davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-15
Human Factor in Accidents

Taking thought may not add a cubt to our stature. but it will add years to many lives and preserve limbs and health in thousands of interstate commerce com mission in it's annual report. has some thing to say about the causes or railroad accidents. and especially about the hu- man factor. ono hears so much about. says the Chicago Record-Herald.
 Decidedly. the human factor is respon- sible for accidents Seventy-four per cent of the whole number of accidents during the year reviewed were caused by mis- takes" and all of the mistakes were vio- lations of simple and reasonable rules The rules are ''habitually violated" and the traffic men as habitually pass over the violations and fail to take corrective steps.
 What is the explanation of all this in- difference and carelessness? Why, the explanation Is that employees and therr superiors alike have not taken on siif- ficent thought to safety. It ia too often assumed tl4at nothing serious can happen and that rules are made to be honored in the breach.
 The way to make travel safer is to pay more attention to safety-all along the line and all through the service Eeternal vigilance is the price of the maximum of safety realizable. Disobedi- ence of rules should be punished and the habit of taking chances earnestly dis couraged.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-15

The remarkable unity of strain in these lines would have perhaps been addition ally emphasized had the writer restricted himself to a single pair of rhymes, leav- ing the necessary variety to the sublime historical content of the piece. It must seem whimsical that the two of three examples I shall give ars chosen less for their perfection of form than for their authorship and their intrinsic interest. The first is by Andrew Lang, and concerns that gigantic modern sol- dier Colonel Burnaby, whose Ride to Khva' was once the worlds talk Burnaby fell to Soudanese spearsman in the campaign against the Mahdi in 1885 The following lines appeared in Punch:
 COLONEL BURNABY Thou that on every field of earth and
 sky
 Didst hunt for Death-that seemed to
 flee and fear
 thou lie
 Slain in the Desert by some wandering
 spearl Not here alasl may England say
 mot here, Nor in this quarrel was it meet to die, But in that dreadful battle drawing nigh, To shake the Afghan passes, strait and
 sheer.'' Like Alias by the Ships thou shouldst
 have stood,
 And in some glen have stayed the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-15

OVERS of poetry generally have a warm regard for the literary in- - taglio which is known as the son net form It should be easy to find those who have spent time in collecting their fayorite sonnets. as you may find the devotee of stamps or coins or autogra phs. What better could the student of Eng fish do, for the sake of his own souls training and culture, than to study the verse that he sees, for the discovery of the best sonnet in the language? Now and then he may come across gem in corner of The Age-Herald. Now and then he may even find in some current magazine something almost immaculate, laden with thought, beauty, tenderness, music, something hitherto unknown but ever memorable. His own anthology of sonnets would be life long pleasure to him.
 As a rule one needs guide to the son. net world The best 1 know is William Sharp, whose "Sonnets of This Century, was, I believe, first published in 1ss6 When our womens clubs are looking for programme material one of these days, l should like to commend such a book as really adequate for a years loving and profitable work. For one thing. it would be intensely instructive to the fore most minds and the most leisured mem bers, while on the other hand, it would not discourage the buster or the less talented The book would serve simply as an introduction to a splendid array of
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-15

many other memorials which stage people have presented to the parish, and some of the despised people of the de- nounced profession are worshippers of God in the sacred place Sunday after Sunday
 We need to occupy the viewpoint of the actor to judge of the morality of the people who live In "the mimic world" When MT. Frederick Ward once spoke of something that happened in his home while Mrs. Ward was hearing her little child say her pray CTS before going to bed" a pious per- so nturned and said to another pious person, q didn't know that theatrical people taught their children to say their prayers" He thought they were heather. I know an actor who, when about to leave his home to become a and humbly kneeling before the altar partook of the Holy Eucharist; and a few years thereafter when his valise was stolen from him at railway sta- tion in the west among the lost things which he most missed and deplored Were his Bible and his Prayer Book, the first given him by her who first taught his lips to pray and the second presented by him whose hand of bene- diction was lovingly placed on his head the spring morning when he left home for the outside world.
 One tells me that he judges stage people by the character of the dramas which they present, many of them being immoral. Take the actors point of view again. Does the reader imagine for moment that stage people select the plays in which they act? If he does he knows but little of the inner work .ings of the profession, ana is Ignorant
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-15
THE ACTORS POINT OF VIEW-By Dr. w E. Evans

