davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-17

drink habit, which was then, as now,
such a curse to the middle and working
classes Of England. In Stratford there
were many small tavernkeepers who were
forbidden to brew their own ale, owing
to
1.-THE create disorders in this burroughe
by the typlers therein inhabiteing through
Their unreasonable strong drincke, and the
increase of quarrelinge and other misde-
meanours In Their howses, and further and
greater impoverysheinge of mamie poor
men there inhabiteing and hawntelnge the
said howses, when Their wyves and chyl-
dren are In extremetie of beggynge."
In the days of Shakespeare the houses
Of Stratford were more widely detached
than now, each place having about it a
roomy garden. The houses were low and
heavily built, having numerous gables and
closely lattieed small windows, with cell
ings so low that one might easily touch
them by uplifting the hand. Only a few
OF the old-time houses stand today in an
unaltered condition.
1t is best to see Stratford on Friday,
market day; on Tuesday, cattle sale day,
and In October during the annual statute
hiring fair. While the latter Is in prog
ress oxen, sheep and other animals are
roasted whole In the streets and 1t Is in
teresting to see the country folk grouped
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-17

date of May 8, 1866, we have the following:
"Yt is agreed by the belyf master
alderman, with the rest of the aldermen
and burgesyz that forasmuch as william
Bot, one of the aldermen, by report of
credable personnes hattie spoken evell
wordes by Mr.. Belyf and other, that Their
was never a honest man of the Council
or body of the Corporation of Stratford,
whereupon the said William Bot was send
for and dyd not cum to hys answer, and
for that he hattie geyen suche abpro-
bryous wordes, he Is not worthy hence
forthe to be of the Council, and so he
is expulsyd to be none of the company,
and to this agreement the belyf, aldermen
and burgesyz herunto hattie subscrybyd
Their names and set Their markes with ther
own handles
Another of the town councils resolu-
tlons worth repeating here reads thus:
"No person or persons ynhabytyng
within the burro of Stratford shall FeYyell
or myssay the belyf, aldermen, capital
burgesez, chamberlins, nor no other offe-
Ger or officers of the sayd burro In payn
of forfetur ks. Yf he that so offendyth
hath not to pay the sayd forfetur, then
to be prisoned by the space Of tire days
and thre nights"
1t would seem that the town council
also took hand in trying to temper the
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-17

about the barbecue, holding plates and
bowls for "a bit of the tough and bit
of the tender" which is supposed to be
each persons rightful share.
The old Shakespeare house, where the
poet was born. Is In good condition yet
today. 1t stands on Henley street, just
short distance from the church. But
New Place." the home bought by Will
liam Shakespeare after his return from
London and where he took his wife soon
after their marriage, has been demol-
ished, and only its foundation stones and
Its pretty garden are there to greet the
visitor The Ann Hathaway cottage, at
Shottery, is will preserved and is reached
from Stratford by path through green
fields.
Shakespeare died at his home. ..New
Place." and was buried In Holy Trinity
Church. a stones throw from the SPOT
where he was born. From the choir stall
in the church one may look down upon
the slab which covers the ashes of him who
has made the name of Stratford-on-A Avon
revered In every civilized country of the
earth. On the simple stone are inscribed
these lines:
GOOD friend, for Jesus sake forbeare
To dig the dust encloased heare;
Bleste be We man vt. spares thes stones,
And curst be he vt. moves my bones"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-17

My mother has some errands for me tn
do for her before supper.
.'Well,' began Smithy, this is the bril-
liant idea that has come into my think
ing-machine. You boys know how Sam is
always Boosting about having. once eaten
roasted snake. He says 1t was during his
and his grown-up brothers visit to the
Far West that they fell in with some
very savage cowpunchers, and that this
gang of wild men had snake cooked
over camp fire for supper and that he.
Sam, ate his full share of it. He declares
that to eat snake puts great courage into
one. and that he Is now so courageous
that he fears nothing dead or alive as
he puts it,
Eyes, those are his words" laughed
Walt. 'He says he sometimes gets hun
cry for supper of snake and dried cactl
Oh. he is the limlt!''
Yes, and more's the pity, too, for he
used to, be such a fine chap-before he
made that trip to New Mexico and Ari
iona. But since then he is so anxious to
be terror that he makes himself often
sive. But, let's have Smithys plan. We
interrupt so much that we'll never hear
1t. And Harold laughed as he said this.
well, you have all heard Sum tell of
how he busted bronco while in Mex
leo" said Smithy. Now, I'm willing to
wager a good deal that Sam was never In
the saddle on bronco's back In his life,
not to mention busting one, which you
all know means to break the animal to
the saddle and bride. Now, papa has
Just bought a new Texas pony, one that
has never been ridden yet. Well invite
Sam to bust this animal in our horse
lot nd oil i'm
help him get up the necessary courage
to do so we have arranged a little rattle
snake supper for him. You know there
have been II good many rattlers found
down Ia that rocky ledge along the river,
and lie will think we have gotten one
from there. In fact, he will be too much
occupied In planning to get out of bust
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-17
BY MAUD WALKER.

