davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-15
The force of heaVen-bred poesy.
 Two Gentlemen of Verona.
InIsfni. Twain and KiplInq

The conferring of degrees at Oxford brought before the public Mark Twain and Rudyard Kipling, but away off in his Russian home lives a man whose studies of human life outrun those of the new Oxonian doctors. What he lacks in humor he makes good in philosophy and in deep stud- ies of human nature.
 But there is really no reason for comparisons which are at the best odious. We started out to say simply that in the world of letters today among the living in other words-Tol- stoi. Mark Twain and Rudyard Kip ling are easily one, two, three. Ger man and French writers and those or other nations are in the second divt- sion. It is not easy to say who holds the last position in the first division. The world is not overburdened with
 
 torian or the Elizabethan age. It Is commercial and Edwardian. It Is full of trade and diplomacy and trusts. But there is no trust in literature, and Tolstoi, Mark Twain and Rudyard Kipling are today it's three leading 1iobts and exponents.
 The books of the three are trans lated into the language of every civ ilized nation, and the standing of the three if measured by the number of their readers is not thereby changed. Today the books of Tolstoi are more widely read than are those of any other author, and Mark Twain's come next, and Kiplings are good third.
 Which of the three will be best known one hundred years hence?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-15

mind Fines imposed on big trusts are the merest farce, no matter how large they may be, and the punish ment of subordinates for the acts of Criginators or principals is simply un- just and lame. No trust magnate has been sent to the penitentiary, but the time has about come when public sen timent demands that not one, but sey- oral shall be sent there. The men who are really responsible for law less pon ies are the men who should be punished, and if every district had a Judge Landis possibly principals would be reached and punished. When that is done the trusts will be- come law-abiding and reasonable and just, and they will not become so one moment sooner
 Governor Folk of Missouri in a speech delivered last week dealt with the injunction mill which tentatively declares a statute of a state illegal until a final decision can be had. The rd.d to a nal decision may be de- layed by appeals and technicalities almost endlessly, and in the mean while the injunction ties up the soy ereien powers of a state. The in junction chloroforms a state, anl some remedy against it, says Cover nor Folk, is demanded by the people who are earnestly seeking relief.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-15
10000 ELKS ARE
 IN PHILADELPHIA

Philadelphia. July 14-Members of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks swarmed in this city tonight, and the streets are filled with visitors. Upward of 200O0 Ellls have enrolled their names at the official registration bureau since Sat- urday. During the day delegations from Mobile, Atlanta, Waco, Tex. Florence, 5. C., Santa Fe and New York arrived, and each train brings additional delega- tions
 The convention will formally open to- morrow night, when the visitors will be welcomed by Mayor Reyburn The first grand lodge business session will open on Tuesday at Il o'clock. Other sessions will be held Thursday and Friday. On Wednesday morning there will be a pa- rade of bands and the parade of lodges will take place on Thursday, at which time it is officially estimated that from 10000 to 30,0O0 will be in the procession
 The new constitution adopted at the last annual session of the grand lodge will go into effect on Tuesday, and under it some important matters will be brought up for consideration at the present sos- sion The discarding of the elks tooth as dn efHDleH or the Oruer, though II mas never been an official emblem, Is one of the important matters that will be taken up. The destruction of elks to secure the teeth and the foisting of cheap imta- tion elks teeth upon members of the fra ternity at excessive prices are among the causes that led to the agitation. The eiec- tion of delegates will also take place for the first time under a new system.
 Lodges of the even numbers will in the future elect delegates on the even years, and lodges of the odd numbers will elect them on the odd years, so that dele gates will be elected for two years where as in the past they have been elected each year. Another matter that will be brought up for discussion Is that relating to the colored Elks. The Elks object to the col ored organization styling themselves "Elks," and will take steps to protect the name in court Is necessary.
 Under the new constitution the Elks have a court before which they can set tie their differences. Should there be a hitch, five justices will be elected to the court, which will be known as the grand forum.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-15
sToNEWALLS BRIDGE BUILDER.

