davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-28
MoRILE,s FESTIVAL

From Harper's Weekly.
 rhetorical celebrations and commemora- lions. except those pertaining 10 the eNH war. do not seem to be particularly hu- r,erous this year, but there is one thls wealx in which the whole country ought to feal an interest. Mobile celebrates elab- orately the 2o0th anniversary of her nirth' and the beginning of Mobile was the oe- ginning of a lot of varied and interest," ing history, which Is not as well known'as it might be- Mobile began Frencn'' anu there began with her the long ehort or
 France to set up great province on the Gulf of Mexico and in the lower valley or
 tbe Mississippi For Mobile is older than
 Now orleans. and was the first capital or French Louisiana. After that, Mobile was alternately Spanish and British, and she did not come under the flag of the Ohlted states until well along in the nineteenth century, Later still, yet another nag f1oatd over her-the Stars and Bars or the southern Confederacy-so that there,>naVe been five flags in all. That is 8 rather unioue record for an American city, ana makes A fine opportunity for pageants. EOrtundIelNt NlODll6 AioS o
 Peter J. Hamilton, competent to direct her celebration, for he knows where things happened, and who were the actors, ana what they were. His Colonial Mobile, though without the grace of Parkman books on the French in America, IS a DOCK of impregnable scholarship. Fortunately too Mobile has not grown so big that the sites of her chief events have been op- scured Iberville and Bienville and the British and Spanish governors and An drew Jackson and the Indian chiefs, when they appear in the procession, should still be able to find their way around. Not' however. that Mobile has not grown. She has, and means to grow lots faster when the Panama canal is finished. There is a big future for our gulf ports, as well as a picturesque past.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-28
CAsTRo's AEROPLANEs

From The Twice-a-Month Popular Mag
 azine.
 Johnny Moisant, the daring aviator who was killed last winter while making a flight, got his start in the flying -machane business from former President Castro of Venezuela. Moisant had been a soldier of fortune in South and Central Amer lea for several years, and, like most sol diers of fortune, had come to the end of his finances.
 One day he went to Castro and put this up to him:
 MT. President, you are great man. You want to conquer all of Central America. It's cinch. can tell you how to do 1t. Those little countries up there are full of mountains and rough coun- try You want to make the conquest cheap Do 1t by airships. Tn fact, I'll do it for you. Stake me to enough money fo learn how to sail those airships and I'll pull off the conquering stunt without trouble"
 "An excellent ideal" said Castro, who was then rolling in money.
 And it was the Venezuelan coin which financed Moisant's flight across the En- gish channel.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-28
Near Completion of the Canal

Colonel Goethals is modest man. He employs no press agents and he never blows his own horn. In a buslt ness-like report recently sent to Washington it is shown, however, that Re has carted away from the bed of the canal 3S,O00,0OO cubic yards of dirt, and that there remain but A, ,000,00 yards to be moved. In other words the canal that was begun on April l, 1907, is three-fourths completed. From the Culebra cut only 21,000,00O yards remained on May 1 to be taken out, and it is be- lieved every yard of this remaining obstacle will be removed by Septem Der, 1912. The great Gatun dam is completion. After the dam is built and the great cut cleared out nothing remains to be done but some dredging, and this dredging Will not interfere, as Colonel Goethals points out, with the use of the great canal by ordinary cargo ships.
 The indications are, in other words,
 that the canal will be opened be-
 tween the fall of 1912 and the fall of
 1913. Colonel Goethals prefers to name the latter date, but he has ever been cautious and prudent in his statements.
 We may set it down as fact that the canal will be completed in 1913. Will the two dams in the Tombigbee be completed as soon? Will Birming- ham have an independent short rail line to the river by that time? Will this district, in other words, be equipped with water transportation in 1913 from it's mines and plants clear through to the mighty trade marts of the Pacific ocean?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-28
Win straying souls
 Cast none away. king Henry WILL
Corruption in the Senate

