davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-26
HARRIET BEECHEp STOWE

Tn efollowing extract is Mrs. Stowe s own account of her first literary triumph. told in the May McClure's, in ''The Girl hood of Harriet Beecher Stowe" by her son and her grandson:
 By two years of constant practice, under Mir Braces training and sugges- tfon, had gained so far as to be ap- pointed one of the writers for the annual exhibition, a proud distinction, as I then viewed it. The subject assigned me was one that had been very fully discussed in the school in a manner to show to the best advantage Mir Braces peculiarity in awakening the minds of his pupils to the Higher regions of thought. The question was. Can the Immortality of the Soul Be Proved by the Light of Natures
 Several of the young ladies had writ ten strongly in the affirmative. MT. Brace himself had written in the negative. To all these compositions and consequent discussion I had listened, and, in view of them, chose to adopt the negative.
 q remember the scene at that exhibi- tion, to me so eventful The hall was crowded with all the literati of Litchfield. Before them all our compositions were read aloud. When mine was read, mo- ticed that father, who was sitting on high by MT. Brace, frightened and looked in terested. and at the close I heard him ask, Who wrote that composition? Your daughter, sirr was the answer It was the proudest moment of my life. There was no mistaking fathers face when he was pleased, and to have inter ested him was past all juvenile triumphs."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-26
Confused Condition of the Senate

After months time the Senate remains unorganized. It's committees remain uniformed. It is not in con- dition to take up any business, al- though three important general bills have already been sent to it by the alert and responsive House
 A Senate republican caucus is to be held today, and possibly the two factions of that party will get near enough together to permit an organ ization of the committees. The pres ent contention between the progress sives and standpatters of the g. o. p. is essentially anarchistic. It means if continued breakdown of govern ment, and it has already lasted near ly month.
 The rules committee of the Senate is it's committee of committees, and at present it includes seven stand patters and four progressives. The latter demand one-fourth of the re- publican committee places. As they are about one dozen strong their de- mand seems reasonable, but the standpatters say that if it be granted the progressives and democrats united would in all pinches control the business of the Senate. So much the better for the Senate. It is said the standpatters are willing to give the progressives one-quarter of the republican committee assignments, the committee on finance alone ex- cepted. This is the great controlling committee of the Senate-its ways and means committee, and the stand patters propose to control it. They are willing to place one progressive on the committee, but not two. Upon the composition of the finance com mittee will largely depend the tariff revision work of the special session, and the trusts are plainly endeavor- ing to pack this committee against real downward revision.
 I Already the House has sent to the Senate the campaign publicity bill, the direct-election-for-s reso- lution and the reciprocity agreement, and they cannot be taken up because the republicans in that body are en- gagged in kilkenny cat fight.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-26
IN OLD NUREMBERG

I had half mind to beg his pardon, give him a lire and ask for an encore. Well. this morning, as I stood before the Iron Virgin, in the tower of Nuremberg, yearned for that dago's parts Of speech. wanted to swear in seven colors, crossed on the beautiful imagery of Italy with. spike or two here and there of the most guttural German.
 Nuremberg is in Bavaria, and, as & place of commercial importance. outrivals Munich, the kingly capital, where the prince regent has just celebrated his 18th birthday, having in 1886 succeeded two insane nephews, one of whom killed bis keeper and himself, and the other of whom is still alive, but under lunatic con- finement, never having occupied the throne; excellent people nevertheless. the Wittelbachs, distinguishd through the ages for valor. probity and love, both of country and art. It was the suicide king who did so much for Richard Wagner.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-26
AMERICANS IN MEXICO
the Mexican Herald

fTOIH the MeAlCdH f1eTalu.
 To judge from statements that have of late been appearing in American newspapers one would suppose that bitter anti-American sentiment was being manifested here at the present tip;e. and 1t seems to us the barest to state that this is not the case.
 Thousadns of Americans in this and other cities of the republic are well aware that they go about their daily business and their daily pleasures without being molested in look, word or act, and that their relations with their many Mex ican friends are just as pleasant and cordial as ever.
 It is dangerous for persons at a dis tance or who are not thoroughly ac- quainted with the idiosyncracies of a people to generalize about its tendencies and its moods. One needs to have had it to understand it. And for that req son it Is Americans who have resided longest in Mexico who are most amused or indignant, according as they contemplate the matter at the exag- gerated and wholly misleading state ments that are appearing just at pres- ent in several newspapers of the Uni ted States as to an anti-American feel ing in Mexico.
 We would say to Americans: Come here and find out for yourselves.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-26

