davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-19
She Was a Bird.

@APT. PRITCHARD on his last voy-
- age was made much of by the pas
sengers of the Mauretania. This veteran
has given up the sea after a career that
he began as a cabin boy OF ten no less
than fifty-three years ago.
Discussing the Mauretanja's powers one
night at dinner. Capt. Pritchard said:
Her powers would seem Incredible II
prophesied in my youth. they wouio
have seemed as incredible as the story
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-19
The Christmas InfideI.

Mss CAREY THOMAS. the head of
lvl Bryn Mawr College, said at dinner
in Philadelphia that college girls chose
better and also weather. husbands than
other girls.
Miss Carey Thomas. after instancing
number Of Bryn Mawr girls whose mar
riases had been in every way ideal. told
a story of the son of one Of these Bryn
Mawr girls.
HE came home few days before
Christmas" she said, from visit to his
cousin.
Mother he cried. do you know that
Fweddy is an infidel?
His mother laughed.
IAN infidel? How an infidel, my son.?
she asked
HE doesn't believe in Santa Claus.
was the shocked reply.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-19

Where the driver finds his mettle really
tested is in the. densely populated sec
tions, where many families live in one
house. Here a driver will have to go,
flight by flight, up the dingy stairs, in
curing at every landing for the party
to whom the package is addressed. and
has finally had to go away with the con-
viction that the one who accepted the
package is not the right one.
1T amt only the thickly settled parts
of the city that bother u.s. said veteran
driver the other day. 1--WE have to look
out for thieves, particularly on winter
nights.
About seven years ago, one Christmas
eve, when it was showing in sheets. and
was as bad a night as 1 ever saw we
were still out on the route at 1 O'Clock
Well, We were coming through a dark
street and the two boys-I had two help
ers that night-were off the wagon, one
on each side of the street while stop
ped down little further under a lamp
to get better light to see the addresses
Three fellows jumped me suddenly. One
of them grabbed me and the others were
just going to hit me when 1 holered.
They threw me down and had me cor
nered. and the third jumped on the team
and started through the bundles. One of
the boys came running up. then. When
they saw him. they escaped. They only
got one little package, but my head was
sore from where they had cut me for a
week afterward. Some poor kid missed
a Christmas gift-that was ALL
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-19
NCLE SANS postal

NCLE SANS postal
service con Stitutes
the one and only
extensive industry
in t h / S country
every branch OF
which is taxed
simultaneously by
the great rush OF
Christmas trade"
In every other great
activity for which
the yuletide is har-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-19
COnce1ninu
Well-knOWn peODle.

Yankee Bird.
Yankee Birds crew. You know, awoke
one morning and found that there was
a round turn In the lanyard of every
blessed hammock
solved by the second officer, who dis
covered that the crack boat had rolled
so heavily to the swell that she had cap
sized but. owing to her marvellous lines.
had at once come up smiling on the
other side"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-19
cHAe.P. GRA1spFH,LDfE wPosTr1AorE

