davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09
RE,.Asco AND THE ANTIQUARIAN

From the Washington Post.
 The Alexandria of our tale is in Vir- ginia, and not in Missouri. Yet the aver age Alexandrian of Virginia is not with out certain desire that the casual visl- tor shall make good through satisfactory ocular demonstration all that he tells and everything that he asks for.
 This explaains in some degree brief colloquy between David Belasco, man of art, and w. w. Simpson, possessor ef arts, otherwise the Museum of Relics of Alexandria. MT. Belasco looked upon tue accumulated treasures owned by Mr Simpson, and was filled with the longing Of Ahab. He inquired of MT. Simpson tie price of the entire collection. After the good old method that prevails from Alexandria to it's famous prototype at the mouth of the ancient Nile, the antiquarian mentioned tentative figure out of all proportion to the expected payment Dut MI. Belasco, who has eaten in lobster palaces, and who confesses to a quasi ex- istence in a place where it is cheaper 70 die than to live, cheerfully accepted tic initial valuation, and rendered his check MT. Simpson called for United States cur rency. And the currency was forthcoming before the New York playwright took his treasures home.
 Those who know MT Belasco best would doubtless take his check without ques- ton. He has made good in fields finan- cial as well as artistic, albeit MT. Daniel Frohman is alleged to have said, when told that David wrote the Psalms, Not on your life; they ain't in his style!' Mr. Simpson probably had stage money in mind when he demurred to the white slip of paper. With stage money at de- precjated rate of exchange far below Con- federate notes, the modern Alexandriau might fairly have argued that stage note of hand verged close upon the alge- eriac abstraction known as minus quantity.
 However, the exchange has been made to the satisfaction of all concerned. Mir. Simpson has the good coin of the realm, white MT. Belasco has added to his collec- tion antiques more precious to him than ean be found among the possessions of his competitors. It needs only that there shall be discovered somewhere in our modern Alexandria a worthy successor to the barber of Romola's day, to tell his customers, between nose tweaks and slashes, how the local genius met the stranger on equal terms and beat him at his own game.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09

THE Dogers (Ark.) Dispatch to New York Her
 ;-ld.
 On an improvised platform built on the great lawn, Arkansas fiddlers by the score fiddled last week before a great crowd. The boys from up the creek and down the creek" and a few of the giris-al prepared to fiddle. and fiddle they did.
 Forgetting the audience of fashionable visitors, that surrounded them, the rranip- ulators of the bow tucked their fiddles under their chins and "rosined up." "Old Uncle Ned" the immortal Arkansas Traveller" 'Moneymusk," and Turkey in the Straw" were reeled off in the rol- licking manner of the native fiddler, set ting the feet of the auditors a-dancing in unison.
 It was nearly o'clock when the per formers took their places on the plat firm. W. H. Harvey, the sage of Monte Ne, soon put the musicians at their ease ip his splendid tribute to the music of the fiddler E. Bee Guthrey of Sulphur springs was in charge as master. of C. remonies.
 At o'clock Coin Harvey explained that the contest was between Ozark fiddlers, who play "by ear," and do not
 nake their living by playing the fiddle. T,sis barred the professional, he said, and tie man who played by note. He named Ciaremore, Okla; Clarence Turner of Mnskogee, Okla; J. N. Connety of Garth age. Mo-, and Charles P Clouston of St. Louis.
 | MT. Harvey announced that when the l judges had selected the best fiddler he would be "crowned' king fiddler of the Ozarks for one year. when he would | al corners. He closed by introducing E. Bee Guthrey as master of ceremonies. | MI Guthrey's speech was on fiddlers and
 fiddling, and was replete with humor and
 sentiment. A concert preceding the fid-
 dlers contest was participated in by string bands and famil yorchestras, with
 comedy and sentimental songs. | The sensation of the evening was an
 interruption by Sue Allen, tall, angular
 courtry woman, chewing snuff, who in-
 sisted on some one dancing It ended in
 her going on the stage. Then all the
 musicians, including the 45 fiddlers, play | ing Turkey in the Straw" she danced tothe che CTS and shouts of the multitude It was .9:3o o'clock before the fiddlers | contest began, and continued amid great | interest and excitement until past mid. night. The larger part of the audience we,e in motor cars that surrounded the | stand.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09
Beautiful Folk Dances

