davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-13
LEASING coNVIcTs.

From the New York Evening Post.
The Georgia senate has voted to con-
tnue the vicious system Of leasing con-
victs which has so long dishonored 1t
and other southern states. In North
Carolina, too, there is to be q renewal
of this practice, which Is utterly oppos-
ed to the best interests of the state. Ala
bama has just leased $50 more convicts
to be worked for three years in the coal
mines of a private company. In the
Georgia senate the debate turned solely
on the question how much money the
state could obtain by leasing the souls
and bodies of its prisoners. 1t was main
tained that the system was vicious, only
because the original lessees could, and
probably would, sub-let the conyicts at
once at higher rates. The present state
prison board was complimented upon get
ting five times more money out of the
leases than had been customary previous
to its creation. But there was appar-
emily not one cutlery against the leas-
ing on the ground of common decency,
morality and humanity. The legislature
of the Empire State of the South thus
records itself as quite willing to turn
its back on all the progress made in PEN
ology In the last century 1t is willing
to sell its transgressors into the worst
kind OF slavery. knowing that such slav-
cry means complete decentralization, and
that every person who has once been on
the chain gang is a criminal always. The
honor of the state is thus to be bartered
for hard cash without blush.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-13
THE OCEAN CARRYING TRADE.
A View That Takes Small Account of
Americas Future.

From Rochester Union and Advertiser.
The International Mercantile Marine
company, commonly known as the ship
ping trust, has lately placed an enor.
nous amount Of work with the Belfast
firm of Harland & Wolff. Speaking of
this the Brooklyn Eagle says: with FIVE
liners under construction at one time
and in one yard, 1t would seem as If the
shipping trust has faith In a splendid
future, but the most significant feature
of 1t all is the evident return to the idea
that swift ships are promising invest
ments. The speed laurels Of the At
lantie belong now neither to one nor the
other of the two nations that should be
the leaders In the race for them. The
effort to recover the prestige lost to
German lines was initiated by the Cum
ard company which. is outside of the
trust. Whether or not the attempt will
be successful cannot be foretold, but II
the making of it has inspired the trust
to imitation no small triumph has al
ready been accomplished.
Whether or not there is profit In high
speed considered by itself is an open
question upon which shipping men are
not agreed, but fast ships are at least
profitable as a means of advertising a
line. But that Is a matter that concerns
the shipowners. What Is OF public in
terest Is the fact that ships are being
built. We are solemnly toldrby the adj
vocates of ship subsidies that the for
eign commerce of the United States does
not grow as it should because of insult
f1cient facilities for the transportation
of our products to foreign markets.
These would-be looters of the public
treasury bewail what they call the in
sufficiency of our merchant marine for
the demands of our trade, and they as
sumo that the people are stupid enough
to believe that because our merchant
marine is comparatively small there
our commerce with the outer world is
therefore at a disadvantage. But we
think very few ole can be deceived
thus.
Many ships ana great ships are con-
stantly being added to the merchant ma
rines of the world. There are ships ready
for every cargo, whether 1t be on the
docks of American ports OF those of the
ports of foreign lands. Indeed the sup
ply of ships has often exceeded the de-
mand, so that the ocean carrying busi-
ness has been very dull. Upon the whole
1t must be a fair business, for capital is
going into 1t all the time At any rate,
it does not need government aid either
In this country or in any other. The
nation whose capitalists do not care to
put their money into the shipping busi-
ness cannot expect to have a large mer-
chant marine, but 1t will have no reason
to complain if 1t has small one so long
as all its needs are fully and satisfac-
torily met. No man can say that the
needs of this country in respect to ocean
transportation are not met. There is no
freight ON olh docks waiting for ships.
There never will be any lack of faeili-
ties for the transportation of American
products to the markets of the world
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-13
INDIANA'S TALL MAN.

