davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-20
FROM

in sight of the great men of the Vic torian time. You catch some satisfying glimpses of Emerson. Carlyle, Froude, RuslSin, the Rossettis. the Brownings, and more of that splendid period. For Mr. Conway. though he plays Boswell to nobody, nor hides hirnsef at all, does really contrive to reveal something of tie personality of each man whom he de- scribes. His work is vivid, like the best journalism, and you are not averse to re-reading him.
 Hence the most interesting question raised by the book r: How did this gentleman find access to these intelleo- tual aristocrats and continue to interest them so that they eame to hear him preach. and even continued to come, when he held the pulpit for many years in that cathedral of unorthodoxy and free thought, South Place Chapel, Lon- don?
 The answer to the question stated is given in chapters which describe the or- igin and youth of MT. Conway, and which give a clue, alike to the brillianee and what may be called the efferesence of his mind.
 Born in 1892, he was of the genera ton fore-ordained to break its teeth on the hard problems associated with the abolition of negro slavery. son ot Virginia, he belonged to the pivotal state, where first conscience became vocal, with tones that meant the rend-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-20

LN VERY little while In every little
 circle there appears a preeocious ---A boy. One often wonders what be- comes of all these preeocious children. Who can gather the story of these fair and promising blossoms on the tree of life? unique and powerful manhnod. outshiniag their compeers? Every j.ttle while a biography offers us the opportunity If following such gleaming youth to man. hood and old age; and again every little while the reader feels disappointed. and asks with protest: Is this ,he fulfillment of that golden morning. draped with azure and rose?
 l have had the privilege of reading the autobiography of such a brilliant youth who came to be known on both sides of the Atlantic, the friend of many eminent and political personages, and Moncure D. Conway. It may, without bitterness, be said that the chef interest of these two handsome volumes lies. rather in the "reminiscences of famous men whom the writer met. than in any thing done. said or thought by the writer himself. His story is like a river that flows past historic scenes. famous cas- ties. and walled towns with far-sounding names If the river is little shallow, and if it babbles overmuch, it serves nevertheless, to float the readers mind
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-20

among the intellectual leaders of that city. But it was not for long He is a journalist and migratory. The com- ing of the war caused him to request leave of absence, and before long he Is in England, preaching Abolition There were the days when Mills Es- say on Liberty was first published. and Europe was bubbling with the com ing of age of the new democracy Com way was not the man to avoid the limclight, and his errand brought him into touch with the influential mon Of Abolitionistl What had he to say? In vast conflict of ideas. with friends of the Confederacy, backed by the amazing brain of Carlyle, and friends of the Union. sweeping with them the Nonconformist conscience. England was very pretty stage for a man like Conway
 And so he came to his zenith. touch- ing the great ones of the earth. Here you may read the impressions made on an alert mind by conversations with Frances Power Cobbe, r. b. Maurice John Bright. Robert Brown ing and almost every eminent Eng lishman of the time.
 In 1864 Mir Conway settled as min ister at South Place Chapel a cen ter of progressive Christian rational ism, with which the Brownngs were connected, and for 20 years that re- lationship endured. Unitarianism of a
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-20

he passed from school to college and even into the sophomore year. so that at Is he was the finished product of higher learning At 19 he became pastor of a group. of Methodist chufcf es, and at % he had thrown up the charge. because no longer able to believe the fundamental things of his pastoral theology.
 Imagine it who canl This youth of %. lifted high above the heads or ancient saints. and official instI actor of the mothers in Israel, writes 70 Emerson at Concord begging for erumb of sympa- sinian Nlethodism.
 So far as can be learned. the only special preparation for the ministry ir Mir. Conway's case was a few months devoted to the study of the hebrew lan- guage with a minister in active service and the study of Watsons Theology" and Adam Clarke's "Commentary," Ill private. It should be said that this is not an effective method to secure pastors thoroughly rooted and grounded in tho faith. It becomes clear also that, at least in AIr. Conway's day. and in Vir- ginia, Methodsm cared little for the study in theology. and cared even less for the disputations of theoretical orthc- doxy. It is exceedingly doubtful whether his heresies would have brought about and episcopal inquiry, except as they might have explained parrenness in his spiritual fields. It was necessary for tAe
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-20

