davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-28

Tightening account of the experiences oi one "plebe.'
 For the first days in camp. the au- thor tells us, ..plebes are made to waik with their little fingers on the seams of their trousers, palms of the hands to the front. and depressing their toes as they walk; that is, striking the ground with the toe of the shoe first. It IS a very tiresome and ludriorous process, and is called 'finning out
 "A plebe walking quietly down the com pany street is observed by some visitors, when suddenly he throws out his hands and digs in his toes.
 "'Oh, Cadet Beanpole, why is that cadet walking so queerly? asks pretty girl
 That isn't a cadet; it's plebe. He walks that way because he wants to be graceful.
 "The true reason is that the poor pieoe heard some upper classman say; fin out there, mister; dig In those toes; tear up the gravel. What do you mean by dead beating and going bow-legged?'
 ''The cadets march to meals, to church, to swimming, to dancing, to everything, The plebes are placed in the rear rank oi all formations; and in counting tours they are supposed to count for their front rank file.
 "The first meal a plebe eats in the mess hall with the corps is never forgotten. Twelve cadets are seated at a table, at least three of whom are plebes. The cadet in charge of the table sits at the head, while a plebe called the gunner sits at the foot It is the duty of the gunner to call the table to attention each day and to announce the kind of dessert. As there is no bill of fare, and the dessert is diff ferent every day, this Is not always an easy job. If the gunner announces the dessert incorrectly, he is deprived of his portion.
 'sThe plebe on the gunner's right Is called the cocoa corporal, and on the left. the water corporal. It is duty of the cocoa corporal to pour out the cocoa, and the water corporal pours the water.
 ''The calets often have fierce and wonderfully built jelly called Felix trem- bled.' This concoction wabbles all over your plate, and derives it's name from cadet named Felix. one of the oldest living graduates who ate some or the mixture and trembled violently. Cadets who eat it have been trembling ever since. Molasses is called Sammy by the upper classmen. Plebes are required to call 1t the Right Reverend ME. Samuel. sir un- til they qualify, which is done by eating seven slices of bread and molasses, when they may call it Sammy
 After finishing their meals, pleoes are required to sit bolt upright and gaze nx- edly at potato stuck on matches in the center of the table. They are not allowed to feast their eyes upon the portraits of the great generals that decorate the walls of the mess hall, but must sit and brace until the command, 'Battalions, rise IS given, when they fall in and march back to camp"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-28
The Alabama Exposition

The committee appointed by Goy- ernor O'Neal to consider the question of celebrating Alabama's centennial, which occurs in 1919, will meet, it is understood, in October either in Bir. mingham during the state fair, or in Montgomery during the Montgomery f~ir. Dr. Thomas M. Owen is chair :-lan of the committee, and it is his purpose to arrange an interesting programme for the meeting.
 The Age-Herald's Montgomery cor espondent says that some distin- \ ,ished man from oAside of Ala
 Ia will be invited to address the - nnttee. Former Governor Francis
 Missouri will likely be urged to
 e and make the principal speech. twas president of the St. Louis Louisiana Purchase exposition held in 1894 and had more to do with making thaN great international show a sue cess han anyother one man.
 Md bile, Montgomery and Birming- ham Yill be comnetjtors for the Ala lama Exposition. and as was pointed
 this newspaper recently,
 ydmery's claims will include
 u hospitality. Mobile will sub
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-28

This will be difficult to secure when there are five candidates in the field.
 Mr. Howe, the democratic nomi- nee, was once a harnessmaker. He worked his way through college and is now one of the leading lawyers of the state. MT. Fletcher, the Taft nominee, may poll plurality of three or four thousand, but he certainly will not be elected by the people. The state has long been controlled by a railroad lobby and MT. Howe is as- sailing that lobby without mercy. h. equality of taxation is another issue, and MT. Howe is at home on that issue also. The Taft candidate for gov ernor is wealthy corporation promo ter, and he will spend money freely, and much of it will be railroad money, too. The bull moose nominee is a congregational minister, and he does not lack funds. The Perkins bank roll is often referred to in the pend ing campaign.
 After all, the most that can req sonably be expected in Vermont is an election sent to the legislature, but the legislature will no doubt be con- trolled by the Taft republicans, and so MT. Fletcher may become gover- nor. But he cannot get the office by the direct vote of the people. That much seems to be assured.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-28
In the Business World