Senator LaFollette hurled a four days speech at Lorimer, and the sub iect will come up again on Monday. A reinvestigation of the famous jack pot election in Illinois Is to take place, but reinvestigation by stand patters is one thing and one by in- surgents is quite another thing.
 The shame of the situation is the effort to have Dillingham; reinvesti- gation rather than a full and com plete one that will satisfy the coun- try.
 A thorough investigation it is thought would show how the special interests have long planned to fill the Senate with representatives. This is at all times difficult to prove, but in the Lorimer case a talkative lumber man has opened the way to a full disclosure of capitalistic methods in controlling the Senate.
 As a body the Senate has become decidedly unpopular and the prevail ing unpopularity will be largely in- creased unless the Lorimer case is fully reinvestigated, the jackpot and the Hines fund inclusive.
 The Senate has an opportunity tc
 vindicate itself, and it remains to bt
 seen what it will do. The Senate is
 in other words, rather more on tria than is Lorimer himself.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-28
St. Vincent's Hospital

On Tuesday next the north wing of St. Vincent's hospital will be formally opened, and large number of the friends of the hospital will be pres ent.
 The building now stands complete as originally planned. Few cities in deed have a finer hospital. Large as it is it will soon be overfilled. Most men who have been stricken down by disease or by accident naturally want to be carried to the Sisters" and this desire is spreading among all classes>~of our increasing population. Although the county has a fine hos pital, yet St. Vincent's is constantly called on to care for patients who have more ills than money.
 St. Vincent's has grown as the city has grown, and the addition of the north wing comes at time when it is greatly needed. It is not easy to see where another wing can be added, but when it is imperatively needed no doubt a place will be found for it and the means with which to build it. The devoted Sisters of Charity have won warm place in the hearts of the people of this entire district.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-28

1 the '70s the Good Templars swept this country. The order had a membership in the United States of something like 1.0o0,- 900, believe. Today It's international membership is about 650.000. It Is quite strong in England, and in this country understand its membership is now about 20O,00O The Catholic church still keeps up rigorous total abstinence campaign. The Catholic temperance organizations have combined membership, am told, of 100000 In this country.
 "These total abstinence societies work altogether by moral suasion, and that Is the only true way. I believe if the Good Templars were to get up an earnest re- vival they could bring their membership up to 100000 in the course of a year or two. Such a work in addition to the Catholic total abstinence movement would certainly help the morals of the coun- try The anti-saloon league, which seems to be back of the prohibition movement, started out with good intentions, no doubt, but in the nature of things 1t couldn't keep out of politics, and no politics could be more hypocritical than prohibition politics.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-28
High Temperatures in May

While the elevated towns in Wyoming were shivering on Friday last in snow storms the rest of the country was sweltering in hot waves. Montgomery and Louisville reveled in temperatures of 96. Macon claims the honor of having been the hottest town in the country. Its thermome- ters registered 97 degrees. Atlanta, Nashville, Chicago, Cincinnati and Memphis were content with a temper ature of 94, while Chattanooga and Birmingham had to be content with maximum temperatures of 92 de- grees. The effete east will feel the hot wave today as it rolls on or sim mers on toward the sea.
 An area of precipitation seems to be following the hot wave and possi- bly, the south will get a share of the welcome rains tomorrow or next day.
 The abundant rains and the hot weather is pushing corn and cotton along at famous rate and the period is fast approaching when the first bale will be reported way down in the Corpus Christi end of Texas.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-28
IN PRosAIC GERMANY

