davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1907-12-29

time when documentary research into the reign
Of this ruler still to be made on scale and
with thoroughness worthy of the theme To-
day the man who undertook to lift France out
of the chaos of the feudal world and to consoli-
date the kingdom is better known and better
understood One needs whitewash in order
to make him stronger and nobler figure in
history. The lady who calls herself Chris
topher Hare has only had to draw upon the
fruits Of recent French scholarship. and to use
a certain sympathy to give the Kings char
acter. she exhibits it in the present volume,
not only attractiveness but kind of heroic dig
nifty. Perhaps if she possessed of finer
gifts as a writer she might have made her book
satisfactory than it is from an artistic
point OF view It lacks unity. The narrative
moves in rather inelastic fashion. But the
author with good subject is sure of half the
battle. and Christopher Hare. though in spite of
herself has produced an interesting study.
There was never anything about the career
of Louis XI to excite compassion Pity. indeed.
was the last thing in the world it would ever
have occurred to him to desire. Yet there is
something like note of pathos in the words
which he used on his accession to the throne in
1461, he being then thrty-eight years old.
only yesterday" he said, II held myself to be
the poorest son of king that ever was. and
one who from my infancy to the present day
have had nought but suffering and tribulation,
poverty, anguish and want" or course, he
overstated the case, but there is no denying the
fact that he was born into turbulent world
and throughout his boyish days and his young
manhood had much to endure through the in
security of the conditions amid which Charles
VII sought to maintain his throne The Eng
lsh passed from one success to another In their
campaigns French soil. and the King might
almost be said to have been on the edge of an
abyss when Jeanne dare appeared upon the
scene, and, raising the siege of Orleans mt
new heart into what was really a falling mon
archy The child bride Of Louis, the gentle
Princess Margaret Of Scotland. suffered no
New-York tribune., 1907-12-29
GDe Aean'221oak 0ribmras
SUNDAY, DECEMBER %, 1907.

The truth about a classic. unpalatable per
haps, but set forth in just and sympathetic
terms. is told by Mr.. Brownell in the criticism
of Hawthorne which he has contributed to
''ScribnerS Magazine" The author of The
Scarlet Letter is one Of our supersttions.
Whether he is read or taken on faith he is
accepted as a writer of high imaginative
genius, whose services to American literature
are to be considered with reyerential awe Mr..
Brownell is not irreverent. but. having pene-
trated to the heart of 4 subject he can then
stand apart and subject its qualities TO i'm
partial analysis. lie does this in the case of
Hawthorne with sure a touch that il is
hard TO see how any candid reader can quarrel
with his conclusions. One OF the first and
most important of these is bold challenge of
Hawthornes imaginative power. He had Mr..
Brownell maintains, fancy rather than imagina-
ton. and while this we'll poised essayist is too
conccit," he clearly shows that the novelist
Still further narrowed his range by retiring his
faculties into state Of intellectual and spiritual
secluSon that was TO say the least, complacent
a judgment like this must be alarming to
those who like to regard Hawthorne as a kind
OF dcmigod, but ii makes for sounder ap-
probation of his character and of his rank in
literature.
New-York tribune., 1907-12-29
REST.
RY CHRISTINA ROSSETTf.

o Earth, lie heavily upon her eyes;
Seal her sweet eyes, weary OF watching, Earlh'
Lie close around her; leave no room for mlrth
With it's harsh laughter, nor for sound OF signs
She hath no questions, she hath no replies.
flushed in and curtained with blessed dearth
OF all that irked her from the hour OF birth:
With stiffness that is almost Paradise
Darkness more clear than monday hOldeth
her,
Silence more musical than any song;
Even her very heart hath ceased to stir;
Until the morning of eternity
Her rest shall not begin end. but be:
And when she wakes she will not think ii long
New-York tribune., 1907-12-29

