davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1911-06-16

power, SO social extravaganza and
extremism- mad quest for the un-
usual-are evidence of the waning
vitality IN society. No danger con-
fronts this country equal to that of
the idle classes, the indolent rich
and vicious idle, both of whom are
menace to the welfare of the
country. Both are parasites of a
dangerous character, for both pro-
duce nothing and subsist upon the
toll of others. The conditions call
for wise craftsmanship, should our
democratic form of government
continue and the heritage of our
fOrefathers not become lost.
The inequality of punishments
for crime in this country has be-
come scandal. Some one has
said, Money in this country makes
the laws, money enforces the laws,
and money Furnishes the lack of
money" Steal a ham to prevent
starvation and you get seven years
in prison, steal a railroad and you
are a hnancier and a gentleman.
Only recently, in one of the eastern
states, a plous Judge sent a boy to
prison one year for each of the
pennies he had stolen. Only a
short time since, a poor unfortunate
man in Brooklyn plead guilty to
robbery in the second decree, as
second offence, and the judge, who
no doubt claimed to be christian,
gave him forty two years in the
penitentary and let a bank presi-
dent who had embezzled thousands
of dollars of his depositors money,
the liberty of attending to reason
able business. It is not surprising
that the masses are losing conf
dence in the courts.
Senator Smoot says that if Sena-
tor Stephenson is to be investigated,
there will also be other investiga-
tons of senators. The hyprocricy
that has been manifested in both
the Lorimer and Stephenson cases
by men equally as guilty as the
two senators named, only in
lesser decree possibly, leads one to
surmise that they are kicking up
the dust to hide their own moral
and political delinquencies. To
spend SIo,o is just reprehensible
as to spend SIoo,o 900, for the prin-
clple involved is the same and it
comes with Ill grace for men who
bought their election to raise up
their heels against Senator Stephen
son. The writer did not support
the junior senator and has no par
tlcular interest the controversy, as
it is half breed row, but he be-
lives that Stephenson is entitled to
tar treatment from the men boosted
into office by means of his gener-
osity. Like Ex-Governor Hoard, he
should have known the men with
whom he associated politically, be-
tore they exposed their real charac-
ter.
For an Idle Mopo.~<
Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1911-06-16

Enraged over something the local
newspaper had printed about him. a
subscriber burst into the editors office
in search for the responsible reporter.
"WhO are your" he demanded, glaring
at the editor, who was also the main
stakeholder.
Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1911-06-16

"A woman is a better talker than a
man" said Henry Lehr, at a dinner in
Newport. "a women can say in one neat
graceful phrase more than a man could
pack into paragraph.
Il stood in railway station the other
day, and on all sides wives, about to start
Tor seashore and country, were taking
leave OF their husbands. I heard one
really charming wife say, as she held her
husbands hand:
Good-by, dear. Don't forget to write.
NO, no; Ill write often, he replied,
earnestly.
Yes, do, if it's only a check said
she."
Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1911-06-16
Thoughts by the Way.

There is good deal of agitation
against kisses which we opine, is
altogether the work of men and
women who have forgotten how
good they used to be and would
now take the sweet privilege away
from those to whom it is pleasure.
The man or woman who would not
kiss a child or a loved one, should
turn up their toes and depart hence,
for they certainly are too cranky
to be of any use in this life, which
must have been a failure with them
and they have become sour and
nobody would kiss them for love or
money.
Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1911-06-16
For an Idle Moment.

At a recent dinner in Washington
given by Democratic Senator, Speaker
Champ Clark said of an opponents speech
delivered that day.
1T was rather barefaced. It made me
think OF the Bowling Green widower
who put on his wife's tomb.
"My wife lies here.
All my tears cannot bring her back;
therefore, Weep"
Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1911-06-16

The attention of the people of
this country is called to the fact,
that High living" is a sign of
low.life. Just as mental excitability
indicates a decay of intellectual
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-11
Health Conditions of This City

Dr. Nelson, city health officer, says 1s0 cases of typhond fever have been developed and reported in this city this year. Consider the expenses and loss of services in these casesl It is put by experts at about $200 a case.
 No one knows how many of these 180 cases arose from germs placed in milk by flies. All physicians agree that flies and milk do create a good many cases of typhoid. Milk is a ready medium, and the flies are ever busy and are ever we'll loaded-up with disease germs.
 As mere matter of money would it not be more economical to require the dairymen to destroy in incinerators all disease germs on their premises than to take the chances of their distribu- ton in the milk they sell in this city? This is an economic question that can be readily ciphered out, for an incin- orator can be installed for less than S100.
 The typhoid season lasts until the middle of November, and the dairy men should be told to get ready at once to destroy disease gems on their premises and all possibility of them. Dairymen who live in clustered dis tricts full of dry closets should be re- quired to fall back to points in the country where they would be isolated.
 Dr. Nelson admits that typhoid fe- yer lis somewhat more prevalent" in this city than it was last year, and it will no doubt continue to be preva- lent each summer and fall until the milk consumed is brought up to stand ard and the 16,000 dry closets in the city are abolished.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-11
One that exceIIs the quirks of blazonins g
 pens. -Ofhelio.
Atlanta's Army Post