From the Chicago Tribune
According to reliable statistics, the state
of Indiana produces the tallest men in the
world This curious fact comes out in the
records made in the war department dur
ing the war of the rebellion. BY care
fully-prepared statistics it is shown that
out Of 1926 soldiers supplied by Indiana,
1901 were feet 10 inches tall S076 were
feet II. 6679 were feet. 26l4 were feet
/, 1857 were feet 2. 406 were feet and
$50 were above this gigantic stature. DR..
Gould. actuary of the United States sani-
tary commission, commenting recently on
these unique statistics, said:
ut is evident from our statistics that
the Indiana men are the tallest of the
natives of the United States, and these
latter the tallest of all civilized coun-
tries" These figures seem to refute the
oft-repeated statement that in the stand
ing armies of one or two European coun-
tries the average height of Its men ex-
coed that of any other country In the
world.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-13
Another Educational Fund.

AT the instance of Senator Aldrich
in the senate, and of Galusha A. Grow
in the house congress has passed a
bill Incorporating the General Educa-
ton Board" with headquarters in
Washington, d. C. Power is given to
this board to take or receive, whether
by gift, grant, devise. bequest or pur-
chase, any real or personal estate, or
to hire or lease the same; to accept
and administer any trust of money or
of real or of personal estate. The ex-
istence of the board will be perpetual.
The board is further granted author
ity, for the promotion of it's objects,
to build, improve, enlarge or equip
bhaldings for elementary or primary
schools, industrial, technical, normal
schools, training schools for teachers
or schools of any grade or for higher
institutions of learning. Furthermore,
in connection Herewith, to make use
of libraries, workshops, gardens, kitch.
ems and other educational accessories;
TO aid others to do SO; to employ
teachers and lecturers; to aid or en-.
dow educational institutions, and to
collect and publish educational Stats
tics and information.
This is believed to be the beginning
of a Rockefeller institution that will
overshadow both the Slater and Pea
body funds, although it will cooperate
with them. It is estimated that $50,
100000 will be needed in the work cut
out for the new board. Robert C
Ogden thus explains its plans: Its
great object is to build up the public
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-13
EXPLANATION OF CHARGES.
u. s. Commissioner M. 3. MADISON
Explains the Matter.
From the Tuscaloosa Times.

From the Tuscaloosa Times.
papers concerning the charges against
NJ B. MADISON, United States commission
err and G. B. Davidson, deputy marshal
at this place, have been explained by Mr..
MADISON.
1t seems that MADISON issued a warrant
for certain witnesses named in the af-
fldavit which was executed by Davidson
court answered to the names in the affi-
davit, but as 1t seems the witnesses were
not the right ones. When the grand jury
met the right witnesses testified that they
had never been summoned before and
had no knowledge of the case being tried.
In the previous trial MADISON had sent
in regular fees for what he thought was
the right witnesses. He did not know the
witnesses, and when they answered to
their names before him he thought they
were the right ones, as the deputy is sup
posed to summons the witnesses whose
names appear in the affidavit.
The amount is absuredly small, being
no difference to Commissioner MADISON be-
tween the right and wrong witnesses. Mr..
MADISON stands we'll here in the com
munity, being an upright, straightfor-
ward gentleman He and his friends feel
confident that when the case comes up he
will be completely exnonorated. He has
made a good commissioner and always
conducted himself publicly and privately
in a most gentlemanly manner.
1t is an unfortunate circumstance
that could not be avoided, but will be
Strengthened out as soon as the matter is
brought up by the court.
Judge Roulac and Judge Thomas G.
Jones both say that he will be exhonor-
ated, and will be reinstated in his office
as soon as possible He resigned immedi-
ately upon being informed of the charges
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-13
The Humane Society.

1.-The Humane society is now in very
good working condition." observed the
vice-presdent and secretary yesterday.
I'VE have an energetic, conscientious
special officer and results are more and
more in evidence. About twenty persons
have been convicted in the police court
of cruelty to animals and every day we
are inducing men to take off of the streets
poor horses that are unfit for work. If
persons who own emaciated horses insist
on working them, we make out a case,
but we first notify them and give them
an opportunity of showing their human
ity without being forced to refrain from
cruel treatment
"All that is needed now to make the
Humane society thoroughly efficient is
public sentiment and a hearty support
of our work on the part of prominent
citizens"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-13
New Dodge in Street Begging.

