davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-08-06
The Routine Habit.

'I do not know whether routine or the habit of keeping in a rut is a good thing or a bad thing" remarked a drug store philosopher yesterday Things when once in a rut seem to run smoother than when out of it. All the big corpor- ations and business houses run in ruts and the most reliable clerk is one who can be counted on to appear at the same hour every day and do his work thorough ly and systematically. People are some what like wagons-the wheels go round easier in the ruts.
 "on the other hand routine Is deadening to all the lively impulses of humanity. To break into this somnolent habit is why physicians prescribe the rest cure. Rest does not consist of lying a-bed doing abso- lutely nothing but it is found in a change of ideas and habts-recreation in other words. It seems to me that the happy solution of life would be for a man to be a machine and run in ruts during business hours and to have some pleasant recrea- ton in the evenings This lack of recre- ation, however, is the trouble with most Americans. As Max OReil I think 1t was, said, Americans take their pleasures sadly. If they would leave their business at the office and not take any thought of 1t home they would be a much happier and much less nervous people. The American is inclined to be a specialist and to devote all his time day and night to his work. This life is too strenuous and it accounts for the nervous prostrations and vast increase in sanitarlums and rest cures"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-08-06
KIDNAPPING CASE REVIVED.
John |. Collins Released From Prison
 On Parole.

Chicago, August 5-Interest in sen sational child stealing case is revived by the release from Joliet prison of John I. Collins on parole and his admittance to the Soldiers home at Danville.
 Collins was implicated with Mrs. Ann Ingersoll in the Kidnapping of little Gerald Lapiner from his home in Chicago on Decoration day, 1900
 The child was taken to Gainesville, O., and kept by the couple in house about a mile from the town. where he was fin- ally located after a long and sensational search. The kidnapers were rent to tho penitentiary for indeterminate terms Both remained up to a few days ago. when Collins was paroled. Mrs. lngerson is still detained at the institution.
 It came out at the trial that Mrs In- gersoll was demented. She had met Col lins, who is 70 years old, in California while he was an inmate of a soldiers home. She persuaded him to leave Cali fornia with her, and it was while they were passing through Chicago on their way to Gainesville that they met and Kidnapped the Lapiner child.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-08-06
MODERN AIDS TO NovELIsTs.
Manner In Which the Popular Writ
 CTS Collect Their Material.

From the New York Evening Post.
 Just as rapidly as the public demands anything in large quantities nature sup plies the mechanism which will gratify the want. At the present time there is an unsuitable market for historical novels of all sorts and kinds. When, therefore. the historical novelist sketches out plot he would, If left to himself, require sev- eral months of hard study in some large library in order to obtain accurate ma teral and local color. Creative genius does not enjoy research and investiga- tion.
 What he does, therefore, is to make a plot or scenario of his story and a requi- sition for material. This will include a description of the towns and cities and the times wherein the story is placed, pen pictures and anecdotes of any his torical characters introduced into the piece, and a brief collection of the say ings, jokes, poems and popular songs of the period. He then goes 10 the libraries and interviews professional bookworms who have lately developed this work into recognized industry. These patient pur- veyors of information are known in the libraries as ''the shadows of the novel; ists" who employ them Their work is pleasant, but monotonous. Long practice has made them familiar with the books so that they know exactly where to turn. which is nine-tenths of the bat tie.
 One of fhen, a middle-aged but bright eyed Daughter of the Revolution, who has become a specialist in this field of work and calls herself "A Searcher for Novelists," showed me her order book and chatted with me about her work. MT. K, who is running a serial story in Barkers Monthly, wants ten jokes about General Israel Putnam. sent him fifteen from which he will se- feet ten. If I had not done this, he would have growled and declared that any schoolboy could have gotten these from Fifth Reader"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-08-06
Superintendent of Educ alton.

The gubernatorial race is very warm, and there is no need of asking any one to consider that proposition. It will be fully considered and fully acted on, and the best man will win, and his name is William Dorsey Jelks.
 But when the question of selecting a superintendent of education comes up we find four candidates in the field, and the average voter may be confused by the multiplicity of candi- dates. We therefore urge a study of the case. Consult the nearest teacher or other adviser, and be prepared on August 25 to make a wise selection.
 There is not a more important place in the state house to be filled, not one-not even the executive office itself. The best man is needed in that off1ce-the one of broadest experience and clearest views, and the fullest of energy-the man who can visit a county and inspire the teach CTS and even the county superintend- ent to better and broader work. The schools are to be. reorganized under the new constitution, and a man with a broad mind and infinite energy is needed in the place-a man, too, who has no relations or connections with the book trust and has never had any "a man who cares more for public education and the schools than he does for politics.
 With four to pick from it ought not to be difficult to select the right man, and it will not be if each voter will go to the polls prepared to vote in- telligently upon the question. The entire danger lies in the absorbing interest of the gubernatorial race, and not in the choice offered to the people. Study the case and select the pest man, and endeavor above all else to avoid a second primary.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-08-06
ambition,
Mhat Governor Ielks Has Done.

