davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-20

quite unestimated wealth of practical idealism. Her soldiers exhibited it in the world-shaking war with Ruusia not once nor twice. Togo whipped the great Czar out of the Pacific on the pay of an Amer ican carpenter; and the generals who drove him out of Corea and Manchuria were no better paid. There Is even yet fine scorn of covetousness at the heart of this magnificent nation, though all too successfully the Japanese can and do emulate the lust of wealth which the west has suggested to them as a worthy passion. If any man really knows them he is certain to believe that they will some day triumphanty emerge from their present hour of temptation and devote themselves to their former culture of the soul in life, proving how deep-seated is the motive of the story I am going to tell, motive fundamental to the national character. Higher praise was never given to any people.
 Professor Chamberlain, by the way, is the son of an English admiral, and he has for many years been the fore most foreign master of Japanese lit- erature holding the chair of Japanese in the Imperial university. His books are well known, but only serious stu dents of the language are attracted by ,he "Romanized Japanese Reader" from which I select this Illuminating anec- dote. He calls it "The One Dollar Loss" Judgment. There was 8 man known as Saburokei, the matmaker of Nagas- aki street, Reiganjima, who. being simple -mindely honest and with his whole heart in his trade, dis1iked even to have flattery and insincerity to wind ward of him. Well, one December time on his being hard up for money to clear lhs years accounts and going to q
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-20

|.NARLY in the eighteenth century, N when the Tokugawa family sup |A piled all the de facto rulers of ban, known as Shoguns, and the Mi |lo was a hidden power never seen his subjects, the mayor of Yedo-now |SieLwas the famous Ooka Echizen no |mi. He is known to westerners as ! Solomon of Japan. His many witty n shrewd decisions are often referred | by his people. Collections of these isions have been preserved in two vol les. As Prof. Basil Hall Chamberlain S, these stories give wonderfully |id insight into the manners and cus- hs of the Japanese of that period.
 indebted to MT. Chamberlain for the hslation, which I modify chiefly to Ike the allusions more clear.
 anyone thinks that it is proven lay that the Japanese are dishonest ple, beg him to hold his peace and u awhile. Medieval Japan reached Tn to our own time, and a prominent lure of it's life was contempt for hey and a noble unselfishness which ald fairly paralyze the ''gray matter" hn' average American or European. e myself received courteses innu- able from extremely poor people who i'd have been outraged by the offer becuniary reward. I know very well
 this spirit has but slim chance of rival in the hurly burly of modern
 petitive commerce, and that 1t has h ruthlessly sacrificed at the altar of
 1t we call 'progress." But on the kr hand it does still survive in many
 many a rural home and in many &
 e family whose sons have neverthe-
 been exposed to tho virus of our tern civilization. Japan possesssn .
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-20

prescribedD to go into the book No answer again.
 A proprietor of a magazine, a man whom I never saw, writes that he wants my services as editor; offers me the po- sition, but warns me that l am not to expect any pay. Letter put into the stove.
 Another magazine sends me an exceed ingly difficult Greek text, asking me to do what the commentators have failed to do, viz, write tgratuitously, of course) a clear and satisfactory exposition of this very perplexing passage, put it into the form of an expository article for the magazine, and send it on. Proprietor of the magazine an utter stranger to me. Stove again.
 A temperance paper wants articles from my pen. and sends list of it's contribu- tors, giving me to understand that my compensation will consist of the privil- ege of appearing in such distinguished company.
 Now, as I did not answer any one of these applications, except the one about the corn-sheller, and don't mean here after to waste time, paper and postage In answersing such communications, it may not be amiss to say here that the subscriber is doing work here that he
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-20