And worst of all the possession of the islands is a source of weakness to us in the Orient and really in the world.
 Representative Cox of Ohio prN- poses to give up the archipelago after neutralizing it in treaties very much as Switzerland has been neutralized Naturalization is no doubt possible but if for any reason it is not then we should unload the islands in some other way.
 If they could be traded to Eng land as part payment for Canada a great adjustment of this worlds af- fairs would be inaugurated, and the administration that accomplishes it would outshine even that of Thomas Jefferson, who doubled the country in the Louisiana purchase.
 The chief thing, however, to be kept  in mind is the getting rid of the Phil ippines in some way. If one way is not feasible, try another. Let all the world know that we do not want the Philippines. They came to us in the fortunes of war without due consid- eration on our part. We have no right to hold Malays in subjection. It is contrary to the Declaration of Inde- pendence and the spirit of American institutions. The entire business was conceived in error, and every sub sequent year has served to demon strate the distressful nature of that
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-26
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
A Work of Art

"one of the most creditable works shown at the art exhibit at the Hotel Hillman a few weeks ago was from the brush of young painter, Mrs. J. H. Cone-a pupil of Miss Edna Smith," said man who has seen a good deal of art in Europe and America. "I refer to a small canvass presenting a group of four pomegranates lying on table beside homely green pitcher. One of the pome- granates has been cut open, which re. veals singularly fine talent on the part of the artist in texture treatment. The blood red seed seem instinct with life. The table on which the fruit rests car- ries dark polish, and having a mirror effect 1t enabled the painter to do some thing very fine in shadow-reflection
 What must appeal quickly to an art critic is the atmosphere of this still-life scene, an atmosphere which gives that looscness to the pomegranates which marks the differentiation between dull, lifeless work and a beautiful touch Of art feeling and art sincerity. The pic ture is on exhibition at Miss Smiths studio, and will, no doubt, be seen ani admired by many appreciative persons
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-26
DIR. EL1or,s NEW ISM

From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
 In the interview with him in the Sum day Post-Dispatch, that rrepressible in- novator, Dr. Charles W. Eliot, appears to have founded a new political ism. He calls it ''collectivism," charges Roosevelt with advocating it, and says that he him. self has championed and explained 1t in a course of lectures in the fall of 1909.
 According to the dictionary, '"collectiv- ism" is thus defined: t
 Websters International: The doctrine that land and capital should be owned by society collectively or as whole; com munIsm
 The New International: The theory of the collectivists. It is practically equiva- lent to socialism.
 A collectivist, according to this author ity, Is "a non-revolutionary socialist"
 Standard Dictionary: Collectivism; tho doctrine that the people as a whole should own or control the material and means of production; opposed to individualism.
 Century Dictionary: The socialistic the- ory or principle of centralization of all directive social and industrial power, especially of control of the means of production, in the people collectively, or the state; the opposite of individuallsm.
 Dr. Eliot delights in mystifying the pulp lic.. Along in 1902 he found himself com pelled to explain. again and again, what he meant by saying that the scab and strikebreaker are good examples of the modern hero. And only last summer he created a great bother by advocating what was called a new religion. It is surely incumbent upon him to do litue more explaining, in regard to this mys- terious "collectivism" which he and Roosevelt know all about. but of which the plain people, who rely mainly upon dictionary definitions, are in the dark. The few hints about it let fall by Dr. Eliot in the Post-Dispatch interview seem to show that 1t is something quite different from what is understood by these defni- tions.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-26

