davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-25
.MAG1c FOOT DRAFTS A FAKE

"MAGIC FOOT DRAFTS" A FAKE
 From the Journal of the American Med-
 ical Association.
 Magic Foot Drafts, is a widely ex- plotted humbug from Jackson. Mich., ad- vertised internationally, consisting of mass of pine tar and some other ingre- dients spread on a piece of oilcloth and sold to simple-minded people to apply to the soles of their feet. The value of the plaster mass for one pair is estimated at one-third of cent; they sell for dollar a pair. They are supposed to draw the rheumatic poison from the whole sys- tenn through the soles of the feet. Ac- cording to Mir Samuel Hopkins Adams in his Great American Fraud series, "They might as well be affixed to the barn door" The analyses of the bureau of chemistry of the department of agri- culture showed that these plasters con- sisted of poke root, 30 per cent; pine tar, 62 per cent, and corn meal, per cent. A number of the officers of this company are said to be interested in other fraud- ulent medical companies The amuse- ment which the promoters of this fake find in selling mass of cold tar, corn meal and poke root to draw poison out of the feet of gullible suckers must be almost enough to compensate them for carrying on the business, to say nothing of the enormous profit
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-25
Mexico and Arizona

By a viva voce vote the House has passed a bill admitting Arizona and New Mexico to immediate statehood when both states have held elections on submitted questions. Arizona is required to vote on an amendment to her constitution removing the re- call provision from her judges, and New Mexico is required to submit an amendment making her constitution more easily amendable in the future. Neither state is required to adopt the suggested amendment as a condition precedent to admission, but each must first hold an election and vote on the amendment that Congress calls for. Each state is thus left to determine it's own constitution, and this is in line with all precedent.
 The insurgent republicans voted, as a rule, with the democrats in the House, and the bill in it's present form may be accepted by the Senate. There is desire that the territorial question on the mainland be forever ended and a union of AS mainland states and like number of stars on the flag established. Arizona and Mexico became American territory nearly seventy years ago, and surely pupilage of that length is suf- ficient. They have become in that time English-speal1ing districts ex- cept in Sports, and there is no req son why they should not be admitted as states under constitutions of their own making.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-25
She exceIIs each mortal thing Upon the dull earth dwelling.
 Two Gentlemen of Verona.
Economy in the Public Schools

The announcement of cut of $35,- 900 a year by the Board of Education is tempered with the declaration that the retrenchment will not affect the efficiency of the schools or lower their standard. In six specified ways the cost of conducting the public schools of the city will be reduced $35,000 a year, and this will be done without seriously impairing their use fitness.
 The reductions are really of tenn porary nature. There has been no extravaganza in the public schools, no waste of the peoples moneys, and not a particle of graft or corruption. Re- trenchment has become necessary un- til the city's receipts become as great as it's expenditures, and Superintend- ent Phillips and the Board of Educa- tion propose to aid to the utmost the commission in it's desire to put the city on it's feet, financially speaking. The cost of conducting the schools next year will therefore be reduced to the extent stated below the cost of their operation this year.
 Greater labor will fall upon the shoulders of Superintendent Phillips and his teachers, and they are will ing to undertake the task. They will accomplish it, we may be sVfe, with out impairing the value 4 the school work. There will be TO cutting out of mapdal training hnd drawing, no loss.bf vocal muse or physical cul- vHe. All higbSschool scholars will be PIaced somes1here, and every teacher will bead to his or her task knowing that the enforceed economy will not be long continued in a city that is yearly becoming more populous and prosperous.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-25
HOW GORDON PREPARED TO DIE

