davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-13
WORLDWIDE PICTURE HUNT.
Search For Painting Stolen From New
 Zealand Academy of Fine Arts.

Once more a stolen painting is being sought all over the world where pictures are sold. And this time it is not an old master nor a work of the highest mone- tary value which the owners are seeking, aided by art dealers and artists and by the professional hunters of stolen goods.
 The missing canvas Is a landscape by Benjamin William Leader, R. A, an English painter who loves his art so well that even his recreation he takes in pur- suing his professional work. The canvas is entitled, "Southward From Surrey s Pleasant Hills.'
 It measures five feet by four Only it's salient features can be suggested in the small reproduction herewith, but the in- terested people who have learned of it's loss from the far colony of New Zealand will be on the lookout for a stray paint ing suggesting these lines and this com position, if such a one appears in this country
 "southward From Surrey's Pleasant Hills" was exhibited at the Royal acad- emy, probably in the year 1903. It is now the property of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts at Wellington, New Zealand. It was exhibited at the New Zealand international exhibition at Christ church in 1s06-7. It is valued at s25oO.
 On April Il or April 12 last the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts was broken into and the canvas was cut from it's frame and stolen. Since then no trace of it has been found, and when the local authorities of New Zealand were unable to get any track of it the world wide search for it was instituted.
 MT. Leader, the painter of "Southward From Surrey's Pleasant Hills" has been exhibiting at the Royal academy since 1854. He was born in 1881. He received a gold medal at the French exhibition of 1889 and in the same year was made chevalier of the Legion of Honor He took a medal at Chicago in 1893.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-13
A Grand Chorus.

"The grandest chorus it was ever my privilege to hear or sing in was on the last night of the great saengerfest held In Indianapolis in June," said E. Gusheld or Birmingham, a member of the Turnvereln and standby for all local chorus work.
 "The saengerfest was a splendid success from beginning to end, both artist1calN and financially, but the crowning number on the programme was Friedrich Roth bart (Frederick Barbarossa), by Podoert- sky sung by a massed chorus of about 2500 voices and accompanied by the Dam roseh orchestra. Louis Ehrgott of Cin- cinnati conducted, and If he had rehearsed us for six months the ensemble could not have been better. The audience included 10, 600 people and the enthusiasm was un- bounded Podbertskys work is stirring and beautiful, and the German folk music introduced into it greatly moved the au- dience. I never expect to take part in another saengerfest where the mass cho- rus will be so smooth and solid or In such good voice as that at Indianapolis"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-13
PENSIONS PHoLoNGlNG LIFE.
Are Shown to Be Important Factor in
 Promotion of Longevity.

From the New York Tribune.
 An important and noteworthy fact which is to be taken Into account by English economists in the administra- ton of their old-age pension system is that pensioners live long. That fact, off, ten stated in a satiric vein, is to be ta- ken seriously, as demonstrated by statis- tics, and as having an essential bearing to the scene of the tragedy among the on both the amount of pensions to be paid
 A striking demonstration of this Is to be observed in the records of the Friend ly Society of Iron Founders in England. That organization has for many years been paying pensions to it's superannu- ated members. In 1SS3-1Ss5 1t was found that the average age of these pensioners at death was sixty-eight years and six months. In 19O6-07 it was seventy-one years and three months. Thus the av- craze life of pensioner had been heightened by two years and nine months.
 It does not appear that the general average of human life in England has been heightened to so great an extent, wherefore we must conclude that the pensions are an important factor in the promotion of longevity. That Is quite natural, of course, for the enjoyment of a pension means better food and general ly better conditions of life than the superannuated worker would have with out it, as well as greater freedom from anxiety. and those improved circum- stances urolong life.
 If the same rule operates under the national pension system, as 1t probably will, though perhaps not to so marked an extent the national treasury will have more to pay on that account than is estimated under the present expect ancy of life.
 This increase in the length of life of pensioners, while it will add to the cost of the system, is of course to be regard ed with qualification as a benehcent and desirable result and as an argument in favor of the system.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-13

