davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-26
ANECDOTES OF TAFT.
Stories Showing Kindly Side of the Big
 Candidate.

From the Brooklyn Eagle.
 MT. Tafts habit of using plain lam guage to subordinates occasionally got him into hot water when he was gover- nor of the Philippines. . One day he had occasion to take to task the officials of a province in which there had been con- siderable trouble. Shaking his finger at them he said, angrily:
 .If you cannot keep better order than you have been keeping, your heads will go off''
 The mortified Filipinos shrank back in alarm and felt nervously at their throats. MT Taft could not restrain himself at their horror-stricken countenances, and burst into a hearty laugh. Then he pro- ceeded to explain that the term he had employed was only an Americanism, and heads were in danger
 The republican nominee is very, very human. and not entirely averse to the wles of fiattery. A mother once called upon him to urge the granting of a com mission for her son, asking him to waive a slight physical obstacle to the appoint ment.
 His mental qualifications are so high that I am inclined to do as you ask, :" replied MT. Taft.
 The mother, of course, was delighted. In her ecstasy she exclaimed: "Oh, MT. Secretary, you're not half as fat as they say you are.''
 The secretary smiled broadly.
 After that" he said, your boy shall certainly have the commission"
 Tafts father, who was a judge of the superior court in Cincinnati, used to have a stock phrase about his boy, William Howard. It was "Medocrity won't do for Willie"
 He would reiterate this whenever op- portunity presented. AS there were three other sons, 1t would seem that some lit- tie jealousy might have been caused by the fathers expression of preference, but as matter of fact this was not the case. All the other boys were inclined to agree with this view of "Willie,' and one of them has spent thousands upon thou sands of dollars to bring about his nomi- nation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-26
GIRL WHO GOES TO HEAVEN

l as of twilight spread over the place. l When the wonderful story told by Miss
 Mutchlar was made known to the resi-
 dents of Alton many flocked to her bed-
 side begging for messages from departed loved ones or requesting her to take some
 message to them during her next flight
 into the hidden world.
 Weird as it sounds, this is the power claimed by the young woman. When in
 a trance she can find anyone in the spirit
 world and exchange messages with the
 spiritfi transmitting those she received in Heaven to the friends upon earth when
 she awakens from insensibility. During one of her visits to Heaven she ties regarding the strange phenomena that
 allowed her to yibrate, as it were, be- tween Heaven and earth. The following is her own version of his answer:
 My dear child he said, the two
 worlds not so far apart people in the earthly life think Their souls really
 do not leave the earth at all, but only
 seek more favored regions.
 " Heaven is all about them if they only
 knew it, in the ethereal blue above the
 clouds, in the rosy glow of sunrise and
 sunset, in the cool, quiet depths of the
 sea, in the luxurant shades of the tropics, on mountain tops and amid silent woods. " The disembodied soul has to obey no material laws, so it flies at will from mountain peak to ocean depth like the spark of thought of the mortal mind or like the message flashed by wireless telegraphy across sea or by the cable under seas.
 You see more beauty in Heaven be- cause you have finer senses to perceive it. " Tn the earthly life you are made up of many personalities. There is the child
 self that you first grow into, then youth and maturity, all more or less an animal life. The soul life slumbers and awakens
 and grows slowly, but this survives when the otherx life withers and dies like the
 butterfly emerging from the worm
 "'To few like you is given the privi. lege of bearing messages between the two
 worlds. because your soul life is more fully developed.'
 ..I do not pretend to understand all this,
 for am only school girl. But from
 what I have read in psychology I sup
 pose it is my secondary self that leaves my body at times and strays off into a
 distant or different existence. ''It is my secondary or subconscious self that relates these experiences while I am going through them. Otherwise on regaining consciousness I should have only dim, uncertain recollection of them, as one does after awakening from dream.
 "The vision life, or Heaven. whichever you may call it, is very different from any dream. It is quite real while it lasts as our everyday life, but far more beautiful and uplifting"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-26