bers to further their immoral designs with less possibility of detection? Would such a conclusion be rational? It would be nonsense. Years ago, when was investigating this subject, an ac- tor said to me, Our sphere of life is much like the condition in the churches, it contains good people of the highest sense of honor; and I'm sorry to say some of the people are not moral in the purest sense of that term"
 I recur for moment to the bitter prejudice held by some people against the actor because of his profession ire spective of his character. A very famous actor died in New York city some years ago and a prominent minister was re- quested to conduct the funeral services in his church. The pompous divine upon hearing that the dead man had been an actor suggested that there was a Little church around the corner" where they could have the funeral for such person. That little church was sought, and there the final services were read over the pathetic dust of Edwin Booth, man of pure life and of unimpeachable character, who left with his intimates, as l know, the beau tiful testimony of his heart, T love God"
 A few Sundays back I worshipped in that little Church Around the Corner" and looked upon the many stained glass windows in the dimly lighted fane with interest; but longest did I stand before the window presented by "The Players" as memorial to the man and actor, Edwin Booth. The window is a fine work of art with very subdued colors representing Hamlet in the graveyard scene holding Yorick's skull in his hand. In that same church there are
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-15

often selects the very worst features of the chronicles of the time" be- cause he thinks they will draw, and the actor. who is dependent for his bread upon his playing, must Ego on' though every artistic sentiment within him be violated. This being true, one asks, Why don't they leave a profes- sion that makes such requirements of them?' For the reason that they are not fitted for anything else. There's many a man in business who would like to abandon his old profession and go Into some other business pursuit, and looking back to other days will tell you that he made mistake when he took up this or that calling. But it's too late now to change.
 However, question the running quality of the "off-color' play. un- while. but be it said to the honor of our human natures sense of intrinsic dignity, interest soon dies. After all 1t is the pure things in life that abide There was being played in New York recently "The Lure" and one or two other plays of like character: none of them held the popular favor long, and were removed to make place for plays that could keep up the patronage. While a little distance away there was playing Peg O My Heart" to "stand- ing room only" although the play had been acted on the same boards for over a year. and with crowded houses had entered upon it's second year. l could give long list of sweet, clean plays that have been played night aft CT night for one, two. and in one in stance, three years, or part of the third year.
 My own opinion is, that good people. religious people. members of the various
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-15
Eaves, D. D.

streams of flight,
 The pillar of thy people and their
 shield, Till Helmund or till Indus ran with blood, And back, toward the Northlands and
 the Night
 The stricken Eagles scattered from
 the field. The last allusion is to the then i'm pending crisis with Russia concerning encroachments toward the scientific frontier' of India. There is a very well known sonnet by Lang on the Odyssey. closing with the wonderful lines: So gladly from the songs of modern
 speech Men turn. and see the stars, and feel
 the free
 Shrill wind beyond the close of heavy
 flowers.
 And through the music of the languid
 hours, They hear like ocean on western
 beach, The surge and thunder of the Odyssey. l have a sonnet haunting my memory. whose authorship is probably well known, but not to be recalled just now: a song of evolution from death to life. The last lines are A binding struggle: then the thunderous
 beat Of great, exultant pinons, stroke on
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-15

NUPPOSE We consider the actors
 view of the morality of the stage A> and the ethical side of theatrical life. No one can question the fact that many people think the stage is bad and only bad and bad continually They have reached their convictions from what they have heard, not that they know anything about it from personal investigation. They do not know any stage people, they never attend plays, and give all dramatic productions d single classification, and label them immoral.
 Stage people knowing this. resent it; and recognize that a great gulf lies between the church and their profes- sion-a gulf not of their digging. but dug by certain pious people who have never taken the trouble to ascertain facts for themselves. Prejudices against the stage are cherished simply because the theatrical world is an unknown continent to thousands who inveigh against it and assail it with uncharita- ble invective. One morally bad actor is taken as a representative of the class VI PSoPic III iio piolesSlot. iS lHiS idii to the men and women to whom God has given a talent and, sometimes, even a genius for histrionism? Suppose we juged the church by this standard
 There are bad men in the church. There are men within the sacred fold who lie, who drive the DOT man to the wall, who are tainted Uriah Heeps, end whose domestic life is rotten to the very core. Would it be just, logical, and in keeping with the facts to say, be- cause some are corrupt that all are? that the church Is only used by its mem
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-15

