davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08
Army Pay Increase.


 'I am glad to see that the officers of the regular army as well as the enlist ed men are about to receive increased pay" said a Spanish-American war vet eran. "The original bill introduced in the House of Representatives only provided for an increase in the pay of rank and file. The private soldier now gets SIS month and the House bill raised the pay to s15. The bill that passed the Senate Friday increases the pay of en- listed men 40 per cent, making SIS. 20 a month for the privates, in addition to their clothing and rations. This is not too much.
 'The present pay of officers was en- tirely adequate 30 or 40 years ago, but now that the cost of living Is higher and salaries paid by railroads and other cor porations for technically educated men, are tempting, Uncle Sam should not ex- pect to have his army properly officered unless he pays reasonably well. The pay of junior officers is to be increased % per cent. That will mean that a sec- ond lieutenant will start out on pay at the rate of s1750 a year instead of $14Oo the pay he receives now. The scale of increase every five years up to 20 years, applicable to all officers of all grades, will continue In force-10 per cent for the first five years. including four years as cadet, if the lieutenant Is a West Pointer; 20 per cent for the next five years; 30 per cent for the next five and 40 per cent for the next. Thus a second lieutenant who graduated at the Military academy would receive, one year after his commission, pay at the rate of s1925 instead of s175o-provided the bill becomes a law"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08
CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK.

From the Montgomery Journal
 Some three years ago there was an ex- ploslon In the Virginia mines of the Southern Steel company, near Bessemer. Ala, by which 110 men lost their lives. Suits were brought against the company for an aggregate of about s2,0oo, 900, alleg- ing that the accident was due to the neg. ligence of the company. This was strenu- ously denied by the company; three cases were tried. the jury finding for the de- fendant in one case, for the plaintiff in another, and a mistrial being had in the third.
 Forney Johnston of Birmingham was the defendants attorney in all the cases. About a year ago he filed bill in the chancery court to enjoin all these &C., tons, and compel the plaintiffs to come into that court and establish, first, the liability of. the company, and then, if liable, to determine the damage in each case Judge Coleman granted a tenn porary injunction. The attorneys for the plaintiffs were nearly all of one mind, and the bill was filed to secure delay and many eminent lawyers were of the opin- ion that there was no equity in the bill Upon the hearing before Chancellor Ben ners he dissolved the injunction, but in- timated he would not if he did not feel bound by a prior decision of the supreme court. The case was appealed and argued last month by MT. Johnston, and the su- preme court has since rendered a decision sustaining Mir. Johnston's position. This 
 Johnston. who is a young man. but who is recognized as an able and clear-headed lawyer. with bright promise before him. MT. Johnston is a son of Senator Johnston, and is "a chip off the old block"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08
THE LINK,
By Julia Neely Finch

By Julia Nicely Finch. When all the world is dark and still (Save for the far, faint stars above The murmuring of light-tethered leaves)- I loose my thought, my will, And let 1t fly to you-to you-oh, lovel In such free hours my soul receives Some message from you-near, or far Is 1t from leaf or stars? When in the stiffness of my room I hear the swelling of my child's soft
 breath
 And bend above her sleeping there. A white rose blooming in the dark My soul stands still with-hark, Oh.
 hark! Is this something snatched from deathf She is your own. Your very own Flesh of flesh and bone of bong
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08
RING OFF, PLEASED

From Youths Companion.
 The following handbill has recently been distributed among the European firms fin Swatow
 Dear Sirs: We are directed by the ad- mlnistration of the imperial Chinese Tele- graphs Shanghai. To the effect that Nhe mercantile business of swatow is greatly progressed.
 "As the telephone system is much inter- est to the merchant as well as various residences In order that you could get an immediate communication of speech at a distance through the convenience.
 '"The- Swatow Is a commercial p>rt should also be adopted as Shanghai and Canton for an establishment of telephone system has been dealt with
 "The rate for every candidate of one telephone instrument about s7o (seventy dollars) in yearly expiration.
 ''We shall be pleased to supply you. If you will kindly favor us a previous reg istration before this step proceeds on in the rate.
 We remain, Sirs, yours faithfully, IMPERIAL CHINESE TELIGRAPHS." |"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08
Chattanooga Trade.

