davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-30
Subject to "SDells-

All women are natural matchmakers
and Charlotte was no exception When
the word affinity" struck her ear the
thought of Ottilie and of "how nice" II
would be If Ottile and the captain
would fall in love and marry.
Affinities? OF course they would oe
effinities.
Ottilie had strange pains in her head.
Ottilie thought eating too much was a
crime. ottilie liked to NOPE and be by
herself at school.
She used to nave ''spels'' in which,
awhile being conscious. she was unable
ITO speak or move. Ottllie was a neu-
rotic.
But she was 4 beautiful girl. mild and
winning in her ways; and when she
came to the castle everybody was
charmed by her; especially Count Ed
ward
Edward was not neurotic, but he had
produced in himself a condition which
served the purpose. What this was may
be gathered from Ottilie's diary-for OF
title kept diary in which she entered
many disjointed thoughts One entry
read
1T pains me TO see how. for hours
together, clearness of understanding,
judgment and consideration will be
of wine And instead of the good they
might have done most disagreeable things
are threatened"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-30
One Obstacle Removed

The captain rose to go. She stretched
out her hand to him across Ottilie and
he pressed it to his lips while he whis-
pered: "And for myself? May 1 hope
anything?"
do not ask me now said Charlotte
wearily. II will tell you another time.
We have not deserved to be miserable
but neither have we deserved to be happy
together
When the captain reached the village
inn he found Edward waiting for him.
The news of the drowning of the child
had already spread to the village and
had been communicated to the count.
But, instead of sorrowing, he felt as if
another impediment had been removed
from his path to happiness.
The captain coldly related what had
taken place at the castle and induced
him to go, for Time to neighboring
town, where they could decide upon what
was next to be done.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-30
Lnoking Into the Future

Meanwhile Ottilie dreamed. We like to
look into the future because of the un-
determined in it which, we fondy i'm
agine, may be affected this way or that
by ourselves.
Ottilie took to the child at once and
was fond of taking it into her arms.
walking with it down to the shores of the
lake.
One day as she sat there musing, with
the child lying in its wrappings beside
her. she heard a quick nervous step and
before her stood Edward.
1t was what she had been longing for
to see Edward. Destiny grant us our
wishes, but in its own way--in order to
give us something better and beyond our
wishes.
There was a long and silent pause dur
ing which each tried to gain sef-control
He looked down at the sleeping child.
Great Cod he cried ''if 1 had cause
to doubt my wife and my friend this face
would witness fearfully against them Is
not this the very image of the captain?"
Indeed" faltered Ottilie. "all the world
says that it looks like me-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-30
No Alternative

And this had taken place. When Ed
ward had sprung ashore and she had
found herself sitting there In the twi
light facing the man who had begun to
perturb her soul. the boat under his
strong arms gliding swiftly over the
placid waters, she left depth of sadness
weighing upon her spirits which was
very unusual with her.
The two scarcely spoke. A weary, i'm
patient heaviness took possession of her
and she begged to make for land as soon
as possible and return to the castle.
In trying to obey her the captain got
the boat upon a sand bar at some dis
tance from the shore. What was to be
done?
There was no alternative but to take
his companion in his arms and carry
her through the shallow water to the
shore.
He did so, and as he stepped upon the
firm land her head was lying upon his
shoulder. He pressed a warm kiss to
her lips and then, seated upon the bank
threw himself at her feet
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-30
BY
Johann w. Won Goethe
BY

that. to soothe him, she said: 'I will. if
Ottiie will marry you.'
1t was a strange promise, a rash one,
but she said 1t only to calm him-before
she thought what she was doing.
Ottilie now never took her meals With
the family-what she ordered to eat was
carried to her room. Seldom was she
with them.
But this rash remark of Charlotte's
seemed to give new life to the half-mad
desire of Edward, and he was continually
watching for chance to speak to Ottile,
who would only look sadly upon him and
pass by.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-30

ing, while the calm and self controlled
Charlotte and the abstemlous and self
contained captain seemed to draw apart
from them and to more nearly approach
each other
Go read the book of chemistry, which
you read in school and see how the law
of elective affinities works; look around
you in human life and see how it works
there.
Gradually, wonderingly, terrified. all
most. Charlotte began to realize what
was taking place. A great battle was
to be fougfiht.
Would the law of elective affinities
overcome the law of natural affinties?
Chemistry introduced into human lifel
She was afraid; she felt helpless, but
still resolute.
A crisis came; it was bound to-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-30
lust. the Man

