davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14
0regon'S Remarkable Primary

The Oregon senatorial situation is due to the Oregon constitution made and sanctioned by republican voters. Under this constitution each party names in it's primary it's choice for Senator, and then at the state election in June the two party nominees run against each other and the one who receives the highest vote is named to the legislature as the choice of the state, and the members of the legisla- ture sign Statement No. 1, thereby obligating themselves to respect the will of the people in the matter of selecting a Senator.
 George E. Chamberlain, a demo- crat, became the choice of the state for Senator. He had twice been elected governor, and the state in all that time was true to the republican party. The state remained true to Taft for Presi- dent, but the majority of the people desired to send MT. Chamberlain to the Senate, and so far as the record goes they still desire to send him there.
 The people cannot elect a Senator. but they can suggest man to the legislature. Any one can do that. There is no illegality, no unconstitu- tionality, in a suggestion, and none in Statement No. 1. Nor will it do to say that a vote in favor of MT. Taft reversed vote in favor of MT. Cham berlain.
 All claims of few republican poli- ucians in Oregon are mere pretenses, and they are denounced as freely by
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14
IN HOTEL LOBBlES
The Music Festival.

Subscribers to the stock of the Birming- ham Music Festival association. and those who wish to become subscribers, are ex- pected to attend a meeting this afternoon at o'clock al the Commercial club for the purpose of effecting a permanent or ganization.
 ''No musical enterprise in Birmingham has ever oeen taken hold of with such Iublic-spirited promptness or enthusiasm as this movement for establishing music festival as aI annual institution said . business man. Everybody who has been asked to subscribe has responded readily"
 The first festival is to be given next spring-May 3, and 5. Nordiea, Reed Miller and Madame Jomelli will be among the soloists, and the Damrosch orchestra will be one of the great attractions
 There will be six performances in all- five public concerts and one free concert for school children exclusively.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14
SOUR OH MATRlMONY.
John L. Sullivan Plagarizes shermans
 Definition of War.

Chicago Dispatch to the New York
 World
 John L. Sullivan, once the champion of all heavyweights, told Judge Barnes Wednesday the story of an unhappy mar riage and obtained a divorce. John L. testified that he was married May 1, 1883, and his wife now lives in Centerville, R. I. They separated September B. 1884. He charged desertion and improper con- duct.
 T don't want that woman to have my bones, said John L. "She may outlive me, but if I die I want a decent Cath ollie burial by blood relatives. I've al- ways fought shy of divorce courts on account of my religion, but there is a was young and foolish and didn't exer- else judgment In my choice.
 The gladiator was a picture of health. '1've been on the water cart for four years now and I've won back money and self-respect. Pm a new man and I will never take another drink. I've killed the desire by auto suggestion and faith in myself.
 "Matrimony is the ideal state for man If he gets in right. But if he gets in like I did, it's h.
 Sullivan Is now educating a half dozen nieces and nephews.
 Judge Barnes shook hands with Suli- van when he was introduced by Attorney P. w. Sullivan, and after hearing his testimony and that of Frank Hall, grant ed the decree
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14
Was Hunting the "stilI."

Asking to be put off at the still an intoxicated sor of Ham, with mous- tache and a whisky bottle, mounted a Twentieth street loop this afternoon at 3.40 o'clock, said street railway man.
 He was not disorderly as he slept in the warm car. and at every point on the route where a nickel is demanded he aroused himself sufficient length of time to liberate a coin from his jeans, and put il into the hands of the conductor.
 -Four trips about the loop rode the slumberlng negro, and it was o'clock when the conductor reached the con- clusion tha. the still had been reached. So at Averue F and Twelfth street the negro was aroused and notified that he Lad reached his destination.
 '"without T word of protest the man arose from his seat and stepped to the vestibule. As he dsmounted quart bot tie of whisky tottered from his pocket and was smashed into thousands Of pieces. He then made off for the still "
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14
MISS KATHARINE ELKlNS

