davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-05
SUCCESSFUL KIDNAPPERs

From the New York Times.
 Before criticising a father who pays the huge sum of s12.OO0 to kidnappers for returning his stolen baby, one must en- deavor to put himself, in imagination, in the fathers place. It is true that man who compounds felony does, theoretical iy at least constitute himself a party to felonious transaction. But the crime of kidnapping is one, perhaps the only one in which such defiance of the law must seem justifiable. New Mexico is a sparsely settled state, in which the ma chinery for the detection of crime and the punishment of criminals is as yet in a comparatively rude condition. MT. Rogers doubtless had little or no police protec ton to rely upon. and we fancy he did what other fathers would do in the same circumstances. But the success of these kidnappers will doubtless embolden others to play the same game.
 Moral reflections on the subject would be more pertinent if Kidnapping was jess frequently attempted in supposedly well-policed communities. and was less frequently successful in the same way. But, of course, the chances of catching and punishing the rascals, after they nave given up their prey, are much bet ter in thickly settled neighborhoods. We feel that MT. Rogers did right in rescuing his child from the thieves near Las Vegas, but it is too much to hope that they will now permit themselves to be caught Their ill-eotten gains may lead them, through debauchery, to their own undoing, but there will be small conso- lation in that
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-05

John Burroughs, in Country Life in
 America.
 The other day l sat for an hour watch ing pair of wood thrushos engaged in building their nest near "Slabsides." l say a pair, though the female really did all the work The male hung around and was evidently an interested spectator of the proceeding. The mother bird was very busy bringing and placing the ma terial, which consisted mainly of dry ma pie leaves which the winter had made thin and soft, and which were strewn over the ground all about. How pretty she looked running over the ground. now in shade. now in sunshine, searching for the leaves that were just to her fancy, Sometimes she would seize two or more and with a quick, soft flight bear them to the fork of the little maple saplins. Every live or six minutes during her absence the male would come and inspect her work. He would look it over, arrange leaf or two with his beak and then go his way. Twice he sat down in the nest and work ed his feet and pressed it with his breast as if shaping it. When the female found Eim there on her return he quickly got out of her way.
 But he brought no material, he did no needful thing, he was bird of leisure. The female did all the drudgery and with what an air of grace and ease she did it. So soft of wing, so trim of form, so pretty of pose and so gentle in every movement, It was evidently no drudgery to her. the material was handy and the task one of love.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-05
Rirmingham's Three Commissioners

Pirminghams Three Commissioners
 Governor O'Neal, in appointing Judge A. O. Lane and James Weath- erly to be co-commissioners with Mayor Exum under the Birmingham commission government act, made selections that will insure high de- gree of administrative efficiency 1 Judge Lane, having served four terms as Mayor of this city, will bring to the commission administrative experi- ence in municipal government that should prove invaluable.
 Mr. Weatherly, one of Birming- hams best and most successful law yers, and one of it's most public spir- ited and patriotic citizens, will, it may be safely predicted, make splendid record in his new calling. He has never sought office, and 1t is well known that he only agreed to accept this commissionership at the most earnest solicitation of the gov ernor He loves his profession, and one may readily imagine the reluc- tance with which he will give up ac- tive practice; but from a sense of duty he will quit his law office and do his level best in the city's service.
 Several weeks ago it was an nounced that the two commissioners to serve with Mayor Exum would be Judge Lane and Harry Jones. These were the two men. that the Jefferson county delegation had agreed upon in their recommendations to the gov ernor. Mr. Jones has long performed intelligent and faithful service in the City Council, and in the recent past, as president of the council, he has dis played not only parliamentary skill, but capacity for leadership of the first order. He would have made an admirable commissioner; not only that but his friends are legion and his failure of appointment will be keenly felt throughout Birmingham.
 The commission bill had encoun- tered many obstacles in the legisla- ture but now that it is a law the great majority of the citizens rejoice and look forward with civic enthusi- asm to the installation of a system that has worked remarkably well in other cities and that promises to op crate well here.
 Birmingham, with it's increased population and it's large problems, needs now, more than ever, the ex- ercise of judgment and constructive capacity on the part of the men who shoulder the grave responsibility of administration. Let all the people cooperate as far as possible, and by giving the commissioners their moral support, help make Birmingham the best governed city, as it is the most favored, in all the south.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-05

long run be hung in public galleries, and then no one need discuss the art qualifications of the American pur- ohasers. No two men agree as to what art really is, and what is best in sne generation is rated lower in the next. Rembrandt is not the only Dutch painter, nor is Turner the only Englishman whose work is appreci- ated. The only thing certain is the works of dead artists far outrank in value those of the living. This may not be just. It is the truth, however, and there is no way to change it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-05
IN HOTEL HOBBIES
A Nashville Visitor

