davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-24


 From the Atlanta Constitution.
 The qualities of leadership that have made Oscar Underwood the natural head of his party in the House of Rep resentatiyes are already of common knowledge with the country-ac- claimed by the democrats and con- ceded by the republicans. Another at tribute of equal importance is that of ability to master any and all subjects that may present themselves for the consideration of statesmen
 Congressman Hef1in of Alabama touched on this phase at the Under wood rally at the Grand last Saturday evening, when he said:
 oscar Underwood knows more about the tariff than any living man-knows 1t because he has studied it-studied it not for the tariff alone, but because he wanted to reduce the cost of living what he is trying to do today
 The tariff is. admittedly. one of the most complicated and abstruse of the topics that engage public attention. Long the bone of contention, in some form, between parties In this country. the men who have working knowl- edge of its intricacies can be numbered on the fingers of one hand
 It is this issue, with ramifications and subdivisions innumerable, that Os- car Underwood understands as the mariner does his chart and compass. The penetration and concentration that can conquer the details of the tariff display intellectual capacity of the first order. They testify to the sort of studious, broad mind imperatively needed by the man who directs the destinies of the nation from the White House.
 It Is claimed for other candidates that they are also students of wide culture and great oratorical accom- plishments. In some directions the statement Is undoubtedly a valid one. But Underwood stands out as the one democrat with an encyclopedia knowl- edge of the issue upon which the party will confessedly go to the country in the fall elections.
 When it is borne in mind that to this rare trait of mental assimilation Un- derwood adds the sanity and the gener- alship that can plan for and obtain practical results, 1t is seen that he combines gifts of brain and tempera- ment in a degree not approached by any candidate, in either party, now before the people. That is why, with a public experience that is national and not merely state wide, he will ap- peal as nominee to all elements in each of those doubtful states that must be carried by the democracy. It Is also why Governor Wilson, whose knowledge of the the paramount issue is purely academic and whose public experience has been confined to one term as the executive of New Jersey, cannot carry in the election one of the pivotal states upon the winning of which victory depends.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-24
SHATTERED IDEALS.

 She thought he was a god, and so She married him. Poor Fan. She was so shocked when she found out That he was just a man.
 Cincinnati Enquirer. He thought she was an angel as He clasped her to his heart, But when they had been wed, alas, She played another part.
 Birmingham Age-Herald. They thought their child a cherub when The first one came. but that's A dream they'll never dream again; The other five are brats.
 Chicago Record-Herald. They thought their fiat a heaven, one They'd never care to quit, But now they have eleven hun Dred ways of cussing it.
 Springfield Union. They thought that love would last. but, oh,
 What fools these mortals are; She got to running with the suffs, And he joy riding in his car.
 -Chattanooga Times.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-24
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
under,,ood,s Lnte.t contrll,utlon


 The Century Magazine for May, just out, contains an article on High Tariff and American Trade Abroad" by Oscar W. Underwood, recognized as the ablest living exponent of the tariff question from the democratic viewpoint. Other men can talk tariff in an academic way, but Underwood is the only democrat who can discuss this vexed problem on both it's theoretical and it's practical side and discuss it convincingly. The democratic party has had several ways and means committee chairmen, but few that meas ure up to Underwood in the matter of in- sight or facility in the matter of clear statement, or in constructive statesman ship. None has ever risen higher than man and democratic leader in the House is in constant demand by the magazine editors. He has contributed two or three articles in the past six months, and they have all been instructive, but the one in the Century is particularly interesting
 One good feature about. MT Under- woods writing is his power of condensa- tion. He is never long winded. The Cen tury article takes up only three pages Here is paragraph in which our .sla- bama statesman gives an outline that should make everyone in the Birmingham district eager to read his entire article
 'It is not my intention in this article to engage in a general discussion of the tariff schedule; that can be threshed cut on the floor of the Congress. I shall not even discuss the question as to whether industrial America has obtained her stand ing in the markets of the world by reason of our natural resources or by reason of protective policies and paternal leglsla- tion. The question concerning us today is not a question of inventing a locome- tive engine; it is a question of carrying freight. It Is not a question as to whether the sun will shine; 1t is a ques- tion of what we shall do in the broad light of day. It is not a question of the past. but of the present. It is not a theoretical question, but practical one It is not question of keeping other na- tions out of our markets, but of selling our products in their markets. It is not Q question of production, but of disposing of our surplus products. It is question in which capital and labor alike are in- terested. I shall limit this article 10 the statement of a few facts showing the ef- feet of the present policies of the re- publican party on the capital and labor of the country engaged in the Iron and steel manufactures"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-24
The Music Festival

