davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-08
The Old System Better

The commission form of government for cities may seem ideal on paper. but 1t is not so in reality. So long as We believe in and are proud of our American institutions including our form of government vouchsafed to us 1 by patriot-founders, then so long should we insist on and defend rep resentative principles and representa- tive systems in all that relates to legis- lative functions or that co-ordinates administration and lawmaking.
 The government of the United States with it's executive, legislative and judi cial departments has proved a satis- factory model for all the states of the Union, and all municipalities in the United States until within recent years have been, as nearly as conditions warrant, established on like model.
 The few cities that are experiment. ing with the commission plan have not tried it long enough to prove anything in favor of its permanence. On the other hand in Des Moines and in one or two of the other cities of the eight or ten making the experiment strong opposition is already developing and yet the commission form in Iowa has only been tried for three or four years.
 The city council with it's ward rep 1 resentation is in accordance with dem- ocratic ideas and democratic practice in the best sense of the term demo- racy. Theorists and doctrinaires can usually be counted on to favor a com mission proposition, but the majority of those thoughtful citizens who have had to do with affairs are not swept off their feet by spacious arguments and i'll digested facts. A commission spells autocracy and nothing would prove more intolerable in the long run.
 Members of the legislature will, at any rate, be acting on the side of true democratic principles if they de- feat the Urquhart bill.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-08

tellect fails to achieve success as an engineer simply because of his inabil- ity to express himself on paper con- vincingly as well as grammatically, this defect being due largely to his failure to begin as a boy to learn good Eng fish. And with regard to English from viewpoint of style the same thing often happens in the case of the col lege student working for an academic degree. The young man who enters college without having solid founda- ton in grammar and rhetoric Is at woeful disadvantage, and unless he be uncommonly bright and industrious he will fail to become scholarly, no mat ter how much knowledge he may gain.
 Educators are stressing more and more the value of an early beginning in the correct use of the mother tongue. And in view of these things parents should see to 1t that their boys English is not neglected.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-08
PROFESSIONAL FATHERS"

Paris Correspondence London Express.
 curious industry has sprung up in France owing to the law which per mits any man to declare himself the legal father of child. A number of men of good family and small means have adopted paternity as a profession, and are willing for small sum to declare themselves fathers of boys or girls who have no names of their own. As long as these honest men alone prof1ted by the law there was no particular reason to interfere, but the authorities are taking steps to ab- rogate 1t now owing to curious cir cumstances which have come under their notice
 Some time ago a woman proceeded against man for theft and blackmail. He was sentenced to two years im- prisonment. The woman had a son who had been registered as "of percentage unknown" When the blaclmailer came out of prison he in due form de- ,clared himself the young mans father, and he Is his father still. Recently, in a lawsuit in which an inheritance was at stake the evidence proved that the legal father of one of the parties was two years younger than his daughter, and this state of affairs is too Gtlber- tian to remain possible much longer.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-08
WIVES.

From Moliere's School For Wives.
 I marry a fool not to be made fool of. believe, like a charitable Christian. in the virtue of your better half; but to my mind a clever wife forebodes no good; and know how dearly some people pay for their wives talents. What! shall l saddle myself with a clever, intellectual wife who talks of nothing but of society and ruelles; who writes tender things in prose and in verse, and is visited by marquises and by wits, whilst I, as the husband or madam must be like a saint whom no one invokes? No, no, such wonderful genius Is not for me- and to my mind a woman who writes knows more than she ought. I intend that my wife shall not even be able to understand what is meant by a rhyme; and that if she were playing at crambo and were asked, what rhyme will you give to basket?" her answer might be "a cream tart" In word, want her to be extremely ignorant. and, to tell you the plain truth, shall be satis- fled if she can sew, spin, say her prayers and love me.
 Chrys-You wish, then, for stupid wife?
 Arn-So much so, that I would rather marry an ugly fool than handsome genius.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-08
Rival Theatrical Attractions