From the Boston Transcript.
 The proceedings at Viterbo are full Of light and leading to Anglo-Saxon readers. They abound in incidents illustrative of some of the most striking national char acteristics of a people with whom grace is a cult We may think that the court allows the accused too much latitude, that it does not hold witnesses closely to the relevant, but we cannot deny that even the military policemen of Italy, the Carabinieri. do their duty with min gling of grace and force worthy of imita- ton this side the Atlantic.
 The contrast between Italian and Amer ioan police methods could not be more strkingly set forth than in the account of urbane methods of Captains Capizzuti and Farris of the Carabinieri in gather ing in Professor Rapi. They, in plain clothes, boarded the train carrying him from Rome to Naples. Did either of them walk up to him and say, You are want ed?" No, they proceeded in a sweet, Italian way, suave, noiseless, but effec- tive. Said Captain Capizzuti, Where are you going, dear professor" The profes- sor replied that Naples was his destina- tion, and, seeming indifferent in his man. ner, and protesting not to recognize his questioner, the latter introduced himself, employing the accents of courteous sur prise:
 What, Not remember me? I am Captain Capizzuti'
 T am g4ad to meet you again. I am going to Naples to vindicate my honor. heard in Paris much gossip about me connecting my name with the Cuoccolo affair. Tell me what they are saying in Naples
 First" replied Capizzuti, 'let me in troduce my friend, Captain Farris.'
 Then the three fell into pleasant chat in the compartment and the two cap tains not only got the man they were after, but much information of which they were in quest Throughout, the ar rest was conducted with courtesy. Cap tain Capizzuti was careful to address the prisoner as dear professor (caro profess sore). An American police captain might rot have been as Chesterfeldian In our frank manner he might have said You're Rapi, the card sharp and all round crook. It's no use; I know you. How much more soothing to the feelings of the accused is the Italian mode; The mode is not a monopoly of the Carab ieri. It has it's exemplars in landlords guides, hackmen, all those with whom the tourist is brought in contact or ir contract. Based upon long traditions. il acquired it's form in the past. When MT
 Howells was still a young writer he noted that being swndled by an Italian car
 riage driver was very different from un dergoing the same experience at the hand: of New York hackman. The difference | vas the distinction between a surgical op | eration and mutilation. The differen | plainly subsists. It must be rather agree | able to be arrested in Italy if the arres | insures one such pleasant travelling com psnionship as that of Captains Capizzut
 and Paris; but perhaps it always doe
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-26
Fifteen-Cent Cotton
error.

On January the spot price of cot ton reached 15 cents pound. and on Saturday last it again touched the high mark. If 1910, 1909 and 1904 be excepted cotton can be said to be higher than it has been since the pa per money days back of 1875.
 Nearly all commodities are lower than they were year ago, but cot ton is higher because of actual facts of supply and demand. Stocks in this country are low and the English cotton mills whichs are unusually prosperous will certainly need more cotton from the small supply we have on hand. No one rises up to explain why the English mills can prosper ously make goods from 15-cent cot ton while the American mills cannot. The new crop has secured a good start and pretty soon it will become a factor in cotton quotations. Some of the new cotton has been chopped out, and a good stand is generally The acreage is confessedly large. A continuance of favorable conditions in the fields will affect the prices of even old-crop cotton, small as the stocks in spinners' hands ad- mittedlv are.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-26
Reform in Mexico

No settlement will bring relief to the many in Mexico that does not provide for elective governors of provinces and for the removal and ending of all jefe politicos. The governors are at present appointed by the president and the jefe politi- cos of the districts are appointed by the governors. Between the two grating is general. The governors work the corporations while the jefe politicos, who resemble American sheriffs, arrest any peon who has saved up any money. Both are parts of the federal government, and any charge they may make against an ar rested peon is sustained by the courts, all being parts of one ma chine.
 We may think that graft reached a limit in our cities and some of our states-for example, in San Francisco and in Pennsylvania, but we have never had a system so pervasive and searching as the jefe politicos conduct in Mexico.
 No one accuses Diaz of grating from the poor, but he knows full well what his officers are doing, and Ma Sa=s and the revolutionists know what they are doing, and the mass of the people know how and why they are robbed. It follows that unless the peace settlement provides that the governors of state are to be elected by the people and all jefe politicos abolished, there will soon again be another uprising. Graft of that nature cannot long be borne by even degenerate Aztecs.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-26
Brighter Business Outlook

