davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-10

unselfshy zealous about their work None are very rich and none are very poor-iust publicity doctors all. Through all the movement and stir they are the true watchers of the nation. The news for the people, though the heavens fall! That is the unwritten shibboleth of the fraternity.
 Bernard Shaw makes one of his char acters say What makes America the purest nation today is that when she's not working she's too drunk to hear the voice of the tempter' l am not sure that ours is the purest nation today. But if it is true. l would attribute our purity, not to alcoholism and hard labor. but to free speecle and the uncensored press. In the white light of publicity the fake. and the sham, the servants and the brave leaders. all get their due praise and blame and are seen as they are-inally. The press en- ables us to tally gesture with gesture, deed with deed, and therein l suppose Va are best served by the writer chaps Through them we get both sides of question. That's what the craft aims to do. neighbor, and shall we not clinlS glasses in token of esteem for all honest doctors of publicity?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-10

was "wise and constructive and in- flewensial member" for he seys so himself. Then Watt run for state senate, but Ed Hamnur beet him by few votes. But Watt carried Eds county, and Ed cum back and carried Watts county by just a few moor votes. Both of them seemed terry ply handicapped at home. But Watt was not satisfied and cum back and run next time and was elected, and he maid fine senator too. So Watt accomplished his ambision and got his bill thru to bild a big school at Rag land to be used to educate the "moun- tain boys" and teach them aggrycul- ture. Watt believes in this kind of educasion, and he is rite. His school is going to be a grate success, and to his untirring efforts the boys who have this grate opportunity are due there thanks.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-10

the year 1872, and was given to the peas ant, who held him in close confinement for 16 years. He had another note, said to have been written by his mother, which affirmed the boys name was Kasper.
 When taken in hand by those who would have befriended him he showed dis like to any kind of food but bread and water He was unfamiliar with the sim plest things about him. but knew enough of writing to tell on paper that his name was Ilasper Hauser For quite a while he was confined in prison as a vaGrant
 When finally released, he appeared with a wound on his forehead. which, he said
 was inflicted by man with black face" Upon his recovery he was sent to Ansbach to be educated. But in 1853 those who had been interested in him were startled by the news of his death. His
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-10

Some weeks ago said that Tom Reed would walk seven miles an hour. From far off Seattle got this challenge about it:
 MY dear Savoyard. Good story, but next time make this seven about four. You know a man is going some when he makes seven, and Tom never did that stunt"
 My friend never saw Tom Reed walk. More than six feet four, he had giant stride and an unusually rapid gait l am sure he could have gone nine miles with out fatigue in his tramp from the Shore ham to the capitol fine day in winter.
 I will try to relate an anecdote of him that possibly has not been printed. One day when he was speaker the second time he made an outrageous ruling. and when he left the chair he made tracks for the speakers room. He had his long est stride and it was his most rapid pace. There was a democratic member from Georgia, fine lawyer who had a judicial mind and thoroughly admirable sense of justice.
 Armed with formidable volume he waylaid Reed and sought to confound him with chapter and verse The big fellow never halted, but sang out with that ag- gravating Yankee twang: "rhe book s wrong, the books wrong." The book was the Constitution of the United States, clause l, section D, article 1. I think have known abler men than Tom Reed, but I never saw his match as a parliamentary leader On the floor uf the House in a melee he was superb, and in the chair he was Caesar. No other
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-10

