davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-31
PassinQ of the Oath.

Maryland has discarded the impre- catory oath and the incidental kissing of the Bible, substituting for it solemn declaration and the lifting of the hand. Close observers of the Maryland courts agree in saying that the doing away with the phrase, "So help me God" and the kissing of the Bible has not increased perjury. It may not have decreased it, the fact being the man who proposes to lie will lie no matter what formalities the law may call for. As sanitary precaution the kissing of Bible swarming with disease germs should have been stopped long ago.
 Benjamin P. Moore, member of the Baltimore bar, discusses the subject at length in the American Law Re- view. He shows that the oath is very ancient, coming down in fact from the days in which many gods presided over affairs in Rome. The oath was in fact too awful-so much so, says MT. Moore, that it begot hardened profaneness. It has become very com mon, and the men who take it include, of course, the customary percentage of liars.
 The Quakers, Tunkers and Mennon- ties led the way to an abolition of the ancient oath, and in 1898 the Maryland legislature virtually abol- ished it. New York, New Jersey, Cal ifornia and many other states have since done away with the imprecatory clause and the kissing of the Bible, and in anuary, 1902, the United States fell into line, and the ancient oath is no longer administered by the general government in its courts or elsewhere.
 The new plan not only stops the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-31
Christmas Editions.

The leading newspapers, magazines and other periodicals are already making preparations for special Christmas edi- tlons," said the travelling representative of a large eastern publishing house" Holiday features are very expensive, but the cost is shared equally between publishers and subscribers by slight ad- vance in price being asked. In former years it seemed that we had reached the limit of artistic printing, lithograpn.ng, and photographic work, but th's year promises to bring forth even more novel, ties. Color work forms a prominent part of all holiday editions, and artists who are good at depicting mid-wnter scenes are greatly in demand. Yet such progress has been made with presses and other machinery that an elabora.e issue of a magazine can be gotten out without dis turbing the even tenor Of an 1.fiGe.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-31
RamuoIIa's Successor.

The appointment of Mgr Merry Del Val to the post of papal secretary of state concerns the entire civilized world, and in particular the world of Catholics, now nearly three hundred millions strong. The characteristics of the new secretary of state become therefore of general interest.
 He is in good part by descent a Spaniard, but one of his grandmother's was an English woman, and he was himself born in England, and he re- ceived his early education at the col lege of Stonyhurst, in England The result is, he speaks English without a bit. of accent.
 It is not customary to appoint a sec retary of state from persons outside of the college of cardinals, but the new appointee has had no little diplomatic experience. His father was the ann bassador of Spain at the Vatican, and he himself was private secretary to Pope Leo XIII, besides doing from time to time in various countries many ecclesiastical and diplomatic errands. At one time he was apostolic delegate to Canada, and he is well known in this country, which he frequently vis- ited His mission to Canada was wholly successful, the difficult school question having been settled while he was there.
 The United States is directly con- cerned in the appointment of the suc- cessor of Cardinal Rampolla. The friar question in the Philippines is still unsettled. He may take a Span ish view of the subject, but he Is con- sidered a broad and highly intelligent man, and no trouble in that direction is anticipated
 The new secretary of state will doubtless speedily be made cardinal, and if Plus x lives to a good old age Mgr. Merry Del Val may himself win high place among the diplomats of Europe and in the list of papal secre- taries of state. He is not quite forty years old, and is man of fine physical strength as well as of an acute mind. When he was student at college he achieved distinction as football player, and this is a guarantee that he can stand all the work that will come to him in his new post.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-31
A MITAkEN CHANGE.

From the Chicago Inter Ocean.
 The letters "U. S. A" were omitted from the collars of officers coats in the new army uniform. In their place was used the national coat of arms. This has not proved satisfactory, and officers of all branches of the service have asked that the letters be restored.
 In this era of uniforms for religious and civic societies and for employees of transportation companies it is certainly desirable that the uniform for soldiers have a distinguishing mark. The coat of arms does not carry to all the same message that is carried to the eye of the most ignorant by the letters "U. s. Az These three letters mean as much abroad as at home, and they should be restored to the officers uniforms.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-31
MT. Bristow's Report.


