davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-27
THE GROWING STRENGTH OF MIR
 UNDERWOOD
From the Baltimore Sun.

From the Baltimore Sun.
 Oscar w. Underwood looms up as a presidential possibility. Able, forceful, with a clean record and attractive per sonality, the only objection urged to his candidacy is that mo southern man can be elected President" His admirers con- tend that geographical position is no longer an important factor, and that the vast majority of northerners and west erners will vote for southerner as will ingly as for a man from their own sec tion. Friends of the other candidates, however, are making the most of this sectional argument.
 If Underwood were from New York or Indiana, there would be no question of his availability" and as it is, the minds of many democrats are turning toward him. Senator Bankhead states that on a recent trip north "he found many New York business men and influential demo- crats who expressed themselves in favor of our distinguished Alabamian for presi- dent" and that in Baltimore he also found strong Underwood sentiment. Everywhere he found Underwood stock flSl1lS, anu T6turlltu iloiic that, if he keeps up his splendid record in the House, nothing will stop the tide that has set in for the Alabamian as the nominee of the democratic party" r Senator Bankhead may be overly opti- mistic but it is significant that MT. Bryan considers the Underwood boom as formidable enough for him to take a shot at it in the current Commoner. MT. Bryan says "the Harmon strength shows signs of shifting to Underwood" and believes it would be easier to nominate him than to nominate Governor Harmon" as the south would naturally rally to a candi- date from that section and the northern democrats would like to give the place to a southern man. MT. Bryan attempts to check the Underwood movement by putting upon him the Wall street brand and terming him the candidate of the .'reactionaries.n But MT. Underwood s course in Congress proves that he IS not a reactionary, but distinct progress sive Careful, cautious, never radical or extreme he has led the tariff reform forces wisely and well. If in the coming Congress he confirms the impression made by his leadership in the special session. he may, indeed, be a formidable candidate, with whom the other aspir- ants must reckon.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-27
From Chambers Book of Days.

From Chambers Book of Days.
 T7HE man whose name is now the rep
 resentative of the very idea of jok-
 \ ing, Joe Miller, is said never to have uttered a joke. This reputed nero of all jokes, in reality an eminent comic actor of the earlier part of the last cen tury, was born in the year 1884; he was no doubt of obscure origin. for even the place of his birth appears to be un- known. In the year 1715 his name oc- CUTS for the first time on the bills Of Drury Lane theatre as performing the part of Young Clincher in Farquhars comedy of "The Constant Couple; or Trip to the Jubilee"
 For rather long period Joe Miller act ed as a member of the Drury Lane com pany, and, in the vacation intervals. first associated with Pinkethman and subse- quently established as an independent booth theatre manager himself. Joe ap- pears also to have been favorite among the members of his profession, and it has been handed down through tradi- tion and anecdote that he was regular attendant at the tavern known as the t'BlaclS Jack in Portsmouth street, Clare market, then a favorite resort of the performers at Drury Lane and Iincolns Inn Fields theatres and of the wits who came to, enjoy their society. It is said that at these meetings Miller was re- markable for the gravity of his de- meanor and that he was so completely innocent of anything like joking that his companions, as jest. ascribed every new jest that was made to him. Joe Millers last benefit night was April 13, 173S. He died on August 15 of the same year.
 The merry memory of the comedian, the phrase used in one of the newspaper paragraphs announcing Joe Miller's death, and the wit and hunor ascribed to him perhaps relate especially to his acting, or they would seem to contradict the tradition of his incapacity for making a joke. It was after his death, however, that he gained his fame as a jester Among tho society in which he usually mixed was a dramatic writer named John Motley, the son of a Jaeobite officer. This man was reduced to the position of living on the town by his wits, and in doing this he depended in great measure
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-27
AN ALL-soUTHERN BOGIE

