davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-20

has now passed the theoretical stage, and
a missionary to the 1000 or 5000 Hindus
who have settled among us since 1907 will
APPARENTLY be set to work. The Japanese
have formed 1.-THE Japanese Interdenom-
national Board of Missions for service
of their nationals in America. Yet one
more example of the new unity comes
from Minneapolis, where Stockings Mis-
sion"-the Union City Mission-has pur-
chased property facing the Gateway
Park, through which passengers from
the Union station enter the city. There
will be in the new building a mission
ing house, restaurant social rooms and
baths" In front on the ground floor
will be stores, and above them a mod
crate priced hotel. Elsewhere, in the
upper stories there will be a Mills ho-
tel' and offices connected with the mis-
sion, which will be closely related with
the City hospital, the Juvenile Protective
league and the Associated Charities. The
location has been chosen in view of the
large numbers of laborers who pass
through Minneapolis every spring and
fall to or from the lumber camps and
farms.
1t will be said that this is a civic move
ment rather than a church movement
But the churches support it. And what
shall be said of the new settlement in
Long Island, known as Forest Hills.
which has just obtained spiritual or
ganization known as "The Communal
church." comprising 35 members from
eight denominations.
Now the application of all this, which
might be indefinitely extended to the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-20

A SINGULAR illustration of what [
"a wrote last week concerning the
\ innate individualism and inde-
pendence of the Anglo-Saxon is given in
a little sketch of Sir Joshua Reynolds,
which has just passed through my hands.
The writer, referring to the formation of
the Society of Artists in the days of
George III. observes that no sooner did
the King grant that society incorporation
papers than another group of artists
formed what they called the Free Soci-
ETY. of Artists He says; ''In this country
1t is only necessary to establish one So
ciety in order that several other societies
may establish themselvesNin opposition.
emulation, imitation, or something Of the
hind"
Apply that statement to the develop
ment of the religious sects, which have
been well described as "the organization
of an idiosyncracy.' and you have the
explanation of the enormous number of
different demonstrations wherever the
Anglo-Saxon tongue prevails. An Illinois
farmer-at least l think he was from
Illinois-presented Mr.. Taft with cow.
Now some democratic farmer has pre-
sented a cow to Mr.. Wilson. And so the
idlosyncracy bids fair to gain perpetual
cultivation. But these are harmless ex-
oerbations of the affliction They serve
to illustrate the curious pair of opposites
involved in sectarian development, the
one a tendency to cut new trails, the
other tendency to follow my leader
particularly If he is hereto.
Happily for this generation of Anglo
Saxon people, the necessities of social
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-20
.........................

disappointment lies. There has been too
much of it. 1 do not urge the Federation
of Churches to lay hold of Alabama and
settle our differences. That would be as
fruitless as the other, even if it were
practicable. The only thing to unity us
al; is to pray and to work together at
the great task of serving the democracy.
The rural community has common
need, has common and immediate needs.
When pastors arise who see the needs
and will undertake to meet them the
common service will unite them. what
ever their difference of ecclesiastical the
cry. What nobler aim could there be,
what vaster passion to seize a generation
OF ministers than to enrich the life of 50
per cent of the people? Can we breed
pastors who will lead this way?
TO democratize the Christianity of the
churches, that is the programme of ad-
vance. That is far better than to make
the government of the churches demo-
cratic. 1t is higher and deeper and more
worth while than any dispute about
methods. In a word, It is the service of
the people. of all the people, especially
of the neediest in soul. For if we had
only faith to believe IL, every little child.
born into however cramped life, stand
among us In the very form and stead oe
one greater than all our creeds, greater
than the church, greater than all the
things we reckon sacred Always He has
been meeting the church at every cross
road, with the old, old question in ST.
Peter: Quo vadis?'' Whether goest thou?
Happy the meeting of the honest reply
is; II so to serve; to die!'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-20

