The Birmingham age-herald. [volume], December 31, 1924, Page 6, Image 6

About The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950

Image provided by: University of Alabama Libraries, Tuscaloosa, AL

                
THE AGE-HERALD
Inttrtd At Birmingham. Ala., post offloa as im»
nd'Clau matter, act of Concreae. March t. HTt.
niOKRlCK L THOMPSON.PRESIDENT
NEWS BUREAU—Wa*hln«ton. 100 DerlSeol
BuildinMl BtuU GapftUU Montgomery Journal
Building. Tennes.ee Valley. Decatur Dally
Building; Tuscaloosa, News Building; Jasper.
Mountain Eagle Building; Anniston. Star Build
|ng; Gadsden. Journal Building; Muscle SUoala
Tri-CUies Daily Building.
BUB8CRIPTION RATES—By mail, payable la
UdTanoe, In United States and Canada; Dally
•ad Sunday, one year. IS.00; six months, $4.09;
three months, 93.21; one month. 26c. Dally only.
One year. $9.90, six months, |9.29; three
■vjalfcs, $1.79; one month, Mo. Sunday only:
One year, 92.90; six months, $1*90; three montha
S9o; one month, lio.
By carrier, where carrier delivery is maia
Ur lalned, SOc per week, I9o per month.
MBMBER OP ASSOCIATED PRESS—The A»
•ociated Press is exclusively entitled to the use
(or publication of all news dispatches credited to
It or not otherwise credited In this paper and
also lftft1 nows published therein. All rights
•t iwpublleAtlon cl »p«clAl <u.e»toh„ »r. »U.
EXCLUSIVE MBMBER OP NORTH AMERI
CAN NEWSPAPER ALLIANCE IN ALABAMA
Telephone (prlvnt, branch i<eh*n>« oonaMt
tac all 4»pArtm,nU). MaId 4*0#.
If tt. eholo# w,fA l,ft to me.
ton A fTAA erw or A froo tov.rnm.nt, I wools
, a froo proAA—Thomoo J,fI,r«on.
REASONS FOR CITY’S GROWTH
Records and reports from nearly every
field of industrial and commercial ac
tivity and from conditions and influences
bearing on the city’s growth indicate not
only the rapid increase of Birmingham s
population, but a proportionate progress
and expansion in constructive lines that
promise even further community pros
perity. Comparisons in telephone ex
tensions, postal receipts, school attend
ance, bank clearings and savings ac
counts, building operations, street im
provements, gas consumption and many
''other conditions indicate large growth in
population and industry. It is conserv
atively estimated through these com
parisons and other trustworthy data that
for some time Birmingham has been
growing in population from ten to twelve
thousand a year. That is probably an un
derestimate as respects the last year or
two. The increase during that period has
been around fifteen thousand a year or
One of the most reliable indications of
a city’s growth is its increase in water
connections with additional demands for
service. During 1924 the water works
company made more than 4,500 new con
nections, which is about three times its
normal business for a similar period.
These connections represent new water
consumers, and chiefly in private homes.
It was the best year the company ever
had, and there is every reason to believe
that continued activity in the building
industry will be reflected in a similar in
creased demand for water. In the ab
sence of any signs of let up in building
operations, the water company looks for
a continued steady growth in its volume
of business.
There is not a man of foresight and
analytical attainments in the district who
does not interpret the signs in the light
of progress and prosperity for an ex
tended period. Birmingham is the only
city of its class which is carrying out so
large a building program, including in
dustrial, commercial and residential con
struction. It is a well balanced program
that shows general expansion. Nine build
ings ten stories or more are under con
struction, and two more being planned
for the early future. Keen observers of
conditions and careful students of the in
dustrial outlook have expressed them
selves as of opinion that the building
program is in no danger of being over
done. . . . ,
Nor is it believed that industrial ex
pansion has approached its height. New
enterprises are constantly being estab
lished and enlargements and betterments
for increased production are a feature
of the development. There are many
large projects in the making, and others
announced for early construction. Under
present conditions and a highly encourag
ing outlook for even further expansions
in diversified lines, it is not surprising
that the city is showing more than sub
stantial growth in population. People
who look for opportunities invariably are
attached to places where there is some
thing doing that offers rewards for|
vision, investment and industry.
EUROPEAN FOWL DISEASE
Dr. C. A. Cary, rtate veterinarian, has
established a quarantine against the ship
ment of poultry into or through Alabama.
It results from the appearance in several
states of the European fowl pest, a dis
ease heretofore unknown to the United
States but a common one in Europe. The
Alabama quarantine is in line with the
action of other states. It is a stringent
measure, yet one that appears to be jus
tified. , .,
The poultry industry has shown rapid
growth in recent years. It represents a
heavy investment now. However, the
market for poultry and eggs is calling for
a greater supply. Nothing should be done
to prevent the development of the in
austry.
