davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-21

X XANY critics pronounce Middle
MI march to be George Elot's most
mastery production, and not
without good reason The story was
written when she stood at the height of
her. experience and fame. She had al
ready given the world Scenes of Cler-
ica1 Life" adam Bede," 1.-THE Mill On
the Floss" "Silas Mariner" Romola," and
Felix Holt" But "Mlddlemarch" was
the climax of her work Subsequently
she wrote Daniel Deronda," and The
Impressions of Theophrastus Such; but
her great mind, almost Baconian in It's
grasp. had spent itself in her marvel
lous masterpiece. 'Mddlemarch." l take
"Midderzarch.'
PLAINNEss
"Plainness has it's peculiar temptations
and vices quite as much as beauty; it is
apt either to feign amiablity, or not
feigning IT, to show all the responsiveness
of discomfort: at any rate. to be called
an ugly thing in contrast with that lovely
e,,eatuie, your companion. is apt to pro-
duce some effect beyond a sense of fine
veiaeity and fitness In the phrase"
W VANITY
Among our valued friends is there not
someone or other who is a little too
self-confident and disdainful; whose dis
tinguished mind is little spotted with
commonness; who is little pinched here
and protuberant there With native pref
,udices, or whose better energies are la
BILE to lapse down the wrong channel un-
der the influence of transient solicitations?
The particular faults from which
these delicate generalities have distln-
guishable physiognomies. diction, accent
and grimaces; filling up parts in various
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-21

abandon attendant on a season of relig-
ious worship In the woods. Its restraint
Of formality and conventionality. such as
pertained to church worship gave It a
peculiar tang of popularity. In rhe camp
meeting there was a oneness of spirit,
with the total obiteration of favoritism
where people could worship without the
fear of trenching on the rules of stilted
propriety ard without having to conform
to style or aught else but common sense
propriety. The preacher could preach as
long as he might wish. and the people
could sing and shout without limit The
fresh open air, the tented grounds. social
contact and freedom of worship were the
chief elements of an old-time camp meet
Ing. Certain points throughout the
south became famous as camp grounds,
and remained so for full 20 years or more.
That the camp meeting was an occasion
of vast good. no one familiar with ii would
deny. To old and young alike 1t was al
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-21

ginning of the meeting there were those
who were active in getting the grounds
into condition for the coming event.
While those who We're to tent on the
grounds were engaged in storing supplies
end arranging for the comfort of the
occupants of the tents and cottages
erected about the grounds. The tents
were thiclNy sown down with oat or
wheat straw and partitioned with cur
tains in accommodation to the different
sexes.
The chief building on the grounds was
the place of worship, or the tabernacle.
This was usually a pavilian with perma-
nent roof and seats and deeply overstrewn
with straw. Sometimes 1t was an inn
mense tent which was erected each year.
The worship began with a sunrise prayer
meeting, to which the audience was sum-
moned, as 1t was 10 all occasions of
worship. by the blowing OF a large cow
horn. Four services a day were held,
one at sunrise. another at midday. a third
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-21

Paul and John do not stand in the way
and sometimes prefer to put a mythical
Pythagoras or a mythical SaRya-munl be-
side Him. rather than the founders of
churChesl
The harder the orthodoxy. so much the
greater is Its resistance to new life.
Hence In the day of Plotinus. as in the
age now closing. there was a vast clash
ing OF tongues and passions. and wide
appeal from the old teachers and the old
authorities to something that awakened a
more poetic and passionate and selfseNi-
dencing experience of It's truth So in
the seventeenth century the clash of
Puritan and Catholic with sroyalist and
churchman created the mystical sect of
Quakers. Digging down and breaking up
the form of faith gives always an op-
portunity, not to say demand. for a
more spiritual and more adequate form
or expression of its essential contents.
1t is in this way that we must ex-
plain the enormously quickened interest
In and study of the mystics. Instead of
dogma. more or less debatable, they tell
us of quite unbeatable experience and
self-evldent certainty. Instead of second
hand, traditional phrases. the mystics as
sure us that we may have first-hand
knowledge of God. and a golden key to
unlock untold treasures hidden in the for
bidding eatchwords of the dead past
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-21