From the Atlanta Constitution.
 Nationwide discussion of Oscar Under
 wood and Woodrow Wilson as presiden-
 tial possibilities discoses the fact that
 there is just one section of the country
 that takes stage fright at the sugges-
 ton of ,a southerner in this exalted ca
 pacity-and that is the south itself. The remainder of the country enthuses over the splendid accomplishments of Underwood as democratic leader of the
 House in the special session of Congress. His presidential possibilities are discussed
 in the north and east and west with se- riousness. But in the south-the section that has for years furnished the back
 bone of the democratic party, and the
 home of Underwood-ther is feeling of misgiving akin to that of a child walk ing through cemetery after nightfall.i The situation is aptly expressed by the interview given recently to the Con stitution by John L. McNamara, chair man of the executive committee of tho Cook county democracy, when. discuss ing the manner in which Underwood buked nationally, he said '"The fear expressed over MT. Underwood as candidate, growing out of the fact that he is a. southern man, is never men,
 toned in our section of the country. It surprises me, therefore, to hear misgiv- 1 ings expressed here in the south on that point" There is an accurate reflection, from an outside course, of the manner in
 which the nation at large regards Oscar 4l,.I ffnu11 V md It's amazement that the south should still harbor bogie which is an inheritance
 ,,f the Civil war.
 | President Taft, republican executive, smoke the nations voice aptly when, he elevated a southerner, demoncrat and an ex-Confederate, to the chief justice- shin of the supreme court of the unitsd States. This distinction accorded Jus flee White was final evidence of the ob- alteration of the old Civil war bogie. the entrance of the south into it's true re- standardization.
 l Yet in the case of Oscar Underwood whose statesmanship stands out as the star fact of the latest session of Congress. many southerners balk at the suggestion that the democratic nominee for Pres,- dent shall come from this side of Mascn and Dixon's line-not that they would
 not like to see il, but because they are afraid to try it.
 Fortunately. there are evidences that survival of a by-gone tradition is in it's last stages. Woodrow Wilson's tentative candidacy has met with favorable re- sponse here and there, and the other night Underwoods home town of Bir-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-27
No Interference in China

There are now 26 republics in this world, and China may, before the year is ended, become the 27th. All indications point that way. The country is large and very populous, and a speedy result may not be pos sible.
 It is reasonably well determined that China will be left to determine her own affairs. The civil war is wholly her own, and no other country will have any voice in determining it, especially if both sides continue to respect the rights of the foreigners.
 Japan favors non-intervention, and what Japan favors the other powers will naturally favor. China may not be willing to acknowledge her obliga- tions to Japan, but if Japan's fleet and army did not stand ready for ac- tion near at hand the IS provinces would not be left to determine their own affairs, for the western nations are ambitious to dominate the trade, or a portion of it, of China. As things stand the IS provinces will re- main intact. Not an inch or a port or trade right will be topped off, and the civil war will go on until I China knows what she wants. It may be constitutional monarchy or it may be republic, but whatever it is to be it will be determined by Chinamen acting without undue in- fluence from any outside power.
 If the Manchu regime is forced to abdicate republic will almost surely follow, for there are no pretenders in China. The little emperor is the only person who has any claim to the throne. Whatever the Chinese peo- pie want will be established, thanks to the non-intervention policy of Japan and the United States, and the good sense of the Chinese armies in protecting all missionaries and other foreigners.
 It seems almost incredible that China should become a republic
 There is, however, no reason why the people should not govern them selves. There is more self control ir the make up of the average China
 man than he has had credit for, anc
 more good hard sense.
 The reported massacre of 40 for. eigers in Sian-Fu remains to bt ! confirmed. At the worst their large feet led the rebels to consider then Manchus, and in this way they may have been massacred. An error oi that nature may have occurred, but
 it alone will not warrant interven tion by any power. It will be fully ? explained and requited. Nothing wa, 7 designedly intended against the for . eigners in Sian-Fu.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-27
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR

From the New York Press.
 A successful politician is always doing something for everybody but the public. A girl with a good figure hasn't any dcupt that's the way she can prove she has brains. It seems as if the only way to make some men want to come home early at ! night is for their wives to be away on a !, visit.
 l A man who knows how to admire her | hat seems to gili to have lots more brains than one who only knows now to | run railroad. 1 A $2 bill always seems mighty small tc 1 a man till he has to give it to his wife when 1t looks bigger than government bond.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-27

ble manner regardless of expense or effort. This is why King George and Queen Mary are going to India to be crowned anew at the durbar. There will be less discontent and less talk of independence in India after the ceremonies are held at Delhi, es- pecially if those services outshine in every material respect the origial coronation at Westminster, as they doubtless will. z#f ,#6@
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-27
]. 0sING GROUND

laa the tnfiHtl ate5f atii tszss zz-4~..z5a-=. very name Of electricity suggests <ea to the lay mind, has made it necessa
 to rewrite all the sciences and reae1 all the theologies. The adoption a useful appliances in carrying OF EH work and play of the wrold has'litefa ly transformed the face of the fafin and justified the most startling prom ecies for the early future.
 This activity could not go or s3r long without percolating into the flsrd of the masses of the people. In ssIae of it's phases it has found expressiaa .n the current novel. The automobile ana the flying machine were readily sa5aea upon by those who--as Victor tlne3 put it--wished to "create new Hiads der'-who were depressed by ffia weariness produced by the old geo ia the machine. And yet even these Hsfe in many cases but the shallow countea- feits of novelty, and. combined et nasty and slipshod craftsmanship,
 ed the novel reader naturally t.
 masterworks of a more leisurell age.
 From any point of view the new dency Is inspiring. When the romantic princelings have finally faded against the background of their impossible Zendas and the six best sellers have become unmentionable in polite society feverish readers may pause long enough to turn to the deathless panor- anna of Dickens and Thackeray--may dip into "Don Quixote' and make ac- quaintance with Uncle Toby, discover the tenderness and power of Manzon.'s "Bethrotheds' the heroic analysis of Crime and Punishment" and a few score other types of the aristocracy of romance. It goes without saying that it is gratifying to find the heirs of the ages coming into their inheritance in the matter of scientific thought and advancing within hailing distance of the men who are making real history.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-27
Interest In Religious Movements

