davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-11

of the war and a year or two later An other book that read only short while ago gives a most entertaining account of ante-bellum society and ante-belium excitement in Washington. It is Moncure D. Conway's autobiography. Conway, a native Virginian, was a Unitarian minis ter in Washington In the early '50s. In one of flis chapters on the nations capi- tai he says: Those who know only the post-bellum Washington cannot real
 ze the charm of the earlier city. Fifty years ago there were two Washingtons -one large hotel distributed in edifices meeting the nations need, the other q village still rambling at large after it's two generations. The village has been steadily swamped by the capital, but it was to that my intimacy mainly belonged and life therein was delightful.
 There was never much literary ability in Congress. Daniel Webster gained cred it for his learning by his legal arguments on the Girard bequest founding a col lege from which ministers of religion were excluded. But I was informed that all historical knowledge in 1t was supplied to him by learned Methodist, Rev. w. B. Edwards. Longfellow said that Sumner recalled to him the historic speakers in parliament, but the senator used to be ridiculed for his Latin quotations. Con- gressman Upham, who wrote the valuable monograph on the Salem witchcraft, im- pressed me--he attended my church-as fine literary intellect entombed in poli- tics.
 "'Outside Congress there was a good deal of intellectual activity of the sci entific kind. Lieutenant Maury and Pro- lessor Epsy, and at the Smithsonian in- stitution Professors Henry and Baird, gave Washington a fine reputation in that d. rection. Schoolcraft's researches were in- teresting all countries in the aborigines. The best feature of Washington was the course of lectures given at the Smith, sonion, not limited to science, which en- abled us to hear eminent educators from various parts of the country. For mod ern American history we had George Washington Parke Custis. who com- piled all the fiction about General Washington, which historians find so im- pregnable. Custis was the man, have reason to believe, who told Jared Sparks that the fine Marmion portrait of Betty Lewis was his grandmother; and to this day the portrait of washington's sister in Sparks appears as that of his wife!'-"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-11
BUTTER AND REsTAURANTPRoFIrs

From the New York World.
 The warm protest of restaurant patrons against a 10 cent charge for bread and butter with meals has caused some hotel- keepers to doubt the expediency of the plan. But 1t Is unlikely that It will make any difference in their patronage after the first burst of indignation is over.
 The public, as the Spanish proverb has 1t, is a new milch cow. and New York. In Tim Sullivan's phrase. is a nine day town. It grumbles at this new form Of imposition, but in the end 1t will sub init to it as 1t does to all others. It Will accept the inevitable in the matter of paying for restaurant butter at the rate of S2 a pound. as 1t has done in the case of taxicab and theatre extortlon, the discomfort of subway transportation and what not. It exists to be 'milked,' and the element which complains loudest when it's own rights are infringed is not infrequently engaged in milking some other section of the populace.
 The excuse of the hotel keepers for making the extra charge is that the av- craze hotel restaurant is not self support ing, and that the additional income from bread and butter is necessary to make ends meet. Like the railroad managers who carry committing traffic at loss and transport freight only to accommodate shippers, the hotels maintain restaurants for the public benefit, according to their representations.
 That being the case, why should not their public spirit be recognized by pa x<f.rt. .x to pay for their bread and butter with cheerfulness? Yet it remains mystery to the ordinary man why there is no profit in high priced food served to 'throngs who have often to wait for a table. while the cheap restaurants with Broadway rentals to pay earn large divi- dens and make occasional stock distribu- tions to their shareholders.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-11
Cereal Crops Break All Records

The troubles in the Balkan states may check the gold import movement but they cannot change the crop sit uation in this country, or lessen rail road earnings, or turn back the pre- vailing activity in general business.
 The governments October report puts the entire wheat production of the year at 720, ,333,0 ,000 bushels. The yieldof spring wheat has never been equaled, and this can also be safely said of the crops of corn and oats. More than 3,000,000,00 bushels of corn, almost 1,5OO,0OO, 1000 bushels of oats, and 330,000,0 ,00O bushels of spring wheat" says Secretary of Agriculture Wilson, "have been grown. The states in the northwest are harvesting the greatest crops ever grown there." A country that holds such crops has nothing to fear from a war furry in the little Balkan states. Nor can domestic politics have any effect. The industrial and commercial activity is based on big crops and an energetic people, and it has come to stay.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-11
From the New York American <<uF I become the hostess at the gov
 ernor's mansion of the Empire

