davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17
Children in the High School

United States Commissioner of Edu- cation Claxton says that 4,250,000 children quit school after finishing their elementary education who ought to be in the high school. The pupils in the high school, he goes on to say, represent less than one-fourth of the children that ought to be there.
 The proportion that goes to the high school is not, alas, one-fourth It is nearer one-tenth. This is re- grettable, but there is no way open to lessen or change the effects of living expenses. More girls attend the high schools than boys. Commis- sioner Claxton attributes the non- attendance of boys in the high schools to indifference, when in fact it is the result in nine cases out of ten of the necessity of earning money
 Fortunately the number of boys in high schools is each year increasing, and perhaps in the long run more satisfactory proportion will be re- ported. A good many boys must, it is true, be educated to appreciate edu- cation, but in any close analysis it will be found that the necessity of earning money is the chief cause that keeps boys of the grammar grade from attending the high school.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17
New york,s Catholic. Club

MT. Underwood is to be the guest of honor at dinner given by the Catholic club of New York next Tuesday night and l regard the invitation as a mat ter of exceptional interest," said dem- ocrat who spends much time in Gotham.
 "The Catholic club is a social or ganization and is made up of rich Catholics, many of whom are promi- nent in the financial world and in up- pertendom generally. It maintains ele- gant club quarters and entertains a good deal, but it's guests are usually confined to Catholic prelates or distin- guished Catholic laymen.
 P At the dinner Tuesday MT. Under wood will get in touch with num- Der of influential democratic, politicians of New York and not few repub lican independents. Our congressman can be counted on to make splendid impression."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17
FIRST TIME HE KISSED ME

By Mrs. Browning. First time he kissed me, he but only
 kissed
 The fingers of this hand wherewith I
 write; And ever since, it grew more clean and
 white, Slow to world greetings, quick with its
 "Oh, list" When the angels speak A ring of ame-
 thysJ
 could not wear here. plainer to my
 sight,
 Than that first kiss. The second passed
 in height The first, and sought the forehead. and half missed. Half falling on the hair. o beyond need. That was the chrism of love, which
 loves own crown, With sanctifying sweetness, did precede.l The third upon my lips was folded dowS Tn perfect. purple state; since when, inl
 deed,
 I have been proud and said "Mu love. my own.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17
NED BRACE WRITES ABOUT GROWING
 POPULARITY OF OSCAR w. UNDERWOOD

among the representatives and newspaper men that Underwood is the best fitted and most available man yet mentioned in dem ocratic ranks.
 The Woodrow Wilson boom is apparently in g. state of collapse. He has had but little strength among the congressional element in Washington. The Harmon boom Is about the same that it has been for several months past. But there is a feeling among New Workers and in the eastern states generally that Harmon may lack the strength that would make his election over Taft certainty.
 On tsse tsse other hand am told by some of the most prominent leaders in New York politics that Underwood would un- doubtedly carry New York and several other eastern states. The politicians have
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17
Regarding Book Agents

q receive frequent calls from book agents-men and wonderland often purchase some of their wares" said a busy man. "If canvasser has books that interest me I take time to con- are such that do not interest me decide quickly and dismiss the can vasser without any barley.
 "A lady who had several works to sell called on me this week. I sub scribed for two volumes that I needed but could not be induced to purchase the expensive work which. was her 'ton liner 1t was a splendid luxe edition but it did not suit my purse to pur- chase it. This lady told me that she had called on many men in Birming- ham and solicited orders from them but that she had had poor success in making sales. She named over some of the persons who had turned her down. asked if she had called on MT. So and So and MT. So and So. She said, no. I told her that they would not only appreciate the value of the books, but that they were rich and would po Sldu lo Duy SuCl WOIhS CD 'heSi ested them. She gave a sigh and said, All have to say is the book agents life is not a happy one
 Many of the book agents complain of the difficulty of getting at the men who like books and who are able to gratify their tastes Every one is so busy these days, and if canvassers of- fering high class works find Birming ham people inaccessible l wonder how it is in New York. The great rich, like Pierpont Morgan, probably have professional librarians to buy books for them, but the average rich man who does not have librarian on his staff, but who likes books and who makes frequent purchases, is not easy to be seen. At his office his doorkeeper tells the book agent that MT. So and So is very busy, and that it will be i'm possible for the canvasser to see him, either that day or any other day. If the canvasser calls at the gentleman's S residence the servant who opens the door informs him or her that the master of the house is about to sit down to din- ner or is at dinner, and cannot be seen. I ina zine that a good many of the high class publishers who under in interesting the rich man by writing him personal letters.
 "The ideal town for the book agent Is one of wealth and culture with a population under 50,O00."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17
A Nexy Field Trial

