davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-26
WONDERLAND OF pELIRIUM.

The American Ma agazine tSeptemDer)
 has got hold of the autobiography of d
 man who recently passed through re-
 markable case of delirium tremens. It is a record of personal experiences, the author, Charles Roman. having under gone IS days of delirium in a Washing
 ton hospital within the past year. The story is in many ways as interesting a psychological document as De Quin :
 cey's "Confessions of an Opium Eater. "
 Aside from being a narrative of ex- traordinary Authorizations the article
 contains a mass of interesting general
 facts about delirium and the modern
 methods of treating such cases. Fol lowing Is a brief extract
 For IS days I inhabited a sph here of adventurous romance intending. There was not dull moment, not a lazy hour. I was seeing something or doing something continually--always
 something new, something unknown, to rational humanity hundred times, in
 imagination, I stood upon the precipice of death. I saw creatures and things
 that nobody else had ever seen. l
 walked paths never before traversed.
 Eminent physicians who noted my
 progress along the unexplored high =
 way of imagination testify that no
 recorded case equals mine.
 "The psychic deduction that the body is but a humble and powerless, though unwilling servant of the mind is cor roborated by my experience. Nothing
 could better prove the physiological
 premise that man sees, not what his
 eve impresses him with having seen.
 but what his brain tells him he shall see.
 And what is true of sight Is true of other senses. All sounds readily
 adapted themselves to the convenienc } of anything that the mind decreed. in
 many instances being completely trans formed, or entirely obliterated wh ere
 the mind willsd, powerfully and arbi- trarily. For example, the rattle of a wagon wheel became a distinct form
 of human speech. The wheels talked I heard voices where there were none,
 and I heard nothing when people talk ed to me.
 Incidentally it Is worth noting that
 many physicians explain the presence of snakes in delirium by the theory that the circulation of the blood in the eyeballs becomes imperfect, and that its progress through the veins and arteries, in a strained, spa smodic current, gives the visual impression of serpents. saw snakes, and many of tn em. I also | saw crocodiles and hyenas and ele- plants and geological what not. Hence I can't accept the imperfect circulation l theory, because tn ere Is no conceivable | form the blood might take in the course of improper circulation to give the op- 1 tical impression of a crocodile or a hyena or an elephant. Therefore, l conclude that the snakes are never in l the eye but In the brain and that the | brain, and not the eye, sees them
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-26
AGAINST AN ALLIANCE.

From the New York Herald.
 Now, all together is he subject of cartoon in Sundays Herald, with flag of prosperity as its sponsor.
 have been reader and admirer of your paper for 25 years and I do not agree with your writings at present on the Chinese alliance ques ton. The busf- ness interests of the country need rest from internal and foreign agitation.
 We have al present political agitations, railroad agitations and other local issues disturbing business. To stir up a feeling of foreign disturbance is wrong at this time. Let diplomacy take care of Japan and China. Give us rest give us the su- perb news service your paper Is equipped with. The flag of prosperity will then hover over this greatest commonwealth in the world. AUGUST HIRSCH.
 New York, August 16 1908.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-26

returns with an experienced eye. He knows to a nicety the proportion of children of school age in a given pop ulation, and padded lists promise to be detected and punished. Padded lists may not, however, be weeded out alto gether this year, but they are in way to be eliminated and an honest divis- ion of school moneys made.
 The handling of $1 100000 in school moneys is full of temptations, and it is not strange that some counties have sought to secure more than just share of the fund. Superintendent Gunnells' long experience in school affairs will serve him well in his effort to bring about a just apportionment based on a census that is free from dummies of all sorts.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-26
Alabama's New School Census

The indications are that the school census in the 67 counties of the state will show 50000 fewer school children in this state than the census of two years ago did. There has been no cpl demic among the children of the state. They have been remarkably healthy as e rule. The decrease is Ion paper" only. The new census is in fact an in- dictment of the census of two years ago for padding. The law as it stood two years ago encouraged padding by its omission of all penalties against 1t. The more names a county returned the more money it received from the state, and the result was grsat paper aggre- gate of school children/
 This year there are ayy penalties for padding, Nand su stendent of 11ncation GunnelIs q tshing the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-26
AN EXQUISITE DREAMER.

