davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-05
CHINA'S CIVIL WAR

Many warships, including several American vessels, are assembled in Chi nese waters to protect the lives and property of various nationals. Fighting Tn the threatened civil war has broken out within thirty miles of Shanghai. Civil war in China is quite a different matter from the Boxer uprising twenty years ago. At that time China had made little progress in industrial or military achievement. Today the country has knowledge of warfare, and has taken on many Western ideas in industrial achievement. It is being extensively de- veloped by Americans and Europeans, so that the Western world has far greater interests there than formerly.
 As in Rome during the latter days of the old republic, in England in the period of the Lancastr:ans and Yorkists cen turies afterwards, and in Mexico and Russia in the last decade, the outbreak in China is caused by the personal ambi- tions of civil and military leaders in quest of power. There is little or no pa- triotic purpose. Forced conscription is under way in the rival camps of the ruthless military leaders, and it is a question of personal ambition rather than consideration of the country's vel
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-05
GROWING SAFETY IN MINES

The people of Alabama cannot but be gratified at the figures given in Mir. Charles H. Nesbit's report to Governor Brandon on mining progress in this state. Although over two million tons of coal were produced in 1923 more than were produced in 1922, it is significant that the number of mine accidents and fatal ities was greatly reduced During the year there were 1920 regular mine in spections, besides special inspections in 123 fatal and non-fatal mine accidents. It is noted that 49.44 per cent. of the ac- cidents were caused by falls within the mines; 21.35 per cent. by mine cars and equipment; ten per cent. by electrocu- ton, and 8.9 per cent. by gas explosions while only 2.25 per cent. were caused by explosives, in spite of the tremendous quantities handled and detonated.
 Although it is not possible to foresee and prevent all accidents, yet the record shows that it is possible to reduce them each year to smaller minimums. This process springs from several sources. It is in part derived from the effort of companies to protect their employees. It springs from the growing use of better mine equipment. It springs from efforts made to induce the men themselves to be more careful. It is the result of laws providing and requiring certain definite safeguards. It springs from. the influence of regular official inspections which de- tect dangers and call for their remedy. It springs from the knowledge on the part of operators that they are by law now held financially responsible for in juries to their employees. It springs from the growing conviction on the part of owners that safe mines properly equipped and safeguarded are more prof. itabIe than the other kind It springs from humanitarian motives, both those developing among the operators them selves and those imposed by the law.
 The situation has greatly improved. It is still improving. Accidents are still
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-05
The Forum Of People

Age Herald Appreciated In Camp Libraries To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 I wish to thank you on behalf of the young man who attended the training camps in this corps area for your courtesy in sending your paper to the camp libraries during the train ing period. The presence of these news papers served to increase the popularity Of camp libraries.
 ROBT. WHITFIELD,
 Adjutant General, Fourth Corps Area. Atlanta, Ga, September l, 1924.
 CoIOred MasOns' Thanks for Publicity To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 Your efficient handling of the proceedings of the Grand Lodge, A. F. x A. M.. colored, and your broadminded editorial Thursday, August 2S, were highly appreciated by the officers and members of the lodge and con- sidered by all of us distinct recognition of advance made by negro Masons of the state during the last eleven years.
 Thanking you for your comment, editorial and accurate statement of our financial stand ing and for the privilege of reporting the meetings to your journal. I am, sincerely yours. A. \. OW hNS' Dean Selma University and Official Reporter
 for the Lodge.
 Selma, Ala, September 3, 1924.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-05
The Classic
By DIR. FRANK CRANE