From the Chicago Post.
 The man who had just come back from Europe expressed his disappointment with Berlin.
 From the time left here it was noth- ing but Berlin" he said. Tt was passed to me on the train and I got it In New York and on the boat
 Paris Is gay everybody said, and so are Vienna and Budapest. But for a lively town and pretty girls at every step you must go to the German capital
 T was little afraid that no town could live up to such advance notices, but I didn't say anything. On my first stroll in Berlin I came to a hair dressers' shop and I thought of my nails. That the manicure girl must be dream where beauty has such a batting average was an instant impression. The attendants were all remarkably smart and pretty and felt encouraged as I told what l wanted
 T was taken to the rear of the shop to a curtained booth and was hanging up my hat when I heard a bass voice be- hind me say:
 "'Setzen sic sich.'
 Turning around I was confronted by a tall, bald-headed man with spectacles and beard which flowed to his watch chain. He was the manicure girl.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-28

undoubtedly be Francisco 1. Madero,
 Jr., unless all indications on the sur face are misleading. His brother is
 in the new cabinet controlling the public purse, and his bosom friend is the military dictator of the federal district. He is well intrenched alike in the hearts of the people as a re- former and in the capital city against any surprises on the part of Reyes or any one else.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-28
Roads in Hack Belt

'The black belt section of Alabama is the finest farming section in the world" said B. M. Allen, who has a farm near the line of Marengo and Hale counties.
 There is but one thing lacking to make this the ideal section of the south; that is good roads. The roads are mis- erable, especially in rainy weather. But this is always true in sparsely settled sec tions where the black land is found.
 "The one thing necessary to settle up the black belt, and bring the road and other improvements that are necessary is to let the people who want good cheap lands know about the advantages in the black belt When the people know the value of these farms they will come, and then we can have better roads,"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-28
THE ANGELSfwHIsPER

Bv Samuel Lover, 1797-1s6s.
 A baby was sleeping;
 Its mother was weeping; For her husband was far on the wild
 raging sea;
 And the tempest was swelling Round the fisheI1nan's dwelling; And she cried, "Dermot, darling, oh
 come back to Lme.'' Her beads while she numbered, The baby still. slumbered, And smiled in herjface as she pended her
 knee;
 70 blest betthat warning. My child. thy sleep adorning, For I know that the angels are whisper
 ing with Fthee.
 And whilet they are keeping Bright w9fch oer thy sleeping, Oh, pray tofthem softly, my baby, with
 me! And say, thou would'st rather They'd watch OCT thy father! For I knowF that the angels are whisper.
 ing toIthee."
 The deSwn of the morning Saw Dermot returning, And theifwife wept with joy her babe [
 fatEer to see; And fclosely caressng
 Hertchild with blessing, Said, know that the angels were whis- peting with thee."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-28
Madero's Victory in Mexico

The regular president of Mexico, after resigning slipped away secretly on Friday from the capital city, and before the day was ended he had boarded a Hamburg-American boat which will carry him to Spain where it is believed the aged man will spend his remaining days. Provisional President Madero has also resigned. He will, however, go to the capital to support the temporary administration of De La Barra, who has taken the oath of office and is now the execu- tive head of the country. And the rebel leaders, including Figueros, are accepting orders from Madero, who becomes each day stronger in popu- lar as well as in a military sense. All these fast following events mean that peace is to come. Peace became as- sured when the army of the United States was placed in menacing at titude along the border. This aroused the pride of Mexico. All Mexicans felt that real independence would de part if intervention took place. MT Taft really builded better than he knew.
 Madero would prefer an election for president in September, but con, rress will probably provide for the holding of the primary elections or November 12. The new president will be inaugurated on December | IT. nams of that new president will
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-28
The Child and the Chicken

q suppose everybody has seen what is commonly termed a 'frizzly' chicken, one with its feathers turned the wrong way" said a man whose hobby is fancy fowls.
 Early in the spring in the first batch of chickens hatcbed was one of the frizzle' kind. As it grew and it's feathers came out 1t presented a very funny appearance. Yesterday my little girl, aged six, saw the chicken for the first time. She gazed at it intently for several minutes, evidently at a loss to account for its strange appearance. Finally light dawned on her counte- nance and running up to me and point ing to the 'frizzly.' she said: Oh, papa, look wonder, there's chicken that came out of its shell backwards
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-28
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Better Times Ahead