the Philippines and for Hawaii. THESE
preludes are, however, exceptional. FOR
the most part the Christmas postal cloud
burst comes as a flood that suddenly en-
velops every section of the great post
ONCE organization Every employe from
the clerk who sells the stamps to the let
ter carrier who delivers the letters and
parcels, is obliged to work at top speed.
There Is an appreciate increase In the
volume Of mail for two weeks before the
great holiday, but it is Christmas week
that is. the Ave days preceding Christmas.
the holiday, and the day following-that
the stream Of letters and parcels and
cards is at flood tide.
A cursory examination of the statistics
of the Post Office Department would
seem to indicate that there is scarcely
post office, little or big, anywhere In the
United States where the volume OF busi-
ness is not more than doubled at Christ
mas time. and there are communities
where 1t is multiplied by three or four
and some where 1t is six or eight times
the average at other seasons of the year.
Then, too, the Christmas postal business
now and then shows interesting lines OF
development. At first thought this is
likely to prove something of a surprise.
One might suppose that the holiday postal
onslaught would be much the same from
year to year. save for the naturally to
be expected fiuctuatiOn in volume follow
ing years of prosperity and years OF pan
ic. However. a new trend in popular
taste in Christmas remembrances will be
reflected in the holiday postal torrent.
striking illustration is found In the
Christmas postal card fad. 1t is but
few years ago that an utterly fnsignifi-
cant proportion OF the pieces OF mail
handled at Christmas time were postal
cards. Christmas cards were exchanged
extensively, but In those days the cards
either accompanied presents or were in
closed in envelopes. and in the eyes of the
postal workers were In the same cate
CORY as letters. Now that the Christmas
sentiment is conveyed by the picture post
card the holiday avalanche Of these souve-
Mrs is most decidedly force to be reck-
oned with. Millions upon millions of these
cards are transmitted every December
not only between different destinations in
the United States, but from America to
all quarters Of the globe. Formerly near
ly all OF the Christmas cards that thrOng-
ed our postal highway at this season were
printed in Germany, but the new tariff
law has put a stop to that. Most of the
1909 cards were printed in this country.
one recently completed factory having
capacity Of $1,000 per day.
A postal innovation Of 1900. upon which
the verdict of the Christmas gift givers
is anxiously awaited by the Post Office
Department officials is the increase of the
registry fee from to 10 cents, announce
ment of which was made few weeks
ago. The Postmaster General is confident
that no person who wishes to insure the
careful handling of Christmas parcel
with a promise of indemnity up to $25 II
it is lost will neglect the precaution be-
cause Of the added expense OF cents per
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-19

servants are often careless about getting
the packages into the right hands ex-
peditiously, and cases have been known
when some indignant customer has ap-
peared at the store a day or two after
the delivery, and insisted that the goods
had not been sent out. Investigation has
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-19

the drivers Life is rather an easy one.
His annoyances here may be trifing. and,
since he more frequently comes in con-
tact with servants, his work may not
be quite so trying. Even here, however.
crops out a new obstacle which has
taught many a driver lesson. Some
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-15
New superstItions of the Sea.

From f1arperS Weekly.
 With the advent of wireless telegraphy there has come a superstition that bad news may be warded off if the mast that Is part of the apparatus is patted thrice with the palm of the hand.
 "Go and ask the coolS'-a seaman's in- evitable reply to all irrelevant questions has been elaborated sn the last year to- Go and ask the cooks sister," and 1t is related that Captain Turner of the Lusitania went so far recently as to alter the time-honored reply to, "Go and ask the ships cat"
 minister aboard ship has always been taken as a Jonah sign," by seamen, In recent years, however, this superstition has been modified to certain extent. A young minister, the seamen believe. will not bring as much of Jonah" with him as an old one.
 Men on the sailing vessels have always held that scraping or scratching the mainmast would bring a long period of good weather. Men on the huge modern steam vessels now similarly believe that scratching a smokestack with the finger nail will insure continued fair weather
 One of the oldest sea superstitions has been connected with the flying of birds. If the birds flew high, that signified good weather; if they skinned the water, that meant bad weather. There Is gradually spreading among the seamen a supersti- ton that if an animal Is aboard the ves- sel, bad weather many be deferred-even if the birds are flying close to the water If the head of the animal Is pointed aft and is held in that direction for some time.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-15
HIGH COST OF LIVING.
Effects of Rise In Wheat Prices Felt
 the World Over.

From the New York Commercial.
 The inevitable effects of the rise in the price of wheat are in evidence all over the world, and especially in those coun- tries which make extensive use of wheat products and import more or less of the cereal. The increased cost of living is apparent everywhere. and discussion of it wherever men and women meet was never so widespread and so serious as now.
 In London, so the newspapers there re- port, the ordinary four-pound loaf of bread Is now selling at 6h pence, where the regular price until recently was only AZ pence-an advance of almost 50 per cent and a something that means much in London families that buy their bread ready made Across the channel in Paris the two-kilogram 1oaves have been ad- vanced to S5 centimes; a hundredwelght of wheat In France up to a few months ago could be bought for 221a francs, but today the price Is 27 francs-a rise of 20 per cent Since the beginning of the present year the price of a 157-kilogram sack of flour In Paris has risen from 50 francs to 59 francs, largely because of fear that the next wheat crop might prove poor. Whatever the excuse for the fear, there is no escaping the fact of the present high price. Meat has kept step in the advance in France, beef, veal, nut ton and pork all showing higher prices '. than the average for 20 years past. Increased wages" says the Boston Daily Advertiser, discussing this stua- tion, offset these increases in the price of necessities, to some extent but not enough to alay entirely the popular un- rest under the burden of making both ends meet"
  was never so noticeable here in the United States as now.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-15
EVANS CONTINUES
 WINNING CAREER

