davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-27
Sweep the ChimneyS

When the first cold rain of the fall
comes-and its arrival may be daily
expected-fres will be started in the
almost innumerable CRATES of this city
This means that the SCOT dried in a
long, hot summer will take fire, and
the fire department will have its hanus
full in keeping down accidental fires.
But is a fire accidental" that is
caused by burning SCOT which the oc-
cupant of the house knew was in the
chimney? 1t is the duty of every house
holder to clean at once his chimneys.
Fire Chief Bennett explains that this
can be inexpensively done by placing
a brick in an ordinary gunny sack and
dragging it back and forth through the
chimney by ropes from the top. In
that way the peeling SCOT flying up
wards when on fire will be kept from
falling and setting fire on the roof.
Chief Benefits advice is timely and
every householder should accept it
and proceed to act up to his simple and
inexpensive method for removing ac-
cumulated SCOT in household chimneys.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-27
Braxton Brauq's Rank.

I'm the press dispatches telling of the
illness and death of the widow of Gen.
Braxton Bragg, the distinguished SOL
dier's rank was referred to as that of
major general" said Capt. ]. L. Darby,
adjutant of Camp Hardee. Bragg was
a full general. He was born in North
Carolina in 1917, and graduated at West
Point in 1887.
"In the Confederate army General
Bragg started out as commander of
the forces at Pensacola. He commanded
the second corps at Shiloh in 1862 and in
that year was promoted to the rank OF
general on the death of Gen. Albert Sid
ney Johnston. He was relieved from
command December 2, 1868, for the loss
of Mission Ridge, After that he was
stationed in Richmond in command of
the department of Henrico. General
Bragg died in Galveston in 1876"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-27
AT MONTE CARLO.

From the Chicago News.
Under the headline Seven More
French newspaper recently published tho
following from a Monte Carlo correspon-
dent: There is a slight reduction in the
number Of suicides for the current week.
OF the seven unhappy ones whom the
bandits of Monte Carlo have hurried to
their death after first robbing them,
four have hanged themselves in the gar
den AMI one has hanged himself in his
room at the Hotel de Paris. This last
one was cut down, nearly dead, and taken
to the hospital at Monaco, where he is
being cared for In the greatest secrecy.
"a woman also mas poisoned herself
at Monaco only a few steps from the
museum that was raised to his own
glory by Albert l. Still another, young
man 30 years of age, shot himself dead
on Monday evening at 9 O'Clock on one
of the benches fronting the great stair
case of the casino.
"And yet, among the statesmen who
meet regularly at The Hague to combat
the scourge of war, not single deegate
has yet dreamed of suggesting the sup
preston of the slaughter house of Mon
AGO."
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-27
WHAT PARISlANS EARN,

From Harper's Weekly.
The annual income OF the average Paris
household is placed at about $780, In
the fashionable quarter of the Champs
Elysees the annual average household
revenue is said to be about $4,000; in the
nearby Faubourg Saint Honore, $500;
while in the Madeline district it falls
to $500.
AS to the incomes of certain profess
sional men in France it was ascertained
that out of the 1000 advocates practising
at the Paris bar only about 200 earn
over $1,000 a year, and only about 50
receive about $4,000.
The number of physicians practising in
Paris is placed at 250o but only about
one-half Q2OO of these make more than
$1,000 a year. Dentists do somewhat bet
ter; a fashionable one can easily earn
$1,000, while in some cases this figure is
greatly exceeded.
In French families of the humber class
the living expenses in many instances are
met only by the wife contributing to the
common fund out Of her marriage portion.
Oftentimes the portion or dot of a French
glrl is USED IN part 10 eStaDllSn the nus
band in business.
Saleswomen in the largest department
stores earn $50 a month. Male and fe-
male house servants receive, respectively,
in the neghborhood or So to $40 a month.
The bottom of the scale seems to be
reached with the poor seamstresses who
toll from dawn to dark in the making of
childrens clothes. Once cent an hour Is
:" 9'cated as their stipend but If excep-
tionally clever they may earn 80 cents
40. ,SINe hours work
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-27
Unloading UldeyIrableS

