davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Rlrmlpeham's Early History.

These little historical sketches on Bir- mingham. which are published from time to time, are quite interesting" said one of the older citizens yesterday. but they are not exactly accurate in all respects. For instance the Marre lot. corner of Fifth avenue and Nineteenth street Is ac- credited with being the first lot sold in the city whereas the first lot marketed was the lot on Twentith street across the alley from Nabers & Morrows building, whereon stands the Fox saloon. It is 4oxloO feet and was purchased by Steve Dupee for s75. The deed was made by Thomas Peters, agent, and was accounted invalid, but afterward adjusted.
 Tt must also be remembered that the streets of Birmingham were first named for the presidents of the United States. and that Twentieth street bore the hon ored name of Washington. The deed above referred to was made in March 1871. The lot on the corner of Second avenue and Twenty-first street, 50x1O0 feet, was pur- chased the same year by Joe Wilson for S75 and the land alone IS worth today SO,OOO perhaps. He sold one-half interest in this property to a partner for sS7.5O and the firm built thereon frame bus mess house containing. two large roomy stores at a cost of $1635. These stores brought good rents until they were de. molished to give way to substantial brick structures which now ornament the spot. Birminghams advancement has been wonderful for the third of century of it's existence and the enhancement of values of real estate has gone beyond the most sanguine hope of the earlier in. syestors and promoters"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16
ARE FAIRS PLAYED QUIT

From the New York Sun.
 Secretary Shaw of the treasury depart ment and the officials of the Louisina purchase exposition, together with a num- ber of other patriotic persons, are much aggrieved because the newspapers throughout the United States do not de- vote more space and attention to that enterprise. We have received letters de- nouncing the press as narrow ''un- patriotic" selfish" partisan" .venal, ," and generally disreputabIe in it's treat ment of the show. The responsibility for the failure of the exhibition, so far, to att tract such crowds of sightseers as It's pro motors believe 1t should draw to St. Lotus Is laid by some, ilogieally and im- properly, at the doors of the newspapers, as though they had entered into a con spiracy to ignore and injure It.
 No more nonsensieal explanation could be devised. The press has not ignored the fair. or depreeiated it, or endeavored to suppress information about it. What ever of interest has happened in St. Louis has received it's full measure of at tention in all the publications that come to this office Instead of being sighted the affair has been we'll advertised, and 1t is not the fault of the newspapers if the public refuse to be deeply interested.
 The alleged indifference of the public is capable of explanation on other grounds. In the first place, many persons are tired of this form of amusement which has been rather overdone recently in this country. All such expostions are cut off the same piece and bear a striking family resemblnce. Some are bigger than oth- CTS, but. like derby hats, they all look the same regardless of their size In the second place, in the year of a presi- dential election amusement enterprises of all kinds invariably suffer, and there Is no reason why an international exposition should be an exception to the rule In the third place, such fairs as that at St. Louis always disappoint their promoters in the amount of attention they attract land the amount of money they make. The newspaper press has done at least its duty by the Louisiana purchase fair. If the show Is a failure. those anxious to hold such exhibitions should curb their impatience and let the nation wait a quarter of century before instituting another
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16
Newsboys Are Persistent.

''I think the Birmingham newsboys are about the most persistent set of urchins I have ever seen." said a travelling man at the Morris last night. "If you say you do not want a paper they will not be content with your answer, but will insist on your buying. and will make life mis- erable for you until you escape by walk ing away I witnessed little incident be- fore the hotel this morning that illus trates what l say.
 "A ragged. dirty-faced little urchin ran up to gentleman who was standing talk ing to a friend and asked him to buy a paper. The man shook his head but the boy insisted. The man continued his con- versation and paid no attention to the boy, who was pleading at his elbow, until the little rascal showed a paper in his hand and remarlSing that he would give him one if he would not buy, deliberately walked away"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16
Confetti Is Unpopular.

