davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-09

relief afforded by the courts many Of
these 100000 wives would have been tied
helplessly to loveless and brutal husbands.
and in the natural course of events wife
beating would have become prevalent
strictness of the English divorce law is
cited as an explanation of the frequency
of wife-beating in England.
Dr. Dix, the venerable rector of Trim
ity church, meets that argument by point
ing out the fact that the present move
ment is not so much aimed at divorce as
at the remarriage of divorced persons
Investigation shows that more than three
quarters of all the persons seeking divorce
in the United States are inspired prin-
cipally by a desire to marry some one
else That Is held to be an adulterous
motive, hostile to the fundamental prin-l
ciple of monogamy, destructive to the
home and family life and ruinous to chill
dren.
The object of those who sympathize with
the clergy OF Trinity parish-now pledged
In writing not to remarry any divorced
person-is to check divorces based upon a
wish to remarry, the great source of COL
fusion and perjury. Husbands and wives
who cannot endure life together may
seek judicial separation and live apart
without opposition from the leaders of
the movement against legalized consecu-
tive polygamy. But such persons cor
stitute a very small fraction of those who
apply for divorce in this country.
That is the answer to the wife-beatlng
nrophecy
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-09
Savage Opera Company.

Nine years ago, Mr.. Savage, a Bos-
ton man who had achieved considerable
prominence In real estate ventures built
a theatre at The Hub. remarked a
musician. Having thus glanced at the
stage through business spectacles, the
Boston man conceived the idea that there
was money In presenting the standard
operas in English at prices literally
within the reach Of ALL"
from the little acorn Of the Castle
Square Opera company has since grown
the sturdy oak of the Savage English
Grand Opera company, which is soon to
be heard in Birmingham. The Savage
forces were never in such good shape.
Not only is the corps Of principals strong
or, but on the choral. orchestral, and
scenic sides of the performance there
have been changes for the better since
Mr.. Savage first led his operate army out
of Boston. The Savage company is MAX
ings its first southern tour, and a big
season is predicted"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-09
INLAYING WORK.
Curiosity for slghtseers In the City
Of Hanoi.

From The New York Herald.
The sole curiosity for sightseers in the
city of Hanoi a town of the French Ton
quin, is the industry of inlaying mother
of pearl in precious woods. In fact one
street. called the Street Of the Inlayers,
is given up to the trade. The worlSmen
are genuine artists, combining artistic
PERCEPTION with great manual skill. Fur
nished with rude tools, but with great
patience and skill, these worlxmen pro-
duce articles of great beauty. They have
applied the principle of division of labor,
or specialization, to their work. The cab
met makers first put together the various
parts Of the material to be encrusted. The
joining ic done without the aid of nails
and with a nice system of dovetailing and
use Of paste, Of which lacquer is the
base. From this cabinetmaker the wood
passes into tho hands of the designer,
who makes sketches for its Ornamental
ton on rice paper
These designs are transferred to the
wood by the inlayer. whose duty It is to
choose the pearl that will best serve to
bring out the beauty of the design. The
species of shellfsh, called casque, caught
chiefly upon the shores of the island of
Poulo-condar.
The inlayer cuts the pieces Of pearl
into little bits and chooses the combina-
ton of colors which will make the con-
trast necessary for the artistic sue
cess of his work.
The irredescence Is heightened by the
the OF pearl dust furnished by a kind
OF mussel taken from the brooks of that
region When the bits of mosaic are
chosen the inlayer tries to give them
the form of the design chosen and dis
poses them as a mosaic In the wood. The
crude morsel is made transparent by
pumice stone.
The pearl is then fixed In a wise ana
the labor of patience begins. kneeling
before the wise, he shapes the pieces with
a file no larger than an ordinary color
crayon. When the pearl is shaped 1t 10
necessary to trench 1t in the wood. This
is ordinarily done by children fourteen or
fifteen years old The bits of pearl are
then set in the grooves and fixed with
paste The whole Is gently heated to melt
the paste and so fill the interstces The
design is then polished vanished and
given the finishing touches. The work
has been oounterfeited but never sue
cessfulIV
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-09
FINANCIAL CRISES IN COLLEGES.