The Atlanta papers report that the southeast is to be the scene of a theatrical war during the approach ing amusement season. The opposing forces are Klaw & Erlanger, the so- called theatrical trust, and the Shu- berts, known as independent producers and managers. Both are securing stars in the east and theatres in the southeast, although the trust is we'll supplied in the southeast with the atres. The Shuberts have secured numerous stars, and their contention now is for houses in which to place them.
 The southeast has long been the stronghold of the theatrical trust, and the Shuberts propose to break into their monopoly. The southern the atrical managers say they will adhere to the open-door policy they formu- lated in Atlanta last month. This policy would give them control of their own houses, and put an end to the dictation of the trust. In Atlanta the result hangs in the balance, with a good possibility that the southern man. agers will stand determinedly this year by the open-door policy.
 Theatrical managers consider the southeast a rich and inviting field, and, no doubt, the contest over it will be stubborn and prolonged. It will not permanently be dominated by one booking agency, and the Shuberts show no intention of leaving their rivals in sole control of it. Between the two the south bids fair, during the coming season to see many at fractions, always provided the new corners can get houses to show their players in.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-08

Cardinal Newnan's great poem, had its first performance at England's Bir- mingham music festival six years ago.
 As the Birmingham festival is the leading musical enterprise of its kind 1t is to be regretted that the man. agement does not see it's way clear to change the time of holding these triennial events from October to one of the summer months. in order that music teachers. organists and other professional musicians might have an opportunity of attending. When Octo- Der rolls round all musicians and music students, too, are at work and for that reason America is poorly repre- sented in the audiences. July would be a good month for the festival In the United States the weather is too hot in summer for indoors music, but in England the July temperature is not at all excessive; on the contrary is very pleasant-not so hot as our festival month of May.
 The Birmingham festival is educa- tive in a marked degree, as well as delightful In a pleasure-giving sense; and if it were held at d season of the year when working musicians and music-oving Americans could attend thousands of men and women, hitherto deprived of the privilege, would give it the preference and make special ef- forts to be on hand.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-08
MAIL-ORDER TAKERS.

From the Washington Post.
 "The number of mail-order fakers who have gotten rich on the credulity of the people of this country would be hard to count" declared L. M. Mather of Chi cago at the Arlington. MT. Mather used to be a postoffice inspector, and made a speciality of running down this class of swindlers.
 "The greatest fakers for number of years were the people who got out a prospectus of a university with a high sounding title, and made business of selling fake degrees. You would hardly believe that thousands of persons bit at such schemes. but. such used to be the case before the governrffent closed up these colleges and universities' after they became too numerous and active.
 All kinds of degrees were sold, usual ly for s10 to $25, and there must be thou sands of people who bought 'sheepskins' bearing all kinds of bogus honors. There were some 'fakers' who actually sold de- grees' of divinity, and though it is hard to believe, there were plenty of persons who purchased them. Of late years the business has practically been suppressed, though occasionally a new 'college' starts nm"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-08
eRENADIER HATS COME.

From the New York Sun.
 A consignment of 200 of the monumental hats for women which 1t is predicted will displace the wide-spreading peach bas- l1ers, got here from Paris on the steam CT Kronprinz Wilhelm. The hats are made of fur and suggest the bearskins of the old guard. They are called Rus sian toQues
 The toque does away with hats and the spreading coiffure that makes a 1ady's head gooc enough umbrella in a rain- storm. On the other hand 1t is a sky scraper. The loftiest may be slightly over a foot and & half-more than three times the height of a mans silk hat-from the foundation at the forehead to the apex, which is crowned with an aigrette. The lady who wears the hat must comb her hair upward and secure it in a baIl-a high ball-on the very top of her head. Little ladies may wear the very tallest hats. but tall ones can soften the gren- adler effect by wearing one foot high creations and reducing the spray of feathers. Viewed from a rear elevation the toque fits the head snugly. When the lady takes it off. as she is expected to do at the theatre, she will reveal a bunch of hair tightly coiled that will not be wide enough to obstruct the view of the stage of any two-eyed man.
 You can pick your fur and pay $1o0o for a hat, but it is not doubted that girls with no s10OO bills to spare will be tower ing over their sweethearts in that lock- like fur that will have cost not moro than S39S
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-08
To business that we love we rise betlmes, and go to t with delight
 Antony and Cleopatra.
Income Tax Amendment