 Prom my observation of business ar fairs during. the period of 9 years thinh 1t safe to say that some degree Of trade activity follows rock-bottom dullness, said a prominent member of the Chamber of Commerce.
 Here in this district April and May have been exceptionally quiet months. feel that in June there will be an lfn- provement, and that by the middle of July an era of prosperity will have set in. Every financial circular and trade re- view Is more optimistic than otherwise. Everybody is expecting good times In the near future, and when there be sueh 8 concensus of opinion practical results are almost sure to follow.
 There is one thing certain, the crop situation in Alabama was never better than it is today. Weather conditions have been favorable ever since the early spring, and this hot wave is making cot ton and everything else grow fast. In other words conditions have been ideal. Bumper cotton, corn, hay and truck crops this year will not only add immediate wealth to the state, but these big crops will prove a splendid advertisement and will start new tide of immigration this way"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-28
WHEN KNIGHTS WE'RE COLD

From Answers.
 Monty Mollycoddle closed the window. Freddie B'reshair opened 1t. Then they frowned at each other
 "Do you mind lowering the window, old chap said Monty. This weather's ex- ceedingly treacherous, and on these chilly evenings one can't be too careful"
 "Qn the contrary" retorted Freddie 'one can kill oneself with care"
 "Yes; but it's easier to kill oneself swith draught." observed Monty
 ''Nonsense!'' replied Freddie. Look at all these modern cranks, and compare them with our splendid ancestors. They don't stand comparisonl And our ances- tors didn't take medicines, or stay in stuffy rooms, or bind their necks with woolen comforters when they went out.
 T know they didn't" answered Monty And where are they now, old chap? All dead!' As
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-28
For my soul is cryin'
 For old Bill Bryan, Under the Gamdeboo!
PIE CRUST

From the Kansas City Star.
 Mrs. Mary Pierce Van zile' professor of domestic science in the Kansas State Horticultural college, comes to the res .,e of a nation of disappointed and un- happy pie eaters with explicit instruc- t,ons on how to make the crust. They ora needed. The art of crust making is fast disappearing. tough ana sos- ev pastry too often appears where tnere should be only toothsome and tenoer Ala,x;ness. Yet crust Is the essence or the pie-the very foundation stone
 A "yerv wise man" said to have re- marked that if he were permitted to make the ballads he need not care wno should make the laws of the nation. l. would not require any particular WIS dom to know that if the pie crust IS ,oade by an artist the stuffing may ca se,v be left to prentice hand. FIX cent perhaps, in tho case of apple pie' for the malicious, Is spoiled as often by cinnamon as by poor crust.
 uanni,v. according to Mrs. Van File, +he remedy is not remote. It IS not-hec- essary to await the development oi q new eeneration of cooks. The secret seems to lie in coldness and Tn httle handling. With ice water, glass roii- ,r min. A marble slab. and little dis cretion. real New England pie crust may be made.
 It sounds too good to be true. Ices .ambrosia''-which for the sake or northern readers may be defined as sliced oranges dressed with fresh COCOA nut and whipped cresm-0uddinsss ass
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-28
eerard;pr summer Concerts

When we recall the delightful concerts given in Capitol park last summer It would seem a great pity if from lack of effort we failed to have open-air music again this summer" said business man.
 We had 10 weeks of music last year, but in view of our long warm seasons we should have not less than 12 weeks of open-air music. We should have band of 25 or 30 pieces playing at least three nights in the week and on Sunday after non A few thousand dollars would pay the musicians, and in so large city as Birmingham, with thousands who ire quent the parks to hear music, sufficient fund might be raised by small contrib utors. But there Is certainly no time to lose. The matter should not go by de-. fault"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-28
LITTLE WILLIE'S ARMOR

