davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-27
IT SPELLS "eREATER DALLAsv

From the Dallas Morning News
 Dallas has joined heartily in the move- ment looking to better municipal govern ment The success of the citizens ticket indicates very clearly a popular >>leter- imitation to let the office seek the man people Is to discredit the man in politics and to intrust the public servdue to business men upon their pledges to con duct it according to business principles.
 This statement of the cases and inter- pretation of the judgment rendered there in is not a reflection on Mayor Smith or on other candidates whose names ap- peared upon the independent ticket. The News has not indulged in any unfair criticism of them, and dems 1t but just to say that they deserve credit for the perform. ance of much good work during the past year; that many citizens have supported them because they found them deserving and believed them entitled to reelection as a reward. Others voted against them chiefly for the one main purpose of emphasizing as much as pos
 
 method of running cities.
 Commission government, public service according to business principles, the Gal weston plan," first suggested and advocat- ed by the News, which has been found accepte ble in Texas and is now being adopted in many other states-the Texas method of municipal management-has been adopted by the citizenship of Dallas without leaving any room whatever to question the popular purpose Dallas joins her sister cities in adding impetus to the timely movement away from the old plan of pickling cities in rank and sour poli- tics.
 The burden thus fastened upon the shoulders of the successful candidates are much heavier than any new broom" or ''bale or hay" These gentlemen are con- fronted by duty that is most serious and exacting. To them is committed not only the task of promoting the Greater nAllas movement, but the opportunity of further vitalizing the basic principle upon which government by commission depends for success. The News believes that they will serve faithfully and efficiently. If they do this, they will be accorded due credit If they refuse or fail to do this, the News will say that much in plain English words of one syllable.
 The victory of the men on the ticket is important. to be sure, but there is in the result something of even greater impor- tance than that. They have been given ample means as well as power to put Dallas in the lead of all other cities of the same class. The people have decided to expend half a million dollars in im- proving their water supply. For street Improvements s1Oo.OOO extra was voted; and, besides a special tax of 25 cents on the s10O valuation for the purpose of im- proving streets and sidewalks was also
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-27
Rirminaham,s Alleys.

Before this city grows much older and big buildings are erected extending from the avenues to the alleys it would be well to consider whether d great im- provement could not be effected by mak- ing the alleys a little wider even If the stores must be made a few feet shorter" :" said property owner
 At present many of the alleys are little better than dumping places for old packing cases and every sort of re- fuse. If Birmingham is to fulfill MT. Gates prophecy and become a city of million inhabitants or even half that num- Der there would be more economy in space than we have now In big cities the alleys are often the busiest quarters and especially is this true in New York and Baltimore.
 If five Or six feet were cut off the rear of the stores and added to the alley 1t would make a good thoroughfare of what is now almost worthless and it would not diminish the value of the store to any appreciable extent In fact would venture to say that the change would be an improvement as the end of the store fronting on the avenue could be used for the display of goods sold by retail, while the wholesale department could face on the alley.
 Whether it be done now or twenty years hence, 1t Is only a question of time until the change I suggest Is cer- tain to take place in the business section of the city,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-27
FEW WORDS ABOUT "PETE"

making himself ridiculous at times. Hs leit called upon. in a measure, to save 1le country, if not the universe Recog- hlzing in naughty looking persons deeu designing and dangerous enemies of the republic, he never took the time carefully to investigate their status. but rushed to the fray with nothing more than the Vaguest notions of subsequent considera- >tion- This was his early conceived notion of his duty toward his country and his fellow citizens. His depredations were porn of a high patriotism, and while this may be small consolation to the victims at the same time it relieves Pete" of malicious intent or unworthy and sinister design.
 Now calmer and more dignihed days have come upon Pete" No longer is his voice for war; rather is he hail-fellow- well-met. Grim-visaged 'Pete' has smoothed his wrinkled front, and nova days his taste runs much stronger ta beef a la mode with toasted dog biscuits on the side than to ambassadorial calf a. la natural with minced trousers-leg sauce.
 Pete' Is simply acquiring the polish invariably incident to prolonged resi- oence In Washington. That's all He is entering upon his kid-glove career He prefers to enford the iron fist, as 1t were. In velvet glove. He speaks very softly. put Tt must not be imagined that he fails to carry a big stick.
 This much in behalf of Pete" we feel compelled to say. He does not subsist. as many would have it thought. upon mush and milk. He is just an un-to-date suave, and modest reformer-ba,t he sa+. there just the same.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-27
From the Washington Herald.

