davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-23
NOVEL FIRE ALARM.
Every House Should Contain Supply
 of Giant Flrecrackers.

Baltimore Correspondent New York Sun.
 A good way to prevent yourself from being burned to death In your own house Is to have on hand a large supply of dynamite firecrackers. That is the the ory of Chief Horton of the Baltimore fire department, who directed the efforts of the Baltimore firemen during the Feb ruary conflagration until he was struck by a couple of live wires and rendered unconscious. Commenting upon this the ory, Chief Horton says:
 About the best fire detectives are large dynamite crackers. l have these crackers distributed all over my house and have advised any number of per- sons to use them.
 "The idea is decidedly practicable. One of the crackers is attached to a length of wire, and it is then suspended from some place where it is likely to be useful
 CT have these crackers hanging from the roof of the cellar, from the ceilings of the stairways, from under the padded seats of the chairs and sofas-every place where they can conveniently be put and are likely to be of use.
 'eThe idea is simply this: If a fire breaks out 1t can't make much headway before 1t reaches one of the crackers, and the explosion gives the alarm. The idea came to me some years dBO. dId Wd5 Hu6 gested by a fire in a grocery store.
 ''The fire had got considerable headway, and 1t was discovered by the explosion of some canned goods which attracted the attention of the people in the house l decided that if canned vegetables made a good fire detective, crackers would be just as good.
 There is absolutely no danger as some would imagine from the dynamite crack er unless the fire is there; and when a dynamite cracker-the kind I use is about two inches long-explodes it throws itself right out with the force of the explo- sion. It Is a good plan to keep a couple of them in a wardrobe where there are a number of garments. The probabili- ties are that If fire should take place the force of the detective cracker in go- ing off would extinguish the blaze.
 'I have fixed up hundreds of these crackers for various persons and certain ly do advise their use, especially in houses in the suburbs, where there are not likely to be people passing and where a fire is, therefore, likely to get considerable head way before 1t is discovered"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-23
MT. Roosevelt as Conductor.

The Chicago convention is apathetic, even listless. No enthusiasm in the street. No flowers and few flags, and those were purchased by the manage ment itself But what could be more natural! It is a predetermined, per sonally- show. Wires are kept hot between it and the White House, or rather between the White House and it. It is not IT. The White House is holding down that job.
 MT. Roosevelt is present in an elec- tric sense. He is at one end of the wire, and Lodge and Root sit at the other end, mus enabling the President to conduct in personal manner tho convention. He is distant and yet present owing to the quick and con-
 'nuous electric service. This Is why
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-23
Afraid of Boil Weevlls.

Farmers at Dothan complain that their cotton is being ravaged by an insect which they believe is the boil weevil,' said planter last night, 'but there Is still some doubt about the pest. Farmers and planters in all parts of the south seem to be in mortal dread of the boil weevil and every time they discover an unfamiliar insect they conclude immedi- ately that 1t must be the advance guard of the pest.
 T think It is all nonsense to worry over the boil weevil until 1t really gets here. There is no reason to suppose that the boil weevil army Is sending out any scouts that have gotten this far without being discovered. The chances are that there will be much excitement over the weevil in Louisiana and Mississippi be- fore 1t gets to alabama. It Is not an in- sect that Is apt to miss any good cotton country just for the pleasure of soaring Alabama farmers"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-23
MARY MoRlsON.

By Robert Burns
 Mary, at thy window be.
 It Is the wished, the trysted houri Those smiles and glances let me see'
 That make the miser's treasure poor; How blithely wad I bide the stoure' A weary slave frae sun to sun; Could I the rich reward secure
 The lovely Mary Morrison. Yestreen, when to the trembling string The dance gaed thro the lighted na' To thee my fancy took its wing
 sat, but neither heard nor saw; Tho this was fair, and that was praW' And you the toast of a the town. I sighed, and said amang them a,
 ''Ye are ma Mary Morison.' O Mary, canst thou wreck his peace.
 What for thy sake wad gladly dee! Or canst thou break that heart of niss whase only fault is loving thees If love for love thou wilt na' gie,
 At least be pity to me shown! A thought ungentle canna be-
 The thought O Mary Morison-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-23
From the New York Mall.

