davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-15
LIVELY zoo IN THIS HOTEL

From the New York Times.
 One of the rooms in an uptown hotel was transformed into the liveiest sort of menagerie for a time The principal per formers were herd of elephants, who strange as it may seem. wore rubber boots.
 They were taken upstairs by a Chicago man. and he is the only person who saw them He had been making 3 round Of the summer resorts along the coast, and captured the elephants at one of the late supper restaurants the other night A doctor and two nurses had all they could do to get the beasts out of the room. The doctor thought it strange that no salmon-colored simians formed part of this menagerie
 Only the day before another chicagoan brought a block of hydra headed os- triches to the same hotel. and the man. ager says there is no reason to believe the increased demand for soda water during the heated weather means that prohibition is generally constitutional--as yet. A question he propoupded was Why does if remain for chicagoans to discover such unsuspected denizens ol New York jungles?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-15
LUKE M'LUkE SAYS

From the Cincinnati Enquirer
 Most men spend the first half of their lives hunting for trouble and the later half trying to dodge it.
 The old fashioned girl who used to re- cite Lips That Touch Liker Shall Never Touch Mine" at the Band of Hope usually grew up and married the town rummy.
 There is reason for everything. You never know how good a man looks with whiskers until he slaves them off.
 And when opportunity does rap at the door most people won't open it because they think it is the collector from the |installment house. What has become of the old fashioned woman who could faint any old time she felt like 1t?
 One of the best ways to waste your time is to tell other people not to waste theirs.
 If hunting license would permit a man to shoot craps. there would be more hunting licenses issued than there are automobile tags. Some guys are so lazy that they think 1t is a mighty poor rule that will work at all. It doesn't sound so bad. but saying oh, he means we'll" is about the mean est thing you can say about man.
 Women believe that men never notice lwhat women have on. Maybe that 6 ' why they take DO much on
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-15
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Regarding Theatrical Activities

Should the war in Europe continue for any length of time. it will have a decided effect on the theatrical business. said M. L. semon. manager of the Lyric thea Ire, and in my opinion it will be 10 the advantage of the theatre going public in this country, as it will keep the stars and high class productions at home Es- pecially will it be true of the vaudeville performers, for every year there is rush to London and Paris with some of our best attractions.
 T have just returned from the cast and found much less trouble than in former years in booking high class acts and nov elties.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-15
THE BATTLE OF BLENIIEIM

Ut was the English" Kasper cried,
 Who put the French to rout; But what they fought each other for
 l could not we'll make out; But everybody said quoth he. That's t was famous victory. My father lived at Blenheim then.
 ''Yon little stream had by; j They burnt his dwelling to the ground.
 And he was forced to fly; So with his wife and child he fled. Nor had not where to rest his head "With fire and sword the country round
 Was wasted far and wide; And many a childing mother there,
 And newborn baby died; But things like that, you know, must be At every famous victory. 'aThey say 1t was a shocking sight
 After the field was won,- For many thousand bodies here
 Lay rotting in the sun; But things like that, you know. must b. After a famous victory. "Great praise the Duke of Marlborough
 won,
 And our good Prince Eugene" Why. t was very wicked thing.
 Said little WilheImine. Nay, nay. my little girl'' quoth Tt was famous victory. |"And everybody praised the Duke Who this great light did win" But what good came of 1t at last?" Quote little Peterkin. why, that I cannot tell. said ha: "But f was famous victory"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-15

