the entire franchise sys- tenn, and that, holding this key position, the utility has an undeniable hold upon all the rest. The public has not yet been given either adequate or satisfactory reason why the commission should have been in such haste to extend these franchises years before they expire, except to mend the private for tune of the utility. Certainly the commits sion has not fnended the public's situation. Fv all fhis a q The Apo-Hera1d has DreVioualv remarked, the chief official concern has ap- parently been for the utility's economic ad- vance and not for the pubic's benefit. Be- sides, what justification has the present com mission for thus anticipating concession that is properly one for future city admin istration to consider? Is it not the emergency of the utility and not the public welfare that has been the influential consideration?
 The commission has overlooked the fact that Birmingham is no longer village, but a city, a rapidly growing city with prospect of arriving at half million people or more within the unexpired period of the existing franchises the commission has so unfortu- nately and shortsightedly extended. Who among the commissioners is so endowed with prophetic vision as to assert that this action of Tuesday will not impede and hamper the Birmingham of five years hence? Certainly it would be strange if there should be such gift of foresight of conditions yet in the fu- ture, when there is such myopia in envision- ing the affairs of today. And when it comes to playing the game of strategy with the representatives of the utility, the public has learned by experience to be properly appre- hensive of the result, as in this instance.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-27
OVERRIDING IT

Seventy-eight proposals for liberolizing the Volstead act were introduced in the house on single day last week. They were in two groups, the bills in each group being identical. One of them bears the name of Mir. Mooney of Cleveland.
 No one in Washington believes for a mo ment that this congress will write the 2.75 per cent. principle into the enforcement act, as half these bills propose; or that { per cent, beer and 10 per cent. wines and cider will be legalized, as the other half provides. These measures are mere thought food for home consumption. Even their multitudinous authors probably do not take them seriously.
 In three days eighty of these bills, identical in two groups, were offered in the house, Why eighty, when two would have been just as eff fective2 The public sometimes protests that too much legislation is enacted. What about too many proposals for legislation which their authors and everyone else knows cannot be enacted ?-Cleveland Plain Dealer.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-27
The Wolf or Trouble

Frank l.. Stanton in Atlanta Constitution. Trouble, in the shadows of Lonesome Town. Like wolf O the woods is snarlin' roun', An the "Ole Hoss Shay" has broken down. An the fire on the hearth Is dyin. To the House O Shadows comes the dark
 nights call.
 With ghostly step roun' the hearth nn' hall, An I cry, Come in Take all--take all," Where the fire O, Life is dyih'. An this, to Myself. is the word I say: You've had your time and your sunshine
 day,
 An why should you shiver for to go away
 When the fire O Life is dyin'?" But life to the lonely an lost is sweet, An better it's thorns than a Golden Street; Who'd go when they heaR Lifes dancin' feet,
 Though the fire on the hearth is dyin'7
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-27
Forum, Of The People
Rssents oharEes Ol Frsud

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 am a native son of Jefferson county; my great grandfather lies buried in Mt. Ptnson, my grandfather and father lie buried at Trussville. was born in Jefferson county the same year of Birminghams foundation and grew up in that city. Therefore, conclude that have a right to speak as well as Sena- tor Heflin.
 Senator Heflin has said some very deroga- tory things concerning our valley, and am concerned only in that part of his resolu- tion.
 We have shipped this season about five thou. sand cars of vegetables, and the season will continue for over month. We are now ship ping a trainload of vegetables day, and many people in Birmingham are eating our cabbage. We produced and shipped on June 9, 1923, the first bale of cotton in the United States that year. This cotton was sold in Houston, Texas, for $l;275.00. and we aeops tinued to ship from that time to the end ot the year. This county produced over 5O,O0O bales of cotton for the season. We have room in this valley and potential productivity enough to supply million people We have citrus trees growing which will rival both California mad Florida, two hundred and twenty-five cars having been shipped this sea- son, and thousands of young trees coming into bearing.
 Now, we want Senator Heflin's inyestiga- ton in order that things may be found out. As to the frauds that have been committed, we want fraudulent land men sent to the peni- tentiary. But before they are sent to the penitentiary we want everybody who came to this country through their efforts to give them a vote of thanks for their kindness in showing them this country and bringing them to "The Valley"
 If you will send a reporter to be present at all the hearings in this investigation, you will be able to confirm all that this native son of Jefferson county is saying and very much more.
 A. B. CARLISLE, Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce.
 Wesloca, Texas,
 March 24, 1924.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-27
The Right Word
By CURTIS NICHOLSON
Placing The Article