IN his great story "A Tale of Two
 Cities" Dickens represents old Dr. x Manette as having been long in prison as to lave lost all remembrance of his name. The old prisoner was only .'One Hundred and Five, North Tower" Nothing more could he tell MT. Lorry, Lucy and Defarge You remember com ing up here?" "Remember?' asked the old man. adding "No. I don't remember. It was lon' time ago.
 What Dickens here illustrates has been actual iealt.. in te lives of some fla nous prisoners. They have been forgot ten by the world and their names forgot ten by themselves. They have known that they were Number So-and-So; but so long have they been shut out from the world that their real names have been lost sight of. Long Imprisonment, years and years of imprisonment. have so af- fected their memories that the past is all . obliterated. This was the case with Dr. Manette.
 But I set ou. to write of some famous prisoners whose identity was known to , themselves. but of whom the world has ever been in doubt. Who were they, and why imprisoned? the world has asked. But the prison walls have not disclosed what they have heard, nor have the hands of history rent the veil of mystery from certain celebrated prisoners. We are still guessing, like many persons who Stlll ask of the Wandering Jew" who was he? By the way, Eugene Sues novel, "The Wandering Jew" might have had any other title, for the Jew is of no conse- quence in the story. It was a taking title, and nothing more
 Near the present St vincennes railway station, in the oldest part of Paris, you z will find an open square, paved with stone. In the center there stands mon- ument about l50 feet tall. surmounted by bronzed figure of Liberty. It Is known as "The Column of July" At your | feet you will discover. engraved in the stone pavement, the outlines of the old Bastile. which was destroyed in that year of terror 17S9. Here stood the bastile, which, for tragic memories, unspeakable torture, base intrigue and nameless and unnumbered crimes, surpassed any other { structure on earth. Dantes line could have been adopted by him who passed under its drowning gateway. All hope abandon ye who enter here.'
 Here. as a prisoner, the Man in tho ; Iron Mask" was held for 24 years It is said that in all tla time no man looked Hupon his face. In his cell day and Might. and in going to mass and hack to Ffis cell, his face was ever shrouded in |tlack. Victor Hugo in his story of a 'The Man in the Iron Mask" takes an authors license and describes the mask thus. which you will find in chapter
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-10

Years. Where they liVed what their names, why they imprisoned him, why they never clothed him, he did not know. Why the man with "black face tried to kill him, he could not tell It was all a mystery to him. If he had in his earliest childhood known few words of any lan- guage his long years of solitary confine- ment had caused forgetfulness of them
 The probability is. however, that from
 his birth he had been isolated from all who might trace his parentage; for he knew nothing of chidrens games, and did not know what tops, marbles or drums were for. He was helpless, child ish child when Nuremberg first saw him,
 The gossips went farther than l have above stated, and many not gossips. have done the same It was said that Kasper was an heir to a throne and kingdom
 and that he was thus gotten rid of by
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-10

started strateway to do them. Rag land at that time was simply lot of reel estate entirely surrounded by the rest of St. Clare county and GOV vered over with mortgages, land all it was good for was to keep a hole frum being in the ground at that particular point. Watt got bizzy ac- cumulating job lot of useful infor- masion and incidentally sum of the "needful," a little side issue with
 Watt that he has newer overlooked long enuff to be caught at it, and just as soon as he got enuff of aforesed he opened his coal mine at Ragland. Maving dun so he got himself elected president and begin to trade with the natives around the country, swapping them navvy plug for land until he owns quite hefty bunch of reel es- tate in that neck of the woods. Then Watt begin to let his big scheem
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-10

Watt is a member of the Metho- dist church and also the K. of P. lodge, and in these, like in uther mat ters, Watt is always getting elected to sum office He is steward in the church and in the lodge he has run for every job, frum outer guard to representative to the grand lodge, which phase he has captured twice.
 Watt is sum punkins of runner, and it has been hinted that sum day he mite run for Congress. l am sur prised that he has not already dun so, and that he is not in the race now frum the state at large. l would ad
 wise Watt to get into this rase rather than in the Seventh, for he will need several tryals to beat John Lawrence Brandun, but if Watt should take a nosion that it would help that school for him to go to Con- gress, he would sure be found trying
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-10

just over his heart there was found a deep and ghasty wound inflicted by-noZ body knew
 It was then that everybody began to conjecture the identity of the young man. Excitement ran high, and the gossips at all the courts of Europe began to air their speculations, The child born in 1912, said the gossips, was an illegtimate child of a high born lady at court; he had been kidnapped by her suggestion. held in pri son. fed on bread and water, and never permitted to see human beings, nor to talk with anyone True it was, that the boy knew no language. save only a few simple words. He had evidenly never used his vocal organs, though they were sound. There was every evidence that he had been threatented with beating should he speak to anyone. He knew not those who had kept him in restraint these many
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-10

