davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15

From the New York World.
 Swiftly following the announcement that John D. Rockefeller is a descendant from the Plantagenet Kings of England comes critic eager to confute the pleas ant tale. While such criticism cannot be held as undertaking. it is no better. I. is an attempt to rob the oil king Of an ancestry which naught enriches him and does not hurt the rest of us. More: over, such robbery would deprive the country of q Rockefellerism that con- tributes more to it's gayety than anything else he has ever done.
 Rockefeller certainly descended from some ancestor far back in distant ages. He was not pumped up out of an oil we'll nor generated in Wall street like corporation. Having had ancestors and having now money, It is his privilege to hire his genealogy arranged to suit him. self. Who else cas that right? A flat terer traced Naroieon's descent from Charemagne Mir. Rockefeller prudently leaves his descent to be fixed by neither flatterer TOT fee. He establishes it him. self. T am descended from the Plan tasenet who was drowned in a butt of nalnsey.' From the wine butt to the oil tank, what progress and what illumi- nation,
 Let it be understood that the American l Beauty rose of industry is of royal line- age, and that he might have traced it to Caesar had he wished. If we are to have old masters in our galleries and old china on our tables we must have also cid princes in our families lest we feel unworthy of cur wealth. Furthermore le5 it not be oyenooked that in descend ! ing from the Pldntagenets our fellow cit ize1 shows a proper scorn for existing | royalties. He claims kin with none of them.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15
Next Years Fair

Birmingham has had a splendid State Fair. Everybody agrees to that.
 In some matters one cannot wait to cross the bridge until they come to it. Preparations in advance are necessary, and the State Fair is one of those things. It has grown rapid ly in size and prestige. It has ac- tually outgrown its home at Fair view.
 The next fair should be made as much better than the recent one as the latter was better than it's prede- cessor. This means additional attend ance as well as additional exhibits. This means that new space, or at least, new plans are needed at Fair view. There was not last week room for either exhibits or the visitors that came to see them. The latter, to say the least, were uncomfortably crowd ed, and perhaps some of the exhibits felt likewise, notably the poultry.
 A bridge to the great oval would not be helpful, because buildings on the oval would hide the races that interest many people. Another large exhibition building is sorely needed, and it should be placed to the right of the grandstand and handed over to the women of Alabama. This means that the westerly end of the grounds should be raised and lnl- proved so that a long line of stock pens can be built there. In this way the mile track can be retained and many would indeed regret the reduc- tion of the track to a alf-mile, for that would drive away the automo- piles and motorcycles in which many take a deep interest.
 The management must soon begin to make preparations for next years fair, and surely they will consider en- largement on some basis. Surely they will see that another large ex- hibition hall is needful. The reputa- tion of the fair will have become es- tablished if the management succeeds in presenting an even greater fair next year than the one just ended.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15
TELEPHONES
Now do play the touch, Te try if thou be current gold indee d
 king Richard III.
Occupation of Tripoli and Cyrene

General Cahaya, at the head of 40,000 men, will soon make Tripoli Italian territory. Lying just about abreast of Sicily it will become val uable territory to overcrowded Italy, especially if irrigation by means of dams in the hill country becomes pos sible.
 Coincident with the occupation of Morocco by France the conquest of Tripoli by Italy completes the new allotment of the Barbary states. France gets Morocco, Algeria and Tunis, Italy secures Tripoli and Cy- rene, and beyond Barbary England supervises Egypt. Surely in this alignment Italy is entitled to the states nearest her home bounds. By this acquisition the new Rome is more than doubled in size in square miles, and it is very certain that the thrifty, industrious people of the peninsula will turn the additional territory to account besides extending the bless ings of civilization to large district, for Italy's rule will hereafter extend from the Alps to the Libyan desert with the convenient intervention of the Mediterranean as a means of transportation between the old and the new.
 The army of occupation will soon be heard from, and when it's work is accomplished the Young Turks will, no doubt, act in the light of reason and according to the plain dictates of the situation, and the war will have an early and peaceful end. Tripoli will gain largely, for it will remain in Italian hands.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15
Attractive Music This Week

The United States Marine band as re- organized and enlarged under congress Sonal legislation a few years ago will sive it's first concert in Birmingham at the Jefferson theatre next Friday after noon. It will be heard again at night It is, as everyone should know, Uncle Sam's crack band. When Sousa was di- rector the band numbered between 45 and 5C men. 1t now numbers 15. not count ing the conductor. On this southern tour the band will appear with about 50 per formers which is very large for the con- cert stage. A wind band of only s or 40 is equal in volume of sound to an orchss- tra of 75 or SO Sousas band usually tours with 40 men, and Jnnes usually car ries 43 on the road. At the State fair he had only 35, but on regular tour he never has less than 40 odd.
 The navy department seldom permits the Marine band to be absent from Wash irgton longer than two days at time, but once in seven or eight years permis- sion is granted for the band to make a short tour. While the larger part of the band is absent, sufficient number of men remain at the Marine barracks in Washington to play for dress parade and guard mount.
 B. B. Burton in speaking of the Marine nand's forthcoming concerts here, said: "L heard this band in Richmond a year or so ago on the occasion of the piano men 5 convention. It is a superb band. and no music lover in Birmingham can af- ford to miss either of the concerts next Friday"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15
---.es=--------- A NIGHTMARE FINISH

