davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The age-herald., 1901-02-21
A Perfectly Darling Meetinu.

''The dear and devoted D. A. Rs. are apparently having warm time in Wash ington, and the fair and lovable creatures are doubtless enjoying a perfectly darl- ing meeting,' said George Whitaker of Washington, "a son-in-law of the Revo- lution," as he called himself last night.
 ''I see in the newspapers corroboration of what I heard in Washington last week, that the Daughters have this year selected a man as parliamentarian of their national congress. For obvious rea- sons his name is kept secret, but word Is given out that he is a thorough mas ter of parliamentary. law, rules, and pro-. ceedure generally and that he Is there fore quite equal to the burdensome duty of dealing with any rscrapping' affair that may arise. Already there have been two or three rows, the Tenneseeans and the Carolinians, and maybe some others, having 'bolted' on one or two questions.
The age-herald., 1901-02-21
FASHION HARD ON ANIMALS.

From the Chicago Times-Herald.
 Some of the creatures which yield up their furs for fashions sake are not killed-they are assassinated. They meet death at a spears point while dormant within their little homes, built with in- finite labor and skill. Some of these dwellers of the wilderness have already been hurried to the very verge of ex- tinction. The silver fox, a perfect crea- ture of nature bears about with him a pelt worth $300O. He rarely looks in the face of his kind. These foxes are so few and far between that when by any chance an Indian captures one he immediately goes on spree of long duration.
The age-herald., 1901-02-21
A Reasonable Request.

Now that Lent is here and evenings must be spent at home, or regardless of Lent" writes a belle of Birmingham, please find room in your paper for the enclosed 'pome' sent me from Pretoria said to have been clipped from the Chi cago Record.' Certainly: He came at half-past seven
 To pay an evening call. She feared about eleven
 That he'd never go at all. His style of conversation
 Was innocently inane, Showing lack of cogitation.
 But his manner was urbane. He smiled and kept on talking
 In a cheerful, babbling flow, While she spoke about the walking
 And wished that he would go! In vain her hints and yawning;
 He stayed, and stayed and stayed; It was really almost morning
 Ere he left that wearied maid. She said she thought she really
 Would have had to take nap, And she wondered why they called him
 Such an easy-going chap"
The age-herald., 1901-02-21
Senator Pettus, Jokes.

"During the comedy on the subsidy bill in the Senate the other night in which MT. Teller was the star and MT. Tillman, MT. Chandler, MT. Jones of Arkansas and other statesmen took active parts, the venerable Senator Pettus of Alabama, the patriarch of that distinguished body, who is familiarly known to his colleagues as the Buffalo, created a sensation by eclaiming impatiently:
 :" MT. President, how long is this - nonsense going to last?"' telegraphs Will liam F. Curtis, the most celebrated of Washington newspaper correspondents, to the Chicago Record.
 Senator Pettus' anecdote about the lawyers, the $50OO fee. the poorhouse and the penitentiary, which he related in the debate on the ship subsidy bill the other day, and which was reported by the As sociated Press, is a very old Alabama story and is familiar to thousands, though always worthy of re-telling," said native Alabamian last night.
 ''The first time I ever heard the story it was related in the course of a great
 
 county in July, 1S76 by Gen. John T. Nor gan, who was shortly afterwards elected to the United States Senate. General Morgan related 1t as being true of Hon. James L. Pugh, afterwards and for many years his colleague in the Senate, and the late Judge John Cochran of Barbour County, a famous lawyer and wit, and MT Pugh's former law partner. This Morgan version of the story was that when MT. Pugh and Judge Cochran formed their partnership Judge Cochran insisted that they had to guard against two dangers: the poorhouse on the one side and the penitentiary on the other. In good time they won a $50O0 fee, which was paid to MT. Pugh He took the money to the law office and counting out half of the sum he passed it over to Judge Cochran with the remark:
 " Cochran, that doesn't look like the poorhouse, does it?'
 " No, Pugh, no, answered Judge Coch- ran, but it pushes the penitentiary d-d close'
 ''The Morgan version of four and twenty years ago does not essentially dif- fer from the Associated Press report of Senator Pettus' version"
The age-herald., 1901-02-21
Free schools in the State.

