davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18
slonatures Hard to Read.

.J have often heard railroad men say that the higher a man gets in the rall- road world the harder his signature IS to read" said business man last night "and an investigation of that statement has proven it's truth.
 "I have studied the signatures of many railroad presidents and vice presidents traffic and transportation officials and the higher they are the harder tneir sls- natures are to read.
 But for a collection of signatures that are difficult to read the signatures or the bankers who are attending the state convention here are the worst Nearly every one of the delegates should be railroad president, based of course on my observation of railroad signatures. never mad such time reading signatures in my life as I had trying to get list of the delegates to the convention from their signatures on the record books. Some of them had to be looked up In the banking dream book or otherwise known as the directory. It would be impossible to forge some of those names They all show the hurried writing of man al- ways pushed for time, the man who is always busy and who signs his name methodically while he talks business to friend or customer"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18
GENTLE ART OF FLYING

ward. A better fate has attended the Wright brothers, the Ohio mechanics. As Mr. Kasson says they are absolutely the first members of the human race who have learned to fly in a machine that is heavier than air
 Aeronautic literature thus far has been chiefly devoted to the miracles that will be accomplished when the thing itself Is a fact-the inevitable breakfast we shall eat in London, the inevitable dinner we shall eat in New York. Short as it is. the record of things done is more appeal- ing because 1t relates to realities, The Wright brothers, sons of an Ohio bishop, became interested as children in the little flying toys invented by the Frenehman Penaud. As young men they studied the theories of Iilenthal. They spent their vacations in 1900 and 1901 in the hills of North Carolina, and there, with only sport in mind, having made wings of wood and canvas, they began to leap and soar, grasshopper fashion, from spot to spot" An encouraging word from Octave Chanute. the Chicago engineer, turned their sport to earnest. The result was that with an SO0-pound machine they made an unprecedented series of aerial voyages, covering ninety-four miles in six flights, with excellent control-on one oc- cason, as Chanute notes, landing safely while at a speed of fifty miles an hour.'
 Americans are uncommonly interested in balloons just now, and as skeptical about living machines as they were about the monitors just before the first of that type met the Merrimac. Yet it is pretty certain that balloons, or any other de- vice lighter than the air, will never do anything more than has already been done. One successful flight by dynamo driven machine heavier than the air means more than thousand balloon as- tensions What has been done once crude ly may be done again well.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18
From the New York Mall.

From the New York Mail.
 f(N or to fly is so humiliating to '0E the interiors of this miracu-
 lous twentieth century" says Herbert N. Kasson in the American Magazine" It may never have occurred to the average man that he was humih- ated because he could not follow the path of the birds, as he follows 'the whales path" of the sagas and delves in tho track of the worm. Yet when he looks at the facts he finds in them some implication of both sloth and impotence.
 We give the birds too much credit for natural advantages, such as light bone structure and an outfit of feathers, and too little credit for the simple will to fly, in which we have all been rather de- ffcient. As MT. Kasson says, We know now that birds are mere mechanisms of flesh and blood-a thousand times heavier than the. air they sour in" We have learned also that Sir Isaac Newton was wrong when he stated that large bird or a large creature of any sort-required relatively more energy to fly than a small one. The condor, for example, has only one-fourth as much wing per pound as the tiny screech owl, yet he scars above the Andes. The dlumming birds body is "a throbbing dynamo of energy" The flying man should not have to work half so hard as the humming bird.
 The way to fly, then, is to fly. So Lilienthal said: Every bird is an aero bat Whoever would master the air must learn to initiate the birds dexterity.- We must fly and fall, and fly and fall, until we can fly without falling P. Langley sought to fly and the government built him machine at cost of s5o,o00, but it was improperly launched, and it promptly plunged to the bottom of the Potomac, while Langley himself died soon after
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18
ALABAMA PRESS

