davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-20
GHAsTLY TRAGEDY.
How Five Japanese Acted as Spies in
 St. Petersburg.
From London M. A. P.

From London M. A. P.
 Here Is a recent story in regard to the system of espionage employed by the Jap anese, which find in letter fro St. Pe- tersburg. published in one of the French papers.
 It is a vivid picture of what these won derful soldiers are willing to do in the interest of their country.
 Toward the end of 1898 Japanese from Klu-siu arrived in St. Petersburg and opened a tea warehouse on the Nevsky Prospect. Shops of this kind simply swarm in the Russian capital. but all the same the Japanese prospered exceedingly In view of the big business he anticipated at the Easter festivities during the follow ing spring the tea merchant got over five of his fellow countrymen as assistants. These were all extremely agreeable, tact ful young fellows, who quickly ingratlated themselves with the aristocratic clientele of the shop.
 But, despite the prosperity of thelr bus mess, the Japanese did not seem happy. Their melancholy was noticed and at last they confessed their secret. They did not in the least mind leaving Japan; they were delighted with Russia. What they did not like was to remain foreigners od the soil of their adopted country. Their dearest wish they said, was to become naturallzed Russians, and to be admitted Into the orthodox church.
 The idea appealed to the aristocratic customers of the tea shop, and in due course they were admitted into the ortho- dox church and made Russian citizens.
 Shortly after this the five new Russians wanted to get married and found families. Once more their customers interested themselves on their behalf. Brides were found in the shape of pretty Russian workgirls. dowries provided by subscrip- tion, and the marriage ceremony duly per- formed. Time went on, children were born and everything In the various men ages seemed to be most satisfactory, when suddenly the war broke out. Two days later the Russian-Japanese teamen had all disappeared. leaving their wives and fam flies behind them in St, Petersburg. St. Petersburg society was f1abbergasted. The condolences it had unfortunately impart- ed to the teamen went to Tokyo in the form of private reports to the Japanese general staff while the heroes of the story, all captains or lieutenants in the Japanese army, went back to their respec- tive regiments.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-20
THE BIRDS OF OLD ENGLAND.

". D. Howells, in Harper's Magazine.
 I doubt if any American city, great or small has the same number of birds dear to poetry singing in early March as Plymouth has. That morning as we walked in the town. and that afternoon as we rode on our tram-top into the coun- try. they started from a thousand lovely lines of verse, inches and real larks and real robins, and many a golden-biled blackbird, and piped us on our way Overhead, in the yelled sun, circled and swan the ever-cawing rocks. as they jared in the anxieties of the nesting then urgent upon them. They were no better than our birds; I will never own such a recreant thing. If l do not quite prefer a crow to a rock I am free to say that one oriole, or redbird, or hermit-thrush is worth all the English birds that ever sang. Only the English birds sing with greater authority, and find an echo in the mysterious depths of our ancestral past where they and we were compat- riots.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-20
intelligent Horses.

Did you know that many horses in this town" asked well-known horseman yes- terday, understand perfectly the danger signals at the railway crossings? Well, it's fact that they do'
 q was driving out behind one of these intelligent animals this afternoon. and we had occasion to pass half dozen rail- way crossings. When the signal man held red flag in his hand, the horse would instinetively stop without the slightest in timation from the driver to do so. In case the white flag was displayed, Ike horse would quicken his gait, and trot briskly over the crossing. The driver told me that great many horses that have been driven in the city for several years come to learn these signals and to act p ecisely as his did this afternoon.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-20
CENTURIES OF WAR HAVE
 BEEN WAGED AT MUKDEN