''The point of interest during the past week among sportsmen has been the field trials at Letohatchie, in Lowndes county" said Percy Clark.
 Numbers of dog owners and lovers of quail shooting have met at a popular rendezvous day after day and have dis cussed with generol rivalry the merits of the pointer and setter classes. At first it seemed that the pointers were getting the honors, but my friend Os- IT. insists that we wait until all the re- turns are in from the black belt Judge G. says that the pointers have swept the field this year. Anyway, the Ken lucky derby of next week to be run in Lowndes county, will have much attrac- tion for those interested in this question: still mooted-the question as to the merits of the two classes, pointers and setters. It is this way: If you are pointer man you are, of course, backing pointers
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17
The Presidential Campaign

AHN 4 A~oAANltbAoA (ahiPdiGsh
 In less than seven months from now the two great political parties will have selected their respective stan dard bearers. An exciting presiden- tial campaign is promised, and as the time approaches there is natural in- sistence on the part of business men and other thoughtful citizens, with out regard to party, that the plat forms, both republican and demo- cratic, be free from vagaries and radical tendencies.
 The only democrat who has occu- pied the White House since the war was a strong exponent of Jefferson ian principles. And "tariff-for-rev enue-only" and sound money were issues which he kept well to the front. MT. Cleveland was a conservative man, and, after having served as President from March, 1885, to March, 1889, he ran again in 1892 and swept the country. The democrats have since tried radical issues, but have failed to win a single presidential election since Cleveland's last term. The party is more solidly united now than at any time since 1892.
 There has been great deal of progressive democracy" talk during the past 12 months, but so-called progressivism has no appeal for dem ocrats who still believe in representa- tive government. With a sane plat form including a tariff f-for-revenue- only plank, and with a conservative candidate, the democratic party should be able to redeem itself by winning a splendid victory next fall. Oscar Underwood is the ideal man to head the democratic ticket. The more the country sees of him the stronger he becomes. Every public utterance he has made, since accepting the position as leader in the House of Representa- tives, has commended itself heartily to patriotic Americans. For several years past he has been known among his colleagues and those who have seen him at close range as a states man and as a close student of govern ment. But now the whole country recognizes in him a statesman of the very first rank-courageous, level headed and safe. He is the democratic party's logical candidate for the pres- idency.
 The republican party, which has usually been readily subject to dis cipline, and has been proverbial for following it's leader, is far from har- monious now. It is somewhat in the position that the democratic party was in under Mir. Bryan's leadership full of dissensions. The democrats have been greatly cheered over the party harmony that MT. Underwood brought about last summer during the zf IL national convention acts wisely the rank and file of the democracy will go into the next campaign with that enthusiasm which is born of hope. Democrats, old and young, are eager for the contest, and all they ask is the right sort of platform and the right sort of man.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17
nErLECTIONs OF A BACHELOR

From the New York Press.
 A poor digestion Is a heap more worry to anybody than a bad conscience.
 If men could understand why a woman acts the way she does she wouldn't do it.
 A girl isn't afraid when she takes nap in a train of talking in her sleep, but of snoring.
 As soon as man gets up a little bit in the world he despises those who are where he came from.
 A man nearly always thinks his good appetite Is because his advice to his wife about running the house is so valuable
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17
As to Immigration

