davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-26
BIRMINGHAM IS BUSY.

Rrom the Atlanta Constitution
 We are having all we can do over in Birmingham" remarked Fred Stinson, one of the leading business men of that city. There is plenty doing about the coal and iron works and every one is getting good pay for what he does Pay rolls are promptly met and the men are all getting good wages and are apparent ly happy, satisfied and contented The town Is moving right along and new buildings are going up on every hand Old land marks are being torn away In the uptown districts and magnificent busi- ness structures are taking their places. We may not have many tall buildings as Atlanta, but we have some that are just as substantial and they are being occupied by solid businesses. In the resi- dence portions of the city handsome homes are going up. while there are neat. attractive residences on lots that were vacant less than a year ago. Yes, Bir- mingham is doing well enough. l thank you.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-26
Things In motion sooner catch the eye than what not stirs.
 --TroIlus and Cressada'
The President and the south.

Senator Simmons of North Carolina seems to be fully in accord with the views heretofore expressed by The Age-Herald that democrats should per. sue a dignified course toward Presi dent Roosevelt, and should only ex pect or demand from his administra- tion that treatment of fairness to which we are entitled under constitu- tional obligation.
 The suggestion that the president is to entirely change his manner or dealing with the south seems to be without basis of hope. He is an executive of pronounced views and Is never slow to give expression to them in an official way. Several of his ap- nointments to office in the south have surprised not only his own party, but others from among his political oppo- nents. It must be remembered that there is quite difference between magnanimity on the part of con- ouerer toward the conquered and ab- solute loyalty to an oath of office.
 The south cannot hope for nor ask anything at the hands of the president except such consideration as is forced upon him by an honest conception of the law of the land. Down here the people may as well make up their minds that we are to have four more years of republican administration. That with an executive and both leg islative branches entirely or over whelmingly republican full responsi- bility of government rests upon that party.
 Democrats can only preserve dig nified course by standing squarely to principles and putting their pro tests against all measures which ap- pear to hinder an exercise of right or to thwart the designs of the constitu' tion, at all times insisting that each of the sections of this country consti- tutes a part of the nation and there fore has the right to voice and to rep resentation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-26
From the Washington Post.


 ECRETARY WILSON'S optim- @N ism has received another blow, - in the statistics just issued by the department of commerce and labor upon the production and consumption of sugar In the United States. About year ago Secretary Wilson, whose opinions on agricultural topics are usually accepted at full weight. returned from a visit to the sugar beet growing sections of the was not far distant when the United States would produce all the sugar re- quired for home consumption. He felt confident that the imports of this staple would show a constant decrease. The report of the department of commerce and labor shows that for the nine months ended September 30 our sugar importatlons amounted to 4,250,0oO,0o0 pounds. nearly 1000. 100000 pounds more than for the corresponding period of 1903 About one fourth of this came from Hawaii, Porto Rico and the Philippines, but Cuba sent us 1854, 42o,177 pounds. and we received 225, ,211, ,16S pounds of beet sugar from Ger many.
 The American sweet tooth is an expen- sive luxury. and 1t takes contributions from all of the sugar-raising countries of the world to satisfy it. In addition to the countries named we bought sugar from Bermuda, from the West India islands, from the East Indies, South America, France, Belgium, Austria-Hun- gary and Java to the total value of about s125, coo. .0oo. Compared with these purchases the home production, about Oo'ooOooo pounds, is almost insignificant. The grand total of the amount consumed, however shows that we used about seventy-six pounds per capita during the year. It is difficult for the average man to be- lieve that he uses half his weight in su- gar each year.
 It is interesting to study the statistics of the government in the light of the tariff arguments that were made when the Cuban reciprocity treaty was under discussion by the congress. It will be remembered that certain members of the house led a revolt against the proposed treaty. asserting that its passage would sound the death-knell of the beet sugar industry in this country, and that we would be flooded with the sugar 'pro- duced by the pauper labor of Europe" In spite of the reduction on sugar duties from Cuba, the industry in this country has fiourished as never before Mills have been constructed in the beet-raising sec tions and the business is fiourishng and prospering. Prices have not been reduced and, apparently, the sugar producers of America have nothing to fear The in- creaserd consumption of the staple offers sufficient guarantee that the industry would not suffer if the duty were entirety removed. Incidentally the American con- sumers paid sso.ooo,ooo in duties on inn ported sugar for the nine months COW cred by the statistics in question. So long as the demand warrants the inn portation of sugar from such a far-away
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-26
OLD SOUTH HOSPITALITY.
Welcome and Hearty Cheer Always
 Greet the Stranger.

