davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-28
After The Primary.

The Alabama democratic primary is
a thing of the past The party has
acted and in most cases acted well.
Though the full returns are not yet IN
it is known that good men are selected
and will be elected.
Now let us all get together to aid the
national party in the great struggle of
1908. Let no divisions or cliques or
divisions creep in. Let us have one
solid militant progressive party ready
and willing to fight down standpattism
and the common enemy two years
hence.
In the meanwhile let us hustle in
trade and general business-in agricul-
ture and all our varied industries. Let
us get together to give Alabama the
full benefit of these booming, prosper
Gus times. We have had long season
of politics, and now that we have acted
let us accept the result without single
growl, knowing that under any demo-
crat in any office we can make Ala
bama great, rich and prosperous. This
is the duty of the patriotic citizen, now
that the nominees of the party have
been selected. Every democrat is in
all loyalty bound to support every NOM
inee of the primary cordially and fully,
and that can be done while we main
tain and promote business activity and
every worthy enterprise. Alabama has
spoken, and her will is supreme. 1t
has been politics; let it be business
hereafter, and harmony and good will
all around.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-28
Thank heavenl It is over.
TRUE KING OF SPAIN.

From "A Royal Romance" by c. N. and
A. M Williamson in the September Nc
Clure's.
Sensational journalists have announced
that the King of Spain was extremely &C.
centric, If not deficient in intellect: but
exactly the opposite is true. He is ex-
ceedingly clever, though too impatient of
restraint to be much of student He
bids fair as his character develops with
experience, to show his mothers diplo-
matte tact, mingled with an engaging
impulsiveness all his own, which wins
hearts as she never could. He is quick
to make decisions, is really Interested in
the welfare of his people, and his selfish
ness is merely the selshness of high
spirited youth, eager to do everything
that is really worth doing. He is easily
moved through his sense of justice. The
King has a boysh fashion of imposing
his own will on every one around him.
He does this so gaily, so smllingly Of
not in one of his "somber moods Of pride")
that even people who have decided to OPP
pose him find themselves pleased that he
should do as he likes.
what, marry her nose to my Hapsburg
mouth 1t would be a crime" was his
remark to an intimate friend, concerning
an Austrian princess. No other on the
list pleased him better; and the two or
three possible German candidates were
crossed off in the same way. Il want to
be happy, and then | shall know how to
make others happy" he said to the same
friend of his youth.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-28
BOOKS IN BEDROOMS.

From Housing of Books, in the Home
Magazine for September.
There should always be books In bed
room, where many quiet moments may be
spent. What a difference 1t makes, on
being ushered into the guests room at
the commencement of a visit. If few
well-chosen books smile welcome, and
how their presence helps toward the de-
sirable sensation of feeling oneself at
home!" At the same time the books In a
bedroom should have a nook to them
selves, and not trespass on the table or
wardrobe space sacred to the keeping
of ones clothes and the process of putting
them on. In the bedroom sketch 1t is
shown how an enticing book cupboard
may be planned so as not to take up a
foot of floor space. while 1t forms an
appreciable addition to the comfort Of
the room. A small, not very useful cup
board built into the wall, of the kind so
often found In houses of forty or nifty
years ago, was turned to account with
the result depicted. The doors were taken
away, the shelves fitted more closely to-
gether than those of the original cupboard
and 10 and behold a niche wherein to
enshrine a plentiful supply of literature.
grave and gay, the light reading for a
tired hour, or the work" for serious
study. BY lucky chance the niche in this
instance happens to be between the bed
head and the fireplace. equally well placed
for BOTH so a small shelf was devised
to pull out between the bookshelves and
the curtained-off shoe cupboard below
them, to serve as a table for candle or
electric reading lamp during wakeful
hours, or in that pleasant lull in the day,
the half-hour before dressing for dinner,
which it is so restful to while away with
an amusing book over ones bedroom fire,
If only the book. the chair and the time
come together.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-28
POPULAR MAN.
nm the New York Globe.

