davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-06-02
Il Lucky Escape.

From the Washington Star.
The Washington young man of whom
this story is told has a best girl. His
best girl has a friend, a sweet young girl
from Philadelphia, who makes her an &C.
casional visit. She came over S1is week.
Wouldn't 1t be just lovely to give
Edythe an automobile rider" said the
best girl to the young man.
Excellent idea" came the ready reply,
the young man inwardly considering the
probable cost.
That evening the trio were speeding
along the Conduit road, bound for Cabin
Johns The wheels of the automobile
were buzzlng.
All at once there was a sound of crack
ing iron, and the machine came to sud-
den stop, the force of which threw the
young folk into a bunch.
"Oh, how jolly" exclaimed the Phila-
delphia girl ut certainly wouldn't have
been a success without a breakdown"
II didn't give my real thoughts at the
time" said the young man relating the
story to a friend the next day You may
bet 1 was happy, nevertheless. Lucky !?
Well, I should say. There l was, paying
SO an hour for the automobile and a din
ner for three looming up in the distance.
Providential almost. wasn't it?''
And the young man chuckled at the
thought of what he had escaped
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-06-02

erd their lives on Friday on account
Of business troubles than any other
day.
From midnight until o'clock in the
afternoon there is a continuous in.
crease in the number of suicides; from
6 IN the afternoon until J o'clock there
is lull, but from o'clock until mid
night is the period of greatest fire.
queney. Suicides on account of i'll
health and insanity ere common in the
early hours of the morning, alcoholism
and chagrIn later in the forenoon, de-
s9ondency in the afternoon, disap-
pointed love anu family trouble in the
evening. Murder and suicide often
occur together. Afternoon and evening
is the time when those with suicidal
mania should be the most closely
watched.
The next number OF the Yale Review
will contain Professor Bailey's tables,
and it is believed they will present a
clearer view of the evil as it occurs in
this country than has ever before been
laid before the public.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-06-02
NEGRO Exodus TO Cities.

In his annual report to the board OF
trustees of the Tuskegee Institute
Booker T. Washington says:
There are several influences that are
constantly exerting themselves against the
negro growing up on the soil at present.
One of these is the lack of public school
facilities in the country districts and the
frequent and unwise agitation Of the ques-
tion about dividing the school fund In pro-
portion to the tax paid by each race. In
the cities and larger towns the negro par
emit finds a comfortable schoolhouse and
school in session eight or nine months.
Another thing which sends a larger
number of negroes to the cities than many
realize is the surety of getting police pro-
lection in the city when one Is charged
with crime. I think do not overstate the
matter when I say that for every lynchng
or attempt at lynching that takes place
in the country a score of colored people
leave the country for the city. This whole
question is one that should receive very
serious attention"
There Is a deal oil truth In these
keen and practical observations. In
his efforts to MAKE better farmers and
to induce the men Of his race to buy,
or at least to stay on, farms, he en-
counters obstacles, anu he names two
OF them in his annual report. If the
country negro is to be kept from seek
ing the cities, he must have better
schools and he must have protection
for life and property against mob Vio-
lence. He knows, in other words, what
he needs ana wants.
At the same time it Is the duty of
men in Principal Washington's posi-
tion-public teachers-to do their best
to teach the negro to be himself a re-
spector of law and correct living. In
tnat way such teachers can powerfully
hasten the suppression OF lynch law
and the establishment of better
schools. Proper teaching is better than
anything else, and TINS the young ne
groes at Iuskegee are receiving. A
general effort along that line is i'm
portant, and then if the whites do not
do their part by suppressing lynching
bees and furnishing better schools, de-
serve to see their labor go away to the
nearest city. The interests of both
races are mutual, but the chief respon-
sibility in this state rests upon the
whites, for the new constitution has
eliminated the blacks from politics and
public affairs. We have no race issue
now, but we have race responsibilities,
and we should see that justice Is done
especially in the country districts.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-06-02
RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF
THE DEPARTMENT STORE