~ AROLD, smithy, Walt and Jack
"a were holding very secret meeting
in an empty barn that stood on an
81 untenanted lot at the outskirts of
the town. They had assembled
there after school, and as each of the
four had certain chores at home to per-
form of an evening the consultation had
TO be brief.
snow. I'll tell you boys what I propose
TO do. As we all know, Sam is getting to
be more unbearable every day on ac-
count of his boasting and classifying. OF
course, 1t cannot be said that he is an
out-and-out liar. but he goes as far MS
the dividing line between exaggeration
and falsehood will allow him. And some
thing must be done to put a stop to his
shortcoming in this direction or he'll soon
have no friends at all" So spoke smithy,
a fine boy of 10.
Eyes, I've been disguised with Sans
Boosting about his wonderful brayado and
bis love of the wild and untamed in
man." admitted Harold. And I'm one
TO help formulate any plan by which we
can make Sam ashamed of himself and
cure him of his reckless Boosting. But
I'll admit I cannot see any way in which
1t can be done"
'Well, let's have Smithy's PLAN" sug-
gested Jack. "He began by saying he
proposed to do something. Now. let's hear
what that something is.
Eyes, come on with your modus ope-
randi, Smithy," exclaimed Walt. I've
got to make home run In five minutes.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-17

about riding the broneol Shall we help
you to saddle him7"
mot now, boys" said Sam, his face
turning red from shame. He felt that
hts comrades had found him out. =
I am not we'll today"
Gust as we thought said Wait.
Truth is, Sam, we have been playing
a trick on you about this meat-it's plain
beefsteak cut into strips. We wanted to
test your courage-your bravado.'
Eyes, Sam, we wanted to teach you a
lesson" said Jack. 1--WE have always
been fond of you, and it made us sorry
to see you becoming one OF those dis
tasteful braggers, not to say an exag-
gerator."
Sam stood with bowed head for mo-
ment, then turned to depart. The boys
stood watching for him. waiting for him
TO speak. When he reached the gate he
paused. and turning toward the group
said:
i've deserved the dose, boys. 1t aas
it, / reckon. All l ask is that you don't
make It too hard on NEEDN'T say too
much to outsiders. I'll stop my Dragging
and my my storytelling, too. I've
romanced n bit, as you know, about my
Western trip. l never ate snake, and
what's more, I never can eat snake
The boys laughed heartily over this
speech and Smithy came to the front and
explained just how he had worked the
'snake gag" as he expressed It, And.
Sam. hope youll be just plain, COM
mon, meat-eating citizen agaln-from this
day." he added.
'Ill be CHAD to be one of you-if you'll
have me- said San, joining the group.
81 never realized that l was making a
fool of myself till this evening. | shall
try to mend my ways-if you'll rein
state me in your good graces again.
And four hands were held out to Sam
and four voices declared that he had
taken his ''cure" like a man. and that
from henceforth he was to be one of
1.-THE Honest Band and would be re-
qulred to live up to the rules of the
order.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-17

