davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-11-26
AFRICA GETTING READY.

From Harpers Weekly.
All we really know for sure is that the
making of great preparations for the dis
covery of Africa continues with unabated
vigor. Daily, almost hourly, new gun
is purchased, a new belt tried on, new
guide selected a new naturalist
appointed, new ship honored,
a new belt tried u on, new
ship honored, a new band engaged. March
Is is the day fixed tentatively for the de-
parture of the expedition from these
shores, and high noon sharp, under a
cloudless sky chartered especially for the
occasion, is the hour.
Special war correspondents, who have
been hurried to the spot, or spots, report
by wireless that the dark continent is
stirred already from center to circumfer-
ence. New railways are being construct
ed, canals deepened, and auditoriums
erected at all junction points. White men
are furnishing their accoutrements and
colored men their ebonylike surfaces; wild
men are narrowing their whiskers, and
handmen are rapidly gathering into cor
rails multitude of living evidences OF
African prejudice against race suicide.
The wart hog vies with the field mouse
in preparing for microscopic inspection.
The United Orders of Pygmes, pledged
to a three-hour day of toll, are putting
out their chests and arranging to elect
an honorary member. Deep in the fever
laden swamps of Uganda, hitherto unpen-
etrated. and even now impenetrable by
common men, stands in solitary grandeur
the last noble remnant of fast disap-
pearing race, eagerly awaiting the MEM
orable day when he shall hear the crack
ling of twigs, behold the CLEAN of
smile through the bushes, and step for
ward to receive the simple, manly greet
ing MIR. Cannibal, presumed
There is no skedaddling. The hyena is
cultivating a new and hearty laugh, the
jackal a fresh gibber, the chmpanzee
a striped tail, and the gorilla has all
modern languages beaten to- fragile.
Even the timorous calotis, the faun-
eyed strepsiceros, the gentle bongo, the
patient gombsback and the meek and
humble aardovaak, to say nothing of the
flashing tiger, the white-tailed hartebeeste.
the ferocious rhinoceros and the galloping
lallapaloosa, are barring their breasts to
receive in the interest of science, the bull
let's soon to be fired with deadly accuracy
from the iron-clad train ito preserve and
not to kill
1t is gay and animated spectacle from
Cairo to Cape Town. All Africa resounds
with the hustle preparatory to the expec-
;ol.
pail, over the entire continent only to
be broken in due and proper season by
the click of the merry typewriter.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-11-26

d to build the east wing unaided.
wing will cost fully $4,000, and
is city will show a desire to pay
lalf of its cost the Sisters
Charity will secure through
organization the remainder
the needful money. AS a
table proposition the community
Id aid the Sisters of Charity in
endeayor to build next year the
wing of the hospital. The people
is valley need it, and this need
asses year by year The devotion
efficiency Of the Sisters stand fully
nstrated here.
9 Ladies Auxiliary is conducting
Ear to promote the building fund,
those who desire to aid in that
the hospital and its enlargement
so by attempting the exhibition.
is, too, the annual donation day
hospital, and The Age-Herald
it is serving the entire valley and
ct when it calls attention to the
ng fund and to the untiring devo-
f the Sisters of Charity in the re-
the stricken and the suffering.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-11-26

income of $S.SSS,0oo a month. I'm not
talking of capital that is a quarter water
and a quarter hot air and only half hard
cash or convertible realty. I'm talking
of wealth that can be handled with
your hands and measured with your eyes,
wealth that doesn't require convulsions of
frenzied finance to be converted into
terms of the mint.
You acknowledge frankly you don't real
~ know of a single Millionaire In the
history of the world. Much less do you
know of any group of capitalists in the
world whose combined wealth would make
SIG. 600 OOO, 900 and whose $40, 600 900 pay
yearly dividend of $7.OOo,oo0,ooo. A divi-
dend of 1900 100000 year means an in
come of $3.50, 900, 600 a month or Sl9OO0,-
600 a day. Talk of the fate of Midas
Any capitalist or group of capitalists who
had to take care of that much money
day would have genuine conYusions in
frenzied finance.
Such a capitalist collectively, is the
United States farmer. Such a dividend
collectively does the soil of the United
States yearly hand out to the farmer-man
agriculture in the United States was $780,
9O0. 100000, and by the last report of the
agricultural department the products of
the farm for 1907 yielded a grand total
of $1,000, 100000. Compare these figures to
the billion-dollar Steel trust, over which
the whole world went daffy few years
ago, and the magnitude of the greatness
and of the growing greatness-or agricul-
tural interests in America becomes APP
parent. In fact, 1t would be hard to put
your hand on a single department of in
dustrial life, or constructive work in the
United States, which would compare in
Importance to the permanent value and
yearly yields of the farm. Then remem-
ber too, that of all the manufacturing
interests in the United States 10 per cent
are dependent on the farm for raw prod
ucts,
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-11-26
IN THE FIRELIGHT.

