davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Truth. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1901-1908, 1907-06-29
THE REAL QUESTION.

The increase in suicide is one of the
alarming facts of the time. Reaction
from the intense life which men are
living, the disappointment which Of
ten follows the mad rush for wealth,
and the lessening, in many lives, of
the restraints of religious faith, are
given as some of the more prominent
causes.
To meet men who are discouraged
and comfort them, the Salvation
Army has established bureaus in sew
eral cities, which report a measure
of success. Such success as they
have had teaches this lesson: that
many men and women to whom, in
hours of depression, life seems not
worth living, are not in conditions Of
permanent hopelessness, but may be
saved to happier lives than, in their
Encouragement, seems possible.
ter disappointment, and to whom the
heavens seemed black and the earth
barren, went, in his despair, to
friend. The friend was sure that,
deep and real as was the sorrow, there
was much left in life for the young
man; and he talked with him so kind
ly, so hopefully, Sc -rnly, that the
young man rose in shame and graft
tude, and took up his work again
To be or not to be, that is the
question moodily quoted the young
man.
mo, that is not he question at
ALL, was the stern reply
Truth. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1901-1908, 1907-06-29
What do you mean?"

What do you mean?"
Precisely this: that the question
whether we are to be or not is a
question we were not asked at the
beginning, and have no right to raise.
We cannot discuss it with knowledge
either of the joys that remain or the
duties that are impending, nor yet the
future shame that awaits us in some
after life for the cowardly Sinking
of the burdens of this one
To be or not to be- is the ques-
ton of the stage, propounded by
half-crazed character in plot, the
meaning of which is still a question
debated by critics. The question for
the real man, on the stage of life is,
Being, how shall | make the most
of life" For we are, whether we like
it or not; and we have no right but
to be, and to be the most and best
we can"
81 hadn't thought of it in just that
way" replied the young man.
Life is a discipline" his friend
went on. 1T is not given us for our
own pleasure alone, nor can any man
live it or end it and affect himself
alone. Life is the gift of God; and no
man liveth unto himself, and no man
dieth unto himself.
Life is before you, long years of
it, | hope. Duties are before you.
which God has kept in waiting long
for the time when men could live as
strong and capable lives as men may
live today. Earth is before you, with
needs and hopes and sorrows, sor-
rows deeper than your own, and need
ing your strength and comfort.
Truth. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1901-1908, 1907-06-29

Whether you shall be or not is
Gods question, and for the present
you know His answer. Your ques-
ton is what you shall be, and how"
Youths Companion.
Truth. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1901-1908, 1907-06-29

ITS N
rHss AGoRE T1o nnERATvE
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-03-17
The very Ice of chastity is in them.
 As You Like 1t.
What Bad Roads Cost

From 1894 correspondents the de- partment of agriculture has ascer- tained a number of facts of interest to southern farmers. For example, it has ascertained that in Al counties in Ala bama the average weight of cotton on a farmers wagon going to market Is 1443 pounds, or three bales; that the actual cost of carrying that load to market is S2.77, or nineteen cents a hundred pounds, or nearly dollar a bnle.
 Statistics showing the expense of hauling cotton were gathered from 555 counties. out of 800 in the cotton belt. The average cost of hauling was as- certained to be $276 load, or sixteen cents hundred pounds.
 The cost of hauling cotton from the farms to shipping points could be re- duced one-half by improving the roads. Better roads would enable the farmer to carry six bales to market, whereas he now carries but three, and this would reduce the average cost of haul ing to eight cents hundred pounds, or forty cents a bale. This alone would be a saving in the cotton belt of $4,- 100000. Tennessee has the best roads in the south, and the roads in the Car olinas are pretty good, but not much praise can justly be awarded to the roads of this state or of those in Mis- eissippi or Arkansas.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-03-17
That Chicaqo Sub-Treasury Theft

The loss of $173,000 from the Chi cago sub-treasury turns out to be the largest theft ever perpetrated on the United States treasury. Dishonest employees have from time to time stolen from Uncle Sam various sums, but not one of them equaled in amount the big mysterious haul in Chicago.
 Chief Wilkie of the governments detective bureau admits that no clue whatever has been unearthed In rela- tion to the sub treasury loss. Nothing at all Is known about it except that $173,000, probably in large bills, has disappeared. In this respect the theft in Chicago stands almost beyond pre- cedent. The bills disappeared as if they had taken to themselves wings, and had flown out of the cage one by one to some mysterious retreat. None of the bills have appeared In public SlHCe, dHu Ino lily DULY oi 'iC ch'ii affair deepens as time elapses with no resultant developments.
 Unless something unexpectedly oc- CUTS the footing In Chicago promises to become the most remarkable In the history of crime. A big sum of money has disappeared and the story of its disappearance baffles all Investigators and all detectives and all efforts of a big government to trace the big sum that disappeared from a cage in the sub-treasury In plain daylight, in the presence of twenty or thirty officials and clerks.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-03-17
Will He Run '

