davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-09-13
GENERAL SHELLEY.

The Age-Herald's Washington core spondent says that the news from Mont gomery to the effect that General Shelley may be prevailed upon to stand for the Gubernatorial nomination has created much talk in the Alabama colony at the national capital.
 It is understood that General Shelley is not seeking the place. He would rath- CT act as peacemaker than offer for office. But contingencies may arise in which General Shelley would be the happiest, if not the only choice. This veteran Democrat has made the party his debtor in the past, but has never insisted on re- ward. The Democracy of Alabama ap- preciates his services and would delight to do him honor and no man in the State can come nearer bringing together and cementing conflicting elements than can this sterling old Democrat. Long may he live,
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-09-13
HELP RIRMINGHAM.

In another column the Age-H prints a strong letter from N. r. Thomp- son, showing the great value to Brming ham of the Alabama exhibit at Atlanta. The citizens of Birmingham have made an investment of nearly $3000, and this will be swelled to over $5000 before it ends to provide an exhibit for Alabama at Atlanta, and it is only plain business proceeding to make that investment pay. Unquestionably without some practical application of whatever interest may be awakened by the exhibit, there will not be the returns which the investment would otherwise command. This is great opportunity for Birmingham, and MT. Thompson well suggests that the Commercial Club should be placed in po- sition where it can utilize this opportuni ty There is DO other agency that could so well do this, and when it is so clearly in the interest of Birmingham that some practical effort should be put forth to reap returns from the investment made, there is an urgent demand that action be taken on it. The Commercial Club can bring thousands here on weekly ex- 'cursions. It can advertise more careful ly and judiciously the many attractions of the Jefferson county exhibit It can have representative men there to intelli- gently explain the exhibits, and follow up the interest awakened in them. and all this is necessary to get proper re- turns on the investment.
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-09-13
SHE IS OUR PRIDE.

From all indications when opening day arrives the Atlanta Exposition will be as nearly complete and ready for in- spection as any undertaking of the kind in the history of the world.
 This is saying a. great deal, but 1t is withinthe lines of truth. It is glorious tribute to the energy of the South and will forever damn the oft repeated as- sertion that Southern people are lacking in enterprise. This of Itself is not the least substantial of the lbegeG tss- tthat shall accrue to Atlanta and the South from the exnessaition.
 The Age-Herald is of the belief that no community of the same size, East, West, North or South, has more loyal, en- terprising and progressive citizens than Atlanta. Their unselish devotion to the interests of the city, the celerity with which they respond with purse and ef- fort to every appeal for it's advancement, and the wonderful harmony with which they work for the common good chal- slenge the admiration of the world. At lanta is a superb advertisement of the South, and Birmingham and every other Southern city will delight to do her honor,
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-09-13
IN CUBA.

The weary struggle in Cuba goes on. News from the scat of war is just as unsatisfactory as ever. The Spanish gov ernment continues to furnish intelli- gence of the dspersals of large bands of insurgents by handfuls of Spanish soldiers, and the imaginative and none too-scrupulous special correspondent makes us shudder by stories of the wholesale butchery of the regulars by half their number of patriots.
 We know little of the real condition of affairs on this island. Without doubt all the horrors of war unpalliated by hu- mamty obtain. Murder and rapine, flame and footing are turning one of the most beautiful islands of the world into a desert. Is there no plan by which civ ilzation could intervene? Must the world stand aloof and let this awful struggle go on? One may be tempted to inquire if our boasted civilization is not failure, when it allows such an unfair struggle on it's very threshold.
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-09-13
IT WAS WORSE THAN UsE1Ess.

