davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02
MARK TWAIN, THE GREAT
 AMERICAN NOVELIST

do not fall into that class of tales which gain truth and beauty as they grow old. His people are creatures of the closet and the intellect Huckelberry Finn and the Ngger Jim are figures In an epic. They are made of flesh and blood; they live and breathe; they are real.
 Once upon d time the late Sir Walter Besant was asked which novel he thought the best ever written. He answered, ur- hesitatngly. that his choice was "Huckel-- berry Finn. Tt is easy enough he said in effect, ito write story about men and women of the sort that surround one every day. but 1t is enormously difficult to put oneself into the mind of a boy and to see things from his standpoint and as he sees them. Mark Twain has dono this in 'Huckelberry Finn I am an Eng lshman and Huckelberry is an American of an age that is gone, but he is as su- premely real to me as Falstaff or Lady Teazle As a literary workman, 1 under stand the difficulties of drawing the por- trait and appreciate its marvellous suc- cess"
 Not only in "Huckelberry Finn is Mark Twain revealed as a master of TO- nance. In most of his lesser books-even including that most remarkable extrava- ganza, "A Connecticut Yankee at King Arthurs Court''-his youth is firm and sure His people are essentially American and essentially human. and if the true purpose of fiction is to set forth the funda- mental characteristics of humanity in ideal characters, he Is the first of Ameri- can authors. Beside him the writers of best-seIfing novels cut ludicrous figures and immortals such as Poe seem hopeless ly puny and tame.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02
From the Baltimore Heral'

From the Baltimore Herald.
 XN ARK TWAIN will be 70 years old IP1 Friday. His career as man of letters seems to be over. For half dozen years he has been doing noth- ing but the easy tasks of very old man. Now and then his publishers bring forth a so-called book from his pen. Usually IL is new arrangement of familiar ma terial-old tales retold. It would be kinder to leave him undisturbed in his retire. ment
 A great many Americans look upon Mark Twain as humorist who in some sense is a brother to Artemus Ward, M. Quad and Finley Peter Dunne. In so far AS Napoleon was a brother to the camp followers of the Grand Armee this is true. But if 1t is taken as indicating that the aged story teller is wholly, or even pri- marily, writer of jests and extravagan- gas, 1t is utterly and hopelessly unjust and false He Is a humorist, of course. and many capable judges think he Is the greatest humorist since Sheridan, but like the immortal Irishman, he is infinitely more than that. In years to come, when the story of American literature is written more than one line of descent will be traced back to him. He is the premier American humorist, but he is also the premier American novelist
 No doubt admirers of Hawthorne will take exception to this Nevertheless a lit tie inspection will demonstrate It's truth Hawthorne was master stylist; his Eng fish was the best of his generation ana he possessed, too. imagination and fancy to a superlative degree. But Hawthorne's creations, when all Is said and done, are not vital, living figures. and his stories
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02
Car Shortade.

There is some improvement in the car shortage situation" said A. D. Lghtner general agent of the Frisco system in Birmingham. We are better equipped now than we were some time ago to handle the business and we are receiving gradually l500 coal cars of 100000 pounds capacity. These cars have helped us con siderably. they came at the right time About 300 of them have already arrived and the others are coming now. The car manufacturing company has promised to commence an immediate delivery of some of the remaining 1900 cars of the order. and they will relieve the situation considerably as far as our line Is con cerned.
 We are supplying our mines with a little over three-fourths of the cars they need. and that is considered very good with such a car shortage as exists"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02
Danger of Fires.

Now that the cold weather has come l hope that the people will be very careful in making their fires and that they will see to the condition of the flues in their residences" said member of the fire department yesterday. If the public in general would only have the chimneys and the fues carefully inspected every fall it would materially lessen the danger from fires.
 "Of course sparks on the roof cause many fires in the winter tme but defec- tive fues are also responsible for many. People are in the habit of building iln- mense fires in the grates and these set the chimney on fire. It Is a useless risk and people should be very careful about such things for their own sake as well as for the protection of others'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02
WOMEN WAGE FARMERS.
Over 5,ooo,ooo of Them Work in the
 United States.

