davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-31
" OF AN IMMIGRANT-By Frank c. C

them as the commissioner of immigration has given it to me:
 Idiots, imbeciles, feeble minded persons and epileptics Insane persons who have been insane within five years. Paupers and persons likely to become a public charge. Perhaps having tuberculosis or a dangerous contagious disease. Persons suffering from mental or physical defects which may affect their ability to earn a !! living. Criminals polygamists and an- archists. Prostitutes and procurers. Con- tract laborers Persons whose passage has been paid for by any association, mu- nicipaity or foreign government, and last ly, children under 16 unaccompanieo py a parent.
 1,0O0,000 New Brothers and Sisters
 And now let us look at 100000 new brothers and sisters who got in We have adopted them all into our national family. Who are they and where do they come from? wish you could have tramped over Ellis Island with me and taken a look for yourselves at the sawed off, anemic, unintelligent classes who passed through the doors at the same time I did. There were 2500 of them altogether, and the majority were under sized and uneducated. They came from southeastern Europe, and were composed largely of Hungarians, Slavs, Italians, gypsies and Polish and Russian Jews. They were in about the same proportion as those we imported last year, only.tne number this year will be greater In 1910 we admitted 1,041 900 immigrants and of these more than 900,0o0 were shipped here from Europe. We had more than 250,Oo0 from Austra-Hungary; we had over 100000 from Italy and 1SO,0OO from the Russian empire and Finland.
 There was only a bagatelle from north Europe, and the bulk of the whole came from the southeastern countries of that continent, where from 9 to 50 per cent some places more than the majority can neither read nor write. This holds true of the immigrants we are now getting, and it is in striking contrast to those who came in in the past.
 For many years our adopted brothers and sisters were from England. Scotland, Ireland, Germany and Scandinavia. Among these the percentage of education was high. Only about 4 per cent of the Germans were illiterate, and 1 per cent of the English and Scotch. only per cent of the Irish could not read and write, and the same was true of the Films, while the ii;teracy among the Swedes and Norwegians ran as low as one in 100.
 The people we are bringing III now are almost barbarians in comparison with those we had a generation ago, and the question is how Uncle Sam is to take care of them and still maintain the high stan dard of American character.
 cannot see how he Is to maintain even the standard of American physique. Uniting these pygmies from southeastern Europe with our tall, broad shouldered men of the south and the prairies is like trying to improve the Percheron horse end the thoroughbred by the importa-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-31
Preiudiced Wills

From the London Chronicle.
 Prejudiced wills are common. We already mentioned the religious an mathematical prejudice. and there ts what we might call the marital prejl The will of British sailor, for inst beoueathed a shilling to his wife tt hazel nuts, as she had always pref cracking nuts to mendIng his clothes another will. provided in 1880, left the ator's widow $25o0 to be paid afts death Fin order that she may be T buried" And Henry Earl of Stai{ his wife ''five-and-forty brass halfp. bequeathing 1t to ''the worst of VI unfortunately my wife,"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-31

by which they were to go to the west or to other parts of the country. I rol- lowed some of them into room which was like great railroad depot There was bank at one end for the changing of money with the rates of exchange plainly published over the cashiers win dow. There were offices where one could buy tickets, and places where the bag gage could be checked direct upon them. There were also lunch counters selling bags of food for 50 cents or $1 and every other convenience to help the immigrant on his way. The bags were large and the food was good. Indeed, I doubt whether one can get as much for the money anywhere else in New York. This is all regulated by law.
 The immigrants bound for other parts of the country are taken charge of by the railroads and put on the right cars,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-31

