davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-22
Littleton, All
NEGROES Must Remain Here.

To the Editor of the Age-Herald.
Please permit me to commend the edi-
toriaI in the Age-Herald of this date en-
titled: Negroes in the Philippines" In
letter and spirit it is a fitting answer to
Senator Morgan's reported plan for colo
nization of the negro in the Philippines. :.
Whoever advocates the wholesale colo
nization of the negro anywhere else than
in the south cannot know what is best
for either, since the one can do no more
without the other than was the case in
ante-bellum days.
Let us suppose the colonization of the
negro was possible which it is not, in the
Philippines, his welfare there would de-
pend upon the very same qualities that
make most for his welfare here, viz:
industry. thrift and intelligence. Di-
vorced from the example and influence Of
the white race the negro would rapidly
retrograde ant the United States would
soon be confronted with more serious
problem regarding them there than 1t has
with them here. Humanity would soon
demand relief there, which will never be
called for here, hence it is the part of
wisdom to recognize the truth you utter
when you say that the negro is in the
south to stay. and, properly handled, it
is in the south where the negro can work
out his highest destiny with less of cost
and trouble to the nation and to the races
around him than elsewhere on the face
of the globe.
No other labor can be used here to
such advantage in the cultivation, gath
ering and manufacturing of the south's
great agricultural proGuct-cotton-to
say nothing of his usefulness in other
fields, and 1 should regard it as a posi-
tive blow at the industrial weI are of the
south to take the negro from it, while
as to the negr himself. he has here more
inducement to call forth those qualities
on which his progress depends.
In no other cline, nor among any other
people can the negro acquire a home
more easily than right here in the south,
and being familiar with the SOIL the
people and re crops, it is here that he
can best attain independence and high
er civilization.
1t rests on the leaders of both races to
inculcate these qualities that have men
toned, and without the old bone of an
tagonistic dissention which has alone
created antagonism between the races in
the south--politics--th need be no
more any serious negro problem in this
country for here both r~ces can live and
work together for the mutual advance
ment CT BOTH and better than anywhere
else in this country or ut of it.
N. =. THOMPSON.
Birmingham, December p, 1902.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-22
Some Impressions.

1.-THE real value of the Bijou Musical
Comedy company was not fully appre-
ciated until it was gone" said theatre
goer yesterday afternoon. Il have heard
many expressions of regret, among them
some from the society girl, the news
boy and the Johnnie and I heard one Of
the chorus girls express her opinion Of
the Birmingham boys. Here as specimen
remarks:
Society girl think the girls are
just lovely and Little Chip is too sweet
to live He's a little darling. And amt
those costumes too pretty for anything.
l wish I was a member of the company
"Newsboy-'Gee whiz, but them's a
stunnin' crowd. Just look at de rags
they wear. You can bet I'm sorry they
are gone Sat in the roost every time
the curtain hunted the loft and I loves
all the girls
"Johnnie-'That's the SWEETEST bunch
that ever struck this town, and the way
they can eat is caution. I'm going to
Atlanta to see them when they get there.
They can spend all my coin and l IL carry
their grips to the depot any old time.
Ny candy and flowers are theirs
CHORUS girl-'The Birmingham boys
are dead slow. They couldn't catch bad
cold They can only be classed as rub
Der neeks wanted to put a chain around
some of their necks and drag them along
behind me. There are, however, one or
two good fellows in the town and they
fed US we'll y
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-22
PRovIpENT wooDPEcKERs.

