davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-01
Alahama's Big Four

The claim has been made in Anniston that Calhoun is per capita the richest county in the state. Calhoun presents a wealth on the assessment rolls of s35S per capita-a fine showing, indeed, but 1t is not good enough to place that county at the top of the list.
 The assessed values of Jefferson coun- fly foot up s11o, 727,51s. The population of the county is 22s,i7s. and the per capita assessed wealth is therefore SASS.
 Mobile makes an even better showing than Jefferson, although it's assessed values are but s41,017,1Ss. It's population is sOS54, and it's per capita wealth is s507.
 Mobile has more wealth per head than Jefferson. Montgomery presents a per capita wealth of s377, and Calhoun com pletes the Big Four of the state from a per capita point of view.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-01
Woman SuHraks Calming Ground

At the November election the state of Washington adopted a constitutional amendment extending the right. or rather privilege, of voting to all wom- en in all cases, putting the two sexes on one footing in that respect. The majority for the amendment was large and there is no prospect that women will ever be deprived of the ballot In that state.
 This makes five states that open the ballot boxes in all elections to women, namely, Idaho, Colorado, Utah. Wyoming and Washington. The wom- ans suffrage belt now extends from the NebHaska line straight through to the Pacific coast.
 But why is 1t that woman suffrage is confined to the far west? The states named are progressive, especially in ed- ucational matters, but what is good at their ballot boxes should be good, say, at ballot boxes in Massachusetts, But Massachusetts fears no doubt it's urban population and it's population of foreign birth, and such fears are not entertained in the far west.
 No doubt woman suffrage will spread by degrees over the country, but the Indications are that the south and the east Will be the last to accept it. No signs of it's coming can be detected In the south.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-01
EDgliSh Veto Proposition

The essence of the English issue is the ne-sidedness of the house of lords. It never gets in the way of bills presented by tory administration, and it can be trusted to oppose at every turn bills of a liberal ministry It is, in other words, always tory. and never liberal This works toward depriving the country of two great parties, well balanced and all ways watching each other.
 The liberals stood this until forbearance had ceased to be virtue, and they, therefore. brought in "parliament bin." demand that it be passed without amendment The lords did not act on it.
 This bill provides that a money bill passed by the house of commons one month before the end of the session shall go to the King without the consent of the house of lords.
 The bill also provides that any other bill when passed by the house of com mons in three successive sessions shall also go to the King regardless of the consent of the house of lords, but 1t must be sent to the house of lords at least one month before the end of each session, and two years must elapse be- tween the first and the last presenta- tion of the bill. Any amendment by the house of lords is to be considered a rejection of the bill unless the house of commons accepts 1t. The certificate of the speaker of the house of commons l is to be considered conclusive concerning
 any such bill. Finally the bill makes
 five years rather than seven the life o
 a parliament.
 The Asquith ministry and the liberals
 go to the country on this parliamentar!
 bill, and it's terms should be kept fl
 mind as the contest proceeds. It really
 reduces the veto power of the house ol l lords to minimum. Any further reduc tion would annihilate the upper house | and possibly that will be done in the course of another generation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-01
NAzIMovA PLAYED SANTA CLAUS

From the Dramatic Mirror, New York.
 Like Fritzi Scheff. Ala Nazimova would celebrate Christmas if she were in climbing the Rockies in a caboose. Last Christmas while portion of her com lany were gathered in the room of one of their number holding somewhat dejected wGssail there was a sharp. nervous tap on the door, and an actor opening 1t saw a short, slight Santa Claus with long beard, and bulging bag of gifts over his shoulder
 ''Wh-wha-" was as far as the actor got.
 'I desire to distribute some gifts among my good children" Santa Claus spoke crisply with a slight foreign accent, at which zeffie Tilbury raised an alert eye brow.
 70, look at Santa Claus little hands," she exclaimed.
 Santa shook one of the hands threaten ingly at her and went on with his gifts and speeches.
 70, look at Santa Claus little feet" ex- claimed another actress. One of the little feet gave her a vicious dig in the ankle.
 But when Santa Claus, having read all the verses and bestowed all the gifts with an amazing knowledge of each play CTS foibles, was preparing to depart, someone. apparently by accident. brushed the good saints beard. It moved giving view of a clear-cut jaw and olive skin.
 Madame" shrieked the company. Why 1t is Madame NazimoVar'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-01

