davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-09
A Great Year Coming.

Iron and steel are properly regarded
as the barometers of business, for they
become necessary in new constructions
of almost every sort, be they >on land or
in the water. And when every furnace
is in blast, as is or soon will be the case
alike at Pftsburg, Cleveland, Chicago
and Birmingham, how can it be said
that inactivity in business is the rule,
and activity and prosperity the excep-
tons? We are producing, consuming
, and exporting more iron than ever be-
fore in our history and there is not a
cloud hanging over the great industry.
Every month makes palmer the fact
that the world is our market. This is
particularly apparent i'm this distdc,,
and to a lesser extent only in Pittsburg
and Cleveland.
In the Pittsburg district proper there
are thirty furnaces. including four re-
Gently erected. Some of them are of i'm
mense proportions. and the daily product
of the thirty is 10000 tons. or about 3,OOO,-
900 tons year. And today every one OF
Pittsburg's thirty furnaces is in full OPP
Grafton. Those who are looking for re-
actions and hard times should skip the
Pfttsburg distric.. And the fact that
every furnace In that splendid district
is in operation is not al-every one OF
the thirty expects to say in operation
throughout the coming year. Most OF
them have in fact orders that guarantee
activity to the end of another year. The
coming year is to be a great iron year
Can it then be a year of shrinking val
ues and general distress?
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-09
Looking Forward.

There is hint of festive cheer in the
nipping breezes, and a glance ait the
bright faces on the streets every day is
a sufficient reminder that the holiday
season is near at hand. 1t has been
a hard year in a period of hard years,
but the people will make the most of
Christmas as usual. Things might have
been worse, and there is some reason to
believe that they will be better.
AT all events, plucky Birmingham has
held her own, and proposes to hold some
thing more. The farmers, too, have
lived so economically for long time
that they will be able to make it easy
for Santa Claus to pay his annual visit
to their children.
Even the war did not abolish Christ
mas, and it is not likely that hard times
will succeed in doing it. The holiday
trade, now in full blast, shows that there
is some money left in the rural districts,
and it also shows that Birmingham is
one of the finest shopping centers in the
south
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-09
Corn and Hogs First.

The Troy Messenger conveys a great
worth living to the farmer, when corn is
in the barn and hogs are in the pen"
If the Messenger had filled a column in
discussing the need of home supplies. it
could not have made the lesson more
impressive or more adaptable. Nor
could the most exhaustive essay, the
most eloquent speech, carry more of deep
Importance to Alabama than the Mes
sengers little sentence. 1t Is the story
of independence and contentment on
the farms, and therefore of general pros
perity in the state, in a nutshell.
The cotton growers who are to meet
in Atlanta next week, will do well If
their plans are laid on the lines ex-
pressed by the Messenger. 1t is wholly
useless, as many trials have shown, to
call upon the farmers to lessen their
cotton acreage. They will continue to
plant the crop that means at harvest
time a given amount of cash. There is
really but one course to pursue, namely,
make plain the folly of growing cotton
upon purchased supplies. Demonstrate
beyond the shadow of doubt that such
farming means increasing poverty, fast
Fastening ruin. The merchant and buy
er and professional mantle clergyman
all should bear a hand in carrying
this lesson home to the farmers. Do
not foil tthano that thew should mott Miami
cotton, but tell them that they should
first plan to raise somsthing Of what they
eat-all the cereals and meat, if possible,
| that they will need during the year, and
after that IS fully and properly attended
| to- then advise them to put in all the
| cotton that they may wish to grow the
more the better. Give, in other words,
first place in plans and in work to food
crops and to cotton the balance.
1t will be said that farmers who can
not be induced to lessen their cotton
crops, cannot be induced to raise the
corn and hogs they will need in the year.
This may be true. but If every man to
whom the farmer applies for credit VIII
exert the influence his position gives
him, something can be accomplished,
and that is more than can be said of
the innumerable resolutions which have
been passed and published in relation
| to the overproduction of cotton. No
| farmer can grow too much cotton If he
will first take steps to fill his barn with
corn and his pens with hogs.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-09
Always the Sufferer.

