davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The age-herald., 1901-09-06
A Voice from the Black Belt.

The Greenville Advocate speaks the naked, unadorned truth when it says:
 ''It is very important that the indus trial development of this State be look ed after if Alabama is to take her na- tural position among her sister states. One among the first steps in this direc- tion is to place well educated men who take a genuine interest in the educational advancement of the present generation at the head of the system. From the State Superintendent down to the coun- try school teacher should each and every one be well qualified es to learning, good morals, ability to lead and control chill dren, and should be men and women who are not merely in the business to make a living but who feel a true interest in the educational advancement of the State And most of all should the county superintendents of education be men who can fill the position properly and not be mere automatons. In making nomi- nations for this office In the past the people in both political parties have looked too much to the popularity of the man us d NOtS-Wllllitt anu hOb SAOuSt hS his fitness for the office, and as con sequence in many counties in Alabama the men who have been elected to fill this high office are totally incapable of doing anything at all for the cause of ed ucation."
 Some of the county superintendents cannot, 1t is said, read and write, and scarcely one of them has enough mag netism and education to inspire the people to better schools. It is within bounds to say that in the sixty-six there are Aot more than thirty cap able superih htendents of schools.
 But the people alone are to blame. The office of county superintendent is not a constitutional office in the New constitution, and the Legislature, Is left free to provide that county super. intendents shall be holders of first class certificates. The people who have children in the public schools should take the office of county super intendent out of politics, and the ring of county superintendents should be broken up. 1nls ring is closely re- lated to the book trust, and the two spring from and rest upon the court house cliques. What is needed first of all is divorce. The schools need a decree of divorce rom courthouse politics, and the people who send chil. dren to the public schools are the ones to enforce this decree. The re. sponsibility is upon them.
The age-herald., 1901-09-06
THE ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ALABAMA
MT. Ahercromhle,s Candidacy.

The Huntsville Mercury, in discuss ing the announcement of Superintend- ent Abercrombie for reelection next year, says:
 The announcement that Superintendent Abercrombie will ask a third term has not created the slightest surprise in off, cial circles. In fact, had he declined to stand for reelection the public would have been surprised more than by his announcement more than a year before the election During his lncumbency Of three years MT. Abercrombie has given most excellent satisfaction. He has de- voted himself to the task of improving the public school system and the results achieved are as gratifying to the people as they are beneficial to the children de- pendent upon the common schools for a rrdlmentary education. Tn nominating MT. Abercrombie for a third term the Democrats will not by any means put aside the two-term precedent, but will thereby suitably recognize an excellent official. Nothing but merit could have won such recognition from the Demo- cratic voters of Alabama.
 The renomination and reelection oi MT. Abercrombie does not properly belong to politics at all, and the poli' ticians should keep their hands oil an office that relates to the welfare of the children of the State. MT. Aber- crombie has lifted the office above politics altogether, and this one place should be taken altogether out of the hands of the ponticians. Public senti- ment can secure this. A c0ppetent superintendent should he retained just as long ,ss he proves competent and efficient, and the rotation rules Of the politicians should not be consid' -ered in connection with this office Nothing should be considered but the welfare of the 722,3SS children in the State. Public sentiment should speak out early and strong, on this matter, lest a dickering, trading politician be put in a place that calls for an edu- lcator full of magnetism, cultivation and honest purpose.
The age-herald., 1901-09-06
MODERN COAT OF MAIL.
the Baltimore American.

From the Baltimore American.
 A coat of mail, formed by the inter weaving of thousands of small tempered steel rings, each of which passes through six others, was the object of much curi osfty yesterday at the Central police station. The coat, which Is said to be absolutely bullet proof. was exhibited to the men of the district by Captatn Schleigh. It had formerly belonged to Chinese Highbinder of the Western Pacifis slope, and was brought to the station for exhibition by Sheriff R. B. Bevan of Marysville. Tuba County, Cal, ton In Baltimore.
 The coat weighs about thirty-eight pounds, and Is load that a man of ordi- nary muscular development would not care to carry for any length of time It Is made Nike a sleevess jacket, and Is long enough to cover a portion of the lower limbs and Che arms half way to the elbow. Its history is most interest ing. Several years ago the authorities of Tuba County received word that a meeting of the Highbinders Chinese cut throats and blackmailers) was to be held, and they surprised -the yellow-skinned plotters in a cabin. The lights were put out as the sheriff and his deputies ap- preached, and a desperate battle ensued The Chinese were captured and from the body of a dead Chinaman the coat of mail was taken, 1t being beneath an or dinary blouse The Chinaman had died from a bullet wound in the head. In the room were found a number of balls which had flattened against the coat of mail
The age-herald., 1901-09-06
BUFFALoEs FIGHT TO FINISH.

