davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-05
BOOKS IN ELIOT'S LIST

carried out by political machinery and
under state guidance. It's title comes from
the Atlantis of the ancients, the founda-
ton Of many romances. This work, by
no means the most famous of Bacen's,
is one of the most interesting.
Millions "Areopagitica" is the classical
title of an essay by the great Puritan poet
and prose writer which is otherwise
known as "a Speech for the Liberty of
Unlicensed Printing" William Hickling
Prescott In his Ferdinand and Isabella"
pronounces it the most splendid argu-
ment perhaps, the world had then wit
messed in behalf of intellectual liberty"
and this pronouncement is undoubtedly
approved by the general voice of critics
OF English literature. The work appeared
in November, 1914, and was in effect a
remonstrance to parliament against the
printing ordinance enacted in the pre-
vious year. requiring all publications to
be licensed by an official censor and reg
istered in the books Of the Stationers'
company. 1t had the very great effect
of giving a death blow to censorship of
the press in England In it occurs the
noble passage:
81 deny not but that it is of greatest
Government In the church and common
wealth to have a vigilant eye how books
demean themselves as we'll as men; and
thereafter to conf1ne, imprison, and do
sharpest justice on them as nla1efactors;
for books are not absolutely dead things,
but do contain a potency Of life in them,
to be as active as that soul was whose
progeny they are; nay, they do preserve,
as in a vial, the purest efficacy and ex-
traction of that living intellect that bred
them. 1 know they are as lively and as
vigorously productive as those fabulous
dragons teeth; and being sown up and
down, may chance to spring up armed
men. And yet. on the other hand. unless
warness be used, as good almost kill a
man as kill a good book; who kills a
man kills a reasonable creature. Gods
image; but he who destroys a good book,
kills reason itself, kills the image of
Cod as it were. in the eye. Many a
man lives burden to the earth; but a
good book is the precious life blood of a
master spirit, embalmed and treasured
up on purpose to a life beyond life"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-05

the prevalent disposition is to await the
outcome of the harvest which is now
the most important point of interest The
past week has been exceedingly favor
able for corn, all indications suggest
ing the largest crop on record, for which
the farmer Is sure of profitable prices,
even If lower than year ago. The wheat
situation Is better than at one time an
ticipated and farmers are sure of good
prices, but the surplus for export is
sure to be considerably curtailed, a mat
ter of some moment in the foreign ex-
change market. The most unsatisfactory
feature In the crop situation is the de-
terioration In cotton. June is usually
month of progress for this staple, but in
spite of the decline conditions still re-
main fairly promising. Suffice it to say
that the various government crop re-
ports forthcoming within the next few
days will have an important effect, not
only upon business. but upon stock mar
ket operations; and the indications are
that these will be universally encourag-
ing, cotton perhaps excepted"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-05

From the Philadelphia North American
IT THROUGHOUT Europe, recently
w speculation has been rife as 10
whether the famous blue Hope
diamond has at last ceased its Seemingly
remarkable influence for evil.
It's history has been so sinister ana
the mischief following its ownership SO
patent that a superstition extending over
two continents has woven itself about the
gem.
A brilliant that an Empress might envy,
the Hope diamond seems to have brought
only disaster to it's owners. And as ns
latest owner was the recently deposed
Sultan of Turkey those who are super
stitious regarding certain stones appear
to find their ideas of a hoodoo amply
verified.
Be this as IT may, a really remarkable
chain of misfortune seems to attach to
this splendid gem, one of the finest the
world of today knows
Stolen, it is said, from the crown Of a
rajah of India some time in the seven
teenth century, the Hope diamond fur
nishes another illustration to emphasize
lows certain gems so obtained.
1t was upon an idea bearing close rela-
tionship to the history of this diamond
that Wilkie Collins based his famous
story of 1.-THE Moonstone.'
1t Is said that the magnificent gem was
brought to France by Jean Baptiste Tav-
ernier later Baron d Aubonne, who at
the time was the Kings jeweler He dis
posed of 1t to Louis XIV of France,
along with other plumber, for something
like $4,000
Rough and unshapen at the time, the
great diamond weighed 11212 carats. 1t
was sent to Amsterdam-then, as now,
the great center of diamond cutting-to
be cut, and when 1t emerged from the
hands of the artisans only CITY, carats
were left. This weight has been reduced
since to AN carats, 1t is said.
When it left the hands of the cutters
the diamond was a gem fit for an EN-
press. OF deep sapphire blue. 1t spar
killed. and cleaned resplendent from every
facet while great triangular projection
left In the center seemed to multiply the
flashes.
During the latter part of his reign the
Grand Monarque wore the great blue
diamond on state occasions suspended
from ribbon about his neck.
The next Louis wore 1t, and then came
Louis XVI, and the awful tragedy of
his reign, when the evil power of the
gem seemed to begin Its assertion.
Following that tragedy there is lapse
in the history of the diamond One day
in 1880 a dealer in precious stones offered
to London jewellers a marvellous gem.
1t weighed 441k carats. being without the
triangular projection that had marked
the wonderful stone of the French King,
The man who offered 1t for sale said
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-05
condIt Praises Rlrmlnuham.

