davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-01-06
10 Be Or Not To Be

This is the question today-to be a
city all would be proud of, or to be one
that misrepresents our actual popula-
ton, our actual prospects, our actual
resources. The choice is up to every
qualified voter today.
If you desire to see Birmingham
take the place that its real population
entities it to, then go to the polls and
vote for consolidation. Vote to unity
municipalities that are contiguous,
homogeneous and knit together by
trolley lines.
No one will stay away from the polls
today who has any civil pride in his
makeup. No one who desires to see
the entire valley kept clean and dis
ease-proof will stay away from the
polls. No one who has an eye to edu
cational advantages, to increased val
ues, or to the upbuilding of both dis
trict and valley will stay away. No
one who desires to overcome last
years panic in a glorious consolidation
movement will stay away.
But some will be apathetic. Rally,
then, the Indifferent. Canvass your
block at any rate, and appeal to every
qualified voter to be true to his city,
valley, district and state, for all Ala
bama would become proud of Greater
Birmingham. 1t is up to you today to
serve all by casting ballot that you
will recall with pleasure to the end
of your days. Do your duty today
early. Seek out your neighbors.
Work early and late for the great prize
that is now within reach, one that will
be lost for at least ten years unless it
be secured at the ballot box today.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-01-06
THE DE REszkEs.
Farming and Horse Raising Take
Their Time Now.

Victor Smith in the New York Press.
Par Mobile Fratrum," Jean and Ed
Guard are Poles. born at .Borono, near
Warsaw, where they now reside, Jean
was trained for the bar, Edouard for the
farm The former was a cheap baritone
singer as we all know, until by acct
dent the true character of his voice was
realized, when he became the most ia
moUs tenor in the world. His amazing
success led Edouard, also a cheap BARI
Tone to take up vocal career, and he
became the most famous basso-profundo
of his time. Between them these broth
ers have made over five million dollars
by singing. Edouard is farming; Jean
breeds race horses.
These brothers, absolutely devoted to
each other, occupied in the very climax
of their careers in this country small
room on the top floor of the old GiIsey
They, were next door to "Old Kirk" of
turf fame. Kirk G9enry G. Crickmore)
is the dean of operagoers. I doubt If he
has missed performance in forty-five
years The opera managers ought to get
together and give "I<irk'' free seat for
the rest of his life and a front seat in
heaven The veteran knew Jean and
Edouard intimately and they were in his
den almost as often as in their own. 1
think they paid the modest sum of s22 a
week for their hotel accommod ations-
while singing for thousands of dollars a
night. Talk about thrift
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-01-06
From Financial Viewpoint.

Henry Clews in his weekly Wall street
letter Of Saturdays date says, among
other things;
Our foreign trade is showing not mere
ly gratifying change. but an encourag
ing tendency The decline in mcclellan
disc values here encourages exports and
discourages imports, with the result Of
leaving larger balance in our favor. A
good deal OF attention Is now being given
to the political outlook and the presiden-
tial campaign. The latter is generally an
element of more or less disturbance This
year, however, there are no important I'M
settling issues at present in sight. Con-
gress never enacts any important legsla-
ton in a presidential year, and the is
sues Of the campaign thus far promise to
be more concerning persons than prin-
ciples There may be some talk about
tariff revision, but the prospect of action
in this direction seems remote when one
considers the strength of the republican
party and the power of the stand pat
ters.
'Advices from Washington indicate that
the plan l have been advancing for Civ
ing elasticity to our currency for some
time may be adopted and become law.
The plan is for Congress to authorize ma
tional banks to INCREASE their ordinary
circulation by an emergency circulation
to the extent of say 20 per cent of their
paid-up capital, the amount to be limited
to- slOO,Oo0.00o, and to be issued upon APP
proved savings bank securities they to
be deposited with the comptroller of the
currency. This special issue of currency
to be taxed to such an extent as to COM
pei the speedy return and cancellation of
such notes when the business needs no
longer exist for the additional currency.
The plan of issuing emergency national
bank reserve money would remove the
necessity of a central national bank,
which is now being agitated to consid-
cradle extent. Such a bank will never be
acceptable to the national banks now ex-
listing, as it would curtail their business
and attenuate and diminutze them"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-01-06
HAD HIS FREcKLEs DUG OUT.

