davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15

with the handsum lectures Is rtten in most elerquent and butiful language rec suns varius- and sundry why Willium should be handed down to posterrity as one of the most Notabul amung all the Notabul men of this grate state. Sed reesuns being all that had accumulated lip to that time, there being sum addisional reesuns which have piled up cents the books was issued. which may, or may not appeer later in a suppliment. Enny how the reesuns therein mensioned air sum hefty all rite and sertainly air calculated to set up and take notise-also Richmund Peersun, if Willium should take nosion to try for his scalp. Sed reesuns deposerh and sayeth. that Willium was ushered a total stranger into this Mundane speer in 1868 without enny material assets to speell of except his naturel elequence and Mar tial Bareing. Willium has always been elerquent, demanding cat nip tee at ten- der age in such convincing turns as to always stur his audiance to immediate ac- tion. Willium preserving. as he advanced
 in age. which he soon did. that in order to succeed in polyticks one should by all meens have q war record, and having the Martial Bareing referred to. he nat uraily argued what good was 1t, except of
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15

small thing to shift the switch rail of a railroad track, and should no train come that way, who would care if the switch were shifted? But the switch is related to miles of trackage, and the likelihood is, that, a train may approach the switch and plunge scores of men and women and children into eternity. If a ship swing at anchor. what matters it which way the wheel be turned? But along a treacherous coast where wild waves fu- riously dash themselves into white foam against the deadly crags, it matters mucn
 The sunken road bed, on the field Of Waterloo. which engaged no attention, but was permitted to grow up With grass and weeds, was the spot where the des- tiny of Europe was changed. Motley
 the historian, said, "The gout of Charles V may have changed the history of han kind" A jest perpetrated by Frederick the second at the expense of Madame de Pomoadour is said to have brought on the seven years war. A little water split unon the dress of great lady de- prived the Duke of Marlborough of his command and led to what has been
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15

rene disdaln than that of John T. Nor gan, and I thought of another Senate that was rapt in the very sublimity of gran deur when the barbarian Gaul profancd its precincts. Never was the bully better exploited than the successor of John C.. Calhoun played him that day and one looked in vain for a Yancey, or a Wig fall, to develop the streak of weller that one was sure was hid away in the man s moral and political fiber.
 With a countenance severe, if not sim ister, with a delivery graceless and un- gainly. with a voice harsh and provoca- tive, the man yet seemed to fascinate. The matter of his speech was extraordi- nary and contemptible. He assumed to be a paragon, and like the vulgar herd the Senate took the man at his own valua- ton. He uncorked the vials of his i'm potent wrath and invincible prejudice to pour his venom on the head of the great est American then living, Grover Cleve- land, President of the United States. And it is to the everlasting shame and scandaf of the national legislature that no Senator present had the decency and the courage to call him to order. His theme was hon.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15

shoes were a reminder of the babys first effort to stand alone" of her first step in the path of life which so suddenly ended. The ribbon and hair recalled a vision of exquisite lovliness of which the mother often exclaimed, Tn all the world there is no more beautiful child"
 Triies! Yes, but triiies make up the sum of life; and the best and most beaati- full things within our hearts, such as the tenderest sentiments, the dearest love, and the broadest sympathies. are often awakened into activity by seeming trifies. Also, the sturdiest qualities oe character are assisted by the remcms brances that trifes arouse.
 A boy was engaged to work in a bust- ness house. He was absolutely honest, and gave the utmost satisfaction to his employers His co-workers noticed that he would often turn back his jacket and gaze with intent interest upon something that was there. He was asked one day to explain the meaning of his action. His eyes filled with tears as he said: My mother died some months ago; and be- fore they buried her, I slipped into tho room where she lay and cut of a little piece of her dress and sewed 1t on the inside of my jacket and whenever I look at it it seems to me that my mother speaks to me of her love for me and tells me to be true and honorable: and If had no reason for being faithful, thiu little reminder of my mother would heIp me to be what she would like me to be-
 Only piece of dress, worth nothin9s but sacred! Sacred because she whom the boy loved and honored above every- one else. had worn 1t.
 When the body of the famous orator. John B. Cough, was laid in the coffin d Hillside. a chair was placed at the head of the narrow receptacle of the dead man. From the back of the chair there hung a woman's handkerchief. In his lifetime Cough had said, before a great audi ence at the Cooper Institute in New York. T have in my home a small handkerchief, not worth cents to you: but you could not buy it. He then told its history, which may be found in the Cough Memo- rial Pamphlet. I relate 1t as the famous lecturer gave it:
 "A woman brought 1t and said to my wife, I'm very poor: I would give him q thousand pounds if I had it. but brought only this. l married with tho fairest prospects before me, but my hus- band took to drink and everything went The piano my mother gave me and everv- thing else was sold, until at last found
 CONTINUED ON PAGE 3O)
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15
A-IEREMIAH CLEMENS-By B. F. Riley

