davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-10

Politically MT. Houston was a unionist and, therefore, opposed to the war In this he was not unlike many others But unionist as he was. he suffered along with others from the disastrous invasion to which North Alabama was subjected, declining with characteristic firmness to take the oath of allegiance to the United States government. Though honored by the people of Ala bama with an election to the Senate in 1865, his seat was denied him at Washington and he practieed law in Athens till 1874, when he was tri- umphantly elected governor of the state under the conditions already describ ed. He made a heroic canvass of the state, and greatly impressed the people every where with his peculiar fitness for the position for which he had been nom mated.
 1t is related that on one occasion when MT. Houston Was to speak in a new town in the interior, the people of the town and of the region round about were all agog over the disposal of the great candidate on his arrival. There was but one painted dwelling in the town, and that belonged to a well to do widow, who took it in d compli- mentary way that her home should be selected for the entertainment of the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-10

This is all very well poetry; but all cries tend to become articulate and are perhaps the root of every sort of speech. What are the theologians for if not to make that cry articulate, of which MT Tennyson mournfully complained? Are they not sort of prophet of the dawn indeed. hushing the cry and assuring poets, publcans and people that the dark ness of night is fast vanishing and a new and ineligible and unchaotic world is evolving out of the mysterious and goblin haunted shadows?s
 Twelve years after Fairbarns birth there emerged in Scotland from the maze of Presbyterian churches four ministers of whom the Rev. James Morrison of kil- marnock was the leader, who consti- tuted what they called the Evangelical Union. Their fundamental conviction is described as "the strict universality of the Savior's Atonement." That means in En- glish a refusal to be bound by the ancient chains of Calvinistic orthodoxy, as it rubbed into men the anguish of fear lest they were not of the elect predestined to eternal life. In these days we can very lightly brush aside that preposterous jun ble of schoolman's logic and Pauline rab- binism; but in 1Si3 and for many years before and after that date men of the Puritan faith were reared in region and shadow of death. How their hearts sur vived that conclusion; how they at las. went out to preach salvation to mankind ; how d Whittier and Browning and an Emerson asserted the soul of the race against such dire prison house, is tine chief story of the 18th, century
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-10

republic such as ours. When conditions get unbearably rotten there is a sure and certain way to rise up in our true democratic wrath and vote the devilish regime out of existence, we swear. When we discover that our Senate Is a band of vote-buyers we will institute impeachment proceedings against those to whom we have sold our votes. We will protect our home man. ufacturers,' we shout to those free trade nations oversea; and after we have got them thoroughly protected, comfortably equipped. as entirely re- spectable millionaires of the greatest republic on earth should be. we instruct 12 brave talesmen to convict them on about 40 counts for taking the republic at it's word.
 Our ideas of building and demolishinE have not been unlike those of the little boy whose pleasure lay. not so much in rearing his sandman from the ground up, but in afterward tearing it down. A little playmate at Chautauqua beach said to me one day, What's the use CT buildin' CT san man nef yer can't knock
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-10

on the capitol grounds, and so the in- vitation was extended to them to come to the capitol and in the presence of the governor test their rival ability in seeking to throw the water highest on the dome.
 The day was appointed, due notice of the contest given, and a crowd assem- bled to witness the proceedings. The full wells were placed at their disposal. and streams and jets of water played toward the summit of the dome. When 1t was over the governor, as an inter ested spectator. appeared before the successful contestant, made a speech on the value of fire companies, lauded the merits of the company that threw the water highest, and amid wells, the crowd dispersed. The wells were clensed, the fire companies pleased, and s1 saved to the treasury of Alabama in Vindication of a policy of retrench- ment and reform. His policy arrested ruin in Alabama, restored confidence, re-established the credit of the state, and started 1t on a fresh career of prosperity.
 Governor Houston was honorcd by an election to the United States Senate, but died before he could enter on his duties. his death occurring at Athens on January IT., 1S79.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-10

would not quail before colossal diff eulties--all these were needed to re- vive a suspended interest, which is the most difficult of all tasks.
 To enumerate these is to describe Gov George S. Houston. He was gifted with a power to sway men, had an eye to details the most minute, business acumen, familiarity with public affairs, patience to labor and to wait. and not least of all, a physical endurance. He was an extraordinary man. and no gov ernor has had more odds to encounter, nor has one ever met his obligation with more fidelity. With the state palsied in every pulse by misrule and wanton waste, he seized the reins and from the outset guided the affairs of the commonwealth with the skill of d trained statesman.
 The slogan of the time was retrence- ment and reform. This alliterative leg end was the watchwor< of the incom- ing administration. He met the issue like combatant in the arena. He came not with empty demonstration. No pro- fuse promises filled the air. It was not promise that was needed. but per formance. The tremendous task was assumed and it's execution has made the name of Houston >orever famous
 in the chronicles of Alabama. What
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-10

