davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-26
THE MIRACULOUS ESCAPE

From the New York Times.
 II is shocking even to think what might have happened from the ramming of the biggest passenger steamer ever floated by the sharp proved steel warship Hawke. Had the blow not been glanc- ing one, had the captain of the Olympic tried to sheer off as the Hawke turned from his parallel course. he would have presented her more squarey to the ram of the arInored cruiser, shaped especially to sink such ships, and the most terrible chronicle of the sea would be recorded this morning. The torn and crumpled beak of the warship and the rent side of the great liner, gashed below her water line, are witnesses of their heavy impact and of the peril to so many passengers miraculously averted
 Near shore ana soft bleaching ground there could be no more fortunate place for such q collision, nor could there be a cooler headed captain. As the collision doors were being shut Captain Smith headed the Olympic inshore, but drew rack when the thrush of the waters ceased, assured that the lives in his care were safe. It was a fearful experience we'll encountered, and happily survived by all
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-26
MAGAZINE COVERS
Phelrs Cnshing in Life.

charles Phelps Gushing in Life.
 A single glance at the catalogue of Kissing Covers will suffice to tell the cus- toner just what months issue of any magazine he is about to buy. The pie ture is as reliable as a Geographically regulated clock. Here appended is the working outline:
 January-K Kissing on the hall stairs, while the clock marks time at l minute to 12.
 T Tebruary-Kissing in the postoffice- Sealing a Message to His Valentine"
 March-Kissing what the wind blew into his arms-"It's an III Wind"
 April--Kissing under an umbrella, rain dripping down his coat collar.
 May-Sweet girl graduates first lesson in love- (SmackD
 June-Bride on lovers arms-"Another Commencement exercise"
 July-In a canoe, her hand trailing in the water; decorative border of punches of firecrackers.
 August-On the beach, writing names and drawing hearts in the sand. September-Stll on the beach, but now saying fond goodbys. l October-She sees her lover's face in | the mirror (and kisses itl I November-She manages to argue him | into dress suit and he takes her to the opera.
 December-Hugging in front of a wood | fre decorative border of holly leaves and childrens stockings.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-26
wONDERFUL " COBB

In the American Magazine for October. Hugh S. Fullerton writes on "The Right and Wrong of Baseball,' a collection of anecdotes Illustrating the ethics of the na- tional game Interfering with, without touching, the base runner, Fullerton 1e- fends as a part of the game. He writes:
 ''Ty Cobb, who probably is the speed fest man circling the bases that ever ran the distance, loaned his wonderful speed to some experiments last year. Cobb ran the bases on the Chicago National league park in October, 19sS timed by three watches at 13 1-5 seconds, establishing a record His run that day was marvellous in that he took every base in exact stride and lost extremely little ground in rnak- ing the turns. Last year Cobb did some sprintng on the bases to establish basis of time and distance for me. We placed the regular infield in position and Cobb started each man acting exactly as he does when Cobb hits a home run. The re- suit was that he ran 476 feet in 15 4-5 sec ends, and not one of the infielders did onything that an umpire would analyze as interference, although he actually was interfered with five times before he reached the plate."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-26
Where Mir. Taft Stands

The vetoes of the wool, the free nst and the cotton bills and the ad- verse action of Canada on the reel procity pact has left the country in the clutches of the Aldrich-Payne- Shoot tariff. Not duty has been reduced, not one. The Presidents vetoes and the reversal of his pet reciprocity scheme has put the coun- try at the mercy of the tariff pro- tected trusts and monopolies.
 Can the President get out of this Dole next winter? Speaker Clark says there is not tariff expert on his alleged tariff board, and the head of that board, Professor Emery, says the whole thing is joke, because it has no power to procure information concerning the cost of production. The President is, however, stalking all on this board, consisting of two politicians, two college professors and the editor of a stockyards paper in Chicago.
 The course of the democrats, led by Oscar Underwood, is plain and
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-26
The Cotton situation

