davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-05

will secure his goodwill and sympathy
quicker than to address him in the
melodious and classic words of old
CASTLE.
AS commercial language English
takes the first place in the world, but
when international negotiations are
being debated the French language
is the one employed. By o consensus
of opinion it is held that the French
language is the best for diplomacy
on account of the fine distinctions that
can be drawn and the fine shades of
meaning conveyed, thereby preclud-
ingfthe possibility of ambiguity.
Since it is not possible to learn
every language taught in the schools
the student would do we'll to confine
himself to the study of those which
are likely to be attended with some
practical benefit in later life, and
none seem to offer this with more
likelihood than English, French and
Spanish.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-05

Mrs. c. r. Miller, in Leslie's.
Having secured permit from the Ser
Wan war office to visit the Bulgarian
prisoners of war, l walked slowly down
the wide stairway of the old fashioned
MOTEL at which ] am living. The silence
was oppressive, for even as | passed the
cafe the few men who were drinking their
tea spoke in whispers. A large war map
hung on the wall and on this a hotel en-
ploye was moving the little flags used to
designate the position of the Servian
army. 1t was evident from the low voices
OF the two men who watched him that
news of fresh fighting had been received.
As VIC neared the commandant's office a
soldier came out to meet us. Again the
permit was shown and the soldier carried
1t away to the office. In few minutes
he returned and informed us that he was
to accompany us. We left the carriage
and began our walk to the lower fort
where about 20O0 Bulgarian prisoners of
war are housed.
spoke to the courier in English. and
instantly the face of one of the prison.
ers lighted up with a sudden joy. you
speak American" he questioned. | nod
ded in the affirmative. 81 was in
America, I work there when the war
broke out and | come home to fight.
he went on in very good English Then
the man with the switch spoke to the
courier. 1t was evident that he did not
wish me TO talk to the prisoners, so [
moved away. The prisoner followed and
walking directly behind me- he kept on
talking about the United States. He asked
me If there We're railroad strikes in Amer
lea and if | thought he could obtain work
there. 1t seems that he had been a track
worker on railroad in the western part
| of the United States and was anxious to
return to America. Farther down. near
the river, a number of men were mendng
their clothing, others We're doing their
laundry work at the river and still Others
We're asleep under the trees
In the courtyard the prisoners were al
lowed to hold a sort of market. Some of
them had been permitted to purchase
meat and vegetables and to set up a sort
of market stand and sell to the prisoners
who desired little extra food in addi-
lion to the regular prison fare. Two of
them had curious looking stoves on which
they Srilled small portions of meat which
was said u be very tasty. Two Turkish
prisoners here appeared. A few Turks
are still prisoners at the fortress and their
behavior when the Bulgarians were
brought there is said to have been most
annoying to the guards. The Turks and
Bulgarians have savage dislike for each
other, and when the Bulgarian prisoners
We're brought in the Turks ut once IN
gagged them in fist fights, and it was with
the greatest difficulty that they were
quieted The Servians, howev Fl. get along
we'll with the Turks. The large member OF
prisoners has made 1t necessary 10 use tie
stables as well as the barracks for hous-
Ing them; the floor of the statle is COW
cred with fresh straw.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-05
Remedy With Ginners

Cotton bales of larger dimension
than 81 by Sd inches will be penalized
81 each in transportation charges.
The farmers are making vigorous OBJ
lection, and have asked Congressman
CLAYTON to see what can be done to-
ward having the rule rescinded.
Mr.. Clayton has made an investiga-
tion. but his findings are not particu-
larly encouraging. The interstate COM
merce commission is powerless to act,
as the regulation is one established
by the steamship companies, over
which the commission has no con-
troll.
Relief, in the view of Mr.. Clayton,
lies only with the ginners. 1t will be
possible, he believes, for them to
change their gin boxes so that bales
will come within the required dimen-
sions. 1t will cost large sum in the
aggregate to change the size of the
boxes. but if this action is not taken
4he loss to the farmers will run into
hundreds of thousands.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-05
A MuMMy,s ErITAPH