became faint, and said, "The atmosphere
is close" But / had not deceived my
friend doctor, do you know that
ring?' "As well as If it were my own"
d replied / then told him pathetic
story of long illness, of many bills hope
lessly piling up, and of consequent pow
erty. I asked what sum would be re-
quired TO redeem the ring. "Only what
let her have on it, was the answer.
knew the history of the ring and was
with him when he laid down a check for
$500 to pay for It, and I was one of the
first to reach his bedside at the last. I
remembered as l looked at the beautiful
stone that his last utterance was her
name and that they sent for her to come
to him, and that 1t was too late; saw
the ring on her finger as she laid her
hand on his forehead while her heart
was breaking. There was nothing else
left for me to do but to buy back that
ring. Within three days / had recovered
the ring though she never knew that
had anything to do with it. Mr.. Isaacs
wrote her note saying that she could
have it back If she would simply return
the pawn ticket. I saw it many times
afterwards upon the thin white finger, so
delicate and refined looking, where / had
often seen it before. She was not rela-
tive of mine, nor was she connected with
the family, but he and she were very
dear friends, and some friends are nearer
than some people of blood kin. Many
sad stories did | hear that morning in
Mr.. Isaacs' doldrum of tender women
and pride broken men who were forced
to seek his aid. O, is there anything
except dishonor, worse than extreme pov-
ertyl
When | left the doldrum the rain was
still coming down in great sheets, but
as / knew l could restore the ring to NJ.
it seemed to me there was never a
brighter day.
THE OLD FASHIONED ATTIC
DOLDRUM.
| am afraid that little children of these
days do not have ''the good times that
we, who are grown ups had when we
were little. Houses are not built now
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-20

stray leaves, tiny particles Cf dust, and
dead insects, and hold them near the
side of the bank while the brook rolls on.
Likewise, but in an infinitely larger
way, the doldrums catch and hold sea
battered boxes, parts of wreckage frag-
ments of bark, weeds that have been
torn by storms from distant shores, parts
of old furniture. and many other things,
ut first unsinkable, may be seen adrift
upon the calm waters of the doldrums.
1t is this last fact that has led me
to write this paper, and having said the
foregoing things about the equatorial
ldoldrums, I am now through with that
remarkable phenomenon of the ocean,
leaving the reader to turn to the interest
ing and valuable book to which l referred
above, for further knowledge.
The doldrums of which l shall write are
those which we have all seen at one time
or another. although we may never have
gone a mile from shore upon the ocean,
ana have never realized the sentiment
of old Allan Cunninghams s set song,
"A wet sheet and flowing sea,
wind that follows fast,
And fills the white and rustling sail,
And bends the gallant mast
These metaphorical doldrurns are places
into which have floated upon the tides of
time the driftwood of personal or family
possessions-the old things either out
worn or from which style and fashion
-have departed; or effects of value with
which one has been obliged to part on
account of reverses of fortune, such as
old jewelry and other heirlooms. 1 have
seen these. and so has the reader, OTTER
they have drifted upon the billows of mis-
fortune or upon the crest of time, in some
omnium gatherum or figurative dol
drum.
THE PAWN SHOP DOLDRUM.
"Mr. Isaacs. do you know me well?'
''Why my dear doctor, I've known you
for 90 years, and when you addressed
cur people at the synogogGe. it was
who proposed that you be presented with
those onyx and pearl studs that you have
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-20