In the meantime the 2O00 of us have been sorted and herded in groups. This was done on the steamer and each was given card showing his group and his number. I am No. 25, Group e." This is printed on a white card which is pinned to my breast the officers having eau tioned me to keep it in sight. I have also had to sign a long paper of answers to all sorts of questions. 1 have given my full name and my age, have stated whether I was a man or woman, was married or single and whether I could read or write I had to give my nation- ality, race and last residence. I had to state where I was going, and whether my passage was paid by myself or any other person, corporation, society, mu- nicipalty government. I had to tell what money I had or whether it was as much as S30 and if I was going to join friends on this side. I gave answers to the questions whether I had been in prison, or the poorhouse, or in an insane asylum, and also whether I was men tally or physically deficient, deformed or crippled and if yes, for how long and what made me so. This paper and my signature I was fated to meet with later on.
 I had also passed the quarantine doc tors at Sandy Hook, where they looked me over to see if I had any contagious diseases and had failed to find upon me any sign of cholera smallpox, yellow fever or plague After all this I had expected to go right through Ellis Island and to at once land on the golden streets of New York.
 How Immigrants Are Examined
 How mistaken I was. I was just at the beginning instead of at the end of the process of break ipc ob Ga 30 of group "F,'' most of us carrying our baggage, were taken across the dock into a hallway and rushed single file up long pair of stairs. At the top of these we passed into a room where a dozen men in uniform stood. We then walked across into an alley shut off by ralings so that only one could go ahead at a time. The men in uniform were the doctors ce.the ma rine hospital service. The nrst man who inspected me was on the outlook for signs of deformity or contagious disease. He looked at my legs to see if they were the same length and sound he grabbed at my collar to see if I had the goitre, and with his eyes exam ined me from my crown to my toe for signs of tuberculosis l had noticed that he had put chalk mark on the girl ahead of me and was relieved when he let me go by.
 Testing the Immigrants Eyes
 A little further on I came to a gate where another doctor was standing. could feel his eyes go through me as I approached, and then l felt him go through my eyes. He had little wood- en stick not bigger than toothpick and much like the orange stick you use in nail cleaning. He grabbed my right eyelid and bent it back so that he could see the whole ball of the eye. He then took the left eyelid and did
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-31

and they are carefully watched and cared for by the railroads until they reach their destination.
 Sent Back to Europe
 So much for the immigrant who gets in. I think there is too many of him, and that the country would be far better off if two-thirds at. least of him and his family were kept out of the United States. but according to the laws he is admitted and the future must be settled by Con gress.
 And now as to the would be immigrants who are sent back. They are brought here at the risk of the steamship com panies who carry them and are sometimes sent in by. countries and cities abroad who want to get rid of supporting them and make Uncle Sam pay the bills. The classes wbo are excluded are definitely set down in the laws. Here is list of
The Washington times., 1911-04-06
ADVOCATE
.COMMENDS TAFT'S
PEACE PROPOSAL
Representative Barth o | d t
Says 1t Means Ultimate
Disarmament.

Representative Richard Bartholdt Of
Missouri, one of the countIys leading
peace advocates, today congratulated
the President upon his arbitration
treaty program with Great Britain, and
told him that if he succeeded in putting
this through. he would be invincible be-
fore the people as a candidate, and
would be immortal before the whole
world.
Mr.. Bartholdt is of the opinion that
the present peace program is the great
policy of the Taft Administration, and
told the President so today. He said
that II was the most important step yet
taken toward international peace, and
that 1t would yet result in disarmament
and universal good will.
Should this treaty go through" said
Mr.. Bartholdt, France would come in
know this. Then japan is already
eager to do The same thing, and with
this four-cornered combination, there
wOald be nothing left for Germany to
do but TO Join the others.
These five nations undoubtedly could
they would do it. Disarmament would
follow at once. There will be no need
for heavy arnaments under these con-
ditiOns. That whole situation would
solve itself.
"AlI that would be necessary would be
an international police with which to
enforce the DEGREES of The Hague
Tribunal. This tribunals orders would
be easily executed, however. They have
always been So"
The Washington times., 1911-04-06
Reported From Border
That Japan's Activity
Led to Army ManeuVerS

Ell PASO, Tex, April 6-The report
that it was the aggressive policy of
Japan in Mexico that induced President
Taft to mobilize a division Of troops in
Texas has been revived here by the
statement of a Mexican, who claims to
be close to the Ddaz regime. He said
that Japan had insisted upon MeXico's s
granting a coaling station on Magda-
lena bay, even after Mexico had signi-
fed that she would decline because of
the withdrawal of the coaling rights
previously granted to the United States.
In the meantime, however, the Japa-
nese colonists on the west coast of
Mexico had mapped all that portion OF
the republic. The pressure was made
unusually hard because of the large
number of the coionists. Then there
came TO Diaz, said the Mexican close to
the Diaz regime, an intimat ation from
Washington that Japan must not have
the coaling station on Masdelena bay,
the United States graciously not in
sisting upon another extension of that
right to itself.
The interference, It is said, was very
welcome to President Diaz, who real
power from over the seas her alliance
must inevitably be with the United
States.
Another disquieting report was that
General Madero, leader of the revolu-
tionists, would consider no plans for
peace that did not include the resigns-
tion of Diaz
The Washington times., 1911-04-06
No AdViceS Received
Here On Report Made in
Blatt and Converse Case

