davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-10-02
Iron Stays al Home.

The worlds pig iron production in the present calendar year is estimated at 59,000,000 tons, as against 53.7O0,000 tons in 1905. All the iron producing countries are making new records. In three years the product has been in creased 20 per cent, or nearly one third The iron-producing countries are, in order, the United States, Ger many. Great Britain, France, Belgium and Canada.
 The most singular fact connected with the pig iron is this, the iron-pro- ducing countries are the iron-consum- ing countries. Consumption in the producing countries is increasing slowly if at all, and the iron stays at home to be turned into merchantable forms on the spot.
 The iron-producing countries named make 53,150,000 tons or 90 per cent of the worlds production. The six coun- tries keep at home 47,000,000 tons and send away but 6,O00,O00 tons of pig iron or it's equivalent. In other words, the six iron-producing countries consume 439 pounds per capita per year, while the rest of the world con. sumes but 21 punds per capita per year. There nothing in the iron trade more surprising than this.
 It goes to show that the melters of the world prefer to gather near the blast furances, and this trend Is be- coming marked in the south, for the southern melters are gradually finding 1t to their interest to concentrate themselves in this district, where they can buy pig iron to the best advantage and where transportation rates are best suited to the iron industry. All the advantages are to be found in this district, and here the melters will soon or late establish themselves.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-10-02
FolBLEs OF LITERARY MEN.
le London Outlook,

From the London Outlook.
 Keats liked red pepper on his toast.
 Dickens was fond of wearing jewelry.
 Joaquin Miller nailed all his chairs to the wall.
 Edgar Allan Poe slept with his cat and was inordinately proud of his feet.
 Daudet wore his eyeglasses when asleep.
 Thackeray used to lift his hat whenever he passed the house In which he wrote "Vanity Fair
 Alexandre Dumas the younger bought a new painting every time he had new book published.
 Robert Louis Stevenson's favorite recre- alton was playing with the flute. in order, as he said, to tune up his ideas.
 Robert Browning could not sit still. With the constant shuffling of his feet holes were worn in the carpet.
 Longfellow enjoyed walking only at sun rise or sunset, and he said his sublmest moods came upon him at these times
 Hawthorne always washed his hands be- fore reading a letter from his wife. He delighted in boring over old advertise ments in the newspaper files.
 Darwin had no respect for books. and would cut big volume in two for con yenience in handling, or he would tear out the leaves he required for reference. Oliver Wendell Holmes used to carry a horse chestnut in one pocket and 6 po- tato in another to ward off rheumatism.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-10-02
PORTRAITS OF NAPOLEON.

From Appleton's Magazine.
 The latest census of engravings, meg zotints, woodcuts and other published portraits of the first Napoleon fixes the number at above s0,000; while of carica- lures, French and foreign about 3200 are known to be in existence. No celebrity of any age has been pictured to anything like the same extent. It would seem that almost every artist whose period of &C., tivity was cotemporaneous with that of the conqueror of Europe gave expression at one time or another to his real or fan ciful impression of the features of the man who above all others filled the public eye. One French specialist on Napoleonic iconography has compiled volume. Ma poleon Raconte par rImage." in which the story of his life is told in pictures. Every event of importance, political. military and domestic, has had its delineator, and the book containing these illustrations is of goodly size. Of all the characters of history Washington is the only one who has even approached this record.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-10-02
SURF.

By Edmund Clarence Stedman Splendors of morning the billow-crests
 brighten, Lighting and turing them on to the
 land.- Far-away waves where the wan vessels
 whiten. Blue rollers breaking in surf where we
 stand Curved like the necks of a legion of
 horses, Each with his froth-gilded mane flowing
 free, Hither they speed in perpetual coul ses, Bearing thy riches, o beautiful seal Strong with the striving of yesterdays
 surges. Lashed by the wanton winds leagues
 from the shore, Each. driven fast by its follower urges Fearlessly those that are fleeting be- fore; How they leap over the ridges we walk
 on, Flinging us gifts from the depths of
 the sea- Silvery fish for the haunting falcon, Palm-weed and pearls for my darling
 and me! ts
The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-10-02
The Death Sentence.

