davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-01
WAGNER AND CAB DRIVER

From the London standard.
story of Wagner known TO very few
is brought to the light by the Vosische
'Zeitung When the composer was in q
really merry mood, the right mood for
story telling, he used to say that being in
Berlin on a very hot summers day, and
finding himself in the Donhoffsplatz, he
summoned one of the first class doschkes
that were still fairly numerous at thar
time, and told the driver where to so.
His destination was at the very furthest
point of a district, within which only the
lowest fare could be demanded.
1t struck Wagner immedia tely that his
driver was taking very affecting leave
of one of mis- fellows, as though he were
starting on a life or death journey.
"Good-by, William. he said. 1--WE shao't
see each other again for long time.
After the carriage had ratified on for
good while it came suddenly to stand
still The driver got down from his box
on the right hand side, opened the car
rage door, ard banged It to again. then
he went round to the left side and re-
peated the performance, climbed upon his
box and resumed the journey. At the end
OF the drive Wagner asked him what his
dumb-crambo show meant. The driver,
with sly look. made answer, Il Just
wanted to bamboozle my old nag; he
would never have believed that the whole
drive was for minimum fare, and would
have refused to 50 on. But by banging
the doors ] got him to imagine that one
fare had got out and another got In
Wagner laughed heartily over this ex-
PLANTATION. and the driver, In spite of his
greed, over which the composer made
very merry in his letters, realized she
handsome tip on which he had been spec
ulating.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-01

From the indianapolis News.
A free-for-all bird fight occurred at the
home of Mayor Shank the other day,
during which a baby oriole, the cause of
the trouble. was killed The mayor said
it was the most exciting thing that has
happened since he has been laid up with
lumbago. He believes a bird fight has a
cock or dog fight backed off the boards
when it comes to genuine excitement.
The trouble started when the baby orr
ole flew from the nest of its parents in
a big maple tree across the street. to a
huge elm tree in the mayors yard. Here,
proud of its first fight alone the lit4le
oriole perched itself ON a limb TO rest.
A woodpeclSer, peeping out of its nest
in the elm, saw the intruder and made an
attack on the oriole. The watchful par
ent orioles, just across the street, saw the
attack and few TO their baby's rescue.
Mrs. Woodpecker arrived on the scene,
ana the fight began in earnest.
Feathers few and the fighters gave vent
to birdland profanity. First the wood
peckers seemed to have the best of it,
and then the orioles. When the fight was
at It's ne1Snt a room illal ldu It's nest III
the elm tree with the woodpeckers, de-
cided to take a hand. presumably as a
peacemaker. The robin would fight one
bird and then another. once all five
birds fell to the ground, but were on the
wing again in an instant and the fight
was renewed
crowd of probably 25 people living in
the neighborhood gathered. The robin
did not make any great headway as a
reacemaker and the mayor was of the
opinion that he just butted in for a little
excitement. At any rate the robin did
not appear to have any favorites in the
melee
The birds fought for more than half
an hour until they were almost exhausted.
Finally the orioles flew back to their
maple tree and the woodpeckers flew to
a limb in their elm tree.
The baby orlole, the cause of the
trouble, was found hanging from a tiny
limb, dead.
ut was certainly a great fight said
the mayor. but | feel sorry for that
poor little baby oriole.''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-01