The State Department has received no
advices of the report of Beltran Y.
Puga. the Mexican boundary commits
F'oner, on the arrest of the two citizens
of the United States. Blatt and Con-
verse, who were said to have been taken
from United States soil by Mexican
soldiers. Special dispatches to The
Times from Mexico City state that
Senior Puga has filed his report with
Minister de la Barra, and that the re-
port is believed to have recommended
the immediate release Of Blatt and Con-
verse from custody.
The point to be decided in the case
IS one of locality. The men were ar
rested in the bed of the Rio Grande ir
which the international boundary is
situate. 1t was alleged on their behalf
that they were taken on the United
States side of the boundary, and also
that in going TO prison in Mexico their
captors led them through territory of
the United States. The vagueness Of
the boundary at some points makes
the problem.
For Mexico the boundary commits
sioner has acted, while for the United
States the State Department has en-
ployed its consular and other agents
The United States boundary commits
Sioner, General Mills, will soon go to
Mexico, but not in connection with the
Blatt and Converse case. The final de-
cision will probably rest upon an ex-
by engineers unless Mexico releases the
men on the representations of the
United States and her commissioner S
report
The Washington times., 1911-04-06
EXPECTS RELEASE
Of AMERICANS IN
MEXICAN PRISON
Report Filed With De Ia
Barra on Blatt and
Converse.

MEXICO CITY, April 6.-The appoint
ment Of Governor Dchesa, of Vera Cruz
as minister of governacion will be for-
mallv announced today. following on a
conference between him and President
Diaz. He is expected to take the oatl
Of office Friday at noon.
Governor Dehesa arrived here from
Vera Cruz last evening, and he was
welcomed with a tremendous outburst OF
enthusiasm. Ten thousand people were
waiting for him at the station. Ihe lacI
the reception was wholly spontaneous
and unofficial made 1t the more note
worthy.
Fernando BeItram y Puga, the MeXl-
can commissioner who investigated the
arrest Of PIatt and Converse. has hled
report 10 Minister de la BaTra. Inc
text is not given out, but 1t is oeheVen
he recommends their immediate release
Peace Talk Revived.
Peace talk is rife here today, and
there would be no surprise II Pres'-
dent Diaz and Madero would both
soon agree TO meet on equal footing
and discuss peace. If they could ar
range the terms Of an agreement Diaz
would then be able to quit with clean
skirts.
The fact that there was peace con-
ference between DR.. VasQuez Gomez
and Minister de Ia Barra, in Wash
ington. before de la Barra departed
for here. is now admitted on all hands
1t is looked on in many quarters as
an indication of an improved situa-
ton with strong prospects of further
successful negotiations.
Strike Situation.
The strike situation on the Mexican
National railways is still dubious. A
committee of the engineers is wait
ing TO see whether the railroad off,
cials will grant a conference. II the
conference is refused. trouble is like
ly to follow.
Rosendo Pineda. the head OF the
Cientifico machine here, while en-
route here last week. held confer
ence with President Taft The object
of 1t is not known, but it is believed
the conference had an important bear
ing on the Mexican situation. His ar
rival is awaited here with great in
terest by the machine and sensational
DEVELOPMENTS are expected
The Washington times., 1911-04-06
Holy Week Music In
Church of Holy Name

Special musical programs will be given
IN the Church of the Holy Name,
Eleventh and K streets northeast, on
Palm and Easter Sundays. The choir
Is composed OF thirty boys and girls,
with Bernard Carlin, Miss Marie Wool
nough, Miss M. Sturdy, Misc e. Sturdy,
Miss NJ. Burns, Miss H. Healy, Miss NJ.
McI.ane, and Miss II. McLane. Miss
Doyls is in charge and Miss NJ. Melting
organist.
Tne palms will be blessed before the
1880 o'clock mass. During the distribu-
ton John Irving will sing the palms.
Bartschmidt's Mass will be sung, with
Miss Doyle as directress and Mrs.
Charles Hughes as organist.
Sterm's vespers will be sung at 1880
o'clock by a male choir. The Tenebra
will be sung Wednesday, Thursday, and
Friday by a male choir, with James
Duncan in charge.
Thursday mass will be at o'clock,
Friday mass of the pre-sanctifed al
o'clock, and Saturday mass at 1:3o
clock.
The Washington times., 1911-04-06
Boy Found, Police Hunt
For Sender of Post Card

