davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-27
Reducing the Chinese Indemnity

China agreed to pay the United States $24,440.77S with interest at 4 per cent. She has already paid to this country s6,51S,0o0, and this country has paid to private claimants $2,OOo,- GOO. In accordance with the recom- mendation of the President, the Senate has voted to limit the indemnity re- uuired from China on account or the Boxer outbreak to $11,654,4 ,492. This leaves a sum exceeding $9,000,000 to meet the expenses of sending a relief expedition to China in the year 1900.
 The total indemnity demanded from China was about s33O,OOo,oOO, to be paid in thirty-nine annual install ments, the first falling due on Janu- ary 1. 1903, and all bearing per cent interest.
 The bills presented by the various nations were extremely extortionate, that of Russia amounting to sS0,000,- 900. China is bravely endeavoring to get on a modern basis, and the money that the western nations bargained for when China was in helpless condi- ton should go toward education and internal improvements. But there IS small probability that any other na- tion will follow the example in remit ting another part of the Boxer in demnity. The day of trampling China underfoot has, however, gone by, and the generous action of the United States will be apt to make the Chinese painfully alive of the extortions of the other nations long before the term of thirty-nine years has expired.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-27
Iananese Conlies

Japan is endeavoring to keep her laborers out of this country. The la borer who pretends to be a student is to be kept from coming to this country. and in order to make sure that coolies will not come, Japan has decided to stop emigration to Mexico and the Do- minion of Canada, and probably to Hawaii. Viscount Hayashi, minister for foreign affairs. says Japanese cool ies will be kept from coming to this country.
 The two countries will continue to be friendly. They long have been. They ever should be, and the prospect for peace between the two countries was never better than it is today. There is no friction between them, now that the coolies are to be kept away from the United States.
 A treaty is being negotiated between the two countries that will make plain
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-27
ABOARD A DESTROYER

And then we looked around. When you go below on destroyer you don't walk down; you climb down. When you fetch up in the dining saloon you find it about the size of midshipman's cabin on a battleship, and that isn't much larger than the yestbule of a Pullman car. The glass tumblers are held in patent racks, the matches are secreted in draw CTS; the tableware is lashed down. At sea they serve no dishes on the table. The food goes direct to a mans hand, and then, with as little delay as is con- sistent with preservation of the susten- ance, into his mouth When he gets soup it is always a question whether he will have it in the face or in the ear.
 There are no gangways. It LOOKS as if the idea of getting aboard had never occurred to the builders. They evidently thought the only people who would ever want to get on board would be those born there. and that the only way to keep them there would be to build the rails high and eliminate exits. Each destroyer carries about S5 men and three officers. In all the flotilla there Is neither a sur geon nor a hospital cot The junior of ficer on the flagship binds up cuts and distributes calomel More than that, they don't get sick on destroyer Men time their illness to the facilities for treat ment.
 stin even if they are bounced around with every wave, one Is bound to have a good deal of respect for a torpedo destroyer-the same sort of respect you hold for strongly cross-beamed, stoutly fanged, yellow-eyed black bull dog. It is not the size of the brute that holds you responsible. Nol It looks as If you might stow it safely away inside one of these calm turrets that swivel the 12-inch guns on battleship. But you had rather let some one else stow it away And in all, you are somewhat glad you are an American citizen while these grim little sea devils fly the Stars and Stripes!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-27
ART OF GLOBE TROTTING

which would require months of study. An- other peculiarity of the tourist in his habit of frittering away in bogus exhibitions time which is seldom long enough for the most eursory examination of the real 'schenswerte objects, although the bogus exhibitions are always more expensive than the real ones. The reason is, I sup pose. that the mans mind is Overwhelmed by the vastness of art and history and finds itself more at home amid vulgar commercials.
 "As rule the tourist I am speaking Of makes it a point to see everything, ana if you miss any one of the sights mem toned by Baedecker he publicly triumphH over you. In Athens the other day I-niet at table a fellow countryman who began comparing notes with me about constan= tinople and who chortled with joy when he discovered that I had not seen the whirling dervishers, whose performances take place every Friday in Persia, close to the entrance to the tunnel.
 What causes the average globe-trotter to trot? This is a question that have often asked myself and I think the an- SWer is, 011XLure Ol iioliNeS OHe man is on his honeymoon, another is traveliuR for his health, third wants to be in the fashion, a fourth to get his trunk all pasted over with the labels of foreign hotels, a fifth is dragged by his wife or his grown-up daughters, or some ener1 getic friends who have been abroad bei fore. but almost every tourist is also anxious to gratify vague desire to learn something of ancient history by visiting classic lands with a guide book instead of by the more difficult method of study ing classic history in the original lan- guage He has got enough money, so he thinks he will try to get some culture, or the appearance of culture. by the quickest method. There is, of course, minority of educated travellers who appreciate the treasures of foreign countries, but amid the art galleries of Europe the average tourist resembles a worthy Australian couple, aequaintances of mine, who, not withstandng the fact that they were ig- norant of German, had no ear for music and knew nothing of the plot of the Rheingold.' attended a performance of that opera in Vienna the night before last and pretended to enjoy it."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-27
From the Chicago News.

