davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Middletown transcript., 1912-02-03

Derringer at His Feet With an Oath"
and a thin trickle - tlcol upon my
temple. l saw Cation rushing toward
me, his face filed with anxiety, and
then Brennan hurled his yet smoking
derringer into the dirt at his feet with
an oath.
Damn it, Moorehouse," he roared
fairly beside himself, the charge was
too heavy; 1t overshot."
"Are you much hurt?" painted Cation.
Merely pricked the skin"
Then Brennan's angry voice rang
out once more.
Il demand another shot," he insist
ed loudly. 81 demand 1t, / tell you,
Moorehouse. This settles nothing, and
will not be baked Just because you
don't know enough to load a gun"
Cation wheeled upon him, his blue
eyes blazing dangerously.
"You demand a second shot?" he
cried Indignantly. Are you not aware.
sir, that Captain Wayne fred In the
air? 1t would be murder"
Fired in the air!" he laughed, az
II 1t was most excellent joke. "Of
course he did, but it was because my
ball disconnected his aim. l fred a
second the first, but his derringer was
covering me-"
Cation strode toward him, his face
white with passion.
Let him have 1t his way" called
after him, for now my own blood was
up. "I shall not be guilty of such neg
lect again"
He did not heed me, perhaps he did
not hear.
major Brennan" he said, facing
him, his voice trembling with feeling,
II tell you Captain Wayne purpose,
ly shot in the air. He informed me
before coming upon the field that he
should do so. l positively refuse to
permit him to face your fire again"
BrenRan's face blazed; chagrin, an
ger, disappointment fairly infuriated
him, and he seemed to lose all self
control. "This is some cowardly
trlck! ne roared, Slarlng ABOUT MIN
as if seeking some one upon whom
he could vent his wrath. Damn 1t,
believe my pistol was hxed to over
shoot in order to save that fellow. ]
never missed stehh ssstiehh . shct hefore"
Moorehouse broke In upon his raw.
ing, 80 astounded at these intemper-
ate words as to stutter in his speech.
'Do-do you d-dare to in-sinuate, Ma
jor Brennan" he began, that have
-" he paused, his mouth wide open,
staring toward the shed. Involuntar-
lily we glanced in that direction also,
wondering what he saw. There, in
the open doorway, as in a frame.
dressed almost entirely in white, her
graceful figure and fair young face
clearly defined against the dark back.
ground, stood Edith Brennan.
TO BE Continued
Middletown transcript., 1912-02-03
CHAPTER xxxV.
The Last Resort Of Gentlemen.

'1NFNG' " NI9IIN'NIIINIIa
found the library deserted, and
paced the floor for fully half an hour
before Cation appeared. Stung as
had been by Brennan's harsh, uncall-
ed-for words, yet shrank from the
thought that I must now meet him in
deadly combat. It was no fear Of
personal injury that troubled me; In
deed / do not recall giving this the
slightest consideration, for my mind
was altogether concentrated upon what
such meeting must necessarily mean
to Edith Brennan, and how it would
Middletown transcript., 1912-02-03

finally:
81 realize your natural anxiety to
be off, Captain Wayne, and while we
should be very glad to keep you with
us indefinitely, yet l trust you will
feel perfectly free in the matter"
q thank you greatly" answered,
rising as 1 spoke. MY duty is Of such
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-29
HOW MUCH sLEEPs
Los Angeles Times.

