davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-06
THE sHIPWRECk

From Byron's ''Don Juan" Twas twilight, and the sunless day went down over the waste of waters, like a veil, Which, if withdrawn, would but dts close the frown Of one whose hate is masked but to assail. Thus to their hopeless eyes the night was shown,
 And grimly darkled OCT the faces pale,
 And the dim, desolate deep. Twelve days had Fear
 Been their familiar; and now Death was near.
 At half-past o'clock. booms, hen coops. spars And all things, for a chance, had been cast loose,
 That still could keep afioat the strug- | glng tars-
 For yet they strove. although of no There was no light in heaven but a few stars. The boats put off o'ercrowded with their crews.
 She gave heel, and then lurch to port; And going down head foremost-sank, in short.
 Then rose from sea to sky the wild fare- | we'll: | Then shrieked the timid. and stood still the brave;
 Then some leaped overheard with dread l full yell. 1 As eager to anticipate their grave; And the sea yawned around her, nke a | hell;
 ,And down she sucked with her the whirling wave,
 Like one who grapples with his enemy, And strives to strangle him before he die At first one universal shriek there rushed 1 Louder than the loud ocean, like a crash
 Of echoing thunder; and then all was hushed. ! Save the wild wind. and the remorseless | dash
 l Of pillows. But at intervals there gushed Accompanied with a convusive splash A solitary shriek-the bubbling cry 'of some strong swimmer in his agony.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-06
A SPEECHLEss DINNER

From the New York Times, December 8.
 Said Barron G. Collier, president of the
 Tennessee society in New York, to Mar shall l.. Havey, chairman of the commit- tee which had the arrangements for tho society's 1912 dinner in charge, one day last month:
 Aren't you sick and tired of all those I'm glad to be with you tonight after
 dinner speeches that we have listened to at each of our dinners since I don't know when?'
 Am I tired of them?" responded Havey. q should say l ann" Lets not have any speeches this year" suggested Collier. Let's spend the speak
 CTS wine money on favors for the la dies.'
 You're on," replied the progressive
 committeeman. Leave it to me" So they left it to Hayey. | Last night the eighth annual dinner was | served in the Astor gallery of the Wal
 dorf-Astora. Small party tables were scattered all over the dining room, a 1 tho speakers table, with the usual two l loot elevation, where pOHtlcldnS anu Ia
 nous after dinner takers used to sitl Obviously there was none and, apparent
 ly, there wasn't going to be any. The 1 Tennessee society in New York was te
 lavo a real dinner and not an oratorical | contest.
 l It took some time to understand the situation, but when the guests had taken
 their places, to the tune of Dixie and i the walters were about to bring in tn, oysters. there was a rattling in mid air | just as if some one had let window shade slip. It was not a window shade | however. It was two white stereopticof screens, which had been unfurled at op- posite ends of the hall, and on each there | was exhibited this slide l The first annual SPEECHLESS dinner ! of the Tennessee society. "CLeer up. there will be no speeches to right
 There was a cheer from the 200 diners louder than was ever accorded any afte dinner speaker, and the orchestra played Dixie all over again.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-06
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Rapid Growth

Birmingham has grown rapidly pn'
 not more rapidly than I had imagined lit would when I was first here, about
 six years ago." said F. H. Darlington l of Chicago
 NO city in the south has the na- ltural resources that Birmingham has It's reputation as the Pittsburg of the South is we'll established. This town lis known everywhere as an important iron and steel center. And l am told that it has come to be an important jobbing center. There Is no reason why
 Birmingham should not be in the 5o0,- 900 population class within the next 20 years It will be great manufacture ing and a great commercial stronghold.
 Its business district as well as its residence district is heinz handsomely built up. The only thing about Bir- mingham that does not make a good impression on visitors Is the condition of the streets in the congested part of the city. The streets are very much |torn up and, Of courses during the win ter they will be very muddy. But rough streets are to be expected, perhaps, in a fast growing city. In time Bir- mingham will have modern paved streets in every part of the business section, no doulbtn
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-06
Democratic oampaisn Fund