In 1644 the Manchus marched into China and placed one of their number on the throne and a Manchu has ruled there ever since.
 In the center of Mukden in walled in closure. within which is a small palace, the holy of holies of the people. It is said to contain some interesting relics of Nur- hachu. This man, according to legend. was supernaturally born, and throughout his career displayed all the attributes of divine origin. Another legend has 1t that the great ancestor of the Manchus was of humble birth, and paid his first visit to Mukden in the character of peddler with a pack on his back. This pack and the boots worn by Nurhachu are supposed to be preserved as sacred relics within the walls of the palace.
 But the peddler's pack and boots are not the only objects supposed to be guard- ed in the palace Since the establishment of the present dynasty 1t has been the cus- tom of the court to send every year to Mukden 6000,000 taels to be stored there. Calculating at this rate, the treasure must by this time have reached the enormous sum of 1,200. 000. 900 taes for the rein of the present dynasty over a vast territory of 400 provinces dates back 200 years.
 Nurhachu's tomb is four or five miles east of the city and must have been a conspicuous object during the terrible fighting of the last two weeks between the Russians and Japanese. It is situated in a pine grove. which is deemed even more sacred than the city itself. So sacred Is the inclosure surrounding this tomb that death Is the punishment of any one enter ing who is not of the same race as the great ancestlr. The tomb of Narhachu's son and successor, Tai Tsung. lies in a grove of cedars north of the city, and .s equally magnificent in its design.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-20
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
s0uthern AppIIeants Wanted.


 note with much pride that the United States civil service commission desires soutnerners to enter the various examin- ations for positions in the service said a citizen yesterday.
 am afraid that our young men and women in the south do not pay enough at tention to these examinations, which are for good life positions. and for that req son many of the northern and eastern states have gone to their limits in fur nishing eligibles. The comingi examinations are to be held therefore only in the states farthest in arrears in apportion- ment. With few exceptions all of these are southern states and territories. The list includes Alabama, Georgia, Arkan- sas. Mississippi, Missouri. Kentucky, h. dian Territory Hawaii. Louisiana and several other states and territories
 Each state is entitled, under the civil service law to its share of representa- ton in the departments at Washington, where competitive examinations are held for positions, but southern and south western states constantly fall behind be- cause of the lack of applicants. Special stress is laid on the fact that the poli- tics of an applicant has nothing to do with the examination, or appointment.
 ''The civil service commission is rep resented In Birmingham by s. D. Harris, who is at the postoffice. He has all the necessary blanks and will furnish them upon application free of charge"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-20
NEW FASHION IN DINING.

W F. Curtis in Chicago Record Herald.
 During the last eight or ten years tbere has been marked change in tho dining customs at Washington, and think that the same may De observed in all large cities. The old-fashioned heavy, long dinner of ten or twelve courses, with four or five kinds of wine, has been abandoned. The fashionable din- ners of today served at o'clock in the evening, are seldom of more than Ave or six courses. with two kinds of v.ne. and it is becoming almost habitual among gentlemen to drink whisky and soda instead of wine. A large number of habitual diners-out have found that
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-20
anti.niscrImination Law.

The nti-discrimination law of Kan sas is the first perhaps of long series of laws in the forty-five states It is law to prevent strong competitors from slugging out of existence weak competitors, and then saddling the cost of tne process on consumers. Under it's operation one competitor cannot undersell cnother competitor until the latter succumbs. Such un- derselling is a war measure. It is the favorite method of the trusts in coveted locality.
 Professor Clark of Columbia uniyer- sity discusses the subject in his vol ume, "The Problem of Monoply." He advocated in that volume an anti-dis- elimination law in each state. "The difference" he goes on to say, "be- tween a regime of uniform prices and regime of discriminating prices makes the difference between freedom and oppression. With predatory com petition ruled out the trusts will give us reasonable prices, but with this practice tolerated they will give us high ones."
 Kansas has shut out predatory com petition, and she intends to execute to the letter her new law. "No other states,' says the Kansas City Times, fin the Union is so well equipped to lead the fight against trust extortion, Kansas now has the laws, and it has the men to enforce them. It has the right kind of people behind the laws and the executives and the courts, and it has a history that will hold it up to complete realization of it's oppor- tunities as leader in the war for commercial freedom"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-20
Weights for Metropolitan Handicap

