davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-24
Illinois New Primary Law

After a long struggle between the politicians and the people of Illinois a comprehensive compulsory primary law was enacted, and, it is to be util- ized for the first time on August 3. Under it all candidates of all parties. state, congressional, legislative, coun- l ty and city, are to be selected on one day in primaries. Except Pennsylva- mia, no state has had more or viler po- litical bosses than Illinois, and all good citizens look forward to the coming primary for relief from the evils of bossism.
 The Chicago Tribune predicts that Illinois experiment in popular and di- rect rule will spread to other states It even goes so far as to say that it may lead to the abolition of all con yentions. It says: 'If this direct sys- tenn of choosing party candidates is pronounced successful in Illinois from the backwoods of Egypt to the tenements of Chicago-it is the opinion of its advocates that other states will fall in line, and that those common wealths already possessing primary laws will proceed to mack them direct and compulsory in character.
 Even more than this hinges on the outcome of the voting two weeks from next Saturday. A national direct pri- mary law for the selection of presiden- tial and vice presidential candidates without the intervention of national conventions is beginning to be talked | of This talk has been conspicuously prevalent during the last month, in which period of time both the repub- lican and the democratic national con- ventions were held.
 "In each case the presidential candi- date of the party was really nominated in advance of the assembling of the convention. The people had expressed their preferences in the sending of in structede delegates to the conventions, andNthe gatherings themselves became in large part mere formalities. It was remarked by many leaders that na- tional conventions were beginning to | lost their functions and eventually would become thing of the past"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-24
ICE CREAM FOLLOWS THE FLAG

From the New 1Ork w orlu.,
 American ice cream also has followed the flag. It is eaten in China, India, Ja- ran, Australia and the Samoan Islands. And if the original brick Is marked Made Tn New York" the marking is a high trib7 ute to the perfection of the refrigerating outfit of the modern liner Cream in as- sorted favors goes out from this port In n North German Lloyd steamship is kept snug and cold till it gets to Europe and Is then transferred to a boat of the cont Iany's far East service.
 As a missionary of good will may one not almost back ice cream against fleet of battleships? Certainly if all the world always kept cool there would be no hot rush into battle. War is a fever and re- quires temperature.
 The manufacture of American ice cream is no infant industry. It has so grown ur that it leves a daily toll of $50,000 on New York City alone, at retail rates. No coni- petition is feared from the pauper freezers of effete Europe.
 In bringing 1t to pass that the sun never gets on American ice cream we have build- ed better than the most sanguine of the fathers anticipated.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-24
Chila'S Gratitude to America

The total amount of indemnity takel, by this country, not including loot, on account of the Boxer disturbances in China was in round numbers $25,000,- 900. After paying the expenses of the war and navy department in the raid on Pel1in, and after settling all claims of American citizens, and after setting aside $2000,O00 to meet any possible claims that may be presented here after, there remains the sum of $10- SG0,OOO which this government has de- cided to remit to China.
 China shows her gratitude by send ing here high commissioner to ex- press her thanks. This high commis- sioner is Tang-Shao-Yi, governor of the province of Mukden and ex-presi- dent of the board of foreign affairs. When he arrives he has been author ized to tell the president that his gov ernment intends to spend the sum re- -.iitted in the United States by send ing here to be educated for four years 100 students, and after that time 50 students year until the sum remitted shall be exhausted. Thus the United States gets a compliment in return for it's act of plain justice.
 The other nations that took large sums from China in the Boxer out
 break get nothing, because they have
 remitted nothing. In the long run their shamelessness and robbery of a
 helpless people will perhaps be set 1 right. China holds an immense popu-
 lation, and in various trade ways she
 can adjust the international robberies.
 The United States did right to get out
 of the disgraceful affair in the quickest
 possible manner.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-24
STAND FOR SOMETHING.