think, which is one of the drawbacks to offering up-to-date comic opera humcr to member of a mythological royal fam fly. And then I took out my fountain pen and waited for her to speak, it be- ing a cardinal rule among all the leading being interviewed should be allowed to say few words from time to time, where the quoting of him or her does not in- terfere with the smoothness and style of the interview.
 Well, Miss Terpsichore, or Miss Muse. if you prefer the more formal title, went on to say that she was greatly gratified to ar of the current revival of the school of dancing associated with the period when she was making her professional debut. She wanted to know if it was cus- tomary for performer giving the classic Creek dances to carry a Tyre? told her yes, that nearly every company had its own press agent, and then she asked if any conscientious efforts were made to adhere to the attic Greek draperies. I as- sured her that some of the local police authorities, in New York especially, had decided that while the costumes might be all right for the aftic and were even more appropriate for the bathroom they seemed just trif1e scanty for outdoor wear and were calculated to draw crowds of nor Oidly curious persons who followed the d syotees of the cult about the streets, de- string to be on hand when the faithful started in to finish undressing. This, explained, had led to disorder and result cd Tn arrests.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-20
E SOLOMON-By The Req. George Eaves

To this Saburohei replied: 'Now that I have learned the facts, for me to take the money would be outrageous. As you confess that you put aside your own business and incurred expenses, you have placed me under this obligation to you. Please use these sS as your profit" With this he gave the money back.
 But Chojuro flung it down, saying: If it had been my intention to make these dollars my profit, I should not have hunted you up. I shall leave the money here"
 Saburohei, however, grabbed him and roared: "why do you come and throw such things down in another mans house Take it along with you"
 Chojuro shook him off, but Saburohei cltuched him by the wrist, and ex- claimed: "If you don't take this money along I shall knock you down!'
 So it-ca to bad language. Choiuro too, as he was an artisan and therefore pretty rough, yelled out: "You rapscal- lion, who drop precious money be- cause you are a fool, and use vile language when one comes and gives it to you! If you ever touch me with your finger will kill you!''
 So it became quarrel, the two scold- ing and gripping one another A crowd gathered and asked what was the trouble. Chojuro said: "We are fussing because when I went to the trouble of bringing and offering him his own money he de- clined to accept it." But Saburohei in sisted 1T begged him to take 1t because he has been walking these four days, trying to find me, setting aside his own business and spending money in the quest'
 Both sides seemed to be in the right,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-20

explaining how another man, whom had never heard of before had employed him and failed to pay his wages. My visitor wanted me to make the employer pay. didn't know how to do this, nor did l know how to get rid of my visitor.
 Another man who seemed to be in trouble about his rent came to me and asked me to lend him SEQ on a large double barrel shotgun which he had with him. As I knew from reliable evidence that the man could not be safely trusted for 25 cents, I declined to play pawn broker.
 Somebody in the valley of Virginia wrote me letter once, asking me to see all the real estate agents in Wilmington, N. C. q was then pastor there), and find out if any one of them had on sale the kind of place which would suit him, which kind of place the writer described infinitely. He said he didn't know me, but had seen my articles in some news paper. crhis writing for the press is a dangerous business.)
 I had just read the letter referred to above when I was accosted by country man with, Brother Hiden," dhe speaker was not a church member), my wife sent me down here with a quilt to sell,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-20

GN ENG as l was going to call upon a lady, and a young lady at that, |@ and one belonging to a very old |amily besides, put on few more airs han would have been the case for just an |rdinary interview. I wore my new-style |lpine hat with the nap of it like a plush |amily album, and from a friend in the heatrical business I borrowed an over bat. It was one of those regular &C., pr's overcoats, truly hobby garment. | had Persian lamb collar and cuffs Ind genuine Ozark mountain mink on l e lapels and down the front, and was he'd inside with brown Canada lynx; |ldt combined nature study with style. Fearing it has one or two drawbacks, |bwever If you are inclined to be Hort and a trife stout, near-sighted |rangers will throw sticks in the wa
 r and expect you to retrieve them in
 bur mouth, and if you take it off and Iy it carelessly down somewhere and I,ybody leaves the door open there is
 .nger of it's stealing away and going
 elk to the Zoo.
 #But I didn't have any serious mis-
 ps on my way to Mount Olympus X1ich was the station where I had
 on told to get off. I went by trolley.
 h elderly party with long white kliskers named Charon was the con-
 ctor on tho car. He told be he was
 |e person of that name who formerly
 n hand-ferry across the River Styx
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-20

