davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-14
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Catanzaro was the capital of the prov ince of that name and had fine cathe- dral, a big hospital and q population of 25000, mostly very poor and very ig- norant Palmi was in Calabria, 21 miles northeast of Reggie, the capital, and is near Mount Ella, from which a superb view of the surrounding territory can be obtained. It had a population approxi- mating 14.0oo. Pizzo had a population of 5000 and lay five miles to the north and east of Monteleone, on the Gulf Of Santa Eufenia Bagnara, one of the smaller cities mentioned as being prac- tically wiped off the map, was on the coast of the Gulf of Gioja and had 5000 people.
 Catania was built on one of the furthest roots of Mount Etna, and was an ancient city mentioned frequently by Thucydides, Livy, Pausanias, Pindar and Plutarch. In Cicero's writings he says, speaking of the war in Sicily: You will be told of the fields of the Catanlans-a most wealthy people and friendly to us tRo- mans)." Thus Cicero relates to us that in his time Catania was an important city of the Old World, and its population considered wealthy agricultural com munity.
 But if the cities towns and provinces involved in the mighty earth throes in December were historic, no less so were the waters of this country famous in Grecian and Roman prose and poetry. Scylla and Charybdis, the names of the two rocky promontories that faced each other across the Straits of Messina before the last earth convulsion changed the map of that region, were sung by Homer and all his followers and imitators, who were legion in number and Greek, Ro- man, English and French in nationality. Ulysses had his adventure with the Cyclops between Messlna and Catania in Sicily.
 In fact, away ahead of the Normans and the medieval legends connected with this region there lies the period of pre- historic Greek verse lost in the mazes of the earliest dawn of man an intelli- gent being. Back before the days ot blind Dan Homer, back among the very gods of the Greeks when the Golden Age was here and the gods walked with one another on the earth and made love to the daughters of men, Calabria and Sicily were the favored regions of all the world, a glory preserved eternally by the genius of poet and historian
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-14

been founded as an inland city, but awoke one fine day toA,discoyer that an earth quake had opened the earth and created the Straits of Messina and made Reggie into a seaport. Reggie was the chief town of Calabria Ulterior It was noted for a superb cathedral about n century old, a famous statue of Garibaldi, mu- scum, a lyceum for girls and a technical school
 In Sicily, Palermo Is the largest city, with a population of nearly 350,000, and it belongs almost In the class of the worlds largest cities and is certainly of second rank as regards population It was not much injured although the earth shocks were distinctly felt. It is 120 miles west of Messina. It contains many art objects of great value, and Is noted for a university which numbers about 1,400 students. The city possesses a great cathedral surrounded by 16 gigantic holy statues, and a Norman structure, built fin 1145, with five imposing domes, called the San Giovanni Degli Eremeti, which is one of the unique specimens of architec- ture in the world. as it shows the effect of the crusades on the stern Gothic
 
 period.
 Girgenti Is about S4 miles southeast of Palermo. It is noted for its fine cathe- dral, which was constructed in A. D. 1400, and we had a consulate here be- cause the town had a population of over 25, GOO. The cathedral contained a cele- brated Madonna by Guido Reni and b famous marble tomb. with relief, illus trating the legend of Hyppolytus, There , were several royal educational institu- tions and n municipal museum that con tained marvellous statue of Apollo. It exported 3OO0, 900 quintaIs of sulphur an- nualiy, and had, as well, important salt mines.
 Many Smaller Cities Demolished. Monteleone di -Calabria was a small town in Catanzaro, situated about two miles from the coast, and was built on hill where in times of ancient Greece | there was situated the city of Hippo | nium. It was a garrison town and the 1 see of a bishopric It also disappeared In | 17S3, when so many other Southern Ital- | ian cities were destroyed by earthquake, | but was rebuilt for military purposes by | the Neapolitan government.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-14

