davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-26
STATE NEWS ITEMS.

Talladega has bought a road-mabine machine.
 Henry B. Malone of Athens has a span of horses which weigh s0C0 pounds
 Selma Elks will form ladies auxiliary to assist In building an Elks home.
 
 Troy has paid S4OOQ for the site of the new building for the citys graded school. Fire did 5000 damage to the packing room of the Dwight Manufacturing com- pany in Alabama City
 The citizens of Evergreen are happy because the bill to establish dispensary at that place was defeated.
 Mrs Ben Headricl1 of near Danville fell into an open grate and was so badly burned that she lived, only few hours Pike county owns some fine bloodhounds two of which cost s125. By order of the commissioners court they are placed at the services of the citizens of the county
 
  a steel and iron city. Expert mineralo- gists say that the grade of pig iron pro duced in this district is i per cent better than that at Birmingham,
 R. A. Mitchell by order of a decree ill the Chancery court has been sending out a lot of money to the stockholders in the old Gadsden Land and Improvement com pany. During the past few days he has distributed in this way over $17000, Greenville Advocate: Forty new court houses have been built in the state with in the past eight years. Every county surrounding Butler has a new court house and the day is not far distant when one will have to be built in Greenville. Eufaula Times: From all sections of Barbour comes the report that the fruit is not injured by the recent cold snap. and is rather a benefit than an injury, as it prevents the trees from developing rapia- iy and reduces the chances of the fruit being killed by the cold later in the spring.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-26

phenomena at large, has given a very suceinct account of the actual causation of the outbreaks. Discarding French views, that electricity is a factor in the process. Dr. Anderson believes that a mass of molten matter rises In the vol eanie tube or chimney which ends in the crater. This mass is highly charged with water and gases, the liquid condition be- ing maintained as a result of the intense pressure. AS the molten matter Is forced toward the heart of the volcano the press- ure is lessened. Then as the water and gases expand they explode into powder so much of the mass. while pumice stone
 described as "solidifed froth." Is also elected. After the explosion the lava es- capes from the crater or forms a side opening below it, and flows down the mountain slopes. A very important obser- vation is that in which Dr. Anderson re- marks that the differences between one eruption and another depend on the rela- tive proportions of these various actions.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-26
PIannlno for summ.r Theatre.
Important Requisite.

"Of all the requisites of q business man. these days. the most essential IS tact" said a business man.
 If man has plenty of tact it will cover 9 multitude of other shortcomings Tact is the power of readily appreciating and doing what is required by circum- stances. Its possession has made more men and women famous than any other one thing in the history of the world. A man who can disregard self at the proper time for the feeling and rights of others Is person of exceptional talents.
 'I heard that little song called Tact. Tact, Tact, at the production of Floro- dora the other night and while it was more or less of a burlosque there was more truth expressed in it than most peo- pie realize. A man can better afford to be without wisdom, shrewdness or en- ergy than to be without tact'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-26
IS WAR COMING?

From the Mexican Herald.
 Before 1912 the American peop'c will probably fight big war; the Universal Peace Society may weep and moisten src cessive bandannas, but gunpowder is in the Yankee blood the itch for fight grows and grows. and the young men need scrap to harden their muscle and give them manly experience for it can't De the dollar-hunt all the time without ieril or national degeneracy. Something IS coming; 1t is in the air; the trusts grind away and the opulent grow fat around the waist; religion softens daily; the pull pits deal out mush and are blue penciing the Bible; the average young American sinks into the employe class. gets rest less and listens to the socialists who medi- tate placing society on a basis of equal pay for the loafer and the industrious. and a uniform alarm-clock scheme for getting everybody up to work at the same hour-delicious prospect,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-26
Publicity in City Affairs.

