davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-21
\ Word to the NIse

We respect the interstate commerce commission says a writer in the Rail- way World "It Is the most powerful ad- mnistrative body in the world Ii holds the power of the purse for every railroad doing an interstate business. Like Ne buchadnezzar. the commission can set up and pull down, it can kill, and it can keep alive. These powers. vast and com prehensve, are the creation of a few years. They are the result of a belated recognition on the part of railroad own CTS and officials that it was desirable to cooperate and combine in order to eradi- cate certain evils from the railroad con stitution The awakening came too late. and now we have this grant of com mission to which the shippers and the public look for relief, protection and guidance.
 While recognizing to the fullest ox- tent the great importance of the com mission and while apprecating as we do, its immense influence and power, we wish 10 point out to the commission quite as much as to our readers, that, in order to preserve their power. the commission must retain the public confidence The basis of public confidence is a conviction that the commission is composed of fair minded and honest men. cautious in ut teranee. and in action. anxious 10 do jus tee 10 both parties. To every railroad controversy. and especially anxious as the chronicier and interpreter of railroad matters not 10 circulate misleading and hsrmiri reports and statements.
 We are Jed to venture this suggestion by -rAdiHs CT ihe very interesting series artic1cs on the Rate Cases, whicf been appearing in the Com u'crci sd Financial Chronicle during the sn tn hy MT. II. T. Newcomb, which ,Alt attention 10 many fragrant er- TOTS of fat passentsd ln the arguments of iho commissioners who rendered the decision against the earTiers''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-21
MOST nAsHruL OF MEN

St. Louis Dispatch to New York Herald
 The most bashful man Is John E. Will son, whose home is in Kirkwood, fash ionable suburb, where he is the president of a big construction company. Since he elopod in January to Lincoln, Neb., and welded Miss Ella Kerth, daughter Of the wealthiest merchant in Kirkwood, he and his bride have travelled through nearly every state in the Union. He is trying to muster enough courage to return to Kirk wood and undergo what he considers the ordeal of receiving congratulations and pranks, and Mrs. Wilson Is trying to bol- ster up a resolution to that effect.
 Mrs. Wilson returned to I<irkwood a week ago and passed few days with her family. Mir. Wilson had gained suffi- cient courage to start on the trip. but his courage oozed out'>by the time the train reached Springfield, Ill.,, and he went back to Indianapolis. T~
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-21
ON EATING THE OYSTER

From the Baltimore Evening Sun.
 The bright old man who composes editorial articles for the New Orleans Times Democrat, an esteemed gazette of the Mississippi delta. once more wrings blood from his adjectives in an effort to establish the edibility of the Louisiana oyster, or as 1t Is denomi- hated in the books, the mud mussed. Going further, he actually endeavors, with senile fatuity, to prove it, not only the equal, but even the superior of the superb and incomparable mol lusls of the Chesapeake bay. And then, to round out and embellish his process sion of fallacies, he appends this libel ous paragraph:
 When Baltimore eats her own oys- ters-state pride must make her do that-does she not have to resort 10 Louisiana tabasco to render them even mildly palatable?'
 In answer to this we roar "No!-a No" upon the contrabass tuba, for tissimo con fuoco-a nor whose last faint echoes will be coming back from the Allegheny peaks next Tuesday morning. Tabasco upon a Chesapeake e oyster? Imagine 1t. As well talk of mayonnaise upon sauerkraut, or vine gar upon lollypop.
 We admit, of course, that the thing may be done-that it is physically pos sible-even that 1t is recorded in the chronicles. It is common knowledge indeed, that tabasco Is to be had, on written request, in some of our hum bier oyster houses. But the sacrileg ge of, pouring 1t upon the exquisite mol lusll is never committed by those who understand and revere the oyster never, in brief, by Baltimoreans. We leave such debaucheries to ignorant strangers--to shoe drummers from Massachusetts, to visiting Pttsburg CTS, to Ruthenians lately arrived at Locust Point.
 The native Baltimorean knows too well that the oyster abhors all such caustics. He eats the dear reptile au naturel-or perhaps with a microscopic dash of horse radish It needs no salt,
 it needs no pepper, it needs no catsup. As for tobasco, 1t revolts and squirms. as pathetically as a vivisected dach- schund, beneath that Louisianan, that awful stuff.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-21
POOLING THE PUBLIC