N Y Letter in the Chicago Tribune.
 There was an exciting time at the New York Geological Park, in the Bronx, when two huge bull buffaloes fought to finish for the supremacy of the range. The contest, which lasted for half an hour, took place In the presence of hundreds of spectators, and resulted in the goring Of Antonio, who attempted to usurp the powers of the leader of the herd, Black Beauty Black Beauty, with a desperate rush, planted his right horn in Antonio's side throwing him to the ground, where he lay motionless. Black Beauty sur veyed his fallen enemy for moment and then walked majestically away. An tonic soon revived and was removed from the range. It was found that he had a tear in his side just below the shoulder three and a half inches long and deep. The wound Is considered dangerous, but not necessarily fatal.
The age-herald., 1901-09-06

and yet these States are gaining handsomely in industries and in wealth. They are by no means stag nant States, nor are they likely to be- come so. Population. in other words, Is not the whole story. It is the best indication of prosperity, but it is not the only indication.
 The seven States mentioned gained in seven years but S40,124 people-a number almost identical with the gain of Alabama alone in the same ten years. The population of this State in 1890 was 1,513,O17; it is now 1,S2S,- 697; gain of 315,6S0 or 2O.S per cent. As long as Alabama can gain as much
 in population as Maine, New Hamp- shire, Vermont, Delaware-all indus trial States-and Virginia, Nebraska and Kansas, all rich agricultural States, we need not complain. We are doing well enough. But We should build more cotton mills. Every coun- ty, even Winston, should have a cot ton mill. Between cotton mills evenly spread over the State and the varied industries of the mineral district of tne State Alabama will give a good account of herself in 1910. She will cross the two-million line in fine style.
The age-herald., 1901-09-06
MRS NATION AT coNEY ISLAND

N V. Letter in the Chicago Tribune.
 Mrs Carrie Nation has now become an adjunct to Coney Island dance ana all around amusement hall. With press agent at her heels she started early Tn tbe forenoon and did a good freak ad- vertising business up to the time or her arrival in the afternoon at the Coney Island show, where she was billed to ap- pear. By previous arrangement one or the Manhattan drinking places permi'teo her to smash a bottle or two of water on the premises, but with this exception aii her other liquor store demonstrators were harmless. It costs 50 cents 10 near Carrie talk at Coney Island, and as com paratively few had escaped hearing her already there seemed to be genera u's- position to regard the short time that her language was confined to hired nall as a sort of public boon. There were just two people in the hall at 4:so and they were dead heads
The age-herald., 1901-09-06
SCHLEY OBJECTS.
u.s Written Letter to Department In
 Reaard to Witnesses.

washington, September 5.-The Navy Danartment today received two letters from Admiral Schley relating. to the court of inquiry. One of these was in reply to Acting Secretary Hacketts note of yes- terday, which stated that if Admiral Schley would furnish list of important witnesses he desired to have brought to Washington at once his request would be acceded as rapidly as the interests of the service would permit by bringing several of the witnesses at time. Although the reply of Admiral Schley was not made public, it is understood it is in the nature of a respectful remonstrance against the course suggested with a specific request that all the witnesses easily available shall be summoned for the purpose of con ference. The other communication is understood to relate to formal detail of the trial
The age-herald., 1901-09-06
Use of StrazOs im Msnt
 1ulebs $ am A60msmatiOu

