davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-04
Judge Weakley'S DecliDatiOn

Judge Samuel D. Weakley has de- clined an offer of the chief justiceship of the Alabama supreme court. The reasons he gives for declining an ap- pointment to that office are wholly honorable, evincing as they do high conception of duties begun but unful- filled.
 The state, however, loses on it's high est bench a man who would have been fit successor of long line of emi- nent jurists Judge Weakley intimates, however, in the course of a recent statement that he would be glad to receive at the hands of the people the chief justiceship with view to mak- ing its duties his life work.
 The task of filling temporarily this great office is before the governor, and his appointee will hold office until the people elect a chief justice in Novem- Der, 1910 The full term of chief justice is six years.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-04
IN HOTEL LOBBlES
Walters and smith Here.


 Harry Walters. chairman Of the exeen- tive board, and Milton II. smith. president of the Louisville and Nashville railroad, were visitors 10 Birmingham yesterday.
 Accompanied by T. E. Brooks. superin- tendent of the Birmingham division, and several officials of the steel and iron cor poraions in Birmingham, the visitors wae escorted to Ensley. where they in- sleeted the steel plant
 Mr. Walters has often been in. Birming- ham and is well known here. He has al Nass been firm believer in the strength of Birmingham and its future develop ment. <He announced his satisfaction that his predictions are coming true.
 Mr. Walters did not hesitate to ex- press his regret that the merger of the Tennessee company and the Southern Steel corporation was being agitated in Congress
 That merger" stated the distinguished railroad magnate. was really a godsend to the country. for as The Age-H Herald stated this morning through its dis patches, it had much to dc with checking tie panic. IL means much for Birming- ham, Alabamag and the entire south, and an attack at this time may do harm.7
 Mr. Walters and MT, Smith returned to Louisville yesterday afternoon.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-04
Business Forecast.

No matter what the condition of bus mess may be now it is generally felt that with good crops this year the fah of 1909 will be marked by exceptional pros perity," said R. P. Brainard of St Louis
 Many of us had predicted a return of industrial activity with the new year, but the gain in manufacturing centers has not been as great as had been expected. Still. business conditions are in very healthy state. The spring will witness a fairly good trade, but 1t will be next summer before things hum as they did before the panic. 1ne present year is almost sure to close with something like the pros- perity of 1906 and the year 1910 promises to be record breaker
 Birmingham will, of course. come in for large share of prosperity. This city is already far ahead of other cities of its size. It is ahead especially in large building operations. Certain it is that no city in the south is so active in prosperous days, never saw so many office buildings in the course of construction as are being erected in Birmingham now. And the best of 1t Is, I am told, all the additional office room will be needed. In 1910 if the forecast of prosperity turns out to be correct, there will be an office space congestion, notwithstanding the great increase in office skyscrapers.
 There seems to be pressing need of more hotel accommodations and the $1, ,O00,- : 900 hotel now projected is almost sure to materialiZe''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-04
Value of Water Powers

The owners of water powers in Ala bama should become wide-awake to .the modern situation. The coming power in all states that have streams which can be used to serve mills and factories is to be a combination of water and electricity. The falling water will produce electricity, and this can be carried considerable distances. It Is safe to say that Alabama has streams enough running toward the sea to create electric power that can lbe carried to every one of the 67 coul- lies in the state.
 tUnless owners of water powers are nlart we will soon have right here in Alabama, as well as in other states, water power lords who will outrank even petroleum princes, coal kings and he like. All underground supplies be- come exhausted in the course of time, but properly conserved, the water ,pply," says the Technical World,
 i'll last forever. and wealth based on
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-04
A Visitors Complaint.

