davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-18
PHYSICIAN AND HUMAN
 LAWS AND SKYSCRAPERS

the pull of the earth is able partially to overcome the latter; and thus, through the art of building, the instinct for con- tact, which IS as strong in us as in molecules, is to some degree satisfied.
 No large family would be content to live in one-story house covering a quar- ter of an acre; the irresistible force of so- cial attraction heaps them up in a six story building, where each constituent in- dividual can approach as close as poss- ble to the center of mass. Of course there are many considerations of convenience and safety and mutual aid involved in this drawing together, but all these unite to form a tendency as unconscious in its operation as any law of inanimate na- ture.
 We see the results in the habtations of the zuni Indians as rude in structure as ant hills, and in the piled-up commun- ity houses of Montezumas capital, which awoke the wonder of Cortez, as well as in the towering office buildings and tene- ments that characterize the latest type of civilized architecture.
 We had only to wait for an abundance of steel and little bold invention be- fore substituting for the six stories of our fathers the thirty stories that thrill us with their elevation and delight us with their compactness, and it would be idle to try to fix limit above which man may not build. for it Is an inborn law of his nature that piles his cities so high. Ills desire for propinquity must be gratined' and hisNa0O-foot edifices filled with fash ing elevators that carry him up and down amid the multitude of his fellows, as bees wing their flight through swarm express his protest against the physical force that presses him outward toward solitude.
 I cannot think with those who believe that during this century great cities will be dissipated over immense spaces by . kind of centrifugal disintegration. and that the level of buildings will sink again. On the contrary. dities will continue to grow taller as they grow larger. Five hundred feet vertically in an elevator rather than five miles horizontally in train-such is the law of human agglom- eration.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-18
THE MASTERS WORK.

By George Macdonald. I said: T will walk in the fields" God
 said,
 Nay, walk in the town" I said: There are no flowers there" He
 said,
 NO flowers. but crown" I said: But the fogs are thick and clouds Are yelling the sun.' He answered: But hearts are sick and
 souls
 In the dark undone." I said: But the skies are black; there is Nothing but noise and din" And He wept as He led me back-"There
 Is more.'
 He said: There is sin." I said: q shall miss the light. and friends
 will
 Miss me, they say" He answered: Choose ye tonight If l Miss you, or they" I pleaded for time to be given. He said: ..Is 1t hard to decide? It will not seem hard in heaven to have Followed the steps of your guide"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-18

By Garrett P. Seerviss, in the New York
 American.
 As long as the skill of mechanical en- gineers renders 1t easier for us to travel vertically 300 or 400 feet than an equal distance in horizontal direction, nc legislation can keep the height of build ings below the limit fixed by the strength of materials and the experience of archi- tects. If that limit should ever rise to thousand feet then we would have 100O- foot buildings, and the problems present. ed by them would be solved
 A law of physics and law of human nature are engaged in an interesting con fiict in this matter. If human beings were able to float in space all crowds formed or them would be spherical like other assem- bages of particles subjected only to mu- tual attraction. It is the force or graVi- ty that spreads large city over so many square miles and pins an audience of lo,- GOO persons down to level, so that those most distant from the center can neltner see nor hear the thing that interests them all. Give such an audience an opportuh- ity and instinctively it will form itselr Into A circle If 1t could it would round itself into a globe which may be produced by revolving a circle about It's diameter
 As far as possible men resist the force that. by keeping them all on one plane, tends to drive them apart. They resent heinz confined to the dimensions of length and breadth, and, In obeying the law of social attraction. which operates unon the atoms of humanity as gravita tion does upon the atoms of the earth, they would fain utilize the third dimen- sion. of height, in their effort to keep together.
 How would the Man of the Crowd" in Edgar Allan Poes famous story, have rejoiced if London's millions had been contained in a space no less deep than broadl New York and Chicago are like star clusters fiattened
 It is the mutual attraction of human beings that gives rise to many-storied houses. The greater the population brought together the taller the buildings become, because of the increased strain produced by that attraction toward the center.
 The ingenuity of man matched against
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-18
DEMOCRATIC SENTIMENT
 IN VIRGINIA ANALYZED