Publicity of national campaign funds has been a good thing and as a result |of reform much less money was used in the last presidential contest thar
 In former contests said an old dem |ocrat.
 No victorious party ever got through la campaign with so small a fund as
 the democrats in the election of Wilson It was estimated at the start that $1.000,O00 would be needed. The amount contributed totaled s1,159,446 The list |of the large contributors is most inter esting and it is encouraging to know
 that those who gave most generously had no ax to grind-no special favors
 to ask of the incoming administration The contributors were actuated by patriotic motives.
 "In former campaigns many millions |of dollars made up the fund and many |railroad companies and other corpora tions contributed big amounts"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-06
Q, I am fortunes fool!
 -Romeo and Juliet.
Rig Corn Yield in Jefferson

Jefferson county has not heretofore shone in agriculture, but it seems to be coming forward with a rush in the corn tests. Isaac D. Martin of Pratt City-of Birmingham for that mat ter-raised 239h bushels of corn on a single acre of Jefferson coun- ty soil. It will be conceded in even the great corn states that this was "some" corn to the acre, and Bennie Owen of Ware, Elmore coun- ty. did almost as well. The latter re- ports a yield of 2371s bushels on one acre of land.
 For the greatest yield on one acre the state offered a prize of $2O0, and the second prize is $150, and the third $1O0. The state board of agriculture will award these prizes this month, and if MT. Martin secures the first prize Jefferson will begin to plume itself agriculturally speaking even as it heretofore has done in an industrial way.
 Jefferson is big county and if its rich valleys were carefully cultivated they would go far toward supplying the industrial districts of the county with food products. A county that can grow 2391a bushels of corn on a single acre has great untouched agri- cultural possibilities.
 And just think, this was done in the city of Birmingham, the home of skyscrapers!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-06
Churches in Small Villages

At the federal council of the Churches now sitting in Chicago a story was told of small Indiana will lage which is said to be typical of church conditions in many of the small villages of the country.
 In this Indiana village of 262 in habitants-and there are many of like size in Alabama-there are 68 pro- fessed Christians and only 20 church members attempting to support three churches. Of the AS that were not members of the three village churches 70 belonged to denominations that had no churches in the little village.
 This brings up the whole question of church consolidation in small towns as opposed to numerous small denominational churches. No mere theory can, however, be brought to bear in such cases, for denomiDational lines are kept carefully drawn, all though they are much less distinct and forbidding than they were gen eration ago or even 10 years ago, and perhaps in the course of another generation it will be possible to merge the churches in small villages until the result is a strong and efficient church well maintained. It is a sub lpt that must be left to time and
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-06
From the New York Sun.

From the New York Sun.
 I"HE death of Norman Shaw, at Sl, romeves one of the most notable
 A and perhaps the most original of British architects of his generation. The
 preceding generation of architects, the generation of Sir Gilbert Scott of Burges & Butterfield and Street & Warehouse, of whom Waterhouse, dying in 1905, was the last survivor, had devoted themselves Ito showing that gothic architecture was adequate to all purposes and to every ex- precision. The Victorian Gothic revival Of which they were the conductors might have succeeded better if they had not confounded the principles of Gothic arch itecture with the forms in which it had found historical expression. In practice they regarded these as the sources rather than as the illustrations of the principles which were in fact those of real architec- ture in general. With true British conser- vatism and 'prehensillty of tail'' ,ney continued to repeat forms from which the life had departed with the passing of the modes of construction which had given rise to them. Their Gothic was 0@ preference for the Gothic forms over classic. They failed to make it a liv- ing language and to express it for all purposes. Even when the revival was at it's height Lord Palmerston directed Sir Gilbert Scott to make a classic design for the foreign office, to the disgust of
 that architect. But in 1865. at the time of the competition for the new Law Courts, which was the most signal demon- stration that the revival was in posses
 sion of the field, there was not one not able design that was not in some mode of Gothic. and no other would have stood any chance of acceptance or consdera- 1 tion. But it was soon recognized s--it the revival had not succeeded in domesticat- ing Gothic for residential purposes nor in commercializing it for commercial pur- poses Its most ambitious effort in the way of a public building, Streets Law Courts in the Strand, was failure with l the British public. So equally was it's
 most ambitious effort in purely monu-
 mental architecture. the Albert memorial in Hyde park. Since 1870 modern Gothic in England has been mainly confined to
 churches and colleges.
 I It was just at this time that Norman
 Shaw. already man of 40 and known as
 a picturesque and artistic draughtsman, came into the field with his proposal for
 what may be called, though very loosely,
 classic revival. It did re-employ classic
 detail. but purely as decoration and with
 a freedom and usefulness much more
 in the spirit of Gothic than of classic. His free classic was exhibited in several country seats and in one town house, commotion in the English and American
 architectural circles of the early 70s. The
 new revival presently became known as Queen Anne" for no good reason, for
 nothing could be less like the formalized design which the followers of Sir Chris topher Wren were doing during the reign
 of Queen Anne than the racy and idio>
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-06
JOURNALISM SCHOOL AT SEA