From the Chicago Tribune.
 Over 100000 of the women of the Uni ted States are wage earners. About 2,0OO,- GOO of the number are employed in indus trial pursuits, and nearly 100000. most of them negresses, are agricultural laborers. The clubwomen of the country have started a movement to secure thor ough investigation into the conditions un- der which working women earn their bread.
 Women in the United States do not do much of the heavy work performed by those in other countries They do not harness themselves to carts, or compete with navvies on railroads, or toll In bog do in Europe Here and there may be found the wives and daughters of for eigners who go into the fields and pitch hay and grain as they did at home. The agricultural work done by women in this country is chiefly cotton picking.
 It Is the opinion of MT. Robert Hunter however. that a searching inquiry Into womens pursuits in the United States will reveal the existence of a worse state of affairs than Is generally suspected.
 
 extremely injurious to their health. and the work done by mothers or women about to become mothers has especially deplorabe consequences to the workers themselves and also to their offspring and to society. There are nearly S00,000 mar ried women. more than sO0.0u0 widows and about 63,0 900 divorced women in the United States engaged in gainful occupations. Many of them have young children who are much neglected while their mothers are away from homo making the living. These children will largely constitute the ignorant and criminal portion of the next generation of citizens.
 The need and propriety of legislation by the states regulating the conditions of the employment of women. are now generally recognized Mir. Hunter would go still far ther and entirely prohibit mothers with young children from working outside their homes He would relieve married women from the necessity of outside work by sending drunken or lazy hus- bands and fathers to penal institutions, where they would be compelled to labor for the support of their families. Widows or women with disabled husbands he would pension until their children were educated and were old enough to help them.
 It would be easy to cast ridicule upon MT. Hunters scheme or to brush it aside as .paternalistic' or "socialstic" and therefore unworthy of attention. It would be better and more profitable to look carefully into the facts and ascertain whether the remedy he proposes or any remedy the lawmaker can apply is needed to deal with a growing evil.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02
PIckLED POSTS AND POLES.

From the Kansas City Journal.
 "Preservation of wood is becoming more general every year." said O. Chanute, who has put in a number of railroad tie pick ling plants throughout the country
 They are even extending this picking business to fence posts and telegraph and telephone poles: It works out well in both of these. In the picklinE of ties, the railroads are using a great many of the softer woods. those which ordinarily wouldn't last more than two or three years By the treatment of chemicals though, their life Is extended to at least ten years. The movement first had it's origin about 1880. when attention was called by the government that there was becoming scarcity of timber in various sections of the country.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02

pearance of this actress in Birmingham. He is a the Hillman.
 Max Moyses, a we'll known salesman of Chattanooga, Is spending a few days in Birmingham.
 R. o. Brown. a well known travelling man of Memphis. arrived in Birmingham last night. and Is at the Hillman.
 G. T. Young of Hot Springs is regis tered at the Morris hotel.
 J. D. Riggs and B. L. Rodes of Selma are guests at the Morris hotel
 W. T. Dixon. a prominent business man of Ragland. is stopping at the Morris hotel.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02
Peculiar Case.

Peculiar, and at times funny scenes are enacted in a court room," remarked an attache of one of the many county inal court recently l remember where case had been stricken off the docket with the belief that the defendant was dead, though at the time the supposed dead man was in the court room
 Judge Dan A. Greene was presiding at the time in the first division and the case in question was against a defendant named Will Jordan. The court had re- ceived communication from a physician early in the morning stating that Will Jordan had died, and for that reason could not be present at the trial. The dead man was in the prisoners box in the court room when Judge Greene said ; I suppose there is no use in continuing the case of Will Jordan any longer as have a physicians certificate attesting to the death of the defendant and for that reason will strike the cause from the docket
 From the prisoners box came the voice of the real Jordan, who shouted No I'm not dead jedge. Is here to stand trial. and hope will not be thrown down
 After an investigation 1t developed that there were two Will Jordans. one charged with a misdemeanor in the second divis- ion and the other accused of felony in the first division. The misdemeanor man was the one who had died The live Will Jordan was tried, but I do not remember the outcome of the ease.~>It was laugh able to witness the expressions on the faces of Judge Greene and the court att taches as the question of Jordan being dead or alive was being discussed"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02
COMMENTS ON MEN AND
 MATTERS OF THE WORLD