From the Washington Star.
 "Stonewall Jackson" said a Virginia veteran. used to tell a good story about bridge builder.
 This bridge builder was called old Miles. He was very necessary to Jackson because the himsy bridges on the line of march were continually being swept away by the floods or destroyed by the enemy: and in these contingencies Miles was a regular jewel. He could run you up a bridge In the time 1t would take another man to make the measurements.
 One day the Union troopos burned a bridge across the Shenandoah. Stonewall Jackson called old Miles to him and said:
 You must put all your men to work, Miles, and you must keep them at 1t all night, for I've got to have a bridge across this stream by morning. My engineer will draw up the plans for you
 well, early the next morning Jackson, very much worried, met old Miles.
 " See here he said, dubiously, how about that bridge? Did the engineer give you the plan?'
 "Old Miles took the cigar from his mouth and licked the ash off with a sheer.
 " General he said. the bridge is done. I dunno whether the picter is or not ''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-15
WITHDRAW THEIR AGENTS.
Nineteen Life Insurance Companies
 Leave Texas.

San Antonio, Tex, July 14.-The 0 Robertson insurance bill became eff fective today and twenty-one life in surance companies have withdrawn from the state as a result. The nine teen companies, together with the amount of the tax paid Texas on the business done in this state during 1906 are:
 Columbia National, Boston, S329.
 Des Moines Life, Des Moines, Ia S49S. Fidelity Mutual, Philadelphia, s3S92. Home Life, New York, $27s1.
 Manhattan Life, New York, s4725. Massachusetts Mutual, Springfield. Mass, $1390.
 Mutual Benefit, Newark, N. J., SS7S2. Mutual Life, New York, s27,097. National Life. Montpelier Vt, $947. New York Life, New York, $4O,657. Northwestern Mutual Milwaukee $7971.
 Pennsylvania Mutual, Philadelphia, s7644.
 Prudential, Newark, N. J., $2944.
 Reliance Life, Pittsburg, Pa, $194. Security Mutual, Binghamton, N. Y., $7194.
 Travellers Insurance, New York, $345S.
 Union Mutual, Portland Me, s1153. Washington Life, New York, s2567. Wisconsin Life, Madison, Wis. $190.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-15
Punish the Principa!

Tn two speeches delivered last week, the one by President Woodrow Wilson of Princeton and the other by William Jennings Bryan, the policy of sending to jail not subordinates but principals was advocated Both were speaking of the contempt of the trusts for the laws of the country or of the states, and President Woodrow said that "one real originator of the schemes and transactions which are contrary to the public interest legally lodged in the penitentiary would be r orth more than thousand corpora tions mulcted in fnes." Said William Jennings Bryan: Send John D.. rockefeller and a dozen other trust magnates to prison for long term of years and one of the most vital ques- tions before the people of this country will have been solved"
 These men have expressed the feel ing that has long been in the public
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-15
THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS

Julius Chambers. in the Brooklyn
 Eagle.
 fiji AM sick and tired of the entire
 Philippine business" said a re-
 publican United States Senator to me last evening. Anybody could see by his eyes that he spoke with sincerity, but I wasn't prepared for what was to follow.
 "Yes, mean what I have said" he continued. At the reassembling of Congress shall introduce a joint reso- lution proposing the sale of the Phil ippines to the highest bidder"
 "Impossibler' said I.
 "Why?"
 Because the constitution, which is still more or less a guide to Congress sional action, stipulates that all bills necessitating the expenditure of public money must originate in the House of Representatives. And surely, you com prehend that this government will have to surrender a matter of several hun dred million dollars to induce anybody to take the Philippine Islands off fts hands,"
 'I don't see that"
 Don't you realize that in the nine years we have owned them the Phil ippines have cost this nation much more than half billion of good Amer ican money?"
 "Yes. I know that; but that money is gone forever"
 Admitted; then, do you think any European power will give to us the original s2O.OOO. 900 we paid for them, as poire boire?"
 Moo. That Is, I don't think any European nation would; but Japan might take them at that price merely because she knows by recent experi- ence how costly war is."
 But she hasn't the money"
 "She could issue bonds for the amount-a special Philippine bond which our fool Americans would take"
 Surely you don't olieve that"
 Indeed I do. A friend of mine an executor of an estate, got permission from court to invest apout half a million of trust funds in Japanese bonds that will not be worth 10 cents, on the dollar if the anticipated war be- tween this country and Japan is pulled off,"
 But seriously" I implored "why do you advocate the sale of the Philip pines to the highest bidder?"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-15

