davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06
THE MAKING OF A
 VERY POPULAR TUNE

with every popular air. The "Hiawa- tha' rage was unaccountable, perhaps, but the very novelty of the way in which the tune was put together, the gayety and audacity of it, pleased the public fancy in a special way. It came in, well introduced, and crowded every thing else out.
 And here enters the question of the ex- planation which musicians make of the phenomenon of popular rage for a acer- tain song. They say that everything de- bends on the way in which, and the per- son by whom song is publicly sung Their idea is that q song must be sung in public by a singer who is already pop ular, and who possesses a taking person. ality, if it hopes to be taken up by the people. An inferior song. sung often enough by favorite singer, is sure to become popular, they say, while a good song," if it cannot obtain this introduce tion, will remain unknown. "Hiawatha" had the luck to be sung by two or three good singers and to get on Keith's cir cult. That was all.
 
 any musicians who do not believe in if They accept it so thoroughly that many song composers are in the habit of paying popular singers money to sing their songs If they can get the money.
 
 The public's idea of good song" does not always correspond with the musi- clans idea of one, and the musicians are apt to have professional contempt fer the public taste. And yet even musicians have to confess that when a songs sue cess is universal and unequivocal, 1t must possess musical merit.
 They say that it must have the ele- ment of novelty, and yet must obey the canons. Its theme is better for being an old one, made to sound new-yet some- how there must be a trick of individuality about it. It must be made up of simple elements, yet must possess a touch of surprise. The people themselves know nothing about these clements; they mere ly like tune or do not like it. But the composer who wants to please them and make lot of money out of them sits down and tries to figure it all out. He puts in dash of this and a dash of that, constructs song that is "bound to win.' perhaps break his heart in trying to get it sung by popular singer and then, if 1t does not succeed planes his publisher for not spending enough money in advertising it.
 There Is probably no law of success in tunes and songs But there is some other reason than mere caprice for the spread of melody that holds the public with a grip of iron. If there were no other ele- ment than mere publicity at the start. then all the songs that are nightly shout. ed at the public on all the circuits would nave equal vogue-whieh is far from being the case.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06
PRESIDENTS FRIENDS
Assert That Gomper's Statement on
 Open Door Question Is Misleading.

Washington Cor New York Herald.
 Leaders of the American Federation of Labor have only added to the complica- tlons between the President and the unions by their address, made public to- day, In which they announce their own interpretation of Mir. Roosevelt's attitude made, not from his public announcement, but from his conversation at the confer ence of Tuesday night.
 Friends of the administration said to- night that Mir. Gompers and his colleagues had no direct authority to make this statement. They did not deny, however, that the labor leaders had the right to tell their followers that they believed this to be the Presidents attitude.
 To add to the confusion, many labor unionists take the ground that the Pres- ident is not compelled by law to maintain a policy of no discrimination. It is said a move Is already on to take the matter to congress.
 It Is known that the President would have preferred that his statement stand for itself. His friends say that the Com
 
 announcing to the public that the "open shop policy must be maintained in the government service, while at the same time telling the labor leaders that he Is compelled to follow it by law, but against his own inclination. Therefore, they say, it has put him in the false position of playing for support from both sides of what appears to be an endless contro- versy
 It seems to be taken for granted that the address ito organized labor in Amer ica," was put out solely for the purpose of emphasizing what were considered to be the Presidents views. that, except in the government service which is cir cumscribed by law, Mr. Roosevelt thinks that full union labor is preferable to nonunion labor. This was contained in one short paragraph in the long address. but it was evidently the only reason for it's issue.
 Friends of the administration say that there has never been any doubt of the Presidents attitude toward labor unions. He thinks labor can accomplish much when organized and conducted on soun6 basis. He does not, however, believe in the labor unionism of the professional agitator and the arbitrary walking dele gate.
 It is thought here that the effect of the Gompers address will be to eliminate the general officers from any political con- test against the President. But, on the other hand, such an effect is not so cer- tain among individual members and the various central labor unions that have all ready petitioned the President on the Miller case.
 Senator Stewart called on the President today. On coming from the White House MT. Stewart said T told the President that if he wins the fight he will be immor- tai. If 100000 men are able to control 90, oOo' GOO people the death of the Republic is at hand"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06
Bishop Smith.

