davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The age-herald., 1901-04-05
Great Millions for Birmingham.


 Asked concerning the possibility of Eastern capital organizing to combat the vast steel trust and making Birmingham the centre of it's operations, an official of one of the great industrial companies said yesterday:
 q do not look for any such new com binatioE. Too many of the most powerful interests are directly concerned In MT. Morgan's gigantic enterprise. What is of material moment to Birmingham in view of such proposition is that the Louis ville and Nashville Railroad and the Southern Railway are directly and im- mediately interested In the steel trust, and these two systems of transportation would need to be friendly to any great Birmingham enterprise They are friend- ly now and always have been. The Lou isville and Nashville has done more than any other one agency to develop the Bir- mingham district. It Is hardly to be sup posed that either this line or the South ern would unduly encourage local en- terprise great enough to attempt to rival that combination controlled by the money that controls the two systems of trans portation that mean so much to Birming- 
 ham.
 "A hundred million dollars invested In the Birmingham district could be made to offer very serious rivalry to the steel trust, provided lines of transportation could be entirely controlled in the inter est of Birmingham; but this seems nearly impossible at the moment. It is not inn probable that the steel trust will ulti- mately centre on Birmingham as the base of supplies for it's export business, and l shall not be surprised if that step be taken. It is generally conceded that steel can be much more cheaply produced here than at any other point In this country or the world, and our nearness to tide water makes that advantage one of the greatest importance
 ''The Tennessee Company's remarkable object lesson in steel production at Ensley has attracted the attention of the indus trial world and has convinced the most skeptical. The lesson is as familiar to those who control the steel trust as it is to ourselves, and we need not be surprised of they profit by 1t to the extent of in vesting fifty million or hundred million dollars right here at Birmingham ana do it as a plain business, money-making matter. In this direction there is great hope.
 But I do not think we would be war ranted in expecting that amount of rival capital invested here In the meantime Birmingham will go on developing with extraordinary rapidity. Enterprises will be established here of ever greater mag nitude. and money represented in the steel trust through our great railway lines will continue to work for the up- building of this district. These lines serving Birmingham may be counted upon to add every person possible to our popu- lation and every dollar possible to our wealth."
The age-herald., 1901-04-05
Population of India,

Famine and Plague have brought the population of India almost to stand still, the increase in ten years having been but PAP per cent. The census just made shows that the population of the country is 294 4,266, 900, or about as much as all the Americas and Af- rica combined contain. The popula- tion of India's brown men nearly equals the entire number of white men in masterful Europe.
 The density of population in India is shown in the State of Bengal. It has an area one-quarter less than that of Texas, and yet it contains 74.713.O0O people, or just about as many as there are in the forty-fve State of this coun- try. King Edward has indeed numer- ous subjects in India.
 The increase of the decade was in round numbers 100000, and all of that occurred in British States. the native States, so-called, showing as whole a loss. The losses and gains vary, however. kashmir, native State, shows gain of nearly fifteen per cent.
 The truth is, the population of all India is stationary. The recent census is superior to previous ones, and the census officials agree in saying that the population is now increasing. The famines have lessened the birth rate, and the plague has swept away vast numbers. Lord Curzon has begun, it is reported, an investigation in some of the States that show a stationary or decreasing population. The vast population is we'll governed, but even good government cannot overcome the failure of crops or the ravages of dis ease in an overcrowded country. When a single province contains as many people as the United States holds, it must be conceded that it is populous, and that further increase would but lead to new and greater troubles,
The age-herald., 1901-04-05
Credit to the State,
n the Huntsville Mercury.

From the Huntsville Mercury.
 In this day of millionaire Senators and boodlers, it Is credit to Alabama that both her Senators occupy their stations by reason of their rugged honesty and statesmanship Neither Senator Morgan nor Senator Pettus are worth much more than one years pay as a United States Senator. and 1t may be said with equal truth that neither of them spent as much as years pay to be elected.
 Senator Morgan has represented Ala bama In the Senate for more than twen- ty-fve years. Other men who entered the Senate at the same time have accumu- lated vast fortunes, but Senator Morgan has attended to the business of his peo- pie and made greater reputation than any man in the Senate, without accumu- lating a dollar. The same may be said of Senator Pettus. and the Mercury insists that their records are most creditable to Alabama and her patriotic people. %
The age-herald., 1901-04-05
THE MODERN PLAY.
I the Kansas City World.

