davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-07
PoPE's ANCIENT HOME.

From a Paris Letter to the Denver
 Post.
 Our first stopping place after 1eav- ing Marseilles was Avignon, few miles before reaching which we passed through Tarascon, famous as the home of Tartarin, that delightful creation of Alphonse Daudet, who for aught we know, may still be entertaining the members of the Tarascon club with stories of his Alpine climbing or his lion hunts
 Avignon, old and quaint, was the home of the popes during most of the fourteenth century, and the palace that served as home for Benoit XII, Clement VI, Innocent VT, Urban V, Gregory II. Clement VII and Behoit XIII, and which in It's day was regal in it's appointments Is now but a suc- cession of bare rooms, such ornamen- tation as it retained having been de- Revolution; the old chapel of the palace is now the cathedral of the city and in it we attended the services of Easter Sunday. From the papal gar dens, now a public park. one has a beautiful view of the valley of the are the ruins of the chateau built by the kings of France and connected with the papal plaace by a magni- ficent bridge, of which only a few arches remain.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-07
Colonel RuIaer In City.

'I am for Greater Birmingham because Greater Birmingham means a greater Alabama" said Col. T. L. Bulger of Dadeville. representative in the legisla- ture from Tallapoosa county. who is in Birmingham.
 While it is true that almost every. part of Alabama takes a personal in- terest in the growth and prosperity of Birmingham, I do not overlook the fact that an enlarged Birmingham, with greater number of people shown in the census books, means more money will come to Alabama and more money means greater prosperity for the whole state.
 "It is too early to say what the leg islature will do on various subjects, but am for Greater Birmingham every time.
 "One of my keenest regrets just now is that l am compelled to miss the re- union at Memphis this year short time ago I got bad fall from my horse and my physician thought 1t would be taking too much risk for me to go through the strenuous week that attend ance of a reunion means.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-07

keepers, the doctors. the lawyers, the
 preachers and the workers in unpro-
 tected industries should not, therefore,
 complain when the prices of the neces-
 sities of life are increased, for is not
 this a country in which all must serve the producers2
 While Senator Lodge is promul- gating this doctrine Senator A1drich is shrewdly endeayoring to outfanz the income tax advocates by proposing to submit the subject to the judiciary committee to be reported back at the regular session in December. This is merely a proposition to shelve the in- come tax-to break into the combina- ton of democrats and insurgent re- publicans No bill can be framed that will meet the decision of the supreme court of 1894 The only way it can be met is by passing a new bill, prac- tically asking the court to reconsider the subject in the hope it will reverse it's 5-by-4 decision of 1894. That de- cision reversed it's decisions of 100 years by declaring that an income from real estate is a direct tax on real estate that should be apportioned ac- cording to population. The present court may not so look at the question. At any rate the Aldrich proposition is a mere flank movement--a mere piece of legislative strategy. and if Congress really desires an income tax this is the time to secure it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-07
IN HOTEL LOBBlES
Coming Prosperity.

'@The years 1906 and 1907 witnessed phe- nomenal prosperity in the industrial world but it is believed the country is about to enter upon another period of thrift tht will easily make new high records, said Charles M. Mcwhalen of Chicago. An industrial revival started up in the north several months ago and now pros perity in that section seems to be in full swing once more
 Tt will be several months yet before busiHess conditions throughout the United States are normal, but just as sure as the crops are up to an average, pros perity will prevail from one end of the country to the other. By 1910 capital will be pouring into the south for investment. If there are any mineral lands in Ala bama on the market they can be sold readily within year from now. But the shrewd investor will not wait until 1910. for values will soon begin to rise to higher levels"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-07
A Brave Veteran,

