davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1911-04-24

REYNOLDS ADDITION-pIat Of
ground, ample dimensions for gas
for lease, low terms; several lots,
varying In size, for sale $3.50 to
$780,, easy payments If desired;
two bungalows, and rooms
each for sale, terms to suit; house
for rent from May 1st See owner
on premises, or address Reynolds
addition, ?. 0. Box 8a6, city.
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1911-04-24

WANrED-Boarders and roomers,
within two minutes walk frolE
postofice. Apply at III schoot
street.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-26
ALAS FOR THE PETITE
From the Pail Mall Gazette

From the Pail Mall Gazette.
 Like English women, French women are growing taller-at least, in Paris. The results of the Careful and minute measurement of 255 Parisienes, aged from 21 to 55 years" have been com municated to the Academy of Sciences. It was found that the average height of the Parisian woman has increased from 5 feet 6-100 inches to 5 feet 23-100 inches. They are taller by al- most l 1e inches than the women of the rest of France.
 At the same time we are told that in 1909 1879 English mothers and daugh- ters were similarly measured, and the results communicated there. The aver age height for the mothers was found to be feet S4-1o0 inches, and for the daughters feet 2-5 inches. English women had thus grown just over b inches in a geenration. Whether the 255 Parisians measured were mothers or daughters, or both, is not stated. The only conclusion to be derived from the statistics in this connection. accordingly, is that the Parisienna of 1911 in height comes between the Eng fish mother and the English daughter of 1911. But she is not half an inch taller than the former, and has still much to grow before she reaches the contemporary English girl.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-26
CHINESE MOHAMMEDANs
Va shington Post.

From the Washington Post
 q am not prone to bore my friends with a recital of what I saw and heard during a trip around the world,' said Herbert Drew, once of New Jersey, now some thing of a cosmopolite, who stopped in at the New Willard last night.
 However, I was somewhat amazed while in China to learn that there are T. 600 ,000 followers of Mohammed in that country. l had thought the Chinese to be wholly given to their own creed, and it seemed odd to find so many of the Moslem faith. We generally associate the Mohammedan religion with Africa, the Sudan, and Arabia, but it seems that the Chinese believers in the prophet are de- seconded from an army of Arabs that came to China in A. D. 757 to aid the Chinese Emperor in putting down a rebellion. The troops liked the country and remained.
 ''They were born soldiers, and their descendants continued as soldiers, with much reward in the way of land and gifts. That was the beginning of the Moslem faith in China, and the original Chinese permitted the soldiers to worship as they pleased, aiding them in the building of churches, provided they continued pro- ficient in the arts of war. found during my visits to some of the remote parts of Moslem China that the followers of the prophet are rather lax in their religious affairs, and the more fervent Mohamme- dams in Turkey have even sent mission aries to China that the zeal of the lax ones may be quickened. Only few years ago the Sultan of Turkey sent a warship to Moslem China to announce his accession to the throne. The ship was wrecked on the coast of Japan and the Chinese Mos lems never got the formal message from the ruler of Turkey, who is considered the head of the church."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-26

ton, Autauga, Elmore and Montgom- cry, and it is believed these counties would supplement the state aid with issues of bonds that would enable the state highway commission to build the proposed interurban road speed fly. The state highway commission can appropriate $12,00O to the road and it can put the state highway en- gineer at work on it. This would les sen the expense and the six counties could readily do the rest.
 The plan is wholly feasible and the Good Roads congress will have yielded good fruit in this state if its present session leads to the building of road that will be an object lesson to all the rest of the state. The pro- posed road would in fact become the neuclus of state system of stand ard roads, and now is the time to begin an agitation in the six counties in favor of the proposition.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-26
FIGHTING THE DIVE SALOON
From Leslie's Weekly.

From Leslie's Weekly.
 Welded as they now are in a power full national organization, the brewing corporations are able to agree on a united, although not as yet perfect plan of action. At first, their resolu- tion to wipe out dive saloons was re- ceived with skepticism. But events have proved that it was meant in ear nestness, and it has now reached point where, in many places, when a dive saloon keeper is told to quit, he real izes that he had better do so at once, rather than face what will be for him an expensive and losing contest. In Ohio alone about 300 vicious saloons have thus already been suppressed. The owners and inmates of these places treated the first news of this campaign as a joke They began to view it more seriously when word came that no more beer would be sold to disorderly sa- loons This was a surprising situation; throughout all former years. if one brewer would not sell, a brew in a dis tant city, not being too familiar with loca Aconditions, could easily be induced to ship beer. But here were all the brewers acting in unison. In Cincin- natl there are breweries with an in- vestment of $20, 100000. and in Ohio a total of 100 breweries representing an investment of t100O00,00 The whole of this immense interest stands to- gether in fighting the dive saloon.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-26
Auditor Simpsons Complete Report