Ex-senator McLaurin was out of poll.
tics, and he did not have to be TN
loaded. He improves the occasion to
say, however, that he is a warm adj
mirer of Mr. Roosevelt, and a stead
fast supporter of Candidate Taft. Fri
days unloading included Governor Has
kell, who had been serving as treasurer
OF the democratic national committee.
and T. Coleman Dupont, head of the
republican bureau of campaign speak
ers, and also head of the powder trust,
which the government is prosecuting.
Arthur l. Vorys, the trusted Ohio
friend of Candidate Taft and associate
campaign manager, will also no doubt
be unloaded, for he was once q dis
charged lawyer because he kept an
unconscionable length of time the pen.
sion money of soldiers widow. He
will have to go, and Ohio will unload
Senator Foraker in due time.
But when the unloading is completed
there will remain after October Is a
secret list of campaign subscriptions
which the republican managers and
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-27
Out of this nette, danger, we pluck
this flower, safety King Henry w.
President ROOseVelt's Partisan Attitude

The thoughtful citizen who knows
what custom and precedent call for in
the White House of this great republic
will be pretty sure to resent the re-
cent violations of all proprieties in the
highest office in the land. Putting
aside all representations and un.
supported Notwithstanding all that
out of consideration-is it best in a
popular government that the repre-
sentative of all should become vio-
lently partisan and a party leader,
writing letters and issuing statements
dealing largely in personalities, and
even holding a cabinet meeting to aid
In the preparation of campaign par
tisan reply?
People expect that President Roose-
welt will be more or less eccentric, but
the standing of the high Office has
USOh uhoGiJ anu unnecessarily INV
cred by the recent presidential out.
break against Governor Haskell and
Senator Foraker, the one a democrat
and the other republican, and neither
a federal appointee.
Unless the people condemn this un-
seemly outbreak it may become a
precedent, and future Presidents may
feel at liberty to descend to the level
of managing politicians and partisan
wrangles. Unless the President main
tains the dignity of the Office, it will
assuredly be less highly regarded IN
the minds of many. The entire recent
incident is unfortunate, and The Age
Herald says this without any consid-
Grafton of the facts or alleged facts in
the Presidential statement. The chosen
head of the country has ceased for a
time to be fully representative, and it
will be strange indeed if thoughtful
men, when they go to the polls in
November, do not resent the recent
violation of all custom and all prece-
dent in the highest office in the gift
of the people.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-27
THE HELPFUL ART OF SMILING

From the New York World.
The commercial value of looking pleas
ant is to be demonstrated in the public
schools In a course for saleswomen, the
first of its kind, opened Monday night
at school No. 81, pupils are to be taught.
among other things, the art Of Smiling
when the customer approaches"
What is in such line of instruction set
down as a proposition strictly of business
deserves transmutatlon into a golden rule
of general intercourse. The principle of
optimism shines through it, than which
there is none more helpful or more timely.
The right kind of a smile is never fatuous.
1t may be turned effectively upon advance
ing troubles as we'll as upon approaching
customers.
Properly to encourage a long distance
runner one tells him how far he has gone,
not how far he has yet to go. And the
way to meet difficulties is not by thinking
how bad they are, but by believing in a
way out Looking for the worst impairs
the digestion. Smiles save the appetite
and the strength.
The art of looking pleasant Is worthy of
an endowed NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. lecture
ship.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-27
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Good Bank Statements.

Among other things for congratulation
in business circles is the first class con-
dition of the banks of Birmingham as
shown by the official statements pub
lished In The Age-Herald of Saturday.
On the call of the comptroller of the
currency several weeks ago the banks
were found in excellent shape, and the
new statements show most gratifying
gains both in cash reserve and in de-
posits. As business men point out there
never was day since the panic of last
October that the banks were not well
fixed in the matter of cash In vault.
But before general business began to
improve the deposits fell off as might
have been expected. For several months,
however. they have been gaining steadi-
ly and since the statements before the
last appeared deposits have largely in
creased.
Strong banks mean solid business and
indicate broad and progressive business
policies.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-27
FLOWERS pELJoE BACHELOR.