The conference of the free silver l Democrats in this city Tuesday more and more assumes the shape of a barren fig tree.
 | As the Age-Herald's clever Montgom- cry correspondent suggested. there is likelihood of the country brethren taking offense at not being asked to the feast of reason and flow of soul. The affair seems to have been too exclusive for bread-gauged ideas of Democracy. If it is true. as charged, that written invita- tions were sent. out, many of the recip- ients themselves are doubtless inclined to cavil at'this mode of procedure. Those who failed to. reteive the exclusive billet doux will be doubly disgruntled-by per sonal affront and by departure from the open and aboye-board policy of true De moeracy.
 And Senator Morgan's letter was more or less of a wet blanket. It was lacking in the note of full confidence and pessi mistic as to the means of reaching the end by such conventions. Many true friends of silver and staunch Dem- ocrats were disagreeably startled by his suggestions as to the reorganization of the party. Doubtless many of them are realizing for the first time to what dan gerous shoals this free silver wave is waiting them. As correspondent aptly suggests in another column, this idea of reorganization does not come with good grace from a man who has been so sig nally honored by the organized Democ- racy- Senator Morgan has unquestion- ably made a bad break, even in the most charitable construction of his utter ances.
 The Democratic party in Alabama is in no position to let down its guard It's integrity must be maintained. It needs not recruits so much as it does men who will remain faithful to its principles. Least of all can it afford to open it's ranks indiscriminately to men who are glib-tongued enough to utter the shlb- boleth of expediency. Democratic or ganization must be maintained at all hazards, and he is a halting patriot who win allow any question to prevent him from keeping step with that which stands for white supremacy and progress in Alabama.
 To repeat, the free silver conference has been of little advantage to it's pro- motors, and it threatens injury to the party.
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-09-13
THIS IS TIMELY.
To the Age-Herald:

To the Age-Herald:
 There is a legend among some Of the older writers of a woman being rowed over lake and dropping to sleep. She had around her neck beautiful neck lace of rare and costly jewels. Suddenly awaking she discovered that the strands of the necklace had been broken and one by one the jewels had slipped off into the lake, disappearing forever beneath its waves. The writer painted the anguish she felt over her loss and the time 1t re- quired to gather up the broken strands and save the jewels that remained. In some respects Birmingham can be com pared with that woman. She had a necklace of the richest and rarest pos abilities that had ever bedecked any city, but she was lulled to sleep in her fancied security of location and re- sources, and the further belief that some of the many corporations" around her would certainly protect her in her hours of slumber. But suddenly there came rude awakening, and with 1t the knowl- edge that her necklace of jewels had been broken and one by one had disap- peared forever beneath the waters of the lake of lost opportunities" No pen can paint, no tongue can tell the anguish of many in this city who were awakened to the realization of the fact that the fortunes which they thought were theirs during boom days had been lost in the reaction from that wild era of specula- tioni It was the feeling borne of that realization which so paralyzed the ener- gies of this people as to prevent them from even tying the broken strands of her necklace of jewels, and losses have occurred and are now occurring from that fact alone. The Commercial club has been pointing to these broken strands for two years or more and beg ging for aid in the work of reuniting them. T.-rs is just now necessity for meeting one of the greatest and grandest opportunities for advancing Birmingham perhaps that has ever occurred. She is about to exhibit for the first time to the world at large an object lesson of her re- sources, and it is safe to say that such an exhibit has never before been equal ed No thoughtful person can view that exhibit without being greatly impressed by it. But our own people must be alive to the value of the exhibit. The Com mercial club should be in position to take practical advantage of the interest the exhibit will awaken in any and every quarter. To this end every citizen in Birmingham should swell its member ship at least till the exposition ends. That is easy and is the cheapest way to arrange for the work which the club would otherwise have to call on a few to do. The benefits will accrue to all, and all should now, if never before, be will ing to share in the work needed to obtain them. Is there citizen of Birmingham who is unwilling to place the sum of 8 in the hands of the club to advance Br- mingham during the exposition, especial ly when this can be paid S1 at 8 time?
 N F. THOMPSON
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-09-13
SENATOR MORGAN'S LETTER.