'I was present in the criminal court one day last week." said citizen, and heard the trial of a negro charged with murder in the first degree.
 Tt was interesting to watch the express sion, or rather the want of expression, which the prisoner wore all during the trial, and even when the jury came into court to pronounce their verdict he seemed not to care the least what the result of their deliberations had been. When the foreman handed the paper to the clerk the prisoner merely raised his eyes, and when the words, We, he jury. find the de- fendant guilty as charged in the indict- read out clearly and distinctly that poor unfortunate man listened and heard his doom pronounced without a visible move of muscle.
 ''I don't know whether he realized the true import of the words. or whether he cared so little that they did not affect him. but the sentence made me shiver and I felt that the poor abandoned wretch was hardly sensible of the fate which awaited him.
 AS l sat there I thought of the remark able words of Shakespeare, The pain of death lies most in apprehension but that poor negro had neither apprehension nor comprehension he hadn't found much in life to endear 1t to him, and death to him had no more terrors than sleep. This may he either his philosophy or stupidity, but 1t served the purpose to nerve him to die"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-10-02
FUNSTON MAKES OWN BED.

From the New York Sun.
 At Camp Tacoma, where the army ma neuvers are being held there was scene yesterday morning that probably had not been witnessed in the regular army in a long time Shortly after bell had sound ed there emerged from each tent facing the f1agpole at headquarters one or more officers, each carrying a wad of bed clothes, which he carefully spread over the limbs of trees and on the grass to air them. When General Funston ap- peared he had his bedding in one hand and washbasin in the other. He, too, spread his bedding out to air and then disappeared with the washbasn. When he returned later the basin shown like silver, so well had 1t been cleaned. With a smile the general gathered up his bed ding and retreated into the tent again, where glimpses were obtained of him as he spread the covers neatly over his cot. No help can be secured here, so the of ficers as well as the privates will have to do their own work
The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-10-02
Moving the Cotton Crop.

Moving the cotton crop during the first three months after the staple IS ready for the market presents the most difficult of the financial problems annually sub mitted to New York bankers for solu- tion.'' says a writer in the Wall Street Journal.
 Tt may be that the Southern Cotton Planters association will be successful this year in holding back the staple from market, so as to prevent the sacrifice in values that In other years has been caused by rushing the crop to market in order to enable planters to pay their debts. But spinners all over the world must have American cotton and the high CT the price the more money it takes to move it.
 The planter, or If the planter has parted with his title to the factor for advances, then the factor must have cash for cot ton. The banks at the south which make advances upon domestic or foreign bills of exchange must collect cash from do- mestic drawees or from the New York banks to which foreign bills of exchange are sold, in order that the southern banks may repeat the operations.
 Secretary Shaw, through experience. may learn that the plan which has to some extent succeeded in the west of increasing United States deposits in na- tional banks will not work so well in the cotton growing states. National banks in that section of the country do not, as a rule, own bonds which would be accept ed as security for United States deposits under the requirements for security on deposits against gold engagements for im- port.
 And if the banks in the south mad money to buy bonds that would be accept ed as security for United States deposits, they could use the money to better ad- vantage in buying cotton bills of ex- change, domestic and foreign, with which they could draw cash from New York a little later in due course of business.
 Practically all of the rediscounts and bills payable that appear in the consoli- dated statement by the comptroller of the currency of the condition of all national, banks are reported by banks in the cot ton growing section of the country. And most of these edscounts and bills pay able are included in the loans reported by the New York clearing house banks"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-10-02

