davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-01
Business Activity

General trade is much more active
now than it was month ago, and the
best Of it Is we are to have great busi-
ness activity throughout the fall" said l..
T. Bascom of Chicago
This time last year we had excep-
tional prosperity throughout the country
believe We will have just as much com
mercial thrift in the next few months as
we had in the last half of 1872 August
and September will witness genuine pros
perity and before Christmas we will have
much record breaking business.
BY the way. the democratic party will
come out with flying colors. have voted
the republican ticket ever since I was
old enough to vote In 1884. / had an idea
that democratic victory would mean btIsi-
ness depression. l see now that I was
mistaken. / believe that President Will
son and the democratic Congress are CO.
ing to give the country a revised tariff
that will prove extremely popular.
'As to the administration S currency
measure l will have little to say. l know
very little about the complex science of
banking, but financiers who ought to
know tell me that Secretary of the
Treasury McAdoo is one of the best finan-
cial men who has been connected with
the government and that any bill that he
approves will be of benefit to the coun-
try
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-01
A HYBRID TONGUE IN PHILIPPINES

From what Americans Talk in the
Philippines" by Maurice p. Dunlap,
in the American Review of Reviews
for August
Baby talk is highly developed
language compared to the jargon Amer
lean housewives talk to their Filipino
houseboys. But it usually conveys the
meaning when accompanied by express
sive gestures. AT best, however, the per-
fbrmance of the command speaks well
for native intuition.
Spanish construction off English
words is another twist that our poor
language gets in the Philippines. mo
got" in the islands is the most COM
monty used expression for II haven't
any" Similarly mo can do" means II
can't" and mo want means II don't
want it," Not only between American
and Filipino but among Americans
themselves, this twisted construction
has largely supplanted the legitimate
one.
With the soldier. anything that be-
longed peculiarly to the Philippines was
described as bamboo Now all colon
ials use the term. The r'Bamboo feet
is the one assigned to Philippine wa
ters and the bamboo government" Is
the Philippine civil government in dis
tinction from the United States mill
tary
Among other "soldierisms' If I may
be permitted this contribution to the
new language) were certain pure Ma
lay words. The list is continually grow
ing and now there are dozens of Taga-
log words "baguio' meaning storm
"carabao' meaning an animal, ''palay''
meaning rice" and tao meaning
man." Moro terms in common use are
amok" meaning wild" "dato" meaning
chief" kris meaning a wavy-edged
knife and "sarong" meaning a gar
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-01
The |. C. Dividend

Directors of the Illinois Cenral have
declared semi-annual dividend of
21a per cent, reduction of 2 per
cent in the annual rate of per cent,
which has been in order since 1905, al
though the rate for the fiscal year is
6 per cent, as the last semi-annual
dividend was at the regular figure
of 31s.
The statement of the directors de-
clares that this dividend has been
fully earned. There has been no jock
eying with the books to make show
ing. The business Of the road con-
tinues to grow, the earnings for May
and June were entirely satisfactory
and those for July will no doubt show
substantial incrcdss.
The Illinois Central was one of the
railroads to suffer most heavily from
the floods in January and April, and
it is due to this fact that the rate
of dividend was lowered. Improved
conditions are apparent throughout
the system. The enormous crops give
prospect of an extraordinary degree
of prosperity, and on the whole the
outlook could hardly be more en-
couraging.
Illinois Central stocks broke heavily
upon the announcement of the 21a
per cent declaration, but this has no
real significance. The management of
the road is confident that an era
of unusual prosperity is at hand.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-01
Marked Improvement in Business