From the Philadelphia Record.
There is little boy out in German
town whose face is literally covered with
freckles, and the small dots worry him
very much. He has frequently been
found ,by his parents scrubbing away at
soap and water, but as yet he has not
succeeded in getting rid of his facial
blenishes. One day last week, however
the lad came near the solution of his
problem, to his own mind. He had
come into the city with his mother, the
latter to do some shopping, and they
were riding down Chestnut street in a
trolley car. The boy was interested in
the usual street sights and was keeping
the carful of passengers amused by his
comments. At Thirteenth street man
with his face terribly marked with small
pox pits boarded the car and took a
seat opposite the youngster and his
mother. Immediately the boy lost inter-
est In the street panorama and gazed
with rapt attention at the smallpox vic
TINS face. Finally, after the car had
Travelled several squares, the youngster
could contain himself no longer and he
burst out with: Mamma, that man had
smallpox-pitted man glared at the boy
and swung off the car at the next cor
ner
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-01-06
PALACE UNDER GROUND

From Tit Bits.
To describe in the briefest manner the
whole history of We1beck Abbey. where
| the Duke of Portland has been entertain
| ing the King and Queen of Spain, would
occupy many columns of Tit Bits. The
abbey dates as far back as the twelfth
century, although the most interesting
period of its history is undoubtedly that
which concerns the doings of the &c
centric Duke of Portland the predecessor
of the present Duke, who, actuated by
a desire to hide himself from the OBJ
servation of the outside world, spent
something like e3,0O000O in the construc-
ton of subterranean passages and apart
ments. For Is years the abbey was in
the hands of builders, and during that
time about 1860 work people of all classes
were constantly employed in carrying
out the Dukes instructions.
The result has. been that the abbey now
beasts of many unique features, the most
remarkable of which, perhaps, are the I'M
derground riding school-in which Mr..
Chamberlain addressed over 10000 people
on tariff reform three years ago, and
which is 400 feet long, 106 feet wide and
so feet highland the great subterranean
picture gallery and ballroom-a noble
apartment 1853 feet long, 60 feet wide and
81 feet in height, Both these huge apart
ments, which have been excavated out
of clay, are connected with the abbey
by a series of tunnels or corridors, and
in case of the ballroom powerful cleo
trio fan circulates the air, which is
heated by coming through a hot water
system, thus maintaining an even tenn
perature. The walls of this unique ball
room are hung with paints by famous ar
lists, for the fifth Duke, in addition to
being a clever architect-the subterranean
buildings were all after his own designs
was a connisseur in the matter of pic
lures, and about 1870 made huge bon
fire of a lot of painting worth thous-
ands of pounds, because he did not deem
them good enough for his collection.
Altogether there are about 10 miles of
tunneling round Welbeck Abbey and no
one can approach the house without ira
versing some of it. The subterranean
passages are constructed upon the most
admirable principles. They are lighted
by natural light wherever possible, are
well ventilated, and decorated with choice
works of art. In order to take away the
monotonous effect of these underground
passages the Duke built, in some cases,
glass corridors running parallel, statues
and pictures being placed in specially con-
structed inches
Large subterranean libraries and a tan
gallop quarter of mile long, entirely
covered in with $1,000 square feet of glass,
are among other features which the fifth
Duke introduced at Welbeck Abbey. The
Duke maintained a stable of 80 hunters,
bred from the best stock, and 1t was in
order that these might be exercised in
damp weather that he caused the gallop
to be built.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-01-06
INCREASE OF SUICIDE.
From the World Today.