Captain Odum of Childersburg, one of the active and well known Confederate veterans of the state, spent last night with relatives In Birmingham and leaves this morning for Memphis. Captain Odum has always lived at Chidersburg, where he organized a company when the war broke out and carried 116 men into bat tie, returning after the war with but II living.
 Seven of these are still living: Five in Alabama, one in Arkansas and one in Oklahoma.
 Captain Odum relates a story of the early war, when his company entered the battle of Bull Run. 'It was our first fight and the men had no uniforms. Just before the battle we were given strips of white cloth to tie around our hats to distinguish us from the enemy. One of the boys asked the commissariat what the cloth was for and the answer was: TO tie around your face to keep your mouth closed when you are dead
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-07
TRACING 1oO7'S PANIC

From the Wall Street Journal.
 IN the extended interview with D. H. Hartman published in Tuesday morn \ ing's papers it is difficult to under stand exactly what he did say as to the crisis of 1907 being directly traeeable to the Lands decision," with it's s29,0oo.- 900 fine. It would be doing a grave in justice to one of the c1earest minds in America even to suppose that MT. Harri- man believes this. His logic and intellect would lead him to ask himself the ob- vious question: "What caused the Landis decision?'
 The Landis decision was the fruit of a popular state of mind brought about by methods of corporation activity of which the life insurance inquiry gave the first Illuminating exposition. Corpora tions in those times were in many cases being conducted with an utter indffer ence to the laws of God and man. If a corporation were only strong enough it's managers assumed that anything was right which they could bring about with out actually incnrring prosecution. It was thought in some financial circles proper lo own the representallVeS or the people in state legislatures or in Con- gress, and, indeed, we had established a condition so rotten as to bring about violent revulsion of public sentiment, of which much foolish legislation and some equally foolish court decisions were the conscious or unconscious reflex.
 But besides thls the crisis was over due Reckless speculation by rich men. enormous losses all over the world by war, fire and flood, tremendous conver- sion of floating capital into fixed forms
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-07
Death Of Colonel Mcclure

Col. Alexander K. Mcclure, who passed away at his home in Pennsyl- vania yesterday at an advanced age, was one of the foremost journalists of this country. He was active in public life before and during the war and as editor-in-chief of the Philadelphia Times from 1873 until 1901 he had a wide and beneficent influence.
 In no section will his death be more sincerely mourned than in the south, for he was true friend of the southern people at a time when it required real courage on the part of a northern leader to maintain a generous and helpful attitude toward the former Confederate states. Those of the younger generation can scarcely imagine the degree of sectional bitter ness that continued to exist several years after the reconstruction period. "The bloody shirt was waved in every political campaign in the north as late as 1892, and for long years it looked as if we would never see a fully re- united country.
 In no state in the union was the prejudice against the south more pro nounced than in Pennsylvania; but Colonel Mcclure, high minded and broad in his sympathies, not only used his pen in refuting calumnies against southern leaders, but he visited the south and from the early seventies cultivated close and friendly relations with the souths representative men. lie liked the south and the south liked him; and nothing seemed to afford him greater pleasure than when, in the Philadelphia Times or in some public address, he was expressing his ap- preciation of the south.
 Colonel Mcclure saw the great poten- tialities of this section. He visited Birmingham in the early days of it's history and was ever after one of it's most ardent prophets. In time all bit terness had passed away and large capital came southward freely; and to Col McClure's good work may be traced no little of the money now profltably invested hereabouts.
 Colonel Mcclure was here only a few weeks ago and was formally en- tertained as one of the districts bene- factors. He was radiant in the com pany of those whom he had known in years gone by and in beholding in the marvellous progress of the city the full fillment of his prophecy his heart re- joiced and his tongue grew eloquent. It was an impressive occasion and our distinguished guest was more than ever the prophet of Birmingham. Peace to his ashesi
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-07
Cotton Growing and the Mills

