davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-11-15
LONG-llVED MATTERS.
Four Whose Ages Aggregate $50 Years at a Centenarian's Birthday Party.

Jenkintown, Pa--Four members of one family whose ages aggregate $50 years. gathered at a reunion here today when Isaac Mather, the oldest of two brothers and two sisters, celebrated his tooth birth day. There were also present two sons and one daughter of the centenarian whose aggregate ages totalled 206 years. It is not believed that anywhere else in the United States will be found a family that can present a like showing.
 The four persons whose ages totalled $50 years were: Isaac Mather, 100 years old i; Mrs. Rebeeca Kitchener his sister, S7 years old; Miss Ann Mather, his sister. 7s years old and Chares Mather. a brother. s4 years old.
 The children whose ages totalled 206 years are: Miss Martha Mather. daugh- ter, 75 years old; Israel Mather. son, "a years old; Isaac Mather, son, 5s years old
 Isaac Mather. the centenarian, lives on the old homestead, built on the original tract of land granted to his ancestors by William Penn at Chelton Hills. In this region he is best known as the Grand Old Man of Chelton Hills" He is a Quak- CT and attend services regularly. on Sum day He attributes his long life to simple habits. Never in more than half a cen tury has he retired later than s o'clock at night and he is up with the sun in the morning His brother Charles at S4 Is still in active business.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-11-15
Elevator Etiquette.

'I know the subject is somewhat a chesnut, but the very cold weather of the last few days prompts me to ask what is the right thing to do in elevators where ladies are present." said a man who has offices in the ten-story building Should a man take off his hat or not?
 T wish we had some tribunal, some sort of supreme court on manners and con- duct, which could be appealed to on all such matters, and let a decision from that quarter settle the question. l feel embarras sed every time I take the ele- vator going to or from my office, and wish to find out and do what's proper.
 As I am not giving my name, l will admit have not much hair on my crani- um. but very few people would know it if keep my hat on; but, if l must take it off in an elevator, I might just as well walk down the street bare-headed Another matter I complain of is the danger of getting cold from the drafts which catch people as they ascend and descend
 Until I know something to the con. trary, I will, with all due respect to the lady passengers, wear my hat in the ele- yator"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-11-15
0neninn the Warrior.

Chairman Burton is said to desire rivers and harbors bill large enough to produce results. He is tired of | tinkering with the rivers and harbors merely looking to results without getting them. He is said to favor a bill carrying not less than $55,000,000, and he would be glad to push through a bill appropriating to internal water ways $75,000,000. The revenue of the country Is ample. Every year brings a surplus, and the only obstacle in the way of big rivers and harbors bill is big navy bill. The two should not conflict. Open rivers and good har- bors should, however, take precedence in case of conflict.
 Assuming that bill carrying $55,- 000,000 can be put through, Alabama's pro rata share should be just about $1,250000. The chief of engineers OH rivers and harbors improvement asks for the Warrior but $753,000. The open ing of the Tennessee is charged against the state of Tennessee.
 General Mackenzie says that $759,- 900 can be profitably expended in the opening of the Warrior, because he proposes to build only locks IA and 15 only, which would open the river to Squaw Shoals. But why delay the overcoming of Squaw Shoals? Why not construct locks 16, IT and IS at the same time? This would overcome Squaw Shoals, thus opening the river to the very heart of the coal deposits and to the railroads, and bringing all of the improvements into use?
 A strong pull by MT. Bankhead and MT. Underwood and the entire delega ton would secure perhaps an appro priation that would open the river ty the two forks abreast of Birmingham An appropriation of $1,500,O00 would do the work, and it would not bring Aiabamas portion of the proposed bill much above the average.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-11-15

