davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-11

were always overshadowed by her COM
passionate sympathy with her fellow men.
More fundamental than all those social
istic theories which from time to time
carried her away, she attained, in her
maturer years, to that spirit of true de-
moeraey, found oftener, think, in women
than in men-a SOLDERING sense of the
great dignified elemental things that all
men lave In common.-birth, love, suffer-
ing and death.
George Sand has been dead for 36 years,
The reticence and secrecy dictated by
consideration for the feelings of the NV
ing is called for no longer. In 1904, on
the occasion of the Tooth anniversary OF
her birth, much new light, from sources
hitherto inaccessible, was thrown upon
certain vexed problems and unanswered
questions of ner life. 1t is gratifying TO
observe that, under the closest scrutiny
the integrity, sincerity, and disinteresteo-
ness of her character do but emerge the
clearer and the more admirable.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-11
GEORGE SAND,

Florence Leftwich Ravenel, in the De-
cember Number of the North Amer
lean Review.
In summing up his impressions of
George Sand after his visit to her at No
hant, Balzac would seek to explain all
the contradictions and Inconsistencies of
her complex personality by affirming that
she was ''as little a woman as possible, -
and in this formula Mr. Henry James
sees the best solution of the problem.
These are great authorities, but l venture
to dissent from both. George Sand s
masculinity was for the most part in
trifl-s-an affair of cigarettes and waist
coats. The secret of her serength, as of
her weakness, is that she was as much
as possible a woman. 1t was her woman
hood with its contempt of limitations, its
demand of the unattainable, that some-
times, as in the Venetian episode, be-
trs-yad her into situations which any man,
at all approaching her in ability and hon
.esty OF purpose, would have avoided, as
it were, by instinct. Much as she loved
and sought IDEAS. she was never really at
home In the region of pure intellect.
Her ripe wisdom, her inspired good sense,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-11
THE CHARACTER OF MELLEN

From Harper's Weekly.
An event showing how up-to-date is the
money trust series, is the onslaught of
former President Meilen on the manage
ment of the New Haven railroad while he
was at the head of it. The gist of Mr..
Mellen's declaration is that while he was
rominally at the head of the road. the
financial policy was dictated by the flnan-
ciers of New York and Boston who con-
trol1ed the road. Mr.. Mellen is sore at
present, what he says should be taken
with reserve, and when he declares that
it was the Boston financiers who wanted
to suppress him, we do not think he spoke
accurately. Nevertheless his outbreak
confirms much that we have been print
ing. When he left the road his mouth
was. closed because of over $4,000 interest
in the road and $4,000 a year for five
Years. The public outcry against this
magnanimity with the stockholders
money caused a declination of the gilt
by Mr.. Mellen, and it is possible he was
glad to give up the money for the sake
OF free expression. He wanted to be
despot and it made him angry that he
could not act independently of the men
who raised him. IF live 10 years." he
said to an acquaintance. Il shall have the
world by the tail" He had the mania of
bigness, and he was fond of praise AS
he grew in Importance. he chafed more
at being called a messenger boy for Mr..
Morgan. 1t will be remembered that
when Alexander the Great came to a
town, he would get together all the prom
inent men and have them killed. Thus
he destroyed oompetition. His empire fell.
nevertheless, even as Napoleon's began to
erurnble when he attempted more than lay
within human power. Mr.. Morgan prob
ANY organized the International Mercan-
tile Marine more from the habit of un-
dertaking everything than in GOODNESS of
judgment. Indeed, 1t is reported of Mr..
Morgan that he declared: I'VE are get
ting things now where a few men can sit
down and settle all the affairs of the
country And Senator Cummins an
swered: II do not think that plan would
work unless the Almighty WAS chairman
of the board"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-11

sections, but true sportsmen are CIV
ing every aid in their power to the
game wardens for the elimination of
this pest. Vigorous prosecutions are
inaugurated wherever sufficient evil
dence can be obtained, and the result
is that game of all kinds is increas-
ing each season. Before long Ala
bsma may again be known as a hunts
mans paradise.
A bill has been passed by Congress
designed to protect migratory fowl,
and indiscriminate slaughter of game
of this kind will soon be a thing of
the past. Alabama was one of the
first states of the nation to volun-
teer cooperation with the federal au-
thorities in the enforcement of the
statute, and vigilant wardens are now
on guard
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-11
The FriscO's Troubles