From the Shreveport Journal.
 It is interesting to note that the sugar planters of the southern portion of the state. who are so thoroughly In the habit of kicking other folks, are now en- gagged in the delightful pastime of kick ing themselves.
 This applies to quite number who per mitted their pedal extremities to become chilled when tariff legislation was en- acted removing the sugar duty or reduc- ing same. Becoming pessimstic over the outlook for sugar, these planters sacri- feed their lands in many instances and
 retired from the cane planting business altogether.
 And now the price of sugar has gone up to a point the highest reached in many years
 Of course, not all the sugar planters in south Louisiana became Respondent In deed, quite a few of them resolved to change, with conditions, determined to floods, the early frosts and the demo- cratic tariff measure. These are the fel- lows who are now 'in clover.' One prominent sugar planter from the parish of Terrebonne stated to the writer
 day or two ago that he had taken over the abandoned sugar lands of some of his neighbors and kin folks who had be- come discouraged over the prospects and
 had gone into other lines of business. His
 crop this year is larger by 1500 acres than it was last year, and in consequence he | is going to make a real "lSillin'." The expected yield is very large and the prices are tip top. If I can get cents for my sugar, as now seems probable, 1 won care in couple of years if they do take off the tariff said this Terrebonne planter.
 l Incidentally, too, it might be pointed out
 that the upturn in sugar prices is play ing havoc with the political hopes and I aspirations of the bull moosers down in
 the sugar country. With the planters in doleful frame of mind there was danger
 that quite a respectable number of them
 would go off after the progressive idols, but now that the cloud has been lifted,
 even temporarily, the sugar planters are 1 feeling whole lot better and seem to agree that the good old democratic party isn't so bad after all.
 l Down in the Third congressional dis 1 trict where the bull moosers are concen- trating their efforts at present, the indi- cations now point to the election of the democratic candidate for Congress by a very large majority. Men don't change l their religion or their politics when they're 1 happy and prosperous Not much,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-15
The Smallest PrincipaIity

Among the few potentates of Eu- rope who are still invested with high authority is Prince Albert of Monaco. His principality is an independent state, and although he has an advisory council, the government is virtually in his hands.
 Monaco is about the only country In Europe that is net in the throes of war or on the verge of bloody con flict. It is not only unshaken now, but will probably remain so. It is miniature nation, having an area of only eight square miles-less than one-sixth of the area of Birmingham and a population only half as large as Montgomery's It occupies, neverthe- less, a place of distinction among the powers. The capital city of the prin- cipality of Mohaco is Monaco, and is one of the gaming centers of Europe. Despite its gambling craze, Monaco is  noted for it's singularly good order in general The principality maintains no standing army, but it has con- stabulary of about 70 men armed with rifles.
 Homicides are rare in Monaco. In the last 15 years murders there total less than Jefferson county's record soneti-',-~ ~';--,-s in one month.
 Although many of Prince Albert's subjects are industrious, the fruits of their toll barely arr--s' 'cnce. The revenues of the principality would not be sufficient to pay its little po- lice force and meet other .Lnning ex- penses, and that's how gambling stands on commercial basis. The gambling houses produce virtually all the public revenue.
 It is noteworthy fact that Prince Albert himself never played card, rolled dice, or took chance at rou- lette. He is student, and is said to be man of transformations piety. His principal recreation is hunting. He visited the United States recently and spent most of his time in fields and forests.
 As Monaco produces little or noth- ing it has no markets, and therefore the war cannot even effect the price of local commodities. The only thing that the Prince can worry over is the possibility of falling off,in gambling activities in the closing period of the year. The business at the Monaco gaming tables is reported to have been unusually brisk this season up to the present time.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-15

