davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-20
-----------ses- THE CHURCH SILENT

From Hawthornes Sunday at Home.'
 They are gone and the gray sexton Is just closing the portal. For six days more there will be no face of man in the pews and aisles, and galleries, nor a choir Was it worth while to rear this massive edifice, to be a desert in the heart of the town, and populous only for few hours of each seventh day? Oh, but the church is a symbol of religion. May its site, which was consecrated on the day the first tree was felled, be kept holy forever a spot of solitude and peace, amid the trouble and vanity. of our week. day world, There is a moral. and a re- ligion, too. even in the silent walls. And may the sfeeple still point heavenward, and be decked with the hallowed sunshine of the Sabbath morn!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-20
For courage mounteth with occasion.
 king John.
prnereSS of Fee Reform

The more the fee system is considered the palmer does it become to all that constitutional amendment is needed. When the constitution makers of 1901 put winston and Jefferson counties on com mon footing so far as fees and salaries are concerned they did a very foolish thing. Why they did it has never been satisfactorily explained. Who induced them to do 1t is unknown. They did it, however. and until imperial Jefferson county is released from the limitations of Winston county the fee system in the former cannot be thoroughly and satis- factoriIy adjusted. The Morrow agree n.ent with the powerful sheriffs' associa- tion bids fair to bring this about.
 The Bowie-smyer bill will also. be pushed in the hope that it will bring inn mediate relief from the fee brigade in several important respects. It should at any rate stop the arrests for the sake Of fees of craps shooters. It is needed, and it should be pressed to passage.
 Should the proposed constitutional amendment be submitted 1t is safe to say that it would lead to the segregation of Jefferson county by an almost unani- ynroYrs' ratification vote. Outside of the fee brigade itself no one could be found who would say at the polls that Jefferson county should be held down to the plans and policies of Winston
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-20
QUEER SOUNDS FROM MoNoLITHs

From the AthenXeum London.
 Sir Gaston Maspero supplies some in- teresting information concerning a mod ern reproduction of the so-called vocal statue of Memnon. the salute" of which to the rising sun formed one of the marvels of antiquity. In 1910 two of the great stones In the hypostyle hall of the Temple of Edfu showed signs of falling and were supported on an iron structure as temporary measure. From this date until five years ago, when the improvised iron support was exchanged for one of wood and concrete, the stones every morning at sunrise gave forth noises like revolver shots, sometimes single and a intervals, sometimes in a continuous volley, but always terminat- ing in a clear and vibrating sound like a deep sigh. This is supported by the evidence given officially by M. Barsanti, who was in charge of the works; M. Carlo Oropesa, the painter employed by the Cairo Museum. and M Henri Pieron, who was occupied with some of the architectural details.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-20
IN MEMORIAM.


 "In Emporia recently the Daily Journal sas City Star. and the Gazette printed the following verses on the event.
 Alas no more the shooting stick will click against the quads; nor will the forms be justified by little paper wads no more will Old Subscriber sigh, and will type lice daily scamper OCT the stone. For they have locked the office and the ghost no longer walks; and there has come silence in the place where money talks. Today there smiles a specter with haggard mien and gaunt, where yesterday there blossomed forth a little Long-F'elt Want. And. O. they let it languish, and o, they let it die, and gave it ther~sustenance, nor pa tronage, nor pie. And still they gave it sympathy, and yet they gave 1t cheer, and now they stand mournful group and sob around its bier. And see the wet-eyed mourners heave their aching liver pads, who let their darling perish for the want of proper ads For it had little job work and subscribers but a few; but o. 1t had bright prospects and it's skies were ever blue But prospects would not pay the hands, nor blue sky pay the rent and so the Long Felt Want hiSed up into the Armament. And now 1t rests in glory; it has left us sobbing here, while those who watched it wane away may drop a silent tear'"
 A SHORT CUT.
 The Charleston News and Courier
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-20
f-------ss.------------ CALLED AND THE PENDULUM

c. L. craik: "The Pursuit of Knowl-
 edge.
 Another very beautiful example of the way in which some of the most valuable truths of philosophy have been suggested for the first time by the simplest incl dents of common life is afforded by Galieos discovery of the regularity of oscillation in the pendulum.
 It was while standing one day in the Metropolitan church at Pisa that his at tention was first awakened to this import ant fact by observing the movements of a lamp suspended from the ceiling, which some accident had disturbed and caused to vibrate Now this, or something ex- acty similar, was phenomenon which, of course, everyone had observed thou sands of times before. But yet nobody had ever viewed 1t with the philosophic attention with which it was 'on this oc- casion examined by Calico Or, if, as possibly was the case. anyone had been half unconsciously struck for moment by that apparent equability of motion which arrested so forcibly the curiosity of Calico, the idea had been allowed to escape the instant it had been caught, as relating to a matter not worth a sec ond thought.
 The young philosopher of Italy Cor he had not then reached his 20th year) saw at once the important application which might be made of the thought that had suggested itself to him. He took care, therefore, to ascertain immediate ly the truth of his conjecture by care full and repeated experiment; and the re- suit was the complete discovery of the principle of the most perfect measure of time which we yet possess.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-20
ABsENT-MINDED PROFESSOR

