davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-15
Mrs. spencer's Modest Appeal.

As president of the Mercy Home Mrs. Spencer wants S5S0 with which to pay the city for cement walks and street grading around the grounds of the Home. While the Home has been caring for the city's children of pow erty-educating them, clothing them, feeding them and finding good homes for them-the spirit of improvement has risen about 1t, and a bill for street Improvements has come in amounting to $580. True, the city pays the Home $50 a month, but that is only one dol lar a month per capita The poor lit- tie children cannot be cared for at that rate, and private charity comes in to supply the deficiency. This is all very plaint, but the current of private char ity will not meet the city's levy of Q tax of $5S0 for street Improvements. The improvements were natural and needed, and are worth their cosc, but the Home did not ask for them and 1t has no money with which to pay for them-that is to say, if it is to keep on caring for the little ones now under its roof
 The appeal of Mrs. Spencer, presi- dent of the Home, should not go un- needed. She wants modest sum fer a definite purpose, and her appeal will surely be answered in this prosperous and happy city.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-15
A Deficit in the Reserve.

The government expects national bank to hold 20 per cent of it's deposits as a permanent reserve, and for the first time in three years the banks in New York have broken this rule. In order to get again within the rule the banks have been compelled to call In many loans made in the course of spec ulation, and call money has been bid up to 20 per cent, and it is said large sums were lent on Monday at that rate and even higher. Brokers either had to borrow money at that rate of interest, or throw the securities of their customers on the market.
 Secretary Shaw declines to come to the relief of the money market because no manufacturer, importer, merchant or banker engaged in carrying on the enormous business of these prosperous times has appealed to him for help. The appeals from spectators he de- clines to heed.
 The situation may recall, however, the need for more currency, and also the need of elasticity in connection with it. The estimated wealth of the country is one hundred billions of dol, lars-an almost inconceivable sum. We have but per cent of that amount in currency, and the trouble with that currency is it is not elastic. We not only need more currency as the popu. lation and the business of the country are increased, but we want currency system that can be expanded when great crops are to be moved and re- duced when the crop pressure is re moved. As things stand at present the spectators are able to put an additional tax upon legitimate and regular business.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-15
ANIMAL REQUESTS.
From the Philadelphia Bulletin.

From the Philadelphia Bulletin.
 A free bed for cats is maintained in an animal hospital in Philadelphia.
 It is a large cage of polished nickie, with porcelain floor that slides out for cleaning, and with an outfit of porce- lain feeding utensils, a pneumatic bed and an abundance of soft, clean blankets.
 Standing beside this bed the hospitals superintendent said:
 'It was bequeathed to us seven years ago by a rich woman. The income of 5000 is set apart for It's maintenance. It does deal of good.
 Requests to animals" he went on, "become more and more common as the various S. P. c. As increase in num- ber
 "A San Francisco woman left the in- come of $5000 to be expended in keeping the streets free of broken glass, tin cans and all such rubbish as might cut the feet of horses.
 There is a hospital for birds in New York. and know a woman whose will, when she dies. will make it richer by $50 year.
 "A St Louis millionaire left good sum to be devoted to making easier the lives of aged and broken down horses and mules.
 Animal bequests of this kind are wise. There is another kind of animal be- quest, though, that is foolish. This is the setting aside of extravagant sums for the luxurious maintenance, after the masters or mistresss death, of pet anil mals. Such bequests cause swindling The person who has s200 or $500 a year to keep a cat or dog on is profting largely. and when the cat or dog dies substitutes another for it in order that the income may not cease.
 ''I know of bequests of this foolish sort to cats. dogs, birds. and even goldfish. In each case there was cheating. When the real pet died another that resembled it was substituted"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-15
Musical Attractions.

