davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-31
Money Running Short At Montgomery

The very bottom of the state treas ury will be reached this week. and the state will have to borrow money at time when even call money in New York commands high rates. The governor is authorized to borrow $S00,- 900. but that sum will not enable the state to meet all it's obligations even when the money collected for the old soldiers and for the public schools is used to pay current expenses.
 The situation is not one that com mends Comerism to the people. The state has been filled with unrest and all uneharitableness by a series of agi- tations, the last of the series being wholly superfluous and inexcusable. This last spasmodic movement is, in fact, but an effort on the part of Gov ernor Conner to secure indirectly an Endorsement of his administration. And yet those who recall conditions in October, 1906, when Governor Jelks term was nearing its end, and conditions under Governor Conner in October, 1909, will be apt to hesitate before they indorse the administra- ton of the latter
 When it eomes," says the Mont gomery Advertiser, ito the matter Of taxation the people have been harried and harassed under the present ad- ministration far worse than at any other period of the states history. The fine tooth comb has been used in hunting for subjects of taxation until absolutely nothing is left untouched Not satisfied with the returns from a rate at the very highest point the con stitution allows the edict has gone forth, that the valuations under which taxes are now being paid will not be allowed to stand for the next session of tax gathering, but that twist must be given and the screw of increased valuation be turned to the very ut most limit
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-31
CAT AND THE BABYs BREATH. Medical Opinion as to the Tradition
 of a Feline Danger.
From the New York World.

From the New York World
 eDeceased came to her death from strangulation, due to a large black cat as she slept."-
 This has been the verdict Of more than one coroner's jury. Elsie Ann Thaxter, one month and three weeks old, daugh ter of John and Alice Thaxter, No. 521O Morningdale avenue, Pittsburg. is one of the most recent child victims to be mur dered by black cat which sucked her breath according to the coroner's jury of Allegheny cdknty. According to the testimony taken at the inquest the cat was found with its paws about the babys neck and it's mouth into hers, drawing out her breath
 Several physicians have Investigated the ancient story that cats suck the breath of babies. and pr. J. Rice Gibbs declares that the theory is ridiculous. Cats occasionally kill children, he de- clares. but they do it in a different fashion.
 "It has been stated that a cats nos tri1s are so formed as to make a per feet juncture with the nose of a baby" said Dr. Gibbs. "and that a little pres sure would push them upward and make them a perfect fit. Then the cats chin would rest over and below the baby's mouth, preventing it from opening to re- lieve the strangulation while the cat sucked its breath. That is all rot. The manner in which little children are killed laxr {o A far warm place to curl up and sleep, lies down upon the chest of little child, and, being quite heavy-many cats are as heavy as little babies-simply crushes the breath out of the childs lungs and stran- gulation takes place, but not through sucking of the child's breath.
 '"The idea that only black cats kill lit- tie babies is equally ridiculous. It Is simply because black cats are considered unlucky. In former times the black cat was considered the very genious of witch craft. In those days when a baby died the blame was often fixed upon some bag, who, the judges said, had sent a black cat to suck the baby's breath And often bag and cat suffered death at the stake.
 Evil omen is still the cry in many parts of the world whenever a black cat approaches a cradle. Many modern New Workers are so superstitious that the ap- pearance of a black cat in sick room is considered equivalent to an announce ment Of approaching death. What could be more absurd?
 Mothers need not be afraid of cats, black, white or green, sucking their ba- bies breath and murdering them. It is time that this popular fallacy should be exploded"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-31
WAISTS BROKE UP REVIVAL.
Swarm Invaded Church in Georgia
 and People Ran Out.

