davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-03-01
Greatest Port In ths World

Nations have arisen and fallen and
yet London has been for 200 years
without single lapse, the greatest
port in the world It's trade in 1907
reached the vast sum of $2,430, 600, 900,
while New York's total was s1,709,164,
423.
And yet London spends but little,
comparatively speaking, on Its docks
and wharves. Liverpool Plymouth
and Southampton are spending great
deal of money to increase their facil-
tiles, and on the continent Hamburg
is very enterprising and so is Antwerp.
But London is about to begin a
great extension of its facilities, and
when the new works are completed
no doubt London will be able to hold
the lead in trade possibly 200 years
longer. 1t has rivals, however, and
the task of leadership in the next 200
years will be much more strenuous
than it was in the last 200 years.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-03-01

executive. He bet freely on the races,
and now and then ran his own horses.
Any one who wished for duel could
have 1t on application.
General Grant had an unusual love for
horses. He had @ stock farm near st.
Louis before he became President, where
he kept 100 horses. In the period imme-
diately before the Civil War, while living
on his farm near st. Louis, he was dis
tinctly an outdoor man, cutting down
trees and hewing and building with his
own hands. This doubtless had much to
do with his extraordinary endurance dur
ing the Civil War
President Grover Cleveland looms large
as an outdoor President The country
knew and esteemed him in the double
capacity of statesman and fisherman. He
also penned charming essays in defense
of the piscatorial art. His flies were cast
upon many waters, and his impressive
shadow fell from banks of uncounted
lakes and mountain streams upon the
homes of finny tribes
Mr. Roosevelt as boy and man aimed
with unwavering purpose at health and
not at athletics for their own sake or
for competitive honors at college or else
where. Physical culture Is with him a Sc
rious business in order that he may be
equal to his responsibilities. He is first
of all a great worker, and for the works
sake he trains for bodily condition. While
he enjoys thoroughly his exercises these
are a means to an end.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-03-01
vEx NE NOT WITH BROODING
ON THE YEARS.
homas Bailey Aldrich.

BY Thomas Bailey Aldrich
(Reprinted from The Century for May,
1S9O.)
l vex me not with brooding on the years
That were ere l drew breath; why
should 1 then
Distrust the darkness that may fall
again
When life is done? Perchance in other
spheres
Dead planets-I once tasted mortal tears,
And walked as now amid a throng of
men,
Pondering things that lay beyond my
ken,
Questioning death, and solacing my
fears.
Outlines indeed strange sense have
of this
Vague memories that hold me with .
spell,
Touches of unseen lips upon my brow,
Breathing some incommunicable bliss!
In years foregone, o soul, was all not
well?
? Still lovelier life awaits thee. Fear not
thouI
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-03-01
The Stock Market.

Henry Clews, in his Saturday re-
view, says:
ION the stock market the steel cut
was at first demoralizing. Prices fell
sharply, making a decline of 10 to 10
points on the present movement. Thls
is an important shrinkage, considering
that recuperative tendencies are steadily
at work in various lines of business.
For weeks it has been insisted in these
adviees that prices were too high and
that a substantial decline was imml-
nent. Now that this has come, the mar
ket is on a much safer trading basis
and greater activity will probably re-
suit.
ALREADY there has been a partial re-
covery. and prices may be carried still
higher in anticipation of an encourage
ing inaugural address from President
elect Taft, who will no doubt reiterate
his we'll known views on the tariff, on
corporation reform and on the defects
of our currency system. The outlook,
however does not warrant any very
pronounced recovery, and profits should
be taken on all good advances. At the
lowest prices of the week there was
good buying of stocks, and the demand
for high grade securities continues sat
isfactory. Money is very easy In spite
of Withdrawals of Treasury deposits and
gold exports to Argentina. For some
time to come the course of the mar
ket will be chiefly guided by tariff leg
islation and business conditions"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-03-01
Courtesy on Railroads