City Auditor J. B. Simpsons final report discloses a deficit at the end of the calendar year of just about million dollars and s500,0O0 is greatly needed for an extension of the public school system of Birmingham.
 A bond issue proposition of $1,500,- 900 in per cents will therefore be put before the city electorate by the commission. The city cannot be put on a sound business basis and pro- gressive educational basis on less sum of money.
 The entire report of Auditor Simp- son is lengthy. Its length should not, however, lessen the number of read CTS, for no one can vote intelligently on the coming bond proposition who has not read and carefully considered that report. MT. Simpson pays a tribute by the way to ex-Comptroller Eustis, who furnished a great deal of information after severing his con nection with civic duties. MT. Eustis' patriotism is beyond praise.
 The bond proposition presents a heavy total, but if that total will put the city on cash basis while it adds school facilities that are sadly need ed, it will be ratified by the voters and accepted by all the people.
 The subject will s1on assume tan oible form. xand in the meanwhile every ci@f2en should study the situa- , tiou~<Ard the only known remedy for it.SA bond issue of $1,500,00O,, says Auditor Simpson, will put the city on cash basis and restore it's credit. The taxes, license and other revenue, which will be collected before April 1, 1912, should give sufficient work ing capital until the next tax levy is due" This is the whole case, and the decision of it rests with the voters of the city.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-26
FREAK SHOES

From the Ohio State Journal.
 The Germany shoe manufacturers, in convention assembled. appointed a com mittee to prescribe rules for the mak- ing of shoes, the object being to rule out freak shoes. There is a sensible movement. Freak shoes are the cause of ugly and sore feet There is deal of complaint among women on this &C., count, and the only remedy is for the manufacturers to refuse to make them The sad results are not local only, for the effect of a freak shoe extends to the general health. The best test of a woman's good sense is the shoe she wears. These French heels are an abomination. They strike at the entire nervous system. They tend to make a woman morose, quarrelsome and pee vish The intelligent. independent and sweet-tempered woman wears broad soles, low heels and roomy toes The man looking for a bride had better recognize this fact.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-26
Safe Hits and the New Baseball

| The cork -centered baseball used thus far in the season of 1911 is not wholly satisfactory to pitchers who do not relish the bombardment it leads up to, or to the fans who do not prefer long-drawn-out games. The more safe hits the longer the game, and the games are becoming pretty long. The pitchers, too, want ball of less lively pattern. August Herr mann, chairman of the national com- mission, thinks the life of the ball now in use will be brief.
 It is said that a new pattern of a cork-centered ball will be tested first in the Southern league early next month. President Kavanaugh will distribute large shipment of experi- mental balls of new form, the ob- feet being to lessen the number of base hits by using less responsive ball. The ball now in use is too resilient. A less active ball is need ed-one that will not rebound from the bat on slight provocation. The coming experimental ball is to be robbed of some of the present balls desire to start back at almost every opportunity. It is to be deadened, in other words, until the life of the pitcher becomes endurable.
 After all, the present ball is fair and just towards all pitchers alike. It is as good for one pitcher as for an- other, and all fans like batting game. The only charge against the ball now in use relates to the length of the game, and this may indeed call for a change. The experimental ball in the Southern league will soon show what change, if any, is needed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-26
CEuTAIN JOKES TABOO

From the American Museum Journal.
 One of the curious social customs prac- ticed by the Crow, as well as by many other Indian tribes, is the ''bother-in-law taboo ]" That is to say. man is under no circumstances permitted to hold con versation with his wife's mother. Another strange regulation is that relating to the playing of practical jokes. A man is not permitted to jest with any one he pleases, but is limited to the individuals whose fathers belonged to the same elan as his own father. Within this group, however, practically any liberty is allowable. If a man discovers that 'jokable relative has committed some foolish or disgrace ful act, he can publicly twit him with it, and the person derided must not. get angry, but bide his time for some favor- able opportunity to retaliate.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-26
Increased Cotton Acreage