Before the close of another week the last Legislature under the present con- stitution will have come to an end. This Legislature has an opportunity to instead of substituting a lot of pay schools. Those who by interest are tied to the pay schools say the State is not ready to establish free schools, although every other State in the union has them. If the State is not ready for free schools for five months in the year, then let there be free schools for lesser term. Let there be free schools for some length of time, wholly distinct from and disconnected with pay schools.
 It is the duty of the Legislature to do this. Justice and the making of good citizens demand this. When the State is appropriating million dollars more to public education, shall this sum be abolished by pay schools which the self-respecting barefoot boys and girls of the State cannot and will not attend? This question is before the Senate in the Gunnells bill-a bill that some of the teachers of pay schools are opposing. Dr. Curry found at Mont gomery Hobbies in almost every inter- est except of the barefoot boys and girls of the State. They have no lob byists-no pull-no influence. But the Senate certainly will not be deaf to their needs. As it loves Alabama it will see that the poorest shall share in the beneficence of the State on terms that do not destroy their self respect. This is what the Gunnells bill will. do. If the term named be too long, make it shorter; but at any rate let the Legislature that became his toric by calling a constitutional con- vention increase it's claims upon the gratitude of the State by establishing a system of free schools.
The age-herald., 1901-02-21
A Famous Alabamian.

'"The memory of Alabamians concern ing another famous son of Barbour, an old associate of Senator Pugh, Judge Cochran and Colonel Bullock, is aroused
 by information that Alpheus Baker the
 younger died few days ago in Louisville,
 Ky. He was the son of the late Gen.
 Alpheus Baker who made the famous
 speech accepting a flag in the Alabama
 secession convention, January, 1861, an incident of history to which there has been recently considerable reference in this place of gossip. The flag was handed to William L. Yancey one day by ladies
 of Montgomery, and Yancey waved 1t in the convention, whereupon the president of the convention, the late Judge William M. Brooks of Birmingham, called upon Baker, then young man, for speech of still felt by the few survivors who heard it. Baker became a brigadier general of the Confectionery. $
 During the years immediately follow
 Ing Reconstruction, when the Democratic
 and Conservative party as the white
 mans party was then called, was try ing to drive the carpetbaggers out of power In Alabama, General Baker was
 one of the most powerful speakers for
 the cause of his people, ranking with General Morgan and Gen. Cullen A. Bat
 tie in effectiveness on the stump. His
 eloquence was marvelously great. But he
 seemed to lose out as the phrase goes, in both politics and law, and about 1880 he
 removed to Louisville, where he formed
 law partnership with Sterling B. Toney,
 brilliant young man also of Barbour County, and brother-in-law of Gen. Will liam Calvin Oates. Within few years MT. Toney was elected to a judgeship, position he still holds. General Baker was last in Birmingham in 1891, when he was
 of counsel for the prosecution in the cele-
 brated Martin Martin murder trial. The
 general died several years ago, and now he Is followed by his son."
The age-herald., 1901-02-21

great corporations are seemingly doing, judging by the eagerness with which their attorneys and other representatives arc announcing as delegates there would be a. chance to have a revision of the conrtitution acceptable to all interests. But with the primary election just one month off and the general apathy among the people in the matter of still continu- ing. there Is a strong probability that the convention will be dominated by the rep- rescntatives of the corporations and a possibility that a constitution will be fastened upon the state that would ac- cord most readily with the Vanderbilt saying: ''The public be d-d." The peo- pie of Alabama are in the middle of a. vcry bad fix, and they are liable to re- main in it for some time to come. But they are alone to blame.
The age-herald., 1901-02-21
ASToR AND LIEUT.. ROBSON.