There is evidence that a hea\ y loss will
be suffered by those interested in poultry
unless the European disease is promptly
checked. There is no cure for it. The
birds attacked die. Dr. Cary gave the
following plan of campaigh against the
disease: “Prevention is the only treat
ment. All birds that die should be
cremated. Houses that are not of much
value should be burned or thoroughly
cleaned and disinfected. No birds should
be brought from infected states or in
fected places and at the present time, due
to the uncertainty of the definite loca
tion of the disease, no birds whatever
should be bought outside the state of
Alabama.”
The importance of a fast and effective
movement against the disease has been
emphasized by the appropriation of one
hundred thousand dollars by the con
gress. Those who will be temporarily
inconvenienced by the quarantine should
understand that it may prove a great
saving to them.
THRIFT IN ALABAMA
The annual report of the state super
intendent of banks shows a surprising
interest in savings and indicates great
prosperity for the state durnig the year.
There are 130,000 savings accounts in
state banks, compared with 295,000
checking accounts. The total of the sav
ings deposits is $41,043,227.55, while
the total of open accounts is $73,470,
042.38. In other words, more than one
third of the deposits now held by state
banks have been set aside for emer
gencies, and are not needed in the ordi
nary business of the state.
On the savings deposits $1,679,377.19
was paid as interest during the year, the
I
average rate being more than 3.5 per
cent. This record ahows that citizens of
Alabama are learning the lesaon of thrift
and are aetting aside a portion of their
earnings for that day when their capacity
for production is reduced.
REVEALING THEIR PURPOSES
Whenever the water power interests
and the fertilizer trust undertake to ob- ,
struct the proper development of Muscle ,
Shoals, their selfish purposes are re
vealed. One of the recent attempted <
obstructions was a protest made by the
president of the National Fertilizer as
sociation against the Underwood bill. The 1
substance oi his protest was that enact- ,
ment of the measure would disturb the ,
fertilizer market. That is one of the ]
purposes of supporters of the bill. It is
designed to reduce extortionate prices of
fertilizers to farmers, and, more im
portant still, to protect the government
in the event of . war or threatened war
with a foreign power.
These purposes ere secondary to those
of the fertilizer trust which are to main
tain the high prices of fertilizer, just as
they are made secondary to the aims of
the power trust to keep up prices of
power by getting control of the Shoals.
There are meantime reasons to believe
that the fertilizer trust and the power
interests are working together to prevent
the settlement of the Muscle Shoals en
terprise under plans to protect the gov
ernment in the event of an emergency,
and to spare the farming interests the
burdens of abnormally high priced fer
tilizers. Practically every move of the
fertilizer trust and the power interests
reveals their selfish purposes
Not long ago when Henry Ford with
drew his bid for Muscle Shoals the price
of Chilean nitrate stocks advanced
heavily. These nitrate interest are con
trolled by British capital. If Ford could
not do what he said he would do at
Muscle Shoals in the production of ni
trates, as the fertilizer trust and the
power interests have vigorously con
tended, why did Chilean nitrate stocks
advance immediately following the with
drawal of his bid? Evidently those who
held these securities believed that Ford
could and would make good. So did
those who neia ana speculate m vimwu
nitrate stocks. So did the fertilizer trust
and the water power interests.
Thus the hand and purpose of these
special interests who are trying to pre
vent the development of Muscle Shoals
properties into practical producers for
the benefit of the nation and the farmers,
instead of for private profits, are again
revealed in their selfish plans. Their
objects are by this time pretty well un
derstood.
USERS OF THE PARCEL POST
The surprising statement is made by
George C. Lucas, director of transpor
tation for the National Publishers’ As
sociation, that the cost ascertainment
report of the postoffice department
shows less than ten per cent, of the par
cel post service to be used by farmers.
Mr. Lucas argues, therefore, that the
government should obtain additional rev
enue from this source to pay postal work
ers larger salaries, and that a service
charge of five cents on each parcel post
package would not a burden on the farm
ers, for whose benefit the parcel post was
established.
This suggestion may or may not be
practical, but it is interesting as show
ing how congress intended to do one
thing and actually did another. Most of
us recall that when the parcel post service
was established it was hailed as a great
blessing to the farmer, which would en
able him to send his perishable products
to market in small lots for quick delivery.
Likewise, he woud be able to obtain sup
plies from urban centers m mucn less
time and at a great saving over freight
and express shipments. It was not ex
pected that the farmer would ship his
corn, pigs, cotton, or some other heavy
commodity by parcel post; or buy fer
tilizer that way, but the farmers were the
class whom the parcel post system was
intended to serve the most.
It is extraordinary how many differ
ent articles now go through the mails,
but the bulk of the parcel post business
is between towns and cities, not between
the city and the country, or vice versa.