To the Age-Herald:
 From reading his letter to the "free silver conference" which assembled in this city on the 10th instant, I learn that Senator John T. Morgan has given up the fight for free silver for the present and has interested himself more in "the reconstruction of the democratic party in Alabama" He wants the party re- constructed for the purpose of getting rid of the alleged power of the eXecu- tive committee to ostracise democrats who chose to follow men rather than principles" and to get rid of party bosses" And the far away" senator seems to think 1t an easy job, for he says: 'It needs only suggestion to set this movement on foot, for our people are so tired of bosses and personal pol itics that they will gladly adopt some course that will at least be more respect able"
 The above suggestions, coming from Senator Morgan, and under existing cir cumstances are most remarkable and passing strange.
 Under and from the organization that Senator Morgan wants "reconStructcd' that gentleman has received more hon ors and emoluments than any other man in Alabama. Four times elected to the United States senate and more than $120,000 paid him out of the public treasury are what the party bosses" as the senator now names them, have done for that distinguished gentleman But what about the reconstruction" pro- posed by the senator? Is it true that the democratic party is controlled by party bosses" as Senator Morgan charges? If so. who are the bosses? Since the per lection of the organization which the senator now seeks to reconstruct" no man in Alabama has done more to shape the plans and destinies of the democratic party in Alabama than Sem ator Morgan. He has been recognized and followed as a, leader. and if there has been so much bosssm it would be diff cult for the senator to clean his own skirts.
 Another strange thing about the Ere construction proposition is that the dis tinguished democrat calls upon a free silver conference to address itself to the reconstruction of the democratic par ty in Alabama" If the party -4S.ds re- constructing is it to be done by the free silver democrats? It seems that the senator thinks so. and I presume he would like to "boss'' the job.
 When Senator Morgan undertakes to "reconstruct the democratic party in Alabama" upon the plans suggested in his wonderful letter to the conference here he will find a big job on his hands and he will find many democrats in Ala bama who favor the free coinage of sll- yer who will not aid him in turning the party organization over to any faction, whether it be for free silver or anything else H. H. BROWN.
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-09-13
THE POLLOCK-STEPHENS.

The Pollock-Stephens institute will hold it's opening exercises in the assem- bly hall next Monday morning at 9:30 a. m. The patrons and all persons inter- ested in education are most cordially in vited to be present.
 The Pollock Stephens is one of the fixed institutions of the city that all interested in education should be proud of, and the Age-Herald bespeaks for Miss C. w. Summers, the new principal, the same encoura cement given her predecessors. Miss Summers comes highly recom- mended and the training of the children who attend the Pollock-Stephens will be up to the highest mark.
 It will be gratifying to the lovers of music to know that Professors Boyce and Weber. Mile. Won Navarra and oth- CT noted artists are in charge of the mu- sical department of this famous institu- ton. and will furnish the music on the occasion above referred to.
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-09-13
PLUCKY MRS. HAAS.
Single Handed She Fought and Subdued Fire
 Near Casks of Alcohol
New York Press.

New York Press.
 Yokohama and comedy were mingled in the incidents attending fire In the barroom of Louis B. Haas, on the ground floor of the double fiat house. No. 2262 Seventh avenue, at 2:30 p. m. Sum- day.
 The serious element was the share of Mrs. Louisa Haas; the comedy was fur nished by several tenants and a fire- man.
 Herbert Haas, years old, played with matches in the barroom, dropped light ed one and the blaze started in pile of paper Smoke pouring into the living rooms in the rear apprised Mrs. Haas Of danger. She knew that there were sev hral casks of alcohol in the barroom, and that the floors and counters were soaked with the inflammable liquid
 But she didn't faint. She grabbed pail of water and threw it on the blaze. The fire burned the fiercer, and she used another pail of water still the blaze grew. And so for ten minutes, with the flames creeping about her and danger ously near to the casks of alcohol, she fought desperately to subdue them.
 Her right arm and the right side of her face were badly burned, but she con- quered, and the fire was just out as the engines rattled up to the door.
 "Why didn't y wait for us?" growled a fireman.
 She was half hysterical from pain and excitement, and here answer was to dash her last pail of water over the fire man. He spluttered and said no more. Then she tainted.
 In the meantime the frightened in- mates of the flats had been trying to save their valuables. Mrs. Mary Schneider, on the top floor had one jewel-a parrot. Save my parrot" she yelled, and threw the cage out of the window. The parrot bounced on an awning, rolled into the gutter, and the air was filled with green bird language.
 Another woman ran out, deserting her baby, and then stood on the sidewalk and shrieked, Save my child!'
 There was no danger. Damage to shop and building was about $500. But Mrs. Hass says that there was $60 in the cash drawer before the fire broke out and only s30 afterward, and she wants to know who got it.
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-09-13