(Find the error in this article)
 Two readers have written "The Right Word" with regard to the placing of the in- definite article "a."
 May Buer of Chicago asks: "wiH you please tell me which is correct: Do you use a too strong mixture; Do not use too strong a mixture"
 The article usually ptecedes noun and its adjective; as a large box. However, when the expression includes the word too, the article precedes the noun as, too strong a mixture.
 Carroll R. Keenan of New York writes ]; question: whether the use of "a in the sem tence, There is probably a no more reputable bond house in the street. is right or wrong, and whether the sentence is grammatically correct. I realize the sentence is clumsy, but that is of minor importance to the question" {" The sentence is correct, and clumsy, as you state. Why not say, Probably there is not a more reputable bond house in the street."
 Four More Winners Four more names of those who earned 100 per cent. in the last test are as follows: Mar guerite M. Jacques, New York; John L. Howe, New York; Philip Reidy, Chicago i; Henrietta Koch, Ritsville. Washington.
 Verb Agrees With Subject
 To J. A, Pantin, New York: In the fol. lowing sentence the verb should of been plural are to agree with the plural subject 1: Saturday and Sunday evenings is the only time at my disposal" The expression, "agree- able to your request" Is correct.
 Yesterdays Error ,. Wrong: Every one who made their first Right: Every one who made his first an-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-27
TExAs RANCHEs pAssTNO

The great Texas ranches and picturesque ranch life will soon be thing of the past at the rate the vast cattle lands are being sold, divided and offered as small farm tracts. While in the last five years many of the ranches were sold and cut up. in the lnAt few months ranch sales have become epidemic, and at least S.oOO,00 acres of land have been put on the market for settlers. ss.4sE
 There is not much regret over the passing of the ranches. Cattlemen say there is no money in livestock any more and acquire for, tunes by selling out that enable them to re- side in comfort in cities. The citizens of West Texns and the panhandle are rejoicing to see the ranches sold and great unoccupied areas settled up, for it means more people, more business, more profits. At least 1000 900 newcomers are expected to locate on for mer ranches ill the next two years.
 The largest ranch put on the market re- gently was the MatadOr, consisting of 60O,O00 acres, and which extended into several coun- ties. It is capable of raising 100000 bales of cotton annually,-Kansas City Star.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-27
Faith 4 Part or Life

Faith is commonly understood to be some thing that we use in church. We consider it to be some religious sort of thing and that people who are not religiously inclined have nothing especial to do with 1t. l
 This is entirely wrong. Faith is part of life.
 It is as impossible for a man to live with out faith as for him to live without breathing.
 Faith is simply the quality of our thought And the only man who has no faith is the only man that does not think at all. That is to say, he is either a dead man or an idiot.
 A man who says he does not believe in the Bible nor in the church has as much faith as the man that does believe in these things For if he does not believe in them, he believes in their opposite.
 Annie Besant was asked by Emile de Saint Auban if she believed that faith was failing among men.
 ''There are no unbelievera," she replied "The unbelievers of today, believe lot of things" .sTfgJ
 This is very shrewd truth. Since the day when religious controversy has died down, we are awakening to the fact that the world has a lot more faith than 1t is sup posed. As Joseph de Maistre said, "We are approaching the greatest of religious epochs."
 The difficulty is that we think that the acceptance of some fantastic and entirely un- founded statement is faith. That is not faith at all. It is superstition or fancy.
 Let us set it down first of all that faith is not confidence in something which insults our intelligence, but confidence iii that which inspires and assists out intelligence.
 The right kind of faith does not demand of a man that he resist his reason, but that he use it.
 Real faith is not belief in any creed or statement, it is a confidence in certain prin- ciples. ssoc .
 Faith is simply belief in seneralizations as against single instances,
 It is confidence in law instead of confi- dence in the exception. gaat9e
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-27
WORDS OF WISDOM