Henry Clews in his Saturday review Of the cotton situation says in part:
 Weather conditions during the week ety freely expressed during the equinoc- tial storms having proved needless. The proximity of the frost date naturally leads to conservatism among the crop experts in their revised estimates of the final yield, but many of them are will ing to admit that present prospects, all adverse factors having been duly consid- cred, are for a crop little if any less than the previous high record, assuming, of course, that no more than normal de- terioration occurs from now on. However, from a price standpoint it is now no, so much a question of bumper yield, hut whether this years crop will be ade- quate. for manufacturing needs, and at the same time restore the carry over tu normal proportions. Such a condition seems to be foreshadowed by present in dications which, if fulfilled, would evant- ually result in great good to the cotton industry the world over, although it would necessarily mean somewhat low CT price level than has even yet oeen witnessed.
 After such a severe decline as has re- gently been scored something of a re- action is not unlikely, but outside of 9 covering movement which may set in al any time there is nothing in the situation on which to base the hope of anything more than a temporary rally
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-26
MOUNTAIN OF THE LAW

From the October Wide WOrld
 The Sinai Peninsula occupies an area of nearly 10000 square miles, being about the same size as Sicily. Politi- cally it belongs to Egypt, and is gov erned by the intelligence department of the Egyptian war office, one officer being stationed at Khalat- Nakhl and another at Tor. There are only about 5000 to 5000 inhabitants-all that can be supported by this noun tainous and barren land The Arabs are divided in- to tribes, each having sheikh who yields considerable authority Ihe sacred associations of the region draw many pilgrims, chiefly Russians and Greeks, to the convent on Mount sinai These, of course, need ca;neis to carry them, and their water and food so h this way quite a number or the Be douins gain a livelihood. Many own a few palm trees either on the plain oi in the oasis of Triran Here they har- vest the dates and transport them ny camel to spez exchanging them for corn and anillet
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-26
\ WOMAN OF MYSTERY


 New York Correspondence Cincinnati
 Times-Star
 Perhaps there's another side to Emile Grigsby. The public is sufficiently aware Of one side of her life-from the time that her mother. Sue" Grigsby, gave her to Charles T. Yerkes as ward" The public isn't permitted to forget that side During coronation week she fairly divided New York's first pages with the royal family, so persistently was it as- serted that she had been taken under the cueenly protection. Then she returned tc New York, after carefully staging a scene on the pier. With hundreds of re- turning voyagers looking on, she counted out gems valued at $S00,0o0 for the inspec- ton of the customs officials, and retired to her house of mystery, under the guard of her imported black servants. A faint smile lowered about her pallid lips. Those who looked on would have sworn that she reveled in the attention she had at tracted Notoriety had become her cray ing.
 But on the other side, her bedroom in that house of mystery is declared on good authority to be as severely plain as the cell of any nun. Stone walls and ceiI- ing make it almost a prison. No rug nit igates the chill of the stone floor. A mar row bed of white enameled iron stands in enc corner, where the occupants first waking gaze may fall upon crucifx- l the one striking feature of the apart ment. Her days are spent in her music room, in which one of the greatest pipe | organs to be found in New York is in | stalled, or in her library, boring over her books of religious philosophy. She rarely reads fiction, but the connoisseur who brings to her attention a rare old missal, an authentic early edition of the printed | scripture. a work penned by the old monks, is almost certain of a rich re- ward. Her library is devoted almost entirely to religious philosophy, she has written largely although not under her own name, and she constantly employs scholars to make translations Of early religious works for her. to discuss with her the. meaning of the various writers, and to guide and illuminate her own thought
 Which is the real Emile Grigsby? That question may never be answered.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-26
Come to the Great Fair!

