davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-21

The Rockford Star paragrapher ad-
vises his readers that the purchase Of
a $500 fur coat by member of the
tobacco trust for his wife is a pipe
dream
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-21

Relieved.
81 hate to seem ofticious. Fred. but
that Bill is no friend of yours
You don't mean it. WhSS has he
been doing?
He is going round telling lies about
you"
"Oh, just liesw
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-21

Governor Johnson says defeat Of his
party is but an accident. To an out
slider 1t apears like a total wreck.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-21
THE TARULATION.

The Chicago Inter-Ocean publishes
a table showing the popular vote for
president from the days of Jackson
TO the present time. Here 1t is:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-21
Natural Inquiry.
Nothinq to That,

Nothing to That.
"How do they like the new ministerT'
Fine. He plays football with the
boys, talks politics to the men and
makes a good hand at bridge"
But how about his sermons?"
"Oh, l don't know. Hardly any of
them ever heard him preach"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-21

This silence from the Oyster Bay
region has reached the point of really
being ominous.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-21
In Good Time,

In Good Time.
Some day the human race will fly
That truth we can vouchsafe-
II any one is left alive
When flying Is made safe.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-21

President Taft was converted 70 his
anti-second term theory about Nov. 5.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-21
Comparative.

Comparative.
81 hear the village is enjoying a
BOOM
Enjoying It? 1t is just reveling in
one"
What are the manifestations"
Isl Perkins is putting a new stoop
on his house"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-21
BY THE ). W. POTTER CO.

TERMS-rea cents per week. by car
rier. in Rock IA and
Complaints OF delivery service should
be made to the circulation department.
which SHOULD also be notified in every
instance where Il Is desired to have
paper discontinued. as carriers have no
authority IN the premIses
An communications OF arguments tive
character. political or religious. must
have real name attached for publ:ca-
ton No suck articles win be printed
over fictitious Signatures.
Telephones In ell departments: Cen
trRl Union. Vest las. Il4s and s146:
Union Electric. sI45.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-21
Quite So.

(which do you like better. motor
car or a good driving horse?'
We'll. that depends upon which man
takes me out riding the oftenest."
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-21
A Slam.

A Slam.
as she dramaticT'
well, she goes through a hair rails
ing performance every night"
"She does? Where?"
I'm her bedroom when she disrobes
her head"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-21
THE ARGUS.

Published Daily at 1924 Second ave-
nue.. Rock Island. Ill Entered at the
postofiice as second class matter)
Rock Island Member OF the Associated
Press.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-21

InartIstIc,
did Name turn pale when she heard
thee distressing nevsg"
"All but one cheek"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-21
PERT PARAGRAPHS.

You never can tell. unless it ia
scandal. that you Oughtn't to.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-21

Sometimes he's called fool because
he does ask question that a wise
man can't answer
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-21

All the news all the time.-The Argus.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-21

You can't fool a man all the time.
but somebody else probably can when
you aren't on the job.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-28
-----------=st PLAY AND THE PUBLIC

Hamlin Garland in the February Metro
 roitan.
 I am member of club in New York in which nothing but plays and players are discussed. "The public wants this;" "the public will not stand for that" 'the rublic demands heart interest,"" the pub lie loves fight" and so on. One would think that each user of this phrase had a perfectly definite notion of distinctly outlined group of people, ali waiting with their dollars in their fists eager to enter the theatre door upon hearing the talis- manic words punch" or "heart interest, . whereas, as a matter of fact, each speak CT is merely saying that there is a public which insists on farce. another which welcomes Indecency (provided it Is deftly set forth), and a third which loves mel odrama and the smoke of the pistol.
 There are indeed hundred existing publcs and a thousand potential phblics in this great nation of nearly 100,000000 of people; nothing is too low and nothing too high to fail of an audience. If you seek for proof of 1t, study the book read irg world. There is a public for Edith Wharton, and public for Laura Jean Libbey. There is @ public for ConaE Doyle and public for William Dean Howells. George Barr McCutcheon has his public, out Arnold Bennett is not for gotten. In precisely the same fashion the theatre going world furnishes pub lie for Man and Superman' and a pub lie for 'Rebecca of Snnybrook Farm and so far oe we know. the public which demands "rhe Girl in the Taxi lives side by side with the public which supports "Disraell."
 In view of all these facts, it is blither- ing nonsense to talk in this loud, firm voice about what the public wants and what it doesn't want The plain fact is the public doesn't know what it wants nntil 1t is offered and tasted.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-28

