davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-08
Locomotives and Crops

The speed of business reaction in broad and prosperous country Is sur prising when details are studied. Be- fore october 23, for example, there were not enough locomotives to move the traffic offered, and within single month after that date $500 locomotives were idle. In December 10000 men were laid off in the Baldwin locomo- tive works of Philadelphia, and the general manager of the big concern thus speaks of the future:
 "No substantial orders have come in since December. Whereas we were turn ing out about 60 locomotives at week, we are now turning out only 20, and we will have finished up all our work in a short time. Then, unless we receive some substantial orders in the meantime, we will have to close"
 ''what has been responsible for this?' he was asked.
 Lack of orders, not only from Amer lea. but from foreign countries. Japan is in financial troubles and is sending us no orders at all. It is the same everywhere"
 But all this may be reversed speed- fly. Big crops this fall would call back into use every car and every locomo- tive, and the works in Philadelphia would again feel the impulse of large orders The presidential election would not block the marketing of crops When great crops of cotton, corn, wheat and oats are harvested they must be moved to market, and this in turn starts up plants of all sorts from those that make pianos to those that make blows, and this means that general trade would at once become normal. There is nothing that can resist the effects of great crops. They mean everything that goes to make up general business, everything needed to restore confl- dence, activity and prosperity.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-08
THE RHODES SCHOLARSHIP.

Sherman Peer in February Putnams.
 Of the uses of a Rhodes scholarship, three may be mentioned as of practical value and as peculiar to Oxford. First is the pursuit of studies and research preparatory to teaching history, the classics or English literature; secondly. following a line~ of study preparatory to journalism; and lastly, the taking up of studies in view of entering our foreign consular or diplomatic service. In this list history might well be given the leading place, inasmuch as the his tory schools of Oxford are celebrated for thoroughness, for the scholarship of the instructing staff, and for the ex- cellept methods of teaching Supple mental to this Is the historic setting in and about Oxford, and the proximity of the Continent, so rich in historical libraries, great living historians, and cities and battlefelds famous in the annals of the past. In the classics, Oxford has long stood first by reason of the marked ability of the instruct ing staff, the class of undergraduates interested in Latin and Greek texts and the original methods of instruction adopted in this field of study. She is without doubt the stronghold of the classics, surpassing Cambridge In this respect, though both universities pos- sess, as somebody has remarked, the Classic atmosphere" The third place in this list Is assigned to English lit- erature. One might expect 1t to lead, btu though in process of development, this line of study has not yet attained the reputation of the schools of his tory or the classics. Curiously enough, the Rhodes scholars are now bringing this school to the front.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-08
ENGLISH AS SHE IS SPOKE.

From the London Daily News
 An amusing dialogue occurred yester- day between Judge Willis, K. C.. and a plaintiff who sued a man for the value of a quantitys of grain supplied.
 His honor said he had received let ter from the defendant, who said he could only offer half crown month. That" continued his honor, Twill take six years to get rid of the debt"
 Plaintiff (emphatically)-I would willing ly forgive a poor man, but when you find he is a 'swanker,' and doing every one in the neighborhood, it puts your back up Qaughter) We have to cut things very fine in order to get a shilling or two, and then these gentry come "swanking' about the country as if they were toffs. Oaughter) I am told by others that he is nothing more than a "duck-shover." Gaughter)
 His Honor-A what? shaver? Loud laughter)
 Plaintiff-Duck-shover your honor; a man who gets things on the bounce and the nod. (Renewed laughter.)
 His Honor-You mean a man who gets people to let him have things on credit by representations that are not correct Is that what you mean to convey by forth? Naughter)
 Plaintiff-Thats it-duck-shover and swanker. (Renewed laughter.)
 An order to pay 5s. monthly was made.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-08
ONE cHlNAMANs FINGER NAILS