This invitation should be on every lip this week. It should go out in every letter written in Birmingham this week. In this way people can be attracted from the other 66 coun- ties of the state until the streets of this city are filled with people. No one can well exaggerate the excellent preparations for the fair. They out run all previous efforts. It is to be far and away the best fair ever held in Alabama. And the only point now is to convince the people of the state of this fact. Railroad rates are to be exceptionally low and publicity is all that is needed to attract vast number of visitors.
 Let every firm and every corpora tion and every individual boost the fair this week. One hundred thous- and letters should be sent out every day asking people to come to the fair. There will be attractions in it for everybody-for every man, wom- an and child in the state. A general boost within this city this week is all that is needed now.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-26
THE DOGS OF FLANDERS

From the Wide World Magazine.
 Dogs to the Flemish peasant are what horses are to the American farm CT They assist in many ways on the farm, pull the produce to market, and deliver the milk from tine dairy. For tunately for them their lives are con- trolled by constitutional laws, which prohibit the whip and the carrying of human cargo. Although this law does not always prevent the lazy messenger boy from imposing on his dumb com panion, 1t will be seen that the govern ment endeavors to suppress3 any at tempt at cruelty. In appearance they are a cross between a, mastiff and a Newfoundland dog, sturdy and intelli- gent. To an English eye there is nc more picturesque sight than a couple of these beautiful animals harnessed to a miniature cart laden with milk cans, whilst it's master-a Flemish boy with crude wooden sabots-walks lazily alongside.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-26
Music and Education

q read with interest in The Age Herald Lobby column extracts from letter from MT. Memoli citizen of Birmingham, but now soiourning in Italy, his native land," said well known member of the musical set.
 q was particularly impressed with the fact set forth by MT. Memoli that in order to gain a certificate or diploma in music in the old world a great deal of musicianship is required, and not only musicianship but general educa- tion. For instance, MT Memoli, good band leader in Birmingham and a chorus conductor of talent and expert ence, not having had the opportunity of scholarly training had to get down to hard study when he went to Italy for the purpose of broadening out in his chosen profession. He has just graduated as a bandmaster it seems, and in order to do that he. had to ap- ply himself untiringly not only to harmony and counterpoint, but to Ital- ian grammar, literature and history. Thus it is seen that in order even to be an authoritative band conductor a musician in Italy-and it is the same in other countries in Europe-must know a great deal about counterpoint. And he must know poetry and some thing of philosophy in order to interpret master works with insight and a sub limated imagination.
 But MT Memoli is to go still higher and next summer he will be examined for grand opera conductorship. In the meantime he will continue to study literature as well as musical.art. After completing three years work in Italy Mir. Memoli will probably go to Ger many for year or so in order to get thoroughly into the atmosphere of the old symphony classics.
 When he returns to the United States, MT. Memoli, if he does not take high rank as a composer should re- ceive prompt recognition as a high class, all round conductor. Up to It ! or 20 years ago anyone in this coun- try who could read notes fairly well and play sing with some degree o1 excellence was called a musician, but now the standards are fast being raised 10 something like foreign standards
 No one, whether singer or performer should be considered a musician-ir Europe no one considered a musician without general culture and discern. ment and an aspect of life that is | broad and deep"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-26

in the darkness. ship was in distress.
 After hard struggle she reached the
 harbor and sank, and then The story
 halts for Mrs. Williams husband, in his efforts to rescue the crew, was drowned.
 For three days the storm ragged, but the
 new made widow, though weak from sor-
 row remembered the light. Each day she
 polished the lens; twice each night she crept up the winding iron stairs and
 trimmed the lamp and made sure that the lard oil had not congealed. And she dis charged this duty until the government learned of her predicament. Uncle Sam then appointed Mrs. Williams keeper; that
 was in lS70 when it was not usual for a
 woman to fill such positions, but the gov-
 ernment was wise enough to know that
 the wife, who even in the very valley of death could remember others and keep the harbor light for them, was to be trusted, and from that day to this Mrs. Williams has kept the lights, first on Beaver Island and now at Harbor Point
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-26
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Mir. steiner Returns