Birmingham Is great show town but our people will not turn out to hear concert band or other musical attrac- tion unless the attraction is famous" said a music lover who heard Weir s band at the Jefferson theatre last night
 "Sousa's band, and Creatore's band will draw full houses every time, because Sousa and Creatore are household names. The late Theodore Thomas had the same advantage. His fame extended to every corner of the country. The first time Thomas brought his orchestra to Bir- mingham he drew $500 house
 "Weil has a good band and he plays delightful music, of the lighter sort, but he was not known here; consequently the box office receipts did not. I would say, amount to $1Oo. If he comes again next season he will be greeted by a larger audience"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-15
Christmas Shopping.

"Christmas shopping will begin earlier this year than ever before," said prom inent merchant yesterday. eve are al- ready receiving our stocks for the holiday trade and I believe that we will do at least twice as much business this year as ever before.
 Owing to the prosperous conditions in the south the Christmas trade will be enormous this year and 1t will require from one to three weeks longer to handle 1t than last Christmas
 'In anticipation of this tremendous bus mess the merchants of Birmingham have purchased at least 50 per cent more stock than they did last year. My stock has been arriving in immense quantities for the past month, and I have almost doubled the number of clerks in my employe.
 "This has been a wonderfully pros porous season for the merchants in Bir- mingham. know that some of them have done practically twice as much business this fall as they have ever done in the fall. and 1t is the first time In the history of Birmingham in twelve years that not single merchant has complained. Even the rankest kicker has quit grumbling and has acknowledged that he is well content with the increase his business has shown.
 'I know one merchant who has been A chronic kicker for years He always did a good business and made his prof it's regularly, but he was never satisfied and always grumbling. l met him on the streets recently and asked him how business was and he was actually con tent l appreciated then more than ever what an immense business Birmingham has been doing.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-15

cast, counted and returned, one or all, and Tammany should not put itself in such an unenviable position.
 Difficult as the task may be. Tam many should lead the recount, demand ing 1t at every step as a means of it's own vindication from the aspersions of it's opponents. Mayor McClellan's position before the country needs the support of a recount; the democratic party needs it, and instead of being inadvisable it is in every respect ad- visable and In some respects almost mandatory.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-15
Many Marriages.

q do not believe there was ever year in Birmingham when as many mar riages took place as there have been this year." said a young married man yes- terday afternoon. "A large number of engagements have been announced and gossip in social circles that number of others are to be announced within a short time.
 Judging from the papers in other cit ies the same thing Is true over the south. I know that in several other cities the number of weddings which have taken place this fall and arc to take place this winter Is far in excess of any previous winter.
 q would think that the reason of so many marriages is that times are good. When the country is prosperous the young feel that they can afford to marry, and the south is certainly prosperous this year."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-15
IN HOTEL. LOBBIES
Alumni Banquet.

'I was very much pleased when the officers of the alumni association of the University of Alabama decided to in- vite women to the banquet to be given Friday night at the Hotel Hillman,' salo a member of the association yesterday 'The presence of the women will ada very much to the attractiveness of the banquet, and I for one always like to have women at a banquet board.
 q was also pleased to note that the president of Auburn and representatives of the medical college at Mobile had been invited to attend the banquet. President Thatch of Auburn will respond to the toast, Our Sister Colleges
 Sterling A. Wood will preside as toast master, and am sure he will be apt in his introductions of the various speakers. Around the banquet board will be gath cred some of the brightest speakers In Alabama, and wit and humor will flow freely.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-15
Polish Plans and Prospects.

