davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-29
TRUE HOSPITALITY

From Bret Harte's "Aesop Improved
 A fox one day invited stork to dn- ner, but provided for the entertainment only the first course, soup. This being in a shallow dish, of course the fox lapped it up readily, but the stork, by means of his long bill, was unable to gain mouth full.
 You do not seem fond of soup," said the fox, concealing a smile in his napkin. Now. it's one of my greatest weak nesses."
 You certainly seem to project yourself outside of a large quantity said the stork, rising with some dignity and ex- anining his watch with considerable i'm pressment; but l have an appointment at o'clock. which I had forgotten. l must ask to be excused. By the way, dine with me tomorrow"
 The fox assented, arrived at the appoint ed time, but found, as he fully expected nothing on the table but single long necked bottle, containing olives, which the stork was complacently extracting by the aid of his long bill
 Why, you do not seem to eat any thing said the stork when he had fin ished the bottle.
 "No.' said the fox significantly. "T an waiting for the second course"
 What is that?" asked the stork blandly.
 ''Stork stuffed with olives" shrieked tn, fox in very pronounced manner. and instantly dispatched him.
 Moral--True hospitality obliges the host to sacrifice himself for his guests.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-29

of last resort in state is supposed to be the final arbiter of state constitu- tional question, but the colonel's plan does not propose to interfere with an appeal to the federal court if that be possible.
 Altogether the plan approaches the ridiculous. The sincerity of it's author is undoubted. He dislikes judges. All dislike legislating judges, and the colonel reminds us that the right to interpret is the right to make. If this campaign plan had been uttered by less prominent citizen it would have attracted no attention, except, possi- bly,, for the sake of a little irony now and then.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-29
The Dnlx Family

Few families have contributed so many membGs to the theatrical business as the Daly family" said Homer Drake, an old theatrical man. There are 13 children and nearly all of them obtained some prominence on the stage. Dan in par ticular was conspicuous as an eccentric comedian, and his striking originality of methods and characteristic drawl won him fame throughout the country. The talents of the family leaned toward com edy. singing and dancing, and for time it was hard to find a big Broadway pro- duction in which Daly was not repre- sented.
 The appearance of Lucy Daly at the Bijou theatre with Ward and VolSes re- calls the fact that some of the most tal- ented members of the family have passed away. Dan, Tim, Bob, Tom and Mar garet died at a time when the future held forth the brightest promise.
 "The children were inclined to the stage almost from infancy and as Lucy Daly puts it, they went into the business by twos. Tim and Tom were the first to adopt the footlights, then Dan and Bob, followed by Lucy and Margaret. Lucy Daly married Hap Ward and Margaret married Harry Vokes. The wives sup ported their husbands in their starring ventures, Lucy doing q dancing speciality and Margaret playing comedy roles. Mar garet died and Lucy took her place as comedienne of the company"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-29
THE MODERN WAY

H. H. Windsor, in the March Popular Me
 chancs Magazine.
 Here is a story of the success of two young men who went from the city to North Dakota. Each had about $15.000, of which ssooO was put into. machinery This provided them with two powerful trac- ton engines and the necessary equip ment of farming machinery. Operations were begun with breaking the raw land Tn March, 1911 by November of the same year the young city farmers had mar keted s6O,OO0 worth of faxseed, which was hauled 40 miles to the nearest railroad station. The entire undertaking was man. aged on modern lines: A days blowing with each engine was estimated at 70 acres, but whe nthe crew by saving time turned 90 acres in one day, they were given a bonus of so. Thereupon 90 acres per day became the usual thing. The same broadgauge, liberal policy charac- terized the whole undertaking. The most competent men obtainable were hired and we'll paid: the aim being to do the largest amount of work that could be done well in a day and pay accordingly. Neither of these young men had ever raised any flax, but they went to the agricultural station and thoroughly posted themselves. This was a success which could not have been obtained with mere ability, willingness and a pair of hands; it required capital, vet 1t was brain and initiative which won; for not only was the crop itself highly profitable but the land advanced in value in that one season more than the entire expenditure for machinery.
 In these days the really successful farm CT must possess brains and machinery.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-29
Affairs in Mexico

