davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The age-herald., 1901-07-11
DECLARATION
 WAS HURRIED BY FLIES
From the Kansas City Star.

From the Kansas City Star.
 Thomas Jefferson used to delight in telling how a swarm of flies caused the adoption of the Declaration of Indepen- dence on July 4, IT'S. The debate on the to interminable length. A livery stable was near the hall where the discussion was held. On the afternoon of the Fourth the flies came buzzing through the open windows and attacked the thinly protected legs of the members of Con- gress. Resistance with handkerchief and fan was in vain, and finally the dignifed body goaded to distraction, hurried to vote on the momentous question.
 If 1t had not been for Franklin's repu- tation as a wit he would probably have been the author of the Declaration in- stead of Jefferson. He was the man of greatest reputation on the committee ap- pointed to draft the document But he was such an inveterate joker that 1t was feared his levity might crop out even in the solemn paper So the venerable phil osopher was passed over and the task was intrusted to the red-haired youth from Virginia, then only 33 years old Nearly a half century later John Adams explained the choice in this wise: MT Jefferson came into Congress in June 1775 and brought with him a reputation for literature, science and happy talent of composition. Writings of his were culiar felicity of expression. Though q silent member in Congress, he was so prompt frank explicit and decisive upon committees and in conversation, not even Samuel Adams was more so, that he soon seized upon my heart, and upon this oc- casion I gave him my vote, and did all in my power to procure the votes of others"
 Adams and Jefferson were appointed a subcommittee to make the draft. Ac- cording to the Massachusetts man he in- sisted that Jefferson do it because he was a Virginian, popular, and could write "ten times better" than Adams Jefferson spent three weeks drawing up the docu- ment. He did his work on little table of his own design that Is still preserved.
 The declaration which Jefferson wrote was somewhat different paper from the one finally adopted. It contained this noble utterance on the subject of slavery: He (the king) has waged cruel war against human nature itself, violating the most sacred rights of life and liberty in the persons of distant people who never offended him, captivating and carrying them into slavery in another hemisphere, portation thither. This piratical warfare, the opprobrium of infidel powers, is the warfare of the Christian king of Great Britain. Determined to keep open a mar ket where men should be bought and sold,
The age-herald., 1901-07-11
Government Facts and Figures.

The fiscal year in the government offices was ended July 1, and the fig ures showing the receipts and dis bursements are interesting. Last De- cember Secretary Gage estimated the surplus of the year at s0,0OO,O00. The customs did not come up to his ex- pectations, and some of his estimates of expenditures were wide of the mark, but one mistake offsets another, so that his estimate of the surplus proved reasonably good. We give below a table showing .ne receipts and expend- itures of the two last fiscal years:
The age-herald., 1901-07-11
My business in this state Made me a Iooker-on here in Vienna.
 Measure for Measure.
Schools and the Suffraue.

The Mobile Register is always just, fair and candid; 1t carries nothing up it's sleeve, and any criticism on it's part therefore deserves attention and a temperate and courteous answer.
 It says The Age-Herald has practi- cally declared war on the new consti- tuition. It is scarcely possible to de- clare war against something that does noI exist. There is no new constitu- ton, and will not be in many months. The Age-Herald is in favor of better schools-has long been in favor of bet ter schools, and always will be in favor of better schools. It, too, thinks the suffrage plan of the suffrage commit tee unnecessarily complicated. when a poll-tax provision with good pri- mary law would suffice. Already the Virginia convention shows signs of adopting the pian The Age-Herald de- sires for Alabama.
 Now, unless it has been pre-determ- ined that the public schools are to be screwed down to the lowest notch. and unless it has also been determined to shove the majority report through regardless of objections, it cannot be said that The Age-Herald is opposed to any part of the proposed constitu- tion. The Register may have inside , formation concerning these two points, but The Age-Herald prefers to believe the 722.333 children will be treated generously to the everlasting good of the State, and that Alabama will regulate the ballot in the simplest spossible manner. We may be hoping against hope, but We prefer to hope for the best up to the last moment.
 The trouble all along has been that the questions involved have not been sufficiently discussed. They should have been discussed in the amplest manner before the day of choosing delegates, anu those delegates should have been chosen directly by the peo- pie. These mistakes cannot be rem edied, but until the final hour of action The Age-Herald will not hesitate to appeal for better instead of poorer schools, for the simplest instead of the most comphcated suffrage plan.
 The Register doubtless means to be just, but 1t is scarcely so when 1t con- strues The AgeHerald's position into a declaration of war all along the line. The Age-Herald is supported in it's school and suffrage views by the greater part of the press of the State, and it has criticized fewer acts of the convention than perhaps any of it's contemporaries. The Register itself has some doubts as to the wisdom of the convention work So has The Age-Herald, and those doubts shall be presented right up to the hour Of final action. The Register should in justice to the people of the State do likewise.
The age-herald., 1901-07-11
Failures for Six Months.

