davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-03
Br'er GrOundhOg in the Sun

On groundhog day if the sun appear Theren be two winters in the year
 No doubt about it. The groundhog came out of his hole yesterday, and there was not cloud in the sky-just Old Sol shining straight down in a crisp air. The grounding saw his shadow, and he did not want to con- suit the weather report or to gather further information. He stood by the meaning of his shadow, handed down through the ages, and at once he went back to hibernate six weeks longer.
 The only open question is one of latitude. The groundhog's action may and probably does mean six weeks more of winter weather in Chicago, but as one journeys toward the canal zone the decree is modified by lati- Jude. Four weeks more would per haps fit our parallel and two weeks more that of Key West, while down in Jamaica no respect will be paid to the action of the mainland groundhog.
 The groundhog's decision stands modified by latitude. Far from us be the effort to decry the grounding or to cast imputations upon him. We  accept his decision sd far as it is ap- plicable to our latitude and our coal trade. Many things have to be con. sidered in the weather forecast busi- ness. Even the truth is lost sight o1 at times.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-03
JIM HAHLEY


 Edward Hungerford in Harper's Weekly
 Next to the new hotel, the newspaper office. and the fast growing marble capi- tol building. the most slightly edifice on the streets of Boise is Governor James Hawley. Only there is nothing marble about the chief executive of Idaho and no one in Boise dares to call him James. He is Jim Hawley yesterday, today, to- morrow and straight into the hereafter. He is a familiar figure in the streets of the town, tall, straight, big, and always wearing the black broadcloth and the soft brimmed hat that one has come to associate with western statesmen. Some times dire rumors run up and down the states of the Pacific coast that their lead CTS in unfamiliar haunts of the east break traditions and slink forth in silk hats and hard boiled shirts. but no one has ever accused Jim Hawley of such. back sliding.
 His history is known to every man, woman. and child in Idaho-how he join ed the Argonauts streaming westward in the first of the gold days, how he sailed before the mast and then came into Boise with shovel and pick-ax in those far away days of P. There was more need for law lore than muscle just then and Jim Hawley saw the drift or things. He grew bigger and bigger all the while physically and mentally, and Grover Cleveland made him United states attorney while Idaho was still terri tory. He was a member of the consti- tutional convention of 1890 and he at traeted some little attention at the time when one William Jennings Bryan was first running for president. But when James Hawley conducted the great trial against the leaders of the Mine Workers of America for the murder of Governor Steunenberg he first became a national figure It. was then that they began to call him Jim Hawley, and after that it was only 9 question of time before they upset all their republican precedents and made their man governor of the lcfo to
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-03
From the Kansas City Times.

From the Kansas City Times
 TT is 61 years ago today that John J. Audubon, Americas greatest natural | ist, died. Just exactly when he was born even MT. Audubon himself never knew.
 This man. whom men always think Of when a movement is instituted in some part of the country to save the birds, has left lasting monument to his memory. h every ssate in the Union Audubon so' cieties for the protection and preserva- ton of the tirds have been founded.
 Audubons life was a most romantic enc. Born aome time about 17S0 in Lou'si- ana he was taken 10 San Domingo, when unite youug, where his father owned q nIantation. There his mother, who was a Creole, died. Soon after this the rather sold his property on the islands, and' with his son. started for France. The nttle hoy took with him a parrot and a monkey from the islands. They had been his playmates.
 one day in France these two pets quar- reled anu of the incident MT. Audubon said in his autobiography that he left for his sons:
 Tt is as llain to me as though it had occurred this very day, and I have Il ought of t thousands of times since It is one of the curious things which per haps led re in after times to love birds, and finally 10 study them with pleasure infinite. lne monkey was a full grown male of the large species. While the ser wants were engaged in arranging the room was in. Pretty Polly asking for her breakfast as usual, 'Du au pour le, perro- quet Mignonne, The man of the woods probably thought the bird presuming upon his rights ;r the scale of nature. Be this as it may, he certainly showed his supre- macy in strength-over the denizen of the air, for, walking deliberately and upright ly toward the poor bird he at once killed ;t. with unnatural oomposure. I prayed the servant to beat the monkey, but ne, who for some reason preferred the mop- key to the parrot. refused
 Then Audubon tells of the anguish Ee endured and comments upon the deep in,-
 ression it made upon his youthful mind.
 His fa.he.' was one of 22 children and left home quite young. Fortune smiled. The sea lie he led gave him the oppor- tunity to meet the Spanish Creole in Louisiana vho became young Audubon s mother. ard it also was responsible for his accumulation of wealth in San Do rningo.
 john James Audubon preferred Amefl- ca to France, and, returning to this coun- try. he married a girl living near Ph''a- dclphia From there he went to Lotus file, where he enSaged in business. He writes that the citizens were most en- Jovable aud courteous and so long as he
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-03
IN HOTEL HOBBIES
Taft Stronger Than Roosevelt

