davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-18
Naming the Teams.

Baseball fans residing in the towns composing the Tri-State league are much worked up just now over the question of giving appropriate names to their re- spective teams" said a citizen of Besse- mer last night. 'I believe that 1t has been decided to call the Anniston team The Noblemen.' from the fact that the town was founded by Samuel Noble snd I think the name a very good one. It Is seldom that great pnilanthropist is honored by having baseball team named after him. but see no harm in the custom when no disrespect is in- tended.
 "In our town there is a movement on foot to call the Bessemer team The Mar vels,' as the town is known as the Mar vel City, but the name has not become familiar to all the fans yet and 1t re- mains to be seen what will be the decis- ion of the public. Nothing helps base ball team more than happy title and the bestowal of a name should be given careful consideration"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-18
North Birminuham.

Elsewhere in this mornings Age Herald the story of North Birmingham is told It shows what President Nell sons steady purpose and skill have accomplished, and it points to valley full of people in the course of few years. The railroads are surrounding our nearby suburb with great yards, and North Birmingham itself has had the foresight to provide itself with schools, electric lights and a water supply, all owned by the people. To these will be added sewers as soon as the county trunk line is completed.
 The growth of North Birmingham has been remarkable, but whoever reads the story elsewhere printed will not wonder at such growth. It Is but the result of natural advantages de- veloped by man of good sense and indomitable energy.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-18
'PossUM AND RELIGION.

From the New York Tribune
 The Rev. V. B. Carroll. a southern clergyman tells the following story We were driving out one Sunday from Decatur. when we came upon a negro with club in his hand and freshly killed 'possum on his shoulder We stop ped to examine his prize, and the col onel said:
 My friend. do you know it is Sun day2'
 '' 'Sartin, boss
 Are you religious man%
 CT are. I'se jist on my way home from church.
 And what sort of religion have you got that permits you to go hunting on Sunday?'
 Religion? Religion?' queried the man. as he held the 'possum up with one hand and scratched his head with the other. Does you 'spect any black man in Ala bama is gwine to tie hisself up to any re- hgion dat lows a 'possum to walk right across the road ahead of him an git away free? No, sahl A religion which won't bend a little when a fat 'possum heads you off couldn't be established round we're by all the preachers in the universe. '"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-18
The Beauty Show.

"I see that there is scheme on foot to have another beauty show at the St Louis fair" said travelling man last night. Certain people in Chicago have a plan on foot to get pictures of all the babies in the country years old or under that age, and all the women over IS years old. Of course they do not want a pie ture of every woman and baby in the United States who comes under the age limit. but merely those considered beauti- full or pretty, as the case may be. It Is proposed to give prize of $1o,00O to the most beautiful woman, s50OO to the most popular girl baby and S5oO0 to the most popular boy, the prizes to be decided by the votes of visitors to the fair. As yet the venture Is merely experimental. but there Is hardly any doubt that plenty of pictures can be obtained for the beauty pavilion, which it is proposed to erect at St Louis" a"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-18

and there is no law against . sixth. Tyler, Fillmore, Johnson, Arthur and Roosevelt, all within lifetime. MT. MT Hit is willing to be No. 6.
 The other campaign change occur red on the democratic side. where MT. Joe Folk has become an interesting possibility. He was born in Tennes- see, and lives now in Missouri, where he has made boodling an unpleasant, even hazardous. occupation. If his name should be sprung at St. Louis in case of deadlock, 1t might sweep over the entire convention. As the foe of municipal and political grating he has carried Missouri, and as soon as the convention meets he will be nominated for governor. Both his nomination and election are assured.
 He will not be S5 years old until October, but that is soon enough. The election of the fearless circuit attor
 
 ney would be warning to all graft CTS, and his campaign would bring out the uninyestigated rascalities of the postoffice department Stranger things have happened in our politics. The nomination of MT. Folk would, too, break the ice so to speak for fu- ture southern candidates. It would put an end to the senseless hoodoo, for MT. Folk was born in Tennessee, and lives in Missouri, which Is more southern than western. Mir. Folks election and good conduct of the high office would reopen the presidency to southern men, an office that they once monopolized.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-18
CHAMPAGNE MAKING.

