davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21

duction of the revels of the nakt and that Maud Allan, Gertrude Hoffman. Lili Marberg, Emma Gallon, Geraldine nailar or any other dancer excel the original Salome in the magic perform ance, what has been achieved? should representations of modern civilization be ambitious to emulate vivfdlv the dress or the barbaric orgies of an tiqufty? Is it possible that we are drifting into the abandon which char acterizes most of the amusements in Paris and that our large cities are to encourage this kind of questionable diversions? Most people imagine that we had survived the "Black Crook" and the disgusting dances introduced on tba Midway at the Worlds fair in Chicago in 1S93
 Optimistic persons claim the world is growing better, but if demoralizing spectacles such as the Salome dances are to be patronized by the leaders in society and young girls and boys are to be educated to regard the Salome dance, with it's wealth of rhythm. it's pulsing passion, and the weird wildness which characterizes it. and that it is to be considered the key and the open sesame of all the books of ancient poetry, all the volumes of mythology. all the mystic legends of the past, pes simists will naturally predict degen- eracy of taste and morals
 It is incomprehensible how the nro- motors of this sort of risque perform ances manage to secure licenses to present any conception which they wish to put on the stage. At the first per- formance the people are sh hoclxed, and officers for the protection of public morals make noisy threats of suppress sion and determination to drive the par ticular thing which has invited criti cism from the country. In a brief time the storm blows over and the con- demned show returns with probably more daring exhibitions than were given at first. Americans are becom- Ing quite as volatile as the French. and unless the soberminded, right-think- Ing and right-acting people demand an elimination of the vaudeville and a restoration of the legitimate drama. we will surely witness hopeless degen- eracy on the American stage.
 Salome, with all of it's immoral sug- gestions and indecent lack of costume should be suppressed in the interest of decency and morality.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21
Optimistic Views.

Tt is reasonable to expect genuine prosperity in 19O9," said J. L. Radnor of Pennsylvania. "The large railroad companies have been placing extensive orders for rails and other material and all the companies are getting ready to go forward with betterments and new construction.
 There is a demand for everything connected with the building trades. Business improvement has been slow but sure, but by the middle of Janu- ary or February 1, the industrial sit uation will indicate an immense re- vival. We need not call it a boom, but before the spring every department of business will be as buoyant as was the case in 1906."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21

be amply strong for supporting the pro- posed structure.
 No one disputes this statement of the results of the borings, but some eminent engineers say the proposed curtain walls will not stop the flow of water through the various strata, and the foundation under great pressure will, therefore, prove insecure.
 The sinking of one toe of the dam seems to confirm the opinions of Messrs. Burr and Bunau-Varilla. Colo nel Goethals has not dealt frankly with the people since the toe of the dam sank. The people who are paying for the canal are left in doubt as to what has occurred, and Congress does not seem inclined to ask for information. The people will simply have to be patient while they keep on paying hills
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21
Honored By Japan,

New York, December 20-Baron Takahira, the Japanese ambassador to the United States, presided at dinner given tonight at the Hotel Astor by Japanese Consul General Midsuno and other prominent Japanese of the Japan ese society to Lindsay Russell, vice president of the society. MT. Russell was presented with loving cup as a testimonial of his efforts in furthering friendly relations between the United States and Japan, and with the Order of the Rising Sun, third degree, con ferred on him by the Japanese govern ment in recognition of his services. Baron Takahira made the presentation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21
A Business Motto,

While l was in a business mans off, flee recently said a gentleman of the old school, T was given a very prac- tical illustration of how times have changed in the last 30 years.
 "A clerk was delivering a message and in doing so failed to notice the impa- tience of the manager to whom he was speaking. Young man. said the manager, let me give you a bit of advice; never use 10 words to say what can be said in nine. The motto for business conversa- tion is. '"Cut it short."
 q came away from that office thinking how applicable to all sorts of discourse that motto would hold Attorneys, preach- CTS, lecturers, public speakers and story tellers ought to paste that motto in their hats, cut it short
 Speaking of preachers reminds me of story told of Dean Swift. He was in- vited to deliver a sermon once in aid of some charitable institution. His reputa- ton as an orator attracted a great con- gregation, and at the proper time he en- tered the pulpit. Every one sat back com fortably in anticipation of an hours ser mon, and when quiet prevailed he said, What you give to the poor you lend to the Lord; if you like the security put down your cash To the astonishment of all he came down from the pulpit, and the collection was the biggest ever taken up. Ladies took off their bracelets and rings to put them on the plate
 That was the essence of condensation, and that's what people want today. The time for the long -winded, rigmarole talker is gone. The moving picture has put him in the shade. Sharp, crisp sentences con- taining food for thought are the busy mans mental pabulum. The philosopher who said, Know myself, spoke to all men for all time"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21
Birmingham? Aren't they to be trusted to elect their bosses?

