davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-08-31

3 second weight was fastened to the rope,
but hardly had that one swung below the
parapet than the rope again broke and sent
the weight crashing to the ground. Again
the Princes and Studimuch were surprised,
and examined the end of the rope to find 1t
rut as smoothly as If by the stroke OF
razor. Again they looked over the sides of
their prison, but found nothing that would
explain the cutting
But, really that which was mystery to
them was very simple to those who knew.
AT the time of building the tower the likeli-
hood of escape by means of rope was
talked of by Hi Malig to the masons and to
make If impossible a band of metal, thickly
studded with sharp blades of steel, was set
In the walls and painted the color OF the
stones This was done without the knowl-
edge of King Homojy, who never would
have permitted it, When he made his last
visit to the tower, before the Princes and
Studinueh were shut up, he did not notice
the metal band and the steel blades, as the
color was the same the stones, and that
WIS why the Princes and the schoomaster
failed to see how their rope was cut.
The courage of the prisoners and their de-
sire to get away from the tower by any pos
sible means urged them to renewed efforts.
The rope was swung in several directions,
but every time with the same result, until
IL was so cut and shortened as to be use
less
at looks to me, said poor Prince Saladee,
"as if we must spend the rest of our lives in
this tower
Indeed, it does" replied Prince Fantico,
aud with this they went down into the
library to talk over the gloomy situation and
TO think of other plans of escape.
cts too bad said Fitwick, modify;
1--WE were IS years old on our last birthday,
and should now begin to know something
of the great world"
II, for one don't propose to spend another
16 years in this hateful place. said Saladee,
determinedly.
Nor do IT, said Fantico.
For several days after the failure of Prince
Fantico's plan his brothers and the School
master moved quietly about the tower, each
busy with his own thoughts, and having
little to say. great sadness seemed to
possess them, for they very seldom smiled
and had no interest in the amusements that
usually took up the time between study
hours But 1t was plain to be seen that they
had not given up all hope of leaving the
tower, and the more they thought of and
longed for freedom the more they determined
to gain 1t.
One bright. sunny morning, as Flitwick
leaned over the parapet with his chin on
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-08-31

There is no more interesting family OF
rocks than the soapstones. which are Ia
miliar to every school boy and girl. Not that
they know the rocks as they occur In ma
ture, but they are very well acquainted with
their manufactured forms in soapstone slate
pencils, talcum powder, French chalk
which the tailors use in fitting coats, and
soapstone griddles which are employed In
nearly every kitchen. There are any num-
Der of scientific names for these rocks, such
as saponite, talcite and tale. But these
are simply varieties of good old-fashioned
soapstone. Although it is rock, it is never
hard. The expression as hard as rock does
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-08-31

CHAPTER III.
BOme Good Advice from n Raven, and
What Happened in Consequence.
The Princes were up bright and early the
next morning and lost no time in getting to
work. By noon the rope, growing rapidly
under busy fingers, had reached great
length. To test its strength a weight was
hung on one end and lowered over the side
of tie tower But no sooner was it let down
a few yards than the rope parted and the
heavy mass fell TO the plain below, much TO
the disappointment of the Princes and
studimueh. The sehoolmaster thought 1t
odd such a stout rope as they had made
should break so easily, and as Flitwick
jerked 1t up again he examined 1t closely.
My, graciousl'' he exclaimed, rubbing
his spectacles. 1.-The weight did not break
the rope-it has been cut!'
The Princes look at one another In aston
ishment.
"Cut?'' repeated Flitwick. what could
have cut it?'
OF course, to this question no one could
reply. All four looked over the sides of the
ower to see II some ragged, sharp-edged
stone had not cut the rope, but, though they
strained their eyes, nothing of the kind was
o be seen.
They were not discouraged, however, and
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-08-31
The Earth'S Disturbances.

Mother Earth has evidently started In
this year to break all records during historic
times of gigantic destructive disturbances.
For the first half of the year we have to
charge her unusual restlessness with IS 900
lives through volcanic eruptons and ca rth-
quakes Her tornadoes have hurled 465 hu-
man beings out Of existence, and cyclones
have added 240 more to the liet, while other
storms In great numbers, but Of less dignity
in name, have placed 72o to the direct ac-
count of violent winds. Floods have swept
345 persons from life, tidal waves have
drowned ITO and waterspouts have de-
stroyed Is.
To all of this we must add 2s3 lives
charged to the destructive force of ava
lanches and snowslides, and we have
total Of SLOTS; an astounding mortality
from these fierce agencies of destruction In
one-half of a year.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-08-31
about Soopstone and Tale.
A Geology Lesson For Boys And Girls
BY MARGHERITA ARLINA HAMM.