From the Washington Herald.
 our opinion the time has come when
 some one should raise a voice in de- fense of "Pete"-White House Pete" -once the terror of proving ambassa- dors and the freely accredited exponent of canine strenuosity.
 Pete" like many another good man for Pete is man, in his way-has been the victim of too much publicity. He has been advertised by his loving friends the newspaper correspondents. not only unwisey, but entirely too well This notorlety that was admittedly con- ceived in friendship, nourished in good nature, and released in the most we'll inteded spirit has. nevertheless. wrought sad havoc with conservative reputation and bespattered with disgrace a clean and heretofore unblemished fame.
 The truth of the matter is. '.PeteY simply has grown more conservative without actually degenerating into a mollycoddle He has ceased chewing am bassadors, and he refrains from snatch ing his daily luncheon from the calf of some eminent personages leg, as of yore. For this self-sacrifice he is entitled 10 some credit, to be sure; but that his reformation in these directions should be seized upon as evidence that he is becom ing weakling Is unjust and and works great wrong upon one not undeservinr fair measure of his country's applause and cordial appreciation.
 Pete" it must be remembered, was. during his earlier days, not altogether unlike a new congressman. He was, we admit just trine fresh and given to
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-27
Viaduct Not Vet Built.

Tt appears that our viaduct at Twenty seventh street Is hidden away in the clouds remarked an East Lake citizen yesterday. "A bad accident happens there every once in while and a great hurrah is made about constructing viaduct. It has gone on in this manner for several years, and is as far from being built as ever l wouldn't be surprised to hear of a bad accident there any day, and now that the ssummer season is coming on and so many extra cars will be put on the line for East Lake park, the danger is enhanced one hundred per cent l real ly think something should be done about this, and that the city officials. or who ever has charge of affairs of this kind, should keep right in behind it until some means of transporting the public safely over these tracks is arrived at"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-27
HER ESSAY.

By Eugene Field. A seminary graduate
 Was Miss Samantha Brown, The wisest, wittiest, prettiest girl In al. our lovely town: Her graduation essay was
 The finest ever read In east or west or north or south, Or anywhere, 'tis said. Her dress was white pekay, en train, And built with fairy skill, Twas tucked and plaited, gored and
 trimmed
 With many a founce and frill; The overdress was baby blue
 Enwrought with lAces fine, Oh, all the women folks declared
 The essay was diyine The basque was cut in Parisian stylA With pipings all of silk, The corsage was besplashed with bars Of velvet pale as milk; The waist was made decollete
 And showed a comedy form; T--e essay-doubt you what we say? Took all the men by storm
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-27
JOKES ON SHAKESPEARE

From the New York Post
 N oTHING, perhaps, more impressed p the American spectator at signor
 Novellis Shakespearean repre- sentatons in this city, than the immense hilarity of the Italian audience whenever Shakespearean joke was cracked, or a bit of Elizabethan horse-play indulged in. At the production of Hamlet" for ex- ample, when Polonius was called a pes civendolo" the galleries were dissolved in laughter. So comic an epithet had never been heard apparently, and the fresh wit of 1t went home with wonderful effect So it was repeatedly. The familiar Jests and grimaces seemed to gain an ex- traordinary point when done into choice Italian. And the sophisticated and some- what wearied playgoer would fall to rum mating on the strange result of trying Shakespeare as novelty upon people to whom foreign tongue had prevented him from becoming too well known to provoke smile.
 But at that point the meditating obser- yer would begin to reflect that the phe- nomenon was not so unparalleled, after
 
