davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-09-30
ROBERTSON vs. THE srATE.

ACtlOn 0y 6t2te to hec0yeT Licenoe.--App8al from the Circuit Court of Montgomery.
 l. Legislation; in determining whether bill constilutionaiiy passed court can look only to of the General Assembly.-In determining whether a bilI enrolled and signed by the House of Representatives of the General As sembly and approved by the Governor was regularly and constitutionally enacted in all it's provisions and contains all of the pro- visions which were enacted by. the General Assembly. recourse can be had only to the snd to the journals of the two houses of the General Assembly.
 2. Same: same; sane.-where an act of the journal of the two houses to contain any pro- visions which the houses did not concur in ina %eh s act act as as enrolled. signed and approved ana t the constitutional steps for valid enactment have been taken, such statute is constitutional
 3. Same: inability of Speaker of House of Representatives to discharge the duties of the office, authorizes the election of speaker Where the regularly and duly elected Speaker of the House of Representatives Is unable. by of Dhssicf, .. msnss s ,hs t. said house has authority. under the Constftu- tion. to elect Speaker pro tempore; when 1t business; and such temporary speaker. when 90 elected. is "the presiding officer of the 27. Article ". of the C6nstitution. to sigr bills passed by the General Assembly
 Affirmed. Opinion by Mcclellan, c. J.
 ToMPKINs vs. TROY. ExEcUToR. ETC.
 Bill in Equity to Remove Administration Into
 Chancery Court and for Construction of
 wiH.-Appcal from the City Court of
 Montgomery, in Equity 2, ,-
 |. Construction of will; how dewer interest provided for his wife as follows: My wife lhasl an estate of her own, the same being money received by me belonging to her, amounting to three thousand and fifty dollars: if that should not be paid befere my death, I desire 1t paid immediately thereafter; she will also be entitled to certain moneys from certain insurance policies on my life. I de- my death, to turn over to her out of any moneys belonging to my estate from insurance on my. life, or other sources. so much as may be necessary to make the amount she shall re . ceive, including such separate estate. and the amounts received by her from insurance on my life. equal to what would have been her lower interest and distributive share in my estate. should receive no insurance money. II IS my will that sine should receive ou: of E"yl es- tate. just what she would be entitled to under the provisions of Sections 2964 and 1855 of the Code of Alabama of lG86." Held: That by such provisions the testater did not fix the value of the separate estate of his wife at 9S oS0. or at any other sum. but that in determining the widows dover interest and distributive share In the testator's estate. the value of her separate estate must be estimated at Its actual value at the time of the testa- tors death. including also the insurance money
 Affirmed opinion by Harslson. J.
Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1901-08-23
RICH in RESOURCES.
Congo Free State Soon to Be An
nexed to Belgium.
Country Now the Personal Property
of King Lcopoid-Produccs Rub
ber Enough to supply the
World.
Especial Correspondence,l

Especial Correspondence
(lT>ALL trees from little acorns
grow" England has demon
strated that a country linn
tied In area may be of great conse-
quence in the map-making of the
world. Belgium has always been of
considerable diplomatic Importance,
and probably will soon rank among
great colonial nations. The Congo
Free State will be center of political
interest within short time. If it be
annexed to Belgium as colony, as
existing conditions would seem to in
dicate, it will mean much, not only
to the peoples directly concerned, but
other nations as well. When the Bel
gians first explored the country,
cocoanuts, ivory and palm oil were the
only products exported. Many other
articles are now added to this list, and
newly-completed railroad will ship
at low rates.
The rubber trade has been carried
on for about 40 years, but it first at
tracted the attention Of the Belgians
a few years ago. Now it is prophesied
that it will furnish the great future
wealth of the state, as 1t has devel-
oped so rapidly that among the rub
ber producing countries of Africa the
Free State now holds the first place,
annually furnishing to the world
more than 5000 tons. During the time
of his first expedition, Stanley said
that on the islands of the Congo river
alone enough rubber could be secured
in year to pay the expense OF =ail-
road There are several varieties of
rubber in the Free State.
1t also ranks first among the coun-
tries from which ivory is exported.
About 700 tons Of ivory are annually
produced in the world. OF this GOO
tons come from Africa. The African
ivory is considered far superior to
that produced in Asia, on account OF
its greater density and waxy softness
A small stock of fossilized ivory comes
Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1901-08-23
THE SCOOP NET MAN.
A Strnpping Big Negro who Figures
In the Departure of big
Ocean Liners.

