davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-23
Seeks Curious Names

From the New York Sun.
The more unusual the name the more
valuable the signature. This is the latest
development of the autograph collecting
fad. No matter how celebrated a par-
ticular Smith or Jones may be, his ytito-
graph counts for little as compare5 with
that Of some humble persons of extraordi-
nary name.
To make collection of these curious
signatures of value the address and date
must be written ON the card with the
autograph. Without these vouchers no
one could be blamed for doubling the
autheticity of some of the signatures IN
this type of autograph. For instance, who
would believe the name "Turnipseed' ever
existed unless Mr.. Turnipseeds address
was plainly given as voucher? Mr..
Toadvines Identify would seem equally
impossible and Mr.. Twelvetrees would be
hardly less probable.
A collector of curious autographs once
he is on the track of a person with an
extraordinary name loses no time In bag
ging his prey. The rare specimen might
leave his present address and this vau-
able addition to a collection be lost So
the collector sends politely worded note.
inclosing a blank card which fits neatly
into an addressed and stamped enveloped
lie begs the favor of the autograph and
suggests that 1t be written as legiby a.
possible
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-23
Temptation Resisted

Proceeding up the Nile, they passed in
the night the cape called the Mountain
of the Birds, by the foot of which en-
tered into the dreary waste of the noun
tains of the Said the disused canal of the
ravine, where dwelt the recluse whom
they sought.
When morning broke and AIciphron dis
covered this his heart was filed with Joy
and he sought Alethe TO give up her in
tention of joining the hermit and to fly
with him to his native Athens.
Tempt me not'' she cried; 'in the
name of God, tempt me not: Take me In
stantly to that desert mountain and I
will bless thee forever"
The appeal could not be resisted Land
ing at a small village they dismissed the
barge in which they had come up the
Nile and, hiring another smaller one
went back to the Mountain of the Birds
and entered the canal of the ravine.
How dreary, how c.smal!" were the
only words exchanged between them as
their little bark entered the darkling
ravine.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-23
Resolved to Escape

As he spoke those words she turned
slowly and looked in his face while her
own burned with bushes. "Thoulp she
said in a tone of doubt and wonder,
and hid her face In her hands.
1t appeared that the name of the
young priestess was Alethe. Wholly
Ignorant of the important share she
had had in attracting Alicphron down
to the subterranean regions, she had
but vaguely heard of him as the chief
of a great Grecian philosophic sect and
a philosopher she had pictured as an
old man with a beard
She had been secretly brought up by
her mother as a Christian. but had
been forced upon her mothers death
to serve in the Temple of Isis
From this bondage she had resolved
to escape. all the more as she saw that
the high priest, Orcus, had resolved to
make her his victim.
In her desperation. she had resolved
to watch an opportunity when the Gre
clan philosopher was alone to throw
herself upon his mercy and beg him to
aid her in an attempt which she knew
her own powers of endurance were not
sufficient to accomplish alone and un-
aided.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-23
A River Covered With Boats

1t was one of the widest parts of the
river and the whole surface, from bank
to banli. was covered with boats.
There were displayed for sale the pro-
ducts of the loom and needle of
Egypt-rich carpets of Memphis and
likewise the variegated wells for which
the female embroiderers of the Nile
were SO celebrated and to which the
name of Cleopatra lent an additional
charm.
In each of the other galleys was ex-
hibited some branch of Egyptian work.
manship-vases of the fragrant~porce-
lain of On-cups of crystal whose hues
changed like those of the pigeon S
plumage, enameled amulets craven
with the head of Anubis and necklaces
and bracelets of, the black beans of
Abyssiania.
Over all floated the sound of min
strelsy from many Tyre and flageolet
and the sweet lotus wood flute. And
amid all. the boats of the fireworkers
were constantly at their fireworks.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-23
The Festival of, the Moon

