davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-11
About Small Talk.

Have you ever thought how absurd the small talk of people sounds to you when they are carrying on a conversation in the theatre near you. in which you are not at all interested?" asked a man about town yesterday. For instance a woman will lean over and ask mysteriously, Have you heard about Georgeg Why no! What has he been doing?' Oh, the usual thing. He has had another fuss with Polly, but they made 1t up and I saw them at the Renders last night. She had on a lovely gown, too.
 Who is that bald-headed man over there? He reminds me of somebody 1 saw In Denver My I'm awful hot. l wish they would begin
 And so it runs on. The people just back of you seem oblivious of your pres ence and discuss the most tedious family affairs with great gusto. The other night I heard a mother chding her daughter for chewing gum in the theatre, and there followed a most edifying conversation of about five minutes in which the question of chewing gum was thoroughly threshed over and a certain he who indulged was freely referred to, the young lady finally concluding with the triumphant assertion that she would rather for him to chew gum than tobacco.
 "Of course people in ordinary life can not always say the bright things that are quoted In books and put in the mouths of stake folk, but it does seem to me that the average conversation is about the greatest assortment of drivel that it would be possible to find under any circum- stances. In the first place conversation in theatres and other places of assembly IS not at all necessary. Most people are sane enough to confine themselves to few brief remarks, but some unfortunates subject themselves to ridicule and annoy everyone about them by carrying on conversation for fifteen minutes on mat ters that are positively painful to persons in the next seats who have to sit and listen'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-11
FAIR PESsIMlsT FROM CUBA.
Baroness Won oIuemer Says the Mu-
 lattoes Rule.
From the New York Sun.

From the New York Sun
 Frances Amelia, Baroness von Gluemer, bride of the Oviedo diamond wedding of 1859, who came here from Cuba last Tues. day, has moved from the Park Avenue Hotel to a boarding house at 69 Irving place.
 "The condition of Cuba is forse today than 1t has been at any time since 1860, when l first went there," the Baroness de- clared last night. "rhe mulattoes domI- nate the situation-politically and socially The Americans don't vote and the Span iards don't vote-it doesn't seem that any one does except the blacks.
 At the first presidential reception the mulattoes swarmed and the best people sent word that they would never attend similar function. None has ever been attempted.
 Tt isn't true that Havana is a clean or safe city. It's neither. It's lie that you can walk safely through the streets at night. You have to run. There's nothing In the story that they've wiped out small pox. There isn't any smallpox because there isn't anything for smallpox to feed on. There are no immigrants. Nobody wants to go there for there Is no work to do. The whites can be seen going around the east side of the island in droves, looking for work. But there is no work, for there Is no money to pay laborers with.
 Then. as to that mosquito report tell you, there Is nothing in ii. There are just as many mosquitoes on the island as there ever were. That's one reason why I left.
 'The mortgage decree of General Wood was the worst thing that ever happened to the island, which was sold back again into the hands of Jesuits.
 My husband Don Esteban Santa Cruz de Oviedo. left an estate of 5000, ,000 About forty mulattoes put in claims pro- fessing to be his children. Finally, in 1875, I divided the estate into five parts of about a million each, taking one my self. I had one of the finest estates In the province of Matanzas. My claim is now to about s40O,000 worth of property there All the rest has been gotten by the Cubans, the Spanish lawyers and the Spanish courts. The United States gov- ernment is backing up my claim.
 Cuba is right in the hands of carpet baggers and speculators. They are the people who are saying that everything is going on fine there. But it's lie Cuba Is as much in the hands of carpetbaggers as the south ever was.
 Havana, moreover. is full of gambling houses. It's worse than the Tenderloin. It puts the Tenderloin In the shade" and the baroness nodded her head knowingly.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-11
GREAT JOURNALS VIEWS
 ON GOOD ADVERTISING