Bishop A. Coke Smith. who spent sev- eral days in Birmingham last week as the guest of his old friend Belton Gil- reatn and who preached two stirring sermons here Sunday, left yesterday for Nashville, whither he went to preside over the Tennessee Conference. He will return to this state in November to pre- side over the North Alabama Conference.
 Bishop Smith was at one time Mr. Gill reath's pastor in Greenville, s. C., and these two staunch Methodists have been the closest of friends ever since.
 The bishop was the recipient of much attention from prominent citizens while here. On Sunday the following gentle men died with him at MT. Gilreath's: Dr. J. P. McFerrin, pastor of the First Methodist church; Dr. J. D. Simpson, pre- siding elder of the Birmingham district; Dr. Anson West, president of Owenton College; Dr. J. H. Mccoy, editor of the Alabama Christian Advocate. and J. c. Lovelace.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06

From the New York Mail and Express. k0 now on the wane. 1t may be
 safe to make an observation or such tune manas.
 In the height of this singular and pat tering tunes popularity, l was daily re- minded of an incident that once oc- time in New Orleans one spring not long ago. In order to see more of life of the town than could be had at hotel I took a rooom at a private house on Carondelet street. Scorning the stuffy apartments in the body of the house. I chose a room on one of those queer galleries which are an institution in New Orleans. The gallery consisted of brick structure running back at a right angle with the house; It was two stories high and each story consisted of row of little rooms, each having it's own door opening on an outside walk with a railing. The rooms were much airier than those within the building proper
 But while I found my gallery room cool and clean, though rudey foored, I discovered that I was exactly over the servants quarters, and that I had to listen to their chatter I did not mind the chatter so much, but there was a darkey boy-of-allwork below, named 'Rastus. rho whistled or sang Dem Goo-Goo Eyes" every moment of his waking time
 Nothing but Dem Goo-Goo Eyes" Two days, from morning till night nothing but "Goo-Goo Eyes" In the afternoon of the third day 'Rastus came shuffling along the gallery to my room, bringing me a pitcher of water He was whlstllng Dem Goo-Goo Eyes ]"
 Look here, Rastus," said I, don't you whistle any other tune but that?''
 Ills eyes opened in wide surprise. ''Wh-why not NOW, boss" he answer ed. mot nowl'
 He went away, still whistling the tune, and left me wondering just what he meant by that very much empha sized now" The more I thought about 1t, the simpler it became. He could hold only one tune at a time. That was the tune that W as in him just then. and he would go on whistling and sing ing 1t until another tune had become suniciently prevalent in his environ ment to force itself into and fill up his little gill cup of musical understand ing.
 The new tune did not arrive during the week l spent on the gallery. Ras- JUS Kept up Dem Goo-Goo Eyesp to the bitter end
 Tn sense this little darky was a type or the whole American public For while this public. being bewitched with "Hiawatha," could contain noth- ing else. This does not exactly happen
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06
ANAcHRoNISMS.

From the New York Sun.
 Cooper was writing his Leatherstocking Tales.
 T know they're old-fashioned," he ad- mitted sadly. they should have been football trousers!'
 Patiently, he tried to counterbalance this by war whoops almost as good as college yells.
 Fulton was exhibiting the model of his steamboat
 And, don't you think" he asked. q have invented a wonderful benefit to manknd?"
 We don't know" replied the carping critics. Just think, 1t will make the Staten Island ferry possible"
 Horror stricken by the suggestion, he was tempted to destroy the product of his genius.
 Dante was conducting his trip through Inferno.
 "And this" he exclaimed, lis the Sty- gian Lake; the worst of all the tor mentsr'
 But" asked Virgil, where are the people whose cooks have left?'
 Perceiving that he was stumped. the poet began to grind out another canto.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06

merchant of Dadevil1e. was in Birming- ham yesterday. MT. Shepherd says that the question of establishing an electric light plant is now occupying the attention of the citizens of that city. He says the plant will be built
 W. L. Reynolds a well known and prominent insurance man of Atlanta, is stopping at the Morris.
 