He started from his hnusng upon re-
membering that that night the great
festival of the moon was to be celebrated.
On a little island. half way over the
river, between Memphis and the eastern
shore, stood the shrine of the goddess.
AS he approached the island he couid
see through the trees the lamps oil the
pilgrims Fastening to the ceremony.
Passing through a long avenue OF
sphinxes whose spangling marble cleaned
from the dark sycamores around them
he reached, in short time, the grand
vestibule of temple where he found
the ceremonies of the evening had COM
menced.
In this vast hall. surrounded by dou-
BILE row of columns, was grouplof young
maidens moving in sort of measured
step between walk and dance around a
small shrine upon which stood one of the
sacred birds, the ibis, dedicated to the
moon.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-23
Harem Photos
From Tit Bits.

trOin l1t-BltS.
This occurred in the city of Algiers,
writes a photographer, in that wonder
land of north Africa. Not in the beauti-
full new French quarter, with its wide
streets and fine buildings but in the old
Arab town, with narrow alleys and an
cient crowded houses, foul with the un-
removed filth OF years. The ladies' of the
English mission had long searched for a
house in the native quarter which they
could hire for the purpose of holding
meetings with native women and classes
Tor girls. They finally secured one where
blind woman acted as caretaler.
| was asked to visit 1t and take some
photographs. This was a most extra
ordinary thins-for a man to be allowed
TO visit the apartments of the women
and take their photographs The priv
ilege was secured by each OF the married
women asking consent of her husband,
assuring him that there would be no
cause for Jealousy, since / had gray hair,
and so must be an old man.
The street was reached after passing
through maze of bazars, alleys and lit
lie squares. II WAS steep flight of stone
steps between high walls, having here
and there heavy nail studded door anh
an occasional window high above the
walk.
knock on the door was answered
after short wait by timid hail from
within of: ''Who is it?" Then another
wait while hurfying, feet went to carry
the message. A second call from within
to make certain that all was right on our
side and the door opened cautiously for
me to enter, but not for my guide
Though he was a Christian Kabyle, he
was a man, young mani In no cir
cumstances could he be admitted to the
women's apartments of native house.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-23
Around the Sacred Ibis

The vestibule was dimly lighted. He
heard the clear voices of the dancers as
they passed him. But having taken his
station behind one of the pillars he could
not have a clear view of them. The
drapery of all was as white as snow,
and each wore, loosely beneath the bosom,
a dark blue zone or bandalet studded
like the skies at midnight, with small
silver stars. Through their dark locks
was wreathed the white lily of the Nile.
As they passed under the lamp
geam of light flashed from their bosoms
which he could perceive was the reflection
of small mirrors that in the manner of
women of the east each of the dancers
wore beneath her left shoulder.
There was music to regulate their
steps, but as they gracefully went around
the bird upon the shrine, some to the
beat of castanets, some to the shrll ring
ing of the systrum which they held up
lifted. all continued harmonious to the
cadence of their feet; while others, at
intervals, shook a small chain of silver
whose sounds, mingled with those of the
castanets and systrums, produced wild
but not unpleasant harmony.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-23
A Heavenly Light

Il Pressing it to her lips, she held 1t out
anxiously TO Alciphron and seeing him
also kiss the holy symbol with fervor,
looked up and smiled
The agony of death seemed to have
passed away. There came suddenly over
her face a heavenly light some share OF
which Alciphron felt descending into his
own soul, and In few minutes she ex-
pired in his arms.
1t appeared that Orcus had never ceased
in his determination to destroy both the
maiden who had escaped from his clutches
and the Athenian who had escaped with
her.
When the persecution against the Chris
tions had been proclaimed he had hurried
to Antinoe, resolved upon the death of
both of them and of the hermit who had
given them shelter.
To accomplish the destruction OF the
hermit was an easy task. But, as we
have seen. other influences rendered 1t
not SO easy for him to have the life of
Alciphron and Alethe.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-23
How to Avoid Middle Are

From the London Daily Mail.
How TO remain young and escape
the disadvantages of middle age" will
be explained by DR.. Josiah Oldfield. the
food expert. at the Simple Life exhbi-
tion to be held In caxton hall. West
minister. DR.. Oldfield disclosed yester-
day his secret.
There ought to be no such thing
as middle age. IL man lives prop
erly he can carry the spirit of youth
to the end of his days. l am on the
way toward 90, but l feel entirely
young. The secret is simple. A man
must submit himself to mental and
physical discipline and eat wisely and
not too we'll"
DIR. Oldfield's rules are:
Think big thoughts and cling to
noble ideals.
Live on the fruits OF the highest
minds.
Do not waste time over petty things
and do not take narrow views.
Take fruits, vegetables, oils, pure
wines. eggs. butter. milk ana bread.
Avoid shoddy second hand food of all
kinds.
Battle every morning and rub the
skin hard with towel.
Change underclothing every "a hours.
Know yourself.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-23
Trouhlons Times Coming