"He has," says the Eufaula Even- ing Journal, successfully managed his own affairs and acquired a con- potency He has brought to the sery- ice of the state the clear-headed, practical judgment and sagacity which are essential to the manage ment of public and private business alike. He is no shouter and no dema- gogue, but has the capacity to make a prudent and efficient governor-a fact ,Aat the people recognize and which will be shown by their votes y
 ms is the whole case. This is what Governor Jelks has done, and it is what he will do to the end of his service. He is a safe, conserva- tive, prudent, but courageous admin istrator. He has shown abundant courage, and above all else he has the courage to rise above demagog- ism. He has never shown any trace If that paltry and base element. He is in short a refreshing candidate.
 Whatever question comes to him while he is governor will be treated in a business-like manner, and it will be treated on it's merits without ref erence to the prejudices of a locality or of a few persons. It will be dealt with on broad state lines, or rather on the facts as they stand. This Is what Governor Jelks ever has done, and 1t is just what he will do as long as the state has his services. There is no pretence in his case, no assump- tion of towering virtue, no claim of unapproachable service. He pro- poses to do his duty, as he ever has done 1t. in a straightforward, busi- ness-llke manner, and to do no shout ing or growing over 1t.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-08-06
Passenger Stations.

Memphis and Atlanta are noted for progressive style, but in the matter of passenger stations they are behind all other southern cities Of any importance" said a travelling man.
 Nashville has one of the largest and most magnificent stations in the United States, but of all the cities in the south, Richmond has perhaps the most perfect ly appointed passenger station. It is owned jointly by the Seaboard Air Line and the Chesapeake and Ohio. It has many unique features, but what strikes me as being the most appreciated is the corps of uniformed ushers employed to be at the service of the travelling public us- ing either of the lines named. These ush- CTS are intelligent and polite They as sist passengers with their luggage, as well as answer questions, and are not all lowed to take tips"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-08-06
Cuba's New Public Debt.

Cuba has no national debt, but the Cuban congress, now in session, Is about to create a debt of $35, 5,000, ,000. Of this vast amount s23,0Oo,0OO is to be paid to the soldiers of the army of liberation. They did not do much 4lDerating, but they will be on hand to draw pay for what they did do. Three million dollars of the new loan is to be used to pay the debts incur red by the war junta. and the bal ance is to be loaned to the planters.
 It will be difficult to place these 5 per cent bonds at 90, the figure named by the Cuban congress, unless the United States approves the loan. The Platt amendment, which was made a part of the Cuban constitu- tion, provides, as follows:
 That said government shall not as- sume or contract any public debt, to pay the interest upon which and to " axe fedSondDle SlllhlHB lbnu plONiSiOD for the ultimate discharge of which the ordinary revenues of the island of Cuba, after defraying the current expenses of the government, shall be inadequate"
 If the United States should dis allow the loan on the ground that the revenues of the new republic are in- adequate to meet the interest and provide a reasonable sinking fund after defraying the current expenses of the government, the bonds prob- ably could not be placed at 90, but 1t is difficult to see what further step could be taken. This government can not prevent the printing or issuance of the bonds, and the soldiers and planters may be willing to accept them, to be disposed of by inalvidual holders.
 It is well known, however, that the issue of bonds is necessary in order to keep down a revolution on the part of the ex-soldiers of the island, and it may be that Minister Squiers has been consulted all along in the preparation of the bill now before the Cuban congress.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-08-06

nominational schools. Heretofore these schools have been kept up chiefly by voluntary contributions, but under the new bill the rate pay CTS must contribute to their support. tnis measure is very unpopular in certain districts. The tax on grain importations, although a war meas. ure, is also unpopular, it being re. garded as the beginning of policy in favor of the landed interests-a measure of protection.
 The victory in North Leeds has put new life in the liberals, and they are anticipating the return of Lord Rose bery to power MT. Balfour took over a large majority, but it is a majority that is capable of dlsintegration, for 1t is made up in part of former lib erals, who went over with MT. Cham berlain to the conservatives. Whether Mr. Balfour can rejuvenate his fol- lowing remains to be seen. If he can by a vigorous policy bind the con- servatives together he may serve to 1907, when a general election must be held, but If he cannot do this his great majority will rapidly melt away, and the liberals will regain control of the country.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-08-06
The Pistol Toters.