Thomas Nelson Page in the Metropolitan
 Magazine.
 The plantations. which contained any where from three hundred to thousand acres, were in the main well titled, and wheat, corn and tobacco were raised in such quantities that there was abundance not only for whites and blacks, but for the constant stream of visitors who en- joyed the Inequalities of that most hos pitable region. If the time had passed when gentlemen, as in a former genera ton, sent their servants out to the main road to watch for the casual traveller and invite him in, the lateh-string still hung always on the outside, literally so at the writer's home, and the houses were filled to overflowing with those who, with or without claim, came to partake Of that bounteous entertainment.
 Half the life of the boys was spent on pallets made up on the floor, and at sea- sons of reunion, such as Christmas and other festive occasions, there was scarce ly an available spot from garret to cellar which was not utilized. In one family of which he knew, the master and mis- tress always retired to the attic at Christ mas, so full was the house. It was season so given up to jollity that the hiring contracts of servants ran from New Year only to the Christmas holi- days" It's joys and it's sanctities have survived all the manifold chances and changes of our time, and every one still knows that ''Chirtsmas comes but once a year."
 That this hospitality was not always appreciated by the guest is illustrated by a story which the writer used to hear in his youth of one who after a visit asked tLe loan of h good horse to carry him on to his next stopping place, @ town which lay at a considerable dis tance. The host accordingly lent him his horse and sent a negro boy along to bring the horse back. As, however, af- ter some Jays the> boy did not return, some one vas sent to hunt him up. The messenger finding him demanded to know why he had not returned with the horse. He had not returned he said, "c cause dat gent man done sell de horse"
 Well. why didn't you return and say so?" demanded the messenger
 "Hil He done sell me too," said the boy
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-26
FRIEND OF oADsDEN.

From the Gadsden Times-News.
 One of the best friends Gadsden has today is Colonel T. G. Bush, president of the Alabama Consolidated Coal and Iron company His company through his ad- vice has spent considerable money in and around Gadsden, which has been of in- estimable benefit. He has never asked the city for any donation, and while many manufacturing plants have been exemnted from taxation, his company has never sought even this. Colonel Bush is. a friend that every person in Gadsden should feel proud of, for while he has done great things for this section, he can do even more. We think the county con- missioners should voluntarily exempt this plant for a term of years. as they have others.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-26
IN HOTEL LoBBIES
Can't Understand t.

The man who seeks permissloh 'o witness poor fellow-mortal puiiis''su' whether he be guilty or not. ooes ho' raise himself in my estimation re- marked T. F. Parker. chairman of the police commission yesterday
 T believe strongly in a maintenance or the law. think criminals should be pnished, but I am always sorry TOT a poor fellow whose waywardness ieaus him to the gallows. Such lessons as terrible as they are. have powerful ten dency for good. They stay the hand or the blood-thrsty and thus protect the innocent.
 And yet, with all of this, cannot un- derstand the mind and heart of man who rejoices at the sight of executions of human life"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-26
LIFE OF CIRCUS FOLK.
There Is Little of Joy In Life of the
 Dressing Room.