Roualeyn Gordon Cumming in the Kan
 sas City Times.
 One of the most striking things connect- ed with the lion is his voice, which is extremely grand and peculiarly striking. It consists at times of low, deep moan ing, repeated five or six times, ending in faintly audible sighs; at other times he startles the forest with loud, deep toned, solemn roars, repeated five or six times in quick succession, each increasing in loudness to the third or fourth, when his voice dies away in five or six low, muffled sounds, very much resembling distant thunder. At times, and not unfrequently, a troop may be heard roaring in concert, one assuming the lead and two, three or four more regularly taking up their parts, like persons singing a catch. They roar louder in cold, frosty nights; but on no occasions are their voices to be heard In such perfection, or so intensely power ful, as when two or three strange troops of lions approach a fountain to drink at the same time. Whsn this occurs, every member of each troop sounds bold roar of defiance at the opposite parties; and when one roars, all roar together and each seems to vie with his comrades in the intensity and power of his voice. The power and grandeur Of these nocturnal forest concerts is inconceivably striking and pleasing to the hunters ear As a general rule, lions roar during the night their signing moans commencing as the shades of evening envelop the forest, and continuing at intervals throughout the night. In distant and se- cluded regions, however, I have constant ly heard them roaring loudly as late as 9 and 10 o'clock on bright, sunny morn ing. In hazy and rainy weather they are to be heard at every hour of the day, but their roar is subdued.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-28
A NOVEL DANCE

From the New York Times.
 one of the most novel dances of the season was given recently.
 The surprise of the evening came after supper. The guests were seated at small tables and the supper favors were paper pierrots. The decorations in the small ballroom were greens, broken by white roses.
 When the guests returnued to the large ballroom they found that it had been transformed in many ways. A large cleo t~ic moon shone from the conservatory at the west end of the ballroom and calcium lights were used to give the effect oi moonlight in other parts of the ballroom
 Suddenly from tho high ceiling, winch is frescoed to represent sky, white paper clown slowly descended, carrying a basket filled with paper snowballs. Simultaneously the snow began to fall. This was done by means of great quan- tities of white confetti being dropped from the ceiling, and electric fans, hidden among the green of the balconies, af- forded breeze which sent the confetti flying in all directions,a5
 As a majority of the guests wore the white and black rierrot costumes the scene wn;cL followed was one of great plcturesqueness. The dancing began then in what appeared to be whirling snow storm, and before the moon disappeared the dancers and fioo- were covered with paper snow.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-28
Panama Canal Tolls

No more pressing matter is before Congress than the making of a toll sheet for the Panama canal. The Hay-Pauncefote treaty stipulates that the canal shall be opened on equal terms and without discrimination to the vessels of all nations and of the subjects or citizens of all nations This would seem to shut out the prop osition in favor of high tolls for the ships of other nations and no tolls for those of this nation.
 The canal could, it is true, be made free to the ships of all the world. This would be a clear gift of about $15, 100000 year by this country to other countries, for the operating ex- penses of the canal will be about $3, 3,000,000 year, and the interest at 3 per cent on the cost of the canal $400, ,00O, ,O00-would be $12,00O,O00 or $15, 100000 all told. But why should the people of this country be taxed $15, 10000 year to benefit the ships of other nations?
 A still keener question arises over the use of the canal. If the transcon- tinental railroads are to control the only regular we'll conducted line of passenger ships between, say, New York and San Francisco, where indeed does any benefit come to the people who put $400, ,O00,0O0 in the canal The transcontinental railroads are planning to control freight and pas senger shipments through the canal, and they are very powerful in Wash ington and out of it. They crushed the attempt to start Baltimore line to San Francisco, and they stand ready no doubt to crush any other competitor that may appear other than tramp or excursion steamers. The entire toll problem is one full of points and difficulties, and Con gress cannot rightly postpone it's solution much longer, for the ship ping agencies of the world want time in which to make plans to conform to the canal toll policy at Panama.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-28
THE ORDERLY JEW

From Leslie's Weekly.
 In every country of the world in which they reside, however, the Jews are among the most orderly elements of the populace. About 1,sOO,oOo of the 100000 Jews of the world reside in the United States. In pro- portion to numbers, they are of the most valuable components of our population. Russia. with 100000, and Austria-Hun- gary, with 100000, are the only countries that lead the United States in number of their Jewish people. More than half the entire number in this country reside in New York city. In this one municipal ity there are more Jews than are in any other four other cities in the world. Many times more Jews are in New York than were in Jerusalem when at it's most pop ulous stage. More are in New York than were ever in the whole of Palestine. Every fifth person met on the streets Of New York belongs to the Jewish race. Naturally we insist that they shall have the same rights abroad that are accorded to all other classes of Americans.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-28
WHAT DEMI TAssE.

