davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-14
Grnundhoc Nindicntcd

q have been following the groundhos theory in reference to the weather for many years,' said Joe Davison yester- day 'and l have reached the conclusion that the little animal is about the best of all prophets.
 For instance, he came out of his hole nearly six weeks ago and saw his shadow. This was an indication that for six weeks bad weather would prevail. What have we had? Rad weather in punches.
 'In 1911 the groundhog did not see .is shadow when he looked about him early in February, and as result excellent weather conditions obtained. 1 remember this distinctly. as from February 15 to March 15 the Philadelphia National league baseball team trained in Birmingham and did not lose single day from work on account of rain or cold
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-14
A. fo Ticket ScnIping

"whle the matter of tho holdup of the public by ticket scalpers IS oeing earn estly agitated and remedies promised, l desire to suggest one.r said man who has been the victim of the sealpers more than once
 Let the commission enact an ordinance requiring the price of tickets to any and all plays to be displayed in bold letters and figures in the lobby of the theatre Make purchaser of tickets vendor when he asks or accepts more than the posted price. Require each individual to take out license for the business or buying and selling tickets. said license to be s250, with fine of $500 for falling to take out such license. The offering to sell at higher price than that paid to the box office and the acceptance. of the money to be prma facie evidence that the party is a vendor in the meaning of the ordinance
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-14
Belgian Blocks Must Go

This city is considered a well paved city, size and age being taken into account. The only drawback is the Belgian block that was placed in the downtown streets about 20 years ago.
 If the property holders in the streets paved with Belgian blocks de- sire a change to smooth pavement, either bitulithic or asphalt, and are willing to foot the bills involved in a change, it is impossible to see why the change should not take place.
 The petitions of the property hold CTS in the business section along streets paved with Belgian blocks will be presented next Monday, and these petitions will undoubtedly be needed by the city commission. They certain ly should be.
 Smooth pavements are in every re- spect better than rough pavements. Year by year pavements have been constructed in a smoother manner, and the gain to streets has been eorrespondingly appreciated. A smooth pavement is more pleasing to every sense-to the nose as well as to the eye and ear. It is sanitary, and altogether agreeable. The commits sion is willing, and the decision really rests with the property holders who are now afflicted with Belgian block pavement.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-14
THE UNDERWOOD SENTIMENT

From the Savannah News.
 There are two reasons why the Under- wood sentiment Is showing up so strong in this and other southern states. One is that he is q statesman of experience in every way capable of filling the high po- sition of President, and is just the kind Of a man needed at the head of affairs at a time when ambitious men with the hope Of success are suggesting strange polit- ical nostrums for evils in the body poli- ii, whose chief merit seems to be their attractlvcness to the people, but which are of very doubtful value. The other is that he is a resident of the most Amer ican section of the country, the section that is least responsive to political doc trines that lean toward socialism.
 The more the people of the south study Mr Underwood and the things for which he stands the more strongly are they in cined to give him their support. The southern people are beginning to under stand that if the institutions of the coun- try are to be preserved as established by their founders the influence of south ern men will have to steadily increase in national affairs. Assuming that this is the case 1t Is none too early for the south to begin making it's influences felt in con nection with the great office of Presi- dent.
 It has been more than, half a century since southern man was President, and even now there are southern men who are in doubt as to the wisdom of urging the nomination of a man from this section, but there Is no reason for it. We have it from the most influential men of the north that there is no feeling in that part of the country against the nomination of southerner On the contrary, they are of the opinion that southern can dictate would meet with no opposition be- cause of his residence in the south What the men in the north who make public sentiment want is President able to give the country wise and conservative ad- ministration, all administration that would make for prosperity and whose career and political views are evidence that if elect ed President his administration would be of that kind. We are bound to have expe- rments enough in government-experi- ments that come along in the natural or der of things-without advocating them as a means of party success.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-14

world, partly because of her shipping facilities and her colonies, and partly
 because her coal is of good quality. She exported s4,542,0 ,0OO tons in 1910, while the United States exported but 15,271 ,000 tons. At present she has no coal to export on account of great strike among her coal miners, and the world must seek elsewhere the coal that it has been receiving from the United Kingdom. Germany is also troubled with strikes, and unless the English strike is soon adjusted the world wide demand upon the mines of this country will be very heavy.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-14
New Soda Water Apparatus

