davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-20

where Gringe creek runs every way save
uphill. and for a minute or two the man
was lost In the engineer. When he spoke
again it was in gentle depreciation of the
vice presidents martinetism.
"Of course. Maj. Lockhart was within
his rights in landing on me. But some
things which are quite justifable are not
always cxpedient. This is rough coun-
try, with rough work to be done in i.
and the men who do the work are not
always mindful of dr.ss-parade regula-
TONS
1t was at this conjuncture that Althea' s
preconceived ideas of workingman 5
point of view went to pieces. She was
modern enough to be able to set aside the
conversations when the occasion demand
ed; and she had true woman's disre-
gard Of social distinctions based on the
lines of a mans occupation. But she could
not disguise the fact that she had meant
to placate Orman as she would have
tried 20 placate John the gardener. or
Thomas the coachman. if her uncle had
browbeaten the one or the other. And
she was finding it blankly impossible.
You make me wish I hadn't said any
IQlnS, she ptOIcStcOs QultS iuLiDiy, dh"
then she blushed little in Difference to 4
certai maidenly shame for having opened
a door of familiarity which she did not
know how to shut again.
But afterward she remembered that the
solemn-faced young man had not taken
advantage Of the opened door. On the
contrary, he had stopped talking when
she did; and some few minutes later.
when he had brought the engine to a
shuddering stand at the little station OF
Undercliffe. he had signed to Brockton
to come and take her down from the
box.
WHO is Mr.. Orman. Cousin Balm
bridge?" was the question she asked of
Brockton that evening. while they were
watching the moon come up over the
hunched shoulder Of Gringo mountain
from the piazza OF the inn.
Brockton got up and fiicked the ash of
his cigar over the piazza railing to gain
time. He was not sure how much It
would be advisable to tell her.
He used to be a sort of fourteen fifteen
puzzle when I knew him in the university.
and he seems to be keeping 1t up yet" he
replied guardedly. He was two years
ahead Of me. and in the scientific. SO /
didn't see very much Of him..
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-20

and the altar because the man had told
her he had been cut oct of his fathers
will.
Such thoughts were not altogether pleas
ant, and she was rather glad when Brock
ton flung his cigar away and came in from
the platform to draw up a chair beside
her.
Enjoying the scenery by height and
depth?" he said. making idle talk. as was
his want
Yes and no; not as much as I should
If we were going toward 1t instead D:
running away from IT," she rejoined.
1T is disappointing to catch feetins
glimpses Of it just as it is vanishing"
The vice president had been closeted In
his stateroom with Hoskins. the general
manager, and the two men joined the
group at the observation windows in time
to hear Altheas reply.
You may ride on the engine Il you'd
like to. Miss Lockhart." said the general
manager. "Mr Brockton can 60 with you.
I'll arrange it at the next stop II you care
to try it,
Althea said Thank YOU" and meant It.
From childhood she had had q sort Of
shiver!ng reverence for locomotives and
ship engines, and for the men who made
them obey But her second thought was
the recollection Of mans humiliation.
and the hope that the opportunity might
offer for her to blunt the sharp edge Of It.
by the way. Mr. Hoskins. who Is our
engineer this morning." demanded tho
vice president.
"A general utility man named Orman."
was the reply. but its Righteousness did
not seem to lay hold Of Maj. Lockhart.
THE regular man had a death in his
family. and
The vice presidents smile was por-
tentous. "Ormsn will have something to
say to you when he reports his rum" he
remarked.
Althea happened to be looking at Alicia.
ana she surprised little start at the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-20