From the New York World
 It is to the invention of the cham pagne cork that the world owes cham pagne, according to Court Purveyor J. Fromm of Frankfort, Germany.
 This wine is said to have been made successfully by the butler of monas- tery near Epinay, in France. in 164S Un- til the early part of the nineteenth cen tury sparkling wines were made only in the French province of Champagne.
 Next to the wine carbonic acid forms the most important part of champagne. The picking of the grapes used requires great care to prevent discoloration. The grapes should not contain too much acid and coloring matter, but considerable su-
 gar.
 In order that the grapes should not be-
 come warm, thereby fermenting prema- turely. picking is done in the early morn ing hours. The grapes are then placed in the press at once and the juice
 squeezed out very gently. After twelve to twenty-four hours it is run into vats,
 where its impurities are removed. After the first violent fermentation is over the young wine Is put in cool cellars, into bar rels of from l25 to 150 gallons. Toward the end of December the young wine Is drawn of in order to separate 1t com pletely from the yeast.
 The wine is then mixed with wines of other years and kinds. It is then bottled and the progress of fermentation care fully watched, the bottle being opened | IA lao 1l~, other products of fermentation which 1t
 is necessary to get rid of It is then
 sweetened and stored in cellars to ma ture for the market.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-18
LARGEST ON RECORD.
Scottish Rite Masons See Work of
 Little Rock consistory.


 Little Rock, Ark, May 1.-The sec ond days session of the spring re- union of the Scottish Rite Masons, southern jurisdiction, was held today. Rear Admiral Schley, Congressman Richardson, supreme commander, and a party of twenty 32nd degree Masons from Washington and the east are here to witness the work as exempli- fled at Albert Pike consistory.
 The class of candidates is the largest on record here, numbering 165, and is one of the largest on record, according to Supreme Commander Richardson.
 The initiation closes tomorrow aft ernoon. At night a reception will be rendered the visitors, who will leave Wednesday night for Guthrie, O. IT.; Wichita, kan, and St. Louis, Mo, to each of which places they go to wit ness consistory work.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-18
WIN FIRST BLOOD.
Railroad and Express Company Being
 Sued In Texas.


 Austin, Tex, May 17.-The railroads and express companies won first blood today in the antitrust suits recently brought against corporate interests generally by the district attorney here in the name of the state of Texas. The suit passed upon today in the district court here was the one in which the Missouri, Kansas and Texas railroad and the Pacific Express company were being sued for violating the antitrust laws by entering into conspiracy to keep any other express company from doing business over the Katy" sys- tenn. The damages asked for in this case and some forty others of simi- lar nature amounted to something like $20.000,000. -.
 Judge Brooks of the district court this afternoon ruled in favor of the corporations by sustaining their de- murrer and denial in toto of any viola tion of any of the antitrust laws. This gives the corporation interests the bet ter of the bargain, as this was test case. Plaintiffs aver that they will appeal to a higher court.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-18
THE PERSUASIVE ABARKER."

Rolin Lynde Hartt In the Atlantic.
 when got by fair means and employed with good conscience, nevertheless lacks the convincing fervor of viva voce plead ings. And the spoken word to persuade need not fully convince. I think 1t was Saint -Bueve who said of Lacordaire' preaching, Though it fails to convince, it does better thing; 1t charms And the Lorcordaire of advertising is the sweetly persuasive barker. when such one cries. Right inside. gepmen- see the royal Bengal tiger-hfteen rect from the tip of his nose to the tip Of his tail-fifteen feet from the tip of his tall to the tip of his nose-making in all the enormous length of forty feet-only ten cents. gepmen, the tenth part. of dol lar" I tarry not long at the gate.
 But then on the other hand, uniformed Ethiopian--barking not gently, as befts SO tender a matter. but prazeniy, bluntly and without joy in his barking-hales me into Blacks dental parlor, 1 canot over master a certain vague shrinking P1 spirit. The appeal lacks charm, whereas even forceps and rubber dam may, by subtler and more delicate order of bark ing. be made absolutely alluring. In England, where this deliberate art has come to its finest flower. dentist scarce ly hires a viscount to commend him to his friends, thus adorning the abhorred service with the dignity of illustrious patronage and the seductiveness of sym pathetic suggestions; for viscount will bark you as gently as any sucking dove.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-18
Old Water Power Mills.