From the Pnllddelpnla Record.
 Wang Bang of Chinatown has undoubt- edly the most artistic finger nails in Philadelphia. They are long and pointy, and each nail is ornamented with a mini ature picture of his native country. His thumb nail, being the largest, bears a remarkable good portrait of himself. Wang drew the picture many years ago with India ink and uses a composition which keeps them from wearing out. He used a extremely fine needle to draw the sketches, and they will perhaps last for life. Wang trims his nails so that they will make fitting frame work for the pictures. A number of other China men in the city tried the same finger decoration. but they had to give 1t up as a hopeless task. Wang Bang, despite his noisy name, is 8 quiet Chinaman, and he will not give away the secret which enabled him to landscape" his nails. Incidentally he earns comfortable liv- ing by painting oil portraits. He carries his studio" with him and works in a different neighborhood every day.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-08
MT. Buck Here,

c. E. Buck, who had been in Chat tanooga for the past two weeks looking after business interests there, arrived in here a few days and then return to Chat tanooga.
 MT Bucks partner in the Frictionless Metal company, N. Rodor, died recently He had been in active charge of that well known and profitable industry for a number of years, but since his demise MT. Buck has been giving the business his personal attention.
 A man familiar with industrial mat ters said last night: Few industries in the south have paid so well as the fric- tionless enterprise owned and operated jointly by MT. Buck and the late Mir Rodor Some years ago they established a little plant in Richmond to manufac- ture frictionless metal, upon which, they held the patent. The product was of such value that 1t was in great demand from the start. The business grew steadily and the industry soon came to be recog- nized as one of the most important in Richmond. Three or four years ago the plant was removed to Chattanooga. It gives employment to many workmen ani keeps about IS or 20 salesmen on the road, including two or three in Europe The Frictionless Metal Company began business with very small capital, but it has been wonderful money maker, and its dividends have been continuous as well as large"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-08
IN HOTEL LoBBIES
clty pIrectory an outraae.

"The 1908 city directory is an out rage" said Postmaster J. Rivers Carter. The need of correct directory is probably more acutely felt in the post office than anywhere else. and we are being greatly handicapped with this years issue. The clerks and carriers in the local office have been trying to devise plan by which they could get directory. doing the work themselves, but they swi1l hardly be able to do so as such a proposition would be very expensive. The city should do some thing to avoid repetition of this dis nal failure next year. Some other company might be allowed the priyi- lege. I wish it were possible for the postoffice boys to get out the directory each year."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-08
Gen. O. O. Howard.

Maj Gen. Oliver Otis Howard, U. s. A., retired. who is about to be honored with the rank of lieutenant general on the retired list, is one of the few fa- nous fighters of the Civil war on either side still living" said a Confederate vet eran, "and he is the only one of the union generals left who commanded an army-the army of the Tennessee. He was born in Maine in 189O; was gradu- ated from Bowdoin college in 1850 and from the military. academy at West Point in 1854 He served in the Virginia penin- sula campaign and at the battle of Fair Oaks was twice wounded. losing his right arm.
 "After the war General Howard con- manded an expedition against the Neg Perces. Chief Josephs band-and was in other Indian campaigns. He was com missioner of the Freedman's bureau in 1865.
 General Howard is a very religious man and is a prominent member of the Northern Methodist church. He has also
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-08
Bibb Favors MT. Underwood

From all four counties of the Ninth Congressional district come reports that the man who has served each of them well should be renominated with out opposition. The Centreville Press, for example, says:
 Hon O. W. Underwood, congressman from the Ninth congressional district, has written a number of letters through out his district announcing his candi- dacy for renomination. From the present outlook he will have no opposition. He has made a most creditable representa- tive. and has looked out for the inter est of his district. He has been in Wash ington now long enough to learn all the political ropes and is in a position to be of more use to the people of this dis tract than eyer before. He has been the means of giving the people of Bibb free rural mail routes throughout the county, and now has two government soil ex- perts working in the county. He is work ing in the interest of the people and the district which he ably represents"
 This just about tells the story, al though no mention is made of the ef- fort that MT. Underwood is making to open the Cahaba to the heart of Bibb county. The truth is, this district can- not well afford to dispense with the services of a Congressman who is pop ular and influential at Washington, and 1t has no intention of doing itself an injury
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-08
Denver Makino Great Plans.

