davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-27

A GOOD friend who has recently
"A made the modern grand tour
y and come back from Europe by
way of Yokohama. the Rev. George
Lang of Aniston Synodical college,
draws my attention to decision rem
dered in an Anglo-Indian court in a
case which turned on the question,
whether the Japanese were "Asiatics'
in the sense indicated by a certain law
in force in India. The court held that
the particular Japanese in question
We're in dress. language, behavior, to
all intents and purposes, Europeans
According to this decision. 1t might be
held that some Hindus are "Asatics"
and some Europeans" so that, in law.
the race or blood origin is of inconse-
quenee, compared with the civilization
adopted
Mr.. Lang also supplies me with a
large clipping from the Japanese
Chronicle, a paper published at Kobe
by an American, or more probably an
Englishman. in his own language. The
matter thus preserved is discussion
of an utterance by James Bryce, till
recently British ambassador at Wash
ington, on the unfication of the world
through selected nations, and the re-
tirement of others into the back ground
The chief participant is tha discussion
Is Mr.. Tokutomi. editor of the Koku-min
Shimbun, which may be rendered ma
tionalist News" paper that was
started. believe. about 25 or % years
ago In Tokyo, with the express pur-
pose of checking the too great subser-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-27

story is universally depiored. It is work
ing out perils innumerable in these days
for both parties. Now must we delib-
erately create a duplicate OF that con-
dition in the west, and start new hornets"
nests both for ourselves and others2 The
intermarriage of Japanese and Americans
cannot be regarded as a desirable end.
Now some of us hold that true ma
tionalism has due respect to barriers
and boundaries. Just as there Is noble
restraint upon the friendship OF men and
women, so there must be a noble re-
straint upon the friendship OF nations
We can be friends without kissing, with
out even dwelling in the same house.
Japanese self respect must recognize the
rigors of sexual selection even in inter-
national affairs. 1t would be immeasur-
ably lamentable II leaders like Mr.. TolSu-
toni of the Koku-min Shlmbun, should
get the Japanese nation to thinking that
international friendship is another word
for interchangeable citizenship and an
equality" without restraints of racial
preference.
As to what Mr. Bryce said, In the ad-
dress to which the Japanese editor takes
fierce exception, II seems really harm
less and useful enough, and quite uncal-
culated to provoke the ''Yamato DANA
shi' to a war song. He tells us what
we know when he says that almost
every part of the earth's surface, except
the territories of China and Japan, Is
either owned or controlled by five or six
European races. Eight great powers
sway the political destinies of the globe
-" He also speaks of the universal
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-27

stone will scratch any other stone in
the whole category of stones, even a
diamond but no other stone makes any
impression on it.
I suppose that no one wears a black
diamond as an ornament, but if black
pearl may be worn in good FORM" why
not a black diamond? We are not to
suppose that diamond is less a dia-
mond because 1t is black. 1t is not the
absolute absence of color from the stone
that makes it a diamond. 1t Is the tex
ture of the material that makes a stone
diamond. or an emerald, or a ruby OF
a sapphire.
If a diamond be merely tinted. OF
tainted with a bare suggestion of color,
its value is deprecated, but If 1t be
strongly coored with an animated and
vivid complexion it is valued highly as
highly colored diamonds in the world, the
most famous of them being the Hope dia-
mond, rare gem. 1t is valued at about
$125,00O. 1t has the tone of sapphire
blue, but it's texture is distinctly that
of the diamond. One authority pro-
nounces this blue diamond as "superla-
lively beautiful" Among the crown jew
els of France there was sapphire blue
diamond OF triangular shape. 1t was
a beautiful stone. 1t disappeared at the
time of the great robbery of the crown
jewels. and was never recovered. The
Regent diamond was returned to the gov
ernment, because the thieves could not
sell it without disclosing their part in
the famous crime.
There are interesting incidents connect
ed with the worlds most famous dia-
monds. The Orloff diamond Is now
mounted in the imperial sceptre of the
Gar of Russia. But In the long ago
the gem formed an eye in the head of
an idol in temple of Mysore. 1t was
purchased by Gregory Orloff. and pre-
sented to Catherine II, Empress of all the
Russias. This Gregory Orlof was one of
GATHERINGS lovers. He planned the MUIR
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-27