"The south has made steady progress Ill every way during the past 50 years' anu is developing industriously and agrleui- turalIy now at greater rate than ever hefore." said a member of the Chamber Commerce.
 What the south needs especially IS more population-more wage eariieis s' more truck farmers and more consun- CTS. We do not want the scum of hu- rope but we do want honest, industrious men with families, no matter if they oo come from the southern part of Europe.
 "The Manufacturers Record of Balu- more takes what Governor Mann of Nlr- ginia said recently as a text. TOT. VIZ orous editorial. Said the Old Dominion chief executive, We want good peopie in my state or none. We have got to be particular as to who we invite to our shores in our territories The editor or the admirable publication referred to says that Governor Mann states exactly the views of the Manufacturers Record on imn1igration. No one has done more or better upbuilding work for the south than the editor of the record, but I am in clined to think that he is mistaken, 10 some extent at least in his general at titude in relation to immigration. lie says: We believe that no greater mis1or- tune could come upon the south than to have this section flooded with the off- securing of southern Europe-the people who leave their country for their coun- try's good There are millions of people
 sl,n fAnGCihla settlers in the south. There are millions of people in northern Europe whose coming to the south would be ad- vantageous to this section as well as beneficial to themselves. We have done little to attract them. The Manufac- turers' Record admits that here and there from parts of southern Europe we may draw to advantage some settlers and un- skilled laborers, but he deprecates strong ly any large movement that would bring to the south "a vast army of the unfit which steamship lines have for years been dumping in New York. Of course, no one living in the south wants the unit or the offscouring.' But right here in the Birmingham district are many Slavs and many Italians, and all of them have made desirable citizens. l have come in close touch with the foreign element here abouts, and l have yet to see an Ital- ian or a Slav who is an idler. These for eigners are always eager to work. How ever, they are well behaved. Criminal records reveal the names of very few for- eigners indeed
 "As for the millions of people in north ern Europe whose coming to the south would be advantageous, it is difficult to induce them to emigrate. Immigration statistics nowadays show how few Ger mans, Swedes, Britshers and Irish have been coming to this country during the past few years. They are doing well enough at home. The south should ex- tend a hearty invitation to all indus trious foreignefs as 1t does to all home seekers in the north and northwest, to come and settle in this section."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17

delved deeply into Underwood's record. and have failed to find one flaw in his speeches. acts or votes during his entire. congressional career. His friends invite and challenge full investigation of bis record.
 It is really wonderful how Underwood has grown in the past few weeks. When I say that I have been unable to find a newspaper correspondent or a congress man in Washington who does not say that Underwood is the most eminently fitted man for President in the democratic party it means much. There are those who favor other candidates, but not one who can bring point against Underwood's .ay ailability except that he is southern man
 Underwood is indeed in the running.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17


 against the world and vice versa; once d setter man always a setter man.
 'I hope to pull off an entirely new field trial Christmas week. It is to be a free-for-all rabbit dog contest, open to all breeds and crosses; and pedigrees to count nil. Points are to be: Mouth nose. speed and high jumps. l, myself intend to enter the dog Hugh S., of which l wrote some while ago. As the rabbits are as thick as dogs over in that section of Calhoun county lying along Cane creek as dogs in Constantipole, my plan is to start up about Morrisville and drive towards the river Admission will be 20 cents and a loving cup will be given the dog that makes the best show Ing If any man thinks he has a rabbit dog of the first class, he will find an opportunity to hand his name and fame down to posterity-the dogs l mean- by winning the first prize in the great rabbit dog field trials Christmas week. v
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17
BRAVERY

bINA V tIA1 In days of old when knights were bold They loved a merry fight; They slashed away from break of day Until the fall of night. They scattered gore and yelled for
 more;
 They fought like mad-and yet, No ancient knight would dare to fight A modern suffragette.
 Milwaukee Sentinel. In days of old when knights were bold And never known to quit They'd rounGly swear, their wives to
 scare, And get away with it. But women then were not like men; They had a diff'rent way. The ancient knight would die of fright If he were here today.
 -Springfield Union. In days of old when knights were bold They with the dragon fought And fell combat with such as that They very often sought But nowadays calm reason says They'd have no chance to star, And soon or late, would meet their fate Beneath an auto car.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Busiucss Brisk