From the World Today.
The suicide rate of New York had be-
come, in 1900 3:5 times what it was in
1860; by 1904 this multiplier had risen to
A. Indiana's rate, although generally
lower than any of the others, is increas-
ing more rapidly than any of them. From
1860 to 1900 it had multiplied itself by
3 2-3. In four years more this ratio had
risen to 71-3l In other words, during
each of the first four years of the new
century, Indiana s suicide rate had in
creased by an amount almost equal to
the entire suicide rate for 1860! 1t is to
be remembered, too, that this refers, not
to the number of suicides, which would
naturally increase with increasing popu-
lation, but to the number per thousand
of population.
During these first four years of the CEN
fury, Boston alone among the cities
showed a decrease in suicide rate Yet
from even this oasis in the desert of de-
spair comfort is denied us, for the re-
suit was even then 50 per cent higher
than it had been in 1880.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-01-06
Accomplished Diplomats.

I'm reading about Viscount Aokfs i'm
terview in San Francisco, l was struck
with the statement that the distinguished
Jap spoke it in German" said a trav-
cling man. This leads me to suggest that
our diplomatic representatives would do
we'll to master two or three languages
besides their own, not that linguistic ac
complishment is necessary. for in many
foreign countries English is spoken by
the high official classes, and where it is
not spoken an interpreter can be en-
ployed but as a matter of pride our am
bassadors, secretaries and attaches should
know more than one language. The am
bassadors that come to Washington speak
in several tongues. The Germans con-
verse In French and English fluently,
and most of the orientals of thu diplomatic
corps speak French and German if not
English. In the early days of our re-
public it was not to be expected that our
diplomats converse In a foreign language,
but in this day of great universities and
world culture, 1t is comparatively easy
to acquire a good knowledge of German,
French, Spanish and Italian"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-01-06
Unreasonable Klckers.

81 have talked with several suburban
voters, who say they oppose Greater Bir-
mingham because it would INCREASE their
taxes said a city official "One of these
kickers lives in West End, but he owns
a lot outside of an incorporated town,
although within the Greater Birmingham
territory. From the way be started out
in explaining why he opposed the city
taking in his property l supposed he was
a very large taxpayer. When | asked
about his assessment he admitted that
his lot was taxed only on a valuation of
$500. The increased tax that man would
have to pay was too small to be considz
cred and yet he was making a great
kick l have met number who were in
his Glass;
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-01-06
Hannis Taylor and Senator Knox

Senator Knox has not accepted the
challenge of Hannis Taylor to a public
debate. The object of the public de-
bate is to be the discovery of the per-
son who first suggested federal gov
eminent operating directly on the in
dividual instead of the states. Senator
Knox insists that Benjamin Franklin
originated the idea because in 1854
he presented the albany plan," call
ing for a union of the colonies under a
government having central public
authority as obligatory in its sphere
as the local governments were in their
spheres" The Albany plan" was re-
jected, and Benjamin Franklin pro-
ceeded to write the Articles of Confed-
GRAFTON in 1777, under which the fed
eral government had to depend for
revenue on thirteen obstreperous
states. The failure of the Articles of
Confederation led to a calling of the
convention of 1887, Pelatiah Webster's
pamphlet was published in 1888.
Webster, Franklin and James Will
son all lived in Philadelphia, then a
small city, and no doubt they and
others whom they met gradually
evolved the fundamental idea of the
constitution as we have it. Franklin
may have first publicly suggestedsit in
1854, and Pelatiah Webster may have
publicly amplifed it in his 30-page
pamphlet of 1888.
At any rate, let the proposed discus
sion come on. Hannis Taylor is load
ed, and possibly Senator Knox is also.
Both are students of constitutional
history. Both can bring out a discus
sion that will be interesting and that
may conclusively point out the man or
men to whom we are indebted for the
idea that has given the country endur-
ance against all the strains that have
come upon it.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-01-06
ISOLATION.

BY Matthew Arnold.
Yes in the sea of the enisled
with echoing straits between ~
thrown,
Dotting the shoreless watery wild,
We mortal millions live alone,
The islands feel the enclasping flow,
and then their endless bounds they know.
BUT when the moon their hollows lights,
And they are swept by balms of spring,
And In their glens, on starry nights,
The nightingales divinely sing;
And lovely notes, from shore to shore,
Across the sounds and channels pour
y. then longing like despair
is to their farthest caverns sent;
For surely once, they feel, we were
Parts of a single continenti
NOW round us spreads the watery pa1w-
might our marges meet again!
VINO orderd, that their longing fire
should be, as soon as kindled, cood'dl
VINO renders vain their deep desiref
A God. God their severance ruledf
And babe betwixt their shores to be
The unplumbd, salt, estranginr sea.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-01-06
POPULAR NAMES FOR BRIDES.