From the New York Times.
 Edward P. Mitchell. editor of the New York Sun, talked before the students Of
 the Pulitzer School of Journalism on "The Newspaper Value of Non Essentials" He emphasized the value of travel Tn the education of the newspaper writer, say irg:
 If some good plutocrat should come along with a million dollars to add 10 the Pulitzer foundation, and should honor me by asking advice as to the special appli- cation of the money, he would be advised to buy and present to the School of Jour nalism an ocean going steam vessel and to supply the necessary funds to keep it going about all the time. He would be advised to put aboard the ship the best working library that Intelligence could assemble together with an excellent col lection of photographs and other Illus
 Jatlons of places, people. and objeefs of world interest. He would be advised to embark the class next to be graduated, ,of perhaps a selected postgraduate class, and keep the bright young men afioat, under the direction of picked staff of instructors, visiting and investigating and visualizing the various parts and peoples of the world, about which it was to be the work of their life to write intelligent ly and with the vividness that is born only Of personal interest and personal impress sions. Thus there would come to the be- ginner, when he needs 1t most, the oppor- tunity that occurs so rarely or so tardily, or so incompletely in the ordinary making of the newspaper man."
 Mr. Mitchell said that the School of Journalism was not organized to grind down the bones of It's students to a pale uniformity and send them forth like file of perfectly drilled Prussian soldiers. He would have them cultivate that .-n- teachable thing called individuality, which means originality, which means imagina- ton" MT. Mitchell referred to the indi- viduality of Joseph Pulitzer, as conspic- uousy shown when sent down to Wash ington by MT. Dana to report in semi correspondence the critical stage of the electoral controversy of 1876. Speaking of this incident, he said:
 "The man of all it has been my fortune to know with the liveliest and broadest conception of human interest as the oasis and guide of newspaper making was the least tolerant of code or convention Or precedent. For the ancient common law of journalism as derived from England, and perhaps before that from away back in Bceotia, MT. Dana didn't care one comic supplement. In the bottom of my hert I don't believe that he had any the- ories of journalism other than common sense and free play for individual talent when discovered and available. And I do remember distinctly that when he sent MT. Joseph Pulitzer, then fresh from St. Louis, on to Washington to report on semi editorial correspondence the critical stage of the electoral controversy of 1876. Mr. Daha did not think it necessary to in struct that correspondent to assimilate his style to the Suns methods and tradi- tons Never was a job better done with or without plain sailing directions; bu- perhaps that was partly. due to the fact that MT. Pulitzer was somewhat of an in- dividualist himself"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-06
Schedule by Schedule