'T believe that President Taft vii be nominated by the republican con. vention next June. and I know his chances of election will be good" said rtter J. Brownell of Chicago. T am republican and will vote the repub- l lican ticket, no matter who is the nom inee. but I would much rather see President Taft at the head than any one else
 Colonel Roosevelt is very popular with the masses. but I do not believe he could be elected if nominated. Third termism is as unpopular as ever. l have heard Roosevelt men say that President Taft could not possibly be elected. I think the Taft men have just as good a reason to say that if Roosevelt were nominated he would surely be defeated. When I was in the northwest early in January practically every republican met expressed him self as in favor of Taft
 'In democratic circles I hear good deal about Woodrow Wilson. He seems to be very popular in the west. l do not see, however, how he can be nom mated with the two-thirds rule which the democrats adhere to- Underwood or some man who is not at this time high up in the list of possibilities will probably be chosen to head the demo- cratic ticket"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-03
DEATH RATE IN THE CANAL ZONE

From the Journal of the American Med
 ical Association.
 So many records have been broken in the canal zone since Uncle Sam under took to dig the big ditch, that we have become used to the sensation and no long, CT expect anything but remarkable do- ings Whether moving dirt. building dams, draining swamps or preventing disease the canal commission seems to have no thought in view but to make each days work better than that of the day before. So we arise merely to put on record that the report of the department of sanitation for November just received, shows that during that month. among ll,900 white men. women and children from the United States living in the zone, there were two deaths from disease, one from malaria and one from cancer; there was also one premature birth. Including the latter this is equal to an annual death rate of 3.02 her thousand Would any of our most advanced cities care to compete for first honors, as a health resort, with this erst- while pest hole of the tropics?" Most of our cities consider themselves lucky if they can get their death rate below h per thousand.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-03
Iron Market and the Railroads

Matthew Addy X Co.,, in their iron mar ket report, say;
 Business has its eyes on Washing ton just now, and Washington never was much of an industrial center. But in spite of legislation and politics. the iron trade is fairly active. As compared with December, January, of course, was a poor month, but nearly everything that could be produced this month was sold last month, and only what was expected has happened. IL is our deliberate con viction that consumption is slowly but steadily increasing, and if this is true, pig iron presently will take care of it. self
 Pig iron prices are now lower than they have been since 1902. and producers have come to the point where no further reductions are possible. Either demand must send prices up or there will pres ently be most decided drop in the quantity of pig iron produced Even the most favored of the iron masters mak- ins iron for the general market find no
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-03
THE SIX DOLLAR GRADUATE