"The logical candidate" is phrase which has been in vogue only during the last few years, and it may mean any one of several different things. Practically, however, as used by poll ticians generally, 1t has quite dis tinct meaning, that is to say, the can didate who stands the best chance of being elected.
 In the days when nominating con yentions were unknown, and when presidential candidates were nomi- mated by a caucus of congressman, the name of Andrew Jackson was brought up for discussion. when one member asked: "Has he the capacity" John Randolph replied sententiously: "He has just the very sort of capacity we want-the capacity to be elected" He was evidently "the logical candidate"
 Many republicans seem now dis posed to think that MT. Roosevelt Is the logical candidate for 1908, not withstanding the powerful prejudice against what is called "a third term" |" Such politicians reason that Mr. Roosevelt has only once been elected to the presidency, and that the third term" objection does not apply to his ease. others hold that as MT. Roose- welt is positively pledged against run ming again, 1t would be decidedly un- seemly for him to become a candidate In 1908.
 If We look into the history of our presidential campaigns we shall find that when a politician says that he does not want the presidency; or that he will not be candidate for 1t, we must learn to interpret such utter ances in "the Pickwickian sense"
 When Jefferson was candidate in 1796, he wrote to a friend that he hoped he would not be elected as he did not want the office. He was after. wards candidate in two strenuous campaigns, and he served two terms in the White House.
 When Andrew Jackson's name was first brought forward for the office, he wrote to his friend: "Drop it; am not fit for the presidency" But he made three of the hottest races in our political history. was elected twice, and served eight years of turmoil and turbulence, such as no President ex- cept Lincoln has ever encountered Zachary Taylor, it seems, did not con sider himself fit for the presidency; but he accepted the nomination, made the race and was elected.
 When MT. Lincoln's name was first suggested as proper candidate, he wrote to his friend: Drop it; I am not fit for the presidency" He after wards worked for the nomination; out generated Seward, and got it, and was twice elected President.
 Nr. Cleveland is distinctly on recokd
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-03-17
Question of Brains.

Said an old citizens: T can furnish you with reasons. but I cannot furnish you with brains. remarked Dr. Samuel Johnson to an opague man who piled him with foolish questions and objections. Among the smaller fry Of northern poll- ticians and editors there are still few cranks and crooks who are disposed to question almost everything that southern people say or do in the matter of the negro problem.
 T recall an anecdote of Alexander Pope. It is well known that he was hunoh- back; that he was testy in temper, and that, as the translator of Homer, h1 was over proud of his Greek. On one occasion he and some other literary men were examining a Greek manuscript at a London coffee house. They came to a sentence which none of them could con- strue. A young army officer, stranger to them all. asked to see the manuscript
 Pope was at once offended at the young mans presumption. and said, In his most sarcastic tone. oh yes! Let the young gentleman see the manuscript The youth made no reply to this out burst; but after few minutes he pointed out the fact that the difficult sentence became perfectly plain upon the insertion of an interrogation point at certain place. Pope could say nothing against this; but, angry and jealous at his defeat, he asked: And pray. sir, what is an in terrogatlon point? The youth, looking down upon the diminitive huch-back. re- piled: An Interrogation point, sir, Is little crooked thing that asks questions
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-03-17
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
LauderdaIe,a School Plan.

'The county board of education of Lau- derdale has taken the initiative in the manner of expending the s1ooo appro- priated to each county in the state for school purposes in a way that might be followed to advantage by other county boards" said a gentleman from Florence yesterday.
 The Lauderdale board has divided the 5000 into five parts of s2OO each. which sums will be appropriated to five school districts raising equal amounts for the erection of new buildings
 This will be continued from year to year until every school district In the county Is provided with a good building.
 ''The plan will result in securing more individual interest In the schools and will insure more lasting benefit than were the money appropriated absolutely free and school buildings erected without cost to the patrons. The feeling of personal ownership that Is inspired by individual labor or sacrifice is of great consideration and will result in much good"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-03-17
Pryor In Birmingham.

W L. Pryor. special field agent of the bureau of statistics. United States de- partment of agriculture, is In Birming- ham. MT. Pryor Is in this section to in quire Into the mortality and condition of livestock, with the purpose of finding out how farm animals stood the winter sea- son. The department will issue a report early in April.
 MT. Pryor travels in and throughout the states Of Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee, visiting all sections of the three states at least once each month In addition to livestock, he reports this month on the condition of winter wheat and rye. very little of which compara- lively Is raised in Mississippi and Ala bama.
 MT. Pryor has been employed by the department of agriculture for little more than one year. He is native of Mississippi and the chief reason for his appointment was the fact that he had a thorough knowledge of cotton. He grew up on a cotton plantation and later be- came a cotton planter himself. During the cotton season he devotes the larger part of his time to investigations of tho con- dition and acreage of this great southern staple. He is one of the four field agents travelling in the south for the bureau of statistics.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-03-17
Labor Situation Improving.