John Corbin in the Metropolitan Maga-
 zine.
 To circus people the circus is a very serious thing. When a bareback rider slips to the ground after a somersault. or a lofty tumbler misses the shoulder it Is his business to land on, the audience is all sympathy as If feeling itself how distressing it Is to fall before so many people. Very little the performer cares for all the vast multtudei His mind is on the superintendent, his particular superintendent, who is watching him at the side of the arena, and who when he goes off, Is sure to ask very pointedly how his eye happened to be inaccurate, or his muscles infirm. There Is no place in the circus for performers who fail
 Even the clowns look a little bit seri- ous behind the scenes. But perhaps that is only because the black lines they paint on their whitened visages are always so glum and solemn. And what a will derness of fun-making people there are in the latter-day circusl The Bumpkin the loon, the harlequin, the grimacer the Merry Andrew, the Austrian Looby, the Zany, the pierrot the Punch. the Motley Fool, and 1nally the German Broad Face whose name is Paddy Burke One of the clowns was sitting on his trunk in his dressing room, licking stick of black paint. and rubbing 1t on his cheeks so as to make a good funeral expression The small boy asked him what kind of a clown he was. He said that he was just "Funny Friskey' and he got his visiting card out of his trunk. It read I'll. Friskey. clown and comedian" and 1t had heavy gold rim, which made it very imposing. In the four corners 1t said Europe and Asia and Africa and America. which showed that H. Friskey's fame had cached the four corners of the card Until you saw his merry capers in the ring. you never could believe that a man with such a serious face and such an imposing visiting card could be either funny or risky.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-26
Arbitration With France.

Secretary Hay and Ambassador Jus serand have negotiated treaty based on peace with international honor. It is treaty founded on plain, everyday business principles, to the exclusion of war as means of adjusting dis. putes. The treaty simply refers to an international tribunal all questions that diplomacy cannot settle, only conflicts relating to the life, inde. pendence and honor of the two pow. CTS being excluded.
 War as a means of settling dis putes is falling into disrepute, and
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-26
Earmlnn In the South.

"I have just come on trip through Mississippi" said a commercial tourist at the Florence last night, and was agree ably astonished at the prosperous eondi- ton of the farmers of that state. This Of course means the sound conditions of the merchants in Mississippi towns.
 Not only has Mississippi made good corn and cotton crops this year, but those farmers over there are selling hogs and cattle The state owns immense farms upon which it works it's conviets, and you may bet it does so successfully. It re- quires real work. and as result the farms are proving highly profitable to the state proper and to the farmers who have learned what real work on Missis- sippi soil will accomplish
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-26
Rlrmlnaham Real Estate.

T have been in Birmingham for some time" said Wilson Brown last evening. but in no one day have I ever noticed such lively demand for real estate here as there has been today. Business prop erty in Birmingham is like gold dollars, and much more difficult to obtain for the market than 1t is to sell.
 Prices are fatterlng to holders, and yet not discouraging to buyers. Good residence property Is also in great de- mand. By this I mean that property of this latter class in good neighborhood, with street cars close by, and schools convenient, has a demand quite strong. You may look for a heavy movement in the real estate market for the next few weeks. The business world is fully awak- ened to the strength and importance of Birmingham"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-26
No Use to ReoraanIze.

From the Marion County News.
 There Is no use of talking about re- organizing the democratic party. The party is all right. What we need Is closer union and the strict adherence to the time-honored principles of the party. Defeat will only make the party stronger for future conflicts, and with apidlng faith that our cause Is just and right all we have to do is to wait for the time to come when we can again appeal to the people to endorse our principles at the polls,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-26
COMMENTS ON MEN AND
 MATTERS OF THE WORLD