From the New York Times.
Ideas count for success, even In street
begging. Old tricks become tiresome
through familiarity. The mendicant of
the present day, If he would live well,
must get something new. One of the lat
est lodges of the New York solicitor of
aims is heroic. 1t first arouses the indig-
nation of the victim, tnen pacifies him
and finally wins his sympathy and his
money 1t is worked In this way: A shah
billy attred man hurries along the street
apparently unconscious of his surround
ings. He expectorates, as though by
chance, on to the well polished shoe of
passerby Before the man has time to
protest the mendicant drops on his knees
and, with the remnants OF a well worn
handkerchief, rubs away at the soiled
shoe. meanwhile pouring forth profuse
apologies. Nine times out of ten he gets
a dime for his politeness.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-13

school. To do that We win strive to
foster these schools where teachers
are being prepared. Before the public
schools can be elevated the teachers
must be supplied. The poor of the
south need not only to be schooled,
but to be taught how to cook, how to
plough, how to keep house, how to do
the everyday things of life. It is a
great work and the fruits of it may
not be seen for perhaps twenty-five
years"
The incorporators named in the bill
are Daniel C. Gilman. George Foster
Peabody, Morris K. Jesup, Robert C.
Ogden, William H Baldwin. Jr., Jabez
L. NJ. Curry, Frederick T. Gates, Wal
ter H. Page and Albert Shaw. The
bill now in the hands of the president
specifies that the General Education
al Board shall be for the promotion of
education within the United States,
without regard to race, sex or creed"
1t is, however. plain that its chief
work will be confined to the south,
and it's chief funds will come from the
ample funds of John D. Rockefeller.
Senator Aldrleh became interested in
the bill because, it is thought, his
daughter married John D. Rockefeller,
II
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-13
---------
DECEMB Der,

By Christopher Pearse Cranch.
NO more the scarlet naples fash and
burn
Their becon-fires from hilltop and from
plain;
Their meadow-grasses and the woodland
In the bleak woods lie withered once
again.
The trees stand bare. and bare each
scar
Upon the cliffs; half frozen glide the
rills;
The steel-blue rover like scimetar
Lies cold and curved between the dusky
hills.
Over the upland farm 1 take my walk,
And miss the Haunting fiocks of golden
rod;
Each autumn flower a dry and leahess
stalk,
Each messy field track of frozen
sod.
hear no more the robins summer song
Through the gray network of the wintry
woods;
Clamor about the windy solitudes.
Like agate stones upon earth's frozen
breast.
The little pools of ice lie round and
While sullen clouds shut downward east
and west
In marble RIGGS stretched from hill to
hill.
Come once again, southern wind-once
more
Come with thy wet wings Tapping at
my pane;
Ere snowdrifls pile their mounds about
my door,
One parting dream of summer bring
again.
All no, hear the windows rattle fast
/ see the first flakes of the gathering
snow,
That dance and whirl before the nothern
blast,
No countermand the march of days
can know.
December drops no weak. relenting tear,
By our fond summer sympathies en-
shared;
Nor from the perfect circle of the year
Can even winters crystal gems be
spared.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-13
RICHEST GIRL IN THE WORLD.

From the Kansas City World.
1t is going to be interesting to see what
Frauleln Krupp does with her wealth.
The daughter of the gunmaker of Essen
is the wealthiest woman in the world to-
day.
Three generations have been piling up
money for her, and the result is a plant
that has made 10000 cannons for the car
alone and has armed nations.
Bertha Krupp, girl not yet of age,
employees thousands of men, and has more
power for good or Ill than most kings.
What will she do with II?
There was a time when the world would
have said to her: Get a husband. What
has woman to do with the making of
a cannon? How can a concern prosper
under petticoat government? Give your
property. your heart and the control of
your affairs to a man, and stick to home
and domesticity. That is your sphere"
But now it is different.
The woman has proved that she can do
all things well. She has stood shoulder
to shoulder with the man in business. in
politics, in professional life. and main
tanned her individuality and efficiency. She
has proved that there is no sex in brains
1t will not be astonishing if Miss Krupp
some day takes personal charge of the
$75.OOO0OO Krupp plant, and adds to it's
fame and prosperity by her wisdom and
force Of character. If cannon must be
made, why shouldn't woman make
them?
And it VIII not be strange in the course
of human events. man with heart
full of love shall appear in the dreams
of the gunmakers daughter, and SO HI
her heart and her life that she will giadiy
bid goodby to fame and business ana
find contentment and happiness IN nus
bands home.
When woman loves well and deeply
she doesn't count cost. She only wants
to be happy.
Let's see what Bertha Krupp will do.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-13