From the Washington Post.
 ''When heard that former Representa- tive Bob Gordon of Ohio had been ap- pointed superintendent of the document room of the House." said Alvin H. Foster of Dayton, at the Ebbtt, 'I could not but recall that Bob had much to be thank ful for. Years ago. out In Ohio, Bob was working in the flour mill of his father. The dust caused his health to fail, and his lungs were affected. The doctor looked serious, and hinted at consumption. A change of air was ordered. The thought of Gordon was that if he had to die within a few months he might as well have a good time while life remained. He converted his belongings into cash and set out for a feast of the good things of life prior to shufling off the mortal coil.
 Bob went to the seashore. He never had seen the ocean before, and it looked good to him. Then he never before had seen the gay life of a seashore resort, and the big, ruddy men. the beautiful girls, and the happy children all stirred within the Gordon soul the desire to live and be part of the gay procession. Alas, he thought, as in few months. perhaps weeks, he would be laid away in the grave, and would leave all these beautiful scenes to others. So he mourned in si- lence, until one day he happened upon weighing machine, and thought 1t just as well before dying to find out how much he had lost in weight. He gasped as the machine registered 10 pounds more than when he had last been weighed.
 Bob thought there must be something wrong with the machine, and he tested every machine he could find on the board walk, with the same result. That ended the mournful business. It occurred to Cor don that a dying man does not gain in weight and improve daily in other ways, so ne jumped into the throng as one who was glad to keep on living. He went home and prepared to enter politics and become a member of Congress. He never has had fear of consumption since"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-25
WHERE WOMAN WINS

From the Philadelphia Inquirer.
 MT. Duryea, who lived dozen years with broken back. has just died leaving most of his fortune to the nurse who cared for him and without whom life would have been uncomfortable. She gets about s1,500,000, if the will is not broken, and there is no reason to doubt that she deserves it. The crippled man for some reason quarrelled with his sisters. Per hsps they weer not willing to sacrifice their own comfort for his; at any rate the woman who nursed him gets the money All that man hath will he give for his life. even for few extra years of it, and those who minister to his com fort are entitled to reward.
 The incident has caused no end of talk and the will is likely to be contested, but If the testator considered that he was in no wise bound by family or charitable considerations beyond his modest be- quests there seems no reason why his will should be considered unjust. The incl dent itself is of less importance than what
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-25
Commission Government in Alabama

Commission Government in Alabama Despite the manner in which com mission government is being con- ducted in Montgomery steps are be- ing taken in the lesser cities of the state to secure elections on the ques- tion of substituting a business admin istration for one that is largely polit- ical and sectional. Tuscaloosa is one of the latest applicants.
 In Montgomery there are five com missioners who are paid $3000 each. A prominent dry goods man in Mont gomery was asked by a correspond ent of the Mobile Item if it were true that recall petition is being circu-- lated, and he was told that it was, and when he was asked what the trouble was, the reply was, "Oh, the people do not seem to be satisfied with the way things are being run."
 The Montgomery commission seems to consist of three very active men and two who are ignored in the political pinches. A commission of three is probably better than a com mission of five, and sif the commits sion in Birminghasd keeps on as it has begun Witil it brings expendi- lures witbim receipts without impair ing i1n the least the efficiency of the
 city's government it will commend
 the commission form of municipal rule to all the other towns of the state. The home commission will pull one way while the Montgomery com mission will pull the other way. Bir- mingham will outpull Montgomery unless things look differently a year from now than they do today. The proof of the pudding is in the eating, and the example of Birmingham will go far, as things look at present, to all other Alabama cities that have been afflicted with too much politics.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-25
The Orator for Alumni Day

We are all looking forward with great pleasure to Alumni day at the univer- sity, May 30, when Congressman Mar tin W. Littleton, a native of Texas, but now an eminent citizen of Greater New York, will deliver the annual oration be- fore our society,"" said an enthusiastic alumnus.
 "Mr Littleton is one of the ablest law yers in this country and is one of the few really great orators. A prominent Birmingham citizen said to me, heard the Honorable MT. Littleton once in New York, and he was the most pleasant ora tor I ever listened to-
 Mrs. Littleton will accompany her husband, and they will be entertained while in Tuscaloosa by Mir. and Mrs. Charles B. Werner. A member of the Alabama delegation in Washington writes me as follows: Mrs. Littleton is pretty, well-informed and a charming little lady' <"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-25