From the Louisville Courier-Journal
 IRVING HoCHsTADTER, a chemist, who Is just now regarded as a kill \ joy by the small boys of the East Side, in New York, has analysed 25 sam- ples of 'fce cream sandwiches" and finds that the ices sold on the streets are made up largely of germs and glue. There is no cream in the stuff at all It is com bination of condensed skinned milk given 'body" by glue, gum or gelatine. It is colored with coal tar dyes to repre- sent lemon, strawberry or chocolate. While the pure food law says ice cream must contain at least IA per cent butter fat the 'hokypoky'' variety contains less than 5. And it abounds in bacteria.
 In five drops of melted ice cream sand wich MT. Hochstadter found 100000 path ogenic germs. This interested him con- siderably and he examined other sam ples. In one he found 100000 germs representing communicable diseases His report is that the substance sold as Ice cream to purchasers whose pocket money is limited to pennies is unfit for human consumption, and that its sale is In flag rant violation of the pure food law.
 Is it not in order to pause and con- slider the magnificent resisting power of the armor that protects the street-bred urchin against the attacks of germs so that he frequently escapes the i'll con- sequences that might be expected to fol- low repeated indulgence in 'ice cream sandwiches In one sandwich" there
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-28
CHEATING THE DEAD

William Hemingway in Harper's
 Weekly
 To steal pennies from dead mans eyes has been held for ages as the most con- temptible form of thievery. But modern days have developed a meaner depth of larceny-the betrayel of trust whereby the poor bodies of the dead are defrauded of the few feet of earth to which they are entitled as a last resting place. No walk in life is free of these plunderers the relatives or heirs who succeed to comfortable fortunes being quite as apt to rob their dead benefactors as poor men are to run away and yshirk responsibility.
 MT. Smith-who is in this instance a composite person-was fairly prosperous New York business man. His wife died in 1906 He mourned her with every indi- cation of sincerity, and had her body kept in the receiving vault of a high priced cemetery near New York city for nearly a year. Then he learned of a less expensive place farther away, and had the coffin removed to 1t. The be- reaved man was so overcome with grief that he could not immediately select a burial plot After six months he revisited the cemetery and spent hours looking over the grounds. With tears in his eyes he told the salesman who showed hfin about how beautiful his wife had been what a sweet, lovable character she had; how devoted she had been to him. Indeed, he 1 became so sad as he once more realized his loss that he could not proceed with | the melancholy business of choosing A plot. He went away, still overwhelmed with emotion and saying he would return when he was more composed. That. was more than two years ago. He has\not been back yet.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-28
Weather North and south

Northern people, as a rule, have an Idea that the south is excessively hot in sum- mer and that some time is required for the standardization of new corners. But all who have visited the south during the summer season know that the temper ature is not excessive and that the wealth CT conditions are pleasant, indeed. The Baltimore Manufacturers Record speaks from statistics and from the personal knowledge of one of its editorial staff, as follows:
 "The official thermometer of the United States weather bureau at Lewiston, Maine, registered 101 degrees on Monday of this week. The maximum temperature at Tampa, Fla, on that day as recorded by the weather bureau was S2 degrees, diff ference of 29 degrees in favor of Tampa. Although the warm season is longer in the extreme south than in the localities further north that are annually afflicted with the torrid conditions. such as re- corded in the northern and western sec tions of the country during the past week, no such suffering has to be endured by the inhabitants of the more fortunate south where the temperatures are more equable, and where a sea breeze or land breeze is generally in evidence. Compar- ative temperatures for the 18th and 22d inst, the first day of this hot spell and the last day available, further emphasizes this fact as between the southern cities and the northern and western cities noted.
 "The writer has spent several seasons both summer and winter in various cities of the southern states on the At lantic and Gulf coasts, and has never ex- perienced any such temperatures there as are at this moment being experienced in these more northern cities. Cooling breezes sweep over the land from the gulf or ocean, and in the case of Florida, from both. Moreover, cool nights can nearly always begdepended on. But the 96 de- gree and the 101 degree temperatures are only read about in the news dispatches from the more northern cities. The fact that it is cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter in the southern than in the northern and western section of the country may well be taken into consideration by homeseekers and pros pective settlers in that favored land"