Joe Cannon, but can the republicans be trusted to take the Senate out of the hands of Aldrich, Allison and Kean? There's the rub. The Senate is reactionary, and 1t promises to be reactionary after the fourth day of next March. Perhaps the best way to render the Senate harmless consists in the election of a progressive House, and the Kansas City Star, which is an independent republican paper, urges that this be done, regardless of party affiliations. Must this country" it goes on to say, forever be bound by the traditional theory that a repub- lican Congress will do nothing for a democratic President, and that dem- ocratic Congress will do nothing for republican President"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-13
aRIlNp TOM.v

From the Chicago Record-Herald
 No one who ever heard the musical per formances or feats of Blind Tom can learn without emotion of his death. AL though his miraculous powers may have ceased with his youth, yet the passing away of a soul who. without education and without even ordinary intelligence. once swallowed sonatas whole is an event of undeniable human interest.
 Several speculations concerning the psy- chology of music involuntarily occur to the mind. The first IS the infinite chasm that may lie between musical execution and musical creation. Blind Tom could play everything and compose nothing. The two faculties seem almost as far apart as painting and engineering.
 Blind Tom" illustrates the isolation in which the musical faculty often exists. It seems as if musical powers, both of exc cution and composition, could exist in the highest degree apart from any other species of intellectual force. That great intellectually may coexist with great InuSlcdI genus, ana lndI the greatest musical works necessarily imply It. may be true, and yet it remains true also that a man may be a remarkable musician and without capacity for anything else.
 The faculties most essential to musical feats are memory and combination. In the days of Watts 1t was considered that the test of mental greatness was the abil- ity to contemplate several things at the same ime without confusion. But "Blind Tom" could remember and contemplate without confusion page after page of dffi- cult music, and yet he did not have sense enough to count 10. And. after all, he seems to have been only an exaggerated instance of this paradox.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-13
ALAeAMA,s GAME LAWS.

From the Charleston News and Courier.
 Under the operation of the Alabama statute for the protection of fish and game, s2o, was covered into the state treasury during the year following it's enactment, and of this sum $16,000 re- mained in the treasury after the ex penses of the laws enforcement had been paid. That Is the statement of the Atlanta Journal.
 The Alabama law was drafted by John H. Wallace, the fish and game commissioner of Alabama. who upon the invitation of the Georgia legisla- ture delivered an address in Atlanta with the object of stirring interest in the subject of preserving the wild birds and beasts of Georgia from early ex- tinction.
 If so much could be accomplished and so quickly in Alabama, it seems that similar results might be hoped for in South Carolina if a John H. Wallace were available to draft statute and enforce 1t after It's enactment. At any rate, progress might be made if South Carolina would initiate Alabama, copy ing her statute and taking the chances of discovering a man capable of making the protection of fish and game self sustaining business for the state.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-13
Beware of House Flies

The housekeeper who buys articles of food kept in an unscreened grocery store invites disease to her household, for the fly which walks across food may carry 100,O bacteria, the major ity dangerous to life and health. Bad as the mosquito is it is a harmless insect when placed alongside the housef1y The 1y's foot and breast are covered with microscopic hair which Cthers all sorts of dirt and germs. The housefiy is not happy unless it is up to it's eyes in filth, and when it goes to a grocery store it may be loaded down with disease germs.
 The grocery store and the butchers stall should be carefully screened, and those that are not will not be patron ized as those that are until cool weather comes again. It is impossible to stop this year in this town the breeding of flies. and screens are there fore the sole defense against disease and doctors bills. screen that costs but 50 cents may keep off not only flies, but also doctors bills.
 Next year a persistent attempt should be made in this city to stop the breeding of flies by requiring all stable refuse to be placed where flies cannot get to it. The breeding of flies in stables is the source of a deal of dis ease. It cannot be stopped this year, and for that reason the prudent house. keeper will see that the stores where s , buys articles of food are screened. Every house, too, should be screened. There is no other defense this year against the germladen housef1y.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-13
Modern Day Courtesy.