earnings. Cotton stands, it is plain, at the head of both gross and net earn ings per acre, and it would speedily make this section rich If home supplies were raised alongside of it. When all sorts of charges are added to corn and meats produced 1000 miles away the high earnings of cotton are soon dis sipated.
 In a rough way the vegetable prod ucts of the farms are now put at five billion dollars, to which should be added two and half billions more to represent their annual products-a grand total of seven and a half billion dollars produced annually from an acreage of 100000 OOoO, or an average of nearly S19 an acre.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-26
AdVersity's sweet milk, philosophy.
 Romeo and Juliet
Getting Rid Of Grade Crossings

In New York state the law forbids the making of any more grade cross ings, and provides for the gradual ab- olition of existing ones. The guarding Of all existing crossings in that state is imperative, and the cost of guards Is leading to the elimination of grade crossings. By making grade crossings expensive the way to their removal is smoothed and quickened.
 What New York is doing even in her rural districts should be begun at least in the towns in Alabama The deadly grade crossing is a danger alike to travellers on the highway and on the rails, and it should be elim- mated. The problem Is before the peo- pie of this city in all its evils and in huge proportions. The city Is sliced into several parts by lines of rails, and on these rails isolation and separation become the rule in any hour of day through the cavorting of a switch en- zine pulling back and forth a collec- tion of uninviting box cars. Citizens are held up in their own streets, and they are made to await the convent ence of switch tenders and other em- ployes.
 This condition is fast becoming un- endurable, and the city council should begin to take steps to overcome it. The task will necessarily be one of considerable duration, but the sooner become a modern city.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-26
Railroads Meeting Existing Conditions

The railroads in the south have met reductions in gross earnings by reduc- tions in operating expenses, and the net results in some cases at least are satisfactory. Take for example, the Southern Railway. While the gross earnings in April last were 17.45 per cent less than in April of last year, yet the net earnings were nearly 34 per cent larger. The Seaboard and the At lantic Coast Line show similar gains, neither, however, equa1ing the record of the Southern.
 The Southern has certainly been well managed in these trying times. "Un- necessary trains" said Vice President Harrison recently, have, owing to re- duced traffic, been discontinued. The present adjustment of schedules has been arrived at through tentative and experimental process. When a train which had been discontinued was found actually needed it has been restored to service. Tn April there was reduc- tion on the system of about 4000 train miles per day, compared with April of last year. At first the large and visi- ble economies were attended to; then the small and invisible economies were reached, in hitherto unsuspected items of waste, showing surprising aggre- gate. Furthermore, labor has shown a greatly increased efficiency. The de- precision in business has necessitated considerable reduction in force, and the most efficient and intelligent work CTS have been retained. As indicative of the fact that the service to the pub lie has not been unduly curtailed, it is estimated that the present service is capable of handling 15 per cent more traffic than is now offered to the con- pany"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-26
Earnings of the Republic Company

While no dividend will be paid on July 1 on the preferred stock of the Republic Iron and Steel company, yet it's net earnings in the fiscal year that will be ended June 30 will approxi- mate $2,200,0O0, as against $3,729,245 In the previous year. AS eight months of the present fiscal year were months of depression, the Republic company certainly makes a good showing.
 The net earnings would have pro- vided dividend on the preferred stock if the company had not adopted pol icy of betterments and new construc- tion, and it Is not willing to change that policy even in these times, for in no other way can the highest operating efficiency be secured. The present con- trol is of three years standing, and in that time it has expended $4,900000 for capital charge construction, and has paid in dividends $6,661 ,013. Plans are already well advanced for a fur ther expenditure of $400,0OO for better ments.
 It is stated that had the company been able to sell as much steel in the year that will be ended June %, 1908, as in the preceding fiscal year, it's earnings as a result of improvement in operating efficiency would have been $4,400,000 instead of s2,2O0,000. These and other figures show that one of the largest companies operating in this dis trict is in a sound and prosperous con- dition, and that it's plants will be put in operation as fast as market condi- tions will warrant.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-26
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
MT. cleveIand's Mettle.