For many weeks past the whole country has experienced business de- pression. Commercial inactivity and general dullness have been remarked in all manufacturing centers; and the commercial world settled to the be- lief some time ago that there would be no material improvement before the early summer. If business has been dull in the Birmingham district it has been no duller here than in other industrial districts-not as dull.
 Notwithstanding the fact that the iron market has been sluggish for a year or so past, many furnaces have been operated and the iron companies have produced pig metal at some profit. The Tennessee company has been making large expenditures for new construction ever since the United States Steel corporation en- tered this district. The American Steel and Wire company, another sub- sidiary of the Steel corporation, has about completed $3,500,000 plant at Corey. The corporation will continue to expend large sums here, and when general business of the country does improve, and when the iron and steel market become active again the Bir- mingham district will be the center of unusual prosperity.
 National politics has had the ten dency to disquiet capital and depress certain lines of business, but this country is too prosperous in general way to be seriously hurt by what Congress may or may not do; ana now with splendid crops almost ir sight a revival in trade will SCOT follow. There is every indication that the last half of this year will be as prosperous as the first half has beer halting.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-26
Our Islands in the Orient

When Dewey steamed into Manila harbor with blood in his eye he not only caught the Spanish sailors asleep but he caught up problem that in the words of ex-Secretary of the Navy Herbert is a continuing calam- ity. This calamity is continuing expense. It is a continuing libel upon our theory of government, for the Malays of the archipelago are not Americans and never will be. They desire independence to man.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-26
A BuOyant Feeling

"rhe Birmingham district had some thing of a scare when the American Steel and Wire company stopped work on its great plant at Corey the other day, but the fact that construction work is being resumed and the further fact that the United States Steel corpora ton, which controls the Tennessee com- pany and the American Steel and Wire, gives out through an executive chan nel an optimistic statement, have ten dency to impart a buoyant feeling In this section,' said prominent bus mess man.
 When general trade is dull it takes very little to make it duller, but when a reaction against disquieting state ments and rumors sets in the improve nent Is so. marked that we almost feel like we are enjoying a boom. l believe that business in this district will be better from now on. and that we Will hear no more of depression. There are many indications that pe- Iiod of great activity will begin in the coming summer. I believe that our im- provement in Birmingham now begin ming will keep right on."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-26

traction engine in street work. and as Corey is the first place in which one of these engines was used for such purposes to any great extent, he ex- presses pleasure in the prospect of see- ing Corey and the development accom- plished in the past year.
 Plans are on foot to have gover- nor's day at Corey, in which case we will make it big event and will en- certain the visiting delegates to, the good roads convention well. All good roads people are interested in the class of street work being done at Corey, as it so nearly coincides with the aim of the association. Nine governors have signified their intention of coming to
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-26
KISS LOVE GOODNIGHT

By Frank L. stanton.
 IT.. The day falls dead. Faint stars, like ghosts in white.
 Kiss Love goodnighti II Brief was the Journey down thef golden years; s tears?-
 Kiss Love goodnight!
 < II. The hills of heaven or the depths lh sight: Kiss Love goodnight! el Regret is vain. and all lifes sorrows seem Like formless shadows in dying dream Kiss Love goodnight!
 Ill., fss As Is not the Darkness sweeter than tho Light? ..
 Kiss Love goodnight! Leave him with lilies leaning to his breast: -Fi14A Sleep comes. with healing hand, and whis- pers: "Rest!'
 Kiss Love goodnight
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-26
A FRANK AVOwAL.

