davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-03

after due consideration of and examina- ton into the facts laid before it by the Hon. James Howe, has decided, owing to his former entangements" there was an omnibus pause which caused tho mayor to breathe hard-"to grant his re- quest"
 The mayor rose, bit fustered perhaps. and the ten men flocked around him, shook his hand patted his shoulder and told him how much joy they wished him. Then they turned over to him the photo- graph of Miss Grace Warner of New York They ioked his honor bit, and they were serious a bit, just as kindly. loving men are apt to be- They realized they said, that their baby had at last grown up and that they could not control him always. After they had gone his honor wrote another letter. It was to the same person he had written letter to the day before, and it carried the news of the finding of the committee.
 Two months later the mayor went east to be married After the honeymoon he and his bride were met at the station in Newberry by the committee of the Mer- chants association. The bridegroom and the bride were escorted to the chief hotel first, and there the party had what might be called a banquet. It certainly was called a banquet by the good citizens of Newberry. Then the following day the bride was taken out to view the cottage that Hobbs. acting for the committee, had selected for the young pair. Mrs. Jimmy was delighted. The house was exquisite. The furniture was beautiful and the best that could be made. Everything a young woman could wish in starting to house. keep was there. How these ten men had racked their brains and busied their heads and hands in thinking out and gathering home! Davidson, the furniture man, had achieved wonders; Hobbs never had worked so hard to find an ideal house for any customer; flanagan had filled the brides room with the choicest American Beauties his greenhouses contained. There was a personal touch from every foster father.
 After Mrs. Jimmy had become ecstatic over the beauty of the house and the way it had been decorated Mir Rodman. as chairman, made little speech of presen- taton, saying the house was the gift of the committee to the bride of Jimmy He did 1t neatly, explaining to her that the committee of ten must be discharged from duty now that a committee of one had taken over the custody of James Howe. And then with many expressions of the committees feelings toward her and her husband, he transferred to Mrs. Jimmy the fund that had grown to fair propor- tions in the 25 years that the committee had been adding to the little store of treasure for the town baby of Newberry.
 Copyright, 1911, by Richard SpilIane)
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-03

dressing the whole committee, said "Gentlemen, this is most unusual, know, but I suppose in all this great country of ours there is no other man who occupies the remarkable position that l do toward you. To you l am not the mayor of Newberry. I'm Jimmy Howe, adopted son. l have never done anything of moment in my life without your permission, and l wouldn't want to begin now even in d matter so close to my heart as this one
 What is the young lady's name?" MT. Searles inquired.
 "She is Miss Grace Warner of New York" replied His Honor.
 "A-hag said seven of the men at once. "A New Yorker, eh?r
 New York is long way iron New berry" said Davidson. How did you set this far advanced in the business? It would break the city if you did your courting by the long distance tele- phonen'
 T met the young lady" said the may or with some dignity. Hast March when went to the metropolis
 We understood, said Horton. the banker that your mission was to float that issue of bonds"
 Was that an issue Of water works or matrimonial bonds, Jimmy" inquired MT. flanagan with Hibernian humor
 MT. Sodman again suppressed those who would be jocular, and in all serious ness explained to the mayor that they would require all the information he could furnish concerning the young wo- nan and her family before they would take the matter under considerations
 The mayor had anticipated this and had prepared ten copies of a statement which he had drawn up. He turned these over to Mir. Rodman, and the chairman handed a copy to each of his fellow com mltteemen. Then the mayor got red again in the neighborhood of his check bones and rather haltingly announced that he had something more to submit fle reached into his desk and drew it out. It was a cabinet photograph He looked at it tenderiy and passed it over to MT. Rodman. MT. Rodman glanced at it and smiled. All the other commit teemen leaned forward, eager to see what the young woman of their ward s choice looked like
 He always was partial to the pretty ones,' Hobbs, the real estate man, re- marked.
 This is the prettiest one he has picked out yet" put in Peters, the shoe dealer. Lis Honor did not take these remarks m good part at all
 You have furnished only one picture" said the chairman to the mayor. Each nember shall have one"
 That is all I have" His Honor ex- p1ained.
 ''Then I suppose We shall keep this un- iii we make our report" said the chair man in a questioning voice to his fellow
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-03