New York. March 19.-Following are the weights for the Metropolitan handi- cap, 5000 added to be run at the spring meeting of the West Chester racing at Belmont Park, May I:
 Hermis, 129; Irish Lad, 1H; Ort Wells Delhi, Stalwart, 124; Beldame, 122; Gold smith, 1l9; Lord of the Vale, 11s; First Mason, IT; Dolly Spanker, 114; Colonial Girl, Ill; Ad Bell, 1O7; Rose Ben, Syson- by, 107; Leonidas Baker Waters. 1O5; Ormondes Right Knight Warrant Is- raelite, Monteresson, l04: Jacquin, Artful, Oxford. 100; Tanya, Little Elm. 99; Woo tan, 9S; St. Bellane, Wood Saw, Lord Badge 97; Coy Maid. Pasadena, 96; Kehailan. Martinmas Bedouin. 97; Rose of Dawn Sig Blight. Marjora M Merry Lark, s2; santa Catalina. Chieftain. In- cantation. Race King, 90; Bohemia, SS; Palette, Sir Briar, S7.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-20
NAN'S ABSURD CLOTHES.

George Bernard Shaw in ''The World or
 Dress"
 I like to feel clean, and my great idea of clothes is that they should be clean and comfortable, as far as such n thing is possible in London. This, of course, excludes starch l couldn wear a. thing which, after having been made clean and sweet. is then filled with nasty white mud, ironed Into hard paste, and made altogether dls- gusting. To put such garment on my person. wear it, move in 1t perspire in it-horrible!
 The shiny white tubes on the wrist, the shiny black cylinder on the head, the shiny white front to the shirt, the shiny black. boot. the rain-pipe trouser leg, the japannedzinc sleeve-that is your fasihonably dressed man, looking like a cold blackleaded stove with as bestos fuel The great tragedy of the average mans life Is that nature re- fuses to conform to the cylindrical ideal, and when the marks of his knees and elbows begin to appear in his cyl finders he is filled with shame.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-20
pEsInERIA.

By Wordsworth. (Written by the poet four years after the death of his daughter, who died in infancy.) Surprised by joy-impatient as the Wind turned to share the transport-O!
 with whom But Thee, deep buried in the silent
 tomb, That spot which no vicissitude can find? Love, faithful love, recalrd thee to my
 mind
 But how could I forget thee?
 Through what power. Even for the least division of an hour Have been so beguiled as to be blind To my most grievous loss That
 thoughts return Was the worst pang that sorrow ever
 bore, Save one, one only. when l stood forlorn Knowing my hearts best treasurer was
 no more. That neither present time nor years un-
 born
 Could to my sight that heavenly face
 restore
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-20
HefIin Celebration.

The distinguished Hehin family, for merly of East Alabama, but now of the state at large, will gather In Birming- ham Tuesday to celebrate the s6th birth day of Dr. w. L. Hefin of Roanoke, the father of the present generation of Hehins. The celebration will be concluded by banquet.
 pr. Heflins sons are: Congressman J. Thomas Hefin of Lafayette. pr. Howell and Dr. Wyatt Hefiin and County Solicitor H. r. Hefin of Birmingham; Attorney John T. Hehin of Roanoke, the Rev. Marvin Hefiln of Sheffield. the Rev. Wal ter Hefiln of Rockford, Robert Hefiin of Roanoke.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-20
Memorial to Confederate Women.

q was at once impressed and de- pressed" said one of the Sons of Con federate Veterans last night at the Hill man. ''by the statement printed in to- days Age-Herald that only $500 had been raised to erect a memorial in honor of the women of the Confederacy.
 q can hardly understand what is the reason why this movement has failed to enlist popular support. I am inclined to think that this failure is due to the fact that the subject was not wisely handled. It is incredible that such an object should not apepal convincingly tS the southern people I'm glad that the matter is to be given over to the Sons of Confederate Veterans, and I believe that with new blood, new energy and new enthusiasm money sufficient to erect g. handsome memorial in honor of southern women will be speedily subscribed"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-20
About Persons.

E. Blount Greene of London is at the Morris.
 H. s. Warren of Mobile is at the Morris.
 Frank Harris of New York Is stopping at the Morris.
 L. J. Lawson of Greensboro is at the Morris.
 c. J. Adams of Atlanta is at the St. Nicholas.
 R. A. Cooley of Hartford, Conn.,, is at the St. Nicholas.
 w. A. Koch of Nashville is at the St. Nicholas.
 selden Jones of Atlanta is at the H1l- man.
 w. E. Taylor of New York is at the Hillman.
 George L. Corbun of New York is stop ping at the Hillman
 G. B. Wright of Tuscaloosa is at the Metropolitan.
 G. Fred Allen of Tuscaloosa is at the Metropolitan
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-20
School and Church in Canada.

