davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09
Coal Property in Demand.

Several important coal land deals are pending and it is safe to say that within the next few months one or more will be consumated," said a coal operator While the trade has been extremely dull for more than year it will not remain dull for ever. The chances are that we will have a good coal business before the end of this year; and just as soon as it does revive, coal property will be in more demand than ever.
 Every three or four years coal land values in Alabama reach higher levels. This Is easily explained on the principle of exhaustion. Every ton of coal taken out of the earth enhances the value of that which remains It required mill lions of years for nature to make coal and there are no signs now of any being~in process of formation"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09
New Skyscrapers.

If the voters of Jefferson county are alive to the public interest they will cast a large majority of ballots for the courthouse and jail bond is- sue" said member of the Chamber Of Commerce. Assuming that the bond proposition will carry, two additional skyscrapers will be in course of erec tion in Birming gham within the next three months-a 12-story hotel and q 10-story courth ouse annex. Birmingham is not only making high record in per centage of increase in the matter of new buildings, but few cities in the United States have ever witnessed the construction of as many skyscrapers in 6 single year as Birmingham
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09
Criminal Libel At Washington

The case started by President Roosevelt against the Indianapolis News has been adjourned to October Il, and a speedy determination of the issue cannot, therefore, be had. The case comes up in Indianapolis through an application of the attorney general of the United States to federal judge for the extradition to Washington of the owner and the editor of the News. That paper had printed a story con- corning the division of the $40,000000 that this country paid for French rights in the Panama canal.
 The great question at issue does not so much relate to the truth or falsity of the report published by the News as it does to the right of the federal government to snatch a man away under an ancient star-chamber Mary land statute to be tried in Washington for discussing public or any other matter.
 The question is this, shall a news paper man or any other man be tried where the offense was committed be- fore jury of his neighbors, or shall he be extradited at the caprice of a Roosevelt to Washington to be there tried before a jury he does not know anything at all about. Ever since the days of Magma Charta people of our race and language have been tried by jury of the vicinage, but Roosevelt ism now says that an American may be extradited to Washington from any part of this broad country-eyen from Alaska or the Philippines-to be tried under the shadow of the capitol by per haps the servants or ex-servants of the federal service.
 fore a federal judge next October, and if the Roosevelt oLntention be sus- tained no newspaper proprietor. editor or reporter who discusses federal ques- tions or offends a federal administra- tion would be safe from extradition at the hands of federal district judge. The governor of the state would no longer be a protection. The rule in favor of trial at ones home would be abolished, and every mans liberty would to no small extent rest in the hands of the federal administration.
 The time for the repeal of that ancient Maryland statute inherited from the star-chamber days of 1487 and the despotic Henry VII has fully come America has fortunately no Laud, else indeed tortue might be re- vived in the trials planned by the later Henry VII, who is now engaged in the noble sport of shooting giraffes in Africa
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09
TO RESTORE NEGRO MELODIES.

From the Kansas City Star.
 Success to the federation of negro wom- ems clubs in Iowa!
 en delegates to the state convention of the Iowa federation resolved to win their people back to the old-time songs and melodies as against the aggression of the "rag time'' fad. In order to start the movement right, the convention spent a few hours in singing such songs as Roll, Jordan, Roll' Swing Low, Sweet Char tot'' and other old-time melodies that made the negro songs so popular in other days
 The contrast between the singing of those old time melodies by chorus of 200 negro voices and the present day rag time" songs can easily be imagined. It doesn't require a practiced ear to feel the difference between My Old Ken lucky Homo' and such cheap and tacky songs as "All Coons Look Alike ito Me"
 The old-time negro folk songs form an interesting and historic feature of Amer ican life. In it's attempt to restore those sweet and homely melodies as the rep resentative songs of their race the negro women of Iowa have undertaken move- ment that is replete with possibilities for a genuine ''uplift" for their people. Roll. Jordan, Roll" and let Mary and Martha Jes' Come Along, to Ring Dem Heaven ly Bells"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09
"A DREAM OF THESSAlY."