From the New York American
The sick chamber of Jimmy Parker, the
veteran bachelor and general favorite Of
the cottage settlement, has been trans
formed into a floral bower. Posies ar
rived from all sides, as Newport only yes
terday learned he was ill.
Mr.. Parker's indisposition dates from
Monday night when he rode home from
a dinner without an overcoat, and, of
course, his auto always goes pretty fast.
Last winter Mr.. Parker was quite sick,
and his taking a severe cold now goes
harder with the prince of bachelors, who
is 76 years of age, than would have been
the case but for last winters illness.
Colonel Parker is a splendid specimen
of the old beau, the courtly gentleman.
the good-natured wit and -vivant who
has outlived the passions and tatters of
three generations and rears his kindly and
handsome head among us today, a perfect
example of what an American aristocrat
should be.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-27
COULDN'T Fool HEB.

From the Chicago News.
1t was at Quimper, in Brittany, that
tourist found an old woman selling trink-
cts. what is the price of this?" he
asked, taking up an antique ring of silver
and sapphires. us 1t for your wife or
your sweetheart" said the old woman.
For my sweetheart" Fifty francs"
Fifty francs! Nonsense" And the tour
list turned angrily away. Come back"
said the old woman. Take it for 10.
You've been lying to me. though; you
have no sweetheart. Had the ring been
for her you'd have bought it at once
without regard to its price" Il will take
it, said the tourist smiling. Here are
the 10 francs" So the old woman
wrapped the ring up. But you havn't
wife, either" she grumbled. IF it had
been for her you'd have beaten me down
to francs. Oh, you meni"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-27
Problems Of Peach Growing

The peach growers of Georgia suf-
fered severely this year in the process
of marketing their great crop. Some
did not net more than so cents bushel
for fine Elbertas, and few did not
receive enough to pay transportation
charges. This has led to an organiza-
ton of the peach growers of our sister
state, and the expectation is that any
future crop will be widely distributed.
Peaches will be sent to the lesser
cities direct instead Of sending thou
sands of cars to the large cities to be
by them distributed or sold at ruinous
sacrifices.
But the California peach growers do
even better than this. They can their
best peaches-not their poorer or over
ripe ones-but the best they have, and
in this way their canned peaches COM
mand high price They net the grow
ers about So to bushel from the trees.
Perhaps this plan will yet be adopted
by the Georgia peach growers. 1t is
freely advocated in the peach belt.
Our Alabama peach growers should
get in the swim They should meet
and organize. They should either join
hands with Georgia or else they should
get in a condition to market their crops
in the most advantageous manner. The
peach export crop of this state is about
1000 cars, and now is the time to or
ganize the marketing Of this fine and
increasing product.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-27
Baraca Classes,

"A word that has come into familiar
use recently puzzled ME no little when
first saw it in print" said a layman. Il
refer to Baraca, popular in the Sunday
school world, to denote a class composed
of young men who not only study the
Bible, but who form a brotherhood to
work along philanthropic lines.
Having been a reader of the English
Bible since boyhood, l bethought myself
but could not remember having come
across the word in the Old or New Tesla
ment I looked in the Bible concordance
but the word was not there. Then I be-
gan asking Sunday school workers, but
all I got from them wan that the word
was taken from Geneses Xii:2 And l
will bless thee, and make thy name great,
and thou shalt be a blessing. l know
nothing of the Hebrew language, but
when 1 referred the matter to rabbi he
said: That word stumped me when I
saw it in the newspapers. I could not
find it in the dictionary but if it is used
in the sense of the word blessing it should
follow the Hebrew form-B' Racl1a. That
is the way it appears in the book of
Genesis
"A minister now tells me that the word
Baraca was adopted by Marshall A.
Hudson of Syracuse, N. Y, about 10
years ago, and by him applied to Sunday
school classes such as bear the name,
and have the scope of the brotherhood
system in vogue today. Another minister
says that this Hebrew or Semitic word
for blessing got into the language of the
Coptic church to mean the bread used in
the holy eucharist.
"a word that is SO commonly heard
now should find its way into the die
tionary Its history in Sunday school life,
although young, has been written about,
doubtless, and explained. At any rate,
was surprised when 1 had difficulty in
catching up with it.
"Baracas are flourishing in the Brming-
ham district, and are doing much good,
| am told
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-27
WORLDS HOTTEST PLACE.