 same thing in American audiences at a Shakespearean spectacle. In the Marlowe- Southern productions, as at the old Daily performances-most of all in Robert Man tells popularization of Shakespeare-a similar state of mind had often been dis played by the spectators. The dear old puns, the gibes the practical jokes, the grinning through a horse collar fell upon multitudes present with absolute fresh- ness. One would see the happy Pittsburg steel-makers in the boxes as overcome by the novel fun as were the medical stu dents in the gallery. People could be mo- ticed driving home the jokes by prod ding each others ribs with their el- bows; purple-faced citizens in danger of suffocating with laughter would be seen by the side of their daughters doubled up with merriment; everywhere, the familiar and faded witicisms would overcome spec tators with a special wonder as at the very latest novelty. At a representation, some years ago, of "The Merry Wives of Windsor" an honest fellow in the aud
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-27
PRESS POINTS

Savannah News: One of the strong est recommendations of the Taft boom is the character of it's enemies.
 Houston Post: Abe Ruef ought to be grateful at least to the Portland Ore gonian. It. still calls him Mister"
 Shreveport Times: Now all the Smiths dn the country will try to prove that "schmitz" Is not a corruption of that frequent and highly honored name.
 Memphis Commercial Appeal: It must be anything but fattering to Bill Chand- ler's vanity to think that he wasn't of sufficient Importance to be denounced as a liar by Roosevelt.
 Arkansas Gazette: After tour of the south Ray Stannard Baker has gone home and proclaimed that the southern CTS do not eat pie in the face of the fat that many republican southerns live on it.
 Hamilton Sun: In front of a Toledo church last Sunday this sign was dis played: Hell; Who Will be There? Strangers Welcome" Being assured of a crowd anyway, that lower region press agent ought to restrain himself lit tie.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-27
Tax Assessments.

we never can hope or expect to have an honest tax assessment in Birmingham until every assessment Is published In the daily papers, giving the names of the owners, the location of the property and the amount of assessment" said a busi- ness man yesterday.
 Publicity is one of the most potent means in existence today to compel peo- pie to do what is right. When we see property held for $lO,OOO or $2o,oOO by own CTS or real estate agents and assessed for one-tenth its selling value 1t shows that some sort of supervision is required, and that the oath of the person making the assessment is not to be trusted. In the last five years the value of property in Birmingham has increased from 100 to 300 per cent, and many people have grown suddenly rich on account of such increase, yet the benefit to the city has not been more than 10 or 15 per cent.
 ''I would suggest that everyone who benefits by the increase in the value of his property should be obliged to contribute to the citys or county's finances certain percentage of that increase. The assessed value of every piece of property should be made public, the price for which the property is sold should be published, and an additional tax of double the amount of the regular tax charged upon the sur plus.
 ''The unearned increment should be made to pay, especially as the benefl- charles of this unearned increment are generally non-resdents who invest their spare money in rapidly growing city like this. It would be tevelation and a surprise, have no doubt, if some of the assessments of city property were made known and side by side with the assess ments the annual rentals arising out of the same property"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-27
THE REAL GRIP.

Pat had been very i'll all winter. An old friend meeting him on the street one day asked what had been the matter with him.
 I've had the grip" answered Pat in a weak voice.
 "The grip? Begorry. and phwats that?' asked his friend.
 "Its a disease that makes you sick six months after you've got well." explained Pat.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-27

