davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-04-12
INTEREST KEEPS UP.
Crowds Still Go to See the Exposition

Mr.. John Whitehead, who Is en-
hibiting the views and plans of the
jamestown Exposition here, has de-
cided TO remain in the city for the rest
of this week.
Mir. Whitehead IS now located In the
lobby Of the Pocahontas hotel and
crowds, arc still going 70 see his en-
hibltion.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-28
Era of Reform.

It used to be that in times of excep- tional prosperity and high pressure excitement in the business world the dishonest men of prominent social, financial or political standing escaped punishment or even exposure. When everybody was thriving questionable methods ir high places usually passed unnoticed Good times and reform did not come together.
 In these latter days an old rule Is changed. Graft has been running riot for years. Formerly only the petty politician was caught in the act of boodling. In recent years many men holding positions of honor and trust have been guilty of all sorts of crooked transactions, but wave of genuine reform Is sweeping over the country.
 Scandals in quarters least suspected have startled the public and in most cases Investigations have been honest and searching. The whitewash brush has been cast aside and crooked deeds are brought clearly to light. Within year two United States Senators have been convicted of felony-ohe of them last week-and number of the distin- guished gentlemen connected with the insurance scandals will probably be brought to trial.
 Municipal and state elections turn more than eyer on honesty in admins tration and the reformers are gener- ally victorious.
 The atmosphere in the world of poli- tics and wherever graft fiourishes is gradually clearing and wrong-doing will have decided check. Breaches of trust will be less frequent and graft CTS will rapidly decrease in number. A healthy public sentiment Is a great purifier.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-28
Such Visits Help.

Such visits as the one paid Birmlng- ham by the delegation of representative business men of Chicago help both Bir- mingham and Chicago" said Alderman simon Klotz yesterday afternoon. The men composing this party are all prom inent in Chicago and many of them have resident and travelling representatives in the south. They were evidently pleased with Birmingham and consider 1t the best distributing point for their southern trade. What would be more natural than for some of them to establish a branch in Birmingham as direct result of this trip?
 Tn many ways 1t helps Birmingham and the south. but the Chicago men are benefited equally as much. They learn more about the south. learn which Is the best distributing point and they are there fore able to conduct their southern bus mess to greater advantage.
 I like to see delegations of business men from big northern cities come to Birmingham. The members of the parties are always impressed with Birmingham, and nearly always they state that they consider Birmingham the best southern city
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-28
Defence sf New York City.

Prince Louis brought over d British sduadron, and while he was here he took occasion to warn New York of it's exposed and defense1ess situation. He expressed the opinion that our Inetrop- plis and money center could be reduced to atoms by hostile fleets "in the tifne." he said, it takes my cook to fry an omelet.'
 The prince must be joker, for flo fleet could pass the Narrows, which would be strewn with mines, to say nothing of the work of the guns in the forts at Sandy Hook or on the ships of war In the harbor No hostile bat tleship can fire on New York at a less distance than fifteen miles. If fleet should open fire on the city from a point off Coney Island, the distance from the city would still be about if teen miles, and no fleet could reach the city through Long Island sound. for mines would again be encountered.
 Modern guns have long ranges. but they are not equal to the task of blow Ing city to atoms fifteen miles away A hostile fleet could not get close enough to New York to do that city material damage, even If 1t could with stand the forts and the ships that would be at hand to repel an invader. Fifteen miles is beyond striking dis tance, and no shell can be thrown at New York from point inside the fifteen-mile line, thanks to the use of mines which can be readily placed in fields by the thousand Every mine is warranted to sink any ship that strikes {
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-28

Poles were to receive all the privileges granted to Russians proper. These concessions to the Poles have been withdrawn, but there will be little diff ficulty in regaining them if the separat- ists in Poland can be squelched. Pro. vincial autonomy will be difficult in the ten provinces that have been organized in Russian Poland, especially If the schools, the court and the public offices are to be conducted by Poles-spealSing the Polish tongue. But if Count Witte becomes convinced that the socialist and anarchist agitators will be kept down by the Poles themselves, he will not hesitate to grant the ten provinces home rule in home matters, leaving to the imperial government general ad- ministration only.
 Affairs in Poland seem to be drifting to such a conclusion. Russian Poland Is today in a better condition than Prussian Poland Both Poles and Rus sians are Slays, and 1t is probably bet ter for both that they stay together. provided of course the natural and just aspirations of the Poles can be met and satisfied.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-28
IN HOTEL. LOBBIEs
Cotton Conditions.