The struggle of the Poles for self government Is of long standing. Sur rounded by Prussia, Austria and Rus sia. she at length became the victim of all three acting together. The first partition of Poland took place in 1772, and the last in 1915, at the close of the Napoleonic wars, when absolutism was at it's maximum.
 By the partition of 1915 Russia se- cured 220,500 square miles, including Warsaw, and a population numbering today fully twenty millions; Prussia got 26,000 square miles, and about three millions of Poles, and Austria gathered in 35,5O0 square miles, ard about seven millions of Poles. Attempts have been made by all three countries to assimilate respectively the Poles they had annexed, but all efforts in that direction have been failures. The Poles in all three countries retain their language, customs and aspirations.
 Germany and Austria have no doubt assured Russia that they Will support her in all needful efforts to keep down the national spirit of Poland, and this no doubt accounts for Fussias deter imitation to withhold from Poland priv l ileges similar to those granted to Fin land. Martial law has been declared | throughout Russian Poland. and an immense army will attempt to suppress the Polish movement, to which every Pole, practically speaking, is com mitted.
 Were 1t not for the fact that an understanding exists with Austria and Germany Russia would not try to force the Poles into submission, for in Rus sia proper the power of the govern ment is almost nil Whether Poland l can be reconquered depends wholly upon the loyalty of the army. If dis affection spreads throughout tar army the Poles cannot be kept 1own, even with the aid of Germany and Austria for the appearance of a foreign army inflame the populace in all the Rus sias.
 The subject is full of difficulty A Polish kingdom would mean fulbher secessions, and Russia is thus forced to make a bold stand against restora ton of the Polish kingdom, even if she be compelled to accept the aid of Aus trian and German armies. The end IS not in sight, and great changes are vel possible.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-15
THE GIRL l LEFT BEHIND ME.

By Samuel Lover. The hour was sad left the maid.
 A llng'ring farewell taking, Her sighs and tears my steps delay'd,
 I thought her heart was breaking; In hurried words her name I bless'd,
 I breathed the vows that bind me. And to my heart in anguish press'd
 The girl I left behind me. Then to the East we bore away,
 To win name in story, And there, where dawns the sun of day, There dawn'd our sun of glory; Both Blaz'd in noon on Alma's height.
 Where in the post assignd me, l shar'd the glory of that fight,
 Sweet girl I left behind me. Full many name our banners bore,
 Of former deeds of daring, But they were of the days of yore,
 In which we had no sharing; But now, our laurels freshly won.
 With the old one shall entwin'd be. Still worthy of our slres each son,
 Sweet girl I left behind me. The hope of final victory,
 Within my bosom burning, Is minging with sweet thoughts of thee, And of my fond returning; But should I ne'er return again,
 Still worth thy love thou'lt find me, Dishonor's breath shall never staip
 The name leave behind we.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-15
TowN.RooMERs DOWN SOUTH.

From the St. Louis Republic.
 It isn't easy to look into a southern newspaper these days without seeing something about town-booming organiza- tions to promote the same. Every town of consequence in the southwest has the organization and the boom, and 1t is much the same in the southeast. The principal city of the Upper Savannah river is working for improvement of naviga- ton in the stream and whooping for Greater Augusta" Chattanooga begins the month of November with a build- ing and development boom in which mil. lions of dollars will be invested The Georgia town of Columbus is hustling in the same direction as Augusta. And so it goes.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-15
From the New York Herald.

