davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-20
A BoUY SIX YEARS AFLoAr

From the San Francisco Chronicle.
 A strange story of the seas and their mysterious currents was told in let ter received yesterday by Stanley Dol lar of this city from John Gear at Lerwick, Scotland, enclosing clipping from the Shetland Times. published at Lerwick. and dated September 30.
 The item is to the effect that on Sep tember 12 of this year near there was picked up on the beach at Cullivoe, Papastour, north of Scotland, 8 life buoy, tattered and stained. bearing the inscriptions: Passed by J. Guthrie, San Francisco Cal, June 1, 1905."
 Captain Guthrie is an assistant local inspector of steamboats for his dis trict.
 The Stanley Dollar was wrecked off the west coast of Japan in August, 1905. and the buoy must have been floating Tn the ocean currents for six years, until it landed over in Scotland. Whether it went around the Horn or through the Northwest Passage or down by Aus tralia and around the Cape of Good Hope into the Atlantic. is mystery of seafaring men. The buoy holds the worlds record for drifting the longes. distance ever known. It Is was years on the way from the Pacific to the At lantic and must have been washed into many a strange port before 1t was picked up on the Scotch island.
 Equally marvellous is the fact that 1t ,uoS pot found befora hut thic ,,,o,y ho explained by the theory that it fioated in parts of the two oceans unfrequent- ed by many vessels.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-20
MAKESHIFTs OF PIONEERS

well in .nose al9aeer days.
 She rda iFs -5ass nat when mice infest- ed thels cst. ss.y had no mouse trap, and f salsa s Eailes to Westport. A simpl aaa9ltuie was devised with the aid of . lnimbis nd a saucer. The thim- ble aesa. pHafH the rim of the saucer, sms e'a a9ss4, with bait attached, pro 'd 9o Dc sn effective device, and no mo % 9as he siser.
 ippAss Id with wood ashes, the Formulation q months, was a feature e e,pfy ploreer home. Water poured fHt 7,1f hrnrf emerged at the bottom a Esry eea sfade of I've. Later. combined Hitn saAp rease," also the aecumula- li1sY cf nousns. and the pioneer had his akglg es spgt ooap.
 1ile a1osf singular of the makeshifts of the p8asers," said Mrs. N. M. Har- ris of Rich HIM. Mo-, who was born in Westport T years ago. twas the one legged bedstead which have seen in the log houses of the very earliest settlers. A stout post was let through an opening in the puncheon floor about six or seven feet from the corner walls; holes were made in the logs corresponding to the height of the post; attached to the post were poles running each way. which were mortised into the holes in the walls; slats rived from green timber were laid from these supports and the bedding arranged upon the crude structure.
 Bread bowls (troughs, we called them), wash basins and utensils of that kind were scooped out of solid blocks of wood with tool called g. gouge. Fails and small tubs, called 'pilxkins' and 'noggins,' were usually home made.,'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-20
sAWDUsT CONCERT
pm the Cement World.

From the Cement World.
 When sawdust or wood pulp is used as part of the aggregate in mixing the re- sulting. concrete is of light weight and
 low tensible strength. but has some spe- cial properties that commend it for cer- tain indoor uses. On account of its elas- ticity combined with its practically non absorbent character. it is said to be espe- cially adapted as a floor veneering for markets. butcher shops, saloons, etc.
 It may be laid without joints In con- tinuous layer one and half inches deep, upon paper spread over the floor that is being treated. In these cases the custom ary proportions for mixing are one part cement, two sand and two and half sawdust. A greater proportion of saw aust would make 1t too absorbent.
 A novel application of sawdust concrete has recently been made in the new pub lie library building in Springfield, Mass. It was employed these as a base on which to lay the cork carpet covering the floors. The object was to obtain a layer into which nails could be driven and which at the same time would hold the nails.
 The company that laid it states that 1t accomplished both purposes. After several experiments with different mixtures it was found that & 1:2:N mix-three-fourths of a part of sawdust-gave the desired re- suit; and 5000 square feet of this mix ture was laid. The thickness of the layer was one inch, and after four months of service indications are that the material is success.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-20
This muddy vesture of decay.
 -The Merchant of Venice.
Initiative and Referendum in Ohio

