davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-21

Joseph Galtier. brilliant contributor to the Temps, is advocating the format."@ of a Two Dish league in Paris to coi.o.-. the modern tendency toward heavy din- ners with numerous courses. One by one the famous restaurants of Paris are giv- ing way to new hosteries and the old custom of restaurant specializing in a dish that was the pride and glory of that particular establishment is dying out. When the famed Cafe Anglais, the Tour dArgent and the Maison Doree were at the height of their prestige a Paris boule- vardier knew just where to go when he craved some special dainty: If fish, roast or fowl was his desire, there was to be found restaurant that excelled in the preparation of each dish. As a rule when chef had made dish that was destined to become famous he sought immortality by giving his name to it. The Tour q Argent was famous for it's duck, Mar guery's filet de sole is known and initiated throughout the world The idea of NJ Galtier is that there should be two dishes prepared with the greatest care, two wines and eight friends in order to achieve the apotheoss of dining.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-21
STOCK PERIsHING

From the Philadelphia North American.
 The question as to whether the native American stock is perishing has received considerable attention from statistieians and the results thus far are not eneourag- ing to those who believe that the country and the world need the descendants of the "early settlers How soon, if ever, the original American, we acknowledge him to be, of European stock and apart from the Indian, is going to pass away Is something, none of the experts will att tempt to say.
 Walter r. Wilcox. a statistician of Cor nell university. says that a very careful and thorough study of the population of Massachusetts, made at his suggestion led to the general conclusion that the Ea- tive population of the state is dying out at a considerable pace. He believes the same observation will apply to the rest of New England and to New York but it probably does not apply to the native American stock of the south There ap- pears to be no readily available statistics regarding Pennsylvania and the north of the central states.
 Some years ago President Eliot of Harvard, in his annual report, showed that of Ss1 Harvard graduates who took their degrees from 20 to 90 years pre- viously, 72 per cen were married and 2S per cent unmarried. The 72 per cent had 1262 living children. On the as sumption that half of the children were boys. there were 631 male children. 1t was President Eliots conclusion that:
 "The highly educated part of the American people does not increase the population at all; but. on the contrary. fails to reproduce itself
 q believe this to be correct" says Statistician Wilcox. But the evidence does not warrant any definite state ment regarding the probable or pos sible period within which old Amer ican stock will have been submerged.
 "Viewing the subject more broadly, the increase of population among peo- ples of European stock during the last two centuries has been enormous and unprecedented. The increase has not been due to any increase in the birth rate, but rather to a decrease in the death rate. Under present conditions, 1t seems probable that nation may increase mainly from it's weaker lines of descent, or, at least, may not gain as 1t might and should from it's best lines. This change may extend to races, and the white race may lose the numerical predominance 1t has so recently ac quired."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-21

From the Pittsburg Chronicle and Tele-
 graph
 John Henry was keeping company with Myrtle Marie. and when the father of tho latter returned from the office one even- ing he was timidly approached by his pretty daughter.
 Papa said the fair one, did John Henry call on you this inorning?"
 Yes" answered the paternal one. but couldn't make out much of what he said"
 Couldn't make out what he sad," re- turned Myrtle Marie, wonderingly What do you nean?''
 "As near as l could understand" ex- plained papa, he said he wanted to marry me. that you had enough money to support him. and that we had always loved each other so l told him to go home and write it out in plain English"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-21

time in featuring the young Ameri- can on his own lack of good taste.
 Whether or not bloody" is derived from By our Lady" and was once d sacreligious oath, there are few peo- pie of refinement and education, eith- CT in this country or in England, who would care to go on record as defend ing its use. Slang is sometimes re- markably apt in expressing an idea. Bloody really means nothing in the vernacular and is about as stupid word when used in slangy sense as one could hit upon in days search.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-21
The Word Bloody"

