davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The age-herald., 1898-02-25
The Suffrage Prob b'en.

President Booker T. Washington, of the Tuskegee institute, has addressed an open letter to the Louisiana constitutional con- vention, now in session. This letter has been widely published, and as widely com mended. It is regarded as a broad and sensible view of difficult problem, pre- sented by man who is wise and practical enough to believe that good farmers and mechanics are more to be desired than lawyers and politicians. He says:
 Since the war no state has had such an oportunity to settle the race question, so far as it concerns politics, as is now given Louisiana
 ''The negro agrees with you that it is necessary to the salvation of the south that restriction be put upon the ballot. know that you have two serious problems before you-ignorant and corrupt govern ment on the one hand, and on the other way to restrict the ballot that control will be in the hands of the intelligent without regard to race. With the sincerest sympathy with you in your efforts to find a way out of the difficulty, I want to suggest that no state in the south can make a law that will provide an opportu- nity temptation for an ignorant white man to vote and withhold the same op- portunity from an ignorant colored man without iniuring both men. Any law controlling the ballot that is not absolutely just and fair to both races will work more permanent injury to the whites than to the blacks.
 ''I beg of you further that in the degree that you close the ballot box against the ignorant that you open the school house. More than one-half of the people of your state are negroes. No state can long prosper when a. large percentage of it's citizenship is in ignorance and poverty and has no interest in government.
 'Let the very best educational opportu- mites be provided for both races and, added to this, the enactment of an election law that shall be incapable of unjust dis crimination: at the same time providing that in proportion the ignorant secure education. property and character they will be given all the rights of citizenship. Any other course will take from one-half your citizens interest in the state and the hope and ambition to become intelligent producers and taxpayers-to become use full and virtuous citizens"
The age-herald., 1898-02-25
THE RODNEY YET TO BE

From the St. James Gazette. Oh, the Rodney yet to be. he looked out
 across the sea- And he brought his patent telescope to
 bear, Till he saw quiet bay five-and-forty miles
 away,
 With the frigates of the foemen lying
 there Then he laid aside the spyglass with the
 vestige of a wink, And he murmured to the bosun, "We have
 got em now. think"- Did the Rodney yet to be, dear me! He was not the least like Blake, or Col
 Hngwood, or Drake, Or any other hero of the seas; For he never said: "YO ho!'' or "Avast, my
 lads. below?" Or traditional expressions such as these. And he hadn't got linstock, and he hadn't
 got drum; But he had a little button, which was un- derneath his thumb Had the Rodney yet to be, dear me! ~ Now the Rodney he was learned, and with
 deep affection burned. For mechanics, mathematics, squares,
 and cubes He would practice just for fun with a com
 plicated gun, And he knew about submerged torpedo
 tubes. He would lecture with enjoyment, getting
 pleasure out of toll, On the newest form of turbine or the
 Vavasseur recoil- Would the Rodney yet to be. dear me! So the little knob he pressed which he
 thought would serve him best And a novel cordfte impulse down below Sent some vessels submarine, full of nitro-
 glycerine,
 Spinning against the frigates of the foe. Then he waited and he listened till he
 heard distant roar, And he knew the fight was over and he
 steamed away for shore Did the Rodney yet to be, dear But he pondered as he went. in 9 Find of
 dfscontent,
 That the conflict had been far from pie
 turesque; For the trlumphs of his toll had been won
 with midnight oil, And his victories at the drawing offica
 desk. Ppt he e,sne to the conclusion it was
 science was to blame, aa And a man. though scientific, was a hero
 just the same. Like the Rodney yet to be, dear me!
The age-herald., 1898-02-25
POINTED PARAGRAPHS.