From the Atlanta institution.
 A great revival meeting in progress at the Baptist church at Boston, Ga., was broken up by the swarming of yellow Jackets, which had built nests back of the pulpit.
 The services were at high tension. the preacher being engaged in calling sinners to the mourning bench, when the yellow jackets began to dart out from their nests and sting saints and sinners alike. In few minutes there seemed to be thousands of the spiteful insects flying about the church and darting their stings into the brethren and sisters.
 The preacher was one of the first to be stung, and the pain put a stop to his ex- hortations. The women screamed when struck by the yellow jackets and many of the men said things that had no churchly sound.
 After standing for the singing few minutes the congregation got into panic and bolted for the door leaving the sacred edifice in possession of the yellow jackets
 Five hundred men women and child ren put lotions on 'stung" spots that night.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-31
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Reqardino Home Drinking.

There are several classes of prohibit tionists who are supporting the amend ment." said a well-known citizen who voted dry two years ago.
 First, there is the simon-pure prohibi- tionist, who is a total abstainer and prohibitionist from conviction. Next, there is the feather-legged politician. who drinks a good deal of whisky at home and elsewhere. but who poses as the foe of the whisky crowd Then there is the mod crate drinker, who thinks it is all right to drink at home but who does not ap- prove of social drinking outside of home. Then there are two or three other classes, but those enumerated are the principal ones.
 Now. from my observations I would say that the simon-pure. or ultra-prohi- bitionfst. forms the bulk of the amendist party. He feels certain that drinking beer. wine or whisky is a sin in itself and he will never be satisfied until liquor is driven from the home. I have talked with a number of these extremists within the past few days and they tell me they expect to see the time when there will not be drop of wine, beer or whisky in Alabama (Vain honeD These men in- sist that there is no use in trying to have constitutional prohibition unless the state is to be freed from liquor. And it is this class that feels scandalized at the ribald remarks of Governor Conner and of the strained jocularity of Judge Weakley, en- couraging whisky drinking at home. One of the amender papers too, seems to en- courage wine-makng and whisky drink ing at home. All this should be stopped.
 "The genuine prohibitionist who votes for the amendment wins the respect of his fellows; the whisky drinking prohibi- suspected of political graft. I started out to be an amender but as I keep whisky on my sideboard and hope always to be able to have some on hand. I have ee- cided that my place is with the whi&y- heads. And, by the way, did it ever occur, to those parsons who are singing mud at the anti-amenders and calling them the whisky men, thereby implying that they belong to the saloon element, that not five per cent, probably not three per cent of the anti-amenders ever had any connection with the liquor business?
 'In point of good morals, the opponents of the amendment as class are fully up to the 'holer-than-tho contingent, and in point of patriotism, brains and power to apprehend truth the anti-amenders in- clude the flower of Alabama's manhood"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-31
Judge Lurton ths Choice of the South

Alabama would be glad to hear that Judge Horace H. Llrton of Tennessee is to be promoted to the supreme bench in the place of Justice Peck ham, deceased. Judge Lurton is wide ly recognized as a jurist of excep- tional capacity and usefulness. He is a democrat He was born in Ken lucky but has lived since his early manhood in Tennessee. It is not too much to say that the entire south would rejoice in the elevation of Judge Lurton.
 President Taft knows Judge Lurton and his equipment and if he acts up to his convictions he will certainly appoint the Tennessean. It has been suggested that the appointment of Alton B. Parker to the vacant seat would be good politics, but the su- preme bench should not be utilized in that way. What is needed in that court is the best possible democrat that can be selected. Judge Lurton is assuredly that man, and President Taft will make no mistake if he names him for the vacancy.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-31
Flags and Decorations

When the President of the United States comes here on Tuesday next and 50,000 people come here to meet him Birmingham should indeed put it's best foot foremost. It should have on its holiday attire All the streets along the line of march-all the streets, indeed, between Capitol park and the railroad-should be decorated Even Morris avenue should stop long enough to hang out numerous flags. The indications are that the city is to be decorated as it never has been before. All that bunting can accom- plish in daylight and that electric lights can do to make the night glor- ious will be utilized.
 The decoration scheme should be general. The residence districts should participate in it. Hang out the starry banner in every part of the town, and 5000 children, The Age Herald is glad to see, will wave the flag in honor of the nations chief ex- ecutive. Don't let the children be the only flag bearers. Everybody should buy flag and he should wave it when President Taft passes by.
 If every merchant will present a good front along the line of march, and every individual will do his part, the day will become memorable and the President will be glad he had spent two days among the workers in iron and steel in this district.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-31
FALLEN LEAVES.