Because we are the one nation on the face of the earth strong enough to defy tradition and comment. The answer of our state department would be, We will spend two thousand mill lion defending or retaking them, if nec- essary; but we don't need them, and anybody who does can have tn em for any old price,"
 And what sort of a price would you think reasonab1e?" asked.
 "I never had much of a head for mathematics" was the repoinder; "but if Japan wants them for a couple of millions, let her have them. We only lose $1S,000,000 on the purchase price. That seems a lot of money in lump; but when one contemplates the proba- bility of seven-year war to recap ture them after Japan has seized them, the loss is unimportant. want to make the speech of my life in support of my joint resolution"
 But you are estopped from intro ducing any such resolution-you have been one of the most veh cement de- lenders of the Philippine policy! You have branded Daniel, .rillman and oth- CT democratic senators with the white hot irony of your bitterest invective because they criticized the acquisition and denounced the retention of tn csc very islands"
 True I look at the subject from a different viewpoint than do those gentlemen. They are opposed to ex- pansion on general principles. I am in favor of expansion, but I want 1t to be carried out along lines we can defend. The Philippines are costing us hundred millions every year, and they aren't of the slightest use to us. | Admiral Dewey knows that fact as well as do I. He takes great credit, in an interview published this morning, for having assisted in their acquisi- tion-meaning the wretched inlands. What pity he didn't have sense enough to steam away, seizing all the Spaish steamers that were in port for
 use as coal transports. He surely could have got to Hawaii, where plenty of coal could have been shipped to him from San Francisco. No; it will be discovered as soon as Congress reas- sembleS that decided change of opin- ion has overcome the American people regarding our insular incubus'-good phrase, don't you ,link so?-in the Pacific. We must unload the Phil ippines."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-15
BAAI.

From the Chicago Record Herald.
 lnaz Brom@olill was walking peaceably along the street. Somebody threw a giant cracker from a second story window Re suit: The victim will probably lose the slight of both eyes.
 We call this celebrating our independ- ence.
 Two-year-old Harry Kennedy was given a toy pistol to play with. He tried to bite one of the caps. It was badly burned mouth and the hospital for him.
 We are an enlightened people.
 May Cleary tried to dodge a frecracker that somebody threw at her She fell and broke her leg.
 Real civilization.
 Larllin Harrison, an old man. was struck in the face by a firecracker, and badly burned while standing on corner waiting for Lake street car.
 Christ Raeperne was struck in the face by a frecracker thrown from a window, and had face and eyes injured
 These are just samples of some of the things that happened to innocent bystand- CTS in Chicago on the Fourth
 "A uoZeH peoPit were Hll DS stray outlets, some of them while in their own homes Several fell from street cars or out of windows while trying to dodge firecra ck- CTS. At least half peck of fingers were blown off as the result of carelessness in handling cannon crackers or firearms, and two or three whole hands and one car were added for good measure.
 It was a great and glorious day.
 In Phoenicia and Carthage, where Baal was worshpped with human sacrifices, the children who went into his fiery em- brace at least gave their lives for an ob- ject deemed of the greatest importance by all the people.
 Our victims give up their lives to mere folly and license.
 If Baal could come around today and gaze upon the works of Uncle-Samuel- Fourth-of-July he would feel his iron vi- tals melt with shame. and he would ad- init that he was very much antiquated, inferior, incompetent monster by compar- iSon.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-15

the law is a failure and if so. 1t should be amendew. I think the subject Is one that is worthy of as much, if not more, consideration than International peace, and if MT. Carnegie would institute a con- ference of practical men whose views on the subject of crime and its causes were submitted for consideration 1t Is quite pos sible that some improvement would be effected.
 Crime has It's causes and If these causes were known it Is but natural to expect remedy would be applied. Untjl these causes are Investigated 1t Is a hope less task trying to apply means of reform. When it was discovered that the mosquito was the cause of yellow fever, the means of prevention soon followed, so would 1t be with crime."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-15
Prevention of Crime.

