davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-28
KEEPING AUTOS WARM

From the Philadelphia Record.
 What sort of new fad is this, any way?" inquired the jovial-looking visitor from Bucks county as he surveyed a line of automobiles on Chestnut street on a recent cold day. Tt looks as if all the predatory rich were trying to stick to at least some of the traits and manners of the horsey days. See those machines, every one with blanket over the front end? Well, take 1t from me that most of those people forgot to blanket their horses on a cold day when they drove horses. Now that they've taken to auto mobiles they blanket 'em. I suppose they'll be trying to take 'em to steeple- chase races and high hurdles or cross- country runs after foxes the next thing. His curiosity getting the better of him, the talkative man mustered up courage to speak to one of the fur-coated chauf- feurs, and his wonder was scarcely less when he learned that 1t is just as neces- sary to blanket the engine of an automo- bile on cold day as it is to cover 8 horse, the object being to keep the water in the tank from freezing.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-28
ns LIFE WORTH LIVING 2g

From the Chicago Record Herald.
 The suicide of Alice Law. a young woman of 26 who had found life "unen- durable" although the circumstances of her ease" as described by herself indi- cate that she had much to be thankful for will doubtless revive the discussion of the old, old question as to the pain pleasure balance in this strange world of ours.
 Miss Law seems to have had unusual abilities and sufficient practical fitness to earn salary which certainly meant neither physical hardship nor exclusion from the comforts and some of the lux uries of life. She had a passion for music and was able to gratfy it in a large meas ure; she was a reader of serious books and something of a philosopher Tens of thousands would have considered her lot enviable, yet she herself condemned that lot as "too hard"
 Her explanation of the fatal step in the note she left says sweepingly that there is too much work, too much mo- notony, too much weariness and not enough art, recreation and rest" Many might say this with much greater reason than she apparently had, yet. after all, they find the balance favorable one. Any normal person of intelligence and average education should succeed in mak- ing life tolerably varied and enjoyable. Tn a city like Chicago there is enough art in the forms of music, drama, paint ings and sculpture to meet reasonable needs, and as to rest and recreation sure ly the ordinary workday does not unduly encroach on their allowance. One may set aside seven or even eight hours for sleep and yet have enough time for read ing, for walks, for social calls, for en- tertainment.
 Doubtless with further progress life will be made more attractive than it is to large classes of toiers, but even in our present stage of civilization none but the exceptionally unfortunate, the morbid, the victims of unhappy dispositions or of very bad habits tending to produce de- pression and melancholy can complain of Excessive monotony and lack of sunshine, beauty and interest
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-28
Industrial School For Girls

The establishment of the boys re- formatory at East Lake was a noble enterprise, and all appreciate it's value and importance. And so they will the proposed industrial school for girls which the board of governors of the Mercy Home proposes to build at Woodlawn. AS soon as the Board of Revenue grants the use of five acres of the almshouse property suitable buildings will be begun, and the work pushed to a realization of the plans of the excellent ladies who are behind this enterprise.
 Step by step this city is being organ ized on humanity lines, and the need of a girls industrial school has long been felt. Now is the time to start the buildings and the work, trusting to the future all that the present is not able to accomplish. What we are doing for the boys at East Lake should be done for the girls at Woodlawn.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-28
CLEVER WORK OF BEAVERS.

From the Kennebec Journal
 A peculiar fact was discovered at the reservoir at Saddleback Pond recently at Rangeley, when beavers work in dam construction was found to interfere with the water supply. from the Saddleback stream. These busy engineers had con structed a tight dam, which had retained considerable of the supply of the noun tain reservoir, and workmen each day tore out their work, only to find it rebuilt on their next visit. Good sized tree sec tions had been hauled in and placed in the dam by the beavers. After several de- structions of the beavers dams there was again found to be stoppage Of the supply of water through the main pipes. The dam had not been rebuilt, but on close investigation it was found that those cunning engineers, in revenge ap- parently, had built dense screen across the strainer. which had prevented the flow of water through the main pipe.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-28
Taking Up Senator MOrgan'S Task