IT, TRATFORD received its name from
@N the old paved ford which is supposed
VI to have been built in Roman times.
EAP But the first mention of the town Is
In connection with the monastery
founded there by Ethelred, King of Mer-
ella. This was about the year 700 A. ID.
The right of holding a market in the
town of Stratford, once a week torignal-
ly on Thursday, but later on Friday was
granted by King Richard l. And King
John granted to the Bishop of Worcester
of his time 1.-THE right to hold fair in
Stratford of two days continuance upon
the eve of Holy Trinity" During the
reign of Queen Elizabeth Stratford was
doubtless a busting market town of some
Importance, somewhat larger than 1t is
today. Henry VIII. 1t was who instituted
the commission OF inquiry for the purpose
of ascertaining the fighting strength of
England, and Stratford was found to con-
tain 1876 able-bodied men who might be
called upon to do active service in times
of war.
During the early boyhood of William
Shakespeare, his father, John Shakes
speare was elected Il member of the
town council. The records of the town
council of those days are most unique
To copy from the Council Book, under
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-17

boys assembled In the horse lot back of
Smithy's home, and found that Smithy
had the camp fire all ready to start by
touching a match to a bit of straw that
lay beneath the chips and wood. Over
the top of the wood lay two long strips
of red meat, held In shape by long, sharp
sticks thrust, through them lengthwise.
They were ready for the broiling
''Say, Smithy, the snake meat looks SO
natural that to n real Western wild man,
like Sam, 1t will be most appetlzing."
And Harold laughed.
Eyes, but where's our mann" asked
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-17

bed he got, while his mother poured
down his throat a cup OF the bitterest
tea he had ever tasted.
And there 20 the sounds OF merriment
and music poor Polo lay, paying the
penalty of his naughtiness. And he re-
pented OF his wrongdolng, too. and wish
ed from the bottom of his cub heart that
he had behaved himself nicely, like Jinko
and Minko. so that he might have re-
mained up for the party. And with n
heavy heart Polo fen asleep, not to wake
again till the spring sunshine should call
him forth, for 1t was time for bears to
'hole-up' for the winter In that far
Northern countrv
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-17

~ HILDREN, children, come here
M< this moment, for l have something
w to say to you that will please you
~ mlghtilyl" So called Mrs. Furry to
her three little Furrys, Jinko.
Minko and Polo.
For fear that you might think Mrs.
furry was woman / shall tell you at
the beginning that Mrs Furry is a black
bear, very fine lady black bear. And
Jinko, Minko and Polo are her cubs.
Jinko and Polo are boys and Minko Is a,
girl. And Jinko and Minko are twin
brother and sister. So they shall always
be spoken of in the same breath, for they
usually speak at the same time and say
exactly the same things. Oh, Jinko ana
Mlnko are very funny little cubs, ana
their baby brother Polo Is still funnier'
but the latter is sometimes very naughty.
The three small Furrys heard their
mothers voice and came running to her
IL was In the cool of an October even
ing, and Mrs. Furry was out of doors,
sitting meath big tree which grew In
the yard of her cave.
What have you to tell US, mamma?
asked Jinko and Minko.
Eyes, what have you to tell us, man.
map asked Polo, usually repeating his
brothers and sisters question.
well, dear babies, it is getting quite
late in October and we will soon go to
sleep for our winters nap, as you know.
Now, have decided to give a party for
our friends before we go into our sleep
state. Do you like the idea?'
"Oh hugely mamma" cried Jinko and
Minko.
''Oh, bigly, mamma" declared Polo,
wishing to introduce new word.
well, you shall go out in the morning
and issue the invitations to our friends,
said Mrs. Furry. THE party shall come
OF in the evening of the day after to-
morrow. In the meantime | shall prepare
the refreshments.
''Oh, what shall we have. mamma"
asked Jinko and Minko.
Yes, what shall we have to eat?"
added Polo.
u know where the bees have a great
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-17

pinched off a bit of the outer edge, Just
where the sweet icing was thickest. oh.
how delicious! He decided to try little
more Of 1t with some of the plump nuts
which filled another great bowl on the
table.
And while the music and dancing con-
tinued in the outer cave little Polo con-
tinued to eat cake, nuts and honey In the
inner cave. And after his tummy was SO
full of good things that he could eat no
more he tried getting off the table. But
his gluttony had untitled him for jump
ing such n distance, for the table was
higher than his head.
st must get down." declared Polo to
himself. Then he tried holding to the
huge dish containing the honey, allowing
his hind legs to slip over the side Of the
table; thus he thought he might get to
the floor without injury to himself. But
he was so much heavier than the honey
bowl that not only did he fall to the
floor, but the honey bowl went with him,
and there, In a mess together on the hard
stone floor they lay, SO mixed up that
you could not tell Polo and the bowl
apart. both were so covered with the
sticky substance.
low, ow, OWL cried Polo. Then of
a sudden his tummy began to pain him
terribly, and he began to cry loudly:
'Oh, mamma, I'm dying! Come quickly"
His mother, whose ears were ever keen
to the cries of her little cubs, came run
ming to the inner cave In response to his
call. You may believe she was shocked
at the sight presented to her view. Shaa
called to her guests to come to her aid,
and soon Polo was surrounded by an
excited and questioning crowd.
And In his agony of stomach pain Polo
told just what he had done, not trying
to excuse himself in the least. mamma,
forgive me for having been n glutton," he
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-17