From the Chicago News
 Age and little brother tell on girl
 A little learning is painful thing Tor the amateur skater.
 The average woman knows how to man. age her daughters husband.
 When a woman starts out to reform she always begins on some man.
 From St. Louis to Chicago is always move in the right direction.
 The bullion in government die is invar- iably hard pressed for money.
 A single minister may have married many widows and maids in his time.
 It is harder for a man to set good ex- annie than 1t is for a woman to set hen.
 The time to work and the time to play are SYNONYMOUS with the organ-grinder
 pessimist likes a thing he can't enjoy and an optimist enjoys thing he can't like.
 Justice is probably represented as a wo- man because 1t is something g. man Is al- ways after.
 Some men who boast of calling a spade spade would pass snow shovel by without recognizing it at all
The age-herald., 1898-02-25

From the New Orleans Picayune.
 Col w. A.. Porter, cashier of the Ala bama National bank, of Birmingham, is the guest of the St. Charles. Speaking of matters in the big Alabama town, MT. Por- ter said the town was in better condition at present than it had been for a long whie and banking business especially showed business to be flourishing. There was soon to be erected in the city big cotton plant, in which there was great deal of local capital invested.
 "The time appears to be at hand when the advantage of the location of the city will be appreciated by the capital at pres ent making cotton cloth thousands of miles away from the place where the cotton is grown There seems to be no better req son for the fact that those mills are located in the east and in England than the fact that up to quite recently rich men south were very scarse and these enterprises need a great deal of money. But that the south is to have numbers of mills erected Is just as certain as that it is cheaper to make the product at home than it is to send it thousands of miles away. The cotton goods we get here has to pay double freights before it ever gets back to us. There is no reason why this should be so. The reasonable solution of the matter is that the goods will ultimately be made in the heart of the district which raises the raw material"
The age-herald., 1898-02-25
A Permanent School Fund.

The further diversion of public lands in Alabama for special or higher education should not be permitted without protest from the people Lobbyists about the na- tional capital should not be allowed to se- cure for the benefit of the few that which should benefit the many. These lands should be appropriated by congress only for the benefit of all the people. Let them be granted in aid of the common schools let the proceeds constitute a permanent school fund which shall be sacredly devoted to the maintenance of the schools of the people of the state for all time to come. If the government disposes of the public domain without consideration, it should have regard for the welfare of all the peo- pic. Let the public lands be turned into permanent fund for the common educa- tion of the children of the state.
 In this connection The Age-Herald takes pleasure in presenting the views of its evening contemporary, the News. It says: 'The system of common schoos-that for the mass of the citizens-has scarcely a feature denomnating it public except the name. The common school districts have not the power, by law. to tax themselves to build school houses, to furnish school supplies, or even 10 effect graded system of schools A glance at the conditions will suffice to show the unprejudiced that Ala bamas schools are for the classes and not for the masses made in favor of the strong rather than the weak maintained for the enlightened more than for the ignorant. That the people of tue country have been patient so long speaks volumes for their loyalty. But tho time has come to change those conditions. The work has been in augurated by the Alabama Educational as- socation through its committee of thirty three, who are now engaged in framing a new general school law which will look to remedying these evils. In their under taking they should have the support of ev- cry man in Alabama who desires the pro- eress and advancement of his state
The age-herald., 1898-02-25
The Bankruptcy Bill.

The Nelson bill passed last session by the senate provided for voluntary bankruptcy only. The house by a snug vote has passed the Henderson bill, which provides for both voluntary and involuntary bank r,,ptcy. The subject is now in the hands Of conference committee, and the chances arc pretty good that bankruptcy proceed ings will, for . season at least, be regu- lated by 2 general law. instead of laws of varying nature passed by forty-ilve states.
 The Henderson bill mentions eight causes for bankruptcy. four. of which relate to
 fraud, and three to insolvency without
 that element. An insolvent. under this bill
 is one whose property is mot sufficient in
 amount, at a fair valuation, to pay his debts'. The exemptions named in state laws are left in operation by the Hender- son bill; and if a creditor is unable before jury to establish debtors insolvency, lie must pay the latter's expenses. includ- ing counsel fees. He must make bond
The age-herald., 1898-02-25
HINTS FOR THE FEET.