The late John Tyler Morgan became fully convinced that a nest of rascality lay hidden in the earlier steps of the Panama canal seheme-that William Nelson Cromwell presided over that nest, and that publicity and punish ment were sadly needed in the interest of justice and common decency. Since the regrettable death of Alabama's dis tinguished Senator not much had been done in that direction until the closing session of the Sixtieth Congress was opened
 Congressman Rainey's speech, deliv- cred on Tuesday afternoon, seems to have been of convincing nature, leav- ing little doubt, says a correspondent, in the minds of those who heard it of the correctness of the accusations made by MT. Rainey. He fearlessly exposed the manipulators of the New French Canal company and of the gold brick republic of Panama and of the early stages of the present canal prof ect, in all of which William Nelson Cromwell's name appears early and often.
 The republicans in Congress may re- fuse to investigate the charges, and the entire truth may not soon be dis closed. The charges stand, however, and some day they will be investigated, and the guilty perhaps brought to pun ishment. MT. Rainey's entire speech was vindication of the efforts of John Tyler Morgan to uncover what he had become satisfied existed. He would have-exposed all known canal rascality if he could have had the support of his committee and of the Senate. But this was denied him by the special inter- ests that control the Senate.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-28
Truck Growinu Industry.

That great tract of valley land extend- ing across the northern part of Alabama on each side of the Tennessee river was once known as the corn crib of Alabama, but other products of greater money value are destined to claim the honor in this favored section," said gentleman from Hartsele yesterday.
 Fruits and vegetables are being ex- tensively grown in many localities and the plants are reaping profitable returns
 "The large plantations that were once the rule in this valley are being cut up into small farms and corn is not now the great money crop. Cotton has also been an extensive product but the planters are turning their attention more to the diversiication of crops.
 Peaches, strawberries and other like products are being extensively grown in the vicinity of Hartselle. A ready mar ket is found for these products at good prices and acreage is being rapidly in- creased.
 "A truck growers association is now being organized among the growers at Hartselle, which will greatly stimulate this industry and secure better system in the handling and marketing of prod nets"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-28
STORY OF CHARLOTTE BRoNrE

From "The Brontes; Life and Letters"
 by Clement Shorter.
 At miserable school, where she her self was unhappy, she saw her two elder sisters stricken down and carried home to die In her home was the narrowest poverty. She had in the years when that was most essential no mothers care, and perhaps there was somewhat too rigid discplinarian in the aunt who took the mothers place. Her second school brought her. indeed, two kind friends, but her shyness made that school life in it. self a prolonged tragedy. Of the two ex- periences as a private governess l shall have more to say. They were periods of torture to her sensitive nature. The ambition of the three girls to start a school on their own account failed ig- nominousy. The suppressed vitality of Charlotte unable to enter into the life of a foreign city, and Brussels was for her further disaster. Then within two years, just as literary fame was bringing it's consolation for the trials in the past, she saw ner two beloved sisters taken from her. And finally, when at last a good man won her love, there was left to her only nine months of happy mar ried life. T am not going to die We have been so happy" These words to her husband on her death bed are not the least piteously sad in her tragic story
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-28
Hurry Call of the Sea

The loss of the Republic liner prom ises to become historic. Although ram. med amidship she went down slowly, easily enabling her brave and skillful captain to summon help and to trans. fer her passengers and crew in safety. Watertight compartments are an assur- ance of safety at sea, and this was well illustrated in the Republic-Florida dis aster. The injury to the latter was in the bow, and although some of her compartments were filled with water she succeeded in reaching port. The compartments of the Republic kept her afioat many hours, but at length she sank simply because her injuries were amidships and many compartments were filled with water.
 Besides watertight compartments the Republic was equipped with wireless telegraphy, and her call for aid soon brought to her half dozen ships. Think of it! As soon as the water be- gan rushing in electricity closed the steel doors of her watertlght compart-.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-28
PROFESSOR OF PARIS GOWNS.

