davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-20

educated body, and 1t Is going into it's middle forties with health and strength, that our boy, Bill, may have to work for
 It all amounts to this: That my school was life and the living of it. The woods and the chores and the play and the books and the teachers seemed to be part of reality. Bilrs school seems real enough. But his play and his work seem rather empty. His manual work is the best he can do. But 1t has not trained his hands as work with an ax and a jackknire might, it seems to me. He still has trouble with nine times six and his eight times seven, and his seven times nine. that he might not have if he had learned his tables to the tune of Yankee Doodle''
 But it's Bills problem, not mine. Prob ably he and his fellows will make bet ter men than Bill Betts and l. For the world moves. The new system will work some way, and the world will go edgng along toward the millennium. And Bill will go with it, and think his father a radical old fogy without much sense. That is the way of the world. But it is inter- esting to consider for a moment the two systems of education-Bilfs school and mine.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-20
HOOK WITHOUT ERRATA

From "The Printer and Publisher"
 Charles Winslow Hall, in National Mag
 azine for January.
 A London publisher once determined to publish at least one book which should be faultless in the matter of errata He had the proofs corrected by his own proofreaders with the greatest care until tsiey had exhausted their skill and pa tience, and assured him that there were nc longer any errors to be eliminated. Taking duplicate proofs of the last re- wise, he sent them to the universities and other large publishing houses offering large money prizes for each error dis covered. A few errors only were found, and after everyone had a chance to de- tect any additional errors the plates were made, the book printed expensively bound, and sold as an absolutely perfect book, and unique in all literature, For a long time this was conceded. but six or eight months after it's publication, a let ter called the publishers attention to an error in a certain line and page Later a second was announced, and before the first year had elapsed some four or five errors had been reported.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-20
Well Regulated Saloons

"In the large cities of the east the saloons in the business districts have long since been models in their way, and I am glad to see in the southern cities, where there used to be complaint about the way the retail liquor dealers conducted their places of business. a marked improvement" said John B. Bertram of Buffalo, N. Y.
 'I visit the south once in two or three years The last time was in Birming- ham, Alabama was a prohibition state. The time before that saloons were H. censed here, but with few exceptions there was an objectionable atmosphere l am not much of drinking man, but I frequently take a glass of beer in a saloon. From all appearances and from all l have heard. Birmingham saloons of today are characterized by the ut most decorum.
 "There is no excuse for any city al lowing dives to exist. They are offen- sive to the better class of men who drink in saloons as well as to a large class who oppose the liquor traf fife al together. In Richmond and Norfolk and in Jacksonville, Fla, found sub stantially the same high class saloon conditions that I observe in Brming ham.
 By the way, Richmond, Birmingham and the other southern cities where liQ- uor is dispensed legally make a much better impression on the stranger than the way the liquor traffic is handled in prohibition states like North Caro- lima, Georgia and Tennessee. Much hypocrisy is noticeable in the so-called dry cities, In Atlanta beer is sold in great quantities, but it is not lawfully sold, for I understand that only near beer Is permitted by law. In the cities of Tennessee -I am familiar with Memphis Nashville and Chattanooga saloons are wide open. Such demoral- izing conditions as one finds in evil dence in the prohibition states may not affect society directly, but if the peo . pie in those prohibition states continue | to ignore the law and do it with the connivance of officials and the public generally, then in the course of time
 the morals of a prohibition community | will be at a frightfully low ebb."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-20
Steel Before Wool