Never wear a shoe that will not allow the great toe to lie in straight line.
 Never wear 8 shoe with the sole nar- rower than the outline of the foot traced with pencil close under the rounding edge.
 Never wear a shoe that pinches the heel. Never wear a shoe or boot so large in the heel that the foot is not kept in place.
 Never wear a shoe or boot that has de- pressions in any part of the sole to drop any joint or bearing below the level plane.
 Never wear a shoe with the sole turning up very much at the toes, as this causes the cords of the upper part of the foot to contract.
 Never wear a shoe that presses up into the hollow of the foot.
 Never come from high heels to low heels at one jump.
 Never wear one pair of shoes all the time unless obliged to do so. Two pairs of bootsworn day at time alternately give more service and are much more healthful.
 Never wear leather sole Things to stand upon White cotton drilling or linen is much better and more healthful.
 Never wear a short stocking, or one which, after being washed, is not at least one-half inch longer than the foot. Bear in mind that stockings shrink Be sure that they will allow your toes to spread out at the extreme ends, as this keeps the joints in place and makes strong and attractive foot. As to shape of stockings the single digital or "one-toe" stocking, Is the best.
 Never think that the feet will grow large from wearing proper shoes. Pinchins ana distorting makes them grow not only large but unsightly. A proper, natural use of all the muscles makes them compact and attractive.
The age-herald., 1898-02-25
The Iron Clad on Trial.

The findings of the divers and of the naval court of inquiry may involve the desira- biity of such costly armored ships them- selves; for their permanence as practicable fighting machines Is by no means estab- lished. They have only been tested in peace. The battle between the vessels of China and Japan did not expose the vessels of the latter country to any severe strain. The Chinese ships were practically un- manned, and the Japanese won a victory scarcely more important in some respects than those of mock battles.
 But in peace the armored ships seem to be very susceptible to disaster, and when 1t comes. it comes in overwhelming form, resulting in the loss of a large proportion of all on board. The disaster to the Maine is not by any means exceptional in that re- spect. When the British battleship tho Victoria, went down, over three hundred officers and sailors were lost. The disaster occurred in a smooth sea in the course of a manoeuvre under the eyes of the chief officers of the feet She was struck by ship going at speed of five knots only. The blow was not severe one, yet she sunk as quickly as the Maine did. The British navy has lost two other ironclads under circumstances going to show that such vessels either are not very seaworthy, or else that they cannot sustain much injury. The captain went down in the Bay of Biscay, and the loss was nearly 800 men. She was the ''star'' vessel of the English navy, and in a storm by no means severe she went to the bottom. The other case was that of the Vanguard. She was struck a gentle blow by a sister ship, and down she went, and very quickly, too. The | blow was not heavy enough to have seri-
 ously affected one of the old-time vessels. | The German navy has also had its ex- perience in this direction. The Kurfurst was hit by another vessel of the German navy and a loss of life occurred greater was as calm as that of river, and the sinking vessel was surrounded by a Ger man fleet.
 Whether the sinking of the Maine was caused by accident or by villainy, the find ings of the divers, or better still of the wrecking companies, will prove interesting. The extent of the explosion, and the effects 1t wrought upon the ship, will be studied by every nation that is putting millions upon millions into these new creations of warfare. It is the first loss through an explosion; and if the work of destruction, in that awful moment of flame and terror, was as great as it is represented to be-if the ship was ruined beyond reconstruction was hopelessly rent and battered-then indeed the question will arise whether after all ships constructed of good honest float able live oak are not in nine cases out of ten the better of the two-whether, in oth- CT words. a navy should not consist in part of ships of wood and in part of iron clads.
The age-herald., 1898-02-25
Promptness In BusIness

From the Huntsville Mercury
 At half past o'clock this morning Capt. Bone was showing a neighbor one of his fine Jersey heifers in his barn lot At g o'clock party passing the street on west side of the Struve building saw a young white man leading heifer down the street towards the Market house and recognized her as Capt. Bones, and a few minutes after notified Capt. Bone, who was driving across the square, who immediately drove down to the Market house, where he found his heifer tied up and was informed by MT. Brown that he had purchased her a few minutes before. MT. Brown at once started a man in pursuit of the party from whom he made the purchase and he was soon brought back. MT. Brown demanded that the money be paid back, which was soon refunded.
The age-herald., 1898-02-25
If the Mobile Register will inject some

