davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-16
Public Discussion.

"Thc open and free discussion of ques- tions concerning the public good is one of the most instructive and entertaining methods of promoting good citizenship, said a merchant in speaking of the li- cense schedule. "and 1t should be. encour- aged by providing a suitable place for the purpose.
 'T lived in a city some years ago where there was club called The Saturday Night club which consisted of about 30 citizens who made arrangements and rented a hall every Saturday night where all sorts of interesting questions were de- bated and voted upon A small charge of cents was made to the seats in the front part of the hall, and the rest free to all who cared to enter.
 ''The manner of procedure was for one of the members of the club to, act as chairman at the meeting while some other member opened the discussion on the topic of the evening. After the first speaker closed his remarks the chair man invited speakers from the audience. In case there was no immediate response from visitor some other member of the clVp would take the platform and criti- cizN or oppose the first speakers view. After little while the debate would grow warm and speakers were in plenty.
 ''rhe questions discussed were real live ones, fin which the public was very much interested, and sometimes it was found necessary to carry the debate over to the next Saturday night It was remarkable to hear the eloauencs of men that to all appearAnce would not be expected to have
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-16

pto support himself and three sisters but left little margin for the purchase of ink and paper for the budding poet. Young Coppee became acquainted with other struggling poets, and he was admitted into the Parnassiens, as they were called. These devotees of the muse were follow CTS of Victor Hugo, Theophile Gautier and Theodore de Banville, and sought for rich rhymes which would make them famous. Some of the earlier poems of Coppee were published in two volumes s"Le Reliquaire" and Les Intimitiesa- but attracted little attention.
 It was in 1869 that he sprang to tho front with one-act comedy in verse. "Le Passant," which was staged at the Odeon theatre. It brought the young au- ! thor to the front, and his work began to be appreciated. Lfke other poets and artists during the dark days of 1S70-1, Coppee fought for his country against the Prussians and wrote many ardent war poems.
 Shortly after peace had been restored he published volume of verse Les Hum bles," which struck truer note, At first he had been more of an artist in verse In Les Humbles there was a strong note of compassion for those who strug- gle secretly and in vain, for those who are borne down beneath the burdens of commonplace existence and for those who never had chance in life. In these and In later poems and prose he continued to be the poet of the Partisan workman and the struggling poor.
 During the succeeding six years he published the following volumes of verse: 'fLe Cahier Rouge" Olivier" which was his most ambitious longer poem; 'Une Idylle Pendant le Siege" 'LBxilee," Les Mois" and "Le Naufrage." He also wrote several dramas, the most notable of which were: 'Le Luthier de Cre-' mone," Pour La Couronne." Les Jacob ites" and ''Severo Torelli." He fed him. self on romance and was passionately fond of the Waverley novels His fav- orite work of fiction, however. is Robin son Crusoe." He has expressed his views of social l<problems in his essays, Mon Franc Parler."
 He began to write his prose tales In the sos, and <these became popular through out Europe and America. Ten Tales by Francois Coppee," as originally trans lated by Walter Learned, have been re- printed iff many different forms since their first appearance and have not lost their popularity. His social creed has always been that the world is getting better; he believes in the existence of a power which makes for righteousness. and it has been said of him that in the literary world of Paris he Is one of the few of whom good is ever spoken.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-16
Won Buel0w and inc People

The German chancellor has aston ished his own country and several other countries as we'll by presenting the principle of ministerial responsibil. ity to the Reichstag or rather to the government bloc" This principle has long been established in Britain. and for over 30 years it has held its own in stranger to it until the chancellor an. nounced that he would not continue to hold office unless he could secure support in parliament. Heretofore the German ministry has been responsible to the Kaiser, but Prince Won Bue. lows declaration may lead to a modifi- cation of the German parliamentary system. It may prove the beginning of real revolution in Germany.
 If the German ministry becomes politically responsible parliamentary rule will be fully established and au- tocracy will soon be on its last legs even in Russia. The Bismarckian theory is outgrown, and Germany be- comes as democratic as France or Great Britain. For whatever policy controls the Reichstag will control the bundesrath or federal council. and Germany would thus bs revolutionised by one of It's chancellaE11u RAt Jt may
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-16
RECALLING EDWIN BOOTH