Even in a year of depression a cot ton crop of 13,500,000 bales promises to be readily consumed. Spindles are being increased all the way from the cotton fields eastward to China and Japan. Mills are being built in Mas sachusetts, in England in Germany, in Russia and in Japan. This means that the world wants year in and year out more cotton goods, and more cot ton goods calls for larger American crop.
 A crop in this country below 13,000,- 900 is crop that will not meet de- mands, and when the boil weevil has overrun the entire cotton belt 1t may not be an easy task on the part of our farmers to meet the worlds require ment. The boil weevil is pulling one way, and the cotton mills of the world the other way. This years crop will De put Dy tue CeHSus DuIedu at lo,- 5S7,O 900 bales, and the crop grown in | 1906 was just about as large, and yet there is no unusual surplus of cotton Cotton is in demand, and the spinners continue to look to this country for the | greater part of the commercial crop. e
 No crop has a more assured future. Not even wheat, for wheat can be grown in exportable quantities in many countries. Cotton cannot be. Heat and moisture and soil are here con- bined for the cultivation of cotton, and | if our farmers would buy more mules ] and plough 12 inches deep they could
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-07
DOUBT ABOUT AIRSHIPS

peculiar medium. Indeed, it seems to have done so already; but who dreams of the submarine becoming useful for either freight or passenger service or for any other purpose than to carry small crew, who. take their lives in their hands, and a torpedo?
 If the atmosphere were( thousand feet deep or less, and the airship could float upon it's upper surface, the navigation would be fairer; but even at that the airship would have to sink to the bottom of it's atmosph eric sea in order to reach port, an operation which might be made impossible by the buoyancy that enabled it to float on top of that sea.
 It may be needless for me to con- fess that I am profoundly ignorant of the science of aeronautics and know little even of mechanics. I may have demonstrated that fact in this letter. Others have referred to the helpless ness of airshlps in a gale or hurricane which would but slightly affect our great liners, and have pointed out that airships can never be made heavy enough to withstand the air waves as our steamboats withs stand both air waves and sea waves; but I am not aware that the point I suggest above has yet been considered by those who look for commercial future for at mospheric navigation. namely, that the airship must perform in it's own medium what the submarine boat per- forms in the water, not what the steamer does on the waters surface.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-07
From a Washington

From a Washington Letter to the Boston
 Transcript.
 T HERE are two snuff takers in the (9 United States Senate, MT Over
 man of North Carolina and Mr. Carter of Montana. For the benefit of these two men the Senate still maintains the official snuffboxes, which are kept carefully with fresh material for produc- ing sneezes. These boxes are little lac quered affairs about four inches long, two and half inches wide and an inch deep, and are fastened by screws to the top of the projecting ledge, one on each side of the vice presidents dais.
 The snuff Is purchased by the sergeant at-arms in four eight pound jars, at cost of 75 cents a pound, and it takes an av- craze of about five pounds year to re- plenish the boxes twice a week during the sessions. The work of refilling the boxes was for years one of\ the duties tremendously performed by the late Cap tain Bassett, the venerable assistant door Keeper of the Senate and inveterate user of the powdered weed; but since his death five years ago, the task has fallen to the lot of one of the pages who, nat urally, does not bestow upon 1t the loving care of his aged predecessor.
 Captain Bassett when he died had com- pleted nearly 60 years of continuous ser vice in the Senate and was almost the sole relic of the days when the use of snuff was general in that body. For many years before his death his digni- fled, almost ceremonious, manner of in- dulging in the habit excited the wonder and awe of the modern page.
 He was very proud of a gold snuffbox presented to him by the senators upon the fortieth anniversary of his entry into their service, and he kept it filled with a choice brand of the powder He car ried 1t in tail pocket of the frock coat in which he always appeared, and
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-07