vertisements as his competitors. they will have weight on the public mind and will be more successful in the end.
 In writing his advertisements a business man or professional ad writer should strive for originality. Nowadays nothing appeals to popular taste more than nov city. There Is a constant craving for satisfied with nothing else. If an adver- tisement is original 1t will attract instant ly which Is one of the prime essentials of all good ads. No matter how grace fully the statement may be worded or how convincing it falls flat If it fails to get the attention.
 In this connection 1t may be wise to make a few observations about humor in advertising A great many people sup pose that a good advertisement must nec- essarily be funny when nothing is worse in business than misplaced humor. In fact, if the subject does not permit of hu- nor jokes should be carefully avoided. When a man wants a pair of trousers he does not want joke and the sooner he finds out about style price and quality the more quickly he will buy.
 Qualities of earnestness. conviction, and sincerity will always have weight on the person who reads an advertisement. Therefore they should be cultivated. Clear vision and simple description are also es- sential It is a mistake to suppose that the man who writes ads does not require literary training. In fact this kind of work demands the highest type of com position, although style as such, as al- 1trc ct aH to ic far difficult to write a good advertisement than a good story. The ad writer and the novel writer have been placed in the same category, although the former may appear more commercial and less dependent upon the muses for inspiration. Training Is absolutely necessary. No man ever has too much and he who wishes to make success of the profession should never let opportunity to learn something new pass by without taking advantage of 1t.
 Advertising is the great lever of the business world. No man can be success full without it. The man who does not ad- vertise Is failure. No matter what the money expenditure may be the returns will be greater That can always be counted on if the advertisement is a good one The worlds greatest business men today are its greatest advertisers. Wan amaker pays out a fortune every year to newspapers and magazines but gets several fortunes in reutrn. Although ev cry business man is not a Wanamaker he cannot afford to ignore the Wana- maker methods and the methods of every other merchant who wins success through judcious advertising.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-11
Location of Synodical College.

Montgomery is Bessemer's competi. tor TOT the location of the college that the Presbyterians of Alabama propose to establish. That denomination de sires to secure s100,O0O before work is begun on the establishment of the col lege, and the town that secures it Is expected to give site and $25, 1000 Montgomery has pledges to the extent of $14.oO0, and it proposes to increase the pledges to $15,000.
 In point of healtfulness, pure water and fine scenery, Bessemer easily out ranks the capital city. Bessemer, too is located in county that has double and soon will have quadruple, the pop nlation of Montgomery county. If the fund that the Presbyterians of Mont. gomery are raising can be duplicated in this county, Bessemer undoubtedly will secure the location of the college
 The entire county of Jefferson is in, terested in tLs matter, and the Pres. byterians of this town and of all it's suburbs should lend a helping hand The subject should be made a county matter, for what is Bessemer's interest is the interest of the rest of the i'm perial county. Let us pull together ir this matter, until Bessemer has gath cred in the college that the synod oi Alabama proposes to establish.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-11
Cleveland and Masonry.

"I read in a New York paper this week a candidate; not for the Presidency but for the mysteries of Freemasonry," said a Mason who once lived in Washington "1'he story was to the effect that the grand lodge of New Jersey would shortly convene in extraordinary com degrees of Entered Apprentice. Fellow Craft and Master Mason on MT. Cleve- land at single meeting.
 "I doubt the correctness of the state ment. The only speech I ever heard MT. Cleveland make was on the occasion of the unveiling of the Mary Washington monument in Fredericksburg during his last administration. The ceremonies were under the auspices of the grand lodge of Virginia. At the banquet which followed President Cleveland made an impromptu address in the course of which he said:
 " I have often wished that I was a Mason and I feel that I should have ap- piled for initiation when I was a young man. am too old to join now
 MT. Cleveland was ten years younger then than he is today. It is not probable that he will endeavor to ride the goat at the age of 67, although l have seen can- didates initiated at the age of TO- About five years ago the late 1doses D. Hoge. D. D., of Richmond received the three degrees of the blue lodge at the age of Boa few months before he died He was made Mason at sight something that Is seldom done in modern times"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-11