Investigations of the st. Louis and
San Francisco railroads financial
troubles threatens to develop unsus-
pected sensations. Charges of all
kinds are being made.
William Niles of New York, who
owns 900 shares of Frisco stock, has
applied through his attorneys to Fed
eral Judge Sanborn for permission to
bring suit against officers and former
Officers of the road to compel them to
restore individual profits aggregat-
ing $3,975, 900, which he alleges they
made through the promotion Of feeder
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-11
MIR. UNDERwoOD's CANDIDACY

From the Augusta Chronicle.
We are assured that there is in the call
for the Underwood Volunteer Work
ers'' nothing that can be rightly con-
stiued te mean that the candidacy for the
Senate of Hon. Oscar w. Underwood is,
in any way in danger. There will be
an overwhelming majority in his favor.
This assurance is given by all of the lead
ing Alabama newspapers. The only fear
is of the apathy that may result from
the general knowledge throughout the
state that MIR. Underwood will win with
out a question All that is wanted Is to
get the voters to so to the polls.
The situation as it is presented by the
birmingham Age-Herald is that the ses-
sion of Congress which has just begun
may be crucial in the administration of
woodrow Wilson. Mr.. Underwood has
announced that he will remain in Wash
ington to direct the administration fight
in the House of Representatives. No
other is so we'll qualified. His services
will prove Invaluable to the party as they
have in the past. He Is needed at the
scene of action, and all know that he is
not a shirker. He will remain on the
firing line despite his candidacy for pro-
nation to the Senate. Stung by the pros
duction of evidence that ne had neglected
his duties by reason of continued alb
sence, Congressman Hobson announced
that he intended to return to WASH
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-11
Mrs. Pankhurst

Mrs. Pankhurst's health runs up
and down as easily as a monkey on
a pole. A few days ago she was re-
leased from an English prison fol-
lowing a hunger strike. At the time
it was said that she was very i'll, and q
fatal outcome was feared. Now she
is in the giddy capital of the French,
paying social visit to her daughter,
Christabel.
Mrs. Pankhurst has become an Eng
lish institution. She is the best copy
maker that the reporters have discov-
cred in long time. The railway
guards and the dock laborers may go
on strike, but then they go back
to work again; Lloyd George may
promulgate some new panacea for So
ciety's numerous ailments, but its
echoes die away; Sir Edward Carson
may preach civil war, but in time his
fuliminations deaden rather than ex-
cite the aural organs; Queen Mary
may fire pretty laundress or cut
King Georges cigar allowance still
shorter, but the public tires.
But as to Mrs. Pankhurst-she
could make Tennyson's brook look like
it was getting ready to quit going.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-11
Needed Relief for Railways

The board of directors of the Bir-
mingham Chamber of Commerce at a
meeting held yesterday adopted reso-
lutions favoring the petition of the
eastern carriers to the interstate
commerce commission asking that
they be allowed to increase freight
rates 5 per cent. The Chamber of
Commerce and other commercial bod
les in the large cities have adopted
similar resolutions.
1t is hoped and believed that the
interstate commerce commission will
see it's way clear to grant the in
crease sought. Thinking people gen.
orally believe in government regula-
ton of railroads-strict government
regulation-but no reasonable or
broad minded man can expect the
railroads to make large advance in
wages and comply with repeated de-
lildiiuo lOI CoiiloiIo dliu toiiFSliiShSCo
by the travelling public and keep up
their properties to high standard or
make needed extensions.
Railroads in different parts of the
country have been unable during the
past two years to do the construction
work that had been mapped out or to
buy needed equipment because of their
reduced net earnings, owing to high
cost of operation, and consequently
reduced borrowing ability. AS every
one knows, the railroad companies are
the largest buyers of material in this
country. They buy 40 or SO per cent
of the lumber, so or 60 per cent of
the iron products, and still larger
percentage of the steel products.
If the interstate commerce COM
mission grants the petition of the
eastern carriers, there will be an Inn
mediate improvement in the lumber,
iron and steel trade. This district
will be greatly benefited directly,
But the main reason for expecting ia
vorable action on the part of the in
terstate commerce commission is that
the railroads ask only that which is
just.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-11
Concerning Courthouse Annex

