davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-29
MARQUIS ITo's ESCAPE.
How the Daring Nobleman Managed
 to Leave Japan.

Scribner's Magazine.
 What could not be accomplished openly might be accomplished by stealth. At the age of 19, with the easy confidence of a boy on a lark. Ito led his dearest friend, the present Count Inouye, and JaeS whieb would Seg6t the e heart f of F2ns ton. Eluding the guards at dusk, they entered the concession of Yokohama and crept to the house of Mir. Keswick, British merchant. There the four fol- lowers, fearing betrayal to the authorl- ties by native servants. hid in the garden while Ito went forward to remind the owner of his promise to assist him to get passage to Europe. MT. Keswick took them aboard 8 British ship then in the harbor. expecting no difficulty. But the captain refused to receive them on the ground that by being a party to the violation of one of the most jealously guarded os Japanese laws, he ran the risk of having his own vessel refused entrance to the port thereafter and of making trouble for his Government. But the future Premier was prepared for this argument.
 I've have left our swords behind. so we have ceased to be samurai,' he said. We have cut off our queues, so our country will no longer recognize us as Japanese. As noblemen, we will not en- dure the punishment, let alone the deg radiation, which awaits us if We return. We shall xiii ourselves here and now, unless you take us with you"
 The captaiN knew that they would be as good as their word. It was not pleas ant to, contemplate five young men mak- ing triangular incisions in their bowels with concerted calnness and precision. Besides the blody remains of five young samurai eon his deck would require more explanation than their living presence. He took the only humane way out of the dilemma.
 They went as passengers who had paid their fare but the skipper regarded the as interloping "heathens" who
 
 achs used to an oriental diet were fed on salt horse" and biscuit. Soft hands used to playing with fans and swords took their turn at shortening sails in from the mate. Nauseated by the food and seasickness, stuRg by the humilia- ton of doing a coolie's work for a low born barbarian. only theE sense of duty to their country restrained them from following out the Japanese gentleman s code and committing suicide.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-29
Large Lift Bridge.

Chicago has now the largest lift bridge in the world spanning the Chicago River. The movable part of it Is 275 feet long, 75 feet longer than the great Tower bridge across the Thames in London, which has been considered a marvel of engineering skill, and the bridge itself is 450 feet long from end to end. It is built wholly of steel. Each of the two moving levers weigh 100000 pounds. Besides having the largest span of any movable bridge ever built, it is remark able because it is constructed for the heaviest railroad service. There are double tracks across. The bridge is de- signed for a load of 10000 pounds per load of 100000 pounds at any point on the floor of the structure. This gives it exactly twice the carrying capacity of the Tower bridge. It has cost $450,000.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-29
MANY APPLICANTS
ARE AFTER PLACES AS UNITED
 STATES COMMISSIONER.
Judge Jones Receives Numerous Letters Asking for Appoint j. ments-There are No vacan-
 cies at Present.

It was learned at the Federal building yesterday that the mail for Judge Thom- as CD Jones was burdened with applica- ti0ns of persons for United States Com missioner of the Northern District of Alabama and letters of recommendations from their friends.
 Shortly after Judge Jones qualified for the position of Federal Judge he said that he did not intend to remove any official until their term of office expired except for cause. A list of the United States Commissioners and the dates of their appointments show that with one exception 1t will be some time yet before commission expires, as the appoint ments are for four years. hence 1t is pointments made for these positions un- less some official is removed for cause.
 The following are the names of United States Commissioners for the Northern District of Alabama, together with their addresses and date of appointment:
 A. A. Mabson, Tuscaloosa, July IT, 1901.
 George B. Randolph. Anniston, July
 John B. Shields, Jasper, July 1, 1901.
 Garrett H. Smith. Florence. July l.
 H. A. Wilson, Birmingham. October 27. 1900.
 W. K. Cornish Birmingham. December
 E. E. Greenleaf, Huntsville. July 1,
 James J. Curtis, Cullman. July 2 1901.
 F. F. Conway. Huntsville, August |
 J. H. E. Guest. Fort Payne, December c. P. Lunsford. Hamilton. March s.
 Edwin Pickard. Gadsden, June {, 1898.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-29
Muncle Josh sprucebv."

