davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31
THE "ILIAD" NOT A MYTH
Host and Hidden Treasure by Cha
 Winslow Hall, in the National Mag

Host and Hidden Treasure" by Chas.
 Winslow Hall, in the National Maga-
 zine for April.
 The fall of Troy, after ten-year siege by the Grecian princes about B. c. 11S4 has long been considered as a rather mythical foundation for Homer's immor- tai epic, the 'Iliad." But in 1876 the ex- cavations of Schliemann on the reputed side of Troy brought to light under the ashes of two superincumbent fortress cities the remains answering to the de- scrlptions of Homer, and hidden vault. containing gOblets, bowls. vases, gems, jewels, arrnes de luxe, and like articles in gold. silver and bronze. These treas ures are now generally acknowledged to be the veritable remnants of the once vast riches of Priam, which, although de- pleted by ten years of costly warfare In the purchase of supplies and mercen- aries and the final sack of the ruined city, were thus preserved to enrich the museums of Europe, and greatly increase our realization of the wealth and art of that ancient Hum, which we have hith- erto been disposed to consider g poets dream.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31
PLAYING THE WAR GAME

From the Fl Paso Herald.
 IF United States troops on the Mexican | border are learning the war game" ! they are paying for it with many discomforts. True, there are few com- plains, but pacing up and down the sandy bank of a dry stream, the hot sun shining upon the white sand of the bot tom almost like a mirror; sleeping six men in a tent; eating "camp chuck" cooked in the open with the sand blow ing from every direction, is not any fun.
 Scattered from San Diego, Cal, to ownsville, Tex, these khaki-clad sol dera are watching over the destinies of sister republic that is making no eff fort to guard its own frontier. Through out the entire distance, from one end or the international border to the other, stretch the brown conical tents of the soldiers. Squads of five or six men occupy each tent, a corporal or ser geant in command of each squad. Every man does his four hours of guard duty and then rests until his turn comes again. With trying 10 get sleep between times, the soldier has very little time for di- version, and if he had this time, little offers itself for enjoyment.
 In the towns along the border the sol ders are camped on the boundary or a few feet away on the American side, and this usually places them in the Mexican part of the city, where men, women, goats, cows, pigs and donkeys occupy the same yard, but small hut built of mud, tin cans or sticks, for sleeping quar- ters. Sanitation is unknown to most of these people, and the lot of the soldiers from this score alone is not the best, for it is seldom that the air Is pure enough to inhale it with freedom.
 Water is always scarce in camp and at
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31
THE LURE OF MUsaUAsH

From the WaSnlngIOn foSt.
 Shakespeare and the Baltimore Amer ican do not exactly agree upon the an- swer to the question:, whats in name?' The American thinks the suffix
 rat applied to the muslIrat has robbed
 this animal of high repute as table deicacy and deprived untold thousands of human beings of the luxury of dining off the aforesaid tidbit. "If the judg- ment of good many tidewater Mary flanders is to be trusted" says the Amer
 ican, 'muskrat is a deicacy which, if
 justice were done, should be classed with
 canvasback duck and diamondback ter
 rapin." So it demands that the old In-
 dian name, "musquash,s's should be ap- piled to the muskrat in order to make It more desirable, if not more palatable.
 Musquash! What could be more lus- cious, more reassuring, more tempting than thatc The word falls, or rather
 spIashes. upon the ear, like the low music of drowsy waters or the sound or fuii- belled grapes crushing under the cloven hoofs of wanton satyrs. It Is reminis- cent of the martyrdom of Georgla
 watermelon in glorious cause. It croons a lullaby of Chesapeake and the Eas
 sho', and fatness, and ease, ana ruooy mirth. Tn the hands of cook entirely great the musouash may be mightier than tne terrapin. At least. 1t would take us
 nace as a majestic equal It is in the cooking. and not in the. lowly origin' that the upshot must be debated. And II inc mere change of few letters will | add such a delicacy to those that have
 olr.adv made this region renowned, by
 o,, means let the word muskrat pass and enter musquashl ff
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31
THE BAGGAGE-sMAsHER