Sir Wilfred Laurier and his Cana dian cabinet, consisting of liberals, won last November popular victory at the polls, but they have already struck a snag that threatens to drive them out of office. They are engaged in bringing Saskatchewan and Al berta into the dominion as provinces. and the premier, who lives in Quebec. where he secures big majorities, en- deavored to bind the two provinces to an equitable division of public schoo. moneys between the public and separate schools. his took away
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-20
Grand Jury Dismissed.

Florence, March 19. = Special 1.-The Lauderdale county grand jury for the spring term of court made it's final re- port to Judge Almon at Il o'clock yester- day morning and was discharged by the judge. Sixty-four cases were docketed and examined and thirty true bills were returned. The county jail and county farm were visited and reported we'll kept. The accounts of the county treasurer were examined and found to be correct, with balance on hand of $14,436.H.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-20
Easter Flowers.

"The florists trade increases every year" remarked New York man, "and the Easter business is going to be larger than ever this year. Althought Easter Is several weeks off. thousands of orders have already been placed with New York florists. I can remember when little money was spent on Easter flowers, but last Easter the volume of the flower business in New York alone amounted to more than a million dollars"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-20

NNN JkDEN, into which the victorlous t\V Japanese hosts have marched, is tknown as China's Sacred City, the cradle of the Manchu race, which has given the present dynasty to the throne of China. It is the capital of Liaotung, out of the three provinces of Manchuria, and is situated on the river Hun, about 300 miles northwest of Picking.
 Historically Mukden is invested with a peculiar interest just now. for the fierce warfare between Russia and Japan which has reachd its climax in the capture of the city brings into prominence the fact that for a thousand years the place has been one of the worlds central battle points. The blood of tens of thousands of wcrriors has stained the plains about Mukden and tho range of the Long White mountains.
 Accurate data is hard to obtain concern ing the early Chinese or Mongolian his- tory, but it Is known for a century that Mukden was settlement long before the birth of Christ. In 5000 years it is esti- mated that 5,OO0OOo men have fought with each other for possession of the ancient city. and that a score or more of the most noted battles of the Orient have taken place in the immediate vicinity.
 The city was strongly fortified. accord ing to the standard of old-time warfare adopted by Chinese. The Qualifications are laid in regular parallelograms, be- tween one and two miles each way, the walls being built of square stone or brick and massive at the bottom and ta- pering gradually at the top. They are forty feet in height twenty-one In width, and are protected at the top by an eight foot parapet. Thick buttresses break the monotony of the long lines of masonry at regular intervals.
 Fifteen hundred years after Christ was born, when Mukden was one of the most import ant trading points of the North, Nurhachu, the great ancestor of the Man chus. had his seat of government south of the Long Whit, mountains, about 100 miles east O. Mukden In 1916 he took him self the title of 'heaven decreed" and de- clared war on China. An army of 100000 was sent against him, and the Chinese historians relate that none returned.
 Nurhachu assembled tremendous army before the gates of Mukden. and in 1921. the city was captured after an awful loss of life, far exceeding that which marked the battle between the Japanese and Rus sians. if one must believe the ancient chroniclers. According to their accounts all prisoners were promptly beheaded
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-20
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

From the New York Press.
 Concerts are nice thing to keep a man from having a good time.
 The quicker you try to make your money the quicker you can lose it.
 wife is awful smart not to have so much brains that she never gives her husband anything good to eat.
 Even a modest young girl thinks it strange that a man doesn't understand all the queer clothes a woman wears.
 About the time woman gets over wor- rying about what kind of morals her son is going to have she begins about what kind of wife he will marry.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-20
New Hiah School.