From the New York Globe.
Popularity such as this comes TO few
poor men; An Irish harvest laborer died
recently in Yorkshire. Six women have
now appeared, each claiming to be his
widow. All positively identify him as
their husband. from a photograph. What
the ante-mortem career of this proud
shade could have been 1t is not easy to
conceive He may have been composite
of all the good things husband should
be except constancy, or he may have been
an anti-mopopolist in all things. from
conviction. for as Ella truly says. Mar
rage is a monopoly, and not of the least
invidious Sort The most probable So
luton, however. lies in the suggestion
that he was Disguised Mormon, one of
that sect whom Artemus Ward charac-
terlzed as singular in religion, but plural
in wives" In any event, however har-
ried and little honored and lowly his
terrestrial career may have been, the
scramble of the Yorkshire women to bear
his name, now that he has crossed the
Rubicon, writes his title clear to post
mortem fame.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-28
THEIR USEFULNESS.

From the Chicago News
AS st. Peter unfastened the diamond
hasp on the pearly gate ana peered out
he saw high carriage drawn by tan
dem team of bobtailed horses standing in
front
A small dog of the window washer va
riety, beautifully bedecked with ribbons
and other handsome ornaments and ex-
pensive garments sat beside woman
who wore gorgeous raiment, and who
handled the reins with an experienced air
AS the bearded face of the guardian
saint was thrust outward a trained smile
overspread the woman's patrician feat
ures, the picture hat nodded all its plumes
and hand was held high for shake.
st. Peter looked up at the hand, which
was eight feet beyond his reach, and
smiled in spite of himself.
well, what are you and whence come
you and your singular outht?' was the
blunt query of the saint.
II came direct from Newport. l am one
of the smart set
well, aren't you lost p
mo, indeed. Lost people don't come
here as a rule, do they? oh! hol ho,
Wasn't that a good come back, thought
What good have you ever done on
to venture hither?"
Lots of it,"
For instance?"
"Well, to begin with, we furnished Gene
Debs with monkey dinner material for
his Chautauqua lectures and he made sew
eral thousand dollars last summer roast
ing us. We supplied the setting for The
House of Mirth, which kept a worthy
woman author in pin money from its
royalties. We furnished all the dope for
Bob Shambers The Fighting Chance
We have flocked with that London crowd
that gave Father Vaughan more promi-
hence and power than he would ever have
had otherwise. Thus we have increased
the influence of a worthy churehman. We
gave Cleveland Moffett all the facts for
The Shameless Misuse of Wealth. and
Colonel Watterson would have been unin-
teresting at times If he hadn't had us
to sting like bee For goodness sake,
don't ask us what we've done We've
got our credentials right with u.s.
''Oh, well, sighed ST. Peter, after pro-
found reflection, you're the first one of
your gang that has ever come this way,
so We'll let you in, and here's hoping
YOU won't be bored with loneliness and
with the scanty accommodations we have
to offer YOU"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-28
Listing Divorces.

The government is preparing to pro
cure a history of each divorce granted
in the last twenty years. The census
bureau was ordered by Congress to
tabulate the cases, and it will soon
send out almost its entire force to
gather in the facts in each case Here
is what the census bureau will ascer-
tain and file in each case:
Date of marriage; date of separation;
date of filing petition; who was the libel
lant how was notice served, personally or
by publication; was it contested was de-
cree granted; date of decree or judgment;
number of years married; cause for which
divorced if not direct, was intemperance
an indirect cause; kind of divorce; num-
Der of children affected and whether they
were all of the union dissolved; was ALI
mony asked was alimony granted occu-
patton of both husband and wife and res
idence of libellee.
The facts desired will cover the en-
tire period from 1887 to 1907, and when
they are fully tabulated and digested
legislatures will have more to legislate
on than they have at present.
These facts may not, after all, reach
the divorce germ which is of many
species, but the most common specie
is undoubtedly found in a mental or
moral divergence that renders life
partnership unpleasant and undesira-
BILE. More happiness is believed to be
outside of the marital state. Marriages
are contracted in a needless way, and
when the pair wake up to actual con-
ditions they find they have acted
thoughtlessly, and they have not the
moral stamina to stand up to a bad
bargain.
The census office can not list mental
or moral divergences. 1t cannot get at
the secret springs of a divorce, but it
certainly can lay the foundation for
better divorce laws than we have at
present. The step taken by Congress
is a desirable one, and every facility
should be extended to the census men
who may be detailed TO gather the his
tory of the divorces granted in the last
twenty years. A card will be filled up
for each case, and these will finally re-
pose in Washington as part of the
archives of the government.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-28
Mr.. Carnegie as a SpeIIer.

