davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-10
DIsCoURAGING A BARD.
REVERY OF TEUFELSDROCKH

destiny to haggard, hungry villains while councillors of state sit, plotting and play ing their high chess game, whereof the pawns are men.
 'The lover whispers his mistress that the coach is ready; and she, full of hope and fear, glides down to fly with him over the borders; the thief, still more sic lently, sets his picklocks and crowbars or turks in wait until the watchmen first snore in the boxes. ee5.
 "Gay mansions, with supper rooms and dancing roops are full of light and music and high swelling hearts; but in the condenped cells the pulse of life beats tremulous and faint. and bloodshot eyes look out through the darkness, which is around and within, for the light of stern last morning.
 Upward of 5000 two legged animals without feathers lie around us in hori- zontal positions; their hears all in night caps and full of the foolshest dreams, gers in his rank dens of shame; and the mother, with streaming hair kneels over her dying infant, whose cracked lips only her tears now moisten. All these, heaped and huddled together, with nothing but a little carpentry and masonry between them crammed in, like salted fish in their, barrel or weltering, shall 1 say, like an Egyptian pitcher of tamped vipers, each struggling to get it's head above the oth- CTS, such work goes on under that smoke countenpanei but |, mein Werther. sit above it; l am alone with the stars.''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-10
From Nashville to Calera

This state is full of big tasks, but the task of 1912 which outranks in magnitude all the rest is the double tracking of the Louisville and Nash vile railroad. The contracts are let and the contractors will soon begin to throw dirt, and some of them have a great deal to throw, especially those that have contracts near Blount Springs, Cullman, Warrior and Hart selle. E
 Not only does the company need two tracks against the opening of the Panama canal, but it also needs easier grades and curves in the hill country between Boyles and Hartselle. Grades will be reduced and the curvatures modified until long trains can be moved without the aid of pushers. The old time engineers did not have the money with which to build road free from distressing grades and curves, and they did not look ahead to see what the business of the company
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-10
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
MT. Dryan and MT. Undervood

civilian Jennings Bryan has given Os- car Underwood two opportunities of proving his mettle, one when the Me- braskan tried to dictate to the chairman of the ways and means committee in the matter of the wool schedule and the other Wednesday night on the money trust question:" said an old democrat. Underwood was victorious in both in- stances His mettle is of the highest quality: and the chairman of the ways and means committe, who is also the democratic leader in the House, is not only spirited, but he Is exceptionally able able enough to cope with any foe. regard MT. Bryans efforts to dictate to the democratic party at this juncture as extremely unwise, but his activity in as- suming a prerogatiVe has turned out, as thought 1t would, to the advantage of MT. Underwood
 Some of the newspapers have inti- mated that Bryan was plotting to cap ture the democratic nomination for him self once more. It begins now to look that way to everybody. But the party is tired of defeats in presidential elections. It is full of hope and enthusiasm once more.. It is going in to win. With Un- derwood as the standard bearer the party would score a great victory at the polls. If Bryan or anyone directly represent ing him should by any chance be nomi- mated the republican triumph would be greater than ever"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-10
FOR OSCAR UNDERWOOD