From the New York American
 <<vF become the hostess at the gov
 ernors mansion of the Empire
 State I am going to make 1t one of the most hospitable homes in the entire country. AS the wife of congressman for the last five years have seen much of Washington life and have particularly admired the beautiful al / democratic way in which Mrs Taft has acted.
 What Mrs. Taft has done in the White House I shall try to do at the state cap itol if my husband becomes governor, and I firmly believe he will. for he has worked all his life, as he has told me many times, with that one thing in mind.''
 The above is very long speech but all most in one breath did the enthusiastic wife of Congressman William Sulzer, nominee for governor of New York on the democratic ticket. speak of her hopes and plans.
 Mrs. Sulzer is neither young nor beauti- full. She has, however, poise and she has personality, two of the rarest and most attractive qualities that a woman can possess
 Her hair is light brown and worn with pompadour. She has nose that is large without being prominent, blue-gray eyes, a pleasing mouth, in the corners of which turk the subtle smile that indicates a sense of bumor. Her complexion is fresh and clear.
 A woman perhaps five feet six inches in height slender and agile, she gives the impression of one who Is amply able to determine things for herself, and yet her sdmrability would indicate that ex- perience had taught her to conserve much that in her extreme youth may have been considered a disregard for others opin- ions.
 The impression which was gained upon first meeting Mrs. Sulzer yesterday aft ernoon in the beautiful old time New York apartment on East Eleventh street near Second avenue was confirmed when Mrs. Sulzer said that up to the time she married MT. Sulzer, five years ago, she had been a trained nurse. In fact she was assistant superintendent of one of the largest hospitals in this city for sev- eral years after training at the Presby- terian hospital in Chicago. That life. with
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-11
Bond Issues for Good Roads

This state has poor roads, compara- lively speaking, and every citizen would in one way or another be bene- fitted by change for the better. But straightout $5O,000,O0o bond issue by the state is startling, and it might not be indorsed by the voters at the polls.
 Senator Bankhead's proposition seems the more practical in the lack of national highway bill. Our senior senator says that "it would be infinite ly better to amend the constitution so that the state could guarantee the in- terest on the bonds voted by the sev- eral counties. In this way the coun- ties could obtain cheap money, and could construct their own roads with out aid from large cities which would profit comparatively little as re- suit of an issue of state bonds." This plan is full of good sense and practi- cality. Rich states like New York can float great bond issues, but such a Notation would scarcely be advisable in Alabama. Senator Bankhead's plan is much better. It arrives at the de- sired result in better and more prac- tical way. It leaves the big question in each county to the people thereof, and it would probably supply the state with good roads much quicker than a straightout bond issue would.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-11
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Seabonrd Air Line officials

William J. Harahan, the new president of the Seaboard Air Line, is making his first tour of inspection over the road and he will reach Birmingham today. He is accompanied by a number of Seaboard officials, including Chairman S. Davies Warfield of Baltimore. The party is travelling in a special train.
 Many of the extensive railroad systems operating in the south are offered for the most part by southern men, said an old shipper. "This is notably true of the Southern railway and the Seaboard Ar Line. Mir. warfeld, who was recently elected chairman of the Seaboard, is native of Maryland, and is very much of a southerner. President Harahan was born in Nashville, and has spent the greater part of his life in the south. Vice President Hix, in charge of transporta- tion, and Vice President Capps, in charge of traffic, are southern men.
 MT. Harahan's predecessor in the pres idency was Mir. Meldrum of New York. He has the reputation of being high class accountant and auditing expert, but he was never a railroad man in the usual application of the term. The reor- ganized board of directors in looking around for a railroad man of large equip ment and large experience found Mir. Harahan. He will give his whole time to the operating department of the line. Great things are expected of him and those who know him personally or who know his record say that he will surely make good"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-11
LOTT ON AMERICAN CULTURE

