davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-10-19

ity i'm a novel guarantee high excellence.
But to wander on through the mystic
maze of hundreds of thousands of words
and find nothing that iustifies the jour-
ney is to say the least, tiresome, The
average novel, the long drawn-out va
rety, gives the impression that the au-
thor himself was bored before he reached
the close, and was glad to be rid of it,
This is the conclusion one reaches as he
reads the last pages of V. VS. Eyes
and MI Churchilfs latest literary Off
spring. There is hardly a modern novel
that does not bore US before we reach
the end, and extremely few whose final
scene is not utterly disappointing. The
author becomes tired of the story and of
the people in the story, the books be-
ing so long-drawn-ou
1t is this fact that has made the short
story so popular, and given it permanent
place in literature. The average modern
American novel would be improved were
100000 words cut from it; and some
Of them would be much more attractive
did this verbal amputation begin just
after the title and include all that fol-
lows.
Mr.. William De Morgan. a brilliant
star That shone upon the reading world
out of the English sky only a few years
ago. began to write the old-fashioned.
long story and we all read his Alice For
Short, as prolv as it is. He afterwards
learned his mistake. When his 1t Never
Can Happen Again was published the
libraries refused to handle it, for said
the custodians, The book is too lengthy.
and too expensive for noveT'-it was
first offered in two volumes. The time
has passed for the old discursive, ex-
pansive novel unless some literary giant,
such as those whom | have thus desig-
mated, shall rise up and give it to the
world, and of this there is no presags
at this time
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-10-19

heaven and earth. until the whole realm
of subjects is comprised. Many times
an author who is inclined to pedantry
will prolong conversation in his
story In order that he might disclose
his breadth of reading. He then makes
little fish talk as If they were whales.
Mrs. Humphrey Ward is given to this,
species of vanity. as is Winston
Churchill. in his latest novel, 1.-The In
side of the Cup" Churchill makes ALI
son Parr discourse like a learned theo-
Logan and a reader of Rants phil
osophy; while John Holder who should
be the theologian, is a mere wooden
man without any reading. until his
sceptical members at st. Johns actual
ly force him to read by their unusual
questions. This man Holder, as it
strikes me, is but a poor stick, any
way. The bravest thing he ever did
was to sit at table with Kate Marty,
an abandoned woman, in a barroom,
, although this occasion of heroism was
merely accidental.
Does the novel with a propa gandist
a religious or philosophical purpose
ever accomplish the design of the
writer? l think if it ever does the
cases are extremely rare. If results
are effected in harmony with the
writer's purpose, behind that purpose
there must be a strong literary per-
sonality head and shoulders above the
average modern writer and in addi-
tion to the literary personality there
must be the outworking of great
artist through the pages of his book.
In propagandist books art is sacrificed.
usually, to didactic utterances; lest
these same utterances be mistaken for
preaching, which is fatal in a story,
they are verbally enfeebled. impress
the reader as threadbareN platitudes,
become tiresome. are yawned over for
while and then laid aside.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-10-19

caption ''Gipsy.' confess indebted
ness to the excellent article in the In
ternational. to which it is a pleasure to
refer interested readers
There you may discover that the name
is traceable to the Greeks. who possibly
or Kopts %. Another branch of the
Greeks called them Atsingkanoi. Hence
in eastern Europe the one name chung.
in the west the other. In Hungary, Rou-
mania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Bohemia and
Germany you hear them called Ciganin,
Cigani, Zigluner, but in England and
Spain gipsies.
In Italy they are known as the Zingani
The Turks called them Farawni, or
Pharaohs and the Hungarians 1.-The Pha-
raohs people," but the French name is
Bohemians, and in northern Germany
they are called Tatars.
The gipses called themselves ROM
and their -nguage is ''romani." The
rest of the world are the 'gajo" Gin Eng
land "gawjo'O, which means Gentle. -
Rom is said to signify man"
But whether the name by which they
are known or the place where they are
found, 1t is certain that they are quite
distinct people. They have been in Eng
land and Scotland about 400 years, but
they are not Scotch or English. The
Greeks have known them for nearly 1000
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-10-19
Ton of Shells to Kill Man