become an eyesore. No matter what an- cient reference may be made, no pert paragrapher hesitates to ring in" the old echestnut'' in regard to Chauncey and his witticisms. While some professional jokers should undoubtedly be suppressed. the country has been unduly hard on Chauneey NJ. Depew in his old age.
 The opera season is now In full swing in Gotham and while 1t Is rather expen- slve there are no empty seats. Birming- hams opera season will begin along in April when Herr Conried arrives, and 1t will last one night. It is true that the season here Is late in starting and does not continue long, but still there is sub Jeet for congratulation in the fact that we are to have any opera season at all Conried has demonstrated that grand opera can be made to pay even in cras America and for that if nothing else he deserves our thanks. The fact that such a large and expensive organization as the Metropolitan Opera company can be taken on tour as far south as New Or leans marks an important step in Herr Conried's musical conquest of America.
 Editor Box of the Ladies' Home Jour nal is an interesting and versatile man. He knows everything, from what Maud ought to do with her steady" when he goes off with another girl to the latest dreams" in lingerie and the best re- cipes for making cake. This time MT. Box tells why 1t is that great many men do not attend church. According to his way of thinking. numbers of men who are otherwise good Christians do not go to church because they think no edifice is ample enough to contain the Deity. If MT. Box will leave the Realm of Fair Woman" for about two weeks he would discover that Sunday newspa- pers, Sunday cigars. Sunday amusements and constitutional laziness also have their share in keeping men away from church. One more week and the St. Louis fair will be at an end and after giving enter tainment to many thousands of people will go down into history as one interna- tional show that closed it's gates without deficit. There is no denying that the Louisiana Purchase exposition has been conspicuous success. For a time its af- fairs looked squally but all that is past now and President Francis is breathing ] easy It will be number of years be- 1 fore another fair So large and so success full is held for the edification of the masses. President Francis deserves con- gratulations for his achievement and even the squabbling board of lady managers no doubt contributed materially to the re- suit May they forget their strife and part in amity.
 However, General Cronje will not be out of job when the fair closes He is reported to have signed contracts for the presentation of the Boer war spectacle at Coney Island next summer on a bigger and grander scale than ever" The Boer war Is a good show and might take very well at Coney Island. It Is reasonable 1 to suppose that the management of this enterprise has waxed opulent at St. Louis. The show drew enormous crowds and If rumor whispers true Viljoen 1 and Cronje are much better off in purse than they were six months ago. P. c.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-26
POPULAR PAPER.

From the Sylacauga Progress
 MT. Chaffee of The Herald circula- tion department spent Tuesday in the city looking after the interest of his pa. per. The old Herald has forced its way to the front rank of the dailles of the state and is the most popular paper that comes to our city.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-26
REPUBLIC IRON Q STEEL
Will Resume It's Custom of Issuing
 SemI-AnnuaI Reports.

From the Wall Street Journal.
 Chicago is strong probability of the Republic Iron and Steel company re- suming it's former custom of issuing semi annual reports of earnings. If it is con- c1uded to do this the next statement will be issued about January 25. The showing for six months ending with December Is expected to be a very gratifying one and there will be nothing to cover up. such as was the case for the last six months of 1903
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-26
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

From the New York Press.
 A boy learns a lot from the father who doesn't try to teach him.
 It Is as natural for a girl not to be natural as for a chicken not to like swim ming.
 A man can hardly ever make money easier than by not investing 1t on his judgment.
 Sometimes a married man will try to reason out a point with his wife, but he is only bridegroom.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-26
Enouah.PolltIca.

From the Greensboro watehman.
 About the biggest nuisance now Is the unsduelchable nuisance who keeps bobbing up with the proposition, Now, let's talk about 19os' The public has been surfeited beyond the point of satiety with political talk. It wants to surcease from the eternal aiming It does not care nor want to know who will be the candi7 date four years hence Time will bring forth the issues, and the candidates, and talk will not help any.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-26
CERTAIN Sir Edward Clark at
 tended the Thanksgiving ban
 quet of the American society at