In the hills over on Staten Island and Oh
Long Island all the way from Brooklyn 10
Riverhead. On Staten Island and Long
Island 1t is in the form of small pieces,
which we're brought down by the glaciers
in some long forgotten age from the noun
tains in Northern New York and Canada.
Where 1t is found in these formations 1t
must be dug out of the earth or else picked
up in places where the streets have been
cut through or at the bottom of guches
made by running water. In other parts of
the country 1t is found filling crevices in
old rocks. The commonest kind is gray
soapstone, like that which is used In max
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-08-31

ing grlddles. Besides collecting one or two
specments for the cabinet, the young stu
dent should try his hand at carving. The
stone Is so soft that he can cut 1t with an
ordinary pocketknife with more ease than
soft pine. 1t has almost no grain, so that
1t carves freely in every direction. 1t is
a favorite material with the Chinese and
Japanese for carving, and in every store
where they sell oriental goods 1t Is to be
found, usually In the shape of monkeys,
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-08-31

Ansver to last weeks Illustrated
Proverb Puxziei "A stitch In time
saves nine"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-08-31

Answer to last weeks illustrated
Rebus Puxzles 81 would rather be
right than be president"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-01
Need Of a Courtesy Club.
From Success.


If young people. especially in small towns.
would form courtesy clubs" or graft this
Idea upon existing organizations, 1t would
result In great advantage not only TO the
young people belonging to such associations,
but also to the towns themselves. We find
a great many men and women sdetracked
all along the pathways of life because they
were not taught the value Of good manners
and of a fine, gracious courtesy in their
youth. The result Is that they have grown
up hard and coarse and repusiye in manner
and have not been able to win favor or at
tract trade or business. In other words,
kept them back and handicapped their ca
reers.
1t Is astonishing how fine manners and po-
likeness in children develop into ease and
Effectiveness in manhood and womanhood.
Other things being equal, the employe who
is selected for advancement is the one with
good manners, fine, gracious demeanor. a
good presence; these qualities are the best
kind of capital, even better than money.
Everywhere We see young men and young
women drawing big salaries largely because
of their superior politeness. The f1ne-man-
nered are wanted everywhere as superin-
tendents, as statesmen, as travelling repre-
sentatives, as clerks, as private secretaries
ment is the one Indispensable quality sought
after everywhere. There is nothing else
which will so quickly open the door to OPP
portunitles, to society, to the hearts of all.
COURTESY is to business and society what
oil Is to machinery. 1t makes things run
smoothly, for 1t eliminates the jar and fric-
tion and the nerve-racking noise.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-01
Learning and Age.

From Chambers Journal
Men of thought have always been dis
tinguished for their, age. Colon, sophocles.
Pindar, Anacreon and Xenophon were oc-
togenarians. Kant Button. Goethe. Fon-
tenells and Newton were over 80. Michael
angelo and Titan were 50 and 90, respec-
lively. Harvey, the discoverer Of the cir
culation of the blood, lived to be 80 Many
men have done excellent work after they
have passed 80 years. Lander wrote his
Imaginary Conversation when S5; Isaak
Walton wielded ready pen at 80. Hahne-
mann married lat So and was still working
at 81 Michaefangele was stiii painting his
giant canvassss at rS9. and Titan at 30
worked with the vfgor OF his early years.
Fontenelle was as light hearted at 9s as at
40, and Newton stoS3 worked as hard as he
did in middle life. Gornaro was In far
better health at 95 than at 30 and as happy
as a sandboy. At Hanover DR.. Du Bolsy
was still practicing as a physician IN 1897,
going his daily rounds at the age of 1a3.
william Reynold Salmon. NJ R. c. s.. OF
Cambridge Gfamorganshire, died on March
IL, 1897, at the age of 106. At the time
of his death he was the oldest known In
dividual of indusputably authenticated age,
the oldest physician, the Oldest member of
the Royal College OF Surgeons, England,
and the oldest Free Mason In the world.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-01
Seal Hunting.
From Outing.

from OutinS.
Hunting the seal from the Icy, Storm
swept coast of Newfoundland Is not sport&
it is toll, whereby, in part, the Newfound.
lander wins his scanty measure of bread.
The hunt is a slaughter dull and bloody
leap into the whining. scurrying pack and
the swinging and thrust of an iron-shod
gafr; a merciless raining of blows, with n
silent waste of ice, all splashed red. at the
end of 1t. There is no sport in this, nor is
there any fear of hurt, for the harp seal
pleads and whines like child. even while
the gaff is falling, but the chase is beset
with multitudinous and dreadful dangers.
which are seldom foreshadowed and are
past all Tending off-perils SO vast and un-
compromising and willful that escape from
their descent is by the veriest chance.
The wind gathers the ice into flQes ard
Jams 1t against the coast. an unreasonable.
Jagged expanse of it, interspersed with
plains; then the Newfonndlander takes his
gaff and his grub and his goggles and sets
out from his little harbor, making the start
at midnight that he may come UP with the
pack at dawn. But the wind which sweeps
the ice in inevitably sweeps 1t out again.
without warning, in an hour or day or a
week; nor does ii pause TO CONSIDER the
situation of the men who are twenty miles
Off shore: II veers and freshens ard drives
the whole mass. grinding and heaving, far
out to sea, where it disperses it into Its sep
arate fragments.
The lives of the hunters depend upon the
watchfulness of the attenuated iine of look
outs, from the women on the head to the
first sentinel within signaling distance.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-01
Art in Railway Building.

