davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The age-herald., 1898-05-10

and prosperity gre nearly s2o.oee.Ooa.
 The capital. San Juan. is on the north shore-a town of about 25oe0 people. with an excellent we1l-fortifled harbor, in which there Is about fifteen feet of water. Nearly all the harbors of Porto Rico are shallow. but San Juan's channel Is deep enough to let a portion at least of Admiral Samp sons fleet in; and it is widely assured that he will seize 1t. whether he meets the Span ish cruisers or not.
 The people of Porto Rico, outside of Span- ish circles, arc said to be annexationists. They differ in this respect from the Gu bans. The Cubans dream of Cuban re- public. The Porto Ricans desire either Spanish control or annexation to the United States. It Is believed large majority desire annexation. because their trade re- lations are almost wholly with the United States. This country buys the coffee end sugar they raise. and sells them provisions. flour and a variety of other goods.
 The importance of Porto Rico as an out post during the present war. and as a coal ing station afterwards. cannot well be over- estimated. To some extent it commands the approach to the gulf When canal is built at Panama or Nicaragua, it will be- come even more valuable. It will be the gate to an immense commerce. Its value to this country either in peace or war is beginning to be appreciated; and if Ad- miral Sampson conquers San Juan the stars and stripes will be raised on the island, and once placed there. they will remain there. The island will be held as a part of the indemnity that Spain will be called upon to pay at the close of the war. She has islands only to pay with. and these she must give up. She would not hand over Cuba, and now the prospect is that she will lose both Cuba and Porto Rico, to say nothing of the distant Canaries and the more distant Philippines and Caroines.
The age-herald., 1898-05-10
sUBsCRIPTION RATES.
lime Differences.

Time O day is, of course, a matter of longitude, and longitude is a matter that is no longer computed from every capital in the world. The world has too much sense to accept such a jargon as that would involve. The world has therefore pracu- cally agreed to reckon longitude and dis tances and make time calculations from one point and that point is the Royal observa- tory in the green, hut sandy park at Green wch. suburb of London. It is on the Thames, below the heart of London, sew eral miles below London bridge, and the park in the summer season is filled with myriads of the poor of the great metropo- lis. At the foot of the hill by the Thames are buildings reeking with history. but all the magnificence has departed, and schools and hospitals and factories have supplanted royalty and display.
 Reckoning from Greenwich Manila lies east of us. On the Greenwich basis it is 10 o'clock of the night when in Washing ton it is nine o'clock of the morning. Roundly speaking the difference is thirteen hours. The battle which was begun at Manila on Sunday morning at 5:5o o'clock. Manila time, was reallly opened at 4:3O o'clock of Sunday afternoon.
 There is one line that is full of difficulties. That line is known on the maps as longi- tude 1SO west or east, as best pleases the reader It falls in mid-Pacific, touching only the Fiji islands, and a few valueless projections in the Pacific. When the tray- eler crossed that line, he must double the length of a day if he is going east; if he be headed west. he must drop day. The globe thus loses day out of his diary al any rate, and some per. diem allowance Nor pay if he be a salaried man.
The age-herald., 1898-05-10

