davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-21
Standnat Expectations

The democrats will be in full power after the fourth of March. Consider for moment what this means. When Grover Cleveland was inaugurated the second time on March 4, 1893, the democrats did for two years control both branches of Congress. With that one brief exception the democrats have to go back to the first two years of Buchanan's term, 1857-59, to find q period of complete control of the government. Think of it, only two years of full democratic control since 1S59l
 On the fourth of March next comes a great opportunity. Not only will the House be overwhelmingly democratic, but the Senate will have a comforta- ble democratic majority. Not only is the tariff to be revised but the anti trust act needs amendment and the banking and currency system is to be recast, and commercial marine built up. It is great opportunity and there is much work to do.
 The standpat papers are gleefully anticipating blunders and dissensions on the part of the democrats. 'In the next House of Representatives" says the St. Louis Globe. Democrat, "there will be 70 or 80 men new to the busi- ness of legislation, who have crude ideas as to the needs of the country, and who will be anxious to put these ideas cn the statute book. The older leders are far from pleased at that top-heavy majority, with the radical ism which it portends. A lead of 50 members would please them better than does the 150 majority which has been thrust upon them. The repub- licans can await the extra session with a good deal of cheerfulness."
 The cruslfed standpatters are count ing chickens before they are matched. They do not know Oscar Underwood and the democratic leaders of the new age. They are reverting too much to the past. They are preparing them selves for severe disappointments. They are really dead, but they do not know it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-21
pIAGUE IN HAVANA

From the Journal of the American Med
 ical Association.
 Bubonic plague tblack death) broke out last summer in Havana, several cases developing before it's presence was known. Three hundred years ago, such an occurrence would have been followed by fearful outbreak of plague, .which would have killed from one quarter to one-third of the people. the only remedy for. which would have been charms and incantations.. If this had occurred any time before the Span ish- American war, when Havana was under Spanish rule, an epidemic of months durationy would probably have followed. But it is known now thar plague is carried by the rat and the flea. Havana is now modern city with paved streets and an adequate sewer system. Best of all, the health officer pr Juan Guiterns, is well known scientific authority on tropical diseases. No time was wasted in pros sessions, charms or relics. Havana was cleaned up and the rats were eStermi- mated In recent issue of the Journal of tho American Medical Association pr. Guiteras tells how the epidemic was
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-21

checked. He says that a general prder was given to clear all premises of ruo- bish, refuse and used-up material. For many days the amount of such stuff, in eluding street sweepings and garbage, Iearried out to sea in lighters, was in- Icreased from the normal daily output |of 450 10 2OO0 tons a day, with an average of 1900 tons
 The orders to wash oilt the floors daily with carbo1ie solutions for the destruction of fieas were eheerfully obeyed, not only in the infected dis trlct, but throughout the city In the more exposed localities they were car ried out by the disinfeetion brigades. whose work cannot be too highly praised.
 A deratization service and rat brigades for the poisoning and trap ping of rodents were created. prem ium of cents was paid for each rat Up to September 3 17,974 rats were killed. The result was that the plague was quickly stamped out with only the loss of a few lives
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-21
MANY-SIDED ARNOLD BENNETT

. A RNoLD BENNETT begins a new
 A serial story, "The Regent" in the December American Magazine It is q theatrical story and reveals the authors extraordinary grasp of all the interesting details in the world of ac- tors. playwrights and managers. Irwin S Cobb has written a sketch or Ar mold Bennett for the American Nigga zine. an interesting extract from which follows:
 And that positively is all that Ar hold Bennett does-he writes. He has. 50 far as my own limited acquaintance with him goes, no fads and no hobbies. He doesn't golf, or fish, or fhupe, or bridge. He loves music and pictures, but he doesn't play well and he doesn collect pictures. He hates travel and he abhors excitement. He is not an after dinner speaker nor judge or wines. He sees life and then he writes it down. I would say that life is his hobby and writing it between the COW CTS of a book his trade.
 And since he was born among com mon place SurrouhulhSS anu iSs'S0 ''- s common place way, he writes Of the commonplace people and the common place things, only investing them With the passionate romance or common placeness, which, after all, Is the great est of all romance. Nothing meiodra- matically thrilling ever happened in ms own life, nothing melodramalcaiiy thrilling ever happens in his books. He sets down life as he has lived 1t and as he knows it, not as somebody else has lived it or imagined it. Some or ms books have no climaxes' and no 'situa- tions' n~them at all. In those Of ms books that have climaxes the climaxes come naturally. with no straining' no preliminary setting of stage properties; come with no regard for chapter or verse; in short they come as they
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-21
MATERNITY INSURANCE

