davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11
Nunting All Americans


This Nntry is not the only one which vii conduct census next year, for Mexico is preparing to make an ac- curate enumeration of her people and industries. President Diaz is giving the subject careful attention, and Mex ican optimists are looking for totals that will show next year a population of 16,000,000. Mexico is and long has been prosperous, and she may have that number of people, although the census of 1900 showed only 13,605.919.
 Brazil is the largest and the most populous of the republics to the south of us, for in 1900 she had 17,371 ,069 people. It is not known that she in tends to make new count next year. The physical difficulties of census talk ing in Brazil are very great. there being great stretches of semi-civilized or uninhabited territory.
 As things stands Brazil ranks first in population, Mexico second and Ar gentina third In 1905 a census in Argentina embraced 5,67S,197 inhabi- tants, and Chile in the same year had 3,399,92S. This Is as far as trust worthy enumerations in cis-Atlantic countries extends. Peru estimates her population at 4,eOs,999, but no census has been taken since 1876. No one knows how many people live in Bo- livia Equador, Colombia, Venezuela or Central America. Vital statistics are lightly regaded in those republics, but in Mexico and perhaps in Brazil, enumerations will be made. and cor rect population figures will be fur nished to the world.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11
Life Insurance In Alabama

The figures of the Insurance Press and of Insurance Commissioner Julian show wide discrepancies, and The Age-Herald has no way of reconciling those discrepancies. They are far too wide to be bri6ged by any known figures.
 The Insurance Press says that s3,- 100000 was distributed to benefici. aries in Alabama by the life insurance companies in 1908. Commissioner Julian says the legal reserve life in surance companies paid losses and claims in 1908 to the amount of $1,. 712,S64. The difference between the two sums is s1,9S7,136, and good deal of arithmetrical and bookkeeping jug gling will be needed to explain away this difference.
 As a plain matter of fact the foreign legal reserve life insurance companies operating in Alabama collected in 1908 premiums amounting to $4,746,78S,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11
USE FOR MAGIcIANs?

From the New York Times.
 The astounding fact was divulged, at the dinner of the Society of American Magicians last week, that there are POGO of those wonderfully gifted fellows in this country. men who can pick gold coins out of the thin air, pull ton or two of dress goods, a gross of American flags and a live pig out of casual silk hat, palm live goldfish and hatch hand kerchiefs out of hens eggs Twenty thousand experts in the art of mystifying their fellowmen, whose dexterity, inva- riably accompanied by pleasing conversa- tional gifts, is employed only for diver sion No feat of the spiritualists, hyp- notists, clairvoyants, or so-called headers is more remarkable than the tricks these fellows can play on the vision and inl- agination of roomful of normal human beings.
 The gravest troubles the French gov ernment encountered in it's early efforts to pacify Algiers were caused by the influence of the native magicians The experiment of sending Robert Houdin and his son, both expert conjurers, to show the Algerians how much more astonishing the repertory of acknowl- edged tricllery was than the mysteries they had been accustomed to, proved very successful. It seems that our army of professional mystifiers might be employed to the same purpose among the unenlghtened dupes of the charla- tans who infest this country.
 Wherever pretentious imposter, claim ing occult powers, is gulling the people, a free exhibition of the same sort of thing, confessedly produced by acquired skill, would have a wholesome effect This is no joke Our 10000 magicians might well be employed to educate the masses and lift them out of the rut of superstition.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11

and they incurred losses in that year and presumably paid them to the amount of $1,712,S64. The domestic legal reserve companies received $92,- S61 in premiums. and disbursed S11,- 00O The net drain of money from the state in 1908 was, therefore, s9,115,2S5!
 As a rule the legal reserve life in suranee companies rake in s3 and pay back s1 each year. but some did in 1908 still better. For example, the Prudential of Newark, N. j., collected in Alabama in 1908 no less than $214,- 742 and disbursed but $32,076. The State Mutual Life of Rome, Ga, was even more fortunate in 1908. for it col lected s287,755 and disbursed but S35.- 900. The Phoenix Mutual of Hartford, collected in Alabama $22,945 and dis bursed just 5000! The Citizens of Louisville, Ky, collected $46,641 and incurred no losses whateYer!! The Franklin Life of Springfield, Mass, takes the ribbon perhaps for 1908, for it collected in Alabama $102,907, and it's losses in Alabama in 1908 were but $4500! The Massachusetts men are hummers in almost all branches of business, and they do not forget their cunning when they take up life insur- ance work.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11
SACRIFICE. To help some other Win the prize We want-therein True greatness lies.
THE PICTURESQUE.

