davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-06
THE PRINCE OF MALES

Reported losses of his mount in steeple-
chases, drags and other equestrian contests
during the last year haNN caused no little
anxiety in England over the growing venture
some tendencies of the Prince of Wales.
Several narrow escapes from serious injury
have strongly suggested the wisdom of curb
ing the mettlesome heir to the throne. 1t
is said even by Englishmen who love horse
flesh and admire an easy mount that the
prince is,a bit too strenuous for the nation g
future welfare, that daring athletic stunts
are not for heirs to great thrones, and so
forth and SO on.
Some say that the price is an awkward
rider because he has so many spills; others
that he is good horseman, but exhibits no
fear or hesitation at daring feats which ordi-
nary horsemen avoid, and which are often
beyond a mere horses capacity. Be that as it
may, while the British shudder at the stunts
Of the prince, from the American viewpoint
he is regarded as a healthy, human young
man who has earned distinction as a regular
fellow He has rebelled against being
framed as the victim of a diplomatic or
political marrige, and insists that before he
"Lohengrins" down the aisle. he will have
something to say about the choice of the
bride-elect. He has expressed distaste for
stilted court functions, and entertains con-
tempt for shows in general. He openly rebels
against fitting his habits to the dreary rou-
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-06
A WANDERING THEsPIAN

The bedraggled little. troupe, headed by
Shakespearian actor ~hot styled himself on
the billboards, THE eminent. stragedian," had.
arrived in town a short while before the hour
for the night performance to begin. They
had come from an obscure hamlet some dis
lance away. Because of<this fact, and poor
railroad service which 4itinerant, theatrical
companies were accustomed to undergo in
those days, they had had an exhausting trip.
When the small-town dramatic critic APP
peared to pass judgment on the star and his
metropolitan cast" the house manager and
an obsequious press agent informed him
that the star wished to say word--a very
urgent word it seemed--to the gentleman of
the press. The reception in the. dressing
room was the kind a drowning man is
supposed to give to the life-preseryer tossed
in his direction by a friendly hand The
star, who was a huge fellow and had, in
fact, worked. in a rolling mill before he went
on the stage, had request to make. He
made it in substantially these words, adj
dressing the critic by his first name, as if
the two had been friends for years instead of
having met but few seconds before:
We've played in the worst kind of hard
luck Business has, been bad for weeks past
We've been in all sorts of out-of-the-way
places; Travelled at all hours of the day and
night apd besides appearing before small and
unresponsive audiences, we've suffered all
the hardships of, abominable. little country
hotels: We've gone. hungry because we
couldn' get anything fit to eat. We got in
here late" this afternoon completely done up.
The ladies of my company are on the verge
of nervous breakdown. We .afe going to
do our very best to please. OF course,
realize that I'm carrying a cheap production,
and small company. but want you to make
all the allowances you can. If you speak a
kind word for us, after seeing our perform
ance, 1 will be everlastingly obliged to you
and so will the ladies, and gentlemen of my
company. I've transformed about the coun-
try for years, but this is Just about the worst
season I've ever experienced"
He wore a tawdry costume, in which he
was to enact Macbeth; propped against the
wall was his tin buckler and his sword. The
house was warm, the dressing room close
and stuffy. As he talked, he mopped beads
of perspiration from his brow and his voice
trembIed with emotion. Each time he raised
his hands in a despAiring gesture the short
sleeves Of his tunic revealed a pair of mus
cuIar arms an athlete might have envied. a
reminder of his rolling-mill days. In such
circumstances and possessing a heart that
was not adamant to appeals for sympathy,
what could the critic do but promise that he
would receive the evenings offering in the
spirit IN which it was presented and would
make all due allowances for artists who la
bored under difficulties?
The curtain rose. There were probably
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-06
BLocKING CONSERVATION.

