davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-03
sHREwD SIR THOMAS

From the View, London.
 Sir Thomas Dewar has in his office in the Haymarket a chair that is worth thousands of pounds a year to him. though originally it's cost was a little more than one pound.
 It is just an ordinary armchair-a com- fortable affair in polished wood It stands in front of Sir Thomas Dewar's large, red leather covered desk placed at a slight angle, so that the full light from the window falls on the face of the man who sits in it.
 When a visitor arrives who wishes to place wonderful scheme before Sir Thomas-and the number of people who beset him with wonderful moneymaking schemes is very great-Sir Thomas waves him with a courteous gesture to the chair. The visitor thereupon sits down, and, taking his documents from his pockets, or opening his portfolio, he proceeds to expound to Sir Thomas his idea, let us say, of netting clear S5o,- GOO a year by renting the surface of Dewar's whisky bottles for soap adver- tsements.
 As he warns to the scheme his yer bosity increases, so that Sir Thomas can only listen politely. Then, as is the ma ture of schemers, lie waxes confidential, and is about to edge the armchair closer to the table-when suddenly he finds he cannot
 The chair is fixed to the ground with hooks and staples!
 He makes three attempts to shift the chair before he finds this out, and in making them his flow of talk is inter rupted He loses the thread of his talk.
 This is where Sir Thomas is able to break in and say that he doesn't think much of the scheme-good morning, and before the "schemer'' has recovered his self possession he finds himself being bowed into the outer office.
 Tt never fails to work Sir Thomas says. q keep two chairs for visitors one for the genuine sort, which I can tell at once, the other the immovable chair for the men with crazy schemes. It is worth quite lot of money to me-"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-03
Size of the Cotton Cron

The census bureaus final report of the cotton crop of 1910 puts it at IT, 941 ,563 bales as compared with a crop of 10,315, 1882 bales in 1909. The world took, in other words, 12-mil- lion-bale crop and was willing to pay to the farmer about. IA cents for it. The crops grown in 1908 and 1906 were larger, but the crop grown in 1910 probably brought more money to the south than any preceding crop. The value of the crop grown in 1909 is placed by Secretary Hester at $778,000,000, and surely the crop grown in 1910 must have yielded full ly s9O0,0O0, ,0OO.
 The crop grown in Alabama last year is put by the census bureau at 1,220,507 bales. The Alabama crop in 1906 was 1 ,389,000 bales, and that grown in 1908 was 1,428,00O. The crop grown in 1910 was, however, the most valuable crop in hard cash the state has ever known. And it was in size good average crop. As only S,000,000 acres in the state are inn proved one-quarter of the whole and as cOmDaratiVe1v few of the S,000,000 acres are cultivated accord ing to modern scientific methods, it becomes an interesting problem as to what Alabama could do if her entire surface were cultivated as the surface of Ohio is today. She might make a cotton crop that would turn the Texas crop ino a poor second.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-03
Words are easy, like the wind; Faithful friends are hard to find.
 -SOnnets.
Salt River Valleys Great Dam

The big Roosevelt reclamation dam located seventy miles from Phoenix, Ariz., has begun it's useful work. Colonel Roosevelt was present to press the button that operated the gates and let the water flow that is to irrigate 10000 acres of land in the valley of Salt river.
 This is said to be the largest stor- age dam in the world. It rises 2S4 feet above the river. It is ITO feet thick at the base, and 10S0 feet long at the top. The reservoir formed by 1t is twenty-five miles long and 200 feet deep. An acre irrigated in Salt river valley is said to be worth 5000 because it will grow crops twelve months in the year. This land was worthless without irrigation.
 The first stone of the dam was laid in September, 1906, and the dam was formally declared operative in Feb ruary, 1911. The Assouan dam on the river Nile is larger, but that is not wholly storage dam. The Roose- welt dam is. Its cost has been very heavy, but it is believed every cent of the cost will be regained in the good it will do to Arizona land, a state that scarsely knows what a rainfall is.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-03
KINGS OF WEALTH

