davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-26

one-third less than that of the United States Germany has but 800 murders annually, while in our country they exceed 5000.
 Unquestionably the practice of carry ing pistols is responsible for vast majority of the killings perpetrated in the United States, and with weapon of vengance at hand there is little to restrain an angered man who has had constantly before him the fact that turning loose of 198 per cent of the homicides insures killing with inn munity from punishment.
 After all when one complains of the degeneracy of the times and of the human process to take life he should remember that it is the community re- flected through the action of its juries in almost universal acquitment that is responsible for most of the 5000 an nual murders in our land.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-26
Ireland's Glad Day

After long years of waiting and struggle Ireland is to have at last its own Parliament at Dublin. The home rule bill passed its third reading in the House of Commons yesterday. As the House of Lords can no longer exercise veto power, the bill only needs the Kings formal assent to become opera tive.
 According to a clause of the bill the counties in the province of Ulster will have the right to take poll as to whether these counties would be eX- cluded for a period of six years from the provisions of the home rule act.
 A few months ago the Ulsterites, under the leadership of Sir Edward Carson, threatened civil war, but noth- ing of the sort will happen. Even if Ulster decides to remain for a time directly under the Imperial Parliament at London, in the end Ireland will be all one. Peace and content will pre- vail. Under the land reform law the Emerald Isle has made substantial progress in recent years. The one time tenants have been buying the farms on which they lived and by their in dustry have prospered as in the days of old A brave and liberty loving but oppressed people have come te their own, and liberty loving people throughout the world will now rejoice with the sons of Erin.
 A premier less resolute or less able than MT. Asquith would have giver up the fight for Ireland when the opponents of home rule were making wrathful demonstrations. But tht great leader of the liberal party was determined and the victory was de cisive. The people of Ireland art naturally wild with joy. But the! I have learned to restrain themselves
 and when the Dublin Parliament i
 established it will be model of dig
 nity and decorum.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-26

w. H. Day, professor of physics In the
 ontario Agricultural college, has pro-
 duced facts and figures to prove that lightning rods. looked upon by most peo- pie as antiquated, are almost an abso-
 ute protection from lightning when
 properly installed. He says that out of
 every thousand dollars worth of dam age done to buildings not equipped with
 lightning rods. $999 worth could be saved If the buildings had been protected by
 rods. He declares that it has taken him
 13 years of investigation to compile the
 data on which he bases his statement.
 In the report of 24 insurance companies
 only two buildings furnished with light l ming rods were burned, and these two fires were caused by defective installation Forty companies last year reported 62l | instances where damage was done by lightning, with loss of s1l3,459 One
 hundred and ten building were burned Out of the 621 buildings struck only 16 had lightning rods and the total damage to them was s39i7. The efficiency of rods is thus shown to be 92 per cent In Ohio lightning rods show an efficiency of 9S.7 per cent, and in Michigan 999 for 1912. During the past eight years it is estimated that insurance companies ir Ontario have paid claims for damages | on buildings with rods that total $4464 ar | average of sl0.l5 for each company per year. On buildings without rods they paid in the same length of time $34l 065, or
 s775.15 for each company per year, which | gives an efficiency percentage for the rod. | of 9S.7.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-26
More Valuable Than Dia mOnds

Nothing can be more gratifying to the local sentiment than the remark able growth of the coke industry and the pre-eminently leading part that Alabama has taken in that industry in the past year.
 Statistics recently issued from Washington upon this topic disclose the fact that the year 1913 was the greatest in coke production in the United States, exceeding all previous records by 2,327,OOO tons.
 The total output for the year was 6,311 ,36O tons, which indicates that not only is the already large demand for coke in iron smelting increasing, but that its use for other industrial purposes is annually being augmented. In this flattering showing Alabama stands at the head of the roster and Pennsylvania, the coke king, is forced to take second place so far as per centage of increase is concerned. The increase in Alabama was 50 per cent, while the industry in Pennsylvania advanced but B per cent.
 An interesting feature of the sta tistics is the growth of coke made in retorts and thus affording an oppor- tunity for the utilizing of by-products, the production of which is assuming proportions almost as important as those of the original product. The production of coke so manufactured in the United States in 1913 totaled 12,U4,7oO tons.
 ], It is difficult to presage the extent to which this industry will reach. The by-products obtain better results in the manufacture of coke both in the form of fuel and other substances and as the future is annually adding to the value of fuel it is natural to look for an expanded employment of means to secure the most valuable and economic results from the process.
 The retorts of the Birmingham dis tricts are of more value to the com
 munity than diamond mines would be, for they mean augmented industrial
 life and never ceasing influx of
 wealth.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-26
LAST OF THE MARIE CELESTE

