davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12
That ,PoSSnm Dinner

Atlanta is working up a good deal of talk and interest over it's 'possum feast next Friday, at which the Presi- dent-elect will be the guest of honor. The 'possums have been caught, and the persimmon beer that goes with them has been brewed, and a great oc- casion Is anticipated. But all the cur rent talk about the 'possum as an article of food on southern tables does not touch a responsive chord in the breast or stomach of the Memphis News-Scimetar. It says: "We do insist that the animal named is far from a staple on the dining tables of the south. The story, to the contrary, is untrue. It Is a myth, sprung possi- bly, because of the alleged fondness of the shiftless negro for the semi-rodent. There is not one white person of a thousand in the south who tastes a piece of 'possum meat in year. The better class of negroes, those who can buy what they like best in the market, will pass by the 'possum. When cooked, he is a greasy, indlgestible lit tie varment, that respectable stom- ach with possibilities of dyspepsia would be almost shielding to go up against. The 'possum grows very lux uriantly and abundantly in the south and 'possum hunting is pretty good sport. The possum at large is any body's property who catches him. A lazy negro will go all night long on ones trail, who couldn't work an hour for real money. The waller" cur is the 'possum's natural foe and he goes after the game as we'll as the best blooded hound could be taught to do. Of course, negroes of the kind de- scribed eat what they catch Their appetites demand something and pos sum Is in way the best thing those appetites know. However, to all such, rancid butter is not so bad. It is about time to ring out, therefore, the miser- able old libel"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12
PUBLIC MORALS IMPROVING.
Also the General Standard of Finan.
 cial Integrity.

From an address by Rufus H. Choate
 There has been In the last seven years an awakening of the public conscience throughout the country of most re- markable character. The recognition of the duty of the average citizen to give attention to public affairs and the new disposition of the young men of the coun- try to study and devote themselves, each according to his degree and the measure of his capacity, to the public service, has wrought a change which has gone far to remove the reproach so constantly cast upon us by foreign nations that we were willing to abandon our cardinal doctrine of self-government and to leave 1t all to the politicians.
 And then, too, the standard of official conduct both in the state and the nation, has been steadily raised, so that while there are still many shortcomings and much corruption and speculation still to be ferreted out and punished. there is | stern resolve on the part of the gov ernment and the people to have that properly done, and all evildoers brought to light exposed, and visited with the consequences which their crimes deserve.
 We are very far yet from realizing the ideal which our theories of self-govern- ment and of honest government hold out to us. or of approximating to the lofty standard which has already been exer- cised in some other countries.
 One more thing in the same direction: Our general standard of financial integri-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12
ORIGIN OF MOVING PICTURES.

From the Bohemian Magazine. Although 1t is true that the moving picture machines are of decidedly modern invention, the idea, or discovery, upon which motion photography Is based is older than Christianity. In the year 130 B. C. the Egyptian scientist, Ptolemus, ascertained that the human eye had the property of retaining a light, or object, for some time after it had vanished from it's radium. To prove this by practical demonstration he traced a color line m section of piece of glass, or glazed surface, after which he was able to show that, by revolving the glass with great rapidity, he made 1t appear that the com- paratively short color line extended com pletly around it.
 While the importance of this discovery is now recognized, it was the middle of the eighteenth century before further in- vestigations were made along these lines. and practically the end of the nineteenth 1 century was reached before the experi- ments brought any very tangible results. It is true that during this period several toys, like the "Wonderdrum," were de-
 
 tion of objective impression upon the eye. but it was not until 1877 that the celebrat- ed photographer, Muybridge succeeded in | actually taking moving picture. This was a series of views in which the mo- tions of a running horse were consecu- lively shown.
 As there was no camera that could be | nto "A cameras side by side at the edge of a racing track, parallel with wall facing the sun. Each camera was provided with
 rapid snapshot shutter operated by cleo tricity, these being kept open by means of thin silk thread which crossed the track and was fastened to the opposite wall. Thus, when the horse came down | the stretch he broke the threads suc- cessively, and as he snapped the shut ters in rapid succession the effect was | that of a continuous picture.
 | Revolutionary as this experiment was | from a scientific point of view, the prac- tcable results were anything but satis- l factory. As the highly sensitized plate had not then been invented, the photo l graphs lacked that sharp detail that is so necessary to successful enlargement, or reproduction, but when, in 1888. the dry | plate appeared, much of this difficulty was obviated and motion photography ceased to be the dream of theorists.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12
New Year Resolutions.