PHILADELPHIA, April Snow that
twelve-year-old Bernard Rogers, miss
ing from his home here since March 81.
has been found In Atlantic City, the po-
lice are bending their energies to a
search for the person who wrote the
anonymous postal card to the lads
uncle, Assistant District Attorney Jo-
seph P. Rogers.
The card stated that its writer, an exJ
convict, had locked Bernard in a box
car out Of revenge on the uncle, who
had secured his conviction.
The Washington times., 1911-04-06
GIN FOR THE KIDNEYS

Good pure gin is splendid for the
kidneys, bladder, and other urinary
organs when properly prescribed. A
leading physician gives the following
as the best and most reliable prescrip-
tion. Six ounces good pure gin. half
ounce murax compound, half ounce
fluid extract buchu. Mix we'll and
take one to two teaspoonfuls after
each meal and at bed time. All good
druggists have these ingredients. This
quickly cures backache, rheumatic
pains and other we'll known symp-
toms. Don't let weak or sick kid
neys go without treatment as serious
trouble NAV deVelop rapidlv
The Washington times., 1911-04-06
Her Father Suicide,
Kills Baby and Self

WORCESTER, Mass. April e.-Worry
over the suicide OF her father is the rea-
son assigned for the action Of Mrs.
Flora Brierly Blanchard In numbering
her babe and then taking her own life
by hanging.
When her husband, Elmer s. Blanch-
ard, returned home from his work last
night he found the dead bodies Of his
wife ,and eighteen-months-old baby in
the room.
Mrs Blanchard's father, who was a
retired merchant, committed suicide
four months ago All Of the deaths In
her family have been sudden, brother
being killed in a bicycle accident a few
years ago.
The Washington times., 1911-04-06
Governor Dix Approves
New State Cheese Law

ALBANY, N. Y, April G.-There Is a
new cheese standard in this State to-
day as the result of the approval by
Governor. Dix. of the shepardson bill,
amending the pure food law.
It provides that pure cheese shall
include those in which almonds, pea-
nuts. walnuts, salt, olives, tomatoes,
and onions are incorporated so long
as these ingredients do not exceed
% per cent of the bulk.
The Washington times., 1911-04-06
COUPON

$3.50 Gas Stoves. Nickel plated.
with two double burn CT On
ers ...................... O1sOO
$1,000 Gas Ranges with 5-burn-
srs IN top: extra large lined high
Oven and Broil- GOO IN
er .................... SZS.0U
$3.50 B. & B. WickIess Blue
Elan Fi1ms t,pdl on Cook Cooks Stoves 81 or
sec Steel Ovens; full size; c0.
for gas or oil stove ... OCC
1926 Perfection Ovens: double
lined; with glass door; for CC 7S
gas or oil stoves. OHs u
lac Wilson Bread Foasters; IN
for gas or oil stoves. ..... 1UC
$3.50 Iron Wash Stands; with
pitcher, basin, soap dish, nTo
and towel rack............... JIG
S1.25 Bisselrs (PopuIar) Garnet
Sweepers: best quality 07o
brush ................... OSN
15c Covered Sleeve Boards; 10~
strongly made; full size..... 1W
35c Solid Brass Wash Boards;
large size; strongly OE~
800 Mrs. Potts Sad Irons; three
iR sRand 6s' '...o..la...i'.. with handle and 79c
69c Step Ladders, with pail shelf;
SiEh sfsGnEly .!..nn.i..s.t...t. made: : feet 4Sc
59c Child Nursery Chairs, with
toy table; strongly made; H7n
nicely vanished. d.............f fsC
The Washington times., 1911-04-06
Debaters Prove Women
Are the Best Workers

WILMINGTON, Del. April Elm
debate held by Wilmington Lodge
knights of Good Templars, it was de-
cided that women are more efficient
workers than men. Three women
were the Judges.
The Washington times., 1911-04-06
Doubt Authenticity
Of CromWell'S Skull

LONDON. April GA skull declared
To be that of oliver Cromwell is being
exhibited before the Royal Archaeological
Society, but, many scientists doubt its
authenticity
CromwelTs skull Is supposed to have
been blown off a pole on Westminster
Hall and hidden by sentry.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-11-15
The Peoples Sudden aRiehts.y

