davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-08
WAVING TO THE ENGINEER

From the Chicago News.
 One would suppose that residents along
 suburban lines out of Chicago would
 grow callous to the charms of the flying
 engine with it's train of coaches and it's
 plume of smoke and steam. In the rural
 districts, where there are two or three
 T aims aday the small country boy would
 rather run half a mile than miss the
 show. The first toot of the whistle rouses
 him to activity and he is always near
 t..e track when the train goes by, way
 ing frantically at the passengers and
 gazing after the disappearing coaches un-
 U, they vanish in the distance.
 That is to be expected, but what of the.
 city boy or girl who lives in neigh
 borhood never relieved of the thunder of
 passing expresses and locals, through
 trains and freights? Every day a hun
 Gred trains pass and seldom does
 three or tive-minute period elapse with
 out some specimen of rolling stock on
 tte right of way.
 But city boys and girls are just as curious over the passing of train as are their country cousins. An observing
 Passenger may see them tearing out to tbe porches of their homes or stopping their play to wave until the train has passed. Often, it is true, no notice is tahen of them by the passengers who nave their faces buried in papers or ooks, but the children's vigil never seems, to relax. Their efforts are not wholly in vain, for at least two grown ersons on each passing train have grown to appreciate the advances of their lit- tie friends along the tracks. These are the engineer and the fireman. These good natured and sooty faced cabmen pever miss a salutation.
 It probably is true that most of the loyalty of the children is due to the at- teution they receive from this pair Con- S,,otors. however, belong to a different class. They have to mix with the pas | sepgers so much they have become mis- onthropic They eye with suspicion the wayings and gesticulations and seem to have the idea that this is merely new form of protesting against the smoke nuisance.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-08
LAMP ON AN AEROPLANE

From the New 1ork Amerlcdn.
 George Dyott, an Englishman flying a Duperdussin monoplane, with Capt. Pat rick Campbell Hamilton, an English army officer, as a passenger, demonstrated the possibilities of an aeroplane for night flying wien, with the aid of a powerful searchlight attached to the running gear of lis aeroplane and connected by electric wires. he flew all about the vicinity of Nassau Aerodrome and landed without even straning a wire. All was thick, inky darkness about the field when the aviator took flight.
 All the other machines had been in their hangars for some time when Dyott ended his remarkable flight. Captain T. milton manipulated the searchlight and pic.Ged out landing for Dyott near his hangar. The aeroplane presented most
 unusual appearance in the dark sky, with the searchlight sending its rays in all directions. At times the light would be shut off. and. except for the throbhing of the motor, the location of the aeroplane could not be determined.
 As the monoplane came down from a height of 300 feet the search1ight was turned toward the ground, and the spec tacle resembled a, monster shooting, star shooting earthward.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-08
THE DAYS GONE BY

By James Whitcomb Riley. o the days gone by! o the days gone by! The apples in the orchard, and the path
 way through the rye; The chirrup of the robin, and the whistle
 of the quail As he piped across the meadows sweet
 as any nightingale; When the bloom was on the clover, and
 the blue was in the sky, And my happy heart brimmed over, in tha
 days gone by. In the days gone by, when my naked feet
 were tripped By the honeysuckle tangles where the
 water lilies dripped, And the ripples of the river Tipped the
 moss along the brink; Where the placid-eyed and lazy-footed
 cattle came to drink, And the tilting snipe stood fearless of
 the truant's wayward cry And the splashing of the swimmer, in tho
 days gone by. C. the days gone by! 0 the days gone by! The music of the laughing lip. the lustra
 of the eye; The childish faith in fairies, and Aladdins
 magic ring The simple. soul-reposing glad belief in
 everything Wheniifc was like story, holding neither
 sob nor sigh, < In the golden olden glory of the days
 gone by.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-08
Kentucky Redeemed

Yesterdays elections in various states were of more than ordinary in- terest. This being the year preced- ing the next presidential campaign, both of the large parties awaited re- turns with serious concern. In few of the states the republicans won Sur prisingly good victories, and in sev- eral the contest was very close, but Kentucky covered herself with glory. Four years ago the republicans in Kentucky elected governor by a plurality of 18,000. Yesterday that old war horse of Kentucky democ- racy, James B. McCreery, was elected by magnificent vote-a majority of 25, 1000 or more.
 In Massachusetts the democratic governor is probably elected by a safe majority, but it is not up to that by which the incumbent was original ly chosen.
 New York state went republican, but that was expected. Politically, it is a very uncertain state-almost freakish. It may be strongly repub- lican one year and strongly demo- cratic the next. The fact that the New York republicans elected ma jority of the legislature yesterday furnishes no ground of hope for re- publican victory in 1912. The demo- crats are more than likely to carry
 New York 12 months hence. Many democratic congratulations are in order over the election returns,
 but the big shout goes of right to
 Oscar Underwood's native state-old '"Kentuck."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-08
Wrong ImpressiOus