The toleration. and even favor. which
the Christians had enjoyed during the
last four years of the reign of Valerian
had removed from them all fear of a
renewal of those horrors which they had
experienced under his predecessor, De-
cius.
OF late, however, a less friendly dispo.
sition had manifested itself. Among the
councillors of evil at the Roman court was
the Pretorian Prefect, Macrianus, who
was by birth an Egyptian.
Aleiphron used not infrequently to visit
the city of Antinoe and, upon one of these
visits, he found every tongue discussing
the persecution which was about to be-
Gin against the Christians.
He hurried back to the hermit with the
news, but Alethe was not Informed OF a
danger which might, after all, pass
away.
But the storm broke. A tribune of the
legion stationed at Antinoe proclaimed
IN the name of the Emperor death to the
Christians.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-23

Hastily he caught it up and tried to
follow her and restore it. But the press
within the temple was now So great
that she was lost to sight and vainly
did, he try to follow her. se
Forcing his way out OF the vestibule,
he hurried down the long avenues of
sphinxes to the shore and flung himself
into his boat.
1t was toward the great Metropolis,
that great city of the dead which lay
to the. north of Memphis, that. in a
mood half gloomy, half bright, he now
unconsciously directed his shallop.
The memory of the form of the young
priestess was continually before him.
That one bright look OF hers, the very
remembrance of which was worth all the
actual smiles of Others never for mo-
ment left his mind. ii
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-23
Longing for Immortality

1t was during one OF the most sor-
seous. sensual and artistic reyels IN
the garden of Epicurus that, tired oil
pleasure, the newly elected head OF the
sect laid down to rest upon 1iowery
bank, lulled to slumber by the distant
sound of Lydian lutes and the rant
choruses of dancing girls
AS his eyes closed he saw above MIN
the stars and thought to himself; u,
is there not some principle within us
which can make us as deafness as
those stars and open to us career
bright and inextinguishable through all
time?"
This longing for Immortality pur-
sued him. even in his slumbers, and he
thought that an aged man stood beside
him and said
..Thou who seekest eternal life' go
unto the shores of the dark Nile ana
thou wilt find the eternal lie thou
seekest."
When he awoke the sounds OF the
revel had died away. But the impress
sion of his dream remained SO long
5lpon him--his yearning for eternal iie
was SO overpowering-that he settieo
his affairs and set out for Egypt.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-23
Orcus' Revenge

When the reprieve was given, orcus, the
high priest, strongly objected, and, upon
the Roman Judge bidding him to hold his
Ieace, he said; "Then, at least, let me
deck the brow of this fair maiden with
this"
And he placed about her head string
of coral, such as the virgin Christian
martyrs were accustomed to wear when
they went to their death.
lie placed the coral wreath upon the
brow of Alethe, and she was taken to her
prison.
Through the influence of his soldier
friend. Alciphron was allowed to visit
her. He found her reclining upon a couch
in great agony from horrid pains which,
he said, We're shooting like fire through
her brain.
on table by her side stood a brazier
into which If she would but throw one
grain of incense she would be pardoned
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-23
The New Department of Labor