Donald G. Mitchell the man who paint ed pictures in the flames with such grace and charm that they have been source of inspiration to less facile dreamers for 50 years, is nearing the close of an ideal life. He is a very old man and at the utmost cannot last much longer. His plen- teous days have been passed In a sim plicity and unruffled content that are granted to few in this hurried age He belongs to another-an earlier time. but his books will be popular so long as youth has it's illusions and loneliness brings the hour of revery Every year marks new edition of "rhe Reveries Of Bachelor'' while Dream Life" Is hard ly second to 1t in favor. Men who Ire themselves old and seasoned In lifes hard conflict look back with moistened eyes to the long ago when they were led through the realm of dreams by Donald G. Mitchell. It was easy then to stare at the flames in a sober melancholy way While the night wore on into the small hours of morning and to fashion castles which were absurdly built and soon after tumbled into ruins. It Is at the iinorac- tical age when the Mitchell books exert their strongest appeal, but those who came under the spell of hls fancy in youth hold him in affectionate memory. even when they are no longer able to en- ter into the spirit of the 'Reveries." It is singularly happy fate which permits man to write such books and to live during all these years life so consistent with all he has written. When "Ik Mar yef' is laid away in the mother earth which he has loved with a constant devo- tion. as one who shaved the hopes of every flower that bloomed on the hills about his Connecticut farm, his grave will be hallowed spot
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-26
CROMWELL AS AN ADVISER"

From the Louisville Courier Journal
 Of course, swiftly and surely Chairman Hitchcock propelled William Nelson Cromwell into a seat in the advisory com- mittee of the republican national cam- paign committee. You just can't lose Cromwell in a republican going-on. He's the Svengali of the present republican regime He has a magic connection with all affairs relating and appertaining to the Panama canal. He's the wizard of the Panama railroad He exerts a psych- ic, telepathic and physical influence over the Roosevelt clique. He "sasses' tho Senate and the administration stands for it. He is E. H. Harrman's personal law
 yer and the reigning dynasty does not hate him for 1t. When there Is a treas urer of the republican committee to be chosen he waves his hand and all other candidates for the job are cast into outer darkness in order that his own particular man Sheldon may land. Hold the fort, for I'm coming" he wires automatically to the Hot Springs conference. And does the conference halt, quit, suspend until he gets there? It do. it do It's Sheldon u And now it's Cromwell himself on the advisory committee. His presence tells an awful story. It betrays the poodle designs of the committee as few other concrete things have been allowed to be- tray them. Cromwell is as thick with the plutocrats and the indicators as flea is with the hide of canine. As a sort of envoy extraordinary and minister pleni- potentiary of the administration to the mowers of darkness, on the one hand, and minister plenipotentiary and envoy ex- traordinary of the powers of darkness to the administration, on the other, he ought to be a puissant and prodigious factor in this campaign He will make most eff fective link between E. H. Hartman and the republican bosses. In short and In fine. for just such campaign as the re- publican party proposes to conduct there exists nowhere a more ideal parsonage for an ..:'adviser' than Cromwell. Now that Cromwell is seated, let the fat-frying ED merrily on while the republican choir sings that fine old hymn, Down With the Trusts, Unless They Come Across
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-26
Offer of the Veterans.