L. OR the camp meeting. so long pop
ular institution in the south, we
are Indebted to the people called
Methodists. The originator of the camp
meeting seems to have been Lorenzo Dow,
who adopted this as popular method of
reaching the people of England In the
earliest years of the nineteenth century.
IL was SO successful that the early Meth
odists adopted. it with much advantage
In the new and growing states of Amer
lea. Others partly adopted this method,
but none could ever equal the success
OF the Methodists in its conduct. It re-
mained popular institution till the be-
ginning of the civil war.
Unique in many respects. the camp
meeting rapidly won in popular favor.
Though religious, the camp meeting had
the inviting side of an cutting and the
dash of the picnic together, with the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-21

preachers of rival churches concerning
things of little consequence dividing
the community into hostile camps and
sowing discord in the name of the
shepherd who is King of Love. Cheese
pairing" has disgraced theology as well
as politics and along with these hu-
initiating exhibitions has gone the pre-
cedent and accompaniment of SNUG
self-satisfied orthodoxy. singing i'm
predatory psalms
Under circumstances like these "the
cid time religion" was In very bad
way. Theological opinion and creed
hardened into what have been well
called fossil dogmas. There was a fos-
sill dogma of the Trinity, of the atone
ment. of heaven and hell. and of every
other ethical and spiritual truth taught
in the catechism Thus the shell had
been substituted for the egg; the form
was mistaken for the reality
But then came the deluge. Thank Cpd
for these providential tides and
deluges. Scientific men began to in
wade the world pre-empted by the theo-
logians The foundations of the great
deep We're again broken up and the
waters of scepticism and question stood
above the mountains. A so-called new
theology rushed to the rescue Mer
began to restate the truth contained
in the old formulae and symbols, ir
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-21

ways one of the prospective focus points
of genuine enjoyment. There was the
zest of novelty of living apart week or
10 days from the noisy world. in the midst
of the most congeniaI association. The
approach of the season for the camp meet
ing spurred the farmer TO the time of
laying by his crop. and excited the dill
igence of the good housewife in boarding
eggs, butter honey and of fattening the
turkeys and chickens. all for 4the coming
camp meeting. Nor did the idea of
denominationalism ever enter the minds
of the peoples While it was a Methodist
institution, those of other denominations
shared with equal interest in it's promo
ton and success. The recl cation afforded
was of the most wholesome type physi-
cally mentally. socially and spiritually.
level tract of land IN close proximity
to a large spring of water was usually
selected. cleared of its underground and
fallen timbers, in the midst of a popu-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-21

lous region, and with surroundings of
abundance in order to provide against any
emergency respecting man or beast The
grounds were generally laid out in regular
order after the fashion of a camp, and
any who might wish to do go were in
vited to pitch their tents and share in
the general enjoyment of the occasion
The only restrictions imposed were those
of good order and the observance of de-
cent propriety about ones tent Disorder
of no kind was tolerated and If discov-
cred was promptly removed. There were
no rigid rules. the law being that of com-
mon sense based on decency and proprl-
ETY..
The camp meeting was held at an an
nually stated time. and by the Christian
community was looked forward to with q
sense of delight that must have been
akin to that of theancient Israelites III
their annual plgrimages to Jerusalem
For at least a week in advance of the be-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-21

