davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-04

From the New York Sun.
Where is the Tar Heel school of poetry
now? Find Charlotte, its university, on
the isopoetical charts if you can. Ala
bama and Montgomery have become the
navel of world song. The Hon. Stokes
Walton dedicates ito the shade of my
(his) noble ancestor Izaak Walton, THE
Hard Times Edition by the Bard of Ca
MILL" 1t contains prose, or something
as nearly resembling it as Mr.. Walton's
constant canorous wing and foot beats
allow him to write, but its glory is in its
verse. Much must not be quoted here in
the absence of special permission from a
work which no library can be without,
yet who can help borrowing a stanza
or two from the remarkable lines ITO
Virgilene':
What sweet pleasant smile on her lips
When Virgilene passed down the street
scattering sunbeams like chips,
And turning all bitters to sweet
What a fragrance left she in her wake
When Virgilene passed down the street
Like the waves of the cane in the brake,
So graceful, SO grand. so complete"
Vergilan as we'll as Virgilenian. Is there
anything in PolyOlbion Drayton that
surpasses the bard's tribute to "the Old
Seaboard?"
1.-The old Seaboard called S. A. L.
From Norfolk and Portsmouth to Jack
sonVille;
Connections at Washington with the B.
& o.
Birmingham, Montgomery to the seasho'
Prom River Junction in the Land of
Flowers
To Boca Grande thru palmetto she scours,
Tallahassee, Monticello to st. Mark,
Wacissa, Drifton down to Stark.
Sarasota, Braidentown and the Man
itee;
Lake Charm and Tampa, then to Cedar
Key
Lake City, Live Oak, Ellaville and Mad
ison,
Yulee. Wannee south to Ellenton."
Honor the most lofty poet, and that
proud city whereof he sings:
Montgomery the fig tree city
With beautiful magnolias so tall,
And such grand old oaks: what pity,
Her dogs outnumber them all"
The numbers of her swan will make the
world forgive her dogs.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-04
ALABAMA SANITY

From the Louisville Courier-Journal.
When Alabama manifested symptoms
of temporary mental alteration some
time ago the Courier-Journal confidently
predicted a return of sanity.
The constitutional prohibitionists," So
called because their aims were in OPPOSE
ton to the spirit of all constitutions, had
their day, under the rule that allots to
every dog a period for bowling. Pertur-
baton among the mentally balanced was
marked. Prominent citizens of the state
addressed communications to the Courier
Journal upon the alarming conditions pre-
vailing They were assured in these col
umns that, notwithstanding the excite
ment, there was every prospect of an
early triumph of sanity over wild fanati-
cism for the simple reason that men of
sound mind in Alabama were in the ma
jority. And all that was predicted has
come to pass. constitutional prohibi-
tion," which aimed at striking the locks
and bars from the doors and turning the
police, detectives and deputy sheriffs into
every home to run roughshod over fami-
lies. ran its suicidal course In very
short time. Its resuscitation is not
among the possibilities. Notwithstanding
the axiom that all things are possible,
and most things probable. in politics.
The bill that is now most popular in the
Alabama Legislature is county unit local
option measure providing for high IL
cense. Time, If it is enacted, will prove
how far it is effective in regulating the
liquor traffic and wedding out the more
disrcputable saloons. That 1t Will wholly
solve the problem is not to be expected.
But it is preferable to constitutional
prohibition which prohibits the enjoy
ment of constitutional rights. 1t Is pref
cradle to any kind of prohibition which
merely prohibits the state and munich
palities from participating in the profits
of a liquor traffic it does not suppress.
The death of the constitutional prohi-
bition" party in Alabama was proof of
enliehtenment. Its victory would have
placed the state In the list of unenight-
ened sections of the civilized world But
1t would not have made 1t impossible to
buy drink In Alabama, because the
laws it regarded as the solution of the
problem could not have been enforced.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-04

herself stood up Immediately half
dozen Johnnies rose and offered the young
lady a seat which she very properly de-
clined, thereby teaching these young men
a very salutary lesson in good manners.
lone of the greatest and most unexpect-
ed compliments l ever received was from
a woman somewhat similar to the one of
whom ! speak and under somewhat SIM
liar conditions. Courtesy takes a thou
sand forms. and is THE real distinguishing
mark of the lady or gentleman. The
old, the feeble, the poor are the special
objects upon which we should bestow our
courtesy. This should be taught children
so that they will practice it as men and
women"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-04
Alabama'S Public Schools