Regular visitors to Birmingham, like myself, who have occasion to use the South Highlands car service, cannot but wonder why grade crossings are still permitted in the heart of the city, said B. w. Ordway of Chicago.
 swhen I came here for the first time 12 years ago I was ready to make allow ance for the absence of viaducts. In the nature of things Birmingham was then in a crude state. It was a new and struggling city. But not so today Aside from the danger to life in existing con ditions on Twentieth street between First avenue and Avenue F having to wait on freight trains crossing the tracks near the Louisville and Nashville station is a great nuisance"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-04
Mobile and tbe Cuban Trade

Fbe Mobile Register shows that Mobile has been able to wrest a good share of the Cuban freight business from the other gulf ports. In 1908 more Cuban. freigh+s passed through Mobile than through New Orleans and Galveston combined. Mobile has main tained it's freight business with Cuba and the trade shows substantial an- nual increase.
 The Mobile and Ohio railroad and the Munson Steamship company have promoted this business, and in order to hold the Cuban passenger business the Mallory line is developing new line via Mobile and Key West. This is expected to give the west as good 8 service as the Florida East Coast rail road can offer when completed to Key West.
 ;. Between a development of the Cuban trade, and the buildlng-up or great coal traffic as soon as the Warrior river is opened, Mobile has bright pros poets. A coal business extending to 5000 .OOO tons can be conducted in Mo- bile, and that alone will make 1t a busy port. Add to this a heavy Cuban busi- ness. and Alabama's sole port will be in a position to meet all competitors.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-04
REPORTER AND HIS BOSS.
Incident Illustrating Phase of Life In
 New York Newspaper Office.
New York Newspaper Man in t

 A New York Newspaper Man in the
 February American Magazine
 Will Irwins affectionate description of the New York Sun in the January Amer ican Magazine has prompted we to tell you the best story I know about Irwin himself and his connection with the Sun.
 Irwin was for a number Of years star" reporter on the Sun. He covered big ''stories" for his newspaper One of his greatest achievements was a description of the San Francisco earthquake-edit and written right in the Spn office in New York. This is how he did it: Hav- ing lived in San Francisco and having come on to New York a short time be- fore he had in his mind fresh and ac- curate picture of all the physical aspects of San Francisco and it's environs Not an important street or park or building was unrecorded in his memory.
 When the news of the earthquake and fire began to reach the Sun office, Irwin, as a former San Franciscan, was called upon to answer first one question and then another The telegraph editors were in trouble. By reason of the fact that many wires leading into San Fran cisco were down, the news that did reach the outside world at first came in frag- ments. Nothing came through but bulle- tins. Somebody must take these stray pieces of "fimsy" and knit together a story that would have form and sub- stance. Who could save the day for the Sun? Irwin! It is not recorded where the happy suggestion spPang from, but 1t came in time. For days he wrote col umns of good reporting of the earth quake out of the bits of fact that came by wire, and the wealth of material he had in his head. It was exactly as if brilliant reporter were on the spot in San Francisco, equipped with enough wires to transmit all he could write That week he made record number of columns written which has never been equaled in the Sun office
 But as was said above, one may serve his employers well and be appreciated without Knowing his boss when he sees him. So with Irwin and with MT Laf- fan, proprietor of the Sun, for the two never met each other until the other day -years after Irwin had left the paper
 MT. Irwin" said MT Laffan, q am glad to meet you I have always wanted to thank you for that work you did at the time of the earthquake I do thank you now"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-04
ORCHARD LANDS OF LONG ACC

By James Whitcomb Riley. The orchard lands Of Long Ago! Oh, drowsy winds, awake and blow The snowy blossoms back to me And all the buds that used to be! Blow back along the grassy ways Of truant feet and lift the haze Of happy summer from the trees That trail their tresses in the seas Of grain that fioaf and overflow The orchard lands of Long Ago! Blow back the melody that slips In lazy laughter from the lips That marvel much if any kiss Is sweeter than the apples is. Blow back the twitter of the birds The lisp. the litter and the words Of merriment that found the shine. of summertime a glorious wine That trenches the leaves that loved 1t 90 In orchard lands of Long Ago! Oh, memory, alight and sing
 Where rosy bellied pippins cling And golden russets glint and glealn As in the old Arabian dream The fruits of that enchanted tree The glad Aladdin robbed for me! And drowsy winds. awake and fan My blood as when it overran A heart ripe as the apples grow In orchard lands of Long Ago!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-04
Good for the District.