republicans will promise little of a spe- and that there will be a consequent dis- satisfaction in some portions of the party. By catering to that element of the repub- licans and by shaping sentiment in their own party favorable to moderate and con- servative revision of the tariff the dem ocrats are looking forward more hopeful ly to the outlook next year, it is said. This spirit is apparent in some of the an- swers from Virginia, 1t is pointed out.
 Attention has been freely drawn to the prospective squelching Governor Cum mins is to receive from President Roose- welt and the other national republican leaders over his tariff ideas, although it is pointed out that the process has al- ready begun by reason of the tariff speeches of the President, which have not been in harmony with the revision ideas of the young governor of Iowa. Looking ahead to the failure of the re- publicans to satisfy the tariff revision sentiment in existence among the repub- licans of the northwest democratic lead CTS, at least some of them, are beginning to lay plans to catch the dissatisfied re- publican clement if the platform of the republicans does not suit this element. In case this element is placated. by it's party the democrats want to go before the coun- try on more conservative basis than be- fore. Therefore they are trying to get opinion in the party so arranged that moderate revision. possibly reciprocity also, will be accepted as a good doctrine. This is regarded by shrewd men as being the only plan which will lead to possible success in the party.
 Of still greater significance in connec- tion with this tendency to 'ant seed now and reap a certain kind of crop it is shown that not many weeks ago a num- Der of the congressional representatives of Virginia came out for Judge Parker for President. Representatives Hay, Lamb and Maynard gave interviews for Parker. although saying that they under stood that Senator German would not be a candidate. Since these interviews there has been change in sentiment, and some of these Virginians are now for German. Senator Martin is known to be exceedingly friendly to Senator German. and Senator Daniel is said to look the same way. Under these circum- stances there may be fitting together of the choice of Senator German and of moderate tariff revision.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-18
Thirty-one Bidders in Alabama.

Instead of one bidder, Alabama now has thirty-one concerns that stand ready to supply the boys and girls of tho state with school books. It stands to reason that thirty-one bidders com peting for the school book business tf a state containing nearly two millions of people will offer better terms than would one concern dealing with coun. ty after county in turn.
 Bids and samples have been sub mitted and now the commission and the sub-commission will sit together to hear the thirty-one bidders present the merits of the books they re- spectively publish.
 It is estimated that the hearing will consume three or four days, when, pes haps, the sub-commission will be able to report their findings to the chief commission. The chief commission, headed by Governor Jelks, will then be free to open the bids and to award a contract or contracts. It should be remembered that the final decision rests with the chief commission. This commission consists of Governor Jelks, Superintendent of Education Hill, President Abercrombie of the Univer- sity, President Thach of the Auburn college, and President Peterson of the Montevallo Girls Industrial school. The sub-commission consists of M. c. Wilson of Florence, H. J. Willingham of Wetumpka, J. H. Phillips of Bir- and w. w. Benson of Fort Deposit. The state will unhesitatingly respect the judgment of these men in the im- rcrtant business of selecting text books for nearly 100000 children. By cry one of them Is competent, trust worthy and experienced.
 The execution of the new law Is full Of promise. All or nearly all of the publishers of school books have sub mitted bids, and there is no evidence that ring of any sort has been formed to secure the school book business of | this stata for five years If Is A big prize, but thus far there are no indl- cations of a combine of any sort. There are too many diverse and com peting bidders to render such scheme practicable or possible. Altogether there Is great promise that school books will hereafter be sold in Ala bama at reasonable prices.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-18
MOTHERS ARE NOT KICKING.
old Maids Convention Tells Roosevelt
 To Go Away Back.