mdTheu Improvement IN business
The country is prosperous and with
the near approach of harvest time
business conditions grow brighter and
brighter. The improvement is clearly
marked. If there was note of pes
simism in financial circles a few
months ago, no such note is heard
now. Leading bankers and business
men are talking optimistically and the
prospects are exceptionally cheering
for great volume of fall trade.
One of the unmistakable barom-
eters of financial conditions is the
New York stock exchange and one of
the stocks in which there is always
much trading when business is at~all
active is the United States Steel cor
poration common. A few weeks ago,
when there was a severe slump in
Wall street, United States Steel sold
below so. 1t pays a quarterly dividend
of l 3-4 cents and very naturally on
the first rally of the market it began
to move upward. 1t sold yesterday
at 60. The Steel corporations last
quarterly report was more than sat
isfactory. 1t showed immense earn
ings and not only is the common
stock of the corporation strengthened,
but all other industrial securities feel
the good effect of prosperity as in
dicated by the United States Steel
quarterly statement.
Money is nothing like so tight as
it was. The fact is that for legitimate
commercial purposes money has been
easy enough all summer. The rate on
large real estate loans has advanced
in some sections and the payment of
certain loans on maturity has been
required. But in the business world
there has been no trouble about loans
ana IL is generally believed that be-
ginning with the first of November
financial conditions will be unusually
favorable to large investors in indus
trial and mercantile enterprises.
Huge crops in all parts of the
country are promised. The south's
cotton crop, if not a record breaker,
will be close to the high record crop of
two years ago. This is a year of
plenty, indeed. Business in all direc-
tions will be wonderfully brisk in the
fall and in the Birmingham district
values will certainly reach higher
levels.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-01
The Mexican Question

Ambassador Wilson believes that
Mexico's troubles are more economic
than physical. He thinks that the
United States should at once recog-
nize the Huerta government and give
its approval to the existing admins
tration's efforts to re-establish order.
Ambassador Wilson regards the as
sassinations of Madero and Suarez as
closed incidents. He would not at
tempt to go into the question of
whether the de facto government
climbed to power by methods abhor-
rent to moral ideas. That it is in
power is sufficient to him.
President Wilson's views are very
different. He thinks the United States
should concern itself with the moral
side of the issue rather than with
the material. There is every reason
to believe that there can be no COM
promise between the two. ambassador
Wilson's behavior since bis arrival
in this country has been such as al
most to compel the acceptance of his
resignation, which has been on file
since March A. The Washington
Times, one of the papers owned by
Frank A. Munsey, Mr.. Roosevelt's
close friend, remarks:
Mr. Wilson comes far less in a spirit
of appreciation of the Importance of his
coming than in one of fagrant, ag-
gressive. and apparently personal hos
tility to his superiors. The correctness
OF some of his first reported remarks
has, it is true, been denied but in his
very denial of them as bad or worse
crept out. He has shown himself ut
terly devoid of tact, without judgment,
incapable of appreciating the ordinary
proprieties of his position or the first
rules of discipline.
Nothing could warrant such misbe-
havior nothing except honest and ex-
treme evaporation over demonstrable
mismanagement of our Mexican affairs
by the state department could even
pallate it. And Mr.. Wilson. by his ex-
hibition of lack of judgment now, has
practically killed confidence in his
Judgment as to the governments policy
or anything else.
The ambassadors truculency is in
deed unfortunate. He has prejudiced
our standing in Mexico to an extent
that cannot be estimated. He boasted
upon his departure from Mexico City
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-01
Let proof speak.
-Cymbellne.
Riding the Free Horse

Why should the editors of the coun-
try press open their columns gratis to
boost every scheme that comes along :?
Why indeed? Custom is the answer.
OF course that custom is one notori-
GUS for its onesidedness and its short
sightedness. But it's just custom, all
the same. There is no other way of
explaining it.
In the last few years there has been
q gradual opening of the eyes of the
country editor. Steadily he is coming
to realize that his space is his stock
in trade; he has 1t to sell just as the
merchant has commodities to sell.
Upon its sale depends his living. Why
not market space with an eye to his
own welfare, rather than give it
away under false presumption of
philanthropy?
Alabama's editors were in session
Ill birmingham IulS week anu no
question of greater Importance to
their profession was before them.
They are discussing it at every an
gle, and it is the consensus of their
opinion that their hberality of the
past was a mistaken one In future,
it is their intention to Insist upon a
quid pro quo.
Already that peripatetic pest, the
publicity hunting politician, has been
curbed, in manner at least. It is no
longer the policy of the editor to
print free boosts for an office seeker
written by said seeker or by his cam
paign manager. The candidate is en-
tirely justified in attempting to get
his claims before the public. The best
way to do this is to use the newspa-
pers. The editor is entirely justified
in demanding that he be paid for
printing the candidates claims. 1t is
a simple matter of business. An ex-
tension of this rule to other lines of
boosting is now in order.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-01
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Cnn.Ilaates for Gnrernor