From Leslies.
 New schemes to deceive the public are constantly making their appearance. Not long ago we exposed home prepared cough remedy, widely advertised the nec- essary ingredient of which could easily be obtained from a certain firm, not men tioned in the news ad, but discovered only when one inquired for 1t at a drug store. We discover another similar home rem edy. this time for removing wrinkles. All that is needed is one-haf pint of witch hazel and an ounce of a certain powdered preparation which may be found at any
 large drug store" The advertisement in- forms the reader that the results are practically instantaneous" He is not told that the ounce of this proprietary miracle
 Y orker will cost 45 cents, and that it can only be bought from the advertiser MuckraknS newspapers which fill their pages dcnouncing the trusts are ever ready to open their columns to this sort of fake advertising. It Is high time for he postoffice department 10 give It's af- tention to these schemes in the interest or
 protecting the public. It is quite as im- portant as the pure food question.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-21
Stolypin and Russia

The death of the Russian premier, after five years of power, will be variously regarded. Great men are not numerous in Russia and one as great as Stolypin is sorely needed in that country today. It is a country in which there is continuous but si- lent warfare between the police and the nihilists. The wonder is that Stolypin lived as long as he did, for his period of martial law covering two years was relentless and to cer- tain extent cruel. He, however, es- tablished order at least on the sur face, and blood and exile marked every step. Why he was not killed in 1906 and 1907 it is difficult to un- derstand. In 1906 his home was, how ever. blown up and 30 persons were killed. Stolypin escaped with slight injuries and two of his children were injured, but not seriously.
 In this period of storm and stress in Europe he was engaged in carry ing out great reforms. It was he who changed communal ownership of land into peasant proprietorship. It was he who built schoolhouses by thousands and tens of thousands all over the land. It was he who con- sistently held that Russia must feel her way towards liberty. He upheld parliamentary government and con- stitution. His bill calling for local self government in the Polish prov inces of the west led to his resigna- tion, but the duma took vacation and his zemstva or county council bill was promulgated as temporary law, and his resignation was with drawn.
 The fourth duma is about to be elected and the strong hand of Stolypin is forever withdrawn. If Russia has a man who can give her a long term of peace--who can sat isfy the landed proprietors ass we'll as the populace-who can maintain order without being vigorous and bloodthirsty-the world does not know it. M. kokovsoff, the acting premier, was minister of finance under Stoly- pin, and in that capacity he rem dered good service. Whether if re- tained as the head of the ministry he would be reactionary or progress sive is not known. The vast country is full of difficult problems, and pub lie opinion in Russia seems inclined to regard the tenure of office of the acting premier as temporary He will fill the gap until statesman can be found who will grapple with Rus sia's many problems, facing at all times the dangers of assassination.
 Russian rule was long ago defined as
 a despotism tempered by assassina- tion.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-21
HOW TOURISTS ECONOMIZE

Geneva Letter to Pail Mall Gazette.
 X comedy of economy is reported today from St. Mortz. A stout couple, accom- panied by son and daughter who were also thick" as the Germans translat te stout entered crowded hotel at the busy time of lunch and ordered one lunch at table d'hote. The father sat down and finished two hclpngs of soup and all the bread near him and left the table. his place being taken for the entrees by his wife, who had been waiting with her children in the hotel corridor until her husband appeared.
 Tine young man then took his 4mother's 8 place 10 attack the joint and he was fol- lowed by his sister for the sweets, all do- ing justice to the menu. In the crowd the tourists did not notice the unusual lunch, but the head waiter did, and when asked for the bill presented one for four lunches. Yhe paterfamias grumbled d good deal-and paid!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-21
Madness in great ones must not nm. ""'c" so' Hamlet.
Reforms That Are Not National