N response to a request from Lord 6
 Thomas of Chicago. publishers of Judicious Advertising, the Chicago Evening American of a recent issue con tains a double-column editorial on the subject of modern advertising methods that is not only masterly in it's treatment but contains much sound advice that could be proftably used by all business men who desire to succeed. Advertising is now most vital feature of commerce. and as such is attracting the attention of the entire business world. As a result ad writing has become great profession in which skilled and talented workmen are required who are laboring in every large city of the land to state plain proposi- ton in the most telling form.
 Regarding style the American has very little to say. Style is the last thing to be desired in successful ad writing A man cannot afford to tie himself down to mere form ct the expense of originality. Style is always secondary in a good ad- vertisement. Each man tries to express himself in the most striking and original manner of which he is capable. If he suc- ceeds in attracting public attention and in making himself interesting, style may be ignored entirely. The writer of adver- tisements should trust to inspiration to a certain extent, and like the minister pre- paring his sermon or the novelist writing his book, should give free rein to the best powers of his intellect. for the successful advertisements demands it.
 The successful ad writer must be con- vincing. He must carry conviction in all he says and moreover he must be fresh Yet he must not allow his originality to lead him into verbosity. A good adver- tisement must be terse, but terseness is always consistent with forceful expres- sion of thought.
 Having fixed the readers attention the ad writer must next appeal to his busl- ness instincts. The advertisement must be worded in such a way that the reader will be impressed with it's business like tone and it's sincerity. Care should be taken not to be dry. No matter how solid business man the reader may be he must have something interesting to hold his attention
 In advertising, as in all honorable pur- suits, truth Is greatly to be desired. Never permit an advertising statement that is not true. No man wins a surer foothold in the estimation of a community than he who never makes promise he cannot full fill, and never advertises goods that are misrepresented. Although the truthful ad- vertiser may not have such brilliant ad-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-11
IN HOTEL LoBBIEs
Ranks Hlnh as a Tenor.

Reed Miller. formerly of Birmingham but now of New York, is winning laurels as tenor singer" said music lover. When he sang in the choir at the Church of the Advent. he had a charming voice but since studying in New York 1t has become cultivated to q high degree and the metropolitan papers have much to say in MT. Miller's praise.
 MT. Miller has been engaged to sing the tenor parts of Haydn's Creation and Gounod's Mors ct Vita at the New Orleans festival which takes place next May under the direction of Theodore Thomas. From New Orleans MT. Mil- Ter will visit Birmingham and will prob ably give a recital here. He would meet with a cordial reception"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-11
Value of Art Lectures.

That the art spirit is not wholly lacking in Birmingham is shown by the .uccess of the recent art lectures here. It is worthy of more than pass ing comment that a series of lectures on art subjects has attracted the at- tention and held the interest of so many persons. It cannot fail to indl- cate that there is an element in this community ready to foster art and pro- mote those movements conducive to artistic development.
 It argues well for the future of any city when movement projected by a few public-spirited citizens receives sufficient encouragement to give it perranency, and the success of the lectures points to day not far distant when Birmingham will be able to pro- vide ample facilities for art culture
 There is certainly a great and in creasing demand for art knowledge. But the demand exceeds the facilities for convenient study Art bibliography is suitable only for the profound stu dent. But the happy medium is attain able. Those not so fortunate as to be able to attend the great universities can yet find instruction from some one whom study and the "art love" have fitted for. the work of featuring on this subject. Years of study of the history and principles of art enable such teacher to give the busy man or woman the essence of it all.
 The aim and purpose of these lec- lures on aesthetics have been to pro- mote an appreciation of the true and the good that art culture, this revival of tie beautiful" may become per manent social possession with us as in other cities where mans progress is measured by his ideas of beauty.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-11
Alabama's Pyrites Deposits.

