davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-18
ChicaeO'S Showers of CatalOgs

Chicago is not the financial or the trade center of the country, but it is clearly the mail order center. One of it's great mail-order houses has just broken all postal records by mailing 6,000,000 catalogs, each weighing two ounces-the whole weighing 450 tons. The sacks holding the catalogs weighed 65 tons. If these catalogs had been sent on one train in one direction 30 full-length cars would have been filled.
 A telegram from Chicago claims that this was the largest single mailing that any postofice in this or any other country was ever called upon to handle.
 It shows how carefully and compre. hensively the country is canvassed by means of catalogs The aggregate of Chicago's mail order business is, in short, a showing of it's distributive capacity and to some extent of the country's consuming capacity.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-18
MT. Cannon Seeking Reyente

Three members of the band of 22 who came to the relief of Joseph C.. Cannon and the machine have already received their reward. Mir Fitzgerald has been made member of the rules committee, and Messrs. Harrison and Broussard have been put on the com. mittee of ways and means. MT. Brous. sard is protectionist first and demo- crat afterward. MT. Fitzgerald is the man who refused to lay his plan be- fore democratic caucus, preferring ot spring it at moment that world let the Cannonites creep out of the hole into which they had fallen. The other 19 will no doubt be rewarded when the speaker appoints the other committees. After the great scare to which the speaker was subjected by the joint action of the true-blue demo. crats and insurgents he is hunting scalps, and for that purpose he has taken away from the minority leader the privilege of naming the minority members of the various committees.
 But the democratic caucus bound all democrats in the House to refuse ser vice on a committee unless their
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-18
MORE BUSINESS IN
 IRON AND STEEL

Cleveland, Ohio March 1.-The Iron Trade Review tomorrow will say:
 "A very comfortable amount of new business is being received by the steel mills and prices are for the most part being well maintained. At Chicago the leading interest received well distributed orders amounting to 32,O00 tons, the larg- est amount for any week in the past IS months. Buyers of all kinds of machin- cry are urging reductions of prices, and some manufacturers are yielding to the pressure. Some very low prices are be- ing made on fabricated steel, but the price of the plain material seems to be maintained. The closing of nine plants having high production costs seems n- evitable The eastern district of the Amalgamated association has declined to accept reductions in wage scales and stikes may result. Although no additional orders for iron ore have been placed some of the important consumers have made reservations with the understand. ing that orders will be placed as soon as prices are announced and it is estimated that shipments for the year will exceed by about 4,00000e tons those of last year. Leading ore interests are strongly op- posed to any reduction of ore prices.
 'The pig iron market is extremely dull, the only activity being shown in New England where about 2500O tons have been purchased. Prices are declining and sales are being made at $11.50 Brming- ham No 2, while reports of even lower prices for the southern product are cur rent. Northern prices also show weak ness.
 There is considerable activity in struc- tural steel
 'The demand for sheets Is improved in the west, but there Is some shading, especially on the corrugated product.
 "The Carnegie Steel company has made a second contract for steel wheels for a Chicago traction interest. which in- cluding a previous contract calls for about 5000 wheels The same company has also contracted with the Pennsy- vania railroad for 10,090 steel wheels.
 Specifications on steel bar contracts are improving and the price of 120 Pittsburg is being adhered to. Bar iron is dull and prices are very irregular. as low as 134 being quoted at New York and Chicago. No change has been made in prices of wire products and sales are not large"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-18
New Payne Tariff Bill

