davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04
SIMPLE LIFE IN ICELAND

Europe are so many books printed and sold in proportion to the population. population of only 76000 scattered in many ham1ets, has twelve printing presses the earliest being established as far back as 15S0; about 100 books annually, fourteen newspapers, and eight periodi- calls are produced to satisfy the literary needs of this nation.
 Yet this literary people still live in pastoral and Homerie civilization, which is a modern lesson of the healthfulness of human life lived in close contact with the free, wild life of nature, such as would have delighted the heart of Ros- seau or Thoreau. As a proof that this life is healthy I give the example of clergy man who died four years ago 113 years old, having managed to live all his days healthy and happy on $50 year. the average stipend in the Icelandic church.
 The sheep yield food and clothing. Their wool is pulled off in the spring, carded, spun, woven in hand looms, and worn undyed. You make shoes of their skin and spoons of their horns. Every oppor- tunity is seized for the telling of stories and recting of poems. Only the milk ewes are kept at home in the summer to be milked. The rest of the sheep are gath cred in from the mountains in autumn, notice being given at church from the pulpit.
 The autumn gatherings, with people sit- ting on the walls of the stone inclosure telling stories, are quite Homeric. The winter evenings are spent with each member of the family busy at work In the same room; the men on their knees shay ing the wool off the sheep skins, making ropes and nets of hair; the women using spindle and distaff, embroidering, etc., af- ford still better opportunity for stories and puns.
 There are even wandering minstrels who gain their livelihood by reciting prose or poetry, which they know by heart, at va rious farmhouses till they exhaust their stock.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04

From the National Geograp phical Magazine ICELAND is, as William Morris said,
 "the Greece of the north" It pro ! duced in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries a literature unparalleled atter Rome before the golden age or Engiano and France, in character drawing, Tn pas sionate dramatic power, In severe hopie simplicity, in grim humor. All the char acters of the Sagas live and move to- day. Every hill and headland and valley in inc island Is full of their presence The Icelander of today knows them by heart. It is as if every Englishman, from pauper to King, knew Shakespeare hls- torical plays and could recall them more or less In his or her own words. It mas kept the national themes alive through evil times. It has preserved the lan- guage almost untouched by time and for eign intercourse.
 Nowhere is the contrast between man and his surroundings so glaring as in Ice land Buried in snow in darkness, de- prived of every comfort living on rancid butter and fried fish, drinking sour whey and milk. dressed like his servants, seek ing in little boat his food, yet a cul- tured mind, possessing an intimate knowl- edge not only of the history of his own country, but of Greece and Rome; poet fond of throwing off satires, Intellectually and morally the equal of his European guest, considering himself your equal and refusing to be ordered about by rich Engiishman, owner of several square miles of land and hundreds of sheep, with a pedigree going further back than that of his visitor; a jack of all trades, a blacksmith in his smithy, boat builder and carpenter, an artist in filigree work, carver in wood, an eager reader in books, he has universal education up to the degree to which it Is useful for a man.
 There are no schools in Iceland, yet every child at twelve can read according to the parish statistics. In no country in
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04
Th. Reou,ar Army.

CT am glad President Roosevelt dsvotes as much space as he does in his message to the regular army and makes plea for larger pay for the rank and file ana the officers as we'll" said a veteran.
 The freouent assertions and the inn possibility of keeping the army up to its legalized limit are causing much concern at the war department. The Presioeht points out the trouble and makes many timely suggestions for improving condl- lions And the chief trouble is the in adequate pay. He recommends especially that the pay of non-commissioned officers upon re-enlistment be largely increased.
 Just after the civil war, when good men were tired of soldier life, the little army of regulars, limited to 2o,o0o, had to be recruited chiefly from the siums. Men with drunken sons would cause them to enlist in the army for the sake of re- forming them lnebriates, along with days Not so now. The rules are ex- ceedingly rigid, as they should be. Every man enrolled must be of sober habits. He must bear a good character; must have good elementary education and must be physically sound. And his pay is only SIS a month, with clothing and rations furnished.
 "The standing army is still relatively small but 1t lacks about 20 per cent of being up to the numbers required by law needed to make it efficient, even as a skeleton army. A bill has been pre- pared by the war department on the lines of the Presidents recommendations, and it is hoped Congress, will pass it"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04
President Reosevet's Programme

