davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11
IN HOTEL LOBBIEs
Pawn Shop Windows.

Pawn shop windows have always had strange fascination for me and I can not resist the temptation to stop for a look while passing by" said prominent lawyer. The multiplicity of articles dis played and the human interest that at taches to each Is perhaps largely respon- sble for the attraction of paw brokers windows, but l notice that a great many people think as I do about the matter.
 Tt is interesting to speculate who once owned the watches, jewelry and trinkets that were perhaps the possessions Of people in easy circumstances. Each un- redeemed pledge could perhaps tell it's little story of humiliation and want. More often than not tragedies could be re- counted, but fortunately the pledges in a pawnshop window cannot talk and the pawn broker is himself ignorant of the suffering. both mental and physical which his stock represents.
 "A pawnshop is a great depository ol human woes. Its motley array of goods tells most strilxingly of the wants of people without ready money and It's shelves offer an epitome of the tribula- tions that are wont to overtake human kind. Not all of the articles on display signify real suffering. Often handsome watch or costly jewel was pawned by some young rake in a moment of neces- sity in order to further his pleasures and will be redeemed before the month ex- pires. but most of the pledges have a heart story that would no doubt be un- pleasant to hear.
 T never go into pawnshop to hunt for bargains. It is some times possible to pick up interesting relics there and quaint curios, but the idea that you are getting something for nothing when you make a purchase is a mistake. It is the pawn broker who gets something for nothing in many cases and not the cus- toner or the poor devil who soaks' his last possession to buy drink, a sandwich or a supply of dope
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11
Reconuuest of South Africa.

Peaceful wars are the best wars, that is to say, in which patience takes the place of rifles, and pertinacity conquers where machine guns cannot. No blood will be shed in the new Dutch campaign in South Africa, but the qualities that have transformed the bed of the sea into smiling farms in Holland will be used in South Africa to give the Boers control again of it. They are largely in the major to one, all the way from the Cape to the Zambesi, and the birth rate will be trusted to establish the reconquest of the Dutch in their South African home. Stolid Dutch persistency is almost irresistible.
 The tendency to migrate has been nipped in the bud. The Boer farmer will stay where he is, learning little anu lOISelJlHS uOtuluS. ENcly ySdl brings new causes of friction, but war will not be resorted to, at least not until numbers justify an appeal to it.
 The present Boer programme may cover a full century, but however long or short it may be it will be ad- hered to with characteristic Dutch persistency.. The Africanders now have a heavy numerical majority, and they will cling together, and no arts or plans of British policy will swerve them from their chosen design to sue ceed through birth-rate revolution, which is far better and more effective than an armed revolution. The new policy does not need formal adoption. It comments itself to every man of Dutch origin, and one after another will act in accordance with it. There will be no race suicide in South Afri- ca hereafter among the Dutch
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11
Alton Brooks Parker.

A standard bearer who is acceptable alike to MT. Hill, MT. Bryan and Mir. Cleveland is a nominee that will bring the old historic party together. and that is all that is needed in order to pave the way to victory. Alton Brooks Parker is man who has sat in New Yorks highest court throughout the currency quarrels of the democratic party. He has antagonized neither side He has not in twenty years been identified with practical politics. For seven years he has been at the head Of New York's highest appellate court. place to which he was eleated by 6O,OOO plurality. He is therefore the very best man who could be noninat- ed in order to bring the party to- gether, and that is the all essential task at present.
 He is at once a safe man. practical man, man of b'gh character, who has risen step by step 10 power and high position in a great state. No man in New York is better known in that state. And in all his private and public career not a stain or flaw can be found
 He is in short an ideal candidate, whom all schools of thought on the currency question can support. He should poll the vote of every demo- crat.
 The way is now open to the over throw of the combination that has filled the land with tramps and monop- olists, and that reall.- tends to change the nature of the government; abol ishing the republic and putting in it's place an empire in which the few will be enriched at the expense of the many. Let every democrat pull to- gether Alabama is not a contested state but ( expression of opinion has it's weight and no one can toll where it will be repeated. All should aid in this crisis The opportunity is excellent, and under tbe leadership of Alton B. Parker it will grow better as we go alorg.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11
Captured at Last.