II was shown through a large flour mill travelling man at the Morris last night. Tt was, indeed, an interesting sight and I was much impressed by the rapidity and the thorough manner in which the work was done. The wheat was trans formed Into flour and barreled for the market in an incredibly short time.
 This great mill, alive with modern ma chinery, forcibly recalled the old time water power mills to my memory. The difference between the large mills of to- day and the antiquated water mill is almost as great as between the mortar and the pestle which it followed There is something fascinating, too, about one of these old mills. The water going over the wheel makes a beautiful sight and the incessant hum of the stones as they convert the corn into meal, is very sooth- ing and makes one sleepy. It was no peacefully sleeping, their sack of corn serving for a pillow. waiting for their turn to be ground
 ''The antiquated grist mill belongs to another period. Modern machinery, and the push and energy of today has put it out of use. But there Is a poetic senti- ment connected with the oldfashIoned mill-the humming stones and the water as 1t passes over the wheel and is gone that can have no connection with one of the modern ones saw last week."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-18
cop-sEEkINc.

By Watson. God-seeking thou has journeyed far and nigh,
 On dawn-lit mountain-tops thy soua did yearn To hear his trailing garments wander by; And where mid thunderous gloom great sunsets burn, Vainly thou soughtst His shadow on sea and sky;
 Or gazing up, at noontide, could'st dis cern Only a neutral heavens indifferent eye And countenance austerely taciturn. Yet whom thou soughtest I have found at iast,
 Neither where tempest aims the world below. Nor where the westering daylight reels aghast
 In confiagrations of red overthrow: But where this virgin brooklet silvers past,
 And, yellowing either bank, the king cups blow.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-18

of the democratic executive committee, is at the Morris.
 W. A Metts of Columbia, S. C., is reg lstered at the St. Nicholas.
 R. B. Skinner of Atlanta is in the city.
 D. W. Andrews of Montgomery is at the Hillman.
 J. H. Nathan of Sheffield, member of the democratic executive committee, is at tha Morris.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-18
PlcAYUNE IS DEFENDANT.
Has Waged Fight Against Gambling
 and Police Corruption.

New Orleans, May 1.-The Picayune. which has been making a vigorous fight against gambling and police corruption, was today made defendant in a $10o, 00o damage libel suit brought by Jacob Nien- aber. one of the police commissioners.
 Some weeks ago Police Commissioner Woodville, new member of the board, exposed the alleged short coming of police board, and gave an interview to the Picayune in which the competency and honesty of the board were attacked. The grand jury has condemned the board as a whole, and the mayor has called for the resignation of It's members, Mr. Nieaber being among the number.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-18
INTERESTING EDITORIALS.

From the Gadsden Journal.
 The editorials in the Birmingham Age Herald from lime to time, giving a syn opsis of. the relative positions occupied by the Russian and Japanese military forces and the probable plans and ob- jective points which the two armies have in view, are the most interesting ar ticles on this subject that come to us. Editor Barrett was in the far east dur ing the progress of the chinese-Japanese war, and acquired knowledge of things typographical and geographical that makes these editorials not only interest ing but authoritative.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-18
IN HOTEL LoBBIEs
stowers Elephant Story.