Tn reading Grant B. Schleys straight forward story of the purchase of the con- trol of the Tennessee company by a strong syndicate formed for that purpose in 1905, we all recall the hearty approval given by the people of Birmingham to the entrance of strong interests into the dis trict," said a merchant.
 MT Schey, L. c. Hanna, John ". Gates, Oakley Thorne. J. P. Duke, E. w. oglebay and others not only associated themselves together and bought the Re- public properties and the Tennessee com panys properties, but they came here, made a personal inspection of these properties and proceeded without delay to make Improvements.
 ''In few months after the Schley-Gates syndicate had acquired control of the Tennessee company, the work of develop ing the coal and ore mines and of re- building the old blast furnaces and the steel plant at Ensley was started and pushed. The work had progressed along large lines when the panic of 1907 struck the country and when the United states Steel corporation saved the day by coming to the rescue of the Tennessee company and taking 1t over. As beneficial to the district as the entranceS of the Schley syndicate was, backed by large capital and full of emery and modern ideas, the entrance of the Steel corporation was welcomed as an event of far greater im- portance. The United States Steel inter- ests assuming control was fact indeed, of vast moment. It meant still larger de- velopment--a development that must all ways result when brains, experience and nroxressive ideas are combined as they are
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-04
Southern Steel comnanv.

The Southern Steel company, which be- came bankrupt just before the panic of 1907, has been undergoing the reorganiza- tion process for some time, will even- tually resume operations" said one of the prominent creditors
 ''The reorganization committee will hold an important meeting in New York next Monday and I think it safe to say that some of the plants will be started up dur ing the approaching spring.
 The Southern Steel has valuable prop critics in Alabama, Tennessee and Geor- gia. It has ore and coal four blast fur naces, a steel plant and a wire and rod mill-the latter at Ensley. The resump- tion of the properties will give employ ment to 5000 or 4O00 men"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-04
"sALoMEy IS A STUNT"

From the New York World.
 About the most serious thing that could happen in regard to ''Salome" would be to take the Strauss opera seriously, as something destined to continuity or mark ing the beginning of a new musical era A colloquial monosyllable describes the work of MT. Strauss pointedly and with sufficient accuracy. "Salome," with it's combination of horrors, histrionic and or chestral, is a stunt"
 The morals of the plain people are not going to be lowered perceptbly by a fleet ing excursion into grand and lofty sensa- tionalism, even with $10 seats reduced to bargain rates of s750. Turning to the question of art fin "Salome" one is re- minded of recent emphatic words uttered by Sir Purdon Clarke at the Metropolitan museum. You know" said the director, there's an awful lot of humbug about it all. He was speaking of art as it exists in paint. But his comment might have been drawn as truly by extreme pretend CTS of music. Sir Purdon continued: ''The trouble about most Americans, so far as art is concerned, is that they are afraid of expressing their real, honest opinion for fear of being gibed at as mere Philis- tines"
 Now, in "Salome" there is art. The theme and the presentation are dramatic. The score has been colored by the hand of one who is not less a master because he uses his gift like snowman. But if the work as whole could be trans formed into a matter of canvas and oil 1t would not form a treasure of such a school as many would care to see pre- valent in galleries, public or private. It is audacity, an artistic ''shocker," a brilliant dash into the degeherate, deserv- ing and promising no perpetuation in popular esteem,
 Strauss fervor is for the moment a fad. It bears no relation, unless it be that of an energizing irrAant, to the best musi- cal culture There is every reason for mere Philistines'' to have the courage of their hour.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-04
HEAP FER 'POSSUM.D ?

New York Correspondence in Cincinnati
 Times-Star.
 w. H. Niemeyer tells a story that leaked Broadway wards from Georgia, where an old negro was jailed on the charge of stealing a possum, Eph was a pretty good sort, in spite of his refusal to ob- serve any one else's property rights, and the judge thought to lecture him. You wouldn't want me to send you up and leave no one to look after your wife and children. Eph," said the judge. You love them, don't you?'
 "Sholy l does Jedge.'
 You wouldn't give them up for pos sum, would you?'
 "Nossir. Nossr. l nevah gib um up foh CT possum, Jedge.'
 You wouldn't givet them up for thou sand possums, would you, Eph?'
 The old man thought for long time. Finally: "Well, Jedge, yo' know how hit is yo sefS thousan is a heap CT pos sums'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-04
BLANCHE HAS BlLLIkIN,s SONG.