From the Survey.
 Italy joined in 1902 the few European states which have established laws for finement. This law prohibited women from working for a month after con- finement, but contained no provisions about the collecting of funds froul which the exepnses could be defrayed. For this reason the regulations were generally disregarded, and women went back to work as soon as they were able to do so
 At the end Of April of this year a new law came into force. All women in
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-21
Rcgarding Torn up streets.

q have been greatly interested in all this adverse criticism of our torn up streets said suburban resident yes terday. but l cannot agree with it,
 ''I may be peculiarly constituted, but I like to sec things torn up. I like to see evidences that something is doing. A visi- tor to Birmingham could not help but De impressed by the conditions downtown at present. It shows new ] uildings are going up, new tracks being laid, new pave ments being put down, new underground equipment being installed. What could be better for any city?
 ''Whenever I go to place and see ev- erything in apple pie order I cannot help feeling that things are dead and that time has been spent in civic primping' which might be used to better advantage.
 You will never hear me making a kick when l see work being done that l know is needed and which creates more pay rolls
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-21
An Arrist;ce at Lnst

It seems to be certain that an arm jstice will be agreed upon to be fol- lowed possibly by peace. The Tchatalja line of defense near Constantinople is all that prevents Turkish disappear ance from Europe. The allied Servians and Bulgariaas would soon De ready to assault that line, and in case of sueceas all would be lost on the aIoslcm side, for it would not be easy to stay the march of the victorious allies.
 The belief is that an arriistice and peace propositions now would save Constantinople and strip of coast wise territory to the Ottoman empire,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-21
STRANGER IN TOWN.

Something mighty queer about fel- Ter that was here last week" related the landlord of the Turgidtown tavern He never kicked about his room, cit with ap- parent relish what was set before him, didn't try to firt with the waitresses, and when l asked him if he was looking for land or seeking health or canvassing for something he politely replied that he wasn't. He went to bed and got up at reasonable hours, walked sedately about town, bought 10 cent cigars as. if he was used to 'em, answered civiIly the remarks Of practically every prominent citizen in town about the weather He stayed three days, and then paid his bill without grum- bling, bade me a courteous good-by and
 went away with as little hutter as he had come. And on account of the con- sistent manner in which he minded his own business and let other peoples affairs alone there has been a good deal of spec ulation about him ever since, the eonsen-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-21
AT A DINNER PARTY