From the Hartford Courant
 A large corporation held a directors meeting few days ago As the meet ing was coming to a close one of the directors, reputed to be worth ten mil lion dollars, ran in all out of breath Just as he entered the other directors were making their exit. Look here" the incoming director shouted to the chair man, "I want to know why I haven't received notice of this meeting, I'm sure I don't know" the chairman said. Notices were sent to all directors. You surely must have received one" The di- rector finished up an excited trade by saying, T want my rights Just then the secretary of the meeting was brought into conference. who in turn handed the
 late director an envelope. He departed with a smiling coGntenance
 This recalls the story that Russell Sage used to round up> daily and eat luncheon with the employees of the Western Union Telegraph company so the story of New York corporation where s20 for each director was laid on the table and those who attended divll- cd the whole pile. If half came. each got $40. The members were men far advanced in years and in riches. One day lit stormed violently when a meeting WAS 10 be held. The executive officers lid not believe single director would n, there, but every man of them was on hand, each having figured it out ti,,t nobody else would appear and that n. might swipe the entire allowance.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-03

From the Red Man.
 The Indians of our country have many legends connected with certain among them. If one should chance to visit the home of an old Indian he would perhaps notice a turkey wing hanging near the fire. This the In- dian uses to fan his fire into a flame and make it burn brightly, or perhaps in the sultry days of summer to fan himself If asked why he uses the turkey wing instead of the wing of any other bird he would no doubt re- late the following story:
 Many years ago the fire of the world was nearly extinguished; this happened just as the beginning of the winter season. The birds of the air were filled with anxiety. for their intitution told them they would need heat to keep them warm through the winter
 bird council was held and it was decided that birds which could fly the highest should soar into the air and zee, if they could find spark of fire anywhere. The efforts of the eagle, lark and raven were in vain. The honor was left to the little brown sparrow, who spied a spark of fire in the hollow of an old stump in the heart of deep forest
 The birds Hooked around the stump and tried to decide who should pick the spark out But all their efforts were in vain; to their dismay they saw the spark growing smaller and fainter. The turkey then volunteered to try to keep the tiny coal alive by flaming it with his wings. Day after day the turkey kept flaming; the heat became greater each day until the feathers were singed off the turkeys head. If one notices carefully he will see Jumps on the head of a turkey that appear as blisters. It is believed that the turkey was | so badly burned that all turkeys since have had bald heads and wear the the blisters as memento of the bray cry of the turkey. The faithful tur- key lost his beautiful feathers, but he gave back fire to the world; so in 1 his honor and as memorial of his faithfulness the Indian uses the turkey
 wing to make his fire burn.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-03

has had to be almost entirely sold for
 export, on account of the complete ab-
 sense of timber, coal, petroleum. or any
 other fuel for manufacturing purposes.
 The sagaeity of Lord Cromer and the
 commercial enterprise of his colleague,
 Sir Reginald Wingate, have found for
 Egypt what its industrial development
 has waited upon for centuries-an in-
 exhaustible supply of Egyptian fuel,
 For distance of 300 miles the up- per Nile runs through a vast morass, estimated to cover 35,000 square miles, which is known as the Judd district. Throughout the length of this roach 1t is impossible to secure fuel of any kind; and as here the river channel has no banks large masses of sudd, weedy growth, break away, block up the low CT channel, impede navigation and, in the rainy season, even render it dan gerous.
 At Lord Cromers suggestion, Herr von Rath. German diplomatist and chemist, undertook to utilize this ma terial (sudd) in the form of a cheap local fuel. Sample consignments were sent to Berlin for experiment, and aft CT some trials at MerSeburg process was invented by which, in the course of a few minutes. the sudd is convert ed into a fuel briquet, which has a heating value nearly two-thirds, with density of about four -fifths that of coal. The cost of manufacture is trifl- ing, and a calorlfic power equal to that of coal can be produced in Egypt for at least one-half the local price of that fuel.
 The Sudan government has taken a financial interest in the invention, made concessions to the inventors, and entered into the production of this new fuel, whose successful application to the manufacture of cotton goods will inaugurate a new era in the eventful history of a prolific but long-neglected
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-03
The Local Option Measures