The travelling public cannot have
failed to notice the improvement in
the manners of railroad employees in
this country within the past 20 years.
In the south railway conductors, as
rule, have always been polite and
obliging to passengers, but ticket sell
ers and some others who came in
contact with the public were not so
courteous as they might have been.
There has been little or no cause of
complaint in recent years, but even if
an overworked or harrassed young
man at the ticket window should now
and then appear bit cross or short
in his speech the average person
would make allowances and excuse
him.
In other sections of the country
courtesy in any department of pas
senger train service used to be the
exception to the rule. Conductors,
ticket sellers and station men were
proverbially gruff in the old days.
While the. improvement all along the
line has been marked there is, doubt
less, still room for more.
On the Hartman roads a special
effort is now being made to raise en-
ployes to the highest standard of po-
likeness. Here is a circular issued
jointly by the general superintendent,
general freight agent and general pas
senger agent of the Southern Pacific
in Oregon, with the approval of the
vice president and general manager:
TO Employees on the Line:
Courtesy costs nothing and yields large
returns. Cordial relations with customers
are an asset. You increase this prop
erty's value to owners and patrons, as
well as the value of your service, by
making friends.
Rules necessary in a business so COM
pick cause less dissatisfaction than I'M
fortunate methods Of enforcement. Your
training renders familiar to you matters
not understood by the public, and in
quirers are entitled to prompt, courteous
and complete replies. If something seems
at fault beyond your power to correct,
explain how and through whom to seek
and remedy. Manner outweighs words
The salesman of transportation should
make his customers as welcome as would
any business man, inspiring the wish to
come again.
II the officials of transportation
lines in the United States continue to
press the courtesy idea, and they are
apt to do so ''as matter of business"
it will not be long before our travel
ing and shipping public will be as
considerably treated as are the pat
rons of railroads in England, where
employees are not only polite and
friendly but where they go out of
their way and put themselves to any
amount of trouble, to oblige.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-03-01
A Perfect Day.

Yesterday was a perfect day for the
first Sunday in Lent In the early
morning when many of the faithful
started out for church, the air was
bracing but spring like, and the sun
was shining brightly though the hazy
air.
All the churches were largely attend
ed and the afternoon the principal ave-
nues were filed with people. Inc
street cars were crowded, automobiles
were spinning in every direction, and
hundreds of men, women and childreh
strolled on the mountain and along the
country roads. 1t was a day in which
rich and poor alike rejoiced.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-03-01
No Forest Reserves This Year

Neither the proposed White noun
tain nor the Appalachian reserve will
be advanced during the present Con
gress. The bill reported in the House
aims to apply the money received
from the products of the national for
ests-about two millions a year-to
the purchase of reserves ION the head
waters of navigable streams" The
present forest reservations aggregate
17O,0O0,000 acres, and the money re-
ceived from the products of these
acres would soon create reservations
on the White mountains or along the
Appalachian chain. The operation of
the bill would have been confined to
ten years. The reported bill is known
as the Weeks bill. Congressman
Weeks comes from Massachusetts,
and hefis on good terms with Speaker
Cannon, but the Cannon autocracy re-
fuseY'to let the bill be considered in
the present Congress.
The subject goes over to the next
Congress, when it may secure con-
sideration always provided ready
way is found to overcome the deficit
The adoption of an income tax would
wonderfully smooth the way for the
passage of a bill providing for two
forest reserves in the eastern part of
the country. The west has plenty of
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-03-01
GIRLS WHO ARE SHORTLIVED.
Many Who Work in Tobacco Die Be-
fore They Are rs.

