davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-26

sex is involved. but really and truly we do not think mere man is getting all that is coming to him in the way of pro- lection against the cruel rays of the Scorching sun this spring. And as May time slowly merges into June, and old Sol beats down ever more and more ferociously, we fear that we shall be- come even more set in our views and hidebound in our opinionsl Not only is man physically uncomfortable in this newfangled, dinky little affair, by cour- tesy called a hat, but he Is positively ridiculous as we'll He looks like the near-funny clown who always brings up the rear end of the circus parade; he feels, like Gloster, as if he had been sent into the world of fashion "scarce half made up;" at least, in so far as head dress is copeerned.
 There ought to be enough straw raised annually in this country to furnish every inhabitant a summer hat of ample and reasonable dimensions; indeed, we feel assured there is. The women have simply been more greedy in using 1t up of late than real ladies should be, and, in conse- quence, have made things most embar- rassing for the men. The remedy is ob- vlous. and we hope the usually sweet things will furnish the relief which 1t is entirely in their hands to give.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-26
PRIZE FOR SONG.

Miss Maude Lambert, the prima donna of Lonesome Town" the musical play that recently completed a long run at the Circle theatre, New York City, scored such a phenomenal hit with the popular Will R. Anderson ballad Just Someone" and the encores were so numerous that there were not enough verses to satisfy the audience. It has therefore been suggest ed to M Witmark & Sons the publishers of the song, to fit her with third verse.
 This is to be used for an encore verse on The plays return to Broadway this sum- mer. Mr Anderson, the author of the song, is extremely busy at this season of the year, being also the advertising man. ager of one of the largest firms of chem lsts in the country, he is therefore unable to attend to this work, and the publishers are forced to call on the public at largo to supply the demand of Miss Lambert.
 Therefore, they are offering through the medium of The Age-Herald S5 for the best third verse to the song, "Just Some one," and one copy each of any two songs selected from their catalogue of classics, '"rhe Black and White," to the next 200 persons sending in the next best. Tue winning verse will be placed In Lonesome Town at once and full credit given to its author on the programmes and other advertising matter.
 These verses must be submitted, written over the music of the song to Third Verse Jury" IA West Thirty-seventa street, New York City. Expiration of time limit to be announced later.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-26
"HandS 0f' In Alabama

The New York Sun first reprinted list of federal officeholders present as delegates at the administration state republican convention. The Suns list was compiled from the Birmingham Times, and it's correctness is beyond question. It is not stated how many delegates were present, but the Suns list shows that "A federal officeholders held seats in the convention As the Suns list has been republished in per. haps a thousand papers all have an opportunity to see what screaming farce the Rooseveltian declaration of Hands Off" has become.
 It was almost a postal convention, although there was in it d liberal sprinkling of United States marshals, United States district attorneys, reve- nue collectors and referees in bank ruptcy. It was certainly notable muster of officials-74 in all
 The Suns roll will undoubtedly be reprinted in Chicago in the convention week, and possibly it will be heard from in the week that the national
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-26
Biooest Meetinq Ever Held.

"The meeting of the United Commer- cial Travellers just adjourned in Bir- mingham, was the grandest state coun- cil ever held,' said H. s. Wilson, the man who was so active in making ar engagements for the visitors. "It is a secret organization among the travel ing men of the state. open only to travellers, and one of the most jovial, well-met crowds that ever got to- gether.
 While a council has been located in Birmingham for seven years, 1t was not until three years ago that the state council was organized The national requirements are that five locals at least must be actively organized be- fore the state council can be started. We have seven locals in Alabama now, each one of them in fine shape.
 At the council the other day 125 out of town delegates were in attendance, not more than we expected, but more than have attended before. They all, of course, know Birmingham and our people, but I was assured on every side that they would boost us as we were never boosted In the past"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-26
THE VOICELESS.
7 Oliver Wendell IIolme.