q have seen it stated recently that activity in religious circles in the
 United States was more pronounced now than it had been in many years past,' said a layman.
 There is unquestionably great deal of vitality in the various church branches. Several of the Protestant de- nominations seem to be as full of zeal
 today as they were a quarter Of century ago, but from what l can see the forward movement in Protestant re- ligion is more outside of church organi-
 zatiQn than in. It has been said by those identified with the Men and Re- ligion Movement that the tendency of the times was away from churchianity and towards Christianity l am one of those who believe firmly in church church authority, church discipline and church spirit. I would be glad, how ever, to see every movement flourish which tends to bring men to realiza- tion of their moral responsibilities.
 When I was a youth some 30 years ago revivals were in vogue in the church with which I was connected in a northern state. These revivals seemed to de good, but l have heard many pastors say that they preferred to receive sinners into the church quietly, rather than have them come under the spell of emotional preaching. It seems to me that no religion could have a permanent hold on the individ-
 ual unless his reason is satisfied. Faith is a gift. and faith and reason togeth- CT should keep a man steady along the lines of orthodoxy. But have no idea of dipping into theology. l simply started out to say that if the churches are losing their hold on the masses or fail to appeal to the masses there is something wrong somewhere"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-27
JOE MILLER WAS NO JOKER

on his pen. Among the popular publica- tions of that time was kind easy of Compilation, consisting substantially of the same jests. ever newly vamped up, with few additions and varieties. It was common trick to place on the title of one of these brochures the name of some person of recent celebrity, in or- der to give it an appearance of novelty. Is!as, there appeared in the sixteenth century. Serogan's Jests and Skelton's Jests; in the seventeenth, Tarlton's Jests, Hobson's Jests, Peele's Jests, Hugh Jet CTS Jests and a multitude of others. and in the century following, previous to the death of Joe Miller in 173S, Pinkethmans Jests, Polly Peachum's Jests and Ben Jonson's tests. It speaks strongly for the celebrity of Joe Miller, that he had hard ly lain a year in his grave when his name was thought sufficiently popular to grace the title of a jest book and it was Motley who. no doubt, pressed by necessity, undertook to compile new collection which was to appear under it. The title of this volume, which, was pub lished in 1799. and sold for shilling, was Joe Miller's Jests: Or. the Wits Vaae- mecum." It was stated in the title to have been first carefully collected in the company, and many of them tran scribed from the mouth of the facetious gentleman whose name they bear; and now set forth and published by his la mentable friend and former companion. Elijah Jenkins, Esq" This was, of course, a fictitious name, under which Motley chose toN conceal his own. It must not be concealed that there is. consid- erable originality in Mottley's collection that it is not a mere republication, under. different name, of what had been pub lished score of times before; in fact, it Is evidently a selection from the jokes which were then current about the town. and some of them apparently new ones. This was perhaps the reason of it's sud- den and great popularity. A second and third edition appeared in the same year, and it was not only frequently reprinted during the same century. but number of spurious books appeared under the same title, as well as similar collections, under such titles as "The New Joe Miller" and the like.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-27
The stock Market

Henry CIews in his Saturday review says in part:
 Beyond question favorable conditions predominate in the stock market. There is spirit of confidence and cheerfulness developing which is in striking contrast with what has prevailed for many months. We still have with us the pes smist and the timid: but these classes are always present, and though acting as a restraint upon blind optimism cannot long hold in check the growing spirit of ra- tional confidence now appearing.
 "A wide range survey of the situation shows many changes for the better. There are, for instance, better trade conditions because stocks of merchandise are much below the normal and price concessions are often acting as stmulant to pur- chasers. The credit situation in all parts f of the country is better than for many months, and borrowers in good standing have no difficulty in securing all reason able accommodation upon favorable terms. There is decidedly better outlook to the steel industry, which must still be regarded one of the best, if not the
 
 two years of economy the railroads are at last compelled to place liberal orders 1 for rails, cars and other equipment; this to renew worn out plant. Such orders in the aggregate have been large enough to mpart considerably more activity to cer- tain branches of the steel industry, par ticularly steel plates. Prices of steel have been very low, and the fact of recent pur- chases will serve to strengthen the ideas of producers and thus bring out orders from intending purchasers who had been waiting to see the market touch bottom. | The steel trade has already found sub- stantial foundations and really reached a turn for the better; the indications be ing that in event of any further increase in activity prices will show hardening tendency There are also better condi- tions in the textile industry, which ranks next in importance to steel"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-27
COMEDY