Thomas J. Tyne. prominent lawyer of Nashville, spent yesterday in Birmlns- nam. He is especially interested in in- surance matters, and is a large stock holder In one of the companies doing a successful business in the Birmingham district.
 I visit Birmingham occasionally and al ways find il progressive, said MT. Tyne. This city has improved rapidly of late years and great future is assured for It..
 As to Nashville? It is always pros rerous. In Nashville we are not depend- ent upon any one or two industries, or any one or two crops Our city Is situated in an exceptionally rich agricultural section. Everything that comes out of the soil can be prontably grown in Tennessee Nashville has a great variety of indus tries; greater number of small indus tries, perhaps, than any city In the south The city is large iobbing center, and all these things combined keep it from en- countering periods of depression. No mat ter how business throughout the country may be, there is always some briskness in Nashville commerce"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-05
THE REAL MONTE CARLO

There are queer old women here who process; but only few. The La bouchere system as it is called, re- quires considerable capital The Earl of Roslyn had his system" knocked as high as a kite by Sir Hiram Maxim in dummy play. Indeed, there Is no "sys- tenn that will hold water, because each spin" is in itself system" and all though once fin a while there is cer- tain run of the colors or the figures, the sum of each days play and the devei- opmerts of the various tables defeat-m point of fact render mpossible-reliable calculations of any sort and all sorts.
 The experienced and astute man of business may anticipate the market. But no prescience can anticipate the lit tie ball that goes merrily round to drop at it's own sweet will into a red or black receptacle, numerically ranging from T0 to S6 The best system there fore, is not to play at all; but in case one does play. to cut and run the mo- ment he finds himself ahead
 It was not, however, of the games and gaming at Monte Carlo that began to write, but of the principality of Monaco as a whole and it's drama. as a contin- uous performance. Nowhere on earth can any theatre be found so brilliant and va red. At this, the high-noon of the sea- son. 1t is the very apex of the sweildom of the universe, with its vast retinue of hangers-on and sightseers; reigning sov- ereigns to be encountered on every hand; the celebrities of all lands lost in the crowd of patricians, millionaires and no- bodies; to eat, drink and be merry the single refrain from the highest to the lowest. NAture made Monte Carlo the loveliest spot in the world. Art and money have completed the work of na- ture. The mise en scene Is as finished as q stage setting. Pictorially nothing re- mains to be done.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-05
MIR. uNDERWOoD.s TEST

From the Chattanooga News.
 Sometimes plain common sense is wiser than subtle calculations and ratiocination This seems to be true of Representative Underwood's test for duties that need lowering When lm- portations are small in comparison to the total trade he would lower duties in the hope of stimulating an effective though not necessarily crushing foreign competition and of starting stream of revenues into the federal treasury This follows naturally from MT. Un- derWood's fundamental conception of customs duties as designed for reve- nues. If impofantions do not respond as expected to the lowering of duties, the operation may be repeated until it becomes evident that our producers enjoy natural advantages over foreign competition in the line under study
 But in this case protection is not justified Altogether the Underwood plan would seem to be more practical and truer touchstone than refined sta- tistical comparisons of the costs of pro- duction at home and abroad.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-05

who are leaders in larger business at- fairs have long felt that the chief ob- lection to the antitrust law has been that business men might violate 1t in good faith, not knowing that tRey had committed an illegal act.
 As the counsel upon each side In the hearings before the supreme court in these two cases are persuaded thas, whatever else the court may reach as an interpretation of the antitrust law, u will clearly define the boundary De . tween lawful and unlawful eompiha- tions so. it has been observed recently the business interests of the country have been persuaded that whatever the interpretation of the supreme court may be, it will be in sympathy With everything that makes honestly and fairly for the material prosperity of the United States
 "'Yet it may be that the court will so decide this question that many re- organizations will be necessary. The Standard Oil and the American To- bacco company may be compelled to abandon the organizations under which they now operate and create new ones in conformity to the judicial interpre- tation of the antitrust law. For time, then, there may be some demor. alization. and it is for this reason that the larger business interests do not feel at.this time like making any great commitments. They are maintaining the supply of products so as to meet the normal demand, and are doing no more.
 The general feeling Is that after the interpretation by the supreme court of the antitrust law as applied to the Standard Oil and tobacco cases the bus mess interests of the United States will as speedily accept and adjust themselves 10 this interpretation as the railways of the United States have been doing with respect to the recent decision Of the interstate commerce commission, in which it gives the reason for it's refusal to permit the railroads of the United States to increase traffic charges.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-05
GAvELs FOR CHAMP CLARK

