davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22
WHAT THE CHIMNEY SANG.

By Bret Harte Over the chimney the night wind sang And chanted a melody no one knew And the children said, as they closer
 drew: !" Tis soPe witch that is bowling the
 black night through Twas fairy trumpet that just then
 blew,
 And we fear the wind in the chimney!' Over the chimney the night wind sang And chanted a melody no one knew; And the man, as he sat on his hearth
 below,
 Said to himself: Tt will surely snow And fuel is dear, and wages low; must stop the leak in the chimney" Over the chimney the night wind sang And chanted melody no one knew, And the woman sighed, as her babe she
 tossed And thought of the one she had lately
 lost, And cried. as the teardrops back she
 forced:
 T hate the wind in the chimney!" Over the chimney the night wind sang And chanted melody no one knew: But the Poet listened, and smiled. for
 he Was Man, and Mother and Child-all
 three, And he said: ''It is Gods own harmony This wind, that sings in the chim-
 ney!''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22
DREAM LIFE.

From the Cincinnati Times-Star
 The summer, with it's drowsy hum of bees and song of birds, has passed summer, with it's dreams of youth. Au tumn, with it's dreams of manhood has flown by. Bleak winter. with it's pierc- ing storms-and death-has come. Gone are the school dreams; the college TO- nance is gone; gone, even are the rev cries of white old age.
 The bright wood fire has faded into ashes and the room is cold. Those sun dyed fancies, airy reveries" have van ished away, and eve has saddened into night. The child's warm lips have pressed the old mans cheek as he has peacefully fallen asleep, past earthly waking, "to sleep, perchance to dream" undisturbed by the rustling of Times curtain.
 Older readers of American letters-col- lege men of 30 years ago, when the literary, rather than the athletic life was emphasized in our universities-senti- mental spinsters, and 'old-fashioned" women, will feel that in the recent death of like Marvel" at his home in Edge wood. something has gone out of their lives that can never be recalled.
 This genial master of the literary essay was a golden link between the yesterday and the present. While he lived, Long fellow, Irving and Holmes seemed more real
 Those who delight in the glow of open fires, to whose ears the singing of the kettle on the hob is music whose souls are stirred by the batter of the rain drops on the roof, and who love to med itate in the shadows, have lost in the death of Mr Mitchell an old friend.
 You, who have laughed over the fanci- full Peggy" who would fill the house full of plaguy relations, come down to breakfast in a shock of hair, and serve cold coffee and uneatable butter-have not your own Dream Lives with their hopes, sorrows and disappointments, been almost identical with the Dream Life of "Ik Marvel"
 And, now that he is entering upon that long "Dream Life'-that eternal slumber that knows no waking do not you who have known him by heart" wish him sweet dreams and pleasant reveries- dreams and reveries as sweet as those of boyhood, over the wood fire?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22
HARD TIMES IN STRICKLAND.
Ten Thousand Actors and Actresses
 Idle In New York.

From the New York American.
 T thing there are fully 10000 actors and actresses ia New York today who are out of work. Where there is one vacan- cy there are 100 desirable applicants"
 A well-known theatrical man made the above statement to an American reporter. He was one of several interviewed, who admitted that this is one of the worst years in the history of the profession. Each of the persons seen had various ex- plantations to make. One advances the theory that the 1O-eent moving picture shows have thrown many vaudeville peo- pie out of work. Another said it was due in part to the financial depression of last year.
 Mrs M. L. Fernandez, of the Fernan- deg Dramatic Agency, admitted that there were many members of the profession idle, and said that she attributed it to the fact that financial depression of a year ago was just beginning to be felt by the masses, who were really the sup port of the theatres. She said she did not think there were 10000 actors idle, as she did not believe there are that many in New York. There are many more out of work than usual" she said, but I think now that election is over, confidence is returning and there will be better times before long"
 A leading theatrical man who did not desire to have his name used. said: There are fully as many actors and act resses out of work now as there were in June. There are more actresses idle, however, than actors. Ninety per cent of the women born in the country want to be actresses. They think all they have to do is to put on nice clothes and walk out on the stage and speak a few words; every chorus girl thinks she can take the big parts, and right here comes in the cheap manager who, with his trashy production has glutted the stage. Then there is the picture machine For or 10 cents a young man can go to one of them and stay all the evening; he can dress as he pleases, and in the dark hold hands with his best girl I know of one of these places that accommodates 400O patrons each day, seven-tiays in the week, and there is no doubt that it cuts into the legitimate business"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22
A REAL AMERICAN ATHLETE.

