davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18
National Bank Reserve

Senator Johnston intends to offer an amendment to the Aldrich bill that aims to reduce the amount of reserve that the national banks can keep in New York. The amendment does not mention New York, but all know that reserve money flows there and not to Cnlcago or St. Louis, although the two last-named are also central reserve cities.
 At present the national banks keep six per cent. of the legal reserve at home, sending the other nine per cent. to New York. Senator Johnston pro- poses that ten per cent. shall be kept at home, leaving but five per cent. to be sent to New York.
 These changes in percentages would reduce the accumulations of cash in New York over 100000. Senator Johnstons amendment would, if it be- came law, reduce speculation and stock gambling, it would perhaps eliminate the Morses in federal bank ing. One of the greatest evils of the national banking system is the con- centration of money in New York.
 The original Aldrich bill contained a provision similar to the one offered by Senator Johnston, but strong infiu- ences caused it to be stricken out. It is believed that Senator Johnston will press his amendment to vote at any rate, and a lineup on stock jobbing wih be interesting.
 The New York Journal of Commerce calls attention to the dangers of the situation in time of panic. While the fear of loss," it says, Ted local de- positors to draw their money from New York banks, the same kind of ap- prehension was awakened in reserve cities and throughout the country, and their banks began to draw on deposits | that were counted as reserves and the whole drain centered upon New York with exhausting effect. The result was that New York banks were forced in | self-defense to resist as much as they could and avoid paying their own local depositors as far as possible, and there was a general suspension of cash pay ments from sheer force of necessity for the self-preservation of banks and the avoidance of widespread commer- cial as well as financial disaster. It is well to have the possible conse- quences of this precarious reserve sys. tenn fully realized. It is one of the things calling loudly for remedy, and stress is rightly to be put upon it in l cnnsidariug q re&nrm of ollr hankina
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18
Refund of Cotton Tax

In the present effort to secure re- fund of s6s,OOO0OO illegally collected during the war from raw cotton, only the principal is asked for. The inter- est on the sums due for forty years is ignored. If the pending bill should be- come law Alabama would receive $10,- 3SS,072. The only state that would re- ceive more would be Georgia, the amount due her people being $11,897,. 094. Mississippi would get s8,742,995, and Louisiana, s10,09S,501.
 The sugar bounty claims and the French spoliation claims were duly paid, and there is no reason why the cotton claims should not also be paid. The tax acts were passed between 1863 and 1868, four acts in all, and the rate of taxation in one of them was carried up to three cents pound. Only once was the constitutionality of these acts questioned. The test case arose in Memphis, and when it was rried to the United States supreme court only eight justices heard it, and they stood four to four. This meant an affirmance of the judgment of the circuit court which was in favor of the legality of the tax. But all good law yers are practically agreed in these dispassionate days that the tax was illegal. All the acts were repealed in 1868.
 Congressman Frank Clark of Florida is endeavoring to have the cotton tax money refunded chiefly on the ground that it was taxation without represen- tation, for when the tax acts were passed none of the southern states were represented in Congress. In the raursa of a recent speech he said: "It
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18
Music and Enulish.

..T was sorry to read Conrieds an- inouncement that no opera would be sung in English at the Metropolitan next sea- son." said a Birmingham musician.
 ..It must be admitted that operas sound better. as a rule, when sung in the lan- euage of the libretto in which it was originally written; but there are excep- tions. Eight or ten standard operas, the librettos of which are translated into En- glish. lose little or nothing by the trans- lation, so far as the musical setting goes. And on general principles. where English can be used in this country without sac ridciug art, am in favor of it.
 ..The trouble with so many singers IS their failure to enunciate clearly. Her man Klein a prominent voice teacher in Now York. declares that the English lan- yuaee when properly enunciated. is as beautiful and as moving as the Italian He says that pure enunciation in the in ternretation of English versions of the opera would, in his opinion, not so much vulsarize the opera as 'operaize' the pub lie.
 ..Mr Klein, in discussing the subject, has this to say:
 My purpose is to arouse the lost inter est in the highest type of English song, sung by American singers and exclusive ly in the English tongue. During the six years have been in New York 1t has be- come palpable to me that the English lan- suage is not the favorite medium or the music lovers of thtis city. By music lov- CTS I mean those who appreciate song music of the highest level-the eauivaient of the German iieder. Almost any vocal ist now starts with a bit of the old ltai- ian scnool, follows with few selections of Schubert. schumann or Liszt and some selections from the French and Russian,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18
From the Washington Post.