From the Los Angeles Times.
 How much should we sleep? There is no law of nature to regulate the length of sleep required in ordinary circum- stances. But the popular saying seems to convey wholesome truth with respect to this question. "Sx hours for a man, seven for woman and eight for a fool"
 "Nyomen as a rule are light sleepers. Sleep is not so necessary in advanced years as with young persons, because the old need cnly to repair the daily waste of tissue, whereas the young require, in ad- dtion, much energy for growth"
 The remarkable restorative effects of a few minutes sleep in the daytime receive an interesting explanation.
 '.As a rule," says the doctor, with healthy persons the intensity of sleep, and therefore its refreshing effects are great est during the first hour of the night, and gradually diminish.
 This may be taken as the explanation of the well known fact that 40 winks. after dinner, or after period of stress, produce cutie noticeable recuperation of the powers, which is also the reason that some persons can do with much less sleep than others.''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-29
The Stock Market

Henry clews, in his Saturday review says in part:
 Beyond dispute the stock market IS in strong control. This is demonstrated by resistance to unfavorable conditions and the concerted manner in which cer- tain stocks are taken one by one and advanced. Quite number of specialties have been made more active at higher figures.
 "Monetary conditions are generally Ia vorable to the stock market loanable funds being abundant and cheap Any decided increase in business activity would of course lessen the supply available Tor market purposes. Our bank reserves are low but do not really represent our act ual financial strength. because our cred it's abroad have been greatly strength ened by favorable foreign trade balances, and there are still large sums of Amer ican money loaned in Europe which can be utilized when needed on this side.
 "rhe coal strike has been, practically settled without any serious disturbance. There is reason to hope that the engi- neers strike will also yield to reason and sober second. thought. All things considered, there is basis for taking a cheerful view of the situation in the long run |"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-29
The Confederate Dead

Yesterday the Confederate veterans laid flowers on the graves of the patriot dead. Memorial day has al ways been observed in the south with tederness and manly devotion.
 It has been AT years since the great Confederate chieftains sheathed their swords, and the ranks of the gray are fast thinning out The very fact that so few are left and those few bent with years adds singular pathos to the ceremonies in our cemeteries. It is a pious act to remember the men who fought and died for cause they thought right. In all the worlds his tory we have no finer example of valor than in the four years of warl fare from 1861 to 1865; none so splen- did.
 Not few union soldiers lie buried in southern ground Many sleep the last sleep in our own Oak Hill and the old Confederates decorated the graves of the msn who wore the blue while strewing flowers on those of their Confederate comrades.
 All bitterness between the north and south passed away years ago. Those who wore the blue and those who wore the gray have mutual re- spect and kindly feeling for each other. And well that it is so As we have these recurring memorial days graves will be visited and strewn with flowers. After the last veteran has crossed over the river the sons of vet erans will gather every year to honor the dead and keep green their graves as well as their memories.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-29
No Recall for Ohio

The progressives in the Ohio consti- tutional convention-a body controlled bv the democrats of that state-haye voted for the initiative and refer endum and various reforms in the courts of the state, but by vote of 57 to 45 they have refused to sane ton a provision for the recall of of ficials, including judges.
 The recall in Switzerland operates to keep officials on their good be- hayior. In this country it is feared it would operate to decrease the re- sponsibility of the electorate-to make voters more careless in choos- ing officials if they possess the pow CT to recall them at any time. Ere ouent elections are troublesome to busy people, and altogether public sentiment seems to favor fixed terms for all officials, thus notifying the electorate that the responsibility rests on them.
 The Ohio democrats have, at any rate, rejected the recall, and it will not be submitted to the people in the new constitution, although the initia- tive and referendum will be.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-29
Congo Has Supplanted Morocco

Professor Delbruck, the well known German historian, presents in a March magazine an article asserting that the control of Central Africa is the coming issue in Europe. It does not necessarily mean war, but it does mean that Germany will steadily strive to secure a great empire in the heart of Africa-in Congo in short. Germany is to acquire the balance of French Congo, the Belgian Congo, Portuguese Angola and British Zanzi- bar, payment to be made by various sessions. England, for example, would gain German East Africa, which would give her continuous rule from Alexandria to- Capetown, and the Capt to- Cairo railroad would be built.
 The scheme of Professor Delbruck may not be worked out until this cen tury is well advanced. The proposi- tion involves the taking from Spain, Portugal and Belgium various African possessions, on the ground that to him who hath much shall be given.
 The plan bears no indorsement at present except Professor Delbruck's. but if Germany is to pull steadily to secure great Congo empire it is reasonable to believe she will secure it. Africa would then belong in about equal parts to France, England and Germany.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-29