Tn a published statement signed by Capt. J. W. Bush he gallantly and patri- otically offers the services of the local Confederate Veterans to assist in quelling the lawlessness that exists in this dis trict," said a member of the national guard.
 '"The offer of the old soldier is truly commendabe and shows that the fight ing spirit of '61 has not yet died out But think the captain does the national guard an injustice by inference when he suggests the old soldiers take the place of the national guard. Now, I am not representative, but I believe the citizen- soldiers have done and are doing their full duty to the state and are due some consideration at least. They have been by the sheriff and subjected to more or less abuse generally Many of us were called to leave our business at mo- ments notice, resulting in severe per- sonal loss in many instances, some of the boys 5eopardizing their jobs by their serv- ice to the state, and those of us who have been relieved from duty are ready to respond should the state again need our services
 "I don't question for one moment the sincerity of the offer of the old heroes who wore the gray, but I think the sug- gestion that they take the place of the national guard a little untimely"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-26
Courtesles of War.

''The incident of military guards and striking miners playing baseball to- gether reminds me of the friendly in- tercourse that was often had between Union and rebel soldiers during the war" said Adjt. J. Lawler Darby yester day.
 Both armies spent the winter of 1863 on the Rappahonnock river above and below Fredericksburg. The river was the picket line. There was no shoot ing. The soldiers would talk to each other across the river during the night and in the day time would meet half way in the river and trade on sugar, coffee, tobacco and other things This was done with the boys of the Alabama brigade often. when the water was low.
 "One day while the Federal picket was being relieved three Yankees and some of our boys were in the river. AL though they arrived in camp a few minutes after their names were called they were courtmartialed and sen- tenced to be shot.
 President Lincoln asked for the real facts in the case. and after a personal investigation ordered the men re- 1 leased
 Tn 1864 and 1865 at Petersburg for almost a year we were under constant l fire. On the picket line in front of the 1 breast works I spent many days and nights in summer and winter shooting g through sand bags until my arm and shoulder were blue and black with bruises. The pickets were relieved at night.
 During the last five or six months of this harrassing seesaw skirmishing g a picket on one side or the other would sometime call out cease shoot : 1 ing! All would lay down their guns. i get out of the holes and walk around for air and exercise. Many would meet half way between the lines, exchange newspapers and chat pleasantly for 20 or 30 minutes. Then a voice would cry out, TO your holes, boys and the killing would begin again."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-26
GREENYILLE VOTES
 FOR BOND ISSUE

Greenville, August 25-(Special)-Ye ester day an election was held in this city to float bonds with which to purchase from the Philadelphia Pipe Manufacturing company the waterworks of this city The sum required to buy the plant is s2s,6Oo, and, while there was but little interest manifested by the citizens, near ly all those voting were for the bond issue. This will be another great feature to the credit of the present administra- tion. They have put in a system of sani- tary sewerage, paved Commerce street from the depot to the court house, a dis tance of half mile, with vitrified brick, condemned number of old buildings, and had them removed from the principal thoroughfare and many other things of minor importance, still of great benefit to the city; and now the crowning work of the year will be the purchase of the water plant, which will be a saving to the city of several thousands dollars an- nually.
 The present officers have consented to stand for reelection. and they will not probably have opposition
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-26
HARDEN HELD FOR
 JEFFERSON AFFAIR

Bound over to await the action of the grand jury, under bond of s1ooO. was the decision handed down by Judge |. II. Benners yesterday afternoon in the pre- liminary hearing of Mims Harden, charged with having participated in the Jefferson battle" between deputy sheriffs on special train loaded with imported miners and a body of ambushed men on the mountainside overhanging the station of Jefferson.
 Harden was one of the last men against whom warrants were sworn out in con- nection with the affair Sixteen others were arrested, but their cases fell through for some cause. Harden was arrested several days ago at Jefferson for raising a disturbance, and when brought to the county jail was recognized by some of the deputies as a man who was at the Jefferson station, armed, on the day of the shooting
 In the testimony brought out before Judge Benners yesterday, 1t was shown that Harden had purchased a Marlin rifle from the Drennen department store in Birmingham, the prosecution alleging that this was the gun which he had on the day of the shooting.
 While the trial was going on, warrants were sworn out and served on three wit nesses, who were present to testify in Hardens behalf, charging them with having been connected with this affair These men were A. R. Jones' B. A. Lark ins and J. ". Beasley. Bond was made by the trio, and also by Harden.
 E. F. Foy, a deputy sheriff, was also arrested on a warrant charging him with having used abusive language before Miss Susie Harden in connection with Hard en's arrest.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-26
WILL DETROIT SELL
 HUGHIE JENNINGS?