 Several drummers were sitting in the lobby of the Hillman. hotel last night swapping truthful tales as drummers often do. One of them remarked that he noticed in the papers that the Birmlng- ham boys were working very hard to se- cure funds with which to buy an ele- phant for the zoo. This reminds me-" said he of Charles Stowe's famous story Have you ever heard it?. None of his hearers had, so he proceeded to relate it as follows.
 I've read good deal about the in- telligence of elephants, but there is an elephant out in Geneva, O., which Is win tering with circus there, that is the smartest and most intelligent elephant on earth. Once in a while a cyclone sweeps over the Buckeye state and levels pulId- ings to the ground. This elephant, whose name is Snoozer, knows as much about meteorological conditions as the entire force of the weather bureau combined. Not long ago, as Snoozer was casting his weather eye out of the building in which the menagerie was confined he e,scerne6 marked change in the barometric copdi- tion of the atmosphere. He also saw a cyclone in the southeast headed straight for the menagerie building. Slipping the chain off his leg and grasping axe In his trunk, he went out and drove a guy stake deep into the ground. The cyclone was then but mile away and was rap idly nearing the building. Rushing inside. Snoozer unfastcned the cage containing the giant python, and seizing the big snake in his trunk, trotted outside and tied his tail to the guy stake Then rear ing himself on his hind legs, he fastened the pythons head around the center chimney of the building The cyclone was now but a quarter of mile away. Dash ing around the building the intelligent animal braced his powerful legs in the ground and put his front legs against the side of the building. The cyclone was now but few yards off The next in- stant it struck the menagerle with ter rife force; The force of the cyclone was so great that 1t stretched the python ten feet, and showed Snoozer's legs into the hard ground up to his body. When the cyclone had passed over Snoozer trotted around, united the python, replaced 1t in It's cage, pulled up the guy stake with his trunk, returned the axe to its place, slipped the chain over his forefoot and contentedly resumed his noon day meal of hay"
 What line of goods does that fellow sell?' one man was heard to ask as the crowd dispersed for the night.
 "Why sirs. the southern agent for a large yarn factory" announced his friend.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-18

fatal duel in Paris between Charles Ebelot and Henri Lautier show how duel- ling is regarded by the French law. Ebe- lot. the survivor. was charged with hay ing by blows and wounds caused death unintentionally." Judging from the word- ing of the indictment. the law does not take duellists seriously, or it would not admit the supposition that they do not enter into the encounter with any dead ly intention. In this case proof was forth coming that the affair had been carried out fairly. according to the recognized rules of the duello. and the prisoner was acquitted. The family of the deceased took no part in the criminal prosecution. but obtained, in the civil action, one franc damages and costs.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-18
WHAT A BLUSH IS.
From eouthern Medlcin.

Not long since we were asked to give a scientific definition of the word blush" We have made an effort from an anato- mical and physiological point of view to give the definition. A blush is tempo rary erythema and calorific effulgence of ceptiveness of the sensorium when in a predcament of unequilibrity from a sense of shame. anger or other cause. eventuating in paresis of the vasomotor filaments of the facial capillaries, where by, being divested of their elasticity. they are suffused with radiance efteme- mating from an intimidated praecordia.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-18
COMMENTS ON MEN AND
 MATTERS. OF THE WORLD

