davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17
OUR FIRST CHINESE TEAS I
LLOYD ROACH, BIRMINGHAM MISSIONARY TAX.

mense pot" of rice, which he had cooked and filled our bowls. How thankful we were for something we were not afraid to eatl There was such quantity of meats and vegetables and all dipping out of the same dish so We could eat sparingly without giving offense. But oh. how horrible to see them wipe their chop sticks by draw ing them through their lips and then pick up particles of food and put them on our rice! But that is good man ners."
 The third course was also meats ana meats and meats and still more meats. And so were the fourth and fifth and sixth-but all things must end and the
 end of this feast was at last brought on. In each course there was a. large variety of vegetables such as cooked celery and toadstools and a kind of cabbage Some of the meats were really good and well cooked. There was one dish of duck prepared in a very appetizing manner The skin had been removed whole the meat boned and cut into small pieces and then put back into the skin, all seasoned and cooked
 thoroughly. I cant begin to tell what
 was in all of the dishes. One contained fish balls, another mixture of bits of pork, fish and worms" l suppose that is what 1t looked like, and onions, | cabbage, etc, all covered with the wa ter they were cooked in. Another dish contained long strips of fat pork, per
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17

rant Oh, that cloth over the tray! If they had dusted with it for months and months they could not possibly have gotten it so soiled without having used it for cleaning the lamps. To say the least 1t did not look appetizing.
 The first course consisted of cakes and cakes and still more cakes, round, flat and every other kind of shape; but don't ask me what was In them. We just had to, eat them, but oh, how hard it was to swallow T know not what Some of them tasted very much like minced meat, but we could not be sure what kind of meat was minced. Al were made of rice flower a waXy kind of dough, ,'filled with an unknown quantity.
 At last the fragments were gathered up, every little piece, that nothing be wasted put into bowls and set on a shelf in full view where we could continue to feast our eyes. Then the next course came in. but I forgot to mention that our bowls of sweetened water and what remained in the China mems bowls were all poured back into A kettle to reheat and then for the second course the bowls were refilled from this mixture. The second tray consisted likewise of that same soiled aut oil for salt, and meats, meats-a greater variety than there was or cakes While the waiter from the res taurant was placing them .on the table the old chapel keeper brought in an inn
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17

We were alone and not able to speak one sentence of Chinese that afternoon. The language teacher had just left us.
 What can they be?'' we both exclaimed when messenger, lowing almost to the floor, handed us the long red envelope covered with Chinese characters, large black ones. For all we knew that strange looking letter in an envelope, at least a foot long, might be an order from the Mandarin for our heads. No time was lost in finding the older missionaries to read 1t. Just guess what 1t was! Invi- tations to Chinese feast--a real feast; d separate long red card for each of us.
 Listen how nicely the mems invita- tions read: The great teachers were prayed 'entreated,e etc, to honor such and such stupid" I" foolish" persons by feasting with them in the chapel two or three weeks hence at i o'clock p. m
 Now of course the womens invitations were still more courteous, don't you think? No, indeed, they were not. By virtue of being teachers wives we had ascended to a position of equality with them, and were therefore invited to par take of a Chinese feast with them those august "sien sangs' Think of such an honorl We were the only women to be present Their wives, not even by virtue of being the great 'sein sang s" wives, were worthy to sit at the feast with them.
 On the morning of the day appointed for the feast the same messenger came
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17

haps two or three inches long and
 very, very fat Another had strips of leaner pork somewhat drowned and
 vegetables. Then there was dish of chicken bones and all chopped into small pieces. A dish which they con
 sidered a great delicacy and were very
 much surprised that we did not par
 take of contained slices of fish stom
 ach, and they didn't have any appe-
 tizing name for it either They called
 it just plain what it was. Dogs, cats,
 rats, etc.. are also delicacies. There Is not doubt about those cakes which
 were served first containing bits of all of the above together with snake,
 frog and almost anything else that creeps or walks. Then last-rather
 the last we saw--came a "heating up
 affair, which meant that the feast was not all over by any means. It was a large vessel shaped very much like a pound cake pan with cylinder com Ing up through the center. The bottom part was earthern ware and contained a charcoal fire. In the tin pan was q mixture water, grease and bits of vegetables, boiling hot. This was to dip bits of vegetables and meat into to reheat them. The Chinese eat their food almost boiling hot. They seem to be afraid of cold food.
 I haven't mentioned everything by Iany means, but enough to give an idea
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17
FARMERS ID RESORT
 ID NEW METHODS Central Alabama Tillers Ex-
 pecting Great Results COTTAGE DESTROYED Stock of Cotton at Selma so Great Warehouses Are Overcrowded. Carnival Under Auspices of Red Men Success