"Those of us who had the privilege Of attending the Music Study clubs open meeting at the Country club this after noon were greatly delighted" said the atre goer last night. 'The programme cas made up of folk songs and folk dances. The songs were well rendered, and as for the dances they were most ad- mmable-fully equal in artistic beauty to anything have seen at the theatre. An entertainment of that character is not only diverting, but it is educatives
 "T beg to suggest that the Music Study club repeat the performance at one or t'Ie theatres during the present season for the benefit of the open air concert fand. Those folk dances would draw a crowded house."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09
CHINA's POPULATION
om the London Globe.

From the LOndOn GlODe.
 According to the latest official returns fl,e number of inhabitants of China proper, Manchura and the new dominion is 312 425,O25. And, as we have pointed out before, observes the National Review '(China), the estimates of China's popula- tion have always had a tendency to exag- geration, and even if 1O,OO0,OOO be added on for Mongolia and Tibet the total is flr below that usually quoted. In 1904 MT Rockhill then United States minister in Picking, after careful inquiry came tc the conclusion that the number of i1- habl,ants of China proper was probably less than 27O.0O0.0OO That would make the total population of the empire something, slightly under 300,00O,000. K something be allowed for natural increase since that time it does not seem as If the 312.000, ,0G of the latest census erred on the side of unllerstatement.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09

Bryan a majority that year, but the re- publlcans carried the state in 1904 and 1908. If one speaks. o. the solid south now it is taken to mean the cotton states-the old Confederate states.
 Kentucky was lost to the demo- crats in only one presidential cam paign-1S96-an even then the demo- erats captured one of .ne IS electors. or course, Kentucky will roll up big democratic majority in 1912. believe Delaware Maryland and West Vir- ginia will get back into the democratic column Missouri is almost certain to be democratic next year. If l am right it will then be in order to revive the term solid south-the solid south as it used to be-"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09
New York and New Jersey

The returns show that the political cyclone of last year has not been du- plicated in New York and New Jer- sey, but the legislative returns from those states should not be accepted as conclusive as to what they will do next year. gF5
 New York and probably New Jer- sey take midway censuses. In 1912 state censuses will become a basis for newSpportionments of the legis- latures respectively in the two states. The present apportionments are as unjust as bosses and partizan rule could devise. Especially is this the case in New York, and nothing short of a political cyclone could overcome it's apportionment. The unjust ap- portionment in New York, together with a bitter campaign against Tam many, has enabled the republicans to regain control of the legislature. The New Jersey legislature is also prob ably republican, although the senate is very close.
 The republicans have done better in both states than they did last year, but the election figures of Tuesday by no means foreshadow republican vic tories in the two states next year, for the vote of next year will be cast re- gardless of legislative apportionments and TammanV, .r..
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09
Tomorro,y's Concert

Many tickets have been sold for the joint recital by Mrs. Aldrich, pianist and Mir. Washburn, baritone, which will take place tomorrow night at the Jefferson theatre. The entertainment is being given under the auspices of the ladies of St. Marys Episcopal church and is for the benefit of the free kindergarten.
 A brilliant programme has been ar- ranged and there Is every indication that the theatre will be crowded to over flowing MT. Washburn was an excellent singer when he lived in Birmingham sev- eral years ago, but he has kept up his study of music and has improved his .tyle so that he ranks today with the great vocal artists of the United States, MT. washburn's home is in Nashville, but he is in good demand in the north and never fails to delight discriminate ing audiences in'the large cities.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09
Commercial Travellers and Hotel Tips