From the Ozark Star.
 We understand that Sam White, color ed shot MT. Bud Jackson at Ariosto last Saturday. As soon as the negro shot he fled and his whereabouts at this writ ing is unknown. We understand that Mr. Jackson is not hurt very badly, but we wish the negro could be caught, and we believe that he will be. He would make a splendid hand at the coal mines for a few years. We failed to get any of the particulars. Since writing the above the negro has been captured and is now in jail.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11
:. ,aro Population.
ngular fact that the center Npulation has moved south rom Virginia until it is To-

1gular 1act that the center
 Npulation has moved south
 from Virginia until it is To- ca.e4 .. present in DeKalb county, Alabama, one of the white counties of this state One would naturally look for it in Issaquena county, Mis- sissippi. where there are more than fifteen negroes to each white person. However it will move on, and DeKalD will give place to some other locality after the next census is taken. Southwestward the course of negro popalat1on takes it's way. The min eral district of this state is in the line of it's march.
 The negro population of the country stood in 1900 at 9,204,531. The rate of increase in the last decade of the Nineteenth century was IS per cent. This rate is slowly declining, but a rate of IT per cent in the present decade would carry the total to TO-! 769. .3Ol. There will be fully eleven million negroes in this country in 1910, including Porto Rico and the canal strip. These figures would be greatly exceeded if the death rate among ne- groes did not stand at 30 as against IT among the whites. The birth rate is exceptionany high.
 The census bulletin does not make clear the dispersion of negroes over the country, although such a move mentment is going on. Like everything else connected with the negroes it is however a slow movement. The ne- gro's patience is proyerbial. Nine tenths of the negroes live in the states n which they were born. Washing. on. Memphis, Baltimore and New Or leans are the negro storm centers, four towns containing each more than 75.000 of them. No other towns con- tain so many, although New York and Philadelphia will perhaps be added to the list in 1910. Philadelphia objects to more coming in because they are such poor political material in the hands of the bosses. They vote early and often in Philadelphia.
 
 The census bulletin does not add
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11
THE BIRD WITH THE BROKEN
 PlNiON.

By Hezekiah Butterworth. I walked through the woodland meadows Where sweet the thrushes sing, And found in bed of mosses
 A bird with a broken wing. I healed it's wound. and each morning
 It sang it's old. sweet strain; But the bird with a broken pinion
 Never scared as high agasn. I found a young life broken
 By sins seductive art And, touched with Christ-like pity.
 l took him to my heart. He lived with nobler purpose,
 And struggled not in vain, But the life that sin had 1tricken
 Never scared as high again. But the bird with the broken pinio1
 Kept another from the snare. And the life which sin had stricken
 Kept another from desparr. Each i'll has it's compensatlon;
 There is healing for every pain But the bird with the broken pinion
 Never scared as high again.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11
TRANSFORMING A DESERT :
 INTO RICH FARM LAND

stock rasing under the humane and prof of the great western ranches the cattle are left to shift for themselves the year round, entailng, during the cold seasons. great loss of stock and always untold brute suffering. Around the Minidoka basin extend vast stretches of land, which must always remain useful solely for grazing purposes. The irrigation of this tract of over 120,OO0 acres will pro- vide, through luxuriant crops of alfalfa winter feeding for tens Of thousands of head of stock. Where now one steer re- quires thirty or even forty acres for his support, under irrigation the forage from one acre will more than support and ready attained distinction as fruit pro- ducer although the altitude of Minidoka is little too great for the best growth of trees.
 In other irrigated sections of the state, notably, the Payette valley, apples, plums, apricots, grapes and melons reach a high state of perfection and command fancy prices Men have become wealthy from the careful cultivation of twenty and forty-acre tracts, and enough can be raised from five acres of this irrigated land. exhaustless in it's deep fertility, to support family in comfort. The irri- gated communities of Idaho have become among the most prosperous in the world. The desert lands of Minidoka, producing only sage brush, are now only awaiting water to supply the farmer with great variety of produce.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11
Something About Drinks.
he Sheffield Reaper.

From the Sheffield Reaper.
 Our neighbor the Florence Times, takes everything seriously. He can't appre- ciate the references made by the south side speakers to the liquid refreshments. We assure the Time that the drinks of Sheffield, which include the finest soft non-intoxicants 10 those that would pro- duce horrible Florence nightmare, are among our least attractions. even if they are superior to the liquefactions of dear old Florence The Times should ride the trolley 8 trip or two.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11
"Devil" Breaks Loose.

From the Linevile Headlight.
 In the absence of Editor Garrison or the Standard the "devil' broke his halter in his Ashland stall and went about that ancient village as roaring lion. He assembled his congenial spirits and took an imaginary ride on the Ashland dummy line In principle opposed to all that is good, sound and true. he of course madly attacked our peaceful little town of Line vile but by reason of the righteous found here our town survives and his sulphur ous fumes no longer disturb our nostrills.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11
From the Chicago Chronicle

From the Chicago Chronicle.
 XNNE of the most forbidding por- tVJ tions of the North American con ~ tinent has been the desert of Idaho, in the Snake river region. Little besides sage grass would grow there, and the lands, suitable neither for agricul- tural nor grazing purposes. have been abandoned to coyotes and noisome rep tiles.
 But of late an almost miraculous change has taken place in this reigon. The gov ernment engineers thought they saw a was chosen as one of the earliest to be irrigated under the new scheme for which congress has appropriated several mill lion dollars. At an expenditure of g, CO., 0O0, which has been set aside for the construction of great impounding dam and diversion canals above the Minidoka rapids, fully SIP GOO of taxable prop erty will be created in this basin. Talk ing as basis the last census agricul- tural figures for Idaho, the 10000 acres to be reclaimed under this project will. when settled under irrigation. represent the latter value, while the annual earn ings of the land will amount to about s2,O00,oo0. With this area cut up into 400 new farms, as is proposed by the gov ernment, rural population will be cre- ated of TOGO, which will bring with it an urban population of probably another 7o0o or H00o people
 The Snake desert basin when irrigated will afford an ideal example of western
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11
PARkER's PERSONALITY.

