davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-25

i90s. 1906 and 1904. His vote was
 4s,noo less than Bryan's in that state
 two years ago. It is such facts as
 these that lead the St Louis Globe Democrat to declare that the country is still full of republicans and that there is a reasonable probability thas all these republicans will go to the polls in 1912.n
 It is not plain that an active com- paign will be carried on under Hughes or some similar leader to induce the holters and absentees to go to the polls in 1912? All know they could not be called out in a Taft campaign, and there will therefore be no Taft cam paign. The democrats must get ready to carry New York and Indiana against an insurgent leader. It can be done, but 1t cannot be done by ignoring the importance of two states that will unit edly cast at least 60 electoral votes. or 8 bout one-quarter of the number neces- sary to a choice.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-25
4 BeautifuI Custom

"Christmas cards, instead of going out of fashion, are more in vogue now thap ever" said a citizen, 'and I am glad to see that the custom is spreading.
 ''When the Christmas card was first in- troduced I looked upon it as one of those trivial devices that would have a run for year or two and then pass out. But I have come to appreciate the card bearing the happy legend, Merry Christmas,' and every one I receive makes me glad.
 Christmas gifts for the little ones there must always be; and lovers will al- ways be expected to make Christmas presents. There are some other classes, too, that are naturally entitled to Christ mas remembrance. but as 8 general prop osition the Christmas card is the thing. It conveys sentiment and makes the re- ceiyer feel that he is kindly remembered
 From an artistic point of view there has been a marked improvement in the cards this Christmas Of the eight or ten have received all have been more or less artistic, and one in particular I Thought really beautiful This latter card came from clergyman and is artistic enough to frame. It came in an envelope under a 2-eent stamp and yet the entire cost was perhaps not over cents. Yes, like the Christmas card idea"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-25
Christmas Weather

saturday was quite a different day from Christmas eve one year ago." said man who watches weather conditions last night.
 christmas eve a year ago was one If the most miserably sloppy and dis agreeable days that could be imagined. It rained a cold, sloppy drizzle all day. The streets were in a clammy slush and shoppers were greatly handicapped. Merchants also suffered from the se- we're weather conditions.
 "All the efforts put forth to get the people to shop early for Christmas does not seem to relieve the rush on the eve of Christmas day. It is always the biggest day for shoppers and clerks and shopkeepers are usually worn out at the end of the long day and night.
 ''This was a most ideal Christmas eve day and the streets were crowd ed with shoppers until late in the night. There was also much merrymaking on the streets"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-25
~sTRoNG, ON ETIQUETTE

From the New York Morning Telegraph.
 "Theyre having a lot of fun about this noiseless soup spoon, aren't they?" said 9 Chicago man in a Broadway cafe last night. He was dining with a New York friend.
 Indeed they are," replied the man ocross the table.
 Well" continued the Chicago man. fit is really needed-no joke. Almost any where you go to eat you will hear people getting away with soup. If such spoon has really been invented it twill be a great thing"
 That's right
 Honestly" said the Chicago man, tits deplorable how ill-mannered some people are when they eat soup"
 And then he elevated neat little DOT lion of mashed potato to his mouth on his knife
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-25
OUR OWN MINsTRELs

From the Chicago Tribune.
 "Mlstah Johnsing, kin yo' tell me de diff f'unce tween a lawyer addressin' a jury. an de scuse a man gives his wife wen he comes home late I'm de club?'
 "No George, I give that one up. What IS the difference between lawyer ad- dressing a jury and the excuse a man gives his wife when he comes home late from the club?"
 De one stands to reason an de 'uddah dout
 Ladies and gentlemen, the silver voiced tenor, Prof. Heeza Wripper, will now sing the popular sentimental ballad, When Laura Jean Libbey Was Young and Tender"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-25
BY MARY GARDEN

From the Louisville Courier-Journal.
 Miss Mary Garden, at a tea in her apartment at the St. Regis, said, apropos of Christmas.
 American girls don't give such inti- mate gifts to their young men as they used to do. By intimate gifts I mean toilet things, you know-hair brushes, razors, etc.
 "A friend of mine one winter refused to marry a young lawyer.
 " Is this the lawyer asked, 'hnal?'
 Absolutely final said the girl.
 'T1e rose and took up his hat and stick.
 Then, he said, there is but one more thing to ask
 "Well, what is that?' said she
 Do you desire me- said the young lawyer, to return those black satin sus- penders by mail, or will you have them noW?n
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-25
THE DOCTOR AT HOME.

