davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-18
The hot wave is gone and forgotten.
HERE'S A FISH YARN!

Bartlett's New York Correspondence Chi-
 cago Inter-Ocean.
 John J. Flanagan, manager at Bartletts. has as one of his proteges black bass which uses tobacco. The fish, being an intelligent one, does not smoke cigarettes. But it chews.
 MT. Flanagan got acquainted with the habits of the bass about month ago. The bass favorite loaflng ground is near the power house. Always, when MT. Flanagan goes to the power house, he filings the cigar he happens to be smoking away, so that there will be no danger of fire.
 He flung his cigar into the water by the power house one day and the bass made a rush for it and grabbed it, disappearing under the water. MT. Flanagan thought | little of that at the time, for on certain days bass will strike at nearly anything, while on other days the most arluring bait will not tempt them. day or two later he flung another cigar butt into the water and the same fish rose to it and nabbed it..
 After this had happened dozen times Mir Flanagan was forced to the conclu- sion that it was not7mere random hunger on the part of the bass, but a genuine taste for tobacco. Several times shreds of the cigar, much tom and raveled, have risen to the top of the water half an hour or so after the fish has grabbed them, showing that the intelligent bass really tried to smoke the cigar. but be- ing handicapped by certain natural dis advantages, contented itself by merely chewing the weed.
 Some of the summer boarders, after observing MT Flanagan's bass, came to the conclusion that natural taste for tobacco might be inborn with fish, just as it is with deer and goats. They ex- perimented on several other fish, notably a number of catfish. The catfish, however, when put into a tub on shore and fed small portions of navy plug chewing tobacco, became very sick at the stom- ach, showing every sign of nausea, and moving pitiably. This, and other re- search along the same lines, with dog fish and pickerel, convinced them that the black bass who hangs around the power house Is unique in his habits.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-18
Alabama's Centennial

This state will be one hundred years old in 1919 and at the suggestion of W. P. c. Harding Birmingham pro- poses to aid the celebration of the event by organizing here fair that will represent the products and indus tries of the entire cotton belt, of which Birmingham is the true and best center.
 The Chamber of Commerce has named strong committee to carry forward this great undertakings committee that can make any enter prise successful. This committee has accepted the duties assigned to it, and it will soon formulate plans and then the work of preparing for the cele- bration of the states first centen- nial anniversary will be actively be- gun. Let no one think that because 1919 is eight years in the future that there is nothing to do. A great deal can be done and several steps must be taken at least five years before the celebration in order to render the event as memorable as possible.
 No, indeed, the action of the Cham her of Commerce is not bit previous. Let the committee headed by Chair man J. W. Mcqueen get right down to work in the elaboration and defini- tion of plans for the celebration and when those plans are laid before the people they may be sure that they will find an united people ready to back them up to the utmost extent within, of course, the modern rule of reason.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-18
CROWDED OUT OF THE NAVY
,m the Washington Post.

fTO1n lI6 " NdSulIlBlO lOH IOSl.
 The defect in the naval personnel law
 promises to give the plucking board this
 year the most difficult task 1t has had before 1t since the enactment of the
 measure In 1899. The operation of the law calls for the automatic retirement of | 15 officers-captains, commanders, and | lieutenants-in the immediate future
 l The compulsory retirement of so
 many junior officers whose physical and
 professional qualifications are unim-
 paired is regarded as detrimental to tho service and a hardship to those upon
 whom the ax falls. Heretofore, almost without exception, there have been sufficient number of vacancies created by voluntary retirements to offset the re- quirements of the law. thus sparing the plucking board the necessity of designat- ing officers in active service to walk the plank. Only once before in IF years has the situation existed which now con- fronts the retirement board. Naturally, the feeling of anxiety among those who must run the gantlet this year is very great. and the slating of the victims is awaited with anxiety
 Obviously, the blunder In the framing of the personnel law whereby junior of- flcers instead of the older seniors in conn mand are forced to go should have been corrected upon its being brought to light, and at various times 1t has provoked live ly controversy and tentative efforts to secure It's amendment, but to no purpose. For another thing, 1t was found that to amend the law in one particular would have the effect of creating inequalities elsewhere. It might be repealed, of course,
 but who had a better scheme to take it's
 place? An effort is being made to les- sen the number of prospective elimina- tions by inducing officers who will De eligible to retirement a little later 10
 send In their applications now. and thus create constructive vacancies to the num- Der of seven or eight. But this plan
 would only postpone the slaughter to an- other year and most likely cause the
 striking down of junior officers who otherwise might have continued in the service. The injustice of thus anticipat- ing retirements is too palpable to be over-
 looked, it would seem, and so the loss of 15 capable men this year looks to be in- evitable. -.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-18
Isolation Unnecessary in Alabama