Selma, December 16. - (Specal) - The farmers of central Alabama and Dallas county will next year till the soil of this section of the state upon more scien- tific principles than they ever have be- fore, and 1t is expected. that the re<ults from the improved methods of farming will be great.
 The work of preparing the land for the next crop is now under way in this part of the state. The ground is being plowed deeper than 1t has ever before, and which, according to government farming experts, Is the right method of blowing. Fertilizing, according to the views of the government experts will also be the rule this year.
 Nearly every white farmer in all parts of the county is now busy preparing for his next crop. Diversified farming will be engaged in more extensively this year than ever before also, but cotton win < continue to be the staple, although an < early variety will be planted, so that the boil weevil will do little damage. 2 Early Saturday morning the cottage on Mitchell street occupied by MT. Monette r { the fire originated is not, known as MT. SPhilan and his family at the time were T asleep. The department responded to the alarm promptly and by hard work in a high wind blowing at the time saved ad- joining dwellings from being burned. The loss to the building and household fur nishings will amount to about $2200. = The stock of cotton on hand here in the various warehouses is so great that there is not room in them to store it.. In each warehouse there are thousands of bales of uncompressed cotton, and as it takes up considerable room it has oyerfiowed into the streets around those places.
 Since the beginning of the new commer- B cial year, on September 1, there have been received in Selma more than 111,0O9 ? bales or 16,000 more bales than were re- ceived during the previous commercial year. Stored in the different warehouses of the city at present there are more than 21O00 bales of cotton, against about 15,0O0 bales this time last year.
 The carnival which was put on by the loca ltribe of the Independent Order of ; Improved Red Men, in the northern part of the city, closed tonight after a most successful week. In spite of bad weather . which prevailed throughout the week the carnival was well attended and by it the local lodge of Red Men realized a neat amount which will be used to re- hablitate it so that it can again take up it's charity work, as well as other work which has been mapped out for the next year.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17
ID ARRANGE FOR I MUSIC FESTIVAL President HOlcOmbe Calls a Committee Meeting for
 h Monday at Noon

President J. H. Holcombe of the Music
 Festival association has called meeting ~of the, executive committee for tomorrow : at noon, and he will urge full attend : ance.
 While no action has been taken it seems . to be practically agreed that the festival next, spring will consist of three concerts 2 instead of five, as heretofore. Many srrusic lovers, it is said, might be willing : to compromise on four concerts, but many of the most prominent festivalgoers re- marked last year that after the third con- 1. cert everybody was physically tired out. |. Among the few orchestras available for Z the coming spring is the Minneapolis sym 2 phony, (which now ranks right at the top. z Manager wendell Leighton of 11inneap- oils telegraphed to MT. Holcombe yester- sday that his orchestra would not be avail able for Birmingham unless a contract were signed without delay. E..
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17

again to remind us that the day had arrived Promptly at 1 o'clock he came again to tell us that the feast was ready-iust as they did in Bible times and we followed him to the chapel. Our language teacher ushered us upstairs where the other three hosts were wait ing. They met us at the top of the stairs, then with much lowing and scraping. assigned us to the seats of honor, bamboo benches around bare table.
 After a few words of lively converse ton between the Chinese and the older missionaries, the first course came on. But first they poured hot sweetened wa ter into bowls and set them at each place. Also small dishes were filled with salted peanut oil which is used instead of salt and given to each one of us The articles of food are dipped into this oil instead of salting them while cook ing.
 We thought, of course, the food would be prepared by the old chapel keeper, who cooks for the teachers, and Knowing something of the things Foreigners like and dislike. the feast would not be so bad after all. Imagine our horrer when the old. chapel keep CT, robed in a long sam" (coat or garment) took his place at the table with the rest of us and we saw a large tray coming in from the restau-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17
FORESTER DIES
 VERY SUDDENLY
Senator B. A. Forester Buried Past Week at Cowarts-F. D.
 Witte Dead