W1HEN Dewey sailed out Of Hong
M kong on that memorable trir
w that was to make him one OF
the great naval figures of history, a mar
who weighed $50 pounds managed some
how to get passage in one of the trans
ports The man was W. w. Brown. He
was agent on the China coast for ar
American brewery. He took with him
across the China sea a goodly cargo OF
his beer and carried it in safety over the
mines and past Corregidor, He managed
somehow to get permission to accompany
the troops after the capture of Manila
and there were very few fights on the Is
land of Luzon when he didn't serve his
beer to the men in the field.
He was as hearty as he was big and
was jolly companion. What was more
he was generous. To officers or men who
were short of money he was not only
willing to sell his stuff on credit, but tc
make loan. He became one of the most
popular men of all those who followed the
troops.
A few months after the battle of Manila
there was a great banquet given in the
capital of the Philippines Honors had
been bestowed upon hundreds of men,
Dewey was to be a ce-admiral first and
then an admiral, and various majors were
to be colonels. Some colonels were to be
made generals. Everybody was happy.
Speeches were made and toasts were
drunk in honor of this man and of that
one.
In the shank of the evening Dewey
arose: 1--WE have felicitated each other
upon the honor and the glory that have
come to u.s. he said. eve have ad-
dressed each other by our new titles. We
have paid our tributes of honor and re-
spect But in all this great celebration we
have neglected one to whom much Is due.
No title has been given to him. No honor
ifhas been shown for all the glorious work
he has done propose to rectify this sad
omission. / propose to bestow upon him
title which hope you all will consider
Is his due. 1 propose that our friend.
Brown, shall have the title of Mayor of
Manila and that we now drink to his
good fortune
There was roar of laughter and ap-
plause and everybody drank to the
Mayor of Manila" From that, day to
this w. w. Brown has been the Mayor of
Manila in name If not In fact. He has
a keen eye for business and he has pros
pered amazingly. He was only a beer
agent when he popped into Manila Now
he is one Of the most Influential men In
the Philippines.
There was a Spanish brewery In Manila
when he got there and 1t had conces-
y sion from the government. Although
Irown sold in opposition to this brewery,
2 very quietly bought up the bulk of its
J@hares. He was figuring on something
Sthat happened little later In the treaty
df4'arfs all the grants of the Spanish
e, Arnment were held sacred. The con-
cession of that Manila brewery was among
them Brown introduced American beer
making methods in the Philippine brew
cry and he sells his beer throughout the
islands at handsome profit. In Manila
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-21

in the afternoon and another at night. No
limitation of time was imposed on the
services. They were as liable to last four
or five hours as one. The matter was
settled by the interest. and not by the
watch. Often after midnight the services
were still In progress
Near the center of the grounds was
what was called the fire. stand. which was
a small platform four or five feet square.
covered deeply in sand. on which a fire
was kept blazing by means OF lightwood
during the entire night. This platform
was supported by four strong supports,
and the resinous flame would irradiate all
the grounds and the surrounding forest.
About the camp were the stalls of the
stock and the braying mules and neighing
horses served to remind one of the DO
nestle conditions of the camp.
These occasions were gala ones to the
young folks who were seen perched In
buggies about the grounds discussing
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-21

turned it down. Blumenfeld was almost
heart-broken. He thought that was the
finest thing that was ever written.
He took the rejected manuscript DOWN
town and asked Mr.. Phillips to READ It,
Phillips thought 1t was good but too
highly colored. He suggested, however,
that Blumenfeld turn it into the Herald.
1t might be accepted there. Biumenfeld
did so. The Herald printed the article.
A couple of weeks later letter came
from James Gordon Bennett with instruc-
tions that $40 extra be given to the man
who wrote that story, and that his salary
be increased. Blumenfeld got the $40 and
position on the Herald. 1t was not very
long before he went on the Telegram as
successor to the man who had rejected
his first literary production.
When James Gordon Bennett met Blum
enfield he took fancy to him. After
working on the Telegram several years,
Blumenfeld was summoned to Europe by
Mr.. Bennett. Blumenfeld was in high
favor for some time, but he ana Mr.. Ben
nett disagreed over something and Blum
enfield got his congo.
From Paris he went to London The
gentleman who then was known as AL
fred Harmsworth who later became Sir
Alfred Harmsworth, and now is Lord
Northcliffe, engaged him. Blumenfeld has
been with Harmsworth ever since. He has
given the American color to the Harms
worth publications. Now he Is the editor
of the London newspaper with the largest
circulation in the British isles.
49,
negotiated for the purchase of the London
Times with the intention of making Blum
enfield the editor. Blumenfeld is today
the second greatest force In the news
paper field In the British empire. He is
rich. He married a wealthy girl in Lon
don, and he has made lot Of money in
the British capital. 1t would have been
a mistake for Harmsworth to have put
him in charge of the Times. Blumenfeld
is nimble-witted, clever and aggressive,
but he has not the mental poise or the
breadth OF vision that should characterize
the directing genius Of the "Thunderer."
Blumenfeld Is less than so. Many Amer
leans in London look to him more than
they do to the American ambassador when
they need influence.
A man entered the National City bank
ofNNew York the other day and sent his
card in to the president. Mr.. Vanderlip
was busy at the time, but he instructed
the messenger to show the gentleman in.
The gentleman was from Manila In as
few words as he could state his case well
he explained to Mr.. Vanderlip that he
had just brought about q merger of the
principal banking institutions of the Phil
ippine Islands. and that he was in the
United States to arrange for correspon-
dent in this city, and he would be greatly
pleased IL the National City bank, as the
leading financial institution of America,
would act as it's correspondent
Mr. Vanderlip looked at him quizzingly
for few moments and then said Well,
there isn't much money in 1t for the Ma
tional City. but 1 would do anything to
oblige you, Tom"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-21

