davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12
HILDA's BROTHERS

From New f'un-
 Not long since a gentleman was pass ing through a certain town in which his only child, an attractive girl well advanced in her teens. was finishing her education Having a little time on his hands, he decided to have some con- versation with the principal of the school. He was received with great cordiality, and his daughters attain
 ments were duly described. T think" said the lady principal to
 the proud parent, just as he was about to take his departure, that you ought
 to be very happy, my dear sir to be the father of such a large family, all the members of which appear to be per- fectly devoted to one another. I think it is most charming that it should be so.'
 Large family. Devoted to one an
 otherw gasped the visitor, in undis-
 guised amaZement. What can you pos sibly mean, madam?"
 "Oh, but I am sure they are devoted to one another" responded the prin- cipal, beaming through her glasses Why. no less than seven of Hilda brothers have been here during the
 term to take her out, and she tells me
 she expects the tall one with the dark blue eyes again tomorrow"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12
ROMAN SLAVES
ROtsfoTd

The Roman deprived himself of many private comforts that he might make a rich display before his guests. The wealthy mans dwelling was very large; the so-called House of the Faun at Pom- peii occupies an entire square; that Of the Roman noble usually covered a far greater area.
 The care of lordly residence required the service of a multitude of slaves; we hear of man who in the country and city together employed more than 4000 They | were organized somewhat like an army, in divisions and companies under their several overseers. Each servant had as his special duty some minute part of the household work. Many were needed for the ceremonies attending the admission of guests, many for the care of the baths. bedrooms, kitchen and dining rooms, as well as for the wardrobes. toilet and per sonal service of the various members of the family. On going out the master or mistress was accompanied by throng of servants, whose number and splendid liv- cry advertised the rank and wealth of their owner. Other companies of slaves spun wool, made clothes, kept the house in repair, and cared for the sick There were some whose task was to enforce or der and quiet among the rest. We could
 hardly believe that so many persons s4l single household could find employ ment or that the processes of labor could be so minutely portioned out, did we not take into account the genius of the Rom- ans for organization. On the country es- tates were plowmen, herdsmen, vinedress- CTS. gardeners, keepers of bees poultry and fish and many other classes of la horerS
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12
THE HINDU NOT WANTED

From the New York Mail.
 Few persons realize that there are some 5,OOO Hindus in the United States. employed as laborers on the Pacific coast. Of all the immigrants from Orien- tai countries they seem the least desir- able. They are not as strong physically as the Japanese and Chinese and ther standard of living is much lower.
 A Hindu must be in good physical condition and have at least $25 in his possession before the immigration au- thorities will admit him to this country. But many who can pass these qualihca- tions are barred out, because they are likely to become public charges Elm ployers do not like them. They are fit- ted only for manual labor of the simplest kind, and their strange attitude of meek ness and mental detachment places them at a disadvantage beside the members of more alert and aggressive races.
 They seldom have any families and us- ually live together in little communities of fifty or less, living in shacks and sometimes in the open during warm weather The members Of different castes will not eat together, and each man se- lects as his companions only men of his own caste.
 They will not eat meat killed by the ordinary Yankee butcher. When they do partake of fowl or lamb, they will buy the animal alive and kill it them selves.
 They come to America with the ex- recitation of returning home as soon as they have made their fortunes. Two thousand collars is considered enough to retire on Tor the rest of their days. They were originally total abstainers, but some have become free users of intoxicants They dress very poorly and $50 is large yearly allowance for clothes. Their to- tai average cost of subsistence is less than SIP a month.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12
FEARFUL MURDER RECORD