~ oLoNEL WILLIAM J. BRYAN
~ furnished additional evidence this
- week of plutocratic tendencies
by removing from the brick barn which
has been his home for the last nine
months and taking possession of the $40. :
600 house he has been building for a year
on the highest point of land near Lincoln.
Mr.. Bryan says. it cost him a little more
than $4,000 and 1t is cheap at that. 1t is
well proportloned building of pressed
brick and stone and is fitted with hand
carved oak fnishings throughout
It faces directly west. and contains 81
rooms, including parlors, reception hall
and library downstairs and gymnasium
upstairs.
The kitchen is a connected building.
Entrance is had by way or a great half
round veranda, leading into a beautifully
carved and finished hall. From the porch
one can see for many miles in any direc-
ton. Off to the east and south stretch
great reaches of farming lands. while to
the north and west, down In tree-em-
powered valley, nestles the city itself.
Fairview is the name by which the
Bryan home will be known. The name is
an appropriate one.
Although three miles from the city.
the house is fitted with every modern
convenience. Its owner does not eschew
luxury in the interior appointments, and
costly plumbing, electric lights and ar
tistie decorations, with city water, make
1t thoroughly modern home. Cement
walks and driveways give access to the
various buildings. and, seemingly, no
money has been spared to make life with
in its walls worth living.
Colonel Bryan is rich man. and rap
idly getting richer. He has been accused
of acquisitiveness. but many of his crit
les have unjustly diagnosed his case. Mr..
Bryan likes money, and he has a keen
appreciation of what 1t will afford its
possessor. He has spent less than his in
come every year of his active life, and it
is now getting so large as to be almost
him.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-13
THE CLARK FAMILY LAUREATE

THE CLARK FAMILY LAUREATE
From the New Yorker.
They do things differently in the west
An heir is born to Senator w. A. Clark's
S5,0OO,OOO or $780, 100000 in Butte, Mon.
tana, and the next morning the es.
teemed Butte Miner, owned by the sena.
tor. bursts forth in glad song as fol.
loweth:
THE HEIR.
Within our heaven of love, the newborn
We long devoutly watch'd, like sheperd
kings,
Steals into light, and floating from afar
Methinks some bright transcendani
seraph sings,
Waving with flashing light her radiant
wings,
Immortal welcome to the stranger fair.
To us a child is born. With transport
The mother to the babe she sighed to
bear,
OF all our treasured love, the glad ex-
pected heir.
Butte, December /, 1902.
1t isn't SO much for the purpose Of
presenting this gladstone poetry to the
public that refer to this touching Incl.
dent as to call the attention of my
wealthy friends in New York that the
thing is to have a laureate on the family
payroll. And why not? I have valued
friends here in New York who are SO
absurdly rich that they do not know
what under the stars to do with their
money. Let them employ some of it in
paying family laureate some gifted
soul who can burst forth in lovely song
when the stork makes his occasional visit.
l am not saying whether the above poetry
is better or worse than the painful eff
forts of our distinguished friend, Alfred
Austin, who does the laureate business
for the English royal family. My purpose
Ia simply to point out to my rich and
highly bred friends in the east that the
west wild and woolly' though it may
be, is giving them a hint which they can
not very well afford to ignore
This particular heir is w. A. Clark III,
the son of w. A. Clark Jr, of Butte ana
is the first grandson born to the senator.
Hence this perfectly lovely poetry and
much other ado. The senator has two
daughters living hereabouts, and each of
them has produced a daughter, both in
fants being ushered into the world within
short time. The senator himself has re-
Gently reached the other side of the Az
lantic, on his occasional trip to Paris. I
amagin, and the cable has been kept hot
between his end of it and the big mining
camp of Butte. He is no doubt quite
elated over the arrival of the pink Won
der.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-13
COLONEL BRYAN MOVES
INTO NEW $4,000 HOUSE

