davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-17
Request for a Camera

II wonder if there is some one in the
Corner who has camera that he or she
no longer cares for? If so, may | ask
for 1t? I am a stenographer, supporting
a widowed mother. and cannot afford to
buy one. | have a shorthand manual
which ! will be glad to give to some one
that can use 1t. BESSIE J. s."
You hold out full and an empty hand.
/ cannot but believe that the disused
camera will be forthcoming. Our ANA
teur photographers are sympathizing AMI
liberal Thank YOU for the manual. 1
hold your address.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-17
SEMINARY OPENING
HELD THIS MORNING

The formal opening of the Louie Comp
ton seminary will take place this morn
ing at 10 O'Clock. Devotional exercises
and music will supplement the programme
which is to be composed of talks by sew
eral prominent men. The Rev. j. w.
Johnson of the First Methodist church
will deliver an address. The friends of
the institution are all cordially invited.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-17
The Burden
Int DuIutH
From the ST. Louis Globe DennocI

From the st. Louis Globe Democrat.
Apropos of one type of American fam
lily, DR.. Charles r. Alxed said in San
Francisco
"Smythe is Of this type. A man said to
me about him:
- Is Smythe In business for himself?'
" For himself? said 7. No. sir. Smythe
is not in business for himself Smythe Is
In business for an extravagantA family
that is at present occupying thA royal
suite IN s6-a-day Atlantic City hotel /"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-17

ing to be as small as she can and the
woman who is lucky enough to be tail
and slender, of course, is very happy.
Draperies are seen on everything tailor
made, indeed with the exception of the
suit for a woman is strictly as plain as
that of a man 6to which many devotes
of fashion still remain true), every
skirt that will be worn this season will
be drapped The peg top or barrel
skirt is the latest model"
And the coats--are they to be long
or short?" l asked.
'The long models are good style,
while the 2s and 30-inch models are
/, also in good taste" said Mr.. Marino.
Smart tailor coats are very much
trimmed. consisting of entire deux of one
material with another, as for instance,
the skirt being of plain goods and the
coat of brocadel either in wooden
fabrics or silks or messalines, the plain
insets are used, or collar and cuffs of
plain material are introduced and vice
versa"
I What are the most stylish fabrfcs?" l
inquired.
1T is rough goods season." was the
answer, land the materials are of the
most beautiful variety Take the new
fabric called Duvetyn, for instance 1t
derives its name from the dubious effect
of the goods-the threads being inter-
woven so as to form a rough exterior and
the coloring is so indistinct as to produce
the effect almost of plain goods Then
there's another very handsome material
for tailor mades. called Peau de Posche,
which means literally the skin of the
peach 1t is an exquisite material and
tailors very effectively. That is one of
the few smooth materials used. 1t is as
soft as chamois and resembles a cut We
lour'
What shades are the smartest this sea-
| SOM? l asked.
Mahogany. mole, dark Copenha gen,
| dark plum. crows wing or ink which is
| a wonderful new shade of dark blue. .
said Mr.. Marino.
This is a good black season, too.
Some of the handsomest imported models
saw in New York were in black. and
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-17
Needs a Wheel Chair

"Do you know any one who has good
second hand wheel chair that he would be
willing to give to a crippled old lady? L
am willing to pay little for it. but can
not afford much NJ. f. H.
No money is raid through the Corner
for value received" We register your
petition for the Wheel chair (the only re-
quest of the kind amitted this week.,
accompanying 1t by the earnest hope that
the aged cripple may be supplied with
the accessory to her comfort.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-17
Wants a Typewriter

could you please find me a typewriter?
| cannot afford to buy one to learn on.
will pay freight or express on it, An old
one some one is through with will suit
me. r. NJ NJ"
We have procured two typewrters for
worthy workers within couple of
months. Otherwise | should hardly dare
to enter another application, SO small is
the supply and so great the demand.
What the Corner has done it may do.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-17
INVITATIONS TO
OUT OF TOWN FRIENDS