mendous activity of his troopers. their un- expected sa1Iies by night and day. and their almost miraculous jumping from point to point. both horses and men always ap- peared in good condition. and did not have the fagged-out look of most of the com mands doing like amount of hard service. Wheeler was admitted to West Point as cadet in 1854, when eighteen years of age. He entered the regular army after gradua- ton, and on September l. 1860, was made second lieutenant in a regiment of mounted riflemen and sent to Fort Fillmore on the Rio Grande. He resigned his commission April 22, 1861, to enter the confederate ser vice. ! e was first on l.. T. Walkers staf with the rank of colonel, but after short time went back to Alabama to organize regiment. When 1t was proposed to make Wheeler a brigadier general the confeder- ate congress raised some objection on ac- count of his extreme youth, but subsequent events justified the high place which had been accorded him.
 Jefferson Davis, In his History Of the Confederacy,' vol. g. page 571, thus speaks of Wheeler's services: With his small force, Wheeler daringly and consistently harassed and. when practicable, delayed the enemy's advance attacking and defeating exposed detaehments, lettering Its foragers from venturing far from the main body, defending all cities and towns along the railroad lines, and affording protection to depots of SUI plies, arsenals, and other im- portant government works. His operators from November 14 to December 20 display a dash, activity, vigilance. and consum- mate skill which justly entite him to a prominent place on the roll of great cavalry leaders. By his indomitable energy, oper- ating on all sides of Sherman's columns. he was able to keep the government advised of the enemy's movements. and by prevent ing foraging parties from going far from the main body, he saved from spoilation all but a narrow tract of country, and from the torch millions of dollars worth of prop erty which would otherwise certainly have been consumed" This is probably as good a description of his methods of cavalry warfare as could be given, and at the age of sixty-two 1t is reasonable to believe that he has lost none of his old time vigor There is a romantic touch in having such a man as General Wheeler. simple. honest, con scentious, end his military career and per haps his public service in war undertake en by the United States. after he had worked so hard a generation ago in the cause of secession. No doubt he Is glad of this opportunity to make the closing chap ter of his military history one of service under the stars and stripes; and no one doubts that that service will be brave and effective.
The age-herald., 1898-05-10
Yellow Fever in Havana.

Ex-Surgeon General John B. Hamilton fever camps of Texas and Florida, and is withal a man of high standing in his pro- fession. He declares, as result of care ful study, that the dangers to the troops from yellow fever in Cuba have been greatly exaggerated. Cuba is as healtnful as any country in the tropics. The trouble heretofore has arisen from infected build- ing and wahrves in Havana, and chiefly from the foul condition oc the upper end of the bay of Havana. The water in that part of the bay is stagnant and unspeaka- bly filthy; and yet on that water the Span- iard, who has very little sanitary sense, has established the military hospital. h. stead of taking the soldiers stricken with fever up to the surrounding hills, they are put in the old infected hospital the stagnant water of the bay.
 Dr. Hamilton is sconfident that camps on the hills back of either Matanzas or Ha- vana would be reasonably healthy. The hills back of Havana rise to a height of 800 to 900 feet, while those about Matanzas are 1,5O0 feet high. Camps on these hills could by careful inspection and sanitation be maintained free from fever infection, and unacclimated troops would not there suffer heavy losses on account of the en- demic fever of the country.
 Havana itself can be rendered healthful, but this would involve the cutting of canal from the Almendorse river, which would purify the stagnant portion of the harbor. Household sanitation in the city would also be necessary. The English have rendered the nearby city of Kingston fever-proof, and President Diaz has even made Vera Cruz a healthful city.
 There is of course no opportunity of put ting Havana in proper condition until the Spaniards are driven out. Dr. Hamilton holds that there is no occasion to hunt for justifications of the war. He says that the nation that has kept a disease-breeding center which infects the ships of the world and therefore endangers many cities and districts in other lands. deserves the most severe and summary punishment.
 It is safe to say that all the losses or life and all the damages to business and to property that have ensued from epidemics of yellow fever in the south are traceable to Havana, and chargeable upon its mas ters, the Spaniards. The story of last sum- mer is fresh in the minds of the Alabama troops, and they at least will do their best to put an end to such deadly work. This country has right to insist upon the san itary renovation of Havana, and the city shou,d not be turned over to the Cubans until the needful changes have been made or guaranteed. This may be one of the incidental benefits of the war, but 1t is an incidental of high importance and great value.
The age-herald., 1898-05-10

