davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-09-20

Cronkite waited until the sounds and
the glimmer had died away, until his
clothing had ceased to drip betrayingly.
and then he felt his way through the hall
and UP the basement stairs. As he
emerged under the arohway Of the main
stairway into the buffers pantry the
glimmer reappeared through the glass
in a door TO the dining room.
Cronkite peered cautiously through this
glass. On the great round table Of the
dismantled and dust strewn room stood
a lighted candle. a flask, a tumbler. q
pitcher of water. the wet sides Of which
showed that 1t had been recently drawn.
Beyond the table was a great sideboard
half pulled out from the wall. but no
one was in the room.
Cronkite slipped into the o and
behind the sideboard. The quaint Or
namentation Of the ~sideboard's back
Afforded convenient peepholes. while
being 30 closely entwined a to shelter
him from discovery in such q twilight.
There he waited patiently, combining
trifing incident. indefinite something
and mora recent experience into logical
theory until sounds, not at all uncertain.
from the floor above warned him that
the time for practice wa at hand. From
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-31
THE THUNDERBOLT IS
 WILDER THAN THE TITLE

London, May 30.-The new Pinero play at the St. James Theatre, "The Thunder bolt" is less lurid than its title suggests It concerns the not very thrilling doings of provincial English family the Nor timores, of Singleh ampton, but it is con- structed in Pinero's masterly manner.
 The Mortimores are middle-class people James is a builder, Stephen owns To- cal paper and Thaddeus George Alex ander's parD is musician. Their sister has married colonel, hves in London and is lin society,"
 There was an elder brother, Ned who had made fortune as a brewer, and has died just before the play opens. The fam fly have gathered for a death-bed recon ciliation with Ned, who has been es- tranged from his brothers and sister for years. James and Stephen hold rigid tenn perance views. The dead mans fortune is estimated at about a S1,000o00, but to thh, surprise of the surviving Morti- mores, no will can be found.
 In the discussion it is mentioned that a natural daughter of Ned Mortimore' S Helen Thornhill is expected and Mrs. Phyllis Mortimore, Thaddeus's wife, says they ought to see her well provided for out of her fathers estate. When Helen arrives, however, she refuses to take any money, for she is ambitious to make her living as an artist.
 The search for Ned Mortimers will is fruitless and the daughter goes to stay with "Tads' (Thaddeus and his wife) and Phyllis has grown to love the girl. James and Stephen have started specu- lating on their share of thcir brothers $ fortune and have embarked on costly bus mess schemes, while Colonel Pointing, their brother-in-law, has taken big ger house in London.
 Then comes the 'thunderbolt." On the eve of family council, Phyllis confesses to her husband that she found a will leaving everything to Helen, and de- stroyed it. She did not know then that Helen Thornhll was Ned's daughter, but imagined she was only some woman"
 Thaddeus determines to tell the truth about the will at the family council but rather than let his wife be punished for felony, he takes the blame on his own shoulders. There is a great scene of pas- sion and recrimination. In which, however
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-31

Boston, May 30.-(Special 1.-The number of practical newspaper men who have broken into literature through the me- dium of the novel almost passes enumer- ation One of the latest to see a piece of his fiction between covers is Edwin George Pinlkham of the Kansas City Star, whose first book, "Fates a Fiddler" is about to be produced by a Boston pub fishing house. MT. Pinkham's career has been so typical of that of a large class of workers on American newspapers that publishers can hardly fail to be anus ing. He says of himself:
 T did my first newspaper work in Springfield, Mo, when 1 was IA or 15 l hung around a newspaper office there doing whatever they would let me. set type. worked the press, folded the papers. They didn't ask me to do these things, but they took no active means of preventing me. At first, I believe, the editor did warn me gruffly to keep out, suspecting doubtless that I was staying away from school. That didn't disturb me greatly, however, because when he came down stairs I went up anyway, and when he went up l came down. So long as we didn't meet the fiction was maintained that I wasn't there But one day he forgot and asked me to pull a proof for him, and that settled it--I was there officially.
 ''TIe was an indoleht man. was my editor, and I learned to take advantage Of him. One day l wrote a story when he was out and left it on his desk. When he came back I explained that it had been left by tall, stoop-shouldered man who said his name was Brown. It was printed MT. Brown became regular contributor after that-always calling when the editor was out I have said that my editor was indolent perhaps he was shrewd, too, because pretty soon he was letting Brown do most of the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-31
NEWSPAPER MEN WHO
 BREAK INTO LITERATURE

