davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-13
ANIMALS BY EXPRESS

Houston, Tex-There have been morn ings recently when the Houston express offices could have furnished material for small size menageries, mornings when the nerves of the local agents were shattered by the bray of donkeys. the shrill crow of fancy bred fowls. the chatter of monkeys and other sounds akin to the barnyard and the jungle.
 Through the Wells Fargo Express com pany office during the past few days there passed in single shipment from Grand Island Neb., F huge Percheron stallions that brought the single shipment in value to more than $24,000.
 The stallion shipment was consigned to A. Y, Abner of Adline and the stallions are to be distributed in this part of Texas. The horses averaged 1900 pounds in weight and from s1,5OO to $500 in value. Cut rates on live animal shipments have increased the animal shipments through the local office. Monday two kangaroos came in from Australia consigned to the Colonial Park menagerie. The kangaroos made their long trip from Australia in crates and were none the worse for the long trip.
 Mules, pure bred dairy cattle and fancy bred horses are being crated and shipped through the express office, and great deal of extra help is needed to care for the shipments. The chicken industry in this section of Texas Is shown to be in- creasing, according to General Agent Mensch of the Wells Fargo company. Nearly every train brings in a few coops of chickens from the north or east con- signed to farmers in this district covered through the Houston office.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-13

stone Manor, near Cheltenham. The former was identified as Lillian Len ton. Again sent to jail, she went on a hunger strike and was released. She fled to France but soon returned and was rearrested for the Doncaster fire.
 It is hardly worth while considering what would happen to a man if he committed half the outrages charged to this female hooligan, who boasts of her lawlessness. If he escaped lynch ing he would be extraordinarily for tunate. One years imprisonment is the punishment meted out to Lillian Lenton and there isn't the slightest chance of her having to serve the sen- tence in full. She is probably already on hunger strike and will no doubt again be turned loose on a helpless community to destroy property. The loss to property owners caused by this "arsonette" alone must be heavy.
 The English suffragettes have ap- parently accomplished nothing for their cause by committing acts of law lessness and have simply become public nuisance. The end of such van- dallsm is not yet in sight, but it may come sooner than the "militants" ex pect and may be found much to their disadvantage.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-13
SACRIFICE OF A zoo

From the Boston Transcript.
 Interesting records concerning the siege of Paris are constantly coming to light, and among the latest are number of receipts kept in the municipal library Of Paris, which show the prices paid for the animals of the geological gardens by the corporation of butchers. These prices naturally increased as the siege proceeded and while the first item mentioned a young reindeer sold for 1O0f. the last re- cords the price paid for two elephants, 27,Ooof. Perhaps the elephants themselves had been reduced to skin and bone by the privations of the siege.
 In the month of November the nrices had already risen. Two wild boars and two young pigs fetched 1.200f, and rein deer by that time cost 400f each. Paris ians had not yet made up their minds to eat emu meat, as one of these animals fetched only 2OOf Pheasants, however, were relished, two of them being sold for 50f each. The director of the zoo. M. Geoffroy Saint-Hilarie, struggled hard to save two fine stags, for which 2,oOOf were offered, but he finally sold them. on No vember 27 NJ. Geoffroy left despairlng note to one of his employees, in which he says: You may sell, very dear, of course, few of the worst fowls; very dear, tell you. But in no case dispose Of any of the ducks. You may sell the geese, II there are any left. Also keep few chickens for us. in case we should need thenl.'' Underneath the director wrote: Inform the Due de Monticello that all the wapiti and nilghai, or blue bulls. have been killed"
 It appears that in the first week of De- cember the butchers bought three Cape deer, one moufflon, two ducks of Nepal, Siamese pig and wild boar, two camels, two kangaroos, one pelican. swan, a yak, and some other exotic beasts for a sum of about 12,000f. Then come notes for a dromedary, 25Of, and a deer of the Molucca Islands and two white peacocNs fetched only 500f. A nilghai COW was rather cheap at 650f. The two elephants, which were sold on December 29, were called Castor and Pollux, and after that only a few peacocks, a sowary, and a pecoary remained, but to the last the prices were not so high as might have been expected A kangaroo could still be had in January for 350f.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-13
GREAT TRIALS OF HISTORY
TRIAL OF GENERAL BABCOCK