built with the rapidity that suggested the
fabulous beanstalk. And they involved an
expense of approximately $1,000. 600. rep
resenting fixed investment Others had of
sudden determined that the new center
for retail trade in New York was to be in
that vicinity, not then knowing that the
far-sighted management of the Pennsyl-
vania had fixed upon two or three blocks
just west of that square, so-called, for
the Manhattan terminal, or station, of
their gigantic tunnel way from Jersey
City across New York to the East river,
at Brooklyn, to the New Haven railroad
Hugh j. Grant, who is thought to have
become more experienced in real estate
than he ever was in politics, and that is
saying much, was associated with other
CAPITALISTS in the purchase of land long
neglected in that vicinity, and the trus-
tees of the Broadway tabernacle were
made glad when the syndicate approach
ed them with an offer of a million and a
quarter for the land upon which that
tabernacle had stood -or twenty-five
years, and for which the trustees of the
time paid, including the cost of the
church. little over 100000.
So, suddenly the heart of the Tender
loin has been redeemed and is to be one
of the important retail shopping centers
OF New York, and the veterans declared
that Mr.. Wanamaker would at last be
compelled to observe the law of develop
ment Of that character and follow the
course Of trade uptown. Mr.. Wanama-
kers answer is discovered in the plans
made public yesterday which involved
the expenditure, probably, in the long
run of nearly S4,0OO,0OO for new buildings
and improvements on lower Broadway,
for nowadays all that part of Broadway
which is below Fourteenth street is call
ed lower Broadway. Mr.. Wanamaker
saw just what Mr.. Strauss and ex-Mayor
Grant saw, although In another place,
that the stupendous growth of New York
makes it inevitable that hereafter retail
trade can be concentrated in no particu-
lar spot.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-06-02
IN HOTEL LoBBIEs.
Rlchmond's New Cathedral.

The corner stone of Richmond's new
Catholic cathedral will be laid next Thurs
day with imposing ceremonies" remarked
yirginian. His excelleney, Diomede
Falconio, the papei delegate to the United
States. viii offelate and a number Of Wis
iting bishops and scores OF priests will be
present to assist
The Catholics of Richmond purchased
the cathedral site several years ago but
the edlflce is the gift of Mr.. and Mrs.
Thomas F. Ryan of New York. These
prominent Catholics were born In Virginia
but neither of them ever lived In Rich
mond. Their donation for the cathedral
was 25o,ooo, but they have authorized the
bishop to complete the building according
to the architects design and draw on
them for any amount needed over and
above the quarter of a million dollars. In
addition to the gift of the cathedral the
Ryans recently built a paroehial school
in Richmond and one In Lynchburg, each
costing $4,000, and a church in Manches-
ter opposite Richmind, at a cost of nearly
5000 Mr.. Ryan is the acting president
~ eAAS MI boh AAusL COHpdHJ VI NOW
York and Is associated with William C.
Whitney and other prominent capitalists
in many large enterprises.
The corner stone for the Richmond
cathedral was brought from the Garden
of Gethsemane by Archbishop J. ].
Keane when he visited the Holy Land
years ago. At that time DR.. Keane was
bishop of Richmond. He had started a
movement for new cathedral and would
doubtless have built it had he remained
at the head Of the diocese.
The new building will be by far the
most striking and beautiful in the south.
1t will be cruciform in shape and will be
Roman renaissance In style"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-06-02
THE HENS BUSY SEASON.

From the New York Sun.
The American hen is very busy Just now
She has on hand what is called in the
provision trade the egg season, and that
is a period of great activity and pro-
ductiveness for her The season runs
from April to July.
The indications are that the egg season
this year is an exceptionally good one.
From the middle of March to the middle
of June about 75o,oOO,OcO eggs are handled
daily by the Jobbers who deal in that sort
of farm produce.
Only part of this large number is dis
posed of in the markets at once. The
surplus goes into cold storage, and this
year an unusually large supply of eggs is
being slowed away.
Instead of the average supply Of $780,
600, 900 eggs, the American hens, especially
those of the west, are working hard
enough to produce nearly 100000 900, 900. So
next winter unless the Egg Trust gets in
its wicked work and corners the market,
eggs are likely to be cheap.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-06-02
MI. carneaie,s Benefactions.