From the New York Tlmes.
 The California legislature is considering, apparently with favorable disposition, a bill that aims at tanning baggage snashers so that they shall behave in a kind and gentle manner toward trunks gripsacks and other luggage. The bill provides that employees of common car riers shall use extreme caution in hand ling the belongings of passengers. and directs all carriers of luggage to em' ploy two men in the handling of any ar ticle weighing more than 100 pounds.
 We shall all hope, of course. for the enactment of the proposed measure ane for the spread of the admirable reform T
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31
Congested Calendars

The senate on Wednesday made a good start toward the clearing of it's calendar, but the house does not seem to care whether its calendar is cleared or not. Out in Kansas they are discussing a commission form of government for the state, so dis gusted have they become with the present machinery of government. In Alabama a similar feeling will exist when the present legislature adjourns. Between it's loafing and it's ''politic- ating" it has left muddle of bills on the calendars of the two houses.
 When it is remembered that these calendars consist of bills that have been investigated by committees and reported favorably, it is seen that every such bill should be acted on. But every such bill will not be. Only six more legislative days remain and about 300 bills remain to be acted on. This is an example of popular legis lation that calls for some remedy.
 The calendars of the two houses are not wholly made up of local bills. Many bills of importance and general interest are listed on the calendars, and they should be taken up, especial ly in view of the fact that another session of the legislature is not prob able this side of January, 1915.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31
Talking of 1912

"There is great deal of Harmon sem timent throughout the west, and it is based largely on the supposition tha. Governor Harmon would be able to carry Ohio as a democratic candidate for the presidency in 1912,' said John T. Mi chaelson of Chicago.
 During the past few weeks have been as far west as Seattle. Everywhere I found Harmon very popular, but I also found a good many democrats who ex- pressed the belief that Woodrow Wilson would come nearer being elected Pres- dent than any other democrat that might be nominated. I, myself, while nothing of a politician, believe that Goy- ernor Harmon. owing to his wel-known conservatism, could carry New York and New Jersey, but l doubt if he could carry Ohio in a presidential election. think 1t is an even bet us to whether
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31
A SENATORIAL GIANT
From the Columbian.

F
 An epoch is closing for the smallest state in the Union, Rhode Islands age of senstorial giants Is over. Nelson w. Aldrich is the last of them, and many will say the greatest. It has been long and glorious line, including Aldrich, Anthony. Burnside, Chace, and Sprague within the past half century. The service of two of them-Anthony and Aldrich-covered more than half century. During that time Rhode Islands senators have been in the front rank in action and debate. A small state should be represented by its greatest men-big men who are forces in their own time, and who will be remem- bered hereafter, and it is safe to say that the names we have mentioned will not bo forgotten while Point Judith repulses tho assaults of the Atlantic and Prospect Hill looks down upon city of homes.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31
The oratorio Society

The Birmingham .Oratorio society will give an attractive concert at Cable hall on the night of April 25 for the benefit of The Humane Society. The cause appeals to all good citizens. and the hall should be filled. And, in addition to the worthi- ness of the cause, the programme will interest all music lovers.
 "The Oratorio chorus has been rehears- ing once a week since last fall," said Prof. Fred l.. Grambs, the director, land it is doing excellent work. We will have about 60 voices, and the music to be sung will include beautiful selections from 'Jlijah,' The Redemption and The Mestersinger.' The chorus, including as it does some of the best choir singers in Birmingham, is in splendid form, and it will certainly acquit itself with high credit on April 25.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31
THE LAST WORD