Why this should be so is not hard to
explain. The urban dwellers outnumber
i*ural dwellers, and they make greater
use of the mails, not only the parcel post,
but all other branches. Possibly the plan
of Mr. Lucas would not work a hardship
on any particular class of the population,
because all of us, to a greater or less
extent, use the parcel post. The thought
to be kept before the advocates of in
creased postal rates, however, is that
when people are asked to pay more for
a given service than, they think it is
worth, or that they feel they can afford
to pay, they will not use that service,
and there is as a consequence a loss of
revenue.
GEN. BULLARD’S RETIREMENT
Announcement is made at Washington
that General Robert Lee Bullard of Ala
bama will complete a service of forty
years in the army early in the year and
that he will automatically go on the re
tired list. This brings in review the
valuable service rendered to the nation
by General Bullard since he became a
lieutenant in the army at the age of
twenty-four. General Bullard has been
an active figure in most of the nation’s
military movements since he left West
Point. t.
The first major operation of General
Bullard was the campaign against the
forces of Geronimo, the Apache chief,
in Arizona. In the Spanish-American
war he was advanced from majo- a rank
won in the movement against Geronimo,
to a colonelcy, and was in command of
the Thirtieth Infantry of United States
volunteers. General Bullard’s work in
suppressing the activities of the recal
citrant Filipinos attracted wide attention
among military men, and occasioned of
ficial commendation of the war depart
ment.
Alabama knows General I^ullard best
because of his service as commanding
officer of the Third corps, American Ex
peditionary Forces, in the World War.
To him has gone the credit for the won
derful fighting qualities shown by the
'American troops when they were pitted
against the trained German soldiers in
1918. There is not an Alabamian who
does not know of the glory that came to
the American forces when they held their
own against the Germans when they were
making their last effort to break the
allied line and to open a doorway into
Paris. If Germany had succeeded, his
tory would record a result quite different
from the one that was written. Amer
ican soldiers held the line at the critical
time under General Bullard’s leadership.
There is regret that the policy of the
war department requires the retirement
of General Bullard at this time. He is
only sixty-four years old. His life has
been spent in the army. He has attained
a knowledge that can come only by years
of service. This knowledge is valuable
to the American army. The war depart
ment has always been of the opinion that
young men should do the fighting. Yet
older heads are necessary in the planning.
General Bullard, like General Pershing,
demonstrated a talent for perfecting a
military organization that would function
to a high degree. His genius was recog
nised not only by the war government
of the United States, but by France, Bel
gium and Italy. That service might well
be retained by the nation.
General Sibert, retired, has assumed
the important task of constructing the
port at Mobile. General Fetching has
already been assured of a call to an im
portant service in civic life. General Bul
lard will receive his call. But it does
seem that the retirement of men whose
lives have been devoted to the nation’s
good, merely because of their terms of
service is a short-sighted one
The fellow who claims to find zero
weather invigorating commands about as
much respect for* veracity as the one who
boasts of breaking the ice for an early
morning plunge.
During the Christmas season some men
got much of enjoyment from contemplat
ing how many unwearable ties and un
smokable cigars they didn’t get.
Indications are that there will be a
spring cleaning at the Atlanta peni
tentiary before the cold weather breaks.
A Texas lecturer1 adopts a sound
method of attracting the attention of his
audiences—he sings before the regular
program opens.
Silence is a virtue which many folks
start to cultivate after they have already
talked too much to redeem themselves.
Contemplating the overheated furnace
danger, it is well to remember that chilli
ness is preferable to death.
By this time there are lots of folks
who have discovered that they put too
much confidence in labels on holiday
booze.
There are lots of folks who still re
member that Mah Jong is a game they
used to play.
Another hopeful indication is that the
soap-box and ash-barrel orator has about
run out of ammunition.
Fbrum Of The People
"Choosing Your Own Vocation.”
To the Editor of The Age-Herald :
I have read with much interest the two
articles on “Choosing Your Own Vocation,”
by Julian Pennington, which have appeared
in your last two Sunday’s papers. The
choosing of a vocation is one of the most im
portant as well as one of the most difficult
decisions that everyone who earns his living
has to make. Many of our greatest men have
floundered around making failures for years
until they hit upon the right vocation which
led to success. The Age-Herald is to be com
mended for stimulating public interest in this
all important problem. And especial credit
is due you for selecting a series of articles
which deals with this problem in such a
practical, usable, and scientific manner.
H. H. HIMBOD.
Birmingham, Ala., Dec. 20, 1924.
Commends Dr. Pennington’s Articles.
To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
Let me commend the articles by Dr. Julian
Pennington on "Choosing Your Vocation.”