George Bernard Shaw, man who gets into public print with the fre- quency of the weather report, has started another international discus sion by his efforts to uphold the use af the word "bloody" in one of his plays. Bloody" it seems, is a word of most horrific import to an English man and is not used in the presence of women by man who has due re- gard for the proprieties, although the same gentleman may on occasions use real "cuss" words freely when there are women about.
 In this country we occasionally hear the phrase, "a bloody shame" but not often, and it is not used, we believe, with a full realization of its wicked ness. Englishmen, it seems, have a predilection for derogatory adjectives beginning with the letter D." as, for instance, "bally," blooming" 'beast- ly," and perhaps few others that don't get into the modern plays and novels dealing with English life, while to call man "bounder" is posi- lively the worst that can be said about him in England.
 A newspaper writer, in commenting on the use of bloody" tells a story of young American crossing the At lantic with young Englishman who one day used some profanity in the presence of women acquaintances of the two, without the slightest concep- ton, apparently, of the enormity of his offense. The young American called the young Englishman out and remonstrated with him for his faux pas. Shortly after the young American, trying to initiate English ways, used the word bloody" before some wom- en. The young Englishman lost no
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-21
GREAT TRIALS OF HISTORY
TRIAL OF QUEEN EMMA

THE most remarkable trial ''by fire'
 recorded in English history is that 4 of Queen Emma. This lady was the daughter of Richard II, duke of Nor mandy. She was married to Etffeired King of England, and was the mother of Edward the Confessor She had a large share in the administration of affairs during her sons reign, and had so con- siderable interest that Goodwin, Earl of Kent, who was chief minister, was afraid of being eclpsed by her ascen- dency.
 To get rid of this competition Goodwin charged the queen-mother with several crimes and getting some of the leading nobles to sanction his charges, the King who was a weak and over-credulous man. made her a yiist and seized her money and estates under pretense that she had enriched herself by avarice and injustice. She was then arrested on three charges: l. That she consented to the death of her son Alfred.
 2. That she used her endeavor to prevent her son. the then King, from obtaining the crown.
 
 tercourse with Alwyne, Bishop of Win chester
 For her trial upon these articles the Archbishop of Canterbury, in conformity with the Kings direction. convened a synod to investigate the matter. The Queen was not heard. or in any way inter- rogated by the assembly, and she was found guilty. By way of punishment the Archbishop directed that Queen Emma was to go on her fare feet over nine p1oughshares heated red hot, in the pres ence of the clergy and the people, in the Cathedral church at Winchester, and if she receive no harm in this trial, she was to be reputed innocent; but if otherwise she was to undergo the punishment of death.
 The unhappy Queen spent the night be- fore the ordeal in prayer at St. Swithin 5 tomb in the church, and next day, after the preparatory ceremonies, she walked
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-21
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Regarding Hotel Accommodations

Most cities of from 75,000 to 100000 pop ulation have one large fireproof hotel, and many cities of the ao0.0o0 class have five or six fine, modern hotels said William V. shepperson of Chicago.
 T notice now that one of the finest hotels in the country will soon be opened here. The Tutwiler, from all accounts is one of the most magnificent hotels ever built. The Motion, opposite the Tutwiler, while not so large, is strictly fireproof and is, it is said, high class in every respect Birmingham has many hotels of various sizes, and when the new ones are opened the city will be well off in hostelries. Later on when it has three or four fireproof skyscraper hotels, it will be in the convention city class provided. of course, that it has a large convention hall.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-21

BOY LIFE OF STREETS

New York Correspondent of the Balti.
 more Star.
 1 have always been much interested in studying the rich boy life of our streets. The ingenuity of these lads exploits is appalling, some of the leaders grow up 70 be captains of industry and others wear the uniform of Elmira.
 For instance, a gang of 10 Il boys, all living in very restricted area (boys two blocks away are their hereditary f,es) divide up twoscore tenements. Each boy goes through his tenements, knocking at the doors and asking the housewives if there are any orders for groceries.
 Some of the women are suspicious tal- though they need not be. because they are not the intended victims), but here and there one will say she needs cake of soap or quart of potatoes or new broom.
 The members of the gang meet at their 'hang-out, and they compare notes. They need three cans of corn. two brooms, 10 cakes of soap, etc.
 The gang strolls over to a grocery store on Ninth avenue. The leader goes in and asks the grocer for bottle of ginger ale. This causes the grocer to go to the refrigerator in the rear. The gang sweeps in. They knock over the boxes and the barrels, grab what they can and tear away in different directions. Seldom are they caught.
 Then the orders are filled The pro- ceeds are equally divided and the gang starts game of crap or pitch penny. They gamble until one boy has all the money. He thereby wins the distinctive honor of being leader in the next raid. He divides his pile into two equal parts One-half he spends with the gang The rest he has the right to squander in the company of a chosen companion. Is not this an adventurous life? In the country the boys would use the same iu- genuitv in catching musk-rats or shoot ing squirrels. Hemmed in by the city they make the best of their environments.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-21