while the new annex to the county
courthouse has given additional court
rooms which are very acceptable it
has brought about other conditions
that are far from desirable" said
Charles E. Rice of the Birmingham
bar. Not only has the new building
excluded the natural light from many
of the rooms of the old building but
has practically left them without ven
tilation. Take, for instance, the court
room in which Judge C. B. Smith pre-
sides. 1t is walled in in such a man
ner as to make current of air al
most impossible and as a result the
court room on these cold days becomes
charged with i'll smelling air that is
not only very disagreeable but is pos
itively harmful.
II am not anmindful of the diff
culties the board of revenue was un-
der in trying to meet the growing needs
of the county, but 1 am one of the
frequenters of the courthouse who be-
lieve that the new adsition has not
improved conditions sufficiently to JUS
tify the outlay"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-11
AN IMpuDENT AUDITOR

From the New YORK sun.
on Friday night at a meeting of the
New York University forum, Mr.. Arturo
Giovannitti, the eminent agitator and
soulful leader of the Industrial Workers
of the World, gave a new version of So
cial justice in these words:
Il don't consider right or wrong.
don't consider the rights of other classes.
All l consider is the interest of labor
AS frank expounder of enlightened
self interest Mr.. Giovannitti easily carries
off the palm. II don't consider right
or wrong" Ethics are obsolete, Chris
tianity is a failure, justice is the vagary
of civilization.
Had Mr.. Giovannitti been satisfied with
his doctrine all might have gone we'll.
But he went on to advise "every one not
a laborer to let labor alone" This decla-
ration from such a source caused a
stupid and ignorant listener to ask Mr..
Giovannitti what was his own connection
with labor We read that the speaker
seemed "a good deal nettled" The trouble
with burrs is that they sometimes stick
even on oily coats. And had Mr.. Gio-
vannitti been as frank in his answer as
he was about his doctrines he would have
replied that 1t was none of the auditors
business. He admitted merely that he
didn't work with his hands
Here arises another query: May one not
work with his mouth? Certainly There
fore Arturo Giovannitti is an able work.
man in constant need of a job. Pass the
hat for your credits sake, and pay,
pay, pay!''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-11
Improvement in Four Years

II was in Birmingham four years
ago just before the last federal census
was taken and the estimated population
as well as I remember was 125,000,"
said Julian L. Werner of st. Louis. Il
doubted IL 1t had quite that much pop
ulation, but when the count was made
the figures were nearly $4,000.
Very recently I have visited several
cities whose population was from 10e.-
900 to 100000 and in none of them
has there been such evidences of
progress I notice here. Birmingham
is the most wonderful city of the south.
Friends of mine who have been here
frequently and recall Birmingham es
1t was 20 years ago stress it's amazing
development, but have known it only
since 1900. and Its handsome improve
ments since then are what l would
call phenomenal If its population is
not as much as 100000 today it is not
far from it,"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-11
About High Cost of Living

Il have been living in New York
city nearly 20 years." said l.. f. Dun
nell, and in that time I have never
known the cost of living so high as
it is now.
II have small family We live in
an apartment, and eight or 10 years
ago | was able to save money out of
an income of $4,000 a year, but every
thing costs so much at the present
time that I find it impossible to do
more than make both ends meet on
$4,000 year Many ways have been
suggested for bringing down the cost
of living, but | doubt whether these
suggestions are practical"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-11
lines and their sale to the trunk line

lines and their sale to the trunk line
they controlled.
The courts must ascertain the truth
Of the allegations made by Mr.. Niles,
but the methods he charges that the
defendants pursued are not entirely
new to the realms of high finance.
Not SO long ago it was regarded as
legitimate or regular" for officials
of common carriers privately to ac-
quire contributing lines and then sell
them at large profit to the roads
whose finances they controlled.
The New Haven troubles resulted
largely from efforts to tie up the ter
ritory it traversed. 1t is now reaping
a most Improbable harvest. The
Frisco serves country rich and pros
porous, and there is no reason why,
after its present troubles are adj
justed, it should not prove a good
money maker. 1t has been one of the
great developers of the Birmingham
mineral district and its operating
management at this end of the line
has been especially commended dur
ing the past two or three years.
Every shipper on the Frisco in Ala
bama is its friend and all hope to see
speedy settlement of it's financial
difficulties.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-11
SANITATION IN JERUSALEM
From the Journal of the American Med.
ica1 Association.