(Note-It is to be feared that confusion
arouse in some readers minds last week
by the erroneous printing of Mysteries
for Mysticism in the title of my little
essay. Needless to say, | am not at
tempting to discuss mysteriesl There are
too many of them. But mysticism has
no more to do with mystery than has
melody with melodrama or blunder with
blunderbuss.-G. Ed
HWO points I have noted as of espe-
cial importance to the understand
= ing of the mystics, the first, that
they have represented the immediate re-
lation of the soul to God, it's claim to
hold personal communion with him, and
Secondly. the passivity of the soul in its
highest experiences of this fellowship,
''the ecstasy Along with these prin-
ciples go others, which may be illus
trated by study of the lives of mystical
saints. BY way of contrast to. true
Christian mysticism l ventured to indi-
cate the various breeds of Theosophists
who seek estate experiences by means
of psychological stimulus. To the same
group belong all who seek after a sign,
such as gifts of tongues, levitation, as
pirations after the infinite, miraculous
healings, proofs of the other world by
The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1913-10-24
HOME BURGLARIzED,

Last Thursday night some person
entered the home of Austin Prudhome
in the northern part Of town and stole
suit of clothes belonging to Columbus
Prudhome who was boarding in the
home. The entrance was effected
through back door and the escape
was made Withouta disturbance OF the
family. Some suspicion conferred about
Nathaniel Prudhome, a cousin OF
Austin Prudhome, but no evidence was
secured to fix the crime.
Saturday Nathaniel Prudhome en-.
tered town with heavy suit case and
went to the depot, presumably to take
the train to leave town. Marshall
Fontenot was on his job at the train
and sizing up the situation arrived at a
judgment that the suit case held the
solution of the question as to the
whereabouts of the missing suit. He
thereupon proceeded to make an in
vestigation of the contents of the said
suit case with the result that amply
justified his suspicious, The suit of
clothes was there and so were duly and
properly noted and cared for.
Elated over the correctness of his
surmise Chief Fontenot proceeded tC
work out other suspicious that were
beginning to take shape in his brain
So acting on certain theories coupled
up with certain other facts he began
search of the person of Mr.. Prudhome
Notwithstanding some miner protest!
from the latter. Slowed away in some
of the vestments he discovered ant
brought to light a watch and two
rings which he identified as being thu
property of Mr.. ALICE Benoit; some few
days previous MIR. Benoit having missed
these articles from his possessions.
The somewhat diScomfitted Mr.
Prudhome then kindly admitted thu
identity of the jeWelry but could no
make up his mind to acknowledge tn
identity of the suit.
Marshall Fontenot made affidavit
and Ward Constable Thos. Cox arreSte,
Prudhome and carried him to Jenning
to be lodged in jail.
Monday morning District Attorne
T. Arthur Edwards, filed bill of ii
formation charging Prudhomne wit
larceny. He pied guilty and wa
sentenced to 90 days in the parish jail.
The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1913-10-24
NUMBER Is
DISTRICT COURT At JENNINGS
Several Petty Offenders are Pun
ished.-SeveraI Cases Set
For Future Date,