The captain was just the man he
needed to help him improve the es-
tate; he was now mustered out of the
army and in search of a job.
And he was such clever man! He
knew everything-would make an ex-
cellent factotum.
Charlotte confessed that she. too, had
been thinking of introducing a COM
panion into their Eden in the shape of
her niece, Ottilie, who was now at
boarding school where she was not
making any very great progress
The captain came and was installed.
He seemed to take charge of the
household. He knew so many things
Charlotte admired him more and more
every day
Still, Charlotte did not send for OF
title.
When Edward made his analogy of
elective chemical affinities by using al
illustration of himself. his wife and his
friend, he had no idea that he was
also illustrating psychological condi-
tions in his own household which were
already beginning to assert them
selves
Neither had the captain; neither had
Charlotte.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-30
No Home

She managed to catch the floating dress
of the infant, but for time was unable
to stir. Then she drew the child out of
the water, but its eyes were closed and
1T had ceased to breathe.
In an instant she recovered her self
possession. But much the greater was
her agony. A wind had arisen and the
boat was driving fast into the middle
of the lake.
She began, frantically, to try and re-
store animation in the child. All was in
vain. But the wind blew the boat upon
the shore under a grove of plane trees.
She leaped ashore and ran to the cas-
tie, where she called frantically for the
physician, who of late had been residing
there as director of some of Charlotte $
charities.
Charlotte was not at home; she was on
a visit to some of her more distant ten
ants. The body of the child was taken
to her room where as the doctor worked
over it, Ottilie stood in dumb horror be-
side him.
There is no hope he said gently.
At that moment the carriage of Char
lotte was heard driving up. The doctor
ran to meet her and to try, if possible
to prevent her from entering suddenly
upon the painful scene.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-30
All Three in a Trance

The captain took a chair in response
to a motion from Charlotte. and for hours
they sat there in silence. 1t seemed as IL
they all three were, like Ottilie, in a
trance"
At length the candles began sputtering
out and the first geam of dawn to steal
through the long windows. Then Char
lotte spoke:
Tell me through what circumstances
you have been brought here to take part
in this mournful scene|'
THE present is not a time replied the
captain, nor this the place for reserve
The condition in which l find you is so
fearful that even the earnest matter on
which 1 am here loses its Importance"
He then informed her. quite calmly and
simply, of the object of his visit.
II consent to the separation" said
Charlotte in a faint voice. She seemed
weary, tired out.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-30

Meantime Edward and the captain
were in what is euphemisticaly known
as the tented field" War had broken
out
In those days war seems to have been
the natural state of European civiliza-
ton; the intervals of peace were mere
breathing spells. OF the whereabouts of
Edward, Ottilie knew nothing.
From time to time news of the cap
tain and of the Count came to Char
lotte-but she said nothing, moving Sc
rene amid the ruins of her home and
elinging fast to sure faith that in the
end all would be well again.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-30
Time to Think

Steps were heard and they walked
apart. The captain and Charlotte en-
tered. Edward inwardly smiled at their
excuses for being absent so long.
They sat down to supper they talked
about the people who had been there
that day. and Edward. full of love and
ecstacy, spoke well of every one-he who
was generally, so sharp of tongue con-
cerning absent people. Charlotte re-
marked this unwonted temper of his and
jested about 1t.
Edward said "One has only to love a
single creature with all ones heart and
the whole world at once looks lovely"
Ottilie dropped her eyes and Charlotte
looked straight before her.
Charlotte made an excuse to retire
early to her room. She wanted to think
over what had taken place between her.
self and the captain that evening.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-30
Meeting as Friens