The President in his final message to q long session of Congress-the final session of his administration that will have time in which to consider broad general policies-presents noth- ing new, nothing at all surprising. He is chiefly intent in saying 'I told you so,' and he quotes page after page from his former messages in order to rub the statement in.
 He scores the wildcat financiers at least twice, and as those men are in- variably connected with corporations, manipulating railroad securities, he wants national supervision of inter state commerce. He shows by quota tions from a message of December, 1905, that he has long wanted it. He either wants a national incorporation act, or else law licensing railroad corporations. It should provide against water" in such securities. He wants to take the government out of the courts. In other words, he wants direct administrative control of the railroads, instead of a devious and doubtful con trol through the courts. He throws a sop to the railroads when he says that the railroads should then be given power to enter into agreements, every one of which is to be made public after it has been approved by the govern ment.
 He does not want the Sherman anti trust law repealed, but he desires to have it amended, so that it will favor good corporations while it condemns to punishment evil ones. He says, however, that no corporation should be permitted to exist that is a monopoly in necessity of life. Such a corpora tion, he says, is against public policy. He hands this to Mir. Rockefeller as q Christmas present.
 In short, he wants national super vision of corporations. preferably through license act and he wants amendments to the antitrust act that would not be oppressive to desirable corporations. There is nothing revolu- tionary in all ihis-nothing that will put stocks up or down, nothing that will increase distrust or detract from public confidence.
 In the matter of currency reform he favors an emergency issue based on securities approved by the government. A currency of this kind should, he says, be heavily taxed. The objection to the Presidents plan, some persons will point out, is the imitation it involves. That infiation involves even higher prices for the necessities of life. In- fation has already gone to dangerous extent. To an engagement of nearly
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04

S100,000, 900 in gold has been added S67o00,0o0 in government funds and S400lo ,000 in new bank note circula- tion. No emergency currency should be needed on top of all this, it would seem, even in these times, to restore confidence in the banks.
 The President goes on to oppose q revision of the tariff before 1909; to favor an income tax and an inheritance tax, and to advocate an extension Of the eight-hour law. He hopes, no doubt, in this varied programme to placate the tariff benefciaries and also the worltingmen, and in this way he ex- poets, no doubt, to bring into line the voters for the campaign that will be fully begun On Friday of this week, when the national republican commit tee meets in Washington.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04
Clothes Cheaper.

T have read a great deal about high prices, and I am quite prepared to be- leve that the cost of living is much higher in times of prosperity and high wages than in dull times, but I can testi- fy to tffe fact that man can dress well on less money now than was the case 70 years ago. said bachelor. q remem- Der when my wardrobe cost at the rate of S250 8 year I dress as well today as 1 did years ago, probably better and my clothing expense all told is less than $115 year. Overooats are cheaper, business suits are cheaper, shirts are cheaper, and stylish shoes are cheaper. business man, by being very economical could dress on s125 year. That would have been impossible 20 or % years ago, unless he wore shoddy, ill-fitting garments"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04
MIR. PERCY AND THE REGISTER.


