davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-04-04
TOM AND THE sHRIMPs.

From the New York World.
1t was a day of triumph on Broad street
Five thousand budding Napoleons of
finance descended on the curb market
Saturday, bowled over the few obstruct-
ing police and in flying wedges drove
their way to the core of the throng,
where brokers We're selling shares in Tom
Lawson's latest mining proposition. 1t
was like the good old times when people
had money and could be parted from 1t
without administering ether.
1t is only "a couple of months since Mr.
Lawson. wearying of the thankless task
of doing good to his fellow-men, denounc.
ed them as "gelatine-spined shrimps";
since he warned them that he was
through with them for good and was
hereafter going to stop advising them and
make some money for himsell. Because
they would not buy sell, withdraw
money from their banks or do other
stunts in platoons at the word of COM
mand, he painted vivid word picture
of their fate:
Already the cfa1tering teeth of the
myriads Of rats from the cellars beneath
the chilled-gold pavements OF the street
of Coin and Crime are ticking off TIE
Deums to the Dollar Gods as their train
ers manicure their heart-reaching claws
for the coming harvest
Mr.. Lawson's magazine publisher plead
ed pathetically with him. "Ah, now, Tom"
he wrote in effect, you wouldn't leave
the poor, silly sheep shepherdless in the
storm, would you? Great has been their
ingratitude and stupidity, but you won't
desert them now" Mr.. Lawson allowed
that he would do exactly that. OF course
he has repented. He has taken up again
the shepherds crook; he is digging lost
lambs out of the snowdrifts of disaster;
he is carrying them in his plaid-neuk to
wolf-proof folds; spring and sunny pas
/turage are coming. And 10, how meekly,
chastened by leaderless wanderings, they
follow him!
This should be lesson to Mr.. Lawson.
He should never again despair of the
republic Even gelatine-spined shrimps
have their uses if enough of them are
born every minute.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-04-04
First Republican Ballots

AS we approach June and the Chi
cago convention it seems plain that
Taft is gaining delegates, while Hughes
fails to command much strength out
side Of his own state. He will do well
indeed to hold against the War Sec
rotary one-half of the New England
delegates. This movement has gone
so far that the chief question before
republicans relates to the first ballot
Will or will not Taft win the nomina-
ton on the FIRST ballot? His friends
say that he will-that hopelessness will
by the time the first ballot is taken
destroy opposition of all sorts, and
Taft will win the nomination very
much as Mckinley did in 1896 at st.
Louis.
A glance at the record Of republican
conventions may be of some interest
at this juncture. In 1860 William Fl.
Seward was the leading candidate, but
Lincoln won the nomination on the
third ballot, although at the outset he
had but 102 votes, while Seward had
17s.
In 1854 Lincoln was nominated with
-l,t opposition, and in 1868 and 1879
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-04-04
SUGAR IN PERU.
i Waslington Post.

From the washington Post
At the shoreham is Alfred Ferreyros
OF Lima, Peru, who is visiting this coun-
try as the representative of the Peruvian
government to study and investigate
methods of sugar production in the Uni-
ted States. Mr.. Ferreyros, who is a graz
uate of the Agricultural university oil
Lima, is only % years old.
''I have visited nearly all the sugar
producing sections of the United States"
said Me-. Ferreyros "and have embodied
the results of my Investigations IN
report to the Peruvian government. Natu-
rally. my country can learn a great deal
from the United States. From what
have observed l have come to the con-
clusion that this is not so good sugar
raising country as Peru. Here you nave
but one crop year. and must be carelui
in raising that on account OF the climatic
conditions. But in Peru the climate is
ideal for the raising of sugar cane, and
labor is cheaper.
eve cannot compete with the United
states in the sugar industry on account
OF the tariff; otherwise, we should be
able to supply the world. Our principal
markets are Japan, Chile and France.
",rhere are great opportunities In Peru
for Americans continued MIR. Ferreyros,
but | am sorry to say they are slow to
take advantage of them Apparently, the
people of the United States do not care
for South American trade, for they are
doing nothing to increase or even to hold
what they have. While Europe is watch
ing every chance to develop its interests
in Soalth America, this country is stand
ing idly by and allowing other nations to
capture the bulk of the business This
should not be. Peru and all other South
American countries would prefer to have
larger business dealings with the United
States than Europe, l believe, but if your
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-04-04
WOMAN, MAN AND HAT.