The old-tlme favorite. Uncle Josh Spruceby," will be at the Montgomery Theatre Saturday matinee and night This pouplar play is now in Its tenth successful season. The charm of the play Is in it's rustic simplicity. The scenes are taken from Vermont rural life, and the character of Uncle Josh as the honest old farmer. is true to life. The story is told in a manner that is irre' sistible.
 It is said that MT Lewis has staged the piece in splendid shape. and 1t af' lords ample opportunity for displaying the startling mechanical effects which are introduced
 A big parade and band concert will De given daily at noon by the concert band which is carried by the company. The prices for this engagement are To- 20. 30 and 50 cents.
 The Chicago Daily Tribune says: "The comedy-drama, Uncle Josh Spruceby, drew two immense crowds yesterday to the Bijou, and the standing room only sign had to be displayed Uncle Josh keeps the audience smiling throughout the performance, and the company is ex- cellent Up-to-date specialties and pget- ty musical numbers are introduced dur
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-29
SUPERSTITION ON FARMS.
old Ideas Firmly Believed in by the
 Prosaic Agriculturists.

Chicago Inter-Ocean.
 Superstition is more prevalent among the American people than Is generally supposed" said a book agent. ''and even the hard-headed, intelligent farmers are, to a certain extent, afflicted with It. "I remember asking farmer 6O years ligence, the owner of 1000 acres of fine land, well stocked, and who had several thousand dollars in bond and other se- curities, why he did not build himself a better house. The ono he lived in was old, small and dilapidated, relic Of the days when he was poor.
 Afraid to- was the reply.
 Afraid of what? I asked.
 "'Well. you see, 1 have always heard that when an old man builds a new house he never lives long to use it.
 T laughed, but he was perfectly seri- ous, and I found that in that neighbor- hood the superstition was generally be- lieved in. - same locality. The man who plants a tree generally lives to enjoy it's fruits. The belief in these sayings was shown by the number of poor farm houses ana the number of fine orchards in that
 Seed corn shelled at night grows best is another saying frequently used in the corn belt. farmer son sug- gested that 1t was invented by the old men as an excuse for making Lhe poyS
 
 Things planted during the dark Of the moon produce the best roots Is so generally accepted as true that vegeta- bles, like potatoes. turnips, beets. car rots and onions, are planted during the lfaht of the moon by few people. Many scientific farmers believe in this super stition.
 The farmer who refuses water to a travellers horse will see his own live stock suffer from thirst before the end of the year Is 8 belief so common in some localities as to insure courteous treatment to all travellers. Some farmers will wiring the neck oi A hen if she crows. They say a growing Ten brings bad luck to the farm and ana .Ss SG 1 heard one old farmer remark, sets tne wimmen folks a bad example,
 Borrowed eggs always hatch ..isu' IS saying probably invented by some stingS l man as an excuse for borrowing. but T Is so generally believed in some neigh borhoods that regular system Of DOT rowing and lending is carried on.
 These and hundreds of other super stitions are so generally believed m tna | they govern the customs of communities | to d surprising extent"
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-29
COLD WAVE IS COMING
EXPECTED TO ARRIVE IN MONT
 GoMERY THIS MORNING.
While Temperature will Not Go as Low as During Recent Cold !, Spell It Will Drop
 Below Freezing.

A storm center over the lower Missis- sippi Valley yesterday morning and nov ing eastward over the Gulf States, gave
 very general rains in the South, the
 rainfall being quite heavy over Middle Mississippi and Northwestern Georgia. High temperature prevailed to the east ward of the depression, but a very high
 bank of air was then central over the plateau region the downfiow from which was then giving fair and cold over the entire West.
 The barometric gradient from the high in the West to the low" over the Mid dle South was nearly one inch; the down flow of air along this steep gradient will,
 1t is expected, cause quite a decided cold change over Alabama by this morn-
 ing. While temperatures are not expect ed to go as low as we experienced a couple of weeks back. they will be well down in the twenties by this morning. and probably lower during tonight. The Weather Bureau distributed cold wave warnings throughout this section yesterday morning Where water pipes were not drained last night they had better be emptied before tonight. The heavy rainfall over. the watershed of the Coosa will cause steady rises in ! the Coosa and Albama Rivers during the next few days.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-29
FACTS ABOUT DEAF FOLK.
Prof E. Read Finds Large Per S centage to be Born Without
 Hearing.