A FRANK AvOwAL. Because the skies are blue above, Because the sun Is shining bright, I fain would sing kong of love And every tender mood requite. Alas, the. daily rhyming bard Must oft bewail his hapless lot To write a jingle isn't hard
 When ones poetic fervor's hot. And when the muse doth lend her aid To fashion forth a Hitting strain, But, oh, I'm very much afraid This morn she heartless leave hath
 ta'en And left me all forlorn to grind. As wells I may the daily grist. If fate continues so unkind, I'll soon become a pessimist.
 Birmingham Age-Herald. To grind a daily poem out, Is tough on any bard sublime And yet ye daily bard must spout To get the dollar and the dime. Although, of course. his run of stuff Is on an average rather bum He still must make a mighty bluff, And keep his pencil going some. Now, here am Land I must write A column long of tommyrot; My stuff must be a little bright, Or else I may get "canned" or shot. And so to start this column off My scissors In my hand took And swiped-oh, reader, do not scoff- A poem from my friend, Paul Cook. James B. Nevin in the Rome Tribune Herald.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-26
DENMAN THOMPSON m inc New York Tines

Denman Thompson will not be remem- bered as a great actor, but he will be re- membered agreeably and with gratitude. His histrionism was narrowly limited, he lad practically no repertory. he was not versatile. but the portrayal of the New Hampshire farmer Joshua Whitcomb. had photographic accuracy, was not de- ficient in pathos, was full of natural humor, and its execution denoted meas urable command of stage technique. Whitcomb was a characterization as dis tinct and as human as Jefferson's Rip Van Winkle which can be said without instituting any sort of comparison be- tween the art of Thompson and the broader. finer art of Jefferson.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-26
HE HAD THE SIZE
he Metropolitan.

From the Metropolitan
 The young man was trying to select jeweled belt for the young lady to whom he was engaged.
 What size do you wish, .sir?" asked the salesgir.
 The prospective bridegroom blushed and stammered. Really. don't know" Then a thought struck him. Lend me your tape measure" he said. The measure was handed to him and he laid 1t on the inside of his arms, from shoulder to wrist Twenty inches please" he said with decision.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-26
rAvor1rE FICTION

From the Chicago Tribune. a
 Thank you. afr. Gentlemen, am offered sl5 to start this soild gold watch" s SD e9
 "Divorces procured without public ity."
 'Fd go your security willingly. MT. Ardup, but my wife has made me prom ise never to do anything of that kind"
 Invisible patches a speciality"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-26
Montgomery's Music Festival

Montgomery Is to have a music fes- tival under the direction of Victor Her bert tomorrow. There will be an art ernoon and night performance. Nine teen or 20 singers from birmingham will participate Rienzi Thomas, at one time a resident of Birmingham but now the leading musician of Mont gomery, has trained a ladies' chorus for the festival, and he wi4l mass his local singers with the Birming gham singers for the production of Elijah" Following are the Birmingham men who will sing in Montgomery: A. Thom- as, Arthur Thomas, stephen Allsop, Harry Lyon. E. J. Jones, David Davies, George Tut, MT. John Bates, Ernest Poe, John Thomas, D. Ansley Har- ry L. Culver, D. Roberts, w. H. Mekin, L. P Smith, J. K. Stewart, F. D. Fuller, c. H. Grain.
 Victor Herbert with his superb or chestra is meeting with ovations in all the southern cities. He was in Macon, Ga, Monday night and played to the largest audience that ever assembled there on a musical occasion.
 Herbert will direct the Birmingha n festival-May 22. 23 24. He brings with him great galaxy of vocal artists, in cluding Schumann- Heink and Evan Will liams Schumann- -Heink will sing here Monday and Tuesday nights. J. H. Hol- combe, president of the Birmingham Festival association, says that the ad- vance sale of seats has been unprece- cented. It began on Monday and up to last night the amount of cash received totalled almost six times as much as the cash receipts the first two days preced- ing the festival of 1910 MT. Holcombe says the indica tions are that every seat in the Orpheum will be sold long in ad- vance of the festival.