fence was so overwrought by mirth at the sieht Of Falstaff in the dirty clothes basket that the services of physician were required.
 All this spontaneous enthusiasm over the familiar seems very puzzling to those into whose mental fibre Shakespearean diction has deeply entered Their atti- tude towards the fun making of the plays Is that of tolerant but very restrained amusement. They have known all that so long! A faint smile Is the extent of the tribute they can now pay. On the artistic side of the matter, they feel very much as Matthew Arnold imagined Shakespeare himself would in the Elysian Fields if taken to task for his, quips and puns and frequent stoopings to split the ears of the groundlings.
 What does 1t all really matter?" Yet 1t is hard to think of the bard as any, thing but astonished at finding, after two hundred and fifty years of the reading of Shakespeare, that his incidental jokes and buffoonery could appeal to great num- bers of English speaking people with all the force of the unexpected and unheard of.
 If this fact shows that all of our school masters abroad, with the multiplied facil- ities for publishing and reading, do not much more than scratch the surface of the popular mind, does it not also throw a suggestive light backwards upon the times for which Shakespeare wrote? We have heard much of attempts to reproduce the Elizabethan theatre. No one has thought of trying to reproduce the EIlizabethan audience. But have we not got it always with us? This latter day innocent and hearty enjoyment of the antic parts of Shakespeare cannot be so far different from certain mental quality in the men of his day to which Shakespeare felt it necessary to cater. To the supreme artist in him, all this must have appeared as much beside the mark as 1t did to Vol taire-or Tolstoy. But the mere fact that Shakespearean jokes can go on shaking the midriH for two centuries shows, at least, that they had their place and justi- fication in the work of the popular play wright.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-27
ALABAMA PRESS


 Anniston Hot Blast: Now that Bir- mingham is having a street car strike, some sort of trouble may be expected in Atlanta.
 Marion County News: Senator Tom Cat Platt says he will not stand for re-elec- tion, but the people of New York have been standing him far too long for their own good.
 Alexander City Outlook: Birmingham has street car strike to add to her trou- bles. l. would pass unnoticed if the noted Coal Barons," the once proud pen nant winners, could play ball this sea- son.
 Florence Times; A Springfield Mass, editor says the joys of life all come at one time-"the birds. the mellow moonlight. and the flowers and the peek a-boo." The editor is treading danger ously near the chasm of spring poetry if he only knew it.
 Jasper Mountain Eagle: Jourd White. of the Moulton Advertiser. objects to being classed as the oldest editor in
  that We can truthfully say he is the model country editor of Alabama, how ever.
 Greenville Living Truth: The radish business in this country has grown to such proportions that when people away from here are told of the amount of the shipments they seem to doubt that there are enough people in the world to eat the radishes that are raised in Butler county.
 Centreville Press: Alabama will not have an. exhibit at the Jamestown ex- position. Governor Conner says there is not time enough in which to make creditable exhibit and that rather than make anything but a credtable exhibit the plan had been dropped. The last legislature contributed twenty-five thous- and dollars for this purpose but the Press is glad that the project has been abandoned. We doubt if the state would have ever derived that much benefit from it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-27
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

From the New York Press.
 Self-control deprives man of a lot of pleasure in cussing out things.
 A girl hates to have you muss' her hair when you kiss her unless she says she does.
 When a woman doesn't cry because it's raining it's a sign she has no new clothes to go out In.
 A womans idea Of good husband is one whose family live better than she thinks they can a.lord to.
 One of the most enjoyable things about being rich must be the way you can neglect your relatives without being afraid they will get mad with you for 1t.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-27
NO WoNDER.S
Philadelphia Press.

From the Philadelphia Press.
 Lord save us, casey!' exclaimed Cas- sity, wat are ye swearin' in thot ter r'ble way fur?"
 Why shouldn't I?" growled Casey, as he ran on, "shure I'm late fur church agin this Sunda' mornn'."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-27
Business Outlook Complex.

Henry Clews' Wall street letter says:
 The business outlook continues complex and opinions vary widely as to prospects. There is a brisk demand for iron products and for cotton gods, Both are going ac- lively into consumption and such prod ucts are in many instances sold well ahead into 1908. In other directions re- ports are not so favorable and manufac- turers are Joking ahead with more or less conservatism-the high costs of commod- tiles and labor not only checking demand
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-27
ONE MAN WHO IS TWO MEN.