erty while longer. Thomas Dixon will not be called upon to reorganize the Ku Klux Klan before successor to Roose- welt is elected.
 A tourist was murdered out in Cali fornia. Most tourists who visit California expect to be held up, but murder Is cary ing the game entirely too far.
 CONSOLATION.
 Just start to smiling,-
 Drop that frown;
 Tho diamonds are up.
 Beef Is down.
 Congressman Longworth recently trspp- ed swindler who claimed that he was. a secret service officer. Nicholas has been about a bit during the past year and no ordinary bunco steerer will be able to make him give up
 In estimating the per capita wealth of the United States at something over s3l, we are sure that our caput was over looked.
 THE PRICE.
 When he was poor
 He wanted wealth.;
 When he was rich
 He wanted health What's the use of striving for name and fame-when a newspaper-a daily newspaper, and prominent one at that prints 'Meddle March for 'Middlemarch' and The Marble Farm for The Marble Faun' ?'' askes the Fort Payne Journal. Yes, what's the use, so long as we have the typo to put things wrong? It appears that Chicago wants noise from her orchestras more than music. few boiler factories might prove service- able.
 President Roosevelt is making des- perate effort to save football. but he has already crimped the game.
 OBVIOUS. The stork is not e>--ionable bird, Altho he would like to be; He flies right by the rich mans house And hunts the poor man, bgee. "The Press Agent Is rather light af- fair Most of them are.
 BE CONTENT. Don't kick about the weather now, And say it's does not suit You think it's cold around here but It's way below in Butte.
 PAUL COOK
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02
ALABAMA PRESS

Ozark Southern Star: New mules, red wagons and top buggies are going like hot cakes at a circus in this market.
 Andalusia News: If your thoughts are on that subject, we beg to inform you that there is no shortage in the mistletoe crop.
 Marion Standard: Will some kind friend tell us what has become of Capt. Rich mond Pearson Hobson?-opelika News.
 Watching Bankhcad through an auger hole.
 Pine Belt News: pr. R. M Cunningham, we are sure, has no idea of quitting the race for governor. as Birmingham spe- cial to the Montgomery Journal intimates. The wish was probably father to the thought.
 Prattvlle Progress: The postal depart ment of this country has more patrons than any other business in the country, In spite of the fact that they have no bargain days. Five stamps or five thou sand sell at the same rate.
 
 000 is said to have changed hands on one game of football in Birmingham a few days ago and the game was only between two of our states leading institutions of learning. 70, what shall the harvest be?' West Alabama Breeze: The railroads are the greatest developers. We need more of them in this state and county to put our lands, minerals. timbers and other natural wealth in touch with the markets. 1t Is a fact known to the simplest, that the better transportation facilities we have, the more are all our natural county and state developed we should encourage the building and operating of railroads in our borders.
 Selma Times: Editor Charles P Lane of the Huntsville Tribune is candidate for postmaster of Huntsville We sincere ly hope he will get the appointment. He is one of the brightest newspaper men in the state and has the ability to make a good postmaster or fill any other position in the state. He is republican but he is one on principle and he always takes posi- tions on high grounds. We hope he will win out easy.
 Marion County News: We do not be- lieve our people are in much mood for political agitation, because they are get ting along too well. Then there is a feel ing of independence among them that never existed before to such a formidable extent. Capable and honest service is demanded, and the people will not put up with less The sentiments of the people in favor of honesty. morality and efficient government were never more pronounced.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02
THE AeE.HERALD's CARTOON.