The most important legislative measure now pending is the Smith regulation bill. It goes from the sen ate back to the house tomorrow with amendments, and it will probably be ready for the governors signature by the latter part of the week.
 According to this bill, in its pres ent shape, no election can be held to decide whether or not liquor may be sold in any given county unless 45 per cent of the voters, calculated on basis of the last gubernatorial vote, petition for 1t. One day recently the prohibitionists in the house, when most of the local option members were absent, succeeded in passing a resolution seeking to forbid the fur ther consideration of any local liquor bills.
 Such a resolution, however, will amount to nothing if the local option majority sees fit to ignore it.
 The Judge bill had the approval of most fair minded citizens in this town. It provided that an election may be ordered in Jefferson on petition of 25 per cent of the voters on the last gubernatorial basis. That bill, or something like it, should be pressed and become a law. Indeed a bill to establish dispensaries and beer and wine buffets in Birmingham should be passed. Public sentiment in this city is strongly in favor of some such action. But in the event that Birmingham is not taken out of the dry column by direct legislative ac- tion then 25 per cent petition law instead of 45 per cent would be the next best thing.
 The legislature made a splendid record last week in the dispatch of business. The passage of the revenue bill was a great achievement. Now let the legislature make another high record this week by giving the state reasonable liquor laws.
 By the adoption of the Parks bill the local option plank in the demo- cratic platform was reaffirmed. It meant that statutory prohibition, generally known as statewide prohi- bition, was no longer to be the policy of Alabama. The Smith regulation bill will suit most counties very well, but the counties containing the larg- CT cities should be dealt with directly and broadly. What is the use of go- ing through another heated campaign when as recently as last May the local option ticket carried this county by big majority?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-03
DANTE AND BEATRICE

personifcation of the highest attributes; she takes the form of divine science, the queen of paradise. The two great beings for whom Dante had this intense affec- tion, Beatrice and Virgil, are made the controlling spirits in his works.
 Even the most pronounced woman hater cannot underrate the influence which this affection for Beatrice had upon the life and works of Dante, who stands as the father of modern Italian language. Because of this influence, his early poems were pure and of the highest type. Because of his sorrow in her death and his research to try and find her sweet soul. his genius gave us the Divine Comedy and the "InferRo' Call her an inspiration, an emotion, what you will, her great influence made Dante's work live. His love for Beatrice did not prevent his marrying an estima- Die woman, Gremma Donati. One Is rather glad he did not marry Beatrice and have the romance which has in- spired so many painters and so many poets and prose writers to degenerate into, perhaps, an unhappy marriage, or
 S iS'S' ioSl tie glamour am1d the num- drum everyday existence of ordinary He. One is glad, too, that Beatrice was transplanted before age crept on and made her less beautiful and less inspir- Ing. Perhaps she would not have kept her hold on the poets fancy. It Is known that he never mentioned his good wife In ms works and that when, owing to his political influences he was exiled. Gem. ma and seven children stayed in lovely Florence while Dante went forth a wan derer
 You can read in many books the story or his wanderings, and that he never did return to Florence. He died in Ra venna, September 14. 1921, 56 years old.
 Florence would be very glad now to have the precious body of the great Dante. In the church of Santa Croce. where it honors the illustrous dead. she has built a grand monument of sculp tured marble with Dante's statue at the top. This 1t calls Dante's tomb. and when you visit Florence you can stand before 1t and admire. Ravenna, how ever, has kept his body, and many times has she had the pleasure of refusing naughty Florence, now humbled and beg ging for a chance to reinstate the genius. After his death Florence founded a chair for the exposition of his poem in the Duomo
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-03
THE AUTHOR OF "TRILBY"