T was in Chattanooga recently said R. H. Rose, ''and was impressed with the large crowds on the streets, but the re- tail merchants did not seem to be as busy as those of Birmingham. Indeed, I re- marked the absence of crowds in the stores. Nevertheless, Chattanooga IS in a prosperous condition. Nearly all her industries are in operation, and that be- ing so, general business Is sure to be active
 Chattanooga has large jobbing trade and It's liquor business is exceptionally brisk at this time"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
"oNCE UPON A TIME

ONCE UPON A TIME" "Once upon a time''-the magic
 Of the olden time returns And the heart so weary laden,
 Faster beats and fondly yearns For the careless realm of childhood And the days of fairy lore, When in fancy we adventured
 On a mystic, haunted shore. When we knew that elves in plenty Peopled all the silent wood And the Sand Man caught the children Who were bad, but loved the good; When a lullaby at evening
 Sent us to the land of dreams Sweeter than all other music, Song of birds and lifting streams. "Once upon time"-the story
 Something from Arabian Nights" And the lamp of boy Aladdin
 Which could bring him all delights; Or the crone who shut a maiden
 Sadly in tower high And so left that maiden's lover { All disconsolate to sigh. Tales from Grimes and Hans of Den
 mark,
 Pirates bold and robber bands And the quest of golden fieeces.
 DTdfciy bouSDt III uibtdHt ldiia5p While the twilight shadows creeping Wrapped the world about in gloom And we fancied witches hudd1ed
 In the corners of the room. "Once upon time"-ah, never Will they charm our hearts again, Those old legends that enthralled us Ere we wrestled with life's pain; When the future Jay before us
 And the road was bathed in light And no cloud of later trouble Dimmed the heavens, blue and bright. There's an end to idle dreaming
 Whom the world grows cold and hard And the prize we thought diamond Proves to be worthless shard. But this thought may still console us In life's sorrow and defeat Once we trod the paths of childhood And the memory is sweet.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Loans on Real Estate.

"There is not quite as much activity in the loan business here as there was few weeks ago." said Leo K. Steiner. Money is plentiful enough for loans on desirable oity property, but the demand is not as great as one outside of hnan- eial circles might imagine.
 General trade is improving and Bir- mingham on the whole is in fine shape. When ground is broken this spring for a new office building, everything will look up. More office space is needed and now is a good time to build"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08

There are too many attractive places to live in these United States for people of brain and brawn and energy, for them to come here unless conditions of life are as attractive as in other cities.
 We want to get together and be good to one another and imbue the spirit of pulling together within us all. We want to help each other; and where we find a grasping boy with two marbles who wants tc get all the marbles of the other boys because he happens to have the tagging stone fixed. we want to call him down. Every man or boy who comes here should be made to feel that he can do as should pull together to make the best of all things here.
 Good streets and good county roads have been bit of a hobby of mine. have had all sorts of criticism heaped upon me for continuing to advocate work ing the county convicts on the county roads. I only know that this county has spent lots of money to build and maintain good roads with free white labor q am told that negro labor is rarely employed) and that no one can find the real good roads that we saw ten years ago. Instead of more and better roads under ten years of the present system, the roads are much inferior Ask any farmer who has to haul his stuff to town; or any rural route mail carrier.
 The present Board of Revenue. through one of It's members. gives figures to show county roads will be an expense to the county in excess of working the roads with free labor. It is also cited that the sight of convicts and the guarding of them. the danger of escapes and the all- sorts-of-other things will be offensive to the people who have their homes and farms in the county.
 What stuff
 Who instigates this talk?
 The negro in the woodpile is as big as the statue of Vulcan. It is simply this fine and forfeiture fund to the court house officials. That's all there Is to it.
 do not blame them. do not criticise them. The law of Alabama delegates to them fees for their services. This law likewise says from what fund such fees shall be paid. If that fund does not pro- duce. the fees are delayed. Every man looks to his own, and no criticism should be indulged in upon him who would have that which the law of the land says his office shall carry.
 But the law does not say convicts shall be hired out to work in mines or to pri- vate contractors. They are a county charge and should be made to remunerate the county for it's expense in protecting its citizens, who pay the taxes, against this lawless element. To do so make them
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

From the New York Press.
 A man can refrom from almost any vice but being a politician.
 The experience you buy Is never mar ketable at one cent on the dollar
 When woman has sense of humor, it's just another of her arts of deception. If you are careful not to call it flirting, a girl will like you for doing it with her. When man can support his family well generally they are ashamed of him for having no artistic ideals,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08
A SURING CHIRP.

This life is well worth living
 When sunshine floods the wold And hill and dale and covert
 Once gripped by deadly cold. Sweet fancies start to winging'
 Delight Is close at hand Whom Spring. the Maid of Magic, Comes smiling through the land!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08
NED BRACE TALKS ABOUT LIVING
 EXPENSES AND COMFORTS NEEDED HERE