Mir Keir Hardie whose socialist ut terances in this country grate so harshly on American ears, does not represent the great body of British workingmen. The Socialists in the recent Labor Congress at Cardiff were completely routed, and their defeat settles the attitude. of trades unionsts toward socialism. Mr. Hardie was the leading spirit in this Congress in advocating Henry Georges socialist doctrine of land naturalization, but he was decidedly sat down on. The Con gress was much annoyed by noisy agita- tors with socialist tendencies, who did not represent the workers in the trades unions. Mr. John Burns headed the ma iorty that voted down all socialist mo- tiOnS
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-09-13
THE DURANT TRIAL

The Durant trial promises to be long drawn out. A host of witnesses on the part of the prosecution is flanked by an opposing host of the defense. The mor- bid hangers-cr will get their fill of sen- sation. Indeed, the trial is assuming the phase of a melodrama rather than a soberly conducted inquiry by justice. The prosecution has caused to be made a miniature of the celebrated belfry, and within it is doll, which represents the ill-fated Blanche Lamont. dress makers dummy. over which are draped
 the garments which Miss Lamont last wore. is also put in evidence at thrilling
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-09-13
Two For One Increases the Per Capita.

Mexico is the land of promise held up by the advocates of free, unlimited and independent coinage of silver at 16 to 1, and the wages paid there are re- ferred to as showing the conditions our wage earners should desire to attain But how about thoSe wages? Facts as accurately as they can be ascertained are the surest tests. Wages in Mexico based upon the best information ob- tainable taken from advance sheets of consular reports fer September show that in July. 1895. carpenters got from S1.50 to S3.50 per day in Mexican money and the working week is sixty hours, the same as in the United States. One Mexi- can dollar is worth about 50 cents in our money.-Nashville American.
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-09-13

There are perhaps 5000 dealers in dia- monds in the world, who carry in their stock stones worth perhaps $350. 900, 900. The remainder are in the hands of pri- vate individuals
 There is always something fascinating about the subject of diamonds and rich and poor like to read about precious stones. It is estimated that during the last twenty-five years the American peo- pie have paid duty on at least $1S0000, 900 worth of diamonds and other precious stones. In 1893 alone they imported $15,- 203.563 worth, but in 1894 there was a falling off, owing to hard times, and the total was only $4,S569S5
 This does not include uncut diamonds, of which we imported more than S1o0O,- 900 worth in 1892, $S00 000 worth in 1893 and $566, 267 worth in 1894. During the last twenty-two years we have imported $70S7,S17 worth of uncut diamonds. In 1880 we, imported only $1290 worth of uncut diamonds and in 1889 only $250, ,000 worth. The large increase of late has been due to the fact that number of American jewellers have opened diamond cutting establishments. There are now fifteen establishments in the United States which employ from one to twenty men.
 There are 4000 manufacturers in Eu- rope and about 200 in the United States who employ between 1000 and 5000 per sons as cutters and polishers. Perhaps 2S,000 people are employed in the diamond mines throughout the world. We read that in past centuries 60,000 people were working in some single Indian mines lat one time, and perhaps that statement is not exaggerated, since by the aid of mod ern machinery one miner can now ac- complish as much as twenty who used the primitive methods. The total value of all the diamonds in the world un- doubtedly exceeds $1 900, 100000. ,sz.
 During the past quarter century ten tons of diamonds, selling for more than $500, 100000 uncut and s600,O00,000 after cutting, have been added to the world 8 wealth-an amount more than twice as great as the value of diamonds known to exist before. This vast value Is in the most concentrated, portable and -orna- mental form, and more convertible ex- cept anything but gold and silver. Its accumulation has built up cities like Kimberley and maintained important fn dustries in Amsterdam and other centers. The DeBeers company QmitedD, a single corporation, with stock having a market value quoted at over $90,000,000. controls more than one-tenth of the entire output and regulates and maintains the price.
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-09-13
THE AGE-HERAtD READING ROOM