which practical and efficient man can work in bringing more whites into this state. The lack of white immigrants is the sore spot in our makeup. We are short on whites without being long on blacks. We have, however, enough of the latter if we can procure an am pie supply Of the former. To do that we should have state immigration commissioner as near alike F. Y. An. derson as can be secured. Behind that commissioner should be put enough money to assist or to start direct im- migration to a gulf port, presumably to Mobile
 The other recommendation relates to an increase in technical education in this state. The state should assist this district, which pays nearly one sixth of all state taxes, to establish amid busy plants and smoking chim- neys a school for the practical educa- tion of our young men. They should be educated on the spot, so that they can study and be trained to meet local conditions. Doubtless the chief burden will fall on this district, but the state should lend hand partly because lief ferson is the great tax-paying county of the state, but largely because it will of a sum by the state in technical school in this district would bring in large returns ten years later.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-11-15
CHILD ACTORS ON THE STAGE.

Harriet Quincy in Leslie's Weekly.
 Few people realize how many children are on the stage and their importance in making successes of this seasons the- atrical productions A few years ago only few children were in the profession, but it now takes hundreds to supply the demand.
 Where these children come from, how they happen to be chosen for such work, their education, recreation, and their lives In general are. matters of more than pass ing interest to theatre-goers. This in formation is to be enjoyed to the full by the inqusitive person who drops into the children's theatrical exchange, con- ducted by Mrs. Anna Taliaferro, who has entire charge of the stage children or New York, and to whom managers aprly for diminutive actors and actresses when a company is being made up On the books of Mrs Taliaferro there are at least thousand names, representing all colors and a variety of nations, al though the native American Is in large to be found here, and they form an in- teresting study in human nature.
 There are great many more girls than boys and more dark than fair children. This is not because more dark children apply, but because, according to osstatistics gathered during twelve years of experi- ence. as a rule they are more clever as actors and seem to have a certain quality which cannot be defined, unless 1t be called stability, which is not possessed by fair-skinned youngsters. Girls are often preferred by managers to boys for playing boys parts, because girls of the same age are endowed with a more ready understanding and are dramatically in- clined.
 The children, including babies from three years of age up, are sometimes brought to the notice of Mrs. Taliaferro through friends or acquaintances, and sometimes children whose mothers think they would do well before the public come into the exchange to see what chance there is for them. As at all the atrical exchanges. many apply who are so impossible that nothing can be done for them. and their names are not even taken. Mrs. Taliaferro's method of sep arating the wheat from the chaff Is worthy of note. The first step is to make friends with the child. The next is to tell or read a story-rather an exciting story-and to watch the effect on the child's mind. Sometimes the little ones are encouraged to tell of some street or home incident, and they are also gwen
The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-11-15
EGYPTIAN CIGARETTES.
Made By Greeks of Greek Tobacco and
 Due to Government Monopoly.

From the New York Sun.
 A controversy which has been going on in Europe, and especially in England, as to the rival merits of Turkish and Egyp- tian cigarettes seems likely to be set tied by a report of a disinterested but observant American consul.
 Though the United States Is the great cigarette producing nation of the world, there are imported into this country ev- cry year more than S3,000,0o0 worth of foreign made cigarettes, some Turkish and some Egyptian.
 Turkey is a large tobacco producing country, yielding 50,000 tons of tobacco every year. and the Turks, it is well known, are a nation of smokers. The amount of tobacco raised in Egypt is in- considerable and yet Egyptian cigarettes are imported into this country in consid- erable amounts every year.
 The explanation of the matter as offered by the American consul In Athens, is simple. It seems that the Greek tobacco crop last year was the largest Greece ever harvested-about 200.oO0,OoO pounds. A brand of Greek tobacco Is used for Egyp- tian cigarettes.
 Why, 1t is asked, Egyptian? The an- swer Is that Egyptian cigarettes are made by Greeks, because cigarette paper is too expensive in Greece. where 1t is a gov ernment monopoly. Thus the business has gone over to Egypt. The most famous cigarette makers of Egypt are Greeks.
 A very large business in cigarette mak- ing hasl been established in Alexandria, and it is in the hands of Greeks, who import their tobacco from their own country and In turn ship it to foreign countries, England and the United States being the chief markets for Egyptian cigarettes, those bearing the title Turk ish being imported from Turkey direct.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-11-15
Pnnular Constitution Makinu.