If the Mobile Register will inject some enterprise into it's dry rot columns and print some news that the people would care to read, and not seek to class news that other papers pay for and print as falsehood 1t will be much better newspaper. The paIer that suppresses the news regarding the general talk throughout the entire civ illzed world of a possible conflict between this country and Spain. for fear 1t will of
 send a few bondholders, stock jobbers and those who are willing to sacrifice national c--nhood for a few dollars is unfit to be called a public journal. The time has arr rived when neither bondholders nor stock jobbers are entitled to any consideration whatever from the American people. The time is ripe for the plain people to teach the money power that 1t does not hold a warranty deed to this nation and it must take It's chances to lose the same as other interests Human life is not, in the hearts of patriots, measured by dollars and cents.
The age-herald., 1898-02-25
K1oNnIKEIN CuCUMpERs.

Down on the Florida coast, according to Lippincott's Magazine. is the opportunity for the poverty y-stricken man. He has but to raise cucumbers and dispose of them in New York during the winter for something like S1 apiece In September the fortunate persons engaged in this gardening plant squash, potatoes, tomatoes and cucumbers. and in December, January and February they are ready to ship vegetables to the north. From $500 to $1 800 an acre are the profits One notoriously idle man, who was forced to do something, begged some gar den seed and hoe from the storekeeper of his village, and, pre-empting some vacant land on the coast, set to work to raise vegetables. He worked about fifty days in all and shipped during January 15O crates of tomatoes, for which he received $3I5 a crate, making a total of $562.5O. His crop paid him SIPS day for his labor. But there are drawbacks for city men will find no electric lights, no operas, no street cars. no parties. But it is a strictly healthy country for it's death rate Is the lowest in any part of the United States, in spite of the cucumbers raised.
 young Englishmah now living down on the coast and prospering told his story this way: q was earning $500 a year in New York and spending $500. The end of each year found me exactly where was at the beginning. I heard of the chances here in vegetable culture and came to investigate. I bought twenty acres of land at $5 an acre. It took me a year to get ten acres in shape for cultivation. The next year sold $1 900 worth of vegetables the result of four months labor. put it down this way: In four months gardening a year can earn from $500 to sl 300 and outside of what raise 1t doesn't cost me s100 year to live. The other eight months of the year I can work at making a tropical fruit orchard-oranges. lemons, cocoanuts, man goes, etc. After ten years this orchard will give me a large and permanent in come. By that time I will have consider
The age-herald., 1898-02-25
WHY?
From the Chicago News.

From the Chicago News.
 Why isn't a wealthy actor fixed star?
 Why can't a man save time by stopping his watch?
 Why shouldn't sleepy man be of re- tiring disposition?
 Why are not more sermons equally as deep as they are long?
 Why does the average young lady pine for spruce young man?
 Why didn't chattering teeth usurp the functions of the tongue?
 Why should the wearer of a stove-pipe hat take cold in his head
 Why does sin look twice as big to a man before he commits it as it does after? :?
 Why Is 1t that the man who drinks B. cent whisky and smokes 3-for-5 cigars never swears off?
The age-herald., 1898-02-25

Mark Hanna, who has connived at the murder of members of the Seaman's Union on the lakes, has no tears for the Ameri- can sailors who were sent to eternity at Havana without moments notice, sup posedly by Spanish treachery.
The age-herald., 1898-02-25
CURRENT FUN.

