davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-30
THE pLANET yENUs

From the Louisville Courier-Journal-
 Mercury is closest to the sum- then Venus and then our earth. So the first two come between us and the sun, and they divided the distance quite evenly. It would not be far wrong to say that Mer- cury is 35,00O0OO, Venus 65,00OOO0 and the earth 95,OOO,OOO miles from the sun. 1t is easier to remember these numbers, but the exact figures are 36.0O0.0OO. 67.00o, 600 and 93,000,000. Think of 100 as divided into three parts and as representing millions of miles, and then assign the first part to Mercury, the second to Venus and the third to our earth. Venus is twin sister to our earth, the one resembling the other in many respects. To the naked eye Venus is far and away the most lustrous and beautiful of all the plan cts. She has been called the ideal vision of the skies" Her diameter is 77OO miles, her year 225 days and her day little over g hours. In circling the sun Mercury's speed is 29 miles second, that of Venus g miles and that Of the earth IS miles. Venus is brighter than the stars. Its light is so vivid it casts a perceptible shadow and we often see it in full daylight. It is some- times called the evening star The orbit VI NeHus IS diIHost perIect clrcle-tne paths of the other planets being oval or elliptical. Venus has a dense al- mosphere. but no moon. Its heat IS much greater than on our earth, l:s water being dry steam-the thick atmos- phere causing the retention of its heat
 Land and water exist on this planet. and there are mountains 27 miles high. As astronomical observation was made of Venus at Babylon in 6S5 B. C. It is recorded on brick, which is now in the British museum at London.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-30

T. Armstrong. in Harper's Magazine for
 April.
 It was In his treatment of the tip of the nose that du Maurier made his girls attractive There was something Of an upward tilt generally, and the heaviness one finds in the so-caled antique noses was avoided-it may be at the cost of little dignity; but there are no unim- paired antique noses that l know Of except that of the Hermes of Olympia for even the Venus of Milo has had the extreme tip restored and how much diff ference may not be made by altering the extreme tip. Years and years ago l found terracotta mould of an antefix in the Etruscan museum in Florence, and l brought away a cast taken from it and treasured it very much, for the nose of the head in the middle of it Is quite different from any antique nose know There can be no question as to the antiquity of the mould, which was found near Orvieto. One day in the eighties, when Monsieur Guillaume, the famous sculptor, and then ''directeur general des beaux arts' was in my studo I showed him the plaster cast, and he exclaimed: But that is the type of young English woman that du Mau- rer draws in Punchl'
 His preparatory studies for the figures for the Punch drawings were done from living models with pencil. and in course of time he got to do them with great skill and apparent ease. A number of these pencil studies were recently ac- quired for the Art library of the Victoria and Albert museum, where they may be seen mounted in juXtapostion with re- productions of the wood cuts published in Punch for which they were made. For the making of these drawings, generally representing people of fashionable ap- pearance, he used to employ models who could wear his clothes and his wifes s nice, clean people who came to him twice a week. | knew one married couple who sat to him in this way for many years. In these preliminary pencil drawings there was no attempt to give the heads, the place and sizes of which were indicated only--but the clothes were drew the composition again with ink. adding heads to suit the characters of the subjects.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-30
DiaZ and Real Reform

As time moves along it becomes plainer that the Mexicans of all classes and all political divisions are aamed lest intervention on the part of the United States should be in flicted upon them, and they are en- deavoring to get together.
 The feeling is general that the resignation of the cabinet will be fol- lowed by the resignation of Vice President Corral, whose health is poor, and in due time by the resig- ration of President Diaz, who is over so years old. When the aged presi- dent can step out of office with honor and with dignity it is believed he will do so.
 And then will come series of re- forms that have long been needed real elections, universal education, land divisions until the system of pconage is abolished, the e-term rule in presidency, and the election of governors of the states by the states. At present all governors are appointed by the president. ~
 The revolution promises, in short
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-30
Fruit in Alabama This Year

The report of Professor Williams of Auburn is based on personal in- spections of orchards. There will be shortage of plums and peaches above Calera and probably a normal crop below that central point. Some fruit buds were killed on February 24, and some on March 15.
 If one-half of the Elberta crop has escaped damage by these frosts in this state and in Georgia there will be plenty of fruit, and it will be all the trees should bear, and it will bring satisfactory prices.
 The Elberta trees at Auburn have one-half of their blooms, and this is an indication that the great peach belt in Georgia and Alabama will produce great deal of fruit. It will not therefore be a year without fruit. The apple crop is uniniured, and the strawberry fields are producing handsomely at the present time.
 The peach crop in northern Ala bama and ip north Georgia will prob ably be shorter than it has been in may years. Professor Williams in- spections leave but little hope for large outturns in the upper half of either state.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-30
He is as full of vaIour as of kindness.
 king Henry V.
Yellow Tea Hereafter

