davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-26
THE ONLY DAILY aiWspA9.a N ALAbAHA
Great BrItain,s National Debt.

A loan of $lO0,o0oO00 is considered proba-
BILE in London as a means of defraying the
expenses of a war that bids fair to last
twelve months. But such loan win not
stagger Britons. They are accustomed to
big figures in connection with national
war
At the end of the Napoleonic wars the
English debt exceeded e90o,0OO0oO, or 45oO
million dollars In those days It was con-
sidered unredeemable, for it was not be-
lieyed that the taxpayers, could stand more
than the interest charges. Since that time
say in 1916, the debt has been refunded in
bonds that bear but "a per cent. interest
and the principal has been reduced to
e5s6,OOO 900.
If the Boer war had not occurred, it had
been estimated that the debt would in the
next twenty years have been reduced to
e200, 900, 900, and another twenty years
would have extinguished it. In the end
the Beers will have to pay in some form
the cost of the war, but it is probable this
will be in territory and not in money, and
the plans of extinguishing the debt are
therefore very materially changed Mod
ern wars especially at a great distance
from home are very expensive, and the
Boer war will not be exceptional 1t prom
Uses to be one of the most expensive wars
in the history of the world. The present
ain is roughly estimated at $lO,G00O0O
month, and a loan of s10O,OeoOOO would sure
ly be absorbed in the desperate struggle.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-26
Bwier Was Out of Date.

The folly of three weak columns in the
South African campaign instead of one
strong one becomes criminal in the light
of new methods of war. Butler has been
fighting as battles We're fought before the
days of smokeless powder, machine guns
and long-range repeating rifles. In the old
days, which came down to and included the
civil war, charge under a cloud OF smoke
from the guns big and little was possible.
Enough would survive, perhaps, to carry
the works that had become the objective
point Such charges often did succeed-not
always, but some times. Pckett's immor-
tai charge at Gettysburg will doubtless oc-
cur to the reader That did not succeed,
but there was chance of success that
seemed to justify the effort
To have sent Pickett against an en-
trenched foe armed with modern rifles and
machine guns, all using smokeless powder.
would not simply have been foolhardy- it
would have been criminal. General Long
street and others did not think that even
against the weapons and the powder of
forty years ago Pickett had living chance
but no one short of a mailman would have
considered such charge feasible against
the weapons of today. And yet that is
what Methuen, Gatacre and Butler at
tempted They tried charges and assaults
against a foe securely entrenched and arm
ed with deadly rifles and machine guns, all
in plain sight, with no powder smoke to
interfere with their aim. The wonder is
that any survived-that they did not all
fall victims to the stupidity of old-time
Warfare under wholly changed circum-
stances.
Butler has been superseded, and intelli-
gent warfare may hereafter be expected.
column must nowadays be strong enough
to flank any position, thereby driving the
enemy out and compelling him to fight on
even terms In the open field. No more at
tacks can be made on an entrenehed enc
my-that is, upon an effectual enemy in
trenches or behind rocks. The repeating
rifle and machine guns and srnokeless pow
der have settled that feature. Numbers
now and the best artillery Will conat The
day of desperate charges is forever caGcd,
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-26
Cane Nome ihe New FL Dorado.

Two million dollars, it is said, were
taken out of Cape Nome SANDS last sum-
mer by crude placer meJnods-by shovel
and pan: and it is claimed that there are
two hundred miles of rich sands either way
from Cape Nome If there are two hundred
miles of rich sands, there must be several
hundred miles of poorer sands, from which
superior methods can gather gold.
Cape Nome is within the arctic circle,
and the winter nights are very long, and
the winters cold is very biting; but a coast
district need not lack supplies. The srf-
ferings of the Klondike gold seekers need
not be repeated on the coast, and will not
be. The horrors of ChilSoot pass certainly
cannot be. The long journey, and the fear
of starvation will be lacking on the coast.
If all else fails, on the coast, roasted seal
and walrus will be available.
A great exodus to Cape Nome sands next
spring is expected. The Cape itself is just
north of Norton Sound, about 100 miles
north of the mouth of the Yukon river.
1t is nearly abreast of Russia at Behring
Straits. Any colder sands than those of
Cape Nome cannot perhaps be found, but
they are on or near open water; and if a
great tide of gold seekers are to go there
next spring there is no reason why any Of
them should die from hunger or cold.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-26
SHORT STORIES
OF THE DAY
A Sarcastic Form of Rebuise

