davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-13
BY M. e. HUGHES.

The star of the Southern Confederacy
began to decline at Gettysburg When
out of the smoke-veiled front of Seminary
ridge emerged the magnificent Army of
Northern Virginia, formed in three battle
lines more than mile In length, and be-
gan its march across the narrow valley
the Valley of the Shadow of Death to
thousands of those brave Southern he
roes-towards Cemetery hill with dis
ciplined steadiness that called forth the
admiration of the opposing host, the for
tunes of the Confederacy were approach
ing high tide, and within that same hour
the tide began to ebb. Like great tidal
wave from off the sea, the army Of Lee,
in grand array, moved across the valley
apparently invincible and Irresistible.
within an hour it had marched across
the valley, charged up the ridge into the
very Jaws of death, into a veritable hell
of fire, and was literally crushed; 1t
reeled, staggered became disjointed, and
then was broken into fragments and
hurled back, fragmentary wreck, to the
Mace whence it came. A few, very
few, of that splendid army reached the
crest OIL the riuBe anu peAicIdteu "
where Is now little grove of white-oak
trees-those trees mark the high tide Of
the Southern Confederacy: from there
the tide began to ebb; the star began to
decline, and at last it disappeared from
view at Appomattox. We need not fol-
low the intrepid Lee and the remnant of
his army back to Virginia soil, where it
..a.tad upon the south bank of the Rapi-
don Our story has to do with the last
oamnaign of the grand old Army of
Northern Notwithstanding at the Rap
,dan and ending at Appomattox = the
latest campaign in the history of the
civil war and one of the greatest IN the
history of the world. On the 4th day OF
Nav. 1854, there were. In round numbers.
1900 effective men IN Lees army oh
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-13

which is without doubt, one OF the most
remarkable examples Of the art OF that
period. This powder horn is nothing more
than the femur, or "ham-bone." of a wild
boar, hollow within and covered at the
bottom with plate or shoe Of iron, rusty
with age. The spout consists or anotner
and smaller bone, Of the same animal, In
serted in the larger one, forming the
horn. Two iron rings are fastened in
the back of the horn. to which an old
brass chain is attached. The whole out
side of this remarkable powder horn Is
deliberately carved to represent hunt
in. scene, in which a German, In medic
val costume. appears spearing wild
boar, the animal being represented in the
act of charging.
An old and curious cake basket that
once belonged to President Tyler Is an
other of several curious things that have
turned up lately This remarkable basket
consists Of a pedestal Of silver-gilt, upon
either end of which are two caryatides Of
white bisque, in the form of two classic
female figures, upon whose heads res.
the basket proper of silver-gilt and bisque
ware. The style of this basket Is ex-
ceedingly curious and rare, and nothing
like it is manufactured today.
An old blue Delft plate, upon which IL
an exceedingly crude representation OF
the landing of Lafayette at Castle Gar
den, on August 16 1924 forms another
Of several very curious things that have
crept into the curio shops Of this city OF
late.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-13
/ MODERN FABLES BY GEORGE ABE

so as to get real Home and she
gave him a new one every Year.
Mr.. Jump soon discovered that
although every Man is the Archi-
tect of his own Fortune, the Wife
usually superintends the Construc-
ton.
When Mrs. Jump made her
Spring Announcement that they
would move to another House, he
did a deal of Kicking, but he al
ways went into the Wood Shed
to do it. He sassed her inwardly,
but not so that she could hear.
She was a Wonder at framing
up Reasons for hurting the Lease
back at the Landlord.
One Year she quit because the
Owner papered the Upstairs with
a Jay Pattern that cost only 10
cents a Bolt. Another time the
Family next door kept Chickens.
Usually the Children across the
Alley were not fit Associates for
their own little Brood.
One time she quit on account
of a Cockroach. She saw it scoot
across the Pantry and that after
noon she headed for a Renting
Agency.
Father suggested that instead
of vacating in favor Of the Cock
roach, they offer reward Of
800 for its capture, dead or alive,
and thereby save little Money,
but she refused to listen.
If the Plumbing wasn't out Of
Whack, the Furnace required too
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-13