It Is refreshing to read news dispatch from Tulsa Okla, which states that a citizen of Nnngo whipped out his trusty six-shooter and shot the mustache off an- other citizen. We had begun to fear that the glamor of the west had faded, and that all the bad men had been killed or tanned. but 1t seems the high spirits and unerring aim of other days have not altogether departed. There is at least one man in Oklahoma who knows how to get very fancy with his "gun." Still, time has wrought change. The man who did the shooting has been arrested on the charge of attempted murder, whereas in the old days the gentleman who had his mustaohe shot off would have bought round of drinks for every body and the incident would have been looked upon as nothing more than prac- ticaI joke.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11
Prosperous Sections.

q spent part of a day in Opelilka this week and found business conditions fair ly good in that part of the state," said B. B. Burton, manager of the Cable Piano company. My business takes me into every section of Alabama, and while most of the towns show evidences of thrift, the most prosperous locality l have seen in recent months is around Shelf field and Florence.
 Sheffield is busy city, and as for truck farms Lauderdale county is full of them. All the truckers seem to be making money The farm products are shipped largely to Memphis and Nash vile. There is little or nothing shipped to Birmingham. As far as our city Is con- cerned Sheffield and Florence are as far away from us as if they were in another state.
 Speaking of thriving towns, Alexander City, in Tallapoosa county, is one of the most progressive I would take 1t to be a fast growing place"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11
Senator Johnston's Grandfather.

Tt is or interest to know that the war department has decided to have the name of Col. James Johnston, grandfather of Senator Johnston, placed on the King s Mountain monument" said a citizen.
 "When the attention of the Secretary of War was called to Colonel Johnstons record the matter was referred to the Kings Mountain Monument association, with a request for report and recom- mendation. The acting Secretary of War wrote to Senator Johnston last week, informing him that as result of the in- vestigation it has been decided, in view of the favorable recommendations, to enter the name upon the monument as de- sired !"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11

Younger Son." renders a solo which means that the widow and orphans are going to the temple to celebrate funeral rites. The property man sets on the stage a little box for an altar and throws over the widows head a white veil sym bol of mourning. Then Hom Ling, as the Younger Son." waves his hands and kicks his foot like a man bunting a foot ball. This signifies that the rest of the family is out of his sphere of action The scene has officially changed from house to a temple. So. while the rest of the family kneels before the altar. Hom Ling strolls over and chats with one of the musicians who happens to be resting.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11
MIsCONCEPTION.

By Robert Browning. This is a spray the bird clung to, Making 1t blossom with pleasure, Ere the high tree top she sprung to, Fit for her nest and her treasure; O what a hope beyond measure Was the poor sprays, which the flying
 feet hung to- So to be singled out, built in, and
 sung to! This is the heart the queen leant on, Thrilled in minute cratic, Ere the true bosom she bent on Meet for loves regal dalmatic. O what fancy ecstatic Was the poor hearts, ere the wanderer
 went on, Love to be saved for it, preferred to.
 spent on!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR. From the New York Press

A girl will never propose to man when there are so many easier ways to do 1t.
 The reason a man says he would like to be a farmer is he is confident he never will have to.
 The remarkable thing about q woman is that she can bring up not only half a dozen children but their father.
 When man thinks he's the real head of the family he's Intellectually equipped to think also he can york out perpetual motion.
 Just as sure as . man plans to go 10 q baseball game that's the day he has to take tho children after school to get them new shoes
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11
The Iron Market.

The pig iron market is quite active again Considerable tonnage has been contracted for since the first of the pres- ent month, and stocks on the yards are being rapidly reduced.
 The tone of the market is really firm CT and healthier now than it has been at any time during the year. The price of pig iron is s11.5O to SIP on No. ? ha
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
DENYING HIMSELF.

DENYING HIMSELF. Thanks, no camping Out for me; Home is where I'd
 Rather be. Never cared for
 Bugs and things Those with nippers, Those with stings, Those that crawl right Up your back And nice manners
 Seem to lack. Never cared for
 Snakes that sneak Into sbed-elothes--
 Take a peek At you when you've Slept awhile And your yell Is
 Heard mile. Never thought it
 So much fun To get roasted
 By the sun. Blisters may be
 Well enough, But my skin Is
 Tender stuff. Never could see
 How bum food, Served with ants and Dirt was good; Never did en-
 Joy. by jing, Drinking tadpoles
 From a spring. Maybe you think
 I'm a dunce? Say not so.
 Camped out-oncei
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11
Prohibition and Anti-Prohibition.