the stage. to cheer and shout and ap- plaud till my feeling was spent. Charlotte Cushmans great tragic climaxes used to affect those of us who played with her to an extraordinary degree. For my part, could not keep my feeling that it was only acting. Once when she was playing Meg Mer rifles, she came down the stage to- ward me, her matted hair about her eyes. the fiendish face gloating as she poured out the curse upon me. where I knelt. back to the audience, covering before her. She frightened me nearly to death. I had some line or other to say. but when the cue came I only looked up at her In horror.
 ~" Well. sir she muttered. very low. speak your lines
 "T cannot I b1ubbered, and she went on with her part without me. After the play she came angrily to me.
 she asked
 "I was frightened,' I confessed.
 "At what?'
 '"'At your great acting l said from my heart.
 Well she said as she turned away, you pay a great tribute to my art. but hereafter please be less susceptible to it. Remember that 1t does not pre- vent me from knowing my lines, nor should you allow it to prevent you knowing yeurs.'"
 Then Mr. Bangs told me glowingly of the days when Booth and Barrett and himself gave the first production of Julius Ceasar'' in Booths New York theatre, when Booth played Brutus, Barrett was Cassius, and he was Marc Antony.
 Those were days of such study as do not believe is dreamed of nowax days" he said. q used to go home, late at night, after a great triumph. wh en fifteen recalls had followed the oration, and delve for hours into the : lines, for fear that some subtle shade of meaning had escaped me. Mr. Booth used to study harder than ever after he had achieved his greatest sue cess. Barrett, who had talent, though not genius, was an indefatigable, pef- sistent worker and student An ' sighed Mr. Bangs, there are many good> actors and ,actressss on the stage to- day, but not one great actor, no really great actress. Where would we cast any great Shakespearean drama now adays?"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-16
A FAMOUS SCHOLAR.
om the sprIngdeld Republican.

tTOm tue OpTinSuelu ftepuDlCdH.
 William J. Rolfe, the Shakespeare scholar and critic, passed his S0th anni- verssry yesterday at his home in Cam bridge, where for half that time he,has led the life of a man of letters, after score of years spent in teaching. pr. Rolfe made an impression in his early work as headmaster successively of the high schools of Dorchester Lawrence, Salem and Cambridge by the large atten- tion he gave to teaching the English language through Its literature; and when he left that profession he entered on valuable service in fitting for school use and family reading the plays of Shakespeare; of all the single-volume edi- tions his Is no doubt the best; it's notes of eucidation and of appreciation from others are well chosen! The evidence of a fine nature is very clear in these edi- tlons, as also in all that Dr. Rolfe puts his hand to. All that >is known of Shakespeare is in his life, and his "Shakespeare the Boy" is delightful his other literary work includes editions of select poems of the Brownings, Tenny- son, Milton, Wordsworth and others, and he has conducted shakespeariana for sew eral literary journals Harvard and Am herst gave him the degree of A. M, and the latter, where he studied for three years. also bestowed the Lit. D. upon him. Now he Is passing sunny old age, still active and writing, and with friends among lettered society here and abroad, and his three sons, Harvard graduates. are honorably placed. the eldest being Prof. John c. Rolfe of the University of Pennsylvania; the second, George Will lam Rolfe, Is instructor in the institute of technology. The third, Charles, Is a lawyer In Boston, and married grand daughter of Joseph Jefferson; they make their home with Dr. Rolfe and have a little daughter who brlghtens life for him,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-16
Goes Rip Van Wrinkle One Better.

