davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
ICE PLANT IN TURKEY

From the New York World
 That even in this day of general en- llightenment there are some corners oi the supposedly civilized world where the wonders of modern invention still are looked upon with superstitious fear has been demonstrated to David M. Saaty, who not long ago returned to his birthplace in Mesopotamia from this country, taking with him a modern plant for the manufacture of ice.
 MT Saaty, whose American home is in Providence, R. l., has just returned from Mosul a Turkish provincial town on the Tigris river, with an entertain 1 ing story regarding the reception &C., corded him and his plant by the Moslems.
 The new constitutional government in Turkey assured Mr Saaty of its backing. On a site given him on the west bank of the river, just across from the ancient ruins of Nineyeh. he erected shed and began operations. His troubles began at the start. He discovered that his operations were be- ing conducted on unwisely chosen ground Beside his building stood the mosque of the Prophet Elijah, and across the river was that of Jonas the Prophet To the Mohammedans this was sacrilege, and MT. Saaty was not long in waiting for enlightenment. When it became noised about that his purpose was to make" ice, ignoring Mother Nature, he was informed by the Moslems of Mosul that he was flying in the face of Providence. God made ice he was told, and an infidel dog who presumed to do it himself was a med dler and would be punished as such that, in fact, the prophets between whose sacred mosques he had dared to intrude his sacrilegious performances would attend to his reinstatement.
 When his engine finally was set up the natives came for 10 miles around to view this infidel wizard and his ma chinery. Keeping a respectful distance, they squatted on the ground, their eyes fairly glued on the iceworks, continual 1 ly chanting La ilaha, fla Allah! Allah coll shai kadeerl" ("God is God AL this is!")
 Then when the ice had been made and the attempt was begun to market it the local wise men (aolamas) began a cru sade of opposition. The people were told that the smoke from the infiders machinery was causing sickness, and a number of suits resulted. Not until the government officials took a hand and strengthened matters out was the arti- ficIal ice established as commodity and it's manufacture looked upon in the light of reason.
 Then MT Saaty could not marke ice fast enough to satify the suddenly ere ated and widespread demand. The na- tive dealers literally fought among themselves to get it. Not until the gov ernment officers had put down the riot by beating the combatants was any thing like order restored.
 The natives steadfastly maintained that Saaty's machinery had been found in the ruins of Nineveh. Because of the assurances of the Mohammedan priests that every secret and innovation was known to the ancients the natives be- lieVe that all modern innovations-rail- roads, telegraph, etc. were dug out of Nineveh by the eXcaYators working there.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
Senator Johnston Returns

Senator Joseph F.. Johnston, after spending the holidays at his home in Birmingham, has returned to Wash ington.
 Slowly but positively" he said, "the political tide is turning toward oscar w. Underwood and he stands an ex- eellent chance of landing the demo- cratic nomination for the presidency If he is nominated nothing under the sun can bring about his defeat"
 Senator Johnston could not state positively when the committee named to investigate the election of Senator Lorimer would make its report. He is member of that committed
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
CHRISTMAS AT THE SOUTH POLE
FNrom the New York World.

From the New York World.
 Sir Ernest Shackleton in his minds eye sees the explorers Scott and Amundsen eating their Christmas dinners at the south pole in a biting wind and with the temperature 40 degrees below zero. If the picture proves authentic, Christmas Day 1911 will go down in history as the date of the crowning feat of Antarctic exploration
 Shackleton himself and three eompan- ions celebrated Christmas 1908 almost within sight of the south pole, dining on a plum pudding saved with scrupulous sentiment from their jettisoned supplies. That either the British or the Norwegian explorer has now traversed the remain- ing hundred-odd miles from Shacketon's furthest south is entirely possible. Shack teton on scaling an $500 foot glacier near the end of his journey found himself on a plateau which apparently extended to the pole. Had he had 50 pounds more of food on his expedition it is likely that the discovery of the south pole would today be an old story.
 But whether Captain Scott has carried the Union Jack to the south pole from the point where his old lieutenant left it less than degree and half distant, or whether Nansen's compatriot has won the race, the event in either case will add new laurels to polar exploration.
 With both poles discovered" will there be a subsistence of interest in this form of adventurous rivalry? Will the incen- tive then exist to fit out expensive expe- ditions and undergo the hardship neces- sGry merely for the secondary dstinc- ton of following the track of the pio- neers who blazed the way? The future of polar exploration with it's prizes won is problematieal
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
TRAINS
From the HogwalIow Kentuckian.