'Drhe labor situation In the Birming- ham district Is undoubtedly improving, said a member of the Commercial club T read in The Age-Herald the other day a statement made by MT. H. b. McCor- mack, general manager of the Pratt Con- solidated Coal company, to the effect that he had no difficulty whatever In the matter of labor. As tho Pratt Consoli- dated Is the largest commercial coa company in the south, the fact that Its labor supply Is adequate is significant and encouraging.
 An official of the Tennessee-Repu remarked recently that his concern had all the men at work that 1t needed. and that means many thousands. If the Ten nessee company, with it's extensive mines furnaces, steel plant, rolling mills, and the Pratt Consolidated are not short of men, it is reasonable to suppose that other concerns have the same exper- ience A few months ago labor short age was as serious hindrance to the district as car shortage
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-03-17
PATRIcK's DAY DREAMING.

By tho Rev. James P. Coyle. Back to the dear old land today
 My thoughts with longing flee; Back 'mong the hills I roamed in play, Light-hearted, happy, free. God bless that dear old land. l pray. The land I ne'er may see. O God, be with the dancing streamA That flash meath Irish sky! And with the woods where sunlight
 gleams.
 And shadows darkling lie; And with my hopeful boyhood dreams Of days long since gone by. How oft when wandering by the sea, Or through wild woodland ways, I dreamed the dear old land was free, Oft rang the old lands lays Of war, of love, An! dear to me
 These dreams of bygone days, Today a glance I backward cast
 And dream old dreams anew. Today is present all my past,
 My boyhood past Not few The years since then. o may at last One olden dream come true o may one dream, I suppliant pray. I cry, dear Lord, to Thee, Full soon come true. May Frssdoms ray Flash bright from sea to sea, o hasten, Lord, the coming lay
 When Ireland shall bs freq
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-03-17
Bridgeport FIourlshlne.

T visited Chattanooga and Bridgeport recently, and was impressed with the bus mess prosperity prevailing in the section of country referred to-" said Leo K. Steiner. the banker. Chattanooga Is growing steadily and business there Is on 8 most satisfactory basis.
 Bridgeport where several prominent Birmingham men have substantial inter- ests, Is in Jackson county. It was one of the boom towns and like all such com munities got badly worsted. But today Bridgeport has a population of 5000 and Is one of the most fiourishing towns In Ala bama. Some of It's new mercantile build ings. one of them in particular, would do high credit to Birmingham. Bridgeport is growing fast and will some day catch up tith It's namesake, Bridgeport, Conn. Many important industries are in opera ton and all of them are said to be profit able"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-03-17
Our Railroads

Instead of the four volunteer rail- road presidents Governor Deneen and Attorney General Stead of Illinois were at the White House yesterday. The Illinois men came by special invitation, and the belief prevails that steps are under consideration relating to the stock juggling of Harrimanism in the Alton railroad.
 At this time a good deal of honest acting and honest thinking are needed if the railroads and the people are again to get on good terms. The rail roads should unload without delay their Harrimans, and they should also unload all who advise them to disobey the law. Stock-watering and law breaking on the part of the railroads has turned the people against their own common carriers, and the restora- tion of public confidence will not be possible while the methods of the past are retained.
 The signs are that those methods are to be abandoned-tha frankness and straightforwardness are to prevail where secresy and indirectness have long been resorted to. If so, the peo- pie should at once begin to do a lot of sober thinking about the systems that carry their crops and manufactured goods to market. Those systems sadly
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-03-17
Uniform Maritime Quarantine

The government has paid for and no doubt has taken over the quaran- tine plant in Mobile bay. and the five quarantine stations on the Louisiana coast have also been transferred to the federal authorities. Double quar- antines are thus abolished east of the state of Texas, and what Is still better the service of guarding the gulf coast against the approach of yellow fever, or the plague, or even smallpox, has been lodged in the hands of the Ma rine hospital service-a service that keeps we'll informed as to what dis eases are prevailing in all foreign ports.
 The federal government takes over the Louisiana quarantine stations on April 1, and at that date uniform regu- lations will be put in force aong all the coast between Norfolk and the Texas line. This covers the entire south east. "A few years" says the New Orleans Tlmes-Democrat, Twill con vince all doubters that the states have sacrificed none of their rights or pow CTS in permitting the federal govern ment to protect us from foreign dis oocae os it a1raadv nrotepts uc from foreign foes."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-03-17
22-cARATs OR NO WEDDING.