Initiative and Referendum in Ohio
 On election day Ohio not only elected a good many municipal off cers but also the members of con- stitutional convention. The state has long needed a new constitution. The voters went further than was ex- pected, for they elected 80 delegates out of 119 committed to the adoption of the initiative and referendum. Both parties at the polls favored progress siveism, and the initiative and refer endum became the final test, and three-fourths of the members elected to the convention are committed to these reforms. To these no doubt will be added the recall, but it may not be applied to judges.
 From the far west to Maine is long gap, and Ohio will be the first state in the gap to adopt the new reforms. It may be anticipating too much to speak thus, for the constitu- tional convention of Ohio will not meet until next summer, and it's work will not be submitted until next No vember. The two political conventions in Ohio will take position on the new reforms, and the entire business may have big bearing on the way Ohio's electoral vote is cast next year.
 Ohio really hopes to become the leader in movement of national "progressiveness," and the national party managers will begin to study the Ohio situation at once. Other states are, however, preparing to do pretty much as Ohio has done, and the entire country seems to be swing ing toward characterization with very little reactionary tendency.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-20

Carolina. The Seventh district in- ludes Illinois, Indiana and Wiseon- sin. These nine states will, in the natural course of things, fill the va cant seat. MT. Taft may, however, seek the man that promises to work to the best advantage in the great court, disregarding residence and locality. No nomination is expected until after Congress meets next month. dxs
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-20
The Farm Movement

No state in the south presents a
 more inviting field to the truck farm CT than Alabama, and, all things con-
 sidered, no county in the state holds out greater inducements to the truck CT than Jefferson. The soil IS especially we'll adapted to the culti- vation of all the vegetable crops.
 Poultry farming and dairy farming are commercially successful here, and
 for all the products to which the
 small farmer may turn his attention
 Birmingham is a great market the year round. A large percentage of the vegetables and of the poultry and eggs consumed in Birmingham are shipped from Tennessee, Kentucky and Missouri. And heavy consign- ments come even from states north of the Ohio. Jefferson and adjoin- ing counties should produce the bulk of the truck handled in this market, and in time such will be the case.
 Notwithstanding the brisk local de- mand for "produce," comparatively little attention has been given to hor- ticulture hereabouts, but the few small farmers who have been engaged in tilling the soil in the Birmingham district have thriven, and the very fact that they have found their work profitable should make it all the easier to attract home seekers from the north. About year ago the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce a farm movement--a move ment for settling Jefferson county with truck farmers-and now good results are beginning to be seen. It is estimated that fully 100 truck farmers with families have bought small tracts of land in this immediate section, and these desirable new com- CTS have been induced hither either directly or indirectly by the Chamber of Commerce farm committee. If 100 have come the first year, several hundred will follow the second year, and it would be reasonable to expect several thousand the third year. Let the Chamber of Commerce farm con- mittee have patience and continue it's efforts so well begun, and in five years the Birmingham district will be known far and wide as one of the prosperous sections of the country.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-20

tunately impossible in most women and in nearly all men. The truth. seems to De that the young woman has good deal of constructive imagination or she could not have planned and executed such schemes. One can readily see that her talents, If turned to proper uses might have brought her large and honorable rewards. She seems to be one of many who really prefer to cheat and steal rather than to work.
 IL IS, however, tale with moral, which ought to be impressed on many persons. There is no doubling the grow ing love for luxury among women. This IS not unnatural. It seems to be in part mere effort to become attractive for securing partner rather than for the sake or clothes themselves. Your evolu- tlonist would probably write a long and learned essay on the subject. But 1t Is certain that those who are extravagant must pay the piper at last and it is inevitable that crime Is going to brins, It's just punishment.
 1t Is not wholly necessary for a young woman to dress we'll in these days to achieve popularity. There is charm which is not connected with objective things. Those young women who display beauties of mind and the virtues of mod- esty, sympathy and genuine courage arc more apt to marry we'll than those who think that personal adornment counts for everything. The game is not worth the candle if dressing we'll means a loss of character.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-20
CoLaUITr ON UNDERWOOD

