davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-06-07
The Suicide Epidemic.

Statisticians maintain that the great
majority of suicides of the country are
committed during the summer months
of the year Psychologists explain this
by saying that during the heated pc
riod of the year mans blood is warmer;
that he is more irritable; that he be-
comes abnormally sensitive, and that
he is driven to deeds which he would
abhor in more sober moments
The Age-Herald has recorded during
the PAST seven days the suicide of five
Alabamians, each OF whom was more
or less prominent in the community in
which he lived. This is a record which
certainly shows abnormal conditions
and is one which any state dislikes to
have set down against it:
H. Frank Hornbuckle, an insurance
agent Of Huntsville, attempted homicide
and then shot himself in Admission on
Monday, May 30.
William Ludicus of Montgomery shot
himself on Thursday June 2.
Stevens Biles, a farmer near Athens,
hanged himself on Thursday, June 2.
Herman Pettihone. newspaper man Of
Huntsville, poisoned himself in Wash
ington on Thursday, June 2.
Seabor Watts a farmer of Cedar Bluff,
shot himself on Saturday June 4.
The record is a lamentable one, but
the suicide r-ania has seemed rampant
in the whole land during the past week
and has affected men In such high Off
ciaI position as the mayor of Baltimore
as we'll as many in the lesser walks of
life.
It was an exceptional week, however,
and the nation can be thankful that 1t
does not often have to record such
tragic occurrences.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-06-07
AMUSING FEATURES OF
SIGNS ON THE STREETS

It is century since the swinging sign
WIS in full vogue everywhere in Lon
don. Any kind of a picture or carving
would answer fer tavern. There was
''The Boy in Boots" 1.-The Whistlng
OYSTER THE Tub and the Spoon" 1.-The
Iron Mask 1.-THE Cow in Clover" THE
Jolly Blacksmith" 1.-The Merry Turk
"The Lord of the Manor" THE Pig. and
Trough" 1.-THE Coachmans Paradise"
THE Red Lobster" and a thousand other
quaint pictures besides 1.-THE Library"
1.-The Studio" "The Office" and THE
Shop" which were convenient names for
the places where the husband could tell
his wife he was going for the evening.
and not one at all significant of the class
of goods sold within.
A remarkable sign, frequently used in
Holland outside their wine gardens. is
that of "The Good Woman" which puz-
zles the Holander for a time and al
WAYS brings hearty laugh If he be
married man, for it contains the picture
of a woman carrying her amputated head
in her hand or under her arm, and gen.
orally tells in solid Dutch, that Here
YOU may find a good woman, truly por-
trayed from life, but If her head had
heen left her she ne'er had been good
with II on" The question about 1t is
how she could have been portrayed from
life, with her head under her arm, al
though she is without doubt THE Heed
less Woman" as well as 'Headless."
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-06-07
Freedom OF Speech in North Carolina.

North Carolina owns two-thirds of
the stock of the Atlantic and North
Carolina railroad, and when that cor
poration was suddenly and unexpected
ly thrown INTO the hands of a receiver,
thus endangering the interests of the
people of North Carolina, Editor Dan
iels of the Raleigh News and Observer
protested. 1t is not necessary to dis
cuss before Alabama readers the case.
Suffice it to say, the people of North
Carolina who owned two-thirds of the
stock did not desire q receiver, but
Judge Purnell, the federal district
Judge, decided there must be one. Mr..
Daniels voiced the sentiments of the
people in opposition to the appoint
ment. 1t is tnot CLAIMED that he was
unduly offensive in his criticisms. He
spoke out, however, plainly and effect
lively.
For this action in behalf of the peo-
Pile who were the chief stockholders,
he was arrested for contempt and SEN
fenced to pay heavy fine. He refused
to pay the fine, and went to jail He
reused to let other men pay his fine,
declaring that he would rot in jail be-
fore he would submit to the injustice
of Judge ournell and if the contest
had gone on Mr.. Daniels would have
been nominated for governor of his
state and elected, and he may still be,
although he mas not peen mentioned in
that connection.
But Chief Justice Fuller undid Judge
Purnells work in appointing receivers
for the railroad, and Judge Pritchard,
another federal judge, granted MIR.
Daniels habeas corpus, and thus the
incident was enoed to the relief of the
people and the discontinue of the up
pish Purnell, who seems to have
thought that the federal judicial sys-
tenn was devised to suppress freedom
of speech and of the press. The matter
has occasioped deep feeling in North
Carolina, and the unwarranted misuse
of power may be carried into the ma.
tional campaign and later still into
congress, especially If North Carolina
elects Josephus Daniels governor
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-06-07
Mr.. Sage on Vacation.