Washington Correspondence New York
 Tribune.
 When Champ Clark rises as speaker to open the first session of the House in the Sixty-second Congress newt Tuesday he will have many more gavels than he will need. The official ivory gavel, which is provided by the government, will be ready by the end of the week. There are at least three others which the speaker will use for the sake of the admirers who pre- sented them, and many more will prob ably. be forthcoming before April A.
 One gavel, now on the way, was made from the apron log of a dam in Rails county, the first dam made for the first mill constructed In the state north of the Missouri river. Another, already re- ceived, was made from the limb of a hickory tree growing over the grave of Andrew Jackson. Accompanying this was e dipper. made of red cedar, from a rail fence which Andrew Jackson made with his own hands. Still another gavel has been promised by admirers in Ohio.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-05
High-Priced Paintings

While one American has been out bidding the National Gallery of Lon don for Rembrandt's Mill" paving $500,0 900 for it, another American has purchased, at a cost of $2O0, ,0O0, a notable Turner. These prices for few square feet of canvass are re- markable. Rembrandt has been dead something over two centuries, and when he died $500,000 would have purchased every picture he had paint ed, and his works are numerous. Tur- ner painted the fogs of his island home, and while he lived he fought the conventional ideas of art and few defended him except Ruskin. Both he and his chief defender are dead, and now all England worships his ! pictures in the National Gallery.
 The bringing of these pictures to America does not, perhaps, indicate any new or greater art enthusiasm. It simply means that American mil lionaires are invincible. Their dol lars win art treasures wholly re- 9ardless of the question of art appre- ciation by the purchasers.
 Possibly these paintings will in the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-05
PLEAS FOR PATRONAGE.

poetical butcher in Kansas adver- Uses, The rose is red, the violet blue; l sell you meat that you can chew" Very good. The idea can be elaborated ad in- hnitum. For instance. druggist might announce: "As sure's the vine twines round the stump, our pills will make your liver hump" The shoe dealer: He's never known to have the blues, who buys from us pair of shoes" The clothing merchant: Tn case you need a suit to wear we'll fit you out beyond compare '' The grocer: Our eggs are fresh, our butter's fine. It would inspire the muscs nine.' The automobile company: No body will care who you are, unless own a motor car" The millinery store: Sweet danes, who still compress your slats, We sell the very latest hats.' The .'blind tiger:' "our brand of booze will help your case. Come see us soon-youzknow the place.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-05
The Good Roads Convention

''The National Good Roads convention which meets here next month will be one of the largest and most important gather ings ever held in the south," said prom inent local good roads man. Tt will not only bring great throng Of visitors to the city, but an uncommonly large num- Der of distinguished men will be here to take part in the proceedings, as lookers- on. Governor Dix of New York will pos sibly be among the many notables pres ent. A strong effort is being made to have him come. There is possibility too. of Woodrow Wilson attending. This distinguished educator and pubicist, now governor of New Jersey and widely men tioned for the presidency, is popular all over the country, and his presence in Bir- mngham would of itself be great draw ing card.
 Birmingham Music festival is to be held in the same week of the Good Roads convention, and this will be a sufficient attraction to greatly increase the number of visitors from nearby towns. It is hard to estimate the size of the crowd that this city will witness in May but would say that the visitors will not num- Der less than 5000'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-05
Governor Marshall Strong

While Governor Harmon is extreme ly popular as a presidential candidate, Governor Marshall of Indiana is going to be very strong when the conven- tion meets next year," said Edward T. Whittet of Kansas City.
 We will hear 8 great deal in favor of Governor Woodrow Wilson, Gov ernor Dix and other able and distin- guished eastern democrats. but I be- lieve when the time comes the con- test in the convention will be be- tween, Harmon and Marshall. Gov ernor Marshall is a man of splendid ability and of rare force of chars cter. He is a Jeffersonian democrat and is full of pluck. The democratic party is more united now than it has been since l became voter, IA years ago The democrats of the west are looking forward to 1912 with great hopes"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-05
ROMANCE AND REALITY
rom the Washington Star.

T
 Jack London, at a publishers dinner in New York said of industry: 'The boy who starts at the bottom in some big concern thinks all he needs to do is to work his very best and then his employ CT will raise him up till, finally. he is made general manager.
 ..As a matter of fact, the truth lies rcarer Lawson's nose
 "Lawson,' said the head of rich firm. T have noticed that you work with amazing zest No detail of the business is too small to escape you. No task is too hard. You are first to arrive in the morning, you are the last to leave at---
 ".Oh, thank you, sir; thank you, sir.' cried Lawson, expecting his salary to be doubled.
 Hence, Lawson his employer end ed, with a snarling taught, I'll ask you to dig out the first of the month. It is men of your caliber who get busi- ness down pat and then go and start rival establishments in the next block
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-05
Ignoring Birmingham m

