davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-01
BOY VISITED LINCOLN

From "A Schoolboys Interview with
Abraham Lincoln" by William Agnew
Patton, in the December Scribner's
Magazine.
L, lad going on IA years of age, called
at the executive mansion in Washington
and handed to the doorkeeper a card
which l had caused to be written especi-
ally for use on what was for me a very
great occasion by the expert "calligraph-
ist," as he called himself. of Willard's
hotel. Beneath my name which the card
writer had inscribed with elaborate if not
altogether appropriate fiourishes, l had
appended in my owr schoolboy handwrit-
ing, Nephew of DIR. Cornelius Rea
Agnew.' My uncle was well known to
Mr. Lincoln, and this use of his name
doubtless facilitated my admission to the
office of the private secretary to the Pres
ident, where l found the chief magistrate
of my country at desk in conversation
with a gentleman, the only other occupant
of the room, who was, as l afterward
learned. the minister of France. When
1 entered the office the President was
chair, made after a design suggested by
himself The left arm of this unique
piece of furniture began low and, rising
in a spiral to form the back, terminated
on the right side of the seat at the height
of the shoulders of the person seated
thereon.
Mr. Lincoln had placed himself cross
wise in this chair with his long legs hang
ing over it's lower arm, his back support
ed by the higher side When the attend
ant who had presented my card to the
President and had then ushered me into
hind me and found myself actually in
the presence of Abraham Lincoln, l had
the grace to feel embarrassed for then
realized that 1, a mere schoolboy, was in
truding upon the patience and good nature
of a very busy overwrought man, the
great and honored President of country
in the agony of civil war. Noting my
hesitation, Mr.. Lincoln very gently said:
"Come in, my son." Then he arose, dis
angling himself, as 1t We're, from the
ir advanced to meet me, and 1t seemed
me that / had never beheld so tall
n, so dignified and impressive a per-
age. and certainly I had never felt
s small, so insignificant, $50 unpardon-
It v Young"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-01
In the business World

During the past few weeks Henry
Clews in his Saturday review has been
less optimistic than, usual; but in last
Saturdays review he sees elements of
encoura cement. He says in part:
1--WE are still in the midst of Pc
riod of readjustment; readjustment to
changing economic. political and social
conditions The economic changes are
such as inevitably follow a period of
exceptional and world wide industrial
activity; while the political and social
changes, particularly in the United
States, are closely following in the
wake of these developments. Although
this process of readjustment has gone
far and deep, it cannot be said to have
completed its course; for there are 9TH
er changes yet to come, and more or
less legislation of an unsettling char
acter must still be faced, however un-
welcome it may be. Nevertheless, there
is some compensation in the fact that
political and social tendencies can now
be more clearly foreseen, and it must
be remembered that we are scarcely
ever free from public anxieties of more
or less importance( and that the ordi-
nary activities of the country earn
be permanently held back. 1t is furtheI
compensation to know that while many
of the new legislative proposal
hostile to capital and viewed wit mpfe
or less uneasiness, the tendency oW@fa
extreme political radicalism is On ils
wane.
Taking the situation as a whole, q
is one that requires continued caution
1t should be remembered that most af
the unfavorable elements referred q
above have been well discounted, Th7
market has been sold to almost e
standstill and prices cannot reas onahly
be expected to decline much iurtaor
without fresh unfavorable develop
ments. Not few high grade sec ouritiel
are selling at very attractive prioe
to the careful investor More aour
aging features of Importance de
veloping, especially in the direc on Of
foreign trade and railroad rate rros
poets, besides which there is lu-
portant outstanding short inte ir
the market which has not ye been
| forced to cover"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-01
Huerta Seeking Money