possessing speed of twenty knots or a triie better and equipped with torpedo tubes. The four cruisers carry twenty-four torpedo tubes. They also carry six 11-inch, two 1o-inch ten s-inch. thirty 5-inch,, six finch and sixty-eight smaller guns. Pos sibly the Alfonso XII and Carlos have joined the Cape Verde fleet. The fleet also includes the torpedo-boat destroyers Ariete, Rayo and Azor, each carrying two torpedo tubes, and four guns These torpedo boats are considered of high grade in their class. added to the Cape Verde fleet, the world does not know 1t. For that matter, no one knows that any of them are steaming to- wards American waters. But speculation in the absence of information is pardona- ble.
 Captain Sampson has with him the bat tleships Iowa and Indiana, the cruisers New York, Detroit and Montgomery. and possibly the Cincinnati and Marblehead, the monitors Puritan and Terror and the torpedo gunboat Mayfiower. The Indiana carries four 13-inch eight inch, four 6-incb, and thirty-six lesser guns. The Iowa is similarly equipped, her largest guns having bore of 12-inches. The speed of the American squadron is below that of the Spanish cruisers, but its armament is much heavier. It is estimated that Captain Sampson can throw 19S7s pounds of metal at one discharge. while the Spanish fleet can hurl at its foe but s,9ss pounds.
 If Spain has dispatched all her fighting ships to Porto Rico leaving her coasts and the Canaries exposed to Captain Schley- if she can see way through the coal prob lem-if she be wholly desperate and quite beside herself, the two fleets may be pretty evenly matched, and one of the greatest battles in in history of naval warfare will take place near the island that Columbus himself discovered the island that we know as Porto Rico, although the great discoverer called it Isla de San Juan Baptista.
The age-herald., 1898-05-10
The Coming Battle.
value.

The people plainly prefer to think that Admiral Sampson is about to fight battle royal at or off San Juan, Porto Rico. The Inoc,xing off of the forts at that port into aust heaps would not be altogether satis- factory. although it would mitigate the popular disappointment. Sea fights meet the public taste just now as nothing else does or can. The glories of the war of 1912 are desired from the muzzles of the new havoc-making guns of armored ships. The new American ships are floating fortresses of the highest grade, and the faith of the people In their power and invincibility Is almost perfect. They thoroughly desire a collision between Sampson's fleet and the Spanish fleet whatever 1t may be. and their desire that collision, which will shake up the world, to occur in West Indian waters.
 Spain could send to that conflict three battleships, six armored cruisers. three pro- tected cruisers. and about five torpedo gum boats, but so far as the world knows only these are probabilities at Porto Rico. be- cause they cannot be elsewhere locatsd5 the cruisers Infanta Maria Teresa, Almi- rante oouendo. vizcaya end christobal colons al, iargs-sizea moderp Griissrs,
The age-herald., 1898-05-10
The Army Commands.

It has already been determined that regu- gether, and that they shall be formed into seven corps, to be commanded as follows First corps General Wesley Merritt; sec ond corps, General John R. Brooke; third corps, General Joseph c. Breckenridge; fourth corps, General Elwell S. Otis; fifth corps, General John J. Coppinger; sixth corps, General William R. Shafter; seventh corps, General William M Graham. These major-genrals are all regulars. and their seniority is shown in the number of the corps to which they have been assigned. As some of them command departments, they may prefer to remain where they are. In case of vacancies for any cause, they will be successfully filled by Major-Gen- srals James F. Wade Henry C. Merriam, Games H. Wilson, Fitzhugh Lee. William z. Sewell and Joseph Wheeler.
 While General Wheeler may not become a corps commander, yet he may be given charge of flying cavalry division, and at the head of such force he may render the highest possible service. He Is, it is true, an all-round military leader. but his energy and skill are peculiarly adapted to cavalry movements. General Fitzhugh Lee has shown great demonstrative capacity, and the control of ten millions of people in the Philippines may be entrusted to his skill and tried capacity. It Is a difficult problem, and while it may not be as at- tractive as Cuban command, yet General Lee is a man who will obey orders. His knowledge of Cuba and Havana and of the people living there will be, to some ex- tent, be lost, and the people of the south will especially regret an order that de- priyes him of all opportunity to return to Havana, but soldiers duty is to serve where he is most needed.
 Beyond the appointment of corps com manders nothing has been determined. and probably will not be until the preparations for an invasion of Cuba are farther ad- vanced. General Wheelr has reported for duty, and been sworn in. To a much greater extent than was possible in ths civil war, the present war Is to be led by officers of the regular army. but if oppor. tunities arise, Generals Lee and Wheeler will both fit the case, for both were edu. cated at West Point.
The age-herald., 1898-05-10
The Little Cuba.

Next east of Cuba is the island of Hayti, rich island of Porto Rico, often called "Cuba the Little" It is about 100 miles east and west and about forty miles wide, containing s,56o square miles. The hills of the Interior rise to a height of $500 feet. and the little island Is crowded with people,
 There are nearly a million of them, and this Is due to the productiyeness of the soil. Coffee and sugar are the leading pro- duets. but all tropical crops and fruits can be grown. ylo exports in years os peaca
The age-herald., 1898-05-10
ABOUT FLAGS.