W. d. Condit of Wilmington, Del,
secretary of the Standard Arms COM
pany, spent Saturday in Birmingham
In the interest of his company.
This is my first visit to Birmng-
ham, said Mr.. Condit, and 1 am GER
tainly very agreeably surprised with
the city. The vim, hustle and go of
the people is indicative of business,
and from what 1 can learn conditions
In commercial way here are really
remarkable considering the conditions
the country has undergone during the
past year or more.
"One of the first things which i'm
pressed me was the cleanliness of your
streets. 1 do not believe I have ever
seen city where the thorough fares are
better kept than Birmingham. The
well-swdDt streets are quite a noticea-
bic feature of the city, although 1t is
only one of many features of Birming-
hama truly remarkable city,"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-05

to 1000 routes, and to as many more
as her members of Congress can Sc
cure the more the better. The time
has gone by when anybody has sound
objection to the system that was start
ed IL years ago by the operation OF 81
routes. There are now 39,143 routes
over which $4,000 carriers travel daily
891 ,452 miles. Think of the relief and
pleasure that these carriers dispense
among the isolated in great country!
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-05
Welcome ever smiles,
And farewell goes out signing.
-Troius and Cresseda.
Walter Wellman'S ArClC Plans

It was in 1894 that Walter Wellman
first became an Arctic explorer in an
expectant sense. He has been about to
go to the pole for Is years, and now
1t is reported he cannot make his dash
because his great shed at Spitzbergen
was blown away last winter.
But if he would unload his airship
and proceed to initiate it in the good
August weather he would need no big
she'd He cannot take the shed with
him, and all he has to do is to get
ready and proceed at once to make his
dash through the air for the pole, while
Peary is crawling and sledging slowly
along over the ice packs. Wellman has
the better element to travel in pro-
vided he can travel in that way at all,
AS things stand the big shed at Spitz-
bergen is to be rebuilt, and the hope
is held out that the explorer in a fu-
ture sense will actually make dash
to the pole. He did, it is true, start
from Spitzbergen on September 2, 1907,
but he was promptly wrecked on a
glacier and he and his companions re-
turned unframed. There has not been
a second dash in a gasbag airship, and
there will not be another this year,
for that big shed must be rebuilt.
When it is not one trouble it is an
other, and the big shed, it appears, Is
to be this years scapegoat.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-05
FLExNER CURE A SUCCESS.
Discovered Reports Results In 71s
Cases of Spinal Meningitis.