From the Philadelphia Ledger.
To a western art museum an Egypt
ologist has presented the mummy, 5000
years old, of a man who dwelt in
Thebes in the time of Ramese ii and
III and held the official post of keeper
of the scales.
The epitaph reads:
II have done good upon earth. /
honored my mother. loved my father.
was loved by my brothers ard sisters.
was a friend to the weak. / collected
corn for the poor. 1 gave clothes to the
naked. I have not harbored prejudice
nor crushed those over whom l was
master / have not said an evil word
against any one. made sacrifices for
others
In an era whose materialistic ideals
were set by cruel and rapacious rulers.
each bent upon aggrandizement and
fame, no matter what the toll in human
lives, it Is something to find this sim
pie minded Thebean merchant of the
eighteenth dynasty unfolding the prin-
ciples of kindness and benevolence in
his personal example. Could a modern
man desire or deserve nobler record
than that of Ankah Peta Hotep's sar-
cophagus?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-05
TELEPHONE
Bell (private exchange connecting n'
departments), Main 49OO.
At the Panama Fair

Though both Germany and Great
Britain have announced that they Will
not be represented at the Panama
Pacific exposition in San Francisco in
1915 by an official exhibit, signs are
Increasing that the resources OF both
nations will be given adequate dis
play.
Sir Albert Raye Rollit, chairman OF
the international exhibitions commit
tee of the London Chamber of Com
merce, in issuing denial that pollti-
cal considerations had anything to do
with the governments refusal to par
ticipate in the San Francisco show,
took occasion to declare that he is will
ing to do all in his power to induce
his fellow countrymen to take ad-
vantage of the opportunity afforded
them.
Sir Thomas Upton, the famous mer-
chant, is advising that England's IN
dustries be advertised along with
those of the rest of the world, and the
London Times is declaring that Great
Britain would make vast mistake by
refusing to appear.
Herr BALM, director of the Ham
burg-American line, is formulating a
scheme whereby German industry
may be adequately represented at the
e..position. AS tentative suggestion
it is proposed to raise a subscription
among the German-Americans of this
country to assist in defraying the ex-
penses of merchants in the Father
land. In that case the line would grant
a very considerable reduction in
freight rates between Germany and
San Francisco.
In both England and Germany the
belief is growing that neither coun-
try can afford to absent itself.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-05
An Armor Plate Plant

The navy department has succeeded
in making a contract for armor plate
at figure about 500 ton less than
the price that has been paid in the
past. This shows the good that al
ready has been accomplished by dis
cussion of an armor plate factory
owned by the government.
The concessions made by the armor
plate trust, however, will not down
the movement for the government to
manufacture armor plate for itself. A
bill already has been introduced in
Congress appropriating $7,Oo0,OO0
for such an enterprise. 1t will be
strongly advocated, and its passage
is not improbable, although some
months must elapse before any action
is taken.
Alabama's delegation may be eX-
pected to line up solidly for the Brit
ten bill. Birmingham offers induce
ments that cannot be overlooked. Mr..
Underwood and his colleagues are
thoroughly alive to the situation and
will see that Birmingham's claims
are given careful consideration. In
the meantime, the Chamber of Com
merce will continue its fight.
Economy directs that the govern
ment make its own armor plate and
that it be made in Birmingham.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-05
sun YAT sen EXPLODEs
] the Louisville Courier-Journal.

From the Louisville Courier-Journal.
Dr. Sun Yat Sen, somewhat inflated
Celestial who figured considerably In Chi
mas early struggles for democracy, seems
Debated. The Peking correspondent of the
New York Herald says:
From a popular idol Sun has cor
lapsed to the level of a back-door con-
spirator, and for that he has none but
himself to blame
Sun Vat Sen had but to keep his
mouth closed to be regarded as one of the
biggest men in China. SUMS eclipse has
been caused by his failure to place a
guard upon his tongue.
HE joints a moral. His strongest adj
mirers have been compelled to condemn
him for the part he has taken in this
terrible blunder called rebellion. Even
the party he was supposed to lead has
felt constrained to go against him. The
Kuo Min-tang has already elected HuanS-
Hsin, Chen Chi-mei and Ii Li-chun, VINO
figured as the leaders of the rebellion,
and they have mentally put Sun in the
background.
Yuan Shih Kai is one of a very few
Chinese whose name and history are wen
known wherever Chinese AFFAIRS are OF
interest. His career made him distin-
guished soldier and diplomatist during
the dominance of the Empress Dowagef'
When he was stripped of honors and Of
flee because he contrived to avert mas
sacre of foreigners which was ordered oy
the misguided Empress Dowager during
the Boxer rebellion the Manchu rulers
OF Chan lost one of their ablest advisers
and most patriotic men. Yuan has MADE
the impression of man of unshakeaoie
honesty of purpose who had the inter-
ests of China at heart when the country
was a monarchy and who had It's inter-
ests at heart when the opportunity lor 1t
to become a republic developed.
DR.. Sun Vat Sen was never "convlhc-
ing" to use the parlance of the dramatic
critics. That he was probably iaher
was the general opinion outside OF emma
That he was a make-believe patriot ana
a self seeker seems now to be estap-
lished
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-05
rrrTyE TRAGEDY OF EMPIRE