 A. H. Avery of Shelby was one of the Hillmans late arrivals last night L. G. Gray a leading citizen of Jasper is at the Morris.
 D. W. Lacy, one of Anniston's prom inent citizens, was a late arrival at the Morris last night
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06
IN HOTEL LoBBIES.
Wall Street.


 The Iron Age, one of the ablest and most conservative journals in the coun- try. comments as follows:
 Tt may be that the dlstrust of busi- ness affairs which has seized Wall street operators in securities has some founda- tion in fact. Among the chief causes that have brought the present day of retribu- tion on the Stock exchange is the finan- cial management or mismanagement of various industrial enterprises, and now the good suffer with the bad. For five or six years there has been disposition to experiment with industrial companies similar to that which was indulged in dur ing the early period of rapid railroad ex- tension, when overcapitalization sowed the seed for receiverships and left a heri- tage of barren or non-dividend paying se- curities. On the other hand, there is al- ways a tendency for speculation to run to extremes and as action and reaction are equal and opposite, the present depres sion of stock values seems unwarrani The unprecedented prosperity of tn
 tire country for several years has the errors of financial management in the shade and permitted excesses in specu- lation which would not be countenanced during times of normal business activity.
 Aside from this phase of the stua- tion, there Is little to encourage pessi- mistic beliefs, although it is probably true that in some important lines the up ward tendency of prices has induced overpurchasing, which, in turn, has stim- ulated manufacture beyond the average requirements of the people. There is lit tie room to believe, however, that this tendency has been carried to a degree in any way dangerous and to some ex- tent it has already been corrected by wholesome conservatism, which will pre- vent continuance of such a course and will contribute to a healthful future, al- though with a probable decrease in the volume of credit transactions"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06
About Persons.

A large party consisting of Presbyterian ministers and laymen leave this morning for Goodwater, where they will attend the North Alabama Presbytery that convenes in that town today. In the party will be-: The Rev. Dr. l.. S. Handley, the Rev. pr. J. w. Stagg, the Rev. Dr. J. S. Forst, the Rev. J. c. Duncan, the Rev. J. A. Bryan the Rev U. D. Mooney the Rev. Dr. J. Sterling Foster.
 J. A. Bevil, prominent citizen of Alex ander City, is in the city.
 Dr. P. B. Crum of Montgomery, is at the Morris.
 Thomas F. Knight one of Greensboro's 8 prominent citizens, is at the Metropoli- tan.
 R. II. Jones of Atlanta, is registered at the Hillman.
 w. M. Battle of Annis on. is in the city.
 J. A, MacKnight of Calera, is in the city.
 A. W. Freeman, leading merchant and business man of Dadeville. is in the city.
 The Hon. w. c, Tunstall of Greensboro, one of Alabamas railroad commissioners is stopping at the Metropolitan. E. l.. Foster of Augusta, Ga, was one of the Hillman late arrivals last night.  H. M. Hart of Memphis is registered at the Hillman, s. R. Cortley of Pittsburg is registered at the St. Nicholas. Richard Shepherd. prominent young
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06
LOVES SONG.

Ethel Clifford Songs of Dreams The House of Sorrow seems so far away When I am with you. Almost forget That other eyes than ours are filled with
 with tears, That hearts are breaking. Hold me
 closer yet. Shalt we not VOW that none shall come to
 us
 For comfort, help, or pity, while we live. But shall, because of our great happiness Go from us with the best we have to
 give? When you are, far. the still stars learn
 your name:
 I whisper it to them across the dark; And in the dawn the brown birds learn
 your name:
 It mounts to heaven with the earliest Let me not be too happy. for I dread Lest after rose-time come the time Of
 rue Lest God be jealous of our happiness. Reach forth His hand and set me far
 from you. W
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06
A PATIENT SERVANT.
From Judge.