This years Birmingham music festi- val opens with a concert for young people on Friday afternoon, May 3, and closes with a grand symphony pro- gramme Saturday night, May 4. The Minneapolis Symphony orchestra, which is to be feature of the festival, will be heard here for the first time It is one of the four or five great orchestras of America.
 The Cincinnati festival will begin Tuesday, May z, and will continue until the end of that week. It ranks first among all the festivals in this country. and it is understood that sev- eral Birmingham music lovers will at tend. In speaking of the Cincinnati event a musician had this to say:
 ITO begin with there is the far famed chorus, regarded as the greatest body of singers in America, and equal to the foremost in Europe. This year, as usual, it is composed of $50 voices carefully selected, and has been under the personal direction of Frank Van der Stucken for three months last year and for the past five months of this year. AS d ltSllNdl QlItttpI V di oCt Stucken is regarded as the greatest of the day The chorus appears at every one of the four evening performances, and its enormous task is evident from the fact that the choral works to be given are Mendelssohn's 'Elijah.' Cesar | Francks The Beatitudes,' Wolf-Fer- rari's The New Life the stupendous Berlioz Requiem and scenes from
 'Meistersinger.
 There will also be solo chorus oi | 10 professional voices, which will bs
 used in the Elijah and The Beati.
 tudes. This chorus is composed of Gin
 cinnatis most noted church soloists forming a choir of unusual beauty.
 Then there will be the inimitable
 childrens choir It is universally ac-
 knowledged that nowhere do children sing quite like they do at the Cincin-
 natl festivals. This year the chorus oi 700 boys and girls will not only sing on Friday night in the Benoit cantata and the choral finale in Van dei
 Stuckens Pax Triumphans,' but vii also sing the Magnificat' in the per formance of the Dante symphony oi Liszt which will be given on Thurs day afternoon. Three hundred boy'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-24
Cotton and Corn Acreage

Commissioner of Agriculture Kolb finds no comfort in the reports from the 67 demonstration agents in this state. These agents report that the farmers are from three to six weeks behind in their crops" The heavy rains of March and April have been ruinous to the acreage in corn, and they have reduced the cotton acreage B per cent. A dry May may prove, it is true, helpful, but the chances largely are that this state is face to face with decreased crops. There will not be this year corn crop exceeding 63, ,00O, ,OOO bushels, nor cotton crop approaching 100000 bales, The
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-24
THE COMFORTER

From the Kansas City Times.
 As fine a message as ever came from woman's heart-and that is the best thing under God-is this
 To My Poor Fellow Sufferers My heart overflows with grief for you all. and is laden with sorrow that you are weighed down with this terrible burden that has been thrust upon us. May God be with us and comfort us all. Yours in deep sym pathy. ELEANOR SMITH.
 Eleanor Smith is the wife of the cap tain ofs the Titanic, lying now two miles deep with his ship.
 Forlcrn and widowed this brave soul sorrows with others and consoles them.
 From eternity to eternity the loving kind. indomitable Woman stands com- forter and guardian of the race.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-24
Effect of nrIght DnyS

Business conditions have been improv- ing steadily since the first of January and but for the floods in the Mississippi valley and the excessive rains almost every where general trade would be more active now than in any former spring period of recent years,' said a member of the Chamber of Commerce.
 Farming Is very backward, but there Is yet ample time to plant cotton and corn and make normal crops. Three or four bright days, such as we have had this week, will make everybody feel opti- mistic and will have good effect on busi- ness generally"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-24
Oscar Underwood at Home


