davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-07

snv and carefully broke it off, stem and all. In an incredibly short space of time for Tommy the task K was finished The letters were gummed and put Ill their places the apple, and the apple itself care fully placed on window-sll where the morning sun gh nD o 6s eye donen times day he to see if it rpening the proper way or II any of the letters had come Oh
 September came. double row ot brght-faced, freckled, sunburned boys, spick-a span in clean sailor waists, stood at the school-house ooor on
 The pupils of Miss sanderson's class could easily be detected by the important way each boy carried a roll of neatly tied manuscript:
 Tommy Atkins however, had no roll of paper ana no important air Indeed, it with feeling of blank surprise and little uneasiness that he be- held the aforesaid manuscripts. ~
 What had he done? What had they doneF' he asked himself.
 The teacher had bright smile of welcome for each returning pupil As each boy in turn brought up his roll of paper and deposited it with confident or anxious air. according to his temperament, !ommy Atkinss heart sank lower He was the last boy to carefully wrapped in slverpaper and tied with lilac "love-ribbon," his lips quvered with anxious tear when he heard the teacher say, as she felt the hard
 Why. what is this, Tommy"
 "It $ my composition. - ma am, stutteTed bReG back I Es tears which would He a conscientious little chap and took his schooling seriously.
 Then he broke down, for, after all, he was only, little boy and not British soldier as you might imagine from his name and he had put so much heart into this efort He did not want the prize so much but he wished to please his teacher Now he began to see that he have missed something that his quicker schoolmates had grasped. It seemed as ii it were loves labor lost. and Tommy was sorely disappointed. .
 The teacher opened the wrapper and disclosed to the astonished eye of herself and her pupils the most unique composition on an apple" ever seen.
 Tommy's matter-of- -factness had resulted rather originally this time There stood rosy apple, its crimson globe delightfully."- streaked with faintest creams and yellows and grding it like an emerald of orde in The vivid ore the unripe apple
 What did the words say!
 buzz of curiosity filled the room. Even Harold
 eopyR,ony sy Yme CENTURY COMPANY
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-07
By ADELE BARNEY WILSON.

~ ONE ages ago,-a dozen perhaps- ::; ::: '::.. ::. '': . .,:.. :::
 Were only surpassed by his youthful se-
 dateness:
 He read and he studied when his work was all His wisdom and justice amazed every one; And money he spent with such careful intent That the national debt reduced to cent. But in the whole kingdom complaining rife, Because the young king had neer taken wife. Tt is all very well while he lives" the folk said, But who will rule OCT when once he is dead? Perhaps his proud cousin from over the ocean Will make his subects-we don't like the We want him to give a for his heir, To whom allegiance forever we Il swear' And day they vowed they would go in
 crowd
 To make known their grievance that hung like
 cloud And they drew Up petition to carry To the popular king to persuade him to marry. The petition penned by learned committee, And signed by his subjects in country and city; And when to receive it the king had consented, The ponderous scroll was duly presented He read it all once, then read it The force of its logic he could not ignore Good people," he said, Ito please you Il wed, And soon to the altar the bride shall be led; A wife and a queen I we no cause for refusing, But II have my own way in the method of choos-
 ing"
 Next morning the king took his usual ride, His favorite courtiers close at his side; Each igh-steppng steed with proud archng neck A-quiver with life and impatient of check; The laughter and singing the buge-calls ringing, The flowers that before them the children were
 hingng,
 United in making so gay procession, Of its beauty words give but feeble impression.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-07

Tommy just everyday little chap with no wits to spare when it matter ot parsing and writing compositions at school but smart enough lad for the ordinary purposes ot lite He was original too, in his way you will see but deploraby matter -of-fac and he took at least two days to joke
 One day, just before school broke up for the sum- mer vacation Tommy's teacher, a bright-faced wo- man whom Tommy secretly adored, made this an nouncement
 "Children, the pupils of this grade are extremely deficient in composition To correct this and pave the way for more earnest work next year, will as sign ia six for the vacation for which will offer prize" l,
 murmur of curiosity and excitement passed through the room. A prizel A prize Tommy tat cheeks bulged more than ever as he shut his lips Miss Sanderson paused impressvey and each boy held his breath. l expect each pupil, even the youngest, write an original composition, not to exceed two hundred words, and to present the same at my desk on September first next and in order to st muate your powers of observation and to keep you in touch with nature study, shall ask you tu write a composition apple
 "An apple - that $ easy" whispered Johnny Dale, again shade of scorn, even, passed over the tace of Harold Ball the head boy. who, upon occasion, .ould write verse that sounded like Casabianca.
 An apple "a composition on an apple pondered
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-07