From the Chicago News.
 T. PETERsBURG.-"Aft all, sir, @N a globe-trotter does pick up O curious odds and ends of infor- nation about foreign countries, though, of course, he never acquires such an ae- curate idea of them as does the serious man who stays at home and studies books"
 So said the old Seotchman whose ac- quaintance I made one night in the Aus tro-Russian frontier station of Szczakowa while we were waiting for the Russian train to transport us to Cranitza. He had, with a restraint unusual in a Scotch man, retired from active business life 20 years earlier after having made decent competence in Hongkong shares and he had ever since been travelling for the sake of knowledge and culture That he tray- eled to good purpose was shown by the fact that he had acquired a good working knowledge of five languages and knew everything there was to be known about the art treasures and the historical places Of Europe.
 "Yes," he continued "the most vivid impression made on me III vienna was made on the soles of my feet by the cob ble stones with which most of the streets are paved Thus my recolleetions of stephan's Kirche and the Rathaus must take a back seat, so to speak, whenever in future I think of the Austrian capital. In tho same way the matutinal cup of coffee in Athens and the crowds in the cafes in the morning impressed me more than the Aeropolis, while a peculiarly good dish of rice and curry blurs mp recollection of the Tai Hahal.
 If I were an artist I would sketch the typical tourist as have often seen him a stout, sleek person with a red-baeked Baedecker in his hand, trying to edge his way past a large and rubicund function- ary clad like field marshal who indi- cates by amiable gestures that there's no admittance that way. This anxiety of the globe trotter to get into out-of-the-way corners of museums Is all the more re- markable since he seems to spend little or no time in the rooms that are open to the public; although these rooms some times, as in the case of the Vatican gall leries, the Pinahotkek at Munich and the Zwingler at Dresden. contain collections
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-27

eign music. He was always original, always creative; and that being so, he is everywhere accepted as the best ex- ponent of American feeling in the di- vine art and of American musieianship.
 The dead composer broke down from overwork about two years ago, when he was only 45 years of age, be- fore he had delivered his full message to the world. It is a great pity, for this genius was an assiduous toiler and could he have kept his health and lived 15 years longer it is reasonable to suppose that he would have out ranked nearly all the modern com posers.
 In McDoweHs untimely end one naturally recalls Mozart, Schubert, Weber, Chopin and Bizet. These geniuses died young, and the world is poorer for it.
 Mcdowell was not only composer, but he was a brilliant performer and a successful teacher. His pupils were many, and his influence over them was far-reaching for good. Few musi- clans were so highly esteemed per- sonally as Mcdowell, and his death is sincerely and widely mourned.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-27
Sunday Diversion.

"All right-minded people are in favor of decorous observance of Sunday" re- marked a church member last night, "but it seems that We have laws on the statute books which if enforced would make di- version and innocent pleasure for the masses practically impossible on that day. Laws prohibiting unnecessary labor on Sunday should certainly remain in force; but many things are forbidden that come simply under the head of recreation and this is wrong.
 Between church services Birmingham, for church-going people, is extremely quiet on Sunday, and to the non-church goers Sunday seems positively dull. Tho people should find some means of Sunday afternoon diversion. High-class chamber music is given on Sunday afternoons free of charge, but what the public needs is halls or theatres at popular prices. Such things would be educative and refining besides giving genuine pleasure to the public. I believe that with little effort the law might be amended so as to allow Sunday concerts. As the law stands, anything approaching popular concert is barred here.
 While we want well observed and a we'll regulated Sunday, we do not want one in which the old blue laws of New England are to obtain. But for the law symphonic concert by local musicians would be given here every Sunday after noon during the fall and winter season. The only way such music can be heard as matters now stand is by subscription or by announcing that the net proceeds will be applied to local charity.
 "Sousa gave a concert in Decatur this evening-law or no law. The best way always Is to keep the law. but repeal all statutes that are marrow and smack of 1 the iron rod"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-27
From the Kansas City Star.