that day General Grant, with 1880 men,
crossed the Rapidan and began the move
ment that sealed the fate of the Cor
federacy and ended the war less than
year subsequently.
Lees army was intrenched on q line
extending from the old field of Chancel-
louisville almost to the Blue Ridge Noun
tains Southwest of Charlottesville,
where Lee had defeated Hooker a year
before, is a large extent of country thick
ly covered with oak forest and short
scrubby underbrush; this scope of coun-
try Is known as 1.-THE Wilderness" and
into this Grants army moved as soon as
1t had crossed the Rapidan, and here it
was confronted by its old antagonist, the
army of Northern Virginia, under Lee,
and here hot battle boiled and dubbed
for three days, as It had never done be-
fore between the two armies Outnum-
bered and hard pressed, Lees forces
fell back to Spottsylvania Court House,
when he again contested the advance of
Grant, but the latter's troops, taking the
double-quick, rolled like a great resistless
wave into the Confederate works and a
desperate hand-to-hand contest was
waged, a contest that has passed into
history as the Bloody Angle" The con-
Hlct was snort Dut terrific. Inc Wnoie
forest was blightsd by the rain of shot
and shell and the ground was covered
with bodies Of the dead and wounded
piled three and four deep. Lee retired
and crossed the North Anna river, always
keeping his army between Grant and the
Confederate capital. The marvellous
genius of Lee is conspicuously shown In
the wonderful celebrity with which he
would move his immense army and Its
equipment; and his soldiers had learned
the genius of their leader until the army
had demonstrated its right to be deemed
the peer of a.y army on earth. Sudden
ly General Can't abandoned his position
in front Of Lee and transferred his entire
army to the Pamunkey river. at Han
overtown. But Lee was not to be out
witted nor outgeneraled, he was march
ing his army parallel with Grants and
was attacking his troops whenever OPP
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-13
ooocococcoc CooocoCo UCs'0SO'N
The Modern Fable Of the Search for the Right
House and How Mrs Jump Had Her Annual Attack
y q Copyright 1902. by Robert Howard Russell e g

much Coal or else the Woman
across the Street had been di
vorced too many times.
II they squatted in low-down
Neighborhood. Mrs. Jump was
ashamed to give her Address to
Friends in the Congregation.
If they got into Nest of the
New Rich, then Laura had the
freeze-out worked on her, because
Mr.. Jump was on Salary and
she had to ride on the Trolleys.
So she began looking for Street
in which Intellect would success
fully stack up against the good,
old Collateral. And, of course,
that meant long Search.
Therefore, every May list, some
thing Red and about the size of
a Caboose backed up to the
Jumps. Several husky Boys be
gan throwing Things out of the
Windows.
Father did a Vanishing Act.
When it came to lifting one cor
ner of Piano or hanging Pic
lures he was sad Bluff and he
knew it.
How about Paradise?" he asked
one day. 81 understand that in
side of the Pearly Gates, each
Family has Permanent Quarters.
There are no Folding Beds to
juggle down Back Stairways, no
Picture Cords to Shorten, no Cur
tain Poles to saw off, no Book
Cases to get jammed in Stair
ways. | am sure there will be no
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-13

portunity offered. Grant arrived with
the army of the Potomac at Cold Harbor
and there was Lee in front Of him, strong
ly intrenched. In trying to drive Lee from
his works Grant ordered a general as
sault but was rrpulsed at all points with
a loss Of more than 10000 men In a con-
test lasting less than two hours Unable
to drive Lee from his front Grant With
drew his army and hurried 1t across the
James river intending to occupy Peters,
burg and enter Richmond from the South.
But again was Lee his master and
again was he outwitted; when his ADVANCE
divisions reached Petersburg they found
the Confederate army pouring into the
city and had occupied 1t in force. Gen
eral Lee showed himself in this wonder
full camp the master of one or the most
difficult branches of military science. To
know where your enemy will strike next
and get there ahead of him. In this
movement for the occupation Of Peters,
burg General Grant was fairly outgener-
aided. and 1t cost him eight months Of
dogged, and persistent siege and the loss
of thousands of men before he occupied
the important stragetic point. The army
of Northern Virginia was safely In the
fold, and Lee was the great Shepherd
who guided and protected it. and who
watched over the destinies OF the Con-
federacy. General Grant and the army OF
the Potomac came up and at once began
a siege that continued through the sum :
mer and fall and until the early spring
of 1865. Much fighting was done and
many lives sacrificed on both sides. but
Grant found 1t impossible to gain entrance
into the city 80 long as Lee was within,
and not until the army of Lee had
marched out was the army of Grant per-
mitted to march in. In February, 1865.
General Sheridan, with the army from
the Shenandoah Valley, Joined Grant at
Petersburg and then the circle was com
pleted; the leashed dogs of war were
ready to be turned loose whenever Grant
gave the command. Lees characteristics
at this time appear to have undergone
a remarkable change from those whicf
were m anifested In his former campaigns
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-13