All told, Mr.. Carnegie has given to
public institutions ninety-one million
dollars, of which sum s63,517, 473 was
distributed In this country, or about
one and a half million to state. Ala
bama was sadly short until the great
donation to the Tuskegee Institute was
made, thus bringing her allowance up
to $4,000. Montgomery received $780,
900 of this sum, and Tuskegee the re-
mainder. The other notable donations
to the south were as follows: Atlanta,
S145,000; Chattanooga, $4,000; Dallas,
$751; 900; Fort Worth. $4,000; Louis
vile, $500; Nashville, 100000; Nor
folk, $4,000; Richmond, 100000; San
Antonio, 5000, and Houston, $4,000.
The total donations to the south foot
up about 10000 leaving SCI, OOO,O
that Mr.. Carnegie has given to north
ern states.
Mr.. Carnegies gifts are not only
conducted on a large scale, but they
are made basis as rule of continu-
GUS and greater giving by the recipi-
ents. A town that receives from him
a gift of $4,000, mu-t obligate itself
tc spend $4,000 year in support of the
library that he has thus housed. and
some towns are not able to meet this
condition. Some towns refuse to &C
cept charity at all, and altogether the
new art of giving has its obstacles and
troubles as well as other arts.
Mr.. Carnegie is rather freely criti-
clsed because he insists that the
library that he assists shall in every
cas- be called THE Carnegie Library"
thus becoming monument to himself,
although in the long run the people
shall have spent upon it much more
than his gift. There is very little in
the objection. name is of small I'M
port to one who wants books, and has
not the means to buy them. II Mr..
Carnegie becomes the active promoter
of public library in a town-a free
lbrary-he is entitled to the privilege
of attaching his name to it, and no one
need object to so small return of
money. Despite all criticisms, Mr..
Carnegie is vast improvement upon
the Vanderbilts and the thousand and
one other millionaires of the land, not
one per cent of whom says Bishop Pot
ter, give a time to public purposes.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-06-02
THE MOST EXPENSIVE TREE.

From the New York Press.
Probably the most expensive tree In
the world is in the city of London. on
the corner of Cheapside and Wood street,
about midway between the Bank Of
England and st. Pauls 1t is an enor-
nous oak, and Is said to be 100 years old.
1t is protected by a clause in the deed
of the property which forbids destruction
of the tree or branches. Architects were
compelled to plan rather peculiar build
ing to avoid the branches. There 1t
stands in the corner of one of the busiest
streets in London, occupying ground of
enormous value-and positively the only
tree In the city Of London outside of the
parks.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-06-02
Peonaue In Alabama.

The return of thirty-six indictments
by the United States grand jury against
citizens of Coosa and Talladega coun-
ties will no doubt, together with their
trials, bring to an end peonage in this
state. Its. ramifications in one form
or another are doubtless very extern
sive, reaching far Deyond the two coun-
ties named, but the developments CEN
tering about Goodwater will, it is plain,
be warning to all. Equal and exact
justice is always difficult, especially
when a superior race lives side by side
with an inferior race, but southern
white men have lost their proverbial
kindness of heart and good sense if
they permit the humble and helpless
and dependent among them to be OPP
pressed. The investigations by the
grand jury should be followed up by
searching trials to the end that all
nefarious practices looking to the es-
tablishment of peonage in this state
under forms of law may be broken up.
1t is regretable That this blow falls
upon two excellent counties. Coosa
and Talladega are fun of intelligent,
conscientious, patriotic citizens, and
Talladega is in particular one of the
most progressive counties in this state.
The acts of few soulless men have
cast upon all re1ections-have rem
dered even the name of the state a
reproach, but the true way out of the
difficulty is to punish the guilty, spar
ing none. The crafty and unscrupul-
GUS should be punished in order that
the wretched business may be ended
Tor all time in this state, and the more
the good citizens of Coosa and ITALIA.
dega promote the efforts of the govern
ment in roofing it out, the better it
will be for those counties and for the
state at large. Alabama will not har-
Dor peonage-that much is certain, and
now is the time to crush it.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-06-02
The Hobo Exodus.