The Mexican Congress now in ses-
sion, which was chosen at-an election
dominated by Huerta's soldiers, is pre-
pared to grant almost any kind of con-
cession to foreign syndicates which
will advance money to the tottering
dictatorship. The senate and chamber
of deputies are under the absolute
sway of Huerta, and they are ready
to barter away the resources of the
nation in exchange for gold. Huerta 5
financial embarrassment is becoming
more acute each day. His agents are
securing Europe in search of money,
but they are meeting with little sue
cess.
All along the Washington admins
tration has hoped that Huerta's gov
ernment would fall through lack of
funds. His soldiers have not been paid
in months, and are showing signs of
unrest. President Wilson and the
American state department have sue
ceeded in obtaining promises of a
policy of non-interference from the
leading powers, and the determina-
tion of the United States not to recog
nize as legal any of the enactments of
the present Mexican congress proba-
bly, will deter foreign bankers from
advancing money to Huerta, as the
obligations will be open to repudia-
ton should the dictator be over
thrown.
1t is again rumored that Huerta is
preparing to eliminate himself from
the situation. Similar rumors have
often been in circulation in the past
and even those in close touch with the
situation have no definite knowledge
of the provisional presidents inten-
tions. In time he will fall. But when
the crisis will come is still problem
atical.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-01

The "tangoo bootee" has now made its
appearance in Boston. 1t was first shown
in Chicago. where it was ordered of a
retailer of high grade. custom footwear
The unique feature of the boot, according
to the Shoe Retailer, is that it Iaces up
the back, starting at the counter. 1t
has a seam in the front, Is finished at
the top with collar of cloth of gold with
a row of rhinestones at the upper edge
and further adorned with bucklet in the
usual position on the vamp. The buckle
is oval In shape, made of leather with a
row of rhinestones set around the edge;
next two rows of black beads and then
another row of rhinestones leaving the
center plain. The heel is 15s inch Cuban
Spanish, covered, the boot 8 inches high
and a shoe spoon is required to put the
boot on, but the feat of lacing it up the
back is quite difficult. The effect is
pretty.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-01
Chicago's Egg War

2 The viewpoint has much to do with
the egg situation in Chicago. Buyers
and sellers are threatening each other
with prosecution under the antitrust
law unless tactics are changed. Eggs
are being held by the dealers at do
and 46 cents a dozen, and 80 women's
clubs have obliged their members to
go. without eggs until the price drops
to 32 cents.
The dealers declare that they are
the victims of an unjust boycott, and
talk of going to the courts for an
injunction. The club women aver that
eggs are being held at high prices
through an illegal combination, and
likewise are discussing an appeal to
the United States district attorney.
The country will watch the outcome
with interest. AS more persons buy
eggs than sell them, sympathy is
largely with the club women. Yet it
lis indisputable that the law is for ALL
If the consumers are engaged in an
illegal procedure they are subject to
the penalties prescribed by statute
The advent of the lawyer seems due.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-01
Red Cross Seals Today

The generous people of Birmingham
contribute to the maintenance of many
philanthropic institutions, the larger
ones receiving very general support.
One of the newer institutions and at
the same time one of the most worthy
is the anti-tuberculosis camp, and on
today will begin the distribution of the
Christmas red cross seals for the ben
eft of the anti-tuberculosis work here.
The local anti-tuberculosis yassocia-
ton is officered by prominent citizens
known for their public spirit and lib
erality, and they stress the far-reach-
ing Importance of the camp and the
urgent need for larger funds.
Many citizens contribute money
directly to the association. Others,
kindly disposed but of limited means,
make their contributions through the
purchase of Christmas red cross seals.
Everybody should buy seals this week.
Both those who are rich and those who
are not rich should be among the pur-
chasers, for comparatively few there
are so poor that they cannot afford to
buy these inexpensive Christmas
tokens. The committee hopes to dis
pose of at least million of the seals
and they should not be disappointed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-01