 Cotton has again gained place in the year." said we'll known travelling man who has just completed a trip through the state" and the chances are that IL will result in the crop being much larger next year than this year.
 Tn talking over the market eondi- tions with many prominent planters they all said they would plant larger crop next season and would never let the output of the state decrease if they could be assured of prices equal to the present market value of the product. Those to whom have talked say they were willing to devote their farms to the cultivation of cotton to be sold at 10 cents pound as 1t would then yield profit, but could not work out a crop less than that with out a loss.
 There has been general complaint all over the state in regard to farm labor. It is said that the farmers are unable to obtain hands to work the land and that has been one of the reasons that the cotton crop is short in the south this year. In great many portions of the state, and especially near Birming- ham, farm help can hardly be secured at any price. The farmers are paying better wages now than they have for several years past and the scarcity of labor makes it necessary.
 T know one planter who owns farm in Shelby county of about 400 acres who was compelled to let his land be idle as he had no one to work 1t. This planter has heretofore raised big crop of cotton but has depended altogether on his farm hands for the cultivation of the place. This season the farm help has been en- tieed away and the farmer has not been able to get men to take their places. From my observation the farmers are holding but little cotton and by the last Of this week will have disposed of the second pickings. Last week when It jump ed to Il cents 1t was a signal for general rush to the buyers and a large number of bales were disposed of"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-28
Poland Dreams impossible.

Polish independence is . dream that Germany and Austria would oppose as we'll as the greater part of Russia. Even in the Russian cities-in Moscow and St Petersburg and Odessa-no sup port can be mustered among the radi. calls for Polish independence.
 The conservatives of Poland desire, not separation and independence, but home rule, and an opportunity to pre- serve their own language, traditions and natural aspirations. They want, in other words, privileges and powers similar to those that have been granted to Finland. There are dificulties even in the way of autonomy of the Finnish sort
 Until martial law was proclaimed the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-28
Prices of Coal.

In the Manufacturers Record F. l.. Saward explains the price of coal in various countries. In France the price at the pits is now about $2.44, as against s2.62 in 1892. In Belgium the figure for the best coal Is now $2.70 per ton, as against $29S. The state railways are buying next years supply at $2.SO Der ton for 1906 delivery, and for briquettes $2.95 per ton for first grades. Steam coal of Al grade at Cardiff is qdoted at $3.3O, at Newcastle s2.35. and about the same at Glasgow. Furnace coke is $4 at the ovens in Wales and $S9O in Middlesboro, while foundry coke is $4 f. o. b. in Newcastle. Our steam coal Is $2.65 to $2.S5 f. o. b.. at southern leading ports, while coke is running at $2.3O to $2.6O at the ovens.
 This Is fair statement no doubt as things stand but things will not stand always in this district as they do now. Some day, not distant, there will be to the heart of 1t an open river-open to barge navigation the year round-a 6-foot slackwater channel never closed by ice or anything else.
 O
 When that takes place steam coal from this district will be laid down at tidewater and sold at less than $2 a ton. The river freight need not exceed 50 cents a ton, even on coal delivered at New Orleans, and s2 will be the maximum price of steam coal from this district all along the gulf. In other words, an open river will afford to gulf ports the cheapest bunker and steam coal in the world.
 This means much to the gulf ports, and 1t also means much to this district. It means development in this district little dreamed of It means that yes sells going to or coming from the Pan anna canal will stop at gulf ports to coal, and that the Pacific steam coal will be drawn from here.
 Few know what an Open Warrior means, and yet the meaning Is made plain today in either the Monongahela or the Kanawha. But we have an ad- vantage over both in proximity to the coast. Proximity when aided by water transportation is all we need In order to carry this district to Its maximum possibilities.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-28