rDoN'T like to stir things up in
 Birmingham, and get people to A kicking about little things, be- cause I know this is the biggestAand the best town in all the south; and I know 1t is destined to be one of the great cities of the world in time.
 But we who make 1t now must build to that end. What are immediate profits to compare with those which are gradual and calculated to aid us in old age and to continue to our children and our ehil- drens children? What Is there In life ex- cept the content and happiness of our families and our neighbors and their neighborsY There Is no permanent good to any of us in trying to get 1t all at once If one does grasp a great big bun dle of wealth at one time, from the world at-large or his neighbors, something top ples over on him or his to destroy his enjoyment of 1t. So why strive for all at once?
 Let us in Birmingham build up gradu- ally. Let the Morris avenue grocers-the wholesale agrocers-keep their prices in  reason; give the small retail grocers a chance; and then full chance to the peo- pie who have to buy things to eat to live. Cuts have recently been made in prices of eatables; but they must come lower. There is not a wholesale grocer in Bir- mingham, or a,Morris avenue dealer, who will not tell you, as man to man, that eatables have been too high here He may blame 1t on the other fellow, or he may indulge in roundabout talk in print, but when he comes to a heart-to-heart talk with you he will tell you things are high and he hopes we are going to get
 
 together in time and bring living expenses down in Birmingham.
 As a matter of fact there is yet bit of the village about the personnel of Bir- mingham. There are those who have done bit here who would hit the fellow who wants to do a bit more. You hear it every day in the talk about new 10 and F. story buildings suggested and urged. As a matter of fact all three of the new office buildings now proposed and almost financed could be filled with tenants be- fore completed and all of them would pay. Let us help them all. As the baseball re- porters say, don't be knockers. Build up. Give the other fellow chance.
 The first principle of building up is to make things homelke. The proper man works to earn that which will give his family the comforts of life. His earnings are first apportioned to the home. The eatables are primarily considered. Then the rents-and rents of homes deserve consideration here. They are highland very high-for these times. Then come | ha oF ifa in +rx nd lie trict-the streets, the lights, the police protection and the country roads.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08

build the highways of the county under responsible engineers and road builders and guards Don't try to make pets of them Make them work They deserve punishment. Make them double the days work of the man who merely works for his daily bread. Give the other man, the free man, a chance to work in the mine and earn so much per ton for the coal he digs out Tn day
 County roads are public charge. Put the convicts. who are public charges, upon them and make them build the roads in full two-fold over the tasks put upon free labor It will be no more than the tasks upon the oonviets now.
 Now as to the talk of the danger of escapes and having conviots working in front of farmers houses on the highways and in view of passers.
 What are we doing right here in Bir- mingham?
 shackled convicts-a chain gang-are seen every day upon the streets of Bir- mingham- They have chains between their legs, and 20 or 30 are seen at time filling holes and ruts. tamping in the chert, unloading gravel and fixing up the streets Other gangs of the city convicts are cleaning the streets. There Is guard always In sight. Little children are playing about the streets they are working on. Yet who has heard of com plaint? Street Commissioner McCartin is using them to advantage. Mayor Ward and all the conflicting and oombatable aldermen are agreed that McCartin and his convicts are doing a good work. If they can do it in the city why not in the county?
 The politicians may do the most log rolling and fix up the most slates, but 1 propose to continue to urge every man in Jefferson county who wants good roads to vote for only those men for the Board of Revenue who are pledged to try the experiment of working for one year that number of convicts which can be with drawn under the contract from the pres ent lessees. I believe the number Is fifty able-bodied" ones. Let the county take the able-bodied ones and put the road building problem to a test. Keep ac- ourate account under the county engineer and the government engineer who is to be sent here to aid us. Then we shall know The test Is the real thing. What was done in the olden days is of nothing today.
 This Birmingham district must be the greatest in the south Those who might stand in it's way for the moment. by standing aside. will eventually reap greater rewards. So thinks and so in- ssts
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08

and can't make up my mind to pop. What do you advise? BILL This is Leap Year, Bill
 Dear Betty: If you loved young man who smoked cigarettes and all your pleadings would not make him quit, what would you do? Please answer soon. feel so sad. EMMALINE Hit him with an axe dear. While you may lose a sweetheart. you will gain the gratitude of the community in which you live.
 Dear Miss Bunko: I am making six dollars a week In a department store and I love the dearest little girl in the world. Would you advise me to get marriedson my present income?
 CLARENCE. Not unless you know how to burgle Clarence.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08

Committees are actively at work to make the Confederate reunion the most attractive ever held. There will be music galore, and we must not forget the decorations.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08
ARTFUL MAID.

'IIe was just about to kiss me last night when he heard noise and stopped" ''What did you do?'
 'Told him I thought 1t was false alarm"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08

A New Jersey judge holds that it is not slanderous to say man is a grafter, because the offensive word is not recognized in the dictionaries of the period.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08

That Pittsburg oyster opener who has fallen heir to s1,O00 900 will soon find a chorus-girI wife, and then will follow a divorce and newspaper sensa- tion. Such is life in Pittsburg.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08
WISH aRATIFIBD.