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
The British government believes III
pulling down the flag when common
sensa dictates such a course. In Janu-
ary. 1910 the flag was removed from
the interior of the British Somaiiianu
protectorate There was a Mad Muilaii
loose there, and the vast uneNpioreo
region was scarcely worth hghtins ior'
1t was officially announced that Greal
Britain had receded from the country
and that the British claim would In tne
future cover only a few towns along
the coast of the Gulf of Alden.
The iingoes made much noise about
this. They charged the government win
cowardice and inefficiency But the
flag remained down.
Now England is greatly stirred by
the news that British force has been
defeated and it's commander killed III
the territory which was officially re-
linouished over three years ago. The
Mullah, as mad as usual, overpowercd
the British when for some reason the
British machine guns refused to WORK
The anti -jingoes are now demanding
to know why such battle was fought,
and what a British force was doing In
a region which was not British. lnas-
much as the commander Is dead, there
will. perhaps, never be satisfactory
reply But there can be very likely
guess.
Richard Conyngham Corfield, who
was the responsible official, was a
young man of 81. He was stationed in
one of the most inaccessible and un-
desirable of Britain's many wild lands.
He hoped to make a name for himself
to conquer a little empire of his own
and restore it to his country, to hui
initiate the Mad Mullah who had hu-
inflated England and to earn promo
ton. So, ON his own responsibility, he
led his little army against the fanati-
cal hords of the Mullah. The spirit OF
adventure moved him it moved the
heroes of the early days of British
empire building.
He lost. as many another adventure
er has lost; had he won he would have
been remembered for some time. But
having lost all, even his name will be
forgotten within a twelvemonth.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-05
Foreign Languages

With the opening of the schools
and the resumption of studies by the
pupils the subject of what languages
are most desirable deserves some at
tention. The curriculum offers several,
leaving the selection optional with the
student, but in many cases the student
is not in a position to approximate
their relative value as an asset later
in life and consequently is not gov
erned in his decision by any such con-
sideration.
In Latm-America the language
spoken by the vast majority of the
people is the Spanish tongue. AS a
knowledge of Latin is regarded as es-
sential to an education it may be very
easily turned to practical account
when followed by the study of Span
ish, the languages being like cousins
german to each other--and no ar
oument is necessary to show the i'm
portance of being able to write and
sneak the language of our southern
neighbors. Apart from the advantage
It confers upon him who is able to
transact business with foreigners in
their own language, it has been stated
that there is no more sincere form of
opmpliment to a Spaniard, or one that
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-05
CONVICT REFORM MEET
From the Mobile Register.

From the Mobile Register.
Alahamians who hope to see some true
reform of the convict system are pleased
that the call is issued for the meeting
of the Alabama Convict Improvement as
soclahon, the meeting to take place in
Montgomery. November o. The secretary
has assurance of a large attendance OF
members; and this is likely, for there is
widespread interest taken in the subject
of the meeting. Ten counties in the state
already are using their convicts in build
ing highways. Gradually what is said by
upholders of the proved system to be i'm
possible is proved possible by actual prac-
tice. 1t is thus with very nearly every
reform. The way to institute it is to in
stitute it; and the impossible becomes pos
sible
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-05
POINTED PARAGRAPHS

