davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-08
FREE LIBRARIES AND
 THE SALE OF BOOKS

Mir. Carnegie's determination to die poor has led to number of interesting events. Primarily, it has been the means of open Ing the doors of the charmed realms of literature to thousands upon thousands of eager readers, whose lack of funds and dearth of facilities inhibited them from pursuing lines of study or reading which meant much to minds cramped and concentrated by the narrow means of work and brute living. It has also pre- cipitated two violently contested discus sions, whether or not the money might have been invested in some manner of more permanent and lasting good to the general public, and whether or not the presence of public libraries injures the sale of current and standard books.
 Of the first proposition there Is a sharp and extensive difference of opinion Some individuals are even so unkind as to re- mark that it is evident MT. Carnegie inspired to make atonement for his past neglect of the general veal, hit on the first project shot at him by some long tressed fanatic. This article, however, tends to deal with the latter question; whether or not public libraries decrease the sale of books of long or recent stand ing. l do not believe that they do. I base this conclusion on several we'll known principles of human nature as we'll as observation of significant incidents in the book world for the last five or ten years.
 To arrive at a better understanding of this problem, let us consider, briefly, an- other question which is, undoubtedly, corollary of the one under consideration. Is is the serial publication of new novels. It has been asserted that this method of publication paralyzes, not only the good offices of the public library, but the sale of the book in process of printing, as we'll It seems to me that there is actual evidence to disprove both of these propositions In the first place, the publication of novel serves to stimulate the sale of the book. Watch any magazine or newspaper which announces the publication of a well-known or even obscure story; see 1t begin and run for two or three install ments. Then turn to the literary page of any reliable newspaper in the vicinity of the periodical publishing the story and almost invariably you will see that par ticular novel high on the list of the best selling books.
 And, contrary to the general opinion. these reports from the booksellers may be taken as reliable indications of the de- mand for their wares.
 Now go to the public library of your town. and make application for the novel which is running serially in the periodical or newspaper. In nine out of ten in- stances, you are informed that all copies of the book are out and that you must place your name on a list of those want
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-08

uralness of description Is a rare charac- teristic of this ''word-artist," and calling history and romance to his aid, he has given us pictures which are as pure and simple as nature nerself-and as chaste. It has been remarked of this work that there Is not an objectionable word or situation in the entire story" What a striking comment in this day of start ling freedom of thought and expression. Nowhere does he give over-wrought ideas that tire the imagination, or lib- erty of thought or suggestion that gives his reader Q feeling of regret for the time spent in his comoany. Ills aim seems to have been first to instruct by a sincere relation of historic fact, and le- gendary lore; and then to please by in- closing these things n a romance of pur-
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-08
ss Religions of Bible Lands se

Many expressions and hints at ideas In the Scriptures which the ordinary student finds enigmatical or oscplexing, arc fre- auently dus to parallels drawn from the tenets of the religions in vogue, at the time, in the lands treated of in the Bible. A general familiarity with these religions will explain away many of these uncer- tainties and facilitate biblical research. Such is evidently the intention of the book published by A. .. Armstrong and Sen, with the above caption.
 It gives rudimentary fragments of the religious thought. and customs in biblical lands other than those treated of in the
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-08

warryor in his day an tn soul iv s'ciety
 was not a model f'r a lons-distance Chris tyan champeen. He started with tn rest iv us but he always pulled up lame. Tn throuble with him an tn throuble with tn rest iv us is that We ixpict to be can onized in time to show tn brief to tn
 family at dinner. So I say I don't go ar-round cillybraun' Lent I don't expict Father Kelly will sind down tn Father Macchew Fife an Drum Corps to sere- made me because I left that lump iv su- gar out iv me tay an put in twice as much milk. Whin tn postman comes to tn dure with tn usual line iv bills an love letthers firm tn tailors, me hands don't thremble expictin' a note firm tn Pope tellin' me I've been canonized. No. sir. congrathylate mesilf on me sthronk will power an rayfiict that sugar makes people fat. am niver goin' to place amy medals on annywan' fir bein' var chous, Hinnissy, fir if varchue ain't all ways necissity, me boy. it's tn nex thing to 1t. I'm timprate because too much dhrink doesn't agree with me: mod est be- cause I look best that way: gin'rous be- cause I don't want to be thought stingy honest because if tn polls force, an brave whin I can't r-run away.
 Dock Grogan, who's an or Pagan, don't agree with Father Kelly on more thin two things. though they're tn frind- Hest iv inimies; an wan iv thim is Lent
 Father Kelly says 'tis good f'r tn soul an Dock Grogan he rays 'tis good fir tn body. It comes at tn Fright time iv tn year, he says. whin ivrybody has had a wlnther iv stuffin' thimsilves aa' hoodin' their intesryors an settin' up late at night. It's kind iv a sthand off f'r tn Chris'mas holidays. We quit atm meat because 'tis Lent-an' we've had too much meat. We quit smokin' be- cause tls Lent-an' we have a smokers heart. We quit dhrink because it's Lent
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-08
,@ SOLITAIRE pye.e Franklin w,,>en.

