davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-09
Parcel Post in Other Countries

This country Is rendered in one respect backward by the express com panies, for 1t stands today the only large and rich country in which the peoples convenience Is subservient to the exactness and profits of few private companies.
 In Germany, for example, eleven pound package Is carried ten miles for six cents. and it is carried anywhere in the empire for twelve cents. The Gyrman postoffice carries packages in weight up to no pounds. Our limita- tion is four pounds. and our rate is fourteen times the German rate. and yet the German postal service is prof. itable while our service produces a deficit.
 In England eleven-pound parcels are carried for twenty-four cents, and In Japan a twelve-poung package is car  ried for twenty-five cents. England carries a package to Hong Kong at the rate of twelve cents a pound.
 These facts are not consolng to us as people It Is not right that eighty millions of people should re- main within the grasp of the ex- press companies. but it is difficult to say how far We should at first go in the effort to establish a parcels post. Postmaster General Meyer is considering the subject carefully, and his plans will be laid before congress and the country when his annual re- port appears There are difficulties in the way on account of the size of the country and no doubt a beginning should be made and then the plan can be gradually widened to suit the wants of a prosperous and rapidly increasing country.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-09
Rooms for Students.

"If some of those people who have money to spare and were desirous of using it profltably and at the same time of conferring a benefit on this city, they would erect rooming house for young men" said employe in a store.
 "Take my case for instance. l earn $50 a month and out of that I pay S20 for my room and board. I don't mean to say that my salary is too small or my board too high, but my objection is to the fact that there are three of us in the same room and I have no privacy or op- portunity for pursuing course of studies in which l am interested. In connection with my studies I have to make experi- ment and fix up devices which must not be disturbed, but that would not be tol erated by my room mates.
 "In cities like Birmingham there are always number of young men who are naturally desirous of improving them
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-09
Open Water from Sea 10 Sea

Deep as the cut in Culebra hill is to be, and unprecedented as the Gatun dam will stand when complete, yet all begin to feel that the canal will be dug. and that too within a reasonable period and at reason able cost. The best judges of the work now say the canal will be opened by January 1, 1915. and that it's cost will not exceed two hundred and twenty five millions A canal from sea to sea through which the largest ships can pass in the course of seven years will be satisfactory to the people who are footing the bills The military engineers are doing good work, and they do not stay in Washington to ex- ploit themselves and their labors.
 In seven years a canal near our own gulf states Has any one in Alabama stopped to think what this means to Alabama? The railroad companies know what it means, for tfey are hastening to secure lines to the gulf They know that a vast trade will spring up between the gulf ports and the canal, and that New Orleans will probably become one of the great cities of the country. Mobile, too. will be largely benefited, for it will be the gate to the sea of all the prod ucts of this district.
 This, however, depends upon the opening of the Warrior river to slack water navigation the year round by or before January 1, 1915. Surely in seven years the Warrior should be opened, and the Age-Herald has full faith that Congressman Underwood and our two senators will see that the task is accomplished in that time.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-09
Conservation Where Necessary.

The weekly financial review of Henry Clews, under New York date, says
 Banking interests are fully alive to the money outlook and are enforcing con- servatism in channels where such action is necessary. This means a continued check in business of q highly speculative character, and to a measurable degree IS a protection against an eventual wide spread business embarrassment On tho other hand the favorable agricultural out look is a decided influence against eX- treme depression, and the market for the immediate future Is apt to be one of wide and active fuctuation within com paratively safe limits. Barring possible damage by early frosts to the corn crop, otherwise the record for the balance of the harvest of 1907 Is now about assured. As already noted in these advices. the prospects certainly do not favor bumper crops in any direction, but in all cases they will be well above the average and will be worth in dollars and cents to the farmer fully what actual bumper crops have In the past proven to be worth.
 News developments of the week have been rather favorable. Active purchases of wheat for export have been a promi- nent feature. which has naturally oper- ated against sterling exchange, removing the probability of further gold exports for some little time. Crop conditions re- main favorable, although the harvest will not, of course, reach the extreme figures of 1906. There, however, has been a compensating benefit in the much higher prices the farmers are receiving for the smaller product this year than they re- ceived for their bumper product of last year. Wheat prices for instance, are about 9 cents per bushel higher than at this date last year; while corn is selling about 15 cents per bushel higher-fgures which when applied to products aggregdt- ing hundreds of millions of bushels mean a tremendous increase, not alone in the wealth of the agricultural sections, but In the additional credit that such wealth provides, and which in turn must neces- sarily be reflected in the increased pur chasing power of luxuses and the moro staple products of industry.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-09