The commercial travellers are or ganized and so are the hotel pro- prietors, and an issue has arisen be- tween them. The former have sent a letter to the various state associa- tions of the latter declaring that tip ping is an unpopular and un-Ameri- can development of foreign origin. The commercial travellers declare fur ther that if the evil complained of is not abolished they will compile lists of private houses where transients can be accommodated with rooms.
 Hotel guests, say the commercial travellers, are expected to hand out the coin for every help, from the bellboy who carries the gripsack of an incoming guest to his room and hangs on until the rake-off is provided to the porter who calls cab or car ries grip from the doorway to bus. The public is regarded by one and all, proprietors, clerks and servants, with only a few exceptions to this rule, as so mal.y easy marks.
 The commercial travellers say they will withhold action a reasonable time to see if the hotel proprietors will
  put their help on self-respecting basis. If they do not then they will take up their scheme of reprisal. They pay to the hotels $325, 900 annually for rooms and meals, and the tipping system takes from them $50 100000 more without including the theatrical people or travelling auditors or other travelling men. The commercial travellers pay the sums mentioned, ana they say the tipping aLusc is hoi1-r:' which should be abolished because the accommodations provided are abundantly paid for.
 The issue is large one, and 2 very interesting one; and the gen era] public which travels occasional ly will watch the outcome with in terest.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09
--------sos--- UNDERWOOD LOOMING IrP

From the Washington Post.
 Senator John H. Bankhead of Alabama, the most enthusiastic of Representative Oscar Underwoods presidential boomers,
 s back from New York The Alabama senator seriously believes that the chair man of the ways and means committee ot the house has not merely an outside chance of being nominated by the demo- erats, but that he is looming up as one of the most formidable candidates.
 Having spent several weeks in New York, where mingled with the business people sof that community, l am more than ever impressed with the availability of Oscar Underwood AS candidate,'' st'd senator Bankhead, at the New lt,- b-tt. NO one has ever questioned the fitness of Underwood for the presidency, His leadership, in the house has clincned his claims as one of the foremost demo- crats of the country. More than any democratic member of the present con less, Underwood has been brought into the limelight. He is the acknowledged leader of the democracy l have all along ccntended that geography should have nothing to do with the availability of a presidential candidate, and have pointed out that nowhere, except in the south. has there ever been voice against the nomination of a southern man for Presi- dent.
 "The time has come when the south saould assert her claims in this contest fer political supremacy, and there never was q more propitious moment for .mak- ling the fight. Underwood stands higher today in the public estimation than any other southern man, and thcre is no pos sible argument to be urged against his nomination except the place of his resi- dence. I tell you in all seriousness we in Alabama are going to make fight for his nomination and win or lose, we shah make our influence felt. ''Fhe south is bound to be recognized" ,"' added Senator Bankhead. "And in this next presidential campaign Alabama will become conspicuous not only as the first of the states to be called in the ballot ing, but as the foremost state of the sUuth."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09
JACK JOHNSON'S BREATH

London Cable to New York Tribune.
 Jack Johnson, who was heavily fined ia the north of England for fast motor dresdnought machine, with himself at tie wheel. Every time the traffic slowed up he made his cut out cough terrifcally. Two striking taxi drivers stood on the sidewalk.
 .Lord.' said one. Listen to that man Johnson's cut out"
 That is not the cut out, said the otter. 'it Is merely Johnson getting lis bl, ath.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09
Kentucky and Massachusetts

Kentucky is just simply and normal lv democratic. Governor Wilson, a republican. did carry the state four years ago in one of the spasms that attend unpopular administrations of i party that has long been in power. This year ex-Senator McCreary car r1kd the state readily. The Louis- vilIe Herald, republican paper. says ean unpopular national republican ad- r.fnistration was the cause of the hemocratic victory in Kentucky" This !. my have contributed to the result, knt the chances are that the pendulum ;o.ald have swung back rt%aldloss
 f the national administration. The
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09

THE SCHOOL OF EXPERIENCE. He worlds a school of experience, Where everyone must go And pay a rather fancy price, Some certain things to know.
  Fen when we're old and wise and gray With many years run through, We find we don't know half as much As once we thought we knew. Not quite as foolish as we were For that the fates be praisedi Yet, still most prone to make mistakes, Then stand at gape, amazed. For every ounce of wisdom had We give our signs, our tears, Or maybe grievous burdens bear Through weary, weary years. And graduate? We never do! Adown life's vale we wend, Foredoomed to con our lessons OCT Fill death shall make an end.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09
The Democrats and 1912