Tn the recent election twelve con stitutional amendments were submit ted to the people of Louisiana, and every one of them was adopted. In this way the Louisiana constitution is kept in touch with public sentiment In this way it has the elasticity that keeps it from becoming outgrown and a hamper and damper upon the pros perity of the state.
 In Indiana, on the other hand, no constitutional amendment has been adopted in twenty-five years, simply because two successive legislatures must act afirmatively and then ma jority of all votes cast at an election must be recorded in favor of an amend ment. What is the result? Indiana Is full of an agitation in favor of a new fundamental law. The old one is a nuisance and hindrance.
 In Alabama our constitution makers wisely made amendments easy. A three fifths vote in the legislature and a ma 1ority vote of those who vote upon the propositions submitted either at spe- cial, or at the next general, election, is all that is required,
 The Alabama constitution. is open to amendment, and the legislature should submit amendments freely to the peo pie. The legislature formulates, ant the people decide. The responsibility is on the people. The only blame tha can attach to the legislature consists in not submitting enough amendments in not having, in other words, enougf confidence in the people Trust ref erendum, and give the people as many problems to decide as the legislature of Louisiana did. In that way a con stitutional convention can be avoided and the state go on prospering.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-11-15
MOoDYS UPWARD CLIMB.
New Supreme Court Justice Has Out stripped Even His own Ambition.

From Harper's Weekly.
 When William H. Moody was district attorney of Essex county in Massachu- sets, it was his proud and proper boast tbat his knowledge of criminal law was So great and his art of practicng it so excellent, that newly appointed judges Of the supreme court were sent to his district to preside over the criminal ses- sions in crder thas they might learn of l,lm. Then he thought of the attorney generalship of the commonwealth as the object at which he had the right to aim. Afterwards he parted company with his profession for a time and entered the stormy walks of politics. He went to Con gress, and reached at last the commit ice room of the committee on appropria- tions, and eventually sat next to Joseph Cannon. Here he imbibed the notion that he might succeed to the chair from which Mr. Cannon was to be lifted into the chair of speaker. Perhaps-and this was but a dream of which he spoke with hesitancy and only to his intmates-he might eventually be speaker. Then Hayer- hill would be proud of him, the ancient foundation of Harvard would smile upon him. and he would be satisfied
 But the PreSluenL CaueVi nm lO iiic Navy department, and he accepted it're- luctantly, for he thought more of his fair prospects in the House of Representa- lives where he was MT Canhon's favor ite. He was persuaded by Senator Hale and some others to accept his fate, which to them seemed smiling, although to him it almost drowned. He worked hard with his ships and men, but took the trouble to arrange for an easy retreat to lucra- tive practice in Boston. He was then of fered the Attorney Generalship of the United States, and accepted it. partly for the schooling and fame, which he might lay up for his future benefit in his Boston practice, which was still the goal towards which he thought he ran. He satisfied himself and others that he was much of a lawyer, and now, no longer disappoint- ed though thwarted he is mounting to the bench of the supreme court. He has thus more than once been turned from his path, half willingly at least. but in every side-track he has found the roses a little brighter.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-11-15
The Contested Courts.