From the Springfield (Mass) Republican.
The deficit in the finances of Yale uni
versity for the year ended August 1. is
reported by Treasurer Tyler to have been
about $4,000 In other words, Yale would
need additional endowment o. nearly ST.
100000 to yield, at 8 per cent, an annual
income equal to last years deficit There
was deficit in the finances of Harvard
university also last year. the amount be-
ing not far from that of Yale Yet each
institution increased It's total funds dur
ing the same year. Meanwhile, the gem
eral public is not worried at all. 1t views
the colleges and universities with en-
tire appreciation; it is proud of them. But
the time has come when most of us can
not help feeling that there is really no
cause for alarm over their financial con-
dition. There is the consciousness that If
the alumni and friends do not always
come to the rescue of the college treas
urers as quickly and enthusiastically as
Is desired there is eve- the desperate last
resort of running an institution on the
principle of making the ends meet.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-09
Better County Roads.

The difference between a good
road and a poor road is as four to
one-that is to say, team of horses
can pull four times as much, over a
smooth, hard modern road as it can
pull over a dirt road or a road full of
holes in wet weather. In the best
of weather the difference in favor of
good roads is at least two to one.
This difference affects all real es-
tate in district or county, good roads
increasing year by year the value of
realty, because they attract population
and even capital, and when the out
lying precincts are benefited the mar
ket towns are benefited. All share in
a good roads boom. Bottomless roads
and even moderately poor roads go
on getting worse until at last they
render real estate unsaleable except at
low prices.
1t is now within the power of the
board of revenue to save the county
the chief expense of good roads, to
promote business in every part of the
county, to increase the value Of all
lands within it, to please, in word.
all the people. VIII they do it?
Jefferson county is not only the most
populous but it is also one of the
largest counties in this state. 1t has
225 miles of cherted roads, and per-
haps as many more miles that should
be cherted. The task of bringing all
these roads up to standard and main
tanning them at that level, is not
light task, but the board of revenue
has at hand nearly three hundred
able-bodied convicts; 1t has, too, the
best of road materials within easy
reach, and as business men they will
surely not neglect the present oppor.
tunity to boom Jefferson county by
making its roads the best in the
south. The opportunity is here, and
The Age-Herald has full confidence
that the board of revenue, made up
of practical, clear-headed, patriotic,
humane men, will not let it go unim-
proved.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-09
Our ublic { chooIs.

The address of the Alabama educa-
tional committee and the recent re-
port of Secretary Gunnells show that
while much progress has been made
in the :. lie schools of this state,
much work remains to be done.
In the first place we rely too much
upon the state and two little upon To-
cal or individual effort. This grave
fault of our school system is imbedded
in the constitution o. 1901, and it must
be changed If the schools of this state
are to be brought up to the general
standard in this country. We need,
too, better county superintendent and
better pay for the teachers. We spend
but SAIL per pupil, while Mississippi
spends $6.4S, Texas 1895, Florida
S10.41, Maryland 1881 and Iowa
$24.63. Iowa has the lowest percent.
age of illiteracy in this country.
Convenient school districts have
supplanted the absurd beat districts.
and sixteen counties have voted the
one-mill supplemental school tax. The
proposition was defeated in pike
county by 16 votes. 1t was adopted in
all the other counties, sixteen in mum.
Der, in which 1t was presented to the
people. In Jefferson county alone this
will add $5O.959 to the county school
moneys, bringing the total available
sum up to 1921, not including poll
taxes.
This is a great gain over the past,
but local taxation is needed. Says
the committee: "The right of local
self-government is a principle for
which the people of Alabama have
always commended. Yet in the matter
OF supplying education for their chill.
dren, it is right which the funda.
~>@NN%- ~" ioi soy uSulSS 10 them.
The right of every school district to
decide how much 1t will voluntarily
pay toward the support of it's school
is not only needed in order to build
better school houses and hire compe.
tent teachers, but 1t is also needed in
order to make every individual feel
that the public school is his own
school. At present he feels that it is
q state institution in which he has If.
tie at stake. We must change all
this. We must put our schools in line
with the schools in the advanced
states.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-09
Where Silence Was Golden.