young man had taken the law course at Princeton and was desrous of practicing at the bar, but some of the committee wished him. to go into business. Some of them were anxious to have him go in with them. But Jimmy had his way and in due time was able 10 hang out his shingle As a lawyer Jimmy was not particularly brilliant. But he was a good level headed clear minded young man. He had a lot of business from the start. It was a sure thing that he would get anything the members of the committee could throw his way, and he made friends so rapidly that soon he had about as much business as he could attend to comfortably.
 The meetings of the committee were not so frequent then as in the old days, but the members still considered themselves the guardians of the young man, and he happy to humor them, considered their wishes regarding him. It was about two years after Jimmy returned to Newberry that the city was stirred by one, or the oldest municipal fights in its history There was pronounced dissatisfaction with the candidates of each of the parties, and this developed into rebellion and then an organization to fight the two machines i.c Independents In seeking a banner bearer had an inspiration. They selected Jimmy. Most of the members of the com mttee of ten were republicans. Those who were not were democrats-but they all got on the band wagon and worked for Jimmy. They could not do otherwise. It was the same way with a lot of others in that town of Newberry. Jimmy Howe was the town baby Sentiment wiped out party lines.
 Neither the republicans nor the dem ocrat smade enough showing for mayor to make it worth while counting all the votes. That is how it came about that Jimmy Howe had desk in the city hall, and that when he looked out across the lawn he could see where a quarter of a century before his father had gone to death as a brave public servant.
 Jimmy was a. good mayor He had the mind and the manners or d thoroughbred He had the enthusiasm of youth and he loved hard work. There was more of hon esty and faithful service in every depart ment of the city government during his administration than in many years before. He had some difficult problems to solve in the early days of his administration, but after that it was easy sailing for his honor up to the day he called in the com mittee and turned it's session into a mat rimonial conference.
 Just "A hours after Mir Rodman and his fellow committeeman left the city hall they returned and marched into the may or's office. They were very solemn. Jim my too, was rather serious. Mr. Rod man cleared his throat twice or three times, and in a cold voice read the com mittee's report. It was: "The committee,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-03

bachelor that he was. or appeared to be, had some memories that played a part in the interest that was shown little Jimmy.
 But then Jimmy was an unusual kid. Within a few days he had won the heart of the buxom woman they engaged as nurse. He won the hearts of those 10 business men just as easily. He had a way of catching their fingers with his little hands and clingng to them in manner that was the sincerest fattery. Jimmy, the baby, didn't know Rodman from Kreuger or Peters from Searles or flanagan from Davidson. But there was not one of the 10 who did not believe he stood first in Jimmys regard. Jimmy was politician from his birth.
 | It does not cost much to support a baby, especially if the baby is healthy one, and Jimmy was fairly husky. He | had the measles the croup the chicken
 Jox and a fair assortment of other child ish ailments. He took his share of pare goric, goose grease and spanS.ings and ether household remedies for nfantile troubles, and he thrived under all of them.
 The babys father left nothing. The committee of 10, being thoroughly busi- ness, saw to it that the common council recognized the heroic death of the fire man by setting aside one years pay a basis of a fund for the baby. Then each of the committeeman pledged himself to subscribe stipulated sum each year. which was to be added to the nest egg. At each monthly meeting of the Mer- chants association the committee of 10 sat for five minutes, ten minutes or a quarter of an hour in consideration of the affairs of their adopted son. Every thing in connection with the boys affairs attended to with the greatest of care. A acquisition was made out for each and every article he was to wear or use, whether clothing or a toy. Every bill contracted in his behalf was regular ly filed, and books were kept just as if Jimmy Howe, infant, was a going con- corn. There was a record kept, too, of the important events in his career David son. who wrote particularly good hand and who had some literary pretensions. was historian. One of the first entries made had to do with the arrival of Jim my's first tooth. There was a good deal made, too, of the fact when Jimmy began to walk. There was a great time when he began to talk
 Men like applause When the commit of what a beautiful thing this matter of taking care of the orphan boy was their pride was aroused and their interest stim- ulated. No wonder that few youngsters are better looked after than was Jimmy Howe. He lost a mother and found ten again. To each and every one of that committee of ten Jimmy Howe was a matter of personal interest and personal
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-03