From the Kansas City World
 The New York Sun quotes a foreign manager as giving these rules for mod ern four-act play:
 Act I.-Get the characters into mess.
 Act I.-Get them into a worse mess.
 Act III-Get them into the worst pos sible mess.
 Act Iv.-Get them out of it as best you can"
 The rules seem to have been followed literally by most of the contemporary writers for the stage. The parlor plays are not the only ones that are construct ed on the same lines. The modern drama generally is composed of a series of shocks with a talky explanatory scene at the finish
 The society play has been made the means of putting before the public great deal of nastiness that could not possibly be put into book. Looks, gestures and scenes that speak loudly through the suggestiveness of what is not done, trick ed out with incidental dialogue make up the substance of the society play of to- day. It is even worse than the problem play in that there Is nothing problemati- cal about 1t.
 The purely dramatic offerings are not much better. Clyde Fitch who stands as a pretty fair type of the modern stage author-from the American point of view --exemplhes in Nathan Hale" the want of imagination that handicaps the dra- matic author. He has strung together a collection of sentiments which Nathan Hale, the patriot, ought to have voiced and which he undoubtedly overlooked and has laid before his audience a harsh, all most colorless story with it's shocking climax. We ought. perhaps. feel some gratitude to MT. Fitch for refraining from actually hanging the spy at the close of the last act He was probably restrained from that sensational finish demands of realism when personal dis comfort Is threatened. And it is alto gether likely, such is the depravity of the public taste that a real hanging would have made the play what 1t will never be nova financial success.
 The contemporaneous melodrama is simply a stage vision of the shilling shocker'-and the more shocks the more shillngs. There has not been a pure melodrama produced for years which did not depend altogether on the incidents leading up to the crisis, with incidents and crisis piled up until there was noth- ing left to do but use dynamite to destroy the williams and leave the explanation to the hero and the maid in the last act
 The result of this tendency to get the characters into a mess Is rather wearing If somebody would write a play which started In with extricaing people from their troubles and kept them from getting into other trouuies through all the acts 1t would be change and would at least dispense with the mental gymnastics that the average theatre-goer is now obliged to indulge in if he would keep himself in- formed of the run of the play.
The age-herald., 1901-04-05
HOW FATHER RECEIVED NEWS.

lola, Kan, Dispatch to the World.
 General Funston's parents live on a farm, six miles from lola. MT. Funston Sr, was at work in the field near the little farm house when reporter took the news of his sons feat to him. He leaned against the wagon and exclaimed "Fred's mother has been worrying her self to death since tile news was re- ceived that he had gone after Aguinaldo, and while I am extremely glad that he has been successful. my greatest pleasure will be in the fact that Mrs. Funston will be able to sleep tonight for the first time in nearly a week"
The age-herald., 1901-04-05
Sound Organic Law,

From the Talladega Mountain Home.
 Nothing contributes to the perpetuity free government more than a sound, equitable and just organic lava consti- tuition that grants, qualities and protects the franchise of suffrage. guards the rights of persons and property. equalizes the burdens of the people by a simple, just and limited system of taxation and the protection of all in the legitimate pur- suits of life.
 To give Alabama such an organic law Is the patriotic purpose of the constitutional convention which is to meet at Montgom- cry in May. Meantime, the election of
The age-herald., 1901-04-05
SPANISH WAR CLAIMS
 AGGREGATE $3O,OOO,OOO

