davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-02-15
II Was vaJentine,s Dav.

1T might be a good idea for some of
the city officials to tell what kind of val
entines they received" said a man about
the city building yesterday II believe
that some of the people hereabouts have
laid for these officials today and that
they have sent them some valentines
that they thought appropriate to some of
the peculiarlties of the official or of the
office they fill.
"Of course they naturally sent Mayor
Drennea one about getting married and
running for a fourth term, and Chief
Wier received one hitting off the police
department or a similar one Chief
Mullin would naturally receive one abou.
putting out a fire, or not putting one out
and If there were such a thing to be
found, some one would present Judge
Feagin with a probation valentine.
wish they would exhibit al that they
received, and 1 venture to say that 1t
would make a comic collection
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-02-15
BIRMINGHAM'S FAIR.

From the Ashville Southern Aegis.
Birmingham is going to have an expo
sition of it's own this fall. Its liberal
minded citizens have raised the necessary
capital to start it. $4,000 has been subsorib-
ed by them. The pluck and energy OF
it's people in this movement character
istic of them In every thing they take
hold of, is in the highest degree commend
able-the more so as an example of their
loyalty and devotion to the solid progress
of their city
We nave watched the growth of Bir-
mingham from the time 1t began to put
off its swadling garments of village life
and to stick its heaG out into the sun
shine to respre the freshness and to take
on its cheeks the glow OF that inspiration
which has eliminated, In the brief period
of a few years only, in a municipal south
ern colossus, with reputation as broad
as the American continent, and whose
progress in Industrial art will at an early
day rank it with the foremost cities in
that line, and it not already achieved,
whose products wi, bring it in contact
with the whole world
But Birmingham is not only to be con-
graduated on account of its rapid sue
cess in the field of Industrial art On the
higher lines of life its citizens display
equal energy and activi, and 1t is
feature in the history of great city to
see its progress ON the lines of literature,
science, morality and religion keeping
ahead of its other advancefent. The citi-
gems of Birmingham seem to understand
the wholesome influence of the better life
and are cultivating the means to attain
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-02-15
IN HOTEL LOBBIES



do not understand why it is that
water pipes burst under the pressure of
cold weather in the south so much more
frequently than they do in the north.
where it is so much colder than here"
remarked a householder who recently
came from a northern cline to Birming-
ham.
1t must be that the construction is
imperfeet-the plumbing poor If this is
so there is-evidently a good opening in
birmingham for a first-elass plumbing
establishment. I notice. too. that a Gus
tom prevails here which appears to me
TO be very unjust and that Is that when
a pipe bursts The tenant. and not the
landlord, is required to repair the dam
age, upon the ground that the tenant
neglected to cut off the water AS yet
| have never seen an effective CUTOFF
and I can see very well that It would
not be to the interest Of the plumber to
invent or to attach one. That would
cut off his repairing work. and thus
take dollars out of his pocket.
ut ought to be made the duty of the
plumbing in his house. as they do in the
north, and If he does not he should stand
for all damages. It will not do to Say
that the tenant would neglect to be care
full in handling the pipes. for whether he
has to pay the repair bills not the
tenant is greatly Inconvenience by the
bursting of pipes, and this fact would
always cause him to be cautious Espe-
cially is this the case in Birmingham.
where it takes about three days or
week in cold weather to get the services
of a plumber, during which time the
tenant and not the landlord Is the suf-
ferer
II do not know whether or not there is
any law governing the case or not, ex-
eept the law of general contracts, but
there ought to be some change or re-
form or new enactment in the laws of
this state which relate to landlord and
tenant so that the latter will not have
to carry all the burden"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-02-15