From the New York World.
 The time of Longboat's Marathon race was not quite equal to that in which De- rando beat Hayes, but the ease with which the Indian again and again passed the plucky Italian and his burst of speed st the finish showed that he could easily have lowered the time. It is the com bination of the long, easy, tireless gait of a human hound with speed when neces- sary that makes this runner remarkable.
 At last, then, we have a real American Marathon winner in the professional class one whose ancestors have been Ameri- can from prehistoric times. Longboat shows in this generation the form that enabled Deerfoot or Bennett to set years ago in England a Emile record never since equalled.
 The native Americans of the leading tribes show an extraordinarily high de- gree of strength and endurance. Carlisle, though not large school, turns out a splendid football team in Indians whose prowess is always popular. At lacrosse and baseball Indians excel Parkman de- scribes the daring of an Indian boy of sixteen who ran his bareback pony along side buffalo bulls and brought them down with arrows-which is no mean feat for a green warrior
 If the scientists are right who say that Americans of European stock tend in many generations to revert to the Indian type, we need at least have no fear on that account of physical degeneracy. And considering the relatively remarkable number of eminent Americans who have been wholly or largely of Indian blood, mental degeneracy need be as little ex-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22
KAIsER's s1o,ooo, ,ooo HARD TIMES.

From the New York World
 After the Prince de Soubise had enter tained Louis XIV for a day and night at a cost of $4O0,000, ''I hear that you are in debt" remarked the King. Where upon the Prince drowned and yawned. 1T shall inquire of my steward" he said, "and inform your majesty"
 The German Kasier is of far other than the de Soubise order. He has castles and many substantial things to show for his money. He has paid the price of his en- thusiasms for art, for music, for yachts, for kingly sports and for stately surround ings. According to the advices from Ber- lin he has no need to consult his stew ards in order to know that his financial outgo has outrun his magnificent income
 To meet current expenses of Wilhelm S establishment it is decided that a few castles must go. Perhaps a crown jewel or two may follow. Or bit of the im- perial stable. These forced sales by the German monarch will contrast curiously with the dispersal of a $100O0,00o art col lection which King Leopold of Belgium is said to have decided upon as an act of spite to keep the treasures from his daugh- ters.
 Louis TX of France in the exceptional year of the crusade of 1251 spent $775. 900. The luxury-loving Francis I. maintained himself and court on s259,OOO year. Louis XIV.-'Louis the Great"-had less than S4, OO0,OO0 for all the expense of an ex- travagant establishment. In his struggle to make both ends meet after a fashion beftting the dignity of the family, Will helm IT. has broken these and all other royal records. His ability to make $10,- COG, 900 look small should commend him to Mir Carnegie as a shining exemplar of one way not to die rich and disgraced.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
A Decided AcnuisItion.

P. L. McManus, former assistant gem eral manager of the Southern railway has accepted the position of general manager of the Barney Coal company at Cordova, and will take charge of operations Jan uary 1. William F. Hughes, who has been operating the mines, will hereafter devote his attention chiefly to the busi- ness of selling the output. which amounts to about 400 tons a day
 MT. Hughes is one of the most pop ular and successful business men of Bir- mingham and MT. McManus is likewise popular here. The coming of the latter to the district to live will be regarded as a decided acquisition to the company of able and energetic men that have dis tinguished the developers of mineral Ala bama
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22
BRlToNS READ SOLID BOOKS.
From Progress.

