davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1910-06-05
LAST MEETING OF SEASON.
Excelsior Literary Club Hears Pa
Pers on Iceland.


The last meeting Of the season OF the
Excelsior Literary Club was held last
Tuesday at the home OF Mrs. Fouts.
The first paper on the programme was
entitled THE religion Of Iceland and
proved TO be one of the most interesting
of the many given on the island.
Mrs. Webb read a paper on the books
and papers of Iceland. The club listened
to a graphic account of the musical
jubilee of Iceland, which occurred in
August, 1874. and lasted one week. Mrs.
Edwards paper told of Hall Gaines in
depreciation of Iceland
Mrs. Logan gave an account of the
tenth biennial meeting Of the Women's
Federated Clubs. held recently in Gin
cinnati Mrs Smith furnished the musi-
cal programme for the meeting
After refreshments the club adjourned
for the summer, the next meeting 10 be
held in October
The Washington herald., 1910-06-05
Sioux Tribe Entertains.

Sioux Tribe, No. IS. Improved order OF
Red Men. had large attendance Of mem
oers at the regular weekly burning of its
council fire on last Tuesday night A dele
cation was present from Logan Tribe
No. 8. and several visitors from reserva-
hons OF New Jersey and Virginia
The Washington herald., 1910-06-05
TEACHERS CONVENE IN JULY.
Washington Educators to Attend
Big Sessions in Boston.


Washington members of the National
Educational Association will attend the
forty-eigf1th annual convention OF the as
sociatlon 20 be held in Boston July 2 to g.
Gov. w. ". Kitchfn, of North Caro-
lima, will open the general sessions on
July at $3.50 o'clock in the stadium Of
Harvard University, The first two days
VIII be given over to committee work and
sightseeing.
President Taft, Gov. Draper, OF Massa-
chusetts; Mayor Fitzgerald, of Boston,
and other prominent men In official life
will speak. More than 10000 persons are
expected TO attend the convention.
The local committee is composed Of
Elmer S. Brown. commissioner of edu-
cation; P. NJ. Hughes, assistant superin-
tendent OF schools; Z. L. Thurston. SUI
pervising principal; S. E. Kramer, dlrec-
tor of intermediate instruction, and
Charles Hart. Of the Business High
School
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-06-26
Southern Bills In Congress

In the hurry and confusion of the clos ing hours of the long session. the public buildings bill was not overlooked. It was sent to the President, and is now a law. This bill carries an appropriation of s2oo Ooo for the purchase of a site fin this city for new and adequate govern ment building. The Appalachian park bill was talked down in the Senate. It re- mains, however, on the calendar, and 1t may become law next winter.
 The Stevens bill, which was drawn to make a common carrier responsible for the documents issued by it's agents, went through the House quickly, but at this writing it looks as though the Senate would cause 1t to go over to the short session. The Scott cotton anti-future bill was taken up in the House under a spe- cial rule and was passed. This is strong measure. and if the government gets be- hind it in earnest 1t will stop gambling in futures on the exchanges. Under it's provisions all contracts must be followed by actual deliveries or receipts of cotton and any violation of this rule involves a penalty running from $500 up to 5000, or imprisonment from one to five years. Wire companies become subject to like penalties if they aid in anyway the mak- ing of illegal contracts, and newspapers that print matter concerning illegal con-
 Congress had no more important meas ure to the south before 1t, and If the government will enforce to the letter the Scott law an end will be put to the con- trol of the price of cotton by gamblers in the chief markets of the country. Every possible device will be resorted to in evasion of the Scott bill; but If the government sends to the penitentiary a few of the evaders, practice will be ended that has long been an injury to cotton farming and through it to almost every interest in the cotton belt.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-06-26
WHEN STRAUSS COMPOsEs

