davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-22
Peonaqe in Chain Gangs.

Judge Emory Speer of the United States district court in Georgia not only endorses the Clyatt decision in the United States supreme court whereby the anti-psonage sections or the revised statutes are upheld, but he applies those sections to all chain gangs in all our cities. In recent charge to q fedora, grand jury in Sa- vennah. he said:
 "For myself. do not hesitate to de- clare that enforced labor on a local cham gang for any of'ense not amounting to crime Is involntary servitude and peon- age in the light of the decision of the supreme court of the United States no matter what Il e state law or municipal ordinance may be on the subject. Should the Sultan of Morocco or Abdul Hamid at Constantinople consign to an oriental chain gang American citizens for such trivialities as are thus daily punished here before the sun goes down the steel clad battleships of the union would be speeding every ocean wave to demand edress for the injury or avenge the wrong"
 Judge Speer released from the Ma con chalngang a man held because he could not pay inc and cost in q misdemeanor case, and an appeal was t ken, and wien that case is reviewed in tEe supreme court the chaingang masters may get some lively reading matter. It is plainly Judge Speer's intention to have chaingang punish ment as a rule brought within the anti peonage statues, and if the case already started does not cover tho ground no doubt one will be tried and appealed that will. Scarcely a city in this section is without chaingangs. and if local chaingangs must consist of convicted criminals only a very considerable legal revolution will have taken place.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-22
Basis of ApportIonment.

The Montgomery Journal has de- ,ised a new oasis of apportionment for use in future state conventions. It proposes to have them made up of delegates for every 4000 of white pop ulation, and also for every S1,000,O0O of ass essed values. Tn a convention cf 623 Jefferson county, for example, will have nineteen delegates repre- senting it's population and forty-nine delegates representing its assessed aluslions-sixty-eig in all Mobile would have thirty delegates, and Mont gomery twenty-four The white coun- ties of north Alabama would control the convention. Lowndes would have but five. while High Jackson would have ten, delegates.
 The Journa. urges it's scheme of representation because 1t would have tendency towards fairer assessments of property for state taxation and be- cause it would induce each county to seek white immigration.
 The scheme is l. very pretty one,
 ut how and when did the Journal dis cover that this state is ready to re- pudiate the primary system? Its arti- cle upon apportionment is based upon the repudiatior of direct action by the people, and return to the convention S, stem. No one in north Alabama had heard that the primary system had beer discarded, and the Journal should explain where and how 1t as certainei that it had been.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-22
From the Chicago Trib,

From the Chicago Tribune.
 YN UsT the venerable proverb, "Old H(Qt men for counsel, young men for war; be amended? The ex- perience of mankind until the lastshalf century seemed to vindicate the last part of it as well as the first. Caesar, who did not set out against the Gauls until he was 42. and was 52 when he won at Pharsalia, was long an exception.
 Alexander beat Darius at Arbela at 2f, and before he was 30 vented his lannon's sigh because there were no more worlds to conquer Hannibal was commander-in- chief of the Carthaginian army at 26. and set out against Rome at 29. Frederick the Great won Hohenfriedburg at 3S. Napo- leon had conquered Italy when 2S won Austerlitz at 36, and lost Wafcrloo at l6 Ney was the same age as his great lead CT. and Murat but two yeals older. Well lington finished the peninsular campaign at AS and won at Waterloo at 46
 Contrast the ages of these great cap tains with those of the great commanders of more recent times. Grant was only AZ when he became lieutenant general of the union armies. But Lee was nine years older when he fought his first great bat- tle-at Malvern hill-than Napoleon was when he fled from Waterloo. Moltke was s6 years old when he overthrow the Aus
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-22
A Fine Typ. of Clergyman.

Where. wonder, does Dr. Stagg find time to do all the work he's engaged in?' asked layman last night at the Hillman in commenting on the effective activity of the pastor of the First Presbyterian church.
 There isn't a man in Birmingham, nor has there very recently been one here. who has touched the life of the commun- ity at so many points and touched 1t so discrlminatingly and intelligently as has this Scotch-Irisbman who has recently come among us His versatility as cler- gyman and factor in the worlds work re- minds one in a sense of the late la mented Father OReilly. The life of each one of them in its way, Illustrates how powerful thing is human sympathy when directed energetically and intelli- gently. I regard Dr. Stagg as a type or clergyman for whom there is, under mod ern conditions, clear call from all classes of society The fact that he is equally admired by all conditions of men eloquently testifies to his high eharac- ter and large usefulness"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-22
KNOWS SIR THOMAS.
Mrs. Reader Was Guest of Lipton on His Yacht.

