davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26
GRAHAME-wHITE's HEATHER

From the Philadelphia Times.
 Girls have fancy for carrying black beads for good luck; people out in the rural districts have a penchant for hang ing horseshoes over their front doors, while many a sailor boy has stood ex- cruciating pain just to get the telltale tattoo marks on his arms or chest which will ward off the evil spirit on the high seas.
 MT. Modern Aviator likewise has his talisman-his kismet of good faith, which token he carries in his sky traveller. Grahame-White, who in bonnie Scotland was "up in the air. for the first time not many years ago, when his mother sealed the cliffs along the North sea with her wee bairn" close clasped in her arms, just to give him a breath of the salt breeze, carries sprig of dainty Scotch heather in the rigging of the aircraft above his head. It Is emblematic of his mother country, and has been there through all the flights of the speed cham pion, who has gathered laurels in this country during the last six months with out a dangerous mishap.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26
Musical Development

There was a time not so many years ago, when few persons acquainted with the musical world were optimistic enough to think that America would ever be known as a musical country, and 1t was generally felt that it would be long, long while, if ever, before we would produce master composers; but notable progress Is now being made in musical art in the United States. American taste has greatly Improved within recent years. In every city symphony and chamber concerts attract large crowds America is turning out high class artists and several American composers have gained distinction. Frederick A. Stock, con- ductor of the Thomas orchestra of Chi cago, is one of them. While this gentle man was born and reared in Germany, he has developed and broadened on Amer ican soil and is, therefore, in a meas ure at least. very much of an Amer ican. MT. Stock is remembered person. ally by several of Birmingham musi- clans and music lovers, as assistant con, ductor of the Chicago orchestra when it played here under the late Theodore Thomas season after season, in Gucken- bergers time. of one of his works the Musical Courier's Berlin correspondent thus writes:
 "Frederick A. Stocks string quartet in c minor, op. 6, was introduced tc Berlin last evening by the Klingel quartet, which played programme oi novelties in the hall of the Royal higt school This quartet of the distir-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26
WHEN MELBA WAS BILLPOSTER

From St. Paul Pioneer Press. /
 While still in the amateur status,' said Mime. Melba, during her recent stay in St. Paul, q organized a concert at Sorrento, Victoria, to provide a new fence for the local cemetery there, the dilspidated appearance of which appealed to me through my order-lovlng eye. I used up all my available funds on the expenses of preparation, and found I had no money for the bill posting, so resolved on a heroic, if novel, means out of the dilemma. So, armed with brush and a pot of paste, went out after sunset and did the bill posting myself, and, if you please, I made a particularly good show on the cemetery fence that was to be repaired. And I was much prouder of the a2O realized for the cemetery funds and my new fence from that concert than I am of the thousands now received.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26
THE WAY CHINAMEN MILK

China Letter in Grinnell Qowa) Herald.
 The cows in China are not very many generations removed from the wild state as 1t is only since the foreigners have come in that the people have used milk So the only way they'll give down their milk is to calf. Consequently in order to milk COW here, it takes two men and calf. One man holds the calf and the other the pail. They let the calf get a start and then the first man suddenly grabs the calf away and the other fellow jumps in and gets all the milk he can be- fore the surprised COW realizes the change. The operation is repeated until they get all the milk they want Ther they drive on to the next place.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26
- ------%es----- N NATURAL ALARM CLOCK

From Truth.
 An American and a Highlander were walking one day on the top of the Scotch mountains when the Scotchman, wishing to impress his boastful "cousin," pro- duced a famous echo to be heard In that place. When the echo returned clearly after nearly four minutes the proud Scotchman, thrning to the Yan- kee, exclaimed:
 'There, mon, ye canna show anything like that in your country?"
 To which the other replied:
 q guess we can better that some, stranger. Why, in my shooting lodge in the Rockies, when l go to bed just lean out of my window and call out, Time to get up! Wake up! and eight hours afterward the echo comes back and wakes me!'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26
A DEBAsING PLAY