From LeSlies.
 When one thinks of the many extrava- ganees that characterize our national life.
 it is not surprising that other nations cannot always see the grounds for our boastsi progress in civilization. The Lon don Spectator makes this point in the course of an article on "The Homicide Record of American Cities" In the ten years ending with 1891. the rate stood 5 to 100000 of population; but in the next decade this increased to 7.2. What con
 trast this is with 09, the homicide rate of England and Wales. One of the start ling signs of the times is our growing
 disregard of human life, and, back of this, our increasing disrespect for law and order. While it is true that the southern cities, with their large negro population, are somewhat responsible for the big homicide rate of our country, the recent street killings in New York city are evidence of the general disregard of the sacredness of human life.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12
Presidential Electors in Idaho

The publisher and managing editor of the Capital-News of Boise, Idaho, seems to have got in the way of a state court of violent views. This court seems to think that it's decisions are not subject to popular criticism in other words, that it sets to make decisions by divine right, instead of by popular right.
 The matter in question related to the country's absurd electoral system. The laws of Idaho make no provision for the election of presidential cleo tors. The legislators of the past had overlooked the matter. In the absence of any state law the supreme court of Idaho undertook to conduct the mat ter without law. It decided that the names of the standpat and democratic candidates for electors could be put on the official ballot by construing a provision which provided for the cleo
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Outgoing Mail

"ft would be well if business con- eerns made a point of mailing their letters earlier in the afternoon than they do," said Postmaster Aldrieh.
 As it is outgoing mail comes bling into the postonice between 5:30 and ' D. m. owing to the lateness of the hour a great deal of mail that should leave here for the east on the queen and Crescent at 6:05 D. n., does not leave until later train and it some times happens that owing to the con- gestion it does not leave until the next morning.
 'It is especially important that mail for the east should be in the postoffice in time to be dispatched at 6:o5. That would insure delivery in New York early on the morning of the third day. Otherwise it does not reach New York until the afternoon, thereby causing a loss in time of delivery of practically business day. If business men moved up their schedule for signing mail two hours it would make great difference in the long run"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12
Looking for southern Investments

"A great deal of money has been invested in southern lands-timber mineral and farm lands-within the past five years and similar investments will continue" said a real estate man q have made speciality of selling small farms in this section and have been quite successful. I have had more inquiries this year than ever before Those who handle timber, coal and iron ore properties have made some good sales and within the next 12 months the demand for coal and ore will in- crease
 "The Birmingham district has been well advertised but it is now more dis cussed in a favorable way in the north and abroad than was the case even three years ago. There Is comparatively little red ore land on the market and year or two hence there will be none The same might be said of coal prop erties."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12
Mir. Morgan's Art Collections

Wing H of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York will be completed in two months. It was de- signed for specified purposes, but Il is to be temporarily used as a place in which to exhibit in part at least MT. Morgan's pictures and other art objects. When the contemplated south wing is completed they will be placed tnere. but this will not take place until 1914.
 In the meanwhile the collection will be placed in Wing 1.-the larger part of it at any rate, and the public de- sire to see this remarkable collection will be speedily gratified. Courtesy to MT. Morgan and obedience to the gen eral public demanded this change in plans and it will be speedily carried out. In fact the paintings among this collection of art treasures will be placed on exhibition within few days.
 The Morgan wing will be known as J and K, and it will be built large enough to hold the almost priceless :. collection in it's entirety. There nc doubt it will stay to the end of time The addition of the Morgan treasures to the museum makes it one of the greatest in the world. It is now much too large to be seen with satisfaction in single visit. Unlike the Louvre or the National Gallery it is not con fined to paintings and statuary. Art objects of all sorts are included, and this is why wing after wing is added to make room for incoming exhibits.
 It is believed that the Morgan treas ures are worth $50, ,OOO,OO The paint ings include Raphael's "Calonna Ma donna," appraised at $500,000; set of Fragonard panels, $325,000; Gains boroughs "The Duchess of Devon shire," $2O0,000; Major Holford's landscape by Hobbema, $150,000 Other paintings include the work oi Turner, Reynolds, Gainsborough, Rae burn, Romney, Constable, Duman, Var Dyck, Trans Hals, Rembrandt, Ru- bens, Hobbema, Raphael, Velasquez Millais, Troyon, Bauginet, Villegas } Cordero, Vannutelli, Bucciarelli, Mime Vigee Lebrun, Nattier and Pater Rembrandt is represented by three paintings, Rubens by two and Hob bema by two. Turner is represented by his Lake of Albano' and one oth er. There are said to be 40 paintings O the English school and IS representa- tive of modern English and American schools.
 The paintings are by no means thu most important part of collection that Dr. Robinson says is the greates ever brought together in the world The tapestries, wood carvings channels and miniatures thus brough together will, with the paintings, sool be placed before 90,000,000 of people and grateful country will yet ac knowledge it's indebtedness to MT Morgan and to the city that ha housed the treasures and will sool place them on exhibition.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12
The Christmas Holidays