Just between us girls-that you Will not
be a sure enough senator-but look what
swell time you will have. You can
browse around Washington, Glass. old top.
and lots of folks will call you Senator
and there will be plenty of strangers
standing around who can't tell You from
the real goods. Then you can go over to
the White House and see your friend
President Wilson, and perhaps induce him
to keep us in mind, seeing what we have
done for you.
I'VE would not advise you to press your
claims for the job CLASSY, old boy, be-
cause as matter of fact you stand about
as fat chance for getting a seat in the
Senate as a catfish has to learn the tango.
and If you hurry matters up your spell
of Senating will be brief, and then be-
sides you will get us in bad for there will
no longer be any excuse for not calling
the legislature together.
1--WE don't mind telling you, Glass, old
sport, that this legislature thing peeves
us somewhat, so we passed the buck to
you. The longer you hang around Wash
ington and worry the doorKeepers the
better We'll like it.
so with this parting admonition-don
get too fresh with the committee on privi-
leges and elections-but spend most of
your time on a learned dissertation with
Senator MARITIME of New Jersey on the
right of governor to appoint a senator
under the seventeenth amendment; it'll
be all right to talk to Martine-he don't
know much more than you do, Glass-all
will be well and you may have the honor
of being called Senator for two or three
months Then while you won't get any
emoluments to speak of out of it, Glass,
old top, think of the advertising?
Trusting that you will follow our ad-
vice and that you will see your way clear
to give our administration a few whoop
EN- up Liza James In your esteemed news
papers-our administration sure needs a
few whoops right now, Glass, take it
from us, for with just few more cracks
on the nut and we'd croak-trusting that
this will find you the same, we are,
Yours affectionately,
jim HAM Secretary"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-01
MONEYS WORTH OR RETURN

From Judge.
The clerk was at loss. and floor
walker minced up and took part in the
conversation.
Now how about my money back?" de-
manded the red-faced lady.
1--WE return money when cases so JUS
tify What is it--ribbons. shoes?'
Nav; it's book"
HAS the book been read?'
"Of course"
"Um We can't return money on books,
you know"
The red-faced lady grew purple.
"You aim to have only satisfied Gus
toners That's the way you advertise.
Amt it now?'
Yes, madam"
Then why can't you take this novel
back and return my money!"
rs the book damaged in any way?"
spared the f1oorwalker. print imperfect,
or anything like that?"
Cant say that 1t is
Then why are you not satisfied with
the novel?"
why, 1 don't like the way it ends"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-01
LETTERS ON SENA1
BY BILL VINES

NVTAsHINGToN. November 3d.
M 0Speelal)-Jim Ham Lewis can
W certainly lay claim to being one
of our niftiest little letter writer's. His let
ter to Pindell offering that individual the
ambassadorship to st. Petersburg-with a
string tied to twas classic, second only
to the famous letter of President Wilson
to Henry D. Clayton. Jim Ham said in
effect:
MY Dear Pindell-We want you to be
ambassador to Russia, but we amt crazy
about 1t, so don't get too chesty. We feel
like there are certain things coming to
you, Pindell, and il you'll take this job
for a year and then agree to run along
and be good, we'll see If 1t can't be fixeds
Always bear in mind that there are others,
Pindell. Wen fix it all up for you, Pin,
old chap, so that all you will have to do
is to see the sights. OF course you won't
be real honest-to-goodness ambassador,
for We'll see to 1t that there will be no
treaties nor anything to bother with while
you are 1T If there is any treating to
do We'll tend to that ourselves, Pindell,
you might gum up the cards.
Think what swell time you'll have
over there for a year, Pindell, and kick
in an acceptance of this proposition with
out delay
Now, we have no doubt that the COVER
nor of Alabama is some letter writer him.
self having seen some of his efforts in
the press, but the governor fails as a
humorist and that is where Jim Ham
Shines What pity, therefore that he
could not have had Jim Ham for secre-
tary when he communicated with the
Hon. Frank P. Glass and advised that
gentleman that he had been appointed
United States senator. Perhaps. not in
these terms, but in metaphors the true
inwardness. of which would mean the
same, Jim Ham would have indited:
MY Dear Glass-Enclosed herewith we
hand you your credentials as United
States senator. In comforting this honor
upon you, my dear Glass. we feel that we
are rewarding faithful friend for past
favors and trust for more favors in the
future. OF course, dear Glass, you know
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-01
THIS WITH LOW MUSIC