From the Chicago News.
 A nations flag represents its sovereignty and is prominently displayed in all army and naval battles.
 To "strike the flag is to lower the na- tional colors in token of Submission to the opposing forces.
 Dipping the flag is lowering 1t slightly and then hoisting it again. to salute either vessel or fort
 A flag of truce is white flag displayed to the enemy to indicate desire for a barley or consultation.
 The black flag is sign of piracy. The yellow flag shows vessel to be in quar- antine or Is the sign of a contagious dis ease.
 A flag at half-mast means mourning. Vessels come into harbor with a flag at half mast to announce the loss or death of some of the crew.
 Flags are used as the symbol of rank and command, the officers using them being called flag officers. Such flags are square, to distinguish them from other banners.
 The red nag is sign of defiance, and is often used by revolutionists. In the Amer ican service 1t is a mark of danger and shows vessel to be receiving or discharge ing her powder.
The age-herald., 1898-05-10

It takes 214 pesetas in bank notes to buy 100 pesetas In gold. The premium is going up in Madrid by leaps and bounds. It went up 50 points in one day last week.
The age-herald., 1898-05-10

The railroad boys of the Kansas City and Georgia Central roads not only remember the Maine. but they also remember the boys at the front, while their starry banner floats on every breeze.
The age-herald., 1898-05-10

The jobbers are springing up on every hand. Some want the Nicaragua canal, some Hawaii, some one thing and some another War and jobs go together.
The age-herald., 1898-05-10

Manila is pestered with earthquakes, but the Spanish portion of the city prefers an earthquake any day to Commodore Dewey and his eight-inch guns.
The age-herald., 1898-05-10

The beer people are anticipating the new government taxation. The brewers have added one dollar to the price of a barrel, and the retailers have lowered the foam line in a glass an inch.
The age-herald., 1898-05-10

The Philippines are so nearly on the other side of the globe that Uncle Sam is puzzled to know whether his star has taken it's way westward or eastward.
The age-herald., 1898-05-10

While the people of Birmingham are wait ing for news from Sampson and from the Oregon, let them keep the flag out.
The age-herald., 1898-05-10

Admiral Dewey may have had Nelson's s words in his mind when he entered Manila bay, "Go straight for the enemy"
The age-herald., 1898-05-10

Admiral Dewey will not reach the top rung of fames ladder until a progressive euchre club adopts his good name.
The age-herald., 1898-05-10

Besides the Philippines, Governor-General Dewey has charge of the Carolines, which lie just back of his capital city.
The age-herald., 1898-05-10

The Fourth-of-July orator this year will be unusually eloquent His voice will be heard in Dixieland.
The age-herald., 1898-05-10

Key West is overrun with naval prizes,
 and they are beginning to string them a.ong either Florida coast.
The age-herald., 1898-05-10

Uncle Sam Is no longer on the defensive The offensive side of a just quarrel suits him best.
The age-herald., 1898-05-10

The Cape Verde fleet is universally ex- pected, but 1t Is not the expected event that usually occurs.
The age-herald., 1898-05-10

Farmer Letter belongs to a class of farm CTS that this country can spare
The age-herald., 1898-05-10

The up-to-date wear on commencement day is -white-and-blue dress.
The age-herald., 1898-05-10

The capture of Portb Rico would narrow the war to Cuba alone.
The age-herald., 1898-05-10

The boys In brown are marching t Tampa, but they are going farther on.
The age-herald., 1898-05-10

Uncle Sam seems to be working real estate corner along with his regular glory business.
The age-herald., 1898-05-10

If Spanish gunnery gets any worse, 1t will not hit the mark with the ocean as target.
The age-herald., 1898-05-10

Spain is too busy in establishing martial law at home to do good fighting abroad.
The age-herald., 1898-05-10

George Dewey is the only living man who Is able to get the upper hand of base ball
The age-herald., 1898-05-10

War Is one long series of troubles, War histories will soon take the place or war poetry.
The age-herald., 1898-05-10