When the federal pure food law does not affect any of Secretary Will sons specialties it is very searching and even revolutionary. When the aged secretary desires to fill the peo- ple's stomachs with bengoate of soda his will is law and there is no appeal from it. But his specialties are located in this country, and the Chinese and Japanese tea growers are to be forced to conform to the law.
 A tea-drinking world has long been accustomed to the sight of green tea. It is not claimed that the coloring matter employed in China and Japan is injurious in any way or to any ex- tent, but the pure food law says that when an artificial coloring matter is added to a food product that fact must be stated on the labels.
 The tea importers have decided they will not injure good teas in any such manner. They will advise their sources of supply to abandon a prac- tice of unknown antiquity that has never injured any one. The result will be that tea drinkers in this coun- try will get yellow tea instead of green, and they will have to accus- tom themselves to the altered aspect.
 The men who drew the pure food act never intended to shut out the green tea of commerce. The yellow tea that will take it's place was not considered. The trouble is a general statute runs counter to an article that has no friends at headquarters ys benzoate of soda has, and yellow tea will soon supplant the green tea that has been used ever since some was thrown overheard in Boston har- bor at least.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-30
HOW ENGLISH LOVE BOOKS
ondon Telegraph

From the London Teiegraph.
 wel-dressed man was standing out side a booksellers shop in Charing Cross Road, closely examining one of Balzac's works, illustrated by Gustav Dore. How much is this Balzac?' he asked an as- sistant outside.
 "Twenty-five shillngs,' was the reply.
 "Oh. that's too much. I must see the manager about reduction the pros pective customer continued, and, suit ing the action to the word, he took up the book and went into the shop. Ap- preaching the bookseller, he took the book from under his arm and asked what he would give for it. Seven shillngs, highest offer" he was told.
 The offer. was accepted-the man took his money and left.
 We'll. queried the assistant later, after the man had gone, were you able to hit off with that gentleman, sir?"
 "Oh, yes, I managed to get another copy of that edition of Balzac for shillings.''
 Then the bookseller went to lodge a complaint with the police.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-30
seIf-DeniaI Week

Tt is again our privilege to call at- tention to the Salvation army's annual self denial effort" said friend. of all philanthropic movements. This self denial feature has for it's object the rais- ing of funds to extend the work locally and upon the mission field, now covering 56 countries and colonies. It is surpris ing that in so short time the army has accomplished so much. but we have come to the conclusion that this is entirely due to the self denying lives and efforts of it's officers and adherents. One has only to see them at work 10 admire them. and they certainly deserve all We may do for them when we remember that they, like their Master, care nothing about class All are alike to them; the need finds these willing workers where the poorest and worst are to be found. Especially do we commend them for their work among fallen women.
 Here in our own city we have evil dence of their devotion. Drunkards have been reclaimed, the outcast reformed. the widow and orphan taken care of, and in q thousand other ways the lives of men and women made brighter by the pres ence of the men in red jackets and the girls in blue bonnets.
 we know that every branch of the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-30
DEATH ROLL OF THE MINES rom the Philadelphia Record.

It cost the lives of 1125 men to mine 231 966O7O tons of Coal in Pennsylvania last year, according to the annual re- port of the chief of the state depart ment of mines, just issued. In proportion to the number of men employed and the amount of coal mined the work in tho hard coal mines was more hazardous. The anthracite production was SS,269. .294 tons; persons employed, 167,9E; killed, J9s The bituminous output was 14S, ,696.- ZIG tons; persons employed. 1s7,711 killed, 521. These figures make it evident that there is either a carelessness or a reck- flessness of supervision upon the part of the mining corporations that needs immediate remedy S
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-30
The City Beautiful Idea