do it. Cousin Bainbridge'
Now, what have you two found 20
quarrel about?" said a voice out of the
shadows behind them; and then Althea
left her chair and went to stand beside
one of the piazza pillars. She had dis
comforting conviction that Mrs. Lockhart
II was always just in the background in
her capacity of matchmaker.
X
For a week after the sidetracking of the
Nadia" at Endercliffe there was no lack
of diversions for the outing party. and
little Mrs. Lockhart outdid herself in de-
vising pastimes new and different. There
were basket luncheons on tho shrugged
shoulder of Gringo mountain; burro climbs
to the top of Chingato and to the Bridal
Veil Falls; and pedestrian marches up the
gulches in which Alicia the languid leaned
heavily upon the arm of the reverend
Percy Montgomery, fellow guest at the
inn. whom Mrs. Lockhart had attached
to exc out the Unbalanced masculine side
of her party.
On the eighth day the vice president
went on an inspection trip to the end of
the extension: and while Mrs. Lockhart
was planning another excursion which
should make Althea dependent for the
day upon Mr.. cambridge Brockton, the
little station which was the railway stop
ping place for the inn had its sensation
made to order.
a heavy freight train had double-headed
I'D the mountain from the west, and at
the summit, 1850 feet straightaway
above the station of Undercliffe. but five
miles distant by the windings of the grade
down Dead Mans GIlch and around the
shoulder of the mountain. the leading
engine had been cut off to run down ahead
of the train
Three minutes later the guests at the
inn turned out in body at the bidding
of demoniac whistle shrieks on the high
grade Glasses were lcveled and the COM
ing disaster foreshadowed itself. The train
was out of control, was running away
down the mountain. and the driver OF the
detached engine had a lead Of no more
than a few hundred yards in the race for
life.
The catastrophe climaxed in full view
from the inn piazzas at a point where the
down-mountain track curves sharply to
enter the canyon proper. The engineer of
the leading engine knew he could not
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-20

things. Huge freight cars rose to the
creakng Of windlasses and were toppled
wth the incest precision to right and LETT
down the embankment. Gangs Of work
men, as orderly and purposeful as we'll
drilled soldiers. placed the jackscrews, ad-
justed the lifting tackles. or stood clear
at the word Of command when the great
hawsers were singing like violin strings
under the heartbreaking strain. Althea
thought it was the finest thing she had
for the master mind.
Who is directing it ALP she asked,
when Brockton had folded his top coat
to make a cushion for Alicia.
His smile was half cynical. and at the
moment she could have hated him for 1t.
Its our friend Of the engine cab.
think. Don't you see him down under
that car showing the men how to make
the next hitch?'
She looked again and recognized Or
man. AS once before. he was q sight to
crate upon the nerves Of martinez majors
and the wearers Of purple raiment and
fine linen. The grimy overciothes were
wanting. but the rough tweed suit was
soiled and stained and muddicd. and the
big skillful hands were the hands Of a
blackamoor.
1t did not occur to her to question how
a driver Of locomotives came to be the
commander of this army Of workmen;
there was room only for wonder and ad-
miration, and for an instant comparison
between two men: one down there in the
thick of it toiling, shouting. commanding,
accomplishing; the other standing beside
her. we'll groomed. handsome. gifted and
a helpless idler from choice.
BY some workings Of the mysterious
sixth sense. Brockton felt the comparison.
and it angered him. So when Alicia said,
who is our friend Of the engine cab?
he replied shortly. Its Jack Orman."
looking down upon her to note the effect.
What he saw gave him a weapon which
he fully meant to use II tho need should
arise
Orman slept that night at the inn. and.
as a matter Of course, fate flung them to-
gether. The work Of track clearing was
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-20