From Lady St. Heller's Memories"
 Du Maurier was a most attractive per son, very good looking, full of fun, witty, clever and with those extraordinary high spirits which are so often vouchsafed to people over whom the shadow of a dark cloud is hanging. He used to sing nearly every evening, and his French songs were most delightful He had an expressive voice. and being Frenchman, was able to interpret them as no English person could have done.
 Mrs Du Maurier always came with him, and was as beautiful as those who re- member Du Mauriers early illustrations in Punch can realize She was evidently his favorite model, but even his pictures never did her sufficient justice; and their little children were, l think, the lovelest I ever saw.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-03
PRESIDENT TAFTs GRIM GRIN
m the Saturday Evening Post

o''t'
 President Taft is not an especially humorous person, but he can hardly have called a special session of Congress with cut indulging in a grim and satircal grin. Two years ago he convened Congress in extra session for the purpose of consider ing the tariff. The net result of that ex- tra session, politically speaking, was a vast wreckage in his party. In calling another extra session he hands the same atal puzzle over to the democrats, the condition being that they must solve it or suffer destruction. If the democrats satisfy the country with respect to the tariff at this extra session, their chance of carrying the next presidential election will be excellent. If they fail, they may as well close indefinitely for repairs.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-03
Magazines By Fast Freight

The resourceful Mr. Hitchcock of the postoffice department could not induce Congress to raise the rate of postage on the advertising pages of magazines, and now he has planned to carry such magazines to the great centers of the country in car loads as fast freight.
 This is an excellent scheme and it will come very near being a good so- lution of the magazine problem. The magazine publishers can be trusted to issue them early enough to reach at the accustomed times the great distributive centers.
 This will result in great reductions in expenses to the government and it will keep the mails from being over- loaded with magazines. Not single objection to the plan has been pre- scented. The method of transporta- tion will Joe slower but this will be overcome by the publishers them selves. They will mail their maga- zines in accordance with the schedules of the fast freight trains. Trust a publisher to do that. He will study schedules and his magazine will be landed in Kansas City or Omaha or St. Paul at the accustomed time.
 The Postmaster General needk no Legislation in order to do toss. All
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-03
Some Facts aud Figures

According to statistics just compiled by the railway mall committee from re- ports submitted on forms prescribed by the postoffice department by 1S7 railways, operating 17s,710 miles on which there are 2411 mail routes, the railways of the United States not only receive less com pensation for handling the mails than they receive for handling express, bu. in proportion to the cost incurred by ,he roads and the value of service rendered by them the compensation they receive for handling the malls is less than that received for any other service" said a postal man.
 This method of comparison was used as the railroads claim it is manifestly un- fair to compare the rate per ton on mail and express since under the regulations and orders of the postoffice department railway postal cars are limited to an average capacity of about three .ons. while express cars carry from 20 to 30 tons The postoffice department requires the railways to haul 22 tons of car for each ton of mail, while the express com panies comply with the demands of the railways that express matter shall be economically loaded.
 "In addition, the railways companies carry the mails between stations and postoffices at six-sevenths of the mail stops. This service the Postmaster Gen eral has estimated would cost the de- partment s4,093, 900 annually if rendered by it. No such service is rendered the express companies. Postal clerks are car ried free while on duty and between the ends of their lines and their homes and the roads furnish annually s1,00O,000 of free transportation to various postal oifl- cials. All these persons have the legal status of passengers and the railways are required to pay damages in case Of injury. The express companies assume all such liability for their employees. The railroads receive pay for every pound or express they haul, but under the system of weighing the mail only once in four years. the roads get no compensation for the carriage of the increase during this period averaging 6 per cent or about s3OOO,0OO worth of service per year.
 From 1907 to 1910 the expenses Of the postoffice department increased about $40, GOO coo, but the railroads. though they handled 22 per cent more mail,, recei'ed s352 760 less in 1910 than in 190l
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-03

