davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-10
POOR JOHN sARLEYcoRNl

From Harper's Weekly.
 Poor old John Barleycorn! He has fallen on evil days. His friends are few and haIf-hearted and some of those he has he is loath to own. The burden of him on humanity is so enormous that human ity. for dear life's sake, rebels There is not a broad back in Christendom on which some portion of that burden does not rest: there is hardly a crumpled body or a debased spirit anywhere hereabouts to be found in the wreck of which John Barleycorn is not implicated. Employers denounce him as public nuisance; econ omists excoriate him; doctors damn him outright or with faint praise; experience snubs him, science fears him, and reform throws fits at his very shadow. Poor old John, that poets In their time have loved and praised, who is really overcursed just now, and should have credit for some things that zeal refuses to take note of Extirpated he will not be, and if he could be, the world would still fall far short of being a paradise. He is not the only snake in the orchard; no, not by very great deal. But he has outrageousIy overdone his job. His permit licensed him to cheer, and he has abused it beyond extenuation Let him fight his own bat it is fair fight, but that will be for love of liberty and justice, and pot from any tenderness for him,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-10
Waterways Here and Elsewhere

The southern commercial congress has been merged into the waterways convention. and the latter body will be in session nearly all of the remain der of the present week. Alabama is well represented in the two conven- tions. The commercial congress was largely given to a presentation of the advantages of the south, while the convention now in session will con slider the interior waterways.
 The improvement of the waterways has two chief branches-the sheltered route along the coast and the improve ment of the waterways of the Missls- sippi valley. An effort will be made to concentrate the attention of Congress and the country upon a deepening of the Ohio river, but as matter of fact 1t is no more important to get water to float Pittsburg coal on than it is to get water to float Alabama coal on. The Pittsburgers demand a stage of nine feet from Pittsburg and Cairo, while Alabama, more modest. will be content with six feet in the Warrior
 Both should, however, pull together for larger appropriation for our wa terways. minimum appropriation of $50,0O0000 will no doubt be asked for and Congress should take steps to render such an appropriation possible, even if an income tax becomes neces- cary
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-10
STAKES FOR oLD-TlME BOXERS.
Although the Purses Were Small the
 Bets Were Larger.

From the London Mail.
 The old-time champions of the prize ring had to fight hard and undergo pun ishment before they earned their money.
 Just over 60 years ago William Thomp- son of Nottingham, best known to fame in the sporting world as Bendigo, fought Ben Caunt at Newport Pagnell, in Buck inghamshire for two hours for f200 side and the championship belt. It was for 8 similar purse that Tom Savers fought his memorable fight with the Tip ton Slasher 50 years ago. while Tom Spring-one of the bravest. most honest and courteous men who ever stepped into a ring-in 1924 fought Jack Langham. who ultimately died worth a3o,00o. for 800 guineas a side at Chichester. Tom Spring won and he and Jack afterward became the best of friends
 John Gully, who became member of parliament for Pontefract in the 30s, might have become a champion, but he retired from the ring after his fight with Bob Gregson in 1908. The fight lasted for 36 rounds and at the finish neither man had strength enough to hold up his hands either to give a blow or to guard But Gully managed to" get in a little tap on Gregson's face such as would knock fly off, and that gave him the victory.
 Gully then retired to carry on his bus
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-10
Estimatiug The Years Crop

The cotton market became weak and unsettled when the fact was made known that the ginneries had turned out, up to,December 1, II. .01O,S bales. This is new record. Never before had that number of bales of a crop been ginned by December 1. The gin ming last year to December 1 agge- gated but 7,243, ,396 bales.
 It is conceded by all that the crop has been picked and marketed with great rapidity- Very little rain had fallen up to December 1, and the men in the fields worked almost without in terruption. The weather conditions render it wise, therefore, to accept the report from the ginneries with eau tion.
 Some would have us think that the ginners' figures foreshadow a crop of 913,50O, ,000 bales, but the National Gin ners' association estimates the crop at 12,S37, 900 bales, while the New Or leans Times Democrat thinks it will not exceed 12,SOO,OOO bales. The chances are that it will swing around 1s,oo0, 900 hales. The annual gusss
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-10
A CHRISTMAS DINNER.