From tho Boston Evening Transcript.
 It was certainly pretty low estimate that President Hibben of Princeton uai- versity pu. upon the value of a man just graduated from that institution in lis lecture at Auburn seminary. Six dollars a week is a pretty small assessment for g man supposed to be literally educated, and does not seem 10 take his immediate
 Dotentialty into the reckoning. Of course, he would hardly be willing to ad- mt that the graduates of other institu- tions are worth more than Princeton S when they first go forth armed with q rect, the S period must be of short dura- iion for young men Of the right stuff.
 In his address before the Boston alumnae of Mount Holyoke college Wednesday night President Huntington of Tufts told the story of a young gral- uate of the engineering department of that institution who set out in search of employment and applied to large con traeting company. We have no place for you" was the answer he received
 Haven't you anything2" he again asked
 Nothing that you would take; you're 2 college graduate" But haven't you any thing?" he persisted Nothing but 6 water boys Job at S5 week. ''Pll take it, said he. and he did In four weeks ne was foreman of construction gang a; considerably more than 8 a week. Young Elen who know how t. seek opportunities and how to use them are worth mere than $6 a week even at the start.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-03
Working in Panama

John Cheney, formerly of Anniston and well known throughout Alabama, is visit ing this state again after long absence in Panama. He has been engaged in dig gins the ''big ditch.'
 "lt begins to appear" stated he. that We will soon have to look for new jobs. The work is nearing completion. l expect the end will come shortly after June.
 T have become thoroughly acclimated and like the country. The completion of the ditch will result in great improve ment of this state and other southern states. The canal should make Mobile one of the largest cities in the south in 10 years"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-03
BIRMINGHAM

From the New York Commercial.
 Birmingham, Ala, is a city that has taken advantages of it's natural jadvan- tages and has grown large and prdsperous without losing it's head. In the 10 years from 1900 to 1910 it's population has in- creased from 3s,415 to 132,6S5, it's annual pay roll from s2S,S75,0OO to $4s, 475,000; it's steel production, from 66,06 tons to 529,- 6S5 tons: but its city tax rate has not changed in that period and still stands at 1 per cent. This tax rate has not been kept down by high assessments. The as sessed valuation of real estate in 1910 was $65, ,S15, ,026, which is less than $500 head, and the city tax on it is therefore less than s5 for each inhabtant. In 1900, 503 new buildings were erected and in 1910 the number rose to 34t1.
 Birmingham remains a city of homes in spite of it's rapid growth and the economy of it's civics administrators makes home building more attractive than in places where the tax rate is higher.
 The southern states are just coming into their own again and opportunities await the industrious and intelligent in every walk of life The world has not walked up to the wealth of the southS and does not realize that the war is over and the country has adjusted itself to new conditions. Even the soil that was ex- hausted itself to new conditions. Even the soil that was exhausted of its fer tility in the old plantation days has lain fallow and nature has restored it to it's virgin fruitfulness. Ii is not iron and steel alone that has made Birmingham great The revival of agriculture and the development of industries dependent on forest growth have played their parts in it's splendid progress
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-03

every tangle of vines in the jungle. The missionaries cried out against this ra- pacity.
 r "They are only animalsp retorted the eonquerins adventurers.
 Solemnly the Pope in Rome considered Fthe charges of his missionaries Solemn y, too, he heard the defense of the eS- rloiters of these new races:
 They are only animals"
 The evidence was sifted; the books were opened precedents were considered; syilogisms were framed-and the decree entered.
 '"They are human beings" declared the Pope. You have d care for their souls"
 That was 900 years ago. Yes, they arc human beings. but little concern has been shown for their souls, for from that day to this these amiable people have been heartless,v exploited, made the helpless victims of, to quote good Bishop Chiapas of that early day, such crimes, such atrocities, and such massacres as no pen is eoquen- to describe" This goes back 10 the days of Gil Gonzales, 100 years be- Fore sturdy Dutchmen first began to build houses of legs on an island called Man hattan, and it comes down to the days of Zelaya, who for r years sustained 0 Borgia-like career in Nicaragua, which only ended three years ago on Christmas Day when q guard of United States ma rines escorted the tyrant to the borders of his owa country and bowed him out or it forever.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-03
 DISTtNGUISHED IN DEBATE

