davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-06
SIGN OF DEGENERATION

European Letter to the New York Sun.
 The Englishman who has always prided himself on being all that is strictly mas cuiine appears to be undergoing a change, for he is allowing a distinctly feminine note to creep into his dress.
 He sometimes indulges in the much tucked dress shirt which the Frenchman favors, and he is showing a tendency to- ward dainty fabrics bright colors and novel buttons. With evening clothes, in, stead of an ordinary white waistcoat he now wears one of silk or poplin, in pale pink, canary, dove or faded green.
 The buttons on his dress suit are no longer round and flat; they are oval and raised from the cloth. He favors braid more than ever before and his overcoat is faced with silk. His waistline is clear ly defined in frock, morning and evening coats and his ties are in pastel shades gray. of the exact tone of the frogs in "The Quaker Girl" being most popular
 The most appalling sign of his degen- eration. according to the editor of the Outfitter, is that he turns up the end of his trousers to reveal his elegant socks Of silk. hand embroidered.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-06
Mexico's New President

Today Francisco I. Madero is to be tnaugurated president of Mexico. His campaign included a revolution several for that matter-and the new president bore up bravely throughout the ordeal. Beyond all reasonable doubt he is the choice of the Mexi- can people, who believe he will en- deavor in his single term of six years to better social and political condi- tions in the country. He no doubt hopes to conduct his administration without resorting to the jail and even more summary methods of the Diaz regime. He will, in other words, try to conduct government below the Rio Grande not unlike the one conducted north of it.
 He was pretty clearly elected in a fairer election than Mexico ever knew, and so far as is known it was wholly fair, although many citizens stayed away from the polls because of ignorance and inexperience. Presi- dent Madero will command the confi- dence and friendship of this country. The army in Texas has been with drawn, and all revolutions in Mexico have been suppressed. The Zapata movement was more of footing af- fair than a revolution. All desire to give Madero a good chance. He will no doubt favor all the reforms that Mexico is capable of in the next six years, and if he does he will deserve to be treated well in Mexican history The military dictatorship of Diaz could not last and Mexico bids fair to be . better Mexico without it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-06
NO CHRISTIANS SEE MECCA

From Harpers Magazine
 Although one of the most inaccessible cities on earth, Mecca each year has vis- itors in such number that it must be ranked in this particular with London and New York. Even the worlds me tropolis on the Thames can boast no such cosmopolitan character as is impart- cd to this mysterious city in the wilder ness of Arabia by the myriads of pill grims, who at the cost of incredible pains annually crowd into it's confines.
 This city is the oldest place of resort in existence, yet of all the millions who have visited it not a score of Christians ale known to have come out alive. No flag of citizenship would save a mans life were he known to be a Christian within the sacred precincts of the city, where the prophet himself decreed that no unbelieper should set foot.
 Of the 225, ,090,d ,d0O Moslenis in the world, only 15,5o0,000nive under the Turkish flag, ynt most of them acknowledge the Sultan Of Turkey as their caliph the successor of the prophet. As Mohammed shrewdly foresaw, the Mecca pilgrimage binds to- gether his disciples into d unity which could be effected in no other way.
 Mecca says pr. Samuel M. Zwemep of Arabia, has become the religious cap- ital and the center of universal pilgrim age for one-seventh of the human race"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-06
In the Realm of Philosophy

''I have been particularly interested in the articles relating to the various de partments of philosophy that appear in the Catholic Encyclopedia, said lay man. ''Volume XII is just out and as it runs from Phillip to Revalidation' it is exceptionally rich in philosophy. The ar- ticle entitled Philosophy. covers b pages. It is written by Maurice de Nyulf, profess sor of philosophy at the University of Louvain. It is Illuminating in marked degree. The article on 'Pragmatism,' as tendency in philosophy sgnifying an insistence on usefulness or practical conse- duences as a test of truth is from the pen of the Rev. pr. William Turner, pro- lessor of philosophy at the Catholic uni vcrsity in Washington. It embraces be- tween four and five pages.
 Psychology is treated in four pages by Michael baher of Stonyhurst college, England. 'Psychotherapy' is discussed at some length by Dr. James J. Walsh, di- rector of the medical department of Ford ham university, New York, and the Rev. Leslie J. Walker of Wales, contributes ali interesting article on .Relativisn.s Some persons may think these subjects dry but they are expressed in clear lan- guage and are much more readable than many of the text books on mental and moral philosophy"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-06
CAUSE AND EFFECT