cord that MT. Humphrey predicts in case the committees of the House are selected by a committee come to the house of commons although it is a body nearly twice as large as the House of Repre- sentatives governing a far-hung empire without much assistance from the house of lords.
 woodrow Wilson attributes most of our troubles to the speakers pregnant power In his admirable work, Congressional Government" he says: "rhe speakers power is, as it were, the central and characteristic inconvenience and anomaly of our constitutional system, and on that account exeites both the curiosity and the wonder of the student of institutions. The most esteemed writers upon our con stitution have failed to observe not only that the standing committees are the most essential feature of our govern mental system, but also that the speaker of the House of Representatives is the most powerful functionary of that sys-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-01
sTUMPED THE WAITRESS

From the Kansas City Times.
 'Sip me a brace of cacklesr' ordered the chesty-looking young man with a bored air, as he perched on the first stool in the lunch room.
 "A what?''a sked the waitress, as she placed glass of water before him.
 Adam and Eve fiat on their backs A pair of sunnysiders!' said the young man in exasperated tone.
 You got me, kid" returned the wait ress. "Watcha want?"
 Eggs up," said the young man. " Eggs thek ind that come before the hen or after, I never knew which,
 Why didn't you say so in the first place?" asked the waitress. You'd a had 'em by this time."
 ''Well, of all things said the young man.
 I knew what he was drivin' at all the time" began the waitress, as the young man departed. But he's one of them fellers that thinks they can get by with anything. He don't know that they're using plain English now in restaurants. i"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-01
Powers of the Speaker of the House

Congressman Humphrey of Mississippi thinks the speaker should be permitted to select all committees. He forgets the thousands of pledges made by dem ocratic orators on the stump this year. Pledges are pledges whether made on the stump or in platforms, and the rank and file do not forget them. The dem ocratic party should in this crisis main- tain its pledges. It would be fatal to democratic success in 1912 to do other- wise.
 MT. Humphrey sees all sorts of trouble coming in house of 391 members if a committee appoints the various commit tees. No such troubles come to the British house of commons. which con- sists of 67O members. Its committees are appointed by committee of selee- ton, and political scientists ase agreed that the parliamentary system\ in the house of commons is the best Sn the world. None of the possibilities oh dis
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-01
Good Census Work

Notwithstanding the disappointment which some cities felt over the census reports, the work of taking this census has been in every way more thorough, and will prove generally more satisfac- tory, than that of any previous census year, said R. c. Raulston of Washing ton, D. c.
 "I was connected with the census bu- reau 10 years ago, and while l am not in the government employ, I take great interest in census statistics, and watch eagerly for the bulletins.
 There have been fewer kicks from ambitious cities this year than in 1900, and in nearly every case where there was an obvious shortage in the enumer- ation the community in question was .us- nally to blame because of lack of CO., operation on the part of citizens. l have been told. in Washington that Birming- ham might have made even a better showing than it did had all the people taken a practical interest in the work of the enumerators. As it is, this city has attracted wide attention with it's 132, 6S5 inhabitants as officially reported-a gain of 245.4 per cent over 1900.
 q understand that the industrial statls- tics obtained for the census bureau this year will be far ahead In the matter of completeness and convenient assembling of statistics the same class of informa- tion gathered 10 years ago. The industrial and commercial facts have been collected this year by expert accountants who were allowed ample time in which to perform their work. In 1900 all such statistics were taken by the regular enumerators Tn connection with their count of noses.'"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-01
TELEPHONE TRAGEDY