Secretary of the Navy Meyer is en- deavoring to concentrate the country's s navy yards at the points on the At lantic. Norfolk and New York will retain federal navy yards and the third point has not been located The hints, too, are being consolidated at Philadelphia, and New Orleans is a loser.
 On July 1, too, the order to concen- trate the country's 60,000 soldiers, more or less, at New York, Chicago and San Francisco went into effect, and in the matter Atlanta is dis gruntled It wants share of the $40, 1000 spent annually in the maintenance of the army. The mil itary staff has spoken, and Secretary of War Stimson has issued an order concentrating the army in three di- visions.
 Atlanta, however, has a peniten- tiary, and there is no probability of concentration movement among peni- tentiaries. As the country grows and rascals increase in number Atlanta will be benefited, and it should not grumble over it's loss of an army post.
 This is a period of centralization and concentration, and New York, Chicago and San Francisco are the three chief beneficiaries of the policy. The big fish are always benefited at the expense of the little fish.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-11
Alabama an Early Bird

Next spring four states will in primaries instruct delegates whom to to vote for in the national conventions for President and Vice President. These states are North Dakota, which will name her choices on March 19; Wisconsin on April 2; Oregon on April 19, and New Jersey on May 28. The delegates are to consider the in- structions more moral than legal, and they will not be expected to abide by the instructions when those instruc- tions would mean throwing away of votes. All politicians know what pri- mary instructions mean, and they will not needlessly disregard them if they have any further political ambitions of their own.
 But these early birds of both parties in the north will be easily outstripped in Alabama, for on August 31, next, four delegates and four alternates will be chosen in this city to the republican national convention. These delegates and alternates are senatorial and they will certainly be the first ones chosen I in the entire country. Birmingham thus scores again. It will get there even sooner than Atlanta. Now, if those delegates and alternates-al for William Howard Taft by order of the referees could be sent to the con vention in airships the fame of this city would be re-extended from sea to sea, from Key West to Duluth.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-11
University Presidency

Nowadays stress is laid on business qualifications in the matter of selecting university presidents; too much stress, said prominent educator-a gentleman known throughout the state for his cul- ture and his good common sense.
 "The trustees of the University of Ala bama have grave responsibility now before them in filing the vacancy caused by the resignation of pr. Abercrombie, for many years president of that insti- tuition. Two or three of the men who have been mentioned for the presidency would measure up well.
 ''The president of any university should be first of all scholar. No man with out a thorough classical education should be thought of in connection with the position referred to. If an educator of approved scholarship can add to his qualifications a head for business, all right, but we must never lose sight of the paramount value of the educational side t
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-11
Improving Frieght Service

"To give quicker freight delivery be- tween St. Louis and the east, the Penn- sylvania railroad announces that 1t has opened freight station on the Missouri side of the Mississippi river In St. Louis.' '' said railroad man. "Prior to this, the freight station of the Pennsylvania rail- road was in East St. Louis, III.
 Tn addition to this new station, which has the most modern freight handling facilities, the company has announced that 1t will continue to receive and de- liver carload, and less tkan carload. freight for the Vandalia railroad at the terminals heretofore used for that pur- pose.
 "To announce this change of freight facilities in St. Louis to the shipping interests throughout the country, the Pennsylvania railroad is distributing a large circular map showing the routes of it's fast freight lines and giving the time in transit between St. Louis and the various large cities east of the Mis- sissppi river'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-11
Cotton situation

Henry Clews' cotton situation review is in part as follows
 "The rains so far have in a general way, if not completely, relieved the situation to such an extent that if occasional show CTS follow at intervals, little more could be desired for the best possible final re- suits.
 'The plant as a whole seems to have a good tap root, fields everywhere are re- ported as being under a high state of cul- tivation. The stands are exceptionally good and so far there has been no acre age abandoned-facts which indicate that the plant this year is better fortified than for a number of years past to withstand the many vicssitudes of growing season. Little or no complaint is heard of insects of pests even from Louisiana and Mis- sissippi where last year the boil weevil was looked upon almost in the light of d calamity. The plant generally is taking on fruit from the bottom up, and early cotton has begun to open. All things con- sidered, 1t looks as if average weather conditions from now on are all that are necessary to make new record in cotton production, while if conditions to harvest should run little better than the aver age the outturn would undoubtedly ap- proximate the maximum estimates of the most optimistic.
 There is practically no change in trade conditions. bushes continues on an ex- tremely limited scale and reports are to the effect that the mills are unwilling to manufacture beyond an amount which can be readily disposed of before new cot ton comes to hand"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-11
WOMAN HELD A SHIP