an investigation of the case by a
 special committee to be slected by the senate-the Dillingham; resolution re- ferring the matter to the committee on privileges and elections, and the Martin resolution calling for an in- vestigation of the jackpot fund alone. The Martin resolution would turn over the investigation to the commit tee on privileges and elections.
 It is certain that the subject is to be reopened, and the opinion prevails that the new inquiry will be con ducted under the Dillingham; resolu- tion by Senators Dillingham;, Suther- land, Kenyon, Kern and Lea. The two first named are standpat republi- cans, while Mr. Kenyon is a pro- gressive republican, and Messrs. Kern and Lea are new democratic senators. A committee made up on that basis would probably bring out the facts, for Mr Kenyon would sure ly work with Messrs. Kern of Indiana and Lea of Tennessee.
 The entire case is to be retried with particular reference to the development of a $100,- 900 corruption fund contributed by the trusts of Chicago, who desired special representative in the Senate. This sort of business has gone on a long time, but never before have the as they have been in Illinois.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-25
Birmingham's Progress

Birmingham Is growing and improving all the while" said Frank Croxton, the distinguished basso one of Victor Her bert's festival artists.
 '"I had visited Birmingham twice be- fore coming this week, and each time am here the city looks much larger and much handsomer in every way. It has such wonderful natural resources, and az an industrial center such vast develop ment is going on that one can readily i'm agine city of immense population in 15 or 20 years from now. This Is certainly going to be one of the great cities of the country, and when it Is learned that Bir- but marvel"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-25
BRIcE AS POKER PLAYER

From the Washington Post.
 "A visit to Washington always recalls the good old days when my friend, Sen ator Calvin S. Brice, was here," said Col onel Demert, of Ohio, at the Ebbitt.
 "Ohio never fully appreciated the worth of Brice until he was gone, and those who knew the real man personally never tire of telling about his career. Long be- fore his election to the Senate he came to my town of Bucyrus as clever young country lawyer, but even then he was be- ginning to indicate what was in him. After our consultation he insisted on meeting with a famous character of our town who kept 8 rather high-class gam bling place. I do not mean a public re- sort but just gentlemen's poker game Brice had heard lot about the wonder full skill of these citizens, and he had a curiosity to try them a spell, as matter of recreation. I begged him almost with tears in my eyes not to risk his money with such experts, but he smiled. Then explained that would have supply of funds for him when he was ready to leave town as l felt sure these local sports would trim him down to his shirt studs. I even begged that I might take care of his watch. Well, worried good deal that night, and could hardly sleep thinking what probably was happening to Brice. I hastened to find him the next morning. He was chipper and smiling and I asked him If he needed any money with which to leave. He smiled and pulled out a roll of bills. Then he ex- planed that he had tackled our local heavyweights in a quiet little gentlenen's s game, and had won every dollar they could rake and scrape together. I have never warned men like Brice against go- ing into any sort of a game It is breath
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-25
THACKERAY,s TERROR OF TUNNEL.


 In Harper's for June is printed for the first time newly discovered Thackeray manuscript. In it the great novelist tells delightfully."- of a little journey through the west of England. Railroads were comparatively new in those days and ev- idently did not meet with Trackerays entire approval. Writing of the tunnels, he says
 Tn a few minutes the cursed engine sets up his horrible shriek, we enter into a tunnel three miles long, clap, clap! the great engine gallops through the i'm mense passage-rendered visible by the carriage lamps, the darkness flashes swiftly by you-al attempts at conversa- tion are vain. I declare I think 1t IS wicked to talk as one is rushing through one of those awful caverns with noun tains piled above, and I have but a poor opinion of the quality of a mans courage who can pass through such places with out silence and awe. As long as people think fit to take the lives of criminals these frightful tunnels would be good places for the operation; a man might be placed upon the top of a carriage twith his back, for mercys sake, we will say, to the dark, looking at the light grow ing fainter at the tunnels end, and the horrible darkness closing round and con- quering it; and-somewhefe in the midst of the place : just when the light was gone sort of head-cutting machine might be fixed, calculated just to take the patient at the neck, and
 . against 1t the rushing engine would come and it might scream and yell all the while in it's own horrid unearthly fashion ana when it issued out into the light again the man would be no more, and so no eve could see the murder done upon him. But this is always said to be mawkish sentimentality; well, I wish no man hanged, my humble desire goes no farther than that-and I confess honestly that am frightened in one of those diaboli- cal dark tunnels, which Is very likely mawkish sentimentality and weakness, too."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-25
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES

to profound contempt for fiction or ad1 venture, and who like to point out thel beauties of Browning or Meredith. In a towns where professional teams hold fortIY, this species of fan is abundant. Bu1, gentle and beautiful reader, he isn't "a fan at all It is a misuse of the graBd old word to apply it to him. He is inpap- able of frenzy, and unless you can be- come frantic upon occasion you are no lover of baseball. The true fan prefers high class baseball to an inferior article, but if he can't see the better grades, he is willing and anxious to see the cheaper article. When. everything else fails he will sit on barb wire fence for hours at time to see the schoolboys running up a 4s to 36 score" -Emporia Gazette.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-25
Birmingham's Needs

Birmingham is great, big, busy metropolitan city. well up to date and ahead of most places of like size in ev- erything that makes a big city with the exception of hotels" said Dave Rich ycs- terday.
 We are sorely in need of big modern hotel I travel about good deal and l know of no city the equal of Birming- ham when we omit our lack of hotels and the theoretical prohibition we are burdened with. I was in Memphis the other day and when I compared hotels l had to blush for my town. We have struggled along without a modernly con- structed hotel about long enough. l don think we realize what a material loss we sustain every year on this account. I'm looking for better things ahead, though I think we will soon have legal ized liquor, under proper regulations. and a hotel close in it's wake, in the moderately near future"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-25
'Blest be the tie that binds
 Our hearts in Christian love; The fellowship of kindred minds Jr tilo to that abOve'
I RISE TO REMARK

From JuuBe
 Some self-made men look the part
 sermon is always preached to some one else.
 Too often our ideals prove to be ordeals.
 College graduates know everything-ex- cept how to make a living.
 A long head and a long face rarely go together.
 cigar is like woman's dress; you can never judge the filling by the wrap per- he shall eat; woman's. what she shall wear.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-25
From the Washington Post.

From the Washington Post
 "HE hearings now in progress before
 the agricultural department officials
 ! charged with the maintenance ot the pure food law regarding the essential ingredients that go to the making or mincemeat are fraught with an importance second only to the great and as yet uh- solved problem of What is whisky?' It is just possible, also, that the mince- meat proposition will eventually swallow up the mooted whisky problem. as the whale does the minnow, reducing 1t to minor detail of the more expressing in vestigation, since mincemeat without whisky, whatever may be its remaining solid constituents, can no more arrive at the gustatory heights which the word implies than Hamlet can be played With out the melancholy Dane, or scentless rose smell sweet. by any other name
 A dear old lady of past generation once found herself in somewhat the same dilemma that is now confronting both the lnanufa cturers and the department chemists With a perspicacity that had it's limitations, she marked her pre- serves" with but two brands, written with a carpenters pencil, on small slips or paper, and then pasted over the tops or the jars One was '"T. M.," which plain ly indicated Iris Mince," of the delect- able contents, duly signed and sealed' and only waiting to be delivered. The re- maining canned goods were punched un- der the common appelation of TT. M, sianifving thereby .'Tain't Mince," and thus dgposing of all difficulties ol course, at eating time she found herselr in a quandary. But one thing was sure; if she opened a jar and it wasn't mince, 1t took no governmen board to de- eide the issue. One discriminating snin was sufficient. But if the little god Of
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-25
AUTOMOBILE IN THE DESERT