Remarked travelling man the other
day; ''rhe tramp exodus has been on for
a month or more now and the hobos are
still migrating. Every spring when the
first touch of warm weather comes they
begin to drift back to the north from
southern cities. Those in a hurry to reach
their destination ride the trucks of pas
senger trains, but the great majority
travel more leisurely by freight.
New Orleans. being the largest town
In the south, is the great Mecca of tramps
in the winter time. They drift in there
from all parts of the country. A great
many go down into Florida, some go over
into Texas and Mexico, while the rest
are scattered all through the gulf states.
The balmy breezes of the Pacific slope at
tract numbers of these nondescript wan
derers, as the trip across the continent is
a small matter for them
However, when the cold weather is
past, the tramp longs for the crowded
centers of the north and east, so he
swings a freight. The brakemen occasion
ally bounce them, but the southern
tralnmen, as rule. are very lenient.
Some of the western roads are very strict
and Mr. Hobo usually has a hard time
in getting across the continent"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-06-02
Suicides in the United States.

Between 1877 and 1901 there were
29,344 cases of suicide in this country,
ana Professor Bailey has studied those
cases with a view of ascertaining
whence and why these life failures
arose. His tables show in C general
way that about three and one-half
males commit suicide to one female,
a. they further sht that the favor
tie suicide period is between 30 and 40
years. Between the ages of 20 and so
two-thirds of the suicides take place.
More married men kill themselves than
single men. Shooting is the favorite
method of suicide, poison being a close
second, followed in order by hanging,
cutting, drowning, gas, and jumping.
Men prefer shooting, but women large
ly resort to poison, although out of
10000 cases 267 ended their lives by
powder and ball.
1t is difficult to trace and define the
motives of suicide, but Professor Bal
ley ascribes about 20 per cent to de-
spondency-a very indefinite word
10 per cent eac- to business loss, i'll
health and insanity, after which comes
disappointment in love. Alcoholism
is considerable contributor, and so
are grief, chagrin, domestic trouble,
and fear of disgrace.
Professor Bailey discusses at some
length the time in the week of suicides.
He finds that Monday is the favorite
day, followed by Sunday. The number
falls from Monday to Friday, when
there is a sudden rise, and then on
Saturday comes a drop to the mini
mum figures of the week. Males pre-
fer Monday, while females prefer Sun
day. The dissipation following pay day
accounts for the former, and domestic
troubles for tho latte. More males
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-06-02
REMINISCENT STORIES -
OF EDGAR ALLEN POE

In evading the officers when In one Of his
moods to go down. and he would invaria-
bly, drink until he became raving drunk.
He was fearless at all times. and when
under the influence OF liquor was desper-
ate. The boys at West Point always had
a high regard for him both through a
respect for his extraordinary talents and
through fear Poe would form a dislike
to a man and his hatred was deep and
unreconcilable There was one of the
teachers there. Professor Locke, who
hated Poe. and the spirit OF uncongen-
iality was mutual. It was Locke whom
Poe on one occasion attempted to throw
down a 60-foot embankment in the dead
hours of the night into the Hudson river.
ut was quite frequent that long after
taps were sounded at night Poe would
awaken me and ask me to go down to
Old Benny's with him. Due to my
younger years and the influence of an
older head, 1 would invariably accom-
pany him. Many a time have seen Poe
in the guardhouse as a raving maniac
from the result of drink after these es-
capades. He, when under the influence
Of drink, knew no such thing as ODE
dience to his superiors, and could only
be handled by force. but 1 have never
seen him subdued until the effects Of
drink had worn off. He finally became
so intolerant that he was dismissed for
disobedence to his superiors. 1 left
West Point shortly after his dismissal,
and never from that time saw him.
Poe had evinced considerable literary
genius before he left West Point, and
probably before he came there. He
would often write some of the most for
chile and vicious doggeral, have me
copy 1t with my left hand in order that
1t might be disguised, and post it around
the building. He would often play the
toughest jokes on those he disliked. 1
have never seen a man whose hatred was
SO intense as that of Poe 1 believe that
am the only living West Point assoc
ciate of Poe
Colonel Jones also distinctly remem-
bers David Crockett who was a great
friend of his father and a frequent viss-
tor to the Jones home, then in Madison
County, Tennessee.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-06-02
BRIDAL SANDWICHES.