From Scraps.
 Gov. Woodrow Wilson of New Jerseys, owes, perhaps, part of his popularity to his storytelling skill.
 Dr. Wilson. at one of his receptions, said of absent-mindedness
 While T was a student at the Univer- sity of Virginia we had a delightful old professor there about whose absent-mind- edness many stories were aioat.
 "A Charlottesville burglar once broke into the professors house and hid under the bed. The old man, little after wards, entered te room and began his preparations for retiring.
 AS, in his dreamy, moon-struck way he pottered about the room, he heard noise, started and said with a puzzled frown
 Dear me, is anyone there?
 No. professor replied the burglar in very low voice, for he knew the pro- fessor's peculiarlties.
 'Wellv said the professor. I was pos tive I heard someone ui4der the bed.'
 And his face cleared. he turned in and was soon fast asleep
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-20
THE DECLINE OF AUTHORS

From the. Washington POSI-
 "Who now reads Cowley?" asks Pope in his imitation of the sixth epistle of the first book of Horace. The question, of course is of the rhetorical order, and expects the answer, "No one" If Crowley were neglected even before the middle of the eighteenth century, 1t is to be feared that he is not in much better case to- day. He has become caviaye to the gen eral and there are very few who can join the great Augustan satrist in paying to Cowley even this modest tribute:
 ' if he pleases yet. His Moral pleases. not his pointed wit; Forget his Epic nay Pindaric Art;
 But still love the language of his heart.
 What mysterious sentence Is 1t that strikes down writers, who at one period had great repute, from their lofty posi- tion. and places them among the dull of ancient days in another?
 A remarkable example of such a decline in popularity is furnished by Henry Brooke His play of 'Gustavus Vasa' had the distinction of being prohibited from production at Drury Lane theatre, because the great prime minister of that day, Sir Robert Walpole thought himself the prototype of one of it's unamiable cbarac cters, with the inevitable result that, when published, it was sold in incredible numbers. In his tragedy, 'The Earl of Essex" occurs the line. msquoted, by the way, by Boswell. which Dr. Johnson parodied into "Who drives fat oxen should himself be fat" For the hundred who know the parody there are not ten who know the original accurately, and not five who have read the play from which 1t is taken.
 The greatest instance of decline is, how ever, supplied by Brooke's once celebrated novel, 'The Food of Quality" This re- markable, if somewhat peculiar. book' which first appeared in 176e-177o, has Tn U traits and touches which remind us now of Sterne, and again of Borrow, in one Meredith. It was so highly esteemed py Wesley that amid his many activities ne found time to bring out an abridged edi- tion of it.
 | Charles Kingsley was so taken with | "The Fool of Quality that he republished it in its entirety in 1859, with glowing preface and a memoir of Brooke. After mapnv eulogiums Kingsley does not hesi- tate finally to say:
 ''The earnest reader will have begun to guess at the causes which have made this book forgotten for while; and perhaps to find them not in its defects but in its | excellences; in It's deep and grand ethics, | in it's broad and genial humanity, in the divine value which 1t attaches to the re- lations of husband and wife, father and child and to the utter absence both of | that sentimentalism and that superstition which have been alternately debauchine of late years the minds of the young. And # he shall have arrived at this discovs cry, he will be able possibly to regard at least with patience those who are rash
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-20
A FERROUS INNOVATION
e New York Sun.

From the New York Sun.
 The Hon. Murray Vandiver, treasurer of tile committee which is preparing that Baltimore Hellograbalian democratic agape, gives this among much other. kind ly information for the benefit of the faith full:
 "Evening dress will be permitted, but it will not be obligatory
 With submission. 1t shouldn't be per mitted. It smacks of oligarchy, pred atory interests, the money power. What ruined Thebes. Nineveh. Babylon, Chos- sus. Tyre, Persepols, Palmyra, Athens, Carthage and Rome?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-20
ORIENTAL FAKIRs BUSY

From the Louisville Courier-Journal.
 Dressed in clerical garb and carrying subscription books, filled with contribu- tions from prominent men of many diff ferent countries, a band of organized frauds are now canvassing the United States and collecting money for charitable institutions that do not exist. They are Orientals, and return from time to time to their own lands, there to live high and laugh at the gulllbilty of Americans. A week ago three such frauds were ex- posed in Atlanta. Ga. Last summer some of the men appeared in Louisville. Many have operated of late in Texas.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-20
FAMILIAR SAYINGS NEWLY APPLIED
From the Boston Evening Transcript

From the Boston Evening Transcript.
 q don't like your weight" remarked the customer to the dishonest grocer.
 'I hope to make myself clear" said the water as 1t passed through the filter.
 Reading makes the full man. but writing doesn't" complained tho half starved poet
 My resources. are all tied up," said the tramp as he placed his bundle on a stick.
 "The rest is slence,' quoted the mu- sican. explaining the meaning of that term to his pupil.
 T call that treating a friend in rather distant manner,'' said the doctor, as he hung up the receiver after prescribing over the telephone.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-20
FIRST GERMAN RAILWAY
From the London Globe.