which opens depths of gladness before undreameds of, the atmosphere of pathos and certainty, cloud and light. amid which movement may be both radiant and reasonably dignified. Yes, the sonnet is more than a passion song of enamored youth, but it carries the spirit of youth in form not unbecoming the later years. penned those famous lines, a sonnet in praise of the Sonnet Scorn not the Sonnet; Critic, you have
 frowned, Mindless of it's just honors; with this key Shakespeare unlocked his heart; the
 melody Of this small lute gave ease to Petrarch's
 wound. thousand times this pipe did Tasso
 sound; The Sonnet glittered, a gay myrtle leaf, Amid the cypress with which Dante
 crowned His visionary brow; a glow-worm lamp, It cheered mild Spencer, called from
 Fairy-land To struggle through dark ways; and, 1. when a damp Fell round the path of Milton. in his
 hand The Thing became trumpet, whence he
 blew Soul-animating strains-alas too few
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-15

of the position of the actor when plays and selected. A famous actor, whom I saw in New York, said: "Salac' ous plays are as disagreeable to the actor as they can be to anybody. He does not select them and has no relish in play ing them. There are pure plays, sweet and helpful, plays intended to make men happier through laughter and vari- ous forms of merriment that could be put on in place of the so-called prob lem plays and sex suggestion dramas, We delight to play in these ' MT. David Warfield was present, at that time doing "The Auctioneer' at Be- lasco's theatre, and assented to the statement made by his brother player.
 Who selects the plays? Why, the managers of the playhouses. They are in the business for the money it may bring. They are not actors, with rare eXception they are not artists in any line of high endeavor, and in some cases they are hard hearted, close fist ed money lovers without the first care of the morality of play or of the effect upon the hearts of playgoers These men have bought up theatres in every city, have formed syndicates and circuits. and In some places have made the cond' tions such that a clean play is almost impossible, because, for sooth, "the goody- -goody plays fail to bring the shekels" Therefore, the ac- tor, the histrionic artist, is put in false position before the community in which he appears and the managers love to have 't so." There was a time when actors were, as Hamlet said,
 "The abstracts and brief chronicles of the time"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-15

churches. are largely responsible for the conduct of those managers who put un- clean plays before the public. If all such would make point of patronizing pure dramas, l believe they could revolutionize the stage. If they would set the exam pie of going to the theatre only when worthy play is presented, and of stay ing away when an unclean play is ad- vertised. the unclean thing would soon become mere tradition. Yet good peo- pie say they do not go to see plays on account of the example. What has this example done? More members of the churches go to theatres now than ever And they go to see all kinds of plays If appears to me if we set the example of going to see only pure things. and of staying away from unclean plays, that many would follow tho example set them in both instances.
 There's another thought suggested by the title of this paper. The stage-struols young man or young woman should ac- quire, If possible the viewpoint of the actor before deciding to adopt the sta ae as a sphere of achievement. Many young people see play easily spun off on the stage, and are fascinated by the apparent facility with which men and women fill their parts: then, too, cle glamor of the stage settings, the dresses, the music and the colors the ensemble, all attract. and Inspire desire to Ego on the stage. have a number of friends who were led to the theatrical life thus and in a llttle while gave it up, having seen that they were totally unhtted for it in mind and in body. I met a young woman a few weeks ago who had taught in a school of elocution, from which institu- ton she had gone to the stage and for a year or two had acted. said 50. you have given up the stage?r She re-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-15

stroke. And from that world u mighty angel
 fled. Cosmo Monkhouse has d similar motif. From morn to eve they struggled-Iife
 and Death. At first 1t seemed to me that they in
 mirth Contended. and as foes Of equal worth So firm their feet. so undisturbed their
 breath. But when the sharp-red sun cut through
 it's sheath Of western clouds. saw tfs brown
 arms girth Tighten and bear that radiant form to
 earth And suddenly both fell upon the heath. And then the wonder oame-for when I
 fled To where those great antagonists down
 fell
 I could not find the body that I
 sought. And when and where it went 1 could
 not tell;
 One only form was left of those who
 fought. The long dark form of Death-and 1t
 was dead. The most famous single sonnet in l1ng- fish, because the most perfect in balanced propriety of matter and form. is en- titled Night and Death" The author
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-15

was Joseph Blaneo White, born in Seville, Spain of an Irish father and spanish mother. He revolted from his training as a Catholic priest. joined the English church, and finally became a Unitarian. He wrote voiuminously, but nothing that has lived so vitally as this1 famous sonnet: Mysterious night! When our first parent
 knew
 Thee from report divine, and heard thy
 name.
 Did he not trembe for his lonely frame. This glorious canopy of light and bluef ! ct meath a curtain of translucent dew. Bathed in the rays of the great setting
 flame.
 Hesperus with the host of heaven
 came. And lol Creation widened in mans view. Who could have thought such darkness
 lay concealed
 could find, Whilst flower and leaf and insect stood
 revealed
 us blndt
 Why do we then shun Death with
 anxious strife?
 If Light can thus deceive wherefore
 not Life2
 But 1t is not given to everyone to take pleasure in these rhythmic sayings alsd songs; so that I incontinently cease
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-15

