davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-10-02
COMMENTS ON MEN AND
 MATTERS OF THE WORLD
2eJ1,r,ze~

event. there can be no doubt, and Mans field himself will not be tendered more enthusiastic reception. There is a won derful appeal to the sympathies in everything that Barrie writes. ''The Lit tie Minister is his best book and the part of Lady Babbie was never in more capable hands than those of Maud Ad- ams
 The President had tooth filled the other day. A gaping crowd assembled before the window of the dentists office and in order to sustain his reputation Tor courage on the field of battle MT. Roose- welt went through the ordeal without tremor, so far as the spectators could determine. Just as soon as the operations of the dentist would permit the President resumed his smile. along with his hat, and departed for the White House. Thus is one more chapter added to the execu- lives volume of valorous deeds. There are scores of men who would face death urfiinchingly on the field of battle, but would quail before the ordeal of having A tooth filled. Can 1t be possible that after all the restraining presence of the crowd encouraged President Roosevelt to submit without a murmur?
 When an automobile club decides to have a race the common people are ex- pected to lock themselves Tn their houses shut up all their live stock and make themselves as scarce as possible until every devil wagon is out of sight. IT they venture forth and are run over, 1T their children are mangled, if their chick ens are decimated, their fat kline siaugh- tered and their faithful farm animals frightened into mysteries they alone are to blame. But will the hoi polloi submit to such treatment? No. At least some of them will not The enlightened farm CTS of Nassau county, New York' an nounce that when the American Automo- bile association attempts to have It's. race october they will go to market as usual' hut they will take along pistols In aadl- tion to their loads of farm produce. Somebody is going to get hurt ana IL won't be the farmers.
 PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-10-02
Panama Canal Errors.
om the Baltimore Sun.

From the Baltimore Sun.
 According to the Iron Age the maps and records of the French engineers who had charge of the Panama canal are tull of errors and Chief Engineer Wallace mas set a number of American engineers 10 work overhauling the French documents and checking up their errors "A number of test porings." says the Age have shown the Trench records to be worthless and considerable anxiety has been caused by the discovery that while the French records or borings showed solid rock in certain sections of the canal at a depth of 100 to 125 feet the boripgs made by American engineers have developed noth- ing but sand and clay. All typographical work covering territory more than few rods from the axis of the canal has been found to be so defective as to be wholly misleading while the calculations of the French engineers of the length of the tunneling 70 be done are found to be more than two miles in excess of the actual work" In buying the canal line. along with the maps of it, the government bought a pig in a poke and/a good many surprises are doubtless in store for us.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-10-02
Few People Moving.

''Today is moving day in Birmingham and yet I see very few people changing their places of abode" said a citizen yes- terday. '1n fact the same state of af- fairs seems to prevail in all parts of the Birmingham district Most of those who are moving today belong to the great army of hash house frequenters. These unfortunates are forced to move about once a year in self-defense, but people who are at all pleasantly situated are not moving this year,
 Now I am notlgoing to attempt to ex- plain the situation, but it IS quite com piment to the people of Birmingham that so few of them have to move. Usually when a family habitually moves to and fro from one abode to another, sus- plcion arises in the mind of the public that perchance. after all, there is de- linquency in the rent which is responsi- ble for their restlessness.
 Hitherto moving day has been momen- tous in the history of man. I mean the male part of the population and not man. kind in general. Jokesmiths have sharp ened their wits at the expense of the poor married man who Is dragged from pillar to post on October and takes his meals off the mantel, if he gets anything to eat at all. Direful pictures are paint ed of distraught individuals, both men and women. tacking down carpets, hang ing pictures and treking' with clocks and water pitchers under their arms, but we are having little of sucl woe this year. Happy Birmingham!'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-10-02
MUSICAL POSTAL CARDS.
New Development of Prevailing Craze
 for Coming Season.