'DenTer is making great preparations for the democratic convention said P. F. Roland, who has just returned from a western trip. Work is being rushed on the auditorium, which will have a seating capacity of 14,OO0. This great meeting place will be opened in May with a musical festical. The citizens of that town are bubbling over win joy awaiting the time for the conven- tion to roll around, and they haven any doubt but that Denver will be the greatest city in the world during the time 1t is in session"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-08
------------sos------------ HOW TO SUCCEED IN LIFE.

From the New York Press.
 'Pm making money hand over fist" said a young merchant who started in business forshimself three years ago, and met with indifferent success up to Janu- ary l. How do you account for it?' several friends simultaneously inquired. His reply: And old woman down Cape Cod way told my father 50 years ago that if he wanted to succeed in life he must always eat a herring one minute after the old year was buried and the new was born-that Is. one minute after mid night. I found this advice in the old mans papers Che had never mentioned it to mel, and followed it to the letter. I ate my herring at 12:01 a. m. Janu- ary l. and have been doing big business right along ever since. What pity my father didn't put me wise long ago. I'd be up among the millionaires by this tlme' :.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-08
Warships In the Pacific

Admiral Bob Evans fleet of 16 bat tleships is expected to anchor in San Francisco bay in April, and England's s famous fourth squadron consisting of 13 modern and powerful cruisers will drop anchor in May in Esquimalt har- Dor. the naval base of British Colum- bia. Esquimalt Is but two days sail from San Francisco bay.
 Esquimalt is situated at the south end of vancodver island, and the Straits of San Juan de Fuca is all that separates it from the state of Wash ington. Its Qualifications have been rendered well.nigh impregnable, and 1t is to become the base of Englands s now Pacific fleet Heretofore she has been content to keep there but two cruisers. In May she will have 13 at Esuuimalt- The mere fortification of Esquimalt was made eight years ago the subject of diplomatic negotiations between Washington and London, but the sending of the battleship fleet to San Francisco precludes any inquiry
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-08
Ts GENERALS BRAvE7"
| the Washington Star.

From the Washington Star.
 The late Bishop Coleman" said a Wilmington divine, used to take every summer a long, solitary walking trip. He wore rough clothes and slept in farm houses. Sometimes the people took him for an aged tramp. Always he had interesting experiences.
 These tramping experiences often served the bishop in his sermons. Thus once, in a sermon on peace he said that if they who made the wars had actually to go out and fight them fight them as the common soldier does. without honor, without hope, without anything desirable-warfare would speedily be abolished.
 One evening"" he went on, "on a Virginia farm, little farm boy said to him:
 "Is generals brave?
 tles, to be sure, the bishop an- swered. Why do you ask?
 "'Because, said the little boy, if they are brave, I don't understand why, when the artists make pictures of q battle, the general is always on a hill four miles away. watching the fighting through an opera glass.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-08
Adulteratine Soft Drinks.

q wish to make a loud and emphatic protest against the doctoring of milk by soda-jerkers," said a well known molly coddle last night. This habit has grown to alarming proportions since prohibition came upon us, and strange to say has at tackled the very finest fountains. The milk is watered, the proportions of milk and water being about equal. When person calls for milk drink-say, choc- olate milk-the jerker, who, of course. is simply following his employers instruc- tions, puts a dash of vanilla syrup in the drink to thicken it. Result, far from pleasing liquid.
 "Citric acid is also taking the place of fresh lime juice, and probably the poorest excuse for a drink is a. limeade made out of this product. It takes man with a mean disposition to serve drinks like this"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-08
Ninetieth Anniversary Today.

T expect to witness an event tomor- row., said Henry w. Howze, at the Southern club last night that rarely falls to ones lot to see. This is the cele- bration of the ninetieth birthday of a friend, Col c. c. Huckabee, who was formerly noted citizen of Marion, and who is now spending the evening of his life here with his wife and daughter, Mrs. McCalley.
 "Colonel Huckabee was a student at the University of Alabama in the latter thirties, before the birth of many men who are over seventy now, and spent most of his life in the black belt looking after his farming interests. He is also one of the pioneers of the iron industry of Alabama having been identified with one of the furnaces established in Brier- field just after the war. Some years ago he moved to this city and until recently was able to attend the services at the Southside Baptist church, of which de- nomination he has been a member near ly eighty years"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-08
OLD WINTER.
By Robert Southey.