ministry who does not know his "Philos- ophy of the Christian Religion" or hls Place of Christ in Modern Theology" Broadly stated, it may be claimed for him that he emancipated Puritan theology from It's dominantly experimental and subjective tone. compelling 1t to face all the facts. He was the antithesis and counterpart of Dale.
 For four years he had been in retire. ment, worn out with his superabundant tolls. But being dead he will speak to yet many who are unborn.
 By way of postscript to this too barren summary and for the sake of those who owe a debt of gratitude to Fairbairn, let 1t be said that the British Weekly editor has made a really magnificent memo rlal. to which I am under obligations. In t'c issue for February 15 the exquisite tribute of Dr. Nlcol himself is supplemented by Vice Chancellor Dale. Principal Forsyth. pr James Denney, Mir. J. Ramsey Mac donald, M. P, and the Rev. Sylvester Horne. also an NJ. F. There is, moreover, delightful appreciation signed W. ]. Townsend. indicating the great Primitive or United Methodist church leader, I be- lieye. With one sentence from that com muncatlon I am fain to close my own
 "As a preacher and author. but most of all 8 teacher of wonderful charm and at traetiveness, he will long be remembered by those who came under the spell of his influence and who owe him huge debt of gratitude for noble impulses which hs aroused within them and high ambitions with which he inspired them.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-10

old neighborhood he reappeared. I met him and stood on the street with him. Others boys wanting to hear of his adven- lures gathered about him. He had gained bold, daring and devil-may-care man ner. He fascinated the group: so that when he proposed stroll out to the couh- try every boy was eager to go. There were about seven boys in all. We strolled over fields and through woods, and were having all the fun that boys can have who enjoy sense of liberty and love to ramble along streams. through forests and over the hills and far away. That Boy was utterly reckless of where he went, of what he saw, and of what he heard, and to my own wounding l found out that he was reckless of what he did.
 At one place q ditcn divided our little company. That Boy was on the right of it and was on the left. We were all talking at once, when to my astonsh- ment That Boy" drew forth pistol and said, 'I want to shoot something" I was then about 20 feet distant from him, and said, Here's a chance.'' Without a word, and as calmly as if he were aiming at bulls eye" he raised the pistol, pointed at my head-bang, He had shot me in the temple. He was as cool as if we had gone. to this spot to fight a duel whose results left him unseathed. My friends generally know that one of my eyes, the right one. is of very little value to me.
 I am reminded here of an awful tragedy that occurred on one occasion when That Boy and I were together. although he had nothing to do with it. have con- fessed that would at times seek the com pany of That Boy though forbidden to do so. sHtss
 once in the early part of the night I crept out of the house to sec if might find him. Of course found him A boy can always find the boy that he ought not to find. We were standing on the street corner, he and l, when we heard
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-10

distinguished visitor. The day of the speaking arrived, and so did the speak CT The town was filled with coun- try folk drawn together to see and hear the man about which so much was being said. On his arrival MT Houston was taken to the white house." where sumptuous dinner awaited him He was assigned to one end of the table,
 while the hostess occupied the other, no others being present except the walters. Alr. Houston was invited with genuine country hospitality by the good woman, Now, just help yourself you see what's before you" MT. Houston was an excellent converser, and while keeping up a fusillade of conversation he nihbled at the food. but really ate but little. Though hungry, and not without ample gastronomical powers, MT. Houston ate quite moderately. He soon finished the meal, and in wonder that her guest should prize her elabor
 ate spread so lightly the hospitable hostess rather chided him with, Why, you don't eat anything. I got you the best dinner l could, and here it Is, you don't eat" With characteristic courtl- ness, Mir. Houston said, Madame, should 1 follow the dictates of my in- clination l should eat every thing you
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-10

