davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06
TEDDY, JR, IS GETTING ALONG.
Socially and In Business He's Sue
 cess In Thompsonville.
Special to the New York World.

Special to the New York World.
 Hartford, Conn.-Teddy Roosevelt, Jr., is making progress in society and business in Thompsonyille, where since his arrival he has been the guest of Alvin H. Hig- gins, general manager of the carpet works on Pleasant street, at what the natives called the little White House."
 This week he will remove to the house of Robert F. King on Enfield street. The house has been renovated for his recep- tion, and Teddys boudoir now has a handsome tapestry paper, with green striped borders and is to have a small moulding rail for pictures, plates and steins. if Teddy gets any for Christmas from fair ones who work alongside of him him in the carpet mills, and say unani- mously, Hes a nice boy" His bathtub which has been on exhibition, together with thick bath towels and rugs. will be installed in a few days
 Next week Teddy gets his second pro- motion, and will go into the Administer and Wilton department, where a large government order Is being turned out.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06
Nine Counties and the Schools

Nine counties drew from the state for school purposes more than they paid to the state for all purposes. These counties were Chambers, Clay. Hale, Lowndes, Marshall, Perry, Pick ems, Randolph and Wilcox, and une chief of these was Lowndes. This Ter tile county in the Black Belt-this county whose soil is well-nigh inex- haustible-paid to the state in the last fiscal year $28,971.99, and drew from the state for the support of the public schools s37,33245. At the end of the year it stood net gainer in transac- tions with the state treasury to the extent of $S,350.46 And this takes no account of the pension money, official salaries, advertising bills and the like disDursed during the fiscal year in the county of Lowndes. All told, the county got $10,000 more from the state than the state got from it. Tn other words, the good people of Lowndes got law, order and state administration free and $10,O0O to boot.
 How a county that is fertile from end to end can escape taxation to this extent is passing strange. It is even stranger how it can draw so much school money. A report of expendi- lures from its school board would throw some some light on the situa- tion. No dishonesty is apprehended. The case is peculiar, that's all. The county is exceptionally fertile and valuable, and yet it does not pay to the state enough money to meet the de- mands of the numerous schools. If this stringency occurs in an excep- tionally fertile county what should we expect in a rugged, infertile county?
 And imperial Jefferson goes right along footing all deficits, for it paid to the state treasurer last year $504,730 and got back from him for school pur- poses but $144,212!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06
BARGAINS IN FUNERALS.
Extra Inducements Offered for Holiday
 Trade-Die Now.

From the New York World
 Holiday offerings in the line of funeral caskets, with prices marked way down and all the trimmings of q full funeral ceremony at rates to cor respond, is the latest business innova- tion served up to the people of Newark N J.
 The local undertaking business is stirred by the presence of a rival in the form of a new burial company that is carrying competition in trade right into the grave.
 The company has opened a preten- tious mortuary parlor looking out through attractive double show win dows in which the art of window dress ing has been carried to attractive lengths.
 The display consists of caskets and funeral appurtenances of all varieties The caskets are the "big hit" of the offerings. They are of white, gray, mauve, purple and plain black. They are offered with mahogany finish or cloth covered, with satin or moire pink ing and the alluring feature of the dis play is the large sign, conspicuously displayed:
 "our caskets. $s5; elsewhere, $65."
 There are rumors of a combination of the old firms to fight the new con- cern.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06
C0nnuerine ihA Air

