davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02
IN THE HOTEL LOBBIES
Music Festival


 The Birmingham music festival opens tomorrow afternoon with a popular pro- gramme arranged especially for young people. but glance at that programme will show that 1t is of equal interest to grown up folks. Some very beautlfui things will be heard Friday afternoon and no music lover should miss that young peoples matinee.
 q have been attending music festivals in Birmingham and Cincinnati for several years past, and I recall no programmes more attractive, so far as orchestra music goes, than the programmes offered here this week." said a well known amateur.
 "One must have considerable musical culture to sit with appreciation through an oratorio programme or chamber con- cert programme of severe classical music, but people who like music at all enjoy grand orchestra, and the Minneapolis symphony organization which will be heard here this week is one of the best in America
 "If this festival is a financial success it will lead to a grand opera festival next year. Of course we cannot have grand opera on a big scale without an audi torium of immense seating capacity; but we will have the auditorium, provided Birmingham public spirit Is in evidence in this weeks annual music festival"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02
FAREWELL TO THE FREE LUNCH

From the New York Sun.
 News comes from Pittsburg that the license court has issued rule forbidding the serving of any kind of free lunch by those who may lawfully dispense alco- holfc beverages. This is distinct blow to many a hardy stomach in these days Of high cost living. It also affords evidence that Kansas can influence Pittsburg not only in things political but also in things moral and intestinal.
 Special stress was laid against crack CTS and cheese. This embargo seems con- trary to public health. particularly the taboo against cheese and crackers. as they were the most harmless part of the regulation free lunch. It is well known that the high cost of living had an inn mediate effect upon the quality of most free lunch offerings throughout the land. Keen observers of the counters have re- ported that even the variety of sausage has been cut in half, and that the sauer- lxraut is not nearly so deadly as formerly, having lost half it's former strength through dilution. Reports come from many parts of Ohio that the hamburger steaks are not steaks at all, but crude mixture of bran and other foreign sub stances. Bran. however. is said by some authorities to be very wholesome, pro- yi6ing one can eat 1t and live.
 It would be interesting to know what process of thought produced this extra ordinary action in prescribing in Penn sylvania such national institution as the free lunch. Did the license court forbid 1t on grounds of virtue, holding that the eating of pretzel or salted crack CTS induced one. through artificial thirst.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02
How Presidents Are Made

The Senate wants information. It wants some that it will not get fully and comprehensively. It has adopted the Culberson resolution calling for a full report on the contributions to the national committees of all parties in the presidential campaign of 1904 and 1908. The resolution is not joint one. It is a Senate resolution only; and it has been adopted. %
 The committee on privileges and elections is to secure the information both as to amounts and the-names of contributors. The committee is clothed with the usual powers of sen atorial investigating committees, and yet it will not get in the fullest man.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02
YOUNG WIPES TRAGEDY

From Lippincott's Magazine.
 The tragedies of early married life were illustrated in an incident that occurred not long ago in Baltimore household.
 A young wife sought out her mother-in- law with a most agonized expression and threw herself in a chair with an out burst of grief
 Has anything happened to Henry?" anXiously asked the mother-in-law
 Hes taken to staying out at nightsl' walled the unhappy wife.
 Tt doesn't seem possible How long has this been going on? How late does he stay away?'
 well, sobbed the young woman, you know he usually leaves the office at 5 o'clock Night before last he did not get home until G. and last night he didn't set foot in the house uRtil 20 min utes sfteg 6! Oh, what shall l do? What shall I do."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02
AS STEVENSON SAW TT

From the London Chronicle.
 Robert Louis Stevenson took a charac- teristlcally original view of the rewards of literature. In letter to Mir. Edmund Cosse he writes; AS for the art We practice, I have never been able to see why it's professors should be respected. they found it wns not all primrose, but some of it brambly, and much of it up- hill, they began to think and to speak of themselves as holy martyrs. But a man is never martyred in any honest sense in the pursuit of his pleasure; and delirium tremens has more of the honor of the cross. We are full of the pride of life, and chose to live by pleasure. We should De paid if we gave the pleasure we pretend to give but why should We be honored?"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02
Hercdity or Environment