Great was Charlotte's astonishment
when she saw the travelling carriage drive
up to the castle and Edward and Ottilie
alight from it.
Violently Ottilie caught the hands Of
the husband and wife and pressed them
together. Then she made her way alone
to her own room. Edward and Charlotte
stood confronting each other.
Your rooms are ready for you, Ed
ward" said Charlotte. Nervously, al
most Historically. he went to the rooms
which he had. for several happy years,
occupied in the castle as the husband of
Charlotte.
From Edwards valet Charlotte learned
of what had taken place. Edward sat
down and wrote to the captain command
ing him to come at once to the castle
The captain came. Charlotte ard he
met as friends meet. And so, for a while,
the four whose elective affinities had so
disorganized their lives lived together as
they had before the law of natural affin-
tiles had been disarranged by the more
violent selection.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-30

the moonlit paths thinking only of OF
tile and saying to himself: Bolts and
bars divide us, but our hearts are not
divided"
Finally, entering the castle. he threw
himself, still dressed, upon couch for
a few hours feverish sleep. He was tie
first man awake upon his domains, walk
ing WITH the first glimpse of the coming
day out to the farms and expressing in-
patience that the laborers were not al
ready at work.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-30
The Beginning and the End

There was a Character in the neigh
borhood. He had once been a parson
but was now retired and occupied his
time in making up quarrels among his
neighbcrs.
She remembered that once she had
heard him say: Marriage is the begin
ming and the end of all culture. 1t makes
the savage mild and the most civilized
has no better opportunity for displaying
his gentleness.
"Indissoluble it must be, for the sum
which two married people owe each other
defies calculation. 1t is an infinite debt
which can only be discharged through all
eternity"
She knelt down and earnestly repeated
the VOW she had taken to Edward be-
fore the altar. She felt restored to
health and to herself. sweet weari-
ness overcame her; she threw herself
upon her bed and sunk into calm, quiet
sleep.
Edward, on the contrary, went out into
the gardens and walked up and down
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-30
Between the Two

Charlotte, serene outwardly, began to
find employment for the girl, interested
her in works of charity and in school
for the children of the estate
For the two women left alone in the
castle life went on busy, active for
good, but loveless and strained. Be-
tween the two something had grown
up-a hedge of thorn, with one walking
on one side and one on the other.
Ottilie was nervous, irritable; Char
lotte sef-contained dominant. Neither
of them mentioned Edward or the cap
tain.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-30
Facing the Situation

Charlotte" he cried, will you for
give me?"
She did not attempt to raise him; she
bent over and said: I'VE cannot, now,
prevent this moment from forming an
epoch in our lives. But it depends upon
us to bear ourselves in a manner which
Shall be worthy of us.
You must so away, my friend; and
you are going. Since we cannot alter
our feelings | can only forgive you.
can only forgive myself if we have the
courage to alter the situation"
She raised him up and, taking his arm,
the two walked back to the castle in
silence.
And now she was standing in her own
room, where she began to feel and know
that she was Edwards wife.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-30
A Rash Promise

Ottilie was still unable to speak and
seemed to be growing thinner and thin
ner every day-to be pining away. Ed
ward drank heavily and tried to counter
act this by violent exercise.
Finally he one day came to his wife.
and demanded in a frenzied manner that
she marry the captain. He was - wild
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-30
Chemistry and Human Life

Yet, somehow. Edwards drinking AMI
Ottilie's neuroticism seemed to put them
in common nervous condition. where
the law of elective affinities was work
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-30

ing her head in her lap and falling into
one of her cataleptic frances; eyes wide
open, still, speechless. rigid.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-30
Too Late

But it was too late. The agitation Of
the servants and the act of a waiting
girl who ran shrieking to her told Char
lotte that some tragedy had taken place
In moment there was scene. Ottilie
was lying senseless upon the floor, the
body of the child upon the bed, the doc
tor standing helplessly by, and Charlotte
looking down upon the dead face of her
son, fearless Niobe.
The doctor gently forced her from the
room, and in a dazed condition she sat
down in the drawing room, looking
straight before her.
The captain was announced. The doc
tor met him and told him of what had
occurred Nevertheless the captain went
in to Charlotte and she received him with
a miserable smile.
Ottilie staggered in and threw herself
on her knees before the Countess, bury
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-30
First Mention of the Word

