davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-25
TURTLE WORSHIP.

From the London Globe.
 At a place caled Kotron, on the French Ivory coast, the natives believe that to eat or destroy turtle would mean death to the guilty one or sickness among the family. The fetich men, of whom there are plenty declare that years ago a man went to sea fishing. In the night his canoe was thrown upon the beach empty Three days afterward a turtle came ashore at the same place with the man on it's back, alive and well. Since that time they have never eaten or destroyed one of that species. although they enjoy other species If one happens now to be washed ashore there Is great commo- ton in the town. First the women sit down and start singing and beating sticks; next a small piece of white cloth (color must be white) is placed on the turtles back. Food is then prepared and placed on the cloth generally plantains. rice, and palm oil. Then, amid a lot more singing, dancing, and antics of the fetich people it is carried back into the sea and goes on its way rejoicing.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-25

an office now conducted with profit by the national banks. Nor is it known whether or no the central bank will have branch banks. as is the case in Canada. Both propositions would be sternly resisted by the banks now filling the field.
 The better opinion is that bill will be reported authorizing the central bank to replace the notes of the na- tional banks as the latter are retired. No charters would then be granted to national banks with the right to issue notes The process would cover years of time, but it would be well ad- Yanced by 1916. The present bank charters would all expire in 20 years.
 The control of the proposed central bank is another troublesome question. How to keep it out of politics and yet keep it within the influence of the ad- ministration and of Congress, is poser. No one has yet answered this question satisfactorily. The bank is to have stockholders. It is expected to have Washington as it's place Of business, but Washington is full of politicians and political influences, and it is not a town that is in deep and intimate touch with the nations com mercial requirements.
 Altogether the matter is so full of problems that no one expects it to materialize in the present generation The Aldrich ambition will have to go unmet and unsatisfied if it involves a currency plan that includes a central bank.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-25
Ants Working Overtime.

Birmingham is burdened just at pres ent with an overflow supply of ants" said citizen During the past week or 10 days the little insects which are distin- guished for their thrift and exaggerated stinging abilities have come from some where-nobody seems to know just where -and have made an onslaught upon the city which is becoming a somewhat seri- ous proposition.
 Persons who are so unfortunate as to have to eat at the lunch counters down. town daily report that they have had deadly duels with hordes of ants, and practically every restaurant is affected alike. The operators of the lunch count CTS and other eating places state that the little insects have become so numerous that they are now doing just as they please or rather if one starts anything and is killed by some offended patron who is prompted by the inner man to act with the administration of a mighty blow, there Is always another ant, and several others besides him, to take up the job. So per- sistent are they that any effort to -exter- minate the insects invariably produces an exasperated individual, who gives up the fight and resigns to his fate.
 aThe matter Is keeping the men who are feeding the public downtown busy, and it Is causing no little trouble. Pa irons Of the restaurants. according to re- ports. are almost constantly registering complaints about the ants trotting around and cavorting about over their food ana the cook or chef. whichever he may pc
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-25
X-RAY TO CURL HAIR,

From the Chicago Journal
 Science has come to the rescue of the curlless who want curls with the dis covery that the loveliest ringlets may be produced by the judicious use of the K ray on the scalp In due time after the treatment the hair waves and crinkles just as naturally at though it had grown that way, and better yet 1t stays.
 This unusual discovery came about in the treatment of children in some of the London public schools for a scalp trouble The X-ray was used and it not only cured the disease, but curled the hair Within a short time after the treatments parents and teachers noted that some thing was the matter with the heads of the boys and girls. They were alarmed at first, but later on their fears were allayed when learned men told them that the locks of the boys and girls were merely curly and nothing more.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-25
AirShlps h Var and h Peace