The landscape architect and the archi- tect of art feeling who designs houses are contributing immeasureably tine work of humanizing and elevating com munities. The city beautiful idea makes for health and happiness and is now in evidence in high-class town building and remodeling ugly towns. In lecture which the late John M. Carrere, the dis tinguished architect. delivered before the Architectural league, were these sound and stimulating remarks
 There is no reason why our streets should not be thoroughfares and breath ing spaces, and pleasure grounds all in one. Neither is there any reason why we should not get as much pleasure in trav cling through our streets during work ing hours as at other times. The beauty of street induces beauty in buildings and adds beauty to life, whereas the con- fusion of streets and tumble of buildings. that surround us in our American cities contribute nothing valuable to life; on the contrary thew sadly disturb our peace of mind and destroy that repose within us which is the true basis of all contentment.
 There is hardly a practical solution of a single municipal development which is presented that can not be made less ex- pensive within very few years by the development of the artistic side and pos abilities of the problem. whether by cre- ating entirely new civic centers, whether by adding to the beauty and attractive ness of these centers, and thereby en- hancing the value of property and in creasing the tax levy, or whether only by making an improvement which is permanent and capable of indefinite de- velopment, so that the first cost is not an absolute waste of money.
 "The principal reason for the great waste of artistic opportunity in munich pal development and some other lines of development, is without question due to the fact that the engineer, and not the architect has been the master mind which has conceived and executed the projects The engineers point of view is strictly uuantitative. It is therefore im- portant that we, the artists who compose this league and to whom the public looks for inspiration should see to it that the architect in this sense, and not the en- gineer. should be the guiding spirit in the future growth and development of our great cities"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-30
ROBESPIERRE's SIMPLE LIFE rom Lamartine's History of the Giron-

From Lamartine's History of the Giron- dists.''
 The vicissitudes of the fortune, infiu- ence and popularity of Robespierre ef- fected no alterations in his simple mode of existence. The multitude came to implore favor or life at the door of his house, yet nothing found its way with in. The private lodging of Robespierre consisted of low chamber, constructed in the form of a garret, above some cart sheds, the window of which opened upon the roof. It afforded no other prospect than the interior of a small court, re- sembling wood store, whence the sounds of the workmen's hammers and saws constantly resounded. and which was continually traversed by Madame Duplay and her daughters, who there performed all their household avocatons. This chamber was also separated from that of the landlord by a small room common to the family and himself. On the other side were two rooms. likewise attics, which were inhabited. one by the son of the master of the house, the other by Simon Duplay, Robespirre's secretary, and the nephew of his host. This young man, whose patriotism was as violent as his opinions. burned to shed his biood in the cause of which Robespierre was the spirit. Enrolled as volunteer in regiment of artillery, he had lost his left leg by a cannon ball at. the battle of yalmy.
 The chamber of the deputy of Arras contained only wooden bedstead, cov- cred with blue damask ornamented with white flowers, table and TOUT straw bottomed chairs. This apartment served him at once for study and dormitory
 His papers, his reports, the manuscripts of his discourses, written by himself. in
 a regular but laborious handwriting,
 with many marks of erasure, were placed carefully on deal shelves against the wall. few chosen books were also ranged thereon. A volume of Jean Jacques Rousseau or of Racine was gen. erally open upon his table, and attested his philosophical and literary predilec- ton for these two writers.
 It was there Robespierre passed the greater part of his day. occupied in pre- pairing his discourses. He only went out in the morning to attend the meetings of the assembly, and at in the even ing those of the Jacobns His cos- tune, even at the period when the dema- gogues affected the slovenliness and dis- order of indigknce, in order to fatter the people was clean, decent and precise. as that of man who respects himself in the eyes of others His white pow dered hair, turned up In clusters over his temples, g bright blue coat. buttoned
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-30
Uniaue Railroad school

Unique among railroad schools in America is one for apprentices which has been established at Altoona, by the Pennsylvania railroad cooperating with the engineering school of the Pennsyl- vania state college" said a railroad of ficial This school is for the benefit of regular apprentices in the railroad shops at Altoona.
 ''fhe object of the school is to give to apprentices a knowledge of the fun 6amentals of mathematics, mechanics and drawing, thereby making them better artisans-men more useful in their spe oifio trades. The large attendance shows that the men are eager to make the most of the opportunities open to them and the company is more than repaid by the actual increase in the efficiency of it's workmen, and by the assurance of answering loyalty from the men who have received all their taining in it's service.
 Departing from the general practice in institutions Of this nature, which is to teach only technical subjects, systematic work in English is carried on with spe- cial reference to writing business let ters. filling out order blanks. time cards, and other details"
 'The work is arranged to cover three scholastic years of 42 weeks. Each ap- prentice receives four hours of instruc- ton a week, or a total of 504 hours for the three years. The subjects given in clude essential elements of many of those in the mechanical engineering course of the pest universities they arc mathematics, physics, mechanical draw ing. mechanics, mechanism, strength of IT materials, machine design, experimental tests and shop management
 "A monthly report of grades is made out ly the head instructor and submit- ted to the general office of the com- pany and to the Pennsylvania state col lege These monthly reports, with the annual reports concerning each member of tie classes, when taken in connec- tlon with the regular records of the shop foremen form an accurate basis on which to select and use the men to the best advantage"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-30
From Outlook.