From Harpers Weekly.
The prolonged heat Of the past summer
has given rise to maledictions against the
American climate; yet even in crowded
slum tenement existence on the hottest
day would have been a welcome change
from the conditions which prevail in
certain earthly place. In Kichm Island.
at the entrance to the Persian Gulf. there
is a spot so penetrated by the SUMS rays
that 1t is impossible almost for human
habitation. From November to March
only is the sparse native population to
be found in residence, and then they sell
dom leave their mud huts and live en-
tirely upon fish. "A cable station, which
1t was attempted to establish at Kichm,
had to be abandoned owing to the deaths
among the employees from sunburn, while
many of those who escaped became in
sane.
During the recent Anglo Russian nego-
tiations it was proposed to make use
of the place. as a penitentiary. But thu
suggestion fell through, no man being
found willing, even at a fancy salary,
to undertake the duties of governor and
live in Kichm.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-27
MERCURY FOR CONSUMPTION.

From the Philadelphia Inquirer
The most interesting event at the con-
sumption congress now in session at
Washington, is the announcement by
Surgeon Wright, Of the navy, that he
and some others in his corps have been
for some time experimenting with mer-
curry as specific for tuberculosis with
marvellous results. While present an
nouncements are made with caution there
is no doubt that these experts feel that
they have made a discovery that will be
of lasting value to the world. All of the
delegates are interested and it is certain
that extensive investigation will follow.
The point involved in the discovery, or
alleged discovery, is that 1t is a mixed
Infection so-called A slight disease,
easily handled, is set up in the patient
and this kills off the tubercular germs
and then the secondary disease Is dis
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-27
From the Providence Journal.

From the Providence Journal.
IT. HE announcement that the city of
l0 Lichfield, the birthplace of SAM
uel Johnson, is about to erect a
statue to his biographer is one which
should be received with pleasure as an
act of common justice. For. indeed, we
have been much less than fair to James
Boswell. 1.-The curse of the artistic
temperament" says Mr.. G. X. Ches-
terton, lis that it cannot produce art.
Like most paradoxes this is only halt
true The artistic temperament-using
the term to mean something other than
intemperance and improvidence unac-
companied by redeeming charm and
brilliancy-does indeed, too frequently
seem the bane of it's possessor; he
seeks ever to find the outlet of the
power within-and the outlet never comes.
But none the less it may be that his fall
ure to justify his temperament in the
eyes of the world lies not In his In
capacity for producing art, but in his lack
of power, his inability to choose the form
of art which he may produce with sue
cess.
Such, at least, would seem to be the
lesson of James Boswel's life. Bos-
we'll has suffered much at the hands
of Macauley He was something much
more than a Paul Pry," something less
than imam without delicacy, without
shame without sense enough to know
when he was hurting the feelings of 9TH
ers or when he was exposing himself to
derision." Entirely aside from Johnson5
genuine affection for him, the friend
ships which he formed and retained with
other men of genius must be accepted as
a guarantee that such a wholesale con-
demnation Of his character as that writ
ten by Macaulay-who for the time be-
ing comes rather close to illustrating his
own phrase anent the British public in
one Of it's periodical fits of morality
cannot be a fair estimate of the man.
Boswell was cursed with the artistic
Temperament in its most trying form.
He drank he could neither make nor
keep money; in his youth he was per-
petually failing in and out of love, anu
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-27

early pioneers adopted many Indian
habits. They even strapped their babies
to boards like proposes. After they be-
gan to raise hogs the mother would
leave her little ray of sunshine alone in
the cabin for hours; but to alleviate his
solitude she gave him a large piece of
raw pork 10 suck, first tying it to his
foot by string, so that when he at
tempted to swallow it the natural inn
pulse to kick would save him from chok-
inc -
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-27
GLIMPSE OF COSTA RIGA.