Annlston Hot Blast: The Chinese make a perfume which sells for s drop. And probably they short measure at that.
 Huntsville Mercury: Too much tech nical law in our Amerlcan courts often crowds justice to the wall and too often out of the case.
 West Point and Lanett News: W. E. Corey has secured a second wife at q cost of s5.ooo.OOo Some actresses come as high as they kick.
 Marshall Banner: The courts are go- ing to have hard time devising some way of punishing Standard oil without making the consumer squeal the loudest
 Union Springs Herald: We are told that the temptations of wealth are greater than those of poverty, yet people by their actions are praying: Increase our tempta- tions, Lordl
 Anniston Star: A dispatch from Wash ington says a little black fly has routed the green bug that has done so much damage to Texas crops It is now up to Texas to revise it's color line,
 Talladega Mountain Home: It's a boy! And bis life is already mapped out for him. No matter what he may want to be, bull fighter, baseball pitcher or what not, he's got to be a king, if he lives.
 Alabamian Herald: When court con
  to go out into the byways and hedges to secure a jury. Justice can wait but there are just few months in the year when cotton can be planted.
 Gadsden Journal: The old theory that the earth is two-thirds water and one third land will soon be passed up with other old fogy notions as out of date. If the present state of weather continues it's hard telling how soon we'll all have web feet
 Andalusia News: Judge Jones of the United States court has decided that the Alabama legislature had no right to pass the railroad laws and preliminary in- junction has been granted. The legislature of 1907 was something of a nice fuzzy peach.
 Lafayette Sun: Lieutenant Governor Henry B. Gray suggests law to com pei foreign insurance companies doing business in this state to invest cer- tain per cent of their premiums in the state. It strikes us as being a sound proposition. Every one of the million dollars paid here on policies held by those companies is sent out of the state never to return.
 Oneonta Southern Democrat Congress- man Hobson Is doing more to help the people in his district than Is being done by all the other congressman in Ala bama combined. The experts that he is carrying around with him are telling the people something that will be worth money to them. He is giving them an education that they can get In no other way. Now let our other congressman fol- low tho example of the young hero.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

From the New York Press.
 Jewels is high-toned word for trink- cts.
 The incest thing about a woman is that she isn't a man.
 Finapcier Is an honorable title of a man who would so to jail for doing the same things without it. man reasons it out and in the long run she's wrong only every other time, while he can miss 1t nine times out of ten.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18
lnpsect Local Schools.

Prof I. c. McNeill and Prof N. N., Will Hams of Memphis are in Birmingham. The former Is superintendent of schools and the latter Is principal of the high school of Memphis. They come to inspect Birminghams public school system.
 Professor Williams and are most favorably impressed with Birmingham's s public schools said Professor McNeiil at the Hillman last night. "Dr. Phillips as superintendent and Professor Gun ningham as principal of the High school are the right men for their respective positions. They are doing fine work. After what we have seen here we feel that our visit has been well worth while.
 q was in Birmingham twelve years ago, but had not been here since. I marvel at the improvements. Twelve years ago this city was not especially attractive in appearance. Today it Is great city and one of the most beautiful in the United States"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18
LIFE IN WASHINGTON.

From the Louisville Courier-Journal
 One of the most pleasing features of Washington life in the spring, according to the Washington Post, Is the variety of outdoor sports that can be indulged in by old and young One of them. by the way. is venturing into the White House yard and trying to keep two jumps ahead of Pete" until you can shin up maple tree
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18
Distinguished Preachers.

The two Presbyterian divines who will preach Sunday at the South Highlands church, of which the Rev. Dr. Sterling J. Foster Is pastor, are among the most distinguished in the general assembly. At the Il o'clock service the pulpit will be occupied by the Rev. Dr. E. E. Smith of Louisville, known throughout the south as man of exceptional force and as an author and speaker; and at o'clock Sunday night the preacher will be the Rev. Dr. Harris E. Kirk, pastor of the largest church of his denomination in Bal timore Dr. Kirk is about 35 years of age and is a Birmingham district boy" He has turned out to be one of the most famous preachers of the day He filled Campbell Morgan's pulpit in London last summer and addressed large congrega- tions there.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18
BIRMINGHAM AS HOSTESS.

From the Demopolis Times
 Birmingham is working for the next Confederate reunion, and as she generally gets what she goes after it is pretty well assured that the old vets will come to the Magic City next year and they could not select better place, for Birmingham is not only magic in its phenomenal devel- opment, but also in the excellence of gen. uine and hearty entertainment.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18
THE WORLDS WAY

THE WORLDS WAY, He's down and out, we'll pass him ks And let him meet his fate. Why should we lend "a helping hand To ione who chose a gait That could not bring him anywhere Except to blank despair? Come hurry on with scornfuI eyes And leave him lying there. Some people are curious to know whaa Delmas is doing, Well, whatever else he's doing, he's not making any noise. A correspondent wants to know how hs should treat his wife. Some married wom- en like cocktails, others are partial to highballs and a few take theirs straight. Not knowing the correspondents wife alasl-we can't say what her preference Is.
 IN BRIEF
 For living right
 This little tip:
 Be patient and
 Don't lose your grip. A great quantity of spring verse has been consumed in the editorial stove to knock the chill off these cool mornings. Here's hoping the June bride won't get a frost bite. PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18
IN HOTEL HOBBIES
To Entertain Party.