David A. Wasson in Outing Magazine
 There are few people who have not heard of the case of the American brig Marie Celeste. which in 1872 was inex- plicably abandoned in calm weather off the Azores by crew never after heard from Few, however, know that it ended it's career at the hands of the barrator.
 On it's last voyage 1t cleared from Bos- ton for Port au Prince, Haiti, ostensibly with cargo of valuable merchandise, insured for s300O0. When within few miles of it's destination it went ashore near Mira goane and became a total wreck. The captain, Parker promptly sold the cargo, sight unseen, to American consul Mitchell for $500. Mitchell saved it at some trouble, but lived to wish he hadn't.
 When the underwriters agent arrived on the scene to investigate, he found several funny things about the cargo. One case shipped as cutlery and insured for s1,0o0 contained dog collars worth $50. Barrels supposed to contain expensive liquors were full of worthless dregs, a consignment of salt fish insured for s 900 was rotten, and other articles mentioned in the bill of lading proved to be in keep ing.
 Consul Mitchell, not only duped, but outlawed, stood not on the order of his going, but cleared out for tall timber. The captain of the brig was tried in the United States district court in Boston con- victed and sentenced to long term in prison. where he died three months later.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-26

engaged in agriculture in this country, but the first colony established upon 17.O00 acres of land at Ararat on Grand Island in the Niagara river was rather premature and the newcomer gravi- tated toward the south Abraham de Lyon brought the wine and silk culture from Portugal to Georgia and other Jews in that state soon engaged ex- tensively in the cultivation of indigo, rice, corn, tobacco and cotton.
 Later the movement shifted to the north and west and today New York state leads with a coleny of 5460 Jew ish farmers upon 99747 acres valued at s5,363,120 New Jersey follows with 3700 Jewish farmers tilling 54,9S4 acres valued at $4636,0O0, while Con- necticut comes next with 30S5 Jews following the blow over 47,S41 acres worth $3,O2S,333.
 In the west, North Dakota leads with 1155 Jews living upon S6018 acres worth $2,4S9,175 In the south, Texas stands at the head of the roster with Virginia a-close second and even Ala bama makes a showing. In the last mentioned state the Jews are farming something over 300 acres valued at $7672.. The resume shows that in the United States some 25,00O Jews are farming 600, ,000 acres of land valued at $3S,000, 900 in round numbers.
 The real initiation of the agricultural movement among the Jews in this country was in 1881 and was the out come of Russian persecution at Kieff when thousands upon thousands fled for their lives into Austria. The Aus trian government threatened to send the starving refugees back unless the situation was immediately relieved. when the Alliance Israelte Universelle came to the rescue and sent 1500 of them to the United States, consequent ly the enterprise is comparatively young. The great agricultural wealth or the south and the opportunities which this section offers are attracting the attention of the Jewish Agricul- tural and Industrial Aid society SO that the colonization of Jews as farmers in the southern states may be expected | in the near future.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-26
LUKE M'LUKE SAYS

From the Cincinnati Enquirer There are two kinds of lawn hose. The rubber kind and the kind that makes you rubber.
 You would imagine that homely girl would feel complimented when you stared at her. But she doesn't. She thinks you are kidding her.
 If the men keep on growing bald the burlesque houses will have to be rear ranged so every seat Is in the front row.
 The only thing in a house that doesn't collect dust is boys savings bank.
 When a man spends 10 minutes hunt ing a number and then calls up three times to find that the line is busy, 1t is poor policy to tell him that the telephone is a great time saver.
 It is taking Huerta longer than two women to say good-by.
 Every now and then you sue fat wom- an who should come under the head of dressed beef"
 You couldn't make Princess believe 1t, but there are lots of men who can mako $10.000 a year who don't know any mort about doing the Maxixe than htppe- potamus knows about sQuRripg tho oirelo
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-26
The New Cardinals

T am familiar with the names of only a few of the cardinals just created, but from all accounts every one of the ec- clesiastics to receive a red hat Is ex- ceptlonally strong in character and notable for his scholarship" said lay man.
 When the list of those said to be se- lected by the pope for the college of car dnals was published a few weeks ago some well informed Catholics doubted it's authenticity, but the fact that 1t appeared in The Age-Herald's Associated Press news from Rome settled the matter in my mind, and the official report of the meet
 ing of the consstory just held confirms the correctness of the advance informa- ton.
 As the archbishop of New York and the archbishop of Boston and former Pa- pal Delegate Diomede Falconio were cre- | ated at the last consistory, no American cardinals appear in the new list. While | Cardinal Falconio is native of Italy and l is now resident in Rome he was sent as young priest to the United States, and became naturalized. He is still an Amer ican citizen. In the college of cardinals he is therefore listed as an American l T am glad to see that Abbot Gasquet, the head of the English Benedfctnes and famous as Biblical scholar, is now a 1 cardinal. The abbots elevation to the cardnalate will interest thousands of Americans who had the pleasure of meet ing the distinguished Englishman last winter and hearing him in lecture on the l Bible. 1 regretted that Abbot Gasquet
 could not find time to visit the Benedictine
 monastery at Cullman-St. Bernard. Had
 he accepted an invitation to preach or de- liver an address there hundreds of stu dents and scholarly men would have jour- neyed from different parts of the state
 to Cullma nto greet him, enjoy his elo- lquence and hear his authoritative mes-
 sage on the Bible and the revision oi the Vulgaten
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-26
Where the Responsibility Lies