q wish every man who has vote In the ctate of Alabama would read Judge Feagin's article in Sundays Age-Herald, ' said a citizen. q have not read anything In long time which so deeply impressed me upon the subject of crime and the cause of its increase.
 Time and again I have known of iH- stances, as he points out, where inno- cent men have been held in jail for a long time and then turned loose without any compensation or as much as an expression of regret for the injury done to them. It Is proverb of the law that every man is presumed innocent until proved guilty, and yet we are daily punishing unconvlct- ed persons just as much and as severely as If they had been convicted.
 According to Judge Feagins statement crime is on the increase, and if the pur- pose of the law be to reduce crime and reform criminals, 1t stands confessed that
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-15
AMERICANS IN PRISON.
SaIvadorean Government is Trying to
 Settle Affairs.

Washington, July 14-According to cable advices received at the state department today from American Minister Merry at San Salvador the Salvadorean govern ment has begun court proceedings to de- termine what disposition shall be made of the property of George and Edward Molssant, who are reported to be Amer can citizens and who are imprisoned on the charge of aiding the revolutionists in the recent revolution. The Moissants have been for many years engaged in business in Salvador, being connected with one of the principal banks of that country, owning plantations and having other large business interests in the coun- try. The Moissant brothers have made the claim that they are being persecuted because they refused to submit to the Salyadorean governments demand for a forced loan"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-15
PRE- SENTATIVE,

From Harpers Weekly.
 After lounging away the first two weeks of his vacation on the farm a Georgia student received rather insistent notice one morning that the carriage needed washing. Finding a tub full of water near the pump he proceeded to ask whether it might be used for his purpose
 ''Jlm," he said to one of the old darkies on the place. what do they use that tub for?'
 ''I don't know, Marse George replied the negro, 'jes zactly what dey do use dat tub foh."
 "Oh, phaw, Jim,' said George, imperi- ously. Been here a whole year and don't know what the tubs for? What do they do with it?''
 Well, massa,'' said Jim, at his wits end. "I reckon dey jest uses dat tub foh to keep water in foh to keep it from leakin."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-15
ALABAMA PRESS

Talladega Reporter: Hot old time for the Alabama legislature. It has about sixty days work for thirteen days session.
 New Decatur Advertisers It would be a shame to have to call our peace am- bassadors home from The Hague to pre- pare for a Japanese war.
 Tuskegee Standard: Democracy has come to where 1t Is the champion of the rights of the people, and depends no more upon the corporate or money power. The old time leaders, shorn of their power, now and then tell us that only the name Is left, but the party goes right on to vic- tory and asserts the rights and liberties of the masses against the classes. The people are ruling this year in the state, and it is amusing to see how. the deposed leaders are wondering what has happened They are beginning to learn, however.
 The Clio Free Press Governor Corners s message was an able effort, and in many measures showed good judgment. While there are number of his policies which have been inaugurated since his election, to which we are opposed, we especially commend his stand upon the dissertation of the Sabbath, compulsory education, the repeal of the foreign loan tax, and his anti-lobby bill. These four measures are of vast importance to the state and we believe will meet with favorable action at the hands of the general assembly.
 Tuskegee Standard: While no one has any authority to speak for the governor 1t may be regarded as certain that he will not call an extra session of the legislature if 1t can be avoided. There is much valuable work yet to be done, and it cannot be seen by those who are keeping in touch with the work in hand how in human possibility the legislature can get through in thirteen days that only remain of the present session. The people do not wish any prolonged ses- sion, but they will want care and de- liberation in the framing of important laws, and if more time Is neded, they will say let the lawmakers have it.
 Florence Herald: Microbes in everything you eat and drink, and If you eat and drink microbes you will surely die, and if you don't eat and drink you will still more surely die Bound to surely die in any event, you had better pay no more attention to microbes than your grand daddies did. They ate and drank every thing they wanted and they lived long and prospered. What did Methuselah know about microbes in his time Eat and drink everything you want, microbes and all, and you will live until you die and that is what old Methuselah did-he lived until he died.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-15
THE BALLAD OF THE ANGEL.

