davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-25

effort to repeal them would be. The present e=travagant Congress-the first billion-dollar session in our his tory-may also become known as the subsidy Congress. The conference committee has done what Mark Hanna could not do. and every citizen may be hereafter taxed indirectly to swell the profits of big mail steamer lines. The chief benefciaries of the subsidy scheme will be New York and San Francisco. although possibly Seattle and New Orleans may share it later on. The hope yet remains, however, that The Rouse will finally and fully reject the conferenc report. The Sem ate stands reaay tO accept it. and the House is all that stands between Uncle Sam and endless subsidies.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-25
Einde a New Friend.

"what are you going to do for that poor cat?" said one of the pretty lady members of the Baldwin Melville com- pany at the Bijou this week to the clerk of the Hillman hotel last night. The cat, a much abused looking ami nal, was reposing on the lobby floor.
 Poor little thing!" continued the kind hearted actress. Last night I went out and bought 1t something to eat, and it spent the night on the roof. It's poor little head looks like some dog had been fighting with it. This morning I fed it good and put it out in the alley, but I see 1t has come back. Something ought to be done."
 "Oh, I reckon it will get along all right" said the hotel clerk. but the actress picked the dilapidated animal up in her arms and went on up the elevator. And she wasn't an old maid. either.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-25
Business Outlook.

Henry Clews in his weekly financial re- view says:
 While the stock market has been fe- verish, it is refreshing to be able to record a genuine turn for the better in general business. Though no sharp re- covery is in sight, and too sudden a revival is not to be desired, neverthe- less signs of recuperation are springing up in various directions; buyers are show ing more interest, and collections are generally good.
 Evidently business has passed through the worst of depression; and, as re- suit of recent enforced contraction and A lower basis of values, is on much sounder foundations than for several years. There is no over-supply of goods; and owing to prolonged curtailment there will in many cases be a positive scarcity as soon as buyers take hold with anything approaching ordinary freedom. There has been a decided improvement in the de- mand for cotton goods, resulting from lower prices and recognition by buyers that bottom has been reached, and that supplies are almost exhausted. Other branches of the textile trades are feel ing the improvement, and even wool and woolens display a better tone. A turn for the better has already taken place In the iron trade, and orders are being placed much more freely for pig iron"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-25
eALLANTRY OR PoLITENEss.

Mems gallantry today is the afterglow of mediaeval chivalry. In medieval days, when chivalry had it's growth, the peasants and the people did the work, the knights fought and made love, the ladies made love and watched them fight. The strongest and the bravest knights won the fairest ladies. The law of might makes right held undisputed sway. This law, unpoetic in itself, was gilded with the glamour of chivalry. Respect for women was at low ebb, while gallantry toward ladies reached its highest point. The common woman was treated as a beast of burden, the flair lady" adored as a goddess. A disillusoned reading of the annals of the times shows that some of these goddesses left much to be desired morally, says the June Appleton's. And this the bold knights were in a position to know, but 1t did not lessen their gallantry. The whole organization of mediaeval society was artificial. An artificial society naturally produces ar tificial virtues. When artificial virtues flourish the fundamental ones languish. Before the advancing army of women athletes, women students, and women bread-winners the artificial virtues-the heritage of chivalric times-are fast dis appearing For the old-fashioned lady who would rather be hattered than re- spected the times are indeed out or joint Her more proeressive sisters have robbed her of her birthright of gallantry. She scorns to recompense herself with the fruits of their, to Der. "unlsdyiiks'' lib- ortr.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-25
Heavy National EyDenditureS

Tn 1892 the country was startled with the occurrence of billion-dollar Con- gress-a Congress that made appro- priations in its two sessions covering two fiscal years amounting to a billion dollars. We have now a billion-dollar session on our hands, and it is about to adjourn after making appropriations covering the fiscal year beginning July 1 that exceed in the aggregate bill lion dollars. We give below the sums named in some of the principal appro- propriation bills:
 Fiscal Year. 1909 1892. Sundry civil. .. ..s120, ,000,000 35,00o00o Legislative, etc........ 33,OO,000 22OO000O Army... ....... so,3S2,Ooo 24VoOOOO Navy. l22'Oo0,0oo 3l,oOoo0 Notifications. n,5O0,U0 SU5,o5 Pensions. .. .. ...... 169,00O,U0 135 200, OO0
 The country has grown, but it's pop ulation has not been doubled since 1892. Governmental expenses are out running, in other words, governmental business, or at any rate the popula- tion which should be the basis of ap- propriations.
 The truth Is, jingoism and desire to become aggressive as worlds power of great weight is at the bottom of the increase. We are spending vastly increased sums in the army, navy and fortifcations-and pensions. Our splen- did isolation is overlooked, and so is our need for better waterways and all that, and money is poured out like water for militarism which in it's last analysis is not defense against any possible attack, but is simply a desire to outsnine and outrank other nations in the war scale. We have too many jingoes to the acre.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-25

