davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-02
Ensley Optimistic.

"The citizens of Ensley are probably the most vitally interested people in the district regarding the operation of the steel mill" said a resident of that thriving city. "Yet notwith standing the many rumors that have been and are prevalent relative to the mill sus- pending operations. the utmost op- timism has prevailed amongst them as rule. While to suspend operations would naturally depress business, still there Is always a large number of em- ployes retained in one capacity or an- other and the results are not so serious after all. It seems to be the general impression that should the mill shut down it will only be for sh ort time and that the company will take the opportunity to repair the operating de- partment of the mill which will mean continuous employment for quite number of skilled mechanics. That is why a feeling of optimism prevails
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-02

sufficient revenue to lay out the drive ways and beautify it.
 George Ward has done great deal for Birmingham, especially in beautifying the city.
 It is true that the finances of the city are not in as good shape as they might be, but considering everything, conditions are good.
 It is fortunate that the people selected such an excellent business man and such a fine fellow in every sense of the word as Frank P. O'Brien to succeed MT Ward. Mr. O'Brien has, lived in Birmingham longer than almost any other man in the city Everything he has done has been well done He is not only able, but he is artistic and enthusiastic. I venture that under his administration Birmingham will not only be beautified but improved in ev- cry possible way. and within two years from next Friday. when Mayor O'Brien shall be inaugurated, Birmingham will not only be the greatest and most prosperous but the most livable and attractive city in the south Those who know of the build ing which Mir. O'Brien has done know what he can do and will do.
 It is a bit unfortunate for Birmingham that the Ensley steel plant and rail mill is to close down temporarily because of
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-02
Carnegie Hero Fund

Down to January 31 last 246 awards had been made by the Carnegie hero fund commission, and the amount paid to heroes and their dependents aggregated $164,941. A pamphlet just received contains a list of the 246 awards.
 In the long list the name of Lochlin M Vim, physician, appears. At Clay ton, Ala, in 1906 he swan out and aided three men to get to shore. The three men had been thrown into the water by the capsizing of a boat To Dr. Winn was granted a silver medal. No other Alabama name ap- pears in the list. The fund of $5 5,O00,- 900 has been operative five years, and 1t is reasonable to believe that all the cases of heroism in that time in this state have not been brought to the attention of the commission. There is nothing at all sectional in its work and our heroes other than Dr. Vim have gone unrewarded, chiefly be- cause their friends have not laid need ful facts before the commission.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-02
President Taft'S Great Opportunity

The Payne rates are 1.56 per cent higher than the Dingley rates, and the aldrich rates are higher than the Payne rates. And yet the plain peo- ple-the ultimate consumers-were promised lower rates. This promise was given them by President Taft in his acceptance speech, in his cam paign tours, and in his inaugural ad- dress.
 In his acceptance speech, too, Pres ident Taft plainly suggested the wis dom and constitutionality of an in- come tax. Senator Aldrich has de- cided to increase duties and to squelch an income tax The masses are to be asked to pay more taxes, while wealth escapes a fair share of the cost of government.
 What will President Taft do? The question is a momentous one to him individually. If he keeps his pledged word he will veto the Aldrich- Payne scheme for serving special interests, while levying heavy taxation on the masses. The entire Aldrich- Payne plan was drawn to enable campaign subscribers to escape taxation on the one hand, and to give favored man. ufacturers a chance to exploit eighty millions of people here at home on the other.
 Will it be vetoed? If not, then the President will swallow his own words, and the people next year will get ready to elect democratic House of Representatives. What they will do in 1912 need not be anticipated. The President has a remarkable oppor- tunity, but his environment is not above suspicion, and his tendency to seek the line of least resistance is well known. A democratic House of Representative will be the peoples answer next year.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-02
Jefferson County'S Homicide Record