By Matthew Arnold.
 Creep into thy narrow bed, Creep, and let no more be said! Vain thy onset! all stands fast, Thou myself must break at last. Let the long contention cease, Geese are swans and swans are geese Let them have it how they will Thou art tired! Best be still. They out-talked thee. hissed thee, tor
 thee? 3 tsg4 Better men fared thus before thee; [ Fired their ringing shot and passed. Hotly charged-and sank at last. Charge once more, then. and be dumb! Let the victors. when they come-- H When the forts of folly fall- Find thy body by the well.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR

From the New York Press.
 Money comes to a man to make only the briefest visit.
 Getting into politics is rood deal harder than being kicked
 Tue great secret ahf'"' ling in love is for man to come along.
 A good listener may nes1i become a good talker that way but there is a chance for him to learn to be thinker. ,A woman always plans to nave two weeks in the spring free from other duties 50 siie can buy her Easter bonnet
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31

embodies; but if we ever should secure throughout the country such careful transportation Of luggage as the Call fornians are asking for, the railroads would almost certainly try, to make us pay for it. They undoubtedly would be able to present a fairly good argument in support of a proposal that they should not be compelled to increase their ex- penditures for the free carriage of lug gage. They might, with some show of reason. argue that If they must taNe up with the European fashion of hand; ling luggage as though every piece of it had an immortal soul, it would be no more than right to copy also the Euro pean fashion of carrying very little lug gage gratuitously and charging high for surplus weight.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31
MOST uNIISuAI.

MOST UNUSUAL. "A little Boston boy is visiting the fam fly of a neighbour
 ''Does he wear glasses?" NO"
 Is his first name Carlyle, Emerson or Plato?"
 No. His chums call him Bill" Does he speak seven languages, discuss political economy, the Darwinian theory, the hermetic philosphers?" Why, certainly not. He's just a healthy youngster with a big appetite, who likes to play around the streets with other boys.''
 How singular"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31

The late Henry H. Rogers left money to keep his memory green, so to speak, at night by means of an electric lighting of the monument erected on the money he left.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31

The Missouri Pacific is looking for a president who will not apply to it the absent treatment especially from the deck of steam yacht.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31

Champ Clarll's hostile attitude toward the automobile is considered evidence that he is endeavoring to corner the pe- destrian vote.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31

The people of China are confronted by d farninine. the plague and the Russian bear, and it is difficult to say which is the worst of the disagreeable trio.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31

In the efrete cast all say they are going to. the coronation this summer. Nothing else fills the bill in that section of the country.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31

The new Secretary of the Interior IS diplomatic enough to let the Presioent beat him at golf
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31

Wifi bon-bons or pistols be put in the pockets of those harems? This IS the question of the hour.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31

Sweet peas and young onions are near at hand, ard the happy graduate ana June bride are coming.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31

times has to be conveyed a considerable distance, and is then often brackish, salty or otherwise disagreeable. In the towns where the Mexican settlements are close by, the water is usually pro- cured from some shallow well that is in much danger of contamination, owing to the lack of sanitary precautions by the natives. hae
 In regions where there is necessity for undue activity, as in the vicinity of the larger border towns, many of the squads combine in company mess and cook in some shed or under a bridge, where they have tolerably fair protection from the dust and dirt that blow with every wind. At times the men have to walk mile to reach their meals. But out in the open country where the cavalry must ride for great distances, and where It
 is not possible to keep the detachments encamped close to each other, each lit- tie squad has to do its own cooking. And some of these squads are located 125 miles from railroad, especially those along the Rio Grande, east of Fl Paso and south of the Southern Pacific rail- road in the country called the Big Bend''
 Food and even hay for the horses must be transported by wagon. The contract price is cenths a pound for hauling. If the wagons fail to arrive on time, men and horses must. wait; the only subsis- tcnce the country affords Is goats and oc- casionally a beef but soldiers in the field in small squads cannot consume a beef, and, besides, they have no autnor- ity to buy one. The cooking must be done in the open, under the shelter of a mesquite or a tornillo tree, and boiling is about the only method of preparing meat, although some of the commands have field ovens for baking.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31

