davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-04
A Briuht View.

Evidences of improved business condi- tions within the past two weeks have been so manifest that returning prosper ity is the chief topic on the streets" said J. L. Welch, well known as a successful business man and real estate investor.
 Birmingham has made great strides in recent years. It used to be that when one or two plants in the district were idle everybody felt depressed; but we have outgrown that habit. Our industrial oper- ations have expanded and become varied and our commercial interests have de- veloped along strong lines. We are no longer dependent upon any one interest Of course we all like to see everything running at full capacity, but when a plant here and there happens to stop temporarily it should be regarded only as a passing incident.
 'The temporary shutting down of the steel works at Ensley has no significance, for we know that when that plant re- sumes it will be with 6ush.
 The business situation is improving every day. We have certainly got away from hard times. Birmingham is in fact quite a busy city right now and I see only bright days ahead''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-04
"YOURS SJNcERELY.y

From the New York World.
 Have you ever reflected, when you fin- ish up your letter Yours sincerely, John the origin of this epstolary method of subscribing to your state of soul in re- gard to any particular correspondent? Well, if you subscribed yourself Yours without wax, John Smith," it would amount to the same thing. Here's how:
 When the Roman jurymen returned their verdicts they usually did so on a wax tablet. In cases, however. where the verdict was so overwhelmingly in favor of a person on trial for any of fense they were allowed to give their verdict Sine cera"-that is to say, with out wax, or without going to the for. mality of inscribing their verdict on the wax tablet (cera). So when you sub scribe yourself Yours sincerely to a person you mean-when you are serious, of course-that your regard for him is above board. Yours faithfully is the business style; Yours truly the indif- ferent, and Yours, etc.," the most un- pardonable of epistolary atrocities, &C., cording to the unwritten code.
 An English cabinet minister, when writ ing to you in the official style, will sub- scribe himself Your obedient, humble servant" A Frenchman will tell you that "he remains with especial sentiments of the highest consideration" your Jules Le Mouton A Chinaman will say: Fare well, most favored of heaven. May the gods preserve your honorable teeth.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-04
CHEWING GUM AND RELIGION.

We know of nothing, says a writer in Success Magazine, that Is quite so many things at once as mescal. First of all 1t is a kind of combination chewing gum and cough drop afterward it is an intox- icant; but most of all it is a religion. It is pretty generally agreed that mescal is an evil but whether 1t should be dealt with by pure food expert, a policeman, or a missionary has not been decided.
 Mescal is made by cutting off slices of a certain kind of cactus that grows in Mexico and our southwest. It is dried and chewed by the Indians, and produces a kind of alleged pleasurable sensation Beautiful colors, lovely imaginings, and a kind of intoxicatlon different from that produced by opium, hasheesh, or alcohol are said to result from it's use.
 The chewing of mescal Is said to be spreading with dangerous rapidity among the southwestern Indians, who have made it the basis of new religion. Eminent chemists have investigated the tablet and have called it long, hard names. Per- haps the supply is not great enough to cause apprehension, but the danger to our institutions of religion that can be chewed must be apparent to all.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-04
Starks in Cisy.

B. M. Starks, general manager of the Louisville and Nashville railroad, is in Birmingham making regular inspection of the Louisville and Nashville and the allied lines. He will leave Birmingham this morning.
 Mr. Starks was in an optimistic spirit yesterday and stated that in his opinion business with the railroads is looking up. "A healthy increase is to be noted in business movements" he said. h speak ing of local conditions MT. Starks stated that he believed Birmingham has nothing to fear. While it would be much better if all of the plants were in operation he said, 'the diversity of plants located in this district is such that activity Will be provided in business circles despite the fact that the steel plant and other plants are closed down."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-04
Rails and Rail Orders

The railroads are placing large or ders for bridge and other structural material, simply because prices for such articles are low. They are not buying rails freely, because the price of rails stands unchanged. That price is BPS f. o. b. Pittsburg, and that was the price one year ago and also two years ago. But rails are wear ing out and some new track is be- ing laid, and as soon as the railroads can see pretty plainly what the crops of the year are to be orders for rails will come in, always provided the crops are to be up to normal.
 The rail plant at Ensley is to be closed down this week, simply be- cause there are no orders on hand. The plant will resume operations as soon as orders come in, and the dis counting of good crops may compel it's reopening long before the summer sea- son Is ended.
 It is a singular fact that In the calendar year 1908 the wire rod output was almost as large as the rail pro duction-1, ,S16,949 tons of the former and 1,929,611 of the latter. The pro duction of the former was actually in- creased 13 per cent in a year of de- pression. The increase in wire con- sumption is due to the agricultural &C., tivity of the west. The production of rails, on the other hand, fell from 3,633,654 tons in 1907 to 1,921,61 tons in 1908. But there is a better time coming for the rail mills. Rails and wire rods will, after a while, get in touch with each other, and then the Ensley plant will be crowded with or ders. Extreme economy in rails can- not be long maintained, and new rails will be called for. The Ensley rail mills vacation bids fair to be cut short
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-04