em right now, and always will be.
 Jones made a great speech for 16 to l. It contained twice as many words as are in the New Testament scriptures of King James translation of the Holy Bible, and was violent and unprovoked as sault on the multiplication table. And yet Jones as a senator had voted for ''the erIme of 'T3," which John Sherman voted against on the only roll call that was had on that measure in sthe two congresses that considered it. He always appeared to me as even me-e of an old granny than his colleague, old Mother Stewart.
 But here is what Charles Emory Smith thought of Jones:
 ''The significance and importance of his position lay in the fact that he was the close friend of Senator Conkling and probably had more influence with him than any other man in the country ex- cept General Grant himself Wholly un- like in temperament and manner, they had a rare intellectual affinity and per sonal devotion. Then, as now, Senator Jones had an extremely interesting per sonelity. The range of his knowledge was extraordinary; his mind was singularly alert and fecund his not frequent speeches were prefect magazines of re- search and information; he had the live Hest sense of humor and an inexhausti- ble fund of anecdote; his talk was ami mated and brilliant, and gleamed with wit and story and vivid illustration. F
 Besides furnishing the most interest
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-20

On my memorializing the government satisfaction and has placed the 8 in question among his treasures, but has granted to you three other dollars. Be thankful! You, who picked it up, respect fully receive g! You who dropped 1t, re- spectfully receive $2l Each of you shall suffer the loss of s1. The money is not the same money as before. It is money granted by the government, so do not dare refuse it!"
 Both men bowed their heads, shed tears, and said: "We are truly grateful and will respectfully accept it. If the government grants us 8 we will divide it into 1.50 for each of us. But with regard to this grants us s we cannot tell whence it comes! Though we tremble to disobey your honor, we cannot acquiesce.'
 To this the judge replied: "Well. well! What minute scrutinizers you are! In the excess of my joy at your unrightness I have myself put forth st and given 1t to you. As Chojuro picked up 8 and gets S2, he suffers s1 loss. As Saburohei dropped s and gets s2, he suffers $1 loss I, too. suffer s1 loss. All three of us suffer S1 loss each" Thus were they charged, and ell parties thankfully received their own and left the judgment hall. In the world this was traditionally handed down as "Ooka's sI Loss Judgmentx
 INote: Those readers whS are nervous lest they should mispronounce these rather voluminous Japanese names, may confidently assume that they are correct if they will simply give the vowels their full Italian value. The consonants ex- plain themselves. Double vowels or ciiph- thongs alike require the full open sound ia every case.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-20

Victor Emmanual rarely disappoints rhem and between and o'clock il is his custom to roll slowly down the avenue seated in a smart looking trap and driving d pair of handsome bays, he himself holding the ribbons. Some times he is accompanied by his queen but in all events he is attended by a single footman donning a modest al becoming livery.
 Taking himself seriously and dis playing much of the eclat which his position demands, yet still displaying much of the democrat William II, Elm peror of Germany, almost daily graces the Unter den Linden. Usually his ad- vent is announced in advance by d long line of policemen, dotting the es- planade from the imperial palace to the Brandenburg thor, nearly a mile away, and this preparation give mo- tee to his subjects, who throng the curb, to tender him a loyal salute. h. deed such eXpectant crowds often at tend full hour merely to witness the passing of an imperial empty landeau. When occupying a carriage his majesty usually drives at fierce gallop, an ex- pedient employed, it is said. to avoid the aim of some would-be anarchistic
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-20

