davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22
HAT is all this local salary scrap
about? Why be picayunish? A
good man on a good salary is

worth two inferior men on inferior sal
aries.
Here we are. after local political con-
test and new mayor elected to succeed
one who has been in office for three con-
secutive terms, reducing the salary of
the old mayor and suing him to return all
the difference between the salary which
the new mayor is to receive per annum
and that which the old mayor has re-
ceiYed.
In other words, there is a suit pending
to make Mayor Mel Drennen pay back
to the city part of the salary which WAS
voted him, which he has drawn regularly
and which he has tried to earn. Mel may
have spent this salary. He has been
drawing $1,000 per annum. His salary is
now $500 per annum. He may have to
pay back something like s11OO-if he has
It, If he hasn't, he may have to deal
with some gentleman whose sign is repre-
scented by three gilded balls.'
And now just because there is suit
to require Mel TO make melody and music
from the gilded balls with a baton of
municipal merit, or something else, which
will bring forth the necessary funds. some
body seems to be up In arms to even up
things in local politics and make our
good and virtuous old friend, Judge Fea-
gin, refund salary himself 1t is even
claimed that the judge of the police court,
who has done so much to purify the at
mosphere of Birmingham by vigorous
punishment of the criminals and by
humanely treating those who are not har-
dened criminals, must refund or pay back
part of the salary he has received. The
claim is made by virtue of the fact that
the legislative law, creating and fixing the
salary of his judgeship, was not regular
In each and every form of adoption or
course the law must be complied with. but
1t looks to me like there is a game of
politics and a bit of likes and disikes
playing conspicuously about the knot
holes in the fence of these performers
Many of us remember the days when we
could not get into the baseball game or
trough the main door of che circus tent.
We had to content ourselves with knot
hole or a split in the canvas and we Won
dered how the other boy marched through
the turn-stile with bit of pasteboard
held proudly up to the ticket taker in
his good right hand.
y y
Without comment upon the qualitica-
lions of the officials at issue, 1t is as
Lad business policy for municipal cor
peraton or a state administration to en-
ploy cheap men as it is for a business
man or a corporation to do so. Good
men are worth good money; inferior men
are an impeachment to any business.
=
Lots of young men in Birmingham To-
day stand about the street corners and
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
italians In Alabama.

lhere are now more than five thousand
OF my eountrymen living in Alabama"
sad Capt S. Catanzo. agent for the
Italian government in Birmingham, and
most OF them are prosperous and happy.
The climate Of this state is similar to
that Of central Italy, and this fact makes
the Italian immigrant feel quite at home
mere. The soil responds literally to his
INDUSTRY, and he finds profitable employ
ment in all lines of industry. In Birm-
ngham and vicinity our people have pur-
chased lands and city lots now valued
at several hundred thousand dollars. and
the owners and their children are here
to remain for all time. You will find
the Italian here engaged in numerous
branches of industry Among them are
merchants, wholesale and retail, miners
and mechanics, and some in the pro-
tessions and I am glad to state many
OF them are agriculturists and gardeners,
in which latter industry they are re-
markably successful.
Il look for an increased inflow of
worthy Italians to this state during the
present year"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22
DONOVAN TELLS HOW HE
BOXED WITH PRESIDENT
Aest0saza~

few men who box regularly in the ath-
letic clubs who can worst him.
lone day he had to rush away to at
tend the diplomatic reception, where he
shook hands with over one Thousand per-
sons. He told me he would much prefer
to take his book and sit dowr and read.
Every day while we boxed some one
came in and watched. His boy Theodore
was always there with his two cousins.
football players, and several times men
came in to talk with him on business
While he was boxing A man from Texas
came in to arrange about his making a
hunting trip to Texas directly after inau-
guration. He said to me: oh, how | wish
it were there now He is longing for the
recreation and the exercise in the open
it will give him.
1.-THE life in Washington has made him
stout, and he is not as we'll trained as
when he was Governor. To keep down the
weight man must diet, and it is impos-
sible for the President to diet himself
and attend as many dinners as he has to
attend. He misses tremendously his active
exercise. But he is as 1.-THE as an Indian
yet, supple in every joint, and he can
hit like lightning.
Il have arranged to go down several
more times to box with him and to give
lessons to Theodore, Jr. l gave lessons
to young Theodore every day He is now
fine, strapping young boy. II years old.
and weighs 1876 pounds. 1 thought when
first gave him lessons at Albany that
he would never be a strong man. but
h0 iG nrir and xrrflI
his father. He is a fighter, too, and a good
hitter | gave lessons to him and his
two cousins.
IF had been an ambassador he could
not have treated me better. He is a mag
niicent man, an all-around man, who is
good honest fighter, who has not
vicious streak in him. He doesn enjoy
the social strain he has to go through,
and | know he would love to escape it,
but 1t goes with the high office he holds
and he never shirks anything-even a
good honest blow''
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22
Grand Opera.