Rip Van Wrinkle experienced only a short nap in comparison with Franz Hof- mann, who has ju8 been released from Sing Sing prison after spending 47 years there," remarked a man last night ''Hof- man was sent up for life when 20 years of age for committing murder, and now at the age of 67 is given his freedom. He is going to New York, his old home, but is afraid to go alone, and will spend an other week at Sing Sing waiting for one of the wardens to take him to the me- tropolis with him.
 Think of the changes that have taken place since his incarceration-the tele- phone invented, incandescent and arc lights discovered, trolley cars, automobile, bicycles, motorcycles, and the many thousand other things which go to make life comfortable and luxurious now as against the time of 1860. Think of it! Been behind prison bars since before the civil war! How do you suppose he will. feel when he gets on a train going a mile a minute, when 20 miles an hour was considered extraordinarily fast when he was first put in jail?'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-16
The Masonic Home.

Nearly every section of Alabama will bid for the Masonic Widows and Orr phans Home to be erected within the next year." said member of the Ma sonic fraternity. "The generous provision for the home that the grand lodge makes about $1o,000 to be paid annually-will as sure an institution that will be a high credit to the entire state. A suitable site of considerable acreage will be donated doubtless. Several offers are about to be made
 T read with interest an editorial in the Montgomery Advertiser suggesting that the people of the Capital City get busy and try to induce the Masons to build the home in their section. It is pretty well understood that the grand lodge committe in charge of the project wish to secure farm land ample for trucking on B somewhat extensive scale; not so much with view of farming on 0 commercial basis as to give employ ment and useful training to the orphan boys that will be inmates of the home. miles of Montgomery, and so also will be found attractive sites in Jefferson county. But it would not surprise me if Cullman county were to outbid the rest of the state I haven't talked with Gull man Masons, but I have an idea that the people of that county have something, good up their sleeve so to speak"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-16

be little too early to say that what Prince Von Buelow did is to become the settled policy of the German gov ernment.
 The Reichstag took/him at-his word, however, and passed a vote of conf1- dence. The chancellor has been strengthened, and so has the German empire. No government that gets away from the people can be strong or se- cure.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-16
FRANCOIS COFFEE, POET
From the Chicago Record-Herald.

From the Chicago Record Herald.
 @ RANCofs EDorARD JOACHIM K0 COFFEE, one of the Forty Im-
 mortals Of the French academy who Is lying dangerously i'll at his home ia Paris is more popularly known in his native e'ty ss the poet Of the lowly who rallc heroic fights against the hideous. glind.as and sordid conditions surround iag the niseraby poor in. a great me tropolis.
 Unlike many of his contemporaries, whose exquisite verse could only find ap- piopriate flight in aristocratic surround inss, Francois coppee could' mold the highest art of French poetry into songs embracing the simple stories of the poor, who shine only in the pure flame of daily duties performed without thought of self. His stories in verse and his poems in prose translated into English under the title Of Ten Tales't long ago won him renown for their purity of dlction- and the depth of feeling and sympathy shown in portraying the sufferings and self-sac- rifice of the poor.
 English admirers have classed Coppee as the French Goldsmith because of his native simplicity. and as the French Cowper on account of the purity and loftness of his sentiments. In the United States he has been elassed with Long, fellow because his verse is natural out growth, having none of the marks of the artifciality of the French school of poetry
 Those who have read his Ten Tales" can never forget the lovable character of My Friend Meurtrier." the physically gl- gantic clerk, who boasts at his office of his ire-eating qualities. of his many duels and .of his numberless conquests of armies sof footpads. He is followed by admirers one night and is discovered, not conquering robbers, but lovingly mak- ing the coffee for his good old mother and taking her poodle out for walk. In an- other tale called "The Captains Vices" Coppee tells a pathetic story of a pen stoned veteran of the Grand Army giving up his little bottle of wine, his small stakes at cards and his little delicacies fol the sake of an orphan child.
 Francois Coppee was born at Paris Jan- uary 12, 1S42. More than Moliere, Boileau, Regnard, Voltaire and Mussett. who were also born in Paris, is Coppee true son of the city of the Seine. He was the youngest child of poor clerk in the war department. He spent most of his struggling childhood in old houses on the left bank of the Seine, where most of the future genuses of art and literature starved in those days. He began to write verses in his teens.
 At 21 his father died, and he succeeded to the little clerkship, which enabled him
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-16
On His Blindness.