James Montgomery Flagg, the famous wit and artist, writes an amusing piece about dinner parties in the December American Magazine. An extract fol- lows:
 Conversation at a dinner party is necessarily an awful thing, the rule be- ling that pause on the part of any one of'the contestants is a social lapse, and not to be tolerated If everybody by the laws of chance happens to be silent simultaneously (sueh dreadful lacunae do occur even at the most carefully eoektailed and subsequently alcholized dinners), then your party loses and the dinner party next door wins.
 Here are few remarks that are be- ing used this century:
 Yes. you begin at the outside and work toward your plate; that brings lyou out right
 ;" I had such a time separating hus- bands and wives-I guess you can stand sitting next to Walter for one evening, Icant you? That was all because George didn't show upH
 "I go to the theatre to be amused There's enough tragedy in real lifen
 She lost eighty pounds in a week, but she looks like a bag now.
 Tn magazine stories 1t is always at a signal from the hostess the ladies rose and retired to the drawing room, as if friend hostess ran up flag or yanked a semaphore.
 You dive for the usual dropped handkerchiefs, the hostess wags play ful finger at you all and says: Now don't stay in here for hours;'
 'The dullest moment has arrived.
 "The host struts about opening cigar boxes and liqueur bottle, just as if he felt quite at home.
 You know exactly how the poor lump feels. You are sorry for him--a little. You know how hard it is trying to appear natural, hospitable, and gay, and how he hasn't anything to say and pretending he has van-loads of cute remarks up his sleeve.
 Later when the maid says your car is at the door your hostess says sweet ly. must you go? Well, you won't mind dropping Miss Bulke on your way, will your
 Oh, too delightedl Where do you live. Alma
 ' One Hundred and Seventy ninth street. But you're sure it won't be taking you out of your way?'
 Not at alive live in Thirty-sev- enth. streetn
 Miss Bulke is so chatty and enter taining as we take her up to New burghm
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-21
selma Kind to Veterans

Capt J. c. Babcock of Selma, Con federate Veteran, was here yesterday and made call at Camp Hardees head quarters He is so elated over the sue cess in entertaining the state reunion Of Confederate Veterans at Selma that he says they are almost ready to do the same thing again.
 We have a large camp in Selma" he said, and the members are devoted and faithful to their association. The citi- zens of the city of Selma and county of Dallas are very liberal and kind to the old soldiers. They appropriate over sl00 each year to the camp out of the public funds, and furnish the hall free for their meetings, light heat and water and for aid to the needy and sick they respond promptly"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-21
WHEN AcoRNs FALL

By Alfred Austin. When acorns fall and swallows troop
 for flight, And hope matured slow mellows. to
 regret. And autumn pressed by winter for
 his debt. E Drops leaf on leaf till she be beggared
 quite. should then the crescent moons .unsel-
 fish light Clean up the sky just as the sun
 doth set, Her frightening gaze though day
 and dark have met Prolongs the gloaming and retards the
 night. So fair young life new risen unto mine Just as it owns the edict of decay And Fancy's fire should pale and pasc.
 away, Ar My menaced glory takes glow froily
 thine, And. in the deepening sundown of
 my day. Thou with thy dawn delayest my de-
 cline.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-21

and Albania would perhaps become practically independent while. ae- knowledging the suzeranity of the Sultan.
 A peace on these terms would pre- vent bloody battle before Constan- tinople, while 1t would to all intents and purposes drive the Turk out of Europe. It would bring to an end period of misrule so far as the Chris tians in Turkish Europe were con- cerned covering we'll nigh 600 years.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-21

industries between 15 and 90 years of age belong now to an obligatory ma ternity insurance fund. The employer pays the dues of 20 to 40 cents year, and is allowed to deduct half the amount from the wages. These dues, together with fines of employers for violation of the-law and a government subsidy. make it possible to give in case of confinement or miscarriage sS. 1t does not make any difference whether the woman is married or not. Mother and child are thus taken care of for at least one month after the birth of the Infant. The Italian law requires. further, that a factory with more than 50 women workers must pro- Vide decent room in which mothers cah attend to their babies and nurse them Frequently, large factories havN q kind of day nursery with traineds nurse in charge Infant mortality has been greatly reduced among industrial workers
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-21
Automobiles on streets.

"The city government should get to- gether and pass some sort of regulative ordinance prohibiting automobiles from using the city's busiest streets as a pub lie garage" was the comment of well known travelling man yesterday.
 "Why, Birmingham is the only first class city that I have ever visited that allows the parking of automobiles throughout the day and night on it's busiest streets to the confusion of traffic and pedestrians in general. There should be some redress for this abuse If your city commission would undertake to ex ert its authority and thus give the best government for all of the many classes of citizens which compose this great citNs and not government for the favored few, the downtown centers of traffic would soon be cleared of their long and irregu- lar line of parked automobiles
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-21