"One of our correspondents asks wheth- CT strong personalities are the product of heredity or of environment says a writer in the New York Times. That is large and difficult question. and to gain time before tackling it pne would only have to ask the questioner what he meant by strong personalities. Few phases would be harder to define than that one, and of course, without foundation of exact definition nothing in the way of profitable exposition can be expected.
 ''As for the relative influence of heredity and environment in producing personal ties of any kind. strong or weak, the very inquiry reveals a false assumption the assumption that heredity and evir- onment are two things and different things. So they are in some senses, but in others they are only phases of se- quences of the same thing and 1t is one of the other senses that justified the neat sentence heredity is the sum of all past environments
 Nothing can be more obvious than that, no matter how far back we go. We always find environment at work. with heredity
 
 the biologists are pretty well agreed that acquired characteristics are not transmit- ted, they have all rather lodged the issue created by the fact that every character istic must have been acquired at svme time or other.
 Tt is true, however. that scieNtific opin- ion. after long ascribing the prepondera- ton of influence to heredity. inclined for while in recent years toward environ ment Of late the pendulum has swung the other way. and heredity, With Men deianism, has come into its own again. One way to answer our correspondent would be to say that heredity decides what man might be-environment what he will be. by hindering or helping the de- velopment of his inborn capacities"
 Catholics in the Cabinet "The New York Times of Sunday print ed dispatch from Rome In which 1t was
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02
Underwood and the Presidency


 Tt looks strange to northern people that the entire south is not lined up solidly behind Underwood for the democratic presidential nomination. said F. J. Tyree of Chicago.
 T Was born and reared north of the Mason and Dixon line and have always voted the republican ticket, although have never been at all active in politics. But the war is long since passed and now there is no particle of prejudice in the north against the south. Therefore 1 cannot understand why any southern dem- ocrat should favor the candidacy of any democrat other than Congressman oscar Underwood, who is admittedly the strong est democratic statesman in the country today. If the tariff is to be the issue Un- derwood is certainly the one master of the tariff problem from a democratic point of view
 T meet a great many northern dem ocrats, especially in New York, where business frequently calls me, and they all speak in the highest terms of Un- derwood, l have heard the question asked dozen times recently: What are the southern people thinking about when they are advocating the claims of any aspirant except Underworld?
 As to republican politics I know noth ing except what 1 read in the papers. l was inclined to be for President Taft, but t}thfhk the republican nominee will be a dark horse But I intend to vote the ;traight ticket, no matter who is at the head of it.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02

ner the information wanted. Memories will at once become short, agd books and records will be missing. Why? The lists of contributors of the repub- lican party would at least be paralyz- ing They would show that the trusts and magnates make presidents in this country, and that party will not fur nish the desired information. To some extent the democratic party is also guilty, but no doubt the democratic party would be willing to disclose it's lists if it could secure a guarantee that the republican party would do likewise. No such guarantee will be forthcoming.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02
Settling By Arbitration

Not only are all coa strikes settled
 but the threatened strike of the loco motive engineers on 30 railroads east of Chicago is to be settled by arbitra- ton. The plan adopted calls for seven arbitrators. The engineers will ap- point one and the railroads one. and the two thus appointed will select the other five. And if they cannot agree then Chief Justice White, Commission
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02

In the decade the proportion of males of voting age increased faster than the population itself The gain of the former was about per cent, due no doubt to the excess of males among immigrants. There was also an increased percentage of foreign born whites, also due to immigration.
 One other fact will not escape at tention, namely, the ratio of negroes of voting age. It stood in 1900 at 9.7 per cent, and in 1910 it had declined to 9.1 per cent.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02
COSTLY NEGLECT OF NATIONAL
 DEFENSE

Albert s. Levino in Leslies
 From the close of the revolution to the present day, the people of the United States have regarded national defense in the light of a political shibboleth rather than as a safe and sane military plan. This theory is essentially the product of a traditional and provincial unwillingness to consider this county as any but an isolated world power,s now al peace with other nations and destined therefore al- ways to remain so. Unfortunately, his tory-with it's valuable lessons of repeti- tion-opposes our calm acceptance of any such hypothesis. For no nation in the world today shows so great ratio of years spent in actual war to those of peace as does the United States!
 We have had, in our 135 years of na- tional life. no less than one year of actual, declared war for every three and one-half years of peace.
 It has been our unbusinessliSe neglect of the real meaning of national defense which has permitted our many wars to impose the terrific toll of $14S60, 636, 462. 50 foc their prosecution. Against a total of only 1,3S3,OS1 opponents in all our wars, we have called into the federal military service no fewer than 4,6SS,597 Americans "a ratio of 3ls to 1. Our pension bill at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1911 totaled sl 23O, ,Ss1 73O 16 with S92, ,09S pen sioners still on the rolls. And we are ex- pending on them annually more than the yearly cost of the entire German army.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02
Ir NEVER COMES AGAIN

