davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-23
Chairman Mack'S Proposition

In these days of distraction and per haps division in the democratic party Chairman Norman Mack of the dem ocratic national committee comes for ward with a proposition that promises to fill the old party with new hopes by bringing it together and bridging all chasms. He proposes to select the next candidate for president and vice president in primaries.
 No doubt he proposes to do this by states-by instructed delegates who are to meet in a national convention, carry out their instructions, make a platform and adjourn. The people of New York are about to adopt a direct primary system and this induces MT. Mack perhaps to advocate the use of such system in 1912.
 But he mars his plan when he ad- vocates action by states. He may even fall in that way to secure a de- cisive vote. What is needed is a big referendum in which the democrats and anti-Cannonites and anti-Aldrich- ites-can select president without refer. ence to state lines. This Is a bold proposition, but it is case that calls for a movement that is frank nlain and emphatic. A big referendum Is democracy's opportunity.
 If there must be a platform and a new national committee let the states select as many delegates as they have members of Congress to meet for those purposes only.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-23
THE ADESTE FIDELEs.

From the Alabama Catholic.
 AS the "Adeste Fideles" is sung until Candlemas day. February 2, this word about it's origin will be interesting:
 Individual authorship the ''Adeste Fideles' may not have had. The atmos- phere of the monastic scriptorum breathes, however through its melodious strophes. It is in many respects unique in Christian hymnology. More than any other church song it blends prophecy, his- tory prayer, exultation and praise If it were printed side by side with the Nicene creed It would be found an astonishing versification of that august prose.
 Every line of the "Adeste'' is a casket of faith and love. Upon it's cadences many hours must have been spent for the crys- utilization of sublime truth into crisp and dazzling syllables. "Adeste," ap- proach; "f1deles." ye faithful; 'laeti," joyful; "triumphantes," victorious; "ve- nite," come; "adoremus," yet us adore, 'Dominum," the Lord.
 The hymn was sung on the continent in the Latin form, which was so musical that 1t is memorized almost without effort. It is found continuously from the middle of the seventeenth century. It is believed that in many centers of de- votion it was made also recitation, as if in oratorio. Plays drawn from Holy Writ were in vogue during the same period, and the 'Adeste Fideles'' would huve been congruous incident in either a passion play. miracle play or a Ma donna play. It was usual in these plays to introduce the folk melodies which in ever country have become the basis of the national music. As these plays were l gradually prohibited by the church on account of violations of strict decorum, 1 which insensbly crept fin, oratorio suc- ceeded to the vacated place, and many of the melodies disappeared or were 1 framed into new settings.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-23
A SENATORIAL PROPOSITION.

From the Austin Statesman
 The Birmingham Age-Herald, in speak ing of the contest for the United States Senate now on in Tennessee. says:
 Tt is Idle to say that MT. Dickinson of Illinois and Tennessee will have a walkover for that seat. Gen. Luke D. Wright may manage and the admlnistra- ton may look on approvingly. but 1t is plain the man who gets Senator Frazier's seat will know he has been through a scrimmage of large proportions.
 Party lines are not tense nowadays, but they are certainly tense enough to forbid man to step from Winona cab met to seat representing a state that is truly and consistently democratic. Ten nessee's democracy should not be doubted in that manner"
 The Age-Herald fails to note that Gen. Luke D Wright Is in every sense as un- democratic as Judge Dickinson. If the latter is disqualified by hls membership in the Taft cabinet the former is equally so by reason of his utilization with Roose- veltism, being twice appointed to impor- tant positions under MT. Taft's prede- cessor. and finally promoted to the same position in the cabinet which Judge Dick inson now holds. If Judge Dickinson is pledged to the A1drich-Payne tariff Gen. eral Wright openly and warmly indorsed MT Tafts policies as outlined in his Winona speech. If Judge Dickinson failed to support the nominee of the last na- tional democratic convention. General Wright has a record of non-support reaching back to 1896
 i The reelection of James B. Frazier or the election of Benton McMillan would not be revamping of old war issues Neither of these gentlemen was old enough to take part in the civil war, but both of them are old veterans in the service of the democratic party. Since at taining their majority these two gentle men have been on the firing line in every battle with the common enemy and neither has has ever missed an engage ment, lodged an issue or scratched a nominee. It does seem that a republican administration should not be called in to select the representative of a democratic state in the United States Senate.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-23
TRAGEDY PHOTOGRAPHS.
Moving Picture of the Assassination
 of Prince Ito In corea.

