davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-04

President by acclaim and got every vote in the electoral college.
 He is now S4 was reported dead on the field of Fort Donelson in 1862, and IA years later he was given up for dead" by his doctors in the old Willard hotel. May he long be spared.
 There are two funny things happened on funeral occasions in the Fifty-second Congress. In that Congress was a mem- Der reputed to be worth many millions of dollars and he concluded to amuse him. self by spending winter or two in Wash ington, and to that end he bought seat in Congress- just as he had bought coal mines. The most popular man in that delegation, or in any delegation for that matter, died during the life of that Con- gress, and our Midas concluded that it was meet that he should be one of the funeral orators. He acquired 8 speech all right, and was down in the middle of the list of orators; but as he had never spoken, In public he proceeded to lay in a supply of Dutch courage, a thing easy to do, as the bar room was just down one flight of stairs; but unfortunately he laid in a too generous supply of anti stage fright and by the time 1t came his turn to speak he was as drunk as lord. Richardson of Tennessee, who can all ways supply wagonloads of tact, went to Joe Bailey, the speaker pro tenn for the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-04

schools can be also advanced in support of compulsory education.
 That is, of course, with the provision that the law, by compelling the attend ance of the children, does not infringe upon the sacred rights of the citizen. Let no man make the mistake of thinking himself free. The legal maxim is that man is free to use his own so that 1t may not injure another. The state of Ala bama, through some cities and towns, already says that your children cannot be on the streets after certain hours. They must not be found in bar rooms and houses of prostitution. The state also declares that children of a certain age cannot work in the cotton mills and fac tories except under certain conditions, even if their parents do desire to so en- slave them There Is no departure in principle to require school attendance on the part of the children of Alabama. Frankly, it must be said that the great question is not one of theory, but of ex- ecution. Let me speak in all candor and honesty now. I live in blackbelt coun- ty, was born in a blackbelt county, and l know from first sources that the white people of those sections in which the ne- groeS largely predominate are not and will not be in favor of a law which will embrace both races. Right or wrong, we believe in the eternal superiority of the Anglo-Saxon, not as a matter of educa- tion, but as a matter of blood; we hold that the negro must always occupy the lower walks of life; we know that he
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-04

beseeching Grover Cleveland to tell him "What's the constitution between friends?" Tim hired a newspaper man to write his speech and it so happened that Uncle Jimmy Belden, from ''up state," bought his eloquence from the same fel- low, who was lazy enough, or unserupu- lous enough, to sell both of them the same speech.
 1t so happened that .'Uncle Jimmy's" name followed Tim's in the list of ora tors, and as soon as Tim sat down. Uncle Jimmy was recognized. Both read the speech; but nobody paid the slightest at- tention-I believe 1t was night session and when The Record came out next morning the Identical speech charged to. each of these orators was also charged to the other, and Uncle Jimmy came next after Tim.
 Uncle Jimmy, who, I believe, got his millions from the tariff on sah, was from Syracuse, where he was in bitter hostile rivalry with Frank Hiseocl. It was battle between money and brains, for if Frank Hisoock had been blessed with the salutary virtue of industry. Of course in the New York of that day, as in this, money will beat brains in a republi- can convention every time, and in tho spring of 1892 Uncle Jimmy's man got the nomination for mayor over Hiseoek's man.
 But when the regular election came on,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-04

congressional eulogies, most of which are hollow mockeries. He was member of the Forty-sixth Congress and sick nigh unto death during one of it's three ses- sions. One night he turned in his bed and addressed a friend. member of the House who had called to see how he was, and said: T suppose there is no escape they'll be eulogizlng me next week up wonder. Of course it will be impossible to choke Springer off. He will be bound to speak; but 1 want you to see to it that after Dick Townsend has eulogized me for an hour the hammer falls, and ob- ject to any extension of his time"
 Springer and Townsend are both dead; but Marshall is In retirement in his old home, the most illustrious of all the liv- ing citizens of Illinois. It was an ad- verse fatality that kept this grand old democrat out of the White House, and 1t was cruel fate that Grover Cleveland never understood him. and he never un- derstood Grover Cleveland. Had he been secretary of the treasury in 1888 Cleve- land would have been reelected that year. He was as guileless as a child, as dem- oeratie as the old lindsey hunting shirt, as honest as the sun, a statesman, a soldier and a patriot. If every voter in the union could have seen "Old BiP' Nor rsons heart stark-naked he would have received the democratic nomination for
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-04