From Progress.
 The borrowing of novels is declining all over England, being not more than 15 per cent of the work done by public li- braries. In the public libraries of the United Kingdom there are 4,0OO, GOO refer ence and s,o0o,O0O lending books; Il 1,0OO,oO reference books are consulted every year. according to the records and at least an equal number are taken from the shelves and consulted without being recorded Every year 6O,0OO,0OO books are lent for home reading. Giving further detail the investigator states that "the taste for his tory, biography and travel is on the wane; readers are all for science and sociology. and new books on socialism are always in demand"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22
REFLECTIONS O A BACHELOR.

From the New York Press.
 It can become irksome to do anything if 1t is made a duty
 The reason men like to spend money as if they could afford 1t is they can't. The difference between a man and a woman is she likes to stand before a mirror openly; he on the sly.
 What a girl likes about love letter is how she wants to keep reading it over after she knows 1t by heart
 The man who has to bolt his breakfast in the suburbs can blame his wife be- cause the train will be o2 time to make him miss 1t
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22
MT. Taft'S Cabinet

While the cabinet makers are turn. ing out cabinets rapidly MT. Taft, snugly housed at Augusta, is working slowly. Thus far the latter has named
 but two out of nine members of the new cabinet. MT. Knox is to be Secre- tary of State, and MT. Hitchcock is to be Postmaster General. The amateur cabinet makers whose minds being without responsibility work more free
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22
PAYS TO ADVERTISE.

From the Louisville Courier-Journal
 'sWhen was doing business in a very small way" remarked shrewd mer- chant. q advertised that I had no branch stores"
 "Well?'
 '.That made people think l was running a. classy shop, and pretty soon l was able to open branch stores. Seer
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22

 FIlIAL DEVOTION.

From Harper's Weekly.
 A southern Congressman tells of dar- ky in a Georgia town whose best quality is his devotion to his aged parent.
 Once the Congressman asked Pete why he had never married.
 Why, boss" exclaimed Pete, ''l's got an ole muddder. I had to do for her suh. Elf I don buy her shoes an stockins' she don git none. Now boss, y see, eff I was ter git married, I'd nave ter buy 'em fo' nah wife; an dat'd be takin' de shoes an stockins' right outer my ole mud der's mouf."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22

NOT AT ALL ORIGINAL. While he said he did Not care for show, He blithely stood
 In the spotlights glow And let 1t OCT
 His features play There are lots of chaps Who're built that wayl
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
THE KINGDOM OF CARE

THE KINGDOM OF CARE. In Shadow Land, in Shadow Land Where human hearts are broken, The clouds are ever lowering And griefs the only token. A universal sigh goes up
 To heaven still unheeding And hope is but dying star,
 Through mists of tears receding. In Shadow Land, in Shadow Land Are only withered blooms; No sunny smiles go rippling round Where pale-faced sorrow glooms. No song of bird, no lit of stream No mirth. no gladness there, But only wasted thralls who cry The accents of despair!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22

The interstate commission knows now it cannot investigate the Pullman company for it cannot make the porter shut off his forgetter.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22

Governor-elect Lilley was in such a hurry to honor Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., he made him a major on his staff before he was a citizen of Connecticut.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22

Congress has adjourned, and this has cut off all special messages until next month. This is almost as good as a Christmas present.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22

The "dry" states will need on January about as many waterwagon resolu- tions to the acre as the wet states.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22

Goyernor-elect Harmon of Ohio pro- poses to inaugurate revolution by riding on horseback in the parade formed to make him governor.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22
SOuARE.

Who plays the game with constant heart The world with hope imbuing; Nor ever plans in crowded mart
 A brothers swift undoing, May not get rich so rapidly
 As others we could name, But when the probe is probing he Won't have to bear the blame. The woes of malefactoring
 Are very hard to bear, And bsrbs of criticism sting
 The crooked millionaire. Although the wolf of poverty
 Is loafng round your door, Foil on and suffer honestly
 The pains of being poor
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22
snuNDED pECuLIAR.