From the Hogwallow Kentuckian.
 Passenger trains have pretty lights and unsanitary drinking cups. A freight train has none or these and nothing is supposed to take water except the engine. Cattle, coal, household goods and hoboes make up the principal burden of the freight. The household goods as a rule belong to some man who has decided he can do bet ter in Texas or Oklahoma; that is if they are headed by in westerly direction; but if consigned to some point eastward they belong to the same man, who has decided that after all there is no place like Ken lucky.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
Tine p.ycbolocicaI Mon,cnt

Notwithstanding the widespread use
 of the phrase psychological moment l
 have not been able to trace it's origin,
 said professional man. Tt is not oniy
 striking phrase, but 1t is singularly
 useful. The words convey more meaning that people generally understand than al most any two words which come to my mind The author of the phrase, there fore should have credit.
 q have asked a dozen or more of my we'll read friends--those who read news papers and magazines as well as books who it was that first used the phrase but they could not tell me. About tive
 months ago 1 wrote to the Questions ano Answers editor of the New York Sun
 but nothing to throw light on the matter has appeared in the columns of that pa per. l also wrote to the Literary Digest but no answer was vouchsafed
 1 happened to fall in with Judge FeagiI l this week and told him of my efforts tt
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
RADIANT CREATURES.

RADIANT CREATURES. The dairymaids in pictures
 Are always wondrous fair; but LOOK to4 such in real life 4oull seldom find them there. Thanks to the artists fancy. or else his models charms. Those pictured milkmaids always hava Sweet eyes and dimpied arms. The most distraoting figures And faces that would lead A man to quit his happy home With most disgraceful speed. And they're so neat and winsome. Our hearts wild beating seems To say this one or that one is The princess of our dreams.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
SAD REALITY.

He dreamt he dwelt in marble halls But when at last he woke The old alarm clocks strident calls Soon proved life was no joke. No vistas splendid soothed his eye, No flunl.ies waited round; Nor heard he more the music sigh,
 Once heard in slumber bound. How sad, when fancy trips away
 To realms of joy and bloom. To wake about the break of day
 Still in a hall bedroom
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
TIME WASTED.

Two years had elapsed. Then the man who had promised upon his honor that he would send back the $S just as soon as he could find job returned.
 The man at the desk looked up without petraying enthusiasm. | We'll he asked, what do you want?'
 Why, I happened to be passing this way and I thought I'd run in and see you. You're loolkin' fne."
 "Thaniis By the way, I never got the so you were going to return to me as sooa as you folnc job"
 Didn't you? Why, I sent it."
 That's just like the government It's always letting important letters get lost. Did you register it?"
 ''f don't just remember now. I guess l didn't"
 That was careless. You always ought to register letters in which you return borrowed money. Where did you send 1t from? Perhaps we can trace it, even if it wasn't registered"
 Why, I-let me see? think it was from Cincinnati"
 Well, you hurry back to Cincinnati and start tracer from that end and I'll see what 1 can do to have things stirred up here"
 "Counfound him" said the borrower when he had reached the hall there's no use tryin' to be friendly with man like that. t."-Chicago Record-Herald.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30

American trade is shut out, and Japan may have something to say about this bold move on Russia's part. Every move made by Mongolia and Eastern Turkestan is plainly move created by Russia for Russia. Rus sian territorial and trade greed is the secret of the entire movement.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
THE EVANSTON COOK HOOK