rTom the New 1Ork Mall.
 N URIOUS views of the stock com
 0 panies of today and of former O times are held by critic of this town, noted chiefly for his insistence upon the decadence of the modern stage. He does not believe in the modern stock com pany, which he describes as generally a stationary group of inferior performers, whose business 1t is to provide support for stars of lesser magnitude" He goes on:
 'The person who happens to be at the head of the company plays the chief part. whether in any way fitted for it or not. This one regulation, that one man must have all these best parts, shows the breadth of the gulf that lies between the new stock company and the old. The fundamental notion of the stock company of ancient days was that each member of it should be content to play that part in the selected play for which he was best suited''
 One would think from this that in those days the parts were distributed with a view to fitting each player best, that the leading man and leading woman took now King Lear and Cordelia, now Adam and Celia, because they could play old men and ingenues best. As a fact, they did nothing of the sort. The leading man took the best male parts, the lead ing woman the best female parts, wheth- CT or not they were suited for them.
 our critic. laudator temporis acti, goes on his way thus:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-23
STILL FOR GoRMAN.
Congressman Bankhead Is Euthusias-
 tic for the MaryIander.

From the Washington Post.
 q don't know what will be the outcome of the St. Louis convention. but I am as enthusiastic today for the nomination of Senator German as I have been from the outset" remarked Congressman John H. Bankhead of Alabama, at the Riggs House
 Congressman Bankhead shows no signs of the terrific political fight he lately underwent in his home district, when he performed the almost unprecedented feat of beating a hero. That he did down such a popular idol as Richmond Pearson Hob son was a wonderful exhibition of the triumph of common sense over genius. Alabama has two senators-men of re- nown and great popularity, but both verging on the limits of service set by old age. In the election of a successor to one of these, probably Senator Nor gan, MT. Bankhead will, it is thought, be a formidable factor
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-23
WOMEN AS JURORS.
Mean Man Tells What Would Be the
 Result.

From San Francisco Town Talk.
 Defendants Lawyer-Your name, mad anne?
 First Juror-I don't see why you need my name.
 D. L.-It is necessary. Your name please?
 F. J-Mary Louise Irma Ethelwyne Smythe-not Smith, remember. l am Brinckerhoff-van Renssellaer. Our fam fly was very much opposed to my marry ing a Smythe, for you sec
 D. L.-That is sufficient, madame Your age?
 r. J.-Sir-r-r?
 D. L-I said your age.
 F. J. (blushing)-Twenty-thr
 D. L.-Have you read anything about the case in the papers?
 F. J.-No, I havn't had time yet. You see I belong to club. and we are getting up an entertainment. and so havnt been able to touch a paper for an age.
 D. L-(smiling)-very well. Are you prepared, then, to give an unbiased opin- ion on the case?
 F. J.-Oh, of course My husband says I am one of the fairest women he ever met I am never prejudiced, even if I don't like the looks of person. L.
 D. L-(To clerk)-Call the next tales- woman.
 Clerk calls Mrs. Brown.
 Mrs. B.-(to lawyer, indignantly)-I am not a saleswomsn, sir! No member of my family is in trade. sir!
 D. L.-You misunderstood me, mad anne; I merely applied to you the tech
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-23
Mr. Roots Theory.