From the Kansas City Star.
 N OMPARED with the auxiliary
 0 feet-the torpedo boat destroyers O Admiral Evans battleships have an. easy time at sea. In the first place, the big ships were made to go to sea. They displace upward of l5,oOo tons each, and the waves have about as much effect on them as they would on a bunch of iron safes. The crews work in first class conditions of sanitation, they sleep wholesomely and have soup once a day. The officers dress for din- ner and have band concerts morning and evening. We live like we wouio a' big hotel
 But it's different, very different, on the torpedo boats If they turn up safely in San Francisco Bay it will be a great feat for the navy. It is a daring experi- ment-the going of these tin pans to sea- For that is about all torpedo destroyers amount to in the face of such voyage as these boats are facing. They have tiny armor plate about half an inch thick; their decks are so low that every wave washes their convex backs and their coal capacity IS SUCH lIldI d Hfr-uoS iHiA AN~' them gasping for breath. :.
 The battleships dropped anchor at Port of Spain, after sundown last night. 50 we didn't see the little boats then, but the first thing this morning we saw souatting off there in the water, thous- and yards to leeward, this group or LOW black tunnels, and, rakish bodies. After breakfast we went over to see them' and the officers told us about their 2SVo- mile run. from Hampton Roads and speou- lated with us on what they have TO face in the 12.Oo0 miles more. They left Old Point Comfort on December ?, IA days before the battleships, and traveled straight through the open sea Soo miles to San Juan, which they reached Decem- Der [, maintaining an average speed or l1.2 knots They stayed at san Juan five days and then hit up their speed to b knots for the 1OO0-mile run to Port or Spain, which they reached December 10.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-27
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Ut Pays to Advertiser

some years ago one of the best known and most popular newspaper correspond ents in Washington was Charles F. Towle, who enjoyed wide acquaintance in of ficial circles and particularly warm friendship with Walter Q. Gresham, then postmaster general" said a theatrical man.
 Gresham was sitting in his office one morning when in walked Towle and made proposition which by its, scope and audacity fairly staggered the official. It was nothing less than an offer to print free of charge for all time the postage and revenue stamps sold and distributed by the government throughout the Uni ted States, and moreover pay a large bonus yearly to the government. This in return for, the privilege of printing an advertisement on the back of every stamp If in advertising circulation talks, Towle's scheme screamed. Think of Smoke Egyptian Highballs,' or Use Form-F Fitting Cigarettes staring one in the face every time a postage stamp did duty. Millions every day; billions every yearl Here's where the oiroula- ton liar would be out of job. Wasn't it wonder? However, General Gresham gave the proposition but cold considera- tioi, notwithstanding Towle was deeply in earnest.
 This was by far one of the most unique proposals ever made to the gov ernment. but 1t requires a man of big ideas and resourceful mind to direct the destindes of production of the magnitude of 'Ben-Hur,' and since MT. Towle be- came manager of that organization at it's inception some nine years ago, it has en- joyed unprecedented and continuous fin- ancial success
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-27
SHE WAS NOT A LAWYER.

From the New York Sun.
 At the hearings in Kingston for the appointment of receivers for the sus- pended Brooklyn banks this story was told on Edward M. Shepard.
 MT. Shepard was trying a case and the first witness was a frail-loolSing woman from whom the lawyer expected no trou- ble.
 "And when did this happen" asked MT. Shepard.
 Il think she began, when MT. Shep- ard stopped her.
 ''It isn't what you think. but what you know that we want" he said
 Don't you want to know what l thinkY' asked the frail-looking woman, mildly.
 T do not"
 Well, then" retorted the witness, "I might as well leave the witness stand. can't talk without thinking; I'm not . lawyer"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-27
Kentucky Nlaht Riders.

Bert Clifford. formerly manager of the Morris hotel returned to Birmingham yesterday after spending several weeks in Kentucky.
 q was present when the night riders" he said. burned two warehouses in Rus sellville. I was on the street with several others, and was confronted with several armed men. who forced me, and the oth- CTS, to throw up our hands
 Besides burning two warehouses, and creating much fear, no damage was done. The riders left as quietly as they came,
 'The sentiment in Kentucky fig in favor of the night riders. although the people of course, believe that they should be suppressed. The people. however, be- lieve with Governor Conner. that the trouble which makes the riders possible should, first of all be removed,
 'The people, too, are aware of the fact that white men in the south mske
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-27
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

From the New York Press.
 It's smart He that has no eating.
 There's mighty little money in working for it.
 The first time a girls in love it's TO- nance; after that experience.
 A convenient thing about the weather is how you can blackguard people for talking about it.
 One of the most useful things about cuss words Is how the family will 20 away and leave you alone afterwards
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-27
WINTER FANCIES

James Whitcomb Riley l.
 Winter without
 And winter within; /The winds may shout And the storm begin; The snows may pack At the window pane, And the skies grow black, And the sun remain
 Hidden away
 The livelong day But herein here is the warmth of Mayl Swoop your spitefullest
 Up the fue,
 Wild winds-do! What in the world do care for your delightfullest
 Weather of all,
 Howl and squall, And shake the trees till the last leaves fall.
 The joy one feels,
 In an easy chair Cooking his heels
 In the dancing air That wreaths the rim of roaring stove Whose heat loves better than hearts can love.
 Will not permit
 The cOldest day
 To drive away The fire in his blood, and the bliss of iti w.
 Then blow, winds, blow! And rave and shriek, And snarl and snow,
 Till your breath grows weak While here in my room I'm as snugly shut As glad little worm Insthe heart of nuti
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-27
JUST AS GOOD AS EVER, TOO.