The new tariff bill Is at last before the country, and 1t will be studied closely by every intelligent citizen. And perhaps the greatest surprise will come in the proposition to cure the deficit by selling Panama bonds and u easury certifcates-$40, 100000 of the former. and if need be S150000,000 of the latter. An inheritance tax is pro vided for, but only S20.000,000 is ex- pected from it. That sum would not go fartoward meeting ar annual deficit that exceeds s1O0,000,O00. This will be a disappointment, for it had been expected that provisions would be re- ported that would meet and overcome the deficit.
 The anticipations of increased reve- nue from the changes in the tariff rates are too roseate for the immediate present, whatever they may be for the long future. It is very plain that there will be need for a sale of both bonds and treasury certificates unless i'm ports are increased beyond present expectations.
 A cursory reading of the long list of proposed duties does not disclose any, thing that would be especially helpful in this district Iron ore is to go on the free list. The duty on sawed lum- Der is to be cut down one-half. All duties on iron and steel are reduced. Railway wheels are to bear less duty. Coal is to be placed on the free list. The duties on wire nails and steel rails are to be reduced one-half. The duty on charcoal iron is cut in two, and that on pig iron is to be reduced to s2.50 a ton. It stands at present at $4 a ton This district is pretty freely treated to reductions, but there may be compen- sations in other parts of the bill. On first reading, however, these com pensations do not appear
 The bill as reported provides that it shall go into effect on the day follow ing it's enactment, and big country is now anxious to know when that day will roll round.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-18
TO A SkYLARk.

By Shelley. Hail to thee, blithe Spirit Bird thou never vert, That from heaven, or near it, Pourest thy full heart In profuse strains of unpremeditated
 art. Higher still aud higher From the earth thou springest' Like cloud of fire, The blue deep thou wingest, And singing still dost soar, and soar
 ing ever singest. In the golden lightning Of the sunken suH Der which clouds are brightening, Thou dost float and run, Like an unbodied joy whose race is
 just begun. All the earth and air With thy voice Is loud, As when night is bare. From one lonely cloud The moon rains out her beams, and
 heaven is overf1ow'd. Teach us. sprite or bird. What swet thoughts are thine; have never heard Praise of love or wine That panted forth a flood of rapture
 so divine. Waking or asleep Thou of death must deem Things more true and deep Than we mortals dream. Or how could thy notes flow in such
 crystal stream? We look before and after, And pine for what is not; Our sincerest laughter With some pain is fraught: Our sweetest songs are those that tell
 of saddest thought Teach me half the gladness That thy brain must know, Such harmonious madness From my lips would flow, The world would listen then. e aD
 listening nowi
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-18

assignments had been approved by Leader Champ Clark. What this rule of the caucus will lead to remains to be disclosed. It is difficult to see how MT. Clark and MT. Fitzgerald can work together on the rules committee, for MT. Clark will not at any time become an assistant republican. And MT. Broussard will not represent the demo- cratic party or the national platform on the ways and means committee. Such appointments as these simply operate tohasten the downfall of Can nonism.
 It is not believed that MT. Broussard will sign the minority report of the ways and means committee on tariff revision, and possibly Mr Harrison will not The speaker is out for re- yenge, and he is acting foolishly in making appointments to committees. There is not bit of sense, but great deal of revenge, in the Broussard ap- pointment to the ways and means com. mittee and the appointment of MT. Fitzgerald to the rules committee, for neither will in the fullest sense repre- sent the minority of the House.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-18
oId.Eashioned Sun Dial.

My attention was attracted by an old fashioned sun dial which stands in front of a store on Twentieth street near Firth avenue, today" said a citizen. Il be- lieve it is the first one I have seen dur ing my five years residence in Birping- ham, The maker of this marble adial explained to me that it was made here and is designed for this latitude. It ap- pears that the index or gnomon of the instrument has decidedly different slant for different latitudes. To be technically correct. the index must be parallel with the earth's axis in order that its shadow may show the time accurately.
 "The sun dial, while of little practical use nowadays, is an instrument of great historic interest and is valuable for in struction of the young. l am surprised that there are not more of them in Bir- mingham and that one has not long ago been placed in one of our parks. One of the most elaborate sun dials l ever saw was that in Washington park in Chicago, made of flowers, the dial being some 30 feet in diameter. A large post set parallel with the earth's axis casts the shadows on the various figures of the dial which are outlined in flowers"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-18
Peaches In GeOrgia Unhurt