There were 5,S04 failures in the first six months of the year, as against 5,362 in the first six months of last year; but the liabilities in the former case were but s71,t44.244, against $100,- b70,134 in the latter case. In the South there were 1,o09 failures in the six months just ended, with liabilities of $7,6S3,313, as against 924 with lia- bilities of $7,54S,747 in the last six months of the year 1900. This small increase corresponds very closely with the changes in other sections of the country.
 In Alabama 76 failures occurred in the first six months of this year, their liabilities being $3s0,034. In the cor responding months of last year there were 61 failures with liabilities amounting to s302.s0S. In Georgia the failures this year numbered 132, asaaEst 4ilast year. but the liabilities were less. in Mississippi the number of failures was nearly doubled, and the liabilities of 1901 were about 33 per cent larger.
 Of the Alabama failures in the six months just ended g were engaged in manufacturing, their liabilities being ,f2,s20; 65 in trading. liabilities, $265,- 965; in banking. liabilities, $200s s6o0, and 2 unclassed, liabilities, $4l. .24s.
The age-herald., 1901-07-11
CHURCH DEADHEADISM.
From the Washington Post.

From the Washington Post.
 As to the endowment of churches in the United States, there Is room for more than one opinion We should be glad to see all churches out of debt, and 1t is a happy fact that rapid progress is being made toward that desirable con- summation. But we do not believe 1t would be helpful to religious progress to have church members relieved from any necessity to contribute to the support of their churches. Deadheadism in religion would be a calamity rather than bless ing We should not expect great amount of good work from a church so richly endowed that it's members would not need to practice some self-denial in meeting their views of duty respecting the support of the gospel.
The age-herald., 1901-07-11
THE MINORITY REPORT.
From the Mobile Item.

From the Mobile Item.
 A great majority of the most promi- nent newspapers in the South endorse the minority report on the suffrage ordi- nance now before the Constitutional Con- vention at Montgomery. and strongly condemn the action of every member who or any other ordinance that may be framed-by the convention on the ground. and for the reason that he stands with his judgment viased by a pledge extorted from him by political party.
The age-herald., 1901-07-11
RECEIPTS.
,tals.... ..... ..s5os, ,sss, BIO. 3s s4s7, ,7sl Il

TotalS..... SoU8, SoS, olo. oS @foi' 'isl.il
 The receipts of 1901 were increased to the extent of $1S,607,4 ,457, but ex- penditures were increased to the ex- tent of $22,z69,51S. The net surplus of the year just ended was $75,864,988. The reductions in internal revenue will cut off about $42,OOO,OOO, but if the country remain in prosperous condi- tion it is estimated that the surplus of the present fiscal year will be about s50,OOO,O 900.
 Prosperity Is, however, essential. In the calendar year 1900 we exported breadstuffs, cotton, meat products, live animals, tobacco, oil cake and oil cake meal, vegetable oils, fruits and meats, dairy products, seeds and miscellane- ous agricultural exports to the value of $S44,615,53O. Upon the maintenance O. these exports depends to a great ex- tent the prosperity of the present year. We sent abroad last year raw cotton to the value of $242,OOO,00o. of which Great Britain took sa0,260 ,0O0; Ger many, s64,.--. %, and France. $27,- 776,0O0. These are our chief custom CTS, and Great Britain is by far the best of the three in all agricultural ex- ports. We send abroad a good deal of other stuff, out the great weight of our exports are agricultural. The extent of these this year will be the measure of our prosperity.
The age-herald., 1901-07-11
REFLECTIONS OF 4 BACHELOR.
rom the New York Press.