ing the bronco and eating snake to ask
for particulars regarding his favorite dish
roasted snake"
All the boys laughed over this and de-
clared the scheme a good one. And as
they had seen the Texas pony just
bought by Smlthys father they knew
that that part of the plan would help to
carry along the snake supper idea and
make it appear real.
But what is your idea as to the
shaker asked Walt. "Of course, you
have no notion of having a genuine rat
tier"
I'VE can cut long strips of beef and
roast them on the fire." smiled Smithy.
'I'll see to that part OF the supper all
right, and I'll wager my best har that
Sam bolts before he tastes the supposed
snake dish. But he's got to be cured,
even though he is Inundated"
Eyes, he's getting insufferable, as you
say" declared Jack. Then the boys COM
pleted their secret arrangements" and
hurried to their respective homes. They
had agreed to have the eermony of ''bron-
co busting and "snake eating" on the fol-
lowing Saturday afternoon.
Promptly at o'clock on Saturday the
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-17

the dance, for they had attended the
Cubs Dancing School during the sum-
mer and knew how to keep time to the
music with fancy steps.
When all was happy and social con-
fusion, little Polo crept away from the
outer cave and went into the big inner
cave where the table of refreshments pre-
scented a most tempting view. He peeped
into first one dish and then into another.
sticking one little paw into the honey
just to lick it off, for his fat little tummy
was begging for food
The honey tasted so delicious and fresh
that little Polo decided to take his fill
before the guests should be summoned to
the dining-room. So. climbing upon the
table, the little fellow began eating from
the great bowl which was filed to the
brim. Then the huge cake-which was
the pride of the table, and which was
set in the very center Of the board-at-
tracted his eye, and. reaching out. he
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-17

Walt. who invited himT'
81 did," said smithy. II told him we
were anxious to see him display his
horsemanship by breaking-or busting
rather-our new and wild Texas pony.
And l conhded to him that had a fine
snake ready for the killing and roasting,
so as to put courage in him for the 'bron-
co busting You should have seen his
face. 1t was really pitiful. But-there
he comes. l had half expected him to
send some excuse for his nonappearance. -
Sam came into the horse lot and walked
nervously toward the group of boys who
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-17

awaited him. smithy touched the match
to the straw and soon the air was filled
with the odor of broiling meat.
"Ah, here's our hero" cried Jack, wav-
ing a hand toward Sam. ''Now we are
assembled to bear witness to your courage
and strength-courage to eat of snake
and strength to sit the back of a buck
ing bronco"
Sam grinned and looked about him. The
pony stood, head down. beside the fence,
a huge saddle and n bride on the ground
close beside him.
Guess you'll want to eat your snake
before saddling the bronco" said smithy,
and he lifted one piece of cooked meat
from the fire and put 1t on a tin plate
with a slice of bread. Here, this will
remind you of the wild and woolly West.
Here's the snakes skin. You see, he
was a big fellow" And Smlthy dragged
from under some grass snake skin,
spotted and ugly. Gle had procured the
skin from an old trapper who made a
business of selling animal and snake
skins.)
Sam was seen to shudder perceptibiy.
Then he said:
"say. boys, I hate not to be game on
this occasion. but but 1 am not
feeling we'll today. Have a bad stomach,
you know"
but snake-wel cooked like this-will
bring your appetite back" urged Jack.
Eyes. 1t will make you feel like wild
man." laughed Harold.
Sam reluctantly took n piece of the
Of III
then let 1t fall back to the plate again
while his face turned ashen white from
the nausea which seized him. Say,
boys" he said, II can't eat It'll can't"
But you were Dragging about having
eaten SNAKE said Smithy. NOW, you
must either make good-or Wen know 1t
was all bluff on your part. And what
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-17
& OURPUZZLE
CORNER
LETTER ENIGMA.