The wife of Banker Wightman, Of KAN
sas, who begged the governor, the other
day, to pardon her husband who is serv-
ing a term for embezzlement. told sad
story. When her husband went to
prison he gave her all the money he had,
1926. She ait once went to work, but
made very little. Her sister gave her
50, and she sold her furniture. During
the past year her bill for fuel and gro
ceries has been less than $3.50 per month.
The governor was moved TO tears when
ne heard this story, but he may refuse
the pardon. Whenever a man commits
a crime there is generally woman who
is the greatest sufferer. 1t is wife,
mother, daughter or sister.
The upright Judge thinks that he IL
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-09
The Past Eternity.

From the Kansas City Star
Oh, 1t is fearful, on the midnight couch,
When the rude rushing winds forget to
rave,
And the pale moon, that through the case
ment high
Surveys the sleepless muser. stamps the
hour
OF utter silence, it is fearful then
To steer the mind in deadly solitude,
UP the vague stream of probability
To wind the mighty secrets of the past,
And turn the key of time! Oh, who can
strive
To comprehend the vast, the awful truth,
OF the eternity that hath gone by,
And not recoil from the dismaying sense
OF human impotence? The life of man
Is summed in birthdays and in sepulcherS;
But the Eternal God had no beginning;
He hath no end. Time had been with him
For everlasting, ere the daedal world
Rose from the gulf in loneliness. Like him
1t knew no source, like him twas uncreate;
What is 1t then? The past Eeternity!
We comprehend a future without end;
We feel 1t possible that even yon sun
May roll forever; but we shrink amazed
We stand aghast when we reflect that
Time
Knew no commencement. That heap age on
age,
And million upon millien, without end,
And we shall never span the void Of days
That were, and are not but in retrospect.
The Past is an unfathomable depth,
Beyond the span of thought; tits an elapse
Which has no mehsuGation, but hath been
Forever and forever
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-09
The Confederate Pension.

When Gen. Lee, who had to bear the
brunt of ehe conflict between the states
when he at last laid down his arms. he
had less than thirty thousand men in
his command. Gen. Grant had many
thousands more; but all taxpayers know
that today, a generation having elapsed
since the close of the gigantic struggle,
there are nearly one million northern
pensioners, with two hundred thousand
claims for pensions pending. The num-
Der who have died, or who did not apply
for pensions, or whose claims have been
rejected, cannot be given; but 1t will not
be considered unreasonable to estimate
the total at two million men. At any
rate one in every fifty of the. entire pop
ula ion in the northern statesmen, wo-
men and chllldren---is a pensloner nearly
forty years after the firing of the last
gun.
The burden is heavy, indeed-so heavy
that all the taxation of the Dingley bill,
covering as it does hundreds of articles
CT daily consumption, with drag-net
clauses sweeping in many more unnam-
ed, does not meet the appropriation for
pensions alone. No other expenses of
the government, including interest upon
the bonds and the support Of the army
and navy, are paid from The internal
revenue, or from loans. The two stand
together as the direct product of the re-
publican party-the pensions and the
Dingley bill. The republican policy has
fastened upon the country charge for
pensions beyond that of any other coun-
try, and it has inflicted upon the coun-
try tariff bill that brings great reve-
nues to the trusts burt nor enough into
the treasury ito meet the appropriation
for pensions alone.
Through the haze of pension claims
and Indirect and oppressive taxa.i ion,
there shines the fact that the meagre
ranks of Confederate soldiery bravely
withstood a vast host four long years.
No bet er proof of the valor and endur-
ance of the soldiers of the Confederacy
is needed than can be had in the claims
filed in the pension Office at Washing
ton. Every affidavit and paper in that
building is Testimonial to .he torn and
battered regiments of the southern
states. This testimonial is the pension
of .he old Confederate.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-09
Armor Plate Before Congress.