Capt. Jack W. Johnson. district passen- ger agent of the seaboard Air Line, has received the following from Vice Presi- dent L. sevier:
 'I note the Birmingham papers men ton that the Mayor. Hon. George B.. Ward, and party will leave Birmingham on Saturday morning May 25, via Sea board, en route to christening of the cruiser Birmingham.'
 "on arrival at Norfolk Sunday morn ing, May 26. I would be pleased to have the party as my guests for boat trip through Hampton Roads, reviewing the exposition grounds, Old Point Comfort and other places of interest. Boat will be ready on arrival of train.
 Please acknowledge, advising accept ance of invitation and number of party
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18
NAMES FOR sTEAMBoATs.
From the Dallas News.

Suggestions for names for the three boats to be built for the Missouri river barge line continue to pour in. Faith. Hope and Charity are still the favorites. Among recent entries are these:
 Eat, Drink and Be Merry.
 Shadroch, Meshach and Abednego.
 Good, Bad and Indifferent.
 Animal. Mineral and Vegetable.
 The World. the Flesh and the Devil.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18
PEN IS THERE.

From the Chicago Tribune.
 We trust the people of Joliet are not prejudiced against Chicago on account of the fact that Chicago has contributed great many hard citizens to the perma- nent population down there.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18
NERvY REccY.
From the Chicago News.

From the Chicago News.
 Look here. young man." thundered the old gentleman as he came down the stairway three steps at a leap, didn't tell you if I ever caught you around here again I would play football with you?"
 Yes. sir, think you did.'' replied the calm youth.
 And you have the nerve to call again?"
 "Oh, yes, sir. You see football is now out of season."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18

After a deadlock in the republican caucus of the Wisconsin legislature lasting just one month to a day Isaac Stephenson is nominated to succeed John c. Spooner in the United States Senate.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18

The Iowa Suicide club seems to be a flourishing organization. Eight mem bers have already claimed the priv ilege" of the club, two in the same hour
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18

Washington Herald: A Montana paper is mad because the aligators in Florida are being exterminated. Some people cer- tainly will go long way from home to stir up row.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18

While Birmingham has won the name of convention city, certain classes of her population are still far from be- ing conventional.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18
About Persons.

John A. Topping. chairman of the Ten nessee company and president of the Re- public company, left last night for the north.
 Cyrus Garnsey of Memphis is at the Hillman.
 J. A. Coates, travelling freight agent of the Mallory line, with headquarters in Mobile, was in Birmingham yesterday.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18

The president of the steel trust has not yet lost his job for marrying an actress, but the preacher who married them came near losing his.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18

Attorney General Garber holds that a man who is not an elector in the county in which he resides cannot hold office in that county. While there seems to be no law or constitutional provision covering this point, the courts will take common sense view of the question and rule accordingly.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18

The topers of Independence, Kas felt themselves in an earthly paradise when the streets of that town ran with liquor three hours yesterday.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES

A WELCOME. Come on, summer,
 Can't you see That we're waiting Anxiously For a glimpse of
 Smiling June, When the world is All in tune2 Why, we dream of Sunny days Spent In flower
 Bordered ways, Happiness be-
 Meath the trees, Roses nodding
 In the breeze, Cloud ships sailing Through the sky, And spot where Lovers sigh. Come on, summer, Why delay? Bring on juleps, Hammooks-say, Don't you know it's Time that you Were advancing Into viewf Warm our hearts and Ope the buds, Make us want MIL A Waukee suds. Let us see what Summers like, Fen tho spring
 Went on a strikel Come on. gladsome Peelk-a-boos, Open-work and Low cut shoesi Come on, water Melon time, Kind that Stanton Likes to rhymel Come on, picnics, Lemonade Io for ninety
 In the shadel Come on, summer, Here's our handl Whoop 1t up to
 Beat the bandl
 PEBBLES. Give, but don't give up. Be earnest. but never loud. Laugh always in season. Mind your head lest it swell. Be neighborly, even to the point of lend- ng. Don't sheer at the size of another's aundry.
 WE WONDER, When all our work Is done And all our battles won, We wonder if 0 voice will say, Just step right up and get your pay Finland has some women legislators vho really do Hay down the law"  A contemporary says alienists should
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18
WANTS INFORMATION.