 MT. Walker Percys reply to the Reg ister, which was printed in yesterdays s paper, is in the main an attack upon MT. Bryan's policies, and does not in any way affect the Registers statement as to MT. Bryan's ascendency in this state. When the Register declares that Bryan ism and democracy are the same thing in Alabama, it must be understood-and doubtless is understood-to mean dem- ocracy such as is accepted by the demo- cratic party. The Register recognizes as clearly as does MT. Percy in how much this democracy differs from the dem ocracy of the fathers of the party. and this journal has never given its consent to the departure of the party from it's ancient bearings; but no one can deny that the party has the right to adopt new. policies and to indorse and stand by the man who is its spokesman, to- wit: Mir Bryan.
 The Register has no dispute with Mir Percy on the subject of the right of q party man to critizise party policies and party leaders at this juncture in the history of the party. The Register has avaied itself freely of the liberty of free discussion at all times. What is criti- cised is Mir. Percys programme, which appears to be animated by hope of ac- complishing the downfall of Mir. Bryan in the democratic convention in this state. There does not seem to be any ground for this hope. The state democracy may De said to be pledged in advance to Mir. Bryan; and it can be added that even if this were not SO, the democrats of other southern as well as northern states are pledged in sufficient numbers to assure the nominatio of MT. Bryan; and very little would be gained by taking Alabama out of the Bryan column, even if such a feat were possible.
 Mir. Percy states that he has no inten-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04
MIR. COMMONS WAY.

From the Montgomery Advertiser.
 The street car strike In Louisville. led by Ben Commons, ended in disastrous failure. Commons was conspicuous some months ago as leader of a strike in Bir- mingham and with like result. He prom ised success to his dupes. but the net re- suit Is about 25 per cent of the men per- manentiy out of a job and a large num- Der on the waiting list A strike is a serious thing and generally ends with the strikers being thrown out of work. Com mons is one of the walking delegate sort and makes money while his victims suf- Fn,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04
Watterson For Bryan.

'rrhe Louisville Courier-Journal, the Montgomery Advertiser. the Mobile Reg ister the Richmond Times-Dispatch ana other papers heretofore not friendly to Bryan are now supporting him., said MT. Tomlinson yesterday
 "Mr Watterson gives this advise in the Courier-Journal: 'The prac.icai anu sensible thing for democrats Is to ciose ranks and keep step to the drum peat of the third coming of the man from Nebraska. It is useless to contest HIS leadership further
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04
MAY HAVE TOO MUCH REST.

From the Richmond Times Dispatch.
 Alabama needs rest and peace. says the Montgomery Advertiser. If the gover- nor and legislators of Alabama do not quit asitating, Alabama will soon have more rest and peace in business than she knows what to do with.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04

tion of going outside of party lines in h. 4.ght against MT. Bryan, and that if Mir. Bryan should be nominated he will vote for him. That statement sets at rest the suspicion that a new party is forming under his auspices in Birming- ham, and should have the further effect of reducing MT. Percy to silence, since 1t Is demonstrable that he will be wasting i-,s time in fighting MT. Bryan inside the party
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04
EXCHANGE OF clvILITIEs.

From December Lippincot's.
 A Confederate veteran met his former bodyguard on the road.
 'Is that you, Peter?" he called to the old negro who was grinning as he doffed his hat.
 Vas suh. dis am mel
 Well. welli' laughed the other. '''I see that all the old fools are not dead yet
 Oats so, Mars Ton, Peter pulled his grisly forelock appreciatively. "Is monsus glad to see dat you's in such good health suh.n
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04
THE wlLpnEss OF ALABAMA.

From the Washington Herald
 An Alabama paper declares that state would Ego wild' for Cuiberson for pres ident. If Alabama hadn't already gone wild, there wouldn't be any Governor Conner.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES

has lost her appendix, which she kept In a box for a souvenir. Can you keep 2 good press agent down? No.
 OFTEN HEARD.
 Tine himsiest excuse of all
 Old Adam knew it.
 Twill last until the heavens fall
 "She made me do it." After all Is said. Mr. Weston hasn't done as much walking as MT. Bryan has running.
 Here's a funny little poem done into Chinese by an American professor. There is a good joke in the last line.
 Che Ike lao,
 Che le hsiao,
 Che Ike mel ti chin,
 Che Ike chu
 Mai ken t'sao,
 Che ke ch'u kan chi. Here is one by us;
 Tee che l<ao,
 Che Ike mao.
 Go long, Ii che Ri,
 Tan tan louey,
 Kan chop suey,
 Hop Sing Leo Shanghai!
  Now that the great buttermill1 fraud has been uncovered to the light of day, Mir Fairbanks no doubt feels like crying, "stung again!p
 It is astonishing, according to Paul Cook, of The Birmingham Age Herald, how much money man can spend when he has "a rag. bone and hank O hair.' The unkindness of the remark indicates that The Age-Herald man has been mar ried several years-Jackson News. Not yet, nor even soon.
 NATURE LESSONS. Consider the lark. how blithely she sings Till all the wide dome of heaven it rings With q note of pure joy as she scars to the sun, And never a care till the day is done. Consider the bee how swiftly she goes From tulip to lily and lily to rose, Intent on her duty whatever befall, 'Mong earth's busy workers the pattern for all. Consider the mule, so patient, resigned More docile in front than he's ever be- hind. No matter what troubles may come through the day, He's happy a night with a bundle of hay. Paul Cook declares that eloquence i'll the south dies with the mint tulip. That may be the proper sort of talk in Br- mingham, with New Year just a month away, but in Houston mint is perennial.-- Houston Post Don't be too confident, George. The prohibition wave is tapping at the feet of New Orleans and we shouldn't be surprised some day to see Haggard Houston as dry as the Califor- nia desert,
 Henry Gassaway Davis, at the age or S4 is thinking of getting married, thus proving to the satisfaction of himself and his friends that there is nothing he won't do. PAUL COOK
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04
PLENTY OF WILD GAME.

From the Washington Herald
 The President didn't find many bears in Louisiana, but there are sure to be a lot of blind tigers in Georgia after the beginning of the ysaI, and in Alabama ufter Jaaruafy l. fSs.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04

The Indiana supreme court holds that the seizure of gambling apparatus at Tom Taggart's hotel at French Lick was lawful and must stand. This puts Tom out of business as well as poll- tics.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04

President Eliot of Harvard cares nothing for football and rarely goes near the Stadium. His standing among the students is undoubtedly that Of mollycoddle.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04
WHICH MEANS NEVER.

From the Louisville Courier-Journai. :
 .When will prohibition prohibit?' asks a southern contemporary. When foxes lay eggs in the sand, or a fortnight thereafter.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04

A Philadelphia contemporary speaks of Jonah and the whale in court" It must be quite large court.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04

King Carlos of Portugal is even big ger than Secretarty Taft, but he has no time time between meals and drink to travel as our fat Secretary does.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04

Admiral Bob Evans says you can bet your North American life that the fleet will sail from Hampton Roads on December 16 This, however, Is not profanity
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04

Roy Knabenschue has reversed the street car proportions, for his new air ship is to be 105 feet long and it will carry four people.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04

It is consoling to think that Con- gress can't make as many mistakes, individually and collectively, as the state legislature of Alabama has made.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04

Money is hid away quickly in pan icky times, and it reappears as quickly when the scare is over and nerves are again normal.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04

Speaker Joe Cannon is picturesque and popular, but the country does not want standpatter in the White House.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04

The senatorial race in Missouri is hot one, the contestants being Gov ernor Folk and Gumshoe Bill Stone.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04

Seats in the New York exchange have been placed on the bargain coun- ter along with the watered securities.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04

"Ho, for the sleeeer!" exclaimes a Georgia contemporary. Must have a lower berth.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04

Pennsylyanians have come to the conclusion that theirs Is a government of fools by knaves.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04

It is said that the dukes picture first caught the fancy of Miss Shonts. However, it is barely possible that his title also figured.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04

Weston is going to Washington, pre- pared of course to do a stunt in the East room
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04
About Persons.