From Life
 It was the family Christmas dinner. People had come from all over to at tend.
 The host-a genial. hearty looking soul -fiourished huge carving knife over the glistening turkey.
 Cousin Jane," he asked. what part of the turkey do you prefer?"
 Cousin Jane smiled a superior smile.
 None, thank you. I am a vegetarian. Haven't eaten a bit of meat for one year, and look at mel
 'Um." said the host, passing on to Un- ! cle Jake. Uncle Jake, what part"
 I'm on the buttermilk diet" replied Uncle Jake. Greatest thing you ever saw No impurities in the system. Don't bother about me. 1 don't even have to drink buttermilk any morel l just swal- low every day tablet containing two billion tactic acid bacteria, and make it myself inside"
 The host passed on to the next
 Well Cousin Adelaide" he said, what can 1 help you to?''
 Cousin Adelaide moved away slightly and scornfally from Uncle Jake.
 If you please, one ounce of turkey. I'm a Fletcherite. Half an ounce would be my usual portion, but this is Christmas, and I'm going to be real reckless. Oh, if you only knew how it makes me feel!'
 The host turned to Brother Sam.
 Well, Sam, what can do for you?'
 No proteid today. thank you. l eat nothing but vegetables that grow under ground. Roots-if you have few of them they will be all I want-or possibly a little bran. You see, the primitive man lived on roots. Our chief trouble today is that we do not get back to state of na- ture."
 Pass him the celery said the host "I guess that is the best we can do. Bertha, what can I do for you?"
 Cousin Bertha wan little thing, smiled brightly.
 Nothing, thank you. I'm living on hot water; but 1 had my glass at H."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-10
MUSIC AND DOMESTIC HARMONY.

From the Chicago Record Herald.
 Walter Damrosch, who has done much for musical culture in America, believes that more high-grade music in the home would mean less friction over sordid things like grocers' bills and the price of hats, more domestic happiness and. consequent ly, fewer divorces.
 The recent census bulletin on the growth of the divorce evil gives MT. Damrosch's suggestion particular timeliness, and 1t is a good suggestion withal. Of course, as he appears to realize, there is no special magic in music, while some music might even, by it's vuTgarity or emptiness, inten- sify the dissatisfaction that leads to d. vorce. His point is that there is not enough cultivation of the finer things of life," and that an atmosphere of noble, elevating, beautiful music would be con- ducve to higher and nobler thinking gen. erally. t,
 This Is perfectly true, and the same is true of good reading, interest in science, the higher drama, the really important public questions. Intellectual and es- thetic pleasures, serious pursuits, true spiritual comradeship constitute the only secure foundation of family control and marital happiness Petty quarrels and bickerings over trifes are generally the effects of narrow lives, worry, irritation and excessive attention to small matters. The husbands and wives that enjoy music and the drama together that take country walks together, that read the same books and see the same pictures, that stimulate one another in keeping up wider interests are not likely to sigh for separations and divorces under liberal laws of states that ask few questions. Whatever makes for nobility. beauty. breadth in the home makes for union and happiness.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-10

of the department of agriculture is published today to assist the reader in making his own guess. It is but a guess, but it is based on wide inquiry and is entitled to a reasonable degree of credit.
 The ginning in Alabama to Decem- Der q was 1.171,5 ,504 bales. This rem ders possible a total approaching the record one of 1904, when the yield of the state was 1,470,00O bales. If but 80 per cent of the Alabama crop was baled on December 1, the total will be just about 1,47O,0O0 bales.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-10
The Banner County.

''The population of Jefferson county in the next census will probably be close to 3O0,000," said a member of the Com mercial club. When the panic Of last year struck the country this district, like all iron centers, was hit hard and sev- eral thousand people, chiefly foreigners. moved away. Several hundred Italians returned to Italy.
 we have got over the panic and since the early fall there has been a great demand for labor in the vicinity of Bir- mingham. If the census were taken now the enumerators would find as many souls in Jefferson county as were here in 1907 just before the panic-something like 225,- OO0 But between now and the time the census is taken there will be an excep- tonally large rate of increase. Next year is going to be a record-breahng year in prosperity and newcomers will swarm here An estimate of 300,OO0 is not an excessive estimate for 1910."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-10
IN HOTEL LoBBIES
The Iron Market.