sible assistance and convenience for the distribution of Chinese papers, and in the case of several favored journals the Chi nese imperial government will collect subscriptions and forward them to the head offices of these daily papers.
 The viceroys, who are the real repre- sentatives of the Emperor so far as the management of the common people is concerned, are now active In distribut- ing newspapers and even have public readers, hired by the state who read aloud to big crowds of Chinese, who are unable to read the papers for themselves. The fact that the written and spoken languages of China are two different tongues makes the position of the public reader of the greatest importance.
 The Chinese papers are in two forms, one printed on very thin paper like the finer English bibles in which only one side of the paper is printed on. The more up-to-date journals, however, use a thicker paper and print the news on both sides.
 One big daily consists of three blanket sheets, three feet six inches long and
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-14

izens participated in torchlight pro- cession from the composers home to the railroad station. At each town or vil- lage through which the funeral train pass ed the cortege was greeted by chorales chanted by choruses of admiring musi- clans. Many stories are told of Mendels- sohn, illustrative of his distinctive per sonality Not a few of them are based on the tricks of his marvellous memory. It is related that on one occasion, when the score of the Midsummer Nights Dream" overture was lost, the composer, without hesitancy, prepared another, which corresponded with the original in the minutest detail. He knew the classics by heart. This remarkable mem ory rendered possible that skill in i'm provising in which Mendelssohn excelled. This German composer stands apart from many great musicians in that he won popularity and homage during his life time, and this prestige has, if anything, been enhanced since his death.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-14

~ HE year 1909, year of notable cen tennials, holds two that are of pre- - eminent significance to musicians and the entire music-loving world. On Febru- ary occurs the centenary of Felix Men -Bartholdy-known to the world at large as Mendelssohn-and date but a few weeks later,<or March l. to be ex- act, marks the one hundredth anniver- sary of the birth of Frederic Chopin. Both of these composers have by their work made deep impress upon the history of music, but the achievements of Mendels- sohn perhaps stand out as the more pre- tentious and the present centennial will serve to not only draw popular attention to the composer of the Spring Song" and other masterpieces but will also em- phasize his unusual personality and re- markable career.
 At the very outset of this glimpse of Mendelssohn's life it may be well to ex- plain his acquisition of the name Bar tholdy-an appendix which has been re- sponsible for many perplexing mistakes on the part of music-lovers and others. The grandfather of the composer, Moses Mendelssohn, was the greatest Jewish teacher and thinker of his time, and his son, Abraham, father of the composer, was scarcely less notably successful as banker. The latter married Miss Solo, mon, an exceptionally fine amateur musl- elan, and 1t was through her, influence that the family drifted away from the Jewish faith. Her brother, man or great wealth and influence, had become converted to the Christian Church and had taken the name Bartholdy. He in- duced his brotherin-law to follow his ex- ample, and accordingly all the children, Including Felix, were baptized in the L'l- theran Church and adopted the name Barthohy.
 The famous composer was born in Ham, burg, but couple of years later his pa rents removed to Berlin. From the time the child was old enough to comprehend anything about music, his mother, who, as above explained, was very talented commenced his systematic instruction, beginning with lessons of only five min utes day, which interval was gradually increased. From early youth Felix and the other children were instructed both in pianoforte and violin, and the youngster who was to develop into the great con- poser of his day made his first public appearance in Berlin when only nine years of age. When little Felix was barely II years of age he entered the Berlin Academy, and almost from that very day he made attempts at musical composition Ere he had reached his twelfth birthday anniversary he had com posed no less than 30 complete move ments, including cantata and comedy h three scenes.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-14
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to the student of history and especially of literature Messina is name to con jure up a thousand memories sublime and rare.
 The crunch crunch of the earthquake toppled practically every building in the country involved and red-tongued fire swept the piles of debris licking up all combustible material in the ruins and ending the lives of tens of thousands of mangled, imprisoned unfortunates caught within the intricacies of the devastated buildings. On the sea coast tidal waves, variously estimated from 30 to 60 feet in height, plunged up on the shelving sea beaches and washed miles inland. wiping out all vestige in many cases of the coun- try ever having been inhabited by the courageous animal, man.
 But it is of Messina; Reggie di Calabria. as being the metropolis of that devoted province; Catania, Catanzaro, Taormina and Palermo that most should be re- lated. Even if Italian indomitabilty re- construct in a score of years some pre- tense of cities on these historic sites, the towns of medieval times haloed about with mystery, poetry and romance have gone down forever like veritable struc- lures of mist under the mighty shaking
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-14