American criticism. always quick to resent
certain condeScenson in foreigners, has never
theless sometimes shown a disposition to be
grateful to alien opinion. How many times
have we seen approximately quoted or men
toned IN this country the feryid tributes"
paid by British writer's to certain authors of
own! The uncrticaI fanatics who cherish
the notion that Whitman can be turned, by
some magical process, into a classic delight in
the aid they have received from England in
their curious campaign. Less absrIrdIy but
still with some effectiveness, foreign opinion
has played its part in the development of the
uaWth0rne tradition 1t is good therefore to
nave a man of letters of Mr.. BrowneIrs an
thorIty saying some of the things about Haw-
thorne which need to be said He does not
hesitate to point out the element of sheer
medl0crty existing in many of the short tales
with the same frankness he declares that
Hawthorne almost drops out of the noyelists
category" because Of his weakness in the Dor
trayal of human character and human life.
Hawthorne cared nothing for people in life"
he says, "and made extraordinarily little of
them in his books. In no other fiction are tbe
Characters so little characterized as in his
where III general their raison dftre is what
they illustrate not what they are" He touches
upon the lack of mirth in Hawthorne's humor,
on MS narrow culture-which is wittily in
dicated in the saying that beside his Note
Books Baedeker reads like Gibbon'-on his
inadequacy in matters of artistic construction.
and in short, upon the essentially limited
nature Of his appeal to the really critical
reader. The important thing is, too, that there
is nothing whimsical or 'impressonistic" about
this essay. Mr.. BrowneIl argues his points
subtly but with the best of good faith and
leaves them well proven.
Writers engaged in the supposedly thankless
task of reviewing new books in the columns of
the daily press not after ALL without their
reward Here for example, is contributor to
the London "Daily Chronicle dscoursng upon
the gentle art of reviewing from the authors
point of view" He overwhelms the reviewing
tribe with kindness. "The fact is" he Observes
that the daily newspaper is today the real
nrbter of literary destinies" Moreover when
this amiable writer addresses himself to the
delicate question to how the daily press
exercises its 'extraordinary autOcratic power"
lie promptly and generously answers with
amazing ability and conspicuous fairness" 1t
is true that, with ali this honey must put
up with a dash of bitterness. "Of course the
conditions are against thoroughness He
1.-THE reviewell is often hurried, and am afraid
IT must be said he sometimes scamps j
One must admit also that the malicious re-
viewer the man who takes his revenge by
writing spteful reviews, is not yet quite ex-
fnct" But the novelist (and the novelist seems
TO be the only author reviewed about whom
this genial commentator Is solicitouS) need not
worry. For, cas- whole, the criticism Of the
day. both in Great Britain and America, is
animated by spirit of fair play" Splendid!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-24
Marriage Licenses Issued.

Marriage licenses were issued from the office of the probate court yesterday as follows:
 John c. Simmons of West End to Miss Grace Tubb.
 o. R. Gore of Pratt City to Miss Cora McGill.
 J. J. sandlin of Meridianville to Miss Arrie Williams.
 James Burgess of Littleton to Miss Maggie Tyler.
 Albert L. Boyer of Cedar Rapids, la, to Miss Orpha O. Baker.
 L. N. Boyd of Birmingham to Miss Mary Webb.
 H. L. Allsup of Trussville to Miss Hattie Cole.
 Thomas Melvin of Mineral Springs to Miss Zola Jones.
 w. c. Parsons of Bessemer to Miss Lulu Green.
 Walter L. Ray of Athens, Ga., to Miss Martha Ann Tisdale.
 Clifton E. Linderman of Cu1lman tc Miss Sudie Lambert.
 Edward L. Phelps of Montgomery to Miss Sarah B. Deer. Georgia Terrell.
 J. H. Moore of Bessemer to Miss Ruth;s Ola Fulton.
 Will Jarvis of Mineral Springs to Miss Jamie A. Abney.
 J. w Crum of Atlanta to Miss Lois Holcombe. Charles Mansfield of Birmingham to Miss Hattie Thrasher.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-24
ANOTHER GAMBLER
 HELD FOR BRIBERY
IS CHARGED WITH BEING CON- NECTED WITH ATTEMPT TO BUY UP THE WHOLE sHERIFF's OFFICE.