Thomas E. Watson in the Jeffersonian.
 It will be a feather in our cap, and a song on our lips, to sweep our empire state for the young statesman of Ala bama.
 It would put the world on notice that the south means to resume her ante pel- lum position in the union.
 If ever our republic is wrenched rom plutocracy, and led back to the old land marks of equal rights democracy south- ern men will have to blaze the way.
 For 30 years I have dreamed of union Of the south and west, against the money power of the east and west. In lsSo l ac- cepted subordinate position to an 1n- ferior man, in the hope of accomphshihg that purpose. If Bryan had possessed a particple of political sagacity, he would have turned his back on Sewall of Maine and yoked up with me, for fight to Win Kentucky and the doubtful northwest.
 At this time I again see a chance to weld together the great agricultural sec tions, both of which are bled white by tariff taxation. And, again, 1t Is Bryan who is baking the strategy.
 Oscar Underwood succeeded in passing through Congress a bill which virtually carried into effect the demand which the Farmers alliance putinto the Ocala plat form in 1S91 His farmers free list piil proposed to remove the tariff tax from the articles which the poor must have 10 live"
 Underwood's bill was the most sweeping measure of free trade that Congress mas passed since John c. Calhoun won ms magnificent battle over Daniel Weoster' Henry Clay and Andrew Jackson.
 Did Bryan ever propose law so iin- mensely beneficial to the common people! No.
 Did Woodrow Wilson ever do it? NO.
 Did Champ Clark or Joe Folk ever do II! No.
 Honor to whom honor is due.
 It was a marvellous triumph of prac- tical leadership to steer that glorious free trade bill through both houses Of con gress: and I cannot believe that our farm CTS and work people will prove ungrate- full.
 I myself have never found that our people were devoid of appreciation Of what we try to do for them and l do not believe that Underwood will find them so'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-10
Demonstration Work in Alabama

This year every county in this state will have farm demonstration agent, generally working on full time basis. This has been accom- plished by the United States depart ment of Agriculture aided by state appropriation of $25,ooO, and by county appropriations in the more progressive counties. Secretary Will son expresses the opinion that farm demonstration work lis more thor oughly organized and systematized in Alabama than in any other state in the south" "On the whole" he adds, Eve feel in Alabama that with the financial and moral cooperation that is everywhere evident, and the spirit of progressiveness along agricultural lines that is pervading the entire state, that in the near future Alabama will take her rightful place among the leading agricural states of the country"
 The state broke two records In 1911-that of corn and that of cotton. She made 66,O0O,O00 bushels of corn, or more than had ever been grown in this state in year, and very nearly enough to supply all of her own wants, and she made about 1,s0O,OOO bales of cotton, another record achievement.
 It is not claimed this was all done on demonstration farms, but the good example of about 1500 demonstration farms was felt in all parts of the
 state. There should be 25OO demon stration farms this year. This would be but 37 farms per county, and sure ly demonstrator can induce that many progressive farmers in any
 county in this state to adopt the well tested demonstration methods.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-10
LAW IN BIRMINGHAM

From the Chattanooga News.
 As a result of two grand jury reports directing attention to the large number of crimes that go unpunished in Jeher- son county, Alabama, a law enforcement league has been formed in Birmingham. Politicians will be excluded. The league will raise funds through dues to arouse public attention, to study the situation, to discover who is at fault and to insist upon more rigorous enforcement of the laws. It is high time. The grand jury reports 1O,562 indictments, SlO convictions, 47O4 cases stricken from the dockets, l42o prosecutions abated and 161S acquittals. The grand jury blamed the county sohc- itor or prosecuting attorney, expressing particular regret that of A persons indict- ed for murder only six were convicted. This can not be regarded as satisfactory record of the criminal courts. As the Bir- mingham newspapers say, too little is be- ins done to inspire the lawless with re- spect for the law. Jefferson county has an unenviable notoriety for lawlessness, but few communities are in position to stand with the Pharisee and give thanks that they are better than the sinners. Law enforcement must become a nation wide effort
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-10
MARVEL IN ANIMAL MEMORY

From the New York Evening Sun.
 Memory handed down through 30 gem erations is one of the perplexing facts of science. The beaver fiourished along French rivers until killed off for it's fur, but is now known only in about dozen -of the Villages on the Rhone near Avig- non. For three centuries these villages have had no trees to cut down for dams. The animals were compelled to adopt a new mode of life, and have burrowed in the banks, shaping mud with their tails as usual Recently some of them were taken by Polish count to forests on his estates. Very strangely. they resumed the habits dropped three centuries be- fore they were born. and at once began cutting trees and building dams.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-10
Affairs in Northern Mexico