From the New York World.
 Hardened lovers of harness racing Will be moved to grief at the thought of a great trotting stallion like Cresceus selling for paltry s21,OOO. It is only two or three years since he was making new worlds records some of which still hold good Have the good old days forever passed when champion trotters command ed prices on a par with those paid for the kings of the turf?
 Think of the figures at which Senator Stanford's horses were quoted In the palmy days of Paio Altol Even the mare sunol sold for s4ooOo. Thirteen years ago J. Malcolm Forbes, the Boston million aire, paid $125OO0 for Arion. whose best record is 2:07S Three years earlier Axtell (2.l2) had brought $105,ooO To be sure. E.. E. Smathers gave s4o,OOO for the gelding Major Delmar, and last year W. Simpson s5O,O0O for Mckinley. But that only makes the price paid for Cresceus, the conqueror on so many tracks, look the smaller.
 The truth of the matter is, the public has lost interest in the trotter. As a racing machine he fails to arouse the enthusiasm of former days.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-28
-------->~~ ---~--------- SMUGGLED A CASk OF WATER.
Discovery That Amazed Both Skipper
 and Customs House Officers.

From the Washington Post.
 George W. whitehead. appraiser of mer- chandise at the port of New York, was talking about smuggling.
 "No great amount of smuggling Is done," he said ITO smuggle extensively 1t is necessary to have accomplices. These accomplices cheat you or you cheat them. Altogether, in the end, you lose, rather than gain.
 Not long ago." he said, "a certain skipper hailed a fisherman off the coast and asked him If he would smuggle ashore for him cask of brandy The fisherman agreed, and two casks of bran dy were lowered into his boats. One said the skipper. Is for your trouble and risk, my man.
 Well. week or so later the skipper called with team at the Jersey fisher mans house for his casK of brandy. It was night. He got the cask and started on the dark and lonely way back home.
 But the custom house people have sharp eyes and ears. They lay in walt for the skipper. They caught him mile outside of the fshermah's village. and there was the cask of brandy in his wagon
 'fIe said nothing. There was nothing to say The cask was opened.
 q" we'll sample this fine lidtior,' said a customs officer.
 And he put his mouth to the btifig and then drew back amazed. The skipper was amazed, too. The cask contaified noth- ing but water"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-28
STRANGE FREAK.
Man Comes From Italy Who Can Blow
 Through Ills Eyes.

From the Philadelphia Record.
 A new wonder comes across the Atlantic from sunny Italy to exploit a puzzling and peculiar performahce. He Is Prof. Lacara Michael of Naples, who styles himself tine worlds only kinetical mar vel" a description that may be simpli- fled into the man who blows through his eyes, Prof. Michael. who, in appearance, is a cotnterpart of the Italian count of the theatrical stage, Is stopping tempor- arily in this city. At his hotel yesterday he gave a private exhibition of the queer acc6ifiplshinent upon which he bases hs claim to fame. In the language of the side-show lecture, there was no deception about the act
 He began by plugging his iiostrils with cotton, physician present superintend- ing the operation. A lighted candfe was placed upon table, Standing several feet away. the. professor closed his mouth tightly, placed an ordinary glass med icine tube to his eye. and with. single puff extingushed the flame, Invitations to those present to attempt the feat were unanimously declined, .. 4,
 Around one end of the same tube col lapsed toy rubber balloon was bound and speedily inflated to the bursting point with air. Placing cigarette in a holder, he applied the mouthpiece to his, eye and expelled the smoke from his mouth and the other eye. With miniature glass blowing outfit and by the same process he manufactured number of glass orna- ments, which were distributed among the
 Neither the professor nor, the physicians were able to offer any explanation of the queer performance, but the latter agreed in pronounclns the professor. to be a striking physical phenomenon. He expects to remain here a few weeks.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-28
HOTEL DE cRlLLoN.
No seiunorIal Residence In Paris Can
 Rival It's Magniflcence.

