davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16
From the New York Sun.

Y rrOil tHe &>0W 1Ork ouu.
 @ HE probable increase of the negro (CD race in the United States during
 the present century is the sub ject of very elaborate and interesting paper by Prof. Walter Francis Wilcox in the current number of the Quarterly Journal of Economics. MT. Wilcox is pro- lessor of political economy and statistics at Cornell university and Is statistician of distinguished reputation and varied experience in connection with the Uni ted States census.
 About twenty years ago Prof. E. w. Gillian published an estimate that the negro population of the southern states alone in 1880 would be 192, ,000,000 and there would be about eight million more in the whole of the United States His esti- mate of the white population of the coun- try in 1885 was Sse.00o,ooo In other words, he predicted that before the end of the present century the negro race would amount to about three-eighths of the total In 1904 Mir. Thomas Nelson Page of Virginia reduced Prof. Gillam's estimate to between sixty and eighty millions" before the end of the century"
 Professor Wilcox presents statistics showing that since 1920 measured by twen- ty year periods, the rate of increase of the negroes has been steadily diminishing, and if the future is to be judged by the past that decline will continue. Prof. Will cox gives no attention 10 Prof. Gillams -extravagant prediction, but examines critically MT. Pages estimate, as based on the rate of increase between 1860 and 1880. Undoubtedly if that rate persisted throughout the century there would be 6S000,O00 negroes in the United States in the year 2o00; but If the rate for the twenty years from 1880 to 1900 should per sist the number would be only Ss.OOO,OOo.
 Prof. Wilcox contends. however, that the history of this country in the nine- teenth century testifies that even this last rate of negro increase is likely to dwindle. On that assumption and after detailed statistical calculations and con alterations. social and other, he comes to the conclusion that 25,eo0,ooo is the maximum limit of the probable negro population of this country a century hence, and it may fall several millions short of that figure"
 Even if the two races should continue to Increase at the rate between 1880 and 1900 there would be in the south in the year 2000 only about 3500o,000 negroes to 155, GOO, GOO whites, and the negro popula- ton would have fallen from s2.4 per cent of the whole in 1900 to 17.6 per cent in 2OOO. But both estimates of population at the end of the century Prof. Wilcox dis misses as doubtless much too large"
 After a very elaborate study of social and industrial conditions at the south Prof. Wilcox comes generally. to the con clusion that ''the negro as a race is los- ing ground. is being confined more and
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16
VERY EMBARRASSING.

From the Kansas City Journal
 A young newspaper man at Westmore- land was recently invited to residence where the home had recently been blessed with an addition to the family. Accom- panied by his best girl, he met his kind hostess at the door, and, after the ous- tomary salutations, asked about the vel fare of the baby. The lady was suffering from a severe cold. which made her slight ly deaf. and she supposed that the young man was inquiring about her cold. She re- piled that though she usually had one every winter, this was the worst one she had ever had; it had kept her awake at night a great deal at first, and con fined to her bed Then, noticing that the scribe was becoming pale and nervous, she said she could see by his looks that he was going to have one Just like hers.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16
Banished
Voting in Norway.

At the request of Sweden referen- dunn was held in Norway and the ques- ton of secession was thus sanctioned by popular vote. Out of 321,35s votes cast only 161 were against secession. The startling has been summoned to meet next Monday when the next step will be taken, and the peaceable se- cession of Norway will soon become practically an accomplished fact.
 The storthing will make known the result of the plebiscite, and will ask the riksdag, Sweden's parliament, to declare the union dissolved. At the same time the storthing will invite Swe- den to enter into negotiations as to all unsettled details, and those details are by no means few in number or unim- portant to either Sweden or Norway.
 It is absolutely settled that Norway is to become an independent country, but she will do everything in her power to meet Sweden's wishes short of annulling the act of separation. That must stand to be carried into full ef- feet.
 It appears, too, that German or other influence will prevent the establish ment of republic in Norway. It is to become a monarchy of the English pattern without any of England's caste regulations. It will be in fact re- public masquerading as a monarchy.
 The amicable separation of the two Scandinavian countries is evidence that good sense and justice still dwell upon earth, even in politics. War does not necessarily follow action by people. A people should be permitted to name their political environment and condi- tion, and war upon them for doing what they prefer to do is illogical and generally unjust A plebiscite is the highest political act country is cap able of, and 1t should lead to peace instead of war. Norway and Sweden are admirable examples of the pro gress of the world.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16
QUEER LITTLE FACTS.