of wealth, and a multitude of minor causes brought about the crisis of 1907 later, if anything. than might have been reasonably expected. Is anybody foolish enough to suppose that agitation in our state legislatures or heavy fine imposed upon a single wealthy corporation could have brought about financial crisis in Tolxio. New Zealand, Cape Colony, St. Petersburg, Berlin, Paris, London and every financial center in the world? If 1t had not been for the international waste which preceded the crisis of 1907 a panic would have been impossible even here.
 Whatever MT. Hartman may have said those who believe the pronouncement as given in the papers can see in operation an excellent example of how the founda- tions for just such another decision can be laid. The spectacle at present afforded by the United States Senate is an in- suit to every self-respecting American. It exhibits statesmen supposed to be act ing in a national capacity owned in soul and pocketbook by petty local interests, while one corporation after another shows that it can snap it's fingers at the prom ises made by the republican President and all his party before election, and &C., cepted by the American people.
 There is, in fact. a shameless revival of that association of selfish corporate interests with legislation and legislators, such as dared not show it's head F months ago, and such as can bring about an- other Aandis fine and another social up- heaval. Even a condition so grave could not produce another 1907 crisis without the other factors which contributed to that prisis
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-07
Business Outlook.

Henry Clews, in his Saturday review of Wall street and business conditions in general, says in part:
 The crop outlook thus far Is as satis- factory as could be expected. The sea- son is late and a comparatively small crop of wheat must be expected owing to reduced acreage, which suggests contin- ued high prices for that staple and rela- lively small exports next winter. The loss in wheat, however, is likely to be more than compensated for by big corn crop. Should the latter escape early frosts, it is not unreasonable to expect a bumper yield of about 3.0OO.000.0O0 bush els. Plenty of cotton Is also in prospect at good prices. In view of the high prices for all farm products, it Is quite certain that the agricultural classes will enjoy another very profitable harvest, which nothing short of unusual disaster can pre- vent.
 On the stock exchange a confident tin- dertone prevails. Were 1t not that values are already upon such very high level there Is no doubt that the market would have seen a more decided upward move- ment. There is a feeling, however that the many favorable outside conditions have been quite thoroughly discounted, and that any further advance will simply afford an opportunity for foreign and big Inside selling. This should induce very conservative feeling throughout the mar ket. Railroad shares are firmly held, es- pecially in view of the satisfactory con- 1ition of railroad affairs in general. Pub lie hostility to railroad corporations is abating; traffic is increasng; freght rates are frequently higher than year ago; many important economies have been in- troduced consequently the outlook is for better net results than for the past two years.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-07
Tariff Tactics In the Senate

Senator Lodge sneers at downward called in special session to revise the tariff downward or upward. but wisely. He goes on to declare that all the peo- pie of this country should be treated as producers. In other words, the consumers exist for The profit of pro- iucers. Under this sort of republican doctrine the school teachers, the book
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-07
BEAUTIFUL MOTHERS.

By TX. MarVel.
 What influence of all the worlds pro- fessors and teachers tells so strongly on the habit of mans mind as those gentle droppings from a mothers lips, which, day by day, and hour by hour, grow into the enlarging stature of his soul and live with it forever They can hardly be mothers, who aim at broader and noisier field; they have forgotten to be daughters; they must needs have lost the hope of being wives.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-07
By Next Fall.

''Financiers and business men in gen. eral had been saying that prosperity would return gradually said manu- facturer, "and that view of the situa- ton seemed reasonable and correct. But the iron and steel trade is now active and the stock market is so bullish that boom days seem almost in sight.
 "A year ago even optimists did not forecast a return to normal conditions before 1910; but everything now points to great prosperity in the coming fall. Already steel wire shipments are making now high records.
 'sBut whether or not business becomes normal by the fall I think it safe to predict that there will be cry of labor scarcity in the Birmingham district be- fore October"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-07
RICH cHILpREN's PLAYGROUND.