By Oliver Wendell Holmes. We count the broken Tyres that rest Where the sweet waiing singers slum-
 ber
 Bat OCT their silent sisters breast The wild flowers who will stoop to
 number?
 A few can touch the magic string, And noisy fame is proud to win them: Alas for those that never sing, But die with all their music in theml Nay, grieve not for the dead alone, Whose song has told their hearts sad
 story
 Weep for the voiceless who have known The cross without the crown of gloryl Not where Leucadian breezes sweep Der Sappho's memory-haunted pillow, But where the glistening night dews weep On nameless sorrows churchyard pillow. Oh hearts that break and give no sign Save whitening lip and fading tresses, Till death pours out his longed for wine Slow dropped from Misery's crushing
 presses
 If singing breath or echoing chord To every hidden pang were given. What endless melodies were poured, As sad as earth. as sweet as heavenl
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-26
My stars shine darkly over me.
 Twelfth Night.
Shipping Peaches NOrthWard

Georgia and Alabama are both ship ping peaches in carload lots, and the two states will keep up the lick" until fully 5000 cars are sent away and the money pocketed where the peaches grew. If the fruit nets the growers S1 a crate it will turn loose s3,Oo0,o00 in the two states. As a midway crop coming between early truck and cot ton it is one of acceptable value.
 The ripening crop of today is thought to be the best one the south has ever produced. It ranks with the orange crop of Florida, or the prune crop of California, or the grape crop anywhere. Growers of peaches in the two states are content with results, and the big crop of the present year will no doubt lead to the largest possible additions to old orchards and to the establish ment of many new ones. It is anin- 6ustry that should be encouraged, com ing as it does before a cotton boil has shown a glimmer of white, when money in the south is scarcer than hens teeth.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-26
Roosevelt First Choice of Many

The Washington Herald says, Prom the south are coming petitions urging Roosevelt to stand as candidate for reelection. His hold upon that section Is something remarkable. That he could break the solid south is not re- garded as a mere political dream. We'll informed southern men say that he would carry North Carolina, Tennes- see, Kentucky, and possibly Louisiana, and that in such states as Georgia and Virginia an unprecedented vote would be cast for him."
 The Herald is by no means a Roose- veltian paper, but it says the talk of rcnominating Roosevelt will not down. It says the number of republicans who believe it would be the part of political wisdom to renominate the President is increasing.
 AuiS ID Iho ioai PiFoe uPoh WHICH Chicago will turn. The republican party has always in the past nominated its strongest man-its vote-getter, to speak more exactly. It can be trusted to do just this at Chicago three weeks, hence. Three weeks is, however, a eood spell of time. and if at the end of
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-26
BABY HIPPO GETS A SPANKING.
From the New York Times.

From the New York Times.
 Caliph, Jr., the baby hippopotamus in Central Park zoo, got his first spanking Wednesday. And he deserved it. for he was a naughty, dsobedient hippo.
 The keepers put a newly imported tapir in the cage next to Miss Murphy and Caliph. The baby hippo insisted on sticking his pretty little face through the bars in the attempt to make friends with the tapir Miss Murphy snorted, plainly saying to her son: Keep away from that tapir; don't associate with such trash
 But Caliph did not mind her. Miss Murphy made a few more remarks through her delicate nostrils that any mother could have understood, such as "I told you to keep away from that tapir. For all you know it may have measles or scarlet fever"
 Still Caliph paid no attention to man. ma and she got mad. Saying repeatedly, 'This hurts me more than you," Miss Murphy cuffed and booted the baby all over the cage and finally flung him into the tank. There Caliph cried and cried until the water overfiowed the tank.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-26
Harmonious C0-oDeratiOn