work. I remember that he used to get lis Accustomed day and leave some copy called him shirker and things like that. Thus Brown early learned how thorny Is the path of the scribe.
 Our paper was called the Peoples Voice. Whether the people didn't rec ognize their voice when they heard 1t or just didn't care, the event was that they showed no great disposition to listen to it and 1t gradually became smaller and stiller and finally ceased. I drifted arourd the south and west, working in printing offices mostly l did not know the trade. but I was a useful cub I believe, and as l never asked for any pay you can im- agne that I had no difficulty in flnd- ing an imposing stone to sleep on." K
 MT. Pinkham is % years old and 8 native of Lynn, Mass. When he was two years old the family moved west. Of this period and of his early struggles he says:
 Tt was always a guiding principle in our family- (and I have adhered to 1t strictly) that when we became so poor that we couldn't possibly exist where we were that we should spend a small fortune moving as far away from there as possible. I think we learned this secret from Ben Franklins book. The Road to Wealth. I may be mistalSen about the author, but let it pass. Thus l have been east and west and south. newspaper man for a time and then. something else. newspaper man again and then something else and now newspaper man again for a time"
 Mir. Pinkham was engaged in business in Providence, R. l.. for several years and was later connected with a press bureau In Worcester, Mass. For the past year he has been a staff writer on. the Kansas City Star f&
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-31

it becomes evident that Thaddeus is not the guilty party, but that he is shielding his wife
 When Helen Thornhil learns about the destroyed will, she is pleased to know that her father did not forget her, but she will not have the will proved because it will involve the prosecution of her friend Phyllis for the crime or destroying a wall. Eventually it is arranged that Ned Mortimore's money shall be divided equally between Helen and the Morti- moreS.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-31
The Editorial Version.

s
 There cannot be much satisfaction Tn "goin' around and lickin' the editor' when the latter not only makes copy out of the encounter but pictures himself as the hero as well. The following vivid pen-picture is taken from the editorial columns of an Iowa journal:
 "There was a blow. Somebody fell. We got up. Turning upon our antagon- ist, we succeeded in winding his arms around our waist, and by quick maneu- threw him on top of us, bringing our back, at the same time, in contact with the solid bed of the printing press. Then, inserting our nose between his teeth and cleverly entangling his hands in our hair we had him!'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-31
Bids Wanted.

Bids Wanted.
 Bids will be received by the Board of Revenue of Jefferson county Alabama, up till 12 o'clock noon Monday, June Ii, 1908, for the grading of Jefferson Boule- vard Profiles and specifications can be seen at county engineers office, room 102 Jefferson county court house.
 P. s. MILNER, County Engineer.
 5-24-3t-sun
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-31

Effective June 8, Queen C Crescent. will operate sleeper Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays each week to Ashe- vile, N. 0.
 Lv. Birmingham 5::25 p. m. Ar. Asheville. .5:20 a. m.
 Dining Ger Service.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-31

Spring humors, pimples and boils ara cured by Hoods Sarsaparilla, the great blood purifier.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-24
AN IMMIGRATION REFORM.

The conference committee Of the
two houses of congress have agreed
on the Lodge bill, limiting the number
of steerage passengers that may be
carried by steamships. As a measu
to regulate immigration. this bill fol-
lows the general plan of a law re-
Gently passed by England, but is even
more drastic in some of it's regula-
lions.
As the primary object is to secure
the health and comfort of steerage
passengers, the bill prescribes the min
imum berthing and deck accommoda-
lions for steerage passengers and
makes mandatory certain sanitary pro-
visions that have been neglected by
steamship companies in the past. One
effect of the bill will be to limit the
number of immigrants, as the steam
ship companies will not be allowed to
overcrowd the steerage, a custom
which has been the cause of much
scandal in former years. The profit
In carrying this class of passengers
has led the steamship companies to
flood Europe with seductive advertis-
ing inducing immigrants to come to
this country. The incentive to that
sort of imposition upon the immi-
grants will be removed by the new
law.
The steamship companies have OPP
posed the Lodge bill vigorously and
succeeded in having IL tied up in con-
ference between the house and the SEN
ate at the last session of congress.
The agreement of the conference com
mittees the enactment of the
law. the merit Of which is admitted by
all students of the Immigration prob
lem.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-24
END OF oAsrRo,s Rr1E.