"The adjournment of Congress gave strength to the stock market and made the business world in general moro buoyant," said well known investor and upbuilder,
 q have always voted the democratic ticket and intend to do so in Mo- vember, but Stanley. with his probe. was playing to the gallery and de- served no commendation or support from safe and sane business men. His investigation resulted in no good, but 1t was irritating to capital and hence it Is that business interests welcome adjournment
 This is a boom year in spite of politics. all industries will prosper during the remainder of 1912. I have no inside information but would all most be willing to bet that the wire mill at Corey will be the scene of great activity by the 1st of October
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-28
What the Democrats Did

Congress has adjourned, and before the work of the House had passed into history Speaker Clark took oc- casion to say that mo majority was ever more successfully led than by Representative Underwood" He went on to say that "the democrats had fought and won like veterans and constitute as thoroughly disciplined force as ever appeared in the House OF any other parliamentary body since parliamentary bodies were instituted among men, mastering their full strength on every important propo- sition and passing two great tariff bills over the Presidents veto, the first instance of the kind in the his- tory of the republic" This is praise indeed, coming from the Speaker who had to meet Mir. Underwood at Balti- more as a presidential candidate.
 MT. Underwood himsellf discussed the work of the session in a speech that appears in the Congressional Rec ord for August 21. Our distinguished member goes over the whole ground in this speech, showing that while the tariff work done was of the highest importance yet much other legislation of value was perfected.
 The speech is, however, particularly useful and valuable in it's explana- tions of what would have been saved to consumers if the tariff bills put through the House had not boen blocked in the Senate and White House. We add table prepared by Mir. Underwood, as follows:
 Equivalent ad valo-
 rem rate. Estimated
 (Average per cent) saving to
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-28

"The rewards of the lyceum and chau- tsuaua performers vary greatly says French Strother in the September World S Work. William Jennings Bryan makes $o,0o0 year as lecturer. Ex-Senator Frank J. Cannon, ex-Governor Folk. Hoch and Hanly, Dr. Harvey W. Wiley and Frances J. Heney-every one makes s10,- coo year or more Speaker Champ Clark, Senators LaFollette and Bristow and Gore. Judge Ben B. Lindsey, Governor Hadley. Representative Victor Murdock, and the Rev. Drs. s. Parker Cadman, Frank w. Gunsaulus and Newell Dwight Hills would every one make that much if he devoted his whole time to it at the rate he now receives for as many dates as he can spare from other work These men ordinarily receive goo to sa00 and their railroad fare for every lecture.
 These are the top liners Lesser att fractions are paid from $25 to s1O0 an ap- pearance Perhaps $50 week is a fair average for the humber ''entertainers'' who are hired by the year by the big bu- reauS.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-28
Now the red pestiiencc strikes all trades in Rome, And occupations perish!
 -Cymbeline.
Concerning Sunday Mail

The first announcement of the post office departments interpretation Of that section of the appropriation bill passed in the closing hours of Con- gress regulating the business of first and second class offices on Sunday was misleading.
 The report sent from Washington Monday was to the effect that the delivery of newspaper mail and hotel mail was prohibited benceforth on Sunday, but Postmaster General Hitchcock took up the matter yester- day and made reasonable ruling which, while minimizing Sunday work, leaves the situation almost as it was before the new bill was passed.
 The general delivery will be closed on Sunday, but mafl arriving Saturday night will be put up" as usual, and all holders of boxes can get mail Sun day as on any other day. Until the Postmaster General issued his ex- planatory statement, great confusion was anticipated. It was thought by some that business in the postoffice would be greatly congested on Mon day mornings, and that business houses would receive mail on Monday much later than usual. But nothing of the sort is to happen.
 4Aii will be glad to know that the postoffice employees are to have a good deal of Sunday rest, and it is safe to say that no pressure from the commercial world will be brought to bear in favor of an amendment of the law as it now stands.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-28
FEW GREAT SPEAKERS