By Theodosia Garrison Oh! Summer, that my sad eyes may not
 see, I yearn for you within the city gate; Through heat and dust and din l, deso-
 late, Long for your miracles of bloom and
 tree, Your soft, slow winds and wide seas
 mystery An! me, to be pagan girl elate, Free limbed, loose haired, with dream
 ing eyes. await, Deep in the purple woods of Thessaly, To hear a rustic through the river
 weeds, And sudden note of laughter, shrill and
 gay. And, through the rift of sunshine. look
 on this The great god Pan with hand upon the
 reeds, Wet lilies in his long hairs disarray, And lips up-pursed to catch a naiad's
 kiss.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09
Lumber Business Picking Up.

"The lumber business is picking up some,' said Fred Larl1ins, head of the American Lumber and Export company, yesterday. Prices are still unsatisfac- tory, however but by July there should be noticeable hardening which will be more apprecable as the year advances. In the next few weeks the railroads will get into the market, and after all the railroads are the people that make the business 1t makes no difference whether it be in the iron, steel or lumber trades. When the railroads prosper everything else prospers, and when they come into the markets strong 1t will be the signal for instant resumption of normal condi- tions everywhere
 '"There has been too much railroad batting and we are all glad to see it sub siding. What we ought to ask of the railroads is service, not rates. When everything is flourishing it is not the matter of a fraction of cent on rate that worries me, but it is getting service
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09
THE FEE SYSTEM.

From the Bessemer Workman
 The fee system is coming in for it's just deserts again and it looks as though the time was getting about ripe for it's abolition.
 The best element of the people of the state have been opposed to this iniquitous system for years and years have felt the strain of its pernicious influence at all times.
 Here in Jefferson county the burden is indeed great and in fact it has done more to breed discontent and trouble than any three other bad influences com bined.
 The very idea that one man can make s5OOOO a year out of this system is pre- posterous and an outrage on the intelll- gence of the people.
 Abolish it! Slay 1t! Kill 1t and bury it so deep that it never will see day light any more.
 We have been bowling this we Besse- mer people, for 22 years. and expect to continue to howl it down just so long as it exists.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES

A NATURAL-BORN PEssIMIST. 'grhe road is long, so long, he cried, That leads to final rest, Where toilers sleep, from care set free, Beyond this earthly quest. And o. my heart is weary of
 The thorn-strewn path l tread, A wight must work so hard, so hard To earn his daily bread.' And thus he moaned from day to day, With sorrow in his heart And eyes full-anguished to the brim, Where tears were quick to start. And so he filled the world with sighs And passed away in gloom, And from the cradle to the grave
 Found not a single blooml
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09
MIME. MoDJEsKA's JOKE.

From Tit-B Blts. ,
 There are some good stories told about Mime Modjeska, the famous Polish ac- tress, who has just died. Perhaps the most amusing however, Is that which re- lates how she joshed private audience who had been beseeching her to recite something in her native language. De- murring at first, the famous actress at last gave way, and the audience sat spell bound as she dramatically uttered unin- telligible words. Great applause was the reward for the effort; but what the feelings of the people must have been when they learned that she had merely recited the numbers from one to hun dred in Polish it is scarcely possible to describe.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09
From the Frankfurter Zeitung.