From Iffe.
 My dear" says the doctor to his wife, who is cuddling their new boy, you should not feed the baby oftener than every three hours. you should not take 1t up every time 1t cries, 1t should sleep practically all the time. it should not. be shown to everyone who calls. your mother and father should not be permitted to handle it, you should not chuck it under the chin that way, it should sleep in room without heat and with the windows open its clothing should be simple-none of those lacy. embroidered things-and- and"
 'Humph!" interrupted his wife. You go and tell that stuff to people that pay you s5 visit! don't want any of your old advice about this baby"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-25
DEFINING A PHENOMENON

From Tit-Bits.
 A workman, endeavoring to explain to one of his mates what a phenomenon was. made the following attempt:
 Its like this: Suppose you were to go out into the country and see a field of thistles growing"
 Yes assented his friend.
 Well. that would not be a phenome- nonr'
 ''No. that's quite clear" agreed the other man.
 But suppose you were to see a lark sing away up in the sky"
 Yes"
 Well. that would not be a phenome- nonr
 NO. that also seems clear"
 But imagine there is a bull in the field"
 Yes" his friend could imagine that. Even that would not be a phenome- non"
 NO"
 But now, Bill look here. Suppose you saw that bull sitting on them this ties whistling like lark-well, that would be a phenomenon
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-25
Baltimore's Notification

The Notification gathering of demo- cr,+s at Baltimore on January IT has been largely overshadowed by the eau cus of all members-elect called by Chairman Lloyd of the democratic con rrcssional committee. The latter is to be held January 1s in Washington.
 No harm. can come from a gather ing that is for jubilation only It is elHays well to jubilate, and no amount of joility can interfere with democratic nlans or democratic popular sentiment. There need be no fear that the Bal t.,nore gathering will have anything sinister up its sleeve. It will jollify but not bind anybody.
 The caucus of the following Thurs day at Washington will, however, deal with the tariff and the rules of the House. It will not jollify at all be- cause 1t will be busy in giving shape to the popular will expressed in the November election. And no better lot of delegates could be selected than those that the people had elected to represent them in Congress.
 The caucus of January 19 will be Q historic body. It will be a caucus that has important business to transact It will be ! caucus that has the making of democratic president in it's hands, the House are shaped and tariff re- vision started will enable q vast num- Ter of voters to determine which party will suit tn em best in 1912. There will, we may be sure, nothing reao tionary in the caucus of January 19. It will keep step with public sentiment. It will endeavor no doubt to lead the vast procession that will march to the polls in 1912 determined to seduce the cost of living and to destroy in this coun- try one-man rule under any and all circumstances. The voters of last No vember decreed the destruction of Can nouism and Aldrichism and that is the task before the caucus of January 19.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-25
DID YOU KNOW

From Scraps.
 Window glass was first used in modern times in 1857.
 There are, in different parts of the world, altogether about 200 active vol canoes.
 Australia is 25 times as large as the United Kingdom.
 The worlds coal mines yield 4OO,0o ,oOo tons of coal every year.
 The average age at which women mary in England is 23is years.
 miles high It is the highest mountain in the world
 Herrings from the greatest harvest of the ocean. More herrings are eaten than any other fish.
 A pinch of borax stirred into fresh milk will keep it for some time, and also pre- vent the cream turning sour.
 Nearly two-thirds of the crime in Lon don is perpetrated between D.. m. on Saturdays and a. m. on Mondays. There are several places in London where preachers can buy sermons printed. They cover all subjects, and can be had for every season. sst . The craving for tobacco is decreased after a smoker has climbed to great height. There are annually killed in Africa a minimum of 65,000 elephants, yielding a quantity of raw ivory. the selling price of which Is $4250o00. s.sa The only two foods which contain all l the substances necessary to human lire are said to be milk and the yolk of eggs.
 A man can live in health on these two foods. M ,. Es
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-25