Crop had been ruined by the late
Cold Snap and the Kids were bat
ting up Flies in the Lot back of
the Universalist Church, and
Barrel-Organ down Street was
tearing the Soul out of "Trova-
tore"-these were the Cues for
Mrs. Jump to get her Nose into
the Air and begin to champ at the
Bit.
Mother was a House-Hunter
from away back. She claimed to
be an Invalid eleven months out
of the Year and took Nerve Med
icine that cost $500 Bottle.
Just the same, when April hove
into view and Dame Nature be-
gan to stretch herself, then Moth
er put on her Short Skirt and
Pair of Shoes intended for a Man
and did tall France.
She was good for IL hours a
Day on any kind of Pavements.
With her Recticule loaded full Of
ITO Let" Clippings, she hot-footed
from Street to Street. Every time
she struck a Fresh Trail she
broke into a Run.
Mother was looking for a House
that had twice as many Closets
as Rooms and a Southern Expos
ure on all four sides.
She had conned herself into the
Belief that some day she would
run down a Queen Anne Shack
that would be o. K. in all Partic-
ulars.
In the Magazine that came ev-
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-13

cry Month she had seen these
Dream-Pictures of Palaces that
can be put up for s1,500.00, II
you steal your Materials.
She had gazed at the Bunco
Illustration of the Swell Struct-
ure with bushy Trees dotting the
Lawn and little Girl rolling a
Hoop along the Cement Side
Walk and she had set her Heart
on that kind of a Home.
Mother loved to study the Plans
and count the Bath Rooms and
figure on Window Seats and what
kind of Curtains to put on the
Guest Chamber.
Every Spring she found the
Place she had been seeking and
gave a Grand Signal for the
whole Outfit to begin packing up.
Those were the bright yernal
Days when Mr.. Jump got all that
was coming to him. Mr.. Jump
was a Man, therefore any old
kind of Hut suited him. For
eight years before starting on
his continuous Tour with Mother,
he had roomed over Drug Store.
His Apartment had been one of
those delectable Man-Joints where
Women never butted In to hide
things and give the whole Place
a Soapy Smell.
The Sweepings went under the
Bed, so as not to litter up the
Hallway.
Once year he had a House
Cleaning. That is to say, he en-
ployed a Colored Man to beat the
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-13

cessful in life and also in making money,
the Mayor has his little economies. He
does not smoke, chew nor take snuff,
does not drink or use any bad language
and while he chews gum constantly he
does not spend much money on it. In
fact the Mayor has not been In office long
enough to determine just how long one
piece of gum will last.
Mayor Drennen is an early riser. He
comes to his office before o'clock and
stays until l. He then goes to dinner
and returns at and remains until 4. Then
he drives out to look at different public
improvements which are going on over
the city and keeps fully posted on every
thing that is connected with the city
affairs He Is really very busy man.
During office hours he hears dozens o.
appeals to him for executive clemency. He
is becoming quite Judge and seldom errs
in his decisions. He RENTS many fines
but gene1 ally has a good reason for doing
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-13