Montgomery Journal: The present con- ditions of the municipal government of Birmingham will be a blessing to that city in disguise. The Augean stables will be cleaned and corruption in high places will not occur again in years. The good people of the city are thoroughly aroused and there will be no more graft of the public officials of that city for years to come.
 Some of the aldermen seem to have gone into the business of serving the city for what was to be made out of it, and one alderman resigned s100 a month job to keep his place in the council not, hav- ing any other position. The revelations already made show very conclusively that there were very good pickings on the sly and whenever an alderman could use his influence and deliver the goods, he got well paid for it. That has been the game almost openly and above board, and there is no surprise that the expose has come, and with it there is a revolt against such methods and they will be stopped. It will be a long time before there will be any corrupt practices in the city govern rnent again and in the meantime the city will profit by the purification.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21
From the Kansas City Star.

From the Kansas City Star.
 N CHARACTERISTIC and slgnifi- lV cant is the movement at Em- O poria to organize the old fid- dlers of that town and it's vieinage into an incorporated association. There is abundant justification in the idea em- bodied in this aet-that there is nothing in Emporia that is not worth preserv- ing.
 Despite the modesty of Emporia as con- trasted with the lofty pride of Lawrence, which is always vaunting itself on it's "old settlers that came to Kansas in OK carts, after the manner of the Pilgrim Fathers who landed at Plymouth in the Mayflower, and all that sort of thing. Emporia has traditions and a store of early history that is replete with TO- sacre, never enacted state constitu- tion. and never held a territorial legls- lature. Nevertheless, it is quite as au- thentic as Lawrence and fully as deserv- ing of honor when it comes to a test of things that are worthy of veneration.
 As time runs in Kansas Emporia is far, far from being new or modern. It has landmarks that have been pelted and blackened by the storms of half a cen tury, and as to "reminiscences, 1t has no cause to turn it's back on Lawrence or any other pioneer town in Kansas. There are probably more people in Elm poria who once lived on corn pone and sorghum and COW peas than can be found in Lawrence
 Don't make any mistake about Emporia. Don't let yourself be fooled with the no- tion that it is not ''historic"-not prob ably in exactly the same way as Law renee, but in it's own style it is his- toric as anybody can vouch who is fa- miliar with It's early affairs.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

From the New York Press.
 When a woman describes what a lec- ture was like it sounds as if she had been to the dressmaker's.
 There's nothing a woman admires so much in a man as the way he can open a telegram without fainting.
 A man can growl over the bill for matches unless the family burns electric ity and they are used to light pipes and cigars.
 If a woman has the tenderest heart in the world it will grow hard to somebody else's baby that people think as pretty as hers.
 There's hardly anything a man can lie about more enthusiastically than all the important people who sat next to him at . dinner.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21
Badly Wanted Neqro cauoht,

Atlanta, December 20.-Wanted by the police on a charge of attempted assault upon Mrs. Agnes Link on Sat urday night, Will Reynolds, negro, was caught late today on Curran street as he was following young lady with a drawn knife. After the arrest Mrs Link was notified and went to the tower, where she saw the negro and identified him as the one who had at tackled her.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21
Killed By Electric Car.

Washington, December 20.-While returning early today from this city to his home in Ballston, Va, few miles miles distant, bearing with him a basket full of Christmas provisions, M. Fitzgerald, aged 50, was struck by car on the Fort Falls and Old Do- minion electric road and instantly killed The verdict rendered by the coroner's jury was that the deceased came to his death through unavoidable causes.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21
Taking the Thirteenth Census

The permanent census bureau com prises of about 800 clerks, and when the 18th census is taken 4000 addi- tional clerks are to be employed in Washington and 60,00O in the field. These 64,000 appointees are to serve short terms and their pay is not to be large.
 For this reason Congress refused to put the appointment of the 64,000 un- der the civil service rules. They are, practically speaking, to be selected by the politicians and appointed by the director of the census. The vote in the House on a civil service amendment was 65 yeas and 119 nays.
 A great deal of tommyrot has been expended on this subject Men could not be induced to take a civil service examination in order to serve a few months. The plan adopted is feasible, and while it may put on the govern ment many undesirable men, yet it is about the best that can be done in selecting a temporary force. The bill has passed the House and it will soon, no doubt, go through the Senate, and then the work of organizing for the taking of the 18th census will be be- gun. The entire expense of national census will go to about $14,000,000 This alone shows what big country this has become.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21
SALOME AND HER DANCE

Mrs. John A. Logan, in the St. Louis Times.
 T is astonishing that in these days
 of advanced civilization that any A thing so vulgar as the Salome dance should be received with favor, or that refined people should tolerate such an exhibition.
 Those who have witnessed the per formance admit it Is shocking in every sense of the word. And the fact that the designing Herodias used the agility of her daughter, Salome, to beguile Herod, the King of Judah, into prom ise to grant the danseuse whatever she might ask of him, craftily causing the girl to demand the Head of John the Baptist on a charger" that she (Hero- dias) might be avenged upon the saint who had upbraided Herodias for her unfaithfulness as the wife of Phillip, her husbands brother, and of the sin she had committed in becoming the wife of Herod while Phillip lived, should make it all the more revolting.
 