.Juarez is a suburb in reality of Fl
 ,o. A narrow, fordable river lies
 ween. The rebels have again seized
 Possibly President Madero fa-
 lated the recapture of Juarez be- rs SC he desired to avoid any firing
 oss the international boundary. At { rate, it is certain that the seizure
 Juarez without bloodshed lacks the
 crest and importance that the cap- ture of last May had. The May cap ture put Madero in line for the presi- 'ency, and it remains to be seen T neither its capture now will lead to hik overthrow.
 The country is no doubt full of dis content. The cities of Chihuahua and Torreon must fall before the rebels have firm foothold in Northern Mex ico. They may be able to get some supplies through the Juarez customs house, but otherwise Juarez is not con- sidered of strategic value.
 The truth is, the situation in Mexi. co is beyond understanding here There are rebels and rebels, and nc commander or leader of all the rebels appears. President Madero may vel gain the upper hand, especially il 2 Trevino and Orozco remain faithful The country is disturbed, but the dis turbers do not appear to be we'll or ganized or to have any money witt which to procure supplies and guns and ammunition. The outcome canno easily be foreseen.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-29
"rhe Insanity of Geniu.y

If Foster, the English newspaper man, who, as a practical psychologist and trained newspaper man, wrote his very
 interesting work "The Insanity of Gen. ius," were here ia the United States at this psychological moment he would find a striking individual type to alayze,'
 said Percy Clark.
 "Theodore Roosevelt Is distinctly a type of the individual that Foster made
 very original studies of. and Fosters deductions were very striking, to say
 the least. The present subject Is of that
 distinctly impulsive, cratic type which,
 pathologically speaking, has manifesto
 tion of non-indicated epilepsy in the
 marked and pronounced physical mani- festation as differentiated from the men, tai; that is to say where the extreme
 manifestation of epilepsy takes the form of fits, while in the other. abnormal
 mental action only is shown. This latter is a manifestation of a disordered brain.
 One of the marked characteristics Is in- tense ego on the part of the individual affected. Great vanity of opinion, im-
 patierce of contradiction. unwilingness to take counsel with others, great im- pusveness, and acting from egotistical and emotional promptings, are manifes- tations that clearly mark the type. "One of the most striking and remark
 able types of the insanity of genius
 analysed by Foster was Napoleon. After
 reading The Corsican 0his book Is the
 diary in part. of Napoleon) one is deeply impressed with Fosters concept. Now when we study Roosevelt in his
 uttered words; in his kaleidoscolic and
 stagey acts; his impatience of restraint,
 his audacity of purpose, as witness his
 paranoaiac letter to the President in re-
 gard to raising cowboy regiment and l invading Mexico, he himself to select his staff, then indeed these be strange times,
 and things are sadly out of joint in this country of ours if he can be again nomi- mated by great party. and reelected | by even a militant, but let us hope, con- | servative. democracy, no matter under
 which emblem the millions will vote next
 November
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-29
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
DcvcIopmcnttns tn sylocauga

Randolph St. John, secretary Of the Sylacauga Commercial club, is in Birming- ham on business and is enthusiastic over conditions in his home city and county. There is much activity both in business and building circles of Sylacauga,' said MT. St. John. There is not vacant business house or residence in Sylacauga and we are confidently expecting some important new industries in the near fu- ture.
 Naturally we take great interest In everything we read about Birmingham for Sylacaugt, just as all the other towns or the state, takes great pride in the state s big bustling metropolis" t
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-29
A Noted Farm