Horace B. Christian. treasurer of the Christo Draft Arm Co.,, manufacturers of soda water apparatus, of Chicago, is registered at the Hillman. He is Vir- gian and is related to Judge George L.. Christian of Richmond and other branches of the numerous Christian family, whose ancestors settled in old Charles City county.
 'The company of which I am an off cial is manufacturing and selling some thing new in the soft drink fixtures line the speciality drink regulator" said MT. Christian. Ut mixes syrup and soda in positively fixed proportions, always the same and to suit ones own adjustment Once set it always delivers the same no matter' how much the water pressure varies. It delivers the perfect finished drink and displays the drink the soda tender desires to push. l am just intro ducing it and it is making decided hit
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-14
WONDERFUL SHEETS OF WATER

From the Wide World Magazine.
 In many ways the Dead sea, in Pales- tine, can claim the distinction of being the most remarkable sheet of water on the face of the globe Although known by name to everyone, it's banks are sell dom visited, and many of it's picturesque gorges, wonderful mountains, and strange fertile oases haye-remained virtually un- explored territory. So much so, in fact, that the Palestine Exploration society of Berlin, in conjunction with the Beflin Institute for Sea (exploration) Research, have determined to explore the basin of the Dead sea thoroughly as well as Una. of the River Jordan. Only twice in mod ern times has Anyone attempted to make q systematic study of this historic re- zion. The first investigator was Lieuton- and Lynch, of the United States navy, in 1Sfs, and the second some few years later by the Due de Luynes. Although both these explorers gave to the world many tnkGown facts about this wonderful re- zion, their accounts cannot be regarded as altogether exhaustive.
 It is probable, however. that we shall near more Of the Dead sea in the near future, for 10. very long ago the Turkish government anted one Souad Bey an influential and wealthy banker of Con stantnople, a concession for the exploi- tation Of the minerals in the Dead sea basin. That the whole region is exceed ingly Hch in various kinds of minerals has been known for years, and the finest and purest btumen, together with quan- titles of peerless sulphur, are obtainabe here. In Byzantine times copper mines were worked near the south end of the Dead sea, both in horizontal galleries and vertical shafts, while the basin is rich in marble, porphyry, and other fine stones, as well as in phosphates. It often has been stated by American connoisseurs travelling to the Dead sea that evidences of coal and oil, which in America would be unmistaEable, are very apparent in this region. Salt is found in si ieat quantities, but as the government has a monopoly upon this commodity it is at present largely imported from smyrna and Eng land.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-14
Patent Monopolies Upheld

The supreme court has rendered three by four decision in relation to patent rights. The decision IS so broad and drastic it will, it is feared, give patentees and their assigns vast monopolizing power despite the Sher man antitrust act or all other exist ing legislation.
 The decision was rendered by Jus tices Lurton, McKenna, Holmes and Vandeventer. The chief justice and Justices Lamar and Hughes dissent ed. Justice Day was absent on ac- count of the illness of his wife, and the nomintion of a successor to the late Justice Harlan is hung up in the Senate.
 Attorney General Wickersham is endeavoring to induce the defeated parties to ask for rehearing before a full court. Should this request be made and be granted the Attorney General would ask permission to in tervene and the reargument would take on national features, for the At torney General would present the eff feet of legalized patent monopoly upon the antitrust law.
 Congress will at any rate be given ap opportunity to pass legislation on the subject of patents. In other words, ap effort will be made to keep the decision from breaking down the antitrust laws which it would do as it stands in many important cases, notably in the shoe machinery case.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-14
SAVED BX HIS QUICK WIT

