davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-31
THE SAME OLD STORY.
30 ]
How Cotton Planters Have Been Resulting on
the Crop Question"
From the Washington Post.

From the Washington Post.
Now is the time of year when southern
cotton planters get together and adopt res+
olutions to limit the area of land to be
devoted to that crop in future said Mr..
E. w. Glasscock, of Mississippi, at the
Riggs.
This is an old story, and has been heard
with variations for the past twenty years.
The resolutions are adopted, the planters
relieve their minds, feel better for it, go
home and forget what they solemnly agreed
on, and the next spring plant 10 per cent.
more cotton than they ever did before 1t
would be a glorious thing If they would
stand by the resolutions, but it is folly to
think any sufficiently large number will
ever abide by any agreement to curtail the
acreage given to the production of what
has been the only cash crop of the south.
ut is sadly true that the south is raising
an over supply of the f1eecy staple. If she
produced only one-half the amount OF this
years yield there is no doubt that the
price would be double, at least, what the
planters have received in 1897. No matter
ton can give the desired effect of reduce
ing the yield, for every man will reckon
that If his fellow-farmer plants less, then
it will be his golden opportunity to plant
more.
"There is a political phase of the quesv
ton that may be mentioned, and that Is
that the low price of cotton has solldified
the free silver sentiment of the rural SOUTH
erners. 1t has been the death of populism, g
and will make the agricultural vote of the
south solid for silver man in 1900."
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-31
Corner Tie Penny supply.
From the New York Press.

From the New DIRK Press.
An onteIpris.ng Ohio yankee" was in
Wall street about month before Christmas
trying to interest certain capitalists of note
in a scheme TO corner the copper cents IN
circulation and force a large profit out OF
the department stores. To one man OF
money he said: ut is the simplest thing
under heaven. Only about 1850 $50 of them
have been coined since the beginning of the
government, and a great many of the old
ones are held at prices which would prompt
merchants from giving them in change
where articles are sold at 40, SO, 81, 50, W
or any other odd figure in cents. L beNeVe,
sir we can corner the penny market within
ten days with AN outlay of less than $780,
600 and there is no telling what premium
we can make. The merchants must have
the cents. Their trade will be ruined other
wise! 1t would put at Isast S1,590,COo in our
pockets before the 22d of December to get
up this corner. To be without cents for
change would wreck the entire Christmas
holiday trads. We can sell every cent for
twice its face value, making 100 per csnt
profit It is the simplest, easiest, cheapest
safest way of making a fortune have ever
dreamed of, and the wonder is that 1t mas
not been tried before"
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-31
AIabama'S WATERWAYS.

The Tusca1-loSa convention Is stand
ing evidence that the business men of
the state, from Mobile all the way to
and through The mineral district, are
deeply interested in the opening of the
waterway connecting the two districts.
to barge C, mmerce. Three hundred me 1
left their cares, and gathered at Tusca-
loosa to formulate the great desire Of the
people of Alabama.
The convention was remarkable, too,
IN the harmony of it's action. Every
delegate put himself on record as desir-
ing the Improvement of the harbor OF
Mobile, and of the rivers leading from 1T
to the railroad bridge of the Kansas CITY,
Memphis and Birmingham railroad, mime
teen miles from this city.
And these Improvements are asked,
not to serve any selfish interest Of local
nature, but to add to and splendidly for
tify the natlonal trade, particularly In
the respect of coal and iron exports. The
p1ioposed work is in every respect ma
ClOilaH WOIh, ddhl liiS lleod -
national trade.
The people of Alabama have spoken
at least a goodly portion of them have,
and it may safely be assumed that the
portion unrepresented at Tuscaloosa
stand ready to- second the action of the
convention. The Age-Herald asks the
peoples representatives in congress to
brace themselves for a mighty effort in
behalf of the state. Give the old red
hills a service beyond any they have
heretofore received. Carry in one hand
the facts concerning the trade at our
doors that Great Britain now monopo-
Ezes, and in the other the facts relating
to Alabama's resources. Show that one
obstacle alone prevents the extension of
our trade to all the countries south of
us-just one-the shadows in the con-
Meeting waterway. county that an
nually gives $140, 900, 900 in pensions to
either sections of the coun'try-that an
nualgy spends $40 100000 more in i'm
proving MYERS and fundamentally
will give Alabama products a chance in
the markets of the world, thereby swell
ing the countrys export trade, and in
creasing the prosperity in some degree of
every person in It.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-31
The Old Year,

