davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-13
RAILWAY MAIL CARS.
The Fragile Coaches in Which Postal
 Employees Work.

From the Portland Oregonian.
 It is asserted. and proof of the truth of the assertion is not wanting that meas ures for the protection of railway mail clerks from injury by collision and other forms of railway disaster have not kept pace with measures which the great rail- road systems have in recent years been busy for the protection of other classes of travellers. For example, engines have increased in weight and strength of con- struction, and vestibule cars have been built that are almost proof against tele- scopng, whereas such changes as have been made in the mail car render 1t more likely than ever to be crushed between the heavy masses before and behind it in case of collision. In ghastly proof of this neglect is the large per centage of mail clerks who are killed or injured in the service. Congress will be asked to look into the matter and enact law compell- ing railroad companies to extend im- proyement in car building to the mail cars that are a part of their rolling stock
 Car building has become a science, the details of which are worked out carefully in the interest of the safety and comfort of the travelling public The solidity and strength of the sleeping car are regarded as guarantees of safety for which many people cheerfully pay. the additional fee required for occupying them. A review of railway accidents for the year shows that a very small per centage of those who suffered from them were occupants of sleepers or chair cars, the principal reason being that these cars were heavy enough and strong enough to resist the shocks that wrecked the ordinary pas senger coaches and reduced to splinters the mail, express and baggage cars.
 The modern engine is a machine of won- derful power and endurance. The vesti- bule system makes a compact and solid train, the resstive powers of which re- duce very largely the danger to passen- gers in case of wreck. Between these two extremes, drawn by the one and pushed, in case of sudden stoppage, by the other, are the mail, express and baggage cars that are constructed on lines that have followed the road for years, showing al- most no improvement. It follows that the workers on these cars are engaged in vacations of extraordinary hazard, and the government, in behalf of its faithful servitors the railway clerks, will be asked and urged to pass a law requiring mail cars to be more substantially con- structed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-13
Judge Parker's Luck in 1897.

The cold facts are the best in these months when all thoughtful democrats are looking for a man who can be elected President, and the New York World brings in a few such facts in relation to Judge Parker's victory in New York. He was elected chief judge in 1897, and he stands credited today scored in New York since the silver issue was introduced. Says the World:
 Judge Parkel's vote in 1897 was oO,OOO less than Augustus Van Wyck's in 1898, 139,0OO less than Stanchheld's in 1900 and ,02OGO less than Colers in 1902. The cold explanation of his election is found in the fact that Judge Wallace, Platts candi date for chief justice in 1891, received the smallest vote cast ny that rarty in twen- ty years with one eXeeption--for secretary of state in 1887. It was l6S000 less than the vote for Roosevelt in 1S9S 21l.OOO less than the vote for Odell in 1900 and 1720O0 less than the latters vote in 1902. when
 
 being beaten. Judge Parker had the ben eft of the bitterness of the Low republi- cans against Platt for running Tracy for mayor. The Citizens union did not put upon it's ballot the name of any candi- date for chief justice. and thus the total vote for the two judges was 74,oOo less in the city alone than the total vote of the three candidates for mayor Wallace lost, therefore, the votes of the repubi- cans who supported the Low ticket. By this alone, and in the city alone, Judge Parker profited more than enough to make m his plurality of 900 in the state.
 Judge Parker is an estimable man, but he is a man lacking in magnetism. He is an honest man, a good lawyer, and a man whose private record is without a stain. But he has no grip upon 10 popular heart. He and Tam many are not friendly. It becomes, New York, which has become a doubt ful and uncertain state. It is inclined to be democratic, all conditions being favorable. Would all conditions be favorable if Judge Parker were made the standard-bearer? Would the luck of 1897 be repeated? These are ques- tions that every democrat should ask himself before he selects man to bear the party standard next year.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-13
Rockefeller's Benefactions.