Marshal SAKE once said that to XIII a
soldier It took his weight in lead In spite
OF the perfection of modern weapons war
mas changed very little in some ways.
German specialist, General Robins. has
figured out the statistics of the battle OF
Kin Tchou. which preceded the siege OF
Port Arthur in the Russo-Japanese wa-.
The Russians had 1850 men, of whom
only 44iO were engaged: the Japanese
numbered $500. The Russian loss was
100 officers and 1875 men; the Japanese
lost lS3 officers and l0u men. says the
Boston Globe
The Russians fired 10000 rounds of rifle
ammunition and ESQ of artillery; the
japanese figures were 100000 and l0.150.
Assuming that artillery caused IS per
cent of the losses and rifle fire is per
cent. 1t took l5l shells or $500 bullets to
put a Russian out of action, while a Je-
panese fell for every 10ls shells or PA hull
let's Counting the weight OF the Japan.
csc projectiles, it took 200 pounds of ar
tillery ammunition to disable a Russian
or 70 pounds OF rifle bullets.
The famous old marshal was not far
wrong, after ALL The changes in the art
OF war have made change in men. And
II Is ON the men themselves that depends
the degree of punishment they can stand.
If the men are brave they will submit
to considerable losses: if they are cow
ards or are badly trained or led they will
retire after sustaining slight losses.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-10-19

ers, and of some sermons. Exactly how
Icing sermon should be. nobody can say;
but that it should and before it begins
to bore the congregation l think everybody
Will admit. Thus do / think about novels
1t is only a great story teller that can
afford to write a very long story, and
sometimes we wish that even he had
learned the art of compression. The
critics are mostly agreed upon A Tale of
Two Cities, as the best story that Dickens
wrote. Yet. he told this tale of such
marvellous power, in about 10000 words:
Bleak House, however contains about
$4,000 words. Hawthorne's Scarlet Let
ter, is, perhaps the best remembered of
all his fine remances, yet, it is the short
est.
Discursiveness in story telling was
once the vogue, as it was the custom
in preaching. And so we have David
Copperfed told in $50 900 words: and
George Eliot's Middlemarch required
nearly $4,000 words in its recital Scott
| and Thackeray wrote long stories but
they were literary giants, and lived in
less busy times. The modern novel is
too long, considering the multiform de.
mands of the times, and the lack of
ability in the modern writer to hold the
attention Within reach of me lies The
Inside of the Cup. 1t Is padded from
the beginning to the last chapter 1t is
the creature of rowing pen. If a few
OF the best things which it tells had
been selected from the rambling pages
they would have made quite a readable
book in themselves: but as it Is, we have
mass of extraneous and Unnecessary
matter to wade through before we reach
anything essential to the story And
still, this book contains about 100000
words, The best of this class of stories
The, inner Shrine, appeared about four
years ago, and one element of its popu-
larity was its brevity-S5,000 words.
Now many words do not essentially
make book unreadable: nor does brew
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-10-19

OF the horses feet till the chief was fully
a mile or more away
Weatherford sought the camp of Jack
son, on the eve of his return to Tennes-
see, and jackson assured him of his pro-
lection. To the Hermitage. General Jack
son took mis- erstwhie adversary. cared
Tor him with the utmost hospitality and
when assured that it was entirely safe
for Weatherford to return to Little River
sent him thither. The bearing of these
heroes toward each other was equally
creditable to both
WeatEerford returned to his plantation
in the quietest way possible, and through
out his life was one of the most exemplary
citizens OF the county. AS a neighbor.
there was none better. He rapidly won
the confidence of the community. then
the esteem, and all rancor rapidly SUBJ
sided.
An incident in his life fully illustrates
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-10-19
MODERN FICTION-By Dr. W. E. Evans