There is a very bullish feeling in the iron market" said an iron merchant who is in close touch with the trade of the entire country "All branches of busi- ness have been improving fast since the election, but the pig metal market which has been active for some weeks past has rot advanced in price, look for higher schedule of quotations early in the new year. While there is good profit in SIS iron, consumers will be in a position to ray more and it will look cheap to them next month at $14. Southern furnace in terests have been seeing better times ahead and some of them are practically cut of the market for second quarter de- livery.
 "The coke market is fairly active. One Alabama concern sold 5000 tons yesterday for delivery in the immediate Birmingham district at SS 25''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-10
{ NleHTFALL.

By ueorge Du Maurier. Kindly watcher by my bed, lift no voice
 in prayer,
 Waste not any words on me when the
 hour Is nigh Let stream of melody but flow from
 some sweet player, And meekly will lay my head and
 fold my hands to die Sick am I of idle worlds past all recon
 cllinS-
 Words that. weary and perplex, and
 pander, and conceal; Wake the sounds that cannot lie, for all
 their sweet beguiling The langrage one need fathom not, but
 only hear and feel. Let them roll once more to me, and rip
 pie in my hearing Like waves upon some lonely beach,
 where no craft ancoreth; That I may stop my soul therein, and craving naught. nor fearing, Drift on through slumber to a dream.
 and through-a 2 dream to death.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-10
stronu Stock Market.

'The New York stock market holds up we'll, considering the approach of the holidays and the rapid advance in stocks since October" said an investor in high class securities.
 'T look for a much higher market in January. The stocks of all the divi- dend paying railroads will advance and United States Steel common is almost sure to soar. Sloss common which is now 7s will probably touch 90 by the middle of January and par by spring. It pays per cent dividend and when prosperity is in full swing again 1t will not sur prise me if the dividend rate is advanced to per cent The Sloss-Shefield's large net earnings for the quarter ending No- vember 30, as shown in The Age-Herald of Wednesday, is sure to make good impression on investors"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-10

| mess as a publican and made so much money by successful turf speculation that he was able to become the owner of race horses which thrice won the Derby for him.
 From e2O0 to e500 a side seems to have been the usual stakes in the days of Tom Spring, Savers and Cribb It was for the larger amount that Jem Ward fought Tom Cannon. granduncle of Mornington Cannon, the jockey. in 1925. The fight lasted for 10 rounds, and at the finish of the ninth both men leaned against each other too exhausted to move. Ward, however, managed to pull himself to- gether a little in the tenth round and won
 Although the stakes were small in the old days of prize fighting, the bets were large. The Duke of Cumberland is said to have lost s1OO00 when Slack beat Jack Broughton in 1750, while when John Jack son-known as Gentleman Jack-beat Perrins in a fight for 250 guineas a side in 17S9 he won 990,000 for one of his packers. bullock. by name. e10O0 for himself, as well as over e5OO in gate money
 The famous Captain Barclay, the father of scientific training and hero of the great 1000 miles in 1000 hours match, who trained Tom Cribb when he was matched to fight Molneaux, the black, at the be- ginning of the last century, stood to lose e10,OOO in the case of Cribb's defeat. But Cribb won after 20 minutes fighting, ul timately became a coal merchant and publican. and died 60 years ago at the age of 67.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-10
In the Old Dominion.