When the farmers of this state have good roads, efficient rural schools, rural free delivery and tele- phone service, the period of isolation will be to them fully rounded up and ended. And they have all these things within their reach today. True, only 24 out of 67 counties have ap- piled for the cooperation of the state in the construction of good roads. The state stands ready to aid any county to the extent of $2000 year, and 24 counties have applied for this aid. This is a good beginning and pretty soon the movement will be ex- tended to all parts of the state.
 In the matter of telephones, too, the farmers of Alabama are falling into line. One district after another is building it's own telephone lines with all needful equipment, and then by paying a small monthly charge a district can be connected with the Bell system and can use its entire long-distance system at the custom ary rates. The farmers in the mid dle west have telephones, and there is no reason why the farmers of Ala bama should not have them.
 A wide-a-wake neighborhood that has three or four good leaders can secure all the blessings named in this article-good roads, good public school, rural free delivery and tele- phone service. When these are ad- ded to a railroad or even when these are established without a railroad, no farmer or farmers wife, son or daughter can justly say that the farm is lonesome and without opportunity. Isolation can be abolished on the farms in this state wherever the farmers are wide-awake, intelligent and patriotic.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-18


 ton of business publishing houses in thos, days were very conservative in their un tiertakings. The duration of the war. a, we'll as it's outcome, was uncertain, anc this uncertainty of course, increased the element of chance in financial adven. tures." 5etatH go
 A great deal of solid reading matter was put out by the publishers. In 1S6 the Harpers published Draper's Intel lectual Development of Europe" In 1S6, they published the same authors Thoughts on the Future Civil Policy oi america" A good many books pertainins to the war were issued, such as "Prisor Life in the South" and a History oi the. United States Cavalry
 There was very noticeable interest 1T educational matters at this time, one evidence of which was a publication of a series of school readers. In 1861 the liar. pers brought out, Du Chaillus "Adven. lures and Explorations in Africa" Tn 1S69-64 they were bringing out novels by Miss Braddon and Amelia B. Edwards A little earlier they published Thacke. rays Adventures of Philip.' At about the same time they put on the market books on Arizona and Sonora, containing accounts of silver mines and other op- portunities for gaining wealth In the west. 4s+.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-18
WILLIAM T. ROGERS, SONGS
l the Washington Post.

From the IOSt
 q see my old friend, William T. Rog- CTS, once famous as a song writer, is dead at Chardon. o. said Walter K. Gillespie of Pittsburg, at the Dewey hotel. Rogers was not .only a composer, but he made violns, all by hand. Like most inventors and poets, Rogers did not reap the finan- cial reward that was due him. He was not the only song writer who made a hit and enjoyed mighty small financial re- turns. In 1860 Rogers brought out song called sCantilena, and 1t had a great run in the early days of the civil war. Rog- CTS received $25 for the composition, and the publishing company sold 1sO,o00 copies in the first six months. Years after Rogers heard his music coming from the Italian street organs. and he thought no doubt of his pitiful recompense when he IT odestly submitted the song to the pub fishers. During the war the Rogers com positions sold well, and he did not com plain. The one great song of those days was Lorena.' written by a preacher who used to live at Zanesville, O.. and the heroine of 'Lorena was later the wife of a famous judge. She always left the room if any one played Lorena, and 1t was not surprising, as the story was woven about heartbreaking love affair that really never happened. Lorena' had a wonderful run. but the author got little out of it, s>nmln
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-18