From the Philadelphia Bulletin.
, Pennsylvania has peculiar and par
ticular interest in the new department of
labor. the creation Of which was almost
the final act of the Taft administration.
Not only as the leading Industrial state.
but especially as the center of the coal
and steel industries, which interests are
national in their scope. Pennsylvania 10
much concerned as to the future of this
governmental function. Moreover. the
selection of a Pennsylvania as the initial
Secretary of Labor, to whom Is left by
the act of Congress the task of conceiving
the possibilities of service through such
a department and of devising the neces-
sary machinery with which il shall work
focuses local attention on this tenth wheel
OF the cabinet.
Mr.. Taft signed the bill with hesitation.
probably more as an act of courtesy to
his successor who had selected a Secre-
tary of Labor on the assumption that the
blll would become a law. But even the
President appeared to be in doubt as to
the purposes which the department Of
labor is to serve and as to the need which
1t Is supposed to meet If the new de-
partment were part of plan for a
general reorganization of the admins
scattered and misplaced divisions. COM
missions and bureaus, it would deserve
commentator as move to, greater eff
cheney. If 1t served to give greater ef-
fectiveness to the bureau of labor statis-
tics, to the branches OF the immigration
service which are intimately related to the
industrial situation, to the child labor or
other similar bureaus of Investigation and
education. 1t might be considered of prac-
teal advantage.
But the measure creating the depart-
ment does not go far in these directions
The new secretary may blaze the paths
for II to these ends. The Importance
which is accredited to the department In
Inmates further purpose. underlined to
be sure. but apparently existing In the
conception of those who have been most
active in urging the passage of the act
There is a suggestion of still further fed
eral intervention and regulation in indus
trial matters under the interstate COM
merce grant of authority to the national
government, and the development of this
idea may be expected. once the depart
ment is fully organized and there is oc-
casion to find something for it to do.
The fact that the new Secretary is a
representative of organized labor should
not prejudice opinion as to the wisdom
of his selection or as to the mission of
his department. Its suggestion of possible
dangers cannot be ignored, however. The
new department is dedicated to the SER
vice of labor unrestricted and unqualified.
1T is not a CLOSED shop and cannot be
as part OF the government of all the
people and for all the people.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-23
A CL A SSIC
In A P A G. E.


Tom Moore was just entering upon
his career as a poet when he published
.yrhe Epicurean.' and the whole tone
aud sentiment of it is strongly at vari-
ance with those translations of AN
aereon." by which he first became gem
orally known.
He published The Epicurean" anony-
mously, and it had been several years
before the public before its author
ship was acknowledged. In 1888 More
published poetic version OF the story,
which he called ssAlciphron." But the
versified story was much inferior to
the prose version.
1t is Moores only romance wholly in
prose, and as such, as we'll as on ac-
count of Its intrinsic merits, deserves
much more attention than it generally
receives now from the reading public.
There are some crudities in 1T, to
be sure, but 1.-THE Epicurean" shows
that had Moore indulged more largely
in prose writing he might have sup
plemented his poetic fame. as Scott
did, by series of prose works. And
these would have been of a no mean
order of merit
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-23
Chief of the School

A LCIPHRON. the Athenian youth,
"a endowed by nature with the
4 \ most splendid gifts of mind and
body was the youngest person who was
ever elected to the coveted position OF
Chief of the School Epicureans.
He was Just then entering upon his
twenty fourth year of the reign Of
Emperor yalerian The Epicureans
were at that time numerous in Athens
The character of the sect had much
changed form since the time OF lts
wise founder. who had not only de-
clared that sPleasure is the only good
but had also said that "Good was the
only source of pleasure
The purer part of the doctrine had
long evaporated. Epicurus would not
have recognized his own sect IN the
assembly of refined volnptuaries who
now usurped its name; as he would not
have known his own quiet Garden
in the luxurious groves and bowers
among which the meetings of the
school were held.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-23
Davbreak at Alexandria

one morning, as the day freshly
broke he saw the beautiful city Oh
Alexandria rising from the sea with
its proud palaces of kings, It's Portico
of the Four Hundred Columns and the
fair pillar of Pillars towering 10 the
midst of Heaven.
After passing in review this splen-
did vision the ship shot rapidly around
the rock of Pharos~ and in a few min
utes had anchored in the Harbor OF
Eunostus.
Though the sun had risen the hght
was still burning in the Pharos ana
the languor of the first waking move
ments of that great and voluptuous
city, whose houses and temples lay
shining around. was beginning to be
dissipated.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-23
Preparing the Lure

