davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-04
WAS WASHINGTON IRISH.

From the New York World
 A few years ago St. Louis clergyman spent his vacation days in Europe try ing no trace the Washington ancestry back to the earliest Norman King of England. Washington was not fond of kings, and he would have taken no pride in relationship to brigand King like Will liam I. But a genealogist once did worse than this for the Father of His Country. He traced Washington's ancestry back to Odin, who is identical with the deplor- able Wotan of Die Walkure" and a per- sonage of most objectionable morals
 As matter of fact, there are more Washingtons in the County of Roscom- mon, Ireland, than in all the English speaking world combined, and the facial resemblance of those Irish Washingtons to our first President is, to say the least very remarkable. Immigrants from all parts of Ireland settled in Virginia and the Carolnas in the early days. Why not the Washingtons of Roscommon And George Washingtons noted partial ity for that race lends weight to the sug- gestion.
 The first Presidents relationship to a somewhat distinguished north of England family has never been satisfactorily set- tied. George Washington, however, has a decent and law abiding paternal grand father. which is more than many eminent Americans can boast. and he was a good enough man to get along without drop of Norman blood in his veins.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-04
Short Term SenatOrship

Much interest will attach to the special election for United States senator to fill the unexpired term of the late Joseph r. Johnston, whether there be several candidates or only one.
 Alabama has been without a suc- cessor to Senator Johnston too long already. But the now vacant seat will be occupied immediately after the election called by the governor for the eleventh of May.
 !, This state has much excellent sena- torial material. Alabama will have for the full term beginning in March of next year the democratic party S matchless leader in Congress, Oscar W. Underwood; and for the short term the people of Alabama can be trusted to choose good democrat who will reflect high credit upon the party and the state.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-04
Cities With Elegant Hotels

My observation is that cities whose population is from 1O0,Oo0 to 100000 SUD- port a number of large and elegant ho- tels,' said Philip A. Dodson of Chicago.
 Most of the largest western cities have many fine hotels, and they all seem to prosper. l recall the time very well when Atlanta had only one large hotel the Kimball House. That city now has several hotels that would do credit to New York or Chicago, and they pay. have not been in Richmond for many years, but the Virginia capital has as many if not more hotels of the strictly high class than Atlanta. Birmingham has needed a large, modern, fireproof hotel. When the Tutwi1er and one or two others in course of construction are opened this city will be in a position to invite large conventions here-not the largest, but conventions of medium size. In order to have the great big conven- tons city must have at least a half dozen large hotels and a large auditorium. When cities like Atlanta and Richmond. once backward in hotel accommodations. start modern hostelries of the s1,Oo0 OOO class. others follow in quick succession.
 Five or six years from now Bir- mingham will have even more hotels than Atlanta
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-04

Dessalaines was assassinated. Christophe killed himself to escape torture. Boyer flew before a revolutionary mob. Souloque. was sent into exile. Geffrard escaped to Jamaica. Sanave was shot. Saget. Dominique Boisrond-Canal and Solomon were all driven out of the country and barely preserved their lives. Hippolyte was poisoned. Simon Sam got away to Paris with most of the treasury. Old Nord Alexis was saved by French gum boat, but his death while in exile at King ston was such as to suggest that some body had put something in his coffee. simon was driven out. Oreste fees. That disposes of all the presidents, kings and emperors whom the Haitians have set up in the course of their miserable failure at attempted self-government.
 There is at present no government in Haiti, although Port-au- Prince has one of its periodical "committees of safety and Senator Theodore has a ragamuffin army apparently sufficient in numbers to insure his elevation to the chief magis- tracy
 But will Theodores government be founded upon law and order? If it is, it will be the first one which has thus como into existence in all Haiti's history.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-04
Russia's Fearful Dilem ma

In one aspect the great empire of Russia is between the devil and the deep blue sea. His majesty in this simile represents Russia's curse of intemperance which even the Czar has recognized in recently promul- gated manifesto, and the briny deep represents education, which in that country seems to spell nihilism.
 Late statistics show that there are 5,O00, ,O00 pupils in the Russian ele- mentary schools, but if placed upon an American basis the number should read 33,0OO ,OOO, and of her 160,000 teachers it is declared that one-third of them are ignorant or almost within the category of illiterates.
 But little effort has been made in the way of improving educational con- ditions in Russia by the Duma and so far that body has been impotent in making felt the infusion of its influ- ence into the veins of the empire.
 Drinking is encouraged to foster the revenues of the liquor monopoly and encouraged to such an extent that
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-04
ELECTRICITY ENERvATEs