Russell Sage, at the age of 81, with
his pockets crammed with money, rises
up to protest against the vacation
habit. He as never taken a vacation,
and he really points to his pile of gold
as an instance Of what a man can
achieve who takes no vacations.
The philosophy of the sage Mr.. Sage
does not promise to become contagi-
Gus. His own ambition and life work
are not by any means IDEAL even
though he be the greatest individual
money lender in the world. Money
getting is not the best of life, but Mr..
Sage, at the ripe age of 49, is probably
joined to his dollars beyond hope or
argument.
Mr.. Sage does, however, present a
good point OF two. He says in sub
stance the average vacation taker
needs vacation at home to overcome
lHo outCbS VI his fdCdtlOh away liOih
home. There is some truth in this.
Few workers know how to loaf and
invite the soul TO good advantage. 1t
is an art, and an art not readily gained.
Many vacations miscarry because they
are not wisely planned, but any change
is as rule helpful. A wise vacationist
may be exceptional, but the benefits of
change in ones routine are not to be
doubted.
The best vacation taker is one who
takes his vacation in broken doses,
taking some of ~ every day But all
cannot do this. Some are too lazy, and
others arc too thoughtless The men
and women who go to West End park
or to East Lake are vacationists, and
they believe in getting their vacation
as they go along. II they can manage
to get it in this way, they can perhaps
outdo their colleagues in securing
recuperation and enjoyment, and this
may be the meaning of the Sage the
DRY. There is, however, no evidence
that Uncle Russell ever went to base
ball park or to near-at-hand resort.
He could not afford the trip, and yet
he will soon have to drop all his dol
lars, and he has no children to catch
any of them
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-06-07
Birmingham in the Dark.

For few minutes last night the cleo
trio lights in Birmingham went out and
the town was in the dark" said law
yer. Night workers and others depend
ent on electricity for Illuminating their
labors were thrown into confusion and
candles were much in demand Those
who had gas, however, were not seriously
inconvenenced.
IT was amused to see the plight great
many citizens found themselves when
darkness overlook them so Unexpectedly.
| noticed several substantial business men
striking matches to find their way into
their residences and traffic along the
murky streets was not very brisk until
the lights flared up again and the danger
of falling into cutters or stumbling over
fences was eliminated.
1T is surprising how dark city can
get when the street lights go out. Not
even the furnace glow could disslpate the
shades last night"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-06-07
pav of Crimes.

Last Sunday was certainly day OF
crimes. as a glance at the Monday morn
ing newspapers will show" said an OBJ
servant person. Il was astonished to
learn of the unusual number of tragedies
and crimes that marred the Sabbath yes
terday but | have noticed in the past
that Sunday seems to be a day set apart
for some of the greatest tragedies and
crimes that have stained the history OF
the world. There is a strange irony of
fate in this state of affairs, but l think
you will find that l am correct If you
will consult the newspaper files Of the
past twenty years.
The possibility of important news hap
pening on Sunday has been responsible
for many papers becoming seven-day
publications that were formerly issued bu.
six days In the week For long time the
innovation of a Monday morning news
raper was combated by certain staid pub
locations but one by one they have all
yielded to necessity and few leading
morning newspapers now dipense with
the Monday morning paper"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-06-07
A MOTHERS PRAYER.
Rv Gordon Meggy.