Invitations to the marriage OF Miss
Estelle Bethea and Mr.. Hillman Tame
hill Hale have been mailed by Mr. and
Mrs. Sumter Bethea to their out of town
friends. The marriage will occur at the
Bethea residence on Highland avenue tile
morning of October 8 at o'clock and
Will be witnessed only by limited num-
ber of the hride's friends and relatives.
These will De invited verbally. The b idal
party will be quite small and very soon
after the VOWS the young couple will leave
for their wedding trip.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-17
Roouefort Cheese Salad Dressing

Make an ordinary French dressing Of
one teaspoons one-half teaspoon white
pepper three tablespoons olive oil, one
tablespoon vinegar. Stir until smooth and
thick, then work into 1t one tablespoon
Roauefort cheese, which has been crum-
bled and mashed fine with the back of a
silver fork. The cheese should be blended
smoothly with the French dressing and
put ON the lettuce, as would be done with
any dressing-Request of l.. B.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-17

visit to the shops in early autumn Is
followed by a pilgrimage with a settle
ment worker among the very poorest. II
you love beauty, don't make the fashion
able pilgrimage and the other the same
day.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-17
ADJUSTMENTS
Biiou-sLayender and Old Lace,

A distinctly good performance of a
play that pleases is offered by the COM
pany at the Bijou playing Lavender and
Old Lace" this week. The Myrtle Reed
story proved to be exceedingly popular
with the audiences Monday and Tuesday.
There are matinees Thursday and Sat-
urday and performances nightly.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-17
Offers Silk Pieces

'Will you give me the address of q.
b., that | may write with regard TO the
music offered? We live in a little west
ern town, delightful in most ways, but
for the disadvantages we are forced to
submit to. You may give my address To
any one asking for silk pieces-an Old
lady, If such asks. 1t is all I have 10
ofter Just now. MRS. A, M. W."
II the music rendered by G. b. Were
still in our gift you would have heard
from us by mail. We will try and get a
supply for you. 1t may be that the per-
son who will apply for the silk pieces
viii have music to spare. Such agree
ele condolences are not infrequent
with u.s.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-17
Smashing Precedents

Fro mthe Kansas City Journal.
my GIRLS father used to sit in the
kitchen of evenings. But when President
Wilson called on the Senate, it stirred
the old man up so that he, too, has
smashed precedents."
"So?"
Eyes, now he comes in and sits with
us occasionally"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-17
Graham Nut Bread

One and one-half cups graham -four
two cups white flour (or two cups gra-
ham -four and cne and one-half cups
white -four, one cup nuA, two cups
sweet milk, one cup sugar, one teaspoon
salt one teaspoon soda, one teaspoon
baking powder. Bake 80 or 40 minutes
and wrap in flannel while warm.-Kind-
ness of reader.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-17
Lanterns for Lawn Party

1--WE have a snail club of girls who
want to give a lawn party. We have
everything but lanterns, and we do not
feel as if we would want to buy them just
for one occasion. / wish you would print
my letter in your Corner, asking some
church or club that has old lanterns to
assist us. MILDRED j."
Our junior members will take hold of
the matter. Lose no time, as the season
of out of door entertainments is flying
fast.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-17
Casey's Finish

From Pearson's Weekly.
Murphy-Whats that in your pocket?
Pat .Gn whisper)-Dynamite. I'm
waiting for Casey. Every time he meets
me he slaps me on the chest and breaks
me pipe! Next time he does 1t he'll blow
his head off.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-17
Orpheum-VaudeyilIe

What hundreds declare to be the best
vaudeville bill Of the season is offered at
the Orpheum this week, headed by the
Five Snllys. There Is matinee daily at
2;3o O'Clock and Two performances nightly,
at 1880 and o'clock.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-17
DEBUTANT RECEPTION FOR
MISS GUSTRINE MILNER

Mr.. Henry X. Miner will entertain
Tuesday, November II, at the Country
club with a reception when he will in
troduce his daughter, Miss Gustrine Mil
ner. This will probably be the first of
the debutant parties of the season.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-17
ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Woman's MISSIONARY society OF the
First Presbyterian church will hold a
meeting this afternoon at o'clock in
the lecture room of the church.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-17

An open meeting of the Birmingham
city mission board will take place this
afternoon from to . o'clock at the set
tlement house, Ensley, three blocks north
of the Tidewater and the Birmingham
Railway, Light and Power company's
tracks.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-17

