davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-16
srlcklayers Leave for Baltimore.

Large numbers of brick masons are
hurrying to Baltimore from all parts of
the country and a number have recently
left Birmingham for the stricken city,"
said a member of the craft yesterday.
Builders are offering tempting wages In
order to secure skilled labor and many
workmen are taking advantage of the
chance to make money. l am told that
brick masons are being paid about Sc
day and are scarce at that
Contractors are making strenuous eff
forts to rebuild the burned portion of the
city as speedily as is compatible with
thoroughness and Baltimore offers fine
opportunities of temporary employment at
rate much above the usual pay In fact
the town will be the scene of great build
ing activity for possibly a full year or
more. Since it Is proposed to replace all
the burned structures by modern bust
ness blocks of handsome design a large
army of workmen will have to be en-
ployed. The only disadvantage is the fact
that this work will be finished some day
and thenthe demand for artizans will not
be so great and many of the workmen
who are going to Baltimore now will
have to go elsewhere for employment af-
ter the town is restored
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-16
Death of Senator Hanna.
Mark Hanna is dead!

Mark Hanna is dead!
A career is ended that in some re-
spects had no parallel in our history.
In President McKinley's administra-
ton Mr.. Hanna held a position as con-
fidential and unofficial adviser that no
one else could cope with. Our entire
story of politics offers no similar ex-
ample. And If Mr.. Mckinley had lived
to the end of his second term beyond
all doubt Mr.. Hanna would have named
his successor. Either that or else Mr.
Mckinley would have insisted that the
Ohio senator should succeed him in the
White House. In either event Mr..
Roosevelt would not have been Sc
lected.
But all speculations of that nature
were ended by the death of President
Mckinley, and now death has stricken
down Marcus A. Hanna himself, who
was the most forceful man of hiSparty
and time. Coming into politics after
he had established a high business
reputation and won fortune, he aston
ished all by his tact and skill, and later
still he astonished them by his terse
and telling efforts on the stump and
in the senate. His successive sue
cesses show what energy and rugged
honesty and persistent power can ac-
complish in this country.
The death of Mr.. Hanna will prove a
serious loss to the republican party.
He did not love Mr.. Roosevelt, but he
would have stood Loyalty by him in
case lof his nomination by his party,
and possessing as he did the conf
dence of all business interests, he
would have been almost invaluable to
Mr.. Roosevelt in the extension of his
ambition All that has, however, been
swept away by the hand of Death, and
the great manager of men and affairs
is now handed over to history. He will
assuredly fill an unique place in our
political annals.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-16
REBUILDING Baltimore.

Mayor McLane and the committee
on public safety are acting in unison
to secure the building of brighter,
better and securer Baltimore. No
building permit to those who propose
to erect mere shells of buildings. Good
structures are desired in the heart of
the rich central city, and public author
tiles will apply the law to its limit in
securing such buildings. This is good
news.
The building season is close at hand,
and the intervening time will be util-
lied in Baltimore in procuring plans
and in making other preliminary ar
rangements, and doubtless by Christ
mas time the new Baltimore will begin
to assume the solid proportions of bus
mess buildings. The city authorities
can do good deal in the direction of
securing better buildings, for no build
ing can be erected until city permit
is granted
But when an attempt to create more
convenient and appropriate streets
streets of widths proportioned to the
buildings to be placed upon them
difficulties and obstacles will appear.
After the great fire in Boston similar
task was attempted, but Individual
energy brought it to naught. Nothing
could be accomplished against indi-
vidual ownership and individual plans,
and history will probably repeat itself
in Baltimore, although some of its
burned out business streets are mar
row and crooked. Baltimore will be
fortunate indeed If it can secure few
improvements in the direction of a
rational street system. A few changes
for the better may be possible, even If
a general plan of street reform be our
of the question, and utterly impracti-
cable. Reform by spots is better than
no reform at all.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-16
After TIfe's f7tfuI fever he sleeps we'll.
Macbeth.
Compressinu Cotton