A educational awakening has seized
 "A the south within the last decade A that shall go down in history as an epoch-making event in the development of the life of the section. As Is always the case in matters of the kind, there have been those who have been ignorant of the critical times in which they have ,liyed, and even there have been some who have stood forth to oppose and hin- der the movement. But the great major ity of our people have come to realize the meaning of our position and have deter mined to put an end to the neglect on our part that brought about these conditions. Alabama has been at the very crest of this educational wave that has been sweeping over the southland and a feeling of good cheer and congratulation has taken possession of the educational forces of the state. Increased appropriation for higher education, the establishment of a system of state high schools state aid in the erection of rural school houses. and. best of al increased funds for the common schools, these are part of the epoch-making events of the decade.
 So bright indeed Is the outlook that not a few of our citizens are led to believe that the time Is almost here for the en- actment of a compulsory education law. Probably by the meeting of the special session of the legislature, if one Is to be called, public sentiment will be aroused and will be prepared for its enactment. The governor has already intimated that
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-04

perhaps in May, the Hiscock men support- ed the democratic ticket and elected it, though Uncle Jimmy was on the ground for six weeks before the election, work ing as he had never worked before. When he returned to his duties in Congress a swarm of the younger republican con- gressmen from New York rushed into the republican cloak room, after the old man, and asked in chorus, 'Tell US about it, Uncle Jimmy, how did 1t happen?" To which the old fellow gruffly respondeds "D-d if I know, I gave 'em all the money they said they needed!"
 William c. P Breckinridge and George G. Vest were distinguished for the happy speeches they made on occasions when their respective houses were paying honor to dead members. Breckinridge was by far the more eloquent man; but in the mastery of the Kings English Vest was the equal of any man of his day.
 The most remarkable eulogy ever pros nounced in Congress was that of John J. Ingalls, on Ben Hill; that was certainly the doctrine of agnosticism, if not of athe- ism As fine piece of word painting in this line as I now recall was Amos Cum mings on Leonidas c. Houk of Tennessee.
 It is a beautiful custom, think, and am glad Pickler and Wills saved 1t from the iconoclastic club of Tom Reed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-04

authorities are to succeed in their de- termined stand to carry out the provisions of the law in regard to school attendance. That form of compulsory education is good. But what is good for the child in the mill is good for the child outside of the mill. The slave of the cotton mill, bound to the ceaseless hum of the shuttle, needs the strong arm of the law to give him the rights of his childhood, more sa- cred than the rights of the father, from the very fact that the child has no means of enforcing them. Likewise, hundreds of slaves of the street, the slaves of the cotton fields, the slaves of the shops and stores. those need the protecting arm of the state.
 Instance upon instance can be cited where whole families of children have been kept at home during whole school years, either because of apathy on the part of parents or because the father, misguided and ignorant himself, failed to see the wisdom of schooling and preferred ignorance and a few dollars now to in- telligence and refinement and increased earning power in the future. The num- Der of children embraced in the classes mentioned above is far larger than one would think. Every teacher has one or more in his district; every city superin- tendent has many more than he knows; nearly every reader of this article can recall some child out of school last year, or one whose attendance was so irregu- lar as to make 1t equivalent to total ab- sence.
 The time has come in Alabama to put
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-04

