davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08
A Real Philosopher.

My old friend Paul Calame, watch maker and jeweler, native of Switzer- land, comes from a famous family of Swiss watch makers said citizen, and himself a high-class watch maker; but he is more than master at his calling i; he Is philosopher. A few years ago MT. Calame bought some good coal land near Birmingham. He got it at a bargain price, and 1t has been steady enhanc- ing in value. He has had many oppor- tunities of selling it, and very recently he was offered a big round sum-what l re- garded as fancy price. But he positive ly declined to trade. merely saying that the property would bring more in the years to come.
 Why did you not accept the offer and take the money and enjoy it? After you are dead it will profit you nothing l said.
 Well, you see said Calame, it is this way. At the age of 5S I am strong and active and am taking pleasure in my occupation. Humanly speaking I am good for service many, many years. If was to sell my coal land l would have enough money to quit work; and quitting work I would become lazy and would soon rust out and die. As it Is I make enough at my trade to support my family in comfort. I do not owe anything and I live well; and the best of it is 1 am happy. The coal will keep
 MT Calame remarked during the con- versatnon, I hear some people complaint ing of business depression, but I was never buster. I am crowded with work and it is a question with me how will ever catch up.' '
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Reaardinq the Next Festival.

President J. E. Shelby of the Birming- ham Music Festival association is qui- etly considering preliminary plans for next springs event, but 1t is understood that no definite action will be taken be- fore the fall. It is practically agreed that Walter Damrosch and his New York symphony orchestra will be engaged for the 1910 festival. Damrosch has already submitted his dates for Birmingham. They fall in the second week of April. The orchestra will be augmented by nine or ten men and will be the largest sym phony band that has ever been on tour in this part of the country. Next year will be Damroschs twenty-fifth anniver- sary as conductor and he is to celebrate it by conducting a series of brilliant fes- tivials in the principal cities. He will be due in San Francisco about May 1, and that Is why he is coming south earlier than usual In connection with Dam- rosch and festival matters the follow ing gracious letter will be read with inter- est here:
 .Westport, N. Y, June 4, 1869
 My Dear Mrs. Rivers: With the ut most pleasure do l herewith bear testi- mony to the beautiful work accomplished by you with the Treble Clef club at our Birmingham festival cannot recall hav- ing ever heard finer singing by a wo- mans chorus.
 Tt was a source of infinite pleasure to all of us, and 1 look forward toward CO., operating with you again in the neal fu- ture.
 With many kind greetings very sim cerely yours,
 "WABTER DAMROSfiH'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08
WHAT THE SANDWICH WAS FOR.

ETOln lie NlIcic. A stately old professor was approached by a young student one day in one of the western colleges. Trying hard to keep back smile, the young man said:
 Professor you say you are an expert at solving riddles, don't your
 T claim that I am, my boy"
 Well, then, can you tell me why a. man who has seen London on foggy day and a man who has not seen London -on a foggy day are like a ham sand wich?"
 The professor studied for long time, venturing several answers, which proved to be wrong. Finally at his wits end he said:
 q give 1t up."
 Its easy" said the other.
 "Give it up," repeated the professor.
 Why" was the reply, .'one has seen the mist and the other has missed the scene. Ha, ha! Catch oR?"
 "Of course, I do, you lunatic! But what has the sandwich to do with it?"
 After the youngster had recovered from a spell of laughter. he chuckled:
 "Oh, that's what you bite on!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08
- Steel Common In Paris

J.P. Morgan won by no means unim- portant victory when he induced the Paris Bourse to Hist" the common stock of the United States Steel cor poration. Perhaps no other American financier could have brought this about. It is regarded as the entering wedge of other American securities in the French market, and when a French in- vestor in the provinces buys security that security disappears from the mar ket for all time. When French money begins to be put in American securi- ties much additional development will become easily possible in this coun- try.
 Heretofore this country has drawn additional capital from England, Ger many and Holland, and now that Mfr. Morgan has annexed the abundant savings of the prudent French people
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08
A ROYAL DIPLOMAT.
Washington Herald.