Chairman Root attributes all the blessings we enjoy to the republican party, leaving nothing to Providence, and its rains and sunshine, nothing to the enterprise and enrgy of remark able people, nothing to natural re- sources. The republican party is TT. It did all things, and it should, adds Mr. Root, be kept in power.
 MT. Roots theory goes too far for his own good. It proves too much. If the republican party is all-prevalent and all-powerful, let it step up like a man and shoulder the business de- pression that set in at the opening of 1903, and has gone on from bad to worse ever since. The Dingley-trust party was in full power before and after taking It controlled congress, the courts and the executive. And yet it has permitted business disaster after disaster to occur. It has per mitted failures to increase, bank clear ings to fall rapidly, railroad earnings to decline, and gold to go out in un- precedented quantities. The securities of its esteemed contributors in Wall street are resting on the bottom, and all things are at low ebb except the cost of living. Secretary Shaw is at- 599ndiqg to the aforementioned matter, End he hopes to be able to tail it up to truly republican figures.
 MT Root Should ask the miners in West Virginia what they think of re- publican rule. He should ask the lumbermen what it has done to their industry. He can look out on his own dear Wall street and see the havoc Dingleyism in the concrete has wrought Hard times are everywhere, but MT. Root forgot to mention this achievement of the republican party. If the republicans are entitled to credit for the boom of 1902, they must ac. cept responsibility for the hard times that naturally followed it.
 The truth is, their artificial system created both. They rob the many for the benefit of the few. They fostered the trusts. Between the trusts and Dingleyism, they give us an alterna- tion of unhealthy booms and pinching depressions. That is the real naked truth, and MT. Root forgot to men, l ton it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-23
WeddInns Are Popular.

''The young people of Birmingham are taking advantage of June to get mar ried," said clergyman "Of course such state of affairs is to be expected in the magic month of June, but weddings seem to be more in favor this year than usual From all parts of the Birmingham dis trict come accounts of weddings past, present and to come I am glad to see that most of them are performed with the sanction of relatives and that Gretna Green affairs are not much in favor a. though l am told that Cupid is just as strenuous when under restraint in Bir- mingham as anywhere else"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-23
LITTLE LOST DOG.

From the Dothan Siftings.
 We lost little dog, puppy some days ago. We would not advertise or raise any other alarm. We were afraid he'd show up again. We had got to the point where his absence was endurable, and thought he was safe. Not so though. He'd fol- lowed a wagon track like scandal does fame, and found home and loved ones accidental the other day. His late mas ter thought we'll of him and had trained him to wear tan collar, made of his boys belt He'd had bath and a sham poo, and had a dressed up appearance entirely foreign. and we didn't recog- nize him till he'd licked the boys face and made his bed down near the front door where 1t answers as a back-stop for his feet while taking a rake-off for fleas. That test proved him no impostor
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-23
VERSATILITY PLAYS NO
 PART ON MODERN STAGE

Where is to be found today an actor Christopher Sly, as Sir Peter Teszle and Bottom the Weaver, as Cardinal Wolsey and Sir Pertinax Macsycophant, as Lear and Lord Ogleby, as King John and Baiiie Nichol Jarvie? Samuel Phelps was all this and much more, and he was but print CTS apprentice when he joined a stock company In that school he learned all he knew.
 How did he learn to play such widely different parts? By always acting those which he fitted, which fitted him; or by acting the parts which belonged to his po- sition in the company, and adapting his personality to them? By the second pro- cess, of course. It is because our modern actors are fitted, because they have no call to merge their personalities in their parts that they are always the same, and show no versatility.
 As a matter of fact, the actor in a "popular-price" stock company today gets much the same training that Phelps did: the deadly one rehearsal and two performances day are the chief points of difference. His chances TOT advance ment are as good as were Phelps when he left the printers case for the stage; the trouble is that versatility is not wanted inst now-the actor who is always the same is the idol of the hour, and that fact closes the gate in the face Of an actor who can play many parts in many ways.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-23

the convention is apathetie. All is cut-and-dried. It is at the most rati- fication meeting, and all know they must obey Master Lodge, who pre- sides at the Chicago end of the White House leased wire.
 The delegates are automatons, and the people in the galleries and in the street know the programme, and are simply waiting to see it carried out to the letter.
 Former conventions were boss-ruled. For example, the Hanna convention that nominated Mckinley. But in all previous cases there were indirection and concealment of the hand of power On the surface there was an appear ance of seeking popular favor Popu lar government seemed to exist. All such methods are done away with Franlxness is the rule now. Open undisguised control is the thing, and the wire from the White House is the real convention. It ticks off the steps to be taken one by one This is cof1- trol of the republicans, by the White House, for the trusts and Dingleyites, and there is no help against it while the people are willing to be ruled by a combination of tariff benefciaries and Wa.l-street promoters.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-23
LEGS AND ARMS TRADE