New York. April IA special to the Tribune from Washington says:
 "Th organization of the Spanish War Claims Commission, which will be ef- fected next week. with ex-Senator Chand- Ter as president, Is drawing fresh atten- ton to the Cuban claims. The damages now asked aggregate SSO,0OoOoO, and though six months is allowed for filing claims after the commission organizes, 1t is not probable that the list will be greatly extended. Nearly all the pending claims have been taken up by lawyers as contingent ones, the usual fee stipulated being S3 1-s per cent of the amount al- lowed.
 One firm has filed claims for various clients to the aggregate amount of sS, 100000. A Washington lawyer who was attached to the military government for brief period, represents claims amount ing to $500, 900.
 There are number of claims of Cuban-Americans which were taken up by the state department and pressed on the Spanish government for reparation for injuries inflicted or for imprisonment In two or three cases of this kind the Spanish authorities had agreed to make compensation for the injuries. Among these is that of Mrs. Ruiz, the widow of Dr. Ricardo Ruiz, who, 1t was charged, was killed in Jail near Havana.
 Mrs. Ruiz filed a claim for $75, 900 dam ages and since the death of her husband has been living in Washington in poverty. It is part of the unwritten history of the Spanish American war that the Spanish government had agreed to pay this claim, when the explosion of the Maine ended all possibility of peaceful settlement of the Cuban question.
 Among the claimants for property losses there are few Spaniards who may get some compensation because they managed to have their plantations placed in American hands or had formed Amer ican partnerships. There are also a few planters whose estates were so heavily mortgaged that they were glad to let them pass into American ownership. Some subjects of European powers also managed to acquire American citizenship,
The age-herald., 1901-04-05
FROM "IN MEMoRIAM."

By Tennyson.
 Now fades the last long streak of snow, Now bourgeons every maze of quick
 About the towering squares and thick By ashen roots the violets blow Now rings the woodland loud and long, The distance takes a lovelier hue.
 And drownd in wonder living blue The lark becomes sightless song. Now dance the lights on lawn and lea,
 The f1ocks are whiter down the vale, And milkier every milky sail On winding stream or distant sea. Where now the seamew pipes, or dives
 In wonder gleaming green, and fly
 The happy birds. that change their sky To build and brood; that live their lives From land to land; and in my breast
 Spring wakens. too; and my regret
 Becomes an April violet; And buds and blossoms like the rest.
The age-herald., 1901-04-05
FRANK.

From the Detroit Journal
 Here we were set upon and beaten with clubs.
 Murder" cried Ardley, impulsively. A subtle something told me he was wrong.
 You are college students, are you not?'' said I, addressing our assailants.
 We are," said they, civilly.
 Tt is as thought" said I, turning to my companion. This is not murder at all, but prank, merely"
 Ardley was covered with confusion, and vowed he should never forgive himself although the students. with rare good breeding, affected omake light of it.
The age-herald., 1901-04-05
Good Friday.

This day is Good Friday. which Is sol emnly observed by various churches In commemoration of the passion and cru- cifixion of Christ; the day being one of obligation in the Roman Catholic church
 And they crucified Him. and parted His garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet They parted my garments among them and upon my vesture did they cast lots, Gospel According to Saint Matt hew, chapter 27, verse B.
The age-herald., 1901-04-05
Outside Help Declined

Fom the Greenville Advocate.
 The property damaged by the cyclone last week in Birmingham amounted to about one hundred thousand dollars. The poor suffered most, as is always the case but the charitable people of the city readily came to their relief, and fifteen or twenty thousand dollars was at once subscribed.
 Many outside parties expressed a desire to help but Birmingham said that they could take care of those needing aid, and refused outside help.
The age-herald., 1901-04-05
The Party Pledges.

From the Guntersvile Democrat
 What fairer propositions can be made than are embraced in the State Democrat ic platform? The party is pledged Q) in favor If holding a constitutional conven- ton; @ not to raise the tax rate; (3) to submit new constitution to the voters for ratification or rejection; CD not to deprive any white man of his suffrage; (5) not to allow any increase of privileges of corporations.
The age-herald., 1901-04-05
The Coal Trades Silly Season.

