davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1911-12-10
Praise for Griffith.

All over the American League circuit
commentator is heard OF Clark Grif-
fith's decision to hold on to Bob Groom.
the tan twirler of the Nationals. Groom
should come close to equaling Johnson's
record next season.
The Washington times., 1911-12-10
TWO BASKETBALL
VICTORIES GO TO
CUNTS OF Y. N. c. A.
Regulars and Stalwarts Win
From Rosedales and Me-
mortal A. c.

Two basketball teams OF the local Y.
M. c. A. were victorious in their con-
tests last night. the Regulars defeating
the Rosedaies by S. to IS and the Stall
warts winning from the Memorial Ath-
letic Club by % to 49,
The outcome Of both games was ap-
parent early In the contests, as the win
ners in each case outplaycd their rivals
at every point OF the game. In the final
contest the regulars scored 20 points be-
fore their rivals were able to score at
all.
McLaren. of the stalwarts, was the
mainstay mall 3, Of his team scoring almost
Walk, Of the Regulars. split the honors
among them. Bentz and Lewis played
we'll for the Rosedales, while Murphy
was the best performer FOR the Me-
Regulars. Positions RosedaIes.
Miller........."...:L Z. F..... Foster, Bontx
Hall. r. F. Rhodes, Lewis
Mcdonald Nai5 e. fenser G .Holmes nHn.z croan Rsh,
1>S' Goals from soor-Miiier tisj, Hall q.
Walk. I9l, Mcdonald, Allwine (0, Bontz
Walk i2). Bontz. and Lewis Fouls
Y. M. c. A., A; Rosedales. 5. Referee
Mr.. Collihower. Time Of halves-2o min
stalwarts. Positions. Mem. A. c.
Hunsche. ..........L. F........... McHale
Dreysenstock .....R. F............ Murphy
McLaren. ..... Center. ............. Wade
Helmuth. ....."....L. Co.. Schombert
EiIson. ..........h. G.......barry, DIXON
Goals from fioor-Hunche (3). Dreysen-
stock (2>. McLaren "a, Helmuth, Ella
son. McHale (2), and Murphy o.. Free
tosses-Eliason and Murphy (O. Fouls
-Stalwarts, S; Memorial, 6. Referee
Mr. Collifiower. Time OF halves-20 min
utes each.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-24
IJniust and IntOlerable

If the senate passes the revenue bill without striking out the insur- ance clause the law makers at Mont gomery will do grievous wrong to the large mercantile interests in the cities of Alabama.
 It would be difficult-next to im- possible-for any legislative body to pass revenue bill affecting taxa tion that would be entirely satisfac- tory to the tax payers in general, but there will be no excuse whatever for the legislature of this state to an- tagonize capital, and certain it is that the great merchant class in the trade centers should be treated fairly.
 Every prudent and prosperous merchant in Mobile, Montgomery, Selma, Birmingham and other cities of the state carries the fullest in- surance possible. With ample insur- ance his credit is strengthened. With out it he would be badly handicapped in the conduct of his business. With the country merchant it is different. Insurance rates in the country with out fire protection are necessarily high, and in some cases practically prohibitive. The country merchant, therefore, takes chances and carries comparatively little insurance, or none at all.
 If the legislature passes law re- quiring the merchants to pay taxes on the basis of his insurance the in- equality as between the city and the country man is too obvious to need discussion. This legislature was elected on a broad, conservative democratic platform, and one of the important blanks was to the effect that capital, instead of being har- rassed or oppressed, would be encour- aged. To retain the insurance clause in the revenue bill would flagrantly negative democratic pledges and throw the state back many years.
 Let the senate in it's consideration of the measure in question take fair and sane view of the situation and eliminate the insurance clause.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-24
JUST A MULE, THAT'S ALL.