From the New York Sunday Review.
 Richard Strauss, who is finishing a new opera. "Der Rosencavalier," at his cottage at Garmisch, Bavaria, has given an interviewer some interesting accounts of his manner of working. T am always composing" he said, walking or driving, eating or drinking, at home or abroad, in railway cars and crowded hotel rooms my sketehbook never leaves me, and as soon as I find a motif l jot 1t down. One of the most important melodies in my new opera struck me while I was playing schafskoff, a national Bavarian card game, with the upper ten of my village.
 "The ideas tot down are, of course, only sketches to be worked out later. Before I improvise even the smallest sketch for an opera I allow the text to permeate my thoughts and mature in me for at least six months, so that the situ- ations and characters may be thoroughly assimilated Then only do let the musical thought enter my brain. At that time the sub-sketches become sketches They are copied out, worked out, arranged for the piano, and rearranged as often as four times That is the hard part of the work; the part scores, the symphonic col oring, which follows are my recreation The score I write In my study straight away without trouble working at 1t 12 hours on end.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-06-26
MARK TwAIN,s TASTE IN DRESS


 W. H. Howels in Harper's Magazine for July.
 At the time of our first meeting Mark Twain was wearing sealskin coat, with the fur out In the satisfaction of a caprice, or the love of strong effect which he was apt to indulge through life. do not know what droll comment was in Fields mind with respect to this gar ment, but probably he felt that hers was an original who was not to ba brought to any Bostonian book in the judgment of his vivid qualities With his crest of dense red hair, and the wide sweep of his flaming mustache, Clem- ems was not discordantly clothed in that sealskin coat, which afterward, in spite of his own warmth in 1t, sent the cold chills through me when I once accom- panied it through Broadway, and shared the immense publicity it won him. Hs had always a relish for personal effect. which expressed itself in the white suit of complete serge which he wore in his last years, and in the Oxford gown which he put on for every possible occasion. and said he would like to wear all the time. That was not vanity in him, but a keen feeling for costume which tho severity of our modern tailoring forbids men, though 1t fatters women to every excess in 1t.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-06-26
HOke Smith Again a Candidate

Governor Brown assailed in his annual message the railroad commission that Gov. Hoke Smith had reconstructed, and this has brought the latter again into poli- ties. and he and Governor Brown are again before the people of Georgia as as- p,rants for the office of governor. A bit fer nersonal contest will arise to be ter minated in a primary to be held Au- gust %.
 To great extent the race between snoith and Brown will be fought out as railroad matter. Brown Is an old rail- road official, while Smith is a damage suit lawyer, and the railroad issue will stay uppermost.
 that MT Smith is looking further than the gubernatorial office of Georgia. Has" it asks, MT. Smith an ambition to be vice presidential candidate. and has the Endorsement given Governor Harmon of Ohio for President anything to do with MT. Smiths change of attitude on the gubernatorial question? Does 1t appear to him that if Governor Harmon should be nominated for President the democrat %1 41,a h Fnr vice presidential candidate? We don't know that there is any foundation for speculation of this sort. but MT. Smith Is an ambitious man and 1t isn't at all improbable that he has his eye on the vice presidency. It would be a big honor to be the first vice presidential candidate from the south since the war between the states He would stand much better chance of getting that honor if he were active in politics than if he were in re- tirement."
 Whatever motives actuate ex-Governor Smith 1t is at least plain that Geor- Ria is to be treated to a warm term of politics. and that the race will be well contested and doubtful to it's bitter end. At this distance it Is unnecessary to do more than to outline It's nature and scope. It is really a struggle within the party between the ins and outs of a very political state.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-06-26
Flies Here and In Kansas City

Dr. Frank Hall, chief sanitary of f1cer of Kansas City, reports that there are only one-fifth as many flies in that city as there were five years ago. This is a great victory. Eternal vigil lance is the price of health, and Kan sas City Is determined to rid itself of the germ bearing fly. It urges its fly swatters to get busy while its sanitary officers watch the stables in the city and the removal of garbage, and the screening of articles of food and of kitchens and in fact of entire house. holds.
 Unfortunately for us all in Jones valley we cannot claim reduction of four ffths in the number of flies. IL would. in fact, be impossible to es- tab1ish any decrease The task is be- fore us, rather than behind us. The crusade against the death dealing hv should go on and perhaps at the end of another five years Jones valley. too. may claim that 1t has but one fly where there were five in the wear 1910.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-06-26

