davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-01
Isadore Newman

In the death of Isadore Newman,
New Orleans loses it's foremost capital
list and one Of it's greatest philanthro-
pists. But Mr.. Newmans activities ex-
tended to many cities of the south and
his death will be lamented throughout
this entire section. His investments
in Birmingham were notably large. He
acquired the controlling interest in the
Birmingham Railway, Light and Power
company in 1900, and began at once a
systematic development and expansion
of the vast properties of this corpora
ton.
Birmingham had no more earnest
friend or prophet than Mr.. Newman.
He was a neat financier and was as
broad-minded and liberal in business
az he was able. His son, who was as
ISOLATED with the deceased in financial
Affairs, has developed on the same lib
eral lines as his father, and 1t may be
stated will continue the same broad
and optimistic policy in business.
Mr.. Newman was not only generous
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-01
Back 10 Business"

This should be the rule of conduct
in both of the whilom armies through
out the state. The farmer has por-
ton of his crop to market and then he
must make plans for the new crop
year. The merchant will be kept busy
filling orders that a crop sold at high
prices is creating The manufacturer
is simply attending to accommodating
demands for his products. After po-
litical orgie of three months, let us
from one end Of the state to the other
get back to business. Make that the
great end for the time being.
The Montgomery Journal hopes all
will be ready to close up ranks to go
into the democratic primaries, soon to
be held" That is all right except as
to time There is no need of holding
the state primary of next year before
next September. The state needs a
vacation from agitation and politics,
and late primary would AFFORD none
too much rest. Time will clarity the
situation. Time, too, to plant and al
most harvest another crop undisturbed
by political commissions is demanded
by conditions and circumstances. The
Age-Herald trusts that the Journals
predictions OF an early primary-one
In April or May-will not come true.
It is much better to dismiss for well
nigh a year all thoughts OF another po-
litical contest. The professionals
never do this, but the great army of
toilers can do so and they will well
come rest, and the politicians will
scarcely dare to cross them in this re-
spect.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-01
Football will not stay reformed.
CLYDE FITCH.

From the New York Times
The news of the sudden death, in his
forty-ffth year and at the height of
his fame, OF Clyde Fitch, the most
prolific and successful OF American
dramatists, has shocked the theatrical
community and saddened his host of
friends. His trip abroad this year was
deferred by serious illness IN the spring
but, until he was stricken down with
out warning at Chalons- sur Marine, he
had believed himself restored to health.
and looked forward to winter of
activity. Though he had never been
robust, he seemed 30 have many indus
trious and profitable years before him
His talents were richly exceptional, and
his triumphs, though deferred through
many years OF hard, soantily re-
wardeu work, ana hastened not at all
by too generous appreciation from his
contemporaries. were correspondinsly
great. As q dramatist of contemporary
life he had written passages full of
such keen observation of the actual.
and ilumined by SO much fresh and
Individual humor. as to excite the ad-
miration OF the most serious critics Of
the stage. Obviously he wrote for his
own hour. and his medium of conlrnuni-
cation with his feilowmen was the
most uncertain a writer can choose.
TO succeed once in writing for the
stage Is rare. Among his sixty plays.
however. Clyde Fitch could count at
least thirty popular triumphs. OF late
the sober appreciation of his work has
become = sort Of habit with competent
magazine essayists. Doubtless In time
his exact place among dramatists will
| be fixed. He will surely rank with
Angler and not below Farquhar and
vanbrush. II not with Congreve and
| Sheridan. The author Of the first and
second acts of THE Climbers" the
first half OF ",rhe TRUTH" two or three
scenes in 'grhe Girl with the Green
Eyes," and the love scenes Of Barbara
Frietchie' certainly did something well
worth doing for American fiction. quite
apart from his material service to the
contemporary stage.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-01
Holiday Shopping