just before a Ward liner leaves her
East river pier for Ciba or Mexico a
big, strapping negro, carrying a net
attached to long pole, takes up his
position alongside the gangplank and
nervously looks from those gathered
on the wharf to the tourists assembled
alongside the steamers rails, says the
New York Press.
When the gangplank is hauled to the
wharf the negro's eyes roll in every
direction, and he fidgets the pole as il
he had an awful responsibility upon
his brawny shoulders. The net is
about the size Of one used in grabbing,
but the pole is about three times as
long. Sometimes the net and pole are
not used at all, and the negro goes
away and puts it into locker when
the ship backs into the stream. His
face brightens up as he does this. Free
quently messengers arrive on the
wharf late with bundles, letters or tel.
egrams; or passengers on the ship
about to back away suddenly remem.
ber something which they jot down
quickly and pass ashore. II is under
such emergencies that the negro and
his scoop net play their short inning
Quick as the fash of gunpowder he
places the package or message in the
bottom of the net, and with a deft
turn of his wrist places the article in
question under the nose of its owner.
No other steamship line uses a
scoop net in this way, and ordinarily
once the gang plank is withdrawn COM
munication between the ship and the
shore is closed except TO the oldfash-
ioned and seldom successful mode OF
hurling letter wrapped up in bunch
of keys aboard, or to the more expen-
sive habit of chasing the craft with n
specially chartered tugboat. At best
this net play is quick move; for
scarcely n few minutes mark the re-
moval of the steamers gangplank and
the start of the ship streamward.
81 once. passed pockctbook aboard
that passenger had forgotten" said
the knight Of the net recently. "I
learned that it had $1,000 in it. The
wife of man going away brought it
down just as the plank had been
pulled in. The ship had begun to go
astern, and I tell you them lawn ten
mis- chaps never had to play as fine a
game of touch and go as did then.
This net delivery is the invention OF
the stevedore, whose men have had to
put valuable papers aboard ship on
the fly. 1t is the only system of the
kind in the country, so far as ! know.
We are all very proud Of the plan"
Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1901-08-23
THE BAD BOY.


1au ooy climbs the cherry tres
M nnu ea's' and when he's done
inno"s oherrles at the birds and brsok.
~, me limbs of Just for fun,
ne knocks the smaller BOYS around
ana as you madly chase
..ya uown the street he hollers.
Anu makes an ugly face.
The bad boy cuts the hammocp ron..
=. And spoils the flower bed.
And watches for a chance to nush
,, me good boy from the shed;
Tne Dad boy puts his thumb aeaInnt
:. His nose and turns TO sass
lou @ wnen you ask him kindly not
10 run across the grass.
Inc pad boy gets the smaller boys
10 run away to swim.
anu wniie they splash around their clothes
Are tied In knots by him.
lie ducks them till they lose their breath.
And' while they try to dress,
lie spatters them with mud. and thus
is hlied with happiness.
The bad boy likes to torture dogs.
He ties things to their tails,
And what you don't want fastened down
He hammers full of nails;
he throws things at you when you pass,
And II you kindly stay
10 give him good advice he calls
You names and runs away.
The bad boy breaks his mothers heart
And makes his father sad;
sometimes he changes, but too oft
Keeps right on being bad;
And II he does turn out all right
And go the way he should
He gets three times the credit that
Ihe boys gets who was good.
IS. Z. Kiser. In Chicago Record Herald.
Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1901-08-23