Indianapolis News.
 Professor Alien E. Read of the Institution for the Deaf in this city, has just finished Ior lection of facts and statistics concerning the children who have, since 1890. been in at tendance at the institution. The work mas occupied him for several weeks, and the com pilation is volumnous. It Is the hrst time that systematic and thorough collection has been attempted. The Census Department has ordered a like compilation at the other State institutions under special direction of Dr. Alexander Graham Bell who has long made a study of statistics concerning the deaf and dumb.
 at e one % time % or another since Isso been under instruction at the institution. I6e are con- eh ef bea2,nE: Ss a7I are % SSventitious. that is, those who became deaf after birth from sick. ness or other causes; 10 are feeble minded and third of the 4sa have been taught by the speech method; the rest by the manual or sign pupis are consenitai and the rest adventitious. from which it Is concluded that the great ma jority of those deaf and dumb from birth can
 of the advsntitious pupils les are totally deaf and Io2 partially SO: 9e lost their hear, ns Snas5 ss ysr 05 Sssss.n {, i abetween 4 and 5. Of these 27l,24 lost their hearing under the age of 5 years. and I S4. f4s 't0 ars tOtsiiy s and and o partially part deaf
 The causes of loss of hearing as gleaned by the tnVeStigation are Narleu, the cnleI Deln6 spinal meningitis and complications, 52 cases; brain fever and complications, 3e; scarlet fe' yer. 2s catarrh and complications, l9i gath: fever. IT.. Among the others are whoopine cough pneumonia, measles, diphtheria, grir and scrofula. Tn 22 cases the cause of deaf ness is unknown.
 Of the 452 children there is relationship between parents in l9 cases. mostly cousins congental and have i63 deaf relatives-5s brothers 43 sisters. fathers. and 9 mothers The rest are adventitious and have 69 deai relatives, mostly brothers and sisters Almost every occupation and profession fl represented in the vocation of the fathers O
 the children. 2o3 being farmers, 65 laborers | 23 carpenters. 10 railroad men. 5 preachers. lawyers, 2 teachers, and physician. Int rest are blacksmiths, butchers, machinists storekeepers, painters, coal miners etc.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-29
Elks Rurlesoue Circus.

Mlrth and merriment, fun and .frtVolity will hold sway at the Montgomery Thea Ire Thursday and Friday nights, when the EIks' Burlesque Circus will be the attraction. It will consist of an excru- ciatingly funny burlesque of an old-fash- toned circus with canvass and clowns and numerous business men of Montgom- cry will impersonate the side-snoW freaks" leomonade vendors. etc.
 The performance will be given under the auspices of the Montgomery Lodge of Elks. but it will be under the especial direction of W. L. Haskell, who has had wears of experience in this kind of work. He has recently produced circus in Chattanooga, Tenn, and The Times Of that city describes 1t as the funniest thing that ever happened.
 Among the well-known Montgomery Elks who will participate in the ''circus" and contribute to the merrymaking are: Berto H. Johnson, Glenn Fitzpatrick, Arch Mckinney, B. s. Greil. Tilford Leak. J. B. Goode, Jr., I. H. DeWees, George S. Peagler, R. D. Chastain, Henry Moog' Charles A. Allen. Jr., Robert Bartlett Arthur Lazarus, Ray Wilkinson. l.. W LaTaste, Al Reynolds, W. F. Christian Clarence Jones. J. M. Spencer, Alex Troy Jr.. Louis c. Cardinal, Charles Levy Dave Kahn, Henry Levystein, Dr. H. s Persons, A. B. Hirscher, Dr. A. Q. XII. patrick. Alex c. Birch, N. J. Greil and Albert Moog.
 A funny street parade will be giver Thursday. when some of the wild and untamed freaks" will ride through thu streets of Montgomery in gilded cagei and make faces at the great throngs oi people who are expected to line the side walks.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-29
TO PAY A QUARTER PER BABY.
Chicago Will Have to Spend $15,oo Next Year Under the New Law.