At Port Gibson, in Mississippi, a
compress operator recently succeeded
In putting 122 bales of cotton in &c.
foot car, and this stands as the record
loading of a box car. Heretofore rs
bales has been the standard load of a
36-foot car, but it is now shown that by
using more pressure and by being ex.
tremely careful in the tying of the
bales, and slowing and loading of them
in the car, it is possible to put 120
bales in car This is an important
matter, because the more bales that
can be put in car the less the rates
on cotton should be, and in the long
run would be. Any concession in rates
is, or should be, that much more money
in the farmers pockets.
The railroads are becoming satisfied
that they can never get the best serv-
ice at the compress until that branch
of the cotton trade is controlled, and
probably owned, by them, and for the
purpose of instituting needful reforms
they propose to become compress OPP
orators as well as owners of transport
tation lines. They desire maximum
service at a minimum cost, and they
say they cannot obtain this unless they
own the congresses.
The feat accomplished at Port Glib
son, Mississippi, was nearly equalled
in Memphis when ia bales were put
in a car. But Port Gibson holds the
record of shipments in 36-foot car.
Few will be able to put as many bales
in a car, but the work done at Port
Gibson shows what is possible, and the
railroads will never be satisfied until
they are able to put as many bales in
an ordinary car
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-16

or about one-ffth of the states total
production. Jefferson still yields over
one-half of the states total, but the
gain In Walker is more rapid than the
gain in Jefferson. Tuscaloosa is also
showing up well, and when the Warrior
is opened Tuscaloosa may rival Walker
or at any rate Bib. Thirteen coun-
ties, all told, in this state contain coal
measures that are not only workable,
but were worked last year. The thlr-
teen are in order of production Jeffer-
son, Walker, Bibb, Tuscaloosa, St.
Clair Cullman, Shelby, Etowah, Mar
ion, Blount, Winston, Jackson and De-
Kalb. The number thirteen" may be
unlucky, but our 1886 coal workers
will not pay much attention to any
superstition of that sort. If the price
of mining be satisfactory, they will
let the number of mining counties reg
ulate itself
The coke production of the year 1909
was increased to 2,65S,1S5 tons, as
against 2,21O.735 tons in 1902. The
coke increase is about fifteen per cent,
thus keeping step with the increase in
coal production.
In the production of coke we are ont
ranked by Pennsylvania only, but in
the production OF coal we stand below
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois and West
Virginia-second in coke and fifth III
coal production. Indiana has had a
notion that she could outstrip Alabama,
but she has not thus far succeeded in
climbing into fifth place. She did not
do so in 1903, and If she waits until
the Warrior is opened and the isthmian
canal is dug she never will outrun
Alabama in the production of coal.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-16

large audience. He has an engagement
to lecture at Pratt City tonight. Captain
Hobson is waging an aggressive cam
paign IN the Sixth district for congress.
He states thta he feels greatly gratifled
with the hearty reception that he is re-
ceiylng everywhere. Captain Hobson will
return to Tuscaloosa Wednesday.
c. B. Asher of Sheffield, is registered at
the Florence.
]. P. Steele and L. L. Bates of Centre
Vile, are at the Morris.
D. G. Henderson of Guntersville. is at
the Metropolitan.
George Roddy of Chicago, is stopping
at the st. Nicholas.
James P. Johnson. well known hotel
man of Dayton. Fla, is at the Florence.
W. e. Pitts of Montgomery. is at the
Morris.
The Hon. Edward de Graffenreid of
Greensboro. is at the IIillman.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-16
THE OLD DAYS.

James Witcomb Riley.
The old daysl-the far days,
The even-dear and fart
The old days-the lost days
How lovely they werel
The old days of morning,
With the dew-drench on the flowers
And apple-buds and blossoms
OF those old days of ours.
Then was the real gold
Spendthrift Summer fiuns,
Then was the real song
Thrush and robin sung!
There was never. censure then
Old honest praise
And all things were worthy Of 1t
In the old days.
There bid the true friends
The first and the best;
There clings the green grass
Close where they rest;
Would they were here? No
Would we were there!
The. old days-the lost days
How lovely. they were!
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-16
Coal and Coke in Alabama.