From the New York Sun.
 How often has the world turned rever- ently to "cultured" Evanston, that over- flow meeting of Chicago, for wisdom, for inspiration, and seldom in vain. Upon what meat does our Chicago live? Her Tribune refers us to the authority:
 'James A. Patten, the wheat king, turns to corn when he eats his favorite dish. It's much, fried-well fried in tine best old style way and served without sirup. MT Patten and a large number of other prominent Evanstonians, includ- ing many members of the Northwestern university faculty, have given to the world the recipes for their best liked cu- linary delicacies in a new cook book
 Dr. Herbert T. Fisk, professor of ped agogy wins the stomach at once. His voice is for doughnuts, "as the most de- lightful product of modern cookery Doughnuts cannot be praised enough by those strong and Attest souls that have survived them. If brandy be the drink of heroes, as pr. Johnson has it. dough- nuts are their food To be sure, Dr. Fisk may be ironical. He may not know doughnuts in their rigor. Evanston looks more like chocolate eclairs than dough- nuts; but delightful" is not necessarily a false note. And ate delight of dough- nuts with thy peers;' the line might be written so. Dangerous but alurins cates! And with respect, is Evanston orthodox here even if this law as well as doughnuts in general be ratified by Dean Holgate and pr. S. c. Bronson of the Garrett Biblical institute:
 "The champions of the doughnut say il always is seasonable in the months whieh contain the letter IT.
 Away! The doughnut is daily, and its publication is never suspended. Are i there mlksops and princoxes who canno; away with it in the heats? May their faces be filled forever with the patent in- sides of Washington pie,
 Once more and with regret we differ from epicurean Evanston. its prescrip- ton for welsh rabbit, called by our Gothic contemporary "rarebit:
 Melt one teaspoonful of butter in a chafing dish. Stir in one spoonful of corn starch. Add one-half cup of milk or thin cream. Cock two minutes, then add one half pound of cheese cut into small pieces | and stir until melted. Season with one | third teaspoonful of salt and one-thrd teaspooncul of mustard. Sprinkle with | cayenne pepper and serve on hot toast" | A dry welsh rabbit, thing forbid den, abhoront, impossible. It may be nc
 more necessary to eat welsh rabbit than
 to drink ale or beer, but to try to make
 it without one of it's prime ingredients ! is little worse than a crime.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
THE THREE GREATEST

From the Charlotte Observer.
 Mr. Roosevelt can probably count the really great statesmen of his time on the fingers of one of his hands and then nave d few fingerc to spare. He would doubt less adopt the language credited to the great preacher, pr. Thomas IT. Parker, who, in the course of an address on one occasion concluded with the statement "There are only three great preachers in this country, MT. Moody, Mr. Sturgeon and-brethren, let us pray"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
'POSSUM AND CHANNEL CAT

quotations from serious works are made to enlighten a journalist of the bouvelards and rathskellers, who evidently has much to learn before he undertakes to say whether a southern eulogst of 'possum- or channel cat-is wholly in jest or con- siderably in earnest and whether if he is in earnest, he is a person whose edu- cation as bon vivant has been shame fully neglected.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR

From the New York Press.
 Optimism is a very uncertain way to produce bread and butter.
 Good intentions need careful nursing to keep them from going into early de- cline.
 The way for man to convince girl she ought to marry him is for her father to try to convince her she ought not to.
 The worst about town in the middle of nowhere to woman who is proud of her complexion is she can't buy it there.
 man wants to march in political parade where he is ignored, and a woman to 20 to a recentinn where she is Snuhhed-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
QUARTER