From the Philadelphia Bulletin.
Ann was the most popular name for
brides this year. The Maggies, the Marys,
the Rates and the Rosies, all of whom
have in past years carried off the honor.
must bow to Ann.
Thomas c. Smith, the application clerk
of the marriage license bureau, has for
years kept record of the most popular
names of brides, and this year his rec
ords show that there have been more
brides with Ann as a handle to their
names and surnames than any other.
Katie carries Off second honors and
Mary, once so popular, drifted way back
to the seventh place. Last year Maggie
won first place, but this year she takes
third place.
Mr.. Smith places the 10 most popular
brides of 1907 in their respective standing
as follows: Ann, Kate, Maggie, Eliza
beth, Sarah, Carrie. Mary, Rosa, Emma
and Clara.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-01-06
NEW BOOKS RECEIVED.
Chicago Journal.

From the Chicago Journal
How to Use Pitchfork"-By Senator
Benjamin r. Tillman. A handy guide
on the use of sharp sentences and
speeches. Very pointed For sale at all
agricultural supply stores
"Colored Vocabulary" BY Bob Evans.
Gives the reader insight into the use
of variously colored words, mostly pur-
pie. On sail around the Horn.
How to Become Famous"-By Gee
Bernard Pschaw. Tells how to artistic
ally knock newspapers and how to use
the pronoun IL" Author admits it is a
good book. For sale wherever it is kept.
Me, Me, Me"-By Elbertus Hubbard
story of the author by himself. Be-
gins with 'T' and ends with Me"
Makes the reader feel like period Very
Hayloftie. All tin shops.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-01-06
Men, at some times, are. masters OF
their fates.
Julius Caesar.
Pensions for Ex.PresIdents

Ex-President Cleveland's article in
the Youths Companion on pensions for
ex-presidents has commanded great
deal of attention, and as a rule his
proposition has been favorably re-
ceived He proposed in brief to pro-
vide regular pensions large enough to
let them live in comfortable and dig
nified manner all the rest of their
days. He does not need pension him
self, but he sees the possibility of
there being an ex-president who has no
private fortune to fall back upon. We
have had in the course of 125 years
three or four such cases.
Mr.. Cleveland sums up the case
compactly when he says: There is
sort of vague but none the less i'm
perative feeling abroad in the land that
one who has occupied the great office
of President holds in trust for his fell
low-citizens a certain dignity which in
his conduct and manner of life he is
bound to protect against loss or de-
terioration. Obedience to this obliga-
ton, which can hardly be avoided,
limits the ex-President in his choice of
an occupation and means of livelihood,
and prescribes for him only such work
as In popular judgment is not undig-
nifed, and it also enforces a scale of
living on his part frequently less in
keeping with his financial ability than
with popular conception of ex-Presi-
Dental propriety."
A great, rich country certainly need
not hesitate to grant pension to ex-
Presidents, for we never have enough
on hand to make hole in the treas
ury. Mr.. Cleveland may soon be re-
inforced by Mr.. Roosevelt, but rarely
has the country had more than two
living ex-Presidents.
The tax would be light and the pro-
priety of it cannot be intelligently
questioned. 1t is perhaps too much to
ask a party to grant such a pension
just before a Presidential election, but
there is really no reason why any
party should oppose SO reasonable a
proposition.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-01-06
About Persons.