The Consumers league of New York
has adopted a set OF rules to be OBJ
served in doing Christmas shopping,
as follows:
l. Buy early in the season and early
in the day.
2. Send packages two weeks ahead,
marked Not to be opened until Christ
mas
8. Minister to actual needs. Give
chiefly to children.
4. Choose presents having either
usefulness or beauty.
5. Demand articles which have been
made and sold under conditions fair
and wholesome to the worker
6. Remember that Christmas Is Of
noble memory, not an occasion for dis
play.
Every one Of these rules is excellent.
AS a whole, these rules are good for
the giver and for the recipient of
Christmas gifts, and also for the sales
people in the stores, because these
rules are full of the true Christmas
spirit
Possibly a seventh rule should have
been added, namely, do your shop
ping in your own home town. Don't
send out of town for any article that
is for sale at home" This addition
would make the rules well-nigh per-
feet.
The rule that needs the most atten'
ton now is the first one. The sales.
people in the stores are overworked in
the holiday season. The early shop
per can lessen their fatigue, and LOT
of early shoppers could give them
| happy Christmas also.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-01

with his money and a noble benefac-
tor, but he was gentleman in the
truest sense of the term. Kindness
and consideration for others were
among his distinguishing traits, and
hence it was that all who came in
close contact with him either in bust
ness way or personally held him in af-
fectionate esteem.
Mr.. Newman founded the Manual
Training school in New Orleans and
maintained it until it became self-sup-
porting. But this was only one of his
many acts of genuine philanthropy.
New Orleans will honor Isadore New
mans memory and Birmingham and
other cities of the south, where his up
building work has been seen, will join
with the people of that community in
expressions of sorrow. Mr.. Newman
will long be missed.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-01
Mr.. Cannon and The Work of CONGRESS

On Monday next Congress will meet
and the wise ones are striving to ascer-
tain what Mr.. Cannon's programme is,
what the insurgents will strive to do
to the rules of the house, and what the
role of President Taft will be in his
message and throughout the coming
session.
Disguise the battle as we may, it is
the old one between the many and the
few-between the consumers and the
monopolies and trusts. Wall street Is
apprehensiye. 1t seems to think that
q radical message is to be piled on top
of the decision in the Standard Oil
case, and the prices of securities are
not as firm as they we're before the
president started on his long tour to
the Pacific coast.
The general belief now is that the
President will await the decision Of the
supreme court in the Standard OH case
before making any material sugges-
tions of changes in the Sherman anti
trust act 1t is believed that the de-
cisioo of the circuit court has tied up
such suggestions.
The question Of party unity Is no
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-01

doubt duly considered at the White
House. The insurgents have declared
war against Cannon and the house
rules, and at Kansas City the speaker
accepted the challenge in these words:
Ever since history began the man in
the minority has been seeking some de-
vice by which he could overcome the will
of the majority, and we have popular,
If not absolutely reliable, record of one
celebrated character antedating history
whose fat was, Better to reign in hell
than to serve in heaven" There was our
first great insurgent, and he was pitched
over the battlements of heaven. Since the
creation of man there have been those
at work on earth to encourage insurrec-
ton against order, which is heavens first
law.
This brings up an interesting ques-
ton as to Mr.. Taft. The speaker pro-
poses to tame the lions in his charge.
He is ready for the contest. So are
the insurgents. Some think the Presi-
dent will endeavor to utilize the strife
by asking both the reactionaries and
the insurgents in the party to support
his administration measures. Neither
side may care to oppose the admins
tration under the circumstances, and
Mr.. Taft may prove a winner from the
strife that has sprung up in the party.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-01

singing. Colonel Mapleson used to say
he paid her 5000 a night But in those
bad old days there we're frequently some
discrepancy between what an impresario
said and what he did. Time has changed
all that, of course.
Patti deserves the affectionate es-
TEEN and gratitude of the whole civil
lied world. Nature endowed her with
a priceless gift which she appreciated
at its worth, cultivated, and treasured.
Age" wrote DR.. Holmes in one of his
occasional addresses, spares the Pyra-
mids and Dejazet' In the course of
time even Dejazet succumbed, and SO
must Patti. But like that other Won
derful old woman of the stage, Sarah
Bernhardt, who. in her seventh decade,
is creating perfect illusion in Paris
as the youthful martyr of Orleans, she
has the qualification of knowing, in tho
evening of her life, that she has used
her great gift well, and that art, prop
erly used, can be a substitute even for
youth. OF neither Patti nor Bernhard
has it yet been said: "superfluous lag.
the veteran on the stage"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-01
Another Change In Our Railroads