What ever may be said for or against John D. Rockefeller, the head of the Standard oil trust he has been a consist ent benefactor to the Baptist church and its educational institutions" remarked a man who had occasion to test his liberal ity more than twenty years ago
 T was In Cleveland early in the eighties and was soliciting money for Richmond college, of which the late J. l.. M. Curry was then connected. 1 asked one of my Baptist brothers if he could suggest the name of a Cleveland man who would probably make a donation. See MT. Rock efeller and if he does not contribute 5000 to Richmond college l will be greatly sur prised. Mir. Rockefeller was a pretty big man in Cleveland at that time 1t seems, him up, told him what the college was doing and asked if he would not help us I had not counted on getting Mir. Rocke- feller's check for more than $500. but after a few minutes conversation the philan- thropist handed me a check for s5O0O
 Since, the day I met MT. Rockefeller his benefactions have amounted to untold millions. but $5O00 seemed a very large sum to me in the early eighties. I see from the papers that MT. Rockefeller has just given s10O0O0 to Furman college, a Baptist institution of Greenville, S. C. In my opinion John D. Rockefeller is a very great man."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-13

for the family of moderate income. 4The Stonleigh" that Secretary Hay is constructing is a vast structure in the most fashionable quarter of the cap ital, and it will be occupiel wholly by the rich. There are flats in that city for all sorts and conditions of people, and in the long run all will live in flats.
 When it is considered that one can have in a well conducted apartment house as much privacy as one can have in a city block, and just about as much ground space, the chief objec- tions to living in a fiat disappear at once. The eonveniences and econo- mics of a fiat are simply too numerous to mention.
 Alabamians are accustomed to a great deal of elbow room, but in city this becomes each year less, and in the long run we will accept flats as the best solution of city life. Rentals are unduly high in Birmingham, and the building of dozen flats of gener- ous proportions would soon restore rentals to normal while the occupants of the proposed flats would gain largely in he conveniences of life.
 The chief feature of flats not equipped with cafes-the vast major fty-is the gas range In a tiny kitchen the gas rangeis ready for bus mess at once, and it may be said to be the key of the modern fiat. It may also be said that all towns will soon be full of flats, and the sooner Bir- mingham falls into line the quicker it's andlord-and-tenant problem will be solved.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-13
Cominn RaiIroad Changes.

The Atlanta Constitution says the Atlantic Coast line is desirous of run ming fast vestibuled trains from New York to New Orleans, and it's line from Washington via Richmond and Angus ia to Atlanta is as short and speedy as the Southern's line via Lynchburg and Charlotte. The Coast line may de- sire to send its trains to and from New Orleans over the West Point, the Western of Alabama and the Louis vile and Nashville as the Southern now does. The railroads west and south of Atlanta are said to be willing, but will the Southern be content to run it's trains over the tracks between Atlanta and New Orleans that the Coast line uses?
 This is the question, and the Con stitution is inclined to think the South ern will send it's fast vestibuled trains either via Lynchburg, Bristol Chatta- nooga, Birmingham and Meridian to New Orleans. or else it will send them from Atlanta to Birmingham and thence to Meridian and New Orleans. As high speed can be made over the Bristol route or the Atlanta -Birming- ham route as can beomade over the Mobile and Montgomery route, and the Southern would use Alabama Great Southern tracks to Meridian, which is much nearer New Orleans than At lanta.
 As the Coast line proposes to start it's New Orleans trains soon, the changes involved will soon be devel- oped, and the chances are nine out of ten that the fast vestibuled trains of the Southern will be sent through Bir- mingham, simply because the South ern will prefer to use its own lines to Meridian, and an allied line from Me ridian to New Orleans.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-13
Birmingham and Flats.

More than additional skyscrapers- more even than great union station this town needs a score or more of modern apartment houses-fats, in short, and in plain Anglo-Saxon. We need them for convenience sake, for economy's sake, and for the sake of better living.
 The objections to flats were long ago overcome in the larger cities of this country, and today in all of them few individual houses are In course of con struction, but many flats. In Novem- Der but 64 permits for individual houses were issued in the vast city of New York. Why? Flats are going up In every direction. So it is in Wash tngton, where houses are a drug, sell Ing below cost, and everybody is nov into flats. Flats are built in Washing ton for the rich as well as the poor, or
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-13
OUR SAVINGS BANKS.
The Depositors and Their Accounts,
 Active and Dormant.