but he was opposed to immediate seces- sion, and preferred the adoption Of a CO., operative policy, after thorough consult tation of the states which was aggrieved by the election of MT. Lincoln. While opposed to the ordinance of secession Colonel Clemens voted for t by surren- der of his conviction. because sucn was the condition of the time that not to sup port it would have placed him in opposi- tion to his native state. In an emergency
 like this Colonel Clemens yielded his con- victons and went with the state. He was appointed a major general, commanding the state troops of Alabama, a precan- tionary step taken by the state provided it should be thrown back on itself as a result of it's voluntary withdrawal from the union. The union procliyities or Colonel Clemens never forsook him, and during the latter part of the civil war he went to Philadelphia. where he wrote an unfortunate pamphlet. i'll timed and unwise. which gave great offense. He died near the close of the war.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15

laid desolate in the mad attempt to make the boast of the English kings an inim-
 itable fact-"King of Great Britain,
 France and Ireland '-sieges of Calais,
 battles where the Black Prince hurled back the proudest chvalry of the world
 with bows and arrows in the hands of Saxon farmers sonsi We call these grisly horrors of desolation, and they were. So was the conquest of Canaan by Israel.
 But these were the inevitable grinding of a spiritual sword a fusing and welding rather of that sword before it should be at last sharpened to cut off a tyrant's head and prove worthy to be called the sword of justice. The hilt of the sword is peoples heart. For I find that noth- ing short of a deadly attrition of class with class. or, let us say, of race with race, nation with nation. is the price man kind pays for progress towards unity. It Is not eternal vigilance that is the price of safety, but eternal fire, and eternal grinding. The giant Is still at his ap- pointed task. Jack may have killed him, as veracious works redolent of the nur- sery so confidently told us; but the self same giant ultimately took Jack and will take us and the whole 20th century and grind our bones to make his bread. That giant is Progress. No tiny coral in- sect yields its life to swell with minute
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15

esty and his argument that Ben Tillman is the honestest man in the world and the only honest man in the Senate. The President was a knave because he dis agreed with Tillman; the Secretary of he Treasury was a fool because Tillman could not approve his course. The only man present who enjoyed the speech was Bill Chandler, and from that day they were par mobile fratrum.
 But Tillman made a hit. The next morn he woke up to find himself the most notorious public man in America, a place he held until some two years agone. Fierce as was Tillman-in the index-the octopus came to fellowship with him and made him grand huntsman of the chase along with William E. Chandler and Jo- seph W. Bailey. Aldrich Spooner and Lodge all admired Tillman and flattcred him. For long weeks that summer Bill Chandler, mischieVous as monkey, pa- tient as a spider active as a cat fetched and carried between Roosevelt in the White House and Tillman and Bailey in the Senate. The sham battle grew lurl1 when Teddy hurled the lie, soon after which Aldrich concluded he wanted to go
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15