From the St. Louis Republic.
 Maude, a street department mule, given the irksome and uninteresting task of pulling a garbage wagon through the streets of St. Louis, rebelled against her fate and attempted to end her life by shooting herself.
 Her inexperienee resulted in bung- ling job, and the bullet entered her leg near the joint. It is feared her pedestrial ability will be severely impaired.
 The attempt occurred at Grand and Laclede avenues about 6:3O a. m. Maude, preparatory to a days work, had walked dejectedly from the departments stables at Vandeventer avenue and Forest Park boulevard.
 She espied something in a crevice of the pavement which suited her purpose. It was a revolver cartridge, seemingly placed in her path by the god of pessi- msm. Maude gave whinny and stamped her hoof upon the cartridge with all the vigor of a determined spirit.
 There was an explosion, Maude fell to the ground and an excited crowd gath cred. Two policemen ran to the scene. It was found the bullet had entered the joint of Maude's leg.
 Dr. J. J. Prendergast, the department veterinary, was called, and probed for the bullet. He was unable to extract it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-24

From the Washington Post.
 "Why do men or women bent on sui eide generally choose hotel for the en- aetment of their tragedy?" was the query of Arthur Higginbotham. a New York commercial traveller, at the Raleigh last night. Here I read of Robert John son, who registered at Broadway tav- ern the other night, and, after thinking it over a full day, shot himself in the head. The employees heard the shot, and they generally know what it means. It's hardly day passes without some trage- dy in some hotel of the Great White Way.
 This man Johnson had exactly 13 cents in his pocket when found dead, and he left no note explaining his acf. The old rounders in uptown New York would remark that no note was necessary-that the B cents told the story without any frills or excess of explanatory notes
 But to answer my question. Back of this desire to commit suicide in hotel is vanity, last craving for notoriety and to be sure of headlines in a news paper. The sorrowful one, or one who has lost out in the hard game of New York, the game which is usually to get the most for the least work, gives up the fight and hikes for a hotel, either to end 1t all with poison, with knife, or a bull let. The old and supremely fashionable method was by stuffing up the windows with paper by stuffing up the windows electric lights have stopped the gas route to eternity, and poison is the most popu- lar proposition for the shuffling off process.
 With men the chief reason for the sui- eides in hotels is due to financial woes down-and-out give-it-up feeling-and the victim feels sure of a funeral at someone's expense and a one-day sensa- ton, perhaps, in the newspapers. The room is fumigated and closed, perhaps for day, and the incident is forgotten.
 women usually seek a hotel for sui- eide, and, as rule, write many fare well letters. Love affairs are to blame for most of the women suicides in tav- erns, and quarrels with husbands are mentioned in the published reports.
 Tt goes without saying that hotels do not relish the suicide business, but there is no way to prevent it, as no clerk would care to ask each guest if he contem- plated Killing himself during his stay.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-24

sight, any such female person. who
 is to be thrown at once into the bas-
 tile and fined even up to S100, with a possible term of imprisonment to
 boot. She may be imprisoned ten days, but the Smith proposition does not, it should be stated, call for soli- tary imprisonment or subject the of fender to the third degree or to any other unpleasant feature of jail life.
 But if the trouser skirt should be- come popular and fashionable-doe Alderman Frank Smith believe that his ordinance would be operatiove Young women in this city have never been kept from the wearing of fash ionable clothes, and the Smith ordi- nance should contain a proviso that renders it imperative in case the trouser skirt becomes the accepted wear of the fashionable and the we'll dressed. He should not, in other words, attempt to upset the fashions by mere city ordinance. He should not attempt the impossible.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-24
Official Lethargy Denounced