it sum way.
 Watt is a fine feller. He's not a reel handsum man, not at all, that is we would not so pronounce him, but he has a frank, open face like a Waturburry watch, and stands reddy at enny and all times to do frend favur. Watt deserves all the praise that can be handed out to him for establishing that grate school, and we air sure it will succeed, for he'll see to that, and will hand Watts name down to posterryty as the originator of an educasional movement of back to the farm in Alabama that will ulti- mately cheepen the high cost of liv- wing in this country.
 We air for Watt for most enny thing he wants that's within reesun, and Watt is sum reesunabul. Here's to him. Yours trooly,
 BILL VINES.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-10

TNOR generations the name of Forsyth T has been associated with distinc- ! ton in the records of southern his- tory. The original member of the family, Robert Forsyth, came from England to America before the revolution, and was member of the military family of Wash ington. His son, John Forsyth, was at various times attorney general and gov ernor of Georgia, a member of Congress for a period of b years from that state, minister to Spain, and was instrumental in procuring the cession of Florida. For six and d half years he served as secre- tary of state, during the administrations of Jackson and Van Buren. Robert For sytla was the grandfather of John For syth, late of Mobile, while John Forsyth, Sr., was his father
 Employing unusual advantages, socially and enthusiastically, the Subject of the present sketch turned them to great practical advantage. Among the ad-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-10

he was equipped for guidance in an emer- gency like this, and with the zeal of a patriot he responded to every occasion that arose. His excessive labor made sad inroads on his constitution, his health was broken, but despite this he was pe.- sistent in labor. He was of that type of public servants who sought not ap- plause for it's own sake, but was ,m- pelled by an unquestioned patriotism which yielded to demands of whatever kind, high or low in order that he might serve the public
 Much as Colonel Forsyth did in the exercise of his superior versatility, all else was incidental to the wield of his prolific pen. He became the south $ most brilliant journalist The compass of his vision was that of a statesman, and during the troublous times which followed the Civil war, the counsel of one like him was needed, and that coun- se found most profitable expression through the nib of his powerful pen.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-10

of the bag each day-righteousy, relig- iousy each day keeping tab on your ob- vious vices and virtues. And yet there is sort of reverence and prayerfulness about all strengthening, l find, that seems to have gone so far unrecorded. It is talebearing, truly, yet a gossiping into which no malice enters nor any especial love enters. Newswriters for the most part do not weigh and balance the sociological value or group-interest each news item holds. They are not that sort of doctor for the masses. The clever news man knows that his patient is thrill thirsty. He knows, too. that there are but 24 hours in a working day also that the nimble fingers of the printer are clamoring for copy" It must be hustled into words in this fighting stress that only the daily paper attaches can know. It must be got into hot metal lines.
 The news craftmen of this world, from news editor to ink-stained devil, seem to be set of folk without any distin- gushing commercial or social rating, I find. They seem to have gone in for neither. They seem to be hungry for neither A sort of Bohemian class, they
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-10

He returned to Mobile in 1853. entered the lumber business, was burnt out, and entered again the field of journalism by purchasing the Mobile Register. In 1856 he was appointed by President Pierce minister to Mexico. in which capacity he served for two years.
 Colonel Forsyth's mission to Mexico was attended by much labor and per plexity, as the duty was imposed on him of adjusting varied and numerous claims against the Mexican government, which claims originated in the nature of the war waged by the Mexieans. There were claims for imprisonments murders, con fiscation and others, and while Colonel Forsyth labored without abatement he had but timorous support from the Buch- anan administration
 As a matter of fact. President Buchanan was gravely absorbed in the rush of events which tended toward the approach ing civil war, and which broke like a storm over the country in 1861, and his
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-10