From the Washington Herald
 ''The King of Belgium is the most suc- cessful diplomat in Europe,'' said Au- guste Bommens, a linen goods manufac- turer of Courtrai, at the Raleigh last night.
 Everybody who is at all conversant with the facts concerning the Congo Free State knows that England Is after the territory to give her almost free and uninterrupted route for her Capt-to- Cairo railroad project. In order to stir up international difficulties, the treat ment of the natives who work in the rubber forests was brought up. Mission aries who never saw the Congo or a na- tive of the rubber forests were sent ev- erywhere to preach against the atrocities perpetrated by King Leopold upon the poor and helpless natives. It was thought by this means public sentiment could be aroused against King Leopold's adminis- tration of the Congo; and to a certain extent these agitators were successful
 'gThe Congo is now a colony of Bel gium; the King has nothing to do with it any longer, and Belgium will attend to the administration of her new colony without the assistance of British mis- sionaries, or without taking any notice of their deceptive and unreliable statements about the colony.
 Belgium is busy littlec ountry, and has no fear of being swallowed up soon- CT or later by France or Germany. Her neutrality is guaranteed by the great powers. and that protects her.
 There is no reason why there should be war between England and Germany; it is only the agitators who talk possi- bilities of war, not the business people and the honest workingmen''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08
WHAT GREATNESS DRINKS.

From the New York Press.
 Jim Gray, for 26 years in the old Fifth Avenue hotel, says that Little Phil Sherzr idan always wanted his old-fashioned whisky punch. He would say, "Plenty of lemon and not much sugar; now. remem- Der, very little sugar" General sherman drank "Old Crow Bourbon straight. Gen. eral Winfield Scott Hancock took 1t straight. James G. Blaine would call for a lemonade. A little straight whisky would suit Senator Arthur Pue German. Chester A. Arthur enjoyed John Col lins," made with lemon soda and little gin. Gin was great drink among the New Englanders in the early days. They didn't know anything about dry and sweet gin thon. It was Schiedam schnapps. It is told of Nathaniel Hawthorne that he wrote many of the most grewsome chap ters of 'The Scarlet Letter" while get ting away with a pint of schnapps and little food in one of the old tayerns of Concord
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08
The Iron Market

The pig iron market is strong, with a moderate amount of selling. One of the best features of the situation is the brisk shipment from the yards. All the com panies report large shipments and it is understood that the movement from the Republics yard has been exceptionally heavy within the past few days.
 The price quoted for the second half of the year is generally on a basis of SIP for No. ?, but some of the furnace in terests are not inclined to sell very freely for future delivery. higher price is expected or hoped for.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08
NOTABLE WOMEN WHO SMOKE From Taslie'e Weakly

The question of whether women should smoke or not has been settled in the affirmative by some of the European royal ladies. The Empress Dowager of Russia smokes cigarettes regularly; the Queen of Roumanla, when at her liter ary labors, usually has a cigarette be- tween her lips; the Queen Mother of Spain is said to smoke cigars as well as cigarettes, and the widowed Queen of Portugal smokes necessarily. Queen AL exandra of England and Queen Victoria of Spain are not smokers, while the Em- press of Germany has taken a firm stand against the use of the weed by her sex.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08
Better Than In Three Years.

"1'he piano trade was quickly affected by the panic of 1907, >and for a while it was very dull, but it is different now" said Robert L. Seals of the Seals Piano X Organ Co.,, one of the oldest men in the business.
 Our business is not only good but for the past few months our sales have been larger than during any similar period in the past three years. The demand for pianos and organs in Alabama increases steadily which is a good indication of increased prosperity and increased cul- ture.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08
FRENCH SHOPPING MANNERS.