allies would consent to stop the war until something far more decisive has been accomplished.
 Englands navy was prepared for war, but it's land forces, at the be- ginning of the trouble, were far from being in condition to cope with any of the trained armies of the continent. Great Britain has gone about it's task " ith sturdiness and thoroughness that is ominous. It seems determined to fight to finish, and to that end has placed her greatest soldier, not on the firing line. but in the war office, upon which devolves the raising and equipping of corps to be flung against the enemy As long as the British fleet keeps the German navy inacuve, steady stream of well armed, we'll drilled. well provsioned men will flow across the channel to meet death and glory on the battlefields of Europe.
 The British empire feels itself at a crisis. Germany must be crushed and the menace of militarism crippled for 50 years if England is to hold together It's far-flung dominions.
 France Is fighting for existence it. self Now that the tide of battle seems to have turned in its favor it is un- reasonable to believe that France would consent to a peace that would leave it's hereditary enemy strong and ca- pablo again to begin an attack when diplomacy has rendered the time more propitious.
 Russia has felt the taste of victory and is determined to put humiliation upon tho land which has always affected to despise the Slavic race and all that 1t stands for. The innumerable hordes of the Muscovites are ebing marshaled for battle. The Czar has declared that he intends to go to Berlin if its costs him his last moujik.
 Appalling as Is the carnage, fright flu, as is the loss in blood and treasure, 1t may be true economy that they con tinue for sometime yet. When peace
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-20

to the east. Now that this has been ae- eomplished, according to the Petrograd statement, the world need not be sur prised if Russia withdraws entirely with In her own frontier. This may be pretty good reasoning. but there Is no need for Russia to become too proud of her self-sacrifice. What would have hap pened to the Russian armies if the Kaiser had had no enemy along his western front? London and Bordeax have a .1ght to feel little puffed up themselves.
 General Von Oesterly, "a close friend of the Kaiser" is reported to have de- elared that Germany fully intends b an- nex Belgium. we need her ports con tinuously to hold a knife under the nose of cowardly England" is the explana- ton given. I'm inclined to doubt that General Non OesteTly truly represents Emperor William in this matter. All re member that at the beginning of the war Germany offered England most tempt ing bribe to permit the violation of Be- gum's neutrality to go unprotected. Eng land refused and soon came dispatches from Berlin declaring that 'perfidious Albion" Is the only real foe of Teutonlc culture, But if Germany is bent on tak- ing Ostend. Antwerp and the rest, why not go ahead and occupy London. Liver pool. Belfast and Glasgow as well?
 
 It would be grand if President Wilson could succeed in bringing about an early peace among the warning nations of the world but reason would indicate that the time is not yet ripe for an opening of negotiations with any assurance of sue cess.
 A peace arranged at this time hardly could be permanent. It would be little more than truce at the best. It may be that Germany, in order to save all possible from the wreck of war, would now agree to a cessation of hostlities, but it is not at all probable that the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-20
HEART TO HEART TALKS-By Charles N Lure

And the only way in which that curse ! shall be removed from the world is through the mutual understanding of all brain.
 Friends of children in New York and elsewhere-may their tribe increase-have organized a new children's society. They call it the Who's Afraid of an Ogre Society,"" and they define its ob- ject as follows: The object of the society is to in tcrest children in the good and beauti- ful, in belief in fairies and to do away with the depressing opinions that many of them gain from tales of ogres. witches, ghosts, and things in the dark Each child who joins the so. ciety is pledged never to be afraid, es- pecially in the dark. Wise parents know enough, without the aid of this society or any other assistance, not to frighten their chil- dren or let them be frightened by talet of the 'bogey man. and the like They recall all to vividly, many of them, the shudering fear with which they
  rooms after hearing narrowing stories of the great big man who carried his head in his hands and watched out for little children to feed them to his dogs" Out on all such stuff It is detrimental, physically and nor ally. to children. It takes away from the fine. sweet joy of living which is the rightful possession of all small chil- dren. Too soon at best for so very many of them comes the cruel contact with the hard realities of life. Keen them young and maintain as long as possible.
 Says Wordsworth:
 simple child that lightly draws it's breath should it know of death? And
 In the formation of this society older folks as well. The Who's Afraid nite extension among adults. For instance Suppose your friend comes to you with doleful face and tells you of busi- ness depression, not in his own line, perhaps. but in some business in the next city, the next county, the next state. Tell him
 Who's afraid of an ogre?" And go on your peaceful way unter- sified.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-20

particularly nondogmatic kind flour ished there. It afforded spiritual de- votion uneneumbered with popular vul- garity and metaphysical confusion.
 Among the most interesting pages of these "reminiscences are those that tell of Conway's brief soJourn in France during the Franco Prussian war There he found Paris wild with delight at the prospect of certain and easy vic tory, whue all Germany was sombre and sober How exactly opposite those descriptions are todayl But no nation dare go light-heartedlv into such conflict. for, as Conway promptly tore told, there was no doubt about hu- initiating issue to that exuberance.
 An open-eyed man. with loving heart and an aboundtng speech, he passed happily along doing what good he could, and always talking. His most shining pages are those that prove his loyalty to Thomas Carlyle. and there can never be a tribute to Moncure h Conway half worthy of his hgh intelligence as that which he himself has written in proof of his understand ing love and reverence of that great Scotchman.
 Indeed it must be claimed for these volumes that they actually shed light upon the literary and political history or the Nineteenth century Amid Sd many wonderful voices what higher praise can be given?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-20