New York April 1.-The Western New York Old Maids convention opened yes terday in the village of Pittsford. says Rochester, N. r., dispatch to the Her aid.
 Miss Amelia Higginson. the president, in her opening address, said;
 President Roosevelt believes in the rearing of large families. He has a right to his opinion, but when he places child lessness In the same category with crimi- nal acts ne goes too far The President is the father of what we Americans would call large family. He Is not the mother of a large family. We have not heard about race suicide from the mothers of America, and we never shall.
 Let the President grapple with the trusts, the tariff and the coming election. They are most in his line. He can safe ly leave the question of babies In she hands of the women of this great re- public"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-18
WOMAN CLERK HEIR TO WEALTH.

Washington, D. C.. April 17.-Miss Re- becca J. Taylor, who recently sought un- successfully In the district courts to com pei her reinstatement as a clerk in the war department, from which Secretary Root dismissed her on account of arti- cles published by her sharply criticising the administrations Philippine policy, has received information that she has been left about 900 by the death of an uncle in San Francisco Sunday night
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-18
ProsperitY and Wheat.

Prosperity seems to have marked this country as its own. The winter wheat crop is well assured, and the latest government report shows that two million more acres have been put in wheat than was the case last year, and that the condition of the crop is ex- ceptionally high. On April 1 it stood at 97.3, as against 78.7 one year before when . great crop was produced. The average condition of the crop on April l in the last ten years was S2.1.
 A crop of 59o,OoO0oo bushels is rFom- ised. Last year new record )was
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-18
Monetary Commission Meets.

Washington, April 17.--Messrs. Hanna, Jenks and Conant, constituting the United States representation to the monetary conference, had a long conference with Secretary Hay today respecting their work. They were met at the department by the Mexican ambassador. Senor Apiroz. who is greatly interested in this project, and the fact is that when our delegates go abroad, which they expect to do about the middle of next month, they will in manner look after Mexican interests in the solution of the problem of adjust ing the rates of exchange between silver using and gold-using countries.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-18
Washington Cor. of Chicago Tribune.

washington Cor or Cnleago lflDune. N@ AsHINGToN. D. C.. (speciaL1- WV People who claim to be in
 position to know say that if President Roosevelt is nominated for the presidency in 1904. as now seems assured, he almost certainly will ask Senator Han na to manage his campaign for him. In fact, the Presidents friends say they have received assurances that the skill full leader from Ohio has positively deter mined not to be a candidate for the pres idency himself under any possible con- tingency. This has removed all possi- bility of friction between Senator Han na and the President, and MT. Roosevelt has come to lean more and more upon the astute political leader from President Me- Kinleys state.
 The result Is that a strong effort will be made to induce Senator Hanna to un- dertake again the burdensome duties of conducting another campaign. Senator Hanna will be 67 years old when the next presidential election is held and 1t was feared he might plead that, after having borne the heat and burden of two cam paigns, his duty to the party was ended. Nevertheless, the Presidents friends, af- ter looking over the ground carefully, have come to the conclusion, it is said, that Senator Hana, more than any other man, would carry the campaign to suc- cess in 1904.
 The fact is recognized freely here in Washington that President Roosevelt will not have things all his own way in New York and New Jersey. owing to the re-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-18
From the Washington Star.

From the Washington Star.
 N SIGNIFICANT canvass of the VV Virginia legislature has been A made by the Richmond News Leader, an influential state paper. on the choice of the members of the legislature for the democratic nominee for President next year and on the issues on which the fight should be made. To the letters sent out by the paper a large percentage of the members of the legislature sent writ ten answers. There are many significant features to these answers. The first is that not a single answer mentions Will Ham J. Bryan for another nomination. The second is that the majority of the men returning answers are for Senator German as the nominee, and the next lar gest for Judge Parker of New York. In fact, these two men are practically the only ones in the minds of the Virginia democratic politicians. As to the issues on which the fight must be made the an- swers are unanimous-'the trusts and the tariff"
 The greatest significance to be found in
 