, They all do it-just fill this out for four. Your paper for car No. 1 was put through all right"
 And your company pays you to do that l believe, doesn't it?'
 3Certainly--mere matter of courtesy, tnis-all agents recognize it." said the man. more politely as I got warmer
 Well, I'm going to break the record. my man. You get no such graft out of me. Moreover l shall write to headquar- ters at Philadelphia and find out whether this way of holding up advance agents of shows is a part of the great PennsylvanIa system"
 Meantime I had obtained my travelling bag and now walked out, leaving conster- nation behind me. In a minute the chief baggage man ran after me and, making the most profuse apologies declared that he meant no harm, merely anuding to a. custom which he supposed all advance agents for shows understood and ap- proved
 well, accepted his apology so far as to let the matter drop, but I'll wager that ne was more diplomatic In his next hold up or a Pennsylvania railroad customer.
 A more delicate feature of deadhead- Ism to handle in the metropolis is that embracing the special correspondents. While trying to extend proper courtesy to bona fae newspaper men. whose attend- ance is not only desired but courted by the show the snowman is made the prey of all sorts of grafters and deadheads.
 MT, Blank is the representative of the daily Cor weekly) Bellows and any cour- tesies extended to him will be appreci- ated," etc:
 Now as this "credential" must be re- turned to the applicant, the latter Is sure of reply. One time forgot to send this thing back, in the pressure of business.
 At the close of the week I received an other request for four seats from the same fellow, who claimed to represent IL daily paper printed in Easton, Pa Tn his note be inclosed a duplicate of the "cre- dential' sent in the week before
 Immediately telegraphed the paper and got reply by mail saying that the man mad been compositor on the paper and had himself printed the tards. I never
 
 respondent" few days later the pro- prietors of the show handed me a letter from him complaining of my treatment. and asking why the show kept such a man in its employ Then I did write to him-and the incident was closed.
 The regular, legitimate out of town cor respondents of New York are a fine body Of representative newspaper men They have organized a club, to which only those in good standing can belong, and they guard as much as possible against the tricks of deadbeats and impostors.
 From this mere mention of some of tho many absurdlities and abuses of the free ticket system, it will be apparent to any sane mind that the whole system is wrong. Nobody knows 1t better than the press agent. Once in awhile a man has had the bodness to challenge this sys- tenn, but in such cases the man inyari- ably lost his job.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-09
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Exposition Features.

C. B. Ryan of Norfolk. general pas- senger agent of the Seaboard, who spent Saturday night and yesterday in Birmlng- ham, spoke enthusiastically of the James, town exposition. He is. by the way, a recognized authority on the colonial h1s- tory of Virginia, his brochures on Will liamsburg and Jamestown in years past having attracted wide attentionA
 The most unique feature Of the James, town exposition" said Mr. Ryan yester- day. lis it's location on Hampton Roads, which not only gives to 1t great beauty of prospect but also lends opportunity for water sports and decora tive 'embellish- ment. Notably among the attractions is the government pier just turned over to the exposition by the government con tractors. It is the centerpece of the grounds, jutting out from Raleigh Square in front of the Auditorium and Admin istration buildings.
 "The pier is of concrete walls, flied in with sand. Two arms of the pier, each 150 feet in width, and about 120O in length, are connected by concrete arch 56 feet wide and 6 feet thick. The arms are beau- titully laid out in flower beds and the whole Is a mass of electric lights in the evenings. The columns at the end of the pier are illuminated by about 10000 lambs. No other exposition has ever been as brilliantly illuminated as this.
 "The people are responding quickly to the call of the completed exposition. Every week shows a great and steady ln- crease and this month should prove es- pecially attractive, not only because the exposition is so well worth going to see, but also because the yacht races during the remainder of September will be nearly equal in quality to the great international races. There will be a King Edward cup to race for. well as a Llpton cup and Roosevelt cup. The weather in Nor folk Is ideal and the accommodations are not only excellent and plentiful, but reasonable and cheap. Every feature of the exposition Is worth going to see"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-09
SOUTH AND THE ROADS?

From the Washington Post
 Tho Georgia Central railroad has pre- pared to expend S2,00O,0OO extending it's lines for the convenience and advantage of certain communities down there now without facilities of railroad transporta- ton, but 1t appears that the men who own and operate the Central have come to suspect that the chief use Georgia has for railroad is to give 1t to Hoke Smith and Tom Watson to play with, and so the Central has reconsidered and aban- doned the project of extending it's line, on the assumption. perhaps, that Messrs. Smith and Watson already have in their playhouse as much of the Georgia Gen. tral as the owners of that property can afford to furnish them.
 Some time ago the Louisville and Nash vile railroad started into North Caro- lima, and had advanced thirteen miles. I. seems that there are some gentlemen in that state who have tastes similar to Mr. Smiths and MT. Watson's, and to paefy them the legislature gave them the roads of the Old North State, whereupon the Louisville and Nashville not only refused to advance farther. but incontinently fled the state. abandoning the thirteen miles 1t had constructed and was operating The grass now has undisturbed possession of the track.
 Touching this railroad mess down south, The Post makes no pretension to mastery of the subject. All we know is that the south is in sore need of addi- tional lines, and the wide extension of present lines. Indeed, if the railroad mile age of Georgia, or any other southern state, were doubled, 1t would not have half the railroad facilities and advantages Indiana now possesses. It is a work of ordinary prudence to catch your hare before you cook it, and if 1t had less smack of unpatriotic heresy, we would insinuate that it would be advisable Co get your railroad before you regulate 1t.
 And that brings this problem: Where is the capitalist who is going to spend his money building railroad for politicians, some of them knaves, many of them fcols. 10 toss in blanket?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-09
GREAT CONFEDERATE ADMIRAL
From the Washington Herald.