To coin word is an achievement COM
passed by few with the exception Of
Kipling and Big Bill Devery Of New
York police fame. whose 'chesty'' now
graces the dictionaries as American
slang. But Frank L. Stanton, whose
book Of poems little Folks Down
South" was brought out this fall by the
Appletons, is the creator of phrase
which qualities him to be classed with
the two immortals mentioned above
He was standing one day on the piazza
of a huge hotel at Old Point Comfort
with a group of men who were laughing
uproariously at story one of them had
just told. The poet turned away with a
trifie perturbed air and Joined bevyof
debutantes.
"Oh, Mr.. Stanton, do tell us what they
were laughing att they urged. ut must
have been fearfully funny"
MY dear ladies'" said the author with
true southern delicacy, "I-er-I really
can't 1t was much too smoking
roomish."
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-09

cies, for a section of his justly cele-
brated bill provides that members are
to be elected at large in all states
that do not redistrict according to the
Platt basis. Members of congress are,
however, elected under state, not fed.
eral laws. and Alabama will not have
in January, 1906, any statute provid-
ing for the election of seven congress.
men-at-large.
Mr.. Platt is proceeding under the
fourteenth amendment, which pro.
vides that when the right to vote Is
denied to any of a states male inhab-
itants the representation of that state
shall be reduced. He claims that Ala
bama has cut off enough negro litter
ates to justify reduction of the dele
cation of nine congressman to seven.
But right here a big legal question
comes in. Many lawyers Of both par
ties say that the fifteenth supersedes,
or rather defines. the fourteenth
amendment, and when the fifteenth
amendment says the right to vote shall
not be denied or abridged on account
of race, color or previous condition of
servitude. the causes of infringement
are named. 1t will not be seriously
claimed that voting in Alabama Is
denied on account of race, color or
previous condition of servitude, for a
black man can register and vote on
exactly the same terms as a white
man. There are no distinctions either
at the. places of registration or the
polling booths. If the fifteenth amend
ment be all controlling, as many of
t, } best lawyers say it is, Mr.. Platt
has no ground to stand upon.
In all consistency Of procedure he
and the cheap politicians behind him
have none in any event, for If any law
of any state, statutory or constitu-
tional conflicts with the federal con-
stitution, It should be carried before
the supreme court of the United
States and tested there, when it will
be time for congress to act, and not
before This would be a regular or
derby manner of procedure, but the
men behind New Yorks ancient SEN
ator are not seeking to regulate or
order. They are trying to work up
a little capital from nothing, and their
chances for success are slight and Wis
ionary in the way of actual statutes
In hot air" they will no doubt accom-
plish their partisan purposes.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-09
Good Roads.

Speaking of good roads and bad roads,"
said member of the Virginia colony, Il
remember when the roads leading into
Richmond were exceptionally poor. About
ten years ago the late Major Ginter, the
cigarette manufacturer, a public-spirited
citizen. took up the matter and led a
movement for macadamized highways.
Before Major Ginter died the result of his
work was plainly in evidence. The roads
around Richmond are now in splendid con-
dition, and one horse can draw a wagon
load of stuff that three horses could not
pull on the old mud roads,
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-09
Increased Coal Production.