New York Letter in the Pittsburg Dis
 patch.
 Col. John Jacob Astor, who has keen admiration for Lieutenant Hobson, was responsible for the 5000 fund, started during his recent illness whereby five pieces of heavy silver ornamented with designs from Hobsons book on the sink ing of the Merrimac have been made for presentation to the young naval officer. The service has been on view for two weeks in jeweler's window at Broadway and Eighteenth street, and will be for mally presented to Lieutenant Hobson as soon as he returns from the south A southern woman solicited subscriptions to the fund.-
The age-herald., 1901-02-21

paign in China. That would be an act of war, and in the midst of peace nego- tiations would be unpardonable The United States Is doing all in its power to persuade the powers not to permit such an outrageous act. How much can be done in this respect is not known, but there is the probability of division of opinion among the powers on this point, which means an interruption of the peace negotiations, friction and grave danger of an international clash. The situation could not be more precarious.
 Much depends on Emperor Williams attitude. Meantime the outrageous feat ures of the proposed expedition are im- pressed on students of Chinese affairs. The allies, posing as Christians, have been guilty of gross footing and rapine, and to crown it all is the proposal of a great expedition which will necessarily be accompanied by most offensive actions on the part of the troops, none of whom will be Americans.
The age-herald., 1901-02-21
COON CATS EXPLAINED.

From the Palmyra Cat Journal.
 No one who knows a little bit about cats will talk for a minute about coon cats. People who talk about them, as if any such thing actually existed, would talk about sky-blue scarlet silk, squares with round corners and Italic periods. It is simply a term used by people, who know no better, which is applied to any long-haired cats.
The age-herald., 1901-02-21
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
 AND ELSEWHERE

Astrologer Raphaels prophecies for this day. Thursday, February 21, 1901:
 Sell before D. m."
 DO not speculate or run any risks with thy money, else thou wilt lose it. this being thy birthday; keep thy business well in hand, and attend to it, else 1t will fail"
 "A child born on this day should keep in the employ of others, and not attempt anything on it's own account, or it will fail. If a female her welded life will be d very unhappy one"
The age-herald., 1901-02-21
A CHECK FOR 2s MILLIONS.

From q New York Letter.
 One check representing $23,127,0 016 was deposited in the First National Bank Saturday by J. Pierpont Morgan in con- nection with the recent acquisition of a controlling interest in the Central Rail- way of New Jersey by himself and as- sociates. This is one of the largest checks ever drawn, and there was some gossip to the effect that it might cause a distur- bance
The age-herald., 1901-02-21
Claim Will Be Allowed.

From tho Tuscaloosa Times.
 The United States Senate has added to the omnibus claims bill an item that is interesting to Tuscaloosa. It is the claim of the late Mrs s. Louise Cochrane, ad- ninistratrix of her husbands estate. A large amount of cotton was seized by the federal army during the war from Judge and Mrs. Cochran'e parents of Mayor w. G. Cochrane of this place. The claim has been passed on favorably sev- eral times and as allowed by the senate amendment amounts to $5,365
The age-herald., 1901-02-21
HOW THE NEW REGIMENTS
 ARE TO BE ORGANIZED
BY ALBERT HALsTEAD.

Age-Herald Bureau, 509 Fourteenth St., N. w., Washington, February 2O.-(spe- cial.)-In the organization of the new regiments authorized by the army reor- ganization law, there are five of infantry and five of cavalry, and the equivalent of five of artillery, the war department proposes to take each volunteer regiment as 1t reaches San Francisco, and have men supposed to be eligible then picked out. This is to be by the commanding of- ficer of the regiment who will submit the names to General Shafter. General Shaf- ter will then view the candidates. have them physically examined, make inquir- les as to their records, their antecedents and educational qualifications The names of those considered desirable being com municated to the War Department, au- thorizations of examinations will be made unless there be some objection at this end. It is calculated that about half of those designated will succeed in pass ing the stringent examinations. They will be immediately commissioned and assign ed as second lieutenants to the regimen tai batallions, now forming, and as soon as organized be sent to the Philippines on the first available transport Every officer thus chosen will be commissioned to date from February 2, and after the candidates from every regiment have all beon selected, their lineal rank will be determined by the War Department. This will prevent the men who are longest de- tained in the Philippines from suffering therefrom by being ranked below their fellows who were fortunate enough to come home early. Another point in con- nection with this plan is that 1t will make the selections on merit rather upon Con- gressonal and Senatorial recommended tions, much fairer method of choosing officers. It is also important to notice that enlisted men of the volunteers who have served creditably and are of the proper moral, and intellectual and phy, slca) stamp will thus have an opportun- itv to enter the army. The fact Is there is as little favoritsm as possible in the choice of officers for the army.
The age-herald., 1901-02-21
Tariff War Excites Interest.