brickbats, no Anticipated cabbage and
antediluvian eggs, or no billingsgate
handed to those who would have honors
thrust upon them. The candidate simply
takes his photograph home with him, and
after supper, in the quietude of his own
happy home, by his own peaceful fire.
side, he says his little speech into the
machine. The next morning he leaves 1t
at a place where the boys sometimes con-
gregate to forget their sorrows. The
monograph then proceeds to get In its
work In a clear m etallic voice, through
a brass horn, it informs the thirsty pop
ulace of the unconstitutionality of the
new constitution, or recites its benefits to
a lost and ruined constituency. 1t ans
wers no questions, orders no drinks or
buys no cigars. 1t never gets ratified,
never says the wrong thing at the wrong
time, never hesitates and consequently Is
never lost. If the audience becomes rest
less, it strikes up lively band piece or
sings a topical song 1t seems to me that
1t meets all requirements, and Its In
PRODUCTION into Alabama politics is con-
fidently looked forward to.
A. s. r.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-13

front of every mans lot and is held per-
sonally responsible for the topography OF
the city and for every rain pool which
gathers within the corporate limits or
Birmingham and breeds malaria or mos
quitos.
Mayor Drennen Is happily of philo-
sophie disposition and takes the petty an
noyances of his position in calm and
unruffled manner. He used to worry
about things a little more than he does
now, and the result Is that his hair Is
not quite as thick as when he first as
sumed the royal purple Of the mayoralty
Now, however. the Mayor comes through
many an interview smiling which would
run the average man to the verge of in
sanity. Experience has taught him that
1t Is better not to take things too Sc
riously. While he is hnd-hearted and
sympathetic, instead Of tearing his hair
at some tale of woe. he now chews gum.
Like many other men who have been sue
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-13

'Is the Mayor in?'' asked seedy look
ing individual of the Mayors secretary,
Mr.. Richardson. He pronounced the
word mayor as If it was mare" and his
appearance indicated that he might De
more at home In a stable than the mead
quarters of Birmingham's chief executive:
NO. the Mayor is not in" replied the
secretary HE is out driving. what 90
you want?'
Sir" replied the caller, my business
As pussonnal. will call agin."
He made his way out of the OFFICE ana
Ahe Mayor by being out of his office was
doubtless saved some contribution to
charity.
Probably the chief business Of Mayor
Drennen, or any other Mayor, is receiving
calls. All day long during office hours,
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-13
ID FALL OF THE CONFEDERACY

train load of supplies that never came
This delay gave Sheridan the opportunity
to strike in on his line of retreat, which
he did at Jetersvile seven miles from
Am ella courthouse on the Richmond ant
Danville railroad.
Thus headed off, Lees only hope was to
make a race to Farmsville thirty-flv<
miles west, cross the Appomattox again
and escape to the mountains west of
Lynchburg. Grants army was at Jeters-
Vile; General Ord had reached Burks-
Vile. where the Lynchburg road crossed
the Danville road; Sheridan was approch-
ing from Deaconsville. The situation was
desperate, but Lee slipped past his pur-
suers and was making for Farmsville aa
fast as he could. Ewell's corps was
caught by Sheridan, and the brave sue
cessor of Stonewall Jackson, defeated sur
rounded. was compelled to surrender him.
self and his entire force. General Lee
again slipped away and continued his
retreat during the night, crossing the APP
pomattox by bridges near Farmsville.
His army was girded about by circle
of fire, and surrounded by lines of Fed
eral troops that were gradually drawing
nearer and nearer, and in which ever
direction his army would turn it could
discover nothing but those contracting
lines of Union soldiers Hunted like
sheep before wolves pressed upon all
sides; hungry and footsore; the boom of
hostile guns continually in their ears,
they slowly toiled along toward the set
| ting sun.
But three lines of conduct were now
| left open to Lee-to disband his army; to
abandon his trains, his sick and wounded,
and cut his way out; or to surrender
He chose to surrender as the more hon
orable way and on the 9th day of April
the Confederate army of Northern Vir-
ginia laid diwn its arms and ceased to ex-
list as an organization. But its works will
never cease to be remembered; its UNI
paralleled labors. its heroic sacrifices, Its
| triumphant victories on many bloody
! field. have surrounded 1t and Its incom-
| parable commander with halo of glory
| that will never fade away while the
Southern blood continues to flow and
! history is read
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-13
THE DAILY ROUTINE OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE
OF A GROWING CITY. &c &c &c & &c