The Cap'n was a notary public and he'd
ben in the legislator. Might go into it
again eff he felt like it. He would, b'gosh.
unless lobsterin' got better
"Lobsterin warn't what it was. Every
thin was goin' to the dog-fsh Tenny-
rate 'twouldnt do mighter harm to keep
up his readin'.
THE Cap'n he'd also ben a whaler One
reason his son left hum-(Don't care for
that? oh. well. turn over and read the
ads.)
'Elmiry went back to her Christmas
bundils. Mrs. Littlefield was putin away
the supper dishes under the sofa and
tidyin' up generally
suddenly above the roar of the storm-
they heard a faint call. 1t was from
the beach.
Listen! What was that? Mrs. Lit
tlefield dropped the castors with crash
on the floor. The Cap'n closed his book
reluctantly and looked up at his wife.
'Gol-swamp all salt-hake!" he cried,
'somebuddy's calm on the beachr
"He sprang from his patent rocker and
grabbed his golf cap Come, mother!
Bring the lantern-come!'
Mother! Fatherl Don't go out on
a night like this Elmiry begged on her
knees.
Hush, child.' said her mother. We
must go; someone's in need! 1t might
be our
The word was swallowed up in the
avalanche of snow that fell smotheringly
in as the door was opened, and the Cap'n
and his wife rushed out into the storm
blindly toward the sea. tOcean.)"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-01
Bench and Bar to Act

The meeting held in the circuit
court room Saturday was an en-
couraging sign of the times. Members
of the bench and bar of Jefferson
county met to devise ways and means
of correcting some of the practice and
procedure of the courts. The sentiment
expressed was that something must
be done to eliminate delay and OBJ
jectionable dilly-dallying, and COM
mittee will be named to go over the
entire situation and suggest methods
of improvement.
Our laws have fallen into disrepute
because of the faulty and uncertain
manner of their administration. In
criminal cases conviction has become
undulv difficult because of the many
loopholes provided for the shrewd
practitioner for the protection of his
client. In civil cases, there has been
a division into armed camps, one oc-
cupyed by those who prosecute and
the other by those who defend Each
has it's pickets, its skirmish line and
its entertainments. Technical advant-
age is considered by some preferable
to right and justice.
What is needed is breaking away
from obsolete precedent, determina-
ton that causes shall be settled upon
merit rather than upon technicality
The fact that the bench and the bar
propose to take the lead in this re-
form gives basis to hope for early
action
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-01
Homeseekers Looking soutbw,ra

AS the northern states increase in pop
ulation in the cereal producing districts
farm lands enhance in value so that
prices are out of reach of any but men of
ample means; hence homeseekers will Ia
looking southwark in larger numbers than
in the past" said Charles Boone of In
dianapolis
'The south Is now better advertised
than ever, yet many northerners who have
saved up a little money and who have
farm experience are ignorant of the fact
that good farms can be bought in the
south at SO or SIS an acre.
Truck farming should be very attrac-
tive in Alabama. All the vegetable crops
can be raised here and at a profit, and
small farming always pays when intelli-
gence and energy are brought to bear
Trucking in the middle west, where mar
kets are close at hand has made many a
man rich, and it will be the same way
in Alabama and other southern states
that contain cities of good size"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-01
Alabama's Crop Money

This year has been one of the best
from an agricultural point of view, if
not the best, in the history of Ala
bama. 1t has been, indeed, year of
great abundance. According to the
First National banks monthly review
Issued Saturday, the total value of the
crops in this state, including hay and
minor crops, this season will approxi-
mate s19O,oOO,OoO.
Alabama's cotton crop is not less, it
is thought, than 1885, 900 bales, de-
crease as compared with the high
record crop of 1911 which was nearly
1,7OO, 900 bales; but it will bring about
S115,0OO,000 considerably more
money than the crop of two years
ago brought.
A great deal has been said about
the Importance of the corn and hay
crops in Alabama and of the large
corn, production within the past few
years as compared with 10 years ago.
While cotton will always be leading
money crop in states that produce cot
ton on large scale, there is no rea-
son why this fertile section should
not be a seller of corn. Ten years ago
Alabama raised only about 10000, 900
or 35,000,000 bushels of corn. In the
past few years the Alabama yield has
been we'll above 50,000,000 bushels,
In the next two or three years II
should be up to the 100,00o,00o mark
It is a fact gathered from statistics
but not familiar TO the public perhaps
that before the war Alabama pro-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-01