From the Charleston News and Courier.
 Birmingham has just e.ected mayor. His name is Culpepper Exum and he used to live in Charleston That however, is not the reason why the people of Birmingham chose him as the executive head of their municipal government. MT. Exum was elected, and elected after an exciting contest. because the citizens who voted for him were convinced that he was tae best possible man for the place. Br- mingham is a great and growing town. It has done wonders Tn the 25 or 30 years of it's existence and it nas gone ahead amazingly, largely because whenever there was vacancy to be filled the men upon whom rested tire responsibility of filling it sought for the logical man regardless of where he was to be found, whether in Blr- mingham, or whether in Kansas, or whether in South Carolina. The Ala bama city has captured some of our finest young men during the last 15 or 20 years, but they are beginning to come back home now, many of tn em, and Birmingham is finding the task of turing men away from Charleston or from other South Carolina cities more and more difficult. Our own peo- pie are learning at last that their best opportunities are right here at home. Nevertheless, if we are to develop as we should we must learn the Birming- ham lesson and when we need a man to do any given work we must get the man best equipped for that work, wh ether he be found in Charleston or in Houston, in Jersey City or in Rirminehan
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-06-26
WHAT HE WANTED TO KNOW

From the Boston Journal.
 Telephone girls are used to being called up to give the correct time of day; to be- ing called down by the man in hurry for reporting that the number he calls does not answer when he Is "sure some one is awaiting beside the phone at the other end for his signal, but a Maiden telephone girl has one on them all when it comes to being bureau of information. Last Sunday this call came to the Maiden switchboard:
 Say, operator, my wife has gone away and left me to cook the Sunday dinner. l have got along right except for the spin ach, but that's got my goat, and I can't even find a recipe book. How do you cook the blamed stuff"
 It wasn't exactly telephone business, but he got the directions Out In Maiden there is some woman who is extolling the virtues of her husband as a cook, and the recipient of the praise isn't saying much.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-06-26
 Important LegiSlatiOn of the Session

\ remarkable session of Congress has been rounded up. Its record in the pas sage of great bills is remarkable. and its Big Four stands perhaps without a par Alle1 The railroad rate bill, the admis- sion of two states, the establishment of postal savings banks, and the power to withdraw public lands for conservation purposes, are each and all far-reaching and important measures. Each and all gre laws today, and each and all were supported in both houses regardless of party lines.
 While the session will receive praise for the passage of these four great meas ures yet some of its acts, at least of emission, will subject it to criticism Congress refused to pass the administra- tion anti-injunction bill, which would have brought relief to the states from the acts of federal judges. It emasculated the campaign publicity bill until 1t Is we'll nigh valueless. for no report of cam
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-06-26
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Regarding the Art of Composition

Schools or chairs of journalism never appealed to me" said a man who had once been a successful newspa- per writer. There is such d thing as the technique of writing but il comes of experience rather than from text books. In one or more American col- leges there is, l believe, an attempt to teach journalism, but l cannot lm- agine how any practical results would be derived from such teaching. As a matter of course the well equipped editorial or essay writer must have quick perception, the critical faculty and a good education but his power of expression is acquired, in great measure, at least, by paying close at tention to the style of standard auth ors.
 Recently a young woman of bril- liant mind and literary taste asked me to tell her what she should do to improve her manner of composition. My reply was in substance what l have just been saying.
 since then I picked up copy of The Worlds Work and found in 1t a letter from Miss Helen Keller to blind boy in which the gifted lady discusses this matter from my point of view. The blind boy had asked Miss Keller for advice as to how he might become a writer. She says, among other true things, No one can be taught to write. One can learn to write If he has it in him; but he does not learn from a teacher, counsel Tor, or adviser. No education, however careful and wise, will furnish talent It only gives material to one who has talent to work with. If I could ex- plain the process and command the secrets of this strange, elusive fac ulty, the first thing I sh ould do would be to write the greatest novel or the century, an epic. and a volume of sonnets thrown in Miss Keller then goes on to say of successful authors, that so far as she knew one fact Is common to them all. Tn their youth she says, they read good books and began writing in simple way
 T will conclude this little talk by calling the attention of young men and women who have literary aspirations to Herbert Spencers essay on the Phil osophy of Style The eminent English man points out plainly that the art of writing is not taught in q technical way. But his treatment of this theme is decidedly helpful
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-06-26
Signs of PrOsperity