From the New York World.
 Mrs Ella Rawls Reader the remark able young southern woman who settles south American revolutions and obtains contracts for building railroads in India and who has caused President Roosevelt to shake the Big Stick" at Santo Do- m,ngo. is well known in this city, but urtil the present revelations few real ized that she was such an important per son in the affairs of the world.
 Many guests of Sir Thomas Lipton re n.embered meeting the fascinating young woman on board the Lipton yacht Erin ,,pon the occasion of the last interna- tional cup races. where she was an hon. ored guest of the Irish baronet. It was even said that Sir Thomas had furnished financial backing for number of her schemes, which appear to be endless. She laughingly denied this yesterday.
 ..Of course | know Sir Thomas she said, "and have been his guest aboard the Erin. but I wish you would deny that he has furnished the capital for any of my business enterprises. He is just a royal good gentlemen and the prince of hosts.' ts 4kt46 s-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-22
RED CROSS FOUNDER.

From the Chicago News.
 Henri Dunant, founder of the Red Cross movement. now 76 years of age. lives in ill-health near Lake Constance, in Swift zerland. He was first inspired by reading the story of Florence Nightingale and it occurred to him that some systematic ar rangement might be made to provide sim liar help to the wounded in battle-an ar rangement which should be recognized by both opposing forces. Accordingly he went to the battle at SoIferino in order that he might see for himself what the re- suits of warfare were, and he was con- vinced that if the terrors were to be nit igated it would be by a properly recog- nized body. Then he spent some years lec- turing in various portions of Europe, at tracing little attention at first and being generally regarded as a crank and no more. The first sympathetic help was from Napoleon ILL, who at once deter mined that the ideas of the mere civil ian should be put into effect as regards his armies. Dunant lived to see his tr- umph. when the nations of the world &C., cepted his proposals in the Cenevan con ference of 1861.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-22
Returns From Mexico.

Fulton S. White. agricultural editor of The AgeHerald, was in Birmingham yes terday en route to his headquarters in St. Louis. MT. White has just returned from a trip through old Mexico. He tra- yersed our sister republic thoroughly and reports that he was delighted with all he saw.
 Mir. White brought back with him sev- eral stalks of the coffee plant, which he plucked while growth. The berries look very much like cherries and consist of an outer ruddy. colored envelope, that con tains two coffee grains. MT. White says that fruits are ripening in Old Mexico now and the country seems to be i'm proving rapidly. The foreign population isN large and steadily increasing. The American colony in Mexico City is com posed of hustlers, who are much in evil dence.
 Mr. White left last night for St. Louis,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-22
OLD MEN CONSPICUOUS ss
 IN PRESENT DAY WARS

trians at Sadowa and 70 when his genius triumphed in the Franco-Prussian war Nogi is 54, Kurol1i Is 62, Oyama is 64
 It seems probale that changes in metii- ods of warfare have been factor in put ting middle aged and old men in com mand of modern armies. The physical qualities of the military leader were e prime importance in ancient times He led his troops as well as commanded them, and inspired them to deeds of valor by the example of his own prowess. These qualities continued to be of considerable importance as long as armies were com pact masses of no more than. say 50.ooO men. Great soldiers. therefore, were usu- ally young men. .
 Things had changed when old Moltlre, a soldier of books and maps. could sit im- passible at the end of a telegraph wire and direct the conquering movements of more than half million men according to a plan he had drawn up months before. sThe great captain had wholly ceased to be fighter He had become a chess play CT with a board perhaps hundreds or thousands of miles in area. iA;s is what Oyama is. He Is a cool, long-headed old fellow, who has mastered the science and the art of modern war by long years of study and experience. Future great com manders probably will be a good deal like him. ft5
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-22

"A literary feast is in store for the cul- tured element of our city in the lectures to be delivered lyi Dr. Lenkin Lloyd Jones of Chicago, beginning on next Monday evening, March 27," said cultured wo- man. "Dr, Jones has a national repu- tation as an editor and author, as well as lecturer His lectures at once con- vince an audience that he Is a profound student of men as well as of books. His voice is one of peculiar richness and sympathy-one has hardly realized the power of poetry until one has heard that charming lit given ,t by Dr. Jones'
 Several years since pr. Jones delivered series of lectures in Birmingham un- der the title of Modern Prophets of Lit- erature. These were Emerson, Lowell, Victor Hugo, Walt Whitman. Tolstoi and George Eliot. The themes of the lectures to be delivered on four consecutive even ings next week at the Pollock-Stevens institute will be as follows: ''The Re- demption of Soul,a study of Goethe s Faust : " "The Three Reverences;" John Ruslxin." and "The Cost of an Idea"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-22
MOTHERS LETTER.