This is a timely subject and one of universal
interest. Dr. Pennington and The Age-Herald
will be of great help to the young people of
the territory you serve. This should prove
invaluable to the employer and also to the
salesman.
l am a salesman unu kuuw iiiul my sue
cess with a prospect is largely dependent upon
how I size up that prospect. Any such in
formation is not only interesting, but a great
boon to me and to every other salesman who
will avail himself of such opportunities to
study human nature as are given in Dr. Pen
nington's articles in The Age-Herald. I look
forward with pleasure to future articles by
Dr. Pennington.
HUGH M. WALLACE.
Birmingham, Ala., Dec. 29, 1924.
Thanks For Age-Herald's Aid.
To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
We wish to congratulate you on the splen
did spirit shown, which resulted in the very
best 'co-operation on the part of your paper
in the Community Chest campaign. Tour sup
port in your news and editorial columns were
all that could be desired, and was a very
large factor in the success of the campaign.
CARSON ADAMS,
President, Community Chest.
A. M. SHOOK, JR.
Campaign Manager.
W. M. COSBY,
Chairman, Publicity Committee.
SUE SHOULD BE CAREFUL
My sister Susan’s got a beau who calls
on her each night. ’Bout half the time they’re
sweet as pie; the other half they fight. Sue
knows that he’s a nervous man and that fact
makes her wrrong. She gets him cranky—fnr
too much—by singing him a song. She thinks
she’s Geraldine Farrar. To sing is her delight,
but Father and the neighbors say her warb
ling’s just a fright. Now, Charley’s always
nice and sweet till Sue begins to sing, and
then he undergoes a chance and kicks at
ev’rything. Sue’s beau can sign a good-sized
check. The folks all hope some day she’ll
use her brain and drop the songs before he
gets away. But none of us has nerve enough
to try to work a cure. If she keeps up her
singing, say—she'll lose that fellow sure.
GOING DOWN!
Dear Friend : IIow do you start the day?
You have had a lot of opposition, perhaps,
and you have met with a lot of misunder
standings, but never mind. "So persecuted
they the prophets before you.”
Start the day fresh.
Go it alone, if necessary, for that is the
way all great men have had to battle. Have
faith in yourself and back that faith with
work.
Everything is before you when you get up
in the morning and as you start the day, so
it will be in its entirety.
Get your courage up and keep it up!
Faithfully yours.
ALFALFA SMITH.
To One Who Sings
Your dear, dark head will never lie
At peace upon my breast,
And I will never touch your hair,
And yet, I know, 'tis best!
For you are made of wind and flame,
No love could hold you long!
You were meant to spread your wings
And scale the heights with song.
Human ties would break your wings;
Nay, do not weep—but go !
Life's every day has stopped my song
And so, my love, I know!
—Eleanor Ailen in Contemporary Verse.
A Review of the Tear 1924.
Looking back over it, the year 1824 w«i
a pretty good year as yean go. 'No major
wars occurred and only the ueual number of
threata.
• • a
The outstanding events of the year were
the Loeb-Leopold tria? and the” cross word
puzzle craze.
• • •
The year will go down into history, how
ever, as the year in which the Washington
baseball club won a pennant and then a
world’s series. Probably ten years from now
nobody will believe it. It is Still regarded as
unofficial.
• • *
Nineteen twenty-four brought as the Frinee
of Wales, Epinard, Grand Duke Cyril’s wife,
the ZR-3, radio pictures and the discovery
that there are worms in ice. -It was one of
the few years in the history of the republic
when-a president waa chosen by acclamation.
• • •
Early in the year China, broke out in a
new series of wars, the factions that lost in
1822 playing the sides that tost in 1923. Tong
wars broke out in America and church wnrs
broke out in various pulpits throughout the
country.
• • •
The American polo team clashed at Meadow
brook with the British chess club and won
unanimously. Sir Thomas Lipton made his
annual challenge for the American yacht
cup. Cozy Dolan was suspended from or
ganized baseball, Lenin died and Trotzky
might as well have.
• • •
Ma Ferguson was elected governor of Texas
and Bill White was defeated for something
out west where kleagles are kleagles and ed
itors are their opponents. Benny Leonard
went into vaudeville, Charlie Qhaplin took a
child-bride, Prof. Baker of Harvard was
farmed out to Tale for further seasoning,
Ethel Barrymore took off 60 pounds. Itienez
declared war on Spain at $1 a woro, and
"Mister A” was identified :.s a rajali vho
had everything he needed except a conservator.
• • •
Ramsay Macdonald and his labor govern
ment were given the bum's rush just as they
had invested heavily in silk knee 1 eeches,
brushed up on the Book of Etiquette and pre
pared to enter the smartest society without
tripping. , vs
• * *
In Egypt somebody killed a sirdar or an
andiron or something of the kinglAand Eng
land grabbed Egypt by the throat and made
it say “Uncle” while the League of Nations
refused to act on the ground it was matter
for Judge Landis to handle.