remedy might be applied. M. Daniel has now made his report, and it's contents are not encouraging.
 Many years ago American vines were introduced in the south of France as means of combating the destructive od- ium, and more recently as a remedy against the phylloxera. The success of the experiment was apparently complete, and the wine growers rejoiced at the so- lution of most formidable problem, brought in more and more American vines, and, in defiance of the rule that grafting must only be practiced among allied varieties, they grafted the native vine on the imported stock. This result ed in an increased yield, and for time everyone was happy, but by and by the discovery was made that the wine de- rived from the grafted vines was in ferior in quality, and-which was worse that instead of improving with age it deteriorated.
 This meant that it was no longer feas- ib1e in a year of superabundance for the viticulturist to sell his surplus to the wine merchant, as had been the custom, for a short experience taught the mer- chant that he could not afford to buy for storage in his cellar a product which, in- stead of becoming more valuable the longer he kept it, turned sour on his hands So the wine grower was obliged to sell his wine as quickly as possible at the best price he could get for it, and this at time when the demand for wine was declining.
 It is no wonder that he suffered, and Professor Daniel reports that the only remedy is to extirpate the American vines and replant the vineyards with na- tive stock. But where is the money to come from, and what is the peasant pro- prietor to do while the new vines are mae turing?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-25
Active Iron Market

The pig iron market has been more active this month than in any month since the first of the year. There has been large buying movement within the past ten days, and the indications point to still greater activity. As the iron market is a barometer of general trade, other branches of business are sure to improve. The fact is that i'm provement in nearly every line of com. merce and manufacture is already in evidence. The railroads are still feel ing the depression resulting from last falls panic, but with a resumption oi business in the industrial world freight traffic must necessarily increase, and before many weeks the transportation companies will be sharing in the gen eral revival.
 If the iron market holds out as il promises to do two or three additional blast furnaces in the Birmingham dis. trict will be put in blast between now and July and the payrolls will be greatly increased, for every stack in operation means that coal and ore are to be mined, that coke is to be made. that the furnace is to be manned and that the product h to be shipped and
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-25
l found him under a tree, like a drop ped acorn.
 As You Like It.
Cotton Mill Men Are Hopeful

Cotton has been handsomely ad- vanced until middling spots are worth about Il cents and July contracts in New Orleans are not far behind the spot price of today. The recent gains in the price of cotton are wholly justi- fled by the outlook In the goods mar ket Cotton goods are firmer and higher, and cotton yarns have been marked up.
 Fall River thinks the turning point has been reached. Buyers are in need of goods, and they are expected to do enough business to keep the mills run ming throughout the summer. The fall and winter will take care of them selves.
 Doubtless the curtailment in produc- ton has had a gooG effect upon buyers and the market in general. The stocks in the hands of jobbers are not large, and a demand approaching normal would soon send a flood of orders to the mills. Unless unexpected changes occur, cotton will continue to go up partly because too much rain is falling in the cotton belt and partly because the tone of the goods market is stronger than 1t has been since the de- pression was ushered in in October of last year.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-25
OUR DESERTS AND SWAMPS

by state appropriations, but in the great CT number of cases, involving a large percentage of the area, cooperation be- tween adjoining states would be absolute ly necessary In the older states much of the land is of private ownership, and owners lack enterprise or means or both to undertake the work.
 Interest in this matter is indicated by the introduction of some 90 bills during the present session of Congress, by the holding of conventions largely attended and enthusiastic and by the circulation of literature. Surveys and estimates have been made by the agricultural depart ment and by the United States geological survey. The history of the matter goes back to the swamp land law of 1850, under which the federal government ceded some 64,000,O00 acres to individual states with the understanding and expectation that the states would effect the reclamation of the ceded areas. The states have done comparatively little in that direction, and the call Is now made on the federal gov ernment to do the work for them Nat urally the states are reluctant to sur
 
 to their original ownership. Yet, unless there shall be such conveyance, either outright or under condition of reimburse ment to the federal government of all money expended for reclamation, it is probably impossible for the government to do the work
 The conversion of SOOOOOOO or more acres of worthless land into productive farms and comfortable homesteads occu- pied by millions of people is a problem of enormous importance. Some way must certainly be found for it's solution. The addition to our present farm area of a territory as big as Ohio and Indiana com bined is no trihe even in such a coun- try as the United States If the system can be devised, as it has been in the case of the deserts, our swamps can be re- claimed without cost to the government.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-25
BOSTON WOMAN REcLUsE.
Twelve Years She Has Lived as Re-
 cIuse In Busy City.