No doubt the Alabama senate will ratify the Sixteenth amendment. The house has already done so, and the senate is as democratic as the house is. All feel that Alabama should lead the way in giving the federal govern ment power in an emergency to levy a tax on the accumulated wealth of the country. The proposition is not mandatory. It is simply permissive, and the general government may or may not levy tax under it.
 The proposition has been ratified by the lower house of the Georgia legislature, but the upper house of that legislature refuses to consider the subject at this time. ''The conclu- sion,'' says the Atlanta Journal, should not be hastily formed that the general assembly of Georgia is op- posed to an income tax. On the con- trary, we believe it will be found that public sentiment, in the legislature and throughout the state, is strongly in favor of the principle of an income tax, which has always been regarded as essentially a democratic measure" The members of the Georgia senate should re-read the income tax plank of the national platform they were elected on. If they are still demo- crats they will ratify the pending prop osition.
 The Connecticut legislature is also in session, and it's committee on fed eral relations, which is not ordinarily overburdened with business, has held a hearing to discover, if possible, what the people of the Land of Steady Habits think about the proposition; and six persons, some of them mem- bers of the general assembly, have availed themselves of the opportunity to air their views. Of the six, only one, Representative Parker of Hart ford, was openly outspoken against the amendment. He argued that the in- come tax would be difficult of applj- cation, that it marked radical change in our principles of federal taxation, and that 1t would force the burden of supporting the government on the north and the east He did not show, apparently, that the north and east would pay more than their proportion ate share. Taxes should be levied di- rectly according to the means of the citizen. This is the ideal method, and possibly Connecticut may become the second ratifying state. Politics in Georgia Is too peculiar to admit of immediate ratification in that state, even if the burden of supporting the government would be in that way thrown on the north and east.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-08
WHY SHE WANTED THEM.

From the Los Angeles Times.
 The tall girl smiled in some embarrass- ment.
 Have you any secondhand shoes?" she said to the shoe clerk.
 ''But, miss" he remonstrated.
 ''No, no; you misunderstood" said she. 'T don't mean to wear. I just mean old shoes, too worn for use. that customers have left with you. You see. there's a wedding up at our house tomorrow, and we want something to throw at the bride and groom"
 ''I see," said the clerk.
 He rummaged in a black hole and drew forth an armful of dilapidated footwear. The girl selected some three. twos and Cnes.
 These will do. Thanks ever 50 much," sch said, and so departed
 Big footed people are always working that on us,' said the clerk afterward. ''That girl wears eights. She couldn't very well throw such mudscows at the bride, So she chose some little and dainty shoes here-ones and twos. Oh, yes, it's an old trick with the big-footed."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-08
The Greatest Musical Festival

The Birmingham, England, music festival, which Is held trienniall {, takes place this year, and is announced for October 5, 6, and 8. It Is the oldest and, from an artistic point of view, is the most distinguished of all the music festivals. A feature of the Birmingham institution Is the first per formance of at least one large work written especially for the festival. Rut- land Boughton is the composer to be thus honored this year.
 The Musical Courier publishes these facts about the forthcoming festival: The principal vocalists include Per ceval Allen, Donalda, Agnes Nicholls, Gleeson-White, Ada Crossley, Phyllis Lett, Kirby-Lunn, John Coates, John Harrison, Walter Hyde, Frederic Aus tin, Dalton Baker, Georg Henschel and Robert Radford. The works to be performer are "Elijah;" Boughton' s new composition, "A Song at Mid night" Elgar's Dream of Geronitius,' ,' Bach's 'The Spirit Also Hhelpeth Us,'' Mozart's Jupiter" symphony, Dvorak's "Stabat Mater" Handels Judas Mac. cabaeus," the second and third parts of Granville Bantock's Omar Khay yam" Cherubini's Mass in O. Brahms "Song of Destiny" Beethov- ems 'Eroica" symphony, and Berlioz' s Faust"
 It is worthy of vote that of the nine choral works to De heard, six arc strictly sacred. Egar's Dream ee Gerontius." . musical setting of
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-08
THE CIRCUS SPELL.