D 1ttt AA AAaa tA|NN NfN t8fs sh Eit
 parie Ietfar fo the LQnnon Telegraph.
 i aii A old Latin Quarter vanish mc2 "Boiiiafas ha been sold and will be pule aewA ta make way for blocks Of rats Tfi an even worse loss for taa Idtin QeMser than the disappear anes of tn Hor Niche cafe and a efasr siftf Ht Che Nia de Boheme is dead rh a ets ,3ue rter could not naoe cNl aa eiacut naliers ball. It s7aa lV lou where you actually
 2ent ta dance. not 2 lootl on. At Mont inariro noWaaass tnn persons look on for one N5a Aancca. At BulIier's the staderia and heir sweethearts danced .uliousiy and steadily for hours. Not only was none mere blase spectator, but no one thought of dancing for the gallery. A good reason was that there was scarcely any gallery to dance for, except the partners who were having d rest and q apss of beer between pollSas, The old tXadrilles at Buffers were particularly wonderful performances and extreme energy, high spirits, inge-
 nuity and wide imagination were shown in the steps At the end of every dance, when the band stopped. worn out, yells and groans filled the air and goaded the unfortunate players into playing on until they dropped. The Latin Quarter | of today apparently no longer wants to l dance. When it wants to have the time | of it's life, it removes to Montmartre. The ancient student of 45 will tell you l that new falgled inventions have killed I the "Quarter." Motor buses and tubes | whirl you ID 10 Montmartre and drain | the Quarter" of it's gayety. In the old ] days your Teal inhabitant of the Latin
 country ra'ely yentured away from his district.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
About Congressman Richardson

"It is very probable" stated Wal ter Miller, editor of the Tuscumbia Reporter. who spent yesterday in Bir- mingham, that Congressman Richard son will have no opposition for re- election.
 However, in view of the fact that Congressman Richardson voted in fla vor of the bill increasing the taxation of the country for the purpose of adding to the pension appropriation for yankee soldiers, his popularity in the district is not so great at the present time as formerly.
 Oscar Underwood. incidentally, proved his nerve when he, practically alone. opposed this bill Inasmuch as he is a national figure prominently mem toned for the presidency, and especially as his refusal to support this bill whether justifiably or not will add heat to the discussion of his enemies concerning the fact that he is south erner stamps him as a man too big to act contrary to his idea of what is right, even though such action might injure his political opportu- ufty"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
About Persons

State Senator Watt T. Brown of Rag land spent a few hours in Birmingham yesterday.
 Senator Charles M. Sherrod of Court land, after spending a day in Birming- ham returned home yesterday at noon.
 Cyrus B. Brown, secretary of state, and Hervey ". Laird, deputy insurance commissioner, arrived in Birmingham from Montgomery yesterday.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
Birmingham Like Denver

Birmingham is more like Denver ir its businesslike aspect and striking metropolitan appearance than any southern city have yet seen,' said B E. Debler, irrigation engineer of Den yer. who is here for the first time spending several days. MT. Debler Is in Birmingham in the interest of the development of water power for cleo tricity and other plants.
 q have travelled leisurely,' said MT Debler. through Nebraska, Missouri Kansas, Tennessee and other neigh boring states for the past 10 or r months studying water power condi tions there and have just reached the finest town of them all since leaving Denver. Denver is a splendid place to call home but I believe that in Bir- mingham more real business Is being transacted than in the Colorado me- tropolis. There is much wholesale trade there, but here I suppose the great industrial plants largely overbalance the few manufacturing concerns of Denver. But we are going after and intend to get more industries during the next year and then we hope to grow in population as Birmingham did in the last decade.
 Alabama and Georgia have enor- nous water power yet to be transform ed into public utility plants and both states promise some interesting eX- amples from an engineering point of view of the harnessing of water for machinery purposes"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
A-GOOD CHESS

"Eow long will it take you to make m your mind in regard to this matter?v "oh about as long as it would take me to count my money"
 About two seconds?'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
The Good Roads Movement