visiting card, Miss Ellsins found herself launched into society without the slight est interruption to the normal healthy life she loves and has always lived. AS a member of the Orange County Hunt club she has spent much time with her three English hunters in Virginia, but also keeps several horses in Washington where her own particular den in her h street home contains scores of ribbons, blue and red, which she has won at the various horse shows throughout the south, where the aristocracy of the land is always to be found in the saddle,
 Although more closely identified with Washington and the brand new town of Elkins, in West Virginia, this daughter of the latter state has in her veins the blood of the old south, her grandmothers and great-grandmothers being "colonial danes" in the literal sense, just as her mother is today one of the social lights of the "Colonial Danes of America the Daughters of the Revolution" and the "Society of Colonial Governors" In fact there is no patriotic society in America basing it's membership on distinguished lineage to which Miss Katherine Elkins Is not eligible, her early ancestors hav- ing been prominent in the council cham bers of Maryland and Virginia 200 years ago, just as her father and grandfather have been in the present day.
 While she will undoubtedly have large fortune to take to Italy, 1t will be no larger than had the man of her choice been from Boston or from San Francisco, the question of settlement never having assumed any importance in this greatest romance of the century.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14
Rooks for Children.

"Time was when books for children were of an indifferent class" said a man who takes much interest in little folks. "Today the most artistic sort of work is turned out for the young sters. Not only the paper but the binding and the pictures are of the very highest quality. The finest illus trators in the world are working on pictures for child stories and gift books for little ones. Although the quality has been improved the price has been reduced.
 q notice in an English journal that among the best sellers of the present season are our own Buster Brown and Alice in Wonderland Picture books have the call, and Teddy Bears is also a big seller for our young cous- ins of the Isles, Mother Goose Rhymes illustrated by the celebrated artist, John Hassell, holds the front in the old country, according to the booksel- lers"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14
LOVE MAKING IN IRELAND

of it with us Then most parishes had their matchmaker.
 With careful eye she watched leach slip of a girl growing" she ferreted out the girls fortune, how much money, land and cattle would be coming to her, and then she put the girl upon offer before fathers Of the parish possessed of sons whom they wished to see settled. After that the bringing together of the heads of both houses for a comparison of dowries was 2 simple matter. The parents of the girl must know exactly what duties will be required of the daughter they are parting with, and what kinds and quantity of work she will be called upon to perform. Here there is fine scope for difference.
 q see." said girls indignant parent, when, having heard the claims of the op- rosite party, which included an amazing number of duties more fitted for mascu- line than tender womans-'I see, it isn't Q wife your son wants at all, but donkey. Good night to ye, and good luckl'
 An Irish boy marries when he has rid house, and an Irish girl just when she pleases. Sometimes she so pleases while yet her years are few; at other times she is content to wait upon wisdom. In the latter ce.se, of course, she makes wise choice; but in the former almost always a lucky one-for luck is the guar ejan angel of the Irish.
 Falsifying the statement of the libellers (who say that in Ireland these things are always done by proxy), our boys act up to the belief that with courting as with hair cutting, you must be there yourself if you want it well done.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14
Younu Washers Mashed.

"I called down two young mashers today" said a policeman noted for his gallantry.
 q noticed two very sorry Willie Boys crossing the street to head off two young misses. They crowded in front of the girls and one half lifted his hat, but the girls did not seem to appreciate the salute or the attempts to cultivate their acquaintance. I con- cluded to follow up the mashers a short ways. On another street, when they again made an attempt to attract the attention of the girls called the chaps down good and hard. At first one de- nied lifting his hat; then he said he did it unconsciously. I warned them that l had been keeping an eye on them, and would do so yet, and that the next time they tried their nerve I'd bail them to Judge Feagln."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14
seumas MacManus in LippincOtt's.

