davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-14
FREDERICK CHOPIN

, and finally the landlord insisted on their quitting his house. and to add to his other | troubles, Chopin's piano was seized by } the custom house officers and not re- leased for more than year.
 | They finally returned to Franco and Chopin was nursed back to partial health. In 1S47 Chopin's connection with George Sand came to an abrupt and pain | ful ending. The distress caused by their quarrel accelerated the composers ill
 health. and was no doubt responsible for i his early death.
 | Chopin fled France at the disturbance prior to the revolution. and gave a. con- cert tour in England, but at the close or the tour he was in the deepest dejection !, of spirits and was evidently nearing the
 end. Early in the October of 1S4s he re- turned to France, and on Sunday morn | ing. October F, he realized that his vital fire was burning out swiftly, secretly and surely.
 | The composer lay in his room, silently
 looking at the loving faces of the friends | around him. Chopin asked Countess Del
 phine Potocka to sing. and she gave
 Stradella's Hymn to the Madonna" My
 God, how beautiful! how beautiful" he
 said softly, as she finished Chopin's piano
 stood in the room. and when she had
 finished, she walked over to the instru-
 ment and began singing Marcellos | Psalms" And as she sang Chopin
 drifted further and further away from the grasp of life.
 | The watchers in Chopin's room knelt
 silently in the darkness And Delphine
 Potocka sang. with breaking heart, the triumphant music of Marcello. At last
 she ended, and sat at the piano bowed
 with grief The night passed. and when l the city bells struck 3 o'clock Chopins 1 friends rose, silent and awe-stricken, from their knees. They knew that he
 was gone. He was buried in the ceme- l tery of Pere-le-Chaise, Paris, near the
 graves of Cherubini and Bellini.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-14
Defense of Music
 I'm the Colleges

I'm the Colleges
 HH HE appreciation of music of ar
 ll tistic merit on the part of the American public has developed so rapidly as to cause surprise in educa- sonal circles; but there should be no sngprise, for music of the better class has only to be heard often to be loved for it's own sake and understood from cultural point of view. Theodore Thomas entered upon his great ca reer in educating the concertgoers to discriminate with definite notion that when the people had an oppor- atunity of hearing the best they would soon demand only the best.
 The celebration of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the New York Philhar- monic orchestra, which Thomas con- ducted while the organization was yet crude and struggling, has awakened many happy memories in musical cir cles, Symphony orchestras are expen- sive luxuries even today, notwith- standing the fact that they attract large audiences. Twenty-Five or thir- sty years ago they were made possible sby the financial backing of few rich men; but now that prosperous cities and communities are establishing and maintaining concert bands and or chestras the future of music is bright indeed. At the present time there is craze throughout the country over community singing. The community chorus will be a feature of the bien- nial convention of music clubs to be held in Birmingham in April. This is well as far as it goes, but after all there is more or less 'faddishness" in this outburst for community music. In order for people to sing well or play well they must be taught and taught by educated teachers.
 It is encouraging, therefore, to learn that the public schools through out the United States-rural schools as we'll as city schools-have included music in their courses of instruction; and also encouraging to note the ac- tive interest in music in the colleges and universities. Within the last three years fully twenty-five colleges have insalled music departments. Some of the big orchestras and chairs < of music have been richly endowed by practical men like Henry Flagler and H. c. Prick. As result of the large { fortunes made by steel magnates and X financial operators last year the ben efactions for the advancement of music have made new high record. In discussing the importance of Emusic in institutions of learning Musical America emphasizes the far reaching effect of the remarks of Dean Harold Butler of Kansas uni yersity in behalf of music.
 sa "It seems incredible" says the periodical referred to, 'that in this < year of grace there should exist any opposition to the principle that music has come to stay as a necessary ele- hent in a well-rounded college educa- s lon. Yet there are 'stand-patters' who
 kfuse to see the writing on the wall
 rboth among the faculties and trus- X Ses of the colleges and among the x i Vernmental busy-bodies who meddle u lh the affairs of some of the state 1ns sAitutions. The reasons why music ha4 right to an important place ir <ke college curriculum are so obvious that they need not be reiterated ex- cept for the benefit of the almost
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-14
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
WASTED oRAToRY.