| podrome. OH It was terrible work.
He throws me around-I am tossed up
in the air and see my heels at an an
gle never expected TO view them. And
I'm an old married woman. with stiff
joints
Evelyn Nesbit laughed So did L. She
was as simple and unaffected as the
inevitable school girl It was impos-
sible not to like her. She amused me a
lot
"They sneaked us on at Saturday
matinee without announcement" she
said, "and luck favored me. The turn
went well, and we are hit.
I'm engaged for six weeks, with an
option, and then 1 go to Paris Berlin,
Vienna, st. Petersburg, Moscow. Copen-
hagen
And New York;" 1 asked
New York, surely" she replied, smil-
ing, when 1 feel that I've put it over,
but not until then. Oh, do want to
earn my own living, and the stage is
good, and I don't mind hard work In
the old days, when I had nothing on
my mind but my hair. l used to shirA
iehearsals. Now I'm Johnny the-spot.
cont mind how much we rehearse. In
fact, rehearse every day. I've always
loved dancing, and nave studied all the
successful dancers. If only I don't get
fat like Ethel Barrymore and others"
You couldn't" 1 opined, for she didns
look the part.
II won't" she retorted. 1T would be
a great pity. and l have another ambi-
tien that I'll tell you, for it may sur
prise you. Do you remember what Jerome
said about me?''
Again l refused to remember any
thing.
well. he said that there were four
great actresses-Sarah Bernhard. Elea-
nora Duse, Mrs. Fiske and myself. 1
don't forget that. Some day | may try
TO act-to do something worth while.
something serious, something emotional.
So, there you are! You will laugh. be-
cause | know you are funny.
Theatrical people take themselves
very seriously. and they can't UNDER
stand why you don't do the same, but
you don't-you can be as funny as YOU
like about me. | shant mind a bit, for
really have sense of humor, and I'm
not very serious" She laughed again,
and l was quite disarmed. Evelyn Nes-
bit had impressed me as L didn't be-
lieve l was going to be impressed.
,, "All I do in London" she said, rs
to work and eat good food. l love the
food in London. Do go to the Ches-
hire Cheese and taste the chops. was
there yesterday, and 1 sat in Doctor
Johnson's chair and enjoyed myself
hugely. I'm going TO get on, and I'm
going TO surprise everybody. One must
make a beginning. Look at Elsie Fergu-
son. She was the stupidest chorus gir.
l ever met but she had big moments.
and now she is very charming actress.
Don't forget to write something funny
about me. for shall enjoy it,
But, somehow or other. Evelyn Ne5-
bit hadnt appealed TO my sense OF
humor. She Nas, at least, spontaneous
| and natural.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-01
The Legitimate Drama

Those who recall the acting of Ed
~ih Booth have usually thought of his
Hamlet as unapproachoble. He was
rreat actor and when was in his prime
lie was the ideal Hamlet.
But Sir ]. Forbes-Robertson, who
has recently closed a London engage
rnent in the role of Hamlet, is thought
w some theatregoers who are old
enough to have seen Booth to be the
greatest actor who has ever trod the
boards. Forbes-R Robertson is not un-
ike Booth. Booth had handsome
Age presence and SO has the English
Ar. Booth was quiet in his manner
d so is the younger Hamlet. Booths
lice was music itself and singularly
nsical is Forbes -Robertson's voice.
Sir Henry Irving was one of the
reatest actors who has lived in mod
Is times. He was Q scholar and a
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-01

gentleman and in Shakespearean roles
he set high standard. But for all
round beauty of acting Forbes-Robert-
son is easily the greatest Englishman
who has ever appeared before the
foot lights. On his farewell night in
London he made a little speech in
which he said
81 only wish and hope that the
younger generation will carry on the
great tradition of this city and en-
courage the serious drama. We need
not fear. Nothing can touch the
spoken word upon the stage. The
drama is going to be with us always.
Do not listen to the pessimists who
tell you we have on all sides all sorts
of competitors in other forms of en-
tertainment. Nothing can stay the
drama. It will go on through time, as
long as humanity exists"
Shakespearean plays do not always
draw well. Some managers have said
that the treatre going public wants
something more modern. But when
great artists like Forbes Robertson,
Robert Mantell and other contempor-
airy actors play Shakespeare there
are no empty seats.
AS has heretofore been announced,
there is to be a revival of Shake
speare in this country. All the trage-
dies will be enacted by high class his
torians and the box office will not
suffer.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-01
WEAPONS OFF ANCIENT FIGHTERS