There is really not much need now Of discussing the initiative and ref erendum and the recall The sub Ject does not offer room for a split in either party, or any serious dis agreement between any two men in or out of the office. Governor O'Neal and Gov. Woodrow Wilson parted at Spring Lake the best of friends. and very possibly the former would SUD- port the latter in his great ambition If Alabama did not have a favorite son in Oscar Underwood.
 Maine has just adopted a state wide primary plan and nothing is much more certain in this country than the adoption of the rule of di- rect action from one end of the coun- try to the other. When the primary plan is fully adopted, or even partially adopted, each state will be able to say just how much or how little of the initiative and referendum or the re- call it wants. Each state would then be in position to equip itself with government for and by the people to the extent of its desires. That would take the three reforms named wholly out of the list of national is- sues and confine them to the states. Governor O'Neal and MT. Underwood were wholly correct when they said the three reforms were not national issues. They are state questions and they cannot, at least at present, be made national issues.
 ~ Give the people of a state direct action and they can decide without eff fort how much of the big three they want in their own state affairs. This takes them out of national politics and clarifies and simplifies the situa- tion.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-21

From the Louisville Courier-Journal. The head porter of a New York hotel is quoted as saying that Americans are go- ing abroad this year with less baggage than ever before. They are learning that il Is more comfortable 10 travel light"
 In European countries the expression, large trunks like those of Americans, Is frequently heard. The Americans con tempt for the European who goes upon tours with but little more than the aver age American takes to a week end party 20 miles from his home is contempt aris- ing from an appreciation of the joys Q! cleanliness that is creditabe to this coun- try and our race. But persons who elect to travel in countries whare q compara- lively low value is set upon the com forts of plenty of fresh linen must take into consideration, unless they are rich, the fact that charges for the transporta- tion of luggage are fixed in those coun- tries In accordance with the popular view as to what is necessary and what is not.
 It was long time ago that Lord Byron wrote of the inhabitants of Continental city:
 ''The dingy denizens are reared in dirt; No parsonage of high or mean degree Doth care for cleanness of surtout or
 shirt,
 Though shent with Egypts plague, un-
 kempt, unwashed, unhurt."
 Europeans have improved since then, but no Spaniard or Italian or Frenchman can sae why an Ap,ericop v-ap+e to 4a1-o his whole wardrobe with him when lie travels. Consequently the allowance of baggage is low and the charge for excess is high. The American to whom a say ing of expense is an object soon learns that a good deal may be saved by light ening baggage and without sacrificing cleanliness or the pleasure of having suit able costumes for various occasions And he learns that the pleasure of travel is so gage in countries where the American checking system is still untried, that it is worth while to cut down the allowance even at the risk of not having along ov- erything one might possibly use if it were convenient. The transportation of large trunks like those of Americans" costs al- most as much as tickets for their owners in some European countries, and they en- tail no end of looking after. The "dngy denizen" who makes it with what bag gage he can carry if necessary and take with him in his compartment, may occa- sionally lack fresh "Srtout or shirt, U but he finds pleasure in travel. while the American on his first trip finds work.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-21

of the District, for Washington had commission form of government long before Galveston or Des Moines had considered the subject. The entire matter can be intelligently studied at Washington, and the commissioners could acquire there a great deal of valuable information.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-21
.PEGLEG" PETE