The final act In the overthrow OF
the Castro government in Venezuela is
In entire harmony with the rest of the
opera boufe proceedings that have
marked the progress of events in that
country for several weeks. Gomez,
left in charge when Castro hurried to
Europe In search of his health, sud
denly developed heroic qualities
hitherto unsupported and successfully
overthrow the Castro government sim
gle-handed. According to most reli-
able accounts, he charged a barracks
occupied by a regiment of mutinous
soldiers, placed their colonel under ar
rest and then, returning to the pal
ace. singled out the ringleader of the
conspiracy, caught him by the throat
and escorted him to a dungeon cell.
The hero-loving Venzuelans promptly
hailed Gomez as their new leader and
he took charge of affairs at once. He
spent the afternoon in forming a new
cabinet and sending the old cabinet
members to jail or exile and now is as
firmly ~entrenched in power as any
Venezuelan ruler can hope to be-.
No country will be hypocritical
enough to express regret at the over
throw Of C%astro's government. Cas-
tro had succeeded in alternating the
friendship of every foreign power and
had built up a strong organization for
his W ACKNOWLEDGMENT, and his re-
moval from power must be accepted
as a wholesome sign of the restoration
Of political health to the republic.
Gomez has yet to demonstrate his
ability to correct the abuses of Cas-
tro's government, but it is practically
certain that he can be no worse than
his predecessor.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-24
PLAc1Nq JURORS ON HoNoR.

Lawyers and laymen alike will
doubtless find keen interest in the
rather radical move of Justice Crane
of New York. who is the trial judge
in the case against T. Jenkins Hams,
charged with the murder of W. e.
Annis, in refusing to lock up the
jurors during the progress of trial and
in allowing them access to the news
papers containing reports of the trial.
Hitherto the uniform practice in MUIR
der cases has been to commit the
Jurors TO the custody of bailiffs, to
keep them together as precaution
against talking or reading newspaper
reports of the case. Immediately
after the jury had been sworn in the
Hams case, Justice Crane said:
I have the power to lock UP every man
Of you, but 1 am 10th to exercise the
power. I feel that a man serves better
as a juror when he has slept in his own
bed, when he has breakfasted with his
own family, than he could possibly do If
he was locked up. 1 never knew a jury
that was dishonest. Jurors are no more
dishonest than a judge is dishoRest.
Other people may try to talk to you at
this trial; perhaps, rather, they will talk
of IT In your presence. Get away from
them. II necessary come to me and tell
me about it. The entire jury system is
at stake. If jurors have to be locked up.
the sooner we abolish the jury system
the better. I trust you twelve Jurors.
The average citizen will approve
Justice Cranes course. Under the
usual practice in criminal cases, the
jurors are often punished more Sc
verely than the prisoner. They are
compelled to sleep in ill-furnished
rooms, forced to accept hotel or res
taurant food and treated as suspects,
while the prisoner, II his offense is
bailable, is often living In the luxury
of his home pending the verdict. AS
a general proposition it may be ac-
cepted that the juror who can not be
trusted out of the court room while
serving OF a criminal case is not fit
to be trusted as a juror at all. 1t is
probable, too, that If the plan adopted
by Justice Crane becomes general
there will be less difficulty in secur-
ing a better class of citizens for jury
service, now so obnoxious on account
of the practice of treating Jurors as
men requiring police surveillance to
prevent them from becoming GRIM
inals.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-24

within the board as IL may happen to
be lined up.
Right here in Omaha, to go no
further for examples, We have a so
called nonpartisan police board. a So
called bipartisan Water board, and
a partisan School board, and we sub
NIT that the partisan School board
will commend itself as a business
body at least equally with the bipar-
tisan Water board. and that would not
be saying much. II the legislature
should establish higher qualifications
for places Of Importance in local gov
eminent 1t might accomplish some
good, but requiring a man to label
himself as belonging to the one party
or another, OF to no party at all, will
afford no guaranty of improvement.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-24
An Able Public Man.
New York World.