then can calculate the path of the mole cule? How do we know that the creation of worlds is not determined by the fall of grains of sand? Who understands the Aux and reflux of the infinitely great and the infinitely small, the echoing of causes in the abysses of being, and the ava lanches of creation? The small is great, the great is small In this inexhaustibe whole, there is no scorn from sun to grub, all need each other. Every bird that flies has the thread of the infinite in its claws. The universal life comes and goes. From the evolution of comet in the Armament. to the circling infusoria in the drop of water. Enormous gearing, whose first motor is the gnat and whose last wheel is the zodiac"
 Trifles then. according to Hugo, cease to be trifies because of their connections and association, and all trifes so-called are in one way or another related to re- suits of importance. A thoughtful man said: "The history of the race is a calen- dar of straws," and we all know that the sword of Damocles was suspended by such trifle as a strand of hair It is @
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15

constituency of the realm. Again and again he was returned, and again and again he was rejected by the house Of commons because of his infamous per sonal character and unspeakable personal conduct. The whole country was in tuus moil, and to be a "Wilkite' was to be a patriot Finally he prevailed and got tho seat.
 Some years afterward Wilkes was in- vited to dine with the King, old George IT. Considerable attention was paid him, and the King asked: What has becoms of Sergeant Glynn, who upheld your cause so ably and so steadfastly?" Impu- dent in the abstract and in the concrete. the brilliant knave answered: 70, Glynnr Your majesty. I cut his acquaintance ,onR ago. He was Will<ite, something I never was"
 And now Ben Tlllman. he of the pitch fork. the only honest man in American public life. and the honestest man in the world, is classed as q conservative, along with Martin, Bailey. Maryland Smith and the rest of 'em. He voted to retain Lori mer, even, and the octopus fears him not.
 Can it be possible that Tillman wns never a Tilmante?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15

q always hated that society. The peo- pie are too vapid for me. Real men arc rarity among them The women are superficial and heartless. They haven't time even to be 1ind''
 Another witness:
 Mrs. Gertrude Lanman. who was a social leader in an eastern city, who is cultured and travelled and counts her wealth by millions, says she can find no real pleasure in society. She has given it all up to be a nun. And another:
 Miss Marie Hirst, daughter of a rich Philadelphian, who has every chance for social advancement, will exchange it's gayety for the veil of the sister hood.
 One more: Mrs. Louis Bryan. wife of Chicago millionaire, is suing her husband for divorce because he does not give her money enough, whereas she has re- ceived s40,000 a year pin money and there are 16 automobiles in the garage at her service. Now Are you who think yourself unhappy because you are poor really envious of such people? Not a happy face there. Of course not. The choice of these people is between fdlesnes and dissipa-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15

versity. Kentucky. and entered on the practice of law in 1884. His first public service was as United States district at torney, and for a period of years heNwas a member of the legislature of Alabama.
 The spirit of the warrior and patriot was stirred within him by the struggle of the Texans for independence, and ne raised voluntary force to join in that contest. Of this regiment thus volun- tarily raised, he became the lieutenant colonel. The command marched west ward shared in the battles of that land of plains, and returned when the strug- gle was ended. Again entering politics he represented his county in the legisia- ture of Alabama, where he won distinc- tion as a debator and statesman, and later became a democratic elector in a presidential contest. In all these stations Colonel Clemens showed more than or dinary ability and won a degree of dis tinction.
 Having gotten a taste of war in the struggle in Texas he was again induced
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15