Nuskogee tOkla) Dispatch to Kansas City Times.
 The Flying Death was a pirate ship' anu
 a pirate crew had she.
 .sPesleg'' Pete was the pirate chief, and
 a pirate bold was he.
 When a man eloped with his red haired
 wife and gave poor Pete the sip Pete loaded his guns and pirate nag
 he hoisted over his ship.
 Cut on the raging Arkansas the pirate
 vessel sailed,
 y,-ith loaded guns and pirates flag to
 her masthead nailed.
 And on her decks while his hair he tore
 and avowed that he would whip 'er. Ii ever he caught that red haired wife,
 ragged Pirate Pete, the skipper. And that is all of the tale they tell, for
 the pirate still pursues her, But maybe the man who stole her thinks
 Pete lucky that he could loose her.
 yotIr years ago the paragraphers of the state disported themselves when a one legged man married a one eyed woman with red hair at Muskogee. That man was Pegleg Pete. the pirate ferry man on the Arkansas at Hyde park.
 According to Pegleg Pete's story. love jungles grow along the banks or the Arkansas as well as elsewhere. That is why he has raised the pirates flag "ith the avowed intention of scuttling the ship of the once loved wife, who is no" riu- ing the waves of the raging Arhahsfs with another man. Somewhere on the river between Muskogee and Fort smlth is the houseboat of the affinities Skipper Pete is in pursuit of them, with ms pi- rate flag flying And when they are overhauled they may expect to walk the n,ank unless Pete's pirate nerve fails him. as 1t did last night each time he cooked his trusty revolver to snuff out tl,eir love laden livcs.
 peglef- Pete lost one of his legs long time ago, and now stumps around on a wooden leg. A one eyed wife was not s,,pposed to see aught wrong with one legged man, but evidently she did. That l.; why Pete came to town and then left with his avowed piratical intentions.
 Pete lived in a houseboat on the river and ran a ferryboat. According to his story the other man appeared on the river one day and was taken in He bought one of Pete's houseboats The ether mcn immediately began appearing regularly -cn the good eye side of tho wooden legged mans wife. Finally" says Pete, they commenced to break into society by coming to Muskoyee and
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-21

has been discarded for the fly with small spinner attached. It Is all right to nave different colored flies, but experienced fishermen will tell you that bass will strike at one color about as quick as
 smother. My experience is that home
 r1ade badger hair fly Is about the very
 best lure that can be used.
 s.When your pole falls to position the
 reel should be on the lower side with the
 handle to the right It is natural for all
 amateurs to attach the reel in just the
 opposite way. which necessltates using
 the reel with the left hand or turning the pole up so that the reel will be on top in order 10 use the right hand.
 You should never touch the reel when handling fish. If he needs more line strip 1t off, and as he tires strip it back with your left hand until MT. Fish is in landing distance. After the fish is landed, then. your reel comes into use to take up the line which is coied in the boat or at your feet in the water if vading. Of course, this constant stripping of the line eventually wears out the guides on your poles as well as the line, but you get tired of using one outfit long, any way, and the dealers have to live.
 In learning to cast a fly the begin ner might practice by resting the elbow on his leg above tho knee. as the motion should be almost entirely from wrist to elbow, mainly the wrist movement. The hand should ,come up about even with the shoulder, and never above the head, but in making long casts 1t is neces- sary at times for the hand to pass back of and on a level with the shoulder. Start by making short casts. Let your line straighten out behind you, and then make your forward cast gently. You will be surprised to find how little effort it requires to place your fly in the desired spot. A rod strong enough to hold the largest bass is easily snapped in two by an awkward cast
 '"rhe best fly fishing in the south is to b. had during the months of October and November. After the first frosts, bugs and insects fall on the water and bass become accustomed to this sort of feed, and when your fly strikes the water there will be something there if there is bass close around.
 Tt is a thrilling sensation to drop your spinner into a clear stream and see one of our native bass in action His move- uients are so sudden and mysterious that you can never tell from whence he came. lie strikes as quick as lightning. Don't wait 10 feel him but strike him back Trey sometimes hook themselves, but not often, and just as soon as he finds that he hasn't something live in his mouth he spits 1t out"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-21
Wanted, a City Market

The city commission stands ready to assist in the establishment of a city market. In the building of a city public market is as essential as public school or a public library. Such market should, however, be under the supervision of the commits sioners, even thoggh it be owned by a private corporation. No better ex- ample of a central market can bo found than the one in the capital of the country. Washington's cen- tral market is larger than one need be in this city. It's orderly arrange ment and general cleanliness can. however, be copied. The commission- CTS would do well to study it. They certainly cannot find better model in this or any other country.
 It will be difficult to control to the fullest extent a central market with out owning it. Yet the one in Wash ington is not owned by the District. It is supervised by the commissioners
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-21
Transcontinental Race