• • *
Mexico changed presidents without a cas
ualty. -
* • • i
Congressman Hill found out It was all
right to make homemade wine, Magnus John
son went through the year without milking
a cow for the movies, Messrs. Duke and
Eastman gave away a few million dollars for
higher education, "Red” Grange made three
dozen touchdowns in four times fct hat, 56
U. S. destroyers went on the rocks, and
"Goose” Goslin made a name for himself as
the biggest figure in Washington, D. C.
• • *
It was a wonderful year for foreign loans,
something like 37 nations getting loans from
the United States at least four times each
from January 1st to October 27th inc.
* • *
And, <ih yes, Alabama cast 24 votes for
Underwood.
Watching The Parade
By John nuiaui
LAST night there was a little dinner at
the table next to me in the club. Four
elderly men and a boy just out of col
lege. Not more than a year out of college,
at lenst. The four elders were husky, white
haired, sharp-eyed old tacks. Each had the
mnnner of a driver and a success. At first
they rather neglected the boy. Then one
grunted a few words his way.
“I-do not think so,” said the boy in reply.
“For this reason—”
He was perfectly respectable and not in the
least "fresh” and above all not in the least
awed by his compnny. He was just as much
at home as though he were in a company of
seniors talking about the latest football
tragedy. Before the dinner ended he was
taking his full part in the talk, and the four
old gentlemen seemed to like it. .
The reason why was that he was periecny
natural. He was not embarrassed, he did
not try to put on any side, and he did not
emphasize the college manner which he had in
some degree. He was boyish, of course, and
had a youth’s appreciation of humor which
was not always clear to some of the old men
but seemed to be enjoyed by them just the
same. In a word he was. neither frightened
nor affected. And I know why.
The kid is the son of friends of mine and
from bis first speaking days he has been en
couraged to think of himself as one of the
family, and not as a small item to be snubbed
or petted or ignored. When he first began
to cast lamb’s eyes at small girls no one
laughed at him. He was not made bashful
by the very poor witticisms small boys usually
suffer from at such times. When he made
his little errors, as small boys do, he was
asked to explain. Punishment was imposed
when he disobeyed, but when he simply made
a mistake he was. convinced of the fact with
out the adventitious aid of a gad.
While we were getting our coats I heard
one of the old gentlemen offer him a job.
The Right Word
By W. CtJKTIS NICHOLSON
PLACING THE ADVERB
Goold Brown, a great authority on English
grammar some years ago, discusses the placing
of an adverb in connection with nn infinitive.
He maintains that while it is more elegant
to place the adverb before the infinitive; as,
quickly to place; there are times when clear
ness calls for the adverb after the infinitive.
The following will be found in Goold Brown’s
voluminous work:
“ ‘If any man refuse so to implore, and to
so receive pardon, let him die the death.’
The latter word so if placed like the former,
might possibly be understood in a different
sense from what it now bears. • But perhaps
it would be better to say, ’If any man refuse
so to implore, and on such terms to receive
pardon, let him die the death.’ ‘Honour
teaches us properly to respect ourseles.'
Here it is not quite clear to which verb the
adverb properly relates. * Some change of the
expression is therefore needful. The right to
place the adverb sometimes between to and
its verb, should, I think, be conceded to the
poets; as, ’Who dared to nobly stem tyrannic
pride.’—Burns."
j “The Bight Word” has always advised its
readers not to split their infinitives. But,
on the other hand, split infinitives have ap
| peared in this column, and they were not
! deliberate errors. They were not intended
; to be errors. Probably the greater propor
I lion of infinitives are not split, as you will
notice in your reading. This is usage. So
! with usage as the greatest authority, “The
! Bight Word" advises placing the adverb be
fore the “to” or after the verb. But what
| is one to do with such an expression as the
following: He was able to more than double
his earnings?
Yesterday’s Error.
Wrong: Quite a few examples from Goold
Brown.
Right: A number of examples from Goold
Brown.
NOT SO EASY
A great many current similes won’t bear
analysis. We say, for instance, “as easy as
taking candy from a baby.” Did the orig
inator of this merry quip ever undertake it?—
Portland Oregonian.
1_
Modern Girl.
Bose: '"So Beatrice is suing that wealthy
clubman for breach-of-promise, eh ?”
Marie: “Yes, she wants to convince him
that she’s not the kind of girl that will let
the men forget.” 1
- (
Success.
“I live only for my art. Why X had rather
be known as a third-rate artist than as a
millionaire.”
“Well, aren’t you?” R W I
No, Trudy, giving the baby a pen-knife to
play with will not help him to cut his teeth.
More Difficult.
Doctor: “Now, if you will send your wife
in I will tell her how to give you a cold bath.
Patient: “I’d rather you’d tell my janitor
how to give me a hot one.”