By keDle. Red Der the forest peers the setting sun, The line of yellow light dies fast away That crowned the eastern copse; and chill and dun Falls on the moor the brief November day. Now the tired hunter winds a parting And echo bids goodnight from every glade; Yet wait awhile. and see the calm leaves float Each to his rest beneath their parent shade. Soon OCT their heads blithe April hours shall sing, thousand wild flowers round them shall unfold; The green buds glisten in the dews of spring. And all be vernal rapture as of old. Unconscious they in waste oblivion lie, In all the world of busy life around No thought of them; in all the bounteous sky No drop for them of kindly influence found. Mans portion is to die and rise again Yet he complains. while these unmur- muring part With Y cir sweet lives, as pure from sin and stain As ms wnen Eden held his virgin heart
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-31
Fifteol-Cent Cotton

Not since the days of 1903-04 has cotton been so high as it is at pres ent, and the best of it all is the rise has come when the larger share of the crop is in the hands of the farmers themselves. Ordinarily the spinners or spectators, or both, hold the crop when a great rise comes, but this year the farmer is holding to great extent the bales he grew.
 The reason of the extraordinary rise is the shortness of the crop. All things considered it is as short as the crop of six years ago, when the yield was 10,011,000 bales, and the price went to TIA cents. The worlds require ments are greater now than they were six years ago and it is indeed probable that the deficiency of American cot ton will be as large this year as it was then
 The cotton mills are temporarily distressed by the rise in the price of cotton, but the world needs goods, and the prices of those goods will soon be adjusted to the price of cotton. It is not reasonable to expect that the price of cotton will be adjusted to the price of cotton goods in a year when the supply of the former is two million bales short. The closing of mills here and there for a few days will have small effect on prices.
 This is certainly a fat year for the southern farmers. It will put fully $S00000,000 in their pockets, and if that amount be properly conserved the southern farmers will make next years crop on their own money.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-31
TWO GREAT OTHELLOS

tion like the rents in the ruins of Kar- nak and Luxor
 Salvini used only two colors to paint ms picture of this tragedy. He is a mas ter of light and shade, kind of dramatic Rembrandt. The landscape surrounding his black and feverish Othello is wild tropical jungle with here and there fleclxs of shade upon it's brightness, such as are cast by light clouds scudding across the sun. The atmosphere about him ia scorcmng and filled with the poisonous insects that plague the vertebrate crea- tion
 IT l were asked to construct annro- priate frames for these two masterpieces oi art l should fashion Salvinis out of eoony In blackest tint. while for Booths otheilo l should gild a frame with purest gold
 oo not wish to take from either nic- ture' or to add to either Salvini and Booth, the greatest actors of modern times, have both left works which vii, i've as this generation remains to sneat or them. Only there is this difference Tn the direction of their arts-saIvin, was an animal painter, while Rootb was historical one. To study animals or tbe natural man, one need only plunge into the recesses of a forest; but to create true and perfect historical picture. con- scienlious In every detail, the artist must nave the ability to scan the horizons of art and history
 6ooths picture was an honest effort to reproouce the otheho of Shakespeare, oi venice and of traditional history, Sal Vihis was terrible production and a,- together lacked the spirit of noble trae- eoy' The question remains-never. ner- maps, to be finally settled-whicb is Shakespeare?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-31
WOMEN SWIMMERS.
From the Philadelphia Bulletin.

rom the Philadelphia Bulletin.
 The Corean women are the best swim mers in the world" said a lifeguard. "rbs Corean pearl diving Is in their hands. Ihey swim-they don't boat-they swim out 10 the pearl fisheries of Quelpart iugging baskets with them. After this swim of half an hour they dive down 6o feet and fetch up queer one-shelled near, oysters as big as babies. They dive till their baskets are fufr-the baskets ara oorked to keep them afioat-and after three or four hours work they swim pack home with their catch. The big one- sheiled oysters are valuable as pearI mines and as food, too. A half dozen coreans will sit down to an oyster as gayly as you or I sit down to boiled lobster. Sometimes when the great she'll fish is eaten raw it quivers and moans slightly as the knife is plunged into it.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-31
OUR DEBT TO PUNCH.
From the Boston Globe.