orison Swett Warden, in Success Maga
 zine.
 The greatest thing that can be said of a man, no matter how much he has achieved, is that he has kept his record clean.
 Z Why is 1t that, in spite of the ray ages to time, the reputation of Lincoln grows larger and his character means more to the world every year? It s because he kept his record clean, and never prosituted his ability nor gam bled with his reputation.
 Where, in all history, is there an ex- ample of a man who was merely r1ch, no matter how great his wealth, who exerted such a power for good, who has been such living force in civil fzation, as this poor backwoods boy , what a powerful Illustration of the fact that character is the greatest force in the world
 man assumes importance and be- comes a power in the world just as soon as it is found that he stands for something; that he is not for sale; that he will not lease his manhood for salary, or for any amount of money or for any influence or position; that he will not lend his name to anything which he cannot indorse.
 The trouble with so many men today is that they do not stand for anything outside their vocation. They may bo well educated, well up in their special ties, may have lot of expert knowl edge, but they cannot be depended upon. There is some flaw in them which takes the edge off their virtue. They may be fairly honest, but you cannotbank on them.
 It Is not difficult to find lawyer or a physician who knows a good deal who is eminent in his profession; but 1t is not so easy to find one who Is man before he is a lawyer or physi- clan, whose name is a synonym TOT a.. that Is clean, reliable, solid substan tial. It is not difficult to find a good prea cher; but 1t Is not so easy to fno a real man, sterling manh ood, back | of the sermon. It is easy to ma sue cessful merchants, but not so easy te find men who put character abpve mer' obandise What the world wants ii
 men who have principle underlying their exnertness, principle under theil
 law. their medicine. their business men who stand for sometn1ng outsid' of their offices and stores; who stand | for something in tnelr community whose very presence carries "eisne'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-24

ed as freely in all ranks of society as baseball is here, and the attendance $ unprecedented. The starium seats 40,0OO people, and it is crowded every day. Women as well as men have caught the fever, and even Queen Al exandra is not exempt from it.
 Some complaint has been expressed over the insufficiency of the rules and regulations for deciding championship honors, but British sportsmen are pro. verbally fair, and no doubt substantial justice will be done to all. Interna- tional contests should certainly be judged in a manner that will not pro- duce friction.
 These athletic contests will promote our standing as worlds power, for something besides battleships is need ed in that respect All our attain ments elevate our position before the eyes of other nations, and this is one reason why the Shepherds Bush meet ing is considered rather more than an ordinary event. It is international, and the effort there is to ascertain where the best athletes in the world live and what sports they customarily in- dulge in.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-24
THE MORNING NEWSPAPER.

From the Detroit Free Press.
 A woman's suriosity to know about so-
 ciety, marriages, births, deaths, forces her
 to- read the morning newspaper. The
 morning paper is before her all day long,
 and it is when she is doing her house.
 hold duties, arranging and improving the
 appearance of her home that the missing
 end necessary articles of furniture, rugs,
 carpets, curtains or other necessary arti-
 cles show up the plainest and there could
 be no more opportune time for dealer to
 tell about the new designs the new styles
 and bargains offered for the day or week. In a majority of homes, particularly the cnes to whom the business men cater, the newspaper is practically the bulk of the reading matter and the long, all-day life from a. m. to p. m. of the morning pa- per gives not only the housewife but every
 member of the family an opportunity to read it. It is read at the breakfast table, again at home at noon, on the cars, in the restaurants. It is read in doctors offices professional offices, clubs hotels, cafes, barber shops. It is read everywhere you go by both employer and employe. It is a known fact that, possibly with a half dozen exceptions, the papers with editorial influences and national reputa- tion are morning papers.
 With these facts in mind, the business man who Is looking after the real money spenders of the family to interest In his goods will consult his best interests by placing his announcements where the women will read them.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-24
Never Felt Panic.