From the New York Morning Telegraph
 Well, Blanche Ring has romped away with the Bilikins privileges. Since those grotesque little images first appeared on the market every songwriter in the coun- try has been eager to make one of them the hero of comic song. M. Shapiro has been the successful bidder for this right, and to Miss Ring he has intrusted the rendering of the song which one of his rapid fire composers has turned out.
 The number will be Featured in Miss Rings repertoire at the Colonial theatre next week. Representing the Billikins will be Mr. Major, the half portion actor who at present is a member of Joe Weber's company
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-04
The Birmingham District.

James Biggs and Mrs. Riggs of Greenup county, Kentucky, are the guests of Mir. and Mrs. R. H. Pritchard at Pritchard station. near Gate City. Mr. Biggs' home being in the famous Hanging Rock dis triet, he is naturally familiar with pig iron conditions and he has, therefore. taken a deep interest in Birmingham and the Birmingham district
 "It-is my first visit to this section" :" said MT Riggs yesterday "and l now see what I had long heard about-the greatest iron district in the United States. The coal, iron and limestone all here to- gether constitute phenomenal advantages. It can be easily understood why Bir- mingham fixes the price of iron for the country. Birmingham is already large and prosperous city and it's future is limit less"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-04
EMIL PAUR AND THE POODLE.

From the New York Press.
 It is almost universal family habit to educate the pet dog to shake hands. The admonition is Gimme paw" One night there was a fashionable entertainment at a house in East SiXty-third street, near Fifth avenue. at which the celebrated musician Emil Paur was a guest. The hostess owned a splendid white poodle who dearly loved to do all kinds of dog tricks, including this handshaking busi- ness. Placing Cartouche on a satin pill low in the center of the table she required him to give his paw, which he eagerly did. NOW she said to her guests, "all pass in review and ask him to shake hands, each giving your right name He is a great judge of human nature and will shake hands only with a true friend"
 All fell in line. as people do at Pres idents reception, and each mentioned his or her name to Cartouehe, with the re- quest or command to shake hands But not hand did the poodle shake until the conductor of music came along. Hold ing out his hand the German said in his blandest way Emil Paur" Instantly Cartouche shook, much to the amazement of the throng. who overlooked the fact that Emil Paur" as it was pronounced sounded very much like Gimme paw"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-04
From the New York Times.

@ OQUELIN has passed away be- S fore the event which was to O have been the crown of his ar tistic career, the long-deferred production of the "Chanticler' of Edmond Rostand. His death, however, would have caused more consternation if it had occurred 10 or 15 years ago, for that he had passed his prime and long since sounded every note in his broad gamut, illustrated every phase of his wonderful versatility, was long since recognized. He lived to be nearly 70, which before the era of Met chni1off was supposedly the allotted age of man, and he was an actor for nearly 50 years For full 30 of these years he was a comedian of great renown, of broad range, of extraordinary observation and powers of expression.
 Early in his career he became the fav- orite impersonator in the Comedie Fran cafse of the mischevous rogues of Mo- Here. As the inventive Mascarille of IL L'Etourdf' and the droll, masquerad- ing rascal of the same name in Les Precieuses Ridicules," as the two Scap- ins, his mimetic facility, richness of hum or, and fundamental verfty have been unequaled by any other actor of our time. But the repertory of Coquelin, greatly en- larged after his inevitable withdraw wal from the principal statstheatre of France, has included every kind of role within the comedian's scope. He attempted hero ics, with triumph. in Dennery's Don Caesar de Bazan," in which his sense of pictorial effect, his fund of humor, and his command of technique enabled him to stand comparison with Lemaitre. His
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-04

in the management of the United States Steel corporation. What the Steel eorpor- ation has accomplished here within the past p months has more than Jnstlfied the favorable comment heard at the time the deal was made. Those politicians who who are trying to interfere with the busi- ness of the Steel Incorporation in the Bir- mingham district had better occupy their time with something else"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-04
TAFT AND THE SOUTH.
ha Washington Post.