BY Eugene Field
The fire upon the hearth is low,
And there is stiffness everywhere,
While winged spirits, here and there,
Like freight shadows muttering go,
And as the shadows round me creep,
A childish treble breaks the gloom,
And softly from farther room
Comes, Now I lay me down to Sleep"
And somehow, with that little prayer
And that sweet treble in my ears,
My thoughts go back to distant years
And linger with loved one there;
And as I hear my child's Amen,
My mothers faith comes back to mo
4 Crouched at her side ! seem to be,
And mother holds my hands again.
Oh for an hour in that dear place.
Oh, for the place of that dear timel
Oh, for the childish trust sullimei
Oh for a glimpse of mothers fa9c
Yet, as the shadows round me creep,
| do not. seem to be alone
Sweet magic of that treble tone,
And, Now I lay me down to sleep."
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-11-26
Ponular Musical ORGANIZATION.

The Treble Clef club has had a con-
tiuous organization for many years, re-
oruiting its ranks from time to time with
fresh voices; and under various directors
it has always given high-class concerts.
Its first concert this season will take
place at the Jefferson theatre Tuesday
night, December l, and Nine. Langen-
dorff, famous Wagnerian soprano, will
be the soloist. The second concert is an
nounced for February and April
will the the date of the third
and last, when Nine. Nordica will be
the star attraction
The ladies composing the Treble Clef
club contribute their time and talent for
the delectatlon of the music loving pub
lie and all they ask in return is that the
public will subscribe for the associate
membership tickets, in order that the club
may be guaranteed against loss. An as
sociate ticket for the season is sold at s.,
and as the holder has the privilege of
attending, in addition to the public con-
certs, several private concerts during the
season, it is thought that several hundred
persons will avail themselves of a rare OPP
portunity of hearing delightful music.
, When Nordica gave a recital here two
seasons ago seats were sold at fancy
prices, and the jefferson was packed.
This time she comes under a guarantee
from the club and associate members wiz
have the pleasure of hearing her at a
comparatively small charge
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-11-26
St. Yincent's Work and Building Fund

This is Thanksgiving Day-a day de-
voted to family reunions, to charities,
as well as to religious services. Chart
ties are becoming more and more fea-
lures of the day. Here in this city
many appeals are made to the charit-
able, but scarcely one is more far
reaching than that of st. Vincent's
hospital, the managers of which desire
to build the east wing of the institu-
ton. The hospital is invariably over
crowded alike with pay and charity
patients. In the year just ended it
sheltered 419 charity patients, to say
nothing of 456 outdoor patients. The
county owns and conducts an excellent
hospital of its own, and yet the pres
ere of charity patients upon the Sis
,.srs of Charity is great and ever
VIII be. :
Inc citizens of Birmingham are not
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-11-26
Walt For HARMONY