From the New York World
DR.. Simon F1exner, the director of the
Rockefeller Institute for Medical Re-
search, has now tabulated the results of
his serum treatment in 712 cases of
cerebro-spinal meningitis. His figures
show the greatest mortality In the dis
ease is In the first two years of infant
life. The F1exner serum cured more
than AZ per cent of these cases, as against
only 10 per cent of cures under the old
methods of treatment.
The next highest rate of death In men,
nights is among children of from to 8
years of age. The serum cured nearly
q per cent of the patients in this class.
When used In children from to 10 years
of age the mortality was lowest of all
only 16 per cent. Persons more than 10
years old seem to have cerebro-spinal
meningitis of a type as severe as in
fants. The serum cured between 80 and
SO per cent of the patients from 10 to
20 years of age.
Early injection of the serum, Professor
Flexner says, is the great point In the
serum treatment. The mortality among
those injected in the first to third day
was little more than 25 per cent. Among
those injected In the fourth to seventh
day there was nearly % per cent of
deaths The mortality among those who
were not injected until the seventh day
or after exceeded AZ per cent.
Dr. Thomas Morgan Rotch of Boston
has reported to the American Medical as
ISOLATION his experience with the Flexner
serum in treating meningitis in children
under u years of age. 1t reduced his
mortality. he says, from 80 to IS per cent
during the first year of It's use, and has
not since gone above rs per cent. There
was an so per cent mortality, he says,
even under the diphtheria antitoxin treat
ment of meningitis. DIR. William Litterer
of Nashville, Tenn, reports 10 cures out
of II patients in the recent meningitis
epidemic there. Two of the deaths were
of patients who were moribund when first
injected.
DIR. Frank Spooner Churchill of Chicago
says he has found 1t Is useless to inject
the Flexner serum under the skin. 1t must
be used by lumbar puncture. Nor is the
serum, he says, intended for any form
of meningitis except the epidemic type.
In severe cases the dose has to be re-
peated every day for four days; then
a day of rest; then four more daily
doses. The Flexner serum, he says, lin
its the duration of the disease.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-05
IN A FRIENDLY SORT OF WAY.

BY James Whitcomb Riley.
When q man amt got cent, and he's
feeling kind o. blue,
An the clouds hang dark an heavy
an won't let the sunshine
through,
It's a great thing. oh. my brethren.
for Teller Just to lay
His hand upon your shoulder In
a friendly sort o. way.
1t makes a man feel curious; 1t makes
the teardrops start
An you sort o. feel q flutter in the re-
gion of the heart.
You can't look up and meet his eyes;
and you don't know what to say,
When his hand is on your sll oulder In
friendly sort o. way.
Oh, the worlds a curious compound,
with It's honey and it's gall
With its cares and bitter crosses, but
a good world after all.
And q good God must have made IT.
leahtwise that Is what 1 say
When a hand IL ON my shoulder In .
friendly sort o way.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-05
RESPONSIBILITIES OF A KING.

From the New York World
According to the nursery rhyme, the
four-and-twenty blackbirds baked in
pie were "a pretty dish to set before a
king But 1t appears that there Is an
other side to the monarch business in its
relation to eating. Even kings can tire
of pretty dishes.
There is Edward of England. for in
stance, pronouncing, voluntarily or other
wise, for the simplifed menu, with only
one kind of wine. London hostesses, ac-
cording to the cable columns, are fol-
lowing his lead with much willingness and
frugality in the arrangement Of dinners
for the current season. Outside of table
matters fashionable folk have followed
another royal leading in developing tor
p.d livers and govt and planning change
in summer watering places.
It is a diverse and delicate responsible
ity which rests upon \ modern monarch
in civilized kingdom. When King Ed
ward adopted a green hat for informal
wear apple-leaf alpines multiplied on
two sides OF an ocean. When he appeared
at Sandringham in colored hose, "showy"
breeches and red Tam-o' Shanter, fash
ion took unquestioningly to bright
hues. When at Newmarket he paraded in
in white tall hat and with trousers
creased laterally as well as fore-and-aft
the exquisites of an empire spent troubled
hours calculating how far they could
neglect the royal example without get
ting into contempt Of the court.
Is 1t possible for that king to do wrong
who thus takes thought for his sub
jects as to what they shall eat, what
shall all them and wherewithal they
shall be clothed?
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-05
NOT IN HIS Lifetime.

From Success magazine.
A we'll known scientist was lecturing
on the SUMS heat and in the course of
his remarks said: ''It is an established
fact that the sun is gradually but sure
ly losing its heat and In the course OF
some 10000, 0OJ of years it will be exhaust
ed; consequently this world of ours will
be dead and, like the moon, unable to
support any form of life"
At this juncture a member of his audi
ence rose, in an excited manner, and
said:
pardon me, professor. but how many
years I'D you say 1t would be before this
calamity overtakes us?'
The Professor Seventy millions, sir.
THANK God" was the reply. II thought
you said seven millions"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-05
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Thinks Decision Sound.