ate surroundings: to make mental notes
and to wonder how she might pour little
Of the oil Of kindness into the broadsword
slashes Of the vice president.
Despairing Of finding an opening unless
she could make 1t. she turned to Brockton
to say. II wish could know how he does
1t without going crazy" meaning the en-
gineer.
Brockton adjusted his eyeglasses and
stared across at the crouching figure on
the opposite box as il the subject bored
him. But it was the better part of him
that made him get upon his feet and offer
to help her down from her perch.
II know him." he said shortly. "I'n
introduce him. II you likc.''
She held back.
did you know him when uncle-when
we were at the breakfast station?'
II didn't recognize him: nobody would
In that farcical rig. But Mr.. Hoskins'
mention Of his name gave 1t away"
The clamor Of matter in motion isolated
them. and Orman was attending strictly to
business. Brockton waited for bit OF
straight track. and when it came he gave
Althea his hand and sseadied her across
the foot plate.
II take 1t you don't remember me. Or
man." he said. I'm Brockton. of the
class Of 'as: and this Is Miss Lockhart, the
niece Of the vice president"
The engineer took the introduction 4
little sheepishly. as behtted his station.
Althea thought; and she was sorry she
had let Brockton make 1t. But since
there were now two reasons for kindness
where there had been only one. she would
not retreat.
Now a man who runs an engine In
Gringo canyon is happy If. by sluins his
eyes to the track, he can see scant
half dozen rail lengths ahead: to do tits
and to answer the curious questions OF q
sweet-voiced young woman who must
needs stand almost directly behind him
is manifestly impossible. Orman gave j,
up after one or two futile attempts. and,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-20

mention Of the substitutes name. While
two rail joints could click under the
wheels the slate blue eyes were clouded
and . faint flush came and went In the
fair mock and cheek. Althea wondered
why. but at that moment the chime Of the
$40 sounded for station and she rose to
go forward with Broekton and the gen.
eral manager.
the company to sanction 1t the invasion
Of the 519's cab facilitated itself, though
Orman was no more than grufly polite to
the invaders. Room was made for them
on the flreman's box, Althea was told
briefly how to brace herself against the
side slam Of the cab in rounding curves,
and thereafter the engineer left them to
their own devices.
The experience proved something less
than exciting. even to a novice. The
grade was very. heavy. and the big engine
lahored up the hills and around the dodg-
ing curves rather faithfully than spectacu-
larly.
When she had grown somewhat &C
customed to the novelty, and had found
the approaching scenic procession much
like an inversion Of the view from the
"Nadia's" observation windows. Althea
began to take notice Of her more immedi-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-20

E was oiling around
on the $40 when
Althea first saw
him and he was not
very pretty to look
at. There is. or
there may be, a
sort of artistic fit
ness In blue denim
overclotheS and 2.
mechanics cap, but
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-20

The outing trip. which was now three
days old, and which was to pause in
definitely at Undercliff Inn. a summer re-
sort In the heart Of the main range. had
not been. nor did 1t promise to be. an
unalloyed joy. While her invitation to
join the party had come from her uncle
in his own proper person. Althea was
beginning to suspect that it had been
prompted by certain matchmaking pro-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-20

completed by nightfall. but there was
picking up enough to keep the wreckinS
crow on the ground for two or three days.
and Orman wired in to the division sta
ton for his travelling bag. which came
down OH No Z. Because Of the travelling
bag and its Transforming contents. Althea
hardly knew him when he walked into
the dining room. but she gave him .
friendly little nod when the waiter. at q
sign from Mrs. Lockhart. seated him in
the chair which would have been occupied
By Alicia II she had not pleaded q head
ache and gone to her room.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-08
Alabama'S Public Schools

Governor Conner, speaking at Hunts vile, said in the course of his story of his public career that he had aimed to have a road leading from every home to school house. As a mat ter of fact payments to educational institutions were increased last year to the extent of sS46,32O. Of this sum three institutions attended by less than 5000 got s332, TAT, while the pub lie schools attended by hundreds of thousands of children got an increase of but $513,573. If we add the pay ments made to the normal, agricul- tural and high schools we find that the schools of the few got as much of the increase as the schools for the many did. We at least see that no remark able effort was made to connect every home with a school house.
 The movement to let each school district tax itself for additional school moneys got no aid or encouragement from Governor Conner or from any of the tooters of his administration. It stands unrecognized although an effort was made to lug in by the ear com pulsory education. Local taxation or much larger state aid should precedo compulsory education. Alabama's per capita payment to the public schools is the smallest of any state in the Union, and that payment has not been largely or materially increased in Gov ernor Corners administration.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-08
am as poor as Job, but not so patient.
 -2 King Henry w.
Death of Clyde Fitch