Columbia. December 1s.-( Speciah)-- Friday afternoon at ? o'clock at the family burial place of Cowarts, oc' cured the funeral of Senator BenJa min A. Forester who died very sud denly after he had attempted to arise after a pleasant nights rest Senatoi Forester has been in declining healtf
 for more than year and had during this period of time retired from the active pursuits of business, but up te the time of his sudden death he had been up and about his home greeting
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17
CIRCUIT COURT |, OVER AT ONEONTA

Oneonta, December t6.--( (Special)-- The extra session of Blount county cir
 gcuit court will close. today Quite a number of jury civil cases have been
 scleared from the docket. Judge AL ston has preside during the time. ! Cotton continues to come in but some sof 1t has gone down to and cents.
 sand the farmers are disappointed anout the Iowsprices.[
 { The Blount county high school build ling is being rushed toward completion. J. A. Brian Ss Son are again re-
 building their brick store, which was
 twlce destroyed by fire inside of 6
 syear. The building will be ready for occupancy ab out February 1.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17
EDUCATORS WILL MEET IN ATLANTA

Chattanooga December 16.--H I1. Birley of this city. secretary. has is
 sued a call for the annual meeting of the Society for the Adyancement Of Education in the South, to be held in Atlanta December 27 2s and 29. Tho Southern Educational society embraces the following 16 states. Alabama, Ar kansas Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi. Ms .souri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Tennessee. Virginia
 and West Virginia.
 An attractive programme is being ar ranged for the occasion and the sec- retary reports that he expects a large Attendance.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17
MISS PURCELL TO
 WE'D MIR. w. P. LONG

Columbia, December Special = wedding of great interest to their many friends throughout Alabama will occur at the home of the brides moth CT, o51 Main street, December 27. The invita- tion follows:
 Mrs. William Henry Purcell re- quests the honor of you presence at the marriage of her daughter Florrie. to Mir Wallace Perry Long, on Wednes day morning. December 21, 1911. 9 o'clock. At home, Columbia Ala"
 The city school dismissed this aft ernoon for the Christmas vacat tion. The pupils of the school rendered most excellent programme as fitting cons clusion to the old years work.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17
POULTRY SHOW IS
 OVER AT MERIDIAN

, Meridian, Miss, December 1e.-(Specal) 2 The best show that has been held In this part of the state was that which closed e here this afternoon. The third annual !. show of the East Mississippi Poultry as- ; sociation is one of the finest inspoint of Z being duality show that has ever been : held in the south. There was higher
 ttandard of birds required for entrance s and some of the best in the south and en- tire country were on exhibit. Besides those en,ered for prizes there were sev- ' eral. hundred. that, were entered merely Rs q display ard to show some of the lntlafnments of the focal poultry fan
 clers.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17
MASS MEETING IS
 HELD AT .TALLADEGA
Farmers, Merchants and Bankers Dis- cuss and Take Action on Low
 Cotton Price

Talladega, December 16.-tSpecial.)- )-- The farmers, merchants and bankers of Talladega county assembled in mass meeting In the courthouse today to de- liberate and take action In reference to the low price of cotton. MT. Wal lace Boaz of Childersburg called the meeting to order.
 H. L. McElderry representing the Talladega National bank. was called out of the large audience and spoke earnestly giving statistics and start
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17
in his own peculiarly pleasant manner his many frian1s

in his own peculiarly pleasant manner his many friends.
 Senator Forester had been a resi- dent of Cowarts for many years. where he had accumulated large fortune. Among the wiregrass politicians he was perhaps the prince Though sue cessful in his political aspirations. he was not one of the frivolous poli- ticians and it was due to his very firm convictions that he was a success. Sew oral years ago he was elected to the legislature and in the legislature dur ing the Conner administration Senator Forester represented with conspicu- ous ability this senatorial district. His rugged honesty was the special fea- ture of his nature.
 Besides his widow he is survived by the following children: Mrs James Folks, Cowarts; N. B, Forester, $. S Forester, Y. T. Forester, H. G. For rester of the Dothan National bank, Whit Forester Oliver A. Forester Frederick Forester. Mrs. George Wash ington Pitcher, Mrs. Hugh IT. Hodges, and Miss Sibbie Forester.
 Senator Forester was one of the wealthest and most highly respected citizens of Alabama. It was never said of the senator that he ever earned even one of his many thousand dollars dishonestly.
 Mr. Fred Daniel Witte, who has
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17