Chicago. August 14.-(Special.)- Charles Evans, Jr., of Edgewater tho western champion, continued his win hing career by annexing the Mayfiower cup, the principal trophy of the annual open tournament of the. Ontwentsia club, in defeating Gordon SkolSie by up and to play in the finals today. Evans also tied with H. Chandler Egan, of the Exmoor for the Ontwentsia trophy with 153 for 36 holes medal play, but Egan won nine holes play off with 35 to 36. Both Egan and Evans had the same card, 10, 7s-153, Nbut the veteran and many-times champion proved too much for his less experi- enced opponent in the playoff.
 In the afternoon Copeland played a better game. Evans appeared careless at times in the first part of the match but steadied toward the end and brought in 76 on his medal play competition, which tied him with Egan. Ralph Hoagland of Riverside won the Lake Forest cup for S6 holes medal play for men over 30 years old. His score was 7S SG-158
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-15
RIDDLE TO FIGHT
 FRENCH SAYATIER

Paris. August 14-(special.) .)-Anthony J. Drexel Riddle is to fight with feet and fists the celebrated French "Savatier," the young Count de Saint Phal. The savat, 1t should be understood, is a soft slipper and in a boxing match "a la savat" the contestants use fists and feet alike, with predilection for the feet. with which an expert can deliver such blow that he may break an opponents jaw or ribs.
 MT. Riddle, having put on the gloves with more or less glory, with such famous boxers as Jack OBrien and Bob Fitz- simmons, Is to try for honors with Count de Saint Phal and in this match the aristocracy of America will be pitted against the aristocracy of France.
 MT. Riddle is busy taking lessons and says he Is confident that he can take the Frenchman with his fists; but l. latter Is very handy withhis feet, hence an element of suspense enlivens the coming match.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-15
Oxford and the Mint JuIep.

From the Louisville Courier-Journal.
 We had supposed that there was noth- ing new to be learned about the mint Julep; that this delightful institution. fragrant and seductive, of honored an- cestry and of approved performance, had achieved an aromatic notoriety to which neither poet nor pundit could add a wreath. But we were mistaken. It ap- pears that this bibulous refreshment. supposedly restricted to this country and conceded to spring from the southern states. is one of the honored traditions at New College. Oxford.
 That New College is some several hun dred years old Is one of those inevitable English jokes that. as it were, jump at one from out the guide books. but the in- troduction of the mint julep to it's vener- able halls may be confidently placed some time around the period when Dolly Madison held the world In thra1. We are told on authority that 1t leaped at once into popularity among the under graduates, and we do not affect surprise that such popularity should have persist ed In spite of the fact that the young American who introduced this nectar to the gods who deport themselves on Isis died before receiving his degree. II is in point of fact this untimely tribute to Bacchus which provided the opportunity of perpetuating his worship at New Col lege. The young American, whose name, unfortunately, cannot be enshrined in this loving memorial, bequeathed to his alma mater a set of exquisitely chased loving cups, together with a fund to be dis pensed on every succeeding first of June in the form of juleps to dons and stu dents in Common Hall The anniversary is punctually kept and the toast to tho young American, so tragcally identified with national beverage, lacks neither for honor nor for solemnity; "dulce ct decorum est thus runs the legend, and the mint, unbruised and perennial, un- failingly provides the sacrifice to his "manes"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-15
She Found Out.