The sudden death. of Clyde Fitch, while enjoying a vacation, removes from the list of American writers one of it's most versatile and slzillful play wrights. He wrote about two plays a year, and in them he generally held the mirror up to human nature so that they became popular to say the least. As rule he portrayed modern life. His first success was Beau Brummel," and it will stand in the years to come as perhaps the great est and most enduring of all his plays. h Richard Mansfeld's hands that play became almost a classic.
 But the majority of the dead writer's plays did not attain to the heights of the heroic. They were distinguished for cleyerness and rare skill, but as a rule the deep note was lacking. He will rank well up among our dram. atists, but the world will not accept him as one of it's immortals.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-08
Task of the Farmers Union

The Farmers union meets here just as the farmers are engaged from Vir- ginia to the Rio Grande in picking out crop that will not, perhaps, ex. ceed 100000 bales. The world needs about 13,000,O00 bales a year of Amer ican cotton and right before us is a confessedly short crop. The dele gates of the representative Farmers union meet to deal with the situation, and the situation is acute because this is September and because the crop is short. Says Mississippi farmer writ ing to the Atlanta Constitution:
 'It is a shame that the good old southern farmer will work his life most out 12 months in the year to make cot ton, using all the economy possible in doing so, and then ruin the market when the time comes for gathering the crop, and sell what it takes him 12 months to make in two months.
 Quit this selling of your crop in such reckless way and think about what you are doing to tear the market to atoms, and hold as much of this crop as you possibly can, and if you can not do so any other way let it re- main in the patch just as long as pos sibe; nobody can keep you from this. the cotton is yours, at least until you get it out, if no longer. This crop ought to bring at least 15 cents. or more, and if not while you have it, then it will go there when you have sold all and every bale you' could get your hands on early; you can put that down now. You can have it, if you will; will you fight for it, or let go at any old price that may be offered, as usual?"
 This is the situation, and the Farm CTS union is endeavoring to organ- ize a warehouse scheme that will en- able a farmer to hold his cotton and yet get on it the ready money that he may need. The task of financing and warehousing the crop is not a light one, but the union has a clear head and a strong will, and the hope is it will be able to work out a plan that will keep the cotton farmers from flooding the market in the picking season. The Farmers union needs the support of every man who makes a bale of cotton. With such a support behind him President Barrett would feel strong to carry out the far-reach- ing plans of the union for the relief of the southern farmers.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-08
MACAULAY.
Sidney Smith Once Called Essayist
 "A Book in Breeches."

Edward Fuller, in the September Book
 man.
 When Charles Greville, a rather fas- knowing who he was, he thought him a rather ordinary person. He was amazed to learn, when Ma caulay, as usual, began to hold the attention of the whole table. that this was the famous historian and essa yist. Like other great takers, however. Macaulay was too much inclined to monopolize the conversation. oh, horrid! horrid." Sydney Smith told friend, when he was asked what kind of night he had passed T dreamed I was ch ined to a rock, and being talked to death by Harriet Martineau and Macaulay." And on another occasion Smith called him "a book in breeches.'' It is not difficult to understand that, if one were not interested in the subject Macaulay, for all his brilliancy, might have been a bore. One may gather from his writ ings that he had great confidence in his own opinions and little regard for the opinions of others. Still, there were occasional flashes of silence" No man is always in the mood. It would not be fair, moreover to dwell too eXclu- sively upon a side of Macaulays n.y. ture which those who knew him best did not regard as the most character istic side. Unlike many persons who shine in company. he was extremely sensitive. He found it hard to forget or forgive a slight. But he was very generous with his friends, very ten der and affectionate with his closest kin. Once he cared for a person he trusted that person long as it was possible. His faults," says his nephew and biographer, "were such as to give annoyance to those who dislike a man rather than anxiety to those who love him. Vehemence, overconfidence, the inability to recognize that there are two people in a dialogue"-these were the especial tendencies of his youth which he never wholly eutgrew. These were the qualities which made him in his writings so bitter partisan. What ever the facts. the Tory dogs always got the west of 1t. What in William III was choleric word became in James II fiat blasph emy.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-08
PRoHIBiTIoNIsTs.