"It is funny thing that hundreds of people who keep pretty good track of shows and plays have the wrong im- pression of what next weeks Bijou of fering really is," said Frank Bell. the advertising man. Many people thought j, was the opera, the story of which was taken from the German show which played the Manhattan Opera house. That, however. is not the play the Bijou will have. Harold MacGrath wrote the book wrom which The Goose Girl was taken, and it is q dramatiza- ton of this book that comes to the Bijou next week.
 This is the first year that the play has been before the public. It was orig inally produced in Syracuse, N. Y, the home of MT. MacGrath, and he person ally superintended ths rehearsals and made such changes as he thought would make the play more acceptable.
 The story is a pretty one, and the dramatization of it lost nothing in the telling. It is full of love and mystery, and the answer does not come until the curtain drops"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-08
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Democratic Chances

1 ''t have been a voter ever since the war and shouted over MT. Cleveland's election in 1884 and again in 1892, said Confed- crate veteran, who lived for some years in New York city. T voted for Bryan each time he ran but after he was de- feated in 1896 I had no hope that he would lead tEe democratic party to victory. The truth is, I had about given up all hope Of living to see another democratic Pres- dent (NIr. Cleveland being the only one in iay time) until party harmony came into evidence during the recent extra Les sion of Congress. I believe now that the democrats have splendid chance of win ! hing in 1912.
 1t depends, Of course upon the con tinnance of harmony throughout the reg ular session, and upon the ticket the denl- | ocratic convention puts out. I do not be leve that Governor Harmon could be elected. Neither do l believe that Gov ernor Woodrow Wilson could be elected. l feel certain that Oscar Underwood could be elected. Governor Marshall of Indiana would probably be good vote getter, out Underwood is the one name that would surely spell victory. The fact that ne is a southern man does not hurt him. Eff teen years ago a southern man would have been impossible. But the situation is changed. MT. Underwood is recognized as tie great tariff leader of today, just as rlden was so recognized in his day. and as Cleveland was some years later.
 Underwood has developed into a real statesman. He has made no political blunders. His private life is above re- preach and not a soul has aught to say against him. The big business interests of the east would be friendly to Under wood and he is the only democrat with a clear party record who would not be strongly opposed by the financial world.
 If President Taft had held the re- spect of business men, I doubt If any democrat would have been considered worth while. A year ago Tafts chances for reelection looked bright, but he has lost materially by his vacilation. With Taft as the republican standard bearer and Underwood as tho democratic candi- date the latter would be elected by good majority
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-08
st pe Is a curtai1 dog In some affairs
 Merry Wives of Windsor.
Potash in the United States

The agricultural department an. apunces that large deposits of potash
 ave been found in the west. Con-
 ress appropriated $20,000 to defray he cost of search by the geological survey for potash deposits in the United States, and some of the new discoveries presumably sprang from this appropriation.
 The best thing about the new dis coveries is the relief they will bring to southern farmers from the de- mands of the state-aided German syndicate. The government haggled over the German combination and it never did succeed in getting free from it's exactions. If rich and am- pie deposits have been found in this country the German potash people will have lost their best customer.
 Not only are potash deposits re- ported in the west, but Maryland also claims to have rich beds of the need ful fertilizer. It is claimed that at Hollowfield, station between Wash ington Junction and Relay Station on the old main line of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad vast deposit of potash has been discovered, and company has been formed in Wash ington to develop it.
 Potash enters into the composition of every fertilizer prepared to pro- mote plant growth. It is unequalled in that respect. Let us hope no at- tempt will be made to tack a heavy duty on potash, for that would simply mean that the home article is to be increased in price up to the tariff limit. In that case the American farmer would not be gainer from the American discoveries.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-08
An Addition to the Courthouse