Washington. August 25.-From away ont in Detroit, where they do everything in baseball except pony hp literally to see the team, even in aHworld's chamnion- ship series. came a yain last night to tbe erect that Frank Farrell. owner of the New York Americans had offered presi- dent Navin Of the Dttroit club s25. oO0 for its cont act with Hsugbey Jennings
 The Jennings contract runs this wear and next with Nayin, So that FarreI must nave been in | great hurry to get winner, if the story had been true which 1t apparenuN was not. Jennings himself said there was nothing to if as far as he knew. Qloth he.
 'I haven't heard n word abont tbe sa1a of my contract to New York. and don't think MT. Navin would sell out at this time. Personally, I would not like to leave Detroit. They have treated me finely out there. Another thing is, De- troit has team mostly of young blood. which will be away up among the win ners for the next five or six years, and offers splendid baseball future for me-"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-26
GOING AWAY.
From the Bohemian Magazine.

From the Bohemian Mage zine.
 Little Ressie's father bad decided to move his family to the small town of salen. W. Va. Naturally this proposed change interested Bessie very much for she realized she was to enter a new world. Upon informing her little friends she asked each of thom if they knew what kind of place Salem might be, None of them know Of Salem, but quite few had. been to Clarksburg, a city of something over 12,0Oo inhabitants. Naturally Clarksville received all the praise to the slighting of Salem.
 The talk of her friends had its ef- feet upon Bessie and she began to dread moving to Salem. The night before the family had decided 10 so papa over heard Bessie sa ying her nrayers Much to his surprise her usual application was ended with the words: Good byc, Goo. We are going to Salem."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-26
Death In Ereiuht Wreck.

Asheville, N. C., August 25.-Southern railway freight train No 6S was ditched by washout between Saluda and Flat rock at S:30 tonight. Engineer Lee Lon don of this city has not been found at Il o'clock, and it is believed that his body is buried beneath the debris. Details are meagre, telegraphic and telephonic communication being difficult, owing to damage to wires by heavy storms of yesterday and Sunday Fireman w. H. Phillips of Hendersonville Is reported seriously injured. wrecking train has left here for Saluda.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-26
WHAT GIVES US PAUSE

Billy" said a gray-haired man to a toddling boy, "when you arc as old ar I am, where will I be?''
 The little fellow replied. You'll be Fl yite." Artless philosopher If we con I once persuade ourselves Dat we will e ''all right in the after-tirne, Of which vs know so little, there would be truce | sighs in this world and we might ia across the border with constaa heart.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-26
Cotton Is the MainstaY.

Natchez, Miss, August 25.-Cotton will continue to be the souths mainstay in spite of the boil weevil and the farmers must learn to raise their own provisions, hay and stock, is summary of the lec- lures delivered by the scientific agri- tursts representing the United States de- partment of agriculture and similar de- partments in Texas. Louisiana and Mis- sissippi, who addressed the farmers in- stitute, which closed here tonight.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-26
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

From the New York Press
 Where girl is smart is to be so pretty nothing else counts
 A man can get used to anything in the world except being a husband
 All the things that come to a man who waits are not the things he has been waiting for
 A great comfort to woman about her children is all the comfort they are going to be to her some day
 A nice thing about having lots of money seems to be to those who have 1t that maybe they can get more,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-26
Flood of Rain In Georoia

Athens Ga, August 25-Estimated damage of $5o.OOo in this city has been done by almost continuous rains that fell from Il o'clock Sunday night until 3 o'clock this afternoon. Over 12 inches of rain was recorded. Bridges have been washed away and others are tottering. A Southern railway passenger train was hagged and stopped by small boys just as 1t approached weakened bridge that would have given way beneath the train. The city's water supply is cut off
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-26
Inauguration of Good Roads Campaign