By Richard Henry Stoddard. There are gains for all our losses,
 There are palms for all our pain. But when youth, the dream, departs It takes something from our hearts,
 And it never comes again. We are stronger. and are better,
 Under manhood's sterner reign; Still we feel that something sweet Followed youth, with flying feet, And will never come again. Something beautiful is vanished,
 And we sigh for 1t in vain; We behold 1t every where. On the earth and in the air,
 But 1t never comes again.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02

CT of Labor Neill and Judge Knapp of the commerce court will name the lacking arbitrators. All of the arbi- trators will be named within 15 days.
 This action relieves general busi- ness of the perplexities and embar- assments involved in widespread railroad strike, for no one doubts the success of arbitration in the issue in volved, which is simply one of wages. The eastern railroads were leading the way and now that they have accepted arbitration it is reasonable to assume that no railroad strike for higher wages will occur in any part of the country this year.
 The avoidance of strikes will en- able the farmer, manufacturer ana business man to stand with better grace the squabbles of the politicians in a political year. Possibly there may be waiting period until the presidential nominations are actually made in June, but the better opinion seems to be that the present active in the leading lines of busi- ness will be maintained and possibly increased.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02

eastern coast of the Siamese- Ma
 A layan provinces. and are the homes of millions of sea-swallows, who build the curious gelatinous nests that are es- teemed as a delicacy throughout China The islands are jealously guarded, and very few strangers are allowed to land there, but Dr. Braddock. special commits sioner for the Wide World Magazine visited them recently with the Siamese minister of the interior.
 It is on the lodges and in the clefts and crannies of these crevasses that the birds build, he says. The material that they use for making the nests is still matter of dispute among naturalists A number of explanatory theories have been offered, however the most feasible of which is that the stuff is the partially digested gelatinous portion of certain seaweeds prepared for building purposes in the stomachs of the birds and elected as needed. I am inclined to endorse this theory on the score of an examination of many of the disused nests, and the con versations on the subject that I had with Jokun Chaiya.
 The Siamese, however, with whom poetry is a portion of their temperament aver that the substance is one that floats in the ether, invisible to the human eye but seen by the keen vision of the swal- lows Or, again, that it is the seafoam caught and partially solidified by the birds in manner known to them only. In proof of which they call youx atten- tion to the swallows skimming over the crests of small white caps" that the gentle monsoon brings into being around the island.
 During the building it sometimes hap
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02
REFLECTIONS oF \ BACHELOR

From the New York Press.
 Even card sharper is suspicious of the morals of a politiclan.
 When girl has ssue feet she wants you to think it's a larry arm from playing tennis.
 X man wants to arrange his comfort first and then his salvation any time it's convenient.
 Money makes a good deal more trouble for those who don't giave 1t than for those who do.
 Wcmen are too busy doing fine things all the time to get noticed for it ii the newspapers once in ga while.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02
Active Rctnil Trade

Business is splendid, said George Me- Cleery, manager of the Kress store. Any one who says that business is not good in Birmingham doesn't know what he is talking about.
 Trade began to be brisk about month ago, and 1t has been improving right along. It is safe to say that the retail business was never better in this town than it is today. Our trade being all cash is a good barometer. The people of Birmingham and the surrounding coun- try have money 10 spend and they are spending it. Yes, I am happy over busi- ness conditions
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02
From the Portland oregonian.
 r,o,,,,,,or, ..anse apnla,d, tba t,Io,,

From the POfITahu IOregOnlan. '
 Common sense applauds the FGench for numbering the hours consecutiRely from to 24 It would sound litTle odd at first to speak of 'l9 o'clock" land so on but we should soon get use& to it and then the convenience woulf begin to emerge. Another beneficial change would be to make the months of /equal length and have them begin and ehd invariably on the same day of the Week. This is practicable and some time I will be done.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02

MT. Ismay is the same old goat week in and week out. He is going back to England. however, where no doubt he will find friend or two. He has none in this country
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02
BIRDS BUILD EDIBLE NESTS