mint freshly cut and folded into pretty green bud at the top! Why, the diamond is simply trash in the eyes of a Kentuc- kian when compared with this splendid and exhilarating mixture of dellcacies. But they use silver mug, and after the julep is built 1t is allowed to stand unth a frosty covering is formed on the oppo~ side of the mug Frosting the mint with pulverlzed sugar? Not much in Ken lucky! No limitations go when 1t comes to dealing with the julep.
 'The Kentuekian may dissemble and sham a bit in politics and may palaver politely about other things and resort to a few sharp practices, but when 1t comes to the julep nothing short of a square deal will be tolerated. John G. Carlisle and Joe Blackburn may differ or the money question, but they are as one man when it comes to the julep. Henry Watterson may swat his enemies fore and aft, and call down upon them the +hunders of the gods in lifes ordi- nary battles but these efforts would pc nunv indeed in comparison with what nc would do if some fellow should set fro +o tho mint beds of Kentucky julep. He would rip him up the back from the hos hereafter to the first meal of the day The iu,ep is a great leveler in Kentucky. and as n rule. the Kentuckian will never allow a straw, or anything else, for that nnatter to stand between him ana a sood cooling drink, with just dash or the honne product in 1t. Really, the Ken. t,c,tian's ideal life is simply one grand sweet round of juleps made after shs :, home formula and served in sliVer hiuss'
The age-herald., 1901-09-06
One Great southerner.

"Perhaps the most illustrious scholar of all the Georgians was Prof. Joseph Le Conte, whose recent death in California brought forth worldwide praise of that great Southerner of genius" said a man who himself Is a native Southern Ala bamian and a scholar.
 Hike the great historian, Professor Fiske, and like almost all scholars, Pro- lessor Le Conte's life was uneventfu Born inLiberty County, Georgia, in 1923, he attended the local school until pre- pared for Franklin College, where he en- tered and finally graduated, 1S41. Decid- ing to study medicine he went to New York, and four years later secured the degree of M. D. from the College of Phy- sicians and Surgeons.
 ''Dr. Le Conte, as from this time he was called returned to the South and began the practice of his profession at Macon, Ga. But the life of a country doctor failed to satisfy an intellect which had already tasted the joys of scientific investigation. Entering the Lawrence Scientific School of Harvard, young Le Conte became special student in geol- ARHSSfZ. Americas greatest ichthyologist Taking the B. s. degree in 1851, he accompanied Agassiz to the coral reefs and keys If Florida.
 "In 1852 he became professor of natural science in Oglethorpe College a position which he soon resigned for the chair of geology and natural history in Franklin College. his alma mater. In 1857 he be- came chemist at the South Carolina Col lege. There he remained until 1869, when he was called to the University of Cali fornia. This position he held when be died.
 During the war Professor Le Conte served the Confederacy as schemfst in the medical laboratory, Columbia. & c and later had charge of the nitre and mining bureau. He had already made a considerable study of mountain formation and structure, a subject upon which he was accounted an authority. His most considerable tour of investigation was made in company with his brother, John Lawrence Ise Conte. During this Journey more than 1000 miles were travelled in a birchbark canoe. It was on trips such as these that Professor Le Conte gathered the material for his numerous works Not since James Dwight Dana, the great Yale geologist, has there been such an indefatigable worker. such a truly scien- tif1c mind. Indeed. in some respects, Le Conte may be said to have surpassed even Professor Dana, whose strong point was pure investigation Le Conte's works are more readable and hardly less scientific.
The age-herald., 1901-09-06
TWENTY-THIRD INFANTRY
Will Be Brought Home On Transport
 Burford.

Washington, September 5.-The War Department has decided to bring the Twenty-third infantry, now in the Phil ippines, home on the transport Burford, which sails for New York via the Suez $anal on the 18th inst.
 The Fitzpatrick which sails the same day for San Francisco, will bring the Eighteenth infantry. On her next trip in December the Fitzpatrick will bring home the nine batteries of heavy coast artillery. When these commands reach the United States there will be left in the Philippines about 4s.000 officers and men, and the present plans do not con- template a further reduction of that force.
 Both General Macarthur and General Chaffee have expressed the opinion that about 10000 men will be required In the Philippines for an indefinite period.
The age-herald., 1901-09-06
Fyeuchmau's Aly ,Shzb Faaks t0 Wo2k
 Because of Too Mmch W/etght