From the Kansas City Star
 lake Willis, a character in Edwin Shel- don's play, ..The Nigger," tells Governor Narrow one day that he is unalteraply onnosed to lynehing; that no matter what inc black mans crime may be, the law should take its course. The next day lakes own daughter is victim or the crime that causes most lynchings' ana lake becomes the implacable leader or an irresistible mob
 The point isj that Jake is no longer a fit person to pass Judgment In sucn case as this. No more Is an audience that hes 1y,tnessed the first two acts Of The Nieper, in a mood to listen to the race nrohlar discussion of the last act. h. deed. the first two acts are so realistic cs to be melting and debasing. bhe realism of the drama, together with the sebsationalism and vulgarity of the DIG torial billing used in exploiting the drama .s starring bill, is an indefensible ornea, to the baser impulses of the pub lie inst as were ''The Clansman' and the methods employed to popularize tha' o+rocitv. The fact that "The Nigger'' ,s much greater work dramtically than its cheap forerunner does not alter the effect of presenting IL.
 The theatre is no place to illustrate ana discuss the race problem Nor would II he effective in any other place to FOLLOW or accompany illustration with discus sion For any striking illustration or suggestion of lynching. of the crime Ioi which lynching is perpetrated, or or the blasting effects of blood taint are heces' sarily calculated to arouse feeling, excite prejudice and put an audience out o1 | the dispassionate mood necessary to give rational attention to theories, no matter how sound they may be.
 If is time to bar the race problem play from the theatre. It accomplishes noun ing that is good; it accomplishes mucf i that is debasing.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26
FAVORITE FICTION

From the Chicago Tribune.
 We've Had a Perfectly Splendid Time Mrs. Gumwell." You're the New Assessor Are Youi Glad to Meet You"
 Smoking on Front Platform Only" No, Sir, We Haven't Any Good Seats Left for Tomorrow Night"
 What! You Wear a Wig? I Never Would Have Suspected It.
 q Wasn't Going Faster Than Eigh Miles an Hour Your Honor"
 Pardon Me, Sir, But That's My Um brella."
 Here's Something That Harmonize' Exactly With Your Complexion, Madam. We Don't Care for Turkey, Anyway Mir. Wilkins, Let Us Have a Couple O Chickens"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26
Impressions of Birmingham

Edwin c. Hoyt of New York. presi- dent of the American Leather company and director in the National Park bank, and Gilbert Thorne, vice president of the National Park bank, spent yes terday in Birmingham. They are friends of Chairman John A. Topping of the Re- public company and had been in Texas with MT. Topping and John W. Gates, MT. Hoyt returned to New York last night and MT. Thorne left over the Frisco for Memphis.
 'I had passed through Birmingham but had never stopped over here before," said Mir Thorne as he sat in the lobby of the 1illman just before time to start for the Terminal station. And both Mr. Hoyt and I were glad that MT. Topping persuaded us to spend day in this now famous city. We have had de- lishtful day. During the morning Mir. Jemison took us in an automobile to Ensley and Corey and in the afternoon we accompanied MT. Harding in an auto- mobile through beautiful residence sec tions. We saw Mountain Terrace and had charming ride along altamont road near the top of the mountain Why, that scenery is enchanting. It is nothing short of marvellous that in this great pulsating iron and steel center landscape beauty is quite as much in evidence as Birming hams commercial prosperity.
 While l had known of Birminghams rapid growth and the splendid showing 1t made In the new census. never realized until came here what a charming place of residence it has come to be. The cli- mate is delightful, the homes are elegant and the business blocks look metropol- itan. The Birmingham district is so rich in raw material that this city is sure to keep on growing. In 1920 it will easily be the largest city in the south, with the single exception of New Orleans.''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26
IN HOTEL LOBBLES
Aviation This Afternoon