beast are too quick and sharp and the
hand Isl scratched and torn. Often the
for his temerity with his life.
| When we fool with forbidden pleasures,
when we tempt fortune In unhallowed
| and illegal ways. when we trife with our
health. we thrust our hands into Wild
cats cages.
| Sometimes we pull back in time. Most
often we get scratched. The wildcats
scratch us just as they have MANNED
!! others.
| There are no exceptions.
In the safeguards thrown around hu-
man perils, In the words of advice of
older and wiser persons than ourselves
| in the teachings of our own experience
we see the cages which confne the Wild
| cats. We thrust our nands into them at
| our peril.
For every wildcat which besets human
| life there is cage of some sort.
For ages and ages men and women
have been building these cages, bracing
them with bars of experience, locking
them with the seal of wisdom.
Why, then. do men thrust their hands
into cages?
1t is the taking of the chance that does
the mischief. 1t is the spirit of adven-
ture in the human breast. Rightly di-
rected, the spirit scales the mountains
and stands in the sun of glory and honor
and hope.
Misdirected, the spirit prompts the hu-
man to tempt the wildcat.
II you are scratched don't blame the
beast. Put the blame where it belongs
-on yourself.
Johnny Appleseed has been dead so
years and more, but his work. IL not
his soul, goes marching on. In a very
literal sense Johnny Appleseed planted
good seed. .and the fruit is still growing.
1t will be well for us all If after we
are dead we leave behind so much good
as that done by Johnny Appleseed.
He had a hobby. 1t was the growing
of apple trees. He loved the apple, and
he wanted others to know it and love it
as much as he did,
So he went about the country planting
apple seed. and from that he got his
name. Many of the apple trees in the
middle west are direct descendants OF
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-27

spread Of European languages. so that
by A. d. 1000 probably nine-tenths of the
worlds population will be speaking no
more than. 20 languages. Study of reli-
gions shows the same tendency. he says,
only four great religions now appearing
and these promising to be reduced to
three He speaks again of the influences
of scientific invention in the elimination
of internatioal separatism, and of fnan-
cial interests weaving all into a common
welfare The prevalence OF representa-
tive government Is another fact which
Mr.. Bryce mentions as a unifying forca
and he closes the address with a tributa
to the modern mind, which he bases on
the common search for truth, and which
works nightly to teach us of our COM
mon interests. All this we can heartily
and gratefully indorse, while we never
theless admire the Christian sentiment
expressed by Mr.. Tolutomi in these two
excellent sentences: The Japanese ma
tion exists; therefore 1t must have some
mission In the world. Let US strive with
determination for the fu1flment of this
mission"
One cannot but hope that all the lead
ers of Japan win make this their aim.
with native delieacy and the refinement
of national dignity and that American
statesmen, the wisest and the strongest
and the most Christian. will be untranl-
melled by spread gleism and bombast
and racial coneeit in their application OF
the nationalist principle. Surely It were
thousand pities II the personal ambi-
tions of politician like Governor Hiram
Johnson or the clamors of any coterie
should obscure from the American people
their own golden opportunity.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-27

the trees planted by Johnny Appieseed.
4 A goodly fruit is the apple
Johnny Appleseed lived in time whom
there was strife between the whites ana
the indians. But the red men knew him
and his work., and II is recorded that
they never molested him. They considered
him great medicine man"
Up and down the land went Johnny
Appleseed. without thought OF reward,
planting good. He came to his death
when going to look after some of his
trees which had been damaged by cat
tie.
Why not emulate himr
Not In planting seeds of apple trees,
for there are men who knqw more than
we do about the fruit. But we may all
set out trees of truth and love and kind
ness and service TO our fellow men that
shall grow after we ourselves are laid
away underneats them.
We need not travel up and down the
land as Johnny Appleseed did. Each
In his own community may easily find
planting room for the seeds of good.
So shall the land be covered with the
good fruit, that the hungry may eat
and be filled; that the weary may taste
and be refreshed,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-27

