davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The age-herald., 1898-10-20

enough of experts in quarantine conven-
 tions. It Is not time now for the dis eusslon of theories and the reading of scientific essays. What we need is some recommendation from the business men of the south that will have effect on congress, and lead that body to adopt legislation that will prevent the business of the gulf states from being stagnated for three or four months in the year."
 The objections to national quarantine are more imaginary than real. State quar- antines are ineffective, and local quaran- tines are useless and cruel. There appears to be but one real remedy-national quaran- tine-and only thing to do-define the limits and powers of a national act, and ask southern senator's and representatives to see that those limitations and powers are put into a new quarantine bill
The age-herald., 1898-10-20
Annexation and Schools.

The educational interests of Jones Valley should induce parents having children 10 educate to think long and well before they conclude to oppose a single municipality. It will scarcely be denied that the larger the town the better the school and the greater its facilities of every sort. It can and should embrace a free public library free, that is,to the scholars of the public school system It should include much ap- paratus and many lectures and other in- struction that are out of reach in schools of small communities.
 Especially should there be a central in- stitution that offers to all the instruction that can be obtained in the best prepara- tory schools. This high school of Jones Valley should be located in this city. It cannot serve the entire valley if located elsewhere. and the valley cannot have a high school of the first class unless all con tribute to it's support.
 The primary and grammar schools, too, of the valley should be conducted under one superintendent. Efflc1enCy ana unlIOfHlty are very requisite in a valley that contains a population that may be compelled at any time to change locations. If the schools of the valley were uniform in grade and scope and text books and all that change of resi- dence would work no harm to students, and this Is a matter that parents should consider.
 Parents having young children will be apt to control the question of consolidation which is now before tile people of Jones Valley The good of the children certainly demands joint educational effort and that is only possible through single compre- hensve municipality. The best schoool in the valley is not as good it should be, and as it would be if instead of a dozen school systems, there was but one, and that one covered all the territory from East Lake to Ensley, inclusive. The fathers and mothers of the children in the valley should carefully consider the educational situation. Let them think what is possible in a town of 75,OOO people, and what in a lesser com munity. Cooperation and consolidation are in no other respect more effective than they are in educational affairs.
The age-herald., 1898-10-20
The Grasshoppers

From the Union Springs Herald.
 One versed in the Scriptures of the Old Testament, would have been reminded, in this city, of one of Egyptian plaques, so numerous were the grasshoppers. The in sects had gathered throughout the entire city, being attracted from glen and cove and field by the street lights. They were more numerous than ever before in this vicinity, and were clustered about on the ground, on fences, trees, posts, houses, and on everything else accessible. Never was the like seen befcre Those persons who had occasion to be out after night had come on, were pelted right and left, in back and in face. The shadows cast by the grass hoppers flying around the lamps, were al- most frightful. Next morning trees and fences were literally covered. We ourselves counted forty one tree. One very re- liable party has told us he was near MT. Worthington's home, when he heard noise similar to escaping steam. On glancing up at tree hardby, he saw such a cloud of grasshoppers as had never been beheld be- fore He afirms that there were 300O, 900 of them, for he counted them CD. He tells us, also that lady told him the sky was obscured by them, in the vicinity of the bluff west of N. Prairie street. Those who have been in the fields this season have noticed these insects in large droves, but tnis was the first appearance in toyvn in large quantities. They were as thick as darkies on Sasturday before "campmeet- ing Sunday These grasshoppers are from two to two and a half inches long, and are "unsightly beasts"
The age-herald., 1898-10-20
Education and Wealth.