these children in school. The child has certain well-defned rights that must be given him if we would i'll the full meas ure of our duty. No man has the right to bring into the world these helpless creatures and make them the mere vic- tims of his animalism. There's something higher than this Is the plan of mans creation. Every man is king with all the prerogatives and powers of his king ship, the master by means of mind, of all the forces of the universe. To take such a magnificent creature and in the period of development and formation to blast and ruin by neglect Is to commit the most heinous of crimes. If the ignorant father wishes to perpetuate his ignorance by depriving his child of the right to the school let the strong arm of the law prevent the sacrifice. If the man, phys- ically strong, prefers that his child should suffer in order that the father may not work and may waste his substance, let the state force him to act the part of a man and do his duty toward his own
 Many of our states have found the plan satisfactory in operation. It is no fad of some learned educator learned in the- ories but lacking in common sense. II Is a step forward that has stood the test of application and stands approved by the educational leadership of the nation. Now is the time for Alabama, in the midst Of the educational forward movement, to takeSthis measure for the rights of the child.
 Epes, Ala
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-04
HEART TO HEART TALKS-By Edwin A. Nye

eases as the diphtheria aptitoxin has proved itself to be in its speciality then the world is immeasurably indebted to these disooverers.
 It may be stated, by the way, that the really great progress of medical science dates from Pasteury and the science of bacteriology.
 Hand in hand with the study of bacte- riology has gone the practical demon stration of theories by the vivi-section of animals.
 "What?" you say.
 Why, that is the refinement of cruel ty."
 And people-good people-have written articles and pamphlets galore against 1t. and societies have been organized to put stop to 1t by legislation.
 Yes.
 But do not these people see they are trying to prevent the discovery of the remedial agents that save countless lives?
 Besides, no cruelty whatever is practiced on the animals.
 We'll, well-~
 Mrs. Partington's broom, however well intentioned it may have been, was mad equate to keep back the waves of the Atlantic ocean.
 This is the story ex-Governor Taylor of Minnesota and the wheat pit.
 Made an orphan at 6 years of age and thrown among strangers, Taylor had a hard struggle. He succeeded and in mid dle life was a prosperous farmer.
 Having joined the granger" movement. then at its climax, Taylor became prom inent and was elected governor of tho state. Honest, forceful, popular, he fought the corporations so strenuously they defeated him for reelection.
 Whereupon the governor retired to his farm
 Then some one whispered to him.
 Buy wheat"
 Taylor began to speculate on the Chi oago board of trade. Winning and losing alternately, he stayed in town, neglecting his farm. watching the markets
 His bank account began to dwindle, and his live stock disappeared Finally his farm was sold to provide margins. Soon everything was gone.
 Old, broken and a pauper, his friends raised some money to place him in an old peoples home, where he died, penni- less and heartbroken.
 A whispered suggestion ruined him.
 Some one has well said that the Chicago wheat pit is only few feet across, but it is as deep as he'll Once in the tolls of the market brokers nothing less than bankruptcy will stop tho victim of that sort of gambling.
 He will sacrifice property, friends. fam fly, everything. He watches the turn-of fortunes wheel with the sure hope of him who never despairs.
 The phobia becomes fever.
 The grain gambler is restless until the market opens and is on the rack until 1t closes Between whiles his head is full of his deals. He has no time for society or family.
 The victim is obsessed.
 And, though he should lose steadily. he is hopeful until his last dollar has gone into the hopper and he can beg or borrow no more.
 Poor old Governor Taylor had good farm and big barns and fine bred cattle and money in bank. But that Satanic suggestions:
 Buy wheat!'
 Why, that put a maggot in his brain, and he was not satisfied until the farm and barns and cattle and money were swallowed up by the capacious maw of the wheat pit.
 Will this story deter other victims?
 It Is not likely.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-04
LINCOLN AT THE THEATRE.
Neither as Auditor Nor Spectator Was
 He Exactina.