Chicago News. OF A. =
 head for every baby born inside It's i'm i'm
 its and whose birth is reported to the
 countv clerk after New Years Day. This
 is on account of law which was enact
 ed by the last Legislature.
 The object of the law was not to place cago, but to insure the recording or the
 births of the babies who may be born
 The Tn e physician presiding at the birth of child will be entitled to collect the tax; If he neglects his duty, the parent ei the offspring will have the next chance at the County's quarter. This piece of silver will be paid by the County Trea > MIer upon notice by the County Clerk that the birth in question has been re- ported to him. -,..,. '''I expect this new law will cost Cook County about $15,0OO next year" saie President John J. Hanberg, of the County Board. There were nearly 5O,OOO babies born in Chicago this year, l understand and I expect the number will be in CT eased next year. Cook County cannot
 well begrudge the money, though In the present condition of the County 8 Hnahces every S15,000 counts.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-29
Mi.s viola Allen an Alabanian

"Verv few persons kAow." said a man who keeps up with the stage, to a Bir- mingham Age-Herald writer, that Miss Viola Allen, the actress. is an Alabama woman. Miss Allen was born in Hunts vile years ago, but I will not give the number of years; all actresses are supposed to be young and pretty. It is enough to say that she is yet young and Is considered among the best actresses of today. From Huntsville the Aliens moved to Boston. Her father, MT. c. Leslie Allen, became leading man with the Boston Museum and for years he has been in the support of almost every leading actor. He is 72 years of age and plays the part of a young man in '"The Palace of the King" with his daughter.
 He is as chipper and spry as man 90 years old, and I defy any one to find a flaw in his acting.
 Miss Aliens first appearance was made when she was only 16 years of age and still a school girl. Her father was asked if she could play the part of Esmerelda He replied that if there was anything in heredity she could; heI father and mother were both members of the profession. She did play the part and made a big hit. The next season she was leading woman for John McCul' tough. One of her best successes in late wears was in "The Christian"
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-29
Prize for an American Play.

With the double object of helping some aspiring and unknownu dramatist and at the same time finding a suitable
 play for production, Miss Percy Has well. now a star at the head of her own company. under the direction of the
 we'll known actor-manager. George Faw- cett at Chase's Lyceum Theatre. Balti-
 more. Md. has announced a competition.
 She will give an elaborate and careful
 production of a new play by an Ameri-
 can author, at her Baltimore theatre.
 will pay a cash royalty the equivalent of
 the largest sum for the use of the high
 ct priced royalty play produced by her
 this season. and will furthermore pur-
 chase outright, the prize play, should it
 make the hit expected when produced.
 The author retains all his rights in the
 premises if his play is selected, and re- ceives In addition cash prize equal to
 the average royalty paid for the use of
 play by Henry Arthur Jones, Clyde Fitch. or some other recogn,led and suc-
 ceasful author The orly stipulation Miss Haswell makes is that in return for giving a production to the work of a new
 author. she be granted first option to
 purchase the play for her own use in play shall be original. by an American 1 be made by a committee of three Balti-
 more before February 15. 1902. All other things being equal a play for a woman | be made b va committee of three Balti-
 more dramatic critics, in conjunction | with Miss Haswelis business manager. Will A. Page. All plays intended for | this competition should be addressed to l Will A. Page. Chase's Lyceum Theatre, Baltimore. Md. All plays must be accom- panied by sufficient postage for their re turn if rejected, and all plays must be | submitted At the risk of the senders. Due effort will be made to return unsuc-
 cessful plays. Plays may be sent imme- | diately, but the limit is February 15 | The decision will be announced as soon | as possible thereafter, and the successful | play will be given an immediate produc- | ton. No dramatixations of books. nc 1 foreign adaptations and no translations will be considered and no play can he 1 accepted unless 1t was written by ar l American Previous plays, acted or un | acted, by the authors who submit man
 uscripts, will have no bearing whatever l on tf1e competitlon,
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-29
Fresh Meat Problem.

