davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-01-07
couRTED IN WASHINGTON.

From the Washington Herald.
 Post Wheeler, the cynic and poet, and Hallie Erminie Rives, the hysterical young novelist, who were married in the American embassy at Tokyo first met in Washington. That was only a few years ago They have been together in this city a great deal, and close woman friend of the bride states that the poet popped the question" to the novelist at a White House reception. Improbable as this may sound to persons who know what crowds and confusion characterize White House receptions, it is nevertheless vouched for by a Washington literary woman, who has been much in the com pany of the couple. The bride, by the way, is not a Vrginian by birth, but Ken tuckian. She is only remotely related to the Virginia Riveses, one branch of whose family produced the author of "The Quick or the Dead?' who married the hero of her novel, a grandson of old John Jacob Astor, a Chanler, from whom she was divorced in order to become the wife of a Russian prince. The clever woman who is now Mrs. Post Wheeler, was introduced to Washington society by Senator Black burn, who in turn used his influence to secure for Wheeler the position he now holds as second secretary of the Ameri- can embassy at Tokyo. It is said by their Washington friends that MT. and Mrs. Wheeler will continue their literary labors in collaboration. In point of fact, it is known here that they have been col laborating several years. Hence, just how much of the work known as that of Miss Rives' is really hers, and how much of the work known as Wheeler's is really his, their friends are unable to state.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-01-07
M'cA55E AND INGALLS,.
Story of intellectual Encounter Be-
 tween Bishop and Senator.

From the Louisville Herald.
 The death of Bishop McCabe recalls an interesting story of his intellectual en- counter with the late Senator John J. IF gals of Kansas. Both very noble men, with a ready command of foreeful and expressive language a difference of opin- ion between them was sure to develop into an interesting incident
 Senator Ingalls,. after his retirement from the Senate, became a frequent con tributor to newspapers and magazines. His articles were widely read, and it Is safe to presume, literally paid for. MT. Ingalls having described the Corbett- Fitzsimmons prize fight in 1897, Bishop McCabe said in the Methodist conference at Winfield Kan: Tt is a fitting sequel to the career of the man who declared the purlfication of politics to be an iri- descent dream to find him sloughing off his senatorial toga long enough to pros titute his glowing rhetoric for the sport ing readers of New York journal"
 The bishops criticism offended MT. In- gals deeply. He replied tartly: From your allusion to my glowing rhetoric and the alleged incidents at the ring side, it is evident that you carefully read the account of the brutal fstic tournament at Carson. whether from the pulpit to your congregation, at the fireside to your family, or in the seclusion of your study. does not appear"
 The answer was certainly a piece of Ingallstic savagery. The bishop wisely let it go at that.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-01-07
CLIMAX APPEALED TO HIM.
Crucifixion Led Lew Wallace to
 Write "Ben-Hur."

From the Washington Post.
 How Lew Wallace came to write Ben Hur' is one of the fascinating revelations made by him in his recently published autobiography,
 He had since boyhood thought oftener of the story of the Wise Men than of any other portion of the Bible. and in 1875 1t occurred to him to write out for one of the magazines some of the ideas that had come to him.
 "So I wrote, commencing with the meet ing in the desert, numbering and naming the three upon the authority of the dear old tradition-monger, Father Bede, and ending with the birth of the child in the cave by Bethlehem"
 He finished the articles, and laid them aside for a while, determined to submit them. At this time he was neither relig- ious nor irreligious. in personal belief, nor had it occurred to him to write a book on Christ.
 But one night in 1876, after listening to a discussion in regard to Christianity and the Bible, he walked thoug..tfully home ward, determined to study the subject more deeply And then the idea of writ ing his great novel suddenly occurred to him.
 q had my opening; it was the birth of Christ. Could anything be more beauti- full? As mere story, the imagination of man has conceived nothing more crowded with poetry, mystery and incl dents, pathetic and sublime, nothing sweeter with human interest. nothing so nearly revelation of God in person. So, too, I saw fitting conclusion.
 Viewed purely and professionally as a climax or catastrophe to be written up to- the final scene of the last act of a tragedy or tale, what could be more stupendous than the Crucifixion?'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-01-07
Tobacco in Alabama.