"rrhe anti-prohipitionists in Maryland and in Virginia have been very much en- couraged recently" said F. W. Thornton of Baltimore T have never felt that Maryland would have statewide prohibi- tion, but the anti-safoon forces were mak- ing things quite warm for a time. Vir- ginia Is not safe from the statewide menace, but l believe now that the con- servative element will win. when the leg islature meets. l spent several days In Virginia last week and the anti-prohibi- tion sentiment was said to be very strong in several of the so-called dry towns.
 '"The prohibtionists have been meeting with crushing defeats recently, and 1t looks as if strong reaction against the extreme anti-saloon movement had set in. I have been in nearly every important town in the south within the past IS months, and those that are technically dry are far from being dry in reality. As for the large cities prohibition is farce. Where a considerable per centage of the men in large municipality are bent on drinking every other citizen would have to be a policeman or a deputy and an alert one at that, to keep out liquor. At lanta has pursued a wise course in al- lowing the sale of near-beer, which now means real beer The more beer con- stunned the less whisky
 "I saw no drunkenness in Atlanta, al- though nearly every man I met was a beer drinker. When I was boy old lager was the usual malt beverage. It was very strong and would go to the head like whisky, but the present day beer contains so little alcohol that only a child or 'tenderfoot' could drink enough of if to hecome intoxicated.n
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
In a Fertile County,

W. O. N. Scott of Washington, D. C.. and Birmingham, who has a plantation of 5000 acres in Lowndes county, 19 miles from Montgomery. stated yesterday that the heavy rains had caused some dam age to cotton in the black belt, but that there was time enough yet for a good big crop.
 T have on my place about 1900 acres in cultivation. When I was there Satur- day water was still standing on the fields and as for the creeks they were still swollen and looked like rivers" said MT Scott. 'The weeds in the cotton are get ting a great start, but if sufficient farm labor can be found the fields will soon be cleaned up.
 Labor scarcity is our only trouble. Lowndes county land Is exceptionally fer tile and all we need to make farming pay well Is ample labor.
 ''It is hard to keep the negroes on the farm. They seem to gravitate to the cities. About the only solution of the farm labor problem will be immigration. I hope to be able to induce some of the German-Americans of Cullman county to settle on my place, and if I succeed in this undertaking I will try to bring a colony to Lowndes from the Fatherland."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11
Hanly of Indiana.

''If anyone gets the idea that Gov ernor Henly, who comes to Birmingham next Tuesday night, has not done any thing but pass the county local option law in Indiana he is badly mistaken" said a man familiar with conditions in the Hoosier state. During the four years of his administration in the state as governor the state railroad commission was created and organized, it's authori- ty enlarged and provisions of the law under which it was created effectively strengthened. A private banking law was passed giving the state the right 10 examine and supervise private banking, thus preventing the injustices and mis- use of private funds, which had been going on in certain private banks in that state.
 "The discontinuance of the use of rail- road passes, telegraph and telephone franks by public officials; 2-cent pas senger rate on railroads put into opera tion; depositaries for the public funds were created with the requirement. for the payment of all interest accruing there on into the public treasuries of the state, and demanding daily settlements from administrative officers handling public funds, thus cutting out certain graft and abuse that had been going on for years.
 Pool selling and gambling throughout the state has been abated and the par tisans of the gang taught that the law against their operations was made to be obeyed.
 "Governor Hanly is a high type of American citizen and is worthy of all the good things that have been said con- corning him and his administration"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11

The balloons from Indianapolis were not manned by literary fellows and that Is why they wanted to get out of Indiana.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11

The army now has doctor at its head, a real doctor, an M. D. Dr. Leon- ard Wood was not long ago practic- ing physician, and now he is the rank ing officer in Uncle Sam's army. He was a man with pull" in the Roose- welt administrator, although he was not a R. R.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11
ENVIRON M ENT.
Selma Times.

From the Selma Times.
 As soon as Cartoonist Blackman of The Age Herald got well of the appendicitis he gave his friends Mandy-Appendicitis edition. That shows what environment will do for man.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11

The elementary schools of Japan are flooded with books setting forth ethical ideals. The pagans are studying moral questions, whether they assimilate them or not
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11
FAULTS OF AMERICAN MEN

fully care for the furnace, run errands and make myself generally useful, but as for going shopping with my wife. draw the line at that"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11

When Zeppelin's balloon struck a tree the collison wrecked the tree more than it did the balloon. This is another warning to England.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11

MT. Roosevelt finds that he cannot retire to private life even in an African jungle, and few believe he really de- sires anything of that nature.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11
CHINESE DRAMATIC cRUDITIEs.

By Will Irwin in the June Everybody's.
 Here is sample of one of the naive bits of Chinese stagecraft. Hom Ling. leading tragedian, playing the part of the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11

Senator Tillman calls the Aldrich senators the boldest band of buc- cancers he ever saw. He has them classed just about right
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11

Mars gets more free advertising than any othey planet for Professor Pickering was not retained by it as press agent.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11

On wet days MT. Roosevelt stays in camp and gathers in shekels at the rate of $1 a word. He is writing a book.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11

All announcements in the Farrar- Scotti engagement are declared off until the fall opera season is begun.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11
NO BLoODSHED.