The old year, so nearly ended was,
when all is considered, a pretty good
year. 1t surely was year OF increasing
confidence and hope. great crop OF
wheat when other whealt-growing coun-
tries had little or none to spare, and THE
discovery of new gold fields in the Alas
kan country, served ais tonics to brace
the people to stronger efforts and more
hopeful views. In this district the stead
lily increasing consumption of iron, together,
with new export demand, have oper-
ated to keep all eyes towards the future
instead of a gloomy past. d. Unhappily
other sections of the south have suffered
from pestlence, and I5w price fer the
fieecy staple; but taking the year as a
whole, it has been better than any of
its immediate predecessors, and there
DIS firm belief in mems minds that it
has led up to a still better year especially
in iron circles Business has not quite
reached the volume of 1892, but the pro-
duction of iron is beyond that of any
previous year, and this alone leads many
10 Inlnk lnat the new year VIII be one
of much prosperity. More railroads will
be built, more raw material turned into
goods, more exports will be called for.
and more labor will be employed The
odd year is entitled to kindly memories
for its preparatory work.
The old year has been Ito this country
a good year in social and religious and
political matters. 1t has been a year of
peace, despite the temptations of inter-
vention in Cuban affairs. 1t has been
year that has shown an advancing and
healthy spirit in politics. especially in
municipal matters The reform of the
city governments in this country is no
longer considered an insurmoutable task.
There is a improved and improving tone
in city elections. And amog the churches
the year has been alt least one of finau-
cial recuperation. Debts of missionary
societies and of churches have been paid
or reduced, large gifts to educational ard
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-31
Home Comforts.

The homes of the people of this state
should be made so pleasant and comfort
able that nome of the members of fam
lily will have any desire Ito go to Texas
or any other place. Hslalth and comfort
should certainly be found on an Alabama
farm; and a correspondent of the Col
linsville Clipper thinks that a good kitcli-
en- garden lis a long step toward making
a home healthy, happy and comfortable.
1t is very difficult, says the Clippers
correspondent, Ito have the garden plat
too h ghly fertilized. Fertilizers should
be spread broadcast early in the season,
SO that they will become assimllated in
the soil before planting. Then, he goes
Gun to say, plant Irish potatoes with a
supplemental crop month latter; and
after the onions English peas and other
carly vegetables are planted, put in cab
bages for fall use. A sweet pciato patch
would be useful.
Thus the garden may be made to fur
nish Wholesome fc,od nearly the year
around. Some of the garden products
are blood purifiers, some are tonics, all
conduce to health and good living. There
is enjoyment in it's pcssibiIJdes in very
many respects. But garden needs
clean cultivation 1t needs to be kept
as free from weeds as field of cotton.
One cannot have the palatable products
of garden, if he neglects it. Careful
attention lis the price of success in gar
dening. Select good seeds, follow direc-
aims, and have a pride in raising fine
Vegetables for your own table in your
cMn garden. There is profit in 1t, and
there is health in it for every member
OF the family and there are home COM
forts in 1T little dreamed of by those who
have never had a really good garden.
Some say the Klondikers are starving,
while others declare them to be rolling in
luxuries. The Klondi1ers themselves have
not yet been heard from on the subject.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-31

From the Tuscaloosa Times.
Tuscaloosa is honored today by the pres
ence within her bounds of many of Ala-
bamas most distinguished sons, represent
ing the largest of her manufactures and
industries. Almost every trade and pro-
fession are here represented. Among these
distinguished guests is the head OF our
state government Governor Joseph For
ney Johnston.
Governor Johnston has several times be-
fore during his administration visited our
city, attending the meeting of the executive
bodies of our great state institutions, but
possibly at no other time has he been more
warmly welcomed than today-coming to
preside over a convention which has for
it's purpose the opening of our waterways
to continuous navigation, and which must
mean the fast growth of Tuscaloosa as
well as placing the Birmingham district
ahead of the whole world in furnishing to
southern coasts and South American coun-
tries cheap coal and iron.
The presence here of the governor while
not for political ends. recalls the fact that
a strong pressure is being made to have
some good democrat oppose him for re-
nomination. The Times believes this ac-
ton unwise not only on account of demo-
cratic precedent. but it believes it for the
good of the party in the state that he be
unanimously renominated, and a platform
adopted which will not be distasteful to
any member of the party, whether he may
have been heretofore termed a "boltocrat
or ''popocrat."
This, the Times believes TO be the only
hope for the future OF the party in this
state.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-31
Two Disappes ring I uminaries.