ed by travelling lumber dealer, wh, left behind copy of a physical geog- raphy. The young man read and be- came interested. His course was fixed For 50 years thereafter, until his death hating story of the relationships of the tribes of mankind.
 When next you hear some one criti- cising the work of another in a cap- tious, fault finding spirit ask him.
 What have you done in the same line that outshines the thing you are criticising?'
 Nine times In 10--
 You will silence the critic. The other time you will lose, for 1t may be that the critic can point to good work of his own to justify his attitude.
 But
 Take the chance, anyway. It will be an interesting experience. In either case you will learn something.
 Just one sort of man has the right to criticlse and be heard says writ CT in the Atlantic Monthly-"the man who has earned the right to by mak- ing some positive contribution himself to an inevitable and superlatively im- portant problem"
 That's putting it too strongly. perhaps. Let us grant the right to the manor wom- an who has done something worthy, even if the field of his or her endeavor has not been one into which enters "an ir- evitable and superlatively important problem"
 Even in the minor affairs of life
 The right to criticize must needs be granted to one who is in a position to know the facts and has the mental acu- men to weigh and compare them. setting his or her knowledge against the asser- tions and assumptions of others. The off, set makes criticism of the worth while sort.
 Helpful criticism is good thing. The other kind is poison.
 And, by the way
 Criticism, in the rightful use of the word, does not mean fault finding. Here is what Dryden said about 1t:
 Tn the first place. must take leave to tell them that they wholly mistake the nature of criticism who think it's busi- ness is principally to find fault. Criticism. as 1t was first instituted by Aristotle. was meant standard of judging we'll the chiefest part of which is to observe those excellencies which should delight a reas- enable reader"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-20

"Wanted-The toughest kid in this city, to be made the subject of so- biological experiment.
 No. there was no such advertisement in the newspaper.
 The search was made for the tough est boy. just the same, in dozen cities. Not the toughest boy of all, but the worst lad in each city. Some of tho leading social workers of America wanted the dozen to try on them some plans they had in view for the recla- nation of bad boys. After they were discovered merbership in the Last Chance .Boys' club was to be offered to them and they were to be taken to a ranch near Reno New. where they would have opportunities to become good men.
 Now
 This may or may not be good way to reclaim a bad boy.
 Good results have been gained in some cases by taking the street kid away from his old nment-transplanting him, as it were, in a better soil. But some times the terribly strong 'call of the city" brings him back, and he is happier in the dirty soil of the slums than in the clean soil of the farm.
 Then again
 Like the newsboy of New York who was taken west and later became gov- ernor of a United States territory and others who. helped by the Children's Aid society and other philanthropical agen- cies. achieved success, the tough kid may bear transplanting well into a foreign soil and strike his roots deep.
 Each individual needs careful, individ- ual treatment. There is no set rule whereby one may deal with newsboys, tough kids or any other class of per- son.
 There Is too much tendency among charity workers. philanthropists and so- ciologists to speak of types" Certain large, rough distinctions may be made, of course, but in the last analysis there are found many individuals who defy grouping.
 They are persons first and ''cases'' aft erward
 However,
 Doubtless most of these tough kids from the city will be benefited by the ranch treatment Their cases have been diagnosed by experts, and the transplan- tation treatment is indicated"
 Its wisdom is not to be doubted by anybody who has seen and smelled the big city slums on . hot. steaming sum- Aners day.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-20

that he should prepare a poem that would be responsive to the sentiment of the nation in the existing crisis. Rouget de Lisie had already won local distinction as a writer of popular airs. He was both writer and a composer. and had on several occasions written songs and composed the accompanying music.
 The suggestion of Mayor Dietrich so impressed the young Freedman that he set himself to the task that very night. and before the dawn of the following morning he had written the poem aud prepared the music of the hyman that has become immortal. To the surprise of the guests at the diner on the pre- ceding evening, De Lisle was ready the rext morning to render his stirring and patriotic hymn which he called
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-20