day talks.
 It but shows the growth of Birmingham and of Alabama. It but shows what 1t accomplished by looking upon the rising sun, by believing in the good, and de- veloping the good things which nature has given to us.
 It was never intended that man should sit down and nope and wonder why he had not done well. Be he of trade, me- chanics, merchandise, machinery or what not, he was intended to do something. He might think it out, and have others to do 1t. or he might make 1t himself; but man was intended to make good in one way or another.
 In Birmingham such has been the case. The good ones have made good. Others have trailed along and done well. All who try can do well.
 The coming year promises all sorts of good things here. Besides the new hotel
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-25
TT SEEMED FAMILIAR

From the National Monthly.
 "It must have been frightful,' said Mrs Bossim to her husband, who was in the earthouake "Tell me, what was your first thought when you awakened in your room at the hotel and heard the alarm. '
 My first thought was of you an- swered MT. Bossim. "Yes. First thing l knew a vase off the mantel caught me on the ear; then a chair whirled in my direc- ton, and when I jumped to the middle of the room four or five books and a framed picture struck me all at once"
 Even after saying that, he affected to wonder what made her so angry for the remainder of the evening.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-25
Peculiarly Southern

The south is the only section of this country, and in fact the only part of the world, so far as I know. where Christ mas-the great festival of the Nativity is ushered in with powder and the blow ing of tin horns and all sorts of ex- ecrable noises,'' said a citizen last night.
 Tn pushing my way through the crowded streets I have encountered many white rowdies with tin horns and bottles os whisky. I have lived in England and in various parts of America, and only in the south have found Christmas eve turned into a saturnalia. It is no worse ill Birmingham than in Atlanta, Nash vile and Richmond. But why this mode of celebration should be tolerated in the south 1 cannot understand -
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-25
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
SONG FOR A DARK DAY.

SONG FOR A DARK DAY. Full dreary glooms the world without, Where leaden skies are weeping And mournful winds do roam about, Their restless courses keeping. But cheerly glows the fire within,
 While up my chimney leaping; What hoi my book, we'll now begin, Nor reck of shadows creeping. A smoke? An, yes; 1t soothes the soul And makes ones troubles lighter; And when blue pillows upward roll, Somehow, the fire seems brighter. The yesterday was sad, you say?
 Well, how about tomorrow? A dauntless heart will still be gay And trouble never borrow!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-25
Well Predicts Harmon

'It is my judgment and forecast" said Marcus Veil yesterday, that Governor Harmon of Ohio will be nominated for President by the democrats in 1912, and elected. President Taft will undoubtedly be nominated by the republicans if he wants it, and will be defeated by Har- mon just as Harrison was defeated by Cleveland in 1892 Harmon is the most available candidate. He will be sup ported by the business men all over the country. He is safe. conservative man, who will be supported by the democrats and independent democrats and inde- pendent republicans. He will carry Ohio. his own state. It will be easier for him to carry New York, New Jersey and Con- necticut than any other candidate be- cause he has made no enemies in the democratic ranks in those states. He has an excellent chance to carry Maine, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. He will carry the solid south, including West Virginia, Maryland and Delaware, just as Cleveland did in 1892.
 "In the middle west he will carry In diana sure. and has an excellent chance to carry Illinois. He will not need all the states mentioned, and I am not in- clined to chase after rainbows in the balance of the middle west or far west. There is nothing doing there.
 New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Indiana and Ohio including the solid south, will land Harmon in the presiden- tial chair, and he will have votes to spare even without Ohio."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-25
THE EARuHOUsE OF LIGNY

From the Westminster Gazette.
 The historic farmhouse of Ligny. where Napoleon won his very last bat tie against. Butcher, two days. before his final defeat at Waterloo, has been pur- chased at a heavy price by local Catholic priest. The bullet-riddled building was about to be demolished when the Ligny cure intervened to res- cue it from disappearance
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-25
A FABLE OF FLAMES.