From the Pittsburg Press.
 T thought I'd stop for a minute and inquire the price of tomatoes" she said to the grocer as she set down her basket .'Yes'm--they are 8 cents apiece" ''whist, but isn't that high?"
 'It is, but we must have protection for the American raiser, you know"
 And how much for washboard to- day?"
 Thirteen cents-reduced from 15." What makes that?'
 "The tariff, ma'am."
 "Oh, I see. And how much for 'tatoes, if you please?"
 '.They are up 30 cents a bushel."
 '.Whist again, but what makes thatT What they call ad valorem."
 '.Of course. And what's the price of f1atirons, if not too much trouble?'
 .eThey are down, cheaper than ever." And it's because"
 'That's free trade"
 "Um! see. Well, Patrick will be thankful to them great men in Washing ton when I tell him what you say You understand it, do you?''
 "As plain as day, sir. The price of fiatIrons and washboards has come down to give the poor chance to live, and the price of tomatoes and 'taters has come up to give the rich squeeze, as should be the case. Thankee, sir, and good day to ye."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-15
Overheard at Summer Resorts.

From Judge.
 ..Well, Matty," said the retired Bolster to the Hair Mattress, "are you going back to your old job at Saratoga this year?"
 "No," said the Mattress gloomily; Il m afraid it's the Mills Hotel for me- Those &nonIe nm at SaratoSa won't have any thing but mineral springs"
 The Ten Dollar Bill, looking thin and wan. met the Nickel on Broadway the other day.
 the matter with you? You look worn out" ...
 1T am," replied the Ten Dollar Bill. T went to Newport last week and l didn't last three minutes.
 ''Jove!" ejaculated the Nickel, that 8 funny. The same thing happened to me at Coney Island"
 q don't think they set a very good table here" said the Pie Plate to the But ter Knife, "Do you?"
 .'Oh, the table is all right replied the Butter Knife; its the way they set 1t bothers me- But what can you expect all the walters are college graduates"
 First Mosquito-"Hello, Bill, what are you crying about?"
 Second Mosauito-"I have just lost my brother Tom.'
 First Mosquito-"So. Why, that's too bad. What's happened to him, stranded on the barr"
 Second Mosouito-"No; it's a case of romantic attachment. You know that pretty Miss Wiggles down at Long Rranch?'
 First Mosquito-"Yes; she was a beauty"
 Second Mosauito-"Well, I told Tommy to keep away, but he wouldn't and last night he got completely mashed on her.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-15

never saw such bloodthirsty lot. Tho further away they were from the battle field the more ardent they were for war. Just at this time the news told the story of federal disaster at Charlottesville and the second Bull Run, and the Confeder- ates were correspondingly delighted and took possession of the great barroom which served the purpose of exchange and club for the purpose of holding their celebration. The southerner was partic- ularly noisy and offensive to me He walked sup and down the long barroom, vaporing and declaring that one south erner could lick five nigger-loving Yam kees and that illustration of the fact was now being given in Virginia. He went on in this vein till I said that I would be forced to stop him, or that I should do so when he came down to tho bar again. So I stepped up and said: You have said enough. Pm no nigger- loving Yankee, but am one of five men you can't lick alone. So peel off
 Tn all my experience I have never found any way so certain to get a fight as boast of your own prowess, and so it resulted in this case. The whole rebel contingent was ready to jump me in a moment, and as they were rude com munity I would have been done up in short order. But at this moment little fellow stepped out of the crowd with his pistol drawn and said:
 Look here. I'm a southerner from Kentucky, and I don't like Yankees. but this Is Hank Martin and he saved me from the vigilance committee 10 years ago in California, and before any fight ing's done with him it will have to be done with me-.
 Well, they forgave me and l forgave them, and we all stood up at the bar to drink But the fellow I had stopped was still quarrelsome. Hefstood two or three paces from me and suddenly he pulled his pistol Some one caught his hand just as 1t went off, and the bullet instead or hitting me, lodged fair in the forehead of the grateful Kentuckian who fell dead on the spot.
 Well, her majesty's judge of the as- size was at the moment entering the ho- tel He had Just come to Caribou to hold court and he convened and charged the jury before he sat down to supper, which was ready They returned an indictment and after having eaten he empaneled a jury and proceeded with the trial. re- sulting in a conviction before 10 o'clock the same night. His name was Judge Higbee. I shall never forget what he said when sentencing the man to life. Her majesty's laws do not permit me to sentence you to death, as I would like to do, because I believe 1t would be jus tice. You had murder in your heart. and although tn victim was not the man you selected to kill, you took life. You are sentenced to be kept in penal servitude for life'"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-15
A REAL TRAGEDY
 ON THE BORDER Man Escapes Moose of Lynch
 ing Party BUT SHOT AFTERWARD Reminiscence of the Borderand Is Re- called by Hank Martin, Million alre Rancher and Orange
 Grower of Los Angeles.
BUT SHOT AFTERWARD
From the New York Press.