Seumas MacManus in Lippincott's.
 IN Ireland love making, like Molshie
 McGrath's griddle bread is never A done-at least, until the boy meets the girl of his final choice. Then he eschews wooing which was his pastime and pre- pares himself for wedding, soberly and se- rlously, as befits the momentous under taking Ha bids goodbye to fun and frolic, fair faces, and delightful meetings at the market, and takes on a look of care and fortitude. After marriage, when ne has become habituated to the new as pect of affairs. he will relax, and woo hls wife, making rich amends for his previous absent-mindedness. This woong differs from all former ones, inasmuch as this is done for home happiness, while those were simply followed for fun.
 I have often heard an Irish boy say 'It's not the girl I court that I'll marry this because, though in courtship he was partial to the girl who loved nonsense for the serious business of life he want cd sense-and probably pence; whilst she whom he courted may have been poor as a starved partridge. Do not think, though that even the staid and the sordid ones (who, after all, form only small pro- portion of our boys) look for sense and pence only; they like appearance as well. I remember Johnny Donnigan, who had married for money, making complaint Cwhen asked how he liked his wife) "She's a likely woman enough for week day. but a sorry show for Sunday"
 We have some match-maBing in Ireland still. n years gone by there was more
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14
HuMBLEsT PEASANTS IN WORLD,

From Harper's Weekly.
 Bulgaria is the land of the peasant. He thrives there under conditions that would not be tolerated in many European countries, and yet he is satisfied with his lot, no matter how humble it may be. The chief reason for this contentment lies In the fact that there are few rich men among the landowning class with whom the peasant might contrast his lowly sta- tion in life. The large landowner is practically unknown in Bulgaria, and the few who are moderately wealthy are nearly all of foreign birth or descent. The statement was recently made by a banker in Sofia that he did not believe there were 50 men in the rural districts who possessed an annual net income of s500o
 It would be difficult to find a Bulgarian Slav who does not own the little plot of ground which he cultivates. These small landowners comprise the vast majority of the total population, and they have grown up from childhood expecting and desiring no other mode of life. Peasants in comparatively well-to-do circumstances often sleep upon mats stretched out on the bare fioor the entire family occupy ing a single room. Dirt Is prevalent, and the ordinary sanitary arrangements are unknown, but the children reared under such adverse conditions grow up to be wonderfully sturdy and healthy. The very plainest of food is eaten and the cloth ing varies but little. Sheepskin is the customary garment throughout the year, and indictment weather merely necessi- tates the wearing of the coat inside out. Bulgaria is truly an exponent of ''the simple life"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14
WHAT'S IN A NAME.
the Boston Herald

From the Boston Herald.
 Two young men walked into a restau- rant receatly, picked up the menu and read this:
 Bear steak, s2."
 At once they lost interest in every thing else and instructed the waiter to bring them each a bear steak.
 The waiter did.
 For while they eat in silence. Then one looked at the other.
 Say what do you think of it?"
 ''Oh, pretty good--not bad at all."
 "Quite-quite interesting sort of stuff, isn't it?''
 Mighty interesting"
 Then they munched in silence for a little while longer Suddenly he who lad spoken first burst into laughter
 Look hera, old man." he exclaimed, 'if this was plain steak and cost 50 cents we'd think it was the llmit!''
 ''We would" agreed his companion, pushing his plate.
 And they ordered cold roast beef
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14
From Human Life.

From Human Life
 N&N Iss ELKINs, by her marriage IVl to prince %sn.a of r,, r|gal occupy ~"a place in the worlds history heretolore undreamed of by any daughter or re- public, for never before has royalty come a-wooing to Washington and the moun- tains of West Virginia. The future Duchess of the Abruzzi Is the youngest of the seven children of Senator Stephen B. Elkins, the only daughter by his sec ond marriage and granddaughter or former Senator Henry Gassaway Davis. As one of the children of the Harrison administration, when her father was sec retary of War, she may be said to nave begun her social career in the nursery and have grown up in official society. She is just 22 and consequently l3 years younger than her royal suitor. Except for frequent periods of foreign travel with her parents, she has passed all her life in Washington and West Virginia, having been educated in the private schools of the capital and by her gov ernesses and masters. She is distinctly an outdoor beauty, neither dark nor fair, with an abundance of brown hair, reg ular features and the most fascinating of dimples. She is supposed to have made her debut in the winter of 1905. No dinner dance, afternoon tea or even ing reception marked the event, for the simple reason that she refused to par ticipate in any such ceremony. A num- Der of handsome gowns had been ordered in Paris the summer before, so by the simple process of having her name en-
 graved with that of her mother on a
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14
SATISFACTORY.