"No matter how it may be in other cities or throughout the country in gen. eral, business conditions in Birmingham are excellent" said Leo K. Steiner, the banker.
 "The vast expenditures which the United States Steel corporation are mak- ing here on new construction would alone put a great deal of money into circula- ton, but in addition to what the corpor- ation is doing, many other concerns are making improvements on a big scale, and in the aggregate the amounts run high up into the millions. This summer will prob ably be the most prosperous in Birming. hams history.
 "One of the many evidences of the broadening out of investment capital is the fact that large eastern companies with money to lend-companies that rep resent-have instructed me to offer loans on theatre property and hotel property. During the past 10 or 15 years none of the companies for which I am agent would lend here on the class of property referred to This new departure, therefore, is sig nificant and very gratifying
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-06-26
Baldwin Smiths Legacy to Cornell

Goldwin Smith, author, editor and phi losopher, who died recently at an ad- vanced age in Toronto. Canada, had mar rIed a wealthy Canadian lady. When she died the former professor of history Al Cornell university became a millionaire. He left practically all his fortune to that university, although he was an English man who had been a professor at OK ford.
 But MT. Smith WAS a very broad Eng lishman. He regarded the United States as Englands greatest achievement, and to the day of his death he favored the union of Canada and the United States.
 The heouest of his fortune to Cornell university is not therefore surprising. In making the bequest he states in his will that he desires to show his attach ment as an Englishman Ito the union of the two branches of our race on this con- tinent with each other and with their common mother His heart was true to the last to the great English race.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-06-26

TN the closing days of Congress, Pres
 ident Taft, by the use of the lash of office, succeeded in driving through the session many of those things he set out to do.
 He displayed a nerve which few people thought he possessed. He adopted tbe Rooseevlt tactics with the big stick and all.
 He also placed the republican party in an exceedingly embarrassing position, making it almost certain that the demo- crats will carry the House of Representa- tives in the November elections by a large majority. This past Congress has been the most extravagant in the history of the government. It has appropriated about sS5,OOO,OOo more than the last Con gress. It has distributed the pie of ap- rroprialions everywhere and has gone mad in the expenditure of money.
 Even Senator Aldrich's statement that the expenses of the government were $500, GOO annually more than necessary had no effect. and instead of cutting down expenditures they have been increased in every direction.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-06-26

In the division of spois however, the republicans nave given the democrats some show, and Alabama has done re- markedly well in what it has secured for river and harbor improvements and for public buildings
 Birmingham gets s2Oo,oOO to buy a site for public building. and will in the next Congress probably get from ss0o,0oo to sl,OO0Ooo for the erection of a building. Birmingham needs it. It has far out grown it's present postoffice building and must have a larger and better one for the governments business.
 There has been some talk among a few real estate owners that $20O,000 is not suf- fcient to buy a proper site While real estate values are rapidly increasing in Birmingham. certainly the property hold CTS in the section upon which the eovern- ment desires to build will not try to pre- vent, by excessively high prices, the con- struction of great and modern bl,iIdine here.
 Birmingham is going ahead at a won. derful pace. 1t is true, but we should mt endeaVor to put up real estate prices too
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-06-26
ON NAGGING