In Bulletin No. 37, bureau of soils, department of agriculture, George T. McNess and Lewis w. Aver explain the work of introducing the production of Cuban seed tobacco in Central Ala bama. Chief Whitney of the bureau of soils pronounces the results of the work covering three years as gratify- ing, indicating the ultimate establish ing of a profitable tobacco industry" in the central counties of this state.
 This effort grew out of soil surveys in 1902 and 1904 in Perry and Dallas counties in both of which were found soils resembling the Partidos soil of Cuba. The Orangeburg soils in Perry and Dallas are adapted to the growing of both cigar wrapper and filler to- bacco.
 The bulletin just published presents in detail the experiments conducted on both Orangeburg fine sandy loam and on Orangeburg clay, and the farmer who desires to understand the subject and to get all possible information should ask his congressman to send him copy of Bulletin No. 37, bureau of soils, for in it is explained every feature of the soils, and of the cultiya- tion of the plant, of its harvesting, of the management of the curing barn, and oflgrading and baling. The bulle- tin employs illustrations, and the en- tire subject is treated in a satisfac- torily manner The best grower har- vested and marketed from an acre and half 1272 pounds of tobacco which he sold at 15 cents pound. This sale brought in $190.S0. His expenses were $7675, thus leaving as net profits $11405. There seems to be no reason, D says the bulletin in conclusion, "why profitable industry should not be built up if the farmers will conduct it along conservative lines and endeayor to produce the type of leaf that is de- manded by the trade"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-01-07
Methods of Cotton Growinu.

The Manchester Guardian publishes the views of Mr. Orr who visited the south as one of the commissioners of the Lancashire cotton spinners. MT. Orr is very uncomplimentary so far as the handling and the marketing of the cotton crop is concerned. He says the cotton growers are in a great measure ''in the bondage of Protection, and the formation of trust after trust tends to keep them there." Unfortunately, there is more truth than poetry in Mir. Orr's statements.
 In order to furnish an object lesson to the south MT. Orr and his associ- ates propose to do little cotton grow ing themselves here in America. They have selected some large plantations in Mississippi and Louisiana, and there they will proceed to grow, bale and market the staple in accordance with "up-to-date methods"
 All right, let them come on, and the bigger the object lesson the better. Others have tried to show the south ern farmer how to grow cotton. Others have come here filled with an egotism not unlike that which is crowded into MT. Orrs cranium, but the results have been nil. The southern farmer knows thing or two about cotton growing himself. But never mind about that, Mir. Orr. Come right along, and es- tablish your "up-to-date methods" " You may not make much money but an object lesson should not be highly commercial. It is supposed to have a philanthropic side, and that is just what MT. Orr's scheme should be equipped with. He should not ex- pect to earn and declare large divi- dends. He should be content to be- come a teacher and leader and an up -to-dater. That will be glory enough. Come right on.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-01-07
sARAMA CONNECTS.

From the Memphis Conr.aercial-Appeal'
 The convict in Alabama has most hideous existence If Dr. Shirley Bragg, president of the convict board. is to be believed
 Ut would be more humane and far better" says he, ito stake the prisoner out with ring about his neck like wild animal than to confine him in places that we call jails, that are rocking with filth and diseases and alive with vermin of all kinds. l tell no secrets when I say that in many jails men and women remain for months without means of washing their faces and hands"
 If the half of this be true, then is Alabama disgraced, until the remedy is applied. For some years. now, Alabama
 has been looking toward the Mississippi
 convict system as model to follow. The last legislature, indeed, took a step i'll
 this direction, and the press of the state has predicted that the next legislature
 would establish the Mississippi plan in toto. Dr. Braggs expressions demonstrate that it Is high time for some such change, and We are of those who believe that Ala bama will not continue in the shameful condition any longer than Is necessary to secure lawful right to apply the rem edy
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-01-07
Sources of Inspiration.