The chief executive of the state talks to his sixty-seven sheriffs very plainly and very cogently. He of- ficially reminds them that as exeeu- tive officers it is none of their busi- ness whether a law be good or bad. It is their duty to enforce it in either case. He then calls their attention to the fragrant violation of the pro- hibition laws, and he says the viola tors of those laws find in public sympathy or official lethargy immun- ity from their actions. sr
 Governor O'Neal then demands from his sixty-seven aides the SUD- pression of breaches of this law and of all other laws. He intimates that each and every one of them can se- sure assistance from the local solici- tor of his neighborhood, and he winds up his ringing and warning letter with these words: q desire that each of you communicates with me at once in writing and in detail with reference to the manner in which the laws are being executed in your respective counties with due re- gard to all other laws as we'll as the prohibition laws; all laws being due an impartial and vigorous sway and all being on plane of absolute equality so far as the necessity of obedience to them so long as they are laws is concerned. l hold myself ready to afford you every aid that my office may be capable in securing the fear less, exact and equal enforcement of all laws"
 Mechanically speaking the govern or is wholly right, but practically speaking he is string up several hor nets nests. Governor O'Neal plainly thinks that the sixty-seven sheriffs of the state can enforce all laws, in- cluding statewide prohibition, and he calls upon them to make the effort, promising to come to their assistance until fearless, exact and equal en- forcement of all laws is secured. He is indeed calling for the advent in his term of the Millennium.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-24
Public Water Troushs

"It is sincerely hoped that before the hot weather sets in the city will repair the street water troughs, and also install five additional troughs that the council last year provided for" said member of the Birmingham Hu- mane society,"
 There are only five troughs in the city at present and only one of these is in good condition. Those who have regard for dumb brutes realize how much public troughs are needed. If the city authorities will do their duty and have the old troughs put in good shape and at least five new ones properly dis tributed, draught horses and mules will be able to slake their thirst and the friends of beasts of burden will feel grateful. We should have 10 street troughs in operation before the middle of April"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-24
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Revelation to Cleveland Man

"I have seen many new cities spring up in the past 25 years. including the great steel city of Gary, Ind.." said W. A. Callahan of Cleveland. O., who is making his first visit south. 1T have also seen giant strides in the deevlop- ment and expansion of my own native city," but I must confess that for nat ural beauty and general completeness along with valuable resources, the new town of Corey has them all beat.
 T came to Birmingham on a visit to my brother-in-law, James Malarkey, and from him learned of the town of Corey that had been built ahead of the indus tries that are being located there. l must confess I was somewhat skeptical regarding the high praises he sang, but on visiting the town this week l was amazed al the extent of the permanent improvements already made and with the substantial buildings that have been erected. The town is beautifully laid off and I am not indulging In fiattery when I say that I have seen many parks in cities that were not nearly so attractive as those at Corey.
 ''I might also say that the great city of Birmingham was an agreeable sur prise to me. Tn fact. I am profoundly impressed with the whole district. < I shall go back to Cleveland in a few days and will have much to tell my friends of the greatness of this wonderful sec fiop
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-24
ssTHE WORST DRUG FIEND" rom the Chicago Record Herald.


 Which nation is the worst drug fiend' in the world? The impulse Is to say China. But, according to Hamilton Wright, the federal opium commissioner, the people of the United States consume more opium than China or any other na- ton. We use, it seems, 50O,00O pounds annually and not one-hundredth part of this is prescribed by physicians and le- gally dispensed by the druggists.
 Investigation has familiarized us with the cocaine evil. MT. Wright states that the sale of hypodremic syringes and needles is alarmingly large and indicates that the sale and consumption of opium and it's derivatives are correspondingly alarming. There is profit in the sale of tabit-forming drugs and their instru- ments, and existing statutes or ordinances regulating such sale are apparently in sufficient
 In Now York it isproposed to prohihit the sale of Instruments for the injection of opiates save on prescriptions of li- ccnsed physicians. If Uncle Sam has be- come the worst drug hend, additional pre- ventives and restrictions are plainly in order.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-24
Good Truck Crops