In the county jail are 37 persons charged with the crime of murder, 29 of whom have been committed on account of alleged crime in this coun- .ty. The other eight are imprisoned here for safekeeping.
 But the imprisoned 29 do not ac- count for the 40 homicides committed in the month of April in this county. Twenty-three of the 40 unnatural deaths in April in this county proved to be outright murder cases, and all of the victims, except four, in the 23 cases, were negroes. In other words, 19 negroes were shot to death in this county in April, and in nearly all of the cases the murderous guns were in the hands of "unknown parties," to use the words of coroners' juries.
 Two things seem to be plain, name ly: Negroes are carrying too many guns, and the failure through tech nicalities in the manner of its pas
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-02
REFORM IN OLD ROME.
Cicero Made Out So Strong a Case
 That Verres Skipped"

Emily James Putnam in Putnam's.
 rolled over Rome, set in motion by po- litical requirements. The Sicilians, turn ing up on their periodical errand, found themselves popular. The part of the ar dent young district attorney, incompatible, eloquent, burning to distinguish himself, was allotted to no less person than Mar GUS Tulius Cicero, who preceived that his fortune was to be made. Verres was not to have eulogies of his conduct sent up from all the towns in Sicily. His influen- tial friends in Rome assured him that 1t would be "all right" His counsel was a leader of the bar.
 On the fourth of August all Rome was in the forum to hear the case opened. Cicero had spent 50 days in Sicily get ting evidence. He had also realized that popular sympathy was on his side. He played upon the people as on drum; there was no order in that court. One day Verres was very nearly 1ynched-the day that made Civis Rornanus sum a proverb. For IS days the prosecution went on It became clear that no judges would dare to acquit. Then Verres threw up his case and left the country with such of his possessions as he could move. If he had had beautiful ard high minded daughter to be torn between filial affection and admiration of the fiery repre- sentative of right, nothing would have been left for the centuries to add to the plot
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-02

was promised him on the gibbet, he swerYed not a particle from his duty. He died true soldier. Not "a word of information came from his lips, not a word inconsistent with a soldiers duty. General Dodge is still living, and he himself has paid to Davis the tribute due to his knightly soul.
 In the country's two great wars no two men stand out as brighter ex- amples of all that is heroic, valiant and noble than do Nathan Hale and Sam Davis. Both were young, but the valley of the shadow of death had no terrors for either that could affect their manhood. Both will, as time rolls on, be accepted as types of truest heroism by all honest hearts in both sections of the country.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-02
Shakespeare's Plays.

"I read in The Age Herald a day or two ago an article copied from a mag azine in which the author pointed out the declining interest in Shakesperean drama on the stage and sought to ex- plain it." said an old theatregoer. "The idea advanced in the magazine dis cussion was that Shakespeare held tn e mirror up to nature only as it was in the long ago and that the people of our day were not interested in the life and conditions of which the immorr-. dramatist wrote for players Ergo, the plays were not suited for the stage of our time and were being properly rele- gated to the library, there to be read for their rhetoric and poetry I do not agree with the writer of the article in question. The Shakespeare plays are for all time. While social con- ditions and certain aspects of life change with the centuries, the phil osophy and spiritual insight of Shakes peare are as helpful and convincing on the stage now as they were in the past. As Solomon said: The thing that hath been, it is the thing that shall be-; and the thing that hath been done, it is the thing that shall be done, and there is no new thing under the sun.' referring of course to the experience of the human heart. No, the Shake speare plays are not antiquated in the eyes of thoughtful people-men and women of high reflection. Neither is the Bible for pulpit use antiquated, all though some of our new thought and new psychology folk may, to all ex- tent and purposes try to leave us un- der that impression"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-02
JOAN OF ARC.