TIN 1901 it was universally acknowl- II edged that there was no real Chinese U newspaper in existence. There were several daily newspapers in Chinese sea board cities, run entirely by foreigners, In the interests of foreigners, and not printed in the Chinese language. Now there are over 200 native journals, the vast majority of which are daily papers. All of these are run by the Chinese themselves, printed by native printers and pressmen and in the Chinese lan- guage.
 In Picking, the national capital of the Chinese Empire, there is now daily paper, owned, managed and edited by women and printed in the exclusive in- terest of the feminine section of the Chinese population. It has proved ex- tremely popular, and is said to be big success financially. It is now about four years old and created a profound sensa- tion when 1t was originated.
 Much of the success of the newspapers in China must be assigned to the aid given them of late years by the authori- ties. The government affords every pos
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-14

ence to his friendship for Jenny Lind. The famous songstress fulfilled his ideal of an artist and it was for her that he wrote his greatest choral work, Elijah.
 It is sad commentary on Mendels- sohn's career in Great Britain that the very triumph he achieved was indirectly his undoing. He became the "lion" of the hour and was feted far beyond the ca pacity of frail physique, already weak ened by overwork. The sequel of this high tension social life was that he be- came victim of nervous exhaustion as his father had been before him, and al- so his beloved sister. In the end he was afflicted with headaches so severe that he could not tolerate the slightest noise not even, as though an Irony of fate, the sound of a piano.
 When the composer of Songs With out Words died his body was taken from Leipzig to Halle for interment and the funeral was most impressive. It took place at night and thousands of the cit
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-14

When Mendelssohn was but IT years of age he composed the famous overture to the "Midsummer Nights Dream,' which the critics of all time have been unani- nous in pronouncing the most remarkable example of musical precocity in the his tory of the world. A year later the boys first opera was produced nt the Grand Opera House in Berlin and met with pro nouneed success. When little past 20 years of age Mendelssohn was offered the chair of music at the Berlin University, but declined, and about this time under took concert tour of England, where he was hailed as one of the great com posers and pianists of the day. This ex- perience was followed by concert tours of Scotland, Austria, Italy, Switzerland and France.
 When the composer was "A years Of age he accepted an offer of the position of conductor of the Lower Rhine Musical Festival and so Favorable was the i'm pression made by the young musician that he was immediately appointed Town Musical Director of Dusseldorf at the impressive salary of $450 d year. which seems to have been quite acceptable to him. This post served as a stepping stone to that of conductor of the famous Gewandhus Orchestra in Leipzig. He made this organization the foremost or chestra in Europe and the people of Leip- zig became more than enthusiastic over Mendessohn and his work.
 In the year 1887, when Mendelssohn was 2S years of age, he was married to Cecile Charlotte Sophie Jeanrenaud, very beautiful girl, the daughter of French Protestant clergyman. The do- nestle life of the couple was ideal, the composer manifesting in his home few of those eccentricities which have made so many musical genius trying life part ner Nor was his home life by 1any means care free, for in time five chil- dren joined the household and the health of Mendelssohn's wife was not always of the best It is recorded that the con- poser not only instructed his children in music, but also taught them such funda- mental branches as reading, spelling and geography.
 When he had been married about four years the Emperor invited Mendessohn to Berlin to conduct the orchestral and choral concerts. That professional jeal- ousy which is ever the bane of the mus- cal world made this portion of his career q path of thorns and he finally announced his intention to resign Thereupon the Emperor who was very fond of him, in duced him to remain and organize choir at the cathedral. This he did so successfully that the monarch appointed him Royal General Musical Director year later he organized the. Leipzig Con servatory and in IS44 he conducted the London Philharmonic concerts. TWO years
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-14
nature inflicted.
 Messina Founded by Pirates.