The thousands of White Mountain wis., itors that annually frequent the spot of the great Wiley" slide-the terrible av- in the historic region. if they have read It's story. traditional and romantic, writ ten by George Franklyn Wiley.
 "Soltaire,' the name of his hero, a mountain recluse is the title of the story. Mir. Wiley weaves a romance into the thrilling historic setting, which betrays his familiarity with the traditions, as well as with the temper of Nature in that mountain country. He was raised in the midst of the highest; and rarely do we find one so gifted in the betrayal of mountain nature. The conscientious nat
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-08

ity, made more beautiful by unusual nat ural environment. There Is rarely found a description so true to Nature as that of the great carbuncle. True to the le- gend, the great jewel is found embedded in a cliff of the White Mountains; and the description as given us by Mir. Wiley. of it's radiance. and the scene of its set- ting is one not soon to be forgotten. There is displayed the 'ntuitlve knowledge of the scientist, and the innate sense of the artist, and also the rapt enthraEment Of the child of Nature
 Tc the authors work as an editor may be attributed much of his con siser ess, for this is an element of his work. There is much embodied, of fact and fiction, in a story of a few hours reading.
 Aren Nosirrsh.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-08
THE SOUTH IN
 HISTORIC LITERATURE

tea which was landed in Charleston in 1773 did not rot in damp cellars" as the historian Ramsey eroneously recorded On the contrary 1t lay in damp store houses for about three years, after which, in the year 1776 by order of the revolutionary legislature of the State, It was sold for the benefit of the State Treasury This shows how acute the sentiment is in regard to correcting mis- statements in the history of the South even in the small details
 In novel work the South has had almost every phase of its life represented and mis-represented; but the correct phase of Southern life and thought has received quite as much attention and been as for cibly stated as has the prejudiced idea of this life which some writers Aot living in the South have expressed oh paper. However there Is one gratifying thing to those who love honesty and fairness in the fact that though the South has been slandered often by Northern writers, at the same time some of its strongest eulogies have come from the pens of Northern men. Some of its greatest and purest pictures of Southern life are to be found in the novels produced by North ern writers.
 Many persons are at WorK, that cannot be enumerated in this brief survey of the field, but it is a source of qualification to feel that the South has been so thor oughly worked and that it still offers, regardless of this fact, the most inviting field for literary workers to be found In this country. The deeper the student and writer dive into Southern history, the more surely will be resurrected and shown to the world the grandest and noblest type of people the world has ever known, cherishing and loving a civilization and liberty the equal of which has never be- fore blessed the human race.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-08

basic princIp1es. and that however mis- taken in the minor considerations, the main trend of the faiths was toward right living. the encouragement of virtue, and the suppression of evil and crime. The work is done In scholarly style, and cita- tions are made with careful reference to chronological and historic accuracy, and in the vital crices, :he author Is liberal and tolerant in the conclusions which he draws. The book should have place in the library of every biblical student, and even of the secular delver after knowl- edge who pretends to be informed on mat ters of general importance.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-08
By Prof. D. S. Marsoliouth.

old and now testament. Semitic, Egyp- tian and Persian religions are the prin- cipal ones consid cred, and the informa- tion given is intensely interesting of it. self, aside from it's historical and literary value The little booklet explains how the religion of today. with which we are more or less conversant. was influenced by the presence of other cults of the people sur rounding early Jew and early Christian.
 A prominent and instructive feature of the book is the fact that 1t establishes the theory that the religions, waves from which Tapped the shores of our own spir- itual edifices, had good and truth as their
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-08
Witb nlaker$ and Covers of Literature.
TREND OF THOUGHT
 ALONG PATHS LITERARY.