—Mrs. L. G. Harris.
TRAVEL
By Kid Boots.
Before railroads was invented peeple had
to travel on horseback and it took them twice
as long to go half as far, but on the other
hand they had 3 times more fun and horses
dont have cinders. _
Enybody can ride on a train the ferst time
they try and look natural, but if you never
rode on a horse before, thats diffrent.
Travel is good for the education. You see
diffrent peeple in diffrent countries wearing
diffrent clothes and not even knowing they
look funny, and speeking langwidges you
never herd before jest ns easy as if they thawt
they was tawking Inglish.
It is ixpensive to travel, and enyways lots
of peeple would jest as leaf stay home and
take a wawk. You can also save hundreds
of dollars by reeding the forrin news m the
paper. .
If you never travel you 11 never get
drownded at sea, but on the other hand a
brick will never fall on your hed on a boat.
Success At Last.
Mrs. Hall: ‘•John, I believe you are deceiv
ing me.” , . --
Mr. Hall: “Well, I’ve been trying for 10
—Mrs. Oscar Lute.
The Answer.
Clinton: “My wife is going away for three
mouths, but she promised to write often.
Nelson: “How much will you send her.
—H. T. Weiss.
Heroes and—
. Little Betty, seven years old, ran across
the street to play with hey little neighbor,
Billy, also seven. ,
They soon began discussing what to do.
“Les play ‘Movie Stars’."
“All right,” agreed Billy. _...
And so it happened that the heroic Billy
killed the Wildcat which, in their childish
minds, was creeping up behind the beautiful
Betty while they were gathering flowers in
the woods. ...
Little Billy gathered Betty in his arms
ns she exclaimed: “My hero.”
Billy drew her closer to him and answered
back: “My She-ro.”
—Mrs. H. C. Hemmeline.
VERSUS AND REVERSES
The Thanks I Get.
I treat my stomach fine,
I give it pie and cake;
Ingratitude is mine—
It gives me tummy-ache!
—Thomas C. Elder.
In Poor Taste.
Her hats show flowers in great array,
Her gowns are decked out handsomely,
But I can’t say much for the way
She has of late been trimming me.
—H. K. Speare.
(Copyright. 1924. Reproduction Forbidden.)
Brief Nature Studies
By J. OTIS SWIFT
WHERE chipper little black-capped
chickadees, rose-breasted nuthatches
and downy woodpeckers disturb the
solemnity of winter forests with their busy
hunting for insect tid-bits, gray-brown old
rocks and ledges, sleeping in the black loam
among bulbs, roots and baby seeds, are
glorious in their coverlets of lichens. En
crusting and shield lichens, Parmelia, com
mon on rocks and trees in woods and fields,
make beauty spots, brilliant in color some
times, in the midst of winter’s desolation.
Their horizontal rugs and mats, doilies and
altar cloths are in shades of blue-green, gray
nnd deep brown touched with green, and are
tied to the weathered old rocks and ledges
by black root-like filaments through which
they absorb nourishment.
On many an old farm where a man has
labored from boyhood to old age wresting a
haphazard living from the impoverished soil,
the rocks that he has cursed in his hours of
enlightenment are covered with these stone
destroying growths that began as u tiny gray
thallus when his grandfather was born and
will Still gnaw with their acids at the rocks
after his grhndchildrcn die._
AUTOMATIC OFFENSE
Speaking of the crime wave, a New York
engineer has invented a self-playing aaxo
ptione.—Minneapolis Journal.
.: -
A Foolish Duel.
SENOR VARELA, editor of a weekly
royal publication in Madrid, has chal
lenged Ibanez to a duel. He printed
the challenge in four languages, a matter
which causes Ibanez to remark that it is a
waste of effort as the language of his family
has always been Spanish, unlike that of the
Hapsburg who sits on the throne of Spain.
Both Varela and Ibanes are rated as expert
duelists, so that the reporters may possibly
have a thrilling little “affaire d’honneur” to
report from the Riviera, whence Varela has
gone to seek out the novelist to slap his face.
Even if Ibanez is killed. It settles nothing.
And Varela’s death would be that of a fool,
whose spectacular show of devotion to Alfonso
ought to win him the Order of Merit even
before he starts out. Duels belong to a by
gone age. They are a relic of barbarism that
no civilized man should tolerate. Will the
death of Ibanez improve the conditions of
the Spanish people, or will it bring back to
life the thousands of young Spaniards who
have died in north Africa in the most sense
less, stupid and futile military campaign of
modern times?