From the London Mail.
 A striking novelty in picture-post cards Is about to be placed on the market by q French syndicate.
 To an ordinary pictorial card is af- fixed very thin transparent gelatine disk. on which is impressed gramophone musical record. A hole Is pierced through the center of the disk, and the postcard can be placed on an ordinary talking machine" and played in the usual way.
 The musical postcard opens up an en- tirely new field for the craze. Photo graphs of great singers and composers will be accompanied by extracts from their works, pictures of national flags by the anthems of the different countries and so on in endless variety. Candidates for political honors. instead of sending merely their photographs to constituents, will be able to accompany them with the photographic records of an election ad- i dress.
 The additional cost as compared with ordinary cards is very slight The disk, being perfectly transparent. does not in any way interfere with the picture be- meath.
 As novel advertising medium the new cards are certain to be popular. French l champagne firms are already having pie torial cards printed which will literally sing the praises of their wares.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-10-02
No Clrcuses lIhls Year.

The aldermanic frost of last year has Tapped over into the present year, and the elephant will not go round as the band plays and the red lemonade is dealt out All about us the small boy and the big man are going to cir cuses-in ..Iontgomery, in Atlanta, in Nashville, in Memphis-but not in Bir- nningham.
 So far as this town is concerned a circus trust seems to have been formed, the first rule of which is to boycott the town in which heavy taxes were imposed last year, alike on the parade and on the circus itself. As things stand we must take our med icine. Those who gather in shekels one year must get along without saw, dust amusements the next year. The paren, who takes his little children to see the animals, and then slides int seats at the ringside three times repeated, ha- lost coveted opportu nlty. The boy who crawls under tn, tent cannot exercise his clandestint talent this year, for the annual fes l.yal under canvass has been nippeC lr tho bud by tle aldermanic body O last year.
 However, Maude Adams is about tC make her first southern tour, and she Is infinitely better than several cir cuses. But if she should not include Birmingham in her southern circuit then indeed would our condition be deplorable, Without a circus and with Maude Adams playing in an adjoining and less 'omis 7 town, life would scarcely De worth living.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-10-02
Letters Real Virtue.
m the Memphis News.

From the Memphis News.
 Judge Parker's letter of acceptance, to the surprise of some, contained many bold and dramatic expressions. But the real virtue of the letter consists in the direct and candid way Judge Parker went at the heart of every issue he discussed. In reference to the postal frauds and the 1efusals of the republicans to submit to an investigation the following is plain statement of all there is in the case: Recent disclosures, coupled with the rapid augmentation of government ex- penditures, show a need of an investiga- ton of every department of the govern ment. The democrats in congress demand ed it. The republican majority refused the demand. The people can determine by their vote in November whether they wish an honest and thorough Investigation A Democratic congress and executive will assure It." There is no appeal to the gall leres, no straining for effect in this; yet it is one of the strongest and most forci- ble indictments ever maoe against d party. That Judge Parker has the ability to look at things squarely and express them in the same way Is apparent throughout his letter.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-10-02

Cunninghams acquisition. When II
 is made plain to Governor Jennings
 that the prisoner is under sentence of death for the killing of an officer of law the requisition will certainly he honored. The governor of Florida is the sole judge ot the issue under the constitution of the United States, and he can be very arbitrary in hand ling Governor Cunningham requisi- tion as successive governors of In dinana have been in the case of Fay Tor charged with murder of Governor Goebel of Kentucky Taylor is living today in Indianapolis, where he prae- tises law. While tho power to act ar. bitrarily rests in Governor Jennings yet it is not credible he will exercise it in the case of a desperate habitual criminal disconnected with politics.
 Frank Duncan will certainly be ex- tradicted, and he will be hung in ae- cordance witl the sentence of the court The foul murder of George G. KirRley and J. Wade Adams will then be avenged and the power of the law Yindicated.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-10-02
Tie +he soldiers life
Mir. Watson's Candidacy.

