davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04
Younq and Old Democrats.

"Old politicians, and especially dem ocratic politicians who have been voting ever since the war, are pretty well inured to defeat, but l always feel sorry for the ardent young fellow who casts his in the race" said democrat who voted for the first time in 1872.
 "I was just of age and was politically green when I cast my vote for Horace Greedy. Up to the day of election in 1872 1 felt confident that the liberal ticket, headed by Greedy, which was accepted by many democrats in lieu of a democratic ticket, would be victorious. l have voted regularly since then and the only winner was Grover Cleveland.
 q did not hesitate to vote for Bryan each time he ran, although l did not much believe in his theories or issues. In 1896 l was somewhat surprised that MT. Bry- an was beat. 1 was deceived by the ova- tions accorded him in New York. In 1900 there seemed little show for the dem- ocratic standard bearer, and from the time Mir Bryan was nominated at Den yer I felt that defeat was inevitable. have learned to read the signs of presi- dential contests, and I was one who was bold enough to make a bet that Bryan g popular vote would be less than it was in 1900 I won my bet. But it was al- most painful to see the look of disap- pointment on the face of the young dem- ocrat who accepted as true the rosy fore casts issued from headquarters on the eve of the election"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04
VIZ EDITORS PIGS.

From Parson' s Journal.
 On an evil day an editor of one of the leading newspapers of Parsons bought two things he fondly imagined were pigs They did look some like pigs but more like a cross between 'possums and big rats. The man who sold them said they were weaned. The editor believed it and also thought they had been weaned too soon but hoped that good feed would overcome that defect The paper man fed them slop, meal, wheat bran, pOtatoes and turnips. The lot was full of acorns, too and 1t seemed that. the pigs had fair show to fatten. But they didn't. They ran up and down the fence all day and night and squealed as is possessed of thous- and devils. Months have passed. The man turned them out and tried to run them off, but they wouldn't go. Soon as they got fat enough to fry them- selves they will die They will be shot in the place ~h ere the corset would be smallest If they wore them and the gun will be loaded with birdshot so they will be all day dying and then the editor will be out of the hog busi- ness for keeps
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04
4 Great Country.

Judging from general trade in the south and west, business conditions are now far better than even the average optimist dared predict nine months ago." said s. A. Ericsen of St. Louis. "The res toration of confidence has been indeed wonderful. While we cannot have a complete normal recovery of industrial life for several months yet. I am firmly of the opinion that, with another crop year, prosperity will make very high record by the early summer of 1909.
 Last spring when depression was pre- vailing in all manufacturing centers, a man would have been considered optimis- tic had he predicted a return of good times by the summer of 1910. And when genuine prosperity is in sight within 12 months after a terrific panic, the coun- try Is to be congratulated indeed on its marvellous productive resources and it's financial strength"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04
THE ISLE OF LONG AGO.

By Benjamin F. Taylor. Oh. wonderful stream is the River Time,
 As it runs through the realm of tears, With faultless rhythm and a musical rhyme.
 And a boundless sweep and a surge sub
 lime. As it blends with the Ocean of Years. How the winters are drifting, like flakes of snow,
 And the summers like buds between, And the year in the sheaf; so they come
 and they go, On the rivers breast, with its ebb and flow, As it glides in the shadow and sheen. There's magical isle up the River Time,
 Where the softest of airs are playing; There's a cloudless sky and tropical cline,
 And a song as sweet as a vesper chime,
 And the Junes with the roses are stray ing
 And the name of that isle is the Long
 And we bury our treasures there; There are brows of beauty and bosoms of snow;
 There are heaps of dust-but we loved them so!
 