 The report of Joseph L. Bristow, fourth assistant postmaster general, and also the reports of Charles Bona parte and Holmes Conrad, each and all relate, not to the private affairs of Postmaster General Payne, or the rest duct of the peoples own postoffice de- partment. And yet these reports are withheld from the people themselves from those who alone own, pay and conduct postal affairs.
 The people are entitled to the re- ports mentioned, and they will soon demand them. If the republicans in congress will not ask for them, then indeed they should be forced to vote against a call for them, and if the ad- ministration takes advantage of the excuse that publication of them would be detrimental to public inter- ests. the tests be applied Only good could come from the publication of the reports in full. No garbled summaries of the reports will satisfy the people. They are entitled to all possible information concerning their own public business and they demand publication of the reports which have been already submitted.
 These reports deal freely with ad- ministrative acts during the last six or eight years, and it is believed they go to the root of the rascalities un- earthed ia the postoffice department, and this of course is the reason why they are withheld. Mark Hanna's ap- pointees from Ohio and Indiana are hit by them, and the pressure against the publication or the reports is heavy. Even the republican national commit tee does not get off scot free, it is said.
 But the question is, will the admin istration publish the Bristow and Bon aparte reports? If not, why not? This is the question, and 1t is question that will have to be answered at the polls next year if the reports are with. held that long.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-31
eLAseow's VARIED ACTIVITIES.

From the Electrical World and Engineer
 It is stated that Glasgow corporation supplies the people of the second city in Great Britain with water, gas, elec- trc light, cable and electric cars and telephones; they control Il public parks and galleries, 13 baths and wash houses, fruit and vegetable market, dead-meat market, a home cattle market, ? foreign cattle markets, a cheese market, bird and dog market, an old-clothes market, slaughter houses and offices, hospitals and 1 burylng ground; they are the own CTS of PASS municipal houses, 7S lodging houses, of which they manage '; family home which they also direct; 372 shops, 49 stores 43 warehouses, 43 workshops, IF halls, 2 churches, ? hotels, 1 theatre, l studio. 1 pawnshop 1 nursing home, powder mill 1 laundry, bakehouse, 1 golf course and gospel tent; they farm over 1000 acres of land where large crops are grown, including hay, oats, wheat, tur- nips, etc.; they convert the city sewage into solid matter and sell it to farmers for for manure; they carry on business as market gardeners; they possess stone quarries and 900 railway wagons; they build street cars, reclaim bogs. conduct a civic granary, raise $50Oo a year on the clinker from the refuse cremating fur naces, collect and sell waste paper, and are not above melting and disposing Of the solder from the old tin cans they find in the dust heaps
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-31
IN HOTEL LoBBIES
Morris Avenue.

Morris avenue merchants have done a big business in poultry for the past week or two" said a produce dealer Al though we have been well supplied with fowls most of the time we had no trou- ble in disposing of them at very fair prices and our sales have been large. There are great many people who con- tend that chicken is just as cheap as beef and these are good customers for the grocers, who in turn purchase their fowls from Us. A feature of the market was the fact that all prices have held re- markedly steady and there have been no changes for several weeks past. We are looking forward to the Thanksgiving trade, when of course the American bird will displace all lesser fowls and poultry will cut a very poor figure"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-31
ITEMS OF INTEREST IN
 THE STATE OF ALABAMA

of the handsomest ever gotten out in the state
 Alabama Beacon The Marion County News indignantly denies that it has been sold to Colonel Bankhead. It says he is not interested in any newspaper in the district
 HumorouSly the Mobile Herald remarks: Dowie says that Mrs. Eddy's work on Christian Science is inconsistent with the elements of good sense.'' Persons who dwell in crystal palaces should not hurl geological specimens.
 Huntsville Mercury: The Age-Herald complains of an influx of vagrants into Birmingham from Georgia on account or the new and rigidly enforced vagrant law in that state. We suggest that the Age Herald call upon it's city officials to en- force the city laws covering vagrancy. All of our cities have ample laws ana if they were enforced as is being done in Georgia, the vagrant would readily move on.
 The Auburn correspondent of the Opeli- ka Post says: Forty head of registered Hereford, ten head of Shorthorn and number of grade heifers will be brought from Kentucky about November to the veterinary department of the Alabama Polvtechnic institute, immunized by in- oculation. and sold at public sale the last If Januarv or first of February. All Of tbase will be first-class breeding cattle
 This is another effort on the part or Dr. Carny and the college to introduce in the state better breeds Of stock anu to convince and make clear to the farm- CTS of Alabama by this very practicai illustration the great advantage or rais ins from good breeds of stock. It costs no more, and generally less, to raise well bred animal than it does to raise a poorly bred one,. because the better oreeos grow and mature faster and are more valuable.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-31
OF A CONTENTED MIND.
By Lord Vaux.

By Lord Vaux. When all is done and said,
 In the end thus shall you ma, He most of, all doth bathe in pllsa That hath a quiet mind; And, clear from worldly cares
 To deem, can be content, The sweetest time in all his hfe,
 In thinking, to be spent The body subject is
 To fickle Fortunes power. 4t. And to a million of mishaps z Is casual every hour: And Death in time doth change
 It to a clod of clay When as the mind, which Is divine
 Runs never to decay. Companion none is like
 Unto the mind alone; For many have been harmed by speech Through thinking, few or none. Fear oftentimes restraineth words,
 But makes not Thought to cease; And he speaks best that hath the skill When for to hold his peace Our wealth leaves us at death;
 Our knsmen at the grave; But virtue4 of the mind unto
 The heavens with us we have Wherefore. for virtues sake.
 I can be well content, The sweetest time of all my life
 To deem i thinking spent
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-31
shakeepearan Productions.