When the south has so much al stake in the presidential contest, it seems strange that southern man. horn and bred in Georgia, should be- come the most serious obstacle to democratic success. MT. Watson will not receive an electoral vote; ne knows he will not; but he is conduct ing an active campaign in the con tested states, and some one or some narty is foot.A1 the bills. It Is not the democratic party, that is certain.
 In New York, where the battle IS hot and heavy, not only has a com plete populist electoral ticket been put in the field. but A. J. Boulton, prom sinent labor union man, has been nom- mated for governor, and a full state ticket made up. MT. Boulton lives in Broollyn. where he has some support FITS.
 MT. Watsons attacks are conhned almost wholly to Judge Parker, and his support of the gold standard. He hopes to detach the warm friends ol MT. Bryan from the democratic ticke and to gain their votes himself. Ht will not detach a large number, but loss of d few thousand votes in tht contested states would be felt, and | night be very damaging.
 As the campaign warns up in oc tober no doubt the Watson scheme will be uncovered, and perhaps fully exposed, and the supporters of MT Bryan will do as MT. Bryan himself is doing-they will vote straight on cleo ton day. They never have bolted and they never will. Mir. Watson cannot mislead them. MT. Bryan will soon take the stump and he can speedily undo the mischief that MT Watson has been devising.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-10-02
 LULLABY

l. w. Foley in the New York Times. Sleepy little, creepy little goblins in the gloaming With their airy little, fairy little faces all aglow, Winking little, blinking little brownies gone a-roaming, Hear the rustlng little, bustling little footfals as they go. Laughing little, chaffing little voices sweetly singing In the dearest little, queerest little baby lullabies,
 Creep Creepl Creep!
 Time to go to sleepl Baby playing possum with his big brown eyes! Cricket in the thicket with the oldest lit- tie chatter Sings his rattlng little. prattling httie' tattling little tune; Fleet the feet of tiny stars go batter pat ter, batter, As the scamper from the heavens at the rising of the. moon Beaming little, gleaming little firefies go dreaming To the dearest little. queerest little baby lullabies
 Creep! Creep! CreepI
 Time to go to sleep Baby playing 'possum with ms pig pro"n eyesl Quakiig little. shaking little voices all a-quiver In the mushy little. rushy little weedy' reedy bngs, Droning little, moaning httie chorus oy the riveg, In the croaking little. joking little ca- dence of the frogs. Eerie little cherry little glowworms in tho Sloamine Where the clt r heads like fairy little nightcaps rihe.
 Creep! creepl Creep!
 Time to go to sleep: Baby playing possum with his big brown eyes!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-10-02
Frank Duncan In Custody,

"The gods are just" says the i'm mortal bard, and of our pleasant vices make instruments to scourge us." Frank Duncan was engaged in his accustomed and probably pleas. ant vice of safe-breaking when he was arrested He had become bold enough to operate in an adjoining state knowing full well that a death sen tence hung over his head in Alabama No doubt this professional crimina has been preying upon the public eyel since his escape, and more danger ous one probably does not exist in tho country today.
 It is incredible that Governor Jen pings will refuse to honor Governor
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-10-02
Sugar Cane In Market.

q notice that sugarcane is beginning to come into the market for mastication by the children and by older people who still possess the sweet tooth remarked farmer from Shades valley yesterday.
 This is the only reminder I observe that cool weather is soon to be with us again. Of course this early sugarcane comes from the southern part of the state; but few people know that Shades valley produces sugarcane profitably when proper attention is given to its cul- tivation. l believe this is about as far north as it can be grown to anything like maturity. In fact, Shades valley will grow almost anything that any other section of the state grows"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-10-02
Good Theatrical Week,