 Those of us who took part in the presi- of intense bitterness" said an old citi- zen. Grover Cleveland, the great demo- erat, who is now being mourned, and James G. Blaine, the brilliant republican statesman, were the opposing candidates, MT Cleveland was elected, but New York. which was necessary to a choice went democratic by less than 11o0
 'On the night of the election Cleveland appeared to have safe majority, but the back districts to hear from came in slowly the next day, and as the delayed returns were reported it was seen that the democratic vote was smaller than the first estimates. Jay Gould owned con trol of the Western Union Telegraph company, and it was rumored that he was having the returns held back so as to allow the republicans to doctor the bal lots, if necessary.
 Then it was that MT. Cleveland showed his mettle. The democratic standard bearer saw that the contest was close, but he felt sure that he was elected. He issued an address from Albany claiming the victory and assured the democracy that if the official count was in his favor, even if his majority was only one, he would take his seat at all hazards. The public had in mind the to commission which kept MT Tilden from enjoying the fruit of his victory, won in 1876. The country was greatly stirred up. No dem ocrat had occupied the White House since Buchanan went out of office just be- fore the war, and certain capitalists, fearing a democratic administration, de- termined, it was said, not to let Cleve- land triumph, even if they had to resort to fraud.
 MT. Cleveland followed up his first ad- dress by a ringing manifesto, in which he said he had carried New York and would take the oath of office on March 4. Partisans of MT. Cleveland, in their wrath, threatened MT. Goulds life, and the Wall street magnate kept himself in hiding until the republicans conceded Clevelands election. Had the democratic standard-bearer not been a man of grit and asserted his rights with boldness born ofsmoral courage, he would never, in view of the close margin, have reached the executive chair. The very fact that MT. Cleveland did assert himself fear lessly naturally inspired the people with all the greater confidence in him. He was the last man in the world to be run over. And throughout his public career he never failed to assert himself when con vinced that he had truth and right on his side.
 "Mr. Gould may never have been party to the plot to defeat the will of the electors. I myself am sure that he was unjustly suspected. But MT. Gould, knowing that he had been accused of par ticipating in a conspiracy, was among the first to send telegram of congratula- tions to MT. Cleveland immediately after MT. Blaine had acknowledged defeat. That message was one of the humors of the day"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-26
Phillips Goinu To Cleveland.

Dr. J. H. Phillips, superintendent of the Birmingham schools, will leave the city this morning for Cleveland to at tend the forty-sixth annual convention of the National Educational association, which meets June % to July 3.
 Dr. Phillips is in line for the presidency of the educational association, and owing to his prominent stand in the field of edu- cation, it is believed that his chances for election are very good. The position is one of great distinction and the election to the presidency of the association is q recognized honor.
 At present Dr. Phillips is a member of the national council, which has control of all appropriations and which also ex- ercises other important powers. His pres- ence in Cleveland will be required on Monday to attend several committee meet ings previous to the assembling of the association.
 The Alabama membership in the asso- citation Is about 100 and it is expected that a majority of the number will be in attendance at the convention.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-26
Solid South.

'I find that many men of the younger generation have a confused notion as to what constitutes, in political parlance, the solid south" said an ex-officeholder.
 'I cast my first vote in 1876. The solid south was then understood to mean all the old slave states, no matter whether they had seeded or not. This was the list: Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana. It was a conven- tent grouping because in those days all the states named were unwavering in their allegiance to the democratic party.
 But Delaware, Maryland, West Vir- ginia and Missouri have been taking on the republican habit. They were carried by Roosevelt in 1904 and by Mckinley in 1900 West Virginia Is now about as strongly republican as Pennsylvania, while Missouri seems almost as hopeless. And as Kentucky has a republican gov ernor that state Is in the doubtful col umn. but I believe the democrats will carry it. Leaving out Kentucky, these are the solid south states today: Ala bama, Il electoral votes; Arkansas g., Florida 5, Georgia 13, Louisiana 9, Missis- sippi 10, North Carolina 12, South Caro- lima 9, Tennessee 12. Virginia 12 The total vote of these states is 120 There is good hope of carrying Maryland and likewise Kentucky. Add their votes and the south would give the democratic ticket 151, in- stead of only 1ao. Delaware, with three votes, will possibly go democratic and If so the south's vote with West Virginia and Missouri's omitted, would total 154"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-26
Earning Power of Crops

Cotton is king also in acreage earn ings, for counting 200 pounds of lint cotton to the acre the average earning power of an acre in cotton is from $16 to $24. In the past seven years corn has averaged from $10 to SIP an acre {; wheat has ranged from $9 to SIP, and oats have average about $10. These earnings represent gross, not net. returns. The earning power by acreage in 1907 is told in the following tah1o.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-26
SOLITUDE.
By Lord Byron.

By Lord Byron. To sit on rocks, to muse o'er flood and fell, To slowly trace the forests shady scene, Where things that own not mans do- minion dwell And mortal foot hath ne'er or rarely been; To climb the trackless mountains all unseen, With the wild flock that never needs a fold; Alone OCT steeps and foaming falls to lean; This is not soitude;, 'tis but to hold. Converse with natures charms, and view her stores uprolled. But midst the crowd, the hum. the shock of men, To hear, to see, to feel, and to roSsess, And roam along the worlds ''r q daniyea. With none who bless us. non whom we can bless; Minions of splendor shrinkinl rom dis tress! None that, with kindred conscit' sness en- dued. If we were not would seem tt smile llls less Of all that fattered, followed, scnsht, al sued! This is to be alone: this. this is sclisuds
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-26

makers point of view is it's continued strength notwithstanding the heavy buy ing movement which extended through May and the early part of June
 The market shows no signs of weak ening; on the other hand its tendency is upward. It is generally felt that higher prices will obtain in September than are duoted today.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-26
THE GENERALITY.

A little while we finger here, assume the
 parts we may And wonder what the tricks of fortune
 mean, And then there comes a sudden chill
 which steals our breath away, And so we pass from "lifes frequented
 scene" And what. we did and what we were is
 speedily forgot Nobody cares enough to praise or blame; Twas ever thus with those who fill In
 life a lowly lot, Unknown to ruddy fortune and to fame.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-26
That Hotel Clerk,

''The decision of the hotels of Birming- ham not to try women clerks meets with general approval said a travelling man who makes Birmingham his headquarters.
 Seriously, the idea did not meet with the approval of many hotel visitors, for the hotel clerk is the really great com fort of the establishment. He must be long suffering, courteous at all times, careful of every detail and at the same time jovial as we'll as hospitable. One would expect woman to succeed as a motorman before she gets to be hotel clerk. He is no decoration standing back of the counter, but Is running big ma- chine, with his hand on every lever. He has to think as well as act quickly.
 "Often is the time that have sought the hotel where I knew there was good clerk, in preference to the more fancy one where I had been rubbed wrong the last time. The travelling man is partic- ular, and a good clerk is his best friend"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-26
A DEAD PHILOSOPHER.

From the Kansas City Star.
 republican River (Kan) farmer, who hanged himself last week, pinned the fol- lowing notice to his coattail: For 40 years I have been raising more corn to feed more hogs to get more money to buy more land until now own more land than one man ought to own, so I quit the job. I am not crazy, but just tired Of life and want rest and peace and sleep"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-26
MIME. MELeA's sUPERsTITIoNs.

From London Tft-Bits.
 The famous prima donna admits that she has her full share of the supersti- tions which follow the prima donna. For one thing" she says, "I cannot bear pea cock feathers. and if any visitor comes to see me wearing one of these monstros- tiles it makes be positively shudder. Brrr! Then I have an instinctive dread of being photographed in the costume of a part in which l have not previously ap- peared. think this is always unlucky."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-26
2os ,oso GOO s2. 1926. .ss2 900

These four great crops cover ap- proximately one-half of the improved farm acreage of the country, and $14 represents therefore the earning power of the better half of the farm lands of the country. It is not possible to ascer- tain the net earning value of these acres, but when we know what the gross earnings of the average acre are we can at least approximate its net
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-26
SONG.
Placidity, placidlty

Placidity, plaoidIty
 You very seldom find, And that's because our little cares Are never left behind. We think about ourselves too much And plan and scheme and fret, When the recipe for happiness Is learning to forget. Placidity, placidity-
 Come lead the placid life And pluck a summer rose or two Where honey bees are rife; You waste your time in worrying And that's the simple truth; The heart that only laughter fills Shall know eternal youth
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-26
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR
n the New York Press.

From the New York Press.
 A man has very good judgment not to trust his own.
 Domestic bliss depends most on talent in the kitchen and a balance in the bank.
 There Is nothing more disappointing to a woman than to find scandal isn't, after all.
 A woman can figure out from the way her child says its prayers what . smart man ft n xo1nK to be. tA
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-26

From the Guntersville Democrat.
 Blackman, The Age-Herald's artist, produced a cartoon in that paper of the 18th inst, and Spangler of the Montgom- cry Advertiser issued one on the same subject on the 20th instt., either of which carries stronger argument than could be couched in a double-column editorial
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-26

Paul Cook, the bachelor poet of the Birmingham Age-H Herald, declares that kimonos are all right at the table-dress- ing table, of course. But what does Paul know about it?-Hattiesburg News
 Precious little--and that's the truth.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-26

The coming prohibitionist national convention is to be a sumner in size. It is to consist of 1850 delegates, and it is to meet next month at Colum- bus, o.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-26

MT. Taft will not be required to wear those Angora goat pants at the in- augural ball because he will not have to attend ball held in honor of MT. Bryan.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-26

The Countess of Warwick has de- cided at last that she will not come over the sea to take the stump for MT Debs. That woman knows a thing or two.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-26

MT. Bryan is 4S years old; President Roosevelt is 49; MT. Taft is 51, and MT. Sherman is 52. Young men for action and old men for the Senate.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-26
A DAY DREAM.

'Tis not that I so much desire to hear The slumbrous accents of the sea; Myrtilla in her bathing suit-the dear Is what would most appeal to me.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-26

The man who said Roosevelt would be nominated at Chicago is going about undaunted, saying Bryan will not be nominated at Denver.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-26

Cincinnati expects to get a deal of free advertising as the center of the republican political game this summer and fall.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-26

The question of sinoos begins to agi- tate the republican leaders. A man to make the assessments will soon be ap- pointed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-26

The Missouri man who vowed never to shave until a democrat is elected President Is beginning to hone his razor.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-26

The campaign poet and his mis- mated feet will soon be in our midst again. He enjoys 1t, but the rest of us will not.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-26
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES

''Yes."
 Well, he is ten times more of a hero than your man. His salary is $15 a week. He has a wife and three children to sup port. He can't afford a holiday and he hasn't bought a good cigar in years, but he manages to get along somehow and he never grumbles."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-26

MT. Hisgen of Massachusetts de- clines to accept the independence league nomination. He has the sense of a horse.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-26

No matter how warm politics may become there are always some who will keep at least one eye on the home baseball team
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-26

Oyster Bay Is, it is true, on the po- litical map, but the republican Mac Gregor of the present campaign lives in Cincinnati.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-26

Luke E. Wright may make good desk Secretary of War, but the road has no attractions for him.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-26

Stocks went off as soon as Taft was nominated, and dullness reigns in Wall street.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-26

The White House tennis court il about to go out of politics.