Ball. the head boy forgot his supercilious smile of contempt for all things below his standard of ex- cellence.
 The teacher held it up high = but the hand was his brown eyes and an agony of disappointment in his chubby face awaiting her sentence of doom
 The teacher read slowly" You are the incest teacher in the bunch. I love you alwuz. Tommy atkins"
 The class giggled and the teacher smiled, but her eyes were dim with tears.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-07

"The English is faulty and the spelling poor; but the workmanship is good and your composition is certainly original" .
 Tommy breathed again, and went soberly to has seat. ,
 And when committee of the teachers read the boys effusions, and compared Tommys originality, painstaking effort and loving heart with sheets of commonplace statements.-such as, An apple IS good to eat" Apples grow on trees" etc, etc: it was unanimously decided that Tommy Atkins should receive the prize
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-07

Of course" he continued "you know how to bake, And often make biscuits and cookies and cake = She answered with pride which she could not
 disguise
 And patties,' he queried "and tartets and pies! Your Majesty, yes; even now l am making Some pies that very near ready tor baking So then he explained that his call appertained To a wish for the bits of the dough that remained. As his horse he averred, had curious passion For eating these scraps in ravenous fashion. q II give him a treat then" she cried. running
 toward
 The table, where lay the great white holding
 board,
 And scraping cupful, she carried it out. "The quantity peases, she thought, without Though alasw and her face grew suddenly
 doleful,
 Had known it in time d have saved whole
 bowlful"
 But as the gay throng swept laughing along, She returned to her work with jubilant song, And spent the whole day dreaming dreams most
 romantic, And building air-castles whose size was gigantic. From that morning on, the king stopped every day At some humble cottage along the highway, And begged for his horse the scraps of rich dough Which all the fair cooks seemed so glad to be-
 stow;
 But spite of his courtiers' nudges and winks, Preserved his own counsel, close -mouthed
 sphinx;
 While each damse tried, a matter of pride, To see who the largest amount could provide. And his horse which seemed to approve the whole
 matter, Kept on every day growing fatter and fatter.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-07

Peered through the small panes of diamond
 shaped glass. With heart wildly beating, she curtsied her greet
 ing "He $ seeking wifep her brain kept repeating And the king who had never looked grander or
 graver, Said kindly: Dear maiden pray grant me faVor
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-07

Some weeks had thus passed when the cavalcadc
 stood
 In front of house at the edge of wood. From whose shadows came tripping shy little
 maid,
 Abashed by the splendor before her displayed, She heard with surprise the kings usual question, And gasped with dismay at the very suggestion
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-07

The cavalcade passed from the old city gates Then on to the farms, where the vines and the
 flowers Transformed humble dwellings to fair floral bow
 CTS, And stopped at door where plump blooming
 lass
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-07

. OMMY ATKINS was not British sol dier in a red coat and a smart forage
 cap, jauntily swinging two-toot stick
 checked country lad away up in Maine.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-07

"The scrappings of dough7 m sorry it g so, But I never have even a crumb left, you know: My mother has taught me it s wicked to waste The least little fragment of pie-crust or paste. "I measure with care the smallest ingredient, To make the amount which she thinks is expedi-
 ent.
 And into the dough she says that must Most carefully work every scrap of the crust; And if all has been planned exactly and true, My molding- board s clean when l am quite
 through.
 Yes there in the my pies in a row, And here is my board without one scrap of dough. Economical maidl" the king cried in rapture, "You re exactly the we been trying to cap
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-07