From Judge.
 "Yes sir" said Uncle Elmer, who was telling about his life and experience in the Sandwich Islands. "Yes. sir; we had one of the laziest cooks you ever saw"
 "Is that so?" politely asked one of his nieces.
 "Indeed, yes. Many's the time our dinner has been to or three days late just because she waited for the volcano in the back yard to erupt so she could broil the steak over 1t instead of kind ling a fire in the range"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06
CHAM BERLAlN.

From the London Times.
 He is the greatest of imperial patri- ots we have yet produced, because his faith in the empire is greater. He scoifs at the cravens who tell us our race is growing old. Our century is old and sheds throughout the empire the glory of her ancient fame. But the empire is new the empire is in it's infancy, and now is the time when we can mold 1t. That is a lofty and an ennobling ideal and if the n ation be true to her self she will not shrink from pursuing
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06
Fewer Failures This Year.

Nine months of the calendar year have been summed up by the conmer- cial agencies, and they find that fewer failures occurred in the nine months than occurred in the corresponding nine months of last year. The de- crease was 7h per cent. And yet the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06
The Early Cars.

Street cars on all the lines of the Bir- mingham, Railway, Light and Power company now come in early enough every morning to catch the first train leaving the union passenger station, and this service is greatly appreciated by the travelling public" said a prominent citi- zen yesterday.
 q frequently take an early train, and until recently in order to get to the sta tion, had to patronize a cab. The street cars get to First avenue by 5:20 a. m.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06

Joe Chamberlain tariff measure for getting even with the United States and Germany is catching on, as it naturally and properly should. Ding leyism will soon have to take dose of it's own medicine.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06

The Russian government has de- creed that Count Tolstoi shall stay at Yasanjapoljaha. This would be pretty severe punishment even to a younger man.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR

From the New York Press.
 No woman ever got speeches. with rage.
 Death is specially hard for woman to face because of the statement her tombstone will make as to her age.
 Once there was a woman who did not think some other woman was interest ed in her husband. but she didn't have
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06
ALABAMA

A joint committee of the Mobile cotton exchange and chamber of commerce has ta en steps to keep the channel to Mo-
 bay cleared of logs and other obstruc-
 ns. The committee has already been 5uccessfu1 in keeping the river free from these Instructions and is receiving hear ty endorsement in its new work.
 The battleship Alabama is attracting much attention since her gunners made such splendid records. The Alabama stands first in the American navy as an effective engine of war and her gunners boast the proud record of 93.75. The Ala bama is capable of throwing 126 shots a minute from huge 13-inch guns. Fifteen out of sixteen shots strike the target. Such formidable battleship will, in- deed, bring terror to the heart of our stoutest foe.
 Anniston has passed an ordinance ex- empting from taxation for five years all industries that locate in the town. This is an example that could be followed by many other towns in Alabama with good results. It has been remarked more than once that nothing scares away manufact- urers more effectively than high taxes The Anniston ordinance applies to plants employing five people or over and Is cer- tainly as sweeping as anyone could wish A one-man factory would certainly not prove much of a power in the Model Citys commercial life.
 Mobiles city authorities are troubled just now over the question of dressing her police in metropolitan uniforms. It is ob- jeeted that the men are too poorly paid to purchase uniforms and 1t Is up to the city to either furnish the funds or allow the force to continue a nondescript col lection of club swingers. Few people who have not been to Mobile are aware that her police do not wear uniform It is said that Mobile is the only town in the Uni ted States where the chief of police can not be distinguished from a private citi- zen when on duty.
 In a mi-sarcastic vein the Mobile Reg ister has the following to say apropos the Alabama exhibit at St. Louis:
 The editor of this paper, who occupies lHe nOHOTdDle put up 10 the present time empty title of commissioners at-large from Alabama to the worlds fair, has received the following request from St. Louis;
 Dear Sir: When the commissioners are ready to take up the question of lighting fixtures for the Alabama building, worlds fair, we earnestly solicit an opportunity to estimate on the same. Very respect fully, etc.
 We shall answer that, judging by the disposition of the Alabama legislature re- garding an appropriation for an exhibit lard oil lamp will give more illumina- ton than we shall need for an Alabama building at St. Louis.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06