minimum tariff of the United States. In case the President shall be satis- fled that the conditions above referred to no longer exist in the case of any particular country, he is to issue a proclamation to that effect, and there after the rates of the general tariff bill will be applicable to importations from that country.
 The minimum rates go into effect when the tariff bill is passed and they remain in effect until March 31, 1910, when the maximum rates go auto matically into effect, subject to the discretion of the President. Coffee and tea are to be taken from the free list on March 31 next to be used as clubs against Brazil and perhaps other countries.
 This is in good part scheme to trick the country into paying higher duties, in many instances, than Ding ley ever dreamed of. The avarice and calm assurance of the special inter- ests have no limit. They have side tracked Payne, and they are prepar- ing to make the late MT. Dingley seem a public benefactor alongside of their own audacious work.
 We'll, the day of retribution is com ing, and in the fall of 1910 a dem ocratic House will present a revision that revises downward instead of up- ward.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-04
JOY OF THE CHASE.
Philadelphia Ledger.

From the Philadelphia Ledger.
 .~The gazelle is one of the msot grace full animals known. Its eyes are large and limpid, and the poets of the east always likened the eyes of their lady loves to them. ."-Current description.
 However, this was while the eyes were shining with life, not after they had ap- pealed vainly to a hunter who was not thinking of poetry or of lady loves when he shot The joy of seeing an animate creature, beautiful, lissome and free, fall in a crumpled heap is, of course, consid- erable. But a close inspection of the liouid eyes as the jubilant hunter ap- proaches with his knife, his chance to ob- serve them gleam with terror and then film over and go out would to persons of a certain disinclination to dabble in blood. seem to limit the abundance of this Joy. When the bullet merely breaks a leg or two, leaving the gazelle helpless and wondering, perhaps that the act Of living should be a capital offense, there are people-mollycoddles some call them who would prefer being elsewhere The modern taxidermist may so mount ga- zelle that some measure of the grace is retained, in a way but he cannot repro duce large and liquid eyes, and If he could. the hunter, his passion having passed, would be ashamed to LOOK Into them
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-04
FarReaching for Good.

Every time I see the young soldiers from the Boys Industrial school at East Lake parade or hear the boys band play I am stirred with admira- tion for Mrs. R. D. Johnston, who foundered and fostered that noble in- stitution," said former railroad of- ficial.
 "When l stood in the crowd at the dedication of the new Terminal sta tion and saw the manly corps, finely drilled said to myself, this splendid structure reflects great credit upon the railroads and is fitting monument to Birmingham's importance as growing city, but greater still, because 1t is so far-reaching for good, Is the institution that reclaims wayward boys and rears them to be useful, honorable citizens
 Nothing quite so appeals to me as the Boys Industrial school"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-04
POETS AND THE PUBLIC.
the New York World

From the New York World.
 William Watson has written fiery let ter blaming the British public for the death of his brother poet John Davidson. His blood is upon us,' says Watson, "as surely as if we had slain him with our very hands"
 In making this charge Mir. Watson seems to have been quite in the mood in which poets dash off white-hot stanzas on Abdul the damned" demand a na- tion's vengeance for slaughtered saints ' or tell monarchs, as MT. Swinburne told Ferdinand, to Ego down to he'll" Such fervor goes very well in verse, but for prose 1t exceeds the bounds of license. Davidson appears to have made away with himself not because he was unable to make living, as his champion alleges, but because of chronic illness. There is nothing to show that he lacked apprecia- ton. London hailed him on his arrival as a promising poet, and his + printed volumes of verse and drama testify to the consideration with which he was treated by publishers. The government put him on the civil list with a pension of $500, enough at least to pay poets house rent.
 Davidson lived in the poets age of plenty when very indifferent rhymes are cabled across the ocean and when all lit erary craftsmanship is better remuner- ated than ever before. That his ''Fleet Street Eclogues" have been selling at cents a copy on New York bookstalls has nothing to do with the case His blood Is no more on his country's head than the blood of Barney Barnato.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-04
Crop Reports and Figures