LETTER ENIGMA.
Ny first Is in window, but not in door !:
My second is in iron, but not in ore:
My third Is In new, but not In old:
My fourth is In metal, but not in gold:
My fifth is in whale, but not in fish,
My sixth is In platter, but not In dish:
My whole is season
That all children love,
And they'll know what 1t is
When they solve the above.
zIGZAG PUZZLE.
The words Of the zgzag contain four
letters each. II the words are rightly
guessed and written one below another
their zigzag letters, beginning with the
upper left-hand letter and ending with
the lower left-hand letter, will spell the
name OF wild animal found only in
Africa. The cross words are: 1. A vain
able metal 2. That which heats and de-
etroys. g. Part of tree. f. A small hop
ping insect. 5. The place in the barn
where the hay Is stored. g. Denoting dis
lance. Z. That which Is wicked.
CONUNDRUMs.
why is the King of England a poor
man?
He possesses but one Groom.
When does a public speaker steal lum-
Der?
When he takes tho H0or.
What light could not possibly be seen
in a dark room?
An Isrde-Hte.
HIDDEN PROVERB PUZZLE.
well-known proyerb is hidden In the
following seven sentences. Each SEN
tence contains but one word of the prov
erb. II the words are rightly guessed
and written In their correct order che
proverb will be- formed:
Partners in wrongdoing always have a
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-17
dark secret between them.

dark secret between them.
There Is no end to time.
The ways of man are most strange.
Each hour Of the day should count for
something.
Learn to walk before you run.
Cfhe word In the sixth sentence Is the
snme as that in the third sentence.)
The energetic farmer is up with the
dawn.
ANSWERS TO LAST WEEKS PUZZLES.
ZIGZAG PUZZLE = SpG,voio. Cross.
toords ]. Shot. 2. Opal. 8. Play. 1. Fear
8. Hare. q. Boar Z. Wren.
PRIMAL ACROSTIC-Bufalo Gross
tcords: l. Bride. .. Un,ber. 3. Frost. 4.
Flour. 8. ALbnm. @. Liver. 7. Ocean.
BBHEADINGS = "a Appear-pedr e.,
Baton-fon. go Wasp-asp.
OURTAILTNGS = ~ Tailor-tafl (2)
Bavcn-bdy t3) Gauntlet -0aunt.
PICTURE PUZZLE-Vi0lin. Words pic-
fared: l. VWlture. q Ink. 8. Oar. q. LINK
8. Iron. 6. Negro.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-17
NAMELEss WOMEN.

TN Korea it is claimed that women
have no names, and that they are
J merely referred to as Look here.
you." The Korean women resemble
very much the wives of the American
Indian, being forced to do all the work
about the homes and the greater por-
ton of the labor afeld.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-17

Teacher-Tommy, II you had ten apples
and Willie should take six of them, how
many apples would you have?
Tommy-Ten. and Willie would have
the worst licking he ever got
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-02-26
MILWAUKEE, LETS
CONTRACT FOR
ROAObED

J. H. Bruce & Co. of Seattle
were yesterday awarded the con-
tract by the Milwaukee railway
for the building of the Front
street roadbed from Old Town to
the smelter.
The company will furnish all
materials, the contractors simply
doing the work. The entire work
will be on piling, there being over
1000 piles to be driven. 1t will
take over 1000 feet of lumber to
cover the piling, as the company
will build a street for the city
80 feet wide, in addition to the
roadbed for its own tracks.
The entire job, including the
docks near the North End mill,
at which the car ferry will re-
ceive and discharge ore, will prob
ably cost $250,000.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-02-26

in international law, according
to the opinion of the conferees.
Its effect is to create an effective
international court with all the
powers of an ordinary tribunal.
The trend of the conference to-
ward subordinating the interests
of belligerents was opposed by
England as has been the consist
ent stand of England on the ques-
ton in the past. The British Of
ficials, however, have agreed to
the plan of conducting naval oper-
ations in the future along the
idea that the interests of neutrals
are paramount,
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-02-26
SUSPECT IS
RELEASED

G. A. Spaulding, a photographer,
was released yesterday after a
hearing before Judge Arntson in
the police court. The man was
arrested on the suspicion of being
burglar and forger, but the evil
dence was not enough to hold
him. He is one of the men &C
cused by the police of having
forged passes for seats at the Ia
coma theater when Ben Hur"
and "The Wolf came to the city,
but this charge was not substan-
tiated.