over the nine hot ploughshares unhurt, in the presence of the King, the nobility and clergy. The fire, say the assumed chroniclers was so far from making any impression, that after she had walked out of the church and had even trod upon all the irons, she asked when they in tended to bring her to the test.
 When the King saw how his motheri had come safely through the ordeal he was terror-stricken, and falling on his knees he expressed his willingness to make reparation, not only to his mother, but also to the Bishop of Winchester. To preserve the memory of the miracle, the plowshares were buried in the cloisrer of Winchester and one-and-twenty manors were settled upon the bishopric and church of Winchester, three of which were given by the King, nine by Queen Emma and many by the bishop himself I
 This trial by fire ordeal was not un- an earlier period. In the ordeal ore pound of iron was enough for single probation and three served for a triple one. and none were to be present but such as were fasting The Litanies being said the priest began his abjuration, at the finish of which holy water was giYea to all present to taste and sprinkle aves the house. Then followed the trial by fire ordeal.
 There was another equally odd form of punishment known as the trial by scalding water The accused was com pelled to take stone out of sealdias water. After the hand was withtir.l,t. E. it was sealed up. kept so far three nights. and then opened: and if it proved sound, and well, thanks were returned to ,ioc for it, but if raw and discolored, the ac- cused was considered guilty.
 At the divorce of Lothaire King cr France. and his Queen Tetherga, by whom he was afterward poisoned. that lady underwent the trial by scalding water, by proxy, and coming off with out the least mark or impression, she was received by Lothaire, her husband, and no separation followed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-21
MODERN NOAH'S ARK
From the New York Times.

From the New York Times
 The steamer Moltke, of the Hamburg American Line, brings from Hamburg a menagerie of animals collected from all parts of the world including black panther which was formerly a househeid pet of the Begun of Bhoopal; three cop ards from Silliguri, blue kuss- kuss from the Saraha desert, two Madagascar rius- tard cats, two dancing ourang -outangs s, from Palia-Jalla, West Africa a piping bulliinch from Darjeeling, two hippopo- tami from New Guinea, four cinnamon bears from Siberia, two mauve foxes from Somaliland, eight crates of snakes, 9s swans, and a fine specimen of the wild mish-mish of the Ttavapo river, which flows into the Orinoco.
 This rare bird is amphibious, it is said, and after swimming under water it will suddenly climb the tallest palm on the banks of the. river and then utter a mournful note, which sounds like it's name, and dive down into the water again. No one appears to know why the msh-mish does this.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-21
DoRoTHy's CONFESSION

From the Ladies' Home Journal.
 The school children had learned Eugene Fields poem. ''Wynken, Blynken and Nod and one afternoon, for the enter tainment of some visitors, the teacher had them repeat 1t. Thinking to display how well the children comprehended the mean ing of the poem she began to ask ques- tions about it.
 And what were the two little eyes and the little head doing in their little boat that was trundle bed?'' she said.
 No hand came up.
 What happens when we go to sleep?" she went on. Still no sign.
 Why, children, can't any of you think what you do when you are, seeping?
 Up came the hand of tiny, brown-eyed maiden.
 Well, Dorothy. you tell us, In the sweetest lisp. came sthe answer: 'I thnore."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-21
LIKE M,IVkE SAYS