From the Washington Herald.
 It was thirty years ago this month that Admiral Raphael Semmes died at Mobile. Ala, after one of the most adventurous and brilliant of careers. He was a native of Maryland born in Charles county, Sep tember 27 1909. He received his warrant as midshipman in the United States navy when he was seventeen, though even then his affection was about equally divided between the navy and the law. He was always an authority on admiralty and international law, and had he stuck to that profession those who knew him be- lieved that he would have attained front rank amid the great lawyers and jurists At the outbreak of the Mexican war he was promoted fiag-lieutenant of the Gulf squadron, and at the siege of Vera Cruz commanded one of the batteries. Early in 1861 he threw in his lot with the Con federate navy and it was he who fitted out the Sumter, the Confederacy's first war vessel. In 1862 he went to England. and shortly, with the rank of captain, assumed command of the famous Ala bama. With this fast ship, wonderfully handled, he captured over sixty United States merchantmen. It was in June, 1864, that he fought his famous duel with the Kearsarge off Cherbourg, which resulted in the sinking of the Ala bama? For this fight he won his promotion to the grade of rear-admiral. After the war he took up the law again. and was elected to a judgeshp, which, by order of President Johnson, he was not permitted to assume. He then went into the newspaper busi ness and devoted himself to authorship, his most noteworthy book, which is still a standard. being The Cruise of the Ala bama and the Sumter.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-09
SELECTED HIS OWN CRAVE.
Dead Shot Bill Found Marshal Was
 Not to Be BIuffed.

From the Denver Field and Farm.
 When Dead Shot Bill rode into Hays City one day in the early seventies with his hat pulled down over his eyes and a hard look around his mouth, those who knew him said that he had come for blood He had not, however He had come to have an understanding with Dave Mills, who had lately been appointed city mar shal. Bill sat on his horse in front of the Star saloon until Dave came along, and when they had saluted each other and shaken hands he said: Dave, what about this city marshal business?" I'm goin' to keep order" was the reply. No more shootin' up the town?' No more, Bifl" You'll stop it?' T will"
 Say, Dave, you can't do it. You are a good man, but you jess can't do it. I'm comin' in tomorrow to capture the town Don't try it on Bill" But I shall, Dave "Hev you got a few minits to spare2" asked Dave. as he gave hitch to his guns. A hull hour. Whats want ed2' Come over to the graveyard, Bill, and select your last restin' place. It's fillin up purty fast. but thar ar a few choice spots left" They went over the creek to Boot Hill, the three-acre spot set aside for the dead and as Bill got off his horse Dave waved his hand and said: Take your pick and I'll put a Chinyman at work dggin the grave.'
 Bill walked over the ground and finally selected a supny spot on the south side of knoll and said it would do. The city marshal called to Chinaman who was passing and ordered him to get a shovel and dis a hole, and then he turned to Bill with: Wall, at what time tomorrer kin l expect you?" About noon, Dave ]" Sure to come?" Dead sure. I never dis appoint an audience, you know" "I'll be ready Goodby, Bill.' "So long, Dave" At Il :55 o'clock next day Dead Shot Bill came into Hays City with a whoop and a yell, his broncho on a dead run and a gun in either hand. At 12:05 he was lying dead in front of the Wild West saloon, and at 1245 the inquest had been concluded and he was occupying the grave he had selected. The city marshal had downed him and the verdict of the Jury was: We are kinder sorry for the de- ceased. but 1t was all right and accord ing to Hoyle."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-09
WHEN COLDNESS WRAPS THIS
 SUFFERING CLAY.