Unless something radical is done by the next legislature of Alabama to put severe penalty or those found gull ty of carrying concealed weapons I ex- pect the percentage of murders and ac- oident to increase annually in the state of Alabama" said a prominent citizen yesterday. This pistol toting habit has become so widespread that it is difficult to check it unless the crime is made felony and the law enforced to the let ter. Within the pass few weeks three of my personal friends have been accident ally shot, one fatally so as a result of this insane armament idea. Sometimes think it would be a good thing to pre- vent the manufacture, sale or importation of revolvers in the state. It has also been suggested that all such weapons be con fiscated wherever found and that officers be given authority to search any person whom they have reason to suspect car ries revolver. By the adoption of such stringent methods we might be able to gradually civilize our people and stop this worst of all curses.
 Tn eastern cities I find that few per- sons possess revolvers and the man who Is known to be in the habit of carrying a weapon in his pocket is looked upon as desperado. l always regard a person who carries a revolver on the streets, as of a coWardly temperament or affected with youthful bravo. Judge Feagin in his effort to stop the practice by impos- ing rigid fines on all who are found guilty will meet the approval of all law-abidng citizens. White and black, high and low should be treated alike and be forced to respect the laws of the state"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-08-06
JAMES TALKS OF
 CONVICT HARRY TRACY

From the Jacksonville Times Union.
 Frank James. who has a fighting re- cord himself. is of the opinion that Harry Tracy, the Oregon convict. who for five weeks has battled successfully against the forces of two states seeking his re- capture. will never be taken alive unless he gets into a crowd and is grabbed and held by strong men whom he docs not suspect of knowing him.
 MT. and Mrs. James arrived in St. Louis from Kearney Mo, the old home of the James family. Wednesday morning, and are visiting their son, Robert r. James, at 4726 Delmar Boulevard. The noted Missourian Is there to complete a contract for a theatrical engagement to begin early in the autumn.
 "Whatever else may be said of this man Tracy" said MT. James to the North American correspondent, "he un- doubtedly has courage of a high order. nerve that is wonderful, and physical and mental endurance not short of mar vicious.
 If the stories told about him are true, he certainly has shown these qualities during the past forty days. It is no easy proposition which faces a man hunted day in and day out by men and blood hounds, and with no aid but his own ingenuity.
 T suppose that Tracy, long before this time, is simply desperate. and will do anything whatever to insure his safety from capture of killing. When a man is in such a plight he will do things that he would never do under other conditions.
 T understand from the papers that he has killed about ten men since he es- capped. I know nothing of his record be- fore that. His killing of his companion Merrill, if he did kill the man. was merely a cold-blooded murder, though I believe he asserts that there was something of self-defense in it.
 Then again Merrill, he says. was a coward and not to be depended upon in a fight for liberty. In a position like Tracy's a man must be with him upon whom he can depend or he would be much better alone. There is no room for a man without nerve in those conditions.
 "It may be that Tracy found Merrill that sort of man, but he could have separated without killing Merrill. Tracy's antecedents are not known to me. I know nothing of his intellectual status, but certainly he showed brains when he put cayenne pepper in his tracks to choke off the bloodhounds. Where he got that pepper has been a question with me. suppose he got it as he got other things he required by sending one member of family to buy 1t, under threat of kill ing the rest unless the one returned.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-08-06

common and familiar But they are a good thing. They can't come too often. They comprise a recapitulation of all the best and good of a community or district, and the world can't become too familiar with such attributes.
 The Age-Herald's issue of July 27 ex- cells all predecessors ia this state, in the field it especially aims to cover, in the thoroughness and completeness of It's ex- position. It presents a magnificent pan orama, agricultural, industrial and com mkrcial, of this district. It is a mint of information and should be carefully pre- served as an accurate record and refer ence.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-08-06
Liberal Victory in EnuIand.

Now that the war is over the con servatives must face opposition to their home measures. Their majority of 40 in the house of commons is threatened, and the defeat of the con seryative candidate in the hitherto strong conservative district of North Leeds, together with the going over to the liberals of MT. Wason, is re- garded as an indication of trouble in the conservative ranks.
 me. defeat in North Leeds was due to opposition on account of the edu- cation bill, and the imposition of the grain duty. The education bill pro vides that the rate payers must here after assist in maintaining the de-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-08-06
From the Chicago Tribune.

From the Chicago Tribune.
 Men should be afraid of the fear of death-not of death iself. If men fol- low this rule. there is no reason why they should not all become centenarians so 1t is asserted in the Revue d'Econ- omie Politique," by M. Jean Finot.
 This author begins an article on the limitations of life by mentioning some traditional long lives. Among these cases are those of a resident of Goa, who Is said to have reached his four hundredth year in the enjoyment of all his intellec- tual faculties, a Scotchman who lived to be over 200 years old, and various monks of Mont Athos who have reached 150 years. He asserts that Servian statistics for 1897 show three persons between 135 and 140 years old eighteen from 13O to 135, 123 from 115 to 125 and 29O from 105 to 115. In 1890 there were, he says in the United States 99S1 persons over 100 years old any twenty-one in London. M. Pinot cites a mathematical formula, which he credits to Dr. Richardson, by which any one may get an Idea of his probable length of life. It is only necessary to add the ages of ones father and mother to those of one's two grandfathers and two grandmothers, and the total divided by six indicates the exact number of years one should live.
 M. Finot does not believe the average length of human fife has been reduced. On the contrary, he believes it is con- stantly increasing owing to the progress of hygiene. Why do we grow old at all? The writer answers:
 For three reasons: want of physical exercise in the open air; poisoning by microbes which the phagocytes have not succeeded in destroying; fear of death. It is hard to imagine the importance of this last element If q man fears death, 1t will carry him away. And yet 1t is
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-08-06