The world over the iliterate are the poor. Wealth and education go together in the United States, and in all countries. The facts that can be gathered from the United States census of 1890 are sufficient to dem- onstrate these propositions.
 The illiteracy in this country of persons over ten years of age is 13.S per cent, and the wealth to each peorson over ten years of age is $1,372. In Alabama the illiteraey is il per cent, and the wealth to each per son is S5SO The illiteracy in Alabama is three times greater than in the entire country, and the people of Alabama have about one-third of the average proportional wealth. Alabama is rich in ignorance, and therefore poor in relative wealth, and the relation of wealth to education, of poverty to ignorance, is shown throughout the list of states in the census tables.
 Alabamas small wealth-producing power is due beyond a doubt to her high percent ages of illiterates in the gainful pursuits. In every department of labor Alabama has the highest percentage of ignorant workers. In manufactures and mechanics she has 21.7 per cent. of iliterates, against 5.4 per cent. in the whole country: in trade and transportation she keeps TIT per cent. of illiterates at work, against A per cent. in the country; in domestic service she has 619 per cent, against H.1 per cent. in the country; in professional service Alabama has 1.1S per cent, against 0.43 per cent. in the country; in agriculture, fisheries and mining she has 524 per cent. of illiterates, against 232 per cent in the country; in all occupations punched together this state is Keeping 4s.1 per cent. of illiterate producers, against 1O.7 per cent in the country at large.
 These facts need no comment. When Germany set out to round up England as manufacturing nation, she laid the foundation in the education of her people, and she made education compulsory, and today there Is scarcely an iliterate person in Germany, and today goods made in Ger many' are to be found in every part of the world. England is now trying to catch up by educating her masses as well as her classes. The story of every nation-its success or non-success, all uphold the the- ory that wealth and power are possessed in proportion to education. The story of the recent war is briefly told in these fig ures: Illiteracy of the United States 13.3 per cent; illiteracy of Spain, 72 per cent.
The age-herald., 1898-10-20
The Quarantine Problem.

Evidence is accommodating that public sen timent over the quarantine question is rap idly changing under the repeated failures and blunders and losses of state and local auarantines. The Biloxi Herald says Mis- sissippi is now practically united in the advocacy of a national quarantine. The ineffciency and losses of a state quaran- tine are now amply demonstrated. AL though supplied with an ample amount of funds the state board of health did noth- ing except to establish it's own worthless ness. Mississippi wants no more of it.
 Tennessee has been hurt also by quaran- tines, and the Memphis people are trying to have a quarantine convention called to meet in their city. "If such a convention s to be held,' says the Memphis Scimitar, 'let it be understood that at least it shall make a declaration for or against national control of quarantine If the decision be in the affirmative, then the convention could go on and designate the nature and powers of the law wanted and urge the SeHdlOrS anu Ol lhS SOulL in congress to support bill embodying its suggestions. Should the assemblage decide against national control, then it can go on and suggest some other plan to the several states, though in the Scimitars opinion there would be little, if any, practical re- form secured in that case. So far, after years of discussion, no plan has been sug- gested save that of national control and the present slip-shod and inharmonious state and local scheme"
 The Atlanta Journal says that the pro- posed Memphis convention should bend it's whole energies to the formulating of a clear, vigorous and practical system of na- tional quarantine, and submit that to con- gress with a strong plea for immediate &C., tion. National quarantine is the sole rem edy for panic; quarantine that first ex- hausts every possible means of prevention; then if infection slips by these is prepared and empowered to make sane rules of iso- lation and of interstate traffic, and then enforce them."
 The sentiment of Alabama, as thus far expressed, seems to be In like direction. Says the Mobile Herald: "We have had
The age-herald., 1898-10-20
out by Bismarck as late as July 27 of that year.

out by Bismarck as late as July 27 of that year.
 Complete surprise for the casual readers Of history lies in the disclosures made re- speeting the inner workings of the Prussian state. It hardly seems credible that two of the most powerful of the grand duch- esses of Russia-not only women Of the royal family but women who were pos sessed of great talents, one as writer, the other as a leader of fashion-should both of them have been willing to act as secret agents of Bismarck This, 1t is true, was in the days before the foundation of the German empire But there is no reason to suppose that this new condition changed the actual status of affairs. Should such prove to be the fact what influence can France be supposed to exert in St. Peters, burg? But the disclosures do not stop at this. Herr Rebel, the socialistic chief, is alleged to have taken money for his pro- paganda from the king of Hanover's fund
 in the possession of the Prussian crown. General Cluset, now a member of the French chamber of deputies, is mentioned as having carried on secret negotiations with the invading army during the com munistic troubles following the downfall Of Paris Professor Max Mueller is called a few names which reflect upon his abilities as a scholar; while the Empress Frederick, who is also the crown princess of Great Britain, is treated with positive brutality in Dr. Busch's pages Nor does Victoria her. self escape, an attack being made upon her for using her personal influence with the Empress Augusta. But the crowning ef- fort of all lies in the showing that early in his reign the newspapers of Germany itself were subsidized to attack the emperor him self, William IT.!
The age-herald., 1898-10-20
POINTED PARAGRAPHS.