Virginia is almost sure to have state wide prohibition within a year." said R. H. Reams of Baltimore. "rhe fact that Lynchburg, in it's election last Saturday, voted dry will naturally stimulate the Anti-Saloon league. I was in Norfolk two weeks ago and 1t was believed by many men there who are against prohi- bition that if Lynchburg went dry state wide prohibition would certainly follow. The i-prohibitionists in Richmond and in Norfolk will wage a campaign in the legislature against statutory prohibition, but the wave has got such a start in the south that it will not spend itself until it has rolled over all the states of the South Atlantic coast.
 "In Georgia it is believed the prohibi- ton law will be repealed or amended within two years and that the state will return to local option. I am not familiar with Georgia sentiment as I with conditions in Virginia cities. But if Richmond and Norfolk are forced on the dry docks, there will be a mighty pro- test from the people of those two cities.
 From a commercial point of view pro- hibition south of the Potomac helps Bal timore because the liquor traffic there is one of the most important branches of commerce, and every dry city within a radius of 500 miles opens up new shipping trade for the whisky dealers"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-10
Distinguished Anglican PreIats.

The Right Rev Cosmo Lang, who was recently appointed archbishop of York, to succeed the aged pr. Moclagan, retired, is only A years old and is probably the youngest prelate to hold that position in modern times," said a well-informed churchman. "A few years ago Dr. Lang was vicar of St. Mary's Oxford, the po- sition held by the late Cardinal Newman when he led the Troctarian movement, which stirred the Church of England, and which is still being felt.
 "The retiring archbishop was one of the greatest preachers England has had in the last half century. The new archbishop is said to be a strong preacher and a strong man in every way. While he holds pronounced views he is not extreme, and it is believed his preferment will be well received by both the high church party and the evcngelicals. pr. Lang's title will be Right Honorable, and Most Rev erend the Archbishop of York, Primate of England. The Archbishop of Canter- bury is styled the Primate of AIT Eng land. The salary of the latter is equal to $75OOO year and of the archbishop of fork $50,0O0. Each has a large palace maintained at government expense"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-10
pARlslENNEs DON TINY HATS.
Headgear Resembles Crown Eddie Foy
 Wore in Musical Comedy.

From Paris Letter to the New York
 Times.
 The women of Paris today are prob ably the most eccentrically dressed in the world. They have even gone further than the usual Paris lengths and for the past few months the styles have been growing more and more ultra. For sev- eral weeks in September and October the women wore hats of such monstrous size that it was impossible to get through doorways while wearing some of them, and an open carriage was essential when driving.
 On November 1 the large hat suddenly disappeared and the other extreme was shown. The shops could not make hats small enough. One hat I saw on a smart woman reminded me of the tiny crown Eddie Foy used to wear in musical com edy. It was very insignificant affair, which covered a small portion of the top of her head, and on one side was the head of an owl with enormous yellow eyes.
  the Cossack hat, an inverted cone that covers the immense coiffure and some times the ears. These hats are made of various white, black and gray furs- never in colors. Some of them are made of the most expensive black fur and cost small fortunes. Others may be bought for a few francs on the Boule- yard St Michael
 Of course, while the smart set was wearing large hats, a few actresses, noted for novel sartorial effects, decided to wear tiny hats, and now that the small hats come in, these ladies-Mlles. Polaire, La Valliere and some others-have gone back to the large hat. Cossack hats often have long feathers protruding from them cock and pheasant feathers, usually, of some dull shade.
 A hat of extreme length was seen at the Ritz When many women with these hats get together the effect is almost in describable.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-10
REVIVED HIS LOVE.
Wife Successfully Tried Burglar Scare
 on Her Husband.

From the New York World.
 Signs that a husbands love has grown cold, as observed by Mrs. Emma Carolyn weis, No. AT schenck avenue, Brook lyn:
 Cooking mot like mother's.'
 No goodbye kiss.
 No nights at the theatre.
 No more candy and flowers.
 Always thinking about business.
 Stayed out late at night.
 It was because of these indications that Mrs. Weis on Saturday afternoon bound herself to a chair, gave hubby the shock of his life when he came home, had half the Brooklyn police force looking for the burglar she told about and made sen sation in the neighborhood.
 Did it work? Well, rather! MT. Weis thought it was just too cute for any thing. He took his wife in his arms and gave her kisses enough to have done for the whole two years of their married life.
 And promises for the future? Yes. in- deedy! It's the theatre every night in the week after this and twice on Sum day. He didn't waste any time starting in either. A Sunday concert yesterday, pounds of candy. and when they were not out having a good time hubby could not have been dragged away from home for any consideration.
 Happy isn't any name for 1t! Mrs. Weis is just as enthusiastic as the day she was married, and so is MT. Weis. Both recommend a spectacular burglar scare as sure cure for thoughtless hus- ba nds
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-10
Congressman RaineV's Resolution