life, his ideas, his mode of expressing these ideas, and the goal to which he drives Others have claimed that criti- cism is but a weighing in the balance Of literary qualities by certain given stand- ard literary measures or weights. There Is somewhat of truth in both' of the di- yerrent opinions It is quite true that the critic struggles to see what is in the man behind the book, to grasp his ideas, which oftentimes because of human weakness he fails to clearly express, but which the true critic sometimes can gath CT from what is written. Then. too, there is certain literary standard which is accepted in the literary world; but 1t is by no means an ironclad rule to go by, for 1t is often set aside, and is possessed of great flexibility. Putting the two ideas together we can manage to get a fairly clear conception as to what criti- cism is and is intended to do.
 There seems to be desire on the part of some literary critics to poke fun at the humor of the present day, but wheth- CT this is entirely just is a question which is not readily decided. Of course we have much today in the way of hu- nor, which causes us to smile only be- cause of its utter absence of any humor- ous quality. But that there is vast lot of good humor going the rounds of the literary productions, 1t is probably not wise to deny. We may not have today any striking productions; and yet, who can tell but what the things which seem not so funny to as may not appear ex- tremely humorous to the people of the next generation. This kind of literature is like all others-it takes time to ripen it and make it thoroughly appreciated. .r-
 It is said that one of our best novelists is living in the slums of New York in disguise, and that this IS his second year of such life. He proposes to spend one or two years in his way and then to leave the life and come back to civiliza- tion and write novel dealing with the people of the Under World" giving the subject the most masterful and detailed exposition which it has ever had. Some time since was reviewed on this page Rev. Sheldons book upon the subject en- titled. "The Refo"mer," but it had many weak points. We have no doubt that when the author, who is now spending his days and nights in the very heart of this problem, comes from out the dark ness into the light. that he will have a story to tell that will be the most inter- esing epistle upon the subject yet writ ten.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-08
Of Recent Occurrence.

Little Chronicle.
 The Sunday school teacher asked a big boy. sam. who made you?'
 Sam replied: "I don't know"
 Turning to little Johnny. who was six years old. the teacher said: "Who made you. JohnnyT"
 God made me-" he replied.
 The teacher then asked Sam why he did not know that as well as little Johnny.
 Well" replied Sam, Johnny wasn't born long enough to forget it."
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-08

It is exceedingly gratifying to loyal Southerners to know that possibly no other section of the country has been so thoroughly handled by historian and his torical novelist as the land of Sunshine and Flowers. And still the great work goes on! Today more than ever before there are numerous writers, North and South. working on books to appear in the near future having as their ''tramping ground the South. so full Is it of his toric sentiment and valor
 President Tyler. of William and Mary College, is preparing a work on Southern topics which, it is said by some who have seen part of the manuscript, is full of interest and ably written. Professor Dodd of Randolph Macon is also prepar- ing a book on some Southern theme which l do not now recall Professor Bassett of Trinity, is writing an elaborate history of Stonewall Jackson, the most expen- sive and thorough history which has ever him in his work. access to the celebra ted collection of Jackson papers in Washing ton. known as the Blair collection-this being a hitherto unused field of Jackson ma terial. Professor Petrie of the Ala hama Polytechnic Institute Is preparing en elaborate volume on the South, as Is also Professor Riley of the University of Mississippi and Professor Garrison of Texas. Professor Garrison is studying with his student body the Spanish sources of Texas and Southwestern his tory.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-08

For the past two months there has been some considerable speculation as to whether or not the production of novels this year would not fall far short of what 1t has been for a number of years past. Certainly it is true that the pub fishers are all concerned because of the fact that the number of their manuscripts of this character. which usually flood their offices the first of each year, are this season sadly lacking. Only a few = stray novels of any worth whatsoever are coming in and 1t seems in truth that we may have the market flooded this year with a lot of trash basking under the title of novel,
 Rumor has it that there will be es- tablished some time in April either in Boston or New York, a literary magazine to be published monthly and devoted ex- clusively to the fine arts. It is said that the projectors have financial capital sufh- cient to float to a successful flight any enterprise which is worthy, and that such a magazine would eventually receive the patronage of large clientele of readers goes without the saying There are hun dreds of persons in every city of even modern size who would like to have on their table high art literary magazine and who would be willing to pay a good price for 1t If they were assured of it's reliability. There has been more sham published and talked of under the titlc of literary than possibly any other de- partments of life and for this reason d good magazine of the class mentioned would eventually receive strong support though at first it would have to fight against the suspicion that it was anoth- CT advertising medium for some publish ing house.
 The editor of this page is receiving let ters of congratulation from all over the South, from persons who had lost all con f1dence in the literary pages of the dailies but who have already learned that this page is to be an open forum, where Truth will be the only guide. If book re- ceives praise in this column it will de- serve 1t, and if the name of a man or woman is mentioned, it will be after they have won sufficient renown to justify it, and not before.
 A discussion as to what is criticism has been passing through some literary jour- nals. It has been quite interesting to note the many different ideas advanced upon this subject Some have claimed that criticism is an effort to find the man behind the book, ais personality his
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-08
The Other Extreme.