The recent frosts were by no means light, but Commissioner of Agriculture Hudson of Georgia says they did not damage the peach crop of Georgia south of Atlanta. The chances are pretty good that the peach trees north of Atlanta also escaped material dam age
 This escape no doubt puts the blos- sons beyond danger from frost, for killing frosts are not apt to be damag- ing in the southern peach belt after March 20. The crop of last year was abundant and another good crop seems to be pretty well assured. The peach growers are acting together now, and a good crop would be so distributed that it would bring back to the grow CTS good net prices.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-18
DAYS RECORD IN \
 COUNTY COURTS

The case of Hinton G. Clabaugh vs. ]. A. VanHoose. on trial before Judge A. 0. Lane in the circuit court, was the source Of chief interest at the courthouse yes- terday. However several of the other divisions were busy and the work of the courts proceeds without interruption.
 In the chancery division only one case was disposed of yesterday. The case of J. C. Walls vs. Mrs. k. Brophy, guardian, ct al., was dismissed.
 In the first division of the city court the entire docket was disposed of yester- day morning. Several cases were dis missed while others were continued.
 In the second division of the city court the case of D. F. East vs. Southern Rail- way company is on trial
 The case of Mirah Ford vs. Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company is on trial in the third division of the city court. The jury is out with the case of w. M. Jones vs Alabama Great Southern Railroad company. A consent judgment for si0O was rendered in the case of W. B. Etheridge vs. Louisville and Nashville Railroad company.
 L. A. Dent has filed suit in the city court for S50,000 damages against the Southern Garage company. The plaintiff alleges that one of the chauffeurs em- ployed by the garage company ran an automobile into him at the corner of Eleventh avenue and Twelfth street sev- eral months ago, causing him to sustain severe personal injuries. Hence the suit
 Judge Coleman passed and continued majority of the cases set on his docket yesterday. A judgment by default was rendered in one case.
 In the first division of the criminal court the case of Walter McGee, charged with burglary and grand larceny, is on trial. John Williams charged with grand larceny, plead guilty. Phil Flewellen, charged with grand larceny, was convict ed. The jury in the joint case of Garfield Jackson and Webster Thomas, charged with burglary, is out.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-18
library an inspiration.

'It Is an inspiration to a Birmingham citizen to visit the public library these days" said a lover of books last night ",The City Council has generously all lowed the Library association the use of practically the entire upper floor of the city hall and enough shelving has been put in for the accommodation of the 15,- GOO volumes of the library. Miss Greene and her three assistants are working like Trojans to get the books properly ar ranged and atalogued-something that has been entirely missing in the past.
 'As soon as the books are all in place and the library is formally thrown open for the free use of the public, readers are to be allowed to go among the shelves to select what they want-in other words they will be allowed to browse. Every one knows that one of the chief pleas ures of booklovers Is to go among the books and pick out what they want. This of itself will be 8 great attraction.
 "One room has been set aside for chill dren's books and the young ones can have full sway in this room. Two or three times a week expert story tellers will be on hand to talk to the children and explain to them about different books and thus enable them to pick out what they would probably most enjoy. The library outlook in Birmingham is certain ly encouraging"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-18