The president brings the armor plate
problem very squarely before congress.
Five battle ships OF the largest class are
now on the stocks. They cannot be COM
pleted for year or two The armor plate
that will be needed to give them fighting
value. as the president compactly says,
has not been contracted for, and can
not be obtained except upon the terms of
the Carnegie-Bethlehem combine.
1t is very plain that congress will have
to back down in the matter of price
$500 ton-or else 1T will have to author
lie the building of an armor plate plant
in accordance with the findings of the
naval commission AS the price named
by congress is believed Ito be ample, 1t
is scarcely reasonable to expect that
seventy-five millions of people will con-
sent to be held up by the two Pennsyl-
vanda mills. In the long run 1t would
not be advisable to give any two mills
or any ten mills an uncontrolled grip
upon the treasury. The independence
and dignity of the government forbid.
The might of the people would be heard
IN protest. if the demands of the combine
prevail.
Now is the time to put Bfrmingham's
case forward. This lis the time when
the Commercial Club and every iron and
steel expert in the state should be heard
from. Let the men who know what the
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-09
POINTED PARAGRAP HIS.

From the Chicago News.
An egg in the cup is worth two in the
nest.
Corn popping might be termed an ag-
ricultural report.
Whisky straight is the cause-a
crooked walk thu effect.
When a man dis in his cups he is apt
to get into family jars.
The more a man goes around in the
world the less cranky he becomes.
The absences of soft water is some
mems excuse for drinking hard.
A girl stands before mirror while
ON.
The under dog TN the. fight may b.
right, butt the upper dog doesn't care a
snap If he is.
grocery clerk may not be as heavy
as a dry-goods clerk, but he always
Weighs more.
Dark girls, with fair incomes, ARE al
ways considered desirable factors in the
matrimonial market.
Drop a nickel in the toy bank today
and get cents worth of exercise trying
ITO get it out tomorrow.
Carriages were used in this country
long before George Washington intro
duced tbs cherry tree hack.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-09
When the Frost Is On the Punkin.

iN0pIllEutu ny peQucSl.J
James Whitcomb Riley.
When the frost is on the punkin and the
folders in the shock,
And you hear the kyouck and gobble of
the struttini turkey cock,
And the clackin of the guineys, and the
cluckin' of the hens.
And the ROSTERS hallylooyer as he tiptoes
on the fence;
at his best,
With the riein sun to greet him from
night of peaceful rest,
As he leaves the house, bareheaded, and
goes out to feed the stock,
When the frost is on the punlSin and the
folders in the shock.
They's something kindo harty-lixe about
the atmosphere,
When the heat of summers over and the
lcoo,in' fall is here
OF course we miss the flowers, and the
blossoms on the trees,
And the humble of the hu1nmin-birds and
buzzin' of the bees;
But the airs so appettzfn, and the land-
scape through the haze
OF crisp and sunny morning of the airly
autumn days
Is pictur' that no painter has the colorlm
to mock
When the frost is on the punkin and the
folders in the shock.
The. husky. rusty rustic of the tossels OF
the corn,
And the raspin' of the tangled leaves, as
golden as the morn;
The stubble in the furries-kindo lonesome
like, but still
A-preachin' sermons to- us of tho barns
they growed to fill; -
reaper in the shed;
The bosses i'm theyr stalls below-tne Clover
overhead ~, 49,,
Oh, 1t sets my heart a-clickfn lake tne
When the frost is on the punlKin and the
folders in the shock
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-09

red hills Of Alabama contain come for.
ward doing good work in behalf of their
section and state. The problem in all
its length and breadth. without prejudice,
viii come before congress, and it is there
that the battle must be fought out. It
is the peoples tribunal and while the
contest win be one of opposing interests,
yet there is no reason for thinking that
This section will be unfairly dealt with.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-09

From the Roxby Gazette.
Husband-"Here's a pretty little thing
I bought at the church fair for you.
They charged me So for it,"
Wife-"Why, you silly thing. I made
that for the fair myself! Will you ever
learn sense?"
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-09
The Difficult Part.