 President Madero begins to see that governing Mexico is no picnic job. He has a hard task. He is beset by for mer friends who claim he is not full filling promises, and by former foes who have other favorites. These rise up in all parts of the republic, and it begins to look as if the new President can neither by force or by milder methods bring the republic to con. dition of settled order.
 Bridges have been burned near Tor reon in Coahiula, and the United States has given Mexico permission to route troops over American soil to Juarez. This is being done, but the occupation of Juarez will not restore peace to all parts of Chihuahua and Coahiula, the two northern states of Mexico, together with, Sonora, which seems to be peacefully inclined.
 Preparations are going on in this country for a considerable concentra- tion of troops along the Rio Grande and at points west of Fl Paso, and very possibly year of discontent in Mexico would bring some rumors at least into the political campaign in this country.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-10
The Iron Market

"Behind the better feeling in the iron trade is the solid fact that iron in fur mace yards is being steadily reduced say Matthew Addy X Co in their Cin- cinnati market report for the current week.
 "There is more iron being shipped out to consumers than is being made and the demand for faster and heavier shipments is everywhere in evidence The mails, instead of being burdened, as was the case year ago with re- ports to hold shipments. are now full of requests to hurry iron forward. So 1t is no wonder that iron masters are encouraged and believe that not only the worst is well behind them, but that they have started on the up track. In the south there has been a sharp advance in prices and in the north prices are much firmer. These are tan- gible evidences of the way things arc going.
 During the week business has been distinctly better There has been mucn more inquiry and buying. The odd thing about the buying is that so much of it is for quick shipment"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-10
INTERESTING FUTURE

From the New Hork Worlu.
 At the Little theatre, which is about to open under the management of a former di, ector of the New theatre, the experi- ment of presenting literary and art drama will be attempted without the support of a subsidy under conditions of intimacy and economy which give the venture great promise.
 The proportions of the new playhouse bear out it's name. Its seating capacity will be under 800 and it will have no boxes, balcony or family circle. But also it will have no boxholders or founders, and no extraordinary expenses to meet or acoustic difficulties to overcome. The ne- cessity 1t will be under of becoming sell supporting will compel a careful selec- ton of plays worth production for their acting as much as for their artistic mer- it's.
 The Little theatre contains possibilities of usefulness beyond proportion to it's size Though the city's smallest playhouse. 1t will be quite large enough for the purpose of trying out new plays, and if com petently managed it may prove successful on the idealistic lines where the more am- bilious New theatre project failed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-10
Truck Farming in Jefferson County

The truck farming industry in lief ferson county is increasing steadily. The farm movement organized by the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce about year and half ago for the purpose of inducing truck farmers seeking new homes to settle in the Birmingham district is having satis- factory results. It may be questioned indeed if any other movement under taken and fostered by the Chamber of Commerce will be more far reaching in wealth creating development.
 Information has been disseminated systematically in the form of printed matter and through personal corre- spondence on the part of the secretary of the farm committee, and it is said that fully 100 families of horticultural experience have settled in the neigh borhood of Birmingham within the
 
 past 12 months. Most of these new settlers have come from the north.
 If only 50 truckers had bought farms hereabouts this early in the movement the start would have been considered encouraging, but with 100 newcomers those doing the work in the name of the Chamber of Com merce are to be most heartily com mended. It is reasonable to think that the number of truck farmers here now will be increased three fold with in the next 12 months.
 The truck farmer always proves to be highly desirable citizen. He in- variably prospers and adds materially to the wealth of the community. Three or four years ago there were not more than 50 truck farms in Jefferson county. Now there are probably 200, and in five or six years from now the number will reach 1000.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-10