BY Gordon MeBgy.
A sunbeam to earth came straying,
Through valley and wood and glade,
Till it CHANGED on a tiny cottage,
And there for a while 1t stayed.
For it found a mother signing,
With a WEAKNESS half-confessed.
That her child might cease its playing
And go for while to rest.
All day she had worked unaided,
While her husband went to reap,
And she prayed. as she rocked the cradle
That her child might fall asleep.
And the sunbeam, full of pity,
Sped to the distant west,
Bearing a shining tear-drop
1t had found on the mothers breast.
And 1t told the tale to a moonbeam,
That it passed on its journey home,
Then dropped the tear in the ocean,
To be lost in the seething foam.
And the moonbeam sped to the cottage,
Straight from the heaven above.
And carried the child on its bosom
To land of infinite love.
And the sunbeam, proud and happy,
At the thought of kindness done,
Looked in next day at the window,
With a message of love from the sun.
But it found the mother weeping
For now she could only pray,
That her child might come back from it:
long, long rest,
Back to the earth and play. -.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-06-07
vANDERBlLT's 7oo-FooT WELL.

From the New York World.
The fact that w. X Vanderbilt, Jr.,
has sunk a well 700 feet deep upon his
Lake Success estate TO secure water
might surprise some persons who have
seen how generously Long Island seems
to be watered. But there are queer
freaks about waters ways on the island
For instance, there are huge springs at
or near the water level at Cold Spring
where the Carnegie Institute is to be
built and where the fsh-hatchery is es-
tablished; on the West Shore road at
Oyster Bay, and elsewhere, Such
springs might be accounted for by the
hills behind them. But men living on
low levels but few feet away from such
springs frequently have to bore hum
bred feet or more for water. On Centre
Island, opposite President Roosevelt's
place, are wells thousand feet deep.
1t Is the local theory that the water
from such deep wells as these and as
Mr.. Vanderbilt's comes by huge sub
terranean streams from the hills of Con-
necticut and of Westchester county, dip
ping under the sound and held in place
between layers of "hard-pan.o
How else" people ask. do copious
springs frequently gush forth at the tops
of the highest hills? Success Lake itself
is balanced upon a hilltop; it has no
inlet stream it is very deep-the local
tradition is that 1t has no bottom and
there are nowhere about it hills of a
higher level"
Long Island is tho terminal moraine of
the huge glacier that once pushed across
New England. Imagine the butt of a
shingle pushed into wet SOIL raising a
ridge before 1t of mud, sand and pebbles
Multiply that many times and 1t is Long
Island The ancient underground water
courses that in old days before there was
any East River broke their way out into
the ocean bed may now work up through
the soil left in the shallow coast water by
the glacier.
If that does rot explain why water in
some instances balances on the tops OF
the hills while in others wells are sunk
far below the bottom of the sound, any
enc is at liberty to guess again.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-06-07
From the New York Herald.

From the New York Herald
HE man who reads as he runs
wv through many large cities and
towns cannot fail to see many
signs in store windows as we'll as out
side-things that would anger Lindley
Murray, if he were not mouldered to
dust, but which bring a smile, and often
a laugh, to other persons. When one
sees in a Chinese laundry window the
sign Moon Shine Landry Overdun" 1t
seems remarkable.
When one sees a sign In a tailors win
dow reading "Gentlemen's Pants Pressed
While You Wait for a Quarter he forms
in his mind a picture of gentlemen on a
line. minus pants, waiting for their turn.
Only our old residents remember the
oystermans sign of the red globe. with a
light in 1t, suspended from the top of a
pole in front of the saloon, for it went out
of date long before the big Bootin Chat
ham Street, which the boys used to
swear by. was laid at rest or served as
kindling for the kitchen fire.
In the earlier days New York emulated
London with its picturesque signs for
uedltIS Ill all SOIlS VI WHITES dS Wti oo
inns and taverns. We surpassed them in
many artistic figures for all sorts of
trades, although the tobacconist, with his
wooden Indian led the van, with a hete-
rogeneous following. When man want
ed a silk hat he looked for a swinging
sign with the hatters name and a pic
ture of plug nat on it.
The jeweler and matchmaker adopted a
stationary clock as his sign, which often
deceived the passer by, as 1t kept the
time so close and was so tired the hands
never moved The French bootmaker
though it sufficient to swing outside his
door a leg covered with a boot, but this
was an innovation from Paris. The
pawnbroker' three balls were sadly sig
nificant of the home of 'our uncle and
the barber,s pole, with its stripes OF red
white and blue, told the tale Tor the
tonsorlal artist.
The colored globes in the apothecary
window, with a light behind each, could
be seen by the pedestrian afar or, and
all the blacksmith had to do was to
swing a horseshoe outside his door, which
was only needful when the CHEEKY sound
of the hammer on the anvil was not heard
along the road Even now the enormous
gold tooth of the dentist swings outside
his parlors, and old and treasured sign
boards remain where they have been for
generations, and contain the old legends
until their weather worn faces are oblit-
Grated by the elements.
Thus every trade had its individual
sigma nail, a screw, hammer, a pile
Of shells, a chair. a hammock. piece of
carpet, or anything denoting the kind
of goods kept on sale-could be seen in
all our business streets. The "hand-me-
down" merchants in Chatham street
swung a large portion of each stock all
over the sidewalk, and the countryman or
sailor lhauled into the shop by the scruff
of the neck had no occasion for hesitency
in asking Abraham or Moses to "hand me
down dem britches"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-06-07
Trolley Car Headlights.