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
 She had met the young man at the seaside. His name was Percy Sinclair His nekwear was irreproachable
 There were other young men at the seaside-nearly a half dozen of them There was but one Percy Sinclair
 She felt 1attered by his attentions They were brief because he was called away suddenly by business, he said. but they were delightful.
 ''I trust we may meet again." he mur- mured as he bent over her reasonably small hand
 And she echoed the sentiment. Later on she looked up the lineage of the Sin. clairs and found it muddled.
 Percy didn't write, although he could easily have found her address.
 And then one day in autumn he called She heard him at the door. She heard him ask for her father Her heart fut- tered. She ripped down the stairs.
 ''Why, how do you do Mr Sinclair" she sweetly chirped He flushed hotly.
 "I have called to see your father" he stammcred.
 "Yes?"
 q heard he wanted a man to drive a delivery wagon. Do you know how much he pays?"
 And loves young dream had made an other nightmare finish.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15
NEW WARS FOR OLD

Alfred Moves, in Westminster Gazette.
 Peace, with it's luxury, is the corruptor of nations. Any Militarist.
 Peace? When have we prayed for peace? over us burns a star
 Bright, beautiful, red for strife!
 Yours are cniy the drum and the fife,
 And the golden braid and the surface of
 life
 Ours is the white lfot war Peace? When have we prayed for peace Ours ale the weapons of men. Time cllon6 es the face of the world; Your swords are rust and your flags are furled And ours are the unseen egions hurled Up to the heights again.
 Peace? When have we prayed for peace? Is q ere no wrong to right, Wrong crying to God on high? Here where the weak and the helpless die, And the homeless hordes of the city go by, T'llc ranks are rallied tonight. Peace? When have we prayed for peace Are ye SO dazed with words? Earth ieaven, shall pass away Ere for your pessionless peace we pray! Are ye deas to the trumpets that call us today, Blind to the blazing swordsf
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15
Industrial Exhibits

Everybody I meet speaks with enthu- siasm of the state fair and stresses the magnitude of the agricultural exhibits and the splendid exhibits made by the Southern Railway company, the Tennes- see company and the Southern Iron and Steel company, said a member of the Chamber of Commerce.
 'I had never seen barbed wire manu- factured until I saw it at the fair grounds, The Southern Iron and Steel company shows the process of turning out barbed wire, and thousands of those who visited the fair seemed to be especial ly interested in this feature of the South ern Iron and Steels exhibit The company referred to has a modern wire mill at Gadsden, and l am glad to hear that it is one of the most profitable industries in Alabama"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Street Car Headlights

These electric headlights on the street cars of Birmingham promise to cause serious accidents,p said promi- nent citizen yesterday.
 T drive in my buggy and occasion- ally I ride in an automobile. In going out Eleventh avenue or Hihgland ave- hue, or any other streets of the city when a street car approaches at night l cannot sec which way to turn. l am completely blinded
 T was in U friends automobile the other night when the chauffeur was so blinded that he ran entirely over the curb and into the sidewalk, giving us u fearful jolt. I see no necessity of these intensely focused lights on street cars, and I hope the officials of the railway company will cut them out. If not, I feel sure that it will not be long before they will have their hands full of damage suits"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15

far as is known it is q movement that wants more of western learning and methods rather than less, for Wu Chang and Hankow have long been deeply favorable to a change from the old order to modernism of the west ern sort.
 The Yangtse Kiang is navigable for ocean steamers to Hankow, which is perhaps 500 miles up the stream, and a revolution at Hankow may readily become a controlling one in China if public sentiment against the Manchus be ripe for it. Whether 1t is or not is not known, nor is it known how far the revolutionists intend to go in case they are successful.
 The fear is that the revolution will check the spread of liberalism and constitutionalism and of western edu- cation. It may, on the other hand, advance all these things. Then again it may invite intervention by some of the robber western nations. None of these things can be foretold until more is made known concerning the movement
 China's modern army seems to be full of disaffection. It certainly was at Wu Chang. It is reasonably cer- tain that the Manchu dynasty at Peking faces grave crisis, for the rebellion is clearly the largest that China has known since the Boxer up- rising against all foreigners.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15
China's Revolutionary Crisis