From the Brankfurter Ze1tung.
 EARS ago the jolly landlord or the ((Or sympathetic waiter came around O and talked it over," so that the customer could make a wise selection before ordering his meal. All is changed. Nowadays we are simply fed" and the modern and obliging innl<eeper has been replaced by the properly dressed, severe looking fioorwalker sub-manager, who seems to have nothing in common with the people and who drives several walters around your table. You are not served; ; you are simply fed and finished off to make room for the next victim.
 Everything moves according to busi- ness and system, from which no man can depart. In a Berlin restaurant one night I asked for spinach.
 Do you take 1t as roast?" asked the waiter.
 Bring it as you please" I replied.
 '"Then I'll bring it as a roast" was the decision.
 He brought it, but 1t was simply spin ach On the bill I paid for it as a roast.
 Restaurant walters in modern Germany are under military rule as to what they may or may not serve to customers. In the beer-and-wine restaurants of Berlin the beer and wine departments are rigidly distinct and apart. In the wine depart ment you cannot have beer unless you have already taken wine. In some res taurants if you are an old customer, and if you insist on having beer in the wine saloon, the manager, after formal appeal. will consent, but in order to preserve the proper appearance of aristocratic respect ability in the eyes of the other clients he will place an empty wine bottle on the table at your elbow.
 One of the specialties of the German restaurant is It's complete file of news papers, but all at once you are informed
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09
NEW SULTAN OF TURKEY.

From Golfers Weekly.
 Mehmed V was girt with the sword of Osman on May 10 in the Mosque Ayoub. Standing in front of the buildings that compose the sublime porte, this new calf of calfs drew from it's sheath the scimitar and raised it on high. It is the ancient sword worn by 34 of his ancestors, and 2S of them since Constantinople was conquered. The sword was girded on the new monarch by the Holy One of Ko- nia,' Chelibi, grand master of dancing dervishes; and the rite signifies that the spiritual power passes with the temporal to the new ruler
 A monarch he is, blue-eyed and fair of hair, with pointed mustache, kindly expression of face, and rather diffident manner. The New York Sun is author ity for the statement that he is a book lover.
 "A Paris orientalist has In his posses sion an extremely rare volume of Persian poems translated into Turkish by Rechad Effendi, now Mehmed V. The book was in- tended for private circulation only, and very few copies were printed. The trans lation, 1t is said, shows a rare knowl- edge of Persian and profound under standing of it's poetic genus
 He is starred with as many titles as 'social worker" He Is the Shadow of God upon Earth. He is Sultan of Sultans, King of Kings, Bestower of Crowns upon the Princes of the World. Emperor and Sovereign Lord of the White Sea and the Black Sea, of Rumalia and Anatolia, of Carmania, Roum, Kurdistan. Azebaijan, Cham, Aleppo, Egypt, Mecca, Medina, Ja. rusalem the Holy, of all the countries of Arabia and the Yemen. and, moreover, of an Infinity of Provinces Gloriously Ac- quired.
 He is protector of Mussulman religion, sovereign and padisha of all the Otto- mans. His majesty is Irresponsible; his person sacred. He invests governors, names ministers, coins money, declares war, makes peace and commands the armies by sea and land.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09
THE CAPTAIN WAS RIGHT.

From Everybody's Magazine.
 During the recent financial depression in England Pat and Mike enlisted in the British army. After their first drill the captain, thinking the circumstances op- perfume for little lecture on patriotism, demanded eloquently: Soldiers, why should a man die for his king and his countrty?'
 This struck Pat as a proper question. Turning to Mike he said
 Faith, MoilSe, the captain is roight! Whoi?"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

From the New York Press.
 The way for woman to manage man Is not to be married to him.
 mans conscience hardly ever cries out if there's anybody around to hear It.
 There are two kinds of fools-just plain. ordinary fools and highly educated fools.
 A girl knows heap more than sha will let on about everything except how she can help her mothss about the house.
 If you have much company in the house the servants won't stay because 1t makes too much workt # you don't have any. they won't stay bsosuss you have no social position
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09

of an earlier period toward such plays was shown by James Russell Lowell-a strong man, if ever our country has produced one-who declined to attend per- formances of Sarah Bernhardt, because he would not allow my mind to be dragged in the gutter"; and if an exam- pie is desired of the opinion of "a strong man" of the present day, relative to such plays-and also an example of the natural and right action of such a man it can be found in the conduct of one of the strongest men now living, Will liam Howard Taft President of the United States, who last week, as recorded in adyices from the capital, left the Be- lasco theatre in Washington after the first act of new play called 'The Rev ellers" Ca play written, to the discredit of the theatrical profession. by an actor, Charles Richman), because 1t was im- proper and offensive.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09

for any price. If given half a show the railroads will do their part. When they begin to show evidences of real pros perity you watch how quickly everything will boom. When that time comes we will be crying for cars not rates"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09

Men may be born equal, but the trusts get the net profits anyway.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09

The American cupid Is outclassed in one Iowa town where five brides ar rived from over seas In one bunch.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09
IN RETROSPECT.