From lie Chicago News.
She-"What do you think of Mrs. How
ellis idea of getting up dinner for four
persons at a cost of only $1?"
He-"Oh, I've no doubt she could get
the dinner up all right, but the trouble
would be in finding four persons willing
no get 1t down."
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-09
A Parable.

From the Philadelphia North American.
II would feel that had lived could I
produce lasting work in marble" said
the famous poet.
"And I would die content" said the
renowned sculptor, could write an i'm
mortal poem.'
Only ordinary fools are fully satisfied
with themselves.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-09

If Hannis Taylor had talked for pub
rlcation while minister to Spain in the
same vigorous way he has talked since
he returned from Madrid, Cuba would
have been free months and months ago.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-09

The SIT. Louis platform, upon which
Mr.. Mckinley was elected, demanded the
Independence of Cuba. AS president he
is afraid to enforce THE declarations Of
his own party.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-09

There is danger of President Mckinley
regarding his secretary of the treasury
as the prince of Jingoes after he reads
Mr.. Cages letter of yesterday to the de-
partment of state.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-09

After Mr.. Mckinley has read the
speech of Senator Allen, OF Nebraska,
delivered in the senate yesterday, he VIII
know what public opina is regarding
his Cuban policy.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-09
Finnx siamese Twins.

There are two catfishes Joined for life
in a Siamese- twin fashion. They were
caught at the mouth of the Cape Fear
river in North Carolina.
The skin wflilch Joined the fishes ON the
breast was not particularly different from
that on thsir bodies 1t was SO flexible
that the fishes could swim together in the
natural pcEition. One of them was
much larger than the other-a fact which
must have had it's disadvantages for the
little one,
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-09

Wall street continues to occupy its
accustomed place in the councils at the
white house.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-09

David Bennett Hill may be forced to
send am affidavit to Mr.. Croker when
he assuers that gentleman that he is
"still democrat"
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-09

If congress should succeed in driving
this president out of his Spanish barracks
much good will have been accomplished
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-09

Hayti will know better niaxt time than
to monkey with a German buzz saw.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-09

The republican party will extend nc
hope to struggling Cuba until the sugar
trust will give its permission.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-09

Perhaps the Spanish minister at Wash
ington has hypnotized both Mark Hanna
and Mr.. Mckinley.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-09

Mark Hanna will soon transfer the
seems of his purchasing power to the
state house at Columbus.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-09

Little Hayti lost a cool 100000 by its
attempt to carry on a game of bluff.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-09

Perhaps Gov. Atkinson was fearful of
the consequences had he not vetoed the
foot ball bill.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-09
Came Back to Her

The Ding!ey law is not what its friends
thought Ut to be.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-09

If the society ladies of Washington
who are now in a war with the presi-
dents private secretary over his a1bl-
trary rules will take UP the mstt-n of
having him removed from Office they will
most certainly fill loag-felt want.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-09
ADVERTISING RATES.

Advertising rates, daily and Sunday is
sues. one dollar per inch. first insertion;
% cents per inch each insertion thereaIter.
ing of inches or more daily, 60 cents per
inch each insertion. Regular large ols MS
play advertisers running annual contracts
will be given the minimum rate OF o.
cents per inch for each insertion. Read
ing notices 20 cents per line, nonpareh.
Weekly issue-One dollar per fnch eacil
insertion. Reading notices rs cents per
line.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-09

Mr. Roden admitted he had violated
every contract the gas company had
made with the city. Can it be possible
the CITY council believes Mr. Roden did
not tell the truth? Calling for more
evidence would indicate that the council
has bad opinion of the gentlemanly in
dividual who would have the gas COM
pany grasp everything in sight
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-09

Remittances can be made by express,
postofflce money order or drafts at current
rate of exchange. Address
THE AGE-HERALD,
Birmingham. Ala.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-09
TELEPHONE CALLS.
TO SUBSCRIBERS,

The travelling agents of The Age-Herald
are Messrs. C. s. Johnson and Aubrey Har-
we'll
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-09