President Roosevelt has ordered the
public printer to use the Carnegie sim
plifled spelling in all public documents.
The public printer presides over the
big government printing Office in which
is printed the Congressional Record,
that choice and valued morning journal
which will reappear early in Deem
Der. And this raises the interesting
question, VIII the Congressional Rec
ord be Carnegieized by order of the
President? If so, then Congress is not
a coordinate branch of the govern
ment.
The test of the new official orthog-
raphy will come when an attempt is
made to foist it on the Congressional
Record. The Carnegie lexicon may
have millions back of it as we'll as an
official acceptance issued from the
White House, but unless it Is to be
used in the Congressional Record it
will not go far or be diffusive. Mr..
Carnegie assisted in forming a gigantic
trust. and Mr.. Roosevelt is endeavor-
ing to Dust" several trusts, but trust
making or trust-busting are light tasks
Alongside that of reforming the spell
ing of the Anglo-Saxon world.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-28
UBIQUITOUS PRESS AGENT

land and, even in her own dear Paree, the
story was published under headlines which
made it attractive. This energetic agent
arranged days ahead to have wood burned
on the lot where the tent was to be
erected through Texas, claiming the noted
actress could not have her health en-
dangered by the germs which might lurle
In the soil. 1t worked and 1t worked
we'll
Press agency is not confined to amuse-
ment enterprise. Every concern of any
prominence has one nowadays. The
Standard Oil company recently engaged
well-known man at a fabulous salary
to meet the attacks of the papers. Where
formerly a reporter who endeavored to
gain information at the offices of the
great trust was met with distrust. now
he is welcomed by the press agent. who
, makes him comfortable. hands out cigars
and tells him how good the company is
ana now 1t is being wronged by every
one.
A certain railroad with headquarters
In New York has a man at a good salary
whose business is to keep the public post
ed on what 1t has done, what it is do
ing and what 1t will do. The company
recently arranged to adopt electricity as
motive power on one of its divisions up
New York state and Immediately every
paper was supplied with news of the
event
The press representative is here to stay.
The editors know he is necessary and
nave decided to use his efforts If they
are worthy. The man who thinks up
something new is the man the managers
are looking for as no commonplace stuff
has a change Of getting into type Now
words have to be coined to meet the de-
mands of the hour, but the men in the
business are equal to the task, and with
out them our papers would sometimes be
dull reading, we must admit. The articles
usually are instructive and amply re-
pay one for reading them through
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-28
Alabama,s Alternates

The outside world sneeringly called
the list of aspirants voted for yesterday
as alternates in the senatorial race as
THE pall-bearers' ticket" Wit of that
sort has been abundant in the last two
weeks, simply because Alabama with
the consent and approval of her vet
eran Senators decided to select alter
mates to fill any possible senatorial
vacancy in the next four years. 1t was
a new departure in politics, but after
all it was simply another stop towards
government of the people, by the peo-
pie for the people. The people were
permitted yesterday to express their
will instead of letting contingencies
fall into the hands of a handful of lead
ers. Alabama has no apologies to
make. Her alternate system is sound,
sane and sensible.
1t was but an extension of the prin-
ciple underlying the vice-presidency or
the lieutenant goyernorship, or in fact
of any officer who expects promotion.
If it be wise to have a vice president
or lieutenant governor, then indeed
1t is wise to have a couple of senatorial
alternates on the waiting list, for one
of our veteran Senators is in his 83rd
year, and the other is in his seth year.
No matter how other states may look
at the matter, the democrats of Ala
bama prefer to select their own alter
mates, and to hang them UP for use in
case vacancy occurs. No one desires
a vacancy to occur, but If one does
occur Alabama has two men that gov
ernor or legislature is pledged to
accept.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-28
Legitimate Campaign Expenses.

