davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-18

NJ. Prechat, in a lecture delivered in Paris, described the House of Gold which Nero had built for him between the Palatne and Esquiline hills in Rome. This huge palace was covered with plates of gold and carvings of ivory and contained a multitude of beautiful statues. It occupied an area equal to the Champs Elysees and the Place lie la Con corde. Ovid's description of the Palace of the Sun in the "Metamorphesis," sug- gested the House of Gold'' to Nero, who had statue of himself as the sun god erected in a great four-horse chariot be- fore the entrance to the palace. This statue was nearly19o feet high. Inside the palace was lake on which were given the sumptuous nautical banquets and other festivities which were common dur ing Nero's reign. The "House of Gold" aroused much resentment among the Roman people, who were heavily taxed to pay for it's construction, and it did not long survive after Nero's death. Nothing is left of it today but some endorsements discovered beneath the Coliseum.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-18
Raised to Embassies

At the request of President Wilson Congress passed a bill last week rais- ing the rank of this country's dlplo- matic representatives to Argentina and Chile from that of minister plenl- potentiary to ambassador. The two republics named will as matter o1 course reciprocate the honor and raise their respective legations to em- bassies.
 In to the time of Cleveland's sec ond administration the United States had only envoys extraordinary and ministers plenipotentiary. From the beginning this government has mad general policy of minimizing ofti- cial rank. It has been chary of high rank in the army. In the regular army there have been comparatively few lieutenant generals and only three full generals. The highest grade on the active list today is that of major general
 It was not until after Great Britain raised it's legation at Washington to embassy rank that the United States was represented abroad by an ambas- sador. Immediately following Great Britain's action President Cleveland asked Congress to reciprocate the con- pliment. A bill was promptly passed, and Thomas F. Bayard was appointed ambassador, he being the first Ameri- can honored with that title. The Uni ted States government with character istic indifference to high rank would never have taken the initiative Tn matter like this, but there was quiet satisfaction on the part of Americans generally when the ambassadorlal start had been made. Ambassadors have a decidedly stronger standing in foreign countries than mere ministers plenipotentiary They not only take precedence over diplomats of lower rank, but their influence with the sovereign or saler and the foreign office is If many cases appreciably enhanced. After Great Britain had a.,pointed an ambassador to this coun- try Russia, France, Germany and Austria Hungary followed close in line. Then came Mexico with an ann bassador, and in the course of time Italy, Brazil, Japan, Turkey and Spain replaced their legations at Washing ton by embassies.
 The highest salary of an American minister is $12,000, but with few exceptions our ministers receive only $10,O00. The salary of all American ambassadors is $17,500. That salary is ample, no doubt, to maintain a diplomatic representative in good style in some countries, but the ambassador to England needs more if he would keep up large establishment such as several ambassadors have done.
 While the initiative in raising the rank of diplomatic exchanges has
 with few exceptions, come from tn, foreign government, it was tactfu
 and gracious on the part of Presiden
 Wilson to make the move in regard t,
 Argentina and Chile. Those countries
 will doubtless appreciate what was in
 tended to be a distinct complimen
 at this juncture in Latin-Americal
 diplomacy.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-18
JUST AS SHE SUSPECTED
rom Everybody's Magazine.

From Everybody's Magazine
 woman, wearing an anxious express sion. called at an insurance office one morning.
 q understand" she said, that for $ can insure my house for $iOoo in your company"
 Yes. ' replied the agent, that is right If your house burns down we pay you s100O''
 And" continued the woman anxiously "do you make any inquiries as to the origin of the fire?''
 Certainly" was the prompt reply ..ws make the most careful inquiries, madam.
 "Oh!'-and she turned to leave the of flce--'I thought there was catch in il somewhere"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-18
Some Theories as to Wars