pens that the mother bird gets entangled in the glutinous mass with which she is working. In her frantic efforts to free her feet or her wing, she besmears her self with the sticky jelly. gets exhaust ed, and finally gives up the struggle and dies mserably. The bodies of many of these poor little victims of the nesting in- stinct are found by the gatherers
 The birds build three times. The first made nests are of yellowish white, clear and usually well shaped. These are known as first chop" and will fetch from 2S to 56 shillings per pound at Bang kok.
 When the gatherers have robbed the swallow of his nest, it goes to work and rebuilds. The second nest is darker in hue and not nearly so well finished as was the initial effort However, it's material is all gelatine, and hence is edible. This second chop" will sell at 12 to 20 shil- lings per pound.
 The despoiled bird makes a third at tempt to build home, and then it is that there occurs a curious phase of the mat ter. The first and second chop nests are built entirely by the female bird. On the tHlru attempt, however she seems to 1fl- sist on her mate taking part in the arch itectural labors. This final nest, which is not disturbed by the gatherer. is an in- different piece of work, so to speak Some gelatine is used in it's making, but for the most part it consists of twigs, bits of moss and seaweeds, feathers, and so forth. And the pair-irritated, it is to be presumed, by the loss of their pre- ceding homes-do not work in amlty On the contrary. they peck and futtep at each other continuously until the nest is completed, and Madam Swallow retires within it for purposes of incubation.
  to take more than is good for locomotion, let alone health? Or had the august mem- bers of the court found by experience that the quality of the lunch itself had fallen below the standards of public vel fare?
 William Penn and Benjamin Franklin would have favored the preservation of the free lunch.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02
WILL BRING IT BACK

EFrOn Juugt.
 Caler-"Is the boss n?''
 Office Boy-"No. sir: he's gone out" Caller-"Will he be back after din- rler?"
 office Boy-"No; that's what hes gone out for
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02

The House has consented to let the Senate have it's bogus fool control of senatorial elections-a control that will never be felt or known or exercised.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02

New York is not only an asylum for the oppressed, but also an asylum for the foreign insane. She spends s3.44S,706 a year on the latter.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02

Dr. Wiley says Roosevelt is the man who first said that benzoate of soda is good enough to go into the food of the plain peepul
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02

After the lawyers work out a few choice reforms, the doctors can write their pre- scription in English instead of abbre- viated hog-Latin
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02

The wool tariff that President Taft ve- toed still stands undiminished, and the price of fall clothing will be expressed in top figures.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02

Wireless operators are not tireess, as well, and steamship companies will be asked to appoint two hereafter.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02

Jonathan Bourne was an original Roose- welt man and reformer, but his body lies now outside the breastworks
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02
VERsE RY.DAMoN R1rNYnN-

VERSE BY-DAMON RuNYoN
 Damon Runyon, virle singer of sol der life, is the author of a new book of poems entitled "Rymes of the Firing Line" The book is published by Desmond F'itzGerald of New York, who also issued MT. Runyon's preceding volume of poems, entitled Tents of Trouble" MT. Runyon has a marked individuality of style, and while his work is sometimes Kiplingesque in treatment, as well as in subject matter, t is not lacking In originality and has a commendable boldness of rythm that seems to be best suited to military poems having to do with the picturesque private of the ranks. The poems in the present volume have already appeared in some of the leading magazines and newspapers. A number of other poems on various sub jects are included in Rhymes of the Firing Line. PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02

And though authority be stubborn
 bear, Yet he is oft led by the nose with
 gold, Winters Tale.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02

Food and stocks continue to go up No one cares where the latter go, but the former is horse of another color.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02

The countrys two greatest artists in billingsgate are the President and the only ex-President
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02

The Ohio constitutional convention is to be adjourned this week and its work submitted to the people
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02

Michigan telephone girls complain that the instruments they wear cause corns to form on their ears
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02

The colonel has never called the 1fresi dent mollycoddle. Give him full credi for that.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02

All can strike. but tho consumet. He can't because he is not organized
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02

Up to date 40 women have been licensed to practice before the supreme court of the United States.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02
HEROES
STRONG LANGUAGE.

She called her hat a poem,
 But hub would not agree. We can't repeat what twas he said, So very wild was he
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02

Mir. Tafts judicial temperament sa,t sadly out of gear in the Massaohus hts campaign
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02

Two of the nine members of the Allen gang are still at large, where they pro pose to stay.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02

The state of Masaschusetts has feased to be the hub of the United States.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02
AT THE MATINEE.

My wife cried for two hours yesterday afternoon"
 What was the trouble?"
 The play was a very sad affair."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02

Massachusetts went for Aunt Della on primary day. She just couldn't help it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-02
LACKS ENTERPRISE

LtAOfNo IN EfN1 ftlof-- "Is Dubleigh slow?' "The slowest you ever saw. Why. if hel were riding on a train with a pretty girl he wouldn't even avail himself of tunnel privileges
 ONLY THEN.
 His daily life with care
 Simply teens,
 But he's a millionaire
 When he dreams.
 HEROES. The men who die for native land Posterity will thank, But ho~ about the men who played When the Titanic sank? Sheer bravery nerved them in that hour To make a dauntless end, And still to cheer the dying throngs Their parting breath they spend.