in the Columbia cemetery yesterday afternoon at 3 o'clock. MT. Witte was born in Washington, la. in 1Ss7 and was married to Mrs. Marie G. Town send at Florala, September 29, 1909. Besides 8 widow and one little son, MT. Witte leaves his father in Washing ton, la, and two brothers, Carl Witte of Eidon, la, and Louis Witte of Dav- enport Ia. MT. Witte was prior to his protracted illness in the employ of the Jackson Lumber company of Flor ala as one of that firms most ener- getic young business men.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17

of typical feast; perhaps not typ ical either for wine is served instead of sweetened water. It Is customary to rise and leave, the table when one has eaten full so we rose and ex- pressed our apprecia tion, which we could sincerely do as they had shown us the greatest honor in their power, Then we departed and walked In the fresh, air until dark. For several days We refrained as much as possible from speaking of or even thinking of a Chi nese feast. W t4s
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17

other mass meeting to be held In Tal- ladega on Thursday, January 1, 1912, at Il o'clock at the courthouse.
 There was a deep undcrcurrent or seriousness in this large assembly nNak k- ing 1t apparent that the farmers or Talladega county were fully bent on holding their staple until--to use the language of a leading planter-"hades freezes"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17

Mr. Fred Daniel Witte, who has been making Columbia his home for the past several months, was buried
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-09-28

| Car No. Alive newspaper men
Jas. f. Powell.
Car No 5.-Five newspaper men, A
J.. Stump.
Car No. 6.-Governor B. F. Carroll
| rotary c. G. Nye.
Car No. 7.-Senator w IS. Kenyon
J. B. Sax, Calvin Manning, Samuel Ma
| hon.
Car No. s.-Ex-Senato LAFAYETTE
Young, H. L. Waterman. j. F. Weber
T.. D. Foster, c. O. Taylor, ] C. Jor-
dan.
Car No. 9.-Hon. n. E. Kendall. Hon
S. F. Prouty, Rev. T. w. jeffrey, J. =
Hackworth.
Car No. 10.-Hon. c.. E. Pickett. Hon
C. A. Kennedy. w. T. Harper, Jos.
Dain.
Car No. 11.-Hon. Horace Towner'
Major John F. Lacey, Hon. VIM. Nor
row, Hon John F. B!eakley. Judge NJ.
A, Roberts, E. G. Moon.
Car No. 12.-Adjutant Gen. Logan,
Col. Allen, Col. Lopez, Col. Hedge, Col.
Lucas, Col. Larrabee.
Car No. 13-Col. Wilson, Col. Can
field, Lieut.. Col. Carton. Lieut.. Col.
Car No. 14.-Lieut. Col. Saunders.
Lieut.. Col. Fairchilds. Lieut.. Col. Aims
worth, Lieut.. Col. Fox.
Car No. 15.-Lieut. Col. kinkade.
Lieut.. Col. Rooney. Lieut.. Col. Ferga-
son. Capt McCleave.
Car No. 16-Hon. Frank Shan".
Judge + M. Hunter. Judge d M. An
derson, Judge c. w. Vermil.on.
Car NJ. 17.-Hon j. G. Mabry. >. =.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-09-28

the state officials and others who are
with the train during Its stay IN Iowa:
President Taft.
Secretary Hilles. .,,
Mai. Archibald w. Butt, U. 5. Army
A. D. c, u,,,,er
stenographers. ,,;,,,.,
messengers. ,,rr,bv
James Sloan, Jr., Joseph =. Murphy
Richard L. Jervis. secret. service
C. E.. Colony. representative u '''e
Boston & Albany railroad.
Robert r. Small and Robert Doogan'
- - Startwell, United Press
S.yaion Brown. New York Sun Press
association. >r,. sor,,;oo
Roval Kent Fuller, New York Her
r O. .Scallan, New York World.
George q. Hill, New York Tribune.
cus 7 Karger, Cincinnati Times
H F. Taft, Western Union Telegraph
~ The Car Occupants. :.
The first twenty cars In the presl-
dent,s narade will carry the following
Car No. president Taft, Mayor S.
RI. Harper. Secretary Hilles, Major
Butt James Sloan, Jr.
Car No, Pr l.. Jervis, JOS. Muir
phy w. w. Mischief, Or. Rhodes.
Car No 3.-Chas. Wagner, Gus kar-
ger w q. Daum, ]. j. Smith, Father J.
w, Foley VIM McNett
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-09-28
OBIT'J A r Y
Mrs. John r. Young.