From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
 The only way some fellows ever get to see sunrise is when they stay up all night.
 The only man who doesn't bet more than he can afford to lose is the lad who never makes a bet.
 If men would kick in with more pin money they would save more alimony
 The married man who talks in his sleep should not go to bed with his affinity on his mind.
 You can knock the devil all you please The old son of a gun has a lot of faults, but procrastnation isn't one of them. Father imagines he is great detective because he can tell when mother has cab- bage for dinner as soon as he opens the front door.
 Father may forget everything else. but he never forgets to get mad when mother reminds him how forgetfui he is.
 l knew the duIh tango would start something. Some tof the sweet he things are using as much face powder IS the girls.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-21
TEACHING FRENCH WITH MIRRORS

fFoin Ionu0n lll-WlS.
 A teacher at the Tottenham Grammar school adopts a very effective method of teaching French to boys English chil- dren find great difficulty with the French pronuneiation Their own tongue is so complex, both in spell ing and in pronunciation, that simple Latin tongue like French comes to them as surprise.
 The teacher in question hit upon the idea of getting up d series of sound charts, each of which teaches, with the aid of designs and diagrams. the way in which the lips should be opened and the tongue placed to form the sound of French vowel, whether accented or not. The series include two charts for (open or cosed), three for te. e. e), one for l. two for O. etc, and other charts for the real diphthongs de, q. etc.), and the false (eu, ou, etc).
 The pupils carry a little mirror to class and, placing themselves in turn before the chart. they try, by comparing the
 image of their own mouths with the dia- gram, to give the correct position to their lips and tongue. Lessons in class follow these separate repetitions.
 It is hard to believe that this system of teaching French does not exaggerate the difficulties, but the results reached during the last two years show that it is effective. After 10 months of instruction six hours to the week. two-thirds of the pupils are able to read French with a good accent, and when they return to school after the long vacation they have lost nothing of the principles so labori- ously acquired. Now, in schools that have not yet adopted this system nine tenths of the children pronounce French with very bad accents indeed at the end of their last year of study.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-21
TWO DEAD ONES

From the Pittsburg Chronicle.
 Hugh O'Donnell is storyteller and a humorist. The principal charm of an "O'Donnelog," in fact, consists of the running fires of stories.
 He told. the other night, of the Irish man who stood before the grave of Par nell, on which was inscribed the epitaph T still live "Och, begorry'' exclaimed Pat, If l were dead I'd own up to it.'
 Even the little children in Ireland, ac- cording to O'Donnel have the true Irish sense of humor. He was standing before Nelson's statue, he said, when he asked a youngster: Was Nelson really Irish?''
 That he was replied the child. That 8 why he is what he was"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-21
OFF HIS PRAYING LIST

From the Kansas City Star.
 A boy in McPherson county had been working on" his grandmother for some time to induce her to give him bicycle. She had half promised him, but as the weeks went by and no bicycle came the boy got impatient. One evening he was saying his prayers and omitted his grand- mother from the list of those on whon, he asked special blessing. His mother noted the omission and called his atten- ton to it.
 "Why, Gerald, you forgot to pray foc grandma
 Nav, I didn't, neither, said Gerald
 but grandma's gota come across fore she gets any more prayers outa me
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-21
TROUBADOUR AND JESTER
TOO LATE.

roo LATE Times up old man: ticking clock Has scored the hour of six, And you have not saluted yet. It may be politics That you are playing now, as that Old protocol you send; But you'll find what is coming now Has quite a business end Of ultimatums now, old boy, This is the last 1 send No more will John Lind talk to you Upon his finger end. 70 more will you, Shaughnessy Salute with gentle kiss, For the salute that we demand Is different quite from this. It may be that my message short Was one you didn't hear But what we'll say at Tampico Will take wax from your ear. No Japan, pulque. brag nor bluff Will help you in this fix; We're sorry but 'tis now too late The clock has just struck six.
 MTRABLE DIcTt.. A darkey saw a zebra Surprise his eyes did pop; Well, I'll declare" he cried, if there Aint mule from Flat Top
 HOBSON'S CHOICE. Alas. my gentle suffragette, Thourt with us now till death. The odor of the cigarette l note upon thy breath. The strength of thy uplifting force, At ballot box has won; And in Chicago thy dear sex Elected "Bathouse'' John. Thy tickets split, split are thy frocks With split infinitive
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-21
\ KISS IN GERMANY