St. Louis Star. WITT The other day Frank, aged three, was playing with the tail of a big dog
 Look out, said a careful aunt, 'he'u bite you"
 "Oh, no. ayntie,' he said. ''he'n not bite me; Pse not at the bitin end."
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-08

elevating and encouraging feeling. and what Is read will be far more enjoyed and work to the reader double the bene- fit at least.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-08

As evidencing the care being exercised by Southern students and writers to have their country's history appear correctly
 is a little pamphlet issued by the Wander bllt Southern History Society the work of Prof D. D. Wallace of Wexford Col lege. This little booklet shows that the
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-08

It has been suggested that Kate aDoug- las Wiggtn might well have called her latest book. Tame Animals I Have Known" for '-The Dairy of Goose Girl" is really a familiar and witty &C., count of a young woman's barnyard ac- quaintances, in the list of which the goose is but one among man. The de- mand for this book has already exhausted two impressions.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-08

Mrs. Mary de Manowsld, author of Ten Years in Cossack Slavery; or. Black Russia," and translator of "Pharaoh," is at present at work on a new book. The scenes are laid partly in the frontier of Texas and in the old capital of Mexico. The material of the story comes from the time of King Maximilian's reign. Friends that have seen her manuscript are pre- dieting a greater success for It than for her former works.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-08

Shelley is having his day. Notyoniy in he being read more than ever before, but he is serving to inspire the young American singers with ideals of social freedom and poetic beauty. His complete poetical works are now included in the Cambridge edition of famous American and British poets. continuing the ade- quate editing and excellence of book making for which that series is noted.
The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1903-01-21
Taft To Remain Governor
OF Philippines.

After mature consideration, it
has been decided by the President
.h.. J I'D; saso 70 TAFT snail remain in
the Philippines as Civil Governor.
For several weeks it was regarded
as settled that Gov. Taft would re-
turn to this country soon to become
p justice of the United States SUI
preme Court. AS soon as it was
learned in the Philippines that
Governor Taft was likely to leave
the islands, cabled protests began
to pour in on the President from
prominent.Filipinos. 1t was point
ed out to the President that Gov
erno- Taft was ideally equipped for
the position of Governor and that
any change at this time would be
disastrous to the best interests of
the archipelago. Governor Taft
will remain indefinitely as Civil
Governor of the Philippines.
The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1903-01-21
Hard Luck.

The W. c. T. U. is having hard
time of it. First, the Louisville
preachers refused to join them in
inviting the National Temperance
Association to meet here, and now
somebody has hung the portrait of
the late Mrs. Harrison in the base
ment of the White House. The
ladies say they gave it condition
ally and they want it back. 1t
does look sorter shady to degrade
the portrait of former mistress of
the White House to the basement,
for if any one deserves place on
the walls of the building it is the
dead and living Presidents and
their wives. The trouble with the
w. G. T. u, however, is the siren
uons way they have of demanding
things. "a member OF the organi-
cation declared 1--WE have no mid
die course, and a middle course
is not always the best, as this anec-
dote will show. An Irishman was
driving down a rough road one
night and, looking ahead, saw two
red lamps cleaning in front of
him. Faith, said he, (which way
shall Oh drive. Maybe Old better
take a middle course an drive be-
twane thin lamps He did. The
vehicle, however, proved to be an
omnibus and Pats middle course
was his ruin"
The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1903-01-21

they, yet the signals were as dis
tinct as if nothing interposed,
The work of experimenting went
on and new discoveries we're made.
Various improvements in the in
struments rendered it possible to
increase the distance without in
crease in the height OF the masts.
Copper rehectors were found to be
important aids in directing the
course of the current for short dis
tances, and finally the operation
known as cunning" was discovered,
which is an Important part of the
Marconi system. This consists in
adjusting the power of the receiver
to that of the transmitter, which
may be done to an unlimited extent
as is done with the Yale lock and
key. To such an extent has this
system been perfected that, though
when a current is started it may
spread in circles to every point of
the compass, no receiver is affect
ed but the one attuned to the key
of the transmitter. However num-
erous may be the receivers scattered
over intervening space, there is on
ly one that receives the message,
unless others have been attuned to
that particular key.
Since 1899, when the Marconi
system received general recogni-
ton, the uses to which it has been
put have multiplied. It's chief
value has been found in its use on
steamers. By a wire suspended
from the mast of ship and con-
nected with an instrument on deck,
messages are received from the
shore for hundreds of miles. Pass
ing ships communicate with one
another. During the voyage of two
vessels of the Cunard Line in Dec.
the vessel proceeding to England
was in communication for two days
in mid-ocean with the vessel COM
ing to New York. Messages were
exchanged freely, though the YES
sells were never in sight of one an
other. 1t would thus be possible
for a vessel in distress, if equipped
with the Marconi apparatus, to cal
upon other vessels for help though
none were visible. The approach
of ships may also be announced
long before they can be seen. Thi
has been practically proved by tn,
enterprise of the New York Herald
which has equipped vessel sta
toned off Nantucket with the Mar
conf apparatus. 1t receives report
from incoming vessels and send
them by wire to New York.
The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1903-01-21
There was young gent they called Blake
Who went out to glide on the lake:
The ice being thin,
He soon tumbled in
L

To the place where they never can SAC