 Is no demand for a complete overturn- ing of the tariff. "Revision' is the word used by a number of the legislators. The suggestion of a moderate revision of the tariff, something along the lines of the Iowa idea, or possibly a little more rad ical, is said to be gaining ground among democratic leaders throughout the coun- try. Several democratic representatives in congress draw attention privately to the fact that there Is less demand now than for years from among the masses of the people for what might be called general tariff revision. The democrats are trying to adjust sentiment within their own party so that a platform may be made, 1t is said looking to moderate revision, especially of schedules giving protection to trusts. The proposition Is that the business interests of the country must not be too seriously alarmed, and that to avoid this the democratic platform must depart from some of the traditional tariff sentiments of the past, and demand such revision of the tariff as the people think ought to be made.
 It Is said among democratic leaders that the shapers of sentiment in the party have been shrewdly looking forward to what appears to be the republican atti- tude on the tariff question next year. The leaders beneve that the platform of the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-18
Rapid Workmen.

"The new First National bank build ing, with it's sixty steel columns, Is going up very fast and there is every promise that the structure will be completed by October l." remarked a real estate man. Tt will be the biggest and the quickest building job In the south.
 Birmingham has not been without skyscraper in course of construction since MT. Woodward started his first one. It is safe to say that before the bank building Is finished another steel frame structure will be under way, or at least planned"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-18
In Wllds of Yucatan.

Mexico City, April 1.-The seven Brit ish sailors who deserted from the ship Amphion and entered on course of pi- racy which was quickly ended are now said to be in the wilds of southern Yuca- tan. where they have been captured by hostile Maya Indians. They fled from Belize, British Honduras, to Yucatan. fearing being caught and hanged for pl- racy. There is much speculation as to their probable fate.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-18
DEPEW HURRIED BACK.
Received Telegram Just as He Arrived
 at Bitmore.

Ashville, N. C., April 17.-As Senator Chauncey M Depew and wife arrived at Biltmore today where they expected to be the guests of MT. George w. Vanderbilt at h< house party, MT. Depew was hand ed tele>Sam calling him to New York. He made brief call at the Biltmore mar sion where hurried explanations were made, when Mir. and Mrs. Depew were hastily driven back to the station and took the train for New York.
 Miss Alice Roosevelt, who had expected to return to Washington with the De- pews, remained over to attend the horse show in Asheville tomorrow
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-18
BRONZE STATUE STOLEN.
Has Stood on Fourth Floor of Chicago
 Building Thirty Years.

Chicago, April 1.-The big bronze statue of Atlas which has stood on the fourth floor of the old Times building for more than a third of century and which was placed on the structure by Wilbur F. Storey, has been stolen and the police were notified last night to make a careful search for 1t. The statue weighed more than a ton, and how 1t was carried from the building without attracting the at tention of the occupants or the police is a mystery
 Carter H. Harrison, father of the mayor, with the purchase of the Times building and newspaper about twelve years ago. With the death of MT, Harrison it went to the estate.
 Editor Storey bought the statue in Eu- rope, 1t is said, paying y1500.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-18
ALABAMA ouNNERs WIN.
Are Now the Champion Marksmen of
 the American Navy.

Pensacola Fla, April 1.-The gunners of the battleship Alabama are now the champion marksmen of the American navy, having secured a general average of 5s.7 out of a possible 100 at target prac- tice. This covers the work of one week with guns of all calibre. At no time did the vessel steam at rate of less than ten knots. or at a range less than 400 yards
 The record takes the championship honors from the Massachusetts, which made a general average of 56 points.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-18
River Still Falls.

New Orleans, April 17.-The river con- tinues to decline here, the gauge tonight being 195 feet. It Is believed that the decline here will be steady for some time. Excellent progress was reported at Hy- melia today. The flow of water through the crevasse has been checked to such an extent as to relieve the Texas and Pa cific tracks, and traffic will be resumed at once by that road.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-18
WALLACE p. REED DEAD.
Well-Known Newspaper Writer Passes
 Away at Atlanta.