TT is disagreeable, when one is read
ing aloud, to have some one get
up and look over ones shoulder at
the printed page. But that was hardly
an excuse for the outbreak of Count
Edward to his wife: II wish, once for
all, that you would not look over my
shoulder when 1 am reading aloud"
The Countess excused herself by say
ing: II heard you read something about
'affinities,' and l thought directly of
some friends of mine, two of whom
are just now occupying me a great deal
"Then my attention went back to the
book. / found it was not about living
things at all and looked over your
shoulder to get the thread of it right
again.
In fact, it was a book OF chemistry
which the count was reading, and the
affinities he had been reading about were
chemical affinities.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-30
A CL A SSIC
IN A P A G E
(copyright. 19l8. by Twins Eing. An rights

copyright, 1913. by Irving King. All rights
reserved.)
The scientific phrase. elective affini-
ties" was a very popular one in Goethe's
day, and Goethe was a scientist, in a
way, as well as a poet and novelist.
To transfer a law of physics into the
realm of the human equation was a novel
idea, and the plan is worked out by the
author with all the subtlety and thorough
ness which charaeterizes the cultivated
German mind.
Goethe was well advanced in years
when he wrote Elective Affinities," and,
therefore, the philosophy contained in 1t
may be supposed to be that to which,
after many wanderings, he had finally
settled down. 1t is a curious story and
tinged with considerable morbidness.
effective Affinities" also may be said to
mark the beginning of the romantic
school in German literature. Goethe's
most intimate friends at the time We're
those who afterward became the founders
of the romantic school of German liter
ature, and this novel greatly influenced
them and fairly started the movement.
The Washington times., 1913-02-26
Mr.. WILSON RUSHES IN.

Ambassador Wilson sends from Mexico City an all
too hurried assurance that there no higher-up
PLOT behind the assassnations of Madero and Suarez
His action in thus attempting to forestall develop
ments of fact that yet to come out and to preju
dice the whole situation, is characteristic.
The old Diaz regime imagnes itself coming back
to power on the shoulders of Huerta and younger
Diaz. For that regime, for lis general purpose of
maintaining vicious feudal system, for the exploit
ing classes it represents for the grafters, despolers,
and accessories to assassination Henry Lane Wilson
as ambassador has had all too tender and responsive
q sentiment from the beginning.
Wilson sees Mexican affairs through Cientifco
eyes. He has been incapable of understanding what
Madero and the Madero movement were about The
poverty, degradation, ignorance and vassalage of the
Mexican poems have meant nothing to him. The
patriotism and aspiration of a man willing to give
position ease, fortune and life to them because
they were human beings and his countrymen-
fhis means about much to Henry Lane Wilson as
nebular hypothesis to cannibal king of Timbuctoo.
No wonder the President-elect cavalierly replies
that he isn't interested in keeping in touch with the
official advces from Mexico If he manages not
TO know anything whatever about Henry Lane Will
sons opinions, he may escape being misled
The explanations thus far given out by the Huerta
administration have been nopelessly conflicting and
lacking in versimltude that nobody except Mr.. Will
son now has the least doubt Madero and Suarez were
murdered, and there the best authority and most
careful preparation for the crime.
The Washington times., 1913-02-26
DECKS CLEARED IN MARYLAND.

William L. Marbury, Baltimore lawyer, IS an
nounced as a candidate for Senator against John
Walter Smith Mr. Marbury entered the-race at the
request of Woodrow Wilson. He had been head OF
the Wilson campaign committee in the State las
year. and before that had been leading supporter
of Blair Lee in his remarkable for the governor
ship nomination.
The situation as it stands is that with two
Senators to elect, Maryland has three Democratic
candidates John Walter Smith is the sole repre-
sentative of reactonisn who mas had the courage to
enter the lists He is candidate to succeed himself
for the long term. ..
Mr. Marbury now becomes the Official Wilson
progressive candidate as against Smith Blair Lee
thus far mas the field to himself in his candidacy for
the short-term nomination. for the Rayner vacancy.
Every passing day strengthens the indication that
there will be no opposition to Lee.
The understanding is that Joshua W. Miles, the
Eastern Shore lawyer and Wilson supporter, would
have been satisfactory to the Presidentelect, if Mar
bury had not been willing to run. Miles and Mar
bury had an understanding that under no circum-
stances would they both be candidates and thus divide
the liberal strength In effect then the President
elect was permitted to choose between them and he
chose Marbury.
There is no question that the Marbury candidacy
will have Wilson, the national administration, and
the excellent Lee organization in Maryland all behind
it. The old conservative machine will make its last
stand in the effort to put Smith across.
The Washington times., 1913-02-26
STOCK EXCHANGE TAXATION.