call corn, but compared to this young
giant of ours II is a pygmy and a has
been,
Corn is capturing the world. Even if
cur flag does not float on every sea, az
bewailed by the friends of the merchanr
marine, our corn tassels wave In every
| land.
| The feasts OF the gods on Mount Olyrn<
pus may have been some eats-to put it.
| is classic phrase-but the backen corn
| bread
| There are at least 81 different varieties
| of food that can be made from corn, and
they are all good. This has no reference
to the liquid form, and some people liks
| even that.
| corn fed pig
| A horse may feel his oats, but his corn
! agrees with him so well that we never
hear of his feeling that. Only a man
| feels his corn. No pun is intended. The
corn referred to is that treated by the
| gold cure. not by the corn cure or old
| razor.
Every part of the corn crop may now
be utilized. even to the pulpy inside OF the
stalks. The blades and tassels are good
fcdder, and the cobs make most solacing
Missouri meerchaums
Corn hapjacks with molasses would
make any one better man even TO
think of. while the "cohn pone" like manl-
tion Is guaranteed to cure the worst form
of crouch.
There are few more beautiful sights
than that of field of growing corn and
few sweeter sounds than the whisper of
the wind blowing through it. There is
also music to a hungry man in the sizzle
of the corn cakes on the griddle.
Think as long as YOU like, there is not
a mean thing you can say about corn.
L stumps even the professional pessimist.
Ii somebody should write a poem about
corn as good as the subject, he would take
his place among the immortals.
III we had more boys corn clubs and
fewer mems corn whisky clubs IL would
be splendid thing for the nation.
There may be talk of an overproducsicn
of other crops. but nobody over heard Of
an overprodueton of corn. AS the farmer
said after looking long and earnestly at
La giraffe, %therc ain't no sich aninaf''
Corn Is one good thing OF Which there
can never be too much
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-20

done by the kindness of the Spaniard,
brought as a present 150 rabbits. be-
sides four mantles of rich fur. Nor did
he cease with single visit, but came
again and again and chatted with De-
Soto with unrestrained familiarity
around his camp fire. The Indian was
studiously diplomatic, and after sew
eral visits disclosed to Desoto that he
had certain rebellious subject whom
he wished the Spaniard to subdue for
him. This task, the chief further dis
closed, was one attended with such COM
plications as to prevent his action in
the matter, and yet If DeSoto would
intervene with sternness the chief would
see to 1t that 1t would not be forgot
ten.
DeSoto sent his men against the rebel
lious subaltern, burned his village and
forced him 10 sue for terms with the
chief, On occasion when the chief would
spend few hours with him, DeSoto would
send him home on one of his finest horses.
much to the delight of the savage. But
a. strain came in their relations when
after the fight with the insubordinate In
dian,' those of the tribe who had accom-
panied DeSoto's men back to camp were
served with savory and toothsome bits
of pork. The Indians had never before
tasted swine meat, and they were SO de-
lighted that they showed their apprecia-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-20

with attics or garrets, and formerly the
childs Paradise was the garret. On rainy
days, especially, the garret was the field
of infinite sport. 1t was a doldrum.
Hitner had drifted all kinds of old things
or to pass out of the family. Here were
old garments. worn, some cf them, two
generations back; old furniture, SCARED
and battered; antequated dolls, that
mother and Aunt Mary played with when
they were children; old canes that grand
father carried, one of them the gift of
Henry Clay; wornout saddle that was
Used on the back of Jerry from the
battle of Bull Run to Gettysburg; a steel
pike that had been brought from Har-
per's Ferry after the John Brown insur-
rection; small mahogany box, now
empty, but which once contained the long
barrel pistols that figured in one of the
most famous duels ever folght in Vir-
ginia: and then, cedar chests, trunks,
and an ancient hat case OF tough leather.
There was an old hair covered trunk
which the children would place in slant
ing position and slide down it because
the hair was so slippery" and, but who
can enumerate the things that were kept
IN the attics in the days when every
large house had an attic.
The attic usually stretched from one
end of the house to the other and the
floor was. therefore, long enough for all
manner of games and all kinds of frolcs.
Who does not recall the delight of the
little ones at dressing up In the finery
of generations before their times?
Through the mists of years / see a little
boy whose brown head is surmounted by
tall gray silk hat. and around whose
neck there circles a stiff black stock, =
and whose band carries an ivory handled
walking stck-l can see him stalking
from one end of the garret to the other,
mouthing the While snatches OF poetry
which he does not understand. There
fingers yet, in affectionate memory, the
picture of a little girl looking from out
q black velvet poke bonnet that had
zone service two generations before she
was born. Her cheeks are flushed with
the excitement of fun, her golden ring
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-20
HEART TO HEART TALKS-By James A. Edgerton