might come in your life or mine. Ev- cry one of Bennetts novels is a great biography, and if ever he wrote a bi- ography, 1t would be a great novel.
 He is terribly methodical, which is what you would expect of such man. His writing is the most exact clerlxly. monkish writing you can imagine; the old simile of copper plate doesn't be- gin to describe it. A page of his man. uscript is like a page out of some old missal. Sometimes he even Eliminates the initial letter of new chapter, He is as sure of the way he writes as of what he writes-and that is very sure. He sets out--he admits it himself-to be a successful writer, and he was never in doubt sof the ultimate result even when his first books moldered and gathered dust on the booldealers' shelves and the mention of his name meant nothing to the casual nearer. He is never in doubt now that success has come
 He is business man in literature. He makes most of his own contracts; his publishers will tell you he can drive a good bargain--it is the careful. meth odical solicitors clerk standing behind the writer. Humorists say he is a great serious writer serious writers say he is a great humorist; essayists admit him a great novelist, and novel, lsts concede that he writes better es- says than almost anybody who uses the English language. And meanwhile Ar mold Bennett writes and writes.
 Personally he is smallish, slight ly wearied looking man, with a small impeachment in his speech, large leather bacred notebook in either side coat pocket. a Turkish cigarette in his fingers. and in his head the brightest, quickest brown eye you ever saw--an eyes that is interested in everything that has happened or is happening or is going to happen
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-21
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Use of All Steel Cars

ssThe Pennsylvania railroad has just announced that 1t will shortly have available for use on the lines of its sys- tenn total of 2s72 solid steel passenger equipment cars, probably more than one-half of the all-steel passenger equipment in the United States, and Representing an expenditure of approx imately s4o.OOO, ,0oo," said well known railroad man yesterday.
 These steel passenger ears have been added to the companys equipment since June. 19Oe when 1t was an nounceds that all future additions to passenger equipment on the Pennsyl- vahia system would be Of all steel con- struction.,
 The Pullman company for several years.has been constructing steel sleep ing and parlor cars to equip the entire Pennsylvania system. Already there are in service sss2 sleping cars, 12t par Tor cars, and 37 combination baggage and parlor cars. all of solid steel con- struction. These 520 cars are painted the standard Pennsylvanias red there are additional steel Pullman ears op-
  .tion with the southern roads. These are not included in the above number
 "The steel passenger cars on the Pennsylvania system have been called 'dreadnaught' cars by reason of their construction. They weigh some 11s.5o0 pounds, as against S5,000 pounds in the standard vestibule woden coach This Increase in weight very greatly re- duces the vibration Of the car, there- by adding to the comfort of passengers. The car is noneollapsible it's principal feature being a central box girder 24 inches wide by 1e deep, extending throughout the entire length of the coach; thls girder, in collisions. pre- vents telescoping. The car is fireproof, containing only about 125 pounds of wood, which is used for window frames and arm rests in the seats"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-21
Demonstration Work in Jefferson

Jefferson county is to have 12 acres of land that will be well cultivated next year. The land selected for that pupose is located near Brighton, on the North Bessemer car line, being part of the McGrath farm. On this 12 acres in question deep blowing, scom- mercial fertilization and thorough cul- tivation will be applied in accordance with the instructions of the govern ment farm demonstrators. When this is done all will know what the lands in this country will produce when they are intelligently handled.
 A belief exists in this state that Jefferson county is all coal and iron ore and hills, when in fact it is full of lovely valleys and good farm lands. Comparatively little of it is incapable of cultivation, and the day will come when it will become very productive in an agricultural sense. A large pop ulation in it will call for many prod ucts, and Jefferson county lands could be made to grow many of these prod ucts.
 The demonstration farm at Brigh- ton will explain how this can be done to some extent atSany rate, and the manner in which the selected 12 acres are handled will be watched with in- terest in all parts of this big county.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-21
REFsncrIoas oF \ BACHELOR

From the New York Press.
 Fun that you buy is soon spent
 The difference between a shape and a figure is the business of dressmaker
 Nothing puzzles a woman more than why men think they are so smart
 About three times day boiled pota- toes, or something like that helps a man q lot moro than hnc pro ccepts.
 Sofae men are go craftN tneN carry two poeketboelSs, one to hoid then money md tue other 10 show their pool re a lions.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-21
MADE THE TASK HARDER.