Now that the election is over" said
a politician last night. the public will
watch with interest for the itemized cam
paign expenses of the candidates. Each
candidate Is required to file his expense
account with the probate judge of the
county. When one hears that this or that
candidate has spent this or that sum,
an exclamation point is raised. But some
people do not stop to consider the large
total of legitimate campaign expenses.
The matter of postage alone is enormous.
A candidate for a state office endeavors to
mail circular to each voter in Alabama.
In other words he mails not less than
100000 circulars. A one-cent stamp on 10O,
900 circulars requires $1,000 But many of
the candidates sent sealed circulars that
required two-cent stamps; and not only
one batch but several patches were sent
through the postoffice. More than one
candidate found his postage stamp ac-
count running near the $4,000 mark.
I'm these days of reform 1t Is almost
impossible to buy votes or to spend money
in any illegitimate way. Yet added to
printing and postage scores of workers at
so much per day campaign expenses run
into the fancy prices"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-28
Prosperity is General.

The unprecedented volume of bust
ness is not confined to New York, or
Pittsburg or Chicago. 1t is as extern
siye and widespread as the country
itself. 1t is felt in every state and in
every section from one end of the
country to the other. Even in stricken
San Francisco there is activity if not
prosperity. 1t is recuperating, and a
new city is to arise from the ashes and
ruins left by fire and earthquake.
The boom of big crops is upon us,
and all reports agree in saying that the
volume of general business will this
fall and winter break ali records. Even
now every industrial plant is over
crowded with orders. Every railroad
is offered more traffic than it can move
Every blast furnace is overtaxed in the
effort to satisfy consumers.
In this general boom but one thing
is to be feared, namely, the adoption
of boom prices for staples that will de-
crease consumption and lead to a re-
action. This is the only shadow on
the situation, and that shadow is but a
fear that may not crystalline into fact
II producers and business men will be
reasonable the business activity of to-
day will stay with us just as long as
crops are reasonably good. We cannot
expect every year crops as large as are
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-28
cIaars and Toothplcks.

ut is surprising that those who have
so earnestly discussed in your columns
the Objectionable toothpicking habit should
appear oblivious to something that is more
common, more disgusting and vastly more
inexcusable and vulgar" said New York
man.
Zone of the worst things about the to-
bacco habit is its growing aggressive
ness The, slaves of the weed have long
since ceased to acknowledge that others
have any rights which they are bound to
respect The sign No Smoking might as
well be turned to the wall wherever it
has been displayed In our surface cars
Smoking on four rear seats Is sufficient
ly conspicuous. But who pays any atten-
ton to it? 1 frequently see men smoking
on the other seats and 1 have yet to see
conductor make any attempt to enforce
the rule. Perhaps the superintendent has
instructed them not to do so lest a few
nickles should be lost. Look at a line of
persons waiting their turn at a ticket
office, several of them women. Right
overhead is the legend No Smoking, but
in the line are two or three louis putting
away at their pipes OF cigars as IL tnat
were their conception of the highest conf
pliment they could pay to the ladies'
Recently there has been complaint of
men for occupying the women's cabin in
our ferryboats; but no one appears to
have mentioned the explanation, though it
is obvious. The users of tobacco make
the mems cabin so filthy that no tidy
man is willing to sit in it. Forbid smok-
ing everywhere on the boats and enforce
the rule and there will be no more COM
plant that the women are deprived of
seats in their own cabin.
Walk through any part OF Broadway at
any time of day and observe the number
of men that are smoking in that crowded
street without asking anybody's leave.
They seem to be utterly unconsciou OF
their own vulgarIty. Many of them smoke
in elevator cars, with a prohibitory sign
staring them in the face. And the eleva-
tor boy is usually afraid even to call their
attention to it.
IF l were the superintendent of schools
/ would instruct the teachers to say en-
phatically to the boys every term: If you
become smokers, do your smoking at
home. 1t is utterly vulgar and inexcus-
able to smoke in any public place."
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-28
MARY WILKINS PEOPLE.
the Bookman.