"I once had the pleasure of visiting the home library of a certain lawyer in Bir- mingham' said a citizen yesterday, 'and what struck me as being very peculiar was the number of tobacco pipes I saw lying around
 "Of course he had books, piles of books, but they were what I expected to find; it was the number and variety of pipes that set me guessing. You have quite an assortment of pipes I said, as much in- terrogatively as otherwise. Yes said he, I have a pipe to suit all occasions; it all depends upon what sort of case I m working on.
 "He then proceeded to tell me that he always smoked a clap pipe and plug cut when he was engaged on a murder trial. "A damage suit said he, leads me to the cob pipe, and milder brand of plug cut while seasoned meerchaum is my com panion through the mazes and entrica- cies of bill in chancery.'
 "TIe said that sometimes, not often, he smoked a cigar while at work, but that was only when he had a real easy case, and the reading of the law in connection with it was like reading the Arabian Nights. noticed in corner one of those contrivances called a hookah, and asked him under what circumstances he in- dulged in oriental luxury. seldom said he, only when I am interested in a case in which woman figures. and then she must be young and beautiful.'
 q have known men who used differ ent razor every day in the week, and had them named afts the days on which he used them, but the pipe was new discovery for me"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-01-07
IN HOTEL LOBBIEs
Alto '. Lee. Jr., Legislator.

Alto Y. Lee, Jr., a prominent young attorney of Gadsden and a member of the legislature from Etowah, was in Bir- mingham yesterday.
 Mr. Lee is one of three Lees, all re- lated, who will take seats in the house of representatives, when that body is called to order. William L. Lee, former mayor of Columbia, brother, will rep resent Henry county and R. M. Lee, a cousin, will represent Barbour.
 MT. Lee in Birmingham yesterday, spoke of several pertinent things. He favored the bill prepared by Mr. King of Jeffer- son seeking to put the county officers on a salary. He believes, however, that the bill should have another basis than population and points. in support of his argument, to the duties of the probate judges of Barbour and Etowah counties
 Tn the first named" said MT. Lee. "the last census places almost twice as many people as are in Etowah. Still, the duties of the probate judge of Etowah are nearly twice as volumnous as those of the pro bate judge of Barbour. From this stand point, at least, I hardly think it would be fair to pay the probate judge of Bar- Etowah."
 MT. Lee favors a population basis with the amendment that certain percentage of the business done over a certain amount, be paid the officials.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-01-07
NEW FIFTH AVENUE LIFE.
From the New York Herald.
 Timer Fifth avenue, in the nc

From the New York Herald
 Upper Fifth avenue, in the neighbor- hood of One Hundred and Sixteenth street, is beginning to look these days like some of the streets of Vienna, for it has acquired numerous small cafes where, over their coffee, sit Australians. Poles and Hungarians. It is only short dis tance to the Highlands of New York. where Andrew Carnegie lives, and the same highway penetrates to the very heart of Belgravia.
 In the uppermost Fifth avenue there is something of the appearance of the East Side. Many of the inhabitants of that re- zion once lived in the neighborhood of Grand street and others were directly there when they sought their new homes on this side of the water.
 Among those who frequent the pictur- esque resorts are writers, musicians and poets. There is real verse to be heard there if one will listen, to say nothing Of song Contentment and comfort rest upon these cafes, which are becoming social centers for the thousands who live in moderate priced flats and the double decker tenements which stretch to the eastward.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-01-07

ness of the country They probably think a check in business will come when they would have miles of idle freight cars on their hands. They are unwilling to say that prosperity has come to stay and to make plans in ac- cordanee with strictly optimistic view of the future.
 Under such circumstances the coun- try will be compelled to turn for re- lief to it's waterways If every river in the land could be rendered nayiga- ble the railroad congestion would soon be ended, and the railroads would be- gin to seek business instead of reject ing it.
 This district is but an example of the general situation. If the govern ment would overcome Squaw Shoals an open waterway would extend from the very heart of this district to the sea, and the hope is that an appropriation will be secured this winter large enough to cover the locks needed at the Shoals. So it is elsewhere in this country. It is a country full of rivers, and the people are beginning to see that true relief from transportation troubles can best be fodnd in the open ing of waterways. Nature knew best after all. An open waterway is better than any railroad when traffic becomes heavy and the country prosperous.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-01-07
REAL RULER IN CHINA.
Is a Man Who Is Unknown Beyond the
 Great Wall.