larger area than France. Tie number
of inhabitants was estimated by Stan.
ley to be 2y,OOG,O0O. That this is a
minimum is the opinion of Gov. Gen.
Wahis, who visited the Upper Congo
and obtained statistics from govern.
ment agents stationed there. The
people are unevenly distributed.
Tracts almost destitute of population
are adjacent to crowded districts. The
largest village in the Free State is
Nmtomba, with a population of 10000.
The general preference. seems to be
for the forests rather than the river
banks as dwelling places.
During its course the Congo river
changes its name many times, but Mr..
Stanley traced and identified it all
the way. The Lualabo-Kongo, inter-
rupted by cataracts and rapids, flows
northward from the lake region to
about two degrees north of the cqua-
tor, where many islands stud the
broad stream, ten miles wide. Then
its course changes many times. In
the great basin between east longi-
tude 26 degrees and east longitude II
degrees, through which it flows, the
river has an uninterrupted course OF
1,400 miles, with magnificent affluents.
From here it descends by about 30
falls and flowing rapids to great
river between the falls of Yelala
and the Atlantis. From the Chibalc
mountains to its mouth the length is
1900 miles. Stanley states that by
it's numerous great tributaries it
drains 100000 square miles. 1t has
no delta and but one mouth. Only
the Amazon exceeds the volume OF
water it brings down. A steamer
drawing IL feet can steam 11O miles
from its mouth, where it is nearly
| ten miles wide and 100 fathoms
deep.
The Free State is now the personal
property of King Leopold of the
Belgians, and an absolute monarchy,
This form of government is, how.
ever, only temporary. Belgium has
had the right to annex the state
since 1890. 1t is well known THAI
King Leopold, in making his will, i'm
structed that the state become the
property of Belgium in the event Of
his death before it's annexation was
finally voted upon by the Belgian
parliament 1t seems outside the
limits of possibility that such mag.
nifcent gift win be refused, but in
such an event it can be bequeathed 10
anyone whom the king desires to
name as his legatee. His successor
however, must, before accepting the
gift, be authorized To do so by par.
lament. The kings nephew, Prince
Albert, son Of the count Of Flanders
will probably succeed him on the
throne. EDWARD JULIAN
Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1901-08-23
IGNORANCE NO EXCUSE.
An Unsuspecting Young Man Proper
Iy BuncOcd by "a Queer Greek
Custom.


If, In the course of your wander
ings, gentle masculine reader, you
should ever find yourself in the Gre
clan village of Marcopoulo, 35 miles
out of Athens, don't as you value
your cclibacy pick up any handker-
chiefs which yoS may see lying on
the ground. A suit for breach OF
promise, which is now being tried in
the Grecian capital, should be a warm
ing to all bachelors who intend visit.
ing Hellas without a chaperon. The
plaintiff in this suit is a remarkably
good-looking young woman, who de-
mands that n young man, a total
stranger to her until recently, and
who never asked her hand in mar.
riage in his life, should become her
husband or pay her heavy damages,
says the New York Press.
In the village of Marcopoulo there
Is a curious custom which has the
force of law. On certain holidays the
villagers assemble on the village
RGttD, anu VII thNSN otNdHiohS 'hy ef'
married woman who thinks it is
about time she took to herself a
husband drops her handkerchief. The
young man who picks it up is bound
to marry her. His act of lifting the
handkerchief has all the binding
force of an engagement
Now, the fair plaintiff in this suit
made up her mind awhile ago that
the boys in Marcopoulo were rather
backward about coming forward
and her chances of matrimony were
gradually slipping away in spite OF
| her good looks. So she went to the
village green on the next holiday and
dropped her handkerchief. There
happened to be a strange youth In
the village that day who was not
familiar with the local customs. The
village boys fought shy of the hand
kerchief, but the unsuspectine
stranger picked it up.
| Then the villagers set up n great
shout and brought to him a bush
ing beauty, WnOm Hc ndu never scci
before, announcing to him that she
was his future wife. Naturally he
| was astonished, and could only mur
mur: "This is so sudden" Partial
ly recovering his composure, he in
| quired if he might ask just why the
young lady was to be his future wife
| He said he was over young to mar
ry yet, and, in fact, declined will
thanks. But the villagers explained
| their ancient custom to him and th'
young lady declared that he would
marry her or she would know thu
reason why. The young man swor'
by Pallas Athena that he would "se'
her further" first, and made his es
| cape from the village. But the CIR
was bent on marrying, and the per
sonal inclinations of the man in thu
case could not be considered. So sh'
brought suit for breach of promise
and it was thought she would win heI
case, and the young man be forced
either to marry her or pay through
| the nose"
Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1901-08-23
PERSONAL AND IMpERSONAL.
A correspondent has discovered .