It is plain that a civil war has broken out at the very heart of China. Hankow and Wu Chang lie oposite each other at the head of navigation on the banks of China's great river that flows into the sea at Shanghai. They constitute China's chief trade center in the interior, and their combined population exceeds a million of people. It is there the new revolt has broken out. The revolu- tionists of today do not disturb for eigners or missionaries.
 The movement is apparently direct ed against the ruling Manchu dy- nasty, but whether it means the es- tablishment of republic in the Ori- ent is not definitely known. The regular soldiers are turning against the Peking government. The disaf- lection among the soldiers and the people may be widespread, and it may mean change in government. So
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15
Reminiscent of EIyton

| Some of the old deeds found in the early volumes of records in the office of the probate judge of Jefferson county contain interesting descriptions of the
 property conveyed by them, and they
 also furnish considerable insight into the
 early history of the county, especially
 into the early history of old Elyton, for
 merly the county seat of this county,
 and now a part of the city of Birnling-
 ham, saio William M. Walker. For in-
 stance, haL occasion recently to examine l into the title of what was known in the | bygone days as Taylor's Old Tavern
 Lot in the town of Elyton, and found this curious description of the property
 on one of the early deed records:
 Commencing it. north of John Camps new storehouse and running in a
 north direction with the street until 1t comes to the ford of the spring branch on the Huntsville road, thence up the branch until it comes to the cross street, where R. 9' Edmonds now lives, and run l ming to the spring, thence up street until it strikes e cross street running from Main street. starting at the corner of and between the Brick store known as Earle and Wright store and Wm A. Walker store lip said street until it comes of Wm. s. Mudd's law office, thence rum hing zig gag course so as to leave out the lots cn which Mudd's office, Wm. A. Walkers store, S. S. Earle's former Doc tor shop snd John Camps storehouse stands and to the starting point, known rI.a T
 This old deed gives the location of the places of business and offices of some of
 the aborigires of dear old Elyton, many of whose descendants are now living in Greater Birmingham, notably the Earles,
 Walkers and Mudds.
 Tt required a number of interviews with many of the county's oldest inhab- itants.' viz: w. A. Porter, Col. T. o. Smith, both prominent bankers of this great city; Judge M. T. Porter, William AIudd Martin, Judge Samuel Earle Greene and others, to locate the new storehouse,
 former doctor shop and other offices re- ferred to in the conveyance, and it was interesting to learn that $. s. Earle's for mer doctor shop was occupied by Judge NJ. T. Porter and Col Alburto Martin as a law office after it's use as doctor shop was abandoned.
 By the way, the most valuable infor- nation in the matter of the location of these cid places was secured from Judge M. T. Porter, whose memory of the names and locations of the early days is truly remarkable, considering the fact that he was celebrating his seth birthday at his home on Eighth avenue on the very day,
 October 1o,s that he supplied the informa- | ton. Judge Porter Is the father of MT.
 W. A. Porter, president of the Merchants sno Mechanics Trust and Savings bank, and ia seen almost daily on the streets.
 His store of information is wonderful,
 and t is indeed a rare treat to talk to
 hirl of the early people and history of the county"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15
\ Mystery Solved

"l was much interested in thep story of the mysterious visits of parties who wer, detected digging near Smiths hill at Easi Lake, said Percy Clark, and l think can account for it.
 "A few weeks ago l went on a fishing trip with a man from East Lake, who for reasons of discretion I will call Ton l.. He had secured fine bucket of min nows which we managed to carry in good condition to Morris He had equipped himself with brand new tackle box filled with flies, floats, etc, and also had purchased q new split bamboo rod Ar rived at the mill pond we divided the mirnow bait and Tom insisted on going alone, up the creek. Some hours after
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15
Needing Out the Hymn Books

A better and more inspiring hymn ology is being suggested as a part of the incident of Woodrow Wilson's recent protest against the use of silly hymns. He particularly objected to Beautiful Isle of Somewhere" as be- ing mushy in language and vapid in sentiment. He was treading it seems on John D. Rockefeller's toes, for the oil kings pastor made the issue his own in the rural church he is pastor of at Tarrytown, where he sang the hymn as a solo and asked those pres ent to say whether they liked it or not. All stood up, including Mr. Rockefeller.
 High as the Tarrytown popular vote is it does not quite determine the matter. The critics are still fear lessly discussing what constitutes a stirring hymnology and what does not. Mir. Rockefeller stands high in the oil trade, and as philanthropist, but as literary authority he is not fully recognized. His word does not altogether Ego" in literature. At any rate it is not in Woodrow Wilson's class.
 A general desire is expressed by the critics that the discussion will result in a selection of noble hymns and there are many such-that will lift up those who are not responsive to other religious appeals. It is an important matter, and possibly a short collection of uplifting hymns which have been in use perhaps for centuries will soon be published There are few modern hymns that can stand against those that have come down from even the Middle Ages. In modern times Charles Wesley was prince of hymn writ CTS.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15
FRIENDS IN NEED.