From the New York Evening Post
At a Paris theatre recently, man
had the temerity to groan softly because
a woman sitting in front of him wore a
picture hat. Taking off her headgear,
she coolly placed 1t on the mans lap and
made him hold it during the first act,
after which she placed it on her head
again At the beginning of the second
act she once more offered to give him
the custodianship-but he was gone!
How quick some women are!' COM
ments 1.-The Chatterer," in the Boston
Herald The Paris theatre au-
dience has still much to learn. But all
the same bless the clever womanl" 1t Is,
indeed splendid to be clever, enabling
one to be as selfish as one chooses with
out losing any of ones charm. Presum-
ably the bad manners of the groan in
fuenced the writer against the man in
the case; but he had probably visited
New York and seen the "hats-off'' prin-
ciple in happy operation, and could but
groan when he felt how backward his
own country was in that respect.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-04-04

no one man, no firm, no small company,
Gould provide the capital or the organi-
sation to cope with such opportunities.
The only bridge that can span the ocean
is the corporation. The real cause of
the corporation was not SO much the sell
hsh aims Of few men as the Imperative
necessities of all men.
The first stage of corpofatienism waa
ore of confict-the old destructive COM
letition Carried forward under the new
business forms. Trade could be carried
farther, much farther than before ami
70 \ invaded BIS territory and B retail
ated. The fighting became faster an"
more furious, and the war in commerce
became a hand-to-h hand conflict. The
trenches were being filled with able
splendid men who fell in the colossal
struggles. Cut rates and rebates became
the order Of the day. Many railroads
and many houses which had been success
FIJI in legitimate lines of business went
down in bankruptcy. Labor suffered and
the public suffered. The cost of doing
business steadily increased for war
costs money. 1t became Imperative that
something be done to end the havoc
Prosperity could come only with peace.
lnstnctively, in way unconsciously,
~ en- began to get together-not SO much
tor profit as for protection, and so, UNI
der conditions which, in the mechanical
development of the world, came ON as
naturally as day follows night, the great
corporation came into existence and is
the live, burning issue of TO-DAY
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-04-04
National Finance.

"A few days after the panic of last Oc-
tober there was general clamor for
called session of Congress to pass a cur
rency bill that would relieve the situation
and make pancs next to impossible in the
years to come remarked business man.
LAS weeks went by 1t was found that
conditions did not warrant an extra SEES
sion, but when Congress convened in
December nearly every member drew
currency bill. Many such bills were intro
duced, but the only one that will pass is
the Aldrich bill, and this will only go
through for political effect. If it were TO
fail in the House the country would get
along just the same. The fact is, financial
troubles soon righted themselves and peo-
pie have about forgot there was panic.
In the next Congress, when no cam
paign is pressing, bill may be thought
out on scientific lines that will meet the
APPRECIATION OF financers. National
finance is too philosophic matter to be
considered in a hurry or in the turmoil
of politics."
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-04-04
New Low Record Made.

we had a record-breakng docket in
the police court today" said Clerk Gun
ningham yesterday. There were only
two new cases docketed, as result OF the
arrests of the day before.
This is the lowest figure recorded since
1 have been clerk and l do not doubt
but that it is unprecedented in 20 years.
As a general thing during this month
last year we were averaging as many
as 20 and %. These two cases were very
.nsignifiosnt and resulted in only small
fines.
However. the court viii be busy with
continued cases, for the class of cases
row brought to this court require much
lGore litigation and discussion than the
:, neral average did formerly
4 notice mistaken idea in your paper
Of yesterday The city has no fee sys-
tenn in connection with its police or judi
cal affairs"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-04-04
THE GOOD WILL HABIT.