From the Detroit Free Press.
 Over at Newaygo, near Big Rapids, where it Is so dry that the ''boys" habit ually spit cotton" there seem to be some mighty dry prohibitionists, accord ing to story that comes from the desert.
 A Newaygo citizen recently received letter from a Kentucky whisky house requesting him to send them the names of a dozen or more persons who would like to get some fine whisky shipped to them at very low price, The letter wound up by saying:
 I've will give you commission on all the orders sent in by parties whose names you send us.''
 tical joke class and filled in the names of some of his prohibition friends on the blank spaces left for that purpose.
 He had forgotten all about his sup posed practical joke when one day he received another letter from the same for more names and was just about to throw the communication into the waste basket when 1t occurred to him to send the name of another old friend to the whisky house. He accordingly tore open the envelope, and came near collapsing when he found a check for s4sO, repre- senting his commission on the sale of whisky to the parties whose names he had sent in about three weeks before.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-08
Cook and Peary

Cook discovered the north pole on April 21, 1908; Peary on April 6, 1909, but Peary will perhaps reach New York first. The race is not now, how ever, to the swift who had stood at the pole, for New York is no goal for explorers. New York is devoted to trade and politics, while the north pole did hold out to explorers fame, and to towns like Montgomery rare at- fractions as a summer resort.
 But in all seriousness there is some thing pathetic il the homecoming of Peary-he who had devoted so many years to polar exploration. There is, however, room enough for two success ful explorers in this big country, and each will, no doubt, publish a book almost simultaneously, and each will then. no doubt, proceed to work the Chautauqua circuit for all it is worth. Peary IS an on1cer Tn the United States navy-a commander-and his Chautauqua work may be cut short by the needs of the navy for his services.
 There is no occasion for jealousy between the two men, and there will, perhaps, be none-on the surface Both are Americans, and both have finely illustrated American endurance and American skill Both will be duly honored in their own country, but as things stand Cook will go down in history as the first man, white, brown or red, who reached the top of the earth. He and his two Eskimos have secure place in history and this is what lends to Peary's homecoming a pathetic touch.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-08
Real Estate Holders Alarmed

T. H. Motions recent card has brought vividly before real estate holders the beauties of Comerism when applied to strong drink. The very first section of the Fuller bill reads as follows
 1. Be 1t enacted by the legislature of Alabama, That if any person shall will fully let or suffer any other person, firm or corporation to use any premises which he owns controls for the illegal sale or manufacture, or other unlawful dis position, of spirituous. yinous or malt liquors, or any other liquors, liquids or bama to be manufactured, sold or other wise disposed of in this state, or for use by a wholesale or retail dealer in lquors, or by a rectifier of spirits, or dstiller. or for the illegal storage or warehousng of such liquors and beverages he shall be guilty of misdemeanor.
 Under this provision a real estate holder, be he an owner or lessee, is subject to Imprisonment if he takes in roomer who gives or sells another person drink of liquor. That room er may not be a bootlegger. One drink dispensed by roomer condemns the real estate holder to fine or i'm prisonment.
 In all fairness of construction the adverb "wilfully" does not modify the verb suffer" because the particle "or' lntervenes. If the section had read, If any person shall wilfully let or knowingly suffer any other person, etc." then the holder of the property would have been absolved from acts done without his consent or knowl- edge. but as tho section stands it is difficult to see how . real estate hold CT can escape responsibility for each and every act of his tenants in the matter of liquor.
 The word 'tor" is always used as an alternative. It joins alternative t6rmA and no just or reasonable con.