From the Boston Globe.
 Emerson said that Punch is sure to be funny once in so often. That is greater praise than most Americans are inclined to bestow on a publication chiefly memor- able to them on account of its noble poem on Abraham Lincoln. Bill Nye and other of our mirth-proyiders have repeatedly made fun of Punch's alleged humor. Yet more than one of these revilers were in- debted to their London contemporary.
 It was Bill Nye who told the story of passenger in a street car volunteering to be one of party of two to give fat lady seat. Yet in Punch was first print ed the original of that joke. But the joke having travelled, appeared not long ago in the form of comment on MT. Taft's politeness in getting up in trolley car and offering two ladies a seat
 But this fat jest, so Mir. C. J. Taylor tells the New York Evening Post, is an old Punch joke of Charles Kenne's In it's original shape, a conductor of an omnibus bawled out as fat woman en- give this lady a seat?"
 UT BlsnOp BrOokS IL mas been told how, seeing a small boy anxious to ring a doorbell, he supplemented the efforts of the youngster with vigorous pull supposing the youngster lived within the house When he had done so, the lad exclaimed, Run like the divil mis- ter. I was playing tricks!" The same story was recently told of Archbishop Ryan.
 But, as MT. Taylor points out, this joke first appeared in Punch in about 1875.
 What commandment did Cain break when he killed Abel?' was asked a pupil in an American Sunday school, the pupil being he who is now the Rev. Dr. Funk of the wellknown publishing house. The answer was, There weren't any com mandments then" That joke appeared in Punch in the sixties.
 Making due allowance for the differ ence in natural conceptions of what is humorous and what is not, it must be admitted that We are MT. Punchs debt ors and it does not become us to under rate him.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-31
To Visit Birmingham.

Dr. H. B. Frissell one of the trustees of the general education board, which disbursed over $42.oOooo0 given by MT. Rockefeller and others for educational purposes, will stop In Birmingham on his way through the south next Tuesday, and during his visit to this city will be the guest of Belton Gilreath. He will attend the Taft banquet.
 Dr. Frissell is one of the most in1uen- tial educators in this country and has been a great friend of the south in having large amounts of money appropriated for industrial and higher education. He has been an especial friend and believer in the south and is the man who induced MT Taft to serve as trustee of the Ma rion institute. He is just from New York, where he was appointed one of the trustees of the latest benefactions of Mir. Rockefeller-the gift of s1,0O0.0oo for fight ing the hookworm in the south. Dr.. Frissel is a man Of quiet manner, but strong personality and has been for some time one of the chief advisors of MT. Carnegie, MT. Rockefeller. MT. Taft and others on southern educational matters.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-31
THE MAKING OF NEckTIEs.

From the Boston Transcript
 Most of the neckties worn in the United States are made in New York, 50 the country has both a practical and senti- mental interest In the existing strike of the necktie workers, who number 5000, most of them girls not much over the school age. They demand a 10-hour day, sanitary shops, and an increase of cents on each dozen ties for each class of help. Probably the average citizen never real ized that the division of industry makes even the manufacture of tie task for several persons; but it appears that the bit of silk has to pass through cutters, turner's. slip stitchers and operators. not to mention sorters and packers and others who help the finished article on it's way out of the factory.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-31
Blast Furnaces In the Country