In the department called The Inter- prefers House." in the September American Magazine, appears the follow ing:
 "so far as the writer knows. there are only two really fine speakers be- fore large assemblages in either party. They are W. J. Bryan and Bourke Cochran, although Woodrow Wilson, of whose eloquence his friends speak with much enthusiasm, remains to be put to the great test of addressing huge and sometimes hostile crowds. At times MT. Littleton of New York has shown signs of possessing the ancient gifts, but his early southern training is too much for him and he is apparently in- capable of resisting for more than five minutes the lure of false metaphor, alliteration and the other vices of trumpery oratory.
 "The reason for the decline seems plain enough. Always in this country the lawyers held almost monopoly of public speaking. Their practice at the bar kept them in constant training for their occasional appearances on the platform. Nowadays the best lawyers go seldom to court. They stay close in their offices, applying knowledge of the law and ingenuity in reasoning that would be thrown away on the aver age judge, to the building up and safe- guarding of large business undertake ings in which they are partners as well as counsel. They have altogether neglected the art of addressing the crowd and have neither the time nor tho inclination for the physical train ing which all great orators have found essential to the production of their calculated effects"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-28
Tn Tb,. prospcrou. Period

Considering it's youthful age youthful as cities go-Birmingham has many large public institutions,' said a professional man, "and some of these institutions such as hospitals and char fly homes, would do credit to any great city; but one of our pressing needs is Q public library building.
 We have library association and a free library in the city hall, but 1t is hoped that in these prosperous times an adequate library building will be erected. Birmingham is booming In a business way and indications point to a high degree of prosperity for several years to come"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-28
MIR. STRAUSS AND THE BALLET

with irresistible grace and charm. All this will now undoubtedly be changed, for the arch realist of Germany is going to take up the ballet and reform it as he has already reformed the music drama and the operetta.
 As yet the subject to be treated by MT. Strauss is not announced, but it is certain that no such trifie as Sylvia or Cop pelia" will attract his attention. Pos slbly the pursuit of Orestes by the Furies will interest him, and we may expect score calling for at least 125 instruments, including all varieties of phones and horns. Or the story of the Cyclops may be chosen and 50 kettledrums tuned in diff ferent keys may accompany the dance.
 But what would appear to be the most suitable ballet subject for MT. Strauss is the ancient dance of death. Into ballet of this type the distinguished composer of "SaIome' and "Elektra" could introduce all the horrors of orchestral music and all the tragedy of pantomime. Loie Full ler's dance of fire, Isadora Duncan's ''in- terpretation' of the seventh symphony the Swannhilde of Pavlowa and the statuesque bowman of Mordkine would all shrink to the dimensions of theatrical bubbles compared with the ponderous and appalling spectacle and the stunning music of the new ballet of Richard Strauss. Let us hope that there is still enough money in the possession of some theatrical syndicate to bring this new thing to America MT. Strauss prices are now unfortunately so high that no single manager, not even Oscar Ham, merstein, can afford him.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-28
rRouvII.LE THE EXTENSIVE

Harrison Rhodes in Harper's Magazine for
 September.
 A reminiscence of first visit to Trou- vile will perhaps be admissible. Sew eral years ago two young gentlemen start- ed from London for a holiday in France. One of them has since become one of England's foremost novelists; the other a. least the author of such articles as the present At that time funds were not too easily come by s..:i. there was moo- est sum in pocket for the trip. The two came to Havre by the night boat rom Southampton. and during the morning crossed the blue gray estuary of the Seine to the most famous of French seaside places, sitting between It's sands and its green hillside. It was in our heroes minds-wili the reader permit them to be 50 named?-that to Trouville had already gene the two loveliest ladies in the world; it was their intention before taking the Afternoon train to Caen to offer lunch at the Hotel de Paris to these fair creatures in style befitting the place. the time
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-28
wr,D prrrEn EIDE A WEE