"saloonkeepers used to say that their trade was at a standstill from January l to January 15 inclusive" said a former tippler who has not taken a drink in many years. Observation showed that the majority of drinkers swore off the first of the year and then swore on again by the 18th. A few saloon patrons would hold out until February, but the rule was to break through in about two weeks. Now that the saloon is gone from our midst. we have no way of gathering statistics with reference to New Year resolutions.
 "I have not only read it in the pa- pers throughout the south that prohibition does not prohibit in large cities but l have been told by men about town here in Birmingham that there is much liquor disposed of in this district. I can hard ly believe. however. that the traffic in whisky is as great as 1t was in the old saloon days"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12
JUST AN EVERY DAY HERO

get bad, when they don't want so many water boys and the weather isn't bad enough to be good for messengers"
 And what are the kids going to do when they're big enough to work?'
 Why we don't make no plans, you know. They're just studying, that's all.,'
 And that was all he had to tell-the story of a North End family whose only fortune is lump of rood temper big enough to go around. A hard working mother and son, an invalid daughter whose heroism is even more retiring than theirs-not the kind Of heroism to be dec- orated with "a hero medal" from a com mittee on heroism-nothing of the manu 1actured, made-to-order kind of heroics. But US heroism that seems to have some reward when the kids big brother comes home to play with them after A good days work
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12
MUSIC AND MANNERS.

From the New York World
 Having induced MT Hammerstein to build an opera house, Philadelphia is in danger of having it's opera discontinued by MT. Hammerstein in mid-season. A real estate loan of s4OO,0OO for which he has vainly sought from the Delaware to the Schuylkill has resulted in an open rupture.
 Not that MT. Hammerstein's tenors and sopranos have failed to meet Philadel- phias exacting standards. As an inn pressario he has moved it's | est people up several notches in their self-esteem They are grateful to him for having given them fresh cause for civic pride, even though the social leaders of Rit- tenhouse Square have been compelled to go north of Market street to hear let razzini and Mary Garden
 But the solid men of Pennville when they make 'donations' on first-class real estate security demand that respectful consideration due to persons of their distinguished station as guardians of their depositors' cash MT. George H. Earle, president of the Real Estate Trust com pany, to whom Mir. Hammerstein applied, says: He is an impossibility The trou- ble is that while he has given us an exhibition of the very best opera he has accompanied It with one of the very worst manners. I really think we would better lose his opera than see such an example of manners succeed"
 Having been long accustomed to the ease of manner and perfection of deeorum of Mir. Conried when he furnished Phila- dephia with grand opera on the Metropol- itan's off-days and wash-days, its finan- ciers find MT Hammerstein's manners re- volting. He Is abrupt in speech. He gestlculates when he talks In fine, he lacks repose. However extraordinary his achievements as a producer of opera and discoyerer of stars, he shocks the sense of propriety prevailing in Philadelphia counting houses. He may withdraw from the field, but Philadelphia will be sus- tained and cheered by an unfaltering trust that in the home of MT. Box no transgression against the rules of correct conduct will be tolerated.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12

noughts are still good in the case of a 26.000-ton ship. It could outshell all lesser ships at long range.
 Pretty soon. however, halt will be called in the construction of big ships, and still bigger ships. Unless a halt is called some nation would proceed to lay down a 5O.OOO-ton ship, and yet there would be few ports such a ship could enter. The lack of ports would deter some countries and the lack of money other nations. We must be nearing the limit of the Dreadnought class.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12
LoNDoN's POLICE.
From the London Tines.


