davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-26

, that I was a devout pupil of the old beau tiful Religion of India, as taught by Vivakananda, and that I felt 1t would
 be a privilege to meet him, an older mas ter
 Over the telephone, lady's kindly voice informed me that l could see the
 Mahatma, and at the appointed hour
 presented myself. I found the Mahatma alone, and l ex- tended my hand. He left it suspended in air for two uncomfortable seconds, then gave me one limp finger. As sat down uninvited, he asked: ITO what do l owe this visit?''
 I explained that I had written him, and asked the privilege which had been grant ed, presumably with his consent. Then he at once launched forth upon untruth- full reporters and misleading headlines to interviews. His voice was harsh and jared upon me.
 Voices are such sure indications of our mental characteristics. A harsh voice represents some harsh quality in the na- ture.
 But I am not interviewing you," l said 'I am an American writer, but
 my work is impersonal save when a per
 sonality suggests principle. l write verse more than prose. Some people call me 6 poet. l wanted to see you because have
 read and studies the beautiful old rel- zion of India and because l was two
 years student of your great VivakananS day.
 The Mahatma looked at me with de- rision. He was boy who studied with
 me few months" he said. He only
 knew what I taught him. He was not ready to teach. He had no right to teach. He was mere boy"
 But he was d great soul" I said. "He ,, left beautiful influence on America"
 ''All he knew l taught him." persisted the Mahatma He came back to India and was very unpopular. He had many enemies. I saved him from harm" And so on-the l, I. I. I. forever emphasized and always the note of derision in his voice.
 Jealousy and egotism are despicabe traits in even a common man of the world They are doubly despicable in a religious teacher. A. .Mahatma should be too great to even suggest such traits Then this Mahatma proceeded to score American men and women. You have nc men here,' he said. All your men are women."
 You evidently do not know our men. I replied. "They are the finest in the world. Not many of them are awakened spiritually. perhaps. yet but that will
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-26

Is generally h-.d by scholarly and
 philosophical thinkers that Aristotle 4 was the greatest of all the philosophers of antiquity. When we remember that he lived in the fourth century before Christ. l. e., from 3s4 to S22. we can not fail to admire the vast extent and variety of his attainments. Nor was he mere copylst or absorber of the knowledge of his age, and the ages before him, for no other ancient writer known to me added so largely and so permanently to the stock of human knowledge.
 He was pupil of Plato, and, though he admired his great preceptor, differed qui.e widely from his philosophical doc trines. Indeed, as philosophers they were almost antipodes. Plato, though one of the most poetical of all writers of prose, held poetry in contempt and thought that poets ought to be abolished. Aristotle on the contrary holds that poetry is the highest and noblest result ever reached by human effort.
 It seems to be very generally supposed that Charles Darwin originated the doc Urine of natural selection" This is err roneous. He originated the name, but in the doctrine itself he was anticipated by number of authors or hls@ @own day,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-26
w "%s s.s

WY HEN read in New York pa
 A/ per that 'the happiest man in
 W the world had come to visit America, from India, I was eager to meet him. Believing myself to be at least one of the happiest women in the world, I felt there would be a certain bond of sympathy be- tween us. There was also another reason why I desired to meet the Mahatma. Twelve years ago I chanced one evening Ito hear that a certain teacher of phlos- ipphy from India, a man named Vivakan- anda. was to lecture a block from my home in New York.
 We went out of curiosity (the Man Iwhose name I bear and D and before we had been ten minutes in the audience we felt ourselves lifted up into an atmosphere so rarifed, so vital, so wonderful, that we sat spellbound and almost breathless, to the end of the lecture.
 When it was over we went out With new courage, new hope, new strength, new faith to meet life's daily viclssitudes. "This is the Philosophy this is the ideal ,pf God, the religion which l have been lseeking,' said "The Man" And for months afterwards he went with me to hear Swami N1Vakananua eXpldlH lne oiu religion and to gather from his wonderful mind jewels of truth and thoughts or helpfulness and strength. It was that terrible winter of financial disasters, when hanks failed and stocks went down like broken balloons and business men walked through the dark valleys of despair and the whole world seemed topsy -turvy-just such an era as we are again approaching. Sometimes after sleepless nights of worry and anxiety, "The Man would go with me to hear the Swami lecture and then he would come out into the winter gloom and walk down the street smiling and say. 'It is all right There is nothing to worry over'' And I would go back to my own duties and pleasures with the same uplifted sense of soul and enlarged spiritual vision.
 When any philosophy, any religion, can klo this for human beings In this age of stress and strain, and when, added to \. that. it intensifies their faith in God and Increases their sympathies for their kind and gives them a confident joy in the thought of other lives to come, it is good and great religion. Therefore, hay tho known one such teacher from India, I felt eager to meet another, who was A said 10 be the greatest of all who have t,er come to our shores. So I wrote lit- R, respectful letter to the Mahatma and v, ed him if I might sec him. explained
The Washington times., 1907-01-06