Alabama needs the right of local taxa
ton for her public schools. There should
be local option in the matter of schools,
as in the greatly agitated question of
wet or dry Congressman sydney j.
Bowie in one of his forceful discussions
said:
1.-THE need of Alabama today is better
educational facilities for all of its peo-
pie. Under the census of 1900 the illiteracy
of the white people of the state was
greater than in any state or territory OF
the union, except three Today, the
amount expended per capita, for educa-
ton of the school children of the state,
who are in actual attendance upon the
public schools, is less in Alabama than
in any state or territory of the union
To this statement there is no exception.
There are also fewer teachers. according
education of the United States, per 10000
school children of the state of Alabama
than in any state or territory of the
union.
"The inference drawn from these facts
is strikingly confirmed by the report of
the fourth assistant postmaster general
of the United States, to the effect that
the postal receipts, per capita, in Ala
bama are smaller than in any state or
territory of the union which is almost
an infallible index to the intelligence of
the people.
No man in Alabama, perhaps, has given
tricts more careful consideration than
Mr.. Bowie, and certainly no one has
taken broader statesmanlilse view of the
educational situation in Alabama than he.
Rural school conditions will never be
improved until counties and school dis
tricts have the right to tax themselves
for the support of their public schools.
The bill introduced in the legislature this
week seeking to submit to the voters at
the general election next year an amend
ment to section 269 of the constitution so
as to authorize and empower counties and
public school districts to levy and collect
hensive measure, and should be adopted.
1t contains the very features that The
Age Herald has long been contending for
The bill was drawn by Mr.. Bowie. and
it is believed that our leading educators
and the intelligent people of Alabama in
general will urge its passage.
AS it is now the counties are not al
lowed to assess themselves more than
mill for public schools. The proposed
amendment provides for maximum OF
mills for the county and a maximum of 5
mills for a school district. but in order
for the district or county to levy this
special tax three-ifths of the qualified
electors must vote for it, There could
be no danger, therefore, of the people
overtaxins themselves. Let us have the
right to raise revenue for the public
schools by local taxation, and within
a very few years Alabama, instead of be-
ing near the foot of the list of states in
the matter of illiteracy, would move up
and take its position with the common
wealths ranking high in intelligence and
| in the literacy of the masses
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-04
TEACHING WATERS TO WAIT

From IAN academy for Walters" in the
February Strand.
TN the British metropolis there are
three schools for walters which at
1 tempt to teach the rudiments of
what is, on the whole, a difficult and
not unremunerative art. and to one OF
these academies a writer in the Feb
ruary Strang recently paid a visit.
In long room occupied by three
square tables. with mirror at one
end and a pair of baize-covered push
young men are listening to the ex-
hortations of a professor.
THE first thing you've got to do
is to be Clean" he says; 1.-The second
thing is to be quick. and the third
thing is to be graceful. By graceful I
don't mean you've got to initiate the
Apollo Belyedere or a dancing master,
but you mustn't be awkward in your
movements. And you've got to have
good memory. There's nothing an
noys a customer so much as waiter
saying he forgot
And now, gents, If you'll give me
your attention, We'll begin at the be-
ginning-table laying" Forthwith a
cloth was produced and. with the as
sistance of a pupil, a demonstration
given of how a table should be laid
plates, knives, forks, and glasses
bread, salt, napkin and the rest
There are as many ways of folding
napkins as there are of cooking eggs
namely, ia; but the leading ways
recommended in the best houses are
these" Here the professor slowly per-
formed several simple feats in nap
kin-folding, after which he proceeded
I'VE now, with our kind friends as
sistance, assume that diner has sal
down. Now. of course, / needn't tell
you that diners are of various kinds
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-04
Give The Railroads Their Due