From Current Literature.
 At the age of S5 Yuan Shi Kai-who is 30 now-found himself an obscure bureau crat His future was compromised by his ignorance of the three commentaries on the Yin King. He could not deal in pen tameter verse with the sound of the ear or the green of the hills or the splash of swift waters at flood. He was therefore an object of pity and contempt to all who ever gave him a thought in that literary caste, which until quite recently monopo- lized the exalted posts in the empire. He was pining obscurely in Kocrea as China's resident there, having secured the post only because it afforded no prospect whatever of distinction. Yet today he is in China what Cardinal Wolsey was in England before the Pope's refusal to divorce Henry VIII, what Richelieu was in France when the Duke of Buckingham trembled at the beauty of Anne of Aus tria, what Bismarck was in Germany after the battle of Sedan. The most pow erful parsonage in the eighteen provinces, remarked that high authority on China Sir Robert Hart, to Douglas Story twelve months ago, is Yuan Shi Kai
 Wu Ting Fang, whom Americans must remember as the only effective talker ever sent to represent Pekn in Washington, quite recently asked Mir. Story if he could name the real ruler of the Chinese.
 Yuan Shi Kai," was the instant an- swer
 '.Rightr' rejointed wu Ting Fang. The will of the yiceroy of Chilli is law in this land"
 A will of iron, the gift of foresight, an intellect naturally subtle and searching and the firmest grasp of the essentials of administrative and diplomatic policy have enabled this unlettered provincial from Honan. where he was born in poverty, to lift himself to greater power and in- f,uence than are possessed by any other human being in the land-not even ex- centing the old Dowager Empress. The foreign devil is still permitted to infer, if he pleases, that the aged aunt of the secluded son of heaven at Pekin rules the realm. But so completely does the viceroy of Chilli hold the old dame in the hollow of his hand that he can. of he likes. select the next Emperor of China He means to do it, we are told by those who have studied the man. He will, like Napoleon, with his own hands crown him. self.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-01-07
Larue DeveIopment Work.

Last year the great industrial cor porations in the Birmingham district expended large sums of money in inn provements and this year the outlay for development will be much larger. While the most extensive improve ments are being made by the Tennes- see-Republic companies several other concerns have made plans for consider able expansion.
 The Tennessee Republic develop ment work under the present manage ment has been in progress since last summer and it will be pushed as rap idly as possible. Of the s8.000,000 to be expended in opening new mines and enlarging the Ensley steel plant and the blast furnaces, something like half that sum will be used during this year. Add to this the amounts what the other companies will pay out for develop ment and the ordinary payrolls, big and little, and it will be seen that more money will be in circulation here within the next twelve months than in any similar period.
 This will be, indeed, a banner year for the district and no prophet of Bir- mingham has set his figures too high.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-01-07

street, with it's glowing windows and arches looked much like church scene one sees on the stage Entering l heard singing by an excellent choir and saw performed the ritual of the High Ep1sco- pal church. Looking up, l read on one of the windows the name of Edwin Booth, and then I knew I must indeed be In the Church of the Transfiguration. The ser- mon was over, but I heard the notices read by Dr. Houghton, the pastor, a man with quaint face and wearing glasses which slid down upon his nose. The gladness of his soul shone through, and one felt the sympathy of a man of broad experience.
 "All marched out while singing, and then I we 1t to the rectory to shake hands with the man whose face had impressed me When I got there I saw five couples waiting to be married and the rector was so busy getting them ready that 1 did not have a chance to talk to him. But I was content to sit and listen.
 "At a little altar in an alcove pr. Houshton had two couples. He was re- beating the marriage service fast could hardly hear him, and absent-mind- edly, as though from much practice. Evl- dently he was in a hurry and thought it well to marry two couples at the same time First he would humble something to the couple in front and then repeat the same thing to the couple behind. When he finished he blessed them and made out the certificates.
 "Then he called for the next couple Come here, Sara said he, facetiously, Come here, John. You have been follow ing me around all day and deserve to be marriedv And John, aged about 21 and Sara, aged about r, were soon happily joined as was another couple at the same time. was amused, but impressed. To be sure, they were married as effectively as though the ceremony had been performed under more impressive circumstances, but 1t seemed to me that such children could hardly take their VOWS seriously enough. But I was glad that I had seen the little chapter of life enacted, and afterward shook hands with the kindly man who was the center of it."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-01-07
STORY OF ARREST TITLE