From the New York Times.
 that which ex-President Eliot of Harvard makes in his brief letter. appearing else where upon the remark published in its interview the other day with Pierre Loti M. Lott said:
 In the United States, which as na- tion Is very young, 1t is necessary to its growth that its feverish preoccupation with material affairs shall be counter balanced by a great literary and philo- sophie literature. which would penetrate more and more deeply among your people through the influence of an elite oi thoughtful men.
 To think is itself form of action and, in a sense. a superior form of it, It IS this discovery which America could make with supreme advantage to herself
 Perhaps Dr. Eliot's retort is not com- plete, but it is legitimate. Every one must acknowledge the force of the obser- vation made by Prof. Alfred Senier of Dublin in his address last month to the chemical section of the British associa- tion. to which pr. Eliot refers:
 The time spirit now, and for some two centuries past. seems to have chosen te take under it's particular guardianship the physical and natural sciences, their cultivation and applications, rather than philosophy or architecture or sculpture, or painting or literature. We shall do vel to recognize this, and not waste our re- sources in striving to fight against it.
 But we feel that the men whose busi- ness in this country it is to see and think shoudl recognize the desirability /of at- taining to a national life well rounded ir philosophy and literature as well as IT scientific achievement. During the Re naisance letters and the arts kept pace with great material progresss and the extension of the worlds knowledge. Now knowledge is being extended as never be- fore in history. The nations are growing richer and stronger this nation not the least among them. Is there any reason why at this stage of great material prog ress a great literature and philosophy should not take root among the people by the efforts of 'an erte of thoughtfu men?"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-11
LITTLE SURPRISES
mn the Chicago Tribune.

From the Chicago Tribune.
 "Youll have to pay something to get this check cashed I inclose 10 cents.''
 Young man, l never pinch my feet; please show me pair one size larger
 Wait second; I'll move. I don't care for the end seat"
 "Yes,l sir, we can give you a lower berth; what part of the car do you pre- fer?'
 "As soon as saw this hat knew it was the one I wanted. You needn't show me any more"
 Madam, l5 minutes ago you reported your telephone out of order; I've come to fix it'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-11
THE CRANIUM COOLER

From the CIeveland P1afn DealeF-
 Chicago man has invented an electric fan that can be inserted In the maacu- line hat and is warranted to keep the hottest head cool on tho hottest day.
 The wheel is guaranteed to run for . reasonable number of hours and its en- ergy can be restored in a few minutes.
 It Is possible that many Chicagoans will stick to the mostened sponge and the damp cabbage leaf, but there are others who will take the chances of the buzzing wheels breaking loose and neatly scalping the wearer before t can be turned loose.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-11
REFLECTIoNs OF A BACHELOR

From the New York Press.
 It's safer to bet on horse sense than on genius. h
 Anyhow, woman doesn't sing any louder than man argues,
 Fat wives aren't so bad on a night cold enough for more bed covers.
 No matter how thin a girl is she can think how wonderful it is it should be Sc becoming to her.
 A man can have grouch with his wife because he didn't get good seat to the baseball game.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-11
A LESSON IN NATURAL HISTORY From the POnlllar Magazine

 It was in the first grade and the young teacher was giving a most in- spring language lesson on the cat. She had spoken of the animals sharp teeth, queer eyes and velvety paws. In short, she had said about all that could be said regarding the appearance and habits of every known sort of cat. It then oc- cured to her that she would persuade the children to tell what they knew on the subject
 Now, what kind of coat has the kitty ?' she. asked. Wool? Feathers? |? What?' is | At this juncture a contemptuous voice from the back row exclaimed
 'sWhy, teacher, ain't you ever seen no cat?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-11
Optimism in Financial Circles

For the first time since the panic of 1907 the country Is enjoying high de- gree of prosperity, and the general feel ing is that this prosperity is permanent" said Otto Marx, who has returned from the east, where he had spent the greater part of this summer.
 'Financiers are unquestionably more op- timistic now than they have been for some time. The enormous crop produc- ton is the basis of all this business pros perity and in the entire industrial world record breaking activity seems to be in evidence. year ago the railroads found 1t difficult to borrow money even in com paratively small amounts for pressing needs. Today 1t is very different. Every large road can get all the money 1t wants for betterments.
 "As to the reorganization of the South ern Iron and Steel company nothing has been done and nothing will be done un- til after foreclosure which will be prob- ably four or five weeks from now. After that believe some plan will be found to reorganize, put the property in first class shape and give the company ample working capital"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-11
A DOGS WASTED EFFoRr.