 John Gilmore Speed in Success. l According to statistics, there are 6,77OS67 men, women and children in the United States who own deposits in sav- ings banks amounting to g, 772 SSS,256 The average belonging to each depositor is $409. 2s
 Women, 1t appears are better savers than men. In one great Philadelphia in- stitutlon there are.23,S Ss1 female depositors to 2lS32 of the other sex. This reflects a condition prevailing generally through the country, according to MT. Speed Me chanic, artisans, weavers and handicrafs- men, among men, furnish 9547 of the de- positors with the bank mentioned; do- mestic servants, female, on the books number 3340, while boarding house keep CTS and ordinary housekeepers with ac- counts are 11340. Of depositors listed as gentlemen" there are H. of widows and gentlewomen' 4000. Among men who save by means of this one bank are 3731 port CTS walters, laborers and attendants: 2S23 agents, bookkeepers, clerks and salesmen I97 coachmen, carmen, draymen, carters and stable keepers.
 Professional men perhaps do not save we'll There are on this banks books l but PIP physicians and apothecaries 123 | lawyers and scriyeners and 632 out of the
  professors and artists. Of female profess sors, teachers, artists, superintendents lawyers and physicians AS have accounts in the banks under observation. The subject of dormant accounts con- tributes the most interesting chapter in the savings bank business. The prosy routine of incessant additions and sub fractions is replaced by the inspiring search into old family records and gene alogical traditions. The memories of the dead are revived and their children sum- moned from distant points to receive un- heard of legacies, the broken thread of family history is repaired and long part ed brothers and sisters are sometimes united.
 The larger banks make regular de- parment in itself of the search for the rightful owners of inactive accounts. They take pride in keeping this class of ac- counts as low as possible. The Bowery Savings bank of New York city, the lar gest savings bank in the country, has on- ly $47O00 in dormant accounts in all it's $SS0O0,00O of funds on deposit. In 1S9e its dormant accounts amounted to ss2, ,000 Seven years work has reduced them one half.
 An account in a savings bank never dies. So long as there shall exist hu- man being entitled to the sum on deposit so long will that sum lie in the vaults to await the call of it's unknown owner The law of New York is that an account shall be deemed quiescent after twenty two years, but no bank waits so long, Some begin to search for the owner as soon as the account book has not been presented at the bank for three years Others wait until after continuous ab- sence of the depositor for about fifteen years.
 In 1894 the report showed 5122 accounts in the state of New York, netting s1, ,443- S0S,97 which had not been distributed for twenty years or more.-John Gilmer Speed in Success
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-13
Space in Statuary Hall.

At first sight it would seem as # each state should be permitted to se- leet it's own representatives in Statu- ary Hall at the capitol, but congress holds otherwise Congress says there must be an official acceptance of each statue placed in the hall. Wisconsin, however, succeeded in placing there a fine statue to the memory of Father Marquette, the Jesuit missionary, who together with Louis Joliet, discovered the Mississippi at Prairie du Chien, June F, 1763. There would be no ob- jection to the statue if it had not been presented in the robes of the priestly office. These robes in cold marble have aroused no little antagonism, and all efforts of Wisconsin to have the statue officially accepted by congress as a gift of that state have failed. A renewed effort will be made in the present session.
 Virginia and Wisconsin will thus have a somewhat similar contention. Virginia proposes to place in Statuary Hall statue to the memory of Robert E. Lee, and perhaps the effort of Wis consin to have the statue of Father Marquette accepted will bring up the contention of Virginia
 It would seem that there ought at this late day to be breadth of view enough to let Wisconsin place in Stat uary Hall work of art in honor of the discoverer of the Mississippi regard less of the clothes he wore, as well as to let Virginia place there a statue in honor of a general who was first of all an American, who did but stand by his state under his view of the federal constitution, and whose memory will be cherished by his race and country to the end of time.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-13
eoLDWIN SMITH ON GLADSTONE.

