davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-17
SOME OF FAME's LESSER LIGHTS.

From the New York World.
 Death has recently been busy with the illustrlous in art, literature and science. Within a few weeks 1t has claimed Grieg, Saint Gaudens Mansfield, Sully-Prudhom- me and Perkin, dscoverer of coal-tar colors Yesterday 1t summoned "mer- chant prince" of the old type, D. Willis James, distinguished for his philan- thropies. Only less interesting are the deaths within this period of lesser cele- brties whose lives linked the present with the romantic past.
 Thus in Chester, Pa, died Monroe Gra- ham, Sheridans dispatch bearer. who rode with his chief on the famous ride to Winchester twenty miles away" By the death of Henry L. Johnson, a former member of the New York stock exchange, was recalled the first army balloon re- eonnaissance, made by Johnson at York town while he was on Porter's staff. To college men Johnson was ever memorable as stroke of the first Yale crew that ever beat Harvard War memories were also recalled by the death in Brooklyn of Capt. William Budd, the first naval OllltcI lO COlililldnu d lC6lo CltWs T IOlii Budd to Robert Gould Shaw was a far cry in popular fame.
 Two deaths which bring near the New York of other days are those of Octavus B. Libbery, proprietor of the Brevoort house at the time when 1t was the hospitable haven of visiting English mo- blemen, and Mrs. Elizabeth M. Libbey, widow of A. T. Stewards only part ner.
 There died also at Trenton the original Yankee drummer in Europe" Henry J. Martindell, who in 1866 introduced Amer lean wares into England, France. Hol- land, Germany and Russia. Phillip Fig yelmessy the Hungarian patriot who was l<ossuths adjutant and who fought un- der Garibaldi, later serving as colonel in the United States army, died in Phila- delphia. The late Earl of Dunmore was captain in the Confederate army and commander of a naval vessel.
 Many memories are awakened by the death in Jersey City of Mrs. Agnes Lake, circus queen" famous to a former generation as Mazeppa and regarded as the best slack-wire performer known to the sawdust ring. As the first woman owner of circus and as friend of 'Wild Bill'' Hickock, famous for the six teen notches in his gun and discoverer of William F. Cody, her life had many features of romance Other circus recol- lections are revived by the death in Co., lumbus, O., of Louis Sells, last of the four Sells brothers.
 These were lesser luminaries in fame galaxy. But they aroused a familiar per sonal interest perhaps not felt for others of greater name.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-17
O CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN.

By Walt Whitman. o Captain my Captainl our fearful trip is done. The ship has weathered every rack, the prize we sought is won The port Is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting, While follow eyes the steady keel the vessel grim and daring; But O heart, heart! heartl O the bleeding drops of red,
 Where on the deck my Captain lies.
 Fallen cold and dead. O Captain, my Captain! rise up and hear the bells; Rise up-for you the flag is hung-for you the bugle trills. For you bouquets alid fibboned wreaths- for you the shores acrowding, For you they call. the swaylng mass, their eager faces turning; Here Captanl dear fatherl This arm beneath your head.
 It Is some dream that on the deck
 You've fallen cold and dead. My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still, My father does not feel my arm, he nds no pulse nor will. The ship is anchored safe and sound. it's voyage closed and done, From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won; Exult O shores, and ring o bells But I. with mournful tread,
 Walk the deck my Captain lies,
 Fallen cold and dead.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-17
TRAITS OF JUDGE LANDS