from the WaSnlngrOn PoSt.
 MA oL. William F. Cody ('Buffalo " Bill'') of Cody. wyo., looking as
 young as he did ten years ago, was the center of little group of distin- guished men in the lobby of the New Willard last night. In the party were former Senator Stewart of Nevada and Rear Admiral sigsbee, retired. Colonel Cody had to break off from his reminis- cences every now and then to shake hands with friends, among whom were statesmen, army officers, government of ficials, and others. ~-Buffalo Bin' still looks the hero of the plains that years ago fired the young American imagina- tion. Save, perhaps, a few more white hairs, there is no evidence of advancing age in Colonel Cody, although he has his Wild West show there must be In- dians, and the government exacts certain formalities before the red men, the wards of the nation, are permitted to leave their reservations To make the necessary ar engagements is what brings Colonel Cody to Washington. It will be remembered that Buffalo Bill,'' when an officer in the army, ran to cover the much-want- ed Sitting Bull in the last uprising among the Sioux Indians.
 q frequently read about the courage of Sitting Bull,'' said Colonel Cody. "He was not courageous; he was merely po- litical dsturber, medicine man, or, as would be called in cities, ward pollti- clan. He harangued his followers and in cited them to violence; then he would
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18
Soft Drinks Business.

''The traffic in soft drinks is increasing rapidly in all southern cities that have come under prohibition law" remarked S. P. Hutzler of Philadelphia, now visit ing Birmingham. "The drinking of coca cola, limeade, and other temperance bey- erages Is a habit that grows on the pub lie, and, fortunately, it is a harmless habit, so far as health and morals are concerned.
 'I have been struck with the large number of attractive establishments in Birmingham where soft drinks are dis pensed. I do not think I have seen so many in any other city. I have no idea how many of these establishments there are, but all of them seem to be getting a good share of business. It looks to a stranger as if the soft drinks trade here was larger than the saloon business in most cities the size of Birmingham.
 .'Fifteen years ago the soda fountain played comparatively little part in the volume of business, but today it is in evil dence everywhere, and the traffic in non- alcoholic drinks is still in its infancy
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18
Reunion pecorations.

Birmingham has never been so pro- fusely decorated in festive occasions as other cities in the south, but | believe for the forthcoming reunion of the vet erans all the business houses and many residences will be in gala dress" said Capt. J. l.. Darby, adjutant of Camp Hardee.
 There Is ample time to prepare TOT decorations, and showy effects can be made at comparatively little cost. l hope our citizens will take an interest in this matter. The reunion will be a grand social and patriotic event, and the city, of course. should look it's best"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18
Army Recruits.

Applicants for enlistment in the United States army were plentiful in January, and the recruiting station here made high record, but recruits are not so numerous this month," said newly enlisted man. ,"The falling off is good sign that industrial prosperity is return- ing. In January thousands of men in this section were out of employment, and there was no assurance that conditions would improve soon. But now that men who were idle are being put back to work and the prospects for permanent im- provement are growing brighter every day, it naturally follows that fewer men offer for enlistment. Only men of first rate character and sober habits are ac- cepted in time of peace. In fact, the standard both in point of intelligence and character as we'll as physical condition, is high. as indeed it should be. Congress Is about to increase the pay of the private soldier. This will have a favorable effect in the matter of securing recruits; but l think that the average young man who has any taste for military life would do well to serve Uncle Sam in the army for a term of three years. Discipline Is a valuable thing in itself. Many fellow of common school education and upright morals fails in his battle with the world simply because he has never been sub iected to discipline. Every man should be high spirited, but he should also be trained to obey orders without grumbling. Tho o r,r,v ;s the very school to take con- ceit and pride of opinion out of a young man and to reform his careless and sloy- enly ways"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18
GRAND THRAsuINc pEVIVA

 GRAND THRAsHING REVIVAL. Oh, well do I remember When I was a little chap. The hand that rocked the cradle Later on applied the strap.
 Birmingham Age-Herald. An, well do I remember How I used to squirm and twitch When the hand that fixed the "waterfall'' Later on applied the switch.
 -ohio Sun. Oh, well do I remember When pa laid down the law l usually saw the finish With wallop on the jaw.
 Toledo Blade. have not yet forgotten, I only wish could, The hand that hit the hardest Was the hand that sawed the wood.
 St. Louis Times. And, l guess you all remember When green apples brought disaster The hand that used the slipper Applied the horseradish plaster.
 Houston Post. But the hand that hit the hardest And left the deepest traces Was the hand that rapped my little flush With four big juicy aces.
 Nashville Tennessean. Nor yet have I forgotten Some arms that used to cling For the hand that sports a diamond Was the hand that got the ring.
 Montgomery Advertiser. An. well do I remember The day I "hooSy" played: When father with an elm switch My epidermis fiayed.
 Mobile Register. But worse do I remember And say It with blush The hand that made impressions With the ever handy brush.
 -Anniston Star. Ring off, ye punky poets, Ere we smite thee on the jaw; The palm that ought to hit ye Is the heavy hand of law.
 Chattanooga Times. A Connecticut school teacher is ask ine, damages because her superintendent said she needed a bath. Nothing worse can be said about a woman, unless it is to insinuate that her feet are too large STUNG. St. Valentine his day has gone, A good old saint was he. I'd like to find the chump who sent The comic kind to me!
  'An Elmwood man wants to sell his wife for $50." says the Youngstown Tele- gram. That's fancy figure for these Lard times.
 Are you ready for the spring?" asks a contemporary Yep; we've had some spring "pomes" on ice all winter. Coal Oil Johnny is dead. No doubt, he expected to die some day.
 LOVE AND POVERTY. In June he took
 A little bride,
 But hard times came
 And romance died. Jersey mosquitoes are reported to have defied the cold. We expect to hear of them defying Jersey lightning next.
 PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
The Districts Large PPax Rolls.