From the New York Press.
 One determined woman did what the seamen's union might have had much trouble in accomplishing. She prevented the steamship Montauk Point from sail ing on schedule time because one of the crew made an insulting remark to her when an Erie canal boat the captain of which is the woman's husband, drew alongside the vessel in Erie Basin to take off a cargo of chalk. The angry wife ap- pealed to her husband. but before the offending sailor could be pointed out he had disappeared from the rail. The wom- an then ordered her husband not to un- load the vessels cargo.
 The Montauk Point had cleared for Newport News. The refusal of the canal boat captain to have anything to do with the steamship put problem before Cap tain Pinliham, her commander. He was more angry than the woman. He tried to placate husband and wife and offered apologies, but the woman was obdurate. She threatened to quit the canal boat if Ter husband attempted to take off one pound of the chalk. There was nothing for Captain Pinkham to do then but get another canal boat He was not ac- quainted, however with the loyalty to each other of the families who live in the canal boats that form a small colony in the Erie Basin.
 The second boat drew alongside. The skipper and his wife did not know what had taken place just before. When the woman who had been insulted saw the other boat approach she told her story to the captains wife. In a moment another resolute woman issued orders to her hus- band, and the second boat sheered away from the steamship.
 It was eight hours before the ire of the two women cooled, but by that time dark ness had fallen. The delay meant loss of about s200 to the agents.
 Captains in Erie canal boats and their wives belong to an old-fashioned stock. Many are religious and rear their chill dren with care. In the colony in the Erie Basin every morning when the boats are tied up the children are sent to the near est public school Some of the canal boats are 100 feet long, and the thrifty women, especially those with children, have attractive cabins The more pros- porous families have pianos or organs on boa r6
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-11
KING GUSTAV

From the New York Sun.
 The King of Sweden has just cele- brated his fifty-second birthday. Like his father, King Oscar, he is a mighty hunter.
 Not only Is King Gustav the only monarch who habitually wears glasses, but he Is one of the few rulers in the world who are total abstainers. Dur ing his crown princely days he did much by force of his example to fur ther the cause of temperance. On one occasion during some maneuvers he in- vited a large number of young officers to his tent to luncheon and placed pom Til, weak apple wine, and hot beef tea before them. It is said that the young fellows sniggered somewhat when his back was turned, but they drank of the fluid in quantity and en- tirely to their own and their host s satisfaction.
 The King is very mindful of the wei fare of his subjects. A story is told of how during the illness of King Oscar the servants in the household of the then crown prince struck for higher wages Their complaints reached the ears of their master. He called a meet inc at which he took the chair himself and astonishe ed, them all by asking each in turn to state his or her grievance. You are quite right he said at the end. You should have told me of this before. shall see that your wages are raised" And raised they were
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-11

golden harvest in Alabama we are going 10 have prosperous times this fall.
 Many things will copeur to bring about large degree of prosperity hereabouts. The local option campaign now under way will result in a return of saloons. A legalized liquor business will be far better than the illicit traffic now going on. A large majority of the people of Jefferson county will vote for saloons, and not for a dispensary system. Un- der the new local option law the saloons will be well regulated, and the city will derive a good revenue from them. Sa- looms will help the business situation very materially. Their return will have an excellent effect on the real estate busi- ness and on realty values here in Birm- ingham. When this county voted dry in 1907 Birmingham suffered quite an in jury and when the liquor business comes back It will be long while before there Is any more experimenting regarding this question:"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-11
A NEsToR OF NoyELIsTs