In material way, perhaps we are, but
he did not talk about material things
but rather about moral and spiritual
things.
We go forward in his name, but if We
fail to do his commandments are we moi
guilty of lip service?
Must religion forever be a thing OF
form and not of fact, of seeming and not
of substance?
This is not an arraignment of any
body 1t is an attempt at a little heart
searching The implied criticism is as
much of myself as of any one else.
is Christendom true to him whose
name it wears? If not, is it not time
for us seriously to ask ourselves why?
And
is it not true that we individually and
in the mass sought TO conform more
nearly to his standards.
In my boyhood the sun always rose
in the east. During subsequent wan
derlngs owing to my faculty of get
ting turned around. it rises in the south,
the west, the north or most any old
direction except the right one. SO when
think Of morning it is usually of a
morning of my boyhood The points of
appreciation of such things.
sun rising where the north pole
ought to be somehow loses its enchant-
ment. You feel as though you mad
neeh petrayed, as though the universe
iad gone back on you-or maybe you
don I. but that is the way | felt.
When ! was a boy the sun used 10 rise
ana shine into my window through an
old locust tree There was some kind
OF wonderful bird that sang TO it;
DO not to this day know what kind OF
oird II was. but the song was very
SWEEP. get sort of shivery nappi-
ness away down inside Of me when !
hear It to this very day
Ihose We're wonderful morninss-wheh
was boy There were generally dew
drops on the holIyhocks. and they
gleamed--well. as the dew does sleanl
on hollyhocks when you are boy You
know how it is yourself. Don't expect
me 10 spoil It by comparing It TO ga,
nonos or any such junk. Ihat wouid
Se out Of the picture. / knew nothing
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-20

n YRoN, in his poem, The Island,
N makes Torqui, as ho stands on
- the deck of the ship call aloud to
Ben Bunting. who is far aloft. and ask:
what cheer?'' Bunting reports ship,
and adds II saw her In the doldrums.'
What are the doldrums, and where are
they? II the reader will consult Maury' 8
Geography of the Sea, he viii learn all
about the doldrums. And let me say.
in passing, that this book of Commodore
Maurys. is not simply geography for
school children to study. but it Is a learned
treatise of the profoundesr interest to
men who have long held their diplomas
from colleges and universities. l have
found it to be most absorbing and fasci-
mating. 1t was written while the author
was superintendent of the photographed
office at Washington, and it was accepted
by the government as authority on the
subject of which 1t treated.
But where are the doldrun;s? and what
are they? They lie near the equator, just
between the northeast and the southeast
trade winds. The wind from the one di-
rection. is met by that proceeding from
the other direction, and, as neither can
advance upon its way, calm is estab-
ljshed--each holding back the other
'Emigrant ships from Europe and AUS
tralia bound for America have to cross
1t. and are often baffed in it for two or
three weeks then the children and the
passengers who are of delicate health
suffer most. 1t is frightful graveyard
Oh the wayside to that golden land" Not
only do the winds cease TO blow but
the sea is still and the atmosphere op-
pressvely hot. OF course. there are no
eppreciable doldrums to steamships for
with heart of fire and arms of steel they
fierce their way through.
There Is another characteristic of the
doldrums. The trade winds affect this
surface of the sea, and at the latitude
and longitude where they are baffled
there is formed what seems to be an
infinite eddy" not violent but subtle.
Everyone knows the effect OF an eddy In
a brook. 1t will catch bits of straw.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-20