Atlanta, April 17.-Wallace Putnam Reed, writer and newspaper man, well known throughout the south, died at his home here today, aged 55
 MT Reed had held editorial positions on Atlanta papers and had also done con siderable literary work for magazines and periodicals.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-18
An Unlimited Surge.

From Judge.
 Major Blublud-Well, suh, spose wine flowed like watah at the kunls weddin, suh?
 Major Pepper-Like watah, suh? By gad, suh, it flowed like oil In a Texas oil company's advertisement, suh.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-18
Literary Gossip.
From Judge.

From Judge.
 'I see you have a new Easter bonnet" said the president of the literary club to the secretary of the same.
 Yes" cooed the secretary. Don't you think it Is a poem?"
 'Humph!' sniffed the president. If am to judge by the materials used and the general style of the plot, I should say it was a historical novel,"
 And then they glared and glared and glared
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-18
VIII Close Laqranae Break.

Greenville. Miss. April r. = President Attorberry and members of the levee board and engineers, together with Cap tain Hider of the government engineers, today went down to the Lagrange ere vase, and after finding that the depth of the water was less than expected, they decided t. make an effort to close the break in the levee at that point.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-18
coIleaes to Be Consolidated.

Knoxville. Tenn, April 17.-Three Meth odist colleges of southwest Virginia, namely, Emory and Henry college, for males; Cullins' college and Martha Washington college, for young ladies, will be consolidated when the coming school year opens. Dr. R. G. Warehouse of Emory and Henry will be president of the combine
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-18
AN ECONOMICAL MAN.
From Judge.

From Judge.
 "I don't know" confessed the puzzled wife, whether to have the house re- papered to match my old dresses, or to buy new dresses to match the paper we now have"
 "I fancy" suggested the husband, who was a quick thinker and a lightning cal- culator, that we would better repaper the house."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-18

Messrs Rathbone and Nicely set the pace in the postoffice department, but they got out before the investigators came in.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-18
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

From the New York Press.
 Shyness loves boldness.
 What a woman calls a good husband is very much like a sick bear in cage.
 The more hidden away a woman's dim pie Is the more you seem to know it is there.
 Human nature puts out notes of A end liness like a prince and lets them go to protest like bankrupt
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-18

J. P. Morgan says in substance that the stock ticker does not tell the whole story. The farmers who raise the crops and the miners who raise the minerals tell the rest of 1t.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-18

Anti-merger decisions serve to seat Gen. Prosperity more firmly in the saddle. Such decisions affect undi- gested securities only.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-18
RattIeship Maine Sails.

Norfolk. Va. April 1.-The battleship Maine sailed from Hampton Roads today for League Island navy yard, Philadel- phia, where she will undergo repairs.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-18
Butler and Moran Win.

Atlanta, April l7.-Butler and Moran to- night won the team bicycle race from Walthour and Lawson. The race was in four five-mile heats. No record time was made. q
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-18

The postoffice departments investi- gation bureau should work overtime, and make the whole truth known.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-18

The Northern Securities company begins to think heavy lawyers fees bring no adequate return.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-18

Reginald should now assiduously cul- tivate the habit of inconspicuosity. No charge for the last-named word. It was coined for the occasion.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-18

Master Archie Roosevelt has the measles and cannot turn things topsy- turvy at the White House this week.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-18

The Vanderbilt wedding was almost as gaudy as the opening day of a de- partment store, both being in one class.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-18

The new reformers in New York city are unanimously in favor of busting the old reformers. This is Reform with a big R.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-18

What MT. and Mrs. Reginald Wander bilt now need is burglar-proof safe and seventeen detectives.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-18

Water cure" methods in Louisville asylum are peculiarly un-Kentuckian.