Ut occurs to me-" said Von L. Thomp7 son yesterday in discussing the bar meet ing of some weeks ago, when it was de- cided to have d bill drawn to relieve the congested condition of the dockets, that it is about time that we were getting our measure in shape to be advertised.
 'The committee has been at work on the bill for some time. There is nothing very hard about it. A bill for each court. adding the required number of judges, could be dictated in less than three hours time. The legislature will meet on Janu- ary S. Local bills or the substance of them have to be advertised for thirty days. It is now not quite two months before the bills could be introduced, if they should be ready. They ought to be ready and ought to be the first bills in troduced, and should go through without opposition. By February 1 we ought to have the new judges at work.
 'I understand that the sub- b-committee or part of them are at work on a con- solidated court bill. I have talked this matter over with a large number of the attorneys. and have heard it discussed considerably. The consolidated court idea is not popular one. We want relief in our courts, and we do not want to make any mistake about it, or run any risk. We can have additional judges with no risk whatever; a consolidated court is another question: We should not specu- late any uncertainty at this time, when our dockets are so badly crowded. We should have relief now. If at some fu- ture day we can improve by consolidation, then let it be done. We cannot afford it just now.
 T understand that the committee will meet Thursday night The relief of our courts is a public necessity. There is but one safe way to get this relief, and that is by adding new judges The committee has had ample time and a meeting of the bar should be called at a very early date to hear the reDortp
The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-11-15
Standnattism in Disarace.

There is a hurrying and scurrying among politicians in the g. o. p. to shake off and disown standpattism. It Is now considered of color" and 1t is to be sent to the junk pile of aban- doned issues. No one publicly con fesses that he is standpatter unless Indeed he happens to be direct and shameless beneficiary of our noble, sacred and esteemed tariff.
 Senator Shelby M. Cullom, who is a candidate for reelection, has taken the tariff by the horns, and he proposes to revise it and to drive 1t out of politics. In order to accomplish the latter, he would have to give us strictly rev enue tariff. He would have to take every job, every cunningly devised scheme for robbing the many for the benefit of the few, out of it, and when he had done that the republican party would be undermined. lie would tear It's foundations and roots out.
 However, let him proceed. He wants a commission at once to formulate re- auctions to a non-politca basis, and then he wants a special term of Con- gress to make law on the commissions recommendations He proposes to in troduce joint resolution to start the thing, and then the country will have a chance to see what Boss Aldrich will do to it. He will simply squelch it, but in the meanwhile your Uncle Shelby will have been reelected to the Senate from a revision state in the Central West. There is no one who can swing up closer or sooner to public sentiment than the Illinois Senator, and this quail ity may be due to his personal resem- blance to Abraham Lincoln, who be- lieyed in government of the people, by the people, for the people.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-11-15
Technical Education.

Dr. Lacey of Bessemer pleads else where in this mornings Age-Herald for Auburn. He thinks that Auburn can meet all the needs of the young men of the state in the direction of technical education. But Auburn is crowded now. It's enrolment is double that of the University, and yet scores of our boys go to technical schools in other states.
 Nothing should be done to lessen the euciep1cy of Auburn. It should con inue/ to grow and broaden and
 sT igthen. It is and ever should be the pride of the state.
 But there are other things to be con- sidered. Funds can be procured from corporations for use in a technical school here in Birmingham that cannot be turned over to Auburn. And, be- sides, mining and iron making and steel conversion are carried on here as they are not carried on elsewhere in the south. Here, too, are other object les sons-our great electric power house in which students of electricity can see in practice what they are acquiring in theory, and our other mills and plants which are daily increasing in number. A school amid such surroundings would have special advantages. and such a school would be of special value to this state.
 The school in question is needed in this city. It may not be and need not be started in large way. The Age Herald wholly agrees with Dr. Lacey when he says nothing should be done to lessen the helpfulness of Auburn to our boys. But this district certainly does demand a technical school, and there is plenty of room for both 1t and Auburn. Let us work both for Auburn and technical school in this district, knowing that the boys of Alabama can not well have too large facilities for acquiring an education that will fit them to conduct and make the most of the natural resources of their state.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-11-15
PRESS POINTS