o. s. Marden, in Success Magazine.
The habit of holding the good will, kind
Is attitude of mind toward everybody
las powerful influence upon the char
acter. 1t lifts the mind above petty jeal-
ous1es and meannesses; it enriches and
charges the whole life. Wherever We
meet people, no matter if they are strang-
CTS. We feel a certain kinship with and
t.iendliness for them, greater interest
in them, if we have formed the good will
habit. We feel that if we only had the
opportunity of knowing them we should
like them
In other words, the kin6ly habit, tho
good will habit makes us feel more sym
pathy for everybody. And If we radiate
this helpful, friendly feeling, others will
reflect il back to US.
On the other hand, if we go through
life with a cold, selfish mental attitude,
caring only for our own, always looking
for the main chance, oni" thinking Of
what will further our own interests, GU"
own comforts. totally Indifferent TO others,
this attitude will, after while, harden
tile feelings and marbleize the affections
and we shall become dry, pessimisdc and
raInteresting.
Try this year 10 hold the kindly goo1
MIL attitude toward everybody. If your
nature is hard you will be surprised to
see how 1t will soften under the new
influence. You will become more sym :
pathetic, more charitable toward others
weaknesses and failings, and you will
grow more magnanimous and whole
sculed. The good will attitude will make
US more lovable, interesting and helpful
others will look upon us in the same
way in which we regard them. The cold
grabbed, unsoeial, selfish person finds the
same qualities reflected from others.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-04-04
PROSE POEM ON COTTON.

From a speech by the Hon. J. Thomas
He1n of Alabama in the Congress
sional Record for March IS
Mr. Chairman The attention of the
world is turned to the south when in the
spring of the year the farmer prepares mis-
soil and places seed in the ground. Sun
beams dance on the surface. refreshing
showers seek and find their hiding place,
and, 10! termination begins. Little plants
push the clods away and smile at the
sun. Gentle zephyrs kiss their tender faces
and breathe into them the message Of
their world mission. Applause) We hear
the music of the hoe and the song of the
happy plowman Proud and graceful the
little stalks stand mantled in leaves and
laden with squares. We look again and
thousands of white blossoms are nodding
welcome to the gold belted bees In
little while they are rosy red then they
assume q golden hue, and finally fade and
fall leaving behind them tiny green
spheres. Basking in sunshine and revel-
ling in shower. these flourish until autumn
winds whisper to every full grown boil,
"Open sesame!' (Applause.) Then the
cotton stalk filings its feecy fiber to the
breeze and busy fingers pluck it from the
boil. Now We hear the hum of the old
cotton gin, the seed fall down on the floor
below and lint comes out in swirls OF
snow. (Applause) Yonder at the cotton
factory, hard by the cotton field, we hear
the tremendous voice OF industry in the
concert Of whirling spindles wooing the
fibre into CLOTH and the finished produce
goes out upon the pulsating tide Of
splendid commerce and cotton is king
king Of American exports-and in all its
ramifications is basis for the greatest
manufacturing interest in the world. pre-
longed cheers and applause.)
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-04-04
Thinks Jefferson" Appropriate.

Jefferson boulevard is the very
ame,9 said Sol Caheen yesterday when
discussing the proposed name for the
sfeat road to be built from Ensley to
East Lake.
Mr. Smith could not have picked OUT
a better name. So many people have as
sisted in the work Of building up this
district that | consider it better to honor
cur county name as often as possible, In
stead of causing hurt feelings by the U.S.
of personal names.
IF the interests of the municipalities
and the county are guarded this road Will
be a fact before many months. 1t will
be the greatest boulevard in the state,
connecting the greatest industrial centers,
ard will present the liveiiest scene of
traffic
1T will belong to the county at large,
Tor it will be their main entrance>to the
Log market, and hence the name Jefferson
is the most appropriate
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-04-04

From the Washington Star.
No man can honestly avow the enter
tainment of anarchistic doctrine and re-
main a good citizen, or. indeed. a safe
one. The first step into that belief car
ries the individual away from the lines
OF tolerance. 1t is impossible to regard
government as a burden, a menace, a
useless mechanism, without becoming at
heart foe TO society. Whether the man
so infected breaks the bonds of restraint
and attempts to wreak vengeance upon
society remains chiefly a question of di-
rect incentive or inspiration or oppor-
fllnity
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-04-04
EXTENDING Sell SURVEYS