When the late Mr. Hartman secured
firm grip in this district our citizens
felt that transportation interests here
had been strengthened. Now that he
has passed away a new railroad wizard
has arisen in the person of Edwin
Hawley, who is securing an immense
system covering practically a good
share of broad country.
It is now reported that the Rock ISL
and company, which has a large terri
tory Of its own, is about to transfer its
control Of the st. Louis and San Fran
cisco road, possessing about 5000 miles
of track, to the Hawley system. This
would give that system entrance to this
district, and it would widen our trans
portation interests, for every foot add
ed to the Hawley system would then
be an addition to the transportation
facilities of this district
The transfer of the Frisco road to
the Hawley system is not fully an
nounced, but it seems probable that it
will take place. The Rock Island is a
great road of itself, and it does not
need the Frisco lines. Mr.. Hawley
does need those roads in the south
west and southeast. and this district
has nothing to lose in the proposed
transfer
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-01
CARTOONISTS IN AMERICA

commissions. However. he contents him
self with turning out about half a dozen
illustrations week. which give him an
income which enables him to enjoy life
to the utmost and at the same time put
money in the bank" He Is very close
friend of Mr.. Sargent the celebrated
portrait painter.
McCutcheon. OF the Chicago Tribune
receives princely salary, for tho Tri-
bune is the finest and richest paper in
the east, and McCutcheon is regarded as
not only the greatest cartoonist In Chi
cago, but the greatest In America. 1t
has been said that Mr.. McCutcheon re-
ceives a salary of $4,000 a year and that
he has a contract which will not run out
until 1920. For this the artist will have
to supply about 1866 drawings a year.
which works out at something like EFT
a drawing. This Is considerably less than
Dana Gibson's 600 each for 100 draw
ings.
The average payment for a cartoonist
who has no particular distinction, out
who possesses sufficient talent to pic
torally record the political news of tho
day, ranges from Clio to E25 week.
Many of these artists combine the illus
trating of books with their newspaper
work. and consequently make very nand-
some incomes. The American cartoonist
and comic artist has style all his own,
and which is understood and appreciated
by the American people. For this rea-
son foreign artists find 1t difficult to
obtain footing on American papers, at
least until they have learned to adspt
their work to the taste of the public.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-01
SkEPTlciSM ABOUT MARS.

FROM the Boston Globe
Professor Jacoby of Columbia says that
the photographs which have been made
of Mars are only as big as the head of q
pin, and tries to ridicule the notion that
there are canals on that planet. He will
probably also try to pooh-pooh the idea
that the silent watchers on the peak of
Flagstaff can see the Martians now en-
gagged in their spring blowing.
Some scientists are very skeptical. They
are reluctant to accept inferences. They
demand objective demonstration. Like
Newton they might be driven to deduce
pie hit them on the nose. Perhaps they
will never accept as real Professor Low
ellis theories about Mars unless some
thing drops from that planet and makes
them see stars
The skeptical habit among the scien-
lists is by no means new. Aristotle was
so skeptical that he would not believe
the normal male and female mouths had
the same number OF teeth. Those who
first said the earth was round were
scoffed at without mercy. Do not make
the mistake of supposing that the edu-
Gated, so-called, have all been on the side
of the pioneer discoveries. If Professor
Lowell is right about Mars he will not
be the first scientist who has been
laughed at by other scientists.
1t should also be remembered that in
theorizing about Mars, Professor Lowell
has more data TO go by than Columbus
had when he sailed for this country Mars
can be seen. No one will deny that.
America, on the contrary was invisible
to the eye of the great Genoese.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-01
EIection Result Abroad.