Deputy Sheriff A. Sid Cowan arrested J. r. McCaskey last night on a charge of bribery it being alleged that he was connected with the recent attempt to buy up the sheriff's office, so to say. which created such q sensation about three weeks ago, when it was brought to light by the arrest of nearly all of the prom irent gamblers in the city.
 When the last grand jury made it's final report it returned indictments against a number of well-known gamblers for bribery Among this number was Me Caskey but he has since been out of the city and was not arrested until last night It is charged that McCaskey, with the several others, offered brfbes to the deputy sherlffs working for the Jef- ferson county sheriffs office, which were accepted and turned over to the grand jury as evidence. The cases will prob- ably be set for trial during the January term of the courts.
 McCaskey readily made the $300 bond required by law and was released short ly after his arrest last night.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-24
IN THE BIRMINGHAM
 REAL ESTATE MARKET

Deeds of conveyance were filed in the office of the probate court yesterday in the following transactions in real estate in which amounts of 5000 or more were involved:
 $S465-W oodlawn Realty company to I. M. Thompson, lot Tin block 12, as shown M. Thompson, lot in block 12 as shown company's first addition to Woodlawn, the said lot fronting 50 feet on the south line of First avenue and extending back 170 feet to an alley.
 $1700-W. J. Daniel and wife to R. D. Walker, lot r in block 17, East Birmne- ham, as shown on the map of the survey of the East Birmingham Realty com pany.
 s1000- Charles Sawyer and J. P FowI.r and wife to ". T. Weiss, the west half of the northwest quarter of the south east quarter of section F, township k range west
 $2600-Mary W. Thompson to W. W. Campbell and w. H. Dright, lots l, 2 and in block 105, Birmingham, the said lots fronting 100 feet on Second avenue. north. and extending back, 40 feet to an alley.
 s2000-E. W. Thompson and wife to w. w. Campbell and wife, the same prop erty last described
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-24
THAXTON WRITES
 LETTER TO CORONER
CONDEMNED MAN SAYS HE DID NOT FIRE FATAL SHOT AT HUN sTucKER AND IMPLlcATEs TWO OTHERS.

Henry Thaxton, the negro who is al- legged to have slain ". D. Hunstcker one year ago, and who now occupies one of the condemned cells at the county jail and who is sentenced to hang on next Friday, made a lengthy statement in writing to Coroner Paris yesterday re- gardlng the crime with which he is charged in which he stoutly denies hav- ing taken any active part in the killing of Hunstucker, although he admits hav- ing been present at the time of the mur- der.
 Thaxton duplicates in his statement two other negroes, Jim Johnson and Eugene Twitty He states that Johnson was the man who actually fired on Hunstucker and that his action was prompted by some jealousy. Thaxton's statement goes fully into the details of the murder and corresponds in the main with the account of the murder that A. s. Boyd gave on the witness stand during the trial. Boyd was a friend of Hunstucker and was with him at the time he was mur- dered.
 Thaxton was tried in the early part of November and was given the extreme penalty of the law. He has been con- fined in the condemned cell at the coun- ty jail since November 27, and is sen- tenced to hang Friday. It is thought possible, however, that the letter writ ten by the condemned man may form the basis for an official request for commuta- tion.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-24
FRIEND OF CANNON
 SPENDS DAY HERE Gessheimer Says He Is Not on
 Political Mission PRAISE FOR JOHNSTON Says He Has Captured All By His 
Says He Has Captured All By His Wit as Dinner Speaker-Clayton Is Doing Excellent
 Work.

w. w. Gessheimer, a Washington at torney, and formerly member of the republican executive committee, spent several hours in Birmingham yesterday leaving in the afternoon for Mobile
 MT. Gessheimer states that the several prominent republicans in chase of the nomination are doing exceedingly hard work, and that the emissaries of those gentlemen will spend the holidays vote hunting. The fact that MT Gessheimer IS a firm believer in Uncle" Joe Cannon, and the additional fact that it has been published that the workers for that can didate will be busy throughout the south during the holidays, gave rise to the opinion that he might be in Alabama on a political errand. However, he denied that that was true, and stated that he was not on the trail of A. w. Cooley, as- sstani attorney general, a Taft advocate, who left Birmingham Saturday night for Mobile. As far as known, MT. Cess heimer did not confer with the republican leaders in Alabama.
 While I do not believe" stated he,
 