From AuSWerS.
 As a result of the quick and cheap modes of conveyance prevalent nowadays people are not walking so much as for merly.
 There was a period when we were able to move our ears at will, but disuse of the organ did away with the power. It is possible that our feet may one day be- come obsolete.
 The stupendous total of passengers car ried on the electric tramways and light railways of the United Kingdom in the year 1s12-13 was 3,219,s57,293.
 In the steam period of 1898 the number of passengers carried was S5S. 4S5, ,542, and in the day of the horse, 1879, the figure reached 150SS1, ,515.
 The public have certainly gained in rom venience, but not in health. There has never been any dispute of the fact that walking is the most health-giving and natural exercise possible. And yet 1t does not come within the daily curriculum of the average man and woman to exercise natures own equipment, but bus or car is hailed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-04
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Stridinv Ai,en,,

T was here about two years ago and again last December. and the growth of the city greatly impresses me, as it must impress all visitors. said r. l.. Hoff of Buffalo. now registered at> the Hotel Hilman
 Birmingham is making wonderful strides It is evidently increasing fast In population. and the handsome im- provements seen on every side suggest a high degree of prosperity. While there has been recession. in business in the east conditions are steadily improving; and as for the south and particularly the Birmingham district activity is the rule. Birmingham is already known in my part Of the country as the one great steel center of the south, and industrialy and financially this city will continue to go forward with great speed
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-04
WHAT OF THAT.

From the Living Church. 'rrired." Well, what of that? Didst fancy life was spent on beds of
 ease Fluttering the rose leaves scattered by
 the breeze? Come, rouse thee while tis called today; Coward. Arise, go forth upon the way!
  "Lonely." And what of that? Some must be lonely; 'tis not given to s To feel a heart responsive rise and fall, To blend another life into it's own; Work may be done in loneliness; work onl Dark" Well. and what of that? Didst fondly dream the sun would never
 set? Dost fear to lost thy way? Take cour-
 age yet; Learn thou to walk by faith and not by Thy step viii guided be and guided right "Hard!, Well, what of that? Didst fancy life one, long summer holiday. With lessons none to learn and nought
 but play? Go, get thee to thy task: conquer or die. It must be learned; learn 1t. then, pa-
 tiently. 'No helpr' Nay. 'tis not so! Though human help be far, thy God is
 night, Who hears the ravens, hears His children
 cry; He's near thee, wheresoeer thy footsteps
 roam, And He will guide thee, light thss help It7 7-7s 7'-7 -f7i E <s<2s,<4s .s.fsf
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-04
Likes Birmingham

'I have now lived in Birmingham IS months,' said young civil engineer. who came south to take position on a big construction job in Alabama. and I am going to do everything l can to stay here, for like the climate.
 ''The work have been engaged in since I came here will be completed this spring, and I will be out of a job, but if there is anything I can possibly find to do here in my profession I'm going to stay; this. too, in spite of the fact that I think it costs more to keep my family here than in any town in which I have ever lived. not excepting New York city. Rents, groceries, all the necessities of life, are costly in Birmingham. They are high everywhere, but they seem higher here than in cities in the north.
 This is the first time I have ever lived in the south, however. My old home was in Detroit and along the lake where the blizzards blow and the snows fall deep, and I'm not going back to endure those winters if can help it. have thanked my lucky stars several times in reading about the extremes of the weather in the north and remembered that I was in Birmingham.
 Tt not only doesn't get cold here. but 1t doesn't get as hot as in the big north I'm going to rustic myself up another job in this town or know the reason why"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-04

From the Los Angeles Times.
 It is a fad with some men, especially half-baKed schoolmasters, to search the dictionary for obsolete or unusual words with view of huring them at the heads of harmless and helpless people. A pro? lessor employed in the government agri- cultural experiment station in Nevada announced that he is bout to conduct a series of experiments in "agronomy"
 The growers of alfalfa, the cultivators Of beans, and those who stimulate the growth of onions and corn are all agron- omists. although most of them don't know it, and if called sucE might imagine themselves insulted and smte the scientist who thus designated them. Az ronomy is but another name for agri- culture. 1t is the art of cultivating the ground. Why not call it a name that everybody understands? Why go brows- ing through the dictionaries for another name? If this sort of thing is .encour- aged we shall have soldiers called "aguer- rys'' and laundries called "albification' factories.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-04