~ DIRTY uniformed policemen. thirty
IT, detectives, force Of s,.ret SER
vice experts and squad of
mounted men we're deemed necessary to
protect the life of President Roosevelt
during one day Of his stay in New York
city, and all because some crank might
have taken a notion to hand the Presi-
dent a bomb for a valentine. Mr.. koose-
welt deals with the glories Of our citizen
ship and lauds the American people in
literary style that does him proud. but
all the same It is not safe to trust HIM
self entirely to the uncertain mereies of
a crowd. This is not Russia. to be sure,
but since the death of President McKin-
ley great care is being taken to prevent
Russian methods from being introduced.
Tomorrow night an engagement of more
than ordinary interest will attract thea
tre-goers to the jefferson, when Richard
Mansfield will appear as Tsar Ivan in
Ivan the Terrible Yesterday there
was the usual rush for seats and there
will be the usual crowd to fill the theatre
to the doors. Mr.. Mansfeld's visit to
Birmingham is pleasantly anticipated
each season. As an actor he is perhaps
the most popular star" who plays at
the Jefferson. Assuredly no one else can
more certainly be relied upon to draw a
packed house This season Mr.. Mans
field is playing a repertoire. as he seems
to have horror of falling into rut.
There are and have been actors who won
fame in one or two characters, but it
III. Al e 10
excel in a great number.
A foreman in a Pennsylvania machine
shop preferred his pipe to his job, and
now he has the former without the las-
ter. He will also have plenty of time
to indulge in pipe dreams. a species of
revery that ought to go pleasantly this
sort of weather, provided you have
warm place to smoke. While the seduc-
tive spell of a pipe is generally recogn-
lied by poets and philosophers, it is not
wage Garner by any means and never
was known to pay a bill. Therefore il
you cannot hold a position and your
pipe too, invoke the pity of the gods.
TO A PIPE.
Thy ruddy-hued bowl and amber stem,
Furnish me the soIaee of a dream;
With you in the boat. 'twere easy to float
To the sea down life's turbid stream.
A suicide at S4l Why should he net tarry
while until the cowled Visitor cut him
down with the scythe of mortality? Peo-
Pile are so impatient these days.
-L--~
A New Jersey man who is an expert
chicken picker, says that he is haunted
by the fowls that he has plucked dur
ing his CORY career. But, sooth to say,
there are many persons who would not
object to being haunted b. chicken and
what ghost could be more gentle than
the ghost of a chicken pie?
Last week was "Juor Week. at Cor
nell and it is estimated that every fra
ternity man of the class who wished to
take part in the festivities in a proper
manner had to expend an average sum
of $3.50. Now the question, is asked, is
Cornell becoming a rich. mans college?
| There is nothing in the gaiety of Junior
Week at this institution to promote
learning, nor do the participants emerge
from the Juror of dancing, entertaining
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-02-15
AMUSING INCIDENTS IN
JOE JEFFERSON'S CAREER

utes to examining the papers in his
stage safe, never saying a word the
while-just "gloating." OF course, it was
all supposed to be a very effective bit
OF business but one youthful specta-
tor found something left to be desired
The house was absolutely still, when
down from near the great chandelier
came voice: "Wot's in dc paipers, Guv-
nor?'-and the laugh that followed quite
upset the scene.
OF all the theatrical mishsps. however,
Mr. Jefferson says the funniest was one
which occurred on the stage of the old
Walnut Street theatre in his native Phil
adelphia Camille" was the play, and all
went with successful intensity till there
came that scene between the heroine and
her lover. Armand, in the course of which
a servant enters, bringing the lights.
In those days" says Mr.. Jefferson.
sea island cotton was ice cream for
dramatic purposes just as molasses and
water was stage wine-sherry or port, ac-
cording to the proportion of molasses.
Armand and his Camille were seated at
table where they had been discussing
dialogue was making the best sort of
impression on a crowded house. Then in
came that maid servant, with the wob-
bliest candelabra any stage manager ever
alloNsv .mong his properties Her entry
passo.. practically unnoticed, so engross-
ing was the scene between the principals.
but as she set down her burden between
them one candle toppled out--and the ice
cream caught fire. The strain was
broken. The house roared and the cur
tain had to be rung down..
An interruption of quite another sort
marked Mr.. Jefferson's latest appearance
in New Haven. He was pla.'ing in THE
Heir at Law as DIR. Pangloss, the tutor,
and, as usual in that city the house was
filled with Yale undergraduates. 1t was
in December and just before the Christ
mas examination at the college, when
most students are "boning' hard, and
for that reason perhaps the stage tutor
seemed even closer to them than Jeffer-
son as Rip or Caleb Plummer might have
seemed Then came the epilogue, which
had, of course, been altered from the
original Coleman lines so that the star
might have the final word. Gray wigged
and smiling out at the house with his
characteristic joviality, Mr.. jefferson be-
gan: docs anybody want tutor here?'
He could not get word further. Tho
perfect fitness of the lire to time and
place rushed in upon that Yale crowd.
and their cheers filled the auditorium for
minutes. Later. they marched in body
down to the New Haven House. where
there was another reception of kind
With the actor himself described later
as the sort which makes seventy odd
years a matter of no account at all
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-02-15
ODDITIES.