Adoption of resolutions by members of the
Alabama Fishermen and Hunters Association
sharply criticizing Governor Brandon for
acts which the association regards as directly
hostile to the states conservation policies,
purposes and interests is not surprising.
The storm has been brewing for some time.
In fact, ever since the many thousands of
dollars collected from members of the associa-
ton in taxes and in fines from yiolators of
the conservation laws were allowed to accu-
mulate and were turned over to the general
fund, instead of being expended for the pur-
poses originally intended. namely, protection
and propagation of fish and game and en-
forcement of the conservation laws to that
end
Going back by way of brief reference to
the activities and efforts of the sportsmen and
conservationists to have proper laws enacted
and enforced, it is found that they were
willing to pay reasonable license taxes with
the understanding that the money so collected
as a special tax would be spent for specific
and altogether worthy purpose. They wanted
hatcheries or culture ponds, wardens to en-
force the laws and other measures for con-
serving the states fish and game. But. they
have seen their money withheld from these
purposes and turned into the general fund
by the thousands of dollars. They were thus
paying special and additional tax for more
or less political, instead of constructive, 'pur-
poses. .
Recently Governor Brandon dispensed with
nearly all the game wardens in the state
during the closed season for hunting-the
very time they are needed to enforce the
law--with the claim that his action will save
money. True There will be just that much
more revenue to divert from the conservation
department to the general fund. As conse-
ouence conservation will suffer accordingly,
and the theory and purpose of the conserva-
ton law, for which fishermen, hunters and
other conservationists worked and to the en-
forcement of which they thought they would
contribute, will be largely nullified. Hence
the censure of the Alabama Fishermen and
Hunters, Association, which contends, that
the policy of converting these funds to other
uses than lettering conservation Conditions
and enforcing the conservation laws is e"im-
moral unfair and dishonest
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-06
CLOUDS SILVER LINING IN WAsHINGToN DISCLOSURES

~HE revelations at Washington are not
only startling but stunning. If they
- were to be taken as the index of Of
ficial life throughout America, lovers of clean
and honest government might well be dis
mayed and seriously contend that our form
of government has proven itself after more
than century of trial as distinctly deficient.
So numerous and so lamentable are the reve-
lations tina tone hardly knows whether it is
better to mention them or to withhold com
ment. The clouds silver lining is to be seen,
however, in the universal execration of the
American people. Our republic is not yet
done for, nor is it likely to go the way of
the world notwithstanding crookedness and
suspicion of crookedness in high places. So
long as the heart of the average man beats
honestly and the judgment of the honest man
demands publication of the politics of the
land, we are safe.
Not the least sad thing about all the truth
and faIsehood that have been poured into the
intellectual consciousness of the nation is the
suspicion that is engendered in the minds Of
the people who are prone to believe that their
officials hold public office as a private snap
to be used for personal advantage, and that
the keenest business men are those who can
corrupt the most public officials. All the
specifics that spring fro mdisordered. and I'M
hinged minds about the inefficiency and in
justice of government are not at all COM
parable in their effect of destroying the con-
fidence four peoplt in our system of govern.
ment to these exposures. The American pub
lie must grip its judgment and conscience.
We must not allow ourselves to be thrown
into hysteria about government simply be-
cause some government officials have placed
their private interests above the interests of
tn epublic and because some captains of
finance have used these publ cofficials to
their own advantage.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-06