The trial in Italy of Porter Charlton, the American who is accused of mur- dering his wife at Lake Como, has caused a correspondent of that place to furnish some pertinent statistics relative to the punishment and SUD- pression of homicide in Italy and the United States.
 These statistics are by no means flattering to either nation and it is op- perfume that they present conditions in the two worst countries of Christen- dom as to the handling of crime and violence. The figures show that while the United States has about three times the population of Italy the latter has just one-third as many murders as the former. While there is no capital punishment in Victor EmmanuePs Kingdom the percentage of convictions is relatively high, about two-thirds -ot the murderers arraigned being pun. ished. In the United States less thar 2 per cent of the accused are convicted and yet one wonders at the frequency of homicides in this country.
 This small percentage of convictions with us is in glaring contrast to that of Germany, while 95 per cent o1 those arraigned for murder are con- victed and punished. The effect oi such certainty. in punishment is re. flected in the relatively few homicidei which are committed in the German empire. With 2 population of only
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-26
BUSINESS REVIVAL

From the Philadelphia Public Ledger.
 Pencoyd has set it's men to work on full time again. The action of this huge builder of bridges is significant of better days ahead.
 From a great number of points come signs, some feeble. but others more pronounced. of trade revival steel mills are doing little more work and railroad earnings have checked some what their headlong downward plunge
 Crop news is excellent. and the wheat yield at this moment promises to ex- ceed every other former harvest in America by nearly 200,o00,0o0 bushels
 The country is on the soundest pos sibe financial basis. There is no infla- tion, no water" to be squeezed out and no large bankruptcies pending. The country is thoroughly 1iquaded, includ- ing a Hquadition of labor through the enforced idleness of an immense army of men.
 Money is reasonably cheap and credit Is sound. Al of the ills which afflict the United Stat's art frifling compaied with it's blessings. All it's troubles are small when weighed against the troubles of other great nations. The most hopeful aspect of the situation is the growing feeling that Congress will let business recover itself and attempt Inc furthur throttling processes. IT this nope is lea izied all will be well. But best of all, the resilfency of our people has been proven scores of times in Che past century. >The surest way to fail in business in America is to be- come a chronic pessimist. The surest way to succeed Is to pin your faith, as our fathers pinned theirs, to the invin- cible qualities of our country.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-26
The American Jew as a Farmer

Leonard G. Robinson, general mana ger of the Jewish Agricultural and h. dustrial Aid society, with headquarters in New York city, has recently issued an interesting brochure treating of the agricultural activities of the Jews in America, and presents an array of fig ures most flattering to that race.
 The Jewish population in the United States is considerably in excess of 100000 and in this respect this coun- try is eply surpassed by Russia, which has 5000, 900 Jewish subjects.
 As far back as colonial days the Jews
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-26
wealth and position has anv infu-

F wealth and position has any ipfu-
 ence over the law in these days it certainly cut no figure in the days when the republic was young No better of this could be shown than the trial of Andrew Jackson, who became a public hero and demi-god. Although pub lie opinion was strongly in the favor of the hero of New Orleans, it did not stop the wheels of justice when he was sum moned and tried for contempt of court.
 When the war of 1Sl2>was over vague rumors of peace drifted into New Or leans, but still Jackson did not feel justi- fled in revoking the martial law, under which he had placed the city. While the city was in this state, this peculiar in- cident started. A man. named Louaillier, was tried as being spy and was acquit- ted. This displeased Jackson and feeling that in the martial law he had complete command of the city he, in opposition to the court, retained Louaillier in prison and sent Judge Hall out of the city with orders not to return until it was regu- larly posted that peace had been declared or that the enemy had left the coast.
 The following day came the overdue mo- tice officially explaining that peace had been declared and that the treaty had revoked the martial law and set all his prisoners free. Then preparing to send home the detached militia from Louisiana, Tennessee and Kentucky, amid the greet ings and demonstrations of the populace, Judge Hall returned to the city.
 In order to uphold the honor, as it seems, of the civil over the martial gov ernment, Judge Hall issued, on March 21, an order summoning Jackson to court for contempt of a hapeas corpus writ, and also to state his reasons for so do- ing. On March 27, Jackson, with one of his aides, Major Reid. appeared in court with a written paper containing these reasons. He then retired, leaving Reid to read the paper, which he had no more than started to do when he was inter- rupted by the court and asked the nature of the contents that followed. Reid re- piled that 1t "came within the scope oi rules the court had laid down.
 Not wishing to continue without ad- vice, the judge adjourned the case until the morrow. When the sitting reassembed the following day, Reid was not allowed to
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-26
GREAT TRIALS OF HISTORY
TRIAL OF ANDREW JACKSON.