the land through. and all were to rush forth. to do what? only to make Ab- salon king
 Thus went the tide with many mis- guided ones. Reason gave place 10 passion. judgement 10 sentiment and even c0ascienee to policy. and David, the man who had made Israel great by means of his own greatness. was now a synonom of hatred, a. subject of derision
 Yet up 10 this time. to the ti4ne of the huebling-over of Absalohs. none had been greater during all the years. than David
 The demagogue did his work and his worst. The issue was joined. and the decisive day approached. The contest came. with what result9
 Absalom. where now was he9
 He was found dangling to a tree.
 The most dangerous of wild beasts ia slanderer, of tame ones, a flatterer
 Thus ended the career of Absaiom.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-15

the needed justice It was literally
 Smooth dissimulation. taught to grac.
 demons purpose with an angels
 face,
 To prove just how good and sncc-e he was. Absalom would not so much as ae- cept the customary reverence paid to the great When one was flattered and led away with his fine words, and would seek to kneel and do Absalom reverence. he would not suffer it. but putting forth his hand would check him and raise him up, at the same time embracing him, and planting a kiss on his cheek. Absalom became the famous kisser of his time.
 How did all this worlx2 It caught thousands in the net of Absalom's de- ception. When did David ever kiss a subject? When did he ever mingle with the people? When did he even conde-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-15

kingdom. and while he had given efn- inent satisfaction till this good hour. Ab- salon was perniciously active in creating strife in tho hearts of the people. He would mix freely with the crowd, smirk, and smile, with a word for each in turn
 From his manner, port, and speeches one would have thought that his anxiety for the popular good was without bound
 With varied shift and shuffle exactly in accommodation of himself to each case
 he would demurely ask of what city one was, what matter he had for trial, and after listening to the story, he would forthwith declare the right was on the side of the speaker, but. then,he would say: There is something wrong" look dramatically serious, and with a1 om- inous shrug, would continues Would that l were judge of the land Would that men would come to me to have their causes tried I would soon get for them
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-15
[<1 HAVE been a friend of So-and-So
 for a good many years, but this is '. | 1.ff ri dclai Sa Id

CT HAVE been friend of So-andSo
 for a good many years, but this is
 ' where I get off Friendship ceases when foolishness begins"
 It was business man who was talk ing. The other man was in the same line of business. They had been friendly rivals for years. Then the other made |. move which was severely criticized by lis friends and acquaintances, and the breach between the two was the result.
 Now
 Was the critic justified in his stand. otherwise than in his own eyes? Does friendship really cease when foolishness begins?
 If so, most of us would stand before the world stripped of the garments of friendship which have shielded us from many winds of diversity and criticism, for there are few who have not been guilty of some act or acts os gross fool ishness.
 He should have said:
 "Friendship really begins to show it's force and value when foolishness begins,' for the foolish man stands more in need
 
 calm, even course of wisdom.
 Our chief want in life is somebody who shall make us do what we can," says Emerson. This is the service of a friend With him we are easily great. There is a sublime attraction in him to whatever virtue is in us. How he filings wide the doors of existenoel What an understand ing we have! How few words are needed! It is the only real society,"
 No one can live up to the Emersonian standard and be a real friend, one "who shall make us do what we can." if ct the sign or hint of foolishness he or she drop away from us as though we had q plague. Folly is far too common In life to be regarded as anything unusual to be punished by the loss of friendship It is, of course, true that the wise per- son does not consort habitually with fools, but that is not the question here. We are now concerned with the man who said Friendship ends when foolishness begins."
 There is here more than a hint that the person whose friendship is to be killed was formerly not foolith, but that some act or acts of his are now unrea- sdna ble
 The remedy that is needed is not os- tracism or enmity to replace the ancient comity. It is reasoning with the afflicted friend to make him sec the unreason of his present course.
 To the ladies:
 \ You will admit will you not, that not much wisdom Is to be learned from your present methods of dressing? You know as well as and better than any man that the modes of today, with their extrava- gances of form and otherwise. have been criticized very severely, not only by men, but also by women.
 But here is a suggestion from the fash ions which may be valuable:
 Height js the thing insisted upon in