Tom McNeal writes: ''The other day we were riding through the country on railroad train. It was a mighty hot day, but as we passed a farmhouse a medium sized dog dashed out at tho train. He was the most earnest look ing dog we have seen for long time
 He was evidently a dog who saw what he considered to be his duty and pro- posed to do it if it killed him. For few rods the race between the train and the dog was even, then the train began to draw away and evidently the dog was getting near the boundary of the premises he was guarding. When he reached the line he stopped with a look of keen satisfaction on his face
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-11
AND HAS A RIGHT m BIT

AND HAS A RIGHT TO BE. She didn't have much talent when She went upon the stage, But, oh, she had a lovely form And soon became the rage. Her smile was such a witchine one. Her face so wondrous fair, She soon forsook the chorus ranks To wed millionaire. And now if you should chance to see Her in her limousine, You'd tell yourself she's twenty times More naughty than a queen
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-11
LIFE,S roo sHORT

Do you know where the first battle was fought in the present war of the Balkan states against Turkey?"
 Sure I do, but I'm not going to waste any time trying to pronounce it."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-11
! SOON EXPLAINED.

know man who still complains Because he's living high; His room Is on the sixteenth floor, And that's the reason why.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-11
Growing Long staple Cotton

'The cotton crop of DeKalb is made and it is shorter than last year. said s. B. Lloyd, farmer, merchant and back tax collector of Collnsville.
 You know that Sand mountain is noted for the staple of it's cotton, although up- lands. My brother and I planted this year five acres of improved long staple. Well, a few days ago we offered and sold two bales from native seed and two from the improved. For the native we received Il cents and for the long staple improved 141a cents. You know that this cotton requires a special gin. Well, about four miles from our farm there Is a gin for this especial work. We paid s2 per bushel for the seed, but it has paid we'll.
 'The sorghum crop has become quite a feature in our section. While the city market is only about s5 cents per gallon we get good prices at home for 1t and dc not send any to the larger markets"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-11

The woman conductor on Philadelphia $ street cars is called cashier by coul- tesy This is however, no slam on con ductors in general
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-11

Whitelaw Reid is coming home to be an editor. He considers himself too old-he is 15--to be a diplomat after the demo- crats take charge of affairs.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-11
A GOLDEN TIME.

How sweet is life when every morn
 New vistas fair Is bringing, And when we wake no more forlorn.
 But in a mood for singingl How sweet Is life when all our dreams
 Of love and fame are splendid. And when a happy heart Just seems
 By all the world befriendedl
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-11

Andrew Carnegie is missing great op portunity. He should intervene in tn Balkans by declaring the war off.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-11

Senator Heyburn of Idaho is still de Is still hopeful and he may recover.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-11

The Balkan states want war, but the powers of western Europe do not. At this writing it is difficult to say which will win out.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-11

The Greek patriots who propose to leave Birmingham run the risk that the powers will patch up peace while they are at sea.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-11

Democratic campaign funds consist ol free will contributions, while republican campaign funds are actual investments on the part of the interests. eu
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-11

The highest salared woman in New Jersey has resigned obecome a nun, and the salary record in that state has been pulled down to lower notch.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-11

The limit of criticism is reached when one woman says of another: S'Why, she doesn't even make her own be&."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-11

Postal savings bank were followed by the parcels post, and some think govern ment telegraphs and telephones will come neyt
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-11

John D. Archbod's church is talking about starting an inquiry concerning his gift of S10o.OOo to the Roosevelt campaign fund.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-11

Poison ivy is full of lovely color in the autumn. but no one should carry it home because of its loveliness.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-11

One person in 116 in this country owns an automobile, but he should not try to exterminate the other 109.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-11

Cleveland's municipal dancing pavilion earned 5000 above all expenses, and it pleased the "peepul."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-11

The man with the outrigger knees in the street cars Is good rival of the end seat hog.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-11

The first frost must come before In- dian summer can be properly ushered in.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-11

The betting odds in Wall street on Will son now stand at to 1.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-11

The senatorial investigations really show that man is beginning to lose his memory.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-11

No one can be found in this campaign who is willing publicly to say a good word for Penrose.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-11
BADLY coNE1rsrp

The present turmoil of politics must nave added poor Dubkin's brain" Why do you think so?"
 T notice he's spelling 'candidate' these days with three d's."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-11
Birmingham as a sub-Port.

H. Gordon Ashley, collector of the port of Mobile. Is in Birmingham on off cial business connected with the support of entry office in Birmingham.
 "The business of the Birmingham office has been very satisfactory for the short time it has been in operation" said MT. Ashley. We are collecting about s10o0 a month here and within a year or two I expect to see this office doing an an nua1 business of s25,0O0 or sSo,oOO. Increases in the office force will be made here just as rapidly as the business justifes.
 'The office here should be great con venience to local importers, because i'm ported articles are sent here direct under bond, so that no time is lost at the cus- tom office of the port of entry"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-11
THE TOWN PRIDE

No one passes a score board at present looking.