The returns from the counties have at last been received, and both sides in the presidential race in this state rest content. Both profess happiness over the footings of the tally sheets. There is no friction anywhere over the friendly Bryan-Johnson race, and the democracy of either side stands un- questioned. This Is as it should be.
 On the eve of a great struggle to oust from power the party that stands everywhere and every time for ''the interests the Few against the Many-Alabama democrats will pre- sent a united front Let us forget any differences that may have arisen in the past in order to get together for the most strenuous national battle we have known. To oust the interests" is no easy task, but If the heavy taxation of the tariff and private monopolies is to be lifted from the shoulders of con sumers we must get together. Every democrat in every state should pull unitedly and determinedly together. We may not need in November every vote in this state, but the cause of the Many does need the cooperation and friendly spirit and hard licks of every democrat throughout the campaign. No one is without influence, and a united pull in Alabama Is needful. The John son men should and assuredly will stand side by side with the Bryan men, and all will rejoice together in November when the battle of the Plain People is won, as it assuredly will be If friction and factions are wholly elim- mated. Get together. Recognize all as brother democrats. Sink individual ism in patriotism, and give the old his toric party a general boost. Do this and the victory is more than half won.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-26
HE FOLLOWED.
Evrybody's Magazine

Evrybody's Magazine.
 A nervous commuter, on his dark, lone- Iy way home from the railroad station, heard footsteps behind him. He had an uncomfortable feeling that he was being followed. He increased his speed. The footsteps quickened accordingly. The com muter darted down lane. The footsteps still pursued him. In desperation he vaulted over a fence and, rushing into a churchyard, threw himself panting on one of the graves.
 "If he follows me here" he thought fearfully, there can be do doubt as to his intentions"
 The man behind was following. He could hear him scrambling over the fence. Visions of highwaymen, maniacs, gar roters, and the like flashed through his brain. Quivering with fear the nervous one arose and faced his pursuer.
 What do you want?" he demanded. 'wh-why are you following me?"
 Say" asked the stranger, hopping his brow, "do you always go home like this, or are you giving yourself a special treat tonight? I'm going up to MT Browns. and the man at the station told me to fellow you, as you lived next door. Ex- cuse my asking you, but is there much nore to do before we get there?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-26
Another FiYe-By-FOur Decision

Pennsylvania levied tax of three fourths of 1 per cent on the gross re- ceipts of her railroads, nothing being said about tonnage or interstate or intrastate commerce. It was a tax on gross receipts wholly regardless of source or destination. This was about 40 years ago, and the validity of the tax was disputed, but the supreme court by vote of six to three held the tax to be valid, being in the nature of tax on the franchise of the roads.
 This decision was rendered in 1872, and several states proceeded to adopt this method of railroad taxation, not ably Texas and Ohio. The railroads concluded to test the validity of the Texas law, and by a fve-by-four deci- sion the courts own position was re- versed, and the state tax law of Texas pronounced invalid. Texas had taken care to tax the gross receipts of her railroads in proportion to the length of their tracks within the state.
 The chief embarrassment of the de- cision consists in the shifting position of the court. Its five-by-four decisions are accommodating, and no one feels sure that the court will not reverse its own precedents at any time.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-26
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
The Cheap Eare

Prom present indications large crowds will attend the reunion" said a district passenger agent Our road is preparing to haul more passengers than ever came to Birmingham on any former occasion.
 ''The rate is the same on all the lines in the territory of the Southeastern Pas senger association-one cent mile and where there are two or more lines or routes from the same point the price of the ticket is based on the mileage If shortest route. The return tickets are good from June to midnight of June 20 Tickets to Birmingham from any part of the southeastern territory will be on sale June 6, and 8. and from all points with in a radius of 100 miles of Birmingham tickets will also be on sale June Il, the day of the grand parade
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-26
Reunion Chorus.

''The festival chorus which sang with the .Innes band last week will be aug mented for the reunion," said member of the music committee. There will be a general rehearsal next Thursday night and it is hoped the attendance will be large.
 "The festival chorus was organized un- der adverse conditions. It was in Lent when many of the church choirs were busy reahearsiIfg Easter music. And the week following Easter we had the Sun day school convention here, with a large chorus as a feature. Under the circum- stances the festival chorus acquitted it. self, for the most part, very well. It numbered only about 70 voiees Now that the church chorus are not especially busy the reunion chorus should number not less than 200 voices
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-26
Anticipating the Crowd.