In case of a great war within years time both dirigible balloons and aeroplanes would no doubt be used. Perhaps the aeroplanes would be used for scouting purposes while the dlrl- gibles would be well loaded Up with bombs to be dropped on the enemy's ships or forces or cities.
 The present situation calls for both in case of war, but it is plain that the trend is toward aeroplanes for con- mercial purposes. The hope of a con- plete conquest of the air by man rests, not in dirigibles, but in the various forms of airships that discard the gas- bag while they court the gasoline motor.
 The aeroplane will probably be pre- ferred in war in the course of a few years, because it offers comparatively small resistance to the wind and be- cause the marksmen down. below will not be able to hit so small target. The flight of Oryille Wright at Berlin, where he ascended to height of 1900 feet, carrying as a passenger the crown prince, will go far to convince all military men that the aeroplane is best adapted to war purposes.
 Aviation is, however, a new art. It is just fairly launched, so to speak. The Wrights are cautious men but whatever test has been imposed upon them they have met successfully. They are easily the foremost fiers in the world today, but a single additional year may develop new ideas and new features that may change the situation altogether. The Wright brothers have fully demonstrated that men can fly, and thousands of keen intellects will hereafter proceed to bring the new art up to all reasonable War or con- mercial demands. Experienced seient- ists anticipate a rapid development of the art of flying. The age calls for rapidlty of development, and it will no doubt be forthcoming, now that all know that man can safely overcome the attraction of gravitation without the aid of gasbag.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-25
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Everlsstino Liquor Question.

Everlasting Liquor OueStion.
 One of tha remarkable things in this campaign is the wide divergence of views on the liauor question held by leaders in the constitutional prohibition party" said an old democrat. T have seen a good deal of politics. but have never known a political movement in which there was such a Hack of concord or unity as is in evidence over the real intent of the ad- vocates of this amendment proposition. To begin with, l find that a large percent- age of the members of the Anti-Saloon league hold the opinion that social drink ing in any shape or form, whether in a saloon, in a club or at home, is a sin itself and therefore should not be tolerated. These are the prohibitionsts who com pose what might be called the ultra-see- ton: and they are the ones who are sincerely for the amendment. They are quite numerous. Total abstainers them selves. they would vote for any meas use that would seek to keep liquor out of the home. Their ultimate aim is and has long been. to drive liquor out of the United States. If the amendment were to
  ly disappointed if the legislature did not rush a bill through designating the home as one of the places where it would be unlawful to keep whisky. wine or beer. So much for the fanatical prohibitionists.
 .Then here comes Judge Weakley, can didate for governor, a total abstainer and an old-time foe of the saloon, and jollies the public by saying there has never been a time when a citizen could not keep liquor at home. drink it himself, give it to his neighbor or serve it at a barbe- cue in his yard; and he ridicules the Idea that If the amendment should be carried the legislature would make it unlawful for liquor to be kept in the home. Gov ernor Conner not only talks on the same line as Judge Weakley, but he makes ribald remarks. treats lightly and faceti- ously what is to all opponents of alco- holic, vinous or malt beverages, a very serious matter, and encourages rather than dlscourages home drinking. Other men, less prominent than Judge WealSley or the Governor, but none the less loud in their advocacy of the amend ment are known to be heavy 1ushers'- men who abuse liquor and set bad ex- ample to the young. They claim that under the constitution If the amendment should be adopted, liquor will not be leg islated either out of a mans office or place of business or his dwelling.
 "I jocularly remarked to one of my friends who happens to be an amender. that people were wondering why the diff ferent schools of prohibition thought did not get together and stick to one course. He looked embarrassed and sim ply said that Judge Weakley was now recognized as the true leader of the forces in the campaign, and as such had the right to speak for the amendment party, but that all the simon pure constitutional prohibitionists would insist on liquor be- ing driven from the home. And my friend said that the adoption of the amendment would mean no more beer, no more wine, no more whisky in Alabama"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-25
A Real Statesman.


 ''The south has had a number of able, high-minded men in public life since the war-Bamar. Hin. Garland Curry, Tuck CT, Barbour, Lee. Morgan, Pettus, and other Confederates of their class-but in my judgment not ono of our distinguished southerners has showed broader or finer statesma anship than Col. Hilary A. Her bert, who represented the Montgomery district in congress for Is years and who served four years as Secretary of the Navy in Mr. Cleveland's second admin istration." said a professional man.
 "A member of congress remarked to in all respects one of the best equipped men that the south has ever had in congress or in the cabinet This gentle man then pointed out the traits that made Colonel Herbert tower above his fellows
 Tn the first place. he had the advan- tage of scholarly training He is an ex- cellent lawyer and is widely read. He is a man of high reflection and broad views. and is morally as well as physi- cally courageous He IS too big to be lnHuenced DY nltie pfeJuulcesi anu pSluB a man of student habits, keen insight and mental poise, he is never swept off his feet by emotion
 Colonel Herbert caught none of the isms' that afflicted many of the superf- cial politicians. He was never a free sil- yer man. but was always sane on the money question. He is pure. good man, and having retired from official life, his counsel to friends and the public has exceptional weight with those who think. Thousands, no doubt, who read his inter- view on the proposed amendment decided to change from the amendment side to the anti-amendment side. Colonel Herbert said of the amendment:
 TO my mind this proposition is as monstrous as was the action of radicals, who in Congress took advantage of the passions and prejudlces of the war to force through the fifteenth amendment, giving universal suffrage to the negro
 And nothing truer of the amendment has been or could be said"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-25
Look at Ohio.

Huntsville Mercury Banner. Some of our prohibition friends have allowed them selves to be persuaded that if the amend ment is adopted it does away with whis- ky selling in the state for all time. It has been the object of the amendment orators to create this impression all along but it catches only the women and chill dren. The voters know that any legis- lature can repeal the laws putting pro- hibition into effect, and without legsla- tive enactments enforcing the constitu- tional provision 1t is a nullity. As in Ohio, for instance, where they have had constitutional prohibition for years. and Ohio today handles more liquors than any state in the union.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-25
ooinq Back.

Culman Tribune: There was a time when we read of laws enacted against in- dividual liberty we laughed, when we saw that only certain colors could be worn by women, when the cost of mans funeral was fixed by law, when a man was debarred from kissing his wife on Sunday, and when the lights must be put out at a certain hour. It was all funny. We laughed in mild way. A sort of ex- pression of superiority. But we are not smiling now.
 Somebody said the other day. "If we don't put this amendment in the consti- tuition we are going backward 20 years" The man who wrote 1t and the man who wrote the Fuller force bill would have us go back to the time of ancient Rome-to the days of the Pilgrims. And that legis- lature has turned the clock back 1000 years You can sell thing you can't make (amendmenD you cannot have .
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-25
CANNOT SING THE OLD SONGS,
(Claribel.

(ClarlDel.) Charlotte A. Barnard, English poet and
 composer, 1S3O-1S69.) I cannot sing the old songs l sung long years ago, For heart and voice would fail me, And foolish tears would flow; For bygone hours come OCT the heart, With each familiar strain, l cannot sing the old songs, Or dream those dreams agin; I cannot sing the old songs. Or dream those dreams again. I cannot sing the old songs; Their charm is sad and deep; Their melodies would wal<en Old sorrows from their sleep. And though all unforgotten still, And sadly sweet they be, I cannot sing the old songs, They are too dear to me; I cannot sing the old songs, They are too dear to me. cannot sing the old songs, For visions come again Of golden dreams departed And years of weary pain Perhaps when earthly letters shall Have set my spirit free, My voice may know the old songs, For all eternity; My voice may know the old songs, For all eternity.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-25
CATERPILLARS AS FOOD.