From the New York Commercial
 The manager of a New York concern that deals in artificial limbs and such things is watching the outcome of the war In the far east with more than ordi- nary interest.
 After the civil war" he remarked to a reporter one day last week, this house, which up to that time occupied cramped quarters, had to branch out Tn order to meet the demands upon its business. We noticed no increase in our trade growing out of the Spanish-American war. But we expect to open a house in Tokio, and maybe at Harbin and Mukden after the war Is over.
 Tt would be no use doing so before. While the war lasts the hospitals will take care of the maimed When it is over and the maimed survivors have gone to their homes and are returning to their vacations, then they will want what we shall have to offer.
 ''It is quite common to hear people talk about the great number of cripples in a city like New York, made so by the many accidents which occur daily. It Is an er- roneous impression.
 My business is a barometer on such matters. In a purely business way we have occasion to complain of dull times. In proportion to the great crowds that daily cone and go taking into consider a. ton the countless ways for accidents to occur, 1t Is truly remarkable that we have no more criprles
 Speaking from a commercial stand point, concerns like the one I represent might be opposed to The Hague tribunal. The more wars the better for us. Rather merciless, Is it not? But it's business"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-23
NO NEED FOR FEAR.
1m the Cleveland Lender.

From the Cleveland Leader.
 A story is told of a canny Scot who dealt in old horses alternating his spells of labor with heavy sprees. During the period of depression which followed each overindulgence John habitually took to bed, and there diligently studied the fam fly Bible. During one of these fits of at tempted reformation his condition prompted his wife to call in the Rev. MT. Wallace the parish minister, who at the time happened to be passing.
 "Oh, Maister Wallace, come in and see poor John; he's rale bad
 What's wrang wi himT'
 He's feart to meet his Makker," said Mrs. John.
 Quick as fire came the crushing reply:
 'Humph; tel. m he needna be feart for that; he'll never seem.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-23
vAsTNEss OF LONDON.
he Pal Mall Gazette.

From the Pall Mall Gazette.
 There are about 5000 miles of railway in Greater London, and it is estimated that something like O0,000,000 separate journeys are made by passengers an- nually.
 The number of journeys on an average weekday Is 1.5O0000.
 In twelve hours 16.054 vehicles of all kinds passed a particular spot in Picca- : dilly and a full service of 6s0 buses pass the Bank of England in an hour.
 The number of passengers carried by the London trains in a yea is over 3s0.- 600, 900.
 A census taken of the number of pedes- trians who crossed London bridge On a certain day showed that they totsled l1e,s ,sO2. and in ninet zen and a half hours during a day in Aprl las. year 2iS,015 Ieo- pie crossed the rnalwnys at the Bank
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-23