Robert C. Redus. discussing the
locker club decision. said yesterday: Il
have read the decision of the supreme
court of Alabama handed down by
Judge Sayre, and regard 1t as sound
law. I believe that public sentiment
will sustain Judge Sayre. I think 1t is
fortunate to have the conservative
force of the supreme court to protect
the people in their property rights
against the Incorporate action of the
reformers."
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-05
Electric Traction improvements

Many keen, inventive minds are en-
gagged in improving the electric loco
motives. These locomotives are I'M
dergoing improvements not unlike
those that have attended steam loco
motives in the last 65 years.
The engineers who are studying the
problems presented by the electric
locomotives are endeavoring to change
their center of gravity in order to
lessen their lateral pressure on the
rails. At present they rapidly wear
out rails, especially on curves. The de-
vices for lessening the strain on the
rails are numerous, and no doubt this
trouble will yet be overcome.
At present, too, electric locomotives
are high-priced, relatively speaking
Whether their cost can be brought
down to that of the steam locomotive
remains to be seen.
The electric locomotives are cap
able Of high speed, and when their
cost and their wear and tear of track
are minimized there will be haste in
increasing the electric zones of the
great railroad systems at least. The
electric engine is smokeless and
cinderless and the demand for 1t in
populous districts is persistent and
even imperative. 1t is the engine of a
progressive century.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-05
Birmingham Mechanics Invention.

"A Birmingham expert mechanic E..
w. Hays. has perfected a rapid tunnel
Ing and mining machine that will be of
great value in digging coking coal"
said a prominent coal operator.
THE principle Is a combination of
we'll known mechanical devices follow
ing similar applications but SO COM
bined as to produce far better results
and facilitate operation with a ratio
of economy inversely to increased pro-
ductfon The Hays machine is a cir
cular multiple drill with high grade
steel bits, with an orifice in each
through which a stream of water is
forced with 40 pounds pressure. This
water cools the bits and also fur
nishes current of water to carry the
pulverized debris or crush ed couJ
through tubing to the point of dis
charge; sand pump operated by a
special engine does this. It will thus
be seen that in the matter of mining
cooking coal two, in fact three. distinct
acts are performed by the HAYS ma
chine: Mining the coal, crushing 1t and
washing it. AS now carried on this
requires three separate operations. all
adding to the expense
THE Hays drill can be made any
size from two feet to IS feet, the
standard for railroad tunnels. In OPEN
ing mines of all classes, many of the
dangers of shooting down, such as
falling roofs, ETC.. are avoided In
four foot vein of coal 1t is estimated
that this drill will cut 10 tons per
hour at a cost of 25 cents
In gold mining 1t will revolutionize
the processes now in use, of stamp
mills to crush, by running the outflow
from the tubing over sluice boxes, the
gold can be recovered.
"The drill will be manufactured here
in Birmingham by a company that is
in process of being formed It is es-
timated that complete drill can be
built and sold for $780,"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-05
ST. Bernard's Colleue.

The catalog of st. Bernard college for
lsoS-1SO9 has just been issued 1t is
very attractive, being we'll illustrated
and containing full information about
the discipline and curriculum of the
college.
ST. Bernard is a popular institution
and draws its students from all Sec
lions of the south. There was a large
enrolment last year, and from the in
dications there will be a capacity at
tendance in the coming session.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-05
KEEPING BATTLESHlPS IN STOCK.
From the New York World.