From the Kansas City Star.
 In the French campaign in Italy, in which Napoleon I first began to win the laures which subsequently so abundant ly crowned his career, a young Italian cavalry officer was taken prisoner Hav- ing serious doubts about his safety, it occurred to him to pretend he was d great parsonage. So he promised re- wards to his capitors if they would in- sure his good treatment, adding conf- dentially that he was the Duke of Mo- dena. He was exceedingly well cared for, and early next morning was called before Napoleon, who was somewhat pug zled at finding two Dukes of Modena among his prisoners, for the real duke was also prisoner. The real duke an grily asked his counterfeit by what au- thority he had assumed tho title of Duke of Modcna. The young officer answered
 Your grace, tho peril of my situation yesterday was such that had I known a moro illustrious title 1 would not have assumed yours
 The reply so pleased both the duke and General Napoleon that he was forgiven his deceit.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-14
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
In Old Kentucky

E.. P. Bean. state manager of the Citi- zens National Lffe Insurance company has returned to Birmingham after having at- tended the meeting of the managers4o ot that company in Louisville last week. ]
 T heard a great deal of Underwood talk while away said he and quite a few men in Louisville were wearing the on-. derwood button. understand that Champ Clark is credited with being stronger in Kentucky than either of the other demo- cratic candidates, but l believe that Ken lucky could have been landed for Under- wood had the proper exertions been made.
 Tn the bluegrass region, Clark might be stronger than Underwood, but m the pennyroyaI district Underwood mas more friends than all the others put together.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-14
GeOrgia's Presidential Preference Pri-

Fortunately the presidential pref erence primary in Georgia will not be held until May 1. The Age-Herald considers this fortunate because the Underwood sentiment in the south is rapidly increasing, and the later the date of a primary the more surely will that sentiment become strong and even sweeping.
 As things stand at present in Geor- gia the primary official ballot will carry the names of Oscar Underwood, Champ Clark, Judson Harmon and Woodrow Wilson only. If voter prefers someone else he can write an- other name in blank space.
 Presidential preference primaries are growing in the popular mind. They please the people, because in them the plain average citizen is given his full share of influence and responsibility in his own party. By 1916 such primaries will have become decidedly popular and will perhaps be controlling in the selection of presi- dental candidates.
 The Georgia presidential preference primary will stand almost alone in the south, and steps have been taken by the state democratic executive com mittee of that state to see that in the convention which f ollows, delegates to Baltimore are selected that unani- mously favor the successful plurality choice of the primary.
 The friends of Oscar Underwood have opened headquarters in Atlanta and are hard at work, and the hope is that by May they will be able to give him sweeping vote. The other states in the south are coming to the sup port of the great tariff reviser, and it is by no means impossible that he may in June be able to command the vote of the solid south.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-14
What n frosty spirited rogue is this
 -I King Henry N.
Work of the Rockefeller Commission

Work of the Rockefeller Commission
 Up to the beginning of the present year the state directors of the Rocke- feller sanitary commission, headed by Dr. William w. Dinsmore, had treated in this state 19,575 cases of hookworm in 12 counties. As many more were told how to keep off the parasite. Five hundred physicians were enlisted In the effort, and so were 1150 teachers in the public schools. Two hundred and sixty-one schoolhouses were in- spected.
 About 2000 cases of hookworm were found in each county, and this means that 135,000 cases will have been treated by the commission of the state. Hookworm exists in every county. The commission does not, it is true, reach every case. Some counties have cases that run into the thousands, and per- haps there is an average of 5000 cases per county, or 335,OOO cases all told in the state.
 This estimate is but an estimate. It may shock the reader, but the reader may rest assured that it is not an over estimate.
 Sanitation and treatment according to the commissions plans will eliml- nate the pest that breeds laziness, but this is easier said than done. It is not easy to reach vast number of hookworm patients in 67 spacious counties. The commission needs the aid of every patriotic and humane citi- zen.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-14
GUN OUT FOR UNDERWOO