London, February 20.-The Vienna cor respondent of the Times says:
 "The feasibility of Russo-American tariff war excites keen interest here Austria Hungary also exports sugar to the United States, and has regarded the previous exemption of the competing Russian product as equivalent to spe- cial favor granted by the United States to Russia. It is expected here that the imposition of the duty will exclude Rus sian sugar from the American market"
The age-herald., 1901-02-21
RUSSIAN TARIFF WAR IS
 ATTRACTING ATTENTION
BY ALBERT HALSTEAD,

Age-Herald Bureau, 5O9 Fourteenth Street, N. w, Washington February 20. Special )-The retaliatory measures on Russia and the possibility of a general tariff war with the nations of the world attract attention now. It's possibility of grave injury to our own trade are not overlooked, but the feeling exists that the nations that force it will suffer most. It seems altogether probable that Russia will gain her point and have the counter vailng sugar duties omitted because there is a grave question whether they were justified. If that be done the dan ger is that other nations will think 1t gives them an excuse to play the same game. If they do the result will be diff ferent.
 Waldersee's Action.
 There Is not only much apprehension but great indignation in official circles at Count von Waldersee's plan to send out an expedition on an eighty-day cam
The age-herald., 1901-02-21
Building a College.

From the Colburn New Era.
 Work on the college is progressing sat isfactorily now that the building has been covered. The floor has been laid and some ceiling has been put up this week. Priming coat of paint has been put on outside of building and finishing coat will be put on next week, the weather pero hitting. The building will probably be ieady for the school by April l.
The age-herald., 1901-02-21
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

From the New York Press.
 A good complexion spells the house. work.
 Until a man falls in love all girls look alike to him.
 Be sure you're right, then go ahead but don't ask woman. A girl has got to be 25 before she is wise enough not to try to be witty.
 It's a funny thing that you never feel near so sleepy Sunday morning, when you don't have to get up.
 He may claim to the other women that he doesn't, but the average man likes to have a girl chase him.
The age-herald., 1901-02-21
Desirable Acuuisition.

From the Talladega News-Reporter.
 Speaking of the annexation of West Florida now being agitated on paper we rather suspect in all seriousness, Ala harla's acquisition of Pensacola as an ad- ditional Gulf port which would accrue, would mean more to West Florida, Pen sucola and Alabama than that of all the seven counties included in the prospective annexation.
The age-herald., 1901-02-21
THE RIDE TO THE CAPITOL.

From the Washington Times.
 It seems to be settled that MT. Hanna is to occupy with MT. Mckinley the state carriage in the inaugural procession. Why such an obviously proper and even necessary arrangement should occasion surprise in any quarter is something that we cannot understand.
 Has 1t not always been the rule for the retiring and incoming Presidents to ride together?
The age-herald., 1901-02-21
WITH THE EDITORS OF
 THE STATE PRESS
Of Greatest Importance.

From the Mobile News.
 On the ninth day of March the Demo- cratic voters of the State will assemble at their respective voting place for the rurpase of nominating candidates for delegates to the constitutional conven- tion. No more important matter has ever engaged the attention of the Demo- cratic voters of Alabama.
The age-herald., 1901-02-21
Did'n See the Silver Service.

From the Mobile Item.
 When the members of the Alabama leg islature visited the battleship Alabama at Pensacola it is pretty safe to say they observed with regret that she was not emnellished with silver service pre- scented by the people of Alabama. What are the legislators going to do about it? Are they going to contribute to the fund for the service and urge the people of Alabama to contribute, too? We trust so.
The age-herald., 1901-02-21
Select Only Good Men.

From the Selma Times. et
 E If the patriotic, conservative men all over the State would take as much in terest in the choosing of the proper ma terial to constitute the constitutional convention as the railroads and other
The age-herald., 1901-02-21

Mrs. Eddy comedies that smallpox and other contagious diseases do not come within the faith school of heal ing. The esteemed Dowie has not been heard from
The age-herald., 1901-02-21
vIcroRIA's FAVoRITE VERSE.