Instead of beginning at once fierce
factional strife within the democratic
party, as the Montgomery Advertiser
advises, it would be better to drop diff
ferences altogether for a season in the
hope that time will bring all democrats
together. Until the summer and fall of
1910 there is no call for political
activity of any sort in this state. Two
years of good work in shops and on
farms will have a tranquilizing effect.
and at the end of that time we may
all see more clearly the needs of the
party and of the times. To begin a
factional strife within the party before
the nature of tariff revision is known
would be without rhyme or reason, and
The Age-Herald is confident no consid-
cradle number of democrats would Sec
end the proposed movement
The republicans would be glad to see
UeulOCTdIlc uISSSnSlOuS arise mere dS
well as elsewhere, but every good
democrat in Alabama wants first sur
cease of political activity and then
democratic unity and harmony. At
present the better plan is to ignore all
efforts to build up fractional strife with
in the party, trusting that time and the
revision capers of the republicans will
afford us all the leverage we need for
electing democratic Congress in 1910
and democratic President in 1872
The Advertiser calls for an immediate
open and above-board" factional fight
within the party in this state, but its
+ desire will not be gratifed, for the peo-
/ pie have gone to work and they want
no political distractions before 1910 at
any rate, and but few before 1912. A
vacation from politics will bring har-
mony, and harmony would promote
prosperity and development.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-11-26
RocKEFELLER's JOKE.
Oil Maenate Answers Pert Question of
Brooklyn Paper.


Special Dispatch to the Cincinnati En-
quirer.
New York-John D. Rockefeller had his
usual five minutes entertainment with the
newspaper men at the noon recess in the
Standard Oil hearing today, and again
proved his right to membership in the
American Society of Humorists At the
expense of young reporter Mr.. Rookie
Teller had little fun, not only for him
self, but for the rest Of the reporters and
spectators in the court room.
Just as recess was declared by Mr..
FERRIS, referee, Mr. Rockefeller swung
around in his chair and, facing the news
paper men, smiled, bowed and gave them
a cherry good morning, boys" The re-
porters answered the greeting and then
some one was introduced to him with the
explanation that he was interested in Mr..
Rockefeler's vivisection institute
81 am glad to know you, doctor" said
Mr. Rockefeller ''Will you be at leisure
this afternoon?"
Eyes. think So" replied the physician.
'Wel, wish you would take my place
here. I would like to go and play some
golf"
The physician replied that he would take
Mr.. Roekefellers place if Mr.. Rockefeller
did not object.
At this point young reporter forced his
way through the group that surrounded
Mr. Rockefeller and thrust neatly folded
note into the millioniares hand. Mr..
Rockefeller opened the note and read the
following question:
do you believe that you should receive
immunity from criminal prosecution for
your testimony here. should criminal pro-
ceedings be brought?"
Mr.. Rockefeller. looking at the reporter,
asked:
"Who sent this?"
1.-THE editor of my paper" stammered
the reporter, mentioning the name of
Brooklyn newspaper.
Mr.. Rockefeller, who had been standing
on a little platform, leaned forward and,
placing his hands on the reporters should
ers, stepped down as though to whisper
reply in his ear. Instead of whispering,
Mr.. Rockefeller shouted at the top of his
voice:
you tell him I'm not in"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-11-26
Taft and Cannon

extra session is but three months
and in that time the President
will fight the most momentous
of his career, and he knows it..
he can secure an honest and
evision of the tariff he knows he
viii lose control of the House of Rep
resentatiyes to be chosen in 1910, and
that his administration will then be-
come lame and inefficient, and that de-
feat awaits him in 1912. All this he
knows, and he is brayely endeayoring
to procure {. real revision of the tariff
not a drastic revision on revenue
lines, but u revision in accordance
with his promises on the stump.
In his way stands the entire Aldrich-
Dalzell crowd of standpatters, led by
Speaker Cannon. The crisis of the
new administration comes, in fact, be-
fore it is really begun. This crisis is
not limited to the tariff. 1t extends to all
the aggressive measures to which the
President-elect is committed, including
an honest revision of the tariff, and the
battle will decide whether the coming
administration is to be progressive in
the Rooseveltian sense or a struggle
from the start Either the whole crowd
of reactionaries will have to be over
come or else the failure of the Taft
administration is forewritten and fore
doomed Either the President-elect and
his friends will be in the saddle, or
else Aldrich, Hale and Burrows will
continue to control the Senate, and
Cannon, Payne and Dalzell, the House.
1t is a big fight between the stand
patters on the one side and the pro-
gressives ON the other.
1t is reported that Cannon has sur
rendered to the President This early
statement should be accepted with a
few grains of allowance. Cannon
knows that President who has public
opinion behind him, as we'll as patron
age, can defeat any clique of stand
patters, and the latter will no doubt
seek for terms even this early in the
battle, but at no point will the Aid
rich-Cannon crowd be thoroughly
trusted. The chances are that the
standpatters will yield step by step
what they can not retain. 1t will be a
long battle, in other words, and one
doubtful in results. No surrender by
Mr.. Cannon at this time can determine
it. The old oligarchy will fight the
presidential element at all points that
promise even compromise, and 1t will
yield so slowly and gradually that a
continuous conflict bids fair to be main
tanned to the very end of the coming
administration. In other words, we
will probably have a repetition of the
Rooseveltian crusade. Mr.. Burton
says as much.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-11-26
- y