Mexico is to be scared into peace by maneuvers, and this may be a better way in many cases than arbitration.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31

No bounties are yet offered to promote enlstments for maneuvers on the Rio Grande
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31

The war correspondents naturally turn back from the Rio Grande to Washing ton. which is the real maneuver center.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31

The worlds peace is not quite what but still matters might be worse.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31

The titled foreigner who comes to this country matrimonially inclined IS ealied a gold prospector.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31

The son of Hetty Green has not ap- peared along the Texas border. He may
 have Q poor opinion of maneuvers.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31
A MEAN FLING

From the Talladega Homes.
 Birmingham will have an undertakers' meet in April. Fine field.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31

It is said that 100000 Americans will spend s25.0oo,o0o in seeing that King George gets his crown on straight.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31
MODERN MAGIC.

'Jiggs is the most resourceful man I have ever met" ss What does he do in crisisP"
 He simply flashes big roll of bills'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31

Ctr army is headlined into Mexico each afternoon and restored each morning to it's old quarters in this country
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31

Only the richest can afford to have an automobile and pay alimony at the same lime.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31
THE DEPARTED.

THE DEPARTED. A friendly sort of fellow, Who had a winning smile; His manner was so cordial, So pleasing all the while, You would have thought him worthy Of every confidence; A man above all selfish aims, All folly and pretense. His garments they were faultless, Soft-spoSen were his words; He might have been a poet Who loved the blooms and birds. But since he's left the city And ta'en his oily tongue, Oh, hark oh, harkl what's this we hear: A chorus crying, "Stung!'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31

March bravely tried to warm up, and 1t will now hand the task over to aprh' which no doubt will do better.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31

The tax on bachelors in Wisconsin is classed as a tax on unimproved prop eItV
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31

The silly old Japanese war scare is overstaying it's welcome.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31
STRONG RREEzEs.

 Tt is said that some of those western cyclones would blow the whiskers off a mans face"
 "No doubt. I once knew of a melo- drama villain who inadvertently stepped before a powerful electric fan. It not only blew off his coal-black mustache, but his hat and his wig as we'll" atte
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31
THE NEXT REST

''The doctor told Tupper he ought to
 take calisthenics every day to develop his arms and shoulders" What did Tupper do?" He compromised by eating spaghetti every day for lunch"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31

Baseball follows northward in the wake of the wild geese.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31

Who'd fain be free from endless strife,
 The crowded ways where sorrows press, And down some placid vale of life
 Go hand in hand with happiness.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES

three blocks away, talked like Grinneli cyclone, talked like a Kansas zephyr, talked for two hours, talked till the win dow panes rattled and the befry groaned. Such experiences. however as the Keota experience, are not without value to a wanderer. They keep him humble. After one has been greeted by large, enthusas- tic audiences for months, and has become considerably puffed up over success, it takes the conceit out O him to face an aching void like that and hear his voice reverberate down lonely aisles and through empty seats and echo from va- cant spaces and come bounding back to him in hollow mockery like the moaning of ocean pillows on a starless night"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31
A SORT OF TRADEMARK.

You seem to have cut yourself while shaving
 NO. That is merely barber's mem- orandum''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31
A FROST" AT KEoTA.

A 'FROST'' AT kEOTA.
 Ex-Gov. E. W. Hoch of Kansas has been successful as lecturer since his re- tirement from politics and some of the experiences he describes in his travel let ters" to the Marion Record are very in- teresting. In recent contribution he tells about a frost" he received at Keota, Iowa. The mere name of that town is enough to make a person feel lonesome. Mr. Hoch writes:
 Had my greatest. and, in fact 1ly only real frost this winter at Keota, Iowa. My audience came in like election re- tunrs, Scattering That audience locke l like an orphan long ways from home without return ticket. l offered to can eel the engagement, to adjourn sine die, or do anything to relieve the situation, but the brave, generous people who were there refused to surrender to cruel fate, and insisted that the bombardment should proceed. So I talked, talked solemnly, talked as if hungry multitudes were being fed, talked as if the fate of nations hung upon my words, talked to two snoring ur- chins on the front seat, talked to heroic martyrs, talked to the fellow who sat out in the vestibule, talked to the people
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31