 A social event occurring in his own family has brought Alabama's choice for President back to Birmingham for a brief visit. That visit will be brief indeed, for the majority leader an- nounces that he will stand again in the House before the pending post office appropriation bill is acted on.
 "We have" he recently said, Ire written and reduced to a just and equitable basis the metal schedule, the chemical schedule, the sugar schedule and the wool schedule, and have passed an excise tax bill placing part of the burden of taxation directly on the wealth of the county" He is justly and reasonably proud of his work in preparing the excise or in- come tax bill. He is ready to admit that he wrote every word of it. "Mr. Underwood's bill," says the Review of Reviews, "at once changes one of the most absurd and lop-sided tax laws that ever went upon our statute books into uniform and rational measure. It is, of course, an income tax, plainly and without disguise. But it is noth- ing but the existing law so extended as to be of uniform character and general application. And this existing law has had the approval of the su- preme court. This measure of Mr. Underwood's is not merely piece of cleverness, although it is certainly clever. Nor is it merely an instance of remarkable parliamentary skill, al- though in that regard it is nothing short of stroke of genius. But be- yond all it is a disclosure of financial statesmanship of high order; just as the makeshift corporation tax dis closed painful lack of constructive ability in the field of revenue and finance. It is to be hoped that the democrats and progressive republi- cans in the Senate will have the cour- age to pass the measure"
 He does not need to offer any apologies in relation to this great bill, for it is to become law, and very ac- ceptable law it will prove to be. It will stand indorsed when a democrat is elected President in November.
 That democrat should be MT. Un- derwood himself. The leader who steers his party through long ses- sion without committing a serious blunder, who is endeavoring to re- duce the tariff, keeping in mind al- ways the cost of living, and who pre- sents an easily borne excise tax in the place of a sugar tax that enhances the cost of every breakfast table, IS the man of the times, the man the democrats should nominate.
 He is everybody's second choice, and if the south puts him before the Ralti- more convention backed by 100 dele gates his prospects of success are in- deed bright. The great southeast ex- poets every democrat to do his duty now.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-24
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR

From the New York Press.
 Keeping up appearances costs a man S creditors heap of money.
 In an argument a man seems to think he's nothing but bass drum.
 The reason people insist npon living in the city is they'd he so much more con tented in the country.
 Round trip excursion tickets might make people more willing to go to heaven than they seem to be.
 A woman always wants a man to tell her how he admires the way she dresses her hajY, specially if he doesn't.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-24
HEIRLOoMS
From Harper's Weekly.

From Harper's Weekly.
 And is this an heirloom, too?" asked the visitor, picking up brick that lay cii the center table.
 Yes said the lady of the house. That Is the brick my mother threw at the prime minister"
 'Ah. indeed, how very interesting" said the visitor.
 And whose portrait is that on the wall?"
 That is my mother herself" said the lady.
 .I see," said the visitor. "The power behind the thrown as it were.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-24
LITTLE BOY BLUE

By Eugene Field. The little toy dog is covered with dust. But, sturdy and stanch he stands; And the little toy soldier is red with rust. And his musket molds in his hands. Time was when the little toy dog was new And the soldier was passing fair. And that was the time when our Little
 Boy Blue
 Kissed them and put them there Now. don't you go till come,f he said. And don't you make any noise:" So toddling off to his trundle bed He dreafnpt of the pretty toys And as he was dreaming an angel song Awakened our Little Boy Blue O, the years are many. the years are
 long. N But the little toy friends are true. Ay, faithful to Little Boy Blue they
 stand,
 Each in the same old place. Awaiting the touch of little hand The smile of little face. And they wonder. as waiting these long
 years through,
 Tn the dust of that little chair, What has become of our Little Boy R]ue Since he kissed them and put them ~ there.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-24
Prosperous Meridian