The first visit of Alciphron to the
pyramid had speedily, become known, for
since the landing in Egypt of the chief
of a great Grecian cult many eyes had
been upon him.
When the spies saw that he looked
back regretfully at the pyramid as he
left it, it was at once surmised that he
would visit 1t again, and the high priest
Orcus, blessing the good chance which
had thus brought the wild bird into
his net, resolved not to suffer an op-
portunity so precious to pass.
Also Orcus and his spies knew what
the lure had been. Instantly the whole
of that wonderful machinery by which
the phantasms and illusions of initia-
tion were produced were put in active
preparation throughout that subter-
ranean realm, and with these was he
welcomed when he entered the pyra-
mid for the second time.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-23
Alluripe Philosophy

Many causes. concurred at this PERIOD
besides the attractiveness of the doc
trines. to render the school the most
popular of any that survived in Greece
The rapid progress of the Christian
faith had alarmed all those who, either
from piety or worldliness. were inter
ested in the continuance of the old
creeds.
And these had applied with excessive
rigor such discipline as they might TO
hold the people still in durance to the
gods of Olympus.
The consequence was that between
the alarmed bigotry of the declining
faith and the simple austerity OF her
rival. lovers of ease and pleasure, who
bothered themselves not much upon
theological questions, flew to philos-
ophy. and found the most allurlng
phase of it in Epicureanism, leaving to
others the task of disputing about the
future
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-23
its mixture of melancholy and voluptu-

its mixture of melancholy and voluptu-
BUSINESS.
But Alexandria was not. Egypt. The
very soil upon which he stood was not
in existence when Thebes and Menu
phis had numherless ages of glory.
No." he thoughts as the memory
of the vision of the garden rose be-
fore him, sit is only beneath the pyra-
mids of Memphis and in the mystic
halls of the Labyrinth that those ar
cana are to be found of which the-an-
tediluvian world had made Egypt its
heir and among which-blest thought
the key to eternal life may lie."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-23
The Fatal Chaplet

In frenzy Alciphon begged her to
make the sacrifice. But she refused.
Her voice began to fail. and her head
sank upon the arm of her betrothed.
lie saw that she was dying. The Tri-
bune came rushing into the chamber and
looking at the maiden. cried out: 1T is
but too true"
He then told in a low voice that he
had just heard from the guardian OF the
prison that the band around the young
Christians brow was a compound of the
most deadly poson-the hefiish invention
of Orcus to satisfy his vengeance and
make the fate of his poor victim secure.
Alcphron tried TO tear the fatal chap
let from the brow Of Aethe, but it
would not come away-it would not come
away!
Reused by the pain, she looked into the
face of Alciphron but, unable to speak,
took from her breast the small silver
cross which she had brought from her
cave.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-23
THE EPICUREAN

by Melanius near his own rock-hewn cell
and, across the ravine he established the
Epicurean. whom he began at once to
instruct in the mysteries Of the Christian
religion.
Days and weeks and months passed. It
was long and austere novitiate' but
finally both Alethe and Alciphron We're
received into the church and they were
tetrothed.
At length Alciphron had obtained that
for which he had so longed under the
stars in the Garden Of the Epicureans in
..thens-the assurance of Immortality
And with 1t had come love.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-23
Until His Old Age

Therefore. determined at all events to
kill the maiden who had escaped him.
he had resorted to the poisoned wreath.
The fendish work OF Orcus so dis
gusted the Roman authorities that. after
the death of Alethe, they secretly con-
nived at the escape of Alciphron.
For many years the former Epicurean
lived a hermit in the Egyptian desert.
During the persecution of Diocletian he
was, In his old age. condemned to hard
labor in the mines of Palestine And
there he died.
After his death there was found sus-
pended around his neck, small metal
mirror. such as were used in the cere-
monies of Isis. 1t was the same which
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-23
To Seek the Melanius

In the ravine through which the un
used canal ran, high among the rocky
sides, there had been refuge at the
time of the Diocletian persecution the
Christian priest, Melanius.
1t was he who had first instructed
the mother of Alethe in the Christian
religion and to this holy man, who
had remained in his hermitage from
choice after the days of the persecution
were over, A1ethe's mother had COM
manded her daughter to fly upon the
first favorable opportunity. So up the
Nile they journeyed.
When night had fallen they saw be-
fore them many glittering lights and
the shooting up of fireworks, apprising
them that they We're approaching one
of those night fairs. or marts, which it
was the custom at that season to hold
upon the Nile.