if F Hetty Green is poor, how rich are
 wei" asks a contemporary. We'll
 we are rich in those blessings which the poor man can enjoy-the pure zest of living and working. the inspiration of good fellowship and the society of those we love; the privilege of jumping out of bed on brisk morning, hustling Into one's clothes and eating breakfast with a hearty appetite; the right to look every man in the eye without fear or fa- vor and the knowledge that we are like other people About all Hetty Green has Is money, and she will soon be in a place where it will do her no good The poor man is rich in the changeful beauty of nature, the light of the sun, the bright effulgence of the moon and stars, the per fume of flowers, the breath of fields and mountains. the uplift of books, the stray bar of music that reaches his ear and hundred simple pleasures that are scorned by the man of wealth. The futility of riches is old, old theme, to which an army of dusty philosophers have devoted themselves in the past There be some who say that the subject is worn thread bare; mayhap they will protest that we run to "bushwah" in our effort to fill up space, but 1t is a lot of fun for a poor man to scoff at riches now and then-and a great consolation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-10-02
IN HOTEL LoBBIES
RIrmInaham,s Railway Service.

'The excellent manner In which the Birmingham Railway Light and Power company has handled It's business during the past few days, considering the many difficulties Is very commendable and speaks well for the efficiency of the ser vice." said suburbanite yesterday.
 Some of the lines have been inundated in many places, trestles washed away and in some places the tracks have been destroyed by the unusual waterfall.
 The company has devised every means possible to handle the business with dis patch and convenience to the public and the success is appreciated by the pub- lie"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-10-02
WHAT THEY READ IN RIO.

Albert Hale in the Reader
 That the inhabitants of Rio stay at home does not imply that they are great readers: there are four or five book stores on the Rua do Ouvidor. but except here books are not seen in shop windows, nor even in private houses. The serious stu dent will find good material In only two of the eight libraries in the city; these are the Portuguese Society library and the National library. This last Is a fine col lection of over 25OOoO volumes, with many manuscripts and original documents, es- pecially rich in the historical literature of the country. The newspaper seems to supply fully the mental requirements of the dweller In Rio; he has the newspaper habit as thoroughly developed as has the New Yorker, and from morning till night he can get the latest news or opln- ion in any fashion he may like 1t. There are nine dailies in the morning and two In the afternoon, and they keep the news boys busy crying the contents and selling them at SHa cents. Any extraordinary event is illustrated by a photographic cut, but as a rule they do not insert pie lures and almost never use cartoons, this last species of entertainment and en- lightenment being still considered the function of the comic weelllies on the Punch and Puck order. The newspaper is de facto free press. saying anything it pleas unrestrained by any censorship except public opinion which I am sure is swayed by the newspapers to a greater extent than is usual In Latin America The papers are read by statesmen, street car conductors, students and peddlers, but I rarely saw one in the hands of woman. They are thoroughly up to date. too, in most things, but their news from us is not much more important to them than is that from Russia. Their editors are men of brains and of affairs, who say what they say because they be- lieve 1t.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-10-02
Our Cuban Problem.

Cuba Libre was so soon done for it must have wondered what it was be- gun for. Spain handed the island over on December 10, 1898, when the treaty of Paris was signed. On February 21, 1901, Cuba adopted a constitution transforming it into a republic with the consent and approval of the United States, but all steps and formalities were not accomplished until May 20, 1902, when General Wood turned the island over to the newly elected pres ident, Don Thomas Estrada Palma.
 The republic lasted therefore from May 20, 1902, to September 2S, 1906, when Secretary Taft declared himself provisional governor-a term of four years and about four months. The re- election of President Palma took place | last December, and the nature of that election led sharply on to the revolu l I brought back to the island the United | States. In the course of a week this government will have an expeditionary force in Cuba consisting of about 5000 marines and about 5000 soldiers, backed by six battleships and about dozen cruisers. But behind the dis play of naval and military strength stands a country eighty millions strong, and Cuba has no desire to tackle such an adversary. The chances are that the occupation of the island will be wholly peaceful.
 Everybody in fact seems to be will ling. The liberals are glad to get rid of the moderates whom they hate, and the moderates hope intervention will operate to keep out the liberals, whom they despise, All the substantial in terests of the island prefer both inter- vention ana annexation, and they will make that fact plain in the immediate future.
 Events will be apt to move slowly now that Uncle Sam Is the policeman on duty in Cuba. No one will be in hurry this time to get rid of him. The Cuban flag still floats, curiously enough, in Cupa, but perhaps that is well, for inter, ~-Cion IS a step taken in conformity with and by authority of the Cuban constitution. It became imperative because there was no one else to protect life and property.
 Military occupation will in a few days become an accomplished fact, and military occupation is of course prac- tical, although informal annexation. Formal annexation, If it comes at all, will wait upon congressional action, upon public sentiment alike in this country and in Cuba, and formal sur render of Cuba or formal annexation of the island is step that will be taken deliberately after full consider ation of complicated problem.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-10-02
ALABAMA's PROGRESS.