 All other means for accomplishment of her designs on his life failing, she con- ceived the wicked scheme to insure his being beheaded. It would seem that ghastly spectacle of the head on the platter which is held yaloft as the Terpsichorean executes the figures of the dance would so vividly recall the bloody fulfillment of the rash promise of Herod that it would incite revulsion of feeling and disgust.
 The dance with bare feet and jew eled ankles keeps time to the wonderful music said to have been revived from antiquity, and fascinates people by the exquisite poses assumed.
 From the description the scant raj ment is sufficient to taboo the appear ance of any girl or woman before the footlights "In pair of flesh -colored silk trunks, reaching from the waist half way to the knee, one skirt of black gauge, gold embroidered at the bottom and reaching to the ankles, a girdle of pearls and brilllants, breast plate and decolletogu of pearls and emeralds dle and necklace and armlets of bril- liants and jade, a red wig and a diadem complete the costume. Neither tights nor sandals are worn, the arms, limbs and torso being entirely bare"
 Admitting that it is perfect repro
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21
Two Stores Burned.

Little Rock, December 20.-A spe- cial to the Gazette from Hazen says:
 The large building occupied by the R. T. Sims Mercantile company and the Hammond Drug company burned to the ground last night and both stocks of the two business houses are total losses. The cause of the fire is not known The loss is estimated at $50,- GOO, only partly covered by insurance.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21
E. H. Hartman Sick.

New York, December 20.-rt was learned today that E. H. Hartman was unable to go to his country place, at Arden, over the weekend, as has been his custom, and that he is now at his Fifth avenue nome recovering from the effects of bilious attack. His physician, Dr. William G. Lyle, said tonight that nothing more serious was the matter with MT. Hartman.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21
American Actress Makes a Hit.

London, December 20.-Produced pri- vately by the Play Actors society at the Court theatre tonight, "Oop at hlerstelns,' a drama of misplaced love In Yorkshire setting, by Bertha Ora ham, an American, was enthusiastic ally received by large audience. The author was called before the curtain and given an ovation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21
Serious Coal Mine Fire.

Duquoin, H., December 20.-The fire in Joseph Letters coal mines at Zei- gler has grown more serious during the past AS hours The flames are al- most beyond control and much damage has been done.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21

New York built last year S20 miles of modern roads and the New Workers are jubilant. These roads are lifting up the entire ticket
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21

The farmers whose crops aggregate in value nearly $S,O00,O0O, ,0OO do not seem to need an uplift commission, at least not collectively, whatever some of them may need singly.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21

MT. Taft got more votes than MT. Roosevelt, but the former will have to hustle if he becomes a more aggressive President than the latter.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21
Boycott In Monteneoro

Cettinje. December 2O.-At a meet ing held today nearly all the infuen- tial Montenegrin merchants adopted a. resolution to institute boycott against Austro- Hungary products.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21

The Campanile at Venice, which slumped in July, 1902, has at last been rebuilt, and Venice considers itself a hustler in this matter
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21

The price of eggs and Secretary Will sons figures seem to indicate that the farmers are getting rich without an uplift commission.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21

The Both anniversary of the publica- tion of the Darwinian theory is being celebrated among scientists in all parts of the world.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21

The effort to get the Rough Riders together in New York recently was a failure. They are holding down fed eral offices and could not leave home.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21

That $1O000 hen which was a star at the state fair is now in Chicago. She is a star wherever she goes.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21

Castro keeps in the limelight even when the surgeons have their hands on him.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21

That Dutch cruiser sailing in yene- zuelan waters may yet be called down. The new comet has six tails, and it may set the fashion for spring hats. Governor Hughes has appointed an uplift commission for Wall street. Even Johndee's millions do not give him freedom from toothache.
 