On Friday next the government will issue it's first estimate of the acreage of the growing cotton crop. The condition of the crop is uncer- tain but the acreage is not. The acreage can be pretty accurately esti- mated, and the government is ex- pected to present trustworthy fig ures.
 The planting of last year covered 83,418,000 acres, and the individual estimates of this years planting call for an increase of from 5 to 10 per cent. The governments estimated percentage is looked for with inter- est, and it will be widely accepted as the best possible estimate at this period of the new crop.
 It is generally believed that the governments first crop report will indicate an increased acreage and a condition fully up to that presented one year ago, which was 82 per cent of normal crop. The farmers have confessedly done well this year, and if the weather should be favorable no doubt crop will be grown that will go far toward satisfying the de- mands of the world No one antici- pates crop that will sell below 10 cents at the farm.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-26
In Kansas and Other states

q had thought that statutory prohibi- tion was more generally accepted In Kansas than in any other state, but on a recent visit there I found great deal of stir against the law as it stands" said Jackson T. Cartwright of Chicago.
 "Kansas has constitutional prohibi- tion When I was last in that state nearly five years ago-the dries seemed to be in the majority and to be of the opinion that prohibition in the organic law was a success. But today there is an undercurrent of prohibition sen timent and 1t is only a question of time when there will be an organized move ment to have a re-submission of tho constitutional question in order that the state may rid itself of present condi- tions I am told that the illicit liquor traffic in Kansas was reduced to min imum when prohibition was incorporated in the constitution, but recently the blind tiger Is very active. have not been in Maine in recent years, but from all accounts prohibition in that state has long been a farce. It is getting to be just as much of a farce in Kansas.
 q spent three days in Texas last week and found statewide prohibition campaign in progress. It was waxing warm The contest between the vets and the drys is said to be close. The election takes place in July, and I would not think 1t @ safe bet that the state widers would go down in defeat, al though the majority against them may be comparatively small. Seeing as I do that the fanatical prohibitionists are strong in Texas, 1t would have been easy for the state wide element to win had the election come on two or three years ago. when the prohibition wave was sweeping over the south. But the wave has receded and in every state where the prohibition matter has been tested, either in the legislature or by a hibitionists have losct by decisive ma himbitionists have lost by decisive ma a progressive state like Texas, in view of the general situation, can come any where near putting itself in the state W idle prohibition column. If Texas mould vote for state wi1e prohibition it would only be question of a few years when there would be another turbulent campaign. The anti-prohibi- tionists would move heaven and earth to undo what had been done. As am not engaged in the liquor business do not care which way the election goes In Texas, but as a looker-on l am greatly interested"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-26
New Orleans as a Coaling Port

New Orleans as Coalihg fOIL A.
 New Orleans .ss-sfylng to revive the traffic on the Mississippi river through the operation of fleets of modern steel barges. At present a fifteen-day service to St. Louis will be maintained to be followed at an early day by weekly service.
 But this is not the extent of New Orleans enterprise. It also wants to become a great coaling port. Here tofore," says the Picayune, 'it has been the rule of the ships plying be- tween European and gulf ports to take very little coal here, but to coal at Norfolk on the outward voyage. Why cannot New Orleans secure that traffic in competition with Norfolk? Is it because we have not the facili- ties for coaling ships, or we want to make too big profit on our coal? Notwithstanding the trusts, this is still a world of competition, and com petition means enterprise and energy, as well as knowing how to use them."
 New Orleans could readily become a great coaling port if it would cut loose from Pittsburg coal and ac- cept Alabama coal of equal quality and lower price. Alabama coal can today be barged direct from the mines to New Orleans by water at low transportation cost. The im- provement of the Tombigbee and Warrior is not complete, but there are more days of navigation in them now than there is in the Ohio. The Lake Borgne canal is ready for use. New Orleans can become great coaling port by using Alabama coal, which can be landed at its dock without a cent of railroad charges. If it will not do this 1t must be content to see Hampton Roads become the great coal port of this country, the one rival of Cardiff, Wales.
 When New Orleans wakes up to the possibilities of Alabama coal it will accept Alabama coal barged direct from the mines without trans fer of any sort. The barge that starts from the foot of Squaw Shoals in the Warrior can be unloaded with out breaking bulk at New Orleans alongside ship. When New Orleans gets its transportation figures on straight it will see clearly the situa- ton. It will see that it's sole hope of becoming great coaling port is dependent upon the use of Alabama coal to the complete exclusion of the Pittsburg article.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-26
IN HOTEL HOBBIES
School nnd oollege commencements


 Many of the older folks tire of school and college commeneements. but l have always felt lively interest in these ex- ercises, and whenever I am able to bs present at any of our southern colleges on graduation day. I feel well repaid, said a busy man. "There is something singularly stimulating in the very at mosphere of a college at commencement time. The student body is then all an- imation, and the individual youth who has any aspiration or spirit looks his manifest.
 "I have just received through the mail an invitation to attend the commence ment exercises of Birmingham college Tuesday, May 90. when the literary ad- dress will be delivered by W. R. Webb of Bellbuckle, Tenn, and I shall take pleasure in accepting. At the last eom- mencement at that college. which l at tended, Chancellor J. H. Kirkland of Vanderbilt delivered the address. He read it, but to me 1t was as impressive as if he had spoken it without manuscript. Seldom had I heard a more thoughtful, polished or charming discourse than Chancellor Kirkland's, and from all ac- counts MT Webb will be well worth hear ing. The letter of invitation sent out by the committee, composed of R. s. Munger, J. D. Simpson and F. M. Jack son, contains this suggestive paragraph;
 Tn the Birmingham college the dis trict has an institution worthy of your friendship, and we take this means to bring you in closer touch with it. Please lay all your other ngagements aside, and arrange to be with us.' -
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-26
A CONFEDERATE WAR HISTORY