His newspaper is firmly established. Al
though he has disdained trained businea
assistance. he has made it a big money
maker. Thirty thousand dollars year
a conservative estimate of his share
profit from it. He began with 6OO00 cireu
lation, and now has twice that mum
Der. He limits his advertising opace AMI
rigidly refuses to give trust-made good
place in his advertising columns.
His actual wealth, aside from his news
paper-which is paying a good interest OF
a third of a million-is little less than
$4,000 His yearly income is not much
below $4,000. He lives modestly and sim
ply, but well.
A private tutor comes each morning fol
his two younger children, but his daugh
ter Ruth is daily attendant at the Stat,
University. where she is a sophomore.
Mr.. Bryan has several fine carriages
but much prefers to use the suburban
street car that passes within short dis
lance of his home each hour
Much of his writing is done in hiI
home. A part of 1t is dashed off while on
his lecturing or campaigning tours.
He is little seen about the office of his
paper. This occupies the lower floor of
downtown block. His brother. Charles w
Bryan, Is the business manager, and one
trained newspaper man is the only edi.
torial assistant he has.
He still rigidly adheres to his determi-
nation to print his opinions upon current
political topics in his paper, and invari.
ably denies himself to the interviewer. He
attends a little Methodist chapel in the
nearby town Of Normal no Presbyterian
church being in the neighborhood.
In manner and dress he is as unassum-
Ing and careless as ever, and he goes
about among his fellow-citizens = some
times with mail sack half full of ex-
changes over his shoulder-wlthout excit.
ing comment.
lie gives largely to charitable and be-
nevolent organizations and is free with
his purse to campaign committees. He is
getting great deal of enjoyment out OF
his life-and he looks it-and his bank &C.
count is growing larger each day.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-13
MR.. REEDS LIFE IN NEW YORK


New York Letter to Philadelphia Public
Ledger.
In local and state politics Mr.. Reed
manifested not the slightest interest and
except an occasional contribution to mag
azines he made no expression on national
affairs. Interviewers soon learned that 1t
was useless to seek him. He devoted
himself assiduously to his law practice.
was rarely seen in his clubs attended few
public functions and his name was sell
dom seerf in the newspapers
1t is known that Mr.. Reed came to New
York with reluctance. For several years
his friends had sought to induce him to
undertake the practice Of law in this city.
Mr.. Reed was a poor man when he left
congress. and the opportunity of making
a large income was probably the sole
reason for his coming to New York. 1t
was said that his law partners gave him
guarantee of $4,000 a year for adding
his name and reputation to the firm, and
whether or not this is true. there Is no
doubt, that the income from his practice
has been very large.
Mr.. Reed, however, continued to live in
modest style-free from even the display
of the moderately rich. Among his friends
he maintained the characteristics OF
speech and manner that were voluminous-
ly written about him when he was the
"czar" of the house. His keen Wit and
remarkable intellect were reserved for a
few. That he had lapsed into comparative
obscurity was through choice and through
the engulfing qualities of the metropolis.
that renders almost forgotten many men
who were once of national prominence.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-13

the best known and most highly esteemed
men in Alabama. He has not missed a
democratic state convention since 1874
or a meeting of the Masonic Grand
Lodge since 1873.
Richard Fielder of Mobile is at the Nor
ris.
]. C. Jones of Huntsville Is at the Nor
rls.
DR.. J. D. Prosser of Atlanta is at the
Morris.
o. Cost of Pelham. Ala. is at the Nor
rls.
E. NJ. Holoombo of calera is at the
Morris.
G. P. Lowery Of Atlanta is at the Nor
ris.
L. Minor of Nashville is at the Morris.
t. c. White of Baltimore is at the
Morris.