'eWhen spenderly went to Chicago he said he was going to get a run for his money"
 Did he?" q should say so! Footpads chased him ten blocks!''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08

Congressman Lilley has stirred up the naval court clique, but if he will go to the bottom of that torpedo-boat business public sentiment will get be- hind him.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08

The army pay bill gives junior off, cers an incerase of 25 per cent. If it becomes law our young lieutenants will be on better terms with their tailors.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08

The Kaiser has butted in again-this time into English politics. AS butter in he is not outranked by even his American copyist.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08

The Indiana people have resumed the writing of historical romances, now that the racing automobiles have left the state.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08

Fairbanks expects to get after the first ballot the Illinois delegates on the sister state plea.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08

The Society for the Promotion of Fish ing Industries meets in Washington next September, and If Paul Cook of the Bir- n1ingham Age-Herald and John Reese of the Atlanta Georgian will come up they needn't bother about bringing any 'bait." Washington Herald.
 Many thanks to you. Friend Nsvin. An
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08

One of the On-to-Paris automobiles has been attached to pay the horse bills due for hauling 1t along the road. Thus is the horse vindicated.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08

No anarchist attempted to assassin ate the king. of the carnival at New Orleans. The king and queen both escaped alive.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08

In these prohibition days Birming- ham is town of flowing punch bowls, but the punch is as innocent as 1t Is icy
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08
THE UMPIRE.

 The umpire wakes and rubs his eyes He feels the early call Of spring and purses up his lips To below out Play ball" So strong and trim and feeling fit, Methinks, he will not stop For all the bottles thrown at him That once held soda pop. His eagle eye roams OCT the field, His heart beats for the fray. Indeed, he finds 1t hard to wait Until the opening day, So much he longs to prove his worth When knockers gather round And threat to send the umpire where He never will be found. He wants to show the raging fans He cares not for their hate Fen tho he calls a ball a strike When 'tisn't o'er the plate. How fine to see the bold umpire In such a fighting mood, But Pm afraid, ere many weeks, His health won't be so good!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08
Cost of Livinp.

When I accepted a salaried position in Birmingham year ago, and brought my family here to live shortly after wards, I was soon struck with the fact that I could not live as well here on $500 a year as l did In Washington on sl6oO," remarked an accountant. ' I be- gan knocking in quiet way and In con- versation with acquaintances emphasized the fact that unless the cost of living were readjusted Blrmingham's growth would be retarded. Some one asked mo six months ago to write piece for the Age-Herald. but did not care to figure in print. l am delighted to know, how ever, that the Age-Herald has taken up the matter. It has stirred up things right, and the discussion which Is now in progress will have the desired effect It Is safe to say that within another year the householders will have little cause to complain"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08

It is not true that Hetty Green lives in a $19 Hoboken fiat and cooks her own meals, although she may trim her own hats.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08

The suffragettes hesitate to ask Hetty Green to head their list of cam paign subscribers.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08

It is getting so hot that some are al ready wishing they had one of those midwinter days back
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08

There will be some batting done when the Coal Barons next take the field.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08

The charm of the groundhog will be lifted at the end of this week.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08

In about month the dear old grand mothers will begin to die again, repeat ing, if possible, the act.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08
IN THE SPRING,

Tn the spring man who's married
 Thinks he'll have to now the lawn, But he'd be far more contented
 Just to sit around and yawn.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08

Uncle Sam has an elephant at James, town, and he finds no one who wants it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08

a Chicago would like to have it's March thaws come in smaller waves.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08

E. H. Hartman may not be called fin until the time comes to roll up an- other slush fund.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08

In Baltimore the man who called a woman an "old hen" was found guilty of nature faking and fined $500.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08

King Manuel is considered good catch despite the bombs.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08

This is a skyscraping age, and Bir- mingham will keep up with the pro- cession.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08
Iased hin
ten block
THE TEST.

THE TEST.
 When the shadows fall
 On the sunshine land
 And we grope in vain - For a friendly hand, Iris the test of heart
 If brave and true,
 It will not fail
 In the time of rue! ADVICE TO THE LOvELORN.
 BY BETTY BUNKO. Dear Miss Bunko. I love,a young man who doesn't love me. What shall I do?
 MARJORIE. Throw the young man down and sit on him till he surrenders. My dear 'Bunk."' I have been keep- ing company with daIne for ten ysars
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08

Chattanooga will be called upon free ly in the coming hot season to cure snake bites,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08

Red is not a fashionable color just at present
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08
et0,1s,s,.


 to go much farther than Washington. Things are so unsettled down here that when we buy a quart of bait from a pedder We are not sure whether 1t Is bait" or a rank imitation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08

Birmingham is outside of the Mardi Gras belt, but it is just the place for a May carnival of music and roses. We used to have music festivals and flower parades. Let's getsback to those days.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-08

It is needless to remark that spring has came.