Why do you refer to me as wind jammer?" asked the orator, In some heat.
 "Beeause you talk so much"
 sir, my speeches are informative" Maybe they are. but the trouble is they don't inform me of anything I want to know"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-14

call, and before I knew 1t I jumped on two gentle preachers. I'm happy to say, however, that there are few black sheep as shepherds among gentle flocks
 Back to the Jews. They are too great a people to need any praise from mo. will close by saying I know of no finer lot of citizens than the old Jewish fami- lies of Eufaula and those who have come from there to Birmingham to live When Herman Saks wanted wife he married a Fufaula girl.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-14
From the Pittsburg Post.

From the Pittsburg Post.
 ~ HOPIN may be said to have been |( one of the few composers who did W not incorporate into his works his own mental feelings. Few of the host of admirers of the beautiful waltzes and etudes of the Polish composer realize that their sprightly spirit was evolutions of l the brain rather than the heart, and that when some of the most beautiful of these compositions came from the pen of Cho- pin, at the same time he was suffering all the tortures of disappointment and distress.
 Chopin's chief tragedy in his life was due to his oversensitiveness. Schumann called him The boldest and proudest poetic spirit of the age,' yet he suf- fered much. Unlike most great com posers. he was born with the proverbiaI I golden spoon" in his mouth.
 From very early period in his life Chopin acted most strangely. His par ents did not seem to mind his eccen- tricities through realizing the great in-
 fluence that music had upon him. but the servants did not understand his pe- | culiarities and were wont to say: Poor young gentleman, his mind is affected" | The first real sorrow came into the life | of young Chopin when he was 21 years of age. In years after he was wont to say that his life consisted of an episode ! without beginning and with sad end. He referred to his intimacy with George
 Sand (Aurora Dudevant). When she came
 into his life her presence, forceful and
 vigorous as it was, brought shadow.
 He loved her. but she caused him much
 sorrow and suffering, while she was the
 inspiration of much Of his loveliest music. l The acquaintance began at Liszt's in-
 stigation in 1887. Chopin borrowed money
 and took Mme. Sand. her son. her daugh-
 ter and a maid to Palma, where for a
 time everything was a bed of roses. But
 Chopin's illness prevented his working,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-14
THE EFFICIENT rEUTs.

The Germans are efficient folk The entente finds that's not joke. Of rubber they've a small supply, But do they wiring their hands and sigh Well, not enough to notice it; In fact, they're troubled not bit Their motor wheels they now equip With bands of steel, narrow strip, And underneath are buoyant springs. The car speeds on, the engine sings, And in day they'll journey far And scarcely feel jolt or jar.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-14
FIRST AID.

"If women do get the ballot, they won't stand on street corners arguing about politics for hours at time," said the em- inent suffragist.
 'sNo," replied mean man, "but if some way could be devised to serve them with a cup of tea and sandwich on street |corners they would.''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-14
SARCASM.

"I can't fill this prescription" said the druggist in a prohibition town.
 ''Why not?' asked the stranger.
 "It calls for 8 pint of whisky"
 ..Umph! No wonder there isn't a drug store in town that's doing any business. Why, you fellows wouldn't embrace Op- portunity if she walked right in and sat down in your lap!" PAUL COOK,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-14
TELL IT TO BRYAN

From the Boston Transcript.
 The trouble about utilizing that army of million farmers sons that were go- ing to spring to arms overnight is that we haven't got enough pitchforks to go around.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-14