From the New York World.
 The working of miracles, the suffer- ing of martyrdom or the living of a very religious life was in early Christian times path to justification or to recog- hilton as a saint. All three qualifications are claimed for Joan of Arc, who was on Sunday beatified in Rome. Her canon ization as a saint will follow in due course.
 Joan was a shepherd lass in Doni- remy when France was overrun by the English, an English King was crowned in Paris and the Burgundians waged civil war. The voices of angels told her that she was to free France. noble account of her career was writ ten by non Catholic. Mark Twain. Call the voices delucion if you will. he says; was it not miraculous that this untaught girl should get access to the foolish French King, convince his theologians inspire armies, lead assaults, organize campaigns, command generals, win vic- tories?
 Joan deemed her mission accomplished when she had relieved the siege of Or
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-02
Mayor Wards Final Report

The administration of Mayor Ward, covering four busy civic years, comes to an end this week, and in his final report elsewhere presented the outgo- ing mayor comprehensively sums up the work of those four years in and for the city. It is showing that every citizen should become familiar with. It is a story of progress and energetic administration that every citizen may well be proud of, for every depart ment of the city has been reorgan- ized on advanced and progressive lines. This city is today intelligently governed in accordance with approved modern methods. When one reads Mayor Wards summary one is sur prised and astonished at what has been accomplished by a business mayor and an efficient board of alder men. They have striven together, and their joint work constitutes an admir- able total.
 But great deal remains to be done, and Mayor Ward calls attention to some of the things that demand at tention. His demand that the typhoid fly, the malaria-bearing mosquito and the tubercular germ-laden dust should be abolished in this progressive city deserves attention. Regard for hu- manity, as well as modern progress, spur the retiring mayor to ask that all these deadly agencies be abolished in this city It is done elsewhere, and it can be done here.
 Mayor Ward also calls attention to the fact that the school accommoda- tions for negro children are not as good as they were 15 years ago, and yet the negro population has largely increased in that time. Self interest on the part of the whites, as well as the general good of the state, call for just action on the part of the city in this matter, and no doubt the board of aldermen will give this important subject due attention.
 It is doubtful, indeed, if the pro- gross of the city in the last four years would have been possible if the plan of governing the city had been changed. When every ward has two aldremen every citizen can have a voice in the city government. Every person can readily get in touch with it. In this way no section of the city is neglected It would, indeed, be wise to hesitate before a mayor and a board of aldermen, covering all parts of the city, are exchanged for a com mission of three or five men, whom the average citizen would not know, and perhaps would never meet.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-02
NED BRACE TALKS ABOUT CONDITIONS HERE
 AND MAYOR WARDS RECOMMENDATIONS

lack of orders for it's products. The same Is, however the case with all the other steel plants and rail mills in this country. Not one single one is being run to even half of it's capacity, and most of them are idle pending the final action of Congress on the tariff bill. Naturally. railroads and other consumers of steel and the producers of the same are holding off, hoping to save on purchases if the tariff is reduced.
 Pending the adoption of a tariff bill by Congress. business in this country is ale ways at a standstin. The indications, however. are that Congress will finally adopt a tariff bill not later than the 10th day of June. and then business will imme- diatelv improve I do not expect to see the steel plant at Ensley closed down for more than six weeks. Orders for iron are even now coming in fast and the Tennes- see company is to start up two furnaces in Bessemer this week which have been out of blast for long time.
 Birmingham is in far better condition than any other manufacturing section m this country today, and during the sum- mer and fall I expect the best period we have had in many years.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-02
A DRUNkARD'S DOG

From the New York Press.
 The difference between a dog and a man is that man is most faithful to the rich and the powerful. Dog serves Loyalty wherever he Is enlisted, caring not either the >class or the condition of his mas ter An old seafaring friend of Tip. returning to his. ship in Philadelphia on bitter, cold night. noticed a man lying on pile of lumber at the end of the pier. He was drunk and rhy friend tried to rouse him, fearing he would freeze to death, but spaniel by the side of the sleeper would not allow him to be touched. Nor, when the watchman tried to ap- proach the pair, was he permitted to dis turb the dogs charge and he did not have the heart to drive off the faithful animal When the steamer was preparing for departure in daylight, with the pro- peller churning the water, up came the body of the man, in his arms his dead dog The drunkard had rolled overheard in -.his drunken stupor, and watery death with him was the choice of his faithful guardian.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-02
Reqardino Mineral Property.