 FRENCH SHOPPING MANNERS. From the Washington Herald
 A feminine writer in one of the cur- rent magazines contrasts the lot of the American woman most unfavorably with that of her French sister in certain phases of everyday life.. and especially felicitates the latter that she is so fre- quently accompanied by her husband on shopping expeditions, whereas the former rarely-very rarely-is so blessed and made glad.
 We do not know that this is because the French have better shopping man. ners than we on this side the Atlantic, but it may be so. We had hoped ours were no worse; but that was quite as far we dared to go. Certainly the temptation to the American man to go shopping with his wife is remote in stances. If shopping were merely the carrying out of a pre-arranged pro- gramme-the consummation of plan carefully thought out before leaving home-we have no doubt 1t would be very nice, and husbands generally would will ingly and even interestedly participate therein. But it is not that way; albeit we speak it much more in sorrow than in anger. The average American shop ping expedition is a rushing, strenuous. battling. exhaustive affair; charming enough in every essential detail to wom- ankind, mayhap, but calculated serious ly to upset masculine boise, and, we fear, good nature as well. Woman shops precipitately; with a perfect knowledge that she is on her way, but with no de- tail knowledge as to just exactly where she is going, nevertheless. She has her favorite marts, to be sure; she knows where she gets square deal, and all that. She seeks out such places-then she scrambles.
 We suspect the French go about their shopping in a more orderly and leisurely manner than we do. We are prone to consider them an emotional people; and we would expect them to approach their undertakings of this persuasion pretty much after the fashion we employ. And yet, if French husbands are given to ac- companying their wives on their shop ping efforts. we are disposed to conclude that the exact reverse must be true. We reason not so much along theoretical lines as by analogy, and in the light of experience and example.
 We half way suspect, too, that the French woman has decidedly the better of her American sister if she manages to handle her shopping problems in the manner indicated by the writer whose words we have been led to consider.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08

The acres planted have, as a rule, exceeded the acres picked by about a million. The new crop promises, therefore, to be picked from just about 31,0O0,O0O acres, smaller acreage than the cotton belt has known since 1905.
 The governments report is gener- ally considered to be indicative of about 13.O00,O0J bales, but government estimates are rarely even approximate. We give below its June estimate in the last five years and the outturn as determined by the census bureau:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

FTOm IHe NeW 1Urk fIess.
 The more a widow knows the more she is willing to have a man teach it to her.
 When a woman doesn't object, to a pipe in the house it's sign it's a visitor, not her husband
 The thing a man admires about his wifes swell curtains Is when they are packed away for the summer.
 Once in while a man is so honest he really practices it in spite of everybody thinking what fool he is for doing it.
 The reason a woman wants to marry her daughter off to a man is so she can prove to her afterwards he isn't good enough for her.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08
POINTED QUESTION.
rom the Gadsden Times-News.

From the Gausueu liHneS-NeWb.
 The Age-Herald asks pointed ques- tion when it inquires why the papers of Montgomery, Mobile, Dallas Calhoun and Madison are not joining in the war against the fee-grabbing system In vogue in Alabama. As yet the papers in those counties have indulged in profound si- lence Maybe they do not know there is fee system, or maybe they like the fee method. Or maybe-but maybe 1t would be better not to carry guesses too far.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08
Touchina Scene.

"One of the sweetest and most inn pressive scenes that has occurred at d meeting of Camp Hardee in many day took place at the celebration of the 101st birthday of Jefferson Davis on June B." said Maj. E. T. Taliaferro. "The occasion was that of presenting crosses of honor to different comrades. The Daughters of Pelham chapter had pinned the bronze badges on quite number of veterans and they stood in line proudly wearing the crosses.
 Commander John G. Smith an- nounced that cross of honor would be awarded to a descendent of brave comrade and called upon Col Sam Will John to make the presentation. Colonel John seemed to have been inspired by the scene of old comrades bent and gray from age and service, receiving their badges, when a 12-year- old stood up to receive the cross of honor which his grandfather had been en- titled to wear. Colonel John explained to the lad the significance attaching to this great honor. To possess it was more to be valued than fine gold. Under the rules descendent Is not permitted to wear the cross but he Is charged to keep it and guard 1t sacredly. The boy thus honored was J. Asa Rountree, Jr, son of MT. and Mrs. J. A. Rountree. | He Is lineal descendent-a grandson l of John S. McIver of Tennessee, who was a member of the famous band of Texas Rangers, Company B. that saw Il
 Private McIver entered the Confederate army at the age of 16 and was among
 the last of the soldiers to surrender"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08