By Robert Southey. A wrinkled, grabbed man they picture
 the
 Old winter, with rugged beard as gray As the moss upon the apple tree Blue-lipped, an ice-drop at thy sharp blue
 nose;
 Close muffled up, and on thy dreary
 way, Plodding along through sleet and drifting
 snows. l, They should have drawn thee by the
 high-heaped hearth, Watching the children at their Christmas
 mirth, / Old winter, seated in thy great arm
 chair, Or circled by them, as thy lips declare Some merry jest, or tale of murder dire, Or troubled spirit that disturbs the
 night, Pausng at times to rouse the molderIng
 fire,
 Or taste the old October brown and
 bright
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-08
About Persons,
AGE-HERALD ECHOES


 Age-Herald evidently does not regard the governors story about the senatorship in a serious vein.
 Montgomery Advertiser: The Birming- Age-Herald says that the water wagon has just begun it's second month, and already it feels acclimated Shreveport Journal: The Birpingham Age-Herald remarks: "The. future anti Bryan conferences will be called inside the regular republican party"
 Washington Post: The Birmingham Age-Herald says straight whisky is not always honest whisky" Possibly that is why it often drives men to crooked deeds.
 Huntsville Journal: That man should have frozen to death on the streets of Birmingham one night last week, as re- ported by the Age-Herald, seems almost incredible
 Ensley Sun: "A man said he would ra ther be sober in Birmingham than drunk in Houston," says the Age-Herald. The kind the blind tigers sell makes people say funny things. doesn't 1t?
 Columbus Enquirer-Sun: "Stll to thee my heart turns" sings the poet of the Birmingham Age-Herald. It must be a long distance turning since there is so still in or around Birmingham now.
 Rome Tribune Herald: The Birlning ham Age-Herald runs a column of clip ped paragraphs headed "Jabs at Bir- mingham." Wonder If the Atlanta news papers will have the nerve to do like wise
 Columbus Ledger: The Birmingham Age-Herald says: David B. Hill sees nothing in the present situation to call him back to the politics of this world" No one else sees anything in 1t ito call him back.
 Washington Herald; There are at least 1S6 places outside the express offices where a mans life may be saved in this town,' says the Birmingham Age-Herald. We don't know whether this is a joke or an advertisement.
 Charleston News and Courier: -The Bir- mingham Age-Herald says: Money may now be had at the banks, but it isn't at present needed" Will the Union" stand for a paragraph so mendao -ous? When money may be had at the banks it is always needed
 Austin Statesman: Paul Cook, the Bir- mingham Age Herald poet, does not think woman with s1,OooOO can ever get old so long as she is single. Rather expect he is right about it. The ecoln in suf- ficient quantity makes the oldest single ones ever young.
 Austin Statesman: The Birmingham Age-Herald says even if Colonel Henry Watterson is returned to congress inas- much as 1t has .been over thirty years since he was before sent there he must have concluded by this time that it is a long time between terms.
 Canebrake Herald: The Age-H Herald recommends a careful reading of the re- port of Congressman Underwood's dis cussion of panics. even though it be but a summary, delivered in the house on Monday last. It covers almost the entire ground and 1t will be found difficult to avoid many of his conclusions.
 Austin Statesman: Talking about ex- tremes reminds us that Mississippi, as the Birmingham Age-Herald has pointed out, has gone tQ extremes in the matter of governor making, as. for instance, go- ing from the long and waving-haired Vardaman to the bald-headed or no-hair-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-08
AN OFFICE ROMANCE.