From the Boston Journal. When boy is far away from home, What pleases him the most? Why. it's when a letter comes to him
 From mother thro' the post, No matter if the silver hairs
 Appear upon his head, He's still his mothers boy as when His hair was carrot red Tho thirty years have set their marks And scared his careworn face, In mothers eyes he's yet a lad Without times telltale tracei Her letter thus begins: Dear boy;"
 1t sets his heart athrill TO think that mother knows him as
 A little shaver still. Amot Der selove is az a. charm
 Flfes seasan1e' of youthtf One feels that age has naught to do
 With love of life or truth. Whene CT he gets a letter frcm
 His mother far away. Who sees naught but the guileless child. Behind the man grown gray.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-22

and ports only. It was understood 10 mean that Congress could not favor one port at the expense. of another in the matter of seagoing vessels. But the wise men now say 1t has come in the evolution of things to fit railroads. Tn short, that all differentials on rail reads are unconstitutional. A flat mileage basis alone is constitutional, say these extenders of section 9.
 If all differentials are forbidden, tLen congress lacks the power to reg ulate in the broadest sense commerce "among the several states" This Chinese puzzle is, however, beyond the ordinary American mind. Only the nine brains of the supreme court can master 1t, and in due course of time no doubt the subject of differentials will be discussed by the court of last resort and determined.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-22
DICKENS PHRASES.

From the London Express.
 Since Shakespeare no writer has made language to the extent that Dickens has done, and the number of common colloqualisms taken from his novels which everybody uses every day is the outstanding proof of the success with which he has appealed to the imagina- ton of the nation.
 How often one hears .Barkis is willin'," Beware of vldders," "Oliver Twist asks for more." "Codlin's the friend, not Short.'' T don't believe there's any sich person." Let me put my lips to it when I am so disposed" !" Waiting for something to turn up," "A trifle wearing" The law is hass," he demnition bow-wows" and so on.
 Not few actual words have come from Dickens to tte dictionary-Pod- snappery, Pickwickian. Pecksniffian, Bumbledom and many others. Dolly Warden" the pretty heroine of "Barna- by Fudge" has given her name to a hat; while Mrs. Leo Hunter, the Artful Dodger, Uriah Heep and Mrs Jarley have become common generic terms,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-22
COMMENTS ION MEN AND
 MATTERS OF THE WORLD

ZANE of the many admirable Amer kOI ican traits that has often caused
 amusement is our belief that there is no place like home. Take the American citizen anywhere on the globe, show him the marvels of nature and masterpieces of mans handiworl. let him bask in the sunshine meath Italian skies, seek inspiration in the Alps. gaze oh Eng lands picture lakes or wander on tho misty hills of Scotland-his affection for home is not abated. He may wonder and admire but deep down in his heart 4s the conviction that none is better than could be found. in the United States. To him there is no land like the land of his birth. A few there are who quit this coun- try to reside for the remainder of their lives abroad. Some are driven away by mlsfortunes,f some by crime and others by the stern necessities of life but no contempt Is too great for the wealthy snob who thinks the country which made him is not good enough for his home. The majority of American people always have been and always will be American to the core. The egotistical loyalty of the Amer ican for 'the states is one secret of the nations greatness. 4
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-22
IN HOTEL LoBBIES
MothbalIs and springtime.

dltu Sfs'tfa
 The odor of eamphor balls and to- baoeo stems will permeate the atmos- phere in a short while said the pro prietor of pressing club yesterday Men who have had their last summers garments packed away in trunks ana closets will soon get them out shake orr the moth balls and come proudly iorlh clad in last seasons raiment
 Pressing establishments will enjoy sharp increase of business the coming ten days. Nearly every man sends his last summers suit to the pressing man before it Is donned. The business done IF cleaning and blocking hats is not so large the beginning of spring as the win ter trade. Comparatively few straw hats are worn after once being discardea' though somehow q man nearly al"ays places his old straw in winter storage' Quite a number of felt hats are cleaned and rebloeked annually.
 T have noticed a man takes more in- terest in the spring changes than Of the other seasons He buys his winter suit and overcoat as Q matter-of-course when the north winds begin to whistle but the average man doesn't seem so fastidious in his winter furnishings as when the spring paraphernalia is pur- chased. But you will find some men who start the season on their left overs anu every breezes will be redolent with eamphor. Also that ubiquitous indi- yidual will be on hand to take you up by the arm and confde that he has discarded flannels.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-22
A FRANK CRITIC OF OUR STAGE.