 The natives of the Upper Congo are very fond of certain kinds of caterpillars gath cred from the trees which these insects frequent during the caterpillar season. They assert that "mita,' as they call these edible caterpillars, are very pal atable when cooked in the proper way. Several kinds are eaten. ranging in size from small insects less than two inches long. which form clusters or nests in the branches of the trees and are there fore easily gathered to big. hairy mon sters five or six inches long and propor- tionately thick.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-25
UNS E MLY.
ce,, D,,,,,,oo,

From the Springfield Republican.
 Governor Conner of Alabama has so far forgotten the proprieties of his office as to attack the judicial integrity of Judge Jones of the federal bench. The governor likened the judge to Busteed and Jeff freys, and the latter intimates that if he were not on the bench he would hold the governor to personal account, saying: "Every Alabamian knows what a refer ence to Busteed and Jeffreys Is intended to convey against me. It was a vicious assault, which. but for the high office hold and the high office he holds. could never have been the subject of an answer in the public prints" It is not a seemly exhibition.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-25
JEFFRIES WILL
 FIGHT THE NEGRO

New York, October 24-The chief topic among the sporting public of New York remains the Jeffries-Johnson match. Dis like for the negro on the part of Jeffries and the probability that the details of the contract will be settled tomorrow night, make the interest supreme.
 Jeffries trained studiously while abroad. and though 1t is questioned that he has the punch in his glove that put away Fitzsimmons and Corbett his friends de- clare he is as good today. It is also agreed that the forthcoming bout will be the first real test for the negro.
 T never went into the ring but once with hard feeling toward the other fel- low" said Jeffries tonight. That was Monroe. And he went out in two rounds. This Johnson has been making too much noise, and 1 think white man should be champion anyway, so you can figure out what's going to happen to him."
 James Coffroth, the fight promoter of Colma, Cal. it is predicted, will succeed in capturing the battle for San Francisco when he arrives tomorrow with George Little. Johnson's manager.
 While the sporting public awaits the contract formalities and the selection of a place for the battle, discussion of the relative merits of Jeffries and Johnson goes on unabated.
 This Jeffries-J ohnson bout gives strong early promises of eclipsing in importance any fight In the history of the ring, for 1t lends itself to every angle of sporting interest and variety Of speculation
 Jeffries dislike for Johnson is well known, and it will be "business'' with the retired champion from the moment he chambers through the ropes. Johnson once knocked out Jack Jeffries, a brother of Jim, and this added to the fact that Johnson brought Jeffries out of his retire. ment, when he was happy in the thought that he was through with fighting, has not served to increase any good will of IefPries toward Johnson
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-25
What It Maans.

Selma Times: The offense of few Ala ban1ians is not sufficient to bring down upon the heads of all Alabamians the fearful reign that sent chaos and blood shed over the borders of South Carolina ten years ago Whenever you give an irresponsible individual the legal right to ransack your home In quest or an imaginary pint, you have violated a nor al right and committed a sin against your fellowman, because 1t means that some body's got to bleed. It means suffering and discontent among those who have hitherto lived peacefully and compara- lively happy on Alabama soil.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-25
Central Bank Ideas and Plans

The monetary commission, headed by the widely distrusted MT. Aldrich, is matching out currency and central bank plan, and there are many rumors concerning it. No one knows, for ex- ample, whether or no the proposed central bank is to have the exclusive yight of issuing national bank notes.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-25
SUNDAY MEETINGS.
Incident to w. c. T. U. Convention at
 Omaha.

Omaha, Neb.. October 24.-The Audi torium was filled this afternoon and even ing with people who attended the Sun day meetings incident to the convention of the Womans Christian Temperance union The Rev. Mrs Mary Harris Ar nor of Georgia preached the afternoon sermon, which was preceded by song service led by choir of several hun dred voices, made up from local church choirs.
 Mrs. Lillian M. Stevens, national pres ident, presided both afternoon and even ing Ex-Gov. Robert R. Glenn of North Carolina made the evening address, which was distinctly temperance lecture, hav- ing principally to do with conditions in the southern states.
 Three sessions will be held Monday
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-25
No Further.