fully bad criminal record, especially in the large number of homicides' anu 1t behooves every one of us to as sist in molding public sentiment tha' will in some degree at least improve conditions,' said professional man.
 When the legislature meets meas ures will be introduced to put an eno to the fee system and seeking reller in other respects, such as stripping our judicial procedure of technicalities. In the meantime a campaign of edu- cation must be started and pushed viz orous1y.
 ''It would be good plan if dealers in firearms would stop selling deadly weapons indiscriminately. But there ar a dozen ways, perhaps, of helping to safeguard life and to reduce crime generally. Law abiding citizens should certainly cooperate in trying to get rid of the homicidal stigma which is now. the Birmingham district in a bad way"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-10
Business Improvement

lowing to probes and political agitation generally, the business situation has been far from satisfactory during the past few months, but improvement is in sight, said Stephen M. Guthrie of Chicago.
 New York and Chicago financiers agree that basic conditions are sound, and the ordinary man can see that large con sumers like the railroads are bound to do a good deal of buying within the next 12 months in order to be prepared for the big boom which we all think will begin In 1913.
 within the past two weeks l have met number of prominent business men who have talked enthusiastically. If both of the national onventons-republican and democratic-adopt conservative plat forms and nominate men who are not populistic business will start up with a whoop. In the meantime I think there will be a decided change for the bet terr
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-10
From Carslyle's Sartor Resartus.


 << A sH MEN L1EBER!" said he
 "A once, when we had returned
 4 A from the coffee house, in rather earnest talk, 'it is true sub limity to dwell here. These fringes Of lamp light, struggling up through smoke and thousand fold exhalation, some fathoms into the ancient region of night, what thinks Bootes of them as he leads his hunting dogs over the Zenith in their leash of sidereal fire? That stified hum of midnight, when traffic has lain down to rest and the chariot wheels of vanity still rolling here and there through dis tant streets, are bearing her home to halls roofed in and lighted to the due pitch for her; and only vice and misery, to prowl or moan like night birds, are abroad; that hum, I say, like the stertor- ous. inouiet slumber of sick life, is heard in heaven, Oh, under that hideous cov- erlet of vapors and putrefactions and un- imaginable gases what fermenting vat lies smmering and hid!
 "The joyful and the sorrowful are there; men are dying there, men are being born; men are prAying-on the other side of a brick partition men are cursing; and around them all Is the vast, void night.
 "The proud grandee still fingers in his perfumed saloons or reposes within dam ask curtains; wretchedness covers into truckle beds or shivers hunger stricken into it's lair of straw; in obscure cellars rouge -et-noir languidly emits its voice of
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-10
TAKING PICTURES OF THE SKY

From the New York Evening Sun.
 A photographic map of the sky has been occupying the attention of the as- tronomers of the world for many years and is still far from complete. The in formation so far derived it's tabulated and published in books, each volume contain ing little but a mass of figures.
 The work Is invaluable from a scientific point of view. This great International task is probably the most important of it's kind ever undertaken.
 The entire sky is to be photographed twice-that is, with short and long ex- posture. Each of the IS observatories par ticipating will take about 1200 photo graphs. The work has gone on continu- ously since 1892. The total number of separate stars in the sky, the positions and magnitudes of. which by each ob- servatory will be determined, is about 100000. Eighteen times that-to estimate the work of the other universities as we'll brings the approximate total to nearly 100000. a
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-10
soutbcrp md ,IarIo,ye Coming