The National Ginners' association says only 30,O53,00O acres have this year been planted with cotton seed. Tins is a reduction in acreage, and the association says it occurred in It is difficult to say how nearly cor rect these figures will prove to be. In this state the sale of fertilizer tags indicates an increased crop. The sales of tags since October last foot up S103, ,859, as against $93, 400 in the cor responding months one year before
 The crop is, at any rate, backward Dry weather in Texas and wet weather elsewhere have retarded it, and the recent cool weather was not bene- ficial. A poor start will, perhaps, make no difference if the season be favorable hereafter. At least 90 per cent of the crop has been planted, and where the plant has appeared it is said to have a healthful color.
 As things look now the crop of south Texas will be light, and the crops in the other states will depend upon weather conditions. The prospect of cheaper cotton is disappearing, and the fear now is that production will not equal demand in the new cotton year,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-04
He tires betines that spurs too fast
 betimes. king Richard II.
GeOrgia'S Peach Crop

The Georgia peach growers had a bumper crop last year, about 5000 cars, and they got low prices chiefly because the great crop was not han dled in a business-like manner. The cars were not distributed properly. There were famines in some cities and surpluses in other towns.
 A crop of excellent quality of about $500 cars is expected this season, and 90 per cent of this crop will be handled through the newly organized Georgia fruit exchange. The fruit will be shipped this year where it is need ed, and no city will be glutted with it.
 About June 1 the variety known as the Carman will be shipped, to be followed by the Hiley Belle, the Geor- gia Belle, and then by Georgia's great staple peach, the Elberta. The ship ments will extend from June to July 15, and the railroads stand ready to cooperate with the new organization of growers in handling efficiently the crop.
 Upon the results of this seasons work much depends. The new or
 
 bers, and in that way to establish itself. Every detail is being attended to, and cooperation at both ends of the line is anticipated, and successful handling of the entire crop. The les sened crop promises to bring to pro- ducers more net money than the bumper crop of last year did.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-04
Liquor Question in Virginia.

'Phere will be lively prohibition cam paign in Virginia this year" said Wilson Haynes of Washington. D. c. "I visit the principal cities of Virginia from time to time and hear politics discussed from one end of the state to the other Six months ago I would have been willing to bet that anti-saloon forces would win. think they still have 0 fighting chance, but l would not bet on them. The anti prohibitionists seem to be gaining strength every day. and 1t would not surprise mo to see them victorious. A majority of tho counties in Virginia are dry now. Some of them have been dry for 10 years and in these old dry counties many men who formerly voted against the sale of liquor say they will vote the other way this year. for the reason that conditions are not as prosperous as they used to be. I think, however, that the majority of voters in the rural districts are well sat isfied with dry conditions"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-04
Travelling Men Encouraged.

Robert S. Maxey, representing the H. B. Chafin company of New York, has returned to Birmingham after spending several weeks in New York city. MT, Maxey will remain here for several days.
 q find that business in mercantile lines is recovering rapidly in the east" said MT. Maxey last night. While the nor nal has not been reached by any means, matters are picking up right along and conditions appear to be generally im- proved Travelling men from various parts of the country state that some im- provement is to be noted and all are en- couraged over the outlook
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-04
HOLLANDS NEW BABY.

From the Kansas City Star
 The new baby whose anticipated ad- vent has placed HollandSfor a fort night or more on the qui vive-as the rural editors would say--arrived yes- terday, looking and behaving, we may be sure, very much like thousands of other babies born on the same day.
 The Holland infant is a girl-a cir cumstance that, for reasons of state, may cause some disappointment throughout the Dutch Kingdom. But there is really no right reason why pa rents of any degree, high or low. should not extend as hearty a welcome to girl baby as to a male infant, though there is a sort of popular sophism that it is "so nice for the oldest one to be a boy" But that is merely a matter of personal feeling. and, to borrow a term from a certain unique German philosopher fin our midst" Dot is also empiric."
 When babies come into the world gifted with natures fair proportions,' such stright legs and arms and sym metrical bodies throughout they ought to mean just as much to their parents and be just as acceptable if they are girls, as if they had been boys
 The Salic law is not in force in Hol- land The country may be ruled as safely and well by a queen as by a king. Wilhelmina, the mother of Hol- lands new baby, is as much beloved and held in as high esteem by her loyal subjects as any king could be. In default of a brother of brothers yet to come, the new princess in Holland will, in the fullness of time, fall heir to the devotion whcih the people cheerfully yield to her royal mother.
 With history shining with the illus trious reigns of Elizabeth, Anne and Victoria of England; Isabellla of Cas- tile, Faria Theresa of Austria, Cath crime the Great of Russia and the won derful late Empress Dowager of China, no apology for women sovereigns is called for. England" says standard historian, "is partial to queens," and with abundant reason. Any limitations which may be shown by women who are called upon to administer the af- fairs of nations are more than made good by their readiness to gather around them wise counselors and to hear the advice of we'll seasoned states men.
 And, so the world joints in hearty Solicitations to the kingdom of Holland on the good fortune which has come to 1t in the safe arrival of its new princess, and is delighted to learn that Doth mother and child are doing we'll"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-04
WAR WITH JAPAN.