ance of revenue taxes, was discovered in the west.
 It was an association of dstillers in collision with federal officers, and for a time it succeeded in defrauding the gov ernment of the tax on distilled spirits. This form of corruption, after the declara- tion by President Grant: Let no guilty man escape" was traced by detectives to the portals of the White House, but even partisan rancor could not connect the President herewith. The Babcock trial began in the United States district court of St. Louis on February s, 1876. Babcock was defended by Emory A. Storre, Judge Porter, Judge Krum and ex- Attorney General Williams. District Att torney Dyer, special counsel, James o. Broadhead and Mai Lucien Eaton ap- peared for the government.
 During the trial District Attorney Dyer made strenuous effort to show inst Bab- cock not only aided the conspirators in their work, but that he received money directly from them. At first, it was ex- pected that President Grant would be called to St. Louis to testify, but instead of that he received interrogatories upon which his evidence was required. His dispositions were made on February F,
 before Chief Justice Waite. These were mainly in reference ito the question of ap- pcintments and transfers of internal reve- nue officials in which the allegation is that General Babcock took undue interest.
 The summing up began on February IS, the district attorney made the final appeal on behalf of the government on February 2S. On February 24 after the jury had been out two hours, they brought in verdict for the defendant. After Babcock had resigned as Grants secretary. he was engaged in government work in various capacities. On May 19, 1884, Babcock left Baltimore with a surveying party in a two-masted schooner for Mosquito Inlet, 20 miles off the coast of Florida On June most of the party were drowned, and his body being recovered, 1t was brought to Washington, where he resided. and was buried several days later.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-13
RuiIder. of BirmInpbam

The Traders National bank, in it's bio- graphic series. has this sketch in connec- tion with the May calendar:
 George Anderson Blinn, Jr., was born
 in Covington. Ky, but moved. to Cincin- nati at an early age and there received his education. graduating from Hughes High school and Nelson Business college.
 Tn 1887, with his father. he came to Bir- mingham and purchased the Excelsior fly, and now occupies 21 900 feet of floor space in it's own building. MT. Blinn is president of the company and J. w. Con nelly, who has been associated with him since 1906. is its secretary and treasurer.
 MT. Blinn was one of the organizers of poration doing a large and successful bus mess He has been secretary and treas urer of this company for many years, and his conservatism, forethought and ca pacity have contributed materially to it's progress. He has operated extensively in the real estate field. and has built and required much valuable property.
 "One of an increasing circle of younger men who are factors in the growth of this district, MT. Blinn is a director in the Business Mems league, vice president of the Alabama State Fair association, a leading member of the Rotary club and of several social clubs. prominent in Masonic affairs and active in many movements for the good of Birmingham.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-13
Another Alabama Iconolclast

It remained for son of Alabama, Hannis Taylor, to pretty nearly con- vince the world that Peletiah Webster was the sole author of the Constitution of the United States; and now comes another Alabamian, Joseph H. Par sons, with strong argument to the effect that not President Monroe, but Canning, the English statesman, was the originator of the much discussed and frequently "cussed" Monroe doc Urine.
 Mir. Parsons, in his recently pub lished and interesting book, Historical Papers Upon Men and Events of Rare Interest in the Napoleonic Epoch,' cleverly argues that the Monroe doc Urine was ingeniously designed by Canning to preserve to Great Britain her commerce in the former colonies against the aggrandizement of Spain and that through Canning's manipula- tion the policy was exploited by Pres ident Monroe.
 MT. Parsons maintains that the Holy Alliance entered into in 1915 by Rus sia, Prussia and Austria was in 8 measure inimical to the interests o1 Great Britain. He then contends that in 1923 the Holy Alliance was lending its influence to Spain in her proposed campaign for recovery of her lost possessions in South America and that MT. Canning announced as the policy of England that while no attempt would be made by his country to inc terfers with Spain in any such attempt
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-13

the reaction came quickly in 1909. which was the first time that the people at large had an opportunity of voting on a state wide proposition. The prohibition amend ment was defeated by nearly 3o,0oO Most of the counties of Alabama, I am glad to say, are dry. I am a local optionist, and if I were living In a small town would vote dry; but I believe that 1t is better In the large cities to have high license and regulation. The democracy of Alabama is enthusiastically for local option ''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-13