Kerensky s Daniel. rf ms
Rumor has it that Alexander Kerensky,
fellow student in his youth of Lenin and
later his bitterest political opponent, has been
invited to return to Russia. Ban Trotsky, the
menshevik, and bring back Kerensky, “the
menshevik traitor?” That Indeed would be
a strange procedure. Or are the reds at last
going to reverse their policy of a one-party
government by allowing others to participate
in the administration of affairs? It is under
stood that n general call has been sent out
to all democratically-minded Russian exiles
to return to the fatherland. It will take
courage to heed that call. It may mean dark
dungeons and even the firing squad. But
there have always been men, who for
the sake of freedom, dared to risk their all.
Kerensky is no coward, he proved it in 1917.
If he returns to Moscow now he will rank
with Daniel of old, who walked into the lions’
den without the slightest tremor.
Return or Hapsburg.
“King Otto is growing up in the indom
itable faith that he will return to the throne
of his fathers,” so writes Empress Zeta in
response to the many Christmas gifts sent
her and her son by loyal "subjects" in Hun
gary. It begins to look as if the legitimist
party in that country is gaining in strength.
At the recent condemnation of Count Karolyi,
when his estates were confiscated, the count
was also found guilty of lese majeste. That
would seem to indicate the Hungarian su
preme court does not consider the Hapsburgs
have abdicated for good, but that Admiral
Hortly is filling In with a temporary inter
regnum until Otto shall have come of age.
Still there are others to consider besides
the Hungarian royalists when it comes to a
return of the Hapsburg family. In the first
place there are the Hungarian democrats and
republicans and then there are' millions of
Czecho-Slovaks and Jugo-Slavs, Croats, Ru
manians, Galicians and Bukovinians, who are
now united under strong national governments
and who would be the first to sense the
danger of a restoration of the Hungarian
kingdom under the old despotic sway of the
Hapsburgs. For, if Otto comes back, he does
not come alone. Sixty-eight archdukes, arch
duchesses and princesses of imperial and royal
blood will fpllow shortly with all their am
bitions and schemes.
Calm in Pacific
After some weeks or nervous excitement
over Japan's attitude to American fleet ma
neuvers and American declarations of a need
for a conference of white nations on the Pa
cific, calm is returning once again. Yet these
sporadic outbreaks are becoming too frequent
and constitute a grave danger. In our day
and generation there should be an end to this
hysterical suspicion and jingo excitement.
There should be more standing aside to let
reason pass by on her way to the throne over
human, national and international relations.
Ninety-live per cent oi nil tne wars in His
tory would have been avoided if men bad
been willing to talk things over before start
ing to shoot.
Fascism’s End.
Some observers are surprised at the dra
matic suddenness" of Mussolini's decision to
hold a general election. Yet the dictator
could hardly do otherwise and still continue
to lay claim to the democratic character of
his administration. The abstention of the
liberal opposition from parliament brought
him face to face with an impasse. In addition
there is a constant threat of split in the
fascist ranks which make his sway very doubt
ful. He will no doubt see to it that his black
shirt faithful have a plentiful supply of castor
oil, torches and strong clubs before he ven
tures into an election. And still even with
those weapons he may meet a superior force
—the ballot of the Italian people.
THE GOOD SAMARITAN
A southern correspondent writes that he
heard a Negro preacher give the following
version of the Parable of the Good Samaritan.
After relating how the Samaritan, taking pity
on the wounded man's plight, helped him to
an inn where he ordered food and raiment
for him, the preacher concluded: “And dis
am a true story, bred’ren, for de inn am
standin’ dere yet, and in de do’way am
standin’ de skel’ton of de innkeeper, waitin'
for de Good Samaritan to come back an' pay
de bill.”
^ - --
L
V
th^TalABAMA
_PRESS
■ <-■■* or oT»ii;n nnvti ■
Should Resolve For Big Thin*.—While WS
•re lounging around and enjoying this season,
let us resolve to do some one hi* thing fqr
this town and community-during the year
1925.—LaFayette Sun.
Danger of Trailing.—It would be a good
plan for parents to keep a sharp watch on
their children who have skates and stop them
from the automobile-trailing practice, for ulti
mately there will be a tragedy, perhaps sav
ers! of them.—Anniston Star.
In Favor of Understanding.—Now with the
commission government election out of the
way, no matter which way the result has gone,
The Daily Times stands committed and is
enthusiastically in favor of a get together
understanding at the city hall.—Huntsville
Times.
Warning To Get Busy.—The work on Wil
son Dam will be finished in six months. Con
gress has adjourned and we are told that the
Underwood bill is facing defeat. Not a very ,
dazzling prospect for the new year, but notice
that it is up to us if we expect to make
progress in the next twelve months.—Florence
News.
Will Abolish the Dash.—There will come
a day in the not distant future when Ala
bama will enact legislation prohibiting tie
lash. Those who recognize men and women
in prison as human beings and who know
that the infliction of physical pain is a bar
barous practice do not understand why Gov
ernor Brandon should refuse to restore Mr.
Kilby’s order.—Montgomery Journal.