Frank J. Wilstach, manager for k. H. Sothern and Julia Marlowe, was in Bir- mingham yesterday for the purpose of se- lecting the drama that these famous play CTS are to present at the Jefferson thea tre on Monday evening, March Il. There are seven plays in the Sothern and Mar lowe repertoire, and 1t was MT. Wilstach's business to discover the one most desired by the theatregoers of this city. This repertoire consists of the following Shakespearean plays: Macbeth" "As You Like It," 'Hamlet,'' Flaming the Shrew," "rhe Merchant of Venice, Twelfth Night" and Romeo and Ju- liet." After interviewing a number of prominent theatregoers, it was found that Hamlet" was the one most in request.
 with the purpose of poularizing Shakespeare" said MT. Wilstach, with all classes of theatregoers, Sothern and Marlowe arrange the scale of prices ac- cording to the capacities of the theatres in which they appear. When under the Frohman management, it was customary to charge 8 for the best orchestra seats. Since taking over the conduct of their own business, Sothern and Marlowe make the scale s2. .50 when the theatre is of lim- ited capacity, and $1.50 when they appear at theatres having very extensive audi toriums, sucli as the Manhattan Opera house in New York, with a capacity of 4OO0 seats.
 "The Jefferson theatre of Birmingham falls between these two capacities, and so the prices here will range from Soc to g. The management has arranged to file all mail orders for this engagement in the order of their receipt This plan should prove of great convenience to theatre goers residing out of town and in the
 nearby suburbs likewise to those who desire to avoid the inconvenience of standing in line at the box office.
 "To transport the Sothern and Marlowe company requires a special train of Il cars-six cars of scenery, three sleeping cars for the company, one car of trunks, and the private car of MT. Sothern and Miss Marlowe. The company supporting Mn Sothern and Miss Marlowe has re- | mained intact since it's organization, six | years ago, and all the important players have had long and careful training in the reading of blank verse. A few of the principal members of this company are Frederick Lewis, Roland Blackstone, Will | liam Harris, Thomas Coleman and Nora | Lamison.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-10
From the Kansas city Times.

From the Kansas city Times.
 ~ ONTROI. of ones thoughts is an important part of good manners. O Indeed a great many acts or in- civility and even rudeness are caused by absence of mind. The woman who gazes off into space while handing you dish' or who lets go of it before you have takeh firm hold of the edge, emptying the chick- en salad into your lap or all over the tablecloth-such a woman is not neces- sarilv an awkward person. She may sim- nlv he thinking of something else, instead of attending closely to the matter in hand.
 The man who pays little heed to what won say to him, allowing his thoughts to wander far afield, is certainly very try ing individual. Perhaps you are explain ing difficult point to him, or giving him complicated directions. His mental habits are so lazy that, like child, he can not long focus his mind on any one ob- feet. One of the most important social virtues is to listen attentively to and answer precisely what is said to you.
 Many of the unfortunate remarks that occasion so much bad feeling are caused by absence of mind. Thus the woman who enters into a long dissertation on in- sanity, when talking with a man whose brother has just been sent to lunatic asylum, may make this frightful blunder in entire innocence. A clever woman. who was famous for unlucly remarks of this sort, gave the following explanation Of them:
 .I sometimes feel as if the presence Of certain people brought me brain wave. Now. such a mental current tells me something that is true of MT. X--, but 1t may be a truth that is not kind to men ton. According to my experience. it is hest to think twice before acting on the impulse caused by these brain waves Thus if Mr. Ks presence puts forgery forcibly into my mind. it is because his uncle has lately been convicted of sign ing the wrong name to a large check. Clearly the subject is one to be avoided.
 Evidently presence of mind is a most desirable virtue to cultivate. The best way to do so is to avoid trying to do two ar three things at once and to endeavor to concentrate the attention firmly on a single object. AS is well known, our brains have two more or less separate halves, so that it is possible for some people to do two things at the same time. Julius Caesar was an adept in this line. but for most of us 1t is an unsatistac-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-10
The south and Home Seeker.

'The south as section has made wonderful progress agriculturally and industrially in the past 25 or 30 years" said Ebert s. Hawkins of New York
 T make occasional trips to the south, my first visit having been nearly 20 years ago. All the way from the Potomac to the gulf one remarks sub stantial improvement. The strides in some of the states have been really re- markable. I was on the Pacific coast last summer, and in my travels I met number of men who were talking en- Enthusiastically about the south as the section of the country with the bright est future.
 Home seekers may have been slow to appreciate the wonderful advantages that are offered in the cotton belt, but I think from this time on the south will fill up faster. In the next census great growth in population will certain ly be shown"