A interesting trial, the outcome of "A the whisky ring frauds during \ President Grants administration,
 | was that of Gen. Orville E. Babcock, who
 at the time was acting as private secre-
 tary to the President Although BabcoclS
 was acquitted he remained under a cloud
 | and Grant was forced to dispense with
 | his services.
 l Babcock had served with distinction dur | ing the civil war and in 1864 Grant ap- pointed him as an aide-de-eamp on his staff. On March 21, 1867, he was promoted l to be major of engineers. When Grant
 was elected President, Generals Babcock and Porter were appointed military secre- | taries and attaches to the White House.
 In December, 1872, Babcock succeeded Gen. eral Horace Porter as secretary. It was unfortunate for General Bab- cocks reputation that he was associated so long with the White House under Grants administration. During the winter of 1S1-72 his name became very promi- nent in connection with the general or der swindle" in New York, during the trial of the participants, and four years later he was even more seriously involved by the revelations of the whisky ring trials at St. Louis.
 On account of his implication in this business he demanded a court of inquiry, which request was granted in December, 1875. As General Babcock was himself indicted by the grand jury of St. Louis later, the court of inquiry was held in abeyance, until the trial in the civil court was ended. It took place in February. 1876, and resulted in a verdict of mot guilty"
 The trial cost Babcock $4O,O00 and ruined him financially. But he was not at the end of his troubles. for in April, 1876, he was indicted for complicity in the famous safe burglary conspiracy at Washington. The trial of this case came off in Septem- Der following, and resulted once more in his acquittal by the jury During 1876 an extensive whisky ring, organized to control revenue legislation and avoid
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-13
Omen Air Concerts

The concerts in Capitol park last summer gave pleasure to thousands of people. A larger band was em- ployed than in previous years, and there was an increase in the number of weekly concerts. The band was large enough to play all the high class compositions written for wind instruments, and the slightly in- creased cost had it's compensation In the quality of the music.
 It is not too soon to begin arrang- ing for this summers concerts. Many local musicians have offers to play in drummer bands in other cities, and un- less they are assured of engagements at home whoever secures the contract for furnishing the music in the park will lose some very good players.
 In the past the open air music fund has been raised through the efforts of the Music Study club, and the pub lie will look to this excellent organi- zation to undertake the work agair this year. Park music comes under the head of civic as well as artistic enterprise, and members of the Cham Der of Commerce, the Business Mems league and other civic bodies should be glad to contribute something to- ward this cause. Last year the city commission donated 5000, which was a great help, of course. It may be able to do even better this year. In all large and we'll regulated cities band concerts are paid for entirely out of the municipal treasury, and it is hoped that the time is not far distant when Birmingham will be able to appro- priate $5O00 or $6000 year fol music. Some cities not as large as Birmingham do that much for the promotion of free concerts, but until the city commissioners see their way clear to defray all the cost the ladies will doubtless be glad to solicit vol untary subscriptions to the amount o1 several thousand dollars.
 The park concert season should last at least ten weeks. It might be wei to start the concerts by the middle o1 June, even if they have to come tc an end in August. With the first summer weather men, women and chil dren crowd the parks and long to heal the band play.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-13
Even Better Than Last Year

This years chautauaua programme Is even finer than that of last May said a member of the Chamber of Commerce. If I could attend only one of the en- tertainments I would pick out the Ben Greet Players in Shak.speare's Twelfth Night" but all the programmes are so attractive that l will arrange to take In each one.
 'The musical programmes are excep- tionally attractive. The cathedral choir will have special appeal for all who love church music, faultlessly rendered. And then there is Kryls band in two programmes. It made the greatest hit of all the attractions year ago.
 'The chautauqua begins Thursday May 21 and closes Wednesday night. May 2. The season tickets are now on sale at the Cable company and at Loveman, Jo- seph & Loeb's. The price is only g ana every purchaser this week will be con- trbuting something to the Jefferson County Anti-Tubercuosss association"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-13
ToMoRROw-TRIAL OF THE D'ANGLADEs

blacksmith to a trial of strength With
 out a word the latter seized his ponder- ous anvil with both hands, and strain ing his mighty muscles to the utmost
 raised it foot from the ground. When Feters turn came he raised the anvil higher and higher until to the con sternation of his rival. he placed it on
 his shoulder and walked out of the smithy with it. So startled was the blacksmith by this exhibition of strength that he rushed away to sum-
 mon the villagers to come and see the evil one who had run away with his anvil.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-13
ROYAL STRONG MEN