 When the jlnglers can't think up rhyme It's then they come to fall, we reck, Back on that tried and trusty line: ''The boy stood on the burning deck!"
 Youngstown Telegram. And when the jinglers stumble on A dull, idealless, thinkless Nay, There's Maudie Muller dear old girl. She's always ready to rake the hay" Scranton Tribune Republican. And when the jinglers need some stuff To fill their space, it's with a shout With joy they grab shears and cut Some other jokers verses out.
 -Johnstown Democrat. Though something we might plainly say About "a shears" 'twould be too bad; So when we light on a dull day We tell the people, Mary had
 Houston Post. And here is still another way When hard up for a bit of filler: Do like our brother. r. P. A., And wait wheeze to some 'Myrtiler."
 New York Globe. And there is still another way, It never fails to bring the screams, Just figure out a little lay About our pair of baseball teams
 St. Louis Times. And sometimes when we're up tree And really don't know what to do We grab some stuff like this and, gee. As quick's a wink with work we're through,
 PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15
Railroads Within State Lines

The supreme court of the United States is now in session, and it is stated that it will assuredly hear and determine the Minnesota rate case. This is the case, it will be remem- bered, in which Judge Sanborn of the United States circuit court held, in accordance with the trend of his rail- road decisions, that any control by a state of intrastate traffic affects in- directly, but none the less materially, interstate traffic, and is, therefore, unconstitutional.
 The governors gathered at Spring Lake, N. J., resented this interfer- ence with the reserved rights of the states, and they appointed a commit tee of three to ask for permission to present arguments in this case. Just how they will be able to do this does ; rot yet appear, but the presumption is that the court may permit them tc file at least brief-to give them, 1T other words, leave to print
 However this may be the Mime. sota rate case promises to become ont of the courts great historical cases [. If the states have no power to con trol their own railroads, it is easy to see that state sovereignty is rap idly becoming but a figment of tht brain while the real thing is the cen tral government at Washington.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15

cur arrival I wended my way in search close to the bank where the parted bushes made an opening. I stopped to contemplate the picture. The rod was still in its cover the minnows seemed to be all therein the bucket. Tom had about six sticks with lines on them-no floats, and heavy sinkers, and was 'nigger fishing
 Presently he said to me- DO you see that little bird settin' on the ridge of that thar nest? After searching with the eye the bushes, l saw a small baby bird sitting on the edge of a nest, lifting it's feeble voice every moment with a cry. Tom said: I'll bet that little bird has bollered a thousand times for his ma I asked him why he didn't go away and let the little birds mother come back to it. No he said, I've done made up my mind that that little birds ma has done left him for good and I'm a fishing, too. I then asked him what he was using for bait. He reached in his hip pocket and pulled out tin tobacco box filled with earth worms. Surprised, l asked him where he got them. He said mysterious ly, I dug them last night at Smiths, in East Lake, and come near being shot, too So there you have it. Tom l.. was the cause of it all and then, after that, to be caught 'ngger fishing and making an orphan of a little nestlng bird whose ma couldn't come home-what sequel to near-tragedy mystery"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15
Good Roads Programme

The details of the programme of the Alabama. Good Roads association which meets in Selma october 25 to 27, inclusive. will soon be issued" said Secretary I. A. Rountree.
 T am in receipt of letter from Congressman William Schley Howard accepting an invitation to be present 9nd address the convention He will speak at the courthouse in Selma on the night of the 25th.
 MT. Howard Is very active good roads advocate and during the last session of Congress introduced q bill 70 appropriate money to aid the. build ing of q great system of public high ways His bill was most favorably re- ceived"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15
BITS FROM ITALIAN HISTORY

From the New York Telegram. Sicily was temporarily taken by the Christians in June, 1888.
 Frederick II of Germany became King of Italy in 1920 and fixed the capital of the realm at Naples.
 Downfall of the temporal power and the establishment of the new republic We're proclaimed February 9, 1S49.
 Pope Plus TX ascended the throne in 1S46. Instituting political reforms, he begun the unification of Italy under 'papaI supremacy.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR

From the New York Press
 When young woman doesn't mind get ting stoute.s she began mighty thin
 The crly time most people crave out doc. excr cisc Is during indoor working hours.
 To have strong views on a subject all man needs Is to be ignorant enough about it..
 Your own baby never howls like a lit- tie hend; tue b'essed angel only tries to express itself.
 A man reeGn't worry about carrying of a proposal to {. girl, for the first thing he knows sine VIII have it all done for him.