NO BLooDSHED.
 "only this morning I saw a large beetle browed man whip out a knife with a long, keen blade and plunge it into the heart of-"
 -sGood heavensi Another tragedy?' Let mo proceed. Into the heart of 8 fat watermelon, which he shortly after wards devoured with considerable gusto."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11

Walter Wellman's next dash to the pole Is billed for August 1. The year is unknown.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11

The friends of LaFollette rejoice that he Is so unlike in every respect to Penrose.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11

ITS HERE. We'll, well, well,
 It's summer time again, The good old sun Is on his job, The springs high-heart refrain Has settled down into a drone, A sleepy sort of song. And people yawn and fan the flies And the world just loafs alongi
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11

They are cleaning the streets of Con- stantinople and Abdul Hamid would not feel at home in that town anyway.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11

In the Holbeip picture incident the Vanderbilt money was matched, it is said, against the Prick wealth.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11

Mobile won the privilege and honor of welcoming the Confederate veterans next year.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11

Chance Day has returned from Europe and the reactionaries are stiffening up their spines.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11

Aldrich has the two sugar senators from Louisiana fully tanned and regu- lated.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11
STILL HOPEFUL.

Trouble know the way to find him, With the cords of care to bind him
 And the world it seemed was rolling,
 rolling wrong, But the bard was not a qlitter, Neither sad at heart nor bitter,
 And so he sang this cheerful little song, T don't know where I'm going, have no means of knowing
 I only know I'll reach an end some day. Although sorrows may confound me And misfortunes throng around me,
 I'll do my best to smile along the wayi'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11

The woolen schedule of the tariff is a warm subject in these hot days of June at Washington
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11

Canada wants navy, but this coun- try is not a bit scared by its ambition in that direction.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11

The gasbag balloon is not even a distant relative of the flying machine of the future.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11

Chancellor Day will soon regulate things, for he comes back, it is said, loaded for bear.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11

Distinguished travellers only ride on cowcatchers in Africa.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11
CUT PRICES.

'T presume those two chaps over there discussing corn rates are brokers7"
 ''No. They are chiropodists.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-11
POETRY MADE EASY.

POETRY MADE EASY. "Ah, I'm so glad you like my verses" said the palpitating poet. And what quality in them appeals to you most?' ''Well," answered the practical maid, "the punctuation. There are so many dashes and so few periods that one slides through them with very little effort"
 THE OPEN SEASON, So many strolls beneath the moon, So many stolen kisses, When Cupid shoots a dart in June He very seldom misses.
 PAUL COOK.
Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1909-04-09
have learned to believe in herself lit.

have learned to believe In herself lit
tle."
Il AIN afraid you think her plain" OBJ
served Alison, anxiously; for her artistic
taste made her lay rather an undue i'm
portance on beauty; but really, when
she talks and brightens up she is quite
pretty"
"She has lovely look sometimes. You
are wrong, Allie, do not think her
plain. Missiles apple blossom face makes
her a little colorless, but there is deli
cate white rose bloom about her that is
not without beauty. like her face, my
dear
do you know, Aunt Di'-hesitating a
little. az though she feared how her
words might be received, for Miss Car
r'ngton had a horror of gossip-"I am
hall afraid that there is a new trouble
in store for poor Anna"
You mean Eva's marriage | think
that will be a good thing for her; there
is no real sympathy between the sisters
mo, ! meant something quite different.
| have been at Maplewood a great deal
this week, and DR.. Forbes is always there.
l am afraid, from what | see, that Anna
will soon have a step-father, and, Aunt
DIN voice of strong disgust-"Dr.
Forbes is such an ugly, disagreeable man,
| must say | do wonder at Mrs. Hard
wick"
'Do you, Allie? Well, wonder sits
well on young people. hate to see them
taking everything as a matter of course.
Your wonder will not hurt you, my dear. "
''But if it should be true, Aunt Di?"
very solemnly.
There are no fools like old fools,
Allie. and there is certainly no account
ing for tastes. Now, in my opinion, one
husband is enough for any woman but
| do not pretend to regulate the world.
Don't trouble your little head about it.
J have : notion that step-father or no
step-father, Anna will have her share OF
Gods sunshine" And Miss Darlington
smiled a queer little smile that mystiied
Alison. but she said no more.
There were some things of which Miss
Darlington never spoke to young people
She otter said: "a girls mind ought to
be as clear as crystal and hold no re-
crets-a crystal reflects everything.
wish older people would remember that.
And nothing displeased her more thar
the careless talk of some mothers. They
don't seem to care what they put into 9
girls mind" she would say, Indignantly
"aud then they wonder that it is checked
up with rubbish"