New 1orh WOflu.
President-elect Taft in making requisl-
ton on the tried cabinet material of his
predecessor could not have chosen a better
man for secretary of state than Senator
Philander Chase INC of Pennsylvania.
Senator Knox is one of the ablest men in
public hfe-one of the ablest the generation
has produced. His mind Is clear, compre-
hensive. vigorous, acute, logical n thor
oughly trained. He will go into history as
one Of the greatest of attorney generals.
In the hands Of the man who first demon
strated the validity of the Sherman anti
trust law against the W of the trusts,
who brought the railroad giants and the
Beef trust magnates to terms and who
framed an anti-rebate law which worked,
the standard Of work in the state depart
ment Is not likely to fall below hat estab-
lished by Hay and Root. And personally
Mr.. KNOCKS hands are clean.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-24


Trade statistics for November show
that the nations trade with foreign
countries for the month came within
a few million dollars Of last years
record for the month and in excess of
the November total for any previous
year. The significance Of the figures as
Indicating a speedy return to normal
business Conditions, is found in the rap
idly increasing volume of imports.
These amounted In November to $780,
936,544, compared with $110, 900. 900
in November of last year, with SS4,-
600, 900 in January Of the present year
and with SS3, 600, 900 in May. The
total for the eleven months ending
with November was $1,004,474,S22,
or larger than the record for any pre-
vious eleven months, with the excep-
ton of the eleven months of last year.
New activity in the export trade be-
gins with the new harvest. The total
for the eleven months of the year was
$1,564,623,950, a loss of s152,2S2,-
259 for the same period of last year.
The result of the barter is a balance
Of trade in Americas favor for the
eleven months Of $500. 600, 1000. The
figures tell the story of the business
uplift. While the year as a whole
has been an unfavorable one for for
eign trade, the substantial recovery in
the last few months promises gains in
the les future that will break all
former records.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-24
THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
BY Clement C. Moore

BY Clement c. Moore
Twas the night before Christmas. when all
through the house
Not a c~reature was stirring, not even a
The stockings were hung by the chimney
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be
The children were nestled all snug in their
While visions of s~ugar-plums danced
through their heads;
While mama in her 'kerchief and 1 in
Had just settled our brains for a long
When out on the lawn arose such a
I sprang from my bed to see what was the
matter.
Away to the windaw 1 flew like a
flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the
sash.
The moon on the breast of the new
Gave a Iustre of midday to the objects
below;
When what to my wandering eyes should
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny
with a little old driver, so lively and
I knew in a moment that It must be
st. Nick!
More rapid than eagles his coursers they
And he whistled. and shouted, and called
them by name;
Nov. Dasher! now, Dancer! now. Prancer!
On. Comet on. Cupid! on Bonner and
To the TOP of the porch. to the top of
Nov, dash away, dash away. dash
As dry leaves that before the wild hurri-
When they meet with an obstacle. Mount
So up to the house tops his coursers they
with a sleighful of toys and St. Nicholas,
And then in a twinkIins I heard on the
The pTancing and paving of each little
As I drew in my head. and was turning
Down, the chimney St. Nicholas came with
He was dressed all in fur. from his head
And his clothes were all furnished with
A bundle Of toys he had hung on his
back,
And he looked, like a peddler Just open
ing his pack.
His eyes, how they twinkied his dimples.
how merryi
His cheeks were like roses. his nose k
His little droll mouth was drawn up like
a bow,
And his beard on his chin was as white
The stump OF a pipe he held tight in his
teeth,
And the smoke. it encircied his head like
He had a broad face and a little round
belly,
That shook when he ~Iaughted like a bowl
He was chubby and plump. a tight jolly
old elf
And I laughed as I saw him in spite
A wink of his eye and a twist Of his
head
Soon gave me to know that I had nothing
10 dread:
He spoke not a word. but went straight
to his work.
n filled ali the stockings; then turned
with a Jerk,
And laying his finger aside Of his
nose,
n giving a nod. up the chimney he
rose.
He sprang to his sleigh. to HIS team gave
And away then all flew like the down of
a thistle:
But ! heard him exclaim ere he drove
out II sight.
go~Od-nightv'
Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-24
PARTISAN NospARr1sAN. BIpARr1sA,