By John Milton. When I consider how my light is spent. Ere half my days, in this dark world
 and wide, And that one talent, which is death te
 hide, Lodg'd with me useless, though my soul
 more bent | To serveN herewith my Maker, and
 present
 My true account, lest he, returning
 chide;
 Doth God exact day-labour light de-
 nied?' I fondly ask: but Patience. to prevent That murnur, soon replies, God doth
 not need | Either mans work, or his own gifts; who
 best Bear his mild yoke. they serve him lcst: Is kingly; thousands at his bidding
 speed, And post OCT land and ocean without
 rest; They also serve who only stand and
 waft.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-16
IN HOTEL LOBBIES.
To Retire After 1903.

T will remain in business another year but at the end of 1928 I shall take an enforced rest" said J. ". Weiss of Mo bile, one of the most prominent and pros porous wholesale liquor dealers in the south. T am no longer young, but am still an active man, and having been con stantly at work since I was B years of age, retirement will be something of a hardship. will find enjoyment iu hunting and fishing. however, and will therefore not rust or die of @nui.
 The prohibition wave has made such a sweep that there is comparatively lit tie business left for me In Alabama. But the wholesale liquor dealers of Mobile are reaching out into Florida and Mis- sissippi There is good trade in Florida. for while that is a local option state the principal towns are still wet.
 "As for business genetally. find Ala bama's cotton belt in highly prosperous condition. The farmers are holding their cotton for higher pric ls, and there Is big lot of 1t yet to come on the market. This is one of the times when the pro- ducer is going to get the large profit. rather than let the speculator or middle man have it.
 Mobile is in excellent shape. The business men would have got along all right on & scrip basis, but our bankers found that neither cashiers checks nor clearing house certificates were necessary and they are paying out currency as # there had been no cash stringency.
 After Mobile becomes dry town in 1909 we may have to abandon our Mardi Gras carnivals. But'the one being planned for 1soS-March and S--will eclipse any thing of a festive nature that the Gulf City has ever undertaken. It wifi. indeed. be grand affair."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-16
VIII Build kaoIln Pottery.

"I have shipped good deal of clay and kaolin from my property on the border line of St. Clair and Calhoun countless" said Dixon Armstrong, formerly con- nected with the Southern Cotton associa- ton, ''and I expect to push the business next spring.
 'I had arranged to build large kaolin pottery during the autumn just passed, but owing to the financial stress I have had to wait a while. Alabama clays are valuable for pottery, and our kaolin makes high grade porcelain
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-16
Will Be Busy Week.

This will be Santa Claus busiest week." said a merchant. "The Christmas trade in Birmingham has been very brisk up to this time, but thousands of people have yet to do their holiday shopping.
 If we have good weather naturally the enjoyment of shopping will be height ened; but as this Is the last week before Christmas. the rush must come, no mat ter whether the skies are bright or whether we have rain, sleet or snow"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-16
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

From the New YOrk Press.
 A girls idea of hero is when he asks her father for her.
 There's good deal of fun in think ing you are going to have 1t.
 The reason most women cah be so happy is because they imagine they are.
 mans Idea of a successful anarria ge is smoking all over the house iwhen his wife is away visiting hsr mother.
 Some people are so anxious to get their names in sthe papers that they will try g. divorce If there is no other way.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-16
HIS REASONS.

From the Baltimore American.
 MT. Jones (critlcally)--Is the Venus of Milo your idea of model woman?
 Mir Smith (savagely)-She is. It would be physical impossibility for her to play bridge.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-16

President Woodrow Wilson has as- certained that only 10 per cent of the people think as he does. That is what he means when he says only 10 per cent think.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-16
A SEVERE SENSE.

From Judge. v
 Grateful Mother-Oh! Are you the noble young man who rescued my daughter from a watery grave?
 Noble Young Man (who is truly mod esD-Yes. madam; but I assure you only did 1t from a sense of duty.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-16
HIS sEcRET.