which he is always renlling from pitch- CT which is always being replenished hy an attendant In the second place, he takes his little black corded eyeglasses of his nose. waves them in his hand. turns his head to one side, looks at the court room out of the corner of his eye, leans over his desk and begins to ask ques- lions. The traditions of the federal bench are afr from suffering diminution in tho person of Judge Landis. Physically, he would afford a poor mark for squirrel hunter. but officially 1t Is impossible 10 aim at Northern Illinois and miss him.
 Judge Landis democratic temperament is particularly in evidence when he is hearing criminal cases. He Is exception al among federal judges In that he ap- plies to petty criminals the same method of procedule that is applied to juvenila delinquents by Judge Lindsey of Dem yer, and of Judge Mack of Chicago
 T am sending you to the penitentiary, says Judge Lands to postoffice clerk who has opened letters and stolen their contents You have betrayed your trust. You have stolen a hundred dollars. You were getting $S0 a month. You have wife and four children. You ought to have re- membered them. But when you get out of the penitentiary, you come to me, I will get you a job. I will help you to start again."
 And Judge Landis does get him a job and does help him to start again. Among his most valued possessions are the let ters he receives from men who have slipped and fallen, but who are climbing back into repu, ability through the as- sistance he has given them. He regards a judge not only as man whose duty it is to punish wrongdoers. but also a man whose privilege 1t is to give wrong doers an opportunity and a possibility of doing right.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-17
0klahoma's Election Today

Today the new Oklahoma constitu- tion will be submitted to the people for ratification. despite all the efforts in the courts and In the White House to the contrary At the same time leg islature and full sets of state and county officers will be chosen.
 The constitution is an up-to-date in- strument, embodying the initiative and referendum the direct primary, pro hibition, the popular election of Sena- tors, railroad regulation and the 2-cent fare. The constitution suits the peo- pie of Oklahoma and the Indian terri tory. It was adopted in the regulation way, and today no doubt it will be rati- fled by an immense majority.
 Will President Roosevelt nullify what the people of Oklahoma desire and have adopted simply because the proposed new state is democratic, and would cast seven democratic electoral votes next year? The power of pro- claiming the two territories a state rests in the hands of the President, and his action will be watched with interest.
 The new census shows that the pop ulaton of Oklahoma proper is 71S,765 and of the Indian territory 6S9,967. Here is a total in the proposed new state of 1,4OS,732. There are twenty states in the union that have less pop ulation, and Nevada, which has been a state over forty years, has but 42,- 335l Oklahoma has been kept out of union an unconscionable length of time because of it's democtatic proclivities, and if President Roosevelt refuses to proclaim it state after today's cleo ton he will hear not only from the people of Oklahoma, but also from all lovers of fair play in the other states.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-17
ON BOARD THE LUSlTANlA.
Machinery Worked to Perfection and
 No SeasIckness.

Robert P. Porter, in New York World.
 Disguise 1t as you may. the real thing being sought after is speed-speed at any cost And this latest achievement will cost no one knows how much in coal. That secret has been carefully guarded so far.
 The extreme speed of the Lusitania so far is 2s.45 knots. She has done that for two runs of fifty miles, one with and one against the current. It was 26.7 with and 26.2 against the current. Her main speed over a course of 1900 odd miles was 25.4, and this she ought to do between New York and Queenstown, or from 600 to 625 knots a day. For these few extra knots the British government loans the Cunard company s1300o,ooo and grants 1t an an- nuaH subsidy of $75O,0O0-and all for two knots an hour.
 The superiority in speed, the compara- tive absence of vibration and the general comfort and convenience of the turbine have been, I think, demonstrated beyond a doubt. The turbine was chosen for the Lusitania and Marretania because, after careful consideration of the problem. 1t was believed 1t was the one engine cap able of exerting the requisite power in the space accorded to the machinery.
 The first night out l noticed passengers Joking with amazement at the smooth running pair of elevators in their beau tiful gilded cage. Sure cure for sea- sickness these, for who associates an ele- vator with a ship? The portholes of the vessel are likewise dlsguised-square, with rounded tops and not round-at least inside. and on the upper decks they are round neither inside nor outside. Thensall the furniture has legs-four good solid legs. There are no one-legged or re- volving screw chairs, whirling around and no long dining tables. There are no
 wall seats, and what is more to the point, not a seat in either of the two first-class dining rooms which cannot be left as expeditiously as a seat in the dining room of the Ritz hotel. There is plenty of room, and, although we had the full complement of passengers the ship did not seem the least crowded
 In serving meals the American system has been adopted with Improvement namely, that you may order a special dinner for yourself and friends tho extra. charge) or you may eat the very good l dinner provided or any part thereof l the part selected being served at once | The staterooms are real bedrooms with 1 their brass bedsteads and cheerful fur- l nture and swinging looking glasses on 1 bureaus for short women, as well as stationary ones for tall men, their elec- l trlc stoves, their dainty drapery and l stationary marble washstands, with hot and cold running water. The ship was new, the staff of stewards was new, and the things were new, yet all went on very promptly and most passengers came very near getting all they wanted, and some of them much more than was en- | tirely good for them.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-17
THE ARMY CANTEEN.