A correspondent has discovered
number of oddly named persons in
Georgia counties. Among these names
are: Sorrowful Williams, Increase
Thomas, Merciful jenkins, Angel
Jones, Salvation White, Happiness
johnson, Purity Scott and Paradise
Lee.
Gen. Harrison C. Hobart, who ha,
resigned from the Milwaukee public
library board after service of -
years, was one of the union prisoners
who tunneled their way out of Libby
prison at Richmond, Va, during the
civil war. Gen. Hobart is now in his
eighty-ninth year.
Senator Hoar, of Massachusetts,,
who some years ago bought Redemp.
tion rock, in Princeton, Mass, where
Mrs. Rawlinson was ransomed from
the Indians by John Hoar, the first Of
the name in this country, in 1876, has
presented the property to John Hoar,
son of the late Sherman Hoar of Con-
cord.
When Daniel Webster delivered his
famous speech on the completion of
Bunker Hill monument on June II,
1S43, there stood before him 40 actual
participants in that memorable battle
out of the original 1000. The mighty
Daniel turned and addressed them so
tenderly that it brought tears from
many eyes.
The duke of Norfolk is said to have
great contempt for appearances. He
was once observed walking down Pail
Mall with big brown-paper parcel
under his arm. Upon friends in
quiring what he was carrying, he in.
formed him that it was "his uniform"
He was on his way to drawing-room
at Buckingham palace, at which he
would have to appear in gorgeous red
and gold.
Twelve young men in Jersey City
some time ago hit on the plan of hir'
ing freight car in which to make an
economical trip to the Buffalo exposi.
tion. The idea has since attracted the
favorable attention of so many OF
their friends that enough of them to
fill nine similar cars have decided to
join this novel excursion. Bunks will
be fitted up along the sides and they
will live in the cars during the trip
which will last four weeks.
1t is not generally known that the
king of England pays taxes under pro-
test-that is to say, his majesty, like
Queen Victoria, claims to be exempt
from imposts, and yet is willing tc
contribute without prejudice to the
rates. For instance, part of the Wind
sor farm lies within the radius Of the
borough. The municipal authority is
sues demand notes for the rates. The
royal officials respond by paying q
sum just under the amount requested
and the collector is satisfied.
Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1901-08-23

A LITTLE NONSENSE.

Getting Down to Business.-"What
. very short man the third judge is."
"Yes. He judges the dachshunds. -
Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Mistress Ito servant)-"Be careful
not to spill any soup on the ladies'
laps" Biddy (new in the service)-
"Yes, mum, where shall l spill it?"-
Glasgow Evening Times.
McJigger-"I thought your wife
was economical" Thingumbob-"Such
ignorance! My dear man, no woman is
ever economical. She is either eX-
travagant Or stingy."-Philadelphia
Press.
Eggsactly.-"What are you doing
there?" cried the farm dog as he OBJ
served the hen in the coal bin. "Oh, ]
thought this was good time to lay in
COAL" cackled the hen.-Philadslphia
Press.
Wimbleton-"Hello, old man, have
you taught your dog any new tricks
lately?" Quimbleton-"Yes; I've been
teaching him to eat out of my hand.
He ate big piece out of it yesterday"
Fun.
doctor, cannot pay this bill. l
am no better than before you started
to attend me-" 81 know, but you did
not take my advice" "Oh, thanks! II
didn't take it l certainly don't owe
for baltimore World.
my daughter" said the father OF
the beautiful girl, "young Mr.. Milyuns
will very likely propose tonight,
and" "Father," she cried, 81 cannot
marry him." "No? Well put him of
for week. want to borrow another
thousand from him."-Philadelphia
Record.
The Juvenile Brain.-Mamma-"And
what have you bought grandpa for his
birthday" Tommy-"A beautiful
pipe" Mamma-"But you silly boy
you know he doesn't smoke" Tommy
(after a disconsolate pause, trium.
phantly)-"Ah, but he can use it for
blowing bubbles" "--Pick-Me-Up.
Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1901-08-23

tusks for hundreds of years for pur-
poses of exchange, considering them
of little value. In the Upper Nile re-
gion, the Khartoum merchants first
discovered an accumulation of these
treasures. Dealers finally advanced
to Katanga, thence to the Congo, after
which the ivory trade steadily in
creased. On July 81, 1888, an ivory
market was started in Antwerp. sell
ing Is tons. In 1890 its sales exceeded
those of the Liverpool market, and in
1895 those of London. In February,
May, August and November of each
wear, great sales are held there.
There were sold in Antwerp, in 1890,
21,446 tusks from the reserves and
only $3.50 from newly-killed animals.
The government coufiscates all car
casses of elephants killed without es-
pecial permission.
The latest methods of treating the
natives of the Congo Free State have
brought out the fact that by proper
management they may be utilized sue
cessfully as Iaborers. This means the
possibility of rapid development OF
the country. The building Of the first
rs miles Of railroad from Matadi to
Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1901-08-23