heath the purple and insigma of power. Indeed monarehs often render unwilling reference to laws of etiquette which are unyielding and unalterable. The King of Spain is a truly democratic lad. A law om the Spanish realm forbids pie bean to touch the body of a royal person.
 Some years ago Alfonso ripped at the head of a flight of sairs in the royal palace and was only saved from serious injury, if not death, by d subaltern ss the foot of the stairs who caught the young king in his arms. Alfonso, In generous gratitude for the deed remein- bered the subaltern in a handsome man ner financially but the officer was dis missed from tine service for having pre- sumed to touch the person of the king. Several centuries ago so rigid was Span ish etiquette relative to royalty that a queen could not even expose her foot to the vulgar gaze of the public and to avoid such an exposure excessively long skirts were worn to hide the lower ex- tremities froa view. The people were even told that a queen of Spain could have no legs and this strange prediea- ment of female royalty was long be- lleved by the trusting peasants.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-20

valuable commodity, or else that it is a special privilege to him to go away from home, where lie is paid for hls time. and to preach where he isn't paid.
 or course it will be admitted thai preachers ought to desire to do good; that they ought to love to preach; that they ought to be glad to preach gratui- tousIy to the poor and destitute in the highways and hedges" But there is no valid reason, so far as l can see. why they should be expected to spend time, labor and money in going away from home to grat1Iy people who are abund- antly able to compensate them and who seem to think that all that a preacher is eyer worth is his travelling expenses. The trustees and other officers of our colleges say that it is not easy to get a suitable man who will take the time to prepare a really good address at a col lege commencement I suppose this IS true. But if they will let it be known that the speaker selected for the occa- sion will have his expenses paid and Will receive $50 for the address they will find no difficulty in getting excellent speak CTS for such occasions; and an address that is not worth $50 ought not to be de- livered at a college commencement.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-20

|SOME 10 years ago the Saturday Evening Post contained a politi- N>/ cal fairy story about Roscoe |Conkling and James G. Blaine. which read with some amusement at |the time, and with still more di- version on the other day, when, in a moment of relaxation from work, hap pened to pick it up. The author was Charles Emory Smith, republican polti- clan, editor of Philadelphia newspaper and Postmaster General of the United .States. If we could call the narrative cred by the wish, chimney corner tale, lear of the vulgar.
 Alluson is had to that terrific forensic rencounter between the naughty New Yorker and the debonair son of Maine
 he fstal morning in 1866, when Conkling, ty the most inevitable implication, de- nounced Blaine as corrupt, and Blaine
 etorted that Conlling was a turkey cock. They never spoke to each other there after, although their seats in the Senate were near together, and, as I now recall, separated only by the seats of Hannibal
 Iamlin and John James Ingalls,. in the second row from the front on the repub-
 ican side of the chamber which Is to
 he east, the vice president sitting with
 ils face to the south, whereas the speaker bf the House of Representatives sits fac
 ng the north.
 But to get back to the fable in the Sat
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-20

banquet the Arctic explorer Nansen, just after return from one of his polar expe- dtions that q cheering crowd thronged the front of the palace calling loudly for the appearance of the yoal presence. Ris- ing from his seat at the table, Oscar fa- miliarly slapped Nansen upon the shoulder as he said, You go first, my brother; it's you that they wish to see, not l." While this was doubtlesss true, Nansen had the bluntness and bad grace to reply. ''Yes, that's so, MT. King" It should be noted that in the Scandinavian coun- tries the monarch is invariably addressed as MT. King.
 The next occupant of tho rung of de- mocracy's ladder is Edward VII of Great Britain This potentate's fayorite mode of peregrination through the crowded streets of London is in hanson, til- bury or cab. This habit is a relic of his Prince of Wales days, when often it was not desirable, nor even creditable, for the public to be coznizant of his comngs and gongs from and to shady resorts, and the public vehicle was the means em- ployed to conceal his meanderings, a habit which has clung to him ever since. By the way, a little joke, as well as a pun, relative to his familiarities would not be
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-20