From the New York Evening Post.
 Poor, backward Russia has, as the phrase goes. America beaten to a stand stil for combined enterprise and luck as manifested in the moving picture bus mess.
 A Russian photographer has for ex- hibition film 500 feet long showing the assassination of Prime Minister Ito on the railway platform at Harbin- The merit of the picture is that it gives just what 1t purports to offer-no s10 8 week actor dressed up as the Japanese states man succumbing to the blank cartridges of a fellow actor in a Corean pyramid hat. but the actual tragic scene as it was enacted in Manchuria few months aga The photographic apparatus had been sci up to catch the details of the meeting between Prince Ito and the Russian finance minister, Kokovtsoff The ma chine bagged bigger gains than 1t count ed upon. Most probably this is the only photograph in existence of a real assas- sination.
 Whether the Japanese, after using the film as evidence in court will permit 1t to go on the market is doubtful. But, in any case. the moving picture man will now go about his business with a fresher enthusiasm than ever. When he photographs the czar driving in his carriage there is always the chance of an unexpected bomb. When he follows the aeroplanes flight there is always the possibility of break and sud den swoop downward-subjects which he willing to enact.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-23
Buy ihe Red Cross StamnS

Every package and every letter should this week at any rate bear a Red Cross stamp. These stamps bear the red Geneva cross in the center surrounded by green holly wreaths. There are one-cent and two-cent stamps, and no Christmas parcel should be sent out that does not carry one of these stamps.
 These stamps are sold to promote the great crusade against the white plague, the chief disease of this coun- try and this climate. Scientists say that tuberculosis can be exterminated, and the civilized world is trying to ac- complish the task. Each year deepens the impression that the dread disease can be conquered and driven out. Every Red Cross stamp sold furnishes ammunition in the great battle, and every gift in this city should bear one of the humanitarian stamps in addition to the regular postage.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-23
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
The Christmas Tide.

T once read a newspaper article about the term Christmas day and Easter Sun day, in which the author said that Christ mas was sufficient without the word day and that Easter meant only Eas- ter Sunday said churchman. "Ths writer seemed to think 1t strange that people would fall into such a careless mistake as to imagine that Christmas could mean any day in this part of the world but the 18th of December,
 Now. the fact is that Christmas Is often used in a general way to denote the christmastide. which begins on De- cember 9 and extends to Epiphany, Jam uary s. Christmas season then is one thing and Christmas day Is another. The Boundaries of the Catholic church refer to the mass for Christmas day. It is the same way with Easter. We have Easter tide and Easter Sunday, Easter Monday, etc."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-23
Selecting Senators In Primaries

Ever since the days of Morgan and Pettus Alabama democrats have se- lected their United States senators in primaries. What was good in those days has ever since held good, and the successors of John Tyler Morgan and Edmund Winston Pettus were selected by the people in like manner. This practice in the democratic party of Alabama is therefore well determined and well settled, and no doubt the state committee will observe and con- tinue this excellent democratic plan when 1t meets in Montgomery on Jan- uary "A. Captain White does not specifically mention the selection of a candidate for United States senator when he explains the call for a meet ing of the state committee, although he does cover the subject when he says 'the last state democratic platform de- clared in favor of holding a primary election for ALL state and county off
 cers on the same date" An United States senator is state officer, al though he is paid by the federal gov. ernment He is one of the states representatives selected by the state to serve in its name at Washington.
 Tho stats committee should. how eEeR bo mess speoi1o thau Oaptain
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-23

White was in his statement, for it should expressly summon the dem ocratic voters to select a candidate for United States senator as well as for other state officers.
 This is an excellent time to strengthen the primary system and fully establish it in the respect of United States seantors Senator Bank. head seems to have no opposition, and the fact that he will probably be re- elected to the Senate without opposi- tion affords good opportunity to give the primary system a deeper grip.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-23
A Soberino Sauce.