THE word classic" is contradiction and
 misnomer. For classic is precisely not
 of any class, but is universal, empyrean, and above all classifications. There's noth- ing in the world that is brother to Bethovens Moonlight sonata Nothing can be compared to- Wagner's "Parsifal." And Chopin noe turne or a Bach fugue is utterly isolated. Why call them classic?
 Mary Jane Holmes novels are really classic, to use the word in its logical sense, for they are no different from billions of novels equally bad. All imitators, followers, and mediocre people and writers are classy, because to meet one is to meet all, and to read one is to read all.
 Perhaps the best definition of classic is that given by Lowell: Something that can be simple without being vulgar, elevated without being distant, that is neither ancient nor modern, always new and incapable of growing old"
 Let us examine this sentence.
 Simple without being vulgar" It is sim plicity. that is the hall,mark of greatness. Only little souls or crazy souls are foggy and shrouded in mystery in their utteranee. Long, hard words are the sign of mental strut When any one knows a thing thoroughly he can make an old apple woman see 1t. Eso- teric wisdom is nine-tenths humbug. When the greatest 1eacnef tndC ever lAVeu came tO this earth to explain the deepest of subjects, He talked so little children understood Him.
 Long words, as Chesterton says, are not the hard words; it is the short ones that are hard. For instance, condemn" has q nice, soft sound, while "damn," which means pre- cisely the same thing, is hard and jagged as brickbat.
 The difficulty with being simple is that unless one is great-souled, he is apt to be vulgar. For most of us it is well to be complex. Then we will not be found out.
 "Elevated without being distant" That means so genuinely great we can afford to be familiar. This again is too hard for most of us. Small souls do well to keep at dis tance For this reason families have so much trouble; the members thereof are too close. Neither ancient nor modern" Only that 1 is great which is written for all men. Always new and incapable of growing old. This is, perhaps, the essence of true classicism. Dickens has refused to die. Dante is not a fad; no fad can live six centuries Time is the fatal test.
 And the secret of being permanent is being real. We should weary of the sun and stars if they were painted
 Whatever you do that is the pure expres- sion of your own personality, that flows from your town thought and feeling as rose de- velops from the stem is classic.
 If the most commonplace man in the world knew how to tell the truth about what he saw, felt and heard, his utteranee would be classic.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-05

fare. The seriousness of the situation is indicated by the cooperation in a firm, joint warning by America, Great Britain and Japan, and in simultaneous dispatch of warships from the three countries to Chinese waters. The Chi nese masses seem helpless before the military leaders, who are equipped with airplanes and modern war machinery.
 The diplomatic corps at Peking has addressed the usual note to the feeble central government warning it that fail ure to protect foreign residents and property would be in violation of it's ob- legations and would result in suitable penalties. Little attention is paid by the military governors of the various provinces to the nominal authorities at Picking or to the pleas of parliament. There need be no surprise that former bandits occupy positions of authority in many of the provinces. The powers which have controlled China are largely re- sponsible for such a situation as is threatened. The Chinese masses are more or less indifferent, and are not moved by the prospects of anarchy in any of the provinces. The outside world may we'll be concerned over the situa- tion, because Bolshevik Russia stands ready to profit by strife and chaos in the Far East.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-05
A Monkey in the Pulnit

A preacher in Butte, Mont, brought a monkey in the pulpit recently when he spoke on the subject of evolution. Children in the congregation had a good time watching the ape chamber about and pulling on his chain. The preacher asked indignantly whether he was to believe that he was descended from such an animal That of course, was an ap- peal to popular pride and prejudice. There are many sincere believers who have followed the calm records of the naturalists, who have experienced the darkness and dismay of men who saw their most cherished beliefs rem dered, as they thought, incredible But beyond that they again found peace in freer faith for which process and purpose creation and evolution are not irreconcilable, but neces- sary to one another. The eighteenth century preciseness, tits cold passion for stable and measured universe, it's cold denial and cold affirmation of the power of God, a God of ice, is passing despite the preacher of Butte.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-05
Watching The Parade
THIs morning the queen of my foyer de-
By JOHN PILGRIM