Beyond a doubt the battle of steel in
this district was fought out at Ensley
in furnaces now outgrown and out of
use. Those furnaces led the way in pro-
ducing open-hearth Steel and for while
Ensley had monopoly in the making
of open-hearth rails. Ensley did demon
strate that the best of rails could be
made from the iron of this district, and
the railroads soon used the rails until
they, too, appreciated their good quail
ties The Bessemer rails got a black eye
right here, and today no Bessemer rail
is wanted where an open-hearth rail can
be procured. The battle was fought out
at Ensley, and Mr. Ryan, vice president
of the Corona Coal and Iron company,
is certainly correct in his recent state
ments
The louisville and Nashville and the
Southern deserve beyond question credit
for aiding this district in fighting the
great battle-a battle that actually in its
results brought the Steel corporation into
this district. Give the railroads the
credit that is due them. If those fur
naces that the elder Mr.. Shook put in had
not been built this city would not hold
today 10000 contented people who have
full faith in the resources OF the distrc
and who are the neucus of valley ful
of people.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-04
ocToGENARIAN RIDES TO HOUNDS

From the New York Press.
Ono of the most interesting participants
in the Meadowbrook hunt in the coming
season will be the Hon. Mrs Colville, the
only woman SO years old anywhere in the
world who rides to hounds. This ath-
letic octogenarian is the wonder even of
the hard-riding hunting set in England.
She is as agile horsewoman as many
girl one-fourth her age, and the older
she gets the more she seems to enjoy the
dangerous sport in which she excels. Mrs.
Colville thinks nothing of a six-barred
fence or a high-stone wall, and when
il comes to water jump she is as en-
| thusiastic and skillful as any woman in
| the field She has been thrown from the
! saddle more than once in the last few
| years, but those experiences have not
| weakened her nerve, and she laughs at
the thought of coming cropper."
| Mrs. Colville, who lives in Burlington
| Hall. Burton England, and
whose son, Major General ColviIle, VINO
commanded the Guards brigade of the
British army in the Boer war, has been
| a rider from girlhood She remembers
| wildly thrilling incidents afield that &C.
| Cured when she was 16 years old, or
| even younger, and her descriptions of eX-
citing hunts arouse the admiration OF
veterans in the Atherstone hunt, of which
she is a member She sits in the saddle
with what experts call "a close, straight
seat" and controls her horse with the
| l:ghtest of light hands
| Amazon, Mrs. Colville's favorite mare,
| is 16 hands high.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-04
TACTFUL MIR. CARNEGIE

From the New York Sun.
Mr. Andrew Carnegie thus significantly
invited touch at the New York univer-
sity yesterday:
IF some beggar comes around with the
proper insinuating manner, as ] believe
DR.. Biggs could most successfully as
sumo, l assure you that / will give the
matter very careful attention"
Mr.. Carnegie has been the Lord Rector
Of Scottish university. He is the pos
SCISSOR of many honorary degrees. But that
little sentence in It's grace and tact. is
more calculated than anything else in his
| life to show his reverence for scholar
ship and scientific research.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-04
RECITING HIS OWN VERSE

From Charles Lambs Cornwall"
/ nave a vivid recollection of Words
worth. who was a very grave man, with
strong features and deep voice. He
was fond-perhaps too fond-of reciting
his own poetry, before friends and strang-
els. | was not attracted by his manner,
which was almost too solemn, but | was
deeply impressed by some of the weighty
notes in his voice. whe nhe was deliver
ing out of his oracles | remembered
the reading long afterward as one recol-
lects the roll sof the spent thunder.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-04