"Under the usual custom the Legis-
lature would not De convened until q
year from January. The people have
a right to settle the liquor question as
they deem expedie1t in their own To-
calities as soon as ossible."-Gover-
nor Plaisted.
Sure! But they didn't know it until
Democracy arrived with its rum Wis
dom and contempt for law. OF course
the people have had the privilege of
establishing town 1um shops in the
form of liquor agencies, but they did
not fill the bill: the people had more
personal liberties,p according TO the
Governor, which should be respected in
the form of legaliZed saloons. run by
the rum trust.
All these years the people have been
struggling along without these extra
rum shops, but with the advent of
Democracy they have the sudden
right to settle The question, even at
the expense of an extra session of the
Legislature.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-11-15
Ribbons in Millinery.

Ribbons are coming TO the front
again with a rush after having suf-
fered some neglect. Choice lies be-
tween satin, taffeta, faille, and velvet
ribbons, all of the plain sort. One of
the purposes to which they are put is
as a binding for hat brims, generally
large shapes and the trimming is
carried out in the same. Sometimes
the ribbon used for binding is shirred,
but whether shirred or plain it is re-
quired to be pretty wide and overlaps
the edge as deeply on one side as on
the other.
A gray velvet shape with the brim
turned up all the way around is bound
with satin ribbon to match, nearly
covering the rolled-up portion. This is
trimmed with a fan arrangement con-
sisting of several tiers of ribbon loops,
held in by a large buckle made Of
duh silver gallon.
But often a bright note is struck by
the ribbon. Thus a coronet toaue In
tote de negre brown velvet is trimmed
with ribbon of cerise faile, twisted
twice round it'and then tied in front
in big bow of six loops. each of
which is wired so as to give it q point
like a donkey's ear.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-11-15
-.or.sssSSAszss-<s
Little Notes Of Great Doings.

A New Jersey inventor has covered
an aeroplane with canopy in the
belief that it will act both as a plane
and as a parachute should the ma
chine fall.
Ne less than $12 10000 is now paid
annually by the American Govern
ment for the travelling expenses of
its officials in the several branches.
An automatic valve has been in
vented to shut off the supply of gas
should a light be blown out, accident
ally or Intentionally.
Last year the Canadian Pacific
Railroad laid out and started 40 new
towns on it's recently built branch
lines, and this year it will lay out
and start so more towns along the
same lines.
In Siam it is customary for Bud
dhist priest to bless Il boat before it
is launched.
Rheumatic pains increase at the APP
proach of damp weather because the
heavier atmosphere increases it's pres
sure on the body and causes a tenn
porary disturbance of the system.
By subjecting boilers to weak cleo
tric currents from dynamos through
apparatus he has invented an Aus
tralian scientist claims to prevent
their corroson by the electro chemical
action of the water.
The celebrated Bowery was, in the
olden days, known as the Bouwerie
lane, running between bouweries or
farms.
The radium bank of Paris is con-
stantly increasing it's staff of women,
due TO the rapidly increasing use of
radium in medical and surgical prac-
tice. AS porters of the marvellous
mineral women are employed in pref
erence to men. One hundred thou
sand dollars worth is entrusted to
them daily.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-11-15
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

tNcW 1 OFk fFtSS.t
The reason a man likes to be fiat
tered is he pretends he doesn't.
Take care of the sweethearts and the
wives will take care of themselves.
A woman smiles sweetly either be-
cause it's genuine or because it's not,
mostly not.
The great art about carrying re-
responsibilities is to shift them to some
body else's shoulders.
If a man is rolling barrel down hill
he can growl because ii isn't shorter.
a man fond of toasting health and
wealth stands better chance OF los
ing both.
The most that any one can hope to
get out of life is a sure introduction TO
death
man who thinks his wife ought to
make her own hats would have a fit if
she offered to make his ties.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-11-15
The Blood of the Arena.

A translation from the Spanish of
a story by Spains leading novelist,
Senor Vicente Blaseo Ibanez. a grip
ping account of bull-fighting, its hor-
rors and its appeal to this emotional
natien-the intense respect from the
mob for the swordsman. Accompany
ing It is an interesting love story of
the typical Spanish style. Translation
by Frances Douglas. Illustrations in
color by the kidneys. Published by
A, c. MeClurg & Co, Chicago; price
$1.35 net.