From the Montgomery Advertiser.
 A peculiarly interesting contest for the Texas delegation to the next democratic convention is foreshadowed by the en- thusiastic tribute paid Congressman Os- The Texas governor says The is the big gest man in the United States" and in- inmates that he would be delighted to see tho Texas delegation vote for the Ala bamian.
 Heretofore in Texas Gov. Woodrow Wil- son and Gov. Judson Harmon have been the leading figures in the discussion of the presidential candidates. Senator Gull person has declared for, Governor Will son. and the New Jersey executives s popular strength in Texas Is manifest. On the other hand, Governor Harmon has some loyal and active friends in Texas. who are systematically urging his can didacy.
 Governor Colquitt's enthusiasm for MT. Underwood indicates that he, too. has popular strength there. The Texas gov ernor, according to dispatch sent by the special correspondent of the Birming- ham Age Herald, says of MT. Underwood:
 He has impressed the country as no other man in recent years has done. He is not an orator and he has not infiamed the populace. He is not a shrewd politi- clan and he has not deceived them into believing the impossible. He has im- pressed the country with his ability to do big things, and with his ability and with his integrity. He has introduced into pol tiles, furthermore. the new element of modesty."
 MT. Underwood may not be as widely known to the average voter as some of the political leaders who have kept their claims before the public, by continuous speaking tours, and by adroit, advertis- ing, but we cannot fail to be impressed by the large number of able and thought ful democrats, like Governor Colauitt, who, out of knowledge of the existing po- litical situation, believe that MT. Under wood should receive the democratic nomi- nation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-20
From the Kansas City Star.

XN1 HEN the town of Kansas City
 Nx/ was first laid off in lots in 1899
 W by J. c. Mccoy he did the measuring with a grapevine rod in length. He used that because he had no chain. There was not chain west of St. Louis that was fit for surveying with. The grapevine, pliable. and light in weight. served the purpose quite as we'll as a chain would have done.
 The pioneers of Kansas City and vi- cInity had to use many makeshifts. for they were far from civilization and a source of supplies for even the common necessities of life.
 There is a. woman in Kansas City to- day who came to Westport in the fifties. and later went with her husband to Bap- tist Wea mission, near Paola, Kan. She recalls many of the curious makeshifts of those days which she personally used.
 Among them was an ear of corn which was used as a substitute for rolling pin. It was crude, but effective.
 We were young and full of hope" she said. "and it is mistake to suppose that we are entitled to any sympathy be- cause of our supposed hardships. Life stretched away before us. It was like a party eternally camping out. We en- joyed it all."
 This woman remembers that the first summer spent in Kansas it was neces- sary to wait until the prairie hay crop was harvested before filling could be obtained for the mattresses. and that they slept on blankets. But they slept
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-20
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
The pres,,,cut,aI ouestion

"If ex-President Roosevelt is really a candidate for the republican nomination in 1912 the political situation will be in teresting indeed" said an old voter. I'll seems to be assumed that President Taft will be a candidate for renomination. The LaFollette faction will make some stir, and Roosevelt's chances for carrying of the honor may be fairly good. MT. Roose- welt will always be a potential quantity in public life. He may never be presi- dent again. but he will always have a following. and will always be reckoned with
 'fThe nearer we draw to 1912 the more likely it seems that Congressman Under He is undoubtedly leading. Even if he were less strong than he is from a presl- dential point of view he would still be the logical man for the democrats to put at the head of their ticket, for the other men who are mentioned are not strong at all considered on account of supposed availability. Governor Woodrow Wilson could not carry New York. It is a ques- tion as to his ability to carry even his oNh SthtS-4NSW JctSSy. usco to uchl Bryan democrats saw that the time had come when the party ought to be able to pick up several western states and let New York go. But the time has not come, and it probably will not come in our day when the democrats can elect man without New York. Therefore, if Wil- son cannot carry New York what would be the use in nominating him?
 Governor Harmon appeared to be very strong six months ago, but he is very weak now. It is safe to say that by the time the convention meets he will hard ly be in the running. Governor Foss of Massachusetts is beginning to loom up. but as between Foss and Underwood there is simply no comparison in the mat ter of appeal to the democracy through out the country. Champ Clark has been frequently mentioned in connection with the nomination, but he has neevr been seriously considered. Marshall of Indiana is splendid type of Jeffersonian demo- crat, but he does not seem to have made much of an impression as a presidential possibility. If Underwood is nominated believe he will be elected. If someone else heads the ticket the democratic party will practically say to the coun- try that it has no hope, and that it does not care any more for victory"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-20
THE FAIRY IN ARMOR