ITS HONOR THE MAYOR OF
 NEWBERRY walked up and ! ! down the length of his private office wrestling with a problem. Occa- honally lie would stop and look out over the lawn in front of the city hall if the view of things In that direction might aid him. Then he would resume his march again. For a mayor he was unusually young He was tall clean cut, healthy looking and knew how to wear his clothes. All of the boy had not left him. A little of it was still struggling to hold sway against matur ily and responsibility. He came to decision after a while and rang for his secretary.
 ".R wish" he said, 'you would calf my committee together Make the meeting for tomorrow afternoon at this hour.''
 The secretary bowed and left the room Then the mayor sat down at his desk and wrote a long, long letter. and he did not write it on his official letterhead.
 In response to the call, the committee assembled the next day at o'clock. Some of them were rather old and worn, some were bit past middle age, but all were cheerful looking. There was J.anagan, the florist; Horton, the bank CT; Rodman, the wagon manufacturer; Peters, the shoe dealer: Hobbs, the real estate man: Davidson, the furniture dealer; Searles the jeweler; Waters, the haberdasher; Kreuger, who handled pro visions and Karner. whose dry goods place was pleasantly referred to as department store. Some of the commit tee, when they shook hands with the mayor, said: Your Honor" Some of them said simply; ''Howdy do, Jimmy, boy?'' They all took seats around the mayors great desk. and Rodman, chair man of the committee. inquired of the mayor what business there was for their consideration.
 There was a little shade of pink near tine cheekbones of the mayor as he re- piled
 T would like to get married, gentle men, if you have no objection he said.
 There was a gasp from one or two of the committeeman, and then flanagan, who was always the most outspoken, aid: Well, phwat do you think of the gall of that boy?'
 One or two of the others made slight Ing remarks, but MT. Rodman called Them to order. and, after clearing his throat, addressed the mayor.
 t"You must admit. Your Honor" he shid, "that this is rather sudden and un- expected Do we know the young lady, ot is it a young lady?"
 lIt wasn't the first time" Kreuger re- marked
 F'No." said flanagan, "she was ofd enough to be his mother
 The mayor looked at Kreuger and flanagan, smiled sheepishly, and, ad-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-03
five. The same condition prevails all the country.
 Going to School in Wagons

AfN' fiN Fe'A9 SbiietAliVli lli tN dii0 dll ONci the country.
 Going to School in Wagons
 The advanced movement provides for the wiping out of these little schools and the organizing of large ones at such dis tances apart that many of the children must be brought in carriages or wagons. It presupposes one large graded school Tor every 20 or 40 square miles. The near by children walk and those who live on the outskirts ride The schools organized have an attendance of several hundred. The pupils are given thorough education and the child starts in at the kinder- garten and comes out at the high school. Tn some schools the high school is omitted, but there are eight years of graded school, with a grade for each year, and in this way the country boy or girl gets schooling which compares we'll with that of the best schools of our cities
 This consolidated school system is slow ly working it's way over the union 1t is now in existence in 32 different states, and there are now more than two thou- sand such schools in operation. It is es- timated that the number will eventually be 3O,0Oo and that two-thirds of the small rural schools which now exist will have been done away with.
 The bringing the children to school in wagons has been found to be of great suc-  cess The transportation per pupil costs but few cents a day, and the expense IS small in comparison with the advantage gained. In Massachusetts where the sys- tenn IS In thorough operation and covers the state, the amount spent for transpor- tatlon IS about $3G0,000 year, and in Yer mont 1t is about $20000O year. In In- iiana it Is only # little less, and in Yer mont 1t is about S75,oO0. In Florida the schools have been consolidated in 30 differ- ent counties, and the cost of carrying the children to school is s25,000 per school year.
 The Passing of the Log Sclioolh0use
 This movement means the passing away of the log school house. the sod school house and the little frame shack It means the erection of big school buildings, well yentilattd and lighted with ste9m heat and allAth comforts. I have btfore me photographs Of some Of these jew coun- try schools. Here is one at Ki1eman. o.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-03