were then started and the balloon slowly moved forward But the balloon dropped heavily to the ground and Rose descended from the salon and exclaimed: Tt Is too heavy; 1t won't ascend"
 Rose then gave orders to house the bal loon. His friends insisted on another trial. Rose only consented to experiment with the ascensional screws. The specta- tors hung on to the ropes and the screws were started. The balloon began to rise, the spectators released their hold slightly and man who did not let go was lifted with it. But the balloon last all equili- brium. It was then hauled down and housed in its she'd
 Rose in an interview said: "The balloon was 200 pounds too heavy. The envelope is overweighted with varnish. I made mistake in having it constructed by in- experienced workmen instead of by a proper balloon maker. The defect can easily be remedied. I shall try again.
The age-herald., 1901-09-06

paris September 5-A dirigible balloon invented by A. Frenchman named Rose u,as tried here today. The balloon con- sists of two cigar-shaped balloons lrolii which is suspended big basket car nav ing two floors.
 The upper floor is sort of salon ele- pantlv furnished for the captain, WHO controls the five rudders. The lower noor is for the engineer working the propellers' of which there are four. The balloon has been filled and waiting since Monday TOT a fine day. It emerged from It's sheo a1 10 o'clock this morning and was roileo along a wooden rail track into held. A crowd of spectators cheered the inventor who entered the salon, the engineer tax ing his place in the lower cabin. A Whistle was then sounded to let go.
 The ascensional screws began to revolve and the balloon rose slightly but with an evident effort. The propelling screws ~-s~A-%-e9 e9-e-%%<~->><<->>-e gruousfv in bare toes. As a protection against broken glass and other dangers or the sidewalks, sandals of the old Roman pattern are worn, and 1t Is saio that many of the principal shoe stores are do- ing a lively business in these articles Perhaps the most curious result Of thls latest whim is the sharp conflict of opin- ion which it has excited among the physi- clans. Some members of the profession, adopting the popular theory, maintain that the barefoot habit not only is health- ful but insures the proper development and consequent beauty of the exposed member while others hold that 1t Is a dangerous and needlessly risky experi- ment. which in any event must produce large, ungainly, sp1ay feet.
The age-herald., 1901-09-06
From the New York Telegraph.

From the New York Telegraph.
 ',The straw is an abomlnation in tho sight of the really esthetic drinker," re- marked a gentleman several days ago IS he pulled his beak out of heap of crush ed ice fringed with fresh mint and speck- ed by two pretty red cherries. "No man v,ho is really artistic in taste will allow a straw to stand between him and good cheerful drink, and as a matter of fact 1t is very bad form from every possible standpoint It Is not considered graceful in Kentucky, from which state hail.
 "Sip a julep through a straw! Why, the man who would do such a thing in the Blue Grass region would simply be cut from the list of good fellows by the stad old white bearded gentlemen of that section of the country Incidentally may remark that the Kentucky julep is distinctive and different from the Virgin ia julep Of course, the mint is not masn- ed in Kentucky.
 "It ought not to be mashed anywhere except Tn making mint smashes and drinks of that sort. The Kentucky julep Is made in a silver mug. No metal Is too precious in Kentucky to be used In constructing julep mug. If they could find diamonds large enough I am sure they would not hesitate to hollow them out so they could be used IS 5ulep mugs.
 "They would feel. too. that the diamond could not be put to more fatterfng use than to be stuffed with the dainty things which enter Into the composition of the iu1en-a crushed loaf of sugar, ice mashed to the fneness of snowflakes. sprigs of
The age-herald., 1901-09-06
An Old Black Nanny.