Several well known men are avowed
candidates for governor Of Alabama" said
an old democrat, "and there will probably
be one or two more men in the race:
Those who are now campaigning seem to
bee full of energy and full of snap. If
the entries were closed now l would pick
out one of the candidates for whom I
would cast a vote. but the Alabamlans
wno in my humble oppion. would make
an ideal candidate. strictly speaking, is
sydney J. Bowie. His active railroad
law practice may keep him from entering
the contest, but l wish It were so that
he could take the stump and make the
race.
Mr. Bowie was an able congressman
and he would make great governor. He
has the brains the education, the high
moral purpose and the grit. Few men
in public life are so well known through
out the confines of Alabama. have
known him for years He has convictions
he is supremely patriotic and he is abso-
lutely fearless"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-01
DEALING WITH Mpxrco

FROM THE Progress of the World" in
the American Review of Reviews for
August
All interests in Mexico have for manv
months been in jeopardy. Nearly all of
the other foreign governments have rec
osnized the Huerta regime. The forced
recognition to the Huerta-Diaz military
dero, and his abominable assassination.
| occurred only a few days before Presi
dent Taft went out of office. Our am
bassador, Henry Lane Wilson. regarded
1t as best that we should give pronpt
ecognition to the Huerta-Diaz military
and personal dictatorship, in order that
our influence might help them to estab-
lish strong enough government to give
protection to American and other foreign
interests. But there was great abhorrenca
in this country of the treachery and
CRIME OF which Madero had been the vic
tim, and there was much belief that the
people of Mexico would at an early day
rid themselves of the usurpers The move
ment which had sent the elder Diaz to
Europe had been followed at once by
an election. and Madero became a constit-
tutional President. Huerta had promised
TO adopt the same policy, but dates have
been deferred and there is no likelihood
that such an election will be held even
in October, as more recently announced.
Revolutionary fighting against Huerta ia
going ON in different parts of Mexico.
This present government wishes to raise
money for foreign loan, but lacks the
necessary prestige because of the refusal
of President Wilson and Secretary Bryan,
thus far, to recognize the lawful status
of the actual rulers. Our relations with
Mexico for more than half a century
rave been such that the world expects
us to adopt and declare definite policy.
The great powers of Europe would like
TO have the United States intervene in
Mexico, because that would give promise
OF full and responsible protection of their
citizens and their property interests.
The best opinion in this country. how
ever, is to the effect that our government
mas no possible reason for invading Mex
leo and trying to establish order there
1t is quite possible for American citizens
VINO cannot live there in safety to return
TO this country. American investments
|
never guaranteed by our government. and
nave always been subject to the vicissi-
tudes of revolutionary country Presi-
dent Wilson thus far has shown himself
TO be both firm and cool-headed There is
no need of his doing anything about Mex
ico until he has deliberately decided upon
course of action that satisfies his judg-
inent 1t was reported last month, wheth-
Ell truly or not that Huerta had Just
caused the execution of 20 or 30 men who
were supposed to have been plotting the
assassination of himself and Diaz. He
VIII nave to live in bomb-proof vault
II ne expects to prolong his own days
very greatly, under the existing condi-
tons. His enemies are everywhere, and
violent men usually come to violent ends,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-01
THE AUTHOR OF QUO vADIs?'