In Kansas the inquiry goes around as to the fate of the dog that used to trot to town under the farmers wagon. The farmer now goes to town in a motor car, and his dog no doubt died of a broken heart.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES

THE LEGION OF DEFEAT. Beneath the sod, in still array, no more
 alarms to meet, They sleep the sleep of broken hearts the legion of defeat. No written line shall ever tell how daunt-
 lessly they fought, No tongue relate 'gainst what misehance a lofty goal they sought. They left no ripple on the tide, no mark
 upon the sand, And fortune never smiled on them and
 Fame, with ready hand, Did not bestow the laurel wreath, re-
 served but for the few; Their days were only shadow days, their
 lot was only rue. And while they failed to climb the
 heights, a worldly prize to gain, Of all that silent sleeping host, not one
 has lived in vain. We know not what great purpose works
 to some diviner end, Nor what decrees shall be fulfilled when
 dust with dust shall blend, But each integral part of life must fit
 some mighty plan And maybe there's a crown somewhere
 for those who also ran.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08

An Austrian physician says that every man has his bad days. He might have added that this is particularly true of baseball players.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08

The man who really desires to help lis fellowman should devise some way to stop the wrong number" nuisance on telephone lines.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08
THE WAY TO PE'

By Wordsworth. Action is transitory-a step The motion of a muscle-l
 that Iris done; and in the aftef We, wonder at ourselves n
 trayed; "a Suffering Is permanent. obsc1 And has the nature of infini| Yet through that dark1
 though it seem And irremovable) gracious By which the soul-with pal
 thought Now toiling, waited now
 prayer May pass in hope, and, thol
 tai bounds Yet undelivered, rise witfl{ Even to the fountain head
 vine.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08

St. Louis new balloon concourse is to have bleachers, but comment from them on the proceedings before them is not expected.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08
HIS SUNDAY DAD.

HIS SUNDAY DAD. The father of little boy in Annston IS a railroad man and doesn't get chance to spend much time at home except on Sunday Not long ago, when he was paying one of his periodic visits to his family, his little two-year-old son gave him an affectlonate pat and said, My dear old Sunday dad"
 THE CONNOISSEuR. While pouting lips, observers say, Life's sweetest smiles are missing, The pouting kind-when caught that
 way
 Are best of all for kissingi
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08

It is to be hoped that the craze for the removal of figureheads will extend beyond ships.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08
A LOVERS TROUBLES.

''Muggsy, dis ain't no dimont ring yer give me- It's glttin dull already"
 Now, dat's jus like CT womanl I'll betcher been wearin dat stone round in all kinds uv weather an wash1n yer hands wid all kinds uv soap, an den yer 'spects it ter stay de same. I paid tree dollars an sixty cents fur dat dimont, an if it ain't de real ting, yer can't blame me!i
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08

The Black Hills country is enjoying alternate cloudbursts and snowstorms. Anything is possible in that section.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08

Meat is an article of luxury in Ger many, and is fast becoming an article of curiosity in the United States.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08

Riding in automobiles may make people homely, but keeping out of them does not produce the opposite effect
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08

Great Britain may conclude to have her German scare patented, so that other countries will not share it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08

Count Zeppelin stayed up in the air 40 hours, but he does not g9 up ire quently.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08

Seattle is ready to have visitors be- gin to tug at it's latchstring.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08

The Aldrich half-baked tariff bill grows worse every day.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08

The benefactor of the period is he who kills a housefly, that beast of germs and death.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08

Farmer Patten says the bargain days for wheat have been abolished.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08
rlghtl

AFTER ESCAPING DEATH so LONG. "The news columns often contain some strange anomalies
 ''What's the matter now?''
 "A man who was a baseball umpire for ten years has just been killed by an au- tomobile."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08

Zeppelin's airship made one tree famous at any rate.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08