decide upon the exact date OF going
out OF mourning. and into a few orna-
ments. Then Il Is that preparations
are made for the great head hunt.
The warriors get together, sally forth
and kin a few enemies. The heads are
cut on, Of course The returning
riors stop a short distance from h
village TO which they belong and send
a runner TO announce their coming.
This must always occur at sunrise and
is marked by great ceremonies.
one of these Is the lighting OF IRE.
II Is true that the natives are we'll
supplied with matches. as well as some
Of the other comforts OF civilization.
but the ceremonial fire must always
be lighted by the FIRE stick. This is
twirled between the palms Of the
hands. the point OF the stick being In
the cavity Of a softer bit OF wood.
The lint from the softer wood is
soon ignited by the heat. and the fire
is communicated to bits OF rattan. Dur
ing the ceremony the natives retire
and return garnished with the trim
kets which had been a aside.
The Washington times., 1907-01-06
Fate of Old Boots

What becomes Of old boots and
shoes has hitherto been almost as
puzzling a problem as where all the
pins go to. The solution, however, is
given in the Boot and Shoe Trades
Journal.
Old boots and hoes Of leather are
cut up into small pieces. and then are
put for two days in chloride or sui
phur, The effect Of which is 10 make
the leather very hard and brittle.
When this IS fully effected, the ma
terlal is Withdrawn from the action OF
the chloride OF sulphur, washed with
water. dried. and ground 10 powder
u is then mixed with some substance
that will cause IL 10 adhere together.
usch as shellac or other ~Tesinous ma
terial. or ever good glue. and a thick
solution or strong gum.
IT Is afterwards pressed into mOlds
To form combs, buttons, and q variety
OF other useful objects.
Prussiate of potash is also made out
OF old leather IL Is heated with pearl
ash and old iron hoops IN a large pot.
The nitrogen and carbon form cyan
ogen, and then unite with the iron and
potassium. The soluble portions are
dissolved out. and the resulting salt.
added 10 one of son. produces this we'll
known Prussian blue, either for dyeins
purposes or as a pigment.
The Washington times., 1907-01-06

neo, recently has been giving some
interesting lectures in Boston on the
subject OF head hunting in Borneo.
He IS a born traveller. and has made
trips 20 Hindustan, Ceyl0n. and fur
Their India. where he walked three
hundred miles in the Maya hills. Bor-
neO always has been DR.. Furness
starting point. His trips are so ar
ranged that he may study the tribes
and races that are akin 70 the inhabi-
tants Of Borneo.
The natives or BOrneO are character
lied By DR., Furnsss as a race whose
only fault Is their prediction Tor
head hunting In spite Of this. says
Dr. Furness, who spent one whole
year among them, they are a nice
people. and possess a charm. not
wholly ~dispelled by the rows OF grin
ming skulls hanging fro mthe rasters
of their houses"
The youths OF Borneo." continued
DR.. Furness. have languishing loves.
which they are eager 70 connde 10
sympathetic ears. The Bornean moth
ers and fathers think their babies the
prettiest that were ever born. The
boys are as boyish as American school
boys, and just as full of mischief"
Nevertheless, with all these att1-
butes, the inhabitants OF Borneo are
finished a hunters. II is part OF
their religion. and all Dr.. Furness eff
forts 10 convince the most intelligent
chiefs OF the tribes among which he
lived that head-huntinE was out or
fashion, went for nothing. His hosts
were most friendly M courteous, but
iutimated TO DR.. Furness at the close
of every argument that they would as
soon think OF giving up head-hunting
as King Edward or England would OF
retiring from the English turf.
The Borneans are great at going into
mourning. and making a dismal feast
of it, When a king dies the whole
tribe goes into the deepest mourning
for a long period.
The Washington times., 1907-01-06