Exciting feats in aviation will be Wit messed at the fair grounds this afternoon when Ely and Ward will endeavor to es- tablish new records in their Curtiss ma chimes. Bomb-throwing, racing and trials for altitude will be among the features of the occasion.
 As interesting and thrilling as have been previous feats in aviation seen here the performances today, beginning at , o'clock. promise to surpass them all. A great crowd will doubtless be in attend anee
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26

to the tariff. the trusts, the income tax. conservation, publicity of campaign con- tributions and every other Hive" sub jeet. If the party follows that platform, as in all loyalty and duty it is bound to do until 1912, 1t will not go astray and it will not need any Baltimore confer- enee to keep in the straight and narrow
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26
cHINAMAN,s SENSE OF HUMoR

From the New York Tribune.
 The reporter asked Frederic s. Isham the popular novelist, who is such an in defatigable globe trotter, whether the Oriental has a sense of humor Well I should smile,' said the teller of tales Then he told one.
 'It happened at Honolulu, where we were allowed 24 hours ashore, the last time I crossed the Pacific.
 z" Better lockee stateroom door wher lesvee boat?' suggested my Chinese serv- ant.
 !" Lock the door!' said I. You near my belongings aren't safe on this shr unless the door Is fastened? Nonsense!
 ' Better lockee,' he repeated. " But why?' " Maybe missionary ladies come aboard. Plenty missionaries herer |"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR

From the New York Press.
 Arguing wins most cases for the fellow who doesn't from the fellow who does.
 Care not who runs the government so lcng as you don't have to run the TUT nace.f The most uncertain bet is whether a pronise or a good resolution will be broken first. The delightful thing about having peo-
 pie to dinner is when the door closes on
 the last of them A girls in love when something's the matter with her that can't be accounted for in any other way.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26
THE GARRULoUs PRISONER

"See here" said the Judge to the gar rulous prisoner who was acting as his own attorney, you'll have to cut out those Interruptions. I won't allow you to waste the time of the court
 But, your honor," rejoined the pris- oner, what else can I do? I've got no lawyer to do it for me-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26
AUTOMATIC TRAIN ANNOUNCER

FTOn TOpuIdI 1uCOf'.'1''e'7'
 mechanical assistant that will not mumble and tumble the words and that will not get hoarse or become exhausteo has been devised to relieve the deep voiced, much-tried railroad employe whose particular mission in life has here tofore been to call the trains as they
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26
TWO OF A KIND

From Tit-Bits.
 person begging aims of Lord George Gordon said.
 God bless you, my lord! You and I have been in all the prisons in London .''
 'What do you mean?" cried Lord George. T never was in any prison but the tower"
 That is true, my lord,' said the other, "and I have been in all the rest"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26
The Alabama Consolidated

The Baltimore Evening Sun of recent date. in its financial column, says:
 According to a gentleman in the con- fdence of President Hoadley, of the Ala bama Consolidated Coal and Iron com pany, the affairs of that corporation are fast assuming a satisfactory condition, despite the slack demand and low prices which have characterized the pig iron business during the present calendar year. Harry s. Matthews who succeeded the late G. R. Johnson as general manager of the company's plant, has instituted many economies which have materially reduced the cost of operation.
 "As an evidence that the finances of the company are in an improved condition it is pointed out that the several notes for considerable amounts which the corpora tion owed in Baltimore have been prompt ly met at maturity. and mostly from earnings
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26
1MPAssIoNED oRAToRY.

T had no idea Twidgeham was so eloquent"
 When did you hear him speak?" T heard him deliver an address yes, terday to punctured tire"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26

The get-rich-quick concerns, says Post master General Hitchcock, have increased the cost of living to the extent of s1Oo- 0to, GOO in the last five years.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26
"AUNTIE ME. "

Augusta True. of The Virginian' company" said theatrical man, "has two tiny nieces who were born in the Philippines. One of them is her name sake. Having borne the name Au- gusta three years before meeting her aunt, the little tot considered she had
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26
From the Providence Journal.