son was licked but he wasn't, for just as soon as he got suit of court plaster and washed his face he started out again for Mir. snee. Again they met and again they fought. but the results were not de- cisive' for bystanders separated the com batants before knockout blow could be delivered. After these exciting and strenuous adventures. Parson Montgom- cry went home. prepared three sermons on Christian Piety," and delivered them the next day. It is toss up as to whether the parson should continue in the minis try or enter the prize ring for which he is well fitted.
 Cuts of Mrs. Astor's famous" gown are going the rounds of the press. From a cursory examination one would suppose that there Is not much to the gown except the skirt We are not permitted a front view, but the rear seems to consist largely of Mrs. Astors back The ''V'' extends within few inches of the waist line, and there is much speculation as to how the garment is held upon Mrs. Astor's shoul- | ders. The main advantage of the Astor ball gown is that it saves material at the expense of the lady's back However. as Mrs. Astor's back is all her own there Is no reason why she should not exhibit as much of it as she pleases.
 In the glad summer time one can hard 1 ly resist the temptation to make A piea in defense of the paper collar. the rubber collar, the celluloid collar, or any other collar that is not linen The main ob- | jection to these artificial linen collars 1 is that they are not stylish looking. and moreover the celluIoid variety is also un- pleasantly combustible. But for down. right, practical utility it must be con- fessed that the rubber collar has the linen collar badly handicapped in every way except looks. especially in the sum- mer when collars are nuisances at best 1 Unfortunately the fake linen collar has not been accepted by the elite and there | fore it's usefulness is confined largely to the colored brother and the rural preach CT whose laundry bills are never large. l The laps are absorbing western ciyili- zation at a rapid rate but they still have l a few things to learn about self-d -destruc- | tion. Suicide is SO common in Japan that | the unsuccessful warrior or statesman who has failed to meet the appreciation of his people seldom hesitates to remove himself by this means. Suicide is not re- garded a mark of bravery in this country. On the other hand it is deemed a sure in- dication of moral cowardice and when the Japs learn to condmen self destruction instead of demanding it the mikado's kingdom will make a rapid stride in the favor of nations more advanced in l thought
 When John T. Sullivan, the actor, was on his deathbed he called to his side his leading woman and an intimate friend and said, "I am going to die. Tell Rose that I wish I could have seen her before I go." The Rose referred to was Rose Coghlan, who obtained final decree of divorce against Sullivan a short time ago, | a circumstance that weighed much on 1 the sick mans mind. Sullivan was not acting on his deathbed but he never in- terpreted pathos better and the public wonders if Rose felt any remorse. D ~
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-23

nical term-taleswoman. That is what every woman becomes when she enters the jury box to be examined
 Mrs. B-well. I don't want to waste time in this horrid court. I'm going to tea this afternoon. Judge-Mrs. Brown is excused.
 Clerk calls Mrs. Jones.
 Mrs. J.-I beg to be excused. I am right in the midst of dressmaking pre- pairing for the summer, and the modiste Is waiting now to fit me. Judge-A trivial excuse; you must serve. Clerk calls Mrs. Doe. Mrs. D.-My baby swallowed a pin this morning, and I must go right home to attend to the child. Judge-Mrs. Doe is excused.
 After 7s0 ladies are examined jury is secured.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-23

is accompanied by pr. Michel and G. ". Fly.
 J. c. simmons of Chicago is at the Co., lonial
 Mir. and Mrs. J. R. Ryan are at the Colonial
 J. F. Scale of Selma Is registered at the Morris.
 W. E. Howard of Memphis Is at the Hillman.
 c. S. Todd. travelling auditor for the Southern railway. with headquarters at Washington. is at the Metropolitan.
 James F. Greene of Atlanta is stopping at the St. Nicholas.
 Governor Cunningham arrived in Birm- ingham last night. He is here to attend big meeting of the shriners this even- ing.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-23
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

From the New York Press
 It's very easy for a woman to be proud of her husband unless they have a son for her to be proud of instead.
 When man kisses a girl in the dark and she is terribly surprised. it is a sign she thought it was somebody else.
 A girl could never be comfortable in trousers, because she could never treat a pair of suspenders the way she does a safety pin.
 A woman has as much faith in her in stirct about the way to tell whether men are good as Tn her mothers recipe for the way to make pumpkin pies.
 A woman's way of saying to the minis ter that she would like to whale her boy, who has just knocked over the water pitcher, is Ito declare; Dear little chap, he is so flQl of innocent spirits." X
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-23
St. Bernard College.

St. Bernard college, near Cullman, had an exceptionally brilliant commence ment this week. It was the twelfth an- nual and the students acquitted them selves in fine style. A number of Bir- mingham people were in attendance.
 The dramatic performance Tuesday night made a great hit and the com mencement exercises proper held yes terday was up to the high standard of the institution. The Rev. Father Kerri- gan of Birmingham delivered the address to the students. His theme was 'Educa- tion," and it Is said that he surpassed himself both in the matter of his ad- dress and his happy style of delivery.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-23

The Countess Russell, who married her footman under the impression that he was a prince, has secured divorce ana will now be free to marry foot man under the impression that he is a noble.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-23

Senator Lodge was much perturbed when he discovered that there were no Roosevelt pictures in the conven- tion hall at Chicago. A large con signment should be ordered from Car toonist Opper at once.