newspaper is the most potent factor Tn developing the moralties of city-the policeman whose services can least be dispensed with. If I were dictator Of Birmingham, and it should come to pass that I were financially unable to retain a daily newspaper and a police depart ment, the dictator would be face to face with a dilemma. He would either have to say "eeny- -meeny-miney mo- or else flip a penny to get the matter off his mind.
 Not the police courts, I think, deter men from crime more effieaciousy than the virie pencil of the reporter. The prison officials can break your neck in secluded gallows in the gaol yard but the newspaper chap can relentlessly stab you to death in the presence of the whole city and state and nation. It was not reading gao that broke mad Oscar Wilde's heart; rather it was his exposure by the press of England. And do you think the Senate Investigating committee has dcviled Messrs. Stephenson and LOT inner so merclessy as have those harpies, the American newspapers?
 The writer would rather have thou sand devils in pursuit of him than have
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-10

Watt has an unsatiabul appitite for office, and being alderman didn't sat isfy him, so aftur he went to Rag land he got himself elected mayor in 1901-2. At that time, aftur the col ored bruther was put on the free list,' before that he had been expen- sive, it left about seven qualifyed voters at Ragland, and Watt, by voting for himself, was tryumphant- ly elected by one majority, and made such grate record as mayor in that thriving little city, that he was given the unusual distincksion of being elected as a demmocrat to the leggis- lature frum St. Clare county. Up to
 that time St. Clare was noted for her esrelessness when it cum to electting d member of the Legislature, she had just as soon elect populite or re- publicon as not. Watt served in the Legislature with grate credit, and
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-10

Georgia, and Roman of Louisiana, on a peace commission, to Washington. There was but slight hope of accomplishing any thing, and it is doubtful if there was any more serious intention involved in the mission than that of gaining tims for more efficient equipment of the south for the pending struggle. It was time for tactics, and a play for advan- tage. The mission was a bootless one. and in due time the war burst on the country.
 During the Civil war Colonel Forsyth served for a time on the staff of General Braxton Bragg, meanwhile retaining his connection with his paper, for after all, the pen was the most potent instrument in the hand of Colonel Forsyth. After the close of the war he proved to be one of the most masterly spirits in steering the state through the storm of reconstruc- ton The pen of no one in the south was more powerful during that chaotic period. Statesman, jurist and journalist,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-10
WHO ARE THEY?-By Dr. w. E.

Al: And by the red flashes of lsgir ming against the violet fog, which the wind smeared upon the sky, they saw pass gravely, at six paces behind the governor, a man clothed in black and masked by vizor of polished steel, sol dered to q helmet of the same nature, which altogether enveloped the head" The truth is the exterior of the mask was made of black velvet, the steel strips being unseen. When the velvet needed renewing the strips of steel still kept the prisoners face concealed.
 For the period of 24 years the Iron Mask was worn by this unfortunate man. not to speak of the other horrors that attended his long years of incar- |ceration Who was he? For what crime was he imprisoned? No one knows. His jailors did not know. It is said the King knew, the Keing being Louis XIV, and doubtless his confessor knew. But if they knew they left no trace behind them of his identity nor of his crime. He died, as he had lived for 24 years, with his face behind mask
 A great many books have been writ ten on "The Man in the Iron Mask, but they agree not among themselves. Some, like H. G. A. Ellis, have held that he was the traitor Matthioli; Loiseleur scouts this view and says the prisoner was another; some hold that he was the father of Louis XIV some say he was the elder brother of Louis, his father being Cardinal Mazarin; many other views are given, but none are satisfactory. When he was entered at the Bastile his name was recorded as Marchiali This was in 1103 Hugo calls him Saint Mars Whos was he: We shall never know.
 Longfellow has poem entitled Nuremberg, the first stanza Of which runs thus:
 "In the valley of the Pegnitz, where
 Across broad meadow lands,
 Rise the blue Franconian mountains,
 Nuremberg, the ancient stands.
 The entire poem is description of the cid city of Nuremberg as it had iigurcu in history, but he does not mention the incident that l am about to relate suppose he assumed that everybody knew it: I tell it to refresh the mem ory of the reader who once knew as we'll as do, and have known it since my childhood.
 It was in 1928 that strange boy was first seen in the streets of Nuremberg. He was poorly dressed, and seemed be- wildered by the things he saw. His ap- pearance and manner attracted atten- tion He had a badly <scribbled note in his possession which was written, so the note stated by a peasant. From the note it was learned that the boy was born in
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-10