q am beginning to think that the hal cvon days of confetti manufacturers are oyer,' said a theatrical man. There was time when no street fair or carni- val was considered a success unless con fetti were scattered around in large quan- tities but the rowdyism that often re- suited has effectually put confetti under a han. If carnival crowds would content themselves with merely throwing small bandfuls of the clean confetti at their friends it would all be very pleasant but the stuff scooped up off the streets and sidewalks, with dust and gravel and is then thrown in the faces of women with such force that they are almost smoth- cred.
 ..Nearly all the carnivals now pass je- cree against the use of confetti, rubber halls and similar instruments of tor ture. If the present popularity of these forms of amusement continues they will soon cease to be manufactured, although for a time they proved veritable gold mine"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16
The amlty that wisdom knlts not, folly may easily unite.
 -Troius and cresslda.
PIu Iron Warrants.

The selling of pig iron warrants on the New ork Produce Exchange has been authorized by vote of the mem bers, and President Herbert has ap- pointed committee to formulate rules for the government of such dealings. Iron brokers in New York are joining the produce exchange. and President Herbert's pig iron committee consists of five metal and five grain traders.
 The rules will be modelled after those long and successfully in use in Scot land and England. The warrants are to be issued by the American Pig Iron Storage Warrant company, and each warrant is to cover one hundred tons of pig iron of one grade only. No. 2 foundry is to be the basis of all war rants. The difference between iron Sstored in provincial yard and iron stored in New York shall be ascer- tained and named The differences be- tween No. ? foundry and other grades is also to be determined and stated, and iron may be delivered in accord ance with such differences. The com mission of selling or buying warrants is to be 61a cents a ton.
 The rules have not been adopted, but it is under stood that they will not depart far from the foregoing sum mary. The warrant system has been in use in Scotland fifty years, and it works satisfactorily because it affords the consumer opportunity to protect himself agains. rises during the filling of construction contracts. It permits him to have a sure basis for prices of production, anu this, too, without tying up his capital or filling his yards with iron he win not need in six or nine months. In Scotland warrants good five years ahead are procurable. When a foundryman in Scotland takes con- tract for large amount of work, de- liverable over a long time, he at once buys warrants for a corresponding amount of iron and time of delivery and there Is no accident or strike clause in warrants. Scotland is firm believer in the warrant system, and possibly the New York produce ex- change can render 1t popular in this country. Any hoggishness or unfair ness on it's part will, however, render :. the popularity of the movement more than doubtful. The outside country is not at all in love with Wall street and Lelow it down to and including the produce exchange.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16
Fine Special Service.

"The Birmingham Railway Light and Power company Is running some fast spe- ciaI trains to and from East Lake and is handling the crowds who go to that pop ular resort in an admirable manner, . said a business man. Through specials carry out the people from Birmingham and after the play is ended in the Casino special trains are awaiting to whirl them back to town again with no local stops on the way By this means it is possible to get back to town even earlier than the usual hour for the city theatres to turn out their crowds.
 However, there is just one objection to the East Lake trip just now. Dust between Birmingham and Woodawn is almost stifing at times and the ffying trolley cars raise it in clouds. Yet dust is comparatively small matter and can be overlooked when the excellent ear service is considered
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16
THE ELIzARETHAN STAGE.
om the London World.

From the London World.
 The great plays of Marlowe. Shakes peare and Jonson were performed by ac- tors In Elizabethan dress. in front of a curtain usually in daylight, on a little stage partly occupied by the gallants of the period with their pages and tobacco pipes There was no fashionable actress TO orchestra, no limelight, yet the drama was more popular than church-g going and held it's own even with such gentle sports as bull-baiting and 'wiping of the blind beare." The little that we know of the actors show them, with the exception of Burbage and Nathaniel Field, to have been very ordinary worl-a-day people, with empty pockets and domestic affec- tions and other modern characteristics. Yet the protests of the Puritans, the sanc- timonious and avarcious records of the censor and the continual erection of new theatres in spite of the solemn threats of the city fathers are evidence enough of the marvellous popularity to which the art attained in that spacious time" of playhouses most remarkable for lack of space.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16
Passinq of the Meruer.