"ChclS" Harmon, quarterback and cap
tain of the football team of the University
of Alabama last season, and H. B. Dent,
manager of that team, passed through
Birmingham last night en- route to Tusca-
loosa, after spending the holidays In
Montgomery, their home
Col. Jesse Stating returned to Birming-
ham last night after spending Saturday
and Sunday in Montgomery.
A. w. Wilson Of Montgomery is at the
Morris.
A. ]. Williams of Montgomery is at the
Morris.
j. C. Moore of Hamilton is at the
Morris.
Charles M. Carlton of Admission is at
the Morris.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-01-06
CHARGES for FREIGHT Cars

instead of unloading and reloading
freight at a connecting point the mod
ern railroad simply pays so Gets day
for the use of a foreign" car, and in
that way freight is moved right along
regardless of the number of railroads
1t goes over. But the New Haven rail-
road insists that so cents a day is too
high rate to pay for the use of a car,
and rather than pay more than %
cents day it proposes to refuse to
receive freight loaded in foreign
car.
The subject has been brought before
the interstate commission, which has
been asked to maintain business on
the old acceptable basis. The New
Haven is a great monopoly, but it's
business is largely local, and it is COM
PEELED to pay out large sums for the
use of cars.
1t is fight among corporations, and
the New Haven company should be
reasonable. 1t should not attempt to
disarrange the business of the country
lightly. 1t ears and disburses good
dividends even If 1t does pay so cents
a day for the use of foreign cars, If
1t will not be reasonable voluntarily it
BILE by the strong regulatory arm of the
Interstate commission.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-01-06
Openinu the Ohio

In order to facilitate the moving of
coal from mines 1000 miles away to
New Orleans, the government has
spent s5,oo0,00O in building a harbor
forty miles long extending from Pitts
burg to Beaver In this forty miles
oarges can be loaded and can lie await
ng rises in the river. This expendi
nre is In addition to the opening of
he Monongahela. 1t is in reality be-
Ginning of the 9-foot channel inhmm
.innig of the nine-foot channel in the
ohio.
II the government can afford to spend
money freely to promote the shipment
II coal 1000 miles away it should be
Wiling to expend lesser amounts =
liable mine owners 500 piles avn
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-01-06
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Reuardino Formulation.

The population of Birmingham as it is
today is about $1,000. and the estimated
population of Greater Birmingham that
is to be is between 10000 and 10000" said
a citizen. THE census will hardly give
us less than 125O0O
IF the vote on Greater Birmingham
turns out all right the extended limits
will not go into effect until 1909, but we
can with truth turn in to the almanac
makers our estimated population at 1885,
900. Estimates are not taken seriously,
however. Atlanta's population. for ex-
ample, has stood In the World Almanac
for several years past. but if the census
takers were around this year they would
hardly find 10000. In 1910 Nashville will
probably have 10000 more population than
Atlanta"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-01-06
BENEDICT ARNOLD.

From the New York Press.
There are renewed efforts to paint Ben
edict Arnold in clean, white colors. They
remind me of the following anecdote:
On one of his raids Arnold ca ptured an
American officer in Virginia. After a
few days he said Captain, what would
our countrymep do with me if they
caught me?" well, sir replied the cap
tain, III I must answer the question
should say they would first cut off your
lame leg, which was wounded in the
cause of freedom and virtue at Quebec
and bury it with the honors of war; then
they would hang the remainder of your
carcass on gibbet!''
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-01-06
AN ABSENT MINDED MAN.

From the Philadelphia Record
I'VE have the prize absent-minded man
right here in our town." said John j.
Kenney, secretary of the Germantown
Business Mems association. "On Monday
the wife of this man took him to task for
his absolute helplessness when it came
to remembering things, and he promised
to do better. Less than an hour after
ward he started from his home, on East
Chelten avenue, in possession of a num-
Der of New Year cards, which she wished
dropped in the Germantown postonlce
and In order not to forget he carried
them in his hand through the streets As
he reached the letter slot on the outside
of the postoffice friend tapped him on
the shoulder, requesting the time of day
He drew his watch from his pocket, an
swered the question, dropped the watch
through the slot and started to walk
away with the New Year postal cards
still tightly held IN his other hand. The
friend knew of his popularity and has
tened after him. When the watch had
been secured the absent minded man went
on, and it was not until late that night
that his wife discovered the postals he
had promised to mail reposing in his over
coat pocket"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-01-06

to ship coal by water to New Orleans.
An appropriation for Pittsburg should
be offset by one for this district. Fair
play in government expenditures is a
jewel, and the representatives of the
gulf states should see that no appro-
priation for Pittsburg goes unattended
with one for this district.