From Tit-Bits.
 Several evenings ago young man re- paired to telephone office and rang up his sweetheart at her residence.
 'Ts that you?''
 ''Yes, George, dear" came the reply.
 .'Are you alone?''
 "Yes, darling"
 ''I wish I was there.
 T wish so, too.'
 'If I were there do you know what would do with my darling?"
 "No, George; I do not"
 And then somehow the lines got mixed, and this is what she heard: 'Well. I'd pull her ears back till she opened her mouth, and then I'd put lump of mud in it. If that didn't answer I'd give her a sound thrashing."
 And then Marion tainted.
 Now they never speak as they pass by, and the man who was talking to his far Tier about balky mare says that any body who will advise a man to put his arms around the neck of an obstreperous horse and whisper words of love in its ear ought to be hanged.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-01
Divorced From Roeus Duke


 Tt used to be that bogus English lords succeeded in entering high society in the large cities of this country and occasion ally one of these imposters would be so engaging in his personality as to win the heart of a society heiress," said an old citizen. But in these modern days of cable news Americans are better informed about foreign affairs and are therefore less easily duped by fortune hunters with hcgus titles. In some of the small towns, however, people are still unsophisticated. Here is a case as related by a Maryland correspondent:
 The Cecil county court has just granted Mrs. Irene Stanley an absolute divorce from her husband, Harry F. Stan ley, alias Lord Stanley, Duke of Aber- deen.' The suit was uncontested. The court has also Issued a decree giving Mrs. Stanley back her maiden name of Irene F. Clayton.
 Tn June, 1907, the upper section of Cecil county was startled by the mar riage of Miss Clayton to the bogus lord. During the first week in June, 1907, Lord Stanley came into the neighborhood of Calvert and calling on Joseph McVey, told him he belonged to the English mo- bility and was heir to enormous estates in Scotland. He offered McVey s10O0 for an introduction to a country girl who had few farms and a bank account.
 When the neighborhood was gossip ing about the lord who was soon to marry Miss Clayton, the couple quietly drove to Oxford, Pa, where they were married on June 24. Hardly had the cere- mony been performed when the brothers of the bride learned that Stanley was an imposter. He went away hurriedly'
 Now that we have the rural free de- livery and telephones in the rural dis trcts, the day should not be far distant when even society in the sticks will bt able to locate an imposter and know the difference between a real gentleman and one who is an artful fourf1usher, or per haps a downright rascal. But afler all l it is the safe thing for a young lady not tc receive a foreigner unless he is proper l y introduced"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-01
Defense of the Canal

Chairman Tawney of the House ap- vronr;ations committee is opposed to the placing of fortihcations for the de- Tense of the Panama canal He thinks it should be protected by international naturalization. If an international agreement will not stand the test or war. then indeed the canal would be defended by our navy, which must In any event be depended upon at both ends to keep the canal open. Effective International guarantees cannot easily be procured, but the greater proabil- ity is that every nation would be glad to lend a hand in the naturalization of the Panama canal.
 Between naturalization and the navy there is no reason why millions should be poured out at Panama in the erec- tion of fortifca tions. The question may come up aC lnt SliOAA o1SSASAA should not be hurriedly acted on in an initial appropriation for fortifica- lions trusting to the future for tht rest The expense of Notifications would be heavy and the work shoul' not be started until naturalization am the value of the navy have been full considered. Give the state department at any rate, a chance to secure tn naturalization of the canal, and leav the rest for the present to the navy.
 The country is not ready to start costly scheme for the military defens of the canal Another year for consid eration and naturalization should b granted, for once the work of defens is started an annual appropriation be comes more than possible-it become probable
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-01
THE WIT OF CICERO

From I'Estrange's History of Humor.
 Cicero replied to Vibius Curius, who was telling a falsehood about his age: s.Then when we acclaimed at the school together, you were not born;'' and to Fabia, who said she was 30. No doubt, for I have heard you say so 20 years. D When he saw Lentulus, his cousin-a lit- tie man girt with big sword "Who has fastened my cousin to that sword ?,' And on being shown colossal bust of his brother, who was also small, he ex- claimed, 'The half of my brother is greater than the whole
 one day Cicero had supped with Dam asippus, and his host had said, putting some inferior wine before him: Drink this Falerian; it is 40 years oldl'' 'It bears it's age we'll" replied Cicero.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-01
To Give Only One Performance