A CONFEDERATE WAR HISTORY From the Philadelphia Inquirer
 At meeting of the Sons of the Con federacy in Arkansas an appeal once more is put forth for a history of the civil war which shall be accurate and just to the Confectionery" The sub ject is brought up with more than usual fervor just now, because so many newspapers are printing accounts of events which happened just 50 years ago. .ke
 The southern complaint is an old one. The wonder is that something isn't done about it. To ask for an abso- lutely correct, just and impartial lhis- tory of an era is making impossible demands. We cannot undertake to study any great event or period in his- tory without discovering that the. ..au- thorities" differ very widely not only as to facts, but as to their meanings At the same time there is hardly an era in history of which it is 80 easy to arrive at just view as that of our civil war. because practically all of the great men who figured in the combat, either in the field or in civil affairs, nave left their written records of the events in which they participated. The military history is writ not only in of- fcial records, but every great captain has told the story as he understood is and without more prejudice than is in- herent in human nature.
 Efforts to secure a satisfactory
 southern history" have failed simply because they have been misdirected. To start out to prove something in his- tory is dangerous when bias is to be it's basis. More worthless books than not to be found in litreature. By con- trast Longstreet, Alexander, Hood, Johnston, D. H. Hill and some of the Lees are only a few of the Confeder- ates who have made Invaluable con- tributions to history. To sum them all up in a small volume would be diffi- cult but 1t may come in later genera tions, though not now. The fact that histories written by northern men are used almost exclusively in our educa- tional institutions is simply due to the fact that they are better than others. not that they are perfect.
 Miss Johnston, who is, perhaps, the premier novelist of America, has just published story which deals with the military career of Stonewall Jackson. It is an admirable study of a great Vir- ginian by a Virginian, yet 1t is likely to be as savagely attacked as if she had been born and bred in Boston. Facts are very stubborn things and no historical narrative can long twist them. The truth will out.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-26
stenographers and Proof Reader.

'In this day of schools and colleges and of all sorts of educational activities every man and woman having a calling along lines more or less related to the educational, scientific or artistic world should be educated" said a citizen of taste and observation.
 "Stenographers are among those who need a liberal education. few ap- preciating the requirements of their profession are thoroughly equipped. They spell correctly, understand gram mar, and have a wide ,range in the knowledge of words. These few are equally at home in taking dictation from a lawyer preacher, an engineer, a metallurgist the principal of a musical school, a banker, or a merchant. But the majority of stenographers nave start to work before they have good schooling in the English language and In the nomenclature used in the tech nological world.
 { Proof readers form another class needing a thorough education In job office that pretends to be first class the proof reading should be first class. In the office of a daily news paper the work has to be so swiftly done that some allowance is made for errors that appear in type. But in job office there is no excuse for slow enly work, and yet see the result of bad proof reading every day. This is especially so in musical programmes. The indifferent proof reader falls back on the idea that only persons musically educated can keep up with musical terms We'll, if this be so, then the proof reader should acquire some knowledge of music and the language in which music is discussed.
 'The same remarks will apply to theology and ecclesiology. The tech nical words used in connection with liturgical churches, particularly the Catholic church, are not difficult of ac- quirement by the average person of intelligence. All these words are in the dictionary. But because the proof reader is not a member of liturgical church he thinks he should not be ex- pected to know these things. The day will come, believe, when printers and stenographers will all have to possess at least a reasonable amount of information touching such ethical matters as come under their nose"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-26
Interest in Music

"So successful has been our concert tour through the south and part of tho west that we will work up sched- ule as far west as the Pacific next spring" said W. L. Radcliffe, manager of the Victor Herbert orchestra. We were greeted by large audiences nearly everywhere, and what was especially significant and encouraging was the fact that appreciative crowds came to hear Victor Herberts orchestra and solo art ists in the small towns.
 There has been wonderful advance in musical taste in this country In the past 20 years. l can remember very well when a symphony orchestra was never heard outside of the pig cities. An at tempt to work up a box office business in town of 15,0O0 to 2o,ooo population for an orchestral concert would have been out of the question even 10 years ago. Now cities of the 10000 or 15,ooo population class hear a grand orchestra occa asionally at least. Certain 1t Is that some of our most enthusiastic and dis eliminating audiences on this tour have been in cities with population of less than 20000."