In the December American magazine
James Montgomery Flagg, the cele-
brated wit and artist, does a Christ
mas story satirizing the Where Is My
Wondering Boy Tonlght?" idea Follow
ing is an extract. This extract does not
carry the story through to its completion
but surely it is enough to bring tears to
the eyes of a crocodile:
God pity people at Palm Beach on
night like thisr
"Cap'n Littlefield put this over at sup.
per on Christmas eve, December "a, at his
residence on the extreme edge of the
coast of Massachusetts near New Eng
land. His dotter continued eatin' her
fried swordfish slab unmoved. Not so his
wife. She upset a whole chunk of blue
berry cake down her throat the wrong
way Dust like a womanD and burst into
unmanly tears.
What's smatter, mother? The Cap'n
set daown his cup of shells and looked
anxiously over his owl glasses at her.
Mother wiped her eyes on the red and
white tablecloth.
'Narthin', Nathan cep'n it kinder
made me think of our boyl'
There, there, mother. Don't cry; he'll
be here yit-he promised he'd be here on
Christmas Day-and, by Godfrey, eff he
said he would. narthin' amt a-goin' ter
stop himl'
Why, would he go to sea- she
moaned.
"'Wel, he said, twas on accaount of
his bein scared of ottermobiles! Jes
listen to that pesky wind
1T was really terrific. The icy wind
befascoed around the clapboards, reach
ing into the house with it's frozen tenacles
like some Boreal octopus.
"The house rocked like laundry hamp-
er in the blast, and the snow drifted in
through the chimbly and under the doors.
1t was sump'n awful!
There probably never was such a
storm in the history of Massachusetts,
as this here one. Above the roar of the
wind could be heard the poor freezing
clans as they dragged themselves. with
chattering shells, out of the icy break
ers. The whistling- buoy seemed to whistle
Gee-e-e-! This is unprecedented! There
were icicles hanging from every breaker
as it broke on the breakwater.
"'Come look, father. Cap'n Little
field s dotter, Elmiry. had left some pack
ages she was tying up with scarlet ribbon
and had breathed away a space on the
frosted pane. See. the gale hez blowed
your dory clean up onter the roof of the
meetin' haouse"
"And it was so. Cap'n Littlefield seen
it, bgum, with his own eyes.
HE shuk his weather-beaten head and
went back to the tabil with the readin
lamp onto it and buried himself once
more in his copy of The Common Law.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-01

duced over 1000, 600 bushels of corn
a year, and another interesting fact is
that while the corn production IN Ala
bama is estimated this year at IT
bushels per acre against Mississippi's s
&c bushels and Tennessee's 21 bushels,
the Georgia crop is estimated at only
Is bushels per acre.
The boys corn clubs in this state
have made great records. Several
prize winners have made on single
acre more than 200 bushels-one 60
ing as high as 280-odd bushels, but
the state taken altogether did fairly
we'll in averaging II bushels. Next
year if weather conditions permit the
corn crop of Alabama is almost sure
to average 20 bushels or more per
acre.
Another interesting fact is that
Alabama with a corn crop this year of
56,000,000 bushels is ahead of Okla
homa; ahead of Georgia; ahead of
Virginia, and ahead of Maryland more
than double. Alabama's Irish potato
crop will bring this year upwards of
81, ,250, 900, and the sweet potato crop
over S4,50O,0O0.
The farming situation is most
cheering. Alabama is advancing rap
idly in modern methods and net re-
suits.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-01
Looking to the New Year

while there has been recession in
business within the past few weeks =
said John f. Camden of Chicago, "ths
years trade on the whole has been
very good and in some lines especially
brisk.
Il recently spent week in the north
west and l met only optimistic people
in that section. The Vest as a whole Is
prosperous at the present time and
from all accounts the south was never
more prosperous than now.
There will be an active holiday
trade and business men generally are
expecting a high degree of prosperity
before the winter is over 1t is a safe
guess that 1914 will be a high record
year in commercial and industrial
fields; 1t certainly will be If we have
bumper crops"