THIS morning the queen of my foyer de-
 tected evidences that I was planning a day in the car. I do not want to be nasty about it, but never has she seen me making a plan that she did not try to make that plan over. So she said:
 "Why don't you ask the Carols to go along?"
 We'll that was fine. Jimmy Carroll is a good scout, funny enough, but not too funny, and his wife is the neatest little trick you ever saw. We began to worry about where we should go. That is, 1 made suggestions and they were being overruled, when the tel ephone rang. Mrs. Jimmy Carroll on the wire.
 "We thought that if you were going driv- ing this afternoon,' said Mrs. Jimmy, that we would like to go along. That is, if you have made no other plans. We thought we might drive out to the Hoskinsons-"
 Mrs. Pilgrim cooed over the telephone. Her accents dripped honey and regret.
 ''So sorry," she said. Some other time, dear"
 She's Been banning the Carols ever since. L gather that when she does a favor she wishes to do it off her own bat, and not have that favor suggested to her by the favoree. Also, although she has no hesitancy whatever in making her faithful partner drive her friends where she wants to go, she objects strenuously when they seek to have him drive them where they want to go.
 I'll not have them treat you as though you were a chauffeur,' said she. She fumed about it all afternoon.
 And there is heap of good, cold, hard common sense in her objection, as there usu- ally is in all of her objections. It's very pleasant thing to do a favor. It is very sour, bitter and undesirable thing to be as Sessed
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-05
The Right Word
A DISCUSSION OF THAT AND WHICH
 (Find the Error in This Article)
By w. CURTIS NICHOLSON

H. ". Talbot of Chicago writes as fol- lows:
 T thoroughly enjoy your comments in The Right Word
 II have been unable to find definite rule for the application of pronouns that and which in sentences such as the following |: (1) This is the problem that bothers me ; (2) The answers which l gave you are cor rect.
 "Couldn't either pronoun be correctly used in these examples? Possibly you can give me d practical rule to determine their proper use in similar sentences"
 That is correct in each of the sentences given in the foregoing query.
 In the following two sentences, which is correct Courage which is an important ele- ment of success is not wanting in this youth i; the old station which had long been dis figurement to the town, was about to be torn down.
 Now, if the correspondent and others who may be interested in this problem will com pare the two sets of sentences, and read the following explanation, the use of which and that may not be so difficult in the future.
 In the first set note that the word that limits or identifies a particular problem on the one hand and certain answers on the other, selected from a class of problems and a class of answers. l mention a hook. 1t is some particular book and desire my nearer to know just which book I mean, so 1 say, "The book that you gave me l have read" Note the absence of commas in such a con- structiOn.
 Tn the second set of examples, note that "courage" and "the old station" are all ready identified, and that which merely introduces additional descriptive information. Also note the employment of commas.
 Yesterdays Error
 Wrong: Readers should do their best to never use "aint."
 Right: Readers should do their best never to use "an't.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-05
Childish Prattle"

Hostility to the order of Freemasons is on the increase in Italy. Signor Mussolini has given out a ukase that fascisti must hence forth give up their membership in the Ma sonic order, because it is founded on inter national lines and is built on international solidarity" The truth of Mussolini's objec. tion to Freemasonry lies in the liberal and tolerant views of it's members. They form in- deed an international organization, but they do not obey the decrees of a foregin power There is nothing sinister in their organiza- tion. They do not threaten any Masonic world revolution or dictatorship. Mussolini may as well outlaw Christianity. It also is founded on international lines. In the Christian con- ception all men are brothers. even liberals and opponents of fascisti. That now is q really dangerous creed, from the viewpoint of Mussolinis absurd supernationalism. Childish prattle," Premier Herriot, of France, calls Mussolinis startling state- ments.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-05
Noon Serendde
(NIarjorie Meeker in Contemporary Verse;

(Marjorie Meeker in Contemporary Verse. My garden glitters and is gay With banners of the marching day Come down . storm of golden light And colored fire will please your sight, A dappled breeze will sing, and bring You tales of tree-top whispering; Or wind great with silences Will cool you with sea-images. Come the quick horizons hide Unless the door is opened wide, And if the windows all are shut The blue is blind, the clouds are cut In glassy squares that give cold Notion of heavens hung with gold Come, before outrageous Night Climbs the tall terraces of light Quenching the fire of golden things With the gray beating of her wings.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-05
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Practice Makes Perfect