From the Florida Times Union.
 Of special importance to the south at the present time are the reports or tue army officers as to the effects or apohsh- ing the canteen. To deprive the private soldier of this ''temptation" the good women of the country worked without regard to office hours. The attack on this feature of army life was backed by the best intentions, and finally won against all the protests of those whose experience gave them the right to pc heard The canteen was abolished. The officer kept his club, but the private was deprived of a place where he could get his beer and meet his comrades with discipline relaxed, but still ooserVaht' The trial has been made and the annual reports from tho home departments are now being published.
 All these reports agree that the Ao- sence of the canteen within the parracNS has set up ill-regulated saloons just oe- yond the line. to which the men resort contrary to orders and without waiting for leave. The only thing that was plain in the testimony IS to the BrownsVllle tragedy was that the men habitually re- sorted to low saloons without leave and there the worst passions were excited and cultivated. Gambling was common, and there the bad among the soldiers found their nttest time to prejudice the good while the bad whisky fired the brain and heated the passions. Unless we are to discredit all the commanding officers Tn the army the canteen should be restored and the men allowed to drink in modera- ton where discipline can restrain them.
 Why should not the same lesson carry weight everywhere? To keep the saloon under strict police regulation would seein to be both kind and wise; how else gan poisonous drinks be denied and danger ous passions kept under restraint? Why should not philanthropy regard the les sons of experience? What has been the fruit of prohibition in New England?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-17
M, V, Joseph Returns.

M. V. Joseph, wife and daughter, re- turned yesterday from a four months tour of Europe. MT Joseph looks ex- ceedingiy well, and expresses cheer at the outlook in Birmingham. Said he:
 'I am always glad to get back home, no matter where I have been. Our trip was a delightful one and I gained many pounds. Birmingham looks good to me and I am here to meet with the people of thls city. to do my part In public ad- vancement and to build up this, the greatest of all southern cities.
 While abroad I was proud to call Bir- mingham, Ala, my home, and I was agreeably surprised to find that this city and section was well known and much talked about In foreign countries. While In Europe everytime l mentioned my home city, I drew around me crowd of inquiries, and it afforded mo pleasure to tell them about our great achievements and possibilities. I am thoroughly con vinced now that we have the greatest city south of the Potomac and the Ohio, and we will still grow
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-17
Culberson ct Dadeviiie

Alabamians are watching with pride the steady growth in popularity and efficiency of Senator Charles A. Gull person, who lives in Texas, but who was born in Dadeyille. MT. Culberson Is just entering upon his second term. elder statesman. He is not one of the fathers of the Senate, but still he bids fair to become next December the democratic leader ill the Senate in sue cession to Mr. Blackburn, who was not reelected.
 MT. Culberson's rise to leadership in the Senate is based on sterling quail ties-on his skill, tact, self-poise, good sense. and on his admitted strength as a lawyer. He has come to be consid- cred one of the most valuable men in public life, and he promises to be elected chairman of the caucus not only with the approval of Senator Bailey, his colleague, but with the ap- proval of every other democrat in the Senate.
 The successor of Blackburn and Cor man will have no light task this win ter for upon him will fall in no light part the duty of formulating the demo- cratic side of a great national cam paign. The hope is expressed that he will lead the democrats so capably that they may conclude either next year or some other year to make Dadeville's son their standard-bearer in presl- dential campaign.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-17
Glover on Extra Session,