Threats that higher State taxation on stock trans.
fers will cause the New York Stock Exchange to
move into New Jersey are to be laughed at Albany
is laughing at them AS long as there is stock ex-
change it will be in New York city, and 1t will be on
Manhattan island. That is not the question the tax.
ing powers at Albany need to consider if they are
looking for revenues. From that point of view, the
thing to consider is whether doubling the tax on
transfers will double the revenues 1t is more likely
that the higher tax would diminish certain kind OF
sales made somewhat as boys match pennies" for
the reason that the increased would be prohibitive
of that sort of business.
II is possible that doubling the tax might even
reduce the revenue from its present volume We
can't tell, and we don't know how anybody can until
the experiment is made, if it is to be made. Blu,
whether the tax is increased one-half doubled or
rebled quadruped, the stock exchange will remain
where it is.
The Washington times., 1913-02-26

may be faulty As the basis of our monetary system
il may give too slow a response to the fluctuatlng
demand for currency. The growth of individual
banks, or the linking of the resources OF various IN
sttutions through identical directoraes or stock own
ership, may have concentrated in few hands too
much power under too little control. But whatever
public distrust of the system exists is vague and gen.
eral The number of unpopular individual inst'tu-
tons could be virtually counted the fingers. IT
the system is to 60 to be extensively modified IT
will be because the bankers themselves, the men
under whom the banks, and with the banks the coun-
try have prospered have found out its shortcomings
Yet look back at the half century's record: The
creation of reliable market for the Government
securities at the lowest period in its financial history;
the substitution of its sound currency notes for the
issues of the chaotic State bank system; its success
full resistance to repeated extensive pancs and last
but not least its demonstrated ability to keep pace
witt, the financial requirements of the countys busi-
during fifty years of expansion such as has no.
where else been equaled -.
Bearing in mind that the national bank act was
emergency measure devised in war time, this list
of achievements is notable. The system may need
repair or rebuilding. But none can contend that it
has not done yeoman service for the United States.
The Washington times., 1913-02-26
SCIENTIFIC REDUCTION OF INSANITY.

Of all the good works of the medical profession
none deserves greater support than the effort to
show the people of the United States how they ought
to deal with the problem of reducing the frightful
prevalence of insanity.
Far greater than the relief and care of positive
cases is the prevention of mental disorder and its
detection and cure in incpient stages.
The mental hygiene exhibit which opened at
Baltimore recently ought to be and studied 1t
has created interest wherever it has been shown
and, better than mere interest, an awakening to
opportunity.
Maryland has made marked progress recently in
outgrowing the mistakes of the past in regard to
the reduction of insanity. The establishment of the
Henry Phipps psychiatric clinic affords means Of
centering advanced development in this work to a
large extent in. Baltimore. Every State which has
not done its duty to the insane ought to engage in
friendly rivalry with every other State to square
the record. sfs
The Washington times., 1913-02-26
NATIONAL BANK SEMI-CENTENN.AI.

1t was on February 25, 1868, fifty years ago yes
terday. that the national bank act became law.
We are rather dissatisfied with our banking sys
tenn of today 1t may be that the iteth anniversary
of that system will be its last But if it is to die, il
will at least die noby, after life full of benefit to
the country and terminated only because under its
cooperation and through the medium of its financial
resources the industrial and commercial develop
ment of the country has finally exceeded the banks
own power
The national bank idea, as we apply it here