life, otherwise it soon passes from tho
memory of men. 1t must have perma-
nent value in order to have permanent
place in literature. Having this, no mat
ter how many books follow, it will not,
it cannot be forgotten. But lacking this
quality of permanency of excellence. no
matter who wrote it. it will die absolutely
in a few years.
1t is not a difficult thing to write
novel, as thousands of unknown authors
could testify. But to write a novel that
will live. one that is worth while, is
quite different matter. ] wrote a novel
a few years after l left college. It was
duly published, and, of course, | thought
it ought to find public favor ready to
fall all over it. Did it not have a striking
title? And were not the elements of love,
intrigue and tragedy interminged so as
to excite unflagging interest? Certainly
they were. Yet. my story, as l look back
at it, was as devoid of art, and as lidicu-
, lousy silly as many of the trashy tales
that the newsboy offers you on the train.
My novel died promptly, and deserved
to die before it was born. l repeat, a
novel is not difficult thing to write.
OF all forms of literary endeavor the
novel lends itself most readily to the
expression of the greatest variety of
emotions and subjects. There is not a
feeling, nor is there a situation that
cannot be introduced into the pages of
work of fiction. The science of Soc
iology finds a ready medium in the
novel, as witness such books as Look
ing Backward" and "V. VS. Eyes" On
the subject of social reforms we have
only to read The Inside of the Cup,
and THE Woman Thou Gavest Me-
the latter trencnIng severely upon the
most disagreeable realism. These are
stories that include discussions of sci
ence, of philosophy. of religion, of the
church., and of all other things in
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-10-19

The Woman Thou Gavest Me- BY the
way, it has been said that the Vicar of
Wakefield. which appeared about IL years
before the Sorrows of Werther, acted
most wildly upon the fancy of Goethe
when he wrote Werther
French critics find fault with English
novels on the ground that the authors are
continually preaching in their books. They
say that preaching may be very good
thing, but ought to be confined to the
pulpit. or, at least 1t should be omitted
from artistic work Years ago Anthony
Trollope claimed that the novelist was
preacher; and to this one remarked
THAT explains why so many novels are
dull reading Surely, no one will apply
this witticism to the works of Trollope.
for where shall one find more delightful
fiction than the pure pen of this fine
English gentleman has given us? Let the
reader recall Trollope's The Three Clerks,
The Bertrams, Doctor Thorne, The War.
den, The Vicar of Bullhampton, and Can
You Forgive Her My, my! Let memory
fly back to other days. The weather is
stormy, but in the old library there is a
glowing log fire on the hearth, and you
are sitting before 1t, with one of Troll
lope's novels In hand-the book, the long
shelves of books, the crimson carpet on
the floor of the long ROOM the hospitable
fire, the singing of the blazing logs the
muffled tones of a piano coming from
another part of the house, and now and
then q dear voice mingling the melody of
Lorena' with the chords of the instru-
ment-all, all breathe of earthly felicity
But return to the thought that was in
my mind. was about to say. that novel
lists are like preachers in one respect il
not In many. They do not know when
to stop, L mean some novelists. There
are preachers who should ordinarily leave
about one half of their sermon UNI
preached. The first half should be the best
half, and the second half ought not to be
mentioned. am speaking of some preach
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-10-19

1t is quite different magic that our
talented brother studies, though he be-
gan to find it in such tent The poet
urges the scholar to stay with his new
friends, to remain free from the con-
fusions and noises of this complex mod
ern age. But here is true Rom, a
full blooded child of the open, who has
come to the city and.to many a city. L
think he win find the Significance,
however. of Arnolds closing lines in
"Thyrsls'
"Then through the great towns harsh,
heart wearying roar
Let in thy voice a whisper often come
To chase fatigue and fear.
Why faintest thou9 l wandered till
died.
Roam on! The light We sought is
shining still.
Dost thou ask proof? our tree yet
crowns the hill.
our scholar travels yet his loved hill
side"
1t would be interesting to make mem
ton of George Borrow and others who
have put the gypsy into literature. Here
belongs LISTS book OH their great mu-
steal gifts. Allusion is due also to
Barrie's famous story, THE Little Min
ister and to we'll known scenes iii
Dickens. But time and paper are end
less for no man. ] have no better wish
for all gipses than that they be as
good men as Gypsy Smith.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-10-19