The aeroplane has received this year an impetus that insures rapid improve ment in the coming years. Even the year now near at hand may see man flying through the air without the aid of a gasbag, for the Wright brothers and the French ayiators have fully demonstrated that man can fly unaided in that undesirable manner. Hun- dreds of men in both the old world and the new will now endeavor to over come the obstacles one by one as they present themselves. The improve ment of the aeroplane may even outdo the improvement of the automobile.
 No doubt great changes will be made in motors adapted to flights in the air. No doubt, too, much remains to be done in order to take advantage of the wind, making 1t means of aerial locomotion rather than a danger to it. Economy in aerial flights lies in the utilization of the air currents. All these things are to be studied, and aerial navigation is to be fitted to them. The gasbag Is no longer con- sidered. It has been dismissed, and man has begun to fly as the birds do. The birds are heavier than the air they displace, and so is man and hrs machine.
 All the authorities In aerial naviga- tion are confident that success will soon attend the efforts of modern avia- tors on the lines already marked out. The hardest part of the problem has been solved. Man can fly, and now it remains to make the task safe and economical. To this task many keen brains will now be turned.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06
Grade Crossings In General

The railroads continue to maintain the use of grade crossings in this city on one ground or another, forgetting that life and limb are jeopardized thereby daily. If they would but make beginning the public would not be so indignant. To this day not a shoyelful of dirt has been thrown out or any other step taken toward substitution of something safer and better for the present grade crossings.
 Atlanta has eliminated the deadly grade crossing, and yet Atlanta was not at any time so perplexed and en- dangered as this city is. Railroads cut this city into slices, and not one of them hesitates to back a lot of freight cars onto any crossing, thus suspending the use of the roadway altogether by the citizens who own it. A few empty boxes often keep in this town a hundred citizens waiting, each and all impatient to reach their re- spective destinations. But, embar- rassing as this is, it is not so distress ing as the risks of life that any grade crossing brings close to any citizen, no matter how alert he may be. The grade crossing without a homicidal record does not exist in this city, and We have many of them.
 The railroads should begin the big task. Vine people would be patient II they saw the work going on and the railroads willing to remedy the situa- tion. As things stand the railroads are doing nothing at all in the removal of grade crossings except to spend money for the purpose of creating obstacles and delays. This is not right, and it is not the best policy for either the railroads or the people.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06
WINT FER.

By D. G. RossettL How large that thrush looks on the bare
 thorn tree, A swarm of such, three little months
 ago, Had hidden in the leaves and let none
 know Save by the outburst of their minstrelsy white flake here and there-a snow lily Of last nights frostzour naked flower
 beds hold; And for rose flower on the darkling
 mold The hungry red breast gleams. no bloom,
 no bee. The current shudders to It's ice-bound
 hedge: Nipped in their bath, the stark reeds
 enc by one Flash each its clinging diamond to the Meath winds which for this winters sov-
 ereign pledge, Shall curb great king masts to the oceans
 edge And leave memorial forest kings osr-
 thrown.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06
Amusing Inconsistencies.

Human nature Is made up of funny in- consistencies,' said a gentleman of Bir- mingham yesterday. =
 T sneaked into a store this morning where a bargain bankrupt sale Is on to buy a pair of school shoes for my little girl.
 Now, I am a man of moderate income, but usually look for the best and some how like to pay a good, stiff price for goods. It gives me and my family better standing in the neighborhood.
 'I was surprised to find that to reach the bargain counter this morning I was compelled to fight my way through a regular crush of men and women of the very, ultra class, people who are sup posed to have money to burn. One would thinkf these people would not haggle over the price of yard of ribbon or pair of shoes but would pay the price de- manded out of big bills and smile during the operation.
 But I have discovered that this is not so. The average workingman of Bir- mingham flashes his weeks salary and takes pride in buying the best stuff, as though he clipped profits from govern ment bonds. He is ashamed as rule to advance on the bargain counter and avoids it with splendid pride. ' ''On the other hand the richer class buys with almost scrimping care and watches the bargain sales with a system that Is almost professional, and some of these people are not ashamed to go and buy the very cheapest goods that can be found.
 'O inconsistency, thou are beautiful!'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06
l NED BRACE WRITES ABOUT THE PROVINCE
 OF THE NEWSPAPER AND OTHER MATTERS