They sat cross legged around h
platform IN the dirt, all but the two
chosen TO begin, who advanced into
the center with the umpire. They
squatted upon their feet, and bowed
70 each other slowly and solemnly.
Foliteness thus being fulfilled, they
stood up again and bent OVeT OppO-
site 0ne another like two g~amecocks.
watching tntently for a chance 10
selZe an advantage. Then suddenly
the women sprang-hissing al each
other ~TurlOuEly, and crashing their
teeth. at nrsL by simulsu ing feTOcity
10 spu themselves up 20 greater eX-
element, but after a few clutches, ia
deadly feminine earnest. The umpire
meanwhile buZzing close 10 them as
they swayed round the narrow ring.
ANY and all holds seemed fair means
10 the end of pushing a cOmbatant
over the edge. Sometimes with a
clean throw one woman landed her
opponent s%praWling IN the midst OF
her friends. This vas the signal for
the umpire TO Begin. "HitOtsu. fatat-
su, mttsu yOtsu, itsutsu' tone, two.
three. lou uVr1, in a series OF irreg-
ulaT and disconnected sQueaks, and
before he ceased counting another
wrestler from the losing side jumped
mp 20 meet the champion. who stood,
painting, kissing. and splitting like a
boiling kettle. in the center OF the
arena. This tine there were no pre-
liminaries. a wild rush. and like two
fuTies or two beasts the women were
struggling again. Some affected quick
clutches, some locked their ADVERSE
ries in their arms. and stood stock
stll for a full nve minutes some
picked up their opponents almost at
once and threw them bodily Over the
ring. while others rolled over with
them. This latter course threatened
To cause almost a disaster Ga several
occasions.
The poor. weak umpire Che seemed
most a midget beside them) attempt
ed To assert his prer0gatiVes, to de-
clare the result. as was his custom
after every bout, in "a high sing-s0ng
voice. and with a raising Of his fan
10 his forehead. an excellent gesture
of hnaiity. But ii this decision dis
pleased the cOmbatants they would
have none Of IL. The captain OF each
side sprang up into the ring. followed
by several Of her dissatisfied compan-
ions. They clutched az his garments:
they pummeled him roughly, soon
partisans in the audience Joined the
lively discussion. Without etiquette
is. said IWase. scornfIlly; but the
young gentlemen, who had plainly
The Washington times., 1907-01-06

FAD hunting has Sssn Viz
Orousiy resumod IN the
- Philippine islands. Amer
lean soldiers since the
American occupation Of
the Philippines have
grown accustomed 10 seeing rows OF
grinning skulls, with a few strands OF
hair and bits OF dried flesh ciing1nE
10 them. adjoining the village gates OF
many savage chiefs. Now the cheer
ing news comes hat more skulls than
ever are 10 decorate the approaches 10
the island towns.
Among the Filipino head hunters the
custom is 10 put the head on b
spiked palisades that surround their
villages and leave hem 10 dry, skull.
flesh. and all. Other head hunting
tribes in other countries employ differ
ent methods. For there are many
tribes OF sayages in various parts Of
the globe whose members stiil indulge
II head hunting with great enjoyment
w. is. as a rule, a reciprocal scheme,
wherever practised. and when q band
starts out in search OF a p~hrenologi-
cal specimen OF two. to d 10 it's col
lection. II is understood among them
that the chances are equal that their
own heads will go 10 decorate the
nresides OF those whose craniums they
seek
The Washington times., 1907-01-06

wagered upon the champions. did not
abate their zeal IN the for adj
verse criticism. The act was cOmplet-
ed with the yanquishiug OF one side.
after which. bowling low, the per
formers JrOOped out TO rest
Presently The next scJ began, am
nounced by the beating together or
two q blocks. II was a match
between two champions more serious
than the last, q match 10 a finish. with
enormous enthusiasm. Weight HfLlg
followed 10 vary the program, the old
familiar business OF the oma with
the iron Jaw, which was less interest
ing 10 us because unfamiliar only in
Its details. AS With everything Ia
Japan. great ceremony attended the
arranging OF the loads. which were
weighed before our eyes. Iron weights
they were. wrapped lH straw VITA "a
straw handle 70 hold them by. some
the woman lifted standing, OTHERS she
raised as she lay on her back, sup
porting the whole strain with her neck
not only az the weights, but of a py-
ramid OF tables and tubs % ~acr0Dats
on the top of them as well All ths
While two OF the other Wres-lers dis
cOursed music from samiseuE, prov
England. a true vaudeville artist must
be versatile.
The players remained TO accompany
an old Wrestlers dance. very quaint,
and now seldom performed, according
10 IWase. The curious short coats 81
patched cotton worn by the dancers
have been In use Oh the festival OF the
OF Wrestling since time immemo-
rial. The gestures OF the dance are no
less ancient. and wonderfully uggest-
i've and grOtesQue, like HOgarth's
paintings. rough and rude certainly.
but with tina unmistakable touch III
life which lends dignity and interest
to any performance. II closed with "a
pantOmime s~upplicating the great Sh0-
Xxi, conquerer Of DENNIS. and was u
fine at once an epic Of strength and a
propitiatOH 20 the God Of Muscle.
the auguest Heaven Shining Deity.
vase named BIN.
one more general melee ended the
performance. There was hearty au-
plause again and much bowling. after
which We rose stiffly from our cramped
position and fled out with the crowd,
blocked the doorway while they
delivered zap the wooden vhecks and
their clogs ln return. IWass
agreed 10 escort us on the following
morning 90 photograph the women
but only after much begging.
The Washington times., 1907-01-06
Pursued Since HerOd's Day.