w. " Willis of Meridian, who has been registered al the Hillman for sev- eral days, returns home this morning. He is engaged in the coal business and Is one of the most prominent business men in Mississippi
 Meridian is not only the largest city in my state, but 1t is one of the most prosperous cities in the south" said Mir Willis. 'It has a diversity of mercan- tile and industrial interests and 1t has the making of a great big city,
 MT. Willis was asked if Mississippi would continue to be a prohibition state. He answered in the affirmative. Yes, Mississippi has statewide pro- hibition and that statute. I think, will never be repealed. The prohibition law Is well enforced in Meridian. I doubt If there is any prohibition city In the United States where there is so little violation as in my town. Vicksburg is just the opposite. There is gross viola tion of the law and the worst of it Is people there boast of it. It's disregard of the law Is one reason why Vicksburg does not go ahead like Meridian does. understand that there Is a good deal of Illicit liquor traffic in Jackson, but on the whole, prohibition suits Mississippi. and from the way I see it has accom- plished untold good"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-24
The Titanic Musicians


 Prof. Fred L. Grambs, who was hurt in a street car accident last week, Is i'm proving but is still confined to his bed He writes to a member of The Age Herald staff: T have just been reading Frank Damrosch's beautiful tribute to the Titanic musicians and about the movement on foot in Nay York to hon. or their members.
 T would like to suggest a similar movement in Birmingham. Those mu- sicians who played musical instruments while standing in water waist deep and death staring them in the face were he- roes. I for one am prouder than ever of my profession. Let's have a memorial meeting some Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock in the near future All choir singers and instrumentalists here would, I think, be ready to take part
 T would have the musical service in house consecrated to God. And the principal hymn should be the world fa- nous Nearer My God to Thee We could take up a large collection and forward the funds to Mayor Gaynor for the families of the heroic musicians. Fate may prevent my taking part, but there are others who could take the lead successfully. If I am well enough when the concert takes place, I will be glad to help in any capacity
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-24
COTTERILL LEAVES OFF GARMENT IT.. In... M.


 When Charles A. Cotterill was making all automobile tour in Northeastern Ohio not long ago with member of Congress, the machine got stuck in the mud, and .he party invaded farmers house with a request for dinner.
 q dent know you" said the congress- man to the farmer, "and you don't know mo, but you elected me to Congress, and now I want you to give us dinner''
 I he farmer and his wife furnished an elaborate meal, and it was when the re- past was half over that the countryman, with a worried look, exclaimed to his wife
 "Monmie, you didn't give MT. Cotteril a napkin
 "Oh, yes." said Cotterill quickly 'here 1t is,'' and he took it out of his lap and held it up for all to see.
 "Oh.' apologized the farmer. T thought you didn't have none because you didn't have it on."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-24
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
A sKEPTIcs

A sKEPTIcs The man of millions, hear him sigh In most pathetic strain. To this effect, "Oh. would that I Were only poor again. The poor man listens with smile Upon his care-worn face, As one who's thinking all the while, Now here's a funny case. "Id gladly change my lot for his And would most happy be, But though his talk quite doleful Is. He wouldn't swap with mer'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-24

talks and papers were given. A most in- structive article on 'The Construction Of Lighthouses, was given by Mrs. Robert Thompson. This was followed by paper on The Custom House of New York, by Mrs. Reginald Burdon Mrs. John Du= Bois gave an excellent talk on 'Ihe Revenue Cutter System. The musical numbers consisted of number of vocal selections by Mrs. l.. A. Calkins and piano solo by Mrs. L. J. Patterson.-Green Bay (Wis.) Gazette.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-24
Nearer, My God, to Thee, Nearer to Thee"