feeble-minded. The education to be had at college is of three kinds. They are the cultured education, the mind training and the vocational education. Now, it is platitudinous to dwell upon the cultured value of music as one of the fine arts. Further, there is no branch of mathematics which trains the mind more thoroughly than does the theoretical study of music. Final ly, college student shows common sense practicality in studying music with vocational aim, now that the extension of the music supervisors profession affords him natural mar ket for his wares. It would be imperti- nent to point out such evident facts to up-to-date, intelligent persons, but the old fogies of the educational sew ing-circle are not of this class, and Dean Butler performs service to the public when he reveals them as the fools that they are"
 It would be much to expect all the colleges to appraise at once music at it's true value, but the time is not far distant when a musical course will be regarded as one of the essentinals. When that day comes musical devotees should organize a movement to commemorate in some fitting way the important pioneer work of Thomas, Dr. Mason, Chad- wick, Parker, Mcdowell and others.
 <
 Arnnor Plate Board
 Dates Now Fixed
 THE governments $11,000,o0O
 J armor plate plant will be To- cated shortly and the chances are in favor of the Birmingham district. It is officially announced that the board will arrive here Friday, February 23, and remain until Monday, the 26. The board will spend a day in Tus- caloosa and day in Gadsden.
 The "hearings" will be of open mind, it is said. If so, the Alabama mineral district will be the winner.
 At one time it was thought politics would play part in the settlement of the armor plate site; but that idea has been abandoned. The decision will be based upon technical data. The state or district that presents the facts of economic appeal will be awarded the prize. Alabama should stand first. If the board decides in favor of Tuscaloosa or Gadsden, Bir- mingham will say well done. The first and only concern with people of the state is Alabama, and if any city in Alabama lands the armor plate in- dustry all the rest will join in the enthusiasm of approval.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-14
MIGHT HEAR A FEW.

MIGfiI fiEAR "A FEW. Henry" said Mrs. Twobble, q hope you won't tell any risque stories at the master plumbers banquet tonight "Of course I won't, my dear" That's right I'm proud of you, Henry
 But I dare say I will be able to tell some corkers after I attend that ban |quet."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-14

BEGINNING THE DAY -- Lord. Thy mercies make me ashamed. l
 have done so little aud Thou hast done so much. And I have had so little of gratitude and so little ot ambition to mend. I have gone my sIothfuI way when Thy mcrcies ought to have stirred me to the depths. | have sighed when I ought to have sung. have been satisfied with the clay when I ought to have sought the stars.--H. M. E.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-14
Plans to Bring Farmers

Mrs. G. H. Mathis. the widely known
 farm woman" of Alabama. is in Bir-
 mingham for day or two to discuss
 with local men some plans for bringing
 in more outsiders to settle upon Ala bama lands.
 During the past 10 days alone" said Mrs. Mathis. T have received enough letters and inquiries to mean the e&- pendlture of $200o00 for Alabama lands If we can bring these people here. My opiu- ion is that we ought to go after them and we ought to get them here in time to make a crop this season. We ought to make thrifty, industrious farmers from the north every possible inducement to come among us and locate"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-14
Grand Master a Worker

There is no doubt that George Steife- meyer of Cuilman is making good as grand master of the Odd Fellows of the state,' said E. T. WiIdsmith. He is Q man of progressive ideas and is stirring into activity some of those leaders who might be classed as not dead but sleep ing He has made thorough canvass of the state and Is in close touch with the lodges that are struggling as we'll as those that are blessed with prosperity. At the convention yesterday he stated that there was decided increase of in- terest in Odd Fellowship in every section of the state and I have no doubt that this condition Is due to the energy and push of the grand master
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-14

SEE THE NEWSPAPERS. Beauty has a way of smiling, Cautious men and fools beguiling-
 Iris story old. Yet, for all her careless rapture, Ugliness may beauty capture
 With a pot of gold.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-14
VillisGas May Soon
 Occupy JuaTex

N~SSSoGSy ~ASSsS
 K VILLA troops occupied towns in
 v northern Mexico almost as soon as they were vacated by the with drawal of General Pershing's men. This indicated that the bandit leader was losing no time in taking advant- age of the opportunities thus afforded for adding to the territory under his control.
 Villistas were reported yesterday in dispatch from Columbus, N. M., to have occupied Palomas, a scant six miles below the international boun- dary. While no fear is felt of a raid across the border, ample precautions will be taken to prevent surprise at tack of this kind. It is not believed that Villa would be guilty of such fol- | ly again, nor would he permit his fol- lowers to ansagonize the United States and bring American troops rushing into Mexico.
 If the Villistas are not disturbed at Palomas, and there is no reason why the United States should interfere, 1t | is said that, emboldened by this quies- cent attitude, they will seize other border towns, including Juarez, across the Rio Grande from Fl Paso. Although General Carranza is send. 1, ing troops to oppose the Villistas, Villa is beginning to feel more like himself than he did when he was be- ing hunted from pillar to post, ano there is little probability of the Car ranza forces being able to upset his plans.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-14
Germnam-A Americans
 ReiGeraGe Loyalty