From the Journal of the American Med
ical Association.
TNHB triumphs of modern sanitation
have furnished so many conspicu-
Gus illustrations of what can be ac-
complished by the practice of the teach
ings of modern scientific hygiene that the
possibilities involved have already be-
ing public of the United States. The ex-
perience of our government alone, cul-
minating in the splendid success OF
Colonel Gorgas in the Panama canal zone.
cannot fail to awaken an eagerness to
apply comparable measures speedily in all
parts of the world where health conditions
and sanitary environment suggest the
possibility of work in the direction Of
eliminating disease.
A conspicuous instance of the need for
such work is furnished at present by
Jerusalem, a city in which one out of
every five of its 10000 inhabitants carries
the parasite of malaria in his blood and
three-fifhts of the population give evil
dence of enlargement of the spleen. These
amount of preventable disease and SO pa
thetic because they mean so large a
loss of human usefulness, are not hearsay
figures. They are, on the contrary, the
outcome of Investigations by a scientific
commission at the health bureau of the
Jewish agricultural experiment station in
Jerusalem. This laboratory of hygiene,
endowed in 1912 by the New York philan-
thropst. Nathan Straus, to combat the
diseases of Jerusalem, malaria In partic-
ular, has rendered a report from which
the statements made above have been
quoted. The city is not unfavorably sit
uated from the point of view of climate
or elevation; nevertheless it is the home
OF disease in its most varied manifes-
tations. This is due primarily to the great
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-11
The Railroads ms DeveIouers

ut is generally conceded, I believe,
that the railroads have been the great :
est developers in this country" said
C. W. Nixon of Philadelphia, "and pub
lie sentiment seems to be decidedly
in favor of the interstate commerce
commission allowing the eastern car
riers to advance their freight rate )
per cent.
II am not a railroad man, and my
interest in railroads is only general
would think an increase of 10 per cent
would be not all unreasonable, but
understand that the carriers will be
satisfied with per cent. If the petit
tion of the carriers is granted, we
may expect to see an immediate i'm
provement in several lines of business
iron and steel especially
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-11

ington and represent his constituency. For
three days in succession he appeared in
his seat. But again 1t was like 'the rul-
ing passion strong III DEATH" wednes-
day night he left Washington.
The call for the organization of the
Underwood Oolunteer Workers has
followed-men who will care for Mr.. I'm
derwood's interests while he is at his
capitol post and while Mr.. Hobson il
campaigning Alabama.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-11
FEDERAL ELECTIoN coNTRoL

From the st. Louis Post-Dispateh.
Would not presidential primaries,
provided for by federal law, fall under
the supervision of the federal author
tiles? Might they not be an opening
wedge to federal control of national
presidential elections?
If Mr.. Roosevelt or another like him,
who believed he had divine authority
to direct the people were in the presi-
dncy. what would happen in the presi-
dental primaries? The logic of power
is irresistible.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-11
Game Supply Plentiful

Under adequate game laws, i'm
partially administered, Alabama S
game supply is being rapidly re-
stored. A dispatch says that the sixth
annual contests of the Southern Field
Trials club are providing the best
sport in the history of the organiza-
ton. The cold and bracing weather
is responsible in large part for this
condition, but the main factor is the
plentifulness of birds.
The pot hunter flourishes in some
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-11
Brisk Holiday Trade

"We had a fine holiday trade last
year, and / believe it will be just as
good this year." said Third avenue
merchant.
'The unreasonable warm weather we
had in November and the early part
of this month kept business back to
some extent. but when the mercury in
the thermometer began dropping the
effect was most gratifying. We are
now having ideal weather and the
trade activity that will. prevail be-
tween now and Christmas will enable
us to catch up on the volume of hoi-
iday business. Next week will witness
the greatest rush of the month";
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-11