Tie other continued elamorous, swear
ing that he would kill any man who
sought to arrest him. Without regard to
his threats, Weatherford now turned to
him. AS he came near the fellow said
I didn't mean YOU, Billie Weatherford."
to all of which Weatherford paid no at
tention, and taking his weapons from him
he clutched him likewise and quietly tied
him and gave him over to the officer.
When asked why he dared venture in
the way he did Weatherford gave ex-
PLANTATION in way that is really philos-
ophie. He explained that it is not the
noisy man that is to be feared. but the
cool man, Then he.wished to know which
was the noisy and the cool in that trans
action. The bravado when confronted
by courage willis. Weatherford's idea was
that the man who is always going TO
fight, will never fight without an advan-
tage. He seeks to impress others with
his courage, but not till he gains undue
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-10-19

the crowd to arrest the perpetrators of
the deed, but no one ventured To ap-
proach them. for their names had long
been terror in the region Standing
near the magistrate. Weatherford said,
Maybe this is the white mans way of
doing things, but If there was a drop of
Indian blood In that dead mans veins. I
should arrest these fellows at the risk of
my life" The justice then told him TO
arrest them. Weatherford quietly drew
out his pearl-handle dagger, while he
shifted his heavy hickory stick TO his left
hand, and moved upon the murderer of
Mr.. Bradberry. The murderer warned him
to stand back, but with firm step Wealth
erford coolly approached him, commanded
him to give up his weapons at once, when
the murderer did as he was hidden Then
clutching the murderer's throat with the
grip of wise. Weatherford called for a
rope. and securely tied his hands behind
him, and turned him over to the officer.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-10-19

the spirit of the man. At a private sale
held in the county. at which sale every
element of society was, two DULLES took
advantage of an old citizen, named Brad
berry, whose son had been a lieutenant
in the army, was in the battle of Burnt
Corn, and was finally killed n battle.
These two bravados having provoked a
difficulty with. the venerable Bradberry.
one of them broke pitcher over his
head, while the other ran up and stabbed
him in the back of the neck, and the old
man fell dead at his feet. Weatherford
witnessed the scene throughout. His In
dian nature came to him anew. his blood
was on fire. and he found 1t impossible
to restrain himself. He was the more
exasperated when the brace OF murderers
took their stand on the public square,
and defiantly brandishing their weapons
dared any one to approach them. A JUS
tice of the peace being present called on
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-10-19
ROMANCE OF ALABAMA Hi


Gordon of soldiers Still the fury would
not down. and rumors were Of such a
nature of the intention to kill him, as TO
awaken the gravest apprehension of his
safety He remained here about two
weeks, when he was summoned into quiet
conference with the commander. the result
of which was that on the night following
Weatherford was escorted to the outskirts
of the camp by a single guard with a
note to the officer of the outpost, Cap
tain Laval. On the receipt of the note,
Laval quietly took the arm of Weather
ford, and through the pitchy darkness
conducted him to certain tree where a
good horse was found hitched, and
Weatherford was told to mount it, and
flee for his life. He shook hands with
Laval, saying, "Good-by, God bless you,'
and vauting into the saddle sped away
through the thick gloom like an arrow.
Laval stood and listened to the rafting
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-10-19

advantage over an adversary VIII 10
fight.
This made Weatherford hero in the
section in which he lived. BY his conduee
as a neighbor and citizen. he became in
oreasingly popular, and succeeded In
transmitting the bitterness against hin
into love. For y years he lived in the
Little River community with increasing
popularity He was prosperous planter,
shared in all that concerned the veal of
the community, never flinched in the dis
charge Of duty citizen. and whsa
he died. his death was universally re-
GREETED. In fatigung bear hunt in the
swamps along the river, he overtaxed his
strength. and died in 1896 Throughout
his life he deplored the precipitate tragedy
at Fort Minis, and no doubt his subse-
quent reflection led him to insist that
it was not his wish that the women and
children perish. Descendants bearing his
name still live in that quarter of the state.
esteemed for their worth as quiet and
worthy, citizens
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-10-19