From the Boston Post.
 Retiring from service of nine years for the city of Deer Island, where she was chief matron in charge of the cull- nary department, Mrs. Allen has not once during her 12 years that have in- tervened left her home at Boylston place.
 For 10 years she has not worn shoes.
 It is not illness that keeps Mrs. Allen closely within the confines of her own home. She is the picture of rugged health.
 q simply don't want to go out" is her own explanation.
 Although bargain sales and the allur- ing show windows of the department stores are now but memories this most unusual woman dresses in the height of fashion.
 Last week Mrs Allen bought Merry Widow hat. All the new ideas in wom- ems fashions she quickly learns of through reading, and whatever she likes she sends out and buys, for she is a woman of some wealth.
 Scores of costumes crowd the Boylston place home. Some have scarcely been more than "tried on." When asked why she had bought so many beautiful dresses or rather why she does not wear them oftener, she said: well, you see, I can't seem to find the time."
 If Mrs. Allen has a reason to herseli satisfactory for not leaving her home Tor 12 years she is keeping that reason strict ly to herself.
 There is no reason in the world, ap- parently, why she should not enjoy lire in the little house, but briefly removed after the manners of other women. Dress theatres, dinners, and all the other things of which women think so much lie read fly within her reach.
 But Mrs. Allen prefers to live her life in the gay hustle and stir of Boylston place. vet as distant from that gay hustle yand stir in its quiet, old-fashioned in terior as if it were set down somewhere in the Main woods. Why? Many people have asked that question.
 Although Mrs. Allen>is is now over C years old she is yet so vigorous and strong that she unaided cares for her owr home, even to looking after the furnace
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-25
MOST DARING ENGLISH MoToRIsT

From London Letter
 Lord Vernon, whose mother is a daughter of F. c. Lawrence of New York, has earned for himself the reputa- tion of being the most reckless young motorist in England. He is only a lad of 19, but he has been fined so often for exceeding the speed limit and driving to the public danger and had so many hair breadth escapes in his cars, that his own trustees have succeeded in having hls motoring license cancelled The young man in the future is absolutely prohib- ited from driving.
 Sudbury Hall, Lord Vernons seat in Derbyshire, is picturesque red brick house, which was built by Lady Alice Vernon in the reign of James l. and was for several yeares the country residence of Queen Adelaide. the widow of Will liam ".
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-25
ORIGIN OF PoMMEs souFFLE.


 With reference to the 50th anniversary of the first railway in France French contemporary points out that it was in connection with this event that the vir- tues of pommes soufflee were discov- cred. A French chef was traveling on the new line from Paris to St. Germafn, and was preparing in the train the ban quet which was to celebrate the open ing. Just before arriving at St. Ger main he threw some potatoes in the boiling butter. The train, however. was delayed, and the potatoes had to be takcr; out again. When the train restarted the potatoes were once again put in the boiling butter, and to every one's delight were found, on being taken out. to be deliciously light and inflated. The beau- ties of the pomms soufflee had been re- vealed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-25

melted The price of iron Is low enough to attract spectators, and this fact will have a decided effect in strengthening the market; but what gives real stability to the present buy. ing movement is the demand on the part of consumers, large and small Stocks have run low and melters are making haste to supply themselves for summer and fall operations.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-25
Washington Special to the New Tor

Washington Special to the New York
 Sun
 @ "s s.'.. s.' ii. ''s. %:.. Of s 'as 's: s.' Sa's'
 sippi now and millions of acres are being reclaimed under system which involves no expense to the people of the country An accumulated fund derived from the sale of public land constitutes the working capital. and the fund is maintained by the sale of irrigated farm land to actual settlers. The enterprise is of measureless value to the country
 About four-ffths of the swamp land of the country lies east of the Misss- sippi It is estimated that the reclama- tion of these swamps would add S4,OOO,- 100000 to the land value of the coun- try and that the occupation and devel- opment of the acres thus reclaimed would add another s4,0O0,OO 900 to our national wealth. It is estimated that 10000, 900 people might live in health and com fort in districts which are now not only economically worthless but an act ual menace to the health of residents in ~-tCAt 'iSiiity+ III OlIleT WOTuS, no l6SS than ss,OO0.0o0,OOO of permanent national capital now lies dormant and worse than useless for lack of a few million dollars worth of work and implements, and the even more serious lack of a system under which the federal government could reclaim swamps as it is now re- claiming deserts.
 
 The work of the reclamation service in the west is the reclamation of land which belongs to the nation. Much the larger part of the swamp land of the country Is of either state or individual ownersbin and the federal government has no proper authority for undertaking its reclama- ton. Yet the work, if undertaken at all should be carried on as a whole and such a work could best be done by the federal authority. In some cases, no doubt, states might reclaim state lands
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-25
Bid Crowd to See Parade.