'The proprietor of a popular cafe patronized by ladies and children has dis covered a sobering sauce for accidental trunks" said a patron of the place.
 q was taking a late meal there a few nights ago and there came in a travelling man with his sample cases. He had evidently been exposted to rough weather all day and had probably braced him. self against the cold by taking an oc- casional nip from the bottle--I have done this myself many a time on long rides through sleet or snow in North Carolina. The customer seated himself at a ta- ble and ordered Q meal which included fried oysters. In few minutes his head fell over on his arms, which he had rested upon the table. and when his order was served he was sound asleep. In vain did the proprietor try to arouse him. I insisted that he be let alone for a short time. at least. and then reused up. After short while he was awakened and told to eat the hot oysters. We'll, they were hotl The cafe man had sprinkled about half bottle of tobasco sauce on them. This dose with a cup of hot cof- fee righted ship for the water-logged fellow. He went out with his mouth wide open like thirsty hppopotamus on dry land. and blowing steam like q boiler when the water is low.
 After one has been exposed to se- were cold and gets into a very warm room drowiness is felt. If stimulants have been used steadily for some hours the drowsiness that comes in a warm rooms is irrestible''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-23
Where the Knox Policy Is Leading Us

Madriz has been sworn in, and Estrada, encouraged by Mir Knox s marines, is marching on victoriously toward the capital Confusion is fast becoming worst confounded in Nicara- qua, but Secretary Knox and the Taft administration continue to hurry troops to or near Nicaragua.
 What does all this mean? Are we about to seize Nicaragua and the rest of Central America as the logical re- suit of the action of MT. Knox against zelaya? Can any American hobo or promoter cause us to interfere as a people in the affairs of any govern ment too weak to object?
 If this is to be the American plan hereafter. American spectators and concession hunters can be trusted to furnish excuses for interference, and Mir. Knox will have all the business he can attend to all the way from the Rio Grande to Cape Horn.
 A Ballinger in an administration is pretty bad, but a bumptious Secretary of State is still worse. The Zelaya hurry has committed this country to a policy that has no end, and that may cost this country many millions, and that will achieve no permanent result beyond creating profound distrust in the breast of all Latin-American people.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-23
GREATER BIRMINGHAM.

From the Walkor Couuty NeWs'
 The supreme court of Alabama yester- day rendered an opinion holding that tho act creating a Greater Birmingham stands without mar or blemish.
 Birmingham therefore is to enjoy very happy Christmas. for on January the municipality spreads its wings and takes in Ensley, Pratt City, Wylann, Cleveland. Graymont, Elyton, West End, North Bir- p1ingham, East Birmingham, Avondale. woodlawn and East Lake. These will furnish an estimated population of 10000 for Birmingham to enter upon the federal census book for 1910.
 All patriotic Alabamians are deeply in- terested in Birmingham and rejoice ex- ceedingly at her wonderful growth. This growth is bound to afford an overflow and Jasper, her closest-by sister. is to receive generous proportion of this won- derful development.
 uinRham.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-23
"LovE IN THE VALLEY"

By George Meredith. Mother of the dsws, dark eys-lashed twt-
 light,
 Low-lidded twilight. o'er the valleys
 brim. Rounding on thy breast sings the dew- lighted skylark. Clear as though the dewdrops had their voice In him; Hidden where the rose-nush drinks the
 rayIess planet Fountain full be yours tho spraying
 fountain showers, Let me hear her laughter. would have
 her ever Cool as dew in twilight. the lark above
 the hewers. All the girls are out with their baskets
 for the primrose; Up lanes. woods through, they troop in
 joyful bands, My sweet leads;. she knows not why.
 but now she loiters. Eyes the bent anemones, and hanrs
 her hands. Such look will tell that the violets
 are peeptng, Coming the rose; and unaware q crv Springs in her bosom for odors and for
 color,
 Covert ana tho nightinsals; sas knevu
 1ot W&U
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-23
THE COWARD COP.