From the Chattanooga Times.
 f'The reactionaries in both parties are fiszling out" observes the Birmingham Age-Herald. Will our Alabama conteni- porary please define a democratic reac- tionary.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18

There is special policeman on the New Haven railroad named Julius Caesar who is not at all chesty about his antecedants.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18


 Louisville Post: The New York Tribune discusses polar problems" at some length. But there are more serious prob lems nearer home. Why go to the pole in search of trouble?
 Providence Journal: It was a semi colon that kept the Boston hotels from selling drinks after Il o'clock; now 1t Is a comma which enables the New Jersey saloonkeepers to sell on Sunday. There seems to be need of lessons in legislative punctuation.
 Knoxville Sentinel: Private" John AL len of Mississippi. answering the question of what Is a democrat?" admits that he is one. although temporarily out of req sons therefor" John is also out of office, which may account for his lack of req sons.
 Washington Post: According to so- ciety item from Atlantic City, MT. and Mrs. Flusher and two daughters have arrived there from Philadelphia. It is understood, however. that these four Flushers are not the only ones to be credited to Philadelphia.
 Kansas City Star; The Pittsburg bank clerks who have required their employers to furnish them rubber gloves for the handling of tainted money" shave fur nished a diagram of way to escape for the religious organizations which have protested against accepting tainted" funds.
 Richmond Times-D Dispatch: The Char lotte Observer of Sunday carries a two- page advertisement of "The only doctor for the liquor habit on earth" conclud- ing with the following suggestive lan- guage; Wire for rooms. We're full" That's very frank, doc; how is it with the patients?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18

Fortunately, actresses do not change their stage names when they marry If they did it would be hard for press agent to keep up with the changes.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18

The earthquake in San Francisco was hardly more pronounced than the political-quake now in action there.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18

Kipling says chance enters into art. The hit or miss kind seems to have figured extensively in his later poems.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18
HE GRowLs.

Now growing Is an ugly thing And don't you ever try it, Unless you are a basso and
 Can make a living by it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18
A Delawaren nHnu ga- worth of ries, probably AAFsnat they would tide him over till watermelon time.

Talladega county may issue bonds to build good roads. Alabama is doing things in spite of the legislature.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18

There is a lively curiosity to locate the stable of Colonel Watterson's dark horse.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18

Houston Post: A Boston parrot smokes cigarettes and talks sissy talk with the girls. We suppose the bird is polly coddle.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18

Chattanooga Star: Secretary Taft is glad he occupied a seat to the left of the dealer in that little Ohio game
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18

It is at least some consolation to re- member that the Barons belong to Elyton and not to Birmingham.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18

The cables will soon be charged with news of Corey and his bride across the water.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18

Even Harry Thaw can cheer up. He is getting more exercise now than for merly.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18

We hear too much of some peoples voices now, without having them pho lographed as a reminder.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18

Youngstown Telegram: Seemingly the Ohio senatorial combine is determined to lose what few followers 1t had.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18

It is going hard with the Abes. Con- slider the respective plights of Abe Ruef and Abe Hummel.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18

If Hartman had a position on a red hot stove he wouldn't need to be told where he stands.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18

It is well that the perambulator is still strong in Brooklyn.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18

De truthful. It would also help some they occasionally knew what they wer. talking about.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18

General Kuroki is beginning to keep his smile on day and night
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18
PRESS POINTS

Boston Globe: Admiral Bob" Evans still has the gout. This speaks well for the mess
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18

An astrologer declares that a beautifu actress is growing up somewhere for thI young spanish prince and she is goinl To cause him a lot of trouble. If there fl only one actress in store, times will bt rather dull for Alfonso Pio when hS reaches his glad years.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18

An editorial writer in a contemporarz discusses for one day cyclones. cremas tion, bread and little politics. No won. der members of the craft sometimes have brainstprmsl
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18

New England opticians are holding q reunion in Boston which is the ver1 heart and center of the eyeglass bust ness
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18

It Is said that Richard Mansfield is suffering from disappointed ambition. Yet, he Invariably creates the impress sion that he thinks very well of hiza. self
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18

There Is no more refreshing brand of optimism than that found in the real estate ads.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18

The southern postmasters seem to be all at sea as to the presidential lineup.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18

West Point and Lanett News: W. E. Corey has secured a second wife at cost of s5.oooOOo. Some actresses come as high as they kick
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18

Wonder what Pittsburg Is going to offer next for the critical inspection of the public?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18

Marshall Banner: The courts are go- ing to have hard time deyising some way of punishing Standard oil without making the consumer squeal the loudest.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18

Huntsyine Mercury: Too much tech nical law in our Amerlcan courts often crowds justice to the wall and too often out of the case.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18

Union Springs Herald: We are told that the temptations of wealth are greater than those of poverty, yet people by their actions are praying: Increase our tempta- tions. Lord!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18

} Annlston Hot Blast: The Chinese make a perfume which sells for s drop. And
 probably they short measure at that.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18

Anniston Star: A dispatch from Wash ington says a little black fly has routed the green bug that has done so much damage to Texas crops. It is now up to Texas to revise it's color line.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-18

Entered at the Birmingham, Ala, postofice as second class matter under act of Congress March 8, 1879.