From the New York World.
 An extension of university tuition is indicated by the departure of Miss Jane Fales, of Columbia, for course of grad uate study in Parisan styles and dress making methods preparatory to taking up her work as head of the school of household arts in teachers college.
 A chair in the science of clothes, with special courses in directoire and empire models, should conduce greatly to the popularity of undergraduate instruction on Morningside Heights. Other women's colleges may boast the basketball cham pionship or the fastest hundred-yard sprinter, but such honors will prove feet ing before this new inducement to femi- nine interest. Vassar and Smith must needs get into line if they are to retain their prestige.
 No doubt in time as the new features of the curriculum is developed an inter- change of professors with Newnham and Girton may be arranged and London's last word in taior-made gowns brought fresh to girl students in New York.
 The sociological aspects of the new de- parture deserve consideration. Will it provide a subtle incentive to matrimony among college men? With classroom instruction in sheath gowns dividing att tention with the integral calculus, minds once callous to the promptngs of the heart may undergo an unconscious soften- ing
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-28
In Prohibition Territory.

"It is generally observed that ln the dry communities of the south there Is 3, decided decrease in the consumption or beer and a marked increase in the con sumption of whisky" said A W. Laugh ton of Baltimore. Tn Atlanta and feW other cites the sale of near beer, which means all sorts of beer, is licensed In Atlanta the traffic in beer makes for tenn perance, for the beer vendors assist the law officers in keeping out whisky. But ia North Carolina and Alabama the pro- hipitionists are uncompromising and beer stands no more show than if it were strong booze. Under these conditions therefore, blind tiger whisky seems to be greatly in evidence.
 Tn Mobile the sale of whisky is as ge, if not larger than before prohibi- tion went into effect. If the law is ever amended it will be doubtless in favor of beer and domestic wine and against whisky. At any rate that is the way many temperance people would like to see it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-28
BlTmlngham Needs a State Fair

We cannot believe our merchants will disappoint the thousands who de- sire each fall to come to Birmingham for an outing. These thousands buy goods, and the annual visit to the chief city of the state has become habit to people in fully half the counties of the state
 Under such circumstances this city cannot afford to turn over to Montgom- cry the fair-going population of the state. Montgomery is already taking steps to hold a fair, and the news should go out soon that Birmingham is to have one as good as the one held last fall
 The merchants of Birmingham should get together, each doing his fair part, and paying his fair proportion of the preliminary fund. It would be unjust to each other to do less and it would be an injury to the entire city to do nothing at all. The burden will not be heavy one if each merchant does his part. The trouble heretofore has been that all have not been willing to take hold of the matter fairly, fully and proportionately. Let merchants pro- ceed at once to get behind the state fair and Birmingham will readily have one of the best of the year.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-28
DENTAL FoRcEPs IN ANTIQUITY.

From the British Medical Journal.
 Dr. Sudhoff not long ago read paper before the Leipzig Medical society on dental forceps in antiquity. He said that even before the time of Hippocrates ref erences to the use of such instruments are found but no specimens are met with among the surgical implements belonging to classical times that have been discoV- cred. This can only be due to the ma- terial of which they were made. Unlike the mass of other Greco Roman surgical instruments which were nearly all Of bronze, the dental forceps of antiquity must have been made of iron or steel, although no medical writer mentions the fact In the Aristotelian Mechanical Problems" however, there is passage which. according to Dr. Sudhon, has hitherto been overlooked, in which 1t is mentioned as a familiar fact that dental forceps were made of iron. In the mu- scum at Homburg, where there is an almost unrivaled collection of iron impie- ments. two steel-plated forceps, one for the upper. the other for the lower jaw, have been found. That dental forceps should have formed a part of the arma- mentarium of military surgeon in remote outpost shows in what common use the instrument was.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-28
SAVING THE APPENDIX.