each of which has to have rather
different treatment. Well begin this
morning with restaurant diners The
customer arrives. If he hasn't been
previously to the cloak room, which in
this class is probable, you must bow
like this-and take his hat, coat and
umbrella, and, placing them on a chair
for moment, help him to be seated
and hand him the menu. While he
is studying the menu you dispose of
his hat and coat and return. taking up
your position on his right-like this
According to the professor, there is
much virtue in an attitude.
THE exact pose you ought to as
sumo in various circumstances is not
to be learned in day. A years study
will hardly do it. 1 know one waiter
who has made it the special duty of
a lifetime. The poses of one waiter
at a certain private hotel in the West
End make a diner forget when the
soup Is cold or the ices hot He Is SO
dignified that he actually takes his tip
with his back to the customer-quite
an, extinct fashion.
rs the dinner table d'hote or a la
carte? II 1t is table d'hote. after serv-
ing the hors de'oeuvres you ask, Thick
or clear soup, sir? Never try to be
original. There's no room for origin
atty in our vocation What we do is
the evolution of centuries-conduct in
It's relation to the inner man. l once
Know waiter who Invariably asked.
Clear or thick, sir?' but it put the Gus
tnf1 off ic
the customer asks you what Potage a
la st. German is, you tell him. be-
cause you have previously asked the
head waiter what 1t is. You always
get the menu translated beforehand
that is, If you don't happen to know
chefs French naturally" n
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-04
A Graceful Rebuke

I'm todays Hotel Lobbies' | read an
account of the society lady who gave up
her seat in a street car to the fatigued
shop girl, but l have a companion story
for that" said suburban resident yes
terday
zone evening last week the car on
which ] was riding home was pretty web
filed and several men were standing on
the platform. There were also several
society young men among the seated pas
sengers. AT point on the route an old
and poorly clad woman boarded the car
and passed up the aisle. Finding no seat
vacant, and no gentleman willing to
accommodate her, she stood and held on
to the back of the seat. Just then a
young society lady rose and insisted on
the old woman being seated whilst she
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-04
Where Cotton Is Spun aud Woven

Over one-third of the cotton mills of
part of Lancashire county and in the adj
Joining districts of Yorkshire, Cheshire
and Derbyshire, In England. In Ian
ceshire alone there are 1000 large mills,
giving employment not only to mill op-
erntives but also to dyers. printers,
builders of machinery, fni prs, pack
ers. carpenters and transportation facili-
ties. The county itself is not much larger
than Jefferson county, and it holds $780,
600 people. or about twice the population
of this state. If 1000 large mills were
scattered over Jefferson county it, too
would be filled from bound to bound with
people.
Something similar is seen in this coun-
try at Fall River and other manufacture
100000 spindles are at work in those cen
tiers, constituting a great Industry One
quarter OF England's great exports con-
sists of cotton goods, end the New Eng
land mills are enrichins its towns.
The truth is, mills are located not SC
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-04
HIS PERFECT sCoUNDREL

Runclman: Side Lights"
Thackeray' in fit of spasmodic cour-
age, painted the archetypai scoundreI
once and for all in Barry Lyndon and
he practically said the last word on the
SUBJECT; for no grave analysis, no reason
rg, can ever improve on that immortal
and most moving picture of wicked
man. Observe the masterpiece. Lyndon
goes tc another; he exposes his inmost
soul with cool deliberations and the au-
fhor's art is so consummate that we
never for a. moment sympathize with the
fiend who talks so melifuously-th mar
rat've of ill-doing unfolds itself with
all the inevitable precision of an operation
OF nature, and we see the human soul
at It's worst Many people cannot read
Barry Lyndon second time, but those
who are nervous should screw their cour-
age to the sticking place, and give grave
attention to that awful moral lesson, for
all IF us have little of Barry in our
composition.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-04
The Engineers Bill