From the Washington Post.
The announcement that Hon. w. d. By
mum has opened law office in Brooklyn,
where he can be near Prof Seth Low
and the resignation by Hon. Henry Waiter
son of his once proud leadership of the
democratic party are events Wh1ch nave
not, in our opinion, excited the comment
their real significance deserves. When men
of the calibre of Bynum and Wattersoh 90
ANYTHING, they do it for some great and
useful purpose and the deed has bearing
of more or less violence upon the genera
ton.
For at least a year and a half past past,
Mr.. Bynum has been engaged In evangell-
cal work among the benighted and i'm
pious democrats of his native land. So has
Mr.. Watterson. Each labored in his Pc
culiar way-Mr. Bynum on the rostrum,
Mr.. Watterson through the medium OF the
press-but both had righteous end in
view. both sought to reclaim 6,500000 de-
luded fellow citizens from their errors and
bring them back into the field with the
217 900 democrats who alone dwelt in the
light of revelation and upheld the true and
only faith. That they labored gallantly in
this chosen field of theirs, no fair-minded
and thoughtful observer of Contemporaries
GUS events will venture to deny. Mr.. By
NUNS voice was heard upon a hundred
platforms He spoke SO beautifully, he ap-
pealed to the erring millions of the democ-
racy with such enchanting eloquence and
such affectionate solicitude that several
wellkins split in uncomfortable emotion and
beer and tears In equal quantities were
shed for miles around. He went everywhere
and preached his small but fervent gospel,
often to callous and again to ribald audi
ences. but always with power and intens-
ity. Mr. Watterson, although he remained
in the cloister of his sanctum and was sell
dom seen by man, toiled with no less de-
vation in the sacred cause. He covered
reams and reams with burning importantly
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-31
THE VALLEY OF PAIN.

From the New England Magazine.
o. the beautiful, beautiful Hills of Joy.
Where pleasure and happiness reign!
The sojourners there give scarce sigh
To those who live down in the vale hard
by
Down in the Valley of Pain
Nv road led over the Hills of Joy
And down to the barren plain!
But flowers and fruits grew thick on ting
way
And never knew till, alack one day.
I was down in the Valley of Pain.
O the hunger of hearts in that desolate vale
Whose hours are tortuous chain
The days are lonely. the nights are long.
There is so little sunshine, so little song,
Down In the Velley of Painl
Again I am climbing the Hills of Joy,
And this terrible truth grows plainj
sympathy dies when we near our goals,
For am forgetting those suffering sos1lp
Down IN the Valley q Raipl
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-31

and fond expostuIation. He issued bulle-
tins and prociamations to the wanderers
He offered them pardeE and free pratique
within the indianapolis sphere of states
manship. He believed tAam with editorial
remonstrances as tender as early green's
and as long as the longest clothes line. He
spoke of shambles and of hectaeomb5, of
dismal things and yawning graves, and
sobbing rainfalls in the night. He wrestled
with them dreadfully. he did. And yet, as
in the case of the tuneful and persistent
Bynum, the recalcitrants went on their
stubborn way, and left him as one who
bays the moon alone.
Now, as we have said a parlous thing
has come about, Mr.. Bynum has furled
that voice of melody and Watterson has
retired from the place of Grand High Lee
turer on democratic light. Bynum, from
having been the prophet of the True, the
Beautiful and the Good in politics, de-
sends to earth again and congresses him
self into fe narrow proportions of Brook
Ign lawyer. Watterson, who was so re-
Gently poet laureate to the real democracy
now lays aside his blasted Tyre and turns
to the common organ an outlet for the
soul. Two shining lights have faded on
the wall Two notes of sweetest music
have been strangled in the air. And we sit
here-more shame to us!-as though moth
ing in particular had occurred.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-31

being lined up and the slaves were quickly
picked out and the others dismissed. After
all of his people had been lined up Mr.
Willard addressed them as follows:
Now, remember. you are to get So cents
a performance, and are expected to attend
the rehearsals. 1 want every one of you
to be on hand at 7:30. and il you miss one
performance you need not come back. That
will do. You may all go, and be here to
rehearsal tomorrow morning." And with
this Mr.. Willard dismissed his people, and
then began a tiresome rehearsal for his
company, who were not treated with the
consideration of the supers.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-31

and the dose was repeated every hour, ac-
cording to directions.
We are willing to leave it to the country
to say whether or not the nitrate of pot
ash had anything to do with causing the
death of the child but since the case is to
be tried by a jury, and recognizing the
power of the press in moulding public
opinion, we cannot let such an article go
unnoticed. C. W. NICHOLS.
Birmingham Dec 90 -
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-31

1t seems now that war may break out
in China before the coming eclipse of the
sun. But to the Chnaman WAR is a
small thing compared to am eclipse.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-31

Blanco's stenographers will now have
additional labors in keeping up with the
DEGREES of the new form of government.
They will he hard-worked people.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-31

William A. Brady claims Corbett to be
superior TO Fitzslmmons in every requID-
site of a pugilist. He Is better boxer,
fighter and talker.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-31

Corbett is endeavor.ng to administer a
solar plexus to Fitzsimmons scheme of
reassuming the championship for adver-
Using purposes only.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-31

senate. He evidently is afraid Cuba viii
be brought up and wishes to apply the air
brakes in time.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-31

If Secretary Gage was under civil SER
vice regulations perhaps he would not
be so willing to quit.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-31

Jimmy Eckels could not save Singer
ly's bank in Philadelphia, but after it
was all over ne told how it happened.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-31

Members of the oldest and best fami-
lies continue to carry guns and Iocca-
sionally xiii their man"
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-31
ONE OF THE CLUBS TREASURES.