On Monday next the democrats of the House will discuss the iron and steel schedule that Chairman Under wood will lay before them. When a steel revision bill made up of moder- ate and reasonable rates has been adopted by the' democrats of the House Oscar W. Underwood will stand fully vindicated of the secret charge of his enemies, namely, that he stood ready to reduce all rates except those on steel and iron. Mr. Underwood needed no vindication in Alabama, but his enemies in Nebraska and else where do need just such rebuke as the coming steel bill will no doubt present, for no "jokersp will be found in any bill that Mr. Underwood re- ports.
 The shift of tariff activities from textiles to iron and steel is no evidence that the democrats have changed front All schedules are to be re- vised, and the metal schedule may as well come first as at any other time. The wool and cotton schedules will be reported in due season. It is perhaps better to get the metal and chemical and sugar schedules out of the way before the long discussion over the wool and cotton schedules is begun. The plan adopted promises to put some schedules before the President, and consideration of the wool sched- ule at the outset might block all tar if legislation by this Congress.
 Any tariff bill that goes to the President will be based on revenue only. It will present the great issue of the campaign-protection for pro- tection's sake, for profits in other words, or revenue duties in accord ance with the constitution. This is the issue, and the taking up of the steel schedule promises to carry this issue to the President at the earliest possible moment. Chairman Under wood has acted wisely in giving the metal schedule the right of way and postponing the wool schedule that will be discussed to frazzle at later time in the session.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-20
BIRMINGHAM AND MONTGOMERY

From the Mobile Register.
 A magazine called the Survey recently had some criticism to make in a series O. articles about Birmingham and the state of Birmingham affairs and the convict system of Alabama, and it is rather anus ing to note the difference in the angle of view taken of this article by the Mont gomery Advertiser and The Birmingham Age-Herald. The former paper works itself up into quite a frame of mind over the Surveys articles, while The Age-Her- aid takes an entirely different view of them and rather commends the writers as nice fellows sent out by the Carnegie foundation to find out things about Bir- mingham. and intimating that there is no need to get mad about what they had to say. If Birmingham is satisfied Mont gomery certainly ought to be. But per haps this is a case of the punishment hurting mother worse than it does the child.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-20
sfranr for nenf

Senator E. M. Lovelace of Brewton ts not a candidate for congressman of the Second district. It has been stated in several of the weekly papers of the state that he would oppose Congressman Dent
 "rhe statements were untrue" stated Senator Lovelace. q am not candidate for several reasons, one of which is that don't want the job. I have no idea how the report became scattered abroad
 'I am a strong advocate of the re-elec- tion of Congressman Dent, and l am cer- tain that he will be successful in the impending campaign. But were Congress- man Dent to retire from the race. I would not run. I wouldn't have the job were 1t rendered me on a platter
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-20
MINCE PIES AND COLLEGE GIRLS

From the New York World.
 Mince pie has endured from genera ton to generation and is not cast down. It has suffered long from the attacks of critics for whom 1t is strong meat. but it still is kind to those who love it and whom 1t loves It gives and needs strength. We note without despondence the attempt in various New England colleges for girls to give this delectable dish a new bad name and hang it.
 Tt is ruinous for the complexion" says one preceptress. And another prates of technicalities of digestion. But at good old Wellesley they have mince three times a year for the girls who cannot go home for the holidays" and there you have the whole case for the libered pastry in a sentence. Mince pie is the home pie. It spells Thanksgiving and Christmas and a Happy New Year and back to the farm and good for the old folks and all sorts of things that keep together the families in which the nation is great.
 Complexion, Why, the country was full of them before any food critic drew the hot air of life And it will be full of them still when the last foe of mince pie falls under the crust that mother makes. As for the girls col leges-wen if the higher education is raising a parcel of daughters that cannot stand mince pie, it surely is not bringing up a band of sisters en- titled to the ballot
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-20
WHAT IS A SPORT.