'rwhy have our young men allowed our famed southern chivalry to be lacking in their charaeter?" asked a gentleman of the old school late yesterday after noon.
 .'This afternoon I was riding into Bir- mingham on a car which was crowded Practically every seat was occupied by A couple. and I was the only man on the car whom I would judge to be over 80 years of age.
 Soon a middle-aged woman with a baby in her arms boarded the car~ l was seated next the window by the side of a boy about IT years of age. while l am but three years short of four score years. None of the young fellows offered the lady seat, and despite the fact that am rather weak, my training compelled me to offer mine.
 "A few blocks further on another lady boarded the car and had to stand With- in a course of half mile an even half dozen of the feminine sex were standing in the aisle while nne-tenths of the seats contained one or two young beings of the b masculine sex-I can't call them men One of the ladies standing was holding a child in her arms.
 I've had gone but a short distance further when a young lady, extremely beautiful and tastefully dressed, entered the car. No sooner had she made her appearance than several of these male be- ings nearly broke their necks in getting up and offering her a seat"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-13
GARBLED EMERSON.

From the New York Globe.
 Emerson garbled is a sensation in Lon don. The prime minister of England the other day quoted Sir Henry Wotton The next day MT. Burnes followed with this quotation from Emerson, according to the London Telegraph:
 We builded better than we knew;
 Unconscious, scenes of beauty grew. The London Chronicle replied that the comma was ingenious. The Times quoted as follows:
 We builded better than we knew;
 Unconscious stones to beauty grew This Is nearer the original. says tie Chronicle, yet misses the point also, for what Emerson wrote was:
 Not from a vain or shallow thought,
 His awful love young Phidias wrought,
 He builded better that he knew;
 The conscious stone to beauty grew. The poem is called '"The Problem" and is one of Emerson's happiest pieces Poets should be careful, however. about dating works of art. The science of archaeology is progressive, and the present authori- ties pronounce the awful love" to have been a work not of the young Phidias.' .'' but of the sculptor's latest period.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-13
Coneress and the President

The country is face to face with an unusual situation. Heretofore it has been customary to have a President and a Congress controlled by one party. The exceptions have served to establish the custom. But the country is pretty sure to secure next March a Senate controlled by the republicans and House controlled by the demo- crats. And this, too, without regard to the presidency.
 ~The next President" says the Kan sas City Star, twill be of the progress. ivs ychool. It is up to the people to see to it that he Is not handicapped by . reactionary Congress" The demo crats can be trusted to take the House put of the hands of Dalzell. Payne and
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-13
SANITY IN THE SOUTH.

From the Baltimore American.
 It is pleasant to see the tendency in the southern states to sheer away from political brainstorms and take something for the nerves. Georgia has begun to recover from a violent spree of radical ism that threatened to nullify all the splendid industrial and commercial enter prise which has added tens of millions of dollars to the general wealth. Other states are seeing that the demagogues are not the men to follow if the inhab- itants want investment, settlers, new fac tories, more railroads, and progress.
 In the south is the richness of dozen empires. Her states have opportunities for ten times their present populations But they will never realize their desti- nies until they put more sense and sanity into their politics. We hope that Geor- gias good example will be a lesson to all of them.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-13
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
On Shades Mountain.

Few cities are surrounded by such rug ged scenery as Birnfngham; and the mountains and valleys hereabouts lend a charm to this industrial center that greatly enhances its attractive character as a place of residence. The drive to Oxmoor on the other side of Red noun tain is one of the most romantic in all the land; and just up Shades mountain from Oxmoor is Bluff Park hotel, which, as a summer resort, is fast growing Tn popularity. The prospect from the top of Shades mountain is singulariy beauti- ful. The scenery is not quite so rugged as that of the more famous mountains of Virginia and North Carolinas but 1t is wild enough to charm the eye and stir the soul. It is indeed enchanting
 Here we have a resort within eight or nine miles of the heart of the city, more attractive than many which people travel hundreds of miles to reach But 1t VIII not be a great while before Shades noun tain will be dotted with residences and become popular suburb. In the meantime, automobiles are kept In good mountain-climbing practice as they wen1 their way to Bluff Park.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-13
Larqe Southern Cities.