Mrs. John Gelzcr is in Atlanta, visiting
her parents, Mr.. and Mrs. Clifford Ander-
son. She will be absent a fortnight
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-17

beauty and univesal sweetness and charm
promise that her career as a belle is as
sured.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-17

Miss Virginia Abbott Is expected home
In a few days from Nythevile, Va,
where she has spent several weeks.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-17

Mr.. George p. Bondurant has returned
from Linnville, n. c., where he was a
member of the Birmingham colony for
several weeks. Mrs. Bondurant is still
in North Carolina.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-17

Miss Katherine kearnys debut In New
Orleans will be signal event Of the
early season of French opera. She IL Il
decided favorite in New Orleans, and her
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-17

Mrs. John Gordon Whitfield has re-
turned from the hospital to her apart
ment in Terrace Court and is still seri-
ously Ill. This will be distressing news
to Mrs. Whitfields many friends.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24
Nine. Aeef Blaw a II 'iisile.

The rooms of the famed fake spiritualists in
the old days always We're kept darkened. They
rocked chair simply by placing foot on
bit of Nire connected with a battery. The
sooner the CRATER can get his victim in
complete stDte of terror tho better his chances
for grating become. TLey play upon The fehrs
of the "sHcbers" and Jflcg have seen
sdances where the victim actually became so
frightened that she believed the spirit of a
dear departed relative or friend was in the
room. When they reach this state the slight
est noise will drive them almost to Mysteries.
certain Nine. Meet famed for her ability
to produce spirits carried little whistle n
her mouth. This whistle when blown greatly
resembled the signing of the wind. Blowing
the whistle, the madam would tell tile
"sucker the spirit coming to earth.
She now lives in Europe
When you enter the fake spiritualist's realm
questions are in order Sometimes it takes
time to summon spirit The length of time
depends on your pocketbook. One of the first
ana prlnclpal Things the spirits tel the
sucker TO do is to slip piece of money To
the professor Private detectives look you
up--the old story.
Today fake spiritualism is simply petty
graft. Many of the professors and women mys-
tics derive living income from the sale of
bunk literature telling what was done forty
years ago in the spiritualistic field and chron-
nary person who was saved from a horrible
death by the timely warning of spirit
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24
Tried TO Land Rich Widow.

When she left l followed her l found out
all we wished to know about her. he was an
immensely wealthy widow.
The following day Lynch gave her special
seance. While in trance he told her that her
dead husband had been trying ever since his
death to get into commnf eation with her
I'VE haven't the right subject for you to
work on Lynch told Mrs Crockton, but |
know great subject out west who will be
glad to come on to New York il you will pay
his expenses" ! was the subject. She put up
500, and when | arrived few days later
she practiced on me. The professor of course
assured her she would become a renowned
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24
Blackmail Best Game Nom.

Lynch had got from her a little over 81 900.
lie was wild over being thwarted, and he often
told me that the greatest regret of his life was
that Mrs. Croekton should be cursed with in
terferng children.
yentriloquists often were employed In the
haleyon days of the game One prominent
yentriloquist once told me he made pretty
good living from throwing his voice into a
fake spiritualists room where seance wa-
being held.
Blackmail has kept great many of ths
present day takers from going hungry. They
got hold of what we call real nut tell
and he must tell the absolute truth. The vic
tim then is piled with qrestions, and in the
course of the cross examination he tells things
that nobody else in the world knows. He is
scared stiff, to begin with Once he admits an
indiscretion that must be kept quiet at any
cost, the faker will blackmail him to the brink
of the grave.
/ do not make these confessions because
am proud of what | have feen. / have grated
with the best of them, and | have been an ac-
complice to blackmailers who should have been
railroaded with me. What | have chroneled,
/ make no doubt will reach the eyes of many
thousands of persons. 1t may be that these
confessions will find their way to some who
may find in them message of warning do
not know.
do know however, am done with the
game of grating In order to make a COM
plete reformation l shall not permit myself
to become associated with hypnotists, mind
readers, cure-alls, fortune tellers or fake spir-
itualists. At 30, in the prime of life, am go-
ing forth into the world to seek honest labor.
Unsehooled save in the gentle art of grating,
its going to be tough picking. But I'm re-
solved.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24
This is the last of n series of
articles dealing with tho practices of
prominent hypnotists, mind readers, for
tune teIlers, heaIers, and fake spiritual
ists, by means of which they black
mail their subjects i" to the extent
of s1,OOo,OOO annually.
By THOMAS ]. MINNOCK.