Without including the coal con-
sumed by the mine operators in their
boilers at the mines, Mine Inspector j.
M. Gray puts the total production of
Alabama in the year 1908 at II, 1907
tons, as against 10,239,479 tons in the
previous year an increase Of about Is
per cent The three leading coal coun-
ties, Jefferson, Walker and Bibb, pro-
duced last year 10.29s,3S9 tons, leaving
not quite fifteen per cent of the prod
uct to be- mined in the other ten coal
counties of the state. Walkers pro-
duction is rising rapidly, its produc-
tion of last year being 2.377919 tons,
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-16
A WALKING LOCOMOTIVE.

From the Boston Globe.
Did you ever hear Of walking loco
motive? Such thing has been invented
in Liverpool, and promises great results
in heavy trucking. 1t Is a traction en-
CINE which actually and literally walks
upstairs with the stride and sure-footed-
ness of an elephant, hauling behind it
loads that would be impossible by an
ordinary engine.
The inventor is one B. ]. Diplock, a
great London shipper. 1t is called the
bedrail.
1t consist of two main parts, one being
a railway fastened to an axle box and
the other a kind of circular box with
runners and feet so arranged that they
rest alternately on the ground. A big
crane is attached, 80 that it can carry
heavy goods upstairs with ease.
AS described, the bedrail will prove n
great labor saving device for truckmen
and others handling heavy goods.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-16
MR.. LINcoLN's YARN SOCKS"

From the New York World.
Imagine" said Miss Ida Tarbell in her
address to the Chicago society. "a man
spending hours with Lincoln who could
think of nothing better for his diary than
to record that the President wore yarn
socksr' Yet that brief entry makes more
interesting reading for posterity than
would have been furnished by trans
cript of the Presidents views on the
politics of the day.
Particularly in this time of presidential
outriders and ambassadorial cavalcades
and of royal precedence" for the chief
servant of the people and his family, the
insight it gives into the simplicity OF
White House life under the great war
executive is eloquent by contrast.
DIR. Johnson said that man who could
not get to heaven in a green velvet coat
was not likely to have his chances inn
proved by a drab one, and silk stockings
were not incompatible with statesman
ship in the early days of the nation.
Doubtless democratic simplicity was car
ried to excess in the case of Jefferson re-
ceiving the British minister in slippers
and Connemara stockings, as recorded by
the poet Tom Moore.
Yet, as seen through the enhancing per-
spective of the past, the plain living of
these great Presidents and their disre-
gard of court etiquette, the absence of
official pomp and fuss-and- feathers pa
rade at the White House, serve to set In
relief their exceptional abilities and
eminent virtues.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-16
From the New York Sun.

rIoil the new I Ork sun.
HE patriotic zeal manifested by
w the Japanese of New York, in the
contribution OF money to aid
their government in carrying on the war
with Russia, may not be of any very
great Importance practically but as an
exhibition of race sentiment it is sugges-
tive.
The number of these New York Japan
csc of whom there Is an official record is
something like 1900. Many of them are
merchants, some of whom have been very
successful in trade. Still more are en-
ployed as domestic servants, and they
too, are generally sufficiently well paid
to enable them to contribute a very con-
siderable sum to Japan in the aggregate
Almost, If not quite invariably they are
both intelligent and educated, at least as
measured by the standard of graduates
of our elementary schools; and even of
those in domestic service are many whose
intellectual training is further advanced
1t often happens that Japanese butler
or cook has been a student at an Ameri-
can college, or has been graduated from
it, and he takes up the service as the
best means available to get the money
to pay his way through college or to
pursue subsequent professional studies.
The prejudice of our own people even of
other foreigners here to such employ
ment as servile in its character Is not
shared by the Japanese. In their view,
and in xact, it is honorable. Moreover,
II is the best paid which offers. and the
demand for 1t is always great
The Japanese in New York and in other
places in this and other Occidental coun-
tries cannot be called strictly govern
ment agents, yet apparently their distri-
button through civilization in order that
they may observe its methods and be-
come proficient in it's arts Is encouraged
by the Japanese government. They con-
stitute a body of learned and investiga-
tors who must have been of great service
to Japan in interpreting the spirit and OBJ
serving the conditions in foreign coun-
tries more. especially as concerns their
material and mechanical developemnt and
the lessons in civilization offered by them
for study and imitation.
In our navy also are many of them
working humbly in the capacity OF SER
wants, and they are to be found frequent
ly in other navies. for the race is espee-
tally adapted to sea service and has
prediction for it. Hardly ship Of our
navy goes into commission without hav-
| ing Japanese in her complement of men
perhaps none Very many of the Jap
anese in New York and elsewhere in this
L - rfx hnxr vrr
| served an apprenticeship in the navy.
Being intelligent men and observing. and
also quick to learn a foreign speech,
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-16
METHODS OF JAPANESE
IN THE UNITED STATES