been required to write the trology, .he had
struck the popular chord. and the presses
were kept busy day and night prn Is as
best seller of the decade.
Writing Quo Vads?' was compara
iy easy" says the novelist, witt M
wealth of authorities to draw on a.As
tcrical background. it required on aaut
eight months to complete it,
Mr. Sienkiewicz tells an amusing Incl
dent in connection with the serial publi-
cation of QUO vadis?" in Polish journal.
When the installment describing the cap
tiyity Of Lygia appeared, a deptuation OF
young girls called Upon the author to beg
him not to let his heroine die in prison.
1T Is simple matter letting her es-
cape one of them said. "Lygla uas oniy
to write letter TO her fianee and he wii!
see to it,
Sienkiewlcz smiled and requested his
fair petitioner 10 compose such a letter.
few days later he received the follow
ing:
MY Dear Lygla: 1t seems that you
ought to write to vinicius, but illness has
probably enfeebed your epistoary pow
unpretentious letter to certain M.
Henryx Sienkiewicz, who lives in Warsaw.
several centuries hence. have every
reason to believe that If you ask him pref
tily he will arrange the matter without
the useless complications of further cor
respondence.
i embrace you affectionately"
Readers of "Qou yadis? have not failed
to note that Sienkiewicz never describes
Roman life and history as though he were
Pole, a passive spectator; he writes OF
things Roman as any Roman in the first
century might have written. 1t is. this
vividness of his art which almost misleads
one into believing that his characters must
be imaginary rather than historic per-
sonages. Only a great genius can un-
earth the dusty chronicles OF past GEN.
turies and make its men and women live
and breathe and speake.
"Quo Vadis?' kept the printers and bind
ers working overtime to supply the de-
mand. and the sale eventually totaled L.
100000 copies.
His next great look was 'rhe Knights
of the Cross two volume romance of
Poland and Germany that pictured wildly
how the growth of Christianity was re-
tarded by crimes done in the name of the
church. This appeared in 1s99-19O0 In
''on the Field of Glory" the last book
to be translated by jeremiah Curtain he
fore the death of this great linguist, sien
kiewicz returned to the period when King
John Sobieski reigned over his native
land, just before the Turkish invasion
of 16S2-1 1888
or his two most recent books, "Whirl-
pools" describes the forces which threaten
to engulf Poland and its people, while In
Desert and Wilderness unfods the ad-
ventures of two kidnapped children in
Africa.
In 1906 Sienkiewicz received the Nobel
prize of $4,000 for distinguished literary
work 1t was generally conceded at the
time that no living novelist had produced
work with so much of the epic move
ment and heroic quality.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-01

steady the tottering throne of the
Manchu dynasty. He is known as a
man who reasons calmly but strikes
impetuously when he has determined
his course. To charge him with the
betrayal of his masters would be un-
just. When the crash came, however,
he was quick to seize the reigns of
power and was chosen provisional
president of the newly created re-
public.
DIR. Sun is the real leader of the
real progressives of China. A life
time of patient study has fitted him
for that leadership. He has absorbed
western ideas and ideals, and his aim
in life is to be of true service to the
people of his nation. He gave loyal
adherence to Yuan until convinced
that the provisional president was
bent upon retaining for himself all
the authority of the prosrrate throne.
Hugo says revolutions are the
brutalities of progress. The present
strife in China is the outcome of
nations desire to go forward. The
sympathies of free peoples are with
DR.. Sun in the struggle.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-01
The Chinese Rebellion

Money and murder are said by DR..
Sun Vat Sen to be the causes of
China's present troubles. President
Yuan Shi Kai came into possession of
the first part of the five powers loan
just at the time his connection with
the death of Gen. Sung CHA Jen was
brought to light. The people, or a
large part of them, are convinced of
Yuan's connivance with the assassins;
in fact, the crime was committed at
the direct order of the Presidents
secretary.
Yuan, as viceroy, was known as
one who ruled with an iron hand.
There is nothing liberal il his mental
makeup. He is a Chinese of the old
school, but he is wise enough to take
advantage of modern ideas when they
are of benefit to his personal inter
ests. Yuan was called to Peking to
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-01
Marriage or Suffrage