Thursday next include a declaration offensive to the kings Catholic sub- jects. This change was brought about by parliament within the last year, and the new oath will be adminis- tered for the first time on Thursday. After the king has taken the oath and been crowned then will the arch bishop of Canterbury say to the as- sembled and invited spectators in the old abbey: "Sirs, George, the un- doubted king of this realm: Where fore all you who are come this day to do your homage and service, are you willing to do the same?"
 [The people signify their willing ness and joy by loud and repeated acclaimations, all with one voice cry ing out:-l
 God save King George"
 [Then the trumpet shall sound.
 All this and much more of the old ritual used at the coronation of Etheloed II will be repeated on Thurs day and George V will stand the crowned king of England. He will be annointed and presented with a Bible and the theatrical procession of the regalia received by Edward VII will be reproduced. AS a spec tacle the ceremony scarcely has a rival and it's long-felt want in the British heart even of the whole af- fair has become largely meaningless.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-18
A Stupendous Work

'The eleventh volume of the Catholic Encyclopedia, published by the Robert Appleton company. is now being deliv- cred to subscribers, and like all the for mer volumes, 1t is fully up to the high standard promised said a prominent layman.
 .aThe last article of the new volume is on Phillip, the Apostle,' According to the original plan the stupendous work will be completed with the fifteenth vol ume. I have had time only to glance over volume eleven. Two of the articles seem to be of singular interest, the one on Oxford and the one on the OK ford Movement While the University of Oxford is under British government con- trol and is permeated with Church of England influence, connected with the institution are two private halls con- ducted by the Roman Catholic church. One of these halls is especially for Jesuit students and the other is for Benedic- tines. Roman Catholic undergraduates are exempt from attending Anglican chap el service. They have a chapel of their own where priest says mass every dayr
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-18
THE CUFF QUESTION


 Editor of The Globe, Sir-Thls contro- Yersy over cuffs seems very silly. What earthly difference can it make to me whether my neighbor wears attached or detached. cuffs any more than whether he wears stand-up or turned-down col lars, or bow ties instead of four-in-hands. or prefers a belt to suspenders? It's his own business, and nobody else's! Some of your correspondents have been com- plaining about religious discussion in newspapers. It seems to me that the latter is far more appropriate and inter esting (when conducted in respectful and decent manner) than such drivelling nonsense as the so-called cuff contro- versy has produced. OBSERVER.
 New York, June '.
 There is something Ohough not much) to be said for our correspondents point of view" although we are at loss to un- derstand why he singled us out for his protest-our letter writers having dis played a singular aloofness toward the cuff question. AS a matter of fact, how over, these intimate questions of domes- tic and personal economy, regarding which Observer speaks so lightly, are of very immediate practical importance to all of us but the millionaires.
 Shirts that can be worn three or four days, or even a week at pinch, mean the saving of several dollars per wearer in washing bills every year. And these indiyidual savings multiplied by the ten or fifteen million shirt-wearing men in the country probably amount to an lannual total approaching S100000,000. The attached cuff is manifestly laundryman enricher, for no shirt so hampered can remain re- spectacle for more than two days at the outside A careful man of economical habit can, on the other hand, get a full week out of a cuffless shirt.
 Evidently the poor man who wears "cuffs attached has a tendency to ex- travagance. It would be interesting to know something about the cuff habits of our plutocrats--of, such men as John D. and J. P. A side line of inquiry likely to develop instructive facts might be pushed into the groups where no cuffs at all are worn, neither attached nor de- tached And if one wished to be exhaus- tive the investigation would have to. bs carried beyond the merely >cuffless reg1sN into that field where shirts themselve> and sometimes even collars and socks, are dispensed with. It will be seen, therefore, that Observer takes an ex- ceedingly narrow view of tho question as a mere matter of fashion. The shirt with cuffs attached has important and wide interest because of its uneconomic feat ures.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-18
Prohihition Has Hurt