WAFFLE no fears are now enter WV tained that German-American citizens will not remain loyal to the United States even in the event of war with Germany, the Chicago Herald is desirous of keeping this fact before it's readers. It is publishing interviews with prominent German-Americans, accompanied by photographs, in which they declare that nothing can shake their allegiance to America.
 It was in Illinois, by the way, that the editor of German newspaper made yelled threats of internecine warfare. The storm of criticism which descended upon him must have given him food for thought and it is proba- ply the purpose of the Herald, as well as other large papers in Chicago, t< offset whatever unpatriotic sentiment of this sort may survive.
 The German-Americans have beer
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-14
DISAGREEMENT.

"Did I understand you to say that Gadson is a deep student of human na- ture?
 Well, he doesn't make any pretension of that sort, but notice when he starts out to borrow little money he seldom tackles more than two or three people before he gets it''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-14
Farms Look Bare

Never before have the farms of J A. Wade, commissioner of agricul- ture "on my way up from Monrgom- cry, field after field of oats and wheat were frozen white. and believe they are damaged beyond recovery. If an oat crop is made this spring the seed will have to be planted as soon as DC ssible, and chances must be taken On weather conditions.
 Tt looks blue for the farmers of Alabama and other southern states, hut they are going ahead. preparing to diversity as never before. Let every body lend a helping hand financially and otherwise"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-14
REAL OPTIMISM.

"stin thinking of buying a little farm some day?"
 "oh, yes," replied the optimistic flat dweller. "I never stir the earth in my window boxes with a trowel that I don't dream of the time when will own a plot of ground large enough to produce a whole can full of angleworms."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-14
Walker Percy Fought Fair

"The death of Walker Percy was distinct loss to the community in many respects and his place will indeed be hard to fill," said Hugo L. Black yes terday. 'fHe was a man of broad gauge and always recognized the rights of others in the trial of the numberless cases in which he appeared as attorney in the courts of the county. For in- stance, if in the trial of case he was convinced from the evidence that there was a liability on the part of the com pany or firm he represented, he was big enough to admit it, but would ask square deal on the part of the jury in deciding the case. and by his frank ness he generally got it.
 Possibly no man who ever practiced in the local courts was so well liked by the young attorneys as Mir. Percy. He always treated the young lawyers with the same courtesy and considera- ton he showed the older practitioners and this coming from man of his experience and standing was highly was fighting for a chance to show his worth. MT. Percy fought every case hard, for he was fighter of fighting stock, but he always fought fair, and that is what made him so
 universally liked and respected by tho local bar, and his untimely death so
 generally regretted"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-14
HOTEL LOBBIES
Ferd Marx Back in Business

Birmingham friends of Ferd Marx will be interested to know that he has gone back into business in New orlx," said Sol Caheen yesterday. "He has taken over one of the eldest and best known wholesale millinery estab- lishments on Fifth avenue and Is al- ready making great go of 1t. The concern was founded by a French family more than 60 years ago, so that the business is we'll established and is sure of the future under the guid' ance of a man like Ferd Marx"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-14

TELEPHONE Bell (private exchange connecting ai' Gepartments) Main 4SOO.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-14