" l1AEOAS OE f4tE E1lA Z
From the New York Post.
Washington.-A collection of old weap-
ons secured by George Kennan, the writer
and traveller, during one of his trips TO
Russia, has recently been lent to the Ma
tional museum by Mr.. Kennan and in
stalled in the new building of the museum.
The greater part of the weapons were
originally gathered by Prince Paslzievich
of Russia, a noted eonnoisseur, from
whom Mr.. Kennan purchased them. The
pieces are of special interest in relation
to their original owners, or as examples
of the art of development of the periods
they represent.
The collection comprises about 5S OBJ
jects, and consists mainly of oriental
weapons, sabres, daggers, yataghans,
pistols and guns all richly mounted, and
some having historic and ethnologic in
terest on account of the Inscriptions they
bears in Russian. PersianS Caucasian,
Arabic or Latin The firearms antedate
the use of percussion caps. T1,ey belonged
to central Asian tribesmen, who lavished
decorative art on their personal weapons,
as evidenced by the heavy inerustation in
gold and silver, and the jeweled settings
on the stocks of the pistols and guns, and
the hits and scabbards of the swords.
The barrels of the firearms and the blades
of the swords and knives are of exquisite
metal work, carved or damascened, and
inlaid with gold and silver characters
recounting battles in which the owners
engaged
The Turkish and Arab yataghans which
are slightly curved swords. appear to be
of Persian origin and art Their scab-
bards are marvellous examples of silver
and gold repousse work.
One sword of particular interest is that
of a Russian executioner. 1t has long,
broad, curved blade, bearing on one side
an inscription of silver inlaid in steel,
'God help me to overcome my. enemies in
the mountains and on the steppes, while
on the other side is the record of cam
paigns against the Caucasian noun
taineers in 1881 The handle is of plain
black wood: the scabbard is decorated in
silver gilt and red velvet, with repousse
ornamentation.
A sabre having a remarkable history
is one in a plain black scabbard, with
gold inlaying on the bands and crossbar,
bearing an inscription on one side of the
blade, PRO Eide ct pro Patria," with
the figure of a man brandishing a sword
over his head on the other side is the
following: 'Soli Dec Gloria coat OF
arms consisting of double headed eagle
and a crown, and below, "Laus Dec
Semper." The blade is inscribed on the
back with the following: "Yohannes Ma
ydschoffer Inlossay, Ammo 1l39. This
warlll1e implement is considered to be the
most valuable piece of the entire collec-
ton, and is greatly priced by its owner on
account of the ancient date and probable
historical connection with the crusades.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-01
TELEPHONE
TELEPHONE
Bell (private exchange connecting al
departments), No. 40Go.
Fools on both sides!
-TrOilus and Crcssida.
Soil Doctors Needed :

The bureau of agriculture spends
millions of dollars annually in the an
terests of the farmers in tests andseN-
periments of seed and soil, in search
I ing for remedies for losses to crops
caused by insect pests and hlights, and
| by publishing the results of the in
|vestigations in pamphlets which are
| to be had for the asking. There are
many farmers, especially the truck
Farmers who never take any advant-
|age of the suggestions and informa-
tion thus offered.
That the seed should suit the soil
and that a fertilizer of the right sort
and the right amount are as neces-
sary as cultivation is evident without
proof, but these are matters very oft
en- beyond the power of intelligent
men to determine unless they are able
to make a chemical analysis of the
soil and thereby ascertain the pres
ence or absence of certain quantities,
aad, how to supply the deficiency.
Chemistry is the key to natures
secrets whether they be hidden in
land, air or water. The soil chemist,
|or as he may call himself, the soil
doctor, is the man to whom the farm
er must turn for instructions if he
would make the most of his land and
5or with profit to himself and bene-
1t to the country. The views set forth
|by William l.. Larkin in the Chicago
Record-Herald on this subject de-
serves considerably more than pass
ling notice and should lead to the crea-
zion of new and much needed pro-
nssion, the soil doctor.
Another feature in Mr. Larkins
suggestions worthy attention is the
nufacture and sale of fertilizers
the government with the object of
eventing their expectation to such
n, extent as to leave an insufficient
amount for home consumption.
The problem of existence is seri-
rs one for many people today and is
| laily becoming more SO. To meet this
problem there must be better results
from agriculture than are to be found
on much of the land under cultivation
at present.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-01
The Prosperous Half Year