It has now been practically settled that the revision of the tariff in the extra session will be proceeded with schedule by schedule, simply because that plan prevents trading between interests. The sugar men cannot so readily trade with the wool men, and all dickers become difficult and doubtful. Both Leader Underwood and Congressman Palmer are said to favor revision schedule by schedule, and the plan will no doubt be adopted.
 Should Oscar Underwood be induced to accept place in the cabinet it is believed that Congressman Palmer of Pennsylvania will be his successor as leader of the House and therefore chairman of the waysl and means com mittee. MT. Palmer comes from Sam RandalPs state, but he is as fully committed to revenue tariff as our own Oscar Underwood is. There are really no Randall democrats nowa- days. There may be a few sugar democrats in Louisiana, but there are no other democrats who want p1otec- tion except as an incioAnt. All others want revenue tariff. No Randall democrat can be named in the House, always excepting the handful of sugar democrats from Louisiana.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-06
NORMAN SHAW, ARCHITECT

| matic work of the revivalist The Now Zealand chambers" or as we should sav
 office building," was as much a nov eiey III commercial architecture as Low
 ther Lodge had been in domestic. The quaileles Of these lines as shown on a. huge and more imposing scale in the new buildings for the Scotland Yard. A.
 work at which London long looked
 askance, but finally accepted. The early
 lmitators of Shaw were not successful
 but with such co-laborers as MT. Colcutt
 he at last succeeded in imposing upon London new secular style, marked bv VlVaclty Of design and disregard of purism as well as by strong contrasts of color. The motives" and the general treatment were derived more from the continent than from any historical examples in tba British islands, and 1t would not be ,,n-
 lair 10 describe the style of modernized London as version of Flemish Renais- sance.
 All the same, the style has suffered A
 sea change in crossing the channel. If ids really been naturalized and become racy or the soil. It is a mundane man. her' opViously unsuited to churches and colleges. Though MT. Shaw built an ac- ceptaDle Gothic church or two. be was
 not distinguished and apparently did not aspire to distinction as an ecclesia st,caI
 architect But he had done more toward
 expressing the life and spirit of his coun- try in building than any American arcbi- tect or group of architects has sacceeded
 In doing Tor this country, hopeful as Rich
 ardsons attempt in that behalf looked !" years ago. Our country homes. if ia
 true' are often original and native ex- pressions of those who inhabit them. O,,r skyserapers have an originality enforceo. But our public buildings are all done aste,. the latest Parisian fashion, the grandi- oslty and factitiousness of which is at
 least as un-American as 1t is un- English The movement which Norman Shaw
 originated and to which he was the most Important contributor is in harmony with
 the time and place. It expresses artis- tically the unpretentious, undemonstrativa
 and homely taste and temper of the mod
 ern Englishman. He has an architecture
 in which he is at home.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-06
Advertising Birmingham

T am glad to see that the new folder of the Queen and Crescent route de- votes full page to Birmingham, giv- ing complete map of the business dis trict and some of the near in residence sections" said member of the Kelly company, map engineers.
 The folders heretofore published contained, of course, map of the country traversed by the Queen and Crescent and map of Cincinnati In adding Birmingham and Chattanooga the passenger department has shown enterprise that will be appreciated. The Birmingham map will certainly be a good advertisement for this city as these folders are widely distributed throughout the United States"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-06
REAL BucKwHEAT CAKES

A Hartford Writer in the New York Sun. Sir-If "D" and William Byrnes, !" whose letters I noticed in the Sun of November 3o will follow the few simple directions which I give they may have buckwheat cakes very much Hike those mother used to make.'
 Put one Fleischmann compressed yeast cake in half cup of lulSewarm water and stir untll it Is dissolved. Slft to- gether two cups of genuine 5uckwheat flour, half a cup of wheat flour, half a cup of Indian meal and one teaspoonful of salt. Add the yeast and enough luke warm water to make batter of the con- sstency of 'molasses in January A pitcher holding two quarts, to allow for rising. and wooden spoon will be found valuable aids. The batter should be mixed at night, just before bedtime, and should be covered and set to rise in a moderately warm place. Then it will be found ready to bake for breakfast.
 Just before baking add one tablespoon full of molasses to the batter, to give the cakes delightful brown. Have the grid dle lightly but completely greased, and hot but not to the scorchng point. and the success of the cakes is assured. Each morning save three or four tablespoon fuls of the batter flor seed" to which add the flour the following night in the proportions already given. In this way the yeast will be good for at least d week. But after the second morning it will be well to add to the batter, just before baking, a pinch of baking soda, a scant quarter of teaspoonful. thorough ly dissolved in a little hot water. This nsures the sweetness of the cakes.
 It goes without saying that the cakes should be eaten right off the griddle if possible. Any pancakes become soggy If allowed to stand long.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-06
 The New PostOfffce