From the Chicago News.
Two orang-outangs in Paris have ac-
qrired a taste for mulled claret. One of
them, named Virginia, made her keeper
anxious by coughing. So he tried the eff
feet of a hot potation. Virginia drank,
rolled her eyes expressvely and began
to mend. Her coug'hed ceased and so did
the mulled claret This did not please
Virginia at all. She pondered awhile and
then had a brilliant idea. The cough be-
gan again; but it was so plainly artificial
that the keeper smiled Everybody
smiled. Virgina's companion, Frascator,
entered heartily into the joke by cough
ing on his own account Mo- the two
animals have their jorum of mulled
claret regularly.
Third-class passenger coaches in Eng
land used to be coupled on next to the
engine. The travellers came in for terri
BILE treatment when any accident oc-
CURED. At times the engine was driven
tender first. in which case frozen hands
could be warmed at its smolestack. The
passengers were packed, seventy of them,
into a truck eighteen feet in length by
seven and a half in width. There was
no roof and not, as rule, proper pro-
lection at the sides.
In ancient and medieval lines it was
supposed that devils were countless in
number. According to a writer the Tai
mudsts used to assert that there were
I, 405, 926 devils. One old authority on the
subject affirmed that every human being
has 1000 devils on his right hand and
10000 on his left.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-02-15
Catching Criminals.

1T is a strange thing that criminals
come to Birn ngham and think that they
are going to do as they please in this
city and get away free said citi-
zen Yesterday. "Gang afte- gang comes
to Birmingham to operate and almost
every time these gangs are captured. In
fact, ] do not believe that big gang
of criminals has ever operated in Bir-
mingham and ever got away without be-
ing finally caught and broken up.
Il suppose these gangs think they can
come here and do as they please be-
cause the city once had the reputation of
being bad town. but the police depart
ment fools them. / believe that more
desperate criminals are captured in Bir-
mingham than in any other city of its
size in the country, and a large percent
age of them are wanted in ot.-te cities.
And in regard to the bad town re-
ports that have been sent out from Bir-
mingham, | wish there was some way
to stop them, but | am afraid that it
will require years of good behavior OH
the part of the Birmingham people 10
do away with that report
Judging from the chiefs report for
the fiscal year commencing last May, |
would say that Birmingham will show
a greater decrease in the number of ar
rests than any other city in the union.
If l am correct l believe that the de-
crease will be about 40 per cent over
several years previous, and at the same
time the growth in population should
be considered. Thus, we see signs of a
marked improvement in Birmingham.
"The monthly reports have shown that
the number of arrests per month this
fiscal year, when compared with the
number per month of similar months for
years past, is very much lower, ranging
from 200 to 400 lower. The reduction
in per cent is about 40 If l estimate cor
rertlV.n
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-02-15
POINTED PARAGRAPHS.

From the Chicago News.
Some people marry for money and some
for love-of money.
An agnostic is a man who doesn't be-
leve in his own belief
Fortunes usually smiles ON the man
who hustles while he waits.
Never attempt to judge woman's
brains by the size of her hat.
Contentment may be better than
money, but it is equally as scarce.
Some tailors guarantee fits and some
doctors guarantee to cure them.
II is folly to tell the father of twins
that two heads are better than one
Most men would die in despair today IL
1t weren't for tomorrow's expectations
Nine times out of ten a man manages
to live happily even after woman has
refused to wed him.
II man is obliging and tells his wife
everything, she should be generous
enough to believe 1t.
When a wise man gets angry he opens
his eyes and shuts his mouth. but a fool
shuts his eyes and opens his mouth.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-02-15
East Lake.