| Are you pursuing goal which you think
will repay you for the finding? If you
are, be of good heart. fSr you cannot meet
obstacles so great as those which Scott
found and overcame.
He found the pole, but he died on his
way back. The frozen Antarctic was too
much for his weakened body. but could
not overpower his soul.
| If you die after finding your pole, pro-
xided your quest is worthy of the approval
of your world, it will honor you as the
great world now honors Scott.
| The game of life the games of ex-
ploration, is worth playing. Play up, play
up, and play the game! Seek the goal
earnestly, unyieldingly. unwilling to give
up And may you write in your diary at
it's close, as Scott did in his:
| 'I suppose this is the reason which
makes the game worth playing"
| The world may learn of Scott lessons in
Antarctic exploration. Every man in the
world may read in the story of his life
lessons of worth in playing the game
That was a funny little verse in the
paper the other day
He put his hand between the bars
To see if wildcats scratch
And got it covered DER with scars
With neatness and dispatch.
| OF course he knew that wildcats would
scratch That's their nature, and he had
no reason to think they would make an
exception In his case.
But the verse reads he wanted "to
see II wildcats scratch" Pardon us,
Mr. Author; he didn't want to see that
at all He wanted to see if they would
scratch him.
And they did.
He didn't get his hand out in time
OF course he tried, but the wildcats were
quicker than the hexor muscles In his
arm.
He Just wanted to take a chance
Somehow it seems that there are many
persons going about poking their hands
into Wildcats cages. Once in awhile they
get their hands out in time. and the
| snarls of the wildcats are echoed by the
laughter of the humans
Foolish laughter.
For most Of the time the claws of the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-27

and bring about the delays and slow
processes of the laws that are a scan
dal of American life.
If you promise any one an acorn OF
anything else give it to him. Let him
not say of you:
There goes Jones. You can't rely
upon his word
For him that hath eyes every season
brings it's offerings of beauty along the
country roadside. There is the lacy
beauty of the frost, the delicate greenery
Of spring, the gay foliage of the autumn
But In the summer, when every blade
of grass has it's insect tenant, when the
wayside weeds spring thick and strong
when the fields are starred with daisies
there is beauty wherever one turns an
eye.
Not alone from the cultivated plant
does the seeing eye derive its pleasure
Very often the so-called weed is q
vegetable bird of paradise in its luxu-
rance of delight.
From the conservatory come the state
ly blooms. From the swamp come the
lilies and the wood violets that are true
sisters of the cultivated blooms Who
shall say that any is superior to another
in bringing delight to the heart?
Out of the muck comes, graceful and
tall. the glorious lily. In the weedy
places wakes the water ranunculus, bear
ing it's pretty snowflakes.
1t is so in the great garden of human
kind. Therein grow both flowers and
weeds
There are more of the former.
Not alone in the conservatory of the
good and great must we look for beauty.
From the lowly life of Nancy Skies, born
in the slime of Londons streets, the
world has learned lessons of self-sacrifce
and devotion. The Marchioness had her
home in damp basement. but she made
therein an example of cheerfulness and
content
1t is amazing to think with how little
sunshine and happiness the human plant
can bloom into beauty and love. Fer
haps the same plants, If brought ou.
into the full sun OF prosperity. would
wither in the heat. Perhaps knowing
more of Kindness and hope. they would
fail to respond. Who knows?
In the swamp. where the rich vese-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-27