From the New York Herald.
 N o GREATER evidence could be
 VI furnished of the popular demand
 for a national theatre in this country than has been provided by the
 public in their enthusiastic endorsement of It's foundation in New York. Last Thursdays Herald told of the gen. erous contribution of three millions of
 dollars by New York men of wealth and
 public spirit to establish temple of the
 drama in this city. It's broad, intelligent, liberal plan of conduct is designed to up- lift further the standard of the stage in
 America-already on high plane of ex- cellence-and to increase public interest
 in the most popular of the arts. No sooner had the princely subscription of these millions been made known by tho Herald-a sum that dreamers of a
 national theatre had hardly dared to hope for in their waking moments-than 1t
 was supplemented by offers aggregating three millions more. For other like pub lie spirited men desired to aid the esti-
 mable project and widen its scope for the benefit of all who seek entertainment
  theatre.
 At once from all parts of the country came a great spontaneous chorus of hear ty public commendation, congratulating New York and the founders of the in stitution upon the long needed, earnestly |sdesired national playhouse.
 The munifcent fund which creates the
 national theatre was indeed gratifying to friends of dramatic art. But greater cause still for rejoicing was the immedi- ate, widespread interest taken in the ad- mirable project by that vast multitude who find pleasure in the theatre. For without their cooperation "a beggarly
 array of empty benches would be the rule rather than the exception. Without universal popular interest the main ob- ject of the scheme would be defeated. For increased appreciation of and demand for better things In dramatic doings and
 an insistence upon general improvement of the stage here, is to be gained only by public approval of theatre designed
 as model and a school for playgoers as well as players.
 MT. Heinrich Conried, the director of the new National theatre, and the men behind him who have put forward their
 millions but modestly remained In the
 background, have before them serious
 undertaking in which they have the good wishes of the public. If the difficult work
 is we'll executed 1t will do for the stage of
 this country in less than decade more
 than has been accomplished here in a cen
 tury Rut if 1t Is not considered along
 rational lines and fails to hold the popu-
 lar favor it has won at the outset the
 result will be a retrograde movement in
 things theatrical. The dramatic art of a people never stands still. It advances or recedes.
 Happily, there is nothing in the out look but that which is most assuring.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-15
Confederate Soldiers Home.

The Soldiers Home for the veterans of the Confederacy holds today sixty seven war-worn soldiers, and there is in it's treasury but $633 with which to supply their needs until the coming of another year. Their winter clothing has not been purchased, and the sum in hand is wholly insufficient to meet the downright needs of the men who fought for the south, and who are to- day too old and too feeble to fight for themselves.
 The comparative emptiness of the treasury of the Home is not due to any extravaganza whatever. The for mer commander, MT. Brooks, applied to needful improvements money which belonged in the maintenance fund. This was an error on his part, but it was an error with no dishonesty or corruption in it. The truth is, the ap- propriation of s125 per capita by the state is scarcely enough, and 1t Is hoped the next legislature will in- crease 1t.
 Tn the meanwhile-in this holiday season-more money is sadly needed at Mountain Creek, and the various camps of veterans will no doubt start subscriptions at once. The needful amount can readily be secured before Thanksgiving Day if each camp will act promptly
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-15
CURES FOR COLDS.

From the Baltimore News.
 Coal oil will knock any cold silly" said C. c. Warren. "The idea of drinking coal oil may seem repugnant to some aestbat- ic tastes, but one tablespoonful will fix the business for the most stubborn cold in head or body.
 'Turpentine is another fine thing for general conditions. I firmly believe that 1T man will take 15 or 20 drops of tur- pentine in sugar once every two months he will never be really sick. It's an inter- nal Turkish bath in effect and leaves the system thoroughly cleansed and in good shape to take on new strength. There's no excuse for cold. and it's a dangerous thing to pass by"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-15
wAsHINeToN's ovERcoAT.

From the Washington Post.
 Far be 1t from us to tamper with Sec- retary Loeb's delicate yet trenchant w.t. ticism in connection with the Hengelmul- Ier-Washington incident. We leave that gem to sparkle by itself, and even our admiration is leveled at 1t from care fully and reverently measured distance, but the Hengelmuller-W Washington incl dent may still be discussed from another point of view, and very important one, without invading the hallowed arena Of jeu esprit aphorism, and all that sort of thing. On this understanding, and with all rights reserved we gently but firmly bulge in.
 The matter of chief interest with us is the rabbits foot which the Austrian ambassador found in the pocket of Hon. Booker Washington's overcoat Every body knows, of course, so 1t need not be explained at length that his exoelency, MT. Hengelmuller and Prof. Brooker Washington, head of the famous negro college at Tuskegee. Ala, happened to visit President Roosevelt on the same day and at the same hour. The anbas- sador escaped first and. in the hurry of his craving for fresh air, took Prof. Book CT Washngton's overcoat in mistake for his own. As he passed down the asphalt semi-circle, reveling in the peace and the serenity of the surroundings, he reached for a pair of gloves and after dragging the deep Charybdis of the pock ct. rose to the surface with a rabbits foot. No gloves--just the left hind foot of graveyard rabbit. killed in the dark of the moon.
 Evidently the overcoot was not his. There had been a mistake. The garment was fine, expensive. fashionable, as be- came a wearer who moved in the very highest and most exclusive circles. It distilled the unmistakable aroma of the select. It fairly smelled of aristocracy. Nevertheless, 1t did not belong to MT. Hengelmuller, so he turned back to the White House, made the exchange, got his own clothes, and heroically relinquished the rabbits foot. The episode has termi- mated without international heartburn ings or forebodings. The Austrian ann bassador recovers his overcoat and gloves, while the Hon. Booker Washington does not know-at least until this moment that he was every in danger of losing his rabbits foot.
 AIS well that ends well. The cloud has passed. and the orb of glory follows its bright pathway unobscured by envy and contention.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-15
NATIONAL THEATRE BOON
 TO PLAYERS AND PUBLIC