~ AXE spiritualism rapidly is becoming a
r. lost art There no longer is any money
in the game of seancing and trancing
There are no big grafters in the busi
ness Fletcher, Keene, and Bishop, wonderful
men in their day. abardoned it years ago.
They dropped it because the real big money
was to be had in other channels Of sake en-
deavor.
There are of course a lo2 of men and women
still plying the art of phony spiritpalism
They are, however, for the most part, back
numbers-the down-and-outs ," of the old
days. Fake spiritualism, you know, has so
often been exposed that it now is a poor call
ing: not alone because it is risky, but also be-
cause % and so cents is about the limit the
suckers" are willing to invest. There was
time. though, when there was good money
in the game for the person who could put the
work over cleanly.
The present day grafters get their money
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24

from the sale of "charms" which, when
properly prayed over, ward off the evil
spirits. These prayers can be offered only
during the full moon, in a darkened room
where a single candle must be permitted 70
flicker.
Most of the work did for the fake spiritual
lists in the old days was in the capacity of
"raps." The raps is the fellow who hides in
adjoining room, waits for the signal, then raps
on the wall or floor. Two raps mesn that the
spirit says Eyes"
Though it happened many years ago, I'll
never forget the last time worked as raps.
The Great Bishop-now dead--who afterward
transferred his affections to the nobler art of
mind reading, hired me. He had an old
woman whom he had at the point where she
was willing to give him SOCIAL she had in
the world-for services rendered and to be rem
dered provided the spirit would tell her to
loosen up. That was the simple part of the
seance. Bishop lay back in his chair and said
solemnly and softly:
Shall this woman give the Great Bisboo
$500 for the wonderful good he may be able to
do her? | call the beloved spirit of her
departed husband to answer"
There was slight pause-simply for effect.
The woman leaned forward expectantly and
almost forgot to breathe. You could have cut
the silence. Then, so low they could hardly
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24
of the in Days Capacity Rap"

spirtualist, but 1t would take considerable
time and patience.
Meantime he continued to give her private
seanees. In one of these she told that
the spirit of her departed husband hoyered in
the room. He was quite angry with his
widow, the spirit told Lynch, because she had
not remarked. 1t was his one great spirit
wish that his widow marry good man.
Mrs Crockton was greatly worried Though
she worked on me as her subject and studied
her bogus lessons hard, i. was apparent that
she was not giving her work the undivided at
tention the professor told her 1t deserved.
Lynch got we'll acquainted with her and she
in turn grew quite fond of the fakor. Know
ing this, it was inevitable that he make an
effort to land her gold.
One day Lynch summoned the spirit of OLD
man crockton. | was under cover in the next
room, my ear tight against crack in the wall
Lynch talked loudly and his deep voice rum
bled through the rooms:
Spirit, | Understand it is your desire that
your oeloVea WldoW give hersei TO me IN hoiF
wedlock Signify your answer by knocking
One knock will mean no, two knocks yes :
l came up smiling in the next room and gave
the wall two vigorous rsps. Mrs crockton
fell into Lynch's arms. A match made in
heaven! " she declared.
Fate stepped in, however, and spoiled the
daughters and sons They got together rs
soon as they learned of the impending ordeal
and persuaded the mother TO abandon the pro-
posed nuptials. They stuck to her and would
not accept no for an answer. Finally she con
sented to call the engagement off
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24
Old Women Principal Customers.