mer was not proven, and Senator Johnston says he heard all the evil denee in both trials.
 ''The people," says Senator John- ston, "have not heard the evidence as I have" It is not matter that can be left to the vote of the people. Sit ting as judge under oath the sena- tor says he must decide the case on the evidence, no matter what the con- ditions of Illinois politics may be.
 This is Senator Johnston's position, and he proposes to act up to his judg- ment and his conscience, and no one can say that his position is not sound in every respect.
 It is unfortunate that evidence is deficient in both the Stephenson and the Lorimer cases, and that the mess and mass of corruption" in the two states of Wisconsin and Illinois can not be condemned Tn the Senate. It is plain they cannot be. The evidence is lacking.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-29
Welsh Disestablishment

The Asquith ministry is pushing through the house of commons the Welsh disestablishment bill. The lords in the house of lords will delay it two years, but in the end it will probably become law.
 The tories will fight it because they represent the established church in general, and they see in Welsh discs tablishment the coming of a bill to apply like treatment to the church in England.
 As there are in Wales three non conformists for every member of the Church of England, not much can be justly said in favor of the mainte- nance of a church that absorbs an- nually $1,300,000 of funds, although it is in no sense representative of or in sympathy with Welsh religious life. The members of the house of com mons from Wales all favor the pend ing bill.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-29
Business Improving


 The iron market continues firm and upward in tendency. The Birming- ham price is now $11 for No. ? foun- dry, and the indications are that it will reach SIP before the year is half gone.
 During the past four or five weeks business conditions have been better than even the most hopeful had pre- dicted. The incessant rains have been depressing in the south, but we will probably have plently of sunshine from now on. If large cotton crop is not made the price will be high-high enough probably to compensate for any shortage in the number of bales.
 It has been generally felt that pros perity would be in full~wing next fall and it will be unless there are crop failures all over the country.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-29
IN PRAISE OF AGE
Edwin L. Sabin in May Lippincott's "HIS is proffered, not necessarily 1

Edwin l.. sabin in May Lippineotts.
 HHIS is proffered, not necessarily to
 disparage the golden hours and
 A youth. but in praise of those other hours of gold more rich, yet in value less appreciated. For the champions of youth are many, and the champions of age are few. Nevertheless, if peace with it's victories, age hath its rewards. and in years there should be no shame.
 Age is but comparative. I well can recall when it appealed to me that should 1 ever attain to the ripeness of 10, and stand as mature as my swaggering brother, who had donned long trousers, then would I be at all desirable dignity. How must it seem to be 10-with round ly uttered, manly "Darn." with long trousers. and nickel in the pocket!
 At 10, did that prove to be only a foot hill with maturity and all the appur- tenances thereto still beyond; and 20 beck oned. ahead, from the pinnacle of man. hood. Aye. to be 20; to go to bed when one chose. to throw a baseball swift as rifle bullet, and to wait upon the young ladies At 20 would I be old-and some times ] wondered how it would feel.
 But at 70. 40 was an ultimate goal where fife would have been lived and spent and the backward look could outdistance the forward. Forty, with wife and family and business the world mostly seen, and e stiffness of the joints hampering the gay activities of preceding years. For a little fear was clouding the horizon.
 And HOW at 40-what? Nothing. in par ticuiar. The fear-that suspicion of fear was very foolish. At 40 one has the same new interests, the same sense of anticipa- tion for morrow, the same expectation of doing and completing, the same recur- ring pleasures; and while one accepts that the knees wobble little in running. and that few teeth are on the danger line, one has the same impression of re-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-29
NEW YORK vs. CHICAGO