Their prodgal habits have filled me with scorn, But such thrift yours throne should adorn. So, unless you object, I command and direct The people to hail you the kings bride elect You shall rule by my side over all this broad and"; And he bent low to kiss her tiny brown hand. And her long lashes lay in fringe on her cheek; While proudly he led her out of the door, Rejoiced that his search happily o'er And cheer after cheer rent the soft morning air From the loyal young courtiers who stood waiting
 there.
 To the palace they wended, with triumph at
 tended,
 And great gala-week with wedding was ended
Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-04-14
THE REASON FOR HIGH MEATS

a Few days ago IL was announced
IN the newspapers that two million
pounds Of canned American meat had
been reshippcd from London to New
York on account OF the scarcity OF
fresh meat in this country, bur the
purpose of tho announcements was TO
serve as an excuse for the extortion-
etc prices now being charged by tho
meat trust. The American public Is
not. however. deceived by such state
ments because II understands that
the rise In the price of meats is due
To tariff protection given the trust
ngainst foreign competition, and were
tariff duties upon foreign meat pro-
ducts to be taken OF, there would be
n fall in the prices OF meats through
out the country.
So far as the reshipmcnt Of two mil
lion pounds OF American canned
meats is concerned. the fact has come
TO light that these meats were pur-
chased long ago for the use of the
British navy. but when the disclos.
ures of the meat trust scandal were
made regarding the canning of d.
seased and tainted meats the British
soldiers and sailors refused to eat the
provisions and the supplies we're left
drug on the hand OF the British
government, which finally succeeded
In disposing them TO the purchasers
In this country, who bought the stun
as speculation.
The goods were not rcshippcd be-
cause OF any scarcity of fresh meac
In the United States for the supply
of the latter is quite as much today
as 1t was year ago 1t is Obvious
that If there were any great scarcity
of fresh meats in this country the de-
mand of the American people woull
be so pressing that 1t could not be
denied and our markets would be
opened to the foreign supply which Is
now shut out Ly the tariff which en-
ables the meat trust to fix the price
of the domestic product.
Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-04-14
TUESDAY. APRIL IA. 1908.
NEWPORT NEWS NEEDS A GIN.
GER CLUB.

Quite few of the towns In Kansas
arc doing things that are worthy o.
emulation right here In Newport
News. The Ginger Club Is the medium
and II Is about the hottest thing In
civic Improvement which has ever
struck Kansas or any other state. The
Ginger Club Is composed of mer-
chants, professional men and people
generally. Each block has club
Each club competcs with the others 10
make It's block the clcnnest and most
beautiful in the city. The result is
that the main thoroughfarcs of cities
which have Ginger clubs never looked
more attractive. The streets are al
most immaculate. tho sidewalks 'nrc
swept many times day. the windows
shine In their cleanliness and the paint
dealers have been doing rushing bus
iness, so great has become tho desire
TO have the exterior of the buildings
look fresh and bright.
The members of the Ginger Club do
not. however. confinc all their cncr-
gies to the business streets of the
towns. for they offer prizes to chill
sircn for the best kept lawns and pref :
tiest flower beds. They issue FREQ
seeds TO those who desire them, an !
1t Is recorded as n fact that the towns
In which there are Ginger Clubs there
was never such spring cleaning
rs has been witnessed this spring.
Hundreds of flower beds have been
prepared and spots which have been
bare of all growth. are being made
into what will be bowers of beauty
this summer.
Think of the possibilities OF such an
organization in Newport News! None
can deny that they are limited only
by the size OF the city. Without
much labor and at small cost
Newport News natural attractiveness
could be increased hundred fold and
perhaps II would lead to moro in
tense local civic pride. something
which the city is greatly in need Of.
1t cannot possibly do any harm, and
1t might result in untold good, so
we most respectfully submit Tho
Ginger Club plan to the consideration
OF the Chamber of Commerce and the
Merchants Association.
Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-04-14