Leo K. Steiner and his family re- turned yesterday morning sfrom a five
 weeks pleasure trip. They visited Car-
 ada, and last week they spent in New
 York.
 ''I was in Canada during the reciprocity campaign" said Mir. Steiner. q took 1 great interest in the reciprocity aues-
 ticn; thought it would be not only a good thing for the United States, but a good thing for Canadian commerce. While I met manufacturers who were opposed to reciprocity, the masses, so
 far as I could judge, seemed to be for I it. For instance, the different barbers | who shaved me were liberals and were | talking strongly for reciprocity. l found the hotel walters the same way, but on election day there was landslide, much to my surprise, against reciprocity. All sorts of trumped up arguments were used by the conservatives to prejudice patriotic Canadians against the United States. The annexation bogey was worth thousands of votes to the conservative, or tory, party. I think Canada has made a great mistake, but the trouble was that Sir Wilfrid Laurier the Liberal premier, was 25 years ahead of the times. Some day Canada will be educated to the reciprocity idea.
 we hear great deal of complaint in this country about high prices, but found prices in Canada even higher than they are with us. It cost us Just as much to live at the Windsor in Toron- to as it does at the Waldorf in New York We found 1t the same in Montreal and the same in Quebec. In Quebec the hotel rates seemed to be about the highest in Canada, and it is a noteworthy fact that while hotel and restaurant prices are somewhat higher than in the United States the service is not so good. The tourist travel in the Dominion was ex- ceptionally large this season.
 When I left New York the financial district was unsettled and nervous. One can always see immense crowds in New York, and on the surface business there seems always to be good, but, as mat ter of fact, business in the great metrop- olis has been dull for some time past
 'The one bright spot at this time is the south. The south's crop situation iS Slieluiu coinpdltu WltH SiopS III oeiiSA sections. And not only are our southern farmers decidedly prosperous but all branches of mercantile enterprise seem to be prosperous. In view of the south's prosperity people in the north and east arc discussing this section most favor- ably.
 T am glad to be back in Birmingham. This town looks mighty good to me- and In spite of depression in the east l think active fall trade will be in evidence here"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-26
Forbear to judge, for we are sinners all. -2 King Henry VI.
Bringing the Steel Corporation In.
 der Fire

Wall street seems to think that the government will endeavor to dissolve the Steel corporation on the ground that it is a combination in restraint of trade as defined in the Sherman antitrust act and in the decisions of the supreme court.
 Before the government assails a corporation that confessedly controls but 60 per cent of the industry it is a part of, it should seek to abolish the real monopolies which exist by scores in all parts of the country. How corporation that controls but 50 per cent of an industry can be called a monopoly when the land is filled with corporations that are ab- solutely controlling in one industry or one locality it is difficult to un- derstand. The Steel company is not a monopoly. It does not and never has attempted to crush independent companies. It has sought, on the other hand, their cooperation.
 It certainly cannot be dissolved on the ground that it's reports do not afford publicity of all it's operations It courts publicity on all essential points. It offers, too, it's employees a share in it's profits. It seeks to wir public confidence. So far as is known it does not indulge in cam paign subscriptions. It holds itself aloof from politics.
 And yet some say it is to be dis solved by force by the government. There is many monopoly that would scorn to restrict its output to 60 per cent of the aggregate in it's speciality. The Steel corporation should be left unmolested until these real and ac- tual monopolies are dissolved and duly regulated. The rule of reason calls for this as a matter of fair play and comparative justice.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-26
WOMAN LICHTHOUsE KEEPER