the countryside came to hear the speech of the eminent counsel-a speech that was long remembered in those parts. If Breckenridge had known. Among those who sought to shake his hand was one shy, homely, awkward youth to whom the speaker gave scarce ly glance. The boy was Abraham Lincoln. Unknown to the brilliant Breckenridge. his speech had awakened in the ungaln- ly youth a purpose that dominated all the future. As he tells us, 1t was at this time Lincoln determined to be a lawyer.
 He lacked everything.
 Most of all he lacked education. But there was the suggestion. That suggestion hardened into a fixed, unalterable purpose-a purpose which ne hugged to his heart and would not let go. The hope of it's realization struck it's roots deep into his being. Sometimes
 it was watered by the tears of disappoint-
 ment; but, well planted and well nour- ished, it grew and blossomed forth. He went by way he knew not, but whose end he knew
 It is scientifically true that when de-
 sire becomes strong enough and causes
 definite suggestion it induces sustained
 and effective effort
 You suggest to yourself that you will
 do this thing or that You affirm your
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15
YUIHEN Portia was about to depart A/ from Bassanio the latter said:
 w "Take some remembrance from

1sm P9ts nsss.na tns aD9ls sssr e 'saln!
 w "Take some remembrance from us. as a tribute, not as fee" Where upon. Portia said: "Ill take this ring from you"; but Bassanio exclaimea' : Alas it is a trifle, referring to this particular ring. He was willing to give .'the dearest ring in Venice" but 'tne triae" he was unwilling to part with, be- cause. though in itself it was mere trife, there were associated with 1t cer- tain vows that gave it the vastest iln- portance. All of which the reader may find in the fourth act of "The Merchant of Venice and in the fifth act the sequei may be found. ,.
 There are many trihes which we aii cherish that are worth but little intrinsic ally, and yet, to their owners they are priceless because of their association. At the sight of them memory like bird on rapid wing, flies back over the years ana hoyers over some sacred spot with fond- est affection.
 I saw sometime ago a thin gray line Of Confederate vetreans. Some were on crutches; the majority of them were walking with sticks upon which they leaned; some were scared with saber and shell; some had but one arm left, the other having been buried at Shiloh, the Wilderness, Gettysburg or at other fla mous fields of blood. They were old and feeble. The fires that once flashed from their eyes were extingiished, and when they tried to sound 'the Rebel yell their voices were faint, and one of them, look ing upon the by-standers. smiled and said: I've could make 1t ring once"
 One of these gray bearded and gray uniformed veterans bore the old flag of his regiment It was of silk and had once been adorned with the title of the regiment and the date of it's presentation
 ''1s61, by the women of ," the rest had been shot away. It once proudly floated in the winds as the symbol of patriotism and dauntless valor. But now, it hangs in shreds. There is little of 1t left. and it must be handled with the rt- most care lest 1t shall disappear forever. Rent after rent was made by bullet, shell after shell tore it's stars and bars asunder, and on it's staff there Is deep gash made by a saber held by the hand of brave Yankee who for his heroism paid tho price of his life. Dear old flag. Intrinsically mere trihe, not worth a dime. Yet, there is not money enough in the Bank of Eng land to buy that trifie. The state to which it belongs might be driven into bankruptcy and it's citizens into pauper-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15
MEN WHO HAVE MADE ALABAMA-JEREN

the United States Senate. Colonel Clemens came to be one of it's most popular mem- bers. He was an orator of the Ciceron- ian type, and his utterances flashed with the radiance occasioned by the friction of
 intense thought. His combined qualities and varied experience in different spheres of life served him admirably when on his feet in the Senate chamber He could husband his resources with skill and with remarkable readiness, and his sentences fell from his lips like minted coins fresh
 from the stamp-bright. beautiful ana warm. Independence and self assertion he had in abundance, nor was he lacking
 in genuine courage, but his tempera- mental disposition lent to these qualities a degree of dash which sometimes be- trayed him into rashness which often in- duced men to hesitate to follow his leaa- ing. The spirit of the warrior in battle was often his in the rough and tumble of debate but he found that the dash of the field in the leadership of man would not prevail in the cool, staid thoughtfulness
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15