(The following quaint verses appeared anonymously in an obscure Scotch paper and it is said that of all the panegyrics and tributes in prose or verse ever writ. ten of her they pleased her most)
 SHE NoDDIT TO ME. I'm but an auld body
 Livin' up In Deeside In twa-roomed bit hoosie
 WI my coofa' beside; WI my coo an my grumphy
 I'm as happy's bee, But I'm far prooder moo
 Since she noddit to mel I'm nae sac far past wit
 I'm gey trig an hale, N Can plant twa-three tawties,
 An look after my kale; An wher GOT Queen passes
 rin oot to see Gin by luck she micht notice
 An nod oot to mel But I've aye been unlucky.
 An the blinds were aye doom, Till last week the time
 O. her veesit cam roun; I waved my bit apron
 AS brisk's could dee, An the Queen launched fu't
 An noddit to mel My son sleeps in Egypt
 It's nae ease to freit- ls. eN j. An yet when think o't I'm sair like to greet; She may feel for my sorroW
 She's mither, ye see; yi An may be she kent o't * 's When she Ioddit to msi s.A-'Aa
The age-herald., 1901-02-21

The members of a young woman's to utter single word during Lent. But this does not preclude young man who means business from getting a reply, This is so sudden" on paper.
The age-herald., 1901-02-21

Maurice Thompson, the poet and novelist, recently dead, was not pes simist. Higher praise cannot be said of any one.
The age-herald., 1901-02-21

The proposed increase in the salary of the Vice President may be made a rider to an appropriation bill. In that way it can be rough ridered through.
The age-herald., 1901-02-21

The administration papers have called Mark Twain all sorts of names, and they now say he always was a mugwump. They seem to think hang ing is too good for him, although he told the truth about them only.
The age-herald., 1901-02-21
Merriment In a Monastery.

The Rev. Father Robert priest of Brookside, was in Birmingham yesterday returning to his parish after brief visit to the Benedictine College and monas- tery of St. Bernard at Cullman, Father Robert himself being a Benedictine. He went to join his brothers of that ancient order in their happy celebration of, the carnival of Shrove-T Tuesday. The good monks, lay brothers, and college stu dents had a delightful time Tuesday. The St. Bernard College Glee Club gave some most charming vocal music, and two or three farces were acted on the stage in the recreation hall. The pious monks and brothers entered thoroughly into the spirit of the occasion, and were abundantly happy in the merriment i'm mediately preceding the rigor of Lent as 1t is observed in monastic community.
 The entertainment was especially en- joyable to the good Father Robert, whom they call "the human sunbeam" because of his unfailing geniality, brightness and urbanity. It was quite a change for him from the constant work of priest and school teacher at Brooksde.
The age-herald., 1901-02-21

Mark Hanna will ride with President Mckinley to the inauguration, but he cannot be inaugurated. It would be too irregular.
The age-herald., 1901-02-21

The tariff looters are up against Min ister de wette of Russia, and he is said to be very lively and capable Russian.
The age-herald., 1901-02-21

Philip c. Knox, attorney for trusts, is said to be booked for attorney gen. eral. He lives in Justice Shiras' town.
The age-herald., 1901-02-21
10000 Bales of Cotton Burned.

Snoia, Ga, February 2O.-Ten thousand bales of cotton in Lynch & North's ware house burned last night. Loss about $45,- 900.
The age-herald., 1901-02-21

Congress should meet in extra ses- sion April 1, the Cuban constitution be- ing but a blind to IAe subsidy steal.
The age-herald., 1901-02-21

Delegate Wilcox of Hawaii is a new possession that is not favored in Wash ington.
The age-herald., 1901-02-21

The people of New York have had an opportunity at home to study life of the Greenland sort.
The age-herald., 1901-02-21

Mark Twain will not ride with Pres ident Mckinley in the inauguration procession, but Mark Hanna may.
The age-herald., 1901-02-21

Snow baths are now a fad in the snow belt.
The age-herald., 1901-02-21

Murder has become an incident of the Mrs. Nation campaign.