Birmingham has had an exception
ally prosperous half year and the out
look is good for another six months
of prosperity.
In the country at large there has
not been quite so much prosperity,
perhaps, during the first six months
of this year as there was during the
same period in 1912, but few, if any,
sections have experienced serious bust
ness depression.
There has been marked activity in
the Birmingham district for the past
II or 15 months. The iron market
has been dull, but there are so many
other interests that go to make up
the vast volume of business of this
district that even when the pig metal
is of slow sale and low in price it
does not affect the general situation.
1t used to be that when iron was dull
everything in Birmingham was dull
The banks felt it, merchants wore long
faces and railroad traffic officials
croaked. But Birmingham today has
many diversified industries. Iron may
be extremely dull for months and
months and still the general business
situation may be brisk and everybody
except the iron makers may feel
buoyant. The iron market, by the
way, is now looking up and there will
be strong buying movement before
this month is ended.
In building operations Birmingham
made new high record last year and
it may beat even that record this year.
Never in the history of this striding
city have so many handsome and
costly buildings been in course of con-
struction in any one year as we see
going up now. 1t is safe to say that
no city in the country of approximate
ly Birmingham's size is witnessing so
much building activity.
In the old days decided recession
in business was expected in the sum-
mer time, but we have long since
outgrown the summer dullness habit.
Birmingham is generally busy through
the dog days and it will certainly be
a busy town through this July and
August.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-01
EVELYN STILL HAS BEAUTY

Allan Dale In the New York American
! oNDoN-It was eHullo, Ragtime. =
at the Hippodrome that brought
As Evelyn Thaw within my 5urisdic-
ton, as it has brought many others whom
never expected to meet
So, with the open sesame of elusive
are as a go-between, Miss Nesbit,n as
she is programmed here, received me
without hesitancy in her rooms at the
st. James hotel, off Piccadilly, and our
| art robbed me of qualms. 1t was quite
early morning..
Evelyn Thaw wore loose peignoire
of black, shiny something, slashed at
the back with yellow. Her hair was
loosely fluffed out; she was devoid of
the slightest effort at makeup. her ivory
white face and her ivory white lips
white face and her unreddened lips
looking quite startlingly natural She
was as pretty as any picture Other
self and though the edge of reluctant
youth may have frayed little, there
isn't a shadow of a doubt on the score
of Evelyn Nesbit's charm. Never in all
the women 1 have professionally met
have L found more self possession, a
| Seener poise and less self consciousness
than in Evelyn Thsw,, She made me
worder She spoke easily. gracefully.
reassuringly, without trace of hesita-
| ton or nervousness.
1T was awfully sudden she said, as
we sat opposite each other. Il had no
idea of going back to the stage after
all these years"
tlIow many?' asked. you need not
answer"
"oh, I'm not like that" she said with
the first wistful smile; II don't mnd
recalling anything. The last previous
time / appeared on the stage was in
1904 in. "The Wild Rose"
We'll. on the Olympic, coming over. |
met lot of theatrical people, among
them Lee Shubert, Martin Beck and AL
bert DeCourvile They all advised me
to make the break, especially DeCouf-
vile, who is manager of the Hippodrome.
He had just married Shirley Kellogg,
by the bye. l thought 1t over carefully.
for l was a bit afraid, you know" She
seemer to take it for granted that 1
knew. l did; l quite understood. 'If l
had made the break in New York. l
should have been a freak" she said.
"Oh, there have been other women who
have been through trails like mine who
first tried New York. and it was hope
less. So when DeCourville telegraphed
me to Paris to come at once to London
and appear | realized that it was up to
me, and | went, afraid of course, but
you know I'm no novice at narrowing
experiences.
4 was determined that nothing should
force any attention from me to that sort
of thing. She was now an artist before
the public, and I was-me
| Il had to do a wild turkey trot with
a dancer and he was hard to find
had sene Jack Clifford at the Cafe de
Paris, and | remembered that he used
to dance with Irene Weston, so we en-
gagged him and rehearsed for one week
only at the irish club. opposite the Hip
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-01
LAST HOURS OF TENNysoN
n the London Chronicle

From the London Chronicle.
DR.. G, II. X. Dabbs, who has just died,
was tho medical attendant on Tennyson
during the latter's last Illness. A few
hours before the end the poet turned to tf<
doctor and said "Death?" The doctor
merely bowed his head. That's well.'
said Tennyson. Doctor Dabbs has left on
record a picture Of the concluding scene.
Nothing" he writes. could have been
more striking - On the bed a ig-
ure of breathing marble, flooded and
bathed in the light of the full moon
streaming through the oriel window: nis
hand clasplng the Shakespeare which he
had asked for but recently. and which he
had kept by him 70 the end; the moon
light the majestic figure as he lay there,
drawing thicker BREATH irresistibly
brought to our minds his own Passing
ef Arthur"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-01
a VACATION problem