N SHORT time ago the Anti-Euchre
 PV Society for the Preservation of
 the Home was organized by cer- tain irate husbands of Bayonne, New Jersey. for the purpose of breaking their wives of the habit of persistent euchre playing. Joseph Kick was president and Joseph Skinner was secretary. Kick was the first man who had the courage to come out in a public protest against his wife indulging in card playing six days a week. with prospects. of a game on the holy Sabbath, but now he is the first member of the society to resign his place and capitulate. The story of the soci- ety's struggle is brief. but very sad. The ladies concerned directed their fires against mans vulnerable point-his stom- ach-with the result that there are sew eral hungry husbands in Bayonne who are willing to endure unlimited euchre, provided they are fed. The aggrieved wives have made 1t understood that there will be no more cooking until treaty Is signed. so the end of the Anti-Euchre So- cety for the Preservation of the Home is not far distant.
 It was not deed to dazzle the world by it's heroism or win the plaudits of the fair sex by its daring but yet the coolness of A motorman on a crowded trolly car in New York saved many lives and prevented a serious disaster the other day The man Is subject to epileptic fits. As his car was speeding along rd fha nue crossing he felt an attack coming over him. With great presence of mind the motorman shut off the current, stopped his car and then stumbled to the street where he fell unconscious. Such an act is not heralded abroad in trumpet tones, but 1t was heroism of the highest order and Is another example of that stuff some men are made of
 Harry Roberts of Berwick, Pa, the Jean Val Jean in real life. will be re- leased from the Elmira reformatory in which he has been confined to serve out the remaining sixteen months of an un- expired term. Roberts escaped frob the reformatory about four years ago and has been leading an upright life with his wife and baby at Berwick short time ago he was arrested by the authorities and carried back to prison to serve out his term, but he has contracted consump- ton and will be permitted to end his life in freedom. Such case is enough to make one question the humane principles of many of our laws. Reform is always more to be desired than a stolid endur- ance of punishment and when a man has demonstrated his honest purpose to lead better life it Is cruel to drag him oack Into the disgrace from which he has es- capped.
 It Is officially announced that there will be no gambling permitted at Saratoga this year. In fact 1t Is the purpose of reformers to see that not even a private game of poker will be allowed to flourish undisturbed. While Saratoga without gambling will be much tanner than Sara toga of old, when many games of chance enjoyed halcyon days of prosperity, it will no doubt be possible to take a hand without going very far away from home, despite the Jerome law and the firm conviction among the villagers that the gambling question has been settled.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-18
WONDERFUL MECHANISM
 FOUND IN JAW OF SNAKES

upper jawbone. Suspended from the outer side of the bone are four rudimentary fangs -four on each side of the head), which constitute His Serpentine Majes- tvs reserve. He often breaks a big fang. and immediately the nearest of the four little ones works around to inside of the jawbone to take the place of the broken one, while another delicate, thread-like instrument of murder grows on the ex- treme outer edge of the jaw. Thus there are always 10 fangs, two ready for bus mess. eight in various stages of embryo.
 Pythons and anacondas do not swallow mules and men. One of the Snyder dain- ties measures 22 feet. "See that lump?" asked the handler. About the middle of the body was swelling. .fIe swallowed a three-and- -half-pound chicken last night and Is now digesting it. As the process goes on the forces of decompo- stion greatly increase the swelling, and 1t Is easy to imagine the chicken to be an animal three or four times its size" Snakes will not touch dead food. They must see life in prey. Chickens are fed to them with their feathers on. The neck is first wrung, then the body, leap ing and quivering in death throes, is cast before the snake. The act of deglutition is interesting to look at. MT. Myers says that he has induced some of his snakes to eat beef by covering it with the fur of a mouse and keeping it in motion.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-18
From the New York Press.

From the New York Press.
 1 HE cobra de capello, which kills lCn from 10000 to 25,OOO people year
 in India is one of the most beau tifu creatures you ever saw as MT. Snyder exhibits it. With a reed yard and a half long he arouses this most deadly of all serpents. which lifts it's head IS inches from the ground and, standing perfectly erect, expands its neck into a hood-as seen in the tales of h. dian juggling. The two greenish yellow spots, one on each side, look like enor- nous eyes. The snake is ready for strike. Its bite Is sure death in eighteen minutes. Science has found no antidote for 1t. In striking the head goes down. ward and forward. not straight out. The fangs are permanently erect. not nova ble as in the rattlesnake.
 Snakes never close their eyes. because they have no eyelids. Light is shut, out by contraction of the pupil and admitted by its expansion. rattlesnake's fang6, are among the curiosities of the crea- ton. One that MT. Myers presented to me Is five-eighths of an inch long. with hole drought 1t for the venom's dis charge.- Each has it's individual poison sac. located at the base. and the con tents are forced out by the act of strik- ing prey or an enemy. The fangs, two In number, are hinged to the inside of the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-18
THIS WOULD BE n2 MuTcH."

From the London Speaker
 The largest organ In the world. we read is being built for exhibition at St. Louis. It has 140 stops and 1O05O pipes. We sin eereiy hope that no one will attempt to play 'IIiawatha" on it.