Leopoldvile required five years, Tns
negroes were treated like slaves, the
Belgian overseers whipping them un'
mercifully. The results were so dis
appointing that they were afterward
employed like the Belgian laborer'
and paid in accordance with the
amount of work performed. They
were so impressed by the fact that in
creased effort brought payment in
proportion that the remainder OF the
road, 216 miles, was completed in fout
years, proving that "a mans a mar
for a that"
Their being amenable to religious
teaching to a remarkable degree goes
to prove that the members Of the Con-
go tribes may yet be made useful
members of society. People who have
inherited their Christianity might
even profit by their example. A mis-
slonary states that in one of their
villages school had been formed and
they had erected a church. They SO
reioced in their newly-found religious
experiences that they began to con-
neighbors, of the heather natives
across a great river who had not, like
themselves, been blessed by Christian
teaching. They said: Those people
know nothing of Jesus, while we are
saved. What shall we do?' In order
to find a fitting answer to this query
they held a special meeting and gave
the matter long and careful consider
alton. The river was full of croco-
diles, the crossing dangerous, the dis
tance too great for an easy return
journey. Several days must be spent
among those "heathen" who would,
very likely, treat them with great vio'
lence. Yet so Congo church members
crossed the river and preached during
three days so earnestly that they left
converts behind them on their return.
Now a church of 90 members is estab'
lished in that village, who are work.
ing with excellent results among their
neighbors. The negro temperament
Is emotional and responds quickly to
religious teaching. The railroad ex.
perience seems to indicate also that
they are not Indifferent to the "main
chance" But it would take a long and
optimistic look into the future to dis
Germ in them theologians, fnanciers
and politicians.
1t is very hard to obtain anything
approximating correct figures re-
garding the population of this terri
tory, which possesses five times
Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1901-08-23

from India and Siberia. According TO
Holtzapffel, fossil tusks from the
north Siberian rivers have weighed
1856 pounds. The average in Africa is
said to be from 20 to so pounds.
Those from the Congo are very large,
weighing on an average GO pounds.
A pair, each weighing 1856 pounds,
were shown at the Brussels exhibi-
tion.
In the dense, almost unexplored,
forests of the central Congo many
herds of wild elephants are still roam
Ing. These are hunted by the natives
for their flesh, which they prize much
more highly than they do their tusks.
But what they term dead ivory"
forms the greater proportion of what
the Free State sends out annually.
The natives have collected elephants
Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1901-08-23
WAY THEY SWEAR IN INDIA.
There Are Many Objectionable
Phrases In Daily Use Among
the OricntnIs.

A professor of languages some
years ago, on returning from India,
remarked upon the paucity Of objec'
tionablc phrases amongst the Brit.
ish working classes when compared
with the abundance supplied by the
orientals of similar rank. To prove
this, he gives n case which came un.
der his own notice, says the Liverpool
Post. He had dismissed man servant
for dishonesty, and the next morning,
at six o'clock, he sought an interview
with his former master. He flourishcd
a carving-knife, with which he plainly
intended to emphasize his remarks.
When he found it impossible to gain
admission, he sat under the window,
and the swearing" process began.
He cursed the professor along the
genealogical tree back to the first an.
cestor of his race. Then he dwelt
upon every detail of his anatomy, from
the top of his head to the end of his
toes. "For three consecutive hours he
sat and swore," says the professor,
without once repeating phrase"
Whilst travelling on the underground
railway in London, a party of work
ingmen entered the same compart-
ment, and iDtcrspersed their remarks
with the commonest forms OF "swear.
ing" The professor politely asked
them to desist, whereby he was told
to mind his own damned business. lie
at once commenced to translate into
English some specimens of eastern
oaths which he had heard Calcutta
merchants servant use to a mission
ary's servant. The men sidled from
him as If he had a plague, and at The
next station sought another compart-
nent.