There is no defeat except from within. There is really no insurmountable barrier save your own inherent weakness of purpose. Emerson.
 Slow are the steps of freedom but her feet turn never backward.-Lowell.
 Stand up straightly, speak out boldly, and sit down quickly.--Luther.
 Money is a bottomless sea, in which honor, conscience and truth may be drowned.--- Koslay.
 The only shots that count arc those that hit-Roosevelt.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-27
MnRns nE WISDOM

And striving to be man, the worm mounts through all the spires of form.-Emerson. Discretion is the salt, and fancy the sugar of life; the one preserves. the other sweetens it-BOvee.
 All free governments are managed by the combined wisdom and folly of the people, James A. Garfield
 Real glory springs from the silent conquest of ourselves.-ThomSon.
 Youth fades; love droops; the leaves of
 friendship fall;
 A mothers secret hope Outlives them
 all.-Holmes.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-27

The Persian parliament dismissed their shah, and put his two-year-old son on the throne. Of course, the new king is too youth full to function but an important considera. tion seems to have been that he is also too young to put in his time contributing dis tinction to the night life of Paris, as his father dd ..,--. ,. .i.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-27

An Illinois congressman says that America is losing prestige in Cuba because of the oil investigations. Still, the confidence and re- spect of the American people in their own government are worth much more than bou- quets from q country whose national sport ia cock. k.fighting.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-27
A Civil War Veterans Birthday

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 I celebrated my birthday on yesterday, March A, with few of my friends and thought it a glorious day. Eighty years of my life are spent. arrived in Birmingham the first day of the week, the first day of the year, in 1880. It's been a long time. What know about Birmingham would make a book. DR. J. c. MILLER.
 Veteran of the Civil War. Bessemer, Ala, March 25, 1924.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-27

The Birmingham city commission is con- stantly pleading poverty when pressingly needed public projects are proposed. So much the more reason, it would appear, why leaks in the administration of public busi- ness should be effectively plugged.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-27

A Russian prince, who was an officer in the late czar's army, has job as a porter on Broadway, in New York; but owing to cir cumstances over which he had no control, his uniform has become so rusty that the na- lives outshine him.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-27
WINDMILL EFF1CIENCY

A story of windmill efficiency is being un- dertaken in England, but we think they would have better opportunities for research if they would send their experts to Washing ton and let them observe. the operations of congress.-Houston Post
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-27
OLD AND EXTENSIVE

A Chicago man advertises for "a seeond- hand vice cheap" They&e all secondhand vices. History tells us there hasn't been a new vice invented in 2,000 years. But none of them are cheap.-Kansas City Star.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-27
THE rLAPpER oF 1a1a

Don't try to talk to us about the girls today being 50 terribly more flip than the darlings of yesterday. Fifty years ago flapper was fined for jumping over q fence. And it happened right here in this town Milwaukee Journal.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-27

whether he will desert the party to which in name he belongs, Democrats view the situa- tion with some eonplacency. realizing that . Republican schism is to their advantage. ,g
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-27
MUFFLER OFTEN NEEDED

Self-made men are yet in an imperfect state. They haven't eliminated the noise.- Nashville Tennessean.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-27
NEED FIRST HAND IMPORTATION


 A bachelor organization in Brooklyn is giving a six-weeks' course on married life, in- cluding instruction on courtship, &5mestic felicity, home economies, care of children and various other problems
 All of which reminds us of the story of the Irishman who trundled squalling twin on each knee. His eight-year-old son, reading book nearby, and shouting loud enough to drown the din of his two younger brothers, asked: Father, what is q conub-copub-co- nubial bliss?"
 The father looked at his son in disgust {: "Who told you that?" he asked. "It's in the book" was the reply. "Well, throw the book away"
 Bachelors might be pretty well posted on courtship. or might learn a little more about it, but when it comes to the problems of married life, what they need most is little first hand formatiOn-Wichita Falls Rec ord-News
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-27
LTMTTEn ppTDN TN OHTO