Since Herod. al me bidding OF Sa-
lone, ordered the head OF John the
Baptist brought 10 the dancing girl on
a charger. and probably long before.
head-hunting has been a favorite pas
time IN many localities. II was fash
ionable even in civilized England, as
far down as the days Of Charles J..
whose rattle-pate oliver Cromwell Or
dered taken on. Nowadays 1t is not
looked upon with special v in civ
liked parts. the taking OF political
scalps being the last relic OF the once
popular custom.
In Borneo. In the Samoan group. IN
South America. in various parts OF
Africa. as we'll as the Philippines,
head-hunting is stfl carried on with
great vigor. A few American Indians
used 70 practice il. but most OF them
cOntented themselves with scalping
their victims, leaving the skull behind.
In Borneo n the Philippines the
skull is what Is wanted. The Borne
ans have a religious feeling about the
matter. holding that the departed
spirits OF those whose skulls they take
hover around their skulls and AFFORD
protection 10 the possessors thereof.
II Is among the Jibaros and other sav
age South American tribes that dwell
along the upper waters OF the Amazon,
however. that -head-hunting and head
preserving have been brought 10 the
most artistic system.
The Jibaros not only preserve the
scalp. but the Whole face. which they
cure by the most approved methods
and hang by the hair in their tents.
The Washington times., 1907-01-06

them, n cOunsslsd them not 70 stir
ont OF Il. II Is against the unWritEen
law OF h tribe 10 spill blood within
a house.
SO Dr.. Furness and his friend Wsrs
safe 50 long as they did not 90 out OF
doors. FoI three days Tama Buian
stood Ia defense OF his guests. while
the tribesmen In the next room clam
ored for their heads. but al the end
OF that time il seemed better for them
10 depart.
Tam Bulan was a savage with noble
principles and a good heart. and Il is
pleasant 10 know that since that tine
ne has been elected 10 a place IN me
council which governs the land
Among certain tribes OF the South
ssA Islands. where canalbaIism stlm
obtains. the cad OF the victim Ia
never eaten. II is cut on and stuck
up on a pole lea the dwelling OF The
village chief. The grim hum0r Of the
islanders is aroused b. this system.
for they think the head sees the body
from which Il has beer severed as Il
Is being boiled and eaten. and they
ike % wonder how the head feels
about II.
Down in South America on the
headwaters OF the Amazon. the Jibarlz
an excellent sounding name cor q
head hunter. BY The way-neither elE
their decapitated victimg nor stick
their heads on a pole 20 rot under
stress Of wind and weather. Far he j.
from the JibaTos 20 furnish so crude
an ending 20 q jolly head hunting e.
pedftiou
The Washington times., 1907-01-06
Odd Animal Disease

oUTH AFRICA. which is noted
for its curious animal and hui
y man diseases. has none more
curious than the trouble affect
ing Merino and Africander sheep and
Angora goats. in which the heads and
ears of the animals swell TO gro
tesque size. finally resulting in the
death OF the animal. This disease.
the allure OF which or its cause
is not recognized, is known chiefly
by its Dutch name. "Geel Dikkop, "
which. translated. means yellow thick
head
The trouble usually appears in herds
which nave been grazing on iOWland.
and is particularly prevalent after a
heavy rainfall, though what relation
this may have 10 the disease is a mys-
terry. The head and ears assume a
dropsical condition. growing TO enor-
nous size. and IL no treatment is
adopted the swollen parts become dry.
shrlVel up and crack. This swollen
condition is accompanied by a gen
eral condition Of jaundice.
Post norton examinations disclose.
IN addition 10 the general j~aundiced
condition. an abnormal condition of
some OF the vital organs. as the liver.
spleen etc. The average mortality is
about ~ per cent.
The Washington times., 1907-01-06