From the London Globe.
 Seventy-fve years ago the first rail- way was introduced into Germany The experiment was naturally on modest scale from Ludwigsbann joining up Nu- remburg to Furth. The six kilometers of seventy-years ago have increased today to COCO kilometers. kilometer being fve-eighths of a mile and it is claimed that Germany today possesses the finest railway system in Europe. The first locomotive used on the Nurem- burg Furth line was named the Adler, and was made under the superintend- ence of Stephenson in England. It cost s4300
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-20

S2O0,000. If this deficit is to be overcome
 before the close of the fiscal year there must be considerable economy in appro- priations, for no new taxes can well be laid and collected before October l next Reduced expenditures is the only rem edy in sight-the only cure of condi- tion imposed by the previous admins tration.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-20
KING WHO LOVED PLEASURE
From Gilbert Burnetts History of My
 Own Time"

From Gilbert Burnett's History of My
 Own Time' "HE King (Charles) at the time of
 his ascension, was 30 years of age
 A and as might be supposed, past the levties of youth; the extravaganza of pleasure. He had a very good under standing; he knew well the affairs of state both at home and abroad He had a softness of temper that charmed all who came near him, till they found how little they could depend on good looks. kind words and fair promises, in which he was liberal to excess, because he in- tended nothing by them but to get rid of importantly and to silence all further pressing upon him.
 He seemed to have no sense of religion; both at prayers and sacrament he, as it were took care to satisfy people that he was in no sort concerned in that about which he was employed; so that he was very far from being a hypocrite unless his assisting at those performances was a sort of hypocrisy, as no doubt it was; but he was sure not to increase that by the least appearance of devotion. He said once to myself that he was no atheist, but he could not think God would make a man miserable only for taking little pleasure out of the way. He said often he thought government was a much safer and easier thing where the authority was believed infallble and the faith and sub mission of the people was implicit
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-20
THE DEPARTED FRIEND.

THE DEPARTED FRIEND. Tie bells were always ringing
 In the music of his dreams; The birds were always singing
 On the shores of silver streams, And the flowers ever springing,
 Bathed in sunny golden gleams. The morning found him cheery,
 In the sprIng-time or the fall: When the world was dark and dreary Didn't seem to mind at all. Happy wight whose mood was. merry, Whom no cares could eer inthrall Many years he's now been sleeping
 Meath the sod, out on the hill; Gone away from pain and weeping. From a world of good and ill Ghostly memories are creeping, r But his laughing voice is still.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-20
X DETERRENT SPECIES

From the Columbus Enquirer-Sun
 "A robin has appeared in Chicago. lead ing that city to conclude that the back bone of winter is really broken within the city's limits" according to the Bir- mingham Age-Herald. A Robin recently appeared in New York, who was respon- sible Tor the backbone of several banks being broken in that city,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-20

A Cleveland man is suing for time lost in answering telephone calls that were not for him, and for the time he lost in waiting to get the numbers he wanted. He thinks the telephone company should pay him for the time he has lost.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-20
REFLEcTIoNs OF A BACHELOR

From the New YOrk Press.
 The more theory reform can stand the less it can fact.
 The cure for q mans socialism is get ting to own something that makes him think it's wrong till he owns it.
 Lots of people who could know how to end big thing don't know how to begin it, so they think they're just as smart as if they did.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-20
VARYING THE MoNoToNy

AK ING TIE MONOION1.
 There isn't much scenery along the average elevator route.''
 Not a great deal Still the trip can be made interesting by observing the pro- found contempt the men who don't take off their hats when there are women in the car have for men who do.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-20

The British house of lords offered to reform itself, and now the United States Senate offers a resolution providing for the direct election of senators. These are progressive times to beat the band.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-20

All the eggs dumped by the cold-storage trust should be dated. Some are veterans of five years ago, and they should be
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-20