q was very much impressed by the ad- dress of Mir W. w. Finley, president of the Southern Railway company, delivered at Richmond Va, before the American road congress. during the latter part of November" said gentleman who is in terested in the good roads movement.
 "Mr. Finley strikes the keynote of the stutaion in dividing our country high ways in1o two general classes-that is, trunk lines running for long distances, which connect the cities and towns along their route, and those which radiate from a market town or shipping station, and in urging upon the people the improvement of the latter class of roads; that is, the radiatng roads before the improvement of trunk lines is undertaken.
 There is no doubt, as MT. Finley well points out, that the improvement of the raGating roads will do the greatest good to the greatest number of people of the country and will tend to bring the prod ucts of the farmers more readily into ad- jaoent market towns and shipping sta tions, thus furnishing markets for the surplus products of the farms and direct ly beneftting both the farmers and dwell CTS in the towns and cities.
 "rhe importance of this subject is il- lustrated when it is realized that in the United States there are about 2,20o,00O miles of country highways of which only about 2O0,C0j miles had been improved in 1909, the latest year for which complete figures a-e available, and, of course, if the radiating roads are improved out into the country year after year as funds be- come available, trunk lines may be formed by connecting up adjoining sys- tems of these roads.
 Those who are interested in the good roads movement would do well to obtain a copy of MT. Finleys address and care fully consider it's subject matter"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30

The Russians are 12 days behind in their calendars, and about P centuries in their civilization.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
FOOLISH PARAGRAPHS.

IIOI1IoIl I'INzfO0lzK1tio' o' The water wagon soon will start Upon its yearly trip; Some climb aboard with quaking heart, Afraid they'll lose their grip. Some climb aboard with festal song At weaker brothers scoff; But those same chaps, ere very long, Will one by one fall off.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30

locate the author of psychological mo- ment' He recalled the interesting fact that the late Bishop Galloway of Ms sissippi in his lecture on Sergeant s. Prentiss, delivered in Birmingham about seven years ago. told of conversation he had with |. @. C. Lamar regarding the latters eulogy pronounced in the United States Senate chamber over Charles sum- ner. Senator Lamar said to Bishop Gal loway that in his address on Sumner he found the psychological moment for reconciliation of the north and south. Whether or not Lamar originated the phrase in question Judge Feagin was un- able to say. It is not likely, however, that our great southern statesman was the first to use it. was under the im- presson that psychological moment had been in use only about 10 or 12 years Lamar's Sumner speech was delivered something like 37 years ago"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30

Shady Bend, Kas.' wants to change it's name, but it should first deport it's tar brigade.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30

Old Xerxes would weep over his Persia if his ghost, Hamlet fashion, should re- visit the earth.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30

The New Years swear off is close at hand, and the water wagon will go round the block promptly.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30

On Jackson's birthday old time democ- racy will have an inning seasoned with modern flavorng.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30

After mine pie has been standardized hash should be, and then the millennium will be close at hand.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
LITERARY LABORS.

LITERARY LABORS "Scriblet seems to be in the throes of composition "Ah yes He found new word yester- day and he's trying to think up some way to use it."
 PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30

Dr. Sun is helping pr. Wu in the run ming of the United States of China.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
roo MUCH NOISE
~ ~n

Tell me that funny story you promised to tell me the next time we dined to- gether." at the next table finish their celery"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30

Darius is dead and the Russians do as they please in poor old Persia.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30

pr. Mayo, the famous surgeon, was op- erated on for appendicitis when his trouble was caused by gallstones. This is the irony of science.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30

In New York they are saying that the course of true peace never did run smooth.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30

The snow is on the stumps in the north ern tier of states and the progressive cam pagn cannot be opened in those states at present.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
SLOW PROGRESS

SLOW PROGRESS. How is Dubbsly getting along with his automobile?" ''Well, he hasn't found out yet what the chassis is.''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30

Prunes are prunes when they are put in fancy pound boxes and sold at 60 cents.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30

The hungry powers are watching China with greedy eyes.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30

The Hartman Roosevelt fund is a live question. It is more so than it ever has been.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30

To begin the year foolishly requires the constant turning over of new leaves.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30

The retirement of Johndee from the oil business does not prevent advances in the prices of crude oil now and then
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30

Instead of early shopping, early paying is now in order.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30

Italy and Turkey may settle their war because no one takes any interest in It.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30

The standpatters' last nope consists in an imaginary rebellion Of Tree wool dem. ocrats who will refuse to be steam rolled.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30

It is chauffeur, not the auto. that needs horse sense nowadays.