From the Bohemian Magazine.
 Stern Officer Con German frontier)- Passport, sir!
 Gentle Graduate of Yale-Jerushy John! Forgot ell about--that is didn't know I had to show it here l-well--hold on! Herel Produces a be-ribboned and be- sealed document) Here you are at last. Excuse me; I didn't know you were the proper officer.
 Officer Crying to read the Latln)--Ha! (Returns sacred parchment.) Yis, sare! sufficient! Accuse mi! It is of the high royal household. Special envoy. Much apolge. Houury! Go at once.
 Graduate (relieved)-Great Scott! That was a close shave. That's the best thing Yale diploma ever did for me.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14
Briefly myself remember.
 king Lear
Uncle Sam'S Interest Bearing Debt

No one cares what the non-interest- bearing debt of the country is, for it Is not a bit burdensome, at least at present The non-interest-bearing debt is really very large, including greenbacks, certificates and treasury notes. It totals about $2,500,00O,0O0 against which are various credits that materially reduce the amount. Be this part of the public debt large or small, no one gives it any attention because it imposes no burdens on the people.
 The issue of s3O,0O0,00O or more in Panama bonds carries the interest bearing debt to $915,O00 ,OO0. Of this sr~1 s729,000,000 bears but per cent in interest, while $64,O0O,0OO are 31a's and $120,OO0.OoO are As. The latter will soon become due and payable and they will doubtless be converted into 2-per-cents. Chr debt will then prac. tically be on that basis and the debt of no other nation is carried at so low a rate.
 The annual interest charge is now about s22,500,000, and the refunding of lne 4-per-cents would pull 1t below $20,O0O,000--a mere bagatelle to a country as large and rich as this is.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14
The Stock Market.

Henry Clews in his weekly review of financial conditions, under Saturdays date, says in part:
 ''The artificial character of the stock market is no longer to be concealed. Ma n.pulation has now controlled the move nlent of prices for many weeks, and at no time has it been so apparent as during the week just closed. In the effort to stimulate buying first one and then an- other of the second and third rate stocks were jerl1Si up, but without any satisfac- tory results. These spasmodic movements seemed to accomplish little except to ex- cite further opposition against the attempt to carry prices still higher at this time. Apparently the market has been pulled all most to a standstill.
 Investors look askance at the prices which the best stocks are bringing, be- cause they find no attractive offerings and seem inclined to await a reaction. New issues of importance are pending, and these if offered at suitable figures are re- oeiving the investors preference. Whether the January investment demand will be as brisk as dsuai or not remains to be seen. The amou It of funds seeking investment will certainly be larger than year ago, and may De larger than usual; but, If the disposition 10 postpone purchase continues as strong as ct present, the market will lack this important element of support. Much will depend, of course, upon the de- velopment in business. Meanwhile the speculative buyer faces decidedly conflict ine conditions"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14
JUST A TAMER OF LIONS.

From the New York Times.
 He was a giant of man and brought meek-looking little woman before the magistrate and shamelessly charged her with cruelty. He de- scribed her in no measured language as being uncomfortable and incorri- gible.
 The magistrate looked the big fell low all over and glanced at the meager partner of his joys and finally asked:
 What line of business do you fol- low?"
 q am a lion tanner" he replied proudly
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14
A Perfect Day.

"A most perfect day was this Sunday just closing said man last night whose heart turns 10 nature for solace in time of trouble.
 "The very nectar of pure life was poured from the inverted bowl whereunder we move and dwell for the while. One could walk on t;4e heights and with heart and scul Aattend. hear the Choir Invisible chanting natures offerings to the God of the universe How sweet it was to live; to walk abroad and feel the rich glow of life in ones blood; and feeling to lift ones thoughts in silent praise to Him who giveth us the perfect day as He shall some day give us the perfect life if we ask Him and obey His laws"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14
WHAT TROUBLED HIM.