If, as the opponents of George B. Ward say there is nothing in "the third-term talk" why is it they have come down from a walkover to a tight squeeze? Something must have brought about the change, and if they will be wholly frank they will admit there is something in the anti-machine issue. At present they claim the nomi- nation of Mayor Drennen by major ity of five hundred only This makes it a close race even from their point of view, and their viewpoint is at least a thousand votes out of range. They admit that George B. Ward is surpris- ingly strong, and on Monday night a still greater surprise may be in store for them.
 A change in the control of the city is pressingly felt, and if every voter will take time in which to consider the case, George B. Ward will be the citys next mayor, pledged to make public every feature of the citys business, and to go out of office without asking for third term.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-26
James Madison,

with MT. Gaillard Hunts Life of James Madison, publishers will begin d series of representative American biogra- phies which will tell d true history ot the United States through the lives of it's greatest men," said Virginian. MT Hunts work will be welcome because Madison has possibly had less than his due as a statesman. His speeches in the Virginia constitutional convention Of 1929 give much greater impression ot vigor than Is usually associated with his name. When l was d youth everyone who made any pretentions in the way of all education read the Madison Papers l I do not find many men reading thcse papers TOW, and this does not speak well for American culture, for in no work will one find so much of valuable reading touching the founding of our gov ernment as in the Madison Papers The new Life of Madison will doubtless re- vive general interest in this great mans writings
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-26
STATE UNIVERSITY.

From the Gadsden Evening Journ2l.
 The legislature should, as IL probably will. pass the text book state uniformity bill. It should pass it regardless of tEe protests of few lobbyists whe have as yet failed to make q slnSle point to sas- tain the argument that the bill will net serve the best interests of the schools
 State uniformity centraizes book buy ing thereby minimizing the possibilities of a scandal; It supplies every book every where. whereby making 1t unnecessary for children to be supplied with new text books, every change of teachers; t sun plies the best book at much lower cost than county uniformity could possibly do and insures 10 the teachers in rural dis tricts the abolIshing of one cause for grumblng among patrons, together with the loss of all rebates that might be com ing under our present system. where teachers, parents and children all do the choosing of books from an interruptions book trust.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-26
Houston County.

The appointment of probate judge and circuit court clerk, following the act of creating the county of Hous ton, has put Alabamas sixty-seventh county fairly on it's feet, and it is now county both in name and in fact and it's capital is Dothan. But the permanent county seat is to be de. termined at an election to be held on March 16. Undoubtedly Dothan will be selected by the qualified voters of the new county.
 Henry county formerly had three county seats namely, Abbeyille, Co lumbia, and Dothan. In the present Henry county only Abbeville of the three remain. Columbia and Dothan are both in Houston, which is now the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-26
From the Baltimore Sun.

A HE season of rest which Ash WE Wednesday initiates will be as
 sweet to the overworked society woman as cold water is to thirsty soul or good news from a far country. Ihe seamstress who sang the song of the shirt complained most plaintively in excellent poetry that she worked as prisoner works for crme-that she was. in fact, a slave along with the barbarous Turk. But the work of the seamstress who sang this song was. as compared with the work of the society leader a Roman holiday. And even more arduohs is the work of the unfortunate woman who as- pires to be a society leader or even to keep up with the procession when she has inadequate means and social appli- ances at her command. The demands of society in a city are of the most exact ing character. It Is hard for women to engage in it with moderation. They com plain that they must go to all the enter tainments, or almost all. or be left out altogether Those who are very wealthy and can command what they want are much sought after and have to overw ork shNiiiSNiNtHs Il IFqhlItS Il SIfdA utdi Ol money to keep in the social swim, ard there are heartburnings and searchings of heart among those who try to keep up on small incomes. The struggles of many excellent families to keep up ap- pearnnces" are pa.-.etic feature of oure modern civilization. A wli.er in L Ne'v York paper mas gone to the trouble to compile the aoc,el work of q leaGer of the smart set in that city for single month She went out 10 20 luncheons, accepted 9 invitations . big dinners, at tended 8 balls 10 afternoon teas. went tr m1sicales ,nd l'.tus,s. eni ( the grand opera times. ate 10 midnight sup pers, made 100 "cails and received zoo callers.
 This thing goes on from the "horse show to Ash Wednesday," a period of
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-26
-------------~------------ LONG TERM IN CONGRESS.