From Camille Gronkowski's "TIistorical
 Palaces of Paris" in the December
 Century.
 No seignorial residence fin Paris can rival the Hotel de Crillon, belonging 10 the ducal family of Criilon-P Poiignac. in the magniiicance of its interior.
 One may say that It's location is unidue in the world From It's wide balcony. ar ranged as a terrace, and between the tall Corinthian columns of the facade. one sees the whole of the Place de la Con corde, formerly tho Place Louis XIV. the largest square of Paris. with it's vistas broken by the noble river which curves between two lines of popiars. whence emerge the roofs of the last palaces along the Quai d Orsay; then, farther off, the slender and lace-like spire of the Sainte Chapelle and the violet towers Of Notre Dame,
 To the left there Is q sea of verdure enameled with white statues--the old royal park of the Tuileries. In front Is the heavy mass of the Palais Legisatif, with it's Greek front: then the old Hotel de Ho1rbon-Lassay. where the president of the Chamber of Deputies resides. and be- yond the ministry of foreign affairs, where the government of ths republic lodges the soveresns who come to visit Paris. Finally. to the right are the Champs Elysees. that magnificent ave rtie which rises Ike an apotheosis to the Arch of Triumph -wl.ch 's atinounccd. moreover, directly i'll from of our bnild- ing by the colossal groups from the hard of Coustou. which were brought from the Chateau de .iariy at the time of the revolution.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-28
Rich honesty dweils like a f1Iser, sir, In a poor house.
 As You Like It.
Publicity Helps.

Obviously, the campaign manager of . political party does not deem it ex- pedient to let the other side know the amount of money he has on hand to conduct a campaign, but when the other side is forced to show It's hand, no reasonable complaint could be made. The plan of Perry Belmont, ad vocating publicity in all matters relat- ing to campaign contributions, is q step in the right direction and will re- ceive the endorsement of every voter who desire purity in politics.
 MT. Belmont has appointed formid- able committee to urge Legislation on the subject. William J. Bryan, Samuel Gompers, Judge Gray, Carl Schurz, James R. Garfield and Edward M. Shepard have consented to lend their aid to the movement. It Is quite prob able that some sort of legislation will De pdSSeu uuTlIS the COfulHs ScSSiou of Congress which will bring about the result for which MT. Belmont is work ing. Federal regulation for insurance companies will be live issue before Congress and If it is decided to place restrictions upon them, one of the first will be a provision concerning the dis position of funds and campaign contri- buttons.
 Publicity Is to be desired in all mat ters concerning the public welfare. With more publicity in politics there will be the less corruption and fewer opportunities for graft. If list of all campaign contributions Is published misappropriaton of funds held in pub lie trust will be prevented and corrnp- tionist methods will be obyiated with out affecting the legitimate 'sinews of war"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-28
SOME EVENTS IN THE
 LIFE OF A POLAR BEAR

realize the direction from which death had burst upon them.
 As the big polar bear drew near the f1ieh stopped work, stood up, and stared at her For moment they did nothing. Then, seeing that she meant business, two of them stepped aside and picked up what looked to her two long sticks, which giinted in the sun. One man took a stride forward and pointed the stick at her in way which looked to her like a chal- ienge. With srunt of anger she charged straight at him.
 From the point of the stick burst flash and roar, with a little puff of blue smoke that drifted off like a ghost over tine waves. It might have been tho ghost of the old bear herself, gliding re- luctantly back into the grim and deso- late earth from which she had sprung; for at the instant of its appearing she plunged forward upon her nose and lay motionless. with a bullet through her brain.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-28
rom the Metropolitan Magazifie.