81 was very much surprised that the
Savage English Grand Opera company
did not stay in Birmingham for at least
two nights and matinee" said a lover
of music yesterday
THE company would easily have had
packed houses for three performances,
as l have seen hundreds of people who
were eager to see the opera but were
unable to do So Birmingham has dem
onstrated time and again that it appre-
ciated the good things to be seen at the
theatres, and 1 am surprised that At
lanta should have had more performances
of this grand opera company than Birm-
ingham."
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22

other places among their associates, COM
planning that tbRy are underpaid Were
these young men to give the attention,
the time and the thought to the interest
o. their employers, which they give to
argument among their associates, they
would be earning more. There are high
salaried men in Birmingham and many
oc them among the younger set. But in
each instance the high salaried ones are
those who are active, alert, energetic
and faithful to the interests which they
represent.
l know of one case in particular where
a young man connected with financial
institution in Birmingham who has at
tended to his business strictly, earnestly
and enthusiastically, was offered within
the month a salary of $4,000 year by an
institution of like character. Yet to my
certain knowledge seven years ago this
young man was out of employment and
six years ago he was making a salary of
less than $1,000 year. He has attended to
his business made himself valuable, and
is now in position to command a salary
OF really more than he himself thinks he
is worth. It is the mere application of
physical and mental ability.
There are fully a score of business con-
Germs in the Birmingham district looking
for men worth big salaries, and the OPP
portunities for young men today to earn
them are greater than ever before in
the history of the country.
If the city of Birmingham, county of
Jefferson, and the state of Alabama
would seek competent, high-salaried men
to manage municipal, county and state af-
fairs and pay them the salaries to give
full time to the same, conditions might
be better.
1t is to be hoped that the officials in
charge will be given aid in improving
affairs rather than being placed in posi-
ton to have to defend their salary ac-
counts and other trivial matters.
Much better would it be for the tax
payers to pay good salaries for good
work. We want more paved streets in
Birmingham and better county roads and
more sidewalks and more sprinkling carts
in the summer time, and street sweepers
with sprinkling carts preceding them.
We are tired of a dirty city and of bad
streets and uncleanly surroundings. Give
us a bridge across Twenty-first street
that one can drive over without breaking
the springs of a vehicle or breaking the
axle of a loaded wagon. Give the city Of
ficials more salary if they want it, but
make them attend to their business and
make life worth living in Birmingham If
we can't get more policemen in Birming-
ham to protect the people. give us better
lighted streets in order that those who
live in the residence sections may see
highwaymen, burglars and footpads as
they approach. We are all talking about
more water for manufacturing purposes.
That is a good idea. We need it. We
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR

From the New York Press.
People who live in stone houses can
throw glasses
A girl has an awful queer look in her
eyes when men talk about building up
their muscles.
No woman needs the ballot to enforce
her rights; she can do it with tears and
a handkerchief
If man gets run over by street car
a woman is never sure that isn't his way
of trying to flirt with her.
When girl gets engaged she is nearly
as hopeful of all she is going to get out
of it as man on his way to the races.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22
Tined BRACE TALKS ABOUT THE SALARIES
! OF CITY OFFICIALS AND OTHER THINGS

need more lights. We need a greater =.
department. We need a larger police
force. We need better streets. We need
more schools Let US 1t together and get
these.
If we can get these improvements the
average citizen will not care whether Mr..
Alderman rides on a street car pass or
pays his fare.
But of the things we need there are
none we can get until we have the money
to pay for them. Our tax rate in Bir-
mingham is high enough but assessments
are too low. don't know of merchant
in the City of Birmingham who pays
taxes on the full amount of goods he
carries. Nor do 1 know real estate
owner who has his property assessed at
anything like it's value. The majority
of the property owners in Birmingham
are paying taxes on assessed values of
about one-fourth of the actual market
value. Every man bases his assessment
upon that of his neighbors. The neighbors
are old citizens and based assessments
upon values of ten years ago, when the
country was under the cloud of financial
depression and Birmingham was in the
throes of panic.
What we need here is board of tax
assessors, composed of good men drawing
salaries who shall have the power to
assess property upon an equitable basis
and equalize values in so doing. When
we do this even on fifty per cent basis
OF the actual value the revenues of the
nj. he -
Jefferson will be doubled.
Then we can have that which we need
! to make life a pleasure.
By the way, in this connection Birming-
ham is in many respects an extravagant
town. Men kick about assessments for
street Improvement, about taxation. and
about other things which are by law
levied upon them. But when it comes to
the absurd matters of fun and frivolity
| they are liberal with their riches. AS an
| instance, two large real estate owners of
much wealth and bit past the meridian
! of life during the past week spent
large sum of money to have the lines in
the palms of their hands read by one
who claims both practical and occult
knowledge. These lines in their palms
were presented before the observant eye
of the wise man who wondered at them
and exhibited a mysterious air
| The price was no object. They wanted
the mystery of the inherited grip of the
! left hand and the acquired grip of the
right. A bit of fattery brought forth
| large checks.
i We all have our weaknesses or hobbies.
Mine is to see Birmingham cleaner. a
better and a more model town with adj
vantages equal to those possessed by the
best city in the land.
~
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22
TOAST TO ROOSEVELT.