Mary Moss in the Bookman
In the census of a Mary Wilkins village
the proportion of inhabitants would APP
proximate sixty women upward of 70
years old, five old men, fifteen middle
aged women, eight midde-aged men.
seven girls, three eligible bachelors, two
children.
Of these, forty old women would be in
tolerable, ten merely difficult and ten VIC
tins to the rest Three old men out of
five could be set down as narrow. de-
testable tyrants two weak brothers)
show amiability. The middle-aged 1Aen
and women are in good training to sue
coed their elders. Young girls represent
every degree of voluntary and enforced
depression.
or the young men, mark two as thor
oughly developed mules, wel1-meaning,
honorable, but as set" as their fathers
before them. The third may be a reason
able creature, who consents to defer the
wedding for ten years till his betrothed
can buy silk dress or pay off her faith
ers mortgage. Failing to be of heroic
stun, number three usually breaks down
and marries girl from another vii
laRe.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-28
TWILIGHT IN LONDON.
B. u. Money-Coutts.

By F. b. T. Money Coutts.
I have heard the oceans cadence
Along the eastern shore,
| have heard the winds contending
In the forest of Glen More;
l have heard the throstle fluting
Over his hawthorn nest,
And the nightingale dsputing
With the sorrow in her breast:
But oft have l found more sweet
The thunder beat
OF a London street;
The thunder and beat
Where the cross-ways meet,
When the lamps are lit, in a London
street.
l have heard a Spirit. hidden
Within that hollow roar
Softer than warbler wooing,
Louder than winds at war;
l have heard the sound assurging
(, Oyer the city's moan,
And the Worlds confusion merging
In Loves diviner tone;
2Ah, then have l found them sweet,
The thunder and beat
OF London street;
The thunder and beat
Where the cross-ways meet,
When the lamps are it, IN a London
street.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-28

those of the present growing season,
for they are above the average of the
last ten years, but prosperity would
remain with US in an average crop
year if dealers would not this year,
taking advantage of a boom in trade,
adopt prohibitive figures, thus killing
the goose that lays the golden egg.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-28
Piu Iron Situation.

The possibility of a runaway market
in pig iron and its products is leading
men to study the situation carefully
the situation, that is to say, beyond
the present year 1t is we'll settled
that consumption will continue to the
end of the present year to push produc-
ton, and prices may be pushed up to
the import point at any rate.
James M. Swank presents some facts
and figures concerning new blast fur
mace construction that enable the
thoughtful reader to estimate prospect
i've pig iron production. Nine furnaces
are to be completed in the second half
of 1906, five in the first half of 1907,
and six in the second half of next year.
This leads the Iron Trade Review to
construct this estimate of prospective
productions:
First half, 1906 ....................12 ~, 900
Second half, 1906 49,. ............. 100000
Year, 1906 ............ .............25,75 600
First half 1907 .....................13,50 500 OvJ
Second half 1907 ....... .......... 13, $50 900
Year, 1907 ....... ...............27,250 600
Year, 1908 49,. ......................2S rs, 1870 600
The Iron Trade Review does not
therefore regard with apprehension
present famine conditions, for it be-
lieves that between a decrease in de-
mand and a steady increase in furnace
capacity a proper level will be reached,
and there will be no occasion for a
runaway market, although the building
of new furnaces is on much smaller
scale than 1t was between 1903 and
1905, inclusive.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-28
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

From the New YORK Press
A man can keep fair share of his pop
ularity by not running for office.
It's very wrong to do an improper thing
you are going TO get caught at.
What a woman likes about spooning in
the moonlight is the way 1t doesn't hurt
her complexion.
A woman would be much crosser than
she is If she weren't so busy trying to
keep her husband from getting cross.
There is hardly anything that tickles
woman so much as TO have you remember
her boys name when you Just happanad
to guess it.