From the New York Press.
 Some stir is likely to be caused in the medical profession by paper written to the Lancent from Mr. c. B. Keetley, senior surgeon in the West London hos pital, telling Why and How the Sur geon Should Attempt to Preserve the i Appendix Vermiforms."
 In recent years there has grown up a considerable prejudice against the surgical passion for shipping off the appendix-a habit which, in,the nature of things, pre- vailed more among practitioners having prosperous patients. Whenever a question arose what to do to appendicitis the doubt was frequently resolved in favor of an op- eration, and if the subjects financial con- dition was good that fact was seldom al- lowed to interfere with the use of the i knife. After while some surgeons be- 1 gan to question whether there were not altogether more of this sort of thing than was essential to the saving of life, while i here and there members of the profes- sion went so far as to challenge the wis dom of ever removing the appendix, ex- cept in extreme cases.
 Dr. Keetley offers an interesting compro- mise. His researches convince him that the appendix ought not to be removed, but transplanted. He brings it to the surface of the body through an incision, | and when that wound heals and the ap- pendix has become settled In it's new posi- tion he slices off the end converting it into a tube leading from the surface of the body to the intestine. With the new tube medicaments, and even food, can be introduced directly into the intestines, valuable method in certain treatments.
 Surgery evidently has lot yet to learn about the vermiform appendix, but with so many victims of it's disease still ready to contribute themselves cheerfully to prac- tical experiments with that organ, in the interest of the race, the time may come when all doctors will agree about mal- ady of which they have always been in more or less ignorance.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-28
Strides In Public Spirit.

Birmingham made great strides in pub lie spirit last year" said member of the Commercial club. "The Confederate reunion was a splendid success, and fol- lowing the reunion came the Chamber of Commerce and other great office build ings In the fall a state fair was held on a large scale
 Birmingham has an opportunity of dis tinguishing itself again this year. A music festival, with flower parade, has been planned and it only remains for the men of means to come forward and put up the money. Birmingham simply can not afford not to have the music festival when it is remembered what crowds such a festival drew on former occasions. We need a music festival every spring, and a big fair every fall. Should these things fall this year, Birmingham would never hear the last of it.
 Birmingham needs $1,O0o,O0O hotel, too, and under the auspices of a public spirited realty firm the Mortimer Is al- most sure to materialize."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-28
WHO MAS THE LADY?

From HarperS weekly.
 At a recent performance of The Merry Widow, during it's engagement at the Cambridge theatre, the audience was greatly interested in a particularly beau- tiful young woman who occupied one of the boxes. She wore an exquisite gown of white satin trimmed with glistening elaborately. Three Harvard undergrad uates were in the box and paid her every attention, while the curious ones in the audience, including number of students, ventured guesses as to who the fair stranger might be. Undergraduates are not permitted to have a box at this thea tre unless accompanied by a lady, who must be a relative, but no one remem- bered having seen the lady in question at any of the varsity functions
 One the following day full explanation of the mysterious theatre party leaked out. It developed that the lady was a Harvard undergraduate who, with his three classmates had successfully evaded the college rule by means of this perfect disguise. The quartet had taken dinner at a fashionable restaurant and a taxi- cab brought them to the playhouse, where there was not the least suspicion of the hoax. Such extreme care had been taken in preparing the disguise that it is not remarkable that the distinguished 'lady'' defied even the closest scrutiny. A fa- nous dressmaker's services were secured in making the costume and the beautiful coiffure was obtained from noted theat- rica1 wig-maker.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-28
WHY 1909 GIRLS ARE STUPID.

From the New York Press.
 "The fashionable girl is very dull this winter. for she has quite reversed the rule of hygiene that bids us if we would be healthy and bright, to keep our heads cool and our feet warm. Look at that beauty in the front row"
 The clubmen together directed their opera glasses on very pretty debutante in brown velvet. She sat with her knees crossed, an attitude which showed that the hlgh-heeled shoes on her small feet were of the thinnest patent leather, while her black silk stockings were so gossa- merlike in texture as to seem almost a pale brown. But her hat, on the other hand--her hat that came down over her forhead and ears like drum majors s bearskin-was huge hive-shaped affair of sable, suitable for an arctic expedition.
 'sWarm heads and cold feet" agreed the clubmen. "No wonder the girls this winter are so stupid"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-28
IT ISN'T sEE-ATTLE
Pilgrim From Puget Sound Sets Us
 Right.