From the New York Telegraph
 The sugar trust was indicted and the case is still pending. The price of sugar has increased nearly 100 per cent.
 The window glass trust has been haled into court and fined s1O,O0O. Window glass ia higher in price than ever.
 The beef trust has been sued criminally by. the government, and the price of beef ie on a war time basis.
 The tobacco trust has been dissolved, and the price of tobacco is just where it vas before the dissolution.
 The wire trust, the lumber trust, the paper board trust and the bathtub trust all have been prosecuted, and the price of none of their products has been re- duced.
 The milk trust suit is pending, and milk is from 1 cent to 3 cents higher per quart than formerly.
 Butter, in the face of the prosecution of the butter trust. is higher than in any fall in years.
 Prosecution and investigation are per fectly lovely to read about, and dissolu- ton is delightful, but who pays for the entertainment? We do, good friends, each Of us, pay the price of admission to see we eat or wear-and then little bit more for the trust busting entertain- h.ent.
 If it wasn't so serious It would be the gigge of the centuries.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-06
KYRLE BELLEW THE ACTOR

From the Washington Post.
 N the death of Kyrle Belew the stage has lost a member whose appearance A and personality answered more com pletely to the romantic type than any ether who has essayed to fill those par tieular roles in many years. In the re- pressed suavity and unaffected nonchal- ance of his manner, Bellew was the fit representation of the gentlemanly Rallies, the Brigadier Gerard. the Gentleman of France, and the rest of the queer gen. t'y in whom could always be found a bass of appeal when the higher impulses Of manhood were concerned but through out the warp and woof of whose natures r n the scarlet thread of inquitous lean- iags and longings that never satisfac- 'trily differentiated between swashbuck- lcry and bravery.
 That Bellew himself responded in measA ure to these diverse motives and im- pulses is sufficiently shown in the incl cents Of his varied career. Born in the shadow of tie cathedral, he saw service in his youth in the British navy. The lure. of Australian gold carried him to the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-06
origin of the Ku Klux Klan

'The Ku Klux Klan was a great law and order league of mounted night cav alrymen called into action by the in tolerable condition of a reign of terror under negro rule in the south at the close of the civil war said an old cit izen yesterday.
 Its rise was due to the mind Of no leader It was an accident. A group of boys at Pulaski. Tenn, organized it first as a local fraternity They found name in the Greek word 'Kulxlos,' band or circle, and to this they added Clan, and then split the germ word into two weird monosyllables, spelling the Clan with K to heighten the appeal to the superstitious, and To! the awe-i1- spring Ku Klux Klan
 Tn 1867 a secret convention of peace loving, God fearing. patriotic southerners met in Nashville and organized this so> ciety into The Invisible Empire adopted a ritual and adjourned.
 MT. Laps D. McCord of Tennessee vas tho printer in the office of the Pu- laski Citizen who set the type, printed and stitched the complete edition of the ritual of the order. lie never Knew unell years after the author of the manuscript or from whose hands he received it. He got one day an anonymous letter telling him to remove the middle brick in the space beneath a certain window in his printing office. He did so and found that the brick in the center If the wall had been taken out and in it's place lay roll of manuscript containing the ritual of the Invisible Empire.' It was merely marked with three stars. He was in structed to print and bind in the night and on Q certain date between the hours of 1 and ? a. m., to place the bundle of complete copies outside the door. He did as ordered and unseen hands bore them away in the darkness
 'The only two copies of this ritual now known to exist are to be found in the archives of the state of Tennessee. Its author is Gen. George w. Gordon of Memphis.
 "In the sequel to The Clansman,' The Traitor both the real Ku kluX Kan and the base imitation filan figure rrom- inently' '
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-06
Many Elections Tomorrow