A dainty typewriter
 It's the girl that we mean. And never-oh, never
 The horrid machinei A dainty typewriter,
 A soft-hearted boss. Now who can inform me > How much was his loss?
 III. His heart-eould he help it?- Has surely gone hence. l hope, when they're married, Twill end his suspensel
 NOT so JOYFUL. What is a glee club?'' Anything but that"
 THE HOTEL CLERK. For polish and magnifcence He surely sets the pace He revels in gentility And wears most every grace. His clothes are wonderful to see, His diamonds blind your eyes, And when it comes to getting next. You'll find him worldiy-wise. His pose unruffled, eke his hair, He's never, never mad. In sooth, to mark his pleasant ways, You'd think him always slad. There's really nothing worth his while You'll find he doesn't know, From fashions and philosophy To when the trains all go He has clear views of politics Knows what the chiefs will do, And should somebody ask him, knows About the weather, too. With equal ease, intent to please, He'll not refuse to speak In German, French and polyglot And Cherokee and Greek. With "Front!' and How are you today?"
 He's busy as can be, And when the guests begin to kick There's none more calm than he And there's his smile-'twill dissipate The gloom, however deep. often wonder If he takes It with him in his sleep!
 IN A WAY. He told me that he moved in a literary atmosphere" 'so he does. He is a clerk in a book store"
 BLUE" Somewhere the sun is shining, Somewhere no troubles are. But sometimes, when we're pining That place seems very far.
 TOO WEARING. "He gave her a check for a thousand kisses.''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-08
WHAT CHASED OLD ERAsTUs.

Port JerviS Dlspatch to tne NeW Iorh
 World. -
 Lamed by rheumatism and 70 years old. Erastus Warfield negro, ran three miles to the home of a neighbor the other night, pursued by some strange. beast, whose quaint outlines he could just distinguish in the darkness. He all most fainted when he burst into the neighbours house and screamed: A whole drove of bears chased me here"
 Erastus started from his own shack to the neighbor's to get some medicine for his sick mule. He had gone only a few yards when he heard the tread of strange beasts behind him. Only a couple of nights before a big bear had been shot in that neighborhood. Erastus started on a wild lope, but he could always hear the big beasts just behind him for the whole three miles.
 The neighbor took his gun and went out to investigate. Patiently waiting in front of the house was Erastus' sick mule The animal had followed his own- CT all the way.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-08
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR
rom the New York Press

From the New York Press.
 What a girl specially likes about being engaged Is how she can put on airs with those who aren't.
 Whom a woman has children who are well she can worry over how dreadful it would be if they were ill
 A first rate modern improvement would be to let husbands pick out the people they must have to dinner
 A mans children are very gensrous to let him have enough car fare~tos get.;to business to support them.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-08

By preserving the forests of the Blue Ridge the rivers of the lowlands can be maintained. The entire At
 lantic slope would in that way be
 benefited.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-08

Huntsville Mercury: Municipal owner ship of public utilities is going to be a live issue in the Birmingham municipal contest.
 Sumter Sun: Much activity is apparent among the promoters of the fairs to be held in the autumn at Selma, Huntsville, Montgomery and Birmingham.
 Columbus Commercial: Birmingham is infested with blind tigers" but Judge Feagin refuses to convict on the testi- mony of men employed af so much per.
 Limestone Democrat: The wildcatter in Birmingham seems to be having pretty hard row to travel. From the amount of whisky that is said to be bought at the Athens dispensary and carried to Decatur there must be some thirsty individuals in Morgan's capital, but we understand that Judge Vert will likely instruct his grand jury to investigate alleged violations of the prohibition law in the Decaturs
 Centrevile Press: Jefferson countys moral wave seems to be growing and the sheriff is enforcing the law to the letter. He has posted notices notifying the mem- bers of the Country club that they must not play golf or any other kind of games on Sunday That passengers On street cars must not match coins to see who pays the fares, etc. Sheriff Higdon so far has made good official, but the law can not compel man to go to church, wear a long face and count his beads. all day Sunday The public must have some kind of Sunday recreation. This moral wave is going to be overdoDe some of these days, and then there is going to be re- action.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-08

Tho Panama engineers hope to keep the canal estimate under the cost of furnishing'a capitol building in Penn sylvania.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-08

Wall street and Theodore Roosevelt
 have parted company, and the latter will no longer be permitted to play on the formers justly famous curb.