From the Los Angeles Herald.
Real, genuine forethought is a thing
with which birds are but seldom charged.
Nature teaches her feathered children to
build their nests in anticipation of the
nesting time. But that bird should
think out several steps of a natural
phenomenon and deliberately plan several
weeks ahead for banquets of bird deli
cacies is almost too much for the most
ready believer.
But the California woodpecker as hand
some a bird as ever lived on the side of
a tree, must be given the credit of being
really thinker and a planner. He is a
college professor-nay, a logician-among
his kind.
Have you ever seen acorns on syca-
more trees?" is a question often put to
the tourist in California. No matter what
he answers, he is driven into the country
and there actually shown the sight
acorns on sycamores. For in many parts
of the south trees-both sycamore and
oak-may be seen with the bark drilled
full of holes and with live oak acorn
in every hole.
These trees are thus decorated by the
woodpecker at infinite cost of labor and
truly with foresight. Finding a dead tree
or one with bark to his taste, the wood
pecker will commence the drilling of
small holes usually in rows. Each hole is
made of the diameter of ones second fin
ger and a depth of about an inch. Trees
may be seen that are literally pockmark-
ed with these holes, the openings being
the work of successive generations Of in
dustrious woodpeckers.
The holes drilled by actual work of a
bill, each opening has hammered into II
a live oak acorn. Scientists have watch
ed these birds at their work. They ham,
mer away at various holes, remaining
only a short time at each. Then they
fly away In search of acorns, which they
carry from considerable distances in their
claws, often dropping the slippery nuts
With the beak the nut Is started into a
hole just large enough, and not a hairs
breadth too large, to receive it. Again the
hammering beak is used and the nut Is
driven tight and fast into Its place.
So tight are the fits often of these
acorns that it is almost impossible to get
them out with ones fingers. The writer
has seen many unsuccessful attempts to
pick out these stored-up treasures.
But in this where is there anything SC
wonderful? Do not many birds and in
sects attempt to store food for dull
times? Wherein lies the forethought OF
the woodpecker?
The truth of the matter is that when
the little thinker puts an acorn in its
proper, and to him expensive, hole 1t is
not at all because he has an acorn tooth
He sees a step ahead, for he knows that
worms will form in each acorn, and these
worms are the ultimate object of its
tolls.
Holes in trees are fun to build and will
keep acorns Off the ground, out of reach
of pigs and other natural processes of
destruction. Sooner or later worms will
form in acorns. and what food can a
woodpecker have better than worms
Surely. the little fellow has sound sense
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-22
NEW EDUCATIONAL SCHEME.

From the Chicago Tribune.
The principle involved In the new de-
parture which John D. Rockefeller has
/ taken with reference to donations for ed
vocational purposes is a sound one. He
| is understood to be the moving spirit be-
hind the bill which has passed both houses
of congress for the Incorporation of
general education board, with headquar-
tiers at Washington, whose field of labor
will be the advancement in different ways
of popular education, and toward which
he will give a sum variously stated at
| between fifty and a hundred millions.
The details of the scheme include the
equipment of primary, normal. and train
ing schools; the addition to them, where
needed, of libraries. workshops and other
accessories; the employment of teachers
! and lecturers: tine endowment OF educa-
tional Institutions; the creation of new
professorships; the organization Of schol-
arships for needy students, and other
measures in the interest of the extension
Of education.
| Such an educational clearing house."
as this amply endowed and judieiously
administered. should be productive Of
/ great good 1t is a hopeful feature of
the scheme that it does not contemplate
/ the organization OF new institutions, but
rather the strengthening of those al
ready in existence when may need held.
In the last ten years nearly $500 900
! has been given to colleges ann UNIVERSE
! ties, either by personal donation or by be-
quest, and of this sum a considerable por-
| ton has been given for the erection of
new institutions. This is poor economy,
and it fairly may be questioned whether,
! in the end as good results can be Sc
cured as by the strengthening of institu-
tions already in operation. Scattered all
over the country, ana especially in the
south, there are excellent schools and col
leges which barely manage by rigid econ
omy and small salaries to get along. Their
| existence is a continuous struggle which
must interfere with their usefulness. Even
in the east there are some old and we'll
known colleges which are prevented by
lack of funds from doing the work they
are competent to do.
| There is another feature or this scheme
which is of high Importance of educa-
| ton 1t does not contemplate to any con-
| siderable extent the purchase of real es-
tate or the erection of buildings for ed
ucational institutions, thereby making
! them land and building poor. but rather
the provision of funds for running ex-
penses and for actual maintenance. In al
most every case where a large donation
has been made to a college 1t has been
| for buildings. This is natural, perhaps
because the donor likes TO see a hand
some building standing as a monument
to his generosity. whereas the appropria
ton of his money for paying salaries and
meeting running expenses is not monu-
mental in any sense. Fortunately. Mr..
Rockefeller, having erected his monument
on the Chicago Midway, has money
enough left to help the general operating
expenses of education all over the coun-
try In the end that will be the greatest
monument to his generosity and public
spirit.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-22

