The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-05-04
JOY OF CITIZENS
Is UNBOUNDED
They Rejoice 0Fer the Surrender Of
Manila and
DEWEY'S GREAT VICTORY
Old Glory Floats to the Breeze on Every
Hand.
PATRIOTISM PERvADES THE AIR
One Man Says Dewey viii Be Candidate for
President Many People Believe First
Battle Is the Beginning
of the End.

Patriotic words patriotic signs, patriotic
airs, patriotic menus at the hotels and a
general trend in the atmosphere to do hon.
age to "Old Glory has pervaded Birmlng
ham for three days.
Not since the days of the civil war ac-
cording to longtime residents, has the city
been in such a state of excitement mingled
with patriotism and certain element of eX
pectancy, for the past few days.
The great victory of Commodore Dewey
and his gallant jack tars was talked of in
the homes of the rich and poor alike and
the praise of the wealthy and workingman
mingled with that of the children and
housewives for what appears to have been
almost the utter rout of the pride of the
Spanish navy, which on a Sabbath day bore
down upon the United States vessels on a
mission of death and destruction.
This was enough to set crowd of num-
mics wild, but when the news came of the
surrender of Manila, enthusiasm reached
the bubbling over point. The Age-Herald
was the first to give the people the news
of these two signal victories, the newsboys
reaping rich harvest selling its extra
editions. The bulletin board in front of the
Age-Herald office has a crowd around it all
day long and until late in the night getting
the news fresh as it comes in every few
papers takes a special bulletin service alone
which covers briefly every item of impor-
lance as fast as it occurs.
The Beginning of the End
1t was the opinion of those who read of
the battle and the surrender of the Philip
pines that it was the beginning of the end
of Spain, and it impossible for many
to find words with which 10 express their
feelings toward the men who accomplished
the signal triumph.
At the luncheon tables. in the street cars
and on railroad trains and in the shop and
Office the sole topic for discussion has been
the" battle Men became reused, and even
youngsters on their way to school shouted
for joy, and seemed to be unable to fasten
their minds upon their studies In the
| downtown district great crowds of men
gathered to read the papers and discuss the
| situation.
Veterans of the civil war mingled with
the ihroiigs and seemed hardly able TO
! realize that the great guns OF American
| warships had been turned broadside against
the fleet of an enemy and shot and smell
hurled into the monsters with deadly ef-
| feet The clerks in the stores appeared I'M
conscious of the routine duties allotted to
| Them as they stood behind the counters
| in little knots and engaged in excited con-
yersation. The early morning customers
4 were forced to wait until the story OF the
| the bunch more thoroughly posted tnan ms
| fellows
A Desire to Celebrate
or,e desire to In some manner demonstrate
tho feeling of patriotism seemed TO seize
\ the citizens at the same time that they
became aware that famous hight mad peen
won and all thoughts turned naturaiiy 20
| the stars and stripes. 1t soon became
| ditI,cult task to find person VINO dio NOT
x-art his DatTlDtlc
r.a1,nya either by wearing a bit OF RED,
white and blue bunting, or through the me-
| a;,,,n of a stout pair Of lungs.
n1Ls familiar colors were worn as ciaVats'
,.aa &c baudkerchiefs and in snort time
| fter the man on the corner mac taken iAs
stand with his box OF war buttons IT,
came necessary for him to replenish ms
stock. .r,,,,,.rs
fa tba residence districts as well as the
downtown streets presented gala appear
ance. being bedecked almost from ceiiar
to garrett with long streams OF onheihe'
| allowing the colors OF Old GLORY 10 wave
Enthusiastically in the breeze.
| An incident which shows the extent OF the
feeling transpired in a well-known down.
town resort Flags waved from every
hanging place. The first newsboy coming
in that direction with The Age-Herald ex-
IRA telling of the fall of Manila was hailed.
He had only one copy left. 1t was bought
for a quarter The purchaser, with half
hundred men following him, entered the
resort and began reading aloud the news
| At the end of each sentence he was inter-
rupted by shouts and every man waved
flag.
The Many Expressions
Men who know something of naval war
fare were all specializing on the result All
unite In the belief that the first fight will
| IN all probability be the last
'4This ends the war" said one, speaking
| of the great victory before Manila.
''In my opinion he continued there will