"Congressman Underwood has long been a potential man at the national capi- tal," said J. H. Cross of West Virginia, but recently he has come to the front as a fitting man to head the democratic ticket in 1912 I do not know MT. Under wood personally, but from all accounts he is slngularly well equipped for the presidency. I would not be surprised to see him nominated by the dempcrats. MT. Underwood is stronger than either Har- mon or Wilson. With Underwood the democrats would be triumphant a year hence. If the party puts out some one else I am inclined to think the repuo- licans will win, hands down."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09
state is back in the democratic col

state is back in the democratic col umn today.
 The election in Massachusetts was distinctly conducted by the supporters of Governor Foss on the work that Oscar Underwood is doing in bringing out tariff revision on a revenue basis. MT. Buckingham, the repub- lican nominee, defended the Aldrich- Payne-Smoot tariff, asking from every stump the republicans to stand by the tariff made by their party to promote Massachusetts industries. No other campaign of this fall was con- ducted distinctly and emphatically on the tariff issue, and Governor Foss secured a second term. The state is normally republican, but in two sue cessive elections the republicans of Massachusetts have declined to sanc- tion tariff devised for graft and ex- orbitant profits.
 The Massachusetts election is for this reason even more significant than the election of democratic mayors in Ohio-more significant than the election of a democratic conpressman in a Kansas district that had heretofore gone republican-more significant even than thefact that Preident Taft could not see in the election returns anything to rejoice over.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09
FROM "A BRIDE SONG,

By Christina Rossetti. Through the vales to my Hove!
 Where the. turf is so soft to my feet And the thyme makes it sweet, And the stately: foxgloye
 Hangs silent its exquisite bells; And where water wells. Tie greenness grows greener,
 And builrushes stand Round lily to screen her. Nevertheless, If this land, Z s0,E Like a garden to smell and to sight, We're turneds to a desert of sand, Stripped bare of delight,
 All its best gone stos worst, For my feet no repose.
 No water to comfort my thirsts Ard heaven like a furnace above rno desert would be
 Az gushing of waters to me, The wilderness be as u rose,
 If 1t led me to theeL
 Q my love
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELoE

From the New York Press.
 Selfrhness wears medals; sacrifice, mourning.
 A man seems to save money chiefly to help out his friends who don't.
 When man is a good example to his son. it's because the boy only sees him at home.
 The more reasons a girl thinks she has fnr loving man the more they are in ner imagination.
 1.cfore he marries her a man wants to cherish girls gloves; afterward it's hard for him to think of her health.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES

| talk to visitors, and distribute type, and ea'Ty water, and saw wood, and read the proofs, hunt the shears to write edi- torials. and dodge the bills, and dun do- iirquents, and take cussings from the wholo Force. and tell our subscribers that We must have money-we say that we've no business to make mistakes while at tending to those little matters, and get ting our living in hopper tall soup, 1av- ored with imagination, wearing old shoes and no collar and patch on our pants, ahd obliged to turn smiling countenance In the man who tells us our paper ain,t worth a dollar anyhow, and that he could make better one with his eyes shut.n C, rning Gazette.
 MERE GUEsSES.
 A suffragette
 May fight and fight,
 And still look under
 The bed at night. F Birmingham Age Herald. But If she found
 burglar there,
 She'd yank him out
 And pull his hair.
 Boston Transcript And while she had
 The robbers goat
 She'd make the laddie E Pledge his vote.
 Youngstown Telegram. Or maybe she, 'F ifi ,issa.assI
 With courage grim.
 Would pause to make
 speech to him.
 Chicago Record Herald Why not propose,
 Qf she would wed),
 And marry the guy
 Beneath the bed?
 Spokane Spokesman Review. VARIOUS NAMES AFTERWARD. What do people call this hotel nor tct?''
 'Dey calls it de Commercial hotel befo, dey stops here, sah."
 DOESN'T MATCH OURS. The dealers say that golden hair Is very hard to get; On that account we won't despair, a Or entertain regret.
 HE NEEDS A REST, Doctor, do you think trip to Eurou would do me any good?'' "Yes. Let your wife take it."
 ALASi
 She's very fair, An, mel An, me!
 And such an air
 You seldom see.
 Whats that hear?
 Myself I'll hang!
 Oh. dear, oh, dear a She uses slang.
 PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09
IN HOTEL HOBBIES
southern Prosperity