The three contestants for the S5O.- 900 purse offered by w. R. Hearst either did not take as much precau- tion in choosing an airship as did Aviator Atwood, who flew in one ma chine from St. Louis to New York. or else the cross continent flyers have encountered more ill luck and more unfavorable weather. All have been tied up by accidents. None have pro- gressed far in the great race, and none of them promise, at this writing, to win the big purse.
 The prevailing winds come from the west and two of the flyers, Ward and Rodgers, are endeavoring to flv against these winds. Fowler alone is boosted by prevailing winds.
 No one of the three seems, how over, to have machine that is strong enough to combat winds a whole month, including a trip over the Rockies and the Sierras. Flying at great attitudes involves at least SC. were cold and probably other vicis situdes. All in all, it is quite i'm probable that cross country trir will be made this year. Ther, should be something left for 1912 tc conquer and by that time, no doubt successful cross country flyers will ap pear.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-21
----sos-- -- VANITY OF VANITIES

By Christian Rossett. An. woe is me for pleasure, that is vain, An. woe is me for glory that Is past; Pleasure that at last bringeth sorrow
 at tie last, Glory that at last bringeth no gain! So saith the sinking heart; and so again It shall say till the mighty angel blast Is blown, making the sun and the
 moon aghast, And showcring down the stars dike sud 1,s den rain Fss.fSf.8F%F And evernoie men shall go fearfully. % Bending beneath their weight of heavi-
 ness; And ancient men shall lie down wearily, And strong men shall rise up in weari-
 ness: F tss Yea. even the young shall answer sigh
 ingly,
 Saying one to another: How vain
 t h!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-21
An Expert on Fly Fi.,.ing

'it Is easy 10 become expert at fly fsiing.. but you must start by learning Co hnndie your tackle in the right way" said R. II. Egsleston. "A beginner nat urally thinks that il requires lot of eff fort and expends more of his strength in 9 minutes than an expert would on a whole days fish. 4 light rod say 6i. to ounccs, is thc most ssrvicea be, and should cost from ss to Sl5. X reel eneunts 10 nothing except as something or which to wind your line. and should bs of only medium weight. but you should use tie hest enareled line and rather heaty. For bait the old fashioned fly
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-21
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
pusipess I,,nrox.i,,g

Business is getting to be very brisk and fall trade prmises 10 he satisfac- tory 10 1obbers.9 said John L. Per kins of Chicago.
 T am not directly connected with the tobbing trade, but my association puts me with that line somewhat It seems to be the general coneensus of opin- ion that the crops are sufficiently large to make prosperity.
 As 10 southern crops. new record will be made, it Is thought and there IS every reason to believe that the south will be more prosperous between now and spring than in any previous like period. There Is a notion that 1912, on account of its being a presi- dental year, will be very dull, but l have lived through two presidential campaign years that were anything but dull from commercial point of view
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-21
PROOF.

From Judges Library
 First Passenger-'That is Conductor Punchem. He is one of the most cxpe- Iienced men on the road"
 second Passenger-"I knew it before you told me
 First Passenger-''How so?'
 second Pa Because he slams the door at the precise instant that he calls the stations nnme.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-21
TO WASH SMOKE
From America.

From America.
 Experiments have been made in the University of Michigan to ascertain whether smoke can be washed by being forced through sprags of water and am- monia hydroxde. The greatest ratio or water to coal used was 70 10 i. The re- suit desired was not obtained. although the temperature of the Hue gas was re- duced to 60 or even to 50 degrees.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-21
The Iron Market

"The market for foundry iron is without special feature this week." said William NJ. Byrd of Hammond Byrd Co. "Foundries are buying just as they need iron and, of course, there is good deal of selling in small lots Prices re- main the same"
 Another man in touch with the iron trade said that while no one was eN- pecting big advance in the price or pig metal this fall he believed it would reach s11 on No. basis and harden at that