A bill to establish a board of registra-
ton and examination for civil engineers
mining engineers and surveyors and to
regulate the practice of such engineers
will be introduced in the Legislature next
week. This bill was prepared by COM
mittee of the Alabama section of the
Engineering Association of the South. the
committee being composed of Prof. e. B.
Kay Of the University of Alabama, and E.
Francis McCrossin and C. H. Ohme of
Birmingham. The committee will proceed
tc Montgomery today and will remain
there long enough to explain the objects
and features of the measure to members
of the legislature.
Our bill relates only to engineers oc-
cupying official positions, state, county
or municipal said Mr.. McCrossin,' and
is, therefore of no direct concern to in
dustrial companies or mine operators.
But it is nevertheless a very important
measure and should be enacted into law
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-04
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES

thereby win immortality? The Gazette
says:
There Is no distinction no satisfaction,
in belonging to a fraternar society that Is
open to every conner, and in which
nomination is equivalent to an election.
The way these small private Ananias clubs
are run is a disgrace to all concerned.
One man calls another liar, and the
latter Immediately becomes charter
member of an Ananias club, and is per-
mitted to wear the regalia, and partici-
pate In the mystic rites. One result of
the prevalence of these unofficial clubs Is
the degradation of the grand old name of
liar. 1t is being shorn of its dignity.
Time was when to be a successful liar
amounted to something. Distinction in
that line meant that man possessed
many admirable qualities, including origi-
nality and initiative. No man of slug
gish mental equipment ever became
first-class liar. The word has been SO
misused and overworked that many cit
liens become incensed when referred to
publicly as liars, and some resort to v1o-
lence in their resentment. The word is
losing its proud significance, and soon
will be in the same class with ladies
and gentlemen The country needs
law prohibiting citizens from establishing
Ananias clubs without due authority from
the department of justice, or some other
bureau"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-04
SARToRIAL.

SARToRIAL.
Expensive clothes
We do not mind,
But we dislike
The noisy kind.
BY which we mean
The speckled vest
That would disturb
Great Caesars rest;
The socks of hue
So flaming bright,
The rainbow is
Outdazzled quite;
The tie that roars
Through all the crowd,
Or seems to roar,
1t is SO loud;
The trousers with
A stripe that's wide,
The ebon-hued
Crap" shooters pride;
And other duds
We shall not name,
Which put the north
Ern lights to shame.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-04

Bessemer and Birmingham will go hand
in hand as the two progressive cities of
imperial Jefferson, the biggest county in
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-04

+ Our idea of a forward person is one
who is already inquiring for 1912 auto
mobile style books.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-04

The father of Rudyard Kipling is dead.
There are critics unkind enough to say
his muse is too.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-04

The salary of the French president has
been raised. However, he didn't threaten
to quit if it wasn't
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-04

Corset coats will not make many con-
verts in Texas, Mississippi and the NIL
counties of Alabama.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-04
GENIUS NEEDED.

"Hugo's decription of the battle of
Waterloo Is a masterpiece"
Correct And the world is waiting now
for writer who can fifty describe bar
gain counter, rush.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-04
suFFRAGETTEs WEAKNESS.

SUFFRAGETTE'S WEAKNESS
"Sylvia Pankhurst can't be such a fire.
eater, after ALL
why do you think SOP
"She is said to be very fond of pie"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-04

The coronation of King George will
be a show worth seeing. We depend on
the moving-picture men.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-04

Havana is to have Jail costing $1,000
00o Every prisoner will, no doubt, de-
mand private bath.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-04

Mrs. Malaprop isn't in the same class
with the woman who thought dauphln
was some sort of a sea monster.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-04

Nat Goodwin has been warmly received
in vaudeville. He Is a much better come
dian than he is a husband.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-04

Any detonation these days Is apt to be
mistaken for Teddy breaking loose.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-04
THE BARD OF CAMILL

There is talk of laying aside heavy I'M
derwear but it Is merely talk.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-04
EXORBITANT FARES.

EAORBITANT FARES.
I'm glad we don't use taxicabs
To go to heaven in;
The wights whom fell misfortune grabs
Would never have the tin"
Birmingham Age-Herald.
But even those with lots of scads
Have oft been known to tell
The drivers of their taxicabs,
Forsooth to go to blazes
Youngstown Telegram.
OF COURSE NOT.
Mrs. Wiffle received a few friends
last evening"
'Why, there were at least 500 people
present 1t was one of the seasons
SWEETEST affairs"
mo doubt, but you don't think every
body there was a friend, do your"
ENVIOUS, PERHAPS.
AS soons a man
Acquires a roll
The world declares
He has no soul