Business conditions seem to be improv- ing,' said W. L. Brennan, the we'll known diamond drill contractor
 T have been kept busy right along eX- amining coal property here in the Bir- mingham district, but outside of one con- tract upon which I am engaged there had not been much work offering in my line until recently. Now however, l am receiving many inquiries from coal land owners or investors who think of acqllir- ing mineral property in Alabama regard ing diamond drill operations. This fact is I take it, a good sign of industrial re- vival The general business outlook is cer- tanly growing brighter and the demand for coal property will be much in evidence in the near future"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-02
Sam Davis, Hero

In Nashville, on Thursday last, monument was unveiled to Sam Davis. in the City Hall park, in New York, stands a statue of Nathan Hale. These two young men stand out as the best type of heroes of tho war that created the country and of it's great civil struggle
 Nathan Hale was hanged by the British as spy He volunteered to enter the British lines at New York to procure information for General Washington. He was detected and was executed, and he met his death bravely, confessing nothing, and stand ing true to his convictions. He was but 21 years of age.
 Sam Davis was even younger While bearing dispatches to General Bragg he was captured and carried before General Dodge. The captured dis. patches contained accurate descrip- tions of federal foiIltications-so ac- curate that General Dodge believed they came from some i1 his own ranks. Dodge promised Davis freedom if he would tell the source of the d'.yatcbes he carried. He told him what refusal meant. Davis replied: "I know my danger, and am willing to take the consequences" The death sentence did not change the lofty courage of his heroic soul, and when immunity
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-02
THE sUFFRAeETTE COCKTAIL.

Minneapolis Cor. Pittsburg Press
 The suffragette cocktail is the newest American drink.
 Any other kind of a cocktail makes a man want to go home and beat his wife. The new drink has exactly the opposite tendency. Two or three of the new drinks make a man go home and relinquish his position as head of the household to his wife, and accord her all the privileges he now enjoys as a citizen.
 That's true, for it has already been tried. A ,Hennepin-avenu bartender in- vented the new drink. Here's his recipe:
 Clio gin, French vermouth and Italian vermouth in equal parts to make a gill, mix in a cocktail glass, and a dash of or ange bitters, twist in two strips of lemon peel and serve.
 One makes a man willing to listen to the suffragettes' proposition.
 Two convince him that it has some merit.
 Three makes him a missionary, willing to spread the gospel abroad, and four make him go home and wash the dishes.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-02
From New York By Water

The Tuscaloosa Times Gazette men, tions the arrival of the John Quill, bringing, among other freight, 400 rolls of bagging and 500 cases of soda, and deal of structural material for a bridge company An interesting fea- ture of the shipment of soda was that it came from Syracuse, in central New York and the entire trip was by water. Syracuse is on the Erie canal. The cases of soda were shipped to Albany and down the Hudson river and thence by sea to Mobile, where the cases were loaded on the Quill.
 The Quill left Tuscaloosa on the fol- lowing day, carrying large lot of fertilizers, and at Demopolis she is to take on 600 bales of cotton.
 This is what an Open Warrior is good for, and the eATimes-Gazette has right to ask, What would Bir- mingham give for chance like this?"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-02
pamrosch Greatly Pleased.