or ms court dSS1Steu at the ueQ- ication of the Niederwald monument at Rudesheim, on September 2s 1885, he was escaped assassination, and had those who were convicted and sentenced later been able successfully to carry out their scheme they would have practically wiped out the royal family of Germany, as we'll as the country's greatest states man.
 The statue the Emperor and his suite had gone to dedicate cost $250,0o0, Is known as Germania, and stands on an eminence on the Rhine known as ''vol- gers Rhu."
 A short time after the dedication it was discovered that there had been a plot to murder the Emperor, the conspira- tors having dug a drain across the road over which the Emperor had to pass which was filled with dynamite. The explosives either missed fire or the cour- age of the conspirators failed them at the last moment.
 So carefully had those engaged in the plot covered up their tracks that it was close to a year before the German detec- tive force, who had lert nothing undone to round up the entire party, were able to bring them to trial And even at that the only evidence that was forthcoming was that given by the accused men themselves.
 The trial began on December 15, 1884, at Leipzig The leading conspirators were three anarchists, Reinsdorff, Rupsch and Kuchler, two others, Holzbauer and Bachman. were convicted as accomplices, and the remaining three tried were ac- quilted. Four counsel were employed to look after the case of the defense.
 On the first day of the trial Rupsch confessed that Reinsdorff had ordered him to fire the mine when Emperor Will Hams carriage was 50 feet from the drain by applying a lighted cigar to the end of the fuse placed at the side of the roadway. He claimed that he was unwill- ing to do this, and on.y made feint by Kuchler. he said, upbraided him for his cowardice.
 The first attempt not having been sue cessful, plans were made to carry cut the assassination upon the return of the Emperor from the festivities. When the Emperor returned Rupsch applied d burning match to the fuse and walked away The second attempt was also a failure, for the reason that Rupsch had previously cut the fuse.
 The chief conspirators were very angry at the second failure and when the road was clear of people they removed the dynamite to the grand pavilion at Rude sheim, where concert was in progress The prosecution regarded the state- , ments of Rupsch as inventions for the purpose of exculpating himself. On the first days trial constable deposed that
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-15
Fine Peache. in Jefferson County

Jefferson county's soil and climate pro- duce as fine peaches and grapes as can be found in any section of this country" said a householder.
 .On the premises l occupy are peach trees that are now bearing the largest. finest peaches I have seen this season. My neighbor also has a tree or two of very choice fruit.
 Already quantities of homegrown grapes are offering in the market places and from farmers and truckers wagons.
 'The home grown watermelon is now coming to the market Along the Ca haba river, in the sandy-loam bottoms. the most luscious of melons may be pro- duced if the seed be properly selected.
 "The Shades Mountain cantaloupes are already famous. The Imogene, large melon with pink flesh that is meaty to the rind, is the equal in luscious sweet ness of the finest Rockyford.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-15
AIabnma.s Cottnn Cron

The agricultural department at Mont gomery does not expect as large cotton crop for this state as observers have been estimating, said an ex-farmer
 Fertilizer salesmen who keep in close touch with every county in the state tell me that We will have bumper crop of l,ooo,ooo bales or more. My guess is that it will be close to 1,600,00O bales. Should the estimates for the big crop be wrong, prices may be higher, but I believe that a way will be found to finance the crop which will enable farmers to get good prices no matter whether the crop is large or small"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-15
Regarding the Cheerful spirit

T have just received a copy of The Birminghammer, the little paper printed each month by the Chamber of Com could read a little editorial it contains about keeping cheerful and hustling" said a member of the Chamber of Commerce yesterday. Tt applies to one or two men whom I have come in contact with in the past two days and I am going to appoint myself a committee of one to see that each of them reads it. The edi- torial referred to is as follows:
 Experience has proven that Shake speare was correct when he said: "There is nothing either good or bad but think ing makes it so.'
 It is the lazy man who stands on the street corner preaching dull times and knocking his home town If he would find a job and get busy he would soon learn the real cause of his imag mary panic.
 Any place is what you make it. If your home town is not all right in your own eyes, get busy among the live fel- lows and help right conditions It is just as much your duty as it is your neigh bors.
 :" Bear in mind that the fundamental conditions of the country are absolutely sound. There are more people to be fed, clothed and housed than ever be- fore. There is more money per capita than there ever has been. So mix a little sunshine and hustle with your busi- ness and watch it grow"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-15
4 SKELETON FROM 2ooo B. C.