From the North American Review.
 This man was a wonderful being, physi- cally and mentally, the mental part being well sustained by the physical. His form bespoke the nervous energy with which it was surcharged. His eye was extreme ly bright, though in the rest of the face there was no beauty or even refinement. His physical and mental force was such that he could speak for four or five hours at a stretch, and with vigor and freshness so sustained that George Venables, an ex- tremely fastidious and not r-friendly critic. after hearing him for four hours, and on financial subject. wished that he could go on four hours more. His pow CTS of work were enormous. He once called me to him to help in settling the details of university bill He told me that he had been up over the bill very late at night. We worked together from 10 in the morning till in the afternoon, saving an hour and half he spent at privy council, leaving me with the bill When where he spoke at 1 o'clock the next morn ing. Besides his mountain of business. he was voluminous writer on other than political subjects. and did vast amount of miscellaneous reading. As proof of his powers of acquisition, he gained so perfect a mastery of the Italian language as to be able to make a long speech in which Italian criticism could detect only two mistakes. and those merely uses of a poetical instead of the ordinary word.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-13
GHOSTS OF ELEPHANTS?
A Superstition of the Natives of an
 Asiatic Region.

From the Singapore Straits Budget.
 In the last number of the journal of the Straits branch of the Royal Asatic so- from the pen of A. D. Maehado on the supposed evil influence of ghosts. He says:
 Some years ago. when I was engaged in certain prospecting operations in the highlands of Pahang, on the borders of that state with Perak, l had occasion to make a somewhat lengthy stay at place called Kampar, on the Tue river, one of the tributaries of the Betok in it's turn tributary of the Jelai, the principal feeder of the Pahang river. l selected this spot because it had already been cleared of large trees and had only re- gently been in occupation as a Sakai set tlement, from the remains of which we reared our unpretentious little camp. The Sakais, however, strongly advised us to go elsewhere. alleging that this place was haunted by elephant ghosts. and that they had been the direct cause of number or deaths principally among their chill dren' whose remains lie buried there.
 It Is necessary to explain that at the back of this place, not fifty yards away, is to be seen one of those peculiar kinds fre- auent Tor their saline properties, this par ticular one being known as the Kubang Gajah Hantu (the mud pool of the ghosty elements). These salt lakes are also known as genuts in Malay When the Sakais refer to this place it is usually with batter breath and a mysterious and awesome gesture These men declared that almost nightly elephants are seen and heard breaking twigs and branches and wallowing in this mud pool, and vet in the morning not a vestige of their spoor can be seen anywhere. Of this I am certain. the prints of deer and pigs were always plentiful and fresh, but no elephants could have been within miles of the place dur ing my residence in that locality Me mandor's wife. an oldish person. who al- ways followed her husband in his jour- neys, doing the cooking for m.- followers. declared that the first night we slept there she and all my men heard con- tinued iong-drawn walls. like a long wee e-e-o-, which went on without intermis- sion until almost daylight. This noise they said, came from these Sakai chill dren buried there.
 This account is interesting from an ethnological standpoint in so far as it H. lustrates the beliefs and superstitions of a race of very primitive people. As for the number of children dying at the time. this would only seem natural when it IS remembered that an epidemic of measles was then and had been for some time rag ing"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-13
A Popular Man.

Col. L. Y. Dean of Eufaula member of Governor Jellks' staff, is at the Hill man. He is one of the most popular men in the state. He travels all over the state and is well informed on men and matters q find" said Colonel Dean that the farmers of Alabama and the south are in a better condition than they have been in years They have in a number of cases received the benefit of the rise in cotton. I was in Athens yes- terday and l saw a considerable number of bales of cotton on the wagons en route to the markets. The farmers and the state are greatly affected by the late rise in the cotton market"
 Colonel Dean is a close friend of Gov ernor Jelks. and when asked if he be- lieved the governor had any higher polit- ical aspirations he said: T think the governor will retire to private life when his term expires He is giving the peo- pie a wise and conservative administra- tion."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-13