Walter Damrosch. his New York Sym phony orchestra and his solo artists left yesterday over the Louisville and Nash vile for St. Louis, where they will be heard this afternoon in the opening con- cert of three days festival. From St. Louis they will proceed to Louisville for one of the grandest festivals of the sea- son. MT. Damrosch expressed himself as greatly pleased with his reception in Birmingham.
 "I have seldom appeared before more appreciative audiences than those which gathered at the Hippodrome," said Mr. Damrosch. My first engagement here was in the sos. There had been boom but it had collapsed just before I came and I recall Birmingham of that day as poor, depressed town. Now I marvel at the progress that has been made in recent years. Birmingham is handsome city today and on every side find evil dences of genuine culture.
 .'The people have risen above the mere commercialism that was natural in the early years of the young citys strug- gles This is a charming place and I shall look forward with great pleasure to return visit next spring. A taste for good music is being developed all over this country, but nowhere has this de- velopment been more manifest than in Birmingham"
 In speaking of the festival choruses MT. Damrosch had only words of praise He said that the festival chorus trained by Prof. Fred l.. Grambs did most credit able work considering the short time it had been organized. He was delighted with the Euterpean club and as for the Treble Clef he said that it was a revela- tion to him.
 Should 1t be my good fortune,' he remarked, ito have the Treble Clef club in festival next year I hope it will sing the chorus of the maidens from 'Parsifal In order to render that music effectively the club should be augmented to 40 or 50 voices. We could then give if in fine style"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-02
TEMPTED.

There's a message from the valleys
 And message from the hills, Where the flower army rallies
 And the golden sunlight fills All the world with joy and gladness,
 And a voice it seems to say With a trace of summers madness,
 Come away, oh, come away" Leave the money grubbing city
 And the crowded walks of pain, And the hearts that know no pity
 And the souls consumed with gain, And In rambles taste the sweetness
 World-old sweetness of a life Gilded o'er with Loves completeness.
 Rich in dreams, with color rife. Just forget a while the worry
 And the frowning front of care, Leave the turmoil and the hurry
 Of the city throbbing there; Come away to fields of blossom,
 Where undaunted roams the bee And the streams the sky imbosom,
 Flowing blithely to the sea. "Where the morning dawns in glory And no smoke obscures her gleams And each blade of grass is hoary
 With the dew's prismatic beams; where Ine song or DlruS IS DleHueu
 With murmur in the trees And the rose in beauty pended
 Gives her perfume to the breeze. What is fame and what is money
 When the dull clods rattle down On your grave? The world is sunny
 Who would court A brief renown And a bitter price for paying,
 Toiling on a sordid quest. When sweet, antic airs are straying
 Where a weary heart may resi-"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-02
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR

From the New York Press.
 Opportunity watches till you are out and then calls to leave a card
 The more beaux a girl has the more she can make each think he is the one.
 One good thing about being a philoso- pher is you never realize what fool the world thinks you are.
 People seem to be able to get more fun bragging about how much money they make than In spending 1t.
 If man isn't very careful a girl can make him think he proposed to her when what he did was to ask her if she could swim.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-02
SYMPATHY.

Oh, the weariness that wraps us in it's folds And the sadness that each throbbing bos- om holds, When the light of inspiration flckers low And the beacon fires of hope have ceased to glow! How few of those who grope through Shadowland Know what it is to clasp a friendly hand
  And in the deeps of voiceless sorrow hear The words that make life's rainbow reap pear!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-02

conventions and music festivals" said a prominent clergyman, "but for future festivals, the management should not place the chairs so close together as they were during the great musical event just ended. The audience was uncomfortably crowded; and what made it especially dangerous from a stam- pede point of view was the fact that there was no middle aisle. Another thing that needs looking after is the exit from the balcony. There should be more than one means of escape in case of a panic With the balcony packed at the festival concerts there would have been a terrible loss of life had some one shouted fire. Fortunately everything passed off without any dis turbance, but before another festival is held the Hippodrome should be sup piled with two or more exits from the balcony.
 "Among the advantages of the Hip podrome are spaciousness and good ventilation. The acoustics are not al- together satisfactory but they are as good as we find in most assembly halls, and when the serious defects referred to are remedied Birmingham will be better provided with auditorium accom- modations than the average city of 75,- 900 or 100000 population"