and even after hours on the streets, the
Mayor is being called on for first one
thing and then another. His visitors are
of all sorts and conditions of men, and
they come about all sorts of things, from
having a fine remitted in the Police Court
to having the city build paved streets
and sidewalks through suburban farms.
1t is probably nice to be called Mr..
Mayor and draw salary and be written
about In the papers and talked about on
the streets. but 1t is no sinecure to be
Mayor of a growing city like Birming-
ham. Whatever salary he gets Is spent
in oharaties, for the Mayor Is the one
man who is expected to give to each and
every charity or alleged charity that the
ingenuity Of man can devise. He Is ex-
pected to buy books from every book
agent, remit every fine imposed by Judge
Feagin in the Police Court, put an as
phalt road and cloth Of gold sidewalk In
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-13

rious ways, usually financially and want
the Mayors assistance. One has game
leg and wants a pass to Hot Springs to
boil the venom out of it. A woman's hus-
band has died or deserted her and she
wants a pass home. This, by the way,
happens quite often in Birmingham. Men
bring their wives here to a large city on
the pretext of looking for work. They
tell them to wait at the station while they
step around the corner and get job.
and this is the last ever heard of them.
Finally the women go to the Mayor and
tell him ell about 1t, and ask him to help
in the hunt for the missing hubby. The
unpleasant duty devolves on the Mayor
of explaining to these poor women that
their husbands have probably quit them,
and then follows tears, idle tears, that
remind one of Birmingham in the rainy
season, Most of these visitors, however
want fines removed, or else they want to
levy tribute on the Mayor for some chari
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-13

ty The Mayor usually pays up like
man and then consoles himself with q
piece of gum.
Personally Mayor Drennen IS very popu-
lar and is always courteous and in good
humor. He is always accessible and
dresses better than the usual office
holder. He has been Mayor for a little
over three years and is a candidate for
reelection at the coming elections. His
opponents admit that 1t will be no easy
task to beat him. During his administra-
ton Birmingham has seen a great degree
CT prosperity and the city has grown very
fast. A new city hall has been built at
cost of $500, coo, streets have been paved
| school buildings and storm sewers have
| been built and street improvements are
being carried on to such an extent thai
1t Is impossible to drive in any direc
ton for more than two or three block
without finding work of this character i
progress.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-13

So His correspondence is voluminous
and in off moments he takes whack at
Greater Birmingham" or some one Oh
the numerous plans proposed for BIZ
mingham's growth and welfare.
The old saying used to be, Tell your
troubles to the police" but this seems to
be out of fashion now and those with
troubles tell them to the Mayor. The
Mayor can do more for them probably
than the police, and great many people
in this world believe that If they want
anything the way to get 1t Is to ask
for 1t.
Entering the Mayors office during bus
mess hours will be found row of Grip
pies, tramps, weeping women and politi-
clans. Were 1t not for the reporters pres
ent, to whom the Mayor is good FRIEND
It would be easy to mistake the place Tor
q, doctors outer office with the nnaimed
and the halt and the blind waiting to be
cured. These people are manned in va
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-13

Rugs. which had to be separated
from the Floor by means of a
Shovel.
Inasmuch as Women I never
came in to straighten up, he knew
where to find everything. He
knew it was somewhere in the
Room and all he had to do was
to excavate until he found it.
Then he hooked up with Laura
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-13
AN ANCIENT POWDER HORN.

Strange and curious things continue to
turn up in the antique furniture stores.
Last week one Of the local dealers in an
tiques secured an old powder horn. made
in Germany in the seventeenth century,
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-13
THE SMART SET PHOTOGRAPH.

One fashion for women exists almost
exclusively in photographs. 1t is just now
the style for women to be photographed
in a low-necked dress with hat.
Half Of the smart women who have had
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-13

Once there was a Family called
Jump that had sampled every
Wood within the Corporation Linn
its.
The Jumps did a Caravan Spe-
cialty every time the Frost went
out of the Ground.
When the Sarsaparilla Ads be-
gan to blossom, and the Peach
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-13

Piano Movers for 1 have heard
their Language. Do you think
you could be happy in the Prom
ised Land?"
1T will depend entirely on
whether or not the Rugs flt," she
replied.
Let us hope for the Best" said
M Trrnn.
MORAL: The Queen Of the
May - usually :. Nunan.