From the Washington Post.
 No matter how trenchsnt or epigram- mattc may be the Chicago policeman who refused to risk his life in arresting murderer. his explanation of his con- any part of the country with tumultuous applause The American people do not like . coward. They do not like quit ter or a welsher. It is one of the most characteristic traits of the American that he will even smile at wickedness If it is brave enough, while be will curse a virtue that Is cowardly. When his su- periors told him he was discharged for cowardice, the policeman blithely said:
 I'd rather be live coward than e dead hero. don't care to take chances on getting shot for s75 a month. I'm not afraid of any living man if I can get an even break But I'm not stop ping murderers when I know they have got the drop on me. I don't know much about shooting irons. but do know it is better to have peo- pie say. There he goes than Here he lies.'"
 
 ton is the first law of nature. there may be considerabl common sense in the epigrams of the Chicago policeman But 1t will take something more than com mon sense to protect this policeman from tho scorn of his fellows. The present case only serves, however, to emphasize the infrequency of acts of cowardfce on the part of the men who enter cahinss where courage is required.
 In the big cities all kinds of charges are made time and again against the police force, but scarcely ever is cow ardice among the indictments. Every day there is some new demonstration of the average policeman's courage And the people will put up with many delin- quencies because of this fact.
 Nor are all the heroes confined to the police and fire departments or to the army and navy. The streets are filled with untried heroes. They do not even know they are heroes, some of them. but when the call comes they respond with out hesitation. Every now and then, when some terrible fire, mining dis aster, or shipwreck occurs. a dozen he- roes are revealed. In fact, there is scarce ly any calamity without its quota of he- roes. Naturally this doesn't mean that the heroes of tho world just happen to be standing around waiting for an accident and chance to prove their bravery. It means simply that wherever men live he roes are to be found. And for every hero there is usually . heroine. although usu- ally the woman's bravery h less sensa- tional, and therefore Less likely to be- come generally known.
 Most policemen. nremen. soldiers and sailors, with wonderful stoicism. regard risking their lives as part of their busi- ness. Moreover, 1t is theory which they live up to in practice. The Chi- caxo policeman's self confessed cowardics is simply . striking exception to the general rule. He may value his life above all else, but most other men. esps- cially those whose sworn duty 1t h 10 arrest criminals. plaoe higher esti- mate on their honor.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-23
LEOPOLD AND THE LADIES

many years they virtually lived apart, and when she died she took a fling at the King in her will. Two clauses of the in- strument read:
 My little all, consisting chiefly of money given by my father, the Palatine. and an. inheritance from my mother and grandmother of Wurtemburg. must be di- vided into four shares according to thu Belgian law-one for each of my threa daughters. and the fourth remaining at my disposition.
 According to my marriage contract I should also have the right to dispose of my dowry of 100000 Austrian forins Cs1oo. = o0o). I have not touched one centime of either this money or the interest accru- ing from it. I declare that all attempts to discover traces of this dowry remained without result"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-23
BETWEEN VARIATIONS.

From the Amarillo (Tex) News.
 A Detroit judge the other day looked sharply at . woman who was before him asking for . divorce. ana then said; T recognize you. gave you divorce mol quite three years ago. It was for cruelty Tn less than a year you take up another man. marry him after months ac- ouaintancs. live with him two mcntha, and then apply for another divorce won't hear your case. You'll have to go to some other judge" The woman went' and the other judge gave her tue divorce, rt seenas that her second husband used to chase her with a shotgun whom he got drunk-which was 70 often that there wal hardly time to do the housswork between NauatheoG.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-23

ought to feel the great responsibility that inevitably goes with the selection of men. Perfection In this will never be attained, but should be always sought. The men who never make mistakes are those who attempt nothing. Fortunate are we. indeed, to be generally right, and certain are we. indeed, to be often wrong,n
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-23
Jacksonvllle,s Whisky Traffic.