There was once a man and woman who loved and were married.
 we will love forever.'' said the man.
 To keep the new hearth warm eacn brought a flame. And the mans flame was a mighty, roaring tongue of fire. But the woman's was smaller, steady and luminous.
 These they placed upon the hearth.
 Look" said the man. "how much DE ger mine is than yours It win give more heat and last longer"
 The mans flame was crimson IL hckeo out savagely with many tongues, ana II gave out a smoke that all might see. The woman's was white and clear; ana as there was no smoke none knew of 1t.
 Mine will burn without any care said the man.
 But the woman tended hers daily.
 As time went on the mans flame Va ried Now it scared up nightly, again 1t died down almost to extinction. The woman's burned alike, day and night, summer and winter. Yet the man cared not to add new fuel to his, nor to remove the choking ashes nor to set the draughts eright But all these things the woman did-yea even to the neglecting of other duties. S l, And the man warmed his hands at his flame when he could. and went cold when he could not But the woman kept
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-25
AS A FAVOR

From the California Christian Advo- cate.
 A tramp called at the house of q gentleman and said:
 i've walked many miles to see you, sir. because people told me that you was very kind to poor chaps like me- "Oh, they said so, did they?"
 "Yes, sir. That's why I came"
 And you are going back the same wayo"
 Yes, sir
 Then, in that case. will you be good enough to contradict this rumor?"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-25
PRACTICAL JOKING IN KANSAS

From the Kansas C1ty star.
 Jokesmithing as reported by the Liberty Advance: "A bunch of pratical jokers put a live one in a coffin and started Grip Good to the cemetery with 1t, at Excelsior Springs. one day last week and Grip was almost scared stiff when the supposed cadaver rose in the box and asked him to drive gently. Later, he eeigned illness, and the aforesaid prac- tical jokers sat up with him all night and had a consultation of physicians in the hope of saving his life. Honors were even when Grip arose and sauntered to the breakfast table and devoured good square neal
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-25
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR

From the New York Pres. 4 cold friend is often the most trust worthy. 70 be marriage.
 loud voice often has great success al passing itself off for brains.
 A man could hold woman's admir- 1ton forever with compliments, where mere devotion to her would fail utterly
 Some men act as if they thought they had so many brains they could give all of them away and be smarter than other people.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-25
THE FARMER.

THE FARMER. Little strips of bacon And a little egg, Make the mighty dollars Roll into his keg.
 St. Louis Times.
 THE WAITER. Little tips of silver Dropped into his hand Make this for the waiter A mighty pleasant land.
 Youngstown Telegram. THE YOUMERIST. Little tinkly verses, Ready for the shears, Help the lazy jokesmith. Through this vale of tears.
 Toledo Blade. THE DEBUTANTE. Little conversations, Whispered mid the flow'rs, Smooth the little damsel's Path to Hymen's bow'rs. Spokane Spokesman- Review.
 TODAY. Little Christmas presents, Gathered from a tree, Fill the hearts of children Brimming full of glee.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-25
New York and Indiana

President Taft will not be able to overcome the gigantic error of his pub lie career. When he neglected to take c stand against the special interests in tariff revision, capping the climax It Winona. he put himself out of touch with the rank and file and he cannot recover lost ground. He lacks mag netism and the strength he has for feited he cannot recover. The insur- gents are organizing and they intend to control the next republican national convention, and not a. man of them will support MT. Taft for another term. He is at heart a standpatter and always has been. The more prob able insurgent nominee Is Charles Ev- ane Hughes, at present an associate .-...-.s o1 ene United States supreme court
 When this probability Is foreseen and weighed all democrats will at once say, We must carry New York and Indiana" So indeed we must in order to succeed and the situation in New York should be studied. MT Dix was elected governor by 67,000 plurality Chanler did in 1908, or MT. Hearst fin 1906 or Mr. Herrick in 1904. Tn other words, MT. Dix was elected ,al though he received fewer votes than did defeated democratic candidates in
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-25
EMBARRASSING.