'.The new speaker is of too amiable
disposition to come down upon the house
when it is out of order. as his predecessor
often did, said member whose expert
ence dates back to Mr.. Carlisle's regime to
a writer in the New York Tribune, "but be
it said to Mr.. Reeds credit, his method
was invariably efficacious, and we in the
house minded promptly and without open
protest.
ION one occasion during the last session
the house became very disorderly Mr..
Reed knocked several times with his
gavel, but without effect The speaker
was obviously annoyed. Finally he pound
ed the desk heavily. One moment, he
said, angrily, his voice penetrating to the
furthest corner of the chamber; gentle
men should recollect that there is an un-
usual attendance of ex-members and men,
bers-elect, and that on that account there
is considerable addition to the noise, which
of itself is ordinarily sufficient to prevent
the transaction of business There was
loud laughter at this, but it was observed
that the house soon settled down into an
unusual quiet"
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-26
PaE COHr-
From the Bessemer Weekly.

From the Bessemer Weekly.
We append two important documents
herewith. The first is a letter to Governor
Johnston from the committee appointed by
the alumni of the university to investigate
and report upon the late purpcrted sale of
the university coal lands. The letter is
courteous, dignifed, brief-perfectly in
scope with the duty assigned them, and
perfectly proper to reach the source
sought The committee could not have
said or done less or have been more dis
crete and respectful in saying or doing it.
Governor Johnston's reply! Alas, alas!
that the chief magistrate of our state
could ever descend to such insufferable
conceit and miserable demagoguism as his
so-called answer disclose. Half of it is de-
voted to more twaddle about his being a
candidate for the United States senate and
about different charges which he says have
been made against him. His discussion of
these matters is sckeningly disgusting
What possible connection has his personal
candidacy to do with the committees re-
quest of him for information on matters
vitality affecting the interests of all the
people of the state?
Instead of decently responding to a sin
gle question propounded by the committee,
he insolently asks the Alumni association
to answer his list of, questions, which have
no relevancy to the fraudulent or Illegal
land sale, but which show SO clearly the
demagogue, that if every other word was
"demagogue" it could not be palmer. For
instance, he speaks of the state spending
$500 per capita on the university, and 70
cents on the common schools, and giving a
few education IL. Latin and Greek and
higher mathematics, and DISTINGUISHING
those who are unable to learn to read and
write" Did ever a governor or any state
before make so demagoguic an attempt to
arouse prejudice among the people? Why
don't he come out openly and propose the
adjustment of the university? That
would be frank and manly. He may, how
ever, intend to kill it, and his first step
was to dissipate its patrimony or endow-
ment by squandering its finest mineral
landsi
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-26
TWO MN rT;s II
Hrnlsv.ile Rnnuhlican.

From the Huntsville Republican.
The primary in Jackson is over and johns
ston carried it for senator and Stallings
for governor. This vote Shows what can
he done by few leaders. Stallings had
two of the papers fighting him open and
the other fighting under cover, yet lle car
rled the county. Morgan had the people
with him and was openly supported by
the Progressive Age, the paper with per-
haps the largest circulation in the district;
yet when the vote Is counted it is seen
that Johnston has won. This is due to the
work OF such men as Judge Talley, Colo
mel R. C. Hunt and jean F.. Proctor and
only goes to prove what we have often
said, that as John Talley and Dick Hunt
go, SO goes Jackson county. To our mind.
the result is only proof of the strength of
these gentlemen.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-26
BURR'S CANDLE TALE
Woven Into Novel by n Senator From AL
ALBANIA