more of them not guilty, find some of them guilty of one grade of offense and others guilty of another grade of offense, or you may acquit all of the defendants. as you may think warranted by the proof under the rules laid down for your guid- ance.
 Impartial Consideration.
 Now gentlemen you will take the case; take the evidence of each and every wit ness and give to each and every portion the same fair and impartial considera- tion under the rules heretofore laid down for your guidance. You will remember gentlemen that you cannot arbitrarily set aside the testimony of any witnesses, but you will apply the rules above men toned and set out to the evidence and look at it in the light of reason and judg- ment, and after having done so, give it such weight as you may think it deserves. You may accept all the testimony of any witnesses; you may reject It all; you may accept a portion ani reject portion; if you think such would be a proper dis- position to make of the same
 '"The court further charges you that 1t is insisted on by counsel that extra Ju- dicial conversations are the weakest of all contradictory processes, that is. con versations had out of court by witnesses with persons not under oath and deposl- IlOn III d StutIdl way liio ioaooh cSiio first the falliblity of the human memory as to the exact language used in par ticular conversation; the slightest change in the language used may alter the whole sense of a conversation or portion of it, but you will take these if any appear in the proof, and consider them along with the other evidence and after hav- ing done so, give them such weight as you may think they deserve
 You will take the case now, gentlemen, and retire to your room and give as above stated, to all the evidence introduced an impartial consideration and having done so in the light of the proof and the law, as deposed to you by the witnesses and laid down to you by the court make and report such verdict as will in your opin- ion and judgment satisfy the ends of jus tice.
 'The court further charges you that # you convict any of the defendants you should state of what degree of felonious homicide they are convicted and the same should be reported in your verdict ana as above set out and described.
 "So you will take the case and retire to your room for further consideration.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-18
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Hlah-clasa Vocal Artist.

"A number of delightful song recitals have been given at Cable hall this sea- son by high-elass vocal artists but as they were not operatic celebrities, many music lovers failed to hear them" said a musician yesterday. "No singer since Madame sehumann-Heink appeared at the Jefferson theatre a year or so ago has been so much enjoyed as Mrs. Marx of New York, who sang here last fall. And Mrs. Werner-West of Cincinnati. who is to give recital at Gable hall Thursday afternoon is another high artist who comes without mach herading Those of us who have heard her are eager to hear her again"
 Mrs. Werner-West arrived in Birming- ham yesterday and met several local musicians during the evening. Her re- cltal begins this afternoon at 4;SO o'clock.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-18
Brighter Business Outlook.

C. E. Lewis. formerly of Nashville, but now of New York, is registered at the Hlllman. He is one of the best known commercial travellers that comes from the east and has a large number of friends in every southern city.
 Business is improving" said MT. Lewis last night. While it Is not as brisk as it was before the panic, there Is a de- cidedly better feeling. Merchants are placing large orders for next fall and altogether the outlook is very bright.
 "A year ago when I visited Cincinnati, Louisville, St. Louis, Memphis, Nashville ahd Birmingham, I found business at a standstill. Merchants were afraid to lay in stocks. It is different now. Trade has been dull since the first of the year. It has been waiting on settlement of tariff revision, but all seem to feel that by next fall business will take a fresh start on prosperity lines, and are ordering stocks accordingly
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-18
First Steel Uprights.

Although l have no more interest in the building than has the average Bir- mingham citizen, it gave me genuine pleasure to see the first steel uprights hosted for the Empire building today" said d member of the Commercial club. Anyone who has been downtown fre- quently cannot have failed to realize the difficulties under which the contractors were laboring on this corner, where more rock was encountered than ever before in a downtown building for Birmingham.
 Now that the steel work has started though. things will probably hum if there Is any kind of favorable weather. Prob ably a dozen of the uprights were placed In position this afternoon, and it will not be many weeks now until Birmingham 8 sky line will have had another big tooth added to it's jagged edge"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-18
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

From the New YOrk Press.
 There's nobody so easy for girl to fool as her sultor, except herself.
 The kind of philosophy man needs in trouble is the kind he thought he had till he needed it.
 woman prays a great deal to be better because the men in her family are the ones that ought to be.
 The reason a man is afraid of not go- ing to heaven is it's such fun going to the other place till you get there.
 Cussing Is thing to make man get a certain amount of satisfaction even out nf barking his>>shins on rocking hair.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-18
Montaomerx,s Prosperity.