A newspaper should have neither friends TOT enemies. It's friends would impose upon it. Its enemies would abuse 1t.
 The newspaper of the present day of deeply Into all public affairs, inviting discussion and setting forth before the public all of those things which affect the public interest. There should be neither fish nor fowl.
 In family squabbles The Age-Herald is neutral because 1t Is a public news paper and belongs to the public. If two honest men within the democratic party happen to be candidates for any office in democratic primary from Gov ernor down to constable The Age-Herald has been and shall be neutral. Its ed itor, who happens to be the writer, believes that there should be fairness :n all things; and that no newspaper has the right by virtue of personal friend ship of its owner or editor to use its cloumns to elevate its friends or pun ish its enemies
 There be lots of virtues in Birming- ham. There be lots done well here. There be lots badly done. We have had well done work; slovenly done work; and work very badly done. Every citizen of Bir- 1,ninpham Is partially responsible. Every
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
The Cocaine Evil.

T have filled four and turned down over dozen prescriptions for cocaine to- day. said prominent druggist Friday night. ''The four came from reliable phy- sicians and while some of the persons pre- senting them appeared to be of the class called 'flends,' I let them have 1t on ae- count of the reputation of the physicians writing the prescriptions. The others. however, were written by two or three doctors who bear fair reputations, but whom happen to know are writing these prescriptions for these unfortunates at as low as 25 cents. There is a splendid chance for reform work in this cocaine proposi- ton"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06
Regarding Cabinet Material.

"It was reported that MT. Taft had in- vited Congressman Theodore Burton to take the position of Secretary of State, but 1t seems that 1t was the treasury portfolio instead of the state that was rendered the distinguished representative of the Cleveland district" remarked lawyer. ''As Mir. Burton has taken a deep interest in large financial questions he is well equipped for the important po sition of Secretary of the Treasury and his appointment would meet with the hearty approval of the business interests of the country. Mir. Burton has had no experi ence in diplomatic work and has perhaps no special liking for 1t. That being the case I thought the rumor that he was to succeed MT. Root improbable.
 There Is talk of Burton being a candi- date for the United States Senate, but it may be that he will try for the speak ership of the House. He Is politically ambitious and while the Secretary of the Treasury has an opportunity of winning high distinction it has never been re- garded as a stepping stone for the pres idency. As the Wall Street Journal points out, it Is a remarkable fact that not one of the F men who have held the post of Secretary of the Treasury since Salmon P. Chase has left 1t for any higher sta- ton in life. John Sherman after being Secretary of the Treasury. re-entered the Senate and afterward held another cabi- net poSition, but his career in the treasury department really marked the zenith of his career. Carlisle left the Senate to become Secretary of the Treasury and that completely ended his political career. Salmon P. Chase, however, in Lincolns administration stepped from the treasury department into the supreme court as chief justice"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06

man who lives here should be equally interested in good government, the main tenance of good order and the thorough equipment of a modern and a model city.
 I like to hear every man talk out in meeting and express his opinion That is the thorough way to bring about the right
 Let us thrash out in public everything pertaining to the good government of Birmingham. of Jefferson county and of the state of Alabama
 Let there be investigation and let public acts of every official be kept in the lime light. But with 1t all every citizen of Birmingham owes 1t to himself and his neighbors to do his duty in governmental affairs and the selection of men to handle such affairs.
 Birmingham is a big town. It has a big debt. It has big people jn it. It needs big people to handle its af- fairs. It needs to be led out of the wilderness of misfortune and away from all sorts of petty things. It is up to the best people here to take an in- terest and do that which will build up and make 1t substantial in every sense of the word.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06
Cattle sufferInq From prouth.