From the New York Sun.
 A man who was buying a wedding ring unconsciously imparted the information that the bride was on English woman.
 "'rhen this ring will never suit her. said the clerk. Tt is a good ring, but it is IS carat. Nothing less than % carat wedding ring will satisfy an English woman. The IS carat ring is the usual wedding ring in this country, but in Eng land and France, and. indeed, in most European countries, the bride would re- fuse at the very altar a man who offer ed to marry her with any other than a 22 carat ring"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-03-17

as saying that he would not be a can didate a second time; and he was a candidate not only for second, but for a third time.
 When the presidential bee' gets into a politicians bonnet" it ire uuently stings so that the head swells out of all proportion. MT. Roosevelt was pretty big at the start, and he has been manifestly growing bv what he has fed upon, so that it is hardly won- derful to find some of his admirers ex- claiming that "he doth bestride the narrow world like a colossus"
 In the republican party there Is no dearth of men more or less notable for ability of one sort or another; but, after MT. Roosevelt. there is no man who rises conspicuously above his compeers In politics; and so, unless MT. Roosevelt is uncommonly stable in nlS detefmlnallOn not lo run a5dih one would find it quite possible to be. lieve that he may be the republican candidate in 1908. If at any rate his packers can make him believe that he is the only "logical' candidate, that is that his candidacy Is necessary in or. der to save his party from defeat, 1t would be hard for him to decline.
 The notion that the democrats may take him up as their candidate Is too wild for serious consideration. The history of the Greeley campaign ought to be enough to banish that fancy from the mind of any sober democrat.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-03-17
APATHY OF THE CHORUS GIRL.

The ambitions of a chorus girl, as rule, die young, and as many refuse lines as accept them. There was girl one of four sisters, who at the time were all In the chorus of various musical organizations, and I imagine still are. One night last season. at the Grand Opera house in New York, the soubrette or the company was too i'll to appear ana her understudy was also absent. In his pre- dicament the stage-manner appealed to this particular chorus girl to go on and read the lines as well as she could. The girl said she would not only read the lines but could sing tho songs as well. All of which she did, and did with con- fidence and ability, and for the first time in her life had a spotlight follow her about the stage and heard waves of ap- plause rush over the footlights, which were intended for her and her only. After it was all over she said quite casually to the admiring throng that surrounded her. 'fTheres nothing in 1t, girls. I've been a chorus girl eight years, but I'm too old to be a principal. hope it'll never happen again"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-03-17
Coal Land Values.

Land values throughout the country have risen in price during the past five years, and coal and ore lands have reached high levels" said f1nancier. Prices paid for coal and ore property re- gently would have been considered fancy a few years ago, but they are conserva- tive compared with what they will be a little later on. Recent trades indicate the steady upward tendency but five years hence the prices of today will be re- garded az absurdly low.
 "The coal mining development in Ala bama is just in It's infancy. The develop ment now in progress in this district means an increased production of sev- eral million tons a year. And the best of 1t is the market demand Is keeping ahead of the prospective supply. The coal de- velopment within the next three or four years will be simply enormous
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-03-17
SHAMPOO IN SAN FRANCISCO,

From the San Francisco Chronicle.
 'What, Sl 50 for shampoo?" quer1ed Scott Calhoun in the barber shop of the Hotel St. Francis. Calhoun Is the cor poration counsel of the city Of Seatue' where they are to have big fair in 1903. They sent him to California as com missloner-general to secure state ap- propriation, and he lobbied through Dill setting aside sloo,ooo for a California building.
 DO you think that's high?" queried the barber, innocenuy.
 'Oh. my, mo-" replied Calhoun shak- ing his head sadly. But I'm sorry l didn't get 1t when I first arrived. I've just sent in my itemized expense account. With your shampoo as oasis l could have charged two bits for a car ride 10 cents for a postage stamp and 50 cents for a shine. Think of the money I've lostn'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-03-17
The Mcdowell Fund.

Mcdowell the distinguished American composer, who is broken in health and is nearing his end, is, like many an- other artist, in need of pecuniary assist ance,' said a local musician. Music teachers and music lovers throughout the country are responding promptly to an appeal for contributions to the Mcdowell fund; but In Birmingham little has been done thus far to this worthy cause.
 MT Damn Petersen, Birmingham's of ficial correspondent of the fund, recently called meeting of music teachers and all who are supposed to be interested In music, but no one but he who signed the call was present. It is hard to believe that Mcdowell is unappreciated in local musical circles. At any rate, MT. Damn Petersen says he is naturally much dis couraged regarding the enterprise in question. McDowelrs case is sngularly pitiable and should touch the heart of every person of culture"