Five or six years ago when the postoffice> in the federal building was becoming congested We were clamor- |ous for a new government building, bu; am glad now that we had to wait, said a member of the Chamber of Com merce
 "If the government had proceeded to erect a new postoffice five years ago lit would probably have been a $400,000 or s500,000 building which, of course would have been inadequate for city of Birmingham's present size. Now il Is plain to see that look into the future will warrant the government In building for city of at least 500,00O population.
 The site purchased recently by the government at S200,000, is not near large enough. Nothing less than a site measuring 400x190 feet will answer We should have a building costing not less than $1,500,000 and even with sucn a spacious structure it would probably be outgrown in 20 years. It should not be difficult to prove to Congress by simple statistics and logical infer ence that Birmingham will have a pop ulation of 5o0,000 by 19So."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-06
Appreciation of Good Music

There is unquestionably a growing appreciation of good music" said J. H Holcombe, manager of the Starr Piano company and treasurer of the Bir- mingham Concert committee.
 "The two Sunday afternoon musicales that have been given by the concert |committee were largely attended and it is safe to say that the two musicales lyet to come will draw even larger au- diences.
 "A few subscribers to the season tickets have not yet paid notwith- standing several reminders have been sent through the mail. As the con tracts made with musical artists were based on the subscription list those who have failed to pay must see the reasonableness of the request for re- mittances."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-06
Greece and an Armistice

Now that it has been agreed that Che beseiged garrisons at Adrianople, Scutari, Janina and Chios are not to be provisioned during an armistice, it is believed Greece will sign the ar mistice. She is beseiging Chios and Janina, and she does not want them revictualed.
 She has in a dignified appeal ad- dressed to her allies shown that she desires above all things to maintain the Balkan league. All reports to the contrary should be received with eau tion. Greece is no doubt acting eau tiously and wisely in complex situ- ation. She will continue to work with her allies, and the settlement of the war will cover all the demands that she can reasonably make.
 The peace conference is to sit in London, and the appointment of plen- ipotentaries is now progressing. Each of the allies will send three delegates and Turkey will be represented by her strongest men.
 The impression prevails in Europe an capitals that Servia will be granted an outlet on the Adriatic, and that Greece will be doubled in area by tho war. Bulgaria is strong and can gel what she wants, and little Montenegro has many friends who will not permit her to be overlooked in the division of the spells of war.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-06
Early Shopping

The people of Birmingham and, as far as 1 am informed, tho people of other cities, have been educated up to the early Christmas shopping idea" said merchant.
 Tt used to be that shoppers waited until about two weeks before Christi mas before they started to buy holiday presents, but now the shopping rush begins early in December This has been an exceptionally prosperous year in the Birmingham district. The pay rolls are unusually large and more money is in circulation than I have lever known before.
 The Christmas business will certain ly make new high record here. Tho merchants have laid in large stocks, but they will be pretty well sold out before Christmas eve. Not only are the wage workers prosperous but the country people are coming to Birming ham in large numbers to lay in their holiday supplies. All of them have an air of prosperity.
 Birmingham is great shopping center and every year adds to the num- Der of out-of-town visitors"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-06

the slow changes in public sentiment and religious belief. Many people who call themselves Christians now con- tend that one church is really as good as another, and one in small town is enough, but no one can hasten af- fairs in a village to a consolidated re- e,1lt