From the DeKalb Record.
 The Age-Herald cartoonist was pos- sessed of the spirit of prophecy Saturday and pictured the grafters, trust magma tes etc. being driven by horned gentleman into place. presumably the one of which Dante wrote. The prophecy is all right and very comforting. The only trouble is that many of us may be so bothered by private troubles that we will not enjoy the fulfillment. Wed rather see them get a foretaste here on earth.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02
cApT. FRANK P. o'BRIEN.

From the Tuscumbia North Alabamian.
 Capt. Frank P, O. Brien. for one term sheriff of Jefferson county, has announced his candidacy for that office. Captain o'Brien was brave Confederate soldier. and is an old school democrat. He is one of Birminsham's best citizens and is very strong with the people
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02

6 HE number '5lo. will distinguish NY Newton c. Dougherty, the Peoria, Ill., embezzler. from his fellow convicts in the Joliet penitentiary while he is serving an indeterminate sentence of from one to fourteen years. Dougherty is one of the most contemptible grafters re- gently brought to light. in that he stole sum approxmatng s1.00O,0O0 and stole large part of 1t from the school children of Peoria. Dougherty says he will take his medicine.' We are in favor of giving him an allopathie dose.
 Mrs. Roosevelts new country home in Albermarle county, Virginia, is called Plain Dealing" Why not call 1t the Square Deal" Mrs R.9
 Enemies of Governor Jeff Davis of Ar kansas contend that what he deserves is not term in the senate but a term in a place where some senators ought to be.
 SWEET DISPOSITION.
 She was so tender r-hearted that
 A lot of people said
 She never was known to strike
 nail upon the head.
 Golf balls have been reduced from So a. dozen to $6 for twelve. but we still contend that the highball is better.
 F. D. Cromwell, the temporary head of the Mutual Life Insurance company, looks like MT. Dooley. Honesty is the best policy, Mir. Cromwell.
 Football is much alive, say the experts. To be sure. It Is the players that are dead.
 A REMEDY.
 A way to curb the chaufYeurs who
 Exhibit careless ways
 Is just to haul them up to court
 And give them thirty days. The southern extremity of Chilli is said to be second Klondike. Here Is a chance for new Jack London to develop professor in the University of Cali mortal. We had hoped that there would be no night-singing cats in the other world
 negro woman predicts the destruction of Chicago by an earthquake, and race prophecy is as easy to make as promise. Persons owning real estate in Chicago had better hold on to their prop
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

From the New York Press.
 Most people who find fault do it to keep others from finding fault with them.
 All you have to do to make people want to follow your advice Is to make them pay for 1t.
 good way to supply your wife with pin money is to leave 1t in your pockets when you retire. What is the use of advising people not to borrow trouble when they know they can get it given to them outright
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02
ABROAD WITH BRYAN.
le Portland TeIegram.

From the Portland Telegram.
 Col. William J. Bryan was discussing the war in Manchuria with General Oyama.
 Were you ever under fire, Colonel?" asked the warrior.
 "No, General" answered the Nebras- kan, but I've been over one many times.
 But Oyama didn't know how W. Jen- nings had been roasted.
 They were talking of national institu- tions.
 We have an order here," said the Mikado. called the Samurai. who fight and never give up. No one has ever suc- ceeded in getting the best of them. Is there anything like it in your country?'
 Yes.' answered MT. Bryan. but VIC call them life insurance companies"
 With such badinage they whiled the hours away.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02

MT. Carnegie paid handsome com pliment to the late Speaker Reed when he subscribed 5000 to the Reed monu- ment. Such speeches are usually spoken about the dead.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02

No, Gertie, the wind cart" used by the Chinese for irrigation purposes is not an airship.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02
pLENr YoF COMPANY.