''There is no way of ascertaining how much Birmingham has been hurt by pro- hibition from a business point of view but that there has been a serious loss is certain" said a public spirited cit izen who has done a great upbuilding work in this district. 'T took an active part in the, wet or dry campaign here in 1907 on the liquor side. I have always known that many men abuse liquor but so-called prohibition has never cured the evil that comes from intemperance and 1t never will.
 ''IIigh license and strict regulation will minimize the liquor evil and I am glad that scores of my friends who voted dry four years ago, admit that they made a mistake and will vote the other way when the local option election Is held. That there has been a decided change in sentiment in Jefferson county Is evil dent and I think it a safe prediction now that the result of the election will be favorable to saloons. It is all right for small towns to keep dry but in a city of Birmingham's size it Is simply ques- ton of the blind tiger or licensed sa- loonS,"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-18
Better Weather and Good Crops

Let those who have been fearing the effects of too much sun and too little moisture cease to be down cast, for rains are falling in pretty nearly all parts of the south. The dry weather and high temperatures of nearly a whole month have sorely tried the comfort and health of peo- pie all the way from the Rio Grande to the Atlantic ocean, but relief has come at last, and there is no reason now to believe that any crop has suf- fered serious injury. Both corn and cotton can stand great deal of dry sunny weather and they will no doubt respond quickly to the falling rains. It is perhaps too early to say that precipitation has been general or suf- ficient. It is enough at any rate to know that drouthy and torrid condi- tions have been checked and that sui fering people have been given breathing spell. For all of which let us be thankful.
 A normal season from this time forward will give the south glorious crops of corn and cotton, and the north has crop of wheat that prob ably never was equalled. When the country has an abundance of wheat, corn and cotton it's international trade will be on a secure basis and the entire country cannot escape a sound prosperity even when it tries to be pessimistic in order to stop in- vestigations and revisions on the part of Congress.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-18
England's Coronation Service

The coronation ceremony has lost much of it's sanctity. It is now chief ly a pageant that attracts trade and dollars to the country. It is an ancient rite, but like most ancient things it has lost caste in this modern demo- cratic world. There were coronation services 12OOyears ago in England and the crowning of a king meant great deal in those days. It means little beyond dollars and social schemes to- day. The king is as much king without crown as with one, and he has but little political power in either case.
 The coronation oath will not on ---x --.-x-.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-18
Supervisor of Rural Schools

Superintendent of Education Will lingham is endeavoring to make the rural schools of the state more eff cient. For that purpose he has ap- pointed Professor Baker of Ensley supervisor of the rural schools of Ala bama. The appointment and the work to be done are both commendable. Many a rural school needs an uplift, and it is believed Supervisor Baker will be able to suggest the way to it.
 So long as some of the counties permit courthouse politicians to name county superintendents not much help from them is to be expected. The office of county superintendent has been relieved of the duties of dis bursting state funds, and this may lead to the selection of better super intendents.
 In any event a supervisor who will ELuQY UUe DebIOIIlSlib O1 Iul dl oSilOOlo is needed. He will aid the competent county superintendent, and he will take the place of the incompetent so far as the rural schools are con- cerned. MT. Baker is a man of tact and large experience in southern schools. He knows them well, and he will strive with the county superin- tendents to make them better.
 There is absolutely no field of pub lie employment in the state that af- fol ds so much room for valuable work as do the rural schools. The man who can lift those schools up to standard will indeed be public bene- factor. He will touch more young lives and do the state more good than any other man in it. The Age-Her- aid urges every county superintend- ent to meet the new supervisor cor dially and to strive with him to make the rural schools what they should be-what they are in Iowa and many other states.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-18