An old lawyer of Washington said:
"W7hen 1 read the article about the Man
haitian well crime, 1 was particularly inter-
ested in the paragraph that described
Aaron Burr's dramatic act of holding
pair of lighted candles in the face of a
spectator in the court room and shouting,
Gentlemen, here is the real murderer I
do not question this, but I remember that
Jere Clemens once famous United States
senator from Alabama, told of a trial in
which Burr appeared for the defense of a
man charged with murder. My recollection
is that the trial was in the southwest
when Burr addressed the jury it was at
night. The guilty man was in the court
room. He had been the principal witness
for the prosecution, but Burr had learned
that this witness was the assassin, and in
closing his address for his client he picked
up two lighted candles from the table and
holding them in the face of the witness
referred to, he exclaimed: Gentlemen of
the jury, there is natures verdict. Now
write yours At that moment the witness
fled from the room. After Clemens told this
story he wrote a historical novel called
ITO IllNdiS, OF, LUG l. lines OF
and Burr Into that book he wove the in
cident into one of the chapters. The book
is out of print and has been for many
years. But it had a great sale, particular-l
ly in the south, before the civil war for
Clemens was a typical southern orator and
a man of wonderful personal magnetism
The object of the novel was to make Burr
a hero and to besmirch Hamilton's char
acter.
I'm one chapter where Burr was high in
the esteem of Washington, the latter is
represented as reading a letter from Hamil-
ton in which Hamilton detailed some scan
dalous gossip about Burr. Burr was stand
ing behind Washington during the reading
of the letter. Washington, incensed at the
contents of the letter, turned quickly and
saw Burr, to whom he said: How dare you
read my letter over my shoulder?' Burr
as Clemens represents, stung to the quick,
drew himself up and replied with all the
hauteur of his nature: When Your Majes-
ty addresses such an inquiry to me in the
manner you have, the only reply decency
can prompt is, Aaron Burr dares to do any,
thing This, Clemens AYERS, was the cause
of the break between Washington and
Burr"
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-26

George Washington died at 81, of inlam-
nation of throat and lungs
John Adams died at 81 from senile debil-
ity.
Thomas Jefferson died at 50, of chronic
diarrhoea.
James Madison died at 50, of old age.
James Monroe died at 70, of general de-
bility.
John Quincy Adams died at 81, of paral-
ysis.
Andrew Jackson died at rs. of consump-
ton and dropsy.
Martin Van Buren, died at So of catarrh
of the throat.
William Henry Harrison died at 6S, of
pleurisy.
John Tyler died at TO- of bilious attack
James X Polk died al g. of cholera and
weakness.
Zachary Taylor died at &C of cholera NOR
bus
Willard Fillmore died at IA, of paralysis.
Franklin Pierce died at 65, of inhamma-
ton of the stomach.
James Buchanan died at II, of rheuma-
tism and govt
Abraham Lincoln died at Sc, assassinated
by J. Wilkes Booth.
Andrew Jackson died at 81, of paralysis.
Ulysses S. rGant died at SO. of cancer of
the throat.
Rutherfo1S b. Hayes died at TO- from
paralysis of the heart.
James A. Garfield died at 40, assassinated
by Charles ]. Guiteau.
Chester A Arthur died at Sc, of Bright's
disease.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-26
White Primaries ImposslhIe.

1.-THE people," says the Greenvile Living
Truth. "are in the saddle: they are doing
their own thinking and do not intend to be
led around bv the nose. The majority of
the white neonla of I2,,fIer county are going
into a white urinary and nothing can stop
tbar, Tbay are tired of discord and strife
,,d wont .oaoo ar5 ba,.,oorv The feeling
so.,,,s y, h, ,.o,,o.a1 ,,,,er tho state A white
,,ri-,,r,, ,,,,15 s,t,,o universal satisfaction
ND t,o taa, e ,,,oot,no, = beartv welcome"
nut. j. -, -. ..aa5 - tho white neo,le
. 1,,..,-. -. Nh, 40 T., tho soaala
7-,,,,,r... !, I,o,-,,, county dftean
-, - 80 r.-,,,.,.oo,s ,vsro voted
,z.t. g., ..,,.t-.,,, ,,o,o.,t,o, Is
.,...,.,z..... ,,.,.-.,,,,. a,a p,ter
- ,,,,,t no. l,ipa Of
.........,......, .,,o. 4,o oo-ni,,
- 80, ,,,,,,.,.o- ~,
n, -. ,.-.aoro.s for ds,no.
,z.,,....,. ,.,+.e IN o,a of the,,
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-26
WOODEN SAILING VESSELS IN DEMAND