 the nomination for third term, there is no doubt in my mind but that the in- troduction of Henry D. Clayton's resolu- ton censuring the third-term idea, forced the President to formally reiterate his de- termination to retire from the presiden- tiah race. No sooner was this statement made than Taft. Foraker, Knox and Can. non got the bee All four are running, and Governor Hughes may be consd- cred, at any rate, in the light of a dark horse
 '1 had dinner Saturday with Senator Johnston and Congressman Clayton. Sen- ator Johnston has become exceedingly popular as a dinner speaker, and he is in demand by every club giving a ban quet. His wit has taken Washington. There is no stronger man in Congress from the south than Congressman Clay ton. He has attracted more attention this fall than any other member of Con gress."
 MT. Gessheimer spoke at greater length concerning the Alabama delegation, with all the members of which he IS acqualnt- ed. Asked concerning the action of the majority of tine members of the Alabama congressional delegation protesting against the senatorial confirmatlon 0. the nomination of Judge Hundley, he stated that that matter was little dis cussed in Washington, and he could tell nothing new about it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-24

connection with the business Chisolm was in. It is admitted that it is speculative concern and you must consider whether this speculative concern was used by Sims to influence Chisolm.
 Sims character has also been testified to- This matter must be fully consid- cred but just because mans character has always been of the best this would not justify you in declaring him not guilty.
 You have heard Sims statement and Chisolms statement as to their converse ton in the cafe, and these statements differ materially."> Judge Hundley then went very much into the detail of the conversation.
 This is the question in this case and YOU must decide from the testimony whether Sims was acting in good faith; that he did not know that Chisolm was ,sing the funds of the First National hank. and whether he thought\ that Chis- olm was simply dealing for His friend, or whether he was acquainted with all these facts'
 Judge Hundley concluded his charge at 5:3O and instructed the jury that if a yer dict was reached by g o'clock he would return to the court room and hear it, but that if one had not been reached by that hour to retire and take the matter up again this morning,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-24
GOV. CONFER WILL
 RETURN TONIGHT
After Holidays Committee Will Take Up Matter of Locating County
 High Schools.

Gov. B. B. Conner left yesterday for Montgomery and spent the day at the capital He will return home tonight and spend Christmas in Birmingham. The visit to Montgomery was due to the neces- sty of transactipg a little routine busi- ness.
 The governor will not discuss the pend- ing railroad litigation. As Is known the state will make answer to the injunction of the federal court January $. Until that time the case remains in "statu quo.
 Immediately after the holidays the gov- ernor, Auditor w. w. Brandon and Sup erntendent of Education Harry C.. Gun nels, the committee on the placement of the county high schools, will make sev- eral trips on this business through South Alabama.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-24
CHRISTMAS CROWDS
 LARGER THAN EVER
UNPLEASANT WEATHER CANNOT KEEP SHOPPERS AT HOME AND
 MERCHANTS ALL HAD A VERY
 BUSY DAY.

Although the weather man was un- crowd flooded the city, and towards nigh tfall the merchants were almost unanimous in the expression that there was very little with which to find fault.
 The Christmas trade, according to several seen yesterday. has been good, in fact. has been up to the standard. Some days ago, the merchants were. very blue, having an idea. on account of the depression in the money market that the usual good Christmas trade would be lacking, but when last Sat urday. the streets were full from morn- ing to night, and when yesterday. in spite of the rain, sleet and bitter winds, customers were busy buying, they real ized that they had reckoned without their host.
 A barometer of the financial condition at Christmas is the jewelry trade. It Is generally admitted that only people with money buy jewelry, as rings, bracelets, cut glass and precious stones are articles which can well be dis pensed with. This Christmas however. the jewellers have done big business. omberg's house, for example. was filled throughout the day yesterday, and MT. Bromberg announced that he was satisfed-that business had been bet ter than he expected. If today is fair, the business of this Christmas season will be second to none of recent years, IL Is predicted.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-24
CHRISTMAS SIGNS
 ARE EVERYWHERE
MAIL CARRIERS, EXPRESS MES SENGERS AND WELL FILLED RAILROAD TRAINS BEAR Evi- DENCE OF SPIRIT IN THE AIR.