part of it is that many of those who call at the rooms of the committee in London are unable to speal, a word Of English and have no papers to offer show ing that they are citizens of America But none is turned away at the first call The theory is that you don't necessarily have to be an American to be hungry, and it is a pretty good one
 Some of the New York papers have been printing wild tales about the future of the Kaiser One says: "The defeat of Ger many in the war inevitably means one of two things for the Kaiser. either death at his own or somebody else's hand, or flight to non-Teutonic soil Ever since Germany began to make preparations to attack it's enemies the Kaiser has been investing large sums of money on the other Ghis) side of the Atlantic. He is one of the largest land holders in the west ern states al the present time. not in his own name, of course, and he also owns considerable sections of land in western Canada.
 If he cannot be the boss of Europe. he means to have the finest house on Fifth avenue'
 Some pretty pictures at once arise in imagination. Just think of the Kaiser dropping around to see Mr. Carnegie of evenings. drinking a stein and smok- ing pipe while the conversation turns to new plans for keeping the worlds peace. And they can talk also of the times when they were in trade. the times when MT. Carnegie was selling arfnor plate to the United States and all other nations that had the price, while MT. Hohenzollern, as partner in the krupp concern, sold cannons to himself.
 The Kaiser is one of the richest men in the world, according to all accounts. and if he chooses to make his home in America, he will be warmly welcomed. And if his heart should long for the strenuous days, he could run over to Oyster Bay and chop wood with Mir. Roosevelt.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-20

"We are the heirs of the ages and dc not desire 10 be their rrodlgal sons," said the late Professor Otis Tuition Ma son, one of Arnericas greatest ethnol- oglsts
 He meant that we are n' to waste the heritages that have come down to us. We are not to use the intellectual and material riches of the earth as a mine, but are to consider them as a firm whose fertility is to be conserved, net wasted.
 We are to give to the world more than we get out of it. Otherwise we are spenders wasters, prodigal sons. We cheat those who come after us. We defraud our own children and grandchildren and posterity to the end of time. We are not to take tho attitude of the man who, being told that 1t was the posterity. replied:
 well what has posterity eyer done for me?"
 This man ignored the fact that he and all others of his own generation are the heirs and benefioiaries ol all the ages that have marched before US on the long, long road of time
 When Archimedes invented the fulcrum and the lever, when Columbus demon- strated the roundness of the world, when Galilei invented the telescope and Watts the steam engine, they worked not for themselves or for fame. but for the good of mankind, of their own centuries and of all subsequent ages
 They felt and expressed in their work the thought of Professor Mason. They were the heirs of the ages and did not desire to be their prodigal sons
 What are you doing to join the immortal company?
 You are not a genius. es they were?
 It is not necessary to be a genius to do good work. It is only necessary to guide the plane true, to hold the helm aright. to dig a straight furrow, to train the mind in the ways of correct thought.
 Bit by bit atoms of good work build up the universe. The humblest work CT in the lowliest sphere, if his labor he honestly performed, is a coworker with the shaper of the earth and the stars.
 Professor Mason's life contained an interesting story. He had not decidcd d on a profession in his early manhood, but was rather inclined to think that he might like to be doctor or a sur veyor.
 One day his fathers house was visit
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-20

Bernard Chernow, os years old of New York, thought that he was mere cog in the worlds machnery-nay, a use less cog.''
 So Bernard Chernow died. And that was the end of a life that might have been made useful and valuable to the world.
 He did not kill himself-that Is, not directly. He simply died from lack of the will to keep on living. Perhaps his brain was affected by an injury, seem- ingly slight, which he suffered a short time ago. Perhaps oyerstudy had in- famed the delicate tissues of the brain.
 At any rate. he is dead. and the world is poorer.
 For the letter which Bernard Chernow left behind him tells in simple. eloquent and pathetic language the story of a life that might have been useful, even brilliant defeated in it's purposes by too much introspection, too much thought of self. Instead of directing the energies of his mind to the task of working out some definite. simple scheme whereby he could be of use to his fellow man, Chernow brooded over his inability to achieve single, set purpose.
 He wanted to be a teacher of the young and because he was not endowed with the natural ability to acquire excellence in drawing his aim was defeated Instead of turning to another purpose within the compass of his undoubted powers he brooded over his "failure.
 It seems to me that I am a mere cog in the worlds machinery-nay, q useless cog"
 Had he but applied his mind to a short ceived that in well built machine there IS no useless coz" Each thing in it's place is best" and the little cog. in the tiny gear. if 1t but serve the purpose of It's invention and creation, is as honor- able and good a part of the machine as the big cog in the great. powerful wheel All aid in the transmission of power, the advancement of the work of the ma- chine.
 If you cannot be a great, splendid outstanding part of the worlds ma. chinery be content to be a little cog and bring your utmost power to bear on your brother cogs that the wheels nay revolve easily and with the mini mum of friction.
 Behind the leaders of the army stand the common soldiers, thousands of them to every general. Without them to ex- ecute his orders, his brilliant plans are raught. Each one in his place must work and strive and fight.
 And so 1t is also m the world of peace.