The supplying of fresh meat to tho troops in the Philippines Is a problem which has required much hard work on the part of the military authorities A widespread epidemic of rinderpest among the native cattle has practically cut off supplies from that source. The depart ment uses about fifteen tons of Austral- ian frozen beef 8 day, and this amount furnishes seven-tenths fresh meat for 34.000 men.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-29
Tunnels Crowding Out Bridges. ,l,iYa aoJohy. D,hI;o I ad1ar

FHIIduSIpIIId T uUIIC l8NUBNI'
 The building of the Pennsylvania Rail- roads big tunnels under the Hudson and East Rivers marks the end of the era of bridges across large streams. If tunnels can be built and operated successfully. their manifest advantages over bridges will lead to their adoption not only for railroad purposes. but for general travel and traffic as well.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-29

The two Montgomery playhouses win break even this week with two attrac- tions each. McDonald's offers Quo vadis' Tuesday matinee and night and Palmer's "Ten Nights in a Bar Room" Wednesday night. Messrs. Hirscher Bros, managers of the Montgomery The atre, offer a buriesque circus by local talent Thursday and Friday nights and q popular price attraction. Uncle Josh Spruceby," for Saturday matinee and Sat- urday night.
 Looking back over the theatrical week just gone, one Is remirded that it brought to Montgomery two of the most enjoyable productions of the stage season. Stuart Robson Is so deliciously droll as Bertie, the Lamb, in "The Henrietta" that his exquisite rendition of the part fingers in the memory like the breath of arose. The play Is Bronson Towards best, and 1t teaches great moral lesson along with its bright flashes of comedy and quaint epigrams.
 The company assisting Miss Rose Cogh- Ian in Forget Me Not" was small. but the quality was there, and no person who witnessed the play left the theatre without feeling that he had received his moneys worth. The man at the box or flee tells me that the receipts for Miss Coghland's Christmas matinee broke all previous records. TO De sure, the pEtCes were advanced, but the house was filled to overfiowing, and the many persons who came late to the theatre were turn ed away Almost the same conditions ex- isted Christmas night when the same play was produced. It was a great com pliment to Miss Coghlan, but she and her excellent company of artists deserved It.
 By the way, 1t is worth while to note the fact that Miss Roslyn, the pretty It, tie woman who played Rose de Brissac, is an adopted daughter of Miss Coghlan. She is new to the stage, but under the tutelage of such a superior actress. she will no doubt achieve fame.
 Manager Mcdonald of the Bibb Street playhouse sets great store by the forth coming production of Quo Vadis." He says it Is a large company which carries special scenery and that it is an attrac- ton that he feels he can recommend He also says that Palmer's production of Ten Nights in a Bar Room, wncn comes to his house Wednesday night, is success.
 The Elks' Burlesque Circus, which Is to be produced at the Montgomery Theatre Thursday and Friday nights is attracting a great deal of attention and promises to be very funny
 The week will close at the Montgomery Theatre with a matinee Saturday and j night performance of "Uncle Josh Spruce by." a rural comedy which comes well recommended for a popular price attrae- ton.
 The forecast for the week Is as fol lows:
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-29
Becoming 8 Jurist.

Chicago Journal.
 We wish the literary tradesmen would refrain from the use of that mongrel word, dependable" If they want to convey the idea and are perfectly reck- less. why not say "dependuponable?"
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-29
PENSIONS.

A new plan for pensioning readers of the Daily or Weekly Advertiser may be of interest to the many older readers just at this time Ask about G&
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-29
PARAGRAPHS OF PLAYERS,

Nat Goodwin has cabled Klaw & Er- farger from Lt ndon to book a route for him and Maxine Elliott to open January % They will begin their tour in Brook Ivu borough on that date. presenting ..SVhen We Were Twsnty-one."
 Mrs Humphrey Ward has written to I,iebler x co. asking permission for Miss Eleanor Robson to go to London just before the close of tho present American season, and create the part of Lucy in
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-29
a'ren Nishts in Q Barroon." !"


 The pride of every mother is to teach her children lessons that will tend to make them the best and truest of men and wo- men and one of the best of these. in these days when whiskey is king, is the won derfully moral lesson depicted by Pal mer's Ten Nights in a Bar Room" with it's realistic truthfulness 1t indelibly im- prints upon the mind of every child a moral lesson an equal of which Is yet to be presented.
 To make this an impressive moral les son, in addition to one of the foremost of all scintillating amusement features of the season, Manager Palmer claims he has put out the most complete scenic pro- duction ever given the public. In addi- ton to the scenic equipments the very | best talent has been secured and pleas ing specialties will be introduced. the unusual combination of which assures an evenings entertainment far above the ordinary passing show. This attraction will be seen here for one night only at McDonald's Theatre | Wednesday night.