 The peace and safety of some 1000. 900 of people are dependent upon about IT, GOO to 1s.000 policemen. We know that they do their work well; most of us free ly recognize this. Foreign visitors speak In glowing terms of their virtues and ef
 hciency. Few weeks pass in which each Of us does not owe something to their , good sense and courtesy. Superseding
 watchmen and constables notoriously in enicient, the London police have not been transformed into military force in dis guise, very fit to repel a foreign Invader. but ill-trained for the little combats and petty difficulties of the street. They are not in this respect like the guardians of some continental cities, who might, with slight change in uniform, take theIr place in the ranks of the regular army. That perfection of drill which Is compati- ble with general usefulness, is too apt to paralyze the power of individual initia- tive, is unknown. The best point of the system Is that, while there is highly de- veloped organization underlying it, indi- i viduality is encouraged; the policeman is permitted to be himself, to be the friend of the young and the weak. to be free to show himself as he is and at his best as a man. Tt is a body of men," says our correspondent, 'who, though distinc- tive in their character from all others. are yet related to the people whom they serve by ties of intimate personal association which are not to be found in any other country in the world. The policeman in London is not merely guardian of the l,z ir sx,fo life."
 In many back street and slum he not merely stands for law and order; he is the true handy man of our streets, the best friend of mass of people who have no other counsellor or protector
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12
SAVED RY npoN JJuAN.v

Chicago Dispatch to New York World.
 For the second time in single term of court Byron's Don Juan' has saved Martin Schleyer from term in prison. Schleyer walked out of the courtroom in Kenosha, Wis, free man late Friday night after a jury had decided he was insane when he shot Herman Koehler, alleged to have been the affinity of his wife.
 he was tried recently on the charge of shooting hls wife. At both trials his attorney read to the jury parts of Bly, ron's Don Juan" and on both occa- sions the verses so stirred the jurors that they brought in favorable verdicts.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12
26,000-TOn BattleShiD

The naval board of construction has prepared plans for three 26,000-ton battleships, an Congress has been asked to authorize their building. The proposed ships would carry 14-inch guns. These ships would be 40O0 to 5000 tons larger than any ship af1oat or that has been planned.
 The estimated cost of 26,000-ton ship has not been made known. Ar nor and all else would be proportions ately increased, and the total expense would be enormous But the reasons that induced England to build Dread
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12
Iron Market and Tariff,

"The week starts off with a quiet pig iron market" said the representative of a large furnace interest. "The southern market was so brisk and strong toward the close of the old year that we had a right to think 1t would continue active; on it. The price is nominally SIS, but it is going slow at that.
 "One month ago it looked as if the new year would bring us S14 or s15 pig sched- ule on No basis but now such mar ket seems indefinitely postponed. I may be wrong,- but I blame it all on the tariff discussion"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12
Outlook for Cotton Consumption

Up to January the census bureau says 12,470,226 bales grown last year had been ginned. Something more than one-half of the crop has been marketed-that is to say, has been carried away from the farms on which it grew. This larger half included no doubt the distress" cotton of the crop, and the presumption is that the cotton remaining on the farms will be held uninfluenced by debts that de- mand liquidation. Eight cents is not a satisfactory price these days when all that a farmer buys has been advanced, labor included.
 Even if the crop should go to 13,500,- 900 bales the mills may want every bale chiefly because it was gathered in remarkably fine weather and is ex- cellent spinning cotton. The mills will accumulate surplus supplies of such cotton so long at any rate as the price stays near its present level. The farmers may not get 10 cents during this year, but they will undoubtedly see a steady movement upwards sim ply because the mill operators know the crop is spinnable and generally ex- cellent.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12
The Electric Arcade.