The automobile has even appeared in funeral procession. Its aggres- siveness is unquestioned, but it is closely related to funerals,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06

The thirty-three women who are in charge of that many government light houses are doing, says the Philadel- pbia Ledger, light housekeeping
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06

Wall street is endeavoring to pick up the pieces and look pleasant, but it can no longer call in lambs to help it out.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06

Interested parties are trying to ar range a joint debate between Mrs. Fish and Henry Watterson. Subject; "The 400."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06

Andrew Carnegie may yet have to come and take off his coat in Pitts burg, where he made steel instead of securities
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06

"Who's Who In America" is hauled up and periodically spanked nowadays. It is now a race to keep out of it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06

Wall street will welcome Dowie If he will show it how to render water marketable.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06

No senator can consistently call for sn investigation of Senator Tillman's passes, for all have them.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06

Prof. Langley's buzzard is now kept under lock and key, and the keyholes arc plugged with paper.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06

The London stock gamblers are also tired and slumpy. The truth is, the printing presses of the world have been overworked.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06

Lord Milner is a real example o an office seeking a man.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06

President Roosevelt took vacation of thirteen weeks without mourning any bad luck.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06

Dowie is not even Brigham Young. He is simply scheming financier who Is posing as a religious prophet.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06

Washington is the most persistent tailender in the baseball business.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06

The rich men in Philadelphia se- cured an unusually heavy load of in- dustrials, and the slumps have hit them very hard.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06
Analysed.
From Life.

What do you suppose they make this Scotch whisky of?" -
 Alcohol smoke and dialect.5
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06

The regieide issue has broken up King Peters cabinet, and it may break up Peter himself.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06

The steel trust is roasting several notches lower down.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06

Senator Quay is 70 years old, but he retains still much of his old-time skill and cunning.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06

Washington begins to feel like itself again, now that cabinet meetings are being held there.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06

Except among some of the private bankers the legislature is praised for it's good work.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06

Total .............,............. 5.lO As one and two-thirds tons of ore are needed in order to make ton of iron, it follows that the pig iron cost would be sS50 ton.
 It is very easy to make iron in this way. Any one who has pencil and paper can do, it, but it is quite an other thing to convince ironmakers of the correctness of the figures thus pro- duced. Such figures are in fact used to bolster up a policy, and the news papers that indulge in them are up- holders of supply and demand and op- ponents of the policy of maintaining prices by restricting production.
 The latter policy Is, however, to be thoroughly tested. As matters now stand the different associations will inaugurate these changes:
 Per cent
 Reduction.  Western pig Iron interests ............ 25 Southern pig iron association ......... 25 Bessemer pig iron association ........ 30 Production has been going on at the rate of about 1,650,000 tons month. The resolutions of the associations call for reduction of almost 450,c00 tons ia October, thus bringing production down to about 100000 tons month. The chances largely run againat any such redrtf:on. Nor indeed IS such a reduction necessary if, as the Iron Age intimates, the excess of production oyer c7riumption does not exccea 10 pM cent
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06

Count that day lost which does not see a drop in steel stocks.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06
TEE ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ALABAMA
Get thee glass eyes.

Get thee glass eyes, And, like scurvy politician, seem To see the things thou dost not.
 king Lear.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06
Piu Iron Prices.

The wiseacres are making pig iron --on paper, and the Wall Street Jour nal is now making-on paper-Besse- mer pig iron at $8.50 a ton. It prints these figures to cover the mining, transporting and melting of ton of Lake Superior ore.