We hope the woman who got tired of shaving her husband has been granted divorce by this time. Something seems to tell us that he had a wlry beard
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-21

The President-eleet's family will at tend in Washington either the Church or the Covenant. of which the Rev. Charles Wood is pastor or else the New York editiee, of which the Rev. pr. Wallace Radeliffe is pastor Probably the latter, to which church Abraham Lincoln went It is an old fashioned red brick building, two blocks away from the White House.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-21
SADLY BATTERED.

The Bulgars landed on the Turks
 Twas like football game; And while the Turks may rally soon, They'll never look the same.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-21

The Associated charitiesN carries re lief to over 150o cases of Restitution n year. In order to do this in the com ing year it needs sl5,Ooo. Every dollar goes where 1t is sorelA needed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-21
.ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES

sus of opinion being that he vas eithsR a famous detective, some kind of a slice swindler or crazy man. n.o-kansas ci. Star.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-21

Cholera and winter have intervened and they bid fair to stop a war on the plains of Thrace.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-21
GIVES IT UP.

eDobble is always talking about his me- tier. What the deuce is his meter?' Search mel l don't know anything about anatomy '
 ALMOST OUT OF SIGHT. We're far from we'll
 Here's why we're i'll:
 The c. o. l..
 Is soaring still.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-21

In an interview in the Washington presses the hope that the President elect will make Henry D. Clayton his Attorney General Mir Fowlllos says ;he Aaeama delegation will unani- mously support Mir Clayton for that position.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-21

President Taft will no doubt be glad when he takes Up his duties as an ex- President No progressives need apply to him when he does. He has had enough of that kind of cattle.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-21

Oyster Bay is now considered the quietest spot on the map. It has re- formed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-21
TRUE.

TRUE. He's never smoked cigarette, A-girl he's never kissed; The first is quite commendable, The second s something missed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-21

Governor Wilson has boomed Bermu- da better than he knew He has even rendered it famous.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-21

HAPPENED IN A DRY TOWN. He wildly waved telegram
 And did a little dance; We wonder what is wrong with him." Said they who saw him prance. Still with the message held in air, He briefly did explain: Those wet goods ordered by express Are on this mornings trainia
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-21

December contracts are now well above 12 cents and the farmer can now see his way to s6o for each bale he possesses. This is very snug price.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-21

A teacher says she believes in ruling children with love even if it has 10 be applied with ruler
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-21
DISQUALIFIED.

My wife thinks I'm one man in a mil lien" boasted Tigg.
 'Is that so?" said Wigg, sadly T don't believe my wife thinks I'm a man at ali"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-21

THERE'S SOMETHING HE. REGRETS. T wonder why that man we just met is so melancholy?'
 His wife is the best stump speaker in tiis county
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-21
DENIED HIM

DENIED HIM That man may not be lazy. but we sus- peet he is, who regrets that he will not live long enough to reach the age when everything will be done by pressing a button.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-21

Two wars are going on--the allies are fighting Turkey and Germany is lighting the Standard Oil There will be no armistice. in the latter war.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-21

Mir. Taft received but 3771 votes in Louisiana, running below Mr. Debs who polled 5059 votes
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-21

While Governor Wilson is in Bermn7 da the cabinet makers will work over time. for there will be no one here to contradict them. =
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-21
PATRIOTIC.

The privilege of balloting
 He never would disdain. He often after voting once Would go and vote again.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-21

Keep to the right in the shopping season and do that Shopping early.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-21

[ xy,u fight with hiq upon this theme, Until my eye-lids will no longer wHs'
 Hamlet.