From Harper's Bazar
 My son taught me a lesson on the subject of "nagging" when he was but four years old, and one that I have never forgotten. He had been guilty of a small misdemeapor and had stried to wriggle out of it by not telling the exact truth. I gave him a mild spank ing; and, as has always been my cus- tom, talked the matter over afterward. I began by saying, Now, Robert, if you had told me the truth, I should not have punished you"
 He stood before me scraring one foot along the carpet, and he looked up at me and said. What would you have done?" and answered, q should have only talked to you" We'll" ha drawled, how long would you have talked?"
 He is big boy in high school now, but when times arise requiring a rep- rimand, and I get started, I still hear that little voice, How long would you have talked?" and I go right to the point and say what I have 10 say on the subject. But, in the boys own lan- guage, "cut it short" and never re- fer to 1t again unless it is absolutely necessary
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-06-26
CENSUS TAKING IN CHINA

From the North China Herald.
 Two magistrates of Soochow, China. saw trouble two weeks ago in the towns to the south of Soochow The disturb ances were caused by the census takers.
 The country people say that their names are being taken for the building of the new railways; that each crosstia requires that a name be placed beneath it and the person whose name is thus used dies at once.
 In one town five persons are said to have died immediately after their names were taken. The mob forced one un- fortunate magistrate to issue a guaraa. tee, stamped with his official seal, that no one in this village would die within ten years.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-06-26
Close Early on Saturdays

'T was pleased to hear the announce ment that Loveman, Joseph & Loeb and A. Kaufman & Co. will close their big stores at l o'clock on Saturdays during the remainder of the summer,'' said a well-known citizen.
 This. of course. is purely humane movement in the right direction, for to close the doors of the big establishments for nine hours on a Saturday means to sacrifice a business, in volume, of no small proportion. Then Saturday Is gen. timely a holiday and certainly more to be appreciated than the closing on iany other day. These hard-working men and women are able to enjoy a real holiday from Sat urday noon until Monday, giving them an opportunity to go out of town, or go on little neighboring trips, which are real rest and recreation
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-06-26

paign contributions need be made under
 1t until 90 days have elapsed after an election. It neglected. too. to pass a
 bureau of health bill and 1t refused to
 provide new governments for Alaska and the Panama zone.
 The House did, however, curb the rule of Speaker Cannon. and 1t did provide rule that will hereafter prevent the smothering of bills in committee rooms whenever a clear majority of the House votes otherwise Popular government has supplanted autocratic rule, and this Is q gain that should not be undervalued.
 All in all it has been a remarkable session, largely because of the rise of and the close working har. mony established by tho democrats and the insurgents. The standpat machine lost its cogs, and legislation was con- ducted in American rather than in Rus sian fashion in the popular branch of Congress. Speaker Reed set up the au- way back in 1880. and it lasted down to the days of Joseph c. Cannon, when 1t was abolished by the joint ac- tion of democrats and insurgents. To these allies the people are largely In debted for the benefcent measures os the session,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-06-26
OLD AGE

By w. F. H. Lecky Now the solemn shadows iengthen,
 Lifes long day is well nigh done, Impulse fails and habits strengthen,
 Pleasures vanish one by one. Feebly OCT the dark ming dial
 Parting rays their image fling; Times of triumph. times of trial,
 Lose their rapture, lose their sting. How much now appears unreal
 Tn the past that stirred us so: Pinings for the high ideal
 Passions dreams, ambition's glow: All life's aims grow dinner. fainter.
 With a languid calm decay, Fading as the mighty painter
 Shades the scene with twilight gray. Fancy dies. Illusions follow.
 Love lasts best. but not it's bloom And the gayest laugh sounds hollow.
 Echoed from an p'ning tomb. Soon the past holds all our treasure.
 All that childless age loves best. Young men still may live for pleasure
 Old men only ask for rest
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-06-26
HUNTER AND HUNTED
From the London Telegraph.

From the London Telegraph.
 A near-sighted sportsman strolled into a little hotel on the shores of Loch Car ron and complainngly said: Just seel a seal, shot at 1t three times and missed 1t each time"
 At dinner an hour later he sat next to a tourist who had bandage around hJs head.
 man.
 Accident growled the other At tempted murder, you mean. I was having a bath about an hour ago when soms lunatic with a gun fired at me three times from the shore and shot part of my ear off don't know why such ami mals are allowed out without lcense.' =
 Then silence reigned supreme.