From the Chicago Tribune
 A large head set strongly on tall, strong body; a full, fresh colored face: broad. high. tranquil brow straight pow erful nose; coarse tawny mustache; bril- liant brown eyes that look straight at you; long and formidable jaws; a heavy underhp; big. fiat teeth, and massive round chin--every movement and look suggesting immense strength and a hearty contented spirit.
 That is Chief Judge Alton Brooks Par ker as James Creelman recently saw him Judge Parker, the silent man, called a mystery by Senator Beveridge to whom democracy has turned as it's standard bearer.
 MT. Creelman. who probably has written more about Judge Parker since he strode into the political limelight than any other man. declares there is no mystery about Judge Parker, and that his silence is due to his dislike for degrading his office by talking politics from the bench.
 When Raymond" the Tribune's Wash ington correspondent last May described this New York judge. who will combat with another New York man for the presi- dency, he said:
 .As I sat in Judge Parker's. comfortable hotel apartments listening to his homely chat of his court life at Albany and his farm life at Esopus, I was reminded that 1 had met and talked at one time or an- other with. all the Presidents since the war period-Grant, Hayes, Garfield, Ar thur. Cleveland. Harrison. Mckinley ana Roosevelt-and that there was none whose manners were so instantly engaging. so simply magnetic, as this mans, whose footsteps seem turning toward the great front door of the White House.
 Many of these previous Presidents un- doubtedly were greatly superior to Judge Parker in the intricacies of statecraft Harrison probably was better lawyer, Mckinley a finer orator, Cleveland a stronger and more rugged character, bu, none was superior in that frankness ano sincerity which win love and respect at sight v
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11
THE STANDARD BEARER
It is Up to the pemocracx.


 From the Montgomery Advertiser.
 The work of the great democratic party is done, so far as it lay in the power of it's delegated servants to accomplish is The result of that work is before the country and the people must give the verdict. The nominee for President, Judge Parker. was not the universal choice of the delegates, for that was not to be ex- pected. but the choice was so nearly unanimous that the party is to be con- graduated. It is much more to be con- graduated on the choise it has made. The convention has given us a good man and a good democrat. It has given us a man in every way qualified and fitted for the high and important duties of the position, a man wnv com mands the respect and the confidence of the American people. and who will make the country a good President. These are facts beyond controversy.
 No less will the platform command the confidence and support of all democrats, as iseil as of many who do'not claim al legianee to the democratic party. Some things may be lacking which some demo- crats wanted in it. To please everybody is not within the power of humanity, but the platform adopted at St. Louis is one upon which every democrat can stand and fight in harmony and confidence for the good of our common country
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11

made chairman of democratic state com mittee.
 lS0-Late in winter was appointed judge of the State supreme court by Gov. Hill.
 lSSS-Apponted judged the newly form ed second division of the court of appeals
 1S92-This court was dissolved and at re- quest of justices Judge Parker was ap- pointed a judge of the first division or the appellate court, to fill vacancy caused by illness of Judge Barrett.
 1S97-Eiected chief justice of the court of appeals by GO.OO0 majority.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11
Lawn is a Success.

'I am glad to note that the new lawn on the postoffice plot now presents pleasing picture to the eye" said a man about town. .'-The grass is now growing vigorously, the flower beds are attrac- tive and the plot looks better thanAever before. It took time and patience ato start the lawn, but it seems now that Uncle Sans building is to be suitably set off by landscape gardening on a small scale. The lawn is quite a refresh ing change from the glare of the city pavements"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

From the New York Press.
 woman needs a veil to keep com plexion she has and to hide one she ,hasnt.
 It's so easy being good fin a novel that it discourages people from trying anywhere else.
 girl goes to a woman with a fake ori- ental name to get her hand read, but when she wants it held any old man will do.
 Every once in so often woman gets an idea that she would have been a great actress if she hadn't got married hnd had several children.
 The difference between the way a man and a woman dress is that he can look like boiled lobster and be fairly com fortable, while she can look like iced Lemonade and think she is a hot Scotch. :,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11
SENATOR BATES CIGAR.