Quite a number of petty offenders
faced Judge Winston Overton in the
District Court Monday morning, some
of them under indictment by the grand
Jury and others being charged in bills
of information filed by District Attorney
T. Arthur Edwards.
Fred Dudley, Philozie BrouSSard,
Everett R. Dudley and Geo. B. Kunz.
Lake Arthur fishermen, were arraigned
on charges of unlawfully seigning fish.
They plead guilty and their cases were
fixed for Oct. "a.
Alias Derouen pied guilty to two
charges of shooting cattle and was
fined SIS or 30 days on each count.
A third indictment against Derouen
was nolle pressed.
Luna Simeon and Columbus Beard
pied not guilty to hoodlumism and
their cases were also fixed for hearing
on Oct. "a.
C. G. Morton pied not guilty to
cattle stealing and his case was fixed
for Oct q.
Simeon and Len Hebert and j. Garry
pied not guilty to similar charge and
had their cases fixed for Oct. %.
Arthur Jones pied guilty to assault
and battery and was fined SIS or 80
days.
Tuesday afternoon the trial of Jas.
W. Mercer, ex.chief of police of Jen.
nings, charged with being one of the
principals in the murder of the negro
James Comeaux, was held.
A number OF witnesses were heard,
all of whom testified as to hereSay as
to threats of whipping of the negro,
Comeaux.
The testimony of Deputy Sheriff
Isaac FOntenot was to the effect that
!, Officer Mercer went home on the night
of the killing about $50. Further
testimony showed that when Mayor
Gamble awakened him he had his keys
to the Jail in his possession.
After hearing all the evidence the
district attorney had to produce.
Judge Overton ordered Mr.. Mercer
discharged, there not being evidence
to hold him on even nominal bond.
V The case of the State VS.. W. j.
t Gilbert, charged with assault to rape
|. Gladys Jestman was taken up Wednes
day before noon and consumed the resi-
of the day and all day Thursday
About o'clock yesterday the jury re
turned verdict of not guilty.
At the conclusion of this case Judge
Overton discharged the jury for the
week and announced there would BIZ
:, no more jury trials this week.
The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1913-10-24
KELLY FOUND GUILTY.
Young Negro of Welsh Found Guilty
OF Murder of Mary Bacon and
Sentenced to a Life Term
in the Penitentiarv.

Belezaire Kelly, young negro of
Welsh, was Wednesday morning found
guilty Of numbering his paramount,
Mary Bacon, and sentenced to serve
his natural lie in the state penitentiary
at hard laUor, the entire trial conSum.
ing very little over an hour. The jury
was told by District Attorney T. A.
Edwards that the State of Louisiana
would not request them to bring in a
verdict OF guilty with capital punish.
ment, but that he felt under the cir.
cumstances That guilty without capital
punishment would be doing justice.
The district attorney read the indict.
ment to the jury. The first witness
was DR.. c. E. Terry, deputy coroner,
who testified that he had held an in.
quest over the body of Mary Bacon.
and that he had found that she had
been killed by bleeding to death from
the SeVerlng OF an artery in her leg,
the artery having been severed by d
cut.
Several negroes testified to the effect
that they saw Kelly rush up to the
buggy in which Mary Bacon was riding
with another man, and saw Kelly stat
her with knife. They stated that she
screamed and yelled that she had beer
cut to death.
Deputy Sheriff Marius FuSeliel
identified the knife that had been taker
from Kelly.
No arguments were heard by agree
ment of the district attorney and TIT
attorneys for the accused. Distric
Attorney Edwards simply explained
that the state did not demand that thu
! negro re sent to the gallows,
The jury was out about twenty min
utes, bringing in through their fore
man, S. w. Mack, the following verdict
1--WE, the Jury, find the accused guilt
; as charged, without capital punish
ment"
District Judge Winston Overto
Immediately sentenced Kelly to har
punishment in the penitentiary for tn
( the rest of his natural life. explainln
to him that if he behaved himself hi
sentence would be committed SO that b
, would get out in fifteen years.
The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1913-10-24
ID Develop Copper Mine.

BIZ. Milton Sullivan, vice.president
general manager of the Black
Company of Dewey, Ari'
saow actively engaged in pnsh'
& Development of this promising
h nine.
property has been partially de-
a and the indications are that
me will prove to be very profit
The character OF the ore now
not only rich deposit of copper
gold, silver and lead.
aapany wants to develop this
ltS and is placing a limited
PEI Of stock on the market. The
g IS favorably located for trans
Aton and is closely situated to g
meter, and Mr.. Sullivan thinks
gOrtunities are very fine JUS
an investment in this property
The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1913-10-24
Eczema and itching Cured

The soothing, healing medication in
DR.. Hobson's Eczema Ointment pene
trates every tiny pore of the skin, clears
it OF all lmpurltles-stops itching IN
stantly. DR.. Hobson's Eczema Oint
ment is guaranteed to speedily hea
eczema, rashes, ringworm, letter and
other unsightly eruptions. Eczema
Ointment is a doctors prescription
not an experiment. All druggists or by
mail, soc. PfeifYer Che m ical Co
Philadelphia and St. Louis,