With the approach of Christmas, boys and girls and young men in general have the spirit of yuletide in their bones. and that is we'll, but there should be an eff fort made on the part of the police to keep down unreasonable din on Christ mas eve,' said club man.
 The firing of cannon crackers in the street should never be permitted, and a nuisance that is quite as great, that of blowing tin horns, should be suppressed. There is no excuse for rowdyism at any time. but rowdyism in the streets of a city at a season commemorative Of the Nativity of Christ is doubly inexcus- able
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12
APPEAL TO THE KAISER.


 IThe people are eating dog steaks il many parts of Germany.-News iten1.) O Kaiser, Kaiser Wilhelm, Hark to your country's needl Go put some ham in Hamburg, sir, And let the people feed. They've lost the geese in Giessen, sir, And Essen has no eats; No garden sass in Sassenberg, In Beetzendorf no beets! And every wit in Wittenberg Knows as he twists and squirms That hunger was the thing that put The wiggle into Worms. They killed their wolf in Wolfenbutte- Twas bowling at the door And sent the hide to Heidelberg, Which ate and asked for more. Kaiser, in old Freiberg There's nothing left to fry. Put back the ham in Hamburg, sir, And heed your country's cryl
 New York Evening Sun.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12
FORMAL AND SEVERE.

 Observe the pious citizen
 Whose conduct is his pride; He has great store of probity, It cannot be denied: Doth frown upon all forms of sin And keeps the narrow path, Subdued throughout his earthly days By fear of heavens wrath. He may obey all human laws And stand temptations off. But since there's no warmth in his heart Is much inclined to scoff At weaknesses of other men Who now and then may fall, And to an everlasting doom He would consign them all. He shows no pity for the wight Who sometimes can't resist, Ills tongue is sharp and bitter, too, In naming OCT the list Of others faults-no kindliness Is read upon his face, A stern, relentless arbiter
 Of all the human race.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12
cnlling the .rrefes.orn

From the Mobile Register.
 Professor Barbour. head of a nor nal school at Ypsilanti Mich, says he will retract ''cheerfully." if called upon to do so, his public statement that Champ Clark was so intoxicated at Ann Arbor that his fraternity brothers had to put him to bed. Why, however, wait to be called on9 Champ Clark says it is lie out of the whole cloth. If Barbour is really cheerful about 1t he should be quick also.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12
The Iron Market

The pig iron market, which was ex-
 tremely active up to two or three weeks
 ago, is now quiet. as might be expected,
 in view of the holiday season." said a broker.
 The price for forward delivery has been, for some time. from $14 to sl4.5o on a No. ? basis. While Birmingham pig metal for prompt delivery shipments can now be bought for s1s5o have not heard of any one willing to sell below Slf for next years delivery. T am rather expecting to see Birming- ham iron firm at sl5 on a No. ? basis after the middle of January. The gen. eral business of the country is sound and there will be a large demand for from
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12
Our Esx-Presidents