"There has been some misapprehen- sion about the reunion rate offered for the day of the parade" said H. s. Latl- mer of the Alabama Great Southern railroad, yesterday. "We have offered a rate of 1 cent mile for mileage travelled, tickets on sale on the 9th, 7th, 8th and 11th.
 "This will enable large crowds to at- tend the parade, spend the day in Bir- mingham and return late that night at little cost.z
 We are receiving many inquiries and expect to see more people that day in Birmingham than were ever gathered here before. The people all over Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi and Georgia are going to pour into Birmingham to witness the grand pa rade and attend the reunion and con- certs."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-25

Taft plays quoits instead of tennis, and the inner White House will have to conform to his choice of exercise in case he becomes President. MT. Bryan's exercise comes in the course of his public duties.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-25
A JusTAFIABLE DESIRE.

From Judge.
 Judge Dowling-Have you anything to say against the verdict?
 Prisoner (who has received life sem tence)-Only that If I don't live to serve it out wish you would put my attorney in to finish 1t.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-25

J. Ogden Armour sold so much corn that he didn't own that the piece of business cost him million dollars. He begins to feel t.e weight and sin of gambling.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-25
THE WINE CRISIS IN FRANCE.

From the Philadelphia Enquirer.
 After the disturbances in the south of France last summer as a consequence or the inability of wine growers to sell their product at fair profit, or even at any price at all, the French government commissioned Professor Daniel of the university at Rennes. to investigate the facts. so that the source of the trouble having been ascertained. the appropriate
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-25

Commander Peary says he cannot reach the north pole on less than s5o,- 900, and no one seems to be ready to invest that much in it, especially as when found it cannot be brought away to serve as a souvenir.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-25

Senator Hale of Maine took his first ride in an automobile last Monday. He lived to tell the story, and perhaps to honk-honk through the country next summer.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-25

Chicago is planning a five-day con- vention, and the nomination of Fair banks for vice-president is set down for the fifth day. Better make it the sixth.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-25

Speculator Patten is impartial. He was as willing to win a million on oats as million on corn. He prefers to make a million on each.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-25

Abruzzi promises to win an Ameri- time sooner than Prince Helie does The executors of old Jay Gould are q stubborn lot.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-25

Mae Wood has supplanted Mrs. Gun ness. and Macs successor should get in training, for the finish of the ex- wife is near at hand,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-25

The sheath gowns still finger in Paris, but no doubt some wind will carry the germs to this country, and then Paris will be outdone.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-25

David Bennett Hill goes to Europe June 11-his first trip-to stay until fall. He will of course hurry home to vote for MT. Bryan.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-25

Abe Hummel has gone to Europe, and if Tom Platt and Mae Wood would follow him and stay there this country would rejoice.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-25

Senator Platt drew a lightning pie ture of himself when he signed himself "Old Fool.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-25

"Tag! You're it!" is spreading to all parts of the country for all sorts of purposes.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-25

Alfred Vanderbilt's income has be- come so reduced he feels compelled to eke it out at hack driving.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-25

Between 300 and 400 of the delegates at Chicago will be federal office-hold- CTS. Nothing like this has occurred before.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-25

The mosquito has been abolished at .Panama-why not elsewhere? The an- swer is easy. No other section has a Dr. Gorgas.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-25

One woman has horsewhipped an- other in New York restaurant. Both intend to star next season.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-25

The New York Tribune's headlines announcing the Bryan victory in Ala hama were the biggest in the country.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-25

No one is jealous of the subway champions, and that is something rare in the baseball world.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-25

est; but when you begin to relate a story like this, at what arbitrary point are you to stop? It would have been better to for bear. For now a vast number of people who never read a line of Hearn's will be reading so much about him and his fail- ings that they will never come to any right understanding of his achievement or of what kind of an artist he really was.
 The incident recalls the foolish discus sion that is still going Qn as to the pre- else degree of drunkenness to be charged against Poes What difference does it make? Any one might imagine from Poes writings that he was not man of ex- treme sobriety; but whatever conclusion we reach as to his personal habits, the poems and the tales remain precisely the same. Why not be content with them?
 Nearly every recent biography of an im- portant literary man has led to contro- versy. Forster tried to tell the truth about Dickens, ard Froude about Carlyle and we all remember the result After the battle subsided, people resumed read ing Dickens and Carlyle, but they had to learn to forget Forster and Froude before they could renew their old enjoy ment. There have been biographical out rages, like the publication of the love let ters of Keats, that have left an impress sion almost impossible to efface
 Thackeray judged soundly in forbid ding biography, though his was a wholly endearing personality. He felt that the world was concerned only with his work, not with his private life. But we have all become so curious about per- sonal details that we give more atten- tion to scandal concerning an artist than to the art work that, if we but studied it, has power to make us glad.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-25

The far west has 50 forest reserves, while the far east has not single one.