Washington Correspondence New York
Sun.
democratic leader of the House of Repre-
sentatives, offered this toast at dinner;
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22
MOODS AND MEMORIES
SONG.

A sunshine heart,
And a soul of song,
Love for hate,
And right for wrong;
Softly speak to the weak,
Help them along,
A sunshine heart,
And a soul of song.
A sunshine heart,
And a soul of song,
What though about thee
Foemen throng;
All the day. on thy way,
Be thou strong;
A sunshine heart,
And a soul of song.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22
ON TO ST. PETERSBURG.

1 babe Mimi goodbye,
| am off to the wars;
With a mist in mine eye
l babe Mimi goodbye;
Come wounds and come scars.
I care not If die;
/ babe Mimi goodbye,
! am off to the wars.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22
OUR VETERANS.

From the Mobile Item.
There are yet two Mexican war veter-
ans in the Senate of the United States
General Pettus of Alabama and General
Bate of Tennessee. They were both also
in the war between the states.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22
SONG.

1 humbly thank the gods benign
For all the blessings that are. mine.
My books, my garden and my dog.
For mountain, meadow, fen and oog.
The morning drips her dew for me.
Noon spreads an opal canopy.
Home-bound, the drifting cloud-crafts
rest
Where sunset ambers all the west;
Soft DER the poppy-fields of sleep
The drowsy winds of dreamland creep.
What idle things are wealth and fame
Beside the treasures one could name!
L4humbly thank the gods benign
For all the blessings that are mine.
ROBERT IOVEMAN.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22

No Senator resigns because legal
charges are pending against him.
Niedringhaus and Addicks will be safe
when they get there.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22

The shrapnel that searched for the
Gar was intended by Grand Duke
Sergius for the common herd. 1t mis-
carried, that is ALL
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22

Governor Pennypacker wants Penn
sylvania papers to fill their columns
with poetry and Christmas stories.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22

A man named Pigg in Missouri shot
in one day ninety-three harmless rab-
bits, and his neighbors think he has
outgrown his name.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22

Here's to Teddy Roosevelt" he said.
the man who as an author has been
grossly overrated by the American peo-
pie, but who as a politician has been
grossly moderated by the democratic
party" The toast made a great hit with
the dinner company.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22

The west is filling up so rapidly that
the lone highwayman finds it difficult
to remain lonesome.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22

The electoral college was true 70
President Roosevelt, but he may be
counted out on February s.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22

New York has had thirty-eight
inches of snow this winter, and it's
removal cost $4,000 an inch
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22

M. White is the only Russian with
a future at present.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22

Another advantage of the airship is
that it will never run over anybody in
a way to hurt.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22
latakiah.

20 we'll, a good cigar once in a while,
for change. is all right said the old
fellow. but sweet and mellow pipe, cob,
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22

Rockefeller continues to pour water
in his decrepit stomach, while Ida
Tarbell pours hot shot into his brain.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22

A snow mantle covers the great
winter wheat steCes, and the longer it
stays in place the safer the crop will
be
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22

The Port Arthur Banzai announces
its intention to stay until the crack
O. doom.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22

Save the pine trees, for they are all
worth two dollars apiece now, ard will
soon be worth standing twice as much.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22

France is preserving its forests
with the aid of six thousand mounted
policemen.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22

All the Pixies and Trails are but
midways in disguise.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22

When a street car runs into a water
wagon no one is hurt-on the latter.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22

Brodie L. Duke and his wife will
soon be in a good position to shine at
Newport.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22

The hens can coin money for their
owners by getting busy again.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22

Niedringhaus is now running be-
hind General Cockrell. Poor Toms a
cold.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22

at present without money and with
out price.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22

The Car is now lodging shrapnel
coming from the hands of his friends.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22

General Kuropatkin is now trying
to relieve himself instead of Port Ar
thur.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22

Governor Folk is not doing any
back-pedalling.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22

briar or meerschaum, for me every time.
you just curl up in comfortable cor
ner, put your feet high enough, and let
the fragrant smoke rings circle around
you.
famous, but with a good digestion a
friendly pipe and plenty of sunshine it
isn't such a bad world after all. Pass
the pouch, please, and hand me my
rarest edition of rare old Robin Herrick.".
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22
From the New York World.