Arnold Bennett, In Harpers Magazine for
 May.
 Having regard to the healthy mutual jealousy of the great towns, feel that I am carrying audacity to the point of foolhardness when I state that the streets of every American city I saw reminded me on the whole rather strongly of the streets of all the others. What inhabitant of what city could forgive this? Yet l must state it. Much of what have said of the streets of New York applies, in my superficial opinion, for instance, to the streets of Chicago. It is well known that to the Chnaman all westerners look alike. No tourist on his first visit to a country so astonishing as the United States is very different from Chinaman; the tourist should reconcile himself to that deep truth. It is desolatng to think that second visit will reveal to me the blindness, the distortions, and the wrong headedness of my first. But even as a Chinaman 1 did notice subtle differences between New York and Chicago. As one who was brought up in bleak and un- canny climate, where soft coal is in uni versal use, I at once felt more at home in Chicago than I could ever do in New | York The old instinct to wash the hands and change the collar every couple of hours instantly returned to me in Chica . go, together with the old comforting con viotion that a harsh climate is a climate healthy for body and spirit. And because | 1t is laden with soot, the air of Chicago is a great mystiher and beautifer At mospheric effects may be seen there that are unobtanable without the combustion of soft coal Talk, for example, as much as you please about the electric sky signs of Broadway-not all of them together will write as much poetry on the sky as | the single word Illinois that hangs without a clue to it's suspension on the murly dusk over Michigan avenue. The visionary aspects of Chicago are incom- parable.
 Another difference, of quite another or der. between New York and Chicago is that Chicago is self conscious. New York
 is not; no metropolis ever is. You are aware of the self consciousness of Chicago as soon as you are aware of it's bitumen. The quality demands sympathy, and wins 1 it by it's wistfuness. Chicago is openly anxious about its soul l liked that. l wish I could see livelier anxiety con
 corning the municipal soul in certain cities of Europe.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-29
------------ ->os---------------- FANCY COOKING
Youths Companion.

From the Youths Companion.
 Whenever, on one of his rare holidays, Captain Goldby went to the city, he took some young relative with him as a spe- cial treat. On one such occasion he told his 17-year-old grandson, whom he had with him that they would dine at real rest'rant, and get taste of fancy cook ing
 when they were at last seated in the great dining room, the grandson waited impatiently while the captain read the bill of fare completely through without committing a single article. whether do- nestle or foreign in title. At last he sighed, and handed the card across the table to the boy.
 You choose what you like, sonny, he said, with a sigh. ''As for me, reckon as I've already eat more herrin' than any other man Twin I might as we'll stow Away little more. It's alays agreed with me. so far"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-29
THE INCHCAPE ROCK

By Robert Southey. No stir in the air. no stir in the sea, The ship was still as ship could be, Her sails from heaven received no motion, Her keel was steady in the ocean. Without either sign or sound of their
 shock, The waves flowed over the Inchcape
 Rock; on buoy in the ocean it floated and
 swung, And ever the waves its warning rung. When the rock was hid by the surge's ],
 swell, The mariners heard the warning bell; And then they knew the perilous Rock, And blest the Abbot of Aberbrothok. Tho sun in heaven was shining gay, All things were joyful on that day; The sea birds screamed as they wheeled
 round, And there was joyance in their sound. The buoy of the Inchcape Bell was seen. A darker speck on the ocean green; Sir Ralph, the Rover, walked his deck, And he fixed his eye on the darker speck. He felt the cheering power of spring, It made him whistle, it made him sing; His heart twas mirthful to excess, But the Rovers mirth was wickedness. His eye was on the Inchcape float; Quoth he, My men, put out the boat, And row me to the Inchcape Rock. And I'll plague the Abbot of Aberbro-
 thok." The boat is lowered, the boatmen row, [ And to the Inchcape Rock they go; Sir Ralph bent over from the boat, And he cut the bell from the Inchcape
 float. Down sunk the bell with a gurgling sound, The bubbles rose and burst around; Quoth Sir Ralph, "The next who comes to
 the rock
 Won't bless the Abbott of Aberbrothol." Sir Ralph, the Rover. sailed away. He secured the seas for many a day; And now grown rich with plunder store, He steers his course for Scotland's shore. So thick haze o'erspreads the sky They cannot see the sun on high: The wind hath blown gale all day, At evening it hath died away. On the deck the Rover takes his stand, So dark it is they see no land Quoth Sir Ralph, "It will be lighter soon. For there is the dawn of the rising moon.'' "Canst hear" said one. ''the breakers
 roary
 For metninks we should be near the
 shore.
 ''Now where we are I cannot tell, But wish could hear the Inchcape bell" They hear no sound the swell is strong; Though the wind hath fallen, they drift along,
 Till the vessel strikes with shivering shock "Oh. Christ! it is the Inchcape Rockl'' Sir Ralph. the Rover, tore his hair; He cursed himself in his despair; The waves rush in on every side, The ship Is sinking beneath the tide 1,ut even in his dying fear, One dreadful sound could the Rover hear A sound as if with the Inchcape bell. The Devil below was ringing his knelL
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-29
From "Is There a Criminal Class?" in the Hampton Magazine for May.