quet of the American society at the Hotel Cecil In London Thursday and took occasion, while proposing the health of Ambassador Choate, to deride his title of American ambassador. Sir Edward also made other remarks not compliment ary to the people of the United States, but his objection to the word America is most interesting. There was some Rood-natured chaff at the expense of President Roosevelt and Secretary Hay when the order promulgating the change from Limited States to America" in all diplomatic correspondence was issued, but no one on this side of the water was really concerned about the matter, since Uncle Sam is able to carry around chip on his shoulder that no foreign govern ment cares to knock off. But why should his lordship, or knightship, or whatever he may be, foam at the mouth over such trihe? He thinks that America" is too general, that it reveals Uncle Sam as the father protector and halfway boss of the entire western hemisphere. How ever the powers at Washington may look upon the Central and South Ameri- can republics. Canada and Mexico, Sir Edwards sarcasm was not only in bad taste, but his remarks were extravagant enough to merit the suspicion that he Is just trihe bigoted.
 What has become of J. Adam Bede, that budding humorist of the house. whose nimble wit bade fair to win him undying fame and the favor of the news paper correspondents? The J. Adam Bede anecdotes have been rare here of late. Can 1t be possible that the distinguished humorist has no access to the press and is granted no opportunity to talk for publication? He should let loose the shafts of his wit in order that his memory may be kept green, that he may not be forgotten by the populace and that he may resume his congressional duties with undimin- ished prestige. J. Adam Bede should speak up. One lone joke seems to be about all that has come from him within the past month or more to find a place in print, where all congressional humor rightly belongs. J. Adam Bede has built up reputation as a humorist, whether deserved or not and he will have to keep the fun going. His lethargy is inexcus- able.
 And Dr. Parkhursti It Is almost in- credible that he has not filled the press with his views on the subway, on the model saloon. on the national landslide, on the simple life and on MT. Jeffries' next opponent in the prize ring. The reverend doctor should not thus keep his picturesque personality from the glare of the limelight. Such natures as his must assuredly crave publicity. He must long to dissipate in a perfect orgy of in- terviews, and yet he keeps as quiet as Carrie Nation. The pulpit Is lacking in some of it's most spectacular attractions when Dr. Parkhurst has nothing to say.
 Sad indeed Is the fate of joker. From trying to make others laugh Chauncey M. Depew has turned the laugh on him. self, and now the Depew paragraph has
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-26
Let Her Write.

From the Montgomery Advertiser.
 Why should not Mrs. Maybrick write a book if she cares to? Thousands or men and women have written DOCKS with far less motive than she has, ana not made them as interesting as she can if she tells all her story. Let her write
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-26
MORE AMBITIOUS VIEWS.

From the Chicago Tribune.
 Fond Parent-Johnny, what do you want for Christmas present this year? A little automobile?
 Johnny-Nawl want goatmobile
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-26
Out of Reach.

From the Cullman Democrat.
 Country editors have commenced to talk of 'possum and taters. Editors usu- ally talk about things too high for them to reach.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-26

A New York man has gone crazy over musical comedy song. He was probably predisposed to insanity be. fore he went to the theatre.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-26
AMERICAN SWEET TOOTH
 AN EXPENSIVE LUXURY

have nothing to fear from foreign com petition.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-26

Some joker has sent President Roosevelt another "coon." American humor is so sprightly, don't cher know.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-26

In addition to owning large part of the earth, Andrew Carnegie now has lumbago, and he is not pleased with his latest acquisition.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-26

Dr. Dowie is now the First Apostle of the Christian Church of Zion" and also the first jackass of the United States of America.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-26

A solar eclipse Is predicted for 1905. The republican eclipse should fall due about three years later.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-26

Nan Patterson can't help being pretty, and. for the sake of the jurJ. she is probably glad of it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-26

A parrot that quotes Ibsen and Shakespeare and speaks English, French and German has been lost In New York. He has probably accepted chair in one of the leading uniA versailles.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-26

It is presumed that J. Adam Bede is working overtime getting up jokes for the next session of congress.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-26

A young woman who furnished data for one of President Rooseyelt's books now has a good federal job in the h. dian Territory.