March and April are the poor and silly months in the coal trade here" said A. A. H. Carpenter.
 ''The winter trade is done and the sum- mer trade isn't begun, and there is gen. eral demoralization amongst many of the operators. This has been the case in March and April for several years. and the mischief that has resulted ought to have taught operators lesson, but it hasn't. As soon as the winter pressure for coal relaxes some operators seem to fancy that they may never again do good business, and so in a sort of desperation they get out and hustle for trade and cut and slash prices If they would go to Mexico or elsewhere and work up new trade, great benefit would result, but in- stead of that they endeavor to get trade from one another.
 There is just so much local demand for coal. and no more. People are not go- ing to buy coal they don't need merely because they can get it for sixteen cents ton less than it is worth, and they are not going to pile up stocks for a future that may never come, or pending the coming of conditions that may never ar- rive.
 ''The demand for coal in March and Ap- Til is always very slack, because con- sumers are supplied. and house-coal is rot needed after April. But in May the market begins to right itself. Meantime some of our coal operators hurry hither and thither helter-skelter trying to sell coal to people who do not require it, and won't have 1t at any price. Thus these
The age-herald., 1901-04-05
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
 AND ELSEWHERE

Astrologer Raphaels prophecies for this doy, Friday. April 5, 1901:
 Very uncertain all day"
 Avoid quarreiing and pleasures, and attend to thy business, else 1t will de- cline. this being thy birthday; look to thy health and keep it in order
 Young people will be inclined to pleas ure."
 "A child born cn this day will be quick in anger, bitter when provoked, and qnarrelsome. If a female, she will be unlucky in marriage and get bad hus- band"
The age-herald., 1901-04-05
stevenson's Growing Business.

From the Stevenson Chronicle.
 AS an indication of the growing business of Stevenson, 1t Is likely that the post office here will soon be made a Presi- dential office. The cancellation has been growing for some time, and this quarter will be about s247, and an increase of $30O will make it Presidential office.
The age-herald., 1901-04-05
Morally Bound to Support Ticket.

From the Marion County News.
 Democrats are morally bound to sup port the Democratic ticket from top to bottom because the candidates were all nominated regularly, according to party usage whether they vote for or against a convention. This is at their own op- ton.
The age-herald., 1901-04-05

just as good many Cubans acquired it. One of this class of naturalized Euro peans has a claim of nearly s1,0OO 900 for damages done to his plantation.
 "A glance at the list of claimants shows that about three-fourths of them are Cu- ban or Spanish names. One heavy claim is made by Cuban planter, who was a leading spirit in the insurrection and whose plantation was for a time the head quarters of Maceo. He was in Havana all through the insurrection. and while the Spanish authorities suspected him of complicity In 1t, they never were able to catch him, and his American citizenship protected him from arrest on mere sus- picion.
 Another claimant Is an American citi- zen who represented a number of manu- featuring concerns in the United States and who had lived in Cuba for thirty or forty years. He asks about S300,0 for damages suffered through the interrup- ton of his business. Several of the bona flde American claimants may be embar- rassed by their action in the insurrec- tion. As a rule the genuine American citizens who had property interests in Cuba, though they despised the Spanish government, had no sympathy with the insurgents Dupuy De Lome, when he was Spanish minister, enlisted this class to show that there was no real insurrection and that the island was pacified They wrote letters declaring that everything was moving smoothly and that there was no interruption of work on the planta- tions. One of the most prominent of this class made frequent visits to Washing ton for personal conference with Con- gressmen and officials. He would cite his own plantation as evidence of the perfect protection afforded by the Span ish authorities and in contravention of the stories of the damages which the in- surgents were able to infiict.
 Notwithstanding these assurances, the American planter has put In a heavy bill for losses to his property in the insurrec- ton. As many of his letters are said to be on file, 1t may be awkward for him when his lawyers come to present his claim before the commission"
The age-herald., 1901-04-05
Venezuela and the United States.