Henry Van der Putte of Cullman, sales manager of the Cullman County Farmers association and president of the Foley Fertilizer company, situated in Baldwin county, was in Birmingham yesterday on his way home from south Alabama.
 'T have been making a tour Of the southern end of the state with view of ascertaining from my own observa- ton the condition of the early crops in that section." said MT. Van der Putte. q found early vegetables and straw berries in good shape. Rain is needed, but after some hard showers vegetation will come forward rapidly.
 'I was all over Baldwin and was glad to see such prosperity in that county. It is interesting to watch the rapid de- velopment along trucking lines in Bald win and adjoining counties In the Mo- bile section. The progress is indeed amazing, and no one can fully appre- ciate it unless he goes and sees for him. self. The fertilizer company of which I am president is meeting with great success. Our sales this year show an enormous increase over last.
 "As to Cullman county, it was never better off than it is today. We will have a splendid strawberry crop-per- haps a record-breaker. Cullman is so admirably adapted to strawberry cul- ture that even half crop would be profitable to the farmer. Our Cullman berries are not only exceptionally pro- life, but the quality is exceptionally choice. and because this berry takes fancy rank the prices are accordingly high,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-24
They say best men are moulded out of faults. Measure for Measure.
Three Senatorial DeadIocks

The wires keep readers well in formed of the efforts of the New York legislature to elect an United States senator, but they rarely bring any intelligence of the deadlocks in Iowa and Colorado. All three legis- latures are in session, and all three are alike stupidly deadlocked and they have been in that condition ever since they met in January.
 Like the New York legislature the Colorado legislature is controlled by the democrats, and it should send democrat to Washington to fill the seat left vacant by the death of MT. Hughes. The seat of the lamented Deliver should be filled by the cleo tion of an insurgent in Iowa, but thus far no election has been possible.
 At this time the election of a sen ator in New York seems more proba- ble than the election of one in either Colorado or Iowa. These deadlocks are so many arguments in favor of the election of senators by direct vote. In this respect they are not without their good uses, but the near approach of the extra session scarce ly justifies a continuance of the deadlocks for that purpose.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-24
Peace Prospects in Mexico Are Not
 Promising

The people of Mexico want fair elections and they want devisions of the vast landed estates. These two evils have long existed, and neither can be remedied speedily. The in- surrectos have small faith in the promises of the Diaz government, and thus it comes about that any imme- diate reconciliation of conflicting parties in that country has become well-nigh impossible. Madero and his associates demand long-needed reforms, and the government is will ing to make reform promises, but it's opponents will not accept mere prom ises and lay down their arms.
 This means that the revolution will go on. It means that our troops will be kept near the border. It probably means that on one ground or another HlcINSiltlOH VIII lOlOW dnQ long muddle will be the net result. The administration of Mr. Taft is satis- fled that a crossing of the frontier in order to protect Americans or American interests would be upheld by public sentiment, and so we are close again to a second Mexican war.
 If affairs on the Rio Grande be- come at all troublesome Congress will be kept in session, and this of itself may prolong that session. The Linn antour dreams have been dissipated. He no doubt carried from the finan- cial magnets of New York plans look ing to settlement of all Mexican troubles, but when those plans were announced in Mexico City few or no supporters rallied to them. The truth is, the insurrection must be fought out if it takes all summer. and it probably will
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-24
Preserving the Public Calm

Alderman Frank Smith of the Eff teenth ward does not want the public calm of this city again disturbed by tAe appearance in the streets of a young woman wearing a trouser skirt. Such skirt excites, says AL derman Smith, the populace, creating . condition bordering on riot. -.t-
 To prevent such dangerous condi- tions Alderman Smith has drawn an ordinance which he will present at the next meeting of the City Council. The proposed ordinance, condemns the trouser skirt at this stage of the game. He does not perhaps regard a trouser skirt as unconstitutional or in itself immoral, but he does believe it is, in this year, 1911, calculated to disturb the public calm" If there is anything that should be preserved it Is the public calm, and Alderman Smith has thrown himself into the breach to defend it against any un- 5udicious young woman clad in revo- lutiQnary. apparel. His proposed or dinance directs the police to seize, on
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-24
CIRCUS COMES TO GOTHAM