Next week is one of promise for Bir- ingham," said local press agent yes- terday Both of the theatres have un- usually attractive bills, and If the people are not satisfied they will indeed be hard to please. At the Jefferson we will have Edward Morgan in The Eternal City one of the strongest plays now before the public; Candida perhaps George Ber- nard Shaw's greatest comedy; Peggy from Paris clever musical comedy by George Ade, and seen here in it's original metropolitan proportions. ard Adelaide Thurston in Polly Primrose. a play that struck the southern fancy last year so forciby that we will again have an op- portunity of reveling in it's ante-bellum atmosphere.
 "Then at the Bijou we will have Joe Welch in The Peddler, one of the best productions that will be seen at that popular playhouse this season. The Ped dler is distinctly a David Warfield play, and the acting of MT. Welch Is sal to be second only to that of his great prede cessor."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-10-02

democrats expect to carry New York for Parker and the indications are they will
 Connecticut seems more nearly demo- cratic than New Jersey. Good opinion Is that Connecticut will go democratic. In New Jersey there is a very large float ing Italian vote It is the balance of power and it is purchasable. The party which makes the best use of the purse will pocket the state.
 Tn the west it must be admitted that the democratic party Is facing a hard proposition. With New York, New Jer- sey and Connecticut we must carry h. diana. There is no possible chance of Illinois, and the chances are that the democratic national committee will con centrate it's fight in the west upon h. diana and Wisconsin. We have a fighting chance in both states.
 If the election were tomorrow, 1t must be admitted that the chances would fa- vor Roosevelt's reelection, but 1t is more than a month off, with opportunity of persistent work, and the entire situation may change and result as it did in 1892.
 The people of Birmingham are facing all sorts of hard propositions just at present. The merchant is bearing most of the brunts of the troubles affecting this community.
 The most serious one is the recent increase of insurance rates. I know of one merchant whose rate has been in- creased one dollar on the hundred dollars of insurance over the old rate, and of a number who are paying from 40 to 60 cents more than the rate existing few months ago. Whether this is be- cause of the losses of the insurance com panies in the Baltimore fire, or because of losses here, ,on't seem to have been fully explained I heard local insur- ance man say yesterday that the insur- ance companies had lost $500OOO in Bir- mingham this year-more than the pre- miums collected from Birmingham. Yei they do not apparently contend that the fire department is inefficient. The off, cials of Birmingham claim that they have complied with all the demands of the insurance companies as to the efficiency of the fire department. I am also told 1 that insurance representatives have maae
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-10-02
IN HOTEL LoBBIES
Col. E. L. Russell.

.
 There are thousands of AlaoaIiiiai.s who were delighted to read in the ilo..i .a,, ing dispatches that Colonel E. h. n'''.s., s,,a .of Mobile has received promotion a' '..s hands of the directors Of the Mopne 'i.e Ohio railroad" said a prominent cl'iAsA yesterday.
 Colonel Russell is one of the very oess citizens of Alabama taking a pIoi0uil9 interest in affairs looking to the ap Building of his state, and more espeei9,i1y of his home town. When the NioD'sS and Ohio was an independent ioau Colonel Russell was it's president anu no administration was most satisfactory eo the stockholders. A couple of years aso the Southern bought majority oi ''ie stock of the Mobile and onio ana as matter of course. Samuel Spencer as president of fbe Southern became presl- dent of the new acquired line. AL 'ns. time Colonel Russell was made Benei a' counsel, with rather extensive autnoii's and since the resignation of General Manager Clark the new position Of wee president has been created
 Tt is understood in railroad cireies that Colonel Russelrs new honors extend his authority considerably, the general manager, auditor and treasurer now re- porting to him. He has appointeo h. Taylor, formerly auditor of the road' u be general manager. MT. Taylor IS an other native Alabamian, a brother oi Hon. Hannis Taylor,
 Tt may not be generally known III Birmingham that Colonel Russell IS na- tive of North Alabama, born and reared to young manhood in Franklin county He is a first cousin to Governor Cunning ham and the two were boys together They are not unalike since they nave grown to manhood. Both are Drllliah and eloquent orators, and their extraor' dinary entertaining conversational pow CTS will readily make either the cehlei of an admiring group of listeners.
 Colonel Russell owns palaual noin' in the beautiful old city of Mobile wnef' he resides with his daughter, an onl! child. Many Birmingham people re1olc with him in his promotion, for he IS true friend of this great district, recog nizing it as one of the strongest feeder for his road
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-10-02
Sweep Too Early.