COMEDY By Thomas Bailey Aldrich They parted, with clasps of hand, And kisses, and burning tears. They met, in 8 foreign land, After some twenty years. Met as acquaintances meet, Smilingly, tranquil eyed- Not even the least little beat Of the heart on either side: 'A' They chatted of this and that @ The nothings that make up life; She in a Gainsborough hat, And he in black for his wife. An, what comedy this! z. af Neither was hurt. 1t appears; Yet once she leaned to his kiss, And once he had known her tears |
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-27

mingham recognized his national promi-. hence with the most brilliant banquet yet staged in the Iron City. hc
 But the south-as section-nlust aban- don this ancient fetich, that is unworthy oe it's achievements and a. reflection upon it's statesmanship and it's intellectual ideals. The nation cheerfully discusses the possibility of a southerner sitting in the White House. The south itself cannot afford to hug a contrary delusion that confesses woeful lack of confidence and of self-realization.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-27
IN HOTEL LOB B. ].
The Country (

The flag raising and tea | Cea club this afternoon at o't 10 be a delightful event
 President Badham is eager that every member attend the flag raising said a clnbman. Also a full attendance of the families of members is urged. The Coun. try club is 8 great social institution and 6 distinctive center of influence. It has been exceptionally popular in the past and the improvements recently made on the club property will doubtless increase it's popularity'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-27
UNDERWOOD THE CHOICE

From the Sheffield Standard.
 Honest Underwood men in Alabama will vigorously oppose any attempt to commit the state delegation to the national dem- ocratic convention to a 'second cholce.' Alabama has but one choice, and that is Underwood, first, last and all the time.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-27
WORK TO DO

From the Baltimore Sun.
 And yet it seems a safe assertion that Oscar Underwood is devoting more at- tention to the tariff on cotton goods with 12O threads to the square inch than he is to a possible presidential boom lefiia
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-27

One of the jurors in the McNamara case fell asleep. They should have let him sleep on until he came out sec ond Rip Van Wrinkle.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-27

Mrs. Hetty Green gaes marketing with her basket on her arm. She does not believe in asking aid of the exchange girl in this business.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-27

The railroad bosses seem to think they can handle the Panama canal as readily as they handle a legislature. This, how ever, is an error on their part.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-27

The 2Oth century thieves seem inclined to art and culture, but a court of jus tice may yet take some of that nonsense out of them.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-27

Hetty Greens s400,O00 school for boys and girls has not yet been located al- though detectives are searching the coun- try for it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-27

The more shameless liars among the Lorimer witnesses are to be indicted for perjury. and then the business will not be such joke among them.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-27

Mir. Bryan says a man can make sl,- OOOOOO honestly So he can by marrying fhe daughter of multi-millionaire. There is no other way.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-27

The administration by no means in- dorses the recent reference to Colonel Roosevelt "as the foremost citizen of the world"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-27

One thousand plum buildings will tour India along with King George and Queen Mary.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-27

Mary Garden is to go to Chicago for three months, although she may get some reduction from her sentence for good behavior.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-27

The suit against the beef barons was begun by the way when ''T. R." was on the job with no Outlook on his hands.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-27

The California fleas which weigh a pound apiece have given the country a new idea of Californias climate and fer tility
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-27

The packers were turned down by Chief Justice White and they are one step near CT the pen.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-27

The tar artists of Kansas are not rank ed in vaudevlle-at least not out of that state.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-27

Kansas people need to be taught the true uses of tar Justice has an inning coming to her in that state
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-27

The McNamara trial is even slower than @ mule race-slower even than mo- lasses on a wintry morning.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-27

The White House still stands despite the Oyster Bay hurricane, but deep si- lence prevails in it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-27

Diaz methods are still useful in Mexico, and Madero proposes to try them on his enemies.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-27

No wife murderer can secure clemency from Governor Mann of Virginia. That point is well settled.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-27

MT. Taft has been advised to cut his message short if he desires to have it generally read.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-27
ALREADY GIVEN

From the Florida Times Union.
 The people of Birmingham are about to give the Underwood boom another shove.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-27
AGAINST THE RECALL

The county has great many presi- dential aspirants subject to recall.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-27

Would the fountain of your mind were clear again, that I might water an ass at 1t. .z..
 -Troilus and Cressida.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-27

Entered at the Birmingham. Ala, postoffice as second-class matter under act of Congress March 8, 1S19.