The New York Commercial an- nounces the abandonment of the pro- posed merger of iron and coal inter- ests in this district. This announce D ent is thrice-told tale here at home. The proposed merger was satisfactory to no one either in o. out of the three companies. lt would have brought good to few, perhaps no one, and the entire district is glad to see even its ghost depart.
 The Commercial goes on to say that the report of the committee of experts to ascertain the value and extent of the respective holdings of ore and coal was extremely unsatisfactory to all three companies interested, and if the three were to be merged the report of the experts would not be used as a basis.
 The Commercial quotes an officer of ot-C OA tit lnlCS NOihPanlto, do lOl- lows:
 We do not see the need of any such merger as has been proposed. The south ern iron field Is in better condition than sSany other pig iron section. Prices are low, but operating costs have been reduced considerably, so that there still is a profit on every ton of pig iron sold Consider ing the conditions existing in the iron fields in other sections of the country, this is most satisfactory showing"
 This is the case in nutshell Each of the three companies is big enough to stand alone; is doing well, and has a promising future. and the merger gent who desires to earn big com mission has been dismissed to other fislds-to fields that are not so promis- ing.
 An export trade 's springing up in this district, and this will doubtless let
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16
SUNNI FER NIGHT.

By Alfred Tennyson. Now sleeps the crimson petal now the
 white; Nor waves the cypress in the palace
 walk; Nor winks the gold fin in the porphyry
 font; The firefy wakens; waken thou with me. Nor drops the milk-white peacock like
 ghost, And like ghost she glimmers on to me. Now lies the earth all Danae to the
 stars And all thy heart lies open unto me. Now slides the silent meteor on. and
 leaves A shining furrow, as thy thoughts in me. Now folds the lily all her sweetness up, And slips into the bosom of the lake, So fold myself, my dearest, thou ana
 slip Into my bosom and be lost in mA
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16
From the New York Commercial.

From the New York Commercial.
 VAN MICKELSKY. the American buyer for a Russian house now in New York and guest at a Brooklyn hotel, says that over in his country a house servant is hired for one year, and is told before the bargain is closed ex- actly what his or her duty is to be- The servant then sticks strictly to that one duty-does nothing else. As long as each servant faithfully performs the special duties of his position all Is we'll but the neglectful butler, or cook, or coachman is sent by the employer with a written note to the police judge who. after carefully investigating the complaints has right to order bodily punishment or to write a bad mark in the book kept for this pur- pose.
 In great Russian households, says MT Mickesky, often from twenty to fifty servants are kept, and even the middle class families have two to four. The pay of these servants varies according to the line of work. While the .'chiefs' in the kitchens of wealthy families often re- ceive e300 year, a cook in an ordinary citizens employ gets no more than e12 a year. and a maid of all work never gets more than f5 year. At Easter every
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16
YANKEE HORSES IN GERMANY.

From the New York World.
 There ought to be a good market for American horses in Germany. according to Consul General worman in Munich
 The Russian edict forbidding the expor- tation of horses on account of the war with Japan has affected several sections of Germany which have depended upon lm- portatior of horses from Russia In 1903 g.s0O horses, valued at s4.0460Oo, were inn ported into Germany from Russia
 Germany has always been the largest buyer of Russian horses, and 1T the edict should continue long in force United States horse breeders ought to recover inc market for horses. In Bavaria horses are imported from Austria and Hungary, particularly from Hungary.
 q believe" says MT. Norman, 'that if United States horse breeders would make a special effort to participate in the races which usually take place here in May and later. they would undoubtedly make market for their horses despite the close proximity of Hungary.
 ..An average horse cannot be bought here for less than s25O. A pair of horses which cost here from 5000 to s15O00 would not sell in the United States for more than $35O or siOo.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