From the Chicago News.
Few students of human nature ever
graduate
Most men are too polite to adhere strict
ly to the truth.
After the husband goes shopping the
wife goes swapping.
An apartment isn't the only place in
which marriage is fiat failure.
A correct guess passes for wisdom
with the man who makes the guess.
Nearly every woman dislikes fiattery-
when she hears it applied to others
Our neig'hbors seldom say mean things
about us unless we have 1t coming oui
way.
The dollar dad earns looks three times
as big to him as it does to the son who
blows it in
Occasionally woman does a man q
favor by making fool of him instead Of
marry ing him.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-05
The Balkan Massacres

First the Turks were accused of
perpetrating inhuman atrocities upon
their enemies of the Balkan states,
and when Bulgaria and her allies
parted as friends to meet as enemies,
the troops Of Gear Ferdinand were
charged with all sorts of excesses.
For long time the world suspended
| judgment. 1t was loath to believe that
soldiers calling themselves Christians
could be guilty of the outrages laid
to them by the countries they were
! fighting.
Evidence piled up that the Bulga-
rians had burned and slaughtered
with wanton cruelty, and the denials
from Sofia became weaker and weaker
and finally ceased.
Now the Bulgarians are attempting
to show that the Greeks also have
murdered and pillaged for the mere
love of blood letting. Letters from
Greek soldiers at the front to friends
and relatives at home have fallen
into the hands of the Bulgarans, and
they are being given to the world with
much glee. If these letters are au-
thentic, and there seems little reason
to doubt such is the case, they indeed
sully the name of Greece.
War is brutalizing. When men en-
gage in it their human feelings are
repressed. Then deeds are done from
which the world shrinks in horror.
Turk, Bulgarian, Greek-or the rep
resentative of any other nation
thirsting to slay his enemy, are all
about the same. 1t is the business
they're engaged in that robs them
of civilizations attributes.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-05
Convict Improvement Meeting

"The meeting of the Alabama Convict
Improvement association at Montgomery
next week will bring together from all
narts of the state opponents Of the pres
ent system Of selling the labor of con-
victs." said John O'Neill, secretary OF
the association, land we are expecting a
large attendance.
"There is enough sentiment against
the abuses that have grown out of work.
ing convicts in the mines and similar
employment to wipe the system off OF
the earth If it can be centralized and em-
ployed in the coming campaign.
"At the last meeting of the association
the declaration was made that the or
ganization should beskept out of politics.
except that an effort should be made to
ascertain just how the candidates for the
house and senate in the various counties
and districts stand on the subject of con-
vict Improvement and to make their at
titude known to the voters.
mot one of the candidates for governor
is known to oppose the plan to do away
with the convict leasing system as en-
ployed by the state and many of the coun-
ties; and most of them have expressed
the opinion that the time ID coming when
it will be expedient to work many of the
state and county convicts on the public
roads. This fact has had something to
do with keeping the issue out of the
gubernatorial fight.
THE attitude Of the press Of the state
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-05
HE WANTS ADVICE
From the Cleveland Plain Dealer

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
A correspondent says: II took. one
of the Human Betterment recommended
tions of the Massachusetts, Mental Hy-
giene society. lettered it in fair. round
script, framed 1t and hung it up in our
living room. 1t reads as follows: 'Cul-
tivate a cheerful, generous and chari-
table, disposition Good advice, eh? Well.
do you think my wife was justified in
taking it down from the wall, wrap
There, you need that at the office!' 1t
wasn't right was 1t? And after 1 had
gone to all that trouble just on her
account. I'm inclined to be little mad
over it. What do you advise me to do?'
Advise you to do? That's easy.
Be cheerful, generous and charitable
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-05
Licensin. of washerwomen Urged

II wish to go on record as i'll favor OF
the licensing and registering of washer
women, said a head of household, land
long ago | advanced the idea.
1T need not be license fee that will
work a hardship, but | would particularly
urge penalty for moving from one domi-
cile to another without notifying the reg
strar at the city hall
"And another thing highly important, is,
that the premises of those taking laundry
should be inspected. Not only has tuber-
eulosis been transmitted by washerwomen
but [ know of no less than three dis
tinct instances, covering a few years,
where smallpox was carried into white
households from negro washerwomen s
shacks | recall one instance, when five
members of a white family were all
stricken with it. Traced to its source
twas found that a negro man recovered
from a case of smallpox, concealed in the
negro washerwoman's ROOM
"If had my way I'd require every per-
son in domestic service to register also
an then find out how they lived; how
many persons, the sex, etc, they sup
ported
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-05
IN HOTEL LOBBIEs
Prosperity In The Far West