J -dltuIe- 4. -ent campaign. AL
ready the New York state republican
committee admits it spent 1892 600 and
the New York county republican COM
mittee confesses to an expenditure of
sl54,000. Here then we have the ag-
gregate expenditure of $2,201 600, and
only one city has been heard from.
What the other republican committees
received and spent will perhaps never
be known, but the sum total is certainly
up in the millions-possibly up to the
record of 1896.
The information that should be de-
manded is report from the treasurer
of the republican congressional com
mittee. The tariff beneficiaries do not
shine in the Rumsey report. and it is
more than probable their money went
to elect Congressman who would revise
the tariff upward instead of downward.
There may, indeed, have been trans,
fers of subscriptions to that fund which
the party did not desire to see made
public. The present publicity is not
more than half publicity and until we
have a financial report from the repub-
lican confessional committee we will
Inowfbut little about the expenditures
Of The winning party.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-11-26
in HOTEL LOBBlES
Gadsden Prospecting.

One of the out f-town shriners who
came to Birmingham yesterday to at
tend zamora Temples big meeting Is
Frank Sitz of Gadsden. He is one
of the prominent merchants of that
city and he reports that his branch
of trade-hardware-h been quite
active all the year.
Business conditions in Gadsden are
improving steadily" said Mr.. sitz,
and everybody is counting on next
year being record breaking in pros
perity. Gadsden possesses many natur-
al advantages for manufacturers and
within the next two or three years
we are confident of large and solid
growth in the Industrial line"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-11-26
Sinking Of the South Toe of Ga fun Dam

This is the rainy season at Panama,
and rains have fallen there necessarily
for nearly a month. Now comes the
news that the south toe of the great
Gatun dam has sunk The two toes
are not the dam proper. The hydraulic
fill between the toes is the dam proper.
and 1t has not been begun. Still sta
bility in the two toes is requisite. and
if disaster has occurred to the south
toe 1t means delay and perhaps a re-
building of the sunken toe-possibly
an abandonment Of the site of the pro-
posed dam
This great dam is to be located near
Colon, 40 feet above the sea. 1t is to
be built to form a great lake and prl-
marily to change the course of the
Chagres river. Thus far Official con-
firmaton of the reported sinking of the
south toe has not been made public,
but the best opinion is that Colonel
Goethals and his engineers have re-
ceived at that point their first setback.
From the outset the Gatun dam has
been regarded as the severest test of
the plans of the engineers. At Culebra
there is nothing but deep cut through
rocks, and on the Pacific side the locks
do not involve any difficult engineering
problem. Confidence in the foundation
at Gatun has never been free from
doubts, although every possible pre-
caution and test had been taken.
Until the rains cease and an official
report upon the damage done by them
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-11-26
A Good Barometer.

THE stock market became over
bullish last week and little slump
followed, but prices are going right
up again." remarked a business man.
conservative financiers in Wall
street cautioned the public against
boom market but prices it seems will
not stay down.
THE market may be in advance of
a revival of railroad earnings and in
dustrial presently, but there is this
good thing about it: Wall street is a
great barometer and its insight into
the future of business is practically
unerring. The fact that stocks have
an upward tendency shows genuine
prosperity is near at hand"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-11-26
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

From the New York Press.
A nice girl never approves flirting If it's
somebody else.
The reason a mans proposal is always
so sudden to a girl Is she arranged It,
A woman never cares half as much
about having a good time as about tell
Ing people she did
One of the worst things about being
rich seems to be how unhappy it can
make you not to be richer.
The first thing for a man to learn after
marriage is not to do any or the things
he likes, because they are not good form.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-11-26
Broad-Gauged Man.