From the PhlIadelphIa Record
 Baltimore-General Van Lear Black will spend s25,000 for a safe playground for his children at his hanosome home on Eutaw place. He bought the property adjoining his residence and will tear down the fine dwelling and stables and con- vert the lot into model playground. He will have a variety of amusement de- vices and gymnasium apparatus con- structed, all planned with a view to abso- lute safety as well as entertainment.
 MT Blacks family will have the most expensive private playground in Balti- more city
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-07
SENATE SNUFF TAKERS

the force of his habit of reaching for it caused laugh at his expense.
 It was during the troublous times att tending the Hayes-Tilden contest, and it was thought best that Captain Bassett, as custodian of one of the boxes contain ing the disputed electoral votes, should be armed He was accordingly provided with revolver. which he carried in the pocket of the empty coat tail.
 As the procession was about to start on. the march from the Senate to the House Captain Bassett was asked if he had his revolver with him.
 "Yes,' he replied, "here it is" and, diving into the wrong pocket he pro- duced not the revolver, but his cher ished gold snuffbox.
 There had been threats of attacking the procession on the way to the House, and the members of the party were in rather a sober frame of mind but the tension laughter which was caused by the mis- take.
 Perhaps the most noted of the sen- ators who were addicted to snuff within the memories of the older employees was the late Allen G. Thurman of Ohio. MT. Thurman was a frequent visitor of the official snuffbox on the democratic side. After helping himself to a liberal pinch he would return to his desk and bring forth his huge red bandanna, which after ward became a well-known political em- blem in his campaign for the vice presi- dency. Then, after sneezing several times, he would blow tremendous blast. Vice President Wilson, who died in his room at the Capitol. was another noted patron of the Senate snuffbox. and so was Senator Edmunds of Vermont. In later days Senator Carter of Montana and Senator Turner of Washington were the sole representatives of the old re- gime of habitual snuff users.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-07
M MEMORIAL ODE.
By Seth Russell Downie.
 They are not dead

By Seth Russell Downie. They are not dead
 Who die
 They merely slumber: In messy bed
 They lie
 host in number. As Heroes when the battles done, As workmen ere the days begun, As children when the play has ceased, As flowers in the snow's embrace, As huntsmen after weary chase, As sufferers from much pain released, As dawn's calm ere the rising sun So rest they when lifes race is done. In messy bed
 They lie
 A host in number: They are not dead
 Who die
 They only slumber.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-07
ms
.47.45a.SS2

The decrease in the worlds produc- tion last year was largely confined to this country. The production of 1907 is the record production of the world for all time, and it has never been closely approached except in 1906, when the production was 5S,650,0O0 tons. The worlds production in 1907 may not be soon exceeded. It cer- tainly will not be exceeded until the production of the United States rises to the figures of 1907.
 In this country in 1908 the produc- tion was distributed as follows:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-07
M. J. D. in the New York Sun.

Js
 N@ oNDERFuL as was the flight
 NNV of Count zeppelin's airship
 w from Friedrichshafen to Bitterfeld (60 miles from Berlin) and back, it does not appear to have been a demonstration of any commercial ficiency. Count Zeppelin did not and could not carry enough freight or pas sengers to pay for the cost, nor was he in sufficient control of the move- ments of his ship to enable him to make a successful attack upon any fortress or army by the dropping of explosives; but the hopeful inventors, including the count, remind us of the imperfections of the first vessels pro- pelled by steam. and point to the great Improvements made from the time of Fulton's crude boat to the Mauretania. They ask us to expect similar im- provements in airships that will make them as efficient in their medium as the ocean liners are in theirs.
 Do not these sanguine souls ignore altogether the radical difference be- tween the oceans surface and the at- mosphere, as we'll as the fact that while the ocean steamer has only to float upon the upper surface of the water the airship has to plunge through its medium and rise and fall in it, as the submarine boat must do in the water? It is the submarine boat to which the airship must be com pared. Possibly the airship will make as much progress as the submarine and become quite as efficient in it's
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-07

Mr. Hartman says the panic of 1907 was due to fright and not to specula- tion. He may not however, know. There is only ane infallible man in the world and he lives in Minnesota.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-07

The production of foundry iron is no measure of the work done in the foundries, for a great deal of scrap is used in all foundry cupolas. The pro- duction of Bessemer iron is decreas- ing, it's percentage being now less than Dne-half. In years of depression as well as of activity the trend is against Bessemer iron.