"The time has come for the board of revenue to take up the matter of a new jail and an addition to the present court house." said Percy Clark
 q was opposed to the proposed bond issue presented to the people some time ago, for the purpose, it was said, Of erecting a 16 story building and doing away with the present building. What I suggest is the erection of a building on the site of the lot now partly occu- pied by the jail. with jail on top; this building to be occupied by all the crimi- nal and inferior courts, the sheriff, the solicitor and the clerk of the criminal court, and thus remove all this business and those who attend on these courts to separate building.
 Let the present building be remod- eled inside and fitted up for the use of the civil courts. the tax collector, in fact, for al! the county officers except those connected with the administration of the criminal laws. The present courthouse is one of the finest pieces of architecture outwardly in the city.
 If the board of revenue should have the new structure designed and all the estimates prepared in advance, thereby showing the taxpayers just what they in- tend to erect, and what the building will cost, believe it would be sanctioned at the polls with bond issue voted"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-08

so that lsa on amendment can be saam staa .c the people at the state s held next Sep tember.
 No one will therefore know how Maine goes on the liquor question until next September, when, per- haps, the matter will be determined by decisive majority. Liquor is sues are, however, rarely determined finally by any election. Maine has had a prohibition law nearly fifty years, and yet she is plainly restive under it today. Governor Plaisted undoubtedly knows what public senti- ment in the state is, and he has de- cided that the issue should be brought before the people again, and if the legislature agrees with him another vote on the liquor question will be cast in September, next.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-08
Religious Notices in the Schools

The newspapers of this city are open to religious notices without fee of any kind, and this certainly places all needful publicity within reach of all pastors and all churches. So long as religious notices can be published without cost to the churches, surely it is unreasonable to tax the time of the public schools with them. Were it an established custom to read all religious notices in the public schools an hour might be absorbed at times in the reading of them, and the im- patient pupils would pay small at tention to them.
 The Pastors union is to consider the subject again at it's next meeting. The Age-Herald feels sure that it's sober second thought will say that the public schools are not the proper places in which to read notices other than those of an educational nature. The public school system is based on the separation of church and state, which is we'll established American principle that no one desires to see abolished or even modified. While it remains let us do nothing to give any parent or taxpayer room for com plaint. The rule of the public schools in this city in the respect of religious notices is reasonable, prudent and wholly in accord with the American principle. The Ministers union will surely see the propriety of the rule when it next considers the proposition of the Rev. Dr. L. F. Whitten, es- pecially in view of the fact that the newspapers of this city open their columns to religious notices.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-08
Albert Biselow Paine in Harper's Maga-

Albert BiSelow Paine in Harpers Maga-
 zine.
 UNDOUBTEDLY Tom Sawyer's re-
 luctance for school and his excuses
 for staying at home-usually some pretended illness-have ample foundation in the boyhood of Sam Clemens. His mother punished him and pleaded with him alternately. He detested school as he detested nothing else on earth, even going to church. Church ain't worth shucks," said Tom Sawyer, but it was better than school.
 The school of Mr. Cross stood in or near what is now the square in Hannibal. The square was only a grove then. grown Up With plum hazel, and vine-a rare place for children. At recess and the noon nour the children climbed trees, gathered flow CTS and swung in grapevine swings. There was a spelling bee every Friday afternoon, for Sam the only endurablo event of the school exercises. He could holI the floor at spelling-longer than Buck Brown. This was spectacular and showy; it invited compliments even from MT. Cross, whose name must have been ileiiieu uo"h py ahSei9' IL h'teu nun Su we'll One day Sam Clemens wrote on his slate.
 Cross by name and cross by nature
 Crvss jumped over an Irish potato.
 He showed this to John Briggs, who .dered it a stroke of genius. He urged the author of it to write it on the board at noon. but the poets ambition did not go so far.
 - oh, pshawr' said John. "I wouldn't be fraid to do it.'
 q dare you to do it. said Sam.
 John Briggs never took dare, and at room when MT. Cross was at home at din-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-08
Constitutional Prohibition in Maine

After contest extending from Sep kember II to the present week Gov Arnor Plaisted of Maine has accepted corrections in the vote of four pre- circts, resulting in the retention by khat state of constitutional prohiLi- lion by a majority of 738 votes. Governor Plaisted is democrat and n advocate of the repeal of constitu- Honal prohibition. He, however, lndged the returns justly and judici- slly, and his action will certainly com. mand the approval of even his op- Donents.
 He is convinced by the nature of the eote that the cities of the state de- elrs local option, and he proposes to srayepe the legislature in February
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-08
UNDERwOOD's CHANGE