The Bessie Abott Grand Opera com pany. which will present Puccinis La Boheme" at the Shubert theatre Monday night, December 12, is one of the largest and most expensive organizations that ever went on tour and with the excep- tion of the Metropolitan Opera House company, the largest that ever came south. Next to famous principals in the cast the most expensive part of grand opera is the orchestra and the Bessie Abott company carries an orchestra of nearly 50 players.
 The management was thinking of giv- ing an afternoon performance-"Madam Butterf1y"-as well as night; but tele- gram was received by the Shubert man ager yesterday saying that it would not be possible to have two performances here the same day.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-01
TT WASN'T SOAP

From Scraps.
 A New Jersey farmer came to the city the other day and, among other things, he visited a high class restau- rant, says a Philadelphia paper. His appetite ran to cheese, and, inquiring of the waiter what sort of cheese was listed, remarked that he desired some thing new" "Why don't you try a bit of Roquefort?" suggested the wait CT. Whats that?" asked the farmer Hang it. he added, bring me some. like the name, anyway" He ate of it and liked it. So he thought he would take some home to his wife. Arriv-
 ing late, he laid the small cheese wrapped in silver paper on the side board. He forgot to inquire about it till next night and then he asked his wife how she liked it. "Oh, I spose it's mighty stylish up to the city, but 1 jes kinder couldn't use 1t. I couldn't get no foam out of 1t. and when l washed the children they smelled kinder funny, and l can't says l like it."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-01
------e6s--------------- JASPER'S EXPERIENCE

From the Youths Companion.
 Jasper" said Mrs. Grigson, who was looking over the morning paper, "here' s story of a woman who was robbed on a street car in broad daylight, and vet the thief got away unsuspected," Mr. Grigson said that he had seen the item. but that it was either a typographical error or else the story was pure inven- ticn.
 'Why do you say that?" asked his wife.
 Look at the item again. It says her purse contained a hundred dollars in currency, doesn't it?
 Yes"
 'Tt says there was also a receipted bill for a s5 hat, does 1t not?''
 "Yes.''
 Well, no woman with hundred dol lars in cash in her possession would buy a s5 hat"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-01
THE BEST MAN

From Harvey's Irish Life and Humor.
 An Irishman obtained permission from his employer to attend wedding. He turned up the next day with his arm in sling and black eye. Hello, what is the matterT' said his employer Well, you see," said the wedding guest, i've were very merry yesterday and I saw a fellow strutting about with a swallow tailed coat and white waistcoat. And who might you be?' said I. I'm the best man. sez he. and begorra he was, too.''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-01
The Iron Market

while there is a fairly good demand for pig iron for the first quarter of next year, prices remain weak" said a broker, ''and no improvement can reasonably be expected before the middle of January or first of February
 Owing to the high wages being paid the cost of making iron is higher now than at any time in my day. Some of the furnace companies can make little profit even on $11 iron, but others will do well to come out even. The active coal trade has helped no little to bring up net earnings of those iron companies that have coal to sell"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-01
SAD EXPERIENcE

the city of Troy, might be reflected upon by prohibitionists who foolishly hope to bar men by statutory enactment from that which they greatly desire.
 The Tennessee situation might be con- sidered by sensible persons who are asked to abolish distilling and the revenues arising from it, and leave smuggling. speakeasies and locker clubs to serve those who wish to drink
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-01
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR

From the New York Press.
 Any man will go nome if every other place is closed.
 The good don't really die young, be- cause they never are born.
 From lying to his wife a man learns to lie to the whole world. The first time d man does wrong 1t frigh tens him; after that his family and friends. The saddest joke is when somebody else read it ahead of you and spread 1t around among all your friends be- l fore you had a chance.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-01
GILBERTvS REPORT

From the Kansas City Star.
 The motto of the amateur actor, ac- cording to Seymour Hicks, is that "it is better to have had a frost than never to have played at all." On this sub ject he quotes a retort of Sir w $. Gilbert's: What do you think of our amateur club?" said an enthusiast T think they are not so much a club as bundle of sticks" said the master of repartee.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-01
REauIEscAr-LuMAN S. HANpLEx