From the Chicago Journal.
 On the advice of the Mexican board of health the government has issued an order for the daily disinfection of con fesslonals in all the churches of the cap ital Priests neglecting the order are subject to fine and Imprisonment.
 The cotton factories of Lancashire spin enough thread in six seconds to go round the world.
 What is claimed to be the largest egg farm in the world is situated in Han cock, N. H. It contains 800 acres, with S4OO hens penned in coo houses.
 Among the prizes offered by the Paris Academy of Sciences to inventors is one of s20OOO, founded by Pierre Guzmann, which is to go to the person who finds a way of communicating with the in- habitants of another planet. Another prze-the Breant-awaits any one who discovers an infallible remedy for Asiatic cholera.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16
THE FATHERLAND.

By James Russell Lowell. Where is the true mans fatherland? Is it where he by chance is born? Doth nos the yearning spirit scorn In such scant borders to be spanned? O yes, his fatherland must be As the blue heaven wide and free! Is it alone where freedom Is, Where God is God and man is man? Doth he not claim broader span For the souls love of home than this? O yes, his fatherland must be As the blue heaven wide and free! Where'er human heart doth wear Joys myrtle-wreath or sorrows gyves, Where'er a human spirit strives After life more true and fair. There is the true mans birthplace
 grand
 His is the worldwide fatherland! Where'er a single slave doth pine. Where'er one man may help another Thank God for such a birthright.
 brother That spot of earth is thine and mine There Is the true mans birthplace
 grand,
 His is a worldwide fatherland!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16
 THE DICKENS SPELL.
From Watterson's London Letter to
 .,ai..r-iI1e. inr.- I1ai

From Watterson's London Letter to the
 Louisville Courier-Journal.
 The Dickens spell did in a generation the work of centuries. It descended into the hearts of the people. It cheered the weary It inspired the well-to-do. It made a fairy world and peopled it with angels Everywhere it's influence may be seen, on every hand its monuments rise to God Who shall wonder at the Dick ems revival?" Even as one crying in the wilderness he spoke. and 1t is some thing more than the echo of his word which stirs the rich to action, and wakes the dropping spirit of the lowly and the poor In all lands, but most of all in Eng land
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16
HAT the playgoing public de- mands is an American play
 that tnllnhes rns,onsi,,o ..l,.,,.a

MY 4H du AiHtIicdn play
 that touches responsive chord in the hearts of the people. Learned stu dents of the drama may prate about the psychological play. the analysis of a soul and a scientific exposition of wickedness versus virtue. while, on the other hand, volatile individuals extol musical comedy, but no play strikes so true to popular favor and holds it's own better than a play that appeals to the emotions in simple way. There must be the lights and shades of human character. the con- trast of good and evil, but these effects are produced by natural means and the characters set before the audience are neither in the clouds nor in the mud. Of all the plays that came south last winter-and there were a great manyA none perhaps won a more universal suc- cess than The County Chairman" Here is a play which is typically American. The characters are familiar, the humor provincial and the situations true to life. The County Chairman is not "the great American play" but it is a good Ameri- can play. No finer compliment could be paid this work of George Ade than the exclamation of grizzled old fellow in an audience at the Jefferson theatre In Birmingham who said. i've seen that chap a hundred timesl'' when the wind mill drummer made his appearance.
 It is interesting to compare the suc- cess of such plays as "The County Chair man, "The Old Homestead" Way Down East" Arizona" "Under Southern Skies" and others of the same class that have made a subtle appeal to the hearts of theatregoers. 1t is all very well for the analyst to pick a soul to pieces on the stage and astonish the elect with his the- ories of emotional wiekedness and hypo- thetical virtue, but that sort of drama is caviar to the general The great Amer ican play-going public wants a drama where the motives of the characters are not in the dark where there is no op- portunity for guessing after the cur tain falls and where the characters DOT trayed are such as we find all about us. For most persons there is no at- tractiveness in the over-m -mentalized crea- tons of playwright who delights in ab- struseness. It isga safe bet that the great American play-when 1t Is written-will be on the order of 'The County Chair man.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16
IN HOTEL LoBBIES
VIII Make Change.