"Dothan has extended an invitation to the Alabama Press association to hold its next meeting there" said w. T. Hall, ed- itor of the Dothan Eagle we have a. thriving town of 70O0 population, and I am sure that the members of the association would enjoy visit to our part of the state. The association has never met south of Montgomery except when it held It's meeting in Mobile, and I am very hopeful that the committee will decide to accept our invitation.
 'Dothan is the capital of a rich agricul- turai county-Houston. The panic did not touch us and all we knew about it was what we read in the papers. The cotton crop is in splendid condition; corn is all right; we raised a fine melon crop, and altogether our people have great cause to be thankful; and they are thankful and happy"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-24
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
General Manager Baker Here.


 General Manager Horace Baker of the Queen and Crescent route arrived in Bri- mingham yesterday. and is especially optimistic when discussing the industrial situation.
 Things are improving since the nomi- nations are over. The people seem more satisfied for the future. As to railroad conditions, earnings are gradually im- proving. although the process Is slow. The figures will show a small increase for July.
 "The peach and watermelon crops cer- tainly helped the railroad business this season..
 Mr. Baker Is a member of the Sunshine committee of Cincinnati. whose object 1t is to keep as many men employed. and help boom the industrial situation as much as possible He stated that the Alabama Great Southern's business to and from Birmingham has increased over the last three months, and hopes that in the future it will be necessary for the road to employ extra forces.
 q have been very favorably impressed by the cotton crop while travelling over the south. It seems to be in the pink of condition. and the farmers are to be con- graduated on their showing up to date. Alabama cotton will make a large crop if there are no mishaps."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-24
THE OTHER SIDE.
,e Cincinnati

New York Correspondence Cincinnati
 Times-Star.
 The best show in town on Sunday evenings is Dr. Percy Stickney Grants parlor discussions of socialism at the Church of the Ascension. Often people speak who truly grieve Dr. Grant, but he can't head 'em off. The other night Charles Johnson handed the saloons an awful wallop. He had just completed an exposition of the misery they cause when a large young man got up. "This guy you just been wastin' your time listenin' to-" was his pleasant overture, "is developIn' an awful voltage of hot air. If he used the sense he was born with, he'd see that he was all wrongs A guy like me can go to a saloon, get q drink for dime that smakes me feel better and stick around in warm, well-lisnted place in good com pany as long as want to. This John- son party aint offered nothin better than the saloon gives the poor man."
 As he sat down a whiskered East Slider popped up from his chair Dr. Grant tried to head him off, but he beat the barrier and was away winging. "Algohol! Ago holp' he shouted. Always it iss algohol tat is planned for eferydings. It iss non- sense tat haf been hsdening to. Deie iss vorts and vorts and vorts vitout sense. Vat iss der misery cause, I ask 1t? Squeezersl Dat iss it. Squeezers! Boobies grinding down der workers. Ago. hol iss goot Ach, himmel, algohol iss such a fine veeling der stomach in"
 Dr. Grant hammered his gavel into whisk broom and sought to speak But just as he opened his mouth, a young man slipped In under his guard. T used ter belong to a lunch of temperance clubs" le shouted And, say! Honest to Gawd they was the q ly clubs l ever belonged to where everybody had the belyachc You couldn't hear nothin' in them places only how tough everybody's luck was Urea kin fer 'em."
 Dr. Grant gasped and announced that the meeting was closed. He kept up steady tattoo on the desk as the crowd filed out, in twos and threes filing com- ments on people and things.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-24
GIRLS AVOID ARREST.

New York Correspondent Cincinnati
 Times-Star.
 Nassau street is about as wide as country lane, and more people use 1t hourly than any other street in town. Consequently a crowd gathers there on slight provocation. But there was excuse for the crowd the other day, when pass ersby, looking up to the tenth floor of an office building, saw two pretty girls step out on the cornice, edge along the wall away from the window, and then sit down and swing their heels over space Ann and Nassau streets lay about 100 feet below them. From the pavement the cornice on which the girls were perched didn't seem to give room for a sparrow. Then a copper was seen to poke his head out of the window and withdrew it hurriedly. Four French heels swung high in the air, and flashes or dainty lingerie might be seen as the vagrant breezes puffed A poolroom had been raided The two girls were the telephone operators employed in it. They very naturally wanted to avoid arrest and this was the easiest way to do 1t. The coppers begged them to come in and the girls laughed. The cops said they would come out and get them, and the girls laughed some more. And finally moved by admiration of the girls spunk, the policemen went away. After time they edges along to the window, climbed Tn with one parting dutter of skirts and were seen no more. For an hour Nassau had been jammed by interested watch org
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-24
London's 0lympian Games