 While the pay rolls of the Birmingham district are not quite so large as they were before the panic of last fall, they are considerably larger than they were in the early part of January, and much greater than they were four or five years ago." said a man who is prominent in the industrial world.
 'It is safe to say that industrial condi- tions are as solid here as they are in any manufacturing center in the United States. One has but to visit the Ten nessee company's Ensley plant to see a high degree of wage earning activity. The magnitude of operations there Is revelation to those who have not kept up with the course of development at the steel works. Over 5000 men are employed in the Tennessee company's Ensley di- vision every day, and upward of 4ooo names are on the rolls, there. I heard Vice President Crockard say recently that 12,o00 men are now employed by the Ten nessee company in the Birmingham dls- tlict. This number is about up to the company's maximum.
 Add the number of wage earners at work for other eompanies-large and small-and the total in the greater dis trict will total fully 50,0O0. This Is in- deed fine showing. Ten years ago, per- haps few persons imagined that such large army of workmen would find em- ployment here When prosperity gets In full swing again 75,OO0 wage earners will be needed in the greater Birmingham dis trict. In the meantime Birmingham IS certainly to be congratulated on the fact that notwithstanding trade recession throughout the country, business IS in excellent shape in this section"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18

He was so graceful and natural: he spoke his lines with ease and smiled all over his face! "A born actor!" said, although Joey was my son. Whenever I think of him in that stage garden weep for pride, and for sorrow, too, because before he was 30 my son had left the stage-he who had it all in him.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR

From the New York Press.
 Next to being pretty a girl would rather you told her so.
 A boy could nearly always earn his living if his parents couldn't.
 A woman is seldom ever sincere with out suspecting it hurts her social posi- ton.
 What a woman likes about studying up a subject is it makes her content not to understand 1t.
 A man can be proud of his son for wearing clothes that he himself would de ns rnnrtiHnatinn to be seen in.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18
THE BUTToNHoLER.

THE BUTTONHOLER. The buttonholer is chap
 Who seems to think that he Is master of the happiness
 Allotted you and me.
 No matter how the time may press,
 He'll grab you as you go And speak at length on politics.
 Or tell his tale of woe.
 No duty ever interferes
 With what he has to say, He's either coming from his work,
 Or to it s on his way. But never have we caught him yet
 Engaged at any job,
 Save that of buttonholing us-
 We say 1t with a sob.
 If early morn, or noon, or night
 'Tis all the same to him. Like fate he trails us everywhere,
 Disconsolate and grim.
 With Just a minute," off he starts
 Upon long harangue,
 While we who cannot break away
 Would gladly see him hang. A Birmingham man put leter to his mother in an envelope addressed to his sweetheart and letter to his sweethea it in an envelope addressed to his mother. Still that Is not as bad as the man who once wrote a. letter to his sweetheart and put it in an envelope addressed to his wife.
 Georgia comes forward-and this is the solemn truth-with a candidate for of flee named, Fuller Wind As a matter of fact, did you ever see one that wasn't?" says the Washington Herald. It's Q cinch that no Georgia candidate could be Fuller Booze"
 ''The hatred woman feels for the woman who gets her lover away from her is as mild as sweet cream compared with the feeling she has for the woman who chases her widower father" says
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18

Congressman Tim Sullivan has just distributed shoes at a cost of $S0,0O0 in his district, and every pair means vote in his favor next fall. It is a good form of graft.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18
OLD GoUGER.

OLD GOUGER. All he wants is money, Cares not for the sunny
 Side of life. All he does is labor, Trampling on his neighbor In the strife. Has no fun and frolic Like the rude, bueolic Shepherd lad. Never see him smiling In a mood beguiling-
 Never glad. When it comes to dying, Then hell start to signing For the bliss That his fond ambition, Leading to perdition,
 Made him miss.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18
PLAYING POLITICS.

''Flatter the passions of the day and you become hero at once," says Hon. ore de Balzac in one of his novels, "The Member for Arcis.' This is an epigram that singularly fits the politics of today. It is the aim of every southern demagogue to tame the railroads so they will come up and eat out of his hand, walk on their hind legs and turn somersaults at word.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18
THE DISTINCTION.