From the London Times.
 Prof. Keith of the Royal College of Sur geons has been investigating the history of {. skeleton dating from about 2o00 B. C.. which was recently found during ex- cavations by J. Reid Mofr at tho base of the Red Graz at ThorIngton nall, 'Wher- stead, near Ipswich It is the skeleton of a 12-year-old boy His stature must have been much the same as the average height of a modern boy of the same age, bueA the large size of the head is remarkabley Close to the skeletop vas food vessel for the use of the boy on his arrival in the next world. The vessel is of a type which was only made in the late neolithic and early bronze periods It is decorated all round with marks pierced by thumb nails, a method of decoration which is very ancient
 Professor Keith said:
 We are trying to get hold of the people of every period. going as far back as we can. We are trying to follow the English people right back. beginning with the Roman period. We shall then be able to describe the people who lived in any period and the changes that came ovsrV them. So far there has been very little change
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-15
NEW MODE OF TRAVEL

From the St. Paul Dispatch.
 Swimming is more commonly thought of as recreation or life-saving art than as an expeditions mode Of travel. But comes George Calvin, youth of St. Charles, Mo, and tells us that the reason ne swan from point on the Missouri Tour miles above his home, Instead of walking to town. when he missed his train the other night, was that he could move so much faster in the water. He wore all ms clothes and was still wearing his nat when he reached home. without hay ing once left the water during the trip. How many St. Paul boys would undertake to compete as swimmers with the Wan oerlust club on hike Of four miles down the Mississippi?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-15

Military service in Russia s empire of more than Ill .oooOoo people is universal and compulsory. Men are enrolled al the age of 20 and stay in the army 23 years. The service, however. is not all active. Three or four years are spent in the ac- tive army IA or 15 years in the first re- serve and five years in the second reserve. The cossacks. who hold their land by military tenancy, are subject to service for life. They furnish their own horses and pass through periods lasting three or four years each, and finally reach the reserve which replaces casualties in war. Russias field army consists of three di- visions, as follows: The army of Flu ropean Russia, the army of Asia and the army of the Caucasus. The first consists of 27 army corps, each corps fighting strength being esctimated at 36o0O men, and more than 20 cavalry divisions, each containing 1000 horsemen. Including the field army of the Caucasus and the first and second reserves of the Cossacks the total would be nearly 1,600,0o0 men, 1n- cluding the Asiatic army. the fighting strength of Russia, according to the lat est figures, is 1,s5Oo9O soldiers In time of war it is estimated that Russia would be able to put into the field the vast total of 4,5oo,o0O men, of whom it is probable that 2,25o,ooo could be mustered at ore time However, lack of equipment and train ser vice would handicap Russia in using her full fighting strength.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-15
The Doughty Belgians

The authentic dispatches indicate that the Belgians made a gallant struggle at Liege and have so far won all the glory of the war in Europe That the good burghers of Liege stout ly defended their city against the Germans has already been shown by the correspondents, but additional cases of unique heroism are coming to light.
 According to a special newspaper dispatch the women workers in the Belgian national arms factory at HeStal, just outside of ,Liege, brave ly defended their village against the attack of the Germans. The men were away serving in the army and the women who were left behind swore that the Germans should not take the fac tory. Armirg themselves with revol- vers and other weapons, they repulsed several attacks of the German Uhlans. When their ammunition was exhausted they were reported to have barricaded k themselves in houses from which they poured AQiling water on the Kaiser's Idiers in fhe streets. The correspond
 states that 2OOO Germans were
 led and scalded. Even children
 men shared in the defense of
 hjch goes to show how peo-
 ken their homes are in-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-15
Necessity of Studying Spanish