The carriers of the United States mail have had more than they could do unasisted On account of the innu- merable packages sent through the mails, the carriers were unable to carry the burden of their routes on their shoulders. So yesterday, carts were put in commission. These little wagons passed along the avenues of the city laden to the brim, and in some instances overhowing.
 At the express office, too, one could gather that the season was Christmas. It has been necessary to establish a branch office, where packages are both received and distributed. Through out the day yesterday there was line of people awaiting their turn In mali and express, at any rate, the late "hard times" have made no decrease. The through trains have been delayed for considerable time while the mail was being put aboard from the truck drays.
 The railroads are doing an exceed ingly heavy business in the carrying Of passengers. The through trains are daily loaded to the gates, and seats are at a premium. All trains are carrying extra coaches. The passenger agents in Birmingham declare that the busi- ness this season is not whit less than that last year.
 All travelling men have disappeared-- another sign of coming Christmas. The hotels do a comparatively small busi- ness during the holidays. They accom- modate onl the people passing tn rough, necessarily delayed by rail- road connection. Hundreds of stu dents-male and female-from the va rious schools have made their appear ance, and now it is not uncommon to see the square caps of seminaries and tarining schools. Last night, the Hill- man entertained dozen college girls, forced to remain in the city until this morning by the late arrival of a train. The young ladies were thoroughly im- bued' with the Christmas spirit, and from their jolly laughter and promis- cous chattering as they registered, the enforced lay-over in Birmingham was not without it's pleasures.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-24
Birmingham POsfoDice
 ShOhs Handsome Gains

rush within the past few days, and sev- eral additional clerks were required to handle the Christmas business.
 The postmaster said yesterday that the increase in receipts here was especially interesting and significant in view of the fact that in the Nashville postoffiee, ae- cording to report published in the American, holiday business up to Satur- day night had fallen off between 9 and 90 per cent as compared with December, 1907. The American says that flor the first time in several years no additional clerks are stationed in the postoffiee hall to weigh the packages that go to swell Christmas business"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-24
DEATHS AND FUNERALS
Samuel J. powney.

The funeral of Samuel J. Downey, tha engineer who was killed in the wreck on the Southern railroad at Tallapoosa, Ga., Sunday night, will be held Thursday aft ernoon at o'clock at the Methodist church in Avondale. The deceased is survived by widow and four children. A pathetic incident in connection with the death of MT. Downey was the de- struction of a gold charm, diamond mounted, which was awarded him some time ago as the most popular engineer. He was wearing the charm at the time of his death and it was mashed almost beyond recognition.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-24
DOLL WAS SOLD
 FOR MERCY HOME
New York Man Wins Prize Which Netted the Home Total
 of $112.50.

The beautiful doll that has been on raffle for several weeks in Birming- ham, the proceeds to go to the Mercy Homey was won by Ben Rosenschiem. His number was 26.
 The winner Is a traveling man, and has residence at Al East Eleventh street, New York. He was in Birming ham about four weeks ago, and drew the lucky number. As he drew, he stated that he was going to win his little girl a Christmas present. The doll was expressed to his address yes terday.
 On the raffe SIP. 50 was realized.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-24
Entertainment By Theatrical Men.

Birmingham Lodge No. 6,Theatrical Mechanical association, will hold so- cial sesison and entertainment tonight. beginning at 10:30 o'clock, at Eagles' hall. Invitations to a large number of friends have been issued, and the occasion promises to be an exception ally enjoyable one. There are several of the visiting members of the associa- tion with the comra r'es at the severa theatres at present, and these will be on hand.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-24
"Winov Charqed with Murder.

Will Ross, alias Wing" was commit ted to the county jail yesterday evening on a charge of murder. The negro was brought in from Palos by Deputy Sheriff L. V. Vaught, where, 1t is understood. he killed another negro. Wing" Is a well-known character in Birmingham, having been imprisoned here many times for minor offenses. He is being held in the county jail without bond.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-24
Mrs, Ann Austin.

Mrs. Ann Austin died yesterday at the residence of her granddaughter, Mrs. Me Pherson. on Forty-fourth streel and Ave nue E, Avondale. The deceased was an old resident of Birmingham and was wide Iy loved and respected in this city. She was related to ex-Chief of Police Connie Austin. The remains will be sent to Hulls, Ala, this afternoon at 4:1O o'clock by the Gaudin Undertaking company for interment.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-24
RECEIPTS UP TO SATURDAY NIGHT 19 PER CENT AHEAD OF LAST YEAR-NASHVILLE FALLS OFF HEAVILY.

Postmaster Carter reports that the re- ceipts of the Birmingham postoffice for 21 days of this month, up to and includ- ing Saturday, were 19 per cent greater than the total receipts for the same pe- riod of 1906 While there has been little or no congestion at the postoffice this holiday season, there has been steady