~ TUDENTS of modern theological
 tendencies and experiments have no o need to be introduced to Fairbairn. As principal of Mansfield college, Oxford, where on certain notable occasions a sum mer school of theology was afterwards held and attracted the respectful attention of the whole church, Fairbairn was dl- ready famous. with an international fame, in 1886; but his ministry began in 1s61 Be- tween these dates strenuous years came.
 It may be said that this great life, which opened near Edinburgh. in November, 1898, and closed in London in February, 1912. thus rounding out more than 73 full years, represented the whole change which has made the modern mind. I hear men speak of having passed from 'the old traditional view of religion" But what does this mean? Fairbairn's books supply moderately adequate answer 10 that enquiry. I shall try to tell the facts so that other than professional theolosians may catch the drift; for it may be said that ethe pew as well as the pulpit, and those great numbers who never enter the pews and may be called the people, have also gotten away from traditional theol- ogy' and hardly know whence or whether. We are all aware that we are in a new world, but most of us know no more how we came into it than does the new born infant arriving in this vale of tears. As to what the world actually is, we, like the infant greatly celebrated by Mr Tennyson long ago, have skill to describe it or our impressions of 1t in mo language but cry"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-10

always first of all historical Back in tho seventies he was therefore interesting the students of Aberdeen in questions to which too many preachers have even yet hestated to make frank public approach such as the authorship of the Fourth Cos pei, the study of Comparative Religion and so forth. But al Bathgate, a small town not far from Edinburgh, and at Aberdeen and Glasgow, he was pastor of churches where the majority of his people were working folk, whose struggle with life was severe, and he did not lose the function of comforter in that of scholar and teacher. or slump his intellect in goody goody emotionalism. He used brains in preaching.
 Tn 1878 he accepted charge of the col lege at Airedale, Yorkshire. where stu dents are trained for the Congregational ministry. But in the meantime he had been a student in Germany and formed there many invaluable friendships His intense Interest in comparative religion had secured close fellowship with the great Sansorit scholar Dr. John Muir, who published Sanscrit texts in Edin- burgh and endowed the Chair of Sanscrit in that university.
 Fairbairn passed from Aireda1e college to the vast and exacting task of remov- ing the divinity school known as Spring Hill college from Birmingham to Oxford. R. W. Dale was great enthusiast In that enterprise. perhaps in part because he himself was a Spring IIill student. How great triumph it was to set Nonconform- ity back in Oxford as of right and to
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-10

tho reply of impatience. and is not suffi- cient for the boy after he has come 10 think for himself.
 Some parents by their excessive impa- tience and anger provoke the boy to a contempt of their authority. l saw boy standing in yard at a hydrant with a large pitcher in his hand. Something had happened in the house to excite the fa- ther's Ire. Therefore he had come to the boy in the yard, who seemed to be the guilty person. The fathers face was blood red. the boy was quite pale and his lips bloodless. The father berated him wicked anger. The boy said, "Go war, father, youll make me drop the pitcher" Said the father, 'I dare you to drop that pitcher sir" Whereupon the boy dashed the pitcher to the bricks and into smith ereens, while the father indulged in q violent fit of renewed anger. Do you say the boy ought to have been ashamed of himself? We'll, maybe he ought but I'm not so sure of that. But of one thing 1 am sure, the father should not have dared him to break the pitcher. Another thing I am sure of--the boy could never thereafter respect the father as he had done unless he should apologize.
 Reason with your boy. Acknowledge to yourself honestly that tho only bad things in him he got from you. ana pray God that he may overcome them better than you ever did. Make your boy your friend and frequent companion. Recognize in him an intrinsic soul value. Teach him to be manly and brave, Let him know that you believe the coward and the liar. for they generally go together, are the very meanest of men. Let him have amusements. games, music and let his home be the sunniest place on earth. That Boy" poor fellow. had none of these: but in their stead, "a stern re- ligion,' muslcless house. and, God pity
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-10

revvolusions to get his wad. Then if enny thing is sed about it up hops sum little spike nosed Dago with name like Patent medisine and he proseeds to pop off a hole lot about dollar diplomacy and unjust discrimi- nasion and such rot.
 Mite does not make Rite, and we cheerfully admit and subscribe to that fact, neether ought mite in a spirit of forbarrance set around and let a lot of Hook worms sass us and rub it in. Diplomacy is powerful good thing If the folks you air diplomating with ant a cross between a pole-cat and ittermitten feever, but when that is the case, diplomsy is simply disease and about as effective as a maidstone applied to an old timer with delirium treemens. The Guvverment has sent
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-10
ATHAT BOY'-By Dr. w. E. Evans