One of the evils that led to the establish
ment of the English system of Jurisprudence
was the star chamber. / know not how star
chamber tribunals were originally instituted
whether from the prejudice and hatred and
ambition Of the monarch, or whether the
monarch was 50 outraged by the conduct of
some of his subjects that he adopted short
cut In administering punishment. But out
of the system grew an idea that became N9eIf
established among Englishspeaking peoples
and was made the guaranty o fthe rights Of
American citizens, namely, that q man
charged witt crime shah be charged by Il
presentment Of grand jury. that he shall be-
confronted BY ms accusers. face to face. that
he shall have the opportunity of being heard
IN person and by counsel, and shall be given:
the great advantage of erOss-examination;
also that an the proceedings shall be com
Quoted in an, orderly and legal way, and
record kept, 50 that errors of the court s0F
any deprivation of the constitutional right Of
the citizen may be presented to some supreme,
impartial, judicial tribunal for determination.
There wss another great reason in the back
ground when English pseaking men estab-
ished the grand jury and the right of the
trial by petit jury for crime. 1t was prae-
hcally embodied in the oath that is admins
tered to every grand jury in America, namely,
that the Jurors viii present no person through
malice. hatred or i'll viii, nor leave any un-
presented through fear, favor or affection,
but that in all their presentments they viii
present the truth, the whole truth and moth
ing but the truth. The grand jury was In
tended to be, and trust always has been,
body that secretly investigated the commits
sion of crime. Suspected criminals were not
informed beforehand of what 1T was doing,
thereby affOrding them opportunity to destroy
evidence. sub0rn witnesses or cover mp the
proof of guilt The secrecy had another pur-
pOse-that OF not dragging into disrepute the
names of inn0cent persons.
While the refraining from defending crook.
edness IN business or in public office, let us
be careful not to destroy grand iuries in
America legislative chambers must not be
substituted for star chambers ID
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-06

less than a. hundred persons in the house
which looked like huge gloomy cavern,
+peopled here and there by gnomes who
crouched in their seats, rustled programs and
wore an air of half-hearted expectancy which
was soon to give way to expressions of dis
chagrin and lastly, disgust 1t
was undoubtedly one of the worst OF the
many terrible performances of Shakespeare
that have been given since Honest VIII
won a London reputation as actor, manager
and playwright. The star 'stalked about the
stage in the accepted fashion of the old
school, but whereas Edwin Forrest and John
Mccullough roared to some purpose, he
ranted to no purpose whatever. Scene after
scene ended in chilling silence from the au-
dience-Better-ah, far better--were silence
than the filters that ran through the nearly
empty auditorium when the star fairly outdid
himself in believing and shifting his chest
The poor fellow was not only an indiffer-
ent actor who had evidently missed his call
ing, but he was Initiating style OF acting
that had been out of date for at least twenty
years and to a later generation appeared abb
surdly exaggerated. The results can easily
be imagined. The effect on his audience
was painful to witness, not only because the
audience was suffering but also because there
was pathetic futility in the efforts OF the
company, so obviously doing their best, to
win sign. of approval When the curtain
dropped with thud to the stage, the sound
was like that of clod rafting on coffin
lid.
4 And the review the critic was supposed to
write? Well, the critic. as mentioned pre-
viously, had heart susceptible to pity. The
performance was impossible; it could not be
praised Therefore, he said nothing The
paper came out the next morning with no
reference to the eminent tragedian" and his
appearance in shakespeares ''celebrated trag-
edy of Macbeth Perhaps it is. just as well
that the movies came along and put an end
to transforming. 1t was hard life-hard
for the players and the jewellers in the
nrovinccs whom they endeavored. to entertain.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-06

rural population make it less. necessary to
devote effort to the opinion side of the paper.
Rural carriers take city daily papers BY the
hundreds from every town of sire. These
issues are delivered before noon over most
Of the routes. The readers have the general
news and its Interpretation long before the
local paper can reach the farmstead. Asked
especially of the home paper are the intimate
happenings, the doings of neighbOrs, and the
activities of loeal organizations
The country press as it grows into a
more stable economic position, with the num-
Der of its plants finally coming into sound
ratio to the possible support, has possibilities
for evolution IN its OpiniOn-making function.
the country editor has in his hands a
powerful lever. Perhaps he is too busy just
now to use that. but :. . there beckons a.
larger service for the community and for the,
broader undertakings in social betterment :.
The period Of readjustment through which,
the rural press is passing will in the end:
make it more powerful than ever in its his
tory.S
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-06
pRACTICAL BENEYOLENCE