The Green mountains look several hun dred feet higher than they did ten days ago.
The age-herald., 1898-05-10

Streets and babies are taking the honest name, George Dewey, in whole or In part.
The age-herald., 1898-05-10
ROOsEvELT's ROUGH RIDERS.

spain is the dry-rot nation of the world.
The age-herald., 1898-05-10

There gro no iaureis on the torpedo tubes
The age-herald., 1898-05-10

FTOm CflS DuStOH 11Cfcfus Roosevelt's rough riders can be counted upon to make the ragged Spanish -Eascals yy9 -bahind the >EugGsd recks
The age-herald., 1898-05-10

lie just back of his capital city.
 The Fourth-of-July orator this year will be unusually eloquent. His voice will be heard in Dixieland
 Key West is overrun with naval prizes, and they are beginning to string them along either Florida coast.
 The Cape Verde fleet is universally ex- pected. but 1t is not the expected event that usually occurs.
 Uncle Sam Is no longer on the defensive. The offensive side of a just quarrel suits him best.
 Uncle Sam seems to be working real estate corner along with his regular glory business.
 If spanish gunnery gets any worse. it will not hit the mark with the ocean as a target.
 War is one long series of troubles, War histories will soon take the place of war poetry.
 George Dewey is the only living man who Is able to get the upper hand of base ball news.
 The Green mountains look several hun dred feet higher than they did ten days ago. , Streets and babies are taking the honest name, George Dewey, in whole or In part
 Spain fs too busy in establishing martial law at home to do good fighting abroad.
 The boys In brown are marching te Tampa, but they are going farther on. 
 The up-to-date wear on commencement day is a red-white-and-blue dress.
 Farmer Letter belongs to a class of farm CTS that this country can spare 
 The capture of PortO Rico would marrow the war to Cuba alone. There arc no iaurels on the torpedo tubes spair is the dry-rot nation of the world. ROOsEvELT's ROUGH RIDERS. From the Boston Herald. Roosevelt's rough riders can be countet upon to make the ragged Spanish -Eascal yyp behind the -rug1sd Eecks
The age-herald., 1898-06-23
THE FOURTH OF JULY

From the Union Springs Herald.
 This Is the day for patriotism to assert itself in America, if there ever was a time, say Florence should not be permitted to monopolize the Fourth of July in the broad state of Alabama"
 This utterance comes forth because Flor ence has already taken active steps to- ward a great demonstration on that im- portant day. That beautiful little city, which is so proudly perched upon such a grand elevation fin north Alabama, will celebrate the nations birthday in manner becoming and fitting American ctizen- ship.
 The papers throughout the south are call- ing upon the people to remember that day, and observe it as is due the memory of those noble ancestors who won American liberty In the north this day is the most important holiday of the year. The cele- brations in northern citeis, which mark the "Glorious Fourth" far surpass any Christ mas festivities-just the reverse from what t 1t Is in the south. Here the most important thing done to commemorate the memory of what was done on the day the nation gained it's independence is a temporary sus- pension of business and day of hunting or fishing.
 The southland there is no more patriotic section under the sun-should be filled with demonstrations on the Fourth of July of 1S9S The country now Is at war with a foreign power, and every American citizen should consider it his personal duty to cele- brate the fourth this year.
The age-herald., 1898-06-23
o thou monster, ignorance, hoao de .forna'd dost thou look.
 LOVES LABOUR LOST.
The A;blma Crops.

Director Chaffee's report for the week ended last Tuesday shows that the drought has been broken in this state by general and frequent showers. More rain would be acceptable, but enough has fallen to put the crops in good condition. Even the gardens are looking better, and a second crop of Irish potatoes will take the place of the crop ruined by the May drought Pastures are improving, and all fruits are promising.
 Cotton is growing nicely is clean and healthy, and blooms are becoming general Squares are an old story. Corn Is also im- proving. Late corn is in good condition, but early corn has not recovered all the growth lost during the drought. Wheat and early oats are turning out well, and late oats will soon be harvested. Altogeth- CT the crops of the state are, like the weather, about normal, and that is all that we can reasonably expect year in and year out. A good average yield from the fields of the state is the present outlook.