VAIN LONGING. Alas for thrails in cities moved To struggle on, day after day; Yet, in their hearts have ever loved The woodland paths where sunbeams stray
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31

A STRIKING AUGURY Maybe after all the coming brother hood of man is not so far away" What has happened?' "A New Orleans Chinaman had his cue cut off by an Italian barber"
 PAUL COOK. :
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31
THE FAIR BooK AGENI

She had a very winning way
 And most seductive looks Perhaps that's why, from day to day, She sold so many books.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31
QUITE TAME.

QUITE TAME. 'I heard pretty woman call her hus- band down this morning." What did she say?" "She walked to the foot of the stairs and said, I'm waiting. dear.'"s x
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31

Let gentIeness my strong enforcement
 be. As You Like It.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31
THE IDEA

The court says Nat Can't wed again. We'll gamble that
 Gives him a pain.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1911-08-30

accepted by the merchant with the
best grace in the world.
There was quite number of in
teresting objects in the little Spanish
town First was the customs ex
animation of all natives returning
from Gibraltar. The men pass
through one gate. the women through
another, Each person is searched and
felt of from head to heel. We saw
one young fellow caught with a pack
age of tobacco in his stocking, it was
of course coniscated at once. What
became of the poor sinner | don't
know. We visited casino or
gambling den, where men could be
seen drinking and playing cards. We
visited the houses of the very poor
where FIVE or six persons lived in
single room and Kitchen dozen or
more of such ''homes" being located
in single building constructed on
the quadrangle plan with doors and
windows opening on the court. The
place was full of children in all
stages of undress, whose selfrespect
was no hindrance in appealing to the
charity of the susceptible. We had
also a look at the villa Of gentleman
of prominence, but even though his
house was extensive and his grounds
filled with beautiful tropical vegeta-
tion, with a statue here and there, 1
did not envy him. His preserves
we're cut off by high stone wall and
an iron gate from the poor beggars
without. but the proximity of the last
mentioned citizens was entirely too
close to attract me. The most in
teresting thing in Linae however was
beyond doubt the 'bull ring" an
amphitheatre holding ten thousand
people with an arena several
hundred feet across There was to be
bull fight on the morrow and we had
the opportunity to view the six
animals to be killed by the two
matadors. The bull fight was des-
cribed to US in detail by the guide
but I'm sure the details of it would
prove anything but enjoyable reading
to you, even though my powers of
description were adequate to soften
the horror somewhat. We returned
finally to Gibraltar proper, where the
women of our party as we'll as the
women of other parties INDUCED their
shopping instinct to their entire salts
faction. I have already told you
however all I know about thus feature
of the excursion
We returned to the ship in time for
dinner and everyone announced their
having had fine time.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1911-08-30
Special Train For Woman's Day.

Special train over the Northwestern
on Thursday, Sept. IA Woman Day.
at the Grant County Fair, will ar
rive in Lancaster at 80 a. ~,
coming from Cuba City and Dodge
vile, stopping at intermediate points.
Returning in the evening, will leave
Lancaster at O'Clock, running to
Dodgevilie and Galena.
Miss harriet Grim, famous
lecturer along progressive lines, has
been secured for Woman Day, Sept.
ID, at the Grant Co. Fair. She is in
great demand as speaker at public
gatherings and will come directly
here from the State Fair in Milwau-
kee, when she will speak on Woman
Day Sept. 18th.
Miss Grim has an interesting per-
sonality and is thoroughly mistress of
the difficult act of speaking in the
open air. Her address will be given
in front of the grand stand. She has
not yet announced the subject of her
address in the city, although every
assurance is given that it will be a
subject of interest to all women.