Pensacola is building a railroad, or to speak more correctly, it pro- poses to build one. This road is to extend from Pensacola to Jasper, Ala, and Birmingham is not in it. !" As a rule railroads prefer to secure terminal in this city, but Pensacola is building one that prefers termi- nal in Jasper.
 Jasper, forty miles from Birming- ham, is we'll located amid the coal seams and cotton fields, and there is no reason why it should not become railroad center. At any rate it is to have a railroad from Pensacola. Ordinarily an Alabama town would seek a port and outlet in Alabama, but Jasper really has no choice in this matter. Pensacola is conducting the enterprise, aided by a MT. Megargel of New York, who is presumably mag nate. Pensacola and the magnate are building the road, and we can say to them that they might go further and fare worse than they did when they decided to make Jasper their northern terminal Jasper is all right, what ever Megargel may be. Megargel may be a name to conjure with in Pensacola, but up this way few have ever heard of him. Success, however, attend him and his air line between Pensacola and Jasper.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-05
Business wnI Arjust Itself

The business interests of the coun- try are awaiting the decision of the United States supreme court in the Standard Oil and the American To- bacco case with much more compla- cency than was natural a few weeks ago." said an observant man. "Pessi- mists were imagining all sorts of trou- ble, but today Wall street has dis counted any adverse decision. A writer in the Wall Street Journal puts 1t well when he says:
 "'Our business men are confident that there are no financial or commercial interests in the United States which have keener appreciation than the su- preme court of the fact that these de- cisions are to be of great consequence to business interests, great at least in the sense that thy will show honor able business men of the United States exactly what the law permits and wha { 1t does not permit. Therefore. the court will presumably reach decision as soon as possible. This view has been taken for some time by counsel who have appeared before the supreme court in these cases, both as representatives of the government and of the Standard Oil and tobacco companies. They have been persuaded that the supreme court will attempt in these devisions to de- fine the dead line So clearly that the business men of the United States ma ) no longer be in doubt as to whether they are upon the right side of it or on the lawless side.
 "Should the supreme court do nc more than that, 1t will be sufficient The managers of the greater corpora tions of the United States and those
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-05
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR

From the New York Press
 A good resolution for married people to make is not to be any sorrier than they can help.
 If a man has a dream in the night that he's rich, the next day he wants to spend some of it.
 A man may know too much to love girl, but not enough to keep her from making him tell her he does.
 Anyhow, d woman knows enough about mathematics to figure out how many spring bonnets her husbands annual cigar pills would buy.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-05
JCYs OF FIDDLING

Robert Haven Schauffler, in the Atlantic
 Monthly.
 German parents know, also, that there is nothing better for the unity of the home than the sport of chamber music. To associate the hearth in the childrens minds with the intimate, exquisite de- mocracy of ensemble, with the rapture of perpetually new achievement, with the spirit of beauty and an ever growing appreciation of that spirit, is to go far toward insuring the success of the fan,- fly, and even the solidarity of the neigh borhood.
 Chamber music as a home sport can ac- complish more yet. Who can doubt, in the third place, that fiddler's lure helps in smoothing the child's ways through life? For the experienced amateur of chamber music, go where he will even in our semi-musical country is sure of & welcome. His bow Is 8 master key to all doors. And the welcome is not al- ways for the fiddle alone-as the violinist thought who declined an invitation to dine on the ground that he had hurt his second finger For the democracy, the constant give-and-take of the quartet and the sonata has extracted deal of the stiff- ness and conceit and dogmatism from him and left him more human and more diplomatic.
 Besides all these advantages. his talent adds a perpetual sparkle of romance-real or potential--to what might otherwise have turned out hopelessly dun exist ence. You never can tell what friend ever- after may not come rushing up to you after a concert with glowing face and self. q understand that my father first beheld my mother as he was ending an amateur flute solo) A certain cellist was once snowbound for three hours at 2 small railroad station. He unpacked his 'scello and played his dozen fellow suf- ferers request programme. with the re- suit that one of them took him to Europe for a year. You never can tell as you bear your precious fiddle case through the streets, what magic easement may not open on the foam (of steins), and what fairy hand may not beckoh you within to do the one thing nefdful to Opus 5S, or draw valiant bow in the battle of schumann Quintet.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-05

Birmngham's music festival in May will be thessrandest attraction of the kind ever held in this state. Schumann Heink has been engaged to sing in two of the five concerts and other famous artists will be the programmes. The seat ss lie has not begun, but scores of requests have already come from out of town for tickets-many for season tickets.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-05
A BAD DAY.

A BAD DAY. Remarked poor old blind man'-he Had such look of woe q can't collect enough to see A moving picture show.
 Birmingham Age-Herald Remarked a poor old blind man"-he With such a look, ''I VOW, I can't collect enough to see An eye-opener now.