!" HOUGH we have followed the dar-
ing and dashing DeSoto to the
4 western confines of the state, the
story would be incomplete without a
record of the closing scene of his ca
reer. His life was thrilling in incl
dent even to the end. Entering the
territory which long afterward came
to be called Mississippi. Desoto found
1t the most fertile and prosperous of
the regions vet visited. Thriving In
dian towns abounded with evidence of
the most advanced Indian civilization
he had yet met
Though delayed, winter at last set
with unusual severity, and DeSoto de-
cided to spend the cold season in that
quarter. He was eager for the good
will of the inhabitants, and sought bv
every possible means to gain It, Forag-
ing over the country, his men would
return with supplies and always with
prisoners. These DeSoto would liber-
ate with much show of kindness, and
dismiss them with presents to their
chief. This would surprise the prison
ers, and more the chiefs themselves.
This resulted in bringing to his camp
the chief of the Chickasaw tribe, the
dercest and most warlike of all those
on the continent. and always the most
advanced. This chief, not to be out
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-20

But the bare feet that did my boy
ish navigating did not lead me so much
among the flowers in front as they did
down the winding path back of the
house to the old spring under the hill.
, There did my darning
/ have never found water quite so
cold and sweet as flowed from that
spring
A little rill ran from 1t over the peb-
bles and down the hill, through the
copse and the lower woods, away and
away to the creek and thence to the
river.
To me this was a river of dreams.
did not see it till years afterward. And
/ must make a confession, however
iconocastic it may sound: That river
came fully up TO my expectations. The
enchantment on seeing 1t was equal to
the boyish vision.
But this, as / said. was years later
Once In the early days my bare feet
toddled far down the little rill, trying 70
follow II to the creek and river.
There came nearly being a lost boy that
day Had IL not been dinner time there
might have been a different story. Bur
when | got to the foot OF, big. big hill
on a neighbor's farm the cravings Of
hunger got the better OF curiosity, and |
stfeaked IL back at the clang of the din-
ner bell The appetite for grub was
stronger than the appetite for adven-
ture.
The old spring was surrounded by big
trees. ! especially remember syca-
more and an oak.
think the sun never shone so alluring-
~ on green leaves as it did on the broad
leaves of that sycamore. The glsten
somehow colored my dreams
Nor did rill ever sing more sweet.f
than did the little one meandering from
the old spring. l hear 1t yet. Somewhere
away down in my consciousness | think |
nave heard 1t always.
Do YOU remember the old spring under
the hill?
america has contributed many things
TO the world. among others being tobac-
co, republican government, baseball. rag
time and millionaires Some of these are
doubtful blessings. but there is no doubt
as to another of her contributions-co
Yhc older nations have, something they
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-20

about diamonds then-and know little
now.
So when think of a morning scene
it is of those morning scenes. There
was the little hill in the sheep pasture
peeped up over it's shoulder. And there
was the cherry tree where the swing
was. and the sun sort of slanted around
from the hill and through the locust and
into this cherry tree.
A little farther on was a strip OF woods
where the whippoorwils and the frogs
sang at night and where we made paths
through the leaves so that we could
creep up on the sairrels without soaring
them. All of this is In the picture, al
though it may seem that the paths are
paths of depression.
Yes, and there were dreams. No morn
ing when you are a boy is complete
without dreams Perhaps the dreams
were the real things, the sunrise, the
bird, the trees and the hill in the sheep
pasture only furnishing the background.
There were dreams of fame, of love
and of high adventure, of course. All
boys have them. Yet in my own case
there was one particular vision that
did not concern me personally or cor-
cerned me only as a part of the general
in new morning of humanity of (which
those phyical mornings were but SYM
bols. There was a better day coming
new order
Maybe the dream is coming true. Per-
haps there Is "A new day breaking over
the earth. Perhaps there is new morn
ing for humanity.
DO you remember it? The surround
iGgs may vary somewhat In each man $
case, but there is generally an old
spring under the hill, just as there are
swimming hole and particular big
tree and cave and all the things that
are so precious to boy.
And when the boy grows big these
things stay with him even though he
goes to the other side of the earth.
The particular spring of which | am
talking was down a hill behind the
house. 1t was an old house. with holly
hooks and roses growing around locus,
trees and ccdars in the front yard and
a wealth of flower~