From the Chicago News.
 It's a short street that has no saloon. The mule doesn't admire the short ears of the horse.
 Better kiss the girl before you propose she may refuse you.
 Some men stop traveling afoot as soon as they begin to get ahead
 A baggagemaster checks your trunk and a physician checks your grippe. an
 Baseball is the one business in which an occasional strike is necessary.
 Probably the tide has something to do with the number of knots made by ves- sel. s$
 The ossiied man in the museum leads hard life, but the fat lady makes the most of it.
 Experience is such a costly teacher that 1t keeps a man hustling to pay the tuition fees.
 It Is said that an up-to-date west side maid who formerly walked in her sleep now rides a chainless wheel.
 A great many pictures are overdrawn and a great many bank accounts would be were 1t not for the watchful cashier.
 When a mans mind is inflated with a wis., ionary scheme and he attempts to practi- cally apply 1t the result is usually punc- ture.
The age-herald., 1898-10-20

pr. Broughton, the evangelist, ascribes unjust motives to the Age-Herald because it has not reported all his sermons. With all due respect to the doctor, the Age-Herald such eminence as to entitle him to more consideration than many of the local di- vines. Dr. Broughton is a good, conscien- tious Christian man, but he makes mis- take in complaining because reporters do not follow him about to catch and write down his every utteranee. If the doctor will write out good sermons the Age-Herald will print them.
The age-herald., 1898-10-20
Mobiles Sew CTS

From the Mobile News.
 At a special meeting of the city council last night, with Chairman Kirkbride presid- ing, the bids for the construction of a com plete sewerage system were opened About a dozen bids were opened, some of whom submitted a price on pipe only; others on the complete system without total amount footed up, while three bidders gave figures upon the entire wirk. Greenville Construction company, Greenville, O.. $780, GOO; Dowde & Dungan, Chicago, $233, ,390 Thomas J. Shea, Quincy Ill.,, $1S7 900. After the bids had been opened, on motion, com- mittee of five be appointed to whom the bids should be referred for consideration, but this was amended by Councilman Inge, who asked that the bids be referred to the same special committee, which considered the water works question, which was adopted.
The age-herald., 1898-10-20
,srs,,.sCK,s SECRET HISTORY

Dr Nroritz Rusch was man admitted to intimacy with Prince Bismarck for many years. One volume from his pen descrlplng the deeds of his great patron saw the light several years ago; the pubic curiosity mas long been whetted by the announcement that larger work in three volumes was in preparations; everything down to the fact that the work appears in all the prlnclpal languages of Europe at once, contrives to make the book one to be eagerly sought for and greedily read when obtained. The tite is not the least alluring thing about it. "Bismarck: Some Secret Pages of His History, Being Diary Kept By pr. Mor1tz Busch' is the long, but accurately descrip- tive name under which the facts are dis closed.
 These begin with the preliminaries leauing up to the war between Germany and France in 1870, as far as matters Of the first conseauence are concerned. Dr. Busch was then attending to the newspapers of the territory soon to be embraced in the German empire Under Bismarcks instruc- tions he undertook to combat the matters not strictly true which appeared in the French newspapers from time to time by lies of equal consequence. It appears that the candidacy of Prince Hohenzollern for the throne of Spain, which was the prime
 