"The brilliant arcade along Third ave- nue at night is a beautiful sight" said d country visitor
 Coming up from Sixteenth street the brilliant lights beginning with the Bijou theatre, taking in the gorgeous electrical eolored display of the Majestic the mer- chants signs and the thousands of lights in the arches from Nineteenth street to Twentieth, suggest the carnival nights eiate the impression on the eye of those who live where the electric light Is not in use or In some places where 1t casts it's siclSly feeble beam into the deepest of darkness.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12
YOUTH.

By Florence Wilkinson in the Century, I am the unquiet sister with the old. wild.
 beautiful eyes,
 Who went forth from my home to seek; I am the immortal child who yearned for
 the moon and the star-sown skies: I am the dreaming girl who burned For the touch of god on her cheek. I am the unquiet sister with the young,
 ancient, beautiful eyes,
 Whose feet with morning were shod. have travelled the long, long road where
 the caravan smoke and the golden
 dust up-flies;
 I am the dreaming girl who burned And discovered a vanishing god. I am the unquiet sister with the old,
 wild, beautiful eyes,
 have seen 50 many things Hope detained in sightless tower and
 graves for questionings. Love that endured for an hour and
 the eyes of wounded things. I would like to go back once more, creep
 back. dark-foot. in tho rain. And timidly knock at the door lefs.
 I can never go back again
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Business Imnrovement.

Business in the south is fairly good, said c. S. Clarke of Chicago, an official of a large piano company. When pianos are selling trade in other lines is sure tc be brisk. In Georgia our business has been somewhat hurt of late by the low price of cotton, but in Alabama and some of the other southern states the piano trade has been slowly but surely improv- ing since last fall.
 T have been greatly impressed with the growth of Birmingham. This city is go- ing ahead rapidly, and the building ac- tivity here is simply wonderful"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR From the New York Press

When man says he is blase he means his stomach has gone back on him.
 Some men would be willing to go to jail to get into the society there of a mil lionalre.
 There is no way one woman can be so hateful to another as to be better dressed than she Is.
 When young woman shows a deep in terest in an old man it's a sign she can make him think it's real.
 One reason people can't be cured of wasting their money is they find that for enjoyment it's about the only kind of spending that's worth It.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
CASTLES IN THE AIR,

CASTLES IN THE AIR. Sing a song of building Castles in the air, Gold Of dreams for gliding Domes and towers fair; Love illumes the windows. Hope stands guard for ave Der the halls of fancy Where blithe spirits play. Sing a song of building Castles in the air, Far above the valley Call we life's despair; Rose-hued clouds are drifting Past enchanted walls, Where no other shadow From sweet heaven falls.
  Sing a song of building Castles in the air; All our youth made lovely, Unchanged, fingers there; Reveries are fitting Ever to and fro, Keeping time to music Of the long agol
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12
ONE ON THE DEMOCRATS.

From Judge.
 During the course of stump speech delivered in Mississippi some time ago by John Sharp Williams, the democratic leader of the House of Representatives, he was interrupted by sudden yell from a man in the audience:
 ''I have been robbed by pickpockets!"
 'I did not know that there were any republicans present." promptly suggested MT. Williams, in order to get g. laugh
 "Oh, there aint, there ain't!" roared the unhappy man. I'm the only oner'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12
HIS HEADQUARTERS

Where father growls at mother
 And mother grumbles back, And where unlovely children
 Brawl in wolf1sh pack: Ana where there's nothing gracious, Or Christian-like, or kind. IS the sort of home, I'm thinking, Old Trouble likes to find. Where helpful hands are wanting. And hope and sympathy And never any sweetness,
 Nor any smiles there be; And where dear Love lies stricken Stone dead-once only blind IS the sort of home, I'm thinking, Old Trouble likes to find.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12

Memphis and St. Louis both are con- sidering the commission plan of gov ernment. The former has long wanted it, but the state has supreme court that tries to veto the proposition.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12

Stock subscriptions for giant air ship company are invited and they can be sent in by wireless telegraphy. When one tries to be modern he should go the length of modernity.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12