4 found the cities in the far west full
of business activity" said Nathan /.
Miller, who returned this week from a
months visit to the Pacific coast Il
found Los Angeles and San Diego inter-
esting and thriving cities. But San Fran
cisco is. of course, the gerat city of that
part of the country
or the cities of the 100000 class, YAM
couVer seems TO be the most progressive.
we boast of our many skyscrapers, but
vancouver has more of them in the
course of construction than even this sky
scraper city of ours
Seattle is holding It's own and through
out the west generally prosperity seems
to be the rule
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-05
Iron Prices Inward

The Birmingham iron market has been
strong for some time at $11 on a No. ?
foundry basis and several furnace COM
known broker.
Il understand that some tonnage has
been sold at sl1.50 and there is scarcely
doubt but that iron will be active at
that price within the next two or three
weeks. expect to see it selling at s12
before the holidays"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-05
THE OLD CANOE

BY Albert Pike.
Where the rocks are gray and the shore
is steep,
And the waters below look dark and deep.
Where the rugged pine, in, it's lonely
pride.
Leans gloomily over the murky tide,
Where the reeds and rushes are long and
rank,
And the weeds grow thick on the winding
bank,
Where the shadow is heavy the whole day
through,
There lies at it's moorings the old canoe.
The useless paddles are idly dropped,
Like sea birds wings that the storms
had Topped
And crossed DER the ratings one DER one.
Like the folded hands when the work 10
done:
While busily back and forth between
The spider stretches his silvery screen,
And the solemn owl, with his dull too
hoo"
Settles down on the side OF the old canoe.
The stern, half sunk in the Shiny wave
Rots slowly away in its living grave.
And the green moss creeps DER It's dull
decay
Hiding it's moldering dust away,
Like the hand that plants DER the tomb
flower.
UT the IVY tilat nantes the 1all1nS tower
While many blossom of lovellest hue
Springs up DER the stern of the old canoe.
The currentless waters are dead and stil
But the light wind plays with the boat at
WILL
And lazily in and out again
1t floats the length of the rusty chain,
Like the weary march of the hands Of
time,
That meet and part at the noontide chime.
And the shore is kissed at each turning
anew,
BY the dripping bow of the old canoe.
Oh. many a time. with careless hand,
have pushed it away from the pebbly
strand
And padded it down where the stream
Where the whirls are wide and the eddies
are thick,
And laughed as leaned DER the rocking
side,
And looked below in the broken tide,
To see that the faces and boats were two,
That were mirrored back from the old
canoe.
But now. as I lean DER the crumbling
And look below in the broken tide,
The face that see there is graver grown.
And the laugh that hear has sobered
tone, -.-s
And the hanks that lent to the light skin
wings
Have grown familiar with sterner things.
But love to think OF the hours that sped
As rocked where the whirls their white
spray shed,
Ere the blossoms waved, or the green
grass grew
'o'er the nolderlng stern Of the old canoe
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-05
AS INTERPRETED NOWADAYS

From the Chicago Tribune.
Mr.. Dorkins, going home early in the
afternoon, found his wife overhauling the
ice box and cleaning up the pantry.
what are you doing, Maria? ?" he asked.
Following Solomon's advice she said,
even if it is addressed to the sluggard.
have gone to the ant, considered her
ways-and I'm wise to the fact that She $
nuisance, calamity, and a pestl 1 am
going to clean her out!''
Sneezing as the red pepper in the at
mosphere filled his nostrils, Mr. Dorlxins
turned and fed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-05
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES

living near that town who was tremeRs
dously excited by the arrival in her hoina
of a baby sister When a neighbor met
the little girl a few days later she asked.
Did the stork bring a baby to your
house the other night?" mo-" answered
the child. when | first heard it honk
l thought it was goose. but when 1
looked out of the window found 1t WAS
an automobile"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-05
A CURIOUS CASE.

"Plimly always has detected attitude.
fear he doesn't enjoy life
That's where you are mistaken. Plm-
ly is so constituted that he revels in mel
ancholy and he frequently gets more
pleasure out of being remorseful than
some people do out of a jag ITSELF