 The merchants and manufacturers of this country, now reaching out for South American trade, would find their efforts greatly facilitated if they had a knowledge of the Spanish language.
 The sales department of every in dustrial concern with its eye on Latin America must have some one con nected with it who writes good let ter in Spanish, and the American salesman who visits Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, or other of the Latin re- publics, is at woeful disadvantage if he speaks only English.
 For many years the value of Span ish from business viewpoint has been emphasized, and with the ap- proach of the time for opening the Panama canal Spanish and the Latin American monetary system have been included in the curricula of all well conducted public schools and most of the colleges. And the importance of Spanish is all the more appreciated now in view of the European war, when the manufacturers of the United States have rare opportunities of building up vast commercial interests in the South American countries.
 No language can be learned gra- matically in the classroom in week or in a month or even in six months, but a bright boy who has studied Latin will be able to acquire enough Spanish in few months to give him 6 working start in conversation with South Americans in their native tongue.
 The Birmingham district will bene- fit in large degree by the Panama canal, and if our manufacturers are progressive they will soon make strides in rich field that must ul- timately furnish them with their best customers.
 Let every school and college make speciality, so to speak, of Spanish and let every boy study the language as a part of his vocational outfit, no matter what his occupation is to be, for knowledge of Spanish will surely stand him in good stead.
 Germany has had a marked advan- tage over other countries in commer- cial competition because of the su- perior education of the German busi- ness man. Every German merchant and manufacturer speaks and writes grammatically four or five lanura oes. He speaks good English, good French and good Spanish, and usually good Italian. The American young man must be ambitious enough not to be outstripped by people of any other na- tionality. But the boys in this coun- try have been particularly backward in the modern foreign language most useful A year from now should find all this changed. Certain it is that every progressive boy hereabouts will stand high this fall in his Spanish i class
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-15
GREAT TRIALS OF HISTORY
TRIAL IN CONSPIRACY AGAINST GERMAN EMPEROR

Bachman has confessed that Reinsdorff promised him pay for exploding the mine. A tinsmith identified Reinsdorff as the man who bought the boxes of him that contained the dynamite found sN Eiberfeld.
 Reinsdorff's bold confession on the sec ond day of the trial compelled the judges to frequently interfere and rebuke him He admitted that he had persuaded Rupsch and Kuchler 10 join him, and that he gave them the necessary in structions as to the handling and the placing of the dynamite, and boldly added would probably have committed the as- sassination al Niederwald
 One thing to the credit of Reinsdorff was that he was frank enough to impli- cate himself in every way and not try to shove the responsibility on the shout ders of others less involved When he had concluded his evidence he was asked whether he pleaded guilty. to which he replied: "I have nothing further to say. Deal with me S you please"
 At the trial on the third day trades man of Eiberfeld deposed that Reinsdorff hoasted that he would do a deod that would make all Germany talk of him. The trial was concluded on the fourth day, which was Saturday. and the court announced that the verdict would not be rendered before Monday. and on the 22d, Reinsdorff, Rupsch and Kuchler were sentenced to death, and duly executed: Holzbauer and Bachman to 10 years penal servtude and the other three in- volved were acquitted.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-15
AN oFFHAND SUGGESTION

From the Washington Star.
 "A man is fortunate when his wife re- gards Eim as man whose wisdom can always ben depended on"
 Yes" replied MT. Crowcher, but that confiding faith can be carried too far. It's embarrassing to have your wife tell the company that dinner will be 15 or 20 minutes late and that while they are wait Ing you will explain all about the tariff and banking and currency''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-15
ONE PoINT

From the Baltimore American.
 links and his wife never agree about anything" T beg your pardon. They agree on the point that each married a fool"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-15
uNLuckY
 ErnDa IlIdUn

FfOml JudRe.
 cynicus-f once knew fellow who gave girl an engagement ring of opals.
 siiicus--Gr Gracions' wasn"t t unIuckyY
 cynicus-You bet 1t wasI She married him.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-15

REALISM. "I dreamed last night that I was trapped by fire in 3o-s,ory building and jumped out of window When I woke up I was in a net" How did that happen?" T was sleeping under one.''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-15

The Columbia State thinks President Wilson should have at least six more terms if he succeeds in bringing about peace in Europe. How about the Nobel prize also?