Walker County News The strong, con servative forces of Alabama standing upon the constitution and defending it say thus far shalt thou go and no fur ther" If the laws which you have placed upon the statute books shall prove effect ual in preserving peace and order. in de- creasing crime and in protecting society they shall continue in force, but you shall not bind this commonwealth with a chain nor shall you letter the liberties of the people
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-25

From the New York Press.
 The devil knew his business when he in- vented politics.
 We have ideals so that other people can wonder why we don't try to live up to them.
 What convinces woman she has a grudge against another Is not to be able to decide what 1t Is.
 A man lies to his wife about how little he paid for horse; and she lies to her friends about how much it was.
 The week after man starts his wife to cutting down the house expenses on the little things, he wants big dinner with champagne for eight or ten friends.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-25
Dav Is Breaking.

Marion Standard: The amendment ques- ton is getting down to it's last analysis. Both sides seem to be arriving at the conclusion that the whole fracas is just an effort to have the administration of Governor Conner indorsed by vote of the people, elect officials to continue his policies and land him in the United States Senate Just politics, pure and simple, as we have told you all along. Conner don't give flip of his finger for prohibition nor for anybody or anything except for Conner and his interests. Day is breaking at last
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-25
COMER EXPENSIVE.

From the Nashville American.
 According to the report of State Auditor Brandon there was deficit in the Ala bama treasury on October 1, this year, of s1, ,455, 22626 This is not very pleasant condition of affairs to the taxpayers of our sister state. Governor Conner has proven quite an expensive chief magis- trate.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-25
GrabbIna at StraWs.

HartseIle Enterprise The very reason able fact is that the amenders are grabbing at straws because they see the arrow pointing to defeat of their pet measure They are forced to resort to campaign of abuse in order to make a showing. They tell you that they are in a campaign of whisky or no whisky, when the fact is it is political game at cards, and Lawrence has done the dealing and Weakley has cut them and the governor is watching the game.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-25
BIG MASS MEETINGS
At Laymen's Missionary Movement at
 Richmond.

ond day of the Richmond convention in the national campaign of the Laymens Missionary Movement, was marked by a mems mass meeting in the City Audito- rum, and a women's meeting in the Second Baptist church at 3;30 p. m., and by union services in 17 of the Richmond churches tonight. at which addresses were made by leaders of the movement. The mass meeting for men was large and enthusiastic and was addressed by John w. Wood and J. Campbell White of New York and Dr. R. B. Tensler, medical mis- sionary from Richmond to Tokio, Japan
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-25
Primitive Baptists lnsuIted.

Pine Belt News: Grossly insulted by the Methodist preacher of Tallassee, in his vulgar effusion sent Elder Lively, which was printed in The Montgomery Adver- tiser recently (some parts being omitted because of It's libelous proclivities) the Primitive Baptists of the state will resent the insult and vote solidly against the amendment on November 29.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-25
Not Ready Yet.

Demopolis Times: We believe that all that Is necessary to defeat the amend ment is for the people to come to realization of the exact meaning of the plain, simple words of the amendment. Judge Weakley says they do not mean what they say. However, those who read the words know that they will mean the invasion of the home and there will be no freedom of action anywhere. We do not believe the people are ready for surrender of this kind.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-25
HYnocritical.

Mobile Register: Write an amendment to the constitution doing away with all wines and liquors; make statutes for the promotion of temperance and the discour- agement of use of liquors-and then try to plan how people may make wines for their private use after the constitution has been amended. That is most hypo- critical thing.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-25
called. Is utterly blameless and help

called. is utterly blameless and help less.
 Those afflicted with the onslaught of the little insects can not explain the matter Operators of the lunch rooms declare that they have made every effort to exterminate the peslzy little critters, but all preparations intended to drive off or kill them have failed. The late arrival of cool weather is one theory, and those who advance this ida hope that the drop of the thermometer will drive them Into snbterranean domiciles."