they are able to gather fund of infor-
nation valuable for their government,
more especially when they return to jap
an, as, it may be assumed, all of them ex-
pect to do at some time
Seven commanding officers of the Jap
anese navy are graduates from Annapolis,
and among the number is Admiral Uriu,
the commander Of the Japanese squad
ron who has lately performed sevice so
distinguished
No other people have organized so
efficient and so widely distributed a body
of students and observers throughout CIV
ilzation as that which the Japanese have
been sending out for many years. Through
them the eyes of the government are
constantly on every advancing movement
in our western civilization. All these
Japanese are of a stout loyalty to their
country If they are needed for its de-
Tense against Russia they may be ex-
pected to return to Japan willingly, even
eagerly. 1t is the same with them wheth-
er they are converts to Christianity or
real or nominal adherents of their old
religion. At. the Japanese meeting In
New York on Friday evening to further
the raising of funds for the war, among
the most enthusiastic of the speakers
We're japanese Christian missionaries and
representatives of students of the race
at Columbia and Yale universities.
Distinctions of religion seem to make
no social friction among them. Christians
and Buddhists seem to be on the closest
terms of friendship. The Japanese Chris
tan missions In Manhattan and BROOKLYN
are of the character of clubs or are
boarding houses, at which both heather
and Christians are assisted in getting
employment. The dominating spirit in
these Asiatics is common race pride and
devotion. Their relations with western
civilization are usually as outsiders and
observers rather than sympathizers.
Japan and Japanese civilization are al
ways first with them. They are discern
ing and judicial critics rather than hum
BILE admirers of our methods and our
manners.
Great numbers of Japanese have dis
tributed themselves throughout Korea
and Manchuria, and nothing that can
be made to conduce to the advantage
of their country in a contest with Russia
has escaped their vigilance for many
years past. They constitute won
derfully willy and very dangerous
foe. Russia is not more persistent than
Japan in its determination TO aggran-
die itself, for the consuming ambition
of Japan is to become the great and
dominant Oriental power and to utilize
to its advantage every lesson to be
learned from the methods of Occidental
civilization. 1t Is portentous ambition
which flames in the breast of every intel
lgent Japanese at home and abroad, and
in none, of them is it more ardent than
-
are rendering domestic service In many
places in this country. or who are en-
listed as servants in our own and other
navies.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-16
The Negro Parson.


Few city people ever have the pleas
ure of attending church in rural dis
tricts and hearing a real old-time negro
parson exhort his flock after the fashion
of his fathers-more by force of voice and
gesture than by argument, said a teach
err 1t Is really a treat to visit one of
those little, ramshackle negro churches
that are to be found scattered through
the country 1t matters not what may
be the religious faith of the congregation.
Be they Baptists or Methodists, they
are equally fervent when once inside the
church.
THE old negro parsons have a trick of
voice that is peculiar, quaint, and char
acteristic of the race. 1t Is a moving,
half singing half exhorting appeal that
never fails to affect the hearers greatly
The nearer they approach to a prolonged
wall the more excited their congregations
become, until one may see fat sisters sink
ing away in all parts of the house, while
eager, ebony faces and staring white
eyes are fixed intently on the preacher.
Frequently the exhorter is really an elo-
quent speaker in his rude way and can
sway his audience with all the skill of a
great orator. He plays upon their feelings
first with emotions of tenderness and
then of terror. Although he may revert
to the gentler phases Of the spiritual life
he delights most in lurid descriptions of
torment in hell, the wi1es of the devil
and gnawing fangs of serpents. AS he
proceeds in his vivid picturing of the
horrors of lost sinners his voice increases
in power, his utterance is broken, per-
spiraton rolls down his cheeks on the
coolest day, and when he reaches the
climax of his grafton and pours out a
burning flood of eloquence in which con-
Stunning fire plays an important part his
hearers. unable to restrain their emotions,
often burst into a cry of absolute terror.
"As an exhorter the negro preacher is
a great success. While the effect of his
discourse is apt to melt away before the
temptations of the first chicken roost en-
countered on the way home. 1t is power
full while it lasts. The singing is also a
feature of negro church services. The
congregation sings a hymn very different
ly from white people, with that plaintive
intonation that characterizes all their
songs, whether in the church or in the
field"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-16
SunfIoWer Philosophy.