From the New York World.
 In an interview to the World yester day Sir Charles Wyndham spoke of the faults of the American stage with a frankness which was all kindness. Such plain speaking as shis of the great En- glish actor manager should be relshed now and then both by the critical play goer and the thoughtful director of e. atr.eal affairs.
 The commercial spirit and the system under which stars are made for pop ularity and profit only-these are the chief defects from which the American stage suffers. Acting has declined as the price of seats has advanced. Mir Wynd- ham is not the first to tell us so but the evil facts gain fresh significance in his presentation of them. He sees the need of the strong. well-balaneed perform anoes of capable stock companies-per- formances which should be schools in themselves by companies in which the ins would be sure of proper development
 Nc fear need exist that the public would fail to respond to theatrical en- deavor on right llnes Tt will" as Sir Charles believes, support the best even more heartily than it has supported the worst It should not require more courage to trust the public for arts sake than to affront t on the strength of box office speculations
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-22
DifferentiaIs in the Constitution.

Congress has power to regulate com merce among the several states" or rather it has been assumed that 1t has. But some wiseacres have discovered that the power in question is a mis- take. They have discovered in sec tion g, article 1, clause that upsets the sweeping clause under which Con gress has been recklessly legislating. Section reads as follows:
 "No tax or duty shall be laid on articles exported from any state. No preference shall be given. by any regulation of com nerce or revenue. to the ports of one state over those of another; nor shall vessels bound to or from one state be obliged to enter. clear or pay duties in another"
 The section quoted was written be- fore the day of railroads. and when It was written it was applied to vessels
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-22

, guilty of murder, and the law says you are to be hanged. It is my wish that you
 and all your friends on the river to
 know that 1t is not I who condemns you;
 it is the jury and the law, Mir Dodson.
 At what time, sir, would you like to be
 hanged?"
 The prisoner made answer that 1t was a
 matter of indifference to him, and that he was prepared to be swung off at any time. The judge continued; Mir Dodson, 1t Is a serious matter to be hanged. It can't happen to a man but
 once in life, unless the rope should break
 before the neck is broke, and you had better take all the time you can. But since it makes no difference to you, you may hang four weeks from today at 12 noon. but you may have good dinner first"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-22
ReuuIatinu Alabama Rates.

On his last day in executive office Acting Governor Cunningham called the attention of tho railroad commits sion to their duty under the constitu- tion, threatening it at the same time with the calling of an extra session of the legislature. He was particularly emphatic over the differences between railroad rates 4n Alabama and in the adjoining states.
 No one will be apt to oppose re- ductions that will put Alabama on the Georgia basis, for presumably Geor- gia rates are both profitable to the railroads and satisfactory to consum- CTS who pay them. The Age-Herald has often asked that rates in the two states be capitalized.
 culiar that Acting Governor Cunning ham should have issued an admonitory letter to the railrC.l commission at a time when he was preparing to vacate tho executive office-when he could not possibly be able to enforce his railroad policy. The people, he says. "have the right to expect action, and in my judgment it is the duty of tile governor to see that they get relief if they are entitled to it"-and then he stepped down and out.
 Instead of writing the letter in ques- tion oa his last day of power, he might have written it eleven months ago
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-22
Franc and England.

Henry watterson writes from Europe entertaining letters. lis insight Is clear and his observations usually accord with truth. In his letter published in the Louisville Courier-Journal of last Mon day MT. watterson says:
 "Yet in France, republic where titles count for nothing in affairs, an effete nobility turns up its nose at the government and gives to the Palace of the Elysee. and all who abide there or visit there. the very harmless but very stony stare of it's impotent disdain. I,oubet is to this riff-raff of impecu- nious melodies peasant-le paysah president. The ministers are of the earth earthly, bourgeoise. one and all. Tn order to hold It's own, the regime am cien has had to make common cause with the regime Napoleon The Cas- tel,anes. for example. date back no fur ther than to that sea captain whom Ronaparte made .iarquis; but, they have money-little Boni de Castellane getting his by rich American mar rieve-and so, they are in the swim, like the Murats, along with the Riche- lieus and the de la Rochfoucaulds. A few very few, old families hold out though the whole gamut of pretension and vulgarity is both ignobe and ab- srrd.
 .rn England, however. the foundations ara not so shaky. Indeed, they are solid enough. The House of Lords may h.. gradually passing into the limbo of the obsolete It may come to De shorn of it's legislative prerosative.S But, there can be no denying the importance of an English peer down from the royal dukes .t, ,he ,ates viscounts and barons. nor the estimation in which they are held bv the commonality of England. The average EnglishmSa stili dearly loves a
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-22
GET IN THE CHORUS.

From Life.
 A girl who had read all Of Laura Jean Libbeys books left home and obtained a position in a canning manufactory. fancy ing that her fresh young beauty. industry and modest demeanor would win the at tentlon of the rich young proprietor. In a year she had lost her looks and ruined her finger nails frivoling with sheet tin The proprietor never noticed her, but married a show girl who had had two other husbands and never did a days work in her life.
 If you would marry a millionaire, get in the chorus.