IN RETROSPECT. When you are looking back. With contemplative eyes, To days when you roamed free Beneath the summer skies And climbed belike, a hill And found a valley cool, Where sunbeams through the leaves Were dancing on a pool And little fellows splashed The waves with shril delight Sometimes a mist of tears Shuts out the pleasant sight. For time has wrought a change And you are stiff and old And wouldn't dare Ego in"- The water be too cold.
 DOOMED AT THE START. Twill they be happy?' '"rhey don't stand a chance" What's the trouble?' ''She thinks money grows on trees and he wears lavender socks.''
 ASK THEM. Do you know, some people think um- pires ought to have the choicest seats in heaven?"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09

on account of his speculations in wheat, but he got three and one-half million dollars from those speculations and he stands ready to overlook the abuse.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09

Cloudbursts are not very objection able provided they are impartially dis tributed
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09

King Edward won the derby, but his poet laureate has thus far neglected to write an epic on it. He may claim that he was not appointed to laureate at horse races.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09

Rats cause loss of s1 per capita in this country every year-$1 per head of people, not of rats.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09

The country has become so prosper ous the President now takes three square meals a day, instead of two.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09
STAYED TOO LONG.

Have you ever known a man who was afraid to go home in the dark, Miss Pert?'
 ''Yes. I had suitor once who was troubled that way.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09

Elephants are to be used in the Philippines as draft animals. The hope, too, is that the G. o. P. will in this way become popular among our brown fellow citizens.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09

being bored by the tedious and wholly idle acon-Shakespeare controversy.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09

The 5-cent loaf of broad is becoming less and less cumbersome. It may yet be carried in the vest pocket.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09

A day in June when it does not rain Is the rare one mentioned by the poet.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09

Pittsburg may lose its supremacy in steel but it will not care much if it can retain the services of Honus Wagner.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09
HANDICAPPED.

f1ANDICAFFED. V "Bifflins, the poet, was asked to give definition of love" 'I suppose he got off something pretty good?"
 ''No, he couldn't say a word. It seems that he was sober at the time"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09

Mr. Hartman says Judge Landis created the panic and Judge Landis says Hartman did 1t. Call in the arbitrators.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09

Republican senators hesitate in choosing between obedience to the will of the people and the will of New Eng lands Aldrich.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09

Cologne's cathedral, the building of which covered 5c0 years, is in danger of tumbling down on account of weak
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09

The zepeplin airship took on more benzine, tied up its wounds and flew back to it's starting point. It declined to be hauled back to it's garage by oxen
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09

Uncle Joe Cannon indulges in pugil- ism between congressional sessions only. He considers the former incl dental and perhaps preparatory.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09

Ex-Senator Foraker is lining up to fight Governor Harmon in 1910, hoping in that way to get back where he can serve Standard Oil to best advantage.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09
l me who

"Bahl I'd like for you to tell me who thinks that"
 "Umpires do."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09

In Chicago naive sounds like knave, but in other parts of the coun- try the correct pronunciation is SUD- posed to be nah-eye.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09

Uncle Sam lost last year 159,832 good citizens to Canada. They went to Canada to raise wheat and grow up with the country.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09

Senator after senator is telling Aldrich what they think of him, and the latter naturally wants an end put to the whole business
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09
cHEERFD.