- NOE inside We found ourselves
US1er q primitive square tent
u draped on the sides with cloth
hangings in bold blue and red
designs. A little ring OF soft clay,
inclosed by a girdle OF sacks. occupied
the CENTER and around it stretched a
chsckerhoard Of rough mats laid on
lie pare ground. Finally, along the
sides OF the place ran a very rough
scanolding 1.-TWO boards and a crack
covered with wadded quilts. raised
about three feet from the mud floor.
and rallied on By a bamboo. Here sat
the first families, says MacMillan's
Magazine.
First there stepped into the center OF
the ring armau dressed IN a blue cot
ton ceremonial pettlcoat and holding
a metal fan Of ObIOng shape in
scribed with characters. This is the
insignia of office, corresponding to the
wand of our traditional fairies. He
chanted a feU sentences of eNplana-
Jion. a reference from the employed
To his induIgent employer. the public.
and then retired 10 make way for the
cliet wrestler, controller Of the band.
She also said "A few words craving
our august COndescension for her an
significant performers" This humfl-
ity, even the enforced humility OF con
NeutiOual p0litentss. sat strangely on
her. for she looked the most bomba n
and strident person Imaginable.
During her speech the Wrestiers
trooped in from behind the red arr
blue curtains. There were about
twenty of them. and at first sight Il
seemed impossible nat they could sc
women. Their figures denied a.. Their
thick, heavy legs. which might have
done duty as piles FOR a pier, their
muscular arms, their bun necks. Their
clothes denied II also. the short. tight
jackets of white cloth, Open at the
tnrOsI the trousers reaching 10 the
knee, leaving the leg and foot bare,
and ne heavy cloth belt which Japan
ese Wrestiers use 10 secure a hold.
Even the hair, dressed Ia a fiat knot
on the top OF the head. was copied
from the fashion OF male wresffers.
Lastly, the gestures and movements Of
the performers we're masculine TO a
degree OF rough uncOuIhness which
Mortified us.
The wrestlers arranged themselves
in two sides, each led by a captain.
The Washington times., 1907-01-06
D~IsrObing Signifies Mourning.

Instead of putting OF mourning gar
ments, however, as most races do. they
take on garments TO show their grief
Now the Bornean is a dress reformer
throughout In dress he is an IN
e%quivocal disciple OF the Impression
istic style. That is TO say. for or5t-
nary, everyday occasions he dresses
in the altogether, with here and
there a Few beads and leaves. 20 ac-
cenJuate and make fully apparent the
simplicity Of his style. On holiday oc-
casions he puts on more trinkets
When he goes into mourning he takes
on necklace and leaves.
The Washington times., 1907-01-06
Careful Of the Trophies.

No English fox hunter is more cars-
ful OF the brush and mask OF The fox
ais hounds have killed In the open
with him In al q dsath Ne trophy
OF President ROOsevelts many hunt
ing expeditions ia the West was over
more carefully mounted 10 aHrn the
walls Of b state diniug-rOom OF ths
White House than are the human
heads taken by the Jibaro warrior.
He has reduced the preservation or
these valuable memenu0z TO an exact
science. and. when ne is through with
= newly severed head. the grizIy OBJ
ejct is turned into an ornament not
entirely unattractive as a Preside
ornament.
When the Jibaro warrior returns
from an expedition with a choice head.
he goes 10 work on 1t at once First
he skins Il carefully. TO do this he
starts at the neck and works the -ig-
aments loose from the skull with a
sharp knife, until the whole scalp ana
mask slide on the skull.
Turning the scalp inside out. he
scrapes IL carefully. seWs up tie
mouth, eyes, and uostrils. III The
meantime his sQuaw. or 0ue of them
for The Jibaro is a polygamist has
many wives 10 wait on him. has been
heating a nice pile OF light sand
When the head kin is ready, she fills
II full OF the burning sand and hangs
IL BY a FIRE. From time 70 time freshly
heated sand is put in,
The result Is that the head dries up,
receding to the size Of the average
grape fruit, or even smaller. The hair
clings 10 the scalp. and when the head
Is thoroughly cured the skin OF the
face IS left quite smooth The stitches
are the taken out OF the eyes. lOsJrls
and mouth. and the trophy ls hung
beside the fireplace OF the warrior VINO
TOO n.
The Washington times., 1907-01-06
Nearly Lost His Head.

The occasion which nearly cost DIT.
Furness n his companion their heads
was a celebration at the christening OF
a son of Tama Bulan. To take note
Of this the TWO white men had in
trusted themselves entirely TO the
hospitality Of their host. He led them
up the river. past miles of the beauti-
fuI nipa palm. then along a waterway
bordered with Wild cane 10 the broken
ground Of the hills.
At his village, the house that was 50
long. the white men were his guests
IA had ample opportunity to observe
infinitely the daily life Of the people.
Al the close of the ceremony one of