"The Woman's Invasion" in the March
Everybodys. Z"
81 wish you to follow me into my
office" said Dr. Abraham jacob, the
great New York physician, where,
amongst others, I see goodly number
of young girls who work at tobacco
mostly in shops, many at home. The
latter are worse off than the former,
for to them there are no regular hours
at all. To them their cramped living
and sleeping quarters are also their
shops, filed day and night with to-
bacco dust and odor.
"All of these patients are anaemic,
sallow, thin, underweight. They are
poorly paid, poorly nourished early
! risers, for they begin work at T. with
out appetite. Their breakfast consists
generally of what they call cup of
coffee, roll, or piece of bread. They
take their luncheon in the half hour
or hour of recess-a sandwich, per-
haps in cheap seasons an egg. Almost
every one suffers from catarrh of the
throat and catarrh of the bronchial
tubes, and the inhalation of tobacco
uuSl, WHICH results OIten IN S0ll01nca-
ton and pigmentation of the lungs.
Their sedentary occupation causes
obstruction of the abdominal and pelvic
organs, frequently causing irritation of
the kidneys. Bright's disease is be-
coming more common, partly from that
cause. The stomach and digestion suf-
fer invariably, partly from the same
cause, partly from the insufficient mus
cular action of the stomach and the bad
air inhaled.
"All of these causes cooperate to af-
feet the nervous system. Depression
migraine, hysteria are the results Dur
ing the constant sitting, the chest does
not expand, is fattened, congresses the
heart, and prevents the lungs from de-
veloping. tuberculosis of the lungs
is very frequent among these young to-
bacco workers, who are carried off in
great numbers between the 18th and
25th year."
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-03-01
One Way to Get.onrd

From the Philadelphfa in a big cafe
To get waiter quiet but Ger
is at times very difhl learned a
mantown man recef friend which
method from a New Y to bring. not
is guaranteed instantThis German
one, but several waiter1inne in one
town man was givinge cafes. with
of Philadelphia's sweDyomen as his
the New Yorker and t.lav a waiter
guests. After loer. Then one of
came and took thett she must make
the women decideer. The host Sig
a change in hertfter another with
nailed one waiubout 10 minutes of
out avail. Alton on his part the
violent gesticul
New Yorker said.ow to attract their
You don't KNOW IS can bring a
attention. III petithin 80 seconds"
waiter to this tar said the Philadel-
"Ill take the his watch. The New
phian. drawing er into the middle of
Yorker reached up a thin, delicate
the table. picAtely dashed it to the
glass ana uei' every waiter in the
floor. Installing up to see what was
room came
the trouble tumbler up on the bill.
"Chargw Yorker, laconically, "and
said the of those oyster orders to
change S."
Blue Poaiters dispersed he added, az
As thbwe me five-spot, old mdil.'
guess 20.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-03-01
SCENES OF FRONTIER LIFE

mouptainsdes The mornings and evenings
were chilly. Often we would find a thin
layer of ice on the pool of the spring
which we drank from and washed in.
In this section one does not have to fear
snakes-it being entirely too damp foP
them. The rattler, however, is found fur
Their over on the east slope of the Cas-
cades, some 10 miles distant. Bears were
commonly seen and often a deer could be
heard crashing through the underbrush-
scared, no doubt, by a proving cougar.
1t was not at all surprising to find deer
or bear meat on the table three times a
week. The men would often kill a bear
with an ak. and the nearby settlers fire.
quently traded us venison for beef. which
was brought to us by freighter twice
month. Wildcats were met once in a
while further down the pass In one of the
nearby lakes a great colony Of beavers
lived and fiourished
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-03-01
PRESIDENTS AT PLAY
m the Century Magazine.

i m the Century Magazine.
1 fact as well as in order of time,
] Washington has just claim to the
I very first place among our chieftains
|. mighty out-of-doors man. He GER
L My spent a much larger portion of
|. life in the open air than did any of
5 e others
: fhomas Jefferson belongs distinctly
nong the physically strenuous Presi-
& ents, and he revlevd the traditions of
: Washington, which had lapsed during
he term of John Adams Like the first
resident, he was notable horseman
md fox-hunter. From his youth up he
followed the chase.
President Andrew Jackson's physical
prowess was considerable. As boy be
became skillful with the rifle and hunted
in the woods of Woxham for deer, wild
turkeys and other kinds of game, which
were then plentiful. He did his killing
at that period of his life from necessity;
the household needed meat for the table.
He seldom missed his mark. He was ex-
pert in all boys games and sports, and
was always ready for a wrestling match.
He excelled in running and jumping.
horse race was always delight to
him, and it must be confessed that dur
Ing part of his career he took more in
terest in chicken fights than would now
be deemed worthy of a coming President.
His horse racing was done before he
was elected to the office of the chief
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-03-01
Latest Estimate Of the Cost