stand was also finished and at 9.15 o'clock two large wagons, looking as if they might contain whole circus. were taken into the cavernous depths of the Garden. After much hesitation it was admitted that they contained popcorn and pea nuts. It has been arranged this year that the pink lemonade will be brought in by pipe line, insuring it's freshness and also perpetuating the fastness of it's color. No other innovations were an- nounced in this department.
 Dainty little Victoria Codona, the Mex ican wire walker, whose daring and skill knows no equal, was grieving because she feared Papa Ramirez was so loyal to the insurectionists that he might leave the show and go back to the cactus. Then she would be put to school with her brothers and sisters in Fl Paso Papa is a retired matador
 Downstairs the animals were as com ,fortable as if in the jungle. Harry Mooney had the 24 big elephants all work ing except Babe who was the night shift, and didn't have to report until S. Babe, who is just 65 years old was kept busy all night long pushing the wagons into position and otherwise aiding the hired help.
 The only noise among the dens was made by the new seal, who the day be- fore he left Bridgeport quarters was christened "Dr Cook More than 120 performers reported for work. and "Oi, happy day. had their names put on the payroll
 Late in the evening a frecked face boy, who had been leading spotted ponies from Mott Haven down to the Garden, borrowed 5 cents from John Ringing. explaining that he'd better get home and detail the cause of his absence to ma.
 The big show will open Thursday night.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-24
AT A RUSSIAN FEAST

From America
 An American visiting in eastern Si- beria had the good fortune to be present at the celebration Of the name day of the daughter of the Russian family whose guest he was.
 "Sixteen-y year-old Maroussia sat at the head of the table" he says, perfectly demure and mistress of herself Russian girls acquire self-possession and most of the womanly arts and graces at the age of 8, so that when their sixteenth year dawns upon them and they make their bow 10 the world they are capable of meeting it with an assurance born of knowledge and experience. A tall wreath of wild flowers set above the back of her chair framed her pretty black head. the vivacious movements of which set her new earrings all of a tremble.
 "The festive board, long and narrow, was set on one side of the glassed-in- veranda around it were places for g and down the middle of it alternated large bouquets of wild flowers with tremen- dous cakes. When the latter were sent up from the steamer In their card-b board boxes they looked like the advance guard of the latest models in millinery
 Millinery we wore, for as Is the GUS tom at home feasts still kept up by many Russian families. we were all garbed in ancient Russian costumes The military guests wore the usual officers uniforms, but the other men had long coats, pretty greens and grays and blues, tight at the waist line over knickerbocl1ers and boots. Two wore the Siberian coat, ending with the waist, from which hung a huge gath cred fiounce down to the knee.
 "The women looked as if they had just stepped out of one of solomkos paintings bishops hats with a fringe of beads round the forehead and long veils reach ing from the peak of this bejewelled head gear to the hem of the train of the bejew- elled gown.
 "As to the dinner, beginning with the orthodox 'zakouskis' and ending with many draughts of champagne, three full and merry hours were occupied in it's con- sumption. No one was any the worse for the many tiny glasses of vodka. Though we finished at 3 everyone was ready for
 
 supper at 8.
 After supper the moon showed her kind old face from behind her cloudy hood, reassuring us as to the first night of the play, rehearsed all summer for this evening. It was clear and cold and the thinly garbed nymphs of the mountains and the fields and the ponds were heroic in their self control-perhaps dramatic fire helped also to keep their teeth from ehattering.
 Midnight saw us eating again-ths meal also known as tea If meals were eliminated from the Russian regime one would really find time to live. At pie mic on the day after the celebration we had Strogonoff to begin with--no, it Is rot a symphony nor rhapsody nor an etude even--though it might be called mixture of all three by lovers of this dish of little strips of steak with onions and mushrooms and sour cream, etc, com posed by the artist whose name 1t bears"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-24
Popular New Orleans Man

Robert Ewing, publisher of the New Orleans States, is registered at the Hotel Hillman. He Is one of the best known men in the South and has many friends in Birmingham who always have 8 cor dial greeting for him.
 New Orleans is prospering,' said MT. Ewing. Tt is growing rapidly and will give a great account of itself in the next census.
 Birmingham is looking better every time come here. For young city 1t has a marvellous record and its future greatness cannot be overestimated."