N, The predicament in which President Wilson now finds himself relative to the embroglio with Mexico recalls the oft-repeated theory that wars are chargeable largely to a spirit that comes and goes. This theory mann tains that there are peace periods and there are periods of conflict; that during the former it is quite an easy matter to avoid disturbances and dur ing the latter utterly impossible to avert the impending warfare.
 There is also theory that the war spirit is infused into the embryo dur ing war times and develops between 25 and 35 years after in the grown-up young generation that was born dur ing, or immediately following the pre- vious war. An instance of these pre- natal impressions is pointed out in the late Spanish-American war which came just s years after the late civil war.
 Ingenious and entertaining as such theories may be a glance at modern history tells us that wars are of al most unremitting and continual oc- currence and the fact is emphasized in the roster of conflicts for the past 60 years. Here is the list:
 Crimean war, 1S55-56.
 Sepoy mutiny. 1857.
 War of Italian Liberation, 1859. Sicilian war, 1860.
 Chinese wars, 1S60-64
 American civil war. 1S61-65.
 Mexican wars, 1S61-67.
 Polish insurrection, 1S63-64.
 War in Denmark, 1864.
 Austro- Prussian war. 1866.
 Franco Prussisn war, 1870.
 Russo Turkish war, 1S77-7S
 Bombardment of Alexandria, 1881. Sudan war, 1sS2-SS.
 Servo Bulgarian war 1885.
 Gordon relief expedition. 1sS4-s5.
 Japanese Chinese war, 1S94-95.
 Italo- Abyssinian war, 1896.
 Greco Turkish war, 1897.
 Sudan war, 1S949S.
 Spanish American war, 1898.
 Filipino instruction, 1899.
 Boxer war, 1900.
 Boer war, 1S991902.
 Russo Japanese war. 1904-05
 Turkish civil war, 1910.
 Tripolitan war, 1911.
 Balkan wars, 1912-13
 Occupation of Vera Cruz. 1911.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-18
CIGARETTES IN THE JERSEYS

From the New York Sun
 Tn the brave days of some counter plaster of tobacco, John B. Cough in his passionate act of casting away that black devil a piece of "old navy" or Dr. bio Lewis or the Rev. George Trask, used to enumerate the men of truly majestic intellect who didn't smoke and whose anti-fumitory virtue was the cause of that intellect. One of these giants of the mind was the Bobbin Boy, governor of Massachusetts and Major of the holy weed used to grin and cite Bismarck as an example of smokers in telect. These comparisons are odorous and unintelligibe. Tobaccoless would Otto have been Nathaniel Prentiss |. Smoked and cured. would Nathaniel Prentiss have been an Otto?
 It is the Springfield union that now resumes these ungenerous and inconclu- sive examples, personalities and conjec- lures. Because the Honorable Thomas Ava Edison has proclaimed ex laborato- rio that cigarettes dull the brain the Union divagates thus:
 It would be interesting to know what Colonel Gorgas thinks of that, the col onel being credited with smoking 40 ciga- rettes a day. If there was any dulling of his brain there was no evidence of it in his wonderful work of sanitary engineer ing in the Panama canal zone'
 Granting that Colonel Gorgass allow ance of paper cigars is as stated what of it? He may have smoked for the detriment of the mosquitoes or to study narcotic poisoning. He may have smoked like Uncle George in "Rollo at Cam bridge flor a cruel nervous disease. ' At any rate, sanitary engineers fumi' gations are sanitary. His cigarettes are scientific and can have no ill enec' upon the brain.
 The Springfield Union has avoided de | liberately the real and rich beauty o l Mr. Edison's war against the weed l While cigarettes are anathema to him rot only does he soak himself h th'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-18
IN HOTEL LOBBIES'
The chautauqua Thursday

Judging from the enthusiasm oVei last years chautauuua the opening next Thursday will draw great crowds. said an educator.
 The programmes are certainly at tractive. Those who enjoy really good music will get their moneys worth in purchasing a season ticket if they at tend only the concerts, but the lec- lures also will be attractive to most of us. Those who have not already purchased tickets should delay no long, CT. l believe every season ticket will be sold before Thursday"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-18
BIG BEE TREE
.om the Pine Belt News.