From the Boston Herald.
 ''I notiee.p said Puget sound visitor in this city. "that most everybody back here says see-attle That isn't right; it is no nearer correct than it is to say New Yo-r-rk when referring to New Yawk. Seattle is the way to speak the word.
 "of course. we have the habit out there of adopting New York standards on most things; but it seems to me that in this particular instance it would be bet ter if the metropolis would conform to the accepted methods of siwash pro- nunciation
 Anyhow" he concluded, 'as soon as an customer lands there he says Seat tie by instinct. because that way seems better than to convey the rattle and snap of the Puget sound city,"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-28
Whisky Markets.

The liquor traffic being prohibited in a number of south ern states, including Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia, Louisville and Cincinnati will reap great benefit from a commercial point of view" said J. H. Denison of Ken lucky.
 There is some fear among the whisky people of Kentucky that the old Blue Grass state will eventually go dry. I hardly think it will, but if it should go on the water wagon Cin- cinnati would be that much better off. Louisville and Cincinnati are strong whisky markets. Just now the Louis- vile brands are the most favored in Alabama and Georgia"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-28
IN HOTEL LOBBlES
Presidential lnauourations.

If the 4th of March next happens to be clear and spring-like, there will be no effort between the inauguration of Mr Taft and 1912 to change the time of ipducting the President into office" said an old democrat. q re- call all the inauguratlons since 1857. With few exceptions the weather was either very cold or very wet
 T attended the Cleveland inaugura- tions-1ss5 and 1893. MT. Cleveland's first Inauguration brought beautiful weather. That 4th of March was a bright. bland spring day. But the sec ond inauguration brought blizzard. 1t was bitter cold.
 T predict good weather for MT. Taft"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-28
Inauaurai Ceremonies.

J. J. Fuller of Atlanta assistant gen eral passenger agent of the Seaboard Air Line, was in Birmingham yesterday He said that passenger traffic over his road was improving, and that spring travel was excellent.
 We will do a large inaugural busi- ness" said MT. Fuller. We will have special rates for the inauguration, and the excellence of our service will assure comfort and will attract the crowd"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-28
VIE BANKS AND BRAES O. BONNIE
 DOOM

By Robert Burns. Born January 25, 1759. Ye banks and braes O bonnie Doon, How can ye plume sac fair How can ye chant, ye little birds, And I sac flu O care
  Thoull break my heart, thou bonnie bird, That sings upon the bough, Thou minds me of the happy days, When my fause Love was true.
 : Aft hae I roved by bonnie Doom, To see the woodbine twine, And like bird sang O it's love, And sac did l O mine. WI lightsome heart, I pu'd a rose, Frae off it's thorny tree, And my fause lover staw the rose. But left the thorn wi mo!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-28
The Iron Market.

"The pig iron market is dull, com pared with conditions early in the month,' v said an iron broker. While the nominal quotation is SIS on No. ? basis, there is a. disposition on the part of one or more furnace interests to shade that price,
 "A strong buying movement will be looked for in February. It is believed that the market will harden again at slS, and if the demand is as healthy as pre- dicted the price will advance to s14
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-28
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
LOOKING BACK

LOOTNIINIT f1ANh. Laughterland, Laughterland Is not so far away Iris but a league or two adown The road to yesterday" It isn't hard to journey there When hearts are blithe and free, Behind a team of butterflies, For guide a honey bee. Laughterland. Laughterland, o land of endless spring o land to which the memories Of childhood fondly cling! The years can never quite dispell The charm of life's sweet lay For weary thralls who tread in dreams The road to yesterday!'