Scripture lesson well selected in advance to meet the hour and his need would bear on the beauty and holiness of lcharity.
 The Scripture lead made the approach easier. but he relied on his prayer to get the loan or gift. He would begin in this wise. "Oh. Lord. thou hast blessed our dear brother with much worldly goods. Thou hast given him a loving wife and lovely sons and daughters. He has much to be thankful for. But, oh. Lord, ] know not why. but thou hast withheld riches from thy humble servant. Put it into the heart of him whom thou hast so wonderfully favored to minister to my pressing needs and will bless his and thy dear name forever more.' It worked for awhile. but at last his rich parish toners began to compare notes and he was dismissed as their shepherd.
 l Just one moro on him. Ono day dur ling his pastorate in New York he went to a prominent banker and after being lushered into his private office said: My dear brother, the Lord directed me here. saying that you as president of this bank had $10O for me and I've come to get it.
 The banker. knowing his prociivities countered by saying. Alright. doctor Lust as soon as the Lord notifies me will
 say it." personally know the preacher 1 g tlty of these professional hold-ups. He Ii. brilliant, eloquent, forceful. but his g! led put him on the ministerial to. T .b show how informal and rambling
 thij column is. I started of to praise 2
 Jewish rabbi for doing me the honor ts
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-14

D show how informal and rambling thij column is. started of to praise Jewish rabbi for doing me the honor to
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-04-19
Mrs. Ffske Coming.

On Saturday. matinee ana night
April Is. Mrs Fiske and her support
ing company will appear at the Burtlsr
Davenport. in Marian de Forests new
and very successful comedy, Erst-
while Susan, which had run q SIX
months last season at the Ca5ety the
atre. New York. In this play II Is
said that Miss de Forest has e&oellea
osr admirable work IN dramatizing
.onfse NJ Alcott's Little Woman,
which i'm itself was a notable achieve
menf. The play is founded upon Helen
r Martins novel "Barnabet1a. al
though Miss de Forest has drawn upon
Mrs Martins other books and ber own
imagination for many Of the amusing
dramatic situations She has contrlVed
for Mrs. FIske one % the most sympa-
+ befic as well as most humorous roles
that the distinguished actress has ever
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-04-19
RUSS PRESS HITS
FOES'PEACE AIMS
Brands German and Austrian Move ms
"Base. Treacherous and Hyp-
ocri9ical MaBeuTer-~

Peu0grad. april i g Jvia L0udau.
lI-Z8 q. m8-The Russian press re-
CARDS the seuI-offaiaI German and
Austro-HuuE arian notes concerning
the possibility Of cuuci1taHuE the war
aims Of the central powers with those
of Russia as a base. treacheEous and
LEpocritiCaI@ uaueuEer. The Eeeh. in
TelteralDg that the Russian provision
al government lis pursuing no aims of
conquest declares Is IS fully and en-
treIE IN agreement with the views aT-
pressed bE the representatives OF the
other entente powers
The enemy prcCipItatelr daduoes a
Russian desire Tor separate peace in
these notes scarcely more clever than
the prCcLamati0us thrown into the
Russian trenches inviting the peasants
rg return to their villages and share
the estates OF the land owners" saws
rae newspaper.
Emphasizing the "monstrous soph-
ism of the Austrian declaration that
the aim Of the dual monarchy is 10
give t1e peoples the right TO regulate
their own dest5nies- war aim an
nUuuced by the Russian provisional
EoTeEDment-th Rech continues:
Our enemies are trying 10 avoid
any concrete Indication of their aims.
just rs they abstaiued from replying
tC the definite appeal by President
Wilson. The Russian people know
why they are continuing the mortal
struggle They respect the obligations
arising from their alliances and viii
not give UP their rights.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-04-19

one of the brightest and best Of
burIesque attractions is the Monte
Carlo Girls which viii be seen ali
Illinois theatre on Saturday evening.
The company is composed Of clever
comedians. exceptional vocaIists and
a chorus that is not excelIed by any
other organization ID burlesque. says
the press agent. THE costumes are
new and the songs are the latest hits
from Broadway. Among the cast are
such well known people as Arthur
L.an.nz. Frank rags Murphy, Fred
Binder George Leon. John Hudgingsr
Ollie 3rumbray and the incompatible
dainty singing and dancing soahrette,
Dolly Norrfssey Pierce Judah e
srataesQue beauty. is the pTima donna.
The company viii present Fun In
Railroad Station and A Night at
Monte Carlo The Revue Four quar-
tet is one Of the big features Of the
ORGANIZATION