year. and it should not be put on with
a less sum. It should be enlarged so
that white boys from all parts of the
state can be committee to It for edu-
cational and reformatory purposes.
Money has been secured for the cree
tion Of new dormitory, and If the
legislature will appropriate $4,000 a
year to the institution it can take $50
white boys, thus relieving the penal
institutions of that number, and saw
ing the state from the creation of that
many criminals.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-22
Ihose Oxford schoIarshIns.

G. R. Parkin of Toronto, the organ
izing agent for America of the Rhodes
scholarships, will soon make known
the terms upon which Rhodes schol-
ars will be selected ana admitted. He
has just returned from Oxford, where
he ascertained the views of the va
rious colleges, and he will soon make
known the number each college will
receive-the examination required, If
and the allotment of rooms in the
college buildings-the date of election
to scholarships, and whether appli-
cants should be undergraduates or
men prepared to take postgraduate
work.
Mr. Parkin says the colleges are
ready to welcome American and col
onial students. About seventy-ave
scholars will be selected in the first
year, a like number in the second,
and about thirty in the third year.
These numbers will place about six
scholars in the lesser colleges and
fifteen in the larger institutions of
Oxford.
The intention of the testator GER
tainly did not look to the selection
of advanced students, but to the selec-
ton of undergraduate who could
hold their own in athletic sports, and
it Is believed that Mr.. Parldn will
call for young men between II and
81 years of age who are fitted to enter
an American college.
What the effect of Oxford life will
be upon these young men-two from
each state and territory and colony
it is difficult to say, and it is equally
difficult to say what influence such an
influx will have upon Oxford itself, for
Oxford is not beyond the reformation
which it greatly needs. 1t Is much
too leisurely, too scholastic. 1t
lacks vigor. 1t is not strenuous
enough. 1t may acquire new life and
new hope from the new tide that will
soon be turned into it through the
generous scholarships Of the South
African magnate. He left a fund that
will give about 200 young men $500
year for three years, the time to be
spent in studies and athletics at the
great English university. 1t is said
the sum is barely sufficient to main
tain young man at OxfoId, but no
doubt American youths can be found
who will be able to make ends meet
on such an allowance.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-22
Children and Divorce.

Thomas Wentworth Higginson says:
For many years it has been my strong
est conviction in respect to divorce that
our statute books should have a double
system of the laws in respect to childless
marriages, as compared with those where
the interests of children were included.
In childless marriages it is the interest
of man and wife alone which have to be
consulted, but the moment children ap-
pear the question becomes incomparably
more difficult. For childless marriages it
seems to me that divorce should be far
easier but in the other case the interests
of the next generation become the pri-
mary object, and the law should place
much greater obstacles IN the way of
separation"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-22
a Business Suaaestion.

II believe it would pay men with sur
plus money to organize a million-dollar
company for the purpose of inducing new
industries TO locate here by subscribing
to the stock" said a broad minded bust
ness man.
Such corporation might be styled
the Birmingham Auxiliary Developing or
Investment company In plant that
would cost 100000 this company might
invest $4,000, in a 100000 plant the COM
pany might take $4,000 worth of stock
and so on. If the business was well man.
aged it would pay the stockholders and
Birmingham would be wonderfully bene-
fitted by the enterprise
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-22
THE VANISHING MAN--NOT
THE VANISHING LADY