From the Washington Post.
 Alabama democrats" said MT. Albert E. Pace, a prominent lawyer of Dothan, in that state, at the Riggs house, have come to the conclusion that it is the wisest policy to keep sending the same men to the senate and house. l have no idea that either of our senators will have opposition as long as they are physically able to perform their duties. Senator Pet tus despite his great age Che often says ioeosely that he is a hundred), had no op- position in our legislature a few weeks ago. and when MT. Morgan's present term Is out I think he will have the same ex- perience.
 Tn our congressional district the peo- pie are eminently pleased with the record of their representative, Hon. Henry b. Clayton and the probability Is that he can keep coming to Washington as long as he desires to remain in public life. think the idea is gaining ground all over the south that it is bad policy to make frequent changes of men elected as na- tional legislators"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-26
NEEDED REST THAT THE
 SEASON OF LENT BRINGS

three months. Compared with this pro- gramme the work of the lady in the Song of the Shirt" daily from weary chime to chime. seems trivial This unfortunate society woman has absolutely no time fzr rest. While carpenters and masons are skiing for an eight-hour day our society lady has to toil sixteen hours daily. And her work is such as would put a store mason irl bed with nervous prostration before the end of week. Is there any wonder hat now and thsn we hear of some fair lady taking to stimulants to en- able her to bear up under the strain? Is 1t surprising that now and then her nerves get in such a condition that she cannot get to sleep without the use of narcotics? Is it to be wondered at that now and then she has to go to a sani- tarium or horpital to be treated for some nervous complaint?
 When the farmers wife or the wife of the plain citizen who keeps big family Bible on the center table in the best room reads of the doings of the lady in the smart set she wonders how any tine Is found to attend to the children or domes- tic duties or reading. and how much time + devoted to the husband. Why, bless her innocent soul the children are left to the French nursery governess, the housekeeping to the housekeeper and tho butler, and the husband is left to his club or worse. Is it surprising that the new generation which grows up under these conditions is apt to be frivolous? Is 1t to be wondered at that the smart set gives a good deal of business to the divorce court and would give more were not sensibilities somewhat dulled9 It is fortunate for the land that the smart set and the society people compose only a small percentage of the population. It Is righteousness that exalteth nation, and the future of this land depends upon the great mass of plain families which rear healthy citizens in environment which ia morally and physically wholesome.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-26
FIexIblIitY and Uniformity.

Dr. Philips says the Johnson bill as 1t passed the senate forbids that free dom in the selection of supplementary books which is provided in the Tennes- see law" The efficient superintendent of Birmingham's excellent public schools has evidently not read section 14 of the Johnston bill, for that section expressly provides for the use of sup elementary books. It is in fact a re- production of the Tennessee provision in that particular. The section ill question permits the teaching of music, drawing or any other branch not pro yided for in the bill or by the text book commission, and any school, be it in Birmingham, Selma or Anniston, or even in Montgomery, is wholly free to select at will text books for such branches. Section IA of the Johnston bill, which The Age-Herald printed in full on Tuesday morning, affords In fact all needful or possible fiexibility, and meets every demand that Dr. Phil lips makes, except that it hands over to commission consisting of the gov ernor, superintendent of education and three. eminent educators the work that pr. Phillips desires to do in this city, and the Montgomery board of educa- tion desires to retain in it's own hands. Superintendent Murphey of Annistou is another patriot of this sort. None of these officials desire to lose the privileges they have long enjoyed, and some of them, 1t is plain, have not read the Johnston bill. The Montgom- cry board of education certainly has not for it's statements concerning it are grossly erroneous.
 The truth is, the Johnston bill as it stands is admirable, flexible and con- prehensive. It is a bill endorsed by the rural teachers, as the action of the teachers of Autauga county at Billings ley show, and it is endorsed by those who pay the freight, as the action of the Trades Council held in this city demonstrates. It should he rassed just as it stands, and th:s county de- , sires in particular that sn amendment shall not be adopted whereby citizen wAo removes to Woodlawn, or all Avondale man who removes to town, would be required to go to the expense of new set of school books for his clild,en. Give us state uniGo'rity. or ao text book law at all. State 1iye:si- foat.or is not wanted. We haze too murh ot it now.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-26
HUMAN LIFE.
y Thomas Dc We're.