Laura A. Smith in the Indianapolis Star
 A MONG those who walked the
 A streets of Florence and leaned
 over the parapets of the bridges along the River Arno, there was Dante, the great Italian poet and the idealist lover. The fact that Dante was born In Florence, lived his early years here, and it was the scene of his romance with Beatrice, makes this city a shrine for Dante lovers.
 Everything in the section of Florence "hlch retains its medieval form speaks or Dante. There is his house, the street named after him and the very corner where lie is supposed to have first seen the lovely vision of Beatrice. She lived in palace at 4 Via del Proconsolo. and in the court the guide still points ont the spot where Dante watched for her. Statues, tablets, portraits. frescoes abound on every side.
 Dante was a little boy when he first saw this vision. just years old. And she was tiny, too, only years old. yet he says:
 "Sae appeared to me clothed in a most noble color, an humble and subdued red. eirdcd end adorned as became her very youthful age"
 For nine years he haunted the place. the story runs, and on the very date or the first meeting she appeared again. robed in purest white; and, passing along the way. she turned her eyes and by her lne4able courtesy, she saluted him in such virtuous wise, that he ap- peared to behold the highest degree of bliss.
 Then he hears her voice for the first time and it fills him with such iov that nc fss a vision. When he awakes he puts down his thoughts and behold, Dan- te's first sonnet. Again he tells the story or his love in a little prose volume, "The New Life" It is a simple love story, the events are very insignificant. She passes him in the street and greets him: he sees fer with others at a wedding banquet and she scoffs him. He learns from the others that she mourns over her fathers death.
 Beatrice died 1t is said, June 9. 12eo in her 24th year Of her death Dante writes little. Yet we know his sorrow was inconsolable and that he turned to studies in his search for comfort. As he grows into manhood and his writings become philosophical and allegorical, Beatrice becomes the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-03
A POET

By Eleanor Ester in Westminster Ga zette. Into a tissue of remembered things He weaves the moonbeams and the
 threads of mist, And colors it with sweet imaginings, Cloudy embroideries, by sunset kissed. He sees among the dewdrops on the ferns. The fieeting prototype of children S
 tears, And in the music of the running burns The pent-up laughter of thousand
 years, Along the dear. familiar paths he knows. The sigh that marks the crossing of the
 way, The dreams that haunt the petals of the
 rose.
 And all the wonders of a quiet day.. So glide away the years with minstrelsv- The magic of his boundless fantasy.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-03
FLYING MACHINES AND BIRDS

w dluefIldT lNdeiupllclt, III Ildipci MdS-
 azine for April.
 Professor Langley long ago pointed ont that tile greatest flying creature which the earth has ever known was the ex- tinct pterodactyl. Its spread of wing was probbaly as much as twenty feet it's wing surface was in the neighbor- hood of 25 square feet it's weight was about 30 pounds. Yet this huge creature was driven at an expenditure of energy of probably less than 0.05 horsepower. The condor, which is pre-eminently a soaring bird, has a stretch of wing that varies from to 10 feet, a supporting area of nearly 10 square feet, and a weight of r pounds. Its approximate horsepower has been placed by Profes- sor Langley at scarcely 0.05. The turkey buzzard, with a stretch of wing of six feet, a supporting area of a little over five square feet, and a weight of five pounds, uses about 0015 horsepower. Langley's own successful, small, steam driven model has supporting area of fifty four feet and a weght of 30 pounds. Yet it required one and a half horse rower to drive it. How much power Is needed to fly at n1gn SpeeuS III fnd- chimes may be gathered from the fact that although Bleriot crossed the channel with 25 horsepower Anzani motor, and the Wright machine uses a 25 or 30 horse power motor, most aeroplanes have en- zines of 50 horsepower and upward. When we consider that one horsepower is equal to. the power of at least ten men, we see that even the smallest pow CT successfully used in an aeroplane rep resents the combined continuous effort of more than 200 men. To be sure, our fly ing machines are very much larger than any flying creature that ever existed but comparing their weights and sup porting surfaces with the corresponding elements of a brd their relative inef- ficiency becomes Immediately apparent