''I heard a man talking yesterday about bifocals and tories"
 "Oh, that was eye-talk."
 I'm blest if I didn't think it was rye talk"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22

Speaker Cannon can at least be good until Congress meets again.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22

CASUS BELL. Good gracious! That's terrible fight. I wonder what started it?'' "The man on the bottom told tho man on top that he had awfully cute ways"
 CAN'T RESIST HIM. Fen though no gloom of sun or star illumes your weary way, Just make your peace with trouble and plod on from day to day. Who knows? Tomorrow fortune may un- bend and deign to smile She's bound to love 8 fellow who keeps hoping all the whilel
 NOT EXPECTING MUCH. What do you expect to get Christmas, MT. vodevil?" "Oh, the same old thing.'' And what is that?" "The hook"
 KEEP BUSY. Lift up your load and carry it. Don't let your spirits slump; A recipe for happiness Is keeping on the jump!
 A SAD ENDING. Did you hear the story of the cat
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22

Mr. Taft found wide-angle lens in New York and at once had his photo graph taken.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22

The aged Russian who burned up his fortune before his death knew what would happen to it if he tried to take it with him.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22

Castro occupied 35 rooms in a Berlin hotel, and he does not feel nearly so humble as the Kaiser does.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22

Christmas presents are not bought this year with clearing house certif- -cates. Do not forget a year ago.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22
SOON TO BE PARTED.

SOON TO BE PARTED. "A fool and his money, you say?' That's the pair" And the gentleman with the large dia- mond on his shirt front?'' "Oh, he will assist at the separa- tion !"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22

Mail your Christmas presents at once even if you have to write on them Not to be opened until Christmas day"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22

The President may issue the Daily Message when Congress meets after the holidays.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22

Uncle Sam is compelled from time to time to read up on the Monroe doctrine and if need be to apply it to all offend CTS.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22

Carrie Nation has been hooted in the hoot-mon country.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22

The President feels that the language is lacking in loud explosive words.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22

Johndee can get an injunction against almost anything except the toothache.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22
and the fiddle 9

ana luS lldui6
 NO. How did it end?" "The cat furnished the string.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22

The o. f. winter is prevailing in Can ada, and it may conclude to cross the line.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22

The surprise is that Venezuela had three vessels that could be seized by anybody.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22

Johndee's Christmas present comes in the form of a dividend $4,000,000 strong.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22

During the recess the President can accumulate subjects for special mes sages.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22

Libel suits do not as a rule ma terialize
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22

To thine own self be true, Thou cans't not then be false to any man. -hiamlet.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22
TWO POINTS OF VIEW.

TWO POINTS OF VIEW. 'sWhere is Easy street?" '"The optmist thinks it is just around the corner, but the pessimist feels sure that it is located on Mars or one of the more distant planets"
 REST FOR THE WEARY.
 Said Silas Reed,
 With a broken sob,
 ''The thing I need
 Is a gov ment job."
 CHEW YOUR FOOD. Oh. brother of the lightning lunch If you are wise You'll take a poor dyspeptic's hunch And f1etcherize!
 REPLIES. The Chicago gentleman who lived in a sewer makes MT. Diogenes look like a plu- tocrat.
 If hope did not spring eternal in the human breast the roulette wheels couldn't run.
 The saddest part of a plumbers life is to die during a cold snap when all the water pipes are freezing. Life is a queer tumble. The tragedy widow of today may be merry widow tomorrow. PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22


 GoYernor-elect Harmon of Ohio pro poses to inaugurate a revolution by riding on horseback in the parade formed to make him governor.
 
 The interstate commission knows now it cannot investigate the Pullman company, for it cannot make the porter shut off his forgetter | -------.s--
 Congress has adjourned, and this has cut off all special messages until next month. This is almost as good as Christmas present.
  The aged Russian who burned up his fortune before his death knew what would happen to it if he tried to take 1t with him.
 Mail your Christmas presents at once even if you have to write on them Not to be opened until Christmas day"
 Uncle Sam is compelled from time to time to read up on the Monroe doctrine and if need be to apply it to all offend CTS.
 Christmas presents are not bought this year with clearing house certifi- >cates. Do not forget a year ago.
 