For sometime past especially since the theatrical season has been opened for the winter, numerous complaints have been made on account of the early hours the street sweeping and sprinkling forces get to work at night cleaning the streets in the business section of the city. Theatre patrons say that the street department should not begin the work of cleaning the streets until after midnight. As the case Is now the forces start at 10 or Il o'clock. and although the streets are sprinkled before swept, the dust proves quite a nuisance.
 The matter will probably be taken up with the street department upon the re- turn of Street Commissioner McCartin from St. Louis.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-10-02
NED BRACE TALKS ABOUT NATIONAL POLITICS
 AND AFFAIRS OF INTEREST TO HOME PEOPLE

no complaint of water pressure.
 The people are really entitled to know from the representatives of the South eastern Tariff association what the trouble is in Birmingham which causes such a tremendous and sudden increase in insurance rates. If they want the fire department increased they should specify in what manner. If the water pressure and the water supply is not sufficient that should be specified in order that the people may take steps to remedy it. The insurance association has no right to bounce upon Birmingham, raise rates enormously and play havoc with the peo- pie and merchants without giving them an opportunity to remedy defects which are either real or imaginary.
 Of course the insurance people, being united into one gigantic organization or trust, have the power to do as they please temporarily. but plain business honesty requires that, with the tremendous busi- ness they do here, representative be sent from the headquarters in Atlanta or elsewhere to thoroughly investigate the Birmingham situation and specify just what Is necessary for Birmingham to do to get back on the old basis with which the property owners were satisfied, and upon which the insurance companies have proflted upon Birmingham.
 Let the facts be made public.
 The paving of Highland avenue seems to have been put upon the block, so to speak, and knocked down to the kiekers. Wooden block raving has been killed ap- parently, and 1t looks like there has been so many protests from residents against every variety of paving suggested that the whole thing is to be abandoned for a time. and that section of the city is to continue to suffer. There is no coun- | try road in Alabama In worse condition than Highland avenue from Twentieth street to Twenty-fourth street. or the Cabaniss corner. If the board of aldermen will not put down wooden blocks or ni- luminous macadam, they should at least chert the street or do something to put it in condition by which vehicles can pass over 1t.
 - 9n
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-10-02
saturdat Niaht Arrivals.

Tt is a noticeable fact that fewer vis- itors from the different parts of the state come to Birmingham on Saturday nights than any other time of the week." re- marked a hotel clerk last evening.
 Men like to be at home with their fam flies Saturday night and on Sunday, and this accounts for 1t all. Many commercial tourists without families drop into Bir- mlnehar , Saturday nights and spend l" est here. In fact, this city
 -s for a goodly company of
 of the grip. I understanu
 en claim Birmingham as
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-10-02
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

From the New York Press.
 A girl just has to trust any man that always pretends that he hugged her against her will.
 Even when a girl prefers the other fellows company she'll get mad with you if you don't try to cut him out.
 A wife saves a great deal of money for a man he would spend enjoying himself and spends it twice over on clothes.
 Sometimes the man who talks lot fools people into thinking how much he knows as easily as the man who doesn't talk at all.
 There is nothing a man can snsor about the education of his children out his wife shedding tears over his kind point of view
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-10-02
NATIONAL POLITICS.
Five Great Questions.

From the Mobile Item.
 The five great questions which Judge Parker asks the voters to decide are the five great necessities to the prosperity and happiness of the American people, It is with the people of this country to say whether the country is to enter an era of advancement or whether it will lag among the nations of the earth.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-10-02

Senator Fairbanks remarked the other day that locomotive letting off steam was like the democratic orators, "capable of making a great deal of noise, but of doing little else" If the senator had stopped to think he would have seen the absurdity of his simile. The chief business of a loco motive is not making a noise by any means.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-10-02

The Grand Duke Nicholas is going to the front, but the Japanese are no respecter of grand dukes. They did not even halt operations out of re- spect for Boris of concert hall fame.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-10-02

Dowie is selecting his associate apostles without any civil service ex- animation. Every apostle selected must bind himself to ride in the air ship.