folks are as brilliant as their intellectual
successes. Women play football Wom-
en- belong to fire companies. In st. Louis
the other day three factory girls had
fist fight, described as highly scientific.
Last week Mrs. Ernest f. Burmeister,
wife of the sheriff of Dane county, Wis
consin, took two burly convicts" to the
state prison, her ''SS-calibrc revolver
handy in her pocket" The country is
full of athletic women, trained in many
exercises and tall of their hands. Hear
this plant of weak man ruled by a
muscle of iron: the plant Of the Hon.
George R. conover of Chic go against the
wife of his bosom:
II married c, woman who was a physi-
cal culture teacher. She amused her
self by throwing me across the room,
smashing me with both hands, throwing
me down and sitting on me until I was
almost suffocated We are the same
weight, but I couldn't do anything with
her. She made a punching bag of me.
Once, when she hurt her hands on me.
she took a club and put me out"
The gradual exclusion of man from his
former vocations and avocations may be
compared to the retreat of the red In
dian before white civilization. AS the
fringe of WAite settlements widenes so
does the range of feminine activities
widen. In time sfill man be isolated up
on reservations and S. nocracy prevail?
Who knows? Women can do what they
will. Man is feeble. In our ears still
rings an awful voice voice of that
vindictive Karsas woman who proclaim
ed year or two ago that men must be
annihilated.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-22
Young Vanderbilt.

Cornelius Vanderbilt, who is critically
i'll, is a man of fine education and strong
sense and has more varied talents than
any one of the Vanderbilt stock" re-
marked a man who knows him quite WELL
HE inherits the sterling traits of his
great grand father. the old commodore,
and of his father, the late Cornelius Van
derbilt. Every one of the Vanderbilt
name was a born flnancier. but young
Cornelius is not only a shrewd business
man but an expert in mechanics. He has
worked in railroad shops as an appren-
tice and some of his recent inventions
have proved to possess ligh economic
value.
'Mr. Vanderbilt is not n Wall street
SPECTATOR, but he is a conservative in
weston. While he has never visited the
Birmingham district, he is familiar with
the resources and progress of this sec
ton. He is a large shareholder in the
Sloss- Sheffield Steel and Iron company. l
happen to know that he did not buy the
stock on the advice of a broker but made
this investment on his own motion. 1t is
more than likely that he owns stock in
other Birmingham corporations, but l
am familiar with his interest in the Sloss-
Sheffield"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-22
STORY rom THE black RELT.

He was a black man. says the South
ern Workman. He had no land, no team,
no food, no money, and but very few
clothes. He ented thirty acres of land
for $40, mule for s2O and in order to
get his food he gave a mortgage for $50
on the crop that he expected to grow that
year. In addition to his farm work that
year, he taught three months school.
That fall he paid his land and mule rent
and his Advances" amounting to $780,
and deposited SIS toward buying a piece
Of land. The next year he entered into
contract to buy eighty acres of land at
a cost of $3.50. He paid SIS cash and was
given three years time for deferred pay
ments. To Duy his team and the tools
needed to make his crop, he had to have
an advance" of $685. This he secured at
70 per cent interest by giving mortgage
on the mule and the crop of that year.
He sold cotton enough that fall to re-
deem his SIS mortgage and to meet his
land payments of $11742.
In 1893 he went into lis woods and cut
logs, he bought lumber, built two cabins
and moved his father and mother on to
the land that he was buying He bought
a horse that they might have a team.
That fall he laid SIPS in settlement for
the horse and the balance due on the
cabins and S1O9.s5 on his land. In 1900
his advances" were only 49, He had
raised his food the year before That
fall he paid s1022S, the last payment on
his land, and received his deed. Besides
having corn "a-plenty" for another year.
he had $50 pounds of pork, 10 gallons of
syrup, "a good bank of sweet potatoes"
and deposited ~ in cash ITO run on the
next year, thus securing his own inde-
pendence on his land.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-22
ISCOAL MACHINE MINING
TO BENEFIT DISTRICT?