Congressman Underwood gave the
increased appropriation for county soil
surveys a boost that probably put it
through the House. 1t commanded but
six majority even after Mr.. Under
woods speech, and it probably would
have been lost if he had not advocated
it when he did.
The counties in Mr.. Underwood's
district do not perhaps need it, for, Il
we mistake not, soil surveys have been
made or ordered in Perry, Bibb and
Blount. and Jefferson is not an agri-
cultural county. Jefferson's crops lie
beyond the reach of Secretary Wilson 6
surveyors. But the rest of this state
will be benefited by the increased ap-
preparation, and when every county
has been surveyed we will indeed
know and so will the rest of the world
what Alabama can be made to pro-
duce.
The county surveys would when
complete constitute state soil survey
of great value, and the state shout
perhaps compile a volume made up
from the county surveys, for more
scientific information in relation to the
soils Of the state could not be gotten
together.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-04-04
New PASSENGER Rates

Railroad Commissioner Nesbitt urges
all to accept the new mileage-book sys-
TEN without complaint. The require
ment that mileage has to be exchanged
at the ticket Office for card ticket is
way a ticket on which baggage can be
checked, and one that will be honored
On all the railroads that have accepted
the plan. All but two roads in the
southeast have adopted the plan, and
10 doubt the outstanding roads will
soon or late fall into line. They can
not we'll afford to do otherwise, be-
cause the new mileage books are popu-
lar and the travelling public will seek
the roads that offer the lower fares.
The Southern railway is entitled to
credit for leadership in this movement
to give the southeast about as low
fares as any other section Of the coun-
try enjoys. President Finley and his
big system led Off and the result today
is that, except on two roads, single
fares are reduced TO 21a cents mile.
while Interchangeable mileage books
can be purchased at cents mile
These are satisfactory rates, and the
travelling public will certainly regard
them in that light, and will fully ep-
preciate "the move"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-04-04
From the Kansas City Star.

From the Kansas City Star.
IN PERIODICAL which, it is feared,
W is too little known, thrusts itself
on public attention. Everybody
consumes ice cream soda. Few persons
read the Soda Fountain, a Monthly Jour
nal for Druggists, Confectioners and All
Operators of Soda Fountains.
Turn to the leading EDITORIAL. ''Chance
for Our Soda Fountains in England" You
can't advertise "soda water" for, over
there, that suggests something in 81
phon to be mixed with whisky" Experi-
enoe has shown that it is most effective
or perhaps least offensive--to offer
American Ice Drinks" so that customers
"may not be disagreeably surprised to
find the drinks cold. as they are not
accustomed to cold drinks and have been
taught that they are harmful and even
dangerous The English customer must
be slowly educated to the soda habit.
Still, the outlook is not hopeless. Tenn
perarfce legislation now pending in parlia-
ment ''will abolish no fewer than o,VVo
bars in England and Wales What can
take the Mace of the vanished ale and
stout except soda? The Fountain feels
certain that sit will soon be possible to
introduce our soda fountains in the cities
of the United Kingdom; every man, wom-
an and child of British birth has sweet
tooth, and hef only question is of its prop
er development"
The question of the proper cost of ice
cream soda is perplexing and the Foun-
tain turns to it with some hesitation
While a. uniform charge of ten cents is re-
earded as desirable, it is out of the ques-
ton in most cities because there are
districts where it would be prohibitive.
Therefore it is suggested that small
portions be served for five cents, large
ones for ten. The advice of an expert
from Lewistown, Pa, is quoted with evil
dent approval:
when a gentleman and lady seat them
selves at a table we make 1t point to
asl, the gentleman whether he wishes
a five or ten-cent drink, and naturally he
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-04-04