From the Pine Belt News.
 Recently, at Fish Trap landing on Burnt Corn creek, seven miles north west of Brewton, several neighbors gathered and cut a bee tree. The tree had been found by W. M. Goodwin many years ago. The cypress. measuring 6S feet in height and 72-S feet at the base, contained six feet of solid honey ton, Joe Emmons, Wash Emmons, Lewis Gaggett and others used axes and were rewarded for their labor by large quantity of splendid quality of honey.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-18
Jewish Heroe. of Vera Cruz

q was much impressed with the fact sacrifices of young heroes at Vera Cruz there were two Jewish lads" said Percy Clark.
 "Alabama's sailor lad Esau Frolich- stein, who was buried with imposing state and military honors the past week in Mobile. sustains our states position at the front-the firing line ground
 What I especially desire to call at tention to is that the Jew as Con- federate soldier in the ranks of Ala bamians in the war between the states recall that Major Blun. a gallant Jewish merchant of Jacksonville, when the call came to defend our south land, closed his store. joined the ranks, went to the front as a member of the Fifth Alabama battalion, and never re- turned. He sleeps probably upon the battlefield of Virginia, or it may be on the stony heights of Gettysburg, for the Fifth was with Pickett. Thou sands were buried there, in trenches. too. General Meaue, Tn ms reports, says he hired civilians to finish the grue- some work left on his hands by Lees S retreat.
 | Tn Selma for some years after the war lived William Ullman, a Confed crate veteran. He built up a prosper ous business and was one of the most
 highly respected citizens filling posi-
 tions of honor. He was a pedler. When
 the sons of the south marched to the
 fields of Manassas and Shiloh, he took his place in the ranks.
 T wish to some memorial tab | let, shaft or other record of the Jew ish Confederate soldier placed here ir
 Alabama. l think some such contribu-
 tion to the department of archives and history would be appropriate if by pop
 ular contributions. Why not a bust oi Judah P. Benjamin, the great lawyer who was in MT. Davis cabinet. witt
 a bronze entablature dedicatory to the
 Jewish Confederate statesman, and tt the Jewish Confederate soldiers?"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-18
COMMISSION METHODS

From the New York Journal of Com
 merce.
 A MONG the interesting topics dis
 "A cussed at the conference on q \ governmental methods in this city on Tuesday was that of the so- called commission form of administra- tion, and the possible tendencies that 1t might display toward the develop ment of bureaucracy. The mere fact that such question can be raised aft CT the rather extreme eulogies that have been pronounced within recent years respecting the commission idea as it has been called, shows that there is~ some searching of the heart among those who have advocated 1t in the past and that they now wonder what will be the result of the situation that has been evolved under their guidance
 The fact is that the commission idea is not well defined in its implications and suggestions. Commissions have sprung up in Washington and at some of the state capitals, where the pur- means for Investigating public ques- tlOnS or Ol dIlOTulHS cndnnel through which administrative work could be accomplished. a In the main, these com missions have been failures either be- cause they have been endowed with unreasonable functions which they could not perform, or because they have been agencies for distributing polit- ical patronage and favors. There has been no result from such bodies that could not have been had equally well or better from some other source or through some other means. This is gen. orally admitted. In the cities where commissions have been named to car ry on municipal government there has often been the success due to the con centration of responsibility and the focusing of public attention upon the acts of smaller number of men. IT. such cases, it has been possible tc eliminate corruption and to secure the business-like discharge of public ar fairs. There is something to be said for the commission plan in both of these
 respects. It has, however. accom-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-18

beyond the imagination of all crop stat isticians.
 Tn Alabama the young cotton crop is in excellent condition, although the recent cool nights are beginning to have an injurious effect. but with the next hot wave there will be a big improve ment. Alabama and the other cotton states may not produce as much cotton this year as they did in 1911-the highest record year but with fairly good weather conditions In June 1t will not be surpris- ing if the crop goes beyond that of 1911. My prediction is that Alabama will pro- duNe an 1,s00.ooo bale crop this year"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-18

REGINNING THE DAN--Grant me grace, Q Lord of Life, to meet my failures. difficulties and grtefs, in the realization that Thou art not busy in the world making soft places and easy roads; but that Thy tash is the building character "hieh shall he like Thine own in strength i'm holy striving, in sweetness, in sympathy. in light and life. Amen III. NJ. ID.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-18
IN HONOR OF COL. GoRGAs