Practice Makes Perfect IN TARY, aged seven, being refused per- WI mission to attend funeral, explained
 to a caller thus: "I really don't care. You see, I've never been to funeral, and I'm not sure I'd know just how to act, and I'd rather practice on one of my own family st."-Elizabeth F. Milbank.
 Pessimisms Start everything on a Friday, so that in case anything turns out badly, it will not surprise you.
 Of two evils, always choose both. If things ever look rosy, consult an occu- list to see if you are not becoming color blind.
 Always get in the bathtub when you are alone in the house, for then some one is sure to ring the doorbell. Don't jolly yourself along; there are plenty of other fellows ready to do it for you.
 -J. J. O.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-05
The Worlds Wirldopv
Who's Next?
By PIERRE VAN PASSEN

rHE Danes descendants of fierce and
 warlike Vikings and Norsemen, are go-
 ing to abolish their army and navy. They will keep security police force, but warships all will be scrapped. A bill to this effect is to be introduced by the government at the next session of parliament and is con- sidered certain of passage Denmark, with the highest type of civilization on earth, believes that spiritual force is not based upon num- bers and that its laws are not those of ar mics. That little country is in happy sit uation. There are no enemies to fear and the people do not believe in the dogma that the end justifies the means or that by willing peace one must be prepared for war; All her energies are going to be turned into chan nels of peace. There will be grave and solemn headshakes at Denmarks action. You can't eradicate war no more than you can stamp out cancer" said writer lately. That's true, perhaps, but you can try.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-05
A Clash in Russia

Zinovieff, chairman of the third inter- nationale, and Trotsky are heading for a new clash, reports from Russia state. As time goes on and more intimate information of the Russian leaders filters through it begins to look as if a comparison between Trotsky and Danton were not unjustified. The war min ister's revolutionary. fervor seems to. have been the outcome of an impulse toward free dom and justice. He talks freely of a re- turn to democracy. Like Danton in the French revolution, he is nauseated with pol itics. Trotsky is popular with and beloved by the masses. ZinOvieff is a doctrinaire fanatic. Like Danton and Robespierre clash. ed upon the topmost summit of victory, so ii appears Trotsky and Zinovieff will come into collision. In the case of the French rev. olutionary leaders this was a collision be- tween freedom and law, between the elas ticity of life and the rigidity of concepts In Russia it will perhaps be a Trotsky com ing in violent clash with Zinovieffs unalter able orthodox communism and central die tatorship, while he himself favors a restora tion of the peoples freedom
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-05
INDEBTED TO AGE.HERALD

Notwithstanding press comment to the contrary the people in the Tennessee Valley are most deeply indebted to the management of The Birmingham Age Herald for the won derful support which it has accorded this district and the Muscle Shoals project In our opinion, The Age-Herald is more sincere in it's desire for clean development over the entire state than any other great paper in Alabama,-Tuscumbia Times.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-05
Kiddie-Kapers A Model Child

Kiddie Kapers
 A Model Child Mother: Teddy, you should always say Thank you when anyone gives you candy, apples, cookies, or the like" Teddy: All right, Mother. Let's prac- tice."-J. w. R.
 Noreen, aged eight, while gazing thought fully at the initials in mothers wedding ring, suddenly queried Mother, what was Daddys maiden name%'-F. s.
 The Jingle-Jangle Counter The grass is green, ought to know, My white trousers have told me SO.
 Dorsey M. Goad. To be high jumper generally takes practice, But it isn't necessary if you'll sit, on a cac- tus. -Zela l.. Work. A sailor once complained to me That when ashore he's "all at sea-"
 John Rowland. If in union there is strength as we're ire Quently told, This derned old union suit wouldn't rip be- fore it's old. Anthony Brown. As every married man knows, "A word to the wives is sufficient"
 Copyright 1924. Reproduction fOrbiddenl
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-05

occurring; but both their number and their calamitous consequences are being reduced. It is the desire of the people of this state that the administration leave no stone unturned to bring the mines of this state up to the very highest possible point of safety to those who must work in them.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-05