From Casters Magazine.
In the general plan, equipment and appli-
cation of electric power to the working OF
the new electric underground and elevated
railways In Berlin, little is presented which
can be regarded as novel or especially sug-
gestive. The one respect In which the Ger
man constructors leave others far behind
and offer an object lesson worth careful
study, Is in the artistic beauty the archi-
tectural charm and sense of fitness, which
they have impaired to the stations, the
bridges, and even the ordinary overhead
viaduct sections of the new road. In Ger
many the requirements of pubic taste are
never permitted to be neglected or forgot
ten Where the new Berlin line passes
through q public square. 1t is on solid and
artistically designed masonry. The above
ground stations are of stone, steel and
glass, no two alike. but each especially de-
signed to At. not only the requirements of
traffic at that point. but the adjacent build
ings well-the architectural framework
in which 1t is set. The whole management
Of the enterprise, from start to finish, Illus
trates the wise. firm control which the mu-
nicipality of Berlin maintains over corpo-
ratons which ask for franchises at Its
hands.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-01
The Baths Of st. Armand.
rom the Philadelphia Press

The famous mud baths at st. Armand, in
France, have just received what Is claimed
to be the most complete analysis ever made
of them. The result is as follows: Carbon
ate of lime, 0.194; carbonate of magnesia,
0.039; carbonate of Iron. OOPS: sulphate of
lime, 0.616: sulphate Of magnesia. 0.431 !;
chlorides of potassium, sodium, calcium,
o.03S; chloride of magnesium. 0050; silica
and alumina. 9.010: organic and waste mat
tiers. OOH. Besides those at St Armand and
a few In this country mud baths are very
rare. OTHERS well known. however, being
at Marienbad. Carlsbad and ToepIitz, in
Germany. Saka In Sweden. Vfterbe In Italy.
OAK and Ncirs in France.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-01
Home Discomforts.

From tho Brooklyn Lie.
NO." grumbled the husband in spasm
of confidence. to friend, ST have no place
at all for my books. The storage room IL
kept exclusively for my WIFE.
! sAnd what does she do with it?''
..Oh she puts away those things that are
a trife too good to be destroyed. yet scarce
ly good enough to be Of use"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-01

"But can you eook?'s asked the prosaic
young man? 4@ssss,ts sss ss,s-s 49,,
Let us take these questions up in their
proper order returned the wise girl. 'sThe
matter of cooking Is not the first to be
considered"
Then what is the first?s he demanded.
Can you provide the things to be
cooked?"
Thus is. the cenceited man sometimes ..put
to the bad" SO to speaks-Chicago Post.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-01
Behind the Scenes.

From the Chicago News.
Hurry up. Rowland" called the leading
lady, 1.-The people are mad because we are
keeping them waiting"
Then I will not go on at ALL" stormed
the heavy tragedian.
Why not?'
Because refuse to play to a madhouse E"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-01

Dashaway-"What shall do? Take Miss
Pinkerly to the theater, or sit with her for
three hours In the back parlor?"
Castieton--'Wel1. one will cost you S..
and the other all the way from $500 to
$4,000 year."-Life
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-01
The Limit of Extravagance.

Fr,m Puck.
Henriaucs-"The Newrocks have sold their
gasoline automobile"
Ottinger-"Yes. I understand they are
having one made that will burn hard coaf.''
The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-08-29

of such things. If the bait is taken and he gets letter from an amateur col lectOr he offers to forward the speci- men lon approval" When the amateur sees the creature sent to him he thinks he has found prize and usually closes the bargain at good fat price.
 The fakir never guarantees the beetle to be genuine. He simply says to the intended buyer, There is the specimen. Take it or leave it. I doubt if there is another like it in this country" which statement is probably true. for it is rarely that the fakir duplicates de- signs.
 Besides evolving beetles out of dis membered fragments and his inner con sciousness, the fakir of coleoptera makes copies of well known but rare specimens, which command a good market price among collectors.
 London and Paris are the cities where most of the fake beetles are man ufactured, and the French workmen are the most expert and gifted with the most lively fancy in composition New York Mail and Express.
The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-08-29
CONTEMPORARY COMMENT.