From the Washington Herald.
 War with Japan is inevitable; it is bound to come, and there is no sense in our deceiving ourselves otherwise" said Patrick Egan, United States minister to Chile under the Harrison administra- ton.
 for many years, and have travelled in Japan, and know the sentiment of the people, continued the prominent New York Irish-American. There is young party of Japanese statesmen and soldiers growing up now who think that Ito, Togo and other heroes of the Russian J apanese war, are old fogies, and who await with eagerness the day of their demise and the time when they themselves will have an opportunity to step into their shoes and be at the helm of the Japanese ship of state.
 "The Japanese think that the 300 900, 900 people of the Orient are looking up to Japan as their deliverer from the yoke of the white man. They think it is the destiny of Japan to be the leading power of the Orient, and that the Pacific ocean must be controlled by Japan.
 What America needs more than any thing else under the circumstances is good merchant marine, besides a strong navy. In case of war, we would not have enough colliers or transports to go with our ships to carry coal, ammunition, provisions, and other absolute necessities. If Japan should attack us in the Philip pines we could not stand against them any longer than three weeks at the out side. Secretary Leslie M. Shaw, in speech not long ago. called attention to this fact and strongly advocated the up- building of a powerful merchant marine as an aid to the navy"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-04
From the Roston Globe.

From the Boston Globe.
 @%HAT noiseless gun which MT.
 \V Maxim invented recently has
 been the object of so much harsh criticism that the inventor explains very into existence and wherein 1t is not such a menace to human life in the hands of criminals as is generally believed.
 The invention consists chiefly in only partially silencing the explosion in the barrel of a gun on the field of battle by not betraying the exact whereabouts or the user of the weapon. MT. Maxim is probably right in his belief that this si- lencer was sure to be produced, for it's creation is only a step forward in the eff forts which have been made for many years to do away with too much smoke and noise in the discharge of firearms.
 Smoke and noise betrayed the exact po- sition of the shooter. When smokeless powder was invented and used it meant smokeless guns. This left only the noise to be cared for, and it was very natural that some one should hit on plan to re- duce the amount of this, in the same
 
 and motor boats has been reduced. AS MT. Maxim explains the matter, the build CTS of engines for autos and boats vied with each other to get the most quiet.
 "All manner of devices and arrange ments were evolved. TO one man, who thought in terms of guns and explosives, came the idea of harnessing the explosive exhaust-making it expend itself in doing something useful. Two birds would be killed with one stone. If the exhaust gases could be set spinning, he argued, they would continue to spin on, for a short interval at least, just as top con- tinues to spin on after being started. Now, this tendency to keep on spinning could be taken advantage of in two ways: It could be made to suck out of the en- zine cylinder the last dregs of the old burned charge, and it also could be made to issue into the air gently, since the slowing down of the spinning would be relatively gentle. This would obviate noise. It was a new thought, at least to
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-04
Maximum and Minimum Rates

The promoters of the present orgy of special interests led and fostered by Senator Aldrich are endeavoring to make minimum rates of duty as high as they can, and on March 31 next an addition of 25 per cent ad yalorem will be made to these min imum rates. That is to say, all coun- tries that do not make satisfactory trade concessions to the United States will have 25 per cent ad valorem added to the duties on goods they export to this country. Five cents a pound on coffee and 10 cents a pound on tea also go with the maximum rates.
 These maximum rates go into eff feet on March 31 next with the pro- viSo, however, that whenever the President shall be satisfied that the government of any foreign country inn poses no terms or restrictions upon importations which unduly discrimin- ate against the United States or the products thereof, and that such foreign country imposes no discriminating ex- port bounty or prohibition upon the exportation of any article to the Unit ed States, the President may by proc lamation authorize the admission of uuch articles under the terms of the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-04
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Mobile To Entertain Crowd.

Mobile is preparing to entertain the largest crowd of visitors next August that has ever been due in that city" said traveling man.
 'The Knights Of Columbus will hold their national convention in Mobile and the attendance of delegates and members of the order in general will aggregate not less than 10000, and the figures may run much higher. At Los Angeles a few summers ago the Knights of Columbus and their friends numbered about 50000.
 If the Knights are well taken care of in Mobile and they doubtless will be, Birmingham should find 1t easy to secure the national convention four or five years henee It is one of the most desirable bodies from a convention point of view, because a large percentage of the mem bers are men of means and are prover- bially good spenders''