A Talladega correspondent of the Nashville American explains that the completion of the Eastern Railroad oi Alabama to Pyriton, twenty-two miles from Talladega, affords an outlet for the pyrites deposits near Pyriton
 Other pyrites veins will be reached when the Lineville and Birmingham railroad Is completed to Lineville, which is nine miles beyond Pyriton.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-11
EXCITING BUSINESS.
Inc New York Tribune.

From the New York Tribune.
 For a risky and exciting and profitable if you survive-mode of earning a liveli- hood, a new Australian industry can be confidently recommended. It Is the col lection of snake vernon, substance that, like radium, is valued by the grain. A pound of it is said be worth 95Oo0. It Is in active demand by chemist. It is obtained from three species-the death ad- der, the brown adder and the tiger snake. The reptiles must be caught uninjured, and 1t goes without saying that the in- dustry demands considerable knowledge and skill in capture" Tiger snakes are the best, for they carry most venom. Snakes are still numerous in the Austra Han bush.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-11
oriqln of "The Man in the Street,
Letter in London Spectator.
 What is the origin of the phras

Letter in London Spectator
 What is the origin of the phrase, .sThe man in the street?" In "The Greville Memoirs" under date of March 22, 1881, Vol. H., D. 131, occurs the fol- lowing: "The king will not consent to it Ga dissolution), knowing, as the man in the street Gas we call him at New market) always does, the greatest se- crets of the kings, and being the con fidant of their most hidden thoughts. . The origin of the phrase is interesting. Does ''the man in the street" still ob- tain at Newmarket, and is he a tip ster' or merely one who speaks with confident knowledge, having none? It will certainly interest modern journal ists to know there was a man in the street" in 1881 of similar characteris- tics apparently to his latter-day repre- sentative.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-11
PORK BARREL" VERY LEAN.

Washington Telegram to the New York
 World.
 Uncle Joe Cannon has relented Chair man Burton will be permitted to pass a river and harbor bill, but the limit is $4G0O,0O0
 At the beginning of this session Speaker Cannon announced that no river and harbor or public building bill would be permitted to pass. Government engineers pointed out that unless an appropriation were made much work begun would be ruined. To prevent this the most urgent items will be put through The bill gen. erally carries $50 000, GOO.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-11
PEOPLE ETALKED ABOUT

Mrs. Rebecca Mayo, one of the two re- maining pensioners of the revolutionary war on the pension rolls at Washington, died recently at Newborn. Va, at the age of 90 years.
 Mme sembrich has signed contract with Conried for next seasons opera and will again appear in this country under MT. conreids direction. She has been engaged for the entire season.
 Prof Porter of the Cincinnati astronomi- cal observatory announces that the new sixteen-inch telescope will be ready for use some time this week. The instrument formerly used at the observatory measur- ed eleven inches across the lens.
 The Rev. -Dr S. E. Wishard of Salt Lake City is now 80 years of age but is still actively engaged in his duties as superintendent of the Presbyterian mis- sion work in Utah. Dr. Winshard makes long and ardous stagecoach journeys through the Mormon territory, in spite of his advanced age
 
 John Humbert, familiarly known as ''John, the Caller" who has announced the arrival and departure of trains at the Little Miami depot in Cincinnati for the past thirty years, died recently in that city. Humbert was known all over tha country on account of his long service and was noted for his influence over chill dren.
 It is reported that the health of Ad- miral Robley D. Evans commander of the Asiatic fleet, is greatly broken. The sturdy fighter is llmping worse than ever now and his constitution has been shat tered by his last tour of duty in the Orient. It is reported that he will be suc- ceeded In command of the Asiatic squad ron by Admiral Cooper.
 Maxine Elliot, in order to spend her birthday with her husband, Nat C. Good win, arrived in St. Louis last Sunday from Milwaukee on a special train The train was paid for as a birthday present by MT. Goodwin, who also gave his wife a diamond sunburst. The talented ac- tress also received many other handsome gifts from friends. In honor of the day MT. Goodwin tendered a birthday dinner to his wife on his private car, Edge more.' which was attended by all the players appearing with Miss Elliott in Her Own Way"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-11
The Ohio river is now Yellow Peril
JOHN w. ToMLINsoN.