''I came from Jacksonville to Birmfng- ham and the train was on was nearly two hours behind time owing to the fact that at every station in Alabama a longer stop than usual had to be made to dis charge innumerable packages of whisky, P said J. M Rathborne of St. Louis. Jack sonville has large whisky traffic and it seems that a considerable part of its trade is in Alabama. This being the holi- day season shipments into this prohibition state are exceedingly brisk
 If the Alabama legislature, in voting statewide prohibition. had made an ex- ception in favor of wholesale liquor deal- CTS the quality of liquor consumed would not have been greater than it is now and several million dollars that go out ot Alabama for whisky, wine and beer would have been kept in circulation at home. Il
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-23
TERRIBLE TEoDYs TEETH.

From the Pensacola Journal.
 Ex-President Roosevelt fears dinner in- vitations in Europe more than he did lions in the jungle.-B Birmingham Age-Herald. Why so? He's got the teeth to handle any quantity of dinnersi
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-23
VENICE, GAL.
Az Different from It's Namesake as
 from Other Cities.

From the Louisville Courier-Journal.
 The town of Venice. Cal. has no streets- Neither has 1t a canal system like that of the original Venice. It Is a seaside vil- lage, 16 miles from Los Angeles. and its founders conceived an innovation which has proved popular. vehicular traffic is confined to the alleys. There really are no streets, such as are known in other cities.
 In the place of the street. Venice has the center walk. All the short streets leading from the ocean front are con- stz1acted on this plan. They are merely broad, concrete walkways. As no wagons are allowed on them there is no occasion for sidewalks. Children may play on these center walks at will. and as long as they please, without the fear of being injured by passing vehicles or horses. Twenty-foot alleys abut on tho rear of all lots fronting on the center walks. De- livery wagons carriages. automobiles horseback riders and what not must needs use the alleys. The streets. or center faiks are for the use of pedestrians only.
 The plan is ono that is particularly adapted to resort towns where the de- mands of traffic are not heavy. It is not improbable that it will be extensively copied in future in the building of towns where the resort feature is paramount One notable advantage of 1t is that the alleys are likely to be kept in better con- dition than is the case in other towns where they arc not so much used. Nat urally it also would tend to, the beauti- fication of back yards and thus to moro beautiful and moro sanitary town.
 The California vsnetians have laid . new pattern in civic improvement and one that will be hard to equal or eclipse by the villages of the future, even in regions ambitious to be known as the uaffnr,sa DlavgruInd
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-23
REFLECTIONS OF A BAcHELoR.

From the New York Press
 No news Is mighty bad news when it's a letter with check in it that you are expecting.
 It's queer when women are naturally go much honester than men they can be so much more deceitful
 Nobody understands any one thing well enough to realize he doesn't understand something else better.
 There's nothing makes a man think how dull life Is like going to bed carly no nattsv how UnGh V vau1D C
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-23

ROMANTIC STILL. Silver locks were golden. Faded eyes were blue, Grandma in the olden Days was pretty Sue. Grandpa was her lover My, but what beauf Still he sees above her A spray of mistletoe. Forty years have wended Down the vale of time, Years while they've befriended, Left a winter riIne. What if youth be wanting7 Love is ever new. Grandpa's still gallantins, Grandma's pretty Sue"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-23

The Christmas crowds of those who would not or could not shop early are thickening, but let no one be dis mayed by them. AIS well that ends we'll
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-23

Dr. Cook probably had in mind the saying of the late P. T. Barnum, "Peo- pie like to be humbugged." He doubt less thought at least that the world could take a joke. He now realizes the difference between a mere joke and an imposter.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-23

Leonard Wood will not stop going up He will expect the grade of lieutenant-general to be revived for his benefit, and all presidents seem to court his favor.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-23

Carrie Nation has left intensive farming in Arkansas to take up the task of intensive bottle smashing in Washington
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-23

The rubber gatherers in the Congo will not wear crape for the late King Leopold, nor will they stop to shed tear