Everybody tries to get curios nowadays
APO any article of furniture or bric-a-brao
that is quaint or can lay claims to being
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-31
Muir ers in the South.
From the MONTGOMERY Advertlser.

From the Montgomery Advertiser.
The following severe criticism on the
greatest of spots on the fair reputation of
the south is from the Birmingham Age
Herald:
There does not seem to have been any per-
ceptible falling off in the output of Christ
mas killings. The market appears to have
been firm, with decided tendency to bull
ishness. The "oldest and best families fig
ured to a considerable extent as heading
number of syndicates. Prosperity's wave
of murder arrived promptly on time, as
was predicted
1t is not merely the Christmas killings,
however, that are to be condemned. 1t is
the every-month, every-week record of
them, year in and year out, that is so
appalling. Our people do not regard the
law protecting life with any fear whatever,
for our juries rarely administer it. 1t is a
great shame, and the south will never be
what it should be until we enthrone the
majesty of the law by enforcing it ire
spective of the "oldest and best families"
or any other consideration save justice.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-31

Had Been There Before.-Mr. Gilman
MY dear, let's take cottage in the country.
Mrs. Cftiman-Why didn't you propose
that earlier? IT Is too late now to make a
garden
Mr. Citiman-Yes; that's why didn't pro-
nose it earlier-New York Weekly.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-31

Senator Mason will endeavor to have a
resolution passed limiting debates In the
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-31

T1day many people will decide what
bad habits they think they are going to
quit tomorrow.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-31

Charley Kurtz will endeavor to pune
ture Hanna's senatorial aspirations next
week.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-31

an antique is at once snatched up by some
lucky purchaser.
Here is a sketch of a chair that adorns
the reception room of an eastern clubhouse.
The president of the club usually sits en-
throned in the mystic chair
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-31

The day for Dick Cookers coronation as
boss of Greater New York draws near.
Nothing has been heard in some time of
Ii Hung Chang and his yellow jacket.
Gage and Wolcott are undecided as to
whose friend Mckinley really is.
monographs are becoming more useful to
prize fighters that vitascopes.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-31

Self Refutation.-A bald-headed professor
recently delivered a lecture entitled "The
Air We Breathe before an East London
audience In the course of his remarks he
said: 'It is quite impossible for any person
TO live without air." At this a small boy
called out: low about yerself, guv'ner?-
London Tit-Bits.
New Defense.-"You say that burglars
defense was a plea of insomnia. Don't you
mean kleptomania?"
enc 7 mean insomnia He claimed that
he could not sleep of nights, and hated to
have his time going to waste that way. =
Indianapolis Journal.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-31

Proof Positive.-Mr. Hiland-Iomewood
must he very deeply in love with Miss
Point Breeze.
Mr. Haket-Why?
Mr. Hiland-He is wearing the neclStie she
rave him for o Christmas present.-Pitts-
burg Chronicle Telegraph.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-31

Weyler has taken 1T upon himself to
pacifico President Mckinley.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-31

In his letter to Senator Morgan General
Eagan failed to mention the hula-hula
girls.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-31
CURRENT FUN.

A Hateful Thing.-Bertha-Mr. Sweetster
asked me for a kiss last evening.
Edfth-Charley is such queer fellow!
Just behind her amiable smile Bertha is
wondering what the hateful thing means
Transcript
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-31

Some say the Klondikers are starving,
while others declare them to be rolling in
luxuries. The Klondikers themselves have
not yet been heard from on the subject.
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1897-09-23
SERMON ON Sentiment.
Rev. Knowlton deIiveredan intere

Rev. Knowlton deIivered,an interest
ing lecture on sentiment in connection
with criminal cases at the Episcopal
Church Of Holy Communion last
Sunday evening. Mr.. Knowlton stat
ed that if he should state that Eng
land, Russia, Germany, and other
foreign countries we're far ahead foi
the United States the peoples here
would consider it unpatriotic. The
Americans, he said, would point to ou1
magnificent public school system, oul
churches, fine business emporiums, the
more general scattering OF wealth, etc.
and say how can these old countries
compare with this?'
Yet, Notwithstanding all this, he
said, he would revert to the criminal
record, and by actual figures would
show that America with her popula.
ton of 75,00O,000 people had twice as
many murders as any of the old coun.
tries with twice and thrice the popu.
lation. He said that Americans seem.