James J. Fitzgerald of Chattanooga is registered at the Morris. He writes on the register: Chattanooga, no scrip city MT. Fitzgerald states that Chat
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04

Poor old Boston is staggering under a heavy mortgage. and it'is just like a scene in the play.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04

Glass telegraph poles are to be used in Germany. They are non-conductors, refusing to let human shin up their slippery sides
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04

The country should now get it's gold in Colorado, Nevada and Alaska in- stead of London, Paris and Berlin.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04

Washington Herald: Prohibition waves, crime waves, financial waves, and marcel waves all cease to startle when one learns that the Due de Chaulnes "walyes a dot for his prospective bride
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04

No Congressman who desires re- election will neglect to present a cur rency reform bill. At least 400 bills are expected.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04

MT. Edison will have to reckon with the cement trust when he begins to build concrete houses at 5000 each.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04

The motto that once was writ on the $1O gold pieces persists ill being an issue
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04

Harry Thaw is planning to write a book, thus adding insult to injury.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04

o1 IL As the years roll on the past assumes A more transcendent glow And the rose of today it never blooms Like the rose of long ago. The painter paints it doubly fair And the poet with his pen, For those were the days of little care And life was sweeter then. In these parlous times poets would gladly trade sonnets for sandwiches two sonnets for chicken sandwich. Don't be quitter. unless it is some thing you ought not to do.
 AN AVARICIOUS DREAM. l want to be rich
 As a man can be And have all the world
 Bow down to me First thing I'd do
 With millions mine Would be to dress
 In raiment fine And make a show
 Where all could see My comfort and
 Prosperity.
 I'd travel about
 The wide world OCT And anchor my yacht
 On every shore. Al Monte Carlo
 I'd tarry a while And finger at Paris,
 Which is just my style. And people would talk
 Wherever l went About the large sums
 Of money I spent. The papers would say
 In big. black type, Now, here is a man
 Of experience ripe o lud, the glorious
 Deeds I would do, Stupendous, enormous
 And always new. I'd have such a time
 The world would stare And follow my course
 With wondering air. I would give, give, give
 To sweet charity, Till Andy would look
 Like a piker to me. But let me assure you,
 The most of that pelf Would go to buy frills
 For my own little self And when it was finished
 My earthly career, The devil would murmur
 .'Oh look who is heret When a Savannah trolley car ran over q man and cut off his leg everybody was extremely glad to learn that 1t was wooden leg. nForce Is not a remedy said John Rriaht Had he lived today he might have said that it was a cereal. Anna Held has been dressed to the point of nervous prostration and Adele Ritchie
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04

Baltimore News. Alabama's efforts at rate-making have accomplished little thus far except keeping Judge Jones busy is- suing injunctions. And he isn't the least bit afraid of the governor.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04

Scrip has served it's purpose, and it will be rapidly conscripted out.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04

The consumer is beginning to have an inning, for "hogs have fallen to 4 centsh
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04

We put ourselves down right now as against denatured Christmas.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04

Mr. Weston finds there is much money in courageous and determined feet.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04

The juciest bargains are gobbled up by the early shoppers.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04

Louisville Courier Journal: A Connecti- cut mans collarbone gave way when he kissed his sweetheart good night. Young ladies who fall upon the masculine neck should not let themselves go like ton of brick
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04

St. Louis Globe-Democrat By his method of transportation Weston made his way from Portland to Chciago with out running over anything, and not single farmer sat on the fence and called him a rod davi1
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04

Florida Tines-Union Having used up the Bryan ideas, President Roosevelt ia now borrowing from Cleveland. All men are proven right in all things if one waits long enough.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04

Columbia State: Connecticut youth broke his collar bone while trying to kiss a girl But what's collarbone to KISS i!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04

Houston Post: Our dramatic critic wrote: Lady Godiva gave Miss Bingham ample opportunity for the display of her power as an actress" The linotype made it read: Lady Godiva gave Miss Bing- ham ample opportunity for the display Of her person as an actress Well?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04

Houston Post. Because of his politics, Warden Yell of the Folsom (ca1) prison has been removed from his official posl- ton and naturally he is doing some hoi- lering
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04
BRYAN's STRENGTH.

Ballooning is more luck than sense.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-04

In these parlous times poets would gladly trade sonnets for sandwiches two sonnets for a chicken sandwich.