Tn the international athletic festivals held in London under the aegis of the old Greek games the American con testants have won many events. They were outrun, it is true, by South Af- rican youth, but in nearly all the con tests in which they took part they scored victories The American team will come home loaded down with honors.
 The sports are held in or near the Shepherds Bush stadium in London and they have been increasing in pop ularity ever since the opening day London, says one correspondent, is fast becoming athletic mad. TAe olym plan jumpers and runners are dSScuss
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-24
CONCERNING TEXAS BRIDES

.Mrs F1oro Bartholomew McLead en- tertained the Brides club Friday after noon. A lovely afternoon was passed. delightful luncheon was served and all the husbands clothes and hose darned. Mrs. Grace Gould Wright was elected to membership being g recent bride"
 In other words because three or four newly-weds of the little city of Pales- tine met that Friday afternoon and, ac- cording to the society editor, darned the husbands clothes and hose, all Texas brides are incomparable. The logic Of the argument is lame. Three or four brides do not make the grand army Of Texas brides any more than a swallow makes summer. It is not proved that the three or four brides met and lunch eoned and sewed, even. It is perfectly possible for them to have had press agent give a wrong tip to the local newspaper. You can imagine one of the brides meeting the society editor on Main treet Friday morning and informing her that "the Brides club was going" to meet and was going to luncheon and was going to darn the pants and socks and the society editor may have accepted the fake information in good faith, and put it in the paper in the past tense. How was the society reporter to know otherwise?
 But there is another way of darn ing pants and socks than by using needle. That is by using Language and tempers May not the Brides club of Palestine have darned the husbands clothes thusly?
 Under the circumstances Kentuckians refuse to be convinced The Kentucky bride stands unsurpassed and unsurpass- able.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-24
The Sloss-S Sheffield.

President J. C. Maben of the Sloss-Shef- field company, who is now in New York, expects to return to Birmingham Monday. When the regular annual meeting of the Sloss-Sheffield was held in March, MT. Maben was absent in Italy on account of the illness of his daughter there, and owing to such absence his report for the fiscal year was not submitted. Vice Pres ident w. J. Mcqueen, however, submit ted the figures covering operations.
 On his return from Europe MT. Maben went to work on his report and read it at a meeting of the board of directors held in New York yesterday. It is said that a feature of the report is compre- hensive statement of the raw material properties of the company. In speaking of this point yesterday a local stockholder company said:
 ''The directors have long been satisfied with the high value of the Sloss-Sheffield ore and coal lands, and hence have never asked, at least to my knowledge, for an appraisement. But MT. Maben has, for the first time, gathered from various re- ports of geologists and mining engineers who have examined the properties, vai- uable data, and presented it In most interesting and convincing manner. Whether the substance of this report reached New York in advance or not do not know, but something has been causing the price of Sloss stock to ad- Vance steadily Sinca JlllY 1 SlOSS com mon has risen $10 a share, and there has been large buying. Today 1t sold for 63 and a fraction. Preferred has also been going up. The last quotations this week were 9S to 99."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-24
Dallas and the Elks.