General Grant had no opposition. AL
three were war candidates.
In 1876 Blaine started out with 2s5
votes. or more than twice the number
any other aspirant had Hayes polled
but 81 votes at the start, but he was
nominated on the seventh ballot
In 1880 General Grant led off with
SEA votes: Blaine had 2S4, and John
Sherman SO. This was the famous
convention at which a determined eff
fort was made by Conkling to give
Grant a third term. The nomination
was made on the 36th ballot, and Gar
field was the nominee.
In 1884 precedent was broken, for
Blaine was the leader at the outset,
and he remained the leader until ne
was nominated. In 1883 John sher-
man was the leader. but on the eighth
ballot Harrison was nominated In
1892 Harrison was easily nominated in
the first ballot. MeKinley's victory in
1896 came easily In the first ballot, and
there has been no contest in republican
conventions since 1896. Mckinley had
a walk-oyer in 1900, and so did Roose-
welt in 1904
Contests have occurred in seven re-
publican national conventions, and in
only three has the leader on the first
ballot won the nomination. If a con-
test takes place at Chicago on June
Is it will be the first since 1888. The
presidents are confusing. Taft will
certainly be the leader in the first bal
lot, and he may win the nomination
as Blaine did in 1854. Blaine was de-
feated at the polls by Grover Cleve-
land.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-04-04
Returning Prosperity.

,,rhe signs about Birmingham show
return of the days Of last year when
there was much building going on" said
CLAUDE Nabers of Hattiesburg MISS,
very large lumber manufacturer.
Il am just back from an extensive
trip through the west, and | note that
there is much more activity in the build
ing lines in this district than in the sec
ton | visited. The lumber business is
feeling the cutting of orders from rail-
roads for bridge timbers and crossties
II think the building trade here will be
good all the summer"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-04-04
THE SHAKESPEARE MEMORIAL.

BY. Milton.
What needs my Shakespeare, for his hon.
CURED bones,
The labour of an age in piled stone?
Or that his hallowed relies should, be hid
Under stary-pointed pyramid?
Dear son of Memory, great heir of Fame.
What need st thou such weak witness OF
thy name?
Thou, in our wonder and establishment
Hast built thyself a livelong monument
For whilst, to the shame of slow-endeav-
curing art,
Thy easy numbers flow. and that each
heart
Hath, from the leaves of thy unvalued
book,
Those Delphic lines with deep impression
took;
Then thou, our fancy of itself bereaving,
Dost make us marble, With too much
conceiving;
And. so sepulchred in such pomp dost lie.
That kings for such tomb would wish
to die.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-04-04
District Electors,

while there is much interest felt in
national politics, there is scarcity OF
candidates for district electors" said o
member of the Bryan club. In the First,
Second, Fourth and Fifth districts NJ
candidate for elector has announced.
Each district candidate must pay an
entrance fee of $25-half the amount that
Il candidate for delegate to the Denver
convention is required to pay and yet
this small fee may keep some aspiring
democrats from seeking the position of
e.ector. No one holding a federal or state
office is eligible for an dictatorship. And
this fact also helps to account for the
scarcity of candidates
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-04-04
HOW CORPORATIONS GREW.

1.-THE days when business was local
affair of individual with individual were
the days when people were scattered.
Knowing little of each other and having
10 dealings with each other outside the
radius of a few miles, says Appleton $
magazine. linen steam and later cleo
tticity came into mans service; ami
then. nv leans and bounds the POSSIBLE
tiles Of trade became extenced TO raoius
cf hundreds of miles, even of thousands
Of miles. Vast possibilities Of interna-
tlonal trade doomed up. The corporation
sprang into active being as an Inevitable
result of this expansion OF trade; Tor
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-04-04
HE WAS CLOSE.

From the Minneapolis Journal.
A safety razor firm has Just received
an unsolicited testimonial from Boston
man who braved the wilds of Montana
some % years ago with a vast amount
of erudition and a safety razor Being
of a mathematical turn of mind he kept
account of his, shaves and found that in
20 years he had shaved about $4,000
square inches of facial space and saved
in cash, which would otherwise have gone
to the tonsorial artist, an amount suffi-
cient to pay for plot of land containing
$4,000 square feet.
Evidently this man was a very close"
shaver.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-04-04
WEDDING MUSIC.

From Success Magazine.
It happened at The Little Church Across
the Street.
A wedding was in progress.
The organist had played "Lohengrin
Coming In and was prepared to play
'.Mendelssohn Going Out
During the ceremony the strains of
call Me Thine Own" wee blent with
the Prayer Book service.
Suddenly the sexton whispered in the
car OF the organist. Both of them S
been married three times,
Instantly the fingers on the keyboard
1nodulated into the key of Gee fiat, and
through the low-vaulted aisles ripplei
IL at beautiful Opus 2Sth Street, Just For
Today"