From the Baltimore Sun.
 There have been monarchsc of bodily strength sufficient to qualify them as professional "strong men,"
 Among thse was Augustus the Strong of Saxony, who was in the habit in playful moods of seizing a couple of his courtiers. one in each hand. and hold ing them at arms length. Augustus would also twist stout iron bars and straighten horseshoes with a wrench of his muscular wrist. On one occasion, the story runs. when the horse of one of his attendants baked, the herculean Saxon put his immense shoulders to the animals flank and literally pushed 1t on its way.
 George Gastriot. Prince of Albania,
 wielded such a powerful sword that 1t is said he could sever a bulls head at single stroke. To decide a wager, this
 same prince walked off with a plat
 form on which were standing several
 of his courtiers.
 Charlemagne was another of the
 royal strong men. He could snap horse-
 shoes with his fingers. If we are to be-
 Don Sebastine, merely by the pressure
 of his knees he could make his charger groan with pain.
 Peter the Great is said to have so
 developed and hardened his naturally
 strong muscle by years of work as
 blacksmith and carpenter that he came to be the strongest man in his domin-
 ion. He had only one formidable rival, whose boast it was that he was the only man in Russia who could lift his
 anvil from the ground.
 When this boast came to the ears of Peter that prince set out incoGnito with . singb companion and challenged tho
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-13
TOBACCO FOR HICCOUGHs

II ioil tne AonuOn Globe.
 In Russian medical journal pr. q. Tatevosoff draws attention to the excel- lent service which may be obtained from the ordinary snuff tobacco as a means for cutting short hiccough. He relates an instructive case of a patient with some chronic chest disease, accompanied by violent cough attacks, in whom the latter used to be followed by extremely obsti- nate hiccough.
 The common remedies dncluding co- caine) failing to exercise any controlling Influence of the most distressing symp- tom, Dr. Tatevosoff at last decided to give trial to the old-fashioned popular means. making the patient on each occa- sion thoroughly snuff into his nose a pinchful of the powder until the appear ance of lively 'sneezing. From the first treatment the effect was truly brilliant. the 'hiccough subsiding as if by magic.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-13

According to deathped confession old, who died in the county infirmary at Lima, O.. Mrs. O'Leary's COW did not cause the Chicago fire of 1871 by kicking over lamp. Miss Thrift said almost with her last breath that she was respon- sble for the fire and fled through the flames and confusion to escape arrest. The act had preyed on her mind to the hour of her death. The woman's story of the O'Leary COW may be established for the benefit of future historians.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-13

The experiment is being tried of breed Ing American cartridges to rid the cotton fields of British Africa of boil weevils although previous efforts to domesticate the bobwhite quail in England failed. In 1907 the damage done by the boil weevil in the United States was estimated at s25o0O,0O0. In Egypt the loss caused by this pest has been remarkable. The value of cotton destroyed by the boil weevil in Egypt in 1904 was about f2,0OO, OoO In the province of Beh&a whole fields were destroyed and nothing left but bare stalks. The Egyptian govern ment has in recent years carried on a vigorous crusade against the cotton worm. Forced labor is now being used to rid the fields of the pest, many thou sands of boys and girls being employed in picking worms. By this means a de- cided improvement has been made.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-13
OLD PHRAsEs-NEw SETTINGS

From the Boston Transcript.
 T have thee on the hip,' as Texas Sam said to the six-shooter.
 "I feel for you deeply,' observed the diner, probing about in his stew for a stray oyster.
 This parting gives me pain,' as the man said when he was having trouble some tooth extracted.
 why will you keep prying into other peoples busness?" demanded the cop as he collared the jimmy-using burglar.
 'I can only offer you a light repast," said the Eskimo hostess as she handed candle to each of her guests.
 You are setting us bad example," as the algebra class said when the teacher wrote hard equation on the board.
 We will pursue this subject no further" declared the head warden as the escaped luntatic they were chasing leaped off the roof.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-13
THOSE UNUSED MUSCLES.

Now doth the busy city man delight to grasp his spade, And overturn the waiting soil and level down the grade And when the bed is spaded up and free from roots and stones, He goes and gets the arnica and groans and groans and groans.
 Cleveland Plain Dealer. Now doth the busy city man delight to grasp the hoe, And scratch along between the bean and pea and onion row. And when the row is quite cleaned out of grass and weeds and thorns, He lays his hoe aside and counts upon his hands his corns
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-13
EARLY LOVE LETTER IN PERSE By John Keats. from Lord Crewe's Al

By John Keats. from Lord Crewe's Af- bum. You say you love- but with a voice Chaster than a nuns, who singeth The soft vespers to herself While the chime bell ringeth-
 o love me truly You say you love; but with a smile Cold as sunrise in September; As you were Saint Cupid's nun, And kept hjs weeks of Ember.
 o love me truly! :. You say you love; but then your lips Coral tinted teach no blisses, More than coral in the sea- They never pout for kisses-
 O love me truly! You say you love: but then your hand No, soft squeeze for squeeze returneth. It is like ststue's dead While mine to passio nburnett-- lovely me truly! o breathe word or two of ire! Smile. as If those words should burn mo squeese az lovers should-O kiss And in thy heart iHurn me
 O love mo truly. t !