Leonard Grover. as manager of Grover's theatre, Washington, saw much in an in- tinate way of President Lincoln during the last years of his life. He has written for the April Century of "Ldncoln's In- terest in the Theatre"
 NO President and few men," he says in his sketch. ever went through so try ing personal ordeal as did Mr. Lincoln during the civil war. Scarce a soldier gained furlough who did not try to sec him, nor man with a petty wish or grievance who did not seek his personal aid. With a nature tho most gracious, genial, and kind, 1t was almost impossible for him to stay them from his presence. To gain relief from the many importun- ates, he often sought the theatre for rest and relaxation.
 During the four years of his adminis- tration he visited my theatre probably moro than a hundred times. He often came alone, many times brought his little son Tad, and on special occasions. Mrs. Lincoln. So far as l know he was never accompanied by any other member of his household. MT. Nicolay and MT. Hay, his secretaries, made frequent visits. to- gether, but did not personally accompany the President The tutor of MT. Iincoln'a younger boys-Robert was away at Har- vard--occasionally came with Tad, but never with the President. It was evident that Mir. Lincoln came to be alone At times he invited me to sit In tho box with him, when such conversation as took place was always about the theatre. As auditor, or spectator. MT. Lincoln was not exacting. As is well known. he was ex- ceedingly conversant with Shakespeare. He enjoyed classical representation, of which l gave many, with such stars as Charlotte Cushman, E. l.. Davenport, James w. Wallack. Edwin Booth (his sole engagement in Washington, but he was satisfied with being entertained and amused, and to have his mind taken from the sea of troubles which awaited him elsewhere. On one occasion he said to me, DO you know, MT. Grover, really enjoy a minstrel show
 Mrs. Lincoln was fond of the opera, and during the weeks in which I gave opera they were almost nightly in at- tendance"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-04

he would rather wade through the dust. but she made her swap and hardly think she received an equivalent for her youth and beauty.
 You know too well how Lucy put her little Bessie in school at the age of 6, how she forged right along. At 15 she was leading a class of girls at least two years her senior Her mother was proud, justly so. Her sense of value said Bes- sic should be a monument of fearing. But at 1T cold mother earth s allotment, the narrow six feet, claimed her. Who claimed her education or where was it? You may know. I do not.
 ''The tenderest sympathy was this moth- CTS, who valued education above all else and had stuffed and crammed the poor child with 1t, but all this could not allay her terrible agony-her mistaken idea of values she realized, alas. too late.
 When you are about to cinch trade on what you regard value, insist on get- ting full value for your money, or its equivalent. Get what you pay for.
 "A dainty lace at marked down figures is not worth so much as the gown that is torn and crushed in the purchase, and that all tired out and nervous headache that too often follows no, emphatically' no, as the little boy says.
 "A live child with a fair education is better than dead one with an over worked brain.
 Surely bright cherry wife is more to the husbands liking than a spick and span house and a caty, withered old housekeeper as companion in the even ing.
 "While a lord is a good investment for some American families, still 1t might be just as well to pass him by at the cost of broken heart, which once broken, even the plastic hand of God fails to ce- ment the jagged and ragged edges.
 "Of course, my girls have fine sense of value, remarkably developed, still 1t will do to look at every value before and aft, up and down and all around, and be mighty sure when you scent value keep right on the trail that leads to 1t, and does not after all end in mere butter fly chase"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-04