Lack of rain has worked something of a hardship upon live stock Tn the country districts" said Dr. Benton, the North Highlands druggist. During the past few weeks l have had occasion to drive out into the country a number of times and found in a number of instances that streams that were almost as large as small rivers had dried up completely. Farmers whom I spoke to said that near ly every branch and creek had dried up and that they were having difficulty in watering their stock, being compelled to bring them from the pastures and draw water from wells for them. One farmer stated that with each bucket of water which he pulled up he sent up a fervent prayer for rain to i'll his pasture branch"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

From the New York Press.
 It takes almost as much money to send a boy through college as it does to sup port him afterward.
 A mans idea of patriotism is thinking he could run the government better than those who are elected to do 1t.
 A girl sleeps with a love letter under her pillow so she won't be able to sleep for wanting to get up and read 1t again.
 If woman can't worry about anything else she can about whether she is going to like the baby's wife when 1t grows up and gets married.
 One of the most convincing things about widow is how, having had all her faith in man shattered by one, she can have 1t so perfectly for all the others of his racS
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06
A PETITION.

Dear Santa Claus, you'll be surprised, No doubt, to hear from me; I merely want to ask of you
 Some presents two or three. I don't expect an auto car,
 Or diamonds in my sock; The folks who get that kind of gifts Don't live in our block. I have no wish to beg of you
 More than you'll want to grant; Who too much hopes for in this world
 Shall find his guerdon scant. Or so they say. Now all I ask
 Such modesty you'll praise Is just a smile from Happiness
 And sunny-golden days!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06
laes1,oes~
It was indeed. A pickpocket took his

"It was indeed. A pickpocket took his purse"
 REPLIES.
 If girls grew on trees there would still be lemon trees and peach trees. It is not much fun for a man to have opinions when he can't find anybody to argue with.
 Some people carry their optimism in bottles. others carry 1t In their hearts. Colonel wetmore contributed about 15 cents to the Bryan campaign fund. He might at least have made 1t 30 cents A Massachusetts, woman says bachelors are worse than rum. No woman who talks that way could possibly be cute. Womans suffrage, having been recom- mended as a solution of the old-maid prob lem. 1t is now considered a cure for every known evil except barbers itch.
 PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES

THE SUNSHINE BROTHER. The sunshine brother fills the world
 around with light And with his optimism makes the dark
 est corner bright His garments may be poor and he may
 shiver in the cold, But his hearts the heart of Boyland and
 1t rever will grow old. The sunshine brother plods where bould-
 CTS bruise his feet, But patient resignation makes his life
 seem passing sweet; And while he hasn't won a prize and
 maybe never will, The twilight of his closing years will
 find him hoping still
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06
HEARTBREAK HILL

HEARTBREAK HIIIIA Heartbreak Hill is hard for climbing, Shattered hopes lie thiclSly there; All its crowded ways are winding Up from valleys of despair. Heartbreak Hill is gloom -enshrouded. Sorrow broods upon its peak; Those who pass toll on unloading, Knowing not the prize they seek. Heartbreak Hill is tempest-riven,
 Round its base the wild winds rave; Ghostlike forms of trees are moaning With the voice of ocean's wave. Heartbreak Hill Is hard for climbing, Up through pain and troubles rife, But beyond we'll rest forever Heartbreak Hill's the hill of lifel
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06
THE sToNY-HEARTED.

What do I see coming down the street?" asked the Man from Mars. "A woman's hat"
 "Is there woman under it?' ITO be sure"
 "Is she compelled by law to carry that enormous burden on her head?" Yes"
 And who could have made such cruel law"
 Fashion"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06
Steamer Is Wrecked.