McPherson of Chicago, vice presloehe of the Cable Piano company, IS In DIT mlngham.
 "T make frequent visits to the south' said Mr. McPherson, "and l usually hnu business conditions highly satisfactory
 q am TOW just from New orleans That city is comparatively quiet, but New Orleans, like all other southern ci'ies' has a bright future, and Will make st ,des' as the time for opening the Fan- ana canal approaches.
 "The south as a whole has made won derful progress within the past ieW years. Birmingham is a rapidly growing city, and it is certain to become great metropolitan center"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09

Premier Borden is not sending detectives to watch Champ Clark. lest he slip over some dark night and annex Canada be- fore the people know it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09

The crcss-ffre of presidential booms k interesting several states.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09

Life in Seattle is described as just one recall after another.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09

The baby emperor must wonder what $ the matter with his nursery now a-days.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09

It was cruelty to a child to put that Chinese proclamation on little Pu Nj They plainly need societies in China whose duty 1t is to protect children.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09

Tripoli would be all right if the sand were shoyelled off it. It has as a rule about 30 feet of sand.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09

The man who predicts low prices for Thanksgiving turkey should send along guarantees with each prediction.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09

Apples are so plentiful up north the cold storage warehouses cannot hold them, and they are forced on the market.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09

The name of the Chinese minister ar Washington is Sze, and no one knows how 10 pronounce the name.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09

No constitution can be framed for China until the rebels and Manchus meet face to face ill Picking.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09

Champ Clark has a great future If he can get over a chronic obsession, the an- nexation of Canada.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09
THE FIDpLING CHAMPIONSHIP

The lodging house vote is the dread of all politicians.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09

Every time Fairbanks is mentioned for Vice President in the west a cool wave springs up and sweeps across the country.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09

The Manchus are simply what we call the interests in this country.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09

Champ Clark is endeavoring to give Canada more chills>to the acre than the weather clerk does. Between them they
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09

MT. Vaniman's balloon is not behaving transatlantic trip to another year.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09

start cat ranch stocked with one million catS
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09

Buffalo steaks that go uneaten are utilized as hinges on barn doors.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09

The baseball clubs have gone into hiber- nation, but the baseball fan is still n our midst
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09

Jack Frost is at any rate better than Father ISoreas, whose native home is Medicine Hat.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09

YE EDITOR APOLOGIzEs.
 we apologize for all the mistakes made Tn former issues. They were inexcusable as all an editor has to do is to hunt news and clean the rollers and set type. sweep the floor and pen short items. and fold papers and write wrappers, and make the paste, and mail the papers, and
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09
THE PITY OF IT.

Do you believe necessity is the mother of invention?"
 ''Yes, and she is also closely related to the promissory note"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09

Alrj. Gen. Daniel E. Siekles, who is s5 years old, and who lost a leg at Geitys- burg, has been blackballed by the Loyal Legion, whom he had offended in the erec- ticn of monuments on battlehelds.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09

SCRAPED AN ACQUAINTANCE. 'Adam was the original masher." "How was that?'' ''IIe wasn't introduced to Eve."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09

NOT BURST-"BUST." Mothinks that mans a peaceful wight Who never longs to bust, With exclamations of delight, A hydra-headed trust.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09
TO BE SURE.

TO BE SURE. Men like to dream, But put on steam, If you would fain some progress make. Sweet idleness Doth please, I guess, But one to win must keep awake!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-09

SEEMED LONG. 'Is Jiblets happily married man?" q doubt it.'' "Why so?" Someone asked him the other day how lorg he had been married and Jiblets ab- sent-mindedly replied, "A hundred years.''