Now that President Taft is soon
 to retire the question which has been
 mooted for many years will come up
 again, What shall we do with our
 ex-Presidents?' observed an old cit izen.
 Twenty five or 30 years ago we read symposiums in the newspapers and magazines on the subject referred to.
 Several ideas were brought forward
 and then the matter dropped to be
 taken up again a few years later. Tt has been proposed from time to time that the government pension ex- Presidents. Uncle Sam is well able to place and keep ex-Presidents on his payroll but I doubt if this is ever done. In this republic there has always been a tendency to be chary of high mill itary titles and to relegate ex-Pres-
 idents to private life without pay. Ex-
 Presidents who have been lawyers by the people, but there Is nothing in- compatible with the dignity of the pres
 idential office in permitting the chief executive to engage in some active pursuit and earn a living. In my day Presidents who hay been lawyers by profession have resumed the practice ot law on retiring from the White
 House. This was so in Mir Cleveland $ case from 1889 to 1893 and in Presi- dent Harrison's case, from the time he retired until his death.
 Another plan proposed has been that of making our ex-Presidents sen- 1 g tors at large for life. In view of our political system this would hardly W ork. The Senate might be close on a party vote and it would hardly be fai, for senator at large with strong party bias to take seat in the Sen ate simply because he had been Pres l ident.
 If anything Is to he done with our ex- Presidents 1t occurs to me that il would be fitting to designate them commanders in chief, retired, with mod crate pay, say s12.oo0 or s15,ooo year
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12
A POOR SHOWING.

A IOOR Sf1UWING.
 When number of high-salaried singers and other performers gave their services gratuitously at a benefit performance at Gary, Ind, for memorial to Billy Rugh, the newsboy who allowed his leg to be cut off to save the life of young woman by skin grating, the result was a deficit of s1S0. The heroism of that boy cost him his life and he deserves to be remem-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12

Oscar Underwood and most of the democratic representatives hope the date of converting the special sessicn will be March 15 instead of April 15. The new President is left free to name the former date
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12

The Los Angeles commission has ! sworn in six clergymen whose special duty 1t is to enforce the juvenile laws and regulate dance halls, and Miss Jo- sephine Roche has also been made a policeman to act as censor of motion picture shows
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12

Flon NOrl1ldH E MdVh -Nd0'oIse' Monthly.
 We'll. Johnny what was the text to-
 day?" asked proud father of his small son who had just returned from church. Let me fink favver," said Johnny scratching his head in deep thought. "oh, yes, remember. It was Don't be scared, you'll get your quilts all right Johns father, after puzzling awhile over this queer text, called up the min ister.
 Could you tell me what was this morn- ing s text, MT. Jones? he asked, and was convulsed to hear the reply.
 Fear not, the Comforter cometh.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12
STATE PRESS
Correct at Last

From the Montgomery Journal.
 few days ago there was hanging in Texas which took place eight years after the crime, there having been seven trials, seven convictions and several reversals After while lawyers got it so every 'f' is dotted and every "t'' is crossed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12

City Attorney Boyd seems to desire census of owls and bullbats before movement is started to require the trolley company to put on owl cars. The business between midnight and 5 o'clock a. m. is not large.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12

The Norwegian parliament admits it can find no person the world round on whom to bestow a Nobel peace prize. and there will be no award this year. The money goes therefore to swell the foundation fund
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12
IN WINTER, TOO

There was a girl in our town,
 Who ne'er was known to paint; She'd never smoked a cigarette,
 Her fingers to attaint; She did not care for trashy books
 And naughty, naughty plays, But was a sweet and winsome girl,
 With most bewitching ways. She never uttered slangy words,
 Was modest in her dress The sort of maid most any man
 Would dearly like to press. We thought sine did not have a fault, A paragon complete, Until we saw the kind of shoes
 She wore upon her feet.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12
THE STAGE DOOR JOHN
New York Correspondent Cincinna

Times Star.
 Raymond Belmont, son of August Belmont, banker and sportsman. who has been locked up somewhere by the elder males of his family to keep him away from the chorus girl he married, is just an average example of what the theatre people regard as one of the chief pests of their profession-the stage door John" All of the man. agers don't so regard them. Some of them even go far enough occasionally in encouraging the patronage of these
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12
Very Large Merger