By Aubrey Thomas Dc We're. Sad is our youth, for it is ever going, Crumbiing away beneath our very feet: Sad Is our life, for onward it is flowing In current unperceived. because so fleet; Sac are our hopes, for thev were sweet
 fin sowing But tares. self-sown, laFe aRerl ped
 the wheat; Sad are our joys, for they Wara wect
 In blowing And still o still their drrs h 's
 sweet; And sweet is youth. altloueh t haih be-
 reft us Of that which made our childhood sweet CT still; And sweet our lifes Gfcliae fer it hath
 left us A nearer good to cur au dor il, And sweet are all tl nps R Rhen N, learn
 to prize them. Not for their sake. hat Els who grants
 them CT denies 4cmf
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-26
HAS FOUND CURE FOR LEPRosY.
American Physician Is Making Success
 In China.

Washington, February 25.-According to United States Consul McWade at Canton it has remained for an American physi- clan, Dr. Adoph Razelag, to describe a means of curing and exterminatirg lep- rosy. In report to the state department the consul says success has attended the efforts of this physician and his work has attracted the attention of the highest Manchu and Chinese officials.
 His work begun in June, 1902, in a leper village, six miles distant from Canton. Of four cases treated three have been dis charged as completely cured and the last is making practical recovery. These methods are used for the treatment of lepers in the Philippines and Hawaiian Islands The treatment appears to con- sist of minute and prolonged sanitation and the use of highly anti-septic drugs.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-26
Sea Birds.

Said student of ornithology:
 ''rhe means by which sea birds quench their thirst when far out at sea is de- scribed by an old skipper, who tells how he has seen birds at sea. far from any land that could furnish them water. hov- ering around and under q storm cloud, cattering like ducks on hot day, at a pond. and drinking in the drops of rain as they fell, They will smell rain squall a hundred miles distant. or even further off, and scud for it with almost incon- ceivable swiftness."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-26
CANAL co. DOESN'T OBJECT.
knox's Proposed Changes to Agree
 ment Will Be Accepted.

Paris, February 25.--It is reported in responsible quarters that the chief of- ficials of the Panama Canal company have informed American officials here that the former had no objection to the two changes in the agreement suggested In the recent dispatch from Attorney General Knox, who proposed the accep- tanee of the companys tender subject to the two notifications and to the United States ratification.
 It is assumed among the American of- heials that this willingness on the part of the company has been communicate d to the authorities at Washington. As MT. KnoX's proposition is understood to refer to the ratification of the treaty before March 1, the officials say that the at titude which the company will assume after that date Is still undlsclosed
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-26
WORK BEGUN ON TUNNEL.
First Blow Struck By the Pennsylvania
 Railroad Company.

New York, February 25-The first blow was struck today on the work of con structing the Pennsylvania railroad tun- nel under the East and North rivers and through New York city The destruction of buildings at the foot of West Fifty second street at the North river was be- gun to clear ground for sinking a shaft and establishing q basis of operation for what the engineers have named e1he North river section' of the tunnel.
 T his section extends from point in the center of the North river to the sit1 of the, terminal station at Seventh and Eighth avenues and Thrty-seoond street to Thir- ty-fourth street. The worK will cventu- ely cost the Pennsylvania Railroad com lanY about $lO.lc0. .000
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-26