 From the Mobile Register.
 Speaker H. M. Quin, one of the Tel men of Mississippi, very influential the party in bis state, comes out s for oscar w. Underwood, following declarations by Governor Brewer and ator Vardaman. MT. Quin believes Underwood will be elected, because| sense cannot fail to make impression| the thinkers and voters of the col tsAs between the noise and bomba| Roosevelt and the lethargic coura Taft he says, q believe a great progressive republicans will turn crat like Mir. Underwod. He is the lc mar for a winning"
 In this MT. Quin speaks for a many Mississlppians, and for many southerners. MT. Underwood persistent course, his good judgment faculty for making conflicting eler harmonize in support of wise meas his strict avoidance of the use of the whip, his care in keeping from antaE ing the aspirations of other demo have made him the foremost man in gress, and. at the same time. have mended him to opponents of the par we'll as friends. Many a republic heard to say: Well, now, if the { crats should give us such man as to vote for, it would be hard to me-"
 It is upon the detachable vote We depend for the election of our candi and Underwood can detach more from the other side than any other in the democratic party. MT. Quin together right. If Underwood be mated, he will win. The Register be that he will be nominated. Let Missi give him indorsement.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-14
Roosevelt and Lincoln

Tt is strange that a man so well versed in history as is MT. Roose welt should quote MT. Lincoln as be- ing in favor of the recall of judicial decisions" said a lawyer. Tn speaking of the Dred Scott decision by the su preme court Mir. Lincoln said that he believed it to be wron g-that he agreed with the dissenting justices; but that 1t was the law of the land until over ruled by some subsequent deliverance of the supreme court. Never did he say that that or any decision could or should be set aside by popular vote. The Dred Scott decision ceased to have any. controlling effect after the aboli- ton of slavery by the states.
 Again, MT. Roosevelt is in error when he says in effect that MT. l.in- coln overruled that decision by waging war on the south and abolishing slav- cry by proclamation. MT. Lincoln said over and often, that he issued that proclamation as a war measure to pre- servcSthe union; that if the union could be best preserved by perpetuating slav- cry he would perpetuate it; that the
 
 the treatment of slavery was second ary to his purpose to preserve the union. His messages to Congress and his public speeches leave no doubt in any fair mind that he used the aboli- ton of slavery as a means to save the union and not otherwise. Let anyone who wishes to know the truth on this subject read the Life of Lincoln by Hay and Nicolay, his private secre- taries. Roosevelt and Bryan will never find any authority for their revolu- tionary schemes in the acts or sayings of Abraham Lincoln.
 And this leads me to say that slav- rcy was not abolished by Mir. Lincoln's proclamation. If he had any lawful authority to abolish it in that manner MT. Taft could today re-establish it by the same method The negroes owe their freedom to the voluntary actioa of the conventions of the southern
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-14
Atlanta and Birmingham

T saw nothing in either of the Allan ta papers, stated W. A. Ebbetts yes terday "concerning the report of the census bureau which publishes the fact that Birmingham is really the second rity of the south as far as population goes. tf t f+8f
 Atlanta has always watched with jealous eye the marvellous growth of Birmingham, and it is probable that the residents of the Gate City, through the report of the census bureau, behold the handwriting on the wall and are now aware of what will probably be the re- suit in 1920-that Birminghams actual population inside the limits will be larger than that of Atlanta
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-14
REFLECTIONS or 4 BACHELOR