From Harper's Bazaar.
 And do you mean to say you prefer Cholie? You told me that you always
 feel so perfectly at home with Algie." 'So I do, but with Chollie feel as if I were at a restaurant"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18

Only baseball players who are on the water wagon are in demand. Even Rude Waddell suffers salary reduc- tons and prestige because he stays off the wagon.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18
HIGH STAKES.

From Harpers Bazaar. y
 Stella: An exciting bridge game?
 Bella: Very; we played for each oth- CTS cooks
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18

When the Vanderbilts offer to pawn the family jewels the three-ball indus try becomes highly respectable and almost aristocratic.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18

New York World: Mrs. Eddy's dearest way to save that sSoO.OO0 is to convince the city of Concord that back-tax dues are mortal error.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18

John Hays Hammond has lost his s250,0O0 job and his vermiform appen. dix. Misfortunes never come singly. These did not, however, tread on each others heel
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18

Hattiesburg News: The dead-beat is dead in name only. He is about as hard to kill as the pestiferous housefy.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18

Savannah News: One of the worst fea- lures about the blizzard in Atlanta was that, notwithstanding the abundance of ice on every hand, there was nothing to mix with it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18

Louisville Herald: A moving picture trust has been formed. Any hope of it falling out with the phonograph trust?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18

The Denver brass bands are already practicing Hail to the Chief" and t4ey will be ready to fire it out at every opportunity in convention week.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18

The southern delegates who are anti-Iaft are called bolters in adminis- tration circles at Washington.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18

Washington's birthday anniversary is cc@ling, and no poetry is needed in observing it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18

Comptroller Ridgely is the son-in-law of Senator Cullom, but he is about to lapse into a national bank presidency.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18

The New York-to-Paris autos ar, getting Alaskan weather from tn, very outset.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18

Hungary seems to be acquiring the Vanderbilt roads piecemeal, and liar riman may yet have real rival.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18

The pay of private soldiers is to go up $2 month with no increase in the pay of army officers. These be indeed parlous times.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18

Taft is a chronic traveller, and some fear he would not stay in the White House if he should get a lease of it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18
THE REAL TEST.

True greatness only once I knew Alas, the man is dead! He went to match spool of silk And didn't lose his head.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18

The Szechenyis have sailed away carrying s5,OO0,OO0 along and the De Cnaulneses will soon do likewise. Next.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18

New York is hardening the motor car racers to Alaskan and Siberian weather conditions.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18

Witzhoff got but little out of 32 mar riages, while Szechenyi got $12,0OO,OOO out of one.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18

The Ohio river refuses to go dry. It does not care to be in fashion
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18

Denver hopes to keep the conven- tion in it's esteemed midst four days.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18

Governor Johnson of Minnesota pro. poses to get even by going on the Chautauqua circuit.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18

There are many snowbanks, it ap- pears, between New York and Paris.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18

The round-the-world motor racers are stuck in New York snowbanks.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18

The spring styles in freshests are very bold.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES

the Atchison Globe. You hit the buira eye that time, brother. Step up and get your eigari
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18
AROUND THE COUNTRY

Dallas News: It may be so some time that a. man will want hero medal for making an ass of himself.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18

Austin Statesman: Since language was not invented to conceal thought but to express it we believe in big and little having convictions and the courage to express them.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18

and currency system. which has been so long neglected to the peril of the country's progress"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18
A PHENOMENON IN PHYSICS.

It is easier to carry girl weighing 1SO pounds than it is to carry a sack of flour weighing only 25 pounds
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18

Houston Post: MT. Bryan says the English do not chase after the almighty dollar until they drop dead. It wouldn't do any good, anyway. We have, the swiftest chasers over here
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18

Washington Herald: There is many a riage and divorce. Generally slips of pa- per about two inches wide by six inches long, calling for a few million dollars.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18

Washington Post A writer in the New York Evening Post says ia sensible per son. breathes about IS times a minute. One can now form a better estimate of ones neig'hbors by closely observing their respiration.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18

Richmond Dispatch: After think ing over the matter with great and serious carefulness. we can suggest no way in which unhappy marital relations and divorce can be prevented as long as the supply of Richmonds little star-eyed blondes remains so absurdly short of the overwhelming demand.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18

Louisville Courier Journal: In Journal cartoon. Atlanta is pictured as an old man, sans hair, sans teeth, sans every thing. Before prohibition hit Georgia that city appeared in every cartoon look ing like buxom girl about IS years old, and from Missouri :,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18

Entered at the Birmingham Aia.' s postoffice as second-class matter uAuSA act of Congress March 3, 1873.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-18

Oh, well do remember When l was a little chap. The hand that rocked the cradle Later on applied the strap.
 Birmingham Age-Herald