 There are fragments of song that nobody sings, And part of an infants prayer; There's lute unswept, and a harp with out strings; There are broken VOWS and pieces of rings, And the garments that she used to wear. There are hands that are waved when the fairy shore By the mirage is lifted in air; And we sometimes hear through the tur- bulent roar 1 Sweet voices we heard in the days gone before When the wind down the river is fair. Oh, remembered for aye be the blessed isle, All the day of our life until night; When the evening comes with it's beauti- full smile, And our eyes are closing to slumber awhile,
 May that "Greenwood" of soul be in
 sight.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04
APPALLING DIVORCE RECORDS.

From the Washington Post.
 The statistics of divorce recently pub lished in federal census bulletin must that the marriage tie should be broken for incompatibility of temper, uncomfort- able environments or lesser causes. It is shown in this bulletin that nearly per cent of the marriages entered into are dissolved, and that the resort to the di- vorce courts is growing at a pace which threatens the eventful disruption of so- ciety if there be no change for the bet ter.
 Marriage between members of civil ized and decent society is a solemn and sacred compact within certain bounds, and has it's grave responsibilities to state, church and posterity. There should be is the basis of countrys right living and healthy progress.
 That marriage often brings disappoint- ments discomforts and disgust may all be true Unhappiness and heartaches fall to the lot of many couples, of course. But the number of divorces that are ~
 granted to relieve one or the other party to a marriage from mere annoyance, or to permit another alliance, is an ap- palling fact. The question of duty is relegated to the last place in the thought of thousands of these divorces. Their obligations to religion and society are forgotten. and their offspring are bur- dened with a tainted name.
 There are thousands in the world who make daily sacrifice that the country and it's people may benefit. There are other thousands who practice self-denial and domestic heroism that the world may not know of family skeletons and that chil- dren may have a fair name; and they are right. Ordinary ills should be borne with grace and spirit, and a man or woman should think long and earnestly before bringing the marriage bond into disrepute.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

From the New York Press. Even a man who prefers a prize fight will lie about how he enjoys grand opera.
 More people have been civilized with the bathtub than with the Ten Command meIts
 There's no way a man can help his wife to enjoy herself when she Is having a good cry as to tell her to go right on doing it.
 The most awful thing to the average man about being cast away alone on a desert island is he would have nobody to lie to.
 The queerest thing about women s fash ions is how they can shift their waist from around their knees and hang 1t to their shoulder blades. #,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04
Ways and Means Members

The minority members of the ways and means committee, headed by Con- gressmen Clark and Underwood, all stand for real revision of the tariff. Their position is unques toned. The majority members of the committee are, however, wide apart. The three standpatters of the majority are Chair man Payne and Messrs. Dalzell and Fordney. The last-named is a Michi- gan man. It is believed that Crum- packer of Indiana, Mccall of Mas sa- chusetts and Boutell of Ohio want a revision downwards. This leaves Hill of Connecticut, Longworth of Ohio, Neidham of California. Boynge of Colorado, Calderhesd of Kansas and Gaines of West Virginia in the center, possessing some good intentions, but each and all hampered by some special interest
 The best-informed say that no bill can come out of such a majority that is not a compromises queer mixture of items for revenue and items for pro- tections sake only While some rates may be cut others will be maintained or perhaps increased in order to en- rich locality or even a single manu- facturer who can gain the ear or c member of the committee. A confused bill, full of contrasts and altogether incongruous and inharmonious is the probable outcome, and this will lead to sharp contests and sharp debates in the Senate, and also in the House if Cannonism be modified far enough to give the peoples representatives a voice in the matter.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04
sARpoU WAS INTERESTING.
His Faculty for Observation Enter
 tained Four Generations.

S. A. de Cail1 a<et in Figaro, Paris.
 believe there was never mind more gifted with curiosity than our good mas ters. He was one of the few men who have known how to observe. The majority are content merely to see. And that is why the three or four generations that knew him thought him the most interest ing living
 In his youth. when poor and all but starving, he roamed about Paris seeking a livelihood. nothing occurred without his being there 10 observe 1t. He witnessed all the city's spectacles, all its revolutions. When Gerard de SServal was found hang ing to the grating of a loft, Sardou was the first to run Io him. An hour after the Due de Parslin had been arrested and brought to the senate, a man slipped into the hotel in the Rue de Colisee, forced his way into the room where the crime had been committed and under the eyes of the amazed police. traced the route the duch- ess had followed This man-young, thin' pale and obscure-was Vietorien sardou When fame open ed all doors to him and won him recognition in all circles of so- ciety he never lost an opportunity of pumping the people who had been eye witnesses of great events
 have heard him tell of his meeting with Mme de M tternich. AS soon as he knew of her presence in the house where he was a guest he hastened to question her He sought her recollectons of Met ternich, of the Vienna treaty of 'IAiglon;" then he asked whether Met ternich was wont to talk much about the emperor, and burn cd to discover what he had said of him That Is how he came by the anecdotes he used to relate with such spirit
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04
IN HOTEL LOBBlE5
The Iron Trade.


 The week will close with steady but featureless pig iron market from a local point of view. Considerable tonnage has been contracted for since the first of the month. but buying promises to be brisker between now and the middle of the month.
 Rogers, Brown & Co.'S Cincinnati cir cular says:
 Buying during the week has been most satisfactory and in excellent volume, the week closing with large tonnage. There is not the eager attitude manifested right now that has been in evidence during the recent past, this now having trans- ferred itself to other lines. Structural steel and car orders are more in evidence and the demand for railroad equipment Is better than any time since the opening of the year. large tonnage in rails is being held up on account of the eontro- versy between the mills and railroads over the ro1lin4 specifications. This amount is estimated at 100000 tons now in negotiations which it is presumed will be closed by the first of the year.
 Prices are firm and strong with very little range on the part of different sellers. The furnaces are generally well sold up for the first quarter and it is expected that a brisk movement for second quarter shipment will soon be heard from. Pro duction generally is increasing and stock on furnace yards is decreasing. which shows an excellent percentage of inn provement in melt"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04

AT THE BANK. Prosperity whoopers say there Is plenty of money in sight, Huh That doesn't mean anything to me. It's behind grating"
 ARMED AGAINST FATE.
 Who carries a quart
 In pocket deep,
 Is ready to laugh
 Though others weep.
 REPLIES. Some women are afraid of mice only when there's a man around. The most consistent hammer-wieldsrs never build chicken coops. If it were not for slang some people would never know how to fill out a sen- tence.
 A man and his dinner are always the best of friends, provided it is a good dinner.
 It is the fashion nowadays for million aires to join the common people in won- dering where they got their money. Some people prefer to wait until Death comes and pays them call, others take & joy ride and meet him at the turn of the road
 When a person has plenty of assurance he won't need any other friend to lean upon. PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04

from the wholesalers to the consumers di- rect in his home and into the tenderloin. where law never reigned and never will long as men hold to the false views that certain forms of evil are necessary evils.
 In place of the saloons, a number of joints have sprung up where vile decoc- tions are sold. Some of them have enough alcohol in them to produce drunkenness. Others have enough caffeine, hasheesh, or other narcotic stimulants to produce madness.
 In the city of Savannah the form of the law even has been ignored. The sa- looms run in Savannah as they always did. They pay the state no license, be- cause the state is forced to ignore their existence. They pay monthly fine to the city authorities, and that ends their con- tributions to the government for the priv ilege of existence.
 A man journeyed from Atlanta to Mem phis a few days ago, through Birming- ham. Moved by the quality in men which seeks to secure something that is forbid den, he asked the porter on the train If 1t were possible 10 Duy any liquor In Bir- mingham. The porter said 1t was. Dur ing the 15-minute stop the porter went out and bought bottle of so-caled whisky and brought it to the train. The brand on the bottle was that of reput- able distiller. Close examination showed that the liquor manufactured by the dis tiller had been removed from the bottle and in it's place nerve-racking, brain killing compound had been put.
 And there are some people in Tennes- see who are seeking to place Memphis, Nashville and Chattanooga in the same position in which are Savannah, Birming- ham and Atlanta.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04
DRINK IN DRY TOWNS

From the Memphis Commercial-Appeal. N TLANTA is in the throes of po- W litical campaign, and all the At lanta papers say that the eyes of the country are upon that city. The eyes of the country are upon Atlanta only because it is the victim of some grotesque legislation, and in Atlanta one can see evidence of the success of prohibition as a moral agent.
 One of the candidates for mayor of Alt lanta, nominated by the regular demo- cratic primary, got drunk on whisky bought in prohibition Atlanta and made a spectacle of himself on the public thor oughfare.
 In order to conceal the hypocrisy of the claims of those who insist that prohibit tion has worked a great moral uplift in Atlanta, it was insisted that another can didate should be brought out against Woodward. In the meantime the near beer saloons have been ordered closed for election day. On that day one cannot get on even a near drunk.
 A superior court in Georgia has just de- cided that the near-beer saloons do not violate the prohibition law, and Georgia can therefore have prohibition under the law and drunkenness under the law at the same time.
 In the clubs of Atlanta more whisky is being drunk than ever was before. More whisky is being taken to the homes of citizens than ever was before.
 The blind tigers are doing land office business and the near-beer saloons sell decoction that, is poor beer, but con- tains all the clements that go to make a sickening drunk.
 Georgia has driven the sale of pure brands of whisky out of saloons. The traffic is transferred to the clubs and
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04
Regarding Pay for Ex-Presidents.


 The sentiment in favor of enacting a law providing retired pay for ex-Presi- dents seems to be growing. and l be- lieve that if President Roosevelt would recommend such a measure, in effect for his successor. Congress would pass 1t, said a former officeholder. This matter of providing pay for ex-Presidents was discussed when I was a young man, but was never seriously considered. When so sterling democrat. however as the late Grover Cleveland wrote a magazine ar ticle favoring retired pay, public attention was gained and public sentiment began to crystalize along that line.
 When the nation was young and the population small, it was thought proper for our ex-Presidents to retire on honor alone. In most cases our retiring chief magistrates had ample private means to live on comfortably, and in the next place the cost of living in the early days was so small that 1t required comparatively little money to maintain family with statesmanlike dignity.
 Conditions are different now and most men who have been honored with the presidency since the war have been forced to seek some remunerative occupation. And that has not comported very well with our standing as a great nation Re tiring pay of $20000 or $25,000 has been sug- gested. I read an interesting editorial in the London Times the other day. ex- pressing wonder that the United States government had not provided ere now retired pay of at least s250OO year for it's ex-Presidents."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04
A REVISED VERSION.
From the Delineator.

From the Delineator.
 Teddy was saying his prayers at bed time one night not long ago. Kneeling down at his mothers knee, the sleepy little fellow began, ''Now I lay me down to sleep, pray the Lord my soul to
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04

Extending the civil service law to thousands of fourth class postmasters leads the third class postmasters to think their time will come netxt.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04

Tim Woodruff has bowed to the in evitable, and the only man who is op- posing the election of Elihu Root to the Senate is Chauncey Depew, and his opposition is a joke.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04

BUY TIME. Crowds of people hurry Through the town; Gracious. how they scurry Up and downl Closets dark are filling Fast with toys For the little willing Girls and boys. Mother, bright and sunny, Shops alone; Father gives her money With a groan!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04

Dr. Pearsons of Chicago is about to distribute $3,OO0,O0O among the small colleges, and all of them are in state of expectancy.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04

New Mexico and Arizona each ex- pect to be a full-hedged state by March 4. Even statehood comes to a territory that waits.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04

Frank Hitchcock has an office in sight and cellar full of coal. He is preparing to have Happy Christmas.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04

Banquets at least served in public places in prohibition towns are wine less, but feast of reason if not flow of soul is there just the same.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04

Postmaster General Meyers plea for a parcels post will not serve to keep Tom Platt in the Senate. He is booked to go, and go he must.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04

China's territorial integrity is now guaranteed by the United States, Great Britain and Japan. These three rule the sea.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04

MT. Bryan is coming home from sive dollar and the octopus.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04

If Professor Milchinkoff arranges to have people live 150 years he should furnish them with old-age pensions.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04

THE VALUE OF SYSTEM. The methodical man Is built on the plan
 Of attending to things by rote; No idler is he Instead of that, geo.
 He grabs Father Time by the throat! While improvident chaps Who hustle for scraps
 And live on the installment plan, Are wondering why They never can vie
 With the foxy methodical mani
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04

Serene E. Payne Is beginning to ascertain what kind of revision the President-elect proposes to sign.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04

Hayti Is conducting a presidential election on the Spanish-American plan. All ballots are shot out of muskets.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04

Santa Claus is receiving notes from the little folks, and will bring all good children what they ask for.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04
THE PRICE.

Who's looking round for happiness Will find his quest in vain, And weary-hearted shall he press Through avenues of pain To life's despair, unless he prove Him worthy of the prize; There is no happiness-no love
 Without self-sacrifice.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04

Virginia Is in the throes of state wide prohibition agitation, with the chances against the drys.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04

SERENITY. He learned the lesson of content, Forgot the troubled past And far from crowded walks of men He dwelt in peace at last. No earthly storms assailed him there, No troops of Idle fears, And where so much around seemed fair He found no time for tears.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04

King Edward is popular because he has no opinions that cannot be changed by circumstances.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04

The Czar is about to walk through the streets of St. Petersburg, and bets on the result are being placed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04

OFF
 T guess you heard about the chap who was adjudged insane the other day be- cause he wrote doggerel verse?'
 ''To be sure l have" answered the press bard, wearily. up to date, no less than 26 people have called my attention to the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04
j. .GLrM PROSPECT

we who ride in trolley cars today may ride in automobiles tomorrow" said the optimist.
 And in hearses the following day" said the pessimist.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04

The shopper who waits gives the salespeople and the delivery men a dreary Christmas.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04

keep'-he paused, '1r'-hs mother
 prompted. If he hollers, let him go; enie, | me1ie, mimic, mo-"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04
sHEs 30 WISH.

Anna Helds new musical piece is called Miss Innocence
 That's a good joke on Anna
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04

Amateur weather prophets are pre- dieting a heavy fall of snow in Ala bama before Christmas.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04

JUST WANTED TO KNOW. There goes a man In love. with euphony."
 "Who In the dickens is she?''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04

'Your verse is remarkable" said the critic.
 Thank you" murmured the palpitating poet.
 'I have never seen anything like 1t be- fore"
 It must have been the tone of the critics voice. Something made the poet look sour.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04
THE STAKES.

Life is a game, they say"
 "Yes, and most of us are playing for money"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04

A touch of winter is not wholly out of order in December.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04

Football is out of the way, and the road is clear to the early Christmas shoppers.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04

Pennsylyania's output of mine hor- TOTS should be minified.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-04

Amateur weather prophets are pre- dieting a heavy fall of snow in Ala bama before Christmas.
 
 King Edward is popular because he has no opinions that cannot be changed by circumstances. The shopper who waits gives the salespeople and the delivery men a dreary Christmas.
 Football is out of the way, and the road is clear to the early Christmas shoppers.
 
 Mir. Carnegie wants, it is plain, no rival from Pittsburg in the library business.
 -----.s---- The cabinet makers are busy, al though some of the trades are full of idle men.
 The American-Japanese agreement is as popular in Europe as it is at home.
 The Pacific has been thoroughly pacified by Messrs. Root and Taka- hira.
 Tim Woodruff is. outdoing Fabius both in Weskets and retreats. Pennsylvania's output of mine hor- TOTS should be minified. A touch of winter is not wholly out of order in December.