An Unfair Discrimination.—Certain trans
atlantic steamship lines Wve agreed to cease
carrying noted people at half rates for adver
tising purposes. This is in promotion of the
square deal; for it must ,be understood that
the other passengers have to make up what
is allowed the preferred passengers; in other
words, they pay for the advertising of the
line, and get nothing in return except the
doubtful advantage of being on the same ship
! with celebrities.—Mobile Register.
I -
Reasons For Jealousy.—If yon are jealous
of a man and knock him for that reason it is
evident that you are not a gane sport. If
you are jealous of a man it is evidence that
in some way he is contending for the same
goal for which you are striving. To be jealous
is to manifest fear that he will win in the
contest and your jealousy will be accentuated
in proportion as your ichance of winning
diminishes.—Andalusia Star.
Will Have Ample Chance.—A woman has
been elected to be the head of Alabama a
pardon board. A desire to please has always
been ascribed to women as a dominant char
acteristic. The pardon board lady will have
an extraordinary opportunity to indulge this
proclivity as it is understood all of the in- ,
mates of the state’s big’jail want to get out—
Selma Times-Journal.
M. E. Conference and Child labor.—The
conference of the Methodist church of North
Alabama met in Talladega. Commenting on
the work of that body Editor John Williams,
in the Daily Home, says: “Another thing.
Conference did not take up the child labor
propaganda to save the children of the South
from labor and cruel parents until they
were 18.”—Opelika News.'
Means To Revive An Industry.—The slump
in the naval stores industry in Alabama is
disturbing timber men and owners of tracts
of long leaf pine all over the state. The long
leaf pine, which is the principal source of
turpentine, is one of the most valuable trees
in the world, inasmuch as it not only pro
duces excellent lumber, but the pine yielaBl
large amount of resin from which turpentine
is distilled. The decline in the production of
naval stores and the causes for the slump will
be given close attention by the Alabama com
mission of forestry, which is seeking means of
reviving and perpetunting this vanishing
source of revenue.—Aibany-Decatur Daily.
Pleas For Education
By DR. FKANK^CRANE
TEY have a secretary of commerce and
labor in the President's cabinet, and a
secretary of the interior, and a secretary
of war, and a secretary of almost everything
else you can think of, but the one secretary
they have not, and ought to have, and the one
that is most important of all, is a secretary of
education.
1 would line to nave a large, uery »•»»
an ocean liner, a voice that would megaphon
ically reach every citizen of these states, and
speak to them and say that the one great big
necessary and vital business of us all is the
proper training of all the children.
It is city business, township, county, state
and national business. Education has as
much to do in the cabinet as agriculture or
commerce. •.,>
This people has never realized its duty to
ward the children. To be sure we have spent
millions; we ought to spent thousands of mil
lions. We have done more than any other na
tion, but that is not proper test, for they have
done precious little.
This nation should be one great university.
It should be primarily an educational insti
tution. Its main concern should be to build
sehoolhouses, maintain school farms and alto- ■
gether convert itself into a child-training ma
chine.
Schooling for children is not a family mat
ter ; it is a national matter.
Our present schools linger under the curse
of the class system. The moth-eaten ideas
of the class-universities contaminate the pub
lic schools. Education is supposed to be for
the exceptional man or woman.
We have not yet grnsped the truth that
every child among us ought to be cared for
and trained. Education is for the com-uon
man.
We keep up a lot of battleships so that no
foreign country shall destroy us; we are in
a deal more danger of being destroyed by our
own ignorance and vice due to child-negiect.
Our worst enemies are at home. We allow
brutal parents to maltreat children; we allow
children to enter the maelstrom of money
making ; we allow organized vice to traffic in
their souls and bodies.
Every unschooled boy running the streets
of our great cities iB a menace more for
midable than a foreign invader.
We send children (some of them) to Sun
day school an hour a week to learn morals.
What pitiful trifling. A child should be
trained in honesty, sobriety, cburage and
cleanliness every waking hour. The conten
tion of religious sects has reduced school in
struction to dry shucks. Teachers and school
boards are afraid to instruct children not to
lie and steal because the sects in town don’t
agree on the mode of baptism. The place for
ethical instruction is in the day school.
It is high time the American people woke
up and strengthened, enlarged, deepened,
widened, and exalted the meaning of educa
tion. ■ '
If we could have a president and congress
who for one administration of four years
would hand every other business over to
clerks and devote their entire time to provid
ing for the right training and schooling of
children it would he the greatest thinkable
blessing. _
TO THE POINT
Hush money whispers.
But of course the old bachelor doesn't bold
his own.
Hugging by any t other name would be
squeezing just the same.
FRESH EGGS
A French court has decidejl' just what is
i a fresh egg. Multitudes have heretofore been
1 under the impression that no judiciid de
r termination of the question was needed.—
Boston Transcript.
«