tor is one of the best known men in the state. He is often termed the Baptist bishop of Alabama. He says that the Baptists in the state are enjoying a healthy growth.
 J. A. Baugh of LaGrange is stopping at the Morris.
 A. B. Henry of Mobile was one of the St. Nicholas arrivals last night.
 Captain J. F Baker of Nashville, the popular and genial representative of the Gerst Brewing company. is at the Flor ence He says: 'I found that the eoun- try is in better shape than for many years. No one, especially in our rural districts, where kicking is so popular, is complaining As to the political feeling, believe, and it appears to be the gen. era opinion, that if the democrats nomi- nate German and the republicans nomi- nate Roosevelt we democrats will have a walk-over."
 F. E. Johnson of St. Louis and Charles M. Jones of Atlanta are at the Hill- man.
 George W. Feagin, chief engineer of the Louisville and Nashville corps at Brook side, is registered at the Morris.
 
 E. l.. Pinckard and J. W. Rickard of Johns were two of the St. Nicholas ar rivals last night.
 The Hon. ". B. Oliver of Tuscaloosa, solicitor of the Sixth judicial circuit, is stopping at the Metropolitan.
 ". A. Simmons of Orderville is at the St. Nicholas.
 R. D. Dryden of Montgomery is spend ing Sunday at the Hillman.
 Harry Faber of Cincinnati, the popular salesman of Lord Baltimore Rye" was one of the Metropolitan's arrivals last night.
 w H. Hall has returned from a short trip to Columbus, Ga. MT. Hall was re- gently elected city engineer for the city of Columbus. He will accept the position. George E. squires of Washington, sec ond vice president of the International Retail Clerks Protective association, will remain in Birmingham all of next week. MT. Squires is making an effort to have three local tailoring establishments sign up contract with the local clerks union.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-13
EUROPE AT THE PLAY.

William Watson. in Living Age. languid audience. met to see The last act of the tragedy On that terrific stage afar,
 Where burning towns the footlights are O listless Europe. day by day Callously sitting out the play So sat, with loveless continuance cold, Round the areana, Rome of old Pain, and the ebb of life's red tide. So, with calm regard she eyed, Her gorgeous vesture. million-pearled, Splashed with the blood of half the world. High was her g1ory's noon; as yet She had not dreamed her sun had set! Anothers bangs she counted nought; Of human hearts she took no thought: But God. at nightfal. in her ear Thundered His bought exceeding clear.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-13
TeIearIm to Alas<a.

Many telegrams to points in Alaska are handled through the Birmingham of fees of the two companies during a month";, said an operator. "The tariff rate to cities in Alaska from Birmingham is 35 cents per word, and the average message will amount to sS50. The class of business handled is of both commer- cial and personal nature.
 Many cabegrams are relayed through Birmingham to China, Japan and other foreign countries. Birmingham people too."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-13

1 and an accomplished player is rarity. The Italian harp is capable of producing beautiful music under the manipulation of skillful hand but it's soft notes have been drowned out in the blare of brass bands and the shorts of mixed orchestras. Now about fifty people can play guitars. | pianos or violins to one who can play the Italian harp. which is distinctly a bou- doir instrument. Yet an orchestra of twenty persons could no doubt make grand harmony and when the musical talent of the Italians is considered there can be little doubt that signorina Case rinis orchestra will make great hit in this country.
 The startling informations is heralded abroad that we are on the eve of cos metic revival and the rage of the fair sex for blushes that were not made by na- lures hand is something appalling. Cold blooded observers say that just at pres ent fashion is more inclined in this direc- tion than even in the day when beauty patches adorned my lady's cheek and DOW der was profusely scattered over her per son. This is what long headed scientists call an 'anaemic age" Pale cheeks are much more in evidence than those incar- nadined by blood corpuscles. But then certain pot with more fervor than appre- citation of beauty has raved over cheeks of '1anguid hue," and there is conse- quently no excuse for the fair sex to make such a liberal.use of rouge. No one objects to blushes that are real, but [ blushes that are false are just as well absent Pale faces are moreover highly intellectual. However, cosmetics are here to stay and whether the fair sex is more addicted this year or next, blushes that come and go at the owners sweet pleas ure are too fascinating to be foregone.
 P. C.