From Pick-Me-Up.
 An old 1aborer walked into the luxuri- ous studio of an artist and asked for money to obtain meal, as he was too weak to work
 The artist gave him a shilling, and then, seeing possibilities for a sketch in the queer old fellow, said
 "Pll give you half dollar if you'll let me paint you"
 "Sure,'' said the man, tits an easy way to make moneq, but-but I'm won- derin' how I'd get 1t off.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14
Indiana Almost Democratic

In the general disaster that overlook the democratic party in November h. diana became a hopeful spot on the map. The state that gave Mckinley a plurality of 1S,O0O in 1896 and of 26.- 900 in 1900, gave Roosevelt plurality of 94.000 in 1904, and yet in 1908 Taft got there a meagre plurality of 10,7SI. Watson, the republican nominee for governor, was defeated, and several congressional districts elected demo- crats. The state is now considered more democratic than republican. The hopes that had arisen of a revolution in the middle west were nearly realized in the Hoosier state.
 The republicans are endeavoring to ascertain what the matter is in h. diana. Some say Gompers did it. Others say Watsons known affiliations with the standpatters in Congress did, willie the rest think the prohibition issue should bear the blame. What ever did it, the state is now considered at least doubtful, and the democratic legislature will soon meet to elect a democratic United States Senator.
 The situation in Indiana is extreme ly interesting to the republicans. They are disturbed by it, and they begin to wonder If the Indiana revolution is to spread beyond the bounds of that state.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14
 HE SAW THE CIRCUS.

From Judge.
 When Senator Platt of New York was a little shaver" he was one of a group of small boys outside the tent of "the greatest show on earth,' when the circus was making one Of It's stops at Owego, N. Y. A kind old man, standing near the group, noticed the wistful look on the entire group. Stepping up to the gatekeeper, the man said, Count them.'
 The ticket taker tols the boys to pass in, and when the last one was in side the tent, he called out, "Eighteen."
 The kind old man said, q did guess right" and walked off,
 The senator still likes to tell this story of his boyhood days.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

From the New York rress.
 The difference between a porous plaster and your relatives is 1t doesn't stick after 1t wears out.
 What a man regrets about money he squanders one way Is he can't also squan- der it another.
 The less a man talks to people about how devoted he Is to a girl the more she'll do it for him.
 woman couldn't help forgiving bur glar who stopped on his way out to kiss the baby in its crib.
 The meanest thing about two people ex- changing presents Is the way each of them goes figuring how much worse he came out of the bargain.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14
IMMORTALITY.

By Matthew Arnold. Rolled by our fellow men, depressed, out
 worn, We leave tho brutal world to take it's
 way; And, patiencai In another life, We say, The world shall be thrust down. and we
 upborne. And w..l nor, then, the immortal armies
 scorn The worlds poor routed leavings? or will
 they, Who failed under the heat of this life's
 day, Support the fervors of the heavenly
 morn? No, no! The energy of life may be Kept on after the grave, but no begun; And he who Jagged not in the earthly
 strife, From strength to strength advancing
 only he. His soul well knit, and all his battles
 won, Mounts, and that hardly, to eternal life.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14

the best republican papers as by the democratic journals. The law of the state, and, better still, the will of the people of Oregon will be respected, and We will soon witness the spectacle of a republican legislature sending to Washington a democratic Senator. It will be a wholly new departure in American politics.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14
WHAT'S THE ANSWER?
from the Independent.

From the Independent.
 At Bryn Mawr the girls went to the extent of having parades and chocolate creams in honor of the candidate they were going to vote for. The republican parade was second only to the demo- cratic.
 "Histv' said the socialists. Are they getting ahead of us? We, too, must nave a parade"
 Four girls appeared at the prearranged moment, bearing banner we want Debs."
 A democratic girl saw this and inquired, "What are Debs?"