The engineers who estimated the
cost of lock canal three years ago
staked their regulations that its cost
would not exceed $139, 200. But
now they say they did not include
sanitation, zone government or the
payments to the French canal COM
pany and the republic of Panama.
These items would carry the estimate
of three years ago up to 1927 100000.
But these same engineers now es-
innate the cost of the lock canal at
3e0,000,000. In other words, they
were three years ago $143,0O0,00O out
of line! Their professional reputa-
lions were duly staked on their first
estimate, but that is now a forgotten
incident.
When we consider that military de-
lenses, Notifications, naval stations,
and lighthouses at the terminals and
along the canal are to be provided, it
is r,Inin the final cost Of the canal will
20 up to $500 100000, and may easily
go to $3.50, 100000.
No one seems to be to blame. The
canal is to be built no matter what
its cost may be. There is, however,
no particular reason why the truth
should not be told as we go along.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-03-01
FIRST CONTINUOUS 81
Keith Originated the "Overd inl.
Again" Vaudeville Perfoi1 tn

James L. Ford in McClure's. MAJ 1883.
1t was in the month of ia 'da3been
that Mr.. B. F. Keith, Wholly | far
studying the show business qu4 lted.
seeing eyes for many year,,9 Hston,
in store that he had lease MIN on
the first continuous show che is $40
any stage. He paid his ptid 10 for
a week for a single turn 1 H eight
double, and required them IT,, liner"
or nine turns a day. His nj and
or chief attraction, was all Ehouse
a half baby. The doors of lie I'm that
were thrown open at noon, q dahe per-
time until lo;oo CLOCK at nfnf uption.
romance went on without ly the en-
Patrons were allowed to sld first so
tire day in the theatre anru oppor-
many awaited themselves e,anling of
tunity to get a substant i sr. Keith
amusement at small cost In abandon
realized that he must ejiw ainment
the idea of continuous mfhich the
or else invent some method III of the
audience could be drive ,,dtose out
building and place made -mittance.
side who were waiting fMnyention
Necessity Is the mother ith sharp
especially when 1t Is math, hat what
Yankee wit. and 1t was tn, into the
is known as the chaser y
world. e
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-03-01
A LINE OF TALK,

From the Philadelphia Public Ledger.
Two telephone girls were talking over
the wire one afternoon. The subject of
the conversation was a lawn party, which
was to take place the next day. Both
were discussing what they should wear,
and after five minutes had come to no
decision.
In the midst of this important CONVEX
sation a masculine voice interrupted ask
ing humbly what number he had. The
lack of any reply did not squelch the in
. quirer, for he asked again for the num-
Der.
One of the girls became indignant, and
scornfully asked:
what line do you think you are on,
anyhow"
"Well." said the man, II am not sure,
but judging from what / have heard L
should say l was on clothesline."
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-03-01

forest reserves, but the east has none.
One on the White mountains and one
on the Southern Appalachians would
certainly not be any favoritism for
the east or south. Fair play seems
to demand the establishment of the
two reserves in question.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-03-01

or abolishing the clubs and the locker
system in the state 1 am of the opinionI
that a number of members of the legis-I
lature are considering the advlsability of
a commission for state policing to en-l
force the. laws, but do not think the pro
hibition forces themselves will attempt
to push such legislation through"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-03-01
WHAT "MERcERIzED" MEANS.
A Process of Initiating SILK Disregare
ed for Many Years.
From the Craftsman.