Counting big and little stacks. the bob-tailed and the full-fledged, the United States geological survey To- cated at the end of last year 47O furnaces in the United States. There are 51 in this district, 2S of which are in or near Jones valley Possibly not more than 35 stacks in this dis trict can, however, be economically operated.
 New stacks are being built at Gary and near Pittsburg and in other To- calities, and perhaps the total will be carried in the present calendar year across the o00-line This is emphat- ically the home of the great com. mercial metal, and if our ore supply should become deficient we would at once draw upon Cuba and other for eign ore beds. And when the War rior is opened it is not impossible that Cuban ore will be brought to Alabama fuel to be melted. More ore and richer ore is needed in order to let this district reach it's fullest development. and there is no reason why Cuban ores should not be brought here by water with perhaps one transshipment at Mobile. Ores are apt to be carried to fuel, although at Gary and some other points they meet half way. At Duluth, strangely enough, fuel is car ried to the ore, but ore vessels on the lakes go back empty and freight charges are low. In this district Cuban ores can soon be brought here by water to be mingled with hone ore.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-31
The Pulpit and Politics.

Every one who looks over the perodi- calls must be struck with the large space given to articles on the subject Of re- despair that mark some of the discussions from the pens of ministers" said a thoughtful layman.
 The reading man soon gets the i'm pression that church attendance in cities is falling off and that agnosticism and in- differentism are greatly weakening Ire larger congregations. This is particular ly true with regard to the city churches in the north Infdelity was never so aggressive as now. What shall the church do to regain its lost power? one minister recently asked. The simple answer would be, Let the preacher preach the gospel, be Christ-like himself and keep out of politics.
 Tn this amendment campaign, reek- ing as 1t is with politics. many parsons have been taking an active part, and in several instances church bodies have adopted resolutions indorsing the pro- posed amendment to write prohibition in the organic law. It is grieving those who still look upon the Christian religion as holy and it is naturally causing out siders to change their reverence for the church to a feeling of distrust and in- difference. No religious denomination can remain In a healthy, growing state if politics is allowed to creep in.
 Here in the south at least our various churches have been up to now conser- vative and absolutely free from political alliances Heresy scandals have been aa- most unknown. But prohibition politics has caught the unsophisticated and Satan is taking advantage of the situation. Some of the most consistent communi- cants of certain Protestant churches have told me that they quickly de- termined to ignore all unwarranted and meddlesome political action on the part of their governing bodies. It should be the earnest prayer of every true Chris tian that we may never again see such an unholy mess as some of the parsons have made of the church and state scheme So long as the pastor Is wit ness for Christ and confines himself to his sacred calling, he will be blessing to his people. But the very day he turns politician. then it's good bye to all his pastoral influence"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-31
Less Than 1000, ,ooo Bales.

siderably under million bales' said J. o. Thompson, United States collector of internal revenue, who farms on an extensive scale. We will be doing well to market 900,0O0 bales l myself planted for 1000 bales of cotton, and at one time during the summer l thought l might gave about 500 bales, but now 1t looks as if l might fall very much below that estimate.
 ''I meet cotton planters every day and am making notes of what they say of their crops. The prospects look worse and worse. Cotton will go to 20 cents. I haven't the least doubt about that"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-31
PHYLLIS BREAKS LOOSE.

Phyllis Perryman of Taft has been ar- rested upon the charge of emhezzling $500 from her mother. Phyllis sold a tract of land, collected the money, and then took a fast train to Kansas City. where she put on a show'' that lasted long enough for her to burn up the $1S00 When arrested" says the Muskogee Phoenix, Phyllis had no money, but told the officer she had certainly went some since leaving Oklahoma"
 Kansas City Times
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-31
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

From the New York Press.
 Being engaged is sort of legalized insanity.
 A girls wits are proved by all she can do without them.
 A mans luck in any competition is the mistakes the other fellow makes.
 Adam was lucky man not to have to try to make his wife's sewing machine run.
 A man votes the way ne does because he thinks other people think he knows what he's voting about.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-31
ONLY ONE OF HIS KIND.

From the Los Angeles Times.
 The only real philosopher among the very rich is MT. Rockefeller, who at- tends Sabbath school regularly, plays a quiet game of golf now and then, and listens to the old family clock ticking 1t up at $40 a minute.