Atlanta Journal. The only trouble that Count Boni had about loving the eoun- tess was that she was his wife. 1 Columbia state:- In Pennsylvania they now speak of the lighting fixtures in their s13, ,OOO 900 capitol as the "scandaliers Houston Post: A newspaper says that while Frank James is getting pretty old he still holds up pretty well. Our under standing is that Frank has entirely quit holding Up.
 Memphis News Scimitar: If Hughes will only live up to his campaign promises, there will be greater number than ever of wealthy Americans to spend the win ter in Europe.
 Kansas City Times: Hetty Green is de- nouncing the greedy trusts. And when, one sees what kind of bonnets Hetty is compelled to wear to break even onl her expenses, how can you blame her? Memphis Commercial- Mr-' Hearst says he is going to fight in the democratic ranks. as a private; but he Will narQly pc dplt tO ASStNoAfA '44s -A. clination to tell the generals how to con duct the campaign.
 New Orleans Times-Democrat: How can Chicago be improved?" inquiries Chicago newspaper. The youngest pupil in a Boston Kindergarten would prob ably have little difficulty in compiling @ cyclopedia on the subject
 Youngstown Telegram: In view of the fact that the Japanese contributed lip- orally toward the San Francisco earth quake fund they think they are justi- fled in showing bitterness over the dis crimination against Japanese school chill dren in California.
 Louisville Courier-Journal: Beautiful, large, expressive eyes are an important factor in an actors success says dramatic critic Indeed they are. You may see rows of them at every matinee, each pair representing an accruing half dollar, bits, $1 or $1.50. 'Louisville Herald: "There is no doubt" says MT. Arthur Brisbane that Hearst will be elected President of the United States if he lives" Not even MT. Wat terson, in his most exuberant moments, of love for Colonel Bryan, has ever writ ten any such a thing of the Nebraskan.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-11-15
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Agricultural Products.

The government custom of posting cen sus reports on the yield of crops in all postoffices may seem useless from prac- tical point of view,' said an observant man, and yet it serves as a guide to large producers.
 T note that the yield of thirty bushels of corn per acre, the present crop is five bushels over the average of last ten years. Potatoes yielded eighteen bushels more per acre than the average; hay is short, buckwheat Is even and tobacco is 9l pounds better. A big corn crop and po- tato crop means plenty of hog and hom- miny. For the unmerchantable stock is the finest of pig feed. Next to roofing in peanut patch. the pigs revel in a potato field after the crop is gathered.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-11-15
WHEN MA IS DUE IN OKLAHOMA.
The Editor Hastens to Spread the Glad
 Tidings Abroad.
n the New York Sun.

From the New York Sun. The way in which one Oklahoma editor announced that his mother was coming to visit him may seem a trifle breezy. but it's pretty safe to say that away down in her heart ma was prouder than forty queens.
 ''The editor of the News-Republican is going to tog up little this evening. Co., ing to change collars and put on pair of cuffs, if he can find any. Going to get shaved and going to get out shoes shined and the pegs cut out. so we can walk right peartly.
 Mas a-oomin' down to see us. You know who ma is. Ma is our only ma, and she's a good one, too-one of the old Ohio Quaker sort, you know.
 Ma lives in ISingfisher. She was our ma when we were born; she was our ma out in western Kansas when we hunted prairie coal she was our ma when we drank parched corn coffee in old Okala- homa in 's9, and she's our ma now. Shes the best ma we ever had.
 "If you see us tomorrow walking down the street with a little woman with a smile on her face you'll know that's ma. If you never had a ma you should get one-and one like our ma, too.'' stf
The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-11-15
ANCHORS.

New York Dispatch to the Cincinnati Enquirer.
 The Singer building, under construc- ton. on Broadway. near Liberty street. which will be 625 feet high, the talest skyscraper in the city, is to have wind anchors so that it way be firmly braced against every gale. The wind pressure, on account of the structures great alti- tude. will be tremendous, and for that reason the building is to be literally tied to its foundations byfan ingenious arrangement of steel rods.s They will be three and d half Inches in diameter and descend for nearly 50 feet into the con- crete which forms the caissons, resting on solid rock S5 feet below the curb. The lowest rod has on thes end of 1t a great annhnr plate. to which it is secured.