From Tatler.
 An old physician was noted Tor ms brusoue manner and old-fashioned meth ods A lady called him in to treat her baby, who was slightly ailing. The ooc- tor prescribed castor oil.
 But, doctor" protested the young mother. castor oil is such an old-fasnr toned remedy"
 Madam" replied the doctor, 'paples are old-fashioned things
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-27

The stork is again flying over the imperial palace at Madrid. As things are going, one stork may have to be detailed to serve there steadily.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-27
About Persons.


 R. A. Mitchell, prominent lumber dealer, and member of the state execu- tive committee, was registered in the city yesterday from Alabama City. w. c, Plant of the Southern Railway, is registered at the New Morris. R. L. Simpson, general freight agent of the Southern, with headquarters in Bir- mingham. left yesterday for Charlotte. N. C..
 Joe c. Grenade of St. Stephens, a prominent young lawyer, was in Blrming- ham yesterday. registered at the Hill man.
 B. J. Cain of Wetumpka, was the guest of the Florence last night.
 J. H. Miller of Huntsville is at the New Morris
 R. s. Barnes, Jr., of Montgomery is at the New Morris.
 N. A, Lapsley of Anniston is at the New Morris.
 G. c, Scales of Tuscaloosa is at the New Morris.
 J. W. Heard, with the Metropolitan Life Insurance company, returned last night from West Point, Ga., where he has been visiting his father who is quite III.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-27

Henry Gassaway Davis grows more reckless as he grows older. At the age of 85 he proposes to get married, instead of going to the north pole.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-27

Physicians begin to say that grip is but influenza, but the change in diag- nosis carries with it no change in the complaint.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-27

Governor Hughes simply says he will not run away from a Presidential nomination that is pushed at him with force and skill.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-27

Punta Arenas is, in English, Sandy Point, and the feet will stop there to coal and enjoy the midsummer weather.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-27

Secretary Taft seems to think he may want to pass through the Panama canal, and so he has widened the locks
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-27

The relations existing between the White House and Albany are said to resemble those between Roosevelt and Cortelyou. They are strained.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-27

Governor Hughes has quit saving wood continuously. He saws awhile and plays politician turn by turn.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-27

The Roosevelt machine now says Taft will be nominated on the second ballot. It has added one ballot to its original programme.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-27

The smiles of co-eds, it is claimed, won credits in the universities from aged professors.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-27

MT. Bryan has no alternate. All he needs is a running mate who can carry his own state.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-27

Taft is still played as favorite, but the odds on him have been reduced on account of the Hughes movement.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-27

The price of wooden legs never was lower. Buy an outfit at once, for you never can tell when you may need them.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-27

Nobody is reckless enough to take up Colonel Watterson's bet of 50 cents that MT. Bryan will be the next Pres ident.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-27

Hartman is about to face cross- examiner who knows where the ice is thin
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-27

Henry Gassoway Davis seems to thlnk he is old enough to know his own mind.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-27

By the way, what does Mark Twain know about the cost of running a harem?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-27

Uncle Sam's tackles drank their fill of Java coffee grown in Brazil, and then they bade goodbye to dear old Rio.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-27

The Knox boomers are few and far between outside of Pennsylvania.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-27

New York and the whisker belt can nominate Governor Hughes.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-27
Italians Like This District.

While many Italians who were em- ployed in the Birmingham district have gone back home, large percentage will return just so soon as industrial opera tions revive,'' said the Rev. Father Canepa. pastor of fiourishing Italian congregation at Thomas, who recently visited Genoa and Rome.
 Many of the unmarried men who have been on the pay rolls of the district will certainly return when there is work for them to do. Italians like America, and those who have lived and earned wages hereabouts have an especially friendly regard for this part of the country"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-27

armed resistance the last resort This was evidenced in the original Ku Klux."
 The commonest Names.
 Under the head of 'commonest Names,'" said student Hthe World Almanac prints a table that gives 50 patronymics in each of these places: New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, Bos- ton, England. Scotland, and Ireland In England, Scotland, New York, Philadei- phia and Boston, Smith heads the list as the commonest name in those respee- tive places. In England Jones comes second, but it Is only so there. In New York City Brown comes next to Smith. Williams ranks third in England but Miller has third place in New York In Ireland Murphy is No l. Kelly is No. ?, Sullivan No. 3 and so on.
 Tt is a curious fact that Ryan, sup posed to be an orthodox Irish name, does lot appear as one of the 50 in Ireland. whereas he Is very conspicuous outside of the Emerald Isle. In New York he Is No. 20 and in Boston No. 29.''