Concerning the death OF Mrs. John
R. Young. the Creston Advertiser last
night said: ts.
Mrs. Emma Young, wife CT Chief
Dispatcher John R. Young, passed sud-
denly away Monday evening at $3.50
o'clock at the family home on Sumner
avenue. Her unexpectated death is a
great. shock to. the community. Last
Thursday she was taken severely i'll
with peritonitis, and even though her
condition was researded as serious it
was not thought by anyone that the
end was near. She rallied slightly
Monday morning. but in the evening
of that day rapidly became worse I'M
til death summoned her away at $3.50
o'clock.
Emma Abel was bern at Alton, Ia,
November %, 1862, anad died at her
home in Creston, September %, 1911
at the age of is years. She grew to
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-09-28

been visiting her parents, Mr.. and Mrs
William Gardner, the past month.
DR.. P. B. Snavely, Is business
visitor in North English today.
Rev. S. B. Kephart, 9s2 West Fourth
street, is spending the week in Sig
Quincy, visiting friends and relatives
| Arthur Hallender, 523 Center
avenue, left this morning for Bidwel
on business and hunting trip.
Mr.. and Mrs. D. B. Davis left this
morning on the Milwaukee for Mystic
where they will visit Mrs. Davis par
| ents Mr.. and Mrs. M. Lince.
Rev. E. ]. Shook, s1S North Benton
street, left this morning on the Mil
waukee for Mystic on business.
Mrs. o. G. COPYRIGHT and son
Lazare and Miss Hazel Foreman Of
Fort Madison returned home last even
ing after a weeks visit with Mr.. and
Mrs. Guy N. Reid, 234 East Pennsyl
vania evenue. w.
E. L. Sterling, who resides north OF
town, is visiting at the home of J. F.
Hemming in New London.
Mrs. J. Ryan of Burlington spent
yesterday at the Cullen home on
North Marion street
Mrs. John Allison Of Burlington spent
yesterday at the home of her sister,
Mrs. w. H. Fetzer, 1874 West Fifth
street.
Mrs. Oscar Applequist, 1011 East
Fourth street, left this morning for
Farson, where she will visit DR.. c. A.
Henry and c. c. Sylvester.
Mrs. Ed. McClonbilne and Mrs. w.
A. Jordan of Mystic, who have been
visiting at the home of A. Robertson
on East Park avenue, returned home
this morning.
Mrs. Margaret Campbell of Arthur,
N. d., who has been visiting at the
home of A. A. Taylor, 451 North Court
street, returned home this morning.
August Ehrmann, formerly of OF
tumwa who has been located in Den
yer, Col, for the past five years, is
visiting at the home of his parents,
Mr.. and Mrs. P. H. Ehrmann, 126
North Richard street.
Miss Charlotte Stephenson Of Cory
don. who has been visiting Mrs. Karl
Breeding, geo North Court street, re-
turned home today.
Mrs, J. A. Tomilson, 10o East
Third street, left last evening for
Des Moines where she will visit
friends and relatives.
Mrs R. A. Johnston, 642 North Court
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-09-28

rangements. ALI autos must be crank
ed and ready to go.
The president has expressed his de
sire that all who bear tickets to the
speakers platform should be seated In
their places by the time he arrives at
the baseball park. He has also re-
quested that the audience be seated in
the ball park by the time the parade
reaches the park and thus all delay be
avoided. It is planned that the time
used in visiting the Irving school will
permit the people to be seated in their
places and all in readiness by the time
the president arrives to make his adj
dress.
More Autos Needed.
All persons owning autos who have
not as yet been heard from regard
ing the use of their cars are requested
to telephone to F. B. Clark, chairman
Of the transportation committee, as the
committee desires to secure as many
cars as possible for the occasion.
Farmers living in the country, who
desire to participate in the parade
with their automobiles, are invited to
come to the city early and communi-
cate with Chairman Clark, so he can
/ place them.
The attention of the subscribers to
the Taft day celebration is again call
ed to the fact that they should see
Treasurer M. B. Hutchinson, and secure
their dinner tickets. There remain
about twenty subscribers who have not
called upon Mr.. Hutchinson. and this
matter should be attended to at once.
The Presidents Party.
The presidents party that will re-
main with the special until the entire
trip is completed is composed of over
twenty persons. About half of this
number are newspaper men. Secretary
Weidenfeler reports that the follow
ing persons accompany the president
and make up the party, exclusive of