ants. Upon disinterrfng the body the
diamond was found. The servant had
swallowed 1t to prevent its capture by
his assailants. Afterwards, the gem be-
came the property of Queen Elizabeth of
England. Ages after the death of Eliza
beth. even as late as 1889, after all its
adventures, the Sancy was offered for
sale. The price asked was the mere trifle
of s96.OOO-a sum which some of us do
not carry about with us every day In
| the week!
The Koh-i-noor, as far back IS 1904
was owned by the Sultan Ala-ed-din. In
1889 Madir Shah defeated in battle
Mohammed Shah, and, having learned
that his enemy carried the Koh-i-noor
In his turban, Nadir proposed that they
exchanbe turbans as a sign of reconcilia-
tion; upon unfolding the turban Madr
found the wondrous Mountain of light"
When the Punjab was annexed by the
British. in 1S49, 1t was stipulated that
the Koh-t-noor should be presented to
the Queen of England, which was done.
Wilkie Collins, in the preface to "rhe
Moonstone," says, ''The Koh-i-noor Is
supposed to have been one Of the sacred
gems of Indian; and, more than this,
to have been the subject of a predic-
tion which prophesied certain misfor-
tune to the persons who should divert
1t from Its ancient uses" The story
OF THE Moonstone"-the yellow dia-
mond, "a famous gem in the native ans
nails of India"-is founded upon the his-
tory of the Koh-i-noor, and the Orloff
diamond. Unhistorical diamonds blazs
most attracttyely I'm Tennyson'a
Elaine" In The Idyls of the King:
and in Anthony Trollope's fascinating
story of The Eustace Diamonds"
The immense value placed on certain
diamonds may be explained in the same
way that an eastern merchant accounted
for the fabulous price of a pearl. King
Philip III asked this merchant, How
have you managed to put so immense
price on this pearl?" The answer
was, Sire, I knew there was IN the
world a. King of Spain to buy it."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-27

flattered the artless Indians into the be-
lief that he had won for them a vic
tory and they shared with him in the
gusto of his elation. His maneuvers
were just such as to produce fresh
plans of conspiracy and of intrigue for
the future. On his return home he
doffed the uniform of the Spanish col
onel and donned that of the American
brigadier, all of which heightened the
admiration of the Indians. while it af-
forded newer opportunity to the gem
eral to lay deeper schemes and reap
richer rewards. This course was the
reasons now to be given.
One of our modern investigations
would have disclosed the fact that
while the treaty was based on the con-
ditions named, there lay beneath it, out
of the sight of the general public, a
secret treaty between President WASH
ington and General McGillivray, on
condition that he would manage the
Indians as the president might desire
As sort of secret agent, and In order
to enhance his position in the estima-
tion of the Indians, McGillivray was
made a channel for the transmission of
certain gifts and privileges which he
was to use to the advantage of the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-27

gather Information the better to aid
the king of Spain. and that he was just
now ready to render to Spain the most
efficient service. Here then was an
American general disporting himself in
the national uniform. spurs, boots,
epaulettes and ALL betraying the gov
ernment into the hands of foreign
foe. While drawing the pay of a brig
adler. he was. as secret emissary OF
Spain, the recipient of a sum much
larger.
In order. at last. to promote his
schemes he fomented strife and agita-
ton among the chiefs, by instigating
them to protest against the terms OF
the treaty. Meanwhile he informed tha
government at New York. that he was
doing his utmost to enforce the terms.
and must have broad discretion and am
pie time in order to accomplish the end
in view. Between himself and the
secretary of war an active correspon-
dence was kept up, in which eorrespon-
dence the atrocious Alexander McGilIi-
vray was more than a match for the
cabinet officer of Washington Thus
went events for years together.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-27

over 1856 carats; but the cutting and
polishing reduced it TO 1O6 carats. The
Cullinan diamond was discovered in 1906,
in South Africa. 1t was the largest gem
that had ever been found. Its weight
before it was brought to the polishing
wheel was 3O25 carats, which equals one
and a-half pounds. The South African
government bought it for s750,000, and
presented 1t to King Edward VII. I'm
happily the grinding discovered flaw,
and the majestic stone had to be cut up
into number of small ones. 'The Star
of the South" was a diamond found in
Brazil. Its discovery excited a panic and
depressed the diamond markets of the
world. 1t was a most wondrously glori-
Gus gem. and was given place with the
other few gems that have been recog-
nized as sovereign" diamonds. 1t
weighed over 254 carats, the cutting and
polishing reducing it to 1877 carats.
Some diamonds are much harder than
others. The Koh-i-noor is one of the
hardest in the world 1t required a whole
day to grind facet on this stone, which
might have been ground on any other
III three Houis, ditilOuSH the OTulnaTy
rotation of the wheel was increased and
diamond dust oftener spread on the re-
volving surface. But hardest of all
stones is the black diamond. One of
these was brought to Calais, the famous
diamond cutter. He proceeded upon his
task In the usual way, but he wore out
a steel wheel and used up a great guam
tity of diamond powder without making
the slightest impression upon the black
stone from Borneo. 1t was finally
pressed against the wheel by an extra
ordinary weight and the revolutions ac-
celebrated. There ensued a golden stream
of sparks. The stone became heated un-
til white heat was nearly reachd, and
still there was no appreciable smoothing
of the roughness 1t was found that only
the dust of the black diamond could cut
the black diamond. This remarkable
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-27
HEART TO HEART TALKS-By James A. Edgerton