fTOnl OuilOOh
 T1IE first day of January, 1892, Napo-
 leon Bonaparte, lieutenant of ar
 | tillery who had been studying his profession at Valence and at AuXonne, was stricken off the rolls of the regi- ment because he had outstayed his leave in Corsica Did he at that time or in 17s3 pay a visit of several weeks to the city of London? This interesting ques- ton has been raised again by Lord Rose bery's reply to a correspondent who asked his opinion about an old and forgotten rumor to that effect, that he could not understand how anybody could credit it.
 Then up rose MT. Burns, who quoted from McMichaers Story of Charing Cross'A the reported testimony of five London tradesmen living near George street, Strand, that a young man named Bonaparte had lodged in that vicinity for five weeks in 1791 or 1792. McMichael quoted his story from limbs, and Timbs is charged with having founded his state ment on letter which appeared in the Birmingham Journal in 1S55 Discussion seemed to be on the point of dying, when MT. Burns revived it by an extract from 'Kelly's Wars" a book published dur ing Napoleon's lifetime, in which it is stated that Napoleon had come to Eng land, but that the object of his appear ance there was not known; that he lodged. for short time in the Adelphi, in the Strand, probably about the middle of the year 1793. "Kelly's Wars" however is a work without authority, and General Miranda, who is quoted by Kelly as having asserted that Napoleon was in England, left no memoirs, so that it is impossible to check up Kelly's reference to him. Mir Burns affirmed that between 17Se and 1794 Napoleon cannot easily be
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-30
WAS NAPOLEON IN LONDON?

traced, which Is undoubtedly true, though it proves nothing except the fact that the young man was obscure and restless.
 The London Outlook is of opinion that if Napoleon ever was in London it was in the five months between May and De- tober, 1792, when he was unemployed, discredited, and becoming desperate. It is of the opinion that the testimony of the tradesmen who united in the decara- ton about the young man Bonaparte cannot arbitrarily be set aside, and that they probably believed that their testi- nony was true. It urges however, on the other hand, that old men who have lived in great times are always anxious to associate themselves with the great ness of the past and that any lodger in George street who called attention to himself by being what they called in London ''F'renchy'' might easily ne identified with Napoleon when he became the foremost figure in the world.
 More conclusive however, is the fact that Napoleon, who talked so much about himself and who was so much interested in all the striking aspects of his ca rcer, never referred to the London visit; that to no one of his visitors at St. Hell ena did he ever speak of London; and that Bourrienne, who was with him in some of the most troubled days in Paris, does not mention such visit. During the early period Napoleon was in des- perate circumstances, indebted to his friends for his dinners and to the pawn shops for his lodgings Under these cir cumstances it is almost incredible that he should have made what was then an expensive journey to London, and lived in "genteel fashion, The story of the London residence of the great Cor sican belongs in. that borderland between history and fiction occasionally drawn for entertaining material.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-30

over his hips, open over the breast to display white vest, short yellow-col- ored brooches, white stockings and shoes with silver buckles, formed his in- variable costume during the whole of his public life.
 It was said that he desired by thus never varying the style or color of his garments, to make the same impression in the sight and imagination of the peo- pie, as a medal of his face would have caused
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-30
GALLANT SIR EDWIN ARNOLD

From the New York Press.
 Mrs. T. P O'Connor tells an anecdote illustrating the gallantry of Sir Edwin Arnold, the poet On one of his visits to America he had long interview with the inevitable reporter, who asked him 100 or so questions. concluding with the quite conventional: What do you think of American women?'' "One word will answer that--Afrin, replied Sir Edwin. The reporter confessed his ignorance. '1t is Turkish.'' explained Sir Edwin, and means, Oh, Allah. make many more of them ''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-30
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR

rom IHe NeW 1Ofk PfcsS.
 How duty looks depends on whether it's yours or somebody elses.
 It's queer how pianos in flat houses won't play till after midnight
 Sometimes q man can learn to under stand his family by trying to understand himself
 All q wcmaJls female relatives are mad with her if she doesn't take them along when she goes to buy t gown.
 II doesn't take woman more than a second to make up her mind not to ike another who is better looking than slle is.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-30
MOTHER O. MINE

By Rudyard kipling.
 If I were hanged on the highest hill, Mother O mine. o mother O mine! know whose love would follow me still, Mother Q mine, O mother O mine! If were drowned in the deepest sea, Mother O mine. O mother O mine! I know whose tears would come down
 to me, st Mother O mine. o mother O mine. If T were damned of body and soul. Mother Q mine, mother O. minei know whose prayers would make mn.
 whole, i'7'S 'e Mother 2 mine. Q mother Q, mine!