Government of the people, by the peo- pie, for the people seems to be in danger of degenerating into government of, by and for few of the people, in view of the percentage of them who fail to take enough interest in it to vote.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-05
NOT SURPRISING

An investigator finds that incomes are on the increase in the United States. The dis covery is not surprising. It is a result of economic necessity. If a mans income did not increase in the trail of his outgo he would be sunk without a trace.-Kansas City Star
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-05
THE FEET-MOvE THEM, TOO

Dancing masters declare that everything is being carried to extreme and that it is time to call halt. The difficulty in doing that in these times is that you don't know whether they are dancing have halted Detroit Free Press.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-05

Attorney Darrow pleaded that his young clients had no voice in the selec- ton of their parents or grandmothers. However, due care seems to have been taken in the selection of the alienists.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-05
"Rebirth" of Austria

Nothing is so remarkable in the whole com plex restoration process in Europe as the rebirth of the Austrian nation. Plainly the most difficult problem of many, it was given to the League of Nations to consider. Under expert financial guidance of the former mayor of Rotterdam. Dr. Zimmerman, and the hu- mane, sympathetic statesmanship of a Cath olic priest Dr. Seipel, Austria has recov- cred even faster than Germany. The latest budget was balanced without a deficit and no recourse was necessary to the League of Nations loan. It's an achievement worthy of note and accomplished in the face of gigantic obstacles-und something that even Oppo- cts of the league must dmit credible performance.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-05
A WAY THEY HAVE

He that giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord, but some people take so much time examining the security that they never get around to the loan.--Boston Transcript.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-05

Despite the many complaints that members of congress are unable to live on their salaries, none of the candidates has yet made bold to run on the platform that he needs the money.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-05

It is claimed that the rising genera ton is composed of young men and young women of the hour, by which 1t may be meant that the later the hour the longer the delay in rising.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-05

Reports that Emma Goldman has re- ceived permission to live in England in- dicate confidence by the people of that country in their ability to endure still further calamities.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-05

Defense Day has already served good purpose by giving notice to other nations that America does not intend to
 be caught mapping again.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-05

If the choice were left to me, whether to have free press or a free government, l would choose free press.-Thomas Jefferson
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-05

Those who think the Prince of Wales has no worries might picture him hiking it from a small army of American news paper reporters.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-05

Aboard the S. S. Giuseppe Smith. (By United Press): When MT. Pipp reached the baths aboard ship this morning he was greeted by Fritz Monahan, head bath stew ard, with a Good morning, sir. It's nice day, isn't it?" Mir. Pipp, always quick at repartee, smiled and replied, How're you? Yes, it is." There was no further conversation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-05
For Auto Speeders

If you must commit suicide, there's isn't very much difference between inhaling gas and stepping" on it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-05
Grandmother's Dilemma

Grandmother's Dilemma I'm in an awful quandary, And so l came to you, To see if you could tell me Just what ought to do. My children look at me and sigh, My grandchild's madder than mad, They treat me like a naughty child, Like Peck's Boy that was bad. It's all because I-Goodness me! almost said it there, So l might as well relieve myself went and bobbed my hair.
 B. E. Cloud. I'm only a mongrel writer; My tale is what I tell, And every cent I ever get Is the scent trail by smell.
 Katherine D. Badgley.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-05

(Later) Mir. Pipp reached the baths at :03, standard time. He seemed in good spirits.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-05

EXCLUSIVE MEMBER OF NORTH AMERI- CAN NEWSPAPER ALLIANCE IN ALABAMA.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-05

Telephone (private branch exchange connect ing all departmental, Main 4900