From the New York World
EIN IKE DONOVAN, dean of boxers,
Hp1 got home yesterday from
U Washington, where he boxed
with the President for an hour every af-
ternoon for four days. 1t was the first of
a series of bouts which are to continue
next week and the week following. Don
ovan talked,of his experience reluctantly.
1T was the first time had boxed with
Mr.. Roosevelt since he was Governor he
said last night. IF anybody tells you he's
an easy mark, don't believe it. He knows
how to use his head, too. | never saw a
man pick up faster than he in those four
days.
1--WE boxed every afternoon from $50
until nearly $3.50 in his study A wrestling
mat was placed on the floor for us, but
| found 1t too thick and we used the reg
ular carpet. The President wore a pair of
riding trousers, light undershirt and
a pair of canvas shoes.
Don't mind hitting me-. he said
right at the start off. L want you to hit
me as often as you can. and don't mind
how hard, either We started off in good
fashion, and every time we hit each other
he laughed good naturally. 1t was not any
tapping, l will tell you. They were good,
honest blows, of the sort that you would
not run into knowingly. We had seven
ounce gloves. The President took his
part of 1t always with laugh.
II never saw a pleasanter man. or one
who gets more enjoyment out of thing.
He had as much fun as a boy. and he
laughed and joked all the time. He's
fighter, and knows how to give and take
blows. He doesn't try to knock man
out, but he does like to know that he
has hit him.
HE kept me busy, and I was not
running into any of his blows, either.
Don't get the idea that I was there to
teach him. not by any means. He is
veteran boxer and can hold his own with
the best of them in the clubs. 1 know
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22

Be cheerful; wipe thine eyes;
Some falls are means the happier to
. arise.
-cymbeline.
The Oskaloosa herald., 1905-11-16
SUPPLIES FOR CANAL.

The extensive purchases by the
isthmian canal commission have been
completed for the present, although
acquisitions for material are constant
ly being received. These are for small
lots of miscellaneous supplies.
Medical supplies Of the canal zone
are purchased through the Office Of
the surgeon general OF the army. They
include among other things guinea
pigs and white mice, which are used
for experimental purposes; also wood
en- legs OF assorted sizes.
Orders are filed for Bibles and play
ing cards, as we'll as for great varie-
ty OF other articles.
The commission has purchased or or
dered $4,000 pounds OF blasting pow
der and G17500 pounds OF dynamite,
which Is TO be used in rocks In the
line of the canal that must be re-
moved. Thirty million feet OF lumber
has been purchased, about 100000
feet coming from the Pacific coast.
Paving OF the city OF Panama has
required the purchase OF 100000 paw
ing brick, while 100000 brick are to
be used in the construction OF build
ings and quarters for the worlSmen.
Besides the engines used by the Pan
anna railroad, 10 locomotives have
been bought for excavation work, also
1900 fiat cars and several hundred
dump cars.
The fat cars are used for excayatlng
and are unloaded by rapid machines,
which scrape the earth from q whole
train in short order. spreaders are
then used TO remove the earth from
the railroad track upon which the
cars are operated.
10 build these excayatIng lines 5000
tons OF steel rails and $4,000 cross
ties upon which the rails Will be laid
have been bought.
The Oskaloosa herald., 1905-11-16
MnMAN.a nrllnr conpa.

In The report u the "delegate At
large IN attendance at tho national
meeting of the womans Relief Corps
that was held in conjunction with the
national oncampment OF the Grand
Army Of tho Republic AZ Denver, read
before the local organization recently,
some facts aud figures OF general inter.
eat were presented.
Tho organization was founded in
1850 In tho city OF Denver, and jhe or
ganizatlon was at once recognized by
tne Granu Army as their auxiliary.
From membership OF only fifty.eight
and but $4,000 In the treasury tho or.
der has grown in twenty-five years to
q membership Of 1928 and the funds
handled last year aggregated si72,.
404.47. OF which amount $153.a79.2
was for rellefs OF various sorts and
s1S,425.25 for Memorial Day observ-
ance. The total amount Of funds dis.
tributed for relief and for Memorial
Day since the organization of tho
Corps amounts to s2,S49, S19.56, sum
Of money that Is almost beyond com.
prehension.