"One of the most interesting farm sales that have noted in some time occurred yesterday when my friend Schuyler II. Floyd purchased a farm over the tele' phone from a friend at Keystone" sad John l.. Parker.
 ''The estate has only changed hands four times, I am told, since it was deeded to it's first owner by the United States government. The farm was deeded first by President James Buchanan under an act of Congress passed in 1920 to further improve the public lands of Alabama vo John Cooper in 1857, then to T. I. Albright, who sold it to w. H. Standefur, who in turn sold 1t to R. E. Bowden and yester- day to MT. Floyd.
 ''The farm Is situated within 14 miles of Birmingham and sold for fancy figure, indicating that farm lands in this section are going up steadily" s t4r
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-29

ans are preparing to combat "the postoffice contingent" to use phrase of Major Tebbets, the Roosevelt lead CT in Mobile A Roosevelt state pri- mary is to be held, and "A Roosevelt delegates will confront at Chicago "A Taft delegates. The grand old party expects every man to do his duty this spring and next June, and pretty nearly every republican in the state will be needed either as a delegate or an alternate and some colored men may be drafted.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-29
Colonel R0osevelt's New Referendum

Necessity is the mother of inven- tion," so runs an old maxim, and Colonel Roosevelt must have felt its meaning when, at the beginning of his third term campaign, he sprung upon the people a new plan in relation to decisions of state courts of last resort in constitutional issues. The colonel has never loved legislating judges, and he is not alone in that matter. His new plan is, however, broad and gen. eral, reaching, possibly, any judge in a court of last resort in state.
 He does not propose to recall a judge; he simply proposes to discredit him by taking an appeal from his de- cision in state constitutional matter to the people. This, in other words, is a referendum. The people are to decide whether the decision in a given case is to stand or fall.
 The plan becomes the more complex, if not the more idiotic, when the popu- lar appeal is rendered subject to ac- tion by the supreme court of the United States. The appeal to the su- preme court of the United States can not well be evaded without changing the organic law. To set up between the highest court of state and the United States supreme court popu- ! lar appeal is to go from the sublime to the ridiculous, and no great leader other than the colonel would take or " to take such step. Under the
 oosevelt proposal the people are to Sote on courts interpretation of a onstitutional question, and whether ney sustain it or not an appeal may e taken to the United States supreme ourt. The colonel does not call for a z efcrcndum after the highest court in ,e land has spoken. True, the court
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-29
Contesting Alabama Delegations

If the republican national conven- ton sits until all contested seats gain a hearing it will not soon get down to business. In the bitterness of a factional contest district, and even state, delegations are being dupli- cated. A Taft delegation will be off set by Roosevelt delegation in half of the states at least, and these con- tests must be determined before a nomination can be made, or even be- fore any business can be transacted.
 The war is to be carried into every district, and the Roosevelt republic
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-29

From the Louisville Courier-Journal.
 Look who's here. Again Colonel Roosevelt. Full of familiar platitudes, seeking the nomination by shouting about the obvious He has given him. self strength. has clothed his neck-on the inside-with thunder Hope not to make him afraid as the grasshopper! He paweth and jaweth in Ohio and re- joiceth in his strength! He goeth on to meet the Taft men He mocketh at fear and is not frightened, neither turneth he back from the stump! The culver rattleth against him, the gilt tering spear and shield! He swallow eth the ground of the Presidents nome state" with ferceness and rage! He thoroughly liketh again the sound of his voice! He saith among the del- egates prospective, Me! Me! and he smelleth the campaign at close range. the thunder of the captains and the shoutinGi
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-29
Alabama and Underwood