From the Bessemer Weekly.
About the most important question that
many of the delegates consider that came
up before the miners convention the
past week was the matter of mining coal
by machinery 1t has been a wonder that
long before this labor-saving machinery
had not become more general in coal
mining. It has been in existence for many
years. A man with a machine can get out
as much coal as four miners with pick
and shovel. Coal mining machines are
now used at Mary Lee, the only place at
present in this district, the coal mines OF
the Alabama Consolidated company who
own the Gadsden furnaces. Several other
coal companies contemplate using them,
and it is in view of that fact that the
question was brought up before the con-
vention. There was no provision made
in the contract that the United Mine
Workers made with the operators in July
covering machine mining. If the scale
adopted by the convention is not salts
factory with the operators, the presump-
ton is that they will go ahead without
reference to it, as their action would not
be in conflict with the contract existing
which does not expire until the Both of
June next. It Is hoped, however, that
an amicable arrangement will be made.
The miners assert that machine min
ing deteriorates the quality of the coal
and especially units 1t for coke making
by reason of the admixture or slate cut
fine by the machine, which cannot be
removed without too much expense. 1t
does not particularly affect steam or
domestic coal. This is matter, how
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-22
FLORIDA NocTURNE.

By Walter Malone.
Through midnight shadows purple-brown
The stars are peeping open-eyed;
There in her glowing silvery5 gown
The moon comes like radian bride.
Now sweet and clear
From citron coppice near
l hear a moclingbird repine
In gurgle, gurgle, gurgle of his melodies
divine.
From lemon orchards, starred with
blooms,
And bending low with fragrant fruit
Soft odors haunt the purple glooms
Like whispers of a lovers lutte.
1 wait alone
For you, for you, my own,
With love more spirit-lilxe and sweet
Than all the fragile blossoms that 1
scatter at your feet.
Through green pomegranite trees
l see the swelling globes of gold;
Through jasmine vines / feel the breeze
Trip like cherub silken-stoled
Magnolias loom
With creamy clouds of bloom;
With pining they are pale, my DEAR
But not more pale with pining than the
one who waits you here.
The orange fruit swings on the trees,
The sprays of orange scent the air.
Gold apples of Iesperides,
l bring their blooms to wreathe your
hair!
Hank to the thrill
OF yon lone whip-poor- will
Reminding by his mournful tune
That youth, and love and joy, must pass
so soon, so soon, so soon!
The orange odors soon must faint.
The lemon blossoms soon must die,
The mockingbird must end his plant,
Magnolias, fading, fiutter by.
Then come, sweet mate
Before it be too late!
While youth is blissful, love divine.
o maiden with the flower-like face, be
mine. be mine. be minei
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-22
ZION the Sow York snn.

From the New York Sun.
n He position of the dethroned ty-
W rant Man, Is growing precarious.
''Woman's Spear" which Prof.
Artemus Ward asked the strong mined
woman not to spear him 18th. is becom-
ing more and more dangerous. The poor
devil is being crowded oat. Doubtless
he is getting what he deserves. Still, the
giant woman should not be tyrannous in
using her strength
Every day the head of the ridiculous
Samson is shaved a little nearer to the
hide. A woman relieves her husband of
$1,000. He has 10 redress, says the courts.
A woman has a right to search her hus-
bands pockets and snap up such sums as
she choose, says the Missouri Solomon,
Judge George d3. sidener. Day by day
the law prunes something from mans
already beggarly status. Day by day
his employment is taken from him. Most
of the novels and magazines are written
and read by women. A few struggling
men still keep their holu upon the type
writer's keys, but they fight in vain
against Fate, who Is a woman herself
Many men WHO could write novels If they
had a chance, are now the pilots of eleva-
tors. But the elevator girl has sprung
up in Chicago. The woman offeeholders
are numerous in the West. The Missouri
woman suffragists have fixed their COM
handing eyes upon the Supreme court of
that state. They say that women are
eligible to be judges of that court. We
foresee the triumph of the gown, and
man, petty man, thrust from the bench.
The physical exploits of the women