Ihe popular and aesthetic sides of the problem seem to have been regarded in the plans with earnest care and inteIJi- gent thoughtfulness. The study appears to have been to please as we'll as to eap- cate' Ill order to draw into the auditorium the amusement seeking many as we'll as the artistically inclined few.
 Tn snort, the National theatre of Amer lea seems assured of an estimabIe and lasting future. It promises to be a boon to the actors and theatregoers of the country, house that shall do for the amusement seeking public here what has been accomplished by the comedie Fran calse Tor France and the Burgtheater for the German speaking stage.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-15
Theatre District.

'The theatre district" said Martin L.. Semon, seems to be pretty we'll estab- 1ished west of Nineteenth street. The building of the Majestic will give us three theatres pretty close to Eighteenth street and Third avenue.
 When the Smith brothers built the Jefferson 1t was considered too far to- wards Bessemer to suit this city, but all see now that the Smith brothers had foresight of good quality. The Bijou is very near the center of population, and the other two theatres are near it. The theatre district of this city Is well established. It lies between Seventeenth and Nineteenth streets, between Second and Fourth avenues"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-15
COMMENTS ON MEN AND
 MATTERS OF THE WORLD

@ OR tragic intensity and the com U plete obscuration of all that is
 bright in the world nothing sur passes the gloom which enwraps the academic halls of a college and over weights It's student body when the foot ball team is defeated. To watch the heavy looks of these youngsters to note their hopeless, low-spoken words and the stricken whispers in which they ques- ton the cause of their defeat and to mark the vacant gaze with which they look out across the campus, one would think that a catacllsm had unexpectedly come to pass. The gravity of their de- meanor would befit the assassination of a President, the shock of revolution, the bloody declaration of war, the march of pestilenee or the fruits of havocs dread ful ruin. A drubbing on the gridiron ap- pears to them a subject for deepest woe but in after years they will look back upon their grief through the opposite end of the telescope and it's object will seem small.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-15
General Prosperity has the day.
RABBIT STARED AT GROVER.

From the New York World.
 Charles Grover went hunting rabbits in the Orange mountains back of Ve- roma, N. J.. yesterday afternoon. He scared one by prodding at pile of brush Disdaining to shoot at short range, he waited until bunny got few hundred feet away. Then he fired. The weapon kicked and the butt struck him on the jaw Over on his back went Grover.
 When Grover sat up he was astonished to see the rabbit sitting upon log some distance away enjoying his dscomiture, and calmly nibbllng nut Grover went home disgusted.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-15
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

From the New York Press.
 A man can make very good living by marrying rich wife.
 A woman can guess a thing right quicker than man can reason 1t. , Some people are always willing to tell the truth when it is disagreeable to somebody else.
 A girl of sixteen always wants to do the things she will never let her daughter dQ when she has one of that age.
 Can anybody explain how it is that at o'clock in the morning the temperature of the furnace is 6 degrees lower than the air outdoorDf