II am not personally acquainted with
Judge E. H. Gary chairman of the United
States Steel corporation, but having
watched his career for several years, l
think it safe to say that he is about the
broadcast gagged business man in this
country" said an Industrial operator. HE
does not often talk for publication, but
when he does he has something to say
worth saying.
Associated with Judge Gary in the con-
duct of the Steel corporation are many
able men-some of them great flnanciers,
some of them successful operators, some
of them distinguished for technical equip
ment; but Gary is man of exceptional
capacity in a general way and with it all
he is tactful, liberal minded and conserva-
tive. He has all the elements of leader
ship and is a man who really inspires
confidence.
I'm last years panic Judge Gary, by his
cheerful tone and his genius for rallying
the timid, did more to stem the tide than
any other single influence He gave a
series of dinners to captains of industry
inside and outside of the Steel corpora
ton in which rallying talks were made
and now that he sees an industrial re-
vivalt underway he has sent out invita-
tions to a dinner at the Waldorf-As-
toria for December 10 in which a note of
confidence clear and strong, will be
sounded. BUSINESS conditions are improv-
ing every day and Judge Gary is calling
business men together to celebrate the
return of prosperity and ask all to CO.
operate in pushing good thing along.
The Waldorf-Astoria gathering will be in
ded a notable event. All honor to Judge
Gary and his fine talent for initiative"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-11-26
MANY Rich Men.

lone of the many evidences of Bir-
mingham's substantial progress within
the past ten years is the large amount of
accumulated wealth here" said an old
citizen.
I'm 1897 there were comparatively few
men in Birmingham who were solvent.
Today there are not less than nine citi-
zens worth over $1,OO0,0oo and the list
might include a dozen. But better still,
there are scores of citizens who are in
the class ranging from $4,000 to $780,
co., To the credit of Birmingham its
rich men have accumulated their wealth
honestly in legitimate lines of business,
and the majority of them have shown of
late a good deal of public spirit"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-11-26
NOT INFECTIOUS.
F,om the DeIIneator.

It -UIII tIIP DtIIHedIOf.
I used to be very much afraid that my
children while playing with others would
be exposed to some contagious disease,
and they were constantly on the lookout
for trouble of this kind.
One day little Louise (aged d came rush.
ing in from the street where she had been
playing with crowd of children. In a
very excited manner she burst out, well.
mother. two of the Meyers children have
something, but sister says she don't think
we'll catch it, though"
"Well, what is it. darling?" I asked.
Its the pigeon toes,'' she replied.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-11-26

to the south toe has been submitted
we will not accurately know what the
situation is, or what the cost in money
and time will be- All that can be said
at present is that disaster has occur
red, but it may not be as serious as
some correspondents would have us
think it is.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-11-26
JOHN D AS DRIVER.

From the Delineator.
His mother was telling S-year-old Jack
of John d. Rockefellers success, and as
he listened he said Yes, I know him."
mo, guess you don't know him."
she replied, 'you have only heard of him."
why yes, | do" he replied; 81 have
seen him a good many times when he
goes by on his oil wagon
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-11-26
LINES TO AN OLD MAN.

LINES TO AN OLD MAN.
Don't wake him up-poor used-to-be,
He's dreaming of the past;
His hand it trembles on his knee,
His life is ebbing fast.
A failure-yes; a wanderer
Whose quest was all in vain,
Who never felt the nameless stir
OF loves diviner strain;
Who never walked in Powered ways
Beneath the skies of June,
Mid rosy round of summer days,
With all the world in tune;
Who never had the trumpet blare
His fame in silver tones
The world repaid him only care,
He only heard its groans.
He bravely fought = perehanee = who
knows?-
The fault lay not in him.
Not always he who strongest shows
Deserves the diadem.
And now he mods and waits the call
To realms no trouble mars;
Perhaps, he'll conquer after all
Somewhere beyond the stars