Some time ago an elderly couple near Rus
sellville made a substantial donation to the
erection of an adequate school building In
that community. They had no children or
immediate heirs, and both we're fond of chill
dren They had prospered by industry and
thrift, and they thus expressed their sense
of gratitude to the community which helped
them to prosper by offering them opportuni-
ties and patronixing. their store.
Recently this couple demonstrated further
gratitude to their community and deeper
interest in the4welfare of its children by do
mating Afourteen- thousand dollars in money
and seven hundred acres, of land as per-
petual endowment of a school to bear their
name Such a manifestation in, the interest
of the youth of that community is doubly
commendable, because it not only provides
permanent practical aid for ambitious boys
and girls seeking an education and sets an
example worthy of emulation by others but
it serves to impress upon that community
the value of school training for development
of higher efficiency and better citizenship.
1t is safe to predict that this gift will prove
a productive asset, not solely because of its
monetary value, but by reason of the spirit
behind it and its moral influence upon the
community. 1t will afford larger educa7
tional opportunities, the products of which
will be shared in by the people of that sec
ton who helped the donors to prosper and
enabled them to express their gratitude in so
practical way.
Alabama rural districts would be better
off if they had more citizens like Mr.. and
Mrs G. c. Smith of District 80, Lawrence
county, who made possible the establishment
and endowment of this school to bear their
honored names .'r-.-
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-06

Birmingham were formerly rated under first,
second, third and fourth class districts, ae-
cording to the fire protection available. I'm
der the new tariff Birmingham has only two
classes. first and fourth. All of the second.
and third, and perhaps the greater portion
of the old fourth class territory, has been
given first class rates. From this it will
be seen that the reductions are not on per-
centage basis. but vary according to locality.
The few dwellings in the old first class limits
down town will not benefit by the change,
while the suburbs receive the greatest reduc-
ton, being placed on an equal basis with
the down town district. ~
There are a number of risks, of course,
on which rates were not reduced, or were
increased, because of additional exposures
that did not exist when the city was last
rated. Each building is rated on its merits,
and any reduction or increase depends entirely
upon whether or not additional exposures
have been added since the building in ques-
ton was last rated.
The local agents of Birmingham have been
working overtime checking the rates on all
policies written since January LIST, and max
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-06
FIRE WASTE

According to the institute of public service,
one city dwelling is destroyed by fire in the
United States every four minutes. Farm
buildings are burned at the rate of one every
seven minutes. One hospital, five churches
and five schOolhoUses burn down every day. Z
Every day also Al persons lose their lives
and A are injured by fire. -
The prosperity of country is determined
quite as much by the amount of its needless
waste as by the amount Of its accumulatedr
wealth.-FOrt Worth Record.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-06

the system of government that is wrong, but
merely some of the men who have been ad-
ministering the government. By gripping our
selves we can take the fever out of our blood
and restore realization that mere change
in the form of government is not a religious
revival that would change the hearts, con-
sciences and lives of all who live under it.
am so thoroughly convinced of the inherent
honesty of the American people that i doubt
not that a vast majority still believe that
public office is a public trust Even the
small minority need only TO think to sfsn1ize
that honesty, and dishonesty do not mark
forms of government, but are traits which
mark individuals.
utter no complaint about the procedure
which has been followed in the Washington
investigations. i can well understand how,
under the circumstances, the unusual pro-
cedure is justifiable. There are moments in
the lives of individuals and of governments
when circumstances excuse extraterritoriaI
jurisdiction. accuse no one of crime or
guilt. In government such as ours it is
not the business of citizen to try and con-
denim his fellow men. That is the duty of our
courts and juries. There was great necessity
for the investigations, and il innOcent-per-
sons have been brought under public con-
demnation, they must seek consolation from
the fact that from the days of the Nazarene
to the present day the just have often had
to suffer for the unjust. 1 doubt not that
many whose names have been dragged into
the public print in connection with the in
vestigations are blaneless in both thought
and conduct.
L repeat that 1 utter no protest against
the Investigations; admit that there are
times when extraterritorial jurisdiction may
properly be assumed, times when it is neces-
sary for the courts to so outside the law as
written and announce the rule of reason,
times when executives must WELD the big
stick and infringe upon another branch of
the government, times when legislative bodies
must interfere with the orderly processes of
the courts, yet 1 wish to emphasize that evil
may flow out Of this good work if it should
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-06
Sew Fire Insurance Rats
Editor of The Age-Herald