hoods. They had their 10 fingers, and
that was enough. They fought with the
soil and conquered it.
And when they wanted freedom they
fought with Great Britain and conquered
her.
You cannot imagine any of our fore
fathers, with hat in hand. begging any one
for aid. Neither can you imagine Flusser
doing So
He'll get what he wants!
Many years ago there lived In Eng
land man who was a real nobleman
as we'll as a member of the aristocracy
Throughout England he was known as a
man who would keep his word, no mat
ter what the cost might be to himself
and others.
|. They said of him:
'If he promised you an acorn and all
the oaks of England that year failed
to grow an acorn he would send to Nor
way for one
How much was 1t worth to that man
to have a reputation like that? How
much would 1t be worth to you, to me?
Suppose him to have made such a
promise and there were no acorns in
England.
He might have said
II promise you an acornx Very we'll.
have tried to keep my word. 1 have
had search made on my own lands and
throughout England. There is no acorn
in England. l cannot keep my word. y
The world might have absolved him
from breaking his word. But his con-
science would have held him to 1t. 1t
would have said to him:
There are acorns in Norway or In
Russia or beyond the seven seas You
promised an acorn. and you must pro-
duce an acorn, else you lose what is
dearer to you than life-your reputa-
tion for keeping your word. Send to Nor
way. If necessary send to the ends OF
the earthv'
We need nowadays more of this British
nobleman's spirit. We can do with far
less than we have of the spirit which
seeks the easy way of keeping a prom
ise and. failing that, breaks word lightly.
There is too much passing of the word
and too slight regard Of 1t when 1t Is
passed We make promises. and we
break them all too lightly.
Broken promises congest our courts
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-27
MOUNTAINS OF LIGHT-By Dr. w. E. Evan

vealed processes, Is quite another mat
ter. Chemistry has tried it In many
spheres, and failed. 1t will be remem-
bered that Rousseau sarcastically de-
manded of the chemist Rouelle that he
its chemical properties"
One might suppose from reading Rus
kin's Ethics of the Dust" that it would
be the easiest thing in the world 10
make precious stones equal to those that
nature has taken ages to create. But
theory Is one thing. while its successt...
application is quite another We may
know many things. but a detailed record
of the things we do not know would fill
a larger book than the category of things
we do know. In his poem on Human
Ignorance" Thomas Bailey Aldrich asks.
What mortal knows
Whence comes the color and the odor
OF the rose?
What probing deep
Has ever solved the mystery of sleep?'
And in the same mood Tennyson said,
Flower in the crannied wall,
/ pluck you out of the crannies:
Hold you here. root and all. in my hand,
Little fiower-But If l could understand
What you are, root and all, and all in
all,
| should know what God and man is'
Usually when the diamond is discovered
1t is enclosed in bed of reddish cement.
and sometimes found in the very heart of
rock. 1t is always covered by a rough
exterior which is caused by the chemical
action of crystallization. Nearly all other
gems. especially those of the quartz fam
lily, are more brilliant than the diamond
in the natural state. The incrustation of
the diamond requires cutting and polish
ing In order that its hidden glory may
be liberated. The weight of the diamond
In the rough does not give it ranR. 1t
is when it is cut and polished that it's