From the New York Press.
 It's the crazy man that Is most i'm patient with all other craziness.
 Telling stories is thousand times more popular than listening to them.
 All a man has to do to win the ad- mration of his family is to neglect them like a prince.
 No matter how much money woman has a man who marries her for it knows he earned more.
 It's from talkingto wise old men that a girl gets convinced foolish young ones arc so much more interesting.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-14

states in 1865. Those states unani- mously ratified the eighteenth amend ment 10 the constitution of the United States and if they had refused to ratify it 1t would not have been part of the organic law. In spite of this fact, the ignorant still circulate the falsehood that Mr Lincoln was the great enamel un for
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-14
A THRENoDY IN MARcH

\ THRENODY IN MARCH. No cheerful thoughts can now be had By looking on the world without; The skies are gray, the vista sad.
 And threats of rain are all about. Yestreen we talked with one who said
 He wished the sun would shine again; His soul. by so much gloom dismayed, Had lately but cold comfort ta'en We longed to drive away his cares,
 So bade him not surrender yet; The hopeful wight. who ne,er despairs, His eyes upon the future set, Still dreams of sunny days and birds Sweet-warbing on the vernal bough; Although we don't discount his words We're having alarmed poor weather now,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-14
STILL, INVITED OUT.

'There goes Townson. Hes the author of a well known epigram.'
 You don't tell mel" ''f do tell you. And he's been dining on his reputation for 10 years
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-14
WIPES sARcAsTIc.

WIPES SARCASTIC. "John. how could you stay out so ''M' dear. it would have been rathe fieult to stay out so late all alone, had the assistance of four fast friei mine.'
 "Umph. I have no doubt that they fast friends of yours. PAUL co
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-14

Uncle Joe Cannon is as still as mouse nowadays. He has no gavel to make q
  noise with.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-14
NO HALO FOR HIM. The man about town"
 May be wise, But he'll ger wear a crown When he dies.
HIS QUICK RALLY.

"There is no literary life quite so pc culiar, so fantastic, so hysterical as. lit- erary life in France" said the lecturer to the members of the Domestic Psychology club "A French poet, for instance, was famous because he led a lobster around attached to a string"
 Excuse me- said a thin lady in the corner, but did you see the lobster?"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-14
NEW YORK DANCE HALL

stranger is thereby hypnotized into ing twice@s much for beer as any other dance halls in the neighbo charge. And when finally, with mummery and mystery, he is ushere into the night. he comes forth conN he has been rubbing shoulders with and sitting face to face with violel structiof. r
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-14

Some think that the south pole mat ter was after all an Alphonse and Gas ton affair.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-14

The progrcssives say spring begins on March 20. while the standpatters say it does not begin until March 2l. and there is no one to umpire the matter.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-14

Tho houn' dawg song should have post poned it's debut to dog days, and it would have done so no doubt if the presidential campaign had not needed it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-14

Let no one say hereafter that federal officials never resign. General Dyer, aged 92, has just handed in his resigna-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-14

The New York city negroes who de- sired to form a regiment could not secure the needfu legislative authority.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-14

John Bull has too many suffragettes and too little coal for use in his navy.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-14

The man who loves old fashioned win ters has been caught studying a seed cat aloGle.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-14

In Greatest Birmingham there are 2li,- 96l people. Teach this to your children and rub it into all adults, especially those from Atlanta.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-14

Italy hopes to wind up the war in Tri- poll without resort 10 a special loan. A geod surplus in the treasury has been a great help.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-14

The backbone of winter will be broken as per almanac next Thursday
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-14
so ITS SAID.

We live to learn, and now we know That rats" are nothing new. Lucilius sang them long ago
 And Emperor Trajan, too.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-14

The grounding does not relent even in the closing days of his snooze !,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-14

Italy has assimilated Trpoli but tho na- tives are not fully convinced.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-14

In less than year we will have two ex-Presidcnts. and one now keeps the country in an uproar.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-14

Titles are passing. At Harvard the stu dents are no longer permitted to address their teaching boss as professor He is to be to them simply mister" The Chicago Baptists have nothing on them
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-14

A good many republicans. disgusted with the Taft-Roosevelt strike. are just now engaged in grooming a dark horse.