By Charlotte Barnard, "Claribel." The puir aud folk at hame, ye mind Are fraiI and falling sair, And weel ken they'd miss me, lad,
 Gin I came hame na mair. The grist is out. the times are hard, The kline are only three, canna leave the auld folks now.
 wed better bide . wee. I canna leave the auld folks now,
 wed better bide wee. When first we told our story, lad.
 Their blessings fell sac free They gave no thought to self st all
 They did but think of mo ta But. laddie. that's time ava,
 And mither's like to dee, r I canna leave the auld folkp now,
 Wed better bide a wee. canna leave the auld folks now,
 Wed better bide a wee. I fear me sair they He failing baith,
 For when sit apart, TheXi1l talk O Heav'n sac earnestly,
 It&sllnigh breaks my heart! So laddie. dinna urge me mair.
 It surely wilma be, canna leave the aul3 folks now.
 Wed better bide . Kee, canna leave the auld folks now.
 wed better tids wee,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-28
ONE EXCEPTION
rom the New York Press.

From the New York Press.
 There are so many ways of offending waiter at a big restaurant that it seems difficult to think up a new one, but customer who lunched at famous hos telry achieved 1t. Being in a sentimental. contempiative mood, the customer re- marked; 1T suppose people from every country under the sun dine here, eh?'
 Tt is depressing to reflect on the gem erations that have sat at these old tables" the customer resumed dreamily. "old and young. grave and gay. from far and near rich and poor"
 At that point in the reverie the wait CT fiared up indignantly. Not poor, he corrected. Ut costs money to eat in this place."
 Then he presented the bill, and the cus- toner agreed that 1t did.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-28

init a number of claims, commercial and social, but Birmingham, being the steel center of the south, and being in a great agricultural belt as well, to say nothing of it's large size, will be the ideal place.
 In this connection Birmingham as an exposition city will have the ad- vantage over other cities, north and south, in which worlds fairs or ex- positions have been held, by the ex- perience of those who managed the former events. Governor Francis could certainly tell us all about the St. Louis fair; how it's plans were developed and how mistakes might be avoided in Alabama. The managers of the Columbian Worlds fair at Chi eago in 1893 could give us points, and so could some of the New Orleans men who managed the great cotton exposition of 1885.
 Of the more recent expositions of large scope, were the Jamestown show at Norfolk, and the Alaska Yukon Pacific exposition at Seattle. Mana gers and committeeman who served in exposition cities would be only too glad to give information of practical kind to the Alabama Cen tennial committee.
 Alabama's centennial is yet seven years off, but seven years will be needed to finance, plan and build.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-28

was race week. the height of tte Trou- vile season-and the depth of the hosts admiration. All this was done, yet the story. at its climax. becomes financial rather than a sentimental one. The im- pulse of hospitality resulted in a pretty accurate division of the fund for travel. ing into two equal parts. With half. our friends paid for lunch-a good lunch for four-with the other half they met the expenses of a pleasant 10 days trip through the Normandy towns and villages. Trouville Is not. let it be- frankly admit ted at the outset, a refuge for the econom- ically minded.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-28
RESTRICTIONS OF. A BACHELOR

From the New York Press.
 Shoestrings are more important than ancestors.
 A woman has to be mighty optimistic not to feel, if there is a hole in. her stock ing, that everybody else knows it.
 The reason a woman never feels cold in very light clothes that are pretty is she would if they were heavy and ugly.
 Some men can walk into collision with the active nozzle of hose and think 1t was only bad luck that they got caught in the rain.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-28
Agricultural As Well A. Mineral

Many persons outside of Alabama have an idea that Birminghams only natural resources are mineral. but I have been struck with the fact that tributary to this city is agriculture as well as the coal and iron business said P F. Wormley of Chicago. Many cities of considerable size thrive on agricultural resources alone. Others thrive on manufacturing business alone. Birmingham has both farm products and the products of the mine to make it prosperous.
 While the greater part of Alabama s cotton crop is produced south of Bir- mingham considerably more than 100,- 900 bales, am told. are ginned with in radius of 50 or 50 miles of this city. Alabama is coming to be great corn Atate and a great deal of ethe corn crop is made near Birmingham. This city has developed considerab ble jobbing trade and while coal. iron and steel will always be it's mainstays, it is certain to become one of the great merchandise cities of the south"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-28
yermont's Warm Campaign