Fiom the Savannah News.
 Just now it doesn't look as if Con- gressman Oscar Underwood of Bir- ;ningham, Ala, had a chance of being the democratic nominee for President
 He isn't candidate and in an inter- view at his home the other day said
 that he didn't expect to be. Never theless his friends in his state insist upon giving him the state delegation. He has no objection to that In fact, ne w.uld feel honored if the delegation rom his state should favor him.
 Yat it wouldn't be at all surprising if trere should develop strong sentiment in the convention in favor of his nom- i;,ation. He is well thought of through ous the country. His work during the
 special session of congress as chairman of the ways and means committee made
 him widely and favorably known as statesman of exceptonable ability, and 1t is known that he is a forceful man Of high character.
 An advantage he has Is that he is dis tncily a southern man, and there IS 6 noticeable sentiment throughout the country that tine south has q good claim i'd the democratic nomination for Presi- dent She has remained In the pack ground for many years, so Tar as the presidency is concerned, willingly giving her electora, votes to the democratic can d,date. ana now that her statesmen are coming to the front in other positions.ih
 the government it does seem as 1T sne could reasonably claim the presidential acn,ination.
 There could be and would be nothing srid against presidential canoioate | from the south, particularly since re- publican President nominated ana re- p,,blican senate confirmed southern
 man, an ex-Confederate chief justice of inc supreme court. In fact, the north would rather like chance to vote Tor | il southern man for President.
 1 And there is another argument in f,vor of southern candidate. It is | That extremely radical demands for changes in the government are getting
 a. foothold in the west and east, but par
 ,icularly in the west The south is con- I servative, and there are many who think ! p at the republic is drifting too far
 way from the moorings fixed by the 1tlon's founders. Hence. for that req son. a presidential candidate from the { south would meet with favor frrr7 3 big | element of the northern people.
 1t is doubtful if Speaker Carlf viii able to get the delegation fosa his o,fn state, Governor Folk haI sls heei
 lniorsed already by Missouri for tna 1 asidcncy, and the nominating eenvan- itien may be pretty evenly q sns5 h r 1 tween Governor Wilson and s1sefici : ! ! mon. In that event the sapeetf1
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-08
LONG FLIGHTS OF BIRDS

From St. Nicholas
 Everybody knows that most birds come north to their nesting grounds in the spring and go south in the fall. Many observers have kept records spring and fall for nany years and in many parts of the country.
 But these records, while interesting, do not yield their full value unless they can all te studied together, as each one tell; only what time the birds come to one region.
 w. w. Cook at Washington has spent many years collecting such lists and en- l couraging observers to make them and in carefully studying out the facts of tha migration for each North American bird it's route. it's speed and great many other things that have until now been only hazlly understood.
 Some of the longest journeys are made by the tiniest birds. The humming birds go from the middle states to Mexico and even South America and back every year. Blackburnian warblers were still common at the equator in Colombia on April 27, 1911, though they arrive in New York by May 10, and most of them breed still | further north. | Nest small birds make their long flights at night and feed and rest during the day but the swallows reverse the | ruir.
 | Generally the northward flight is rapid
 condensed and soon over, but the return
 movement begins for some birds as carly as the Fourth of July, and it is in prog
 ress until nearly Christmas. Some birds
 move over a wide area, spread nearly
 across the continent, while others have l a narrow channel out of which they sell
 dom go. The redpoll warblers winterine
 in Louisiana come northeast up the At
 iantic seaboard to Labrador, while those
 from Florida start northwest for Alaska
 their paths crossing in Georgia at righl angles.
 A few species leave the far north ir
 August and September, making enormous | lights over the ocean to winter homes
 in the Southern Hemisphere. Thus the
 golden blower leaves Nova Scotia ant flies without a stop straight to Sout.
 America, wintering on the pampas O. Argentina, a journey of some 5000 miles 25OO over the ocean without a stop over
 for food.
 The Arctic tern nests from Maine ts within eight degrees of the north pole l spends its summer in the land of contin uous day and in it's migration goes to region in the Antartic equally near tn, south pole.
 I In it's round trip it may cover as mucl
 as a2,000 miles-nearly equal to tiyin;
 around the world at the equator. In al the year the only time it experiences flu, daraness is during the few nights passed
 in the neighborhood of the tropics, fo it's summer about the north pole is on.
 Hong day as is it's winter about the soutl !. pole.
 But although this is much the ot s,.s Journey made by any bird, it r5 s some ways as remarkable as the Eias sr ' cor the tern is a seabird and car at an. time dive into the water and fec, or ;h abundant supply of fishes and ot sr in@ rne animals, while the blower Is neaify | land bird incapable of feeding at 2ea q 1t has to fatten up before leaving lfs saHi } rner home and make half of It's eiaIiAou Z, autumn journey without food.