When Macbeth was told there was no
medicine for mind deceased he said
Then throw physic to the dogs to which
someone replied, Where will you find the
dogs to take it?'" said a professional
man.
Mayor Gaynor and other prominent
men in New York suggest that the suf-
fragettes be provided with husbands. but
again the inquiry is pertinent, where
will you find the husbands to marry
them?' There was one eminent suf-
fragette in this country and her matri-
monial life was not such as even to retain,
much less to win. the love and affection
of husband. There is a vast differ
ence between the suffragist and the suf-
fragette at the outset but like all revolu-
tionary movements suffragsm is bound
to develop forces and qualities in certain
of its advocates of which even their pos
SCISSORS little thought themselves capable
When a woman, like a ship, breaks away
from her moorings she is very likely to
become either derelict or wreck Unless
she has plenty of ballast and is con-
troled and guided by some person of calm
these qualifications are evident among
the leaders of the movement in England,
and what's worse. it would seem that it
is to the absence of these qualifications
the leaders are indebeted-for their lead
ership
Female suffrage is a question upon
which much might be said but of very
different nature from what is generally
said. The real issue was raised by Mr..
Asquith when he asked the question, is
it good for the woman herself?' So far
as the world is concerned it will go on
just the same whether women vote or
whether they don't but the relations be-
tween men and women are not to be
changed without imperilling the welfare
of both and that is the great considera-
tion deserving attention"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-01
HUsBANDLY soLIcrrUDE

From the Saturday Evening Post.
In Chicago not long ago a vaudevills
comedian married woman who was like
wise connected with the profession. Im-
mediately after the ceremony he left his
bride in her room and went down to the
bar where, meeting a number of very con
genial friends. he proceeded to celebrate
the recent event fittingly. Several happy
hours passd.
Toward dusk the bridegroom went to
the telephone and called up his room. His
new wife answered. In slightly husky
voice he said:
rs that you, friend wife?" Well, this
Is friend husband. l just made a date
for dinner. How're things breaking for
you?"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-01
POINTED PARAGRAPHS
From the Chicago News.


Lazy people usually have busy tongues.
NO, cordelia, not all talors are subject
to fits.
He is truly a brave physician who takes
his own medicine.
Pure food laws are not responsible for
unadulterated nerve.
Most excuses are so thin that blind peo-
pie can see through them.
A girl with dimples will laugh at every
fool thing man says
And many a young man looks upon a
dollar saved as a good time lost.
Fine feathers do not make fine birds, but
many mans clothes make him look like
Jay.
1t is difficult for any man to overlook
the woman who has all the hair she wants
piled on her head
If girl is in love with young man
in her home town she is afraid to remain
away long when she has occasion to visit
friends in another town.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-01
The Auditorium Proposition

"T believe a large majority OF the
voters will cast their ballots on Sep
tember in favor of an auditorium .
said welbknown upbuilder.
1--WE Will soon have ample hotel ac-
commodations but until we have an
auditorium with seating capacity of
10000 we cannot be in the first rank
of convention cities Every business
man knows what 1t is to have a great
national gathering. Atlanta and Rich
mond have been convention cities for
some years past and they have profit
ed immensely on that account
1T behooves every citizen to favor q
city owned auditorium. Unless the city
issues bonds to erect this needed
building individuals would have to put
their shoulders to the wheel and raise
the money. There are many public spir-
tied men here who would gladly con-
tribute to an auditorium fund or sub
scribe stock in an auditorium company
but we need a public library and other
buildings that will cost much money
that the city would not be called upon
to back or promote. Let the city build
the auditorium and leave for individual
citizens other enterprises that will cost
considerable money"