THE CIRCUS SPELL. Next month is when the circuses will post their flaming bills, While every heart of boy and girl With anxious longing thrills To see the clowns, the elephants And all the wondrous sights That amke the merry circus world A region of delights. Iris o to hear the spieler spiel
 The music of the band, To hurry down the street and hold Grandfather by the hand, And take in everything there is To gape at and be seen. And while grandpa Is very old
 And on his stick must lean, He acts just like a little tad,
 Excitement's in his eyes, He twists his head this way and that And all in vain he tries To see a dozen things at once, And laughs out loud, "Hawl Haw!' And VOWS the troop of performing pigs The best he ever saw. A flush is on his withered cheek. His old hearts in a glow, He feels just like the boy he was Some fifty years ago. He just forgets the years and all The sorrow and the pain They brought and for a little while Wins back his youth again. 'Twould be a job to say which one Enjoys the circus most The little boy or the gray old man In all that happy host That's why we love the circus--may It's glories ne'er depart. IT hrivoa hack childhood memories To many a weary heart.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-08
THE MODERN NERE1D." "

There is an editorial writer connected with the Cincinnati Times-Star who has pronounced sentimental streak which gets the better of him now and then. The other day he fell to thinking about the bathing girl and wrote rhapsody that is enough to make a sea-serpent sit up and take notice. Read what he says of the modern Nereid":
 ..The ancient Greeks must have thought girls were nice, for they made Nereids and Oceanids of them, and wove them into pretty legends But 1t is very doubt ful whether Venus, as she rose from the foam, had any sprightlier sea-nymph in her train than the little sunburned Thetis of the bathing beach, who has emerged from the plunge dripping wet and Is wringing the water from her clinging skirt.
 ''She is like little green mermaid who has been playing with the dolphins and tritons. She is a part of the green waves and the wind She is as light as the froth of the wave-crest, or the spray as it dissolves into tiny rainbow.
 ''6he has stolen her blue eyes from the sea anemones. Her teeth may have been pearls from Neptunes wonder house, and she must have leased the coral of her lips away from the Old Man of the Sea. The rounded shoulder barred so coquettishy is the white wing of the gull.
 'One could almost envy the lot of Acis. whose unfortunate head Galatea's giant lover smashed against the rocks. Nor could one blame Poyphemus, for that matter, for behaving so.
 ''The little castle which she is moulding with her brown hands from the wet sand is replica of the deep sea palace of Doris and Nereus. She Is dreaming per haps of this golden palace and the haunts of the sea nymphs.
 Again she hears old Triton blow his wreathed horn.' or the call of Proteus as he tends his seal fiocks on the shore of Pharos. As she pats the little sand castle into shape, she is thinking, no doubt. of her island prince. And if she is not careful. who knows but that some modern Peleus will come along and run
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-08
The Study of EneliSb