Bangor Dispatch to New York Tribune,
December II.
From the activity witnessed in Maine
shipyards for the last year and the extern
sive preparations for the coming years
work 1t is evident that the days of the
wooden sailing vessel are by no means
past, and that Maine is to hold her place
as leader in that ancient industry. Ihere
Rave been launched from the yards Of this
state since January l new vessels aesre-
eating over $1,000 in net register tonnage,
and worth about Ss,00O0e0 while there are
on the stocks or under contract to he built
vessels whose tonnage will amount to about
81 900 and whose value will exceed %00O0oo,
vita prospects bright for a total tonnage
for 1900 OF 1900 to $4,000 and value of
So coo 00O
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-26
-7-----------
EG. ,..4Li.3Sss's .AM8I ION

From the Washington 1iTEcs.
II Representative Jesse statlings sue
ceeds in MS ambition, ard IS elected gov
ernor Of alab4m there WI Se sorrow in
one Eew 4crk heart. 1,ep-esea ta'tiye Nc
Cic.lan would rejoice greatly at friends
success in attaining tat to Nlol he
asp.res, out the joy in t1.s case would lie
tempered 10y genuine SORROW al losing tae
pleasure of a friends eompan.onsh.l.
iStalllGgs and Mcclellan are like Damon
and Pythias. They are insc9ara'De. They
walk together, they manage to sit side by
side in the house and they almost Invariably
cine together. There IS only orc time when
they separate, and aaat IS when Mcclellan
enters sociely. Jess" does not care for
society. While the New Yorker is dap9er
and always dressed in the height of FASH
ion, the Albanian is ds.s7 aa;Igng but a
swell IFS soft hat rs as big as Bai!ey's
or ''Chanp'' Clark's, and ne invariably
wears a doubie-breasted sack coat Staa.-
ings has peculiar faculty of getting peo-
pie out OF the street when they talk v. tn
nin-clear OFF the Sidewalk and into the
middle of the street. HIS is believed to
have been acquired by his camSasSnins
down in the Montgomery district where
the roads are narrow
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-26
A Tribute From John Ruskin

In village in the lake district a man
established a library for the benefit of
the people and just before it was opened
Ruskin was asked to inspect it, relates the
Chicago News. He did so willingly, was
much pleased with all he saw, and, after
warmly expressing his approval, finally de-
parted with a. promise to send a present
of books. 1t came in the form of a mag
nificent set of SCOTS novels. The wife
of the founder of the library thought the
books far too handsomely got up for the
purpose for which they were intended and
expressed this opinion to the donor.
Madam" said he. ''if the money the
books cost had been spent for floral decor
alton or for wines for a dinner, nothing
would have been said against it., but be-
cause it was laid out for the enjoyment
of simple villagers it is considered extrav-
"A CANT"
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-26
Courtesy Versus Convenience

Matt W. Ransom, late senator from
North Carolina and minister to Mexico,
made politeness a point of conscience, and
his manners were celebrated throughout
the capital, relates the Youths Compan-
ion One day, as he was walking to the
senate chamber, he saw approaching him
the very worst bore of his acquaintnce.
The senator was alarmed. Many things
were on his mind at the time and he dread
ed the thought of half an hour in such
company.
Nearer and nearer came the bore, but
as he smiled and touched his hat, Ram
SONS feelings overcame him. With a
short "Howdy do" the senator brushed
swiftly past.
The bore had paused, but, evidently
hurt at this curt dismissal, proceeded sad
ly on his way. Ransoms conscience
smote him. His conduct had been such as
it had never been before. After ten steps
he turned, and, with pleasant smile, call
ed back:
"Goodby, Simpkins. I've been thinks
ing a mighty heap about you lately, Simp-
kins."
The bore's face relaxed delightedly
"Ah! said he, returning.
Ransnm waved him back wildly with
both hands, crying:
eve been thinking a mighty heap about
you lately, Smpkins, but don't come back,
Simpkins don't come back!'
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-26
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELoR.
From the New York Press.

From the New York Press
The Lord loveth a cheerful liver
The only way to get girl to love you
right Is ITO act as If you wished she
wouldn't.
Nine-tenths of all the blond hair you ever
see on woman is more or less premeditated
AT the bottom of every woman's wish to
be wealthy is the longing to afford to go to
a manicures and to take all the face baths
she wants.
When a woman buys a new coat and asks
her husband to guess what she paid for It,
she always expects him to say about ten
dollars less than he thinks it cost, so she
can show him she Is such good manager.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-26

and Butler did not have sense enough to
read the meaning of new weapons and a
new powder Roberts and Kitchener are
men who can be trusted to fight when they
are ready, and then to fight intelligently.
The entrenched Boer may as well get ready
to stand up and be shot at as well as to
shoot. He has conducted a one-sided cam-
paign thus far. but the Butler business is
ended now.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-26
ARMt>RED TRAINS
History of Their Use in War, Starting From
Their Invention
Fielden's London Magazine.