The New York sun prints many curious
letters-lettsrs from all sorts of people,
about all sorts Of things. Here is one
which appeared a few days ago and It viii
doubtless interest many people:
Here is a real vacation problem, tire
like of which | dare say confronts some
other men besides myself.
Il should not call myself an old man.
but | would be willing 10 admit that | am
a man of mature years and settled ways,
and the question before the house is this:
If | should let myself relax, unwind, run
down, as ! should do with great delight
and comfort IL | took a vacation, should
| be able to wind myself up and get going
again?
Il once knew man. a really able sort
of man. who turned out daily with great
facility lot of work. and all this though
he had nov come to be toerably well
along. For years this man kept working
like that, never took a vacation. and /
asked him once why he didn't go; and he
told me that he vas afraid that If he
should let so he couldn't get hold again.
This situation is not to be confused
with that of the young man who, coming
back from vacation, hates to go to work
again and finds it hard to get back into
the harness. He has a lot of reserve re-
siliency to bank on; and in two or three
days time he's plugging away at it as live
ly as ever. But it may be different with
man much older. AS long as this Older
man keeps going he runs nicely and
smoothly and efficiency, turning out good
work, but If he quites work for time he
seems, in some cases at least, as you
might say, 10 ossify; and then he doesn't
come back.
'The question in my mind is whether |
have yet come to q point where If | let
go for brief time l am In danger of ossi-
fication But don't think so; l think l
can start the machine up again all right,
and | am going to take a vacation"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-01
NEW COMMENT ON THE FASHIONS
Ernrn the Pnnlllar Ma ca zinn

His name was John Smith. as is always
the case with men about whom stories are
told without mentioning their names, and
he had spent his verdant youth in the
country. One evening he found himself
at ball in large city. His eyes took
unto themselves the size of butter plates,
and his jaw sagged might be the case
with one who had died but had not re-
ceivcd the benefit of visit from the un-
dertaker. The women in their decollete
gowns traFsfixed him. AT last he turned
TO the fridd who had brought him to the
ball. and unmarked explosively:
Gee, = see these girls have on thei;
now-and-thens!"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-01
SLIGHTLY FAMILIAR
rrnm Everxhody,s.

Dirah was product of New Orleans,
big, plump 'syeller gal'' who could cook
the finest dinners for miles around. ! One
day new butler appeared upon the scene,
and Dinah's mistress noticed that she took
a great interest in the man. At last ies
mistress could stand her curiosity no
longer and asked:
'Dinah do you know that new man?'
Dinah took another long and scrutinizinss
look and then slowly and remIniscensiy
replied:
We'll. I dunno, Miss Alice; but think
ne was ma fust nusbani.''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-01
MONEY

From the 81. Louis Times.
What's become IF the old fashioned boy
who wanted to pattern his conduct after
that of men. and who had pride and inde-
pendence even before he had much of
a foundation for these qualities? Where
also, are the ideals which adults former
ly liked to hold up before the younger gen.
Grafton?
A morning contemporary relates how
the boy employees OF local hotel are in
a state of great expectancy because a
wealthy Mexican gentleman, who is
known to be generous, is due to arrive
at the hotel by which they are employed.
They expect generous tips. Gold woule
not be surprising 70 them.
This, of course, may be in part the
reporters conception of the case. The
boys may really expect TO receive moth
ing more than they earn. But this point
must remain in doubt.
One of the sad uhases of modern exist
ence is that there are too many men VINO
continually so ABOUT with their hands
out. wanting money and more money, WHO
do not think of their work except in terms
of dollars and cents; who have boiled
down their philosophy of life to the ugly
question, whats ir it for me?"
Perhaps harsh conditions have made the
tendency Inevitable. Perhaps we may cx-
cuse the man who does not know any bet-
ter, who has never had pointed out 70
him the stars to which he ought to hitcn
his wagon.
But what we are to think when we are
informed tha: even the boys are money
mad ?-that they are thinking not CT
friendly service, of the chance to learn, of
opportunities to prove their fitness-but
only of the possibility to get money-and
a little more money?