From the Montgomery Times.
 An Arkansas bride and groom start their welded life with a total of 27 chil- dren. It wouldn't require so many mer- gers like that to form a complete polit- cal party.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12
Policemen Should Be Careful

Policemen should not shoot at es- caping prisoners in the streets of Bir- mingham's business district. It would be better a thousand times to allow
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12

The Liberty Bell is wanted in San Francisco when the Panama-Pacific ex-
 position is opened and Philadelphia will
 no doubt again consent to let it be- come a side show.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12
THE GRANDSON oF AN EdpERo-

THE GRANDSON OF AN EMPEROR.
 A book with the title Little Leon" which recently appeared in Vienna, has aroused much comment. The hero is an alleged grandson of Napoleon Bonaparte. and all the details of his life are carefully told According to the story, this scion of an Emperor was called Count Leon, and at his death, in 1881, he left three sons and daughter the third son com ing to America and becoming a circus rider.
 Of course it's a little strange. but od- CT readers will remember there was noted rider and leaper in the circus rings of nearly 30 years ago, who called himself Leon.
 And then there was famous female im- personator. .the only Leon" of Kelly x Leons ninstrels.
 Unfortunately for the romance, however, the Leons of spangles and grease paint are often the Hickenloopers and Me Goozes of private life.-Cleveland Plain Dealer.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12

The Pittsburg papers speak of the beautiful snow, thus admitting indi- | rectly that they have a little touch of winter at last.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12

Secretary of State Knox admits that he may recognize the republic of China in January This is very kind on his part, although exceedingly dilatory.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12

The Balkan peace conference is to have the run of St. James palace. Our ambassador is and long has been am- bassador to Buckingham palace.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12
Pie-Hunters, Maybe

From the Troy Herald.
 Woodrow Wilson is developing loving admirers each day. But lots of them have something up their sleeve.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12
Nothinr More to Say

From the Huntsville Mercury Banner.
 The Mobile Register says that Governor Blease is .an anacronism." Now that settles it. The rest of the boys may sit down.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12

Electoral votes are being transmitted by Secretary of State Knox to the House. The Alabama vote is supposed ly en route It has not come to hand.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES

1 bered. It is estimated that less than 20 people were present at the performance, and if those taking part had been paid their usual salaries the cost. would have been more than s5ooO. Whats the matter with Gary?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12

the idea that to be an actress all that one has to do is to attend rehearsals and accept invitations to midnight sup pers.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12

Why not try buttermilk and even the oxygen treatment on the grand old party to see if it cannot be brought out of it's prolonged coma?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12
A RARE PRIVILEGE.

Mrs Gygler was so badly frightened by an automobile almost running her down that she hasn't been able to speak for week."
 That's too bad "Stll, there's a brighter side to nearly all our misfortunes. Gygler has been smoking his pipe in the living room ever since the incident occurred.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12

Montclair, New Jersey, Is preparing to sterilize it's library books, but this will never reach the germs inserted by the author
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12

President Taft counts that day lost when he does not submit a message.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12

The women who smoke and drink are found at the top and at the bottom of society in about equal numbers.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12

jury in New York awarded a min
 ister $500 for the loss of 312 sermons.
 This is the first official valuation of the article.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12
MOST ANNOyING

You ask the reason for his blues?
 He's bought a pair of button shoes; Each day he finds button gone,
 Those blooming buttons won't stay oni PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12
MORE HuMILIATING.

Being struck by a train is horrible experienced"
 Being ripped by train is nearly as bad.p
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12

France will elect a president next month without the aid of southern postmasters or George w. Perkins
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12

pr. Sun Yat Sen wants an American loan of s200.OoO,ooo to build Chinese railroads. John D. IS the man he should see
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-12

Governor Blease won hands down the national profanity championship.