PARTISAN NO5PARTISAN, BIPARTISAN
Most of the various schemes that
are Matching to reconstruct the differ
ent branches of our local government
by edict from the coming democratic
legislature are expected to procure
smooth sailing by exuding an aromatic
oil Of nonpartisanship.
The protest against partisanship, as
everyone knows. always comes from
the minority party, and every scheme
for "nonpartisan" or Bipartisan" ad-
ministrative boards is designed to in
sure a few jobs for members OF the
minority party. In strongly demo-
cratic communities it is the repub-
licans who clamor for nonpartisanship
and bipartisanship, and where the con-
ditions are reversed II is the demo-
Gratis who admire the beauties of non
p~artisanship. Where the nonpartisan
or bipartisan idea has been put in
practice. however, IL has as a rule
failed lamentably to produce the mil
lennium in government. The nonpar-
ttsan boards and bipartisan boards
prove to be just as partisan as the par
tisan boards, depending entirely upon
the p~artisanship OF the majority
Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-24
A Fair ErchnnEe.
New York Sun

The Hon. Philandcr Chase Knox needs
no compliments. There is but one opinion
OF his fitness for the post to which Mr..
Taft has called him. 1t Is often hard to
lure a man from the senate to the cabinet,
but the State department may we'll satisfy
any ambition, so many famous names arc
on Its bead roll. II Mr.. Knox is to be
congratulated, the senate would have to be
condoled with were It not that Mr.. Root
will make Mr.. Knox's place good. as Mr..
Knox will nah Mr.. Roots good.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-24

1t isn't Just plain at present how the SEN
ators are going to get much out Of 1t (cen-
sus patronage, the best picking going to
the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Hitchcoek's
World-Herald.
Those congressman must not over
look the fact that the census bill has
to go through both houses and that
the senate gets the last whack at It.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-24
The IEnominious Upper.
sprlngfleld Repuhllcan.

Pullman company officials ave been
trying to show in the government inquiry
at Chicago that upper sleeping car berths
are worth just as much as the lower. The
compliments against the company have
met this contention rather cleverly by
bringing forward some women witnesses.
They were all quite agreed that upper
berths are worth no more than half what
the lower ones are, IL they are worth that.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-24

The vice president OF the New York
Central predicts that the railroads will
spend s7.5OO,OOO,O 900 in improvements
In the next ten years. The public will
prefer that the expenditure be in real
d6Ilars instead OF WateTed stock.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-24
Lofty Optimism.
Kansas CITY star.

That Pullman manager who says that
tipping the porter is entirely a voluntary
matter Is a shining example of the optimist.
In much the same sense II Is a voluntary
matter whether you spend the night in the
sleeping car or sit 1t out in the smoker.
But most Of the people possessed of the
price have to take the sleeper.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-24

1t is said that part of the evidence
against the Pittsburg councilmanic
boodlers will consist of a lashlight
photograph disclosing the culprits in
the act of taking the money. 1t
might be we'll to have a few good
fashlight artists on hand at all state
capitals where a legislature is in ses-
sion this winter.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-24

South Omaha hremen now want the
double-shift system that prevails in
Omaha. They could have had II a
year ago by the simple process of con
solidation.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-24

Congress is said to be opposed to
the government by commission plan
for the District OF Columbia. Con-
gress is always in favor. however. Of
government by DISCUSSION.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-24

According to the local democratic
organ "the democratic party can af-
ford to trust the people" Yes, but
the people have grave suspicious that
they cannot afford to trust the demo-
party.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-24

If it were possible legally to do so.
it would be a great reform to prohibit
altogether the granting of pardons
and paroles during the last two
months of an outgoing governors
term.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-24

Mr.. Bryan says there are "a num-
Der of prominent people" besides
Judge Gary of the Steel trrst who
will bear watching" Modesty pre-,
vents him from specifying anyone re-
siding in the neighborhood of Fair
view.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-24

Secretary of State Junkin is prepar-
ing the registry book for lobbyists ac-
cording to the provisions of the lobby
law enacted by the last legislature.
Don't all rush to be first to inscribe
an autograph.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-24

Now, If Rockefeller would only de-
nounce the tariff the World-Herald
might take back all the mean things
it has said about him and put it's
stamp of approval upon the building
erected with Rockefeller money for
our State university.