Mr.. McKiney's promised wave OF
prosperity has struck Fall FLYER, Mass,
with a vengeance. Twenty-eight thous-
and operatives were informed yesterday
that on THE first day of the year their
wages will be reduced 10 per cent. This
is one of the practical tests of the in
fanny of the Dinghy law. President
Mckinley will be regarded by the New
England mill Operatives as a false ad-
vance agent of prosperity
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-09


From the middle of July until the first
| Tuesday in November, he stood upon the
| porch of his home in Canton and made
| speeches daily to thousands of visitors.
! Sentimentality was hell-bent for Can
| ton. The public was made to believe
| that popular acclaim and approval of
principles was the cause of these jour-
neys to Canton. 1t was lie. 1t was a
| fraud. 1t was disgrace to intelligence.
1t was corruption of politics. 1t was
receiving honors under false pretenses.
| 1t was done to deceive the people. It
was done to secure the votes of sup
posed freemen. Mckinley sentimental
| fty spread from ocean to ocean and from
| the lakes to the gulf. Every railway
| train which carried thousands of people
| ito his home ait Canton was paid for by
| the managers of trusts and corporations
with money wrung from the hands of the
| people who labor. The manager of ev-
| cry railroad whose trains ran in the d.
| rection of Canton was a party to the
crime. Where the money was not forth
| coming passes were given to those who
| would go as free as the water as
| 1T falls from the heavens. Senti-
mentality had again triumphed.
Upon the wings of sentimentality
was borne the wreath Of victory.
Mckinley was proclaimed elected.
| The laboring people with stomacf1s
empty and backs unclothed Were led into
| the pitfalls. The men whose friend Nc
| Kinley had been in congress, purchased
] for him seat in the presidential chair
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-09

pGnishing an embezzler or a sw.ndler
when he sends him to prison. The Of
fender really suffers tie least of any
of the persons concerned. Behind him
is some woman who must starve or lead
a life of misery. She bears the burden.
The good for nothing fellow in the PEN
ftentiary soon becomes, after a fashion,
satisfied with his lot.
But Justice cannot spare a wicked man
on account of the innocent woman. The
law must take it's course. but those who
administer 1T should temper it with dis
erection and mercy. The Kansas banker
should not escape punishment on account
of his wife, but it would be right in con-
sideration of her sufferings to shorten
her husbands term of imprisonment,
provided the governor is satisfied that
the man after his release will probably
become a good citizen ard not pursue
a criminal career.
1t is a great pity that man cannot
commit a crime or be punished for 1t
without hurting some helpless woman.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-11-03
Stocks Declined Sharply
at the Opening.
EFFECT OF THE ELECTION.
Foreign Holders Of American Sc
curltieS Disturbed.
SOME SHARES RALLIED LATER.

Losses in the prices of stocks were univer-
sally between 81 ana 81 share lin the New
York stock market this morning. The prico
OF Sugar fell q. soon after the opening. This
sharp loss was not due TO any heavy liquida-
tion, the offerings Of stocks being apparently
very moderate. but offers met with no accept
ance
Prices of American securities had declined
IN London before the opening here on account
of the doubts aroused in the minds Of foreign
security holders rs TO how 10 interpret the
elections OF yesterday. The Wall street
mind was apparently somewhat periurbed
also with the idea that there might be- some
thing in tho elections to make the interests
Of some invested capital less secure. There
were. however, clear evidences OF manipuln-
tion in the course of the more morcurial
stocks.
Manhattan rallied ga after an early loss Of
n point. The supply OF this stock is rather
limited, and whenever the bears have the
temerity 10 sell it short, their adversaries
en1eavor TO control the floating supply and
squeeze the shorts. Apparently the early
decline in Sugar was also partly due TO short
selling, and the stock rallied point On short
covering. The same was true Of Chicago Gas.
These special recoveries had the effect Of
stcadying the marlSes toward noon. but any
recoveries that were SHOWN in standard rail
road shares were confined TO small fractions
Sales TO noon, lG9. $50 shares.