How He Felt.--"ALv' said the salmon. shudderingly, as he slipped back into the river, "I really feel uncanny. ."-Indianap- oils Journal.
 Did She Mean It That Way?-'Dear! Deari I don't know what I shall do with my husband. He's getting so jealous"
 "Surely you have given him no cause.
 "Of course I haven't! That's what ag- grayates me."-Cleveland Leader
The age-herald., 1898-02-25

Tho country now sees what it lost by not acting upon the advice of that sterling apostle of democracy, Samuel J. Tilden, advised the first Cleveland administration to use most of the surplus then in the treasury in building suitable Notifications. MT. Tilden's advice was then ridiculed by the cheese-paring statesmen then in con- gross. and some of whom arc still there. What is most needed now are Notifications which it will take years to build.
The age-herald., 1898-02-25

Now, that national honor'' Is in the bal ance, the money power is willing that the plain people shall protect 1t. It is the masses that will have to do the fighting, while the classes will save the coupons.
The age-herald., 1898-02-25
VARIOUS HAPPENINGS
 -auuun->lN ALABAMA
Loved by All

Fromthe Greenville Truth.
 Mrs. Frank Gafford. mother of John A. Gafford, died last Saturday and was buried on Sunday at the old cemetery in Green vile. A large number of people attended the funeral The immediate cause of her death was pneumonia, but there is little doubt that her troubles aggravated the disease and hastened the end. She was a good and true woman, and was loved by all who knew her. A deep and solemn sadness pervaded the vast assembly at the grave Sunday.
The age-herald., 1898-02-25

There is no patriotic American who would have this country make any out ward demonstration of war against Spain until after thorough Investigation into the cause of the disaster ot the Maine has been made. There are, to tho shame of the country. many people who. for the sake of peace. are willing to admit 1t was an accident should the proof be positive
The age-herald., 1898-02-25

Fire alarm Foraker has failed to re- spond with that determination which char acterized his action when Secretary of War Endicott proposed to return the Com federate flags.
The age-herald., 1898-02-25

The lynching of a negro postmaster in South Carolina last Tuesday makes the sixth that has taken place In that state since the first day of last January. The once famed blue blood of the people of that state shows signs of becoming putrid in the most offensive sense.
The age-herald., 1898-02-25
ONE SECRET SHE KEEPS.

From the Chicago News.
 Dixon-"Why Is it that it is usually uh- married women who write articles on How to Manage a Husband?'
 Hixon-"Oh, you don't suppose a mar ried woman is going to give her little plan away, do your"
The age-herald., 1898-02-25

The men who yelped the loudest for ma tiona1 honor" in 1896 are at the present time, when the nation has been insulted and It's honor, in fact, at stake, consplcu- ous by their absence of any display of patriotism, but are loud in their cries of "peace at any price,"
The age-herald., 1898-02-25

Senator Morgan's resolution to build a monster war vessel to be named George Washington, which passed the senate on Tuesday, meets with the approval of all classes of patriotic Americans.
The age-herald., 1898-02-25

It is noticeable that both John M. Pal mer and Simon Boliver Buclkner, the up holders of national honor" in 1896. have each said they believed the Maine was blown up by accident They are the ma tional honor" fellows who are at the other end of the wires leading from Wall street.
The age-herald., 1898-02-25

President Mckinley will best serve the wishes of all tho people by turning a deaf ear to the palaver from Spain and the en- treaties of the robbers who infest Wall street.
The age-herald., 1898-02-25
THE DANGEROUS TOUGH.

Iro..l the Detroit Ere Press. 7 i.et poets burn the midnight oil
 And still the world will whiri; But hide the can, with care and toll, From the careless servant girl s.
The age-herald., 1898-02-25
TIT UNDOUBrEDLY WOULD.

If all the trees were cherry trees, And all parents were unwise Enough to present hatchets to
 Bach boy of Georges size, It would be tough on every one
 Who is fond of cherry pies
The age-herald., 1898-02-25

It is fact worthy of note that those of the north who have been the most hos tile to the south are the most friendly to Spain in the present crisis.
The age-herald., 1898-02-25

While there may be no war with Spain there is no disgusting the fact that the United States is making preparations for it just the same.
The age-herald., 1898-02-25

The old gun that did duty in 1872 might be pressed into execution again, though 1t be trifle out of date.