From the New York Tribune.
 Senator Bate of Tennessee is passioh- ate lover of tobacco, yet the cigar he carries in his mouth is always unlighteu- He explains it in this way; During tne war Senator (then general Bate was riding by the side of his brother in patties He felt longing for a smoke coming oh' so he drew a finely favored Havana from his pocket. He scratched matcn against the saddle and was just about to light A weed. when a shell whzzed sud- denly by, and the quick rush of air ac- companying the shell put the match out He was about to strike another, when. turning, he discovered that the sneu had made its mark, for there law the dead body of his brother. To this day he has sort of superstition regarding lighted cigars, and this explains why hs only indulges in a dry" smokA
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11

give hearty support"
 About Persons.
 s. M. Knox of Decatur is at the Co lonial.
 L. L. Hagedorn of Atlanta Is at the Morris.
 R. W. Fort of Atlanta is registered at the St. Nicholas.
 W. r. Slaughter of Talladega is at the Metropolitan.
 H. c. Gunnels of Montgomery, chief clerk in the department of education and formerly superintendent of education, is at the Hillman. He is accompanied by his wife and children.
 Hugh Nelson of Montgomery is at the Morris.
 T. B. Reams of New Orleans is at the St. Nicholas.
 J. A. Darrot of Lincoln is stopping at the Colonial.
 W. c. Dyer of Stanton is at the Met ropolitan.
 J. D. stripling and John P. Kohn of Montgomery are at the Hillman. A A. Seraphic of Washington, United States officer of immigration and Chinese affairs, is at the Morris.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11

greatly to the stoc.. of public informa- ton, but it renders the situation clear at a glance, thus enabling the students of the negro problem to reach their conclusions - generally worthless - with less effort. The problem is huge one, and no one living can fore see it's outcome.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11
SANCTUM MURMURS.
poinq the "Pike" Act.

From the Bessemer Rustler,
 On account of our city editor doing few stunts on the Pike" at St. Louis this week, our local columns are some what abridged. At the last account we had of him he was doing the "Rube' act to perfection.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11

The republicans show that some articles of daily use are going down, such as pig iron, steel billets and tin plate, but good stomaehs are needed to digest those articles
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11

his slashed balloon recalls Professor Langley to the center of the stage Lang ley is now our official balloonist and he can fly as well as the rest. Long live Langley!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11

The injunction having been removed the Gautemalan ant is now on the march to Texas and the boil weevil is trembling in his boots.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11

Life preservers are in demand at the ports, and this is about all the Slocum dis aster has accomplished for the living.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11

Russell Sage has decided to support the republican ticket but he has not decided to contribute to the campaign funds of that or any other party.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11

The -of-theroad popuists will vote for Watson and Tibbles. true to the last to whiskers of the goat sort.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11

James Whitcomb Riley is putting mp an apartment house in IndianapoIis. He pro- poses to live in one of the apartments and study child life in the streets be- low.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11

Thus far. Secretary of the Navy Paul Morton has not been seasick, and he may pull through all right.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11

The editor of the Hardeman Free Press no doubt had many excuses and oppor- tunities for quenching his prize thirst at the St. Louis convention.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11

The Troy Herald is new weekly paper published at Troy by T. II. Brown and D. J. Baker. D. J. Baker is the editor and he has made creditable beginning.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11

General J. Pluvius Is the only soldier who has been able to hold the Japanese from advancing northward.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11

It is now predicted that the fall of Port Arthur and the fall of the year will come about the same time
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11

With the Pike and the politicians St. Louis has just passed the most strenuous week in it's history.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11

Chairman Cortelyou holds the password to oyster bay, and all applicants are re- ferred to him, and he will not submit to dictation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11

People who smoke and people who drink have lived to a phenomenal old age but the man who eats mince pie has very poor chance at longevity.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11

Why should -Stenographer Cortelyou be so emphatic in saying he will not submit to dictaton --1-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11

Now that the democrats have made their nominations we will be able to turn our attention once more to the fall of Port Arthur
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11

Uncle Henri Watterson preferred to stay at the helm of the Courier-Journal while .the boys" looked after the convention.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11

The red ants from Guatemala may att tack both the boil weevils and the cotton pickers. stampeding both
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11

The only city-bred man who ever reached the White House is Theodore Roosevelt The cities as a rule breed bood- lers instead of statesmen
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11

Bessemer's bassball team has been laid in an untimeiy grave. covered with the scars of defeat
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11

While the Japs and Russians are kept apart by rainy weather MT Ftzsimmons and other lights of the ring will entertain the people here at home.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11

The spelIbinder and the Japs are be- coming daily more strenuous,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11

That Sandwich wire may as well be cut for it's occupation is gone.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-11

It is said that more than si,44o,oO is spent every year in Russia on playing cards We indulgt in some bridge whist and po- ker ourselves.