FieldenS London Magazine.
AS with a great many other unitarian
devices, the Americans were the first to
construct an actual armor- plated train.
During the civil war in the states mob
destroyed the bridges on the Philadelphia,
Wilmington and Baltimore railway, and in
order to protect a recurrence of the disor-
ders and to protect the line generally the
government hit upon the expedient of con-
verting long, fiat. baggage car into a
small movable battery. The car was built
up and covered in with thick sheet iron. in
which were pierced a number of loopholes
for musketry. Portfolios were arranged in
tho center and at each end, and cannon
on a traversing turntable was mounted for
duty at each or either of the portfolios.
The projectiles used were of somewhat
extraordinary character, being nothing
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-26
COMPANY ATTACHED
Advance Agent Anxiously Concerned
About His Salary

Savannah Ca, December 25.-The "Mr.
Plaster of Paris Theatrical company's box
receipts and effects were attached here to-
night on a writ sworn out by Gilbert
Greene, the advance agent of the arganiza-
tion. He claims an arearage of salary
amounting to something less than 500. The
manager OF the company says he will con-
test the claim. Julia Morrison was formerly
leading lady in this company. Some weeks
ago at Chattanooga she shot and killed
the leading man, Frank Leiden
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-26
IN THE ORCHARD

Charlotte Lowery Marsh, in East and
West
Oh little sweet love, mine own little love,
When the apple-boughs were a-blowing
Did the pink-blushed petals drifted above
Set your own cheek a-glowing?
Came there a sunbeam all unaware
That tangling itself in endeayor
To kiss little love, your bonny brown hair.
Was caught there forever and ever?
Did a little wild bird sing low in your ear
The secret of song revealing,
That made melody tender and clear
Into your voice come stealing?
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-26
A violater os rho Juvenile Code

The Sabbath school teacher bad been
telling the class about Joseph, particularly
with reference to his coat of many colors,
and how his father had rewarded him for
being a good boy for Joseph, she said,
told his father whenever he caught any OF
his brothers in the act of doing wrong,
says the Baltimore News.
"Can any little boy or girl tell me what
Joseph was?" the teacher asked, hoping
that some of them had caught the idea
that he was Jacobs favorite.
81 know" one of the little girls said.
holding up her hand.
"What was hep
"a tattle-tale," was the reply.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-26

was the ready response in the resonant
and stentorian voice so familiar to Alaba-
mians.
John Ryan. of New Orleans, is in town.
]. o. Ryan, of Virginia, is in Birming-
ham.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-26
Incredulous as to Its Origin

A party was being shown over the Brit
ish museum. In one of the rooms the
keeper pointed out collection of antique
vases, which had been recently dug up at
Herculaneum, says Pearsons Weekly.
"Dug up sir?" echoed one of the party.
Eyes, SIR"
what out of the ground?"
Undoubtedly"
''What, just as they are?"
perhaps some little pains have been
taken in cleaning them, but in all other
respects they were found just as you see
them"
The wise man turned to one of his COM
panions, and, with an incredulous shake
of the head, whispered:
''He may say what he likes, but he shall
never persuade me that they dug up ready-
made pots out of the ground" 7
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-26

Goebel should refuse an election except
at the hands of the people.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-26

Cecil Rhodes prefers the balloon route
to the hospitality of the Beers.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-26

If Mr.. Quay must be admitted as party
necessity, there should be a stipulation as
to the length of his tariff speeches.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-26

Out in Arkansas they are killing alblno
quails-tBob Whites indeed and in fact.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-26

John l.. Sullivan was a pugilist, an actor
and neutrality-suspicious. money-maklnS
professions, and yet he is broke
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-26

Admiral Won Dledercns is now the nead
Of the German navy lie tried to be the
head of section of the American navy
but the scheme did not fill.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-26

Kimberley is learning by hellograh that
it must subsst on horse steaks al least
six weeks longer
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-26

French politics are smmeIing down to
the exposition level, with envy OF Eng
land thrown in as spice.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-26

The republican party is afflicted with
aspirants for the place that Roosevelt re-
jected.