~ ONE years ago Dr. Fuller of Balti-
 more received a letter from some h-< stranger asking what was the best way to keep ones spectacles from falling off ones nose?
 Dr. F., being in an accommodating mood, got a piece of thread about foot long, enclosed 1t in a letter to the man, telling him to se the two ends of his spectacles together with this string, put the specs on his nose and fix the string behind his head; and he added that this was the very latest result of modern in- vestigation in the matter of adjusting spectacles to the head of the wearer.
 Dr. Fuller was so much annoyed, and amused together, by variety of letters of which this was sample that he wrote an article for the Religious Herald, giv- ing some account of the extras which all sorts of queer people in various parts of the country expected city pastor to per- form for them. I don't think that Dr. F.. exhausted this fruitful theme, so I wish to give bit of my own experience in the same line.
 A man whom I had never seen before once entered my study and took up something like half hour of my time,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-20

expense, and walking about daily to make inquiries is useless waste of ef- fort" But he walked about, making daily inquiries and paid no heed to their talk.
 On>the fourth day he came to mat shop in Nagasaki street in Hatcha- Bori, Reiganjima, and inquired for MT. Saburoh ei. Immediately a man of about 40 came out and said:%I am Sa- buronie, but what may your honorable business be?"
 Did your worship drop anythingg' asked the other.
 While Saburohei was refiecting his wife came out of the kitchen and said: 'Didn't you drop some money four or five days ago."
 "Why, of course'' exclaimed he, q dropped $3."
 This made Chojuro happy, and he said: ''I picked up the money, and for four days, counting today, have been walk ing about to inquire for the person who had dropped it. Here, take it'
 With these words he took out the money, but Saburohei utterly refused to accept it, saying, "No. no! I had the i'll luck to drop 1t; you had the good fortune to pick it up. It Is unnecessary for you to return it.''
 But Chojuro said, Please listen prop erly. am the man called Chojuro, the screenmaker of Kodemma street. AS I passed along Yanaziwara the other day, suddenly catching sight of some- thing I picked it up and looked at 1t, and found money to the extent of 8, wrapped in a letter. Now, as I have traced the clue for four days and put aside my business with the sole object of restoring the money to Its owner, please take 1t without hesitancy."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-20

and she said if l couldn't sell it I was to come to you and she lowed you'd help me- I pretty distinctly declined to peddle the quilt.
 A man whom I had never heard of, writing from place that I had never heard of anxiously inquired if I could recommend him to go into the agency for "O'Hara's pocket giant corn-sheller?" He said he had seen it advertised, but feared it might be "a sponge.
 Some time ago I received letter from a man who wanted to make g new hymn book. Query: How many more new hymn books are we Baptists to have0 I had never seen the man in my life and had no acquaintance with him whatever. He asked me to examine all the hymns in some three or four differ- ent books, averaging something like a thousand hymns apiece, and then write him my opinion as to which of these hymns were the best; which were the worst. etc. In short, to give a critique of three or four books. He wanted me to do this flor the good of the cause. ' I did not reply to this letter.
 Another man. whose orthography is singualrly original, writes me that he Is about to make a new prayer-book, and he wanted me to write a prayer Qength
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-20

is paid to do; that he is willing to con- sider proposals of employment on the editorial staff, or as a contributor to any respectable magazine or newspaper, re- ligious or literary and it would give him very great pleasure to devote the pro- eeeds to purely benevolent objects to which his present contributions are nec- essarily smaller than he would like to have them.
 But what is to be said of pressing invi- tations to go to all sorts of out of the way places, and furnish gratuitous ser mons. temperance speeches, lectures flor the benefit of" everything. educational addresses, addresses at school commence ments, and what not? A good sister told me some time ago Brother H., you ought to go to preach at - again; the people are almost crazy to hear you" I replied, ''Why, 1 can hardly think they are crazy; for I provided my own con- veyance and paid my own toll over their bridge when I went before dt was some nine miles off), and I told the people I was willing to come and preach for them whenever they would send a convey ance for me; and though there are plen- ty of carriages in the neighborhood. no- body has been crazy enough to send one for me-" Her ardor seemed to cool