From the Washington Post
 John w. Tomlinson of Alabama, member of the democratic national committee, and during the last presidential campaign ehairmah of the committee on organiza- ton. is at the New Willard. Regarding President-elect Tafts recent utterances in the south, Mir. Tomlinson said;
 s'The press and the people of the south
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-04
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR

From the New York Press
 It's astonishing what legible handwrit- ing q girl uses when she accepts pro- posal by letter
 An impressive thing about being in trouble is what lot of pleasure it gives your friends.
 The saintly thing about woman is how she can adore a man that nobody else can tolerate.
 woman would almost rather have smallpox than admit she suffers from cold feet
 get married is to think he's smart enough to keep out of it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-04
Examining kieran's Books.

New York, February 3.-ln order to give Federal Receiver Morris of the bankrupt Fidelity Funding company time to examine the personal account books of P. J. Kieran, the company's former president, before proceeding with his inquiry into the company's affairs, the hearing in the matter be- fore Federal Commissioner Alexander, when called today was immediately ad- journed until Friday. February
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-04

very generally show appreciation of MT. Taft's expressions of good will toward the south, and are pleased with his fore cast Of policy as to that section in the matter of appointments to the end that the impression may not be made that the authority of such appointees emanates from an alien government The exuber- ance of feeling exhibited in some of the addresses made to MT. Taft in the south, Of course, does not represent the views of any considerable number of southerners, who are not given to gushing over any one, and MT. Tafts replies at the time show that. he accepted what was said with a grain of salt
 Certainly, there is more independence or political thought in the south, but there is no probability, as expressed by a few, that MT. Taft's administration will be the entering wedge for the splitting of the solid south. It is mot believed by many that MT. Taft will attempt to use his high office in any way for that pur- pose, nor is there any danger that the south can be split by the influence of those who, as has been said, voted the democratic ticket, yet prayed for a repub- lican victory Our people hold in higher regard those democrats who, having gone over to the republicans, fight the demo- cratic party from the outside.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-04
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
THE. CALL OF DuTY.

When Fancy was free-that. was long
 ago
 He builded castle in Spain. Where the walls withN the splendor of
 hope were aglow
 And life was a sweet refrain. And a melody swooned round the spot Where the palace of dreams was set, And the cares of the trobbing world were
 forgot
 And the days brought no regret. But a thunderous call assailed his ear He woke with a start from his dreams, And said farewell to his castle dear, To the glory of it's gleams. With a constant heart and a purpose true, He rose and went his way, And patiently bore his share of rue Where the path of duty lay.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-04
THE PRACTICAL VIEW.

THE PRACTICAL VIEW. Staying off his creditors, eating criists of
 bread
 That's the kind of life a dreamer leads; Through a crevice in the roof the rain
 leaks on his head, Food and clothing, too, he sorely needs. Don't you be dreamer-'tis a job that
 doesn't pay;
 Think you've never had a soul or heart; Trample on your weaker brothers, curse
 you though they may Wrest fortune in the money mart!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-04
THE SECRET oF succEss.

I knew a butcher, thrifty man,
 Who made his business pay; But maybe that was just because He always had his weigh.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-04
And the days brought no regret.
HIS GUESS.

George" said Mrs. Ponsonby, ''here is an interesting article in the paper en- titled, Neglected Americans :"
 "I'll bet it refers to husbands" an- swered MT Ponsonby who had on some thing of a grouch.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-04
AN EDITORS LICK

"The editor is jubilant" Has somebody paid subseription2' No"
 "Is he the father of a new babyP' "No"
 Did the office boy blow in on time to. day?"
 No"
 Then, what makes him so happyg' Hes just won g in a poker game with a printer
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-04

Four only out of 400 passengers on the Republic have actually gone to the Mediterranean, but others are getting ready to go.