"I have but little to say" Representa- tive Glover, last night, but 1t looks like the governor is going to call an extra ses- sion of the legislature.
 "If he does. my belief is that it will mean nothing but a discussion and az adjustment of tariff rates by the rail roads. We mayhave done those things which we ought not to have done and left undone those things which we should have done at our last session and the governor may want some substitutes and amendments. l am open to conviction, and am ready to meet any proposition in a reasonable way. l do not believe that the liquor question will be involved The legislature fixed that by the local option law at the last session and I cannot discuss 1t now
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-17
Better Schools and schooIhouses

In the rural school districts the op- portunity to secure state aid for the building of better school houses is not going unimproyed. Here and there in all parts of the state better school buildings are going up, and as five new school houses can be put up each year in each county it is plain that the era is passing away in which the poorest "shacll" in community was the school house. State aid to the extent of s2O0 is extended to five districts in each county year, and this aid will soon be felt by the children in all the rural school districts of the state.
 The high-school movement is also very popular and therefore very prom ising. In the course of another year 1t will be possible to build high s, ool in every county, and state aid to the extent of s2000 a year will then be forthcoming. The people fur uish the school site and an adequate bnilding, and the state then pays the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-17

a joke on some of Walkers citizens While Walker is very rich in minerals, said he, ii seems that certain terri tory known as Democrat Ridge in the eastern portion of the county and nea3 Jefferson. does not contain quite so muca coal as the balance of the county. in fact the contention is made by the large coal companies that this ridge is piae- tcally worthless, so far as the coal in working quantities is concerned.
 Tt seems that great many of the large coal companies operating in the territory around Flat Creek, Short Creek, Horse Creek, various other creeks and so on when summoned before the commissioners court at Jasper to show cause why the valuations placed against your property should not be increased. have taken refuge on Democrat Ridge and maintained that while their holdings in Walker county were nominally large, much of the land lay on Democrat Ridge
 Tt so happens, so the story goes, that Mir. Bob Kllgore, a member of the board of revenue of Walker county. owns sey- eral tracts of land on this now cele- brated ridge and knows the area of the ridge pretty well. It seems that he had been keeping a pretty close memorandum of the number of acres claimed on this ridge, and a day or two ago when the general manager of one of the big cor porations, began the famous spell, he was interrupted by Bob who said, Just stop right there. Democrat Ridge has all been taken up; you will have to hunt a new route out of this scrape.
 "It is sufficient to say that this case will likely be settled without any other witnesses"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-17
Qualified Voters.

"I was greatly surprised Ito find today that I am not a qualified voter of Jeffer son county, although I have voted at every election held since the issuance of life certificates in 1sO1,' said citizen who wants to do the right thing.
 "I wanted to be sure that I had paid my poll tax for the past year, so l went to the probate office. Going over the list I found that I was in arrears for the years 1901 and 1904. It was a surprise to me to find that l had missed two years, and If anyone had challenged me at the polls I would have sworn that I had paid my poll tax for every year since 1901.
 q am inclined to think that many oth- CTS in the county who think they are qualified would be surprised by going over the books for the past six years. lnci- dentaly I learned at the probate office that the really qualified voters are not checked up each year. The probate judge simply furnishes the election officers with a list of the men who have paid their poll taxes for the current year. l was told that no provision is made by law for preparing these lists. and it strikes me as a sad discrepancy. The law provides that no man shall vote who has not paid his poll tax for each year since 1901 that he has resided in the county. And yet I have voted in every election since 1891 without paying for that year, and did not know I was violating the law. There is something wrong about system that will permit this.
 Tt will no doubt surprise many cit- zens to learn that an absolutely correct list of the qualified voters of the county has not been prepared since 1901, the first year in which the new poll tax feature took effect"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-17
Col. r. G. Bush at Home.