"Alabama's rebuke to radical conduct in
public life will be worth an enormous
sum to the state" said Eugene L. Brown
yesterday. 1.-THE state has suffered greatly
from this sort of thing in tho past few
years and 1t has been discouraging to
men who were trying to build up and to
induce outsiders to come here and In
vest their money
But Mondays decision will convince the
world at large that we do not approve
of all that has been done. In other words,
it puts us back into sane channels and
convinces people that we are prepared
to encourage rather than discourage tho
inflow of capital necessary for our proper
and deserved industrial development.
THAT the result is any concession to
interests not for the moral welfare of
Alabama 1 deny 1t simply shows that
the great majority of people Of this state
are temperate in everything and that
they are determined to be regarded by
the outside world as a conservative,
thinking citizenship rather than one given
to all sorts of batting tactics
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-01
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Serious COMPLICATIONS.

1.-THE amendment came to Its death by
complication OF disorders said an old
democrat.
I'm the first place il was afflicted with
too much politics. In the next place it
was greatly weakened by the active and
unseemly participation of preachers. 1t
looked very much as II the amendment
leaders Were trying to mix church and
politics. The people of Alabama always
show high regard for the Christian min
istery, irrespective of church utilization,
but the way the political parson acted In
the campaign turned many man friend
ly to some religious denomination COM
pletely away from church and from the
amendment. Hysteria was another all
ment that contributed to the defeat of
the amendment
Il do not know what the future of pro-
hibition in Alabama will be, but 1 think
it a safe guess that large percentage
Of those who voted against the amend
ment are opposed to the present drastic
laws and are in favor of the good old doc
trine of local option"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-01
PATHS FIFTY YEARS.

From the New York Times.
The London correspondent Of the Sun
day Times. in his special cable dis
patches this morning, notes Adelina
PATHS celebration OF the hftieth ami
versary of her first appearance on the
operatio stage, at the New York Acad-
envy of Music, November "a. 1859. The
youthful voice then heard bore promise
of it, future development. Patti be-
came the greatest singer of her era and
that era was longer than the prime Of
any other singer Of her rank. Perhaps.
in beautiful song. Malibran, Grisi, and
Jenny Lind were her equals. none was
her superior. The fame Of the others
is still remembered, but their public
careers were comparatively short, while
Patti can still crowd London's vast AL
bert hall when she gives "fareweii
concert"
Only the other day, it seems. there
were reports of another farewell tour
of America" for Patti. At the age OF
es years she can still sing, and she is
still Patti Musical historians. with
contemporary records as their guides
will find it difficult to decide just when
Pattrs voice began to get on When
she was at the height OF her fame, IN
the early eighties, the old fellows used
to say she was not the Patti she had
been For years aftsrward, however
she feared no rival. Statements dinel
a. TO tho prices Patti charged 10Y
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-01
NiCaraguan Affairs

The Nicaraguan congress is to meet
today at Managua, the capital of the
republic. and events will soon show
whether Zelaya is to continue to rule
the country, or whether General Irias
is the coming man. Reports are con-
fiicting and are really worthless. Els
trada's efforts are directed against Ze-
laya. but whom the revolutionary lead
er favors for president Is not known
He may favor himself.
From all the evidence that has
come to hand 1t appears that Leonard
Groce was colonel of engineers and
Leroy Cannon a lieutenant colonel in
that branch OF the revolutionary SER
vice, and that they were captured in
outposts after a battle and held as
under the laws of Nicaragua President
Zelaya had no right to execute these
two Americans. The questions raised
by Secretary OF State Knox involve diff
ficult constructions of international
law, and Mr.. Knox very properly de-
sires to keep within that law and to be
consistent himself throughout.
Possibly Zelaya will be driven out of
Nicaragua in the near future, and then
all the problems that have arisen over
the execution of Groce and Cannon
will speedily be adjusted. The Presi-
dent and Secretary of State are acting
firmly but cautiously, and they do not
propose to make a record in Nicaragua
that would be discreditable to this
country in any respect.
Any days news may change the sit
uation, and the reader who has become
interested in the subject should study
The Age-Herald's news columns.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-01
THE OLD WATER WHEEL.