 Mary Garden is a distinguished suf- fragette off the stage.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21

Uncle Sam coined last year s10,000,- coo worth of fractional currency, all clear profit.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21

The last of the American troops is scheduled to leave Cuba on April 1. The better the day the better the deed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21

The people of Brownsville should at any rate buy Foraker house to live in when he drops his toga.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21

Boston and St. Louis are rival shoe making points, and St. Louis is bit ahead.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21

It is rumored that Mrs. Russell Sage and her checkbook are about to join the suffragette movement
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21

Only guns and bluffs are potential in Haytien elections,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21

Walker County News: Birmingham is in the midst of a municipal government muddle that puts that city in class with other great and growing towns like San Francisco, old Philadelphia, bad Chicago and so forth Where there is so much good there Is bound to be much bad. Positive and negative forces are neces- sary to preserve equilibrium. A reform mayor in an effort to expose or tear down grating council is not always immune to falling bricks, and from this distance it looks much like conglomorite mass of general corruption is in scenting dis tance of Birmingham's government cen ter. There are charges of graft and count CT graft; and as usual Birmingham has something to talk about.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21

Bessemer Workman: Birmingham re- ports another killing that took place on Wednesday morning that causes a shud- der to pass, as. the details are read. Un- fortunate unions of men and women have at this day and time caused so many kill ings that the world at large is mortified at their frequency. It is sad com mentary on our country that so many of these shootings occur.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21

Our tackles are now in the spicy breezes that blow soft OCT Ceylons isle.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21

Montgomery Journal: Gee and what did Birmingham reserve that capitol square for, if it did not expect to be the capital some day? We are not afraid of the scrap and do not believe that the people north of Birmingham would give a majority for moving the capitol to that town. Talk of not wanting to be the capital is the silliest bosh. for everybody knows Birmingham would jump at it, but if there Is ever a capitol on that square it will be for Jefferson county and not for the state
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21

Pell City Progress: Not to be outdone by the scandal developed in Atanta's municipal affairs, Birmingham has come to the front to claim her share of atten- tion with charges of graft and fraud lodged against some of her best known citizens, members of the Board of Alder men. The newspapers, backed up by reso- lutons enthusiastically adopted at q largely attended citizens meeting, critl- cises certain financial transactions be- tween the city and real esate concerns where it seems that the officials repre- senting the city were also interested at the other end of the swap. The way of the trsnsgressor is becoming difficult, in- decd, while the ordinary citizen is begin ming to understand how city officers can perform their arduous duties without con- pensation. They earn enough on the side to make the job pay.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21

Cullnlan Democrat: The citizens of Bir- mingham are wrought up over the dis covery that some of her officials have been grating. This is only proof that Birmingham is both metro and cosmopoli- tan. really stylish and up-to-right-now.
 The mistake made by the mass meeting last Saturday night was the calling on the legislature and Conner to give them relief. The record of those obsolete agencies is not at all alluring. The peo- pie have long since repudiated both, and the promoters of government by commits sion will find a steady lack of enthusiasm. If Birmingham must have government by commission. why not elect the commis- sion by vote of the people? Comer's ap pointees just draw the salary, no halos are thrown in by the divine.
 Whats the matter with the people of
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21

Tuscaloosa Times-Gazette: Those Bir- mingham sportsmen who went to Louis- jana and got pulled for hunting without license found out that Alabama is not the only state in the country foolish about its game. In fact, there are few states now without rigid game laws, and it is well to be on the lookout for the license man before taking your gun on your shoulder these days.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21
ABOUT BIRMINGHAM

Mobile Herald That bunch of Birming- ham hunters who invaded the Louisiana lagoons without licenses found the pleas ure little more costly than they had calculated upon. It would have been cheaper for them to have purchased li- censes here and tried Mobile county's hunting grounds.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21

Walker County News: Birmingham is going to plant pecan trees in her parks. This Is practical. They will afford shade and delightful food at the same tlme Why notp- lant grape vines for porch shades as well? That makes city beau tiful and a city bountiful all in one. But, maybe a prohibition town like Birming- ham objects to the proposition.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21

St. Clair County News: Birmingham Is preparing to get rid of the present Board of Aldermen, majority of whom are 8 disgrace to the city, and put commission in to run the affairs of the municipality. Thank the Lord, graft and light fingered manipulations find no place in our south ern cities. Turn the rascals out
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-21

Entered at the Birmingham Ala, postoffce as second-class matter unoeF act of Congress March 3. 1879.
The Ketchikan miner., 1908-10-03
Old: Bridges.

The old London bridge was the first stone bridge, begun in 1176 and com pleted in 12O9.
 The Colebrookdale bridge in England was the first cast iron bridge and was put up in 1779.
 The first marble bridge was built at Florence in. 1579 and is known as the Holy Trinity bridge.
 The oldest bridge In history is the Subician bridge at Rome. erected of wood in the seventh century and twice rebuilt, but all in ruins today.
 The Bridge of Sighs at Venice, over which condemned prisoners passed to their executions, which has been i'm mortalized by Byron's poems, was built in 15S9.