Legend sets forth that ill-fated Messina was founded by pirates in the eight cen tury before the Christian era, or just q few years before Romulus is alleged to have started digging q trench where the imperial city of Rome now stands. So Rome and Messina were founded about the same period-Messina by pirates and Rome by a band of highwaymen and rob bers.
 Since 1t was founded Messina has passed through an unparalleled career during which the town has been devasted by con fiagrations. the plague, wars and frequent small earthquakes which occasionally amounted to considerable damage. But the last far exceeded the damage wrought by all previous disasters combined.
 In 17S3 Messlna was given a<terrible earthquake shock, which destroyed many of her public buildings, but the city soon reared new structures. One of the few rld-famous buildings that disappeared in the total destruction in December was the cathedral, which, as Its photograph shows, was a noble structure founded by Count Roger of Messina, one of the heroic figures of Sicilian history away
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-14

~ HE country which today and must for months continue to be of con - stant interest to all the world is that section of the fair Italian southern country and that island of historic memo res, Sicily. which were involved In the Titanic grasp of the earthquake of De- cember 27 and 2S
 Americans are disposed to look on this land as of slight importance and noted mostly for poverty and its crop of emi- grants to this more-favored land of the West, yet Calabria, in the toe of the Italian peninsular, and Sicily have figured largely on the pages of European history. Poetry and prose literature have rung with its praises.
 Perhaps no section of the earth com pines fertility with beauty more divinely than this poor scourged country of classic legend, medieval romance and naughty nobles grouped around with their thous- ands of impoverished but usually beau tiful peasants. The town of Messina in the middle ages was one of the prizes of Europe, and many battles were fought by dukes. kings and even emperors to obtain possession of it. It is the chief back ground of Shakespeare's famous comedy, Much Ado About Nothing" and
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-14
6be Newer Chinese Journalism.

two feet wide This makes a tremendous paper, and 1t Is filled with all sorts of matter, from advertisements of soap to lectures on reforms.
 Many foreign telegrams are printed in these papers and where John Chinaman five years ago thought the world was Hat he now considers 1t a globe and is getting a fairly reliable estimate of what the act ual foreign field looks like. All this as- sists the Chinese government in holding down It's population and preventing mas sacres of foreigners.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-14
FACTS AND FIGURES.
iixty languages are spoken in Russia.

Sixty languages are spoken in Russia.
 Saccharine, an artificial product, Is 5oO times sweeter than sugar.
 There Is growing demand for Amerl- can pearls. Those taken from the Vest ern waters last season were valued at $5O0,000.
 It Is said that there is 25 per cent. more nourishment in sugar than any other food that can be purchased for the same money except wheat flour and corn
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-14
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Island Kingdom, Where Quake, Fire and Flood Have Wrought the Greatest Catastrophe of Modern History - The Cities, Towns, Villages and Whole Sections Which Were Virtually Wiped Out.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-14

taneous success in the British metropolis was due to the fact that, though mu- sician. he was a gentleman" the defini- tion of which in this case was that being a man of means he fit' "9t demand pay
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-14

and some c. .cisms which assailed
 his operas stLl- nim to the quick No mention of Mendelssohn's life in England would be at all adequate without refer
Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1909-11-11
W. VA. REGENTS STUDY VARSITY

The entire board of regents of the
University of West Virginia will spend
two weeks in January studying the
University of Wisconsin in it's organi-
cation, methods of instruction, build
ings and equipment. The visit is a di-
rect result of the recent visit of State
Superintendent Shawkey and other
southern educators to Madison during a
tour of the higher institutions of learn
ing in the northwest.
Speaking before the West Virginia
University board of regents regarding
his recent visit, Superintendent Shaw
key said:
Particular attention was paid to
the University of Wisconsin at Madi-
son, Wis. The university is the great
est state institution in the United
States and is the only school situated
in state capital that attracts more
attention than the capitol buildings.
The uperintendents spent two days
studying the institution.
Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1909-11-11
DOWNWARD COURSE
Fast Being Realized by Ladysmith
People.