 himself to be "a trap for Napoleon" It has long been known that the immediate provocation for the outbreak of hostilities lay in Bismarcks deliberate suppression Of a portion of the message of the French ambassador, by which language rather tending to peace than war was made to do duty as a national insult. Now the truth is told to prove that this final suppression was merely part of long and sad comedy by which the Iron Chancellor led the Prus- sian king and his noble son into dreadful war for the sake of cementing the Ger mans into a nation, this having been be- leved impossible under less trying circum- stances. It, is noteworthy, according to Busch's narration of the events that Bis marck himself came to discredit his own part in it as the years grew long.
 Cramont told part of this to the world but it was taken as incredible. The king of Roumania and Benedetti were required to prove that bismarck arranged the mat ter with General Prim in Madrid respecting the Hohenzollern candidacy a full year and a half before the war broke out and d twelve-month before the solemn assertion of the chancellor that Spain made the first offer of the throne of Spain on February fl, 1Sy0 'The Prussian government as well as the officials of the confederation had ab- solutey no Knowledge of or connection with the Spanioh proposal" is the language put
The age-herald., 1898-10-20
AN OVERSIGHT

I like to read bout heroes, an reckon
 others do; These quiet unassumin chaps that's gritty
 through an through; I'm deeply interested in the very smallest
 fact; I like to see their picters an to krow jes'
 how they act But there is one whose name, somehow, I
 never see in print, That's why I take my pen in hand 10 1r2p
 a little hint 'Mongst all the hero-iterature that nowss
 days appears, I've never seen no pieces yet bout Heze-
 kiah Meers Let every man have all that's comin' to
 him. That's my way. I allus was a sticker fur full measure am fair play. The men that faced the bullets as they
 went to meet the foe Their country knows an loves 'em, an it
 ought to tell 'em so. But, while you place such laurels where
 they worthily belong. Perhaps there is a few among the great
 unnoticed throng That ought to have a shout or two, whiie
 passn round the cheers. I often say "hurrah," 1 do, fur Hezekah
 Meers. He'd been a soldier once. He pined to b6
 the same agin. He could start in as a Captain. But hia
 youngest boy had been Right sickly. An his wife want strongs
 He lowed they couldn't part. I seen the tear drops trickle as he watched
 the comp'ny start. But he tended to the old place that 'ud
 sure have gone to rack If a stranger had been trusted with the
 work till he came back An 1t really seems to me that enterprise iA
 in arrears Unless it gets some items in bout Hezekiah
 Meers.
The age-herald., 1898-10-20
Judges and Solicitors.

Georgia became tired of legislative deals at her recent state election she adopted a constitutional amendment that transfers the selection of judges and solicitors d. rectly to the people, taking away from the legislature a fruitful source of corrup- ton and scandal, and giving the people a voice in the selection of these important officers. In Georgia the primary system is also in operation, so that the men who han dle the business of the courts will here after have behind them public sentiment. What the politicians have lost the people have gained.
 If the Alabama legislature should de- side to adopt any constitutional amendment propositions, one on the Georgia line should go along. Popular rule instead of clique rule is as needful and as much desired in this state as in Georgia. Not a word of weight and value can be said against the proposed change The people are in all re- spects and as to all offices, judicial sena- torial or otherwise safer Repositories of power than any self-constituted and ire sponsible clique. The old intermediary mo- ton of government is passing away. It has proven to be relative failure. Direct vot- ing and direct governing are the better of two, and the trend in all the states Is to- wards government by the people, of the people and for the people.
The age-herald., 1898-10-20
The Capitol

Montgomery Journal: The building itself is not in any sense neglected, but is care fully and constantly inspected. It is old and that is why we cherish it. 1.-The fur nishings within are more than plain-they are shabby" That is unhappily true of most of the furnishings. The furniture of the treasurer's office, for example, wouldn't fetch fifty dollars by auction; and that of the governors office wouldn't fetch hun dred. There is but one fresh carpet in the entire building, and not one peice of fur niture that is creditable.
The age-herald., 1898-10-20
The False and the True
From the Mobile Register.