 Castro occupied 35 rooms in a Berlin hotel, and he does not feel nearly so humble as the Kaiser does. MT. Taft found wide-angle lens in New York and at once had his photo graph taken.
 The President may issue the Daily Message when Congress meets after the holidays.
 Johndee can get an injunction against almost anything except the toothache
 The surprise is that Venezuela had three vessels that could be seized by anybody.
 Johndees Christmas present comes in the form of a dividend $4,000,000 strong.
 During the recess the President can accumulate subjects for special mes sages.
 The o. f. winter is prevailing in Can ada, and it may conclude to cross the line.
 The President feels that the language is lacking in loud explosive words. Speaker Cannon can at least be good until Congress meets again. Carrie Nation has been hooted in the hoot-mon country.
 
 Libel suits do not as rule ma terialize.
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1908-09-04
BARREL 300 FEET HIGH.
1t Is the Largest in Existence and
is Located in California.

JTp to a few weeks ago the monster hogshead at
Heidelberg Germany had the distinction of being the
largest barrel in the world. Touring Americans, fond
of the wonderful never left Germany without casting one
look into the barrel which could hold $4,000 gallons OF
LIQUID and next to the university at the ancient city the
big barrel was the proudes boast OF the sober Hedebeg
saws the New York Journal.
few days ago there completed on the St George
vine nursery in Fresno, Cal barrel which puts the
Heidelberg vessel completely into the shade While the
latter could contain possible 600 gallons the new one
in California can hold nearly double the number-19,OOO
lgallons- the greatest ease
The barrel stands thirty feet high in the center Of
meadow and its circumference is ninety-one feet Two
carloads of steel were required for the hoops and thirty
carloads of wine can be stored in the interior.
An idea o the ponderous dimensions OF this barrel may
be inferred from the fact that S 48 $40 bills would be
required to cover the sides of the barrel exclusive of the
top and bottom.
Il 23S men can link elbows at one time:
1t is futher calculated that if the timber used IN the
making of the barrel cut into strips of three inches
thickness and the ends of the strips fastened together
column could be erected three inches by three inches that
would pierce the clouds at distance Of two and half
miles from the ground.
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1908-09-04
Unintended Humor.
Pupils of Public Schools Make Some
Astonishing Statements.

Since wit has been defined by Noah Webster the
ecitous association OF objects not usually connected 50
AS to produce pleasant surprise may not the pupils
of public schools who gave the following answers 10 thelr
ya nnation questions lay claim to 1t? asks the Padel-
rhia American. The record here given IS bona hde, nav.
mo been read recently the graduation exercises OF one Oh
the leading grammar schools OF Boston,
''Who were the pilgrims!
"A dirty filthy set who lived under the ground.
''Name a domestic animal useful Tor clothing ana de
scribe its habits
The OK He don't have any habits, because he lives
in a stable. ,a
If you were traVelng across the desert "lete "oui
YOU choose TO rest!
II would rest on stool.
Mention five races Of men.
'Nlen woman, children and babies.
Describe the white and show that 1t IS superior
to other races o4. ,,,, on
"a white man Will nod at you When ne HeeIs 9ou vi
f.Of What is the surface Of the cath composed"
"Drt and people: +.
"Name a fruit which mas lIS seeu Oh ule oulo4ue'
"a seed cake
Name five forms Of water"
''Hot water cold water foucet water well water ana
ice water. e.,
The eyes in the northern part OF the lace ana Ie
mouth in the southern - o.
.'Wbo were the mound builders!
History cannot answer this question. Science on!
can.
..Flnch 10 shrink Flannel inches when 1t is washed
.sBy what is the earth surrounded and by what is i
lighted?'' ,,, l
lit is surrounded by water and lighted by gas and elec
trcity.
1sName six animals of the artic zone.
"Three polar bears and three seals
'sWhat is yeast?'
Yeast is vegetable flying about in the air, htchnE
itself onto anything IN. ILL
.Why do you open the hampers in stove while hight
ITO lei the oxygen in and the nitrogen out
..What did the constitution do for the country!
1T gave the president head" q,
What the last teeth that come " d iNdi'
"Fasetee "