a cushion, conducts the newly-elected Knight to the sovereign With the as- sistanee of the two junior Knights pres ent the King buckles it on; then, while the new Knight kneels, the King puts the ribbon over his shoulders.
 The collar. which, like the collar of all orders by the way, is a badge of servl- tude, is of gold, and weighs nearly thirty ounces. It is made in twenty-six pieces, corresponding to the statute number of members and is to be worn when the Knight is not in his form of "a garter enameled blue, with the motto in gold, and in the center of each garter is rose enameled red seeded gold, and green.' The George, a figure of the saint en- eountering the dragon, hangs pendent In the center.
 The star, with it's brilliant red cross. was founded by Charles I, and is intend- ed to be worn when the Knight is not in his robes. This star, which has altered gradually in shape in the last 900 years, was restored by King Edward to it's orig inal shape last year. The insignia are all presented to the Knight by the King, but on his death they have to be returned to the sovereign.
 The mantle is of purple velvet lined with white silk, with the badge of the order on the left shoulder. The neck is closed by cordon of purple silk and gold in equal parts. Queen Victoras mantle was nine feet in length (the Knights have mantles slightly shorter than the sovereien).
 The garter is worn on the left leg over a white silk stocking and is balanced on the right leg by a plain band of white silk ribbon Qady Knights wear it on the left arm). The hood and surcoat are of crimson velvet, lined with white taffeta
 The admission of Knight of the Garter is one of the most gorgeous ceremonies in the world.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-01-07
From the New York Mail.

From the New York Mail.
 NOSTERITY has done nothing more V for us than for the statesman who who first called attention to the fact that he owed posterity nothing. So 1t may be deemed excessive altruism to sympathize with the men of the twenty fifth century. Yet we cannot help feel ing sorry for the poor fellows who VIII not even know what they have missed One of our most farsIghted ethnologists announces that six hundred years rom now ''blondes will be only history"
 Mans hair is unimportant Oftener than not 1t is non-existent by the tune there is anything beneath it worth while. But when the time comes for blonde girlless world, the question of whether life is worth living will hardly be worth debating For safety's sake pressent-day comparisons must be avoided. Even the rarely gifted owners of midnight eyes and ebon tresses' will admit that they profit by the foil of a fairer sister But what will happen when, in uniformly brunette world, history Is read and an cient art studied?
  that all things written and painted fall into chasm. Holding our belief in the continuous progress of the race, how are we to reconcile that creed with dusky future, in which there will be no eX- emplar of the dear dead women with locks of gold who have swayed the world since it's beginning?
 Lilith was the dark one. Eve was never dreamed of save as blonde. And so, no matter what the language or the religion, the common mother always so figured. The symboists say that the Buddhist Maya-frst of all Marys-was the sea. But it was the sea in the sun light, just as Astarte, Istar, Aphrodite, Venus-always Venus aurea"-all were figured in the golden beauty of the sum s rays.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-01-07
SOLITUDE.
Ter Pope.

By Alexander Pope. Happy the man, whose wish and care A few paternal acres bound, Content to breathe his native air
 In his own ground. Whose herds with milk, whose fields with bread. Whose fiocks supply him with attire; Whose trees in summer yield him shade
 In winter fire.
 Blest who can unconeern'dly find Hours, days and years. slide soft away In health of body, peace of mind
 Quiet by day. Sound sleep by night: study and ease Together mkt, sweet recreation, And innocence which most doth pIe18a
 With meditation Thus let me live, un-een. unl-nown; Thus unlamented let me die: Steal from the world, and not stone
 Tell where I lie