In "Interestng People," in The Amer ican Magazine for October, Octavia Rob- erts writes of Mrs. Williams, the woman lighthouse keeper of Harbor Point Light, Michigan Miss Roberts writes:
 From northern Michigan she went to Beaver Island, where her husband was given charge of the lighthouse that guards the beautiful horseshoe harbor of Beaver Island.
 Many nights said Mrs. Williams, when q gale came on, we could hear the Tapping of sails and ihe captains shout- ing orders as tho vessels passed our point into the harbor, seeking shelter from the storm. Our harbor full Of ships looked like g little city with it's many lights. We could hear the sailors singing as they raised the anchors in the early mornings. One dark and stormy night we heard the Tapping of sails and saw lights flashing
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-26
Cullman Leads Off

The first Underwood club has been organized, and Cullman has the honor of leadership in a movement whose object and desire is to nominate an Alabama man for President. The people of Cullman say in their reso- lutions that Alabama has never placed one of her sons in the White House, and that the time has fully come to do so. They therefore pre- sent the name of Oscar W. Under wood, who has attracted national att tention by his thorough knowledge of great questions of political econ- omy which are living issues before the American people today.
 The Cullman Underwood club pro- pose to meet weekly and to organize similar clubs in every other beat in the county, hoping afterward to ex- tend the work to every part of the Seventh Congressional district.
 The action in Cullman would, if followed in the other counties of the state, give Alabama's choice a popu- lar support that would not go un- needed in the surrounding states, o1 in the convention itself. Cullman is in earnest, and no doubt other coun. ties will gladly and enthusiastical. ly line up in favor of the nomination of Alabama's favorite son.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-26
HE CUT OUT THE LOPE

In the october American Magazine.
 George Greet of Kansas City writes of Charles F. Stevens, a happy go lucky man, whom Mayor Whitlock appointed superintendent of Toledo, O.'s work house. This man, who is entirely ig norant of police methods" has made startling reforms in the handling of prls- oners.
 Writes MT. Greet:
 MT. Stevens entered upon his rev duties with no other insignia of office than nice new shave. On his first morning, as he walked around testing the floors with reference to his weight the prisoners went marching by, each mans hands on the shoulder of the man in front their feet clanking a ponderous and despairing rhythm.
 Gee! exclaimed the new superinrerd- ent, turning the preternatural gravity D, his big round face upon the carefully uni formed turnkey All cripples, eh?'
 " .Criples" The mans jaw sagged. Sure not.
 well, then, what makes 'em lean on each other that way
 It's the lockstep The turnkey said it very proudly. By treating the work house inmates like real convicts, and giv- ing the place all the airs of real peni- tentiary, he hoped to become a real war den some day.
 "'Don't sayv exclaimed Charlie, I'll bet it's fine for fellows with bum legs, bat | don't seem to get 1t as the right glide for able bodied men. Hey, boys, just cut out the kangaroo dope and walk nat ural ; ''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-26
REAL GENTLEMAN

From an Exchange.
 You have some beefsteak, of course?' queried a man who had hurriedly entered a butchers shop.
 ''Yes, sir
 And beefsteak is good to take thC color out of a black eye?'
 "The best thing in the world sir"
 Good Save two pounds for Riley"
 (Which Rley?"
 "The Riley who lives in Jones street I'm going to black both his optics. Hell probably call in half an hour. Good even- ing." e
 Twenty minutes later the same man came back with his coat in rags, his collar gone, his nose damaged and both eyes puffed up.
 Did you find Riley?" asked the butch CT, with a twinkle in his eye. |. 'I did, sir, and he has kindly consentel to let me use the boefsteak Mir. Riley is gentleman. sirI"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-26
Most Beautiful City

Every city in the south has pros- pered during the past 20 years" said ". D. Fassett of Philadelphia, but Birmingham, I think, has made the greatest strides.
 "Richmond, Atlanta Nashville, Mem- phis and New Orleans have grown and improved greatly since 1890, which was the year I first visited the south. But those cities were already large and elegant Birmingham, on the other hand, was only good sized mining town then. Today it has a population of about 10000. and is the most beau tiful city in the south, bar none"