The dignified answer of Editor Smith of the Indianapolis News to Mr. Roosevelt, together with the charges and challenge of the New York World. renders imperative an investigation of the entire Panama canal scandal. ull- less indeed the republican party feels strong enough this time to crush il in order to save from chagrin or disgrace some of its distinguished campaign contributors. A refusal 10 investigate would now be considered a confession that there is much that has been con cealed, and that the dominant party cannot afford to have the truth official ly established.
 As things stand, all that Editor Smith has stated must be considered sufficiently established to warrant an investigation. Cannonism can prevent an investigation, but it cannot prevent a widespread dissemination of grave statements and suspicious. The death of Senator Morgan stopped the only investigation that was ever started concerning the benefciaries of the $40,O00,OO0 that was hurried out of the federal treasury, and to this day no one knows with accuracy and certain ty who got that money. The Presi- dent admits he does not
 The country demands an official in. vestigation of the entire matter wholly regardless of the Presidents torrent of hot words, which throw no light on the matter now before the public. What will the House do with the Raj ney resolution? This is the burning issue before Congress.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-10
----------7- Work Before The Short Session

Many propositions will be laid be- fore the short session, but few will be passed, simply because the two months that will remain of the session after the Christmas recess will be needed for the passage of the IA customary money bills of the government, includ ing rivers and harbors bilr
 The usual cry for economy is heard but in the final outcome the 14 bills will total up to the customary sum The country is growing and it becomes increasingly difficult each year to keep appropriations from growing also
 What the short session should do is to. provide for receipts equal to the ex penditures 1t authorizes during the coming fiscal year. The same party that will control Congress after March controls the short session, and when the short session makes appropriations covering an entire year from July ] next it is duly bound to provide fol equal receipts.
 Will 1t do it? The deficit of tht present fiscal year will probably b, 100000. The short session vii  not do it's duty unless it brings re ceipts and expenditures together. I has no right to tumble its own dut. onto special session of the next Con prasc
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-10
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR
From the Chicago News.


 A compensation to a sinner Is to feel how those who condemn him envy him.
 Some of the fxings woman wears where people can't see them are in case they should.
 Husbands are almost indispensable for lifting things to the top shelf of closets carving and threatening to whip the chill dren.
 When man happens to guess what the weather turns out to be, he wants you to thing he could have become fla nous scientist if he had made that his profession.
 After a girl accepts 8 man who unex- pectedly proposes to her great disap- polntment to her is she was so excited for fear he would get scared of that she forgot to .recite a beautiful piece of sen timent that she had got ready for when 1t happened.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-10

Not even Philadelphia lawyer can explain all the complications of the Standard Oil investigation in New York. The suit was brought to dis solve the trust, but the evidence seems to cover all known things when the witnesses are not overworking their forgettArs
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-10
REPLIES.

The primrose path will be lonesome without Pat Grove.
 Farewell song of Nord Alexis--"Give My Regards to Haiti ''
 Prophet Spangler says the world will come to an end this month. man who can talk that way at Christ mas time is a boss pessimist
 It seems that there is always room for few more in the Ananias club.
 My husband is a splendid man." My wife is a good woman" say the par ties to a divorce suit in Massachusetts If married people are bound to be di- vorced, they might as we'll be. polite about it.
 Governor Hughes and J. Hamilton Lewis met in Work the other day and the surface cars couldn't run for whiskers.
 A Pittsburg woman bought she was widow, but before she got a chance to be a merry widow, her husband came back. PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-10

The Hon. G. Rumsey Sheldon says MT. Taft will be the first man to go into the White House under no obli- gation to any man." How about Half brother Charley?