'The annual grand lodge of the Benevo- tent Protective Order of Elks, which met at Dallas was largely attended, and was, as usual, a pleasant occasion," said Frank Arrico, who has just returned from Texas.
 "On the day of the big parade 27,ooo Elks registered and received souvenir badges. For a great convention like the Elks con vention, large hotel accommodations are needed. As there are only three first class hotels in Dallas, we were somewhat crowded, but, thanks~to the hospitality and public spirit of the citizens, thousands of the visitors were comfortably cared for m private houses.
 Dallas must be a wealthy as well as a generous city, for fund of considerably over $10O,000 was raised for our entertain nent One feature alone cost $35,0OO. It was a steel arch, surmounted by the huge figure of an elk, and brilliantly illumi- hated. Another feature that cost was the badge. As each Elk was presented with one of these badges and as there were z, ,0OO of them, the total was considerable. I estimated that the badges cost about ao cents apiece. Still another feature that cost was the music. One of the bands numbered 75 pieces, and as most Of the musicians had to be brought from outside, the expense was considerable.
 'We go next year to Los Angeles, one of the greatest convention cities in this country. It is large, rich, and up-to-date Tn the way of diverting features. Dallas is rather small for an affair like the Elks' tharafnra ha fund that was raised was all the more credi- table and noteworthy
 'I visited Fort Worth and other Texas towns, and was struck with the signs of growth and progress"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-24
SONN EFT.
By John Keats

By John Keats. To one who has been long in city pent, 'Tis very sweet to look into the fair And open face of heaven-to breathe
 prayer Eull in the smile of the blue Armament. Who is more happy, when with hearts
 content,
 Fatisued he sinks into some pleasant
 lair Of wavy grass, and reads debonair And gentle tale of love and languish-
 ment? Returning home at evening, with an ear Catching the notes of Philomel-an eye Watching the sailing cloudlets bright
 career.
 He mourns that day so soon has glded
 by; Even like the passage of an angels tear That falls through the clear ether si-
 lently.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-24
Jones for President of Council.

Now that the contest for Mayor has been settled" said Wilson Brown last night. "the race for president of the City Council holds the center of the stage in municipal politics.
 "It looks like Harry Jones to me by at least 1000 majority. In a canvas of~one floor of the First National bank build ing today out of 27 voters seen 19 were for Jones, for Cooper and non-com- initial. I believe this ratio will obtain throughout.
 Harry Jones is the best fitted man in Birmingham, in my opinion, for the po- sition of president of the council. His long experience on the board of alder men. his thorough acquaintance with all municipal problems. both past and pres ent, make him the man for the job.
 T think his election is assured"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-24
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.
m the New York Press.

From the New fork Press.
 One of the most successful ways to make money is not to need it.
 If Central always gives you the right number in heaven it will really seem to be.
 A woman can help her husband to en- joy himself when he goes anywhere by not going with him.
 What a woman likes about riding m an automobile is maybe she will meet some- body she hates walking.
 Very hard work about Icing in love with a girl is all the interest you have to fake up in her family.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-24
From the Louisville courier-Journal.

From the Louisville Courier-Journal.
 @ HE sweet-singing hyperbolist of (CD the Houston Post bursts into
 rhapsodic slaves of rhetorical melody over the Texas bride. Bend the ear and you will catch this as the burden of his lay:
 'sThe Texas bride has a mission In life. She has a husband to direct and control. She keeps him in neat trim all the time and feeds him until he is so happy that 1t would require a sheriff and four con stables to drag him away from home at night. She is no hammock swinger lam guidly dreaming the days away. She IS no poodle-fondler. She never suffraget- torates.
 'She is a jasmine-scented, rosk-cheeked, red-headed pinionless angel, and more She Is a sock-darner and a pants-patcher She is battercake-fiapper and wai1le- turner. She is pie-architect and layer cake contractor. And a chicken-fryer and a hash-constructor for the gods.
 "The roses chamber over the lattices Of her home The honeysuckles cling to her front yard fence. The mockingbirds sing all night long in the tree tops while she sleeps.
 "she is not merely a delight and an in- spiration, but an incomparable institu- tion.''
 Such loyalty set to such music Is ad- mirable A bride deserving such an an- them is more than a bride she's a wife The raptures, however, are worth in- vestigating a bit. Looking into the par ticulars and seeking out the text, the provocaton and the foundation of the cantata. it is found that this paragraph from the society column of Palestine (Tex) paper stated the whole thing: