davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-14
A rarer spirit never Did steer humanity.
 Antony and Cleopatra.
John D. and Southern Farmers

Dr. s. A. Knapp of the department of agriculture at Washington has charge of the scheme to establish in the south demonstration farms. On these farms attempts are made by deep blowing and proper fertilization to grow at least bale of cotton to the acre, or perhaps 50 bushels of corn per acre instead of about IS bushels. Dr. Knapp has 152 agents In the south engaged in establishing demonstration farms. He claims to have 12,000 demonstration farms in the south in full operation on scientific lines at this time, and that these farms are inspected and discussed by 360,000 farmers each year Con- gress appropriated $104,000 for this purpose and John D. Rockefeller has added s7S,500 to the congressional sum.
 In cotton culture the new process calls for blowing foot deep, for the  selection of the best seed, for the saw ing of moisture, and for proper fertil- ization and rotation of crops. When all the directions of the government are followed one and one-half bales can be grown as readily as half bale could be under the old-time methods.
 These demonstration farms may be paternalistic, but the more paternalism we have of that sort the better. If we have enough of 1t the untitled lands in the cotton belt may be brought into use. One-third of the lands in the cot ton belt, it should be remembered, are untitled.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-14
Business Mans Observations.

William A. Chenoweth has returned from the east, where he had been for two months looking after important business matters.
 q am impressed with the fact that business is in much more active condf- tlon in the south than in the east" said Mir Chenoweth. "The great cotton crop is making the average person in the cot ton states feel quite rich.
 Tn New York l found much eommer- cial activity, and everybody met spoke of Taft's chances for the White House; and not only in New York, but in other cities, I have heard only talk of Taft. l am democrat, but am not Bryan democrat I think New York state Is solidly repub- liean.
 "Whatever improvement there has been in the business world has been based on the idea that the republican ticket Will win Business will jog along quietly until Christmas, but beginning with spring the country will be on a regular boom
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-14
FIFTY YEARS OF CABLE

closed in an iron armor of IS cords of small wire. During the year 1856 the U. s. s. Arctic and H. M. S. Cyclops took sonudings along the proposed route for the cable.
 The United States and England each placed two vessels at the disposal of the company for the purpose of laying the cable. The United States ships were the Niagara, carrying one-half the length of the cable, and the Susquehanna, which acted as tender. The English ships were the Agamemnon, having the other half of the cable, and her consort, the Leop- ard, acting as tender. The shore end of the great cable was landed from the Niagara at Ballycarberry Strand. in Valentia bay, Ireland, August 5, 1857, and twod avs later the fleet started slowly away for the distant shores of New foundland. On the eleventh day out the cable broke, S80 miles having been laid
 The next year, 1858, in June, the same little fleet left Plymouth this time for midocean, it having been determined to start both ships paying out smultane- ously Another failure occurred but on July 29 the attempt was successful. and on August the cable was landed in Valentia bay, Ireland and Trinity bay, Newfoundland. There were 2036 miles of cable laid This first cable gave out Sep tember 1. Later another was laid and others have been added in other places in the world
 In these days of wonderful inventions it is impossible for any one to fully real ize how enthusiastic the American peo- pie were over the achievement of Cyrus Field and his associates President Bu- chanan, in his message to the queen. de- clared that the completion of the cable was "a triumph more glorious because far more useful to mankind than was ever won by conqueror on field of bat tle."
 Since the laying of cables, however. Americans have witnessed many other wonderful performances under and over the seas. In fogs the submarine sig nal notifies vessels of their where abouts and prevents many ship wrecks. Balloons are beginning to tra- verse watery wastes. Then there is the wonderful system of wireless telegraphy, which may ultimately greatly lessen the importance of cables. Nevertheless the world can never. forget the debt 1t owes to the genius and daring of the men who first made communication by cable pos- sible.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-14
TRUE DEVOTION.

From Harper's Weekly.
 A naval officer relates a tale of a veter- an seaman named Daley, who, during his service on one of our cruisers, be- came devotedly attached to a young off cer named Ensign Peters.
 One day it ha opened that green sea- man. while attending to some duty aloft, lest his footing and fell overheard. AS hs was a l DOT swimmer it was probable that he walld have drowned before 'he vessel coutsi have been stopped in her ccm SC f:cieutly to permir a boat to be lowered had not an officer, standing on the gundeck below, sprung after firn and' at the risk of his own life, gallantly held him up until as si.'8nce cams.
 In due course a letter from the Secretary of the Navy, commenting in high terms this heroic action, was sent to the biave rescuer and read before the assembled ships company.
 Seaman Daley viewed the whole pro- ceeding with a feeling of extreme jeal- ousy and after breeding over the matter for some days, he relieved himself in the following strain:
 MT Peters," said he, siding up to the object of his devotion, that there letter the Secretary wrote's a fine thing for a young officer to have. You ought to get one, MT. Peters,
 "Sure thing" said the youthful officer, smiling as he scented joke; "a letter like that is fine thing for young man to have Still, l am afraid l don't see my way clear to obtaining one like it. MT. Peters," continued Daley, in a hoarse whisper, t'trust to inc an I'll fix it for you. Tomorrow night, sir, I'll be in the main chains, fussin with somethin' or other. Maybe I'll jest accidentally fail over sech things has happened" he added, with a sly wink Then, MT. Pe- ters, what's to hinder you from jumpln' overheard after me, like yolr messmate done? Then, I guess, yoa'j have as goo l chance as him for one O them letters from the Secretary"
 There's only one difficulty about your pan Daley responded the ensign, keeping his face straight. unfortunate i ly, l. don't know how to swim"
 "Oh, Is that all?" returned Daley un- dsmayed That aint nothin'. I can. I'll hold you up till the boat comes!'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-14
SOURCE OF GULF STREAM.
Spot Above the Clouds In the Andes
 Near Lake Titicaca.

From the Putnams and the Reader for August.
 When I for the first time went over the pass between the Titicaca basin and the chain of bolsones, near the center or which is Cuzco valley, was fascinated by the river whose source we came upon at the summit of the pass Up there the name it bears is Vilcanota, but in US later course men cali 1t Vilcamayo; then successivaly it becomes the Uruhanhsr ths Yucay, the Ucayali and the Amazon.
 Frankly, I have made public profession of faith in the Maranon as the oldest or parent'-stream of the Amazon. lle Ucayali, I think. may not be the stream that first carved channel across the continent near the equator; yet beyond aii doubt 1t is the chief affluent of the upper reaches o' the greatest of rivers. In tha' sense the source of the vilcanota river is also the source of the Amazon. No spot more fancy stirring than tnis III all sliyandl The vilcanota flows out or tarn that also sends stream towafu
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-14
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Democratic Campaign Fund.

If every one who intends to vote for Bryan and Kern would contribute 10c to the democratic campaign fund Chairman Norman Mack would have about all the money that he needs, said Horace J. Tanner of Baltimore.
 MT. Bryan may or may not be elected, but he will. of course, receive a large pop ular vote In 1900 his popular vote was nearly 6.5000OO. believe it will be 7'O0o,- GOO or more this year. Bryan is as strong as ever with the masses.
 Chairman Moses c. Wetmore of the democratic finance committee, states that between $500, 900 and $1,0o0,OOO will be need ed for legitimate expenses. Let the na- tiona1 committeeman in each state perfect an organization in his jurisdiction and call for 10-cent contributions. The idea might meet with quick response
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-14
HOW IT WORKED.
rom Harper's Weekly.

From GarperS weekly.
 Two young women in fashionable garb recently entered a Broadway car and found only standing room. One of them whispered to her companion:
 I'm going to get seat from one of these men. Watch me-"
 She looked down the row of men and selected a sedate gentleman who bore the settled appearance of married man. She walked up to him and bcldly opened fire:
 My dear Mr. Green! How delighted I am to meet you You are almost stranger. Will accept your seat? Well, I do feel tired heartily admit. Thank you so much"
 The sedate gentleman-a total stranger, of course-looked, listened, then quietly rose and gave her his seat, saying:
 "Sit down, Jane, my girl. I don't often see you out on washing day. You must feel tired, Tn sure. How's your mistress?
 The young woman got her seat, but lost her vivacity.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-14
THE EPIDEMIC OF sALoMEs.
om the New York World.

From the New fork World
 A year ago last winter Richard Strauss's s "Salome" was barred from the repertoire at the Metropolitan opera house after It's first performance. The real estate com pany which controls the property decided that the opera was disgusting and untit for public representation.
 It did not matter that the ecstasy of the daughter of Herodias had been expressed in terms of music by one of the modern masters of tonal art. History had pill loried her as not being as discreet as she ought to have been. Besides, she had wicked mother and bad home influences When she earessed in full view of the Diamond Horseshoe' the bloody head of the Baptist, which she had demanded as the price of her dance before her step- father, her act was deemed sufficient to condemn the opera, art to the contrary notwithstanding.
 So much for public morals in upper Broadway. But now it develops that mor- als are not so much matters of geogra- phy as of temperhture
 With the mercury at zero the ethical sense grew SqueanllsH dt tho Si6ht Oi Salome's passionate abandon. Just now 1t hovers around the 90-mark and a differ ent attitude toward her unladylike con- duct prevails
 What was too gruesome for the Metro politan in winter has suddenly become summer vaudeville craze. Salonies are epidemic There are not enough stages in New York to accommodate them. They dominate the roof gardens, minstrel shows, music halls and dime museums.
 How badly the public has fallen victim to this feminine war-dance around a pa- pier-mache head is shown by the fact that one roof garden manager has insured him. self in the Lloyds against possible loss by the disability or non-appearance of his SalOme
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-14
Need One Owl Car.

"Owl cars would be boon to the peo- pie who live on one side of town and have to get home at night" said man who walked in from the Highlands last night. "When a man is caught out on either side until F o'clock he has to walk, and dis tances in Birmingham are no small mat ters.
 Tt seems to me that a car ought to go around all the city lines at about o'clock and pick up the stragglers who could not get off earlier.
 Midnight service exists all over the country, am told regular service being kept up in many cities, but Birmingham only needs one car to pick up the late crowd Accidents are always happening, which throw man behind his last car, and this means long, dirty walk
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-14
BRONSON TOWARDS PLAYS.
Some of Them Might Stand the Crucial
 Test of Revival.


 From the Philadelphia Inquirer.
 As one recalls them the best of How ards plays seen to have deserved a long, CT life, and there are two or three of them which might successfully endure the crucial test of revival. They were con- ventional and unsophisticated compared with the kind of thing that dramatists are doing now. They wrestled with no problems; they ventured on no liberties; for the most part they avoided the crude ly sensational But they were brightly written and skillfully constructed; they told a story which in varying degrees was always interesting, and they intro. duced the spectator to a set of culti- vated, intelligent, agreeable people whose conversation was entertaining, whose character was mostly sympathetic and in whose fortunes it was easy to take more or less absorbing interert.
 Most of them assumed to be the refiec- tions of polite society. Illustrating with careful reticence but with fine sense of dramatic effectiveness such episodes as do occur from time to time in actual life, but in one of them Howard allowed his powers a wider range and larger liberty, and produced in shenandoah" what is perhaps the very best drama of it's class Most of the many plays which have had the civil war for their inspira- tion somehow or other fail to ring true. They either go too far or fail to go far enough in the treatment of their subject and the impression which they produce is one of exasperation and disappoint- ment. But Shenandoah does not fall to satisfy the expectation which 1t stirs and would probably, if properly done, be found vital still.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-14
NEVER DID ANYTHING.
New EngIans Man Boasts of Unique
 Record.

From the Boston Post.
 Albert M. Cross of Gloucester is the champion ''never-did- d-anything'' man of New England.
 He has refarined from doing many of the common things which in the ordi- nary course of life it is but natural for most men to do.
 He has never ridden on an electric car, steam train bicycle, or automobile; nev- CT been aboard ship on the water; never been to a theatre athletic event, or en- tertainment of any kind; never used to- bacco in any form or touched drop of intoxicating liquor; never went outside of Gloucester voluntarily; in fact, he has failed to do so many ordinary things that he is a seven days wonder to the citizens of Gloucester and an object of interest to all the small boys of the city.
 Cross broke the news of his total absti- hence to his friends last week upon the occasion of his fifty-fifth birthday. It was a proud day for Gloucester's ex- ceedingly abstemious resident. It was well known that MT. Cross was not much of a hand at going about taking in the sights and having high old time, but when he reeled off a long list of all the things he never did they gasped in amazement
 Cross record would have been stronger were it not for the fact that horse which he was driving once ran away and before the scared animal could be stop- ped he had gone beyond the confines Of Gloucester and thus broken his drivers record of never having been outside the city
 had that feeling in his veins which i'm bued Kiplings Captains Courageous Great as are the fame and achievements of Gloucester's mariners, Cross cared naught for life on the ocean wave; he never had the least desire to become a member of the great fleet that calls Gloucester home; never went aboard the ships that came into the harbor, and rarely went down to see them.
 The beautiful spots around Manches- ter, Rockport and Beverly are as un- known to Cross as the steppes of Rus sia. Boston in his mind is but name
 Cross ascribes his record Of never having taken an electric or steam. car ride to his modesty. Somehow or other the sight of an electric car or steam train gives him a feeling of aversion and upon the rare occasions when he might have been tempted to jump aboard x,,a oIootr;c oare wtfch 20. bv his door his conscience would not allow him.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-14
HAD ROMANTIC CAREER

three children. He moved to Wgnona, Minn., where he took charge of the Her ald
 After few years he married again. He came to Washington, but, becoming sick, returned to Winona. However after the close of the last session he came back and went to work in the storeroom of the government printing office. The heavy work of lifting documents was too much for the old man, and he suffered a se- were strain, which necessitated an opera ton.
 All his life the old soldier wore a rose of red, but he never told why until a few days before his death
 The story of the red rose was woven around the figure of Bismarck, whom he loved.
 The battle which the iron chancellor had been witnessing was over one day. age, and Bismarck, with bowed head, turned and rode away, his aids around him.
 The figure of a young officer in the full pride of manhood lying white-faced on the field caught the eye of the prime minister Without a word he dismounted, picked a red rose from a bush near by and placed it over the young officers heart And as he placed it there a tear baron died, unhonored, unknown. they placed red rose on his breast, for they knew his secret at last.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-14
Teachers Institutes.

"The large attendance of schooi teachers on the district institutes that have begun in the state is encourag . ing" said a Birmingham teacher yester- day.
 "The institute for the Eighth and Seventh congressional districts are now being held at Decatur and Gadsden, respectively, and they are both being well attended by the teachers of the two districts.
 "other institutes will be held during this month and September The one for the Ninth district will be held in Birmingham in September.
 "The institutes are conducted by eX- pert normal teachers selected by State Superintendent H. c. Gunnels. They are held under a new state law and should be of great benefit to the teach = CTS of the state.
 With the establishment of the new county high schools there will be an increased demand for high grade teachers and all should be ambitious to secure the best places. This can only be accomplished through close applica- tion and thorough training.
 There should be as much progress siveness in teaching as in any oth CT profession, and the instructor to keep pace with the demands of the times must make his work a constant study" "
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-14
ERA OF BEARDLEss STATESMEN,

E'rOm the N6W IOIh
 Six of the seven men in this years crop of presidential candidates have smooth shaven countenances. The seventh-that' s MT. Taft-has only a mustache. The era of bearded politics, which began with Abraham Lincoln in 1861, and continued, with only one interruption, until the end of Benjamin Harrison's administration in 1893. Is past. What is true of presidents and would-be presidents is equally true of Congressmens Of 103 photographs of members of Congress published in con- temporary last December, only ten had boards. Tn public life whiskers have gone out, rather than come out.
 Nowadays hair is not a facial asset. Three of the seven candidates of this year do not have any even on their heads. We have gone back to the Roman-like physl- ognomy of Washington and the early fathers.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-14
GIVE US MEN.

By Josiah Gilbert Holland. God give us men; time like this de-
 mands Great hearts, strong minds, true faith and
 ready hands. Men whom the lust of office cannot kill; Men whom the spells of office cannot
 buy; Men who possess opinions and will Men who love honor; men who will not
 lie; Men who can stand before demagogue, And brave his< treacherous fatterers
 without winking; Tall men, sunburnt, who live above the
 fog,
 In public duty, and in private thinking; For while the rabble, with Its thumb
 worn creeds, Its large professions, and it's little deeds, Mingle in selfish strife lo Freedom weeps NJ. Wrong rules the land and waitif
 tice slaana-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-14
Getting Away from GaSbagS

No doubt Zeppelin or Baldwin gas bag can be propelled at good speed and steered in calm weather. No doubt that at times either can be utilized for ob- servation purposes at the head of an army in the field. But there the gas bag stops. It can go no further. Its size and the dangers of explosion for Did anything more. It Is tirigible in calm weather, and 1t may become a help in armies.
 Any permanent and valu.1 1ble forward step in the conquest of 3he air will come, not through the usd of gasbags, but through tAs o\ o\srat\p of the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-14
FAM E..
From the Chicago Tribune

From the Chicago Tribune.
 Senator" said the spokesman of the delegation. "a lot of us think yo1 would be the best and most available man that could be suggested for the vice presidency. and we should like to hay your permission to bring your name before the convention"
 My name has not been suggeste yet, has it?'
 "No.'
 "Then for heavens sake, gentlemen" !" said the eminent statesman, "let -s stop right here! I don't want the vice presidency. I'd much rather have the distinction of being the only man in the country who has not been men tioned for that office'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-14
From the Boston Globe.


 E ALE a century ago this month the B01 Atlantic telegraph cable was laid between America and England, and there were enthusiastic public demon- strations over the event in the large cities of both countries. President Buchanan and Queen Victoria sent each other con- gratulatory messages on August 16, 1858. by means of the cable Statesmen and clergymen during the celebration informed the public in speeches and sermons that the construction of this cable was surely in the interest of peace between the two countries, and that nenceforth there would not be occasion for warlilke prepa- rations of any kind. Thus far, although new cables have carried messages relating to numerous wars in Europe, there has been nothing transmitted to interrupt the peaceful relations between America and Great Britain.
 The fifteth anniversary of the laying of the first Atlantic cable recalls an inter esting story. The difficulties of the under taking seemed insurmountable and people on both sides of the Atlantic ocean scoffed at the idea of such electrical communica- ton being possible.
 In 1850 it appears that some thoughtful writer pointed out that St. Johns, New foundland, being the port for the speed fest arrival of European steamships, ought to be the center for the telegraphs of America, in order that the earliest for eign news should be obtained. Acting on this hint, MT. F. N. Gisborne in 1851 n- corporated the Newfoundland electric tel egraph company. A short cable was brought from England, but the attempt to lay and operate it was unsuccessful. In 1854 MT. Gisborrie, having sunk all his property in the venture, went to New York seeking capital. He was introduced to Cyrus Field, and laid the proposition before him. Field not only grasped the idea, but then and there determined that the transatlantic cable should be laid
 MT. Field interested in the project his friends, Peter Cooper, Marshall O. Rob- erts, Chandler White and Moses Taylor, and on May 6. 1856. the New York. New Foundland and London electric telegraph company was incorporated with a capital of s1,5Oo,00o. Late in 1856 the first trans atlantic cable was ordered in London. This cable was composed of seven small twisted copper wires, surrounded by gltta percha, covere with tarred hemp and in-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-14
six rhorsand steeI Cars.

"The fact that E. H. Hartman is about to let contracts for coco steel cars is one of the best signs of the times, said a manufacturers That will be one of the largest orders ever placed and will mean an outlay of about S6OO0,0Oo
 All the railroads need equipment, and Mir Harrimans order will simply be a starter for other lines. Business is open ing up all over the country and promises to be much better after the election than now"