Tomorrow is election day in a noodly number of states. Governors and other state officials are to be elected in Rhode Island, Massachu- setts, Maryland, Kentucky, Missis- sippi, Louisiana and New Mexico. Goyernor Foss is striving to be elect ad on a revenue tariff platform in Massachusetts. Arthur Pue German, IT.. expects to be elected in Mary Ind. and the democrats of Kentucky nfo united and enthusiastic. The re- auIt in New Mexico will be watched with interest. Mississippi and Louis }ona will go democratic, and Rhode island probably republican.
 nj New York the lower house of " legislature is to be elected and 1nsny judges and city officials. New dsraay elects new legislature, and 3n Virginia legislative and local of. {koors will be elected. In Philadel- nhia and Cincinnati mayors are to b. 1Ieeted, and in Ohio delegates to g eougtitutional convention are to be nlocted. Arizona does not hold . ufata election until December 12. sr
 ew York city the independent dem- Sexets and republicans will attempt
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-06
TO BE A REAL ACTOR

'The American Theater' Henry Kolker
 in National Magazine for November.
 Sinking ones identity in character rarts on the stage is but an insignificant branch of acting. The displaying of a person. ality beneath the makeup, the incarna- tion of a written character in flesh and blood, by sheer act of genius on the part Of the actor in filling a part with his own personality tempered to the limi- tations of his roe-the creation, in short, of living, visible and intelligible being is the grand goal of the actors art
 How well Richard Mansfield knew that art, In his performances, you saw an in.penetrable makeup, but though Mans field was hidden, behind the disguise were the brains of the greatest dramatic genius ofSour generation, fashioning steadily and superbly a character as he corceived it out of the materials placed as his command by the playwright.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-06
DicIsens stamps

As we are now within a few months of celebrating the tooth anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens I should be grateful if you would allow me 10 inform your readers that they may obtain the Charles Dickens centenary bookplate stamps by applying to me at the Hotel Cumberland, New York city" writes F. A. Jones.
 'These book plates, exquisitely e1- graved miniature portraits of the la nous author, are issued in sheets of 12 contained in a special centenary envelope. price 25 cents, mailed free. Many letters have appeared in the press asking where these souvenirs may be obtained, and I believe thousands of your readers would be glad to pur- chase one or two sheee5 did they but know where they could buy them. As your readers probably know, it is the desire of the promoters that a Dickens centenary bookplate stamp should be inserted in every copy of Dickens works.
 .'The proceeds from the sale of these souvenirs will be devoted to a fund for the benefit of those members 0, the Dickens family who are in ao verse circumstances The movement has the warm support of President Taft. Andrew Carnegie. Pierpont Nor gan, Cardinal Gibbons and other lead. ing Americans"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-06
ALPINE SCENERY: BY LORD BYRON

It is the hush of night; and all between Ihy margin and the mountains, dusk.
 yet clear, Mellowed and mingling, yet distinctly
 seen,
 Save darkened Jura, whose capped
 heights appear Precipitously steep; and drawing near, There breathes a living fragrance from
 the shore
 Of flowers yet fresh with chiidhood' on
 the ear Drops the light drip of the suspended oar, Or chirps the grasshopper one good
 night carol more; He is an evening reveller, who makes His life ali infancy, and sings ms nii' ,Ae intervals. some bird from out the
 brakes
 starts into voice moment, then Is still There seems a floating whisper on the
 hill But that is fancy; for the starlight dews All silently their tears of love distii' weeping themselves away tin they infuse Deep into natures breast the spirit Of
 her hues. ye stars! which are the poetry of heaven, If. in your bright leaves, we would read
 the fate Of men and empres-'tis to be forgiven, That in our aspirations to be great, Our destinies o'erleap their mortal state, And claim a kindred with you; for ye
 are
 A beauty arM mystery, and create Tn us such love and reverence from afar, That fortune. fame, power, life, have
 named themselves a star ,l,a pd
 O. night
 And storm and darkness, ye are won-
 drous strong, Yet lovely in your strength, as Is the light Of dark eye in woman Far along, From peak to peak, the rattling crags
 among,
 Leaps the live thunder!-not from one
 lone cloud But every mountain now hath found a
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-06
THE SOUTH, IN 1912