From the New York World.
 By the will of a wealthy citizen who left s200000 to the National League for the Promotion of Physical Culture, the French courts and the French academy have been confronted by perplexing problem The bequest was made for the purpose of en- couraging sport" In the French diction- ary there Is no such word. The term is well meaning in law or literature. Hence arises a difficulty in construing the will.
 It is believed that the academy will adopt the word and define 1t as meanings: "A combination of muscular efforts intelli- gently directed accomplished by men and animals and regulated with sufficient in genuity for mankind to find amusement in it." That definition would include dancing, as well as eroquet and humble the peg. It would exclude lynching, which has been defined as the king of outdoor sports, and also poker and other games whose adopts are generally known among us as ''real live sports"
 Whether automobiing as now practiced can be defined as "a combination of mus cular efforts inteligently directed is questionable; yet it passes undisputed as sport On the other hand, street parading behind a brass band on civic holidays. though generally regulated with suffi- cient ingenuity for mankind to find amusement in it. is not called a sport. Finally, one mans sports is anotheu mans nuisance, as the frog in the fable said to the boys that were throwing stones at him. It would appear that sport is anything a sporty person likes. If the French court be wise it will set the bequest aside on the ground that 1t is opposed to public welfare.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-20
Departmental Machinery

In message to Congress the Presi- dent advocates economy and eff ciency in the government service. He wants the administrative affairs of the various departments placed under the civil service. At present clerks { only are thus placed, and the Presi- dent asks that all below the cabinet officers be put beyond the reach of the politicians.
 Beyond this he wants the economy and efficiency commission continued It has been at work about IS months, and the President says it has accom- plished no little toward putting the departments on a better basis. Through this commission he hopes to see the government departments re- organized until they adopt business methods equal to those of the big cor porations.
 The changes needed are discussed in the message at great length. The government spends about billion a year, and strange to say it is the only great government that is operated < without budget. Without an annual budget a definite programme of ex- ,enditures cannot well be secured.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-20
MARY
MARY WHIRLS A STRING OF
"BILI.1 cLAYRuRN.

"Bill' Clayburn has passed from the scenes in which he delighted to play conspicuous part to another realm, where brave hearts say, 'tAll will be well'' and less confident travellers hope for the best. "Bill' was 8 hotel porter and for many years was a public character at An rfston. During all that time his fidelity and zeal were never questioned. He had big voice, a big laugh and big heart and the hue of his skin was a secondary consideration. Bills" urbanity and the serio-comic way in which he upheld his dignity among the less shining members of his race furnished material for many amusing stories. He was seldom visible at the railroad station without his cigar and his person was always as resplendent- ly attired as his means would allow. Quarters and half dollars came often to Bills" capacious hand and they came spontaneously, without any regrets on the part of the donors He had a great many friends and the writer of these words was one of his friends
 PAUL COOK. |
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-20

This question and many others equal ly interesting are discussed in the message. The message is sound and practical, and yet it's recommends tions will not be needed in a year largely devoted to politics. Mr. Taft should have unfolded his economy and efficiency programme a year at least sooner. He is going out in a whirl of politics, and Congress will not listen to his propositions.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-20
Wives may he merry, and vet honest foo. Merry Wives of Windsor.
Changing Inauguration Day

Congressman Henry of Texas lets no opportunity go unimproved to ad- vance his plan for changing inaugura- tion day from March 4 to the last Tuesday in April. A constitutional amendment is necessary, and such an amendment will som be reported to the House by the committee on judi cinary, and it will quickly be passed by the House. No matter how quick ly it is advanced it cannot be ratified by. the states so as to go into effect untl 1917.
 The following table, prepared by the friends of the movement, shows that an inauguration in March means bad weather two times out of three:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-20
4 Veteran Aroused

'I believe in the largest liberty to all citizens," said a Confederate veteran and puritanism Is utterly abhorrent to any nature; but when the almost sacred name of General Lee is commercialized so as to advertise a brand of whisky feel like an entire mob with an undertaken within convenient call. To us of the Gray it is proclamation and an insult. Doubt less, the men who prostituted the great name to such purpose, knew not what they did'-and the newspapers that pub lished the advertisement did so without reflection. Believing that both acted in ignorance of the consequence, I can for give them; butfn the name of all that IS decent in life and sacred in southern his tory, l protest against the reappearance of these labels upon the name of Robert E. Lee.
 Traditions are mighty things in the life of a people and public sentiment is more potent than political principle in shaping a peoples destiny. Such adver- tisements will do more to make the pro- hibition of the liquor traffic popular and possible, than all the arguments reformers could make or all the tales of woe the fanatics could tell"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-20
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR

From the New York Press.
 Real brains never stop to tell you they are
 A man who can have the bathroom pipes freeze without swearing is as good as in heaven.
 when a man falls overheard he has a chance to get fished out, but when he gets married there he is.
 When anybody in the family is afraid in say how old some aunt is, it's a sign she has plenty of money.
 man is just as sure as sure can be that wearing his hair like some famous person is great credit to him.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-20
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Underwood and the Presidency

'eThe republicans are almost sure to nominate Taft to succeed himself, but if the democrats nominate Underwood the country will probably have democratic president said Newton F. Harmsworth of Chicago.
 T call myself a republican. although l once voted for Grover Cleveland, and in 1908 I failed to vote at all. l have not made up my mind how I shall vote next November, but if Underwood is the demo- cratic candidate I will probably vote for him. I am satisfied from talks l have had with the republicans that they had rather see the democrats nominate any body but Underwood. They have an idea that President Taft would have an easy victory over any other of the possible democratic candidates. Underwood's mas tery of the tariff question makes him par tieularly strong, but from all accounts he is a good all round man-equipped in every way for the presidential office
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-20
Jefferson's Grand Old Man

Comparatively few people have ever seen a person who has withstood the buffetings of this world one hundred years, and yet Jones valley has in Joseph Howell such man. He has passed the century mark, and he still enjoys good health. He is veteran of the civil war, in which he served from the beginning to the end. For a short time he was a prisoner of war, but he speedily escaped to re- sume his fight for the Confectionery.
 Up to two years ago our oldest in habitant was successful farmer, and he is living now on the proceeds of his labors. He was born in Georgia and part of his busy life was spent in Texas, but his years of residence in Alabama exceed all his other years.
 Jefferson county is proud of it's citizen who has crossed the century line. How many of the other 66 coun- ties in this state can boast cente- marian? Jefferson county presents Joseph Howell, a man who has al ways avoided bad company and bad habits. This is why he promises to become the blue ribbon bearer of the state, for he has no intention of crossing the divide in the immediate future. He proposes to see what some of the years of the twentieth century have to divulge.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-20
THE NATURAL THING
rom the Housekeeper

From the Housekeeper
 There cried Jonathan to a newly arrived Irishman, he waved his hand in the direction of the Horseshoe falls at Niagara. There, now isn't it won derful?r Wonderful? Whats wonderful about that?'' Why to see all that water come laundering over those rocks"
 Faith then, to tell ye the honest truth was the response, "Oi can't see anything so wonderful about that. What is thir to prevint 1t from comin' over?"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-20

Since 1873 there have been but three fine inauguration days, and seven in which all attendants were exposed to wind and cold, resulting
 in many cases to illness and even to deaths. There is no reason in the world why inauguration day should moi. be -postponed to April. This would lengthen the next Presidents $ term about seven weeks but few Pres idents would object to longer term. Mr. Underwood certainly would not.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-20
LIFE \ BUBBLE

Bv William Drummond of Hawthorndsr. This life, which seems so fair, Is like a bubble blown up in the air By sporting ehildren's breath, Who chase it everywhere. And strive who can most motion it b>
 queath; M t And though it sometimes seem of iz
 own might. Like to an eye of gold, to be fixed there And firm to hover in that empty height That only is because it is so light. But in that pomp it doth not long appear; For even when most admired, it in 6
 thought, As swelled frosA nothing, doth dissolve
 in nausht.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-20
MAN AND WOMAN

SNeuenDoIS.
 Man is born an understanding and woman love. The wife cannot enter into the proper duties of the man; nor the man. on tine other hand. into the proper duties of the wife; because they differ, as wisdom and it's love, or thought and its affection, or understanding and it's will In the proper duties of men the understanding, thought and wisdom act the chief part.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-20
ESSAY ON MAN.