By Lord Byron.
 When coldness wraps this suffering clay, An! whither strays the immortal mind? It cannot die, it cannot stay.
 But leaves it's darkened dusr behind. Then, unembodied doth 1t trace
 By steps each planets heavenly wayf Or fill at once the realms of space,
 A thing of eyes, that all survey? Eternal, boundless. undecayed,
 A thought unseen, but seeing all All, all in earth, or skies displayed,
 Shall it survey, shall it recall Each fainter trace that memory holds
 So darbly of departed years, In one broad glance the soul beholds,
 And all. that was, at once appears. Before Creation peopled earth
 It's eve shall roll through chaos back; And where the furthest heaven hath birth The spirit trace its rising track. And where the future mars or makes, Its glance dilate O CT all to be, While sun is quenched or system breaks, Fixed in it's own eternity. Above or Love. Hope. Hate. or Fear,
 IL lives all passonless and pure An age shall fleet like earthly year,
 Its years as moments shall endure. Away, away. without a wing, Der all through all. it's thought shall fly A nameess and eternal thing.
 Forgetting what it was to die.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-09
MANSFlELD'S AGE,
One Who Knew Actor in Boston Est-
 mates It at 57 Years.

To the Editor of the New York Times;
 In the article on "The Career of Mans field" which appeared in your issue of August S1, 1907, the writer, after giving number of interesting facts concerning the actor, expresses the belief that he may have been somewhat older than 50 years at tine time of his death" I think the writer is correct in his supposition in
 1872 l resided in Boston and was person. ally acquainted with Mansfield I re- member visiting him at his room. on Beacon Hill in conjunction with a nut ual acquaintance, who is now A promi- nent architect in New York Mansfield en- tertained us with limitations of the pop- ular actors of the day, and characteriza- tons being exceedingly well done and giving evidence even then of much talent and ability. Mansfield at that time was a clerk in the store of Jordan Marsh S, Co.,. on Washington street. He was popular. all around jolly good fellow, a pleasant companion, and known among his intmates as "Dick" Mansfield. He belonged to the Buskn club, an associa- tion of young men given to private theat- ricals and the promotion of social inter- course. Occasionally they appeared In a public exhibition, and I recall one which took place at Horticultural hall, on Trs- mont street, in which Mansfield took a leading part. I verify the date mentioned by the Liberal Republican convention at Cincinnati and the Hawley-Ferry sena- torial contest at New Haven, both of which took place in 1872, and both of which I attended and wrote up for the Boston Post, with which paper I was then connected.
 If Mansfield was born in 1857 he would have been only 15 in 1872. I know that he was long past 15 at this date. He was at least of full age, and might have been % or 23. I am aware that Who's Who'' and Who's Who in America" give 1857 as the year of Mansfeld's birth. Two or three years ago an article appeared In Munsey's magazine in which the actors age was stated as just past 40" Thus, apparently, there is a halo of uncertainty surrounding Mansfields age, but from what l know and have stated I cannot resist the conclusion that Mansfield was 57 years old, if not more, at the time of his death. JOHN H. BROCKLESBY,
 Hartford September 2, 1907.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-09
Great Musicians.

Within the recent past, two great mu- sicians have passed away-Joachim. the violinist, and Grieg, the conductor and composer" said well known amateur
 "Of the two artists. Grieg was in some respects the greater because he was the more creative; but like the great histrlone Joachim, who was famous chiefly as an interpreter, was constructive in the sense of insight and informing reading of Bach, Beethoven and Brahms. Few men dying in this generation have called forth the encomiums passed upon Joachim, the virtuoso artist The Journals of Germany, France, England and America have print ed columns about his playing and hls musicianship.
 "Grieg ranked very high among modern composers. He was distinctively @ Scan dinavian in his temperament and his mus ical ideals. His music was national redolent always of the hills and valleys. the fiords and crags and the gnomes of Norway and Sweden. His best known work was Peer Gynt,' in which comes the beautiful funeral march-"The Death of Asa'-unique fin being written entirely for strings. It is the only funeral music in which martial instruments are absent.
 Another great work composed by Griog was a cantata in opera form, Olaf Trig- vason,' for chorus, soloists and orchestra, performed at a May festival in this city under the direction of Benjamin Gucken- berger. Mrs. E. G. Chandler was solo soprano on that occasion, and achieved i,, ha, ;n+a ,f the star part.
 "Grieg composed chamber music that will live, and one of his sonatos for piano and violin has been heard frequently m Birmingham"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-09

selves, but they cannot do it under the circumstances to be found here. It is not clubs nor societies nor associations they seek, it Is to be alone in room; if only a garret or cellar where they will be free from Interruptions. And l dare say, there are many young girls in this city who have the same cause of complaint. Many of them could save money by doing their own millinery and dressmaking if they had apartments to themselves.
 Philanthropy that assists those strug- more to be commended than that which raises the fallen who have been allowed to fall for want of the little support that would have saved them"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-09

future of admission as states. They may have to stay outside until the republican in turned out of power an event that may take place in March, 1909.
 The secret of the opposition to the admission of the two territories as states is plain and simple-they are democratic, and they would put four democrats in the United States Sen ate and they would cast six or more democratic electoral votes. This IS why they must stay out Only repub- lican territories need apply at present