Col. T. G. Bush is at home and talks interestingly of his trip abroad. He looks well and speaks very hopefully of the future of Birmingham. Said he:
 We had a delightful and restful trip abroad, saw many people and many things, and best of all found many people interested in the Birmingham dis trict which is pretty well known.
 'Our iron and coal proposition is con- sidered an immense idea, and the eyes of the investing world in money and labor is turned this way Our idea should be to manage the proposition in a con servative way. This is no time for rad ical or for indiscreet measures. Let us pull together for actual material de- velopment"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-17
From the Saturday Evening Post.

From the Saturday Evening Post.
 N LMOST any federal court Is im- VN presstve. Federal judges have A long since learned how to hedge themselves about with a dignity more than royal. In almost every federal court there Is an atmosphere of latent, ire sistible power calculated to shake the nerves
 It is curious that it should be so. Judge Landis looks as if he weighed not more than a hundred pounds. It Is due to something transcending the physical that officially he looks as If he might weigh in the neighborhood of ton.
 His personal unofficial stature is about five feet six inches. He Is meager to the point of cancellation. Nobody since Vol taire has been so thin. But the current of vitality that courses through his frame Is marvelously intense. He never sleeps on the bench and nobody ever sleeps In his court room. He snaps and sparkles every moment. He is what is known out side federal court rooms as live wire. And the voltage of the current that runs through him seems to be proportioned in versely to his cross-section. He is a vivid as he Is frail.
 He has on his head mass of black hairs intertwined with an additional mass of hairs that are perfectly white. These two masses, each of them sufficient for anybody elses needs. form an immense shock which is parted on the right side. The larger of the two sections formed by this division falls down In swoop over his forehead and twirls back upward from a line drawn just above his eyes AThe amplitude of his hair has always been characteristic of him, and the grayness of it began a long while since, although even today he is only fl years old.
 He has two distinct habits when he Is hearing case. In the first place, ne drinks water incesantly from a glass
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-17
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Senator Morgan on Railroads.


 ''In looking over a scrap book, 1 find an interview which appeared in The Age Herald with Senator Morgan in October, 19o5," said manufacturer.
 "The interview was given prior to the passage of the Hepburn bill by Con gress After discussing federal control in it's different phases. Senator Morgan concluded the interview as follows, which l think will appeal with force to our people at this time;
 :" Railway rates have an important bearing upon our industrial and commer- cial life. They can help or hurt the peo pie, according as they are equitable or oppressive. The railways also affect vi- tally the prosperity of the state. They are concededy great developers. There is no reason why the differences that may exist between the people and the railways may not be promptly, amica- bly, and satisfactorily composed The essence of all barter and all trade IS compromise-that Is the law that rules the business world Let us keep this in mind; and let us remember also that it is not wise to permit our attention to be diverted from the really important work of building up and developing our state by the constant discussion and virulent agitation of subjects which. though important in themselves, do not overshadow all other questions of public interest.
 " I have abiding faith,' said Senator Morgan, in the strong common sense, the sense of justice and the patriotic purposes of the people of Alabama. They may be trusted. on the one hand, to smite oppression whenever 1t springs up, and on the other hand to spurn the dem agogue whenever he attempts to mislead or to deceive them
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-17
WILL COME TO THIs7

From the Chicago News.
 "John," called the impatient woman at the foot of the stairway, please come on down. I have been waiting two hours for you to dress"
 Keep on waiting, Martha shouted her gleeful husband; you didn't think any thing of making me wait for you to dress ten years ago. I told you then that men would some day wear shirt waists that button at the back and get even. Revenge is sweet"