We're still proud of Ohio, chiefly the part that hasn't been sticking out prominently iately.-0hiO State Journal
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-27
THE AGE HERALD



 Battered at Hirnninshsm am, Aia.. post office sec- snd-ciass matter. act of Congress March [. 1s7s. fREpERicK l. THOMPSON. .. .fREstpENr NEWS BuRnAus-wasningten. 500 Davidson Building; State Capital Montgomery Journal Building; Tennessee Valley. Decatur Daily Building; Tuscaloosa, News Building; Jasper. Mountain Eagle Building; Anniston. Star Build tng; Gadsden. Journal Building; Muscle Shoals, xf1.Cittes Daily Building. SUBSCRIPTION RATEs-By maii payable sn advance. In United States and Canada; Daily end Sunday. one year. $500; six months, $4.oo; three months. 322k; one month. ssc Daily only: One year. ssso; six months. ss.2s: three months. Si.76; one month. 76c Sunday only; ons year. sa.6o; six months. s1.so; three monshs' fso; one month. 26.
 By carrier. where carrier delivery s main. sAined: 2oo per week. S6o per month.
 &GGBER OF ASSOCIATED PRESS-Ths Asesoiatsd Press ts exclusively entitled to :he uss Tor publication of all news dispatches credited to it. or not otherwise credited in this paper and also local news published therein All rights of republication of special dispatches hrss, also reserved. Telephone (private branch exchange coLnecs- Ing all departments), Main 49o0.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-27

Battered at Birmingham. Aia-, post office as ssc- sud-class matter. act of Congress March [. 1s7s,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-27
; The Once Over
By U. '. rhILLns

How Long Should A Gentleman Cau On A
 Lady Before Telling Her His NsmeS
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-27

Warning To Cotton Growers.--Two bad crop years never come together here in Ala bama, but that shouldn't make the farmer go too strong on cotton this year to the neglect of other crops--Dothan Eagle.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-27

The Benefits Of Terracing.-If your farm needs terracing, don't let another season go by without giving it what it needs. The future of our great Wiregrass section de- pends upon the preservation of the soil. Terracing will help preserve it-Oxark Southern Star.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-27

! Good Hard Roads Needed.-A city to grow must have good roads. The radius of Tus- cnloosas trade territory should extend for miles in every direction, and good hard roads will prove the solution.--Tuscaloos News
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-27
PUBLIC BENEFIT IS OBSCURE

Telephone (private branch exchange coEnect- ng all departments), Main 43o0.
The Washington times., 1924-07-02
WHEN DID TT
HAPPEN?

I. When vas the Battle Of
white Plains, N. r, fought?
2. When was Aurelian Emperor
o. Rome?
3. When did Oliver WendelI
Holmes write "Ths Autocrat Of
the Breakfast TabIe?''
Z. When did the Austin friars
first come to London?
5. When was Yucatan annexed
w Mexico?
(Answers to the queries win
De printed tOmOrrOw.) I
ANSWERS.
70 Yesterdays Questions.
1. The Peace Of Utrecht be
tween the European powers was
concluded in IT'S.
,. The Borghesa Palace, Rome,
vNAs built about 1880.
3. Ancient Tyre was Besiesed
10r thirteen years, from SIS TO
oTs. B. c.
{. Bombay, india. was seized By
Portugal about 1880.
3. Shakespaare's '@rwo Gentle
me Of Verona" was first produced
about 1891.
(Copyright, 1924, King Features
Syndicate, Incl
The Washington times., 1924-07-02