THE average man if asked off hand
could not tell you why suburban trolley
cars are equipped with two headlights,
one larger than THE other" said man
about town. 1.-THE explanation is SIM
pie enough The small headlight is used
in traversing the city's streets, because
a strong light is not needed where there
is such general illumination and the
large headlight would also blind the peo-
pie on the streets with its glare On
the other hand when the suburban. cars
get out of town the strong light is turned
on and shines far down the track so
that there is little danger of a wreck
from some unexpected obstruction, since
1t is possible to stop trolley car going
at full speed in a remarkably short dis
lance"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-06-07

good as another and the round sum is
more easily carried in the mind. AT
present the CHEZ bear argument con-
sists in an exaggeration of the acreage,
and reports made up in New York are
all open to suspicion, that city being a
chronic bear center that is steadily
plotting against the producer.
The condition of the crop on May 26
is put by the department of agriculture
at SO, as compared with 74.1 on May
26 of last year. and a ten-year average
of 85.S. The crop is below average in
condition, and above average in acre
age. The condition of the Alabama
crop is put at 80, being lower than that
of any state except Georgia.
There is nothing in these figures that
indicate more than an eleven-million
bale crop unless the weather be excep-
tionally favorable Even if three mil
lion additional acres nave been planted
with cotton seed, that means but an
addition of million bales to the crop
unless weather conditions are better
than they were last year, and thus far
they have not been much better. In
the face of all "guesses" the prospect
still is that the crop will not exceed
eleven million bales, and every pound
OF an eleven-million-bale crop is worth
10 cents
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-06-07
Mark Twaln's Wife Dies.

Florence, Italy, June 6.-AIrs Samuel
NJ. Clemens, the wife of Mark Twain"
the American author and lecturer, died
of syncope here yesterday evening. Half
an hour before her death she had con-
versed cheerfully with her husband The
remains will be sent to the United States
for interment. Mrs. Clemens was mar
ried in 1870. Her maiden name was Olivia
L. I.andon She was born in Elmira.
n. Y.
Mrs. Clemens died painlessly The body
has been embalmed and will be sent to
the United tSates. Mr.. Clements kneels
continuously by the coffin.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-06-07
Cotton Acreage Again.

The Commercial and Financial
Chronicle estimates the cotton fields at
S2.363, $50 acres, as against 1896, 7S6
acres in 1908, an increase of 11.62 per
cent. The department of agriculture
however, says there are 31,790,271
acres planted in cotton, an increase of
9.8 per cent The difference is about
$4,000 acres, a very considerable
patch.
The Financial Chronicle puts the
planting in Alabama this year at d.
341 ,667 acres, as against 1911, ALP acres
last year, gain Of IL per cent. The
government estimates the increase in
Alabama at per cent. The difference
is best presented in table, as follows
Acres
Financial Chronicle .............. 4,34l, 667
Department of Agriculture...... 4,263 439
Difference ................... 7S,22S
The chances are that four million
acres is nearer this states aggregate
of cotton acres that terminated and
will be cultivated to the final fruiting
and picking. One guess is about as
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-06-07
IN HOTEL LoBBIEs
Prices In the West.