From the New York Press.
 Heaven bless women for not being men.
 Only respect can bind man to man; wo- mans hold oh woman is fear of a shsfp tongue.
 The glorious thing about woman Is that nothing In the world shames her If she does 1t for love of her own.
 When man steals kiss from a wo- man she can't help admitting to herself there are some temptations no man can resist.
The age-herald., 1901-07-11
ceoroIa Press Association.

Atlanta, Ga. July 10.-The Georgia Press Association left for Buffalo this afternoon. The party Is in charge of Hon. H. H. Cabaniss of Atlanta. The trip will be made oyer the Southern and Queen and Crescent by way of Cincin- natl and Cleveland
The age-herald., 1901-07-11
IN HOTEL LOBBIEs
 AND ELSEWHERE

Astrologer Raphaers prophecies for this day, Thursday. July Il, 1901:
 Ask favors. travel, remove, sign writ ings, and deal before o'clock in the af- ternoon."-
 Be careful of speculation and avoid 1t, this being thy birthday; with care thy business will succeed well and thou wilt have an active and prosperous year"
 "A child born on this day will be for tunate and rise in life, and meet success at every step 1t will be very fortunate in employ and meet early promotion
The age-herald., 1901-07-11

Sixteen hundred-yes, sixteen hun travellers who nei- ther drink, smoke nor play cards, have formed a society in Chicago, calling themselves "The Gideons." The Age Herald declines responsibility for this statement. It may be true, however.
The age-herald., 1901-07-11
ALARAMA,s LIFE VOTERS.

From the Selma Times
 The suffrage amendment authorizes some people to register next year for life. After they once get on they can defy the laws of God and man, and if they escape the penitentiary, vote for life
The age-herald., 1901-07-11

The people of Omaha are mad be- cause in their bull fights the toreadors neither kill the bulls, nor the bulls the tOreadors.
The age-herald., 1901-07-11

The Rogers girt to New York's Art Lluseum Is now in the hands of the critics, who know he cannot take it back.
The age-herald., 1901-07-11

The prevailing heat beyond the Mis- sissippi renders the wearing of masks very uncomfortable, and this discour- ages hold-ups.
The age-herald., 1901-07-11
New Tricks of Thieves.

Burglars and pickpockets have begun to make free use of electricity in the com mission of their crimes, and I wouldn't be surprised If some of the recent rob- berries In Birmingham were proved to have been. accomplished In part by the use Of that same power which lights the streets and drives the street cars," said pri- vate detective yesterday.
 Recently in Chicago a thief was ar rested who was distinguished above oth- CTS of his profession by the perfection of his garments and appearance. In pocket of his elegantly-ftting coat was con- cealed the secret of his success. It was powerful little electric battery joined by wires to a metallic plate which he held in the palm of his right hand. Approach ing his intended victim with out stretched hand he would greet him with the fervor of an old friend. Woe betide the unlucky man if he accepted the prof fered hand-shake. A sharp electric shock rendered him quite powerless, and in a trice he was stripped of watch. purse and jewelry
 iCdo Ol d pui 6ioAy thot Woo oSSOAh- plished by the cutting of electric wires In a building and the melting of a hole in the safe by means of the electricity. The burglars were of course supplied with electrical apparatus. They got ssoO0. An other burglary was committed by means of an ordinary blowpipe made out of or dinary rubber tubing and acting upon a cylinder of oxygen gas. Heat of 2ooo de- grees was obtained and 1t melted hole In the 'burglar-proof' safe. Similarly they could have melted hole in the armor of a battleship.
 Throwing pepper in the eyes of in tended victims Is an old dodge of pick pockets; but the match trick practiced .n New York is new, as well as dangerous. The thief will enter a crowded car, and quickly selecting his victim, generally woman, he will take a seat by her. At once he strikes noiseless match and sets fire to the woman's clothing. In the ex- ctement which follows the thief secures the woman's purse and maybe the purses of other excited passengers.
 The Great Schwab's Brother Here.
 J. F. Schwab of Pittsburg, brother of President Schwab of the United States Steel Corporation, spent yesterday in Birmingham. MT. Schwab arrived in Birmingham night before last and reg istered at the Morris Nothing could be ascertained as to the object of his visit. He left last night for the East.
 About Persons.
 c. C. Hanson of Savannah is at the Morris
 Dr. A. J. Battle the we'll known edu- cator of Anniston. is at the Metropoli- tan
 Dr. w. C. Hearn and F. P. Mcconnell of Talladega are at the Metropolitan.
 Ira Fl. Virgin of Montgomery is in Birmingham. H.S
 Henry Lloyd of Selma is at the Morris.
 Charles P Jackson of Montgomery Is at the Morris.
 Emmet Dawson of Boston is at the Morris.
 Daniel Pratt of Prattville is at the Morris.
 Prof J. H. Johnson of Talladega is at the Morris.
 Francis B. Jones of Camden Is at the Morris.
 A. D. Thompson of Sheffield Is at the Morris .,
The age-herald., 1901-07-11