 Scranton Dispatch to Philadelphia North American.
 According to the statutory laws of the United States and of Pennsylvania, An tonic Palonio is two men, and he has asked the Lackawanna county court to decide whether he is Antonio Palonio or Antonio Scavazzo or both or neither. In 1899 Antonio was naturalized a citi- zen of the United States and the com monwealth of Pennsylvania under the poetic name of Palonio. Since then some relative, while delving in the family his tory, discovered that the family name was Scavazzo
 When Palonio, or Scavazzo. whichever it is, learned that his real name is Eca- yazzo he bought property in South Scran- ton under that name. This property is in a different ward than the one in which he lives, and for three years he has been paying taxes on it under both the names of Palonio and Scavazzo.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-27
ABOUT BIRMINGHAM

Montgomery Journal: Just like Bir- mlngham. It's baseball team is doing it's best to break Montgomery away from it's tail hold
 Hanceville Hustler: Elyton must have wolk ked the rabbits foot on the players as well as on the diamond for Brmng- ham.
 Leighton News: With a street car strike and a Presbyterian general as- sembly on her hands at the same time, Birmingham is truly to be pitied.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-27
VAIN WISHES.

From the Chicago News.
 Husband-I wish had some of those good old-fashioned biscuits like mother used to make for me
 Wife-And l wish I had some of those nice new-fashioned clothes like father used to buy for me
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-27

The resignation of Ambassador Luke Wright is deeply regretted in Japan where he is greatly esteemed He will come home to become Memphis first citizen. outranking It's millionaires or billionaires.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-27

Chancellor Benners objects to seeing Thomas Jefferson's portrait used as an advertisement on a guano sack. If Jefferson had been an actor he might have had his picture on cigar wrap per.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-27
NOT WHAT sHE MOULD GALL I1

From the Chicago Record Herald.
 How well Mrs. Tripsley bears her troubles. I declare, she looks as fresh and fair as a young girl. yet she has buried two husbands"
 'You don't call burying two husbands trouble, do you?' replied Mrs Henpeck.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-27

By a close yote-96 to 94-the Southern Presbyterians have decided that concord is better than discord, unity among Presbyterians better than separation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-27

When Birmingham's new weather bureau is finished the forecaster will be in better humor and we are expect. ing more satisfactory weather.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-27

Anna Gould has secured a divorce; Mrs. Howard Gould is asking for one, and Frank Gould has domestic troubles of his own.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-27

"The Immortal 306" will have to celebrate themselves, for no one else will. All the rest have forgotten what they did.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-27

The "outs' among the Alabama re- publicans are the ones making the most noise these days.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-27

New York City has 19s,0o0 widows on it's hands, and an unknown num- Der of widowers who will not stand still to be counted.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-27

approved. The sum of s50,oo0 for addition al school buildings was provided for by popular verdict. Many citizens may not comprehend at first glance just what all this really means. It means briefly Greater Dallas. It means that in the recent election the people of thds city have exercised in wise and progressive spirit their power to make 1t the me- tropolis of the southwest for all time to come.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-27

Washington City has 17,o00 more women than men, and it expects Congress to devise some way to even up the count.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-27

Many of the older Presbyterians are not inclined to submit without protest to the adoption of the articles of agreement" by so small a majority.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-27

If Birmingham can control the cot ton of the south it will let Atlanta monopolize the hot air and anything else 1t may want.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-27

This is good week in which to predict volcanic disturbances in Ala bama. Commencement orators are thick this year.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-27

Governor Hughes public utilities bill Is law, and rigid execution of 1t may be counted on.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-27

The Howard Goulds cannot dissolve quietly, for millionaires cannot do bus mess in that way.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-27

Marse Watterson's dark horse is still kept locked up, and there are no windows in the stall.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-27

Since the year 1900 the south has organized more national banks than any other section, the middle west alone excepted.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-27

Foraker issues almost as man, proclamations as South American revolutionary leader.