.In Traey's plight a man is able to do things that read like dime novel fiction. One may ask why 1t was that men obey- ed him when he impressed them into service and kept them doing his bid- ding for many days at a time. There was tho case of the farmland, Ander- son. whom Tracy compelled to go with him, riding in water and walking through woods and into towns. Why did not Anedrson kill Tracy or escape?
 "It may have been that Tracy told him that at the very first movement that looked the least suspicious he would kill him. He valued his life as Tracy valued his. At night he tied Anderson to a tree and bound his hands.
 Altogether it is a wonderful case. know nothing like it-so long and con- stant 1ash for liberty, with no let-up for a breathing spell. should say that Tracy never will be captured alive. He will fight to the last ditch. and be killed rather than be taken.
 You say that the chase has been abandoned. Well, I should say that publication of that is a ruse to throw Tracy off his guard. Undoubtedly the authorities knowing that he reads the newspapers, want him to believe that they have given up the hunt. They ex- peet him to begin to take it easy for time, and thus make himself liable to capture.
 "The only way can see in which Tracy can be taken alive is for him to ,t1d1t must, sooner or later, and then for two or three men of great physical strength to grab him and overpower him. That might be done, and 1t may so happen
 But it is wonderful the way he has eluded them for so long. The nerviest fight I ever knew a man to make was made by one of the Marlowe brothers down in Texas about fifteen years ago. The brothers were arrested charged with a crime which 1t was proved after ward tl4ey did not commit. Handcuffed together, and with one foot of each sim ilarly secured, they were taken to jail
 "On the way the mob attacKed their conveyance and sought to take them away to lynch them. The Marlowes managed to wrest revolvers from mem- bers of the mob and began firing. The mob fired back, and one of the Marlowes was hit and killed.
 "The survivor did not wilt; he kept shooting, and drove the mob away, kill ing three of the men, Ilen he looked down and saw that his brother was dead. He found a knife and cut off the dead mans foot at the ankle, thus freeing bfpnsa1f If fha nornsa and fbar7 xrarf o,, with the chains. He was captured later. tried and acquitted of the original charge"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-08-06
$5ooo REWARD OFFERED.
Scotland Yards Trying to Recover the
 Lost Spreckels NeckIade.

New York, August 5-Scotland yard an- nounces a reward of s5OOO for the recov- cry of a necklace lost by or stolen from Mrs. C. A. Spreckels of San Francisco says the London correspondent of the New York American.
 The necklace, which consists of a single string of magnificent pearls fastened with a ruby and diamond clasp, was bought in Paris and is estimated to be worth s20,- 000
 Mrs. Spreckels, who is accompanied by Miss Sprecl1els, missed the jewels at the railroad station when on her way to Lake Passage for America on the Kaiser Will helm der Crosse. She burst into tears on discovering her loss and at first thought of remaining in England until some trace of the missing necklace had been found, but later decided 10 put its recovery into the hands of the police.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-08-06
MANY HEBREW MILLloNAlREs.

New York Letter in the Pittsburg Dis
 patch.
 There has just been issued in New York a list of United States Jews who are worth $1,000. GOO. In all 115 have reached the million mark out of an estimated 4OOo men in the country worth that amount. As they form about one-eightieth of the population they would seem at first sight to have a large proportion of wealthy men, until it is remembered that these live, as rule. in the larger cities. In the town population of the states the Jews form about one-thirtieth. The names in this list represent a varied number of occupations. and are congregated most ly in the large centers on the Atlantic coast.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-08-06
GREATER BIRMINGHAM.

From the Bessemer Weekly.
 The Age-Heiald in its annual review edition of Sunday last says "Bessemer is the most distant suburb of greater Bir- bingham, being twelve miles away" It Is strange what errors will creep into such an issue. Now there Is Jonesboro another suburb is thirteen miles away, and Toadvine, another is still further off, being fully twenty miles, and then there is Blocton, nearly thirty miles off, and enother suburb of. gi eater Birmingham. Tuscaloosa, Is sonie sixty miles distant. We think a paper ought to ne very guard ed in an issue of this kind to make is as accurate as possible, so as not to mis- lead the public, stanGers especially.