 after his death would unquestionably prove the best seller of this or any other season. assuming of course that it is not anticipated by a play from the spirit world by Shakespeare or a novel by Dick ems or Thackcray. It would be the unique literary event of all time But 1t would be more than that. It would be a docu- ment that should disspate all doubt and convert the world to spiritualism Given another ''The Lady or the Tiger?" or even a fancifu romance of the ginger jar order characteristic of Stockton's humorous tal- ent and sceptical humanity will be only too ready to believe.
 But the work to be accepted as authen- tic must be carefully edited with respect to its photography and syntax. Previous alleged communications from the spirit land have indicated that a standard of English composition obtains after death below that of common school instruction here. and needing revision if the author is hot to be misrepresented. Doubtless in n mediums engaged in transmitting the 5ssi humous works of departed writers to tae living will be required to qualify in tia essentials of grammar and rhetoric.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-24
rHE ENp.
SAFE AT HOME

end will. Millions cannot recall the dead. billions console the living.
 The craze for speed! Aye. there we have it; on the land no less than on the sea-yet, in the very air above us-onward, onwardi-faster. fasteri-as if the idle rich and their imitators the vain and empty throng, were not going the gaits of pride and pretension, of enfeebling lux ury and of glittering show, quite fast enough
 Not a sufficient provision of lifeboats Certainly not-there never is Why did not the helmsman turn her prov farther to the southwark? He was sailing farth- est south. Why should he tempt at all the fatal ice fields? On the Banks If Newfoundland there are only ice fields. Why did the ship sail at her topn,ost bent? Alas, conclusions inconclusivei
 We but lock the stable door when the horse is gone.
 Roll the glory drumsl To the walls with the bannersl Honor, ali honor, to Hays and Stead, the grave Englishnen: homage to Astor and Harris, the true Americans happy tears for the dear old Jewish twain, Darby and Joan" a dia- dem for our journalist soldier boy, Geor- gia's and Kentucky's contribution to the holocaust Only honor and pridel "Women and children to the boats," the cry, and women and children to the boats it was; not a child missing, not a woman lost--save they that would not go-Angels receive our dead. "Let there be no moan ing at the bar" The deep enwraps the bodies that were theirs-each soul dear God, is safe at home at last
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-24
ALABAMA FOR UNDERWOOD

From the Louisville Courier-Journal.
 Alabama democrats are by no means re- luctant in expressing the opinion that Underwood is good presidential timber.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-24

state will do well to make 5O,00O,00O bushels of corn, and 1,25O,000 bales of cotton this year. However, it is too late to hope for a dry May.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-24

The republican national committee will begin to take testimony on contests at Chicago on May 21. It does not begin a day too soon.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-24

Colonel Roosevelt who used the steam roller in 1904 without mercy now says it must be abolished Circumstances alter
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-24

WHERE WAS SHAKESPEARE?
 The Monday Afternoon Shakespeare club was entertained yesterday afternoon at the home of Mrs. A. N. LaCombe. The programme for the afternoon was most interesting one and a number of excellent
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-24
FOND ANTICIPATION.

FOND ANTICIPATION There was girl in our town Whose pies were wondrous taking, To win her hand a suitor band Their necks were almost breaking. The man she chose felt very glad, Though she was not good looking. With glist'ning eyes he dreamed of pies And other fancy cooking.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-24

Chicago woman Is seeking divorce because of her husbands fondness for onions. Sour pigs feet are, however, worse still
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-24

MT. Ismay begins to think no doubt his tune could have been put in to better ad- vantage to himself at home.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-24

The price of gasoline has gone up as well as the price of hay. This is where the auto has nothing on the horse.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-24

Abe Ruef is writing the story of his life. He was sentenced to hard labor. and ne seems to have tackled it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-24

The unsuitable ship has gone to join the punctureless tire. painless dentistry and the burglar proof safe.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-24

Lillian Russell says nothing is beautiful except by comparison. The mother rhi- noceros considers her youngest as the sweetest creature in the world.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-24

Christopher Columbus was not up against any speed record. He sailed along in the most comfortable manner.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-24

will also assist in the performance of The New Life on Friday evening.
 The Theodore Thomas orchestra of 100 will be further augmented for the Berlioz Requiem.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-24

The convention system should go off and funess.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-24

Neither Lorimer nor Hines will be seat cd as delegate in the Chicago conven- ton.