 By George Eaves, D. D. We laid thee resting, Father, Brother,
 Friend,
 In the red clay thy feet so long had
 trod
 At earth's red heart, thy heart with it
 to blend,
 Where thou wilt some day lift it unto
 God. M How thou didst toll, thro' manhood to
 old age, M To lift each earth heart to Him Who cares Now at the city's heart thou dost as- Thy longings! Thee for evermore she s bears. f We laid thee resting, and for thee is rest; & f& For us little while the rush and But yet a little while, and with the Shall we not see thee thro' the Open Door? M Ah. shall we not! But in the short Rest here. dear heart, so still amid the din A Of restless throbbing Birmngliam but smile, Greeting thy neighbors as they en- ter in!
 Aye, better yet; for thou wilt come again z To see the Perfect City that shall g. be,
 wherein the Perfect Love shall dwell with men Glad destiny. Great Heart. glad des- | tiny!
 Birminghams destiny! These reddened hills Shall see light. and all the city streets & it II Shall stretch their hands to God, whose hush now stills | Thy hearts throb. while the City's
 -throbs and beats.
 Birmingham. November 29. 1910.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-01
GREAT WILL. POW

 He says he could quit drinking if he wanted to- '1 believe he could'' Why are you so positive?" He stayed at a summer resort for six weeks once without mailing single souvenir postcard"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-01
AMONG THE MISSING.

Not very, very long ago
 A well-known person named Castro, Was looming large in all the papers. We read about his life, his capers, The golden hoard he'd salted down In truth, the man had such renown, He seemed to hold the public eye Just like meteor in the sky. But fame is brief, as you'll avow; Where's Cipriano Castro now?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-01
"MANNISH WOMEN
From the Washington Post.

From the Washington Post.
 All who know Cardinal Gibbons are aware that whenever the distinguished prelate talks he has something to say" and it may be admitted that he knows what he is talking about.
 The cardinals stand on woman suf- frage Is firm, and he lets no occasion 90 by to warn against it. This is what he told the girl students of St. Catherine's Normal school at Baltimore, whose guest of honor he was Friday:
 Avoid following those who desire woman suffrage. Do not follow in the steps of those who have become man. nish in their ways and who fight for a place in politics. woman's place is in the home, and I trust you will strive to do your best now. By doing each of you will bring joy to your relatives and friends ,and in the future to the young rlan whom you may call your husband"
 The cardinal is well aware that in this country of free institutions female suf- frage is not needed to make woman the equal of man, whose equal she is al- ready in every respect How often do we hear a man exclaim. If had only taken my wife's advice" Or again, My wife Is my full oonf1dant and her advice all ways is excellent!' This shows that American husbands long ago placed their wives upon a pedestal not only of equali- ty, but often of superiority.
 Men, yes, and women, who read the news from London of the rioting and stone-throwing suffragettes, may smile over the unusual and militant course adopted by the women of England, but 1t also pains them. They are ''mannish women, against whom the cardinal so aptly warns the girls of Baltimore
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-01
Knights of Columbus Inspector

Frank J. Sherlock. travelling inspector of the Knights of Columbus, was greet ed by large gathering of the local coun- ell Tuesday night said M E. Linne- han, "and he seemed to appreciate very fully the courtesies extended him. MT. Sherlock went from Birmingham to Huntsville and will go from Huntsville to Atlanta. He is urging all the knights who are eligible to join the insurance branch of the order. He pointed out the strong position of the insurance depart ment and showed that no sound insur- ance cost the individual so little as that of the Knights of Columbus.
 'The order was established in 1882 with a small group of men. Today it has upwards of 25O,OO0 members organized into 15eo local councils,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-01

Let us be hopeful. In the new Congress there will be 120 men in the House alone that had never been in Congress.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-01
STATE BOARDERs.

T saw a number of men yesterday who didn't seem to be worrying much about the high cost of living"
 What were they doing?'
 ''The lockstep to dinner.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-01

MT. Taft's annual message is written take a day off and finish 1t.