NH three sons," said Rev. pr. H. l.. Hutchins, formerly pastor of Tay- Tor Congregational church of this city but now the agent for the Connecticut Bible society. and if I were given my choice of sending them to live with some of the poor whites in some of the inland towns of this state or sending them into the slums of New York to live I would choose tho slums."
 Dr. Hutchins made this statement today before the ministers of this city who be- long to the Federation of focal pastors. His subject was "The Religious Condl- tions in Connecticut" He goes into every town in the state 6-.~ing ;ne year and to the New Haven clergymen today he told about the wretched degeneracy of many of the residents of some of the smaller places in Connecticut He startled his clerical audience.
 Dr. Hutchins said that not very far from the outskirts of New Haven there was a condition of social lie that would astonish his hearers and that bordereu very closely on polygamy. He explained that this condition was due in a large measure to the thin1y settled condition or some of the country towns and the cus- tom of the inhabitants of intermarryins. Dr. Hutchins declared that the old New England blood, that was once the pride of the people of this part of the world was rapidly becoming an obsolete quanti- ty in these hamlets of Connecticut
 One of the towns of the state that he m Int Tod fo h for viciousness and absolute indifference to religion was Ashford. where he said there are 197 families. 36 per cent of which do not attend any church. where all the people work on Sunday as they do an5
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-26
MUSIC AND TUNNEL BUILDING.
rom the Baltimore Sun

From the Baltimore Sun.
 When the son of the Rev Dr. Primrose, the vicar of Wakefield. turned to music for his supply of daily bread. he found that he could get nothing from anyone but the very poor. If he were in New York and could sing comic songs, coon songs preferred and play ragtime music, he would find that all ranks of society would unite to maintain him. If he were proficient in cake-wallsing his fortune would be sure. At the present time there
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-26
Newspaper circuIators Meet.

New Orleans, February 25.-By rising vote the Southern Association of News paper Clrculators, which opened it's session here today, decided to tender sympathy to A. D. Gonzales of the Columbia State on the recent tragic death of his brother. editor of that paper, President H. H. Ahrens called the association to order. It will be in session two days Many important topics are to be discussed. The association was organized in Atlants. last year
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-26
Didn't Know 1t Was Loaded.

Chattanooga, February 25.-Thls morn-
 ing Charles McClusky. white, aged 12, pointed rife at Lawrence Brooks, col ored, aged 12, while playing they were soldiers. The rifle shot and the bell passed through Brooks head killing him instantly. The coroner's inquest develop- ed that the decd was accidental Me Clusky not knowing the rifle was loaded.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-26
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.
n the New York Press.

From the New York Press.
 It's long drink that has no draining. It's curious thing that "big heads" have so little in them.
 Happy Is the woman whose unhappiness is the price of her love.
 A womans idea of exercising power has something to do with how mad sEe can make another woman by wearing better clothes than she does
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-26
Victory for State of Ohio.

Columbus, O., February Ex-Governor Nash and Attorney General Sheets after a conference with attorneys representing the coal companies, against whom custer suits were filed, announced victory for the state today. the companies promising to withdraw from and disband the various associations they had formed in the inter ests of trade.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-26
About Persons.

F. P. Gibson of Corona is at the Hin- man.
 w. B. Compton of Montgomery is regis tered at the Morris.
 George S. Gullette of Hot Springs is at the Metropolitan.
 L. E. Thomas of Pittsburg Is stopping at the Hillman.
 D. F. Hoover of Atlanta is at the Nor ris.
 w. C. Davis of Jasper Is at the Metro politan.
 A. Johnson of Houston. Tex, is register ed at the Hillman.
 II. II. Cohen and wife of San Francisco are at the Morris.
 c. O. Campbell of New Orleans is reg istered at the Metropolitan.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-26
Sternberq Calls on Hav.

Washington February 25-Baron von Sternberg, the German minister. called upon Secretary Hay today to request that Mir. Russell. the United States charge at Caracas. be authorized to care for German interests at that capital. pending the arrival of Herr Peldram, the newly appointed minister to Venezuela Secreta- ry Hay assented.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-26
VOLCANIC FORCES.

From the London Chronicle.
 pr. Tempest Anderson. who investigated the recent eruptions in the West Indies along with Dr. Flett on behalf of the Royal society, and who has published an interesting volume dealing with volcanic