'T am told that there are already a number of 'fiimfiammers. in Birmingham familiarizing themselves with the city be- fore the old Confederates arrive here for the reunion," said man about the town yesterday.
 This Is a matter the police department should get in behind and keep pushing until the very last moment of assembly of the old veterans. Professional sharpers' make practice of travelling over the country, regularly visiting cities where conventions are held, and of all the people in the world who should be victimized by these individuals the old soldiers come last.
 'These professional 'flimfammers' are very smooth as a rule, but the police can. make it so warm for them if they will that their following will be unprofit- able, and the department should exert itself to make these swindlers scarce"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-26
BETTING ON THE WEATHER.

From the New York Times.
 Chicagos handbook king and former gambler is welded to his wickedness. Instead of reforming, or even continu- ing in his former evil practices in bet ting on the ponies he has wagered $l0,0OO on the weather, of all things. Nor is he reduced to such desperate devices to interest himself in life by the Illinois law against betting on the races, for, 50 far as is known here, the New York wave of reform has not extended to the west.
 Everybody is interested in Jim O'Leary' S bet, not only because everybody is in- terested in the weather, but because almost everybody is inteTozted in betting. In fact, almost everybody bets-although they may not be aware of 1t, or may be so well aware of 1t that they call it something else, Many have outstanding wagers IargeIy exceeding the Chicago gamblers, although they are, or may think that they are, shocked at rea1- ing that Jim has $10,000 at stake on whether or not 1t rains a majority of days of the current month, it having already rained thirteen. The dealers Tn straw hats, for instance, may perhaps have their solvency depend upon whether or not the May rains permit them to sell enough of their stock to meet their maturities. Clearly their risk is the same as "Jim's," and the same is true of every tradesman whose trade depends upon the temper of the skies
 In the last analysis where Jim" has dollars at stake the country has millions, or billions, for the crops depend upon the weather. and the stock market de- bends upon the crops.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-26
ALABAMA's PRIMARY.

From the New York Tribune
 It is amusing to see the anti-Bryan newspapers hereabout struggling to ad- just their preconceptions to the result of the Alabama primary. It has been their favorite contention that Bryan was foist- that his success in gathering in delegates there was due to the lamentable coward ice and supinesses of southern leaders Those leaders, we were told again and again, had only to unite and act on their own convictions, and the Bryan bubble would be pricked This judgment was however, woefully mistaken. The south ern leaders, as a class, do not like Bryan and would gladly rid themselves of his leadership. But they have to consult their own interests and they only follow the law of self-preservation in publicly supporting Bryan, whatever they may say about him in private. They realize that he has their constituencies behind him, and that if they made open war on him they would be in danger of losing their own leadership. Senator Bailey and Rep
  stance have little use for what they call Bryansm. But they could mot maintain themselves in Texas and in Mississippi if they declined to support Bryan for the presidential nomination. The New York Evening Post and the New York World have been confused by the comedy which southern senators and representatives have played. They are now beginning to realize that Bryan can easily dispense with the support of the southern leaders, for he is far more serviceable to them than they are to him. On a popular vote in any southern state he could defeat them and their presidential candidate. They are, therefore, tied up to him and can give him little or no trouble in the Denver convention. Alabamas vote indi- cates that the south will cheerfully fall in line behind the west in renominating Bryan.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-26