In Trenton, N. J., system of penny
saving instituted by Miss Anna NJ. Fell,
principal of the Cadwalader public school,
seven years ago, has grown to such pro-
portions that 1t can no longer be handled
by the principal or by the Mothers club
of the school, and a short time ago one
of the local banks, the Trenton Trust and
Safe Deposit company, agreed 70 accept
the guardianship of the money.-only a
light matter the bank officials thought
At first the children got in line with
other depositoEs with their pennies and
nickels and dimes, and were given as
much attention as those with large
amounts to deposit. The number of youth
full depositors kept increasing as other
schools became interested, and the work
to put the school funds in charge of a
clerk, and have him devote all his time
to it, The clerk, almost from the begin
ming, had more work than he could han
die Business with the boys and girls
kept increasing, and now it requires the
time of two clerks to count the pennies
brought to them and take care Of tho
accounts. The children are paid per
cent on their deposits. They cannot draw
out any part of their savings without the
consent of their parents or guardians.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-11

poverty of the population; and added TO
this is the indifference or ignorance of
the Turkish officials in matters of hy-
gene.
In the light of the present day knowl-
edge the pictures of the primitive sani-
tary arrangements that still obtain in
ancient Jerusalem would furnish an in
teresting object lesson. As might be ex-
pected malaria bearing mosquitoes reign
supreme. Their chief breeding places are
the cisterns which provide the water sup
ply from the rain which reaches the house
tops Primitive privies are all too FREE
quently found in close proximity to the
drinking water cisterns 1t is an old story
the foremost interest in which now lies
in the extent of the invasion of disease,
especially malaria. and the consideration
of the best means for combating this
under the rather unusual conditions that
prevail in city where every nationality
and religious sect seeks to maintain its
territorial and governmental independence
under the manifestly helpless jurisdiction
of Turkish officials. Elsewhere the ex-
termination of the mosquito by drainage,
the use of petroleum, oils, ETC., has been
effective.
complete and expensive programme
cannot yet be carried out in Jerusalem. A
beginning has been made by the introduce
ton of screening devices for the cisterns
Infections are to be eliminated in part by
attention to the problems of sewage dis
posal 1t is easy to outline ideal plans
for the Improvement of the unfortunate
Grated in such places as Jerusalem The
actual work of sanitary conquest must,
however, keep pace with the advance of
general enlightenment and political and
economic progress, unless a superior
power somehow is introduced which will
put an end to apathy in regard to mat
ters of hygiene.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-11
Truck Farming

II hope the Chamber of Commerce
farm committee will keep up the good
work it started some time ago in an
effort to induce homeseekers of truck
ing experience to settle in the Bir-
mingham district said a business
man.
''The number of small farmers in
Jefferson county has been about dou-
bled, l am told, within the past four
years, but there is room for thou
sands instead of hundreds When
truck farming is carried to a fuller
development in this part OF the state,
it will prove to be. factor of large
business Importance. 1t will add
greatly to the wealth of the district,
and our population will be increased by
highly desirable class of people,"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-11
LOOKING FOR QUAIL
From I.ippincott's.

From Lippincott's. ,s.ss.. ..a.s....s
The tourist who was anxious for game
entered a western Texas hotel, paused
and looked around, Then he quietly ap-
preached the desk and addressed the pro-
prietor:
Amy quail about this neighborhood?'
Quail" echoed the proprietor. with an
indulgent smile, they have become -
numerous around here that they are a
nuisance. The cook complains that she
can't throw piece of toast out of the
kitchen window but four or five fat quails
fight to see which one shall get on it."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-11


With the close of the present college
year, the New York State College of Ag-
rlculture at Cornell university will in
augurate new programme of semesters
which will keep the school open throughout
the year ~ months. A summer term will
be added to the college year, similar in
all respects to the two regular terms.
This summer term will comprise 90 Gays
of study, beginning June and continuing
until September 2s. The new system will
permit students to graduate in three years
instead of four. The college authorities
believe this plan, which will keep the
institution in operation all the year. will
give the state a bigger return on its in
vestment.