St. Johns, N. F., December 5-Wreckage which has come ashore at Cape Ray leaves little room for doubt that the sturdy little steamer Soo City, which for 20 years piled as an excursion vessel on the great lakes, went down with her crew in the midst of the gale that lashed the Newfoundland coast for two days this week The steamer was in command of known that less than IS men were on board.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06

Gov. William D. Jelks is president and Clarence J. Palmer is secretary, has been in town several days at work in the home office of the company. MT. Gould is one of the best known of the younger actu- aries of the country. beginning his career with the Canada Life. He has come south to live and expresses himself as being greatly pleased with Birmingham. He Is a member of the Actuarial Soicety of America.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06

~HE matter of editing a newspaper
 (OD is something which brings forth
 much discussion from the edu- cated readers of newspapers.
 There are critics of newspapers on every hand. There are those who have been raised in the old school of journalism when the country newspaper was the personal point of vantage of its editor who might have owned the principal gen. eral store in town or who might have been the leading lawyer at the bar of the county seat. He was in politics. He led in county affairs. He was a part and parcel of everything which was be- ing done or which was contemplated.
 I happen to write in this personal vein for each Sunday morn. I do 1t because I like to; and because I like to get off of the pedestal of editorializing, so to speak, occasionally and be real human.
 The province of a newspaper Is to tell the news exactly as 1t is every day in the year. It's columns should be thrown open to the public for expression of honest opinion by any citizen of char acter who is willing to express his opin- ions over his own signature Such dis cussions make a good community. They make it by applauding the good and con demning the bad.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06
HIs BEST FRIEND.

whats the poor old duffer crying about?"
 "He has just parted from va very dear friend"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06

A court rules that where domestic discord and separation come into family the wife owns the weu-lng presents. No decision of a court was needed to settle that.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06

As long as they do not attempt to prove that Paul Revere took that ride in an automobile no one will care what they say. It is too late to cancel that ride altogether.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06

The fourth-class postmasters will devote less time to politics and more to the pictures on. the postcards when they stand secure under the shelter of the civil service.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06
TO THE END.

We don't know what's beyond, dear, The heartache and the pain; What other realms of shade to cross, What other heights to gain; If any wait whom once we knew
 If any love Is there. We don't know what's beyond. dear,
 And yet, we'll bravely fare!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06

The fourth-class postmasters, wno have been placed beyond the clutches of the spells politicians, feel as if they, too, had just escaped the claws of a grizzly bear.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06

The rule of rotation in office was rudely applied to President Nord Alexis of Hayti He was rotated out, or rather rowed out of his country to a foreign ship.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06

The hunters of New York paid $125,- 900 in license fees and got $500 of deer and the rest of the money in the pleasures of the chase.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06

Prosperity Is coming back, but it is doing so with deliberation and dignity.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06
RIG FEEDER.

"Science says a caterpillar eats coco times its own weight in one month"
 Gee, I don't imagine there would be much money in running caterpillar res- talrant."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06

Count Boni cost the Gould estate $11,000,000 all told, and they concludeu that he was too expensive to retain in the family permanently.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06

The iconoclasts seem to think that Paul Revere stayed in Boston and called up the people of Middlesex by telephone
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06

Ambassador Takahira summed up the whole matter when he said, America and Japan trust each other" That is better than a treaty.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06

The sound, wholesome person will not go behind the school readers in the Paul Revere matter.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06

Winter is trying its prentice hand on the people of this country prepara- tory to something stronger later on.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06

Serene Payne is standpatter who cannot bring himself to a reading of the revised edition of the Bible.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06
HEAVEN UP-To-DATM.

q dreamed I went to heaven last night"
 'sweili We'll Do you remember any, thing you saw there7'
 "Yes: Saint Peter was wearing a green hat"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06

Nord Alexis could not hustle to the tall timber He scurried away to the high seas. It was his only chance.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06

NO one claims that President Nord Alexis turned pale when the populace pursued him to the edge of the sea.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06
MAN FOR THE PLACE.

"An advertiser stated the other day that he would like to find a man with fiighty notions."
 "Absurdi What did he want him for?" ''An hostler in balloon barn.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06
SUITABLE.

''what is the motto of the Alimony club?'
 "something like Darn a Woman. Any howl'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06

Japan and the United States jotted down in black and white the fact that they are friends, lest they forget.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06

Alabama is nearly 90 years old, and she should be fully ready to celebrate her centennial in 1919.