The weather has become wholly req sonable. There Is sunshine enough for the growing cotton, and not too much for the growing babies.
The age-herald., 1901-07-11

King Edward and Speaker Tender son conferred together fu1-- --Ialf hour. They did not merely talk-they con- ferred,
The age-herald., 1901-07-11
Down With the Suffrage Scheme.

"The signal failure, by a vote of 05 to 45. of Judge Colemans attempt of today to fix a date for rushing the suffrage scheme through the Constitutional Con vention Is of pleasing significance to the people of Alabama" declared man who has held high office in the State speak ing last night.
 Judge Coleman was aware that the people were thinking he knows now that the delegates of the convention are like wise thinking.
 ''The vote of today against Judge Cole mans proposition will give the people hope that the delegates will refuse in the end to adopt the crazy-quilt franchise clause as reported to the convention.
 "The longer final vote on this deplor- ably bad suffrage scheme Is deferred the greater will be the number of delegates to register their emphatic disapproval or the plan which has scarcely one feature to recommend 1t to wise men who demand purer politics in Alabama.
 "The supporters of the plan are per fectly willing to have newspapers and the people hit the grandfather clause; the clause was probably put in for that very purpose-to serve 'hs a cloak to the hope lessly bad and wholly intolerable regis tration scheme
 But the interview with an eminent Alabamian in Sundays Age-Herald' which was happily reproduced In the Age Herald of Monday, has opened the eyes of the people, and everybody now knows that the repistra tion scheme Is so framed that it will make easy and legalize great CT corruption In politics than has ever De- fore prevailed in Alabama.
 "The action of the convention today Tn rejecting Judge Coleman's proposition IS the most hopeful sign that has yet come from Montgomery!'
The age-herald., 1901-07-11

The Penn-Leander boat race will be John Bulls consolation prize when he again loses the Americas cup.
The age-herald., 1901-07-11

Senator Billy nlason has no intention of wearing his heart on his sleeve for Dawes-but hold, this is enough.
The age-herald., 1901-07-11

AQpms are collapsing in Europe, par ticui lrly in Germany and America is the only happy land.
The age-herald., 1901-07-11

The American eagle is able to scream, but not to row.
The age-herald., 1901-07-11

In Ohio the fact that Nicely and Rathbone are permitted by the admin istration to go untried is an issue.
The age-herald., 1901-07-11

The heat of the Philippines is very pleasant to Kansas City or Memphis man.
The age-herald., 1901-07-11

Spains new war vessels will bear the mark, Made in England" All things come to those who wait.
The age-herald., 1901-07-11

The messenger boy who collided wi... a man, upsetting him, had been left off to go to ball game.
The age-herald., 1901-07-11

The price of coal outside of Alabama has been marked up.
The age-herald., 1901-07-11

The magnates are reticent and mys- terious and the lambs are beginning to gather for another shearing.
The age-herald., 1901-07-11

The American idiot was very scarce in the first Fourth of July of the cen tury.
The age-herald., 1901-07-11

Earl Russell is about to achieve the most spectacular trial in all history.
The age-herald., 1901-07-11

H The campaign by and against the mosquito will be flor blood"
The age-herald., 1901-07-11

Cash, not titles, is what King Ed. ward wants.
The age-herald., 1901-07-11

Iowa does not want Conger as Gov ernor, and he has gone back to his old post in China
The age-herald., 1901-07-11
Poison Oak and It's AntIdotes.