There is nothing more interesting III relation to the new railroad s'aeloi 9,' Twenty-seventh street. sala Q ". Slaton, the real estate man. iilan U watch it's effects on the sloss-sneliieio property It may make it so Valuapie that the Sloss- Sheffield company VIII ee- eide it cannot afford to store siag ana pig iron on it any longer.
 s'The consolidation of the two plants at North Birmingham" added MT. olaeo'i' would perhaps hasten the establishment of an other steel rail mill This Is de- sirable and probable"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16
Good Summer Trade.

''The yellow fever situation in New Orleans is improving every day. said Birmingham man who once lived in the Crescent City.
 "'rhe worst is past and the entire south breathes freer. Here in Birmingham while there was not much of a scare when the fever broke out in New Orleans, many people were nervous and feared that the yellow jack might have depressing eff feet on business Now that the United States marine hospital service seems to have the fever under control everybody in Alabama feels bouyant once more. Bus mess has been remarkably brisk this summer. The whole country is wonder fully prosperous and as for the retail merchants of this town. they have never had such a busy summer as this
 August is about the dullest month in the year but the first two weeks of the present month would have done credit to the early part of the average spring month. The fall trade promises to be a record breaker"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16

dustry in many states. and not few farmers in this state are turning their attention to the hitherto neglected ani- mal," said North Alabama man. 'The meat of the young goat compares well with lamb and some epicures prefer it to lamb. The fact is large percentage of the meat sold in the markets for lamb is kid. At some seasons of the year lamb Is exceedingly scarce in Birming- ham. but kids are always plentiful. No one, not even butcher, can distinguish between lamb and kid. simply by looking at the meat after 1t is dressed"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16

Bishop Potter made a powerful bid for popularity when he stated that preacher should never preach for more than twenty minutes. At this time of the year such advice to the cloth falls soothngly upon long homily in the summer time have been too often touched upon. Humorists have devoted much time to the subject Still, those who sleep in church will assure you that no slumber is half so sweet as that which is stolen while the droning voice of the preacher pours out platitudes and a summer sun beats down upon a drowsy world.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16
BACKYARD ARisTocRAcY.

From the Chicago Tribune.
 What did you want to make your nest under that bunch of thorn bushes for?" growled the old rooster. 'Is that one of your fads and fancies?'
 "Perhaps," clucked the old hen, sur veying with pride her fifteen eggs. You can't deny that this is pretty smart set. anyhow"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16
A PARKER ANEcDoTE.

From the Philadelphia Public Ledger.
 Judge Parker is said to tell as favor itel story the tale of a young man in Savannah named Du Bose, who invited his sweetheart to take a buggy ride with him. The young woman had a very fetching lisp When they reached rath- CT lonesome bit of road the young man announced:
 sThis is where you have to pay toll. The toll is either kiss or a squeeze
 "Oh, MT. Du Both!' exclaimed his com panion.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

From the New York Press.
 A man is always in bigger hurry to get married than he is afterwar. to let people know he is.
 It is shame to end good sermon so soon, when a man is in the miooie of a fine nap and 1t wakes him up.
 The way people tell about what fun they had camping out. after 1t Is over. they almost convince themselves they nad a good time.
 What a woman Is afraid of when she is making a railroad journey IS that maybe the road doesn't % wnere tno time table says 1t does.
 A girl will worry great deal aoout the way the poor on the East oios SUI .., fer and let her own mother sit up unui o'clock in the morning sewing on . dress for her while she gets her peauts slean.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16
Will Have Enough.