EEWTYaAT . fine country
w this Is" said / ~ we
Wv walked through . great
forest IN Poland.
1T certainly IL" agreed Bobby.
tits too bad that they have such
. hard time here"
''wedged in between Germany
ana Russia. Poland has been the
bona Of contention for centuries"
I declared. "But hope they really
are free ana on their feet now.
They're q very brave people, the
Poles.r
We walked along q while, chat
ting and looking at the scenery.
Finally Bobby said:
I'VE haven't seen one interest
ing bird or animal today. / csr-
tainly thought we would zee =
polecat here"
I reared at Bobby's Joke, and 30
did Bunny, who dropped one ear
IN thought. and ventured:
You never can tell. I'll bet
you . Polish carrot that wen go
something worth while before sun.
down.
I looked at Bunny. He winked
his pink eye at me. ana from that
moment was more on the look
out than ever. for he's q reliable
prophet when 1t comes to telling
what we're going to encounter.
Noon came, and Bobby like all
children on q picnic-was the first
to feel the pangs Of hunger. So
after q little while, when we came
to q shady spot by the roadside,
where stone wall ran alongside
Of q great pine grove-you know
Poland has some of,the most beau
tiful forests in the world--we un-
packed our lunch.
We had sandwiches, hard-boiled
eggs. delicious cheese and biscuits
you know. when you are in
Europe you must call crackers
biscuits" Ana just as we were
finishing our cheese, Bobby delved
down into the bottom Of our kit
and brought out q small bag. He
opened It ana exclaimed:
"RaisinsI''
"Ha! Hal" I laughed. TOO bad
We haven't some nuts to go with
them"
Plenty Of hazel-hut trees
around here" said Bunny.
but they're pretty high up"
The Washington times., 1924-07-02
How to Be More Slender
CIR RID or THAT UGLY SUPERFLUoUS FLESH
By Maria Jetltza,

tsrs niOrs IL mentality than one
might imagine. Job said: The
thing which ! feared Il come
upon ma"
This sometimes happens in
modern life. also. BY living ID
constant terror Of oversfatness We
render the presence Z torment and
may bring on the very condition
we dread through Z peculiar
psychological complex.
80 10 about your reducing
heartily but light.heartSdly with
the confidence born of knowledge
that psrsfstent, wisely directed
effort must succeed.
Here Il an exercise which, SIM
pie though Il d, brin0s into vigor.
ouS play the muscles 6f your hips
and sides. Practice II each morn
Ing with several other 81 the exer-
ciaes that / describe from time to
time. Then jump into your tspid
bath or take : cool shower Or
spray. At night. II possible. take.
q hot bath. This IL the exercise:
Stand straight with your feet
wide apart. your weight over the
balls Of your fest. your arms
lifted to your shoulders. hands
meeting. finger.tips to finger.tips.
at the back Of your neck.
Now, pivoting from your waist
and without changing the posi-
ton Of your arms and hands. band
slowly 60 far a. you can from
sido to side. A. you do 90, inhale
and exhale deeply. Repeat the
exercise from ten to twenty tinaes.
The Washington times., 1924-07-02

After all, slenderizing to sym.
metrical measurements Is merely
q matter Of change Of habits. The
new habits OF mental and physl-
cal activity are just as pleasant
as the old habit Of inactiOn, once
we set used to their energizing
vigor-in fact. they are much
pleasanter.
It ID never wise TO try to re-
duce in q hurry, for the process
Is too exhausting and may later
give occasion to unfavorable re-
action. II you must reduce
quickly. You should do 90 only
under the directions Of your ply
slcian.
Except In extreme cases Il IL
advisable simply to form habits
that WIN gradually result in less
fat formation. Change your In
terests ana enthusiasm from de.
liciOus sweets and culinary deli.
cacies to fruits. salads, green
vegetables. and from luxurious
mapping to hiking, swimming.
gardening. horseback riding. golf
and fancy dancing. Fiji your life
with addsd interests. such ~ 20.
cial service.
Do not worry about the matter
Of reducing Just use common
sense ana logical methods, with
fun confidence that results win
be good.
Fatness and thinness are mat