Minister Loomis has left Caracas for the purpose of conferring with the authorities at Washington. The troubles in Venezuela are in an acute condition, and the administration is endeavoring to ascertain the situation with view to taking a definite and important step.
 The controversy relates to asphalt. There are two claimants to the sup ply that nature has placed in vene-
The age-herald., 1901-04-05
Leased Coal Lands.

From the Jasper Mountain Eagle.
 The Indian Head Company have leased some coal lands just south of Cordova, from Captain Long, and will open a mine without delay. Mir. Long has begun the erection of buildings for the miners fam files, and 1t is expected that the settle ment will be fully established within few weeks.
The age-herald., 1901-04-05
DE WET, THE VET.

From the Denver Post.
 Your Majesty-With extremest regret report that De Wet is eluding me yet; fails to stray in the net I so skillfully set to entrap the old vet, but I yet hope to get action on him, you bet-take him out of De Wet ere I pay the last debt, so don't worry and fret or get into sweat if in future I yet must report with regret that I yet have to get the old whiskery vet in my snrewedly laid net-Kitchener
The age-herald., 1901-04-05
Don't Want Any Tomatoes.
From the Huntsville Mercury.

From the Huntsville Mercury.
 "One little tornado cannot snuff out this town. Age Herald.
 If there are any more tornadoes snuff ing around, and you would like to buck up against another, are not at all afraid of them, and offer any particular attrac- ton, Huntsville will not compete with your enterprise in this behalf.
The age-herald., 1901-04-05
delegates already named by the late State

delegates already named by the late State convention, are to be made on the 23d inst. This call is made in busy season of the year when the agricultural com- munity is busily engaged in planting their crops nevertheless, the Home urges every voter favoring a new fundamental law to repair to their respective polling places on election day and vote the exception ally strong ticket presented. A full vote on this important occasion Is desired.
The age-herald., 1901-04-05
Their First Time in Office.

From the Jasper Mountain Eagle.
 It is notable that a very large per cent of the Democratic nominees for delegates to the convention are men who have never sought or held office or took a very ac- tive part in politics.
The age-herald., 1901-04-05
Deserving of Credit.

From the Mobile Herald.
 The people of Birmingham are deserving of much credit for the energy they have shown in raising funds for the sufferers by the storm. And they are not asking anybody to help them. either. If they need help they can get 1t.
The age-herald., 1901-04-05
Brave and Generous.

From the Jasper Mountain Eagle.
 Birmingham people are brave and gen. erous. They were equal to the emergency in which they were left by the great cy- clone which struck that city last week.
 Though greatful for the kind offers of outside help, they refused it and raised money among themselves sufficient to re- lieve the wants of those in the storms path who were rendered homeless and destitute.
The age-herald., 1901-04-05
Pleased With Uniformity.
n the Randolph Leader.

From the Randolph Leader.
 In a conversation with Prof. J. L. Moulder Saturday. who taught for sev- eral years in Tallapoosa county, he in formed a representative of the Leader that the people of that county where a uniform text book law has been in force for year or so. are delighted with it's beneficient results and would not think of returning to the old regime.
The age-herald., 1901-04-05
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

From the New York Press.
 When girl gets engaged she never be- lieves her mother ever could understand how she feels
 A girls training is the icing on the cake; sometimes it's a mighty different flavor from the rest of it.
 No old bachelors reputation Is ever safe with a woman unless she thinks she has got a chance for him herself.
 A woman with a rainy-day skirt on looks about as attractive as an angel with chin whiskers and market basket on his arm
The age-herald., 1901-04-05
vExED QUESTION SETTLED.

From the Chicago Tribune.
 Tn order to decide a long g-standing con- troversy." said the squirrel would you mind telling me why you wabble your nose?''
 To show that have something else to do with 1t besides sticking it into other peoples affairs" frigidly answered the rabbit.
The age-herald., 1901-04-05
Poisoned by a Kiss,

From the Livingston Southern Home.
 A Tennessee justice of the peace was poisoned almost to death by kissing the bride at a wedding. The smokeless pow der which she used must have been adulterated.