THE Tennessee company's production
was larger Wednesday than on any day
since the strike began" said President
Don II. Bacon yesterday. 1.-The mining sit
uation improves gradually, and l have no
good reason to complain. Our coal-cutting
machines operated by electricity. which
were installed within the past twelve
months are giving satisfaction. One ma
chine worked by two men cuts as much
coal as twelve or fifteen men could get out
with picks. Our company is now using
ten machines and more will be added"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-09
BRITISH WIFE-BEATING
AS OPPOSED TOLYNCHING

James Creelman In the New York World.
l N a singing criticism of our social life
an English writer sneers at the vol
untary prostration of the American
man before the American woman as an
affectation. which has unbalanced the
normal relations of society, setting man
In a position of undeserved inferiority.
The critic also denounces the instincts
and tendencies of civilization which
more or less condones In practice, If not
in principle, the horrors of lynch law.
That matter came up at a luncheon In
Washington when Theodore Roosevelt and
Rudyard Kipling were present.
The guests were encouraging Mr.. Kip
ring to talk about America. At first the
Englishman was inclined to be shy, but
gradually he warmed up and the senators
and representatives listened to his opin-
ions with close attention. MIR. Roosevelt
seemed to be particularly interested.
Presently Mr. Kipling became quite
frank in his criticism. He appreciated
the progress of Americans in many di-
rections, but how was the apathy, If not
complaisance, of the national mind to-
ward lynching to be explained.
Mr.. Roosevelt attempted to butt into
the conversation at this point. but the
poet raised his voice and kept on. As
the guest of honor he had the right Of
way. So for the moment the American
contented himself with a hard-set jaw
and an ominous showing of the teeth
Again and again he tried to meet the
brutally candid opinions uttered by Mr..
Kipling, but each time he was banled
by the stolid persistence of the speaker
At last the Englishman came to the
climax of his criticism. Whatever Ameri-
cans might have achieved, one thing was
reasonably certain-no nation which ha-
bitually tolerated the killing of men with
out trial could claim to be highly civilized.
Mr.. Kipling paused. That was a
mistake.
Mr.. Roosevelt turned upon him with
flashing eyes.
That's right. Mr.. Kipling," he ex-
claimed. II agree with you. 1t is a
national fault, a national shame. Each
nation has Its fault. You have yours
and we have ours. We kill men"
He hesitated. Mr.. Kipling smiled and
nodded. The other guests watched the
two square-jawed men.
and you beat women"
The smile left the Englishman's face
and the subject was dropped.
Within the past week one of the
clergymen opposed to the present move
ment In the Protestant Episcopal church
to check adulterous divorce by refusing
to remarry divorced persons has privately
expressed his belief that If serious OBJ
stacles are placed in the way Of divorce
the crime of wife-beating will become as
common in the United States as 1t is in
England.
He points to the fact that large per-
centage of the 100000 divorces granted
within a few years in this country were
the result of incompatibility of temper
and brutality. But for the easy means Of
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-09
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Probation Plan In TalIapOOsa.


We are having a very prosperous sea-
son IN Tallapoosa county said Wiiilah
y Stone of Tallapoosa county yesterday
AT the time he was speaking he and Mr..
William Gray OF TaIapoosa were IN the
ponce court room listening to the t1aai OF
a case before Judge Feagin. es' the
farmers have raised lots Of cotton and
nave been getting a good price Sor 1t.
Many Of them have paid out OF debt Tor
the first time In twenty years
By the way said Mr.. Stone, DO
you know that this probation plan of
Judge Feagin's is a great suocessY Two
or three months ago we came here and
took two or three negro boys down to
work on the farm. They were allotted
to US by Judge Feagin on the probation
PLAN They are bright boys and have
never given US the least trouble. I be-
heve we will be able to make good and
useful men out of them. They can read
We'll and occasionally show them Biz
mlngham papers where boys, out on the
probation plan, run away and are put to
work on the street I invariably ask them
II they want to 30 to work on the
streets. They say every time that they
would like to stay on the farm until they
are grown as they are tired of the bad
ways of the city and don't want to go
back. There is no questioning the fact
that the probation plan will help to a
large degree IN preventing the increase of
youthful criminals. We are here now to
coa al srf.I 4
women to go to work as cooks and
washerwomen."
Mr.. Gray and Mr.. Stone are two OF the
most prominent business men of Dade-
VILE.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-09
Queen Makes Good Farmer.