From the Mobile Register.
 MT. Underwood has acquitted himself admirably on all occasions: and has nc binders to his charge He is far more clever in debate than some commentators have allowed: and the reason is that he is full of his subject. Reading makes a full man, is an old aphorism; and read ing may be translated study MT. Un- derwood always knows what he has to say and he says it remarkably we'll
 We need go no farther back than to last Fridays debate on the steel and iron schedule-whlch was passed by vote oi 2lo to 109, 20 insurgent republicans voting with the democrats-to find excrf1ent il lrstrations of his apt answers and strong arguments.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-03
Office and Candidates

There is great need of strong men be- coming members of the Board .of Reve- Inue, said B. Fl. Cooper last night. This is the largest county in the south, and its business is larger than that of any other. Therefore it is essential that only strong men be elected to membership
 At the present time there are about 3C candidates for these five positions. While we know some of them, the great ma. jority are unknown to the great majority of the voters of the county. Should some man select ticket of five well known cit. izens he could elect that ticket, I be- lieve. without great trouble. It is cer- tainty that the county needs strong board next year especially"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-03
THE EXILE

John Warren Harper in Scribner's. 1 am down in Arizona,
 On it's cactus covered plains. The white plague on my hollow cheeks, It's fever in my veins.
 l am down upon the desert, Iris a Godforsaken land,
 Where you live out in the open
 Mong the sagebrush and mesquite. With rattler for neighbor, Not the friendlest to meet. Where you fling yourself upon bunk To rest your weary head, And you shake the blooming scorpions From the covers your bed. They say this country, way down here' Is full of precious gold.
 It's mountains filled with silver. And with countless wealth untold, But 1 know another country. And my heart with longing fills, Where the gold is in the sunset Upon it's purple hills
 Where the silvers in a brooklet. And it's set with emerald. too, As it flashes in the sunlight Of the meadow, stealing thru, A country-God's own country. And my own to sacrifice,
 Some call it fair New England.
 But l call it-Paradse.
 Oh, look out OCT the sagebrush, As I stretch my yearnng hands O 'er the long. unbrolSen reaches, or the deserts burning sands, To land where brooks are honest When your lips are parched and dry. Not the canons clear. deceptive streams Of the tasteless alkalf.
 New England has no mountains
 Full of wealth and mines and rills, But I'd give this whole damned country For one sight of it's green hills. I am down in Arizona -
 And I'm told I've got to stay Till the Angel Gabriel blows his trump Out on the Judgment Day. I've been here three years already. And the white plague's held in check. And my broncho and the pale horse Are going neck and neck. But, oh God, for old New England As the, lonely years go by; Let the pale horse beat my bronchh Take me home and-let me die
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-03
EuIinn Pace Rctnrns

After spending three years in Porto Rica, Fulton Pace of Dadevile has re- turned to Alabama.
 T have enjoyed my visit and have been able to discharge the duties on which 1 was engaged stated MT. Pace "but I am glad to be in Alabama again. have been connected with the government in its engineering work, and am now chief engineer of a corporation engaged, among other things,-in irrigation. l will prob ably return within 8 month or two"
 MT. Pace was formerly a student at the University of Alabama, and later was graduated in engineering at Auburn. He was popular with the students at both places.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-03
AUDUBON'S LOVE FOR BIRDS

attended to his business 1t prospered. Rut he spent too much of his time in the a'o ods studying the birds and his business failed. Meanwhile, he plunged into the bird work more thar ever.
 A few years passed in which he was greatly pressed for money and he anl his young wife lived meagerly though very happily Soon his drawings of birds fegan to gain fame. and in this case fame meant money.
 He died at his home on the Hudson. A park in New York city has been named .ifter him.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-03
America's Forty Immortals

We have 'em at last-not simply 40 immortals, but AT. It appears that the National Institute of Arts and Letters in Philadelphia could not select an inner circle of Jess than AT to consti- tute the American Academy of Arts and Letters. But the former has given its word that it will not commits sion any new immortals until Old Father Time has reduced the number to 40, which would bring it down to the number of the French academy, and give it proper tone and dignity.
 In the AT the names of southerners are chiefly noticeable by their ab- sence. True, Woodrow Wilson, born in Virginia, appears in the list of inn mortals, and so does the name of George w. Cable, who once lived in New Orleans, and Thomas Nelson Page, a native of Virginia and now resident of Washington, and Professor Gildersleeve of Baltimore, and F. Hop kinson Smith, an artist born in Balti- more but who lives now in New York. No immortal lives today in the cotton belt, although the National Institute of Arts and Letters might have fitted the Olympian badge to the head of Hannis Taylor or dozen other south ern men.
 We need not stop to question the selection made by the Philadelphia
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-03

chance for profitable operation at the prices obtainable today.
 There has been great complaining re- cenflv of poor railroad service Whether 1t is the severe winter weather or the heavier shipments, it is certain that the railroads are taking from three to four times as long to haul freight as should be the case. If a genuine boom were to come the railroads would be swamped-that IS, judging by their present facilities
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-03
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR

From the New York Press.
 Cocktail appetites mean brandy des- serts.
 No doubt pirates had their own opinion of politics.
 There's no disgrace a girl feels so keen- ly as having a cold in the head.
 Some people can be more ashamed of being in trade than of deadbeating those who are.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-03
THE GASOLINE JAG

"Tribbes said he felt like millionaire last night"
 Did he imbbe freely?"
 'No. He stood in front of a theatre and inhaled the fumes from 50 automo- biles"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-03
GABY'S GREATNEss.

According to Variety" Gaby Deslys left New York after a stay of 16 weeks without having given a tip to any one in her hotel or to any attache of the the atre where she appeared. Formerly we had an dea that Gaby was very much overrated, but now we are convinced that she is most remarkable young woman, There's no telling what she couldn't do.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-03
FoREsTALLED.

Although young Biffers is said to be extremely wild at college. >old MT. Biffers hesitates to reprimand him.
 q wonder why?"
 "Old MT. Biffers attended the same col lege in his youth and I understand the boy was smart enough to look up his fathers record as soon as he had matric- ulated.p
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-03
ASKING roo MUCH.

"Why does Blobsly look so glum?"
 ''Well, you know that he invented combined potato masher, can opener and nutmeg grater.'
 "of course. And it's making him rich" Sure. He's millionaire already, but he's sore because his name was not in- cluded in the list of the worlds immor- tals." PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-03
THE NEIGHBoRs.

THE NEIGHBORS.
 Two neighbors on an East End cross street started out Monday morning with one purpose in view-to board westbound street car at the nearest corner.
 Both managed to get into the middle of the roadway without mishap-one of them being a little ahead of the other The neighbor ahead was gingerly pro- gressing at reduced speed when he heard
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-03
NOTHING UNUSUAL IN KENosHA

From the Eenosha News.
 He shouted to the man and told him to be careful that the fast train was eS- reoted at any minute and the dead man called back to him that he would look out for the train.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-03
DECEIVED.

How brightly beams the sun without The skies above are blue. We're in a mood to look about
 And see if Spring is due.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-03
THE NEW CHINA

The dragon waited long before
 He gan to wake; But he will now, his slumbers OCT, Some records break
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-03
FIRST RATE CHS

FIRST RATE CUISINE. Who's sent to Sing Sing should not wear doleful mood. We understand the cooking there Is very good.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-03

Ericsson's cheese box on a raft was launched 30 years ago last Tuesday, and ii together with the Merrimac revolution i.ed inc navies of the world.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-03
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
HOW SAD THIS ISL

HOW SAD THIS IS! He made the best of what befell, His heart was light, But $ wife had so much woe to tell. At home at night, He soon became so wondrous cross, lie just took down His hat, upon his brow did toss And. fled to town, Where comrades met him at his club In merry mood And later sent him home, poor dub, Completely stewed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-03

The days are growing appreclably longer The sun rises today five minutes earlier than it did on Christmas day and it will set 32 minutes later
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-03

Boston holds most of the immortafs, and in the entire number there are but two poets. James Nhitcomb Riley and George Edward Woodberry.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-03

The ,ultimatum was used by both rebels and imperialists in the final negotiations between Picking anl Ranking.