From Leslie's Weekly.
 Southern men have filled diplomatic sta- tions, have been leaders in each branch of Congress, have been appointed Cabinet officers by republican as well as demo- cratic Presidents and have sat on the supreme bench. A former Confederate soldier was a few months ago appointed chief justice of the supreme court by a republican President. The only office from which Southern men, have been ex- cluded is the Presidency, and the time has cume when the ban there ought to be removed also. Speaker Champ Clark of Missouri; Underwood of Alabama, the dc or leader in the House; Senator Will Hams of Mississippi; Senator Martin of Virginia, and other southern men have been mentioned in connection with the 'democartic candidacy, and all are worthy and capable. The south is well supplied with presidential timber.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-06

From the Newark News.
 The efforts to obtain a durable binder for road metal are not without value, because they clearly show what to avoid, ana may, by the slow process of elimi- ing material that is so essential to road making at the present time.
 There is nothing vet known in this country, nor yet in France. where a sys- tenn of 1S.000 miles of federal roads is .urder constant scientific suaervision, that will withstand the double effect of horse drawn vehicles and pneumatic-tired mo- tor cars. But if there is any combina- ton that will meet these requirements it is certain to be brought to light some day, and by just the kind of experiments made in Camden and elsewhere.
 In Vermont and in Massachusetts. where crushed stone is abundant, the roads that are made of good gravel appear to be giving good satisfaction. In the first place. they have the very decided merit of being much cheaper than macadam roads. and they seem to require less sci entiiic and less costly repairing. And further, 1T. they were nor so uuSlN as the macadam when the latter has been subjected to heavy traffic and the wear and tear of automobiles.
 Gravel roads are also said to be gain ing in favor in Pennsvlvania, but the difficulty is to find gravel deposits large enough to meet the requirements of eX- tensive road building and repairing. 41,o tention is that the state can get better results by using it than hy spending, much more money for macadam. Be that at it may, those whose memories go back beyond the time of improved road building in, this state remember that the roads were always fairly good In districts where gravel was abundant and freely l1cp1
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-06
WHERE ROBINSON CRUsoE LIVED

From the ChildrenS Star.
 The real name of Robinson Crusoes island as you may all know, is Juan FernandeZ-the first name being pro- nounced as though it were spelled Hwan, and the final ''z'' is like "th." It be- longs to the Republic of Chile, and is situated in the Pacific ocean, about AGO miles off the Chilean coast It is IS miles long and six broad, and it's highest point is about 5000 feet above the level of the sea. Its shores are steep and desolate in appearance.
 There are number of fertile valleys extending back from the shore, in which figs and grapes grow in profusion, while a goodly amount of sandalwood, cork and other valuable timber is found. On the hills surrounding the valleys large herds of goats roam. Some are fame, while others are quite wild.
 A traveller who visited the island 32 years after Robinson Crusoe, whose rea, name was Alexander Selkirk, tells a story about these goats which proves hat selkirk really did live on the island as described in the book
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-06
He has walked the way of nature.
 -2 King Henry ".
New York's Referendum Issues