From the Mobile Register.
 In addition to the honors to be paid to Colonel. Gorgas by the alumni of the medical department of the University Iof Alabama. the civic organization also will give banquet as welcome to the distinguished Mobilian. The coming of Colonel Gorgas is a great event in Mo bile history, and it will be recognized at it's full value.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-18
THE BuGLEs OF DREAMLANp

By Fiona Macleod. Swiftly the dews of the gloaming are
 falling; ,Eaintly the bugles of Drcamland are
 calling, Oh. hearken my darling. the eff flutes
 are blowing, The shining eyed folk from the hillside
 are flowing; r the moonshine the wild apple bIos-
 soms are showing. And louder and louder where the white dews are falling The far-away bugies of Dreamland arc calling.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-18

An English organization called the Free dom league says womeDsshould hold the purse. purse isn'treally necessary so long as they havs>undisputed access to a mans bank roA.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-18

It is possible to be wheeled about at At lantic City in chair for 30 cents an hour, but the man who respects his liver will walk.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-18

Prohibitionists who predict that the United States will be "dry country ir 15 years should pause to consider how long most of the world has been wet"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-18

President Wilson says that it's as hard to be sneered at as shot at May be so, but the after effect is not near ly so disagreeable.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-18

The steamer excursion season is open again. It might be a good idea to count the life preservers before you step aboard.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-18

Illinois owns the cork leg of Santa Anna. When that trophy was captured the dove of peace was seldom mentioned
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-18

A Baltimore undertaken advertises, Flu nerals served on short notice,' which is reminiscent of the a la carte plan.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-18

Zapata started to fighting back in the days when Diaz was the master of Mex ico. and he has been fighting ever since.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-18

It is reported that Villa and Huerta may unite. If they ever clasp hands 1t will be in a purely perfunctory way.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-18

Although Gen. Frederick Funston Is not a tall man, his fighting arm has long reach.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-18
The SOuth's Thriving. Cities


 q am travelng in the south for the first time" said Charles E. Fuller of Philadelphia
 T had heard that this section had made great progress within the past 10 years, but it is even more prosperous than l had expected to find it. Rich mond and Norfolk are thriving greatly. Both of those Virginia cities are evi- dently growing at an uncommonly fast rate.
 '1 spent day in Atlanta while the Shrners were there. The Georgia capi- tai was revelation to me. It is a real city. population of 100000 is claimed for it, but it is more metropolitan than some northern cities of greater popula- | tion. I am not Shriner, but I was told l by many members of the order who have attended the annual meetings in other cities that Atlanta surpassed them all in hospitality and in the festive spirit. | q have been in Birmingham only a l day, but 1 have seen enough to be | deeply impressed with the city's phe- nomenal growth Twenty years ago l used to hear a good deal of Birming- i ham as a coal and iron center, but never thought of it anything but a small town. Today Birmingham has grown like Atlanta to be large city with metropolitan ways. Because of the great natural resources of the Birmjngham district there are men living today whe will probably see Birmingham outstrir ] Atlanta, but the latter city is growing | so steadily that the next census will probably give it small lead in popula- tion. I would say that in 199O Birming- ham will be the larger city of the two'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-18

London has a school for servants, but the ideal servant is born, not made.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-18

rich. strong and sheolic juices of pipes ana cigars hut he eats tobacco freely He chews with the impenitent delight of Little Brooches. Therefore his. position as to the forms of tobacco may be com >pared to that of toxicologist who should tell his students: T won't have a student in the place who takes a drop of Fowler's solution of arsenic for his complexion's sake; but you can have all the prussic acid you want
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-18