From the Kansas City Star.
 County Attorney Gibson of Kansas City, Kan, may be guilty, but 1t is hardly DO, sibie that he Is lonesome.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02

Now that Charles Dana Gibson is gone, the original Gibson girls will have to fight it out among themselves.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02

A California judge granted divorce her pet dog out of window and broke it's leg. Another case of jealousy, no doubt
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02

Benjamin Franklin was an honest man if nothing else. Yet Governor Pennypacker does not like him.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02

Il he President heard the call of the wild" Thanksgiving day Wonder if it was the neigh of a broncho or the whine of a mountain lion?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02

The Baptist women of the world are supporting 300 missionaries. Wonder how many husbands they are support ing?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02

Much sympathy is expressed for the Sultan, who possesses the worlds most expensive family.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02

Meriwether insists that Branch was the more fortunate of the two, but most people would prefer to be Meri- wether.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02

This is an interesting age we live in,'' says the Czar of Russia. You bet your life, Enthusiastically interesting for you.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02

From the Chicago Journal
 Speaking about long distance telephony. c. J. H. Woodbury said recently: The toll line service began with the line built from Boston to Lowell in 1879, and this
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02

An engine going mile a minute gives twenty puffs second, which is better than the man in the smoking car can do.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02

The inauguration date may be changed, but the Washington hotel prices will remain the same.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02

The Japs are merely doing to Corea what any other country would do to good thing"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02

The auto car will continue the work laid down by football in keeping under takers and surgeons busy
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02

Lige Dowie has learned to say, r eace be with you" when he is not talking to newspaper reporters.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02

Greater Pittsburg" joins great array of other American cities that aspire to be larger.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02

The state convicts of Indiana had ham instead of turkey for Thanksgiv- ing. They have large grievance.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02

The insurance business is slowly picking up. Heretofore it has been too much of a rakeoff.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02
About Persons.

C. B. McDermott of Montgomery is at the Hotel Hillman.
 Leon P. Smith. travelling passenger agent of the Cotton Belt Route, with head quarters in Atlanta. is in the city.
 A. S. Preston of Jasper is in the city, a guest of the Hotel Hillman.
 E. A. Smith of Gainesville, Ga, is stop ping at the Hotel Hillman.
 John Curran. advance representative of the Florence Davis Opera company. is in the city making arrangements for the ap-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02

Columbia has dropped football, which Is a bad thing to do when the other side has just kicked off
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02

The Kaiser has six automobiles, and his horses are enjoying life, with noth- ing to do.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02

Although Thanksgiving day came un- usually late, 1t was better late than never.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02

Policy holders of the Mutual Life were thankful Thursday that Pa Mo Curdy was out.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02

Russell Sage used to be a member of Congress, but his long suit is being a member of the stock exchange
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02

King Haakon VII has demonstrated that he is a live up-to-date ruler and onto his job
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02

A secretary of football is a rumored addition to the cabinet
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02

People who have nothing else to spend are noted for spending the day.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02

"Bruteball' has been suggested Those in favor-the ayes have it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02

Perry Belmont's campaign for purity in politics looks good to the reformers.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02

Could you blame M. Witte for com blaming about insomnia?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02

Governor Davis of Arkansas is rap idly approaching pugilistic career.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02

What will be played when football Is abolished? Croquet may be revived
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02

Minister Sqiers will now have time to reflect.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02

The turkey got its name from abroad but won popularity at home.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02

A good quality of blizzard is being made in the northwest.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02

Running" should be run out of An. napolis.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02
GROWTH OF TELEPHONY.

Congress meets Monday. No flowers
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02

No communication will be published without It's authors name. Reflected man uscripts will not be returned unless stamps are enclosed for that purpose
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02

L. IT. Russ, George D. Britain and F D. Pickens are the only authorized travel ing representatives of The Age-Herald in its circulation department.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-02

Washington Bureau Age Herald. .ta1 c street. N W.