 A MID this teemins life, which the Pv returning sun had brought back to the Ice fields, the old she bear with her cub close to her heels, moved craftily She lurked behind piled tip ice cakes. crept from shelter to sheit- CT. and moved as noiseiessly as wrath of snow on the f1air-tufted pads of her great feet Sometimes her tifeless hunt ing was promptly rewarded, particularly when some inexperienced seal had been foolish enough to lie basking beside an fee cake large enough to give cover to the cunning hunter Sometimes her sud- den riish would take tinawares a fulfilled gannet half-dosing on rocky ledge. Sometimes d lightning plunge and sweep of Her armed paw would land a gleam- ing fish upon the ice, pleasant variation to the diet of red-blooded seal meat.
 But not always. by any means was foraging a matter so simple. The mother bear had two great appetites to supply her own, and that of the vigorous young ster beside her, who Kept draining un- remittingly at her sources of vitality and strength. Sometimes the seals were un- usually alert and shy, the birds vitupera- tive and restless and the fish obstinate in their preference for the waters far off shore. At such times. if there were no greening hollows near by where she might make a bloodless banquet, the old bear wotld call to her aid those great powers of swimming which made her almost at much at home in the water as the seal Itself.
 Marking group of seals at rest by the edge of some far-jutting. naked ice field, where there was no possibility of her creeping upon them unobserved, she would slip Into the water in the seclusion of some little cove, and swim straight seaward; swimming so low that only the tip of her muzzle was to be seen.
 This moving speck upon the waters was not conspicuous even to the keenest for fragment of ice with sea weed frozen into it, or for a bit of floating moss. save for the fact that 1t moved steadily through the dancing of the waves paying no heed to tide or wind. As the seals were not expecting danger from the direction of the sea, they were not inclined to scrutinise thing So Insignificant as that steadily moving speck among the waves.
 Arriving within well-calcuiated distance of the tinsuspecting baskers on the ice field, the old bear would fill her lungs, sink beneath the surface, and swim for ward with all speed. At the very edge of the ice she would rise up. lunge forward and strike down with her paw the nearest seal, before any of them had time to
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-28
ALABAMA PRESS


 Montgomery Advertisers: About the only consolation left for Senator Burton is the reflection that he was paid big prices for his rascality. He was no thirty-cent skate
 Mobile Register: A municipal cam paign, with three candidates running for mayor but with no public meeting, no brass bands, no oratoryl That is a novelty even for Mobile that frequently does novel things.
 Ensley Herald: We hope the reign of the bosses is over, but we expect after a few years to see them as firmly entrenched as ever. The grafter and corrupt politi- elan never go to sleep, while the indepen- dent voter rarely gets awake.
 Huntsville Tribune: The anti-railroad racket in Alabama is quite amusing. You can find quite a number of 2x4 politicians running around hollering fire, fire, and assuming to be scared to death on ac- count Of the dear people, and not d single one of them can locate a blaze. So the final result will be that it will all go up in hot air and nothing more
 Huntsville Mercury: If ex-Governor Johnston is playing politics just now he is doing 1t cautiously. He summoned a mum Der of his old and srdent admirers to meet him at dinner In Decatur. But they assert that politics was not mentioned. During his short stay in Huntsville while the ex-governor spent much of his time with his old followers, nothing of political sig nlfieance has leaked out as yet.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-28
MAIDEN NAMES IN OTHER LANDS.

From the London Chronicle.
 When a woman is married in this coun- try her maiden name is seldom mentioned Many people to whom she is very we'll known have never heard it. In France, on the contrary. there are constant remind CTS of the earlier dignity Tn Belgium mar riage does not extinguish It, for many married women often combine the old name with the new. Moreover, they put the maiden name last, thiis giving 1t the greater distinction. We can illustrate this by supposing the custom to prevail in this country. In that case Miss Brown when she married MT. Robinson would have her visiting cards printed: Mrs. Robinson Brown This double-barreled arrangement does not give the Belgium wife a better social status than the English wife's. but it is very soothing to feminine pride.