From the Boston Transcript
 Perhaps it Is no surprise to the public that pr. S. Weir Mitchell of Philadelphia should be represented in this years f1c- tion or that this new novel, John Sher- wood, Ironmaster," should be pronounced worthy of the reputation that he has won during a half century of productive liter ary labor. He has written many good books and the public has received them, one after another, with interest. Hugh Wynne'' has been regarded as one of the best stories of the American Revolution ever written, and whenever he has put pen to paper. the publishers and their patrons have taken notice.
 But pr. Mitchell was S2 years old last February. As a novelist he has come down to us from a former generation. We look for an occasional address or ser mon or essay from men of that age into which they may weave their ripe exper- fences of life for the benefit of a younger generation. but with fiction we associate imagination at it's freshest, with ability to project the authors self into his crea- tions; yet here is a man well over his
  tieally from his birth, through various vicissitudes of youth and manhood, and launches him in the passion of love with all the enthusiasm and sympathy of one whose emotions are still keyed to the summer time of life, at least The psych- ological and pathological analysis of char acter and life, which appears in almost aIl his work, is still in evidence.
 Perhaps knowledge of medicine helps to sustain literary vigor It would be diff fcult to say in which field Dr. Mitchell had attained his greater eminence. There is an interesting parallelism between the careers of Dr.. Mitchell and the late Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes. Both studied medicine and acquired fame in their pro- fessions, and as much or more in litera- ture. pr. Holmes wrote some novels, but more poetry. pr. Mitchell has written some poetry. but more novels, and both retained their peculiar powers beyond the time when men, if they do not lose them, are at least content to let them rest. The call of ambition or the prompting to self expression rarely produce notable re- sponses when a man has passed his eightieth year, or even some time be- fore it.
 But perhaps more unusual still are the instances of those who begin successful novel writing at time of life when most of the guild are disposed to leave it off The most prominent among these at the present time is William Frend de Morgan, one of England's most popular novelists He was famous in artistic circles as a potter and the De Morgan tiles became the vogue through his discovery, or redis- coyery, of beautiful colors and glazes; but at the age of about 65 he turned his atten- tion to novel writing and Joseph Vance" Alice For Short" Somehow Good'' and ''It Never Can Happen Again." coming about a year apart, have been among the recent British best sellers"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-11
LAKE CHAD IS DRY

From the Geographical Journal.
 You understand our curiosity, four years after having made our first map of Lake Chad, to see what was the aspect which this constantly changing lake was likely to present. When we arrived in the vicinity of the lake we learned from the natives that caravans were crossing on dry land the northern portion, which in 1904 we had navigated on board the Benot Garnier; that the central portion twas merely a marsh where no boat Could pass: whereas in the southern portion certain channels, which had formerly been closed to navigation. had become once more practicable.
 "'The drying up of the northern portion, we were told had been so rapid that a great quantity of fish had not had time to flee southward and had taken refuge in the depressons, where they had been asphyXiated in tho few inches of stagnant and muddy water thai had been left be- bind. For the natives It was quite like q now miracle of the fishes; they gathered them in baskets. Even today large areas are covered with dead fish"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-11

with disgust, and the latter will be heard from when they get chance to express themselves at the polls.
 The entire sitting of the Senate on the reciprocity bill has been a fiaseo, and the country wants a rest from endless speechmaking. Not one of the speeches delivered in the Senate has thrown any new light on the subject. The trouble is standpatters and in- surgents and three or four democrats are politicating with 1912 constantly before their partisan eyes.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-11
CAREER OF FRANKLIN FYLES
From the Louisville Courier-Journal.
 TRANKLIN F'YLES, who died in New
 York Wednesday, at the age of 6i

From the Louisville Courier-Journal.
 TRANKLIN FYLEs, who died in New
 H York Wednesday, at the age of 6i | after A years of active and useful work as a journalist and author, was a valuable contributor to the dramatic de- partment of the Courier-Journal His letters were always brightly written. They reflected the spirit of the contenl- porary stage and the flavor of the offer ings of the day. MT. F'yles' letters were rhotograp phica1ly descriptive of the plays te reviewed. Because of their faithful ness they were sometimes somewhat sala- cious. To that quality some readers of the Sunday dramatic page of the Courier Joul nal objected upon the score of pro- priety, but the unclean dramatic review Is not that which tells truthfully what Is offered in the theatre. The harmful writer is the man who glosses over in print what the most stupid individual in the audience cannot fail to see upon the coated account of that which deserves other treatment. It may be held, and is in fact true, that the plain-spoken review CT contributes to the welfare of the pro- moter of degraded and degrading enter tainment a most desirable element of free advertising. But the appeal of that kind of advertising is only to the seeker for salacity. The moral harm done by it is not in proportion to the financial profits that accrue to the purveyor. Persons who are clean minded may read & can did review without being contaminated, and to persons of all kinds 1t is a reliable guide. That is it's value from a newspa- per point of view. The major function of the writer of reviews is to be infornt- ing and to be accurately so.
 Mr Fyles. who tegan his career at the age of 20 upon the New York Sun, about the time Charles A. Dana became it's edi- tor, won early recognition as writer upon the theatre and continued actively at work until his death. During tie last years Of his life he was assisted to a cer-
 tain extent by his son, Nenderheyde