Tomorrow New York will vote upon seven constitutional proposi- tions and also upon bond issue pro- posal, for that state cannot be bond ed for dollar except with the pre- yious consent of the voters.
 One of the constitutional proposi- tions submitted is to increase the pay of members of the legislature to $3000 in the case of assemblymen and to $3500 in the case of senators. Mileage at the rate of cents a mile is added. If adopted New York will have the best paid legislature in the country. Another proposition would increase the pay of future governors to $20,000 year. It now stands at S10,000. Another proposition pro- hibits the state from selling foot of her canals. The other proposed amendments relate to local subjects.
 The election simply shows that the referendum is everywhere in opera tion. It is by no means an untried method. It never has been since the republic was organized. The final resort in any important matter is properly to the people whose busi- ness it is, and who must in the last resort foot all bills and shoulder all responsibility. Distrust of the peo- pie in this country is simply foolish.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-06
Deliberate But Decisive

Gov. Emmet O'Neal is never nasty
 ih action. He is not only exception ally well equipped by training for his high executive office, but in his administration of affairs he has shown himself to be singularly well poised.
 By education and temperament he has good deal of the judicial in his make up. In the discussion of any matter he is always fair and clear, while in argument or review he is at once concise and authoritative all this because of his quick mental grasp and his strong logical bent.
 Governor O'Neal has been urged by friends from time to time no doubt to take action that circumstances did not warrant Most men occupying executive positions are apt to listen sometimes to immature counsel. Some men are easily swept off their feet. But even Governor O'Neal's political opponents will scarcely ac. cuse him of moving precipitately. Whatever he is he is never rash. His calmness indeed in dealing with questions affecting the public veal is proverbial.
 Naturally kind hearted, it may be assumed that the governor dislikes to do any thing that might seem harsh. But his stern sense of duty impels him always to act with decision; to act strenuously when strenuosity is in order. Governor O'Neal promised to give Alabama a clean, business like administration. Being human, he makes mistakes, but he will never hesitate for moment to act, no mat ter how disagreeable the task may be, when the facts seem to demand decisive action. He is absolutely fearless, physically and morally, and his determination to carry out his promises to the people of Alabama deserves cordial commendation. As governor of a great state, Emmet O'Neal is making good; and all right minded people will applaud him for his firmness as well as his honest ef- forts.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-06
IN THE PRESIDENTS OFFICE

IN THE PRESIDENTS OFFICE Affairs at Washington Joe Mitchell
 Chapple in National Magazine for No vember.
 Scores of visitors pass through he Presidents office every, day during his absence and look in every nook and cor Ter. Many carry pad and pencil, with which they try to jot down details, so tkat they can satisfy the folks at home with good description. There is always clanor to sit in the Presidents chair at the head of the cabinet table, and to see on his desk the pens which have signed many famous measures. The pie lures on the wall and the globe in the corner are carefully noted, and many 'Ohs' and Ans are heard as little in- dications of presidential taste" are ob- served.
 The little tribute to golf on a brass tab let, the cheery fireplace and the outlook over the White House grounds, the heavy draperies, the books and the stray papers left on the desk just before the President started on his trip-all of these make up ver-to-be-forgotten picture in the minds of young people who are passing through the great rooms of the White House on their first visit to Washington.
 Many insist that the real time to come to the caHtal is when Congress is not in session and the President is away, for then there is.a better opportunity to see the environment of the nations lesisla- tcrs and chief executive.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-06
Finished Products Versus Pig Iron

The purchase of the Birmingham Coal and Iron company's properties by the Woodward Iron company brings the latter up to very high rank from various points of view.
 This raises the hope that all the iron companies here will soon cease to ship away pig iron. When they sell iron at home or turn it into steel and merchantable products this dis trict will be on a proper footing and it's ore seams and coal veins will yield their fullest benefits.
 This district has shipped away pig iron too long already. When the Panama canal is opened every pound of it should be turned into finished products to be shipped by water to Mobile, where there would be access to the markets of the world. It is hoped the Woodward and other con- panies will speedily get ready for this change-a change that means doub- ling of benefits to the district. To ship away pig iron is only less im- portant than the shipping away of ores and fresh mined coal. The fin ished product should be Birming hams ambition.