From the Atchison CKan,l Globe.
Another fiction-the Great Detective :
When a married man has q good time
he has to deny 1t.
When a freckled girl is good looking.
she is mighty good looking
II you hate your enemy, 1t doesn't hurt
him; but 1t hurts you.
1t is doubly humilating to expect vic
tory and then get black eye.
We find that when we make snowballs
to throw at an enemy. the sun always
comes out and melts them before he goes
by.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-16

Editor Henry Watterson of the Louis
Vile Courier-JournaI has attacked Editor
Hearst for his presidential aspirations.
The Chattanooga Times predicts that
the Hon. Jesse M. Littleton of winches-
ter will be the next republican candidate
for governor of Tennessee.
John D. Rockefeller has had his new
winter palace at Lakewood moved $50
feet so that he can step from his door
to the first teeing place on his golf links.
James Creelman, the well known news
paper correspondent. is contributing some
very interesting articles to the New York
World on the condition of affairs in the
far east
The New York Herald suggests that
to Erastus Wiman who sacrificed all he
possessed to make it live, progressive
community. Wiman died penniless.
William T. Bates, said to be the oldest
boiler maker in the United States, died at
Conshohocken, Pa. recently, at the age
of Sc years. He was born in Cornwall
and came to this country in 1S47.
The son of General Nelson A. Miles has
been reduced to ranks at West Point and
forced to do extra guard duty because
he ran away to call on a young lady.
The young fellow seems to think the
game was worth the candle.
1t is predicted that Henry Cabot Lodge
of Massachusetts will be made chairman
of the platform committee at the ap-
preaching republican convention in Chi
cago. Mr.. Lodge presided over the Phil
adelphia convention in 1900.
Thomas Pendel, aged 80 years, dean Of
the ushers at the White House, was the
man who opened the door when President
Lincoln passed out on the night of his
assassination by Booth. Mr.. Bendel has
been on duty forty years and during that
time three presidents have been ASST
mated.
Mrs. Bradley Martin, who Is well
known in the elite circles of this coun-
try but who row resides in England,
has ordered from a Massachusetts shoe
manufacturer twenty-seven pairs of shoes
which will be made to her oder and will
have to match her gowns. Mrs Bradley
Martin has also ordered twenty-seven
pairs of street and walking shoes and
pair of golfing boots. ~
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-16

London physician is now making
remarkable cures by means of a glass
button. After a while people will be-
come so gullible that they will be will
ing to pay quacKs to be insured from
sickness.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-16
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

From the New York Press.
When woman dresses it is beauty be-
fore comfort.
Men would make better husbands II
they could be 1t by proxy.
One comfort widow has is she knows
where her husband is nights
Two dollars worth of flowers will buy
a husband more popularity at home than
a million dollars worth OF bread and but
ter.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-16

Mr. Baker of Brooklyn got on the
wrong train when he started out and
came to Washington instead of a SAM
tarium. AT least his Utopian bill would
lead one to believe that explanation of
his presence in congress.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-16

1t is reported that William Randolph
Hearst will endeavor to put up build
ing in New York higher than any other
skyscraper. He should have his Office
on the top floor and be above the
world.