It should be remembered that in the Vermont election of next Tuesday the winner must receive a majority vote. A plurality vote would simply throw the election into the legisla- ture. About 54,O0O votes will be cast and a candidate for governor needs therefore one more than 27,0OO votes.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-28
Presidential Campaign Funds

Every democrat in Alabama should contribute some amount no matter how small. to the national democratic campaign fund" said an old. voter.
 ''I can remember when the demo- crats spent about as much money as the 900, 900 or $s,000,00o in a campaign. That was so. be- lieve, in 1876, to say nothing of later campaigns; but the time has come vixen the public conscience calls for democratic and not plutocratfc sub- scriptions to the democratic cause. Yet it takes money to run campaign on strictly 1egitimate' lines.
 "Woodrow Wilson is opposed to big subscriptions from lti-millionaires or large corporations. It is all the moro important. then. that the masses chip in
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-28

Alexis Suvorin, Russia's greatest editor, Is dead He made the "Novoe Vremya" a power In public affairs in his country where newspapers are not fully appre- ciated.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-28

Uncle Joe Cannon has promised his dis trict that if 1t will send him back once more he will not make the race again. They should have the bargain put in black and white.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-28
HIs ExcLusrvE cosruME.


 The costumer came forward to attend to the nervous old beau who was mop ping his bald and shining poll with a big silk handkerchief. And what can I do for your" he asked.
 "I want little help in the way of a suggestion" said the old fellow. T inc tend going to the French students mas querade ball tonight, and want a dis tinctly original costume-something may be sure no one else will wear. What would you suggest?' The costumer looked him over atten- lively, bestowing special notice on the gleaming knob.
 Well, I'll tell you," he said then, thoughtfully: "why don't you sugar your head and go as pill?"
 -Lippincotts
 THE CONFIRMED SORT. Some men are so pessimistic they don't even hope that some day coin will come into their possession which will be worth at least twice it's face value.
 SHOULD BE REMOVED. You say. he is useless in his present position?"
 Yes"
 How useless?' "oh, about as useless as a lemon seed in glass of iced tea"
 PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-28

The process of spraying peach trees has lodged arsenate of lead in the cans of some of the largest canneries of Geor- gia, and the pure food law agents are con- sidering the cases. No spraying should be done within 60 days of the picking sea
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-28

Charlie Hilles IS the best young claimer that has yet appeared He seems to think that William Howard Taft has walk over. Charlie stands lone in that opinion, but he does not care for a little matter like that.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-28

The colonel will soon return to litera- ture, and the St. Louis Republic suggests that he write a history of the country to
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-28

A Texan admits that he reads daily the Congressional Record from end to end, and yet his friends have not seen fit to send him 1.-the bug house.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-28

"when a person or business acquires the habit of being the under dog, there is no hope for it to rise to the top said Emerson, and Mobile is trying to over come the habit.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-28

The reports of Dr. Suns death were greatly exaggerated. He Is in Picking, where he and President Yuan are chum- ming together happily.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-28
MERE VAPORINGG.

man once went to swell hotel
 And did not give single tip; The truth we might as well confess
 In Sunderland he took that trip. He woke up soon, had been nowhere.
 The whole affair was just dream. Thus fancy dupes our fevered brains
 And things are. seldom what they seem,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-28

Songs and vaudeville stunts marked the closing hours of Congress. Official buffoon- cry is confined to this country.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-28
pLEBE.s LIFE AT WEST POINT

Notwithstanding the efforts to suppress hazing, the path of a.''plebe" at our fam ous military academy is not exactly rose strewn. W. s. Sample. in the September Lippincott's. gives an amusing and en-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-28

MT. Taft used while Congress lasted the veto power freely. but on November 5 t will be the peoples turn to use the veto pen.