Paris Letter to the Brooklyn Eagle.
 It is a little thing but I.have intended to write about 1t for a long time; for nearly all Americans make the mistake of asking for "demi tasse" when they want a small cup of after dinner black coffee.s Well, in France people do not know what Americans mean by "demi tasse" I saw the expression in one of the American magazines and wondered if that is what a cup of black coffee is called in America. James Hagen, New Yorker who Is in Brooklyn, described his experience to me and his story will prove that "demi tasse' is not the ex- pression used here in ordering black coffee. He told me that. not being able to use French. he made himself under stood by pantomime, which is the uni versal language. For instance" said he, -.I went to a restaurant where it was advertised that English was spoken and went there for my dinner. When I asked for the man who speaks English they went somewhere to find him. and after he had explained things to a French waiter he left for that unknown soneWneie. put Ndhteu my deml tasse after dinner and asked the waiter for demi tasse. He did not under stand and brought me large glass in a, silver cup with a handle and showed 1t to me. Then I put pantomime into play. showed by gestures that I wanted a small cup, then showed him something black and tried to pronounce coffee in French TIe i'm nnedi Ia te1Vr ,,pdaretood ard smilingly gave me tasse de cafe noir. Now l wondered why the only two French words l understood were not un-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-28
WHEN A FELLOWS ILL

By Charles Lamb. sf1
 If there be a regal .solitudeq it is a sick led. How the patient lords it there! what caprices he acts without control! how king like he sways his pillow-tum- bling and tossing, and shifting, and rais- ing. and lowering, and humping, and flat tening and molding it, to the every vary ing acquisitions of his throbbing temples!
 He changes sides oftener than a politi- clan. Now he lies full length, then half length, obliquey, transverseIy, head and feet quite across the bed.
 How illness enlarges the dimensions of q mans self to himself. He lies plying himsel honing and moaning to himself; he yearneth over himself; he is not ashamed to weep over himself. He is for ever plotting how to do some good to himself; studying little tratagems and artificial alleviations. Sometimes he med itates-as of a thing apart from him upon his poor aching head. and that dull pain which, dozing or waking, lay in it all the past night like a log, or palpable substance of pain, not to be removed without opening the very skull, as 1t seemed. to take 1t thence. Or he pites his long, attenuated fingers He compassion ates himself all over; and his bed Is a very discipline of humanity and tender heart.
 To the worlds rumors he is dead. IHousehoid rumors touch him not. He is fiattered by general notion that in- quries are making after him, but he cares not to know the name of the inquirer. In the general stiffness and awful hush of the house he lies in state and feels bis sovereignty. To be i'll is to enjoy monarchical prerogatives. Compare the silent tread and quiet ministry. almost by the eye only. with which he is served, with the carless demeanor. the uncere- pionious gongs in and out tslapping of doors or leaving them open) of the very same attendants when he is getting lit- tie better! and you will confess that from the bed of sickness throne. let me call iD to the elbow chair of convalescence is a fall from dignity amounting to deposi-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-28
THE MULE WAS UNINJURED

Hrom Lippincott's Magazine. Senator John Sharp Williams, whose supply of darky stories seems inexhaus- tible, tells this new one:
 "I was proceeding leisurely along q Georgia road on foot one day, when I mel a iconveyance drawn by mule and con- taining a number of negro field hands Ihe driver, a darlky of about 20, was en- deavoring to induce the mule to increase its speed, when suddenly the animal let fly with his heels and dealt him such a kick on the head that he was stretched on the ground in a twinkling. He lay rubbing his woolly pate where the mule had kicked him.
 "ls he hurt? asked the older negro who had jumped from the conveyance and was standing. over the prostrate driver
 3'e No, ooss,' was the older mans re- ply; dat mule walk kind O tendah for a day or two. but he aint hurt"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-28
Morgan Relics and Art Treasures

The art loans that J. Pierpont Nor gan has made to various museums in Europe are to be called in and the scattered objects are to be concen- trated in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. MT. Morgan is president of the New York institution, and if his collections are to be placed in it there will scarcely be in the world a finer collection. It is re- ported that the purchases of Mir. Nor gan have reached an outlay of $100,- OOO,000. This almost fabulous sum means that the study of art in it's best forms is to be brought within the reach of the busy millions of people in this country.
 : Until the Morgan collections are gathered together and displayed no one can say what their educational and public value may be. The great financler IS shreWd man and 1t IS pretty safe to say that he got in his purchases his moneys worth.
 Perhaps no event of the year will be of greater significance to the peo- pie of this country. New York is the true place at which the country's great art collection should be located, simply because it is the only city that all Americans strive to visit. The libraries of MT. Carnegie and the scientific processes and researches of MT. Rockefeller will have "a good
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-28
WHY AM FOR UNDERWOOD