I IOlu IH6 1IONlutIlCe JOuTudl.
 TNHE question was recently asked, T Who is the 'well-read man?" The
 A problem Is whether the man who has read much and mastered little or the man who has read little and mastered much has the better right to the title. It may be admitted in the first place that the term has fallen into disrepute of late. Indeed, there are persons who would in- clude 1t in the Bookmans Inferno" One says of such and such an intellectual ly worthy" person, "1e is very intelli- gent and well read"-and wilson's of tab ulated smugness immediately swim into the ken of the understanding nearer. One is quite sure that such a critic of life and art will think "The Blue Bird" charming and poetic," will like Meredith -discreetly-and will enjoy Pater's 'su- perb style.' He will think "Pelleas ct Melisande'' 'so full of shading" g"-which is. indeed, quite true in more senses than one-and he will regret that Wagner could not have taken advantage of the resources of Strauss. Such person IS of great value socially; but although we admit the convenience most of us dislike to assume for ourselves the role of in tellectual clipping-file. Hence the com mon objection to a phrase which suggests its automatic responsiveness.
 But the expression well read" should and does mean.~something more than trivial pattering in the courts of the mighty. It means something more than an honest familiarity with many good books, even-though that is much. It means more than = knowing books; 1t means loving them. It should be high tribute to a man to say he is well read. It ought to involve contempt for imita- ton. but not necessarily for lack of in
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26
A Practical Yiexx !.

While some of those who have been | active in the prohibition cause in Ala bama are in favor of the drastic statutes known as the Carmichael and the Fuller laws remaining on the books, a great many who believe in the principle of statewide prohibition take a practical view Of the situation and admit that notifications are in ordert'' said a citi- zen well known for his public spirit and patriotism
 'I voted dry in the Jefferson county election held under the local option law in 1907, but drew the line at the amend ment proposition, just as did thousands of others who were opposed to saloons, and always will be as they were run here up to three years ago. have been think ing that the dispensary would prove the best solution of the liquor problem, but 1t is plain to my mind that as a general proposition local option is the only fair and reasonable method for acting upon this vexed question.
 Prohibition as We have it now is a farce In the cities where public sentiment is strongly opposed to sumptuary laws It can hardly be that any considerable number of thoughtful Alabamians who say they want the present laws remain as they are mean it literally. I take 1t that the majority of those persons who talk that way are merely holding out for a compromise. Cranks are uncompromis- ing, but the new legislature is composed of level-headed representative men who will make such changes in the laws as will satisfy the great majority of con servative people.
 "As 1t Is now, vineyardists cannot manufacture wine and sell it. The beer | consumed in Alabama cannot be brewed in the state. These are two provisions of the law among many others that should be changed. Vast sums of money | have been sent out of the state for beer | that might be kept in circulation here but | for our stringent blue laws.
 "The men who are active in the state wide advertising movement should make an organized effort to have all radical | laws rescinded, for certain it is that they
 will find 1t up hill work to bring skilled labor and homeseekers to Alabama so long as drastic measures are in effect.".
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES

prior right to it. She consented. how ever, to call Miss True .Auntie Me- Cause she said. it's my name, you know."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26

Congressman-elect Barger eats pie out of his own hand and never out of the hand of bosses or corporations.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26
IN A NuTSHELL.

'1s she quite sure of her reputation?"
 Well, I'll tell you how matters stand She can't help feeling uneasy when two or more of her friends are gathered to- gether and she isn't there."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26
ANTICLIMAX.