VIII nominate and elect the wrong
man, but rs rule they are sure of
their game before II Is baggcd Roose
welt fooled them and now II is Hughes
who has incurred their displeasurc
They thought they were showing
Roosevelt into utter oblivion when
they damned down his throat the
nomination for the vice presidency,
and now II seems evident that they
propose to bury Hughes beyond all
resurrection.
However there may be question
whether the Republicans throughout
the country Will not view the Hughes
matter Just as did the Democrats In
1892 when they nominated Cleveland
because of the enemies he had
made" The Democratic marty OF
New York was against Cleveland and
bitterly fought his nomination In one
CT the most memorable contests ever
wnged In n political convention. but
despite the opposition of his own state
he waa nominated and his triumphant
election followed. History has a trick
or often repeating Itself. and who
knows that II will not in the case OF
Governor Hughes. 1t will not be the
first time that the cnmity of n gang
OF professional politicians has been OF
II benc6t instead of an injury. Though
the convention did not give Governor
Hughes hearty endorsement. there
seems to be but little doubt tina.
The party as q whole, In that state Is
with the governor, and many Rcpubll-
cans are indulglng In strong and blttcr
language over the outcome of the
convention. and that another conven-
ton might be held is not among the
iinprobabilties. Even II there Ia no,
another convention large number
OF his supporters are of the type who
do not forget wrong easily or quick
ly and who do not hesitate to take
political revenge when II comes their
way. All OF which will make the al
ready bitter war between the Repub-
licah factions In the state more BIT
ter and Great a lrench that will he
beyond all bridging for many months
to come.
Tho Democratic state convention
VIII he held today and II Is to bo
hoped that by some rare good for
tune II Will do the right thing in or
der that the party can overwhelming
~ carry tho state at the coming cleo
ton. but unfortunately. with Il man
Hike "Fingy" Connors in the drivers
seat, there Is not much hope that the
delegates Will act for the best inter-
csts Of the party at large.
Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-04-14
THINKS SOLOMON WAS RIGHT.
BILLY Sanders" Also Believes That
Boys Need the Rcd.

Thar never was boy born into
the world that don't have to have tho
hickory put TO him more than once.
an the oftener the better" said Mr..
Billy Sanders. you may think my
talk Is harsh. but the more love a
boy. the more wanter SEQ him come
under some strong an heavy hand,
beRnze know it's his only salvation.
You may look back on all the young
s'ers you've know'd. an you'll find
mat we amt got any more wisdom
IMAM Solomon, of as much. He tore
inc bottom out OF the basket In II
mighty few words. Spar the rod an
spile the child Ef he'd a never
said nothin' else. them seven words
would a made him the wiscst man
me world ever seed No newspaper
pnrgrapher has ever beat 1t yit Ef
brevity's the sole OF whl,lesther. your
Uncle Solomon has got 1t mighty fno;
or he amt. you may call me Mabel
IN print In the paper that I've done
gone an eloped wit college fiddler
hnmed Clarence Raymond" - Joel
chandler Harris. In Uncle Remus'
Magazine.
Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-04-14
READERS ARE OF MANY KINDS
Differ In Taste az Widely as Do the
Books They Read

Who has the habit OF good reading
ana the appetite for 1t will read what
suits his appetite II he can get f..
writes e. S. Martin in Harper's. The
trouble is that the appetite is not
oftener formed. II you are TO make a
SILK purse, YOU must have the silk.
You can not make n reader OF good
books out OF any human material that
comes along. You must catch IL mind
Deeper for the job Not all good minds
are adapted to much reading. You
md very able people who read few
books, and mostly trash, and people
or less ability who read more. and
much better ones. You find also inter
esting differences in the facility with
which different people take in tho
sense OF printed words. Some people
from childhood read very much faster
and with less effort than others. Their
eyes seem to connect quicker with
their brains. and their perception OF
words and rows Of words In almost
instantaneous. Other people never en-.
tirely get past tho need OF pro-
nouncing mentally, each word
Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-04-14
Not Up to the Standard.