BY John Ruskin.
II lies beside the river, whore its marge
II black with many an old and oarless
barge
And yessty filth and LEAKAGE wild and
rank
stasnats and battsn by the crumbling
bank.
Once. slow revolving by the Industrious
mill,
II murmured-only on the Sabbath still;
And evening winds its pulselike beating
bore
Down the soft vale by the winding shore.
Sparkling around It's orbed motion few,
With quick. fresh fall, the drops of DASH
Through noontide heat that gentle rain
was flung,
And verdant round the summer heritage
sprung.
Now dancing light and sounding motion
In these dark hours of cold continual
peace;
Through its black bars the unbroken
moonlight flows,
And dry winds howl about its long repose.
And moldering lichens creep, and MOSES
gray
Cling round its arms, in gradual decay,
Amidst the hum of men-which doth not
suit
That shadowy circle, motionless and mute.
SO, by the sleep of many human heart
The crowd of men may bear their busy
part,
Where. withered or forgotten or subdued,
Its noisy passions have left solitude.
All. little can they trace the hidden truth
What waves have moved 1t in the vale Of
youth!
And little can its broken chords avow
How once thsy sounded. All II silent Aeut
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-01
Ticket to China.

81 happened to be at the station Mon
day night and witnessed unique incl
dent" said a we'll known travelling man.
Governor Conner came in to buy his
ticket to vicksburg and while he was at
the window a couple of countrymen came
up-zvho apparently knew the governor by
sight.
LAS the governor paid for his ticket and
was putting it into his pocket one OF
the men said: why. hello Governor,
Where are you going? Are you buying a
ticket to China?' y
THE governor, evidently did not hear
for he turned and walked down the cor
ridor."
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-01
Work on the Roads.

1--WE can soon begin planning next
years work on the roads," said DR.. r.
F. Lovelady, member of the Board OF
Revenue. leaving for the north Ala
bama conference yesterday. The funds
this year have all practically been used
but next years taxes are now coming in
and the board will be in a position next
month to begin systematic expendi-
ture in the most needy sections of the
county.
1.-The board will never be able to do
any great improvement in one year UNI
less bonds are issued and the question
will be presented TO the people aS soon
as popular demand Is sum -ientiy press
ing.
$50 far this winter the weather mas
been SO fine that our cutting down ex-
pense has not been felt. The roads o.
the county are in fine shaae. but they
will soon begin to suffer from the winter
rains and will require careful atten-
ton
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-01
ANALYZING MUSICAL GOMEZ

ANALYZING MUSICAL COMEDY
THE morning paper says that the show
last night was good" remarked Smith.
kins. 81 thought It was rotten
Your disapproval seems to be rather
sweeping said Jonesby, veteran thea
tre-goer. Lets see. The show was Q
musical comedy"
Yes. We're you there?"
ITO be sure. 1 seldom miss a PERFORM
ance. Now, what is your criticism iis de-
tail?'
We'll, the scenery and costumes were
old, the singing as whole was bad. there
wasn't any plot to the darned thing"
you will agree that there were several
clever people in the company
"Ye-e-s"
AS rule, In a road company we sell
dom find more than one really capable
performer"
Quite true"
1.-THE prima donna sang well and there
were two excellent male voices"
Yes"
I'm the average musical comedy COM
pany touring the south we count our
selves especially fortunate if we hear
one good voice, do we not?'
IT believe So
you will confess that you laughed at
least three times during the perform
ance?
Eyes, 7 did,
And how many musical comedies have
you seen without laughing even once?s
"Oh, DOZENS"
And as for plot, no one ever expects
any plot to a musical comedy and 1t
isn't really needed, If the lines are
bright"
Yes, that's so, too"
"I'l grant you that the girls were
rather homely the scenery old and the
costumes soied''
Indeed they werei''
But we are used to that, down south,
thanks to the syndicate"
Lord, yesl''
NOW, considering the matter calmly
and without being hypercritical. wouldn't
you say that the show was a good one,
relatively speaking. so far as musical
comedies go?'
"Um-ye-e-s. I guess so. 1t was a
good show, relatively speaking, so far
as musical comedies CO."
PAUL COOK.