She was remanded to prison by Cath crime and put upon bread and water. In her cell two guards were placed They were not to, give her moments privacy night or day. She protested against this indignity at which her every womanly instinct revolted But her protests were unavailing. The two sentinels continued to stand by her bed
 When her body was taken from the cell hole was dug within the fortress walls, into which the poor body of this once beautiful woman was thrust Not prayer was said nor were Fany re- llgious rites performed. She was buried with the burial of a dog.
 l have merely given the outlines of the story If l ever find time I want to write a sketch of Catherine's li:e and more will be said of the Princess Tarakanof. Who was she-she was guarded night and day? No ordinary prisoner, you must know; but who was she?
 There have been many books and pam phlets written on the subject, but there is not one that is satisfactory. Each writer has his own peculiar views on the subject Who Kasper Hauser? The world will never know. But it is sener- ally believed that he was of royal blood.
 Some years ago in Paris. there was ex- hibited q painting that gave the beholder of every emotion Of horror II was paint ed by Russian. It represented p young woman of great beauty in a solitary cell in a Russian prison. The river just out side the cell had overnowed it's banks and the water was pouring into the cell from the only window that gave any light to the unfortunate prisoner The flood was rising in the cell, and the girl had sprung to the bed to escape it. Swimming to the bed to escape death by drowning could be seen hundreds of rats and mice and all manner of loathsome insects, It is left to the imagination to picture tho young girl in her dying agency drowning In absolute helplessness as the flood rises to the ceiling of the dungeon.
 This dreadful inundation took place in the year 1711 while Catherine was Em- press. The NeVa overflowed it's banks. and the lower cells of the Petropavlovsl<y fortress at St Petersburg, were filled with water. But the young and beautiful? woman, who was she? As there's the rub. The painting was entitled "The Legend of the Princess Tarakanof." But who was the Princess Tarakanofas Who has ever been able to tell?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-10

K HlSTUR EDDITUR-It takes MI one thousand Waats ts make
 Killo-Watt hour, but not one thousand Watt Browns. One thousand Watt Browns would be over doing the thing, one is quite plenty to do enny reesunabul thing that ought to be dun down in St. Clare county, eether in the way of running a coal mine or getting elected to the state senate, or talking the appro pryasion committee into cumming across with hefty donasion for school at Ragland.
 The Honerabul Watt Thomas Brown started out in life in 1865 with one purpose in view, and that was that school aforementioned. In or der to pull off that stunt the Honer- abul Watt concluded that several things must first be dun and he
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-10

The Age-Herald state in it's news columns tomorrow that he was a bribe talIer, a thief, an assassin; and yet in the absence of such a pronouncement he would face a criminal court with composure and try to prove his innocence. The editorial would perhaps give that lazy brigade, the street cleaners, something to do in the way of sorting out his fragments after ne had leaped from the summit of the Elm pire building; yet he would face the courts and give them an interesting time if his showing up had not appeared in d public print.
 Men are much alike in this world the scapegrace and the pillar of society are fashioned of the same flesh-stuff and pretty much of the same soul-stuff, 1 find, when all their virtues and vices are told However, between the thug and super thug, the rapist and the seducer, there obtains one eloquent difference-a differ ence that we call Pride and can find no better name for. The scapegrace without pride q. e. the feshly unashamed animaD, fears the burly emissary of the law, the polceman whereas, the proud scape- grace, i. e., the over-thug, who is re-