1.-THE attention Of this district having
recently been drawn to the question Of
greater and unlimited water supply for
birmingham and the surrounding coun-
try. and the possibility of canal inter-
secting the Warrior or Coosa rivers, for
the purpose. calls marked attention to
the exceptional advantages possessed by
the town of East Lake in the pure water
line" said prominent citizen last night
"Flrst. The Roebl k spring. gushing out
from under the red clay hills at its source
furnishing thousands of gallons of water
every hour. The stream traverses the
whole of East Lake and Woodiawn; also
the old Ridgeway spring. the bottom of
which is vet to ne discovered, lying a
few hundred yards above Lake Como,
being n close second to the Roebuck
spring
.The Rock spring. Brick House spring,
church spring, Howard college spring-all
large ones with numberless smaller
snrines thickiy interspersed, prove the
assertion as to the possibilities of pure
water for that town. 1t seems strange
that the real estate agents do not lay
more stress on tlis point in placing East
Lake property before the public
Enough water is here 20 drive num-
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-02-15
COMMENTS ON MEN AM
MATTERS OF THE VIC LID

! and banqueting with an in-., 5sed know
ledge of the classics, but thee seasons
of festivity have become part and
parcel of a great many universities, and
while they do not assist d elbow to get
his diploma, they help to make life more
pleasant and furnish an outlet for spirits
that might otherwise effervesee in more
harmful ways. The only solution for the
poor student is TO leave town until the
frolic is over or else stay away from
college altogether and study bis Latin
in > wood she'd
Just about three weeks more remain
for Congress to finish up Is business and
adjourn. From present Indications that
worshipful bod win have to burn mid
night oil, in order to dispose of the APP
preparation bills that are now imminent.
More's the pity, for Congress is not used
to work. After the garrison finish that
is predicted members will have to follow
the dizzy pace of a Roosevelt inaugura-
ton and after that if some of the more
impressionistic congressman do not re-
quire the rest cure it will be surprising.
Texas is stridng forward every day. A
new evidence of this is the fact that a
bill has recently been introduced in the
Texas legislature providing for a tax on
bachelors. The tax begins at the age of
81 years and increases with age until IS
is reached when it becomes almost pro-
hibitive. 1t appears that there is a good
chance for this bill to be rassed, and
If it becomes a law the cowboy and the
bad man" may as well bid farewell to
the Lone Star state There are but few
of them left, any. way, and it appears that
the last stage of their decadence is
marked by the proposed bachelor tax.
"bad man" with a wife is preposter-N
Gus.
Health Commissioner Darlington of New
York city says that its people are leading
the pace thai kills. Such TX has been
often heard before, but is noticeable
that there is no dminution in the speed
of American life. 1t is no use for one
man to live the simple life and starve
to death or die of ennui, while everybody
| else is out after dollars and a good time
A spiritualist claims that she has been
cured OF cancer by a doctor who has
been dead 500 years. There is one adj
vantage in such ghostly medical attend
.. ance. Fees can be avoided.
A man has just killed himself after
having good time" He will now pro-
coed to have a hot time.
The minstrel stood on : street corner
and sang to the passing throng as fol-
lows:
GET WISE.
Steal a mans oyercoat and gel yourself
in jail,
Steal a thousand dollars and zen get ont
on bail,
Steal half million with discriminating
eye,
And you will get a monument when you
come to die
AS collections were rather small the
| bard sang again. Softly:
HONI SOFT, ETC.
Fell from grace" Onlinous words,
| Proclaiming a souls barter
| But cease your tears ard smile again,
This time it was Graces garter
! PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-02-15
strainino the Constitution.

The President will not present the
amended treaties to the countries that
signed them. He assumes the right to
kill a treaty after it has been ratified
by the Senate. In other words, he
says treaties must be ratified as he de-
sires them to stand or else there shall
be none at all. This certainly ctrtails
the powers of amendment of the Sen
ate. Heretofore the Senate has felt
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-02-15
From the New York Mail.