Theodosa Garrison In the Smart Set. "Who Is 1t knocking in the night,
 That fain would enter in?" "The ghost of Lord Delight am I,
 The sin you would not sin, Who comes to look in your two eyes And see what might have been." "Oh, long ago and long ago,
 I cast you forth" he said, For that your eyes were all too blue, Your laughing mouth too red. And my torn soul was tangled in
 The tresses of your head" Now mind you with what bitter words You cast me forth from your" T bade you back to that fair hell
 From whence your breath you drew. And with great blows I broke my heart Lest 1t might follow, too. "Yea, from the grasp of your white hands I freed my hands that day, And have l not climbed near to God
 As these His henchmen may?' "Ah, man. ah, man! twas my two hands That led you all the way" 'I hid my eyes from your two eyes
 That they might see aright.'' Yet think you twas a start that led
 Your feet from height to height? It was the flame of my two eyes
 That drew you through the night" With trembling hands he threw the door, Then fell upon his knee, "Ah, armed vision cloaked in light,
 Why do you honor me?" ''The Angel of your strength am I
 Who was your sim quoth she. For that you slew me long ago
 My hands have raised you high; For that you closed my eyes-my eyes
 The light to lead you by, And 'tis my touch shall swing the gates
 Of heaven when you die!"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-15
BORDERING ON INSANITY.
Florence Wood Cannot Tell Anything
 About Runyan's Actions.

New York, July 14-F'lorence A. Wood, who was brought here from Chicago, to tell what she knew of the disposition of the unrecovered funds stolen from the Windsor Trust company, by Paying Teller Chester B. Runyan, was today remanded to the prison ward at Bellevue, for ob- servation. From the time the woman left Chicago she has been in state of hys- teria which today reached condition bordering on delirium. It has been i'm possible to obtain any statement from her
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-15
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.
rom the New York Press.

From the New York Press
 It's a good deal easier to be good than to get any fun out of it.
 The exciting thing about kissing a girl is the way she gets mad with you till after you do 1t.
 When you see a bunch of cobwebs in a room they're supposed to be clothes for feminine wear.
 A mans family saves him from losing a lot of money in investments by not leaving him any to invest.
 It's hard for a woman to believe a man really loves his children unless he Is willing to carry all their pets in his arms when they go traveling.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-15
First Half of the Year

The production of pig iron in the first six months of this year has gone on at an unprecedented rate in this country. It'fs going on at the rate of 27OG 900 tons year. The total pro- ductilon in 1906 was 25,307,1 tons, IL the first six months of this year the production of anthracite and coke pig iron foots up 13,221,972 tons, as against 12,2S1,25S tons in the corre- sponding months of last year.
 In this district the coke furnaces |, ve turned out this year iron as fol
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-15
Memoli's Band Concerts.

We give our last music at East Lake thls afternoon said Phil Memoli. on his way to East Lake Sunday afternoon.
 "Our contract has been filled and the management does not wish to incur fur ther expense
 Thursday or Friday night next at Capitol park. l wish to ask Mayor Ward for the use of the park and the addition of a few lights near the Davis monument" '"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-15
oil Bremen to Strike.

Philadelphia, July 14.-Aunouncemen was made at the meeting of the Central Labor union here today that all of the firemen in the employ of the Standard oil company throughout the country would go on strike Tuesday. The trouble, 1t is said, has been brewing for some months, the company demanding that the men leave the union or quit their employ.