Business in Birmingham last weei was fine-better than during the cor. responding week of last year-and if il had not been for the rain this week we would have had an exceptionally brisk trade" said J. H. Holcombe, tho piano man, last night.
 With the weather cleared off the coming week promises to be all that anybody could ask. Trade in November was dull, but this month is all right
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17
AN ORGY OF DESPAIR

From Success Magazine. s
 Two women were leaving the theatre after a performance of "The Dolls House,
 "Oh, don't you love Ibsen?' asked one ecstatically. Doesn't he just take all of the hope out of life?t sa
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17

A juror made his escape in Kansas City. He got no credit for the feat. and ----- louSe
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17

Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker. aged 93, is dead. The great surgeon had lived under six British sovereigns.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17

Hetty Green says New York is den of thieves. and she is putting in burglar alarms and other devices daily.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17

The Spanish royal family will soon be numerous enough to put down small rebellion at any rate.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17

China seems to have no "Son of Heaven" Her favorite son may turn out to be Sun Vat Sen.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17

Emperor George can move a capital with ease and dispatch. Macon, Ga., should secure his services.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17
FANCY.

However dark the day without, Sweet Fancy goes a-maying, Far from the worlds eart-breaking
 fout,
 In happy valleys straying. Nor cares she how the winds may blow, Adown the chimneys roaring; The skies that seem to threaten snow, The mountain4orrents pouring. Fen though the sleet may loudly beat Against my window-p pane, She still doth tread. with fairy feet, A bloom embroidered lane
 PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17

A COID PROPUoIIION r q understand young Tilburton pro- posed to that naughty Miss Tookins in the most ardent terms
 What was the result?'
 About the same result, l imagine, that a person would get by dropping a lighted match on an iceberg"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17
A LESSON.

The shooting show girls pass from
 view,
 We're glad the case-is ended; Next time old Stokes should dodge
 skirts" who By him would be "befriended.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17
SAME OLD THING.

There is nothing new under the sun."
 If you are referring to the Christmas jag, l agree with you"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17

Never brag about the weather at this time of the year unless you knock on wood.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17

The sober second thought is now at '9tfh pn the Roosevelt boom and the re- ai $ at this writing problematical.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17

will be glad of his decision. BullfshtinS is pretty bad business for a man of north ern blood to engage in. 1t is cruel anu dirty work, and the exhibition appeals only to the worst human passions. Lee has cut off his coleta ohe braided knot of hair which is a matadors badge of dis tnction) and will wear overalls instead of tight brooches and short jacket while he is at work heerafter and we cannot help thinking that his conscience has i'm peled him to give up the inspiration of the ear-splitting arena more than any fear of his jealous rivals. He has proved that an American can face an infuriated bull as bravely as Mexican or Span
 ard and now he does well to go back to clean and useful work.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17
IT MAY BE.

"Why do you suppose so many milk men dilute their milk with water?"
 Well, you know milkmep get'up very early in the morning and maybe the thought that there are not many peo- pie about to watch their movements is great temptation to wrong-doing"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17

ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES

DICK up Missouri paper We must have
 the news, you know. Let's see. An, "A Dreadful Wound" says a headline. We
 will read further. Ding it, it's salve advertisement. We pass on. Wins Fight for Life Great. Gimme the first para graph. Curses. She took a certain cough cure and didn't die from tuberculosis
 We pass on. An Alarm at Night"
 Fire perhaps. Nope just Willie with
 the croup, for which Umptyvflle's Cure Is a sure remedy. Allow us to go on. At last "A Fathers Vengeaneem A
 real headline. We bet ten cents and q plugged nickel that the fellow ran away with the girl. Nothing doing. It's just
 the fact that father would have been
 vengeful if he could but he had stom- aeh trouble and couldn't, for which Ca- doeey's Pills are the best on earth Now! We approach it. "A Burglars Aw- full Deedi" Strangleds her, perhaps. Worse off than ever. It's just another catch line to tonsilitis advertisement.
 We try to turn a page. Our hands tremble. We drop the paper. Our sen- sation cometh not.-Kansas City Times.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17

Chicago, June IS. Waterloo in Belgium also eliminated on June IS.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17

The asbestos Santa Claus should be sur rounded by concrete furniture.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17
A COLD PROPOSITION.

Unto himself he vows, "Tll get That dame next year shaving set.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17

Princes were as numerous at Delhi as blaekberrles in June in Alabama.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17
FOR THE HOUSE.

:" FOR THE HOUSE. No Christmas "smok kes" his wifcy bays A superwoman!-and no ties. On Christmas morn she says, My dear, Your gifts the loyeliest portiere Though hubby cries, How good of you! Such thoughtful wives, methinks, are
 few
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17
A RAFFLEs NEXT IN ORDER.

Following are the winners of the prizes awarded at the Eagles ball, with the value and names of firms which do- mated them:- Mrs. Adler-Shave and haircuts, S2. Gem Barber Shop.
 Mrs. German-Shaves and haircuts, S2. Pioneer Barber Shop.
 Mrs. Krad.--Seven dollar meerschaum pipe. Ingram & Bush.
 Mrs. Caswell-Suit pattern. Ben Sil- yerman
 Mrs. c. Crawford.-Three mo- rent post office box. J. D. Jefferson.
 Mrs. Lee.-Five dollar meal ticket. Arcade e Jack Nelson.-Two dollar silk kinona. Owl Drug Co.-Valdez (Alaska) Miner.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17

Link Steffens is about due to start a pardon petition for the MeNamaras.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17

n Quentian penitentiary overlooking
 Pablo hay is delightful retreat pro sa one can go and come as he pleases.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17
-AsHINGToN, D. C., December 16 AX/ (Special.)-Washington at pres W ent is a hotbed of political gos-

sip
 The republican situation has been threshed out, so to speak, and regardless of what Roosevelt does, Taft is sure to be the republican nominee for President, al- thongh it is manifest that he is to have a badly divided party behind him. .
 Thousands of republicans throughout the country are eager for the democrats to nominate a safe and sound man whom they can support.
 Among the democrats I have never known anything to equal the recent growth of Oscar Underwood as demo- cratic presidential possibility. I find a consensus of opinion in Washington
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17

THEY LIKE TO LOOK. Most men are more than glancers At oriental dancers.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17

Just at present the thing to do is to sor- get the Maine.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17

The Lorimer election inquiry bids fair to stay with us until his term is ended
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17
A FANCY PATTERN.

He has a cheerful look, don't you think?"
 q suspect that's chiefly because he's wearing such merry vest"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17
.coriolanus." Such things can happen et

'Coriolanus." Such things can happen tt any time.
 The best qualities of this orchestra are it's dash and boldness of style. It has military precision of attack and a closely drilled unanimity
 "'The. "Don Juan" went delightfully."-. But it might have had a more inspiriting effect if MT. Stock had not conceived certain parts of 1t with more dignity than fire This was especially the case with the big pages immediately preced- ing the death episode. Strauss himseit treated this part of his music with rising passion and agitation Of movement. MT stock made it broad and imposing, out missed a point.
 This must not be interpreted as signifying that MT. Stock is not an ad- mirable conductor. He assuredly is one and as A drillmaster he must be most ae- complished, as the finely disciplined rou- tine of his orchestra showed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17

China may accept a republic or any old thing to get out of the muddle she is in,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17

The republicans will name the victim of the campaign on Waterloo Day.