FROM Leslie w eekly.
At an elevation of 5000 feet Carriage,
once the capital of the country is
reached. There the tourist finds excel
lent shops, well stocked with both Amer
lean and French goods. The houses are
nearly all only one story with the patio
in the center. The streets are paved,
but there is no sewerage or side gut
tiers, and the water runs through the
center of the street. There are no al
leys or exits from the rear and the
front door is used for all purposes. FIRE.
quently a man will lead his horse In
and out by the entrance used by the
family. Buzzards are the scavengers of
the country and as the penalty for kill
ing one is heavy fine they are quite
tame. The old cemetery with its "oven''
vaults is especially interesting.
Costa Rca vegetables are grown the
year round and the tables of the Pam
anna canal employees are supplied from
there Six or eight fresh vegetables are
found on the tables of the residents any
day in the year. Although a tropical
country. the mountain air of the in
terror is bracing and this in a meas
ure accounts for the comparative in
dustry of the tiller of the soil. Next to
banana raising coffee plays the most
prominent part in the exports of the
country. The Costa Rican is a large
consumer of this beverage The coffee
served tasted so different from ours that
/ asked a young matron at San Jose for
her recipe Use sufficient coffee she
said, mot less than two ounces to a
pint of water. Warm your coffee pot,
put the coffee into it, boil the water and
pour the boiling water on the coffee, and
the thing is done. If the coffee itself is
boiled the aroma Is dissipated and the
beverage spoiled. just let it come to
boil" Then she added: You Ameri-
cans have your coffee TOO weak. Make
it strong and use three-fourths milk IL
necessary: that is better than to use half
milk and half coffee"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-27
THE SUPPL OF OPERA SINGERS,

From the New York World.
Manager Dippel, returning from a four
months search for new talent for the
Metropolitan, announces that he listened
to 1000 singers. Mr.. Hammerstein's pic
turesque tour of the continent with
similar purpose is fresh in mind. What
Italian thicket where a nightingale might
be hid did he pass by?
A reflection prompted by their uniform
success in securing new artists of the first
rank is that it reveals the existence of
a surprising number of great tenors
and prima donnas. In the light of the
annual discovery of new operate stars
the old theory that only two human
nightingales were born in a century, one
of each sex, is disproved.
Time was when a New York opera
season without Jean de Reszl1e in Wag-
merriam roles would have been a fiasco.
But that was before the exigencies Of
competition revealed a Caruso and re-
stored the American world of operagoers
and restored Italian opera to its lost
supremacy. The new conditions may go
hard with old favorites who see their
reigns disputed by new idols, SEM
brch following a Patti to be forced in
turn to divide honors with a Tetrazzini,
and a Calve returning to find her place
pre-emptied. But the gain is the public,S
No doubt plentiful supply of opera8c
talent of the first order has always ex-
listed, needing only to be sought to be
found. One good result of the active COM
the Manhattan is that the fact has been
made manifest and the old monopoly of
Individual popularity broken by the eff
forts of rival managers to Guido one
another in their bids for support.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-27
Chimney Sweeps.

"Chief Benefits advice about sweeping
chimneys is very opportune," said cit
lien yesterday, but he says put a
brick in an ordinary gunny sack and
drag it back and forth through the Chin
ney from the top by ropes
Now, the trouble is how is an old fell
low to get up to the top of a chimney
on a two-storied house?
I'VE want professional sweepers with
short jointed rods, and stiff brushes to
shove up and down the flues as in all
the European countries.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-27
THE SONG A SOLDIER SANG.

By Herbert French.
l heard q soldier sing some trifie
Out in the sun-dried veldt alone;
He lay and cleaned his grimy rifle
Idly, behind stone:
IF after death, love, comes waking,
And in their camp so dark and still
The men of dust hear bugles, break
ing
Their halt upon the hill.
ITO me the slow and silver pealing
That then the last high trumpet pours
Shall softer than the dawn come steal
ing. o
For, with its call, comes yours!
What grief of love had he to stine,
Basking SO idly by his stone,
That grimy soldier with his rifle
Out In the vedt alonN2