"The appearance of Ada Rehan and Otis Skinner at the Jefferson theatre Wednesday night will prehaps be the theatrical event of the season." said a gentleman yesterday. Their production of The Tanning of the Shrew' is said to be on a most elaborate scale and the talent of both actors Is beyond question. The properties and prompt books of Au- gustin Daly will be used In fact Miss Rehan starred so long under the man. agement of Daily that it seems odd for her to appear without his name on the show bills. In Shakespeares comedy both stars will have ample opportunity to dis play their ability and l predict that one of the largest audiences that has yet att tended the Jefferson this year will be present on Wednesday night
 Although managers talk about Shakes peare being synonimous with ruin a lit- tie of the bard now and then is very ac- ceptable, even to the masses People who cannot appreciate the lines will be impressed with the gorgeous settings of the play and lovers of the drama will take pleasure in recalling the familiar lines that have charmed them oft be- fore. In fact Shakespeare Is receiving more than the usual amount of attention this season. A number of strong com panies are now on the road, among them a production of Twelfth Night reported to be exceptionally good. So far we have had only one dose of Shakespeare, when Miss Kennedy presented As You Like IT
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-31
COMMENTS ON MEN AND
 MATTERS OF THE WORLD

all that has passed away now and she is accepted without question.
 The next issue Of the London Tatler will contain the announcement of the en- gagement of Israel zangwil1. the author, to Miss Edith Ayrton, daughter of profess sor Ayrton, a noted scientist of England. Since the groom -to-be is one of the most vigorous writers in the world of modern literature, the prospective bride turns out magazine stories, and both of her parents are distinguished for their scientific at- tainments it will truly be wedding of brains Perhaps zangwm Is best known for his Ghetto sketches, which have opened up a new and wonderful world. His vivid descriptions of scenes and in- cidents in the Jewish quarter of New York have never been surpassed. The Ghetto has produced a number of sing CTS, authors, poets, and musicians that might have become famous had they been more pleasantly situated in life, but few of them have achieved more than local notoriety A man died recently who was the composer of many popular songs, but he is already forgotten by the world. The Ghetto is wonderful district, but Chinatown or Little Italy, is perhaps equally interesting.
 There is widespread grief over the un- timely death of Mrs. Booth-Tucker who was fatally injured in a Santa Fe wreck near Kansas City last Wednesday,. She oc- cupied a unique position in American life as wife of the leader of the Salvation army in the United States. Perhaps no woman has done more for the uplifting of humanity and her loss will be felt keenIy wherever her presence has been known. From a small beginning the Sal vation army has grown into such pro- portions that it is of international im- portance In every town of any size in the country branches of the organization have been established Mrs. Booth-Tucker held the position of consul in the Amer ican branch of the Salvation army. and was daughter of General William Booth, founder of the order It will be hard matter to fill her place, and thousands of wandering tramps who have been fed in SalVatlOn army edll0S nOQStS UT udN6 been given a bed on a cold winter night will bestow on her tragic death at least a passing thought.
 Versatile Richard Le Gallienne has re- turned to American shores with a touch of asthma and well-stocked vocabulary. Not great many people can tell offhand just what particular novels or poems MT. Le Gallenne has written, but this is not unusual in day when high pressure iit- erature is in vogue, and the man who can get his copy first to the press is winner. It is rather hard on Le Gallienne to compare him with Prophet Dowie. but this has been done, although there is re- lief that Le Gallienne has come to take the prophets place in New York. When he was over here before the literateur was adorned with a suit of football hair which is gone now. But Le Gallienne is a mere ripple on the surface of metropol- itan life. There are too many others, and what with Patti. Dowie. Herr Conred and host of others he will have to hustle around if he wants the public's atten- tion. P. c.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-31

transmission of disease germs, but it looks to the punishment of the per jurer in this world instead of depend- ing to any extent upon punishments in the next world In this age of un- belief punishment in the next world is not in many cases a deterrent from perjury, and Mr. Moore is inclined to think that, all things considered, the oath has become a relic" and that it is no longer useful on modern statute books.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-31
Lewis New Book.