From the New York Press.
 It's a poor rule that wont spank both ways.
 Rain is a good thing to help you find the leak in the roof.
 Every woman believes in corporal pun ishment for children when she hasn't any
 Most people who set out to reform the public forget to uo it to themselves first
 It takes a man to look for baking pow der in the water cooler and the butter in the kitchen oven.
 A girl can never decide whether she'd rather be married and not in love or in love and not married.
 It's a comfort to the proud mother of a family of children to read how none of the great men ever got good marks at school.
 The time a woman is crazy to go into business is when she adds a column of figures four times and gets only three results.
 When a girl wishes she was on the stage and somebody mentions tights half an hour later she will blush without knowing she is doing it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16
GOLF AFFECTS GUTTA PERcHA.

From the New York Commercial.
 Until about ten years ago the subma- rine cable companies used practically the whole worlds supply of gutta percha for the reason that, unlike rubber, 1t is not affected by salt water. But when the game of golf became the fad in Europe, England and the United States it was found that gutta percha is the only satis- factory material out of which to make the balls, and the demand for it increased to so great ans extent that the production nearly doubled.
 The ships from Singapore Straits Settle ments, now bring enormous cargoes of it, and although twice as much is inn ported by England was imported ten years ago. the price has advanced about 100 per cent. This, the cable companies say. is due solely to the manufacture of golf balls.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16

Of Clanton spent yesterday in the city. w. T. Murphree of Eufaula Is regis tered at the Morris
  A. D. Ray of Atlanta is at the Colonial
  S. Friedman of Tuscaloosa is stopping at the Morris. J. E. Buchanan of Chicago is at the St. Nicholas. Marvin T. ormond and Sam Friedman of Tuscaloosa are In the city. Judge James j. Mayfeld of Tuscaloosa was in Birmingham yesterday. M. Neeiy Pride of Decatur was here yes terday.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16
SALE OF THE BOILING LANDS.

From the Greenwich Advocate.
 Last week the trade between Milner Caldwell and Flowers Lumber company and W. c shack9ford of Birmingham was closed, whereby MT. Shackleford be- comes the sole owner of the very large and valuable property known at the Boiling lands.
 This sale embraces in the neighborhood of twenty-five or thirty thousand acres. and there is soon to be some development of this property. We know that it was the intention of the purchasers, two years or more ago, to plant colony on this land, and 1t is very probable that by this time, if everything had worked well, there would be a large number of people located there.
 The Advocate hopes that Mir. Shackle- ford will soon have that part of the county blossoming as the rose.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16
A NEW ST. LOUIS SPECTACLE.

From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 Mercy upon us, what crowd!
 Are they going to lynch somebody, do you think? Or Is 1t Prince Pu Lun of China, carry ing bundle of laundry down Broad- way?
 Os Is it Sir Hugh Gilzean-Reid of Lon don. selling Dispatches for the ben eft of the Home for Aged Indiana Poets? Or is it Governor Cookery of Missouri, refusing to wink for the benefit of those who fail to recognize him with his whis- kers off?
 Or is it Prince Hohenlohe of Germany looking for a glass of real heimbrau?
 Or is old Chief Geronimo rolling a cigarette?
 Or is 1t a lady manager trying to round up a bunch of chaperons?
 No, no, my child, it Is none of these that is thus attracting the undivided at tention of the curious populace; 1t is a plain citizen who has had the tvmsrity to ride in St. Louis only hanson cab.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16

this district go on making iron un- checked at profit. The profit will not Be that of 1902, but u will still be a profit Let Aus hope all three com palies will pull together in the build ing up of an export trade. They can work together for their own good and that of the district even if they can not be merged and cannot agree over the value of their respective ore and coal holdings.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16
Abou. Persons.