From the Montgomery Journal.
 The suggestion that Col John w. Tom linson be elected a delegate at large to the national democratic convention will meet the approval of democrats generally throughout the state. Colonel Tomlinson has been loyal to the party, and stands ready today to abide the decision of the party when it speaks at St. Louis. He Is not committed to any candidate. but as a democrat will yield to the party loyal sup port when the candidate Is named.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-11
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR

From the New York Press.
 Some men gamble away all their money and some go to law. A woman's age mounts up as fast as a man with none children saves money. A man can stand any kind of treatment from his wife but her trying to reform him. A woman has an idea that battleship runs about the same way as a sewing machine.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-11

Senator Morgan thinks there are 200, 1000 democrats who would make good Presidents of the United States. It is quite certain that 100000 demo- crats think so, at any rate.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-11
pwyer Defeats Reineck.

Richmond, Va. March Northampton light-weight wrestler M. J. Dwyer defeat ed Charles Reinecke. the Pittsburg cham pion, in a match here tonight.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-11

A new bank breaking syndicate has been formed at Monte Carlo. The syndicate is composed of two English men and three Americans. The capi- tai at present Is $125.oO0. What it will be within week is problematical.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-11

When there is no startling news for the yellow journals the telegraph edi- itors write the same big headlines and compromise matters by putting ques- tion mark at the end.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-11

Graft in Chicago is reported to be merely sporadic" but the chances are that it makes up for anything lost dur ing intervals of inactivity when it does get started.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-11
About Persons.

Abe Scharff of Memphis is at the St. Nicholas.
 D. B. Hamilton is registered at the Morris
 J. A Coates of Mobile is in the city. A. A. Bishop of Sylacauga is stop ping at the St. Nicholas.
 Milton Moss of Huntsville is in the city. E John P. Furniss of Selma is registered at the Morris.
 Dr. P. c. Hoffman of Montgomery is in the city.
 E. ". Lish of Amory, Miss. Is at the St. Nicholas.
 Harper Hamilton of Rome, Ga.. is regis tered at the Morris.
 Assistant General Superintendent M. M. Richey of the Southern railway is in Washington.
 W. F. Brown of Boston is at the Morris J. B. Goodwin of Anniston is in the city. f
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-11

Some hold that President Roosevelt should patronize livery stable instead of asking for an equine palace.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-11

It is very consoling to real grafters to hear congressman say that no one Of any importance has been left out of MT. Bristow's report
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-11
Not the Same.

From the Philadelphia Public Ledger ''I understand Polxley is working?"
 Huh! He must have told you that.'
 No some one else told me. Isn't 1t trueg'
 Certainly not. He's merely got . job"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-11

When it comes to compromise can didate there is your Uncle Adlai Ste venson standing hat in hand.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-11

New York city has 10000 trained women nurses, and it does not feel as if it could spare one of them.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-11

Carl Schurz has turned into bis 76th year, and he begins to think he car round up a century.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-11

Prof. Triggs is now open to a place on ticket. He might even accept a nomination for vice president.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-11

A boom without a barrel is a boom that is destined to be sidetracked.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-11

War news is disappointing because it does not ginger up to expectations and first performances.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-11

Mormonism is being thoroughly in vestigated by the whole country, in cluding the senate committee.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-11

Bombardments come high and tn, czar is saving money by letting tn, Japs alone.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-11

Mormon President Smith says tht S97 polygamists in his church are old men-hoary-headed flrst-row men.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-11

The Russian language is the jarring est in the world except the language employed in dialect novels.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-11

The impossible and preposterous boom of Editor Hearst is declining.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-11

It has been proposed to import the war in the far east and establish it on the Pike at St. Louis.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-11

Baseball will next week divide time with politics in this valley.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-11

New York is renewing it's acquaint anee with Shakespeare this season.