IN New Mexico found that It costs
much more to live than It does in tnIs
part of the country" said a man who
has recently visited the west For in
stance, the very cheapest restaurants
and lunch counters have a scale of prices
much higher than prevails here, and an
order OF eggs, for which you would be
charged 10 cents In Birmingham, costs
% cents in Las Vegas. Likewise about
the cheapest steak you can find out there
costs 40 cents. and 70 cents will not buy
steak to brag about Rates at the
hotels are also very high. I was charged
"a a day for accommodations that were
merely first-class and were devoid of all
extras and fancy trimmings
AT such prices it is easy to see how
restaurant men and hotel proprietors
make money. The proprietor of one es-
Establishment showed me his books in sup
port of his statement that he cleared $500
above all expenses every month.
"On the other hand prices are very
moderate in Los Angeles and San Fran
cisco In the summer time I am told
that 1t is possible to rent elegant apart
ments for a nominal sum, and l have
heard of cases where people were given
a house rent free. provided they would
occupy 1t and take care of 1t until the
owners returned for the next winter. AL
though l was in Los Angeles at the
height of the tourist season, I was able
to get a comfortable room for IS month
and there were quite a number of restau-
rants in town where it was possible to
get a substantial meal for Is cents, al
though it is as easy to spend $50 FOR a
meal as it is ID cents in the picturesque
City of Angels"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-06-07
Turning to the Right.

II notice that the people Of Birming-
ham have not yet learned to turn to the
right when walking along the streets. .
said a stranger yesterday. THE ques-
ton has been discussed before but the
fact remains that for a town as large as
Birmingham there is no excuse for peo-
pie lodging each other on the sidewalks.
1t is the easiest thing in the world to
learn to turn to the right.
Il notice that Transfers have the same
lesson to learn. Instead of keeping to
the right side of the street they drive
along in a promiscuous fashion that rem
ders the danger of collision with troll
ley cars or other vehicles much more
Imminent than 1t would be If the estab-
lished custom of keeping to the right side
of the street were observed"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-06-07
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

From the New York Press.
There is more money lost in amateur
gardens than in the stock market.
The man who is willing to quit smok-
ing TO save money is the one whom to-
bacco doesn't agree with
Angel cake is a square meal ON the
honeymoon; afterward nothing will do
but steak and fried potatoes.
A woman can cry her eyes out over her
bad luck in having funeral and bar
gain sale come ON the same day.
1t ticlSles woman to death TO think
If her husband lost all his money how
everybody would be talking about her
heroism.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-06-07
Fire s:ories.

1.-The story published the other day. of
the fire in northern prison, and the mar
row escape the occupants had from Gre
nation recalls an incident somewhat
similar that occurred in New York a
number of years ago" said gentle
man yesterday.
..Three men had succeeded in forcing
an entrance to bank for the purpose
of robbery and to destroy all means of
detection decided to burn the building 1t
appeared that they fired the building i'm
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-06-07

The National skat congress that was
recently organized at ST. Louis will not
devote its energies to chasing cats out
OF back doors. The word is pronounced
like scott" al is applied to q very
intricate game of cards that no one but
a German could ever understand.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-06-07
PERFECT EXCUSE.

From the Boston Transcript
Belcher-Look here what do you mean
by kissing my wife? Have you any ex-
cuse to offer?
Merkin-The best of excuses-neither
she nor 1 knew you were coming.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-06-07
FEMININE WAY.

From the Chicago News.
Have you read that new novel every
body is talking about?'' asked the first
dear girl.
"Only the last chapter" replied dear
girl the second. Il wonder how It be-
gins?"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-06-07

1t has been discovered that automo-
billing will cure consumption. People
who ride In automobiles and strike
stone walls are seldom able to have
any disease al1erward.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-06-07

Chauncey Depew begs to differ with
Russell Sage as to the efficiency of
vacations. -4e thinks they do very well,
a notion that is not surprising when
coming from man who has the dinner
habit.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-06-07

King Peter will be crowned this sum-
mer with $50 crown, but it can make
the head that wears it just as uneasy
as the diamond-studded kind.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-06-07
A WEE NIP,

From the Philadelphia Public Ledger.
I'm afraid I'm getting a cold, l Won
der what I'd better take to nip it in the
bud"
"A nip of course"