By Joseph Rodman Drake. He put his acorn helmet on;. It was plumed with the silk of the thistle
 down; The corslet plate that guarded his breast Was once the wild bees golden vest; His cloak. of a thousand mingled dyes, Was formed of the wings of butterfiiess His shield was the shell of Q lady bug
 queen, Studs of gold on a ground of green: And the quivering lance which he bran-
 dished bright,
 Was the sting of 3 wasp he had slain in
 fight. Swift he bestrode his fire fly steed: ( He barred his blade of the bent grass blua He drove his spurs of the cookie seed. And away like glance of thought
 he flew,
 To skim the heavens and follow far The asray treil ~. tbQ foqtet star.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-20
Andrew Bonar Law, the Tory Leader


 The new leader of the unionists, or tory, party in England, has never held cabinet position, and he did not enter parliament until 1906. He came to maturity and an opportunity speedily. All recognize his ability as an inciscive speaker, but whether be can lead his party successfully re- mains to be determined.
 In the recent crisis he urged the lords to fight to the last, and he is Chamberlain protectionist. He has been an iron merchant and he was born in New Brunswick, where his father, clergyman, lived. He is not a university man, his highest efforts in procuring an education being con- fined to the Glasgow high school. He will lead the tories and yet he has no connection by marriage or otherwise with the aristocracy of the country. This fact will, however, help rather than hinder him as leader, for all England is becoming democratized.
 The Chamberlainites and the Hals- buryites both trump in the selec- ton of Mir. Law, and his ability as an orator may carry him along until the country becomes tired of radicalism again. It is turn and turn about in English politics, and the new leader may yet become England's premier.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-20
ONE OF srHEM THINGS"

From Answers, London.
 It was in the far backwoods of Can- ada that the young Englishman and his wife had settled down. Rarely did they see a fresh face. and even when strang- CTS did chance to call it was always late at night; in the early morning he would be away again.
 So little Johnny had to content him. self with his own amusements and find out excitement for himself. By the time he was years old he knew the names of dozens of animals and birds. but very little about human nature.
 One day he saw a strange, unknown creature approaching his house. He watched it until it came quite near, and now there seemed something familiar about It. He turned and ran. wild with excitement.
 "Oh. mummy, look! Quick! Here's a funny fing like farver coming!"
 It was the second man he had ever seen!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-20

From the London Globe.
 .NHE history of warfare contains
 numerous examples of conflicts
 ! that have originated through tri- fling causes. For instance, Turkey suf- fered greatly in war with Venice. When the Venetian ambassador was asked by the Turkish grand vizer to ratify a treaty by swearing in the Moslem fashion upon his beard and the beard of the prophet he declined, because. as he said. "the Venetians wear no boards"
 This remark was too much for the Turk, who retorted angrily, "Nor do monkeysr'- an exclamation which caused the other to tear up the treaty and retire from the conference. The se- quel was a sanguinary conflict in which fell 30,0O0 Christians and four times that number of Turks.
 But the Turks were not the only ones the slightest provocation. The emperors of China have ever been famous in this direction, the record instance being a war 25O years ago which began through the smashing of teapot. This indis- pensable household article was looked upon by its owner. a high dignitary of the court, as a. priceless treaure, and con- sequently it accompanied the great man on his journeys.
 It so happened that when he was trav- cling through the lawless provinces in the northwest of China some of his ret hue were intercepted by g. band of rob- bers, who found the teapot among the baggage and indignantly flung it to the ground and broke it. The matter was reported tp the emperor. who was so ln- dignan4 at his favorite's loss that he sent out a punitive force and long war began which resulted in the death of 500,O00 men.
 A bucket was once the innocent cause of a terrible war. Nine hundred years ago party of soldiers of Modena stole a bucket, apparently as a practical Joke, from a public well in Cologna and re- fused to restore it. Fights thereupon took place between the soldiers of the rival states and started a. war which devastated large part of Europe.
 Algeria came into the possession of France through disagreement over a petty debt. The Bey of Algeria demand ed immediate payment through the French consul, who asked for time to
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-20
A Banquet Suggested