Poison oak and poison ivy, which are just now afflicting a great many people, have the same botanic name, rhus toxi- codendron, and have the same poisonous qualities, the one being small erect busn
 and the other a recumbent kind of vine marking the only difference in the plants said a Birmingham botanist yesterday.
 .It is said that some people cannot get into the neighborhood of poison oak or ivy without suffering from the poison or the plant, while others can handle 1t with out any Ill effects. Many antidotes to the poison have been recommended. as 1t af- fects different people differently, and among the most efficacious has been strong soapsuds and bicarbonate Of soda. One peculiarly painful result of rhus toxi- codendron poisoning is that with many people the parts poisoned are liable to be affected for several years afterward at about the same period the disease was originally caught.
 Tn addition to the aids of the druggist. however nature Is said to have provided a most efficient remedy for rhus toxico- dendron poisoning In the shape of wide ly-spread flower known as spotted touch me-not' or 'impatiens fulvai.' The rem edy Is applied by expressing juices of the plant and applying them to that part of the skin which has been poisoned"
The age-herald., 1901-07-11

do not use in the legal sense, of course. but merely in It's moral significance. Grand iuries in this State often refuse to indict men guilty of taking human life, while attempts to take life are in many instances entirely ignored outside of the noliee courts, where a s100 fine Is the limit of punishment.
 "The capital county Of Montgomery, in which the Constitutional Convention sits, has had a woeful experience In these partieulars--worse perhaps than the larger county of Jefferson. But no coun- ty Is free from unpunished murders and attempts at murder. Montgomery Is cited because 1t Is the capital county and because its white population Is perhaps more enlightened than the white popula- ton of any other county.
 "The convention in its wisdom-in multitude of counsellors there Is some-- times wisdom-should realize that the cheapest thing in Alabama is human life, and possibly the convention might do something to change that condition. It Is A fact that one man so inclined may murder another in cold blood before the world, and for few hundred dollars, or maybe for nothing, escape punish ment!
 "Governor Jelks' offer of $20o reward in the Elmore lynching case may bring one or more of those murderers to jus tice. but I don't believe 1t will.
The age-herald., 1901-07-11
The Great schwab's Brother Here.

J. E. Schwab of Pittsburg. brother of President Schwab of the United States Steel Corporation. spent yesterday in Birmingham MT. Schwab arrived In Birmingham night before last and reg istered at the Morris. Nothing could be ascertained as to the object of his visit. He left last night for the East.
The age-herald., 1901-07-11

D. A. Fitch and J. c. Little are the only authorized travelling representatives of The Age-Herald in its circulating depart ment
The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1901-09-12
PRESIDENT WILL LIVE.

ed with neatly uniformed guards from
the exposition police, under the com
mand of Captain Damar.
When the presidential party was
within the building, the soldiers were
ordered to come to "attentiOn,' and
all took their places. The president
was escorted to the center of the
palm bower, and Mr.. Milburn took a
position on his left, so As to intro
duee the people as they came III. Sec
retary CortelyOu stood by the pres
ident to the right Secret service
operator Foster, who had Travelled
everywhere with the president, took
in front of Mr.. Milburn, and secret
service operator Ireland stood by his
left, so that he Ireland) was the
same distance in front of the presl-
dent a. was Foster in front of the
eXposition's president.
Through this narrow two-fOOt pas
sage the people who would meet the
president must pass, and when all
was ready, with detectives scattered
| throughout the aisles, the president
smiled to Mr.. Buchanan, who was
standing near the corporal in charge
of the artillerymen, and said that he
was ready to meet the people.
He was very pleasant, and as he
waited for the doors to open he
rubbed his hands together, adjusted
| his long Prince Albert coat and
laughingly chatted with Mr.. Milburn
while Secretary Cortelyou gave the
last instructions to the officers as tC
the manner III which the crowds were
to be hurried on through, so tnat III
many as possible could meet the eX
| ecut,ve.
Mr.. Milburn ordered the door tC
open and immediately a wavering
line of people who had been squeezed
against the outside of the door fol
hours began to wend it's way VI
through the line OF ofsoldiers and police
to the place where the president
stood.
An old man with silvery white hail
was the first to reach the president
and on his shoulder the little girl h'
carried received a warm salutation
He Speaks Kindly TO Little
Children as They Pass
Orgamst W. J. Comp started OF