Work on the new High school is pro- gressing satisfactorily" said member of the Board of Education, and the build ing will be ready for occupancy by the latter part of September or the first of October It will be a handsome and spa eious structure, and will be a decided credit to Birmingham. The new building will accommodate six or seven hundred pupils without crowding."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-20
THE DIFFERENCE.

From Fuel. Here are tables of crime in which th' meaning is the same but the description different:
 THEFT. Rich woman, kleptomania. Rich man, shortage. Poor man, stealing.
 DRUNKENNESS Rich man, debility or heart failure. Well-to-do man, alcoholism. Poor man, delirium tremens.
 IN WALL STREET Rich man, legitimate speculation. Well-to-do man, dabbling in stocks, Poor man, gambling,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-20

Governor Hoeh and the rest of Kansas have enlisted flor the war" against the oil octopus. It is plain they propose to drive the octopus out of that state unless it behaves very properly.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-20

The size of pluralities is no obstacle when the republicans make up their minds to seize an office. Samuel J. Tilden and Alava Adams were their best known victims.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-20

From the New York Herald.
 The new "S' shape for the modish young woman looks like "s" when the bills reach papa.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-20

The Equitable Life is to be partially mutalized leaving Jimmie Hyde master in good part of the concern and its im- mense accumulations.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-20

The Japanese captured around Mukden thousands of ilSons, but they do not know how to work them, and so they will be sent to the junk pile.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-20

The Russians have grudge against that Baltimore professor because he did not chloroforom oyama when he became 60 years old
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-20

The war between Secretary Hay and Assistant Secretary Loomis is proving disastrous to the latter.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-20

Cordova has been sentenced to four years in prison. It is to be hoped that he will now be safe from yellow journal photographers.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-20

Commissioner Jimmie Rudolph Garfield is satisfied the beef trust is philanthropy's best grip. He really pities the poor thing
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-20

The Chicago News thinks Steve Elkins should begin his railway rate investiga- tions on April l.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-20

Zion City now needs steaks and pota- toes much more than it does leaves of healing or Dowle delusions.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-20

This is a windless March, but don't mention 1t aloud, for the winds may get angry and arise in a jffey.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-20

This country can't afford to lose the valuable services of Secretary Hay-not while Roosevelt is President.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-20

Mrs Reeder apepars to De another cap tain of finance, but her deal was spoiled in Santo Domingo.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-20

Even if Kansas does bring the oil trust to terms Rockefeller will still make enough to keep the wolf away from the door.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-20

sully's wings seem to be featherlng very rapidly and he will soon be ready for an- other flight along with King Cotton.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-20

Governor Hoch calls socialism that fascinating fallacy." Hoch used to be something of a pert paragrapher.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-20

The Russians are rapidly evaeuating Manchuria which belongs to China by yirture of Japan's Big Stick.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-20

Kuropatkin has been recalled. This is the usual fate of those who fight and run away
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-20

 The Japs take their time about celebra- ting victory. but they are not slow in winning it.
  Miss Tarbell Is getting to be a second Joan of Arc in the fight against Stan dard oil Kuropatkin is another well known man who is now in position to lead the sim pie life. Dan sully sees such great profits ahead that he proposes to pay in full all his cred. itors
 Dowie prefers to negotiate with his creditors from point over the Mexican line.
 .-..--- The Missouri legislature did not turn back the hands of the clock, they smashed 1t.
 All teams at this season show "unmis- takeabie" pennant- winning qualities.
  It has been a long time since Alton Brooks Parker gave out an interview.
 -.s-- 'Lige Dowie is fleeing from unpaid bills. This is why he fingers in Mexico.
  Governor Jelks woke up this morning to find himself again in harness.
  It is easy to get a judgment against Dowie, but difficult to collect it. It takes sasoneff a long time to tell why and how he killed Sergius.
  Talk seems to be cheaper than ever in Russia, especially war talk
  MT. Roosevelt stands for full cradle regardless of the dinner pail. Alva Adams believes very strongly that he has been nimhammed
  Major Warner won the Missouri sena- torship in the last round
  Green has supplanted brown in the world of fashion. Alas, poor Niedringhaus! He got one vote in Missouri It is now "Banzaii and on to Harbinlp
 ------.-.--- A unf ttya how