 The people of Alabama are practi- cally unit for Oscar w. Underwood as the democratic candidate for Pres ident of the United States. A year ago other candidates can- vassed quietly for Alabama support, but ever since Underwood has been recognized far and wide as the logi- cal man to head the democratic ticket, his state has been solidly for him. Strange indeed were it otherwise. But here and there lone partisans of other candidates have been trying to make it appear that Underwood was merely posing as "a favorite son" and that he was in reality stalking horse for Harmon or someone else. Underwood's strength has increased rapidly within the past few weeks and it seems certain now that he will be nominated and elected. The democracy recognizes his~ transcendant fitness for the presidency. He is not only the master of the tariff question, but he is splendid leader and man who has always been and ever will be true to his convictions.
 The republicans had an ideal candi- date from high protective point of view in William Mckinley. Now the democrats have just such an ideal can didate from revenue reform point of view. Not since the civil war has any democrat measured up to presidential requirements so fully as Oscar Under wood.
 In another column of The Age Herald MT. Underwood, through his friend, E. K. Campbell, has some- thing to say about an editorial in The News of yesterday in which a pointed insinuation was made. Of course, every one who knows Oscar Under wood knows that he is incapable of being any ones stalking horse, or is incapable of doing anything sinister, politically or otherwise. He is synonym for frankness and for fair dealing; yet inuendoes may be irri- tating to some of his friends and in view of the facts plain and emphatic denial is made of any and all implied intrigues.
 As the next President of the United States will come from Alabama, it | comes With III grace from any paper in the state to say aught in disparage- ment, directly or indirectly, of Oscar w. Underwood.
 Nothing in politics has ever seemed more certain than that the party l wou1d make Underwood fife popo;roa and with this distinguished statesman as the standard bearer he will be as certain to win as anything human can be said to be certain.
 | Yes, Alabama is practically unit It will be Underwood first, last and all the time.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-29

of priceless stores of literature. From the earliest times 10 the latest booze has killed or extingu,sned genius. and the worlds graveyards are well filled with mute. inglorious Miltons who were mute and inglorious because of strong drink, which is raging. Kit Marlowe. the only English dram atist worthy to be classed with Shakespeare, died in tavern brawl while a young man. The intellect of Burns was soddened by richt gude will liewaughts. All his best poetry was written during his youth, and it was fortunate for his reputation that he died young. Our own Edgar Poe died when he should have been at his best, and died as the result of a debauc,. of Hon. Barleycorn, what footprints he might have left on the sands of time!
 The name of Richard Person is prac- tically unknown, save to few schol- ars, yet, had 1t not been for the flow ing bowl, there is no doubt that the name would be as well known today as that of any great man of modern times He was the most wonderful man of the eighteenth century, combin- ing in himself the genius of half dozen great men. Handicapped as he
 was by a million dollar thirst, he made himself, without effort, the
 greatest Greek scholar Britain ever produced. He had more wonderful memory than Macaulay; he was finer humorist than Fielding; better critic than Coleridge; the learning Of pr. Johnson was trif1lng as compared with his, and he might have been the poet of his time. He was the Admirable Crichton of literature and letters, and yet he left no monument but pile of empty bottles. He had the most astonishing thirst If there was any thing alcoholic in sight Richard premises. He wouldn't eat or go to bed so long as there was anything left in the demijohn. When other refresh ments failed, he would swallow ink, liniment or anything that would give his stomach jolt
 Upon one occasion a learned society sent him to Germany to consult with certain savants there upon divers ab- struse things, and when he returned to England with piebald taste in his mouth and headache that could be heard around a block, he was requested to make a written report of his jour ney. He neglected 1t, as he neglected everything, until the society became insistent, and then he sat down and wrote his report in four lines. It's probably the funniest report ever sent in to learned society, and is present. ed herewith:
 I went to Strasburg, where I got drunk
 With that most learned Professor Brunck;
 I went to Wortz, ard got more drunken With that more learned Professor
 Ruhnken.
 Porson died in 1908, and most of his acauaintances were glad to see him go, for his later gears were one long Fourth of July.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-29
TOMB OF OMAR

From Constantinople to Persia by A. ".
 w. Jackson.
 The sarcophagus stands beneath the central one of three arched recesses, IFS niche measuring about 1S feet across while the fianking arches measure about 10 feet each and are empty. A couple or terraced brick steps lead up to the hool- ing where it rests. The oblong tomp IS Q simple casc made of brick and cement tho noet,s remains reposing beneath; and, a,,hougb there is no inscription to tell whose homes are inferred below, everyone knows that it is Omars grave. Vanua' scribblers Hound in Persia as Tn every other land) have desecrated it with ran dom .scrawls, and have also scratcneo their names upon the brown mortar or the adjoining walls, thus disclosing the wh'te cement underneath. A stick Of wood' stone and some fragments of shards pro- famed the top of the sarcophasus when we saw ii. There was nothing else. was tempted to lay my copy Of the "Rubaiyat,' upon it but for the fact that I knew the little book would promptly be carried off and sold to the first possi- ble purchaser
 