ing ended a sermon is preached by one of the bishops. and according to a rubric the sermon Is to be short and suitable to the great occasion
 After the sermon comes the coronation oath; then fhe amounting; and next the presentation of spurs and sword and the 'girding and oblation of the said sword. After this ceremony the King is invested
 in armiIl and royal robe. The. orb is then delivered to him. A ring is placed on the fourth finger of his majesty's hand with ceremony. and then the crown Is placed upon his head. With the presenta- ton of the Holy Bible by the dean of Westminster is this quaint language: Our gracious King, we present you with this book, the most valuable thing that this world affords. Here is wisdom; this Is the royal law; these are the lively oracles of God. Next the archbishop of Canter- bury gives his blessing and the arch bishop of York and all the bishops present follow with a loud and hearty Amen
 This is the form of homage which the Prince of Wales and other royal princes make as they kneel before the King: I do become your liege man of life and limb, and of earthly worship, the faith and truth will bear unto you, live and die, against all manner of folks. So help ms God
 "The King having been crowned and enthroned according to old custom the Queen is crowned with ceremony some what less elaborate than that employed in the investure of the King. The com munion service Is then resumed. The high officiating dlgnltary of the corona ton will be the Mast Rev: and Rt. Hon. Randall Thomas Davidson, archbishop of Canterbury and primate of all England Many bishops assist, and among the of- fcers of state taking part are the lord great chamberlain the earl of ancaster, tho earl marshal of England, the Duke of Norfolk. the lord chamberlain of his ma jesty's household, the Viscount Althrop. The lord great chamberlain is an office of high antiquity It Is like the office of earl marshal hereditary. The office of lord chamberlain is not hereditary, but comes under the head of political patron age, the prime minister naming the in- cumbent.
 "As the coronation ceremony Is Church of England service, the Duke Of Norfolk being a Roman Catholic, Is rep resented by a deputy who belongs to the Anglican communion. Tie Pope will send a special legate to the coronation, the first time that such thing has been done since the Protestant religion became es- tablshed in England. The Pope has taken this occasion to show his respect for the King, because his majesty insisted on parliament changing the coronation oath. The oath no longer contains any language offensive to the Catholic church.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-18
THE SQUIRREL

By William Cowper. Drawn from his refuge in some lonely elm, That age or injury has hollow'd deep, Where, on his bed of wool and matted
 leaves, He has outslept the winter, ventures
 forth, To frisk a while and bask in the warm
 sun, The squirrel. fiippant, pert and full of
 play; He sees me, and at once, swift as a bird. Ascends the neighboring beech, there
 whisks his brush, And perks his ears, and stamps and cries
 aloud, With all the prettiness of freign'd alarm, And anger insignificant fierce,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-18
LOOKING FORWARD.

IOOhlNG FORWARD. How gaily Jimpson doth prepare A two weeks rest to takei He'll bid farewell to toll and care And by some mountain lake Will breathe the incense of the pines And have a heart at east: And when fair Luna softly shines He'll strive some girl to please. Anticipation gilds the view,
 He finds it hard to wait. Without stroke of work to do,
 A chance to sleep till late And Tapped in costly idleness, He'll while the time away, For he'll be grand, as you may guess, Upon his holiday. Does disappointment wait upon Poor Jimpson, grim disguised? Will he be sorry when he's gone? Soon dislllusionized? An, who can say? I only hope He'll have at least some fun And will not gin to sigh and nope, Ere his two weeks are done
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-18
The Coronation Ceremonial

'The coronation ceremonies in West minister Abbey next Thursday will be sub stantially the same as that performed at the coronation of King Edward, and the archaic language used is very much the same as that found in like ceremonies of the sixteenth century" said a man who sojourned for a time in London and who keeps up closely with English affairs.
 Some persons seem to think that the coronation Is merely show. The fact is it is deeply religious and takes place in connection with the communion serv- ice of the Church of England. 1mme- diately after an anthem sung by the choir the litany is chanted by two bishops vested in copes, the choir singing the re- sponses. Then begins the communion services and continues through the Nicene creed sung by the choir, The creed be-