continue and the argument was re- quested Jacksons counsel would offer no argument as he protested against the jurisdiction of the court, and again the sitting was suspended. The next day, Jackson appeared in court in person. He held written protest against the decision which was to be given Also among his papers was a protestation drafted by Ab- ner l.. Duncan, a young lawyer of no mean ability as follows:
 T will not answer interroga tories. may have erred, but my motives cannot be misinterpreted. The law can be sat- isfied without hurting my feelingu whose dictates under such circumstances l most cult, if not impossible, to restrain.
 This apologetic statement was not put to use but instead one was drawn up by Reid starting exactly the same way with the very much the same idea and which still is preserved. Jacksons bearing at the trial was credtable to him in every way At one time demonstrative crowd began to murmur and threaten the judge. Quickly rising in his seat, Jackson awed them into silence and after lowing to the bench resumed his seat.
 There is no doubt that both the judge and the tried were doIng their duty, and what was more, duty that to both was very distasteful. Judge Halls bearing deserves credit and it was as he said: The only question Is whether the law should bend to the general or the general bend to the law" The court then saw clearly their duty and hesitated for not one moment
 Hall then imposed fine of s1o0o re- marking that the duty was unpleasant, that he could not forget the important services of the defendant to the country, and that in consideration thereof he would
 not make imprisonment part of the pun l ishment
 | The fine was promptly paid amid cheer- | ing of the crowd for the popular. hero.
 He was borne from the courthouse on the
 shoulders of the crowd. One thousand
 dollars was raised by subscriptions and
 placed to his credit This he politely re- fused. but we may add that when he was President later.A by an act of Congress he | took the money with interest, amount ing in all to $2700.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-26
The Becker Trial

fe. The dramatic finale of Becker's sec and trial for the murder of Herman Rosenthal was heightened by the large personal interest taken in this case all over the United States. People who have been wagging their heads wisely ever since Becker's arrest and saying that he would never go to the death chair. will have to acknowledge that just now he has small chance of es- caping it. q told you sol" was Ire louently said when it was announced that Becker had been granted new trial. His removal from Sing Sing was looked on as the first step toward hls ultimate release, but second convlc- tion must remove every trace of doupt in the public mind as to his guilt.
 The New York police system was thoroughly corrupt when Becker was lieutenant in charge of the strong arm" squad which had control of the tenderloin district and the manage ment of gambling houses and places of.ill repute That Becker was getting his share of the graft extracted from the denizens of the underworld by the police is scarcely to be questioned. There is good reason for believing that lor l>l share of loot and it was inordinate greed that proved his undoing. The evidence from the first pointed strong ly to Becker as the "man higher up' who was responsible for Rosenunal being "put out of the way"
 It is hard to feel much sympathy for Becker, although he is no doubt considerably more of a man than he was before he was sent to Sing Sing, following his first conviction. He has shown some phases of character in- teresting to a student of human na- lure. he has borne himself courageous ly, but the shadow of guilt has been upon him ever since the facts in the Rosenthal killing were brought out.
 Mrs. Becker, who has made such a plucky fight for her husbands life, is a pathetic figure in the case. Her loy- alty to the man has won general ad- miration. The foreman of the jury wept when he gave in it's verdict. The wife whose efforts proved in vain was not in court to harrow his feeling still more, but the thought of her might well have brought the moisture to his ayes siy
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-26
THE BROKEN PrNIoN
uezekiah ButterWorth.

By Hezekiah ButterwOrth. walked through the woodland meadow Where sweet the thrushes sing: And I found on a bed of mosseo
 A bird with a broken wing. healed it's wound, and each morning It sang its old sweet strain, But the bird with broken pinlon
 Never scared as high again. I found young life broken
 By Sins seductive art; And touched with . Christlike pity,
 took him to my heart. He lived with . noble purpose
 And struggled not in vain;N But the life that Sin had stricken
 Never scared as high again. But the bird with broken pinion
 Kept another from the spare; And the life that Sin had stricken
 Raised another from despair. Each loss has its compensation.
 There is healing for every pain: But tho bird with . broken pihioA
 Nevee ooaSs - hioh eo11as