From the New York Sun.
 Chesterfield explained his manners. "I always behave as though Christmas were coming" he remarked.
 Herewith they no longer marvelled at his courtesy.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-16
eAKER,s LUCK.

From Harper's Weekly. ff
 Baker is the luckiest man alive" rWhat now?".
 'He has 50-horse power car and a wife who's afraid to go out in 1t.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-16
THE ARTISTS WAY.
,atholic Standard.

From the Catholic Standard.
 D'Auber--Of course, not every one can be an artist One must have imagination to draw.
 Crittick-Yes. I notice that most so- called artists in talking about themselves draw on their imaginations a great deal
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-16

All theatres and concert halls are, shut up on Sunday in New York, and the town begins to be as still as Lon don on that day.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-16

Birmingham is a sleighless town, but if snowfall should strike us it would not take long to improvise runners for auto cars and the like.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-16

Admiral Bob Evans will steam away prepared to talk over the wireless to his ships if they do not go more than 13 miles away.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-16

Six presidents were nominated In Chicago = Lincoln, Grant, Garfield, Cleveland. Harrison and Roosevelt It is putting on Warwickian airs. \
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-16

Gold has been discovered in Green land, and there may be ledge or two at the North Pole. If so it's isolation is as good as gone.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-16

Vice President Fairbanks seems to think he is now the logical candidate, his chief having pulled himself out of the race,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-16

In all proposed tariff revisions by the republican party there Is deal of the future tense.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-16

Santa Claus will be swamped with mail this week, but he works overtime and will open, read and act on every letter he gets.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-16

Pittsburg desires the country to take notice that it is not involved in any way in the Howard Gould divorce case
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-16

From the Atchison (Kan) Globe.
 We often regret that the Christmas spirit is not distributed through the year.
 Don't be like the hen: When it lays an egg 1t does nothing else all day but call attention to it.
 Although a man undoubtedly has right to blow his nose, there is good deal of frowning when he exercises his privilege.
 You often laugh at the man who is so fast with his sympathy, and so slow with his purse. How are you yourself in those particulars?
 When married woman talks great deal about the sins of men, 1t is sign that her husband does not behave himself very well.
 Many people have a habit of finding fault not with view of bettering con ditions, but to satisfy pretty desire to gossip.
 f a family has always been poor, the story is usually, told in-the great num-
 of enlarged family pictures hang ing on. the walls.
 If you don't like man, eat oat meal and bide your time; there will soon be something the matter with his kidneys, and his funeral procession will go by. It doesn't take long to get rid of the best of us.
 It was oh cap philosopher who said knowledge is power. There is really nothing so Helpless as the man who knows all about things that happened long ago, and who contracted hack ing cough while acquiring his knowl- edge.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-16

The poor. down-trodden immigrant pleases nobody whether he is coming or going.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-16

South America lies big on the map but Bob Evans can steam around it on schedule time.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-16

The democratic national committee met when the hope of victory was becoming stronger daily.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-16

MT. Cortelyou keeps still while he makes Uncle Sans money talk.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-16

London has an owl theatre, and New York begins to think it must have one open all night long.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-16

The library of Congress is now the third largest in the world. It is much the largest in this country
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-16
BETTING ON A SURE THING.

From Judge.
 JaclS-Tm going to receive a great many cigars and half a dozen pipes on Christ mas
 Tom-What makes you think SO?
 Jack-Why, l stopped smoking two days ago.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-16

Admiral Bob Evans armada will carry 4000 more men than the justly celebrated Spanish armada did, and it will have better luck.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-16

half dozen words to say. These discus s'ons became one of the most popular events in the week. and were attended with great good to the eity."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-16

The way to resume is to discuss first of all the wisdom of resuming.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-16
A WINNER.

From the Boston Globe. As 1t looks now. Santa Claus-~is ab- solutely sure to be elected.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-16

Winter wheat is we'll started in the great surplus states, and good crops next fall will be greatly needed