From the New York World.
We have In service and under construc-
ton "a battleships. to say nothing of
cruisers, monitors and torpedo boats. We
are building two battleships year, and
none of the old ones has as yet been re-
tired.
Pursuing the ideas of economy which
have distinguished his administration thus
far, Mr.. Taft suggests that no more than
16 battleships be kept in commission at
one time, and that the others be held
in reserve in harbors, with only few
caretakers aboard. There is wisdom as
well as economy in the plan.
The one strong argument in favor of
great naval establishments is that mod
ern battleships cannot be improvised and
must be in hand in case of need. That
being true, 1t is no more necessary that
all of them should be under the stress of
continuous service than that every gun
in the country should be fired on the
stroke of the clock every day in the year.
If we must have 100 of these Titanic
playthings, why should not the greater
part of them be kept in stock as we
keep our torpedoes and our big projec-
tiles?
Mr.. Taft manifests democratic tenden-
cies in this as in some other things.
When Thomas Jefferson was President
he tied up several of the frigates which
then constituted the American navy and
thus saved ships and money. He was
criticised in some quarters, but 1t has
never been denied that the vessels gave
a good account of themselves few years
later in the war with England or that
the money was useful when It was des-
perately needed for hostilities.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-05
After the Country Vote.

line campaign for sheriff of Jefferson
county Is becoming lively, although the
election is more than a year off," re-
marked voter. Several good men are
in the race and probably more will enter.
The barbecue season has arrived and
during the next two months the candi-
dates will pay especial attention to the
rural vote.
of the aspirants for the shrievalty at
tended the picnic at Oak Grove Saturday
and spoke from the stump. They were
Mr.. McAdory, Mr. Pound, Mr.. league and
Mr.. Ward. The cities in this county roll
up a large vote, but no one can be
elected to a county office without a good,
substantial backing of the country pre-
cincts.
"Of the four candidates mentioned our
ex-Mayor is the only one who has had
little experience In rural-mixing. Mr.. Nc
Adory comes very near knowing by name
every voter in the county. Mr.. league
was reared on a farm and has a wide
acquaintance in the country. Tom Pound
earns his living as a locomotive engineer,
but he owns and operates a farm and
=.
Captain Reid, while not one Of the candi-
dates at the Oak Grove picnic. is making
| an active canvass and as he is a black
belt man, 1t goes without saying that
he has had agricultural experience Wal
ter Moore, who is generally understood
to be a candidate, although not an
nounced, is farmer-reared and should he
enter the campaign will have a consid-
cradle farmer following.
Now as to Ward he has led an un-
commonly strenuous city life in the serv-
, ice of the public. The duties of the
Mayors office kept him closely confined
inside the boundaries of Birmingham,
and being a comparatively young man
he has not had an opportunity until now
| of cultivating the acquaintance Of tillers
of the soil. But he is wonderfully quick
at making friends and Will be quick In
learning the ways and taking the pulse
of the great out-of-town vote. In short.
being bright young man, he will adapt
himself readily and before the dog days
come will be found as rustic as any of
those after the shrievalty Job.
But reverting to the name of Pound
| Tom Pound-it is spelled without an
IS" Nearly everybody has been calling
him Pounds ever since I can remember,
but II is well to have a fellows name
right
Business Outlook Encouraging.
Henry Clews, in his Saturday review,
| says in part:
The new Lackawanna deal and the
| declaration of dividend equal altogether
! to $50 per cent gave increased stimulus
\ to the stock market
mo change of an unfavorable character
can DO detected in the general situation.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-05

President Hepburn Of the Chase Ma
tional bank thinks I'VE will soon have
such progress as will make what we
used to call boom times look like nor.
NAL"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-05

Girls outnumber boys in the Boston
public schools, and 80 they do in other
cities where modern industrial de-
mands are felt.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-05

When Aldrichs efforts in behalf Of
special interests are considered 1t
seems incongruous to call his state Lit
tie Rhody.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-05

DR.. Eliot says that marriage is the
best occupation for women. So long
as he does not attempt to prove this
statement by his f1ve-foot bookshelf
no one will object
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-05

The greatest optimist on earth is he
who believes that downward revision
will be granted by the republican
party.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-05

Mr.. Roosevelt is under the equator,
and he must smile when he reads the
comment On United States weather.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-05

When the corporation tax becomes
law the consideration Of what is net
income will become more involved
than the age of Ann.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-05

Noah was blackballed as an honor
airy member by naval architects, and
yet he certainly knew when to come In
out of the rain.