Professor Norton's Sad Beliefs.
 The writer of the book of Revelation heard loud voice proclaiming: Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea, for the devil is come unto you hav- ing great wrath" That is not the only occasion on which the temporary supremacy of the powers of evil has been sadly announced. There are to- day some American citizens who use every opportunity which presents itself to announce to a public, unwilling to listen to them, that "the devil Is come down into you, having great wrath"
 One of the heralds of woe is Pro- lessor Charles Eliot Norton, of Har- yard. He lifted up his sad voice again day before yesterday at an academy commencement at Ashfield Mass, and cast a shadow of gloom over what would otherwise have been a cheerful gathering. He was pleaded with not to disturb the harmony of the occasion by rending his raiment and crying woe. |" He could not be persuaded to keep quiet and let others be happy He felt constrained to deliver his message. It was to the effect that the war of four years ago was a needless, criminal war;" that "the madness and folly of the rampant imperialism of the day are carrying everything before them;" that ''the hopes for the better future of man are for the time extinuished, |" and that "the forces of evil seem to be in the ascendant" That is the doleful tale which marred the pleasures of the day at Ashfield. Some of the hearers hissed and some left the room
 Remarks of the character described were on this particular occasion a sin against good taste, but one cannot help feeling some compassion for the sinner. It must be terrible matter for a man to be the victim of delusion that "the devil is come down, having great wrath.' and that the forces of good are for the time being impotent to cope with him. It must fill the soul of such a man with agony to see that the great body of his fellow citizens are apparently unconscious of the dread full state of affairs. They are looking after business, or@polotics or sport "fddling while Rome is burning"-in- stead of outings ashes on their heads and sackcloth on their bodies and cry ing out with him, 'woe to the inhabi- ters of the earth" Such a man feels that he has an awful. but necessary, message to deliver to needless world No considerations of properiety or good
The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-08-29
MIMIC WAR NOW AT HAND
(Continued from First Page.1

Continued from First Page.)
 ble that one will be demonstrated at Gardiner's Point if the ships of the navy get by the forts on the way to New York. There is no fort at the point, but there are two dismounted guns there and the fact is known to Admiral Higginson as warships have been cruising in that vicinity for many months. The crisis may be reached at that point and it is said the army is prepared for such an emergency.
 It is noticed that the submarine mine boat Dime is darting about here and there in that vicinity, leading to the belief that dummy mines will be placed in such position that would prevent the passage of the North Atlantic squadron and would perhaps result in the de- struction of those that attempted to pass over in actual war. Such move ment would undoubtedly result in vic tory for the army, even if the ships did win out in the passage of the forts. A man experienced in matters military said to representative of The Asso- ciated Press, last night, that he be lieved it would be impossible for any fleet of vessels, or even one vessel to get by the forts, basing his statement on the strength at Fort Terry, Plum Isl- and.
 It is understood that Fort Terry is second in strength to Fort Wright at Fishers Island, while Forts Michie at Gull Island and Mansfield at Napatree Point are of lesser importance, but of considerable strength.
 Colonel Davis, commanding the New London district, has made his head quarters at Fort Wright and Major General Macarthur, commanding the Department of the East, and the other officers of high rank in the army here to direct the movements of the army spent most of to-day in consultation. In fact, the highest ranking officer in New London this afternoon, except Ma jor Powell, who resides here, as engi- neer of this district, is Captain Russell, of the Signal corps, who has supervised the preliminaries for signalling in all it's forms, including the wireless telegraphy and telephone. The proposed war is close at hand and the army of the New London district is ready for the tenn porary enemy to put in an appearance.
The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-08-29
IN SURGING, ROWLING MASS
Continued from First Page.

Continued from First Page. the mind to work, no laws will make them prosperous.
 You must not fall into the great mistake of thinking that government can in any way supply the qualities that you have to supply yourselves. In the long run now, as always in the past history of mankind. and as will be the case in the future, each mans sue cess must depend primarily upon his having in his own person the qualities of individual initiative, hardness, res- olution, honesty and common sense."
 The president in his speech at Man chester said: This is one of those great industrial centers, the building up of which has meant that building up of the material prosperity of our country. Now there is always certain to be some evil in any great movement forward. Our material progress has been accom- panied by certain evils. The marvellous success which has produced such great corporate and individual wealth has meant that certain abuses have grown up in connection with that individual wealth and in connection with the cor porations that are the ordinary instru- ments of industrial activity at present. There are evils. Let's try to get rid of them but let's show common sense in the effort. Let's devote our best thought and best energies to finding some meth cd of getting roid of any and all evils in the body polite but let us above all things beware in using the knife not to handle it so that it will be dangerous to the community even more than to the evil attacked"