From the New York World.
 According to definition by the su- preme court of the German Empire "a kiss always requires the permission of the person kissed" However, the court 5 further observation that the consent may be '.tacit'' or implied shows that Ger man law accords with the social code In disputed eases probably a certificate Of reasonable doubt could be applied for by the defendant
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-21

I'd rather go and split some rocks Than with thee. dear girl live.
 GREAT MINDS RUN My little calf and I the spring In mutual pleasure pass; I eat Bermuda onions while She eats Bermuda grass
 QUITE AIRY. The womens dresses are so tight They'll soon adopt this ruse- That when from street cars they alight !, A parachute they'll use.
 DUAL INFORMATION In the tango dance she stopped And I ne'er saw her sweeter Than when she blushing said to me I've dropped my tango meter" i, At first I knew not what she meant; My pulse rose as thermometer, For I had always called the thing As is pronounced barometer. I got it twisted, so did she; That is how she dropped it. W hen l found the precious thing I found the fall had stopped it. But its quick recovery Gave us mutual please, For she learned how far shed d danced And l another measure.
 LISTING MEASURE. TomplSins: T won't bet on this election. but I am going to urge friend to do so.s Hopkins: That's right. It is better to abet a bet than to bet a bet"
 C. M.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-21
THE BRIDES HANDICAP
om Lippincott's Magazine.

From Lippincott's Magazine.
 They were discussing Bessie's wedding
 Usually it is the bridegroom who is nervous, while the bride is self-pos- sessed,''e commented one of the bride- maids but Bessie's voice sounded as though she were frightened. It sounded rather strained.
 'Oh there's a reason for that ex- plained one of the ushers. You see she was talking through her veil.''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-21
oENoNE's VALE

My Tennyson. There lies a vale in Ida, lovelier Than all the valley of lonian hills, The swimming vapor slopes athwart the
 glen, Puts forth an arm, and creeps from pine
 to pine, And loiters, slowly drawn. On either f
 hand The lawns and meadow ledges midway
 down Hang rich in flowers. and far below them
 rOarS The long brook falling thro' the cloy'd
 ravine In cataract after cataract to the Sea Behind the valley topmoet Gargarus Stands up and takes the morning; but in
 front rs The gorges, opening wide apart, reveal Troas and Ilion's column'd citadel. The crown of Tr0as
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-21
BEGINNING THE DAY-Helr me.

BEGINNING THE DAY-Heip me. n Iord. to go quietly with Thee ,.aax and Thy strength to meet all ,hi,.s. Help me not to complain 1T .h. I,ur.Iep proys heavy. or to whine If my disaster comes. Heip me. q great God, to play the game throunh. md to meet Thee in the evening unnshamed. In name Amcn.-H. NJ. E.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-21
In the Flight Wax

"The women who are at the head of the music festival management have gone about the work in hand in the right way, and it is safe to assume that the two beautiful performances to be given at the Bijou Thursday will be successful from box office point of view said one of the "old guard In festival enterprise.
 Not only have the women taken hold of this festival business with en- thusiasm, but they are getting the whole town worked up. They are mak- ing an especial effort to get the CO., operation of the educational institu- tions and indications now point to the largest turnout of school children and young men and young ladies of the high school classes ever seen here The Bijou has large seating capacity, but would be willing to wager that there will be an overflow house at the mat inee and a full house at the night con- cert, when Birmingham big chorus as- sisted by the St. Louis symphony or chestra will render Dubois splendi l oratorio. Paradise Lost. One of the | members of the musical festival exec utive board tells me that she has never
 known as much interest shown by the men of Birmingham in a music festival as is now manifested.
 All that was required to give the af- fair life and snap was civic pride and genuine enthusiasm. Mrs. Houston Da- l wis, president of the festival board, and those assisting her will doubtless have the satisfaction of seeing a consider able surplus after all the bills are paid"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-21

A Chicago art firm having failed, owing s1,oOo,0Oo, we may anticipate a few more caustie references to Chicago's lack of an aesthetic temperament.