The minute the woman left Bishop went
downstairs to get drink. He must have got
it, for l never saw him after that. My $50
went with him. There may be honor among
thieves, but there isn't any between the fake
spiritualist and his raps.
Most of the present day takers in this line
are what I'd calR '7~-satcs-graduates of what
they are pleased to Arm the old school, .
where they were taught to employ mechanical
devices for creating noises in dark rooms, rock
ing chairs, and bringing spirit raps. Many of
these devices have been exposed, yet suck
ers " continue to fall for y them.
About the only victims that come to the
nets of these grafters are old women, most
of them seeking home Personal gain al
ways is the prime motive, and the cases
l have investigated have diyulged the fact that
the men sought had money were the heads
of big business institutions.
have known many fake spirtualists in
large cities who made house to house canvasses
for the purpose of locating old people. Today
to venture into better paying fields and be-
cause the majority of them are too dumb and
uneducated to tackle anything else. None of
them Is making what you would call real
money. Many of them are drifting into the
Interpretation of dreams They interpret in
such way that they scare their victims as
much as possible and then induce them to bug
lucky charms that have the power of keeping
them from harm. Quite few of them are
branching out into the trance business. Once
they go into perfectly GOOD trance they can
frighten the victim into parting with almost
anything he has.
The Great Bishop made his first money IN
the spirit game. However, he saw the hand
writing ON the wall and told me he gas think
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24

field and making money in big punches This
was twelve years ago, and l simply state this
to show how greatly the spirit hailng pro-
fesson must have deteriorated since then, for
even at that time it did not bring decent re-
turns.
Occasionally CRATER will clean up fairly
we'll. for it is well known fact among
this clique of worlds greatest grafters that
spirituaism he usually parts with his bank
roll.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24

Meetings are held three times a week, and
anybody who has % cents may attend these
meetings. At these conclaves a number of con
federates stand around the room and recite
the most wonderful pipe stories of how spirit
saved their fortune, made it possible for them
10 marry the only woman who could make
them happy warned then in advance of an
overwhelming disaster. etc.
There is a place in Sixth avenue, between
Twenty-fourth and Twcnty-ifth streets, New
York. where the mechanical devices of which
l have spoken may be purchased. They will
cost from % cents to So There is an estab
lishment in Chicago, in Van Buren, street. near
the La Sale Street station. whore these in
struments may be had. Ten years ago you
couldr' 81 buy the simplest device for less than
$40.
Years ago | was working as outside man
for Prof Lynch. A Mrs. Crockton, expensive
ly gowned and looking like ready money came
to Lynch one day. She lived at the Hoffman
house. She had answered an advertisement
and wanted 10 know about course of lessons
on hypnosis. Her name, of course, had been
Immediately placed on the sucker > list and
al the mind readers, hypnotists. etc. in the
country got busy and swamped ner with litera-
ture. She finally decided that spiritualsm
appealed to her more strongly than did any of
the other noble gifts She attended of our
meetings and was greatly impressed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24

two deliberate raps The woman almost
tainted, but so sure was she that her husband
had heard the invocation that she immediate
ly handed over to Bishop all her worldly pos
sessions-$300. Bishop and I were to split
this modest amount.
Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1913-12-16

of candy that had been overlooked
By the pure food commission and
went his way.
And it came to pass that the poor
man groaned also, yea, very deeply,
And he dug opt roll of bills by
cutting his pocket away from about
it and bought Herewith a string
of pearls, paying a kings ransom
yea, even far above the market
value of most kings-and he bought
likewise an automobile Of a new
vintage and went his way, very sad,
for behold! he knew his son and
daughter and was much afraid.
And it came Christmas, and, be-
hold! there was great rejoicing in
the house of the rich man. And
his children lifted their voices in
song and Rugged him about the
knees, and there was gladness in
that house and in the afternoon
the rich mans wife mended his
overcoat, SO that the pockets there.
of would hold mittens and small
packages. And he was content.
But JOY came not to the poor
mans house for the daughter
theraof desired diamond dog
collar and the automobile had NJ
self starter and his son made moci
of it. And kehold! they wer,
wroth and spoke harshly to thei
father in French which he did no
understand. And joy was not il
that house, no, nor anyone else
For the son and daughter gat then
forth to a cot,llion and the fathe
went down town and was brough
home at 2 o'clock in CAD at mete
rates, plus with his feet out of tn
window.
And, verify, | have not gotte
the rich man and the poor me
mixed up. st. Joseph Observer.