.'when the Torrey hotel is opened and the Jefferson hotel is built Birmingham vii, be as well supplied with hotels as any city in the south, said hotel man last night.
 "The Hlllman, Morris, Metropolitan Florence and St. Nicholas can hardly ac- commodate the increasing business Tn Birmingham. and year from now they will be entirly inadequate. Therefore, the new hotels will come at exactly the right time.
 with additional hotel accommodations there will be no reason why Birmingham cannot entertain the largest conventions and meetings held in the south"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16
LET HIM FIGHT.

From the Providence Journal.
 MT. Robert Fitzsimmons, contemplating a return to the prize ring, solemnly de- clares that he would rather fight than act. Inasmuch as a long-suffering public would much rather have him fight than act in changing his vocation he is likely to meet with no serious opposition.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16
THE SUMMER WlDoWER.

From the Grand Rapids Herald.
 Summer "widowering'' is not all that 1t is cracked up to be. It is all right for a week or two to have the family away, but the enjoyment of freedom is apt to pail as time passes. There is a novelty about feeding the cat taking care or the canary. making up the bed and washing the dishes that makes the experience enticing-for a while. But it is pinch beck and the gilt soon wears off.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16

much squabbllng and a surfeit or pessimism, the victors will name the terms of settlement at Portsmouth, and the vanquished will accept them, sim ply because 1t Is fate.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16
"WoRKING LIKE A DoG."

From Home and Abroad.
 What's in a phrase? If we really worked like a dog all day we should spend the twenty-four hours thus: One hour digging woodchuck from a wall two hours worrying bone. half an hour begging ''the folks to take us downtown and the rest of the time sleeping on mat in the cool doorway
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16
NEGRO POPULATION OF
 UNITED STATES IN 2OOO

more to the inferior and less remunera- tive occupations. and is not sharing pro- portionately to his numbers in the pros- perity of the country as whole or of the section in which he mainly lives"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16
Ideal Place in Summer.

The University of Chicago is an ideal place to spend vacation." said the Rev. pr. A. J. Dickinson yesterday. One can take the lecture courses in the college and they are of great benefit. At the same time there are hundreds of harmless recreatlons around Chicago and one never gets tired.
 At the average summer resort man rests two or three days and then gets very tired of resting. You exhaust all the amusements of a place and there is nothing left to do. never had more enjoyable time in my life than the month l spent in Chicago this summer
 One thing at the lectures caused us no end of amusement There was an old German professor who conducted lecture course in anthropology. He fre- quently used the skull of an ape in illus trating. and also skulls of the different human races, showing their character istics.
 We had three negroes in the class and one of them was a typical African. He was black as night and had thick lips and thick skull. This old German pro- lessor hated negroes and he would fre- quently hold a negro skull and the skull of an ape up together and explain how very similar they were. In doing this he would invariably call this negro's name and make it almost a personal illustra- ton. Then the professor would get the skull of white man and draw com parison. showing the difference between the skulls of a Caucasian, and the skulls of negro or an ape.
 Tt invariably made the negro mad and the entire class would have a blg laugh at the expense of the negro gem tleman as he called himself.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16
LAFoLLETTE.