 l The approach of darkness was aireaos | noticeable as we drove out of the city to resume our journey. passing once more by the road that leads near Omar's grave. The suns dying shimmer lit up anew the snow lines on the distant mountain tops, while we halted our horses for a moment to bid a last adieu to the poet and his home. Happily we found that our Armenian servant, HovRnnes Agopian, had preserved in his pack a pint bottle of red wine which he had purchased ip another town on the jour neys It seemed the fitting hour to drain cup in Omar's memory, even though not handed by the Saki. his cypress slender minister of wine" "Yon waxing moon" was already rising, and soon would be looking down upon the quiet garden where Omar lies in dust, forming nc longer one of the company of guests star-scattered on the grass" We joined in quaffing the sparkling cup in his name. and as we turned down the empty ! glass it was with the wish that on!s
 taat which is best may remain in A8ts'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-29
ABOUT THE JOYS OF MARS

cupant, but very unsatisfactory to those on the outside desiring to get in.
 The birds on Mars have rlxuriant plumage. and there are huge plants and gorgeous flowers. The picture of the Martian "human," which the Paris Matin ootathed through the zeal Of one of Its reporters-one imported from New York. probably-shows blue eyed, long nosed, heavy cared being, with huge head, bulky chest, and spindly limbs. Scientist Perrier says that the Martians are acquainted with the 'noblest de- lights of intellect and with the most suave emotions of the soul" There are no insurgents on Mars, so far as can be learned. Moreover, so far as can be observed, there are no tariff discussions. The entire planet seems to be getting along famously without the initiative, referendum and recall.
 Possibly in the near future we shall hear that one of the vaudeville mana gers has obtained the services of one of the Martians, and it will then be possi- ble to get interviews explaining all about the delights of the planet. Imme- diately afterward there will be rush of real estate agents to the new field, and attractive booklets will appear, with illustrations of the golf courses and tennis courts and the canoes on the lakes. Evidence is accommodating that if the worst comes to worst, and all the predictions of the glooms come true, 1t will be possible for persons to jump this turbulent sphere to Mars, and live lives of peace. reveling in the pure delights of intellect and avoiding all the ills that beset humankind.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-29
ONE MAN STRUCTURE

From the March Wide World Magazine.
 The biggest one man structure in Eng land is Stivichal church. near Coventry. James Green, a native of that city, not only worked the stones used in 1t. but, with the help of single laborer, placed them all in position, and. in fact. con- structed the whole of it. from foundation to turrets. How long it took him to ac- complish the feat is not clear. He is said to have been engaged on the task for 40 years. but the interval which elapsed between the demolition of the old church and the opening of the present one was only seven years. At all events. Greens 'record." like many others in connection with building. will, we may De sure. Siaud for fsnevattonss
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-29
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR

From the New York Press.
 The sun never shines for a man whose only joy is money.
 If liar forgot to do it for a whole year he would not get out of training.
 Running the furnace can teach man about as many swear words as anybody can learn.
 A girl knows by the way a man looks into her eyes they ought to be just the color she thinks they are.
 What makes woman proud of her hus- band is to think how some day he might make some money.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-29
Early Birds in the Ring

Taft has secured A delegates and Roosevelt none, but the Colonel is new in the race, and he has a right to demand suspension of public opin- ion. He is entitled to months eff fort and its results. On March 26 the New York republicans will elect S6 district delegates to Chicago under the states new primary law, and this will clear the atmosphere not little.
 On the other side of the fence the result to date stands as follows:
 1iafK 10
 All others .................
 Here again time is needed. Ala bama will act on April 1, and then the democratic table will begin to take on form and substance. It is too early to construct presidential tables "a month too early at least.