From the Craftsman.
Mercerized cotton was first Introduce
as a substitute for silk some 10 or
years ago, although the process for NAL
ing it was invented about 1910 by eel
brated English dyer, John Mercer. He oil
covered that when cotton, either in cloI
or in yarn, was subjected for a short tin
to the action of strong caustic alkali, al
then thoroughly washed, the resulting ii
terial was much stronger than before, hi
shrunk very considerably, and had
much greater affinity for dyestuffs. MI
Ger patented his discovery and made sol
use of 1t in calico printing, but l.
process was nearly forgotten until, in W.
it was discovered that by proper trfe
ment cotton could by this means be ma
SO lustrous as to compare not unfat
ably with silk. ~,
To make the cotton lustrous, tn, Ii
, ulpp'iis iN'o '"e s''ons anfneid
Aeps iliii,s sefe'eheu' ana 'nei theirf
kali has been thoroughly rinsed arip
the last traces neutralized with IN
acid. If this is done CAREFUL, eI1
finally dried the cotton fibers will, le
drawn out smooth and lustro,r,foff
still retaining their new gu; He1o
strength and increased dyeing I, l.. "a
get good results in this process 7h,
terals treated, whether in yarn lg-
must be made of the very best In,
est stapled cotton, preferably TX
and when well done the result aHvas
tremely satisfactory. The lustei lte
good as the very best silk, but "tap
well marked, and for replacing flor !
grades of heavily weighted sill the |
instance, for underWear, lining,ls jue, |
mercerized goods are of very g t9 as |
owing to their strength and du co7
well as their cheapness. 'uh
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-03-01
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR,
From the New York Press.

From the New York Press
You can lick most anything into a boy
but sense.
The most that girl likes about getting
engaged is how some mean old cat said
she never could.
The more friends man has, the more
he'd better never try to prove it by put
ting them to the test
Most men who are born rich act as If
they were smarter to inherit a fortune
than their fathers were to make it,
A woman can reconcile herself to let.
ting one man make love to her when y
ought to be another by thinking kSW III
dignant she could act IL the
knew.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-03-01
The Man From the West.

ARENAS ]. Smith of Central City, Colo,
is in Birmingham for a few days stay
He is a very interesting man. and some
of his recitals of experiences in Colorado,
Utah and wyoming, would read well i'll
.Dare-Devil Dicks Deeds" Mr.. Smith
went from Michigan to the west over
80 years ago. He is Of the frank, honest
Scotch Irish class, and his tales are from
actual experiences. He has located some
of the best mines in the west.
Speaking of matters in that section he
said:
81 am the same Smith who pushed the
matter Of the coal land grabbing of the
Union Pacific in Horse-Thief Gulch
Wyoming l have insistently urged this
matter, first on Secretary of the Interior
Hitchcock, then Secretary Garfield and
/ finally / succeeded in getting the inter-
state commerce commission to take it up
The Union Pacific, through dummies, has
acquired over 5000 acres of valuable coal
land in one body. There is bill pending
in the present Congress whereby Sena-
tor Warren and others hope to save the
road from releasing it. There Is just
one small paragraph in this bill which
provides that where parties have paid
for these lands they may hold the same
This is to prevent action to set aside the
patents. 1t has been agreed by the gov
eminent counsel and the Union Pacific
railroad that If this bill does not be-
come a law in this Congress, that the
railroad will release its claim to the land
mentioned which is worth an immense
sum now"
Mr.. Smith has copies of extensive cor
respandence with one-time Secretary OF
the Interior Hitchcock, and other gov
eminent officials, together with many
columns of Denver and other newspaper
articles on these celebrated cases. And
in all of them ARENAS Smith appears
as the principal person in the move TO
make the Union Pacific disgorge.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-03-01

The President-elect lists the pro-
LESSONS thus: The ministry first, the
teachers next, literature and journal
ism next, then medicine and finally
the law.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-03-01

If Mr.. Taft does not quit joining
things he will have a lodge meeting
every night. Mrs. Taft should dis
cipline him.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-03-01

Oregon and Hartman are about to
dissolve partnership. The senior part
ner feels that due share of profits
is not coming to her.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-03-01

Ex-Governor Folk says he is not a
statesman out of job, for he has &C
cepted Chautauqua engagements that
will net him s17,5O0 this year.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-03-01

The effort to make hero out of the
late Geronimo would be all right If
the dead Indians record were not all
wrong.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-03-01

The first robin has been seen but
the honk of the first wild goose en-
route to Alaska has not been heard.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-03-01

]. M. Dickinson of Tennessee, who
is to be Mr.. Taft's Secretary of War,
counts his personal friends by the
thousands. At home they call him
Mac.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-03-01

March comes in like a lamb and IL
it fails to go out like lion it will be
worth remembering.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-03-01

The man who was at Yale with Taft
is supplanting the Rough Rider.