no reason given to the child for them; those things in which he found pleasure were taken from him, and nothing given in their place; obedience for the sake of obedience was the irrational method of training him: then followed the exereise of his own wit. He would cIrcumvent ITS elders; if they locked the door, he would go out the window: if he was, as a great kindness, permitted to sit on the front gallery alone the gallery would soon be entirely vacant. Presently followed ostra- cism. Everybody said he was bad, why disappoint them in trying to be good?
 That Boy's' home helped to make him bad man. I know the awful responsibil- ity of that sentence. Yet I may not mod fly it. There is many bad man and many lost woman. bad and lost, because their training was unwise, their discipline irrational. They came into the world In absolute innocence; they leave the home to go out into the world to live as they list, though positive wrong and even crime bs necessary to their mode of living.
 It Is fine art to Tear children. and 1t isn't every parent that has learned il. Children arc chastized and know not why. A boy, now grown to manhood, said, "I often wondered why I was whipped on that occasion, indicating the time. After q little fellow had been whipped by his father he was asked. Now. you know why I whipped you, don't you?' "Yes, sir" wei, why did whip you?' Be cause you are bigger than I ann Bit some natures will not take a thrashlng that meekly. They will resent it in their very souls, and will trampie upon parental tyranny, and some fine morning the father awakes to find that the boy is gone.
 Authority at home must be exercised by him who has the right, but the child has a right to know why he is chastized. "Why must 1 do so and so. father?" asks boy; to answer, Because I say SO, ls
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-10

wild, tumultuous roar. It was about three blocks from us, but was approach ing our direction. On and on came the dreadful sound of the voices of the in- furated men. A block from us we could sec the crowd of bowling pursuers and in their front one lone man fleeing for his life That Boy fed. I know not whither, but I made for the side gate of the yard to my home. Just as I entered the fugi- tive, now at my heels. did likewise; but the mob was too swift for him. They overlook him in the yard just at the dining room door, where they dispatched him and were quickly gone. What the un- fortunate's man offense was never knew
 But to return to 'srhat Boy' While we were still boys our ways parted. l lost sight of him entirely. When had grown to manhood I met one who had known him and asked what became of him. was told that he finally sunk to the crim- inal class, became q convict and most probably had died behind the walls
 I think this little sketch furnishes thought for reflection, if not a study in eriminology. Why did That Boy turn out to be a bad boy and bad man? There was no inexorable fate that forced him downward. There was no decree that shut his life up to certain path which ,he was obliged to tread. Supposlng that he was born with hereditary tendencies to go wrong. no one believes that heredity
 is coerciye.
 So far as l ever knew That Boy" was not lacking of moral sense in the first five years of his life. He was like other chill count for 1t?
 To my mind That Boy" had the most unfortunate environment, for a boy of his temperament, conceivable. His natural activities were always restrained by hard and fast thou shalt nots,'' commands were given or inhibitions announced and
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-10

IF our republic can be likened to any
 animate thing just now It may Dc A called a great dumb creature In tra- vail. The times are big with portent. On all sides are the political obstetr1- clans brandishing their instruments and panaceas. pleading for this course to be be pursued, that course to be abandoned, this prophylactic to be administered to the prostrate body polite. And under meath all of the confab and gossip of the 1912 political deliverance, some of us are fearful lest the republic will pro- duce a changeling- some uncouth, de-
 formed leader, unmanly. un-Christlike.
 For if a republic is like anything, it is like a teeming, prolific mother,-all the laboring years through, throwing out of itself newypolitical concepts, new political and religious creeds-and like some thoroughly good mothers of men, producing at times black sheep along with stalwart leaders As the years advance we find newer importance in striving-and if our striving be no more than a heartfelt national wishing
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-10

ness, well and good, and we'd be blessed to sell them enny thing they want-for cash, but hereafter we ex- pect them to keep there dirty hands off of American citizens and Ameri- can property, or we will be forsed to Cum down there and shoot them full of mise little round holes. If we would use this kind of diplomacy on them the U. S. Guvyerment and it's citi- zens would get the trade of these countries instead of 75 per cent of it going to Urope, and Americans and there mummy would be as safe there as a can of potted Dog after it has been o. K-ed by Doc Wylie, and this part of America would cum into it's own. There is but one way to make
 Nigger and Mule respect you, and
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-10

kTo series of sketches of AlaOams's s
 M great men would be complete X with the omission of the name of Gov. George s. Houston. His serv- ices were distinguished and were ren- dered at a time when they could not have been more prized. This applies with special force to his services as governor. Endowed with peculiar pow
 CTS which fitted him for crisis, these powers were brought into active requis
 ition during his incumbency of the gubernatorial chair of the state.
 Alabama was confronted by a dire crisis, and a man of many .sidedness and unique force was needed to meet it. The state had been gutted of it's means and facilities of operation the treasury was empty; the people demor alzed, and the credit of the state sadly impaired. To fail under conditions like these would have been fatal, and yet the lowest point of depression had been reached. The situation called for ex- alted and peculiar virtues. Robust manliness, rugged pluck which stood not on the order of it's going, ability not only to compass situation, but to grapple with it. a force of statesmanlike constructiveness and spirit which