From the New York Sun.
 The cabled storp-of the Mawson expe- dition into the Antarctic brings sadly into application southey's last verse on the battle Of B1enhcim. in which old kaspar says to the little boy:
 {" And everybody praised tue Duke,
 Who this great fight did win
 But what good came of it at last2'
 Quoth little Peterkin.
 Why, that I cannot tell said he;
 But twas a famous victory.
 There were three splendid men in the latest polar expedition to be heard from, and one returned, Dr. Mawson himself. Yet in the opening sentence of his own account telegraphed from Adelaide this same unaccountable note of victory is struck with an almost unconscious fatal ism: Arrived here today, successfully termina ting my undertaking without fur ther loss of life. Had he not survived his 20 days of solitary starvation and terrific suffering there would have been u story better left untold Even he ad- mits of that horrible month: T do not wish to be reminded
 Words like these, full to the brim with human torture make us pause to ask anew if these brilliant polar triumphs pay. To summarize pr. Mawson's summary of the work accomplished, 1t may be put thus: First, the discovery of new lands and islands. And the inevitable query: Who is to inhabit and prosper upon these unclaimed, uncharted wastes?
 Second the establishment of two Ant arctic wintering stations separated by an airline of 1000 miles, both on lands never before sighted Who dwels in them now? And how long will it be before the eye of man will sight them again? Third, the establishment upon an island of "a wireless connecting link with the Antarctic for immediate use in preparing weather forecasts Two years were spent in mapping and Investigating this island. But has the Australian commonwealth found an operator willing to exist and do repair work near the axis of the earth?
 Another dispatch states that the eN- petition exposed many mineral deposits, some of them rich What satire their existence is upon the helpless limitation of mans wealth. And it remains but to ask if all this knowledge, all this expense of human endurance and material output is worth the sacrifice of one able hero like Capt. Robert Scott? Could not the world have used him and his brave men to bet ter advantage than as a sacrifice to thrill the depths of fancy and admiration? Does not the adventurous spirit overreach itself?
 But twas a famous victory"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-04
On Dining

A bon vivant says, "A golden rule for dining we'll is that you should feel after dinner lightsome, refreshed, with plenty of fire in you; not heavy, bloated, sodden and beaten in spirit. , In the main most truly spoken. While people of dyspeptical tendencies may have different views on the subject, they really don't know what it means to dine we'll, and so they are not quail flied to speak.
 It is an old saying that some men cat to live, while others live to eat. To the latter category belong the gluttons who would consider 1t waste of time to rise from the festal board "lightsome, refreshed, with plenty of fire' in them. Rather that fitness as a result of which thinking becomes an effort and for which slum- Der is the only relief. Such persons are "heavy, bloated, sodden and beat en in spirit" after dining, however little they feel a sense of defeat. To their way of thinking they have , scored victory, they have achieved~a triumph of gorging, let the groaning digestive apparatus bear the brunt of 1t! Theirs but to eat and die.
 Perhaps it will be thought that the gentleman who described the art of dining well exaggerates trifle the light and airy feelings that should elevate the spirit after dinner. 'Plen- ty of fire" can always be provided by the juice of the grape and food itself is combustible, but lightsomeness is hard to achieve, even by one who ex- ercises the greatest caution both in the choice of viands and in the mastica tion thereof. Besides, there is sense of warmth, soothing effect following a good dinner, concomitant with the process of digestion, that cannot be considered lightsome, yet does not convict one of being a glutton.
 Wise men of medicine say that it is not good to leap and run and take violent exercise just after eating. If one feels somewhat sluggish after dinner, though not "beaten in spirit" !" he may consider it beneficent plan of nature, by which a period of qui- essence is enforced and the gastric juices are permitted to do yeoman service. Nor should he reproach him self for not feeling altogether light some.' Dinner is not intended to spur one to immediate effort but to fur nish fuel for activity later on. If one should rise habitually from the table "all keyed up," as it were, the de- lights of the after dinner cigar and the after dinner story would straight way become negligible.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-04
sCRAPING THE SKY

From the Engineering Record
 licity given to building height limitations would have awakened cities to 2. realiza- ton of the need for appropriate enact- ment Detroit has heard and is consider-' ing 8 height limitation ordinance. Min neapolis is either in ignorance of the danger to it's civic future or prefers ad- vertising to sensible civic development.
 The taIlest completed building in Min neapolis is 12 stories. about 15O feet high, but one reaching 200 feet is to be started the 1st of May. Unless all previous ex- perience is .contradictcd, then will begin the senseless rivalry as to height, and some competitor of thc owners of the proposed structure will show that they can Ego trem ons better"
 The present maximum, 150 feet, is good point at which to stop. There is no excuse for exceeding it. It is cOntended in all cases where the usual height is ex- ceeded that land values require high structures in order that there may be fair return on the investment. That how ever, is the starting point of vicious circle--tall buildings increase land values; increased land values requira higher buildings; these higher building still fur ther increase the land values, and so on.
 Another argument advanced in favor of the tall building is that compact business districtfis necessity if a town is to be commercially important. That ;1co has heen exoodel by New Yorlx,s s expansion. The business district now stretches from the battery to Forty-sec- ond street-four miles--and the section farthest from the Wall street district is growing at the greatest rate.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-04
guration Day