Alfred Henry Lewis, who has written a biography of Richard Croker and has been on terms of intimacy with the for mer boss of Tanmany has finished a new book entitled The Boss and How He Came to Rule New York " said New Yorker yesterday Tt will be published by A. s. Barnes & Co., and it is predicted that it will come up to the standard or excellence which characterizes MT. Lewis writings. The book is supposed to be an exposition based on an inside view or certain alleged methods practised in municipal government under the rule of Tammany hall
 !" Of the s400O0,O00 devoted to sup plies says MT. Lewis. 'one-fifth. under the guise of commissions, went to the machine while of the S65, ,0000O0 repre- senting the yearly payments on contracts, the machine received, at the lowest of estimates, fully 40 per cent
 "The writer enumerates faro banks, pool rooms and dsorderly resorts. where upon the monthly charge for each ran from $50 to 5000, giving an annual re- turn of siOOO,Oo0; saloons, each of which met draft of s2O monthly; great com panies suing for favor and about thous- and small concerns and private persons contributing no less than S1,000, COG. force ranged from s40O for patrolman to s2o,00o for tho making of captain. "A great railpoad corporation, supposed
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-31
A RICH MANS FREAK.

From the Detroit News
 How many men who have acquired a fortune by practicing the most rigid economy in their practising days would abandon their pa latial residence in old age to live in a woodshed? That is what Abra- ham Simmer, known throughout Iowa as the ''Waverly philanthropist," intends to do. The woodshed which Simmer will move into will be made into two rooms a bed room and dining room. He will live alone and cook his own meals. He de- clares that he will have reached the true state of happiness in this word-content- ment in simplicity. During the past few years Simmer has give more money to charitable institutions than any other man in Iowa. He is said to be worth more than s1 1000 000, and it is his purpose to give this fortune in various sums to the needy institutions of the state before he dies
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-31
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR

From the New York Press. furnace draw Next to being President woman would rather have her son not get married so as to stay at home. A girl can have an awful good time making herself feel bad because she is making some man feel bad.
 The weather Is never too cold for a woman to wear low shoes if she is proud of the stockings that go with them.
 Capital is what you have, capitalist is the one who wants to get 1t away from you, and capitalization is the way he does it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-31
HE Huntsville Tribune seems anxious to give the citizens of
 Madison a chance when time for

6 HE Huntsville file Tribune I,' a1.,..as seems as
 Madison a chance when time for announcing candidates for railroad com missioner arrives, and has the following to say on the subject:
 We want fair notice when the time for announcing candidacy for railroad com missioner comes around. We Have just seventeen citizens in grand old Madison and we have not yet got the returns from winning Limestone, who feel cap able of operating the entire railroad service of Alabama and who are willing to sacrifice their time in the service of the people for free pass and the sal ary offered for railroad commissioner. We want our stable of horses which may yet reach twenty started with Smith, Lowe and all others on the track. Don't forget that Madison is in the field and wire us when the judges ring the bell for announcements.
 In speaking of the "strangle hold' which the Hon. Sid Bowie now has on his constituency of the Fourth district, the Sylacauga Progress says:
 If the press is a reflector of public sentiment then who crosses swords with Sid Bowie in this district will surely meet his Waterloo. Some time ago the Birmingham Ledger announced that one E. H. Hanna of Anniston, Ala, would be in the race for congressman from this district, now filled by MT. Bowie and almost every paper in the district has made some comment on his candidacy, in such terms, as to leave no doubt as to their being for the talent gentleman who has the honor to be the present in- cumbent; first, last and all the time Sid Bowie Is all right and will remain in congress for a good many years to come.
 According to the report of State Audi tor Sowell 52,0O0 men in Alabama disfran- chised themselves last year by failing to pay their poll tax. This shows either a painful lack of public spirit or, what is worse, a lack of cash.
 Gadsden has been having lots of trouble with slot machines, and E,r chief of po- lice is waging a vigorous war against what is considered open gambling. The operators of slot machine establishments have, 1t is said, been making pocketfuls of money, and have paid extortionate sums for rent and licenses. Chief White issued an order Monday morning that all machines in town should cease to do business regardless of licenses. Comment ing on the subject the Times-News says: Chief White has closed the slot ma chimes, and now we hope he will run the gamblers out of town. both white and black, regardless of standing. Let it be known that Gadsden will not tolerate gambling in any form. The Times-News will give its support to Chief White in his war on gamblers. slot machines and loafers. Enforce the law.
 On December 15 the Anniston Evening Star will issue handsome anniversary edition. consisting of 100 pages, which will give a complete description of Anniston of today. An edition of 10000 copies will be published, and it promises to be one
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-31
The Dramatic Motive.
rom the New York Times.

From the New York Times.
 How do you figure out the plots of your plays?" inquired the anxious novice.
 Motive is the only key that opens the portals of dramatic action." said the pop ular dramatist, And motive is best tested by the query 'Why?' See how have ap- piled the principle in my latest work. Why are the children on the stage? Because the scene is a nursery. hy does the vil- lain come to the nursery? Because he IS pursuing the mother. Why is the mother in the nursery? Because she is attend ing the children"
 But why do you have a nursery on the stage at all?" queried the novice. Why not something else?"
 "Because.' said the popular dramatist proudly, because I had a commission to write a play with a nursery in 1t.