ESSAY ON MAN O, man was made to laugh and sing In days of sunshine and of spring; But when the winds of winter blow, Then man is made to shovel snow,
 Washington Star o, man is made to snovef snow And yet may laugh and sing "Yohor But there is sorrow in his soul When he is made to pay for coal.
 Milwaukee Sentinel A man is made to shovel snow, And pay for coal-a merry qup. And when the winds of winter blow, He's also made to catch the grip.
 Detroit News. But man was made. say what you will, To work regardless of the climes, And therefore cannot hope to fill The bill with other peoples rhymes.
 St. Louis Post Dispatch. 'Tis true he may not "fill the bill'' And still contriye to keep his place. But these small jingles bardlets trill Are very fine for filling space.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-20
naRyEy,s NEW ORNAMENT
nm the Nem York Sun.

From the New York Sun.
 Col. George Harvey. the discovefer and inventor. so long the patron, poet and head boomsman of the Hon. Wood row Wilson, has resigned by request He explains why the god of his idolatry is absent from the shrine in Franklin Square. why the sacred name stands at the head of those columns no more, alas! no more. 1t was taken down "in response to statement made to us directly by Governor Wilson to the effect that our support was affecting his candidacy in- juriously." Like the gallant soldier and unselfsh chevalier of political virtue he is, Colonel Harvey, with what a bursting heart we can only feebly imagine. obeyed
 "Charlotts was a married lady.
 And moral man was Werther,
 And for all the wealth of Indies,
 Would do nothing for to hurt her."
 We hope it is no rash effusion to say that, in memory of this beautiful episode fin the history of gratitude, Colonel Har- yey is now wearing brass serpent's tooth on his watch chain.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-20
Senator Smiths Farm Bill

The bill of Senator Hole Smith of Georgia to aid the state agricultural schools in farm extension work is one that will attract attention in the south as well as in the west. It ap- propriates $6000 state and provides for the further distribution of from s5O0,0oO to $8Oo,00O among the states according to rural populations, all to go to the college or colleges in each state that establish an agricultural extension department.
 The farmer boy is going to college to learn scientific farming, and Sena- tor Smiths bill is drawn to increase this instruction and to extend the work by means of farmers institutes even to the farmers themselves.
 The bill is one that means the de- velopment of the untitled acres in the country as we'll as the better cultiva- ton of those that are titled. It is a bill that should be passed, for it re- lates to the very foundation of the country's prosperity.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-20
THE RIGHT KIND.

HE RIG1I KIND. We much admire philanthropists Who help wights in distress, And never seem to think they ought To tell it to the press; Who often lend a helping hand When troubles all about, But never stop to sermonize And leave the lectures out.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-20

on which the people of Atlanta realize nothing; 8, 900. checks drawn on local banks. paying accounts to local people, through which every citizen of Birmihg- ham is benefited, more or less
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-20
great
THERE ARE OTHERS
i the New York Mail.

From IIlt NFW UI K NdII.
 In our adolescent inexperience We cher ished the notion that hotel clerks and hcolx store attaches were the most con- s,pjcuous of the uninteligents. Yesterday, however telegraph operator objected to our using "juxtapose" in a night let Ter. we dent allow code words,,' said he. And for the life of us we couldn't think of snappy comeback.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-20
FAR-FETCHED WOE.

"Grimpers is always worrying about something"
 Whats troubling him now?"
 ''He says the price of snails in Paris has risen from s5 to SS a thousand.'' 'Is Grimpers very fond of snails?" Not at all. He is simply long-dis- tance worrler"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-20
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
4 SORT OF DREAM c1RI

A SORT OF DREAM GIRL. A calendar upon my wall
 Is eharmingly displayed I don't care for the dates at all. But much admire the maid Whose face smiles down at me all day. Until my eyes grow misty And l would fain some plaudits pay To Howard Chandler Christy.