Thomas F. Watson in the Jeffersonian 1, Because he is the strongest all round man in the field
 2. Because he is old enough to have learned great deal, and young enough to learn more;
 8. Because he is a constructive, practical statesman;
 1. Because he fathered the farmers free list bill which was an immense stride toward free trade, and meas ure that would have been magically beneficial to our over taxed people;
 5. Because he proposed and put through Congress a drastic reform of the infamous wooden tariff; and also sweeping reduction in the cotton goods schedule;
 6. Because he had the manhood to defy the Birmingham Board of Trade, when it tried to intimidate him as to tariff reduction;
 [. Because he has introduced a bill to cut the steel and iron schedules from 30 to 50 per cent;
 8. Because he had the courage to oppose the Sherwood pension grab, which the shirkers and skulkers, and deserters, and bounty jumpers de- manded.
 Champ Clark voted for the grab: Bry- an has not had the pluck to say word against 1t, nor has Woodrow Will son.
 g. Because he has the sanity and the spunk to tell the people that all this talk about the initiative, referendum and recall, in national politics, is tom my rot. Everybody should know that the constitution of the United States would have to be radically changed. before the present system of repre- sentative government and legislation could be changed for direct law mak- ing.
 When, do you suppose, we could elect Congress that would give the people the opportunity to vote away the pre- negatives of Congress?
 When, do you suppose, there would be S4 states ready to adopt the new system?
 When. do you suppose, would the small states be willing to surrender their equality in the federal govern ment?
 When Wilson and Bryan prate of a national initiative, referendum and re- l call, they make themselves demagogues | Can either of them tell us how direct | legislation can be applied. nationally, | in such a manner as to preserve the sovereign equality of the small states? | If either of them can, I should be glad to publish their plan. 1t will be time enough to talk about national direct legislation and the re- call after we shall have tried it, in the states.
 | ~ TO- Lastly, I am for Oscar Under wood because his record, public and private, is unstained his character ele- vated and spotless; has leadership su- perb; his work and purposes patriotic and practical; his sympathies for the oppressed. He doesn't stoop to dema- gogy to win popular applause; and he doesn't cater to wealth and power, as the standpatters of both parties do.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-28
Going Back to the Farm

New York is greatly interested in one of it's citizens, Mr. Frank s. Black. He was once governor of the state, and when he left Albany he was $10,000 in debt. All his earnings of a lawyer had been swept away by the expenses of the high office he held.
 He turned from politics and devoted all his energies to the practice of law in New York city, and now at the end of IA years he sees one million dol lars to his credit, and he is 60 years old. He proposes to abandon the law as he had before abandoned politics, and to listen to the call of the farm only. He is going to raise prize sheep and the like and to become a plain farmer. . .eae.f
 Let not this be considered the re- treat of a man to retirement who has failed in the battle of life. He was successful in politics and in law. He goes back to the farm simply because that is his desire. He has the good sense to quit activity in the city when he has had enough of it. He will now become active on his hay fields and in his more closely cultivated acres Some men have horse sense after all and Frank s. Black is plainly one of the number.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-28
IN HOTEL HOBBIES
southern Men upbuiIders

Before I came here to live about b years ago I was under the impression that Birmingham was very much of a northern town" said a member of Bir- mingham's Virginia colony, but I had not been in this city long before learning that nearly all the upbuilders were south ern born and southern reared. Birmns- ham today with it's population. of loOVOo or more is distinctly cosmopolitan. Every race is represented here- As for northern men, they have always been heartily well comed, and always will be. The northern- CTS who have become prominent here are greatly esteemed from every point Of view. But Birmingham will always be southern in it's sentiment as well as in it's geo. graphical situation.
 "In the excellent article on oscar Un- derwood, written by Burton J. Hendriek, which appears in the current issue or Me Clure's magazine, is a statement that III 1884 nearly all the influential men In BIT mingham were from the north, and in- ferentially it might appear that nearly all the influential men here today came from the north. The fact is, the presidents or most of our large industrial companies are southerners. The presidents of all the big banks here are southern and 10 the manner born. With two or three excep- tions the presidents of the Commercial club, now the Chamber of Commerce, have been southern men. Among the edu- cated workers in this district are hundreds of technically trained young men-ensi- neers and chemists-and it is estimated that 90 per cent of these men are south erners. Northern men are wanted here. They are always appreciated, but l sim ply wish to correct the impression that most of our influential men-men in the forefront-have come from sections north of the Mason and Dixon line"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-28
underwood.s steady Rise

"Six months ago Congressman Under- wood seemed to be little known outside of Washington, but he is well in the spot light today as presidential possibility" said John II. Williamson of Detroit. liar mon and Woodrow Wilson had been the democratic favorites through the middle west, a section of the country with which l happen to be familiar, but I meet dem ocrats every day who now speak of Un- derwood as most likely to receive the democratic nomination.
 q have been voter for more than 20 years, but have never taken very much interest in politics. 1 was inclined to favor Governor Wilson for the nomination this year. looked upon him as an ideal dem ocrat, but since reading about Underwood believe the Alabaman will be the log ical candidate. Both Harmon and Wilson will have a great deal of strength in the national convention, no doubt, but that wo-thirds rule will probably make it inn possible for either one of them to win the nomination prize.'