tion-two roads both of which lead to satiety and world weariness.
 Happiness lies along the line of pur- poseful endeavor and sacrifice. It comes incidentally and may not be directly wooed.
 In all the grimacing group not a happy face.
 Professor Page of Chicago has figured out a way by which some day flying machines will go to the nearby planets.
 Startling?
 Not necessarily. Garret P. Serviss, the astronomer has written an article on When Shall We Go to the Moon?''
 It will be many moons, probably, but note what Serviss says:
 "rhe great public has little regard for dreamers. = Nevertheless the dreamers always lead the way. Day dawns where they point, though they may be in their graves long be- fore the sunrise" Dreamers lead the way. They die, but their dreams come true. They see visions where we see noth- ing. They are optimists; we are pessi- mists. They believe in the miracles of discovery; we are doubting Thomases Where we see only the end they see the beginning.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15

to Europe, drafted an amendment, gave it to old Smoothing-Iron Allison, the Sen ate accepted it, the octopus chase was over. and. as usual, humbug was blissful and thriumphant.
 But before the grand octopus chase by Teddy and Tilman, Chandler and Bailey was pulled off Tillman had delivered him self of the most vicious sentiment ever uttered by southern statesman. He is a protectionst. He believes that good can issue out of evil. Representing South Carolina he was bound to herd with the democrats, and he was classed as tariff reformer: but the trail of the serpent was over him. and he was bold enough to an- nounce 1t this way: As long as Inc stealing is going on I want my share for South Carolina
 Just think of the atrocity of that decla- nation. A state can no more afford to profit by lSnavery than an individual. Put that heresy to the citizen, man or woman, and honesty and chastity would vanish and our republic become what the Roman Empire was the immediate centuries be- fore the destruction of the Roman civiliza- tion. But I greatly fear that many com munities of the south have embraced this
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15

JEREMIAH CLEMENS was a fav-
 ored son of fortune His career A< fell on the palmiest period of south ern history. Possessed of varied talents his life was correspondngly varied. He had power and when exercised the re- suit wes tremendous. His intellectual strength was of high order, his literary taste, delicate, his ability to command unquestioned and his oratory brilliant and potent. His varied gifts led him into the four departments of law, politics, war and literature. In none of these was he deficient, for he was an able advocate a statesman of undeniable ability, com mander of no mean qualities, and a writer whose skill and deftness of touch made him popular.
 The scholastic advantages of Colonel Clemens were superior First student at LaGrange college, at that time school of high class, he completed his course at the University of Alabama. He afterwards took a law course at Pennsylvania uni-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15

called "the inglorious peace of Utretch." trihe brought on the Franco Prussian war, established the German empire and the final dethronement of Louis Napoleon, The enormous slaughter of the Crimean war would have been avert ed, had two or three words in an order been legibly written. The breaking Of bolt, or some such thing, cost the life of Louis XVI, and his queens as well.
 They were fleeing from Paris and had almost reached the frontier and safety, when the bolt in their carriage snapped. A mere trhe of 8 bolt, was related to two crowned heads, and became fac tor in the bloody events of the reign of terror
 Trihes, At the entrance of a homo there hung a white scarf. I entered There were loving friends gathered about a little white coffin on which and around which were massed beautiful white flowers, as if they could muffle the tread of death. I stood and looked down upon the face of the little one She had been strangely beautiful in life. but seem ed more beautiful in death. There was
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15

to employ his sword in the Mexican war. Becoming lieutenant colonel of the Ninth infantry his command participated in number of battles in Mexico. In 1Sl9 he was appointed governor of the civil and military department of purchase in Mex ico Tn this connection he served till the close of the war with Mexico, after which time the army was reduced and Colonel Clemens returned to Alabama and re- sumed the practice of law.
 Vast opportunity had thus been afforded this gifted man for the enlargement of his vision of affairs, and it had not been sighted. His military career had served to bring him into increased conspicuous ness and to enhance his popularity When Hon. Dixon H. Lewis died in New York, Colonel Clemens was elected to fill his unexpired term.
 All this had been achieved by Colonel Clemens by the time he was S5 years old a period when most men begin the aceon- plishments of life. In wide and com manding orbit such as was afforded in