Ut HERE'S only one thing man
\0 has to write himself and
that's his autobiography"
says Mr.. Jefferson. And no one has
more good stories to tell of his past than
this same 10" whom all American thea
tre-goers love with a feeling almost per-
sonal.
On Monday, February 20, the vener-
able and genial actor will pass his sew
enty-sixth milestone, and from the re-
tirement which he has sought, may look
back across the experience of more than
seventy years-since, in 1888, he Joined
his childish fortunes with those of a
troupe OF strolling players in far-away
Texas. The exact date of his debut none
may give. He was a baby in arms when
he was once carried upon the stage in a
scene of "Pzarro," and he himself re-
members another very early appearance
when he was actually Kissed from the
stage.
Had | been old enough to curse at
the time, is the way the smiling old
gentleman now puts it, Il dare say l
should have muttered very nasty things
of the national anthem | had gone on
to reeite the star-Spangled Banner but
| could get no further than Oh, say.
can you see? Three several times
1 asked the question, or began to, and
then some one Missed and l fed Vnen
was that? Henvens knows. There is
no danger of my forgetting the incident.
but the month and year are beyond me.
Nor will l ever forget the time when
cut the cocoon of leading mandom to
become a gaudy butterfly, headed star
ward. When | opened my window that
spring morning the soft and vernal air.
which | presume was about somewhere.
made no appeal to me at all. for there.
Just across the street. was a fence bear
ing my name in letters four feet high.
Isstood entranced-until l suddenly hap
pened to notice that not one man of all
the scores that were passing gave so
much as glance at the name that
meant Me. Perhaps I pitied them, and
anyway, l guess J was quite like other
young men, and sat down, half-dressed,
to dream dreams.
Apropos of the kissing story. Mr.. JEFF
ferson tells another which goes back
some years to d time when Sardou' 8
CLEOPATRA was being played through
the middle west by very Indifferent
company. Most of ALL the leading role
left much to be desired, so that it Is not
surprising the piece dragged badly. Then
came at last the death scene. for which
had been provided mechanical asp.
The fatal moment came when the house
grew more and more inpatient. The
toy snake raised its little head to strike.
but emitted OF the instant u shrill hiss.
which had doubtless been the pride apd
Joy of the inventor At least it was ap-
proved by a strong voice from the gall
lery. which announced: u quite agree
with the snake"
Another gallery god story in the
rich Jeffersonian store of memories has
TO do with a piece in which BENJAMIN
webster the English actor, once APP
peared in London. He played the role of
a miser. and in one scene gave some min
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-02-15
Historic Battle House.

1.-THE burning of the Battle house takes
from Mobile one of its most famous old
buildings" said Mr.. T. B. Clark yester-
day land a loss which is deeply re-
GREETED by all who love that city. 1t
was built in the early fifties on the site
of the old Waverly house, which burned.
The new hotel was named after James
Battle of Mobile, the principal stock
holder of the hotel comany, and in spite
of several remodelings remained prac-
tically the same up to the time it was
burned
"Paran Stevens was it's first proprie-
tor, and he afterward made great sue
cess with the Revere house of Boston.
prietors afterward made big regulations
as managers of important hotels in the
north.
''rhe Battle house has always been one
of the central gathering places of the
city. particularly during Mardi GTas and
other festival occasions. The. most inter-
esting event l ever saw there was the re-
view of about 10000 federal troops-many
of them negroes-soon after the Confed-
eracy fell Chief Justice Chase of the
United States supreme court was there
at the time and the review took place
before him and the northern general in
command Miss Chase was visiting Mo-
bile with her father as the guest of
Madame Levert, one of the most noted
women Mobile has ever had. The review
ing stand was at the Battle house, and
sitting with Mr.. Chase were his daughter
and her hostess. Madame Levert, who
put aside her natural prejudices against
the north and went into the reviewing
stand through courtesy to her guest
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-02-15
MEAN FLING AT MARIE.

From Puck.
There are exceptions to the rule that
in this world one cannot get something
for nothing. At a second hand book shop
the other day we exchanged Marie
Corelli's latest for copy of ''Epicte-
tus."
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-02-15

One of Johann Hoch's wives greeted
him in Chicago thus: $50 you are
here at last, you dirty cur and de-
ceitful devil" No wonder he is merry
in Jail.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-02-15

A 15-year-olo boy in Tennessee has
just eloped with his school teacher a
woman 80 years old. He didn't stay
in after school for nothing.