The campaign for the adoption of the Overton amendment permitting legislatures. in their discretion to ap- propriate the net earnings of the con- victs to road building was fully inau- gurated in this city yesterday. Fully two dozen speakers headed by Senator Bankhead will visit the various coun- ties in September and October, ana the people will be appealed to to take steps that will lead to the substitution of good roads for the wretched dirt paths that wind in and out to the con fusion and dismay and damage of all who are compelled by circumstances to pass over them. No state has poorer roads than Alabama. No state could turn to better account good roads.
 If the state will show an inclination to take hold of the matter the councres can be trusted to come to the relief of their own people, and the federal gov. ernment will then be asked to supple. ment home funds, for all roads are post roads. We cannot afford to vote down the Overton amendment. Ii would be a throwing away of all chance to get federal aid and of all immediate help to the farmers and business men who are compelled by circumstances to use the roads of the state In all sorts of weather.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-26
Validity of the King Bill

Judge A. o. Lanes decision in the East Birmingham case does not oues- tion the constitutionality of the King law outside of it's supplemental and in- cidental third section. That section is unconstitutional and is thrown out but the remainder of the law stands unchallenged.
 The people of East Birmingham held an election on January 6 under the third section of the King bill. They voted at that time against annexaton On June 30 they held another election under the new municipal code, when they voted to become apart of Greater Birmingham. Judge Lane declared the first election invalid and the second election valid. East Birmingham there fore remains part of Greater Birming- ham, constituting it's Eleventh ward. The King law stands in its entirety, but the sections that desire to join the greater city can avoid delay and legis- lation by seeking annexation under the municipal code of 1907. The King law will doubtless be upheld in the courts, but the code of 1907 will not be questioned judicially or otherwise It is therefore the short and sure road to annexation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-26
PIPPLEs

A man doesn't stand much chsniee these days unless he Is some kind of wizard.
 A Connecticut citizen who earn home early in the morning tried to Slip into the house by climbing a fence. He got caught in the pickets and was straneIed to death. Still, if he had gotte4 over the fence and into his house the Chances ara that he would have stepped en the cat and walked his wife.
 A Pennsylvania wild man who was accused of eating a woman's dog. had to take OH ms makeup and proe his inno- cence.
 An Illinois couple walked 2s miles to get married. When people ko out looking for trouble they are hard t5 stop.
 The most diSagreeable neighbor in the world is one who Is sure of ais superioritv without ever giving you a chance to dis Pute It, PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-26
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
LEARNING LEES LESSON.

LEARNING LIFE'S LESSON. After the eeasless worry,
 After the grinding toll, After the pain and heartache, After the stupid moil; After the sighs of parting,
 After the tears we she'd. After the futile striving,
 After the doom is sped; After we solve the riddle,
 There at the journeys end, Haply, we'll know the reason Death has been called a friend.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-26
French Scientist Dead

Paris, August 25.-The death is an nounced of Antonio Henri Becquert, the well-known French scientist. M Becquest held many positions in the scientific world, among them that of permanent secretary to the Academy of Sciences. He was born in 1852
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-26
WHILE AWAY FROM HOME.

Birmingham people who are leaving home for a vacation trip should have The Age-Herald follow them and thus keep Informed about what Is taking place In the city and state during their absence. The Ase-Herald will be sent to them at any address at the regular price, and the address will be changed as often as desired.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-26
Americans Win at Cricket.

Sunderland August 25.-The cricket match between the Durham county team and the gentlemen of Philadelphia ,yos resumed here this afternoon and resulted quickly in victory Tor the Americans. The home teams wickets fali with record rapidity and the whole toam was dismissed for Al. This left the Philadelphians victorious by 1Ot
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-26
A NICE HINT.

From Illustrated Bits
 II know what I'll do,' said the girl. whose bashful lover would not propose. I'll go out as trained nurse"
 But that is profession. You know nothing about It. he replied
 Haven't l had six months experience sitting up at nights with your