"The fourth of March usually wit nesses wintry weather in Washington. especially every fourth year. when . President is to be inaugurated,' said W. P. Cannon of Cincinnati
 T have been a voter a good many years, and ever since I can remember there has been talk of changing inau- guration day to sometime in April. The 3oth Of April has been suggested as the date The change should be made, but It never will be. unless a President of extraordinary success in leadership, like Mr. Wilson, who induces his party in Congress to do his way, takes this question up and pushes it.''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-04

it is becoming an evil that is said 70 be sapping the nation of its virility; upon the other hand step beyond the perfunctory methods of education which now obtain seems to lead to the augmenting and equipping of the ranks of the nihilists--a danger which is as greatly dreaded as is the evil of intemperance. Until education succeeds in teaching the masses that liberty is not license the Russian prob lem will remain difficult of solution.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-04
Growing southern citic.

All the cities in the south seem to be growing at a faster rate now than ever,' said W. T. Simpson of Philadel- phia.
 ''The larger cities south of the old Mason and Dixon line are not only gain ing in population, but more than ever they are looking citified, not to say met ropoltan. Richmond, Atlanta and Bir- mingham are the cities between Bal timore and New Orleans that are most prominent on the map. Up in Tennes- see, Nashville and Memphis are both conspicuous, and while I have not been in either of those cities recently I am told that they are enjoying great pros- perity.
 T hear that Memphis is more progress sive than it used to be, and that it is now noted for it's extensive parks and drives. But in the Atlantic coast states there are 8 number of large and growing cities, besides those mentioned. Norfolk will get into the 10000 population cia ss In the next census. In North Carolina Charlotte and Wilmington are both making progress. Charleston, S. C., is holding it's own, and Savannah and Au- gusta are more than holding their own.
 'I was in Jacksonville the other day, and I marveled to see such a large and handsome city. I was there 20 years ago, when 1t was small and was not much more than a winter resort place. It is now magnificently built up and will come into the next census with 100000 or more"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-04
LIKE M,LukE SAYS

From tine Cincinnati Enquirer.
 When a woman gets hold of a check for $2 she gets up at in the morning so she can get down town before the bank runs out of money.
 Any mother who Is nursing her first boy baby can tell you that the lad who said all men are born equal had holes irs his head
 A man wouldn't try to wear four vests at one time just because he had four vests. But if a woman has A ostrich plumes she wouldn't think of going out unless they were all on the hat she Is wearing.
 Men admire the brainy girl who is plain But they marry the silly girl who is pretty.
 Who would ever. have imagined that some day we would long for the good old days of the stately and dignified turkey trot?
 There are all kinds of women in the world, including the dame who imagnes you are following her if you dare to walk on the same side Of the street and in the same direction.
 The old family horse wasn't so much on upeed. But he never skidded and tried to pile on top of you.
 You can't get girl to believe it. but if she is pretty and shapely a man doesn't care whether the lace she wears came from Switzerland or a 10-cent store.
 Every now and then you run across a wise guy who knows everything that isn't worth knowing. z
 An arbitrator may get n married wom- an to admit that she is wrong but she will never admit that her husband is right
 All of the naked truth we have ever seen looked as though some soap and water wouldn't hurt ]. any.
 Wisconsin and other states have adopted eugenics to degree where the bride and groom must be certified before the ceremony. Ana iE the long list of fool questions they have omitted the most important duer.: Do you suffer from cold feet?'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-04
TROUBADOUR AND JESTER
THE DREAMER.

LII. DiAEaAlisK. He cares not what the world may say Nor how his cup may brim; The cruel jeer and taunting jbe Alike are lost on him. His mind to him a kingdom is Wherein he reigns supreme, The purple mountain is his throne, .IIis legions the sunbeam. The laughing wind sounds his fanfarei His orchestra each stream; The flowers are his panoply And life is but a dream. Iris thus the dreamer passes on, Ignoring praise or prod; And though he walks on earth he treads The threshold of his God.
 LENGTHENED SWEETNESS. Lover: q thought heard someone walking on the front porch" Sweetheart: Tt was only the boy leav- ing the morning paper
 BITTER NUT, The hardest dime I ever urned Was when I used to turn Each Tuesday morning on the farm That goldarned barrel churn. But when my auto car l crank, Since I've reached mans estate The difference between the two Is hard to calculate
 JUST THE SAME. Brown: Tn Mexico there is Is to be- sides silver
 Smith; What is it?e Brown; Sixteen ounces of Villa equal one pound of Huerta"