ANTICLIMAX He told his love with burning heart The maid was fair and slender; But when he knelt to play the part, He broke his left suspender And bagged his trousers dreadful1y- Alas. how sad Is wooing, When 1t contrives, as thus you see, To prove a mans undoing.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26

The professional war correspondents are headed toward the land of Diaz and his eighth term.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26

Football rules and congressional rules should be amended in bunch for the safety of all concerned.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26

The free coinage of fresh eggs would drive rots. spots, specks and leakers out of the market,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26
ON LIFE

Life Is a business we are all apt to mismanage; either living recklessly from day to day, or suffering ourselves to be gulled out of our moments by the in antics of custom. We should despise a man who gave as little activity and fore thought to the conduct of any other bus mess. But in this, which iss the one thing of all others, since 1t contains them all, we cannot see the forest for the trees. One brief impression obliterates another. There Is something stupefyfng In the recurrence of unimportant things. and it Is only on rare provocations that we can rise to take an outlook beyond daily concerns and comprehend the nar- row limits and great possibilities of our existenee.-Robert Louis Stevenson.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26

were ready to depart. At a recent con- vention of railroad electrical engineers in Chicago. device was exhibited which, its inventor claims, will not only make the train announcers life a bed of roses, but wil lalso render useless the page in hotels, and the droning dining car DOT ter who gives first, second and third calls to hungry travellers when meals are about, to be served. In a hall equipped with this device there should be no trouble hearing a speaker in all parts of the hall, no matter how poor the acoustics may be, the mechanism being so arranged that his voice will be directed to all parts of the hall simultaneously or to any num- Der of audiences, present or far away.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26

The latest outrage of the automobiles consists in killing squirrels on Central park, New York.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26
To the Song of sixpenee
Dad went into business.
UNUSUAL CHARACTER.

"Brownsby Is very remarkabh man."
 How so?"
 He never makes any facetious re- marks when he starts to carve a fowl"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26

There are 800 varieties of chrysanthe- nuns, but no one seems to know why there are so many. rs
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26
ATTEMPTING TOO MUCH.

ATTEMPTING TOO MUCH. He sang a tender ballad
 And every eye was wet "When you know you're not forgotten By the girl you can't forget" But when he tried a higher note Than any heard before, That brutal crowd did whoop aloud And pounded on the floor.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26

Uncle Joe Cannon will now have to praetive on catching the speakers eye.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26
ART FOR ARTS SAKE.

 Sing g. song of sixpence, Went to see show; Twenty-seven chorus girls Tripping in a TOW. Some of them were knock-kneed, Some of them were bowed; Had they dressed in longer skirts, It never would have showed.
 Birmingham Age-Herald. To the Song of Sixpence We would add a verse Just to show that long skirts Might have been much worse. Dresses in which Fashion Nowadays delights Show the curves and angles Even worse than tights.
 Youngstown Telegram. Dad went into business, Earned a lot of dough; Cholly home from college showed hin How to make it go. Myrtle in the chorus picked Cholly for her own, But when Dad died he left 1t to An aged women's home.
 Springfield Union.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26

The rabbits overran Australia and now their skins are rare furs overrunning ev- | cry large city.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26

The undertaken is one man who always 2unds up and eompletes his work.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26
FoRBEARING.

To make you such a promise, | know, is very rash,
 But, come what may. I'll write no lay | Reviling turkey hash.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26
HARD TO FORGET.

Somewhere, we know. the sun is shin
 ing, Somewhere the birds are singing
 sweet; And every cloud has silver lining, But we still pay a fancy price for
 meat.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26

What is a French royalist good for anyway? He represents nobody.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26

The estate of Clyde Fitch, the success ful playwright. foots up s212,OOO.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26

A STRANGE SIGHT. It takes chap Whose nerves are steady, To contemplate A silent Teddy.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26
SUCH DREAMS.

SUCH DREAMS. He journeyed down To Turkeytown, ' With quite an appetite; But when he'd fed, He went to bed And passed an awful night.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26

Those who have never read Tolstoi's S books are reading them now.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26

and the open door is no longer entic- lng
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-26
HEARD IN PASSING.

q ran across my old friend, Ginkum this morning." said Goggles. What did he have to say?" asked Pinkers.
 Something profane, I think
 PAUL COOK.