"A greater number of southern cities will be in about the same population class in the next census than ever be- fore" said R. ". Waterman of St. Louis. Memphis crossed the 100000 mark in the last census. It was the only city in an ex-Confederate state, except New Orleans, that had population of 10O,0 GOO in 1900. In the next census four other cities will cross the 100000 line-Richmond, Atlanta, Birmingham and Nashville. From all accounts Mem phis will have a population of 150,00o, while Nashville. Birmingham. Atlanta and Richmond will play around 125,00o. It will probably be a close race be- tween Nashville, Birmingham and At lanta The latter city is claiming 125,- 900, but it is generally believed that Birmingham will be somewhat ahead of it."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-13
STORY OF PARIS AND HELEN

carry Troy by assault resorted to strat- egy. They pretended to sail away, leav- ing on the seashore huge wooden horse. The Trojans. thinking this horse an idol, bore it into the town. Within the wood- en animal several Greeks were hidden. That night they crept out and opened the gates of Troy to their returning com rades. The city was sacked and utterly destroyed by fire. The inhabitants were massacred men, women and children alike.
 Helen was rescued and carried back to Sparta by Menelaus, who freely forgave her desertion. But the other Spartars were less merciful to the woman who had brought such misfortunes to their country. When Menelaus died they drove her away. She fled to Rhodes for refuge. The queen of that island, jealous of Helen's loveliness and fame, murdered her.
 Thus ended the strange career of woman whose beauty had destroyed one nation and nearly ruined another.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-13
Easeinatine niahnl0

The game that the year has brought to the young girls of the homes and lawns of the land seems to be enjoy able, for some practice it hours at a time. It trains the muscles and it trains the eye also, and the brain has no opportunity to become sluggish. Not content with the catching of the spool in solitary game, some play diabolo tennis in which the spools are tossed from one to another. It affords Rt any rate plenty of varied changes when one becomes an expert at 1t, and bright girls soon reach the expert point New features become, in short, a part of the game.
 There is no Hull in it, and that is why the game is fascinating. No devotee of it can sleep at her post.
 In big broad country it is surpris ing how rapidly popular game is in troduced and accepted and practiced from one end of it to the other. Youne girls are tossing spools in 46 states and five or six territories and prov inces, and next summer perhaps they will abandon diabolo for some newer diversion. The new one will however have to be very interesting if it drives diabolo out altogether.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-13
New York Cor M ashinptnn Pa.

New York Cor. W ashington Post
 H91 AN it be that it is 10 years a IO a whole do1eful decade since - New York held it's sides over the Cherry sisters and what they were pleased to call their entertainment?
 It was Oscar Hammersteln who pre- sented New York with a new sensation when he put on the Cherry sisters in vaudeville. Blase Gotham howIed with glee when it saw them.
 It also pelted the sisters with frac- tional cigars, and when Jessie sang Who'll Buy My Flowers 1t uproari- ously vowed that 1t would attend to the business and added small coins to the cigar shower
 Jessie was the younger of the three girls. She used to do a Trilby songlet in very evidently bare feet. The spec tacle of Jessie scuttling about the stage thriftiy gleaning the cents, nickels and dimes from the drifted cigar stubs all ways elieIted roar, which lasted till the harvest was quite garnered in.
 But the sisters suffered an eclipse not long after their New York appearance uS pupllC BOl llTeu OI lnTOWlHS lilHSs at them. Somehow the artistic career of the sisters had always invited throwing of one sort or another.
 In New York it was small change and cigar ends. In consideration of the le- gal tender the sisters excused the unso- licited tobacco, and thought that New York was great. Finally, however, the public became weary even of throwing things and the sisters, therefore, retired to their home, near Marion, Iowa, where they have fingered to this day. if not the world forgetting, at least by the world forgot
 Now finally they are to be called from their rustic retreat. Along with other Fourth of July explosions, the Cherry sisters will once more burst upon our startled ken.
 But that isn't the whole story. It seems that when the sisters started out with their homemade entertainment Marion was the dog they tried it on. And Marion took it very hard. Marion had fits. Marion emitted frightful yaps. Marion threw things.
 A complete list of the things Marion threw Is not necessary, but there was one item which the sisters resented with peculiar bitterness. Stale eggs and the cabbages of yesteryear were bad enough, but the sisters drew the line, they knew not why, at liver.
 Now, according to the corroborative
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-13
AGAIN THE CHERRY SISTERS