The Age-Herald has fitted up neat reading room adjoining it's business office where daily papers from all east ern, southern, western and northern points will be kept on file Tor the . Denen. and information of the public. Papers from the following cities can always be found there: Boston. New York, Phila- delphia, Baltimore, Richmond, Charles ton, Savannah, Augusta, Atlanta, Cln- cinnati, Louisville, St. Louis. Nashville, Chattanooea. Montgomery, Mobile, New Orleans. Galveston Houston, Dallas and many other cities not named.
 Citizens of either of the cities above named or any party desiring to read are welcome to call at any and all times, night or day. as the reading room Will always be open.
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-09-13
Ecce Sipnum Gloriam.

"Your Confederate button will enttle you to recognition and a place around our camp fires" runs the invitation from the union to the Confederate veterans at Louisville. So times. manners and men change while the great truths and prn- ciples remain forever the same The pe- tition, Forgive us our trespasses. as we forgive those who trespass against us," has lost none of it's force and meaning in the more than 1900 years that men have uttered it. Ii has gained indeed great CT force and wider meaning.-Kansas City Star.
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-09-13
God Knows Which Was Right.

The state of Tennessee has decided to erect on the battlefield of Chickamauga, four monuments, three to Confederate soldiers-infantry. cavalry and artillery and one to the Tennessee union soldiers engaged in the battle. The four pedes- tals of marble will be surmounted by bronze statues of soldiers representing the different arms of the service. ali to be cast in Munich. In thus dividing the monuments a fair consideration is givon to the union sentiment in the eastern part of the state.-E,xchange
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-09-13
No Demand for Him.

WashingtOn Star
 T see dat 'Rastus Pinkley's done got home agin," said one young woman
 Vas" replied the sage of Watermelon square; knowed he wasn' gwinter las long when he stahted."
 "Whahs he bin?"
 Bin erway settin up in business foh hisse'f. I tole him ter go slow but he woudn' pay no 'tention."
 But whut wah de usness?"
 "Whut wah de business? Wy dat ar boy he done try ter sot hisssf up wifi a bahber shop in Kansas"
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-09-13

The people of the South are not in fa- S>or of an unstable currency, and long ere the meeting of the national convention they will have put to sleep the crazy movement which has for it's purpose the doubling in value of the product of a few silver producing States of this coun- try, and also using the United States treasury as a dumping ground for the silver of Mexico and other silver produc- ing countries,
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-09-13

The Nashville American commenting on the political situation in Alabama in conclusion says:
 Every Democrat in Alabama opposed to silver monometallism should gird on his armor and go forth to battle for the cause of sound currency and sound finan- cial methods. A resolute and stubborn fight and a campaign of education show Ing the plain people, farmers and wage earners, what the cost of silver mono- metallsm will be. will arrest and finally overthrow an attempt to lessen the pow CT for good of the Democratic party"
 When the time comes a large majority of those who now believe in silver mon ometallsm will join hands with the sound money Democrats in their efforts Ito keep the party pure and unadulter- ated. The sentiments expressed by the few representatives of the white metal doctrine who attended the meeting held in Erswell's hall are not received with silver men in this State Senator Morgan in his letter inveighs against bossism, as he calls it, and ad- yises Democratic voters to see to it that ffre executive committee be shorn of it's powers. The length of time Senator Morgan has held office in this State would indicate that he has tried his hand al the bellows.
Birmingham age-herald., 1895-09-13

A special from Birmingham to the Nashville American is misleading in that it puts the Birmingham iron men in false position when it asserts that they claim they are not being treated fairly .aHsiie low rate on pig iron existing was given to meet the low prIceEof iron and give all the aid possible to the iron men of the district, and now that prices on that metal have improved $250 per ton since spring, as reasonable men they will appreciate that the railroads are en- titled to a small percentage of the in