From the Mobile Register.
 It is not often that we discover in the columns of our Birmingham contemporary, the Age-Herald, anything calling for cor reetion. That paper is edited with vigor and a large share of wisdom. It occupies an enviabe position among the journals of the state, and, we believe, has resting upon it an unusual amount of responsblli- ty Especially must it be looked to to guide truly the industrial classes which form so large part of the population of Birming ham.
The age-herald., 1898-10-20
STRAY THOUGHTS
 OF STATE EDITORS
4 Large Castor Oil Tree

Decatur Vitascope: E. D. White has in his yard on Pond street quite curiosity in the shape of a castor oil tree, which meas ures fifteen feet in height, six feet five inches across the top and nineteen and a half inches around the body
The age-herald., 1898-10-20

The presidential stumping tour, soon to he extended to the doubtful eastern states, is in effect and in the last analysis des- perate attempt to make the people swallow AlgeriSm.
The age-herald., 1898-10-20
Greater Birmingham
From the Union Springs Herald.

From the Union Springs Herald.
 Greater Birmingham is to be the watchword for the Magic City, for some time to come. A strenuous effort is being exerted to have the city of Birmingham in- creased in size, taking in some of the places now only suburbs. A big step for that big city.
The age-herald., 1898-10-20

It should not be forgotten that the re- vision of the Dreyfus case is still dependent upon the court of cessation. It has not yet decided in favor of revision.
The age-herald., 1898-10-20

George Dewey Is coming home in Decem- Der. He is to arrive in San Francisco De- cember 6. This opens up great possibilities in the way of peace festivals. for MT.
The age-herald., 1898-10-20

The Northwestern university, of Evans ion. H., is said to be the largest denomi- national college in the world. It has 5000 students, and Is controlled by the Northern Methodists
The age-herald., 1898-10-20

Commissioner General Peck has secured more space in the Paris exposition but that is no reason why Birnnghamis appli- cation should be delayed.
The age-herald., 1898-10-20

The Whitevash Board should give the prosecution a chance. The defense took the floor at the start and is keeping it.
The age-herald., 1898-10-20

Ex-Senator Bayard's will shows that he was not shaker of plum trees. lie Ielt aI estate of $75.OOO. mostly inherited.
The age-herald., 1898-10-20

The suburbanite who proposes to reap benefits without sharing burdens is, to say the least, somewhat selfish and unpatriotic.
The age-herald., 1898-10-20

General Wheeler's testimony before the Whitewash Board, carefully edited has now become a republican campaign docu-
The age-herald., 1898-10-20

The cotton piclSers are not complaining about the weather They are picking cot ton and saying nothing.
The age-herald., 1898-10-20

Emperor Williams 11O trunks will give the baggage smashers of the Jefusalem Central railroad a tired feeling.
The age-herald., 1898-10-20

Dewey is bigger man than Mr Mckinley with Mark Hanna thrown in.
The age-herald., 1898-10-20

The betting upon Barker and Donnelly against the field stands at the origihal zero figure
The age-herald., 1898-10-20

lust what Emperor William has in mind in connection with the Jerusalem circuit no one can find out.
The age-herald., 1898-10-20

Pratt City and Ensley should be given chance to become a part of Greater Blr- mingham.
The age-herald., 1898-10-20
The Governorship

Eufala Times: What we can know about the governorship is just this, If man gets elected governor he must fight for the nom- ination. Neither General Shelby, Jesse Stallings any other person can walk off with the nomination like the tailor boy did with the broad cloth in the old story. Two years from now there will be game of knock down and drag out
 Selma Times: The esteemed Age-Herald says now that Col. F. L. Pettus declines to enter the race for governor there are only two candidates for the position-General Shelby and Jess Stallings. The Age Her. aid is usually very accurate, but there is Col. N. N. Clements, of Tuscaloosa, right at its door, who wants to sit in the guber- material chair to say nothing of Birming- hams other distinguished democrat, Col. w. c. Ward It would be right funny if after thus being ignored Colonel Ward should make one of his still hunt canvasses and waltz off with the Jefferson delegation to the state convention. A great many men have occupied the gubernatorial chair who did not have half the capacity of Colonel Ward. But it is going to be right hard for Birmingham to land the governor three terms in succession.
The age-herald., 1898-10-20

The Porto Ricans are trying to ascertain whether or no they are full-f1edged Amerl- can citizens.
The age-herald., 1898-10-20

Citizenship goes with the soil. Shake, brother American de Porto Rico.