A man said last night:
 Aunt Ellen stood like a swaying statue in bronze upon the side-porch, swept by the cooling wind of the September after noon.
 'Sho 'nough,' she said, in emphasis of a statement that had been made. Something further was said, and she de- clared emphatically:
 'Sho 'noughr
 'sHer white teeth gleamed, her fading black eyes flashed, her whole face was illuminated by the light of her own | goodheartedness.
 Aunt Ellen was happy; Aunt Ellen seems to suggest the noble dictum of the old man in Lorna Doone,
 Fools ye are and fools ye will be for ever'-the foolishness of loving and being happy.
 Aunt Ellen laughs and is happy She has been the black mammy to the nobly beloved, and for the beloved sh'd defy storm and flood and fire.
 Aunt Ellen is of the olden time olden. She hasn't got any foolishness in her dear old head. She doesn't need to pray for some power the giftie gie us, to see oorsels as ithers see us and thereby be spared from 'mony a blunder.' She hasn't got any foolishness, save only the | foolishness of loving; she doesn't blunder, save only to blunder her way along in goodness into human hearts.
 That's Aunt Ellen! She simply blunders her way into the affectionate | regard of good men and women who love | her-dear old black mammy-because she's good and true, and because she's been good and true to the beloved. "There Is not man of consequence, except new corners. in Birmingham who doesn't know Aunt Ellen and who doesn't hold for her the Southerners instinctive love of the old black mammy. Her be- nign and benevolent face would call across every brave man and every gen. tie man. It is not true that any manly man or any womanly woman could re- fuse to respond to Aunt Ellen's goodness and gentleness' and sweetness of heart.
 Aunt Ellen was bondwoman in the long ago. She has been free these six and thirty years-free of everything except the imperative promptings of her noble old heart-her heart of goodness-for, like the blessed beloved whom she has so faithfully served, she Is of the sunshine heart and soul of song, as Robert Love- man said of another-she Is so, this low ing old black nanny of the beloved!
 "It Is all the time 'Yez with her-'yez. yez, yez'-Aunt Ellen can't say no. Most likely her useful, upright and honored life never said no to any kind request So much does she love to say yes that she fingers upon the word and thereby makes 1t 'y-e-z.'
 Good old Aunt Elen-her eyes grow | dim, but her loyal heart beats faithfully for the beloved. She's not capable of so much as one thought of disloyalty to- ward the beloved-blessedest beloved in all the world-Aunt Ellens beloved of the white face, the beoved of many hearts | that are stout and true!
 That old face in smiles, those dimming | old eyes, looking straight ahead along the narrow path of righteousness-these are inspiration to better lives for the children of them who owned slaves!'
The age-herald., 1901-09-06
PASSING Or THE BEAVER.
The Industrious Little Animal Now
 Almost Extinct.

From the Chicago Inter Ocean.
 Among the clearances at the custom house on Tuesday was one of four live beavers. They were consigned to Gov ernor Van Sant of Minnesota from the minister of crown lands of the province of Ontario, Canada, and were sent from Depot Harbor, Canada. They will be placed In Itasca Park, the state preserve, at the headwaters of the Mississippi river and are expected to form the nucleus of a colony.
 The shipment of these beavers through Chicago recalls the fact that. like the buffalo, the beaver in its wild state is now almost extinct in the United States. Once 1t was abundant and widespread. In the Maine and Adirondacks wilder nesses, in the Michigan peninsulas, in the headwaters of the Mississippi, and in the mountainous portions of Virginia, Pennsylvania and even Mississippi. and in the forest country between the Nils slssippi and Puget Sound, its kind was almost as numerous as that of the fox squirrel In fact. it is recorded that dur ing the early part of the last century as many as 100000 beaver skins were shipped each year from America 10 Fu- ropean countries.
 Yet, today 1t Is doubtful If the beaver can be found wild anywhere within the borders of the United States. It has gone entirely from it's favorlte haunts in the Adirondacks, Minnesota. Wiscon> sin and Michigan streams. where once the beavers work changed the face of the landscape, know 1t no more. Perhaps, in the deepest wiids of Wyoming or Ore gon there may still be found beaver dam here and there and a few of the intelligent little animals that built 1t. But the beaver as an American animal Is practically extinct.
 like the Buffalo, the beaver was once most intimately associated with the life and development of this country It's thrifty habits and remarkable home llfe' it's wonderful dams, canals, locks, houses and other engineering works, showing an intelligence and skill almost human, made |. rrom,nent in the minds of the pioneers of the land and an object of supersti- t,on to the Indians. The names Of Bea- war Falls. Beaver river Beaver dam and Beaver lake show how strong was the influence exerted by the beaver on the ,,oneers of the Northern states.
 For this reason the passing of the bea- ver ,s a national loss But 1t Is one un- avoidable in the progress of civilization.