In the older American colleges, as in the English, Scotch and Irish uni versailles, the English course has al ways been adequate and attractive, and graduates have usually shown writing style. But in some of our more modern institutions of learning sufficient attention has not been given to the native tongue. The English course may have been admirable and the instructors competent but the stu dents have either not been required, or have not found time, to apply themselves to this important branch of their education.
 This is singularly true in respect to technological schools or to the engi- neering departments of universities. A glance at the catalog of any frst-rate technological institution reveals an ex- haustive English course-history, liter ature and composition; but the young man who Is striving to gain a diploma for proficiency in mechanical, mining or electrical engineering, economic chemistry. economic geology or any branch of science or technical knowl- edge, has to work hard in his chosen line-has to work, as rule, over time and therefore has scant opportunity to do much in the way of studying English literature or acquiring the technique of writing. And yet a mas- tery of English, and especially the art of composition, is absolutely essential to the technically educated man, pro- vided he aspires to take leading po- sition in his profession or vocation, | for the obvious reason that he will be | called upon to submit reports and dis cuss large questions in writing. Upon | his orderly sentences and power of ex- pression will turn vast undertakings. So long then as the student in a technological institute finds little or no time for the study of English 1t is all the more desirable that he get a good start in it in the public school or in a preparatory classical school. Many an ambitious young man of in
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-08
Regarding Commission Plan.

"In a personal letter which I received day or two ago from Joel H. Cutchin mayor of Roanoke, Va, he asks for a copy of the Urquhart bill seeking to substitute the commission form of gov ernment for cities in Alabama for the aldermanic system" said lawyer
 My Roanoke correspondent does not think well of the commission idea. I take the liberty of quoting this paragraph from the letter: Tn this section of the coun- try, and wherever I have examined into the matter, I have found that republicans, soreheaded democrats and disappointed officeseekers in general are the prime movers in this commission proposition. In West Virginia, and in Virginia, 1t is a republican move pure and simple.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-08
Drastic Prohibition Laws.

'The effect of the prohibition bills re- gently passed by the legislature Is being widely discussed" said citizen, "and many varied views are expressed as to the ultimate result of the new laws The prohibitionists declare them tyran- nical and the other fellow replies that in view of the recent open violations of the law such measures were necessary. Be that as it may, in my opinion the provisions of the bill are too drastic and may in the end defeat the purpose for which they were intended. The history of all nations show attempts on the part of some of their rulers to force their ideas upon an unwilling people, and the same history relates in most instances the disastrous results that followed.
 Tyranny in any form is repugnant to the American people. and when punish- ments are prescribed that are cruel and excessive, the American spirit will assert itself and such measures will be repealed.
 "E'or instance, If the courts fine man
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-08
NED BRACE TALKS ABOUT THE CONDITION
 OF AFFAIRS IN ALABAMA AT PRESENT

laws, which would go through his forum like zephyrs of an August wind. they would burn the midnight oil to draft the destruction of either ancient friend or ancient enemy
 Now serious and plain word.
 A defeated candidate for any political office always bears grudge. and wants to punish somebody because he has been punished.
 office. after he has served his term. wants a better political office or wants to fix himself for life in the one he has.
 The young man who can be suc- cess politically can be tenfold more a success in business or legitimate profes- sions.
 believe fin men taking an interest in politics and saying what they think and expressing themselves upon every subject: but when we must submit to trades and traffics in legislative bodies to nasa laws which will probably be de- clared unconstitutional, the limit has been reached.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-08
In South Alabama,

, T. F. Smith, prominent merchant of Troy. was in Birmingham yesterday. He reports business conditions in his part of the state as being very good.
 "The cotton crop along the Florida line is in excellent shape" said MT Smith, and in Pike county, around Troy, the crop Is improving. The backwardness due to the excessive rains in June is more noticeable between Troy and Montgom- cry Great stretches of cotton were con- pletely submerged, but the state at large will turn out quite a big crop"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-08
St. vincent's Hospital.

"The much needed east wing for St. vincent's hospital is now practically as sured although several thousand dollars are yet needed" said a member of the soliciting committee.
 Two or three weeks ago the Tennessee company contributed $500 to the fund and during the past week or two several large checks have been sent to Sister Chrys- ostom-one from a friend for s1000 The Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company has contributed $500 and the Louisville and Nashville railroad and the Pratt Consolidated Coal company s25o. The wing Is to cost s50,oo0, of which the society known as the Sisters of Char ity will provide s25,00o."