A little backache at first
Daily increasing till the back is
lame and weak.
Urinary disorders quickly follow;
Diabetes and finally Bright's dis
ease.
This is the downward course Of
kidney ills.
Don't take this course. Ladysmith
residents should profit by the follow
ing experience.
Mrs. John Mcdonnell, Division ST.,
Barron, Wis, says: Il know Doan's
Kidney Pills are reliable remedy
for kidney trouble. At the time |
began their use / was feeling quite
miserable and my kidneys were Civ
ing me a great deal of trouble.
tried number of remedies but did
not succeed in finding relief until q
friend finally advised me to try
Doan's Kidney Pills and the results
have always been most satisfactory.
highly recommend them to other
sufferers"
For sale by all dealers Price so
cents. Foster Milburn Co., Buffalo,
New York, sole agents for the United
States.
Remember the Doan's-and
take no other.
Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1909-11-11

Liquor men of northern Wisconsin
are much wrought up over a story COM
ing from Duluth to the effect that the
United States authorities may act I'M
der an old law under which all lands in
northern Michigan, northern Wiscon-
sin and northern Minnesota are known
as Indian lands or territory and may
prohibit all sale of liquor and drive sa-
looms out of existence. The law is to
be testedin Duluth by the Civic League,
and it would affect about 500 liquor
dealers in northern Wisconsin alone.
Barron Co. Shield.
Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1909-11-11
PROPER MANNER TO USE THE PHONE
BY A. ]. Laidlaw

Do not allow yourself to get into the
habit of long converse tions over the
telephone. People wfo do this lose all
perceptions of the times when they may
be annoying or disturbing others.
Particularly in the case of party
wires is there call for consideration.
Some one else may urgently desire to
use tnis same telephone over which we
are gossiping with our neighbors.
Do not use the telephone of the
woman upon whom you are calling I'M
less it is absolutely necessary. Thought
less women often make a convenience
of their friends in this respect. Your
hostess may not wish to take you into
the part of the house in which the
telephone is situated, or, when fire.
quently done it may prove a consider
able expense to her.
Do not call up men in business hours
if you can possibly help it.
If it be necessary to do so, be as
Drlof as possible.
Do not tell things which you do not
want known over the telephone. Con-
versations are often audible to all the
persons in the room with the person to
whom you are talking.
If it is business conversation it is
well to think what you are going to
say beforehand. Orders or requests
are frequently misunderstood through
the hesitation and changeableness of
the person giving them.
Finally, temper justice with mercy
in your treatment of the young women
operators who answer your calls. Their
business is tedious and wearing one
and it is almost impossible to be always
eagerly attentive.
Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1909-11-11

The editor of a country newspaper
describes real queen as a girl who
looks as good in so cent wrapper as
she does in $50 tailor made suit, feels
just as much at home feeding the chick
ems and pigs as she does playing the
piano, whistles the same tune patching
socks as she does doing fancy work,
cooks just as good a meal for the fam
lily as for company, can talk just as
we'll on national topics of the day as
she can about her neighbors, and has
the same smile on her face wash-d days
as she has on Sundays.
Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1909-11-11

In the last issue of his magazine Sen
ator LaFollette explains at length the
simplicity of voting fo4. second choice
in primary election, He says that,
instead of being proposed amendment
to the primary law, the so-called Mary
Ann" bill is part of the law which was
left out when the Australian primary
system was adopted, and without which
the political boss has really more power
than under the old convention system
of nominating officers.