H. c. Reynolds, Sr., of Montevallo is at the Morris.
 I. J. Hinds of Philadelphia is stopping at the St. Nicholas.
 H. P. Gibson of Corona is at the Hill man.
 John s. Mobley of Atlanta is at the Colonial.
 w. c. Thomas of Huntsville is stopping at the Hillman.
 W. H. Sanders of Mobile is at the et. Nicholas.
 E. M. Pinckard, a prosperous merchant
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16
ONE ON SOMEBODY.
bel shreveport Journal.

From the ShfeVepOrt JOurnaI
 That New York story wherein the Bir- mingham Age Herald tells that bank rob bers fired the building they had footed and '.kindled with their own hands the flames destined to be their funeral pile also murders the kings English. The reporter got the heap of money and the neap of combustbles mixed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16
STATES A GREAT FACT.

From the Huntsville Mercury.
 The Age-Herald states a great fact when it says, ''every school that offers higher education is a valuable acquisi- tion" Yes and a most valuable asset too, that yields a larger and higher per cent of far greater value than any other investment of like sum.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16

When it is a mint julep under dis cussion the views of Mars" Waiter son are accepted as authoritative, but there is difference of opinion regard ing the pert paragrapher.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16

Prince Pu Lun, the Chinese com missioner to this country, takes the American menu in reverse. He be- gins a meal by eating ice cream, and ends 1t With ham.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16

The characteristics of the Guate- malan ant should be carefully studied before it is turned loose on this eoun- try. It may after all prove an unwel- come ally.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16

Nan Patterson's record as a Floro- dora girl does not seem to have much weight with a New York jury.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16

The country boy who set fire to barns because everything was so dull certainly ought to live in this city. where there are more policemen and jails.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16

The St. Louis fair has been de- scribed as an unfinished symphony" In plain everyday English it is a show in the packing-box stage.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16

The Fitzhug Lee vice-presidential boom is moving some, but there is no whirlwind violence about it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16

It has been discovered that ones hair falls out when the band plays, and that is another reason why there are so many bald-headed men.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16

Independent citizens in Teller coun- ty, Colorado, are eligible for death or deportation, all by order of Governor Peabody.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16

Editorials of sentiment are much in vogue with the Nashville papers while the Confederate Veterans are in town.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16

Sultan Muley Abdul Azziz of Mo rocco should train down Subject Raj suli to reasonable proportions He weighs too much at present.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16

The Mormon vote is very fiirtatious, Either party can have it that will ac- cept the conditions of the much-mar- ried saints.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16

The average republican is expected to stand as pat on the Dingley scheme as a cigar store Indian.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16

Dr. Dowie, alias Newcomb, made an exit from London that was equaled in celerity only by his exit from Sidney, Australia.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16

Presidential bees and mosquitoes will buzz together Tn St. Louis.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16

Sir Henry Irving's farewell to the stage will be said in 1906, and there will be nothing of bogus nature about it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16

Automobiles continue expensive but attractive substitutes for suicide
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16

Now that there is poison in candy, microbes in ice cream and germs in whisky, what is a poor mortal to do to enjoy life?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16

The Missouri delegates to the demo- cratic convention will not be elected until June 29. They will have but SIX days in which to ".do" the Pike.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16

Kentucky and Kansas are both eclipsed by Colorado, which is now the dark and bloody state.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16

The bureau of animal industry at Washington is about to issue a pam phlet on "rne Goat as a Therapeutic Agent" The goats agency is most apparent when it butts in.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16

The trusts are now engaged in pick ing out new attorney general-one warranted to let trust-busting severely alone
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16

London was not cosmopolitan enough to swallow Dowie. He had to leave it for it's own good
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16

Morocco's progressive young sultan should proceed l. talk to Bandit Raj suli with the bark off
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16

The natural-born clause is not an obstacle to the Mcclellan boom in i'm partial minds.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-16

Libraries without the Carnegie tag are commanding a premium at pres ent.