From the Columbus, Ga, Enquirer-Sun.
 ''I am made of iron" says LaFollette. He sounds like it.-Birmingham Age Herald.
 More like sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal as most political "reformers' do.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16

President Castro of Venezuela has ordered a million dollars worth of Creusot guns. He will no doubt ad- vance on New Orleans as soon as the yellow fever abates.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16

Mrs. Chadwick willed "alf' to her family, but when she signed the docu- ment she didn't know that she would one day reside in jail.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16

A Michigan chemist claims to have discovered a poison which is so deadly that he fears to make the formula pub. lie. He is no doubt afraid that the stuff will be used to slay persistent book agents.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16
RARE FoRBEARANcE.

From the Washington Post.
 If you were in Senator Morgan's place. would you be as successful as he has been in suppressing a desire to say. "I told you so' about Panama?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16

The Japs and Russians are getting together inch by inch, or rather plank by plank, at Portsmouth, and the dove of peace is again preening her feathers in honor of the occasion.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16

It 1t easy to see why former Statisti- elan John Hyde is 'loath to leave" England and return to the United States.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16

Minnebett, late of Montgomery, should not be confronted with Mime han, once the idol of the baseball girl in this town. The latter is too alert to be overtaken by mere germ.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16

Fiala is in luck to spend so much tune around the North Pole, while the rest of us were sweltering in weather imported from the tropics.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16
 FETES.

From the Washington Post.
 "tuberculosis fete'' is the latest at Newport. but will probably lead to the appendicitis luncheon and the Bright's disease breakfast.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16

Booker T Washington walked into the dining room of the United States hotel at Saratoga with the daughter of John Wanamaker and created more noise than John w Gates has been able to make in the last ten days
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16

Envoys Komura and Takahira have good poker countenances. and the Rus silns will not be able to uncover their designs In advance.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16

Bret Harte left an estate of only a few hundred dollars. He did not have the same kind of genius that has helped John D. Rockefeller.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16

Several slight jars" reported at Portsmouth were not seismic distur- bances but were started by the peace envoys.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16

The peace dove is nonplussed by the situation but it still fingers in the New Hampshire air.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16

Henry Sienkiawicsz has been sen fenced to stay at home for an indefinite period because he published papers protesting against the Classification of the schools in Poland. It don't pay for a man to know too much in Russia
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16

Russian pride goeth before a fall, but the nature and extent of that fall have not been determined.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16

The zeigler pole hunters have been rescued, and the rescue party passed Peary headed towards that same old elusive goal
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16

Ziegler is dead and Fiala did not get to the pole. Peary holds the field with no prospect of other entries.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16

Explorer Fiala will go from the North Pole country to Nashville, where a girl who is far more comfort ing than the North Pole awaits his coming.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16

The Taft party should rediscover our old friend Auginaldo, and bring him to this country.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16

The Taggarts in the pending divorce case did not, it is plain, ride as rule on the water wagon.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16

The Montgomery Journal continues to throw fits" over Brmingham's How down" tactics in declaring a quarantine. Montgomery and the Montgomery papers have made most resounding racket over this matter, but the only result in Bir- mingham has been to create amusement. The charges of ulteror motives. com mercial chieanery and other such rub bish have not been regarded seriously here and the whole discussion is being rapidly forgotten by the hustling citi- ems of Birmingham who are too busy moving forward to worry over trihes. If the Montgomery Journal is in need of inspiration for new editorial subjects it is believed that a treatise on the radio- activity of liquid air would prove more interesting than fulminations on the Bir- mingham quarantine.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16

The ambition of the summer girl seems to be to acquire a tan and at least one engagement.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16

Oyama is still prepared to offer in- controvertibe arguments as to why a treaty of peace should be signed by Russia.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16

The grand dukes say the war must go on in order to confirm the reputa- tion of the Russian soldier for endur- ance and courage. The Russian sol dier is sawin' wood and sayin' nothin'.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16

Washington's epidemic of typhoid fever is trying to even things up for New Orleans yellow fever.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-16

After the strike in the collar and cuff factories of Troy, New York, was announced chorus promoters nearly tore their clothes in an effort to reach the town and recruit girls for the musi- cal shows. There is lively demand just now for footlght favorites.