The country has got to get along three months without the presence of MT. Hartman.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08
INCREDIBLE

T have just heard a remarkable story concerning a college graduate"
 "Tell 1t to me-"
 "The day after he got his diploma he took off his colored hat band, put on . suit of civilized clothes and is now sue- cessfully holding down a job that pays him more than $10 week.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08

Count Zeppelin needs balloon that will stand without being hitched.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08

TO BE SURE. "A writer declares that mothers-in-law are greatly maligned."
 "Of course they are, but a jokesmith has to make living somehow" Hit the mud puddles hard" advises the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Oh, splash PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08
STAY AT HOME.

STAY AT HOME. "Mother, may I go out to hunt?' "Oh, yes, my darling child, But don't you try the Roosevelt stunt And prod the jungles wild.''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08

James J. Hill is his own press agent and megaphone.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08

Whenever times are dull it is in order to propose to raise the Maine.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08

Cuba is a spendthrift, initiating ir this respect the big republic nearby.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08
DRFIANr

DEFIANT. Said a spunky witness Mad as mad could be, While I'm testifying, Don't you heckle mel
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08

Henry Clews says the Roosevelt policies are Not Dead But Sleeping
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08
ANCIENT MEMPHIS

European, Spaniards ar Sardinians, with faces like matadors, Karians and the cocks comb head dress, also some Afg- hans with turbans folden as today, probably Parthian soldiers of the great king. There is this year no startling discovery or especial eee-de-resistance. but ample evidence of patient work much more of which will be required ere the riddle of Memphis is solved
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08
About Persons.

Vice President Guy R. Johnson of the Alabama Consolidated Coal and Iron company has returned from. short visit to Coden Ala.
 The Rev. Father Stahl of Anniston, who has been In Birmingham since Sat urday, is being greeted by many friends.
 W. J. Hon and Mrs. Hon left last night for Kentucky and will not re- turn until the fall. MT. Hon will at tend the annual meeting of plano man ufacturers which meets at Detroit this month.
 William Halls, Jr., of New York. vice president of the Birmingham Realty company. is in the city.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08

HOW ABOUT A REST? The cheer-up bard no longer sings, "Be glad" from day to day; He's getting tired of working and He wants to slip away From all the little troubles that Camp on poets trail And rob him of his sleep at night And leave him looking pale.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08

But the smiles are rippling ever In the valleys of delight And we want to live forever, When
 the
 world
 rolls
 right
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-08

In Kansas the inquiry goes around as to the fate of the dog that used to trot to town under the farmers wagon. | The farmer now goes to town in a motor car, and his dog no doubt died of a broken heart.
 An Austrian physician says that every man has his bad days. He might have added that this is particularly true of baseball players.
  The man who really desires to help lis fellowman should devise some way to stop the wrong number" nuisance on telephone lines.
 St. Louis new balloon concourse is to have bleachers, but comment from them on the proceedings before them is not expected.
 Riding in automobiles may make people homely, but keeping out of them does not produce the opposite effect
 The Black Hills country is enjoying alternate cloudbursts and snowstorms. Anything is possible in that section. Meat is an article of luxury in Ger many, and is fast becoming an article of curiosity in the United States.
 ----.o.--- Great Britain may conclude to have her German scare patented, so that other countries will not share it. The benefactor of the period is he who kills a housefly, that beast of germs and death
 ----s--~--- The country has got to get along three months without the presence of Mir Hartman.
 Whenever times are dull it is in order to propose to raise the Maine.
 
 Henry Clews says the Roosevelt policies are Not Dead But Sleeping.
 
 Cuba is a spendthrift, initiating in this respect the big republic nearby. Count Zeppelin needs a balloon that will stand without being hitched.
 
 Farmer Patten says the bargain days for wheat have been abolished.
 
 Seattle is ready to have visitors be- gin to tug at it's latchstring. The Aldrich half-baked tariff bill grows worse every day. Zeppelin's airship made one tree famous at any rate.
 James J. Hill is his own press agent and megaphone.