From the Housekeeper
Slice the crust from the bottom of a
fresh loaf Of sandwich bread length
wise. continue slicing the loaf in very
thin slices until you have cut it all up;
remove the crust and spread each slice
with mayonnaise; lay crisp heart lettuce
leaves first dipped quickly in French
dressing; drain we'll and lay on each slice
OF bread, letting the edge OF leaves ex-
tend over the slices of bread a trffie Roll
slices and fasten them with wooden
toothpick until ready to serve; pick must
then be removed. Nasturtium blossoms
may be used instead of lettuce leaves or
the very thinnest slices of cold chicken
or turkey; truffied partridge makes fine
filling for these sandwiches.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-06-02
BRIGHT Business Outlook.

Though there are clouds in the atmos-
phere, the business sun is shining more
brightly today than it has for some
months past" said citizen. THE great
strike of the freight handlers in Chicago,
numbering 10000 persons, has been adj
justed by an advance of per cent In the
wages Both the railroad companies and
the employees are satisfied, which is of
vital consideration in all such settle
ments.
THE great strike of the building trades
In New York, numbering 100000 persons is
broken, and the strikers will return to
work next Wednesday. Other small labor
emeutes in different sections of the coun-
try have been adjusted. and therefore 1t
is correct to say the business sky is much
brighter The labor conflicts during the
three spring months have caused an i'm
mense amount of annoyance and trouble.
and large cost to both parties. Labor Is
the foundation of all prosperity and
wealth, and when that ceases to work. the
loss weighs down more or less upon the
whole community"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-06-02
Instructive Booklet.

II notice agents are advertising extern
sively for buyers of stock in the Mar
conf Wireless Telegraph company OF
America" said a financier.
"One of them has issued very attrac-
tive booklet setting forth the rough
profits that were made by early pur-
ohasers of telegraph, telephone and
oceanic cable stock before the lines were
well developed. 1t also describes
the immensely greater possibilities Of
the wireless telegraph. Illustrations are
shown of different Marconi wireless sta
tions.
1T was a surprise to me to learn that
the system is in such extensive practical
use already. The booklet gives a long
list of transatlantic steamers to which
messages can be sent by means of the
Postal Telegraph to Sagaponack, L. l.,
and from there to the steamer by the
Marconi process messages will also be
received for delivery in England and
points in Germany and Belgium. Sta
lions are being built as far south as
Corsica and as far north as Alaska
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-06-02
~ EMINIsCENT stories Of Edgar
~ Allan Poe are finding conspicuous
rIaoas ~ ,....,....,-.-. - v,o-o

IN EMINISCENT stories OF Edgar
W Allan Poe are finding conspicuous
places in newspapers and maya
zines now. and the man who was init
mately associated with the poet is some
what numerous. Col Pick Jones, Of
Abilene Texas. 80 years old and a veteran
Of three wars, contributes the following
to the News Of that city:
Poe was as fine a fellow personally as
ever lived on earth. It was 70 years ago
that he and I entered West Point togeth-
er, then boy of 1875 years and he up
ward Of 20. Poe and I were classmates,
roommates and terminates. From the first
time we met he took a fancy to me, and
due to his older years and extraordinary
literary merits, thought he was the
greatest fellow on earth. From much that
he told me of his previous life. he was
dissipated before he entered West Point
He was certainly given to extreme dissl-
patton within a very short time after he
entered school,
AT first he studied hard, and his ambi-
ton seemed to be to lead the class in all
studies. He was an extraordinary scholar
in all branches except mathematics, for
which he seemed to have an aversion. In
that branch he fell short, and that seemed
to have tendency to discourage him. and
1t was only few weeks after the begin
ming of his career at West Point that he
seemed to lose interest in his studies and
to become dishearted and discouraged.
He would at times become a victim to the
blues, and for many days he would hardly
speak to anyone, and his disposition SEEM
ed to be suddenly changed from life,
energy. congeniality and pleasure to alb
ruptness, revenge, spitefulness and even
vIeiousness.
He was invariably pleasant to me when
In these respondent moods, and would
generally get me to. go with. him down
to "old Bennys," a place some distance
from the buildings that the government
has since purchased and made part of
the reserve, which at that time was a
rendezvous for the boys when they could
escape the guards. Old Benny had intox-
icants, and Poe would risk any chances