To the Editor Of The Age-Herald:
A good deal of interest has been aroused
with regard to the new fire insurance rates
in Birmingham. Unfortunately the news
papers did not give full information on the
subject and their articles gave the impress
sion that there had been a flat reduction on
all risks. This is not the case, and if you
will allow me the space, will endeavor to
state the facts briefly.
There has been no uniform reduction in
fire insurance rates, but changes have been
made in territorial classifications which re-
suited in rate reductions over the greater
part OF the city. For instance. dwellings in
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-06

used to be tottering on the edge of bank
ruptcy, now most of the country papers are
on sound financial basis with wkn-eQuipped
plants. But with the increased area of dis
tribution of the city dailies and the incurSiOn
of the farm papers, the peak Of numbers is
apparently passed.
The home constituency has come to de-
pend on the farm journals for discussion of
immediate problems, resulting In q swaying
by mass. instead of by units, by sections of
the country rather than. by separate com
munities.
From financial point of view, in bust
ness efficiency and in the completeness with
which it reports the news-from the painting
OF Aunt Malissa's fence to the session of the
Rotary Club-tke modern country paper
shows notable progress oyer its predecessor.
Probably there is a subconsciOus feeling on
the part of the editors that the incursiOn of
the city dailies on the local field, the large
circulation of the farm papers. and the maga-
zine reading constantly increasing among the
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-06

ing refunds where they are due. : In the
meantime we. are receiving numerous calls
seeking further information on the subject.
It. is impossible to make comprehensive
statement as to just what the new Rates will
save the property owners OF Birmingham, and
those desiring further information should
take the matter up with their Respective
agents. Respectfully,
CECIL L. PARKER,
Secretary Birmingham Fire and Casualty
Insurance Exchange
Birmingham. April 5.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-06
EmpIOyes, Rest Wishes

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
Mr.. w. H. Oldham, superintendent of the
Ensley and Alice blast furnaces, has been APP
pointed general superintendent of the Fair
field steel works Mr sOldham has been SD
perintendent of Alice furnace for the past
fifiten years, and it is with regret that the
men of Alice see him leave.
There are still a few men at Alice furnace
who have served under Mr.. Oldham daring
the entire fifteen years, and they more than
anyone else regret his passing, for they have
come to know and recognize his many fine
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-06
EVOLUTION OFRURAL PRESS TO BRING INCREASED POWER

TYNE path of evolution of the country
press in the future is in the direction
y of forming public opinion. says
Charles Moreau Harger. editor of the abb
lene, Kan, Reflector, in an article in the
April number of Scribner's Magazine. Mr..
Harger. who has been editor Of the Reflector
since 1888 and who was formerly lecturer
in the department Of journalism at the Uni
versity of Kansas, in his article traces the
development of the country press from the old
days of the political sfire-eaters when phrases
like "our esteemed but loathed contemporary"
were banded about to the present highly de-
Eeloped news sheets lacking in editorial force
and predicts that the period of readjustment
will make the rural press more powerful than
ever before.
Elements in the change are the introduc-
ton of the direct primary with its attendant
political advertising, and increased interest
in the financial side of the paper. The coun-
try papers have ceased to be merely party
organs and are more nearly newspapers"
says Mr.. Harger. Whereas many editors