From the New York Press
 Tt was in 5s the spring of the year, and I was a pioneer In the west" said Hank Martin, millionaire rancher and orange-growing magnate of Los Angeles, and I was also young, fresh and fool ish. I had a train of pack mules at Yanlsee Jim. in California, and was talk ing freight for the Bay when a young Kentuckian got into trouble and killed his man. There was the element of man slaughter in the crime, but not murder, and when some rum soaks proposed to lynch the survivor the rope was ready In a minute
 q had Just come out of the east and didn't approve of the way of execut- ins justice although my experience in the west has taught me it's merits since then. I stood out and said no, the man should have fair trial. The play of "The Octoroon" had not been written then, but when heard the lines of Salem Scudder as written by Boucicaut I rec ognized just what I said to the crowd in defense of a man about to be lynched. One fellow in the surging crowd cried out, Oh, there's two ropes! but I stood with my pistol ready and told them to come on, and such was the influence of one man trying to do right that pretty soon fellow came over to my side and said he'd stand by me. and then the whole crowd came over too, and the man was taken away to jail.
 well. 1t was 10 years afterwards that I was in Caribou, up in British Columbia. at the time of the mining boom there. and the district was filled with renegades from the north and south alike who had fled from the draft being gun shy. You
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-15

friendlness. Most of all, should the clergy strive to bring the spirit of charity into church life. There must be less dis tinction between the choice pews and those who sit in them and the gallery seats, if our churches are to be indeed households of faith. Let the clergy preach on the democracy of the greatest needs, for rich and poor, educated and untutored, are alike needy in the funda- mental virtues of living. To help men to those fundamental virtues Is after all the chief duty of the church. By per sonal service in the spirit of true charity will come wider knowledge of men and more sympathy. Little tasks off service, fndividuals working with individuals, will inevitably lead to intelligent interest in larger efforts for oocial advance. Charity thus becomes part of civics. The clergymen should preach also the responsibility of consumers for their purchases, of rich persons for their in- yestments
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-15
EVENING IN GERMANY.
Return of Goose Girls and Their FIocks
 From Fields of PomeranIa.

From 'In a German Country House." by
 Dorothy Amphlett, in the National Re-
 view.
 In the summer evenings the veranda overlooking the farm buildings was my favorite place for watching the pageant of farm life when the peasants came back from the fields at sundown. First the geese of the village, flock after flock walking in orderly troops each to its own pen, all talking together at the top of their voices; with dear little ragged fair haired goose girls in attendance, just like Hans Andersons heroines. Each of the villages had the right of pasturing so many geese upon the Grafs fields, and in return they were obliged to give him a certain number at their great goose staying in the autumn. These geese "Mamselle' and her helpers cured and salted for winter consumption. They were eaten uncooked, like German ham, and esteemed a great delicacy. Hundreds and hundreds of geese; then swineherds with their swine and shepherds with their sheep; no cows-these were all stall fed in great byre off the farmyard, but slow treading yokes of black and white oxen and teams of cart horses, four to- gether, the carter riding one of the shaft horses and driving the leaders before him.
 This return from the fields was the only time ever saw the peasants hurry. They are of German race here, very slow and lethargic, fair-haired and blue-eyed. Their own local rhyme roughly translated we'll describes them:
 Every winter is the Pommer,
 Yet more stupid than in summer.
 The houses of the peasants, picturesque enough without. contained little interest,": one or two old danes still used their spin ming wheels and a few big, wooden chests. curiously studded with brass nails were to be seen; the rest of tho furniture was poor and plain in the ex- treme.