CHEERED. He walked away from worry Said, "None Of that for me-" And stopped-a bird was singing Somewhere up in a tree. And while he stood and listened To that sweet roundelay, His cares were all forgotten,
 His troubles slipped away And life seemed no such matter Of heartache and despair, And quarry slaves bemoaning
 The heavy loads they bear. And soon he fell to dreaming
 Of better times to be, Just for that songbird singing Somewhere up in tree.
 COLD COMFORT.
 "She called me a vulgarian.'
 Did she really?
 ''Yes. The catp'
 'T had no idea she was such a close observer"
 REPLIES.
 After all, the people who don't climb to fame have the satisfaction of knowing that it is oftentimes rather cold and lone- some up there.
 A line in one of the recent plays says that 1t takes a widow to fix a date. Also to fix trap. The discovery of a large blacksnaks in the center of Birmingham's business district was doplorable It started a red hot prohibition argument
 There are occasions when the night sessions of the United States Senate are not poker sessions.
 A young woman committed suicide the other day Because" The ruling pas- sion was strong even in death. An East St. Louis man Is under ar rest with 169 indictments against him for embedding funds which had been entrust- CT to him by friends in his capacity of a self-constituted private banker. It is quite probable that the birthrate of suckers Is more than one every minute. A garbage man in Detroit beat a saloon- keeper who offered him a 1O-cent tip. Some people in this world are mighty particular who haven't any cause to be. Sixteen married couples were separated by divorce decrees one morning recently in Memphis. Still. Memphis is a fine re- union townA PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09
ON DINING IN BERLIN

| that no newspaper is obtainable that day.
 Why Is this?
 Because it is a holiday and the crowd is too big. If each customer were al- lowed to read the papers he would be- main too long in front Of the same glass of beer.
 Berlin has two or three restaurants which are 'the largest in the world, One of them can accommodate 4OOO cus- toners at once. In this respect at least Berlin beats all other cities in the way of big things. not even excepting New ! York or Chicago.
 The mechanism and managemenf of the Berlin restaurants are much like those of Chicago and the service and food are of the same style. The customer is fed.
 The stranger in Berlin is bewildered by the bill of fare, which looks like A three-sheet poster, with the names of every animal vegetable and super. He prays silently as he runs his finger down the lines and orders 'hammelkotelettes naturelles init pommes frites," or young Hamburg goose a la Friedrchstrasse, and when it arrives he is obliged to ex- plore for it under a thick brown sauce The next time he goes to restaurant he endeavors to order something which has no disguise. The article arrives in the same mysterious flood. He tries roast beef, but it is with the brown sauce He flies to chicken a 'lAmericaine, but the brown sauce is still there.
 There is no escape. The brown sauce if of the national life. It must be taken while you are in Germany. It reminds you of the western boarding house, im- mortalized in song, where nobody knows what the boarders eat.'
 From the native standpoint however, 1t looks like gracious privilege, and an appreciative critic has given it the title of kaiserlich-konigliche priviligerte sauee."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09
FORGOTTEN

This life is a game, difficult game, A game that Is hard to play, But few can remember and fewer can
 name
 The winners of yesterday,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09
DR. PLUNkET,S CALI.

The name of the greatest intensive farmer of the age is Jim Patten.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09
COLD COMFORT.

COLD COMFORT. "She called me vulgarian." Did she really?' ''Yes. The catp FT had no idea she was such Q close observer
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09

The discovery of a large blacksnake in the center of Birmingham's business district was doplorable It started red hot prohibition argument.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09

Washington Bureau Age-Herald. 14:i c street. N. W.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09
REPLIES.

After all, the people who don't climb to fame have the satisfaction of knowing that it is oftentimes rather cold and lone- some up there.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09

There are occasions when the night sessions of the United States Senate are not poker sessions.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09

A line in one of the recent plays says that 1t takes widow to fix a date. Also to fix trap.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09

Entered at the Birmingham. Alag postofnce as second class matter undet act of Congress March 8. 1879.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09

Dr. Plunket has been officially called to the pastorate of the South Highlands Presbyterian church.