Ibsen has invaded the sacred pre-.
cincts OF the select boarding school
for young ladies' He has entered dis.
sulsed as course In northern lit.
erature." He may be found even In
the fashionable New York finishing
schools. where the budding social lead
ers go to take luncheon and recess.
In one OF these establishments a
blonde beauty taking the Ibscn course
recently remarked to her instructor:
u don't think ibsen knew much
about dramatic art. I've Just been to
see The Master Builder and they
wore the same costumes all the way
through"
The astonlshed instructor swallowed
quickly and responded: Don't Judge
lbsen by one play. In 'TIedda Gahler'
they wear morning. afternoon and
evening clothes. It's really quite
dressy!"
Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-04-14
COLD ENDORSEMENT FOR
HtJCHES

If Hughes is given the Republican
nomination for President II will not
be because his own state. New York.
Is heart and soul for him. The en-
8dorsement he received at the hands
of the Republican state convention
last Saturday was OF the most per
functory character, and unless some
thing unforeseen happens. It Is more
than likely that most of the dclcga-
tlon from the Empire State will be
found voting for Taft or some other
candidate after the first ballot. The
reason for this is found in the fact
That Hughes ever since he has been
governor has refused to be machine
chief executive. The people of New
York state are his Clients" as he
expressed it in Buffalo Saturday
night, iut this idea comes very far
from coinciding with the views en-
tertained on the same subject by the
political bosses of the state. New
York Is the worst and most complete
ly machine ridden state In the Union.
40 a rale the bosses control every
thing and the governor IS governor
in name only. once In awhile they
Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-04-14
Nsw coneep.lon OF scotch plaleot

Some years ago the college entrance
requirements In English called for the
careful study" OF four or FIVE Eng.
lish classics, one of which was Car.
lyios Essay on Burns. Tho april.
cants for admission TO certain Penn.
sylvania college were asked to make
an estimate OF the literary value Of
burns poetry. One aspirant for
freshman standing concluded his. little
essay with the following remarkable
sentence: Burns would OF been n
far greater poet II he had not OF
used so much slang. '-Harper's
Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-04-14
In His Right Vocation.

"A prominent western author has R
bright son OF is. who is in bank. and
VINO also writes verse occasionally
which he submits to his father for
criticism. Not long ago he handed
him one which was returned with tho
remark; That is positively bad" The
boy looked at him questoningly. You
VIII have to change It before II will
pass continued HIS father. But l
can't change 1t IL It is bad" said the
hoy with a twinkle In his eye. and
the father suggested that possibly his
son knew more about banking than
he did about poetry.
Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-04-14
venerate the Hymn.

The sound OF the first bar of the
national hymn brings every naval
man who hears it to attention. The
mental attitude Is one of Intense res
pcct as well. That anthem never be-
| comes bore TO the officers and men,
Its notes are call to duty, and the
salute, when it is ended, is n public
pledge of fealty to the flag. No mu-
sic is played on ship more carefully
and with more earnest effort to get
every shade of feeling out of the
notes. Reverence for the time Is a
living thing, and after one has been
on shipboard for n week he begins to
feel ashamed of the public indiffer-
ence TO the tune ashore.
Let one incident reveal the regard
for the hymn on shipboard. we were
stcaming just below the equator on
when showers made II impossible for
the band TO play on deck. The con-
cert was held in n easement and the
humidity added great discomfort to
the intense heat. The members OF
their understands and trousers. The
musicians had also thrown off their
coats. Their faces ran with sweat rs
they played.
Every concert ends with "The Star
Spaneled Banner" 1t was time to
play 1t. All the musicians stood np
and the men who had crowded in TO
hear the music came 10 attention. but
not one move toward lifting his baton
would the handmaster make until
every one of his men had put on his
coat and hat. They might play Strauss
waltZes and even Wagncrian selec-
tons in their undcrshirts. lat no note
of the national hymn could be PLAYED
until every man was in dress bofit-
ting the occasion. Ali this Is nothing
unusual. but It is impressive TO the
man who sees It for the first time.
SO, although there is no place for
comfortable loafing and sometimes 1t
Is lonely. a civilian passenger on one
Of these ships after all can find enter
ianmen; and other things 10 interest
him. Day by d,v inc feels his patriot
ic impulses duickcned. Dav by day he
is more and more glad that he is an
American citizen. And when taps is
sounded and he knows that the men
moi on duty are swinging quietly IN
their hammocks. tired out from their
work, he can understand ard aDprc-
ciaic the full Significance and bcamty
Of the refrain which soothes one and
all with its soft goodnight:
Go TO seenly ca Ia sleop!I
G-o-to-s-l-e.e-pi"-New York Sun.