I testimony of the Marion butchers really extravagant amount of liver was furnished for that occasion. Nobody pre- tends to say just how many bovine mar tyrs were butchered to make this Ma iron holiday, but it is believed that the number was excessive.
 The sisters were displeased with this generosity of their fellow townsmen in the matter of liver In fact, they vowed loudly and often that never again would they condescend to enliven the tedium of Marion existence with one of their en- tertainments until they had received from the citizens full apology for the liver episode.
 That was certainly 15 years ago, and the sisters have been faithful to that VOW ever since. The Marion folks, how ever, have managed to bear up without much trouble. The Cherry girls have never been called upon to sit up nights to receive delegations of citizens bear ing apologies.
 At last the unexpected has happened. In the advertising columns of the local papers has appeared the following an-
 
 ters' redivivus:
 On the part of the people of Marion, we would say that the Cherry sisters in the past gave an entertainment in this city, and were not afforded the proper protection from the police; neither did they receive the respect that ladies of the stage were entitled to.
 Now, therefore, we do as committee, on the part of the citizens of Marion and the mayor, offer to them our apol- ogy for the acts then committed and fully sympathize with them as to their wounded feelings in receiving such treat ment in their home town.
 We accord to them that respect that is due to all ladies and we agree that 1t shall be our duty to see that such dis graceful conduct in the past from our people shall not be repeated if in our power to prevent.
 We fully agree that these ladies give a high-class entertainment and that their audiences are always satisfied and do not go to the box office to get their money back.
 The committee further agrees that any one witnessing this entertainment on July 4, at Marion, will receive a new lease of life
 J. J. IVES,
 R. c. BUSBY,
 T. J. DAVIS,
 Committed
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-13
Mobiles Increase

Mobile is to be congratulated on the increase in it's exports and imports for the year ending June 30, 1908, over 1907 The business for the year just ended surpasses all previous records. The exports amounted to $27,953,835. a net increase of s3,4S4,259, as com pared with last year, and the imports were s4,53s, ,053, an increase of s5ss, ,693. The tonnage of vessels entering Mobile during the fiscal year totaled 639,021 tons, being gain of 12,724 tons over 1907.
 The principal articles of export were cotton, $14, 4,211,747; lumber, s5,303 ,914; packing house products, $2,229, ,5O5; and flour, s1,77s,s7s. Iron and steel amounted to $677,O2O and cotton goods amounted to s501,012. The increase in Mobiles shipping business in spite of a financial depression shows its grow ing importance as port and augurs well for its future. In fact, Collector w. F. Tebbetts says that from all in- dications the business for the coming year will surpass this years record.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-13
MISTAKES THAT MANY MAKE.

From the Boston Herald.
 Hover of Correct Language" makes a good plea in the New York Herald when he asks Why does Memo say, I wish l was home and I wish he was here when he should say T wish I were home and I wish he were here?' and why does Tige also say, The monk don't like him, instead of The monk doesn't like himT Buster Brown and Memo seem to be the children of nice people and ought to know how to talk" Probably because half of the mice people" in the commun- ity not only say don't for doesn't. and Between you and r for Between you and me-" and get all mixed up on the correct use of her and she or he and him. These little errors" are the re- suit of the present day school system, and are gradually being fastened on the Tan guage of the street.