Montgomery holds it's own well in business way and every other way, said F. L. Woodruff. division commercial su- perintendent of the Southern Bell Tele- phone and Telegraph company, with head quarters at the state capital.
 "0ne rarely hears a business man or Montgomery complain of dull times Ihe city is growing steadily, and will give a godo account of itself in the next census. It is a delightful place of resi- denee and is one of the most substantial towns in the whole south.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-18
To Rebuild Fort Morgan.

Mobile, March 17.-Captain H. B. Cham berlain, quartermaster United states army, arrived here today from Chicago. detailed from Washington to superintend the enlargement of Fort Morgan. Some of the old buildings will be torn down and replaced by modern structures, and when the work is completed the fort will have twice its present capacity. Captain Chamberlain left this morning to LOOK over the ground. and will be here about
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-18
The Iron Market.

While the pig iron market is still com paratively quiet, it is believed that more tonnage has been 'contracted for within the past three days than during the whole of last week. The large furnace interests are selling iron every day. The usual quotation is $12 on No. basis, but that price is shaded in some cases, and for some analysis iron s13 is obtained.
 The pending tariff measure makes the market halt and keeps prices unsettled, but as wages stand it is said the price cannot drop any lower and leave a profit for the iron maker.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-18

While MT. Roosevelt is hunting tigers in Africa he should kill kan garoo or two, also an American bison. Anything is possible in this justly cele- hrated hunt.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-18
". R. VENABLE IS
 KILLED BY NEG RO

Montgomery March 17.-(Special.l- l-- w. R. Venable, a well known merchant, was shot to death late tonight by an unknown negro, who escaped. The two men were in room and the cause of the tragedy is unknown
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-18
EDITORIAL AMENITIES.

"Sculptors get along very well, con sidering," said the art editor.
 Considering what?" asked the sporting editor.
 "That they are always making bust" answered the art editor, as he lodged a rule book that came hurtling in his direc- ton.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-18

Los Angeles has 'the recall" by means of which an unpopular official can be unloaded at any time. It's mayor recently resigned to prevent an application of "the recall"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-18

Benzoate of soda would not have saved the House rules if the 22 alleged democrats had stood up to the caucus Of their party.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-18

We regret to chronicle the fact that the newspapers are discarding the cap ital R" in speaking of the late occu- pants of the clover patch, the rough riders
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-18

The Hon. Serene E. Payne should not attempt to become the Autocrat of the Breakfast Table. Let coffee go untaxed while peace lasts
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-18

When Mr. Roosevelt returns two years hence he will look over his poll cies with a view of seeing how they have been treated by his successor.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-18

William Loeb, Jr was so calm and collected in the White House it was natural thing to do to rake him col lector in New York
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-18

The weather man favored the wear CTS of the green in this part of the country. Yesterday was an ideal St. Patricks Day.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-18
THE PRACTICAL JOKER.

He thought 'twould be a funny stunt, And then he wondered why The man whose hand be gripped so hard Hauled off and blaeked his eye.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-18
BOUND TO GRuMBLE.

"Cheer up," said an optimist. 'rhe fish will soon begin to bite"
 'so will the chiggers," said pessim. ist
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-18
BooTLEss READTNa

He read the Bible every day. Did old mas Kettle, But when his creditors said "pav., He wouldn't settle.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-18
AFTER EFFEcrs

"What does it mean when a man says he feels Nike prune?"
 Probably that he was stewed the night before.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-18

Mayor Harper of Los Angeles read the handwriting on the wall in the light of that city's justly famous re- call
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-18
SIZING-HER LIP.

SIZING HER UP. ''When woman wears an habitually bored expression-"
 T presume you will say that it proves her intellectual"
 Not at all It shows that she seldom has thought worth while"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-18

The political views Of young Mr. Longworth are no longer eagerly sought by reporters.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-18
DIDN'T MEAN IT.

DIDN'T MEAN IT. \ "A man told me yesterday that he thought you one of the smartest chaps he ever saw, but he held his hat before his face when he said it"
 What did he do that for?" "To show me that he was talking through his hat, I guess"