nixy. Pardon me. but your value sense needs reconstruction, just a little of the higher education.
 ''Men have a better sense of value than women. In fact this sense with them is unusually well developed. l have really seen men not worth a broken fiddle string marry girls of rare sense and beauty. The strange part of it is, they managed it so slSillfully that the girls never for one, moment imagined that they were cheated. Why, actually one girl believed she had cast her lot with doubie-dis- titled brand of excellence and thought she had a square deal when she gave up a hundred dollar job for a thirty dollar man, never realizing that she was doing the lock-step down the path of life with great bunch of common mud and slush.
 q must tell you of my friend Jane, whose blood was of the common red va riety, without the least shade of purple. This good soul wanted to put her daugh- ter up a step or so in the social world. So she put her advance agent. Money, in the field. He got busy. Succeeded in in- teresting an English title, the owner of which had richest, purple blood coursing through his velns lne uol was satsiac- tory; all other events followed in alpha betical order marriage, a broken heart, a young life wrecked and the trip to the divorce courts Surely l shall not say that this good mother was an ambitious criminal; no, mol hers was horribly dis torted sense of real values.
 ''Once I knew bright pretty young wife who bartered her pretty face and peace of mind for scrupulousy neat and tidy house. Always trying to improve upon the housekeeping of her mother-in- law. whose methods were rather shiftless and haphazard Without doubt her house was the quintessence of neatness. It was the joke of the village now she met Tom at the door of evenings and handed ont his slippers so he would not bring dust in her clean house. Don't you think Tom would have preferred his pretty pink and white young wife to the tired, with cred, faded, cross old housekeeper? Yes.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-04

may make of the child mere thing that will go orouching and cringing. through the world without Individuality of thought or action.
 Think twice before you raise your hand to smite a child.
 If asked the question you would give the name of the town or city in which you reside, adding perhaps the number and street.
 But that is not where you live.
 That is only the place where you are staying.
 You live in another world--a world apart from your daily abode. For in- stance
 Some live in a world of leisure.
 They live e lounging sort of existence, lolling through the hours, taking the line of least resistance. seeking the things that make for luxury. They care only for themselves, lodging all self-sacrifice or hardness, preferring the sensuous. pam pered way.
 Some live in world of dissipation.
 They walk the primrose path of dal- liance daily. They cry: Chase the winged butterfly of pleasure! Watch the dryads dancel Listen to the batter of the fountainl Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow-there Is no tomorrow.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-04

tie to the Gentiles. Paul noticed and pos itively denied the charge in more than one of his extant Epistles, notably in that to the Galatians. But even hoary errors die hard. and this old libel upon Paul still finds supporters among critical @ scholars of the 20th century.
 It is not my purpose here to go into anything like critical review of the work, Not Paul, But Jesus," nor of the theory for which it contends My intent is more practical; that Is in this article to note some of the most important fea- lures of the Christ as he is depicted by the Evangelsts. and then, in a subse- quent article next week, to discuss some of the more notable features of the Christ of Pauls Epistles.
 In considering the Christ of the Evan gelists, l shall conhne myself strictly to their reports of what Christ said about
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-04
CHRIST IN THE GOSPELS-By j. C. Hiden D. D.

behoove the Christ to suffer? See Luke 24, 26 And these sufferings Jesus as serted to be saerifcial and vicarious-that is, borne for the benefit of others. and In
 their stead. In the imitation of the Lords supper, this comes out both symbolioally and in plain words, uttered by Christ Himself and I do not wonder that the great commentator, Meyer, holds the view that if we take away the atonement then the Lords supper has no meaning. '.This is My blood of the new testament (eove- nant) which Is shed for many for the re- mission of sins" are the words of Christ Himself as given in Matthew 2s, B. and Mark IA. 24. and Luke 2, 1920 credit Jesus with similar language on the same occasion. How can any conscientious eX- positor claim that the atonement was an after-thought of the author of the Fourth
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-04

as cited by Jesus, will help us to settle this question. Jehovah hath anRDIN me" are the words of Isaith; and the word Christ Is the past participle of the Greek verb ito anoint."
 Again. christ's claim Included lordship over men. Lord" was the name com moniy used by the disciples in addressing him. during his ministry on earth, and they continued to use 1t in speaking and in writing of him, after his death. resur- rection and ascension.
 In John 1S B, Jesus approves of this practice, and claims to be Lord This is claiming obedience to his orders; and in other passages Jesus distinctly asserts this claim. The claim arose from his one- ness with God the Father. which one ness Jesus asserted in passages too nu- merous and too familiar to cite here. He said that He had lived in heaven, in the