Hampton Magazine for May.
 <<I oW about those who go in the
 other direction-from the non-
 \ criminal class to the criminal class?' I asked MT. Pinkerton.
 i've known lots of them, of course. Sometimes they make the complete clr- cuit--turn, criminal after an honest ca- reer, then reform completely. Men and women who have had every advantage so- ciety can offer and whose moral training has been at least up to the average stand ard, commit crimes when the temptation and the opportunity occur simultaneously. I would hesitate to say that any man is temptation proof. It Is merely ques- ton as to what his particular temptation is and how complete the opportunity to yield to 1t.
 Great crimes are never planned by men of a low order of intelligence and the bet ter educated a man is the more dangerous does he become when he turns criminal. There was the case of a physician in western city that illustrates both this point and the point I previously made as to the complete reform of many criminals.
 The principal bank In this city had been robbed in most daring manner. At the luncheon hour, when no one but the assistant cashier and girl clerk were in the building, a stranger had walked in, covered both of them with his 'revolvers and demanded all the cash in sight. They gave it to him to save their lives, some $4O,000. I was asked to investigate and cer- tain circumstances led me to believe that some one of those employed in the b>eS were not entirely innocent. It was plain,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-29

moteness when considering the topic oi final dissolution.
 So will t be. fancy. at 90. Fifty now looms portentous. At 50 life will have been two-thirds lived. No. not lived; two-thirds past It will only be two-thirds past. In those remaining 15, or 20. or 9 years. it may be found that living has only just begun! There will be, of course, a fur ther gradual stiffening of the joints, further gradual weakening of unused mus clss, further acquisition of artificial teeth. This today fills youth at 40 with certain sadness, an awe of the inexor- able march of time. But To, when oe comes 1t is only a change in figures, and off of paper signifies nothing. So inde- finable has been the progress througu the decade, that we scarcely may realize when mental exercise stole in to succeed physi- cal, and proved as satisfactory. For every privilege removed, another privilege as pleasant has been substituted. And so will 1t be,s let us accept, at 6d and at TO- and at Se. The change is but change in viewpoint; and the Grand Canyon of life still opens, marvellous, in every direc- ton,
 90 WHY o!edo UT pity age! Age deserves not dread, and asks not pity. Only to be pitied Is he or she who resists it, and, frightened or rebelling at the kindly cur rent, would turn and breast it. Whereas to be envied is he who floats serene along and finds, I am sure, all the shore line lovely.
 There is, students state, a peace and a content, a broadening of the perspective, a bl.ssful forbearance, philosophy war ranted by experience, to give age a charm possessed by no other epoch-no, not even by youth. This happy state is evident in the gentle voice of the grandmother. in tho ready doze of the grandfather, in a mild acquiescence to weather and ills, in pleased looking on without participat- ing. To render up oneself thus is to live as fully as to dance at the May pole of time For life is but relative.