Copyright 1911, by Frank G. Carpenter)
 Washington, D. C., 1911. YNCLE SAM patriarch, is the great
 est teacher on earth. He has an V army of 1sooo,0oO common school children. and his common school teachers number more than 5oo,0Oo His public school property is valued at more than a billion dollars, and he is spending upon such education about four hundred mill lions year. He has huRdreds of millions invested in academies and colleges and in the neighborhood of a half million boys and girls are in yearly attendance upon them These are big figures. but they fall short of showing what is now going on Uncle Sam has been lying awake at nights studying how to bring education to all his children, and his plans include the grown-ups as well as the babies
 Waking Up the Great American
 Brain
 Indeed. our national brain is beins aroused as never before. Every depart ment of the government Is stimulating it, and the wires are reaching out from here to every man, woman and child in the country. In this letter I want to show something of what is being done for the people outside the cities. The bulk of our population is in the country, and one of the greatest movements of the time is that for the improvement of the country school.
 We all know of the little frame school house. There are several hundred thou sand of them in the United States. They pepper the union, and in most cases each is taught by one man or one woman. Some of these school houses have less than d dozen pupils. Kansas has more than sixteen hundred, with an attendance of ten or less. Maine has more than two thousand schools of one room each, and 200 of these have less than eight pupils. Michigan has 1900 schools of ten students, and Nebraska has 1200 of the same char Hcter. In Hardin county, la, where the land is worth $100 an acre and the farmers are comparatively rich, there are large number of schools where the average at tendance is less than six, and in Olmstead county. Minnesota. there are 1G district schools whose average attendance is only
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-03

committeeman. They nodded approval. The mayor objected, but was overruled. The committee then arose.
 When may l expect the report?' the mayor asked.
 MT. Rodman conferred with his asso- ciates. and then told the executive it was possible they would report next day, but it might be necessary to hold the matter in abeyance for some little time. In an affair of this importance it was just as we'll not to act hastily, and they would exercise every care in the dis charge of their duty.
 That afternoon and that evening there ~as not member of that strange com nittee who did not review in his mind | the life of Jimmy Howe. Not one of them but was immoderately proud of the oung man and had an affection close to love for him. And no wonder, for when he first came to them he was only a small bundle of fatness in an embroid- cred dress, his choicest possession a eel luloid rattle and his young talent for speechmaking confined to the one word, "Goor His mother was dead, having dIed at his birth. His father, chief of Inc fire department of his little town. met his death in an effort to save the ives of others And Jimmy was only [ months old. The death of the father had been so tragic and so heroic that the heart or the town was stirred when was found that little Jimmy was left without kith or kin.
 Sympathy is beautiful, but not always tangible or lasting. Some of the men who were the least expressive at the time of the fireman's death were the most practical when the first wave of tenderness was subsiding. Horton the banker who was an artist at note shay ing made the suggestion which subse- quently took form in the appointment of the committee of the person of Jimmy Howe. Horton was president of the Mer- chants association. His name led the list of the 10 men who formally applied to the court to be appointed guardians of the orphan.
 They never made public announcement of their intentions, and little was known of their attitude toward the child except that they stood sponsor for his care and upbringing. There was more depth of feeling among those 10 members of the Merchants association than common. orr have, and what they did they did thor oughly. Maybe the fact that Rodman
 lad been an orphan and had hard struggle for existence had something to do with it. Possibly the fact that flanagan, who ran away from Ireland as boy and worked as laborer before he started business as a florist and began O prosper. had something to do with it. Perhaps the fact that Karner lost a child he loved just about the time Jimmy Howe was orphaned had it's influence Possibly Hobbs, grouchy and cranky
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-03