In Harpers for June, Prof. Ellsworth Huntington of Yale tells of unique eX- petition which he recently made whiie studying conditions in the Arizona desert. His entire journey was made over un- broken lands by automobile
 My friends all said that my plans did rot seem quite right says MT. Hunting ton. An automobile may be an excellent thing, but they doubted whether it was exactly appropriate for use in studying deserts, discovering runs, and visiting ln- dians. Starting from the desert botanical laboratory, we found that an automobile was exactly the conveyance in which to make trips in all directions in southern Arizona and in the neighboring Mexican state of Sonora. The distances in this desert country are so great and the pop ulaton so scanty that even bug hunter,' as all field scientists are called, needs a much more rapid means of con veyance than In more densely inhabited regions. We were obliged to negotiate all kinds of roads, and we learned how great are the possibilities of good ma chine. Ours was fitted with a 30-horse- power engine and the lightest possible body. We had wheels of large size, be- ing s4 inches in diameter They were fitted with 41a-inch tires, so that the total diameter was 43 inches. This gave good clearance over stumps and on deeply rut- ted roads. but not quite enough for the boulder on which we broke a gear-case. We attempted only one hill that proved too step. The trouble there was that the slope was so great that the gasoline would not run up hill into the carbureter. The worst of our enemies was the sand of dry river bottoms, but the large size of the tires enabled us to cross even the broadest of the rivers with the sandy side up, which everywhere take the place of ordinary streams of water.
 "Automobiling in the desert is delight full No other form of travelling gives such a complete sense of freedom"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-25
A VERSATILE GOVERNOR

William Bayard Hale in the Worlds s Work for June.
 This Is how Governor Harmon made more votes in a single day than he had ever won before in his life He had just finished long impromptu speech to his friends, the farmers, and when he fin- ished they gave him hearty vote of thanks.
 Then I was expected to reply" the governor says, "and I got up again and began
 1T don't know what to say. This Is too much
 "Then someone way back in the crowd called out Don't say anything, lead us in hymn. Let's sing. Blest Be the Tie that Binds'"
 Well, tell you, I was rather stunned at that, but only for moment. I did happen to know that hymn, and so just screwed up my courage-fZr 1t takes a lot more courage to raise a hymn than it does even to make speech-and hummed around 1t to get the key and started her off Luckily I didn't have to carry 1t very far, for 5000 throats took if ,,p and a tremendous burst of melody went up from that grove that day that must have been like an old-fashioned camp meeting at it's loudest and best:
 'BIest be the tie that binds
 Our hearts in Christian love:
 The fellowship of kindred minds
 Is like to that above
 At the election which followed the vote given Harmon was astonishing. Men who had sung "Blest Be the Tie that Binds with man are not going to vote against him.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-25
The Lorimer Case

The Lorimer case is again before <bA Senate. "The people of the coun- try" said Senator LaFollette, Ire jected our former verdict as if by one voice. Nothing ever is settled until 1t is settled right; it is Gods eternal justice, pulling to make things plumb"
 It does not yet appear just what course the Senate will take to make things plumb, there being before it tho LaFollette resolution calling for
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-25
south Carolina


 T have spent some time in South Caro- lima recently, and was glad to see solid prosperity in evidence both in the cities and in the farming districts" said J. K. Powers of Florence. Ala.
 South Carolina has exploited itself less than most of the other southern states, but it is developing along substantial lines, and while the cities and towns do not grow at the rapid rate, perhaps, that Alabama cities do, there is an air of pros perity on every side. Charleston is one or the most charming of cities, and Its hospi- tality, proverbial before the war. Is still elegant and whole-soul.
 My business takes me all over the south, and it does me good to find every southern state more thrifty and in better condition today than was the case 10 years ago, or even five years ago. The southern people have certainly awakened to the splendid possibilities of their natural wealth, and are developing them acocrd- ingly."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-25
MIGHT BE POSSIBLE.

DO you think MT. Rootsum, that you, the patriotic citizen of great republic, could ever cry, Long live the kingi'?"
 "Why, yes; I might. provided the king knocked a home run, famed out three men in succession, or did something else that was really worth while"