Chicago Dispatch to the Cincinnati En-
 qirer.
 = TATE street was blocked for six NN squares this afternoon by men - and women, who showed and pushed and scrambled for places to see a young woman walk by, clad in Direc- toire gown.
 A few thousand rubbernecks caught sight of a tall, graceful young woman clad in a gown that left nothing to be imagined when it came to a contempla- ton of the curves of her figure.
 But the rubbernecks awesomely looked for more than curves. They knew that the tightly fitting gown was slit from the hem to the knee on the left side. Occa- sionally through the slit the rubbernecks were able to catch glimpse of pale blue trouser, shaped something like rid ing trouser leg, but fitting much closer, that came down to the trim high heeled patent leather shoes like an overgaiter.
 The young woman was Bertha Carlisle, of Joe Weber's Merry Widow company and made the walk Directoire clad to win a bet of $500, which Joe Weber paid.
 "There she is! There she is!' shouted a fat woman, just outside of the hotel as the parade passed west on Jackson boule- yard.
 My, ain't 1t awful, Mabel!' she con tinued.
 "That's the limit" commented her com panion, and her other remarks were lost in the crowd.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-26
MAN AND HIS HAT.
From the Washington Herald

fTOIIl tile w dSliifiS lOI I1eid idiu
 We suppose the immutable law of sup ply and demand is the real cause under lying the sudden shrinking of the straw hats now being offered by haberdashers for mems wear, but that doesn't relieve them of their comical look. Naturally the Merry Widow headgear affected by the women this year pretty well used up the visible supply of material out of which is commonly manufactured sum- mer lids, and the articles prepared for men have necessarily fallen away in size to a mere nothing; decreased in inverse ratio to the developing responsiveness of female hats, as it were.
 In the matter of hats, we are con- strained to say that man Is getting any, thing but a square deal at this time. The rim, for instance, once of generous and useful proportions, has dwindled away to the merest hint of thing; there is practically nothing to it at all. It affords no sort of protection against the sun; it can't be seen, even, unless the hat is removed and carefully inspected in q strong light. As 1t is, the rim reminds one irresistibly of the human appendix, as viewed by the up-to-date surgical mind it resembles nothing so much as the infnitesimal remains of a once useful ob- ject dwarfed by a process of evolution into faint remainder of an erstwhile proud and worthy eminence
 We are disposed to be gallant in word and deed wherever and whenever the fair
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-26
SHE WORE A SHEATH SKIRT

"A bird, a bird; that's what she isl" shouted one ''old boy with gray whis-. Lers, who ran out of the Stratford Hotel.
 Then you could hear comments like these:
 Stunning, Look at those eyesl''
 Eyes? Did you get the effect of those blue trousers?"
 'Fiercei''
 "Greatr'
 Takes a woman with a good shape and lots of nerve
 At Jackson boulevard and State street, where the young woman turned north, there happened to be a puddle of muddy water and Miss Carlisle. who had the chain of a gold mesh purse tightly wrapped around one hand, raised her skirt with the other and
 "Ah-o-now, can you see them?" came from the rubbernecks. They weren't looking at her hat or her black eyes or her iong black lashes or the lapels of her coat. They were looking for the slit in the skirt of the gown and the charming glimpse of blue trousers, and some of them saw.
 Finally, Miss Carlisle, alarmed at the press of the crowds, was compelled to take refuge in a jewelry store to escape being crushed. Women fought madly to get view of the creation. Gloves were torn. A woman's skirt was ripped up the back. Another lost her belt, another her hat. Cultures were knocked to pieces.
 "No more Directoire gowns in Chicago -tr For cla bap she got safely back to her hotel.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-26

1t the fact stands disclosed that Roose- welt alone has a chance to win in No vember then Roosevelt will become the nominee. despite his own declara- tions and all pledges. All will be swept aside in order to present the best pos sible front in year of empty dinner pails, not one of which can be charged upon the democratic party, which was not in power in any branch of the government.
 Tafts lack of magnetism on the plat form deprives him of enthusiastic sup port anywhere. He is a hard worker, but he lacks the brilliancy that hoo doos the public mind. He is not a Blaine and the dash and courage of Roosevelt has. not been imparted to him. He lacks a popular enthusiastic following. Union labor distrusts him, and his own party in his own state is rent and torn by factions. All these things point to possibilities at Chicago, and the experts who are diagnosing the situation do not agree in their conclusions.