A section of the constitution pro vides that senators and representa- tives shall not be questioned in any other place for any speech or debate in either House, but the President declines to consider the constitution when his sleuths can be used
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12

Columbia has recognized the inde- boundary of the little republic. This change in the map is, therefore, fix ture
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12
SURE

Woodrow Wilson says no man is fit to be woman's husband unless he can drive a nail"
 Every one can't be a carpenter If man can drive truck he ought to be able to support his wife just as we'll"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12

Yuan Shi Kai still keeps his head on his shoulders, but he does not feel sure it will stay there even many days longer
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12
PLENTY OF NOISE.

Sorrows come not single spies but in battalions.'"
 Whats the matter now?"
 Ponsonby has twins at his house." : Two don't constitute battalion" If you could hear those kids yelling you would think they were whole armyp'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12

Emperor William has 52 castles and 52 sets of household servants. No wonder he wants to sell few of his castles.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12

The present cold wave Is said to Dc killing the peach crop. It may be able, however, to stand one or two more killings.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12

When ships that carry 1S-inch armor and 13-inch guns begin to work for the suffering the millenium can almost be felt.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12

California physician has given up the fee plan, trusting to voluntary con- tribntions of his patients.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12

REPLIES.
 Hot mud or lava?" asks an excbang. We don't care for either, thank won A Washington paper discusses TWO Ideas" They should be carefully guarded Ideas are scarce these days.
 Why is the stage villain dark?" ba. been asked Because his deeds are. La wally' is recent operatic suc. cess in this country. The name sux- gests chewing gum.
 Maxine Elliott installed a lovely hath in her new theatre but stage hand beat her to it.
 An editorial entitled. "On Feeling Rich' reminds the average man that the after math is an empty pocket and an aching head.
 Never saw the lady" says Wilbur Wright. That Is the conventional an swer, we believe, when a man is named as a correspondent
 A St. Louis woman whose husband was housekeeper, cook, "maid" and scrub "woman," had him arrested for disturb ing the peace and he left her. She has undoubtedly lost jewel. A Los Angeles man claimed that COW scratched his face, but his wife vowed that young woman did it. You will be glad to learn that the COW was found guilty.
 A St. Louis woman wants divorce be- cause her husband eats like sawmill Maybe the food is tough
 PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12

The little folk do not understand why Teddy Bears have gone out of fashion.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12
skEPTICA1..

SKEPTICAL. vacation time, vacation time,- It seems so far away; on. Will we ever live to see The happiness of May? The days toll by on leaden feet The weeks like months they seem IS spring promise to be fulfilled Or just an idle dream?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12

The sleuth incident is practically closed. It was but tempest in a congressional teapot
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12

Pittsburgs History church is to be outdone in Chicago by History pub. lie school. Tall things are in the air
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12

Johnny is getting out his skates in all the states above the Mason and Dixon's famous but out-of-date line.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12

RELENTLESS WARFARE. Iris all in vain
 The germs do groan, Science, science,
 Let us alonel we can not rest,
 We can not sleep, No harbor's there Which we may keep. wed fain behave Indeed we would, For there are germs Who can be good" But science, armed With spray and pump, Still keeps the poor Germs on the jump.
 A FREQUENT TYPE. '1s he a man of sound judgment?" 'Plenty of sound, but no judgment.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12

The white near-pugilists seem to consider Jack Jackson a black cloud with a silver lining.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12

Ambassador Griseom cannot be spared. He is the man we need in dis tressed Italy.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12

The mayors of 21 American cities can now chat daily by the wireless.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12

The weather man simply sits back and it says, T told you so."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12
A JINGLE.

'fWe'll dream a dream of morning, Till the light breaks through; And we'll speak of hope a-borning,
 Till the light breaks through. Though we're forced to hide with sorrow Till the light breaks through, Oh, we'll be all right tomorrow. When the light breaks through!