From the Wall Street Summary.
 We have always evinced a friendly in- terest in the south, and encouraged the movement for its -ploitation and internal development Our columns have been open to chronicle the tidings of its success and achievements, for, in that respect, we hold with the Manufacturers Record of Baltimore, that, "the development of the south Is the enrichment of the nation From The Age-Herald of Birmingham we learn that returns from thirty-nin counties in the state of Alabama show an increase in tax values of more than s22,- O00,OOO, and completed returns are expect ed to raise the total to s3O, ,0OO,O00 On such computation, the taxable total of the state will have increased from $270, 900 to $S74oOO,OOO in six years.
 "Prior to the war; says The Age-Her- aid, "the states taxable wealth totalled $256, 42S, ,S93 It will be thus seen that we have overcome the effects of the war. and have secured big lead towards greater wealth than the state had ever known. In 1860, there was no modern mining Jeff ferson county to contribute to the states taxable wealth over $57, COG, ,O00-no mineral district to add, all told, about a0o,00o, ,Ooo." From time to time we have directed our readers attention to the coal and iron possibilities of Alabama. We have in- formed them that the state is second, in the Union, in coke production; third, in ore fourth, in iron, and fifth in coal; and that It's coal and iron tonnage, combined,
 Is six times greater than that of the en- tire cotton crop of the south. In like degree, though varying In kind, mineral wealth awaits exploitation in other south ern states. Unmeasured and, indeed, un- dreamt-of are the industrial possibilities |,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-10-02
From the Washington Post.


 F THERE be any truth in this latest rabbit story. which comes to us from ' the neighborhood of Tupeo Miss, we shall experience a very active dilution of the respect and confidence we have hither- to bestowed upon that most interesting beast. Of course, the facts may have been exaggerated, perhaps willfully distorted as often happens in the case of rabbit stories, and to this possible consolation we shall cling as long as the needful strength is given us.
 For the moment, however, we have be- fore us only the report itself, and that, pending successful contradiction, is worthy of our most serious attention. MT Chesty Boggs appears to be one of the beaux of Tupelo and it's immediate vicin- ity He doesn't reside In the very heart of that social and intellectual metropo- lis, but lives on a. farm within easy walking distance. This farm is surround ed by as much as sixty-fve acres of land, mostly grown up in scrub pine, and boosting a whitewashed smokehouse and a front gate swinging on real hinges. Chesty works hard, saves little money every year, and enjoys a well-earned repu- tation as the dressest fellow In the neigh borhood. On the fatal night of the tragedy we are about to unveil, he was going to a dance with one of his best girls. He picked her up at her own house, about half a mile down the road. and they were strolling along in the moonlight, carrying their shoes when the rabbit bounded out of the bushes into the highway, squatted. and began to wobble it's nose with almost fiendish violence.
 Chesty Boggs was unarmed, though brave as Julius Caesar. He got in front of his companion and calmly waited for the onslaught. He had on neat alpaca
The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-10-02
IN THE ST. REGIS RESTAURANT