It is now said that every individual has two souls. This is all right. If it had been discovered fhat he had two bodies in these days of high food prices trouble would have resulted.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-20
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES

makes the important announcement that a man ate a Charleston waffle and thought he Was in heaven. Well, if man who has lived a Christian life should eat Charleston waffle he would not be long in getting to heaven.-H Houston Post MY TRUE LOVE. a My true love lies asleep 5sal In some most heavenly place: She hath lily in her hand. smile upon her face.
 Baltimore Sun. My true love lies asleep; She dreams of days of peace, When phony curls shall pass away. And hobble skirts shall cease.
 Los Angeles Express My true love lies~asleep, And I would be there, too But our baby has the collie, Which keeps me in a stew.
 St. Louis Times My true love lies asleep l don't object to that; only hope in slumberland, .s She doesn't wear a .'rat' EXPLAINED. .
 Ise's always on
 The square;
 He does his loaf Ing there. ERE LONG.
 The man who frets
 To gather pef,
 Ere long forgets
 His better self.  KEEPING UP APPEARANCES. Pa, what is a ranscendentalist? Have you chained up the dog, as told you?"
 Not yet. pa." Well, do that, and when you com, back I will tell you what transcen. dentalist is" While Bobby was gone his astute pareni dug the needed information out of die tionary.
 THE ORATOR. Though he talks and talks And nobody cheers, Sweet is the sound Of his voice to his ears
 AN INNOVATION. Startling departure in musical com edy."
 How so?'' '"rhe principal male character is pic, tured as being very much In love with his wife PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-20
Rcealling Years Past

"On reading an account in a New York paper recently of President Taft's pedes- trian habits-how almost every after magistrate. accompanied by his secre- tary, MT. Norton; his military aide, Capt. Butt, and two secret service men, walks along the streetA of Washington and strolls in the parks-my mind went back to the time of President Grant" said a citizen who lived at the, national capital from 1888 until 1888. t
 .'I used to see Gen. Grant, when he was at the head of the government, saun- tering along Pennsylvania avenue looking into shop windows and stopping now and then to chat with an acquaintance; and he was always unattended. People re- marked on Grants democratic ways and many thought he was just a little too democratic for his exalted position. But the man who had received his training at West Point and who had worn gold braid a great part of his life disliked pomp and the ordinary conyentonalities of officialdom. His tastes were severely simple. As President he had no military aide. and as for secret service men he never knew what they looked like.
 Today conditions are very different. The assassination of Lincoln shocked both hemispheres, but no one thought that a tragedy like that would ever oc- cur again. When Garfield was assassi- mated, however, his successors in the White House were constrained, for the sake of the country, to say nothing of their own feeling in the matter, to use extraordinary safeguards against a re- currence of an assassin's attack. Presi- dent Cleveland in his first admnistra- ton was usually attended by secret ser vice men, and in his second admnistra- ton he had two or three military aides on duty at the White House The as- sassination of President Mckinley was another sad and terrible event that im- pressed itself upon the nation, and those close to the chief executive. It was a lesson that suggested still greater safe guards at the White House.
 "I would prefer to see the President of republic move about like other men, without military attaches or detectives, but under the circumstances no one can critioise the President for departing from the old-time rule of simplicity
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-20

land, even with central bank, in 1s4l.
 1857, and in 1S66 because the power of
 the Bank of England to extend its
 credit by the issue of it's notes was
 fixed within iron bounds. The moment that the bank was given authority to override those bounds and issue notes beyond the legal limit the panic ceased. IL is the possession of great reserve re- sources and the ability to use them, without the letters of artificial and arbitrary restrictions, which enables a central bank to prevent panic If 1t is The central banks of Eu- rope have learned, through control of the exchanges and scanning of the 'fu- ture. how to prevent even the suspi~ cion of a panic. instead of waiting, like our scattered local banks, until they are on the brink of the precipice
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-20
More Prosperous Than Ever

Birmingham looks more prosperous to- day than 1t did even year ago. said J . P. Needham, retired business man of Chicago. who was returning home from Florida. 'I spent two days here in the early spring of 1910, and was struck then with Birmingham's evident thrift. Every branch of trade here had prospered, and the city was moving right ahead. On sec ing Birmingham not quite year after ward I remark many splendid improve ments, and learn that building operations here in 1911 will surpass those of any for mer year. rt2
 Birmingham has nearly everything in it's favor, and there are many men here now who will live to see the city in the 5o0.00o population class. Not only are the mineral resources of this district won derfully rich, but I find Birmingham Is in a good agricultural section. With bounti- full farm crops and a nightly industrial activity combined, this city has any city of 15O.OO0 distanced in point of advan- tages."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-20
Vixen Iron starts Upward

said a broker. but when it does start on an upward course, which will be soon, l think. 1t will become exceed ingly brisk. This period of dullness in the iron trade has lasted longer than usual and a big buying movement Is sure to follow.
 At the very start of revival the price will shoot up S1 q ton and twill not be surprised to see it $4 higher thane it is today. which would make it about $15 Birmingham, on No. 7 basis
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-20

The coronation of King George is to be exceedingly spectacular, and Newport is excited over it.