From the Kansas City Journal.
The Queen of the Netherlands is an en-
thusiastic farmer. A dairy has been es-
tabllshed in connection with the royal
castle at Loo. and 1t is run on regular
business lines by its owner, large guam
titles of butter and milk being sold regu-
larly from the dairy, which is now self
supporting and profitable.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-09
THE FIRST SNOWFALL.

BY Lowell.
The snow had begun in the cleaning
And busily all the night
Had been heaping field and highway
With silence deep and white.
Every pine and fir and hemlock
Wore ermine too dear for an earl,
And the poorest twig on the elm tree
Was ridged inch-deep with pearl.
From sheds new roof'd with Carrara
Came Chandeliers unified crow,
The stiff rails were soften'd to swami
down
And still fluttered down the snow.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-09
CALAMITY to Burn.

From the Opellka News.
It always makes us mad to see state
n1ents that the "old fashioned women
we're better cooks or houselkeepers than
the women of the present day. The wo-
man of the present day is good enough
for us, or for anybody. There are few
shiftless women. but the great majority
of them are admirable.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-09
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR

From the New York Press.
Temptation calls on you so often that
your terms with it soon become very
intimate.
If woman had a mind It wouldn't be
of any use to her because it is not a
thing she could wear,
It's awful tiresome to have to be as
bad as you feel you ought, to live up to
your reputation.
People hardly ever have bad enough
tempers to get in a rage with the ones
that deserve it--themselves.
If man can't lose his money at the
race track or in the stock market. he
can always have recourse to marriage.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-09
Senator PIait's Bill

Senator Platt's bill does not assail
the members elected to the fifty-ninth
congress, but it does relate to those
of the sixtieth congress who are to be
elected in November, 1906, and the
Alabama legislature does not meet
until January, 1907. Mr.. Plat, how.
ever. provides for all such contingent
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-09
Spells to tho Vlctors.

From the Montgomery Advertiser.
Those who are criticising that recent
breakfast of republican statemen where
several kinds of pie was served should
bear in mind that republicans are entitled
to all and any kind of pie they want.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-09
ALABAMA PRESS.
Should Try Sometime Easy.

From the Roanoke Leader
Among its other antiquities Ohio has
an old Union general In congress named
Keller who feels called upon to see that
southern representation is cut down. The
fresh old gentleman should begin some
task he might expect to see accomplish
ed during his natural lifetime.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-09
Hard to Down.

From the Eufaula Times.
Secretary Wilson, of the agricultural
department still stands by the old fash
toned barn yard hen. No matter what
may come or go the old time speckled
hen is hard to down.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-09

Go ernor Lafollette is keeping re-
markably still in. his hour of victory.
He may be engaged in sharpening his
knives while he keeps his glistening
eye on Brothers Quarles and Spooner.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-09
Uncle Jasper's Philosophy.

From the Chicago News.
"Dey say dat big ears am de sign OBJ
generosity" remarked Uncle Jasper, but
no one cher heard OBJ de mule gliding you
enyt'ing but his feet"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-09
Who Is to BIame7

From the Talladega Mountaia Home.
Did the election of Mr.. Roosevelt have
anything to do with reducing the price
Of cotton about SIS a bale?
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-09

Thomas w. Lawson is pursuing the
Standard Oil crowd in Wall street,
which is its most vulnerable point.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-09

Acknowledgement Miles of the Mas
sachusetts militia will soon be on
dress parade again, ready for the pho
tographers.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-09

The republicans call it tariff adj
justment instead of tariff revision.
There's nothing, however, in a name.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-09

The Washington correspondents of
the Boston Herald are still permitted
to breathe the air introduced by the
weather bureau.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-09

Football has killed thirteen persons
this year, which was of course an I'M
lucky number to its victims.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-09

Mrs. Chadwick seems to have Dor
rowed everything in sight, including
Mr.. Carnegies signature.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-09

What is Santa Claus going to do
when he strikes house that is heated
by steam and has no chimney?