"A prominent prohibtionist from a dry town is being treated for a nervous af- lection of the right eye"
 How Is he troubled?'
 "He can't keep his right eye from winlxing and every time a bootlegger sees him wink, the bootlegger slips him a bottle of whisky"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-25
Alabama'S Biz Twelve
The census lines up the leading

The table IS nnal ana there IS iio aP- peal from it. The big dozen is named, and Tanadega lacks about 25o of getting into the list. Whether Talladega can outgrow by 1920 Florence is doubtful, It certainly will not climb over New Deca- tur. Selma's rank is threatened by An niston, Bessemer, Gadsden and Tusca- loosa, all of which are in the mining and industrial district An open Warrior may work wonders in Tuscaloosa, and so may an open Coosa in Gadsden It is not easy to look ahead 10 years, but it Is pretty safe to predict galns in the towns in this district.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-25

Billy Lorimer stood there so innocent while the jackpotters were buying seat for him in the Senate. He was innocent and he could not be presumed to know wha. others were doing for him with their own money. No one in history stands so markedly innocent
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-25

OF this bright Christmas morning no one of Birmingham can com
 plain but of himself.
 While the year might not have been so good it has not been so bad.
 There has been showing of tre- mendous increase in population. And there has been showing of tremeno- ous increase in business. Look at the bank statements. Every bank in Bir- mingham shows increased deposits and increased business, and one bank alone will probably have-a full ten million dol heralded.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-25
MOSTLY HOLES.

"Gladys Maud lives in a town where laundry work is done for so much a pound.'
 Yes"
 But the laundrymen draw the line at peek-a-boo shirt-waists. It would take at least forty of those skimpy things 10 weigh pound"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-25
ToIstoy and the Kreutxer,

T read Tostoy's earlier novels when they were first published and liked most of them, but I have cared for nothing of his since reading the Kreutzer," said a lover of Beethoven's music. After read ing the book whose title was derived from one of the greatest works ever composed, I
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-25
MANY TO SEARCH.

i've just been reading about a man who had forty pockets in his clothes.' Did he have a wife?"
 q don't know.'
 If he had a wife, she might reasonably complain of being overworked.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-25
IN HOTEL HOBBIES
The Iniversal Chrlstmns Hyrln

The Universal Christmas Hymn
 On Christmas day "Adeste Fideles" is the one hymn that will be heard alike in all the churches. In the Catholic church it is sung in Latin, while in Protestant churches t is sung in the vernacular In English this famous hymn is known by the first words of the translation, 70, Come All Ye Faithful But no mat ter whether it is sung in the Latin. the English or the German, the same hymn tune is heard.
 The Latin words have come down to us from the far past, and the present mus ical setting is itself venerable with years. The tune was composed by the Rev. J. Reading, an Anglican clergyman, in. 15sS, and is heard today in all lands and among all Christian sects.
 A writer in the Alabama Catholic of deles'':
 Tt is in many respects unique in Chris tian hymnology. More than any other church song it blends prophecy, history, prayer, exultation and praise If it were printed side by side with the nicene creed it would be found an astonishing versl- fcation of that august prose. Every line of the Adeste is a casket of faith and love. Upon it's cadences many hours must have been spent for the crystaliza- ton of sublime truth into crisp and dag zling syllables. .Adeste, approach; fideles,' ye faithful 1aeti joyful .trl- umphantes.' victorious; 'venite,' come; 'doremus. let us adore; Dominium. the Lord"
 In the larger Catholic churches where boys choirs are trained to sing all the special hymns, "Adeste Fideles' is sung as @ processional. In non-liturgical churches 1t is usually sung by the con- gregation.
 Here in Birmingham much fine Christ mas music will be heard. One of the exceptionally good ehoirs is that of the South Highlands Presbyterian church, and it has an admirably selected and stirring service of song for Christmas morning worship, which begins at Il clock. "Adeste Fideles'' will be sung by a chorus as the offertory selection.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-25

The revelation in Mexico is causing President Diaz to set up and take notice, for he has driven all newspaper corre- srondents out of his army The inference is irresistible