From the New York Press.
 Two dandies hunting through the menu for something to tickle their cloyed ap- petites. Both from the west, with the merest smatterlng of kitchen French at command "See anything you want, Well lington?" asked the Kansas City exqus- ite. Not exactly Parkinson" said the St. Louis blade. but when l can think of nothing else l take soup. Waiter, fatch me little soup" "Ah And waiter" put in Parkinson, you may also bring me q soupcon."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-10-02
SAD CASE OF CHESTY BOGGS

dancing coat, a pink handmade shirt, blue and white striped pants. and the very cutest little tuft of chin whiskers ever seen in those particular parts Some of his detractors said that this chin whisker was the fruit of idle vanity, but we are reliably informed to the con- trary. The truth seems to be that nature, in an unkind mood, had pushed Chesty's chin too far back under his face, and that he had grown the tuft to conceal, or, at least, to mitigate, that undeserved calamity. At all events, he stood his ground like a hero and hurled defiance with flashing eye. If the pomatum melted in his hair and spoiled the sweet est shirt in Itawamba county, small shame to him. He was in peril dire, and he knew 1t. Then, suddenly, and like twelve-inch shell, the rabbit sprang. Chesty Boggs hurled his shoes, but hurled them wild. The best girl squealed and shook, and there was the raging beast at Chesty Bogg's throat, gnawing the chin whisker and tearing the pink shirt to shreds, and shedding human gore as though it were tenderloin champagne.
 Chesty will recover, 1t is now believed, though if the girl handn't pulled the rab- bit off and hit 1t with her shoe, little pine bushes might at this moment be growing over his young grave. But what astounds and grieves us to the quick Is this display of unproyoked and needless cruelty on the part of an animal which hitherto we have credited with chivalry and valor in almost equal parts. Chesty Boggs was the rabbits helpless prev for he had left his gun at home, and, be- sides, he had with him, and under his protection, beautiful and innocent young girl We cannot understand, much less believe, such ruffian behavior on the part of a Mississippi rabbit.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-10-02

70. K" and the stubborn pertinacity and success with which the senseless 70. K" has held its ground against the lucid and righteous 70. R." demonstrates how ridiculous a figure the truth can some- times cut in contest with a falsehood which got the running start.
 In the Literary Digest of September P the editor is asked for the origin of 70. K The Photographers Easy Chair answers that the origin Is uncertain. It's meaning Is "all correct" and it has been claimed that the abbreviation was first used by President Andrew Jackson as humorous spelling "Oil Korrect.
 These two authorities differ. MT. Watson seems to have the call Tn reasonableness. since many people make capital as they would make K. Both authorities agree in referring the matter to Andrew Jackson.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-10-02
WHAT DOES 70. K" MEANT

From the Savannah Press.
 Mir. Watson, in his October magazine, injects an interesting point into his his- tory of Andrew Jackson. He states that a deed given to Jackson at the November term of the county court at Jonesboro, Tenn. in 17SS was indorsed Ordered to be Recorded" This was indicated upon legal documents in those days, by the clerks memorandum 70. R." With that proneness to error. which is one of the most interesting and attractive features in human nature, the letters of the clerks memorandum were taken to be
The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-10-02

BANKING. fellow opened up a bank Its vault was very strong, The office furniture was fine And so. it wasn't long Before the people brought their coin And gave 1t to his care, Because he prayed so loud at church, With such a pious air. As we remarked when we began, The vault was very strong. bank inspector, keen, alert Discovered nothing wrong The clerks were brisk and up to snuff, The place was snug and tight, And yet, twas sadly footed ere The banker took to flight. Depositors did weep aloud And curse the president. But that did not recover them The money he had spent. The banking business is great The banker was at fault It's strength of character that counts And not so much the vault.
 PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-10-02
PROTECTIVE coLoRs OF ANIMALS

From Dale's 'The Fox
 I seem to trace a faint clew to the con- nection between the protective coloring and the mind in the intense desire of the fox to remain concealed and unseen. That this Is possible theory we infer from the fact that a blind animal does not change color Put a dozen minnows into an ordi- nary white washstand basin and they will in a very short time be of a. pale color. If over one no change passes. we may be tolerably certain that 1t is blind.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-10-02
TWENTY-THREE FOR THEM.

From the Houston Post.
 After tomorrow the closed season for the peek-a-boo, watermelon and straw hat in Texas for 1906