Everything and everybody tells you so.
so you must believe it.
How about the things that tend to take
away your cheerfulness you ask. There
are no. such things. Forget themgr as
the slang phrase has it,
Or, If you are of a literary mind and
prefer translation from a foreign lam
guage. listen to this from the German:
''Schwamm darueber,
That means Wipe 1t OUT"
niterally 1t means Sponge over it,
II you grunt and sweat under weary
life, as Hamlet said
If you feel that you are working too
hard for your employer
If you believe that he is underwriting
you and does not appreciate you at your
proper value
1t may be SO. Such things have been
known to happen. But before you de-
eide that such are the facts in your own
case and take steps to remedy them,
read this:
THE way to lift ones employer off
ones back is to make ones back so eff
ficient that he cannot afford to be on it."
That's from Crowds recent book
by Gerald Stanley Lee Mr.. Lee is a
lecturer and writer and preacher of the
gospel.
There are inappreciative employers.
There are those who are so blind to
their own interests that they will not
see and appreciate and reward faithful
ness and good service. Such generally
meet with their deserts, for their good
men leave them for other employment
and they must put up with inferior help.
But they are in the minority For a
man 10 continue in the business of EN-
playing others he must learn to know
and to recognize the efficient employe.
Both employer and employe. whether
each knows it or not. cogs in the machine
that makes the business go.
That being so. does it not pay the en-
ploye TO see whether the root of his
employers Interpretation is not buried
In the soil of his own lack of efficiency?
Some men are only % per cent eff
Client; others lack 90 per cent of their
ovens from which only percentage OF
the value of the fuel is realized.
The 100 per cent efficient man is a rare
specimen of humanity.
Depend upon 1t. your employer, IL he
be wise man. will not superimpone upon
your hack. already bent beneath the
load Of work. the added burden OF his
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-10-19

In the course of all their dealings with
medieval Europe, they even found it to
their advantage sometimes to impose on
the credulous by putting on the airs OF
Egyptian princes Kings of Little
Egypt"
But If not Egyptians. what are they?
Let the etymologist answer, with the
lore of comparative language for his
guide. l select a. few out of a list of
many words plainly connected with
common parent.
Hindi and gypsy words may here be
compared. The old parent speech, the
Sanskrit, could be added to show how
slight the changes are. Both for the
larger list and a study of gypsy gram
mar l refer to the International En-.
cyclOpedia.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-10-19

brels OF the heart.
Many there be that navigate the sea
of life. and all do not come to port or
some there is told the tale of the tempest
and the hurricane, the awful wrath of
the clouds of sin and the pounding to
pieces on the reefs of moral destruction.
If perchance we can throw out the life
line of aid to such before 1t is too late
and bring them safely to the shore of
safe and healthy and happy life
Let us ring the bell and rejoice.
From many sides come witnesses to
assure us that If we would prosper mem
tally, physically and materially we must
cheer up Nothing is gained by grumpi-
ness. say our official and unofficial adj
visers.
First, we have the testimony of a Phil
adelphia lady that If we desire to live
long we must guard against low spirits
BE happy If you wish to reach a good
old age" says this woman. She ought
to know, for she has been a resident of
this world formerly miscalled a vale
of tesrs) for 105 years
So. you see, If you want to live long
you must be cheerful.
Then we have the testimony of GER
tain physicians of Johns Hopkins Uni
versity Medical school, one of the high
est In America that good cheer and a
smile are preventives of threatened APP
pendicitis, and other intestinal disorders.
In other words, If you are cheerful
eonugh you may Jolly your vermiform
appendix into thinking there is nothing
the matter with it, TO those who insist
on going through life with grouches the
doctor says:
Worry and you'll get pain in the
side"
You See don't you, that IL you want
to be healthy you simply have to be
cheerful?
Moreover, every one knows that BUSH
ness success depends In a great meas
ure on a smiling exterior Even the in
animate place of business. the store or
shop which presents smiling exterior,
is more likely to be successful than the
one with a forbidding appearance.
Here's human instance
A successful seller of bonds for one of
the big city houses returned to head
quarters recently and reported that he
had been unable to do any business be-
cause he had felt "blue." when you
feel cheerful you get orders he> said
II you are not convinced now that you
must be cheerful you are a hopeless case