"Gov. Emmet O'Neal thinks like a statesman and writes like a statesman and his addfess at the New York Cham Der of Commerce banquet last Tuesday night naturally attracted great deal of attention in the east" said prominent Birmingham business man.
 Concerning large public questions Gov ernor O'Neal's views are always conserv- alive. He has little sympathy with the so called progressive movement of the day, and for that very reason business men admire him all the more. Now that the governors brilliant talents have be- come recognized away from home he will soon be classed with the great national figures
 Tt would be a fitting compliment to Governor O'Neal, I think, if the business men of Birmingham were to tender him banquet on his return from the east, where<he is now being honored. Let it not be said in his case that a prophet is not without honor save in his own coun- f- 4-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-20
MoprRN FEMININE INSTANCE

From the Philadelphia Inquirer.
 About week ago a beautiful young woman succeeded in robbing local de- partment store by the most audacious plan ever known. Assuming to be a col lector for the cashier, she succeeded in getting several hundred dollars apparently by her excessive nerve. bluff and sort of hypnotic power. She escaped, but 1t was predicted that such easy money would tempt her to repeat the crime. She tried 1t in Cleveland, was caught and is reported to have confessed to swindlinS d. i.,Y q9ns5er of stores in the same
 EufiQrs's ehough, in spite of the se- ri6aSfeSs orzthe crime. there have been n ay 9'ar 5uld not withhold . certain al a1Q'znk ef Arbitration for the woman be- e&izSc <f ,nl 6udacity. Such ustve b for
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-20
LITERATURE IN THE SOUTH From the Rochester Democrat and Chrons


 Mrs. T. P. O'Connor of England, who, has been visiting in the south, says that in her opinion Dixie" is one of the great unworked fields of literature" She says she has found there material enough to fill volumes. So did James Lane Allen, Frances Hodgson Burnett George w. Cable. John Esten Cooke, Charles Egbert Craddock, George Cary Harris. Thomas Nelson Page. William Gil. more 6imms, F. Hoplrinson Smith and Owen Wister and others in the field of fiction. Then there are Sidney Lanier. Paul Laurence Dunbar and Father Ryan in poetry, to say nothing of many moro in various other departments of literature, Many of these are in the very front rank of American authors, and their work speaks for itself as to whether ''Dixies Is an unworked field.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-20
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR

From the New York Press.
 The latchstring always hangs out to the rich.
 You can whale morals into child, but he has to be coaxed into manners.
 A woman would be ashamed to admit sine had cold feet if they were in 8 tub of ice.
 Because girl likes to be all tied up in ribbons a man needn't think there ism t dynamite in the package.
 What 8 woman can never understand is how her husband can remember the name Of the President of the United States and yet not what date her sisters third child was born on.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-20
PERFECT BIRDS LIVE LONGEST

The more perfect bird is racially, that is, the further 1t has advanced along the lines of evolution of the bird group, the longer lived it will be. That is the opin- ion of Director Mitchell of the London Geological Gardens. Typical birds, there- fore, must be the raven. which has been known to live 6S years: the eagle owl, 6s; the mute swan. 70; the domestic goose, 30; the gray parrot. 9a; the sulphur crest ed cokatoo, s1; the Amazon, 102: the gold en eagle, 1o4; the Egyptian vulture. 11s. Of course. these are not the average agss of these species.