plished little that could not have been had through the selection of a small legislative body entrusted with the functions bestowed upon larger and more unwieldy one under the older conditions.
 Thus viewed there is really no ground for debating the commission question as it is called. Where eff cient, 1t has done good work. and where animated by political motives it has been the usual machine for facil- itating spoi1s- mongering The practical issue, as Is now seen even by some Of the extreme advocates of the plan, is recognized to members and the con d1tlons under which they perform their duties. That where commissions are entrusted with long terms of office, and are vested with large discretion ary powers of appointment and re- moval, they tend to degenerate and to 1 substitute personal for public motives is now evident as a matter of exper- fence, just as it must from the start have been evident as a matter of the | ory. Bureaucracy grows up in the fer tile commission soil and gains foot hold that can seldom be destroyed or limited. If the commissions are linn ited in their terms of office the result | is to destroy much of the good that comes from experience and longer ten ure, and they are thrown back upon a state of things very similar to that from which the various cities sought 1 to emerge when they resorted to the new mode of administration If they are able simply to add to the degree of honesty with which their affairs are managed through the use of the com
 mission method, they have accom- plished about all that in the long run they are likely to gain.
 This is not a serious reflection upon the commission method of aNministra- tion, but amounts merely to a recoe- hilton that after all there is no royal road to good government and that all progress must be obtained through the
 exercise of vigilance. judgment and sound business sense by the commu- nity which is governed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-18
Crop Conditions

President c. E. Schaff of the Mis- souri,. Kansas and Texas railroad while in New York a few days ago gave an interview to the Journal of Commerce. in which he said: Crop conditions were never better',' remarked a business man.
 MT. Schaff estimates that Kansas will have a wheat yield of 132.0o0.o00 bushels coo more than the state ever pro duced before. He estimates the Okla homa crop at about 4O.000,0OO. He expects the Texas yield to be about 2o,oOo,Ooo bush els.
 From all accounts, the country's total wheat production. this year will not only make new high record, but record
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-18

Lest too light winning Make the prize light.
 Tempest.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-18

'ASHINGTON, May 17.-(Special)
 The great civil service system of the United States goyern1nent is
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-18

Entered at the Birmingham, Ala postoffiee as second class matter under act of Congress March 3, 1879.
The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1914-09-04
SUM ERFiELu

Will Lyles went up to OcaTa last
Sunday to visit his sister, Mrs. j. w.
FAINT, Jr.
Mr.. and Mrs. c. P. Davis autoed out
into the country to visit friends last
Saturday.
Miss Monica Branch left last Mon
day for Atlanta for stay of several
months.
A. ]. Lehman of Mount Hope Vine
yard spent Saturday last here visiting
with his sister, Mrs. John Hough.
Mr.. and Mrs. Nathan Mayo and
children, accompanied by Mrs. A. u
Mitchell and Ide Collens, autoed to
Ocala last Sunday.
The Wall boys are enjoying their
Sundays and Thursday half holidays
motor boating on beautiful Lake
Weir. The young men have a detach-
able motor engine which they use on
their large row boat and they may be
seen speeding to every point on the
lake. This beats the hard work of
rowing boat and the speed attained
is celebrating.
Mr.. and Mrs. J. B. Dolson of Bon
ME View spent last Saturday here
looking after their business interests.
The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1914-09-04
COTTON PLANT
Special Cor. ocala Banner:

Special Cor. Ocala Banner:
The series of meetings held at st.
Johns church closed last Sunday
night. Rev. A. M. Mann, the pastor,
conducted the meetings single-hand-
ed, and we trust some good was ac-
complished.
Miss Margaret Bell of Groom, who
attended the meetings and presided
at the organ, returned to her home on
Monday.
Mr.. ]. F. Parker made a business
trip to Ocala last Monday.
Pleasant weather now
Mr. Alfred Harroun returned last
Thursday from Daytona, where he
spent two weeks very pleasantly.
Mr.. Frank Morris and Judge Veal
spent last Thursday in Ocala on bus
mess.
Miss Imogene Stevens of Ocala
spent last week with her aunt, Mrs.
J. A. Brooks and attended services at
st. Johns church.
Mrs. w. J. Seckinger of Martel was
the guest of Mrs. A. w Woodward
during part of last week, and was a
regular attendant at the services.
Mr.. D. NJ. Barco left Monday last
to work in his office in OcaIa.
The many friends of Mrs. Alta
Howell (nee Beck regretted to see
her leave the community but wish her
happiness and prosperity in her new
home in Plant City.