S,O0o,Ooo people. They had altogether 16,000 sessions. There are also large numbers of farmers institutes for young people and of farmers institutes for women. The latter held 732 meetings in 1910 These farm institutes are largely supported by the state boards of agriculture each of which has it's institute director and con- nected with him lecture bureau which sends out specialists to the institutes, giving them lectures on any farm topic they desire. Allied to these institutes are the country fairs of which more than l2OO are supported by the counties alone. Teaching Partners From Railroad
 Trains
 Another feature of this education work of Uncle Sam is carried on in connection with the trains Last year 52 of our lead- ing railroad companies were aiding the government in teaching farm education. They employed 239 school cars. and sent them over 42,O0O miles of track. Their trains made 1900 stops, and at each place a corps of expert lecturers delivered talks upon agriculture and domestic science adapted to the locality. The total cost of operating each train was something like s95 a day. and the total amount spent was over S50,0O0. This teaching reached hun- dreds of thousands of people It em. braced a total of about 40Oo days of lec- turing. or a period equal to 14 years of 300 days each.
 Each of these educational trains had a locomotive. a. baggage car and one or two coaches fitted up for lecture purposes It also carried Pullman car, with a dining rooms and sleeping quarters for the lec- ture force. The lecturers were from the national and state departments of agri- culture, and from the colleges. The sub jects were chosen to fit the locality where the lectures were given. In dairy coun. try the talks were on dairying, and the trains frequently carried dairy cattle and specimens of butter and cheese, and all sorts of dairy implements to illustrate the work. Tn fruit country the trains had fruit exhibits, and in q stock country they had hogs and cattle of various kinds Tn the wheat and corn lands the lecturers talked wheat and corn and in some other places they talked cotton or truck osrdsn. ing.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-03

It is built of brick, with a slate roof. and it has two stories and basement. It has five classrooms, a laboratory and llbra- ry. It cost 5000 to build, and it's pupils number about 100. Here is another at Twin Falls, Ida, in district of 36 square miles and population of 1000. This is q finer building than that at Kins- man, and very much larger. The school there has an enrolment of 726, of whom 200 are brought in daily in wagons Four years ago the ground on which the build ing stands was covered with sage brush. It has now been turned into q school farm, and the school has two acres of playgrounds. At the Ohio school it costs cents a day per pupil to bring them to school. Another photograph shows Il school at Trunbull county, Ohio, and an- other one of Green Center. in the same state. One of these buildings cost S700O and the other s990O. Each keeps eight or ten wagons to bring in the pupils.
 It Is found that more children arc going to school in the districts where the schools have been consolidated. Therc are now about 100000 children in the country schools, whereas there should be 6.O0OOoO or 7,0O0,C00 When this new move ment is well under way education will probably be compulsory everywhere and every country boy and girl will get an ed- ucatlon.
 Farming in the Schools
 / These new schools are especially adapt ed to the farmer and to farm life. In addi- ton to the regular courses as taught in the city schools, they have some special studies bearing upon crops and homo eco- monies. I have before me the outline of the work of one of the schools. In the frs, and second years nature study forms a part and in the fourth year the geography is to large extent physical. showing the work done by nature in preparing the soil for us. It also includes the distrib- ton of our farm products all over the world The higher grades have lessons in agriculture, and among the studies of the seventh and eighth years are cooperative enterprise in farming and matters con nected with the farnstead and home. The children learn all about animals, and the boys are taught how to judge horse and COW. The girls learn all about sewing and cooking as well as how to make the